Star.
London, England, 1822-09-09 00:00:00

FROM TILE RICHMOND COMPLIER.

The drought in the surrounding country, particu-
larly north and west of us, is blighting in the most
destructive manner our corn crops ; should this se-
vere
drought continue and sweep bare districts of
country, the short crop, together with the doorlavhich
is now open in the West Indies for Indian corn, free.
of duty, will cause an important advance of price.

Letters from New Yoi k, received this morning,
state that the fever was not so great as had been re-
potted in the Philadelphia Papers.

The Duke of Your: arrived in town ye,,terday, at
twelve o'clock, from Brighton. his Royal Highness
afterwards paid a visit to his MAJESTY.
The LORD CuAticau.on and the Earl of WESTMOR-
LAND had audiences of the KING on Saturday.
The Duke of GLOUCESTER 'has arrived at Bagshot
from Salisbury.
Last week the Duke of DEVONSHIRE arrived at Lis-
more Castle. His Grace was received, on reaching
the boundary of his estate, by a very large body of
his tenantry from Lismore and Thallow,well mounted,
and preserving in all respects an appearance as cre-
ditable to the tenantry as ►t must have been gratify-
ing to the landlord. •
A Fancy Ball was given at the Coburg Hotel,
Tenby, on Friday even►ng, the 2Sd ult. by eighteen
bachelors, who distributed nearly 100 tickets among
their personal friends. The band of the Pembroke-
shire Militia was in attendance, and played many
martial airs and enlivening tunes. Dancing com-
menced at ten, and the Ball was opened by the beau-
tiful and accomplished Miss OWEN., led off by the
Hon. W. YELVERTON. An excellent supper was pro-
vided, and the company did not separate until Au-
rora's golden beams proclaimed the opening day.
Measures are in contemplation at the Bank for re-
ducing their capital, or the annual amount paid for
interest. Different plans have been proposed for the
consideration of the Directors. One of them is, to
reduce the interest at once from ten to seven and a
half per cent. and to tender to the proprietors, in re-
turn for their acceptance of that dim►nished rate, a
bonus of 25 per cent. on the capital. The other is
to employ the surplus capital of the Establishment in
buying up and cancelling Bank Stock, until its total
amount is brought w►th►n the prescribed lin.its.—
Whether these or any others will be in reality acted
on, time alone will determine. That something of
the sort must be attempted is pretty certain, on ac-
count of the inability of the Bank, in the present state
of the money-market and of commercial affairs, to
find employment for their capital. This has proved
to be equally the case, notwithstanding the diminu-
tion of the rate of discounting from five to four per
cent. as before that measure was adopted.
It was currently reported on 'Change this day, that
it is the intention of the Bank to take the Annnity Pen-
sion Loan. _ _

Extract of a letter from Captain WILSON, of the
brig Duke of Richmond, of Greenock, dated Bahia,
July 12th, 1822:—" There is an expedition coming
against this place from Rio, and expected in a few
days. It is thought there will be some sharp work,
and no one can tell what may happen if a cannonad-
ing takes place among the shipping, forts, &c. I was
the bearer of dispatches from the Prince to the Go-
vernor here, ordering him to give up, but he is deter-
mined to hold out and resist. There are no British
men of war here to protect British property, but there
is a large French frigate, the Captain of which has
very handsomely offered to do so."—Glasgow Herald.
A very numerous Meeting of the Inhabitants of
Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport, was held on Wed-
nesday last, at Portsea, on the subject of the discharge
of persons employed in the Dock-yard : the following
`Memorial was unanimously adopted:
1. TO THE RIGHT HONOUSAELE ROHM PEEL, ONE Or HIS MAJESTY'S