Star.
London, England, 1831-07-11 00:00:00

DISTRESS AND FAMINE IN IRELAND.

THE WESTERN COMMITTEE for 62
REUSE" of the IRISH POOR,—deeply grattfa:
to the Giver of All Good, for having disposed the Chrie.
tian public so liberally to respond to the urgent appeal,
made to them on behalf of their famishing countrymen
now feel it their pleasing duty to express their opink
that the funds which have been subscribed arc adequate to
the existing emergency.
From the statements of individuals of the highest character,
and great local knowledge, received in answer to the inqui.
ries of this Committee, they have come to the conclusion
that although the distress is at this time exceedingly tenets
in the Western Districts of Ireland, yet that the money al.
ready subscribed, and the aid furnished by Government,
will be sufficient to ward off the pressure of this distrwr
until the coming harvest. which, under the Divine Blessing,
promises to be both early and abundant.
Under these circumstances, the Committee consider that
they shall best consult the interests of true benevolence by
making this announcement.
T. BARTLETT, secretary,
Exeter Hall, July 11, 1831.
N.B. The Committee beg to intimate, as a general reply
to their Correspondents. that sums already collected will be
gratefully received, and immediately applied.

14.,'N 6' STAR.

LOA

MONDAY. JULY 11.

This morning the usual weekly despatches from
Paris, from Brussels, and the Hague, were reeeivd
at the Foreign Office.

At One o'Clock this afternoon, a considerable
number of Members of Parliament had a confe-
rence with Lord A LTIIOIII', in Downing-street.
Summonses hud been issued for Three Hun-
dred, and nearly that number attended
at the Foreign Office, Lord ALTIIORT'S Office
being found too small to contain them.
This Meeting was in reference to Lord MIL-
TON'S proposed alterations in the Reform Bill,
by the adoption of which Ministers might expose
themselves to the manoeuvres of the opposite party,
and be unce more Gaseoyn-aded.

We learn by the arrival of the Hamburgh
steamer that positive intelligence had been received
at St. Peterburgh of the death of the Grand-Duke
CONSTANTIN E at Witepsk. A rumour prevailed
that the Duke was poisoned.

By a letter from Lubeck, of the 6th instant, we
have the intelligence that cholera has extended its
ravages to St. Petersburgh ; and that the imperial
family had gone for greater safety to Petershoff.
The greatest consternation reigned in the capital.
Several cases proved fatal during the first five days.
In Moldavia and Lemberg the ravages of the dismse
are frightful.

Tie Belgic Congress, after ten days' hard de-
bate and a severe struggle of parties, has decidL'd,
by 126 to 70 in favour of the articles of the London
Conference, and consequently of the recognition of
Prince LEOPOLD.

A deputation of five members was afterwards ap-
pointed to proceed to London, and to accompany
his Belgic Majesty to Brussels. They are hourly
expected at the Foreign Office. His departure
may therefore be shortly looked for .
In the mean time, the Republican party in Bel-
gium appear to be very active ; and it will be fortu-
nate, if, by any act of conciliation, the New Sove-
reign can moderate their disappointment. It is
understood that the decision was assisted by a com-
munication from the French King, signifying his
approbation of Prince LEOPOLD.
For our parts, if the Belgian Government is to
be a Monarchy, we see less objection to Prince
LEOPOLD than to any other named Candidate ; and
if the bulwarks of civil and religious liberty are
well secured, the arrangement seems likely to end
in the prosperity of Belgium, and the security of its
independence, which otherwise might have been
placed in jeopardy.

The intelligence from Poland to-day proves
that no credit whatever should be placed in the
Prussian versions of Russian stories. The Poles
have not been defeated near Lublin, nor have
GI ELG UD, &c. been routed in Lithuania. On the
contrary,Cti RZANOWSK I, by a feint which deceived
the Russians, took possession of Lublin, where he
found various depots, and then retreated without the
loss of a man, across the Vistula, at Golab. SO
also, three Polish corps, of 30,000 men, have shut
up Tolstoi, &c. in Wilna ; while they have 60,000
recruits, with various arms, and have taken the
important town of Kowno, at the angle of the
Niemen. In the meantime, while the Russians
are blockaded in Wilna, the insurrection is spread-
ing through the entire country.

Of the Russian main army, and of the operations
against it by SKR TZW EcKI, there are no accounts
except that PAM (EVI ITCH has reached it through
Prussia, and !taken the command. It would be
no advantage to them if any portion had crossed

the Vistula, as the Berlin papers have stated ; but'
there is no confirmation of that circumstance.
It is gratifying to observe the notice of a so n of
I. tNN rs, Duc de MONTEBELLO, having devoted
himself to the Polish cause.

The hopes of tranquillity in France are di-
suiuislted by the elections having fallen, at least in
Paris, ou a majority of ministerialists —such at least
;s a.,scrtion of their journals, while the opposition
assert the contrary. Eight of the thirteen
P;-is elections are said to have fallen on men either
neutral, or of the ministerial party ; to effect
:did) no influence has been spared; but, after all,
public opinion will rule, or render rule, in spite
of it, useless and troublesome. We wish to see
public opinion and the votes of the Chambers
accord ; and then France will prosper under a
Constitutional Government. We must, however,
await for further information as to the elected and
rejected, before we form any conclusive opinions.

If The Joh* Bill is to be credited the CHAN-
crtLon has succumbed to the Tory Party among
the West Riding Magistrates, and omitted Mr.
STOCK'S name in the Commission. We had lately
to remark on the similar succumbing of Lord GREY
to Lord Wt NCH I LSEA, in regard to prosecutions of
the Press. Perhaps similar succumbing is the un-
happy cause of various acts of the Ministry ; and
if so, it is to be lamented that Whig principles,
which inspired confidence, are allowed to be con-
taminated by Tory influence.

Our Contemporary, the Examiner, complains of,
the conduct of Lord BDOLTGIIAII on this occasion.
We are sorry to see Lnrd BROVOHAM setting up the'
virue of a prude. Vut all this has been done and said,
with the high design of propitiating the enemy, by the pro.',
f;•sed imitation of Lord EI.DON. Snch (vulgarly called, I
,nr.7ki lig) is the besetting sin of the Government, which is
for ever playing the shabby game of losing its friends in un-
surcess'ul attempts to win its enemies. It will not, and it
carrot. cline to pod."

The Morning Chronicle of to-day, superadds
thi-i observation :

There is an immense deal of cowardice in poor human
nature. We have no doubt that Ministers have the good of
the country sincerely at heart, and no man can have watched
theprogress of Lord Brougham'in particular through life with-
cut King sensible that his exertions :have been always' di-
reend to the benefit of his countrymen, and, indeed,
ci the human race. Yet what sacrifices have always been
made to lilt,: of different views, as if it were possible to
band them v ith respect to the object aimed at ! Were there
to he any more prosecutions of the Press, we are almost sure
that they would be directed against those who advocate the
object Ministers have in view, and not against their oppo-
ntnts, in order to produce an effect on their opponents,
which, after all, cannot be produced."

The same paper falls, however, into the vulgar
error, that grand juries ought not to receive evi-
dence, or cautions, from defendants ; whereas we
think that their oath binds them " diligently to
inquire ; " and that, in practice, when a de-
fendant makes out a case, it is their duty
to receive and even court his caution ; and we think
it is the duty of defendants to prevent Grand Juries
being, made parties to any foul conspiracy against
peace and character. The writer of this paragraph
has been on Grand Juries, and known in-
stances of such cautions being sent to the
chairman; but, instead of being a subject for com-
plaint to the court, they led to cross examinations
of witnesses, to exposures of conspiracy, and to
the rejection of the bills. It would have been time
enough to complain, if the caution had proved
impertinent, while the trouble of reading a letter
and asking- a faw questions, is never begrudged by
a grand jury who feel themselves bound by their
oaths diligently to enquire. In such cases, too,
it makes all the diffetence, whether a caution is
anonymous, or is openly signed by the defendant,
or his solicitor ; but even an anonymous
caution, supported by reasonable statements,
is never considered as useless by Grand Juries.
Nothing, in a word, can be more dange-
rout, than to inculcate that a Grand Jury, in
many cases, are not bound to receive a key to a
End cons;:iracy from honourable defewlants, since
a witness is in no way accountable for his evidence
kfore this Secret Tribunal, whose decisions, never-
theless, impugn character, create endless anxieties,
and involve great expenses.

We are daily called by provincial papers, and by
correspondents, to notice the deplorable state of
the home trade of the kingdom, and the profitless
state of the foreign. It seems to be the special
concern of the Board of Trade, and one of the duties
'.f Parliament ; yet nothing is done, and the
greatest interests are therefore compromised by
theory, system, pride, ignorance, or negligence.'
For du, last five Years we have heard of an utter loss,
of rats, deficiency in wages, of labour, and
Lopelessitess for the future, in all departments of
industry ; yet we hear of no measures calculated to
restore a healthful condition. Labourers, operatives,
anima, s hopkeepers , manufacturers, merchants and
bankers, alike complain ; and the system forced upon
us seenis only to confer prosperity on hungry law-
yers, Sinnorists in the Courts, Sheriffs' Officers
and Brokers, and Jew Capitalists.
The indisputable cause has been the tampering
ith the currency from 1810 to 1829. A falling
market was conssquently produced by successive
experiments on the common medium ; and without
li'g,ard to men's obligations, by which the com-
mercial ruin from constant depreciation, has been
combined with the ruin of most of those enter-
prising individuals who gave employment. The
etTect may be easily explained—a Commission
Al:ent vending the same bulk, got, for example, his
•`; per Cent. or 300 per annum on sales off 6,000,
but prices being reduced to £3OOO, he gets but £l5O ,

or if to £2,000, but £lOO per annum ! So the shop-
keeper, who might have got his average 12i per
cent. would net on £4,000 of returns, £5OO per
annum, but on £2,000 it would be but £250,
while, from increased competition, the 12} would
be reduced to 7i, or even 5, and the fall in his
stock would leave him altogether profitless. Then
the manufacturer's 20 per cent. on £4,000 yielding
£BOO per annum, would, by like causes, become
10 per cent. on £2,000, or only £2OO instead of
£BOO.

Nor are these imaginary cases ; they are universal,
and exceptions are only accidents. At the same
time all contingencies of bad debts, false specu-
lations,
&c. &c. would be so aggravated, that
it may be reasonably doubted whether, during
the last five years of falling markets, there
has in general been any realization among the
numerous classes of retailers and interchangers.
Then the cruel neglect of previous obligations,
not only ruined all those who were entangled
with falling stocks, but Bill Acceptors, Lease-
holders, Alortgagers, and Farmers, or others com-
mitted to pay high rents. Hence universal insol-
vency, or hopelessness has fallen on the indus-
trious or productive classes ; nothing remaining
certain but taxes and assessments, or obligations
incurred before these experiments on the circula-
ting medium, and on the usages and habits of
Trade.

This subject treated at large, would be suscep-
tible of great expansion, painful aggravation, and
various illustration ; but, in brief, this is the dis-
ease at the core, which in undescribed, and in-
describable language, afflicts the industry, and
follows the anxious fathers of families to their fire
sides throughout the British empire. The popu-
lation is, in consequence, cut of heart, and nearly
all men are living by shifts and contrivances,
hoping for relief from the Legislature, whose for-
mer theories, ignorance, or obduracy, have left
them in utter des; air.

Is it not time, then, that the independents in
Parliament should rally, and, by a pull altogether,
try if they cannot outvote those whose protected
interests render them sti angers to the real
wants and condition of the mass of the people?
We know it will be replied—that we must wait
for the reform Parliament—and this may be satis-
factory to some ; but how many thousands have
been in commercial difficulties for months or
years, to whom hope deferred is absolute destruc-
tion ; whose affairs are complicated by delay, and
whom a prompt wise policy would yet restore to
social vigour. None, in the interim, will be spared
by lawyers or the law, to whom they are the natural
prey ; nor by creditors, in whom self-preservation
absorbs all sympathy. It is never too soon to do
well,—nor is it wise to defer till to-morrow that
which can be well done to-day. Besides, the
people have waited so long for such a Parliament
as the present, and they exerted themselves so
much to procure it, that they ought not to be
baffled in its expected services.

ROYAL EXCHANGE, ONE O'CLOCK.
Our Funds, which left off on Saturday at 831,
opened this morning at 83i i, went up to 831
buyers, at which price they are at present.
TWO O'CLOCK.

Consols may be quoted at present 83 6 for the
account.

THREE O'CLOCK.

STOCK EICHANOE.—Bank Stock, 201 2008. Thm
per Cent. lied. 824 36. Three ler Ct. Con.ols, 821 ex d.
Three and a Halt pet rt. 1818, Three and a Half
per Cent. lied. 901. Three and a Half per Cent. New,
84 904 8 ex div. Four per Cent. 1826, 994 9. Long
Annuities, Jan. 1860, 161 17. India Stock, —; ditto
Bonds, 4 prem. South Sea Stock, 92/ ex div. £lOOO F.x.
chequer Bills, 15 16; £5OO ditto, hi 16; 4:100 and
£2OO ditto, Li 16. Bank for Account, 2064. Cobsols for
Acct, 834 / 44
FOUR O'CLOCK—Consols 84

We have accounts from Paris, of the termina-
tion of the late Elections, which have passed uff in
quietness, and in favour of the Ministry ; and the
French Funds have improved on it to 54-40.

A mail has arrived from Rio Janeiro of the sth
May. The Chambers have opened the Sittings ;
all was quiet there. Exchange on London, 21 to ;
Stuck, 68 to 69. Accounts have also been received
from Pernambucco, 20th May, and from Bahia,
15th—all was tranquil.
Ll vE It LY 9.--The import of Cotton
this week is 9,944 hags, and the sales reach
18,500 bags, at rather higher prices. In Sugar, a
good business has been done in British Plantation
Sugar this week, upwards of 1,000 hhds. have been
sold at full prices.

The Grand Review, of which we spoke on Satur-
day, took place this morning, in Hyde-park, and
' went off with great eclat.
ERKATA.—In Mr. Owen's letter in the STA k
of Saturday, in the 2d paragraph, for "because it is the
desired interest," read, " because it is the dtcidtd interest."
In the 3d paragraph, for, " Trade and Commerce. as now
carried on individually and irrationally," read, "indivi-
dually and nationally." In the btli paragraph for, " cos_
terming manual labour," read, "rendering manual labour."
In a paper on the American Press, inserted iu
the Political Letts:l-'6f yesterday, it is erroneously tit•ed,
that the Free Enquirer, edited in Philadelphia by Mr. Ho-
bert Dale Owen, and Messrs. F. Wright, ativoca:e the
principles of the Agrarian Law—whereas that paper in in
direct opposition to tit.ise principles.
A scarcity of silver currency prevails at this
time, highly injurious to retail trade, and the ordi•
nary intercourse of society. In all parts of the
town transactions are obstructed by want of change,
and various shifts obliged to be resorted to. The
cause is ascribed to large exports.
In proof of the good intelligence which pervades
the Free Beer Houses in and round London, they
have, for their general benefit and use, start.d a
Free Trade Weekly Express— no vulgar produc-
tion, but distinguished in every page by good taste.
and sound discrimination.

The payment of the dividends has made money
plentiful within the Stock E.xchrmge, &c. where
on Stock, Exchequer Bills, &c. it was; yesterday
on short terms, to be had at 2 per cent. but on
commercial securities, &c. is neither plentiful nor
below the usual rates. The Stock Exchange re-
ports on this subject never apply to general out.of-
doors objects, in which money is as scarce as usu d.

THEIR MAJESTIES. •
WINDSOR, SUNDAY, Jun 10.
The KING and QUEEN returned to the Castle
yesterday evening at a quarter before eight o'clock. Their
Majesties were accompanied by the Duchess of Saxe Weimar
and her eldest daughter, Princess Louisa, and came under
an escort of the 24 Life Guards. The Duke and Duchess
of Gloucester ar.ived on Saturday evening on a visit to their
Majesties for a few (lays.
This morning the first battalion of Coldstreams, com-
manded by Colonel Sir W. Gomm, and the 24 Regiment of
Life Guards, commanded by Colonel Lygon, went through
the regular parade movements before his Majesty in the
Grand Quadrangle of the Castle.
Their Alajesties afterwards attended Divine Service at St.
George's Chapel, accompanied by the Duke and Duchcss of
Gloucester, Lady Westmeath (lady in waiting,) Mr. Hud.
son, Sir W. Uatune, and others of the royal suite. The
Service was pet formed by the Rev. C. Proby. Canon in re-
sidence, who took his text frost the 21st verse of the 7th
chapter of St. Matthew. Kent's delightful anthem,
tong shall be of mercy and judgment; " was sung by Master
Wicks.

At four o'clock this afternoon, the Queen, with
her attendant., walked to Adelaide Cottage, by the Orangery
and Slopes; the pony phamona were ordered there in readi.
ness, and the Hopi party precceded from thence by the
Dairy to the Great Park, and returned to the Castle a little
before six o'clock. /Hs Jlajes•y' did not have the Castle
this afternoon.

We are happy in announcing' tlio continued ex-
cellent state of his Illajesty's health. Tire Quern, we are
also gratified in being able to state, has quite recovered from
the effects of a slight cold.

Their Majesties left town at ten minutes past five
o'clock on Saturday afternoon, in a carriage and four, es.
coned by a party of lancers, for the Palace, at Windsor.
The Duchess of Saxe Weimar and suite followed in another
carriage and four. l'revious to leaving town the King gate
audiences to Earl Grey, the Eari of Albemarle at .d Lord 11111.
Her 31ajesty received visits from the Duke of Cumberland,
the Duke of Sussex, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess
of Glocerer, and the Prince's Sophia.
Ihe Duchess of Kent entertained a large and
distinguished party at dinner on Saturday.
The Princess Augusta took an siring in a car•
ring; on Saturday afternoon. The Duke of Sussex and the
Duchess of S.twe Weimar visited the Princess on Saturday.
The Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by
Prince George and Princess Aug.ista of Cambridge, left
town yesterday on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of
Cumberland, at Kew. The Austrian Ambassador, the
Hanoverian Minister, and a select party, were present to
meet the Royal Duchess at dinner

Prince G?orge of Cumberland, Prince George
and the Prince:a Augusta of Cambridge, will honour the
juvenile fete at Vauxhall Gardais this evening with their
pr,senee.

Prince Leopold visited Viscount Palmerston yes-
terday, and had a long conference w'th the noble Viscount.
Despatches for Viscount Palmerston were
brought to the Foreign Office on Saturday night, by a mes-
senger front Brussels.
The Spanish Minister and the Austrian Envoy
Extraordinary bad in:erviews with Viscount Palmerston on
Saturday. at the Foreign Office.
The Lord Chancellor and the Marquis of Lans-
downe visited F.arl Grey yest..rday.
A deputation from the Tobacconists had a con-
ference on Saturday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Among the marriages in high life about to take
place are those of the 11equim of Fithian to Lady Cecil
Talbot, and Sir Charles 31onck, Bart. tolaidy Mary Rainer,
sister of the Earl of Tankmille.— Court Journal.

PRI V ATE BILLS.--Tice number of private bills
introduced into the house of Commons this session is !4;
of which thtre are for railways 16 ; roads 42; bridges I
harbours, 2 ; drainage, 5 ; municipal government, 1 ; poor,
2; tithes 2 • enclosures, 6; improvement, 2; companies.,
4 ; Highland of London, 1; statute Labour' 1 ; pier
navigation, 3 ; discovery, 1 ; county buildings, 2; churches,
2; canal, 1; small debts, I ; new street, 1 ; widows fund,
I; claim, I.

MEETING OF PROPRIETORS OF DRURVILANIC
THEATIC—The annual general assembly of the proprie-
tors and shareholders was held on Saturday, at two o'clock,
in the saloon of the theatre. There were not thirty pawns
present, amongst whom were Lord Mensal! and Mr. C. W.
Wynn. Mr. G. Robins, having taken the chair, called upon
Mr. Dunn, the treasurer, to read the report of commit-
tee, from which we extract the following passage relative to
the pecuniary affairs of the theatre :—" The committee have
to request the attention of the general assembly to the annual
'statement of accounts now before them. The ground land-
lord, and all other demands upon the proprietors, are paid
in full up to Midsummer, amounting to 4,9961 174.9 d. The
renters' annuities have been paid to the account of Cher trus-
tees, at Messrs. Ransom and Co. for 200 nights, amounting
to 3,7301. The balances of the I anktrs amount to 2,1641.
13s. 3d. a sum sufficient to discharge the interest upon the
bond to the Ist of July inst and all other incidental claims
upon the proprietors. In closing this report, the committee
beg to state that they have realized their intention (communi-
cated to the last general assembly) of paying the two years'
interest due upon the bond debt ut the Ist of July, 18 dl, and
that very early in the ensiling season they contemplate re-
ducing the principal, hick now stands at 9,4101. the Id. with
interest to the present time. And the committee trust that in
the exercise of their judgment in all matters confided to their
care, they have used the best exertions fur the interest of the
proprietat y."
The Duchess of St. Len, otherwise Hortense,
es-Queen of Holland, has been in London fur some time
past, wilt her only surviving son, Prince Louis Butinaparte.
Her eldest son died during the late revolution of ctntral
Italy, in which he took a prominent part. He is de-cribed
as a youth of great capacity, excellent principles, awl exeni.
platy conduct. Persons who look out for Mtrigms wherever
there are disappointed pretensions, have suspected that the
Buonaparte nullity are again stirring, and that the ex-Queen,
like the Duchess of' Berri. is endeavouring to do something
for ha son. Nothing could be more titliculous. The fact
is, according to every account that we have heard, that the
ex-Qoeot lives in a very retired manner, and has totally
abAa.tiutird

We are constantly amused by the reflections
front our evening contemporaries, which we see in
some of the luish, Scotch, and other provincial
prints. Thus it seems they recently gave an acute
speculation ;wont Skrzynecki's plan to cut Gil
Rudiger from the main Russian army, which was
copied and re -echoed. Slow, observe
reader, Skrzynecki is as it were in Lou-on, the
main Russi:m army in Suffolk, and Rudiger in
Gloucestershire, and in these vositions two or
three ingenious paragraphs are employed in detail-
ing movements, &c. to cut off Ruthger from the
main army It may be well supposed that tins
paper did not exhibit any of tit‘su mighty move-
ments !

Thitty eight inhabitants of St.Judean',: jairish.
Dublin, have signed a public advm tiseui -nt to cali
a meeting for the purpose of plomoting a sui.scrip
• non for the widows and families of the persona so
cruelly slaughtered at Newtuwubarry and Castle-
pollard ; awl, also, to pay toe expenst% of umain-
ing legal satisfaction for such wanton outrages.
For our i,arte we think such meetings cannot be
too general, nor the subscriptions too liberal, and, if
any take place in London or Great Britain, they
ought to include, for rigid inquiry, the horri le
transaction at Merthyr Tydyil. We had hoped
better of the present Ministry and of the present.
Parliament ; and to us it is an inconceivable mys-
tery that a veil seems to be drawn over these sub-
jects,—for even official resentment or Parliamen
Lary denouncement would do honour to the higher
powers, while complete impunity alrunda encourage.
Intent to re,.etition. Thanks to the Coroner's jury
' at Castle Pollard ; that affair is in course for legal
investigation; but the victims being poor, sub-
scriptions may be necessary, even under a Whig
administration, to sustain the expenses incident to
trials.