Star.
London, England, 1805-09-20 00:00:00

LONDON.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK:
Conf. money, 58f—for att. stif—Omnium 3to 3i, payment 311.
PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY :
Eank Stock 451 Lang Ann. Out
3 per Cent. Red. Ann. that India Bonds, is. is. cif.
3 per C. Coaf. Ann. 64511 Exebeq. Bills, 1111 pre. s dd.
5 per Cent. Navy Sllfit Lottery Tickets :91. us.
apex Cent.l797, dna Cool. for air..sBii

Laft night we received the Paris journals to the
t ath. An official copy of the State Paper mentioned
in the laft accounts from the Continent as having been
prefented to the Diet of Ratifbon, is given in the Mo•
;akar. It is a laboured, but a weak produaion, and,
as we obferved on our firft mention of it, bas chiefly
for its objea to throw the blame of the war upon Au•
firia: BONAPALTS, bon fi man! is the molt pacific,
moderate, quiet, inoffenfive mortal upon earth—he
Peeks only the welfare and profperit: of the European
States—he has no ambition but to dosood—and is the
molt injured man upon earth II ! but fortunately for
the World, 44 he can contend with England with one
hand, and beat Auftria with the other." Such is the
funs and fubftance of this modefi produaion, of which
the following ib a tranflation

STATE PAPER.
Pelts, Si,r. BACHEIto Charge d'Af-
faires of his Imperial Majefty at Rati(bon, has re-
ceived orders to prefent to the Diet the following
Note
Under the prefent circumllances of affairs, when
the movements of the Houfe of Außria menace the
Continent with a new war, his Imperial Majeßy the
Emperor of the French, King of Italy, judges it ne-
ceffary to make known, in a frank and folemn data-
ration, the fentiments by which be is animated, in
order to enable his cotemporaries And potterity to
judge with a true knowledge of the cafe, in the event
of the war taking place, who has been the aggreffor.
•s It is with this view that the underfigned Charge
d'Affaires of his Imperial Malay. the Emperor of
the' Fi•ench, to the Germanic Diet, bas received or-
ders to prefent a faithful expofitien of the principles
by which bis Imperial Wetly the Emperor, has
been uniformly :tainted in his condudt towards Au-

aria.
" Every thing which that power has done con•
trary to the fpirit and letter of treaties, the Live.
TOT has hitherto permitted. He has not complained
of the immediate extenfion of territory on the t ight

fide of the Pave, againa ;Le acquit-Lion of Lindan ,
againft all the other acqnifitions- made by him in
Suabia, and which, fobfequently to the Treaty of
Luneville, have materially altered the relative taus-
tion of the neighbouring States in the interior of
Germany; againft thole, in fine, which continue at
the prefent moment the fubjett of negotiation with
different Princes, to the perk& knowledge of all
Germany ; he has not complained of the debt of Ve-
nice not having been difcharged, contrary to the fpi-
fit and the letter of the treaties of Campo Formio,
and of Luneville ; he has not complained of the de-
nial of juftice experienced at Vienna by his fubjels
of Milan and Mantua, none of whom, notwithßand-
ing the formal Ripulations, have been paid their de-
mands ; neither has he complained of the partiality
with which Anftria has recognifed the right of block-
ade, which England to monftroully arrogates to her-
felf ; and when the neutrality of the Auftrian flag
was fo often violated to the injury of France, he was
not provoked by this condua of the Court of Vienna
to make any complaint, thus making a (acrifice to
his love of peace, in preferving (Bence upon the
fubjea.
44 The Emperor has evacuated Switzerland, rent
dered tranquil and happy by his alt of mediation
he has not kept in Italy a greater number of troops
than i, indifpenfibly neceffary to -maintain the poa-
Lions which they occupy to the extremity of the pe.
ninfula, in order to protect the commerce of the La
rant, and to infure himfelf an cbjeO of compenfation
which may determine England to evacuate Malty
and Ruilla to evacuate Coifs ; he bat pot upon the
Rhine, and interior of his Empire, any more trc"Ve
than are indifpenfibly neceffary to garrifon the diffe-
rent places.
4, Engaged entirely in the operations of a war
which he has not provoked, which he ftiftains as
I much for the interefts of Europe as for his own, and
in which his principal end is the re.eflablifhment of
the equilibrium of commerce and the equal tight of
all flags upon the feat he has united all his forces in
the camps upon the borders of the ocean, far dißant
from the Alsatian fron;iers ; he has employed all
the refources of his empire to conftrua fleets, to form
his marine, to improve his pods ; and, it is at the
fame moment when he repofes with entire confidence
upon the execution of treaties which have re-efta
blifhed the peace of the Continent, that Auftria rites
from her nate of repofe, organizes livr forces upon
the war eftablifhment, fends an army into the Rates
of Italy, eftablithes another eqaally considerable in
the Tyrol ; it is at this moment that the makes new
levies of cavalry, that the forms magazines, tat the
ftrengthens her fortifications, that the terrifies by het
preparations the people of Bavaria, of Suable, and
of Switzerland, and difcovers an evident intention
of making a diverfion fo obviotifly favourable to Eng •
land, and more injurioufly hoftilt towards prance
than would be a direa campaign, and an open de-
claration of war. In thefe grave circumftences, the
Emperor of the Trench has deemed it his duty to in-
The the Court of Vienna to return to a proper fenfe
of its true interefts. All the expedients which an ar-
dent love of peace could fuggeft have been retorted
to with avidity, and feverat times renewed. The
Court of Vienna his made high profeffions of its re-
face for the treaties which exit between it and
France ; but its military preparations have developed
her intentions, at the fame time that her declarations
have become more and more pacific. Auftria has
declared that (he has no hoftile intention againft the.
Rates of his Majefly the Emperor of the French.,
Againa whom, then, are her preparations direeed t
Are they againft the Serifs ? Are they againft Bays
rim ? Will they, in the end, be direaed spina the
German Empire itfelf ?
46 His Majefty the Emperor of the French has
charged the uaderfigned to make it known, *bas be
will confuler, a: a formal Declaration of war diretled agaissi
hioefelj; all oggreotu which may be attempted agaieill she
Gertaais Body, and eficcially asainfi Bavaria.
46 His Majefty the Emperor of the French will in-
verliparate the iveerille of hit Empire from thole she
Privet: of Germany who are attached to HIM. Any in-
jury which they may fu Rain. ahy dangers by which
they may be menaced, can never be indifferent to him
or foreign from• his lively folicitude.
46 Perfuaded that the Princes and States of th
German Empire are penetrated with the fame fenti-
ments, the underfigned, in the name of the Emperor
of the French, invites the Diet to unite with him in
preffing by every confederation of joffiee and regime
the Emperor of Anftrii **to expoth for any Wart
period the prefent generation to, incalculable calm&
ties, to (pare the bloodof a multitude of then doom;
ed to perith the viaims of a war, the object of which
is foreign to Germany, which, at the moment of
its breaking out, is every Where the tubjea of inquiry
and doubt, and whofe real motives cannot be avowed.
44 The alarms of the Continent will not be allayed
until the Emperor of Auftria, yielding to the juft
and preffing reprefentations of Germany, (hall ceafe
his hoftile preparations, (hall not keep in Suabia and
the Tyrol more troops than are neceffary for garri-
toning the places, and (hall replace his army on the
peace eftablithment. Was it not underftood, fince
the conventions entered into in confequence of the
treaty of Luneville, that the Auftrian armies could
not pats the territories of Upper Auftria without
committing *anal hoMlity t Wis not Maria fenfi-
Me at that period, that France being then engage-4 in

•

a foreign war, having witlidi awn her troor
Suabia, and having put a flop to the rnoreme:o.
which it could make by means of the corps of troop.
the had in Switzerland, it WAS not jut to oppofe to
fuch masks of confidence precanti its truly aggref.
five ? The circumftances being the fame at prefent on
the part of France, why are the meafures of Atalria
fo different? Why does the keep fixty battalions in the
Tyrol and Suabia, whilft the forces of France are
colleaed at a diftance for an expedition againft Eng-
land
'rhere exills no difference at this moment be.
tween the Swifs Republic and the German Empire ;
no difference between Bavaria and Auntie ; and, if
any credit is to be given to the declarations of.the
Court of Vienna, there calls none between it and.
France. For what unknown objets then has*the
Cast of Vienna affembled fo many troops.
66 It can give but one plaufible objet ; that is, to
keep France in a Rate of indecifion, to place her in a
Rate of inaaivity ; and, in a word, to arreft her pro-
grefs on the eve of a decifive effort. But this objea
can only be attained for a time. France has been de.
ceived—the is no longer fo. She has been obliged
to her enterprifes ; the Rill defers them ; the waits
the effeet of thefe remonarances ; the waits the &ea
of the reprefentations of the Germanic Diet. But
when every effort (hall be fruitlefsly made to bring
Auntie to the adoption either of a fincere peace, or
of an undifgnifed and open hollility, his Majeßy the
Emperor of the French will fulfil all the duties im-
paled on hint by his dignity and his power—be will
direa his efforts to every quarter in which France
(ball be menaced. Providence has bellowed on him
fufficient flrength to contend againft England with
one hand, and with the other to defend the honour of
her flandards and the rights of his allies.
66 Should the Diet adopt the courfe which the un.
derthned has orders to point out to it—fhluld it Cue-
ceed in reprefenting to the view of the Emperor of
Außria the real fitnation in which thefe movements,
made perhaps without retleaion, ordered perhaps
without any hollile intention, and folely in confw
quence of foreign influence, have placed the Conti.
nent-74hould it fucceed in perfuading this Sovereign,
individually humane and jun, that he has no env
mite, that his frontiers are not threatened, that
France twice had it ip her power to deprive him
for ever of one half of his hereditary States, if the
had extended her willies beyond what bad peen dish-
lithed At Campo Formio and Luneville ; tbat% by his
difpofitions, which even before they are fully dew-
loped, sat& Preece even in the centre of her salon,
be interferes, without advantage to his States, and
withast honour to his policy, in a quarrel which is
foreign st him--the Diet will have deferved veil of
Germany, of Switzerland of Italy, of Tram%
pf
all Europe, with the exception of a tingle nation, title
enemy of the general tranquillity, and which kat
founded its profperity on the hope and the defign, ar-
dently and perfeveringly.maintained, of perpetuating
the difcord, the troubles, and the divifions of the
Continent. The unclerOgnecl, •Stc.
(Signed) 66 BACHI4."
According to there journals, from which we have
given other extraas in the preceding columns, Bona.
!MITI is expated at Strathurgh by the 26th or a7th
of this month, at which time the army of the cold
will, it is espeßed, have reached the Rhine.
If we may judge from the ufual condua of France,
the Venetian territory sisal Coos *come the theatre
of war. A letter, pretended to be from Venice, bat
of Parifiaq manufaettre, Rates that the Venetians
would be in defpair at the prefent moment, but from
the hope they entertain that )oilAl.l.trt will cores
and make them Frenchmen ! I

By the following letter from Lubec, received by the
laft mail, it appears. not only that a large Ruffian foal,
above 60,000 men, are melted in that neighbour.
hood, who are to be difembarked near Travemontle,
but that an Englilh army is expeaed at the fame
time on the banks of the Wefer. Every effort is
making to ellablia; magazines, 4c. preyious to their
arrival :
" LUDIC, Sur. 3.—The Ruffian Minifter to the-
Prince Whop of Ligle, refiding ufnally at End",
four miles from hence, has been here fince laft Wed.
nefday. After feeing four of our Senators, he lest
for force of our principal merchants, inquiring of them
concerning the quantity of corn and provifion they
could collect after a week's notice. Upon their ea.
fwering that, according to their calculation, they
could provide fufficient for twenty-five thoufand men,
he demanded, if in the fame proportion, after three
weeks notice, they could equally provide for (event) -
five thoufand men This they declared then:Rho
unable to do, adding. however, that if contract.
were immediately entered into, they would efiablifh
before the middle of OEtober; magazines fufficient
. . .
• for that number of men. To this propofal no an-
Ewer was given by his Eicellency ; but in the mean
time our merchants are buying up in Holtlein and
Mecklenburgb all the provifions they can ohtain, in
the firm perfuafion, that before the end of autumn, a
Ruffian army will land in this neighbourhood.
Yefterday fix Ruffian Commiffaries, and four
Officers of Engineers, arrived here from Riga ; and
today the report is general, that 60,000 Ruffians
will debark in fame few weeks near Travemunde,
upon our territory, and from thence follow the fame
route of the French troops from Hanover in block-

aiing us LIR winter to Utort a loan. They will be
accompanied with tranfports with proviiions enough
for a month, as no magazines can be eitab:ifhed yet
on account of the vicinity of the French troops. It
is alto hated here, that an Engliih army will land on
the Banks of the Wefer, at the fame time that a Ruf.
fian army will debark oo the borders of the Baltic ;
and that the merchants at Bremen, like ours, are
making large purchafes of proviGons."

Some aceonnts fmrn Dover have tkribed the firing
on the French coast, which we mentioned yeflerday, to
e Ire smite ',LITE frigate having been becalmed with.
ill reach of the trench batteries. It may prove Co, but
can affure our readers the report rests on no cer-
tain authority, no 'etre' having arrived to bring any
fuch intelligence, and the opprifite coati having been
covered with Co der.fc a fog at the time, that no te-
kfc3pe could fee it Cram Dover.

Nr. Lona left town yellerd.av noon for Wey.
mouth, when this Gentleman will kifs his MAJ ssrr's
hand, on being aFp•tinted Secretary to the Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland.
Mr. Wit trast DUNDAS alas left town for Wey-
mouth, to attend the Council to be held by his MA-
JESTY.
Vtfcount Sinvenoym, we are concerned to date, is
much indifpot..d at his hook at Richmond.
Lord and Lady CARRIN °Ton hare arri►ed at Deal
Clftle.

Lady Rous Boucierow at Deal, where his
Grace the A•clibilhop of CANTERBURY and fuite
alto arrived yttlfirday, on a tour to the Coati.
Lord G wrnta continues indifpnfed, with fpafms in
his itomach, at his honfe at Whitehall.

The Brigade of Guards, and t3th Regiment of
Light Dragoons, an hill under momentary ciders
for embarkation.
• Mr. CURRAN, the celebrated Advocate of the Ira
Bar, went onWednefday to hear the pleadings at the
Old Bailey, but was refuted admittance by the Gal-
lery Dnor keeper, until he fubmitted to the fcanda-
lous extortion of paying as. for it.—" Pay for admit.
fion to a Court of Mice," lays this eloquent Barriiter ;
66 why, man, I come from a country where they give
money to Inch Pimple men as me for going into a
Court !" " More tools they," was the reply. " Be-
fides, man, no one can hear in fuch a place!"—
" That's of nocrtniequence," fays this jufticiary turn-
key, " for here we make all firnpletons pay for
PePin.g
Yesterday a Foot Race was run in White Conduit
Fields, Iflington, for ten guineas, between a Jeweller
of the name of Humpy, at Pentonville, and Mr.
Stevens, a celebrated performer at this kind of (port.
The diftance was soo yards only, and the odds were
in favoor of Humpy, who was backed by his oppo.
vent's friends. It was a very good race, and Mr. S.
won, although he was fo clofely tried, that the con•
tea could (tamely be decided on.

Ytilerdity the Clerkeawell Loyal Volunteers, Lieu-
tenant Colonel MAGNIAC, having completed their time
of performing permanent duty, marched round the
pat with knapfacks and haverfacks. They made
alma refneakble mufler, and previous to their be-
ing difmitfed, the Colonel returned them his thanks
fnr their arid attention to duty during the whole of
the time that they were fubjea to martial law.
BANK Vocua TEE ts.—Wednefday afternoon at two
o'clock. a party of this refpeEtable corps, to the
amount of too, alrembled at Canonbury Houfe, and
fired for a gold medal, which was given by the Ficld
Officers of the fame regiment to the bell (hot; when
Mr. Buss, of the tt company, was adjudged the
bell fbor, and confcquently received the prize. The
Corps were afterwards entertained by the Field Offi-
cers, Major Mt.LLiaN and Adjutant LANGLEY, with
a cold collation, when, after fiveral loyal and patri-
otic roans, they were dilmilled, with thanks for their
foldier-like appearance.

tukRACAS AT THE STOCK EXCNANCE.-•-The public
fity was excited by a fracas which occurred at
the Stock Exchange yeilerday morning :—a Gentle-
man named K , who from circumftances had
not been able to make good his differences on the laR
fettling day, went as ufual to the room ; he had no
fooner entered than he was affailed by many of the
Gentlemen, who began to quiz him, a praElice which
is very common with them, when any defaulter ap-
pears. Mr. K— bore it with much patience,
which at length was exhaufted, and he threatened to
engage any one, at tingle combat,.if he would leave
the room with him : they, however, continued to
quiz, him, by faying, that " Mr. K— was ready to
pay his differences," and by fending fome of the
Stock Brokers to him to receive them. He quitted the
room, and was followed into the ftreet, where the
fame terms were ufed towards him ; a crowd coiled-
ed, and in order to repel the afrailants, he brandilbed
his flick—a fcuffle took place, and aMr B— got
his [hill torn. The affailants thcn carried Mr. ]—
before the LORD MAYOR, and charged him with af-
faulting Mr. B—. The circumltances of the cafe
being explained to his Lordfhip, the charge was dif-
miffed.

THEATRE DRURY LANIE..--Laa night the Come
dy The Wonder attracted a very numerous and re-
fptEtAble audience, and introduced to the London
.I.lge Mr. and Mrs. DORMER, from the Richmond
Theatre, in the charaders of Gab., and Rom l'lte
part of GiL6.y is to infignificant, that we alma re-
gret M.. Dolor ea took it for his opening. He fuc-
cceded is it, however, very well, and (poke the Scots
dia:!d in a very intelligent manner. Mrs. DORMER
is a lively, fprightly woman, and to the charader of
Flora the did every juilice. She is certainly an ac-
'p iiition to the Theatre, as the appears well calcu-
lated for pert, flippant waiting women. The Come-
dy went rff woridettully ; brit this creates no aflo.
nay ent, when the great talents of Mrs. JORDAN,
ELLISI ow, IEIabarSTIII, &C. are contemplated. We
were much pleated with Mr. Grasoss, in Fralerici,
this fiat appearance in that cbarader) in No Song No
•cuPPen. His 51f1 long, which commenced the piece,
rang jufily rewarded by three dittina rounds of
N't`lanre. Mrs. MOUNTAIN, Mrs. BLAND, and DEO.
"1 Al came in for their !pare of public favour and
clek,Uf Ugeratin.

imtrrlOAL liftELLlGEkci

MAILS THIS DAY.—Wind S. W. .. .
All. DVL All. MM.
Diltgill I I I Hamburg?' 0 2
Waterford 6 2 Gotteubursh 0 3

DOVER, Sur. 19.—We are fill ignorant of the
caufe of the heavy firing heard here yeferday, having
had no arrivals from the other fide. It was the brig
Franiir that was retaken and fent in here yelterday.
not the Friends, as mentioned in my letter by mif-
take. Nothing has occurred here fence laft night.—
Wind Weft, and moderate.

PORTSMOUTH, Sert. I 5).—Arrived the AMAZON
frigate, Capt. WILLIAM PARKER, from the Mediter-
ranean with a large laden fhip, having a tier of ports,
her prize, and they are both put under quarantine at
the Motherbank aifo the PROSPERO bomb, Captain
Jones; Susi:met'. brig, Lieutenant Ronsarsom,
with feveral outward-bound 'hips : the William,
HARRINGTON, with naval Qom ; Laurel, Batcsic ;
and Baltic Merchant, Tom from Riga with hemp;
and Primrofe, SMITH, with tar from Archangel, for
the Dockyard, and feveral coallers tinder convoy
from the Downs.—Sailed PENTREPREN•NTS cutter,
Lieutenant Yount:, with orders for Lord NELSON.
DEAL, SEPT. 18,—Yefierday a=id this day a very
heavy firing has been heard in the direftion of Bou-
logne, fuppofed to be from a detachment of the ene-
my's flotilla puffing along fhore, and attacked by our
fquadron cruizing off that place; but, as the,e has
been no arrival, this is only conjecture. /Alive/ !aft
night from Dungenefl, the OrrF R float) of w tr, and
FURMUS gun brig. Sailed the PROSPERO bon b, %skit
a convoy for Portfmonth t and the Albion EAR In-
dia fbip, for India. Remain in the Downs the En
OAR, UTRECHT, ADAMANT, feveral frigates, (loops of
war, gun brigs, &c. with a large fleet of trterchantintn
and armed ttanfports, masked to the number of 117
on their quarters.

SEPT. i9.—Arrived the VESTAL frigate, from a
curiae; the ANTELOPE frigate, from Yarmouth, and
remain with the (hips as per lafl.
CHATHAM, SEPT. 20.-411 e TRIDENT CaMe up
from Gillingham on Wednefday. The T. esius is
difmantled, and is expefted to be paid off to day or
to-morrow.—Mr. F. AYERST, of the Survey-Office
in this Dock-yard, is appointed clerk to the Naval
Sun.( keeper, at Leith. Lieutenant HARRISON, with
a party of Royal Marine Artillery, marched on Wed-
nefday morning for Portfmouth, to embark for the
Mediterranean.

YARMOUTH, SEPT. ig.—Admiral RussEL, with
his fleet, arrived this morning from the Terri, con-
fining of the MAI arric, Admiral Russ EL'S flag (hip,
AGINCOURT, PRINCESS OF ORANGE, ELEPHANT,
DICTATOR, RORY and STATELY, and AGNES lug-
ger ; alfo, from a maize, the Mosti.i.s floop of war,
and FoftwAan gung brig. The above Mips remain
with the Roebuck and Amethyli frigates, and'Ac-
tive and Badger cutters.—Wind S. W.

ARRIVED—In Standgate Creek, the Alezander, from
the coat of Spin. At Briftol, from the emit,
of Spain. At Liverpool, Leonidas —, from Riga. In the
Clyde, Jean, Wilton, from (tebee ; Thomas, htliride, from
New Brunfotick ; and the Recovery, —, from New York. At
Bourdeaus„ Minerva, —, from ditto. At Rotterdam, Perfe-
•aanee, from New York; 'William. Jenton, from St.
Thomas's; Huntrefs, and the Enterprize, —, from
Bolton. _ _

The CANADA, of 74 guns, tinder the command of
Captain HARVEY, is expected to kfail immediately
from P.,rtfmouth, it is imagined, to join the Channel
fleet. _ _

His Majelly's 'hips EAGLE, CENTAUR. and Sr.
GBORGI., fiedEd from Jamaica with his Majelty's (hip
Ajrz, on the i9th of Junc, to reinforce Lord NEL-
SON% fleet. On 29th July, in lat. 26, long. 57, they
encountered a hurricane for zo hours, which injured
the (kips to much, that the three former put into
Halifax to repair on the 15th and l&h of July. The
Sr. GEORGE, in coming out of Jamaica, (truck on a
rock, and was much damaged, and at one time
made three fret water all hour. The Alex fleeted
for Barbadoes. The CENTAUR fuffered the moll.

A !hip of 350 tons was lately launched in Ame-
rica with her mails in, and her rigging complete ;
(he had alio feventeen guns on her quarter deck,
which were dilkharged as the left the flip. She is
named the Remittance, and is to be employed in the
trade between New York and London. Her bottom
was p4inted while on the flocks. This, we believe,
is the firft veffel launched with her rigging over-head.

Wednefday morning a melancholy accident happen-
ed at the Military Floating'Bridge, near Upnor Cattle,
on the Medway. As Lieut. Guest, of the Fifefhire
Militia, was filhing for White-Bait on the bridge, and
leaning on the rail to draw up his net, the rail gave
way, by means of which he was precipitated headlong
into the river. His body was not picked up till about
an hour ;after the accident; every effort was made
tile of to recover animation, but without effeft. It
is fuppofed that his feet mull have been entangled
with the piles which were near the fpot where he fell
in, and over which there were not more than fix or
fevenfeet water. Lieut. GR Eva has left a widow and
four children to bewail his untimely fate.
LaR night, from fix till near twelve o'clock, there
were the moll vivid, and ince(Ftnt Bathes of lightning
that ever were remembered in the metropolis: the
lightning proceeded from the Wellern Hemilphere,
and was unaccompanied by either rain or thunder for
Come hours.

A (hock very much refembling that of an earth.
quake, was felt in the neighbourhood of Edmonton,
about three o'clock yellerday morring. A fenfation
of the fame kind was experienced by feveral
families in the neighbourhood t f Blackheath. The
mailer of one of them was fo much annoyed by the
extraordinary fliaking,of the houle and the bed in
which he lay, that he got up and alarmed every per.
fon in the !mule, and retired to his garden for iatety.
The night was exceinvely hot, and mat a breath of
air was llirriug.

ENd 1.671.
A General Qt_tarterly.Court of Proprietors was
held vellerday, purfitaqt to charter, at the Bank ;
as alfo. a General Conti, in conformity with the By.
Laws of that Corporation, to confider of the Divi.
dend for this halt year. The Court met precifely at
twelve o'clock, when the proceedings of the lall
General Court were read and approved.
The GOVERNOR then informed the Court, that it
was a General Court of Proprietors, convened agree•
ably to their By-Laws, to conftd..r of the Dividend
Mi• the prefent half year. The Court of Direetors
had already taken that fubjest into their confide.ra-
tion, and on infpetling the accounts of the Corpbra-
tion, felt themfelves jultified in recammending to the
General Court, that the Dividend for the half year,
ending the tcah of Odlober next, timid be eight and
a halt per cent, that is 34 per cent, the of sal dividend,
and a participation of 5 per cent. out of their undi-
vided fnrplus. Whether the ordinary dividend and
the participation thould he mace by fkparate war-
rants, or the whole included in one warrant, it would
be for the Court of Proprietors to decide. The Court
of Di:cOots, though not without fome difference of
opinion, recommended the latter courfe. This was
the decition of the majority, and of courfe the
Court, which allei recommended that a General
Court fhould be held on Tuefday the 24th inliant,
from eleven o'clock till four, to take a ballot re.
Ipelting the amount of the dividend, and whether
it flritild be included in one or two warrants.-
-He felt it his duty to explain to the Court, before
they thould go to the ballot, fome circumftances
which had given rife to the difference of opinion re-
fpeeing the quellion of the warrant. A participa.
ti-n had been iffued lad year, in addition to the re-
gular dividehd ; and as lime doubts were entertained
whether filch participation belonged to the tenant for
life or revet flutter, a fob had been inilituted, in which,
after tli quedion had been ably argued by Mr. Ro-
notly and other eminent profeffional Gentlemen, the
Coot t of Chancery decided in favour of the rever-
fi•ater. allowing the intered to the tenant for life.—
The Court of Direeors did not concur in this opi•
Ilion. They thought, that any dividend on the pro-
fits of their dock, belonged to the parties in poffeflion.
When the bonus was ;tined in flock, it had been de-
cided by the Lord Chancellor, that loch flock was the
property a( the reversioner, with the intereft only to
the tenant for life. The Court of Direaors then
thought, that if the participation were given in mo-
ney, the queflion would be altered ; the Lord Chan-
cello', when it came before him lad year, declared
he taw no reafon to alter his former decifion. The
Court (.1 Dire&ors, therefore, propofed, that the
participation fhould be iffited under the head of divi.
dent on intereds and profits of the Rock of the Cot.-
poratien He thought it neceffary to Rate thus much
in explanation t f the motives for propofing to vote a
dividend of eight and a half per cent. for the prefent
half year. The General Court of Proprietors would
decide, whether this dividend thould be made by one
or by feparate warrants ?
Mr. FOSTER (from without the Bar) enumerated
fome difficulties that might relish from feparate var-
iants being employed.
Mr. Bosalsoy sr (from behind the Bar) Rated that
he was one of thole who thought, that the whole
thould be included in one warrant. The decition of
the CHANCELLOR had not been given on the merits of
the quirtlion between the patties, but on the wording
of the kefolutions of that Court. If the participation
fhould be iffited under the head of a dividend on their
interelts and profits, no queltion could arife, no
doubt could be entertained of the right of the patties
in poffeffion to it. The objet of the participation, was
to raife the dividends for the year to 12 pet cent. It
was granted from the accumulation of the profits of
the Corporation, and no matter whether dittributed
in one, two, or three dividends, was equally the pro-
perty of the prefent holders of the Rock. If the divi-
dend voted laft half year had been 6 per cent. inflead
of 34, it would not furely be fuppofed, that the rever-
[loner had any right to any part of it. Neither could he
have any claim, if 6 per cent. were now to be voted
as a dividend. Why then fhonld he now, why fhould
not the panics in poffedion be equally intitled to the
bonus, which was intended to increafe their dividends
to 12 per cent. this year, as they would to the whole
12 per cent. if voted in two equal half yearly divi-
dends ? His opinion was clear upon the fu'ojeFt, and
therefore, to obviate any future legal b'ifficulties, he
was of opinion, that the whole fhould be allied as di-
vidend, and included in one warrant.

Mr. FOSTER had before avoided giving any opinion
on the fubjeft, contenting himfelf with fuggefiing
the difficulties, which appeared to him likely to re-
fult from granting the whole as dividend, and fepa-
rating the parts in the warrants. Now that he had
the authority of the Hon. Diretor, who had jolt
concluded, in his favour, he.begged leave to Gate,
that he entirely concurred in every fentimcnt expref-
fed by him. He could not fee any good ground of
objeCtion againft the fingle warrant. The Jima to
be itroed were unquettionably the property of the te-
nants in pallet:Gm of the flock, as ariling out of its
profits, which muff be evident to any one who con-
fidered the nature and fundamental confiitution of a
commercial fociety.
Mr. Loma, Deputy Governor, in order to obviate
any improper or falfe impreffion, which might be
produced by its going abroad, that the Bank divided '
eight and a half per cent. felt it neceflary to fay a
few words in explanation of that fgt. It was defira-
ble that this circumftance fhould not go naked and
unaccompanied with the caufe of it to the public.—
Unqueflionably the participation arofe from the prof-
petons (late of their concesm, and from the extent
of their undivided furplus. But though it was deem-
ed expedient in the prefent iuftance to make a dint'.
bution of Come portion of that furplus, it was not to
be expected that the whole fhould be diltributed.—
Circumttances might arife which would render it im-
poffible, or at leaft imprudent, to make any fuch
tribution. Every Gentleman prefent would agree
with him, that it was extremely deithtble that there
fhould be always a very large individed furphrs in the
Bank, and particularly whilft it fhould be Phut. The
dividend now propofed certainly grew out of the pro-
fits of the Corporation ; but as tt was only a conk-
quenee of the prefent nate of their accounts, it was
no: to be confidered in any other light than with re-
ference to culling circumliances. After this expla-
nation. he thought the whole might he 'aired as di-
vidend to whiJi the parties in pafeffion are intided.

r. Nofortoatt (from without the bar) coveted
the propriety, for the purpofe of removing ever
doubt on the fubjetg, of Rating in the refolution th ,t
the eight and a half per cent. dividend on the intereli
And profits of the Corporation was for the half ye ,e
ending :he loth of Odober next only, and that the
whole fhould be included in one warrant. •
The Govsawna had no objetlion to adopt any
cootie which the Court might think pr -per to dire&
He had fuggelled the propriety of two warrants as
the more fecure conrfe. The Court, however, might
decide. His view had been to five them barmier* ;'
as, if the queflion Should be brought again before the
Chancellor, and he thould pet revere in his former de- '
cifion, he did not know whether they might not be
compelled to pay the money over again, unlefs they
guarded against fuck a confequence by feparate war-
rants.

Mr. THIMOITON (from behind the bar) jun rote to
(fate the circurnflance which convinced him, and he
believed had great weight in convincing many other
Gentlemen, that the whole Mould be included in one
warrant. This tit cumllance was the difcovery, fince
the la( participation, of an Aft of Parliament, con-
taining a claufe which appeared to him to be impe-
rative upon them. The atn was an old one, but it
was Rill in force. (Here he rend the claufiewhich dream!,
that at the General Court emitted to fix tie amount of efi-
vidend, the Court flail decide on one dividend only.) —This
provifion left them no alternative; they were bot.nd
to include the whole in a tingle warrant.
A Paoreurroa with every fubmiflion to the au-
thority of the LORD CHAN c (LLD', thought his deci-
lion exceptionable. They did not meet there to di.
vide Rock, but intereß and profits suiting from it,
which unqueßionably ought to belong to the holders
of the flock.

The recommendation of the Court of Direflors
was then read, and the queflion, " That a General
Court be held on Tuefday the 24th init. for a ballot
nn there two queilions, refpeiting the amount of the
dividend and the warrant," put and carried in the
afiirmative.

The Crovetwoe then informed the Conn, that the
Court of Direaors had paid the fix and a quarter per
cent. property duty on the dividends, which the Pro-
prietors would receive without any deduaion.
It was moved, that the dividends due on the !loth
of 0/'ober next, be paid to the Proprietors without
any deduction of the fix and a third per cent. pro-
perty duty, and carried in the affirmative. The Court
then adjourned.