Star.
London, England, 1821-04-11 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY PETITIONS.

As tire Public have never understood the nature of!
the Petitions from Oxford and Cambridge, we think
it right to undeceive them; for,. we have no doubt,'
many presume that such Petitions express the sense
of its Members. The fact is, that the number of
Members is about three thousand at each University,
exclisive of Under Graduates, i.e. those who are under
four years standing, and, of course, have not taken
their degrees. Of these three thousand Members of
Convocation, there arolkeldom or ever two hundred
resident in the University; the rest•are scattered in
their livings, and throughout the country. When-
ever, therefore, a Petition or Address is resolved on, it
emanates from those few Members who are in College,
and, consequently, as yet, generally unprovided for.
To shew the extreme fallacy of this sense of the Uni-
versity, we have only to animadvert on the last Peti-
tion resolved on, relative to the CatholicQmestion.—
The Convocation of Oxford have petitioned against
the measure, and it will only be necessary to remind
our Readers, that, in the year 1811, when nearly the
whole of the Members were assembled at Oxford,
to vote for a Chancellor, they elected Lord GREW
mut, who was and is a decided favourer of the
Catholic Claims, against the overwhelming influence
of the LORD CHANCELLOR, who has about 700 livings
in his gift, who was then a candidate with the Duke
of RUTLAND. We need give no other proof of the
small portion of the opinions of the University than
this, and we doubt not the general Petition will hence-
forth be appreciated accordingly.

KING'S THEATRE.—A new Ballet was produced
last night, entitled La Paysanne Supposee, composed
by M. DESHAYES. It is one of the most diversified,
interesting, and splendid exhibitions of this descrip-
tion which has been produced for many seasons.—
The scene is laid in Provence. The story turns upon
the concealment of the Chevalier de Rakes mar-
riage with Eugenie, the supposed villager ; the dis-
covery of the marriage by his father, and the usual
forgiveness at the close. There were two scenes pre-
sented which were very fine. The Piece was pre-
eminently successful. Nothing could be more de-
lightful than the performance of M. ALBERT, Made.
moiselle NOBLET, and MELANIE; they excelled their
usual exertions. The House was crowded with fashion
and beauty.
ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE.—Mr. BA RTLEY'S Lectures
on the Structure tithe Univelse continue to be well
attended. To the experienced astronorher this exhi-
bition is no small • ?creation ; to those less acquainted
with the delightful science, it affords the highest im-
provement and gratification. It leads us to the ad-
miration of the bounteous CREATOR, whose benevo-
lence appears in all his works, and who " tempers
the wind to the shorn lamb!"
ASTRONOMY.—Persons who attend Lectures, or
who are disposed to make themselves acquainted
with the interesting features of this sublime Science,'
ought to possess themselves of the New Work, called
The Wonders of the Heavens. It is one of the most
richly decorated Volumes in the English language,
containing no less than forty-six highly-finished En-
gravings; while its low price of half a-guinea admits
of its general circulation.

FANCY DRESS BALL AT ALMACK'Se•-....The first
Fancy Ball, of the present season, was given at Al-
mack's on Monday night, under the distinguished pa-
tronage of the Princess ESTERHAZY, the Countesses
COWPER, BESBOROUGH, MORLEY, and several other
leaders of haut ton. Nearly three hundred persons of
rank and fashion were present. Full military uni•
form was the predominating costume of the Gentle-
' men ; though there were some few Spanish Cava-
leroes, Swiss Peasants, &c. The Ladies displayed a
profusion of plumes and brilliants.; and the fair ju-
niors of the splendid assemblage *were, for the most
part, fancifully attired with chaplets of? flowers inter-
mixed with coloured jewellery. The ensemble was
superlatively brilliant. Quadrilles were the favourite
dances, and they were continued till three o'clock.
Mrs. and Misses THOMPSON. of Grosvenor-square,
gave a brilliant Concert, on Monday evening, at
which assisted the vocal strength of the Opera House.
The interior of the mansion has been re-furnished,
since the last season, in all the'splendour of Grecian
taste. The circle exceeded 200; among whom were,
His Royal highness the Duke of Gloucester, the Duchess of
Leeds, Marquis of Lansdown, Duchess of Richmond and the
Ladies Lennox, Earl anti Countess of Derby, Lady M. Stan-
ley, Earl of Fife, Marchioness of Salisbury and Lady G. Wel-
lesley, Earl of Westmorland and Lady G. Fane, Marchioness
of Winchester and Lady M. I'aulet, Earl and Countess of Mayo,
Mr. Cholmondeley, Dowager Lady Tancred, Colonel and Mrs.
, Freemantle, Mr. and Mrs. C. Lock, Miss Nugent, Count and
Countess Ludulph, Lady Shelley, Mr. and Mrs. A. Baring,
Misses Baring, Mrs. Peploe, Lord Beresford, Lord Henley and
Miss Eden, Mrs. and Miss Beaumont, Mrs. Malcolm and Miss
' Macleod, Msg. and Miss Stuart, Captain Gower, Mrs. Doyle,
Mr. and Lady Wynne klellasyse Countess Pander, Sir Robert
and Lady Macfarlane, Mrs. and Miss Chandos Legh, Mrs.
' and Mies Villiers, Sir Charles, Lady, and Miss Flint, Mrs. and
bliss Wellesley Pole, Viscountess Hampden, Countess of Atli-
. lone, Mr. and Mrs. Bethel', Sir Duff and Lady Gordon, Sir H.
and Lady D. Hamilton, Lady Say and Sele, and Miss Twisle-
ton, Sir Charles and Lady Cockerel'.
_

BACHELORS BALL AT BATH.--Tuesday night, a
company of nearly three hundred persons of the first
rank assembled at York House, to participate in an
elegant Entertainment given by the Bachelors of
the gay circle of fashionable visitants, that now im-
part life and animation to Bath. It being under-
stood that it was to be a Fancy Ball on an extensive
scale, all the Ladies were attired in splendid or cha-
racteristic costumes; and the Gentlemen (with some
few exceptions) assumed diversified characters, or
wore their regimentals or uniforms. This gave a
most interesting effect to the joyous scene.