Star.
London, England, 1829-10-12 00:00:00

SMYRNA, Aua. 38.

The Courier de Smyrna, in an article from Constantinople dated
Xsth of August, after noticing the sending of the Turkish Plenipo-
tentiaries to the Russian head-quarters, says—•' it is certain that
the Sultan has accepted the Treaty of the 6th July, on the follow-
ing basis. The boundaries, according to the Protocol of the 16th
November, 18211 ; a tribute proportioned to the revenues which
the Porte received, before the revolution, from the provinces now
declared free ; the Greek troops to be limited to the number ne-
cessary for preserving internal order; only such Greeks as are
born in the Mores shall be allowed to go thither from the
Sultan's dominions; the fortresses of Mores shall be delivered
up to the Porte with their cannon, &c. in the same condition
as at the time of the evacuation. As for the conditions which the
Plenipotentiaries have to propose on the part of the Sultan, they
are said to be in substance as follow :—The integrity of the
Ottoman empire; free navigation for Russian ships front the Black
Sea to the Sea of Marmora, and vice versa, so far as this freedom is
compatible with the integrity of the empire ; the acceptance of the
Treaty of London; the punctual execution of all the stipulations
of preceding Treaties, especially that of Akermann ; lastly, the
final adjustment of all private claims which have been brought for-
ward on the part of Russia for several years past, the investigation
and satisfaction of which will shortly take place at Constantinople.
The Sultan is still in the camp at Ramid ; and the tranquillity of
the capital is undisturbed.
CONSTANTINOPLE, San. 11.

The trw conspiracy of the Janissaries was defeated just before
it was to have broken out. The object is said to have been to
murder all the great men of the empire, and all the Franks now
here ; and to restore the ancient order of things. They were pro-
ceeded against with the firmness peculiar to the present Go-
vernment. The occupation► of Adrianople, perhaps, heightened the
courage of the Janissaries, on the supposition that they would be
supported by the Russians ; as even the beads of the Guilds, who
were always connected with the Janissaries, positively refused to
obey the order for all Nlussulmen to take arms. At this critical
moment began the arrest and execution of the chiefs of this con-
spiracy at Daud Pacha, where the Seraskier resides. When they
were got rid of, the execution of the others at Constantinople coin-
maned ; and there are still daily executions here at the corners of
the streets, and in the market places. Several coffee-houses fre-
quented by the conspirators were pulled down. The executions
take place in a new manner. I have witnessed several. For-
merly, the criminals were beheaded, standing with their
hands tied behind them—the executioner holding by the
hair of the head; now, they are made to kneel—their bodies bent
forward—and the head bare. The executioner puts an olive in
their mouths, makes them a speech in their fashion, and Boo-
rishes his sabre several times, as if he were going to strike. In
many issuances this continued some time. probably to prolong the
criminal's fear of death. In others the speech was very short.
The sabre is two feet and. a half long, curved towards the point;
the executioner wields it with both hands, with such ease, that the
point always struck against the pavement. The head, which soma
times rolled several paces, was placed under the criminarsarm,with
the face turned towards the feet. The heads of those who were
not Turks were placed at their feet. A label in the form of a heart
stated the crime of the delinquent : it was fixed on the body, and
both left exposed. Formerly, the exposition was for three days ;
but now, the bodies are cast into the sea the following morning.
The number of those lately executed is said to exceed 500. Among
them are sixteen of the chiefs of the guilds. All the others are
deprived of their offices. A Jew, who bad a love intrigue with a
Turkish female, was hanged. A Greek was beheaded for saying
to a tailor." Se you still make the.. growers," via. for the new re-
gular troops. A Turkish woman was hanged in a sack for attempt.
iog to fire a house. The same fate was allotted to two Turks for
attempting to set fire, a fortnight ago, to the Sultan's new
palace, en the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus. Only one
instance is known in which the Seraskier, who directs the
investigation, showed some indulgence : pardon was not to be
thought of. One of the Janissaries begged for his life—saying he
had a wife and children to support. The Seraskeir sent for him,
and said. " Your children are now my children ; and your wife
shall receive, monthly, sallicient foe her support. You may there-
fore be easy." The children were immediately sent to the Harem
of the Seraskier, but the father was beheaded. It is said that on
the occupation of Adrianople, certain Greeks were guilty of acts
of violence to some Turks, and pulled them by the beard; but that
they were punished by the Russians with the knout.

That indefatigable democrat, WILLIAM COBBETT,
has adventured upon very extraordinary ground for him
—namely, a criticism upon SD AK S PEARE—in the last
number of his weekly farrago. When we admit that we
have often been greatly edified and enlightened by his
masterly essays, which have rushed upon us with a tide
of conviction—upon the currency question, especially--
as overpowering from their forceful simplicity of lan-
guage, as irresistible from their complete knowledge and
exposition of the subject matters, we only do justice to
the most argumentative pen that has perhaps been ever
wielded in political discussion. We wish only that its
character for ingenuousness could bear comparison with
its power in argument: then, indeed, were COBBETT
immortalised, as the first benefactor of his generation.
But, to meddle with SIIAKSPEARD--COBBETT, the
unimaginative, the matter-of-fact apostle, the derider of
elegance, the decrier of fancy, the clown's vade mecum,
the oracle and representative of the vuIgar—COBBETT
—to meddle with the BARD of Avow : as if his rugged
and unrefined sympathies could ever congenialise with
that ethereal spirit !

It is not, however, because COBBETT has thought
fit to pass a critical opinion on SUAKSPEARE, that
we take exception : far from us the illiberal doctrine,
that only polished natures can sit in judgment on
the claims of genius. There may be at this moment
—and no doubt there are—thousands of minds in
the lower grades of the community, yet formed
and fitted to range in a superior orbit; capable of
seizing the most delicate intellectual beauties, and ap-
prehending with a quick sense and fine perception the
divinest abstractions of poesy. Neither is it so much
because we deny this capacity to COBBETT, and hold him
of all men—as well from his previous habits and asso-
ciations, as from his coarse and savage idiosyncracy—the
least qualified to give a sincere or sound judgment in
such a matter, that we deem it important to take notice
of hint. It is the motive, which actuates this great
political seducer to go out of his path for a special pur-
pose, which we contemplate with equal pain and disgust.
Unable .to relish the refinements of SHAKSEEARE hint-

self, but aware that he teems with grand moral incuka
lions, a familiarity with which must make the mind
enamoured of our country's institutions, and impress it
with a love of social order—and, therefore, unfit it in a
proportionate degree from becoming an instrument in his
hands to Americanise the British nation—he holds him
up as an object of contempt and avoidance to the youth
of those industrious orders, among whom his Register
principally circulates. He knows the hold which he
possesses over the uneducated and inexperienced in those
numerous classes, and he uses that influence to corrupt
them systematically, under the insidious mask of advice
and direction for their future conduct and guidance in
life. He represents the fame of SitAxse EARE as by no
means arising from the excellence of his dramatic pro-
ductions, but derived entirely from a fashionable conven-
tion, to repute him the first of poets.
It ought to have been mentioned by us, in the outset,
that COBBETT is publishing, in the shape of cheap
Tracts—to promote the grand object for which he has
been writing nearly half a century—AnvlCE TO You x 6
MEN, in weekly numbers, and to YOUNG Wom I x , also ;
and that these pamphlets are of course made the vehicles
of his peculiar precepts and inculcations. In one of
these, which appeared on the first of September last, be
related—in that style of argumentative disparagement of
SIIAKSPEARE, which no one knows how to insinuate s.)
convincingly into a young mind as he does—the well
remembered incident of the IRELAND forgeries. In the
hands of such a shrewd logician as ConneTT, here was
an occurrence, wherefrom—without much difficulty—ii
might almost be proved that black is white ; of course,
this is understood with a due allowance for the capacities
of those whom he addresses : and he certainly made
the most of the story.
It is this story of the IRELAND forgeries, re-
published in his Register of Saturday, which now elicits
from us these observations. He heads it, in large letters.
the SII KSPEA RI: HOAX ; and introduces it by express •
ing his " contempt of those, who, by enthusiastic men, or
knavish traders in plays and pamphlets, have been in-
duced to look upon the plays of this old author as some-
thing almost divine." " But what I have been most
anxious about is, to prevent, as far as in me lay, youth
from being corrupted in their taste by the fashion of
praising, almost adoring, the writings of this poet."
The history of the production of Vortigern and
Rowena is too familiar in the recollection of our
readers, to make it necessary to do more than allude to it
here : suffice it to say that COBBETT has told it in his
own way, and yet, without any falsification of the facts.
To attempt, however, to infer from this incident, that
SHAKSPEARE has been over-rated, and that his genius
could be rivalled by a boy—or, that it ever has been ri-
valled at all—is beginning at the wrong end. Surely,
those persons—distinguished as some of their names were
who composed the SHAKSPEARE CLOS:IT on that oc-
casion—may with much greater verisimilitude be held to
have been incompetent judges, than that SIIAKSPEARE
should have maintained so long his unarraigned pre-
eminence, without any entitling genius to support him in
his " pride of place ?" It is to be remarked, also, that
there were mechanical ingredients entering into that de-
ception, of a nature peculiarly calculated to predispose to
romantic opinions, and affect the judgment through the
agency of the imagination. The imitated ink and paper
of the seventeenth century were so perfect, that Sir
ISAAC HEARD—who was a member of that memorable
.JURY—pronounced them genuine manuscripts of the
Elizabethan age : and when, along with such an ascer:
tainnient, the spot of asserted discovery came to be
coupled, the decision from external evidence appears to
have quite superseded an attempt at internal investigation.
Nor do we conceive—their minds being once satisfied by
the concurrence of outward proof—that the determina-
tion to which they came in any wise impugned their cri-
tical acumen. For they were carried, by the strong de-
monstration of facts, to the declaration of an independent
conviction, which no inferiority nor inequality in the
manuscript before them could by possibility influence.
They knew besides, that all great writers are at some
periods unequal to themselves, and oven that this play
might have been the raw composition of untutored boy-
hood. But to suppose that they meant—when they de-
cided for the genuineness of that document—to atlirm itii
rivality with the extant works of SHAK6PEAUE, is
greatly to misunderstand the evidence upon which they
pronounced it genuine. On evidence of precisely the
same sort to-morrow—provided only it could be assembled
unsuspiciously before us—we might ourselves pronounce
the exercise of a modern schoolboy to be original
HORACE himself ; and yet, after all, be no such
despicable judges of Horatian elegance.

We had no design when We set out with the name
of collar:17, to travel so far out of our strict record,
as we have; we purposed to confine ourselves to his
political motive for misrepresenting and maligning
SHAKSPLARE but we could not resist altogether the
fascination of the collateral question. We knew WIL-
LIAM HENRY IRELAND well, and have heard more
than once from his lips the narrative of this fabrica-
tion. It was an effort manifestly suggested by the
more splendid and successful forgeries of CHATTER-
TON; nor did it strike us as being more censurable
in the imitation than in the precedent—except that
With IRELAND it originated in the miscalculations of
self-conceit, whereas in CHATTERTON it was a glo-
rious ambition, of which the consummation was hand-
maid to the conception. Doctor PARR, Doctor WHAR-
TON. Sir ISAAC HEARD, JOHN KEMBLE, RICHARD
BRINSLEY SHE al DAN, were amongst those who
pronounced Vortigern and Rowena to be the un-
doubted manuscript of WILLIAM SHABSPEARE:
not—as we have already shown—from any intrinsic
identifications, which justified for it the glory of such a
distinction, but because they were overcome to conviction
by the continence of irresistible outward circumstantial-
ties alone.

Let not COBBETT, therefore, starting from mush inad-

r

Invidiose Saul:, non ai to ruperis, unqtam
Par eris ut peragas !

rnissible premises, turn into derision " the judgment of
Doctors and other pretenders to literary superiority."
It was a question of material proof, not of intellectual
deduction or analogy ; and if the depositions to the alleged
ect of discovery were so strong, and the indicim. of as-
sorted antiquity so indisputable, all that can be said is—
that the decision was according to the evidence. The
poetical pre-eminence of the great (Namatist was not even
of cctibk—much less could it have been affected—by that
enquiry : for if it had been established past controversy
that Vortigern and Rowena was as truly SUAKSPEARE'S,
aS we now know that it is truly IRELAND'S, how could
it havedimmed one jewel in the unfading crown he wears ?
It would have added one more to the catalogue of his
preserved mediocrities—be it so : but how could that have
derogated from his established, transcendental honours ?
No, no ; the fame of SIIAKSPEA itE—unimpressible, as
his deserts are unbounded—is not to be shaken by the
breath of CORBETT :

CITY. TwELvs o'CLoca.

The approach of settling day in the English Stock
Market is looked for with some anxiety, as it is gene-
rally thought to be a strong Bull account; but that this
party will take the stock they have bought for time to
avoid the loss they must otherwise submit, and trust to
the chapter of accidents for being enabled to get out at
some future period. Consols for Account this morning
are at 891 ; and for the November Account the price
is 89g.

IVe have at present very little doing in any of our Fo-
reign Securities, but the European Bonds are generally
steady. It is believed that many of the Continental
Powers contemplate a reduction in the interest of their
different Loans. The Portuguese Government, it is said,
will substitute a Four per Cent. Stock in the place of the
Five per Cent. of which they have given notice of paying
off; and Austria, it is understood, has a similar measure
in contemplation. Naples likewise, it is thought, will
endeavour to carry into effect a similar financial measure.
Russian Bonds are now quoted at 101 i 2 ; Danish at
70i 1; and Portuguese at 101 111. We have nothing
yet to notice in the South American Securities : Mexican
Stock is 18i ; Colombian, 17 to 18 ; and Brazilian, 62i
3 ; but the transactions are scarce worth noticing.

CITY TWO O'CLOCK.

No variation has taken place in the Consol Market,
which remains for Thursday's account at 891 j. By ac-
counts from Sicily, it appears that the third supplement
to the new Tariff orders that beer pay on entry eight du-
cats per cantare, and paper for writing or printingsixteen
ducats.

In the Foreign Stock Market there is nothing what-
ever doing. Russian Bonds remain at 101 i to 102.
Danish, at 70i to 711; and Brazilian, 62i 63.
By the arrival of the London Line of Packet Ship,
Hudson, Capt. CHAMPLIN, New York Papers to the
18th Sept. have been received at the N. S. American
Coffee-house.-. From the Papers of the 17th Sept. we
extract the following :-..
The Journal of Odessa of the 15th Sept. contains the
following remarkable passage: "If the Sultan has
sufficient sense to appreciate his true interest, he will
seek an alliance with Russia; while the Russians will
gladly receive the same, and gain the affections of the
Turks, and thus extend their commercial relations, both
in Persia and Turkey."
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Matt.s Amman Tats Der.--Doblin 2—ii'aterford 2—Guernsey
and Jersey 2—France I—Lisbon 1.

The Unicorn, Tromp, from Quebec to Liverpool, and several
other veuela, were on shore at Isle Madame on the Stb ult. during
it gale.
The Jane, Aitken, from Ayr to Belfast, foundered near Groom's
Point on the 7th inst. '

The Arethusa, from Newcasde to Rio Janeiro, was abandoned
by the crew near Yarmouth on the Bth inst. with four feet water
in her hold.

The Mars, Guy, from Newport to Bideford, was wrecked at
Ilfracomb on the Bth init. Crew saved.

The Casimir Deldris-tie, Bourich, from St. Petersburgh to
Havre, and the Marla blase., from Havre, Scheidam, were driven
on shore on Friday, and supposed would be wrecked.
DEAL, OCT. 10.—Wind W.& W.—Arrived the Symmetry.
Crain, from blirainkbi; lady East, Evans, from India ; and the
Nestor, Sadler, from North America.

OCT. 11.m...*11111 W. by N.—Arrived from London the Ruth,
'
—, for Jamaica ; Hebden Fowler, for the Mauritius; Henry
and Sarah, Watt, for Malta; Lord Amherst, —, for India;
and Warrior, for New South Wales.

Poswasouru, Ocr. 10.—Wind W.—Arrived from London, the
Bee, ...—.—., for Madeira; Lady Holland, Smith, for Madras ;
Alarshal Bennett transport, for Barbadoes; Gateshead, Fathegate,
fur Odessa ; Cato, Lawrence, for Lisbon ; and Surprise, Hyde, for
Jamaica. Arrived the William. Bartholomew, from Rio Janeiro.
Sailed the Sesostris, Yates,
_ for Bombay.
FALMOUTH, OCT. 9.—Wind W. LON.W......Arrived the Stunner
packet, from Lisbon, sailed 27th ult. Sailed his Majesty's cutter
Bramble, for Lisbon; Renard packet, and Osborne packet, for
Jamaica ; and Plover packet,forHalifax.

,
MARGATE, OCT. 10.—Arrived the Douglas, Ramsay; Cyrus,
Davison ; and Nestor, Sadler, from Quebec; Malvin., —, from
Bilboa ; and Minerva, Hare, from Bt. Petersburgh.
Doves, OCT. 11.—Arrived the Concert, Hick, from Quebec,
and Baltic, Mortlson, from St. Petersburgb.
HOLTDIZAD, OCT. 10.—Off the port, the Pantaloon, —,
from Demerara ; Exchange, --, from Barham ; Spa, —.....,
from Tobago ; and Woodman, ,from St. John's, N.B.