Star.
London, England, 1827-03-05 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

An ACCOII4II of Public Charities, digested and arranged
from the Reports of His Majesty's Commissioners on
Charitable kbundations in. kmglaod and Waks.,, with
Notes and Comments: 1827. Simplcin and MArshall.

svo. Pas t.I. pp 64i.
tn,the year 1816, the Education Committee was ap-
pointed to inquire into the provisions for the instruction
of the Poor of the Metropolis ; when it was disclosed
in these inquiries, that many rich eudowments appro
printed to the education and maintenance of the opu-
lent were, by the ordinances of the founders, designed
for the benefit of the indigent classes. In consequence
of these di closures, measures were adopted,, for mi-
nutely investigating the management of Public Chati-
ties. Commissioners were appointed for the purpose,
and under the authoritrof different Acts of Parliament
the inquiry, for six years, has been pursued. The re-
st*s have been annually reported, and it is from them
the facts stud details of the present publication have been
glossed and arranged. This work, therefore, is un-
questionably of great importance, and we can with
great confidence recommend it to our Readers. The
notes and comments by the Editor, ate elucidating and
satisfactory ; and he.has executed his, difficult task with
much tact and ability. We can afford room for an
extract, and we give a few-explanations on the constitu-
tion and nature of the privileged bodies of this vast Me-
tropolis—the City Companies.
The several professions and trades exercised in the City of Lon-
don are incorporated into distinct fraternities, governed by their
own officers and by-laws. The number of Companies is ninety.
one, They mostly consist of a livery and freemen, governed by a
Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants. 'Persons exercising
any trade within the City, not (run, use of these Companies, are
liable to penalties.'
The freedom of the City may be acquired foir several ways.-
Ist. By serving an apprenticeship. £d. By birth, as a freeman's
sea. 3d. By tine and ransom, by order of the Court of Comma
Council. 4th. And lastly, by preaentation from the thy, u a
mark of respect or gratitude for distinguished public services. Some.
Companies have not the privilege of nuking their members free of
the City ; such are the Companies of Surgeons, Porters, and
Watermen. The livery is chosen from among the reenten of their
respective Companies. They are a numerous and respectable body.
aud enjoy important privileges '• suck as electing the Members of
Parliament for the City, Lord Mayor, Chamberlain, and principal
City Ofilcers. Refusing to serve on the Hirai subjects to a penalty,
unless reasonable cause can be shewn to the contrary. A One is
payable by each person on taking up his livery, varying In different
Companies from to 501.
Some Companies are merely inch by
_prescription, and are not
incorporated either by Charter or Act of Parliament. Others have
no livery tall that remains of them is the permanent staff, generally
• on full pay,• consisting of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants.
Seth are the Homers, Basket-makers, Woolmen, Pasteur*, and
Spectacle-makers. Two of these Companies have no Chance.
The different Companies were all at first instituted for the benefit
of trade. Exclusive• privileges were granted to them that they
might perfect themselves in their respective mysteries or occupa-
tions, that the public might be guarded against fraud and adultera-
tion, and nut suffer from the knavery or unskilfulness of workman
and traders. These duties have fallen onto disuse; with the ex-

ception of. the Apothecaries, Goldsmiths,. and one• or two more
Companies, such surveillance is never exercised.
-- Indeed, as the Con Venice are now constituted, it is bnpassible
ash functions could be discharged; in many of them not a single
member is of that trade which the name. of the Company imports.
This, I believe, is the case with 114 Mercers' Company, most of
Whoa; lire Alefcbents of the fast class, bankers, and insurance-
brokers. Like ancient bodice, senendly, the duties have been suf-
fered to expire, while the appropriation of the revenue.. salaries, and
fees. have been carefully preserved orenorincouly augmented.
Meetly all the charitahre 'funds in London are under the contrail
and management of the City' Coinpanies. The annual value of these
cLarities, even under the present systelli of administration, we have
meb, amounts to £138,5831 13$: 5. The property consists of
manors and pirates, messuages, tenements, church livings, tithes of
and of vast sums invested in the public toad& The sh-
ams her which this property veal princkally bequeathed, were to
ilhesd, (lathe, and edueste the pour ;: tO provide sods tar apples-
• *lna poor boys, for mastitis y ming commendmipbesbeses wilds
grateltour loans,- for -erecting almshouses,.and far relieving unfor-
tunate claimers in confinement; in a word, for mitigating all the
evils of life resulting front ignorance, age, penury, 'fetuses., and
misfortune.
The Master, Wardens; and Assistants, are the virtual disposers
of this propel ty ; they have the letting of lands and tenements ;
they contract Ibr repairs, alterations, and improvements • they pre-
sent to the livings, and receive the tithes and dividends. They
also selecrthe objects of the charity, and interpret the will, deed,
or letters patent by which it was created. The cominonaky of the
Cumpinics have no share in•these functions ; the power is engrossed
by the parties mentioned, who elect themselves, forming a secret
andperpetual conclave, into which,no one is admitted unless legiti-
mately descended from the parent stock.
• The Mercers' Company have the management of a conaiderable,
but not the largest portion of charity-property in London. They
may rank the first among the twelve principal Companies, and'
the individuals composing it, from their wealth, influence, and
politics, are considered the must potent in the City. It seems pro.
per, therefore, to begin with the charities under the management of
this Company, of which the Commissioners have furnished ample
details in the sixth volume of -their reports. Some charities under
eke commit of the Company are detailed in the preceding volumes;
thtse we have included, inserting the volume and page from which
our account is abridged.
One fact occurs in the history of the Mercers' Company which
it is proper to notice, in order to comprehend the situation of that
diyision of the charitable fluids under the denomination of " Money
Legacy Charities."
From two Petitions presented to the House of Commons, by
the Company, in the years 1746 and 1747, it appears that, in the
reign of Charles I. the Company had lent large sums of money to
' Government and the City of London, and that afterwards they had
incurred large expenses, as joint devisees, with the City of Loudon,
of 'Sir Thomas Gresham's estates, in rehudding, upon ground pur-
chased fur the purpose, the Exchange, which formed part of the
Gresham property, and which had been burnt down hi the great
fire, to 16C6; for which purpose they bad not only applied several
- large sums given them for charitable purposes, bat had incurred a
considerable debt ; that, with a view of replacing these sums and
discharging their debts, they adopted a plan, suggested by the Rev.
Dr. Asheton, for receiving subscriptions, for granting annuities, at
the rate of 30 per cent. to the widow of Clergymen and others, to

conimenie after the death of the subscribers 1-itut which plan, far

. .
from relieving, hada° inerea,ed their diftsculties' that, in 1745, they
found themselves indebted 100,0001. and liable to the payment of
• annuities to the amount of 9,7201. a year, with au income of little

anon shan x,OOOl.

Upon application to Parliament, by the above mentioned Peti-
tions, assistant, was afforded them, by empowering them to let
• their trust estates, on building and repairing leases, to issue bonds,
payable by a lottery, dhwn in their ILII, and Ly a grant of 3,000 f.
▪ year, for thirty-five years, out of the duty on coals imported into
the port of London.
These aids were insufficient to restore the finances of the Com-
pany, and for some years prior to 1743 they were compelled to sus.
rend the payment of their Money Legacies, when the statute 4th
George ill. passed, allowing them to apply the 3,0004 granted ►y
the 31st George 11,. to liquidate Vse debts which had accumulated.
In 1768 the Company adopted the resoastion of investing in Old
South Sea Annuities the:arrears of the Money Legacies unpaid, and
which had accumulated sn the preceding eighteen years; the divi-
dends of the arrears so invested have been since added to the an-
nual payntents, on the several Money Legacy Charities. This oc-
casions an augmentation of the present amount above the original
grant, as will be remarked in several instances that follow.

Neurophobia and Gastromania, or Nervine Madness,
and Stomachic Insanity, tig. efc. By a Member of

the Faculty. Sherwood and 18m-o. pp. 144.
Our nervous and hypcchondrimal friends are advised
to refer to this itemise, for it combines much amusing
' and humorous anecdote and gossip, with trite and ju-
dicious observation and temart. The author is a
" Member of the F..culty," and addresses his work to
" delicate, capricious, and insubordinate stomachs ;
weak, whimsical, and irritable nerves, of both sexes;
offers critical remarks on indigestion, &c." and closes
hts treatise with select and simplified prescriptions for

nervous, hypochpntiriacal,' and hy.steric.sf , patio**.
The writer', yr* is heterodox-4 indeed,• we might
141117 presume as,mucp Prot the motto at:Alte foot of
the title plie— '
" is not my practice blindly to believe,
And pits my faith upon another's sleeve."
Those persons who are unhappily tinder the infitt-_
ence of "fiddle-string" diseases, and Who are hypo-
chondriacally incline!, should, however, consult this
varied little production, fur it may possibly tend to di-
vert the hypochondriac from his gloomy ideas, and
dissolve that sombre melancholy, which
" in the soul's fair table falsely grave(
Whole squadrons of famastreal chimeras."
Anecdotes of Steam Engine:. By RoamSTUMM
Wightman and Cramp. 18mo.
This little work iv an extremely interesting compila-
tion of facts, and is well calculated to aid the scientific'
scholar in the acquirement of his studies. It gives a
detailed historical, descriptive, and practical account of
Steam Engines, is embellished with numerous illus-
trative engravings on copper, and is published in three
parts, for the convenience of purchasers.
Common Sous on Colonial Slavery. Hatchard and
Son. Bvo. pp. 67.
An able pamphlet, in which the writer examines, ac-
. cording to the test of common sense, the chief objec-
jectioas usually made to the speedy emancipation of
our West Indian slaves.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

-.~-

. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1627.
STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

Coosok, which left off as Saturday at isg, opened this morning
at of to for the Amuunt, andiremain steadtst the above price,
with little doing. It is uow stated, Wet Ministers have not mate•
rially altered their plans of finance, which was previously settled
before the indisposition of Lord Lmaaroo: ; and that they will
only require about two millions of a:chequer Bills to be banded.*

. .
Several files of American Papers have arrived to the 6th of Fe-
bruary.--From the National idooeste, dated February 6.
CLAIMS os Flumes—We have this evening published the Ms.
modal, to the Senate and House of Representatives, of the Mer-
chants and Traders of New York, having claims on France, and
other European States. Let Congress answer. there is no quad=
of the legality and junto of out claims, and we can see no pos-
sible reason for further delay, or for temporising any longer. With
England we cancelled our claims by drawing the sword ; but not
so with France, en the- contrary, she had the fell Moat of our
belligetent attitude. The Government mast either enforce the
payment of their claims abroad, and. vindicate their rights, or
pay the debts themselves. •
BOLITA:11 was expected.to arrive at Caracas on the 9th or 10th
of January. They were mating preparations to receive him.
Letters from the Vevanoeh of the 11th of January state, that a
schooner beloaging to Commodore Foetus's squadron was die.
masted, and a number of her me* drowned. It was onerently
reported at the Havannab, that LAPOSOZ would make an attempt
to cut out the Mexican squadron. • •
The frigate Glierreire, of sixty guns, balk at MareeMes, for the
parka of Egypt, Is to be ready to sail la a month. This frigate is
gulag to Alexandria, manned by 400 Frenchmen.
Ia thi Poreign•marbet littlels doing, except in Mexicans, which
are worse, owing to Team deelaring itself a free State.

Ifstract of a letter from Lisbon, dated 14th of February
From the army there has ban nothing published these last
five days, so that wi remain in expectation ; in fact, there le
a report that Chaves has Again beaten the Constitudonal troops.
--The latest atooldti state him to be at Clurved, at tit ,head
of • 1,500 men, with' a umber of Guardlas; and that )[olio,
the General, whom be at first forced are of Throw lioness
in the :beginning of December, and the divisions of Villa Floe
Angeja, and Azeredo, were endeavouring to draw him out of
Portugal. An account is stated to have been received lately from his
army that he has issued arroclaination,callitig the young men ofTrai.

os-Montee to come forward to join his standard, under penalty of
being shot on refusal. Numbers of reports are afloat that the Spa-
niards are coming to join the Royalists, and that the English are
disposed to give way to the general wish of the Portuguese nation,
and to send them Don Miguel to govern them; in fact, instead
of the Constitution having gained strength by the defeat of
Chaves on the last occasion, it appears now that suite a
different result has taken place. From the impression on the people
it appears that Lisboa was about to declare itself In favour of the
Infant Miguel and the Queen Mother. Letters from. Badajos
state that Lealdad bad been sent to Ceuta to reinforce the garrison,
as it was expected that England would soon attack that fortress.
General Sarafield, the most able General in Spain, being appointed m
command the Spanish Army of Observation, is considered as the
commencement of the war : the Spanish Army now consists of
Army of Sars field 4.. 50,000
The Royal Guards, Grenadiers and Provincials 40,000
Militia ... 50,000
The new LevE 24,000

.104,000
My informant says, that war would be soon declared by Spain If
England dues not forestall it, for whatever party strikes the first
blow. would be sure to gain great advantage', as the Royalist party
in Portugal would instantly join the Spanish army, and drive the
English out ; he says that war is inevitable in less than two months,
before the end of April; and that it is clear that Spain is supported
by Russia and other Powers. I have net been as yet able to
see General Clinton's Proclamation, bat tbere is still a report that
a Proclamation is to be published at Coimbra. The Prime Minis-
ter h about to be impeached. The Bishop of Vixen Is secusedat
favouring the rebels ; the Minister of War' is regarded as an old
French Ofkcer. All is in confusion and discontent; how can these
affairs continue, I leave you to judge in England."
CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The Consol market has remained steady the whole of the morn
ing at et j to 82 for the Account, and the same for Money, with no
business doing of importance.
PRICE OF STOCKS AT TWO O'CLOCK.
Bank Stock Shut. , India Stock

5 per Cent. Red. Shut.
5 per Cent. Con& 52 811
Se per Cent.

--- Boods 54 52 53
Old Atinuhiss
21000 Exchequer Bills 34 2 3

3 per Cent. Red. Shut.

4 pee Cent. New 97) 97

4 per Cent. 1828, 9171 98
Long Annuities Shut.
FOREIGN FUNI
Brazilian Bonds, S p Ct.
Ditto Account ask
Buenns Ayres Bonds, 6 p C. 52
Colombian Bond., 6 p Ct.
Ditto Bda, 1824, 59*