Star.
London, England, 1818-05-30 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

A General 'Court of Proprietors of East-India Stock
was yesterday held at the Company's house in Lea-
&r.hall-street, pursuant to public advertisement.
The usual forms having been gone through, a va-
riety of documents, (the titles of which were read),
which had been presented to the House of Commons
since the last Court, were laid on the table.
The Chairman, JOHN PATTIsON, Esq. then stated
that the Court was convened in order that there be
laid before the Proprieters, the draft of a Bill new in
progress through the House of Commons, for conso-
lidating the several acts relative to the hiring of the
Company's shi.pping.
The Bill having been read by the Clerk,
Mr. 'brie rose, and in a speech of considerable
length, opposed the whole of its enactments, except
that connected with the last clause, as being calcu-
lated to overturn the existing shipping system. That
system, he observed, which had been established afters
struggle of fifteen years, was sanctioned by the late
Right Hon. Henry Dundas, and by the concurrent Re-
solutions of the Court of Directors and Proprietors. As
there was no immediate necessity for the Bill, he
wished that it should be suffered to lie over till next
Session of Parliament.
Mr. GRANT defended the Bill. It was necessary
to prevent the principle on which the existing grip-
ping system was established, from being wholly de-
stroyed, to adopt certain modifications, in order to
sneer the various contingencies to which human affairs
were liable, and which, at t4se commencement of a
contract, that would probably left for 14 or 20 years,
it was impossible to foresee.
Mr. &Pm NSTONE condemned the existing system
as a.most vicious one ; but as the present Bill was
better than those which had preceded it, he did not
mean to oppose it.
,l‘fr. GRANT stated, that the present shipping sys-
tem had saved the Company half a million of money.
Mr. EI,MINSTONE denied this position, and was
ready to aigne the point with the Hon. Director.
Mr. D. KINNAIRD observed, that the Bill which he
understood to be the work of the President of the
Board of Controul, was much more worthy of a
water of poetry than a grave Statesman, for to his
humble comprehension, it was utterly unintelligible.
There was no immediate occasion for any measure on
this subject, and therefore, he conceived in fairness
and candour, the further proceedings with respect to
it ought to be postponed.
Mr. Lowsees was of opinion that the Bill ought
not to be passed in the present Session. In the course
of his speech the Honourable Proprietor inveighed
strongly against the conduct of the CRiirt of Direc-
tors, who had lowered the interest on their bonds in
England from 5 to 4 per cent. by which his father
lost 10,000/. Ile believed, while the interest of this
country was reduced to a peace rate, it was conti-
nued at a war rate iniudia. This was rank—it smelled
strong—it looked as if the Court of Directors'were
oily anxious to serve their sons and Rephews, while
they paid no attention to the public.
Mr. Alderman ATKINS agreed perfectly in the prin-
ciple of the Bill, but conceived the measure might be
los:loosed without inconvenience till next Session.
Mi. ROBINSON said the measure had been fully
considered in the Court of Directors, they had given
their assent to it ; the great body of the Proprietors
appeared to like the bill, and, under these circum-
stances, he:saw no good reason for postponing it.
13.11, Hum& movecl.a low, amendment to the mo-
b
tion, That the Court do approve the said Bill," in
which he condemned the measure, and called on the
Court of Directors to petition Parliament that it
should not pass into a law until the whole ache Corn-
pany's shipping system was examined.
The amendment, on a show of hands, was nega-
eyed, and the original motion carried in the alfir-
mative.--The Court then adjourned.

. ,
On the 15th -instant, during a violent storm of
thunder and lightning, tiro children at the village of
Bolton, near Appleby were struck down by the
lightning ; one of them was much scorched, and they
were both senseless at the time, but a man who had
formerly worked in the mines at Alston Moor being
present, he had them covered up to the neck with fresh
pwi Id, which soon restored animation, and at pre-
sent both are doing well.
Tuesday last, as J. VIITOOLGER, a farmer, was help-
ing a neighbour at.Byfleet, Surrey, to wash his sheep
in the river Wey,-ope.Of the animals having escaped
from him, on his reaching to catch it, he slipped into
a deep part of the river, and immediately sunk and
never rosellgain ; and although several persons were
on the spot, half an hour elapsed before the body was
foimd, which; when taken out, was quite dead. The
Untortunate man had previously remarked; that the
last time he assisted at washing sheep he was nearly
drowned, and hoped he should come off better this
tim,e. lie has left a wife And several young children
' totally unprovided for.
Gm-Ica% MAT 18.—Wednesday evening last, a
dreadful murder was perpetrated at the village of
Ower, within about seven miles west of this town, by
4f, Flaherty, husband of the woman who was mur-
-4...red, aided and assisted b) her whole family, con-
sisting of her father, mother, two brothers, kc.—being
led by the lnisband to think the deceased was pcis
sasse ! of some evil spirit, and that he had power from
the priest to cure her, which had the effect of making
ht; own family look on, and even assist him, while he
. strangled her, by putting an iron tongs round her
neck, and pressing on it till she expired. The father
cf the deceased has been committed to the county
jail, by R. MARTIN, Esq. of Ross, who has been
snaking, and still continues to make, a most active
search !::.31- the murderer.

SPlelioimAN's STOMACH PILLs.—A Medicine of
Teular Proscription, and established credit, is per.
ksi-9 ore of-the Most safe and efficacious, that can be taken at
tl.;s season of the year, and at all times fot Spurns, Wind in the
44tattach, Nervous Cornplaints,to promote regular Perspiration,
Delicier.cy of Bile, ani in Obstruction of the Bowels, in Heart-
tarns, Costiveness, Cholics, Gout, Von limes, and in Mad-
aeSei. On trial, their intrinsic worth will prove their beat re-
tail:met:dation ; they are particularly recommended during the
elude of Sea Hathill, and drinking the Sea and Mineral Ws-
• ; also-for these living In warm climates. Prepared by Tao.
esa.a tiscet..,res, jun. Druggist, Tottenham High-Cross, Middle-
bfiletite of an Asslynment from H. and J. Berwick, solcPro-
firißtbri of 2isYt 11, Ipt, by the Will of M. Speodimen; and are
▪ taar Skase and LAwards, So, 66, St. Paul's Cintrels.wel and
Tkvon awl ff.t),Oxford-strott,in Boxe9st 4.. ild. 10s.
• :014 One °Anna ; and.may M bnel of tke principal Venders
o. asdielaes in 7bwa odd Country. •