Star.
London, England, 1827-05-24 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

The Shepherd's Coleitdarosith Pillage Stories, and other
Poems; by JOHN CLAIN: L'tndon, J. TAILOR, 1827.
Eight or nine years have elapsed since the first pub-
lication of Clare, the Northamptonshire Peasant, and it
cannot fail of proving highly gratifying to his early
Mends and patrons, to find that his rural Muse is still
capable of producing fruits and flowers, worthy the
continuance of their fostering care. The present volortse
is equal, if not superior, to any of the former prods*.
tinns of its amiable and modest Author. It has all bis
characteristic simplicity and faithful delineation of es-
ternal nature, with the same excellent feeling of moral
Worth and sensibility. Poets are, proverbially careless
and deficient in matters of worldly wisdom ; but Clare,
we believe, has ever preserved himself unspotted from
the world, and has wisely blended the ;student with the
poetical. Man was not made for versifying alone, and
In these days of universal scribbling, genius has lost
much of its ancient dispensing power, and of the awe
and reverence with which it was once accompanied. It
would be ab.utd and paradoxical, however, tb infer
orn this, that true genius has lost any portion of its
influence on the public mind, or that mankind have
become indifferent to the merits of their best benefac.
tors. We still hail with pride and satisfaction every
indication of native talent, but we have become more
wise and discriminating in our praise, and reqUire that
the conduct of the man shall not belie the strains of the
Poet. To those who, like prior Dermody, believe that
genius can shelter its unworthy possessors from the
contempt of the world, we may say with a living Poet,
• The song is 'saved, but the Bard is lest.'
The one talent which they prized so highly, becomes
In their hands a curse, rather than a blessing ; and, in
them, literature is at once degraded and despised.
The strains with which Clare has here solaced his
leisure hours, amidst his native fens and marshes, (no
very apt abode for the Muses) are full of delightful
images of rural life and scenery. Halls and glens are
strangers to the village of Halpstone and its neighbour-
hood, and, therefore, are not to be found in the calen-
dar of our Poet. He has painted only what he has
known or seen ; but the commonest objects of nature
are to the Poet full of beauty and romance. Thus,
Clue, in one of the shorter pieces of the volume before
us, says, finely of himself, and of his Muse,
springs come not as they yearly come,
To low and vulgar eyes,
With here and there* Sewer in bloom,
Green trees and brighter skies :
Thy fancies Busied my boyish sight,
And gilt its earlier hours ;
And Spring came *rapt in beauty's light,
An Angel dropping flowers,
The following is of a higher mood :
• LIVE, DEATH, AND ETERNITY.
A shadow moving by one's side,
That would a substance seem,—•
- That is, yet is nor,—though descried—
Like skip beneath the stream s -
A tree that's ever in the bloom,
Whose fruit is nevtr rife;
A wish for joys that never come,
Such see the hopes of Life !
A dark, inevitable night,
A blank that will remain:
A waiting for the morning light,
Where waiting is in vain;
A guiph, where pathway never led
To shew the depth beneath;
A thing we know not, yet we dread,—
' That dreaded thing is Death!
The vaulted void of purple sky
That every where extends,
That stretches Irons the dazzled eye
In space that never ends;
A morning whose uprisen sum
No setting e'er shall see;
A day that comes without a nottnr.
Such is Eternity !
tet Clare write always thus, and, in the words of Dr.
Johnson, it will be vain to praise, and useless to blame
h.m.

The first tat on personal property in England was
levied by 1:11MIT 11. whose reign began in 1154, which amounted
to twopence in the pound on the amount of every individual's net
effects, after deducting the debts owing, to be verified on oath ; and
one penny in the pound for the four following years. This tax W 33
afterwards raised to ow-tenth part of all personal property, as in
1811 intelligence had been received that Jerusalem had been taken
by the Sultan of Egypt. On this occasion the English are said to
have paid above 70.000 i. and the resident Jews ahaut 60,0001. to-
gether about 2,000,0001. sterling of modem money.

- .
His late MAJESTY honoured The Birih-day several
times ssith a command. As be left the Theatre after his fist seeing
W, the King was pleased to observe to Mr. Harris, that the ship
mentioned as having been carved by the Captain on the doer of
the disputed garden, ought to be introduced to the eye of the
audience; this was afterwards dune, accompanied by ajust cons.
pliment to our Navy, which obtained three rounds of applause ;
mut on his Majesty's. 'se xt visit,i he smiled 'at the ship, pointed it
Am to the Queen, and was the first to cominence, in a most decided
rnanrer, the tokens of general approbation which again and again
followed the speech alluding to is. It was on one of these visits
that while Mr. Harris was lighting his Majesty from his box, the
Xing, not perceiving some steps in the lobby before him, had nearly
fallen i but quickly recovering himself, said laughingly to the alarmed
proprietor, "Slippery times, Harris: slippery times; we must look
to our feet." The period when this happened made the remark
peculiarly n propos ; a white cloth was, on subsequent occasions
laid on the steps to prevent a recurrence of the accident.—Dibdin's

RIOT AT BODMIN sennight the psi.
loners in Bodmin prison, sentenced to hard hbour, refused to go upon
the tread-mill,and declared they were resolved to resist every attempt
to compel them to resume their labour. Two of the visiting Ma-
gistrates were sent for, and on their arrival, they remonstrated with
the rioters, but in vain ; they tore up the railing that was round the
wheel, and arming themselves, prepared fur re‘i,tance. Finding
every other means unavailing, the Staff of the Cornwall Militia
were called together, and being armed and provided with ammuni-
tion, were drawn up in the outer yard of the prison. As soon as
their arrival was announced to the rioters, they gave three cheers,
shooting" Death, or victory !" The Magistrates again attempted
to remonstrate with them, but they " one and all" declared they
were resolved to repel force by force. The Militia men were
then directed to enter the inner yard, and as the first file were
about to past the gate, some of the must daring of the rioters
nude an attempt to wrest the ir muskets front them. This attack
was very spiritedly and successfully feasted without firing, and
the rioters retreated, some of them having been knocked down by
the but-end of the soldiers' firelocks, and live of the most refractory
being secured, and lodged In separate tells, the others then submit.
ted. ifowden, who was convicted at the late Truro Sessions of a
'violent assault on the constables of Camborste, being the ringleader,
was ordered by the klagistrates to ascend the wheel, which be po-
sitively refuted to do. The Magistrates finding it absolutely tie.
cessary to shew the prisoners that they were resolved to enforce
obedience, and to cotrect a notion they appeared to have entertained
that the Magistrates could not inflict corporal punishment on them,
orders were given to flog Sowden, which were instantly carried
into effect, in a manner that will for name time afford bins a feeling
proof of his error. The other rioters, who beheld the punishment
of their loader,-were tber. ordered to ascend the wheel, under a pain
of a similar hiiiiiction, when they wisely chose the lesser evil, and re-
armed the oboe:Joss operation, and promised obedience. Amongst
-other tbi3s,the rioters required-to be ptavidedwith a clean sitirtdaily.

ADDIGESII me MAJESTY ON THE LATE CHANGES IN
THE ADMINISTRATION.
Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held in
pursuance of a Requisition numerously signed, for the
purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of
addressing his Majesty on the recent changes in the
Administration. The Court was very much crowded.
The LORD MAYOR hating read the Requisition,
Mr. F4VILL rose to propose a dutiful and loyal Ad-
dress to his Majesty for his late conduct. He was not
anxious to compromise any of those feelings that had
actuated that Assembly for a number of years ; but lie
thought in presenting an Address to his Majesty upon
the present occasion, not one particle of those manly,
honest, au& bold feelinga, would in the slightest degree
be violated. He reflected with great pleasure on the
magnanimous conduct of the Sovereign- upon the late
occasion, in displaying so much firmness in the forma-
tion of his Cabinet, but- it was what he expected front a
King who said " that the Crown was held but in trust
for the peopte"—.(Hear, hear). He thought it a good
sign, that the present Ministry threw themselves upon
the country. Mr. Favell then alluded to the strange
coincidence of the simutltaneous resignation of the late
'Cabinet Ministers. He admitted that men were not to
be forced into any situation, however high, but he at
the same time was of opinion, that no man, hoe vet
great, should attempt to dictate to the Sovereign in the
exercise of his just prerogative. Mr. Favell concluded
by proposing that an Address be presented to the King.
Mr. TICKNIR seconded the Resolution. Mr. Can-
ning, it seas, he said, who broke up the Holy Alliance
—he called into existence the New World of South
America—it was through his means, that a little band
of Britons had gone forth to fight under the banners of-
Coneitutional Liberty, which ten times iii numbs
might oppose without effect. Mr. Ticknei then al:uded
to the advantages likely to arise to this country front
the principles of free trade, advocated by Messrs. Can-
ning, Robinson, and fluski.son. The loss sustained by
the country is consequence of the resignation of Mr.
Peel was great,, but lie hoped, that although he had
declined office, he would continue his invaluable ter-
vices.—(Great applause.)
Upon the question Iseing put,
Mr. STEVENS said, he should take up a fel, moments
of their time in doing an ay with the impression'which
the last speaker seemed to have on the assembly, rela-
tive to Mr Canning. This Gentleman had said that
Mr. Canning did this and did that—that he had saved
us from the Holy Alliance; that' he called the New
World into existence. But he 'has not told us, as'
he might have done, that George Canning. was the,
enemy of Parliamentary Reform—(Hop, Hear )-1
that he was the enemy of civil and religious liberty.'
(Hear, hear, followed by lou I cries of Yes, yes—No,
no.)—The proposer had said that they ought to sup-'
port the new Goveinment for what they had not done,'
and the seconders followed in the same strain.—Mr.,
Stevens alluded to the opinion, supposed to have been
entertained by his late Majeity on the 'subject ,o( Ca."
thane claims.
Mr. FAVELI. 'rose Worder.
The LORD MAYuR dtcided That Mr. &evens was in
order. a- •

Mr. STEVENS continued, arnd ssid. that if the Catholic
claims were acceded to, the Dissenters would' be for-
gotten. He concluded by saying that be conaidered
the Address pre•iraiu e.
Mr. TAYLOR contended, that the coalition formed by
the Whigs with isli. Canning, in order to Inuit an
Administration, wa. pe fectly cortect.
Alderman YES AEL SS ci.nsideied the change in die
Administration for the good• of the country. .
Aldernism Tnostes•sw said, that although he had nr,
objection to support an Address to his Majesty, which
confined itself exclusively to an expression of satisfaction,
in consequ:nce of his having ex reised his just preroga-
tive, but if it went to eu!ogi-e the preseut Administra.
lion, he, for one, would object to it.
Mr. Alderman Witco said; that if he thought such
an Address of congratulation to the King as that pro-
posed could be gratifying to his Majesty ; if he thought
that it would be satistattory even to thcAdministiatio.r,
he should give his entire. support to the motion—(hear)
—but it could not be satisfactory to his Majesty. He
wished to caution the Court, as Protestants, against
committing themselves to the support of a Minister
who had declared the attainment of Catholic Eman-
cipation to be the object nearest to his heart
(Hear, hear, hear). He would say waling about
the enlightened condition in which we were. lie was
not for calling our ancestors, to whom we were in-
debted for our present state of prosperity, fools. He
was not for giving up the advantages of the reformed
lidigion which they had shed their blood so freely to
advance. He was not for supporting an Administra-
tion inclined to do this—an Administration which, by
an unfortunate alliance with certain persona, bad ren-
dered rit probable that it would be as little perm inent
as that formed of All the Talents. He should, there-
fore, move the previous question.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Burraftsioarn.
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN spoke at greatllength in
support of the motion. The question was, whether the
people would come lot ward and support the exercise of
the pterogatise of the Crown against the influence of
art Aristocracy of 116roughmongers? ~."'•
Mr. Deputy SAUNDERS called the attention of the
Coact to the circumstance, that the Address was pro-
posed by the same man IA ho led them to Biandenburgh
House—c(Cries of Order). He contended that an Ad-
dress from such parties could not be agreeable to his
Islajesty. Then again he was not for praising a change
which would endanger the Protestant Fabric, under
which we had enjoyed so much liberty. ' Let the Couit
remember that the person at the head of the Adminis-
tration had been at work, like a battering r.im, to over-
throw the glorious Protestant Edifice—(Laughte!).—
Were they then to bow down and idolise su,:h a maw?
No! he hoped not—(Much laughter).
Mt. J. W. HALL contended.', that the. Address should•
embody an expression of the intention of the Court to
support the new Ministry—(Cries of No, no).
Mr. FAvrtu. replied, and a shew of hands was taken,
when the numbers appearing nearly equal, though the
Lord Mayor declared the original *mil:id -curia, a
division took 14 ice.
For the original Motion ...... eVilermen . it
Commoners . 82
Tellers .

85
Fur the previous Question ...... Aldermen . 1
Commoners . 33
Tellers

Majority for the original Motion .
An AJthese vraa ultimately agreed to.

NIEL:TINOS OF CREDITORS, BASINGIIALI,STREET.

Tft-MOH ROM. M. M.
J. Iledirin,'Hing's Head Tavern, Nevrgate-street, victualler 3 12
J. Seeger, Moum-street, Lambeth, brushinaker . 3 9-
J. CAitell, Illackiti.lo.Street, Surrey, victualler • . 311
E. Taylor, Bnd's Mill, Gloucesrershire. clothier . .3 11
W. Neely. filirbortie•Lne, Canuon-stre;:t, and 'Change-alley,
• Cornhlil, pri;ift r . . 3 1
W. Waters, Lie of Dowgate.bill, dealer in porter aii,l ales :: to
K. T. Bishop, Strniingbrau, wvollen-draper . a 212
J. &übbs, Paatoo..treet, Leicester-spine, jeweller . :.: 12
G. Smith, Hearn street, Waterloo-road, grocer . 2 1
W.'S. ItumbeU, Upper l'ark-place, Dorset-square,coachmaker 2 12
111. Hewitt, HO Holborn, itountooger . , . 211
W. Andrews. /anntb,. Lincolnshire, grocer . 51 r
J. Doak Devonshire-street, queen-square, surgeon . 210
W. kliNtell, sen. Charles-street, Middlesex Hospital, and
Meswell.bill, coach and harness-maker . 211
T. Obee' Weymouth-street, Mary-la-bonne, carpenter . 211
IL Roberts, blinchiohampton, Gloucestershire, surgeon 210
W. WilEn;Gibroa-street, Waterloo-bridge-road, plumber 1 9
F. Perryman, jun! Berwick.street, Soho, carver and gilder 111
W. Perkins; Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square, upholsterer 110
W. H. Kilbinton, Water-lane, London, and High-street, •
Southwark, wine-merchant . . 111
,J. W. Ikown, CoolerrroTf, St. Num. victure.dcAler . 111.