Star.
London, England, 1828-07-03 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

One of the most numerous Meetings of Proprietors of,
East India Stock held for a considerable time took place
yesterday, in consequence of the adjourned debate re-
lative to Captain Prescott's patronage.
Two new Bills were laid on the table, which are about
to be brought into Parliament, for amending the Cri•
minal Law in India, .by assimilating some minor powers
vested in the three Supreme Courts of Judicature, and
to extend the Mutiny Law to the Bombay Marine.
The Cle,k then read the following Resolution, which
formed the subject of the adjourned debate:

" That the Court of Proprietors fully approve of the measures
adopted by the Court of Directors in bringing the case of an abuse
of patronage before a legal tribunal; and although Capt. Prescott
appears to have acted incautiously and imprudently, yet having been
acquitted by the verdict of a Jury of the charge preferred against
him, and the Proprietors being also satisfied that be was net
actuated by any corrupt motive, they are not disposed to withdraw
their confidence from him as a member of the executive body."

The CHAIRMAN (J. Astell, Esq. M.P ) said, that in
consequence of the great importance of this question,
the Court of Directors, in their capacity of Proprietors,
are determined that the sense of the Company should
be taken on it by ballot—(Hear). This was the more
necessary, as the case was one which affected a member
of their own body.
General THORNTON wished to know whether Captain
Prescott's patronage was withheld from him because of
what had already taken place, or in consequence of any
ulterior proceedings which might be contemplated?

Mr. D. KINNAIRD said, this question had been an-
swered last day; they only awaited the decision of the
present question by the Proprietors.
The CHAIRMAN also explained the circumstances
under which the patronage was withheld, as already
fully stated.

Mr. Lowunts, and several other Propriet'rc, ad-
dressed the Chair at great length ; but the question being
to be decided by ballot, the result was not known.

CATHOLIC MEETING.

Yesterday a meeting of the Catholics residing in
London was held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern,
Strand, according to requisition, for the purpose of
adopting measures to co-operate with the Catholics of
Ireland for the return of Members friendly to the claims
of the Catholics. At a quarter before two o'clock Lord
Rossmonz took the chair, and commenced uith reading
the requisition for calling the meeting.
Mr. Qum, the Secretary, stated that the Committee
had received communications from various friends of
the Catholics. Mr. J. Weeble, a distinguished Catholic.
had sent 1001. enclosed in a letter, in which he said he
highly approved of the object of the Meeting.
Lord ROSSSIOAE, in rising to address the Meeting,
said, Gentlemen, in obedience to your wishes, commu-
nicated to me by a very respectable Deputation, I have
attended here to-day, knowing that you will support
the authority of the Chairman, as far as is necessary for
the due regulation of the Meeting. Gentlemen, we
have come here fix. one practical object, viz. by our
influence, to support the exertions of the friends of civil
and religious liberty in the Irish County of Clare. The
case of the Catholics of Ireland lies in a nutshell : they
do not choose to rest upon the solitary vote of the I.,te
Representative, because they conceive it would be an
implied. assent upon their part, -which they conceive to
be hostile to their opinions. I certainly cannot help
regarding the state of Clare at this moment, not as a
cause, but as a consequence. If justice is to be denied
to millions fur ever, consequences must take place, and
it is not likely they will be pleasant ones. Those who
promote the cause, must be responsible for the conse-
quences—(Loud cheers).
Sir W. 13RABAZON said, that Mr. O'Connell had met
with the approbation of his countrymen ; that Mr. V.
Fitzgerald also, he believed to be highly esteemed in
private life, but that his public act, in associating with
those who were so inimical to emancipation, had very
justly caused Ireland to withdraw from him her confi-
dence. He here begged to propose the first Resolution,
which was—
" That the manifestation, in every legal and constitutional man-
ner, of the power possessed by the friends of civil and religious
liberty through the means of the free electors of Ireland, with the
view of causing to be returned from that country to serve in Par-
liament men who shall be active and unremitting in their exertions,
and independent and uncompromising in their principles, is of the
deepest importance at the present crisis."
►Mr. RossoN in supporting ibis resolution and the
great cause, in the election of Mr. O'Connell, did nut
oppose Mr. Fitzgerald personally, but his system—a
system unquestionably calculated to postpone justice to
Ireland—(Loud cheers). Where all were agreed, dis-
cussion was unne:essary. It would almost seem to im•
ply a doubt of the justice of their cause.
The Resolution was then put and carried.
Mr. Kam.: moved,
" That the direction of that power to the object of weakening an
Administration which is hostile to the cause of civil and religious
liberty, is justifiable in principle, and dictated by wisdom and
necessity."
Mr. FIUMCIE seconded the Resolution, which was moved and
carried.

The next resolution, which was also moved and car-
ried was—
" That therefore we cordially approve of, and will adopt every
means in our power, in giving effect to the measures which have
been just taken by the Catholics of Ireland to oppose the re•ekc-
tion for the county of Clare, of an individual who is pledged :o
support the present Administration; and that by their ready con-
currence in those measures, the freeholders of Clare have set an
example worthy of the imitation of their countrymen, and the
applause of every friend to freedom."
A Gentleman,who,e name we could not hear,moved—

" That the expreseion of our cordial sympathy with the pa-
triotic ardour evinced by the freeholders of Clare be conveyed
to that body; and that subscriptions be forthwith entered into
towards defraying the expenses of the popular candidate for that
county."
Which was seconded by Mr. Sullivan, and carried.
Mr. MURIHY, in moving the next Resolution, ob.
served, that the principle of representation that the
Catholics were now about to introduce into Parliament
was- of such vital importance to the country and the
interests of this kingdom—that of returning to Parlia-
ment Catholic Representatives—that he was sure there
was no individual present who did not feel warmly the
object of the Meeting. Daniel O'Connell was about to'
be introduced as a Member of the Legislature of this
country, and there would be no question of his qualifi-
cations. The cause was not new; they had been exert-
ing themselves for years to obtain this object, and had
now come to an important crisis, which would in the
end bring forth into the Legislature the talent, the re-
spectability, and the united powers of the Irish Catho-
lics. He moved
I. That the energy, decision, and disinterestedness displayed at
this trying moment by that ardent vindicator of the rights of the
people, Daniel O'Connell, Rol. entitle him to the warmest thanks
of the whole Empire."
In moving this be entered fay into the spirit of the Resolution,
sad assured the meeting that if it were not from a conviction that
those who speak least generally say most, be should have been very
kappy to, have gone at length into the various traits of Mr. O'Coo-
nelliacoriduct, sugaring that he will be a most useful Parliamen-

Lary Represeatative. -
The motion was seconded and passed.
- Mr. Dawn proposed a series of resolutions to the
1 effect that a continued exertion should be made in Met

to for ward the Clare eleci ion. Before these resolutions
could be put or seconded,
Mr. Hurry stepped for ward to the front of the bust-
ings amid loud cheering. He said, that before these
resolutions were put, which he considered' metely
preliminaries and matters of coarse, he came forward
to declare a few sentiments that had occurred to
him. He perfectly conctPred with every resolution
submitted to ,the meeting—but not being one of the
Committee who had drawn up those resolutions, he
had wandered hither in consequence of seeing a public
meeting, with a few friends who were called Radical
Reformers—(laughter)—for the purpose of putting their.
shoulders to the wheel on this occasion, and to act as
one man throughout the country, in order to. attain
the object of the Meeting.. He, an English Protes-
tant, came forward with the opinions of those whose
opinions he had always advocated, to throw their
weight into the scale for the purpose of returning
Daniel O'Connell. He had differed from Mr. O'Con-
nell in opposing the disfranchisement of forty-shil-
ling freeholders, to whom now almost every Member
in the country looked with solicitude. He now
considered, too, that there was an inconsistency in
Mr. O'Connell's character in wishing Lord William
Paget to be returned to Parliament, because that
Nobleman had supported in every respect every
noxious measure that Mr. Fitzgerald had lent his
aid to. Mr. Fitzgerald, as tar back as 1819, was
one of the most determined, vindictive, and able
supporters of that measure which cut down and de-
stroyed the people of Manchester. He also voted for,
and, as far as he was able, supported the Insurrection
Act of Ireland, two grand reasons, with many others,
why he should not be returned to Parliament again, and
which Mr. O'Connell, in his excellent address to the
people of Clare, had omitted to advert to. Mr. O'Con-
nell 1 kewise proposed sending over missionaries to thi-T
count• y, t r impress the English with the necessity of
receiving into fellowship the Catholics of Ireland—a
measure which he (Mr. Hunt) highly deprecated. be-
cause no meeting had ever yet been fairly convened
where the most open arms were not outstretched to the
Catholics. He (Mr. Hunt), however, had no doubt that
Mt. O'Connell's good sense would occasion him to re-
cede front some of his former opinions, as he already
publicly declared he had done, and make him a wise,
able, and useful Member of Parliament. He admired
him, because he had stated in his addre,s that he would
support every measurein the Commons calculated to pro-
more univer,al liberty of conscience,every measure calcu-
lated to reduce the enormous and intoler ableL ishChurch
E tablishment, and to support a real and radical reform
in Parliament—such a 'dorm as would giveevery man
in the kingdom a share in the representation—(Loud
cheers). Lastly, that he would support every measure
calculated to bring the question of Union between
England and Ireland under consideration. In conse-
quence, it was of all this that he now stood for ward to
support Mr. O'Connell, from whose election lie antici-
pated to the community of Ireland, Scotland, and Eng-
land, the happiest results. With these observations he
begged to propose the following Resolution :
" That it is the opinion of this Meeting that the contest now
existing in the county of Dare is not delusively Catholic or Irish,
but that Daniel O'Connell, Esq. having, in his address to the in-
habitants of the county of Clare, declared himself favourable to a
Radical Reform in Parliament, it has become a national question,
and it is the bounden duty of every friend to liberty in the United
Kingdom to come forward and give him their support"—(Cheers).

Lord Ross►soßE, before he could put this rrsolutiors
to the meeting, considered himself bound to let the pre-
ceding resolutions that bad been moved he seconded and
proposed.
Mr. J. FITZGERALD, a freeholder. of Clare, then se-
conded the Resolutions, which were of igioally before the
chair; and att-mpted to support the consistency of Mr.
V. Fitzgerald. Ile however spoke so low, and the meet-
ing listened to him so impattectly, that we could hear
but little of what he said.

The Resolutions were then put and carried unani-
mously.

Mr. liuNT now again came forward, and moved his
Resolution, which he bad withdrawn until the other
Resolutions had been ditposed or.
Lord Rossmosto objected to putting the Resolution to
the Meeting, on the ground that it was in no way con-
nected with the question which brought them together.
A good deal of diversity of opinion was here manifested, ai to
whether Mr. Hunt's Resolution should be put, and several persons
from the body of the Meeting attempted vainly to obtain a bearing.

A GENTLEMAN said, that he thought it injudicious to

...
mix up other matters with that which was before the
Meeting, but still he thought the Chairman was bound
to put the Resolution of Mr. Hunt.

Sir' C. WOLSELEY came forward amidst loud cheers,
and seconded the Resolution of Mr. Hunt, and expressed
a hope that it wou'd be carried as cordially by the Meet-
ing as it was supported by himself —(Cheers).
Mr. MERMION thought thit the Resolution embraced
the very essence of the question for whico the Meeting
was assembled.
Mr. ROWLAND next addressed the Meeting in suppot t
of Mr. Hunt's resolution, after which,
The CHAIRMAN put the Resolution, which was nega-
tived by a considerable majority.
A •ote of thanks to his Lordship for his conduct in
the Chair was then agreed to, and the Meeting separated.

General Stuppa, Colonel of the Swiss Guards in the
French service, was once told by one of Louis XV.'s
Ministers, that if all the money the Swiss had received
from the Kings of France were added together, it would
pave the great road from Paris to Berne. " Pee haps
so, Sir," replied Stuppa ; " but, at the same time, if you
collect all the blood that the Swiss have shed in the
service of France, it would make a canal from Paris
to. Berne."

We extract the following article from the Journal du
Havee-4, Two elegant yachts, manned and marceuvt ed
by English of distinction, arrived from the Isle of Wight,
in this port, where they continued three days. Yester-
day they went to sea, for the purpose of proceeding with
the survey of our coast, which the proprietors of these
vessels propose co tinning along the coast of ,France.—
These vessels, by a mutual 'arrangement, have been
exempted by an order made relative to pleasure-
vessels, from the tonnage duty to which foreign
vessels are liable. On reflecting on the great num-
ber of pleasure vessels in which the opulent English
travel about, we are convinced of the good and in-
vincible taste which leads our neighbours towards an
element for which we entertain in France so much dis-
gust, or so much indifference. In the interior of Great
Britain there are few private well educated persons who
do not possess theoretical knowledge on the subject of
naval affairs sufficiently extensive; while in our country,
among thousands of enlightened persons, we hardly
meet with two or three who possess the slightest know. .
ledge of nautical astronomy. This observation reveals,.
perhaps sufficiently, the too often conic zed question of
the ancient superiority of the English navy over our own. .
In London, most of the sbopkeepers would lament beilag
so ignorant of navigation as the chefs de division of our
Minister of Marine. In France we do not blush at our
nationality, because we ate luficiently national.~