Star.
London, England, 1826-05-16 00:00:00

POOR RATES.

•
'Pie Select Committee appointed to consider of the
several Returns made to the Order of the House in
1825, relative to the Sums assessed, levied, and ex-
pended, on account of the Poor in England'and Wales;
and to _report an Abstract of the same, together with
their Observations thereon, to the House( and to whorl)
the Rep, rt which, upon the 20th day of May in the
la,t Session • I Parliament, was made from the Select
Committee on Poor Returns, was referred;—have,
pursuant to the Order of the House, considered the
matters to them referred, and have agreed to the fol-
lowing Report:—
The amount of the Poor Rates levied in the year ending en the
2Sth of March, 1825, was £6,972,323, being more than that in the
preceding year by £135,818, and also rather more than the sum
levied in the year 18224, but less than that levied in former years,
since 1811-13, with the exception of 1815-16, which it exceeds by a
small sum only.
These comparisons refer to the total sums levied, including county
rates and other charges not appertaining to the poor.
These other charges scarcely differ in amount from the average
of the last three years, namely, rather more than -.Et,200,00n.
The expenditure upon the poor only, in 1824-5. was £5,786,991,
and exceeds, in a small propOrtion, that of each of the two years last
preceding.
The expenditure has not increased in all the counties. It has in-
creased in twenty-three in England, and eleven in Wales ; it has
decreased in nineteen in 'England, and one in Wales.
The highest increase is in Carnarvon, where it is thirteen per
cent. Of the English counties, the increase is greatest in Bucking-
ham, where it is nine per cent. The increase is below one per
cent. in Cornwall, Lincoln, Norfolk, and Shropshire. The greatest
decrease is eight per cent. in Rutland ; in Westmoreland it is below
one per cent.
All the counties in which the Poor Rates bad increased last year
exhibit an increase this year also, with the exception of Suffolk and
Warwick; and in addition. there has been an increase in Bucks,
Cornwall, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hereford, Hertford, Hunting-
don, Lancaster, Middlesex, Northampton, Salop, Somerset, Wor-
cester, Anglesey, Brecon, and Montgomery.
Of the Counties in which there was a decrease last year, Chester,
Devon. Derby, Durham, Kent, Leicester, Monmouth, Northum-1
berland, Nottingham, Rutland Stafford, Surrey. Sussex, West-,
moreland, York, and Glamorgan, still exhibit a decrease.

Your Committee have inserted in their Appendix a continuation
of the several Tables of Comparison which were added to the
Report of last year.
It will be found, that notwithstanding a diminution which has
occurred in each of the last two years, in the Poor's Rates of Sus-
sex, that county is still the district of England in which the expen-
diture bears the highest proportion to the number of the people;
and Lancaster is still at the opposite extremity of the scale.
May 1, 1826.
SCOTS BANKING BILL

Substance of the Bill (as amended on recommit•
ment), intituled An Act to regulate the Mode in which
certain Societies of Copartnerships, or Banking in Scot-
land, may sue and be sued.
Joint Stock Societies or Partnership. may sue and be sued in the
Name of their Manager, &c. provided such Society observe the
Regulations of this Act.
Such Societies shall yearly make out and deliver, at the Stamp
Ofice in Edinburgh, an Account, verified by the Manager, con-
taining the Name of the Firm, the several partners therein, and
officer thereof, &c.

Accouat to be made out and verified by officer.
Certified Copies of such Returns to be admitted as evidence of
the Appointment of the officer, acc.
Collector or Compuoller of Stamps to give certified copies of
Affidavits.

Account and Registry of new officers or members in the course
of any tear may be made without further certificate.
Partnerships sbaU sue and be sued in the name of their officer.
Not more than one action for the recovery of one demand.
Decrees and orders of a Court of Law or Equity, spinal the
officer, to take effect against the copartnership.
Judgments against such officer, in such actions, shall operate
against the Copartnership.
Officer. &c. in such cues indemnified.
Net to affect questions depending in Courts of Law at time of
passing this Act.
Copartnership restricted from taking out more than four licenses.
Penalty on copartnership neglecting to send returns, 5001.
Penalties fer making false returns.
False oath, perjury.
And be it further enacted, that all pecuniary penalties and for-
feitures imposed by this Act shall and may be sued for and reco-
acted in his Majesty's Court of Exchequer at Edinburgh, in the
same manner as penalties incurred under any act or acts relating to
stamp duties may be sued for and recovered in such court.

Four persons were killed by an explosion of gunpow-
der at Westbromwich last week.

Mrs. SIDDONS visited the British Artists Institution,
in Suffolk-street, on Saturday. She was accompanied
by two of her grand-daughters. Her appearance be-
spoke perfect health.
ELIICTION FOR WESTMORRLAND.—Last night the
friends of Mr. BROUGHAM assembled at the City of Lon-
don Tavern, for the purpose of adopting measures for
returning that Gentleman to Parliament for the county.
Several resolutions were passed, expressive of the deter-
mination of the electors to oppose the LOWTHER inter-
est; and a Committee was appointed to act in London
upon the subject, and a subscription to defray all ex-
penses of the election commenced.
Hugh Owen, the suspected poacher near Drayton
(whose arms had been torn off by a threshing machine
twenty years ago, but whose dog pounced upon a hare
whilst his master was seeking a strayed ass),was liberated
from Shrewsbury gaol on Sunday, after enduring im-
prisonment six months, without trial by a Jury.
LICRNSE TAKEN WITH A POZT.—A few days ago,
one of the most popular modern Poets being on his
way to London, at a short distance from the metropolis,
was accosted by a respectable looking man, who in-
quired whether he knew a Mr. W. a Gentleman well
known in the literary world. " Perfectly well," was
the reply : " Then you are also probably acquainted
with Mr. I am that individual," said the
Poo. " Bless me bow fortunate !" rejoined the stran-
ger. " I have often wished to see you ; and although it
is our first meeting, you will not, I hope, think me in-
trusive, if I request your autograph, for I have been
collecting signatures of eminent men for some time
past." The Poet drew some paper from his pocket.
book, and wrote upon it his name. They parted. In
a day or two after he had occasion to call on an emi.
nent London house, the principal of which informed
him he honoured his order. "My order! (said the
Poet), explain yourself?"—" The 101. Sir."—" What
101.?"—" The money which we paid the strange Gen-
t:eman." It appeared, on further explanation, that as
soon as the collector of autographs had got the much-
desired signature, he wrote above it, " Please to pay
the bearer Ten Pounds," presented it to Mr. —, and
received the money.
SUNDAY SPORTS.—A writer of the 16th century, re-
probating the diversions then usually practised on Sun-
day, complains that " the Clergyman posteth the service
over as fast as he can galloppe ; for, eyther he bath two
places to serve ; or the there are some games to be
playde in the aftern,,on, as lying for the whetstone,
heathenishe dancing for the ring, a beare or bull to be
baited, or else a jackanapes to ride on horsebacke, or an
interlude to be plaide ; and if no place else can be got.
ten, this interlude must be playde in the church. We
speak not ct ringing after matins is done."

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL

Yesterday, Minaret illeiseass, a wretched creature, who had
been placed at the bar at least forty times previously, was brought
before Mr. Alderman Brown, by Joseph Horton, one of the patroles
of Cripplegate Ward, who stated, that on the previous night he
found her, rather intoxicated he believed, picking up men in the
street., and he took her to the watch-house, where, after a short de-
tention. she was discharged, with a caution not to be seen in the
streets again that night. Nevertheless, he saw her afterwards in
Little Moorfields, about two o'clock in the morning, " pick up" a
man ; and when he interfered, and desired her to go about ber
business, sbe became noisy, and he therefore took her to the
watch-house.
Mr. Alderman Sans—What do you mean by " picking up" a
man ?—Patrole.—l mean, your Worship, she began a conversation
with him, and they were conversing when I interrupted them.
Mr. Alderman BROWN observed to the Chief Clerk, that there
was nothing indecent in a man and woman merely speaking to each
other, and immediately turning to the wentan aismissed her, say-
ing, I shall not commit you this time, but take care not to be brought
here again.
BOW-STREET.

Yesterday, William CuMier, a decrepit old man, seeraingly on the
verge of 70 years, was put to the bar on a ckarge of stabbing Samuel
Westerford, an old friend and acquaintance, with intent to murder
or do him some grievous bodily harm.
In his defence, the prisoner said he was standing in the passage
eating some bread and meat with a knife in his hand, when Wester-
ford came up to him, and having first spoken sharply, and then
struck him, he (prisoner) made a blow at him with the hand in
which he held the knife. He denied that he said he was " deter-
mined to do it ;" he also said that when he delivered himself up he
was tipsy, having taken two or three drams, supposing that he would
net be allowed any thing to drink when once in custody.—Thepri•
saner was remanded for a week.