Star.
London, England, 1828-05-23 00:00:00

PROM IMP PLYMOUTH IOWA&

The Lyra (tender to the Melville), Captain Kingcombe, arrived
front Lisbon yesterday morning, basis% left the Tagus on the 13th
instant. The Challenger, sts, Captain Fitsclarence, sailed from
that place on the 9th, far this port, with dispatches.
In Hamoaae. the Britannia, Windsor Castle, Semiramis, Art-
adive, Medina, Pylades, Pike, Vigilant, Reynard, Frolic. and Le-
veret ; at the Island, the Royalist, Bramble, and Nightingale; in
the Sound, the Alligator, Lyra, and Falcon.

MAUI MIZIVID Tan DAlraill:lli29l; Waterford, 2 ; Honand, 1 ;
France, 1 ; Malta, 1.

ARMT.—Recruiting parties from the Rifle Brigade,
stationed in Plymouth, have been sent within these few days to the
adjacent towns and fairs.
The Duke of WIILLINOTON, Earl DVDLIT, and Count
Minima, had audiences yesterday of his filmsev,at his Palace in
St. James's.

The Duke and Duchess of CLA VENCE, accompanied
by the Princess Dian of Carolath, and Colonel Frraccs Banc; left
town yesterday morning to attend the Epsom Races.
.The Duke of CUSIBIIRLANDt. accompanied by Prince
Gioaos of Cumberland, and attended by Colonel PRIM, Colonel
Tnommort, and the Revs Mr. Jat.r, also kft town yesterday morning
to be present at the Races.
Prince POLIONAC, the French Ambassador, had a
long conference with the Duke of WILL=IIIIOI yesterday at the
Treasury.
Baron BULoW, the Prussian Minister, Count LUDOLP,
the Neapolitan Minister, Count d'Antm, the Sardinian Minister,
and Lord HETTIMURV, transacted business yesterday at the PO.
reign Office, Downingastreet.
Dispatches were received at the Foreign Office yes-
terday evening, from Sir Baoox TAYLOR the British Charge
d'Affaires at the (art of Berlin. The dispatches were brooght
by Bocama, a Gentleman attacked to the Rathissy, who arrived
in town about seven o'clock.
Earl DUDLEY and Viscount PALMIRSTOW Visited Mr.
Secretary lIOSILSROR yesterday at the Celestial Dike, Downing-
street.

Mr. Secretary Palm had an interview yesterday with
the Doke of Wistuelmo at the Treasury.
A deputation of Maltsters waited on the C‘ANozu.oa
of the EXCIIZQUIS at the Treasury yesterday, aid had an interview
with the Right Honourable gentleman. Mr. Calm, the Solicitor
to the &else, attended the meeting.
Lord Thu. gave a grand dinner yesterday at his
residence in Connaught-place, to the Duke of NOSIIIO3I2RALAXIN
the Marquis CAMDILN, and a party of the Nobility and Gentry.
Mr. Secretary Huscissorr entertained a select party
to dinner yesterday, at bis residence in Downing-street.
0,,e of the largest of the Scotch steam boats, the
Queen of Scotland, was bought on Wednesday, on account of the
French Government. The original cost of the vessel was above
45,000 H.

•
Ye.terday the dispatches were closed at the East India
House, and delivered to the Pursers of the following ships, vis.—
Asia, Captain THOMAS F. Bausaanon ; and Marchioness of Ely,
Captain Commas E. Mammas, for Madras and Bengal.
Our squadron, wl.ich has left the Tagus, was off Scilly
three days ago, bat has been kept out by the east wind.
Letters from Toulon of the 11th inst. state the arrival
there of the French frigate La Fiore, from Algiers, with dispatches
from the Dee to the French Government, which convey the noti-
fication of the preliminaries of peace having been entered into. It
was expected that the treaty itself would soon follow, as the French
Admiral on the station was empowered to sign it.
Douai Laos.--Last night, being tot thejoint bene- '
fit ache under officers of the Theatre, the house was crowded to-
excess by a very large assembly, among whom the fair predomi-
nated more than usual. Some poet, whose name is forgotten,
reckons among the sad mischances to whose deadening effect the
writer fur the stage is liable—the listlessness of the spectators.—
. The actor also, who struts and frets his hour, how must he be irri-
tated, how does he dread the ordeal of the Green Room, if his
best points pus unheeded by the audience, who come apparently
to look at him, but are actually very differently employed? The
Dress Circle, whose splendour is but the reflected brilliance
of ice, chills him more especially--there no person pretends to see or
bear; if a stray applause issue from it, some half-priced Gentle-
man, for whom the door has opened just' as the play is over,
accounts for the phenomenon. Last night no such mawkish
feelings prevailede--the Ladies laughed, the Gentlemen applauded....
not a witticism—not a sentiment—not a significant nod passed un-
rewarded. However, about the hour when good folks go to bed,
some yawns were perceptible. The play was the Fill, in which
Dowron displayed his usul excellence and truth to nature. Miss
E. Taxi is rather too large for the gamesome innocent babe; but
she played with muck spirit. Weurces free manner is very well
slated to genteel Comedy—he was quite socitessful in his represen-
tation of Hewed. In abort there ones was a better-humoured
audleoce, and we will not nibble at the laurels they dispensed der
log the evening.
MANGATI4 MAY* 19.--Thursday last being the day
fixed by the Pier Directors for laying the foundation-stone of the
intended sew Light House, ft was arranged that a Masonic pro.
cession should take place apse the occasion, and that the stone
should be laid in due form. Accordingly, the Union Lodge, No.
207, met at their Lodge-room, at the Royal Hotel, and every thing
being in readiness, the procession, headed by the Worshipful Master,
attended by his Officers bearing Jeandsome silver vases, containing
the corn, wins, and oil, together with a respectable number of the
other Members of the Lodge, in foil Masonic costume, proceeded
to the Tuwn Hail, and was there joined by . several of the Pier
Directors and principal inhabitants, when, preceded by the Mar-
gate Military Band, playing a Masonic tune, the procession moved
to the end of the Pier, where an excellent speech was delivered
upon the utility of the intended new building ; upon the lowering of
the stone an appropriate prayer was offered up, and the coins, &c.
deposited in the cavity prepared for them;
the Worshipful Master
then, with his square and level, having ascertained that the stone
was in its proper position, gave three distinct knocks with his
mallet. Three hearty cheers were then given. The ceremony
having concluded, the Masonic part of the procession returned to
the Lodge-room. After which some of the Pier Directors, severs:
Members of the Lodge, with many of the principal inhabitants and
Fishers, dined together, and the evening was spent with the utmost
harmony and conviviality.