The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-03 00:00:00

gtAtES MAN.

TH:

it is difficult, and indeed scarcely possible, to reconcile it
with the accounts received by way of Lisbon, that Ama-
tante had fled into Spain.—(.lforning paper.)
Another paper, referring to the same statement, dis-
credits it altogether, both because it is known that on
the 12th of March, D'Amarante had offered to jive him-
self up to General Rego on condition that his life should
be spared, and which offer was refused, and because in-
telligence from Lisbon of the 13th March, announces
that Chaves, the only strong hold in possession of the
rebels, had been taken by the Constitutional Army. The
mail now due may be hourly expected, and by it the real
state of affairs in. Portugal will be communicated.
NURVIBURO, MARCII O.—Extract from a private letter.
—" According to our adrices from Vienna, the Austrian
Ambassador at Petersburgh had received from his Govern-
ment, instructions to support the negocistions commenced
by the British Minister, Sir Charles Begot, With the Russian
Cabinet, and which have for their object the maintenance of
peace in the South of Europe. It is nevertheless added.
that the Court of Vienna has declared, that in the case ofl
Russia not adhering to the political system of England,
Austria cannot dispense with the fultllmeut of the obligations
imposed on her by her alliance with the Cabinet of Peters-
'burgh, as well as by the particular conventions concluded•
between the great Powers at the Congress of Verona. It is
still asserted that the Emperor of Russia wishes that the
same course should tie pursued with respect to Spain as
was adopted towards Naples and Piedmont in 1821, v:iich
sake it be presumed that Sir C. Begot will fail in his ef-
forts to change the system of the Cabinet of Petersburgh."
Yesterday his Excellency Baron Wertber, Envoy. Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty
the King of Prussia, jointly with Mr. N. M. Rothschild,snd
accompanied by Mr. Bonnet, Notary Public, cancelled
and deposited in the Bank of England, the amount of
Forty 'fliousand Five Hundred Pounds Special Bonds of
the Prussian Loan, negotiated by Mr. N. M. Rothschild,
in London, being he first half of the sum fixed for the
redemption of bonds in the fifth year, and also the sav-
ing of interest on the five hundred and nine thousand
two bundr, d pounds redeemed to the Ist of April, 1823.
The Duke of Clarence has notified his intention of
honouring the Port Admiral at Chatham, Sir Benjamin
w Halloell, with a visit at his residente, Boles, Hill, Ro•
chester, about the 12th of April, when his Royal High-
ness purposes to be present at the launch of the Prince
Regent. Several members of the Board of Admiralty
are also expected at the launch of that fine ship.—
(Kentish Gazette)
The Chancellor and Lady Manners have issued cards
of invitation for dinner on Friday next. We under-
stand that his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant is to b e
among the guests.—(Dublin Morning Post of Facade!' )
111 r. Gaarrax.—An at•ack having been lately made
upon the character of the late Right Honourable Henry
Grattan, in the Dublin Erening Mail, his son, Mr. Henry
Grattan, briefly answered it in the Dublin Freeman's
Journal, in which he charged the Author and Editor
with having "deliberately published a wicked and scan-
dalous falsehood." To this answer, a reply has been
published in the Dublin Evening Mail, threatening per-
sonal violence.
A Meeting of the Clergy of the North Ridiere of
Yorkshire was held at Thirsk, on the 24th ult., when a
Petition against the Roman Catholic Claims was carried
by a majority of 20 to 10. The Petition was moved by
Mr. Young, of Wiling, and seconded by Mr. Willis. A
counter-petition was proposed by Mr. Sydney Smith, and
supported by Mr. Wiliam Vernon. Mr. Archdeacon
Wraugham spoke in favour of conciliatory measures to-
, wards the Roman Catholics.
The Yarmouth, Keaghley, of Liverpool, from Campea-
chy for London, was totally lost the 9th of Jan., off Bon-
cass, Cape Salem, (Spanish Main.)—Crew saved.
CONTEST FOR THE ALDERSIANIC GOWN.—It is expect-
ed that the contest, at the approaching election of as
Alderman for Langbourn ward, to serve in the place of
Sir John Earner, decease'', will be very warmly maintain-
ed upon the part of all the candidates. A deputation
from the most respectable and affluent inhabitants of the
ward waited upon Rowland Stephenson, Esq., the bank-
er, of Lombard-street, for the purpose of ascertaining
whether he would undertake to represent the ward, and
having received an answer to their wish,an active canvass'
was immediately commenced; and the report says that
the efforts in favour of his return will, in all prObabili-1
iv, prove successful. The other candidates are filr. Key,
the stationer, who, we believe, once before put up for the
gown, and Sir Francis Desanges, who is already knows
to the public as having served the office of Sheriff for the
city of London. Mr. Stephenson, unfortunately, labours
under a disadvantage which it may be possible to act
upon very much to his prejudice in the election. He is
not a freeman of the city of London; and before he cats
be elected, it is indispensably necessary that he should
become one. There is a regulation with respect to the
choice of an alderman, against which there are heavy
' complaints, but which it has never been attempted to im-
prove. A very few days after a vacancy takes place, the
election must follow. The election most take place so
Tuesday. A court of alderman is appointed in the ca-
lendar for the same day, and many of the aldermen are
absent from town, so that the friends of the other candi-
dates may calculate upon the chance that no court will
sit, except the Lord Mayor takes care to issue his notice,
and thus provides that fair play be shown to all parties.
Mr. Stephenson it was who made the vigorous stand Is
Cornwall against one of the creatures of the Duke of
Newcastle, and was within four or five votes of plain
the election for one of the notorious boroughs.
ST. BRIDE'S CHURCH, FLEET STREET.—St. Bride's
Church having suffered by the fire in 1666, and was re-
built in the year 1680, from the designs of that chaste
and elegant architect, Sir Christopher Wren.
The most striking feature in the outward appearsnee
of this church is its beautiful tower and well proportioned
spire of delicate and scientific construction ; the lofty
tower forms a basehigher than the neighbouring house%
from which rises a cubical spire of the Corinthian order.
the elevation of which is 2J4 feet, being 32 feet more
than that of the Monument.
On entering at the western porch, which is peculiarly
elegant in its proportions, we noticed a most effective al-
teration in the opening which has been made in the
dome, whereby sufficient light is derived from the tower
to display to advantage the massive enrichments and ge-
neral architectural beauties of this entrance.
The general appearance of the interior is such as pro-
duces an extremely grand and imposing effect ; the dila-
pidated altar piece, as well as the paintings of Moses and
Aaron, have been removed to make way for a noble win-
dow and surrounding architectural embellishments, that'
combine lightness with solidity.
The space at present occupied by the window, now
covered by temporary painted blinds, is intended to be
filled by a copy of the celebrated painting of the descent
of our Saviour from the Cross, by Reubens, at the Ca-
thedral Church at Antwerp; the dimensions of this paint-
ing will be 20 by 13 feet, and it is now in a tolerablelstate
of forwardness.
The north and south galleries have been lengthened
about 18 feet, and sow extend the entire length of the
church. The whole of the lead lights bare been re•
moved for the substitution of cast iron, and the glare
of unhruken light is somewhat relieved by insterticial
ground glass. The pews are lined throughout with a
watered inorine of a very rich puce colour; indeed,
the arrangements in tniuntim bare been attended to
with every consideration of propriety. It may be ne-
cessary to observe, that the Church will be lighted by
gas, trout sixteen double branches, suspende 1 in the
galleries from the crown of each arch, and below, in a
parallel line; by this means the light will he more
equally diffused, than if it emanated, as it usually dues,
from a collective body in the centre.

ABSENTEES.

TO ?NZ IDITOR Of Tnic STATICSHAN.

Sin,—lt would appear strange that no tax is laid np- I
on individuals who, after having torn the country to
pieces to make money, go and spend that money in
France. This, I say, would appear strange if we did not
know that individuals do not like to tax themselves.—
Mechanics and artificers are restrained from leaving the
country, because the country would be a loser. Dues it
not then injure the country for individuals to take away
the money in large quantities to spend abroad ?
possessed of a thousand a year each, would not on
an average lay by snore than two hundred. There would
be then 8001. expended out of IDOOL, The intrinsic va-
lue of the necessary articles they purchase, would not be
more than 4001.; for labour in producing the necessary
articles, 3001.; taxes 1001. By such individual spending
his money abroad, the country loses 40U1. altar, or four
tenths of his income. Three hundred pounds egpended
in labour would employ eight working hands. Tile peo-
ple of the class to which I allude have been delighted
and almost intoxicated witli the fun they have formerly
had at home. They have had wars, to put down Jacobin-
ism in France, and wars to endeavour to put down Ame-
rican Independence; they have hunted down Reformers
at home in all kinds of ways; they have had the spy
awl dungeon system ; they have had prosecutions, and
they have had executions. They have enjoyed every
kind of unnatural luxury, in a political way, that the
most capricious apietites could desire; and now, they
wish to skulk away
.without paying their share of the
cost. Suppose a company of twenty persons have a sup-
per, and the majority of them agree to have plain joints
and beer ;—but suppose a hectoring fellow, possessed of
property and assurance, has influence to persuade them
to have a sumptuous regale of poultry, pastry, and other
delicacies, and to drink expensive wines? Would it be
just when the bill was brought in of twenty pounds, fur
the hectoring fellow to skulk off, directly the supper was
over, without paying any share of the reckoning ?
Would it not be expected that he would psy more than
his share ? that he would make a suitable apology.
saying, " tfentleinen, I am convinced that I have over-
persuaded you to launch into greater extravagance than
you intended, or that your pockets will afford. As such,
I think that I can do no less than pay one-fifth of the
bill, which is four pounds, for your kindly indulging
my extravagant propensities."-1 have merely thrown
out these few hints, in the hone that a much eb!cr pen
than mine will do justice to le subject.
SPITALONIA.