The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-12-01 00:00:00

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?aim of this excellent charity, and of the public pro-
ceedings of yeeierdiy ; but there is a fact or two con-
nected'with it, which may be of more general interest
than the speeches or the toasts given•at the dinner.
His Royal Highness the Hake of Clarence is, as we
have already mer.tioned, the President of the Corpora-
tion, and has, in fact, several times filled the chair.
On the present occasion he was waited upon, as usual;
with a request that be should preside. His Royal
Highness, we understand, before be could agree to
come, begged to haie a list of the toasts. The list
was supplied, and- it did sot include the Queen.
This was as much, certainly, as his Royal Highness
mould reasonably desire, and a great deal more than
the committee, consistently with their duty, could
warrant. Hut his Royal Highness was not satisfied.
lie required nut only au official exclusion of her
Majesty's name from the notice of the corporation,
but demanded a security that tie loyal tnembe•r of the
company would obtrude it unofficially on his ear.
This was more than the company could do unless
they assumed tlic power of gagging or muzzling all
their invited friends of the charity. The committee
declined to become responsible for his Royal High-
ness's feelings, and hr accordingly ?mid away; yet,
notwithstanding this slight put upon the corporation,
he has, we are informed, been again elected President.
But in the course of the year he most surely abdicate
this office. If he cannot attend when the Queen's
health is drank, it is likely that lie will never again
have the troublesome duty of acting as chairman of
• a public meeting. The managers of no charitable
institution, whatever lw their opinions of the Queen's
character, or their disposition to see royalty in the
chair, will sacrifice the funds of the establishment, or
insult the company, by converting a charitable meet-
ing into an Anti-Qucenite club, or a scene of political
brawling. It is too much that royal antipathies have
invaded the service of our church ; let thew nut im-
pede the exercise of our charity.
DISCOI7—"."'..7II=7S.

The following interesting particulars of the late
Polar voyage, we have no doubt will be found highly
acceptable to our readers :
The Griper, one of the discovery ships to the Pular
seas, arrived in Galleon's reach, below Woolwich, on
the 21st., when Liertenant Lid dun, the ro tttttt Andes,
proceeded to the Admiralty with the journals, &e. of
the officers under his orders. On Thursday the (;riper
arrived at Deptford amid the cheers of several hun-
dred spectators, who seemed ;o vie with each other in
welcoming the return of their countrymen from the
perils and dangers they had experienced in traversing
unknown seas, surrounded by inconceivable mountains
of ice. Soon after the entrance of the ships into Lan-
caster Sound, the variation of the compass was 106
deg. 50 min. W. They then took a southerly course
into a large inlet, at the entrance of whirls illey met
with many large black whales and seals. The ships
proceeded down the eastern coast of this place, which
teas named Prince Regent's inlet, and took be-1
yeral observations on shore. at one of which the
dip was found to be ss. 26. and the variation of
the compass 116 deg. 16 min. W. They at-
tempted to return on the western coast, bat found it jut-
practicable of access from i t :amuse masses of ice. This
*oast was named North.Sonterset, and at the entrance'
to Prince Regent's iulet two islands were named Prince
Leopold's isles. The ships proceeded to the northward,
the coast of u hirh was mooed North Devon. Between
the parallels of 92 and 91 lo::gitode a large opening was
discivered, and although the weather was perfectly
clear, neither land or ice could be seen to the northward,
and on reaching Hymn Martin's island, a landing was
effected, and the party found the remains of sonte wretch-
ed louts, which had been made by the Esquimaux, the
horns and other traces of musk oxen and some rein deer
were met with. Having quitted this island, they pro-
ceeded to one munch larger, which was named Melville
island, and here, as the winter was commencing Captain
Parry judged it prudent to take up his quarters, and after
a laborious effort of cutting through the ice more than 2
miles, the Ilecla and Griper were safely placed in winter
harbour. They Were now past the mouth of the Copper-
mine river ou the American coast,and oat of memory to
its discoverer, maned the point of land nearly iu the
same parade', Hen, ne's point, and the way to Winter
Ilarimur was named Coppermine-roads. On Melville
island was also found the remains of some Esquimaux
buts. The soil of the island, which was free from
snow, was found to beef a rich quality, and great part
of it was level. A large gulpla un the N. W. side, was
named. Liddon'S gulf, the land of which on the North
shore was high and precipitous, while that on the
south was nut of that description. Several flowers
were found in full blossom. In Liddon's Gulf the
variation of . the compass was 123 deg. 481 min.
E. and the exteut of the gulf in a north east di-
rection could not be distinguished. Oti the arrival
of the ships in the Winter Harbour, the officers and
crew were, as *precautionary measure, placedon short
allowatiiii; and 'it I.* but just to them to say, that
among all the perils and dangers with which they
were surrounded, not a murmur of discontent will
heard. The whole of the upper rigging of both
ships was then taken down anti properly secured, and
housings were erected over their decks to preserve the
voyagers from the inclemency of the weather. Vim
were continually kept burning, and in addition, toles
passed round the ships from the galley coppers, fur
diffusing heat by steam. It was observable, that when
the wind blew it was considerably colder titan 4oring
a calm, and they were for 9G days without day-light.
The Hecht arrived at Deptford on the 23rd ult. the
crew of which are also perfectly healthy; and it is due
to the officers to say, that to their attention both ships
hare returned with the loss of only one person, named
Scott, belonging to the Heels. 'Both ships are or-
dered to he paid off, 'at which time it is expected
the reward of 5,0001. offered be Act of' Parliament,
to the first person who should reach the Copper.
mine-river, will be distributed among the officers and
' crew. It is said that another attempt will be made in
the ensuing year, at further discoveries in the Polar
. seas, and that it will be entrusted to the skill and ability
of Captain Parry. Notwithstanding this expedition
did not effect a passage to Ilhering's Straits, there is
!little doubt but oue does exist which, although not fit
for cotuinercial voyages, is every way worthy a great
maritime power to attempt the discovery of. A new
impulse is given to that whale fishery which of late
years was considered as on the decline from the disap-
pearAncr of the fish, which are now found in abitadance
I mm those seas through which Captain Parry has been.