The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-12-29 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

To rue EDIIVR or Tye STA7'ESMAN.

SlR,—The hoar of ruin or reform is hastening
towards us; and it certainly behoves us, while our
services may be of the least avail, to manifest some

anxiety at least to ward off the former, as others

hese done, to slop the progress of the letter. Public
spirit, it *wild seem, is not of the some texture as it

. .
was a hundred years ago, or it has severer checks

and greater obstructions to contend wil h ; how else
can we account for the sudden decline of public feel.

ing, a short time ago so highly excited on the great
national question, on the subject in fact which oc-
cupied the thoughts, and employed the tongues of all
ages and sexes? Have the refinements and luxuries
poured in upon us by the lapse of one century, re-
duced us to such deplorable effeminacy and weakness
as to render the demanding of our rights, and the en-
forcing of that demand, a task for the performance
of which we have .neither the spirit nor the energy?
A man, in the common affrirs of life (that is, a man
fond of peaceable and quiet proceedings), if property
were unlawfully detained by another, to which he
was entitled, would probably reason thus—" I come,
Sir, in a respectful and friendly way, to request that
the property which you hold, and which is not your's
but mine, may be surrendered to me.—[ allow you
sufficient time to investigate my claims to it, and
I will take the trouble at any time to satisfy
your doubts, sod remove y our scruples on
the subject. But to prevent all laisuntlerstaitiling
between us, I inform you, that at the termination of
the time specified, I shall expect to be put in full
possession of my property." And is not this the way
that nations ought to season as well as individuals ?
If there be an estate which formerly belonged to my
, forefather, and which ought to have descended to me,
bet which, through the villainy of executors, has been
withheld for their own advantage, is it not my duty
and my right to obtain the rieovery of it? What-
ever is ours we have a riga to, whether ss individuals
or nations, and au undoubted right to possess our-
selves of it ; and whatever future plans stay be
I adopted for the recovery of our political rights, can.
not be condemned by those whose very conduct
forced us to resort to them.
The cause of Reform hes gained, upon the whole,
I am inclined to think, though the point is for the
present not urged with energy commensurate to its
importance. Information has circulated pretty
widely, and its principles, claims, and merits, are
better understood. The estraordinary display of
teal and hatred manifested by the enemies of all
reformation, whether political or ecclesiastical, at
the time when Reform stood, as it were, upon the
very threshold of St. Stephen's, waiting for the signal
to enter, deserves never to be forgotten. An hives.
tigation of the motives of these people for such
unusual activity and perseverance, may furnish us
with many curious illustrations and matters for re.
fiection. I shall therefore attempt, in the course of
two or three letters, which will be submitted to you
at a future day, to lay open their motives is partite.
la rijkailiiirtsibbtoritid "is they **wet- itingelowiref
!he community, they will he taken in classes., accord-
ing to their rank and standing in society.
I am, Sir, veer's, &c.
A N INDEPhNDENT LLECTOII.
Northamptuaohire, Dec. 26. 1818.

An espress, which left Paris on Satordsy afternoon,
reached London yesterday morning. The Five per
Cents. at the dose of that day were quoted at 63. 50.
being, it was asserted, on improvement of one per
Cent. on the prices of the preceding day. The
rate of exchange, however, was exceedingly low,
hating sunk to 23. 10. As the end of the month is
fast approaching, the period when the speculators of
the Paris market usually make up their accounts,
much stalely is manifested as to the manner in
which they may then he able to close their concerns.
The French Funds, however, hate fallen even daring
the mouth, steady 7 per cent. ; and this is a vari-
ation which, with us at least, could not but give rise
to some alarming deficiencies. French Sock was in
some demand sesterday in the City, and sold freely
at a price of 61: the rate of exchange is better bet'
than at Paris, being quoted at 23. 45. for money.
Iminedisteiy on the decease of the Quecs, all the
rooms, which had been occupied by her Majesty in
Buckingham.house, were sealed up. It is supposed,
that, during the present stay of Mrs. BECIENDORF/
there, they will be opened by herself and others ap.
pointed for that purpose, with a view to the valua-
tion of the property.
The accounts! from St. Petershorgh inform DS, that
the great demand there for gold and silver bullion is
beginning to decrease : the Goverument is willing
tomtake the gold, but having no longer the same press-
ing occasion for it as formerly, will not agree to pay '
for it ' before July nest, thus requiring a credit of-
more than six months ; this condition is an effectual
damp to speculatious in bullion, which may thereforte.l
be expected to go in search of a better market. ,;1
1 A sepulchral monument to the memory of Halt-t
:sisal., has been discovered at Malta.
ilThe Earl 'of LAUDERDALE arrived on Friths
evening at Warren's New Hotel, New-street, froah
the Continent. Sunday his Lordship left titian foe:
Oatlands, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess 4
YORK, for a few Jays. The Countess of LAO
DERDALE and the Lilies MAITLAND, intend ye
rosining in Paris till the spring, whets they are et
pected home.
The Dutch Government has imposed an additional
duty on the tonnage of all English vessels arriving
at theit; different ports ; by the existing regulation a
.certain duty is paid by every vessel on her first entry
for the season, but how many voyages scourer Itsj
be made, no 'additional impost is levied : by the nef
law the same duty is to he paid every voyage, a'
therefore, to ships visiting the Dutch ports 6ve or .
times is the year, will prove a very heavy charge.
Dutch vessels are, however, we believe, subject alreaidy
to duties of a similar stature in nor ports. The new
arratagement is to commence and be in force on the
lot of January next:

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DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Mach disapprobation was etprested daring the
performance of the new Pantomime last night; and
at its conclusion a considerable number of the audi-
ence remained in the house, and were obliged for
some time to resort to the usual vociferations well.
remembered in the 0. P. war, for the purpose of ob.
taining the attendance of the Stage Manager ; at
length Mr. STEPURN KEWBLE appeared, and apt).
logistic, for his delay in coming, assuring the audi-
ence, that the only wish of the Manager was to com.
ply with whatever might be the pleasure of the Pub.
lit. It was then made known to him from soveral
parts of the holey, that the new Pantomime was se
deficient in all the reqoisites of novelty, incident,
and machinery, for that species of entertainment,
that it ought to be withdrawn. To this Mr. S. KEss.
ROC replied, by expressing his readiness to do so,
if be could ascertain such to be the public npi.
nioa ; and on this subject it appeared to as, that
there was tolerable unanimity. A difference, how.
ever, seemed to exist relative to the conduct of Mr.,
BRADBURY, the Clown, who, we understood, had
given offence on Saturday etening, by some plirt of
his acting ; and a complaint was made that he had
nn the 541011 night personally affronted a Major
SPNAW3Wrcm. A promise was therefore given by
Mr. S. KEN6LE, before he quitted the Stage, that
Mr. Be %ninny should make an apology fqr any
uninientiunal offence he had given to the Public.—
After Mr. BRADBUtty had changed his dress, he
came forward and declared that he •was sorry it he
had.ofended any Lady er Gentleman, but enquired
Wbat be had oliendel ? This question caused
much uproar,Which was not a little increased by Mr.
Baum:wit v f a_terwards adding, that it. any Gentle•
men was offended, and thought himself in the right,
lie (liitrannutor) was ready to give him satisfaction
at any time and any where. After this observation,
Mr. BRADBURY withdrew, and the audience separat-
ed but little satisfied with his apology, and discon-
tented that a more positive assurance had not been
given by Mr. S. KEIIBLE, that the Pantomime should
be withdrawn.

INTE 1. LIG E NC E.

, DEAL, Dec. DEC. 23.—Arrived awl saite I for the
River, the Peince Leopold, Smith, from Arnow. ;
and the Alexandrine, I)ez unit, from Jamaica —the
latter tins lost an anchor and cable in the Downs
this morning.—Came down from the River last night
and sailed, the Aboyne, Leslie, fur Trieste ; Isa-
bella, Weatherhearl, for the Mediterranean ; Alfred,
Arbuckle, for Grand Canary. &c.; Kate. Ross, for
Mngsdrore ; and the Mendi, Davis, for Leghorn, &c.
ItAbEzoATE, DEc. 28.—Came itt the Commodore
Barry, Kay, from New Orleans, having cut from
en anchor and cable off the North Foreland.
PORTSMOUTH, 'DEC. 2S.—Arrived hia Majesty's
ship Lane, from Jamaica ; Jane. Whytlock, from
Berbice for London ; and some out ward.boutsd veg.
sell, from the Downs. --Sailed the F.ime transport,
for Cork ; end Cathotin?, ilansoo, for Jersey.'
LYMINoToN, Dec. 28.—The flop?, Bette", of and
for Bristol from London, ran on shore last ?,..,,,,•—•
en the Island, near the Warden Ledge, and
not be got off without discharging part of her cargo.
FAt MoUTH, DEC. 25.—Arrived his Majesty's ship
Lee, (Om a cruize.
P ENZ AWE, DEC. 13.—The trench brig Jewvrwir,-
ll'alliot, from Marseilles to Rouen, came on shore
this morning about five o'clock, near Chyandour.
half a mile from this Pier ; part of the cargo expected
to be well ; but if it continue to blow, the vessel
will go to pieces—Crew saved.
St..l VES, Dr.c. 26.—The sloop Champion, of ibis
place, from Teignmouth to Whitehaven, cairie'di
'her main-mtst b); the board last evening, about 30
a mile nff oar head, and was towed by sundry Setts
into our Pier.
PENZANCE, DEC. 26.—Pet in by stress of weather,
the Sophia, Black, from London for Madeira sad
Teneriffe. The Dolphin and the schooner Waterloo,
Rawl', from Alicant, are at anchor its Graves Lake ;
the latter under quarant ne, where they tide wen hard.
11A RIAICH, DEC 28. Arrived the Lady Nepesn
packet. from Cuxhaven ; Auckland packet, from
do.; Henry Fleeting packet, from do., all with
'Mails, &c.; Simeon, Hay, from Barcelona for Hull,
`having been a month at sea, all well.
KINSALE, Dcc. 21 —Arrived the brig Deus,
/ Arnie, of and for Ostend, from Liverpool, put into
ork Sth inst. in distress. There she was partly re-
paired, and sailed from thence 20th inst. and was
obliged to throw from '2O to 30 tons of rock salt
atc
overboard on the 23d, and is now obliged to keep
the pumps constantly going.

The Mariner, Wilson, from London to Ilavannah,
is lost near that port—specie saved.

GALWST MEETING.—the Wednesday, pursuant
to a Requisition, a Alerting of the Gentlemen,
Clergy, Freemen, Freeholders, and other Inhabit-
ants of this town, look place at the Tholsel, for
the purpose of addressing the Right Roth CHARLES
GRANT, on his appointment to the Chief Secretary.
414 of Ireland.—The Address was moved by Mr.
JOHN DARCY, of Kiliolls, who spoke with much
patriotism end animation on the occasion, and the
motion was carried with accientation. It is to be pre-
rented forthwith.
Some months ago it was stated, that a young man,
►arced George Matthews, capitally convicted, had
been pardoned but this, it seems, was premature.
The pardon, however, has at length been obtained,
Pr consequence of a most laborious investigatiou-en.
wed into by Mr. Alderman Woon, the Hon. Mr.
BENNETT, and Mr. BA aunt, the Solicitor, who had
been employed to carry on the prosecution against
the young man ; end who afterwards perceived that
some strange and suspicious circumstances hung
about the case. Matthews's petition to the Prune
REGENT, and the depositions tending to establish his
innocence, have been successful in recommending him
as an object worthy of Royal mercy.
nit, This day the recommendation from the Herald's
an, College of a general mourning, espire. It is not
expected that the People should wear black, but that
for the advantage of trade in general, they should re.
torts to their ordinass habits. AU Dandies and
Dashers who delre to give theMvelves aRt as belong-
ing to the Court circle:nlay still amirtn.

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