By an order in Council a ...
The Times, 1824-04-08T00:00:00

By an order in cil a duty of 3s. 6d. per ton has been laid on Freneh shipping. This duty is imposed under the ReciprocityAct for thepurposeof placingthe trade of the two countries on an equalfooting, English vessels in French ports having for a long period been subjected to a similar duty. hI'e order wvas acted on for the first time onlv on Tuesday last, at the Custom-house, although dated so far back as the loth alt.; but it having been the custom to refer rather to acts of Parliament thasn to orders in Council for the imposition of comnmercial duties, it escaped obser- vation in the proper qjuarter. The East India Company's ship Farquharson arrived off Blount's Bay the 4th inst. She sailed from China the Oth of De- ,cember; from thc Cape the 2d of February, and from St. Helena the 17th of February. Captain Parry has issued cards of invitation for a grand baL andl supper, on Wednesday the 28th instant, on board his ship the IrecEsErcls plaper. We are sorry to hear that M1r. Wilberforce has for ten days past been, and still continues, seriously indisposed. He is, how- ever, we understand, a little better. A NOBLE LORD AND A PEUBLICAw.-EFrom an eveniing paper.1-A noble Lord, travellin- a few weeks ago in the north of reland with all that pomp which he so dearly loves, sent orders forwardl to an inn-kceper on his lise of road, to have dinner prepared fbr himself and suite on the following day. The innkeeper, proud of entertaining a traveller of such rank, made every exertion to prepare a reast suitable for the occasion. Dinner-time came, but brought with it no appearance of the great man, nor of his suite-in act, the day passed over without their arrival, to the no small dis- appointment ofpoor Boniface, whose extra diligence, care, trouble, and expense, had been fruitlessly bestowed on the preparation of such a banquet as hejudged would have done honour to his house, and given satisfaction to his expected guests. The next dav, about noon, two eutriders, in splendia liveries, rode up to the door of the inn, and were sperdily followed by the whirl of the equipages, con- taining his lordship and his suite. Demand was instantly made for fresh post horses, as hiis Lordship was in haste, and had not even time to alight. The horses were accordingly supplied ; and the party were on the point of resuming their jouiney, without a single word of explanation or apolagv relative to the dinner transaction of the preceding day. The landlord, who did not much like to lose the honour of entertaining a Peer, and his money to boot, now made his appearance at the carriage-door, cap-in-hand, and the following dialogue took place:_ Boniface-31.ay it please vouir Lordship, in consequence of your Lordship's orders, I yesterday provided dinner for your Lordship and suite, and was much disappointed that-.- Lord L.-Why, yes. Mister a-a-I believe I did order dinner here-but the fact wdS, Lady I,. felt rather fatigued, and we did mot come, but I suppose it makes no difference ? Boniface._I beg your Lordship's pardon, it makes a considerable -difference to sie, as I was put to much expense in making the need- ful prenarations, and I must request your Lordship will reimbuarse ne.. 1iere is the bill. Lord L-Oh! nonsense ! Mister a-a-you cannot exnect me to yan expense I never incurred. Besides, I am rely in great te. Post-boy, drive on. Boniface.-I must entreat your Lordship to consider that it was in consequence of your Lordship's orders that I incurred the ex- pcnse, and it is but reasonable that, as your Lordship ordeed the ,dinner, you should defray the charg,e. Lord L-I really cannot stop to discuss the matter at present. Piost-boy, I say, drive on. Bonijace..Then, as your Lordship appears determined, I must be -permitted to say, that the horses at present in your Lordship's car- riages are my propertys, and I shall not allow them to be used in your Lordship s service. Here, Tom, (speaking to the postilion), you muet dismount and unyoke the horses; Lord L. does not intend to travel any further at present. The post-boy accordingly got offihis horse, and was proceeding to execute his master's orders, when the noble Lord finding that he bad no fo-ol todeal with% thought it pruldent to preveut any fracas by discharging the poor inn-keeper's demano'.