Last night, at a quarter ...
The Times, 1824-06-09T00:00:00

Last night, at a quarter before 11 'clock, the KIing ar- rived at his Palace in Pall-mall, from Windsor. Yesterday afternoon at fbur o'clock, the Duke of York held a levee as Commander-in-chief, at his office in the Horse-Guards. Yesterday the Duehess of Clarence dined with the Duchess of Kent, at her apartments at the King's Palace, KeussnAton. The Royal Dulchesses honoured the Italian Opera-house witha their presence in the evening. * Monday night Prince Leopoldl gavc a grand entertain- ment at Marlborough-house. The expedition under the orders of Captain Parry sailed from the Pentland Frith on the 30th utlt., aU well. it is a singular coincidence, that on that day three years, the for- mer expedition which returned last year sailed from the same place. A letter from Buenos Ayres of the 12th of' March states, that an American vessel hatd arrive-d there in 56 days from Gibraltar, having on board twvo Portuguese Officers, bear- ing duplicates of despatches transmitted by a Portuguese ship from Lisbon. These despatches are said to have been addressed to the Commandler of the Portuguese troops in Monte Video, desiring him to remain in that plaee -antil further orders should arrive from Portugal. By a conven- tion with General Lecor, the Brazilan. Commander, the place had however been surrendered to the Brazilian troops; an(I the Portuguese troops, wvhich, under that convention had embarked on the 6th of March, had already proceeded downi the river as far as Maldonado, whither the despatches were sent, but with what result did not transpire. WVhatever mlay. have been the ultimate views of those who transmitted the order from Portugal to delay the departure of the troops from Monte Video, it is evident that the measure now ceases to be of any political imnpprtance, as more enlightened views are vell knovn, since it was issued, to have found their way into t4e Portuguese Cabinet. The Bank wvas closed yesterddy for the holydays, but business was trensacted at the Stock Excbange as usual. Consols experienced a slight improvement at the close of the bargains, having left off' at 91^ to 5. lDeapatehes evere rec6ived' yesterdlay at' the Colonial Offlce, f'rom Lieutenant-General Sir Henry lrard, K.C.B., Coan- ruander of the Forces at Barbadocs.' DovEus, Juiie 7.-Last evening Alliot, the French courier, arrived in an open boat, with despatches of inportance for the French Embassy in London. Lack, the King's messenger, ar- ! rived with despatelis for Mr. Canning. An open boat, with a special despatch fromn Sir Charles Stua:rt to Mr. Canning,came across this morning, and within thc last two or three days th6re have been a great varicZyof ex;presses front the other s5dc SalledthL Mfonarch steam-vessel to Boulogne, and the Medusa steam-vessel to 'Calais, with passengers and a carriage. Frankfort papers,which arrived yesterday morning to the 2d inst., state that more business had been done at the Leipsic fair, just finished, than any fair there for the last 20 years. The Leipsic bankers not having sufficient cash to honour the bills drawn on them, applied on the 15th ult. to the Saxon Government for a loan ot 660000 dollars, at four per cent. interest, for nine months. The King immeeiately transmittcd to themn from Dresden 300,000 dollars, to be used witheut interest, and a prom..lise that, shonld i't be found necessary, another remittance to the same amr.ount should ar- riveat Leipsic by the Ist insr. NEw DtSCOVERY nETwVEaN PORT JACKSON AND Tox- RES STRAITs.-Extract of a letter trom Captain Sumner, of the Avon, dated Sept. 17 :-" At five half p. in. saw a range of breakers and coral reefs trom the mast-head, extending from S. %f. to N. IV. as far as the eye could discern with an islet or rock to the N. E. Hauled on a wind to the S. S {v. Two islanEls resemblisg ,and- banks, with trees, were seen bearing S. fIV. by S.; stood on towards themi until the coral bottonm was discovered under us, when wve tack- ed tothe E. N. B., soundings in stays two casts l8 fathoms. Sent thie gig to explore the islands, distance off them fotur miles, and stood off and on until her return. Her report was, that reefs extended fromn both islands in an E. S. E. direcuon, that they are otherwise steep to approach. Not finding a gootl landing on the northvward, they pulled to the southward-soundings between them 20 fathomns, and sot less than nine. Iranding on the N. E. side of the island, found it covered witl various sea-birds, nmany sitting on their eggs in the sand, and others in the slit ubs. At five, saw a range of breakers from the mast-head, bearing S. B., distance offthem supposed eight or ten miles, with an appsrent clear sea between them and the islands. Bore up to the IV. S. WV. At sun-set no soundings and a clear sea a-head; resumed our course to the W. N. W. The Avon's Islands may be nmade and passed to the southward within two miles, or less if preferred. In case of emergency, I should not hesitate, with a comrmanding breeze, to run between theni before neon, as the coral bottom may be distinctly seen in eight fathoms." The statements in several papers respecting the scarcity of rice at MUadras, and the fears expressed of a famine, are, we are happy to find, greatly exaggerated. The accounts received in the city are from Calcutta of the 22d, and Beng-al of the 25th, of Ja- nuary. The rice crop had seriously failed mn the vicinity of Mla- dras, and considerably about Boombay (as we stated sonie tinme ago), but slightly iu the other rice districts ; and from tele quantity left over from previous crops, no fears were entertained of a famine, though the pressure for grain at Aadras early in January was con- siderable; supplies wooldc however, no doubt pour in trom the other plorts, and we do not find the prices of grain so inuch ad- vanced as migtht be expected. Frons Calcutta Reports J anuary 22:- (}rain in brisk demand; Mloongy rice has risen considerably, other sorts have little varied- Present price. Late price. Mloongy Ist, 2. 3. a 2. 4. 1. 13. a 1. 14. 2d, 2. t. a 2. 2. Wlheot Doooi, 2. 7. a 2. 8. . . . 2. 3. a 2. 4. Patchery and Balluni rice no alteration. No Patna or Ilauree at market. Such was the great abutidance of money at Bengal in Ja- nuarv, that the interest of the Governmient Bank had fallen from 5 and 6 per cent. to 21-Globc and Traveller. A rope bridge 1ias been made at Calcutta, and is much praised. New Brunswick papers of the end of April contain the following account ot an alarming fire which broke out at that pro- vince on the 8th :_" St. John's, April 13.-At a very earlv hour on Tuesday morning last, this city presented such a scehe of devastation and horror as was never before witnessed us the province. A most alarming fire was boon atter midnight discovered to haye broken out in a building at the farther end of the wbhaf, and a range of hand- some stores, warehouses, &c., in WFater-street, belonging to N. Merrit, Esq., which, in consequence of the lowness of the tide and a. strong westerly breeze, soen spsread anxd conimmsicated with the op- poslie side of the street, bidding defiance to every exertion on the part of the military, fire-clubs, fireuien, andinhlabitants generally, to repress its progress, and Prince William-street did not long remain Rafe from the conflagradon ; and in the course of a few hours the whole rangc of buildings, from Mlr. Nichsol's to Mr.Lovat's wharf on the west side, and from iM?r. Johnson's warehouse to MIr. Saward's shop on the east side of the water, in St. John's-street, from Mr. WYheeler's to TIr. Johnston's dwelling-houses on the west side, anid 'rom Dr. Boyd's to hlr. Lovett's on the east side of Prince WVil- liam-street, were reditced to a heap of smoking rains. Hlappily the tremendous element was subdued ere it had extended its ravages to Lhe parallel streets on tLle eastern side of the city, which were like- wise threatened with tne dire visitationi. The Scotch Church, Gram- mar bchool, and several dwelling-houses in (lermain-street, were likewise subjected to a continued shower of sparks and fire-brands; snd had it not been for the slight incrustation of snow and ice on the roofs, the cessation and change of thie wind, and the measures of pre- aution adopted, they must have eventually perished in the flamres. Upwards of 50 buildings, of one description or another, have been aither reduced to ashes or thrown down for the safety of the others; nd the loss of property on the occasion has been estimated at up- wards of 30,0001. Little insurance has been effected on any part of the property consumed. We sincerely sympathize with aU the suf- ferers, and particularly riths these who have thus su4denly and un- xpectediy been called to sacrifice thE fruits of many years of indus- trious exertion." The King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands paid a risit on Saturday to tue Royal Military Asylum. Their Majesties were attended by Sir Willoughby Gordon, and appeared much de- lighted with the establishment, the nature of which was explained to them by the interpreter. Their Alajesties were received by the full band pLaying" Giod save the King," and were highly gratified with the skill of the juvenile umusicians. The band consists of all the usual instruments. The senior performer is not more thanfdur- teen, and the youngest seven years old. It is indeed a scene of no ordinarv gratification to witness the healthy appearance and happy looks of a thousand of our gallant soldiers' chlldrea, who are gene- rously protected by their country, and destined probably at some su- ture day to evince their gratitude by tighting her battles. Afterisav- ing seen the children at dinner, their Mlajesties witnessed thie various gymnastic exercises, for the introducdon of which we are indebted to Captain Clias, and whic l are so admirably adapted to invigorate theframe, and in particular io form expert and able seamen. Their Majesties afterwards breakfasted with Sir Willoughby Gordon, and were saluted at their departure by the hearty cheers of the youthful regiment, which Was drawn up betore them. We understand that the Iitig anid Queen of the Sand- wich Islands intend henouring the WVhite Conduit-gordens with their presence on Friday next, to view the ascent of hlr. Graham's magnificent balloon. Wte observe by the arrangements making in, the "ardens, that Mr. Graham has taken two hodses on -h eright- hand side of the gardens, which we bear are to be fitted up for the re- ceptien of their Majesties. A Concert is to take place at the King's Ancient Concert Rooms, Hanover-square, on Friday, the 11th of June, is aid of the funds of the Royal iletropolitan Infirmary for sick children, of which hiis Mlajesty is the patron. His Royal Highness the Duke of York has signified his intention of attending on tilts occasion. There bave been, we understanid, upwards of 22,000 sick children of the poor relieved upon a simple application, w ithlout aiiy letter of recom- mendation, in the short space of three years and a half, since this establishment was opened. T?he concert is expressly intendled for the benefit of thse institutions. M. ALEXANDRu.-(Fromn the Glasgow Chronicle.)- Last night MoIns. Alexandre again performed the Rogneries of sVi- clmolas. The house was not so well filled as on the previous nigbts; but this is easily explained, by stating that this was. tee fourth re- presentation of the piece in eie week, and think of the comparative- 13 small number of the fashionable population of (ilasgow. The performanices were very attractive. DI. Alexandre not only pos- sesses comic powers of the first euiinence, bat in the very curious art of ventriloqsuism has attained a degree of excellence never reachled by any cornpetitor. His manner of producing the most opposite and diversified sounds is not more amuisinig and wondertul as an exlhibi- tion, than interesting as a philosoptmical phenomenon. Great ap- plause was excited not only byhis amaazing vocal faculties but by the rapidity with which he changed his dresses, and entered into the spirit of the new characters. No stranger ever came to Glasgow with so many letters of introduiction from distinguished men; end these not respectin'g his taients omiy, but his modest and amiable manners in private socety. It is worthy of notice, that A1. Alexandre, thus entertaining a British audience with dramas in their own language, was born and-educated in France, and is only 24 years of age. Among the numerous poetical attestations of his merit, none pleasesus more than the following verses oh Or. Butler, who hIas happily imitated Ovid:- Undo per attonitas aures nova murmura currunt: murmura usortales nou imiltata sons,? Quis gemultt certe gemitus tuit !-occupat horror Pectora; vox inou esa visa sonare solo. Nune camen 2wtlereas sonitus surrexlt In auras, Fallor ? anu arborels vox venlt illa comis; Undique vuxieboat; volat hine. volRtindevicIBsim, Inde tacet? sonat hine: hlc tacet? Inde so01at. Nunc sumnios intercrines, ut mAuses, susurrat, Nune procul, immaiils ceu fremuit ursa, fremlt. Terreor; at tanti quae bit terroris origo, Nesco. vox talts dic, comes, utlde venit? Stulte quid irrides I non h3ec est hora joeaundi, N uli prece. usaim, rtsa reb ezetista tuo, Mene mew faltunt auresl tua voxne sosnabat? Lhsiguastlet, linuuam nusn, comes, intus habes; ituts habere inquis? vix est quod credere possim, Lingua tacet 5vox a ventre dise ta venit. Donec, Alexander. vlvls tu, Galiiee, frustras Jactet Alexandrum regia Pella suum. Scilcet, 0 mirfe pnzeses mirabilis arcls Nomen Idem retines, nec tibi fama mlnor.