THE CALCUTTA JOURNAL,

= Polttieal, Conemereal, and Literary Gasette.

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Vor. VI.j

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, :1819.

No. 260

@eneral Summarp of Mews,

ASIA. ;

Bombay.—A Courier Extraordinary has just reached as from this Presidency, dated Nov. 1, 1819, which conveys to asia an official shape, information that will be hailed with pleasure, not only by those to whom the esteemed and venerated Individual to which it relates, is petsonally known, but to all India, at large ; for to every corner of it, from the Gan- gesto the Indus, and from Caubul to Cape Comorin, his public character ahd his private virtues are intimately known aod highiy appreciated. But we hasten to announce an cvent, which, by extending the sphere of his influence and power, will exteud with it also, correspondent blessings to those who fal within its range.

With the Governments of the Eastern and Western Barriers of our Indien Empire in such hands as they now are, and with the central line that ccanects them, filled by high talent, unimpeachable integrity, a neble zeal for public good, and a warm interest in the diffusion of private bappinese, what may not even the least sanguine expect !—if there are other quarters, te which the destinies of Heaven have not yet extended these advantages, the time will come, no doubt, when there shall be no longer any hovering cloadsia the South, to chill or darken the influence of that glorious light of Liberty, Benevolence, and Paternal Rule, which has spread like the Sun from the East to the West, and which will soon so illumine all the Indian Hemisphere, that its beams shall never again be —— by all the efforts of those who love the darkness rather than the

ight——-—_—_—

BOMBAY COURIER EXTRAORDINARY. Monpay, Noveweer I, 1819. Proclamation.

‘Wuereas the Honorable Mountstuart ELPuinstone, hath been ap- pointed by the Honorable the Court of Directors, fo the Office of Go- vernor of Bombay and its Dependencies, it is hereby proclaimed that the Honorable Mountstuart Ecvpuinstone has, on the day of the date here- of, received charge of the said Office of Governor, and taken the asual Oaths and bis Seat accordingly.

By Order of the Honorable the Governor in Council, F. WARDEN, Bombay Castle, November 1, 1819. Chief Secretary.

The following information is from the Bombay Courier of the 30th of October, which reached here with the Extra Gazette of the 1st of Nov. The reports of the two Entertainments, the one given at Bombay, the other at Poonah, wi!l be regarded probably by some as unerring indexes -of the public feeling that prevailed at these respective places, on precisely similar occasions. We skall not presume to question the accuracy of the dnferences that may be drawn from the contrast. All, however, will remem- der the well-known adage, “ Virtue is its own reward —

Bombay, Oct. 30, 1819.—The Honorable Mountstuart Elphinstone arrived at this Presidency about 10 o’clock on Wednesday evening from Poonab. He was saluted by 15 gans from the saluting battery at sun- rise next morning.

We bad a smart shower of rain on Thursday at sun-set, which lasted mearly half an hour.. From the appearances of the eastern borizon during the afternoons of the last five or six days, and from the non-arrival in due course of the Bengal and Madras dawks, we conclude that the Madras monsoon has setin with some violence, and that there bas been a heavy fall of rain above the ghats.

A great scarcity of wheat prevajls at present in this island, and we have heard of some having being purchased by the bakers for their im- mediate wants at the enormous price of 120 rupees per eandy. The acarcity is attribated to large exports of wheat to the Isle of France some | mosths ago, and to the non arrival of any subseqeent supply from the morthward, were we understand there is still a considerable stock on hand, but that owing to the state of the roads immediately after the rains,

it fad not been practicable to convey apy quantity dowag to the sea coast Pie P yey apy quantity ) the sez

Entertainment to Sir Evan Nepean.—Oa Thursday evening at Lowjed Castle, at the Entertainment given to the Right Honorable Sir Evam Nepean, upwards of 150 Gentlemen sat down te an excellent and well arranged dinner. H. E. Sir C. Colville, G. C. B. in the Chair. Upom the cloth being removed, the following toasts were given:—

The King.

The Prince Regent. i:

Sir Evan Nepean, three times three; drank with great enthusiasms Sir Evan returned thanks and gave— :

Health and prosperity to the Presidency of Bombay,

The Dake of York and the Army.

The Duke of Clarence and the Navy.

The Honorable East India Company.

The Marquis of Hastings, three times three, ]

The Governments in India.

The Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, three times three.

Sir R. King, aad the Squadron in India. | i. Sir W. G. Keir, and success to the Expedition ander him, three times

ree.

Sir C. Celville, Commander in Chief, by W. G. Keir.

Captain Collier, and the Naval part of the Expedition.

The Ladies of Bombay by Captain Cellier.

Various other toasts were drank during the evening, amongst whick were, the health of Major General Bailie ; Lady Nepean; Lady Colville 5 Mr. Bell and the Civil Service; The Chairman, Sir C. Colville; &c, &e.

Entertainment to Mr. Elphinstone.—From Poonah a correspondent writes us, that amost splendid Entertainment was given onthe 12th

instant to the Hon’ble Mr. Elphinstone, sole Commissioner, &c. by the ,

Civil and Military Gentlemen who have served under him in the Deckang The Entertainment consisted of a dinner, ball and supper, and the old palace was fitted up for the occasion.

The gentlemen of the society, headed by Brigadier General Smith’ and the other Stewards, wetein readiness to receive their much honored Guest at the gate of the palace, where there was likewise a street formed

of a squadron of Cavalry and the flank companies of the Bombay Euro<

pean regiment with the regimental colors.

Athalf past 6, the company, consisting of above 100 gentlemen, proceeded to the dinner tables, which were \laid out in one side of/the square verandah forming the interior of the palace. The repast oHered every dclicacy that conld be procured, and the wines did henor to the exquisite taste of the gentlemen who had charge of that branch of the ar- rapgements.

The verandah was tastefully lighted up with colored lamps, and over the centre of the table was a transparency containing the arms of the house of Elphinstone, the effect of which was greatly heightened by its being placed between two paintings of Gothic windows. Behind Mr. Elphinstone’s chair was a fall length portrait of Marquess Wellesicy, that eminent statesman ander whose auspices he first laid the foundation of the high fame he has since acquired.

When the cloth was removed, the following among many othcr natig onal and local toasts were drank.

The King.

Prince Regent. -

Duke of York and the Army.

Duke of Clarence and the Navy.

Honorable East India Company.

The Marquis of Hastings and the Supreme Government.

The Honorable M. Elliot and the Government of Madras.

Sir Evan Nepean and the Government of Bombay, &c. &c. Se!

After the health of the Hon’ble East India Company, the President, Brigadier General Smith, stood up and addressed the company in the following impressive manner. '

Gentlemen,— You will all naturally expect of mein proposing the health of our noble Guest, that I should introduce the toast with some allusiom’ te his eminent virtues, and with some expression of the admiration and regard, which we all bear towards bim. (Mear, Hear!)

Gentlemen,— When I took this chair as the organ of your sentiments towards our universal friend, I felt, 1 assure you, that I had undertaken an enviable honor, though it would prove extremely difficult to me, frome

my want of talcats, to speak of Mr. tone as he deserves, without

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disturbing that retired modesty with which he has constantly shunned the glare of his own brilliant career, (Hear! Hear!) and difficalt to me also, Gentlemen, from my inability to do jastice to the warmth of your aftach- ment to his person and chagactor. (Heat ! Hear!)

Bat I cheer myself, Gentlemen, with the knowledge, that I am ad- dressing a general society, the Civil and Mflitary Officers, who have long had the felicity of serving ander one of the most liberal of mankind, ( Fear, Hear!) and-I hence derive confidence that will receive my humble endeavours with the consideration I shall so greatly need of you on an occasion in which we all feel so much more than we can express. (Hear! Hear !)

Gentlemen,—You are all aware, that the present Entertainment is but a small part of that demonstration of our feelings which we had originally proposed to ourselves.

We had taken measures for conveying to Mr. Elphinstone, a more Jaating tribute of our regard, in a service of Plate, and I am most happy to acquaint you, that the universal feeling had rendered that proprosat more splendid aad successful than we had even expected.* (Hear! Hear! Hear !)

The recent decision, however, of the Governor General, in his Reply to the Inhabitants of Madras apon a nearly similar case, though known to us subsequently to the adoption of our intended compliment to Mr. EI- phinstone, prevented our procceding further in that object. It has been suspended, Gentlemen, that we might save both parties the pain of his re- fusal, for with a similar noble and delicate mind, and in deference to such high authority, no doubt seemed to remain, that the Commissioner must have decided as the Governor General had resolved before him. 1 know you all too well, Gentlemen, to believe that you could wish to proffer an unmeaning compliment,

Gentlemen,—I will avoid throwing the gloom over your eountenances by dwelling long on what our society loses upon.Mr. Ejphinstone’s dep«r- ture, though I could appeal to you, if there’s one amongst you. whatever his situation, rank, or pursuit, who has not shared in his kininess (Hear! Fler! and loud applause), Wao has not enjoyed the delights and benefits which emanate from his well stored mind, always cheerful, generous, an! instructive (Hear / Hear! and loud applause), The most arduous public labors, the most intricate toils of the statesman, never for a single day di- verted him from his favorite practice of diffusing happiness to all around him, never for an hour retarded the active exercise of his extensive friend- ships (oud and repeated applause.)

Gentlemen,—I have been unintentionally carried on to an allusion of Mr. Elphinstone’s pablic exertions, while perhaps it would better become the object of this meéting, that I should confine myself to his persona! vir- tues, but F felt it difieult to contemplate this assembly in the palace of the haughty court of the Peishwab, without associating with it, the recollection of those events which have contributed so largely to the satisfactioa of our country, and of the Court of Directors; and heace, it became impossible mot to ascribe the happy termination of those events to the genius, modera- tion and foresight of our illustricas guest (Hear! Hear! loud, long and en thusiastic applause.)

Geatlemen,—I shall only detain you a few moments longer; it will be to joit_you all ia a cordial bumper to the health and happiness of that gen- tleman Who unites in his own character, the high qualities of the statesman, of the good soldier, and aboveall, of the good and great man.

* Tue Henornasce Mounrstuart EtPuinstone.”

Rapturous applauses, which continued while the band marched three tintes round the table playing —* The Garb of old Gaul.” Bumper after bum- per was drank during this-period, expressive of the enthasiastic admiration of ‘so noble a eharacter. A salute of 19 guns was also fired at this time, but seach were the thunders of applause that they were scarccly heard by the company. As soon as silence was partially restored, Mr. E!phinstone rose and expressed himself as nearly as could be collected, in these words.

Gentlemen,—If | am unable to find adequate terms to express my ac- knowledgements for the hornper you have done me, I hope you will not attribute it to want of gratitade for your greatand distinguished kindness, but will acoept my thanks as they are offered, with perfect confidence in their warmth and sincerity. I have lived too long inthis society not to feel the greatest esteem for its members and the utmost anxiety to merit their good opinion. In this view, the intention mentioned by the gallant ge neral is, in the highest degree, flattering to me, bat I own. 1 am pleased that intention bas been laid aside. “I could not, with propriety, have accepted sucha mark of your favour, and it would have given me pain to declive it, lest it hight be constracd into insensibility to the honor conferred on me. ‘No addition of that sort, Gentlemon, could increase in my eyes the valad of -ydut approbation, and I assure you, that the most splendid and costly present, could never afford me a hundredth part of the gratification which Lhave derived from (he mere expressivn of your applause. Gentio- men, I return you my cordial and sincere thanks; [I shall always remem- ber with pleasure the timo. L have speat among you, and sball ever retain a grateful recollection of the kindness I have received from you. To my gallant friend, 1 beg to offer my acknowledgement for the haudsome man- ner in which he has spoken of me. His liberality is the more conspicu-

® Between 60 and 60,000 rupees bad been subscribed for the puscuase of a service of Plate,

| led to the Entertainment,

ous, as he is himself entitled to claim so ample 4 share of the merit which he is pleased to ascribe tome. I beg now to propose the health of the Gentlemen with whom [ have the good fortane to be associated in the settlement of this territory, and to whom I feel a deep sense of pablic aad private obligation. 4 “ GENERAL SMITH AND THE Orricers Civit AND MILITARY IN THE Poonad Teraitory.”

Mr. Fiphinstone baving sat down; Gorieral Smith foe and returned thanks in the following terms.

Geatlemen.—Upon returning thanks to Mr. Elphinstone forthe kind and flattering mention he has made of us all, I mustagain feel how im. perfectly I have expressed your sense of his merits either in his private or public character; but 1 was sensible, Gentlemen, thatin neither cha- racter could he reqitire my ealogium: they have been engraven on your hearts through long and varied scenes of intercourse. Gentlemen, we can only wish him.

“ AN INCREASE OF FAME AND HAPPINESS WHEREVER BE GOES.”

When General Smith had concluded speaking, Major Bingham rose and addressed the company in a strain of animated eloquence, indicative of bis own and the universal feelings of society towards the gentleman whose presence had so long and abuudantly diffused happiness amvagst itsmembers. Such were the expressions of applause that attended Major Bingham’s speech that it was impossible to connect it in form to be printed.

Mr. Elphinstone again rose and said,

Geotiemen.—I must say a few words in answer to the flattering terms in which Major Bingham has spokea of me, and which I feel are far beyond my deserts. Iu military affairs 1 was a mere spectator of the exploitsof others. Io private life, { was so bappy as to be placed ina society where I had only to imitate those aronad me to secure their good will; and it was to their support I owe any success that has attended my vublic measures (Hear Hear ! loud and great applawe), Mr, Biphinstone went on.—

Gentlemen.—I am about to propose a name which we have before drank as one of a body, but which I am sure wé are’dil desirous to bring forward by itself. I wish I were able to do full justice to the gallantry and virtues of its possessor, but [ shall content myself withreminuding you that it isto his valour we owe the expulsion of our-enemies from this place, and to his modecation and discipline, that itis not now a heap of ashes, I beg to propose.

“Tae Heatta of Bricapier Generar Smirs.”

After loud applauses, General Smith said in relpy,

Gentlemen,—In returning your i!lustrions guest and all of you my sincere thanks for the honor you have jast done me, let me assure you that whatever compliments or notice, the accidents or guod fortune of service, may heretofore have brought me, nothing has ever come more welcome to my heart than the flattering terms in which my health has been proposed and received ; Treturn you all. my very grateful thanks. (Great applause.)

The Gentlemen were now called from the festive board by the more fascinating attraction of the ball room, which was already graced by the ladies of the station, forming a groupe of beauty and fashion, combined with happy countquances which were indexes of the feelings that pervaded each lovely bosom towards the gentleman whom they had been invited to — meet, and whose polite unremitting and delicate attentions and kindnes- ses have ever beea so ardently devoted to the promotion ef their pleasures and comforts.

The ball room, was splendidly fitted up in the part of the palace for- merly the Gunnesh Mahal, and presented to the eye an assemblage of taste and brilliancy never surpassed. The color of the room was a beau- tifal pale Liue relieved by a spieudid silver trellis work sarmouuted by a rich Grecian border of the same, brilliantly illuminated by two superb chandeliers and numerous lusires around the colonade, the double pil- lars of which were most tastefully fluted with blue and silver. The ca- pitals and rich carved work of the arches being entirely, covered by the same, gave a chaste effect to the whole, which it is impossible to de- scribe.

A fall length transparency at the top of the room presented an altar surmoutted by the arms of the Hiphinstone family, with their motto ** Cause Causepo !r”, supported on the one side by * Fame” and on the other by ‘“* Minerva”; the former encircling the crest with a wreath of laurel with one hand and blowing her trumpet with the other over which was a scroll inscribed “* Tam Marti quam Mercurio.” Under a colonnade on the right of the room were two pavi'ions handsomely ornamented, one being appropriated to the bands and the other to refresimenis.

The sprightly country-dance, relieved by quadrilies, was kept up with the most animated spirit till onc o'clock, when ibe company retired to the supper room.

The President soon after gave, in the name of the Ladies,

“Tue Hearts or Mr. Evpeuinstone,”

Which he added he had been requested by his fair supporters to do ag. a token of their participation in the sentiments of esteem which had

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On this Mr. Elphinstone rose and replied—‘ I beg to return my grate- ful thanks to the ladies for the honor they have done me, and to assure’ ‘them how much I am flattered by their condescension. When we last. met, I proposed the health of the civil and military officers to whose courage in war, and talents in peace, we owe our present tranquillity and security, I now propose the héalth of those, without whose approving smiles peace would not be pleasing, nor war honorable.”

“ Tue Lapigs, MAY THEY LONG REMAIN THe Grace and ORNAMENT oF our Society !”

This speech was received with rapturous applause, and drank in bum- ‘pers, three times three; after this the President said he would indent ona. Commissary who was present fora song, which was received with loud | plaudits.

Dancing was eagerly resumed after supper, and the ladies gave thfoughout the Entertainment, and op to an early hour in the morning, the most cheerful, graceful, dignified, support.

The Commissioner, anxious to the last “‘ to shun the glare of his own brilliant career,” endeavoured to retarn home as privately as possible,

This, however, being perceived, he was followed to his palankecn by the Committee headed by the President, and numerous other gentiemen, who heartily ebee:ed bim im the true old English style of affectionate respect.

Tt was altogether, perhaps, the most gratifying and honorable scene, that any society could form, or that any iadividaal less adored and admir- ed could possibly create.

Egypt.—Letters have been received from Alexandria and from Grand Cairo, stating, that the victory obtained by Mohammed Al}i over the Wahabees is still the theme of exultation at the Court of this Viceroy. On the occasion of the illumination which followed, eur countrymen ia that city were not wanting in their display of luminous congratulation; nor was Mohammed insensibie of the compliment. He gaid to our Consul, who had the honour to be next to him when viewing the jllumination, that though he knew the Europeans liked him, he never fhought it was to thes xtent which the present oceasion demonstrated ; aud that he preferred thegight to £ 25.000 profiton a bargain.—This expres- sion is quite characteristic of Ali, whois a merchant, and a pretty shrewd one. He is highly popular asa ruler, and labours to improve the condition of the people uader him. His Minister inqnires particalarly of all our countrymen who are introduced to him, after the health of the King of Fng- Jand, and of the Prince Regent, &c. &c. Numerous packages, containing statues, and other antiquities trom Upper Egypt, collected by the zeal and encouragement of Mr. Salt, were lying at Grand Cairo and at Rosetia, when the letters came away, waiting for a vessel to transport them to Kn- gland, The English are much respected in Egypt; many of them have made parties and gone to Upper Egypt; and never were circumstances more favourable for excursions of this nature, the Pasha affording them every kind of countenance and facility. The Countess of Belmore, who is with one of these parties, bas been farther up the Nile than was ever be- fore effected by any European female.

Java andthe Eastern Islands.—We have received by the late arrivals from England, a pamphlet on the trade of the Eastern Islands, from the pen of Mr. Assey, late Secretary to the Government of Java, which seems to have excited considerable interest at home, and from which we propose laying a few extracts before our readers.

The public attention appears to be fally awakened to the importance of that trade, and to the necessity of takiog effectual measures for its pro- tection. The late commercial distresses, and the want of sufficient out- Jets for our manufactures and commerce, which has been so sensibly felt at home, have atiracted the attention of the commercial world in a partica- Jar manner to the opening aTorded in the Eastera Islands.

The necessity of having some commanding station to the eastward appears to have suggested itself very forcibly, and we doubt not that the intelligence of the occupation of Singapore, which had not then arrived, would be received with eagerness and avidity, as perfectly coinci ing with the opinions already so generally entertained on the subject.

We are further happy to learn, that the points at issue between our Government and that of the Netherlands, are in a fair way of being set- tied in a manner, that will probably be satisfactory to both parties,

~~

China.—While we are on the subject of Eastern Affairs, it will be new to most of our readers, and acceptable, we doubt not, to all, to see a Sum- mary of Inteliigence from China, which has been published ina late Num- ber of that excellent Work * The Friend of Tadia,” to which we have so often, and shall always agaim be ready to pay our tribute of commenda- tion for the judicious selection of its subjects,

‘ From the vations parts of Eastern Asia a degree of information is now obtained far exceeding any thing ever before known. Not only

bave we intelligence from ¢yery part of Hindoosi’bap, from Cabul, and

from the utmost bounds of Persia; the Burman empire farnishes its scanty quota, and the different islands which form the Malay Arobipelago; and even China is now no longer a country hidden from European view. The various attempts made witbin these few years to cultivate the Chinese lan- guage, will certainly issue in a full developement of that vast empire, with all that is interesting in its history, its literature, its goverument, and internal policy. The translation of the Scriptures into this language, while it will anfold to its immense population, the mysteries of redemption from its embracing so gréat a variety of matter, will lay open the language so effectually, as to prevent its being ever closed again upon the Kuro-

} pean world,

One immediate effect of these attempts appears in our being now able to obtain news from China, as well as from the other parts of Bast- ern Asia, While this half-civilized country is yet without an improve- ment possessed.by the Persian empire above two thousand years ago, post-offices for the regular transmission to all parts of the empire of letters either ou business or friendship, it publishes something in the form of a Government Gazette, This, while of course sufficiently barren of events is still valuable as furnishing facts which the government wish to be pub- lished among the people, often accompanied with such observations as they wish to impress on their minds. Articles of intelligence drawn from this source, are occasionaily published in the Indo-Chinese Gleaner, a smal: but valuable work publisbed quarterly at Malacca by the Rev. Mr. Milue, from which the following articles are in substance extracted.

These yatious articles, trivia! as they may appear to some, throw much light on the present state of the couatry aud the feelings of the go- vernment. Though professedly absolute, it is evident that the govern- mentis not indifferent to the opinion of the people. The half apologies made for certain of itg acts, and the various instances wherein taxes are partly remitted, plainly discover an anxiety respecting public opinion, unknown formerly to the despotic states of Hindoost’ban; and as we can searcely place this to the account of pure paternal feeling in the govern- mént, it sufficiently discovers its fear.

Peking Gazette, Jan. 15.—This Gazette has come to hand, but itis exceedingly barren of inteiligence. One of the principal Ministerg being in iil health, has requested leave of abseuce for a time, to which his Majesty has graciously acceded.

A Tartar Nobleman who was involved with Sung-ta-yin,* on his re- turn to Court was summoned te an audience of the Kmperor. Bis Ma- jesty says, he expected, that this Nobleman would have acknowledged his offence, and been grateful tor the tenity with which he bad been treat- ed. Tostead of this, however, the Nobiewman threw himself prostrate be- fore the Emperor, burstinto tears, and protested his invocence; pointing to heaven and swearitig by the Séen, and uttering lauguage which seemed to reflcct upon the Emperor himseii. The result has beea, that he ix com- pletely disgraeed, his title taken from him, and he is remanded to Tartary, to be kept.iu,sate custody. by the head of his t:ibe.

The Empérér bas signed the death warrant of two statesmen—one of them an Yu-shé or Censor, who has been condenined on the charge of,re« ceiving a bribe to make some gtatement to his Majesty. The sentenée is notified with'a kind of apology from the Emperor, in which be sayy, that the Censors have been much better treated under the present Dynasty than under the last onc: and that notLing but an irresistible necessity has in- duoed him to destroy these two.men.

The people seized in Peking on » charge of secretly manufactar« ing gun-powder, have been liberated. They were merely makers of fire- works ; and were seized by the police, who wished for something to make a stir and prevent their being charged with remissness.

Several districts in the rovince of Chih-le, which had suffered in the spring by drought, havé in the eoursé'of the wintér been much injared by hail-storms, His Majesty has ordered some relief to be granted them,

From the Peking Gazette, dated January 20:h,—It appears from this Gazette, that considerable vigilance is exercised in recovering sums due to the government from loca! magistrates who collect the duties, Se- veral have been cashiered and thrown into prison for defalcation and embezziing the public money,

The Minister Tung-kaou was still onwell, and had solicited permission to remain at home a longer period, promising that when be should recover, he Would put his forehead in the mire atthe palace gate, and in that — give thanks to bis sacred Majesty, for his great indulgence to

im,

A new appointment, like that of the Kyoon-min Foo at Macao, has taken place at Teen-tsin. A difficulty had arisen respecting the seamen brought from the southern provinces to man the ships at Teen-tsin. What was to be done with their families, was the difficulty. The governor of Peking represented, that to remove their families to the north would be troubiesome, and that they were moreover, unaccustomed tothe cold. It

* The late Prime Minister, who has been disgraced, and by way of puniabs meni scut to bold a military commapd among the tribes in Tartary,

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is thercfore ordered, that these men serve for three years ; after which time, should the northern seamen have made sufficient progress in naval tactics, these from the south may, if they prefer it, return to their families.

As is often the case in so large an empire, the harvest last year was deficient in various parts, and the people unable to pay the usual duties. At was particularly the casein the south-west province of Yun-nan. Io that province alsoa large party of kidnappers have been apprehended, who had stolen and were carrying off (whither does not appear) more than abundred women and female children. His Majesty has ordered immediate death by strangling to be inflicted on four of the leading offenders.

Phe following article sufficiently indicates the real state of the mili- Aaryin this empire. The Emperor has taken serious umbrage at the want of respectability into which the army is falling, and severely blames the liberties taken by the civil officers. He has heard, that a local magis- trate will presume to walk shoulder by shoulder with a general in the army. The probable consequences of this to the safety of the empire. he apprehends will be.very serious, if it be not remedied. He has there- fore ordered a new edition of the.laws respecting ceremony and etiquette, and insists on their being duly and rigorously enforced. The officers of the army having been found to employ too many of the soldicrs as private attendants, and civil officers to have retained about them a crowd of in- ferior officers ; respecting both of these cases, old regulations are revived, and newones.enacted. A Tartar General of the first rank is allowed ten men to attend on him for public service, but none for private purposes: other officers are allowed a proportionate nomber, botno men are to be perpetually attached to an officer, they are to attend for the day in | wotation.

His Majesty has ordered the army in Manchew Tartary to be duly exercised, that it may be reviewed by him next year, when ke shall.visit that region.

The interference whdomestic concerns visible in the article, will probably be found as inefficient, as itis curious. The extensive use of , Tobaoco, and the introduetion of the Hookah into China, and even into Jeho, vis Majesty’s residence, bas called forth a general order forbidding the celture of tobaceo for the hookah in any province of China. As the

rovigce of Kan-sxh, in the northwest corner of China, produces the best Fina, which being profitable to the farmer, has been much cultivated there, dhe farmecs are ordered to desist from pianting it, and the venders of it, toiseck for some other mode of obtaining a livelihood, on pain of being punished for disobedience. The reason assigned is, that tobacco is a mere luxury, and not one of the necessaries of life.

Some individuals on acconnt of the rebellion of 1813, and others for the murder of senior relatives, have been,put toa slow and ignominious death by being cut to pieces.

Complaint-+has been made, that the criminal cases from the Sechuen province, have been of late unusually numerous, ‘In one case of adul- tery the busband was murdered, and the woman’s mother hanged herself. "The Board of Criminal Cases has objected to the decision of the local go- ‘veramend, and his majesty has ordered the case to be tried anew by Tsyang, the igte Viceroy of Canton, and has requjred the fall application of tor- Sure to procure the trath of so heinous a ¢rimc.

Two onses have occurred of people’s dying under torture unjustly Goflieted. One of these occurred in Tattary, in which the torture was Gnflicted by the keepers of hia Majesty’s forests, It was found, that some pone had cut down wood and carvied it off by stealth. Several venders of fuel were suspected, seized, aad tortared, till a confession was extorted : a@hey were then carried before a magistrate, and found innecent; but two pf them died of the tortures in‘icted previonsly to being tried.

‘The prosecution and seizure of persons connected with secret associa- Pions still continues.

The feetings.of the Emperor relative to Christianity are sofficiently evinced in the following article. It being reported that some of the mem- Wers of a voble Tartar family, allied with the Impetial house, had receiv- yed the Portuguese or European religion, his Majesty says, that they have pall recanted long ago, and trodden on the cross; and that farther inqui- wy is unnecessary. He nowever commands the images and crosses which bey bad not previously deatroyed, to he forthwith burnt.

Peking Gazeiic, Feb. 1..-This day being the first of the Chinese new ear, Hic Majesty hag summoned a number of the qrinces, nobles, od statesmen, to Snih-yoh, “eat flesh.” It is probably not known to Eu-

yopeans ia general, that this eating of Seah is feasting on a sacrifice. This pe common ip Chine among both rich and poor, but on many occasions pleg are permitted to divide the victims, and send a part to absent friends. Wo eceasions like thie however, no part of the victim must be taken away; git must he eaten ig the imperial presence. The victim is also eaten alone,

other kind of provisions being admitted with it. Those who are allow- yed to partake, arc forbidden to retarn thanke to the Emperor, it being ponsidered as a divine feast: hence to give thanks to him, would be sub-

Peking Gozette, Feb. 4.—His Majesty has again published, in a pa- per of considerable length, his intention of visiting the tombs of bis an- cestors, the spot where the family first rose to regal dignity. In this do- cument he again severely animadverts on the late prime minister Su Ta-yin. Death, the Emperor observes, was the just povishment of his offence ; when that was dispensed with, perpetual imprisonment would have been merciful: how great then the clemency shown him, in givin him both liberty, and a military appointment among the Tartar tribes { This the Emperor was induced to do, however, from the consideration that Sung had long served his father, as wel! as himself, in the bighest office next the Imperial throne.

His Majesty commanding all the governors of provinces, to receive kneeling the intimation thus given them, adds, that respecting Sung, they will, on reflection, easily perceive what his Majesty’s fellings and difli- culties must have been,---with his father’s order on the one band, to des- troy any ignorant statesman who would dissuade a sovereign of the Tsing dynasty from visiting the spot of ground where the family first rose to great- ness---and Sung’s conduct on the other. He concludes by saying, that Sung was fond of performing petty charities and acts of kind- ness, but was ignorant of true greatness; and that although be* must have faithful adherents, who feel grieved on his account, they are too mean a class of men to merit his Majesty’s enquiring greatly about them, adding, ** Let them do what they please, 1, the Kmperor, shall not trouble myself to think about it.” How weak must be the understanding of a.prince, or the hold.he has of power, to induce him thus to address hie subjects.

Peking Gazette, March 29.—It has been stated to his Majesty, that a foreign tribe of Shepherds, in the North West coraer of China, ia the province of Kan-suh, have suffered severely from a fall of snow. Eirhty families have perished by it, and the whole of their cattle. Ninety- two families yet remain, and these the Emperor has exempted from all duties for three years to come.

On the 30th, the Emperor attended an exhibition of Archery, and awarded to the successful marksman, the usual honor, a cap decorated with a peacock’s feather.

An Imperial mandate to the following effect has been received :—~ The manners of the Mungkoo Tartars were heretofore plain and correct ; hence the laws in existence among them were lenient. But of late yeara, many native Chinese having passed unto Mungkoo Tartary, crimes have became wore frequent. It is therefore ordered, that any Chinese in Mungkoo Tartary convicted of crimes, shall be punished according to the Chinese laws.

About a hundred families in the neighbourhood of the capital have been found to belong toa secret asssoviation. Having come forward to declare their recantation, however, they have been pardoned; but a list of their names has been taken, that, if again detected in the same cripte, they may be the more severcly punished.

Literary Exhibition.—The Emperor has himself examined the higher departments of the Literati this year, and has heard them read in the various classics. As might have been anticipated, some have been promo- ted, and others degraded.

His Majesty has aleo examincd the progress made. by his fourth son, a lad of fourteen years of age, and expresses himself much disappointed at finding him unable to write verses. The Emperor remembers well, that his august father, the late Emperor, examined him, at the age of thirteen, on which occasion the verses which might have been expected from such an age, were duly composed. The present failure His Majesty attributes to his son’s tators, who have been dismissed, and new masters retained.

it appears, that fifty persona of some note in the late rebellion yetre- main undiscovered. A Censor has recommended amongst various other modes of discovering them, that the sea ports should be narrowly watched. On this occasion His Majesty remarks, that as all emigration has long been prohibited, a new law is unnecessary: as whatever bas been long established, however, is liable to degenerate into mere form, the officers whom it may concern are required to sce the existing laws against emigta- tion rigidly enforced.

Chang, the judge of Shau-tung, and the conductor of the late English’ Embassy when in the province of Ciih-le, has been degraded to a very low rank, and severely censured by the Emperor for his incapacity and bad government. Chang formerly remarked to the English, that the Emperor had “long ears” meaning that he heard what was done at a distance. This appears trae in Chang's case, for in his charge the Emperor mentiogs his being addicted to opium.

* Sung, was of the Buddha sect, and though he allowed himself the free use of wiue, was esteemed a very religious man. He gave away nearly all his salary and emoluments ofoffice. As his offence appears to have been mere} that of dissuading his Chinese Majesty from a journey, which perhaps others

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No. 2507

CALCUTTA JOURNAL. , 181

Sr

EUROPE.

Parliamentary Peform.—Sir Francis Burdett’s motion on Reform was received by the Anti-Reformers, both Whig and Tory, according to the Po licy lately adopted. The Ministers did not say a word, and leading Whig: were as silent: so the task of replying to the mover was left to any who might like the opportnaity of making a speech. This is certainly the most

olitic course that can he pursaed by the other side: they are wise in af Peeting to treat with contempt what they cannot answer, and besides there would be an awkwardness in stirring the question of corrupliog, in Which they are so much personally conecraed.

The speech of the Honorable Baronet was perhaps, on the whale,

‘the best he has ever made en the subject. It was very temperate; it em braced all the points connected with the necessity of Reform; it was not encumbered, like some of his former speeches, with antiquarian researches; and it very properly avoided any mention of particular plans. We are inclined to think, that Sir Francis, after a good deal of wavering beiween Radical and Moderate Reform, has come to this conclusion,—that, which ever he may be disposed to thiak best, the most rational and effectual mode of proceediag, is to urge nonce till there is some chance of succeeding. This is the most modest as well as useful course; and if ail the Reformers would adopt it, without obtruding on the public their particalar (and often intolerant) views, the general cause would be greatly promoted, both by the removal of a constant bone of contention, and by depriving their ene- wies of one of their chief excuses for refusing ail enquiry.

It was objecied. that this motion had been brought on late ia the Scs- sion; bat this the Mover very well accounted for. Nothing is more con vincing than a little experience. The Whigs anticipated great triumphs from the result of the General Election: abuses were “ to fall before them like sheep.” Sir Francis did not think so; but he abstained from inter- fering with their exertions, in order that they might have fair play. Now what bas really been done worth mentioning? A Committee has been appointed to enqnire into the Criminal Laws, and another to engnire into abuses in the Scotch burghs, and we suppose the House will make some small reformation—will apply some “* palliative,” instead of remedies. This is the sum of the good ; and if as mach good as this could be cifected in every session (which is rot likely,) our abuses are so namerous, that we might be ground to death by taxation, and degraded morally ard po- litically to an abject condition, before any great advance could be made or any effective reiief afforded. But the truth is, that what good the Whigs may do is counterbalanced by the measures which the Boroughmongers carry throvuch the House, and will carry as jong as the people are unrepre- sented. All the calculations of the beneficial result of the exertions of the Opposition go apon the assumption that the other side are idle. They cannot, however, be idle: they must, as Sir Francis has well said, satisfy the demands of their borough masters out of the public parse, as weil as at the expense of the rights of the people. Have the Whigs, with ali theirdalent and their asserted encrease of power, been able to prevent the imposition of three millions of new taxes? No. Then we must re- sort to some change that will secure us from such an imposition upon a suilering and exhausted people,—an imposition made, too, in spite of the outcries of the very people who ought in justice to be the imposers as well as the payers of taxes,

The arguments of Sir F. Burdett may be summed up thos:—The people of Kngland, once flourishing, are now wretched—siarving at home, or flying their native land; once they were freeand elected their Repre- sentatives and Magistrates; now the Majority of their own House are no- minated by a few persons whose interests are directly opposed to theirs ;— in short, maticrs have become so desparate, in consequence of the extra- vagance and profusion caused by the long continuance of a bad system, that some means must be adopted, in ofder to avert utter ruin. The means hitherto tried have proved insufficient even to stem the torrent of corrup- tion. Changes of Ministry have been unavailing, for we have still driven on to the point where we are now. The only remedy that remains is then to give the people the power, through their Representatives, of disposing of their own property and blood. This will prevent the ruinous effects produced by the opposing interests of the governors and the governed, as the mony will then receive benefit from their wise, and injury from their foolish measures.

In answer to these powerful arguments, the Anti-Reformers say, that it is very true the present system has its evils, or, as Mr. Grenfell deli- cately expresses it, its ‘imperfections ;”’ but then what system has not? and what can be more imprudent, not to say absurd, than to abandon its real advantages, for what is merely a conjectural cood.—Then again, some of these pradent gentlemen want a specific remedy,—semething that shall be clearly advautageous without any danger. Thus they would put up (they telt you) with the most monstrous corruptions, and cruel oppres- sions, because those who want to reform them cannot make the remedies appear as clear and in such “ tangible shapes’ as the abuses. They are like a wan who should enter another's house, shut the door upon the right owner, and refuse to let him in, thongh he koew bis voice very well, be- cause the deal wood prevents his seeing his face, to tell whether he was friend or enemy.

This motion will however do good: it will show once more how little isto be said in denial of the chains of the peopic. It will (as a minor are avgiage) alsd show the Whig Reformisis aa they are called, in their trug

> colours. Mr. G. Lamb apologized, if he bad said any thing “ disrespectful” of the House; and Lord Joba Russel! opposed any etquiry, because it would throw a slur on the state of the Representation, and create an alarm among the people! Wow pure must be the Representation! And how ontented and fearful of change the people!

Ferdinand.—That poor Creature Ferdinand has given another speci® men of his exceeding stupidity. He has discharged all those who were foolish enoerh to become his Ministers. The Marqnis of Casa Yrujo, his prime Minister, and aman who was thought to be capable of striking

yme blow in South America, was ordered away at midnight, and had

nly an hour’s time, according to some accounts, to get away from Madrid. ‘ien must be strangely infatuated, or intoxicated with a little power,—a very “ brief authority,”—who would expose themselves to the caprice and cowardly despotism of such a miserable thing, who has outdone, in ca- priciousness, the most contemptible of the Roman Emperors. In tho few years that he has been in possession of the Spanish throne, there have beca no less, itis said, than 25 changes of Miaistry. The Monks we suppose, are at the bottom of this affair.

There is bad news from South America. MacGregor, who took Por- to-bello a short time back, with the assistance of his English soldiers, bas been driven outof itin a very disgraceful way. He bad neglected the or- dinary caution of keeping outposts, in consequence of which, the Royalist General, who had advanced frdm Panama with 1000 men, came suddenly upon the town, on the morning of May Ist, and entered it, killing and wounding 100 men, and taking 370 more. No more than 12 escaped, a- mong whom was MacGregor himself, who upon the first alarm rose from his bed, leaped out of a window 20 feet high, and swam to one of his squa- dron in the harbour. To add to his disgraceful condact, too, a Colonel in the Corps threw himself iato the fort with 250 men, and sent to request MapGregor to assist him. The General promised to be with him in an hour, bat instead of keeping his word, his ship was soon perceived to be- gliding outof port, oo which the fort was obliged to surrender.

This is of course bad enough, as it assists to retard the overthrow of the Royalists ; but it is to be recollected, on the other hand, that this Mac- Gregor is said to be little better than an adventurer, who not being. con- nected and acting in concert with any of the rising Independent Govern- ments, might have one day been engaged in disputing with them, instead of fighting battles with the general encmy. There are two circumstances besides, which are cheering just now,—the forward state of a fine corps of British and Trish volunteers, now rising in Ireland; and an agreeable account in the Paris papers of the unfitness for sea of the Russian fir-built vessels, which composed the eternal Spanish Expedition.

Patriot Service.—The following statement respecting the legion now raising in Ireland appears in the Dublin Evening Post of the 20th June,—

,“‘ Geueral Devereux’s Legion.—** The Ist Light Infantry belonging to this

Regiment is now in progress of formation and equipment, under the com- mand of Colonel Power, late Major of the gallant 28th Foot, an officer eminently fitted for this distinguished rank, having been in more thau thisty general battles, independent of various affairs of less moment. Se- veral oilicers of experience have already joined the Light Infantry, which promises to be in every respect one of the finest corps in the Patriot ser- vice. Though but a few days on foot, such is the anxiety of oflicers and men to obtain admissivn into this regiment, that there is no doubt of its being complete and at sea bythe Ist of August. The Ist rifle regiment of Devercux’s legion has embarked, and the Ist Lancers, a remarkably fine regiment, commanded by Colonel Aylmer, is complete in officers and men, 2nd will sailin a few days.”

General Savary.—It is said that General Savary, Dake of Rovigo, who lately arrived at Gravesend, bas received the permission of Mivisters ‘to reside in England,

Singular Diversities.—A singular instance of the diversities that o¢- cur in the history of the same family in revolytionary times, will be found in that of M. de Serre, the French Minister of Justice. A brother of this Gentleman (who himself bore arms in the service of Louis XVI.) wes brought as a prisoner of war to this country, holding a commission in the army of Le Clere, ia St. Domingo; he has since married and settled in Leicestershire, and become so strongly attached to the religious prinoi- ples of some of our dissenting sects, as occasionally to preach amongst them. He is now officiating at the Baptist Chapel, Blackfriars-road.

Population.—The last Census taken, two years ago, of the iuhabitants of North America, makes the population between ten and eleven millions : when they published their Declaration of Iadepeudence they were not quite four millions,

Singular Discovery.—Lately,, while a labourer was digging peats in the moss at La Maucha, parish ef Newlapds, once the seat of the Earl of Dandonald, his spade strack against gometbing hard, which, upon dig- zing, was found to be the body of a man, and indentified by some old peo- ple in the neighbourhood to be that of a‘cowehman of the late Karl of Dua- donald, grandfather to the present Lord Cobrane, who, about 74 years ago, committed suicide, by cutting his throat, and was buried in this spot ine enck. "The straw ropes ‘which bad fasteued the sack were found almost frech, although the sack was nearly all.consamed, Tue clothes,on the hoe dy, stockin@s, and garters, were also almost entire, and the colour of the

vest and brcecher, (red yelvet) litte decayed, ZLe razor, also, with whic

CALCUTTA JOURNAL

{Nov. 2¥

he had taken away his life, was found athisside. The body itself wasin such a state of preservation, that it could be lifted entire, and carried away for re-interment: but the neighboursstripped it of most part of the clothes, each curious to secure a remembrance of this extraordinary fact.

A Clergyman and the Press.—A Newcastle paper says—“ In the first division of the Court of Session, a few days ago, in an action againsta Clergyman who conducted a newspaper ina provincia! town, at the instance of the foreman of the printing-office, for a communication of profits, the Lord President expressed his marked disapprobation of the Clergyman’s conduct, in occupying himself in affairs unconnected with the proper duties of his sacred office; and his Lordship directed the Procurator for the Church to take the matter into consideration.”

Bible Monopoly.—Another meeting of Booksellers and Publishers was held on Wednesday week, to receive the Report of a Committee ap- pointed at a former meeting to inquire into the assumed right of the King’s printer and the Universities to circulate Bibles and Prayer-books exclu- sively; and to consider what course was to be pursued in consequence of the proceedings institated in Chancery against various individuals who had sold Bibles and Prayer-books.—The Report referred toa number of cases and law decisions to show that this right to monopoly had been in- variably denied by the Courts of Law; and it instanced the editions of the Prayer-book published by Mr. Justice Bailey and others, to show that all publishers of the holy books had not been prosecuted. The report was agreed to; and a subscription entered into to defray necessary expenses. In the course of the conversation, Mr, Offer, alluding to the editions of Bibles and Prayer-books published by the Universities, said it was notori- ous, that those printed by private individuals were better executed, and more correct. Ao University edition of the Bible had put forth 12,000 copies, in all of which a blunder was committed, by making a saaden stop in the midst of one of St. Paal’s Epistles, and then going on with the 7th chapter of the book of Revelations. Another of these standard editions had called the parable of the Vineyard, ‘the parable of the Vine- gar.” And again,a Puiversity Prayer-book had, instead of “ the world,” promulgated this prayer—“O Lamb of God, who takcst away the sius of *the Lord’.”

Commercial Distress.—The following Letter is from the Commercial Agent in New York of a considerable Manufacturing House, in York- shire, dated New York, June 6, 1819.

‘] have just retarned from atour to the principal trading depots in the Union, which has occupied my time for the three last months; and a most melancholy task J have had---never before did I witness such distress and embarrassment as every where prevail, on account of the over-stocked markets, and the low price of all descriptions of goods. I delayed writing till now, in the hope of haviog something favourable to communicate, bat, alas, that is not the case ; and instead of sending any orders, I cannot even advise you to make a single consignment! Sach, indeed, is the over- giutted state of the markets on this side the Atlantic, that it would take a brisk demand of many months to lessen, in any perceptible degree, the immense stocks on hand ; and whatever goods arrive, for some time, must either be reshipped, or consigned to rot in stores.

The shoals of emigrants, from all quarters of the globe, bat more par- ticularly from England, Ireland, and Scotland, continue undiminished : those who bring no property with them, (by far the greater proportion) swill only have exchanged for the worse, as trade bere is now at an extreme Jew ebb inevery branch, It would swell my preseut letter to too great a Jength were I toattempt to name the commercial failures that have occur- zed here within the last six month. I shall, therefore, leave them to reach you through other channels.’

Royal Christening.—On the day appointed for the private christening of the infant princess, the child of the Duke and Datchess of Kent, preparations were made for the ceremony at Kensington palace: the goyal gold font was removed from the Tower of London, and was fitted wp in the grand saloon with crimson velvet coverings, from the ehapel- yoyal, St. James’s palace, under the direction of Mr. Masb, of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. The members of the Royal family, and others in- wited to the ceremony assembled at the palace soon after three o’clock. The Prince Regeat, attended by Sir Benjamin Bloomfield, was received by the Duke of Kent, who conducted him to the grand saloon; and im- mediately after the arrival of the Regent the e¢remony commenced, which ‘was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop of London. The infant princess was named Alexandria Victoria. The sponsors were His Royal Highnews thes Prince Regent, His Imperial Ma- jesty the Emperor Alexander of all the Russias, who was represented, as His lwperial. Majesty’s proxy, by the Duke of York; the Queen Dowa-

er of Wartemberg, who was represented as Her Majesty's proxy, by the , en Augusta; and Her Seréne Highness the Duchess Dowager of Coburg. who was represented, as her Proxy, by the Dachess of Giocester.

St. Helena.— We learn that.rear-admiral Plampin has been removed from the command of the squavronat St. Helena, and that rear-admira Edward Leveson Gower has been appointed to succeed him,

Franee~-Paris papers say that ‘important affairs appear at this time to engagethe Cabinets of) the great Powers. Their svulicitude is particu- Yarly exercised regarding the differences between Spain and Portugal. Persons welt informed pretend that the following project of cession ani Givisioy is at present under discussion ;—Poriugal isto be united ty Spain

which will cede to England the Island of Cuba and two ports on the coast of Portagal and Spain. The projoct appears extraordinary, but it may have some foundation. Atany rate, there is a rumour on the sabject among diplomatic people. Io order to indemnify Portugal, Spain is to cede Monte-Video. Russia has made new applications to Spain to obtain the islands of Majorca and Mioorca ; and it is expected that, in the pre- sent situation of affairs, she will succeed in ber object.

Intelligence from Genoa states, that several mariners belonging te different ships arrived from England, bave been suddenly arrested. This affair has excited the most lively sensation, and various reports are cir- culated with it.

It would really seem, from the American papers lately received, as if donbts were serious}y entertained of the disposition of Spain to ratify the Treaty by which the Floridas have been ceded.

Paris.— Paris Papers of June 23, say that on the previous day, the Chamber of Depaties resumed the discussion on the law of Finance. Am article relative to military pensions gave occasion toa member, M. Da- pont, deputy from the department of the Eure, to notice a petition whick had a few days previously been presented to the Chamber from an old grenadier of the consular guards, demanding payment of a pension of 600 francs, which had been granted to him as a compensation for having sav- ed the life of Buonaparte on the 18th Brumaire, whea the usarper burst into the hall of the Council of Five Hundred.

“I was at that period,” said the orator, “a Member of the Council of Five Hundred, and was present at what is called the Affair of St. Cloud. All the eircumstances passed under my eyes, and I declare upon my ho- nour, in the presence of all France, that no attempt at assassination was at that time committed against the person of Buonaparte, that no poinard was directed, mor an arm raised against him, and consequently, that the Siear Pouree could not have shielded him with his body. ,

“IT call upon my colleagues Dannon, Chaband-Latour, and Jard-Pan- villiers, who, with me, were Members of tue Council of Five Hundred, and I request them to say whether the assassination of General Buona. parte is nota falsehood, designed to justify the violeace committed by force of arms upon the national representatives.

“ Buonaparte, who never loved liberty, aod who from the 18th Bra. maire, year 8, meditated the servitude of France, knew well, that the bet- ter to rule the nation, it was necessary to picture its representatives as assassins.

“All I desire at present is to protest against a political falsehood, ine vented by an ambitious man, who wished to oppress his country, and jus- tify the act of violence by which he seized upon power.

“The pension was granted to the Grenadier Pouree, who consented to attest an assassination which never took place.”

The petition was unanimously rejected.

His Majesty has erased Marshall Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, from the list of the 38 individuals included in the ordinance of the 24th July.

From the Maine, June, 7.—1a a North German capital City, the difs ferences which had arisen between the Sovereignand his eldest son ap= pear not to be arranged. A person of hich rank is said to have forced his way, with his sword drawn, into the Sovereign's study, to have attacked the persons present, and to have insulted an esteemed officer.—A courier, arrived from a Northern Court bas caused credit to be given to ilie report, that a Northern Power has been applied to, for assistance, to prevent the measures which the Sovereign nicant to take to prevent similar occurrences for the fature. Tbis event has made an unfavourable impression on the public, ‘The officer is said not to have hitherto obtained any satisfaction; it is, however, to be expected that he will, since otherwise very disagree- able consequences might be apprehended. The abuse and ill treatment which have hitherto so often vuccurred, must of course become still more frequent—still less regard will be paid to decorum, and at the end some man of high sense of honour attacked in this manner, and certain of ob- taining no satisiaciion, will devote himself asa victim. It is indispensi- bly quite incompatibie with chivalrous and military ideas of honour fora Prince to insult a brave man, and then to take advantage of his birth to refuse him satisfaction.

Madrid, June, 1\5.— By a Royal Decree of the 12th instant, addressed to the Seeretary of State, Ministec of Grace and Justice, his Majesty has thought proper to remove the Marquess de Casa Iruju from the office of Minister Secretary of State. The Chief of Division, M. Manuel Gonzalez Salmon, is provisionally charged with the direction of the affairs of that department.—I{n consiicration of the bad staie of health of M. Egnia, Minister of War, the King equally discharges him from that department by another decrec ; at the same time he is appointed Captain General of the Kingdom and the Coasts of Grenada. The directionof the War De- partment is confided to Licut. General Don Joseph Maria Alos, who is atse to direct the affairs of the Ministry ef Ma:ine.—We are in all the agi- tation of a ministerial revolution. The Marquess de Casa Irujo was rous- ed from his bed in the night of the 1th inst., by an order of exilc, which banishes him to Avia. He had transacted business the previous evening with the King, without discovering the least prognostication of the storia which bas jast burst upon him. He quitted the capital before day light. It is thought that his plagg is destiagd for M, Onis, who bas returned from the United States, _—

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Ne. 2504

CALCUTTA JOURNAL. 183

I

Polar Crpeditions.

A Letter to John Barrow, Esq. on the subject of the Pelar Expeditions ; or, The Reviewer Reviewed-a Pamphlet—published by Ridgway, London, | de 16 pages—Price One Shilling.—Re-published complete tn this

lournal,

P To John Barrow, Esq. &e. §c. Se. IR,

. To you is ascribed, and I believe with great justice, the almost entire management of oar late endeavours to ascertain the existence of a North West and a Polar Passage to Behring’s Straits ; to you therefore, who undertook to play so leading a character in this Arctic Performance, I beg leave to address a few words, upon a subject as interesting, as cir- cumstances connected with it have appeared extraordinary.

Ina work compiled by you, giving a chronological history of the Discoveries in the Arctic Regions, there is, toward its close, a most inex- plicable statement, entitled, the “ Discoveries of Ross, Buchan, Parry, aod Franklin.”

May IT request to be informed, for the benefit of the public, in what possible manner the discoveries of these officers could have been written previously to their return home, aud before it was known whether any dis- coveries had been really made, or what had been the issue of their efforts? How this could have been effected, you may perhaps have sufficient saga- city to find out; whether the rest of the world may be capable of compre- hending such a paradox, I wi!l not venture to predict!

The fact is, that the paper in question does not conta®m one word re- lative to the subject on which it professes to treat; it bears only upon its face the strongest evidence of being a florid ‘account of your own feats, ¥a which you quote* your own writings, to prove your own assertions!

It is the puff of an empiric upon himself, in which he endeavours to anticipate the event of our late expedition, by pre-occupying the public mind with a high sounding statement of its fitness, its liberal equipment and its scientific and disinterested arrangements. To me, the account alluded to, is, 1 confess, in perfect unison with the same vaunting self- conceit, with the addition only of a little canning, which dictated your upmanly remarks upon Captain Barney, and your unjustifiable attack upon Lieutenant.Chapple. In the one case you attempt to refute the ar- guments of an old and distinguished officer, who has actna'ly beento the place of which he treats, by telling him, that his respectable old age has destroyed his memory! and you make a zealous young officer the butt of your un- fecling sarcasms, solely for the purpose of introducing to the world your own ideas upon the practicability of a North West Passage tothe Pa- cific. In the other, you contrive to write Discoveries, not yet made, in order to persuade the world, that of all expeditions, that of which you had the direction was the best, and the most efficient, that human wisdom ever yet planned ; and thus endeavour to veil the blundering, rapacious self-sufficiency, which struck Baffin’s Bay, that “gratuitous boundary,” from the charts of the Northern Latitudes.

On this subject, however, I will be silent, and extend to your false premises and fallacious conclusions, that lenity, which, had you shown to ethers, would have been more creditable to yourself,

How far, asis stated in these soi-disant Discoveries,t that “every sug: estion that appeared to merit consideration was attended to,” or at Jeast how far they were attcaded to, with that propriety which was due to the rank and zeal of those by whom they were offered, I leave to your Own conscience to answer; and I could refer you to a letter, signed “John Barrow,” in which the sneer of fancied superiority, the gall of criticism, and the iusolence of office, are so thoroughly and curiously combined, that it forms a compound of all that could be either offensive or disgust- ing; and it proves, that, by you at least, anxiety for the service is accoun- ted only, for impertinent interference. Whatever may be the estimation in which you hold the zeal of officers for the welfare of the service, others think diflerently; and it may therefore be an act of friendship to remind you, of the station which you fill, and of the acceptation in which the world consider it. They deem the Secretary of a Public Board to be the humble er gan of its resolations, which itis his duty to communicate with decency aud civility, “ reverence and respect.”

You next proceedf to inform us. that the officers sailed “in the full confidence of attaining the great object of the Expeditions, or at least With the determination of establishing the fact of its utter impracticability,’,

Whether these your Arctic Prophecies have been falfilled, in this or any other particular, recent events have rendered it unnecessary for the public to inquire; but of this I would inform you, that the officers of his

Majesty's Navy never have, aud § believe from my soul never will require any such paragraphs as these, either to stimulate their exertions or

* Note to page 376, of Voyages into the Polar Regions, ¢ Page 374 of Voyages to the Polar Regious, 5 3 Page 370. °

enhance the confidence which their countrymen repose in them. Like other fallible beings, they may want success, from accident, from an error in judgment, or from being tied down by the orders they receive: that they ever did quit the shores of England, but with the firmest resolutions of fulfilling the trast reposed in them, or of establishing the impossibilisy of its periormance, no one but yourself ever yet decmed it requisite to.con- template.

We are told also, that where certain objects of Natural History conld not be preserved, “accurate drawings would be made of them by such and such ofiicers.” Allow me to remark, that if these Expeditions were properly equipped, it wae fair to presume, that all these circumstan- ces would follow as corollaries to a scientific undertaking ; and that a great Expedition, performed by the first maritime nation in the world, ought not to have stood in need of having its merits and its probable be- nefits set forth in a shape so questionable as this, bearing indced no faint resemblance to the hand-bill of a conjuror, or the programme of a French spectacle. Again, it would appear extremely odd, that among the various things set forth in your list of officers, instraments, and artists, the names of any nautical and scientific draughtsmen do not once occur. How is this? Were they unnecessary, or could none be found? That one of these cases is correct, the detaiicd accuracy with which other portions of this Expedition have been set forth renders it almost impossible to doubt. Of these points some explanation willl hope be given, or else the world cannot but suppose, that where such bolatering and propping was deemed right, there must bave been something “ rotten in the state ef Denmark,”

In another passage of the wonderful book in question, the public are informed by you. with much pomp and circumstance, that twe gentlemen, one @ young man, who it seems was op the point of taking orders, and the other an officer of artillery, were recommended by the Royal Society as astronomers to the Expeditions, and to perform its scientific duties, tias! our gallant Navy, how are they lessened in their own, how degrad- ed in the eyes of others. ** Quantum mutatud,”

Gracious Heaven! shall it be told in Eagland, and will it be believed, that the Navy of England, whose skill and science have enabled them te explore the trackless deep io every clime, and to Lunt our enemics from pole to pole, should be unable to produce even two officers capable of being astronomers to such au Expedition? Are the Navy then so fallea, that mi- litary men and civiliaus must supersede them in thetr own profession! Are sailors to command armies, and soldiers fleets? Or are our seamen to be insulted and neglected, aad made the victims of inwigue, by those very persons Who should most strenuously support them?

I shall perhaps be told, that as the object was general science, talent was to be sougit im every quarter. The object no doubt was geveral sci- ence; but it was only to be attaioed by naval means; and while that ser- vice did possess one man adequate to the duties which were required, he and he only should have been employed. It is an imputation upon the Navy, which they fecl, and an eternal stigma upon those who cast it,

Be these things as they may, both Expeditions have now failed, whether from the fault of those who arranged, or those who executed them, we have yetio learn, and shall no doubt be very candidly informed ; as well by seeing the orders issued to the commanders on the subject of their voyage, as by having the return of one of them accounted for, apparent- ly from the very entrance of that passage, the existence and investiga- tion of which was the peculiar object of the enterprize. That these things should attach themselves to the officers, we can scarcely suppose, since ihey were, by your statements, selected with the most scrupulous disre- gard to interest, and from the most satisfactory proofs of their mathema- tical and nautical acquirements. In every way, however, whatever blame there may be, it must rest with those who directed these undertakings: were they i!l planned, they alone are answerable ; were the ollicers ill se« lected, then they are doubly responsible, to the country, for compromis- ing its honour, and to these brave men, for sending tiem to lose and not to gain distinction ; for you should remember, that as men are born with different capacities, so they are to be variously applied: that each one is best in his proper sphere ; So!diers on land, Sailors at sea, Clergymen in the puipit, and Secretaries ¢ransmitiing, not presuming to give orders.

Lam, Sir, your obedient humble Servant. A FRIEND TO THE NAVY,

bee ” , . _ , British Officers tu Soreign Services,

The following is a List of British Officers employed (under his Ma- jesty’s Licence) in the service of any foreign State; distinguishing their respective ranks, and the States by whom respectively employed ;

IN THE SERVICE OF PORTUGAL,

Grnerat..—Lord Beresford. Lieutenant Colonels—-Sir John Wilson, Sir Archibald Campbell, Sir John Buchan, Sir Maxwell Grant, Sir William Cox, Sir Charles Suttoy

= o a —_——-—— —-

& Page 307, Polar Voyages,

284

CALCUTTA JOURNAL.

Nov. 29

= ——

Sic John ‘Campbell, Gustavus Browne, Sir George Elder, Michael hiCreagh, Sir Henry Watson, Ricbard Armstrong, Chas. Ashworth, Sir Henry Pyo, and P. M’Neii.

Majors—Alexandor Anderson, Sir Robert John Harvey, Kennéth Snodgrass, Baac Henry Hewett, George Wm. Paty, Jobn Prior, Thomas St. Clair, Peter Adamson, John Austin, Bryan O'Toole, Sir D. St. Leger Hill, Sir E, K. Wiitliamsa, G. H. Zubleze, Sir Nicholas Trant, John Macdonald, Benjamin Suilivea, Cassius Mathew Clunchy, John Rolt, and Ralph Qusely.

Coptains—Edward Knight; William Charters, Sir Frederick Watson Bevjamia Orlando Jones, Thomas O'Neill, Edward Brackenbury, Thomas Fiecoke, Robt. Ray, J. P. Maber. James Johnstone, Thomas Cox, Wil- liam Gordon, William Cotter, B. V. Deriny, Charles Maximillian, Tho- mas Western, Robert Macintosh, Walter O’Hara, C. C. Mitchels, John William, Head Brydges, Thomas Smith, Hugh Hay Rose, Samuel Haw- kins, Hugh Lemley, George Henry, Edward Murphy, Robert Haddock William de Linstow, Charles John Fizgerald, George Lennon, Graham Henry, Augustus M'Donald, Rodolph Steiger, William Dobbia, Nicholas Colthurst, Thomas Robert Shervinton, Sir Frederick Armstrong, Thomas Potter, John Pigott, George Edward Quenton, John Moore Foley, James Dodwell, Thomas Bunbury, John Sutherland, David Sheill, Richard Da- niell, William Henry Thornton, Alexander Macgregor. James Robinson, John Marry Browa. Wm. Gordon, Charles Joseph de Franciosi, Charles Walentine Hodge, John Rwmap, John M‘Phail, A. Piilip de Burgh, Arebibald Ross.

Ensign—John Heron.

Deputy luspector of Hospitals—Angustus West.

Staif Surgeons—Wm. Wyan, F.Jebb, John Clark,

IN THE SERVICE OF SPAIN.

Licatenant-Colonel Sir Philip Keating Roche.

Captain Sir John Clarke.

Assistant Commissary General Sir John Downie.

and — Barry.

IN THE SERVICE OF THE NETHERLANDS. Lieutenant James Hojel.

IN THE SERVICE OF NAPLES, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Church.

Storm arty Comet,

To the Editor of La Quotidienne,

S1n,—Daring.several days, a Comet had been remarked towards the morth, and the country gentlemen have a singuiar dread of its influence; their presentiment in this respect appears to be jnstified by the terrible misforiuacs, which the inhabitants of Carzay and Jazeneuil have expe- rienced. .

Storms succeeded each other daring a considerable time, and thun- derbolts bad falien in several places. On the evening of the Sth of July, ano- ther storm came on, proceeding from the south-west towards the north-east. At midnight its violence was extreme, and it was accompanied by a most dreadful tempest of hail, showering down bailstones of an enormous size, which in ten minutes destrayed all the cultivation of the two communes,

The consternation is general, the loas. incalculable ; it comprizes every thing, vineyards, wood, and fields; potan ext of corn will be saved, they will not even have pasturage for the nomnishment of their cattle. At 10 o’clock this morning, the forests and -the hollow paths are ,filied with hail- stones as large as prunes; they pick up game in the fields; some cattle have been killed and all that were out have been wounded; all the dwell- ings even the most humble barns have been damaged; every one removed to avoid the imminent danger that threatened him, taking refuge in the safest part of his houee; butin spite of this precaution, we should have had to de- plore the loss of many people, if this siorm had lasted a few minutes longer.

At the Chateau de Portail, the house was entirely anroofed, andif the strangers who inhabited it, had not precipitatcly icft their bed to collect together in a safe place on the pavement, they would have been crushed to death, for the ceiling feil io, and this dweljing, entirely new, is now ina deplorable state.

If the government does not render assistance to these unfortnnute in- habitants of Curzay and Jazenueil, they will not be able to support themselves. Heavy contributions are-levied on them for the repair of the two bridges, but they will not be able to pay any of them. The storm in its course has most probably ravaged other communes; but we baye as yet learned nothing certain on this subject.

J have the honor to be, &c,

#uly \0, 1819.

DE CURYAY, Ancien Préfet des Deux Sévres. |

Printed at the Union Press, in Garstin’s Buildings, near Bankshall and the Exchnyge,

.

Law Detisfons,

. COURT OF CHANCERY,—JUNE 30, 1819.

The Princess of Wales v. Lord Liverpool, Count Munster, and another,

The Solicitor-General in this case moved, that the bill filed by hee Royal Highness against the defemdants should be dismissed, with costs to be taxed by the Master. The tate Duke of Brauswick had signed several documents, giving the Princess £15,000, and the same day he also; as_alieged in the bill, gave her by another document 15.000 French Louis. Lord Liverpool and Count Munster were appointed execators, aud the present suit was instiiuted to compel them to make payment -of the above claim. Qu seeing the document, Count Munster had some donbts as to the hand-writing, it being different from that which his Serene Highness used. ‘The other document had not been produced, nor could the defendants put in their answer til! that was done, and the funds ia the mean time could not be administered. Four terms having now elapsed since the Court ordered this document to be produced, they felt it their daty to move for the Bill being dismissed. ;

Sir A. Piggott, followed on the same side; as did Mr. Healde.

Mr, Martin, for the royal plaintiff, said that the present case certain- tainly lay ina very narrow compass. The sum was not of the slightest importance. When the order was made, the defendants were told, that they should have a fortnight to put ia their answer after the document had been produced, and he contended that the defendants could not ask for the bill being dismissed till they had put in their answer. Their best plan would have been to obtain an order for the production of that deed in a givea time, and if that was not done, then they might apply for dismissing the bill, He regretted, that the motion had been made at a time when the Princess could have no opportunity of instructing her legal advisers. He conclud- ed by expressing a hope, that his Lordship would not agree to the motion,

The Lord Chancellor was clear, that when a defendant pledged him- self by oath to patio his answer on a certain paper or document being produced, he could not answer till that was produced, without real injary to those for whom he acted; the Court could net make any decree till that was done. The present case must be decided on principle rather than precedent, and the question was, whether the defendants, placed in their present situation, had a right to claim the dismissal of the Bill, as though they had been differently situated. He hoped in God nothing on earth would induce him to have ‘his judgment biassed cither way, and his order, therefore, was, that the paper be produced by the third seal, with liberty to her Royal Highness to make any motion on the first or second seal. If he said ucthing on this subject to-morrow, then this order would be considered as final; bat should he see cause to alter bis opinion, he would state whathe thought. His not saying amy thing would be a proof that hic order was final.

The Earl of Shaftesbury antl Lovd Robert Spencer, v. His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and Triphook.

Mr. Shadwell moved for an injunction to restrain the Duke and the defendart from -selling, pawning, or disposing of certain gold and silver plate bequeathed by the Duke to the plaintifls anda Mr. Black stone, as trustees for the present Duke. The bill prayed, that the defendant Thomas Triphook should-be ordered to give up such articles of plate as he had, and that he should not be allowed to sell or dispose of any other, until furtber order; and that the Duke should be also ordered to deliver up such articles as Mr, Triphook had not got in his pessession; that if any of the plate was sold or destroyed, the Dake might be ordered tapro- cure plate of an equal value, and deliver the same to the plaintiffs ; and that the said articles, when restored, should be lodged .in some place of safety, but that the Duke should be, meanwhile restrained from removing any articlesfrom Blenheim House. The application now made to the Court was merely ex-parte, but he (Mr. Shadwell) had no doubt the Conrt would aceede toit. The will of the late Puke determined, that the gold aud silver plate should be for ever considered as heir-looms at Blenheim- house. IJnventorics of the goods were ordered to be made and delivered to the trustees. By an affidavit, it appeared, that Mr. Palmer, of Picca- dilly, bad been employed to survey the property, and compare it with the inventory, but it was found the plate was gone, on which the deponent applied to his Grace on the subject, and was told the whole was in the hands of tradesmen, except two articles, which bad been scant to have the arms engraven upon them. The Karl of Shaftesbury could not, however, obtain information abont the plate, and thoagh he was told the person had gone to Wales, he could not learn what his name was. A Mr. Pennigar said he had got 12 or 1360!..0n the plate, by order of the Duke, and that it couki not be recovered without that sum beiug repaid. A letter was sent by Mr. Alderman Cox,.of Little Britain, saying that the Marlborough plate was sent to him forsale, but as the arms were covered over with wax, he refused to purchase it; and when he added, that a Mr. John Hone had.declered, that the said plate was offered ia pledge to a Mr. Par- ker, of Berner’s-street, Oxford-road, and that the arms were concealed under wax,.these facts spoke for themeelves.

The Lord Chancclior, without any hesitation, ranted the injunction.

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