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the chance of disappointment in one or two articles. If very important relief indeed be not afforded to the nation in the next session, it will be justly inferred-either that Ministers have no real faith in their professed principles, confirmed as they are by the most satisfactory experience; or that they are deterred from extending their operation by a mean and corrupt repugnance to the inconsiderable diminution of patronage consequent upon partial remitting of taxes.

THEATRICAL EXAMINER.

COVENT GARDEN.

KELLY was a fine piece of broad comedy.-We have also to notice a new operatic piece, entitled The Wedding Present, which, owing to a accidental oversight, we regarded, when announced, as an old one. It went off, it seems, indifferently. Q.

MR MULOCH AND HIS OXFORD PROCEEDINGS. Mr Muloch, who so lately figured in an orthodox riot at Oxford, has published a long letter in the daily papers, explanatory of the conduct which led to the disgraceful scenes exhibited in that learned city. He was charged, it may be recollected, among other things, with propagating opinions that led to the separation of man and wife; and it On Tuesday last, the comedy of Rule a Wife and Have a Wife does appear, from his own statement, that the charge is not an unwas revived at this theatre with very considerable success. founded one. It is a It seems that the wife of one of his congregation, a delightful treat to see an old drama, and (we were going to say) conMrs Susannah Taylor, whom Mr Muloch describes as "a wicked sequently a fine one, well sustained through all its characters; and person-a manifest reprobate concerning the faith an irretrievable this (with some trifling modification) was the case the other evening. apostate from the living and true God," had been expelled from their We came away well satisfied that Mr CHARLES KEMBLE made an Mr Muloch says, " I enjoined him to depart immediately from a wife society by his order. Her husband applied to him for advice, wher, excellent Leon: his performance of the latter part of the character was who had crucified Christ afresh and put him to an open shame. I de dignified and graceful,-perhaps a little too boisterous once or twice sired him, moreover, to appropriate to her exclusive use the whole of for the elegantly accomplished husband; but his assumed idiotcy was a finished piece of acting. We will not compare him with his his income (60l. a-year) derived from property over which his marbrother, who may have been more lofty; or with Mr KEAN, who may exactitude, and then commenced a persecution as malignant and riage gave him a control. All this was done with the most scrupulous have been more energetic without shouting;—but taking the performance as a whole, we prefer him to either, Mr COOPER made the intendedly mischievous as any that the annals of intolerance record." most of that very unequivocal and up-hill character, the Duke. WeFrom this statement, it does not appear that Mrs Taylor had were pleased with his maintaining the aristocracy of the character in offended in any other way than that of differing in religious opinion repelling the familiar advance made to him in common with the other with Mr Muloch; for had she been "a reprobate" in any other sense, guests by Michael Perez, when welcoming them to his house. His he does not seem to be the man who would be tender of a woman's and KEMBLE's attitudes of defence were highly graceful. This actor reputation, and hide her misdoings. For this offence, therefore, her will certainly become a favourite; he is judicious and indefatigable, poor deluded spouse was persuaded to abandon her by this Teacher and moreover, has the good luck of not being a spoilt child from of "glad tidings;" and though we highly condemn the conduct of the precocious applause. JONES'S Copper-Copper Captain-was very Oxford mob in personally assailing Mr Muloch and his disciples, who amusing. FARLEY'S Cacophogo, too palpable-we mean that he should be put down by reason and ridicule, not by howling and mud, made this, as he does all his characters, abrupt and melo-dramatic, we really cannot be greatly surprised at such a manifestation of popaMrs FAUCIT was respectable in Margueritte; and Miss CHESTER'S lar disgust. But this was not the only case of the kind. "A person Estifania, to our liking, the most uniformly good performance of the named Thomas Lord (adds Mr Muloch) who had been for some time evening. The house was well attended; the Pit full even to standing He stated to me (what I now firmly believe to be a vile untruth) that under my ministry, asked my advice for the regulation of his conduct. room; and the piece was announced for repetition to the accompani- he felt desirous of bearing his part in defraying the expenses of the ment of two rounds of applause, On Wednesday evening, a gentleman of the name of FITZHARRIS Church which he had voluntarily joined, but that his wife contumamade his first appearance at this theatre in the character of Othello, ciously withheld from him every shilling of his property. I told him We hold it waste of time to dwell at length upon a decided failure, cable to the need of the Church) and that, on the contrary, he was that we did not want his money (my own wife's portion being appliWith nothing very defective in conception, and certainly with nothing approaching to superiority or originality in that direction, Mr FITZ- welcome to share such things as I possessed; but that having named HARRIS had to labour against the physical impediment of a voice, his case, nothing was more scripturally clear to me than that no which was equally ineffective in its upper and its lower tones. So Christian man should remain in slavish subjection to his wife, who is strikingly apparent was this bar to success, that it evidently put the enjoined to reverence her husband, and submit to him as her acknowaudience out of doubt in the very first act. For the rest, it may be ledged head, she receiving in return the kindly affection and due generally observed, that his person was tall and not inelegant, and his honour which are to be rendered to her as the weaker vessel. I desired action free and graceful. For the first three acts, the house was tole- him, therefore, to exact mildly, but firmly, implicit obedience from his rably patient, although its very silence was significant enough; but wife, who is (it may be passingly noted) what is termed in the religions open symptoms of discontent then began to prevail, and the effect world," a professor of the Gospel." Upon her violent, abusive, and upon the debutant was evinced in the increased languor of the remain-blasphemous refusal (I call it blasphemous, for it was accompanied der of his performance. The mistakes in self-appreciation are very the proper course for a Christian to pursue, as set forth in the word of with reproaches against Christ's truth) I pointed out to Thomas Lord curious. Possibly, next to Richard, Othello, of all the characters of the Shakespearian drama, was the best calculated to expose the phyGod-Come out from among them and be ye separate.” sical and other deficiencies of Mr FITZHARRIS,-and he chooses it accordingly! The reproof has been conclusive. Mr WARDE played Jago with his usual general sound discrimination and good sense; but there is a bonhommie and kindliness of expression in the countenance of this gentleman which unfit him for Tago, or at least which render it difficult for him to duly exhibit the malignity and persiflage of that most accomplished villain: the Mephistophiles portion of the demon was wanting. COOPER was the Cassio; but the drunken scene is altogether out of the way of this improving performer, especially on boards which have been trod by Mr C. KEMBLE in the same character. Mrs SLOMAN enacted Desdemona, and in the chamber scene evinced simplicity and nature. Mrs FAWCIT, in Emilia, was animated in the final scene; but to say the truth, before the tragedy was concluded, both spectators and performers seemed to feel the absence of a sun to their system, and Ennui was the presiding spirit of the evening. Much attention has been paid to costume in getting up "Which made him grow bolder and bolder." Othello, and the contrast of the dresses of Cyprus with those of Venice Mercy on us! what a torrent of hard words is poured out in this one was picturesque. At the conclusion of the tragedy, the friends of the epistle! His opposers are said to utter "filthy falsehoods" and new performer made a stand. It was the service of the forlorn hope "abominable lies." The Oxford Herald is " an unclean thing," which -devoted and faithful. If you fall," says a great authority," fall he "casts into the mire of the street;" and its Editor, he says, "he with grace." boldly denounces as a liar and a slanderer." The Oxford mob he DRURY LANE. describes as "certain lewd fellows of the baser sort," who were, he is CIBBER'S comedy of She Would and She Would Not was revived at persuaded, " instigated by Professors of Religion;" and "the pe this theatre on Wednesday. The claim of a new Othello prevented sonal violence," he says, "offered to his friends, could not be displeas our attendance; but we are informed that the Hippolyta of Missing to some Guardians of the Public Peace, whose principles of

Jndging from the tone that prevails throughout the letter, it seems quite clear to us, that Mr Muloch is an intemperate fanatic-one of those Christians who do not turn the left cheek when the right is smitten—1 follower of John Calvin rather than of Jesus Christ-one who would burn rather than bear with a mistaken brother-and is more disposed to brandish a cutlass with St Peter, than to exclaim "Go and sin no more" with his benevolent Master.

However reprehensible the conduct of Mr Muloch's opposers, considering that they certainly had, some grounds for their distaste, we must say that the language he employs respecting them is anything but decorous. Charity (says the Apostle) suffereth long and is kind;" but Mr Muloch is pugnacious and bitter in the extreme. He is fierce and foul-mouthed, like the renowned Dragon of Wantley"With a sting in his tail "As long as a flail,

ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE.-COURT OF

CHANCERY.'

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER.

Justice are about as equal as the legs of the lame!"Of course, all I am aware that the Accountant-General grants what are termed "volun"It is tary certificates" of the fund in Court, but those certificates are not sufMr Muloch's enemies are the enemies of truth and of God. my uncompromising proclamation of Divine Truth (he says) in the ficient for the prosecuting an enquiry before the Master or the informafund was transferred, the amount of the dividends accrued, when invesmidst of a crooked and perverse generation of false religious zealots, tion of the Court, by reason that they do not state the times when the whom my preaching reproves of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, ted, and at what price: they will answer a general purpose only, viz., the rancorous enemies of Christ, while carrying on in their respective to show the actual amount of stock and cash in Court; and in this, Synagogues of Satan, a blasphemous mockery of Divine things; this it is great difficulty is thrown in the way of the suitor, by the non-attendance that has caused the persecution which rages so furiously but so fruit- of the clerks at the Accountant-General's office until the 1st of Novemlessly against me. You will perceive from the tenor of this letter how ber, whereby the suitor is unable to get such certificate, by the practice little I am affected by it, yea, how I am armed against all opponents. in that office, until two days after the office opens. The prejudice to the The truth of the Gospel is my sword, and belief in it is my shield." public by the non-attendance of the clerks before the 1st of November is, What Mr Canning could find in such a spirit to induce him to that the first petition day is lost to the suitor, and the suitor is obliged to is fixed for the 29th of November-a grievance, also, which ought become his associate, we cannot divine; and that the Foreign Secre- wait for an order for his money, until the next petition day, which tary has had the benefit or disgrace of his friendship, Mr Mulock to be rectified. No remark, probably, need be made upon the taking plainly avows in the following passage, the only good one in his letter, of gratuities by a clerk in a public office; it may not, however, be which is otherwise written in a spirit of rancour and intolerance to be impertinent to observe, that the commissioners, in their report of 1816, found only in a furious fanatic: I cannot have any reason for with- found that gratuities were taken in the Accountant-General's-office, holding the fact, that for more than ten years I have enjoyed the friend- but they did not find that in any case a gratuity taken exceeded two ship of Mr Canning-a friendship, however, not to be confounded guineas, and that such were taken for advice. Whether others than with the servile connexion of patron and dependant, but generous in the actual clerks in that office were examined upon the question,,I don't its formation, and cemented by such an interchange of good offices, as know, but I suspect not; it is quite ludicrous to talk of advice being given by any clerk in the Accountant-General's office to an experienced to leave me under no other obligation than that which Mr Canning's solicitor of the Court, Lord Bacon has well observed that" gratuity is the mother of extortion." That the practice of taking gratuities is by favourable opinion is sure to confer." far too prevalent in most of the offices at this Court, and that it tends to retard the general business of the suitor, I well know; for instance, if one of the Master's clerks receives a gratuity of 60 or 80 guineas (which has been the case) for what is called expediting a report in a particular SIR, Observations having been made respecting the delay in the cause, may it not be supposed that his attention will be more vigilant to payment of the Chancery Suitors' Michaelmas Dividends, I am inclined that cause than to other general and more ordinary matters and causes? to make a few remarks on the present practice in the above office. However, such latter causes, though not so great as to property or parWhether the Commissioners who are now proceeding with the inquiry ties, are not the less important to the suitor who is immediately interestdirected by Parliament will interfere with this office, I know not. Ied in them, whether on the question of costs, or otherwise. Some idea have not heard that any evidence has been laid before them as respects may be formed of the extent of these gratuities, when it has been lately it. It may be necessary to observe, that so long ago as 1816, the Com-said that the average emoluments of one of the Master's clerks, during missioners, previously appointed for the purpose, made their report of the the years 1822, 1823, and 1824, amounted to 2,3001. per annum; and duties, salaries, and emoluments of officers in courts of justice, which that clerk, I believe, a certificated attorney too; those emoluments are report has, however, never been acted upon; the present Accountant, also exclusive aud independent of his practice as such. Clerks in public General was one of those commissioners; they have there stated the offices ought not to act for their own personal gain during office hours: hours of attendance at the Accountant-General's office to be from 9 till 2 and although there is an order of the Court that the Master's clerks shall not act as solicitors, I believe it will be found that many of them do so and from 4 till 7. Now, in respect to that statement, it is material to observe, that the business of the office, so far as the suitors are concerned, act, either directly or indirectly. But it will be said that such order is begins at 11 and ends at 2 o'clock, and is mere mockery. The senior obsolete; I observe that many orders of Lord Hardwicke are either obsoclerk has a salary of 6004. per annum, and the three senior clerks in the lete or evaded by the officers whose particular duty it is to obey them. three departments, whose duty it is to prepare checks for the payment of shall not lengthen these observations; it is not my intention to remark money for the signature of the Accountant-General, have each a salary generally upon the practice and abuses of the Court of Chancery; I am not disposed to do so, for the reason only that commissioners are now sitof 500l. per annum; their attendance is not after 2 o'clock; but their particular attendance ought, for the suitors' benefit, to be from 9 until 2,ting to make certain enquiries. Should their report not be to the extent and from 4 until 7. The suitor has a right to demand it, and the Ac. which the public have a right to expect and demand, I probably shall countant-General ought to compel such attendance; the grievance to the then be inclined to do so. It is a great pity and a serious inconvenience to the public that nothing has been done under the Commissioners' republic, in consequence of this limited actual attendance is very great, and should be remedied. Checks for the payment of money due to the port of 1816. The public have a right to know the reason for this: those suitors are not ready for several days after they are bespoke, and in many commissioners stated the fees due to the several officers of the courts, the sums actually taken, and those which they considered reasonable cases creditors and legatees prefer giving a gratuity for expedition, to remaining in town at an expense, or being put to the delay and charges and recommended to be taken in future. The not carrying this report of a power of attorney and affidavit to receive their just due. Solicitors and recommendation into a law has occasioned in the Masters' offices are unwarrantably complained of by the public for this and other such much altercation and great expense to the suitor. Some of the Masters delays; powers of attorney and affidavits are prepared by clerks in the adhere to the fees as established by law, others of the Masters adhere to the fees recommended to be taken; and in consequence of this differenco Accountant-General's office, the costs of which fall heavy on the suitors, of opinion, and the officers of the court demanding what by law they are and frequently exceed the sum which a suitor has to receive; the consenot entitled to demand, motions have been made by the suitors to the quence of this is, that the debt remains in the Bank of England, as money Lord Chancellor upon the subject, but no order has been made, nor has = belonging to the suitor, unemployed: these elerks are neither public officers nor certificated conveyancers-nor are they in any character any thing decisive been done; the question still remains open, and there entitled to charge fees for preparing powers of attorney and affidavits, is the same difference of opinion now as there was in 1816: surely it is the the doing of which, in office hours, diverts their attention from their off-duty of some person to settle this between the officers and the public? cial duties. In prosecuting a suit in which the funds have been transferred into the Accountant-General's name, it becomes necessary to have an account or transcript of the funds from the books of the AccountantGeneral; one of the Accountant-General's clerks prepares such account or transcript, and for which the suitor is obliged to pay to him so much sper side according to the rule laid down amongst the salary clerks in that office, and an exorbitant payment also from time to time for making up that account half-yearly, or when wanted for the information of the Court or Master. The consequence of this also is, that such clerks are not only paid for their official duties out of the suitors' unclaimed money, but are extravagantly paid for labour done during that time which the public have a right to. This grievance is very great, and should be put a stop to; the suitors ought to have their accounts regularly made up-that is to say, after each dividend day-without being subject to the enormous charges claimed by the Accountant-Gene-parishioners," as he termed them, that he should, in future, in conformity ral's clerk for doing (as I submit) a public duty. They are paid out of the suitors' money for their time, and they ought to keep the suitors' accounts without extra charge. If this was inquired into, it would be found that the salary paid them was not only sufficient, but liberal, for these duties; and their stated hours of attendance, as mentioned by the commissioners in the report of 1816, more than sufficient time for the purpose. Their stated attendance at the office, from 4 until 7, which they ought to, but de not, attend, would, if they were so employed, remedy the evil,

I

I am, Sir, your humble servant,
Southampton-buildings, Oct. 27.

EASTER DUES OR OFFERINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER.

J. H.

SIR, In your Paper of last Sunday, I perceived some excellent remarks on the subject of Easter Dues, &c. Allow me to call the attention of your readers to a view of the subject, which may, I think, prove extremely useful.

The Ministers of the Establishment prefer what are called Easter Dues, or Easter Offerings, to other modes of payment, because they are more profitable. I remember some four years since, when the Parson of the parish in which I then lived (Paddington) gave up some other mode of payment, writing a " pastoral letter," in which he informed his beloved to ancient practice, call upon them for Easter Offerings.

Now, Sir, the benefit to the Parsous, and the consequent injury to the public is this: The ancient law or practice was, at the very utmost, to pay a certain small sum,-four-pence, I believe, per head; and in some places a pretence of a larger modus has been set up. But in collecting the Easter Dues, this limitation of amount is studiously concealed by the Reverend Collectors; and even where it is known by the parties called on to pay, there is a reluctance to pay so small a fractional sum, to so

respectable a gentleman, and so reverend to boot, as the Parson of the | and general subscription, made by rich communicants, to gladden at parish. The consequence of this is, that it is the practice to pay the Par-joyous season the hearts of their poorer brethren; the priest proba son, under the form of Easter Offerings, a sum very considerably larger being selected as the most proper person to be the common almon than his legal claim. One Parson I have heard of, who declared that he the district. Likely as this conjecture appears to be, I am more incli never took less than gold; and it consists with my own knowledge, that to think that the offering" was made for a purpose which appear a sovereign or a guinea are commonly given on these occasions. in ruder times more especially devotional. At this season it was custom of the Church, in imitation, or supposed imitation, of the primitiv Christians, to burn upon their altars, gold, frankincense and myrrh, as grateful offering to the Omnipotent Author of Nature; and this money was a voluntary contribution to defray the purchase of these costly art cles, and other expenses incidental to the performance of this holy riv With the propriety or absurdity of such a practice we have nothing v do; the questions are:-Do either of the suppositions shew the par pose for which " Easter Offerings" were originally made, and if so, the money so applied? Now it is notorious, that it is neither bestowe upon the poor, nor consumed upon the altar. What follows? Why, thr if the first supposition be correct, these pious Priests are "reverenc rogues in robes," and plunder the poor, whom they are bound in a peculiar manner to protect, who were especial objects of their Gres Master's solicitude, and for whose benefit the money was contributed: and if the second supposition be the true one, they defraud the donc and bilk their God. In short, they are no other than reverend imposters who, instead of proceeding against others, ought to be proceeded agains for obtaining money under false pretences.-Yours, &c. High Holborn.

Now, Sir; to members of the Church of England, who sleep regularly in their own pews, and support the venerable Establishment-to these I say nothing; but to Dissenters, to men who disbelieve the doctrines of the Church, and who, from enlightened or other views, profess not to wish to uphold it, to such, Sir (and there are doubtless many such among your readers), allow me a few words. We must all admire the resolute and probably conscientious conduct of the individuals who have refused to pay these claims at all, and resisted their enforcement by legal means. All, however, are neither disposed to make this sacrifice, nor capable of making these exertions. Thus much, however, they can do, and thus much, I think, as a matter of right and duty, they ought to do-they can refuse to pay one farthing more than the party himself claims as his legal due. Excuse the apparent egotism of stating my own case. On the claim being made, I addressed a note to the Parson of the parish, asking him to state in writing his legal demand. He did so state, and I paid the pence be claimed. I treated him as I would an imposing hackney-coachman, to whom we say, "What is your fare?" intending to pay his demand, and appeal against any extortion to the Commissioners. The Parson was, as you may sup pose, extremely nettled at this position. In a parish of“ 55,000 souls," he said I was the only individual who had raised a difficulty about paying these dues. I happen to know that this representation was a little exaggerated; and even if true, it amounted only to this, that of the many thousands of Dissenters in the parish, I was the first, in this respect, to show the example of acting consistently.

If this example were followed generally, it would, I am persuaded, do much good in lessening, in some degree, the enormous receipts of the Church, which are swelled by the monstrous anomaly of being increased by the contributions of Dissenters. I know it is with many minds difficult to do what would appear shabby; but the best maxim is to do what is right, regardless of appearances; and it is clear that we act morally wrong, when, by voluntary contributions, we assist in supporting an already too wealthy Establishment, of which we wholly disapprove.

All that has been said above applies equally to marriage and to some other fees. Dissenters are compelled,-against their belief and their consciences, they are by law compelled to approach the altar, and partake in the worship of the Church of England. The Priest tells his victims (for such they are) that they must pay him a fee; the "customary fee," according to the direction of the Rubric, he is" to place on the book." Surely, under such circumstances, not only is he not bound to pay more than the accustomed fee, but he is in honour and in conscience, being a dissenter, bound to abstain from any compliment to the Minister who is the instrument to wound his conscience, and not to pay one farthing beyond what the Priest can legally compel. Every penny which he gives beyond this is a contribution on his part to support the system which oppresses him.'

Money forms the sinews of war. This is a maxim in Church as well as State; and an attention to the above suggestion may not be without effect in the ecclesiastical warfare now waging against the best interests of mankind Yours, very respectfully,

Oct. 26, 1825.

DELTA.

MR EDITOR,-I am happy to find by an Article in your last Number, that the legality of extorting what are termed "Easter Offerings," is about to be tried in our principal Court of Jurisprudence: for to a people so harassed by exactions as the English are, every amount, however trifling, becomes an object of serious consideration. If this were not the case, if the smallness of the amount made it a matter of no moment in a pecuniary point of view, yet if it be not legal, it is an imposition, and what Englishman ever submitted without grumbling and resistance to this species of robbery? But small as the demand is, there are niany, and those not the poorest, who have frequently felt the exaction a real inconvenience. There is one peculiarity connected with this levy that is worth noticing; all persons above the age of sixteen pay the same in amount, so that its very equality renders it unequal, and therefore` unjust in its operation. No reference is made to the rank of the party, or his ability to pay; the gorgeous coronet of the peer, and the paper-cap of the mechanic, are, in this instance, placed upon a level. But my motive in writing, is to ascertain the origin and object of this tax. Like my neighbours, I have paid it year after year, but the collectors could never satisfy me as to its origin or purpose; my habits, it is true, are not parochial, my pleasure is not in penetrating parish mysteries, nor have I leisure to consult Dupin, Mosheim, or any other Ecclesiastical authority upon the subject. All I could gather is, that it is the Rector's right, but I have a suspicion that he has no right of the kind-that the Clergy have taken advantage of the ignorance of parishioners, and have "time out of mind" been misapplying the money they obtained at this season. The levitical tribe, from the time they appropriated the "Flesh Pots" in Egypt to the present day, have taken ample measures for self-preservation, and needed no spontaneous contribution for the perpetuation of their

.order.

The term "offering" suggests two ideas, either of which may account for the practice of presenting money at Easter. It might have been a voluntary offering on the part of those who could afford to those who could not, to enable them to celebrate that great Festival of the Church-a free

PROCEEDINGS RESPECTING NEWGATE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER.

S

SIR, I beg leave to inform you, that Mr Jorgenson was sent off this morning to the hulks, so that you will no more be troubled with impertinences and lying excuses. In his last to you, he seemed to ins nuate that he had not been permitted to make his defence. The fact w he could make none. He was present during the whole time while I wa substantiating my charges before the Lord Mayor, against which he could say nothing, there being so many corroborating evidences against him. I cannot conclude without remarking, that I as clearly substantiated my charges against Dr Box, as I did those against Jorgenson, for the truth of which I appeal to the Lord Mayor and Alderman Wood; yet no notice has been taken of his neglect of duty.

With many thanks for your assistance, without which, I believe, I
should never have succeeded in obtaining justice for Jorgenson,
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
Chapel yard, Newgate, Oct. 27th, 1825.

JOHN CLARKL

PORTSMOUTH MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER.

SIR, Conscious of the pleasure you derive from the increase of Inst tutions tending to promote the diffusion of knowledge, I have though proper to communicate to you a few of the details of one lately establish ed, known by the appellation of " the Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport Mechanics' Institution."

It was projected a month or two since by a few philanthropic Gentle men of the three towns, who called a meeting of the Mechanics, and others favourable to it; at which all its advantages were pointed out, and seemed duly appreciated by those who attended; although it must be confessed the number of its members is but small, when the immense population of these towns (being 50,000) is considered, and of which a great portion are Mechanics. However, it is confidently hoped that the number will be trebled, and even quadrupled before this Society will have been twelve months in existence; and when it shall have recovered from the shocks of the thunders which illiberality, ignorance, and misrepresentation are now hurling at it, its numbers will, I think, be incalculable.

But to proceed :-The members at the First General Meeting, which was held at the Old Town-hall, Portsmouth (where, by permission of the Mayor, future meetings will be held), elected their officers, whe with twenty-four others then chosen, are to form a Committee, of which two-thirds be it recollected must be of the operatives themselves, who will all serve for the ensuing year.

On Monday the 24th instant, its first weekly meeting was held, whe an appropriate and elaborate address was delivered by the President, in which he forcibly urged the happy results of the union of Theory with Practice, and ably and scientifically pointed out the benefit that indvidual trades would derive from the knowledge which the Institution is intended to afford. He also adverted to the support which a Govertment, founded on the principles of universal freedom, must derive from an enlightened population, and that it was only such as knew no law other than that of power, and that rest on no basis other than that of tyranny and oppression, that have cause to fear the penetrating and allsurmounting rays of knowledge. He further held up for imitation examples of men who had from the greatest obscurity attained immortality. The names of Franklin, Gregory, Ferguson, Ludbeck, as well as many others, were introduced in this interesting discourse.

After which the two Vice-Presidents favoured the meeting with many judicious observations, in which much talent was displayed. The Seare tary then announced that there were 154 names enrolled under our banners, after which there were about 20 more names handed to him. The Librarian also acknowledged the receipt of some valuable donations, which with the books our funds will already allow us to purchase, will shortly form a circulating library. ...g'.

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Now, Sir, too great results cannot, I think, be expected from such l'ance with the Royal Exchange was effected under some mistake, and that Institutions, and I sincerely hope that ere long the kingdom will abound I must immediately insure in the Sun Office." Nor is this all; for though in them; but as publicity will in all probability further their progress, I should be sorry to charge the Directors of the Sun Fire Office with I have to request the favour of an insertion of this in your columns. direct collusion with those of other offices, yet it is a singular fact, that, Portsmouth, Oct. 26, 1825. A MEMBER. on the following day, I received the visit of a fresh Inspector from the Royal Exchange Office, who informed me the "policy was granted under some mistake," and ultimately demanded precisely the same premium as had been previously demanded by the Sun Fire Office!

MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE.

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Dr John Gordon Smith, of Dorking, delivered an Introductory Lecture on this subject at the Crown and Rolls Room, Chancery Lane, on Friday evening, to a respectable and numerous audience.

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He produced an outline of the whole course, which it is his design to pronounce in the investigation of this branch of the healing art.. His first division explained forensic or judiciary medicine from medical police. His topics were the general importance of correct medical knowledge in the agents and witnesses upon trials involving physiological points in courts of justice-the awkward effects of ignorance in the counsel examining, or the medical professor examined and the dangerous consequences to society. This branch comprised all case of bodily harm which became questions before the tribunals. The proper arrangement would be, therefore, to begin with the most comprehensive head-death occasioned by violence, and to consider violence under the two-fold view of derangement in the internal economy, and fracture or breaking up of any part of the animal structure. He expiated on the niceties to be explored by medicar'skill, put in evidence as to the means of violence and the mode of operating death, whether by outward violence or poison, together with all the relative knowledge necessary to determine not only the agency of destruction, but the comparative state of the humours and health of the supposed victim. The heads under which he proposes to treat this part of the subject are-homicide-poisons-suffocation (whether by absence of a due spiratory medium, as the fumes of charcoal and other gasses, or the intervention of a condensed body, as in drowning; or the imposition of a foreign body upon the immediate organs of breathing, as in hanging; or the accidental contact of substances with the opening of the throat, as in choking)-suicide-proHicide, distinguishing criminal abortion from the murder of new-born children-maiming (the evidence of which has been rendered far more easy by Lord Ellenborough's Act-mala praxis, including the whole body of evils suffered by patients from defect of skill in professors-moral and physical disqualifications, distinguishing real from pretended, with a suitable censure upon the inhuman cupidity of those who had prepared the Living Skeleton for exhibition-legitimacy and priority of birth, and the question of survivorship in the event of the same death overtaking two persons on whom a descent of the same property descended-hermaphrodism, which, for its utility, might, without much danger, be classed with witchcraft. Under the head of medical police, must he classed all those subjects which affect the salubrity of the air, the water, the food, or the general safety of the community. The doctrine of contagion or non-contagion of the plague was the most illustrative of the branch. Another instance was the statute which made it misdemeanor to carry a child affected with the small-pox though the streets, even for the purpose of obtaining medical advice. Other questions of the same nature were those of nuisances indicted at law. There were no less than 10,000 treatises written on forensic medicine; few in English, but they contained all that need be read by practitioners. More medical knowledge ought to be required of Coroners, the verdicts being, one with the another under their direction, very nugatory in the sense of medical science. He noticed the attention which the French Ministry have recently given to the necessity of aiding the tribunals, both at home and in the colonies, with more professional lights than they have hitherto enjoyed, and the frank admission of the medical schools of Paris, that they were at present quite unable to provide the home tribunals with a sufficient number of pupils qualified in forensic medicine. He advised a similar improvement in our institutions. The lecture gave high satisfaction to those who attended it.

FIRE AND LIFE ASSURANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER.

MR EDITOR,-Your last Paper contained some very pertinent remarks relative to Premiums paid to Fire-Offices; but there is one hardship upon which you have not touched, namely, the exorbitant premium demanded by some Fire Offices, in consequence, as it would appear, of the Directors being aware that the tenant is bound by a clause in his lease, to insure in that particular office. I am a tenant of his Grace the Duke of Bedford, and have been for many years insured in the Sun Fire Office. Upon the expiration of my policy last quarter, I received notice that they could not insure my premises, unless I paid a considerable advance of premium, amounting in the whole to ten shillings and sixpence per cent.! Considering this to be little short of an imposition (as not the slightest alteration had been made either on my premises or those of my neighbours), I applied to the Royal Exchange Fire Office, whose Surveyor examined the house, and granted me a policy of insurance, at three shillings per cent.! Considering an insurance in the Royal Exchange equally eligible to one in the Sun, I presumed this would be sufficient to satisfy the Duke of Bedford's agents, some of whom certainly did appear staggered at the discrepancy of the premium required by two offices in their opinion equally respectable. I was desired, however, to state the circumstances of the case by letter, which I did; and after some time (during which, I apprehend, the agents of the Sun were conferred with) I received for answer," that they had reason to believe the insur

Now, I wish to ask, Mr Editor, whether these proceedings do not savour somewhat of hardship, if not of oppression; for, as I am bound by my lease peremptorily to insure in the Sun, the Directors may without scruple demand whatever premium they may think proper; and if the tenant demurs, they have only to sound the tocsin to the other offices, and the unfortunate leaseholder is by this means inevitably hunted into their

own toils.

I believe the Duke of Bedford's name appears in the list of the Directors of the Sun Fire Office, but surely his Grace can never have contem-' plated the effect which the mere exhibition of his high name is, of course, calculated to produce, when thus held in terrorem over his humbler tenantry; nor would he allow it to be used for the purpose of sanctioning a proceeding, which is, in fact, equivalent to raising the rent of the whole. of his leaseholders.I am, Mr Editor, your constant Subscriber, Oct. 24, 1825. W.C.

SIR,-Your Correspondent R. I. E,, in your Publication of Sunday' last, has conferred a great obligation upon the public, by calling the attention of Insurers to the terms under which their Policies are granted with respect to the Certificate to be procured from the Minister and Churchwardens of the Parish, to enable sufferers by fire to recover the amount of their loss, an obligation which, I trust, only requires to be known to be generally condemned.

T

*!

There is one point upon which however I shall, in common with. others, be obliged to your Correspondent for further information. The additional number of days allowed by all Insurance Offices for the payment of the Premiums after the expiration of the period for which the last Insurance was effected, is generally considered, and, I believe, legally so, as at the risk of the office, and not of the insured. Your Cor respondent however states, that it has been decided otherwise, and if so, he would sound an alarm to all Insurers, from Dan to Beersheba, by stating the facts under which such a decision was made, and what Insurance Office in London has had the temerity to avail itself of so mean a deception upon its customers, a deception which, from the tenor of all the notices for payment of Premiums I have seen, can be considered in no other light than as obtaining money under pretences which I do not think it expedient to name.

I had once occasion to inquire this point at the Guardian Office, upon.. a Policy for Life Assurance, and was informed by the Officers of that Institution that losses had been paid by them under such circumstances, and that their office considered, the risk as their own but if this is not. the general practice, I should wish to know which, Board of Directors ought to be avoided in future.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, October 24, 1825. A. S.

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FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES.
Tuesday, Oct. 25.
INSOLVENTS.

J. Pritchard and J. Burton, Yewsley, Middlesex, brick-makers.
T. B. Rigg, Caroline place, Chelsea, commission-agent.
S. Green, Kingsland, plumber.

BANKRUPTS.

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J. Wilson, King street, merchant. Solicitor, Mr Gates, Cateaton street. J. Parr, Nottingham, victualler. Solicitor, Mr Capes, Holborn court, Gray's Inn.

R. Orme, Burton-upon-Trent, draper. Solicitors, Messrs Battye and Co. Chancery lane.

W. Tensley, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, blacksmith. Solicitors, Messrs Hurd and Johnson, Temple.

W. Shelton, Burnett, New London street, merchant. Solicitors, Messrs Sweet and Co. Basinghall street.

J. Mizen, South Wraxhall, Wiltshire, baker. Solicitors, Messrs King and Lukin, Gray's Inn square.

W. Godden, Portsea, carpenter. Solicitor, Mr Sutcliffe, New Bridge
street, Blackfriars.
R. Harding, Chapel street, and New road, Somers town, timber-
merchant. Solicitors, Messrs Freeman and Heathcote, Coleman street.
G. W. Harris and C. Evans, Southampton and Portsea, linendrapers.
Solicitor, Mr Hartley, New Bridge street, Blackfriars. 1.
G. Wilson, Constitution row, Gray's Inn road, corn-chandler. Solicitar,
Mr Carpenter, John street, Bedford row.
W. Patterson and W. Elliott, Basinghall street, merchants. Solicitor,
Mr Rushbury, Carthusian street, Charterhouse square.
Saturday, October 29.
INSOLVENTS.

W. Blizard, Petersham, Surrey, butcher.

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G. Parminter, Earl street, Blackfriars, coal-merchant. ́ R. Perkins, Egham, Surrey, carpenter.

T. Marten, Upper Thames street, corn-dealer.

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E. Davies, Walnut-tree walk, Lambeth, engineer. Solicitor, Mr Mey-theology alone, in the native Catholic Colleges; but undoubtedly mott, Great Surrey-street, Blackfriars road. W. Dunham, Coleman-street, victualler. Solicitor, Mr Blachford, Fen-dant priesthoods encounter each other. In respect to Belgium, the difficulties abound on every side, and always will do so while ascen church buildings.

Lincoln's Inn.

T. Bartram, Warwick, slater. Solicitor, Mr Platt, New Boswell court,
T. Trott, New Gloucester-street, Hoxton, builder. Solicitors, Messrs
Pope and Brewer, Bloomfield street, London Wall.

J. and J. W. Knowles, Bent Mills, Wilsden, York, cotton spinners. Soli-
citors, Messrs Ellis and Co. Chancery-lane.

T. Lawson, Manchester, cotton-spinner. Solicitors, Messrs Milne and
Parry, Temple.

M. Pierpoint, Cock and Bottle, Strand, victualler.
Jessopp and Jordan, Thavies Inn.
T. Roby, Tamworth, Staffordshire, tanner.
King's Bench walk, Temple.

Solicitors, Messrs
Solicitors, Messrs Burfoot,
C. S. Gilbert, Devonport, Devonshire, chemist. Solicitor, Mr Sole, Gray's

Inn square.

W. Reynolds, Liverpool, cotton broker. Solicitor, Mr Chester, Staple Inn.
W. Masters, Duke-street, Aldgate, woollen-draper. Solicitors, Messrs
Watson and Broughton, Falcon square.

W. Pearman, Euston street, Euston square, music-seller. Solicitor, Mr
Farris, Surrey street, Strand.

J. Wilson, Leeds, frizer. Solicitor, Mr King, Hatton garden.

J. Stevens, Pallmall, boot maker. Solicitor, Mr Phillips, Bedford street,
Covent garden.

W. M'Murdie and W. C. Pout, Epping, stationers. Solicitor, Mr Rich-
ardson, Walbrook.

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T. Tatton, Gerard street, Soho, grocer. Solicitor, Mr Drake, Old Fish

street, Doctors' Commons.

J. Humphreys, Harlow, Essex, builder. Solicitor, Mr Baddeley, Leman
street, Goodman's fields.

J. Jackson, Dorvill's row, Hammersmith, shopkeeper. Solicitor, Mr
Coleman, Tysoe street, Wilmington square.

S. Williams, Finsbury square, merchant, Solicitors, Messrs Barrow and
Viecent, Basinghall street.

J. O. Smith, High street, Southwark, draper. Solicitor, Mr Parton,
Bow Church yard.
W. S. W. H. Baker, Kennington lane, Newington, hat manufacturer.
Solicitor, Mr Howorth, Warwick street, Golden square.
D. Lewis, Lampeter Pout-stephen, Cardiganshire, innkeeper. Solicitor,
Mr Williams, Bond court, Walbrook.
E. Kirk, Manchester, cotton-merchant. Solicitor, Mr Edge, Manchester.

THE FUNDS. Both the Home and Foreign Markets have been considerably heavy during the week, and the fluctuation, such as it is, has been rather downward. Every description of share is also lower, including the Real del Monte Mining Shares; which having been refused at 15001. premium, are now quoted at from 701. to 50%. Why they have fallen so low is as great a secret as the cause of their elevation, for as to the assigned reason-that of the Mines still containing a great quantity of water, difficulties of this nature must have been expected from the commencement. Heavy losses must have accrued to several speculators in this concern. Latest quotation :-->

Consols, 87

Reduced, 8672

34 per Cents. reduced, 941

New 4 per Cents. 103)

Consols for Account, 87

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THE EXAMINER.

LONDON, OCTOBER 30, 1825,

mere artificial process, and will always turn an inviting aspect t
disputes are peculiarly critical, as it is evidently united to Holland by a
Catholic France on a renewal of hostilities. Michael Cassio wonders
how it is, that man should be so foolish as to put that into his mouth
which will steal away his brains. It would seem as if half mankind
over-dosed themselves with faith, in order to quarrel with their fellow
creatures, and regularly established a train of professions to set then
degree, we trust.
together by the ears. Will this be the case for ever?-not in the same
When Madame Pandora opened the fatal box,
vantic proverb-" Patience, and shuffle the cards!"
Hope at least remained behind; and as to the rest-to borrow a Ce

tion to the result of the mission of Mr HUSKISSON to France, whose
It seems that the mercantile world is looking with much expecta-
gracious reception by, and long consultations with, the French King,
are much spoken of in the Paris papers. We shrewdly suspect that
BOURBON brains are impervious to lectures on political economy; but
nevertheless hope, that as Legitimacy has but little to do with the
subject, the Gallic Executive may be open to certain salutary convic
told, look for a treaty of commerce; but whether this be effected or
tions in relation to the freedom of trade. Our merchants, we are
not, it is of the highest importance to induce France to accompany us
in a commercially liberal career. The great argument of each special
interest opposed to non-restriction, as each opportunity for alteration
arises, is furnished by the opposite policy of other nations, and more
especially France. This argument disposed of by the agreement of twe
it is obvious that Ministers might proceed with much more facility in
nations of such paramount influence, inclusive also of the Netherlands,
releasing general commerce from its remaining ligatures, While our
own Corn Laws exist, however, we cannot speak in an altogether
convincing style to other countries. They are the mote in our own
eye, which we must remove before we can talk very conclusively of
the blindness of other people. Should anything be effected with
France favourable in a manufacturing or commercial point of view,
that fact, coupled with the repeal of the other half of the Window, or
suing Session with grace, and to encounter the sense of the people
a portion of the House-tax, would enable Ministers to close the en-
(as far as the existing system of representation will convey it) in the
following election with proportionate confidence.

The Calcutta Gazette Extraordinary of the 29th April contains the official confirmation of the capture of Donnabew and Prome. The intelligence is not so late as that brought by the Swedish ship Calcutta, but it adds some particulars not previously known. At Donnabew, it appears, considerable resistance was made; at Prome, none; the death of BUNDOOLAH, who was killed at the former place, having apparently deranged all the plans of the enemy. At Prome very considerable magazines have fallen into our hands. Prome, which, according to the maps, is just above the Delta of the Irrawaddy, is in a commanding and elevated situation, and would have been capable, if well manned, of offering the most serious resistance. It is a posi tion most favourable for the cantonment of our troops during the bad season, which had so nearly approached when Sir A. CAMPBELL occupied it, that here it is presumed the campaign-the second of the war, will end. Whether with the campaign the war also will close at Prome, is as yet entirely matter of specularion. It does not appear that the Burmese, who disdain no species of fraud, have seriously intended to make any propositions of peace, though they have purposely induced our commanders to believe that they wished to enter into negociations.

The partial and irregular manner in which the judicial power of inflicting Fines is exercised, is a signal disgrace to the jurisprudence of the country. We saw last week, that the grey-headed wretch Marhead, a man of fortune, was fined five hundred pounds, as part of his THE foreign news of the past week calls for little observation. It the expiration of his imprisonment, the hoary criminal will pay by a punishment for an offence shocking to human nature. This sum, at appears, that the kingdom of the Netherlands is afflicted with a cheque on his banker, the trouble of writing which is probably the kindred disorder to our own Hibernian one, in a conflicting system of only inconvenience to which this part of his sentence will subject him. ascendancy in respect to the Protestant and Catholic population. Such is the pecuniary infliction on a guilty possessor of wealth. A Perceiving that the children of the wealthy and middling classes of poor bookseller, RICHARD CARLILE, was however fined fifteen hunthe latter were denationalized by a French and foreign education, the dred pounds, not for committing any moral crime, but for daring to King has sought to obviate the evil by decreeing, that no native sub-promulgate opinions which those in power thought or chose to term ject, who has not attended a course of study at certain Universities of irreligious. And to pay this monstrous fine, his whole stock in trade the country, shall be capable of national employment. While we duly appreciate the motive of this policy, and the extent of the evil itting the sum required! Yet this is called a country where justice is was seized; that is, he was deprived of his only means of accumulais intended to remove, it may be doubted if it is the best way to coun-dispensed equally to rich and poor! The case of such an offender as teract it. At all events, it is by no means surprising, that the Catholic Muirhead is one peculiarly fitted for the infliction of a heavy fine: it priesthood should oppose such a regulation. The best plan would is just, that men sinning so disgustingly against nature should be made Probably be, the insistence of a certain routine of study, leaving to feel sensibly the partial loss of the rank and wealth they have

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