[ 458 ] HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. FRANCE, FOREIGN NEWS. The Jesuits are growing bolder and bolder every day on the Continent. Three profes sors of Paris, M. Royer Collard, M. Guizot, and M. Cousin, are interdicted from lecturing. The French papers state that 100,000 florins have been subscribed by one individual towards a Jesuit's college in Ireland. The "ST. ETIENNE, Nov. 1.-The Procureur du Roi having been informed that an association of more than twenty persons met contrary to law to discuss religious matters, ordered the police officers to examine the matter. Accordingly, they took fifteen women, two children, one man, and one woman who was reading the New Testament at the house of a widow named Faure. police officers found "directions for conduct," the names of an English and an American lady, the project of forming in society, separating from the Romish Church, the places where the meetings were to be held, the names of several persons connected with the society," &c. After seizing the paper containing all these particulars, the police officer inquired of the people why they had met? They replied, to instruct themselves in religion, as it was taught by Scripture. The police officer made them observe, that the papers he had seized contained more than thirty names; they replied, that there were only fifteen at St. Etienne, and that the others were at St. Jean de Bonnefond. This mat ter was carried before the Police Court, which decided in consequence of the law forbidding meetings composed of more than fifteen persons, this society being composed of thirty and the object of it being to discuss religious metters-in reality, to separate from the Roman Church, and establish a society like that known in other countries by the name of Quakers, that the meeting was a subject of scandal, which ought to be repressed, and sentenced each of the accused persons to pay a fine of fifty francs and the expences. The iron-wire bridge, from the Champ Elysées to the Esplanade of the Invalids, makes rapid progress. It will rank anong the curiosities of Paris; but its utility is very questionable. It is only about 200 yards from the Pont Louis XVI,; and who will not prefer going 200 yards on plain ground, to climbing up forty or fifty steps to go swinging over the Seine, and then having to descend as many? As an object of art it is faulty, as the two pillars mask the Hotel of the Invalids from the Champ Elysées. An iron-wire bridge has been constructed at Annonay, between Tain and Tournon. Experiments have been made to [Nov. ascertain its solidity: the maximum applied was 58,000 kilogrammes (about fifty-eight tons English), which only occasioned a slight inflexion in the curve, that instantly resumed its primitive form: two waggons loaded with stones going over at the same time, seemed to make no change in the curve. The ceremony concluded by driving a diligence over it, drawn by seven horses, and going at a brisk rate. The bridge was completed in fifteen months, and cost 8,000l. SPAIN. The Court of Madrid has thought proper to remonstrate against the course pursued by the British Ministry in the recognition of the South American States, The Spanish minister, M. Zea Bermudez, addresses a long and elaborate paper on the subject, to which Mr. Canning has replied in the most masterly and conclusive style. It is well known that not only King Ferdinand, but the Government of France, and the other powers of the Continent, have treated the Constitutional regime of 1820 as an illegitimate factious usurpation forced upon the Sovereigns. Mr. Canning, on the other hand, adverts to its acts-particularly its proposal to negociate with the Spanish colonies on the basis of independence,-as acts of the regular Government of Spain. And in reference to the war with France, the principle of what is termed legitimacy is most explicitly disavowed. The Spanish Minister urged the war against France for the restoration of the Burbons, as binding the British Government against forming relations of amity with the rebellious subjects" of his Spanish Majesty in America. But Mr. Canning replies, that, so far was the French war from a war of legitimacy, the Government of this country acknowledged and treated with the Directory-made peace with the Consulate, and again acknowledged and treated with the Imperial Government that Buonaparte was dethroned solely for his restless and inordinate ambition, incompatible with the peace of Europe Bourbons from being an object of the war) -and (so far was the restoration of the that after the abdication of Buonaparte, it was a question with the great powers, bon, should not be placed on the throne of whether a Prince, not of the house of BuurFrance. Since the issuing of this document the Spanish Government has relaxed in its resolution against the independence of the colonies. ITALY. A letter from Rome, dated Oct. 23, gives an account of the submission of a gang of robbers; robbers; and such is the weakness of this wretched government, that a proclamation announcing these great events intimates an intention of applying to the religious authorities, in order to fix a day for solemn thanksgiving! It appears that the bandit chief Gasbrione, together with seven of his associates, surrendered at discretion, and were escorted, in irons, to Rome, and lodged in Fort St. Angelo, on the 24th of September. Among these ruffians, two are designated in the Roman prints as "famed" and famous." The remainder, about twenty in number, kept aloof, resolving, it is said, to be governed by the eventual treatment of their companions. Subsequently two others came in; another was killed by a Neapolitan detachment on the 8th of Oct. and six others delivered themselves up on the 11th. The Court of Rome has taken alarm at 459 On 460 Foreign News.Domestic Occurrences. On the 7th of October the flames acquired an ascendancy, which rendered flight in some instances impracticable, and resistance unavailing. The alarming progress of this destructive element had been concealed by the state of the atmosphere which it occasioned, until the night of that day, when, aided by a hurricane which increased its violence and rapidity, it burst with uncontrolable fury upon the heads of its victims. All the accounts that have been received describe the rapidity of the flames to have been such as to have precluded the possibility of saving property to any extent. In most cases, the unsuspecting beings, suddenly aroused from their slumbers, were unable to dress themselves, and immediate destruction was the consequence of a moment's delay. So instantaneous were the effects of the fire, that many persons who were saved owe their preservation to the vicinity of the river, into which they threw themselves, and were taken up by boats, or escaped on rafts of timber. In that part of Miramichi called Newcastle, out of 250 houses, but 14 escaped; and indeed the circumstance of any property being saved is considered as a miraculous interference. Christian charity has [Nov. extended what succour it was able from the surrounding settlements; and a more perfect relief will probably be supplied by the considerate benevolence of the Mother Country, as a meeting for that purpose was held at the London Tavern on the 11th inst. SOUTH AMERICA. A treaty has been entered into between Don Pedro and the King of Portugal, through the intervention of Great Britain, by her Minister Sir Charles Stuart. It consists of eleven articles, the first acknowledging "Brazil to hold the rank of an Empire, independent and separate from the kingdoms of Portugal and Algarva," and the other stipulating that "all property, whether real, personal, or moveable, sequestered or confiscated, and belonging to the subjects of the two Sovereigns of Brazil and Portugal, shall be forthwith restored, together with their arrears, deducting the expences of the administration thereof,"—and moreover, that "all ships and cargoes taken, belonging to both Sovereigns, shall be in like manner restored, or their owners indemnified."In this happy manner has the quarrel between these two nations been brought to a friendly result. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. INTELLIGENCE FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. Oct. 21. The steam-boat Comet, with passengers from Inverness and Fort William, was run down off Kempock Point, between Gourock and the Clough Lighthouse, by the steam-boat Ayr, outward bound. In rounding the point the vessels came in contact with such force and violence, that the Comet went down almost instantaneously, when above seventy persons were in a moment, precipitated into to the deep! eleven only were saved, out of above eighty. The Ayr had a light upon her bow, but the Comet had none. The Ayr received such a shock, and was so much damaged, that she reached Greenock with much difficulty, in a sinking state. At the moment the accident took place, those on the deck of the Comet were engaged in dancing. At an early hour in the morning, Mr. Marshall, Sheriff, from Greenock, reached the spot to give his advice and assistance on this distressing occasion. Numerous dead bodies were washed ashore. The Ayr, instead of lending any assistance, gave her paddles a back stroke, turned round, and went off to Greenock, leaving them to their fate! it appears from the Manks paper of the 5th Nov. 5, that some disturbances have lately arisen in the island, from the determination of the agricultural population not to submit to the new exaction of tithes on potatoes, &c. or what is called green crop-no such tax having, hitherto, been imposed upon them. Two carts, which had collected this tithe from some poor folks were, it seems, overturned, and the proctors and others rather roughly handled; and two individuals were taken into custody; a circumstance which, it seems, brought the pretty general indignation of the people to a crisis, and some trifling acts of insubordination followed. The set ing fire to the proctor's house was a measure in which it is supposed none but a few of the most intemperate were engaged. On Thursday the 3d the malcontents presented a memorial to the Bishop, entreating him to forbear the exaction of the potatoe tithe, and offering to repair the injuries sustained in consequence of the unjustifiable conduct of some of the parishioners. The answer is as follows: "Whereas it has been reported by evil minded persons, that the tithe of potatoes will be taken from the poor tenants of this island, and from persons little able to pay the same: -They are hereby assured that such tithe will not be demanded from them, either this year or at any future time; and if any mistake should arise in this mat matter, the persons aggrieved will' obtain redress, on applying to the bishop." It is said to have been fully determined by the prelates of the northern Dioceses, that they will in future ordain no candidates for orders who have not graduated at one of the Universities; we believe the college at St. Bees is the only exception.-Hitherto it had been the custom in the dioceses of York, Chester, Durham, and Carlisle, to ordain young men, of competent learning and qualifications, who were either educated for the church, or if they had previously pursued any other avocation, had devoted two or three years to the studies preparatory for holy orders. But the great increase in the number of graduates from our Universities, who are desirous of entering the Church, and the difficulty of their obtaining titles, are said to have suggested to the heads of the church this restriction. A public dinner at Sheffield in testi'mony of respect to the virtues and talents of Mr. James Montgomery, of Sheffield, on his retirement from his labours as a public writer, lately took place, Viscount Milton in the chair. One hundred and sixteen persons sat down to dinner. The noble chairman addressed the meeting in an animated manner, in commendation of their distinguished guest; and the speech of Mr. Montgomery was a master-piece of eloquence. He entered into parts of his own history, for the purpose of stating the difficulties which he had to encounter, and naming the friend who had assisted him. An Association has been formed, through the active exertions of the Rev. John Davies, of Kilkhampton, for the protection of vessels which may be stranded on the north coasts of Devon and Cornwall from the disgraceful practice of "wrecking." One of the largest steam-engines now in use, is at the United Mines, in Cornwall, it is said to raise 80,000lbs. of waler, 100 feet high, per minute, and consumes only 30lbs. of coal per minute to produce that effect. Raising the quantity of water above stated, is equivalent to the work of 250 horses; and as a horse working at that rate ought not to be employed more than eight hours per day, there would be three relays, or 750 horses, necessary to maintain the continuous effect of the steamengine. If we regard the steam-engine only in as far as it concentrates power, and renders it manageable, it excites astonishment; for the attendance, the uncertainty, the difficulty of application, 461 and even the first cost of horses, far exceed those of an engine. LONDON AND ITS VICINITY. The bubble of Joint Stock Companies has at length burst, and many curious circumstances have come to light connected with these gambling transactions, particularly the Gwenappe Mining Company, the General Fish Company, &c. The different banks, where deposits for been a little annoyed by the importunithese shares have been paid, have not ties of the shareholders for a return of their money; and various ineffectual applications have been made to the Lord Mayor for the recovery of the deposits. At length Messrs. Everett and Co. have undertaken to pay off the deposits on Antwerp Steam Navigation Company, shares in the following companies: the the Dieppe Steam Navigation Company, and the Havre de Grace Steam Navigation Company. All of those companies have been dissolved, in consequence, it is supposed, of the impediments (the language generally used by those who commenced the formation of deceptions of the kind) which presented themselves; and the directors keep to themselves, for the discharge of imaginary expences, onefourth of the money subscribed. It is worthy of notice, that no deed of settlement was drawn up, that no engine was purchased, that, in fact, nothing at all was done in any one of those companies, and that they, as well as many others of the same kind, were superintended by the same persons. Each of them consisted of 1000 shares, on each of which the sum of 21. was paid; so that the projectors and their emissaries bave pocketed nearly 1,5001. by the three speculations, which cost them no more trouble than that which sprung from the mere writing of the prospectus; all the rest of the management was left to the broker employed in the market, whose practice it was to cry out that the shares were at such and such a premium; and this report proved sufficient to keep up their artificial value, especially when those brokers made a few bargains at the premium quoted by them. The Thames Tunnel is proceeding.The large and ingenious iron shield, which is destined to protect at once the workmen and the tunnel itself from almost a possibility of danger during the operation, is now at the bottom of the great shaft, and fixed and ready to proceed horizontally. The workinen are cutting away the brick-work, preparatory to their striking out horizontally under the Thames. This, from the so 462 Domestic Occurrences.-Theatrical Register. lidity of the work and the hardness of the cement, is a laborious work, and necessarily of slow progress. It is hoped that in 18 months from the getting through the wall, the tunnel will be carried to and under the further shore of the river; and, in the opinion of persons most competent to form a correct judgment, the first expectation of ultimate and complete success is increased by all the circumstances which have hitherto attended this important undertaking. The St. Katharine Dock Company are proceeding to carry the provisions of the Act into effect. They have already purchased about three-fifths of the freehold of the site, and are making the necessary arrangements with the leaseholders and occupiers. The materials of the church and buildings, late the property of the St. Katharine's Hospital in the precinct, have been advertised for sale, preparatory to the ground being cleared, and it is expected that the works connected with the entrances, basin, and docks, will be commenced in the month of January next. In the Court of Common Pleas, Oct. Walker (Clerk) v. Ridgeway, Serjeant Wilde moved for a new trial. The facts were these: the plaintiff was a Clergyman of the Established Church, and proprietor of the tithes of a certain parish in the county of Hereford. The defendant was the cultivator of a farm which lay in the plaintiff's parish. The latter sent notice to the Clergymen of his intention to cut down a field of wheat. The Clergyman's tithing man attended, but the weather seeming unfavorable for harvest work, he left the field. The weather subsequently cleared up, the defendant cut down the wheat, set it out in sheaves, and then gathered them into shocks, consisting some of 9 sheaves, some of 10. The Clergyman refused to collect his tenths from those shocks, on the ground that that manner of setting out his tenths was contrary to the ancient custom, and full of unnecessary trouble and uncertainty. He accordingly brought his action of wrong, for the improper setting out of the tithes. The case was tried at the Hereford assizes, before the Hon. Justice Burrough. The presiding Judge directed the Jury to find a verdict for the plaintiff, but the Jury were of a different opinion, and found for the defendant. The Judge remonstrated in vain. The Jury persisted in their opinion. On these grounds Mr. Sergeant Wilde moved that the verdict be set aside, and a new trial granted.The Chief Justice said, "Take the rule to shew cause, brother Wilde; prejudices [Nov. are sometimes found in aJury of farmers when deciding on a tithe question.” THEATRICAL REGISTER. Nov. 4. A two-act opera, entitled The Wedding Present was produced. It is a translation, or rather adaptation from the French, by Mr. Kenny. Independently of some pretty music, there was nothing attractive in the piece. COVENT GARDEN. In the absence or entire destitution of histrionic talent, the managers, in imitation of the Surrey Theatre, have introduced a soi-disant monkey from Paris. In the present degraded state of the royal theatres we were not unpre pared for something worthless or cons temptible; but this last disgrace was re served for a Kemble, who does not hesi> tate to convert the stage (on which á brother and a sister trod with so much honor to themselves and gratification to the public) into a mere menagerie, or puppet-shew. The piece in which this fullgrown punch exhibited his disgusting tricks was The Shipwreck of Policinello, or The Neapolitan Nuptials. The respectable part of the audience expressed the strongest disapprobation; but the clamourous gods were sufficiently noisy in supporting this contemptible mimicry; consequently it was repeated. The piece wns afterwards changed for a melodrama, entitled Jocko, the Brazilian Monkey, which has been hackneyed at the minor theatres to satiety. The plot is too senseless to notice, as it was merely intended for the exhibition of Jocko's tricks. We shall mention one instance of absurdity, as a sample of the rest. The Brazilian planter shews Jocko watch, and asks what o'clock it is,when he exhibits a wonderful display of intellect (what a sagacious Frenchman)! by knocking five times on a cocoa-shell! as if any child could not do the same, though disguised as a monkey. It is stated that this M, Mazurier is paid the enormous weekly salary of 150% being at the rate of 251. per night. Previous to his treaty with Mr. C. Kemble, Mazurier was applied to on the part of Mr. Elliston, and refused to take less than 40%. per night, and 601. for each of the masks which be might require. Nov. 16. A new comedy, attributed to the pen of Mr. Hyde, author of Alphonsus, was performed, bearing the title of Love's Victory, or a School for Pride. The incidents and plot appear to be taken from Moliere's La Princesse d'Elide. The piece was given out for repetition amidst great applause. PROMO |