Look round, you'll see all Briton's value on earth, Our anchor is Hope, and our compass-your pleasure: (Going, returns.) To know under what sort of colours we fight, Our vessel is royal-the standard you view, Which can ne'er be pull'd down-while supported by you. DOMESTIC EVENTS. FETE AT RANELAGH. Wednesday night, the 1st of June, a most magnificent Fete and Ball were given at Ranelagh, in commemoration of the Installation of the Knights of the Bath, which took place the 19th of May last. A superb temporary building was erected on the right of the Rotunda, under the direction of Mr. Marks, one of the most complete and extensive structures ever exhibited on a similar occasion. Its size 160 feet by 80, and its height 35 feet, covered with floor-cloths. The principal entrance was under a beautiful arch of variegated lamps, supported by two columns, representing the entrance to London by Hyde Park corner. Within the building were two rows of sycamore-trees, twelve in each, completely covered in. The trunks of the trees were covered with green baize, as were also the seats and floor, except the part appropriated for dancing on the left-hand side. At the upper end stood the orchestra, and on the right near the centre was an elevated stage where a ballet was exhibited, got up by Byrne, in a most ingenious manner, consisting of four acts. It commenced at eleven o'clock, and the Ballet was introduced by the following Address or Proclamation, written by T. Dibdin, and recited by Fawcett, as a Crier, in a kind of chaunt. O yes, O yes, O yes! God save the King and People! And like my bell, let all the bells ring out from ev'ry steeple. While, as my office bids me, I proclaim the merry warning, That every Knight that's here to-day, must keep it up till morning. Each laughing face is welcome here, while those who're fond of sorrow Have leave to go, indulge their woe, and call again to-morrow. Those who love feasting and good cheer, as long as they are able, May claim a seat, as it is meet, like Knights of the Round-table. At supper each may have a treat, for well we know the trade is, Of every Knight, to take delight, in helping all the Ladies. Those who, on light fantastic toe, would dance away the vapours, While other folks are cutting jokes, are welcome to cut capers: Those who prefer the sparkling glass, in merry moderation; The toast may pass, to some sweet lass, the King, and British Nation. Or who the noise of sing-song verse prefer to pipes and tabors, Like jocund elves, may sing themselves, then call upon their neighbours. Each errant Knight may seek adventures here, while he is walking, "Midst singing, dancing, eating, drinking, laughing, sporting, talking, 'Midst Music, Painting, Science, Art, Grace, Beauty, Wit, and Glee; And lastly, those who nonsense love, may come and list to me. The first act was over in three quarters of an hour, when Mr. Johnstone, of Covent Garden Theatre, sung Paddy's Description of Pizarro. After the second act, Mr. Fawcett sung a mock Italian song. Af er the third act, Mr. Incledon sung a new loyal song. Mr. Fawcett closed the fourth act with his favourite song in Lock and Key. The above performance was conducted with much judgment, taste, and professional merit, and highly gratified the admiring spectators. The Company now adjourned into the Supper-room, upon the left of the Saloon. In the centre was a magnificent Temple, adorned with stars of varie gated lamps; at the lower end stood an Orchestra, concealed by a curtain, which, soon after the company were seated, suddenly drew up and presented a military band. Supper was provided for upwards of 2000 persons, who could not all be accommodated in the grand room, where places were provided for eighteen hundred persons, allowing a space of two feet for each person. Nine hundred hot dishes were served up in a splendid style; two hundred quarts of pease were provided, together with every delicacy which nature and art could afford. While the company were grat fying their palates with the most delicious viands and fruits, their ears were penetrated with the melodious harmony of vocal and instrumental music. Among the vocal performers were Incledon, Denman, Miss Howells, and many others, who added greatly to the hilarity of the evening. In short, the whole entertainment was conducted in a manner highly creditable to those who had the management of it. Mr. Byrne's little boy attracted much notice, as did the Miss Adams, whose light and graceful manner of dancing was greatly admired. Miss Adams's dress displayed much taste and elegance. The rooms were brilliantly illuminated with many thousand lamps, and decorated in the highest style imaginable. The utmost conviviality prevailed during the whole of the entertainment. Pleasure and satisfaction were the order of the night, and shone on the countenances of both sexes. Perhaps such an assemblage of beauty and elegance has been rarely witnessed on any public occasion before. DREADFUL FIRE —Friday morning, about two o'clock, a fire broke out at the house of Mr. Williams, the sign of the Three Cranes, Mile end Old Town; the fire was first perceived at the back part of the house, and in less than twenty minutes the whole was burnt down; and the entire family, with the exception of one child which was from home, perished in the ruins. It con sisted of the landlord, his wife, her mother, and three children: a lodger, named Andrews, a drover, who jumped from the garret into the road, was taken to the hospital without hopes of recovery. The maid se vant was found naked at the back part of the house, in the garden, with her foot broken, and was taken into the house of J. Liptrap, Esq. About twelve o'clock the firemen dug out the bodies, limb by limb, of Williams and his wife, and one child, with the tester-rods of the beds bent round them. 3 H-VOL. XV. As we have now commenced another war with the French Republic, for the information of our readers we insert the following list of the wars between this country and France, with the terms of their duration, since the one which commenced in 1116, and continued two years;-1141, lasted twenty-five years ;1161, one vear--1201, fifteen years;-1224, nineteen years ;-1294, five years;-1339, twenty-one years;-1368, fifty-two years;-1422, forty-nine years;—1492, one month;-1512, two years ;-1521, six years;-1549, one year-1557, two years;-1562, two years;-1627, two years;-1666, one year;-1669, ten years;-1702, eleven years;-1744, four years ;-1756, seven years;-1776, five years;-and lastly, 1793, which continued until the 29th of April, 1802. A singular discovery has been made in the neighbourhood of Nice. It is a vast cavern, the entrance to which is very narrow. The inside of this cavern, the whole extent of which has not yet been explored, contains several vast apartments, which resemble temples, ornamented with columns formed by chrystallized water. One of the apartments is capable of holding four handred persons. From the reflection of the chrystal, very little light is necessary to illuminate the inside in the most magnificent manner. The lowest window tax in the new regulation is 6s. where there are only six windows, and the highest £.83 per ann, except the number of windows exceeds 180. For one carriage £.10, for nine and upwards £.15 each. For all small chaises, drawn by one horse, five guineas each; drawn by two horses, seven guineas; every post-chaise lett to hire, eight guineas. Coachmakers to pay a lieence of 5s. a year, and 10s. for every two-wheeled, and £.1 for every fourwheeled carriage built by them. For one horse, £.2 per annum; for 19, four guineas each. Horses belonging to farmers paying a rack-rent of less than £.20 a year, 6d. each. For one dog 6s. per annum, for two and upwards 10s. Every horse-dealer in the metropolis £.20 per annum, in the country £.10. The hair powder and armorial bearing duties remain unaltered, OXFORD UNIVERSITY.-The annual examination of the Students for the prize medals was held on Wednesday. About eleven o'clock in the morning the theatre was filled by visitors of the first rank and respectability. The ceremony commenced by the admission of Lord Francis Spencer, son of the Duke of Marlborough, to the degree of Doctor of Civil Law. Eight gentlemen of the different colleges were next admitted to the degree of Masters of Arts. Mr. Crowe, the public Orator, next delivered a most eloqu quent Latin oration on the occasion of the meeting, particularly on the dignity, importance, and utility of these public examinations. Mr. Shuttleworth, of New College, then delivered an excellent Latin Poem, the subject, "Byzantium." A Member of Christ Church read an Essay on Common Sense," which was generally admired. The last composition, and certainly the most admired, was a Poem in English, by Mr. Heber, of Brazen Nose College, the subject, "Palestine." To these gentlemen the prizes were awarded. An American printer has advertised an edition of the Common Prayer Book, with this N. B.-" the matrimonial article in large type, for the use of Ladies advanced in years, who may be tempted to enter into that holy state !" The curious conversation which passed between our Ambassador and the First Consul, at the Thuilleries, is thus described by Lord Whitworth :-" At the Court which was held at the Thuilleries, he accosted me evidently under very considerable agitation. He began by asking me if I had any news from England. I told him that I had received letters from your Lordship (Lord Hawkesbury) two days ago. He immediately said, and so you are determined to go to war. No! I replied, we are too sensible of the advantages of peace. Nous avons, said he, deja fait la guerre pendant quinze ans. As he seemed to wait for an answer, I observed only, C'en est deja trop.-Mais, said he, vous voulez la faire encore quinze annees, et vous m'y forcez.-I told him, that was very far from his Majesty's intentions. He then proceeded to Count Marcow and the Chevalier Azara, who were standing together at a little distance from me, and said to them, Les Anglois voulent la guerre, mais s'ils sont les pre ́miers a tirer l'epee," je ferai la dernier a la remettre. Ils nes respectént pas les Traites. Il faut dorenavant les couvrir de crepe noir.-He then went his round. In a few minutes he came back to me, and resumed the conversation, if such it can be called, by something personally civil to me. He began again. Pourquoi des armemens? Contre qui des mesures de precaution? Je n'ai pas un feul vaisseau de ligne dans les ports de France; mais si vous voulez armer, j'armerai aussi; si vous vous lez vous battre, je me battrai aussi. Vous pourrez peutetre tuer la France, mais jamais l'intimider.-On ne voudroit, said I, ni l'un ni l'autre. On voudroit vivre en bonne intelligence avec elle -Il faut donc respecter les Traites, replied he; malheur a ceux qui ne respectant pas les Traites; ils en seront responsable a toute l'Europe.-He was too much agitated to make it adviseable for me to prolong the conversation; I therefore made no answer, and he retired to his apartment, repeating the last phrase. It is to be remarked that all this passed loud enough to be overheard by two hundred people, who were present, and I am persuaded that there was not a single person who did not feel the impropriety of his conduct, and the total want of dignity as well as of decency on the occasion. BIRTHSJ Sunday 12th June, at Troston Hall, Suffolk, the Lady of Capel Lofft, Esq. of a daughter. Mrs. H. Siddons, of Covent Garden theatre, of a daughter. MARRIED, March 22nd, at Ipswich, Searles Wade, Esq. of that place, to Miss Lau ra Carthew, daughter of the late Rev. T. Carthew, of Woodbridge, Suffolk. 12th March, Mr. Taylor, of Ludgate Street, to Miss Charlotte Losson. At St. George's Church, Hanover Square, Lieut. Col. Maitland, of the Ist regiment of Guards, to the Hon Louisa Crofton, second daughter to the Right Hon. Lady Crofton. The Right Hou. Lord Redesdale, Lord High Chancellor of Ireland, to the Right Hon. Lady Frances Percival. At Glou cester, Captain Weller, to Miss Caroline Raikes, daughter of Robert Raikes, Esq. of that city. Colonel W. B. Davis, of the India Company's service, to Miss Maria Blair. D. Gould, Esq. Captain in the Royal Navy, to Miss Willes, daughter of the Archdeacon of Wells. At Rome, on the 16th of April, Lord Cloncurry, to Miss Eliza Morgan. Henry Cadwallader Adams, Esq. of Ansty Hall, in the county of Warwick, to Miss Curtis, eldest daughter of Sir William Curtis, Bart. of Cullands Grove, Southgate, in the county of Middlesex. At St. George's, Hanover-square, Captain Langford, of the Navy, to Miss Ramsbottom, of Windsor. At St. Martin's, near Canterbury, Capt. Cheshyre, R. N. to Miss Sandys, of St. Martin's. At St. James's Church, J. S. Hage, Esq. Commissioner General from bis Danish Majesty in the Island of Santa Cruz, to Miss Maria Ruspini, daughter of the Chevalier Ruspini, of Pall-mall. The Rev. William Antrobus, Rector of Actor, to Miss Bowles. Lord Viscount Glerawley, to Lady Is. St. Lawrence, daughter to the Earl of Howth. DIED. On the 4th June, at Forglen, Scotland, the Right Hon. William Lord Banff. At Lydiard-Tregotoze, the Hon. Mr. St. John, eldest son of Lord Viscount Bolingbroke. At Euston-hall, Suffolk, aged 22, Lady Caroline Fitzroy, sixth daughter of the Duke of Grafton. The Rev. Mr. Porteus, nephew of the Bishop of London. It is remarkable, that Mr. P.'s Lady died suddenly, at her father's house at Cambridge, within a few hours after the dissolution of her husband. After a few days illness, at his apartments in Cavendish square, in the 43d year of his age, the Right Hon. and Right Rev. Father in God, Lord George Murray, D. D. and Lord Bishop of St. David's. His Lordship was the second son of John, late Duke of Athol, and brother to the present Duke. He married Ann, daughter of the late General Grant, by whom he has left ten children all under age. He was promoted to the See of St. David's in October, 18co. On Thursday, the 8th June, Joseph Richardson, Esq. M. P. for Newport, in Cornwall, and one of the Proprietors of Drury-Lane theatre. He was at an inn in the neighbourhood of Bagshot Heath, and was suddenly taken ill on the Wednesday night. Medical assistance was soon procured, but in vain-he died on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Richardson was in the forty-seventh year of his age. He had, within the last three or four years, suffered severe shocks by the rupture of a blood vessel, but it was hoped that the natural vigour of his constitution would have triumphed. See the Biographical Sketch of this Gentlemen, in our Number for November, 1800. The Right Rev. H. R. Courtney, Lord Bishop of Exeter, at his house in Lower Grosvenor-street. After a short illness, at the Earl of Derby's, in Grosvenor square, Mrs. Farren, mother to the Countess of Derby. At Bridgend, in Glamorganshire, in the 78th year of her age, Mrs. Morgan, a sister of the late Dr. Price. At Dublin, Robert Jephson, Esq. a gentleman of high literary character, author of Braganza, the Count of Narbonne, and other dramatic works. Lately, at Trinidad, in the service of his Majesty, Henry Swinburne Esq. father-inlaw to Mr. Paul Benfield. At the Bull and Punch Bowl inn, Liverpool, Mr. Philip Breslaw, aged 77 years, well known for his celebrated deceptions, &c. He was born near Berlin, in Prussia, and has been 44 years in England.Mrs. Pope, of Drury-Lane theatre. |