following plan has been pub- shall be sufficient, and in propor lished: "The class of honorary members is intended to comprise some of the most eminent literary men in the three kingdoms, and the most distinguished female writers of the present day. "An annual subscription of two guineas, will constitute a subscribing member. Subscribers of ten guineas, and upwards, will be entitled to privileges hereafter mentioned, according to the date of their subscription. "The class of associates is to consist of 20 men of distinguished learning, authors of some credita. ble work of literature, and men of good moral character; ten under the patronage of the King, and ten under the patronage of the society. "His Majesty has been pleased to express, in the most favourable terms, his approbation of the proposed society, and to honour it with his munificent patronage, by assigning the annual sum of one hundred guineas each, to ten of the associates, payable out of the privy purse; and also an annual premium of one hundred guineas for the best dissertation on some interesting subject, to be chosen by a council belonging to the society. "Ten associates will be placed under the patronage of the society, as soon as the subscription (a large portion of which will be annually funded for the purpose) tion as they become so. An annual subscriber of ten guineas, continued for five years, or a life subscription of one hundred gui neas, will entitle such subscribers to nominate an associate under ing to the date of their subscripthe society's patronage, accord tion. "The associates under the patronage of the King, will be elected by respected and compe tent judges. The associates nominated by subscribers must have the same qualifications of learn. ing, moral character, and public principle, as those who are elected, and must be approved by the same judges. "Every associate, at his admission, will choose some subject, or subjects, of literature for discussion, and will engage to devote such discussions to the Society's Memoirs of Literature, of which a volume will be published by the Society, from time to time; in which Memoirs will likewise be inserted the successive Prize Dissertations. "From the months of February to July, it is purposed that a weekly meeting of the Society shall be held; and a monthly meeting during the other six months of the year." [Note. Nothing had been done towards the institution of this Society in the month of June 1821.] OLD BAILEY.-J. Harwood was indicted for marrying Rachael Parsons, his lawful wife being alive at the time of his second marriage. The Jury found the prisoner guilty; the common sergeant instantly sentenced him to transportation for 14 years. On hearing the sentence, the prosecutrix burst into tears, and requested him to apply in her name to the government for a mitigation of the prisoner's punishment. The common sergeant refused the application. 17. DECREE ISSUED BY FER DINAND VII. Ferdinand VII, &c. King, &c. Having been credibly informed by some of the deputies to the Cortes, and by other means, that various abuses exist in the provinces of our kingdom that require amendment and redress, particularly with regard to pecuniary exactions in the shape of taxes, or under the pretence of commercial and other imposts: having been informed also, that many of our subjects are at this moment suffering under tempo. rary distresses, capable of a remedy without injury to the public revenues: being informed also, that many grievances have been long endured by our subjects, in consequence of the decay or neglect of provisional establishments created for the better administration of justice, and being convinced that their restoration to a state of activity and force is of the utmost importance to the happiness and prosperity of our people, we have ordained as follows, viz. : 1. That certain individuals, to be elected from among the members of the Cortes, and others, shall be appointed under the seal of our kingdom, to proceed into the provinces where any of the above enumerated evils are alleged to exist, to inquire into the same with as little delay as is consistent with the accomplish ment of so desirable an object. 2. That the commissioners for the examination of abuses in the collection of taxes and commercial imposts, shall not be the same individuals appointed to inquire into the pecuniary distresses of our subjects, and those to inquire into the pecuniary distresses, not the same as those whose duty it shall be to investigate the state and condition of the inferior courts of justice, and whether they are still effectual for the purposes for which they were originally instituted. 3. That each set of individuals so chosen or to be chosen, shall make their reports to our minister of the interior, from time to time, as facts and matters shall come to their knowledge. 4. That these reports shall contain evidence taken, with the opinions of the commissioners founded upon such evidence, and upon the information and instruction they shall receive in the course of their undertaking. (Signed) I, the KING. Given at our Palace, &c. Dec. 17, 1820. "ST. HELENA, 17th of December, 1820.- Buonaparte's new house is finished, but not yet furnished. It is one story high, and is situated about 200 yards from the old building, and forms three sides of an oblong square. "Buonaparte rode out some time ago to sir William Doveton's, in Sandy Bay, to breakfast, taking with him a Sumpter mule, laden with provisions, and ate his meal on the grass near sir William's house. This was nearly the first time he was on horseback for four years, and he was so fatigued. that he was obliged to send for the carriage to convey him back to Longwood. He appears very 18. THE JEWS AT LEIPSIC. An article having recently appeared in the London newspapers, dated Nuremberg, Nov. 25, 1820, stating that the agents of the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, did, at the late Leipsic Fair, "give to every Jew, who was willing to profess the Christian faith, from ten to fifty Louis d'ors, according to the quality of the new convert:" We, the undersigned members of the above institution, take this method of publicly declaring, that the aforesaid statement is totally void of foundation. Such an application of the funds of the society would not only be contrary to the spirit of the institution, but in direct opposition to its standing rules and regulations. The society has formerly administered to the temporal necessities of the Jews, but (except for the purposes of education) that part of their system has long since been altogether abandoned. The idea of holding out a bribe to induce a hypocritical profession, is, and ever has been, viewed by the members of the London Society, as it must be by every Christian, with the greatest abhorrence. THO. BARING, President. Letters from Gibraltar of the 18th ult. state-A contest for the sovereignty was carrying on in the empire of Morocco. The new candidate for the throne is Muley Ishmael, the son of the celebrated Muley Yezzeid, and nephew to the reigning emperor. An official announcement has been issued by the governor of Gibraltar, declaring the coast of Barbary free from the plague. 19. FIRE AT VIENNA.-Extract of a letter from Vienna, Dec. 19: "I left lady Stewart about half-past nine o'clock in the evening, and had not retired to my own room more than five minutes when I heard a loud explosion, which appeared to come partly from the street, and partly from within the house. Hearing a great bustle among the servants, I immediately opened the door, and found them in a state of agitation and alarm, crying, "Fire!— where is lady Stewart ?" I hastened to the bed-room and boudoir, in order to prevent her ladyship from being alarmed, or to appease her fears. To my astonishment and dismay I found the boudoir in flames;-walls, ceiling, furniture, all burning. After a perilous and unsuccessful search, I quitted the burningrooms, fully persuaded that lady Stewart had perished, and continued under this frightful impression until I unexpectedly found her lying upon the landing place of the great stair-case, in the midst of the noise, hurry, and confusion of people passing and repassing, in her robe de chambre, in an intensely frosty night and shivering with cold, and just recovering from a fainting fit. The Turkish minister came up Jean Pierre Boyer, President of Hayti; Citizens! Šoldiers!-The horrid despotism under which you have groaned these last fourteen years, and the misery you have undergone, appear to approach to their end. The first effort for your liberty is given you by St. Marc's, which has just ranged itself under the banner of the republic. It was nothing, my dear countrymen, to have fought the French, to acquire our national independence, if a wise organization, and a well-represented government, had not come to assure, not only for our present generation, but to our children, the benefits of the church and the equality of rights; and, in the end, to guarantee a long existence to regenerated Haytians. It is for that object that the representatives of the people are labouring, while general Christophe consulted nothing but his ambition and passions. He misused the authority which had vanquished our ancient tyrants, entered this town like a desperado, where were collected the constitutional assembly, and commenced a civil war because our legislature had judged it necessary to limit the magistrate's au God thority over the people. has not permitted, that this haugh. ty man should succeed in his project-he was repelled in his attempt-the government of the republic was organised from the constitution, emanating from the general will. The laws are equally beneficial to all citizens, and have established its empire, and the state, a slow step, but a secure that period, towards its solidity one, has constantly marched, since and prosperity, whilst the phantom of power which general Christophe has usurped over you, has fallen by catastrophe. The iron rod which he held weighty over your heads, will now be broken in his own hands.-Citizens! Soldiers! I will not repeat to you all the horrors which the chief of the north or his agents have com. mitted. They are repugnant to my heart, and I hasten to drive them from my imagination; but I will recall to you this incontestible truth, "When virtue is enlisted against vice, the triumph of the latter cannot be very lasting;" this is the will of the Most High. Like my predecessor, Alexander Petion, the founder of our republic, I had always calculated, that with your aid, we should, one day, break the iron yoke of the oppressor, who has so frequently violated personal rights, and heaped accumulated misery on Hayti. Follow the example of the 8th brigade and the garrison of St. Marc's. Follow these brave men. All the military men who may join the republic, shall be amply rewarded. After this day of pain and sorrow will succeed those of union and friendship. Inhabitants of the Artibonite and of the North! Soldiers of all ranks, my companions in arms, the. Haytians can no longer have any disputes to cause the effusion of blood among themselves-let us thank the Almighty-let us forget all that has passed, and be mindful of the unfortunate. The republican army which you see at St. Marc, the commune of Berettes, the Cahos à Saint Raphael, à la Grand Rivière, à Vallière, is placed there solely for the purpose of maintaining the public tranquillity, and protecting your families, your fortunes, and your rights. It will violate none of your rights; and what it may take, shall be scrupulously paid for. Thus, my friends, unite in replanting the tree of liberty, which has been torn down by your tyrants. Rally round it, and partake of all its enjoyments, but avoid all reproaches of your brethren. The republic requires no bloody conquests. It wants only those of the heart, and its kindest affections. If any one_errs, the laws will punish him. Forget, I say, once more, all that has passed, and think only of the future. Come, like children, and enjoy the benefit of your laws. Vive la Republic of Hayti! Live Independence! Vive la Liberty and Equality! Given at the National Palace of St. Marc, 16th October, 1820: 17th year of our Independence. By the President. (Signed) BOYER. The Secretary-General, aid of the Sicilians, whose desire for independence is deeply engraven on their hearts. 21. This night, the Kingston, or Lower Assembly Rooms, Bath, were totally destroyed by fire. The insurances effected amount to 13,4007. How the accident happened is not known; the vaults, or rather the rooms under those appropriated for balls, reading-rooms, &c. were used as a private theatre, and a play had been performed there that evening, next to which was a carpenter's shop, and adjoining that a large quantity of oil; consequently a fire breaking out amidst such inflammable matter, could not be otherwise than destructive. A gentleman named Houlton, one of the proprietors, had lately fitted up a suite of rooms in the premises, with much taste and elegance, for his residence, where he had collected musical instru. ments, pictures, and many fine specimens of art which can never be replaced; the whole of these were destroyed. The loss to the renter, Mr. Mills, is very great. Fortunately no lives were lost. The elegant chandeliers, pictures of Beau Nash, &c. were all consumed. Some gentlemen were playing cards at the time the fire broke out, but such was its fury, it could not be got under. 22. This day, a meeting of freeholders was held in the city of Edinburgh. An Address, expressive of respect to the laws, of attachment to the King's person and government, was proposed; and notwithstanding an opposition on the part of Mr. Jeffrey, was carried by a majority of 110 to 26. In Dublin, an Address, in all |