'THE NATIONAL REGISTER Front the LONDON GAZETTE, Tuesday, Jan. 6. BRIGHTHELMSTONE. DEC. ZO. The Prince of Wales has been pleased to impu:nt Sir William IL :ligliton, Bart. to be Auditor of the Duchy of Cornwall, and Se- Lretary and Beeper of his Royal Highness's Privy Seal and Council scat, in the room of the Right Hon. Sir Benjamin Bloomfield, A. C. B. res!gocd. BANKRt'PTS. AKERS J. Charles-street, City-road, corn-dealer, Jan. 10, 17, Feb. 17, at Guildhall. Au. Mr. Hull, Chissell-street. YTARIEY W. Gutter-lane. Cheapside. silk manufacturer, Jan. 10, 17, Feb. 17. at Guildhall. Att. Mr. James, Bucklersbury. WRIGHT I'. Kennington.lane, ale-brewer, Jan. 10, 24, Feb. 17, at Guildhall. Au. Mr. Cuote, Austin-friars. Houtornr J. I lahlas, merchant, Jan. 14. I.S. at Wakefield, Feb. 17, at Hall:1:x. Att. Mr. Becket, Noble-street, Foster-lane. m A T•ru E ws W. Usk, Monmouth, money-scrivener. Jan. 28, 29, Feb. 17. at Monmouth. Atts. Price and Co. Lincoln's Inn. I.Ea I. Nantwich, Cheshire. corn-dealer, Jan. 19, 20, Feb. 17, at Stafford. Atts. Collins and Co. Stafford. WRIGHT E. Stafford. alehouse-keeper, Jan. 19, 20, Feb. 17, at Atts, Collins anti Co. Stafford. STANSTITLD .1. Stockport, butcher. Jan. 15, 21, Fob. 17, at Stock- Tort. Aft. Mr. Parker, Norfolk .street, Strand. MICHARLW. Bristol. merchant, Jan. 27, 28, Feb. 17, at Bristol , Atts. Bountillon and Cu. Bread-street. MARRISON J. Manchester. gun-maker, Jan. 17, 19, Feb. 17, at Manchester. Atts. Canlitfe Co. Manchester. DIVIDENDS. S. and R. Boardman, Liverpool, merchants. Jan. 30. V. Heptonstaw, Tadcaster. York. grocer. Walme4y, and M. and J. W. Turner, Sasingliall-street, mer- Jan. g 7. W. Crowther. jun. and C. Tapp, Charles-street, Middlesex-hospital, coachinakers,.lan. 17. .. - E. Hudson, Gibralter, merchant, Jan. 27. B. Hayti:ld. Mark-lanc. spirit-merchant. Jan. 27. 11. Evan.. Cheapside, silk-mercer. Jan. 27. It. Bentley, White Horse-yard, Drury lane, woollen-draper, Jan. 31. J. Smith, Great Marlow Buckhingßam, stone-mason, Jan. 31. J. Sharpie's. and W. DOulbr. Liverpool, merchants, Jan. th. J. Clicvney, 01MM-street, linentiraper, Jan. St. T. Light()ller, I laliwef, Lancashire, dealer in calicoes, Feb. 10. J. Ayling, Chert.sey, saddler, Feb. 3. W. Spear, Upper Thames-street, stationer. Jan. 27. H. Bra lacy, New City-chambers, insurance broker, Jan. 27. J. S. I'aync, and W. Wa,son, Ironmonger-lane, wareltouser Jan. 31. E. S. Shaw. Rochdale, Lancashire. woollen manufacturer, Feb. 14. D. Wag, York. lookingglass.manufacturer, Feb. 2. J. Smith. Think. York, grocer, Jan. 29. W. Barnes, Blackheath, li:win-merchant, Jan. 27. P. Leigh, Harlington. Cheshire, tanner, Feb. 2. W. H. Dowse. 'l'ooley.street, tallow-chandler, Jan. 27. H. Henry. Liverpool. to !or, Jan. 27. J. Radford. Manchester. dyer. Jan. 50, M. Humble. Liverpool, merchant. Jan. 28. S. Holland and T. S. Williams, Liverpool, merchants, Jan. 28. E. Pay, Aniershatu, Buckingham. hay.4lealer, Jan. 27. C E RT I I' ICAT ES—JA N. '27. W. Allam, Reading, barge•lntiltler.—J. Knight, Gough-square. fancy leather. mantitaeturer.—F. Sawyer. Clopton, Stithilk, hay liarwartl, Clii,well street, Chinaman.—T. Early. Wool • 'rich, home dealer.—.l. and I. Brandon, Church -street, Spitaltields, tuerchant.—l. Tompson, Atherstone. Warwickshire, linetalraper, —b. Booth, Bishop.tVearmoutli, Durham. ship-owner.—T. Leach. Salisbury. wine and spirit-ileakr.--J. Roberts, Wood -street, Spi taltields.silk-manufacturer.--J. Gibbons, Cheltenham. ironmonger. —.J. Joilie, Cariish, book-printer.—J. Robson, Little Britain, stable ktuien MELANCHOLY CAT4STKOPHE.-011 Thursday week, a sailing match With tined to take place between a boat belong ing to a gentleman of Plymouth, and a nother to one of Stont - !souse, which were to start from Barnpool, and after passing rodnd the Edystone, to return to Breakwater. The boats started with a moderate breeze from the eastward,and pro ceeded to with in two miles of the desired spot, when the whirl became mock stronger with a heavy sea, they then under a press of sail, each endeavouring to the utmost to surpass the other, when the Stonehouse boat, which was only a short distance from her competitor, disappeared in a moment, the sea at this time running tremendously Web, with Lieutenant J. W. Dyer, of the Royal Navy, Ale. Webster Harrison, and James Turnbull and Rickard Seymour, watermen. The persons on board the other boat immediately, on losing sight of them shortened sail. and endeavoured to make for the spot where they seemed to have disappeared, with the hope of saving diem ; but after looking around in every direction for as considerable time, without success, and to their imminent danger, they bore away for Looc where they safely arrived. The bodies have not yet been found. TUUNDER STORM.—Abotit a fortnight ago the neighbout hood of Stepaside, within 6 miles of Dublin, was visited by a thunder-storm. The electric fluid struck the house of Christopher Rune, on the lands of Ballymaduff, knocked down the chimney and that part of the wall on which it stood, and shivered to atoms a settle-bed in which two children lay, both of whom were severely stunned. One of them coati oued, in consequence, still deaf; the hair of her head, and of her eyebrows and eyelids, was notch singed: on Pier head, neck, and body, was several 'narks, as it the Akin had hero torn by a hot sharp instillment. The skin of the back of her neck and or the adjoining parlor the back appeared as it' singed. The other child was for some time that, and had some marks of burning. In an adjoining cabin, three cows, the poor man's whole stock, were found dead. When the spot was visited, their hides had been taken ott, and their carcases dismembered, so that nothing satisfactory could Le seen us to the peculiar effects of the deadly element on the animal body. The blood is said to have been in a fluid state the bodies emitted an exceedingly plot id odour, although it was only the second slay after the accident. In one of them, where the short ribs join the spine, a space appeared as if a severe bruise had been indicted, and the blood vessels acd adjoining soft parts had been charred. The animals were found on their knees; the cabin which they were in sus. taioed no injury. Horne says, that while the mischief was going un, he saw three tire-balls roll on the floor of his house, and, when they became extinct, a sulphurous smell was per_ eeptible. VIGILANCE OF WATCHMEN.—Friday night a fellow was stopped vy the watchmen with 5011). of pork, which the 3 sus peetrd he had stolen. They took !Ma to Norton Falgate Watch-lonise, where the constable of the night, perceiving him eery cold, permitted I • to sit by the fire, leaving two watchmen to guard him. The watchmen both fell asleep, and the prisoner finding a pair of handcuffs in th e pl ace , h e handcuffed them both together, and escaped, taking with !Aim both their cotlaasts : and also the pork. PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESSED SEAMEN. A General Meeting was held on Monday at the City of Loudon Tavern, of Merchants, Ship-owners, anti others. for the purpose of taking into consideration the best mraus of af fording relief to unemployed and distressed seamen, and to aid in the enforcement of the laws against impostors assuming the appearance of seamen for the purpose of begging. The unfavourable state of the weather, and the shortness of the notice, were probably the causes of the meeting not being AO numerously attended as had been expected. At two o'clock, however, about two hundred persons bad assembled, and Mr. Wilberforce was called to the chair. The honourable gentleman, after expressing his regret that some other person of mercantile eminence, and inure conversant than himself with habits of business, had not been elected, stated the pur pose for which the meeting was convened, and the conviction he entertained that no objects could appear more worthy of their bounty than those who on so many trying occasions, and in so many hard fought battles, had contributed to the de fence and glory of the country. Mr. Martin moved the first resolution, which was merely declaratory. and to the following effect—that the streets of the metropolis had been lately, and especially within the last few weeks, crowded with persons iu the character of destitute seamen. Mr. Dornford sttzgested the impropriety of adopting any definitive plan of proceedinif. without co-oprrating with the corporation of London, a ho would speedily take up the sub jest. Mr. Rowcroft and Mr. Frend recommended that the at tention of the present meeting be exclusively directed to the distressed seamen. Mr. Stephens informed the meeting that the Lords of the Admiraltyhad expressed their readiness to co-operate to the utmost of their power in furthering the views of the meeting. Sir James Shaw observed, that in conjunction with the late Lord Mayor and his brother magistrates, he had had se veral couferences with Ministers some months since, in re. lation to this interesting subject. What had occarred to them was, that a vessel should be stationed in the river, within the jurisdiction of the city, be provided with proper officers amid a purser, and that the magistrates of the county of Middle sex should be called upon to take up all vagrant seamen, and send them on board this )1111), where their situation and character might be examined. The Admiralty did accord ingly. supply a vessehand a great deal of advantage accrued ; many were Sent to their proper hontes and parishes, and great exertions were made by correspondence with different am. bassadors and consuls to procure a passage for foreign seamen to their respective countries. The same system had been very successfully acted upon by the East India Company.— A Government vessel was new in the Thames, although he was not certain whether it was tit In be applied to a similar purpose; but front the manner in which he and his hi other Magistrates bad been revels ed by his Majesty's Ministers, he felt a confidence that it was not necessary to subscribe a single shilling, fur that the Government had as much dispusi_ lion and ability to discharge the duty now, as at the former period to which he had just ilifittled. Captain Franklin had been fur a considerable time at sea in the Company's acrVice, and he could assure the meeting that no Captain would take seamen who were not well clothed. They were partial to clean young men. He knew Captain Jamieson, who lately sailed, to offer to receive poor seamen, such as excited the present meeting, provided they were well clothed, but otherwise lie could give them no employment.— He should, therefore, he most happy to give his mite on the present occasion, in order to clothe them and to render them fit applicants for work. [Hear, hear, hear.] Besides, many of the objects of the proposed relief were too old to he em ployed. They wire fond of clean yonng man. Many of those objects were 35 and 40 years old, ale had been tweed adrift on the woe Id without ;my provision or any chance of employ ment. [Applause.] Lieutenant Gordon (the secretary) had found DI men in one place. pretending to be seamen. They were in the greatest distress. All these proved to be really seameu. There could be no imposition on this point. The character of a seatnan was so marked an d peculiar than. it could he distinctly ascertained wherever it appeared. He ham on another occasion found 50 objects of the pity of all who saw them. 'they were, iu fact, greet nuisances. All these were seamen, some of them petty officers, and many had served 21 years. lie mesitioned to one who had been a petty officer, that the chances were a thousand to one that lie was not a sailor. He admitted it, but he proved by the completest evidence that he lied been what he rept esenied himself; yet being ragged, he was refused employment wherever he ap plied. If those unfortunate persons uric wed clothed they could get employment. There were places where they got shelter for a night for 2d. Those who could afford it paid this for it, others were seen lying in the fields. Two or three had p,evieusly died for warn, and last Friday night one was thrown out upon the street from a place where he had paid all he had, and soen afterwards died ; [Hear, hear, hear]; another was starved to death five weeks since; another but three weeks ago. When these men came on shore, they were as ignorant as children ; all they had yeas 501. of wages or wintry given them when paid otl, amid they were at once seized by sharks, who deprived them of the whole, and turned them out naked on the streets !Will morning. [Hear, hear, hear.] They had no opportunity of doing well ; they were made destitute belOre they reflected mn their situation. [Applause.] liv the infernal agency of which lie had before spoke u, they were at once stripped of their little money, and of their ap pearance that was uecessal y for getting employment. [Greet applause.] Mr. Stephens contended, in reply to what had fallen from Sir 3i11111% Sh4W, that there were so many difficulties in uns• ing the intentions of Ministers available for the present pur r pose that many of the objects of their charity would die , but fur the immediate relief which a subscription would enalat them to give. 'the Litrd Mayor thought that the appointment of the Coni mitte, would be productive of an essential benefit, by dis tinguishing between impostors and real objects of charity.— Captain Campbell haul promised employment to those that should be well clothed. He clothed many. They were all sailors, and they were employed. [Applause.] Lord Cochrane stated, that he approved of the object of this meeting [Great applause]; lie therefore came forward to contribute his mite [Mimi rise applause]; he approved of the object, because be thought the proposed relief practicable. For the whole ki ,it was imp o s s ibl e t o coot, Unite any adequate 'diet: • 'N u r i v: " years ago a Urge amount was rottiri buted---large as to the sum, though small as to the individea. contributions. What was now the result? Why did dist, es. still continue so general and Si) pressing as to call for such a meeting as the preseut It was the duty, the imperials' duty JAN. 11 ofGovernment, to relieve those wretched sailors- It had been triumphantly asked. " Where the money was to conic from?' He could tell without difficulty—limn droits of Admiralty.-- [Great applause.] There was a letter Irvin the Secretary of the Admilslty ; what did it amount to? ltiasthat the way in which men who had hied for their country, and who laud pre. served all of liberty that 'too 'monied [hear, hi arJ, ought to be treated? Many of them hail goue w America aid gave their services to the who were now (weenie the carriers of Europe. [Some calls of questioll]. He would nut lie called to order ; lie had a re:,lit to say this, and he eould declare the truth, although it mica be iiiipleasaiit to !host whose misconduct had crea•ielied all the e s it lie eini,i,lain c 4 of. [Hear, hear, hear]. It was a grievance that men who had served almost long eiiiiieeis to Entitle Ito m to pi 'oleos, and were willing to be louger ed, had Ist en d'seliarged without a pension, and wit h out the power of completing his time. His bleod ran cold at the ri•eollectimi of the intiepid and daring elite rp rizes of those men who are now abandoned. [Hear, hear.] He was oust deeply effected fine those 011 whom the liberties of Britain did depend, and must still depend, if all the Powers of Europe conspired ngaiinit them. Why were not soldiers iu the same distress ? They saw none 01' then' on the streets. There was none there to usiswer any such ques tions. It was the duty of 0111: Of the Lords of the Admiralty to attend fur the relief of the unhappy tars who had so bravely fought for them. [Here his Luidship was attested almost to tears]. Why was there no jnnior Lord, lio Deputy, or De puty's Deputy? He would give 1,0001. due to him for prize money [great applanse]. if Gime' nment paid it to him. No et . - feetual relict coati be afforded without the Assistance of Go. vernment. The taxes had so lettered commerce, that there was not the demand for sailors that shosal otherwise have employed them all. The timber. the cordage [inestion, ques tion] were taxed. (Some hisses.] He meant 'licitly to say, that means of employment wet a supprissed by taxation. He had now only to give the little he email afford [five guineas.] The noble Lord was loudly cheered as he sat down. After sonic further observations by different gentlemen, Mr. Rowcroft moved for opening a subscription ; which on being put, was carried unanimously. r. Itioveroft stated a fart wadi he I bought it right the meeting should be informed of; namely, that there are already 39,090 seamen on the books of Greenwich Hospital. A motion was made for adding Lord Coclwane's name to the Committee, which was agreed to. Thanks were then voted to Mr. Wilberforce for his conduct in the chair, and the meeting bloke up. Tuesday a second Met tine was held at the Crown and An chor tavern, Strand, to consider of the most advisable steps to he pursued, for the immediate relief of the destitnte, and the ultimate suppression of mendicity in the metropolis. Mr. Williams, being called to the chair. observed, that though placed in that situation by the kindness of the 'fleet ing, he much regretted that some person of more conse quence than himself 11911 not been chosen to preside oh such an occasion ; for he regarded the objects which had induced them to assemble, as the most important that could engage the attention of the friends of humanity and their country. He should nut attempt to describe the measures which might be calculated to accomplish the great objects the meeting had in view. This was not the time for details ; but the Cum. mittee, the appointment of which it seas intended to propose, would be able to enter into the most minute considerations and would soon come forward with a well digested plan. Fur the present, it was sufficient to state, that the objects fur which the meeting had been called, were the relief of Mune. diate and pressing distress, and the enforcement of the laws or the country with regard to mendicity. The Duke of Northumberland, he had hoped, would have been present at this fleeting ; but he was sot ry to state, that a letter had been received from his Grace, stating, that in consequence ohs loss in his family, he could not atteud. He had reason to hope, however, that another occasion would arise in which his Grace might have an opportunity of appearing•ia that room, iu support of the benevolent purposes of the meeting. He trusted that the gentlemen who might be disposed to speak on the business submitted to the consideration of the meeting, would avoid, as mach as possible, all extraneous matter; that they would confine themselves strictly to the distress of the metropolis, and the means of affording direct and immediate relief; above all, he hoped they would avoid any thing like political discussion, for certainly nothing could be more injurious to the humane object they all had in view than any attempt to mix politics with charity. Mr. Martin in rising to move the first resolution, knew that it would not be necessary for him to take up much of the time of the meeting. That to relieve the distress of our fellow creatures war the duty of every member of society was a truth which he did not need to urge to those who had there assembled. It did not require great taleuts or eloqnence to indnce a British public to listen to the voice of humanity. He had often made successful appeals in favour of distress, for he had labonred in this came for many years. But, notwithstanding all that had hitherto been done, the state of mendicity in the metropolis had alarmingly increased. Thousands of poor creatures were now suffering the deepest distress, and, so far from its be. ing true that they lived luxuriously, the fact was, the majority of these miserable beings, died preniatmely, for want of the cowmen comforts of life. In this statement he was sup. ported by the opinion of a gentleman of great experience among the poor io the populous parish of St. Martin in the fields. A committee would be proposed, for the better effecting the objects of the meeting. The labour or oue di vision of the committee would be well employed in sending these paupers to their respective parishes. With regard to these who have no parishes, they naturally divided theme selves into Irish, Scotch, and foreign paupers. The Irish paupers were very numerous. A subscription, he thought, might be made among their countrymen, for the purpose of defraying the expense of returning them to their country. hrom their numbers they made a very heavy pressure on some parishes, particularly that of St. Giles. Of Scotch paupers there were but few ; the people of that country heing sober and indus t rious , were seldom met with earnest. dicants, and the Scotch society would willingly assist the committee in finding the means of conveying such as were found in a state of necessity to Scotland. There remained, them, only to be provided for by the committee such of the foreigners As might have no claim on any other source for relief. Of them a considerable number were seamen. and the committee would be aesi-ted in its labours respecting them by the society established at the city of London tavern. He was convinetel that the fullest co -oh eration might be relied on as soon as the plans of the committee were fully digested and protnub. gated; and to convince the needing of the assistance which might be expected, he referred to a list tithe subscribers to a charitable insti tution, of which lie was an active member, coniainites, the Nimes of Persons of the highest rank. Ilan though they might rely upon the fullest support and co-operation when the organization of the cam . motee should be complete, yet it was absolutely necessary that an immediate subscription should be entered into; and uojectionable ar giving alma in the aunt was ill the opinion of many, he could sot I i 0 .4