CAMERONION BAND THEATRE. A guilelss girl, There was but one thing wanting, that was a little more This" Theatre Royal," for it is conducted by "Her, himself "a fellow of infinite jest." His re-assuming the Majesty's servants" in the strictest sense, opened, we calling of his earlier life, and coming out before the hope we may say for the season, on Tuesday evening, Court-Martial as Counsel for Maurice, was capitally done, to an extremely full and fashionable audience. The though we don't think the military cloak was a fitting performances were the melodrama of "The Warlock of attire. It was a fine opportunity for any one to judge of the Glen," the domestic drama of "Maurice the Wood-the effect of the new Bill, the Prisoner's Counsel Bill; cutter," and the laughable farce of "The Irish Tutor." and we are very strongly of opinion that if Mr. McKeehnie It was not our good fortune to be present during the were to make his appearence in the Supreme Court, it first piece, and this was owing to two circumstances, to would cause some of our more legitimate actors to look which we beg to call the attention of the Managing about them. The performance of Maria deserves most Committee." In the first place, half past seven is too favorable mention. D. Marrs-we could almost bave early an hour for the curtain to be drawn up; eight fancied him Mademoiselle Marrs-acted with a most o'clock would be more convenient for the public. In touching fidelity to nature, and looked as like a Wool the second place, it would be very desirable that the cutter's wife, as if he had really been Theatre should have some outward and visible sign of its locality. We, in common with several others, were poking about in the dark for some time, vainly seeking the hall of entrance, as there was not a single light to guide us. We have another prelimanary observation to make. As the public, on mounting the stair case, pass the stage before entering the Theatre, the door, or doors, that open into the sanctum, should be kept closed or screened off, so as to prevent the uninitiated from becoming familiar with the mysteries of the green room. Fancy having our delicacy pre-shocked by seeing Adela, Countess of Glencaim, or Morria, or some other feminine creature, smoking a cheroot! The remainder of our say will be unqualified praise. In almost all amateur performances that we have ever had anything to do with, one of the most difficult accomplishments, has been perfectness in the various parts. Here all were perfect; aud though on one occasion, in the Wood-cutter, there was, or appeared to be, a little bitch after a gentlemen had been murdered in the forest, creating doubts whether it was not intended to leave him there, yet we are not sure, but that, after all, murdered gentlemen generally are, even less speedily attended to, Maurice, the Woodeutter, was extremely well played by P. Glasgow: he Jack'd neither energy nor feeling, and was deservedly much applauded. If he will be careful not to "o'erdo. Terma. gant" and can rid himself of the bad habit of toning too much the last word of his sentences, he will be an excellent actor. We don't think we can give him higher praise than by saying, that if he agitated the game laws in a rural district in England, with half the earnestness he did the other night, he would assuredly tread some other boards under a Magistrate's certificate. Domini Sebastian, the village Schoolmaster, was, upon the whole, the best piece of acting in the Wood-cutter. T. McKeehnie has the real comic stuff in his composition, and he proved one, There were several songs between the pieces. A Scotch encored. We have no doubt the words were good; that in character, by (we believe) J. Young, WAS ble, as to us they were thoroughly unintelligible. The at any rate they were pure Scotch, is more than probahumorous acting of the singer proved, that they were nuts to him, and the applause negatived their being "caviare to the general.' We hope that similar performances will be frequent at this Theatre. We have a double interest in them now, that our better half is buried, and which, like a great many other better halves, that are gone, is better spoken of then she was treated. We said, in commencing these remarks, that the performances commenced too soon; in concluding them we say, that they were protracted too late. Two pieces would, we think, be sufficient. It was past twelve o'clock before the curtain fell. But for the late hour we should have noticed these performances yesterday. Hurk, June 6. THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. MAY 31, 1839. About 150 gentlemen assembled on the above occasion. The Rev. Mr. Boaz,who occupied the chair, opened the proceedings, by stating that this meeting had been called in order to afford to the Members generally an opportunity of obtaining such information from the Committee as they wished, and to obviate the necessity of resorting for explanation on such points to the newspapers, through which channel that object could not be properly accomplished. The present meeting was an ordinary monthly meeting of the society similar to those of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which was considered the best means of doing away with every erroneous impression regarding the proceedings of the Committee. The Secretaries, he said, were ready to answer any question concerning the acts of the Committee which might be put to them. He then read a statement of the funds of the Institution, by which it appeared that the receipts had been i follows: Subscriptions from 393 Members,.... 1,966 Toral........ The expences had amounted to,.. 5,386 0 0 0 7,352 0 And there was now a balance at the up JUNE, 1839. After a brief introduction, the lecturer stated, that the figure and motions of the earth would from subject of his present discourse, which he had selected, in consequence of the great interest it possessed, as being the globe we inhabit and the point from which we must start on our voyage of Astronomical discoveries. He then entered on a consideration of the state in which the mind must be to profit by the demonstrations on which the science of Astronomy was based. It must be free from the bias of preconceived notions open to conviction. In poants of dout it must listen to arguments with patience, and examine the doctrines proposed critically, but not captiously. He then entered upon the history of the science, and having dilated on the erroneous notions which had existed in former times regarding the figure of the earth, he traced the first discovery of its roundnese to the Egyptians, who had found it out by observing thd Eclipse of the Moon. This doctrine was then introduce who taught the roundness of the Earth, and that the Sun into Greece, and much improved upon by Pithagoras. Globe and the Orery were then shewn to us, and we were was the centre of the planatory system. The terrestrial informed, that the former was the figure of the earth and the latter an attempted representation of the planatory system. The lecturer then acquainted us with the pecu liarities of the different planets and of the Earth. The erroneous system of Ptolomy, which made the Earth the centre of the universe, next came under consideration, and was explained at some length, with the aid of the held to be the correct one for about fifteen hundred amillary sphere. This erroneous system was generally years, at the termination of each, the Pithagorian system was revived by Capernicus who, after a study of some This eminent Philosopher was followed by Galileo of twenty years was enabled to publish his new system. Florence; but their doctrines met violent opposition from the prejudices of the people who, adverting to the command of Joshua in the Old Testament, for the sua to stand still, argued that it was the sun and the other instead of the Earth turning on its axis from west to heavenly bodies that went round the earth, East to West, The Chairman then stated that lectures which, al. though highly amusing, edifying and calculated to make the institution popular, were not the only object in view. The great end of the Society's labors was to train young men to the pursuit of useful occupations and to make them valuable members of Society. This it has not been in the power of the committee yet to put in operation, owing principally to the want of proper ac commodations. Four Sub committees have been appoint. ed; a committee of papers to look after the records of the institution, to purchase books, instruments, apparatas, &c.; a committee of finance to conduct with economy the pecuniary concerns of the institution, a committee of lectures to arrange with those gentlemen who were so kind as to offer their services in this department, about the getting up of the lectures, &c., and a building committee to procure suitable accommodations for the Society's operations The last of these objects had occupied the greatest share of the committee's attention. They had looked out for any piece of ground belonging to the Government, with the view that if one could be found in an eligible locality, they might obtain permission to erect a building thereon for the Society; but none was found. Two other houses had offered themselves to notice: one of them was the old Masonic Hall on the Dhurumtollah road, for which 6000 rupees had been asked; but it might be obtained for less, But then the fitting up of the house, the purchase of instruments and appartas, &c. would require nearly all the balance now at the disposal of the So. ciety; a distinct fund, therefore, appeared to be required raised for a suitable building. There were now about 400 members, who, with their friends and families might amount to 5 or 600. To accommodate these, and for the other operations of the Society, a suitable building, with ground, might cost 10,000. If each of the 400 After this, we were entertained by a theological scene, subscribers obtained a donation of 25 rupees only, the in which the Pope of Rome, with the Inquisition at his required amount would be realized; but as all could heels, enacted a principal character in the persecution not pay even this sum conveniently, it would be better of Galileo. We had a confession of faith, made by this to leave it optional with every one, to contribute what Astronomer before his father confessors, read for our he liked towards this object. He would therefore sug-information in the science of Astronomy, and our edifigest the propriety of raising a distinct fund for the cation in that of Theology. This part of the science building, which the sooner it was done the better, consi- called forth several hears from various sides, at which desing the Society now paid 40 rupees a night for the the lecturer returued from Theological digressions to accommolation afforded in the Town Hall. Mr. Boaz the consideration of the earthly object on which we had concluded by inviting suggestions and reiterating the rea- come to be informed. diness of the committee to afford every information. The Rev. Mr. Atkins, seconded by Dr. Corbyn, moved that a distinct fund be raised for the erection of a suitable building. east. The lecturer then entered upon the subject he hal proposed at the commencement, viz. the figure of the earth; but he was again driven off from this point, by a centrifugal force to the consideration of the doctrine of inertia, explained at length in his former lecture, and after a continuation of arguments, informed us, that this Globe, no more than the other planets, requires any the earth, were then entered into at great length; but as pedestal for its support. The proofs of the rotundity of they must he familiar to every school-boy, we omit to mention them. He also met the objections, which he said some had taken against the roundness of the earth from the unequalities of its surface. The axis, the pole, the polar star, &c., &c., were each fully explained, and The business of the evening concluded by adjourning the oblate spheraidal form of the earth demonstrated by the discussing on the question of raising a new fund the experiment made on the axis of the meridian at for a building to another evening which is to be advertized.different latitudes, as also by the changes in the vibra-Hurk, June, 3. tions of the pendulum. The annual revolution of our Upon this question a very angry discussion took place in which Mr. Roger Dias, the Revd. Mr. Morton, the Revd. Mr. Atkins and some others took part. Several amendments were proposed, and a good deal said on each of them, and on various matters quite irrelevant to the motion before the meeting, and calculated to produce dis cord; all which we suppress, though we have notes of nearly the whole, because we are persuaded that no useful purpose will be answered by their publication. globe next came under observation, and was explained by diagrams drawn on a board and by the Orery. The doctrine of the antipodes, or what may be turned the philosophy of Zenith and Nadir, or up and down, on which the whole fabric of the Newtonian philosophy rests, was cursorily alluded to at the close of the lecture, and two little figures (of wax we believe) being stuck up on each side of a globe, were left to explain, as well as they could, the doctrine most difficult of comprehension to the unphilosophical mind.-Hurk. June 12. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A special Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was convened yesterday, (Tuesday, June 4,) to reconsider the propriety of forwarding to the Board of Customs, the following letter expressive of its unwillingness to offer, as it had been regulated by the Board, any remarks on the proposed abolition of the drawback system. W. R. YOUNG, Esq., Secretary, therefore approves of the abandonment of the one eighth of the duty hitherto reserved on re export. That if it be desirable to confine this to goods which may have been bonded, or which may have been ship. ped without being removed from the Custom House, within the three months at present allowed for payment of duty, the Chamber desires, that it be left optional with Importers to land their goods and thus lose the pri Board of Customs, Salt and Opium, Fort William.vilege of free Export or to pay the duty and receive SIR,-I had the honor to receive your communication of the 4th instant, furnishing an Extract from a letter from Government, relating to the proposed abolitoin of the drawback system now under consideration; and intimating that the Board are ready to "receive any remarks which the Chamber may desire to make on the subject." I am instructed to inform you, that, at a general meet ing of the Chamber, couvened for the purpose of discussing this important question, it was resolved that, as Bo great a difference of opinion prevails among its members on the contemplated measure, the Chamber do abstain from offering an opinion thereon; and that it be left to the merchant's separately, according to their dif ferent views, to make their own representations to Government on the question submitted. I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obet. servt. vant, only on re-export, because it will be more advantageous to many parties to adopt the latter course, even with the forfeit of one eighth of the duty, and loss of interest than to be compelled to use the Bonded Warehouses. A lively discussion then took place, as to whether the proposed measure of Government was to be considered as a boon to the mercantile interest, or as a precaution. opposition to the latter view of the case it was asserted, ary arrangement for the protection of the Revenue. In that under the present system the only possibility of fraud, was between the Custom House and the ship; and that the contemplated alteration would not lessen the risk in that quarter. Several members disapproved of the withdrawal of the letter to Government which had been voted by the former meeting, and requested to be informed by what authority it had been withheld. The Chairman again explained the reasons which had (Signed) W. LIMOND, Secy led to the measure, and read the requisition which had Bengal Chamber of Cammerce, May 27, 1839. been received from some of the members on the subject. Mr. Cullen then moved as an amendment on Mr. Fergusson's motion. At a former meeting it had been deemed inexpedient for the Chamber collectively to offer any opinion on the subject, as it was one on which it was much divided. They therefore thought it better that each, individually, should have an opportunity of laying before the Govern. ment any suggestions they might have to make with respect to the proposed measure. The letter had been drawn up in accordance with a resolution of the last general meeting, but it subsequently appearing that a number of the members who had not attended that meeting, were desirous of expressing their opinions on the subject, the letter had been recalled to await the decision of a special meeting. The meeting yesterday was most numerously attended, R. H. Cockerell, Esq., in the Chair. The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the minutes of the last meeting, with the letter to Government, which had then been determined upon, and a letter from several members, in accordance with which the present meeting had been called. That the proceedings of the last General Meeting of the Chamber on the Drawback question, be confirmed by this meeting and that the letter to Government connected therewith, and dated the 27th ultimo, be immediately sent into the Board of Customs, Salt and Opium, Another amendment was then proposed by Mr. Kettlewell, to the effect: That a letter (the draft of which he read) disapproving of the abolition of the drawback on re-export; and Bonding and Drawback, be adopted by the Chamber and recommending the continuance of the double system of forwarded to the Board of Customs, Salt and Opium. According to form this last amendment was first put to the meeting when it was negatived by a shall majority Mr. Cullen's amendment was then put and the meetThe following resolution was then proposed by Mr. ing divided upon it, when there appeared for the amendFurgusson and secouded by Mr. Dearie. Moved by Mr. Fergusson, seconded by Mr. Deare. ment 30, against if 29. The original letter to Government was therefore adopt That the Chamber views with satisfaction any proposed and forwarded to the Board of Customs.- Hurk, al to reduce the burdens on the trade of the port, and June 5, UNION BANK. A Special Meeting of the Propietors of the Union which was of very great importance to many whose chief Bank, was held yesterday, (June 5, 1839) for the pur- dependence might be upon the shares they possessed in the pose of adoption, or otherewise disposing of, the alterati- Bank. He, therefore, proposed the following resolution, ons in the Bank Deed, as provisionally approved at which was seconded by Mr. Turner, and, after some the General Meeting of the 4th ultimo, and for consider. disscussion, carried by a considerable majority. ing the propriety of increasing their capital to one crore of rupees. 6th. That it is expedient to create a reserved fund to meet casual losses, instead of trenching upon the divi On the motion of T. Dickens. Esq., William Young, dends. Esq., was called to the Chair. The following resolution was then proposed by T. Dickens, Esq., seconded by Dwarkanuth Tagore, Esq., and carried unanimously. 1,—That the new Bank Deed, as provisionally ap proved at the Special General Meeting held on the 4th May last, be, and the same is, hereby finally adopted. The second resolution was moved by Wm. Bruce, Esq, seconded by Mr. T. H. Gardiner, and also carried unanimously 2.--That in pursuance of the resolution just carried, the Directors be instructed to take immediate measures to have the new deed engrossed, and signed by the proprietors; and that they do also cause a sufficient number of copies to be printed, Mr. Dickens then, after a few words on the generally admitted expediency of the projected increase of capital, proceeded to read to the Meeting a series of resolutions, in which was embodied the plan by which he proposed that the additional fund should be raised. He mention ed an alteration which he had been induced to make in one of these resolutions, as originally drawn up, and which provided for the payment of the additional shares intended to be raised, proposing that the pro. prietors of the new shares should have the option of paying the price in two instalments, at intervals of six months, or at once and immediately, in which latter case they were to receive dividends from the date of payment. On this point it was suggested by several proprietors, that the purchases of the new shares, who might, adopt the first mode of payment, should be allowed interest on their first instalment. Some conversation took place on this subject, Mr. Dickens observ. ing, that he intended his proposed arrangement to act as a bonus on prompt payment. Mr. Dickens then proceeded to put his resolutions seriatim, and proposed 3d. That it is expedient to increase the capital of the Union Bank to one crore of rupees. Seconded by H., M. Parker, Esq., and carried unanimously. 4th-That the additional Capital be raised by the creation of 2,000 new shares of 1,000 each. Seconded by Baboo Dwarkanauth Tagore, and carried unanimously. 5th. That such new shares be disposed of as follows: viz.. each holder of four shares on the day of the next Half Yearly Meeting in July 1839, to be entitled to one new share at par. Mr. Cragg then proposed, that this reserve fund should be raised by placing a premium of 50 rupees on each of the new shares. On this proposition one or two amendmerts were suggested, and an animated discussion ensued, which was cut short by Capt. T. J. Taylor, who expressed his opinion, that the question of raising the surplus fund at all not being mentioned in the advertisement. by which the meeting was called, was altogether informal. He therefore proposed the following, which was seconded by Mr. Remfry, and carried. 7th, That resolution No. 6, be rescinded, and that the subject be reserved for consideration at the next Half Yearly Meeting. It was then proposed by T. Dickens, Esq., seconded by H. M. Parker, Esq., and carried by a large majoriry. 8th. That such shares as cannot be taken off in the manner provided for by the next foregoing and 10th following resolutions, because many shareholders hold numbers of shares not divisible by four, be put up at par and sold by Auction and the profits of premium, applied for the exclusive benefit of those proprietors not enabled for the cause above mentioned to obtain new shares at par. Proposed by T. Dickens, Esq., seconded by Wm Bruce, Esq., aud carried 9th. That the shares be paid for as follows; viz., one half for each share in each in six months from the next Half Yearly Meeting in July 1839, and the remaining half in six mouths from the 1st January 1840. Proprietors who prefer it may pay up in cash in full at once and previous to January 1840, and thereupon they shall be entitled to receive dividends from date of payment. Those who pay up one half shall receive interest at the rate of 4 per cent., or whatever may be the rate of interest given on fixed deposits. Proposed by T. Dickens, Esq., seconded by H. M. Parker, Esq., and carried unanimously. 10th. That the period within which absentee proprietors, meaning thereby those out of India, must pay up for their additional stock, be six months in addition to that allowed to residents in India and for those in India above 15 days' dawk from Calcutta, a reasonable period, to be fixed by the Diectors, in addition to that allowed to residents of Calcutta. Proposed by T. Dickens, Esq., seconded by H. M. Parker, Esq., and carried unanimously. 11th. That all shares not taken up and paid for purSeconded by Wm. Bruce, Esq., and carried una-saunt to the foregoing resolutions, by wilful neglect of the Proprietors, be sold for the benefit of the Proprietors nimously. at large. Mr. Cragg suggested, that a surplus fund should be created for the purpose of rendering the dividends as nearly as posible equal at all times, an arrangement Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meeting dispersed,—Hurk, June 6. LANDHOLDERS' SOCIETY. Proceedings of a meeting of the Committee held at the The following gentleman was proposed a member of the Society: ·-- Proposed by G. Vint, Esq., and seconded by W. Storm, Esq.,-John Calder, Esq., of Calcutta. Read a letter from John Crawfurd, Esq., Society's Agent in London. Read a letter from Baboo Tarucknauth Sein, offering himself to undertake the translation of the Sudder Dewanny Adawlut's circulars, which he thinks will be most convenient for the use of the native judges and Amlahs of the Dewanny Courts, and requesting the Society to submit his application to Government for the purpose of procuring its permission. Resolved. That an answer be written to Baboo Tarucknath Sein, explaining to him that the objects of the Society are not such as can properly permit their interference in the matter. Chunder Mitter, a Member of the Society, on the subject of an Oordoo translation of the papers of the Society from the English and Bengally languages. Read some propositions from certain zumindars of Hooghly, connected with policearrangements. Resolved, that the Society will take the above into consideration at the next meeting of the committee [Hurk. June 21, STEAM COMMUNICATION. WM. COBB HURRY, Honorary Secretaries. LUCKNOW PROCEEDINGS. In consequence of an intimation that a meeting would take place on the 17th instant, at Dr. Stevenson's house, at 10 o'clock A. M., to take into consideration the proposed Steam Communication between England and Calcutta via Suez, a number of gentlemen, Native as well as European, met, and, after conversing at some length on the subject, the following gentlemen were proposed and elected as office bearers, viz. Major Wilcox, Chairman, and Dr. Stevenson, as Secretary and Treasurer. The Chair having been taken, Lieut. Colonel Caul. field proposed the following Resolution, which was seconded by Dr. Stevenson, and unanimously agreed to That this meeting convey to the Committee of the Bengal New Steam Fund, the satisfaction it derives from contemplating the exertions making for the completion of such arrangements as are calculated to forward the best interests of our country, and develope the extensive resources of British India, in conjunction with those of Central Asia. That this meeting takes a deep interest in the success of such measures as are calculated to promote the prosperity of such parts of Europe and Asia, as lie within the influence of Commercial enterprize, the acknowledged barbinger of civilization. Proposed by Dr. Stevenson, seconded by Colonel Caulfield, and unanimously agreed to That as communication by Steam is eminently calculated to reduce the difficulties, delays, and dangers which distance naturally interposes between individuals and nations, and must tend to promote community of interests and secure the benefits which necessarily flow from amicable communication, it is proposed to open a subscription for shares in the capital, which the Company now under organization in Calcutta have proposed to raise; that intimation be given to the Secretary of the Calcutta Committee of the number of shares required, and that the funds subscribed be forthwith remitted. Proposed by Major Wilcox, and seconded by Mr. Wilkie, and unanimously agreed to by the meeting That this meeting request the Calcutta Committee, to take such measures as will secure a frequent communi. cation of the proceedings of the Company in England, with the view of keeping alive and increasing the interest now so universally felt in the question. Proposed by Dr. Stevenson and seconded by A. De Casonova, Esq., and unanimously agreed by the meeting→ That, as many native gentlemen have attended the meeting and taken an interest in its proceedings, these shall be translated into Hindoostanee and circulated for their perusal. Proposed by Lieut. Wilkie and seconded by Capt. Sinclair, and unanimously agreed to by the meeting — That the proceedings at this meeting be communicate to the Secretary of the Bengal Steam Committee, with a request that they be published for general information in the principal newspapers. (Signed) Lucknow, May 17, 1839. List of Subscribers. Nabob Munneeroodowla, Mi- R. WILCOX, Chairman. |