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The volcanic matter made for itself, about six miles above the village of Lingua Grassa; it is impossible for words to convey, or colours to paint, the awful grandeur of this at once grand and terrific scene. Figure to yourself the highest mountain in Arran vomiting fire from a dozen different places, and throwing up immense heaps of red hot stones to the height of one thousand feet, attended with a terrific noise, like the roaring of many cannon.-Conceive quantities of melted lava issuing from each crater, like metal from a furnace, and sweeping along with it forests, houses, and every obstacle that presents it. self to impede its progress, and you may have some faint idea of an eruption of Mount Etna. In three days the lava proceeded six miles, but very fortunate ly did not overwhelm any village; it has, however, destroyed a quantity of timber, many vineyards, and some cornfields. It was lamentable to witness the distress of the inhabitants who were

unfortunately situated in the neighbourhood; they cried, tore their hair, prayed to all their saints and images, and carried them in procession to the lava, in hopes that their presence would stop the devouring element, but to no purpose. The wooden St Joseph, and all the rest of them, were deaf to their prayers, and the lava continued to roll on for more than ten days, when the volcanic matter being exhausted, the fire became extinct., Had it continued a few days longer, several villages must have been burnt down. I was not more than 500 yards from one of the craters, but some of the stones flying over my head, I was obliged to scamper off. The effect at night is beyond all description magnificent."

MINISTERIAL DIFFERENCE.

A difference of a most singular nature has arisen among some of the principal Members of the British Ministry, which has excited considerable speculation in the political circles. The following is given

as an authentic statement of facts:

"So long since as the Easter recess, Mr Canning gave it as his opinion, at a meeting of the Cabinet Council, from which Lord Castlereagh was absent, that a considerable change was necessary in the War and Colonial Department. He assigned his reasons for that opinion, and proposed the Marquis Wellesley as the most fit successor to Lord Castlereagh. All the members

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of the Cabinet then present concurred with Mr Canning in his sentiments. Mr Canning wished the disclosure of these sentiments to be immediately made to his Lordship; but his colleagues out of regard to Lord Castlereagh's feelings (the inquiry concluded,) suggested the delicacy of postinto the East India patronage having just poning the disclosure until the adjournment of Parliament. To this suggestion Mr Canning agreed. On the arrival of the recess, Mr Canning urged the Duke of Portland to enforce the recommendation which he had before submitted to the Cabinet; his Grace, convinced that the necessity for Lord Castlereagh's removal had not diminished, was yet at a loss to devise the most delicate means of conveying the sentiments of the Cabinet to his Lordship. After a few days of deliberation, Lord Camden was selected as best calculated for the undertaking. At this juncture, however, all the members of Administration were so busily occupied in the construction and arrangement of the expedition to the Scheldt, that delay was again deemed prudent, and no communication was made to Lord Castle

reagh until Mr Canning (on the 6th of October) gave in his resignation. On that occasion, the Duke of Portland communining, with the concurring opinion of the cated the original sentiments of Mr CanCabinet, to Lord Castlereagh, who immediately wrote to Mr Canning the following

note:

St James's Square, 19th Sept. 1809. Sir-It is unnecessary for me to enter in to any detailed statement of the circumstances which preceded the recent resignations. It is enough for me, with a view to the immediate object of this letter, to state, that it appears a proposition had been agitated, without any communication with me, for my removal from the War Department; and that you, towards the close of the last session, having urged a decision upon this question, with the alternative of your seceding from the Government, procured a positive promise from the Duke of Portland, (the execution of which you afterwards considered yourself entitled to enforce) that such removal should be carried into effect. Notwithstanding this promise, by which I consider you pronounced it unfit that I should remain charged with the conduct of the war, and by which my situation as a minister of the Crown was made dependent upon your will and pleasure, you continued to sit in the same Cabinet with me, and to leave me not only in the persuasion that I possessed your confidence and support as a colleague, but you allowed me in breach of every principle of good faith, both public and private, tho'

thus

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thus virtually superseded, to originate and proceed in the execution of a new enterprise of the most arduous and important nature, with your apparent concurrence, and ostensible approbation.

You were fully aware, that if my situa tion in the Government had been disclosed to me, I could not have submitted to remain one moment in office, without the entire abandonment of my private honour and public duty. You knew I was deceived, and you continued to deceive me.

I am aware that it may be said, which I am ready to acknowledge, that when you pressed for a decision of my removal, you also pressed for a disclosure, and that it was resisted by the Duke of Portland, and some members of the Government supposed to be my friends. But I never can admit, that you have a right to make use of such a plea in justification of an act affecting my honour, nor that the sentiments of others could justify an acquiescence in such a delusion on your part, who had yourself felt and stated its unfairness. Nor can I admit that the head of any administration, or any supposed friend (whatever may be their motives,) can authorise or sanction any man in such a course of long and persevering deception; for were I to admit such a principle, my honour and character would be from that moment in the discretion of persons wholly unauthorised, and known to you to be unauthorised, to act for me in such a case. It was, therefore, your act and your conduct which deceived me; and it is impossible for me to acquiesce in being placed in a situation by you, which no man of honour could knowingly submit to, nor patiently suffer himself to be betrayed into, without forfeiting that character.

I have no right, as a public man, to resent your demanding, upon public grounds, my removal from the particular office I have held, or even from the administration, as a condition of your continuing a member of the Government. But I have a distinct right to expect that a proposition, justifiable in itself, shall not be executed in an unjustifiable manner, and at the expense of my honour and reputation. And I consider that you were bound, at least, to avail yourself of the same alternative, namely, your own resignation, to take yourself out of the predicament of practising such a deceit towards me, which you did exercise in demanding a decision for my removal.

Under these circumstances, I must require that satisfaction from you to which I feel myself entitled to lay claim. I am, &c.

CASTLEREAGH.

To this note Mr Canning sent next day the following reply.

Gloucester Lodge, Sept. 20. 1809.

My Lord-The tone and the purport of your Lordship's letter, which I have this moment received, of course preclude any other answer on my part to the misapprehensions and misrepresentations with which it abounds, than that I will cheerfully give to your Lordship the satisfaction you require.

I am, &c. GEORGE CANNING. The Earl of Yarmouth (Lord Castlereagh's cousin) was the bearer of his Lordship's letter to Mr Canning. On Thursday morning, Sept. 21. at seven o'clock, the parties met on Putney Heath. Lord Castlereagh was attended by Lord Yarmouth, and Mr Home surgeon; Mr Canning by Mr Charles Ellis. At the second fire, Mr Canning received the ball of his antagonist through the outside of the thigh bone. The wound was immediately dressed by Mr Home, who accompanied Mr C. home in his carriage to Gloucester Lodge. The wound was not dangerous, and he is since perfectly recovered. Lord Castlereagh had a narrow escape, the button on the right lapel of his coat having been shot off. His Lordship, on learning the nature of Mr Canning's wound, returned to town with Lord Yarmouth.

Earl Camden has published the following statement respecting his share in this transaction:

"As it may be inferred, from a statement which has appeared in the public papers, that Lord Camden withheld from Lord Castlereagh a communication which he had been desired to make him, it is necessary that it should be understood, that however Mr Canning might have conceived the communication alluded to have been made to Lord Camden, it was never stated to Lord Camden that the communication was made at the desire of Mr Canning; and that so far from Lord Camden having been authorised to make the communication to Lord Castlereagh, he was absolutely restricted from so doing.

"As it may also be inferred, that Lord Camden was expected to prepare Lord Castlereagh's mind for any proposed change, it is necessary that it should be understood, that Lord Camden never engaged to communicate to Lord Castlereagh any circumstances respecting it, before the termination of the expedition."

It appears that the resignations of Lord Castlereagh and Mr Canning together with that of the Duke of Portland (which his Grace's infirm state of health for a long time past has now rendered absolutely necessary,)

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cessary) had induced the rest of his Ma jesty's Ministers to think of making some overtures to Lord Grenville and Earl Grey, This measure having received his Majesty's approbation, the following correspondence has taken place.

No. 1.-Letter sent in Duplicate to Earl Grey and Lord Grenville. "Windsor, Saturday, Sept. 23. 1809. "MY LORD,

"The Duke of Portland having signified to his Majesty his intention of retiring from his Majesty's service, in consequence of the state of his Grace's health, his Majesty has authorised Lord Liverpool, in conjunction with myself, to communicate with your Lordship and Lord Grey, for the purpose of forming an extended and combined Administration.

"I hope, therefore, that your Lordship, in consequence of this communication, will come to town, in order that as little time as possible may be lost in forwarding this important object, and that you will have the goodness to inform me of your arrival.

"I am also to acquaint your Lordship, that I have received his Majesty's commands to make a similar communication to Lord Grey of his Majesty's pleasure.

I should be wanting in duty to his Majesty, and in fairness to them, if I did not frankly and at once declare, that such an union is, with respect to me, under the present circumstances, impossible. This being the answer that I find myself under the necessity of giving, my appearance in London could be of no advantage, and might possibly, at a moment like the present, be attended with some inconvenience.

"I have thought it better to request, that you will have the goodness to lay my duty at the feet of his Majesty, humbly entreating him not to attribute to any want of attachment to his Royal Person, or to diminished zeal for his service, my declining a communication which, on the terms proposed, could lead to no useful result, and which might be of serious detriment to the country, if, in consequence of a less decisive answer from me, any further delay should take place in the formation of a

settled Government.

"I am, &c. (Signed) "GREY."

No. 111.-First Answer from Lord Gren

"SIR,

ville.

"Boconnoc, Sept. 25. 1809. "I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 23d instant, and understand

"I think it proper to add, for your Lordship's information, that Lord Castle-ing it as an official signification of his Mareagh and Mr Secretary Canning have in- jesty's pleasure for my attendance in town, I shall lose no time in repairing thither, in timated their intentions to resign their ofhumble obedience to his Majesty's comfices. mands.

"I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) "SPENCER PERCEVAL."

“SIR,

No. 11.-Answer from Earl Grey. "Howick, Sept. 26. "I have this evening had the honour of receiving your letter of the 23d, informing

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me, that in consequence of the Duke of No. 1v.-Second Answer from Lord Gren

Portland's intention of retiring from his Majesty's service, his Majesty had authorised you, in conjunction with the Earl of Liverpool, to communicate with Lord Grenville and myself, for the purpose of forming an extended and combined Administration, and expressing a hope that in consequence of this communication, I would go to town, in order that as little time as possible may be lost in forwarding this important object.

"Had his Majesty been pleased to signify, that he had any commands for me - personally, I should not have lost a moment in shewing my duty and obedience, by a prompt attendance on his royal plea

sure.

"But when it is proposed to me to com. municate with his Majesty's present Ministers, for the purpose of forming a combined Administration with them, I feel that

"SIR,

ville.

"London, Sept. 29, 1809. "Having last night arrived here, in humble obedience to his Majesty's commands, I think it now my duty to lose no time in expressing to you the necessity under which I feel myself, of declining the communication proposed in your letter, being satisfied that it could not, under the circumstances there mentioned, be productive of any public advantage.

"I trust I need not say, that this opinion is neither founded in any sentiment of personal hostility, not in any desire of unnecessarily prolonging political differences.

"To compose, not to inflame, the divisions of the empire, has always been my anxious wish, and is now, more than ever, the duty of every loyal subject; but my accession to the existing Administration could, I am confident, in no respect, contri

bute

bute to this object; nor could it, I think, be considered in any other light than as a dereliction of public principle.

"This answer, which I must have given to any such proposal, if made while the Government was yet entire, cannot be varied by the retreat of some of its members.

"My objections are not personal-they apply to the principle of the Government itself, and to the circumstances which attended its appointment.

"I have now, therefore, only to request, that you will do me the honour of submitting, in the most respectful terms, these my humble opinions to his Majesty, accompa nied by the dutiful and sincere assurance of my earnest desire, at all times, to testify, by all such means as are in my power, my unvaried zeal for his Majesty's service. "I have, &c.

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No. v.-Letter from Mr Perceval to Lord, Grenville.

"MY LORD, Sept. 29, 1809. "I lost no time in communicating to Lord Liverpool your Lordship's letter of this day.

"It is with great concern that we have learnt from it, that your Lordship feels yourself under the necessity of declining the communication which i have had the honour to propose.

"In proposing to your Lordship and Lord Grey, under his Majesty's authority, to communicate with Lord Liverpool and myself, not for the accession of your Lordship to the present Administration, but for the purpose of forming a combined and extended Administration, no idea existed in our minds of the necessity of any dereliction of public principle on either side.

"Your Lordship may rest assured, that,

in communicating to his Majesty the necessity under which you feel yourself of declining the communication which I had the honour to propose to your Lordship, I will do every justice to the respectful terms, and the dutiful and sincere assurance of your Lordship's unvaried zeal for his Majesty's service, with which the expression of that necessity was accompanied.

"I cannot conclude without expressing the satisfaction of Lord Liverpool and myself at your Lordship's assurance, that the failure of this proposal is not to be ascribed to any sentiment of personal hostility. "I have, &c.

(Signed) "SP. PERCEVAL." To this last paper it is understood that no reply was judged necessary. It had not, like the former, the character of an authorised communication. It professed to be written before his Majesty's pleasure had been received; and it contained, therefore, nothing more than the individual remarks of the Earl of Liverpool and Mr Perceval.

From the above correspondence it ap pears, that no approximation of political sentiment is likely to take place betwixt the two parties;-and a temporary arrangement has therefore been made, by which Mr Perceval is appointed first Lord of the Treasury (continuing in his office of Chancellor of the Exchequer,) Earl Bathurst Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in room of Mr Canning; and Lord Palmerston Secretary for the Colonial and War Department, in room of Lord Castlereagh, We say this is only a temporary arrangement; for it is generally understood in the high political circles, that the Marquis of Wellesley is recalled from Spain, and will be appointed to a high office in Administration, and that Mr Canning will return to his former office of Foreign Secretary.

Scottish Chronicle,

EDINBURGH.

JUBILEE OF THE 25TH OCTOBER. THE Magistrates of Edinburgh having given public intimation, that Wednesday the 25th day of October, being the anniversary of his Majesty's accession to the throne of these realms, and the day on which he entered into the 50th year of his reign, should be celebrated as a Jubilee in the city,--the October 1809.

following solemnities were ordered to be observed on this joyful occasion:

The morning to be ushered in by the ringing of the bells of the city and Leith, from eight to ten o'clock. The Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, at eight o'clock, to go in carriages to the Assembly Rooms, Leith, to meet the masonic procession, and proceed to the place in the dock fixed on by the engi

teer, and, in proper style, to lay the foundation of the military works, which, out of regard to our beloved Monarch, are to be denominated King GEORGE III.'s Bastion and Military Works, for the defence of the docks, harbour, and town of Leith. After the stone is laid, a royal salute to be fired from the dock, and his Majesty's ships in the Roads of Leith to return it. This solemnity being gone through, the procession to return, reversed, to the Assembly Rooms, To the procession are to be invited all the nobility and gentry in and about the town and neighbourhood, Leith, &c. who, along with the office bearers of the Grand Lodge, are to breakfast with the Lord Provost and Magistrates in the Assembly Rooms, Leith.

At twelve o'clock noon, the great guns in the Castle to fire, and the music bells, and those of St Andrew's Church, are to be set a-ringing, and continue till half past one o'clock. The volunteers to be drawn out in line in Prince's Street to fire a feu de joye, and his Majesty's ships in the Roads also to fire.

At two o'clock, sermons, suitable to the occasion, to be preached in all the churches, chapels, &c. in this city and vicinity. The collections at the doors to be applied for the relief of prisoners for debt in the jails of Edinburgh and Canongate.

At four o'clock, the music and St Andrew's Church bells begin, and ring till six o'clock

At five o'clock, a grand public dinner in the Assembly Rooms, George Street, Tickets 11. 5s. each.

From six to eight o'clock the great belis to ring.

At seven o'clock, a superb display of fireworks to be exhibited on the centre of the Earthen Mound, which is to complete the festival.

Wednesday accordingly presented the grand and interesting spectacle of a free people, uniting, with one accord, to express, by mingled acts of joy and devotion, their gratitude for the blessings derived from the prolongation of the life of their venerable and beloved Sovereign.

The following is a brief recapitulation of what took place in this city in the Course of the day:

The day was ushered in by the ringing of bells. An immense crowd of people filled the road to Leith, increa sed by the procession of many lodges who met in Edinburgh, and marched down in masonic order. The Magistrates, Grand Lodge, Nobility and Gentry, &c. met in Leith Assembly Rooms at nine, where a public breakfast was given. It was near eleven o'clock before the procession began to move. The streets and road, from the Leith Assembly Rooms to the site of the intend. ed military work, were lined by the Prince of Wales's loyal Edinburgh vo lunteers, and a detachment from the Aberdeenshire regiment of militia. The procession moved in the following order-1. Society of High Constables of Edinburgh, and constables of Leith. 2. A detachment of the crew of the Egeria, in clean jackets and trowsers, headed by two officers. 3. The Lord Provost, supported by the Sheriff of the county, the Earl of Morton, and Sir Patrick Murray; the Magistrates of Edinburgh, in their robes, preceded by a band of music, and followed by the Merchant Company of Edinburgh, attended by many gentlemen; the Admiral and resident Bailies of Leith, &c, &c, 4. The Grand Lodge of Scotland, the Earl of Moira officiating as Grand Master, in their appropriate insignia, followed by the lodges of Edinburgh and neighbourhood, in the order of seniority, and accompanied by music. The masonic decorations were extremely rich, and the whole had a fine effect. The ships in the harbour and wet dock had all their flags displayed, and were, particularly those in the wet dock, crowded with an immense assemblage of people. On many of them scaffolding was erected, on which were numerous parties of ladies-the shrouds and yards were completely covered with boys. On arriving at the ground the crew of the Egeria, who had joined in the procession, filed off to man the guns which were to fire the grand, salute. These were ranged on the west side of the bason.

The foundation stone of King George the Third's Bastion having been laid with the usual ceremonies of masonry by the Grand Master, his Lordship delivered the following eloquent speech:

My

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