Bank took every thing not clearly ascertained to be foreign currency. The day passed over in the city without the least tendency to tumult, although the Bank was beset by crowds. In the afternoon, the following fresh notice was posted at the Bank and Mansion-house Silver Coin. Take notice-All shillings and sixpences of the coin of the realm, whether plain or not, will continue to be exchanged at the Bank of England as heretofore, till the issue of the new silver coinage, which will not take place before the month of February next.-N. B. Those who refuse to take the current coin of the realm are liable to be prosecuted.-Bank of England, Sept. 21, 1816. Afterwards a third Notice was issued: Second Notice.-WOOD, Mayor. Silver Coin. By authority of his Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department. Notice is hereby given, that all shillings and sixpences that can be considered as of the Established Standard in fineness will be exchanged for new silver coin when it is issued; and it appears that large proportions of the plain shillings and sixpences now in circulation are of this description. By order of the Lord Mayor, Mansion-house, F. HOBLER. Saturday, Sept. 21, 1816. In the mean time, the rumour that the Bank would not receive plain shillings and sixpences occasioned a general cessation of retail dealing in Westminster; and the Police-office in Queensquare was thronged with tradesmen almost of every description, inquiring of the Magistrates how they must proceed. One person said he had taken 501. in plain silver that morning, and he could not get one other tradesman to take any of it from him in business. Several pawnbrokers said, that persons who had small pledges could not release them, in consequence of their not taking the silver; and they could not receive a pledge, as none would take their money: persons offering the pledges said they could not get food with it. The bustle so increased, that the magistrates began to fear some serious result, if something were not speedily done. They sent an officer to the Bank, and being informed by Mr. Hase that he should not refuse taking plain silver, if not French or counterfeit, they, in the course of an hour, issued 500 bills, to appease the public mind, which, in a great measure, had the desired effect, and business was restored as usual. The following is a copy of the bills issued from the Queen-square Police office : Silver-Public Office, Queensquare, Westminster, Sept. 21, 1816. The magistrates of the above office inform the public, that all kind of shillings, now or lately in circulation, are taken at the Bank of England, with the exception of French or base metal; they therefore recommend to all shop-keepers, dealers, and others, in order to prevent any breach of the public peace, to take such silver above-named, as usual. Signed by order, W. MILLER, Clerk. The attention of the magistrates at the other police offices was oc cupied during the whole day with similar complaints, and similar measures were resorted to in order to tranquillize the populace. 23. An inquisition was taken at the Bedford-arms public-house, Camden-town, before Mr. Stirling, coroner, upon the body of Richard Ayton, a child only nine weeks old, who died in consequence of being suffocated unintentially by its mother. Elizabeth Brown, of No. 12, Grove-place, Camden-town, deposed, that Mrs. Ayton and herself went to town on Saturday last, with the deceased; as they were returning home, Mrs. Ayton suckled the child; when they got home she received the child from Mrs. Ayton to hold, while she took off her clothes; she thought the child was asleep, but found it was dead, and she immediately informed Mrs. Ayton what she thought of the child, who was very much distressed. She and her husband had lived for four years in her house; they were very fond of the child. Nathaniel Poynter, 9, Warrenplace, Camden-town, surgeon, sworn, said, that on Saturday evening he was called in to attend the deceased; he found him quite dead, but warm; he used different methods to recover the child, by inflating its lungs, &c. and he was clearly of opinion that the child died in consequence of being pressed too close to its mother's breast, which produced suffocation. After examining the body of the infant, the jury returned the following verdict-Died by suffocation, from the anxious care of the mother, by pressing it too close to her breast. 24. A few weeks since, as a man was digging among the ruins of Burgh-castle (the Garianonum of the Romans), he turned up a small vessel of pure gold; it is in the form of a porringer or small salt-cellar, on three feet, and is supposed to have been used as a censer for burning frankincense. He was offered, but refused, ten guineas for it. 24. To the Editor of the Glasgow Courier.-Sir,-About 7 h. 40m. on the evening of the 24th, a stream of light arose from the east, which at first sent off branches in several directions; but very soon extended itself to the opposite point of the horizon, in the form of a bow; at that instant passed nearly through the zenith of Glasgow. The phenomenor was immediately observed to move towards the south, but the motion of its extremities was much less perceptible than that of the part which occupied the middle of the heavens. At 8h. 8m. it passed through the largest stars in the Lyra and Swan; at 8h. 29m. through 60 Ophiuchi and 75 of the Swan; at 8h. 53m. through the largest of Andromeda and 50 of the Eagle; at 9h. 47m. it passed by the preceding foot of Antinous and Markab; and 10h. it became imperceptible. Its general breadth was 4 or 5 degrees. During the time of its appearance it varied considerably both in brightness and in form. Sometimes after it could scarcely be perceived, it shone forth again with renewed splendour; and at times the meteor seemed to consist of several disjoined and irregular portions. The north-west quarter of the L 2 sky sky was during the whole time strongly illuminated by the Aurora Borealis, which did not, however, discnarge any vigorous streams, until 10n. 40m. when, for a short time, a few beautiful ones were observed. The resemblance betwixt this meteor and the one of the 11th of September, 1814, is sufficient to show that they originated from the same cause. Both were first observed near the Zenith; they were both perpendicular to the magnetic meridan; both had a motion towards the south, and they were both accompanied and followed by an Aurora Borealis. There are, however, some points of difference: the one of the 11th of September, 1814, never suffered the smallest alteration, either in continuity or curvature; the time of its appearance was only about half an hour, and it was followed by an Aurora, unequalled for many years eitner in brilliancy or duration. Whether the meteor of yesterday will be found to have been more local, which the time it remained visible leads me to suspect, will soon be known. But among all the points of difference, the one which has been the most vexatious to me is, that the latter does not seem to have had so regular a motion as the former. Of the one of 1814 I was enabled to calculate the height and velocity, so as to agree with observations taken here and in distant places; but of the late one I have not been able to assign any constant height or uniform motion, which will account for its appearances; and I am induced to conclude, that in one or both of these particulars it had altered considerably during the time I observed it. I am, &c.JOHN CROSS. Glasgow Observatory, Sept. 25. 25. Belfast.-Last night, from eight to ten o'clock, a phenomenon of singular beauty appeared to the inhabitants of this town; it was in the form of a very regular arch, of white faint light, of about five degrees breadth in the middle, and terminating at a point at each end. At 20 minutes past eight its east end seemed to originate in the Pleiades, which was then rising, passed through the constellation of Cassiopea's Chair, and through the zenith of Belfast, and terminated in the horizon to the west. Before ten o'clock the top of the arch had regularly declined from the zenith about 20 degrees towards the south, while the ends remained nearly stationary: it soon after disappeared. The stars were easily seen through it, but appeared somewhat fainter. Between the north and northwest, the sky near the horizon appeared very bright, having the same appearance as is usual on a fine evening soon after sun-set. It seems most probable that this beautiful phenomenon is to be ascribed to the agency of electric matter in the higher regions of the atmosphere. The news from Constantinople, 26th of September, give afflicting details of the conflagration in the seraglio. The fire spread with such rapidity, that the women had only time to save themselves in the surrounding gardens. The Grand Seignor, informed of the danger, ordered all the avenues to be shut; and it was only after three hours of ravage, and after the women were conveyed to the apartments of the Sultan Mother, that that the firemen were permitted to approach. All the damage done by the flames, and the total want of arrangement, could not be estimated on the day following. The interior of the principal wing is absolutely destroyed. The loss in rich furniture, clothing, &c. is immense. 28. St. Croix (Teneriffe).-Several corsairs, who are thought to be independent Americans, desolate our seas, and seize on all Spanish vessels they meet. Their object is principally to procure arms and ammunition; they sometimes respect merchandise, but ships charged for the government never escape them, and after plundering, they generally sink them. The galliot the St. Anne experienced this misfortune five days since in our seas. The Spanish government displays great energy in repressing these robbers, who are the scourge of all nations; but their audacity deranges the wisest measures. The forces that we expect will put an end to their excesses. Some gunvessels have been equipped to protect the coasting trade. We have also established watch-towers and new batteries. This being the day appointed for opening the navigation of the "Wey and Arun Junction Canal," the Earl of Egremont, with a numerous company of friends and shareholders, attended by the Mayor and Aldermen of Guildford, assembled at Alford, where, after having provided a plentiful entertainment for the navigators, consisting of a roasted ox and 200 gallons of ale, they embarked on the canal in four barges, enliven ed by two bands of music. The weather in the early part of the morning was rather inauspicious, but towards noon it cleared up, and the procession, a little after three, was discerned from St. Catherine's-hill near Guildford. The sunshine which now broke out, combined with the unrivalled scenery of the favourite spot, the music, and numerous assemblage of spectators, and the merry peal of the bells of Guildford, Shalford, and Godalming, all heard at this time, gave an effect to the scene which could not be contemplated but with the most lively and pleasing emotions. About four o'clock the interesting spectacle reached Guildford bridge, when the Mayor and Aldermen landed, and having assumed the regalia of the corporation, and being joined by the other branches of it, accompanied by one of the town Members, neighbouring gentry, and magistrates, and attended by a band of music and colours, they welcomed the arrival of Lord Egremont and his friends. The whole then went in procession to the White Hart inn, where one hundred and thirty persons partook of a sumptuous dinner. The Canal, from its leaving the Arun at Newbridge, to its junction with the Wey, near Bramly, is a cut of 18 miles, and has been three years in completing, having been commenced in July, 1813. One of its leading advantages will be a great reduction in the price of fuel, as coals, which, within a month, sold at Guildford at 31. 3s. per chaldron, are now offered at 50s. It will also afford a facility to the agriculturist for the disposal posal of his produce by the easy communication thus opened with the market of Guildford. Mr. Sadler's account of his ascent at Cork:-"I ascended at 20 minutes before five o'clock, with the wind moderately from the N.W.N. The balloon on first rising had an unpleasant motion; but soon became steady, being now nearly perpendicular over Cork. I detached a parachute, and being too far distant to be observed waving my hat, I took my banner and waved a last farewell to the shouting crowds. At ten minutes before five, the balloon entered a thick cloud, when the city and the adjacent country became obscured from me. The balloon now was completely inflated; and the gas rushing out through the safety tube, plainly shewed to me my continued rapid ascent. From my wish that the many friends whom I had so few minutes before left should be further gratified, I deterinined to descend, and having opened the valve and allowed sufficient gas to escape, the balloon rapidly descended, when the city and coast extending towards Bantry to the West, and that of Waterford to the East, I distinctly perceived, whilst the harbour of Cork and the interior country, with its various mountains, was a view sublime in the extreme. In order further to gratify the spectators and show the power of the machine, I re-ascended and entered a second cloud at five minutes past five o'clock. I had previously determined not to remain long, but to effect my landing about Ringabella; I now there fore began to make preparations for my descent, by placing my various things in secure places to prevent their being thrown out by the concussion of the car, and at twelve minutes past five I opened the valve, and began gradually to descend. The car first struck in a grass enclosure, and rebounded into the adjoining field; the wind being mild, and the grappling irons having well secured themselves in the hedge, the balloon soon became secured. The first person who appeared was, I believe, the owner of the farm, who was not a little alarmed; for, although he had run in a direction towards it, he made a full stop at some distance, inquiring whence I came from, and it was not without a great deal of exertion on my part in calling that he was induced to come near. A servant of Mr. Hodder's came up next, followed by numbers of other persons, made himself known to me, and said, that if the apparatus was taken to his master's house, it should be taken care of. I was kindly invited to Mr. Foote's, where I partook of refreshment, and was provided with a horse to Mr. Hodder's, where a bed was prepared and every accommodation rendered that I could require." OCTOBER. 1. The New Custom-house for the port of London, erected upon the site of the old building, destroyed by fire, now assumes the appearance of a public edifice of considerable importance. It is a quadrangular |