The Bethel Society, lately established in Calcutta for the religious and moral in. struction of British and Foreign Seamen, is enlarging its plan. The only houses at present existing for the reception of this class of society are of the most wretched description, where every kind of vice prevails, in a degree which would scarcely be credited in England. The consequences are most deplorable. remedy this evil, it is proposed by the Society to establish a boarding-house for seamen, in which every thing shall be done to promote comfort and economy, as well as sobriety and order.

To

The Government have subscribed 500 rupees per mensem towards the Bengal Mariners' and General Widows' Fund, and the Right Hon. the Governor-General has been pleased to become its Patron.

The accounts we have already given of the extensive devastation produced by inundations, both in the upper and lower districts of Bengal, are far from having been overcharged. We are sorry to observe that every newspaper we receive from Calcutta brings fresh intelligence of this distressing nature.

It is reported by some of the native Ukbars, that an attempt has been made to assassinate Scindea. The villain failed in his object, and was instantly cut to pieces by Scindea's officers.

We have before us a great variety of other miscellaneous intelligence from the chief Presidency, but we are obliged to defer its insertion to a future number.

MADRAS. Our readers will perceive from foregoing pages, that we have received intelligence from this Presidency to the middle of October.

Sir Thos. Munro has requested permis. sion to return to England.

The papers coutain nothing else in the way of incident or anecdote that is sufficiently important to demand insertion in our present number.

BOMBAY.-An affair of some consequence occurred in the Recorder's Court in the beginning of October last. Messrs. Norton (Advocate-General), Irwin, Parry,

Le Messurier, and Cleland appear to have been dissatisfied with certain rules observed by the Court, and accordingly stated their objections in a joint memorial. This act was regarded by the Recorder as an insult to the Court, and an assumption on the part of the bar of a privilege to which it had no title. His Lordship also pronounced the memorial itself to be libellous. By the sentence of the Court, the five barristers above-named were suspended from their situations for six months; and, in the interim, the attornies are to practise as barristers as well as in their more appropriate branch of the profession.

EAST-INDIA HOUSE.

Feb. 25. A Court of Directors was held, when Capt. Haviside was sworn into the command of the ship Thames.

28. A Court of Directors was held, when the ship Thames, taken up for China direct, was thus timed, viz. to be afloat the 28th Feb., sail to Gravesend 14th March, stay there thirty days, and be in Downs 18th April. The Astell was consigned to Bengal direct.

March 1. The despatches for St. Helena, Bombay, and China, by the ship London, were closed, and delivered to the Purser of that ship.

2. The despatches were closed, and delivered to the Pursers of the following ships, viz. Marquess Camden, Larkins, for Bombay and China; and Lady Melville, Clifford, for Madras and China.

17. The despatches for Madras and China, by the ship William Fairlie, Capt. Kennard Smith, were closed, and delivered to the Purser of that ship.

23. A ballot was taken for the election of a Director, in the room of Sir Thomas Reid, Bart., deceased. At six o'clock the glasses were closed and delivered to the scrutineers, who reported the election to have fallen on John Petty Muspratt, Esq. The numbers were :

For Mr. Muspratt. Mr. Tucker.

Sir R. T. Farquhar.. 398 24. A Court of Directors was held, when Mr. Muspratt took the usual oath, and his seat as a Director.

APPOINTMENTS.

Maj.-Gen. Sir G. Murray, G.C. B., to be Lieut.-General of the Ordnance.

H. Newman, Esq. to be His Majesty's

Consul for the States of North and South Carolina; to reside at Charleston.

The Rev. Hobbs Scott to be Archdeacon of Australasia.

Robert Fullarton, Esq. to be Governor of Prince of Wales' Island.

Maj.-Gen. Sir Patrick Ross is appointed

to the Staff of the Ionian States, in the room of Lieut.-Gen. Sir Fred. Adam, now Lord High Commissioner

Capt. W. Forrest, of the Hon. EastIndia Company's Service (Inspector of Military Stores), to be Major, by Brevet, in the East-Indies only.

Admiral Sir James Saumarez to be Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth, in the room of the Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane.

MISCELLANEOUS.

An Oriental Club has just been established in London, of which the Duke of

Wellington is President, and upwards of forty individuals of rank and talent connected with our Eastern empire are appointed a committee. The following is the prospectus.

Prospectus.

The Oriental club will be established at a house in a convenient situation.

The utmost economy will be observed in the whole establishment, and the subscription for its foundation and support shall not exceed fifteen pounds entrance, and six pounds per annum.

There will be a commodious reading room, with newspapers and periodical publications, and it will be a particular object to have those from every quarter of the East up to the latest dates. A library will be gradually formed, chiefly of works on Oriental subjects.

The coffee-room of the club will be established on the most economical principles, similar to those of the United Service and Union.

There will be occasional house dinners. The qualifications for members of this club are, having been resident or employed in the public service of His Majesty, or the East-India Company, in any part of the East-belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society-being officially connected with the administration of our Eastern Governments abroad or at home.

Se

The objects of the establishment areFirst to give to persons who have been long resident abroad, the means of entering, on their return, into a society where they will not only associate daily with those they have before known, but have an opportunity of forming acquaintance and connexions in their own country. condly to give to those who have resided or served abroad, the easy means of meeting old friends, and of keeping up their knowledge of the actual state of our Eastern Empire, by personal intercourse and friendship with those recently returned from scenes in which they have once acted. licitous of information, regarding the past Thirdly giving to all persons who are so

and present condition of the East, to those who are officially connected with our Governments abroad, and to all persons who are desirous of improving their knowledge and strengthening their personal ties with that quarter, additional means of accomcomplishing these ends.

The British empire in the East is now so extensive, and the persons connected with it so numerous, that the establishment of an institution where they may meet on a footing of social intercourse, seems particularly desirable. It is the chief object of the Oriental club to promote that in

uncut.

That the members of the Royal Asiatic Society, the Bengal, Madras, Bombay, India, and China clubs, be invited to join the Oriental club as original members.

That all persons who have served the King, or Company in the East, who have resided or travelled, or whose official situations connect them with that quarter of the globe, be considered eligible to become members.

That the committee have the power of electing any candidate as an original member, who may be eligible as above, until the number of four hundred shall be completed, such candidate being recommended by three of the present committee, one on personal knowledge.

That as soon as the names of four hun. dred members shall have been enrolled, a general meeting be called to arrange the permanent establishment of the club.

Our

It is at present intended that the number of members shall not exceed six hundred. A general meeting of this club is called for the 5th April, in consequence of the number of names already enrolled. Indian readers will be glad to learn, that a Resolution has passed the Committee allowing them eighteen months to give in their names as original members, subject to no other expense (besides the payment of their entrance of fifteen pounds), until their arrival in England.

A Treaty is in progress with the Netherlands' Government by which, among other arrangements, the Settlement of Bencoolen is to be ceded in perpetuity by us, in return for a relinquishment of all claims upon the Island of Singapore, and the cession of the town of Malacca, and all the Dutch possessions on the Continent of India.

It is stated in a Bombay Courier of Nov. 1, that Sir T. S. Raffles is on his voyage home, on account of ill health.

INDIAN SECURITIES AND EXCHANGES.

Calcutta, Oct. 11, 1823.

Government Securities.

March 3. At Liverpool, London, Brown, from Bengal 25th Oct.

10. At ditto, Bridget, Leslie, from do. 14. At Gravesend, Regalia, Collins, from N. S. Wales and V. D. Land.

16. At ditto, Lusitania, Langdon, from ditto.

17. At ditto, Norfolk, Greig, from Bengal 11th Oct.

18. At ditto, Morley, Halliday, from Bengal 15th Sept.; and Ann and Amelia, Short, from Bengal 3d Oct., and Madras 19th Oct.

23. At ditto, Bombay, Hine, from China 22 Nov.; and Waterloo, Alsager, from ditto 3d Dec.

24. At ditto, Kent, Cobb, and General Kyd, Nairne, from China 2d Dec.

Off Dover, Royal George, Biden, from China 3d Dec.

-Off Plymouth, Kains, Cunningham, from Madras 27th Sept.

25. Off Brighton, Ogle Castle, Brown, from Bengal 4th Nov.

At Plymouth, Layton, Miller, from Bombay 30th Oct.

Departures.

Feb. 26. From Deal, Earl Balcarras, Cameron, and Canning, Head, for Bengal and China; and Dunira, Hamilton, for Bombay and China.

March 1. From Gravesend, Marquess Camden, Larkins, for Bombay and China. 6. From ditto, Joseph, Christorphine, for Batavia and Singapore.

9. From ditto, William Fairlie, Smith, for Madras and China.

10. From Deal, London, Sotheby, for St. Helena, Bombay, and China.

From Portsmouth, General Palmer, Truscott, for Madras.

11. From Gravesend, Eliza, Faith, for Bombay.

13. From Deal, Lady Melville, Clifford, for Madras and China.

14. From Portsmouth, William Money, Jackson, for Madras and Bengal ; and Lang, Lusk, for Van Dieman's Land.

19. From Gravesend, Countess of Harcourt, Bunn, for V. D. Land and N. S. Wales.

21. From ditto, Phoenix, White, for do. 23. From Portsmouth, Larkins, Wilkinson, for Madras and Bengal.

From Deal, Catherine, M'Intosh, for Madras and Bengal.

Passengers from India, &c. Per Regalia, from New South Wales: Messrs. John Raine, John Rickards, and Henry Danvers.

Per Lusitania, from ditto; Mr. Bunstall and family, and Capt. Purcell.

Per Ann and Amelia, from Madras: Mrs. Reid; Mr. R. C Cole, surgeon; Capt. Fenwick; Mr. Reid; Capt. W. H. Goddard; Master S. Steward, and two native servants.

Per Morley, from Bengal: Capt. Cortland and Lieut. Stewart, 16th Lancers; Lieut. Butcher, 11th Drags. ; and Lieut. M'Dougall, 59th Foot.

Per Waterloo, from China: the Rev. Dr. Morrison, and his Chinese servant; Dr. Gillman, of the Medical Board, Calcutta, and servant; and several privates of the St. Helena Infantry.

Per Bombay, from China: The Countess de Boccarmi and three children; Robert C. Morris, Esq. from Batavia; Mrs. Morris and child; Mr. David Fraser, from Batavia; Mr. Ellinckhuysen; four ser

vants.

Per General Kyd, from China: John Gordon Deedes, Esq., Bengal Civil Service, and Mr. Richard W. Dickson, late 3d mate of H. C. ship Prince Regent.

Per Kent, from China: Brev.-Maj. Ellard, H. M. 65th regt.

Per Royal George, from China: Mr. Spankie, late Adv.-General, from Bengal; Mrs. Spankie and six children; Lieut. Williams, H. M. 44th regt.; Mrs. Berry and child, and Rev. H. Harding, chaplain,

from Macao; and Mr. James Buttivant, from China.

Per Kains, from Madras: Mrs. Boham, Mrs. F. Hall; Mr. W. Boham, surgeon; Capt. F. Hibgame; Lieuts. T. P. Lang, H. M. 13th Dragoons, E. Dobbin, W. Bremmer, G. Williams, H. J. Kennye; Ens. J. C. Hawes; Mr. S. Core; two Misses and Master Stratton, and two Masters Atkinson.

Passengers to India.

Per Thames, lately sailed for Ceylon: Major and Mrs. Smith, and six children; Mr. Matthew Boyd, jun.; Mr. Shipton; Mr. Bailey; two Missionaries from the Wesleyan Society; ten Officers of H. M. 16th and 45th regts., and 70 men.

Per Marquis Camden, for Bombay and China: Capts. Ruddock and De Shamp; Mr. Taylor.

Per William Fairlie, for Madras and China: Hon. Mrs. and two Misses Murray; Mrs. Chamier; Lieut., Mrs., and Miss Gardner; Capt. and Mrs. Jourdon; Lieut. and Mrs. Dyer; 13 Officers; three Cadets; one Assist. Surg.; 327 rank and file; 40 women, and 60 children.

Per Eliza, for Bombay: Messrs. Graham and Jones, cadets.

Per Lady Melville, for Madras and China: James Taylor, Esq. sen., merchant; Lieut.-Col. Boardman, H. C. S.; Miss Boardman; Lieut.-Col. Wahall, H.C.S., and Mrs. Wahall; Capt. Coyle, H.C.S.; Capt. Symes, H.C.S., and Mrs. Symes; Lieut. Kingston, H.C.S.; J. Prinsep, Esq.; Lieut. Bennett, 1st Royals; Lieut. MacLeod, H. M. 89th regt. ; Ensigns Fraser and Taylor, H.M. 46th regt.; Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Allen; Rev. Mr. Holliwell; Misses Eliza and Mary Thompson; Misses Compton, and Chaters; Mr. Birle, surgeon; Mr. Hewitt, surgeon, H.M. 46th regt. ; Messrs. Dumerque and Crawford, writers; Messrs. Ashton, Beau, White, Mackenzie, Hunter, Forbes, Pritchard, Cross, Roberts, Atkinson, Prescott, and Pocock, cadets; Messrs. Wren, Ste

phenson, Macintosh, and Clements; 275

troops.

Per William Money, for Madras and Bengal: Miss Nairns; Miss Becketts; Capt. and Mrs. Mallardaine; Capt. and Mrs. Senior; Rev. H. I. Fisher; Messrs. Beetson, Taylor, Reddill, Coats, Gaitskill, O'Brian, Savage, Wilson, Maxwell, H. Jackson, Lintsell, Harroll, G. Tylee, Drought, Tutin, Robertson, Hunt, Manson, Harris, Powys, Wellbank, Nicholson, Pritchard, and Grove; Majors Bell and Hopkinson.

Per Larkins, for Madras and Bengal. Mr. Pearson, Advocate- General; Mrs. Pearson; three young ladies, friends of ditto; Mrs. Yeld; Miss Jeffries; Miss Caseneuf; Dr. O'Flaherty, H.M. 46th regt.; Mrs. and three Misses O'Flaherty; Mr. Robertson C.S.; Capt. Woodruff;

Messrs. Abbott, Milner, Brady, Huish, Matthews, and Kingston, cadets.

Ships spoken with.

Cambrian, London to Bombay, 12th Oct.-Waterloo, Studd, London to Bombay, 1st Nov., lat. 4. 20. N.- Perseverance, Genoa to Sumatra, 5th Jan.-Ganges, Ford, London to Madras and Bengal, 4th Dec., lat. 2. 46. N., long. 25. 11. W.Hibernia, Gillies, London to Van Dieman's Land, 2d Jan., lat. 26. S. long. 29. W.-Heroine, Ostler, London to New South Wales, 2d Jan, lat. 18. 8. S., long. 26. W.-Barkworth, Cotgrave, London to Bombay, 3d Jan., lat. 14. 20. S., long. 28. W.-Bengal Merchant, Brown, London to Madras and Bengal, 3d Jan., lat. 23. 50. S., long. 30. W.-Albion, Swainson, Liverpool to Bengal, 22d Oct., lat. 8. 20. N., long. 90. E.-Cadmus, Talbot, Bengal to London, 20th Nov., lat. 12. S. -Doris, Roberts, Liverpool to Singapore, 5th Nov., in Straits of Banca.-Jamima, Watt, Singapore to Cowes, 14th Dec., in Straits of Sunda.

Miscellaneous Notices.

The brig General de Kock, belonging to Messrs. Thornton and West, on her passage from Batavia to Samarang, with a valuable cargo of English goods, &c., was taken by Malay pirates off Indramago Point, on or about the 28th of October, and the captain and mate, after receiving several severe wounds, jumped overboard; the captain was picked up the following day, clinging to a fish stake, by a coasting vessel, which arrived at Batavia on the 2d of Nov. Mr. Thornton, supercargo, was kept on board by the piratical crew, who demanded a ransom for him of a few chests of opium and 10,000 dollars. His friends had sent from Batavia, and hopes were entertained of saving him from those marauders.

The Straits of Java have been long infested by these pirates. The day before the General de Kock was taken, a Dutch ship was attacked by twelve Malay prows, who beat them off after three hours' hard fighting.

The H. C.'s ship Farquharson arrived at the Cape on the 28th January from China. On the 20th Jan. she fell in with the Thalia, Munro, from Batavia, in distress for want of men; took her in tow off Algoa Bay, but was obliged to cast her off from stress of weather, with five men belonging to the Farquharson on board.

The Brailsford, Spring, from Bombay, was to sail from the Cape of Good Hope for London about the 15th Feb.

The Mary Ann, Capt. C. Cowes, was taken up by the Indian Government in Sept. last, to try the experiment of riding out the approaching N. E. Monsoon, at Blackwood's Harbour, on the Coromandel Coast, in the shore of the Armegan Shoal.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.

BIRTHS.

Feb. 29. At Wateringbury, Kent, the lady of Capt. Adamson, Hon. East-India Company's service, of a daughter.

March 11. At Westbourne-Green, Mrs. William Evans, of a still-born child.

22. At Norton Cottage, Tenby, the lady of Lieut.-Col. Elliot Voyle, of the Bengal Army, of a son.

23. At Farnham, Surrey, the lady of Capt. A. Brown, of the ship Bengal Merchant, of a daughter.

28. In Red-Lion Square, Mrs. J. L. Cox, of a daughter.

MARRIAGES.

Feb. 23. At Forres, Capt. Falconer, of the Bombay army, to Eliza, second daughter of Mr. John Macdonell, and grand-daughter of the Rev. Dr. Lewis Gordon, of Elgin, N. B.

Philip Pitt Nind, Esq., of the 3d Bengal Light Cavalry, to Caroline, fifth daughter of the late W. Davis, Esq., of Winterbourne Abbey, Dorset.

March 1. R. Nelson, Esq., of the Madras C. S., to Margaret, eldest daughter of J. Harrison, Esq., of Gower-street, Bedford-square.

4. At St. George's, Bloomsbury, W. H. Sykes, Esq., Captain in the Bombay Army, to Eliza, youngest daughter of Wm. Hay, Esq., of Russel Square.

20. At Mary-le-bone New Church, Sir C. R. Blunt, Bart., of Heathfield Park, Sussex, to Mrs. A'hmuty, of Herefordstreet, widow of R. A'hmuty, Esq., late of the Hon. Company's Bengal Civ. Serv.

DEATHS.

Jan. 10. While employed in surveying the river Gambia, Mr. Bowdich, the African traveller.

28. At St. Helena, Mary Penelope, wife of Capt. Torbett, aged 27 years and 7 months.

Feb. 6. In the Colonial Gaol at Demarara, Mr. J. Smith, missionary.

17. At Tours, aged 18, Arthur, eldest son of the late F. J. Jackson, Esq.

18. At Teignmouth, Devon, T. Warham, Esq., late of Bengal.

20. At Worcester, G. Woodyatt, M.D., in his 60th year.

At Lucerne, C. E. Fortescue, Esq. 21. At Belfast, the Rev. R. Acheson. At Edinburgh, Capt. E. Hibbert, a Commander in the Navy, in his 27th year. 22. At Blakeney, the Rev. R. T. Gough, uncle of Lord Calthorpe, in his 73d year.