19 FEBRUARY 1831, Page 9

THE KIN G.—Some very unsatisfactiwy rumours relating to the King's

health have been lately circulated: We have, in consequence, made inquiries where we could rely upon correct information ; and, though the result of these inquiries does not, we regret to say, enable us to con- tradict absolutely all that has been rumoured upon this afflicting subject, still we can with confidence assert that the reports in question have been greatly exaggerated. His Majesty is not so strong in health as he was last summer, and suffers, we lament to say, sometimes severely from the effect of a painful accident which occurred about three years ago ; but, notwithstanding this, there is no apprehension of serious danger entertained by his medical attendants.—Standard.

Preparations are making at St. James's Palace for the reception of their Majesties, who are expected to arrive to-day or to-morrow.

The Queen's drawing-room is on Thursday next, the 24th; and on the same day the Duke of Wellington gives a magnificent dinner-party.

KING'S COLLEGE.—The greater part of the appointments in this in- stitution having been filled up, we take this opportunity of submitting the subsequent list of them to our readers. Chemistry • J F. Daniell, Esq., F.R.S.

Mathematics.. Rev. T. G. Hall, A.M.

Natural and Experimental PhilosOphy 11ey. H. Moseley, A.M.

Natural History James Rennie, Esq, A.M.

Political Economy N. W. Senior, Esq.

Jurisprudence .. . John J. Park, Esq. Principles and Practice of Commerce Joseph Lowe, Esq.

Surgery . . J H. Green Esq., F.R.S. Anatomy H Mayo, Esq., F.R.S. Theory of Physic B Hawkins, Esq., M.D. Practice of Physic F Hawkins, Esq., M. D.

Midwifery

NeadMaster B Ferguson, Esq., M.D.

' Rev. J. R. Major, A.M.

We are enabled confidently to state, that both the upper department of the college, as well as the school, will be opened in October next.— Times. WARD OF PORTSOKEN.—It was announced by the friends of Mr D. W. Harvey that they did not intend to offer any vexatious opposition to Mr. Scales's elevation—that by their demand of a scrutiny,theymerely wished to secure the right of privately inspecting the votes. It would appear, however, that they have thought better ; and on Monday, in consequence, they demanded and were allowed the legal ten free days for the inspection of the poll-books ; which, with the thirteen days for the scrutiny, if it be gone into, will delay the decision until the middle of March.

MEETING OF THE COLONIAL INTERESTS:A meeting of mer- chants and shipowners was held yesterday at the City of London Tavern, to consider the propriety of memorializing Government against the proposed increase of duty on Canada timber. Mr. Alders man Thompson, M.P. in the chair. The chairman stated that 1,800 vessels of a very considerable tonnage, and employing upwards of 20,000 men, were engaged in the carrying trade. He contended that if the proposed measure were carried, many thousand tons of shipping would be totally lost. Mr. Robinson, M. P. fur Worcester, moved the first resolution, "that the announcement by the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer to propose an increased tax on Canada timber, the equalization of the wine-duties, and the putting of one penny per lb. upon cotton, had excited among all men the utmost alarm." The resolution was car- ried with acclamation. Mr. Young stated, that Government had held out advantages for the supply of colonial timber, whenever difficulties prevented the regular supply from the North of Europe. Property had been in consequence embarked in the colonial trade. The North Ame- rican timber fetched 3/. 10s. a load ; the freight was 2/., the duty 10s., and charges 5s., leaving only 15s. per load to remunerate the growers. Baltic timber fetched 51.; the freight was 11., the duty 2/. 15s., and charges 5s.—leaving a profit of 1/. per load. It was proposed to remit 10s. duty on Baltic timber, and increase the duty on Canada timber ; which would increase the profits of the Baltic grower to 30s., and lesssen that of the Canada grower to 5s. per load. Ships could not take freights at less than the present rate, and the effect of the measures would be to throw the shipping used in the Canada trade upon the already too-burdened West India trade. The ships thrown out of employment could not find employment in the coal-trade, as the coal-owners regulated the vend to meet the demand here. There was not employment fiir two-thirds of the ships in the coal-trade now. Mr. Gould said, a contract was in course of com- pletion for supplying the Navy with masts. Not one tree in ten thou- sand was fit for ths purpose, and unless the trees around that fit for the Navy could find a market, the supply could not be obtained. Mr. Bliss (the agent for Canada) said, since the peace there had been a decrease of one thousand great ships, employing twenty-seven thousand seamen, in the commercial fleet of the country. Our North American Colonies took more manufactures from this country, than the whole of P.ussia, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Committees were then appointed to represent the Shipping Trade, the West India Interest, and the British North American Colonies ; and it was resolved to petition Parliament against the new plan of increasing taxes.