Star. — London, England, 1811-05-22 00:00:00

I It had even been insinuated that opinions on points of this nature had been held by him, which were thought to be of a mischievous nature, and even of a tendency destructive t the State. If there was any miscon ception on this head, he certainly was not chargeable with it ; for when the Noble Viscount gave notice of his intention to bring in the Bill, and afterwards when he introduced it, he was led to expect .t Bill very dif ferent from that which was now before their Lord ships. The misconception therefore proceeded from the Noble Viscount's misinterpretation ef the Act of Toleration. As to the Dissenters, he was himself perhaps more in the habit of intercourse with many descriptions of them than the Noble Viscount, and he could take upon himself to say that though he had conversed with many of them on the subject of this Bill, by not any one of them did he ever heat it approved. As to his own individual opinions, he should never retract them. Among them' was the opinion, that it was one of the natural rights of man (tor man he would contend had natural rights) to interpret the Bible in his own way, according to the best of his judgment, and of that right no human power should attempt to divest him ; and what was his sincere conviction, he equally had a right to in culcate on the minds of others, so long as in so doing he did nothing to injure the interests of the State, or interrupt the peace of the community. The Noble Viscount's Bill would not only take away this right, . but it went to impose on the minds of other men the judgment and opinions of six persons in those matters, respecting which, men should be left perfectly at li berty to follow the dictates of their own judgment.. Earl STA NHO PE applauded and adopted the prin ciples of his Noble Friend who spoke last, and con fessed, that since he had been in Parliament, he had never received more satisfaction than from seeing the number of petitions which had that night been pre sented against the Bill. The number of those peti tions would prove to those who did not seem willing to confess there was such a thing—the existence of a public. The public spoke pretty plainly on the pre lent occasion. But the Noble Viscount's Bill was already dead and gone; and no man of sense would now quarrel with its 'carcase. He should say of it, that it was both an enacting and a declaratory Bill, and that in both respects it was highly objectionable. It should therefore have his decided opposition. As to Toleration Acts, he had a different opinion of them from most of their Lordships ; and he should now give public notice that early in the next session he should make a motion to repeal them all. The Earl of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE wished their Lordships would allow the bill to go into a Com mittee. The various observations which had fallen during the course of the discussion abundantly proved, that the Toleration Act was differently interpreted in different parts of the country,and that, therefore, it was necessary so to explain it, as to bring the execution of it to some degree of uniformity. Since, however, his Ma jesty's Government had signified their intention not to support the bill, he thought it would be more advisable sot to press it for the moment. Earl 6REY adopted the principles laid .down by his Noble Friend (Lord Holland), and professed to be one of those who, in their interpretation of religious liberty, conceived it to allow every man to interpret the Scriptures to the best of his judgment, and to model his conduct accordingly, so long as that inter pretation of the Bible did not lead him into acts dais- , gerous to the State, or irreconcileable with the peace' and harmony of the community. As to the incon venience which the Noble Viscount was anxious to remove with respect to the exemptions from civil offices, the militia, &c. which he imagined a license to teach and preach was sought after, in order to ob tain ; these inconveniences were all removed by dif ferent clauses lately introduced into the Militia Bills; and no new enactment was therefore necessary to re medy such inconveniences. Upon the whole, he was of opinion, that it were much better not to agitate such a question at the present moment. Lord SIDMOUTH shortly replied. After which the question was put on Lord Erskine's Amendment, which was agreed to without a division. the bill is therefore lost for the present Session. Adjourned at twelve o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. WARD brought up three new clauses to the Oreenvrich Hospital Regulation Bill, which were referred to a Committee. The Pauper 'Asiatic Bill was read a third time and passed. The Dublin Harbour Bill was read a second time, and °Merril to be committed to-morrow. The Irish Butlenge Bill went through a Committee of the whole House, the Report of which was ordered to be received to-morrow. The Salt Duty Bill went through a Committee of the whole Horse, the Report of which was ordered to be received to morrow. Mr. LUSHINGTON brought up the Report of Supply, which WAS ordered to be committed to-morrow. The Newfoundland Judicature Bill was read a third time and passed. The Canada Rum Bill went through a Committee, the Report of which was ordered to be received to-morrow. The We of Man Sheep Bill went through a Committee of the whole House, the Report of which was ordered to be received tomorrow. The Quarantine Bill was read a third time and poised. The Timber Duty Bill went through a Committee of the whole House, the Report of* which was ordered to be received to-morrow. Mr. LUSHINGTON brought up the Report of the Distillers' Indemnity MU, wkicb was ordered to be read a third time to morrow. The Depety Usiser of the Black Rod summoned this Florae to the House of Poen, to War the Royal Assent given to several Bills. The Speaker accordingly attended, and on his return In formed the House, t h at the Royal Assent had been given by Oommiuion to several Public and Private Bills. Mt. PALMER'S CLAIM. Colonel PALMER said, that the House, in the Session of 1808, had come to a resolution, which was still on the Journals, that Mr. Palmer was entitled to a premium of St-per cent. upon the profits cf the Post Office, and that the arrears due to him on that ac count amounted to 5re54,702. He then moved— " That an humble Address be presented to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, praying, that his Royal Highness would be - pleased to order the payment of Mr. Palmer's claim, and that the House would pleege itself to make good the same." Mr. ROSE said, that the allowance of 2i per cent.l to Mr. Palmer was intended not merely to reward hint for his plan, but was also intended to insure his services in superintending the plan, and seeing the let ters delivered properly ; after some time, however, it appeared, that in consequence of some difference of opinion arising between Mr. Pitt and that gentleman, the latter not only neglected to set the delivery of the letters expedited, but also informed others how they !night put the Post Office to expenee, and suggested a mode for delaying the delivery; and this fully ap peared from the Report on the subject now lying on the table. Mr. P. MOORE said, the question had already been so much discussed that it was unnecessary to go fully into it. One circumstance, how ever , he would mention, arising from Mr. Palmer's removal: namely, that the happy result of that measure had been an in crease of £30,000 expences in the Post Office depart ment. With respect to the Justice of Mr. Palmer's claims, the pledge of thecountry to him was, that when the revenue of the Post Office amounted to eao,ooo, he should receive 2 per cent. and, in his opinion, the honour of the House and of the country were pledged to make good that Gentleman's claim ; and, therefore, the motion had his fullest support. Mr. W. DUNDAS fully agreed to the benefits de rived by the public from Mr. Palmer's plan ; and as a 'reward for the invention, Government had made him a liberal allowance ; but he thought he had no further claim upon the House. Mr. C. WYNNE could not help doubting the le gality of the grant to Mr. Palmer altogether ; he thought no Minister had a right to mortgage the pub lic revenue, without 'coming to the Parliament, to any individual whatever. The House was at full liberty to consider the merits of Mr. Palmer ; but he did not think it was bound by this engagement. With respect to what had fallen from the Right Hon.Gen tlenran opposite, he (Mr. Wynne) was of opinion no patent would have held good after Mr. Palmer's con duct; he would go farther, he thought Mr. Palmer ;night have been indicted for a conspiracy. —(Hear, hear!)—The Hon. Member concluded by proposing, that debate should be adjourned, to give an op portunity of considering Mr. Palmer's claims in all their stages, Sir T. TURTON contended, that there was no thing in the Report of the Committee, or in the evi dence produced before them, which went to impeach Mr. Palmer's integrity. Mr. LONG contended, that Mr. Palmer was bound by his contract to perform his official duties, and the salary and allowance was to be paid him in consider ation thereof, instead of which he disobeyed the or ders of the Post-Master•General, and entered into a conspiracy to retard the delivery of letters, with a view to throw the blame on that Officer. For these reasons he must oppose the motion. Mr. WHITBREAD noticed what the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said the preceding day, relative to the increasing revenue of the Post-Office, and asked, was it not to Mr. Palmer that the nation was chiefly in debted for this great increase of revenue When the invention took place, Mr. Palmer was entitled to a pa tent, which not being granted, the public are under an engagement of honour to secure to him all the rights the patent would have given. After the House had in 1808 decided in favour of Mr. Palmer's claim, the House of Lords sent the question to a Court of Law, where he could obtain no redress, the Court being shut against him. He was ready to admit, and would not detend, the indiscretion of Mr. Palm's.. But it was the duty of the House to grant him some remune ration for his cervices and his losses. Mr. DAVIS GIDDY opposed the proposition as a claim of right, b tt would Mr. Palmer cast his cause on the clemency of the House, he would lend his aid to the proposition. Mr. FULLER never had listened to such jarring arguments on any subject. One Gentleman ( Mr. Giddy) had opposed the invention of Mr. Palmer, on account of its simplicity, which was only pulling the letters from the side of a horse intothe insideof a coach! Why the simplest mode was the beat —he was amazed to hear that invention should have no claim on account of its simplicity. And needed Mr. Palmer to come to the House and demand his due, which had only been denied to oblige Mr. Pitt, who lived for the people, no body else—poor man, he died poor! (Loud laughter.) And should his family and his children be casten loose on the world ?—his daughters would not go off without some fortune. His family would be starved, and he would go out like a candle, leav ing nothing behind. They talked much on the bu. sines and had never come to any determination. —.Why did they not refer it to some Court of Chancery, which was able to decide it for them. He was sorry to hear Gentlemen coming this way and that way, exclaiming, what was the word of a Prime Minister? Why, his pledged word was as good as an act of Lords or any thing else! —(Hear.) By that narrow policy they were involved in the present war; they would not listen to a man who would have car ried your light cannons post ! He went off to the enemy, and was received with transport. The House was niggardly in its benefactions to men of genius. The method now used of the bomb-shells was invent ed by a friend of his, which when thrown made ter rible havock among horse I and when some remune ration for the discovery was proposed—Oh ! said they, he's a man of fortune, mid needed it not. Thus did the country go on disobliging her best benefactors, which was like losing a hog (on ewe of two year: old) for an halfpenny worth of tar (Loud loughiog). Mr. PE RCEVAL contended that, even if Mr. Pal mer's invention had been secured to him by a pateot, his conduct was such as would have forfeited that pa tent ; and it was on that ground Mr. Pitt had resisted the claim. He declared it as his opinion, that the ori ginal bargain with Mr. Palmer was one of the most offensive jobs that ever was entered into--(Hear, hear ! ) ;—but as the job did take place, the annuity was given on the condition, that the duties of the of. fice should be performed ; they were not performed. The office was forfeited by misconduct ; and on that account the agreement was forfeited. Here the Right Hon. Gentleman read over the letters of Mr. Palmer, and other documents, all of which were read in the House on former occasions, in order to spew that that Gentleman's conduct was nothing less than a con , spiracy to defraud the Public. If ever there was ma lice in a public officer, it was this atrocious attempt to put the whole of the Post Office in confusion, for the purpose of venting his malice on the Postmaster. General. Even the Honourable Gentleman opposite (Mr. Whitbread) admitted, in a manly manner, that the conduct in question was indefensible. He would say it was atrocious and fraudulent ; and Mr. Palmer ought to be thankful for the W5OOO a year which he received. Having forfeited his office he had no one to blame but himself, and he could be entitled to no thing more than he received. Mr. SHERIDAN attributed the whole increase of the Post Office revenue to the adopt* of Mt. Pal. mer's plan. and he trtistea 111 r. P. would not consent to give tip his claim to compensation. Mr. RYDER and Mr. CROKER opposed the mo. tion.—Mr. JEKYLL warmly defended the conduct of Mr. Palmer. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL argued at con siderable length against Mr. Palmer's claims ; when the House divided—For the Address 107—Against it 4 . 2—Majority in favour of Mr. Palmer's claim 65. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the Douse adjourned. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22. PRICE OF S I'OCK.S THIS DAY AT ONI: O'CLOCK. Cone. money G4{—for account. 4 per Cent. 80-5 per Cent. Navy 81 Facheq. par to 44. prom—Bonds Y 1 pre. Omnivai I pre. Government had received no official account of the important events communicated in the STAR of yes terday, but no doubt is entertained as to the discom fiture of the French army. If the dispatches are sent by way of Lisbon, a day or two will probably be lost in consequence of the state of the wind. The House 4 Loris was, last night, numerously attended by Peers, amongst whom were all the Royal Dukes. The crowd of strangers behind the Bar was excessively great, attracted by the subject of the Berke ley Peerage, but more particularly by the Bill re specting Protestant Dissenters ; which, •p the motion of Lori ERSKINE, was deferred for six months without a division. In the House of Commons last night, Mr. PAI, NEWS long-contested claim was carried by a majority of 107 to 42. Yesterday the inhabitants of Windsor and others were again gratified by seem his MAJESTY on horse back. His MAJESTY came out of the Castle at half past twelve o'clock in very cheerful conversation with Princesses AUGUSTA and SoPHIA and his attendants ; 1 mounted his favourite white horse, Adonis, and rode into the great Park, accompanied by Princesses AU GUSTA and SOPHIA, Generals GWYNNE, GARTH, and Colonel TAYLOR. His M.umry did not return from his ride till a qugrter past one. Letters from Cadiz to the 10th instant, completely contradict the statements of the enemy having raised the siege of that place. It was reported last night, that during the retreat of the French towards Salamanca, MAsSENA had been made prisoner. The Cadiz Gazette, of the 2d of May, contains a letter from General CASTANOS. dated from his head quarters at Fuente del Maestre, April 21, stating, that on the 17th, General BERESFORD ordered Count DE PENNY from Villa Franca with the Spanish cavalry under his command, to reconnoitre LTsagre. Letters from Corunna to the 14th, afford consider able sanction to our late accounts from France of the return of JOSF.Pti BON APART E to Paris. CORUNNAt MAY 10,- Joseph Bonaparte arrived at Valladolid on the 27th of April, and set off on his way to Paris the day following. He said on his departure that he would return in two months, but this was not believed. Negrete acts as Regent in his place, and the French report that Berthier is coming into Spain. Affairs are assuming a more warlike aspect under our new Governor, Santocildes, who is indefatigable in organizing the army, which did not before deserve that name ; for a more wretched and naked set of men were never seen. The task is a laborious one, but we can already perceive an im provement. " MAY 12.—8 y the arrival of an express from Ge neral Tahuada, we learn that Joseph Bondi)Arta arri ved at Valladolid on the 27th of April, and on the 28th left it, on his way to. Paris. This important news the General received from a confidential person at that place, who sent a peasant express with thz in formation." The following accounts have been received by the Gibraltar Mail : GIBRALTAR. MAY 5. We yesterday received the official accounts of the important successes of the Spaniards in Catalonia, who have surprised the almost impregnable fortress of Figueras, which commands the chief entrance into Catalonia, and who have also taken the towns of Olot and Castersollit, with the whole of the French garri sons, amounting to 2000 men. The Patriots, elated with these victories, are driving every• thing before them ; and the French hive not a single gun left on the coast to C.e East of Barcelona. The circumstances attending the capture of Figue- ras were ns follow :—SomeCatalonian soldiers, whom the French had forced into their service, sent intelli gence to Colonel ROVIRAS, who commanded a body of 1500 Catalonians, that if they would approach the place at night, they would open one of the sal* ports to his troops. Accord:ngly on the night of the 10th of April Colonel Roolnas, with his party, en tered the Citadel of Figueras, and after putting to death the only sentry who discovered them, he so completely surprised the whole garrison in their beds, that not a shot was fired, or the smallest opposition made ; and the whole garrison, consisting of 1000 men and 4.0 officers, were taken prisoners. MAY 6.—A1l accounts from Andalusia represent that that province will be abandoned by the French in a very short period. They are completely panic. struck by affairs in Portugal. It is not improbable that they will altogether quit Spain. Joseph is gone. All Catalonia and Valencia are in arms. The fall of Figueras has inspired every class with enthusiastic zeal, and not only regiments of men, but of women and children, are raised. The other strong places are or will be abandoned, and that part of the country may be considered as free, as, by a Captain who arri ved last week, we learn that not only the siege of Tarragona is discontinued, but that the fortress of Tortosa is deserted by the enemy. The Patriots in Valencia have killed in a month 700 of the French, and, on the whole, we may say, without hesitation, that their cause is desperate. NATAL INTELLIGENCL PLYMOVIII, MAY IS La Mk' CIIE French rrigat r arrimi from the hie of France, has come up the, harbour, to be;" docked and repaired.—The Utuost, a fine 9 4 i•ri. ship, building at this part, will be ready to launch in September next.—There were neither arrivals nor • ail ings.yesterday.—Arrived the A MIRA schooner from Falmouth ; the Robeit and Sarah, Hurerisa, Forts Gibraltar; and the Richard, Couxio.s, from Lisbon. Sailed the ALBION hired cutter, with letters and dis patches for the fleet under Sir H. B. /slime in Basque Roads and Quiberon Bay ; and the Px..c.icic sluup of war, on a cruize. PORTSMOUTH, MAY it. No arrivals.—Sailed the FISGAED frigate on a cruise.. • DEAL, MAY 21. Arrived the CouNrass or ELGIN cutter from a cruize.—Sailed the Funmus gua-brig, and SPECULA.. TOR lugger, for their station off the Northforeland. HARWICH, MAY 21. Sailed the Lark packet we the Aaholt Mails of Tuesday and Friday last, and the Beaufoy packet, with_Friday's mails, for Heligoland. YARMOUTH, MAY 21. Arrived from the Baltic yesterday, P.M. the CA* LTPSO sloop of war, with dispatches and letters from the fleet—sailed convoy for the Nore. Passed throngh to the Westward the STARLING gun-brig, with con voy.—Remain the Roebuck, Vice-Admiral Muaaav e the Fawn, Briseis, Chanticleer, and Acute.—Wind E. by S. thick weather. Extract of a letter from Malta, dated ApriLS,—" arrived here in the Crescent, from Smyrna; all the vessels are sent to look out after the French squadron which passed by a few days ago, and from all accounts we could not have been an y great distance from them." The Juhn, Ccaoo, bound to London, sailed from Surinam on the 21st of March, in company with the Fortune, PATTRILION, (arrived in the River) and parted two or three days after. The Gideon, Coffin, from Lisbon, is arrived at New York, after having been taken by a French privateer, and ransomed for 6000 dollars. The George Washington, back to New York, leaky. ~ bound to Gibraltar. is pat The Atalanta, Palmer, from Virginia to I.isbon, put into New York on the 3d ult. leaky ; part of her cargo thrown overboard. The Concordia, Doyen, bound to Petersburgh, is seized at Asberg. The Talbot sloop of war sailed from Cork on the ISth with a fleet for Lisboz,. The Endeavour, Powers, from Lisbon to Marblehead, Is taken and burnt by three French frigates. The Emperor, —, from Honduras, was on shore on Mules ton Bar, on the 27th Much. The Dispatch, Pratt, from Malta to Boston, has put into Porto Rico in distress. APPOINTMENTS AND PIONIOTIONS.—Hon. Captain Paget to the Malta; Capt. Ussher, to the America; Capt. Cumby, to the Hyperion, vice Brodie, deceased ; Cape. Graves, to the Polyphe. mu,; Capt. Huskisson, of the Pelorus, is promoted to the rank of Post Captain, and appointed to the Garland; Capt. Rowley, to the Pelorus ; Lieut. Alexander, of la Draouverte, is promoted to a Commander, and appointed to the Shark Capt. B. Greene is promoted to the rank of Post Capt. and to retain the command of the Boone Citoyame ; Capt. Doyle is promoted to the rank of Post Capt. and to retain the command of the Lightning (the two latter being registered as Pescohips) ; Capt. Austen, to the Eta phant ; Capt. Bingham, to the Egmont; Lieut.W. Hither, Cale donia; Lieut. A. Dungan, Tyrian ; Lieut. H. Boyes, Boyne; Lieut.W. Kelly (1), Royal George. Lieut. Joan Patec (1), Flag Lieutenant to the Commander-in- Chief at Portsmouth, is appointed to the command, pre tswp. of the Zephyr sloop, in the room of Capt. Dickens, indisposed. Dr. VALINTINI Duna, of the Gorgon, is appointed Surgeon of the Naval Hospital at the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. tinsels's, late Carpenter of Sir John Warren's Bag-ship, at Halifax, is appointed Master Shipwright of the Naval Dock yard at Bermuda. Frederick Edgecombe, Esq. Private Secretary to Mr. Yorke, is appointed Commissioner of theVietualling Board, in the room of Wm. Boscowen, Esq. lately deceased. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE MONEY. The Ferret, fot the hull, atom, and head-money of Is Betime s eartured Oct. 28, 1808, was paid and will be recalled as above. Ilse Hussar and Ferret, for la Jeune Rose, la Rivals, and Is Dougay Trouln, and Their cargoes, captured March 2, 12, at4l 30, 1609, was paid and will be recalled as above. The Swiftsure and Halifax, for la Junin) and cargo, captured December 31, 1808, and for h Caroline and cargo, captured March 2, 1800, will be paid and recalled as above. The late Leda, for the Ann, captured January, 1807, was pall the 13th inst. and will be recalled, at No. 7, Church•street, The hired armed brig Charles, for the Jonge Johanna and Neptunus, captured August SI, 1810, will be paid on board on arrival, and recalled at No. 3, Brick -court, Temple. The Cleopatra, Pert, and Maria, for the Jane, captured Nov. 14, 1106, was paid the 10th inst. and will be recalled, at No. 1, Fish -street, Doctors' Commons. The Pert, for the Commandant Von Scholten, captured Juno 11, 1807, was paid and will be recalled as above. Manx..LANl.—This day there are some further supplies of Wheat coastwise, and having several fresh arrivals of foreign, tends to the effect of extreme heavy sales at sollewhat h ss prices —Barley with Malt at little fluctuation—White Peas likewise—• Net many Beans of the two kinds—New Ticks rather dearer, 345. to 401.—Oats are in middling supply, and this trade quoted nearly at Monday's prices—Flour without variation. CITY Busums.—Yesterday a Court of Aldermen was held at Guildhall, at which the Lord Mayor, 14 Aldermen and City Officers were present. The Court inspected the Mealweighers Reports, and ordered the price of Bread to be continued at Is. RI the quartern loaf of wheaten, and Is. o'd. household. —Mr. Alderman JACOB resigned the office of Al derman of the Ward of Lime-street, and a precept was ordered to be issued for holding a Wardmote for the election of another in his room.—The follow. ing Gentlemen were nominated by the Court to be put in nomination to the Livery at Guildhall, on Mid summer-day. for their choice of two of them to serve the offices of Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, viz. Was. Heygate, Wm. Pickering, Ptuhp Booth, Philip Ancrobus, George Fooeuter, Titus Fontes', Thomas Parker,l homas Baize. and Wm. Newcombe, Emirs. A quantity of gold was sworn to as foreign, for et. portation. Yesterday the Committee for General Purposes unanimously appointed Mr. JAM es MONTAGU' Surveyor to Blackfriars Bridge, in the room of Mr. ROBERT MYLNF, deceased. This morning, between S and 4 o'clock, the old established public house known by the sign of King Henry the Eighth's Head, the corner of Great St. Andrew's-street, Seven Dials, fell down with a most tremendous crash ; Mr. HASTINGS, the landlord, his wife, his niece, and ,a servant girl, escaped unhurt. The niece and servant. fortunately hearing some of the timbers falling, got-out of the garret window, and crawling along the parapet, escaped the danger by taking refuge in the adjoining house ; but one man and a child were found dead in the ruins, another m.in died while conveying to the Hospital. Four per sons, lodgers, were taken to the Hospital in a bituised spat. L,