Star. — London, England, 1809-03-30 00:00:00

of Araps,z Charta, or the Hal:etre CdrAus Bill, of any other 13i11 Nv hi ch a corrupt 'House, of Commons will permit the Minister to suspend at his pleasure ? The abuses of which we complain proceed directly from the corruption which has taken root in the whole sys- • tem of our Government. Whcro the source is cor rupt, the streams cannot be pure. Where corruption has fastened in the root, it will be disc . (-verel in the fruits of the tree. Those abuses have of late arrived to so flagrant a pitch, that even the friends of that sys tem thought it necessary to have commissions and inquiries instituted for the purpose of pruning and dressing the tree which now produces such bitter fruit. This, however, is not our business ; we must lay the axe to the root of the tree. (I.9..alapplaases.) Unless we destroy, this hydra'of corruption, it will de stroy the country. The monster now stands, with harpy claws, seizing on all our substance, to supply the means of its boundless prodigality. If this mon ster is not now subdued and destroyed, England must, like many other nations, " Lie at the proud feet of a conqueror." " This is then the task of the people of England, and what we have now to do. I hope this use will be made of the patriotic spirit which has been excited by Colonel Wardle. If it does not produce this ef fect, it will avail but little. If the people of England can be contented at the present moment to assemble merely for the purpose of saying how glad they are at the resignation of the Duke of York, then the country cannot be saved. I have, however, a better opinion of the people of this country, than to suppose that their hopes and expectations can be so limited. I am free to confess that it is my opinion, that a Parlia mentary reform is now absolutely necessary. If it can be obtained by quiet means, it will be a most for tunate circumstance, not only for the country but for the Government, for they are the most foolish and wicked advisers of the Crown who advise the So vereign to treat with scorn the wishes and opinions of the people. When Colonel Wardle brought forward his motion, he was immediately charged with being connected with a conspiracy. This is the common course of every scoundrel who is charged with any crime ; he immediately turns about and charges his accuser. It was, however, somewhat extraordinary, that these Gentlemen, who, with such a mass of evidence before them as was sufficient to convince every other person, could not yet be convinced of any impropriety in the Duke of York, should im mediately, and without any evidence at all, find out that Colonel Wardle was a conspirator as soon as he had brought forward his accusation. Before he brought forward this accusation, he had a fair and unim peached character, but now they tell you he is almost as bad as us Jacobins. (Loud laughter.)—l can see 330 other conspiracy existing, except a conspiracy against every honest man that shall have the boldness to point out guilt, and to endeavour to remedy abuses. Some persons talk a great deal - of the danger of popular influence : I would be glad, however, that they would lay their hand on the map of Europe, and point out any one country that has ever been destroyed by the prevalence of popular influence. It is easy to : point out those which have been destroyed from their Governments being inattentive to the wishes and wants of the people. I indeed will readily admit, that a House of Commons, sitting in its judicial ca pacity, should not be governed by popular influence on any other consideration but justice. I should be as much ashamed to have my vote as a Judge biassed by any consider ation, of whether I was to gain or lose popularity, as I would be to accept a bribe on any other corrupt consideration. The character of the people of this country is not for severity of punish ment, nor for running down any man by clamour, but they look for patient investigation, and above all for impartial justice, and for laws equally applied to all ranks and degrees. " Our Constitution seems to be something like a partnership concern. There are three partners—the King, the Lords, and the Commons. Now what would be said of any common partnership, where one or two of the partners would take all the profits to themselves, but leave the full proportion of burden and risk to the other ? What share now has the People of England in this firm ? It is my hope and wish that they shall at length Le restored to their share. (Loud app/auses.) I think nothing can be more improper or pernicious in its consequences, than the endeavour to couple the rest of the Royal Family with the transactions in which the Duke of York is concerned. The Duke of Yoi k should be tried for his own offences ; but it is unfair as well as injurious to the country to involve others in that odium which only should belong to the guilty. If his Majesty has been obliged to accept the resignation of . the Duke of York, the affliction should not go farther. It puts me in mind of the advice given by Hamlet, when his mother complained, " 0 Hainlet, you have cleft my kart lo twain !" The answer was, " Then throw away the wooer part, "And live the purer with the other half." I hope that the nation has ceasedlo look for any ad vantage from any change of Administrations .(crie, of ag, ao, they are all the saw). We must look no more to parties, and be assured that we never can expect any measures really useful, until the people of Eng land have their proper share in the consitution of their country—(loid anfilaustr.) As for me, I lik e thi s administration just as well as any of the other admi nistrations which have existed in this reign. Ido not see that one of them has done more good than the ' other. I wax none of their places either for myself or for my friends. I would be well content that they would keep their places, if they would only do the country justice. But my mind is fully impressed with the idea, that this justice will never be done un til the people of England shall be fairly represented. The resolution thanking Lord Folkestone,Mr.Whit . br:43, and odiers, having been unanimously voted, Mr. WHITBREAD said, that as he was the only Member of the House of COmmons present whose name was included in the Resolution that was just agreed to, he felt it incumbent en him to express to the Meeting his sense of the very high honour that was conferred on him. His gratification was the greater, because the thanks of so. respectable a Meeting, form,:d no part of the con s id eration which induced - him to adopt the line of conduct he pursued on the late investigation. It was an honour which never entered into his contemplation. If, instead o f receiving the unanimou s t h an k s of t he Meeting, be cold have looked forward to the possibility of their disapproving his conduct, still he must, awl would have acted as he had done. • So irresistible was the impression made by the evidence heard at the Bar of the House of Commons on his mind, that it was impossible be could have conscientiously' taken a different part. He was proud to find his name coupled with that of the won thy Baronet, who had obtained as si anal an honour as ever had been conferred.on any re presentative ;—that of being returned to Parliament in the independent manner in which he had been. The resignation of the Duke of-York he considered as a most glorious event for the people of England. It was produced by the support that tha people gave to the minority in Parliament. The public voice came in aid of individual sentiment, and their combined force proved too powerful to be resisted. He agreed with the Honourable Baronet, that perhaps out of the 658 Members of which the House consisted, no other man but Colonel Wardle could be found to bring for ward the subject. Had that Gentleman been unsuc cessful, it still would have been the duty of the inha bitants of Westminster and of the whole kingdom to thank him. They should look to his motives, and not to the event. They could now discharge that duty with hearts much lighter, for Colonel Wardle had completely succeeded. He did not, to be sure, carry his motion in Parliament ; but he obtained what was the great object of the motion, the resignation of ' the late Commander in Chief. He must say a few words on the company in which they had done him the honour to associate him. He was glad to find his name joined with that. of Colonel Wardle, whom he knew and respected from his earliest days.— There was also General Fergusson, an officer of dis tinguished reputation, who had, he would not say bled, but conquered for his country. He trusted that the vote which that gallant officer gave on that occasion would not impede his professional career, and that if he should not be found in those situations which he had shewn himself so competent to fill, he hoped there was spirit, and virtue, and gratitude enough in the people of England to call for him. it also afforded him great satisfaction to find his name associated with that of-one of the ablest lawyers in the country ; he meant Sir Samuel Romilly. This highly respectable character, and one or two others, were the only persons out of the whole law phalanx in the House, and a pretty strong one it was, who sup ported the motion of Mr. Wardle. Here was a sample of the law, and a good sample too, with which he felt no less gratification to having his name joined than with that of the sample of the army he had just men tioned. There was one part of the Ron. Baronet's speech in which he could not agree. He could not co incide in the sentiments of disapprobation that he tit- , tered against agricultural pursuits. He thought it very practicable to combine these with political objects.— There' were Mr. Cunven and Mr. Coke, who had turned their attention to agricultural pursuits greatly to the improvement and advantage of the counties in which they respectively resided, and who notwith standing, as they had well proved on a late occasion, were as attentive to objects of great political impor tance as those who were supposed to have entirely de voted themselves to them. Gentlemen would do well to recollect, that it was the blood of the ancestors of some of those persons at the head of the agricultural interest which cemented the liberties of the people of England, and that many of their descendants were among the brightest examples of political virtue and patriotism Such was the late Francis Russell, Duke of Bedford, than whom there could not have been a more zealous friend of the people. Such also was his brother, John Russell, the present Duke of Bedford, a man whose mild counsels would have completely pacified Ireland if he had been allowed toaremain at the head of the Government of that part of the king dom. He felt himself happy also to be in company with such men as Lord Milton, Mr. Lyttleton, and others, who were the descendants of the aristocracy of the country. If he had the misfortune to differ with the Hon. Baronet as to one part of his speech, there was another in which he fully agreed with him.— He was as sensible as he possibly could be of the ab solute necessity of a parliamentary reform. Such was his. opinion during 19 ye..rs that he had been a servant of the people. He had ever been a zealous advocate for a reform in the representative system, and he trusted that his labours to carry it into effect would be more successful hereafter than they had hitherto been. if the people were sincerely desirous of reform—if they wished to stem the torrent of cor ruption—if they wished, as it was said by the Hon. Baronet, to lay the axe to the root, they must be true to themselves. If the people should be fully impressed with the necessity of reform, the question would be carried to-morrow. That they were not so, when this most important subject was formerly under consideration, was owing to the arts that were practised on them. They were the dupes of a gross delusion and imposture. The advocates of r form were represented to them in the most horrible light. —He had the honour - cf . having his name combined with that of the late Duke of Bedford on that occa sion, and being called a Jacobin. But that was not the only time that the people were so deluded. As an illustration, he would cite the abominable cry of " No Popery," which was raised two years ago, and ran like wildfire through the country. That the for mer efforts to procure a more equal represensation of the people in Parliament failed, was owing to the people themselves. How could they hope to obtain a reform, when they would not give their support to such of their Representatives as wished for it ? He trusted that they would not again be dupes of such delusion ; and that, on this important subject, they would express their opinion in the same temperate but firm manner that they had done for the last seven weeks. If the; did so, the question of parliamentary reform must be carried; if not carried unanimously, it would be carried by a large majority. The result of the late investigation should encourage them to per severe. They - had seen what a respectable minority, supported by their voice, was able to effect. He had be.ai led into saying more than he at first intended. Little more remained for him to say, than that he thanked them wiih his whole heart for the honour they had done him. it was to him a source of the highest and purest gratification, to find that the sensations of a self-approving conscience were backed by nearly the unanimous sentiment of the people of England, Scot land? and Ireland. The other Resolution" were arterwirds separately put, and carried unanimously. A Vote of Thanks to . Mr. Moms, the High Bai liff, was unanimously carried ; and the meeting then broke up. I. FROM THE LISBON GAZE7TES. Extract of a letter from Brigadier Francisco da Silvericra Pinto da Fonseca, charged with the Mili tai y Government of the Province of Tras-os Montes, and Commander of a division of the Northern Army, to Don Miguel Pereria Forjaz, Secretary to the Go vernment, &c. " CHAVES, MARCII 2.—lt is impossible for me to give your Excellency a detailed account of ail that has happened, as I have not a moment to myself.— Considering, however, that many false reports may have reached Lisbon, it is proper that I should send you a-brief notice of what has occurred. The enemy advanced upon Portugal in three columns ; the first appeared to direct its march by Monte Alegre ; the second by the Val de Perdizes, or Santelinho ; and the third by the Val de Chaves. Their force might be estimated at from sixteen to eighteen thousand men, but finding that we were prepared to give them a good reception, they retreated to Ginzo, where, and at Alhariz, and Bom Jesus de Milagre, they still re main. Their advanced posts are every day in sight of ours, and the troops and peasants make many pri soners. There are 36 of. them here, whom I shall send tomorrow to Oporto, as I have no means of keeping them here." DISPATCHES FROM THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF. The General in Chief of the same army of the North, Senor Barnardim Freire d'Andrada, in dispatches dated Braga, March 4, states, that the insurrection is extending rapidly through all the districts of Gal licia ; that it is aided by the inhabitants of the towns, who are determined to shake off the intolerable yoke of the enemy ; that the people of our northern pro vinces are also resolved to present the most obstinate resistance to his attacks, and that even the enemy himself has not ventured to make any new attempt on the borders of the Minho. DISPATCH FROM GENERAL WILSON. A letter from Brigadier WILSON ) dated Ciudad Rodrigo, states as follows : " On the 19th of February, Major Grant having reconnoitred the advanced posts of Ledestna, with 35 dragoons and tri infantry of the Legion, attacked them with such spirit and effect, that the enemy retreated in great confusion. '1 wo companies who were posted in a Convent, no sooner heard our fire open, than they fled with such precipitation, that they returned half caked to the town. " On the 21st, Major Grant being informed that a party of the enemy's cavalry were reconnoitring in his neighbourhood, posted his troops so advantageously, that the French received the whole fire of our infantry, which threw them into complete dis order. He then charged with his dragoons, and pursued them to within reach of a musquet shot from the walls, where he halted, until a strong corps of cavalry arrived from Salamanca. He thou judged it prudent to retreat by the heath, which be accomplished without losing a man. It has since been learned, from the reports of some inhabitants cf Ledesma, that on this occasion the enemy had four meat killed and a number wounded, who were sent off on-the night of the 21st in carts to Salamanca." This detachment, which marched after the corps under Brigadier-General Wilson, has advanced to the frontier of Beira-Alta. A small party of the enemy, consisting of 40 cavalry, had arrived at the little town of Escallan on the Ray a, intending to surprtze the inhabitants in the night between the 26 and 27th of the preceding month ; but as they did not succeed in this enterprize, they retreated with great precipi tation, leaving even their pistols behind them. It is now known that this corps fell back to Salamanca. CINDAD RODRIGO, MARCH 2.—The French corps is still at Salamanca., and in the same force. Its ad vanced posts, which hitherto had not reached beyond two leagues from Salamanca, were yesterday ex tended to Fonte de Santo Estevaon. In consequence of this advance, a rencontre took place the day before yesterday between a French post and one of ours.— On our part we sustained no loss, except that Major Grant was wounded by a ball in the head ; hut it is said that his wound is not mortal. Various letters have arrived here, all of which con firm the report of an action between the troops under General Cuesta and the French. A spy, an intelligent military man, who was dis patched from this place, has sent information that the French constantly keep 250 waggons in x state of preparation for moving. It is also said, that the dispersed soldiers who have arrived at, Salamanca, came from Gallicia, and that the want of provisions obliges the enemy's cavalry to evacuate that country. BADAJOS, MARCH 7.—The Supreme Junta of this Province informs the Public, that in Switzerland there is an insurrection against the tyrant Napoleon, in con sequence of his endeavours to abrogate their ancient privileges, and to appoint for their King his friend Berthier. It is also known, that at the city of Nisme, the inhabitants have risen against him on the occasion of requiring a new conscription, and that on a force being sent against them, the people persevered in their resolution of resisting his authority. LISBON, MARCH 14.—Many English transports have arrived here, convoyed by British men of war, and having on boa, d 20,000 men. More troops from that country are expected, and every thing indicates its disposition t 9 make vigorous exertions to preserve the independence of the Peninsula. VALENCA, MARCH 3.—The Gallicians are in the lowest condition of misery and despair. They at first thought they should derive some advantage from the pacific disposition and servility with which they re ceived the regenerators of mankind; but they have been completely deceived, for they have been despoil. ed of their wealth, of their ornaments, of their means of subsistence, of their clothing, and even of their shoes. So great is the calamity they have endured, principally among the troops, that numerous Galli cians are anxious to emigrate into Portugal. The younger and more enterprizing offer themsetves at the head-quarters of the Portuguese army. Ir. the city of Tuy, the Frenchave plundered two churches. They have assassinated a great many of the clergy, and some they have converted into domes tics. Their brutality towards the women is abomi nable. All the youth, from the ages of fifteen to forty years, which have served in the Spanish army, are forced to enlist in the service of the French.— These are the principal causes why an insurrection has taken place in various parts of Gallicia, in which a great number of Frenchmen have been massacred. The French now at Tuy, do not exceed 1500 or 2000 men. The troops which were at Vigo have have abandoned the port. The consequence of this has been, that an insurrection has taken place there. and also at Sr. Jago in the neighbourhood ; and it is certain that 40 waggons of the wounded of the enemy have arrived at Tuy, from whence a squadron of ca• valry, and a battalion of infantry, has beensent in the direction of Pastevedra, to punish the in . t TFJE EVENING STAR. LONDON. THURSDAY, 'MARCH 30. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Conseis., for mor.ey, 679--Ditto April 67-I,i—Omniuni a pr Exchuquerlli, Cs. Is. prem. Last night we received Portuguese Papers to the 18th, and Hamburgli and Altona Papers to the saute date; from all of which we have given extracts of every thing worthy or notice. The Courier who recently arrived from St. Peters burgh is. a Mr. SASc : he was dispatched some thr,, since by Admiral SiNt4vE; to the Raissian Govern ment, with an official account of the Convention el Cintra. This return is no way connected with pacii:c overtures. Letters brought by elis courier state, that M.lrsll Drnoc and Count ROMANZOFF had both arrived at St. Petersburgh. The exchange there had consider. ably fallen. It was gmerally understood that a pro. hibition of all foreign trade was about to take place. Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY has withdrawn himself from Parliament by accepting the Chiltern Hundreds. —He is about to resume, it is understood, the com mand of the forces in Portugal. General BENTINCK and suite arrived at Plymouth on Monday evening, and early on the following roc:ril ing embarked on board the SCORPION sloop of ..var, which immediately put to sea—probably for Spain or Portugal. The 85th Regiment, after an arduous service i n the West Indies, is again neatly complete and tit for active service, having, since its return from .ia. maica, been made Light Infantry, under the tuition of that celebrated Riff,: Officer, Baron de ltorrEN. BERG. It will l be remembered, the name of this gal. lant corps stands conspicuous in the history of our Lest campaign in Holland on the memoral)le 2d of . October, 1799, and in Madeira, under the conmiand of Lieut.-Colonel GORDON. It affords at presont a l.appy opportunity, for such young officers and sol ders of the Militia as are desirous of transferring their services to the lire. It has but one battalion, and from the nature of its organization, is never likely to be again sent to the West Indies. Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the E India House, when Captains GKURGE NICHOLSON, of the Lady Lushington ; and WILLIAM CROWDER, of the WILLIAM PITT,• were sworn into the command of their respective ships. The following is a Private Letter, dated Banks of the Elbe, March 10th, 1809: " Preparations for war 'continue. This day many rumours were prevalent, such as the Austrian army havihg actually enter ed Saxony and Bavaria, and Russia's refusing to assist I rattte against the Emperor Francis 11. " An Austrian of quality, who has just returned from a jtvir ney from Paris, reports that the French cavalry in Spain suffer very severely by an epidemic disease, and most of the corps Ent. lost the whole of their horses. " In Paris the want of a circulating medium was felt in tie most severe manner, and the appearance of a new war created great displeasure in the minds of the major part of the community, particularly of the tradespeople., such as jewellers whose business was quite at a stand. " Neither the last Petcrsburgh Gazettes nor those of Vienra have yet arrived." At the Kent A ss'zes, on Tuesday, a verdict for £BO damages was given against Hughes, Purser of his Majesty's ship COURAGEL'X I for seducing under promise of marriage, ANN Kixc, a girl of '2O years of age, at Chatham. The Defendant had assumed the name of Georg( Jones, when paying his addres<ei to the Plaintiff. FAVOURITE NUMBERS IN THE PRESENT GRAND LOTTFRY.— Those persons who have bespoke, or have a wish for parricultr numbers, are informed they may now be procured at the different Offices by making immediate application. PLYMOUTH and PLYMOUTH-DOCK, MARC "I CH. Carne in the French brig Caroline, of 4 guns, (pierced for 16) and 30 men, from Bayonne, bound to Guadaloupe, laden with wine arid brandy; captured by the AMETHYST, of 86 guns— French ship Serpent, (tcrmerly the Earl Spencer packer, of Fal mouth) of 6 guns, and 42 men, from Bayonne, bound to Gua daloupe, laden with wine, flour, and provisions ; captured by the Amt.:rusts - I - frigate—French schooner EAventure, of s gulls, and 10 men, of and from Bourdeauz, fur Guadaloupe, laden with wine, cordage, &c. captured by the Ematant.o, of 36 guns. The report by these vessels is, • that advice had been received al t Bay bone of the British attack on Martinique, but that they had net taken the Islnd. Came in the BONNE Ciro YCNNE, of 24 guns, from a cruize off the Coast of Spain. Arrived the BETSEY hired cutter, from our fleet off Rochefort ; the Joseph hired cutter, from a cruize to the westward ; and the CADMUS, from Ferrol ; she has a few sick troops on board, late belonging to Sir lout: MOOR L's army.—Sailed the COMET, of '2O guns, and Scoßeton, of 18 guns, on a cruize. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH Arrived a fleet front the Downs, and ....convoy of his Majesty'. ship ALFRED, and PA rrmt gun-brig; anion; which are the Phoenix, FARMER; Williams, --; and F:iirless, WALREx, transports; and one East-Indiaman —Wind N.E. DEAL, MARCH 29 . Put back the Fu R lOUS run-brig, and convoy, which sailed last evening for Yarmouth. Arrived the CuARLE, armed ship from Yarmouth, with a convoy of light transports, and sailed through for Portsmouth. Sailed the ALEXANDRIA frigate, for Shecrmss ; Bozo and INDIGNANT gun-brigs, on a eruize. YARMOUTH, MARCH as. The Lor I Duncan packet,- Capt. HA Nlltro N, from Harvvich, bound to Gottenburgis, with mails and passengers, having spriaig a leak, has put into this port, and relanded her mails and passel:- gers.—Arrived the Gorgon Hospital ship, and a !Arse fleet t transports and merchantmen bum Gottenburgh ; also a Danish East Indiaman, prize to the Tartar frigate, laden with tallow , oil, &c.—The crew of the Proselyte frigate, lost in the Baltic' came home in her; the Tartar has captured upwards of 20 sail' —Transports in the Roads, XL XH. WK: and E.—The Gor gon has sailed for the Nore.--Arrived the Chanticleer sloop of war.—Sailed the Calypso ditto.—Passed by twelve sail of the line for the Baltic —Ships here, Roebuck, Princess Caroline, Abou kir, Kangaroo, Richmond, Snipe, and Sealark.—Wind N.W. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. GRAVESEND,MARCH 29.—Arrived the Triton, TOWERS,frO7TI Port-au-Prince ; Susan, C 4 s ; Hannah, CHUB; and, Prince's Royal, NoRTON, from Oporto—Britannia, BEATSON, . :ran Malta; and Trial, AnsoLost, from Lisbon. Sailed the Kathe rine, DAVIS, for Gibraltar. I)1ED. Yesterday, after a lingering illhess, ?qr. Samuel Richard Hesel tine, of the Strand . Tuesday, at his house in Salisbury-place ' St. Mary-la.borne, much lamented by his family and fi iends, Hugh Burges', Eq. aged 71. LONDON : Printed and Published by LEVEL KENT', of Can terMry Place, Lambeth, at the STAR-01'710E, No. 1, Carey.. street. Published also at the.S t Temple Bar. pr the iatte of !tens. time VC.rn - an of Lc.:iac rsh:Ll ed at )idLr. pro. [ace. nself !reds. corn- Louth nczn- war, ipain Ca in id tit .Ta. CT EN. S gal. r Our 2d of nand :.nt a sc..l- - align, likely !E )N, of . R, of Lnd of Lks of I/lours entct- -1 ratlcc a jo•ir- SUffer rs havL in tte :reared iunity, Asinos Awn zt for 'ttrs , ar under years umed reS , ei FRY.— ticuhr fferent CH. 16) n Wits of F.LI.