Star. — London, England, 1819-12-22 00:00:00

,i I. 4; ( ~'~i f "~', i ~: Pt ~I MMr.!.`.' / .~r I `! r t , I 11: ' i i• • I .1 1 E p ,* =•f, 1 . : , : 7 , ~~~~~ .1, moved that the Bill be read a second time on the 13th of 1 7 1bru.ir amt. Colonel DAVIES was surprised that Ministers would buffer such important measures to be passed night after night, without their saying the least syl lable in defence of them. 'lhey attempted no reply t? the unanswerable arguments brought forward every night on his side of the House—(Hear, hear/ and &stele . r)—lf they'passed this Bill, they would only add to the discontented state of . the country.— Ile did not nizati to say more on this subject, except' , that it was astonishing that none of the leg . al Gentle- , men opposite did not give some explanation of the • necessity of this meast:re, if they could shew any rea son for its necessity. - I Mr. MONEY expressed a hope that this would not be the last measure adopted to stem the tide of . blasphemy, which, it was admitted on all. sides, was' overflowing the land. He believed it would be ad mitted that . Schools were opened for teaching blas phemy and irreligion, as the•elements of their educa tion—(Cries of read, read o—He should not read, but be was convinced dm; some check should be put to the publication of Sunday Newspapers, as one of the grossest violations of the Sabbath, which should be devoted to religious worship. They had an op rortuoity of concentrating all the poison of the week, act dispensing it out in one total dose. Surely the sale of Newspapers, as well as every other trade, might be put a stop to on one 4,414440 of the seven. di% Ile hoped that the suppression of ' • Papers would occupy the attention of his Misjgot?S' .. nisters. hlr. W. SMITH trusted, that those o knew him be,t would not charge him with blasphemy-or irreli gion, as part of his offences: and, if art y proof had been s:!tisfactorily made out of these blasphemous and seditious schools having been established, he (Mr. Smith) would have almost gone any length to have put a stop to them. He had heard of those things from a friend ; but that friend had heard them from A person of no veracity; and even he had his in formation from another, who had no knowledge of these-facts himself. If men did instil such doctrines into the tender minds of children, he knew scarcely any punishment too severe for them ; but in the exist ence of such matters he was a total if.fidel. He ad verted to Carlile's defence resting on his (Mr. Smith's) Bill ; and he said, that a more untounded defence could not be ; for the Reverend Person at the head of the Church of England and himself were agreed, that the laws, as they affected blasphemy, were not to be touched by that Bill at all. At the same time, he thought that Christianity required no support from the law. Mr. MONEY said, the Papers on the table shewed that such schools existed in Cheshire. Mr. W. SMITH considered the Papers as doubtful evidence. Mr. J. P. Gil ANT complained of the way in which Ministers had been silent, on a measure so materially altering tlie law of the land as this was. Mr. TIERNEY wished the Noble Lord would pause before passing this measure, previous to the Christmas recess. He said this, in the sincerity of Lis wish to have time for deliberation. He never knew an instance of a measure of this kind being brought from one House of Parliament to another, without some explanation being given, as to the na ture of the measure. He implored Gentlemen, not attached to every thing which came from the Trea sury Bench, to pause, before they admitted a mea sure of this kind to pass without consideration. Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that it would have been proper to oppose this measure when it came from the other House, had he not so fully explained its object when he opened the whole measure to Parlia ment. This was a Bill of great importance, but not one of great detail ; and after what he had said on the measure, he had exfected that a display would be made of objections to the Bill ; and then he would undertake that they should be answered ; but he saw no reason why they were to combat the air. He thought the House would do ill to separate for the holidays without adopting some measure to preserve the religion and morals of the country. He protested against this system of abusing . Ministers for not making speeches, when no objections were offered to t'.eir measures. Sir J. MACKINTOSH entered the House with an - expectation that those who proposed an innovation in the Constitution, and new penal laws on a free ?ress, would have shewn some grounds for that in novation, and he hoped it would be remembered that it was.in the Administration of the Noble Lord, and by himself, that this new restriction on the free Press of this country had been proposed to Parliament—. The Noble Lord had shewn no grouud for this new measure ; for, to say that the inefficiency of the pre sent laws had produced an increase of blasphemy, was an argument absolutely untenable. He should, there fore, vote for the adjournment, proposed by his Noble Friend. . The ATTORNEY-GENERAL denied that his Majesty's Ministers had neglected the measures for restraining the Press; but, on the contrary, in the opening of them, they had insisted on them as mea sures of the utmost importance, and. requiring the greatest deliberation. He admitted that the truth of the Christian Religion, wanted not the support of the Civil Power -to establish its excellence; but would any man say that it was not necessary to pu nish men for disseminating poison and blasphemous libels, to deter others from such publications? He would venturelo say, if he did incur the diipleasure of the Member for Shrewsbury (Bennet), that it was most dangerous to suffer such publications, whatever the intention originally might be. Yet was Mr. Hone acquitted ; and held up to the Public as a man worthy of remuneration, and to be considered as g martyr to persecution, instead of a man to be blamed for his toast mischievous publications. No number of in-' formations or indictments would equal the amount of the mischief produced by the vendors of those cheap and abominable woiksb published by Carlile and others. 'Now the end and object of this present mea-i sure, was to deter such offenders in future. What ever Amendments might be made in the Committee, wr.l sure the House would see the necessity of agreeing to the principle that the Press required its licentiousness to be prevented rather than punished. Sir J. MACKINTOSH explained. Me thought he bad distinguished between prevention by penal punishment and prevention by terror. The Marquis - of TAVISTOCK said, be would not some allusions had • hav l e nc ri:: r a g t u s i u lat a ea i n ' • iLsur-ir as • • • Y- I g not been directed against him, and that in no yery. measured language, in the course of the debate, re lative to the part he had taken in the subscription for Mr. Hone. Whatever might have been the opinion of the People with regard to the con-• duct of Government on the one stie, or of Hone on the other, yet there was but one feeling of disgust as to the Parody--(Hear hear)—thlugh an Honour able Gentleman opposite had stated, that it was owingdi to t e conduct on this side of the House, that the Country was assailed with blasphemy -and sedition. As the part he had taken on that occasion had been alluded to, be should now beg the attention of the House, while he stated the motives which influenced his conduct on that occasion. After having seen other persons revrarded•with honours and pension— (Hear, hoar)—who wro:e Parodies of that kind, only that they were in favour of Government-(Hear, hear, hear).—After having seen that, he could not help thinking, that if Hone had not written against his Majesty's Ministers, it was probable the Country would never have heard of the charge--(Hear, hear). After haiing seen the three trials instituted by the Attorney-General, in his (Marquis Tavistock's) opi nion contrary to law, after Mr. Hone's promise that he would not again publish any thing of a similar description—a promise which he had most faithfully ,kept—he (Marquis Tavistock) could not fail mark ing his opinion of the talents displayed by so humble an individual in his own defence, on trials where he was opposed by the Law Officers of the Crown, and on all which charges he was acquitted; but whether his acquittal was right or wrong, must yet remain in doubt. With respect to that point, he would not take upon him to decide, but he would appeal to the. former and perhaps less prudent days of the Learned Gentleman's (the Solicitor-General) life, whether an Englishman aright not feel as he had felt, and act as he had acted with regard to Hone, and entertain, at the same maltreat, an iitteralrhorrence of blasphemy. —(The Noble Maqwis mg .dowirmiligreat el:wring). The SOLICITOR GENERAL denied &Ott +salad ever imputed improper motives to the -Gentlemen who subscribed to Mr. Hone ; but without inquiry into their motives, he would say their conduct had the effect which he had imputed to them. When the Noble Marquis, and the Member for Shrewsbury, brought forward insidious charges against him for former opinionsr he would ask by what authority he was so charged ? Before entering that House he was connected with no man or set of political men ; and he was as free as the Noble Marquis, or the Member for Shrewsbury ; nor, indeed, did he know of any part of the policy of those persons, or their friends, which should induce. him, as a true friend to the Constitution, to adhere to them. He ad verted to the Meeting at which Hone's subscription was commenced, where a worthy Alderman (Waith man) was in the Chair, and an Honourable Baronet (Burdett) was present ; and when Wooler made a 1 most inflammatory speech, which was received with applause by the Meeting, accusing the Noble Judge with acting the part of a vindictive prosecutor. Mr. SCARLETT would not charge his Honour able and Learned Friend with holding other opinions from that which he did now; bat he thought he once did not like his present friends so well as, upon a nearer acquaintance with them, he now seemed to do. He could not but think, that sometimes there had I been too much laxity on the part of the Officers ofl the Crown, and at others too much activity; but no doubt they acted conscientiously. With respect to the trials of Hone and Wooler, no one could have enter tained a doubt of their acquittal. Wooler's libel, as it was called, was by no means of an aggravated cha racter ; and as to the Parodies of Hone, who could believe the intent of that person was to revile the Christian Religion ? • Colonel WOOD said, he should vote for the Bill. It was In tends'.: to protect the country against the inundation of blas phemous pubfieations which had lately Issued from the Press. With respect to Hon's infamous and blasphentous parodies, he would tell the House where he first kid his hand upon it. It had pleased Gon to bless him with a large family !—(A laugh irons all parts of the House).—He had several children, and it was in the nursery, in that in which ought to be the sanctuary of Innocence, that be found this abomina ble and infamous trash—(Hear, hear, hear).—The little inhabitants who bad read' some parts said, the jokes were some of them very good, but at the same time we,ro very wicked. To protect our children, our servants, our cottagers, and our in dustrious labourers from the mischievous effects of these publi cations, he would vote for the first part of this Bill, and he would vote for the second part, because he loved his Country, and thought that any individual who, having once libelled it, should repeat the offence, ought to be sent out of it. - The House then divided, when there appeared for the second trading, 190; for Lord Eaanorrox's Amendment, The Bill was then read a second time, and committed for this dtql. Mr. RENNET gave notice, that shortly after the recess, he would submit propositions to the House, with a view to inca pacitate persons holding Places and Sinecures of a certain de scription from sitting as Membees in that House. The Report of the Contrektee of Supply was received, and ,agreed to,—Adjourned at One o'Cloek. An American ship which lately put into Cowes reports,. that Mr. COBBETT, in selecting the relics of THOMAS PAINE, in America, has made a great mis take; for, instead 'of bringing the bones of Petra, he has brought the remains of a negrol • I A packet from the Brazils arrived yesterday with advices to the 29th of October from Rio Janeiro. No vessels from the southward haling recently touched there, the intelligence from Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru, is only a few days later than the accounts received direct from thence. Lord COCII• RANE remained at Valparaiso; the Spanish ships of' war at Callao were expecting him, but had net ven tured to quit the harboor. His Majesty's ship IcAßus was daily expected at Rio Janeiro. CANOvA.—The New Monthly Magazine of Ja nuary 1, comprising an unusual variety of interest ing articles in Belles Letters ' Arts, Science, Politi c s, &c. will be embellished with a very fine Portrait, ac companied by a copious Memoir of the celebrated CANOVA. KING'S THSATRE,—The repetition of Le Nozze de Figaro ' last night, passed off w ith t h e same ec l at as on the first night. &sum itirmukomansity.--Sra no AIM /31110:1.-.-Tn conse quence of a hasty challenge given by the latter at a public-house, osi Monday night, these pugilists met on Wimbledon Common yesterday, vrkhoot any previous training or preparation, and fought a desperate bittle of eighteen minutes' duration.' There were ten rounds, daring six of. which the issue wai doubtful, hat from that time Hams being more out of order than Spring, the advantage was evidently en the part of the latter, and he was ultimately deAared th e v i ctor . Th e fight was fn; twenty guineas a side.--A match was previciudy made between. Spring and the nephew of Barns for one hundred guineas a side, to take place the int Tuesday in February. syAk' LONDON: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1819. THE FUNDS. INT OF STOCKS TIIIS DAT AT 020 O'CLOCK ! Dank Stock 2131. 3 per Cent. Reduced 661111 S per Cent. Consols shut per Cent. 7441 4 per Cent. 83111 Bank Long Annuities 17 5-161 Impetiar 3 per Cent. Anns. 6411 India Bonds 55.2.. dis. Excliequ . er Bills (24 7s. 9s. dis, Consols for Acct. 67111 f. Tli Funds have experienced a rise this morning. Consols have been done at 671, but are rather flatter at this hour, one o'clock, being 67i. The Bill for preventing Seditious Meetings was last night read a third time and passed, in the House of Lords. The Libel Bill, after a warm debate, was read a second time in the House of Commons ; after a divi sion, in which the measure had a majority of 190 to 72, it was ordered to be committed to-day. We are perfectly satisfied that this Bill will fail entirely as to all the benefits which Ministers promise from it, and be only efficient in vexing, harassing, and punisbiug those who are the ornaments and best I safeguards of- a virtuous Free Press. The arguments in favour of banishment for a second offence, are not isuppeorted by the facts on which those who use them I would' make them to rest. The hardihood of some men in republishing a work already declared to be a libel by a Jury, affords no support to this clause ; for the clause is not confined to a republication of a convicted libel, as to what it means by a second offence or second conviction : were it so limited, the roan would well deserve banishment, or any punish , ment wh'atexer l who should so far - set the laws of his country at defiance, as, in the face of a verdict, to repeat the crime. But, as the clause stands, if a man is convicted of publishing a libel called The HOILM that Jack built, and shall, after wards be convicted of - having published Tom Thumb, this is to be held a repetition of his first offence, that of publishing The House that Jack built ! To our apprehension, this is very gross. Confine the infliction of banishment to a re-publication gfthe.first Libel, and people will then know what they are doing ; and you will, in fact, be applying the re medy to the very cases on which you urge the pro priety of onemt;its rho rim We have said, that the Bills to restrain the Press ,will Tail in their operation. We say more; they will increase the evils which they profess to remedy. No respeetabk Printer in London will enter into the re-' guired recognizance:. What follows ? Whenever any of these may in future be applied to for their professional aid, in printing any thing that, by con struction, can be brought within the new laws; they will not even look at it, but send the party to one 'of the little recognizance Gentlemen : and thus, the author, losing the benefit:of the - Printer's judgment— which often interposes, as things stand at present, and prevents putting objectionable productions to press— will be urged on to publication by the indiscretion of the little printer, and the Public will be deluged with seditious and blasphemous effusions, which, but for 'these Bills, would often be prevented from seeing the light. Confine the banishment to a republication of a convicted libel, and . you will still retain all the safe guards that result from the character of the most respectable Printers (for in this case they will enter into the required recognizances).—Or keep the clause as you - now have it, if your wish be to throw the, political and polemical Press entirely into the hands' of men void of all principle.—And then what do you gain?—The pleasure of prosecuting and banish ing, without at all lessening the numbers who may be temptcd to seek gains by such hazards. As to arguments in favour of the Restrictions, founded on the dangers that result from intruding the People, none can use them but those who, if they have themselves been taught to read, never read; or who, if they sometimes read, hare no understanding. Such arguments remind us of the Monkish exclama tions used against the Reformation-4. We must put down the Billie and Printing, or they will put us down."—As to schools being opened to teach the children Sedition and Blasphemy I we shall continue to believe, that those who presume to say so, are guilty of deliberate falsehood —until they produce evidence of the fact. Do you wish to lessen the number and enormity of crimes ?— Teach the People. To have these virtuous?—reach them. To have them religious?— Teach them. To have them con. tented and loyal ?—lnstruct the People to the utmost of your power. Paris Papers of the 18th arrived in town this morhing. They contain no news of any consequence. The .31oniteur otthat day is for the most part filled with small talk about pictures, colleges, duchesses learning to read, and the old story of his Most Chris tian Majesty heating the Mass performed in iris Chamber. The Chamber of Deputies were in a Secret Committee; and sevoral uninteresting trials . were going on before the different Tribun4s. speaking of Mr. Hoanonsz, and his Newgate, they say, be was the Ambassador Radicals at Paris, in allusion to his indecent tion about the Hundred Days; ant manner in which the Opposition deft duct so irritated the. House of Cour would not consent to allow any better Nev►gatc to be prepared for him. NAVAL INTELLIGEM Upwards of £lOO,OOO was insured at Lion" lndiamen lost off the Cape of Good !Pape. The John Crowther, Oacev, from Montreal was an shore at Longue l'oint, about fifteen !real, and bad received considerable damage. The William, BLAIR, from Montreal for aground in coming down the St. Lawrence, in and it was doubtful if she would be got off this The Nile, from Qiebec for Liverpool, was the Three Riven, without any hopes of her season. Ilse Bounty Hall, Ramie, frOm Bengal even on store- on Sunday near Swansea, , would be wrecked ; the cargo was discharging The Eliza Ann, Clownta, hunt St. Andrew wick, to Liverpool, was driven on shore on Ambles. TORIAT, Dec. 200--Arrived his Majesty' from the East Indies, and after landing her for Plymouth. Pt•rirotrrn, Dec. 20.—Wind W.—Arrived Jane, WATKINS*, from Bourdeany. Pcaysmourn, Dec, !L.—Wind S.E.—Arrived ship Lives, from the Coast of Africa, last from ' the Vittoria, MONTOCOEIZT, for Tobago. The East Indianian was off the Wight on Sunday m DEAL, DlC.lll.—Wind P.,..—Arrived and mile the Dee, WasnizT,fcom Smyrna. Came down and sailed with the test of the outward-bound, =ELWOOD, for Jamaica; Atlas, Ilassaitosi, for' Betsy, ram, for Nevis. • HARWICH Disc. 21.—A British anchor has liottesley Bay, weighing 10ewt. 101 b. markt d with about 42 fathoms 11i inch cable, and a BRISTOL. Dac. 21.—The 31edina, 4:•nreNS driven on shore the 17th instant in Tr more wea they teeame moderate, both vessel ard to be saved. Yesterday a Court of Directors was India-House, tvhen the following ship s The MUNILA, of 1.7.12 toes, Captain Hann: and China. The Company's ship Arctr.o Beads on the 2d of August, and found thel-e the the CoaNWALL arrived at Anjier the same . . partrcLeconpany with the 31ATILDA and Conan , of ;he 28th of April, in lat. 46. 20. N. long. r. WE YMO U 214 DECEMB, On the evening of the 16th instant brig HIND, commanded by Sir CHAR] sent two galleys from Portland during the night in search of smuggle. between three and five miles to the Eastw: place. In the course of the night it so hard from the Southward, that both , voured to gain the harbour for shelter, succeeded; but the other, commanded HALL, Admiralty Midshipman, Wits - off Radcliff Point, when that Geutlem. overboard, and was never seen again. who had been carried overboard was, by keeping himself above water rest of the men, who beached the ' about a mile from the Esplanade. twenty-six years of age, had served and_thirteen years in the Navy as . and passed for a Lieutenant upwards since: .he was an Officer of great merit, gentleman, a warm friend, and a thorough and is deeply lamented by his shipmates. Other afflicting events have taken; late violent: gales. On Thursday Hope, of this place, from Bangor to Master and Owner, was totally wrec._ age, and himself, two sons, and a seaman, to a watery *rave. His loss is deepl• not only by Ins sorrowful family, but ; were acquainted with this truly worthy able character.--Added to which, yesterrl belonging to hii Majesty's Admiralt , HOUND, coming from that vessel, in to this port, was upset, half a mile fro a sudden squall, when the chief boatman men met the same disastrous fate, exr boatman, who was picked up by the boat's crew from the Gazynotam, buk that he died shortly after being lands exertion had been used to restore anir with himself and four comrades, wi, families, in all 17 children, wholly to lament their severe loss. A subscription is set on foot for families, which, we are hippy to gal supported by the Nobility, Gentry, an( Madras Papers to the 21st of Angus. . The Marquis of HASTINGS has modesth acceptance of a diamond star voted to cutta. His Lordship was slightly indisposed the beginning of August. His amial arrived at Calcutta from England on Sir TFIGNIAS HIST.OP arrived at Madras Yesterday dispatches were received ralty from Admiral Sit - RICHARD Kix in Chief in the East Indies, brOught frigate„which sailed from Trincomalee Letters from Malta of the 6th Nov. trial of Delano, the master of the IV: crew, for the late daring piracies iitthe . is postponed to the Ist inst. Two of been admitted Its King's evidence. Thursday evening last, .as Messrs. Pit Chester waggon, from London, was on city, it caught fire from the candle in • a barrel of gunpowder blew up with a plosion, forcing three men over ehedr but, providentially, they we r e no t serious CORN-EXCHANGE, MARIE•LANP ' DECEM We have had no arrival s of an y Grain day, from which day a considerable middling descriptions of Wheat and Barb over for this morning's market, but was no demand. The millers and m; off from buying, in expectation of 141 soon as the wind becomes favourable, impression, an abatement of 2i. per _ Monday's prices wo u ld n o t h ave accele rated Peas, Brans, and Oats, ate at nominal a sale of either having been effected to.da LONDON: prlated sodp — obliibarn Lavz& pave, Tel.- •pie -km ~t: .- Tribunals. is committal bassador of ndecent pub • state, that !fended his c salmons, th tter prison t. NCE. 1 C .orn's Upon . : nio h n i an s Ea d il se T ;: i l se t erbe t ; lr is ::; l : . it iso treat for Lie, was ol shore set getiq awa ; of late I to Liverpool, log. irew's, New Lp on Monday Ca sty's ship tAr: er ditpatchvt, A: iced th, I:fiya lrrived his mom Aladcira, .sa The Thomas C A .. ay in wring. calla i for thS lii town from de lb And, toe 0-. 7 be for II o Juletro i las ' td " Neptune, IR a piece 01 bnoy tx s, fro is Cadis, ore Pay, and :f cargo we% err., s held at theta was taken u. reaum, for . • o arrived is the Kettic Cot.: 7, 1 r thy. The . RXR`A Lt. in the ai 9.32. W. gER mt, • his Iliesr? LRLES BC:BOAZ loads to cr. z ;lers on the tea Eastward en tl Cattle on to roth boats ter. One of be, !ed by Mr.Javi s struck by a se. as rman was %yacht 0 i. The Corgrai; by the same se :er, bared by 3 : boat tr.on the. M 7. Alas.: W between tweir ti t a Misishipma ards of six yea. , merit, a perieL borough seam • nates. i place durino last the smac Lynn, DEERLIN , ecked off Swan !Arnim, consign leeply deplore. ut all those IP rthy and resr,ec:- .esterday, a cc ' ty cruizer (jam- Portland Rol. from the shore, by Datman and tor except the chi- le exertions of a rut so exhaustei, nded, and every imation, ;min idows and lrge unprorided for, these distressed tate, is liberally slid Inhabitants. ust, hare arrired. estly declined el to him at Cal- ndisposed abc . .!t able :sfarchioness n the 19th .Nre: ras on the rd at the Ad:ri IXG, CCM mane.. : by the CoascA lee July the ov, state, that the William, and ; • . s e ed i ter rar ea", of the men halt PR Escaris ChY m its way te bias the lantern, ar•i a tremer.drr , Ise by the shock, vsously injured. )ECEMEER ‘2 1 1.—• rain since Mc. • quantity of t r Barley remain :2 for which t! , ..-e naltsters arge arrivals is r, and - inder that rr quarter from elerated sales.- 1 prices, scarcely to-day. Fat. lisamThiess sys , .