Star. — London, England, 1811-03-26 00:00:00

PW vim say, that it was their corruption which was such that they feared the introductitin of ariy, measure of reform, end were determined to oppose it. Sir JOHN ANSTRUTHER. could not avoid ob serving-that the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last (Mr. Curwen) had, through the whole course of his speech, treated this Bill as a Bill for ParliaMentary Reform, instead of a Bill applying to the particular laws re specting bribery. If.the Hon. Gentleman had brought it in as a bill of parliamentary reform, he should give it that opposition which he always had given, and al ways should give, to any bills which proposed to alter the present mode of representation in Parliament. As to the charge, or rather threat, held out to them, that if the House were to reject this and similar measures, • they would lose the confidence and affection of the .., people, he could only answer, that whatever the House, in its sober jtaigment, after matute delibe ration, thought was proper to be done, that it was their duty to do, without regarding whether it was pleasing to the people or not. He thought the House should not introduce into a legislation, a principle not only new, but very dangerous. The law of evidence now, in all trirninal cases, is, that no persons can be called upon to disclose facts which would criminate themselves.— This -principle so universally pervaded our law, that he believed the Hon. Gentleman could not shew en exception. (Mr. Wynne here said, the Statute about Gaming.) It was true, the Statute about Gaming, passed in 2d of Anne, did compel persons to disclose such transactions in their answers to a bill in equity; bat as it gave the Court no power to make a decree upon such a disclosure, the statute had, in Oct, never been acted on. Although a witness might be indemnified from punishment, for such disclosure,i yet what could indemnify him for the less of charac- , ter, which in some caseshis confession would expose him to ? He also objected to this aew principle, because he was convinced, •that it would hold out a great temptation to perjury. In other cases where the only , witness is an informer, he comes into a Court of Jus tice with an odium attached to his character, which *lakes his testimony not received so readily._ But when a person was compelled by law to come into a Court, and give evidence, all this odium was removed. A single witness would therefore haye in this case a - ~.._ great power, either of convicting a person to whot. such witness was hostile, or of acquitting any person to whom he was friendly. If this principle was once introduced, it would be impossible to say how far it at be carried. Why might it not be as well ap plied to every other species of crime which is perpe trated by several persons in conspiracy ? He thought upon the whole, that the 'Bill would rather tend to promote perjury, than to prevent bribery. Sir JOHN NEWPORT was not surprised that those Gentlemen who at all times, and in all stages, opposed reform, should be inimical to the present Bill. It would be difficult, indeed, to bring forward any i species of reform which could meet their sup t. Ifr a resolution was proposed, then they profes them selves averse to abstract declarations , and ailed for some specific detailed plan. If, however, any specific detailed meesnre, tending to reform the representa tion, was propesed, they would hardly discuss or allow it to go into a Committee. Most of the objec tions which had been made were to clauses which ' would be discussed more properly in the Committee.' Those who were inimical to all reforms, naturally' wished to postpone every attempt of this nature.— 1 Those who had , opposed the Grenville Act when it was before the House, yet atter it was passed pro. fessed to admire it, and in answer to any proposed improvement they would say, What, have we not the'Grenville Act ? In the same manner those who had opposed Mr. Curwen's bill, now appeared to praise it, and said, cannot you wait seven years longer,l • and try the effect of it ? If the principle of Mr. Cutel *en's bill was not to be followed up, that bill (altered its it was in that House) must have done more harm' than good. It could have served no other purpose but to blind the people with the supposition that some thing was doing for the cause of reform, when in fact nothing had been done. He thought the bill ought at least to be allowed to go into a Committee. • Mr. MORRIS spoke against the bill. Mr. W. WYNNE said a few words in reply, and the House divided.—Ayes I7—Noes 64—Majotity against the second reading 47. The Militia Enlistment Bill was ordered to he con sidered toonorrow. COMMITTEE OF -surree.—tßlSH ESTIMATES. On the motion of Mr. FOSTER the House re solved itself into a Committee of Supply. The Right' Hon. Gentleman stated, that, as the Resolutions he was about to move were similar to those annually proposed, he would not trouble the House with any prefatory observations, He would, however, willingly enter into any explanation which might be deemed necessary. He then moved, " That the sum of £25,000 be granted for defraying the expences of cri minal prosecutions in Ireland, from the sth January, 1811, to the sth January, 1812." Sir JOHN NEWPORT expressed his opinion, that instead of voting so large a sum in a lump, the dif ferent items of expense should be specified. Mr. FOSTER stated, that no objection had been made to the grant of last year. Mr. W. POLE observed, that, after defraying the expences of last year, there remained a surplus of £2875. Sir...l. NEWPORT was surprized that n resolution for 125,000 should be moved, when, according to this statement, little more than £22,000 had been -t las, found sufficient last year. Mr. W. POLE was surprised at any person at all acqltainted with affairs making such an objection. The Hun. Baronet must be perfectly aware of the uncertainty of the expense likely to be incurred by Criminal prowitions, spec%) commissions, &c. which rendered it'essary that they should come to Par. hanient for such a sum as they thought would cover the expenditure. After a few words from *Sir .1. Newport, Mr. Pole, and Mr. May, the resolution was agreed to. Mr. FOSTER then moved the following Resolu. Lions, which were severally agreed to : That the sum of XISGO be gr anted for defraying the ex. pens* oi• printing and binding See copies of the pelik Acts of the last. Session of l'arliament. That the sum of £2500 be granted for defraying the expen ses of apprehending offenders in Ireland, for one year. 'millet tits own of bp granted for completing the sum necessary for the relief of Nonconforming Ministers * Ireland. That the sum of 41.047. .10s. ad. be granted for defraying t h e g gi o u h so /iterating the liapbew d 41.04,fre sw year. _. . . for a 1 1. w That the saps of ictu,ooo be ranted for &fel ( lenses of repslring churches and glebe-houses in I __. like period. " that the sum of £9,781 be granted for the support of Sect ling Ministers in Ireland, for a similar time. " That the sum of £4,000 be granted to defray the incidental erpences of the Treasury, for the same period?! Mr. FOSTER stated, that there was an increase of £5OO under this bead, which was caused by the Clerks at the ' Treasury having been employed in 1 'making up accounts to be laid before the House.— , This was not a part of their customary business—it had been formerly executed by the Clerks of the Irish Parliament ; and, of course, eau*. who were now em ployed must be rennin-rated. Sir J. NEWPORT• was of opinion, that if the Clerks in the Treasury received a regular salary from' the country, their time became public property—no paper in what branch of the public service they. were' employed, and they had no fair claim to any further recompence. - Mr. FOSTER stated, that the Irish Parliament for forty years had remunerated those who prepared the; public accounts. The Resolution was then agreed to. The sum of £740 was next voted for clothing the Battle-Axe Guards for one year. 1 Mr. FOSTER then moved, _ " That the sum of £10,500 be granted to defray the expence of publishing Proclamations, &c. in the Dublin Gazette mil other Newspapers in Ireland, for one year." Mr. PARNELL said, he always looked upon this grant as intended to afford the Government of Ire. land an opportunity of purchasing the support of a certain portion of the public press in that country. , Mr. W. POLE stated, that the grant was for no other purpose than to give publicity to the proclama tions and advertisements of the Government. To attain that object, the grant had been generally found • insufficient. if the Government had attempted to Purchase the support of the Irish press, the Hon. Gentleman, he was sure, must be convinced they had failed in the attempt, when he recollected how rough. ly they were handled by the Dublin Newspapers. .., After a short conversation between Messrs. Pauli SONNY, FOSTER, Ansacitobliu, WYNNE, CURWEN, Hy& CHINSON, BANKER, and GRATTAN, and Sirs J. New. PORT and HENRY MONTGOMERY, the Resolution was agreed to. ' That the sum of £35,447 be granted to defray the mama of the Board of Works in Ireland for one year." This Resolution was agieed to, after a convcrsatieuk of considerable length between Mr. Bankes, Mt. Pole (who entered into a defence of the conduct of t 1 " - Board of Works), the Chancellor of the Exchequer. , Sir John Newport, and Mr. H. Thornton. " That the sum of £43,391 Se. ad. be granted to defray the expence of yrinting, stationary, &c. in the Office of the Secretary for !relined, for one year." After a few words from Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Fos ter, and Mr. Bankes, the resolution was agreed to. " That the sum of A 21,600 be granted for the encouragement of the linen manufacture in Ireland." A short conversation took place between Sir John Newport, Mr. Foster (who defended the Trustees of the Linen manufacture in Ireland, against the cen sures contained in the Report of the Committee of Public Expenditure), and Mr. Bankes, when the Re solution was agreed to. The following sumiwere voted without observation: " .C 2,87.0 for paying the Lottery Offices in Ireland. " £1 3,947 for the support of the Protestant... Charter Schools. " 1.:38,519 for the support of the Foundling Hospital in Dublin " £48,584 for the support of the House of industry, near }Dublin. " Xi 5,254 for the support of the Hibernian Society fur educa ting the Children of Soldiers. " £9,255 for the Hibernian Marine Society. " £1,602 for thp Female Orphan House sear Dublin." MAYNOOTH COLLEGE. Mr. FOSTER moved the resolution for Maynooth College, granting a sum not exceeding £8973 to that seminary for the year ending sth January, 1812. On the question being put, Mr. HUTCHINSON rose, and said he could not help expressing his astonishment to hear, after a series of grants, each of which had been more or less en creased, the estimate for Maynooth College, even less than the ordinary one* He knew, and the Minister for Ireland he believed knew also, that that estimate . in every respect fell short of the pecessities of the in stitution ; instead of lessening what was already too small, it would have better become that Government which had began by diminishing the original grant of £3OOO a-year, to have suggested such an increase as might have been of some use to an establishment they have so much injured. He did not now wish to repeat those arguments which had been so often 'and ineffectually urged against the infatuated preju dices with which the present Ministers look to every Irish question ; but he would cite to them from their own estimates, one or two facts which he must leave to them to account for—of the sixteen Princi pals presiding in that seminary over 260 students, the full salary amounted to £25 a year each.—(Hear, luar.)—Thus the men who were entrusted with ' the education of those who were destined to preside over the morals of the Irish people were severally al , lowed 16d. a-day for their support (Hear) • and this too, whilein another estimate which they had just vu. 1 ted, it appeared that the mere day-labourers in the Dublin Society House had an allowance of twelve. shillings a-week each, while those who were to rear the future pastors of the people were to starve on nine. shillings and 4d. a-seek I This was in itself so bad, so mean, so . pitiful, so indecent, that no mode of sta ting it could make it worse than it was (Hear, hear.) IF Ministers wish to put down the Institution, why not come to Parliament and say so openly, and not Imake a parliamentary grant at once the pretence and the means both of insult and of injury. They had Ijust voted £40,000 for printing absolute Irish Procla mations. He called upon the Minister to get up in his place, and say, wriy the principle, which was allowed to have an operation in raising all the other grants, (the rise in the price of provisions) should not be al. lowed to have its effect in the increase of this estimate: He assured the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer) that whatever encouraging his solitary cry of Hear ! might have upon the elo quence of the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer, it would have none in satisfyhsg Ireland. The- CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER. said, that he was rather at a loss to understand what was meant by his solitary Hear ! but as to the de. mend which the Hon. Gentleman had made of hist, that Gentleman was too well acquainted with hisiei timents upon Irish subjects (at least according to his lawn 'hewing) to need any inform a tion from him (the I chancellor of the Exchequer). 1 ' Mr. FOSTES said the CS U • Plat / u s t iA ARS 40 44 year. . . . - 71TV""' • • LONDON. - , , e py of the w Span ish d pin • sh details sir JOHN NEWPORT Armed, thin the eiti. thi, :rhate givn som mate of year was 29,250, and said that he wonld d e ay. We e are ha p d, i ifiat from rece olt"iliet now move an amendment for enlarging the grant to accounts the Spanish in ' Journals, for which we can. that amount, and take the sense of the Committee on it. not find room, it appears that Badajoz continues to Mr. FOSTER stated that the difference was 2278. lOs. which had been deducted on account of defend itself bravely ; and that in Cataloni a some ad pells and poundage,'so that the sum was precisely the vantages appear to have been gained over various same as last year—(4 laugh.) detachments of the enemy on the 16th, 18th 19t1 Mr. HERBERT, (of Kerry), thought that there and 26th of J a nuary. 9 4 was a great deal in what had been said by tke Hon. . SPANISH ACCOUNT, Gentleman (Mr. Hutchinson) ; and said, that if any Gentleman would second him, lus would move for CAD:Z, Maitell .. Although we have not yet received the ci rc u m . the original grant of 18,000, instead of 9,0 0 0. Mr. HUTCHINSON expressed his willingness to scandal detags of the battle fought on the sth i nst . i n do so. the fields of Chiclana ; in themean time, in order th a n Mr. GRATTAN assented to the justness of the the public may not be without any information, wee observations made by his Honourable Friend, (Mr. publish ahat which was night Hutchinson,) and stated his sentiments in favour of • by the General in Chief D. Manuel de la Pena to the the larger grant to remain unchanged ; but thought, that owing to an obvious informility, the amendment Chief of the General Staff—it is in substance u fol could not be pressed in the present stage. lows : Mr. HUTCTHINSON contended, that less than 44 In carrying into execution to-day the attack the original estimate would be wholly inadequate. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER which I had proposed, to free the passage of Santi stated, that the original estimate was but 28000, and I Petre previous to ulterior operations, the allied army that the 25000 which had been added to that 28000 has obtained a victory tht more complete and satin. in 1806, was owing to the increase of buildings since factory, inasmuch as it was necessary to overcome finished. circumstances, which rendered it the more difficult; Mr. HUTCHINSON stated that the Librarian of but the valour of the British and Spanish troops, the Maynooth College had but a salary of 020 a year while the Museum Porter of the Dublin Society had , i wisdom and warlike genius of General Graham, and a salary of 235—the Door-Porter and three Messen- , the gallantry of the Commandant-General of the van. gars 225 a year—and four Chambermaids 235 a I guar d, D. J. Lardizabil, overcame every difficulty, year each (hear). I androcured for the nation a glorious day. In m p Mr. WHITBREAD expressed his surprise at such 1 y details I named those who had most opportunity of a comparative statement, and thought that , as the Right Hon. Gentleman seemed to be in ignotance distinguishing themselves. 1 remained master of the upon the subject, the Estimate ought to,be postponed. , positions of the enemy, which are very advantageous Mr. MAY made a short but neat speech in support : in regard to my succeeding operations. of the adoption of all conciliatory measures towards ' ~ We have suffered some loss, but that of the the Irith Catholics. ~ enemy has been infinitely greater in {titled and vim- Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Wynn and Mr. Hutchinson spoke for the postponement ; —Mr. Perceval and Mr.ided. Among the latter is General Rufin, Victor's Foster against it. : Aid-de-Camp, some Chiefs, and many Officers and Strangers were then excluded, but no division took troops. Five pieces of artillery remained in our place, and the amendment was negatived without a I • • power."—Regency Gasetie extraordinary, March 9. t dtvision. The following Sums were then voted : Farnat.g Society - - - £5,000 ' CADIZ, MARCH to. Cork !latitude:2 - - - 2,500 The operations of our army, near Chiclana, altlint , g4 Wide Street Commissioners - 9080 Sr. Pericles Hospital - - 4.000 attended, unfortunately, with no very happy result, Hewth Harbour - - - 40,000 have however shewn the enemy the superiority of the 101011 CHANCELLOR OP TVS EXCHII.4.IUF.R. Mr. HUTCHINSON wished to know if in case of combined troops The British soldiers have manifested the event of a rum' tired vacancy, it was the intention ! the most unparalleled bravery,perhaps never equalled. of his Majesty's Ministers to propose the abolition of i The enemy had certainly double their number. Ge. the o ffi c e of Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer. The neral Ruffin's brother, who came in a cartel from St. present state of the finance of, Ireland, vergiag on to- Mary's to see him, acknowledges the loss of the cal bankruptcy, made a question of this kind at that French at 1000 men, and scarcely one of the Staff time the merenecessary. Mr. FOSTER replied, that he was not sure that escaped, being either killed or woonded.—The valour the question was in order ; and the only answer he of the English navy has been particularly conspicuous. should now make was, that he inflect no Chancellor i The British Admiral, as ith the mitrines, stormed, the of the Exchequer for Ireland, or elsewhere, would be iredoubt at the mouth of the Guadelete, and the flo. tried and condemned without a Bearing. tills, under the orders of their spirited leader, Captain The House than resumed; and the Report was or dered to be received this day. The other Orders of Hall, drew on themselves the whole fire of the dance the Day were then disposed of, and the House ad- ries, covering the landing of their brave countrymen. journed at half-past-twelve. _ The people of Cadiz flocked to the ramparts to be. hold this bold manoeuvre of the English gun-boats, and the loss of one, which was sunk by a shower d shot under Santa Catalina, excited universal intereß. Some valuable lives were lost, valuable to the inha. bitants of this city, who know how to appreciate the daring intrepedity shewn by our brave allies is the presence of ourenemy.—Further operations are spokes of, and General- Zayas is to command ftur troops. Is,VENING TUESDAY, MARCH 26. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Consols, meaty, 6411—for account, 64f 1 ,.. Reduced, shut-4 per Cent. shut—Navy 5 per t. Each. Bills, Is. Ss. prem.—Bond 423. prem. The dispatches expected hourly from Lord WEL LINGTON had not arrived when this paper was put to press ; but we are happy to add that from the follow. ing accounts received this morning at LLOYD'S, there can be no doubt that MA S EV A has actually recreated. " GUERNSEY, MARCH e 4. " A vessel arrived here yesterday from Lisbon with several letters of the 11th inst. all stating that the French army had broken up and was retreating— our army was following, and a general battle mo mentarily expected. 44 The French had been foiled in an attempt to cross the Zezere, with the loss of 700 prisoners and two pieces of cannon." " WINDSOR CASTLE / MARCH 26. " The KING is going on very favourably. (Signed) ' 4 HXDIRDIIN." This day we received German papers to the 17th inst. A letter from Naples, dated the 15th ult. pub. lisped . in a Hambut gh paper, states, that several Arne. rican vessels which had arrived there, had been put under sequestration : their cargoes consisted princi pally of indigo and nankeens. Some vessels laden with stock fish and other American produce, were allowed to dispose of these articles. The todowing letter from Turkey is the only other article in these papers deserving of notice. A riot took place in Bristol market on Saturday morning, in consequence of fresh butter having hcl vanced to 2s. 6d. per lb. A party of workmen and colliers forcibly seized all the butter, sold it at a pace fixed by themselves, and returned the money to the owners. Six of the most active of the rioters were taken into custody and lodged in the Brideweil. FALMOUTH, MARCH 23.—Arrived the WAitroott, of 74 guns, in 13 days from Cadiz—she brought the Dispatches from General GRAHAM. Also arrived the Bombay Merchant from the Isle of France, last from St. Malo's, where she landed French prisoners. Sailed the Duke of Kent packet for Lisbon ; aad the Carteret ditto for Surinam and Berbice.—Wind E. PLYMOUTH, MARCH 24 —Arrived last night the POMPER, 8Q guns, from Lisbon : she brings nothing of a more resent date than what arrived by the GANGES, having left the Tagus at the same time. — The Gottuus has come up the harbour, to refit. — Wind E. blows a gale.—Sailed the VALIANT, 74 guns, for the Rochefort station; the A I.PHEA schooner, with two vessels under convoy, for Falmouth ; the Ann tender, for Bristol ; and the SCAELnwEit brig of war, with Uensral COTTON. and the Otncers ment tioned in my letter of yesterday, for Lisbon. DIAL, MARCH 25.—Arrived his Majesty's ships Poisonous and BANTERIR, from a cruise. The 10iPler is appointed convoy for Portmouth.—Wind HARWICH, MARCH 25. A ttis d the Auckland packet from Heligoland. Put b ick by control winds the Lord Duncan packet, with the Anholt mail of the 22d instant on board. SuautNEss, MARCH _2s.—The American ship liam and Henry, PRIOR, with timber, from Savar,nah, arrived yesterday, and went up the River Medway, for Chatham Duck - yard. — S ailed the Comma', 11:' HARD, and CINsoR gun.brigs, for Yarmouth.—Arri• ved therm/issue& and BLAZER gun-brigs, from North. fleet.—Went °tit of harbour, the CHANTIELISR.--T: • Rosario merchant ship, POTTER, Wiled for the DOWIHI and the MANLY gun-brig, for Portsmouth. General G R "MAWS account of the manner in which his gallant handful of men cut their way through a very superior force, will be read with a lively interest; but we h4ve to regret, that, with the exception of two battalions- of Spaniards attached to General GRA liAm's division, none of the troops of our allies shared in the brunt of the action. General Lt Plum, the Spanish Commander-in-Chief, with the main body of his troops, evidently kept at a distance from the scene of action, and no sortie from the garrison of Cadiz was even attempted. It is manifest that General GRAHAM had no alternative in the situation in which be was placed but to attack the enemy, and the glo rious result justified the spirit of determination. If the Spaniards had acted with corresponding energy, the destruction of the besieging army would have been complete. . All the private letters from Cadiz concur in stating that General GRAHAM was left without the smallest support froin the Spanish Commander ; and that his conduct had excited the greatest indignation even among the Spaniards theniselves. One letter says : 44 The Spaniards have chosen to abandon all the ad vantages of this victory. The division of General LA PENA, 7000 strong, did not fire a single shot, and had they done their duty, not a Frenchman would have survived, and the result would have been that the siege of Cadiz would have been raised." We' understand that General LA PENA his been put under arrest, and that inquiry is to be made into his conduct, and into that of the troops under his orders. It is suspected even that secret information wasiireo tpVicToe qt the pact strenstb of the Eoglish, LONDON* Primed and pablisbed by Ltvii.K err, at the STAs COrpth Carergiretti* it the WW I Temple la. .., p ■ P' it - .0 4 '4l •