Star. — London, England, 1807-03-24 00:00:00

"y Stir ~s P art LI el ItIENTAR r PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE: OF LORI'S. MARCH 23. 'The Puke of Beaufort, the Earl of Orford, Earl O'Niel, and vial Niiddictoo stook the Oaths and their Seats. • The Rovl Arent vas was given by cornmiiii , n to the Mutiny Bill, the 11 eyal Marine Mutiny Bill. the Sugar Drawback Bill, the Mill o Bill, the Bahama Salt Bill, the Paddington Canal Coal Bill and St private Bilk The Com ri.iillaners were, the Lerd Chancellor, Lords Walfing. ham aid Auckland. SLAVIi TRADF. In the Anent Fordyce v flerdon, Bart. the I art! Adveente of &viand was he4rd for the relpondent.—Furthcr eunfideration to nt ,'row. Sir "Eheophilus Mecalre, Mr. Ilohhottfc, Lord Stanley, and (tveral other Members of the Houle. of Commons, brought up the Globe, Alhi , n, Pelican, and London Affurance Companies bills, and Conic private Bills. which were read a flat time. The 1E:1-1 of WESTMORELAND rrefented a Pc•ition from certain Planters, Mortgagees, Mer chanr‘, and others, interelled in the Weft India Iflandr, asaing a clank added by the Houle of Commons to the Slave Trat'e Abolition Bill, enalling that Ne groes feized in confequence of illicit trade fhould be declared free, which they (Wed would be prods lire of great danger to the Colonies.—Ordered to lie on the table. Lord GRENVILLE moved the Order of the D.sy, taking into confidereinn the Amendments made by the Houfe of Commons in the Slave Trade Ahtliti -n Bill. His Lordfhip ohferved, that the ob jeEl of the greater past of thefe Amendments was to enforce penalties and forfeitures on thole carrying on rlte trade, after the period fixed by Parliament for its abolition, which it was not the praflice of that Houk to enaft. Thefe Amendments, therefore, were merely calculated the better to carry into effea the principle of the Bill. With refpeft to the Amend me nt, in the Preamble, leaving out the words, declar ing the Trade to be contrary to pace, humanity, and found policy, it would not be imagined, after what he had faid upon the fubieft, that his opinion had furtained any alteration. It having, h-swever, been thought tight by the Houfe of Commons to make 'this alteration, in order that the feelings of thole concerned in the Trade might not be wounded, he had no objeftion to it. The Bifhop of LANDAFF role to deliver his opinion of tlete Bill, which he had not till now an op portunity of drain;. The Learned and Reverend Prelate oblerved, that in judging of the propriety of the preamble as it originally Rood, or of the amend ments that had been made in it, the different Rates of flsvery as they exifted at different periods of the world fhould duly be conlidered. Certain conditions of livery esitled in the antediluvian world full (even hundred years before Noah, and fuch mull have exifi ed both before and after the formation of civil fociety. Under the circumßances of thofe times, multitudes mull have culled who could derive fullenance only from their labour, and who, in order to fecure the means of fupport, were willing to furrender up that labour, and with it their freedom. Such a Rate of flavery might not indeed be confidered as contrary to justice and humanity, becaufe it was a voluntary aft on the part of thole who fnbmitted to it ; but, al though that Rate of navel'' , might not be judged in confittent with junice and humanity, it did not fol low that other defer iptions of it might not be highly inhuman and unjuft ; for what could be more con trary to juflice and humanity, than to excite civil wars in a country, and then take advantage of the calamities ariling from it to force away the miferable inhabitants into an borders captivity ? Such he con ceived to be the nature of the trade which it was popolcd to abolith. Its abolition was an aft of na tional humanity and lattice, it was an aft that never would be blotted out from the records of Divine mercy. He was ready to conies that the moll keenly eaploting eye might not be able to dive into the coniquences of filch a meafure ; but as it evi dently Ipringc from the root of undill'embled piety and humanity, it thould not be fuppofed to be pro duftive of evil, but, on the contrary, that it mutt be healing and beneficial to mankind. The Earl of WESTMORELAND could not let flip this salt opportunity of entering his protell againft the Bill : he mutt therefore repeat time of his former chjeCtions to it, though he was aware that the repetition mutt in lime degree be it kfome to the Houle. At lean he mull remind them that one more occafion prefented itfelf to allow them to reflify their ovinions, which they flnoild be the more induced to do from the awful warning contained in the petition which he Lad this day laid on their Lordihipa' table. From that petition they might coiled the dreadful conk. quences which even the Refolutions of hill year were producing in Jamaica. Every thing there feemed to indicate the approaches of an organifed infurrec tior, which might receive a new tumulus and encou• ragement f. om the Bill now on the eve of palling. It therefore called again for the molt ferious confidera. Lion of their Lordthips, and that conlideration would thew them that the propofed claufes involved the greaten incontinencies, abfurdities, and even impof. obilities. As to the preamble, nothing could recon cile him to it. No rod could be • expefted from it, while it might be attended with much mifehief : he was, therefore, for leaving it out altogether. As to the cunftquences of the meafure, they certainly ap reared to him mon alarming. If ever St. Domingo and Cuba were in the hands of our enemies, and if they refolvcd to carry on this trade, that alarm would prove but ton well founded. He would even venture to lay, that it was to tht exitlence of the Slave Trade that their hordthips were indebted for their being now fo.ing in that Houle. Our exiftence depended on the flrength of our navy, and the ftrength of our navy was chiefly derived from the Slave Trade.— Their Lordthips mull be convinced of it, if they but reflefted that the town of Liverpool alone now fent out a greater number of privateers than were em t:Lyed in the whale of the country againft the enemy to the time of Q2een Elizabeth. The Marquis of SLIGO (poke a few words against the preamble; it was, in his opinion, unpro v„lced and unneceffary. • The Doke of NORFOLK laid, he never voted on the Slave queition, on the many other occafions when it was formerly fnbmitted to the confideration f PAP liunlcnt. He did not think its advocates were tLcn ;inctie in their piofelfions. He alluded parti• olarly to one, now no more (Mr. Pitt), who had the rrortimitv of giving to it the mon efficient fupport, aroi v ho, on all other to; ics. fucceeded by very ;, Teat aj•,t Wt)tn, however, it was introduced v a Minr;;ry, in !hirm he and the country had the, • firongefl congdence, he felt it his duty to attend ' every night, and to give his rote and cervices, for the confummation of this great work of humanity. He was happy to find it In nearly accomplithed, and he rej , iced to have it prefented to his Sovereign, for his Royal concurrence. in that week which the practice of the Cluj(lian Church bad yet apart for the com memoration of our Holy Religion. Never could a Chriflian Prince have a more glorious opportunity of proving the purity of the Chrillian Faith, and up holding the fatted commands of his CREATOR. ( Hear, hear ,') The amendments were then feverally put and car ried, with the difference of one verbal inaccuracy ; which, on the motion of Lord GRENVILLE, was corrected. Lord GRENVILLE—" My Lords, I rife to fub mit.a motion to your Lordfhips, with more pleafure than I ever experienced in any other I have ever be fore moved, namely, 4 That a Metrage be fent to the Commons, acquainting them with the concurrence of this Houle in the Bill for,Abolithing the African Slave Trade ;' and give me leave to congratulate this Houfe, the Parliament, and the Country, on the glorious work which has been atchieved, and the triumph which injured and degraded humanity and jullice, have by this important meafure effated."— Ordered. SCOTCH JUDICATOR,. Lord GRENVILLE moved, That the Com mittee on the Scotch Judicature be direeed to di vide the Bill into two dittina heads ; the one com prehending the regulation of the Court of Scilion, and the appointment of the Cout t of Iteriew ; the other, referring to the introduCtion of the Trial by Jury, into the Civil Courts of Scotland ; and that the Or der for the Houle refolving itfelf into that Committee be deferred until Wednelday."—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. A Meirage fron;h;lord; acqu a inted the Houle, that their Lordfhlps had agreed to the Mutiny Bill, and to the Coal Inland Navigation Bill. Marrs. Jo4derell, Ruffell, R. Thornton, and Whitened Keene, were ordered to be difeharged from the cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms, at the rifing of the Houfe this day, each fiat paying his fees. .. . --- Mr. ATKINS WRIGHT mojed that the Confideration of the Special Report of the Penryn Eledion Committee, should be poit polled to the sift of April, and that Sir Chriftopher Hawkins do attend on that day.—Ordered. Mr. SHERIDAN obtained leave to bring in a Bill for throwing a Bridge over the Thames between Weitminfter and Blackflies . , Bridge. An Account was prefentcd of the Number and Tonnage of Vef. fele captured by the enemy during a certain period.—Ordered to lie on the Table. Sr JOHN NEWPORT brought in the frith Stamp Duty Bill, read a firft, and ordered to be read a second time to•morrew. Mr. HOBHOUSE brought up the Report of the Committee of Supply of Friday bit. The Refolutions were rcad and agreed to. The Coffee and Cocoa Bill, the Export Duty Regulation Bill, and the Sicilian Prize Bill, were reported, and each ordered t• be read a third time to-morrow. Mr. VANSITTART reported from the Sbrewlbury Eledlion Committee, that one Sarah Barrow had been guilty of non-attend ance before the raid Committee, notwithftanding the had been re gularly fummoned to attend before them. The Report was brought up, and upon a motion of the fame Honourable Member, it was ordered that ihe mould be taken Into the cultody of the Serjeant at Arms for her faid offence. On the motion of Mr. VANSITTART, it was ordered that the Letter from. Lord Hayrick to the Comasiffloners of his Ma• jelly's Treafury, dated the 13d of December laft, relative to the capture of the feeond Swedith convoy, be laid before the Houle. The Treafurer of the Navy's Office Regulation Bill, and 'the Royal Family Annuity Adt Amendment Bill, were each read a feeond time, and ordered to be referred to Committees to• morrow. The Smuggling Prevention Bill was read a firft, and ordered to be read a feeond time cn that day fortnight, and in the mean time. to be printed. The Malt Duty Bill, and the National Debt Reduction Bill were each read a firft, and ordered to be read a fccond time to morrnw. The frith Paper Duty Bill was read a third time aid palled. CATHOLIC BILL. The Houk became unufually full of Members, at the time when Lord EUSTON prefented a Petition from the Chancellor, Matters, and Scholars, of the Ui iverlity of Cambridge, Rating, that they had heard, with anxiety and apprelicnßon, that a Bill had been brought into Parliament, to enable Catholics to hold Corn miMons in the Army and Navy; a meafure which they conceived would tend to the fubverGon of the Eltablifhed Religion of the Country, and might otherwife lead to dangerous confequences. It concluded with praying that fuels Bill might not pats into a Law. After this Petition was read by the Clerk, Lord EUSTON m 3ved, " That - the laid Petition be laid upon the Table." Mr. DICKINSON role, and addreffed the Speaker, as follows:—" Sir, I do not rife at this moment with any intention of oppoling the motion which has now been made by the Noble Lcrd, but I rife merely with a view of availing myfelf of this opportunity of exer citing one of the privileges of a Member of Parlia ment—l mean, that of converting in public with his Majefly's Minifters, on fubjeth of a ferinus nature. It is now about twelve or thirteen days fence the Noble Lord oppofite, (Howick) introduced a Bill into Parliament, again(! which Bill the Petition which has now been read is prefented. The purpofe of that Bill has been Rated to be, to enable his Majefly to avail himfelf of the fervices of all his liege fubjeds. A few days have only elapfed fence that ' Noble Lord intimated to the Houfe, that it was not his intention to allow that Bill to be read a fecond time,but to permit it to drop without any future period being mentioned for purfuing its future progrefs. Upon that occafion the Noble Lord Rated, that there were circumllances which prevented him from Rating his reafons for fuch condrid ; but added, that the time would loon arrive when he would be enabled to do fo. I with to a& him, if that time be now come ? I need not lay that the public mind is in a Rate of very general anxiety upon this fobjed.—( Loud cries of Hear! bear! from all parts of the Houfe.)—We have rumours of a change of Adminiaration, without knowing, at leaft as far as I can perceive, that it is either the with of the people, or of this Houfe, by our having (hewn any ditratisfaelion at their conduet.— (Leuderies of Hear, hearbveated) —There are rumours of a very grave and ferious nature, connetied with this fubjeet, which I cannot help alluding to on the prefent occafion. Thefe rumours lay, that his Ma jelly's Miniflers have been culpable, in endeavouring to imprefs upon his Majefly a metfure againft which his high and honourable mind revolts. Therefore, I with to aik thefe Minitlers, whether thefe rumours be well or ill founded ? I have the -permiflion of this Houfe to leave London for a fortnight, on my pri vale affairs, and I will confequently have an oppor tunity of feeing many of my conflitirents at the Af fixes, and 1< thould with to be able'to anfwer any queflions put to me by them, as to whether or not that Noble Lord ar.d pis Colleagues are to continue in Adminiftration ? The peculiar circomll ances this Courrry, and the condition of affairs abroad, render fuch a piece of information particularly recef fary upon the prefent recafion; and therefore, I bore the Noble Lord will not fertiple to give the Hmure any information upon this important topic, which may now be in his power." Lord HOWICK.--.. The Hnn. Gentleman was , under no neceffity of apologizing to the Houle for exerciang one of the molt important privileges of a ' Member of Parliament—that of putting to any of his Majetty's Miniliers inch rinellions as, in his opinion, his Parliamentary dirty may require him to propole. In anfwer to the quellinns now put to me, I am willing candidly to (late all that I can difcreetly commu nicate, but more than that I truft the Houfe will n o t require of ate. I turf that the Houle will not re , quire of me to enter now into that explanation, which I think it prudent fill to withhold—(Hear ! hear!) As to any queflion, then, which it is not for me yet to anfwer, I mutt threw myEdf on that indulgence which upon a former night was fo liberally conceded to me—(Hear ! hear!) ; at the fame time alluring the Houfe, that the day of explanation cannot be far dif. tont, and that no man can be more anxious for its arrival than I am. The principle which makes me with to Rand well with my King—that fenfe of pub. lic duty which makes me with to Hand well with this Houfe, and mine own fenfe of private honour, which makes me ever anxious to nand well with myfelf, co-operate in producing in my mind an cornett with that this explanation may be fpeedily entered upon, and fully gone into— (hear I hear! bear!). That quef lion then of the Honourable Gentleman's, which goes to imply the alledged culpability of his Majetty's Minillers in preffing upon the King's confcience, what it revolts from—That queflion I am not now at liberty to anfwer; but refer the Honourable Gentle man to that explanation which will do that, which no anfwer of mine could do fo well ; as to the other queflion of the Honourable Gentleman, relating to the public rumours of a change in the Minifiry, in addition to what I had the honour of Rating to the Houle on a former day, I have now to liate, that though his Majefty has not yet commanded me to deliver up the feats of ray office, he has been pleafed to fend for perfons not in the number of his Majefly's iervants, for the purpofe of entering into the neceffary arrangements for forming a new Adminiaration." (As loon as his Lordthip fat down, there was a loud cry of Hear, sear sod a great fenfation prevailing through all pans of the Houfe. The number of Members prefent was very great; sled nearly one ballot' them now we: t away, having been attraeted chiefly by curiofity to hear what might be laid on the prelim Change in the Executive Government j IRISH MIMBERS. Lord HOWICK faid, it would be necefrary for the Houfe to confider the fituation of Inch It ith Mem bers, as had been ordered to attend in their places on a certain day. He had received feveral applica• cations from Members reading in that country, Rating to him the peat inconveniences which would refult to them, to leave the country during the affizes, and praying to have the time enlarged. There would be only one Ballot more before the holidays, and he hoped there would be a fufficiency of Members pre- Cent to complete the other two, which would come on before the day he propofed to extend the leas , : of abfence to. He moved, therefore, that thole Ifilh Members who had been ordered to Attend the Houle tomorrow, thould have the time enlarged to Monday the 13th April. Sir J. NEWPORT and Colonel BARRY feverally expretled their fatisfaElion at the Noble Lord's motion, and it was ordered accordingly. MR. DRAKE. Mr. WHITBREAD obferving that he had on a late evening Rated it as his opinion that Mr. Tho mas Drake had not received his wound in the battle of Camperdown, declared that a document had fence been put into his hanks, by which it was proved that that perfon had aAually 101 l his leg from a hurt re ceived in that aelion. This document was a letter from Captain Bligh of the Director, to Mr. Bewick, then Chairman of a Committee for the relief of the fufferers in that action. He begged, therefore, to be underßood as retracting his affertion, and he would move for documents to explain the circumftance ; but lea any falfe impreffion fhould go abroad, that when thofe papers fhould be produced, he would pro pofe the liberation of the prifoner, he would obferve, that the circumflance which he had juft mentioned was not the only mifreprefentation and falfehood con tained in Mr. Drake's evidence. There were nu merous others ; among the reit he bad declared, that he bad never applied for relief to the Admiralty, when in fad he bad done fo to the very perfon by whom he had been queßioned. He therefore would firft move for copies of all communications made by Captain Bligh, late of the Director, to N. Bewick, Efq. Chairman of the Committee at Lloyd's for the relief of wounded feamen. The SPEAKER obferved, with regard to thc latter part of the motion, that the place and the perfon wet e not known to that Honfe, and therefore could 'not form parts of a motion from the Chair. Mr. WINDHAM concurred in this opinion, de claring, that however good the intentions of the So ciety alluded to, it would be very improper that it fhould be recognized in that Honfe. Mr. FULLER feemed to think that Drake ought to be liberated. After a few words from Mr. ROSE, and Mr. JEFFERY, Mr. Whitbread withdrew his motion cn account of the improper recognition which it con. tained ; but in reply to Mr. Fuller's olifervations, re peated, that the imprifonment of Mr. Drake, was not in confequence of the citcumllance alone which he had jolt cleared op. Mr. SHERIDAN truCted, whatever might he done with Mr. Drake, that thole who employed loch a witnefs, when they came themfelves to be examined on oath, would take care what fort of evidence they gave. On the motion of Mr. WHITBREAD, the fol lowing Papers were then ordered to be laid before the Houfe : A copy of the Smart Ticket produced by Mr. Drake, as received from the Chef of Greenwich. A copy of the Ticket fent by Captain Bligh, late of 'his Maki . - tf. thip Mrcaor, to the Holpital at Yarmouth. MIA BUDGET. Mr. TIERNEY faid, that after the declaration made by his Noble Friend this evening, he thought, though he had not been idle fince he had pollifted the ( lice' he then held, that it would not be proper in him to trouble the Houle with the affairs of Indi.t, which' he had it in contemplation to bring forty. ru.G.H ptioquir. Sir J NEWPO it 1' poilpuned the lan Bu. 1 1 ;t: to Viledneldity. PLACES EN REVERSION. Mr. BANKS gave notice, that be would to-mprrn a l, move for an Account of the Piaces in keret Pion, poled of by the pre.ent Adminitttatinn. HOWICK that not one place h i rcvet., lion had been given away by the prefcnt Asintittiata• lion ; but there was a very contlicrable one dirpoied of by the former Admit,i•lratiun jolt bcfore th t , went out. r' NANCE. Mr. HUSKISSON faid, after Ithr had lie Chould not any longer prefs his Reltiutiuns ut mince, which ttc) , )(l for this evening. CALICO PRIAITERS. Mr. SHERIDAN moved, that the Report of el Committee; on the difputes between theC slico Print( .s and their Servants, be entered as ?cad; which ki,t z done—he gave notice that he would, to s.t.,w, move for leave to luing in a Bill, for the better 1-t• cling difputer bettiteen the Calico Primes and tin ler vants. CARNATIC PAPERS. Sir T. TU RTON rote, in contequence of the tn• Lice he had given, to move for certain Papers tela..it t to the proceedings of the Marquis Wellefley af.d Lord Clive, relative to depofing the Nabob of the Caraatic. He defer ihed the tranfaltions as reflefliu K difgrace on this country, and hoped, if the Papers be fhould move .for were granted, he fhould, on a future day, be enabled to iniuce the Houfe to wipe off the (twin of that foul and atrocious tranfaftion by voting cenfure or punifhment on thole who had been guilty of it. He faid the Treaty of t 792, made by Marquis Cornwallis, had been broken, particularly with rc• gard to the Poligars, and crmcli.ded by Inf . v ; il a 10%7 (ring of motions for different Papers, which he faid would not take more than twenty pages of print ing. His firft Motion was then read from the Chair. " That there be laid before the Hnufe copies of the hitt - natant fent to Lord Morningron by the Board of Control:I, the lliryAor's of the EaR India Company, or the Secret Committee, relative to any changes of tjte Government of tile Caraatic, as fettled by the Treaty of . 5 792: Mr. TrERNEY fail he would not detain the Huufe long, for the Honourable Bart. had moved for a long lift of Papers, one part of which had ne. ver ezißed, and the other had already been printed. The Hon. Baronet had faid thefe PA pers would not take twenty pages of printing. It would talc.: more than twenty pages to print the words he had merely ufed in defcribing them ; and fluent as he WAS in words, the Direetors were as fluent in writing. He had made the moft minute inquiry, and 11 , ,d been informed, there was no inartglions in writing given to the Go. vernors General: and if the Hon. Baronet fhould Rill perfth in his Motion, it wculd give the Clerks of the Board of Controul, a fortniOn's labour to no pirepnce ; for in compliance with the order of the Huufe, they mull fearch through every Piper during a certain period of time in order to Leek tor what was never in exidence. Sir T. TURI'ON raid, on the an . ..trance of the Right Honourable Gentleman thete were no intim. tions, he ghoul,' have no objection to withdraw his Motion. Mr. TIERNEY raid, fuch was the informationbe had received. T" Sir A. WELLESLEY (aid, there were no infirm. tions hut what had been already printed. He de fended what had been done in the Carnatic, efpecially with regard to the Poligars, who were, he laid, in 4 (late of rebellion, and it was therefore neceffary to take the tevenues of the Nab,b into the hands of the Government in India. He denied that the Poligar Chief was executed without a trial, and noted that the Court of Diredors had unequivocally approve 4 of Abe condud of the Government of Madrac, with refped to the refradory Pdtgars. If his Noble Rn. lation (Lord Welltfley ) had been immediately or at all concerned in this rranfaetion, he fhould not object to the production of any papers moved for ; but, at this concerned other peuple, he lhould object to it.— It was a fubjed up ,n which he deprecated dircuffion, as he was convinced that the relining pence among the Poligars was abfolutely aeceffary for the fecuriry of• that part of our Indian empire. He law no par. ticnlar good that could refult from the prefent motion. Colonel SYMES fail, that inilead of a few papers which were cafy to be procured, the Hon. Baronet hai moved for an immenfe mafs, which the Houle would not have time to examine in the courfe of a whole Seffion. It was impoffible to undernand whether he really intended to inculpate the Board of COntroul, the Court of Directors, the Governors of Bengal, and the Government of Madras, as being all of them implicated in the charge. Sir JOIN ANSTRU niER believed that the fiill of the Honourable Member's mm ons would be eafily complied with, as the return wr old be that there were no inch papers in exi ftence as he had moved for. Mr: TIERNEY laid, that he believed that all the papers which had elided on that fubje&, had been already printer); he, therefore, moved as an ame d. went, " all filch papers as have not been Audi printed." ' This amendment was moved on the greater part of Sir THOMAS TURTON's motions, which were carried fit amended. Upon the motion for the Parer. relative to the documents taken at Seringapatann. Colonel SYMES replied, with fome warmth, In fome infinuations which he bad conceived came fro! I the Honourable Baronet. The fill was chat " fnci Papers were found at Seringapararn as it was CP " venient to have found." The Paptrs found at S:• ringapatam had been carefuliv examined by Mr. Webb, Colonel Clofe, and other mod rerpeAable Servants of the Company, who had been appointr , t for that purpofe; and as to the fecund that Halfein Aly had been murdered, it was contr s .o.Y to the fa&. 'Chat Pi ince had deltrosed his c , n l %lO. tints by opium, and died of a dyftritery, tvl i :It le ,!.1 25 days. The Governor of Madras feat Dr. Aliticr fon, a nloi humane and philanthropic man, as vett as an excellent phyfician, to vilit him ; but he cools not gain admittance to him until the 4:lgor-der had arrived to fcch a height as to be incurable. No malt who was acquainyM with the worth of Dr. Anderson. would have infinuated that he could have been sC ctffary to a murder. Sir I'. TUR 7 0N declared the Honourable Got tleman had entirely millinderilood him, as be ne.ci intended to make any Inch infinuations. Atm a long concert .lion upon the dill rant tvo