Star. — London, England, 1816-02-15 00:00:00

F • 4•..•=1••=•=11111 SP4IN, PRIVATE LE rTEIC. 4 MADRID, JANUARY " In mylfwmer letter,/ announced to you'd* Ready complete cliksge of Ministers which took place four days ago t if that caused your wonder, yob .ill be • ;nu less astonished at the extraordinary result of this ' 't • business in so short a time. As soon as this cluur was known, it began to be whispered among well-M• formed persons, either ,that there would be mikaki smite alteration, or that, it was very possible thai the displaced Ministers (Cevallos especially) theditated some new ye-action to endeavour to regain their tuitions. . " These suspicions were converted into Certainty, when yesterday, the 27th, a Gazette Bairaodisrary took us out of the suspense which we had experien ced, by informing us, through the medium of five Liters, directed by the King to his Minister of State, Don Pedro Cevallus, that the motives of his dismit. sal no longer existing, he was reinstated in his of fice ; that it was the will of his Majesty that the Ex traordinary Commissions should be abolished which had been apointed to try the state offenders; that the accusers should present themselves before the es tablished tribunals, where proceedings should bk had conformably to law ; that all the proceedings occa sioned by the clashing of the opinions of the two par ties calls d the Servile: and Liberate: should be settled in the space of six months ; and that in future the use of these denominations was prohibited. " 01 these same displaced Ministers, none has re turned to his office, but they have been largely re ormpensed with other employments, pensions, and honours, and no one of them is banished. Cevallos discharges, ad interim, the office of 'grace and justice, and his own office of foreign affairs. Aranjo has been confirmed in the treasury, and Figueroa in the marine. There has been :such discussion as twthe causes whose influence could produce this revolution ant! ,political reaction. SeLsible people give the iolow log solution to this problem : The displaced Mini sters being alarmed at the demonstrations of respect and affection which in all parts were manifested to the depaties of the Cortes, and to those patriots lately sentenced by the King, represented to his Majesty that those proceedings could only serve to further exasperate the people, and to augment the general discontent ; and that the most suitable measure would be - to soften the adopted system. 41 The King received' this sort of remonstrance with the greatest displeasure, and tti,:d to convince his Ministers that they owed the blindest siihmibsion to his ordrr, ; and to this intent he issued his decrees of dismissal Jnd banishment ag ainst his Ministers.— They intrigued to avoid the blues, and it was 01,1 great use to them that their r bservations wete con. firmed by the accounts brought from various Pro- , viuces, especialiy from Gallicia and Navarre, which announced the increase of discontent, and the forma- 1 tion of various Guerillas, which are here called bands of robbers. 6 . The result of this has been the recal of his for mer Oidonnance, and the endeavour to offer some palliatives to public %Anion, which has pronounced itself in a manner little lat-onrable to the Gc,vern- ment, since tkire is nobody who does not observe the! inconsequence and ill faith fit the measures adopted to.stop the mouths of the di.ic!utcnted. 64 . ro what purpose, says one to tic other, abolish' the Extraordinary Conamstions for the trial of of fences which do not txi.t, when the King lair:is:Ai takes updn himself the office of jue.ging their suspec ted authors ? To what purpose recommend the servance of the laws, when in their despight have been condemned by the King himself, its the most arbitrary manner, those patiints who have made so many sacrifices for their country ? Is it not mock ing the whole world with the greaten impudence to talk of the reunion of opinions, of the observance of legal forms, and of lenity, after having stalked the Pattiots who filled those dungeons which once were nearly empty. All these reflections generally conclude with the phrase--.. But this cannot go on." MADRID GAZETTE EX ERAORDINARY, sal WIDAY, JANUART 27. 66 The ling our S.ivereign has been pleased to iistte ae lowirg Lecrees " I. Considering as unfounded the motives which iniucid me to order your discharge from the office of my FirNt Secre• tart' of State and of the Cabinet; ind being highlysatlsfied with the zeal, exactitude, and alkction ' with wi.ii.h, in the cruellest tines, you have served myself and the State; I reinstate you in the use and exercise of your o( j hces, of which )uu will immedl• atcly take charge. a Signed whh the royal hand, at the Palace, Jan. 26, 1816. 66 To Don Pedro Cevallos. " 2. The first duty of Sovereigns is to give calm and tran quillity to their subjects. When trials are held before the le gally established tribunals, the people repose under their protec tion : but When causes are tried by commissions, neither my own conscience can be tree from all responsibility, nor can any sub jects enjoy a c,n.fidence in the administration t•l' justice, without which all ease and quiet would disapj:war fro..i.ocial man. '1 to avoid an till of such transcendency, it is my will, that from henceforth shall cease the cAmmisiions for the hearing of urinal •mal causes. tia..t those shall besent before tht:ir respec . .:fe tribu nals, and that. the inforniers shall appear there, aml prove the reality et their teal for the public good, and await the result of the judisn.rts. " turn g nay absence from Spain, there arose two parties, entitled Sati:l s and Literate:. The divisions which prevailed between them spread to a great part of my dominions ; and it being our of the Suit obligations which is incumbirnt cm me as a lather to pin a stop to these differences, it is hay royal will, that in nature inforal.rs shall present themselves beaore the tribunals under the legal liabilities; that the hitherto used words of Lite. saki and acreiies shall disappear from common use ; and that at the end of sit months all causes proceeding,trom this origin B'A:di be finished, observing the rules prescribed by Ole law for the tight adinipartration or justice. This you will understand and common:cite to chose whom it may concern. " Signed wish my royal band i ts' the Palace, Jan. 26, 1816. To Don Pedro Cevallos a , . • " 3. Considering the adianeed age anti infirmities of my Se cretary of state and of the Finances, D. Joseph Ybarra, I extant. rate hen Trona his °like, giving to him an eftictite place in my t.„ ; , 'cal tif state; awl I appoint in his place D.' Manuel Lopes sltat.ju, as Di: ector of the Royal Lottery, an s t of my Council of Finance. ' l'b s you will understand, arid do hat is neces.ary to eir.,ct " signed with the royal hand at the Palace, Jan. 27, 1816. " To Dort Pedro Cevalloe. _ " 4. Having exonerated D. Thomas Moyano from the office of Grace and Justice, 1 giant to bun also an effective place in lily Council of titate, with full pay for all his employments, but without a seat is the said Council. la the mean time, you will fulfil his office. Signed with the royal bowl, at the Palace, Jana 27, 1818. " To Don Pedro tevalios. m 5. Acceptiag the resfgnatton of D. I.tils Salazar of Ms office of the Marine , I exonerate Mut, and give him an of place iu aiy Council of State, with lull pay for all his employments, but without a seat in the sante Council; and have &optima in' his plax IX Joseph Vasquez figutroa. 'You will Like 6..ra t h at this ortler is executed —t.ifgned,L,.4 ju t , 2 ; 16i4h " To Dual edre Cs:wallas:* - I P4ItLIAMIMMitr nociuntsdi , - .„..:.. . neusz or LOtttli, FEBIWAItt 14. -.The winspiat ST.ASAIPH (Dr. Lit sou) took the adhs aisd lds soot; es MI tramlatlost frail the see of Hereford. Soine private' bashiess being despoiled Of, their Lordships 44. Parried &dog pleasure. • • Fitarttir Cowritittnloll. - On the resuming of the House, • The Marquis of LANSDOWNE . rose &it' the pur pose, before his Noble Friend should make the eno- Lion of which he had given notice, of taking the opportunity of putting a question or two to the Noble Eati at the head of the Treasury. Certain rummy he observed, were afloat with respect to the distribu tion end appropriation of the sums which it appeared had been procured from France. Foety-eight Niers ago, only, he cold not have foreseen that a neces sity would arise for his asking for some explanation on the subject; but when he had heard of the ru .mours abroad, that a treaty had been made by the Minister's of the .Crown, by which a large proportion of the suns of 70(1 millions of .francs were procured for, or to go, not to the country, but to the Crown s ; and that it would be only by the grace and - favour of the Crown that such monks could be used for the service of the country. A statement to such an effect was.understood to be made, from authority ; and re specting such a statement it well biotame.the policy of Parliament to inquire, as some of the most impor tant principles of the Constitution were involved in such a question. In this view of the question, be wished to be informed shadier such a Treaty had been concluded, and whether it was considered as I settled point,.that the sums so acquired, but which in filet were as substitutes for territorial possessions, should be at the disposal of the Crown, or subject to 'the appropriation of Parliament ? He felt it neon. sary to get information on this question, as well with reference to the consideration of precedent as to the conduct of the Ministers who concluded the Treaty. !'hero was another point relating to this subject : he s!;ould be glad to know whether it were intended that the SO millions of francs to be issued in France, should be carried to the account at home, and left subject to 'he direction of Parliament : or to be paid to the Airily in such a way as to place it without the controul of Parliament. as had always been deemed necessary, in order to keep the army withinthe check and controul of the great Council of the Nation ? He need not then state to their Lordships how much de pended upon the Ate:native in the view of Con stitutional principle. On this point, he had to say, !hat it the N , ;!)ik.l Earl should state that any legal opinions were taken on the subjects he should feel it necessary to vill lot the pro.iuction of those opinions. The Earl of LIVERPOOL otserved, that be certainly felt some dilliculty in resolving the queries of . the ruble Lord, and chiefly in reference to what he said as to opinions given in another place, which be thought could not be regularly or effectually al luded to, unless the precise words used were before them. On tic other hand, he bad no difficulty in stating there were no intentions whatever with mfr. ranee to our pr,portion of the seven hundred mil lions, but those which were actually in the purview of the House. Noble Lords were therefore already in possession of the intentions of his _Majesty's Go. ceinment upon the subject. With respect to the par ticular transaction alluded to, there could be no dif ference of opinion : namely, that the Ministers of the Crown are liable to account for the expenditure of the sum, and that it was to be applied solely to the public set vice. In regard to the Noble Lord's query, whether the particular sum was intended to be paid to the Army in France, or to be transmitted to the Govern:neut at home, lie had no hesitation in stating, that whatever course might be adopted, the whole .sum, generally, was intended for the Army of Oc cupation : and, with regard to its particular appli cation, Parliament were certainly entitled and bound to inspect into it. The application of this principle was sufficient ; but no utility could arise from enter ing into a consideration of abstract questions. Lord GRENVILLE expressed his opinion that the questions put by his Noble Friend could not fairly be character Led as abstract. They were plain prac- LICA questions, and of the highest importance ; so much so, that tue Noble Lord could not carry on the smallest branch of the public business withuut.an adherence to the principle. The question, in fact, was, whether the money adverted to was meant or not for the service of the country, subject to the dis posal of Parliament ? It. was a very different thing to say, that Ministers were responsible to Parliament for the advice given to the Crown, in motions which truly appertained to that branch of tire Constitution; but the real question here was, what Were the rights of the Crown, and what were the rights of Parlia ment in the case before them ? He had no wish to press the question farther that day; but he conjured the Noble Lord to look olio and consider what may be dune in the regular and Constitutional way, and tict to trench opon the rights of Parliament in ' the disposal of that which appertained,, not to the Crown exclusively, but to the Crown as the organ of Go vernment. In point of principle, whatever was paid to the iiritish army, it must be re-issued on the Vote of Parliament, and should go bum the British Ex chequer. Videos this were done, the great controul of Parliament upon the army, and upon the public purse, in one of its appropriations, which rested en a principle of vital importance, was violated. I MILITARY ?LAC; ISTABLISHM CRT& The Order of the Day upon which their Lord ships were summoned being read, Lord GRENVILLE rose and observed, that when betook the liberty of moving for the summons it was not in the slightest anticipation of any oppo sition ; the precedents on which lie grounded it were so numerous and clear, and since he came down to the House, he had still further reason to think it would not be opposed. Yet the subject to whiCh it referred was of so great and extensive importance, he could not avoid troubling their Lordships with some Observations preliminary to it. tle would first refer to two of the most pointed precedents which ,pre, sented themselves. The first of those. was in the year 1742, when the Crown and the country. were engaged in supporting by extensive measures, a cer- ' tam system oi continental policy in Europe—propo skims were made to Parliament touching the sup port of that system. It was accordingly deemed proper to enable, Parliament to .judge of these men sums, *that they should be informed of what military eipunces were likely to be incurred by this. cowry.. I kfill 4 die charge of the whole military expenditure. Th wsoodd Instance which he should glance at oc curred at the s'onelusion of the wart 1756 s and When the details of a reduction ht the expenditure, *ere, under consideration. In order to enable their . Lordships to perform their duty in investigating the military expenditure of the period, the Estimates of the year were laid before them, and this was more in point, as it was in the year in which a Treaty of Peace was concluded. Without smite previous in vestigation of this kind it was impossible Parliament could adequately judge of the merits of the peace it. self, because they could not decide upon the real state in which chat peace would place the country. On these grounds, and under these precedents, he now meant to call for the estimates of the military' expenditure of this country. It was undoubtedly ex pedient that they should inquire the extent of the military expenditure of the country, with a view to one of the most important results of the peace, and , it was in no small degree connected with the ques tion, how far the peace was likely to be permanent ? It was, above all, impOrtant to state to the country, that they would take their share in those investiga tions which appertained equally to both Houses of Parliament—not less in pursuance of the desire of the Prince Regent at the commencement of the Ses sion, than from a sense of-duty to their fellow-sub jects. The great question now WAS, to consider whe ther, after au unparalliled exhaustion of blood and treasure in a state of warfare for' twenty-five years, the country was placed in that situation of retrench ment and repose, for the attainment of which, in a great degree, these burthens were borne and these exertions made; or whether it was to be made sub servient to a military system, the object of which was to enable it to rank among the great military nations of the Continent ? They were called upon to consi der whether, after all the country had sa patiently, so laudably endured, under the persuasions of Go- . Vernment, they seem according to the promises of that Government, brought into a state that only de served the name of ritace, as such it would be, if they were nut benefited by a real peace establishment. To enable their Idaeishirs to ascertain and judge of this must important question, was the object ot his motion. Atter slightly glancing at what had been said last Session, as to the probable amount of the peace establishment, his Lordship observed, it re quired the utmost stretch of his imagination to con ceive that it could possibly be in contemplation to propose to Parliament au establishment of such an amount, as he understood, was proposed for this Sear of peace—such an enormous extent of an esta blishment as 150,000 men; and if any thing could augment his astonishment, it was, that of these, fifty thousand were destined for the service of •the United Kingdom. He trusted this subject would not bu the business of one night, or of one debate only. No efforts of his, however humble, would be vianting in discussion, to avert from the people of this country so great a calamity. In considering the important subject before them, he would first direct their Lord ships' attention to the extent of the establishment in former years of peace, but particularly to what it was in the period between the years 1783 and 1793. On a future day, he hoped to state the details mute at length, and the grounds more particularly upon which that establishment was formed, and to evince that even that was larger than the country warranted. Connected with that subject were the proceedings of Parliament in 1786 and in 1791, whorl; the whole system of the income and expenditure was taken into seriuusconsideration. On these occasions it was a ques tion whether the military expenditure should exceed £1,600,000, or d11,800,0t.V. In 1791 it Was fixed at £1,800,000, and the great Ali sister who graded the affairs of the country at that tune, thought it ire portant to effectuate a saving of so small a rum asi £500,000, by a reduction in the staff—a clear pro Al of what his opinion upon the sist.ject was : and in 1792 a further reduction of £loo,ouu wa. proposed. lu the conviction of the great man to whom he re ferred, £1,600,000 or XJ,ZiOO,OOO was au adequate expenditure for a Military, and 1,800,400 or two millions, for a Naval Peace k:stablishment ; it was his happiness to live in the most cordial intimacy, and to act iu concert with the illustrious personage at these times, and he had never recollected any idea or opinion to have been entertained by !inn, that I'eace could be rendered more secure, or war more effectually encountered, than by limited and truly economical establishments iu time of Peace. And this consideration would be the best refutation of those who asserted, not long after, tl.at they had voluntarily plunged the country into a state ot war; he meant with reference to the very limited peace establishment which they had so recently fixed upon. Though, in another point of view, as he had said, a low establishment for a permanent peace was the best means of enabling the country to meet the perils and accumulated expenses of a war, it was by following the steps 6f that great and intelligent Mi nister (tie meant Mr. Pitt) that the country could be restored to a state of real eeace and prosperity ; and it was more than e ve r i ncum b ent on h is M a j esty ' s Government to follow him iu the present burthened and exhausted situation of the country. The- Noble Lord concluded by moving an Address to the Prince Regent, praying that the estimates of the charges of his Majesty's Land Forces for the present year might be laid before the House. The Earl of LIVERPOOL rose, not. he said, for the purpose of offering any opposition or objection to the Noble Lord's motion, as he was ready to admit that the information required should be brought before Parliament. He was prepared to say also, on the part of his Colleagues and himself, that they were ready and willing to go into the most minute consi deration and details of every question relativ e to t hi s subject, and point by point 4 and on that investiga tion to let the question stand, whether or not there existed a public necessity fur the proposed establish ments, not only in the whole, but io every particular case. He should thus leave the present question where it was, and even as it appeared from some points of the Noble Lord's speech : that much of mistake and misapprehension prevailed, with respect to the real state and merits of the subject, and in the hope of obviating some at l east o f these, he was con strained now to offer a few observations to their Lordships. the speech of the Noble Lord, in some respects, he confessed, he really heard with some de. gree of astonishment. It was sufficient for the im portant topics they would have to discuss, to con sider what was necessary for the maims"; establiih , fel Ted, diiobtailib-.i pe,auce.hgeeliichill; iliti British Empire, m a period of emphaticallyii*nt,iwnitil7la2:ocie,aw,uilltiotihneothtcewircraituh.mainshide4nenclinitnii,si:‘:: times—(Hear, hear.) A reference t o 4) .i ii tli eP , items made, or any comparison be fairly dra rt .st -t '' on that particular point it would b e 4 ; l' , that the half-pay of the areay, and thentith' lowanecs, now amounted (on these r wo ar in t .l . 4 to considerably more than the whole e -jc : o ti f se te se a lv rm es y ti ia te i t c h b e as y i e d a e r ra l t 7 i : rious increases, in such respects unavoidably taken place, thzy wmild h„ 44 ,i (licit sidjera.tio:l, " :: 1 themselves in the idea of corning to arl t ",:, 1 41 sion upon the suliect. AVi th ruspect to " f ; 1 establishment of 1792, upon which th e I,c s , Pt had rested so much, he should say a lea to - ,7,L Lind the honour to lire on terms of pes t - : 4 a ith the lamented friend of the Noble 1, 1 14 fromnot u ti l a ac t nte. w ith ti,o LI r and a c te d w as again refer, and pointedly, to the g t ., ally I boo dle time, abst state of the country, and the stupendous cii: circumstances which had taken place in d ie ,— and in such a view of th e su bj ect the soot,', the Great Minister allud e d to as to th e i Zt question, must necessarily be altered. it ii . ;: q ' cessary for him to dvetll upon the importaht 14 which had since taken place, and Cie co:lic 9 : 4 tared state and relative situ ttionuf this 0,4 14 comparison, therefore, with the period reie N i: the Noble Lord must, he thoui.,ht.beou t ola ii ., l What they would have to consider sand 4 41 7 were the necessary Peace est abiisliments one . 4 then. Aad of thew: no ~.. prorowd, h e 0 G c, 1 4 thCir Lordshiei with a c.ear a n d sittcitlct Kutli They were to conbidcr of n .t only the nece rkl blishments of Gre a t L r it a i n and IriAanO, bat i i i nuntercgs and exicit.,iv.: col' l, :e.s. ' l. we ~t ' k b . pt f.er some tone i 1 Fr.. ::c ; and ALL) in o k 1.) ii.i vssessions. The at ;ny I d b e aufncri France on our parts, coihisted td thirty 1 4 men ; ties forces kept in luoia a .ri ut,ted to 1 , thousand men ; and the army to be kept up is( Britain and Ireland, and the whole of the ro appertaining to the British crown, did 2% 04 99,000 men. They would have to consid er L i lo state and extent of our colonies now were vergi rent from what they were at the period retino l by the Noble Lord. The increase neceso r k quired an increase of military establishment. % I no difficulty in stating, that the colonies now a l session of the British Crown, which did netba ll it in • 1792, required an additional force of si men ; but the actual augmentation of dit to blishments was to be 19,400 men. Ile was a to admit, however, that at a future period semi tion may be practicable in the establishtnentsto colonies, and such, if practicable, it was pap sh onl d be made. Witi, respect to the question old colguies, which existed in 1752, alai Arnie I be would state the grounds at the prop:r tira e , p , by point, :o chew the augment:titrc w is cac t i s i i the circumstances of each case. Of these,kai the British colonies in North Amsr:c.i, in which now included the Bermuda Islands. The 0r,2, #1 s•J establishment was only ten Olousand tn:n; tG 1792 was 6600. The population of the.e co ••• was doubled since that period. Tie whole (it s Canada :way be regarded as a new creatiisiece; and . • would freely leave it to the cousidnu their Lordsh . ps, whether, with a view to alt 6 cuntstauce.s ct tl,- , :e valuable countries, an ilatral ow i i t 4 t w a TV SlOO men was too great, in r!,eir in;litary est ' ments. The next point was the Leew.oli Jamaica ; for thi2),l .5:j00 men-mere. was an augmentation et oi.ly '2lOO nem abort establishment of 1;;1:;, ;tart fur t,brif reasvas 1 1 number could not be less; a large proportion of troops consisted of black corps, which at . pre,mi, for some time to come, it would be totally impr. cable to reduce ; bereafter they may, but my gtz' ally. We were still in the occupation el& leupe, and some troops it was obviously nec:sur ' keep there for a time. The next point was vti • sessions on the coast of Africa ; fur these les/ were alletteA ; and for the colony of New Wales, the increase was from 335 to SOO men. would mention, in the last place, the island GI Helena, where, for obvious and peculiar Kw (which he should now decline entering into) se: of 1200 men was- to be stationed. 'nitre was a:0 be considered a kind of flouting force, wlio supposed to be always at sea, or on their • from one quarter to another, for which 5000 were allowed. He would next advert to the establishments, those of Great Britain and Irrluf and in such, with respect to Ireland, a meals . ' increase was proposed. He believed that no informed* of the state of that country would • pat, in its present circumstances, 25,900 mensal higher proportion than was necessary. Circa • • hereafter, and which he most sincerely 1:opeil f 0 enable th.•in to reduce that amount. With ree4o Great Britain, a like amount of force was prof which was 9000 ny)re than were proposed is which increase—considered with reference to ex. neral sate of the emeire, and of the measures ted since that period, the increasing populatioe, of the civil establishments of the c-ninay, as tc+ of colonial possessions abroad—he thought cAllit be regareud as a greater increase than was nacre'+" Iln this part of the subject it was particiilaily considered the charge: incurred by the abalitioad drafting system ; which rendered the sending eg .. whole regim e nts a l reilace*thnse impel f:ct ();.cis. might be called home, where is itt f. rui r P't drafts of individual soL.:iers frem d.fie:clu crif could have beea sent out in order t fi:i up Lime!! Besides, rei.. , ,iinents were not to be ccutinu..4 abroad, but were to be excLang d horn time ta :kr! all which cons:cr.:rations rcndered an increase eel home establishment the more necessary, not to respond in an exact ratio with the increased esU meets abroad, but certainly in some de z ;ree °E y!! portion to the increase of the later. Upon the ow, he thought no doubt could exist as to the r.ece , s4l' an increase of at least 9000 men over the Britishl blishment of 1792. With respect to any view eta part of the question with reference to a Cor.gitul" w principle, lie had no apprehension cf any objectict.a jealousy being entertained (upon a fair considerO l _ of the subject) from an increase of twenty-fire tr sand mesa 10 the home establishments, and trl far from being effettives, and a torte from wow ~1 I .. f.