Star. — London, England, 1805-07-10 00:00:00

WEST INDIES. . 4 BA MGR TOITNy Itaftlanoas, Julia 4.—Jamicift this military -parade..ind loyal rejoicinks, eale-• my's fleets have noi'betia loft fight of, and we cannot but view the prefent day as propitious to our fpeedy triumph over them. The combined fleet of France and Spain have at length left Martinique (but their departure now bears no terrors), and on the 28th ult. they were feen from Pigeon Ifland (St. Lucia), amounting to 18 fail, (leering a dire& courfe for Tri nidad. What reception they will there meet with, the firength of its, garrifon will fufficiently thew : It confifts of the ad battalion of Royals, the 37th regi ment, and 7th and Bth Weft India, with a very chsfen detachment of Britifh artillery ; befides anex • cellent militia and fome Colonial dragoons. There is not an height capable of defence, or an harbour furceptible of attack, that is not proteded by heavy cannon; and the greateft reliance is placed on the (kill, judgment, and courage of the Commander, Ge neral HI st.ov. Independent of which, we this day behold the vic torious NELSON, the Hero of Aboukir—the Con queror of BRUSYES, with a powerful and well ap pointed fleet, lbaping his courfe in purfuit of Gee- VINA and VILLENEUVE, who will fcarce have entered the Bocas of Trinidad, before they are affailed by our gallant fleet. What then will avail their fixteen fail of the line—their frigates and their traafports ; or their three thoufand French, and one thoufand fix hundred Spanifh troops, compofing this expedition ! which muff terminate in their entire difcomfiture and overthrow, and render the battle of the Gulf of Pa. ria as celebrated as that of the Nile. Our Readers by referring to the Chart of this Gulf, will fee how completely the enemy will have been caught in a net, if fortunately our gallant Admiral finds them at Tri nidad. Rear Admiral COCHRANE, in his Majefty's fhip NORTHUMBERLAND, returned here on Sunday from Jamaica, after an unfuccefsful purfuit of Miflieffy, who completely efcaped his vigilance. Admiral COCHRANE left his Majelly's fhlps Sr. GEORGE, Ar- LAS, CENTAUR, EAGLE, and VETERAN, to reinforce the Jamaica fquadron ; the AMELIA and GALATEA frigates failed front thence for this Wand before the Admiral, but have not yet arrived. A difpatch boat from St. Lucia, which arrived Jail night, informed us of the failing of the enemy's fleet from Martinique, on Tuefday Yeflerday it was communicated, by the arrival of the MARTIN (loop of war, which was difpatched off Cape St. Vincent to apprife us of i:, that Lord NELSON was bending his courfe here in purfuit of the Toulon fleet, this gallant Admiral's judgment leading him to fuppofe they were in thefe leas.— And this morning the AMAZON frigate, as precut.. for of the fleet, fignified his approach, which was . immediately after announced by the alarm fignals : and at noon the veteran Hero appeared off Carl& Day with the following (hips : _ _ _ ) . .Vice Mm. Lord Nrisow. Vidtory . • too Rear Admiral MO RAA r. Captain T. HARDY. ~., Ftcar Admiral T. Loon. Canopus - . ts. , i c __/_ .. W . . Captain F . in( . "USTI N. Le Tigre - - 8o Capt. Ktazowaat. Donnegal • - So MALCOLM. Spencer - - 74 Hen. R. STOPPOIL Conqueror - - 74 I. Pt i.z.tor. Superb - ' 74 R. G. ICZATZS. Bailie - - 74 W. Ha ItGOOD. I.er Wit= - - 74 H. W. &INTIM. Swittfure - - 74 ROT MUM/. Decade - - 36 STUART. Amazon . - 38 PARKER. Ampbion - - 31 SUTTON. This fleet is now coming to, and will be joined by the NORTHUMBERLAND and SPARTIATE, of the line. betides feveral frigates—and in all probability the expeded reinforcement (announced by the STAUNCH gun brig) may augment their force be• fore to-morrow, fufficiently for them to undertake the moll bold and extenfive enterprize againit the enemy's iflands,as well as their fleets. BARBADOES, JUNR 5.-We are all in high fpirits. The Hero of Aboukir is arrived. He left Cape St. Vincent on the toth of May—the winds were as aufpicious as could be withed—he arrived here in 24 days—the welcome fails were defcried in the morn ing—a floop preceded the fleet, and gave us the joy ful tidings of its approach. It came to anchor in a fhort time afterwards in our harbour, and every thin' was exultation and tranfport. OFF TRINIDAD, JUNE 6.—Eatrad of a letter from an officer of the fleet.- 4 i We got fate to Barbadoes, after a glorious patfage of 24 days. Our gallant Admiral, whole quicknefs and celerity of operation are proverbial, immediately upon his arrival went alhore at Barbadoes, to accelerate our future opera tions. He was informed that the Combined Fleets were gone againfl Trinidad. No time was loft— not a moment was idle. On the 4th, two thouland troops were embarked on board the fquadron under General Mrsits. Water, provifions, all were got on board in one day ; we were off Trinidad on the sth. The wind Rill favoured us. We arrived at Trinidad to.day, with twelve fail of the line (in all probability joined by the SFARTIATR and NORTHUM BERLAhD, at Barbadoes). Our information was er roneous—the French had not been to Trinidad, nor had an enemy's veiled been ken. Having afcertain ed that the ifland was in a refpestable Hate of de fence, our Admiral determined to (lupe his courfe to St. Lucia, to get more certain intelligence of the o}•erations of the enemy. So here we are on a Rut for St. Lucia." OFF GR F NADA. Juste 9.—Here we are arrived, on the fecund day from Trinidad. We can't all in with the enemy—they won't fir out of port, and we hear they are fill at Martinique; fome accounts llwe them to be 28 fail of the line. Ido not believe this ; but no matter—we Shall not (brink from them if they are fo formidable. Ido nut think it pohlible for Lord NELSON to keep in port if he knew an enemy was at fea. What ardour he evinces - for a bru(h ! 'What fpirits, what impatience he exprefres to give a leffon to the Imperial navy ! We do not flop here—Hav ing afcertained that the enemy are at Marrinique,we are about to feet. for St. Lucie, to be nearer them. We (hall then appear off the mouth of Fort Royal to invite them out, if they wilt come. We promife them a warm reception. We are all in the higteit health and fpirits ; our ships are excellent failprs, and only ten men tick, thanks to the care la d atten tion of the medical nun on board the fleet. lila. may be after a battle 1--Adiett4" •sr+ lead my ncit PefRLIAMENTitR7 PROCEEDINGS. MOUSE OF LORDS, TUESDAY. JULY 9. '-.:riseerbame.. Arch-way Bill was mad the third date, and paftedi Old vatioue other Bilis were forwarded in their rcfpeCtivo fiasco. The Earl of SUFFOLK raid be 'Hated to oder a very few words to the Houfc, which be deemed to be of very great Wiper tance as to the object, which was to corral a rnilapprehenikm ra fpeding the treatment of Mr. Todd Jones. He had received let ters from unqueitionable authority, Rating that be had a good and commodious apartment, was permitted to take the air in the ground belonging to the prifon at his own pkafure, and had the convenience ()flitch attendants as he required. His Lortilhip falai he felt that he was irregular in making this Monad, miconnedcd with any hulinefs before the Houfc.but be alto felt it to bads duty to make this declaration for the purpofe of correcting an erroneous ftatement, which he conceived to be of importance. Mr. WHITBREAD, attended by a large body of the Commons, prefented the Articles of Im peachment, in maintenance of the Impeachment made by the Commons at their Lorclfitips' bar. After the Articles were read by the Clerk, Lord HAWKESBURY moved, that a Commit tee be appointed to (earth the journals for prece dents for their Lordfhips' guidance in the proceed ings on the Impeachment : And alto, th a t a C o py of the Articles of Impeachment be fent to Lord Melville within one month from that time, and that hs be allowed to the fecond day of next fellion to put in his anfwer.—Ordered. On the motion that Mr. Trotter's Indemnity Bill be committed, The LORD CHANCELLOR fail, that no Bill of greater importance ever came before the Houfe, and yet no grounds had been made out to jnifify it. Much of the objeaion he had to the Bill had been done away by the Articlei of Impeachment being adually laid on the table this day, becaufe thee contained fome evidence, tome reafons not before in the polfeffion of the Houle. Still many objeaioni preffed on his mind. He believed there was no in fiance of the Hoare being called upon for indemnity for tranfaaions not known to the Houfe. The checks the common law had put upon indemnity given to Approver: were very revue, and moll jealoufly watch% ed in the adminifiration of justice. They could not be admitted as evidence till themfelves were charged by indiament ; they mutt previoufly confers them-1 (elves guilty of the crime ; they cannot be compellall to give evidence, but mull do it voluntarily ; if they vary in their evidence in the refpeaive proceedings, they are liable to be executed themfelves ; and the fame peril hangs over them if the Jury is not con• vinced, and the perfon againft whom they are evi dence is not conviaed. In the indemnity afked by this Bill, it does not appear that Trotter and the others alluded to are accomplices. It depafts from the principle on which indemnity is granted by the common law; that the witnefs confeffes himfelf guilty, but takes indemnity for the purpofe of ena bling him to convia another. A material objeetios he had to the Bill was, that it called on the Houle to admit, that money had been applied by the partits implicated, contrary to law ; and thus might pm judge the very caufe their Lordfhips had to try. word alfo of moft extraordinary extent and opere don was ufed in the Bill. The witneffes were to give evidence as to their belief, as well as knowledge and remembrance, This was contrary to all law, to call upon a man to give his belief as evidence in a criminal procedure. The laft chafe of the Bill was, however, in his mind, moll exceptionable. The wit neffes are by that exempt from all civil proceedings as well as criminal ; and from all civil fuits of pri vate perfons that may have been injured by their tranfaaions, and may have a legal remedy agaioll them. This wasan extent of indemnity not warrant ed by the motives and reafons of giving indemnity. —They are indemnified, by the exprefs words of the Bill, for illegal application of a)ty money ; and I though be was perfuaded the Commons intended any public moray, yet if the witnetfes owe him money which they have mifapplied, he may feek for it, but without the allifiance of the law, if this Bill knifes. He thought it his duty to point out there obj . eaions to the Bill. If it Rood as it uat prefent, the indemnity offered to the stitneffes, in the cafe of exemption from all civil fuits, is a premium and wages offered for their conviling Lord Melville. It is a price given for their evidence, and a temptation that (hould not be held out. Whether he fhould oppofe the Bill or not would depend on what mould be done is the Committee. Lord HOLLAND agreed that many of the ob lations of the Noble and Learned Lord deferved conlideration ; but they might all be removed in 'the Committee. He contended there were fufficient grounds and evidence regularly before the Houle to vindicate the principle of the Bill. Thefe were in the Tenth Report of the Commillioners of Naval Inquiry, in the fubfequent Report of the Seled Com mittee, and in the Articles of Impeachment. To Med this Bill would be equally injuhlice to Lord elville and the country. It might happen that the witneffes had ufed the public money without the pri vity of Lord Melville as to the extent or appli cation. In that cafe, what would the Houfeof Com mons, the people, and the whole world fay, if they deprived his Lordlhip of the proofs of innocence of fered by this Bill ? The anxiety of the public alto de- mended, that the Bill fhould not be deferred to the next feffion. He therefore hoped the Houfe would go in a Committee, where the objections to the Bill would be eafily removed. Lord HAWKESBURY agreed with the Noble Baron in his entire approbation of the principle of the Bill; and he was moll anxious that no time fhould be loft. But the oblations to many of the clanks were moll important. If they could be re moved, he fhould be glad. His Lordfbip then took a very extenfive view of the objedions Dated by the Lord Chancellor; and concluded by expreffing his ftrong defire that the Bill fhould pats this Se lion. Lord SIDMOUTH was a friend to the Bill; and thought the objations might be removed in a few minutes, with the aid of his Learned and Honourable Friend on the Woolfack. ' The LORD CHANCELLOR raid, as it feemed to be the general with of the Honk that the objec tions lhould be confidered with the 'tall poffible de lay, he would fuggeft, that the Houfe go now into the Committee, and that the Amendments be refere ed till the third reading.----The Bjll then went thro' A Committee without amendment ; the Report was received ; and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. PADWNCTON CANAL BILL. Ths Marquis of BUCKINGHAM prefented a pe. tition again& the Duty impofed on Coals !nought by 'the Paddington Canal. Ordered td, lie on the table. —The Peddington Canal Bill was then committed ; and aft ome prOgreft, the Marquis of Bye': *so tr am moved, that the Chairmin do now leave the Chair, for the purpofe of afterwards moving that the Re. port be received this day three month.. The Honk divided on the motion... Contents 8— Non-contents ts. The Bill was afterwards palled through the Com mittee : and upon the Houle being returned, the Re port was brought up by Lord Wallingham. GUSSIISSIr SMUGGLING SILL. The Houfe then went into a Committee on the Smuggling Prevention Bill. Lord HOLLAND Rated, that his objeftion to the meafure was principally direded againft that part of the Bill which amounts to an adoption of the princi ple of our right to legiflate internally for that Hand. At a time when their Lordfhips were :bout to grant a compenfation to an individual for his lots in rights of a fimilar nature, in one ;nand, we fhould be ex tremely cautions as to the exercife of our power, if legal power we had, over the Oinftitured Authori ties of another rand, without making tome inquiry as to how far their rights may be .affefted. In the prefent advanced Rage of the &Monk was imp9ffible that fuch an inquiry could be made—he, therefore, hoped, that the Bill would not be fuffered now to pats ; and fur that purpofe moved that the Chair man do leave the Chair with the view of entering more minutely into the difcutllon of the fubjea in the earning Sellion of Parliament. Lord HAWKESBURY maintained that, if their Lordihips did not give authority to enforce the non olage of calks of s certain defcription, and if they did not grant the right to fearch within the ports of Cuernfey and Jerfey, they could never fairly hope to prevent fmuggling between thole Mends and Great Britain. And, as bit the right to legillare internally for the Iflands now mentioned, he infifted on it that it was a fair and equitable principle acknowledged by tee Conflitution, that whatever belonged to the Crown of Great Britain thould be confequently fub jed to the right of the Parliament of Great Britain to legiflate for it ; and this right had been ailed on from the time of William the Third to the reign of his prefent Majefty, by the peels of various Alls of Parliament. The Duke of CLARENCE declared that in his opinion it was impollible that the fair and honourable Made of the Mends could be carried on unlefs fume akeration were made in may claufes of the Bill. Lord HOLLAND obfervad that he thought that this country had had fufficient experience to judge of the propriety of faercifing our right to legiflate internally for our dependences. The laws which had been mentioned by the Noble Secretary of State as beating upon the prefent cafe, did not appear to him to have the leaft analogy to the prefent Bill. The Houfe afterwards divided on the firft Claufe, which extendethe operation of the Bill to Guemfey and Jerfey.—Coate* 6. Not Contents 19. We underftand the Bill was then paled through the Committee and reported. DUES OF ATHOL'S I'LL. Upon cur being re-admitted into the Houk, we found the Marquis of Buckingham arguing againft any further proceedings in the Duke of Athqrs Bill for the prefent, It was defended by the Earl of Weßmoreland and Lord Hawkeibury. After which an Adjournment was moved by the Marquis of Buckingham, at t o'clock. his the Houk divided. For the Adjournment —Contents—Prefent 7—Proxies 3 t 2.—Not-Con. tents—Prefent at—Proxies 24-43 —Majority 33. The Earl of CARYSFORT and the Marquis of BUCKINGHAM then alluded to the want of a liced in the year t 746, and on thakeccount it was moved that the Bill be committed this day three months.— This motion was, however, negatived without a di vifion. The Houfe then went into a Committee, when the Counfel for the Houfe of Keys were ordered to be called in, for the purpofe of gating the interelts which it was alledged they had in oppofing the prefent Bill. Mr. Rom, LLY was accordingly heard in explana- tion on that point. The LORD CHANCELLOR did not think that any fufficient intereft bad been affigned by the Petitio ners, to induce their Lordfhips to allow them to be heard in detail in fupport of their objeftions. The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM thought fuf ficient grounds had been affigned by the Learned Counfel in fupport of the petitioners interefts to be heard.—lt was determined, however, that the bill be proceeded in. The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM then again moved, that the Honfe do adjourn, (it being then nearly one o'clock) but the motion was negatived, On the motion for poftponing the preamble as ufual, The LORD CHANCELLOR objeded to it, as containing objeftionable terms, and as proceeding on the narrative that the Sovereignty of the Ifle of Man had been conveyed by King Henry the Fourth to the predeceflors of the Duke of Athol, and continued from that period in his family. In fupport of this part of the preamble, Connie' was ordered to be called in. Mr. ADAM and Mr. Haatisom were accordingly heard. After they had concluded their arguments, it was determined to pollpone the preamble, and to proceed to the feveral claufes of the bill. The LORD CHANCELLOR wi(hed them to be gone through without much dirculfion, and to re ferve the debate till the third reading. The Marqnis of BUCKINGHAM, though ex• tremely inimical to this precipitate mode of proceed. ing, and extremely anxious for delay, gave way to the Noble and Learned Lord's fuggenion. On the Claufe granting the Annuity of a Fourth of the Revenues of the Ifiand from the Confolidated Fund, The Duke of NORFOLK objeded to the mode of grant ing the allowance. as calculated to interfere with the proper management andripplication of the public re venue. He accordingly took the fence of the Houfe on the fubjeift. On the divifion the numbers were—For the chide 1 9—Againft it s--MA jori t y 14. The other atufes were, after Come converfation, gone through, the Report was received, and the third reading appointed for this day. when the Lord Chancellor intimated that he would Rate his fend meats at length againft the palling of the Bill.—Ad jonmcd at near four o'clock. NOUSE or COMMONS. Mr. MACDONALD (fon of the I.A.rd Chict Baru, oths and his feat for Kirkwall. Dingwin, 11r. HUSKISSON prefented certain Accounts fro,. , he of :siltoms and Excite, which were ordered to be mitt )n the motion of Mr. WHITBREAD, the Atticlts of 'mpeachmcnt againit Lord Melville mere r ead, ar.d orered to be fent up to the Lords ; and rn the mo. tion of Lotd Tastat.a, Mr. Whitbread was direft:d to tarry up thi fame. WINITIBRIAD accordingly, attended by fevev a l °f-de Members, went up to the Lords, and on retain appeared at the Bar, and informed the Her i f, that ►e had been at the Lords, and had delivered at their Bar, conformably to the orders of the Houle, the .A.-ticles of impeachment againß Lord Vifeour,t Mr. WHITBREAD then role to more that le. re be given to bring in a Bill to continue the proctedi; ..c in the Houfe of Commons, againa Lord Vifeo w , Melville, and to empower the Committee to Cox.. nue their fittings, notwithilanding any prorogatio n of Parliament. He was induced to bring forwar d this motion, from a confideration of the late period of the Seßion at which the Impeachment had betn voted, and of the many important articles °fermi. - nation that Rill remained to be gone throurh. I was of the higlieli importance to embrace the ear hell opportunity of examining the neceffary witnefres, and from a consideration of all circumllanees the Committee ought to have it in their power to avail themfelves of the evidence of Mr. Trotter, with as little delay as pollible. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE(WER was averfe to this Motion, as it militated against one of the moil marked principles of the Conaitution. According to that principle of the Conflitntion it should be in the power of the Crown to put a pe. riosl to the proceedings of the Houfe at pleafure.— This Motion had an obvious tendency to interfere with that prerogative. He fhuuld be very unwilling, however, to throw any obaruftion in the way of the proceedings of the Houfe on the fubjefl in quAlion, did not the principle appear to him of fuck abfolute importance. To obviate this difficulty, he thought they might occupy a certain number of days at the commencement of next Seffion of Parliament, for the purpcsie of forwarding the neceffary arrange ments. The queftion, he conceived to be, whether they thould delay thole proceedings for a very few months, or break through one of the moll important principles of the conftitution? Lord TEMPLE pointed out in very appropriate terms the advantage of getting the necellary evi dence as early 'as poffible. Mr. WILLIAMS WYNNE expreffed the fame opinion —looked forward to the inconveniency they would be expofed to in the event of the death of Mr. Trotter, and was of opinion, that from his examin ation fuurces of evidence might be difcovered that might prove of the higheft importance, and of which, by any delay, they might be wholly deprived. He infifted therefore on the propriety of a Parliamentary Commiffion to examine evidence. This was no new propofition ; there were many inftances on their Journals of fuch a proceeding. After Tome farther obfervations from Mr. Whit bread and Lord Henry Petty, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, alluding to the cafe of Mr. Hafting% and producing it as a precedent, propoled, in lieu of the motion Of the Hon. Gentleman, 't That the proceedings againft Lord Melville (hall not be difcontinued by any pro rogation or diffolution of Parliament." This Rein. lution would equally ferre the purpofe pit - pored by the Hon. Gentleman, and not being in pofitive terms. did not wear that face of hoflility to the conftittnional principle he had already alluded to, and which he was anxious to p-eferve inviolate. Mr. WHITBREAD having withdraws his mo tion, the propofition of the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer was accordingly agreed to, and permiffion granted to bring in a Bill conformably to the fame. CAPTAIN WRIGHT. Mr. WINDHAM then rote, and obferved, that he had already had occafion to Rate to the Houle the cafe of Captain Wright, who had been confined in a dungeon of the Temple, and had been treated with unexampled feverity by the French Government. He fhould not now enlarge on the circumftances of his detention ; but it would Teem, that the only cir eminence which had made him the cubic& of loch an unparalleled breach of the law of nations, had been his meritorious conduit in the Briti(h fervice.— This, of itfelf, formed a tlrong reafon for taking his cafe into confideration, and for attempting to extri cate him from the peculiar hardfhips of his fituation. The queftion then came to be, in what manner could we afford him relief ? Now one of the molt ef featial methods of preventing crimes, was retalia• tion cn the offender. When murder has been com mitted, we cannot remedy the evil, but we can do fomething to prevent its repetition. In this cafe alto retaliation teemed the only method that could be of avail. If this courfe had been followed at Mi. it would, perhaps, have been attended with the belt confequenccs : but, by our own fupinenefs, we gave to the French the privilege of committing any vie knee without the fear of retaliation. Such condua mull have a pernicious influence on the minds of all who are engaged in the naval and military fervice of their country. They might juftly complain of be ing, in Tome degree, unproteded ; while it was evi dent that fervice and protedion (hould, in every in fiance, be reciprocal. Though the difpnfition of Do. naparte was violent and imperious, and his govern. ment defpotie, yet he was not placed without the reach of public opinion, and leaft of all, of the op'- nion of his own army. Retaliation on our part would necefratily imprefs them with the convidion, that crimes were not to be committed with impunity : and their opinion and voice muff have great influ ence on the French Government. Our cendlia, from the beginning, difcovered rather the fear of an inferior, than that promptnefs in repelling injury which becomes an equal ; and had his advice been followed, our condud would have been very differ ent. If he had reafon to hope, that a different fyflem of condnd was to be purfued, that retaliation—that ultimo ratio—were to be adopted, he thould not agaia trouble the Houk on this fubjed. But if nothing be done before, or during the prorogation of Parlia ment, he thould think it his duty to bring forward a motion on this bufinefs in the neat S4on,7—Ad journed, s Ii of