Star. — London, England, 1818-05-15 00:00:00

ject. He eoujd not weigh the value of the objec tion offered by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.) Cannine i upon the ground of time, because he did not keow when Government might judge it conve nient for their own purposes, to advise-a dissolution of Parliament---(Hear, hear.) - But paltry election views were not to be put in competition with a ques tion of die highest importance to the public. No po-j lineal arrangement, no interested views of party, should outweigh the paramount duty of investigating a subject in which the lives of human beings were c o ncerned—(hear, hear.) In the event of a Commis- siau being appointed, their Report would not be heard', before January next. Vas it fit to allow such an in terval to pass by without any attempt to remedy ss great an evil ? It was said before —e Wretches hang, that jurymen may dine."—He saw no reason for delay in the appointment of a Committee.— .The only objection to it was such as Ministers alone could create by an early dissolution of Parliament. Ali th.e. was necessary might, be done in one month. Even if more time were required, that could be no reason for delegating the functions of the House to a Royal Commission.—The Members of that House were the most proper persons to enter into the inquiry. It was objected that it was unusual to refer matters of science to a Committee. Was there not a Com mittee some time back upon Weights and Measures, a ver,' complicated question which required no small knowledge of the mathematics? Was there not also a Committee upon the Elgin marbles? The former Cuinmittee, though nothing decisive was done in consequence of their Report, still brought a very valuable body of information together. An investi gation by Commission would not, he was convinced., . remove the distrust and jealousy of the public. They really believed that there was a compact between the Burk and the Government—(hear, hear)—The ap poirunient of a Commission would then appear to them nothing more than the selection of individuals to try their own friends. The public could expect nothing from such a Commission but subserviency and collusion—(hear).—The Report of a Committee would produce quite a contrary impression. Such Reports were of the highest value; they conveyed at all times most useful and important information ; they kept up the character of the House, and tended snore than any thing else to support the respect of -Parliament. They were now called upon to desert their functions, and to delegate them to a Commis sion chosen by the Crown, of which it was their duty to be Jealous. If they did not maintain towards the Ciown a proud but respectful attitude, and towards the people one of protection and support, they would injure their own character, they would fall in the confidence of the country, and alienate from them selves that respect which it was desirable by all means to increase. For these reasons, he would pre fer. a Committee to a Commission. The Directors of the Bank, and some of their friends, seemed-indif ferent which was appointed. He could not, these lure, agree to the amendment.—The House divided, For the Amendment - • 10d Agsinst it 62 Majority in favour of the Commission —45 On the Address being put by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHFAMER, Lord COMPTON moved, as an A tnlndment, to strike out the words-- - -" and other Banks, and of other engraved negotiable securities." The t:HANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER maintained the expediency of the additional power to be dins given to the Commission. Mr. J. SMUCH give the proposal, to extend the power of the Commission to inquire into the paper of private Bankers his most decided opposition. Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that the object was to inquire how Bank notes in general could be so constructed as to prevent their liability to forgery, and that it would be invidious to confine the inquiry to the notes of' the Bank of England. Mr:TIERNEY remarked, that the Right Honour able Gentleman, by this propreition, wished to soften tie inconvenience of the inquiry to the Bank Direc tnrs, by telling them that he thought others as bad as themselves-4A laug h.) The whole of the debate of the evening had arisen on the general notoriety that an excessive proportion of the Notes of the Bank of England. and of the Bank of England only, were forgeries. To adopt the proposition of the Right hoisourable Gentleman, would be to commit a gross injustice, for it would se to proclaim to the whole country; that the Notes of Country Bankers stood on the same footing as the Notes of the Bank of Eng land, which was not true. With such powers, the inquiry would do more harm than good. But per haps the Right Honourable Gentleman might resort to his old expedient, and say that this proposition of his was a mistake—(A laugh.) Mr. LYTTLETON observed, that there were few cases in which he conceived that it was justifiable to move an adjournment ; but that if any one ever exis ted, it was the present, when a motion was suddenly made affecting the interests and character of a nu merous bo d y of people. With a view therefore to give further time for the consideration of so impor tant a question, he would move, That the House do notv adjourn." The SPEAKER was about to put the question of adjournment, when Mr. LYI'TELTON begged leave to withdraw it until the House should have expresse,i their sense of his Noble Friend's amendment to the Right Hon. Gentleman's moth - in. Mr. PROTHEROE opposer! the Iti eht Hon. Gen tleman's proposition. lie had rcv;rlt2rd a com plaint among commercial men of any injury they bad sustained from the engraved r.egotiable securities of the Country Banks. He objected - to this extension of the Commission, because it would render their coiect indefinite, and, he apprehended, their labours interminable. Mr. GIPPS remonstrated against the inquisitorial rower which the contested clause in the motion would Live the Commission. The CHANCELLOR of theE XCH EQU ER replied that the Commissiohirouldhave no compulsory power with reference either to the Bank of England or to, the Country Banks, but were merely to endeavour to discover the means of remedying the evil which was ' so generally prevalent. Mr. W. SMITH put it to the Ileese, whether the waole tenour of what had been said since the diva- , eon, &LI not shew that the particular proposition in' crestion, although certainly the worth t-i.i.ted in the Address moved by'the Right Hois. (tenth:man, as an LONDON. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1818. THE FUNDS. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT vortmvir o'ctocK : Reduced 78f 79—Coucols 79t—for Acc. 791,f Si per Cents. 891.1-1. per Cent. 96fi Navy Aims. 1071 108—India Bonds 98 100 pr. Exch. Bills 18 pr —omr.ium f 1 prem. Last night, in the House of Commons, Sir JANS MAcKistosti brought forward his Motion for a Committee to inquire into the best means for preven ting the Forgery of Bank Notes, which produced an animated and interesting debate. Sir J.thsrs begged the House to look at the result drawn from the docu ments before them. The number of prosecutions for Bank forgeries in the years 1816, 1817, and three months of 1818, presented an increase of crime which would defy belief if it did not rest oa the most au thentic evidence.. In the year 1817 the expense or prosecutions cost the Bank Thirty Thousand Pownd::, and in three months only of the present year no less than Twenty Thousand Pounds; and the general ave rage for prosecuting each individual was 2651. The CHANCBLLOR of the EXCHZQUER moved as an amendment, that it should be referred to a Royal Commission to inquire into the best means of pre venting the forgery of the Notes of the Bank of Eng land, private Banks, and other regociable securities; and this amendment was carried by a majority cf 87 - against 75. Many objections were then offered to the words of the Address for the Royal Commission proprred , the CIIANCLLLOR of the Excliwausa, on account of, its embracing private Banks and otter negociabl securities. The motion, however, was carried by a majority of 12. An adjournment was then moved by Mr. I.wrstx too, who strongly opposed extending the inquiry beyond the Notes of the Bank of England, and do. dared his intention to persist in motions of adjourn ment, till he should compel the CRANCILLOR of the Exclizooza to abandon his Amendment. The ques tion now came - o be entirely between the Cuaticet.- Loa of the Exentotota and Mr. LYTTLETON as to which should give way ; when the former at length said, the question was rot worth contesting, and agreed to confine the inquiry of the Commission to Bank of England Notes only. But now arose a new difficulty. The motion of Address had been carried, and in print of form it could not be altered. The SPIAKER pointed out the means to get over the dif ficulty—namely, by the House negativing its former vote, 2nd then•voting a new Address, without the' words objected to. This was accordirgly done, and the powers of the Commissioners are only to extend to the Notes of the Bank of England. We may certainly congratulate the public on the resolution that has been come to, to inquire into the means of lessening, if not preventing, the frequency of Forgeries. We pretend not to ju Ige whether a Committee, or a Royal Commission, is 6410 calcu lated to answer the desired end; for, no matter by whom the investigation is carried on, it must lead to results beneficial to the public. Artists competent to give evidence on a question of this kind will be exa mined, and upon their evidence chiefly will rest the result. It may be difficult entirely to put an end to the crime ; but we have no hesitation in asserting, that its frequency might have bean greatly lessened by means that were offered to the Bank in the year 1797. Some people connected with the Bank have stated that every contrivance offered to the Bank has been copied by their own engravers in three days. This is not true. And we state, what will be confit med by the investigation, that Mr. TlLLoett's specimen has not yet been copied. But were it even true that with much tire and la bour and expense, a copy of it had been produced, which could deceive stupid people, it would not fol• low, even in that case, that it should be rejected for the security to the public would be in the ratio of its difficulty contrasted with the facility with which the prescnt Bank Notes may be and are daily forged —and that so effectually, that none but the Bank In spectors can detect them. In the House of Lords, last night, Lord Aucx- LAND withdrew the Chimney Sweepers' Regulation Bill until next Session, despairing, perhaps, to be able to get it passed in the form he wishes during the present Session. Mails both from Hamburgh and Holland arrived to-day, but bring no intelligence of the leaq interest or importance. The Paris Papers of Monday arrived this morning. The following Notices are of more than usual inteeest: " MANMEIM, MAY 4. " Baron D'AusTerrem, the Russian Minister to the Germanic Diet, has received important dispatches from 'Warsaw, in consequence of which he h 's sent an Agent to Aix-la-Chapelle, to provide a Hotel there for the Emperor ALEXANDM We are assured that the Emperor, after his return from Bessarabia and the Crimca, will remain but a short time at Moscow before repairing to the Borders of the Rhine. " The King of Pausstn sets out in a few days for Moscow, and will probably repair to Aix-la-Cha pelle at the same time with the Emperor. " It appears now certain, that a Congress of the Sovereigns is to take place forthwith at Aix-la-Cha pelle, which will be not only occupied with the sub ject of the evacuation of }trance by the Allied Army, but also with the geaeral interests of Europe, and those of Germany is particular. " We are positively assured, moreover, chat ihe Duke of RICHELIEU and Lord Cnwitunmacit will attend the Allied Sovereigns during their stay at Mt la-Chapelle. " The re-establishment of torture in the Kingdom of Hanover has produced a very unpleasant impres sion-there. Some disagreeabte scenes are said to have taken place, which have obliged the Duke of CAH• BRIDGE to return immediately from Cancel to Hano ver. It is probable, however, that there may be some exaggeration in this news. " The Liberty of the Press has been established at Frankfort, the Journals alone are excepted ; these still remaining subject to the Censure." Extract of a letter dated St. Thomas's, March 28, 1818, to s Merchant is Laacsater:--" Owing to the advance of the Pa triots towers:, the Caraccas, we have this day had intelligence of General Mouti.o having completely defeated them. He had suct.t.xied in forming a junction with the rest of his troops, previous to the battle. He will, no doubt, immeduaely ad vance against Aria/lora." The Duke of *num:most had a long audience cf the PRINCE REGENT yesterday, at Carlton House. The Duchess of GLOUCESTER had a grand and nu mercus party last ni: 3 lt. A brilliant rout, the first of a series, was given hr a rew constellation in the hemisphere of fashion, the Lady of Lord DUEYERIN, on Wednesday nigh!, at her beautiful mansion, in Cavendih.square. A inoly the visitants were his Royal Diglmess the Duke of CLA ENCE and the Misses Frrect.s azsc Am IRISH Puzzis.—Why is Ira like a potatce Because it shoots from the qt.; PRUSSIA. —_--s Wo bare betas favoured wide a perusal of i pr : letter from Berlin of the Stb instant, from following is an extract : " The attention of die Public is very mock ted by the English Loan, and the couseleences which it will be attended in respect to ear Upon the whole, it is dlought rather advat eg , although the prospect of repaying it sho u ld, i t country like your,, make a people a little le % guine in their expectations of irsaring prop erty. Government will of course dit(Large it as so re: possible; and from its well kr.own p jerrua li ty money affairs, great dependence ma) Le 1 : 4r ,,,y upor " The Prince and Princess of ! e f t for their residence on the lst ins. Ant. a Th e Congress, ac the approaching rr.e t i eg Sovereigns • is to be called, is to sneer 2: Ai: •:, •Chapelie. The famous M. Gest., au d,, t: Considerations on the French Revolution,' is to attend in the capacity of one of the Councillor:. the Ccurt of Vienna." NAVAL LVTELLIGEYCC. FALMOUTH, MAY it. Wind S.W. light breezes, and fine weat►er,.._Pn t John and William. Davis, from Bristol for Minibus* to a leak.—Sailed the Grace packet, with a mail for Jamai ca PLYMOUTH, MAY 3. Wind S.W. —Arrived the Cyrus. Fuzz, from laed.a Ceylon, Wad remains windbound. PORTBMUUTH, MAY 14. Wind S.W.—Arrived the M.dgrave Ckg Blanc f: don for &mph _ _ _ DEAL. M la lc Arrived and sailed for the River the !Lawn!, Notts, Thmsetara; Alezainler, himar, from Jamie.; and C wt . BALLIMIIIICUT. from ALtigna.—ratue thwu tn.a. I'M:. reinah,s in the IJowns, the Marla, Wu.t.tant, for Stu. so, L , Wales. LIVERPOOL, MAY IL Arrived the Triton, liata.oxi, Irons Bc, , ton, sat t o ck cf April in company with thr Columbia acd for I r „,._ pool; the Nancy and the M..ry were to sail daike. tht it s Ashton, Baowx, fur Calcutta. YARMOUTH, MAT 14. The Lord Wellington, Onsrox, from Rostock to 1..ce 1 , with wheat, Ste. struck on the C.4.rscu ram 4 yesterday, Mt sa been supplied with two men, and will ertgeed u sass u wind permits. GRAVESEND, MAT 14. Arrived the Jemims. Mob», fr , s7tl Combat'; Ogee Ne. son, from Jamaica ; Governor Hamer, Wilma, from Dar. rare ; Freedom, Stewart, from Sland ; TeSock Castle, Slam frost Jamaica; Pllgir.t. Presser, from St.Vmeesn's; sea, Adamson, from China ; shim, P. 0.7, from Berko r. Ceres, —..., and Janes, Cray, front Jantica ; kose, Ilurro4b, fru = ....—.; the Lively, %yes, from HA ingest Waroosrtai, Tyson, from Tobago; Globe, Diythe, from Jammu ; Wows. Alamo. from lkmer-ra ; and theWashiegtoa, Forstaam. fv.a Sew York.—SiUcd the Hooter, Grant, Lr Quebec ; Frac 1, Trundle, for Barbtdoes ; Deans Stun, Gahm, fer I latre; to Clarks, Aruse, for Rouen ; Stanton, Clamber, f t lean; the Stag, Wiley, and the Amelia, Condom, for Ibmieugh Monday two of the men shut up, as former!r rr.". tioned, in the Quarrelton Colliery, near Mason, were found alive and well, after having been II ays confined. They subsisted on the lot ad which was left in the wallets of the rollers whn escaped. A hone was along with them, but they fortunarem ) id no occasion to kill him. Their light lasted ad. two hours after the breaking in of the water. The inea saved were in a different part of the work;np front the remaining five, whose fate is not yet ascertained. though every possible exertion is making to reacb quarter where they are ; but from the quarti7 rf choke damp in that directiou, apprehensicus a:c ea tertained for their safety. . . Wednesday evening as One of the Greer vetch cite going into the town from London, davits, at a tolet- r• rate, being heavily laden with passengers both inside v = t-, when driving past the College, by some means the coed :A overturned, and the whale of the outside passenger• were r • ♦ cipitaLed into the road, when a padres:li of the ram , . et Let happened to be undermost, and received ro much in!ary tin Se vondted near half a gallon of blood: he wo rut igte senesce which was passing at the time sad convey. d house to We.h where be died shortly afterwards In great agony. Li, vt passengers were injured. Est loft Artow.—There are now two :mg! slept X Limerick, receiving passengers for St.l.,ho's arat St. Andrew's in America. One of the revels has crm• pieced her number, and the other near:y so. Leif :es these, respectable farmers' families trout the Queelis Cour tv and the County of Tappers: r, together with forty-five families from the iierght..rirlood of But* risckshane, have passed through Limericl to etr.ba. - c at Cork for Quebec, where, on producing the cer tificate of good conduct, from their parish Cirri; they are put into possession of SO acres of grott-1. which they will enjoy for cultivation. NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING, TkuRSDAY, MAY 14. Fifty Pounds for 3-yr-olds carrying Gat. lib. Mr-olds. t 5-yr.olds, att. lib. 6-yr-olels and aged, 6.t. loth. T.M.M. Mr. Wyndham's bay colt, by Teddy the Grinder, ." . ..” - rleuld I Mr. hleale's bay colt, brother to Raphael, Duke of Grafton's cbtosnut filly TrNtrille„ rwld Tess started—The Judge placed but two—TEA (des Lys**. Wyndhanis cok-3 to I slot brother to Illephael—:. t. I .CS Tredrille. _ ----- Mr. Neale's Canvas, 7st. !lb. beat Mr. Slu.k..qcore's 30•ctl, ea. T.Y.C. 30p.-3 to 1 asst CAM% as. The Jockey Club Plate of 50its. to be run for tr A its property of Members of the Jockey • • -ll'. 5- -olds, Rst. 51b. 6-yr-olds, tit. 91b. and are,., • ..S. r • J. : oft Jersey's bay horse Cannon S. - - • I - Nlr. Watscu's blown ce4: attirvillC. . Mr. Wyndbanis grey horse S".-.iat, 5-yrs-eld Mr. A* ilaon's boy net Partingtm, 4-e r• •,.t! 4 to 1 apt Cannon Etll-..-7 to 4 apt } itaOrtilk CORN-EXCHANGE, MARK-L. NF, AIV /5. The Wheat Tratie was exceedingly licAvi morning, and what few sales weir mil: were t lower prices, in consequence of incrcascil arrival' from abroad, and the reduction of ss. per sack Flour, which was agreed upon at the close of Wei nesday's Market.—Barley is also dull sale, and r . " l ' lower.—Beans are full is. per quarter thea;4l. Oats support Monday's prices. SMITIIFIF.LD MARKET, MAY IS. To sink the offal—per stow: of sibs. Beef ..... ...46 4d to 34 04 I V e al Si 4d to fa td rluttoo..4s 4d to 6s Od Pork Lamb - 7s. Od. to as. Od. rteasts 620-I'alves 1160--febeep arid iambs 6,74e-4 1 p: 40 _ - „. 1 l' ) i ,41 Y I 1 • I , • i t II I ' i r 4 . 1 1 1,1 I ' 1 1 1 i • • • 1 . fi • ! k, ~..l i, ii V 4• s • it °* t ” , t t I ‘, 1 ? 1 1. 41) I \ • 1., • l pr whi r l . sal F M ttr ad , trip I I se e 4: uality uPor44 Balla ! King t: is 4... 0 calor: .4 Isla. lb, to .; durkr. Letdcz f:=l 42 , f.ai d Cre Tt , 1,91, 1 4 ot.W Sa jo cf tor I rt. ?. ay• 1111111fi LI 44 hies. di: ram tie. Gt . * ,• Beerier gurorft % Aanort.ar, C.) Wool s was. tv.a ; flat I ; natne ; roan; =bud* !TIT tr.,. Glaseor, amendment t, I.is Honourable Friend's motion, never entered into the head of any Member on either side tithe House durin& the fist part of the debate? It suet with his unequivocal opposition. Howe then divided—For the Motion 87—, lAgainst it 75--Majority for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Amendment, 12. Before the admission of so the Gallery, the Case S tWeas of the Rxessesesa, on Mr. Lresamoses persevering in his-motion for se adjournment, expressed his disposition to with draw the objettglojiMais clause from Ms motion; which was fed losodd by loud cheers. CB the Gallery being opened we found the House in sane embarrassment as to rue proper mode of procedure, in order to ca ta the Right Honourable Gentleman's concession Into efeet. The SPEAKER said, that It appeared to him that the only ! way of getting oat egtfie difficulty was thia:—The division hay.' ing taken place by which it was determined that the whole of the wards named as an amendment to the original motion should be adopted, in preference to that motion, it was not cans. petent to intive that a part of those words should be Left out and the only course, in his opinion would be to negative the entire Address as it stood, with the view of then moving another so framed as to omit the passage in question. After a few words from Mr. Wren, and a short explanation front the SPY -Mat s ;hit recommendation was adopted, and the Address was negatived. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then moved an Address, confining the proposed inquiry of the Commi”ion to the Notes of the Rank of England. • . Mr. TIERNEY observed, that he could have no objection to this proposition, if the majority had no objection to i!—(a fed g 4)., What pleased him most was the unhappy situation of the Di rectors of the Bank of England, for according to the doctrine of the Noble Lord, they would, by this motion of the Right lion. Gentleman, be invidiously held up as persons against whom alone it was necessary to take precautions—(a toed lama). Lord CASTLEREAGH remonstrated against this remark of the Right Honourable Gentleman as unfair—(a laugh). Using the phrase in its 1 arliamentary sense, it was unreasonable sod vexatious—(a laugh). The fact was simply this :—.-thrt his Bight Honourable Friend, finding the I knowable Gentleman opposite disposed to .persevere in moving the question of adjourement, and being unwilling that the 'whole of the public business which stood for that evening should be impeded, hart consented to withdraw a proposition to which no very great importance was attaehed. Mr. W. SMITH considered i, much better to retract an error than to persist in it, and thought tha Right Hon. Gentleman had shewn abundant good sense and good temper on this O.:ca sks. Ile hoped that the majority who vottli with the Right lion. Gentleman had also had the good fortune to convince themselves of the unimportance of the proposition in support of which they divided; and if so, he begged Leave to congratulate them on their facility--(How, hear, hear.) the CHANCELLOR of the RXCHEQUER expressed his hope that every Hon. lember who voted with him ou the divi sion alluded to, would think with him that it was not desirable to impede the public business for a matter of so little importance. The motion for the Address was then put and agreed to. COUNT LAS CASA& Mr. J. P. GRANT moved for certain Papers respecting Las Cues, the companion of Bonaparte in his captivity in St. Re lens ; who wag seat, as he understoo d,: by the Governor, frem St. Helena to the Cape of Good Hope, and from thence up tie country, where he was detained among savages sevegal months, against his will. It had bees agitated, that he was in some way concerned in sending papers and ktters clandestir.ciy from St. Helena. From the Cape he was brought in a ship, scarcely saw worthy, to the mouth of the Thames ; officers were then seats board, under the Alien Act, and his papers were taken (tom his. He was conveyed on board another vessel to Ostend, and from thence delivered over to the Prussians, and ultiniatOy placed under the surveillance of the Police at Frankfort. It was against the abuse of tbe power given by the Allen Act that he (Mr. G.) now complailed, because he had moved a clause in the Act to prevent the delivery over of aliens Into the herds of their ene mies : the clause was rejected at the time, and he was then told such a case could never happen. It had, however, happened, lo the person of Count Las Cases ' if the information was correct. The necessity of amending the Act was therefore apparent. Re concluded with mining an Address to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, praying that he would be pleased to give direc tions that there should be, laid before the House Copies of all Correspondence with the Principal Secretary of State for the' Home Department, relative to the transportation of Count Les CAW to Great Britain, and thence to the Continent of Europe. Lord CASTLEREAGH observed, that the Hon. Gentleman cast as odium upon the Government of the Cape, which was undeserved, for instead of Las Cases being sent among savages, be was, in fact, lodged among the servants in the Governor's country-house. With respect to sending him to Ostend, he made no objection, and he was only sent to the borders of the Rhioe as being safer than on the confines of France, for it was clear tt his object was to carry on an improper correspondence. IN papers were all delivered to him at Frankfort, sealed; himself admitting they were all perfectly correct. Mr. GOULI3URN confirmed the statement of the Noble Lord, and informed the House, that Madame Las Cases was consulted as to the place where she would like to meet her hus band. She preferred London ; but that not being deemed a pro per meeting-place, she expressed a wish to meet him at the neatest outport. Ostend was therefore selected. After some further observations from Mr. Tisaerr. Mr. Douct.as, and Mr. GIANT, the motion was negatived. The Message respecting the Duke of Kent's Marriage was postponed till to-morrow (this day.) Mr.CA NNING obtained leave • n bring in a Dill to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to East-India Shipping. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Half-past One o'Clock. TH E EVENING STAR. HAY AND STU iNV PER LOAD se4 to iOs I Sum XS lOs to ft ST S to 7 10s Hewett ... Os res to rs pio•usi.Q wiTrvs+. „. U.• 8 2. 1 I 1 1 ........ 11 I I I pm iss PI 11 ei a ffl *rib ibe kJ imam or di Ti or. fir Xing Dl* 'Van 100 TO _1 li [Ur 01. furl orri chive or Co?g th. ac :I lielA vim yobs MA