Star. — London, England, 1818-03-14 00:00:00

i I i. 4 r, ' 1 f l, * .‘ , ~ 1 , ~ 1 , __ ha et T tb in In el 1 - Is Pi a a t( I co rl h d f. II 1 ti 11 9 a 1 , . r 8 c d r r a ( I t . . ( I i c t i 1 , 1 , , itts 1 / : I 1 i I : I 1 1 I I) 1 i /. I . o i, t . . scommens AMERICAN. INITARS. NEW FEBRUARY 13. *l'lle.MempriaVof Mrs. Meade, wife of the Ame rican Agent at Cadiz, upon the subject of his impri sonment, has been presented to Congress. The state ment is to the following effect " An extensive mercantile House in the City of London, hav lag large transactions at Cadis, their assignees prosecuted Meade for a very Imp sum, antk-got a verdict in their favour. Ile was dissatisfied with the decision which had been given by five Spa nish Judges. A new Court, composed of five other Judges. tried the same cause, and confirmed the former verdict. Mr Meade appealed to the King of Spain, but his petitioa was err e l ected. The British Minister, understanding Mr. Meade was going to leave Spain without satisfying the British claims, or dered him to be arrested and imprisoned; and as the Memorial Mates, he , was treated with great indignity and loaded with heavy irons. * HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEB.- 9. The SPEAKER laid before the House the Annual Report of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund (the President of the Senate, the Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney-General). The amount of the public debt, on the first 'day of the present year, stands at 99,004,800 dollars. REPORT PROM THE NAVY BOARD TO filE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. " Of the copper and lead required in the construction of the ships authorised, when the quantity contracted for have a all be de livered (and nearly all has been delivered), we shall suf f iciency for all the ships of the line authorised, and for ten frigates. Of white oak and pine, it will be perceived that we have contracted far, and otherwise provided, as follows: " A sufficient quantity of oak plank for seven ships of the line and four frigates, and nearly all the pine plank required for seven ships of the line and four frigates. " Beams for five ships of the line and four frigates. " Ledges, long combings, and ranging timber for seven ships of the line and five frigates. " Knees for Alps of the line and three frigates. " Mast stuff for three ships of the line and two frigates ; and we have also engaged, and have now delivering, the keels and keels on pieces for five ships of the line and one frigate. " Of cannon, carronades, round and grape shot, we have co a tracted for the quantity required for two ships of the line. " Of iron, we have engaged, and have now on hand, nearly all that is required for four ships of the line and one frigate. " Upon the subject of the steam-batteries, authorised by the law for the ' gradual increase of the navy; the Commissioners have engaged one steam-engine of one hundred horse power. " The Commissioners have also established an anchor shop at this Navy Yard, where all the anchors required will be made. They are also making at this Yard iron cables. " One ship of the line is ordered to be laid down at each of the following Navy Yards, viz. Portsmouth, New York, Wash ington, Boston, Philadelphia, Norfolk. Preparations are also making in each of these Yards, and materials to a considerable extent have been collected. " Of the ships ordered to be laid down, those at New York, Norfolk, and Washington, have been put on the stocks, and are progressing ; those at the other points named, will be laid down a, soon as circumstances will admit." The Report coacludes by sayin , t reemmiioner have no doubt of being able , " if it should b wish of the Executive, to launch them within the period contemplated by the law." DISPATCH FROM GENERAL GAINES. " Head-quarters, Hartford, Georgia, Jan. 28, 1818. t' Sin—l have just received a letter from William Harris, Esq. of Telfair' con taining the painful intelligence of the mas sacre of Mr. Daniel Dikes and his family, by a party of Indians, on the Satilla, forty miles from Telfair Court House. Mr. Har ris adds, that there was reason to apprehend some other families hive fallen near the residence of hr. Dikes. I have ordered a detachment of cavalry to that frontier, to pursue the Indians as far as practicable. " A detachment of Colonel Wimberly's regiment of infantry will be sent down the Flint, on the Indian side, towards the Big Bend, with orders to reconnoitre the country, and arrest or at tack any parties found in that quarter." A letter from Major-General Gaines to the Gover nor of Georgia, dated the 23d, ult. from his head quarters at Hartford, states, that the preceding day a party of Indians had fired upon and killed Mr. Thomas Leigh, assistant waggon-master, and Sa muel Lofters, of Captain Avera's company of Geor gia militia, in Cedar-creek Swamp, seven miles east of Flint-river. General Glascock immediately or dered out a detachment, under Major Morgan, in pursuit of the Indians. There was to have been a meeting of Indians on the 21st ult. to concert mea sures for the destruction of the inhabitants on the Catahoochie, and the reduction of Fort Scot and Fort Gaines. After stating the. measures he had taken for throwing supplies into those Forts, the General proceeds in these terms : " I have seen in the Newspapers, with equal sur prise and indignation the attempts that have been made to hill the public mind into a b2lief that the hostile Indians desire peace, and are willing to lay down their arms. Sir, there will be no peace until those Indians are severely chastised. The chiefs are required to surrender the offenders. It was delibe rately resolved, in a large council of the Seminole and Red Sticks, at Mickasukee, that the offenders should neither be punished nor surrendered. Some of their chiefs have triumphantly asserted, that we cannot beat them—that we never have beaten them, except when we had Red people tai help us.' It is not extraordinary that they should entertain these opinions. They know little or nothing of the strength or resources of our country; and whatever informa tion they have derived from their white friends (Bri tish officers and traders) could have no tendency to give them favourable impressions towards us. They must be beaten before we can reasonably calculate upon peace." The General then reprobates those Newspaper writers who represented the Americans as aggressors in this war, notwithstanding the notoriety of the In dians having previously killed seven Americans, in cluding a woman and two children. He asks what the number is, the massacre of whom would consti tute an act of war in the opinion of those gentlemen? and adds—" Sir, my own humble impressions upon this subject are, that the wanton massacre of an in fant, not yet able to lisp the declaration of I am an American citizen,' should be as promptly avenged as if 50 or 50,000 citizens had been massacred." The General then states, that he places no reliance upon any aid from the friendly Indians. On the contrary, a spirit of opposition had begun to appear among the friendly part of the Creek nation, excited, as fie conceived, b y . the white people em ployed in smuggling negroes into the United States from East Flonda, in consequence el the abominable traffic being rendered more difficult and perilous, by the movements of the United States' troops near the Florida line. EXPEDITION TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. EXTRACT OP A LETTER FROM NEW YORK. An expedition which has sailed from our port will greatly occupy the politicians who are not content with limiting their views to the narrow circle of the present time, but like to throw a look into futurity, and to calculate remat,e consequences and relations. The expedition will at die same time be highly inte resting to the geographer. I mean the enterprize lately decided upm by our enlightened Government, to send an evadition round Cape Horn, in order to found a colony on the opposite side of our immense Continent, on the shores of the Southern Ocean, usually, but improperly enough called the Pacific. It is but a short time since the north west coast of America has been more exactly known. COOK fur nished but very imperfect accounts of this part of the Globe, became he kept himself too much to the north. VANCOUVER was the first viho more accurate ly examined tile coasts, bays, straits, and anchoring places and only since that time have the extensive countries which stretch from the North of the Penin sula of California to Behring's Strait, which separate Asia from America, been properly laid down upon the maps. The Spaniards, indeed, have examined from Acapulco, in Mexico, the coasts which they call New California, but the results of their discove ries lie hid in the archives of Mexico, and are consi... dered as secrets of State. Between the Northern set tlements of the Russians and the Southern of the Spa niards lies an immense space, a coast of several hun dred miles in extent, which being destitute of Euro pean colonies, was long considered as entirely with out an owner. But when the profitable fur trade of these coasts was known, several nations soon obtained the sovereignty of them. The English claimed them as the reward of their prior discovery, and because they were the first to plant here the flag of their na tion. The Spaniards asserted their right to these countries, because they thought they might consider all the land stretching Northward, along the Pacific Ocean, as merely a continuation of New California, where they had some settlements ; and the North Americans now consider them as still forming a part of Louisiana, which belongs to them, because it is at the back of it, and the frontiers of this latter are not yet duly defined. The American Government had, indeed, tried to obtain from the Cabinet of Madrid, in an amicable manner, a formal renunciation of all claims on the part of Spain ; but as the English there, as soon as they were informed of it, also opened a negotiation for such a cession in their favour, no treaty was made. It is now assumed that the country in question has hitherto properly belonged to nobody, and that there is a better title to take possession of it, as American citizens have long since founded Settlements on the river Columbia, which falls into the Pacific Ocean. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 13. Counsel were fully heard on the Appeal of " The Bank of Ireland r. the Attorney-General of that part of the United Kingdom."—Judgmera postponed. Counsel were also heard respecting the Sots Cause " Mrs. Wooley, now Landers, r. 'Maidment."—Euithcr consideration of the Case adjourned till after the recess. Their Lordships then adjourned for some time dining pleasure. On the resuming of the House, A number of Private Bills were brought up from the Com mons by Mr. CAWIIIOIINE and others, and read the first time. Mr. Sewn" presented an Account of the Unclaimed Prize- Money at Chelsea Hospital, which was ordered to be laid on the table. The Kilmainham Hospital, the Madder Duties, and the other Bills upon the table, lying over for that stage, were read the third time and passed. GRANTS IN REVERSION. •Previous to their Lordships' entering upon the 1 1 principal Order of the Day, Earl GROSVENOR called the recollection of the House to the Motion he had some time since made for the production of certain Documents, touching the above subject, part of which even yet, especially those relating to Ireland, had not been brought for ward. His Lordship then took occasion to make some observatious upon the subject. He observed it appeared, that since 1806 no offices, with one excep tion, had been granted in reversion. He thought a com prehensive legislative regulation should be adopted on the subject, to supersede the practice, with the ex ception of those in the province of the Judges, and intimated his intention to bring forward a measure upon the occasion. His Lordship concluded by moving, that those documents which he had referred to should be laid before the House forthwith. The Earl of LIVERPOOL observed, that nearly the whole of the official situations which the Noble Lord seemed to contemplate, could not now be af fected by such a Bill, as they were already prospec tively either abolished or regulated by express Acts of Parliament. It was impossible, therefore, they could be granted in reversion. There was one im portant exception certainly, namely, the Chief Clerk ship in that House, respecting which, however, he had expressly given notice of his own intention to re gulate prospectively by a distinct legislative measure. With respect to some, or most of the others, they were of that peculiar nature, that a general enact ment upon them would be productive of much in convenience. The Reversion of the Rangership of Bagshot Park, a place of no emolument, had been, by advice, conferred by the Prince Regent on ano ther Royal personage. There were also, occasionally, grants of small pensions, which were extended in Reversion to meritorious Officers for services ren dered, on which it would be highly improper to fet ter the discretion of the Crown. Upon the whole, his Lordship seemed to think the enactment contem plated by the Noble Earl, could be productive of no benefit, while, on the other hand, it would induce no small inconvenience. _ _ _ Earl GROSVENOR shortly explained, and ex.' pressed his willingness to postpone the agitation of such a proposition for the present. After a few words in the way of explanation be tween the Earl of LIVERPOOL and the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, the motion of the Noble Earl, as above, was agreed to. SOLITAIRE ESTABLISHMENTS. On the question for the third reading of the Mu tiny Bill, Earl GROSVENOR, in pursuance of his notice, rose to move an amendment thereto.. It was his in tention, he said, to move the introduction of an amendment in the preamble of the Bill,, for the pur pose of reducing the number of the forces proposed as the Military Establishment for the year. He must, in the strongest manner, enter his solemn protest against such an enormous Military Establishment at the present moment—a time of profound peace throughout all Europe, and when the finances of the country were so little able to bear such an expense. His Lordship then proceeded at some length to enter into a detailed view of the subject, in which he gene rally impugned the extent of the Establishments as proposed by the Bill as unnecessary, extravagant, or unconstitutional—the last in the view of keeping on foot such a large standing army at a period of pro found peace. The pe4ce establi _ sl tailuit as proposed, after long and elaborate consideration, he thought would be a preferable model: and he glanced at the present military establishment of the United States of America, which did not exceed 8000 regular troops. With respect to Ireland, if the important national question of the Catholic Claims had been properly decided, and wise regulations respecting the distilleries adopted, he thought a much less force than that now proposed for that country would do.— The Home Establishments he thought excessive, and upon the whole, when he felt so satisfied is to the loyal and tranquil dispositions of the great body of the people, he could not regard the keeping up such an enormous force but as a species of slander upon his countrymen. He was confident of their attach ment to the Constitution of the country. He must protest against the idea, that because people were inimical to the Ministers, they were therefore, as a corollary, to be deemed inimical to the Constitution. None could forget that the treason of last year was actually put down by a serjeant and 18 dragoons.— If he entertained no other objection to the maintain ing such a numerous body of military troops upon the Continent (which a Noble Earl, on a former night, had asserted did not cost the country a shilling), still that which he entertained upon political or constitu tional grounds was enough to decide him against the measure. He liked not co . ntact with the military despotic Powers of Continent, as such tended to infuse unconstitutional principles and bad habits into the soldiery; at least for the meridian of this country. Great alarm had been expressed on the subject of emigration from this country, and some persons had gone so far as to propose an Absentee Tax. Ile, however, regarded this alarm as equally groundless with that which had been made the foundation of the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. Attachment to British Liberty, and the Constitution, was too strongly implanted even in the most humble of the natives of this country, to suppose that foreign allure ments could have any serious effect. Even os the poorest, " Dear is the shed to which his soul conforms " And dear the hill that lift, him to the storms!" He may find a finer climate and more verdant plains; but he has left at home sonic dear relative, sonic brother, to whom his heart " Still turns with ceaseless pain, " And drags at each remove a iength'ning chain !" If, however, it was wished to drive people out of the country, no better mode could be adopted than that which Ministers had resorted to in the last Session of Parliament. To accomplish such an object, it would only be necessary to repeat the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and to expose theni to all the, machinations of spies and informers. From the.view he had taken of the state of our force, he thought that a deduction of 13,000 might be made. He should therefore move, that, instead of the words 113,000 men, in the bill, 100,000 be substituted. Earl BATHURST combated the leading positions of the Noble Earl. The present circumstances of the count bore no comparison with those in which it stood in 1806 ; the reference, he thought, was by no means applicable. With respect to its extensive Co lonies, the country was placed in a situation far dif ferent from that of any former period ; and in the reference to the Establishment of the United States, the consideration of its numerous Militia was not in cluded. The Noble Earl's idea, upon which he dwelt most forcibly, seemed to rest upon a supposition that the force so kept up had nothing to do but to enslave the people ! Let their Lordships for a moment con sider the distribution of the force. In North Britain there was the numerous and overwhelming force of 2500 men kept up. If the Scots were capable of being enslaved, did the Noble Eat! think that 2500 men could effect the work—(a laugh) ! A nume rous portion of the troops in England were stationed along the coasts, in order to check the contraband trade ; thereby contributing to the important object of a due collection of the revenue. With respect to any idea of keeping down, or acting unconstitu tionally against the people of England, in the great body of the country, what number of troops did their Lordships think were applicable? Why, with the eaception of the London service, and a district of 25 miles round it, there was the immense number of four thousand men—(u laugh )! The service of the Dock Yards occupied a comparatively considerable number ; and with respect to the service of the Me tropolis, the necessary number for that duty was usually calculated on a principle, that the number of troops engaged for that purpose should be equi valent to the proportion of three nights in bed for one on duty ; but in the present instance the number of men was so restricted, as not to allow them more than two nights in bed for one on duty. A fair and candid view of the whole amount and distribution would, he hoped, establish the plain intelligible pro position in the conviction of their Lordships, that a greater force was not kept up than the circumstances of the empire rendered necessary. Earl GROSVENOR should trouble the I louse with a few, and only a few observations. The Noble Earl who had just sat down had, he said, entertained their Lordships by a humorous description of the employ ment of the troops at home. But whilst he compli mented the Noble Earl upon the brilliancy of his wit, and the vivacity of his imagination, he must deny that his (Lord G.'s) arguments were well founded. The Noble Earl then briefly repeated the substance of a tale from the Decameron, describing the manner in which the eyes of a Prince had been opened to his town condition, the arts of his ministers, and the dis contents of his people, which his Government had carefully concealed from him. This was effected by a virtuous courtier, who dressed out a monkey in the Prince's robes (the animal, no doubt, being delighted with the contemplation of his person in all its mag nificence,) then decked out the hounds and curs of the Court, as the imperial council, and lastly, had the humbler animals, such as the cats, rats, &c. chained and oppressed by the former. The Prince was dis pleased with what he considered a satire upon his person and government; but, upon re{ and profited by the lesson thus convey er The question was then put, and tilf negatived v.atheut a division. The b;ii ingly read a third time and passed. After some Mi./ate Ms had been stage, the House adjourned. 11017 SE OF COMMON'S Accounts were I.resented of the &mu r,cei.: missioners fur the Reduction of the paid Prize Money at Chelsea Ifospital. . . The Waterloo i:ridze Anstadment lldl second tint. Mi. I•AItQL - 11.4,1t preiereed a f Burgh of %tontrose, praying to be elerilp*.e.4. frt o f th e fic:itch Lunatic. Asylum hill.—lead, an Oil the table. General I lART presented Peti•icre County of Donegal, complaining of th, LawL—Read, ordered to lie on the Sir W. SCOTT presented a Ptitif)ll Heads of ColitEc. of the I . nivt Ox for the Amendment of the 'false 110 A 6.—.-11 lie on the table. Alderman WOOD presented a Pci tants of Lynn, against the Indenmity to lie (13 the table. ~.._i. WAILRE presented a petition fr Proprietors of the Grand Junction Wat, ordered to be referred to a t ommittre:_ Lord A LTHORP brought up the Bin ditional Duty on Leather, which was gi dered to be lead a second time tan the uih .1 Mr. LUSH N To N observed, it the cellor of the Exchequer, that it was the Honourable Gentleman to oppose the Bea•.• Mr. W. SMITH presented a pecitior of Kirg's Lyre. against the Indus:. icy to lie on the table and be printed. Mr. CALCR AFT moved for Actc_ produce of the Salt Duties for the last ta.sc:: TITHES. Mr. BROUGHAM wished brit Il rc • Curwen) would postpot e the motion f• . •: the Tithe Bill till Monday, on accc:r.: the House for this evening rot be IQ. proper discussion of so importact a -1.1- . ,•. Sir W. SCOTT said a tew worth ,i -ponement, that the subject might reieirt it had occasioned considerable alar:n. Mr. BROUGHAM replied, that it w , he solicited the postponement, as he wi-hid quieted, being sure that it would he thew:: ti out foundatior. Mr. CUR WEN asserted to the r ostponem rooks' taws. Mr. 5T1.11.6 ES BOURNE propo.,rd the • the Vestries Meetings (fill. Ills wish was, Hills for the amendment of the Pours' 1,21, forma, to have the blanks filled up, that they and circulated.—The Bill was testi a s cold Mr. Alderman WOOD said, there wen which it would be advisable some provisions I A s the law now stood, before perscnir wit homes, the Magistrates, though they had corm vagrancy, were obliged to commit them fir well, which, as 70, 80, or even 100 were son.i in one day, perhaps natives of Ireland, was ai as expensive. lie should be FIALI to we a enable the Magistrates to send them directl. t There was also a penalty of vol. upon the P.>- ft-red vagrants to escape. This fire was to be titan ; but he thought it would be much Ift!:-.r fine which might be summarily isvio!, •!.t f bably half the persons forwarded to then . Mr. S. BOURNE said there was Scotch and Itish Vagrants, which Le F and to answer the NVorthy Alderman's The Bill was then read a second time, ei. Report received and ordered to be further Bth of ApriL Mr. S. BOURNE then brought up the B.: Laws for the Relief of the Poor, a mtesi.re c former Bill, which was immediately stages, and the Report ordered to be further Bth of April. PETITION ON THY BREWERS ' Mr. CALVERT having moved th. Day for resuming the adjourned Deb. Lion against the Brewers, observed, pared to go into a statement whit pletely refute all the allegations in But wishing to spare the time of the I not go into the subject at any length Member would move for a Commits Petition should be referred. It cert most serious charges against the Brew who were accused of having wand; rious drink, poisonous to all the should now sit down to ascertain would be given. Mr. W. SMITH said, he bad tra•• subject very closely, and if he might nourable Friend, it should be left to Gentleman who presented the Petit; the Committee, which he- thought wisely. He thought there was no made out that could put those Brewers) on their defence, as there w had to answer but what was ansss port as it now stood. It appeare; of the business was reducible to two The charges were, Monopoly and . Now, the fair inference was, that if t] the quality were agreed on by thi might be a monopoly ; but if the agreed on, and it was left to every 1 the beer of what strength they plea. be no monopoly. The charge of ridiculous ; for the penalty was would not be worth their while t. while the process of adulturating quantity of beer must be evident t, ployed. The supposition was too therefore to refute this charge that ; desirable, but if the Petitioners desit reason why it should be refused. Mr. I'. NIOORE thought the Ito at what situation the Petitioners 'e they failed to prove their allegatio be in danger of the pillcry. Ile di made out for a Committee. The to be swayed by the number of n: this Petition, for they had been c; the alacrity of electioneering, ant been called on and solicited to sign Mr. CALVERT spoke to the sal Ling the obtainment of the signattn in the Petition were three in number poly, mixing deleterious articles wit] vancing the price without any in With regard to the charge of monor. said. The parties combined to eff' be eleven. The charge was ridicu. The Hon. Gentleman had stated, price was advanced without any rea , on but the reason was, the Chancellor of the tv;et had laid on an additional duty on beer of 1;,• and there was an increase in the price of m,:, hops. But the same frivolous charge, wen: ... -~ reflectio n , ed to L ra. aa)eral., 81. 1 .. I adv zced t y . 4 re , :d ' 4 l '•-t y . :s e-, C rt,N.r; 31 'hr v. • t. - • .0 t o .2‘.•!1 !t tz t • zr d ti al.- • to be nett. !sicord teat: • 4 tt. 111,1• vet y !tisk ,at • .1 re twi, a - tre F,ks.d .maiittri • • • a atilt , 11Cda.t. :"1 • :l • be :r( ttr to t r fict wcs,.• , 01 in ▪ • • ••e . • , 01 _.a it -• ccteidete:. IS o▪ tr.ec - .A :ed e 0 NOPC the Or ci •at ,bate on ft: that he was rt• ich old cm- that House. here:" Is, provided. .77 [tee rtainly coetz.rA ewers of Le::: ufactured inhiabitan•A if such ratl •avelled i. ht advise D the flonado ition to tr.ctr would be to case Gentlen.a was nii,:kitp! ,wired ed that o or three :r- , . the prig he breuei . : pii.e biewe , y , ased. there cv adulturatlon so g reat. ' to ini.ur such an t:•• - every per- absurd. e'.L , t a Commk:,:•x• .fired it, !...7 ouset ts. I would stars Dns. The! svA_ did not see 3:,, House 0:4 1 :-, names prtvci v , 4 :anvassed Id he had n it. ame effect T ...res. The ch' er. na mely—'; . th the betr.ae.J . • ustitiable caece )poly, little etc': Feet it wore vlous led aft • . that in 1:4' 2 • rea , on shate ll r of the El che4 beer of SS. A • price Of Ma.: fir"'s were re