Star. — London, England, 1813-03-24 00:00:00

. • • INNIMM/AVEMPMeSISMItageNti&E" }'ROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, MARCH 23. 2 eoprof a Letter from the Honourable Captain Irby, of his Ma jesty's ship the AmeHa, to John Wilton Croker, Esq. dated at Spithead, the 22d instant. Sin—l beg leave to acquaint you, for the informa tion of the Right Honourable the Lords Commis sioners of the Admiralty, that when I was about to quit Sierra Leone River for England, in his Majesty's ship under my command, on the 29th Januaryi Lieu tenant Pascoe arrived there with the chief part of the crew of his Majesty's gun-brig Daring, he having been obliged to run his vessel on shore, and blow her up at Tamara (one of the Isles de Lou), in conse quence of having been chased by a French frigate, in company with two other ships , apparently frigates.; he reported having left them at anchor off the islands on the 27th. I immediately dispatched Lieutenant Pascoe in a small schooner to reconnoitre the enemy (he having volunteered his services), and on the 3d February he returned, having ascertained their forcel to be two frigates of the largest class (l'Arethuse and le Rubis), and a Portuguese ship, their prize; that they had nearly completed their water ; and, after) unloading the Portuguese ship, intended to give her up to the crew, and proceed themselves to sea to in tercept our homeward-Sound trade. Conceiving that if I cruized off the Isles de Loss (in the event of their not having left them), I Might be enabled to fall m With any of his Majesty's ships that might be corning down the coast, and also protect the vessels bound to Sierra Leone, of which I had received intelligence prepared to weigh, when a cartel arrived from the sslands with the master and boat's crew of the Daring, and the master and crew of another vessel they had taken, whose accounts corroborating Lieutenant Pas- 1 tee's report, I left Sierra Leone River, and worked Op to the islands ; standing in at daylight on the Oth ultimo towards the island of Tamara, we joined the Princess Charlotte Government schooner, who in formed me one of the frigates was at anchor at a con tiderable distance to the northward from the other, which was apparently unloading the prize. I dis patched the schooner to Sierra Leone, to leave direc tions to any ships that might arrive to repair to me. Having neared the island in the evening, the frigate to the northward weighed, and stood out to sea; the other frigate had signals flying, and being observed at sunset with her topsails hoisted, I stood off for the tight ; and the next morning one of the frigates (I believe PArethuse) was just visible from the deck— it was then calm; on a breeze springing up about' noon she stood towards us. As I had hopes of draw ing her from her consort, we continued standing out to sea till sunset, when not perceiving the other ship from the mast-head, and the breeze failing, we short ened sail, were, and stood towards her. A little after seven, the enemy observing us near him, tacked, and hoisted his colours. At forty-five minutes past seven, v. sr. being within pistol-shot of his weather-bow, both ships commenced firing nearly at the same time, which continued (remaining nearly in the same situa tion) until twenty-one minutes past eleven, when she bore up, having the advantage of being able so to do, leaving us in an ungovernable state, with our sails, standing and running rigging, cut to pieces, and .masts injured. During the action we twice fell cn board the enemy, in attempting to thwart his hawse, when he attempted to board, but was repulsed by the marines, ( who were commanded by Lieutenant Simpson) and the boarders. Though I most Sincere ly lament the numerous list of Idled and wounded, • which amounted to one hundred and forty-one, yet it is the greatest consolation in reflecting that we were. pever once exposed to a raking shot, or the slightest Iccident occurred ;, all fell by fair fighting. It is with the most poignant regret 1 have to men tion the names of the Senior and Second Lieutenants, John James Bates and John Pope, and Lieutenant Grainger, of marines, among the slain; they fell early in the action : .having been more than five years in the ship, I have had ample opportunities of knowing their inestimable characters, and the consequent loss ie service has sustained by their falling. It is with equal concern I have to mention Lieutenant George Wills, the junior Lieutenant, who fell while carrying on the duty on the quarter-deck, when I had received a wound which obliged me to quit it ; and also that of that good and zealous officer, Lieutenant Pascoe, late of the Daring, who commanded the midship guns on the main deck ; Mr. John Bogue, late Purser of the Thais (invalided), received a mortal wound below, after having been before wounded on the quarter-deck. When I have the misfortune to state such a severe -loss, I truce it will be clear every person must have done his duty ; I feel most grateful to my gallant officers and crew,' as well as the supernumeraries late belonging to the Daring, for their cool, steady, and persevering conduct, which was worthy the ut most success ; but the superior force of the enemy (she carrying on her main deck heavy French pounders) the considerable quantity of gold dust .that we have on board,as well as the certainty of the other frigate coming up, would have prevented me seeking * renewal of the action, if it had not been totally im. practicable. I should not oink to Mention to their Lordships the Admirable conduct of Mr. De Mayne, the master, who placed the ship so ably at the commencement pf the action, and his unremitting assiduity tilt the enemy kept away. My most grateful thanks are due to Lieutenant Simpson, of marines, and John Colt man, the purser, who exerted themselves to the ut most, as well as Mr. Saunders, of the African corps. -laving received the greatest assistance from Lieu tenant Reeve, invalided from his Majesty's sloop Kangaroo, who was wounded more than once during the action, Ii have appointed him to act as first Lieutenant of the ship. Mr. 'Samuel Umfreville, raster's-mate, a deserving and valuable officer, as Second, and. Mr. Edward Robinson, master's-mate ' le rho has received a.severe wound; as third. The crippled state of the ship, and deplorable con dition of the wounded, having rendered the object . for which I sailed from Sierra Leone abortive, having 'every reason to conclude that the state of the enemy Faust have been such, as to have greatly foiled him in his intended operations ' being much cut up about hit hull, thOught myself justified in not remaining on the coast, ntid therefore proceeded with the knew don pf touching at Madeira or the Western Islands, for refreshments for the sick, which the badness 014 weather prevented, and arrived hers this day. 4 0 ; 9444 19 Pr* i 9 i koNibirs tizit high MIA I etliktiain of the huniale Utast tention of Mr. Williamson, surgeon, and Mr. assistant, as also that of Mr. Stewart, late asststii surgeon of the baring, to the wounded, sine sanguinary conflict. I should also state, that although our numbers were apparently strong at the commencement of the action, yet from the length of time we had been on the coast, and Much reduced by sickness, we had barely our complement fit for duty, and they much enervated. Herewith I transmit a list of the killed andwounded, and have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) FREDERICK PAUL IRBY, Captain. Lisi of Killed and Wounded. Knizo—Lieutenants Bates, Pope, Wills, and Pease (late Commander of the Daring) • .J. Bogue, late Purser of the Thais; C. KesuncoU Midshipman; J. Meddal, Quarter-Master; G. Cooper, J. Vinson (1), J. Brown (9), S. M'Kensa, L Welch, R. Vivian, seaman ; J. Greig, caulker; S. Theme, M. Laughlin, T. Garda:4 seamen ; C. Squires and P. Blair, quarter gunners ; R. Shearer, J. Laughtoo L White, seamen • Cl. Edwards, car penter's crew •' W. Mat t hews , J. Dirks, J. &deer, A. Fklesson, H. Williams, J. Hayes, T. Crispin; A. Tebball, seamen; W. Hammond, W. Hall, and A. Newstub, boys ; O. Brown, de ' setter from the Fisgard; Wm. Scott, captain of the forecastle ; J. Lawless and H. Norton, seamen; R. G. Grainger, Lieutenant' of Marines; T. Smith, serjeant ditto • T. Sefton J. Barber, W. Sneyd, L. Jones, R. Lang , and W. istarshau, p rivates ditto. Total killed, 46. Six since dead, viz.—D. Wells, A. Francisco, S. Carter, P. Bartlett, and R. Francis. Wouwnan DANORROVSLT•...I. Parkinson, boatswain ; E. Rs)• thous, master's mate; G. A. Rix, midshipman ; J. Newbury. J. Gower, P. M'EioyJ. Edwards, seamen; E.-Cole, captain 91 after guard; R. Dunning, T. Sinith (1). 3. HUI (2), D. Wells, seamen; W. Francis, sesjeant of marines; D. Goodell, S. Carter, and T. Coleman, privates ditto.—Total 16. Saveazi.v—Hon. F. P. Irby, Captain t J. Otto, Quarter Gun ner ; J. Watson, Ship's Corporal; R. Creer, T. Pearce, J. Coo ley, Seamen; R. Poole, Captain of Voraset% ; T. Hood, R. Craid, B. D. Smith, J. Iroolnuan, J. Bombay, P. Le 'Page, W. Rouse, M. Fan, A. Watson, J. Saunders, A. Francisco, W. Welch, J. M'Manus Stamen; J. Leech, Quarter.-Maiter ; J. Cribbs Boy; J. MiLeary, Gunner's Mate; S. Hardy , E. Ro berts, Limn ; W. Rambridge, Corporal of Marines. R. Smith, W. Smith, T. Bobbett,-J. Webb, E. Ward, J. We/maid, W. Hihigetts, W. lone!, and P. Bartlett, privates ditto.—Total, 35. bLionTLY—W. Reeve, Lieutenant, (late of the Kangaroo) ; A. De. Mayne, Master; J. Coltman, purser ; T. D. Buckle, and ^ G. T. Gooch, Midshipmen • A. Beever, 3. Soames , S. Fyfe, T. Thomas, J. W. Bennett, M . Pinto, S. M'Gregory, E. Thompson, Seamen ; W. Newby, Quarter-Master • J. Brown (5), Sail-ma kers Mate; J. Redhead, W. Carr, Qualter-gunners ; E. Ander son, Quarter-master's Mate; S. Ely, J. Brown (2), J. Narring ton, J. Hazelgrove, J. Mills, I. Perry, D. M'Manus, H. Piper, W. Higgins, M. Ayres, Seamen W. Tankard, carpenter's crew; J. Simpson, First Lieutenant of Marines; J. Skinner, J. Healey, J. Sidebottom, D. Hughes; R. Dauncey, P. Clarke, M. MiDo. nald, N. Warwick, J. Farrell, R. Dickens, W. thifilths, privates ditto ; S. Sutherland, D. Fulton, E. Garnish, Supernumeraries.— , Total, 44. TOTAL WOUND to. Dangerpudy, 16-4everely, 35--slightly, 44'—Total, 95. (Signed) FRED. Pam. leer, Captain. , S. WILLIAMSON, Surgeon. Extract of st Letter from the Right Honourable Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, Bart. and K.S. Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels on the American Station, to John Wilson Cruker, Esq. dated at Bermuda, the 26th Febru ary, 1818. Inclosed herewith, I beg leave to transmit a List of Vessels captured and destroyed between the 16th of September last and this date. (Here follows a List of one hundred and fifty-six vessels cap tured on the American, Jamaica, and Leeward Ittiand Stations." Admiral Lord Keith his transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter front Captaip Tobin, of his Maj. sty's ship Andro. mache, repc:ting the capture, on the 14th instant, of the *Arne. rican letter of marque schooner Courier, of 25u tons, six guns, and 35 men, bound from Nantes to Baltimore, P.eIRLIAMEArI'ART PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 23. The Royal Assent, by Commission, was given to thirty Ave Bills, public and private. Among the former were the two Mu tiny bills, the Vice-Chancellor's, the Starch, the Revenue Debtors' Subsistence, the Cornish Miners' Enlistment, the Excise, Salt, and the Local Tokens Bills. The Commissioners were, the Loan CHANCELLOR, the Mar quis of WINCIILSTZI, and Lord WALSINGHAM. In the Appeal Cause, " Bateman versus the Countess of Ross," judgment was delivered by the Loan CLIANCLLLOIL, affirming the decree of the Court below. The English and the Scotch Local Militia Bills, with a few Amendments on the former, after some observations front the Duke of NORFOLK and Lord Stoasouzu, were read the third time and passed. Lord HOLLAND presented a Petition from the Roman Ca thorcs of the county and city of Waterford, praying relict from the civil disabilities under which they laboured. His Lordship also presented a Petition to the like effect front the Unitarian Society in South Wales. The Bishop of DURHAM presented a Petition front the parish of St. Mary-la-bonne, against the claims of the Catholics. Lord SHEFFIELD presented a Petition front the ship owners of the Port of London, against the practice of registering as Eng -I.sh ships these built in India. His Lordship then made several Motions for accounts to be laid before the House, of the ships built during a certain period for the India service, whether in the Yards on the Thames or in the East Indies. Lord HOLLAND wished to be informed by the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Sidmoutli), whether a recent Act relative to In solvent Debtors in the Isle of Man, bad any extent or influence beyond that Island ? Lord SIDMOUTH replied, that the Act alluded to by the Noble Baron was then under the consideration of his Majesty's Law Officers, in order to the ascertainment of the question put by the Noble Baron. Mr. JOHNSON, front the Irish Chief Secretary's Office, pre sented Papers. Lord DARNLEY, adverting to the numerous captures of British ships, both commercial and warlike, by the Americans, gave notice, that on this day se'nnight, he should make a motion on the subject, and moved, that their Lordships be summoned for that day. STIPENDIARY CURATES' BILL. 71he Order of the Day being read for recommitting the Stipen diary Curates' Bill, Lord HARROWBY rose and recapitulated all the leading features of the Bill which he had previously detailed to their Lordships, and urged the absolute neeessitrof enforcing the re sidence o f Incumbent Clergy, and of augmenting the income of the Stipendiary Curates, who at present were little better, or hardly so well paid as day labourers. Ir. Queen . Anne's reign the minimum of the Curate's salary was fixed at £llO per annum. But the difference in the value of money should be taken into consideration, and at that period there were in England 2,500 livings, each not exceeding Z2O a-year. To the natural effects of non-residence, and the utter insufficiency of the Curates' Sti pends, his Lordship imputed the general indifference which pre vailed in the public mind towards the established Church, and the increase of Dissenters. • The Bishop of LONDON approved of the principle and the motives which actuated the Noble author of the Bill, but be saw much mischief in the probable result of it. The evils it profes sed to remove would infallibly be entailed on succeeding genera tions. He should not, however, oppose the Bill's going into the Committee, as he should there hale an opportudity of stating more fully ds objections to several of the clauses in it. The Duke of NORFOLK approved of the principle of the Bill, but thought it was not calculated to effect its object. Lord ELDON said a few words in support of the Bill. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY ackeowlcdged the laud able zeal and assiduity with which the Noble Earl had exerted himself in framing and bringing forward the Bill under discus sion, but he could but perceive much evil involved * it. The Noble rod, indeed, with all his zeal and ability, and with his acknowledged legal information, was nor, perhaps, sufficiently acivainted with the subject to which his Bill was meant to apply. tilt Grace Viodiaated the dignified Clem from the censure which di; Noble Earl had seemed to pass upon them, and stated, that by 'heir exertions no less a sum than g esoppo bad been procured *Mk TlO l O l O of quell' MP', Bounty, 1 . 9 f lb. Ouiroft tif T'" r - a. -- a • toillrgOrsh be 414461 iiiiidb . # 6llll haeni . °ll 4eArtb• biewor Walt yelps aoillp Moe bat abotild the Birspsess into the Cheeedttee. " I tylr e lttasower sod the Archbishop of GttraastnT eve ned. lb op of DURHAM disapproved - of several clauses in the 818, but thought it might go into the Coensohtee. Lord GRENVILLE spoke warmly in favour of the Hilt, pro feeling his willingness to yield to say amendments that might be judged expedient in the Committee. Lord HOLLAND, though be had formerly opposed a similar Bill, was not. unwilling to go into a Committee on the present one. Lord ELI.ENBOROUGH suggested an objection to the word '" directed," as applied to the Bishops, because In a legal sense it was compubory, • and In case of non-compliance might renter them liable to Indictment. After some further observations km; Lord Etoon k the Bishop of DURHAM, and Lord HAILROWST, the Bin was ordered to be recommitted on Monday next; and their Lordships ad- Ijourtsed till toonorrow (this day). HOUSE OF COMMONS. • The Waste Silk Bounty BM was committed and ordered to be reported, as were also the English and Irish Sugar Bounty Bills. In a Committee on the Irish Distillery Acts, a Resolution was agreed to, and on the Report of it leave was given to bring in a BM for regulating the Warehousing of Skirits in Ireland. On the motion of Mr.W. FITXGERALD, there was ordered to be bid before the House, a return of the number of Licences , for Ale, &c. issued in Ireland in the April and July Sessions last, and by the Clerks, i n cossequsage of no such Sessions having been held. Mr. HUSKISSON presented a Petidoq from the Ship-Owners of London upon which account, were moved for and ordered, of the number of India-built ships, of those building for the Company's use, thp number and rates of shipe now building in private dock-ya rds here, and of all whose registry had been ad. witted in Groat Britain and Ireland, &c. 1 The Committee for trying the PontefractEleetlon were sworn. The Members were—Lord Viscount Kirkwall, Sir J. Aitley, Sir J. Graham, Sir J. E. Brydges, Messrs. G. P. Jarvis, E. A. ' Robinson, C. tuncan, Hon. M. Mathew, C. Ellison, W. Chute, F. Pym, J. B. Grant, S. Berne, T. Estcourt, and W. Courtenay. PRINCESS OF WALES. Mr. WHITBREAD rose, and said he begged permission to mention what had passed in conse quence of the step he had taken, pursuant to what he stated in the House last night as his intention, re. lative to a certain paper, .from which he had read parts a few nights ago, concerning the examinations into the conduct of the Princess of Wales. As much misrepresentation bad gone abroad u to the manner in which he had reacrthose - flassages and commented upon them, he must take the liberty of-recalling to the recollection of the House, that in the comments which he had felt himself' justified in making on the examination of Mrs. Lisle, he did not vouch for the authority of the paper which he then quoted ; but only stated, that from the.manner in which he had re ceived it, he had reason to believe in its authenticity. He had stated, that copies of the depositions bad been published ; and that he understood that many of those copies published in the newspapers were incorrect. He had also stated farther, that it was his opinion, I that if the questions which were put to Mrs. Lisle, : (according to the paper he had read) had been pub., 1 fished along with the deposition, the unfavourable impressions against the Princess of Wales, conveyed by the deposition, would be greatly relieved. But it ' certainly was in the recollection of the House, that he had never said of the four Noble Lords Commis.' sioners, that they had fabricated, or falsified, or with held evidence given before them. What he had said was this, that if the paper put into his hands was correct in that point respecting the question put to Mrs. Lisle, as to her opinion whether the Princess l of Wales conducted herself as a married woman iought to conduct herself, contrasting her supposed conduct with that which became a married woman? , then, unquestionably, he found that there was no an i swer given to that question. He never said that the Commissioners kept back any part of the statements. He had not read all, but only a part of the questions said to have been put; and he had in observation, added his opinion, (the opinion, of course, of an ig ,norant person), that certain questions ought not to have been put to Mrs. Lisle. He had certainly sup posed and believed, that the questions had been put down as well as the answers. If he could not state the authenticity of the paper, still he did not think himself imposed upon. Respecting his idea of the questions being put down, he could say, that he knew that in commissions instituted either by Act of Par liament, or by the Crown, on which reports were made, the questions put were always taken down and I recorded. Such was also the case in similar matters I in the Court of Chancery. He was, therefore, misled i by those considerations, into the belief that a similar Ipractice had obtained in this instance. He was ex i tremely sorry that his Hon. and Learned Friend (Sir S. Romilly). was not now in his place • bui he ne vertheless felt it expedient to give the House the re. suit of his inquiries into the subject. He was con vinced, that the paper could not be received as an authentic document, after what had fallen from his Learned Friend ; but he was still impressed with the I belief, that the witness considered it correct. In in traducing it, he stated it as an illustration of his ar gument, and had said, that if the examinations had I Rone forth along with the depositions, the sting would have been taken out of the deposition of Mrs. Lisle. He had, pursuant to what he stated in the House last night, written a letter to Mrs. Lisle, which he should trouble the House by reading : ._ . (Copy)—LETTER TO MRS. LISLIE. " House of Commons, March 112, 1813. " DEAR MADAM—I am i4cceedingly sorry to be troublesome to you, and especially on such an occasion : but when I have stated the cause to you, I have no doubt you will acknowledge the necessity I am under of addressing you. " On Wednesday last, before I went to the House of Com mons, a paper was put into my hands, of which I send you a copy enclosed. " I was assured it contained an authentic account of your exa mination before the Lords Commissioners, en the conduct of the Princess of Wales. " Believing in the integrity of the person who made the com munication to me, 1 used (as I was told I might truly de) the paper in the House of Commons, and as I thought that justice de manded I should. " Lord Ellenborough has this evening declared in the House of I.ords, that the paper is afalsefakicatioa ' as I understand from those who heard him • and that the other Commissioners have expressed their opini ons, although more mildly, to the same effect., " So circumstanced, I am compelled. to ask you, whether you agree in the character ascribed to the paper by the Noble Lords. If you do, I shall only have to lament, that I bare been Imposed' upon, and to acknowledge the imposition practised upon me. " If the paper should ever before have been seen by you, I shall be extremely glad to receive all such Information as you may baye it in yew power to glue respecting It, that I may trace the fabrication to its author. I hey the honour to be, dear Madam, your faithful servant, if. wavy. wasirsaaan," .r—ln stating that Lord glleaborough declared the statement to be afabefaorication, be (Mr. Whitbread) had contented himself with the softest expression re porte4 to him w have %Kap vseci by that 4 oble all 4 . r.• LAN /Ad. The other etpressians stated to have been used by that Noble and Learned Lord, be (Mr. Whitbread) thought had been long banished out of all civilized society. lie was certain they bad long bekn banished out of the middle ranks in life. (Hear, hear.) In the lowest ranks of Society such eaprcs. sioni would be disregarded ; and he ( Mr. Whitbread) hoped if to be found among the higher classes, the use of them was con fi ned to that circle in which so II I high a person as the Lord Chief Justice of England moved. (Hear, hear.)—Unexpecte.:ly, this morning, he (Mr.W.) received the following answer ; (Core )—ANSWER. " Caubury, March 23, 1813. W Data received this morning your letter, with dm aseempanyine account of my examination when before thel.ords Ohismissioriers, in the year 1806; and having compared it with dos original document, I lied them exactly similar. el On my return from the Lords Commissioners, t, to the hest of my recollection, committed to paper the questions which had been put to me, ad my answers; and I transmitted a copy to the Princess of Wales, baying previously received bee Royal Highness's commands so to do. “ It has never been my intention to set up these recolleciors against my deposition; and as little has it been my wish that they should be made public. Indeed, so scrupulous have l been in this respect, that, with the exception of the copy sent to tins Princess, Inuitediately after my ezunination, the paper now Le question was not, till very recently, seen by my ileum cunnec. Lions; even now it would not have been seen by them bad not erroneous statements, and garbled extracts front my deposition, appeared in some of the public papers. How the paper has found its way into your hands, I guess not. As I have already stated, it has not been by any act or in. tension of mine; but certainly the paper which you have scut me is a correct copy of the one that l had written. " 1 am, dear Sir, your faithful anti obedient servant, (Signed) " sweat LISLE." —Now, (Mr. Whitbread observed), he hoped, that neither the House nor the public would say that he had been imposed upon !—(blear, hear), or that thaw was any intermediate fabrication by the person who gave him the paper, or by Mrs. Lisle herself (No). The paper contained the questions and answers . put down by Mrs. Lisle on her return from the investiga tion ; but Mrs. Lisle observed, that she did not set up her recollections against the deposition : neither did he. It was fitting to remark a singular coincidences Mrs. Lisle wrote from her recollection; but there was no difference in the answers she put down, and those . stated in the deposition, except in one instance. The answers followed in almost exactly the same order, in the account of the examination and in the deposition. He must return to his original intention, and say, that he should have thought it unfortunate for the cause of justice—and that he should have , considered himself extremely blameable, if he had not, under all the cir. cumstances, endeavoured to take the sting out of the deposition. There, then, the House had on account of the way in which the examination was taken. If the questions were wrongly stated, and the Commis. sioners could contradict the account, it was so far well. For his own part, he could not throw any such imputation upon Mrs. Lisle, as to imagine that she had made the slightest attempt at fabrication. There was, indeed, in another part of the paper itself, inter. nal evidence of its authenticity ; for in taxing her memory, Mrs. Lisle had, in one instance, said, that she could not put down an answer to one question, having forgotten the precise answer which she made to it. He felt very sorry, is these uriortunate cir cumstances, to have done any thing which could give pain to Noble Lords, and Friends for whom he en tertained a high respect—or to any Magistrate, such particularly as the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench ; but he had felt the paramount importance of a sense of justice to the part he had taken in the business, and which occasioned his com ments. On that feeling he relied, and was upheld by it now. He thought it his duty to take some course for setting himself right, and he placed himself on the justice of the House—(Hear, hear, hear.) Lori CASTLEREAGH made some observations on what fell from Mr. Whitbread, in rather a low tone of voice. Would the Honourable Member have thought it consistent with public or private duty to give the House that account, unless he believed it to be a true one, which he only now found out to be an authentic document ? It would be, indeed, a strange perversita of all legal principles, if the recollections of a witness, after being examined with all the forms of justice, however respectable in life such a witness might be, were to be received, as it were in judgment. against formal depositions, and in derogation of the -judicial character of eminent persons entrusted with the exercise of a painful public duty, His Lordship knew that the Hon. Member held too strongly his constitutiopal principles to maintain such a doctrine ; and, therefore, he must contend in his behalf, that in ' 'the first instance he was imposed upon, for nothing else could have induced him to read the paper. He also must lament, that when the Learned Gentleman (Sir Samuel Romilly) was present, early the other evening, the Hon. Member had not communicated to him the contents of the paper, in order to ascertain what its character was, and wh at was that of the other authenticated document, whose credit was to be im paired by it. He could only hope, that in this age of disclosure, the Hon. Member would admit, that in this respect, it was imprudent t 6 hazard such a docu ment as he had prcatuced, before he knew that i: con tained a description entitled to that credit which he seemed to mean to attach to it. He did not wish to prolong discussions on this subject, but surely the Hon. Member must have read it, with a conviction at the time that it was an authentic document. Mr. WHITBREAD said, that the Noble Lord wished to acknowledge for him, what he himself did not acknowledge. He certainly thought at the time ' that the questions were as he,had read them, but he denied any imposition being practised on him. He should be ashamed to throw upon another what must be his own neglect in failing to ascertain what was the authenticity of the document. He had not at first made the necessary inquiry to that point. There indeed he might be called deficient ; but he must de ny any charge of imposition on him by Mrs. Lisle or the person who gave him the paper. Whatever blame there might be, rested. solely on his own shool- Irs, He had never meant to derogate from the aracters of the Learned and Noble Lords who composed the Commission. He bad only expressed his surprise, that such questions as were stated in the paper should have been put to the witness by Lord skin. Had he been told that it was Mrs. Lisle's 'own• account, he should certainly have stated that fact to the House. 4.ord CASTLEREAGH conceived that the Ho. luonrable Member could not have been justified in stating to the House, and commenting upon a dace- Plef whit was pit , authentic. The beating of the