Star. — London, England, 1812-04-18 00:00:00

It impi'opet to tiring on an impbriant aisentiion at that hour of the nig h t. Mr. MACNAGHTON observed, that there were so many discussions brought on every night by the Gentlemen opposite. that there was little chance of the debate on this bill coming on at an earlier hour than the present. If Gentlemen opposite were patriotic ift deeds as well as in words, they would skew it by sup porting this measure. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER contended, that so many debates had already taken place on the subject, that much novelty could hardly be expected to arise. One additional discussion might surely suffice to satisfy Gentlemen, and that might take place on the third reading—(Crier of go oa.) Sir JOHN NEWPORT moved, that the House do now adjourn ; and observed, that it was easy to defeat the pressing of the Bill through the present stage, by repeating the same motion as often as was necessary. A division then took place, when there appeared for the adjournment—Ayes Sl--Noes 105. The gallery was not again opened, but we understood, that as the Honourable Baronet persisted in his in tention of repeatedly moving an adjournment, a . compromise took place, and the farther consideration of the Report was postponed till Monday. Adjourned at twelve o'clock. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a Special Court, which was numerously attended, was held, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of addressing the Prince Regent upon the present situation of the country. Mr. Qum, in addressing the Court, premised, that, in calling its attention to the subject which they were convened to consider, he had not the most remote idea of favouring any political party, which, he be lieved, every individual present would believe, when they heard the names of those respectable Members who, along with him, signed the requisition to call the Court. In the list, which was highly respectable, would be found the names of men who were well known to entertain not only different, but opposite political principles. His wish, therefore, was, that a full and free discussion should take place, with the utmost moderation on all sides, and that they would convey their sentiments to the Throne in language becoming a free Nation. (Hear, hear.) In opening the subject, he was aware that he stood in a very de licate, and, perhaps, peculiar situation. He happened to be under certain obligations to the Prince Regent, but he felt it his duty to consider that illustrious per sonage as acting for his Royal and venerable father, and that all the evils which the people now endured were to be attributed to the measures of the respon sible Ministers of the Crown. He knew it to be usual for certain Members of that Court, who supported the present system of Government, to compare the situa tion of this country with that of tither Countries, and conclude that we had no grievances to redress, because we were not so degraded and impoverished as others. He well knew that this country possessed more poli tical freedom than any other in the world, but horn what did that arise?---trom the liberal principles of our Constitution, which it was the duty of every Bri ton to maintain. It was also objected to him and to others who proposed to address the Throne on public affairs, that their efforts could produce no good effect, but merely inflame the public mind without suggesting any remedy. To that accusation he had to answer, that where a disease was known to exist, a remedy must be found, or the patient must perish. Every man of common sense must be struck with the absurdity of a physician who would delay the application of a remedy until he should knoW the result of the disease. Equally absurd would the conduct of a trader appear who, on the verge of bankruptcy, declined an examination of his affairs until the event happened. That the people of this country at present suffered the greatest privations, was a fact too well known to every one present for Mtn to describe. The riots which had lately occurred in various parts of the country were characterised by intemperate proceedings which disgraced the name of Britons ; but, at the same time, every thinking Man must lament their causes, and he was persuaded none could lament them more than the Prince Regent. Scarcity had been alledged to be the prin cipal, bit he would contend that it was only a proximate cause. A general decay of trade, the necessary consequence of our Orders in Council, was the radical cause. In the warehouses of Liverpool, be was credibly informed, there were at present ma nufactured goods to the value of seven millions of money : _(l-har, he'ir.)—The consequence cf such a restxiction being laid upon our export trade, was ruin to the manufacturers; but, in addition to that evil, the present scarcity of provisions actually precluded the working class of people from adequate means of :supporting themselves and families. In the midst of our domestic calamities, however, we had to con template the brilliant achievements of our fleets and armies with exultation. In all parts of the world they were gloriously triumphant, and acquired us an astonishin g extent of mph e ; but, he was sorry to say, that true greatness did not consist in extent of empire. Our successes on the Peninsula had un doubtedly thrown a lustre upon our arms ; but he lamented, that Cadiz alone cost us at present from six In seven millions a-year to defend. The posses sion of Sicily likewise could be of no benefit to us, although we preserved it for years frcm the enemy by British blood and British treasure. Such being the state of our foreign connections, our situation at home was daily becoming worse, by the obrinate opposition of Ministers to the public voice. That Court had often complained of peculators escaping With impunity, but they complained in vain ; and the r ult w as , t h at only a few days ago, a peculator was discovered in th e wry heart of the 1 reasury.—( Hear.) A Noble Lord, whose incapacity was avowed by his colleague, resigned his office in consequence, but now the people had again the mortification to see him in the Cabinet Council. Were not these facts sufficiently demonstrative of evils resulting from a disregard of public opinion. The principles of the Orders in Council h e wou l d not then analize, but merely state _thel consequences resulting from their enactments.— W len they were issued, France and her Allies pos sessed many colonies; and America, as a neutral, car ried the produce to Europe : big now all the colo rs were in ou r possession , th e A mer i cans were deprived of the trade, and cur Orders in Council could only restrict our remaining comdstree, To , . ratted) , this evil, however, reeourti was had td the licensing s} stem, which procured us an unprofitable and confined commerce, by encouraging the fraud and perjury.. These were evils whicret e r s y friend of the country must lament, and he knew Of no remedy more effectual than what he should propose— : a Reform in Parliament. The country must have a virtuous Patliantent, and patriot Ministers, or our affairs can never prosper at home and abroad.— From the want of these, commerce, the nursery of our navy, and the great source of our revenue, has been crippled and destroyed, our merchants became bankrupts, and our manufacturers starved. (Hear, Isear.)—These were melancholy considerations, but no relief could be expected so long as the present Mi nisters were suffered to hold their situations. That I they should remain in office so long excited his asto nishment, knowing as he did, that none of them pos- , ses.ed talents or wisdom. Was there any thing in them ssi captivating that the country should feel par ticularly attached to to them ? Were there not many men in the country of known rectitude and indepen dence, capable and willing to undertake these duties ; which the present party slowed themselves so unwor thy of exercising ? He begged pardon for having so long trespassed on the attention of the Court, and he therefore would conclude by reading part of the Addres which be intended to submit for their ap- I probation. [The Address contained an assurance of loyalty to the Prince Regent, and deprecated the severities the people endured from the present oppressive mode of collecting the taxes, the number of foreign mercenaries introduced into the kingdom, the restric tions upon the liberty of the press and foreign commerce. It stated the hardships which the people in all parts of the country endured from our foreign and domestic policy; and concluded by beseeching the Prince Regent to dismiss from his Councils men who by their conduct had proved themselves unworthy of the confidence of the country, and to call to his Royal Highness's Councils men of known talents and tried integrity, who would support a Reform in Parliament.] Mr. Qum having read the Address, begged leave to propose the Resolution for addressing the Prince Regent.—( See ildvertisement.) Mr. BLUNDELL seconded the Motion. Mr. HEARN said, that while the Restrictions re mained upon the Prince Regent, no Gentleman in that Court found fault with his foreign or domestic policy; but when he was at liberty, to act for himself, and determined to retain his Father's Ministers, all his acts were founded in error.—(Hear, hear.)—Mi nisters, from some cause or another, had become very obnoxious to some Gentlemen, as well as to Bona parte, and in respect of political talents, they were inferior to almost every body. The Livery of Lon don regretted that their advice had been rejected at the commencement of the American - war, because it would have saved us our Colonies, and he thought it a great pity that men of such splendid talents were not now in possession of the Administration of the Country.—(4 laugh.)—He himself saw no reason for removing the present Ministry, or presenting the Address. Mr. JACKS said, the distresses of the country had been ascribed to two causes—the decay of commerce, in consequence of the Orders in Council—and a scarcity of provisions. He admitted both causes, in same degree, to exist ; but, before presenting any Address upon the subject, he would wish the Court to consider whether such a measure was not more calculated to inflame the public mind than to provide a remedy ? A Reform in Parliament was considered the grand panacea of all our distresses ; but he would not like to see such a remedy applied till the nature of the evil was better ascertained. Much had been said at different times of the increase of corruption ; but the fact was, that corruption did not now exist more than it had in former times, or would in all pro bability hereafter—(Hear, hear.) He had no doubt of the sincerity of the Gentleman opposite him, but he must tell him, that he was informed by very credi ble authority, that our manufacturing trade was not in any respect so dull as had been represented. In the West of England, and in Yorkshire, the manufactu rers were still busy—and the trade of Birmingham was in a prosperous state, although signatures had been procured there to a Petition against the Orders in Council, at the rate of ss. a hundred—(A laugh.) —With respect to corruption and public defaulters, they were less now than they were in our best times. In 1711, the great Duke of Marlborough was proved to have received six thousand pounds from the con tractors who had furnished his army with bread ; the Hon. Mr. Walpole was impeached for corrup tion, and sent to the Tower. The Earl of Maccles field, who was Lord Chancellor, was fined £BO,OOO, for applying the moneys of infant suitors in his Court to his own purposes. The great King William was sup posed to have received a bribe from the East-India Company, and the Lord President of his Council ac tually received £lO,OOO. He stated these instances merely to shew, that public men in our times were not worse than their predecessors—(Hear, hear.) Alderman CHRISTOPHER SMITH, in a short speech, opposed the Address. Mr. WAITIINIAN entirely concurred in the tribute of applause which his Friend had paid the Army and Navy, but he was sorry that he must also concur with him in his description of the internal policy of the Country. It was absolutely necessary for the people to speak their minds freely to the 1 hrone, as . . the only means of averting the fate of Spain and other states, which had, by their own supineness and indifference, lost their independence. It was the duty of the People in this Country to send independent Members to Parliament, who ought, and always could be a sufficient check on the Executive Govern ment, then he should not have to care whether Mr.- ; Perceval and Lord Castlereagh, or Lords Grenville and Grey, were Ministers. The Hon. Gentleman opposite him, who advocated the cause of corruption, was rather unhappy in his examples when he intro , dated the case of Mr. Walpole, because the Country wou d wish to see public defaulters of the preseneday impeached and sent to the Tower. (Hear, hear.) He wished the authors of the Wakheren Expedition to have been so treated. Until the people, by remon• strance to the Throne and Parliamentary Reform, ob tained a change of measures, the Country never could be benefitted.—A few families, who possess influence in the House of Commons at present, wallowed in luxury, provided by the produce of the people's taxes, and rather than diminish, their numbers must increase, without a Parliamentary Reform. The present Address, he was persuaded, had the hearty concurrence of his fellow Citizen!; bu,t many Mem bers of the Court were afraid to put their name to the Requisition to call she Court, lest they should be harassed by & s it anativrers, He wished them to declare their minds fre e ly an d fully, and they would have nothing to fear from any Minister;. but, if they acted otherwise; they were fit only for slavery: Mr. DIXON strenuously oppposed the motion. Mr. Brow ( deemed it highly inipolitic to hold the Administration up to the contempt of the people. The nation appeared to him in flourishing circumstances, and he hoped we would transmit unpolluted to pos terity the blessings we enjoyed. Mr. FAVELL supported the Address, and contend ed, that the present was the proper time for the people to disclose their minds to avoid political ruin, which, through their own negligence, had befallen other nations. Sir WILLIAM CußTis, Sir CHARLES PRICE, and Sir JAMES SHAW, opposed the Address, and expressed their approbation of the present Ministers. Alderman Comne supported it. Mr. ORD and Mr. WHEBLE opposed it, because they considered it to be a political manoeuvre to en able the Early Friends" of the Prince to supplant the present Ministers. The question was then called for, and a division took place, when there appeared— Far the Motion-1 Aldermen, 92 Commoners, 2 Tellers-98. Against It-1 Lord Mayor, 10 Aldermen, 79 Commoners, 2 Tellers-92.—Making a Majority of 6 in favour of the Address. THE EVEN! ``C STAR. LONDON. SATURDAY, APRIL 18. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY Al ONE O'CLOCK: S per Ct. Reducul 59-4 per Cent. 73; 74 S per Ct. Cons. fi r money 59160—D0 for ace. 64 Spec Ct. 9014—Scrip j. pry —Long Alms. 15 5-16te6 Exch. Bills tar 24. pre.—!loads be. is, pre.—Onua. Every friend to his country must rejoice to be in. formed, that the afar m;ng appearances which lately manifested themselves in ‘,:rious districts, have very much subsided. We cannot believe that the sudden bursts of popular ferment arising from the high price of provisions in various quarters were in any instance the result of organized disaffection. They betray great ignorance of the motives of human action mho would ascribe the derangements of distress and hunger to any thing connected with political con siderations. Under such circumstances, when politics are at all mentioned, it is only the deranged gropings of ill-informed men, who feel but cannot trace the causes of their sufferings. • To the same ignorance must be ascribed the mad. ness of the workmen, in destroying the very machi nery that first created the demand for labourers, in the counties and cities in which our manufactures are carried on by the powers of mechanism. Wherever machines have been introduced, to lower the price of manufactured goods, the number of hands required to prepare for the machinery, to attend its operations, and to finish its products, has always been much greater than the number before required in the same district. Let our young artisans only inquire of the aged, what were the numbers fed by our different branches of manufacture, before our machinery had acquired such perfection (for in most districts it is yet within the recollection of many), and they will soon be sa tisfied that the accumulation cf goods in our ware houses is to be ascribed to the present deranged state cf commerce throughout Europe, and not to the multiplying power of machinery. But the more the free circulation of our commodi. ties is interrupted by the machinations of the tyrant who afflicts Europe, the more imperative is the duty imposed upon our rulers to counteract the mischief by every regulation within the range of their own controul. We have more than once endeavoured to impress upon the minds of Ministers the impolicy of suffering British cotton yarns to be exported to the Continent. NAPOLEON winks at this trade, which fur. nishes bread to French and German weavers. Re fuse them the yarn, and he must permit the piece. goods to be imported—for the plainest of all reasons : they cannot do without them—they cannot go naked. To stop at once the exportation of cotton-yarn would not be judicious : begin by laying a duty on exporta tion, and let the duty be gradually increased till it amount to a prohibition. " SHEFFIELD, APRIL le. " Wednesday night all twat tranquil here, the 15th Light Dra. goons parading the meets, and, we are happy to state that the town remained perfectly quiet at S o'clock this day (Thursday). " The greater part of the persons taken up fur bring concerned in the riot, appear to be quite young lads. " Theo&lmlay, Rotherham, and Riverton troops of Cavalry, were called out; and the Sbafforth arid Tickhill Local Militia are on duty at Rotherham." In Dumfries the price ef every article of provisions is very much advanced ; and even- at an advanced price, the markets are ill supplied ; the farmers, hoping that the prices will be higher, will not bring out the meal and potatoes, which renders it very difficult for the poor to obtain these humble, but necessary ar ticles of food, insomuch that an artificial scarcity, for there is plenty in the country, is thus created to the great prejudice ef the community. I Yesterday the Duke of YORK held a Military Levee at the Horse Guards. Yesterday morning a Board of the Lords of the Treasury was held. We had the pleasure to see a Petition presented yesterday, by Mr. WHITBREAD, to the House of Commons, from every description of Christians, pray ing with one consent for the Repeal of every politi• cal disability .n account of Religious Persuasion. It came to Mr. WHITER ICAD from the hands of the vene rable Advocate for Civil and Religious Liberty, the Rey. Mr. WirVILL: It was signed by above 9000 Mmes. Such a Petition is worthy the enlightened period in %Aida we live. tut Aitit . . Major-deneral Sir WILLIAIe AYLITT, (I to Tn. specting Field Officer of the Ipswich recruiting Dit to ict) is appointed to the Staff in Ireland. Colonel Emma!) has resigneLLthe command f the Plymouth-Dock Regiment of Local Militia. At the inslsection of the Bungay Loy .1 Volunteers on Saturday last, Colonel M.Lattont, the Inspecting Field Officer, desired that his high opinion of their steadiness and military appearance might be thus pub. licly manifested. Yesterday and to-day the Edinburgh Regiment f Militia marched from Colchester Barracks on their route to Norman Cross. The town of Bury is appointed to be the depot for the reception of Volunteers from the Militias into the Line, instead of Stowmarket, to commence from the 4th of May next. Tuesday last, the Gloucester and Cheshire Regi ments had severally a field-day, before the Govern ment House, Plymouth. • At Chelmsford Quarter Sessions. last *ter, there was much business before the Court. The King w. Fuller and others, on an indictment for assaults of a most aggravated nature, committed on four privates of the Clare Militi3, quartered for a night at Braintree. (on their march from Liverpool to Ipswich) but where they were detained for many weeks, from the wounds which they received, and of which the defendants were all clearly convicted,. and received sentence of • 12 months (each) imprisonment. Joseph Fuller and Jos •ph Taylor in gaol. and Charles Fuller in Chelms ford House of Correction. NAI'4L INTELLIGENCE. FALMOUTH, APRIL. IL S tiled the MACK EMIL schooner, with Dispatchit for New York ; qnd the W.lsingliant packet, with the Mails, for Lisbon. The f Mowing Packets have been some time due, and may be expected is soon at the wind comes favourable, viz. the Mails and Prince Adolphus, from-Malta ; the Nymph, from the Leeward Islands ; the Diana, from Brazils ; and the Manchester, from Jamaica. PLYMOUTH, APRIL Is. Came in the Quests man of war, from off Brest. PORTSMOUTH, APRIL n. His Majesty's ship PORCUPINE issues instructient to take the trade bound to Portugal, Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean • and his Majesty's ship Hors takes the convoy bo und to Guernsey.—Arrived his Mks jetty's ship VAUTOUR, from the ti-estvrard— Sailed the MERMAID, on a cruize.—Wind W. DEAL, APRIL 17. Came down from the River, and sailed this morn ing to the westward, the Intrepid, &MUM, for ht. mama ; Pelicon, NORRIS, for Gibraltar; Pallas, Rossnmost, for Quebec ; and the Rosins, Ponta. for St. John's.—Five o'Clock—Sailed Lis Majesty's ship GRIFFIN, with nine ships under con►oy, tot Portsmouth.—Wind N. E. SPORTING lATEnLIGENCE. NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING, itlit FIRMAV. APIM 17. Lord Sackville's 1. by Dick Andrews, 7st. 41b. beat Mr. Mil- Beverley, Sit. 10Ih. Across the Flat, 200844--5 to 400 14 Sackville's f. Mr. Craven's Tooley, by Walton, beat Duke of Grafton's bre; ther to Joke, Bst. 71b. each. Across the Flat, 200g1.-2 to lon Tooley. I.ord Sackvi;le's Pan, Sst. 21b. boat Mr: Andrew's Morel, lat. 81b. Ab. 200g5.-7 to 2 on Pan. Lord Darlington's f. by Ditto, B*. Slb. beat Can Girwer's E bj Sorcerer, 76t. 12th. Two•yr-old C. IoOgs.--$ to 4on Lord Dar: lington's 1. A Subcriptitir. Handicap Plate of ,R5O for 3-yr-olds and upwaes. Across the Flat. Mr. Bowan's% b. h. Invalid, 6 yrs old, 6st. bib. - 1 Ld G. H. Cavendish's br. h. Florival, 5 yrs old; Est. 1416. 2 Mr. Lake's ch. m. Britannia, 5 yrs old, 75t.1l lb. S 2 to 1 apt Inv,lid-5 to 2 apt Florin!. Yesterday, at two o'clock, a Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign Office. OXFORD, APRIL 18.—Yesterday a convocation Of the metnbers of this university was held to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament against the Catholic claims. Two petitions, prepared in the usual quarter and couched in the usual turns, were submitted for their approbation. These having been read, were, after a strenuous and unprecedented op 4 position, carried in the affirmative. All the recent accounts from the Baltic concur in representing the disposition of the Courts of St. Pe: tersburgh and Stockholm to be most favourable to. wards this country. The Russian Governme i ti o t t ,ju order to facilitate the introduction of British ss has gone so far as to dispense with prompt payment of the duties by the importer. Eighteen months cre; , dit will be given. One half of the goods are even to be delivered up to the merchant, and the other half only is to remain under lock and key at the Custom. house, until the whole duties are paid. It is reported that Sweden has ordered restitution of the value of the seizures made at Carlshian, of British property. Mr. THORNTON is said to have car ried out with him 480,000 in specie, being the balance due to Sweden of our last subsidy, the non-payment of which occationed the Carlsham confiscations. The account of the capture of the Rivoli, of 80 guns, in her passage from Venice to Corfu, was re. ceived from Vienna. It vras me ti n. 41 ;It two sec. cessive posts from Venice to Vienra, and there is tit tle or no doubt of its being correct. She was laden with stores, provisions, and troops, for Corfu, and was arwue ens lace. One of our frigates, whose name we have not yet heard ; laid her on board in themost gallant style. The action was long and severe. She had most of her masts carried away, and 400 men either killed or wounded. We are sorry to state, that the last =robins re ceived from the Mediterranean, mention s that Lord " HENRY Larixox, third son of th e Duke of Runtaserre‘ had fallen from the topmast cf the Bums, (of which ship he was Lieutenant) into the sea. Lotd ifsantst being exceedingly beloved, one of his shipmates ina• mechately leaped overboard after him, and breeiht up the body, but it was lifeless. Lord Haney waft in the 15th year of his age, and promised t• be bp ohaament to his profession.