Star. — London, England, 1812-02-27 00:00:00

CATHOLIC QUESTION. the STAR of last Monday the infcrmed the pub lit, t hat a Message had been communi cate d f rom t h e PRINCE REGENT to Mr. PONSONBY, through Mr. seSIDAN, respecting the Catholic Question, amount ijeg io substance to this :--that the discussions and dec i s ions on this subject should not, in future, be sag ged as an ordinary Government question, but l e i& to the uninfluenced deliberation of Parliament; tope added, that Mr. SHERIDAN, to prevent mis roteption respecting the purport of the Message, had requ ested, and was permitted to make the communi. (Il i o n in the presence of a third person, Mr. ADANf. from the various colourings since attempted to be l iven to this transaction by the Ministerial and Op position prints, it is evident that Mr. SHERIDAN judg ed w isely in requesting to have a witness. The for ma maintain, that 46 no change of sentiment on this qu estion has taken place in the minds of Ministers." This we believe to be certainly trues nor was it ever id that there had. The same papers maintain, that the substance of the Message has not been correctly stated, and that e,e fact is simply this :—that " the Government cer tilly du not think it right to refuse the assistance of is r person in office whc may agree with them upon their general system of policy, merely because he my differ from them in opinion upon the Catholic Question; and that in this respect the question is to be considered as an open one, and will, of course, be decided purely and impartially upon its own merits." The same papers state the fact with a little varia tion theseee It has been thou ht desirable that those who have already pledged themselves on the Cathcklic Question, should be allowed to express the same opi nion, and to vote in conformity to that opinion, even may hold office under the present Go though they emiment. It will however be expected, that those Ow in office have voted against the Catholic claims should still hold the same line ; and this being cote settle the tact, it is of course erroneous to suppose that the Catholic will no longer be considered,a Go vernment question." Another Paper says, that " as the PRINCE RE•• u N t's Government revidently meaning his Minis- Km] are decidedly of opinion, that concession to the Catholics cannot be made at present, the question must gill be considered as a Cabinet measure, and supported in Parliament as such." The Opposition papers assert, that these statements, if they me4n any thing, amount simply to this—that Ministers are wiring to allow old friend: to vote against Ministers on that single'question, if they sup port them on every other ; and also to admit new con awe into their phalanx with the same licence. From the statements we have given we think it impossible for any persons to draw a wrong conclusion le their own mind, whatever they may foolishly en deavour to impress upon others. Let the circumstan ces and the time of the message be recollected. The PRINCE REGENT, only a few days before, had ex pressed a wish to receive, as associates in the Mini stry, some of the leading Members of the Opposition —the fiends of his early life. The profer was se jected becaire they found themselves engaged by principle and stout pledged to favour the lintanci pation of the Catholics. Can any one doubt then the intention 'of the second message ?—Could it be hoped to be of any avail as to its object, if it was to be understood that these men on coming into the Administration were to submit to allow their col leagues to use Treasury influence against their fa vourite question —a question which they conceive to be connected with the vital interests of the empire?— We cannot conceive a grosser insult than this would have been to such men. We cannot for a moment believe that the PRINCE REGENT could be brought to ofer such an affront. Nay more we cannot be persuaded that any of his present Ministers would have advised or countenanced a message capable of bearing the construction contended for 1 1 some cf the Daily Papers. And therefore we ke lstrongyincliueel to believe, could Lords GREY atelGneeeteele and their friends be brought to agree pith the present Ministers en some other important 5 1 lettions, that the one relating to the Catholics would be left, lona fide, to the uninfluenced decision of Par e •'3asent. la are not all questions brought before the Houses of Parliament left to their uninfluenced decision ?—lf "may credit the reasonings to which the late mes "gt has given rise, it would appear not. The TiV4 SO W OW, just published as relating to the 'II tOLIC QUESTION, were writte n , as appears i n t h e i r :e-page, at Boston, in America, and roz no other wise connected with the Catholic Question than as they shew it to be the duty of a Christian, as st.ch, tolook with an impartial and beneficent eye on his brethren of all denominations. They breathe a spirit oleacommon liberality; are written in a pleasing s ti l e; and, not having hems intended for publication, teillfurnish to the curious an 'agreeable soccimen of elequence of Oa' American pulpit. There is in the prci.a.se an anecdote of the Author and his Pro. retraat neighbours, which indicates a commendable spirit : the f were at the cxrence, it seems, of build "lßA church for their Catholic brethren, who were not in a condition to afford it themselves. If Arne 6,cahs t:1 general are of t hi s d escr iption; they are not e People for us to quarrel with. They are sold by 'ears. GALE and CURTIS, 14011d011. Pri,:e 2s. 6d. MR. WALSH. Last night tNe House of Commons ordered the Papers relative to Mr. WALSH to be printed. The first is a copy of the Record, which our limits do not, allow us to insert, but this is the less necessary as the result is stated in the subjoined papers " TIM LORD CUM !ARON TO MR. SEVRILTARY RYDER. " SIR, February 15, 1812. " I have the !tortoni- to acquaint you, for the information of Iris Royal Highness the Prince Regent, that Benjamin Walsh was indicted before me at the last Sessions holden at the Old Bailey, for stealing front Sir Thomas Plumer a certain Order for the payment of £22,200, and al so stea li ng Bank Notes tot hat amount. " The facts of his having formed the design of converting this money to his use, and of actually so converting much the greater part of it, were proved without contradiction. " But doubts having occurred to Mr. Justice Le Blanc and myself, (Mr. Justice Chambre being absent from indisposition) the case was reserved for the Judges to consider whether the facts proved amounted to the crime of larceny. " The argument of Counsel concluded last night; and the cast was considered by ten Judges present (two being confined by ill ness) who were of opinion that the facts proved did not, in esti mation of Law, amount to Felony. " The Prisoner having been convicted of that offence, I ant humbly to recommend hint as a proper object of his Majesty's parlor.—l am, &c. (Signed) Aa. MACDONALD.' ii Feb. 15, 1812." " J. BECKET, Whitehall, Feb. 28,1812." WALSH.FRRII PARDON., " In the Name and on the Behalf of his MAJESTY. GEORGE P.R. " Whereas Benjamin Walsh was, at a Session holden at the 101 d Bailey to January last, tried and convicted of Felony, but judgment was resplied ; We, In consideration of some circum stancesl humbly represented unto Us, touching the said conviction, are gracisusly pleased to extend Our grace and mercy unto hint, and to grant him our Free Pardon for his said crime : Our will and pleasure therefore is, that you cause the said Benjamin Walsh to be forthwith discharged out of custody; and for so doing this shall be your Warrant. ' 6 Given at our Court at Carlton House the 20th day of Febru ary, 1812, in the 52d year of our Reign. " By the Command of his Royal High ness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty. " R. RYDER." " To our trusty and well-beloved our Justices of Goal Delivery for the City of London and County of Middlesex, the Sheriffs of the said City and County, and all others whom it may concern. " J. Btextr, Whitehall, 26thjebruary, 1812." EPITAPH ON AN AMIABLE YOUNG MAN, AT HASTINGS, WHO DUD OF A PRETERNATURAL ANLARGtML.N 01 rut HEART. Here lies, cut off in manhood's pride, Of SATTERLaT the mortal part. Strange the disease of which he died ! He died of too enlarg'd a heart ! • Contracted hearts, 0 Death, be thine! At these, let all thy darts be Iturrd; And y et, how wild this wish of mine— To make a desart of the world! Yesterday morning the JUDGE ADVOCATE attended the PRINCE REGENT at Carlton-House, and laid be fore his Royal Highness the proceedings of several Courts Martial. The PRINCE REGENT dined yesterday with the Duke of CUMBERLAND, at his apartments in St. James's Palace, to meet the Directors of the Concert of Ancient Music. Yesterday the Duke of YORK was confined at York Houk, in consequence of his sprained ancle. The Cabinet Ministers dined yesterday with the Earl of LIVERPOOL, at his house in Whitehall. The Duchess of GORDON, who has been for some time past seriously indisposed, was yesterday con sidered much better. Sir FRANCIS MOLINEWZ, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, has been so long indisposed, that his Phy sicians have now but little hopes of his recovery. Mrs. FITZIIERBERT has for some little time past been confined by indisposition ; but we are happy to hear, that her health is now nearly re established. His Royal Highness the PRINCE REGENT has been graciously pleased to grant to THOMAS BIRCH, Esq. of Hulywell, in the Court'' , of Lincoln, Colonel in the Army, and Deputy Quarter-Master-General to the Forces in North Britain, his Royal Licence and Authority, that he and his Issue by ETIIELDRED ANN, his wife, (eldest daughter of the late Jacon REY• NARDSON, Esq. of Holywell aforesaid, deceased), may henceforth assume and take the name of REY NARD. sow, in addition to that of Ilium, and bear the Arms Quarterly with those of Bract,. The following English travellers are at present in Sicily :—The Duke of LEINSTER and his brother, Lord SowDzs, Lord MatrAs, Mr. HOWARD, the Hon. Mr. CALTHORP, Mrs. ORBY HUNTER, and Mr. LAMB. It is said that the Earl of YARMOUTH will very soon make a journey to Paris, for the purpose of bringing over his children, who have been resident in that city ever since the peace, with their mother the Countess. • The Earl of Mrxsonotxii is confined in Yorkshire with the gout. The Oratorio of the Messiah was well attended last night, at Covent-Garden Theatre, Madame CATALAt•t appeared in good health, and displaye.! her transcendent talents with the happiest effect. Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the East India House, when Captain Jemuxs, of the City of London, and Captain GLROSTANES, of the Sir William Bensley, took leave previously to departing for Madras and China. Captain W. PATTERSON was sworn into the command of the Thomas Grenville, destined to Madras, Ceylon. and Bengal. A very numerous meeting of the merchants, and other inhabitants of Bristol, was held last week, on the subject of the approaching expiration of the East India Company's Charter. The business being opened by the Mayor, Mr. M.Annsr, in a speech o. consi derable length, • expatiated upon the necessity of the Out Ports of the kingdom insisting upon a participa tion of the trade in future, and concluded by moving several Resolutions to this effect, which were carried unanimously. A subscription was entered into for aiding the purposes of the meeting. We learn with extreme concern, that in the neigh bourhood of Huddersfield, within a short distance of that town, no fewer th: . a twenty frames or machines have been broken, employed exclusively in the opera tion. of cropping cloth. Serious apprehensions are entertained that further mischief will be committed, and the principal manufacturers who have availed themselves of this species of mechanism, are provided with arms and waccinueo, to prevent such depre. THE ARMY. . • eneral Hoer has arrived at Portsmouth to take. his passage in the MELPOMENE, for the Peninsula. ' The' BRUNE and another frigate have arrived at Portsmouth, with a convoy of transports from Lis bon, having 1500 French prisoners on board, which were *captured in the fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo.— . The 59th regiment also arrived in the above fleet, as likewise the battalion cf Marines, under the com mand of that able Officer Major WlLLlario. This battalion is to he reinforced from the different divi sions immediately to 1000 strong, when they will em bark for North America, as the most efficient force which can be possibly sent there.—Amongst the pas sengers were General PEACOCK, late Commandant at Lisbon, and Captain PURDEN, of the Sth battalion of the 60th, who was wounded about eight months ago ! at Badajos. Never was there a General who possessed more I entirely the unbounded confidence of an arm y t h an ...ord WELLINGTON. The British army had never before such Officers as are under him in Portugal, ! where they have learned the Art of War. We never had such a band as GRAHAM, HILL, PicToN, LONG, and PAKENUANI.—The whole army looks up to them. We find, that Lord PAGET is still anxiously looked for in the Peninsula, to command the Cavalry. The last accounts from Lisbon, stated, that both MARSIONT and Lord WELLINGTON were moving to wards the Alentejo. Lord WELLINGTox had deter mined to attack Badajos, which would inevitably bring on a general action. iA company of Artillery, which has been stationed 1 at Portsmoutivfor some time, have received orders to , embark. They are d est i ne d f ur t h e. Peninsula, and i will sail immediately. THE FOLLOWING IS A CORRECT STATE OF TILE ARVY IN PORTUGAL : Marshal, General the Earl of Wit Luxor om. Field Marshal, Sir WILt CARR BERIE,i ORD. The Army is in ten Divisions. • ARTILLERY AND ENGINEERS, Major-General BORTUWICK. CAVALRY —FIRST DIVISION, Lieutenant-Gfllet.ll S r S l'Ar•L PTO:4 COYTON. Major-General J. Alten's Brigade—Ln 1 Luaus, King's Ge . n an Legion., and 1 ith Light Dragoons. Major-General G. Alten's Brigade-14th and 16th Light Dragoons. Major-General Slade's Brigade -9th and 12th Light Dragoons, and Royal Dragoons. Major-General De Grey's Brigade-21 Dragoan Guards, and 4th Dragoons. SECOND DIVISION, Lieutenant-Ceneral Sir WIL LIAM ERMINE. Major-General Long's Brigade-2d Hussars, King's Geri= Legion, and 13th Light Dragoons. Major-General Le Merchants Brigade-3J, or King's own, Dragoons, 4th and sth Dragoon Guards. Major-Genen.l De Bock's Brigade—lst and 2d Heavy Dragoons, German Legion. IN F.ANTRY—EIRST DIVISION Lirtitenant-Genet al GR ABA st. Major-General H. Campbell'. Brigade--Culdstream Foot Guards, 3d ditto, and 1 Company Rifle Ilattal.on of 60th Regiment. Major-General Stopford's Brigade-24th Regiment, or Sir David Baird's, 26th, or Cameronians, 42d, or Royal Highlanders, ad Battalion; 79th, or Cameron Highlanders, Ist Battalion; and 1 Company of the Rifle Battalion 60th Regiment. Major-General Lowe's Brigade-Ist. 24 and 5.h Battalions King's German Legion. SECOND DIVISION OF INFANTRY, lAeutenant-General HILL. • Major-General Howard's Brigatie--50th Regiment Ist Brea lion ; 71st Light Infantry Highlanders, 14 battalion ; Dad, Cordon's Highlanders, Ist battalion; 28th Regiment, Ist bat. tenon; 34th and 39th Regiments, and 1 Company Rifle Bat talion of 60th Regiment. Colonel Bing's Brigade -31st and 66th Regiments, Provisional battalions; 3d Old Buffs, Ist battalion; and 37tit Regiment, Ist ditto. Major-General I iamilton's Brigade-2d, 4th, 10th, and 14th Portuguese Infa•nry. Colonel Ashworch's Brigadea-16th and 18th Par:Ku:v.:lnfantry, and Gth Canadures. THIRD DIVISION OF INFANTRY, Lieutenant-General PICTOK. • Major-General MsKinnon's Brigade-4.Ah, 74th, 69th Red. ments, let battalions; and 3 Compauies of Rine Battalion 60th Regiment. Vacant-sth, General England's Regiment, 21.1 battalion; 77th and 83d Regiments, 2d battalions; and 94th Scotch Brigade. Brigadier-General A. Campbell's Brigade-9th and 21st Form guese Infantry. FOURTH DIVISION OF INFANTRY, MajOr-Gentr.ll CHARLES CGLVILLC. Major- General Kernises Brigade-27th, the Inniskilling Regi ment, 3d battalion; 40th Regiment, lit battalion; and 1 Com pany Brunswick Light Infan , ry. Major-General Pakenhant's, or the Fnzileer Brigade-7th, Eng lish Fuzileer,, IA battalion ; end, Welsh Fuzileers, Ist batta lion; 48th Regiment, lst battalion ; and 1 Company Stuns wick Light Infantry. 13t.igadier•Generat Harvey's Brigade—llth and ft3d Portuguese Infantr;, and 7th Cacadores. SIXTH DIVISION OF INFANTRY. Lieutenant-General Let r tl. Major-General Hay's Brigade —let Regiment, or Scorch Royal., 3d battalion; 9th Regiment, let battalion; and 38th Ditto, 2d battalion. Major-General Walker's Brigade--4th, or King's Regiment, lit battalion; 20th and 44th Regiment., 2d battalion.. Brigadier-General Skene's Brigade-9d and 15th Portuguese in fantry. SIXTH DIVISION OF INFANTRY. Major -General Cu N r o tr. Major -General Hulse's Brigade —lath regiment, Ist battalion; Sail, ditto; 61st, ditto; and one Company Brunswick Light Infantry. Major-General Burn's Brigade-2d, or Queen's regiment ; 32d regiment, Ist battalion; and 36th ditto, ditto. Brigadier-General Baron Eben's Brigade—Sib, 12th, and 18th Portuguese Infantry. SEVENTH DIVISION OF INFANTRY. Command of the-division vacant. Major-General C. Alien's Brigade --Ist Light Battalion King's German Legion; nil, ditto, ditto; and the Duke a Brunswick's Light Infantry. Major-General De Bernewltz's Brigade -51st Light Infantry.; 68th ditto; and Chasseurs Britannlque. Vacaacadernt Brigade-7th Portugu ese i n f an try ; 19th ditto; and ad Ces. EIGHTH DIVISION OF INFANTRY. Major-General CRAUTURD. Colonel Beckarkb's Brigade—esd Light Infantry; 95th, or Rife . Corps, 3 battalion ; and Sd Cacadores. Major-General Vandeletar's Brigade —sad Light Infantry, let battalion • Ditto ditto, ad battalion; 95th Rifle Corp., led bat talion,. 1, and 9.41 Cacadores. Some of the Portutaese ivernents are not yet included in the i ' divis;on of di, army. A fresh levy of Portuguese has been raised, enenprieng seven , more regiments of Cacadores:—they are training, and void won I join the army. There are not finer troops in the wend than the Cacadore regiments whizh have been 3C!1: g with the Englis.a. WIPAL INTELLIGENCE. PLYMOUTH, FEBRUARY 23. To-day this place has been visited by a more . dreadful thunder storm than has been experienced here for many years. The lightning was exceeding vivid, and the craps tremenduously loud, accom panied with a heavy shower of hail. —Several persons who were on the citadel at the time, Al.stincly saw the electric fluid strike one of the guns ; its direction was from S. W. to N. E. nearly. The DIAXA frigate came in during th:s storm, under bare poles, and anchored in Cawsand Bay : she is from a cruize off Brest.—Sailed last night and put back again today, the TOXNAXT, 80, and Amain; 88. Since writing the above, I have been able to learn that, in the dreadful storm of to-day (above noticed) the fore and main top-mast of his Majesty's ship TONNANT were struck with lightning, which shattered them, and killed and wounded no less than twenty fntir persons on board that vessel. A merchant brig which also was at anchor in Cawsand Bay, and near the former, was struck at the same time, on board of which two men were killed. A seaman who was at the maintop-masthead of the SALVADOR Da. Munn% in Hamoaze, was also struck by the lightning and knocked down dead on the deck, and another seaman who was standing on the quarter-deck of this vessel at the moment, was so much burned, that his life is despaired of. This awful moment was from eleven to twelve o'clock--the weather is now (six o'clock) much more moderate.—Wind W. PORTSMOUTH, FEBRUARY 116. Arrived his Majesty's ships VENGIUR, FAWN. and CUMBERLAND, from Torbay--(the former on her pas. sage had her mainmast set on fire by lightning) I and the VENTRABLE at Spithead, from St. Helen's. Sailed the GOSHAWK and Buzz/tat), on a cruise; and the S.tuonuctr, for Guernsey and Jersey. The Ps.ax rAinurr, of 74 guns, and the katosate, of 36, went out of harbour d i; day. DEAL, FEBRUARY 16. Several of our cruisers were driven into the Downs last evening by the violence of the gale ; and remain. with his Majesty's ships, the Lady Canington,.Ben gal, and Wexford Indiamen, and a large list of outward bound. Several of the slips lost an anchor and cable each.—Wind N.W. YARMOU 111, FEBRUARY re. Arrived the BARBARA SCilr.Cßtt in the Roads, by stress of weather, and the RAVEN from elf the Scheldt.. Sailed the BRITISII TAR for Leith.—Wind W. by N. The Adriatic, STAMP, from the Cape of C 304 Hope, has arrived off Dover. The Lord Vernon, WHITE, Bunt Dartmouth fcr Wales, is wrecked in Whitsand Bay—crew saved. The Rapid, Istru.ert, from Yarmouth to Malta, was carried into Ramsgate, on Tuesday night, with the loss of her rudder, anchors and c a bles, having been on shore on the Brake Sand, and &sorted by leer crew. The Thetis, PEARSON, from Shields for London, was lost on Tuesday last near Harwich—crew saved. The following commercial interchange, to a limited extent, has been consented to by the Governments of Great Britain and France : In Truro for four Hogsheads of Claret, is to be esporre.l one Hogshead of Sugar of 12 Cat. or 1100 Sk , ns, or Medicinal Drugs to an indefinite amount. The quality of the Claret is to be such es Is usually understlod. under the distinction of Pi ise Claret. The transaction is to commence by she intportr ion of theVl'lne, .in the assigned quant'a y or proportion, from Fiance. Conformably with these conditions. six licences for six din rent cargoes, were on the 16th instant signed by NAroLeost, And remain in the hands of the Gran tees on the other side of the water. As the size or tonnage of the vessels to be employed h this traffic is not specified, the dimensions may be regulated at the convenience or discretion of the Merchant. The latest advice: from Otahcite, via Bengal, in. form us that King Nmare, who had been deposed by the treachery of a powerful faction in his king. dom, had taken refuge at, and was in safety at Eimeo, a small island near Otaheite, where were also Tapoa and a formidable pa!ty of other Chiefs from likes and the neighbouring islands. King Posture had re. cently married the daughter of one of the most illus. mous and warlike chiefs of Elmo, •aod had strong hopes, with the reinforcements he was col'ecting, to make a successful descent upon Otaheite, and recover his kingdom. Pomare is an honourable, virtuous, and amiable character, is much respected by the Eng lish, to whom he has uniformly shewn the greatest kindness, atttntion, and solicitude to promote their views, and absolutely holds a correspondence by let. ter with the Missionaries who had precipitately fled from Otaheite when the insurrection broke out, and repaired to New South Wales; but, invited by the prospect of returning peace, had lately returned to that island to resume their missions. Luca! Gas AT Luca! Extraordinary, unparail 441 LACK MeStrs. PlOOll4O and Co. No. s, CornhiU, Inn to the MllO4llll }louse, have the soprano gratification to announce, that tsy have sold the Number 3,456, (Claw B.) a Prier of .C.OOOO, One Eighth sod Fuuneen Slateet,ths ; also the Number IWO. (Clue 13) a Prize of £4OO, in One Quarter andTsr e lve &argentite, in the Lottery drawn Tuesday tut. Feb. IS, sal the fortunate holders (whet have not already ,Meta paid) are respectfully re. quested to apply at No.l, Cornish', where they may .mmedisately rceetve the V alueof their Shares.—No.l, Cut-shill, 1.6.1:0,111 S. WEST M I DDLESEX WA TEE.WOM KS, BBAXEILS-11TILIXT. Notice is hereby given, Thu a Special General As. sembly will be held at the Company's Office, in Belt. ners-st.reet, np Friday, the 90th day of March nett, at Eleven e'Clock in the Foreno ns, for the purpose of considering and determining upon the measures to be now adopted for carrying into effect the objects of the last Special General Assembly t and also that of electing a Director in the stead of Willie". Leeris o Esq. retismcd.—Rosast S. SLOPSJI, Chef Clerk. February 27, 18111, 4 inft.,. Fal. lays. ;are Vera !Ta. ;th. are rile on. Ate: !d t ,