Star. — London, England, 1826-12-08 00:00:00

been restrained from io doing ; the _ in the bane of the Noble- Governor, and would the House now take up that mangled case as one *on' which they could judge of the conduct of Lord Charles -Somerset? Certainly they'ought not. He would wish to see the cases 'of Feron, Gregg, Edwards, Francis, Mrs. Kemp, Lieut. White, Dr. Bailey and others, in vestigated. There was as yet no evidence on those sub jecte before the House; -and •he thought that all docu marts connected with them should be produced. But hi did not complain of the conduct of the Noble Lord solely upon the cases which he had mentioned; he com plained of It also on the score of economy. Lord C. Somerset had introduced measures which had nearly ruined`the Colony, and should also he inquired into. There were also a variety of other subjects on which there were grounds for complaint; and in order that the conduct of the Noble Governor might be fully brought before the House, be shciuld proceed to move, in the first place, 4, That a copy of Lieut. Colonel Bird's examination before the Commissioners, and correspond ence with them, if he had any, should be laid before the House." In the .next place, for A copy of all correspondence respecting Lord Charles Somerset, which had been received by the Colonial Office;" in the third place, fora A copy of the Report of the Com missioners on all special cases which had been referred to their investigation by the Colonial Department r in the fourth place, for " A copy of the list of all per ions who had been banished from the Cape of Good Hope during Lord C. Somerset's Government;" and in the fifth place, for" A copy of the correspondence which had taken place between Mr. D'Escarty and the Cola vial Department." He should also like to have a - general Report of the proceedings of the Commissioners of Inquiry ; and likewise a copy of the memorial of the inhabitants, praying for a free press, which was for warded to Lord Bathurst in 1824. He should conclude by moving for a Return of the names of the Commis sioners, their duties, and their expenses. In moving for these papers, it was his intention to lay before the House such documents as would enable them to come to a just decision, and say whether the country had or had not been benefitted by the expense which had been incurred On the first motion being put from the Chair, Mr. ORD submitted to the House, that the Hon. Member for Aberdeen had made a most unjustifiable attack on the character of the Commissioners, It was monstrous for any Hon. Member to rise and condemn Gentlemen of acknowledged integrity and tried ability, while he actually confessed himself to be • ignorant of what they had done—(Hear, hear). With reference to one of the Commissioners in particular, Mr. Bigg, he could speak with the utmost confidence. That Gentle man had been a Judge in Trinidad, and one of the Commissioners appointed to make inquiries respecting that island. His labours had been most beneficial to the public, and as he happened to be a relation of his, he could state to the House that that Gentleman had met with a dangerous accident, Which had prevented IsiM from assisting in drawing up the Report, which circumstance bad probably occasioned some delay—(Hear). If that should nut be considered a sufficient defence against the charge respecting delay, be hoped it would at least serve to induce the House to defer passing a sentence of condemnation on the Commissioners—(Hear). General GROSVENOR remarked, that although the Hon. Member for Aberdeen had not presented the Petition respecting Mr. Bishop Burne.t, lie had spoken very warmly in its favour = indeed, 'so much so, as to excite remark; and yet he now asked the House to cast It aside, unsettled, and to embark in a fresh Investigation. For his part, be would wish the Hon. Gentleman.to take his . Bishop Bur nett and to Make the most of bins; .but nut to Kt the House again led astray—(Laughter and bear). Mr. WILMOT-HORTON said, that as the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Hume) appeared to have misun d.rstood him, it would be necessary for him to repeat a few of the observations which he had just had the honour to submit to the House. He would not, how ever, trespass long on their time in doing this. That Hon. Member was totally mistaken if he supposed that. it was his wish to get rid of this investigation with the half-mangled case (as he termed it) of Bishop Burnett. He had merely mentioned to the House the very great ex.iense which had been imposed on the country in col lecting materials for coming to a decision on this case, and he would now pledge himself, that if Gentlemen would take the trouble to wade through the report, which was now lying on their table, they would find most ample and conclusive evidence to enable them to come to a determination on this case, and it did appear to him to be a most cruel and unjust mode of proceed ing, that aka the charges which had been first prefer red against the Noble Lord, and placed in a prominent point of view, had been referred for investigation to Gentlemen of high character, and every way well qua lified to conduct such an inquiry, who had reported thereon, the House should now, instead of taking into consideration the very full and minute report which had been furnished by these Gentlemen on these charges, thrOw it altogether aside, and receive fresh accusations against the Noble Lord.. If the Hon. Member would thew any Parliamentary ground for calling for the do cuments he desired, he would at once either consent to their being tUrnished, or state his reasons for withhold ing them ; but the Honourable Member, instead of :hewing any -such grounds, had contented himself with . running over a list of names, and calling for evidence as to the cases of a variety of individuals, wire had incurred the censure of the Government at the Cape, because, forsooth, by possibility some Of these persons might have been ill-treated. No doubt charges had been made by individuals against the Noble Lord, and there was no wish on the part of Go vernment to throw any unfair obstacle in the way of them charges being fully investigated. All which was *sired was,"that they should be brought forward in some intelligible .manner, so that the House, in entering upon the consideration of them, might know what it was about, and what it was called upon to investigate slid decide upon? The Hon. Member bad said, that it would be requisite to go back to the period when the commission was appointed, for the purpose of investi gatiog the charges brought forward against the Noble Lord. He would remind that Hon. Member, that the Cape of Good Hope had been annexed to the Crowe' daring the late war; that Dutch laws and Dutch cus toms prevailed there. To bring about a change in this respect', and Anglicise the Colony, was, of course, a most desirable object, and it was to this that the commission owed its origin, for one system of law could not all at once be made to supersede another—this could only be effected progressively, and was a work which required great caution ; and what better means could be devised for carrying this measure into execution without risk, than incrusting the management - of it to a commis sion composed of Gentlemen of high character and known ability ? This measure was not merely confined to the Cape—it extended to the Mauritius, and to the Isle,f Cey l on.. was the origin and object of the . .1 'COMTlthsion. It was after their appointment that spe-. dal grievances were referred to their consideration.-- The Honourable Member bad-thought proper to impure partial and improper nsotives to the. Government, with regard to the instructions given totheir Commissioners. It certainly was not the intention of Government -indeed it would have been highly absurd in them, to have unfurled a standard in a new Colony for all the disaffected to rally round. They never intended to set up a mart for grievances; but if the House would take the trouble to look over the number of cases which had been referred to, and reported on, by these Com missioners, he thought no one would feel disposed to regret that more ample powers had not been given them. The Noble Lord had been placed in a most perplexing and difficult situation; according to the oath he had taken, lie was bound to govern the Colony, accoi ding to a law totally different, and very much inferior to that - of his native country. All the defects attendant on This system had been laid to his charge. The com mission had been specially appointed for the ameliora tion of this law, and any communication from them ' relating to this object he had no objection to lay on the table ; but when the Hon. Gentleman called for all the correspondence between these COmmissioners and the. Government, relating to various unconnected sub jects, he could not but oppose so sweeping a demand. Mr. HUME here interrupted the Hon. Member, and observed, that he only asked for the Correspondence relating to the special eases which had been referred to the Conunisdoners. Mr. WILMOT-HORTON.—He could 'not either accede to this general indefinite demand. If the Hon. Member would state a specific case—if he would pledge his character that he had examined into it, and that he thought it required the attention of the House—he would .then either consent to produce the papers, or assign such reasons for withholding them as he thought would satisfy the House. But it seemed to him that it would be a most inconvenient mode of proceeding in this particular case, and set a •ery bad precedent, to accumulate and huddle together a host of fresh charges, whilst they threw aside and abandoned those which had been preferred in the first instance, and on which a report had been already made; The Honourable Member was likewise mistaken as to the reason why a pension bad been granted totol. Bird; it had been granted to him for many years raf valuable service to the country ; and as to the Government's not detaining him in this country to give evidence, he would merely observe that the Government had no power to do so. He was not prepared to produce this officer's correspondence, for it seemed to him that it would be unjust to lay a private paper, received from Colonel Bird, before the House, until _his examination taken before the Commissioners should also be adduced. With regard to Mr. D'Escary's correspondence, he could see no reason why it ought to be prodticed, un less it was intended to bring forward some specific charge on that case. Government were fully satisfied upon it, and did not intend to do Anything. It the Hon. Member thought something ought to be done, let him bring forward some definite.prop:ssition respecting it.— With regard to Burnett's case, it , Jrad been mentioned four or five times in the House, and represented as a case of the greatest hardship and oppression ; now that case had been fully in vestigated, and the HoUse had all the materials before it for coming to a decision upon it. If it should be now thrown aside,sand after the high tone which had been assumed respecting ir, no one should now be found to bring it forward, he for one should certainly consi :det it asadmitted that it had been preferred without any foundation. The first motion was then put; and negatived: Upon the second motion being put. • After a few desultory observations betweenlilr.Vi r usurr-Howrou and Mr. Hume, Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that he saw no reason why the Government should agree to the production of such a mass of papers, as that moved for by the Hon. Member (Mr. Hume). If that Hon. Gentleman had received any complaint, let the case be stated to the House, and the House would be free to decide as t.r the policy, and the propriety, of granting any papers that might have reference to it; but really it would be but snaking a mockery of the Commissioners, if the House were to form itself into Court, for the purpose of deciding, without any proof—without even a sus picion—whether the Commissioners were guilty or not. But, independently of any other reason for refusing to produce such papers, there was one which the Hon. Member was in the habit of putting with much force, viz.—economy. He found even in those papers that had been already printed, much matter, which had created much expense, but gave no information. He found in one of them, a sort of poetical im• promptu, by Mr. Bishop Burnett, on the rapidity of the rivers of Siuth,Amerrca, a line which really was too trifling, if not too indecent, to be printed. New, even upon the Hun. Gentleman's own principle of economy, then, he should be disposed to i efuse the production, and the consequent printing, of suck papers. He (Mr. Peel) had every confidence in the integrity of the Com.' missioners—he believed them to be most fair and impar tial Judges—and he, the' et o?e, considered that the House would do wrong to consent to the production of any papers which would cast suspicion upon them and upon their conduct, until some special case had been brought forward, which might appear to render such a course necessary. If the Hon. Member had such a case to produce, and did state it to the House, then the Right Hon. Gentleman was bound to grant the papers referring to it, for which he might move, or to assign sufficient reasons why be refused them. Mr. H ÜblE expressed himself satisfied with the pledge he had received from the Right Hon. Gentleman, and would be content if such papers were granted him as be might move for with reference to special cases.—Mr. Hues then withdreir his motion. ARIGNA MINING COMPANY. Mr. R. MARTIN rose to submit a motion to the House, which he thought but an act of justice to his Honourable Friend, who was suffering from the stigmas which had been attached to him in consequence of his connexion with the Arigna Mining Company. A tition had been presented to the House a few nights since, praying that it would institute an inquiry into the directorship and managernent of the.Arigna Company, the petitioners stating that.they had suffered Materially from fraud. The Petition was signed by four indivi duals, and it was an extraordinary fact, that out of upwards of a thousand Shareholders, only four could be obtained to attach their signatures to the Petition; therefore it was plain that the majority of the Share holders did not accuse his Hon. Friend. He thought the effect of the charge would be influenced by the weight of the individuals who had brought It forward. He was therefore anxious to ascertain who the four persons were; and to obtain the desired information, he moved that the names of the moons attached to the Petition presented to the House concerning the Adios Mining Company, on the sth December, be printed. The motion having been seconded, Mr. WYNN said, if it was carried, the practice must be adopted with regard to ail the Petitions which were presented to that House. He begged to suggest to the Hon. Gentleman the propriety of his withdrawing the motion. If the allegations contained in the Petldoa were false, those who preferred it would only.be dligraced. Mr.• Alderman WAITHMAN opposed the motion. He considered that the House wou ld loweiing its dignity by yielding to it. lie (Alderman Waithman) had 'devoted much of his time to thseonstitutional mitkiples of the country, aty never, in the whole course of that life, had he heard.of a more atrocious innovation oh the rights and liberties of the people. If the House tat to hold up to the finger of scorn, and ridicule, those persons who came forward ~to put down abuses, it would do away with one of the best rights the people possessed. A great deal of the same kind of work had been done in thesixteenth century, but persons attempting thevio• lation of those privileges were uniformly expelled the House—(The Hon. Gent. proceeded to express himself rather warmly, and was called to order). He contended that be was not out of order, and should express him self as he felt. He had an Amendment to propose,which, with the permission of the House, he should submit. It was no matter whether the Petition was signed by four, or four hundred persons. He contended that the Hon. Gentletnats motion was an obstruction to the right of 'Petitioning. -The Hon. Gent. had said something about the weight of the names attached. Now the weight or re spectability of the parties had nothing at all to do with it. The poorest individual had a right to petition if he so thought proper; nay, a mau under sentence of death in Newgate might petition, if he thought himself aggrieved, and the House were bound to entertain the prayer of the petition. He knew one of the peti tioners, Mr. Clark, and he felt proud to say he was a most honourable man. He had been embarrassed in the Stock Exchange, in consequence of .the frauds practised by the bubbles ; but he had paid the whole of his engagement at 20s. in the pound. The Hon. Al derman moved an Amendment to the effect that the motion was a serious obstruction to the right of petitioning enjoyed by the subject. Mr. MARTIN said he should be inclined to withdraw his motion, if the Hon. Alderman would inform the House of the names of the other three Petitioners ; he had mentioned Mr. Clark, and by telling him the rest, hib information would have the desired effect of his (Mr. Martin's) motion. He denied that he wished to obstruct the rights of the people, but at the same time repeated that it was some consolation to his Hon. Friend to know whilst waking the result of the Committee of Inquiry, that out of so many thousands, only four had been found to attack him— (Cries of Question). Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but on our return to the Gallery, we found tha► no division had taken place. The original motion was negatived, and the amendment fell to the ground for want of a Seconder. Mr. Hama was then on his legs, withdrawing the minion of which he had given notice, concerning a correspondence relative to the progress and source of the Ashantee war. On the Order of the Day, the House went into a Committee upon the St. Domingo Postage Bill; the Amendments were agreed to, the Chair resumed, and the Report ordered to be received to- morrow. Sir A. GRANT brought up the Report of the Ten Millions Ex chequer Bills' Bill. The Bill was read a second, and ordered to be read a third thin to-morrow. The same Hon. Member brought up the Repo rt tithe Transfer in Aids' Bill. The Bill was read a second, aordered to be read a third time to.morrow. Mr. W. HORTON, moved fora Copy of the Third Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Administration of Criminal Justice in India.—Ordered. Mr. Roam gave notice that he should to•merrew move for Papers concerning Colonel Arthur and Colonel Bradley. Adjourned at Bum: o'CLoca. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8,1826. STOCK EXCLIANGR, TWELVE O'CLOCK. Consols, which left off yesterday at 844 for the Account, opened this morning at 844 to 4, with little or no business doing up to the present time, and the•market continues firm at the above price.— Reduced may be quoted at 834 4. In the Foreign market there is a little doing in Colombian and Mexican Bonds ; but the chief speculation still continues in Shares. Current prices: Old Spanish 124 134, Mexicans 714, Colombian new 404, Milian 58 59, Danish 62 4, Peruvian 55 55, Portuguese 75 ex div. Russian 86187, Greek 19i. PRICE OF STOCKS AT TWO O'CLOCK; Bank Stock 203 S per Cent. Red..83 3 / a 1 ,4 14 • 3 per Cent. Cons. Shut. Si per Cent. 89 7 /s Si per Cent. Red. 89 3 4 3 / 4 4 per Cent. New Shut. 4 per Cent. 1826, 97 7 4 98 Long Ann. 19 9-16 5/ s India Bonds 38 40 #.1,000 Excheq. Bills 19 18 £5OO ditto 19 18 ClOO and E2OO ditto 22 20 India for Acct. '250 Cons. ioi Do. $4 l 54 1,4 FRENCH FUNDS. Five per Cents. Three per ants. Bank Actions Rentes de Naples Rentes d'Espagne Haytian Loan 00. 85c. 71f. 75c. 207 Sf. —c. 77f. 15c. 10er. 705 f. The fellowing is posted at the North and South Ame rican Coffee-house: SITILACT or • LITIIS TROM BATAVIA, DAVID 15TH •oan%. " Since our last of die 4th, an alarming change has taken place in the affairs in Java, in consequence of the rebel Chief having gained a very considerable advantage over the Dutch troops, in an unexpected manner, which has so much encouraged the enemy,' that fears were entertained he would follow up the advantage, which, in the weak state of our troops, he 'Might do with great injury. Three hundred and fifty men have arrived from the Ne therlands, within a day or two, which would have proved a check, if they had arrived sooner. Vessels have also been taken up, to bring back troops from the out pats, and we hope loon to see p e . I more arrive from the Netherlands." This morning we received the Liston Gazette to the 25th ult. inclusive, and copy the following : LISBON. PROM THE GAZETTE DE LIAISON. GOMM& 29. . The Gazette contains an Order of the Day of the Minister of War, Commander-in-Chief of the Division of Operations, that the causes which gave occasion to the formation and movements of the division having ceased, he has received orders from the Princess Regent to dissolve it, and to thank the corps composing it, in her Royal Highness's name, for the discipline, firmness, and loyalty which they have shewn in the service of the Xing and the defence of the Country, where the perfidy 'of a band of cowards raised the cry of treason in a part of Algarve. His Excellency then enumerates the corps, and the names of various officers, and regretting that indisposition does not allow him personally to return his thanks to the division, he declares he shall at all times of his life remember with pride the honour conferred on him by the. Regent in:giving this command, and the conAdence which be obtained from the division. Thi, Order of the Day is dated Headquarters, in Monte ' November 13, 1826. 22d.—Her Royal Highness the Princess Regent being informed of the great services rendered by theßegimentt of Infantry Nos. 3,9, 10, 15, 18, and 21, and the Re f i t , of Cavalry No. 5, which, animated by the most honour. able spirit of loyilty and subordination, despised th e criminal examples of cowardly desertion, which have covered with infamy some Portuguese unworthy of th uniform which they wore, orders thanks to be returned in her name to the Commanders, Officers, subalterns, and privates of these corps, for their noble conduct, and the sentiments of respect, obedience, and loyalty, Whi c h they have at all times shewn to their legitimate Soi e . reign. and the institutions proceeding from him. Her Highness also orders her thanks te be g;ven to the Regiment of Militia of Deja, for the pinmp t . ness with which it assembled at the call of its Colcnrl, Domingo: de Mello Breyner, to defend the town of Mertola, as soon as the rebellion in Algarve aii s known to it. Her Highness the Infanta Regent, orders that t';e Officers who formed the gaff of the division of opera tions, shall return to the posts which they held before. The Gazette to 25th November inclusive, contains no accounts whatever relative to the state of the provinces of the north, or of any other pan of the kingdom, nor any mention of the Portuguese troops that have deserted into Spain. There are answers to several congratulatory addresses from different places on account of the Chat ter, CHAMBER OF PEERS. • 20th.—The Vice-President reported that the depute don appointed by the Chamber had waited on her Roy 41 Highness, with the Address, which had been most gra• ciously received. The Conde de Tarpa said, that he had observed in the Gazette of 14th October, a permission to import 8,000 moios of foreign wheat, for the consumption of the Kingdom, while it is positively affirmed that the granaries of Alemtejo- are full of wheat, for which the farmers cannot obtain a price, mush below that fixed by the law for the importation of foreign wheat ; he, there fore, moved, that the Minister of the Interior should be requited to present to the Chamber a statement of the wheat.necessary for the consumption of the Kingdom• till next harvest, and of the quantity now lying in the. granaries of Alemtejo and Riba-Tego.—Agreed to. 28d.—A letter was received from the Minister of the Interior, saying, that as an individual he could easily. give the information (respecting the corn) asked of him, but, as Minister, he could not answer this, being an Officer of the Government, with which no other Power could interfere. This answer did not satisfy the Mover of the question, and a debate arose, which ended in the nomination of a Committee to inquire into the business. (The Caulk of the 24th of November, which contains this 4e. bate, gives also an official statement, of the Inspector . General, of• the Corn Returns, with a detailed table of the quantity of corn is the Provinces of Estremadura, Aleunejo, and Algarve, with the quantity required for the consumption till next harvest ; the general result Of which is, that there Is a defickircy to the amount of 25,739 maks.) ,- •• CHAMBER OP DEPUTIES. The Sittings of the 21st, 22d. and 28d, were chic* occupied with the reading and discussing of the pre posed internal regulations (or standing orders). In the. Sitting of the 24th a very long debate arose on a project of law presented by the Minister of Marine, proposing some alterations in the penal code: the debate. was not concluded. . . French Papers to the 6.h instant, and the Dote of Wednesday, have reached us. An article from Ma drid, in the Journal des Daggs, states, that the Portu guese Refugees mustered to the number of 4,000 at Salamanca, .well armed and provisioned: that they went to Placentia, where they found General SILVIIII.4 who put himself at their head, and that they boate -1 diately toot the road to Portugal ; but that on their 4 march sn Many fell off on different pretences or openly deserted, that . only 750 crossed the frontier ; when contrary to their expectations, they found scarcely any i volunteers ready to join them, only 85 in fact Making their appearance, instead of the 8000 who bad been promised. The same article adds : to that the Spanish Government had declared that this invasion had taken place without their knowledge. That the Convents lid I (nrnished the necessary sums without asking any thing of the Ministers, and that the Commanders of the Province had suffered those Refugees to pass of their own accord without sending to the Minister at War for instructions. It was believed that the Portuguese Government, well aware of the state of Spain, and of the various influences which prevail, would not insist on any further explanation.* The Earl of Ltvaarootas rather better yesterday. His ILordship's medical attendants Visited the Noble Earl yesterday. Sir Amer Coma has been called in to attend his Lordship. Mr. Secretary CANNING was indisposed on Wednes day and yesterday. Dr. Hour's attended the Right Hon. Geo. denten, who was somewhat recovered yesterday. ' The Earl of WESTMORELAND transacted business yesterday at the Glace of the Secretary of &ate for Foreign Affairs. Sir CHARLES STUART transacted business yesterday at the Foreign Mee in Downing-street. Yesterday Lord Viscount PALMERSTON, the Seere tartat War, transacted military business with the Duke of YOU. Fills AT MIILISHAII.—Eichard Price, in the employ of Mr. Parsons, the owner of the extensive factory which was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday morn ing (and which we noticed in the STAR on Wednesday), underwent an examination before J. L. PHILLIPS, Esq. one of the Magistrates for the CAM]. The evidence was so strong, and the facts :worn to so conclusive, of his having set a large basket full of tow on fi , e, by wilfully putting a lighted candle thereunto, that he has been fully committed for trial at the next for the County.—Devixeseni Wiltshire Gazette, Dec. 7. In the Court of Admiralty, the salvage cause of La Petite Victoire terminated, when the Portland seamen were awarded the sum of 10001. on condition of paying their own costs. The Augsburg Gazette states, on the authority of let ters from Constantinople, dated the 3d November, that the Porrs will accede to the proposal made by Mr. S. CANNING, in favpur of tho Greeks. ADELPHI THEATRE.—The receipts of the four first nights to the The Flying Dutsisnuns have far exceeded dime to Tie Pilot. The disappearance of the Phantom Ship is nightly accom panied by the cheers of the aodience, stnongst whom we last night noticed—the Countess of Howtb, the Marchioness of Sligo, Mar . quiss of Clanricarde, Lord Blaney, Lady Frances Leveson Govar• ri io