Star. — London, England, 1812-01-24 00:00:00

~- t auted his mem orable in q uir y , and the Committee, ls isted. b y t he endeavours of the Right Honottrable de,,, ,„ nadoertw h k ( iii ) g spoke last, would acc. molish the of alteration. He had heard that b i la Y e u ea were accused of attemptiny. to bring, by ~'"`- „ ;;Te ni / notion, the Ecclesiastical Establishment u: o r, - "i• oß dens into contempt. Let the Parliament 01 0; 2 1; thosei reverend tribunals respectable, and then they w ould become. worthy of respect ; let the ears of the nation be opened to complaints, and then re id follow. IDed s i Y r jci ° ll 9 N.NICHOL asserted, that the same ex imprisonment would have followed the peaces and other Law Court, vie whole hie pioceeai n g s in an y appeared with the ordinary complexions cos quoted otevery day occurrences, and proclaimed that the {salt lay not w i t h t h e , l a ws, nor with the per s o ns w h o en forced them, but with the complainants themselves. The Courts were created for far other considerations t han those-of publishing the sentence of excommuni cation against those w h o merited t he punishment.— They embraced a wide range, mending the breaches „ i the • l e d state, or separating those whose ac pons required them to be put asunckr, awarding dis tribution o r personal property, and performing many more offices of equal trust, which every Gentleman i n the House was sensible of. But the Noble Lord, in a we st industrious search through a period of 13 yeas,had only been able to rake twelve cases of im enrtnce from the extensive jurisdiction of Exeter, W e lls, Bristol, and Salisbury ; six of these did net pro perly belong to the stibject, three of them were f a t i t h e s, two of them for rates, and the other was t h e c ase of the complainant in the petition. There. t ae , on the most accurate and deliberate considera iioe, he saw no reason to support the motion, and decidedly disapproved of it. Mr. WILLIAM SMITH was of opinion that the speech of the Hon. Gentleman (Sir William Scott) vest asreat way to support the arguments employed by the Noble Lord; and he was assured, from the flowledge he had of the Noble Mover's mind, that e t he Hon. Gentleman contemplated the formation of any Bill upon the subject, he would have the tarty concurrence of his Noble Friend, and the mo bon would be withdrawn in his favour. But he was afraid that his Majesty's Ministers had so much press ing business on their hands already, that they would hardly find leisure to prepare such a Bill as was re quired. He could instance many cases himself, where the power of the Ecclesiastical Courts required re ttraint. He saw a woman confined for seven years because she was a kind of moral enthusiast, differing little from the Quakers, except in one prominent cir cumstance—that she had a kind of religious dislike against marriage ; and accordingly she was sum moned before the Court by her maiden name, to an swer for living publicly with a man, whose name she had assumed. A scrupulous conscience hindered her from obeying the citation—she wanted to be cited by the name she had assumed ; a process was instantly entered against her for contempt, and seven years con finement ensued, when she was liberated, because they became weary of persecuting her ? Why did not the Grand Committee of the Law Courts, which an Act of Parliament ordained to sit every Saturday, take such subjects into consideration ? For what purpose were they appointed ? Let the Gentlemen opposite answer that. His Noble Friend, he was convinced, would allow the motion to pass before that grand Committee. The Common Law had lately altered its mode of proceeding, and pronounced the ion-appearance of the party as an acknowledgme.it alga:lt, and• awarded a small fine accordingly.— Could not the Spiritual Courts adopt the same me thod ? Where would be the injury ? The method proposed by the Noble Lord appeared the best, and therefore had his hearty concurrence. The Ara) it NE Y-GE NE R A L confessed that no argumenls from the other side had convinced him of the neccssity of the measure. The question was, whether they imputed an improper administration of the law, as it exisied, to the Ecclesiastical Courts ; for if they administered them as they stood, the fault lay in the laws themselves, and not in the Courts.— The Judges, in all the instances cited, had pro nounced according to the law, and had they not panted the process, they would have violated the law. The proper mode was to correct the law, the pressure of which they complained of. He was con vinced that were his Right Honourable Friend (Sir W. Scott) employed to frame a Bill on that subject, it would be accomplished with ability and success--. He believ e d t h e H onoura bl e G ent l eman wou ld wil lingly take upon himself the trouble of correcting the law, and fitting it better for the purposes of Society. Correcting the law itself went directly to the root of the evil, whereas the motion of the Noble Lord went only to the administration of the law.— horn the excellent abilities possessed by his Honour able Friend, from the great powers he had shewn in his administration, he aug ured the performance of the Bill in contemplation w i t all the discernment of su perior intelltet. He hoped he might be induced to wept of the proposal. SirJOHNiXEWPOR.T recollected the expressions used by a Noble Lord against the Irish Roman Ca tholics for the ceremony cif excommunication. He . hoped, after what he had heard of its use in the Church of England, in the debate of this night, that it would never be employed in such a manner again. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER expressed his opinion that the Learned Judge Advo cate (Sir William Scott) would have before applied to the House for an amelioration of the law, had it no; been that his Learned Friend was justly fearful ofits being said of such an application, that it was an effort of the Ecclesiastical Court to arrogate to-itself som e of the powers of the Courts of Law. He knew that such was the Learned Gentleman's opinion, and he also felt assured that his Learned and Right Ho nourable Friend would most cheerfully take upon himself the task of preparing a Bill to remedy the defects complained of. Sir WILLIAM SCOTT here signified his readi ness to p re p are a Bill for such desired object, if such sere the we'll and opinion of the House.—(Hear.) The Motion was then withdrawn, in compliance with the general understanding. Lord FOLKSTONE observing that the Petition from the unfortunate woman (Dicks) still remained "disposed of, wished to know what course he was i th o P lir s. ue•---No answer b e i ng g i ven to t hi s ge neral qmrYi the SPEAKER observed, that the matter had better be deferred to another day. S.r J . NEWPORT moved for leave to bring in a Bill to exempt from duties all legacies and bequests for charitable purposec, advertisements in the news papers respecting such institutions, &c. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not approve of the motion. He could ndt see what beneficial object could result from encouraging a spirit, by such means, to leave legacies for chari table purposesz--especially when it was remembered that, by such bequests, relatives were but too otten disinherited of what was justly due to them. Besides, the sincerity of such legacies was very questionable. The individual that was really desirous of doing good to objects of charity, would not lose the opportunity of rendering that benefit in bis life-time ; and, under. such circumstances, there would be little just cause to question the sincerity with which such benefit was done to the distressed portions of society. With re spect to the exempting of advertisements respecting charitable institutions and humane objects, it would in the first place create considerable confusion to the collectors of those particular duties; and there would be a still greater difficulty in making the distinction. How would it be possible to prevent the publishers of Newspapers from deducting duties when the adver tisements were not relating to charitable objects ? Much evil might, and much inconvenience certainly would, result from such a Bill ; and he could not see that it was likely to be productive of good, tanta mount to such evil and inconvenience. Sir JOHN NEWPORT, in reply, contended, that the duties in question often raised very considerable obstructions in the promotion of charitable objects. He, however, should not press his motion, it the sense of the House appeared to be against it. The motion was then put, and negatived. DISTILLERY BILL. On the motion that the Distillery Bill be read a third time, Mr. HUTCHINSON rose to ask whether the Bill now proposed to be read a third time could be considered in any other light than a violation of the sixth article of the second section of the Act of Union, vs hich said, that the prohibitions of articles the produce of either counts y should cease ? He deemed it a violation of a solemn compact, and as such would resist it. If this violation were suffered, what security had this country that it would nut be moved to vio late those articles of the Union which enacted, that Ireland should send to the House of Lf;rds four Spi ritual and twenty-four Temporal Lords, and to the House of Commons one hundred Members ? The Hon. Gentleman then descanted at some length on the liberal feelings and patriotic views of the Chan ' cellor of the Exchequer, he deeming him " the pecu liar friend of Ireland." Mr. W. FITZGERALD observed, that if the Honourable Gentleman's real motives were the be nefit and prosperity of his country, he ought to adopt another tone and another feeling. The Act would benefit Ireland as well as England ; it was called for to promote the cause of the United Kingdom. Lord FOLKSTONE renixrkei, that it had not been denied that the Act was a violation of the Union compact. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER expressed his astonishment at what had fallen from the Noble Lord (Folkstone). —As to what had been said by another Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Hutchinson), he was not surprised at any thing that fell from him! —He was for a - repeal of the Union, and doubtless he thought he was promoting that object by encouraging such a feeling as he had evinced.— By the Act of Union there was a reciprocity of in terests, and by the Bill before the House the mutual interests of both countries would be furthered.— But this champion of his country's rights—this pa tron of the distillers of Dublin ; and this bold advo cate of the cause of his native land, saw violation upen violation, where every body else perceived no thing of the kind. He (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer) was called the friend" of Ireland. By that, it was intended that he should be designated as its enemy. But the interests of Ireland were not neglected, as was insinuated ; they were protected. It was no violation either of the spirit, or letter of the Act of Union. As to another part of the argument, it was ridiculous to say, that because a Minister might obtain a majority to promote a good measure, ergo he could command the same majority to abet him in the promotion of a bad one. After some observations from Mr. W. SMITH, the Bill was read a third time, and passed. Mr. D. GIDDY expressed his approbation of the Bill, on account of the present exigencies. The Report from the Committee of Ways and Means was also read and agreed to. Mr. WHARTON brought up Estimates for the Repairs of King Henry the V ll.'s Chapel, which were ordered to be referred to the Committee of Supply. —Adjourned at 11 o'clock. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. FRIDAY, JANUARY St. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK 9 per Ct. Cons. for money 62.t4—D0. for acc. Gel } 3 p, r Ct. Reduced 64i-4 per Cent. i 9/ 5 per Ct. 941 i —Bondsl7l. 1 as. pr.—Ommurn dia. Pub. Bills (stl.) 3e. 408. pre.—Ditto (Sid.) 4s. ss. lid. pre. A Lisbon Mail arrived at a late hour last night, bringing letters and papers to the 6th instant. — No dispatches were received from Lord WELLINorox, by the above Mail. They are supposed to have been left behind, at Falmouth, by mistake. By private letters, however, we learn, that Lord WELLINGTODOS head-quarters were still at Frey nada, where all WAS quiet, but the gallant General HILL celebrated Christmas-day by a spirited move ment from Portalegre towards the enemy. His ad vance came up with them on the 29th, near Los Navas, and, oa the first onset, the British killed 25, took 15, and wounded 20, with a loss of only two killed, and one officer and 20 men wounded. The enemy abandoned Merida precipitately on hearing that General Hill's invincible brigade was once more advancing upon them. The magazines which they left in Merida l fell into our hands, and General Hill was left in close pursuit when the dispatches came away. This'prompt and vigorous movement of General '-HILL has already disconcerted the plans of the French Generals in other pal ti of Spain. A strong detach ment, which was on its way to reinforCe Suctirt; at Valencia, has been recalled; in order to protect a more important part of Spain. We hive no dotibt that we shall speedily have to commtinicate some brilliant achievement on the part of General HILL. The first and second heavy king's Getman Legion from Cork, 1100 strong, and 1200 hcrses, in the highest condition, landed at Lisbon on the instant, under General Boac. This reinforcement of cavalry will, no doubt, prove most seasonable, and will ena ble Lord WELLINGTON to pursue his operations with increased activity. The intelligence received at Lisbon from Spain, Is upon the whole favourable. We far, however, that we cannot rely upon the reports respecting the r.:ising of the siege of Valencia by General BLAKE, en. the de feat of the French at Tarifa, by Colonel SKI:ImmT. The Portuguese and Spanish Papers abound with Proclamations from the Spanish Generals ; from these it would appear, that the spirits of the bi ave but unfortunate troops, are still unbroken. General LAVAL boldly tells Marshal SOULT, that neither he, nor the Emperor of the French in person, shall ever compel him to surrender the position which he holds. A FRENCH SQUADRON AT SEA. The Darlington packet, on Wednesday se'nnight, on her passage from Cadiz, in lat. 41.. 10. long. 15: 20. fell in with two frigates and a corvette ; one of the frigates chaced the Darlington twelve hours. Two days after the Darlington fell in with his Ma jesty's ships SURVEILLANTE, SYR/I.LE, and SPITFIRE, and was informed by Sir GEORGE COLLIER, that a French squadron were at sea, and that they chaced him a few days before, and that having fallen in with his Majesty's ships then in company, he was going in pursuit of the enemy. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. The SURVEILLANTE frigate was chaced on the 15th instant, off Cape Finisterre, by three French frigates and a brig, supposed from the Loire. On the 17th the SURVEILLANTE fell in with the STEILLE frigate and SPITFIRE sloop, and immediately went in pursuit of the French squadron, which it is supposed was cruizing with a view of falling in with the suppliet for Portugal. Two Heligoland mails arrived this morning. They confirm account of the shipwrecks of the ST. GEORGE, and DEFENCE, with the heart-rending addi tion that every man on board the ST. GEonce perish ed, and that only 17 of the crews of the vessels wreck ed at the same time, were saved. . WAR WITH RUSSIA AND FRANCE. The rumour of an approaching war in the North of Europe is still kept up. Ind e ed we do not see how it is to be avoided, if the sources from which the sub joined accounts are taken can be relied on. " HELIGOLAND, JANUARY 13. " By *a passenger just arrived from the opposite coast, and who had every means of procuring infor mation, we have been informed, that immense pre parations have been making by the French for some time, in the prospect of a war with Russia. They have purchased, or put in requisition, in Holstein, 6,000 head of cattle, and immense quantities of grain, which they are conveying into the interior, and have sent from Hamburgh towards the frontiers of j Poland, a numerous train of heavy artil!ery. " Every iregiment is to be provided with five field pieces, and the plan for the commencement of hosti lities is so formidable and so far advanced, that it is confidently expected Bonaparte will make himself master of Poland within two months, should the pre parations made not strike dismay into the Russian Government, and induce it to accede to the wishes of the French Ruler : every appearance justifies the opi nion that Bonaparte had determined upon a war with Russia twelve months ago, and that his negotiations have had for their object only to gain time and tem porise, till he was in readiness to strike a decisive blow.' 4 , HELIGOLAND, JANUARY 14. a We are extremely concerned to learn from ac counts brought by a flag of truce from Husum, the disastrous loss of the Sr. GEORGE, of 95 guns, and DEFENCE, of 74, on the coast of Jutland, with three brigs and some merchantmen. The Sr. GEORGE is said to have gone to the bottom, and every man on board to have perished, and only 17 of the crews of the other vessels to have been saved. " By late accounts from other parts of the coast we have been informed that a war between Russia (in conjunction with Prussia) and France is more confi dently looked for than ever, and that hostilities may be certainly expected to commence by the beginning of next month. The brave Prussian General BLU CHER is, it is said, to have a command in the Russian army. 4 . The batteries at Cuxhaven and other parts on the coast, have been entirely dismantled of their guns, with a view, it is supposed, of preventing them falling into the hands of the English, should circumstances render it necessary to march off all the troops at those stations, to the scene of the exi-ccted campaign. " The hospitals in Hamburgh are stated to be crowded with sick of the French army, consisting of troops %ho have been marched thither from Spain, and who are dying (ram 20 to SO every day, in con: sequence of diseases brought on by excessive exertions; fatigue's, and famine. T.‘e dead are ;nil in 'sacks and buried in the sands on the sh ,, i s of the Elbe; during the nizht; to conceal their numbers from the inha bitants; Several regiments have lately been marched fiord Hamburgh towardi the Prussian frontiers: By every thing we can learn, th- Danei have begUn to lay aside iheir rancour and animosity against the Engtsh, which they have sheo•n on every occa sion since the rupture; and to pen. ive and acknow ledge that Engtand, in the p' licy which led to a war with Denmark, was actuated by m"tivcs forced upon her by the irrtsistible ambition of the French Rukr; and the peculiar 'circumstances of Europe at the time, and dictated by a wise and prudent regard to self preset vation." On the subject of Eccksiastical Law, brought under discussion last night in the I louse (of Commt;:tt; we believe there can be but one general sentiment throughout the country. It is high time that the evils resulting from the retnains cf monkish ignorance and ecclesiastical usurpation should bevnirpated. REPORTED DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH BY THE S2ANIARDS, UNDER GENERAL LAPENA. The following communication has reached us from a most respectabh liouze at Dartmouth : " Dartmot.tli, January el, 1814. • " St e—The following communica:ion has just been made me by the Master of the Lord Cochrane, which vessel is in Tot tilt! particulars are entered on their log-book, but the name exactly the master does not carry ist his memory :—you may rely nn the truth of the information, as it was given the Lord Cochrane : '‘ His Majesty's hired brig Lord Cochrane, Lieu tenant TINDALE Commander, spoke with the Ketch letter of marque called the Ceaeral, of 10 guns and 20 men, on Saturday, oil' the St-irt, the Master ot /which informed Lieutenant T. he was from Cadir six days ; that he had dispatches on board for Go vernment, and that the Spanish General LATENA had had an engagement with the French, and that Gene ral LAPENA had defeated them and taken 1800 pri. sorms." To the above we have to add the knowing letter from Dover, as a strong corroboration of the above intelligence: : " Dover, January 23. Arrived in the roads the brig General Potbet, of and for London, with wool and logwood, from Co. runna, and landed Senor CARLOS MOTPIA. She sailed from Corunna on the 19. th Instant. A re• port had been, two days previous to .their sailing. is circulation, and generally credited, that one of the Spanish Generals in Castile had had an action with the French, and taken 1800 prisoners.—The name cf the Spanish General, nor the time when or where the action took place, Senor MOMu could nut recollect." NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. FALMOUII-1, JANUARY 21. Arrived the Duke of Kent packet from Lisbon, in 15 days—brings no news.—Wind N. PLYMOUTH, JANUARY 2e. Sailed the PICKLE, of 14 guns, for the Jersey sta tion. Went out of har' , our and anchored in the Sound, after having refitted, his Majesty's ship R tow, of 38 guns, Captain Mt.t.com Arrived the beas. tiful American ship Maddock, Captain DUNBAR, firm Wilmington, with a cargo of timber for the Docl yard at this port. Several vessels were expected to sail from thence for this port with timber, at the time the Maddock left ; and doubts are entertained for the safety of the ship Peace and Plenty, Capt. HALL ) which sailed ten days before the Maddock. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 23. Arrived the AvENGEtt and HAZARD irom New. foundland, and the TORTOISE frcm the Downs.. Sailed the VIOLET with a convoy for Guernsey. DEAL, JANUARY ts. Sailed this morning the whole of the outward bound coasters and colliers, under convoy of die Sri_ cutArost lugger, for Portsmouth, and several ( . f the homeward-bound for the River. Arrived the Brio. LONA from the Nore.—Wind E. and blows hard. Y.•iRMOUTN, JANUARY 23. Arrived the THRIMUEIt t from Heligoland. A Proclamation has been issued by Lord Mniro t , for the administration of the Island of Java. He annexes it without ceremony to the possessions of the East-India Company, although the conquest was in fact made by a King's Officer, and chiefly by his Ma. jesty's troops. COIN MARC CT, MARL•LANC, JAN. 24.---To-day the market has several fresh arriv.:is of wheat, with considerable retraining supplies not huirg much in el- 'nand ; sales are consequently heavy at a further &clensiou in price : semc select Old Danizie about £6 per quarter. Barl-y in good supply, and agai.i lower. Malt and White Pras newly at last prices. Beans (death so-t likewise. There are are C01t51419.:•...•:e s.ipplit S ut Oats, and this trade is I quoted cheaper. Flnur in full rocks. .spe-ted lower. SMITHFIFLD MARKET.—January 17. No variation in 13, et' and Mutton. The Hay Market solo. thing dearer since our last. Beet Ss Od CO 64 Od Veal 7s (4 to Rs Od Mutton bs 2d to Gs ad l'ork Us 4d to is 44 EPAD OP CAT 7 LI TM'S DAY. Beasts, about GtiO—Sheep and Lamb!, 4,240. Calves, 120—Pip•. 240. PRICE 07 HAY A ND STE..I.W SMITIIFIEI Hay .11 IQs to 51 10s New Closer 5! Os to 61 0 New Hay 01 Os to 01 Os Straw 21 25 to 21 140