Star. — London, England, 1813-06-04 00:00:00

was necessary. There had not been one argument now brought forward which had not been urged With snore-ability and energy at a former period. Mr. G. SMITH opposed the Resolution, and ad vised the House to reflect, before they endangered the safety and happiness of 60 Millions of people. Mr. PROTHEROE observed, that a Right Hon.' Gentleman (Mr. Tierney) who had last night advo . cateel the interests _of the Company, had dwelt more largely in sarcasm than argument ; and as no one could doubt his ability, he (Mr. Protheroe) would not take upon him to decide whether the Right Hon. Gentlenianhad resorted to this mode of defence from the badness of the cause which he espoused—(Hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman had derided the philo sOphy of the outports ; but if philosophy was demon strated by patience, moderation, and a deference to legislative wisdom, he thought they had same claim . to it. They had been also censured for compromis ing their rights, but they had only shewn that they were not so fond of right as to sacrifice expediency to it. The gentlemen of the outports looked forward to further concessions on future occasions; but they paid a due deference to the wisdom of his Majesty's Government, by not insisting on more than it seemed expedient to give. The Merchants of Bristol had fallen under the irony of the Right Hon. Gentleman, but if the case were to be as he had represented it, their conduct on the present occasion was a proof of their disinterestedness and prudence. The Right Honourable Gentleman had remarked on the want of evidence on the part of the outports, and seemed to consider the cause which he advocated as suffering some degree of injury; but it appeared to him this was of the greatest advantage to the Company, for they had the benefit of an ex . parse statement, and there was certainly as much dogmatical statement on the one side as on the other. If there was any blame to be attached to the delegates from the out ports, he took a large sl:are to himself ; for there was a large body of evidence ready, and among these witnesses there were some as distingnished characters as had appeared on hchalf of the Company. Their not having produced the evidence, arose from a fear that this important measure might not be brought to a conclusion this Session. There was nothing in the evidence..of the East4ndia Conipany which militated against a free trade—it applied more to the export than the import trade, and to the difficulty and redan might be obviated by regulatio ns; an d trosted that they. might have the assistance of-she Eaat-India Company themselves to frame those re gulations.. Was it in the nineteenth century neces sary to adiocate a free trade against monopoly ? Vag it.necessary to persevere in the narrow system of the Tudors or the Stuarts? Ile would refer to the 'situation of the Company it:et—trembling, on the verge of insol4ency, for the necessity of a change. He would appeal to other countries enriched by the India trade, and would' then suppose some cause -which prevented the same effects from being pro dueed here ; nor could he hesitate to attribute to the baleful influence of monopol7, and to the unions of the characters of sovereign. and merchant. These objec tions had been diode at the last renewal, and with what accumulated force did they now press upon us! Since that period there has been extensive conquests in Indi and South America had been opened to us, yet in the face of those events, the,Company had not, hesitated to tell us there was no room for an increase. of trade, .and that the contraction of commerce was in proportion to the extension of territory and owing to the natural influence of events. To give full effeet, to the energies of commerce, merchants should be allowed to enter into competition with merchants, and then pnlitical, moral, and religions improvements would fellow. It might be said that these were mere general observations—he admitted this; but they were amply sufficient to show the expediency and policy of • opening the trade. Mr. BARING had no interest in this question, any flutter than that he felt the commercial interests of the country would he much better promoted by having a Lrate free and open. Box whether the trade should he op red or not, that would not preclude any regulation necessary for settling the land revenue of India. This question rested on two points :—first could the trade be enlarged by adopting this mea sure : and, if it could be so enlarged ; second, could it be done with safety to the Indian Empire ? The Commiuee had had the most experienced of the Com pany's servants before it, men of liembur and inte grity, who had all decl ired their opinion, that throwing open the trade would not bfnetit the coun try, though it would endanger the tranquillity of the population of India. The Honourable Member then adverted to the conduct of persons at the outports, who, he said, had offered what was little short of an insult to the House, in having produced no evidence to support the claims which they had set up in their Petitions. With respect to the proposition for allow ing persons to go from the outports to India, and to range about the country at their pleasure, without being liable to any restraints from the Company, he could see no benefit which could be derived from it ; at the same time that it would be attended with con inience and danger. He did not the opening of the trade any addi ly be made to the trade of the coon it see the immediate danger which did in the adoption of this measure ; :ertainty of danger from it, without iect of any advantage to compensate we run. The Honourable Gentle ly giving his negative to the measure. /AN expl tined. C, ith explanation, complained that o was made by Government to the at their intentions were. ,EREAGH could not sit silent and usation thrown out against the Go imtrary being the fact. So far from in having been made to the Corn ion of three complete days, and part carried on between Government and 'rectors, when it was suddenly broke ,EY said, no written communication to the Company. 'NEY said, a communication was impatiy in 1808 on this subject, which leave of the House, read. The Hon. read an extract of a letter written to 'irectors by Lord Melville, in March, Lordship stated that there was nO Government's renewing the Charter, without opining the export trade. This was a proof not - at the measure was one hastily adopted by Mi. misters, but that it had even been determined by the Duke of Portland's Cabinet not to renew the Charter but on condition of opening the trade, and that the Company were even at that time informed of that de termination. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded, at considerable length, to support the question for an open trade, and contended, that two of the Most in telligent witnesses called by the Company, Colonel. Munro and Mr. Cockburn—Colonel Munro had de clared his opinion, that a free trade would be of great advantage to India ; and Mr. Cockburn, in answer to a question put to him, said, " I am of opinion that a free trade would greatly improve the situation of the natives of India." In supporting these Resolutions, he was not convinced that he was supporting what would add much to the wealth or prosperity of this country, nor was he convinced that he was supporting what would add much to the comfort of the inha bitants of India; but this he was convinced, that in supporting this measure, he was endeavouring to give to that interesting people (as they had justly been called) the Hindoos, the only opportunity they would have of obtaining that civilization which would put them on a level with the rest of his Majesty's subjects. Mr. H. THORNTON, when he considered the commercial part of this question, felt the balance to be against monopoly ; but when he considered the political branch of it, the Company had the prepon derance. It had been said, that there were many ano malies belonging to the East India Company. It was not one of the least of those anomalies, that a coun try, consisting of a population of not less than twelve million inhabitants should be able to hold in subjec tion a population of 60 millions, situated at a distance of 8000 miles. When the means which we had had in that country were considered, k was surprising that it had ever been either subdued, or kept in sub jection when subdued. Its being so, however, was a proof of the goodness of the system by which it had been effected ; and for that reason he was reluctant to endanger it by any rash speculations. He was, however, in favour of extending the advantage of our commerce with that country to a certain degree ; but he must confess, his opinion was in favour of con fining the extension, for a short period at least, to the port of London. General GASCOIGNE, in allusion to opening the trade of India to the port of London, said, that it would be unjust to open 'the trade to one pert alone, and shut it to all the others. He did not expect any great immediate advantage to result from open ing the trade ;—these advantages would arise from a change in the habits of the %elves. There was no great difference between the planters and the slaves in the colonies, and the Hindoos under the Govern ment of the Directors in Leadenhall-street —(Hear, hear.)—The Honourable Member then described the natives as being in a condition not superior to that of giluier. This was called an improved condition. laugh.)—He should like to know what could 'have been their previous condition i—( Hear, hthr.)— An Hon. Gentleman had described the manners of the Indians as immutable. They certainly appeared immutably poor, and he was sure they would be im mutable wretches as long as they continued under the government of the .Directors.—(4 laugh.)—He imputed delay to the Company, and said, that the out-ports would have produced a mass of evidence, had they not feared delay. Mr. C. GRANT denied that he had used the word "immutable s" but he had said, that the people of India had not changed for three thousand years. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to argue the ques tion in a political and commercial point of view, and concluded by opposing the Resolution. Mr. R. THORNTON spoke, not as the advocate of the Port of London, or as a Proprietor of India Stock ; but he spoke for the happiness of millions in India and for the safety ofthis country. The Company had alone preserved its advantages amidst the vicissi tudes of the trade of the Empire, and those who had lost every thing, now came to them, and asked them for a part of whatthey h a d s av e d. If t h e y did govern by opi-' nion, as had been said, it must be from an opinion en tertained by the natives, that they governed humanely and well. He quoted the opinion of Mr. Hastings, that instantaneous would be the fall of the Indian Empire, if the touch of chance or the breath of opi nion should ever reach it. It had been stated by a Noble Lord the other night, that if his scheme did not answer, the trade should be given up to them again. But he would like to know how that was to be restored to them ? Much had been said about the terms which had been offered by Government to the Company, but he could not say that any terms had been offered to the Company which it could accept. Sir N. COULTHURST supported the Resolu tion. He trusted that commerce, under the fostering guidance and care of the Legislatu r e, w ou ld b ecome free and extensive in consequence of this measure. Mr. ROBINSON spoke against the Resolution. Colonel LOWTHER supported the Company. Mr. STANIFORTH spoke in favour of the Re solution, on the ground that a supply of hemp might be received from India, when we could not get it from Russia. Lord CASTLEREAGH said, it was intended to keep the circuitous intercourse with India out of the present question, and to enable the trader by other arrangements to meet any foreigners in the Euro• pean markets. Mr. FORBES spoke in favour of opening the trade. Lord CASTLEREAGFI did not think that the Company would strive to injure private traders by competition. Mr. CANNING wished that the House might come t) a vote on this question, so that the whole subject might be settled during the Session. Sir J. NEWPORT thought nothing would cure the evils, of which all complained, except the total dissolution of the Company. Mr. .1)011'SONIIY said, he should oppose the pre sent propositions, and he should first move to limit the monopoly to seven years, and afterwards to ten years ; and hxt, he would propose a ciause in the Bill, that nrthirg done by the House in this Session should be «Inclusive. Mr. TIERNEY said, that when the Report was brought up, he should move an Amendment to be placed on the Journals of the House, which might serve as a perpetual record against this proceeding. The whole of the Resolutions were then agreed to, the House resumed, the iteport was agreed to, and ordered to be taken into further considetatiori on Fri day.—Adjourned at half-past throe till Wednesday. FRENCH PAPERS. (FURTIIIR lITZACTS.) PARIS, MAY SO. We have taken the following details from st>•eral private letters received from Gorlitz, dated the 23d : " The Emperor had arrived there and enjoyed per fect health. The Emperor Alexander had, during the night, passed through the town on his retreat.— Many articles were found in Gorlitz which had been furnished by the good Saxons. The•town was illu minated. " There was, on the 22d, an affair between the Russian rear and French advanced guard. Some Russian prisoners say, that General Barclay de Tony was killed in the affair of the 21st, at Hochkirken ; but this news is not confirmed. What we know - for certain is, that the inhabitants of Gorlitz said they had seen, the preceding day, a coffin in which was a Russian. 4 , We have good news from Glogatr, which still de fended itself. The same letters state, that never was army seen in a better state, or more vigorous than the French army." siderable inconver consider that by ti tion could possibly try. He did not some Gentlemen c but he saw the cei having the prosper us for the risque man concluded by 'Mr. SULLIVI Mr. BA It ENG tit corn - mon cation Company of what Lord CASTLI hear sucit art acc:: Yernment —the co] no corrunqnicatio; parry, a negociatis of a frurth, was c tiue Court of Dire cif by the Later. Mr. T] ERNE haul been made tt - Mr. COURT] made to the Com he would, with le Gentleman then the Court of Dirt 1808, in uhich hi probability of G FRONTIERS OF SAXONY, MAY tO.. Numerous magazines have been formed at Dres- den, for the support of the French army. NUREMBERG, MAY 19. The accounts from Bohemia announce, that Prince Pouiatowski's corps of Polish troops are to effect their passage through the Austrian states, to join the French army, as well as General Gablenz s Saxon corps, which has 'already arrived in Bohemia. The other Saxon troops, who were in Bohemia, will now return into Saxony. GERMAN PAPERS. BERLIN, MAY 22. This moment (eleven in the forenoon) we have re crived the following intelligence from our Giand Army : " Wurcbau, near Bautzen, May 20. " The accounts respecting the enemy have for some days past coincided in the following reports, that General Lauriston's corps, about 12,000 strong, is in motion against our right flank, by making a large circle, by the Luckow and Hoverswerda road, and that it is followed at a day's march by Marshal Ney, with a force of 18,000 men. It was accordingly resolved to march against General Lauriston, engage, and defeat him before supports could reach him ; General Barclay de Tolly received directions for this purpose, and he accordingly, in the afternoon of the 19th, made a brisk movement forward to Konig,s. wertha, whilst General Von Yorck marched through Weissig "to join General 'rolly'e corps. The Rus sians fell in with the enemy at Konigswertha, and after a strong dispute, forced the town with irre sistible force by the bayonet, took ten cannon, and put the enemy totally to the rout. Meanwhile Ge neral Von Yorck had fallen in with a strong detach ment of the enemy not far from Weissig. The bat tle was here extremely qbstinate, and It soon appear ed that we had to do with three divisions of Marshal Ney's corps, being the very same that were supposed to be still at some leagues distance. The Prussian troops, though much inferior in numbers, sustained this glorious combat against such superior force until night, and kept possession of the field of battle. It was this courageous resistance only that rendered it capable of fully attaining the proposed end of driving General Lauriston's corps entirely out of the field. " This morning, as the enemy had retreated during the night, the corps of Generals Barclay and Von Yorck have again moved nearer to the army. The result of this day, exclusive of the 10 pieces of artil lery taken, is 1,500 prisoners, besides a General of Division and a General of Brigade, and the total de struction of an enemy's column of 9,000 men. (Signed) " L'IsToCQ.9 An official report from Girbersdorf, between Gol zen and Dahme, dated the 23d inst. at 11 o'clock at night, states as follows : "• That the enemy had taken his positions between Luckau and Dahme, and pushed his patroles to Dahmsdorff. The corps was strong, and was in tended to push forward into the Mark of Branden burg, but the arrival of the Russian corps, and the approach of Bulow and Birstal's corps, have pre vented their designs. 66 Two days ago, the Russians captured 100 of the enemy near Dahme, and to-day he suddenly broke up, directing his march towards Upper Lusa tia. At this moment he is four German miles from us, the single patroles being already returned from that distance. ft is supposed that the sudden retreat of the enemy proceeds from his design of joining the Grand Army. " The corps of Generals Bulow, Borstel, and the Russian General Harpe, which are collected near to Bareuth, will march early to-morrow, partly in pur suit of the enemy, and partly to take a position near Wittenberg. 4 4 Every attempt of the enemy to approach the capital has been frustrated ; and, indeed, it was ra ther a demonstration than an attempt. 41 Thus the French corps which had passed the Elbe, and by which it was dreaded that a diversion would be made on Berlin, has so suddenly again withdrawn towards the. Elbe, is in a great measure to be attributed to the speedy assembling of the Landstrum of the Circles of Beskow and Storkow, who are animated by the best spirit, and who to hlm appear so formidable. (Signed) VENT.). 41." BERLIN. MAY 25: At seven o'clock yesterday_ evening, Captain Van Haake arrived here from the bead-quarters at Wurchen. He departed from thence last Sunday forenoon, and brings the following joyful intelli gence : " That the enemy, after many bloody but inef fectual attempts to force our position at ilautzen, has been obliged to desist from them and retreat.— Our right wing has kept its position, onr left has ad vanced and is engaged in pursuit of the enemy. A great number of prisoners and cannon had already been taken from the enemy. " The march of the Imperial Russian reserve artillery through the Government between the Visa. tula and the Russian frontiers ( Prussia) still conti nues. it is upwards of 40,000 men strong and in the best condition. At Potsdam there are about 6 or 7,000 men. General Bulow's corps has advanced very con siderably forwards ; and, according to the latex counts, his head-quarters were already at Herzbetg, on the road to Tor au. " According to terrain intelligence, the accesiic:, of Austria to the alliance of Russia and Prussia aril; be made public on the 26th inst. " The English Envoy at the Court of Sweden, Thornton, has arrived at R ugen an d S tra l sund. " The Rustan d'arnae, under General I banow, is 20,000 men strong, and en its way flu!. Posen to tliG Oder. " Count Tolstoy is advancing from - the Visit'. _ towards the Wardle, in the vicinity of Posen, wit:: 40,000 men. • 44 His Serene Highness the Duke of Bruncwie. Oels, with his suite, arrive.' . here from Ilamhuil ; l, in the evening of the 21st instant, and early ol morning of the 23d he set off for the army. 64 Two hundred and '24 French prisoners of war have been sent from here, and 174 others brought The following Proclamation has appeared here: Wunehen, May 21, Half-past Three, Mum*, 44 Yesterday forenoon, about twelve o'clock, the enemy attacked General Von Kleist, on the heights in front of Kreckwitz. The battle soon became general along the whole first line of the army, from Bautzen to the defiles of Lower Gurka. It con. tinued in this manner until night came on, without the enemy having been able to succeed in forcing our positions, although he at first attempted, by supe- riority of force, to drive back one right, and after. wards our left wing. General Kleist s weak detach. ment fought the whole day in the van of the army against superior numbers, till that after night had come on, a column of General Von Blucher's corps advanced to cover it. 44 The battle will be recommenced to-day. " Half of the troops were not in the fire yesterday. Both our troops and the Russians are full of courage, and burning with impatience to beat the enemy. " So soon as we receive further particulars of these victorious events, we shall communicate them to the public without delay. 44 Royal Military Government appointed * r the country between the Elbe and the Oder. (Signed) 44 lONSTOCO"...IN4ACIC. " Berlin, May sts." OORLITZ, MAY 19. Since the battles of the llth and 19th, nothing► of any particular moment has occurred to the allied army, excepting on the 15th, when the French made a variable attack on all points of the allied army which was drawn up in front of Bautzen, but which was only lively on our lett wing, and even - there con• sisted chiefly in tirailleurs firing. The positions attacked were perfectly maintained, and when the cavalry could come into action, a eon. siderable number of prisoners were taken from the enemy. The Russian Uhlans in one attack made 150 prisoners and cut down about 100 of the enemy. The army under General Barclay de Telly has joined that under the command of Count Von Witt. genstein, and from the right wing, that of General Von Blucher stands near Hochkinler. The head qu itters of the General in Chief Count Von Wittgen. stein. is at Steindorf. Prisoners of all nations are brought in daily. Among these we observed, two days ago, a considerable transport of Croats of the former Szluiner frontier regiment, who bats conli dered by the Russians as of the same race and faith as themselves, and formerly subjects ofAustria, were suffered to retain their accoutrements, and in some degree their liberty, whici gives us hopes of shortly seeing these brave fellows again fighting for the same cause in which their nation has faithfully served their Sovereigns in four wars since 1792. MAY 20.—Early this morning, at four o'clock, courier arrived from headquarters, with the Bence that Generals Yorck and Barclay de Toni yesterday attacked the enemy on the right wing our pnsition, near Konigswertha, on the black water, and as far as Hoyerswerda, and defeated him.— When the couriers came away the allies were in full pursuit of the enemy. The Cossacks have lately appeared before Dres den 8000 of them, under 14 different Commanders. among whom I have heard named Prendel, Lana. koy, and Emanuel, torment the enemy's armies very much, who, in an exhausted country, are far from being in a comfortable situation. STRAI.SUND, MAY et His Royal Highness the Crown Prince landed or the 17th inst. at Monasgut. near Perth, and pissed the night at the castle of Pulbus. The next day he arrived here, and was met by the Generals and Mem bers of Government on the Fah rbrucke, whence he pro. ceeded under the thunder of cannon, the ringing of all the. bells, and amid the joyful accl a mations of the populace to the palace of Government. He was ac companied by the Field-Marshal Baron Von Stedingk, the Court Chancellor Watterstedt, and several other Officers of State. The Prince, immediately after hit arrival, inspected the new fortifications. In the evening, the Coancil.House and the city were illu minated. On the 18th, in the evening, also arrived here the Duke of Cumberland, and remained till late in the evening of the 20th, when he set out for Neustrelit2. On the 20th, in the morning, three battalions marched from hence for the Mecklenburgh territory, and other troops arrived from the country and from Rugen. MAY 24.-as The whole number of Swedish troor In Pomerania, Mecklenburgh, and on the amount to 24,000 men. l'ne Swedish artillery !. also now landed, and in the best order—it contists c! from 75 to 80 pieces. The Swedish artillery, a s 1 , well known, still preserves its ancient, well.founJ; 3 reputation, and every ore mnst confess that few fir ropean armies have so many scientific and wel! . formed Officers as the Swedish, most of stlorn b.or studied regularly for some years. The expedition fmm Gottenburg, and also the ca• valry, and arrived at Carlscrona. The Crown Prince said to the Thpitties cf the 'S - )•• • bility at Rugen—i , You have suffered mac: , ; hilt it Sweden does not fall in the contest, every thing , 'l. lll be made good to you." We have in this country done every thing could be expected from a population of 115,u00 ref. sons. We have supplied, for the restoratioa of tide two Pomeranian Militia Regiments 2000 ; f r the Monier Hussars 200 ; for the Swedish Hilse e 111(14 Guards •abcut 100, and to other Itcg.:na-.? 300 ; besides these, a romeranean Legion or h •