Star. — London, England, 1812-05-28 00:00:00

P4RLMMENTARr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 27. Their Lordships met a little after three o'clock. Immediately after prayers, the Scotch Local Militia Bill, the Offices Embez. clement Security Bill, and the False Pretences Act Extension 33111. went severally through a Committee, and were reported, without amendment. The Earl of EGLINOTON presented a Petition from Dunferm line against the monopoly of the East-India Company.—Ordered I lie on the table. Mr. V; ii.sost (at the head of a deputation from the Commons) Irought up the Clandestine Marriage Bill, which was read a first time. YEOMAN OF THE BLACK ROD, Earl Gaosvensitt suggested the propriety of presenting an ,ddress to his Royal flizhneu the Prince Regent, on the pro- It ty of suspending the appointment of a Yeoman of the Black od, until the perquisites of :hat office had been ascertained and salary settled, After; a short conversation between Earls Oansvision and ;ATILURST, the Loan CHANCELLOR, Lords WALSIN CHAN!, IsSLYN, and LaunzanALL, the question was postponed till -1, arrow (this day), and their Lordships were ordered to be immoned. PR • ITIO/4n ON THE DISTRESSED STATE OF TRADE. The House Then went into a Committee for the examination w.tnesses. Mr. Oakey, principally connected with the Salt Trade at Li erpool ; Mr. 7 hompson, a Cumrnission Merchant at the same ilace ; aud,Measrs. Philipps, Waite, and Wiggins, Manchester danufacturers were called in and examined. The House, howeyrr, resumed for a short time, during which to last witness was Brdered to withdraw. At seven o'clock the House adjourned, with an understand ig that the Committee was to sit again at two o'clock to-mor lw (this day). HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Report on the Irish Roads Bill was taken into farther m-ideration, and the B:U ordered to be read a third time to- LO/TOW. '1 be County Bridges Bill went through a Committee, the re. 'cot on wh , ch was ordered to be received to-morrow. A Message from the Lords announced their assent to several livate Bills. On he Order of the Day, the House went into a Committee tl.e tly W etch Bill. ahe Report was received, and the ill olden d to be taker. into further consideration on Monday :might, and to be printed as now amended. '1 hr Bill for malting a Provision for Mr. Perceval's Family, vas read a second time, and committed for to-morrow. Or the motion pf TURTOM, the dropped Orders, rela. ive a' the Publicans' Bill, and the Committee on the all laying all on Carriages carrying Manure, were fixed for Wednesday. CA11101.16 QUIISTION. Mr. MARTIN gave notice, that on Friday. the 2th of Ju:.e, he would move for the appointment 1 a Committee, to take into consideration Nehether be Ri man Catholics of Ireland laboured under any, ind what disabilities; whether it would be proper to Tmcve those disabilities ; and whether that ought to .re accompanied with any, and what conditions.— The Honourable Gentleman observed, that he did urt intend this motion to interfere or clash with that )1' which a notice had been given by a Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning) for the 11th June, but only in the event of the intervention of circumstances al . ch might incapacitate that Right Honourable Gentleman from bringing his motion forward, by the Icceptance of that "high office he was so well quali rein° fill, and which— The SPEAKER called the Hon. Gentleman to •rder, as he was not confining himself to matter re evant to his notice. Mr. MA [Mita sat down, and the notice was entered iccordittgly. DICETOIUI. Mrs STUART WORTLEY gave notice, that his day se'linight he would move for leave to wing in a Bill, to enable Justices of the Peace to or ler parochial relief for persons confined for Deist in :ounty Gaols. PETIIIONS UPON TIM pisTRESEFD STATE OP TEAM . The House, on the motitin of Mr. Rosa, resolved into a Committee on the Orders in Council. Mr. Cranstown, a general Merchant and Ship. owner,. was called and examined by Mr. Ross. He stated, that there had been very little variation in the prices of shipping at Liverpool within the last Lw sears. There was now a considerable trade to the l3razils, which was capable of improvement: He was cf opini( n, if the Orders in Council were repealed, and that neutrals were allowed the advantage of the can yiag trade to and from France, that the Berlin and Milan Decrees remained in force, and that Bri. tish goods were still liable to be seized wherever found, in pursuance of the French Decrees, the effect on the British Trade would be by no means advan tageous. He had heard that some distress was ex perienced by manufacturing towns, and these dis tresses, he believed, were attributable to the exclusion of British goods from th e C on tin ent . On the cross-examination of this witness by Mr. BROUGHAM, he confessed that he was engaged in the I..icence Trade. In this trade foreign vessels as well as foreign seamen, were generally employed. Upon being asked what description of papers were usually furnished to such ships ?—he said that vessels going to Russia had Russian papers, and was proceeding in his answer, when Mr. ROSE objected to the question. The witness having been ordered to withdraw, Mr. BROUGHAM urged the necesity of having this question answered, inasmuch as it was of consi derable importance to the elucidation of the subject in which the House was engaged. He did not see any mischief which could result from the publication of such information, as it was a matter which could not be a secret to the French Government, from the well-known notoriety of the use of false papers in the Licence Trade ;—any mischief which could be ap prehended must have already taken place. If, how ever, there was any fault to be found in the publica. tion of such secrets, the Right Honourable Gentle man (Mr. Rose) was himself to blame, in not fore going the measures which had rendered it necessary to press the investigation. Mr. ROSE retorted upon the Hon. Gentleman the charge of blame, in having been the' cause of publishing secrets, which, for the interests of the country, it was extremely desirable should not have been divulged. He was aware that much mischief had already been done by pursuing this investigation; but he was desirous of preventing the whole mischief which was to be apprehended from taking place..— That the question put by the Hon. Gentleman could be of no material moment to the inquiry which was goin fa,be was sure the House would admit and the answer might be of serious injury wa•valuable son' ce of trade, which the coun. try swow - possessed, be hoped the Hon. Gentleman woold not persevere in exacting it. Mr. MARRYATT, in answer to what had fallen 4 the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Brougham) observed, that a rumour without the sanction of obi- 1 cial authority, as to what were the practices in car rying 04 the present commercial speculations of British Merchants, would have a very different effect on the mind of Bonaparte to what the deliberate answer of a respectable witness at the Bar of that' House would have. Ile must therefore deprecate ) any question which went to exact an answer that might tend most distantly to throw any impediments in the way of trade as it now stcoJ. Mr. BARING extremely lamented that the pro ceedings of the Committee, during the important investigation in which they had been so long enga ged, had been sent out to the world. He was aware that the most serious mischiefs had already accrued' to the country from these publications ; and much mere lamentable effects were to be anticipated, un less some speedy measure was adopted to render fur ther inquiry and complaint unnecessary. There were now very few secrets remaining, and these he did not think worth withholding. He therefore concei ved there could be no sound objection to permitting an answer to be entered on the minutes, the sub stance of which was at present a matter of public notoriety. Mr. BROUGHAM said he would be satisfied to put the question generally, to the following effect : 44 Have you furnished foreign vessels with papers purporting to be papers of the country to which their cargoes were destined ?" ' Mr. ROSE said, that the answer to this question would be essentially stating that we were carrying on trade by means of forged papers. He could not agree to any question which went in the slightest manner to excite suspicion in the Government of France or elsewhere. Mr. BROUGHAM observed, that the caution of the Right Hon. Gentleman was unhappily too late, for it ao happened that there was a circular letter on the evidence and printed, in which the writer pub licly avowed himself as a forger of false papers, and inclosed samples of his ingenuity of furnishing any papers which might be required. Mr. STEPHEN said, the proposal of a man who professed himself to be a forger, was extremely dif ferent to the evidence of a respectable merchant. In one case it would be a mere matter of assumption ; while in the other it would be officially authenticated. To bring the matter to a short issue, however, he begged to call to the recollection of the House the arrangement which was made in consequence of the present state of his Majesty's Government, arising from the melancholy fate of the Right Hon. Gentle man under whose administration the present investi-. gation had commenced. It would be remembered that it was announced, if any thing should occur in the course of the proceedings of the Committee, while the Administration remained in an unsettled state, which involved any point of political ten dency, that it should not proceed until the Govern ment was constituted. .This was the shortest answer which he could give any such proposition as that made by the Hon. Gentleman, who would now, he had no doubt, withdraw his question. Mr. BROUGHAM immediately withdrew his question, and the witness was again called in, when 'Mr. Brougham proceeded in his cross.examination. Several questions were also put to the witness by Mr. A. BARING, Mr. ROSE, Mr. MARKYATT, and Mr. STEPHEN, and his examination lasted for four hours and a quarter. Mr. Poony, Commission Merchant and Broker, of Liverpool, was next called in, but was ordered to withdraw in the beginning of his examination, in consequence of his stating, in answer to a 'question from Mr. BARING, that he had been in the Gallery during part of the examination of witnesses relative to the Orders in Council, but not during that of the last witness. It was contended by Mr. BARING and Mr. TIER NEy, that the presence of any witness in the Gallery was contrary to the arrangement made at the outset, and laid down generally by the SPEAKER, and there fore operated as a bar to the examination of this wit ness, who had infringed the order: It was maintained on the other side, by Mr. RosF, Mr. STEPHEN, and Mr. MARRYATT, that most of the witnesses called by the Gentlemen opposite had been in the Gallery during the examination, but that the question was never put, as it would appear too pe dantic an application of the rule, since they had an , pportunity of reading the printed minutes of evi. deuce, which gave them all the information they could have in the Gallery. After some conversation, in which Mr. BARING TON (Chairman of the Committee) and Mr. HwuE partic:pated, in addition to the Hon. Members already :mentioned, the SPEAKER gave it as his opinion, that the sense of the Committee should decide the appli. cation of the rule, Mr. TIERNEY and • Mr. BARING withdrew their opposition, the question was expunged, mod the witness being again called in, Mr. ROSE pro_ cceded in Lis examination. This witness's evidence being concluded, the House adjourned at a quarter before eleven o'clock, till to morrow (this day). P. ' Their after pn slement 33d1. we without The line aga to lie or M r. 1 brought first rim Earl fiddreio prh ty c kod, ur the gala' Aftet PAT I/V ROSSLY tO—is ore sunimol The 1 of w•tnt Mr. verpool • Place; 7vlanuf: The the last Au SI ins tha row (tt The con-ide rnorrov 'll he port of A N private On on the Btll on se mug 'a as re Or _ tiVe le 011 01 Mr 12th ad a the li and remt be ac The tit of wf Gent only wh'cl , Gent acct.' feeft, 'Fl] ceder kvan • Mr • ccor Mr this 4 bring der p Count PCII Th into a Mr owner stated prices years. 13razi cf opi and ti can yi and It tish g found on the taro, peter trawl of 13i i On • Buoy , as for being Aunts to Ru in his Mr bavin, Mr this q derab in wh any n of suc not lr well-1 Liter prehe ever, tion c loan going to pro MI the ;I publi count been had but h whirl That be of loin . • tyy 9, 4 w 9411 tom • 9 • • THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. THURSDAY, MAY 28. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'C LOCK. S per Cent. Red. 60f-4 per Cent. 75ft • S per Ct. Cons. for money 61 ft—Ditto for account elf 5 per Cent. 91192p—Scrip pre--Long Aims. 161 Exch. Bills par ls. pre.—Bonds par ls. pre. We have more than once stated the substance of the answer given by the leading Members of Opposition to the questions submitted to them by the Marquis WELLESLEY, respecting the pro.* of a New Administration, as well as the answers of the Statesmen who still hold the Seals of Office. Lord MELVILLE, it is pretty well known, was appointed a kind of Mediator between the late Ministers and Mr. CANNING, and we understand that for the last three days, he has been most sedulously employed in en deavouring to prevail on that Right Hon. Gentleman to quit the side of Lord WELLESLEY, and join the Eat 1 of Livenpoot. and his Colleagues, upon the con dition of their agreeing to entertain the Catholic question, and appearing to coincide with his views upou that point. Mr. CANNING) however, resisted the application, and yesterday gave them his final answer in the negative. On the present state of parties, the subjoined state ment deserves attention. We copy it from the Morning Chronicle of this day : " From his [Mr. CANNING'S] refusal, the discom- 1 fited party gave up all hopes of gaining over any persons that could enable them to stand their ground ; and yet they were so disingenuous as to put forth in the Sun and Courier of last night, a sort of Bulletin, in which they held out to their duped adherents, the hope " that it was not unlikely that both Lord Pintos. tar and Lord Lirszpoot were imposed to make some abatement of their respective expectations, in order to put a period to Me unpleasant state of the Nation at this moment, and that they would agree to act under Lord Mow, a: Premier, with the admission of Mr. atria :NG and Mr. HUSLISSON." " There was not the slightest foundation for this statement. " The public beard with the most heartfelt satis faction that Earl MOIRA had been sent for by the PRINCE REGENT, on Tuesday evening, and that the Noble Earl received from his Royal Highness the most distinct authority to communicate his wishes to his friends, that they should form an Administration ,on the most liberal basis, that might not merely put an end to the present distracted state of affairs, but tend to conciliate the good will, and secure the con fidence of every description of his people. It is un derstood that the PRINCE REGENT gave the Noble Earl full powers, and put into his hands the Answers which had been received by the Marquis of WELLES. LEY from all the considerable men to whom applica tion had been made, desiring him to follow up the negotiation which Lord WELLESLEY had so properly begun. It is understood that the Noble Earl laid before his Royal Highness a faithful representation of the actual posture of the kingdom ;'and impress ed, in a very forcible manner, on his mind, the ne cessity of an immediate arrangement, that should restore ate Government to its efficiency. The candid, firm, and disinterested spirit, mixed with the most affectionate respect for his Royal Highness's feelings, manifested in the whole of the Noble Earl's conduct on this occasion, had the most lively effect on the PRINCE'S sensibiiity, and he expressed himself in terms of fervent gratitude for his loyal and friendly admonition. “ On Tuesday evening the Noble Earl had an in terview with Earl GREY, in Tiottman.square, and communicated to him the commands he had received to attend his Royal Highness the next day ; and yes. terday morning, previous tohis audience of thePauccs REGENT, he again saw both Lord GREX and Lord GRENVIi.LE. 64 Earl MOIRA, therefore, went to Carlton House, prepared to fulfill the PRLNCE REGENT'S instructions. He had a long conference v. ith his Royal Highness, and afterwards met some a the principal Statesmen at Aprley House, where they were assembled to re ceive his Report ; and the issue of that consultation , he forthwith submitted to his Royal Highness.- a We, of course, state this only upon ceminott re' port, and not from any genuine authority. It was universally believed to be in that auspicious train ; and the public expectation was, that the plan of an extended Administration would be prepared to be laid before the PRINCE REGENT forthwith. It is not' however, yet in such a state as to afford to the nation entire confidence in its happy accomplishment. The very nature of an Administration that is to embrace persons heretofore of different parties, presents diffi culties not easily surmounted—and we have no hesi tation in saying, that an Administration may be too extended, for strength, as well as too limited. A Cabinet, as well a piece of the most preciotts metal, may be enlarged to such an extent as to gain in the' glitter of surface what it loses it solidity. 4 , W e have confidence, however, that there will be no heterogeneous matter in the composition of the frame of Government that is now in hand. We are sure of the pure honour, disinterestedness, and conci liation of the Noble Earl to whom the important task has been confided. , 6 We forbear to enter more at large into the matter for this day. We cannot be certain, after the expo ; rience we have had, that the negotiation will even yet come to the conclusion which every man that truly feels the urgent state bf our aff.tirs must desire. Obstacles may arise in the detail that may defeat the principle; and the appendage of a Household may impede, if not prevent, the construction of the main building. Such things, at least, have happened 1" So far the Morning Chronicle. The Morning Port, which may be considered as the organ of the present (or rather the late) Cabinet, gives the foll•wing article THE ADMINISTRATION. The new Administation has not yet been formed. The Marquis WELLzstev's negociations, as we have already stated; have failed with both parties, and Lord Mot RA, to whom we yesterday mentioned the im portant task to have been eatrusted by the Palace REGENT, continues his endeavours to form a strong and united Government. It is most sincerely to be hoped and wished that his Lordship may direct his principal attention to the much-desired reconciliation between the Marquis WILLISLEY and the Earl of LIVERPOOL in the event of the attainment of which object, such an arrangement might be formed as would not fail to prove highly acceptable to the na-- eon. We might then reasonably expect a iqiee t% and most efficient Administration, in the acc of the Marquis Wetutst.mr, Mr. Comma, Kr. Hut. xtssos, and others, to the present Ministers, w i th Lord MoIRA at the head of the Cabinet. W e i te. lieve Lord MO/RA is endeavouring to hare Led Guar and some of the other leading Member s o p* Opposition included in the new arrangement; batty recorded differences between the two ponies a re great, and apparently so arreconcileable, that wt .& not consider any such effort on the part of his Lod, ship as likely to be attended with success; nori l d w e have we the remotest wish that it should run ea II What we are desirous of is, that the new IN. stry should include Lord Morten, Lord Vi Lord LtvanPoos., Lord CASTLICREAOPIt Mr. Cam eos Mr. Husaissost, Etc. ; and in the present awl s% situation of the country, both with a rim foreign and domestic policy, we true that the** men and Gentlemen, to whose patriotic *limp have on this occasion so repeatedly appeal e d. feel the necessity of exerting themselves is tw i g co-operation for the public good, and in uprose*. pliance with the wishes of the RROIRT and of Country. The negotiations are still continost ' , g Lord Msivtz.Lit Lid before the Plum yak. day, the result of a Cabinet Council held the ding evening upon the subject; Lord - wards had two separate interviews of ness, and, we understand,thattis ' proposed Lcrd GREY and other Members position as fit persons to be included rangement ; but the objections to which, at the present crisis, must mind, are, in our opinion, aho,sezhi From the above, our Readers will is yet settled respecting the new and they Kill also be enabled to form themselves respecting the probabili the ultimate success of different :xi On the whole, it- seems at present jorisy, if not the leaders, of the Oppose into place ; unless we can believe it possib:e tae Earl Mora .% will depart from those prOciples which have ever guided his public life. The Duchess cf BRUNSWICK gave an elegant's*. tainment yesterday, to her Rdyal Highness the bib cess of WALES, ber Royal Highness the Priam CMARLOTTN of WALES, his Grace the Archbishop, r eANTERDURY. Mrs. MANestati SureoN, the Miss Sim '`PONS, Mrs. How; and a large. - ,ranorer.square. • Last night Baroness Howe supper to upwards of five hur - Gentry, at the Argyll Room,. Tuesday night, Lady Cam and supper was attended by • Tanta in the West end of thL Tuesday night; the Countess grand assembly this season, • Portman-square, which was the most distinguished in West end of the town. Yesterday Lord BUSWEIRSZ tilt the Earls of BATHURST, Vs mac, Monroe, Lords BORAINODON and a large party, at hit house 1.- - Yesterday the Earl and Cott entertained the Duke and Duchess Marquis and Marchioness of `, and Marchioness CORNIVALitio and a large party, with a grand in the Stable Yard, St. James'i Yesterday the Honourable MOND Bustarzt. gave a grand DEVONSHIRE, the Earl and Countess Lord and Lady Gwyma, and house in Hamilton place. At the Installation of the Monday, at Westminster Abbey, Elect, in the PmcessiOs4 the Proxies Knights are to walk in the: Knights, wearing the surcoat of the Order. • They are to • right arm, and not to wear but walk with the hats in their Lord Viscorat Comrror Member for Northampton, • Right Honourable Seances position. Mr. WALBOUSI I . nephew LyrrLyrora, opposes Sir Joint for the County of Stafford. Recent letters from Paris. ligence there of the assassinat.. The fact is stated in the papers, tion, that it has caused a grea but without any farther comment. silence is obvious, Boxataari and no Editor dares to venture gets his cue from the Despot' By a recent arrival from _ Bill for allowing a partial bought prior to Yd July, 1V We presume this is the case, for supposing. such a Bill would known, after the expiration ral importation is fully expected. It affords much satisfaction to learn, that llama . standing the high. price of flour and grain in 4 1 ! and Portugal, in consequence of. the Ent WV • America, the late arrivals grom that country ha°_, caused some depreciation _ from the immense ti" . , ties shipped prior and at the time of brag um obnoxigus measure upon the Americas CO merce. We nave authority for stating that British Commissaries in Spain and Portugal We ar hand a sufficient quantity for the consumptec 131 army for aix months, and that if any scams s experienced, it will be but partially tell, not kj armies, bqt by the inhabitants, who will suffer from the advanced price which individual__ will be able to effect, and nut from any a of the existence of a teal scarcity, ‘ord Mcuaa arta, of his Royal Lordship cats lembers of the ded in the new.. their introdueti s arise in the publie per inst.perable." ill see that nodal{ Administratiot; Form an opinion f: tics for and again nen and parties,_ likely that dial". position, will OM W Burton, the Miss 564 • newt'', at her home we gave a grand 681 undred of the Nobility ad imp. I Cam &unwed greed Gel Gel ay all the fashionable ' he town. unties Guy had her at her elegant manakin' is numerously attendsi rank. and fashion, la 6 ; litili_igaTe a grand dims 4 1 T, WisTMOIL•aD, LB6 • ititlirODON and MULMAI7, cruse in Serrnour4B66. ; Countess of Haerwtr Puchess of lissetnik it 4 )fTwirlSTOCK,tbelirgri Lute, Lard PBTllleali rand dinner, at thew sees. de Mr. and Mrs. Thiter and dinner to the Dazed Countess CaoLuostiani end a large party, at tad Knights of the Bath• •• Abbey, after the •• the Proxies for the • • e places of their reset at and girt, with the swag carry the mande a dist the spurs, hit, or fssdat• sir hands. tar was yesterday • in the r7om of the Poicsvm, "Aloft r of the late Sir IMMO OHN Witarnsiziv, Dot notice the recoiled imir nation of Mr. Pirscava• ,apers, with the - rest sensation in Lads' iment. The ream d are is absent train Bllik 'tura any remarks mat at himself. America, it appalls II! al importation of goo ill, had been negvtivolb !ass, as we see no moo 'mild pass, when it is aof the Embargo a e l " ,