Star. — London, England, 1829-12-26 00:00:00

COLUMBIA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. LETTER 11. Spoon, Sm. 42,1829. Si a was indeed high time that America should break down the barrier of bronze raised around it by her oppressors; and that reason should recover her rights. Al! that is most galling in tyranny, most degrading in superstition, was suffered for a period of three centuries under the reigning dynasties of Spain. This power, though included among the most enlightened nations of Europe ,had discovered a colonial system as unjust as it was detestable; but at the same time, above all others, calculated to prolong the minority of the new possessions. whose destinies she curbed in order to retain them in a lu crative servitude. Under the systematic plan of despotism adopted by the Spanish Cabinet, with regard to her co lonies, the most tenacious co-operation prevailed : juris prudence, administration, commercial industry, educa tion, the liberty of thinking : all was vicious, and sub jected to innumerable obstacles imposed by the oppressing Government. The Sultans of Madrid were the centre of all power ; they dictated and abolished laws as caprice or interest might suggest—decided upon what was just or unjust, according to their own views ; their Viceroys were the real wolves who devoured us instead of being pastors to cherish and protect. All were domineering and suspicious, from the governor to the corregidor and audiencia ; and, if any body ventured to appeal to the Court against the vexations and extor tion of authority, he either suffered the punishment due to his temerity, or his statements were destined to be smothered in the dust of the archives at Madrid. The Inquisition, that Minotaur of consciences, was placed as a centinel at the door of each state to prevent the introduc tion of one solitary ray of light among us : in close alliance with despotism, it not only exacted the blindest credulity in matters of faith, but the most abject political sub mission. In order for ever to prevent our examining their titles to oppress us, we were only allowed to have the smallest possible degree of instruction, while our edu cation was the most vicious and imperfect that can be conceived. Wisdom was a crime in the eyes of des potism, and the science of Philosophy corrupted at its source by superstition and ignorance. Suffocating the . germs of wealth with which our soil abounded, industry and agriculture were enslaved, and commerce monopolised with a view of facilitating the consumption and pro moting the wretched manufactures of Spain. Although recognized by the laws as eligible for public offices in oar own country, we were, in fact, excluded from nearly all political and religious dignities, to give place to adventurers from the Peninsula. We were at the same time cut off from all commercial intercourse and communication with the rest of the world, and even with our sister States, on pain of severe punishment. But what do I say ! There were even laws to restrain the progress of population. It was from such causes that these provinces, though possessing the precious metals, susceptible of every species of culture and advancement, languished so long without life or animation ; and that man; the head of created beings, brought up in vice and degradation, was doomed to witness years and events pass awaywith dreary uniformity and torpid inaction :dying as he lived, without leaving a single vestige of mental existence behind ! The disorders of our political condition could not, however, entirely triumph over the decrees of Nature ; and with all its anxiety to perpetuate our ignorance and misery, despotism was forced to yield something to cir eumstances and the advancing spirit of the age. The frequent wars of Spain with France and Holland, and above all, England, intercepting as it were the communi cation between the mother country and the Colonies, they wrenched some commercial privileges from her rapacious hands. In another quarter, the revolution of the United States, was a lesson and living example offered to our imitation : while the flood of light which burst upon us from France at the close of the Eighteenth Century, completed the illuminaton of our civil and political horizon. In spite of all the efforts of the holy office, the immortal works of the philosophers found their way to our shores; and the Cabinet of Madrid permitting the establishment of colleges in some cities, and periodicals in others, it was easy to prognos cute the no distant emancipation of the new world. But her sons still slept in the profoundest calm of slavery, without feeling the weight of those chains which weighed so heavily on them, and without having, like other nations, those " omnipotent recollections which in the midst of servitude exalt the soul of prostrate bu manity."—When the invasion of Spain by NAPOLEON announced the hour of expiation for the oppressor, and of retribution for the oppressed. Without this event, and is' Rite of the enlightened views, manly efforts, and dan enterprise ofsome Grenadians and Venezuelans, we should have continued to groan under the iron sceptre of the successors of Cu A ALES V. But on bearingof those events in the Peninsula which followed the invasion, the few men whose minds had silently cherished the precious deeds disseminated by philosophy,—the generous spirits who could not survey the irons which bound our country, without indignation, hastened to avail themselves of the favourable conjuncture which the GOD of humanity seemed to open, in order to burst them for ever.— The Holy Insurrection broke out. In the moun tains of Pinchinchs, as on the banks of the Gaire, and at the mouths of the Magdalena, up to the plains of Bo • gots, the Spanish authorities were simultaneously deposed, without a single drop of blood having been shed to dis honour the cause of reason, of justice, and humanity I I have the honour to be, itc._ GARCIA DEL RIO. By s typographical error in one of the French papery, the Swan River was converted into the Ivan—a mistake which has been adopted as the correct designation by the rest. Mr. Ede, in a pamphlet on the Poor Laws, just pub ;idled, calculates the number of Irish labourers who an nually flock to this country at 100,000 ; that their stay is from the end of March to the beginning of October ; during which 26 weeks, their earnings, at Be. a week, amount to 1,040,0001. of which they carry back from 31. to 41. each, or from-300,0001. to 400,0001. the whole of which earnings are taken from the English labourer at the most valuable time of the year. On Monday the 21st instant, H. B Hickman, Fp. of Thonock Hall, gave his usual donation of 501. in blankets and cloaks, to the poor of Gainsburg, &c. We learn also that the same gentleman, at his last audit, re turned 10 per cent. to his farming tenants on their last two year's rent. The Earl of Cosi made an abatement of 24 per cent. an the last half-year's rents of his tenants at Marston Bigott, &c. And the Countess has caused her annual gifts-of wearing 1 and bed linen to be distributed laalt the poor finial of that parish, where ber ladyship his for many years patronised a Sunday school. There is a tenant upon the Earl of CA 'missies .estate, who resides near Castle Howard, turned 90 years of age • and in ais which be rides is 38. • -1. PASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. OS . The Duke of Somerset, Lord Seymour, and the Ladies Sey mour. at Wimbledon House, from Buistrode Park ; Mr. Lambert, in Grosvenor-square, from Sussex ; Colonel and Mrs. Warren, In Park -street, from Lisbon • Captain Ralph Pemberton and Major Foiwer, fr o m South America, In Pall.nsaU ; the Hoa. Colonel HiUyer, In Piccadilly, from Brighton; General Armstrong. from &. James's street, for Sussex i Capt. Middleton, in Bruton-street, from the Netherlands • Major and Mrs. Osborne, in Cumberland street, from Devonsgire ; Lieut.-Colonel Berry, in Albemarle street. from Paris ; Colonel and Mrs. Julian, in Piccadilly, from Vienna; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parother, from Grafton street, for the seat of the Marquis of Salisbury ; the Hon.MatthewFortescue. from the Manor House, Beckenham, Kent, for Holnieot Hall, in Somersetshire ; the Hon. Henry Laseelks and the Lady Louisa from Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, on a visit to the Bari and Countess of Harewood, at Harewood Hall; Mr. Welbore Ellis from the Albany Chambers, on after; Lady Mary Sentinel', from Charles -street, Berkeley-square, for the seat of the Duke of Portland; Sir John Shelley, Bart. (rum Belgrave-square, for Hareafield Place, in Sussex; the Dowager Marchioness of Lans downe. Mrs. Mellish, and Miss Gifard, from Albemarle -street, for Hampton Court ; Mr. J. Glynn, for Earl's Court House, from Arlington-street ; Colonel Clive for Weston House, near Albany, in Surrey. THE SERPENTINE RIVER. Hyde Park, yesterday, presented rather a gay scene. The morning was brilliant from the effect of nearly a cloudless sky ; and, soon after one o'clock, many elegant equipages were seen in the drive and numerous promenades on the gravel walk, East end West. Notwithstanding the appearance of the Inn, the day was piercingly cold—more intensely cold than during any preceding day of the present season, in consequence of a strong gale from the North. Soon after the hour of two, r. N. the south bank of the Serpentine River was lined with fashionably-dressed persons of both sexes; on the north there was a line of carriages. The water presented one uniform mass of snow ; along the northern edges the ice had been invaded, and it apparently bore (the marks of slides being perceptible), but the men belonging to the Royal Humane So dety arriving, put a stop to the dangerous exercise, and probably prevented many from suffering by their temerity. THE GREEN PARK. The severity of the frost on the night of Wednewlay was sn great as to produce a sheet of ice on the piece of water in the Wildernees of the Green Park, sufficiently strong to bear the weight at both straiten and sliders. There were upwards of a hundred boys on it Wednesday the water during Thurday On was free from lee. THE ARMY. (ctneusAß.) lions. Guards, Dec. 23, 1829. Ssa—There being various minor offences and irregularities cons matted by soldiers, which have not usually been made the subject of a court-martial, unless the frequent repetition of them rendered such a measure necessary, but which it has been the uuge of the service to leave to the discretion of the commanding officer to re press, I am directed by the general commanding in chief to desire that you will transmit to me, for his information, a scale of the punishments adopted in the regiment under your orders for offences of the description above-mentioned. I am also to desire that you will state whether the barracks or quarters,occapied at preoent by the regiment under your command, afford any means of enabling you. Aker commanding -, to carry into effect a sentence of solitary confinement, and, if so, to what extent. You will likewise be pleased to consider. and favour me with your opinion, in the event of a sentence of confinement, with hard la bour, being awarded to a soldier, in what manner, and by what means. it could be most effectually and beneficially carried into es 'cation within barracks or quarters, and without having recourse to public princes. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your very obedient humble servant, H. TAYLOR, Adjutant- Gemaral. MILITARY THEATRICALS. About two months ago, the Ist Battalion of the Ist Regiment of Grenadier Foot Guards, now in Portman Barracks. having con sulted together as to the best means of amusing themselves during their al unoccupied hosts." it was resolved that theatrical per formances would be the most useful and instructive recreation, and that the adkers of the regiment should be applied to for their sanction and support to have " plays" in the Barracks. The Adju- I Cant being the proper person to be fir* consulted on the occasion, a deputation waked upon him, and explained their object; and, on being asked bow they could supply scenerylke. they replied that rugs would answer their purpose for the present, and the meas-tables would form their stage. One of the deputation, an intelligent young fellow, explained to the Adjutant that if they were en couraged in their plan it would refine the men. establish rage laity, and they would confine themselves to quartets with pleasure. Tito play would be once a week—no filed day ; but it would require a clear day from duty when the performances were to take place. The Adjutant interested himself, and. feel log that no evil result could accrue from their object lost no time in making it known to their Oaken and leave was in stantly granted. The players went to work, and soon formed a capit.l stage of the mess.tables. A serjeant was appointed stage manager. whose duty it was to find actresses among his friends, and in a short time some well-painted scenery graced the stage ; and, in short. every thing succeeded to their best wishes, and they now perform in the barracks once a week, and are well at tended. They enacted Xing Richard the Third on Monday night last, with appropriate dimes and scenery ; the performers were perfect in their parts, and received great mff. and the whole has been conducted from the commencement with the utmost order and regularity. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Mans ASSN= Tans Day.—Dublin I—Waterford I—France a The Margate, Bret, from London to Rio de Janeiro, was in Sheerness on Thursday, with damage, and loss of rudder, being been on the Urr. The Tobago, Reed, from Gaspe., was on ibore on the Spaniard Sand on Wednesday, but got off with loss of anchor and cable. Doom, Dec. &S.—Wind E.—The Ottowa i for Quebec, pro ceeded to the westward, with loss of anchor and cable. PORTMOSTM, Die. 24.—Wind N.H.—Arnett! the Robert Ed wards, Siterburn, from the Downs, and sailed for New York.— Arrived the Pomona. Spring, from Denis; and Nautilus, from Smyrna. Ptariecorrn, De. 240—Wind E. Fateotrea. Dec. 23 and 24.—Wind N.Y. to E.N.E.—Arrived the Andromache Laws. from Calcutta—sailed the lith of Aug us t, Mauritius 24th September, and St. Helena 25th October. Also, die Sprightly, Newson. fern The Sprightly forced the blockade into and out of Tercets, and c apt. Newson reports that be left Count Villa Floe and the Wanders in excellent spirits, Nobble of continuing a good defence on all sides, and satisfied in Owe WS Solids that the troops of Don Miguel would never again attempt a &woe on their shores. Leman., Dec. 24.—Arrived the Ariadoe, from Smyrna. CLIME Dar . 25.—Arrived the Unice*, from Veneers. Dosu:r, Dec. !g.—Arrived the Lady Oentonto, Johnson, from Qatar. Lemon, Dec . 12.—• The Jane Robson. late Drown , sailed from Poet-au-Pence 224 April, to tooth at Cowes for orders, and has not since been beard of. - Dar.' The Gasanocz. - -. O.—. . Cygnet, Banos, from New York to near Sheffield, . . Castle, ... athill "" , was "' des " " the ash ukimo, in tat. 31. long. 31. A new Fire-King is said to be on his way from Paris, Crew saved by the Meta, London, arrived here treat Demerara. eage r, no doubt, to share in the fruits of John Bull's Mrs. Taves, at her audit, held at Glaiston, on the 22d gullibility. inst. for the receipt of her Michaelmas rents, made a re- - We should like to know what Mr. Fox, the great turn of 10 per cent. Whig leader, would have said, had he lived to see a H unit JACKSON, Faq. of Wisbeoh, has returned 10 whole phalanx of his legal followers pitted against one per cent. to his tenantry at Duddington. p9or solitary Editor of a newspaper, and his nephew, Lord The Rev. W. POTCHETT has made a return of 10 per HOLLAND, awitness for theprosecution.—Morn.Herald. Rent. from the amount of his tithes in Harrowby. The magnificent mansion of the late Duke of YONK, The Rev. E. TuoßoLD ' Rector of Morcott, at his in the Green Park, now called Gower-House, once in tithe audit, last week, returned 15 per cent. tended for the residence of the late lamented Duke of . The Rev. T. Bitzvon, Curate of Baruby, distributed YORK, and purchased in its skeleton state for 75,000:. his usual Christmas donation of blankets, clothing, &c. by the Marquis of STAFFORD., contains ono of the noblest to the poor of that parish, on Monday last. central staircases of any house hitherto built. It seems At the audit of Philip Duncombe Paucefort Duncombe, at present not decided where the arms of the Royal Duke FA. at Bourne, a return of 15 per cent. was made on the are to be placed, but they are careful locked up, and rents of his tenants. will occupy some conspicuous part of the mansion in its Colonel PIZZKEPONT, of Ryhall, has returned 15 per buished state. The completion of the interior el the cent. to his tenants, with a promise to make .a similar building is likely to be postponed for some time, as the return at his next audit. Noble owner has directed parts only to be papered he Gamma.: Gazoonv ' Esq. at his has rent-day, re- his reception, leaving the remainder to hissuccemouterbe turned 16 per cent. to his tenants at Hungerton and lathes be enabhdto conipek* On assoustialima in I Harlaxton. cossomanti wish hie puttioshr Pita. - • . STATE OF THE COUNTRY. FM/91 Cobbett's Register of this dir:. DERBY, !Vomit-, DK. ti Th.- present impres ion upon my mind is (arid I have w-r rye, Pit miogham to that effect,) that I skaU gnomes Yorkshire first, at e.noe back by Nottingham, Leicester, ilirreinaliaro, shall thence to Wolverhampton. It is intposaibk fur me to de ermine precisely which course I will take till I get to Liverpool, whence I will immediately write to all friends in Lancashire and Yorkshire and alto to those of Nottirghem, Leicester; Birmingham, and Wolverhampton. I wished to take eine*. bam first, for the Frames at reed in the last /feeder g and I done all that I could do in order to act upon americium& t.-nd to qirt Derby on Saturday or Sueday neat, and to be Liverpool on the Sunday night. at latest. I Intend to deliver 'perch here on Wednesday neat. and another on Saturday. . not quite cocain which wiU be the days. My friends here s do Si they like about the matter ; for nay motto is, " always ready . As to the state of the country, it has been min I.ondon Birmingham feels less of distress than other places. That Readers of the, Resistor may have some idea of the state of mingham. I will state a fact or two which I have from inures. tionable authority. The first is, that the operative gunstock makers. who used to earn, in ordinary times, front thirty to forty shillings • week, now earn four shillings and del:slice • wept ! Some . other trades are somewhat better o(; bat the whole are work. hag at wages so miserably low, as to afford nothing like adequate nainten Alec, even for a single man. Another fact , that the men in the iron works are become lit te better than set of beings fed from hand to meth, is eacharge for their ' hour. It is said, upon what I deem good authority, that the' masters have taken to themse l ves the business of supplying workmen with vitro as, drink, and other necessaries, in (or their labour, superseding altogether the dealing with .hop keepers and victuallers, and suffering no money to pass betwe.l them and their labourers ; nay, to such a pitch is this carried, that they have their workmen shaved by contract, and - the shavers at so mach per doses. The workmen would themselves, if the masters would give them the penny, ..r half.penny, or whatever it is they pay; but this they will not do, it is said, and that no money whateer.r passes be tween them. Tbi. is a state of barter in reality ! I was further informed. that the barber., or some of them, in Birminghini, thy that the shaving by the dozen so materially leisecvd tlicx trade, had stuck up bills, notifying that they would there for *mins ! This is teal baster. Thk shows the great and ptes-ing want of money. With regard to the minor transactions. the nits. sure of value is gone; money is banished from a community will. Is has lung boasted of the endless sources of its wealth. Our el, tier men of Whitehall and St. 13 - epheit'a have found out the way of re. during a rich country to poverty. and lit bringing down a proud and powerful nation to a state in which it declares, or as good as declares, that it cannot go, to war. I be situation of the greater part of the operative manufacturers, in this county, in Nottinghamshire, and in Leicestershire, is said 'to be truly deplorable. There are supposed to be thirty thou sand stocking-frames ; and the wages of the weavers have declined to such a point, as to leave the poor creatures scarcely the means of bare existence. T he weaysrs have not at this sort of work, more than four shillings and dep. nee a week per man, at the weaving of cotton or worsted. Those that weave silk get, in some cases, a little more ; and some of them. perhaps. six or witty shillings ; but even this will not afford half a sufficiency of fool. One of the consequences of this state of things is, the tamale. ablaut's* of the coarser parts of butcher's meat.— Formerly , the richer part of the community purchased the best jeints ' while the working people took the remainder; bat now, though there are customers enough for the best, there is nobody to buy the coat se: - parts of the meat ; or, at least. there has been a Latins off here to a very great degree. Workmen, that used to purchase live or sit pounds of meat at a time, now take a pounder half a pound, and some of them none at all; and their dress, their looks thtit movements, and the sound of their voices, correspond with this debasement with regard to their food. Pot atoes appear lobe the best of their diet. Some live upoo boiled cabbage end salt, end others are said to live nn molded brew, which, as most readers know. is what we call a mash, given to horses when they have colds. As to the potatoes, the cabbage, and the bran, they are not sufficiently good food fer even a lean hog, in the winter season. One thing I have heard of in this county, even more horrible than that which I mentioned a few days ago in London. I Itsre allude to the statement which I have read in the Nettileghttes Kr stiewrelative to the sale of labourersat Stapleton. That which I base now beard supposes the people to be treated, not as slaves ; not as negro slaves; but actually as beasts; whose to nil connexion is. superintended by their masters, after the same manner that farina-Is and breeders superintend. for similar purposes, the co ..... amongst their cattle, sheep and pip; or as a deklatedis super intends the connexion between canine animals of different bras. In short (for I must come to it at law.) the plain and horrible tale is this: that in some places, those who have the emttintinsi over the poor keep the married women separated from their hti4. bands ; do not suffer them to see each other but once its ro 1-eg a time ; then, for only so many minutes, and never out of the Er -u senet pf the overseer, or person appointed by him ; and all this t,r the odious, the shameless, the beastly purpose of preventiog th..l increase oifamlly which the parsons at the marriage has joint d with the parties in praying Goo may take place, and which Gun himself knead shall be considered a blessing ! And this is England! This is the envy of surrounding nationr, and the admiration of the world ; this is that counts y wEich waa for so many ages renowned as the land of liberty and good living I While men are in this situation; while such is the degradation end misery of the common people, who is to be surprised that they commit offences again 4 the law ? Who is to be surprised that they pay no attention to those duties which were held sacred by the fathers? Who is to be surprised if they he reckless of conse• quences? Who is to be surprised that they use the means. hots-, ever dupe rate, to satisfy their hunger? Who is to be surprised at • the increase of gaol., or at any of those things which at ark the fearful progrus of crime? Accordingly, to he detected in theft or " robbery appears now not to be thought a shame amongst the wor k at; ' classes of the people, fur whom the law has no longer any tetrot-. it being impossible for it to toilet on them auffeagi go ester than they now enjoy. The gaol is far preferable to the poor-house in point of living, while the sub deem it no disgrace. }very death is a deliverance from the infamous regulations regarding the ttttt sir se of the sexes; and as to trumpet:tattoo. it is a thing ge nerally bailed with delight. It is in evidence before the House of Commons, in printed svideoce, that the labouring people itt Kent ~ declared publicly, that they would be glad to do something to cause them.eives to be condemned to the hulks; seeing Low much better off the convicts were then tie poor labouring people, who *, had committed no crime. This evidence was given before tile Poor Law Committee of 1621, by a gentleman who was over,. rf of the poor for the parish of Minster, which Les in the n, ightuo.r 7 hood 01 the hulks. The labouring mete, eyeing how n ugh t je rr rt cif the convicts were than they themselves were. bad tio iiesitatioo • to express their desire to be able to commit some crime in orals that they might share in the enjoyments of the convicts. 'My vita . gistrates of Berkshire make a greater allowance of food to felon% in the gads, thee to the honest labouring man workirg the gelds. The New Police seem to have effected less than thJ Parish Beadles did in curing the abominable nuisances .&.t ' slides and other annoyances occurring in the street., during the continuance of frost and snow. JACK IN LOVE.—On the morning of Saturday laht a jolly Jack Tar attended at the Parish of Stoke Da marelli for the purpose of being converted into a happy Benedict, or, in his own more figurative language, to be spliced to a fair damsel ; after waiting, LowevOr, upwards of half an hour in vain expectation of the appearance of the intended bride, it..ck became fid. gety, and the Minister somewhat impatient, the latter at length inquired of Jack where the residence of Li. bride or her parents was ; but this was, as Jack declined, many points to windward of his knowledge, it eviai tamed out upon investigatioa that he was not acquainted with the name of his inamorata or her parents, and had : not the fair damsel herself luckily made her appearance about the period at which Jack's and the minister's pa tience were nearly exhausted, we know not how flue jolly tar would have extricated himself from his awkw ata dilemma. I; 1: A gentleman in this town, some days ago, sent to borrow his neighbour's okaying implements, hot was made lie. quainted that they could not be spared from home, but the borrowet. might me them there A day or two after the complaleant gem. Limas sent to barrow the stber's spade, Ist was Worsted it coslit at be has frost bane, bat be might maw there and dig as Wog •as be iplaand.--Atarth Doff* Jblernel. lIPARILIHK)DON II A 1111L1T—THIS DAY. Then yam szedha wooly d Sat meat as tkinsarkee i. day. ~..11kar—Raandas pro, OK is W WA* 4A. es 3d. ROA! Nesausky, Sidjlegmar—llfsdoeur Loh did, Maenad. Id. Sliaddar; Ilisdh basal, VaatolvdWato Paax--sid, • 'Alai -. • - - • I • . . IT! !Cgs In It sad sit go rookie 'hence aad rester; Wag- [ I see I jos- tle at leer a It is re will tad y." 1, that at the Bit. agues. Warr. pilings Sono , wish. ke as fact is, than a wit Is- he irou •g the rbaag . .hop. awe, a arried, (I psy shave oy, .-r y wSU es he- Ruttier fio.d- -1 tloc.r or a .teomrt le rota. a Vet' r of re. a proud good as • 'Moreno, is said y thou- iecliord e means work, , at the get, is Or 'Witty of fool. tangle- tly, the chile the here are ! coarse f bete to SPAIN. We have advice& from Cadiz of the 3d Nov. Our in telligent correspondent has very methodically divided his communication into three separate heads ; the first being political. the second commercial ; and the third consist ing of anecdotes. We fear that our gleanings cannot convey to the general reader the whole meaning of our correspondent's reasoning ; but the attempt shall be made, and, as nearly as possible, verbatim. At the date of this communication, the failure of BA RR A DAS'S ex pedition against Mexico was not known in Spain. That news would, of course, affect the plans of FERDINAND, and very probably make him sing small at his nuptials : Ist. POLITICS :•-•" Government is looking out for transports, to carry 6000 soldiers out to the Havannah, to replace those that are gone from that place to Mexico. Every thing is tranquil at present in Catalonia. The Minister of Finance is scraping together all the money he can, from all the provinces, in order to defray the enormous expenses that must be incurred on the arrival at the Court of the Neapolitan Nobility. The Govern ment of Madrid have determined to send troops to the Havannah from five different ports of Spain to join the invading force of Mexico. Great preparations are going forward at Madrid for the reception of the new Queen, who is expected to arrive in the capital on the 18th of December. The Marine have received this month their , pay due May last ! On the 10th inst. the American ship Fabier, Captain RUNCE, arrived here from New York, in '24 days, having on board his Excellency CORN EMUS PETER VAN NEW, with his family—he being the newly-appointed Minister from the United States to the Court of Madrid. The well-inforn.ed peo ple here have such a poor opinion of the invasion of Ge neral BallitADAB of Mexico, that they call it "a happy shipwreck !" The Spanish frigate Perla is taking in three month's piovieions, to go immediately to the Ha vannah. On the 19th instant begins the Council of War on the Portuguese Pirates, belonging to the brig De. fender of Pedro. The trial will occupy several days, a. 4 the declarations, &c. take up 2000 sheets of paper ! The sittings last six hours every day. Ji.st a. 4 lam writing, the frigate Perla is countermanded for the Havannah ; and ordered instantly to sail for the Medi terranean." 21xl. Co m ERCI AL. On this subject our communi cation is fuller, and more satisfactory : is of general interest; and albeit, it may be quoted in brief passages like the above, much can be gathered from it :—" A French veseel which arrived here—Cadiz—with fish from Newfoundland, has sold part of her cargo—the French Government allowing the owner of the fish five per canton every quintal of fish sold in a foreign country, on presenting in France a certificate of the French Consul where the fish has been sold. Within four months past, about 6,000 hogsheads of Virginia tobacco have arrived here for the King's account : were agriculture at the Havannab well attended to, that island could supply all the wants of this country. The importation of cotton goods is not so considerable as it was during the pre vious month. The directors of the free port have laid a contribution of seven per cent. per annum on the rent of 5,000 houses in town. All kinds of provisions are very cheap; and there are not so many beggars shout the streets as there were a few months ago. The new Code of Commerce, which is to come into operation in Spain the first day of the new year, inflicts very severe punish ment on such houses as stop payment ; and sundry mer cantile establishments in Madrid and this city, knowing they would be obliged to stop payment in a few months, have done so lately. Among these are Antonio Surri and Sons ; Tordan and Echevarnia ; John Corona, who lately came here from Gibraltar ; and five houses In Madrid have followed the same course. The English packet, Lapwing, sailed from this port for Gibraltar on the 22d ult. and next day was obliged to put back on account of the boisterous weather, having high wind and constant rain for fourteen days running. The American brig Mary Elizabeth, Capt.iin HAVEN, with staves, from New York to Marseilles, was lost on the night of the 28th ult. the Captain, four men, and a passenger got into a boat, and, after a great deal of trouble, arrived in the morning in our bay. To k caused. Earl FITIWILLIAM and Loral arld Lady MILTON and family, have left Wentworth House, for Milton Abbey, Northamptonshire, at which place they will spend the Christmas holidays. The Duke of Pown.swn has been on a visit during the last week to Lord WHARNCLIYFE, at Wortley The Duke of Scssex has left the seat of Earl FEEDERS, for Colonel Wtt.nmAN's, Newatead Abbey, near Nottingham. The Right Honourable P. Counitn a', the Vice- President of the Board of Trade, has left Nice on his return to this country. The Duke of SUSSEX arrived at Newstead Abbey on the evening of the 20th inst. suffering under the influence of cold and cough, owing to the inclemency of the weather, but we are happy to learn that his Royal High ness is much better, and we trust will soon be perfectly convalescent. His Grace the Duke of Devoratt Inc has arrived at his seat, Chatsworth, Derbyshire, at which place the fes tivities of Christmas will be observed on the most magni ficent scale. Tuesday last Captain Ross's horses were put up by auction at Melton Mowbray, but only two were sold.— Clinker, which lately ran in the steeple-chase in Leices terthire, was purchased for 350 guineas, for Lord WIL LOUGHBY ; and Polecat made 250 gs. for Lord ANsow. Some surkribe has been expressed that on the late trials the high talents and fearless independence of Mr. Den man were not brought into the service of the defendants. The present Li said to be the first occasion on which the Court of King's Bench sat on Christmas Eve. The Duke-of RUTLAND has left his sporting box, for Belvoir Leicestershire,