Star. — London, England, 1813-07-22 00:00:00

Ali FOREIGN INTELLIGBNC2. EETERSBURGH, JUNE 20. All the accounts received from Dantzic agree in stating, that in that town, after the most afflicting spec tacle, the garrison is reduced to eight thousand men capable of beating arms. The mortality is very great upon the citizens. Several physicians have fallen victims—corn is their only provision. Fresh meat is so scarce, that the lower classes are obliged to eat that of cats and dogs, for horse flesh costs about 18 dutchen the pound. Every thing is in the greatest activity in the Prus sian utonarchy. The landships of Eastern and Wes tern Prussia already amount to more than 40,000 men. The national regiment of cavalry is proceeding by forced marches towards Silesia. THSt FOLLOWING•AEFLECTIONS ON THE IDEA OF A CON- GREss FOR A PLACE, ARE INARTED IN 66 THE PETERS /(]KG' GAZETTE," OF THE 17Th (29TH) OP JUNE, FROM 66 THE KONISsBERGH GAZETTE." g 4 Now,• when all the Powers of Europe which re tain their independance, unite together to set bounds to the immoderation of France—now, that it is de. termised that the subjugation of the Continent of Europe shall cease, since the nations are awakened ; now, when France cannot, without rendering herself ridiculous, - repeat to England that she is Sovereign of the Continent, and therefore may quietly wait the termination of the British maritime power —now, when the nullity of a separate peace is apparent, and the obstinacy with which one war after another has been waged, is exhausted, the voice of peace is heard, and the French Emperor proposing a general Con gress for peace, concludes an Armistice to put an end to the effusion of human blood ; and while he speaks the sensibility seems desirous to have it be lieved that he has had no part in producing the mi sery which, during the last ten years, has afflicted Europe. " Few believe in the sincerity of such a proposal, they cannot suprose that any thing else is intended but to gain time. For our own part we must confess that we differ in opinion. France is now obliged to carry on the war from her own resources alone, and has no longer the power to continue it ; and Napoleon, as the founder of a new dynasty, must heap sacrifices on sacrifices. 66 The theatre of the war extends from the Tagus to the Ncva, and from the Danube to the Frozen Ocean. • 0 Spain has for five years past been changed into a desert, and only an open grave for the French ar mies. The piles are yet smoaking on which, in the plains of Russia, the bodies of more than 300,000 French warriors, the flower of Western Europe, were consumed to prevent the pestilence. , g All the colonies of France are in the hands of England, and no means remain of recovering them by force. Spanish America has detached herself from the mother country, and will reserve her re sources for her own use, regardless of the warning of• the French Minister to beware how she yields herself exclusively to England. The whole European world is in commotion, and refuses to lend itself to an in- fluenee which has caused all its unhappiness. Under such circumstances the wish for peace is natural, even in those who have to thank the war for every thing. gg But how shall this wish be gratified ? A Con gress for a general Peace shall be assembled at Prague, at which shall appear, on the one part, the Plenipotentiaries of France, those of the United States of America, Denma:k, the King of Spain, and all the Allied Princes (unquestionably of Italy and Ger. many) ; on the other part, the Plenipotentiaries of England, Russia, Prussia, the Spanish Insurgents, and the other Allies of these Belligerent Powers, among which, doubtless, Sweden is to be reckoned. It is added, that these principles accord with the views of Austria. 66 It consists with the nature of things, that if Eu rope should ever enjoy a peace, of some length in its duration, it can only be the work of a Congress, and cannot be produced by such negociations as those of Presburg, Tilsit, and - Vienna. This, however, must' be the first question, Who shall be admitted to this Congress ? 66 If the French Emperor can procure an admission to it for the Plenipotentiaries of the United States of America, it is difficult to say why the Turkish Em peror, the King of Persia, and the Republic of Spa nish America, should not be admitted ? 46 The policy of the United States is essentially different from that of the European States; and if they are for the moment involved in the war, which France carries on against England, their interests, therefore, can only be the general interests of trade ; and they can have nothing to do with a Congress for peace, held at Prague, but merely to perplex and protract the negociations. 66 It is still more remarkable, that the Plenipoten tiaries of the Spanish Insurgents shall be admitted, together with those of King Joseph. How ! have the two then any thing in common ? Is there any capitulation between the Insurgents and the King of Spain ? Must not the former insist, that Joseph Na poleon shall evacuate Spain, and the latter that there shall be no insurgents in Spain ? 66 And what should the Allies of France do at a Congress for peace, if among them we are to reckon the Princes of Germany and Italy ? How long have they interests to espouse or defend? Hitherto, their greatest virtue has consisted in slavish obedience.— They were the vassals of France, in the worst sense of the word; and as such, in negociations for a gene ral peace, they can only be the objects of them, not partakers in them. #6 The on:) , real Plenipotentiaries, therefore, that will remain, are those of England, France, Russia, Austria, Prussia, Sweden, and Denmark. The ob jects which they have to discuss are of sufficient mag nitude, and su ffi ciently perplexed, to engage them for a long time, and to set in motion every passion. 66 The French Emperor before his departure from Faris in April last, said to the Deputies 9f the Legis lative Dody, that the integrity of the French had never been endangered, nor never should be. 6, If he continues to adhere to this declaration, the Congress for Peace at Prague is superfluous. Not only must there be no question of what Prance has usurped from Germany (the Rhine being considered as the boundary between France and that country), but if the abolition of the Confederation of the Rhine, and even the Kingiorn of Italy itself, as Also of what has- been noosed to France in the Sopth of Ger . many, or the independence of Germany can ne►ct be established. " France must return to original principles, and open the Congress with declaring that she is willing to retire within her natural - boundaries. This decla ration alone, worthy of a great Power, will reconcile all the Powers of the Continent; and though it con tains the confession of past faults, it is the only indi cative of a future peace with England. 64 France must now feel that she has only weal kened herself by her acquisitions she has now in opportunity to repair that error. In shoet, either France understands the art, at the approaching Con gress for peace, wherever it may take place, to recon cile to herself the Powers of Europe, and then she will obtain more than she could have expected, or she does not understand that art; and then is the re volution of the 18th Brumaire not the last that she may expect. 44 Able physicians, in desperate cases, haye often recourse to opposite remedies. There is now only one means to regain the confidence of Europe, which must be, before the Congress commences, to recall the French armies from Germany and Spain ; for a negotiation for peace, in the neighbourhood of three hundred thousand French troops, will not be carried on in the best spirit. If Napoleon cannot prevail on himself to remove them, he in vain boasts of commi seration for the shedding of human blood. The war must still continue ; and as he has already found a Marlborough in Spain, he 'may find a Prince Eugene in Germany." WARSAW, JUNE 1. General Tormassow, a few days ago, left this place for St. Petersburgh. According to report, he is nominated by the. l mperor to be President of the Military College. For some days past, large de tachments of Russian troops have passed through this place ; and likewise much artillery. By a Proclamation issued by the President of the Municipality, all the inhabitants of this place are obliged to deliver up all the Funpowder and guns in their possession, except hunting pieces. The value is paid to them from the general treasury. Who ever conceals any fire-arms, is to be subject to pu nishment. VIENNA, JUNE 8. It is reported by Greek merchants, that a great change has taken place at Constantinople, in conse quence whereof several 'Members of the Divan are said to have been strangled. JUNE 26.—1 t is considered as a good sign that the negociations for Peace proceed prosperously, and probably will soon be brought to a desirable conclu sion, that to-day the silver service was sent to the Mi nister of State, Count Metternich. It is said that diplomatic persons have been ap pointed on the part of the ,Belligerent Powers, as of the mediating court, viz.—from Austria, Count Met ternich • from France, the Duke of Vicenza • from Russia, Count Stackelberg ; from England, the late Hanoverian Envoy to this Court, Count Von Har. denberg ; and from Prussia, Baron Von Humboldt, to lay a solid basis on which the whole negotiation for Peace may rest. As soon as this shall be done, the two armies will leave their new concentrated po sition, and occupy a wider space. The report circulated here some days since, that Count Stadion would resume the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is not confirmed. Queen Caroline of Sicily, aunt of his Majesty the Emperor of Austria, has already arrived at Constan tinople, on her way to Hungary. The movements of the troops in the vicinity of Vienna still continue. LEIPSIC, JUNE 26. His Excellency Count Metteruich, Austrian Mi nister for Foreign Affairs, arrived at Dresden on the '2sth. This is considered as a fortunate omen for Peace.--4/hona Mercury, July 9. EifST-INDlif HOUSE. An adjourned Court of Proprietors of East India Stock was held yesterday within their House, Leaden hall-street, for the sake of deciding upon the accept. ance or rejection of the Bill lately pending in Parlia ment for the renewal of the Company's Charter.— The minutes of the last_Court being read, The CHAIRMAN stated, that he had that morning received papers signed by two of the three Directors who had not been present when the joint declaration in favour of the acceptance of theßill by the nineteen Directors, by whom the Minute was signed, had been come to. These he moved should be read to the Meeting.—They were accordingly read, and gene rally concurred, on the part of the Directors. by whom they were signed, Colonel TOOLE and Mr. ATTELL ) in the opinion expressed in the minute sign ed by the nineteen Directors, by which they recom mend to the Proprietors to accept of the renewal of their Charter under the conditions on which it was tendered to them. Sir HUGH Notts then rose. A more luminous i Report than that which had been submitted to the I Court, illustrative of the Bill which had now passed through the two Houses of Parliament, had never come before that or any other Court. It was such as to leave him little to say. The principal thing was the trade to the Out-ports, and the objections to it had been taken in two beat ings. First, the danger to be apprehended from an indiscriminate intercourse with the natives by adventurers from this country, and from their residence in the interior ;—secondly, the danger of extending the Import Trade to the Out-ports. On the first cf these points a body of evidence had been submitted on the part of the Company, principally by persons who had been in their service, which would remain a monument honourable to the talents of those by whom the evi dence had been given, and to the Company by whom they had been employed. Among others, the venerable Mr. Hastings, after serving the Company faithfully and zealously in India, had, at the ad vanced age of 80, by his wonderful ability and by his great knowledge, contributed to the continuance of that umpire which he had had so great a share in acquiring :Ind consolidating, In consequence, upon the intercourse, and upon the residence in India, considerable guards had been imposed. But upon the extension of the Import Trade to the Out-ports the Company bad not been so successful. The Bill, however, upon the whole, was better than they could have expected. They had still secured to them the exclusive trade to China, and to that they must fools for their dividend. The management, of their commercial fund, too, was entirely left to the Direc tors; while they also had to look, for any short corn. ing in of their dividend, to their territorial revenue generally ; whereas, formerly, that pre-security was limited to the exceis of it merely. The question then was. Would the Proprietors accept of this renewal of their Chaster, or would they reject it ?—lt was said, the Company Was a body corporate for ever. They certainly were so; but where was their capital ? They might be told—in their warehouses, in their property afloat, in India, Ste. This was'all true; but thea, had they not a large bond debt, which would be instantly demanded of them ?—He might be told, theyhadgreat claims on thecountry. They had so: but how, and when were they to get them adjusted ? Even for money advanced, did they get a prompt settle ment with Government ? No : they had a difficulty even in getting part of a claim of that kind; and the final arrangement was still unsettled.—lf they should reject this Bill, and be only two years in getting this claim upon the country brought to a settlement, where would be their trade ? If they rejected this Charter, could they expect that the tea trade should be left to the East-India Company ? He confessed, for his own part, that he could not view unmoved the mass of individual misery which would follow the rejection of this Bill. To their servants, work men, and warehousemen, it could be nothing short of ruin. To the port of Lont.on, such a measure must be a vital blow ; and to their military and com mercial servants abroad, who had made ample re turns for - all the benefits held out to them, it must, no less than to the servants of the Company at home, be, in many instances, absolute ruin. Were they, he asked, to be disfranchised, without cause, and with out warning ? If they were to be so disfranchised, let it not be by the East-India Company that they were so treated. He should, therefore, move— " That this Court cannot, with reference to the inte rests of the Company and of the Public, contemplate all the enactments of the Bill now passed with satis faction ; nevertheless, deferring to the sense of the Legislature, and relying on their wisdom and justice for relief, in the event of their expectations, as to the possibility of going on under the pr,,visions of that Bill, being disappointed, they cannot think it expe dient to refuse to accept the Charter under the pro visions contained in the Bill in question. They do, therefore, authorize the Directors to commupicate to Ministers the Company's acceptance of the bill, and the anxious desire of their Executive Body to prim teed to the discharge of the important duties entrus. ted to them, notwithstanding Om difficutties with which they were accompanied, to the , icst of their ability, and with the best intentions towards all par ties interested."— He begged to add one word before he concluded : he was certain the country would be disappointed, and that grievously too, in the expec tations they entertained on the subject of this Inca sure ; but let it not be said that any part of this was owing to the East-India Company. Ministers, too, he must say, had proved the friends of the Company instt a l of their enemies. The country had been de cidedly against the Company, and matters would have been worse than they now are, had not Mi. nisters stept in. The motion being put, Sir R. DALLAS seconded the mo. ion. He thought the Bill so fenced with securities, as to ward off al most all the evils that bad been dreaded. Whatever doubts the Court might entertain as to the conduct of Ministers, they could have none as to the zeal and ability displayed by their Executive Body, not on the present occasion alone, but throughout. The con. duct of that Body had been such, as in succeeding times, must spread a lustre over the reign of George the Third. It would be one of the proudest teatuare in his Majesty's reign, that India had enjoyed greater' peace than any part of Europe. Mr. GEORGE SMITH, after reading a letter from the remaining Director, concurring in the opinion of the great majority of that body, was proceeding to deliver the grounds of his own individual opinion, when Mr. HOARE subinitted that the Directors having already given their opinion collectively, the present Court was held for the purpose of ascertaining the opinion of the Proprietors. • Mr. Swam thought the individual opinions of the Directors had been required. Mr. Howes presumed they had . given their indi vidual opinions in their collective opinion. Mr. SMITH acquiesced. Mr. BOSANQUET presumed that he was an exception from this rule, his opinion being unfortunately dif ferent from that of his brethren. Great as the merits of the Report were, he confessed he could not sub scribe to it. He believed, however, the Proprietors would, and he was almost tempted to say, atter the unanimous recommendation to that effect from behind the Bar, ought to accept of the Charter. This being his impression, he should not urge his opinion upon the Court ; but, if there was any thing like a divided sentiment, then should he debate the point, to the best of his ability. An Honourable Gentleman had talked of a vote of thanks to those Members of the Court Who were in Parliament. For his own part, he thought that some peculiar mark of respect and gratitude was due to an Honourable Director, for the eminent zeal and ability which he had displayed, and for the fatigue he had undergone in promoting the interests of the Company throughout the present im portant discussion. Mr. P. Mooaa thought, though the present Char ter was very different from that of the year 1793, that the Court ought to accept of it. Their vested rights in the territory conferred on them were more than equal to their capital. Those rights he there fore wished, should always be kept prominent, and on the surface, that they might not escape out of view, and be forgotten. Mr. RANDLE JACKSON asked an explanation as to some part of the Report, which was satisfactorily given him by Mr. Grant. Mr. lacxson then went on to take a view of the situation in which the Company stood under this Bill, the very power of extinguishing them being origi nally left with Ministers, though they had chosen themselves to relax greatly in the extent of this power, lie agreed that they had merit in this I for if they had actually chosen to extinguish them, and then to march over, their dead bodies, they would have been hallooed in their proceeding. He agreed that certain ameliorations had been made in the financial. department I but it appeared that there might still be a necessity, next year and the year fol lowing, for borrowing from Government, The inte rest of the last loan, besides beitiA seemed in India, was made preferable in this country to the payment of the Proprietors' dividends; and if the interest of other loans was also to stand in a similar situation. the Company might be made the means of ectin. ,guishing itself. Their standing Counsel had given it 'as his opinion that they could not deliver themselves from the present Bill, if they once accepted it, with out an Act of Repeal, and that Government migllt annex conditions to such repeal. While the Cotneeny held the Charter of King William they must have justice done them • but if they borrowed money from Government which they could -not pay, and in that way suffered a Writ of Extent to come into that House, then, indeeide would they be at the mercy of GOvernment, Ind then might the Charter of William be wrested from them. The only way' to avoid this was to practice economy. He shonia: the re ff - ire pro pose, as an addition to the- motion, a tile .wc:"dse assuring the Directors that every act of theirs ealcu lated to produce retrenchment in the expenditure, should meet with the warmest support and encourage ment of that Court ; and that it be recommended to the Court of Directors not to embark in any pecu niary expence which is not necessary for the interests of the Company. Mr. JACKSON then proposed his addition to the mo. Lion, the substance of which was, that the Directors would give all the effect in their power to the pro. visions•of the Charter, trusting, at the same time to the assurances of Ministers, that they would give them such assistance and support as would enable them more effectually to discharge their functions. It suggested a caution also to the Directors, not to enter into any pecuniary engagements but what were abso lutely required by law; and to endeavour at all prac ticable ar.d suitable retrenchments. in the home and Indian establishments, as the only means of securing the sufficiency of their funds. Mr. K. SMITH seconded this addition ; and express sed his opinion, that under all -the circumstances of the case, they could not do'bettee than accept the Charter, if for no other reason than that of the many Thousand individuals who would be deprived of bread in the event of its being rejected. He also urged the necessity of retrenchment. Sir MARK WOOD spoke in praise of the conduct of the Directors, advised the acceptance of the Clew ter. And contended that the apprehended evil friss open. ing the trade would find os own cure in a few ye ir‘ Mr. Twtas spoke in savour of the Bill, and .Ir,ued that ou real danger was to be apprel.e ided from the private trader. Mr. LOWNDLS said, he argued uts ter the influence of three attributes—Truth, JUstice, an! Humanity :, they were his Deities—(Lough). If he was not heard with patience, he would affirm that be was no 1 'tiger living . in a civilized country ; for, even among the American Indians, the Chiefs listened to each other with attention. He wished some individua's be had in his eye would take example from Sir Fran. cis Burdett, who was the most gentlemanly man liv. ing, for he always heard otters with patience--. (Laughter). With regard to What had fallen from the last speaker, he differedfro-n hin t as be believed great dangers were to be a; prehenuedliom the pri. vate trader embarking capital in brit sh bottoms. ma n n ed with Brit:sh seamen. We knew what Bria tish capital had done, when employed in American bottoms, and lithely mirc might be expected when employed in a legitimate wiy. He would liken the bill to a vintage: Government had got the first press ing, the Directors the second—and what had been left for the Proprietors ?—nothing but the hog-wash. (Laughter.) —Mr. hose spoke to order. Mr. LOwNDIts maintained that he was perfectly in order, and proceeded to animadvert upon the manner in which the Bill had been accepted by the Directors, contending, that if they had said to the Government that they would accept the Charter only upon such and such terms. Ministers would have been too wise to put the four millitnts a-year, which they received from the China trade, in jeopardy, for the sake of a few trifles. With regard to the clause concerning Missionaries,&c. all.he should say was, that as soon as be saw a Bishop in the Bill, by G-ra he thonght it was gone to the Devil! —(Leuei cries of order, and laughter). The CHAIRAIAN, in a few words, rebuked the Ulric forum of the Honourable Member. Mr. Luny expressed his intention to vote for the Motion as originally made, rather than as amended by Mr. Jackson, because that amendment seemed to imply a sort of doubt or distrust of the Directors. though they had hitherto discharged their arduous duties with unimpeachable zeal and assiduity. With regard to the proposed Charter, he advised its accep tance, and in accepting it a full and vigorous execu• tion of it in the spirit of the legislature. Mr. Home congratulated the Court upon the de. cision they were likely to come to, as that decision would completely bear him out in all the statements which he had made some months before. He wished to submit a few resolutions (five in number) touch ing certain points connected with the Bill, and he hoped some Member would do him the honour to second them, that they might at least be recorded. The CHAIRMAN informed him that there was a mot;on alreadybefore the Court, to which an amend. ment had been proposed, and it was not competent to the Honourable•Member to move an Amendment to an Amendment. He had allowed him to read his Resolutions as part of his speech. The question being now loudly called f0r.... The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the Court. He said they were now come to that most important de.. termination of saying yes or no upon the question be, fore them. In delivering that decision he could wish it to be unmixed with ally other consideration. The Directors, one and all, had dose their utmost for the Proprietors; they had not only fought for them, with courage and perseverance, but they had fought for them on their stumps, and even yet their faces were towards the enemy. They were now come to ask what they were to do at this momentous crisis Were they to say aye, or no ?—The Bill, with all its objectionable parts, had some good characters; the dividends were rendered more secure by it, the com mercial funds were rendered more secure, and their capital stock was as safe as by the last Charter, though, after all, their assets were the best security for their capital stock.. The question was then put ; the Amendment was oegatived, and the original m.xion was carried 110 a. iiiinously. Mr. P. MOORE moved the thanks of the Court to the Directors, for their zealous and unwearied exertions, which was carried, and the Court adjourned.