Star. — London, England, 1808-08-30 00:00:00

LONDON. TUESDAY,. AUGUST SO. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK: Consols. money, 66f—for acc. Se*--Recticed 60. Onmium 6s. pr. We have received a variety of letters and printed Journals from Spain down to the 17th inst. from which we have given as large extracts as cur limits would permit. The accounts received by Govern ment are to the 19th inst. From the South the accounts are as favourable as could be wished. There were indeed some disorders at Madrid after the retreat of the French from that city, but public tranquillity was soon restored. The populace having vented the first ebullitions of their fury against those whom they conceived to have been too obsequious to the French Usurper, by breaking their windows, and by other excesses short of per sonal violence, came forward in multitudes to be em bodied for the emancipation of their Country. It now appears that the Grand- Council of Castile were not free agents in any of the measures promul gated under their pretended sanction. Several of the principal members, and among others the Duke del INFANTADO, made their escape, and succeeded in joining General BLAKE. Among our extracts, will be.' found a patriotic circular address from the Council of Castile to the Juntas in the country. The French armies, as was expected from former accounts, having evacuated Segovia, Valladolid, and Valencia, fell back towards Burgos, Panurvo, and Vit toria, where they were concentrating theirforces. Their precise force we cannot ascertain. GeneralCunsTA says that his official account from Madrid statedthenumber of French who left that city to be 22,000. To this must be added the army of BESSIERES, probably 15,000 men ; and they have still remaining in Spain, though dincled, a force under MONCEY, and the garrisons of . out Jouie, Figuenas, and Pampeluna. The French army concentrated at Burgos is therefore for midsble, and prevents us from giving belief to a report which was current yesterday, but which we could trace to no good authority, that BEILSIERES had offered to capitulate. Our letters state that his army is certainly above 55,000, of whom 5000 are cavalry. This is an immense army, when it is considered of what mate. vials it is composed, and that it still possesses the route to Bayonne clear. It is reported, indeed, that some Polish regiments, part of his force, had revolted, and either had left him or threatened to leave him. The truth of this we have not been able to ascertain, • though it is highly probable that, composed as the French armies arc of conscripts from the conquered countries, very little dependence can be had upon them in a retreat, and encumbered as they are with ?s immense train of plunder, presenting an object of temptation to the disaffected. The last accounts of JOSEPII BONAPAZTE state, that he had left Burgos for Vittoria, so that the ac counts from Holland ofhis having gone to Bayonne are probably correct. From the position taken by the enemy, their inten "lnn seems to be to occupy the line of the Ebro, and Make themselves masters of Navarre and Catalonia. If so, we shall probably soon hear of their making an attack on Saragossa before the ratrioss can reinforce that important post. The accounts -received by Government, state the unpleasant intelligence, that " a column of the French, on hearing of the insurrection of the people of Biscay, promptly marched an army of 8000 men from Vittoria against Bilboa. The Spaniards sus tained the attack with the utmost bravery ; but not having had time to become sufficiently organized, and being totally unsupported by regular troops, they were forced to surrender the town by capitula tion. The terms they obtained were highly favour able ; but the perfidious enemy no sooner got posses sion of the place, than, lost to every sense of ho nour, justice, and hamanity, they violated the condi tions, and actually plundered the town of every thin- valuable that it contained." The above accounts add, that the French, after having thus exercised their rapacity and cruelty upon the inhabitants of Bilboa, returned to Vittoria, carry ing their booty along with them. These events took place on the 15th or 14th instant. No other action of importance had takenpince. The Asturians had occupied all the passes of their moun tains, and General &axes army, we are happy to learn, was daily increasing in number, and improving in discipline. General Can.'s:cos entered Madrid with his victorious army on the sth inst. One of the pri vate letters states, but we hope erroneously, that a jealousy subsists between him and General REDING, who, in consequence, refuses to give up to him his pri soner General DUPONT. No official accounts have been received from Por tugal ; but the advices received through Spain state, that on the 12th instant Sir A. WELL£SLEY was ad vanced within a few leagues of Leyria, having been joined by General SPLVCER, and 5000 Portuguese. Another corps of 5000 Portuguese was watching the fortress of Almeida. The French General LOISON had succeeded in throwing a re , nforcement of 4000 men on the 3d in stant into Elves, and was on his return to Lisbon to Juor. A report was eurret: at Corunna NN hen the packet surrendered, but the authority on which this report rested, had not been ascertained. The Third Report of this Committee has at length appeared. _ It will be recollected, that the Report now published excited a good deal of con versation, both in and out .of Parliameut, previously to its being printed; and.it was generally understood that a considerable difference of opinion prevailed among the Members of the Committee, as to the way iu which the Report was drawn up. The Ap pendix alone consists of 300 folkapages, containing the names, &c. of every person in the Pension List of Great Britain and Ireland. We now subjoin some extracts : " Your Committee cannot view without jealousy the fund arising from the sale of Old Stores, which, in the year ending 31st December, 1806, amounted to 85,1151 ; and they suggest, that it would be more advantageous to the public, if those pensions, which have been usually granted out of this fund, should be assigned only on the Ordinary of the Navy, and that the Treasurer of the Navy should be made debtor for. the produce of old stores, under the head of voluntary account ; by which means he would become accountable for the arrears to the Ex- ' chequer, according to the practice which prevails with regard to old stores in the Ordnance. " The number of persons receiving pensions in. 1761 was 49; in 1797 it had increased to 115 ; and it now amounts to 331, exclusive of 21 contingent pensions. The present pensions, however, are for the mast part small, and.about two-thirds are granted to females. . " The Committee of Finance in 1798 remark on I the delicacy with which a fund should be touched, , which concerns the munificence of the Sovereign, as applied either to the encouragement of learning and religion, to the remuneration of national services, in the rewarding of public merit, or in the support of those branches of noble and respectable families,' which the policy and principles of the British Constitution cannot suffer to fall into indigence.' XXX. p. 12. 44 Your Committee by no means wish torepress the ' munificence of the Crown, as applied to the three • first of these objects, nor even to exclude the last mentioned consideration ; but the undefined state of the reserved revenues appears to have encouraged a . 1 be facility in granting pensions, which it may., be on a future occasion important to restrain. It Is 1 obvious that a too general application of them 4 to the support of the' remoter ' branches of noble and respectable families,' even though the individuals who receive them should not be affluent, may serve to spare the funds of the opulent at the expence of the public, and may create an undue dependence upon . those, in whose hands the distribution of Royal mu . niticence is vested. " In No. 28, it has been observed, that pensions to certain persons formerly employed in the Stamp Of fice are paid and included in the Bill of Incidents, in i put mane of warrants from the Board of Treasury. ' Your Committee conceive that annual allowances lought not to be granted generally, and without spe cial reasons, to persons retiring from official situa ' tions, either by their own choice, or upon any new arrangement in the mode of conducting business ; and that such grants become more particularly ob jectionable, if the practice should be allowed to con. tinue of charging any allowances, beyond such as are superannuationsan the strictest sense, among the sa laries or incidents of any department, instead of classing. and entering therm as pensions, so that they may be kept entirely distinct from the salaries paid DEAL, AUGUST 29. for transacting the current business of the office. Sailed through the Downs the Desire, PRATT rand a Even where a meritorious Officar has served for Johns, YATEs, for New Providence.—Came down j a number of years, he ought not to receive remunera from the River his Majesty's ships Bbssaav and 1 ticn as a mere matter of course, upon retiring, with- Tauvre, and the Harriet r Ciaax, for Barbadoes, and out tM 1 IC into consideration the emoluments of the g office, and the fortune which he may have had the *main in the Downs with h is Majesty's ships, &c. as ' means of acqniring in that iervivh . as well as the per last.—Wind E. N. E. particular cirCUTASCLIKeII of lis ease: but .with re- SHEERNESS, AUGUST 29. gird to such as may be inefficient or tiselesi (other- Sailed his-Majesty's ship Timm, for the Downs; wise than in consequence of age or w infirmity} spe il GAmSET, for Yarmouth, with a large fleet of tr a n s ./ cial circumstances alone can justify . the propriety' c ports; and the Piettexa. gun-brig, Lieutenant Si. rewarding them, when it becomes °a4anient far thi ' BRELL I with a convoy, for Gottenburgh and the Bal. Public service, that their situations slinnidbeAlladty tic. The JASPER has been paid, and gone to the persons better qualified to discharge the:clutiss..., .. Nore.—Wind East, light breeze. 44 Your Committee cannot but discountenance the GaAveseten, Au rinciple of granting compensation , for offices ,sup sa. 29.—Passed by the Fides, Richa r i. r . on, P from Gibraltar ; and the Domingos, Sebastina, from the Erastils. i presSed Or abolished, the possessors of which have a —Sailed the Simon Tayler, Meek, fo r t h e Cape Good Hope; not eitheiitad an interest ia, them for life, or by the London, Hawkins, for Cadiz ; Eliza, Jackson, for Stockholtisj 61140111 of Mb cages have been justly considered as and the Henrietta, Boyson, for Heligoland. l having such a tenure ift them. a With ngard to the allowances made to those who were formerly employed in the collection of du tics either repealed or transferred to other manage ment, it is impossible not to animadvert upon suf-` fering persons to remain a permanent burden upon the public, if there has been an opportunity of plac ing them in other offices, where their qualifications and habits of business might render them useful, and deserving of salary. The warrants for most of these grants were in fact very properly drawn only ' dur ing the pleasure of the Commissioners of the Trea-, sury, or until the parties are respectively otherwise provided for.' The scale of all offices has necessarily been so much extended since the repeal or transfer of those duties, that little difficulty seems likely to have occurred in giving employment to all those indivi duals; and their situation. would probably have been more frequently presented to the notice of the Exe cutive Government, if the allowance had appeared in the shape of pension, instead of being included among the incidents of the establishment. 44 Since offices ought to be regarded :Is created solely for public utility, and not for the benefit of the individuals who happen to hold them, there must ex ist a perfect right in those who administer the affairs of the public, to regulate, 'alter, and controul their functions ; it becomes a duty to abolish such as ap pear superfluous, and to abridge the emoluments of all which can be conducted to the same advantage, but it a cheaper rate. Without the constant super intendence and vigilance of the House, irregularities in the granting:of compensations and superannua tions may from time to time creep in ; but your Committee conceive, that it may be some check against this sort of expenditure, if all such grants, besidei being brought as it were to one focus, where they May be viewed collectively and distinctly, should also pass Without exception under the review of the Commissioners of the Treasury, who being constitu tionally responsible for all ' matters of expenditure, should be intrusted with a general controul over every article of it,and armed with powers to prevent in every department any.,mproper accatnillatite of Charge. The Earl and Countess of BESBOROUGII, and the I Hon. Mr. WILLIAM PONSONBY, are arrived at Edin burgh. About 25 transports sailed from the Nore, at an early hour on Sunday morning, with orders to pro ceed with all possible dispatch to Yarmouth, where a convoy is provided to conduct them to the Island of Langeland, for the purpose of bringing away the Spanish troops. They will come, in the first instance, ' to this country, in order to furnish them with ammu nition and cloathing before they are sent to Spain. A letter, dated on board the Warley East India man, at sea, on the 24th February, at which time she was within a few days sail of Bombay, states, that on her arrival at Bombay she expected to be sent up the Persian Gulf with troops. The Warky lost her Purser, Mr. Hoar:mow, on her passage. The same letter adds, that the market, at Madras, was very good. We are informed from good authority, that there are now in this country Deputies from LINIERS and the Cabildo, or Council of Buenos Ayres, and also from the Governor and Council of Monte Videb, charged with an important mission to the British government. The object has not transpired, but the Deputies being accompanied by a confidential Agent of the PRINCE REGENT, from Brazil, it is supposed that the insight which the emigration of the Portuguese Court ere into the designs of BONAPARTE, upon the whole of the south-western peninsula of Europe, had determi ned the Spanish Colonies on the Rio de la Plata to take early precautions to secure their ultimate inde. pendence, and to maintain that immediate peace with their new and powerful neighbours in Brazil, which, without special provision lor"the purpose, may other wise be endangered. Sunday afternoon,a Windsor stage-coach was over turned on Hounslow Heath, near Butchers' Grove. The passengers were very much bruised and hurt some were conveyed buck to Longford, and others were obliged to be left at the Bell, at 'Hounslow. ..- observed, that it may materiall , of public economy, if Parliar require annual accounts of nution which may have tal each preceding year in the expences of all public offices, commend that it should _ House, that such an account within twenty days after the Session, and also an acct sions and allowances paid _ 4 4 In examining these severa, of the House will naturally ' place to the magnitude of various channels, to the use performing any species of ' that considerable portions regarded in the nature of which have been renderer: the persons themselves, or to such as belong to this been diligently and faith) adequate period of time, so circumstanced as to h, public, no impediment is ,But though instances ma, claims upon the public are easy to be traced, your Cow that it is their province to ( task of examining particular carrying their retrospect ficient to lay a foundation .lation. " The words with which sec. 19. is prefaced, that 4 any persons to be relieved their distress, but on the' c on just cause to be thought point out the grounds ur bounty should be selected, intended to allot so large through favour, without r art. But the practice whi upon, of granting and general expences of separate elude the limitation which • and by rewarding in this portion athe _ vied, to leave a larger amount gratuitous disposal. 44 It must not be overlooked, tinguished merit, Parliament exempt the Civil List from and as instances of this hon( fortunately for the country, quently than ,within these lity of the nation has been tent than in any former " A further considerati4 the grants are nominall; generally regarded as eqi life ; and that examples ra in the circumstances of ' those who have the legitima induce those by whom surrender them. The footstep; ty are visible in all directir bi are discoverable. " The 18th Section of exception in favour of Crown in foreign Courts, the power, of granting at et' their fo?mer appointmem alter the expiration of the' all those who now recei count are contained itt ? extent of their several services No,. 64.. " The.' circumstances make thii list unusually little of friendly intercourse country' and the Contir therefore, amounts to 3! cliiional list is contained tiens.frant the Secretary antes, to the amount of _ Four Committee conceir pies which ought to regale ration, can be no other ' the importance of the mission, cases. a It is desirable, unquestit poses of economy, and duties of Foreign Ministers, . generally be made from among the list ; but it. is not intended mend an invariable rule - those I May be unwilling to undertake,_ ecute missions, of partici and siscumstances may individuals to whom su ought not to be ascribed or private emolument. 7_ sausfeciion i that, according lowances have been withdeal ments to Foreign Courts, could not be performed. a With regard to the each separate department, tionably to be served as •-• being served with integrit be recollected that what higher departments, is consequence and consideration power of obliging friends - and, in the lower degrees, vacement by industry as gradually increasing salari, service, and at fixed inte• too short, is highly.to due encouragement to cases of superannuation, an essential requisite ; be had to .the condition ability of continuing thk situation in life from otN In many instances grant-A as compensation the plea of superannuation, tained them have, at • pointed to other offices vious, that the allowances true principle applicable ' money should not be du:y ; and all exceptions e - Finance (XXII.) - having' aerially conduce to the ends irliament should think fit to of every increase and dimi. , nken place in the course of le salaries, emoluments, and )ffices, your Committee re- be made an order of the :count shall be produced, , the commencement of every count of all additional pen- I for services not performed. several lists, the observation 1 ally be attracted in the first I of the sum derived through I use of persons not actually f public service. It is true, s of these payments are to be of remuneration for services 'd to the public, either by ' 1 or their near relatives ; and s class, where the duty has I ithfully done, and for an , and where the persons are lave strong claims upon the 5 intended to be objected.— I Lay occur of persons whose 1 ' re not equally apparent, or • Committee do not conceive o descend into the invidious \ .ular cases, being desirous of no further than may be suf- n 1 ! for future reform and regu. , 1 itch this part of the Statute, : i t ' it is no disparagement for i eved by the Royal bounty in , \ I he contrary, it is honourable ought worthy of reward,'-- upon which the objects of KI, and shew that it was not a sum to be distributed t regard to just cause and de- which has been animadverted charging pensions under the rarate departments, tends to ch was meant to be imposed, \ I is Manner a considerable pro- official wit, and long ser. mount than was intended for mlooked, that in cases of dis. 1 1 'meat has ever been ready to From any additional burden ; i honourable description have, 1 i try, never occurred more Fre- ese latter years, so the libera- !en called forth to a larger ex- period. i ation is, that although most of ll Ily during pleasure, they are l' equivalent to an interest for t rarely occur, where a change the grantees has occasioned timate controul to abolish, or 1 they are held, voluntarily to footsteps towards Royal boon- i :tions, but few traces of return )f the Civil List Act makes an f persons who have served the s, and continues to his Majesty it his pleasure such proportion ments as may seem expedient, , 1 their service. The names of rive allowances upon this ac- No. 63, and the nature and services are particularized in ,!,s attending the present war i i y large, at a period when so il 'course subsists between this tinental Powers—the charge, ;1,5891. besides which, an ad. o d in No. 65, of reconunenda- 1 ' 1 ry of State, for further allow. i I 60001. I onceive, that the true princi. - , • olate this r , a ecies of remune. r than duration of service, and nission, except in very special luestionably, both for:the par- I for theletter execution of the asters, that a selection should n among those already upon intended absolutely to recom- , Le - those who have gone before ndertake, or ill qualified to ex- cular delicacy and importance, I arise where appointments of I uch business is entirely novel, d to motives of mere patronage Your Committee observe with Prding to the last return, all al- ithdrawn in cases of appoint- arts, where service was not, or d. No. 66. , the salary and emoluments of lent, the public ought unques. is cheaply as is consistent with ' 1 grity and ability—but it must at makes office desirable, in the ' s not the salary alone, but the isideration attached to it, the . 1 Ids and of creating dependants; . rees, the char,ce of gaining ad- and talent. The principle of . i salaries after certain periods of ntervals, if they are not made be approved, as holding out a ) diligence and fidelity. In all )n, duration of service should be and even then, regard should I m of each individual, as to his the official labours, and to his other causes. es where allowances have been ion for the loss of office, or upon ation, the persons who have ob- t subsequent periods, been ap- ts ; in both which cases, it is oh- aims ought to have ceased. The )le to all offices, is that public- , : granted , without reference to • 1 ions whatever ought to be justie , ), • ..... ....._ ........ r--.. ,ime-..-...... ALa— —.S.s.,- EXECUTION OF MAJOR CAMPBELL. BELFAST, AUGUST 26. The sentence of the law was on Wednesday last carried into effect on Major Campbell, who at last Connaught Assizes, was found guilty of the murder of Captain BOYD in a duel. After hanging the usual time the body was taken down and delivered to the friends of the deceased ; and yesterday the corpe was carried through this town to be conveyed to Scot• land. He had received two respites, the last of which terminated on Wednesday. A letter from one of his relations, written under the greatest agony of mind, and addressed to a Gen tleman in this town, says— " ARiviAcnt, Aug. 24. " I have now with the deepest sorrow to inform you, that the application for mercy to his Majesty, for Major Campbell, has not succeeded—last night the fatal refusal came, and this day, at twelve o'clock, he dies. GOD receive his soul !" The unfortunate catastrophe which produced such an awful result to Major Campbell, it is to be hoped, will not fail of leaving a lesson of salutary influence to mankind. Both of the parties .were gentlemen cmi. vent in their profession, of high character and honour, who had lived long in terms of mutual friendship and esteem. The unfortunate irritation of a moment, at once deprived society of a brave man, and left a widow and infant family to mourn their irreparable loss. Retribution of the most awful kind has fallen to tke lot of the other, and his amiable and infant family are also involved in all the distress which the human mind can conceive.—From the period of the unhappy event to the closing of the tragic scene, Major Camp bell evinced the most heartfelt grief for what had hap pened to his friend. NAUTIC4L INTELLIGENCE. FALMOUTH, AUGUST 27. Sailed this day the Eliza packet, Captain SAMP SON, for Gijon, with a Spanish Nobleman, charged with important dispatches, with which he arrived late last-night, in a chaise and four. Also sailed the Prin cess Charlotte packet, KERR, with mails of the 24d, inst. fur Cadiz, Gibraltar, Malta, and Sicily.—Passed this pert the outv:ard-bound Quebec fleet.—Arrived this day the Princess Amelia packet, with mails from Spain, eight days passage from Corunna. The day she left Corunna, it was reported there that Junot with his army, and the Russian fleet, had surren dered.—Also arrived the CHAP.I.FS HAMILTPN armed brig, from Livertool for Malta.—Wind N.N.W. PORT - SD/1013TH, AUGUST e 9. Sailed his Majesty's ship FORT:ESTER, for Spain and Portugal, with a few ships under anroy.-L•Wind Easterly.