Star. — London, England, 1817-02-21 00:00:00

REPORT. ills Committee .f SeMecy, to whom theseveral Papers. whisk were in:stated (~sled up) to. the Haan by LonLynne* Castlereagh, on the 4th darof February, bleallililli. al 11111 Royal Highness tilt WRINCII at a sir" , Wen whemalls. ' lOll who were directed to maculae the )Natters sweet. zed wean ti , e same, as they should 'appear to (bens, to the Hews. bras traniniuusly agreed to the following RuMalf s e 'lt appears to your Committee, tipotAite Most at tenetve comtderation of the sever.dedocumauts refer• red to Wets', that attempts have Wen usadt.• in vari ous parts of the country, as well' k itt i lhtitropo. lis, to take advantage of the disifittslit With the lit ouring ant manufacturing classatillietommu - nil are at present involved, to indite@ them to look for immediate relief, not only in a Reform of Parlia ment on the plan of universal suffrage and annual election, but in a total overthrow of all existing esta blishments, and in a division-of the landed, and ex tinction of the funded property of the country. This hope and prospect of spoliation have been actively and industriously propagated by several So. c'eties, openly existing. in the Metropolis, distils-, guished by the name of Spenceatts ; a title which '"-they have assumed in consequence of having revived the principles, with some vasiation, of a visionary writer of the name of Spence, which first appeared in a publication of his near twenty years ago. • It appears that at some of these Societies, held dosing the last month, the question was dascuseed, whether, the Meetings for Parliamentary. Reform are calculated to mislead or enlighten. the public . ? in the course of the debates upon which question, it was strongly urged a that Palliamentary Reform 'was only a halt measure, that they must look to the land, fur nothing short of that would ever avail them : that we had no Constitution, there being no book in which it could be found, nor hey man that could tell what it was." In another discussion upon the question. a Whether the practical establishment of Spence's Plan bean effectual remedy for the present distreises," one of the doctrines maintained was, that a. the Latulholder was a monster :o helmeted down t but . that they should not suffer themselves to be amused ; that there was a greater evil, namely., the Fundholder ; that these west the rapacious wretches that took fifteen-pellets out of every **nem loaf." It further appears, that is these usessiillii the most blaipbemous•expressions end doctiilinPliirW-openly and repeatedly advanced ; that ail doenseetillgs aryl professed to be of a convivial flattish; the Pitical debates and readings are usually fsll,lllol.bybsongs, in many of which the most inflainnimeitrinpics are introduced, some of a seditious and treasonable na.. • tore, aria . others under the form of profane and inde cent paroJi.s ‘ of the Liturgy and of the Holy Sti tpti.res. These Societies appear tohaventeaded themselves; and there are traces of the existence if a Committee called Conservative, directing the operations of the vt.ole.• The doctrines above-mentioned have been systematically and industriousiydimerainawdamonpt meilianics and irnanulactured. discharged soldiiis and sailors. and labourers. of ell descriptioass they have West inculcated at frequent appointed meta: and at various places, by. speakers. who have the distresses of the tames topics of eztiterninit nod rdkeeposaties; cod they have bees circulatMle with ~ii ii. difge ,octisier—Asik pemeraimeas.trap and ofsen.gritheitosti - poldicitions: It bat poem% to. the 'entire satisfaction of your Cousseittee, this some members of these Societies. acting brdelegated or assumed andsosity, as an Executive Committee of the'whefe,- conceived the peojeCt, , and endeavoured' to prepare die means of, raising an hicerrection; so firenieleitile from numbers, as by dint of physical strength to overpower all resistance'. The first step towards the accomplishment of this object Wss, by the 'individual exertion of the mem. bets of the Committee, 'to discover and foment the prevalent distres ses and discontents in the' macro Mand its vicsdity. Returns were ands of those, who they thought were to be relied upon for daring and hazardous enterprises. The design was by a sudden rising l itiliailead of the eight, to surprise aod aviapotver, ,',tgitig., i n their different bars wc ke, which werej ' hi SCUMS fir e; ae,the same time (plans having bee arr, Ve t ' and iha some steps inked', with a view to then ammo 4 of *that obji,!') to possess themselves rtektelledlery. to seise or destroy the bridges, and to taltiris'asession of the Tower and de, flank. In furtherance of this design, a 'machine was projected fur clearing the meets 'of cavalry. A drawing of ibis machine, fay authenticated, and also a manuscript sketch or Or of various impatient parts of she Tower, issued lush the drawing of the machine, ham been laid before your Committee. This design was however relinquished nation time before its intended emotion. It was thought mote prudent previoosly to_ iiscertain what force the eon areators could actually call together, and this it was agreed could best be done by convening a public meeting, for the ostensible purpose of obtaining are dresi n ot grievances in a legal - way. The map of Larituileas inspected, and 11 ; pa Fields were selected • • us die most eligible spot L ifoui mow . 7 Vila Bank .rnd the Toni. Advatimnients Mum • - ingly prepared, and written placards. iirmila the most dangerous and inflammatory nature t one tit which the following is a copy : ii BHT.' II to Aams!--Tbs whole enemy waits the algOal fiats Lowden to fly to Arms! Haste, break open gneensethe tin* abet likely places tar find Aims!. P.ws all constables who town: . it seas ea es; no the of Bread.; no Kegent ; Ise Citatlsrellgb, id with their heals; no Mermen, Tythes, or lincloveres; go l a ari; no bishops, only wafts lumber ! Stand tette, eilis *aster rier. " N.B. Free thousand of these 8114 are up its the Thwa, and pr im e d eon, with further paticulare, will appear In aiii theta." At this time, il not before, the liitendeir lb"- Dict a* assumed the symbols of w the. Fray* liteeala. don s a Committee of public .Safety, itoasisti of - 24, was agreed upon, ii.cinding the nen** , y nu ii ions,, extremely unlikely to len4 th , 4* 1 - a - c i l 4: T I N a failse..A triadic)* flag and coc -' - i.eilirenctirellY prepared for derociluxion. Bin on Ag A h o f N o . ',Caber, liken the Ira meeting took ipteerenhe ve was ao rkilsoce (although there was soine gender in the eac aing of day), Sid the meeting adjourned to tile tJ of .Decanioub ,by which time it was hop e d gne a li s might be found lltesCescierifs the accomplish. went of the projected undertaking. T,he Ds: nicks were again seconnoitered.,with a view to newt. The gosnotocture or tri-colour Abe* 'Mt andistated, with a view of rendering it falniliar to the eyes of thi Visits were repeated to thesis quarters of the tnwn, l where the distress was consider erl Is the most Wes lent ; acid warehouses along the fiber, as well as ceps in o th er places. which were known to contain arms, combustibles, and clothing, wrre examined and noted dowp, with the view of seizing these articles on the proper occasion. Plans were also formed for seducing. the sailors on the river, by offers of ad. vancement to high rank under the new Government, and for seizing and equipping such ships as were ac. eeseible. Immediately previous co the day of mesa ing, arms were provided for the immediate use'..,.of some of the persons most actively engaged. This provision was deemed sufficient for the beginning of the insurrection, as they felt confident that if it should be successful for two hours, as rainy arms might be procured as would be necessary, from the depots and gunsmiths' shops, which had been reconnoitered with that view. Your Committee have further ieceived undoubted information that A large quantity of pike heads twd been ordered of one individual, and 230 actually made by him, and delivered and paid for. It - was also undoubtedly intended to liberate the prisoners in the principal gaols in ot about the metropolis,' in the hope of their concurrence and assistance in the in.' tended insurrection. Aldresses were introduced into some of those prisons, and• recommended to be com• municated to others, in which the persons confined 'were invited, in the name of the Tri coloured Com. mitten, to rally round the Tri coloored Standard, which would be erected on Monday, December the 2d, and to wear Tri-coloured Cocks es themselves. It was promised that the prisoners' should be libe rated by force, and arms were stated to be provided for them, and they were directed to be ready to assist in overpowering the turnkeys. A. waggon was hired (or the business bf the day. in Which the Flags and Banner or Standard, whisk had 'been previously prepared. together with some ammunition, were se cretly conveyed to the place of meeting. nom this waggon. beim the ostensible business of the day commenced. in the other part of the field, the most inflammatory speeches were delivered, tending di..! reedy to excite insurrection, -concluded by an appeal' tol' i nsoltitude assembled, whether they were pre pat to redrest their own grievances ? A Tii-co tour Cockade was then exhibited, and the Tri-colour flag wail displayed, and a number of persons fol lowed it out of the field. - TO direction which they took was towards that part .of the town preeionßy designed; gunsmiths' shops were broke open, addresses and offers were made to the soldiers at the Tower to induce them to open the gates; but, from the failure of the numbeis expected to join the insurgents,eso attempt was made to force the gates. An snick was however made upon the City Magistrates assembled in the Royal schange. a shot fired, and a 'l'ri.cotour Flag and Cockade openly displayed and seised on theluffender. In reviewing the whole of the transactions of the 2d of December, your Committee are firmly per suaded. that.however improbable the success of such a plan may appear. it yet was deliberately premedi tated by desperate mesh who calculated without rea., &enable ground upon defection in their opposers, and upon active support from those multitudes, whose distriest they had witnessed. and wham they had vainly mated to revolt. - That consequently k viasuot merely the sudden ebullition of the moment, Or the unauthorized attempt df any unconnected individual. Your Committee are further edit viewed. that not withstanding die failure on the 2d of December, the same designs still continue to be prosecuted with san guine hopes of success. Your Committee having thus: stated the general result of the evidence which has 'been hid before them, respecting the state of. the Metropolis, hay, now the no less painful duty of cellists the amendoe of the House to what In a been passing dering,the same period in different parts of the Country. a sub ject of equally momentous consideration. The fiat thing ; which has here forced kick repo* their observa. is lirie:widely diffused ramification of a system of associated professedly for the purpose of 'Parliafisentary Reform, upon the most extended pciu dple'abM'tltfiirensal &fray and Assail Parliaments he* ',Oohs, jai/aural, designate themselves by the same name of Hanspdea Club. On the pro. feared object of (twit Weidman, they appear to be in comissueleaties. and connection with the Club of that name la Loads& . It appeen to be part of useelystem of these Clubs, to promote an extension of C hiba of the same name and oaten, so widely as, if possible, to include every village in die kizigdOm. The loathes members an active in the circulation of publicadoas likely to 'mote their object. Petitions, ready prepared, have been sent down from the Metropolis to all Societies in the Country dispOsed to receive them. T hs cow munication between these Clebs takes place by. thit Wiesion of Delegates:. Delegates from that Clubs id the Country, have assembled in London, and are r4pmm4 to gesemble again 'AI, in Much. Wbat- , Sok snot Bathe teal object , of tbese Clubs, in gene -01‘1,41r CAPSSittee hisare no hesitation in station, Hein Information on Aide thiFitelle telhiata& that in far the greater number of diem, and. barrier .. lady in those which are established in the great ma nufacturing districts of Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire, and which are composed of the lower order of artiaans, nothing short of a Revolution is the object expected and avowed. Your Committee kind, from equally undoubted in formation, that the doctrines of the Smartie Clubs have been widely diffused through the country, either by the extension of similar Societies. or more fre quently by the intervention of Missionaries or Dele gates, whose business it is to propagate those doe- Ifilleb throughout every Society to which they h ave at . caig It u the universal practice of these Sosieties„ rprk . ...ftcim the members a small wee kly soil Ph, which proirides a fund for the expenses' the MisdBearies, and also fur the purchase of Mg. tinakeeucri, .which are read and commented 'en at their bleatiOn i ; Some of these tracts, now before your Cowanikal, inculcate. iii the most artful man: nee, the necessity of Overturning what they call 4 The Privileged Class," as distinguished from the people, who ate described as consisting of labourers, arttetios, tradesinea; Mid every palestina useful to society. A stew order is declared 'to be the will of the people r `rebeiliat fs jostled it the esertka th* a Dation amulet be a rebel ; and all .religionis disavowed, es ' well as loyalty, ItY the assertion, in answer. to the question —" Would ydla live without Gods* !GOV?" 84 We abjure tyraqny of eWry kind." It seems, indeed, to be a part of thE system adopt ed by these Societies, to prepare the minds of the people for the desttuctiOn of the present frame of society, by undermiking not only their habits of decent and regular subordination, but all the.prAn. ciples of morality and religion. Your Cd.ittlitfie• find, the* there is scarcely any very numrroisidei4 in the ps4ts above referred to, of whose prietiiiiiki they !meet obtained an account, in which torhe l itt cite leading speakers do not openly avow the oaf atoP tious opinions, and do not excite their heareii'itliit' preparedlor actual insurrection. Topics for disks lion are selected with this view : amongst others, the twestion, whether the Jacobin or the Loyalist was the best friend to his country ? Even where petitioning is recommended, it is proposed to be conducted in such a manner, by an immense number of Delegates attending in London at the same time, in several parties, attached to each Petition, as might induce nit effort to obtain by force whatever they demanded. A general idea seems prevalent among those who compose these Soiieties, that some fired day, at no very great distance. is to be appointed for a general rising. They have been taught to look to the Meet. ings in London as the signal for their operations, and have been in the habit of adjourning their own assemblies simultaneously to the same day; and it is a lamentable instance of the common interest which they feel, if not of the connection which is formed with those most implicated hi the outrages commit ted in the Metropolis, that about Manchester and some other places, the greatest exultation was mani fested 'previous to the Meeting in Spa-fields on the 2d of December ; and the taking of the Tower and ruin of the Bank were publicly and confidently pre dicted. The news of the result was impatiently expected—the roadi were crowded durtng the night with a number of persons, many of them Delegates from the different Societies in the country, waiting for the arrival of the mail coach—and the disap poiatment was not concealed, when it was ascertained that the riot had been quelled with Out much serious or extensive mischief. ' It appears, that the confidence of the disaffetted is suck, that they represent the numbers enrolled' as amounting to several hundred thousand, lee Ail' their Societies are daily increasing ; that in'theieli4 they distinguish bj partkular marks 'these ankiiik their subscribers who ate able-bodied men, anctreaty to act when required ; and that they also keep a list of Those who refuse to join them, in wbat they call a Black Book," and threaten vengeance against those persons when the general insurrection shill take place. In some parts of one . populouip county, where nearly every village has already its Hampden Club, the members make it nu secret that they consider them selves as of no other use than as being ready to act whenever they are called upon : on their admission they are said tube listed, and receive a secret cud with the words se Be Ileady—Be Steady !" The habite and roomers of these persons seem en tirely cheesed t they already calculate upon the share of land, which eeth is to possess, and point otit the destruction of Oro:churches, as the necessary came gnome of theicsoccess. It appears that preparations: is possess, ie severatplems, fir persidiag aeons; 1 • demand, ipoo junsibiths, for every species of fro arms, has been beyond all former ecasnple; the rotation is professed, ef having recourse for a still larger supply to those towns *where arms are MIMS.. enured, and where they are to be obtained at a very, •kivr rare, from the general cheapness of labour at this' -time; aria case o necessity they are to be seized by force. The facility of converting implements of husbandry into offenrive weapons, has been suggest ed ; arid persons have been seat to observe the state of particular places, where depots of arms for the public service were supposed to have been formed. Your Committee find, that o system of secret asso ciation has been extended to the manufacturing po pulation of Glasgow, and some other populous towns of 'Scotland ; sad although these Societies 'have availed themselves of thevione pretext, of Parpinten r , tag Reiman on the broadeit basis, your `Coe mitten. , are firmly persuaded, from the information which has been laid before them, that their ultimeteribjeet• is the overthrow . by force of the existing form of:08- 1. ffernment. That the time for attempting this outc ries was to depend on the siasaltaiwoos rising of the Disaffected in England ; with some Emissaries from whom occisiotod intercourse appears to have takers place, and that some provision of weapons has been sande by. this association. Your Committee have now submitted to the House what they conceive to be a fair;and.not ex*erated statement of the result of their investigation. They balm thought themselves precluded from inserting, ns an Appendix, the informatioo frost which it m drawn, by dw consideration, that toilets it were cl imes/1y partial and incontplete, they could cot make it public without hazarding the personal sakty. sf .an useful and many respectable individuals, • and -44 see instances without prejudicimbo due adieu *jots ofpuhlicjustico., • - a anis* of th e whole. it Y.a.ipses:aatsafilgios . your Committee to observe, thatteoutithsessiding alarming progress which * been - isatilv In , system of extending Disaffection andirrenit Societies,; its success has been Confirmed to the principal rnateti. faiinring'diitriets, where thir,dissreis is more piteTa lent,• and numbest more easidy•collected ; and that even iii malty of these districts, privations have' Weir borne. with exemplary' patience and tesignadoe, eft i the attenipts of.thl 'Disaffected hatelten'disalipoint ed ; • w if.any. of the higlree, Wen oe eieri of theaiddie clawed Society, • and scarcity any. of the agricultural population s : have hot themselves to the Moor *lobed of these "twilliects, Great 'allowance must be made for.those who, titpr the minim et war ileums, have been led Marin to plaissible and beoddeenDonsitgogues, in thetitpeasilbh of im; itediate.relief. It is to be hoped; that men; of these wbultrive engaged, to a certain extent, in the projects • the Disted, but in wham t h e principles of !moral and religious duty have net b ee n extinguished h a' perverted by the most profane add miserable so phistry, would withdraw themselves before those (projects were pushed to actual insorrectioo. • But, with all these allowances, your Committee cannot contemplate the activi t y an d arts. dt the %midst's in this COnspiraey, and the numbers whom • they balm atready aeduceri, and may seduce; ri le oaths by which many of them are bound together the means suggested and prepared for the forcibl e attainment of their objects; the nature of the objects themselves, which ate not only the overthrow of all the political instittitions of the Kngdom. but a sep such a subversion of the rights and principles of p„ pertY, as must necessarily lead to general contus;,,n, pleader. and bloodshed, without submitting to die most seriotjs . attention of the House, the Panikee s 'which and which the utmost vigil.intr e f ernment, under the existing laws, has been found rtuadegnite tuilievent. FROM LAST NIGHTS GAZETTE,. USW J • A Lendon Casette was published last flies,. it consists of ten pages, and is entirely filled with Ad dresses of Congratulation to the PRINCE Rtocsr Gn his late happy escape, from The Univereiiies of °Word •and Cambridge, the Chapter of Saint Peter in Ea-ter, the Corporation of Truro' the Boraugh and Foreign of Wal4ll, the Royal Burgh of Dumbarton, •s t Counti of Bute, the Freeholders and Heritors of the County of Roxburgh, the I' own Council of Elgin, the 1 own Council of .ht Borough of Dundee, the Corporation of the Ci ty an d Royal Bidgb-tof Perth, the Corporation of the Burgh of Banff, the 'Freeholders and Heritors of the County of Waddington, the Corporation of the Royal 'Borough of Dumfries, the Roy a l Borough of Kirkcudbright, the Royal Burgh o f N ort h B erwick, the TOMB and NeighboortiLod of South Shields, the G l a n d h ay of she County of Dublin, the Grand Jury of the County of the City of Dobbs, St. Hi:liturgies Parish, Dublin, St. Mary'a Parish, Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, the,Ctwporatiori of tin City of Limerick, the City of limerick, the Corporation of the CS" of Cork, the Guild of Merchants, Dublin, the Parish of ht. Mahal's, Dublin, the Borough of New Rom. EAST INDIA nousE. Yesteiday a General Court of Proprietors was held, pursuant to adjournment, for the purpose c f coot,. nuing the discussion respecting the additional P. fessorship at Hailey bury College. At twelve o'clock the business was opened by Mr. &maim GRANT, who spoke at some length in defence of the I nst i tut i on. _ _ Mr. Isipay expres e sed himself much gratified that the College had been heard in their own defence, and he congratulated them iu the choice of their 4d vocate, whose arguments were conclusive, in liis (Mr. Inspey's) mind. - bir:gKinkainn had not beamed on what side the 'HanniniiAtte . Gentleman (Mr. Grant) intended to wows, it warnimpossible to conceive that he did not iatensl tn,ycoge,Au lavnur of the motion, after challen ging all Manner of inquiry in behalf of the Colle ge . After many animadversions on the rules and tegulh, dons of the Institution, in the course of which be wail peculiarly satirical on the subject, as a ridiculous imi tation of the Universities, he concluded wish declar ing his opinion that the Institution was radically de. fective, and must fall. For himself he wauld say, Ddasda est Can /sago." Compared with that of the Marquis Wellesley m Indis,it was el a thing of sineds and patches, which like a mildewed ear, blasted its wholesome brother." Mr. JACK•ON rose to propose an adjournment, on the ground that as the Gentlemen on his side were de. 6ed to prove their ascusatians, they might have aft opportunity of being' heard. • It the question were ex tinguished this evening* it would throw disrepute on the Institution. lib. Mimi spoke to the' mai. *teat. Mr. C. GIANT, Ralik. desired it to be understood that be was hilly in favour of the proposed adjourn. meat, that no unfair representation might go abroad. It was at length unanimously agreed that the di:- cession be resumed on Tuesday next. AvENING STAR. LONDON. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1817. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT Twal.vg O'CLOCK Reduced 613 Ii—Coos. too. 6643—Cons. for arc. oat 4 per Cent. 8441-5 per Cent. Navy 971 98 Eaptiesurt 121.145.pr.-1•41a b0a.14, 98a. pre. ~,FLANDERS MAIL. ali,,lppilers.Mitil arrived at a late hour last night. The, foftrityg are the only ankles of interest which the P.'PRAPPOY BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 17. Some German Papers say, that M. Lavalette, w! o was saved by his heroic wife, is now in Germany, and that he is gain. to reside with the Er• Queen ut Holland, in the dominions of the King of Bavaria. ERLANGEN, FEBRUARY The first considerable convoy of Russian corn ar rived bete at last a few days since. The corn is of the finest quality, and the bushel at least 10Ib. vier than ours. 4 • Large quantities of rye from the Baltic are on *ay,, and none but the monopolists can doubt of .1 stigi t derable decline in the prices. USANNE, FE)3RUARY 7. followist-44se Act by which SwitzellAnd 404ra to the Sacred Alliance t The Swiss Confederation, invited by his hlajeo.y the Emperor of all the R ussias to accede to the Treaty of Trauma and Christian Alliance, rood:id ea at faris, September 26, 1815, between his 1 , 1.1. r. rial Majessy- end their Majesties the I, :tuperur ts: Austria anll the King of Prussia, does homtge t `the rellsiostand moral spit it of this Treaty, tetic!: emittettilx*nds to secure the peace an& happieesi of nations. lbe Swiss, faithful to the manners of their fore fathers; hit-as much respect for the riglit6 of other Stites, t ailpt at heart to maintain with all the must amicablimaittlations, as they themselves value t'e peacalul najtOusient of liberty, indeptndena, and that PlechguslautraLty which has been a t tain con' firnsed'tethlin itthe late European Treaties. The Geitetieradon finding a new guarantee of these hursdiusblir 4lwings in the alliance between the august Courts with wish his Majesty tie Emperor oa Russia 'has - m*4lM acqsainted, declares, tl'At avow s "Id 1tc°8 0 ;4 43 the principles of the ia'd •