Star. — London, England, 1810-04-04 00:00:00

I. most minute search should be made M ascertain whether my traces of Robert Jeffery, a sailor, late of the Recruit sloop of war (and who had been landed by the Hon. Captain Warwick Lake, Imre commanding that ship, on the Island of Sombrero in the W, , t Indies, contrary to every principle of duty, and i n vio lation of every dictate of humanity), had been discovered, and that hi.; Majesty would be pleased to order a Special Commission to hP ar F oitited fur that purpose, and that the Commissioners should r,pnr- J this House the result of their search." Mr. STEPHEN defended himself from the obser vation of the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan) who had expressed himself shocked that he (Mr. Stephen) should declare he would find, if on the Jury, Captain Lake guilty of murder. Mr. Stephen had again to state, that he made that declaration under the disadvantage of not having read the evidence. He had formeu his opinion from the fact, and must express his sorrow that any man should have been so harsh. The idea which he had, from knowing the island was, that a man set on shore there must have perished—there was not any probability of escaping with hip life, and he would, as a lawyer, maintain that under those circumstances he should be justified in coming to such a conclusion. It was not necessary in the eye of the law to have positive proof of the death of the man. It was a low sandy island, not above forty feet of the level of the sea. All the islands in that quarter were of the same description, but he did not mean to say there were no rocks about it.— When a young man, he, in company with several others, in his passage from Tortola to St. Kitt's; wished to go on shore on Sombrero, but the Pilot, An old coaster, refused to accede to their desire, be itwas dangerous to land on account of the surf. Mr. WHITBREAD and Mr. STEPHLN made a few observations in the way of explanation. Sir CHARLES • HAMILTON recollected the island perfectly well. He observed, that it would strike any person passing at a distance as a low island and sandy : the shore, as the Honottrable Gentleman had stated, was low and sandy. With respect to the conduct of Captain Lake, he was satisfied that every officer in the service was ashamed of his conduct ; but at the same time he must say that there were birds And shell-fish on the island by which the man might subsist himself. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not agree to the solemnity which the Honour able Gendeman (Mr. Whitbread) thought existed for appointing two Commissioners to go out to the West Irdics, to stalk ov . et an island about one mile and a half in crcurncc7ence. He thought the Admiralty might direct the inquiry, and would move an amend ment to that effect. Sir .JO:-i;.1 SINCLAIR stated that he had infor trar:or. on which he could rely that the man had been taken off the island by an American vessel, and is ne , kv alive in New-York. He thought it better to adapt the amendment of the Right Hon. Gentleman rather than the motion of the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. W. POLE thought further inquiry necessary wit}, respect to the assertion of the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan), that it was no uncom. 'non thing fca. Captains to send men on shore and, leave them; he must express his reprobation of such a practice. The navy was not in such a state to re quire any such expedients, and such assertions going abroad might prove injurious to the service. Mr. Pc,le suggested that if instructions were sent to the A:nerican Minister to make the inquiry, the object would be obtained without the address. Mr. SHERIDAN, in explanation, declared that he kad stated it was not unusual to land men on in habited island. , :, but he had never said men had been left on uninhabited islands. Mn BOURNE suggested that, it would be as well to lea'•e the discretion in his Majesty's Councils, to make such inquiries as they thought necessary after the nun, both at the island and in America. Mr. WHITBREAD, with every respect to the, opinion of the Honourable Gentleman who moved the amendment, thought that solemnity was not due in respect to the extent of the Island, but to the enor mity of the offence. If any Officers were going to the West-I n di es , t h ey m i g h t b e appointed. With respect to what had fallen trom the Honourable Gen tleman (Mr. Stephen), it was not a little strange that he should come to such a conclusion if on the Jury, when lie confessed he had not even heard the evidence. After some further conversation between Mr. Cno- KER, Mr. RYDER, and some other Members, the mo tion of Mr. Whitbread was agreed to ntm. con. Mr. WHITBREAD then moved another address to his Majesty, that he would be pleased to give di rections for searching his dominions, the Royal Navy, the commercial shipping, and foreign countries, &c. to ascertain whether Jefferies was alive subsequent to the I`,;th December, 1807. Mr. C ROK ER observed, that the Admiralty had called npen Sir A. Cochrane to explain respecting .the conduct of Captain Lake, as to the man Jeffery, Which the gallant Admiral had done, and the expla nation was perfectly satisfactcry. It was asked by another Member, whether the broad R. had been taken off the !lams. of Jeffery, hecau ,e, if it had not, his friends or relations would be exclud‘A front receiving his pay. Amth.fr lion. Member replied, that it had been taken off by Captain Lake's order. Same further con /ersati arose on this motion, which at length was agreed to. Mr. WHITBREAD then prepared to move a third 4diress for the pnrpose of ascertaining whethei Sir A. Cochrane was to blame or not in the transac tion. It was of importance not only to the service, but to the gallant .Admiral. He moved, " An Address for an Inquiry into the conduct of Vice-Admiral S A laander Coch rane , respect i ng t h e repreaentat i ons w hi c h b a d i 'Een stacie by Ca•tain Lake to him, on the subject of setting :efPry ashore," E.;:c. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ?/'ped the Hen. Gentleman would not think it ne 'ess3ry to press this motion. It would be carrying the feelings of the House a little too far to order a Curt Martial upon Sir A. Cochrane, who had nothing to do with the transact:on. He hoped, therefore, the Hon. Gentleman would withdraw his motion. Admiral HARVEY thought the Hon. Gentleman 't'as rot aware of the inconvenience which would re a 1t to the service by this motion. He could obtain object by the Admiralty instituting further inquiry. Mr. R. WARD wished to state, most distinctly, that th e Ad m i ralty was satisfied with the conduct of ; A. Cochrane on the subject, who had, upon inves t:gating the conduct of Capt. Lake, thought proper to admonish that officer, which, in the naval service, ►as considered next to a reprimand. Lord COCHRANE defended the conduct of his gallant relation, and stated that he had sent Captain Lake home, but the Admiralty had ordered him out agim, and appointed him to command another ship. Mr. CROKER stated, that it was in consequence of the letter of Mr. Thomas, that the Admiralty judged it proper to bring Captain Lake to a Court Martial. Mr. W. POLE infortned the House, that Sir Alex. Cochrane did not send Captain Lake home, for he returned home on account of ill health ; that on his recovery he was appointed to the Ulysses, the Admiralty not being apprised at the time of his of fence. The Right Hon: Gentleman spoke in high terms of the humanity and gallantry of Sir Alexander Cochrane, and was of opinion the gallant Admiral, when he instituted the inquiry, thought Jeffery was really alive. He was against a Court Martial, as tending to create disgust in the Navy; when held over officers of high rank. With respect to Captain Lake, there was no epithet too •strong which he could use in disapproval of his conduct, though from family friendship he lamented the pang which bib relatives must feel on the occasion. Mr. WHITBREAD would agree to withdraw his motion provided the Admiralty would take up the matter. Mr. R. WARD observed, that the Admiralty had not the information on which to judge properly of the conduct of the gallant officer ; and therefore, though he admitted they were satisfied, he did not mean to say they approved of his conduct. Mr. WHITBREAD, after that assertion, was not satisfied, and should substitute, instead of the Address, a motion for 4‘ the production of the copies or ex tracts from the Correspondence between the Admiralty Board and Sir Alexander Cochrane, touching the re presentations made by Captain Lake," &c. On this motion the House was occupied some time in conversation, in the course of which, Mr. W. POLE, Capt. BEREAFORD, Mr. C ROK ER. C.lpt. PARKER, Lord COCHRAINE, Admiral MARKHANI, &c. took a part ; and then the motion was agreed to, the Address having been Withdrawn previously. ItEVE:iSION BILL. On the motion of Mr.BANICEi, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Reversion Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the operation of the Bill should be limited.to six weeks after the com mencement of the next Session. Mr. BANKES opposed tile motion, which was negatived with out a division ; and the blanks of tht.• Bill having bf.-en filled up, the House was resumed; anti the report was ordered to be re ceived to-morrow. PUBLIC EXPENT)ITURE. On the niction of Mr. MARTIN, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the third report on th.f Expenditure. Mr. NIARFIN withdrew his second Resolution, for the pur pose of allowing an Honourable Gentleman (Mr. !ankes) to sub stitute his. Mr. BANKES accordingly proposed his A esolution, which was, " That offices of emolument without employment ought to be abolished, and that those offices, the emoitanent of which was more than commensurate to the employment, •ugbt to be regu lated, after the expiration of the present interest in those offices." A very long discussion ensued, in which all the former argil-- merits on this subject were repeated. It was contended 00 the one hand by M-. Giles, Sir J. New port, Mr. Wilberforce, I. 4 prd A. Hamilton, Mr. H. Thornton, and Mr. Ponsonby, that as at the present moment the public ne cessity and the public voice loudly demanded the strictest econo my, an end ought to be put to a practice which tended to increase the burdens of the State, without contributing in any degree to its benefit. On the other hand, it was asserted by Mr. LONG, Mr. DENIS BROWNE, Mr. H. ADDINGTON, Mr. MATTHEW MONTAGU, Mr. Home SUMNER, and the CHANCELLOR of the Excueguer., that, nlthough strict economy was highly desirable, yet as it was indispensable that the Crown should possess the power of rewar ding long public services, the Honourable Mover of the Resolu tion ought first to explain the means of such reward which he in tended to snbstitute for those of which the Resolution went to deprive the Crown. A motion was made that the House should be resumed, and the Chairman ordered to report progress. On this the House di vided, when the numbers were— For the motion, 37 ; against it, 68. On re-entering the Gallery, we found Mr. CANNING on his legs, expressing his readiness to assent to the adoption of a better system, if his Honourable Friend bad such a one to propose ; in which case, if he wished time to mature his plan, he (Mr. Can ning) would vote for an adjournment. Mr. BANKES would be happy to comply with the wishes of the Committee, if he knew what they were. If any Gentleman would suggest a plan more efficient and less objectionable, he should, be happy to give it his support.—(Loud ci les of Adjourn.] Mr. P. MOORE hoped that they would adjourn the farther discussion of (he .object till their minds were fitter for debate. Mr. WHITBREAD moved an adjournment. Ihe Gallery was then cleared fora division. We understood, however, the House did not divide, hut that it was agreed to ad journ the farther discussion till Friday. 'The House adjourned at Three o'clock this mornirg. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. 3 per Cent. Cons. for money, 05111—aec. 631. S per Cent. Navy 981—Excliquer sills is. to 4s. pre. PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY. 3 per Cent. Cons. sin S per Cent. 4 per Cent. shut IS per Cell,. Navy 991 981 xndia Bonds 11s. 9L pre. Exc. Bills, 2s. ss. pr. Lottery Tickets £24. is Consols for Acc. ‘Sii Last night we received French papers to the 28th, and Dutch to the 30th ult. They are principally oc cupied with details respecting the marriage of NA rouoN and MARIA LOUISA. The new Empress ar rived at Strasburgh on the 23d, and proceeded on her journey on the following day. Their Majesties were to reach St. Cloud from Compeigne on the 30th, and we think it extremely probable that the firing which was heard from the French coast on the 31st, was in consequence of that event. The Imperial Nuptials at Paris are to be witnessed by almost all the Crowned Heads in Europe imme diately under the influence of NAPOLEON. These papers present some accounts from Bayonne, confirming what was before reported, that large bodies of French Gendarmerie have been marched into Spain. The seamen who were last Summer employed by NAPOLEON on the Danube, have been sent to Spain— probably to assist in the operations against Cadiz, for the siege of which every thing is said to be prepared. These papers present accounts from Hamburgh to the 23d ult. which is considerably later than any that have been received via Heligoland. The Prussian Decree, adopting the French Prohi bitory system, is not to be put in force until the ltt of July. ARMY. A Company, consisting of one hundred men, is or dered to be selocted from the Bth Royal Veteran bat talion, at Fort 'Cumberland, to join that part of the battalion which is at present at Heligoland. Captain GRANTHAM, Adjutant of the Durham Militia, retires from. that regiment, and is appointed to a regiment of Local Militia : the Serjeant-Major is promoted to the Adjutancy in the regitnent. Porchester Castle will be ready to receive French prisoners on the Ist of May, when the whole of the prison -ships, in Portsmouth harbour, except five, will be paid off. The Inverness Regiment of Militia, nine hundred strong, is appointed to the prison duty, to be assisted with a Serjeant's party of the Royal British Artillery: there is also to be a troop of the 18th Hussars, to be quartered at Fareham and Porchester. Two circular letters have been issued to Com- Mandants of Local Militia ; they are both from the War-office, of the 28th ult. and relate to the sum of 10s. 6d. to be paid to each Local Militia-man for ne cessaries for the present year, and requiring "a return of all expences incurred on account of the Local Mi lia from its first establi,hment to the latest period that the same can be made out, specifying the several heads of service wider which such expences have been incurred." Private advices from the British head-quarters in Portugal state, that it is the intention of Lord WEL LINGTON to relinquish the defence of the provinces North of the Douro, and South of the Tagus, and to concentrate his force on the banks of thcsc rivers, and in the intermediate country. iilifYilL IN7'.ELLIGENE.E. FALMOUTH, APRIL 1. Arrived the Duke of Kent packet, Captain LAWItINCZ, with a mail, from the Leeward islands. Sailed the OR cares sloop of war, with two store-ships, for Cork; and the Francis Freeling packet, with a ma - . for Cadiz. PLYMOUTH, APRIL 2. A few days ago we had upwards of fifty ships of war in com mission lying here; there are now only fourteen, and even these are getting ready for sea with all possible dispatch. Sailed the LxvzszT brig of war, with dispatches for Lisbon and Cadiz, which came down express, and the vessel was ordered off im mediately. There are only two ships tow in Cawrsnd Bay, the SCIPION and DEFIANCE, '74, and they are expected to sail on Wednesday; the former to relieve Admiral Sorties r, in the DesADtiOUGlir, off Rochefort ; and the latter for the Downs, to join the Baltic squadron. The PRINCESS CHARLOTTE has sent in a small Danish prize. Came in the DART, from Madeira, in distress. PORTSIVIOUTI-T, APRIL 3. Arrived the FUR mus gun-brig, with a convoy from the Downs. His Majesty's ship DICTATOR patted by with a convoy from Ply mouth, for the Downs. '1 he convoys for Cadiz and Gibraltar brought to last night in Yarmouth Roads (Isle of Wight).—Wind NV. S. W. DEAL, APRIL 3. Sailed, his Majesty's ship VA NGUAR 0, for Yarmouth.—Ar rived, the Dm Prez man of war, from Plymouth, bound to the Baltlck.—Wind South.—Saturday sailed on a cruize off Boulogne. His Majesty's Sloop ROYALIST, Captain JOHN MAXWELL—an officer whose indefatigable exertions, and active cruizes, have been eminently successful in protecting our trade, from the nu merous Privateers which infest that part of the Coast. SHEERNESS, APRIL S. Sailed his Majesty's ship Mracuatus- with a convoy for Gottenburgh ; the next is expected to sail about the 15th inst. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 2. Arrived the William Rathbone, Captain Kt st NAC it, from De rnerare : sailed from thence the 25th of February, in company with the John, Captain Troia, from the Clyde ; and the Tho mas. Captain Fos - raft, for Liverpool. On the sth of March spoke the Mii.tsarus frigate, Captain HAver.ca, in chace of a French frigate, then in lat. 23. long. 63. On the 9th spoke his Majes ty's ship COLUMBUS. On the 20th fell in with the brig Hero, CAM PELMA N. with the loss of her rudder ; took out the crew, consisting of twelve persons, and left her sinking; and on the 28th spoke the transport No. 58, with French prisoners from Gua deloupe. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. GRAVLSEND, APRIL 3.—Arrived the Mary Ann, Richards, from Italia. YesterdayaConrt of Directors was held at the East India House, when Captain CAMPBELL was sworn into the command of the Lord Keith, as was Captain HEM* Imo into the command of the Earl Spencer, destined to tengal.—Captain BROOKES, of the Exeter, took leave previous to departing for Bombay.—The Court adjourned at a late hour till this day. His Majesty's ship HAwKE, which is arrived from the Gold Coast of Africa, has on board gold and ivory to a very large amount. The accounts which this vessel brings of the situa tion of affairs in that country are of a very interesting nature. It appears that a meeting had taken place at Bance Island, and had assumed a very serious as pect, in consequence of which application was made to the Governor of Sierra Leone, who repaired to the former place, faking with him an adequate military force. On his arrival he found the island in a state of the utmost disorder, and at the solicitation of the Superintendant, took possession of it provl. sionally, and declared it to be subject to military law. The result of this proceeding was, that fourteen of the ring-leaders were brought to .trial, and found guilty, two of whom, named BANNA and MOREY, were sentenced to suffer death, and the remainder to be banished for life. This sentence was, however, afterwards commuted. BANNA and MOREY were or dered to be transported for life, first receiving each 150 lashes. They were afterwards, with the other twelve, transported to the British Settlement of Cape Coast Castle. The accounts further state, that three men, natives of Africa, had been taken up, and were in confine ment at Cape Coast, charged with the murder of Mr. FoOTE, an European, and the son of a person of the name of LAMITTEE, a native of Acera, but that no proceedings had been instituted against the accused, the Governor and his Council having some doubts of their authority to proceed in such cases. We learn with pleasure that the President at Cape Coast had attempted to cultivate cotton and coffee, both of which were found to grow extremely well. Pima or Baawo.—Yesterday the Court, after inspecting the Mealweigheis'Reports, ordered the price to continue at is. std. the Vi beaten, and U. Yd. Honcholi. 19.ffIG CLUB. There was a numerous Meeting of the Whig Club yesterday, at the Freemason's Tavern,Lord HOLLAND in the Chair. The Noble Chairman paid a most af fecting tribute to the memory of Mr. Fox. The Noble Lord then stated, that Mr. Whitbread was to be Chairman at the neii Meeting, and he proposed his health, coupled with the sentiments of " Thanks to him for his constitutional vigilance in Parliament." This was received with the most enthusiastic bursts of applause. On Lnrd Holland's own health being given, Lord HOLLAND thanked the company. He said that, since he last had the honour to meet the Club, the country had witnessed the melancholy re sult of the most expensive and the most enormous ex pcdition that this country had ever sent out. He would not speak of its conduct nor of its disasters, but he must say that it hid produced the effect of making a sensible impression on the minds of the people ; and he could plainly perceive a more active and lively interest avowed in every part of the king dom, than had been visible at any former period of the present war. Whether in the present state of their feelings, they would be satisfied with the result of the inquiry that had taken place on the expedition that hid ended so fatally, he could not take upon himself to determine; but this he was sure of, that if they were not satisfied with that result, it was a duty which they owed to them selves, to their King, and to posterity, to avow their sentiments in a public constitutional manner ;—not in holes and corners —but in public meetings of the coun ties and cities—and to carry the resolutions of such meetings to the foot of the Throne. He had full and , entire confidence that this duty they would perform ' with the same spirit of independence and patriotism as had distinguished the Common Council of the first city of the empire, as well as the county of Berks. He concluded with thanking the company for the high honour they had conferred upon him. " Mr. Byng, and the independent Freeholders of Middlesex." Mr. BYNG, declared, that after the very recent ex. perience which we had had, every considerate man must be persuaded in his mind, that we could not persevere in the present course without inevitable and speedy ruin. And that it was equally clear, that it was not by a change of men merely that this ruin could be avoided, but by a total change of system also. And he trusted the nation would loudly and unequivocally declare their sentiments upon this point; on which he was sure there was but one mind through out the United Kingdom. " Mr. Smith, and the Cause of Religions Liberty." Mr. SMITH thanked the Noble Lord and the Com pany for coupling his name with that sentiment. He wished ever to have it so joined. Religious liberty, not that degrading and inadecinate thing called reli. gious toleration, was the right fit for men in a state of freedom to enjoy ; and which he was sure it was as much.the policy as it was the duty of every Govern. ment to establish. Lord HoLr.AN9 reminded the Meeting, that it was not Berkshire only which had, with a seasonable firmness, made a declaration of their opinion on the st.tte of things at this time, but another county, Cam bridgeshire, had, in a most noble and independent marmer, vindicated the character of the county from the slander of abetting the corruption that was plung ing us into ruin ; and he, therefore, uniting their name with that of a member of the Club who had greatly contributed to their triumph,' gave— " The Marquis of Tavistock and the Independent Freeholders of the County of Cambridge."—Which was drank with enthu siasm. The Noble Lord then proposed the health of ano ther Member of the Club, who had also recently come forward to vindicate himself and the periodical press (so valuable to the friends of liberty), when attacked in various ways, and who had succeeded in his exertion.—He gave, " Mr. Perry ; and may the Periodical Press ever be in the Hands of Men who have Vigour to defend it when attacked, and Principle to conduct it with Moderation when in Security." Mr. PERRY thanked the Noble Lord and the com pany for this most signal mark of their approbation. In the prosecution he had lately suffered, he was singled out as the organ of the principles of that society, which he had publicly avowed to have received from the illus. trious statesman, to whose memory they had that day paid the tribute of reverence, which all who cherished the cause of liberty must feel. He had the satisfac tion to find, that the late attacks on the press (open and insidious) had only had the effect of uniting it more in. timately with the cause of the people, and of raising it higher in their estimation. The good effects of this would be felt in their exertions in the course which the Noble Lord had so eloquently recommen ded ; and he could also say, with pleasure, that the press did join in the sentiments of the Honourable Re. presentatives of Middlesex and Norwich—that nothing but a total change of system, as well as a change of men, together with the establishment of true religious liberty, could rescue the empire from its impending fate ; and to the accomplishment of these blessings, he trusted and believed the press would temperately, but steadily and powerfully, contribute. Lord HOLLAND then gave— " Mr. Wai:hman, and the Independent Friends of Freedom in the Common Council of London." Mr. WAITIIMAN thanked the Meeting. He most perfectly coincided with the se•ltimentswhich had fallen from the Noble Lord in the Chair, and from different Gentlemen that night. They had spoken what were known to be his invariablJ sentiments for twenty years, in which he- had taken a pat t in public proceedings ; and he must say, that all that necessary to make the people really join in these sentiments, and to make their voice heard from one end of the kingdom to the other, was, that men of consideration, 4ci had their interests truly at heart, should frequently come among them, and pledge themselves to act with integrity in their service. The next Meeting was appointed for the Ist May. COaN MARKIT, MALK.LANE, APRIL 4.—This day the sup ply of Wheat is considerable, chiefly foreign, and general sales give way in price—Rye is cheaper—Barley likewise.—Malt in plenty, and few buyers—Peas and Beans, of the two kinds, mostly at last prices —there are large supplies bf Oats, and this trade is quoted rather lower—Flour at last prices. OUSILIAL CIMILINCIr AS UNDIA . Wheat, 765. 90s. 10es. Beans, (old) 535. 609. Fine ditto, 108 s. 112.. Tick ditto (old) 445. 50 s . Rye, 455. 509. Oats 21s. 269. 28s. Barley, Poland ditto, 30s. 3S s . 6d. Malt Potatoe ditto, 365. Od. alt 7 0 3 . 2 . 7 9. 7, 465. Od. White Peas (boilers), 641. 725. Rape Seed, 461. 521. Grey ditto 455. 509. _ _ Fine Flour 89,. 90s.—Soconds 80s. 85s.