Star. — London, England, 1821-05-08 00:00:00

• .~ • . .. den from Russia unnecessary. And s l inllin,Nteresi s as no•reason to suppose that the movement of the Russian Army had any reference to it, while there was every reason to believe to the Con they. The Noble Marquis concluded with moving ihe.Drder of the Day, and was loudly cheered when he sat down. . Lord MILTON said, he felt treat satisfaction in beating the stater/Vent which had been made by - the Noble Marquis; yet, at theme time, he must•pro • test against the doctrine, that Gentlemen in that • House. were4to be restrained from freely expressing their opinions on the measures pursued by- foreign • 'Powers; and particularly in the - events that hid lately taken place in different.parts of the Continent. There nor existed a spirit tsf aggrandisement of the Execu aive Power, at the expense of the rights and liberties of the People !—{Hear, hear). This spirit prevailed to an alarming extent, and must be viewed with the greatest jealousy by every friend of freedom. Mr. WARRE said, that the only reason why the March of the Russian Army had been stopped was, that one object of that nefarious Alliance, of which • the Emperor of Russia was a member, had been realized by the subjugation of Italy. He could not look upon the stop put to the march of the Russian Army in any other light than as a temporary absti nence from crime and 'iniquity. He thanked GOD that there was one corner in Europe, where man yet enjoyed some portion of freedom. • The Marquis of LONDONDERRY explained. He did not object to a jealousy of continental Powers, but against the assumption of faCts which did not exist. It had been stated in the late debate, not only that • the Russian Army was on its march, but that it was 'so for the purpose of attacking Spain. The fact was, that the Insurrectionary Government of Piedmont •had declared war against Austria. With respect to "the statements which had been thrown out as to the desire of the Emperor of Russia to conquer Thrkey, he could dnly say, that although he was not answer able for any individual,. he belieVed that that Illus trinus Personage knew his own true glory, as well as his own true policy, much better. Mr. DENMAN said, he was sorry the Noble Mar quis had alluded to the Honourable Members who took part in a late debate in their absence. He (Mr. Denman) thought it was impossible not to suspect the • conduct of the Allied Scivereigns, even if we did not know their conduct towards Saxony, Norway, and Genoa. Ile conceived it was the duty of every one 'to denounce a system which plainly threatened the liberties of Europe. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, it was not his fault if the Honourable Members in question were not in their places; probably they had been 'kept away by the smoke of the Bill of the Honour able Member opposite !—(A laugh). NAVY ESTIMATES. The question was then put for the House going into the Committee of Supply. ' Mr. HUME said, that great doubts had been en tertained as to the expediency of the works at Sheer ness. He wished to know ,if the vote on that subject could be postponed till the correspondence betwixt the Navy and the Admiralty Boards should be pro duced, or till a Repent should be made by a Com mittee of the House? More information was wanted before the House could come to a vote. On Sheer ness alone had been expended £1,147,000, and the House was told that 1:W5,42i was wanted to com plete the works. Sir G. WA RRENDER said, that the present Esti mate was not for the same works that the former sums had been voted for. About 1.:30,0400 would be laid out on the repairs of the old works. The sum in future would be much more limited than in former years. It was extremely desirable that the great work, which had been five years in progress, should be completed. Mr. WARRE thought there was much reason in the request of his Honourable Friend. In the Esti mate of last year a sum had been voted for the com• • pletion of the works, and now a large additional sum was called for. Mr. HUME moved a Resolution, that though tote sum of £1,147,000 had been already expended on the Docks at Sheerness, it appeared that a further sum of £955,421 was now wanted . ; it was therefore expedient that a Committee should be appointed to inquire into the expenditure of the Dock-yards. The House had voted a large sum, and a further sum of £1,600,000 was wanted to complete what had been begun. The Committee of Finance had recom mended that no sum should be voted till a previous estimate had been made. In the last eleven years, £5,247,000 had been laid out on the Dock-yards.— In ten days the whole inquiry could be gone through. It was a question of prudence and economy, whether the millions proposed to be laid out at Sheerness, bud not better be expended at Chatham ? Sir G. COCKBURN said, that unless the works should be completed, all that had been done would be thrown away. The wall of one of the yards had fallen down. Sir J. YORKE should like to know who had been of opinion that Chatham was a preferable station to Sheerness ? As an outfitting port, Chatham was not to be selected. Sheerness was the best adapted for all naval purposes, and on that account had been pitched upon by Government. All difficulties as to sheerness had been wholly overcome. Sir ISAAC COFFIN thought the Hon. Member should have verified his statements by ocular inspec tion. He (Sir Isaac Coffin) would lend him all the assistance in his power. •• Mr. BENNETT said, that the Douse had often been misled by former Estimates, and therefore the Motion fur a Committee was proper. The plan of General Bentham had failed, and it was impossible to say that the case might not be the same at present. Sir G. WARRENDER said, that the new works at Sheerness would be completed this year at £40,000 less than had been calculated. Great alterations had taken place as to the plans at Sheerness; and a state ment had always been made to Parliament. Sir W. DE CRESPIGNY, from local knowledge, was of opinion that the works at Sheerness should be . completed. Mr. HUME, to prevent delay, had no objection that a vote should be taken for £50,00Q. The House divided. For 'the original Motion, 82— for the Amendment, 27—Majority, 55. The House then went into a Committee, when £50,967. lig. 6 was moved for ihe expense of the Victualling Yards. Mr. BERNAL objected to the expense of keeping up a hulk as a receiving ship'at Chatham. That had not been included in the item of the expenditure.— There were 45 men on board. Sir B. MARTIN said, that the vessel alluded to . acted as a depot, and was in fact a saving. . Sir J. YORKE said there was an expense of £4,400 more than last.year. , Sir G. CLERK said, the expense had been incurred for repairing the roofs. ' Mr. HUME wished to know if there was any di minuOon of the expense of the dock at Deptford,which for some years had been increasing ? Sir.G. COCKBURN said that some reductions had taken place.. Mr..WARRE asked if Dover-yard was exclusively for the Revenue ? . Sir . G. COCKBURN stated • that a large brewing establishment was kept up there. The Resolution was then agreed to. - £70 : 962 was voted for the bledical Establishment of the present year. £6,926 was then moved for the School of Naval Architecture. Sir J. YORKE asked if any reduction had been made of the number of students ? Sir G. COCKBURN said no reduction had been made.—The vote was then agreed to. On the motion for a grant of £123,990 for the wages of Officers, ship-builders, and men attached to the Dock-yards, Mr. HUME wished to know whether the crews or Officers'of the Royal yachts were upon full pay all the year round, as it appeared surveyors were. The Hon. Member made some observations as to the in creased expense of late years in consequence of the fitting up of three yachts. Sir G. COC K BURN said•that the Mate and Surgeon of the Royal yacht were on full pay. The men were taken from, the labourers in the dock-yards ; but in paint of the expenses of fitting up the yachts, he hoped the House would not grudge the King's-having a ship fitted up in the best, though not extravagant style—(Hear).—As the Sovereign of these islands, he thought the House ought to feel pride in his going to sea in the first style—(!icar). £83,210 was voted for the expense of Victualling the Navy—and £79,000 for mooring and rigging. Sir J. YORKE objected to the sum as too large. Sir B. MARTIN said, that many things were comprehended in the charge. The sum of £310,000 was then moved for the ex pense of repairs. Sir I. COFFIN stated (in answer to a remark from Sir J. Yotke), that the fleet, at the close of the war, had been in the utmost want of repair, and the ex pense consequently had been great. He wished not to grant extravagant sums of money to Sir Robert Seppings, or Sir Bobby anybody else! After a few observations from Sir I. COFFIN, Mr. HUME, &c. the giant was agreed to. On the motion that £970,000 should be voted for the Half-pay of the Navy, Mr. G. BENNETT stated the case of two women, wives of Naval Officers, who had not received any pay for their husbands, who were unfortunately in a state of mental derangement; and he complained that this was done without any attention to the services which they have rendered to their country. Sir G. COCKBURN said, a place had been pro vided for lunatics in the Navy. Mr. BUXTON said, that he would call the atten tion of the House to this subject. Mr. CROKER said, that the Pensions would be given to the relations of Officers who became insane in consequence of wounds in the service; but Go vernment found that there were frauds committed, and therefore they were determined to provide for insane persons, if their friends were willing to part with them. • • Mr. G. BENNETT accused the lion. Member of attributing fraud to these two women, who had en trusted their case to him. Mr. CROKEIt defended himself, by asserting that he was the cause why a piovision was made iu Mil lar Hospital for Lunatics from the Navy. Mr. HUNIE thought that the,e poor women should have their small pittance extended to them by the humanity of his Majesty's Government. Sir JOSEPH YO It K E thought they could be pro vided for out of the Widows' Fund. Mr. CROKER said, that was impossible, as that Fund was expressly assigned for the benefit of Widows and Orphans.—After some other observa tions, the vote was agreed to. On the motion for granting a sum of £7OOO to Widows and Orphans, Mr. HARBORD wished to know whether there was any mode of appropriating this Fund ; for he un derstood it was ill-applied ? Mr. CROKER said, this was a Fund of only ten years standing ; and among a great number of dis tressing cases the First Lord of the Admiralty was obliged to select the most distressing, and there was no part of his duty which that Noble Lord dis charged with more fairness or impartiality than this. On the motion for granting £32,000 for making good deficiencies to Widows of Officers in the Navy, Mr. HUME wished to know how the Secretary was paid for this duty? Mr. CROKER said it had been paid out of old stores until 1817, when he thought it right to have his salary tiled by a vote of the House.—The motion was then agreed to. A sum of £105,000 17s. Gd. was voted for half pay to Naval Officers. Mr. HUME wished this vote postponed, because the returns which he had moved for had never been laid before the House. Sir G. WARRENDER had no objection to suffer this vote to stand over 1 • but it might be seen printed in the votes of 1818 . — The vote was then withdrawn. Sii' G. WARRENDER then moved for a sum of £1,094,000 for'the repair of ships and works in the Dock-yards. Sir J. YORKE wished to know why the Honour able Baronet mixed up buildings of bricks and mor tar with the building of wooden ships ? Sir G. WARRENDER said, that this was the ordinary mode of proposing the grant ; and he had been surprised that the Honourable Baronet did not know that, as be had been six years a Member of the Admiralty Board. Sir J. YORKE wished his Honourable Friend (the, Comptroller of the Navy) to treaback his steps, and see whether, as labour was reduced one-fifth, he could not decrease this expense by £lOO,OOO at least. He was one of the best friends of Government by ad vising economy, the contrary of which could alone make them unpopular. Sir B. MARTIN said, they had contracted for tim ber until the next year; and until that time they could not reduce the expense. Mr. HUME contended, that we had built more ships than were necessary since 1815, which had cost us above 15 millions in that time. We had 700 and odd sail of all kinds in commission. He differed from those who thought we ought not to attend to small reductions. He should therefore move, that the prl sent Vote should be reduced. Sir G. COCKBURN said, there would soon be a reduction in this expense. The Hon. Baronet de fended the grant as necessary on account of the bad state of our Navy, the ships having during the war been got up in a hurry, and without care ; these had required docking and thorough repair. Several had been so treated, and he believed would now stand almost for ever. As to the number of our ships, it should be recollected we had most extensive Colonies to defend. America was also getting a powerful Navy, and it was necessary we should have a fleet superior to her in the West Indies, or risk our pos sessions there, especially now America had got the Floridas—(Hear, hear). Sir J. YORKE was not convinced by the argu ments of his Hon. Friend. Sir B. MARTIN defended the original grant. Mr. WARRE recommended economy ; but he was not prepared to go to the extent of reducing the Esti mate £300,000. He understood the contracts for timber would expire next lyear. From that moment he should expect reduction to take place. There were no Estimates to which he would be so liberal as to the Navy. Such, he was convinced, was the feeling of the country. It was our favourite branch of ser vice, and he hoped would remain so. Sir G. COCKBURN alluded to the Royal William, and to the time that ship lasted ; and said, the repairs of the Navy had recently been carried on on the same plan as those of the Royal William, which had proved so advantageous and lasting. Sir J. YORKE said, it was true the Royal William had been kept up as long as had been stated by his gallant Friend ; but he believed what had been said of the stockings of a celebrated Baronet (Si: John Cutler) might he applied to the Royal William. Sir John's stockings were originally silk, but had by fre quent darnings been changed to worsted, and by that means had been made to last a long time. He be lieved the Royal William had undergone the same process ; by frequent darnings she had been made to last, but long before she expired not a single plank of the original vessel had been left ! Mr. T. WILSON supported the original Motion. Sir G. WARRENDER also contended, that eco nomy would be best consulted by granting money now to build ships gradually, rather than neglecting to do so, and being thereby obliged hereafter, as for merly, to go to the Merchants' yards, and build ships at an increased expense of nearly 100 per cent. After a few words from Lord MILTON, _ _ Mr. HUME said, understanding that, after the . contract expired, the expense was to be reduced; be would now withdraw his Amendment. On the Resolution for granting 6424,648 for repairs and improvements in the Dock-yards, Mr. lIUME suggested the propriety of reducing this sum at least one half, till inquiry was made.— He would therefore propose to make the grant only C2l 2,n2 t. Lord MILTON was rather inclined to oppose any grant on this head, till inquiry had been made. But there were some new establishments mentioned in these estimates, amongst them was that at Trinco malee ; and there were also some new works com- Menced, amongst which he would particularly allude to that called the Chatham Tunnel ; this work was likely to require a very large sum to complete it. It might be necessary ; but still the Naval Government were bound to give some account of the . necessity which called tor such an expenditure in times of pub lic distress like the present. Sir G. WAR RENDER entered into a defence of the public works going on at Chatham and at Sheer ness, which he said were necessary, and would ulti mately produce a great saving, and prove most bene ficial to the public service. SirJOSEPH YORKE begged to be favoured with some information relative to the Breakwater at Ply mouth. There was, too, an establishment on the coast of Ireland, near Cork harbour. He did not pretend to know the navigation of that sea very well, but had the Hon. and gallant Baronet never heard that there was a passage between the island on which that establishment was situated and the main land, which ought to be stopped up, otherwise, some fine summer morning alurking and active enemy might pass the forts of the harbour, and surprise and cap ture the whole of that establishment before the asto nished Officers of it could pronounce the name of his Hon. relative, Jack Robinson !—(Continual laughter). Then he begged to say one word about Madras. If any Hon. Gentleman chose to cast his eye ever the map, he would see in a moment that no place could have been by possibility selected, so little adapted as that for a naval station. As for convenience of moor ing ships, they might as well attempt to moor in an old iron pot !—(Laughter)—and, as for the safety of the roads, they were exposed to every gale, and rolled away their masts as readily as if they were driving about in the Bay of Biscay. Sir G. COCKBURN defended the Breakwater, as being a work productive of the- greatest benefit to our Navy. Mr. HUME objected to this grant. The House had, within the last six years, voted no less than £3,500,000 for Dock-yards and improvements; and in the present £1,600,000 would be required to finish the works in progress. The works at Bermuda alone would, he was convinced, cost the country upwards of a million before they were completed. The Gallery was then cleared for a division : For the Motion - Id/ For the Amendment 30 Majority —.47 Several other Resolutions were agreed to, the House resumed, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow. The other Orders were then disposed of, and tl e Hoare adjourned at Half-past One 9Vlock, THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1821. THE FUNDS. PRIM OP STOCKS TIM DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK Bank Stick 224% 225 K-3 per Ct. 11edu.72%, Ye Spec Ct. Cons. 735/ 8 1 ,4 —3 1 / 2 per Ct. 82% 4 per Ct. 90% 7 / a %—5 per Ct. Navy 1087 8 16 si{t Long Anus. 18 5 / 8 9-16 11-16 India Bonds 435. pre.-01d.Annuities 72 1 / 2 Exchequer Bills 4s. Gs. Ss. pre. Cons. for Acct. 73% Ys 3/8. ISSUE OF SOVEREIGNS.—This morning the Bans commenced exchanging Sovereigns forßank-notes, but few applications were made. A little form is neces sary to receive them. The parties have to write their names and place of abode on the upper Note, then present them to the Cashiers for signature, at the same time saying they are to be exchanged for Sore. reigns; afterwards they are to be taken to the Divi dend Warrant Office, in the Bank-yard, which place is appropriated exp:essly for the purpose. Toe effect bas been great upon the Funds ; Consols have a e. vanced about one per cent. within the last fu it days. Money Stock is very scarce, and a farther advance is expected. It will give the country pleasure to learn, flo m a declaration made in the House of Commons la , r 1 14 by the Marquis of LONDONDERRY, that our G. De rr . ment has received official notice that the Russia: l Army has halted, and is not to pass the Russian frog. tiers. So far, therefore, the apprehensions of the Spa niards may be at an end ; there will be no inctusion of northern barbarians to put down the salutary re. form which they have accomplished in their system of government. We must at the same time observe, the the el. planation with which the announcement of this evert has been accompanied, presents as weak a piece (,f State casuistry as ever we witnessed. The two Emperors, according to the Marquis of LONDONDERRY'S statement, felt great difficulty in re• conciling the invabions of Naples and Piedmont with their rooted dislike to any aggrandizement at the expense of other Powers. FRANCIS, aware that the military occupation of Naples, which made I , im the Sovereign of all Italy, was a decided pied of his ba. tred of aggrandizement, and anxious not to forfeit Ifs reputation for moderation, felt a delicacy in invading himself the territories of . the King of SARDINIA, and endeavoured to-prevail on his good friend, ALEI• ANDER, to do this favour to his SARDINIAN MAJCSIT, But unfortunately ALEXANDER was equally an enemy Ito all aggrandizement, and equally afraid of losing his character; however, he at last conquered his scruples, and consented to send a portion of his my to Piedmont. This is all very ingenious, and very amusing, and - comes with an admirable grace from the statesman who but a few years ago talked of the dangerous pretensions of- Russia. Why can we nt forget that the magnanimous ALEXANDER seinl, and still retains, Finland, which he detached from the poor but respectable country with which it had bn connected from time immemorial, subjecting to Finlanders to the domination of a barbarous people, instead of their Union with the enlightened and a. vilized people to whom Protestant Europe is so mob indebted for their splendid exertions in giving stab, lity to the Reformation on the Continent? Why Cal we not forget the seizure of Venice by Austria, and the yearly deputations of the Grisons to Vienna, to regain the Valtelline, of which they were lately prived by that Power P-And yet our sapient &c'e. tary for Foreign Affairs must " solemnly protest' against the charge of aggrandizement against die illustrious personages, as improper, illiberal, unjot! Facts will speak for themselves, in spite of all he protests. _ . The plain truth is; Spain is not invaded only I* cause it cannot be done with any prospect of sows The Manifesto published by the Emperor ALUM' DEE some months ago, in which he reprobated tit Revolution in Spain, was, if it meant anything at an express declaration that his IMPERIAL Mangt had all the disposition in the world to put down* Spanish Cortes, its Institutes and Ordinances, andP restore the plenitude of the Royal Authority, would put it down if he could. The Spaniards understood it ; all the world so understood it; ado all the world it must be plain, that it is want i power alone which now restrains the Russian Autocrat from attempting to give the law to Spain, belt° done to other countries less favourably situated. A Mail rrom Hamburgh has brought ns, this 633. noon, Papers to the Ist inst. The extracts which we subjoin confirm what vjf Readers will find stated in the French Papers rtW& . ing the disunion, or rather want of concert, bets the two leaders of the Greek insurrection—Yesi"6l and THEODORE. It would seem that the moves directed by THEODORE, resembles the other pall gi Insurrections which, from time to time, have Pk" place in the privileged provinces of the 0tt0 023 Empire ; and which have no other object bat r recover or extend local privileges, without any ligf of throwing off the dependence on the Ottoo Empire. IrmANTI holds a different language; ° 3l s a c?ks ii the style of thine ELHOpCsitiS who think A al Cl ri,