Star. — London, England, 1814-08-12 00:00:00

.HALIFAX PAP.ERS. HALIFAX, JULY 16. CAPTURE OF THE hATTLESNAKE. Arrived the United States brig Rattlesnake, Lieut. Renshaw, pierced for 18 guns, and having 131 men, prize to his Majesty's ship Leander, captured near Shelburne on Monday last; she run for Shelburne light, supposing it to be Portland. She sailed from Wilmington on the 3d May. This vessel, perhaps justly considered the fastest-sailing sloop of war in the American navy, was intended to carry destruction to the commerce of England—even on her own shores ; and after having (as was proposed) cruized in the chops of the English Channel, she was to have refitted in some one of the ports of Norway, recruited her crew, and thence cruizing a short time off Cape Clear, done the same otf Madeira, and returned by • the West Indies to any American port in the northern States she could enter. Circumstances have, how . ever, interfered with this well-digested plan of an noyance, and the sum total of mischief caused by this intended scourge to British commerce has been con fined to the destrUction of two small English vessels. The superior qualities of the Rattlesnake, as a prime sailer, it appears, had more than once tempted her lute Commander to hold British cruizers too cheap— if we may credit the report of one of her crew—as, on the 31st of May, she narrowly 4scaped being cap tured by the Madagascar frigate, when off the Western Islands; under fire of that ship's guns she remained some time, until, by throwing some of her gums and shot overboard, she got out of reach and escaped ; and, strange to tell, without being once struck, though grape wete flying over her. Off Scilly (our informant continues) we boarded several neu 7 trak, from whom we learnt the changes which were taking place in the .political world in Europe : we remailied.near, cruizing parallel till the 10th June, when we captured the brig John, from Liverpool to Oporto, with bale goods, which vessel was imme. diately scuttled. On the 14th of June we fell in with five sail of men of war, and in the evening with ano ther convey. On the 15th and 16th, were again chased by English frigates. On the 23d June, lat. 42. 7. we captured the British schooner Crown Prince, with fish, from Newfoundland, which vessel was also scuttled. On the following day we fell in with a man of war store-ship, but from our loss of guns, having . only two left, could not engage her, and she appeared trio well prepared to ensure success by boarding, which I belicve was Capt. Renshaw's first intention. ....From this we continued shaping our course for the States, nothing material occurring till the 10th of i July, when we struck soundings on our own shores, and flushed with a hope of a speedy sight of our friends, joyfully looked for the ensuing day ; but how short-sighted are m rtals ! At early dawn of the 1 1 th, a sail was desci ied, and soon made out to be a fri gate; and from some particular circumstances, our officers were led to believe was Amer-lean, and but for her very small arpearance, considered her to be the Constitution: unluckily her Captain either pos . sessed the private sinals of the day, or from some former experience. on our coast. understood them, and having replied, our confidence increased till within a few miles, when, to be undeceived was too late. In spite of every exertion, the frigate gained upon us, fast, preserving the weather-gage, and firing a chace gun, with such prkision, as to give no hopes of escape ; being hulled twice in four shot, though going 9 to 10 knots . an hour, and a broadside preparing for Us—the colours were struck, and we were taken pos session of by an officer trom the Leander. Thus ter minated our eruize, and thus fell the fastest sailing vessel of war, (if 1 except the President) of the United States, and with her as brave a crew as America bOasts. Nv.w YORK, JULY 8. PARTICULATIS OF THE CAFiUItE OF THE ESSEX. On the 28th of March, in A strong gale, the Estes •1 dragging her 'anchors, and one cable parting, the I other was cut, (the Phoebe then standing tor the port,) on lulling round Angel's Point the Essex carried away her main-topmast, and lost two men. • Captain Porter finding it impossible to gain his for. user anchorage; at 45 minutes past three p. at. came :! to with the best bower, within pistol shot of the shore. s , The western fort of Castel Viggo bearing E by N. abort three miles ; the eastern tort if Castle jel Barem S. by W. one mile and a half, but not in sight, being anchore:d under a high bluff, a long 24-pounder de tach , d from it, distant half a mile ; in this situation vve consideied ourselves perfectly secure. The ship was cleared fur action, although Captain Porter did not think the enemy would attack him. At 55 past five, the Pl . cehe ccmmenced firing on our starboard bow. In Bali an hour sfie.strioffeitto repair &mars. Cot a third spring otiaiur cable, the other two being shot away. The enemy soon returned, took a posi tion out of reach of our short gons, and opened a most galling fire. The wind shifting, Captain Por ter determined on ley ir.fr . the Phoebe on board, and. the cable vas cut ; bot the only halyards standing was the flying jib, and this partly hoists', was not sufficient to veer c.ff. We were now in a most dread ful state ; the enemy hulled us at every shut, and our brave relluws failing in every direction ; but we were all animated by the cool, brave, and intrepid conduct , of our Commander ; yaw an wacky accident took place which frustrated all our hopes : the explosion of tome loose cartridges in Me main hatchway caused a gene the env', the greatest p ar t gene ral consternation among of which jumped .overboard. Captain Potter seeing no hopes left, gave orders to fire t h e ship ; but recoffecting the number of brave fellows I) ing below wounded, countermanded his or der, and gave the painful one to lower our ensign, which was executed precisely at halt-past six p. m. Killed on board the Essex, Lieutenants Wilmer and Cowell, Ist and 3d--56 petty officers and seamen —total 58.--Wounded severely, Sts; slightly, '25-- Missing 31-Total 1 51. • The .EsieiJunittr lay in Valparaiso, unable to take any part in the action. Captain Porter and his crew were paroled,. and permitted, to come home in that vessel Its it cartel: The Essex is laid to have landed 2,000,000 of dol lam ..t Valparaiso prerioul to her being captured. Capt tit Porter has stated, that there are some errors .1 and omissions in • the foregoing account ; and has re quested a suspension of public opinion until the official 4tatement be given. [We agree with Captain Porter. (to Cat and feahering memory); in requesting a pension of public opinion on the above action, paw 4.iaptakr.iotfit.ial statement . appeays. FREW/ PAPERS. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. AUGUST 6. The Sittings opened at on! o'clock, and some pre liminary business was gone through, among whish was the presentation of a Petition from a number of, Colonists of St. Domingo, relative to the state of that Island. L LIBERTY OF THE PRESS. The ABBE MONTFSQUIZU entered the Hall at the moment that M. FLEURI (the first of the persons whose names were inscribed to speak on the Report respecting the. Liberty of the Press), addressed the Assembly : M. FLEURI premised at some length on the diffi culty of treating a subject so hackneyed. He com plimented the ability of M. Reynouard, the Reporter of the Committee of the Chamber on the subject of the Liberty of the Press. He entered on the matter of Vs speech by citing the common principle of the sacrifices of individual liberty which men must make for the general benefit on entering into society ; and, applying this principle to the Press, he urged the propriety of preventing, by a censorial revision, those abuses whose injurious effects, it once committed by publication, could not be remedied by the subsequent punishment of a guilty individual. This precau tionary care he held to be not only not inconsistent with the pledge for the Freedom of the Press given in the Constitutional Charter, but even included and incorporated in that pledge, which contained an ex press engagement for the repression of abuse. The censorial power was as a bridle which the police should hold. The poniard of the assassin, the poi sonous cup, the torch of the incendiary, should be arrested before the guilty deeds for which they are designed are committed ; and why not the publica tion which would carry desolation to the bosom of a whole family ? He deprecated the return of the times when it was the fashion to exclaim, • Perish the Colonies rather than our principles.' The means if prevention and restraint could not be too much multiplied against the present prevailing corruptions of mankind. It was riot enough, tha; persons of worth, so insured, could obtain redress by law. —Why were they to be driven to the law—to the trouble—the vexation—the expense—the ion of time of a suit, which would alter all afford them but a Complete reparation ? It was possible, moreover, for an aggrieved person to gain his suit and to lose his honour. Passing from the private to the public view of the ease, how few pamphlets worthy of being .preserved gad- the last twenty-five years furnished ? .Anti yhy should an infant Government he exposed mosingtests which the Liberty of the Press' was likely to pleeduce ; contests which mighl nn; always he con fined, to paper wars ? The public always pro nounces against the Government—[Here mormurs eiformed the orator that the Members were not of his opinion] :—the public always sees despotism where it sees a combined system, and if another pamphleteer should arise, possessing, like Beaumarchnie, a Irept of brass, and a pen dipped in gall, he might be con densate! perhaps ; but hie - sentiments would be never theless adopted. The opinion of the unfortnn::te Ma lesherbes had beer; cited in favour of the Liberty of the Press; but Malesherbes bad afterwards seen reae :son to change that-opinion, and the reputable med who in the 18th century had stood up so strongly for the Liberty of the Press, would be of a different opi :nion, it they lied lived to fiec that it was the principal cause of the destruction of the Throne. The famous letter of the Abbe Raenal to the Constituent Assem bly, afforded a string proof of the justice of this ob servati,in. But why was a restriction on the publica tion of the erodes of every petty pamphleteer to he complained of, when any five Members concurring, could close the doors of tne Chamber of Deputies on any particular occasion, and prevent its collective wisdom from going abroad to the public. Fonte nelle had well said, that " if he had his hand full of truths, he would not let one of them escape from it." Let love for the Prince, for their families, and for peace, enforce the propriety of a similar observance on the minds of the Members. It was true, times were changed—. b ut men were not—and it would be right to bear in mind that the revolutionary wars lasted about. as long as those of the league. We, perhaps, trust to the present calm, which, however, is but a calm arising from lassitude; but a calm of three months cannot be put in counterpoise with five and twenty years of distractions. Who can say that this calm will last ten years, two years, or even six months longer ? You' take precautions against de.. spetism l—take them also against anarchy. An awful responsibility rests on the Chamber if this plan of a law be rejected—it will have i ro answer to the King, to the nation, to posterity. It is said that the Liberty of the Press conveys the truth to Kings, and to the people; but what occasion have the 'people to be instructed as to their rightst [These. last words excited violent murmurs: —Are not Petitieny the constitutional means of seeking these rights, better than pamphlets ? While asserting the necessity of a Censorship, l wished the Censers to be properly selected from among respectable classes, the Advocates and the Magistrates. Useful works would thus be secure of publicity, and defamatory libels would be suppressed —not perhaps universally, but even if it should be only in the proportion of one-fourth, would not the Censorship be a benefit ? They tell us of England e but the Liberty of the Press was not granted to the English till they were matured for it. The nourish ment which suits strong stomachs does not agree with weakly constitutions.—(Murmur:.)—Politeness, levi ty, delicacy, are our characteristics ; but we have no national spirit; five and twenty years of misfortunes have smothered that spirit in France. We are like our ancestors, we cannuosupPort either despotism or liberty. Love for our King was our national spirit ; but whither has it vanished in the political changes that have agitated us so long ? In England the Mi nisters care little for the clamours of the Journals, while they are supported by the majorities in the Parliament; but who would Wish to be a Minister in France it exposed to the attacks of the Journals I—. These arguments were not promoted by a love for despotism ; let the state of the public mind be exa _ mined every session, and welcomesbe the day when the King, the Nation, and the Writers may be told that the Liberty of the 14css was proclaimed as it would not any longer be attended with danger.— The orator summed up, and concluded with recom mending the adoption of the project of a law, with to ame o dmvul, peovitling•that tbe-C . users gbould be chosen nom among the Magistrates. The speech was ordered to be printed. M. Gat.t.ols warmly attacked the principle of the projet. He maintained, that it was contradictory to the Bth article of the Constitutional Charter, which says—" The French have a right to print and pub lish their opinions, if they conform to the laws de signed to repress the abuse of that liberty." Such, said he, is the solemn promulgation of the liberty of the press, which his Majesty in his declaration of the 2d of May had announced as one of the buts of the liberal Constitution which he wai determined to adopt. The laws which best establish the liberty of the press were likewise those that punish its excesses the most severely. You could n o t, therefore, but await with just impatience that repressive law which was finally to assure to France the peaceable, con. slant, and regular exercise of that right. In this dis position you must have seen with astonishment, mix ed with regret, that the plan of the I.lw presented to you was contrary to the Constitutional Charter. It fixes methods of literary jurisdiction csmtrary to the dispositions of the Charter, and not the.methods of judicial procedure which it announces. It specifies what it does not permit, but does not specify what it enjoins.—He then contended, that the proposed mea sures were not a restraint on the abuse of liberty, but on liberty itself. He shewed the dangers of a lite rary censorship under a bad Government, which might make it a medium of attaining the object pro posed by the famous decree of the Council of State in 1761, which forbad the writing and printing of works on matters relating to Administration. These dangers would be more apparent, when it was con sidered that four-fifths of the works tin the subject of the public administration did not czceed 20 beets, and would consequently come under the cognizance of the partial tribunal which it was proposed to esta blish, and which could not fail to stifle tree and use ful ideas, together with such as were false and perni cious. 44 In short, Gentlemen," continued M. Gal lois,44 the whole system of censorship and restriction established by the plan of the law, both in regard to larger works and the journals, is absolutely contras y. to the principle of a representative Constitution, It tends to deprive the nation of the information which it has a right to receive on all subjects of public in terest, to form its opinion both respecting that inte rest and the persons whose duty it is to defend it.— Whatever deprives a nation of. the knowledge of its rights and interests, also deptives the government of its real strength toe, in 110 i -country, the strength of the.governinent resides in the public opinion, and in that alone ; and the liberty of the press is the in strument of that opinion." The Chamber ordered the speech of M. Gallois to be printed. M. Tuaut.r, who succeeded, contended that a mi- tigated censorship was the only fmans of guarding from the incendiary pamphlets which inundates! France in 1789, 90, and 91, and which had again made their appearance. M. Deerdscri siipported the whole of the Report. . The chants conceded liberty of thought ; that li berty was incompatible with previous censrnship.— The necessity of establishing the censorship, at leas; for a time, was talked of ; hut under the pretext of an imaginary inconvenience, that abuse would he perpetuated. Since the 4th of June, circurnstenccc, far from having become more unfavourable to the liberty of the press, were in fact more propitious : the public mind was sensibly improving. M. Goeutansupported the sentiments of the mi notify of the Committee. Let us adjourn, said Ire, teat liberty of the Press which may endanger the happiness of our country. He proposed, therefore, that in the event of a previous censorship being voted. by the Chamber, it should. also decide—lst. That this Censorship shall only include writings of 2(1 sheets of print. 2d. That the In y charged to examine these writings shall be permanent, in order that, if useful truths be found in these writings. they may be published. 3d. 'Phu the law shall only be in force till the nett Session of the Legislatnre, and that at that period the same question be *gem brougirt forward for discussion M. Duamealep.—Gentlemen, the principle of the Liberty of the Pies cannot be tioutottUl to men tot good faith. In our modern sialr! , , at the point d civilizationNihicn. we have reached, the Liberty of the Press is the necessary zgis of ci.il and political liberty. To deprive us in the one, is to destroy the other. The national wish and the constitutional, charter have formed of this principle a fundamental maxim, which it will be in vain to attempt to de. Buoy by lan interpretation contrary to the truth. Far is it from my wish to protect hicentinnsnesc, -under the semblance of liberty ; liberty itself is interested in fesessing its own abuses. The system of the plan ordains, generally speaking, a previous censotship on the publication of all kinds of wsifings. The articly appears to exempt therefrom works of more than thirty printed sheets; but the fourteenth and fifteenth articles destroy the effect of this exemption. It is there said, that no writing can be published be fore having been declared or deposited ; and that the. work will be seized if information is given against it. to the Tribunals. Observe this expression : it is not merely an examination. a decision of the Tribunal— it is sufficient that it be informed against Py the lowest agent of the Police, in order to us publication being detayed for an indefinite time, which it is so easy to prolong. As well might the law have de clared—nothing shall be published, nothing said in France, but by order. Soon no book would apneas but under the good pleasure of the Miiiisters—(A laugh.) We have heard much of a Jury. which pre. noancing in the last resort, will remedy the wrongs of the Censorship. Reflect a lime • oil air mass of writings which will annually by in waiting' for the scissars of the Censor : view the Director-eknesal of b g blei cutahnt three neeenr Peers rs m sh a a a n s l i s d o h : w rve ee l t en i D i t i g eo s ip , a, da I t: e s: ld ßoo aesltal k yy se ,ot l fh li ew n r g i:i s ms i e n u k ps i tu n to read minutely all these writings, and to decide oe the opinion of each Censor. /led where shah be to, responsibility of the Director ? he will be only a gigantic tantom ; the Ministers will bug themselves with impunity on the success of their despotic mea sures. The Meister, on presenting the plan of the law, said that tne character tit use Frencti was not suited to more liberty : that we hx.. tecrive, from nature a mobility Of ini.tgittation, v.hic:. mus Absolutely be teidrained ! fl.O not some one (laic Alsu to calumm:tte our molotao y xlory in a pernehie.. which was profusely . disttibtged Cu you on the ver, day when the plan was submitted to you ? Tou were there told that that military glory was founded only on individual selfishness. Ah l the justification of our warriors will be fund in our history and in our hearts. All France is equally tired of servitude and. of licentiousness. French hone ur remains untouched. The Kings of Europe acknowledged it; they van quished Bonaparte, but did rot pretend to triumph over the French.-1 repeat it. without the LBwrty of the Preis there can be no civil libcrty. Frenchmen! will you permit the Statue of Liberty to be covered with funeral crape I The King who governs us has promised the- Li b erty of the Press as one of the bless ings of his reign i it is upon it that the foundAtios of die monarchy must be seated. The printing of this discourse was demanded, put to the vote, and rejected by a small majority. The assembly then rose. and the discussion was ordered to be continued on Monday. The auditors were very numerous. brilliant, and attentive. At one of the most vehement pawl's of M. Dumolird's speech, it was apprehended Cog ap. phrases were about to burst forth Irom all parts, but a proper restraint toms observed by the public. PARIS, AUGUST 7. Among the Decrees lately issued is one appoictinx the Baron de Pradt, Archbishop of Moline:, in be Chancellor of the Legion of Honour ; and Count J. C. Joseph de Dienne du Puy de Chelade. to be the Secretary General to this Chancery. • A new Decree relative to the posts, revokes. after the 15th instant. that of the 2flth of May, which aired a provisional tariff on post hones. The Duchess Dowager of Orleans arrivedritcrdar at Paris. A considerable number of persons, formerly belonging to her household, proceeded to meet her on the road to Villejuif, in order to pay her their respects. • Her Highness was sensibly affected at their conduct, And derived much pleasure from recollecting, end' naming them. Monsieur Della Genga, the Pope's Nuncio Er, tratirdinary in Fiance, was dangerously ill, and bad received the list Sacraments of the Church. S nce this period, however, he has become convalescent, sad it pronounced out of danger. The lath Ankle of the Decree relative to die Le. gion of alur states, that the establishments fi , rm. 4 at Paris, at Barbeaus, and Aux Loges, for :be *du. cation of the Orphans of the Legion, are suppressed. The relations of tLese orphans are in consequence in vited to withdraw them without delay, from thos, houses; and orders have been given to Madame De. lesean, the Matron-Generil of the Orphan Establish, ments, to give to each child its uniform, or other clothes and linen. Each pupil will have a pension 4 250 francs per annum till the age of Is. NOyARAO, JULY sr. - - The fate of our province becomes more uncertain. - The Austrians continue in military possession of our Country, which causes great embarrassment in the administration of affairs. grime think we are to forma ,a pail of the Austrian possessions in Lombardy, while others suppose the King of Sardinia will nut easily suffer himself to be deprived of so rid} a IrOtinCe• • PAkMA, JULY 2!, Her Imperial Highness the Arelidochess ' Louisa will make her solemn entry into bee Staters ' about the end of next MOStill• suLy 17. It is believed that the Emperor will leave Schoen. bruno the Ist or Qd of 4ugust t for hi{ family &Alois's luberck. The organisation of the Italian provinces. which • tall to the shoe of Austria. is procredeti in vsalt:• Brest activity, De Mats and Pe M4ffer. Aulic coon• senors, are aimed Si the acting S;onsmibsioist-rs to finish das organisation. The first goes to Malmo. the second to Venice. The Civil Governors are n u t yet named. field-Mqshol Count Milaary Commandant at Milan. and ihe ?since de Kans. Commandant at Venice. perform Omer functions. His Majesty has named Field-Masshal Baron Ten% net.' Military covernnr of the Tyrol. MADRID, JULY tr. Our Grand. Imps:ne is appointed I the chnice of his Majesty has fallen upon Mier Bishop of AlMetlA. TIliS Prelate WAS cunwerated by we last Grand Inquisitor, Monsignor Arm s Archbishop of SarAgossa, now at Paris. Our Ambassador to the King of Francs hat not yet set out. The health of M. M , cans. oar Minis. ter 01 GM"! and Justice. is perfectly reestablished. Our finances and America are the subjects ul our chief concern, The aural of the Clergy cannot supply all oar wants and the equipment of the force necessary toe restor ing peace in our colonies, is an afar not unattended with difkulties. addresses of tongratul4tion continue. Madrid is perfectly quiet. Several equipage's again male tlwir appearance on the Prato. and utir misfortunes have not diminished our luxury. It is a pity that the riglish fashions cannot be adapted to our nati. final cagoule i tor. it will be some time yet before those of Paris cease to excite the displeasure of our polio lice. It is well known that the colour of a gown is , here a very serious affair. There is nothing new at present—the English Jour nals no binger come to alarm us respectin4 our situa tion, which they pretend to know much better than ourselves. Whatevet may be said on the subject se are iatisfied with our state; and the happiness uE having our King among us, makes amends lur what we lost during his absence. IDLY 18.—We are assured that the English Am. • bassAtios has not read with indifference the preamble to we I)ecree which authorises the re-establishmtnt of the lialy Inquisition. The manner in which the sects are described, who are opposed to the Lath die Apostolic, and Roman Religion, is not iaer, lady as the Spanish people give credit to we subject to the full extent in which it stated. We ought not to forget that the English hare Ac 'iiSteCi us to reconquer our independence. licsie;cs as our comrueice, and the slate of our colonies render it a law with us to tie on good terms with this Power, with whom we have relations to Illaiiit&so. it le impolitic to sow the seeds tit hatred and division. in account of religious °potions dilloptsd ucyonti the r i eninsula. It is said that the British h A ITl—tscolor has expres las astonishment at tills conduct ; rut stir matter not go farther. Uur Ministry ...A giv e non to •iiiderhtand. that the prearatlie of this Decree as a ftre matter at term, and dos not dewrve attention. DV r VIE The intelligence my tt,e Archduchess MA tory. The f stigu. • weakened bet hesllh • alrrady in a peetario pawnor the new s helium'. the Casa C bad kept arms rasp before yesterdAy. an " AN the act. *h ft's island. ate defier Napoleon. Si•vering , signed by hint. an.l This General. who raced. ofirred histi after his akdicai s hie. Dap. h.ispiial ant an aqi walks. and is aced,* tar hi. subjects. 111 is his int:4llms to pi tltc ars• and areas ;nn am. all Fn. him 01 their ow* •Cd back. and passes a p clout. It is sopii Iris life. and dist ho , in which e will dot without dis.enitsling seed in justifying bi conscience hunt press on ii, lied hen seiice sfinch will be THE El • FRIDAY Passe, V•LMT so 'This day st Ont t were fired, it Wog hit Royal Highness An erroneous lei intended ICptiltl 4 )ll in tit. James's and t stated from autbarit ever intcaticd. At a fate hour la of Mow.,lay, and Or In the Chamber of jest t ti.e Liberty c do great honour to moderate and evisigl nothing like Jetsam speakers, we *beet( quele . ion. in the e dajOsisst leaking the ever, gives the spec called the *nista' it dues the spembes We have eztracti is which Clarawsite mile Lad Lida ul K.t deism to the Sir As article (roes Asthmatic* has ill 11. which the real lineal** is dicta is the smut ookb listaaith awl sauna of so malt COMMA Ir. k wil Tbe Dolor dip Bit to be the beau tat ems to be pawl Lot tt XVIII. at I VA% UV.1,416 flk mated a T.,6t1 at 1 its jog:t.t I swab ttuJed ash a kw dAubt els/M.6J its This calibrated a Liken int., 64 psy the Liston Pavel Geared Ht str.i.ll to 16/I.6ad a iew ) tatox's pay. By the demise BeivsrA at c scee.i t .wudi South As agaiutt the lawful dive:site). we iv; which Maalox liumartir died, 1 14st, bcf.ge enter Agitator. 4 VANDAWII4 Dal oat of ernpinytner the Paris Papers GOT We have teteil CAJCLAMATION 01 ULSICK, 01 " We, ClaistiJ rid the Constitut Way, Prince of 1 denburgh, beret' celled to the TN Act oi the 17th 1 ,igned by the Die and have taken t Norway, man “ The ptincip acts ms wdl rid