Star. — London, England, 1808-05-28 00:00:00

FOREIGN lATELLIGENCE. GOTTENBURG?-1, MAY 20. The Swedish fleet from Calscrona took, it is said, 2000 troops from thence on board, whence it sailed, and '2OOO from Calmar, and proceedci to Gothland, in order to dislodge the Russians, who still retain possession of that island. Admiral Sir SAMUEL Hoon, it is also said, has sailed for the same place. The English fleet and army remain lien', and we are as yet ignorant where they will be destined. yan ex tra post arrived this evening, we learn that the Swedes have been very successful against the Russians, in the upper part of Finland, near Gamla Carleby, have made a great number of prisoners, and taken a large quantity of ammunition. We have nothing new from Norway. STOCKHOLM, MAY 16. On the 9th inst. his Majesty was graciously pleased to appoint Countiviaurice Klingspor, General in Chief of the Army in Finland, to be a Field-Marshal. On the same day his Majesty was also graciously pleased to promote Charles John Adlercreuz, Colonel of a re giment of infantry, and Knight and Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword, to be a Ma t ;or-General. His Royal Majesty received the day before yester day the following report from Field Marshal Count Klingspor, of the 2d of this month : " In consequence of the Russians cotitittuing to retreat since the affair of Revolax, I have taken up another position, which not only enables me to pur sue our offensive operations against the enemy, but also vigorously to oppose any offensive measures which they may think proper to renew. " The 30th of April, I moved from Limmingo to Karankanda, and arrived yesterday at Sckajocki, and this day here. The first brigade is to march this day from Lumijocki. The second brigade moved the 30th April from Lumijocki to Sckajocki, and reached this day Pattjocki, half' a mile distant from this place. " The 3d brigade marched the 29th April, from Lumijocki to Sckajocki, halted there the 30th, and arrived here yesterday. The 4th brigade, which,' since the action near Revolax, occupied that place, is to march this day to \Vihandi, from whence I have ordered the Commander of this brigade to send strong detachments to Aulais, in pursuit of the enemy, and to push the detachments, if possible, as far as Kala jocki, in order to cut off the enemy's retreat to Pyha jocki. The sth brigade covers the left flank of the army, and occupies the environs of Frantzila. " In order to derive all possible advantages frcim the inhabitants of the provinces rising in a mass, I have thought it right to issue a Proclamation, a copy of which I beg leave humbly hereby to transmit to yotir Majesty. " In celebration of the signal advantages obtained over the enemy on the 18th of April, near Sckajocki, and on the 27th of the same month near Revolax, Te *as yesterday sung through the wht , le army; and I have also, in obedience to your Majesty's most ''t-acious orders, distributed the medals to reward mi litary merit, among those who most distinguished themselves on these ever memorable days. (Signt-d ) " I%IA UR ICE KLINGSPOR." " Head-quarters, Brahested, May Mg." PROCLANIA TiON. " As it has pleased ALMIGHTY Goo to bless his Majesty's arms with two signsl victories over the treacherous enemy of this country, who, with arms in his hands in this country, endea• vottred by insidious insinuations to seduce from their loyal at- Jachment to their King, the inhabitants of a province, at all times celebrated for their unshaken loyalty-1 herewith call on you good and faithful East Bothnians, my dear and worthy friends, to lend all possible as,istance to the brave army which I have the honour to command, to supply the troops with provisions as far as in your power, and to join in the exertion; of your brethren in arms to destroy our treacherous enemy, who comes to consign' you to misery and di:grace. (Signed) " MAURICE KLINGSPOR. " Head-quarters, Sckajacki, May 1, 1808. His Royal Majesty received yesterday, from Field- Marshal Count I(lingspor, the following report of Colonel Sandals, Chief of Brigade: " Pursuant to the orders received from his Excel lency the Commander in Chief, and in consequence of accounts w•hidl reached me, stating that Palkila was still occupied by the Russians, I yesterday put myself in motion at three o'clock in the afternoon. with a division of the 6th brigade from Frantzila, and marched during the night in three columns to Pul kila, which is three and one quarter miles distant trom the former place. At three o'clock this morn ing I attacked the enemy's piquets, which were either taken or driven back at four o'clock. The main at tack commenced and continued, notwithstanding the most vigorous resistance on the part of the enemy un til seven o'clock, when the Russians, surrounded on all sides, and attacked with fixed bayonets, were com?eiled to surrender. " Besides a considerable number of killed and wounded, which it is not yet in my power to aster-1 tain, the enemy has lost two stand of colours, one' brass six-pounder, and a large quantity of ammunition and arms, which are fallen into our hands. Lieute nant-Colonel Abukoff, who commanded the Russian tiuops, .5 Officers, 18 Non-commissioned Officers, 4 Drummers, 21 Cossacks with their horses, and 197 foot soldiers, have been taken. " I have sent all the prisoners to Frantzila, there to wait his Excellency's orders. (Signed) " J. A. SANDALS." " Pulkila, 2d May, 1868" BERLIN, APRIL as. There is no longer any doubt that the camp 'which the French were to form this summer near Berlin, will , actually he formed. The ground is already begun to be marked, and the wells are digging. The head quarters will be placed at Charlottenbourg ; one of t‘ , e wings in the environs of Tegel ; one on the road - .o Hamburgh ; and the other at Tempelhof, before die gate of Halle. On the sth of May, 25,000 men are to enter the camp. The cavalry will be, for the greater part, cantoned in the villages ; there will be but a small part near the head quarters lodged in wooden barracks. Representations having been made to Marshal Victor on the impossibility of finding in the country itself provision for the subsistence of the naps, orders have been already issued to send corn I.:kJ cattle from Westphalia. BELGRADE, APRIL 17. • , The hopes which had been formed of seeing peace re-established between Russia and Turkey without a fresh effusion of human blood, are from day to day ,ilininishing, and all the dispositions which we see, h.- dicate the resumption of hostilities as very near. On. - nth of March, the Russian Counsellor of State Rodofinikin, residing in this city, received a wittier from Bucharest, by whtith he learnt, that since the Porte refused to accede to any of the proposals Mode by Russia, and to make the renunciation of Servia and the other provinces required of her, and the truce agreed upon at Sloboja being about to terminate at the end of March, hostilities Would imtnediately ie. commence. M. Rodofinikin imparted this intelli gence, immediately to the Servian Senate, requiring that all the necessary preparations should be made in Servia, for the prompt opening of the campaign.— The demand of the representative of the Emperor Alexander was instantly complied with, and the great est activity reigns at this instant in all Servia. Every where the troops are in motion ; transports of artil lery and amintinition are met on all the roads, and great activity prevails in the arsenals. The General in Chief, Czerny Georges, is returned to this city, from the journey he made to his estate at Topela, where he resided but a short time after the reVieW of his troops. In order to facilitate the provisioning the fortresses of Servia, and that of the armies who are about to enter the field, the Senate has pissedi reso lution, prohibiting every kind of exportation of cattle. We have since learnt froth Wallachia, that the head quarters have been transferred again froth Jassy to Bucharest ; that Prince ProsototVski has issued an order indicating to each corps its destination, and the General under whom it is to be placed in the next campaign._ [Here follow some minute statements concerning the positions of the regiments]. Intelligence from Bucharest informs us, that Ge neral Milloradowitz has been appointed Commander in Chief of the Russian Army in Moldavia and Wal lachia, in the place of Prince Prosorowski, who is obliged to return to Russia in consequence of ill health. BUCHAREST, APRif. (Article published at Paris.) The number of Russian troops in Wallachia is in creasing daily. All the measures taken by the Rus sians -there resemble the act of taking possession.— The Russian General Milloradowitz has just notified to the Divan of Wallachia, that Prince Ypsilanti will have no further authority in those provinces ; and he has nominated provisionally to supply the place of this ancient Hospodar, a Committee of four principal. Boyards. It appears that Prince Ypsilanti has been but an instrument of which the Russians availed them , selves to establish their power, and which they break as soon as they need no longer. This is the reward which the Hospodar who invited the Russians into the principality, receives for his attachment. BAYONNE, MAY 2. Our newspapers contain the following particftlars respecting the journey and arrival of the Prince of the Peace: 4 , The Prince of the Peace was, on his arrival, ac companied by Colonel Maries, Aide-de-Camp of his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke of Berg ; he ap pears to have suffered much during his imprisonment. —Not a day passed by during which persons did not come to his dungeon, and tell him he would soon be led to the scaffold. When he was taken from prison, in order to be delivered over to the officer who was to take him to Bayonne, he had a long beard ; during a whole month he had no clean shirt ; he had no person to wait upon him. On the road, he had the conso lation of receiving a letter from King Charles IV. and the Queen, full of testimonies of their affection. It is said, that on the King's letter, there were the marks of his tears. When the Prince received this, ht said, • See there, the only consolation I have had this month ; every one abandoned me except my King ; the ungrateful, whom I had loaded with bene fits, did not dare to raise a voice in my favour. The Garde: du Corp, who sold their King, will sell his son also. I have no other ambition now, than to find' art asylum in France, and have my children about me.' 4 , The officer who accompanied him sheaved him on the way the newspapers which affirmed that he pos sessed a fortune of 500 millions. The Prince answered Slander will never cease to stain my actions; yet I dare challenge my bitterest enethies to lay any thing to my charge in this respect. Nothing further could he found by me than the sums necessary to discharge the daily expences of a house like mine. I possess no funds in England, France, Italy, or Genoa ; and I can appeal to the testimony of the merchants of those countries. I have employed the benefactions which I have received from my Sovereign in purchasing estates in Spain, which every one knows, and which have now been taken from me by injtsstice and arbi trary power. Having now witnessed the horrid deeds which I foretold, I wish now for nothing but peace and repose. The approbation and friendship of Charles IV. are enough for my conscience." The following important document has been pub lished here : _ _ gg By authority, travellers and the public are infor med, that all passports and other instruments issued by the Spanish Government, in the name of Ferdi nand VII. since the 29th ult. will not be acknowledged by French civil and military officers." PARLIAMEATARr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 27. The Royal assent was given •to ninety-six public and private Bills. • The Commissioners were the Loan CHANCELLOR, Earl BA.• THURST, and LOld WALISINOHAM. The Commibsion of Milimry Enquiry, and Duchess of Bruns wick's Annuity Bills, were brought from the Commons, and read a first time. their CATHOLIC PETITION. Lord GRENVILLE moved that this petition be read, which being done, his Lordship prweeded to ad. dress the House in support of its prayer. He apo logized for the delay which had occurred in bringing the question forward, and particularly regretted that one main object with him in postponing it had not been attained, namely, the attendance of a Noble Earl (Grey) whose character and talents were an or nament to that House, and must give a very high de ' gree of weight and importance to any cause which he supported. But though, from a domestic cala mity he was deprived of his personal assistance, it was with the highest satisfaction he could state, that in the course of conduct and argument which he should that evening pursue, he had the cordial concurrence of his Noble Friend. The delay, however, had been productive, in one respect of considerable benefit to the class of men whose interests were under discus sion. Though the decision which had elsewhere taken place was hostile to the immediate grant of their deists, yet the discussion had been marked with a tone of temper and moderation, from which every thing Was to be expected at no remote period, It was up ii the whole prbdtictive of Stich a result, as shewed, that the petitioners, in subMitting their Cause upon this occasion to the opinion of Parliament, con trary to his advice, had acted tipon a more extensive ' knowledge of local considerations and the progressive change of circumstances, thin he could, from perso nal observation, be supposed to have the.rneans of obtaining. It appeared that in Ireland a most mate rial change had taken place in the opinion of the Protestant gentry. Nine counties had decidedly de clared in favour of the petition on the table. He fer vently hoped, that, Whatever the issue of the debate might be, it Would be conducted by their Lordships in such a tone, as to keep the attention and expecta tion of the Ca holies fixed upon the British Parlia ment. The petitioners were anxious to prove, that it was from that quarter alone that they expected every blessing which the unlimited enjoyment of the privi leges of a free Constitution could confer on them.— At a period when a most formidable confederacy threatened the existence of their common country— when the trenches were considerably advanced, and the lines of circumeallation were drawing closer around us—they felt that the most powerful prepara tion for defence was that of extinguishing every source of internal jealousy and animosity. In the year 177 8 , under similar circumstances, the line of policy which he now recommended was first adopted. It was ex tended on the breaking out of the great contest in which we were now engaged, and he could safely aver, for no man had better opportunities of knowing it, that in contemplating the benefits of the Union, one of the greatest in the mind of Mr. Pitt was the facility which he apprehended it would give to the complete and unqualified admission of the Catholics within the pale of the Constitution. It was his in tention, hoWever, to accompany this measure with every thing that could guard the Protestant establish ment, and that could render the gift advantageous to the Catholics. Their clergy were to have a decent subsistence from the State, and his Majesty was to have a negative upon the nomination of their bishops. The oath of supremacy, while it was to be altered so as to remove their scruples on the score of the spiri tual authority of the Pope, was to be so worded as to afford every security that could be asked for their temporal obedience to the State. These topics natu rally led his Lordship to consider the chief points of doctrine relied upon by the adversaries of the Catho. lics, as disqualifying them from the enjoyment of civil rights. 'His Lordship having at great length refuted the various objections which had been urged against the prayer of the petition upon these grounds, recurred to the inculcation of a spirit of moderation and forbearance in all parties at the present perilous crisis. The force of Europe was now united against us, not under the direction of a discordant confede racy, but under the guidance of one man—and that man actuated by a most inveterate determination to accomplish our destruction. He particularly im pressed upon the Catholics the reflection, that what ever their situation might now be, still they could have no hope of redress but from the British Legisla ture. Ireland, in its most oppressed state, was a pic ture of happiness, compared to the condition in which it would be placed by a French force. Was not every country which France had succeeded, under various pretences, in over-running, levelled and amalgama ted into one -undistinguished mass of oppression ? From this quarter they had nothing to hope for but the bitterness of misery ; but he was convinced, that they might speedily look for the complete attainment of all their wishes, to the enlightened liberality, and the progressively favourable opinion of the British Parliament and the British nation. His Lordship concluded with moving that the petition be referred to a Committee. Lord SIDMOUTH said, the view he had taken of the subject was totally different. Whatever he might think of the time and circumstances under which this petition was brought forward, he would fairly, candidly, and openly say, that his mind could not conceive any tittle or any circumstances in which such a discussion would Improper ; but as to the pru dence of bringing forward this petition at the present time, and under the present circumstances, he thought that the petitioners had acted imprudently, and that they had put themselves in the situation of having even their Catholicism and their public spirit called into question. They appeared to doubt of the steadiness and consistency of Parliament, who had voted some years ago against the claim. He did not mean to throw the least imputation against their motives ; but to argue the measure as neces sary to secure their allegiance was, as he con ceieed, a much greater imputation than he, although adverse to their claim, would think of making.— It would be the same as to suppose our sailors and soldiers would refuse to meet the enemy, unless their 'situation was made much more coMfortable than it is at present. It was universally admitted, that the object of the petition was to enable a certain description of Catholics to enter into the first offices of the State, civil and military. His objection to thii part of the petition was, that it was narrow and cir cumscribed in its object, and did not embrace the condition of the great body of the people. He thought the Legislature ought rather to look to the great body of the population, and not confine themselves to certain classes of the community, while they passed by the great body, when attachment was the princi pal object% To the great body of the Catholics this measure had little or no interest. As for the great interest which it was supposed the Gentlemen of large fortune would have over the minds of the mass of the people, he doubted it very much. He believ ed that there was very little of that sort of interest existing in the country for the higher orders ; at least he knew that, In the time of the rebellion, the higher orders did not appear to have any influence over the lower orders. He was attached to the reformed re• ligion, as conceiving it to be the constitutional reli gion of the State. He believed that the tenets Or the church of England were more suited to a monarchy like our's ; and whether he looked at . the Dissenters in the time of Cromwell, or the Catholics in the tithe of Charles the Second, he was the more confirmed in his opinion. Popery had ever been the handmaid of arbitrary power ; and as he considered that there was some connection between men's reli gious tenets and their political ones, he did think the State ought to demand some pledge from every per son before they entrusted theta with -offices of 'great trust and responsibility. He positively denied that the Test Acts had been originally directed against the House of Stuart ; their object was only to protect the country from the Popish principles professed by the Princes of that House. In considering the state of Ireland, he could not avoid giving considerable attention to the statements publicly made by the late Lord Clare eight years ago, that in the very heart of Ireland there existed a temporal jurisdiction, Con trouled by a foreign power, and that there was at that moment a Court of Cardinals sitting at Rome for the express purpose of making laws fur Ireland. Having the page of history before filth, and seeing hoc the Catholics conducted themselves in l 6 s 5 and 1689, he did not think they could safely he trusted with power. He did not know what was to he thought of men who from year to year, and week gn week, for these thirty years, had been receiving proofs of the liberality of the Legislature, and ytt could now be suspected as likely to waver in their allegiance, if this petition was not granted. He in. stanced, from the history of Europe, that whercvu'r the Catholics had been put upon a level with the Protestants, they had never ceased entil thersubjn gated the latter by insidious and jesuitical practices. He also objected to giving power to those wit° ac knowledge a power different from, and often hostile ' to, the Government of the country. He thought that they were embarking in this business blindly and in the dark. It appeared to him that a Protestant Government should exclude Catholics from places of the highest trust. He thought a Protestant King should be surrounded principally by Protestant of ficers. In making these few observations, he begged leave to state, that he considetesalmself as defending the principles of the ReformZUW, of the Act of Set tlement, and all those principles which placed the il lustrious House cf Hanover on the throne of there countries. On these principles he opposed the motion. Earl MOIRA could not agree that any imputa tion could lie against the loyalty of the Catholics of Ireland. He thought they had a clear and undoubted right to a full participation in the blessings of the Constitution. The Noble Viscount seemed to think there were now but few causes of d issatisfaction among the Catholics of Ireland. He would assure him, how. evsr, that he was mistaken in point of fast ; for that the Catholics did consider it as a most severe grievance not to have the channels open to their fair and hcnour. able ambition. He did not see any reason why the Catholics should stop any thing short of these claims, to which they were in justice entitled, or why any office in the kingdom should be withheld from them, merely on account of their religious tenets. As to the high situation of the Lord Chancellor, that might perhaps be improper, as the Lord Chancellor had the disposal of a considerable portion of Crown livings.— There was, however, very little probability of such an appointment being made, even though it were lawful. It was lawful at present for his Majesty to make his groom Lord Chancellor, but then the improbability of such an appointment was so great, that it might be called an impossibility. There was therefore no reason for Noble Lords to alarm themselves with the fear of Popish Chancellors, even although the peti tion were agreed to ; but it was very unlikely that a Roman Catholic should be appointed to the only situ ation in which his religious opinions could do a public ' evil. The situation of the Catholics in Ireland was excessively galling. It was well known that those who are held up to us as objects of suspicion, we soon began to fear ; those whom we fear Soon become ob jects of hatred and persecution. He thought the pre sent times were so much more alarming than any which had preceded them, that it was absolutely ne cessary to remove every just Cause of oissatisfaction. He thought, that if we now perceived no shock in the affairs of the country, it was because we were running down the hill with an accelerated velocity, and he very much feared the first shock we felt we should never be able to recover. Every man of common sense saw that the time must shortly come when the prayer of this petition must be granted, and the Caw tholics allowed fairly to participate in the blessinw of the Constitution, and of that country which ey would be called upon to defend. Thinking then that it was a measure which might be granted ultimately, he thought it would be better to grant it at once, in order that dissatisfaction might be removed, and the strength of the nation firmly united, at a crisis more serious and alarming than this country had ever bee fore seen. All Europe now lay under the grasp of Bonaparte, and if we did not fully know his invete rate hostility to this country, yet we must be sure that if it were only because it is yet unconquered, that would be a sufficient reason to induce him to direct all the resources of his immense empire against us.— Under such circumstances, and when the Catholics might be soon called upon, not only for common sa crifices, but to join heart in hand in defence of the Protestant Church and Government, he thought alley ought not to be stigmatised with any degrading infe riority, but that they should be equal to their fellow subjects in privileges, as well as in zeal and loyalty. The Bishop of NORWICH then rose, and in a maiden speech, ably supported the claims of the Ca tholics, to which he said several other Rev. Bishops were also friendly. He answered in their order the various objections which had been made to those claims. It had been said, that no one could claim the highest civil or military offices as a right, or com plain of not receiving them. It appeared to him, how ever, that it was most clearly an injury to any de scription of his Majesty's subjects, to check their ho nourable ambition, and prevent them receiving those rewards which might be due to their main With respect to the religious opinions and tenets of the Catholics, he thoughtit strange that other persons should pretend to - know the doctrines which were held by the Catholics of the present day, better than the Catholics themselves. The Catholic body had in the most solemn manner, and by oath, denied those abominable doctrines which were imputed to them. It was in vain then to go back to the Councils of La teran or of Trent, to look for the doctrines of the Ca tholics of this day. The opinions which they did hold, appeared to have no bad practical effect on the conduct of their lives ; fof the Legislature had seve ral times borne testimony of their loyalty as subjects; and it would not be said that, in private life, they were governed by the principle imputed to them, that no faith was to be kept with heretics. If they really did hold such a doctrine, they would be not only unfit for political power or for privileges, but they would be absolutely unfit for human society. Such monsters ought to be exterminated from the face of the earth. r I v•-- • 00" tbe 141 sod. ° fere' fk ' l ' l3 bai b el Ile li gls bit ki iteS . - hiS