Star. — London, England, 1822-01-18 00:00:00

~. _ . ~ . 'Etr4PBRS. - • . I CH4,IOI3FIR OF DEPUTIFS. • MTN JANUARY 14. 4 //' ttiNfik niienini cif the 'Sitting, both sides of the tribune were besieged by crowds of Members, who were desirous of putting down their. names to speak ••--- • for:and against the Report of M. CHIFFLST on the Law Project relative to the offences of the Ptess. The galleries were filled with spectators. The KErPER of the SEALS, and MM. Coastgas, de irticti.v., and de CLERAIONY-TONNtRRS, were on bench. The PR es I DENT.-1 have received two letters which ought to be communicated to the Chamber—(Move ment of curiosity). The first letter was from the brother of M. SAPEY, Deputy for the here, who is confined to his bed by a serious illness, requesting that his absence might ba excusel The second, which is of more import. ance, is as follows: " Pars, January 14. " Montetra to Pommewr—T have received information that, under the pretext of searching for a man accused of being impli cated in the troubles which lately occurred at Belfort, persons wearing the appearance of magistrates and agents of the public force have committed acts of violence in my house, and even in my own apartment—f A movement of surprise, and some agita tion)—that they have broken open doors, opened by force closets and cupboards of which I had the keys; thrown into disorder, and perhaps carried off, the effects and papers which were there deposited; and that they even announced their intention to re turn in a few days. " If the laws be insufficient to protect the house of the citizen, I still encourage the hope that my presence may prevent the re • newal of similar scenes; or, at least, I feel the necessity of en deavotning to ascertain myself the dam ige which has been done, and, if po.isible, to repair it. " These reasors appear to me sufficient to justify my request of leave of absence, which I beg you will submit to the Chamber. " 1 have flir honour to be, &c. (Signed) D'ARGENSOK" On the name of 11. IY RGENSON being read, noisy exclamations resounded from the right side. • The PRES, DENT.—Thete is no opposition to the application for leave—(Silence on the right). Voices on the lef. No, no r Leave was then granted. M. BA2lliE reported from the Committee of Peti tions. --1 Petition from the Sieur Vial de Colom bean, of Paris, for ang.oenting the sum granted for the aid of the refugees from St. Domingo, gave rise to a long debate: it was at last referred to the Minis ter of the Interior. LAW PROJECT ON THE PERS& • PRESIDENT.—The order of the day calls to the tribune the Reporter of the Committee appointed to consider the Law Project for the repression of of fences of the Press.—This Committee consists of 3131. Chillier, Wooer, de Peyronnet, Preveraud de la Ban tres,?, Chillaud, de la Iligaudu, Pardessus, Pommeral, Florian de liergauly, Nleynard. M. CIIIFFLET, the Reporter.—The Law Project which your Committee has directed me to report has , for its object the repression of several offences which were not provided against by the Laws of the 17th .May, and the 9th If June, 1819. In generally adopt ing the proposed measures, your Committee has per ceived still too much reserve. Permit me to make some preliminary observations. Here the Reporter entered into very long details. He applauded the sphit which dictated Article 1, against writers who insti!t t w ridicule either the religion of the State, or any other t eligion, the establi hment of which is re cognized in France. It would be no longer imagined, as in the deiii ium of party spirit it had been. that the law of Fiaixe was atheistical, aud that it ought so to be. He ex, rested the same approbation of Article 2, which provides against the insulting of the Royal Authority; and of Article 4, I el-46 we to instigations to hatred and conteni t t of the King's Government— (Viulent murmurs on the left). M. de GIKARDIN—This definition has a frightful latitude. M. Cumwr, in continuation.—To tranquillize, however, the most anxious minds, your Cummittae proposes to adJ to this Article, U the present provi sion shall not militate against the right of discussion and the censuring of Ministerial acts"—(Agitation). Voices on the left.—Under the good pleasure of the Commission of Censorship and its circulars. The Reporter proceeded.—The law of the 17th of May authorised the Journals to give accounts of the debates of the Chamber of Deputies, provided they were reported correctly and with good faith ; but that law enacted no punishment against the opposite of fence, namely, the reporting the Sittings of the Cham ber and Tribunals unfaithfully. The present Project supplies this defect. Not only the Editors who pub lish unfaithful accounts may be punished by fine and imprisonment, but, according to Article 7, the pro- prietrr and editors of the offending Journal may be prohibited from giving any further accounts of legis lative or judicial proceedins. The Committee is of opinion, that a total prohibition would be too rigor ous, and that it a ill be sufficient to interdict the pub lication for a limited period. Voice on the left.—lf the suspension should hap pen during the Session of the Chambers, that will render the Journal prodigiously interesting. Other Voices.—This is much the same as if, in stead of condemning a man to death, you merely pro hibited him from breathing, for twenty-four hours— (Laughter and tumult). The Reporter.—Tho Committee cannot disguise to itself, that the provision of Article 9, against persons who may endeavour to disturb the public peace, by exciting contempt or hatred of citizens against one or several classes of persons, is somewhat vague, and it has therefore rectified it. The Committee is of opinion, that the Corporations recognized by the Charter deserve as least as much respect in society as individual!. M. de LAM um, and other Members on the left, exclaimed, in the midst of much tumult--The Char ter recognizes. no Corporations ! It will turn out at last that we shall be allowed to speak of nothing— not even of the Missionaries. We shall be told also, that they are Corporations recognized by elic Charter. (The Reporter continued his details, in the midst of a noise which prevented what he stated from being culleeted.) The PRESIDENT.—The Reporter must not be in- ,ItMß.—There is much imprudence •ai.e.! by the Reporter. •Ye,, yes; imprudence! r.—Tlie Rcpcutni speaks in the, 'name of the Committee. Tat will have the . op tunity of replying to him In Vie debate in the public Sitting. Joterruptions like these cannot be tolerated. The Repyrter procilded td the ofences committed theJougah. iHe proposed so willpower the Courts which judge in the last resort to suspend or suppress a Journal, the editors of which should be guilty of a relapse to seditious provocations—(An explosion of murmurs).—This suppression is not, as has been pre tended, a confiscation; for confiscation is what is donefor the profit of the Treasury, and that is what the Charter has thought fit to abolish—(lnterru ptions). Voice from the left, ---We cannot hear ; encore I— (A laugh.) The Reporter.—The weapon with which a maniac would strike his victim is taken from him. Are wea pons of malevolence in the possession of a Journalist less formidable? or are not our neighbours every day obliged to destroy infected articles ? It is proper that the proprietors should make the sacrifice—(Laughter and interruption in different senses). A Voice on the left.—Do you compare the articles of Journals to the yellow fever ? A Voice on the right.—We are rather afraid of the tricoloured fever. The Reporter.—The suppression of a Journal ren ders measures necessary for preventing its re-appear ing under another title. Without that provision the law would be illu,ory. The Committee has not thought it necessary to enter into a consideration ofthis subject ; a Law of Police which provides against this case is submitted to you. The Reporter now arrived at. the most important part of his subject, and entered into long details on the question, whether Juries ought to continue to take cognizance of offences ofthe Press. Ile observed, it could not be forgotten that scandalous impunities had been proclaimed by some verdicts. MM. GIRA RDIN, LAFITTE, &c.—You should rather speak of scandalous convictions. General Foy.—What 1 the Reporter of a Committee speaking against the judicial judgments. M. LAFITTE.—He is calumniating the Prefects who appoint .'uries. The REPORTER continuing.—Where, then, is the guarantee which society wants? M. de Ctr t;v ELI N and others.—ln a Jury, of which we have only the shadow. The Reporter.—The Committee has instructed me to propose to you to refer to the Royal Courts the cognizance of offences of the Press, on references being made to them by the Chamber of Council.— What just distrust can you have of Courts which judge finally in appeals relative to your fortune and ' your honour? The power proposed to be given to them will augment their political importance, and elevate them in public opinion. M. de LA MEWL—Say, rather, that it will ruin them in public opinion. The Reporter.—lt must be remembered, that the judgment is to be pronounced in a solemn sitting of both Chambers of the Court, and that the number of Judges present cannot be less than twelve. They will, therefore, constitute a sort of Special Jury, and there can be no reason to apprehend that the decisions sr ill be marked by partiality. The Members of the Committee are unanimous in their opinion. The Reporter concluded by expressing his hope, that the law project and the amendments made by the Com mittee would be favourably received by a Chamber so eminently religious and royalist. M. de Coaccu.cs.—And constitutional. Several voices.—This is a true Report of the Com mittee of Genes al Security. The Secretaries then proceeded to take down the names of the Members who proposed to speak in the debate. The following is the list : For the Law and the Conclusion of the Reporter—MM. Do pleads Grenedan, Revelliere, le General Partonnrauz, de Castel bajac, de Bouville, de Kergorlay (Florian), de Montbron, Clause' de Coussergues, Donnadiru, Pardeuus, de Martignac, Frenilly, de Cayrol, de Bourrienne, Barthe.Labastlaide, de Sesmaisons, OlUvier (de la Drome), de Bonald, Dubruel, de Marcellus, Cor. net Dlncourt, Crignon d'Auzoner. Against it—MM. de CorceUes, Etienne, Sebastiani, Payee de Vanclieuvre, Royer-Collard, Medlin, Devaux, le General Foy, Bignon, d'Argenson, Ilumann, Jobe's, Keratry, de Bondy, Lab bey de Pumpicres, Demarsay, Dupont (de l'Eure), de Girardin, de Jouvencel, Florent-Saglio, Rodet, Guillsem, Manuel, Dar rieux, Humblot-Comte, Legraverand, de Saint -Aubire, de La meth, Beslay, Daunou, Lefevre-Gineatt, Delaitre Caumartin, Cabanon, Laiane de Villeveque, I)elessert, Bogne de Faye, Lafitte, Benjamin Constant, Casintir Perier, Robin Scevole, de Brigode, Delaroche. the PREstossr.—The Report will be printed and distributed. The Chamber has only to fix the day for its consideration. A ♦oice on the right.—Thursday. The PRSslDENT.—According to the rules of the Chamber, there must be twenty-four hours between the distribution of the Report and the debate. It is not possible that the Report can be distributed to morrow. MM. de Coaczu.Es, MECHIN, GIRARDIN, Then make Monday the day. Voice on the right.—That cannot be. You forget that Monday is the 21st of January. There can be no sitting on that day. M. de CORCELLES.—Then put off the debate till next year if you like—(Laughter). M. BENJAMIN CONSTANT.—I propose that the dis cussion be adjourned to Tuesday, the 22d. It is im- I possible that a law which has been completely mo dified by the Committee, which changes the whole of our jurisprudence, which destroys the natural or der of jurisdictions, and which I maintain is hostile to the Charter, can be discussed until we have had time to read and reflect on the voluminous Report which you have just heard. This law, in fact, intro duces into jurisprudence principles which I shall not now attempt to characterise, but which require a long and profound examination. By acting hastily, the Chamber would do injustice to itself—(Laughter). The proposed law is contrary to every principle hitherto recognized. For my part I declare that I cannot discuss such a Report within '24 hours. A number of voices.—Do not discuss it now ; this is not the time. Amidst great tumult the PRESIDENT repeatedly rang his bell, but found it impossible to produce si lence, and M. BENJAMIN CONSTANT, after some far ther observations, left the Tribune, declaring that dis cussion was impossible in an Assembly which pos sessed such a rnajnrity. The PRESIDENT then put the question on the con sideration of the Report for Tuesday. This was ne gatived, and Saturday was fixed for the debate.— There will a Public Sitting on Wednesday, for a Report from the Committee of Petitions. E' :N IN( . IN. - . FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1822. THE FUNDS. STOCK EXCHANGE-ONE O'CLOCK: This is Settling Day, and the Brokers and Jobbers are engaged in the settlement of Accounts. Consols are one per Cent. lower this settlement than on the last, the Market is steady, at 76 1 /s %, and for the new. Account 76% 3 / 4 . The Jews have continued their -speculation, and taken a large quantity of Money Stock, which they have pawned with their Banker's, holding themselves responsible for all risk. At this hour the Market has declined a little, in consequence of a heavy delivery of Money Consols, which the Bulls have not been prepared to take ; it is supposed the Bankers refuse to lend their support to ;he system of pledging Stock for the purpose of Jobbing. Consols are now, for Money, 76, and for the Account, 76%. No Defaulter declared up to One o'Clock. Lo: Bank Stock 288 1 / 2 —S per Cent. Red. 76% 5 54 s per Cent. Cons. 76% 76%755 3 1 / 2 per Cent. 87 %-4 per Cent. 96% 34 5 per Cent. Navy 108% 107 Ya Bank Long Annuities 19 7-16 lh Imperial 3 per Cts. 76 India Bonds 775. 765. 765. pre. Ezcb. Bills £lOOO, 4s. 6s.—Ditto small 4s. 6s. pr. Cons. for Accoant 76 1 ,4 14. The French Papers of Monday and Tuesday have been received. Those of Sunday still remain due. In the Chamber of Deputies on Monday there was a new and interesting discussion on the subject of the Press, which arose on the reading of the Report of the Committee on M. de SERRR'S Project. M. Cirri.-- FLPT, the Reporter, or as we should call him, the Chairman, stated at great length the nature of the proposed law, which had for its object to repress of fences of the Press not provided for by the Laws cf the 17th May and the 9th of June, 1819. The first Article was against writers who insulted or ridiculed religion; the second provided against insulting the Royal Authority ; and the fourth Article related to " instigations to hatred and contempt of the King's Government." M. de GI RA RDIN observed that this definition had a " frightful latitude ;" when M. CHIFYLICT said, in order to tranquilize the most anxious minds, it was proposed to add to this Ar ticle, that " it should not militate against the right of discussion and the censuring of Ministerial acts." —The law of the 17th of May, which authorised ac- 1 counts of the debates in the Chamber of Deputies , provided they were reported correctly, did not enact any punishment against reporting them unfaithfully. The new Project supplies this defect, as it is called, by enacting that not only the Editors who publish un faithful accounts may be punished by fine and impri sonment, but the Proprietors and Editors of the offending Journal may be prohibited from giving any further accounts of legislative or judicial pro zeedings. The Reporter, as if conscious of the seve rity of such a law, said that it was only intended to interdict the publication for a limited period. One of the Members commented rather happily on this proposition, which, he said, was much the same as if, instead of condemning a man to death, you merely prohibited him from breathing for four and-twenty hours. The next proposition in this famous, or rattlbr infamous Report, was to empower the Courts which judge in the last resort (which here means the Royal Courts), to suspend or suppress a journal, the Editors . of which should be guilty of a relapse to seditious provocations. What the Reporter or the Committee mean by " a relapse to seditious provocations" does not seem very obvious, but the object of this part of the law is to prevent a sup pressed journal from re-appearing under another title. The last part of the new law much resembles that proposed by M. de PRYRONNET, by which the trial by Jury is to be abolished ; and offences of the Press referred to the Royal Courts. The Reporter concluded by expressing his hope that the Law Pro ject would be favourably received by a Chamber 44 so eminently religious and royalist ;" but this hope does not seem likely to be realized, for no sooner was the Report concluded, than forty-two Members inscribed their names to oppose it. The discussion comes on to-morrow, and it is easy to see that it will be a stormy one. It will be recollected that there are two law pro jects relating to the Press before the Chamber; ore proposed by M. de SER Itr, the Ex-Minister, the Report on which we have noticed ; when this has been dis posed of, then comes the new Project of M. PEYRONN Er. Both projects are almost equally odious in principle, and are equally subversive of free discussion ; and, although a Committee has been found to approve the former, yet we trust that there is still su ff i cient virtue in the Chamber of Deputies to prevent either of them from passing into a law. The French Papers of Monday bring no additional information of importance relative to Russia and Turkey. The Illoniteur, under the head of Frank fort, gives a letter from Constantinople of the 10th December, which states that the Porte has admitted the principle of the four demands of Russia, but re quires muclificationrin the manner of their being car , ried into execution. The Porte does not formally rehounce the requisition for delivering up th e te r •ogetc, but, what is regarded as an implicit renunciatiqn ceases to press that point. To this effect is th e no .; says the Constantinople letter, transmitted by t i l ; Divan to St. Petersburgh, and it remains to be se en what reception it will meet with. is said that die Firman published by the GRAND Szioatoa, for s ou _ pressing the outrages pf the populace, had been 4t• tended with complete success. The Austrian Observer gives the particular s (f the horrible butchery that was committed at Tti,, o , litza. Six and thirty thousand persons, including sal women, and children, and forming the whole GI th t e Turkish population, it is said, were destroyed ; a „, l only one person, the son of the Pacha of Cone}., was spared, in the hope that he might be useful : 0 the Greeks in the enterprize which they had n ie ji. tated against Col inth, If the father will not surrey.. der the city, it is to be expected that . the son v. ,', share the fate of the other victims. It is stated, on the same authority, that accork!:-- -.) to the last advice's from the Persian capital, t: e &NMI had declared that the hostilities committed by his son had no connection with the actual situ. Lion of the Ottoman Empire, and that they we: e der ta ken solely for the purpose of punishil,g th e Curds for some predatory acts of which they had been guilty. These people acknowledge only a nt. minal dependence on the Porte, and are in the 114 it of plundering both the Turks and Persians. A private letter from Madrid, in the Paris Pa e--, dated the 3d instant, states, that the Council of St ae which had, in the sitting at which the KING been of opinion that the Ministers should be sq. ported. had afterwards altered their determinati( and advised their dismissal; but their resignaticn not been made known. A report was cui rent in t: e evening of the 3d, that all the Ministers were de. prived of their offices, v, ith, the exception of M. RAR DAXI and M. PELLEC.:RIA. This caused some irrita. Lion among the political clubbists, as they charge the former Minister, who held the portfolio of l'oreigo Affairs, with having conspired against the constitu tional system, through the agency of foreign diiic matists ; and M. PELLEGRINI, Minister for the Colo. nies, with having given the fatal instructions to the late General O'Dosoic, which accelerated the Li of New Spain. It is stated in letters from Seville, that the re volters had required a new oath from their associres and proselyteF, -the object of which is to yield o obedience either to the Cortes or to the Governmenz. The inhabitants, it is added, are averse to their fat. tious schemes, which are the work of a few indOi duals only. The soldiers of the army of Cataloria have published their determination to support t! e Constitution and the King to the utmost of th&r power. In Navan - e the revolters, amounting to about 600 men, are said to be in a most miserable cond.- tion. . The tumults at Bilboa have been .11, pre,s:d, and the Chief of the Insurgents is now wandzring about the mountains, accompanied oily by a few tb,e::. PRIVATE LETTER. " PARIS, JAN. 14, SEVEN O'CLOC,!. " The report on M. Serre's Project of Law for tbe regulation of the Press has been presented to-day : the discussion commences on Saturday. The Repeater was M. Chiffiet (Member for Doubs), aho is new to this Chamber, but who sat and voted with the majo rity for the Chambre Introuvable. He was then ti.c Reporter of a Commission which proposed to renje.: the Clergy proprietors, and strongly suppoz ted proposition of M. de Ronald to suppress the right of divorce. He was appointed President of the edi.r. Royale of Besancon by Ultra interest. Such being' the Reporter on the Project of Law for regulating ch.: Press, the nature of the Report may be easily con jectured. I cannot at this hour give any detailed count of its contents. It was extremely long, occu pying the Chamber from half-past three to within :t quarter of five. It was drawn up quite in an Ultra manner, and was frequently interrupted by the load disapprobation of the left side of the Chamber. Th' principal point of novelty in it was a recommendatioa to abolish the trial by jury in all offences of the F re , , as in M. Peyronnet's Project with respect to the Jour nals, and to transfer the decision to the Corm-17,757. 1 e in solemn sitting, with not less than twelve This, said the Reporter, was all the guarantee that the freedom of the Press could demand. The Cham ber was full. The Sitting was very stormy the dis approbation of the Liberals vehement, and the sum of the Ultras equally clamorous. As soon a; the Report was read, no less than forty-two Nlentbers inscribed their names to oppose the Project. Amor; those inscribed in support of it is M. Clausel Je Con ,- sergues, who made such an unreasonable and al),:ri attack en 3L de Cazes, as the murderer of the Du ;se of Berry : he is at their head. The galle:ies wore crowded to excess. Persons had even taken their stand at the door by eight o'clock in the morning, though the Sitting did not open till half-past one.— The discussions n ill be very important. France i 4 yet far from being settled in her liberties, when ques tions of such importance as Trial by Jury are opened for discussions in Reports like the present. " The Report on M. Peyronnet's Bill for the Police of the Journals, it is said, will not be deli% ered till the debates terminate on the Project of Je Serre. is somewhat spiking that the Reporter of this Com mission, M. de hlartigoac, as well as. of the . other. 'should belong to the Royal Court. M. de 31attiguac I.Cri opted. bi.CAsi►'ln PERI la the discus ion ra Other Vuices.-1 Tisk: PIts..:iIDENT is an Col • be sn Jo Ki thi a 1 A • 1 a e e. .1 • ' it e R. he • 'o- lti !es is o oz. ac- %i- -e cut d, ji: th.: • :of the ,:u- -tra Cho , ur- ,./ hat m- ;l>- ers ni- tri