Star. — London, England, 1808-04-05 00:00:00

MR. BOSWELL'S WORKS, NEW EDITIONS. This day war published, in one vol. Svo. with a Portrait of the Author, from a picture by Sir Joshua Reynolds, price 91. in boards, a New edition, being the fourth, of THE JOURNAL of a TOUR to the HEBRIDES, with SAMUEL JOHNSON, L.L. D. including some Poetical Pieces by Dr. Johnson, relative to the Tour, and nevet before published; a Series of his Conversation, Literary Anecdotes, and Opinions of Men and Books : with an authentic account of the distresses and escape Of the grandson of King James U. in the year By JAMES BOSWELL, Esq. Printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies, Strand. Of whom may also be had, lately published, a new edition, being the fifth, revised and augmented, of Mr. Boswell's Lite of Dr. Samuel Johnson, comprehending an account of his studies and numerous works in chronological order ; a series of his epistolary correspondence and conversations with many eminent persons ; and various original pieces of his compo sition, never before published ; the whole exhibiting a view of Li terature, and Literary Men in Great Britain, for near half a cen tury, during which he flourished ; in four vols. Svc). with a Por trait of Dr. Johnson, from an original picture, price li. 16s. in boards. 1746. PiIRLI.IMENTARr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 4. ORDERS IN COUNCIL. The House having resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, proceeded in the further examination of witnesses—when Mr. Alex. White, Mr. Abraham 74n Mr. Thomas Mullet, Mr. Wm. Rathbone, and Mr. Joseph Garland, were severally exa mined—and Messrs. Kender, Oxley, and Glennie, again called to explain some parts of their former testimony. Earl BATHURST then moved, that Counsel be heard in reply on Wednesday next. The Earl of LAUDERDALE considered this as inconsistent as all the other proceedings upon this subject—first, passing the Bill, before evidence heard ; next, examining witnesses, and then hearing Counsel in reply, before evidence was printed. His Lordshipfezpressed a wish that the hearing of Counsel should be postponfd. Lord HOLLAND declared himself of the same opinion. Lord HAWKESBURY replied that this was the usual mode of proceeding. After some further observations, Counsel were ordered to attend on Wednesday. Mr. WHARTON, and several other Members of the House of Commons, brought up the Irish East India Trade Bill, and the Irish Warehousing Bill, which were read a first time—as were also some private bills brought up by Sir Edward Knatchbull, Mr. Graham, and other Members. The Annual Indemnity Bill was read a third time and passed. The LORD CHANCELLOR delivered his opinion at some length respecting the Appeal, " Hill v. Spence," the further con sideration of which was postponed till-morrow. Lord HOLLAND presented a Petition from the town of Ar b:eath, praying the introduction of trial by Jury, in Civil Cases, into Scotland, which was ordered to lie ou the table. COTTON. Tit.: Cotton Duty Bill passed through a Committee, and was reported. The House resolved itself into a Committee on the Cotton Pr ohibition Bill. The Earl of LAUDERDALE gave notice of his intention to propose a clause on the third reading, to prevent the abuse of the power given to Ministers by this bill of dealing out to favoured persons the privilege of trading in this article, and which he con sidered as highly dangerous. Earl BATHURST observed, that a similar power of granting licences bad bee.: given to the Crown in former Bills. The Bill passed though the Committee, and was reported. JESUIT'S BARK. Previous to the House going into a Committee on this Bill, Lord HOLLAND presented a petition from Mr. de Testat, 'merchant of London, stating, that he had under licence fr-in the Spanish Government, opened a trade with tit , : Spanish donfinions. in South America, by which means he exported thither a consi derable quantity of British Manufactures, and imported Bark, of which he had a very large quantity on hand, and that the Bill would, therefore, be productive of serious injury, and praying to be heard by himself or Counsel. Lord HOLLAND said a few words and concluded by moving th:tt the petition do lie on the table.—Ordered. The House resolved itself into a.Comniittee on the Bill, which passed through and was reported. •The Irish Cotton and Jesuit's Bark Prohibition Bill wes read a second time and committed for toemornnw. ORDERS IN COUNCIL. On the second reading of the Orders in Council indemnity Bill, The Earl of LAUDERDALE congratulated their Lerdships on the adoption of those suggestions in this Bill which had been pro posed as amendments to the Orders in Council Bill, and rejected. Earl BATHURST observed, that the: objects of the Bills were different ; this Bill related to imports, and the former Bill to ex• ports. The Earl of LAUDERDALE cent ended that the provisions in this Bill could rot have been more foreign to the object of the for rimer Bill, than some of the clauses contained in that Bill. The Bill was read a second time and committed for Friday. Adjourned till to-morrow (this day). HOUSE OF COMMONS. Accounts were presented from the India House, the Custom House, and from the Chief Secretary's Office in Ireland, which were laid, on the table. The frisk Warehousing Bill wu read a third time and passed. Petitions were presented front the Debtors in the Cads of Lon donderry and Cardiff, preying relief.—Laid on the table. The Lord Advocate of Scotland gave notice, that he should on Wednesday move for leave to bring in a Eill respecting the Pub lic Records in Scotland. The Bill for prohibiting the Exportation of Wool to Ireland before bond giv-n, was read a secor.d time, and committed for The Innkeepers Allowance Bill was reported. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. Mr. HENRY WELLESLEY rose to notice a mistatenaent which appeared in one of the Morning Papers, of the speech •:f an Honourable Gentleman, (Mr. R. Thornton) so far as it respected the conduct, of th., Marquis Wellesley. The report purporting to .be the speech of the Honourable Gentleman, was. centradictory to the whole tenor of it, as delivered in this House. He trusted therefore that tke House would not suffer such misrepresentations. He thought 'it right to mention the subject, in crder that the nettrable Gentleman might affirm the fact to be he had tated ; and for . the present should content s himself with having noticed the misrepresentation:, hoping it would operate as a caution to persons in future. The SPEAKER requested to know whether the House was to understand that the Honourlible Gen tleman meant to institute any proceeding on the sub ject ? Mr. HENRY WELLESLEY replied in the . ne gative. Mr. R. THORNTON conceived the Honourable Gentleman alluded to some words which had been attributed to him in a Morning Paper ; he had 'seen them, and was struck with the palpable misrepresen tation which they contained of his speech.* If those . words were to be taken as the Speech which he had delivered on the occasion cr the Noble Lord's (A. Vamilton's) motion, undoubtedly they would imply elakat be (Mr. Thorn4.o) had imputed to the Noble • idarqu'is insinuations a personal nature; whereas, bn the contrary, the whole tenor of his speech. went, as to the Noble Marquis's public conduct. Indee be had never heardry one person arraign the Noble Marquis for his private conduct. He . wished distinctly to be understood as not havin'a used Any words of a personal tendency. 'Certainly the editor of the paper • alluded to had reported hi.p very c.l4rnsily. • • • The SPEAKER.—" The House will forgive me if I think it my duty to state what is the public law, with respect to the subject now before them. Un doubtedly the House has, in a certain degree, tole rated proceedings of the nature which has been allu. ded to, and which on complaint cannot be justified. It is therefore for the House to say, what limits it will, give to its own toleration."—(Hear, hear !) Mr. R. THORNTON rose to add one word, by way of observation, but The SPEAKER The House will perceive that this has proceeded far enough."—(Hear, hear! Order, order!) DARDANELLES. Earl TEMPLE asked the Honourable Gentleman, (Mr. W. Taylor) whether it really was his intention to found any mo tion on the various papers respecting the Expedition to the Dai danelles? Mr. W. TAYLOR fined Friday the sth May to bring forward a motion upon the subject. BRITISH MUSEUM. On the Motion of Mr. ROSE, leave was given to present a Petition praying public aid ; whieb Petition was 'aid on the fable. Mr. HUSKISSON presented an estimate of the sums neces sary to defray the expence of employing the convicts. Laid op the table. • surrLY. The Report of the Committee of Supply was brought up, and the various resolutions read and agreed to. The report of the Combnittee of WAy; and Means was brought up, and after a few observations from the Chancellor of the Yx chequer and Mr. Calcraft, the resolutions were agreed to, and bills nrdere I thereon. Sir A. WELLESLEY moved for leave to bring in a bill for amending the laws relating to persons entering into recognizance, in criminal cases, &c.—btave given. The Right Honourable Gentleman afterwards brought in tl g bill, which was read a first time. Ard Mr. M. A. TAYLOR, Sir J. NEWPORT, and Mr. PAR NELI., made a few observations ; and then the bill was ordered to be read a second time on Thunday. SUSSEX ELECTION. Mr. C. WYNNE rose to move for the Minutes of the Committee appointed to try the merits of the Sus sex Election, so far as the same relate to the Petition of Warden Sergison, Esq. The Honourable Gen. Itleman observed, that he had given notice of his in tention to move for leave to bring in a Bill respecting the exchange of Lists in County contested Elections. The motives therefore which , induced him to move for the production of the above Minutes were in order to ground this Bill. He had understood that the ,Committee had come to a resolution, in which they declined to enter into the merits of Mr. Sergison's 'Petition. In moving for the Minutes, he was far ( from meaning to throw any reflection on the Com mittee ; but their proceedings, which were grounded upon a Resolution of the House, had the effect of virtually repealing Mr. Grenville's Bill. He then moved, Ste. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought it was necessary, before a motion of the kind should be acceded to, to have some facts brought for. ward. He was not aware of any instance iii which such motion had been granted, and therefore was against making a precedent. Sir A. PIGOTT justified the motion, on the ground of its furnishing information on an important subject, if acceded to. - Mr. TIERNEY having been on the Committee, and consequently fully impressed with the inconve nience under which they laboured in coming to a de cision, wa.-; not so anxious to look for precedents. The majority of the Gentlemen composing the Committee certainly had felt themselves in a very awkward situa tion, and he would state the. proceedings which hadl taken place in the Committee. It would be recol lected, that at the commencement of the Session, an order had been made toexchange Lists. Subsequent to that, Mr. Fuller delivered in a declaration, declin ing to defend his r:turn, and then certain Freeholders, petitioned, and were allowed to defend the return fix him. Mr. Sergison, the petitioner, afterwards ap plied to the House to order an exchange of Lists. A very long discussion emitted upon the motion of his Honourable Friend (Sir A. nom.) for that pur pose; and as he (Mr. - T.) understood the Right Honounible Gentleman (Mr. Perceval), the Corn- ' mittee was.not to consider themselves bound by the decision of this House, with respect to the refusal of the motion for the exchange. Though the Commit tee were bound by their oaths to hear and determine s the merits of the whole of the case on both sides, yet the majority, in consequence of the decision of thel House, felt themselves called upon to abide by that decision; and though Mr. Sergison alleged that Mr. Fuller bad obtained a colourable majority, yet they considered themselves precluded, and came to the' following Resolution That the Committee hay.. ing, in consequence of a Resolution of the House the 22d Jan. (the Standing Order), and a subsequent decision of the ISth March, with respect to the ex change of Lists, found themselves under the neces sity of excluding .all evidence, feel themselves obliged to declare Mr. Fuller duly elected." These were the proceedings of the Committee, and it was in con sequence of this, that his Honourable Friend intended to move for a Bill enacting that in all cases Lists should be exchanged. It certainly had become the fashion of late to pass Bills, and then hear reasons against them afterwards. He trusted that this prac tice Would not prevail, and that Mr. Grenville's Bill Would not be rendered a nullity. '-; Sir THOMAS TURTON had no hesitation in Stating, that the Committee had been placed in a very awkward situation: but he must object to the motion, as going to establish a bad precedent. Earl TEMPLE was in favour of the motion. The . proceedings which had just been referred to would tend to render his Honourable Relation's Bill, which was for the.most salutary and 'constitutional pur poses, a mere nullity.. Mr. GRAHAM 'considered the measure proposed a slur upon the'Committee. Mr. PONSONBY did not at all agree with the doctrine of tbe' Honourable Gentleman who spoke last. 'lt was proposed to take the business out of the hands of the Committee, and to bring it before the House. Oh but, says Ile Honourable Gentleman, if yqu attempt to. temeily the evil, you will -throw a slur upon the Committee. .The intention is to alter, by. Act of Parliament,.t.n existing law; to remedy a defect. Bow can thii be a slur upon the Committee ? The House then divided on the Motion, when there appeared.-..-For it 29--Against it 56—Majority 27. COMNITTICE OF- FINANCE. - .• . - ~- .. . -r otherwise be supposed that it was brought forward on account of some abuse or neglect of his duty—unless that were the case, he did not think that they were called upon to dismiss from that Committee so useful and so upright a member. It could not fairly be urged a b ,, ainst him that he was appointed by the Mi nister—he was nominated merely at his side, and ap proved by both sides of the House ; and the objec tions urged to. ls/fr. Wharton might, with equal jus tice, be applied to any Gentleman whatsoever in the House. As to the probability of all the members of the Committee becoming placemen, he would remind the Honourable Gentleman of the immutable rule of Parliament, that whenever a member accepts a place, he vacats his seat, and thereby vacates his seat at the Committee, where it is not probable he will be appointed again. He was concerned to hear from a man so liberal as the Honourable Mover, that wjien a person becomes a placemen, he is from Tao ment disqualified to be trusted by the Peol,le--there never was a greater anomaly, that because a person, -I who by his wisdom or his talents, was found to be be neficial to the State, he from that moment ceased to be useful to the People ! Surely so monstrous a doc trine would not be held forth. To endeavour to re move it from the mind of that Honourable Gentle-, man, he begged to call to his recollection, that the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, whilst holding that • office, was one of the Members of the Committee of Finance. If the Eonourable Gentleman himself were appointed to a situation in the Government, would he feel himself in any way deteriorated by it ? Would; he by an honourable situation, wherein he might beneficially serve his country, and gain glory ! and frme, feel himself debased by holding such a situation in the Government ? Certainly not.—' Then. he should judge of the elevated minds of others, and allow other men to have elevated minds as well as himself. Mr. WHITBREAD agreed with the Right Ho nourable Gentleman who !poke lac:, that distin i guished character and fame may be acquired by vated situations in the state, but at the same time he re gretted that there were some individuals who were so' debased as to convert those situations to the meanest and the most sinister purposes. This observation did pot certainly apply to the Honourable Gentleman who was the Lubjeet of this motion, .but was an obser vation, not coming from him, but from the eipe rience of the many, who had but too much and too often witnessed it. Lord Hossick, it was•tnie, had a ' seat in the Committee of Finance, but he knew too well both his duty and the constitution of that Corn mittee ever to attend it—and, in point of fact, he ne ver did from the moment he was called to the high office by his Majesty, which he recently filled ; and while he was attending that Committee, no man did his duty more uprightly • and the country were in-1 debted to the Right Honourable • Gentleman who now fills, in so eminent, impartial, and distinguished a manner, the Chair of that House. The Honourable Gentleman then assigned his reasons why he thought Mr. Wharton should be excused from further attend ance en the Committee of Finance, and concluded with saying, that he felt it his duty to support the mo-• tion, divested of all personality to that Gentleman. Mr. H. BROWNE condemned the prejudice and ,vulgar ideas that prevailed in supposing that, because a man was a Placeman, he was therefore rendered un qualified to serve his country. Mr. WARD urged his Honourable Friend to with dray: his motion. • MT. BIDDUCP.ii flefwed his motion concerning the Cpmrpiii.ee of Finance, bprnaintaining, that the appointment of the Finance Committee should .he pure from altsuspicion. No person, he thought, who held any office, could consistently fulfil the duties of a • • - ; Committee of Retrenchment. He had heard of an old Spartan institution, phich made theboys pay for the rods by which they were chastised—in like man ner we were to remunerate the Chairman, by whom we were taxed. The Hon. Chairman was to assist in the formation of that report by which he was himself to be judged. 'lt was inconsistent with every principle of the English law and common sense, that a man's own cause s ould be committed to his own de cision. It was a common and just rule that interest ed jurors could be challenged. Before he concluded, the Honourable Gentleman disclaimed any personal impUtation on the worthy Chairman. Adverting to the objection that the Committee is not the appoint ment of the Crown or Ministers, he said, that though the House might have the original formation of the Committee, yet still Ministers might appoint men, ffi I when on that Committee, to public offices ; and so Dispatches were last night received at t h e A ckti, men not in place in the beginning of Parliament, might 'rally from Admiral Sir ALEX. COCHR ANE . Th e di ,. not possibly be so at its conclusion. Heconcluded by patches, we a r e happy to hoar, contain an accou n t moving— i v ' of several of the enemy's privateers ha vi " That Richard Wharton, F.sq, be excused from any further ng been attendance on the Committee of Finance, and that the name of the 1 Hon. John William Moore be substituted tured by the ships under his .order s . The P n cap. in his place." letters contain, however, informatio n o f a less ee agle The SPEAKER remarked, that the motion was I able kind. They speak of the arrival o f f our f rigates we of a duplex nature, and recommended that it should ' zexpectationsbe undertaken der t a k are e n fromentertained the French that n be simplified, as in fact it comprised two distinct mo- and two brigs, at Martinique, with troops, a tions. . I announced a fortnight ago, on th e authority of Ai se . To this suggestion Mr. Biddulph agreed, vtd the i c ic: ' Speaker put the question on the former part tf it, ' s papers ;.eterp rie and am y omitting all that appertained to Mr. Moore. ch The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER Islands. had flattered himself that the Honourable Gentleman 1 The following iotter has been transmitted to us ; t h e would not have pressed this motion to a discussion.— contents of which we shall he glad to End contra. But since he has done it, he could not help smiling at dieted by official statements : the curious reason which seemed to be the cause why ; • he submitted it to the House, because forsooth, Mr. . Wharton happened to be in the Committee when they divided on a question, and the numbers on both sides being equal, he happened to join one of them, as one of them he ought. Now it would appear, that were it not for that circumstance, probably the House ' would never have heard of this motion. It would THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. Btlimeys will find his Fourth Number in the last pag e of 6 , day's STAR. It was not in our power to give section. TUESDAY, APRIL 5. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT.ONE O'CLOCK Consols, for money, 641—for account, 6 41--Ornnlum 3$ pl. Exchequer Bills, 4s. to Ss. pre. PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY. 3 per Cent. Red. Ann. shut India Bonds, par 24. its 3 per Cent. Cons. Ann. 64ti Excheq Bills, 3s. a 41. pe t . 4 per Cent. shut English Tickets, 211, 6s. 6 per Cent. Navy, 961 971 Cuns. for act. /Ai DOMIN!CA Y 13. 9, $4 A Bag of truce arrived here last night from Basseterre, Gm. daloupe ; she left that place un Sunday night, and one of di e Ns , sellers informs me, that last Friday a schooner arrived there from Martinique, bringing an account of the arrival thereof fan frigates and two brigs, with troops from I ranee, and that slur armament is expected. We have no late arrivals here from Mar tinique, and therefore conjecture, an embargo may have beta laid till they have got away again; and I have no doubt but they have sailed for France, and yet we have an Admiral who has de clared the French Islands in a state of blockade. " Another instance of the activity of the enemy is, that a ship. privateer, and a schooner fully manned, sailed last Thursday from Guadaloupe to cruise to windward of Barbadoes, and I fear they will pick up some of the Astrea's convoy, as several are r e i A i ng. Three of Sir Samy Et HOOD'S squadron are arrived at Barbadoes; I wish Sir Sasso/I. had also arrived, as he would won take sacs sures to destroy the enemy's privateers." A letter has been received from Demarara, dated the 20th c•.f January, in which it is said, that an em bargo had been laid upon all the shipping there, in order to prevent the sailing of the American met chantraen till the measures of the Government should be ascertained. fl No farther accounts have been received of the re. ported victory in the Mediterranean; and the rumours that have been circulated on that subject are sinking into discredit. Had any real accounts been received, the names of the parties, the mode of communication, ' every circumstance, would have transpired before this time—by no possibility could they have been con. cealed ; but, on •the contrary, every thing like audio. rity that has yet been quoted, has vanished, when itt• tempted to be ascertained.—As we have repeatedly observed—from the known situation of affairs in the Mediterranean, it is more than probable that an as tion has taken place in that quarter before this time. On this probability, we doubt not, the rumour has been fabricated, for it rests on no authority. The following article, copied from the Cori Mer• amide Chronicle on Tuesday last, while it excites feats for the safety of the homeward-bound Mediterranean convoy, furnishes a strong presumption that no action, of which we can yet have received the accounts, had taken place : " CORK, MARCH 29. " The arrival of the ship Caledonia of Liverpool, from Gibraltar, with barilla, almonds, &c. bound to Londonderry, in this harbour, has furnished us with information which excites considerable apprehension for the safety of the homeward Mediterranean convoy. The Caledonia sailed from Malta on the 11th Jou. l ary, and on th'e 11th February she fell in with an English squadron of seven sail of the line, which she supposes to have been Sir RICHARD STRACHANS, in chace of the French squadron. " She sailed from Gibraltar on the 29th of Febru. ary, having in company the Diligence store ship, and thirty sail of merchantmen, all under convoy of the Sirius frigate. 4t 4 P. M. on the 16th of March. they fell in with two French line of battle ships asther conceived. On the 17th they bore down upon the convoy. The Sirius and Diligence then made the signal to disperse, and about 3 P. M. one of the line of battle ships came up with a brig bound to Exmouth, and captured her. In a short time afterwards they came up with four more of the fleet, which from the same indication of changing their course, it was COn. sidered they had also captured. They were then in lat. 47..5. long 11. 20. W. with the wind at S. S. E. When the Caledonia left Gibraltar, Sir WIT SMITII'S flag ship was there refitting." • Mr. PONSONBY supported it, as the Chairman of Ways and Means had already enough to occupy him. Mr. BIDDULPH denied that it was in conse quence of the vote which Mr. Wharton 'gave in the Committee, that he brought forward the motion ; and . he assured the Right Honourable Gentleman oppo- Monday se'nnight arrived at Southampton a de' called to were any appointment 11th Regiment, and embarked for the Isle of Wi g ht. in the State, he would perform its functions faithfully tachment of volunteers from the Irish Militia , f or the site to him, that if he Thursday arrived from Woolwich a detachment ad* without fee or reward. ; The House divided—For the motion, 21 ; against Royal Artillery Drivers, to embark for Jersey. SI . it Afar Majority, 49.* Gravesend, tP 1 turday arrived from the Isle of Wight a detachment of the 71st Regiment, on their route to Gm After a short conventation betwixt Mg . , Tierney, Sir John New. embark for Scotland. port, and Mr. Foster, the Committee op the Irish Supply Bill wai postponed till Wedrulciay next. .1 The North Devon Militia, quartered a Some papers relative to the Danish Navy were presented, and .order relieve Bristol, ehe o is or'der'ed to proceed to Weymouth, to r et srdared to lie upon the table. . . I Battalion of the 53d Regiment, who have receive d The House then res.dved Itself into a Committee to bear evl4 their route for Blatchington Barracks. denc2 in support of the Petition of the American Merchants' . !tigain'it the Orders In Council Bill, and several witnesses were ex- , moved from Po i hester to Petworth, Midhurst, a nd unlined by Mr . Alexander Baring, Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Rose, Three troops of the Queen's Bays have bees re• Mr. Tierney, the Chancellor of the Excheluer,and Mr. Stevens. atljacents, in order to relieve ' 1 . 4 .4 publicans from the Adjourned at half past twelve. . • severe hardships they have so long laboured %Isar. • . 0 . 113 4 With t &COX' . tom Tb Tb sea, l 'll tat 1 -t 11 Pram T 1 tad T die T p i Stilt 110 ord bl I I ,4 ~.