Star. — London, England, 1814-07-20 00:00:00

POST OFFICE PACKZT& Lord NUGENT, pursuant to his notice, rose to move for ceiwin Papers relative to an action which took place ,irs the ot ,November lass, off Madeira, lx.twt.to the Government packets Montague, Captain Watkio. Ind L.dy Pelham, Captain Perrin, and.the us privateer, consisting of Copies ut two Courts of Inquiry, and the cor.. sting thereto. The Noble Lord of his motion to be to expose a most justice sod partiality ou the pan of the Post Office, to the injury of an individual and the rinbrte service, arising out of the following chteem stances :—ln the month of October last, the L y Pelham sailed from Talmoitth for the West In s cli at t and when off Madeira, fell in with the Montigue t another packet, -taking out the Tail. tri-JamaiCa;* Th i day after the junctiat the packets fell in ,with Of Globe American privateer, and the Captain of the Lady Pelhsitirreceiiieif "his orders from the Cinrintan -1 der of the Montague. to assist in the engagement.— From some unavoidable circumstances, Captain Per rin, of the Lady Pelham, was not enabled to come up till the action had continued ten' minutes, in the course of which time the Montague had been so se verely handled, that she had not only thrown the mail overboard, but had actually struck her Colours. The Lady Pelham, however, 'having by this time been able to get into action, retorted so powerfuily on the enemy, as to oblige him to sheer off in an al most sinking state, with fifty of his crew killed or. wounded. lie was sorry that it was his duty to say that, on this turn of affairs, Captain Waring, of the Montague, re•hoisted his colours, contrary to every usage of civilised nations, and el ptaiti Watkins on his return, while the Lady Pelham ha2liiroceeded to Ja maica, not only proceeded to justify his conduct, btu had the audacity to accuse Captain Perrin of neglect of fluty in not assisting him, and to call the attention of the Post Office to the colours which he had re. hoisted, as a matter of triumph. The result was, that he was immediately promoted to the rank of • Commander, which entitled him to a provision, and this in the face of his having sunk the mail, and be fore any Court of Inquiry had sat upon his conduct. When the Court of Inquiry was about to be held, the brother of Captain Perrin presented a remonstrance to have it suspended till his brcther's return,'—but though the Lady Pelham was daily expected, the inquiry was proceeded in, and on the ex-Itarie evi dence produced,'Captain Watkins was acquitted, and his promotion justified. On the return of Ciptain Perrin, he demanded a copy of the proceedings of this Court of Inquiry, which was refused him ; but on succeeding in obtaining a new Court, for the investi gation cf his conduct, the result was, that their re port was perfectly contradictory to that of the first ; the evidence in the latter having falsified that in the former. The Report of the second Court not only stated that Captain Perrin and all his officers and men had done their duty to the utmost, but that with out their assistance, the Montague must have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Notwithstanding this decision, the Post Office continued the appointment to Captain Watkins. and took no notice whatever of Captain Perrin for his gallant services, such indeed as it was always usual to grant reward for ; but the Captain sought for nothing of this kind, be only sounht to vindicate his character. The Noble Earl proceeded to adduce other charges of prevarication and partiality against Captain Perrin, on the part of certain persons connected with the Post Office, who kept back his evidence, and denied the receipt of his letters ; and having added, that he Irici in his hand the affidavits of upwards of SO persons, confirmatory of the truth of his assertions, he concluded with making his otion for the Papers. Mr. LUS HINGTON said, he did not rise to op pose the motion ; but to assure the Noble Ettl, that when the documents were produced, the crinduet . cif the Captain, who was the object of complairit, would appear in a light most materially different from that in which he had viewed it. The throwing of the mail overboard was always justifiable when a packet was in danger of being captured ; and this danger appeared to have arisen from the other vessel hang ing back. Lord NUGENT explained: he denied that hr had made the throwing over of the mail a ground of corn- Oahu against Captain Watkins ; and he repeated his charges, as already described. Mr: PRESTON pledged himself that Captain Perrin's conduct would be found. to have beem of the most honourable and praise-worthy nature. From his personal knowledge of him he would venture to say that so man was kikely to be less liable to reproach 4 and he hoped the inquiry would do ultimate justice to the injured, _ ;p ay result i n. putting questions upon subjects of ~'atkius, and La -great pabilie importance, of great political and na. Ulobe American canal moment, to the Ministers of the Crown. But die lteports of ti 1 kite it to *oUrtortlibips . to feel and to considet respontleoce ..lketbernpod a stibject of the peculiar nature of di stated the object • ad! sesitt . the situations put an .questiuus which uugh da d taat act of jai PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, JULY 19. Ins Committee of Privileges, Counsel were farther heard re specting the calms to the Bonlivrick Peerage Further coltli deration of *he case deferred till this day sennight... A considerable number of Petitions were presented on the sohjece of the &fear Slave Tx by his Highness the Duke of ttciucesraa, Earls Unreel:t o - Rossuirsr; and other Peen.— Ordered to lie on the table. Earl STANHOPE presented a Pkition front certain Growers if Own which he said was respectably signed ; and described . the: object of it to be for a seedy consideration of the subject teferred to in his resolution before their Lordships, respecting the adokeloo of measures for the due encouragement of Agricuture, by abolition of certain burthensome taxes, &c. The Earl of HARDWICKE. deprecated any premature dis cussion of the subject to which the resolution of the Noble Earl referred; am! seemed to intimate his intention, when opportu nity should arrive, to move that the consideration of the subject be deferred to another sess:oits. Carl SIANHOPE spoke in explain. ion, and said, that the prayer of the Pet.tioners was, that :he expediency of his resolti. Iron, which was printed by erder of the House, should be taken into conaderation by then' Lordships. He would therefore move th .t the Petition do lie on the table. The LtRI) CHANCELLOR thought that the point before their Lordships was one of considerable importance. The Peti tion was presented in reference to a notice of a motion, and it was a s e rious question, whether a Petition could be received upon the ground of a notice for a motion. I' he East of HARDWICKE was of opinion that the Petition was clearly suggested by the resolution of the Noble Lord. After some farther consideration upon the point between the above-mentioned Peers and the Earl of LAVOLIDALE, it WU agreed that the discussion should be deferred tid to-morrow. 1 Earl N i•ANHOPE sa.d he had another Petition to present. which, though upon a different subject, was one of great impor tance. being read, it *fit eared to be from a Mrs. Mary Ban well, compaining of her premises being forcibly entered by three Kt:verity lacers. on an information that she had French gloves in he possession, when, in fact, no contraband articles whatever were found—that the damages were laid at £6OO. She was ac quired by the Jury, but the expense attending the process was considerabie, &c. The Noble Earl was of opinion, the allega tions w. re warily the serious consideration of the liuuse, with • reference to the existing system tit the Excise laws, and moved that the' Petition do lie on the table.—Urdered. Lord GAMBIER presented several Petitions against the re- Viva' of the.alave 'Crad., among which was one from the Church ailasomuy Society. the Earl of JEKSEY presented some Petitions to the same scats. • 'I he Woollen Burying Bill passed through a Committee of the whole House. and sans rworted. a • :in a Commutes be the Northern Lights Bill some discussion Slook place, one; of the pine pal clauses of the Bill was opposed by the Earls df Ros-t,sr and Lotioutorscx ; and au additional 4405/twos proposed by she Earl of Moirroo. Viscount Mat.- , fil i f,s generally fiettokel the measure as proposed. In the result tt was ordered that thotforther consideration of the subject should tee deferred till to-morrow. • THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES. The Duke of SUSSEX.—" My Lords, I confess I rise with a considerable degree of embarrassment, not unmixed with * certain degree of anxiety, on the .very important and interesting occasion on which I am about to address you. On these, however, I shall not detain your Lordships, further titan the expres4 sion of my hope that the Noble Lord opposite will satisfactorily answer those questions which I think it my duty, under the circumstances of the case, to put to the Noble Lord. I confeis, My Lords, that in putting those questions my wish is to be considered as doing it pet reedy distinct andieparate from .any party question whatever; that I do it purely from my own feelings of duty, and unauthorised by any individual whatever. The qisestion in one sense, I am aware, is put tinder very awkward circunistaates, though relative to an event known to most ofthe Noble Lords who hear me, and respect:llg which I buy not concur in opinion with other persons who have been consulted, but for whose conduct I enter tain every possible respect. I hope, my Lords, I may be allowed to put the folloiving questions—but it any Noble Lord feels any difficelty in my putting them how, I am ready to reserve them for any op. portunity that may arise in consequence of the appli cation of the standing Order." • Atter a short pause, the Illustrious Duke pro seeded 4d 1 wish to know, from the Noble Lord, in the Ant instance, whether since the removal of her Royal illi ot taiess the Princess Charlotte of Wales, to Carlton Hots*. her Royal Highness has had that degree of smantionication with her friends and connections, wt,itla her Rur al Highness had previous to her leay. lbw Warwick ioo se //11 atlter.a short pause—ag If the Noble Lord does • Mt defame to answer this question, I shall, of course, Meow bow to take it.-But I again ask the Noble Lord, if her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte has bad the same degree of communication with her frisinds and connections, since her removal to Carlton Howse that she had while she remained at Warwick Home r nest wish to ask the Noble Lord, if her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales, since het removal to Carlton House, has had that liberty of commtuticasion in writing and by letter—ofreceirti and sending setters—and the use of pens, ink, paper—that she tad while at Warwick House ? " I have nest to ask, whether her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales is, since her resideoc at Carlton House, in that state of liberty which pen. sons coosidered not as in confinement ought to be in? 44 The f. urth question I have to ask is,- whether in the course of last year her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales was not recommended, as proper Sro the state of her health, the use of the, sea bath ; and, whether it is not understood, that the same has been recommended to her Royal Highness, this year 44 The filth question, my Lords, is, whether her Royal Highness the Princes% Charlotte of Wales, having arrived ~t the age of eighteen years and a • ball, past the period when Parliament has frequently • eierviised the capacity of persons of the Royal Fa : and) to assume the government of the country with •:oat assistance; • whether there is any intention of pro. - oldirgan esiablislineut suitable ior her Royal High. , M,..and proper (tither to live and appear according tib i ec d ue i,,,,k.i n sisot society, over which, ; hope, be her lot ontiday to orign ?" The 'gad of LIVERPOOL. — " My Lords, it is opThuo my dtitY to agoltigise to your Lordships forl ,wvetasnaking any observations upon the questiona rut by the illustrious Duke. There can exist no '.-doubt, my Lords, in many cases, that advantage% 01 to be answered. Upon your j u dgments , and upon your feelings, I will most ngly andTreely rest the decision.—(Hear, hear.)--. y Lords, the Ptiute Regent, as acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majetty, is the father Of the,.l4yal Family, and 'he has the exclusive right-to regulate the education not only of his own children, but . of the other chil dren of the Royal family, if there were any. (Hear, 'ker.)—l ask, • my Lords, what instance is there of Parliament having interfered in a proceeding of this nature? Without entering into possible or extreme cases, I wish to know, my Lords, what ground the illuttrions Duke has laid for any parliamentary in terfcrence or proceeding upon this case, or that should induce us to concur in any.—(Hear, Hear.)' I am sure, my Lords,"that in the exercise of his legi timate right, the Prince Regent has adopted no re. oilation with respect to the Princess Charlotte, that has not for its object, and for its view, her Royal Highness's own benefit, interest and advantage : I and that his feelings towards her are purely those of a Sovereign and a Father—feelings and duties which are not only impressed upon him by nature, but ins-' posed upon him by the laws of the country. And I trust your Lordships will believe, when you come to consider, that under circumstances like the present, the great person whom I may allude to, would be very far from concurring himself in any act with respect to the Illustrious Personage in question, but upon the fullest sense of its contributing to her hap-' piness, her comfort, and her honour.—(Hear, hear.) And I think, my Lord, I should not -discharge my I own duty, or consult my own feelings, or the sense! and feelings of the House, if I added another word more." _ _ _ The Duke of SUSSEX disclaimed, in what he had said, theleast idea of expressing any thing dis respectful towards the illustrious person alluded to. —But as he was not satisfied with what had fallen from the /sl , )ble Lord, he felt it his duty to give no rice, that on Friday next he should make a motion on the subject. His Royal Highness then moved, that the Lords be summoned for Friday next. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he could not give a silent vote upon this occasion. The illustrious Duke had said, he meant not to say any thing disre spectful towards the great Person alluded to. He was persuaded his Royal Highness did not ; but he Must take the liberty of saying. that if his Noble Friend had answered the questions put to him, un der the circumstances of the c.tse he could not do so, without being guilty of a breach of his duty in the opi. nion of any man upon earth. He would nave betrayed iris duty to his Sovereign ; and'he would tell his Noble Friend, that if he had Answered the first part of these q uesti on s, he( Lord Erdon ) would neverhave conversed Again with turn. What was meant by the question,whe ther the illustrious prison reierred to, was allowed the same sort of intercourse with her friends and connections, (it might as well be said, with her am nia ), while living under the roof of her Royal Fa- ther ? Could that be said not to be an imputation ? But he must look upon it as as animadversion upon the Ministers of the Crown, with reference to sup posed advice. He would then only say, that the Great Person alluded to had the exclusive right to direct the education of his child, and that no man had a right to interpose; and a very strong ground indeed must be previously established, to warrant the interposition of Parliament with respect to advice so given and followed. And with reference to the whole of the conduct of the Great Person alluded to towards the illustrious Personage in question, he had the satisfaction of being able to state, in the face of the country, that he was at least deserving of the applause, and not the censure of mankind—(hoar !) The Duke of SUSSEX shortly explained, that whatever remarks he had made, may be construed itro an animadversion upon the conauct of Ministers up on the occasion; but that he did not conceive• it pos sible to construe what he had said in the way of dis respect towards the great person alluded to. Their Lordsliips*were then ordered to be sum moned for Friday. • Viscount SIDMOUTH gave notice of his inten tion to move sthe second reading of the Irish Peace Preservation Bill on Thursday, fur which day tLeir Lordships were ordered to be summoned, on the mo-. tion of the Noble Secretary of State. The Earl*of ABER OEEN presented a few Peti tions, principally from Scotland, against the Slate Trade. The remaining Bills on the table were then for warded, and the House adjourned till to.mo►row (this day). HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. BUTTERWORTH presented twenty-eight Petitions on the subject of the Slave Trade from different parts a Winwiek• shire. Marty others to the same purport were presented by several Members. Mr. ADDING I ON informed the House, that his Royal High. ness had breu waited on with the Address, in consequence uf the Message et yesterday, sud had been pleased te• return a must gracious answer. Mr. ADDINGTON brought up the Report of the Committee Ott Vaccine Inoculation. The Clergy Residence BW was read a third time and passed. The Lames Pobce Uprose Act went throusta a Committee. Report to-morrow. lite Temporary East-India Shipping Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. GIDDY gave notice of a motion he intended to bring for ward early next Session, provided the subject were nut taken up by sum. more competent Gentleman, fur a bill to amend the Act, as we understood, lur protecting property wrecked on the coasts of the king. nett. On the motion of the CUAIICLLLOR Of the Exciaguits, the House went into a Committee on the Duke of Wellington's At► nuky The Right Honourable Gentleman briefly suited, that the object of the Con:sauce was to consider of the Message taf the Prince Regent, for making the grants to the Marquis of IVellangton subject to the tattle regulations as those of his Duke. dom. On making the grants to him as Marquis, it was neglec ted to secure the pro„erty to his female descendants, an default of heirs male; but in the grants of the Dukedom this provis.on bad been Made. It was new merely intended to enact, an his Grace's Annuity Bill before the House, that if the title shuts 4 hecome.estinct by default of heirs male, that all the property be secured to the female descendants. The Hooss want into the Committee, and the proposition was agreed to. THE CLERGY. Sr E. BRYDGES moved for various papers and returns relative to the amount of the Revenue in the bands of the Commissioners for distributing Queen Anne's Bounty ; also the Parliamentary Grants for the same purpose ; and accounts of all the Livings in England and Wales, with the annual value of each to the latest period that the same can be made out.— This was a motion more enlarged than one previously made by the Hon. Barone t on the same subject. LO RD COCH RANE. Lord EBRINGTON said, he rose to make the motion of which he had given notice ; but before he proceeded he would beg leave to read to the House a letter he had received from Lord Cochrane. It was to the following purport : _ _ " King's Bench, July 17. My Lean—Although I claim no right to interfere with the Parliamentary conduct of any Member, or to enquire into the motives for any motion he may think proper to make, yet I owe ii to myself to protest against that motion of which your Lord- ship has given notice, as I conceive flirt it bas a tendency to hrlng down upon me greater grief than I should otherwi,e experience ; r as I did not expect to be treated by your Lordship on any ground that bears reference to my past services. However erroneous may be the estimateof a late transaction In the minds of many Mem bers, l'eannot consent that any service of mine should be prosti tuted to protect me from punishmetr. If guilty, I deserve the punishment to which the law has sentenced me; If innocent, Ito part of the sentence ought to be inflicted. If, therefore, your Lordship still persists in the motion of which you have given no th.e, l• hope and trust you will do me the justice of reading this letter to the House." Having thus read this letter from Lord Cochrane, it brciirne unnecessary for him (Lord Ebrington) to disclaim having had any private intercourse with that noble Lord on the subject. He knew him only as a member of that House, during the time he had a seat in it, and as a gallant officer, to whom his country had, on many occasions, been highly indebted for his services. In that point of view he had first conceived the idea of bringing forward his motion; and not. withstanding the noble Lord's letter he did not feel himself at liberty to forego Ins original intention. He should endeavour as much as possible to avoid mix ing this subject with that which had been determined on a lornier night. The House had then ..ecided on that question, and it was not his wish to bring it tOrward again, by alluding either to his guilt or his innocence. He begged to call the attention of the House to that particular part of the sentence which was the main object of his motion. He thought the punishment of the pillory was in general malt "lad. because it constituted the pnprilat:e at once the Judges and executioners, and the result had ofien tented to be not less titan a cruel death. 'll4 was contrary end remnant to the mild, generous, and liberal 'pi. tit of dreßritish laws, which, for certain crimes of the nr l ttr i was eCO r st a r; of death, but never. i i i n g fl e i n c d ta t d ai t d h i a r t ec i t t ly s.h.o tl u te u p b4o nnish if m ..ti en li t u d se ite nt r e t n i c ic e nishm exec u ti o n etlt w a hith le. w ss a i s r l o ef r t ni tote r to be a punishment almost etiiiteiy con,fined.t9.o4, to be inflicted on only certain offences, and it teeniest metffspolts. He had made enquiries into the subject, that in all the punishments of this kind which had been inflicted throughout the kingdom during en e years, there had Anit• been two pererns sentedeeJ to the pillory, except in the metmpoiis. Such being the case, who-could have supposed that a Conn of Jute lice, even in the capital, would, for such an offtnce„ have sentenced to the pillory such a man ? Why so far disgrace and degrade a noble and gallant officer, who, in thecourse.of many brave Ad brilliant achieve. I menu; in fulfilling the arduous duties of his pecifes, sion, had 'displayed the most distinguished . covens and talents, iodise his Carens of &AI, as a naval or. her, had /font billing' the: highest bower by many brilliant exploit* in the service' and defence of:bis King and country ? His Lordship then ailvertrd to the action in which Lord Coclirane, in the Speedy 'sloop of 14 guns, took the El D'Gama e a Spanish frigate of 38 guns, which he looked upon to be es gallant an achievement as had ever been performed. His Lordship then moved that the thanks nt that House, voted to Lord Gambier, &c. for the destruce tion of the ships in Basque Roads, in which were 'n eluded thanks to Lord Cochrane for having ao brave. ly and so skilfully conducted the whole, ehould he read. Thishaving been done, his Lordship continued: Such was the tribute paid to the noble Lord (Cods rane) at that time; and he (Lord Ebrington) had always understood, that, as a further mark of tavosti and remuneration of his gallant strvices, he had atter wards been created a Knight of ,the Bath. He cheek took occasion to draw the attention of the House to the great inequality of punishment which had bits heaped on the head of Lord Code ane more thaceoe any of the other persons who had been tri.d on the same indictment and sentenced ter the 'Jame oTedce. When the Noble Lord was struck out tif the envy list, when he was shorn of the hannurs of kat ehthood, and stripped of his plumes end of his rank, could err would any impartial man say that esynti eed no more, had been meted out to hint ? W man say that Lord Cochrane was not far m ne severe. ly punished than either Mr. Butt or LS rciag-r ? Theis persons when the period of their c , iitiiiement was over, would return to their original ols-curity, and by changing their names, it they thought fir,naight with perfect ease regain their former settle!: in sacicty; He then contrasted this very sentence on Lord Cochrane with that which had been some time aeo passed on a noble Marquis for seducing sailors to quilt his Majes ty's service to enter on lewd his own yacht. Tuis of. fence was surely as great a one as that which Lord Cochrane had been guilty ef ; hut what v..a, that sen tence of the Noble Me•qu:s ? Why, four mlntiis ins. prisonment, and a fine, which, consider ng the situa tion of the party, could not be called a 1..rg.• hire.-- However, when the period of impillollMet•t WAS over Filler* was an end of the punishment. 'the Merle Mar quis Was restored to his rank; and all the other c,.m. forts of life which he enjoyid before. Lord Coch rane, on the contrary, after iii, fine had been paid, and the period of imprisonment was ended, seas deprived of his rank in the navy, and if the honour of being a Knight of the Bath, all si hich he kid previously gain. ed by his exertions in the service of his country. He must therefore ask the House, was this an equal mea sure of English justice? The N able Lord ciliclad ed by observing, that he had nothing more with which to trouble the House, and trusted, that he hid ad hered to the intention he had expressed at the com mencement of his speech, of keeping clear of t,e pies. lion of the guilt or of the innocence of Lord COC:it Even those who might be inclined to think him guil ty, he hoped, would concur in deprecating tit, tion of the ignominious punishment of th • puiory.— The Noble Lord then moved, that an liumhie address be presented to the Prince Regent, Vert lie woual be graciously pleased, on account oh the 1 emer dtstin guised services of le rd Cochrane, to remit that p tat of the sentence that wtut to infl.:t the punislausent of the pillory. Lord NUGENT, cnncurring in every thing which had he , n uttered by his NAle Friend, sh arid give his.cord'al support to the maion. He also felt the propriety of abstaining from any allusion to that p• tat en which the House had come to a decision ; namely the Noble Lord's guilt. He should, how,ver, von ble the House with a few woods on the great chat AC. ter tit Lord Cochrane. The evidence to this beet, which had been given on the trial, was nit that pour and whining evidence given on ordinary occa sions of persons who had known a defendant many years, and never knew any thing against him till the present time. For the character ul Lord Cochrane, we were to look to the proudest pages o t!.e British history, witere he stands distinguished iu the fie st rank in the country's service. Such Wag the man ter whom a plea was this night offered, and whose fair character was now so cruelly stained. He felt en tirely with his Noble Friend who had moved tee Ad dress respecting the nature of the puni ini.lit, Awl the comparative so/elite of it beyond_ what would be felt by the other persons convicted ; and he would add, that all those who had any doubts the other night as to the innocenc e of the Noble Lind, were bound to vote for the minion of to 'sight. Sup?ose a soldier Were detected in defrauding his stir i ficer, in connection with his Captain; that ea:, sir old hung the man to the halbert was to be ret:. cre..!, fait he doubted whether they would flog the Captann If they did, he would only s iy, that they would com mit a gross act of injustice. As to the , pitlory, such punishment upon a great man becomes a savage and cruel torture, by exciting in the public mind every base feeling, argrenceuregitig the worst and most reprehensible paisians. He would not go the length a ow t n e d v ipnedriscoantai v o n in o li n se o ' un in c c e n d l of agicting wi t h w h at th e N o bl e L or d h id sa i d i n his i u n i t o lsa h t ad li p k r i p t l i t e ing sen th it e il e ce ti; but when he saw a person standing forward in that House, and asserting that a part of the evidence had been suppressed, and mentioning ether circurnstencLs which bore hardly upon him, 'At:d prevented the pos. sibility of his offering all that could hAte beau Mi. i