Star. — London, England, 1810-02-16 00:00:00

I-. sv.i; Secretary to the Admiralty, it was the ish of Lord Mu!grave, that the same revs. which pre v a iled in the Navy Pay-O ffi ce and io ns A d m irAlty, might also be adopted in the Navy ego. But from the constitution of the establishment R iche clerks , it w as found, after an attentive investi - ion of the case, that thew regulations could not he c occo duced into the Pay-Office, without a con iderable or ifice of expense. In this opinion too the Corn issioners of Naval Revision concurred. This state ment he felt it his duty to make, • and he hoped it co uld be satisfactory to the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. WARDLE explained. Mr. WHITBREAD did not think the explanation t ; the Hon. Gentleman satisfactory. He should ilerefore vote for the papers on the ground of what . Ic l been stated by his Honourable Friend, and the Friends of the Noble Lord (Mr. Wilberforce and :r. The CtiANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER id not think the House ought to feel in the same i.inner as the friends of the }Table Lord, nor agree ;;Cle m otion, unless a sufficient ground were laid for The Report of the Committee of 1788 recommen ita t he abolition of fees, and an increase of salary in lea o f them. The Order in Council for the abolition t ithe fees did not issue till 1796, so that the old prac rre continued till that period. As the fact, to which t he paper moved for applied, had taken place before that period, he trusted the House would not think . inquiry into a practice, not then prohibited, ne tts;iry, A.s to what had been said relative to a tran ti.)n in the Barrack Department, it would have ten desirable that the Hon. Gentleman had been etre explicit. If the transaction had taken place at v time stated by the Hon. Gentlethan, October last, come to his knowledge, he was sure he must rilakic inquiry respecting it. He begged the lion. Gentleman to be more particular on that head, cord r to enahle Gentlemen to apply their minds to 6e orticular case. Mr. IVARDLE, in reply, informed the Right' lion. Gentleman, ,that a written statement had been g iven in to the Commissioners of the Barrack Board on the 31st of October last, by Wm. Pierce, a Clerk in that department, containing an accusation against a Mr. Prentice, another Clerk, employed in a very te sponsible and confidential office in that department, that he had sold the offices in it, and that too since tile Bill of the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer), against the sale of offices. It also charged him with having employed clerks to p r epare false accounts. He had further to state, that :letter had also been written to the Lords of the Treasury, stating the practice, and calling their often ton to it. He had himself seen the letters, and he could me the Right Hon. Gentleman, and the House, that they would hear out his statement. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER de clared his readiness to agree to the motion for the production of thi-se papers. Lord FOLKSTONE having received information that, in consequence of a prosecution some time since instituted against a firm for the sale of offices in the City, the penalties of which prosecution the parties were now sutfaing, some papers or letters' leg other parties in similar offences had been put into the hands of the law officers of the Crown, lie wish ed% be informed by these Gentlemen, whether such documents had been given to them ; and if so, whe ther it win their intention totals. proceedings against the parties so implicated ? The ATTORNEY GENERAL answered, that it had been stated by the parties, the objects of the prosecution (Messrs Pohlman and Keylock), in order to give colour to their own practices, that persons high in office were concerned in the sale of offices. Amongst others, it had been stated that the Duke of Portland made 030,000 a year by the sale of offices, awl also that the Lord Chancellor was engaged in the Practice. Upon such grounds, he could not harbour the slightest suspicion, still less institute a prosecution. He had no paper of the kind mentioned by the Noble Lad put into his hands, and consequently he had no poceedings to institute. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL begged to give the same answer. Mr. H. ADDINGTON declared his intention to Tote :or the papers relative to the Barrack Depart sea, for which a Parliamentary ground had been laid, but should oppose the other motion cf the Hon. Gentleman's. The qaestion was then put upon the first motion, and negatived without a division. . Mr. WARDLE next moved, " That there be laid before the House a general Return of all the ° IAA emplcyrd in the different departments of the Navy Office, try Pay Of the Ttaasport Office, and the Sick and Wounded SoaHel a:ql Prisoners of War Office, with the date of their ori tod entre into the some, their ages, number of years service, " Wailes, on their 'entrance into these offices, together with C'elYeteluent additions which may have been made to the same." Alla a few words from Mr. ROBERT WARD an l Mr. DAVIES GIDDY against the motion, and relohservations from Mr. WARDLE in support it, this motion was also negatived without a dim Mr. WARDLE then moved, That there be Lid before * the House a Copy of a Memorial by William Pi e rce t o th e C o mmission e r s f o r the Barrack Lkpart rm it, dated October 31, 1E4)9, and also a C. , py of a Let ,t7 trot , . the same Person to the .1 .ords Commissiimers of the calling their attention to that Memorial."—.Agreed to. EMBEZZLEMENT BILL. as the notion of Sir Joan NEw roar the Embezzlement Bill 10..1 tLcoarititted, Mr. James Abercrombie in the Chair. f , :tral duties were gone throtigh. u•I the clause declaring it felony, fraudulently to secret, ern- Itzz les or make use o any of the public money, a long converse- G 4 ensued, in which M r . Rose, Si r J. N ew p o rt, th e Attorney- Teta'. Mr. Giles, M r . H. Th ornton , & c . too k a part. gr.TiIoRNToN particularly objected to the words " make °f + . at tieing sufficiently defined. 41 ' NUN NEWPORT had no objection to 10ter the clause eeoily to the words in the Bankers Bill, where the words 'td vitae" make away with," and moved an amendinent to this rhe SOLICII OR-GENERAL strongly objected to the whole P:iaciFle of the clause, as going to deprive Government of every 14 'u ti it flow had, in the event of any deficiency arising. At retzt the embezzlement of public money was punished as a 44cittanour, by which the delinquent was subject to unlimited Z e t all4 huprisontnent, and even to pillory ; while, at the sante kt ' al l„his property, of whatever description, his person also, the , property of his sureties, were subject to Writs of Ez for the security of the debt flue to the public. liy the pre ''''trr• iessure, however, supposing a public dekulter to flee the ' hot only the property of his sureties,but even any estates .....7taself might leave behind hint, would be free, us the debt 7 tette in the felo n . tu`7I,S:ROMILLY concurred, that great inconvenience would ji titc : l rm nuking this felony, for the reasons stated by the So -Genetal. hut the objection /night be obviated by leaving • be word felony, and supposing the offence to remain a mis , sonnet, however, to the proposed punishment by . ttonspetteden ter as ye" ilia Witt to bated aslant for perjury, and other He did loot ft, hrohltr, that all offences of this nature WA be as Of keaSp oisses adelmod. • The CHANCILLOR QUER dmitisirips out the word ilony Wild Doi esosiderable ss there was stills Maki as part of using or makhoyi away with would ballads ttoOlw The first thin twat be to define this exactly, lid cernditty there emdd be no objec tion to the infliction of • lettere punishment on the transgression of the law. But, at prollmibt, he suggested, that the Chairman should report progress. Mr. PONSONBY agreed to•dds ; and after a few words front Mr. H. SMITH and Mr. Tuotatton the Chairman reported pre.. gress, and obtained leave to sit agai n on this day se'nnight. Lord PORCHESTER moved that the Secret Committee, on the Expedition to the Scheidt, might have leave to adjourn rpm place to place, and to report from time to time.—Ordered. SCHRLDT EXPEDITION. On the Motion of Lord PORCHESTER, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Scheldt eapedition—and strangers were, as usual, excluded. We understand that Sir R. Strachan and Lord Gardner were examined, when the House adjourned, it being two o'clock. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ON& O'CLOCZ 3 per Cent Cons. for .noney 6711—acc. 8711. Reduced 671—OrnnIum EYehrq. Bills ls.to 7s. pr PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY. 3 per Cent. Red. Ann. 6711 India Stock 1851 3 per Cent. Cons. 671 671 India Bonds ss. pre. 4 per Ceut. 83 84 Imp. 8 per Cents. 5 p , :r Cent. Navy 99 983 99 Exch. Bills, Si. dis. S pre. Long Ann. 18 s.l6ths} Consols for Ace. 8711 We mentioned yesterday that the accounts from Spain were of the most gloomy description ; that the French had passed the Sierra Morena, and that all .the flattering accounts which had been circulated of the mighty preparations of " the gallast Spaniards," to resist and repel the enemy, had vanished into thin air. We add that the dispatches received by Govern- ment from Admiral PURVIS at Cadiz, dated the 3d instant, and numerous private letters, confirm this intelligence and realise, to their utmost extent, the fears ;e have long entertained respecting the affairs of Spain. • The accounts in the printed journals defy the powers of censure and of criticism. We therefore pass them over entirely, and lay before our readers some impor- tant private letters which will enable them to form a pretty accurate opinion of the probable result of the present transactions. • SEVILLE, JANUARY 17. The French are at the foot of the Sierra Morena. They have been repulsed by the division of Bigadot, at Villa Manrique. The enemy have penetrated by the Puerto del Rey. Our army has fallen back on Jaen. The advanced posts of Albuquerque, who is marching to our assist *ce, are arrived at Guadalcanal. Coupigni has ad vanced from hence to cover Carmona ; but we have no tierce to stop the progress of the enemy. The greater part of the Junta have left this place for the Isla de Leon, and the remaining Menibers are to em bark to-night, and go to Cadiz by water. CADIZ, JANUARY M. . The enemy, having advanced from Madrid, have passed the Sierra Morena without the slightest oppo sition. We have been deceived and fatally disap pointed in all those hopes which lulled us into security. The army of Areisaga, on which we placed our whole dependence, did not fire a shot, nor do we even know where this boasted force is stationed. Cordova sur rendered to the enemy, without even a chew of oppo sition ; and nothing afterwards could interpose be tween the enemy and Seville. We ate in momentary expectation of his appearance at Fort St. Mary. Our , fortifications, which were to present a strong barrier to the approach of the enemy to Cadiz, are unfinished, and by no means in a state for effectual resistance. We have but little artillery, few engineers, and no depot of provisions. Thus circumstanced, we last night had a meet;ng of the principal inhabitants of this place, who with one accord agreed to subscribe their names to an Address to our Governor, Venegas, in which we offered to defend ourselves to the last extremity, and entreated his best exertions in our behalf. While I am writing, an express has arrived, which informs us that an insurrection of the people has taken place at Seville. The people proceeded, in the first instance, to break °pert the military depot, furnished themselves with artillery and small arms, and proceeded instantly to the Inquisition, front whence they liberated the Count de Montijo, who had been imprisoned at the instance of the Supreme Junta, although he was the father of the Spanish revolution. The command of the army was proposed to him, which he declined on account of his deficiency in military knowledge. A Regency was then proposed, and Saavedra vias• ap pointed to be at the head. To assist him, he has Cuesta, Equia, Castanos, Montijo, &c. Romana was appointed Captain-General of Valencia; and Blake, at the request of the Count de Montijo, Captain-Ge neral of Andalusia. Others were appointed to the same offices in other provinces. CADIZ, FEBRUARY 2. No sooner was it known that the Junta had fled from Seville, than the people took up arms, and hav ing set at liberty the Conde de Montijo and Don Fran. cisco Palafox, who had been imprisoned on a charge of conspiracy against the Government, they surround ed the Junta of Seville, demanding the immediate appointment of a Regency, and exclaiming against the Supreme Junta as traitors to their country, who had abandoned the passes of the mountain to the Fiench, and then fled to Cadiz with the money which they had received from America. The Junta of Se. vile refused to nominate a Regency, but admitted Montijo and Palafox as Mimbers of their own body, laud appointed the Marquis of &maim Commander • .2. :. • of the arttly if Castile, in place•bt the Duke of PaNtte. Roman; who had been named about a fortnight be. fore Captaln•General of Valencia, but had not left Seville, accepted this cornthand, acid took part with the insurgents ; and couriers were dispatched to stop the Members of the Supreme Junta, who had fled to Cadiz, and arrest them as traitors to their country. —At Xerez de la Frontera, the Archbishcirof Lao dicea, President of the Junta k Valdes, formerly Mi nister of Marine ; and Ovalle, one of the Deputies of Estremadura, were seized by the populace, and would probably have been put to death, had not some persons who had influence with the mob got them shut up in the Carthusian Convent; and detained them there as prisoners of state. On the news of these excesses, General Castanos, who was at the Isla de Leon, exerted himself to procure their liberation, and had them conveyed in safety to the Isla ; but as they felt that their authority was now completely at an end, no sooner bad they assembled at that place, with the other Members of the Junta, than they appointed a Regency, composed of the Bishop of Orense ; of Saavedra, Minister of Finance ; of Castanos, Captain General of Andalusia ;* of Escane, Minister of Ma rine ; and of Fernandez de Leon, Minister of the In dies ; and transferred to these five persons the govern ment of the country. This appointment took place on the 29th of - January. The French are in the mean time advancing with out opposition. Cordova, which was indeed incapa ble of defence, has surrendered to them without re sistance. Their head-quarters are Alcala de Gua dayra, two leagues from Seville, and only 17 leagues from Port St. Mary's. We are as yet unacquainted with the fate of-Seville, but considering the great ex tent of the works that surround it, and the want of any troops of the line for its defence, we cannot flat ter ourselves with the hope of its making the least re sistance. Our own situation would have been equally desperate, had not the Duke of Albuquerque arrived here this morning with 8000 men, which he con ducted with great skill and success over the Marisma, which, at this season of the year, was supposed to be impassable for an army. He was pursued by the French cavalry as far as Lebrixa, but finding that they could not overtake him, they there stopped their pursuit. Before his arrival we had not above 1000 troops of the line to defend this place and the city of Cadiz. Our fleet is at length equipped and ready to put to sea, and is now in the outer harbour. We have great confidence in Castanos and the Duke of Albuquerque, but Alava, the Admiral of the fleet, is a person on whom no reliance is to be placed. It has been a culpable neglect of the Spanish, as well as of the English Government, to have suffered such a man to remain so long in this important command. Part of our army, we understand, is collected at Ronda, and part at Granada ; but as soon as the French shall advance to Pares and Port St. Mary's. our communication with the rest of the country will be entirely cut off, except by sea. We are in *expecta tion of a reinforcement of English troops from Gi braltar to assist at the defence of Cadiz, and many thousand persons are at work in completing the for tifications on the Peninsula which had been left un finished. ROYAL DECREE. " His Majesty Ferdinand VIL and in his Royal name, the Su preme Central Junta, has addressed to me the following Royal Decree :" " On the convention of the Supreme Central Junta of Siedn and the Indies ,in the Royal Island of Leon, according to the De cree of the 13th of this month, the dangers of the state have greatly increased, but not so much from the progress of the enemy as from the intetior convulsions which threaten us. The local change in the Government both for the Junta and the Cortes could no longer be delayed without the greatest peril to the coun try. But this alteration could not and ought not to have been made by one party, by one district, or by one individual ; and if it were so, it would be the act of alarm and tumult, and not of deliberation and the law. In such a case it would be the work of a factious cabal, instead of being the decision of a 'Whole nation, or of the legitimate representatives of that nation. " If the pressure of the calamities which afflict us, and public opinion, influenced by them, require a Council of Regency, and demand that it should be appointed immediately—its nomination belongs to none but to the supreme authority established by the national consent—obeyed by it, and acknowledged by the pro vinces—the armies—our allies—and the American colonies.— The power alone which such authority will confer, will be legal and just, and such as will fitly represent the unity of the monarchy. Impresed by these sentiments, the Supreme Central Junta of Span and the Indies, has resolved to direct on the part of his Majesty, Ferdinand VII. as follows— " That a Council of Regency shall be composed of five persons —one of which shall represent America; and all of them shall be named to the exclusion of the individuals who compose the Supreme Junta. " The said five Members shall be—the Right Reverend Bishop of Orense,Don Pedro de Qnevedo y Quintano; Councillor of State and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.—Don Franco de Saa vedra; Captain General of the Royal Armies.—D6n Francisco Xavier de Castaaos ; Councillor of State and Marine Secretary of State.—Don Antonio de Escano ; Minister of the Council of Spain and the Indies.—Don Estevan Fernandez de Leon, for America. " All the authority possessed by the Supreme Junta shall be transferred to this Council of Regency, without any limitation whatever. • " The persons hereby nominated, shall remain in the discharge of these high duties until the time of the deliberations of the Cortes, when that assembly may determine what form of Go vernment shall be substituted for it. " in order that the designs may not be disappointed for the ulterior benefit of the nation, at the time when the oath is taken by the Junta, the Regents shall also swear to convene the Cortes at the time appointed, or if unavoidable circumstances pr-vent that measure, at such time as the enemy may have evacuated the greatest part of the Kingdom. " The Council of Regency shall be invested with office on the 2d of February next, in che isle of Leon. " Let this Decree be properly understood, and adopt the means to carry it into execution. " The ARCHBISHOP Or LAODICEA, President: l " Isle of Leon, Jan. 29 , 1 810." " Which Royal Decree I communicate to you, Ste. " DZ " Isle or Leon, Jan .29, 1810 ." " Addressed to the Seniors, Members, The President, Puebla, G imonde, Vice-Preaident, Calbo, Bonifaz, Rivero, Valdes, Amatria, locals, A mans, Castanedo, Ovalle, Quintanllbi, inventions, Garay, Ville!, Garda de Is Veluiza, Caro, Ripelme, Torte." We stated yesterday, that die Toulon fleet was oft - die point of putting to sea: The dispatches frogs Lord COLLINGWOOD state, as we. are info'nued, that this fleet h understood to have actually sailed, and . that he was in hopcs of receiving timely notice of their course to defeat their object, whatever it may be. It is far from being improbable that Napoleon's Navy may have been ordered to undertake the hazard of second= ing the operations of his army in the South of Spain. The Spanish fleet at Cadiz is said to have moved lower down the harbour, and to be now anchored on the outside of our squadron ; the enemy having assumed do advanced a position, that the most s( rious appre• hensions were entertained of an attack upon that town. The accounts from Lisbon, of the Sd instant, state, that General BERESFORD had arrived in that capital; and that Lord WELLINGTON was hourly expected. The Honourable Mr. PONSONBY also arrived in 'C. town yesterday, with dispatches from Cadiz. He came over in a frigate which reached Lymington the preceding day. The date - of these dispatches is not quite so r!Tent as those froin Admiral PURVAS. The French had not, at their date, reached Seville, but Were near it, and the inhabitants were flying in thottsdnds to Cadiz& A late Hamburgh paper presents the following articles : CASSEI.,JANUARY- 49. In the speech which his Majesty the king (of Westphalia) made yesterday on the opening of the Sitting of the Diet, was the folloiring passage : . 4. The Emperor, my exalted brother, to give to this Kirgdom, which is his creation, a proof of his particular retard, has, at thii Moment granted it advantages of h;gh importance. As soon, as it shall be permitted to make them known, my people will learn the value of these new benefits, and the good of which they will be productive.'' It is afterwards observed in the same speech— " The arts, trades, and great undertakings, in fine, every thing which contributes to the riches and glory of a nation, can oral be cultivated with success on an extended territory, and with the aid of a numerous population." We have just received information from unques. tionable authority, that BONAPARTE has' declared his determination, though not yet officially, to incor porate the Duchy of Oldenburg and the Electorme of Hanover with the Kingdom of Westphalia. ARMY.—The 82d Regiment, quartord at Brighton, has received orders to prepare for emßarkation. It is supposed that Gibraltar is the place of its destinations —The artillery drivers and the reinforcements of horses and men for the Sd and 4th Dragoon Guards, in Portugal, are to sail under convey of the PILOT. 18 guns, and Condos, 24 guns, Captain Ssnyrn. Essex Eutcrion.,--State of the Poll Pexrteemh Day: Mr. Houblon 8--Mr. Burgoyne —Majority fur Mr. Houblon 2. Aggregate state of the Poll : Mr. Houblon - - - Mr. Burgoyne • - 2390 774 MOW, in favour of Mr. Honblon •—•1616 SHOCKING CATASTROPHE.—The following tale of woe should serve as a caution to parents not to per. mit their childien to witness scenes of cruelty of any description whatever : —Monday last Mr. Hall, a miller at King's Bridge, Devon, having employed a butcher to kill some pigs for him, during thtt ab, sence of the latter to get some refreshinent, having left his knife behind, four young children, who had been witnessing the operation, agreed to play at hill--• pig ; the youngest was to be the pig, when one of the others, who acted the part of the butcher, stuck him in the throat, and killed him on the spot : the other three alarmed at what they had done, ran into the adjoining mill, and hid themselves under the wheel, which was not working at the time, but was set going almost immediately afterwards, and crushed them all to death ! The grand Prize, amounting to No. 3734 , 3734 AND 116.11!19 2952 3436 AU Drawn on the 14th of the present month, were Sold and Shared by RICUARDSON, GOODLUCK, and Co. Cornball. and Cha ring-Cross. FALMOUTH, FEBRUARY 13. Arrived the Prince Ernest packet, with a Mail from Jamaica. PLYMOUTH, FEBRUARY 14. Yesterday, during a violent gale at S. W. a merchant-brig was driven on the rocks in Whitsand Bay, Ave miles west of this port and dashed to pieces. I lament to say, the crew were all drowsed. Much damage, I fear, was done, as I never recollect a more vio lent gale, attended, as it was, with a very heavy storm of rain and hai l.—Arrived the DRILADNOUGHT (pin back through con trary wind); the INTELLIGENT gun-brig, Lieutenant 'foment, from a cruise; and the INDEFATIGABLE frigate, from a cruise off the coast of Spain. Also arrived, the Ann, Newfoundland brig, - laden with timber, retaken by the ( Ftovta.—Sailed, the Cialsrzs sloop, on a cruize ; and the It.m.racia brig of war, with nine merchant-vessels under convoy for the Downs. This day, a Court Martial was held on board tht Sato/snout nat. MoNDO, in Hamoaze, on two seamen belonging to the VAN GUARD, 74, for desertion and thieving ; which being proved, they were found guilty, and sentenced to receive 250 lashes each. The Captain of the Duguay Trout% French privateer has mad, his escape from this port in an open boat. • PORTSMOUTH, FEBRUARY 15. The weather very thick, with snow, cannot learn if any weasel@ have arrived. Sailed the Royal. OAK, DONNEGAL, and Co- QUZTTZ, for off Cherburgh; and the Rose, merchant vessel, for Liverpool.—Wind E.S.E. HARWICH, FEBRUARY 15. This morning arrived the EARL or LEICESTER and Loan DUNCAN Packets, with Mails and Passengers, from Heligoland. YARMOUTH, FEBRUARY 15. Arrived yesterday from Gottenburgh, and sailed again this morning for the Downs, the LOCUST gun-brig, Lieut. Genoa, Sailed the HEARTY, on a cruize ; and the PRINCE or WALES cutter, with convoy, for Portsmouth.—Remain the ROESUCK, Vice-Admiral Dountas—and the ACUTE gun-brig.—Wind N.E. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. GRAVESEND, Fee. 15.—Arrived the Argo, Anderson, from Gibraltar; and the Patriot , Andrews, from Malaga.—Sailed the ' Tigris M`Dougal ; and Alexander, Younghusband, for India; and the Diadem, WWI, for Gibraltar. CORN EXCHANGE, MARK -LANE, Fro. 16.—Today they IS a continuance of largs supplies of foreign Wheat, with several hr. ther arrivals coastwise; fine samples keep their prices, other qualities heavy sale—Barley in great abundance, second • d ordia nary lower—Malt and White Peas nearly at late Ir cu.-Bean of the two kinds likewise—New Ticks dearer, ES.. to Us. pee quarter—Oats are in considerable supply, and this trade% assuii rather cheaper—Flour retains at late prices. na NILRAL cultlitßclr AS I PIM. Wheat, 755. 885. 300 s. Beam, (uld) 525. nu Fine ditto, 102 s. 105 s. Tick ditto (old) 4SL 5 Rye, 425. 4Ss. Os. too. 2515. 265. Barley, 30a. 41.. Od. Pulsed alp, Vs. Sas. M. Malt 748.112 s Poems ditto, no. 04. Wilke Pais (boilers), sos. ?Ss. RapeAsil, 411. iL Fine Flour 15s. lift Ca .`