Star. — London, England, 1803-03-12 00:00:00

the! are fairly entitlzd to according to the fpirit of the Contlittition. I hope I do not allot an , improper a:MI, in flaring, that a certain dere, of confidet.ce null always be given to Govern trent. All that Minitters prefumc to a::: is, tha they may be candidly dealt with, and th it the+ Gentlemen who have hitherto laid up to the pre fent hour," we have given our confidence to you." lb.-flint , : all at one.. withdi AIX it fiont thein,crpt, ju.!gc th,m lint ii the refult of their conduct (hall tr fftliv known. I Majeity's fit rant, at e aware ot the tliflico'ty of the fituation in which they are placed: and the: reel it a duty which they owe to their and country, to lay b6 , re Parliament the whole of their proceedings, and the motives of their conduCl, at a feafonable time. In II , e mean time, they merely with to (land upon the opinion of the crl:ntry and of Pailiament. —I now, Sir, come to notice the amendment rropoCed by the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Dent t, for adding to our naval efiablilhment twenty-five thoufand feamen. I cannot recon concile myfelf to believe that it is one iiroyet for tl:e Houle to adopt. It has ever been ufual in loch cafes, to adopt the refolution brought forward on the part of Government ; for this plain and fatif fiCtory reafon that Government only can afcertain the nature and extent of the force, adequate to meet the prefTure and exigency of the danger which may threaten the fafety of the country. If, how ever, Gentlemen had reafon to find fault with the propolition, it was the cuflom to offer an amend ment, which went to the reduCtion of the efirmate contained in the vote, not to the increafe of it. It has been always very uncommon to propofe an augmentation of the numbers deemed by Govern ment equal to the importance and urgency of the occation. In the prefent cafe, I can dircover no reafon why the number of feamen ftated in the re folution fhould be increafed, as the ten thouland feamen propofed in the vote, when added to thrice already granted for this branch of the public fervice, will give a total effeCtive force of 60,0c0 men. Mr. Fox rote to explain. " I beg leave to cor rect a miftake which the Noble Lord has made in reprefenting an opinion of mine. When I fpnkt before, the Noble Lord underitood that in voting for this armament, I thought I fhould pledge my fell to the war. This miftake is, however, to be attributed to a flip of my tongue, for I meant to fay, that I pledged myfelf to the armament only, and not to the war. By this vote we now make ourfelves parties to the difcuflions pending between France and this country, and give importance and weight to them. But at the fame time, when we vote an Armament, his Majefty being in poffer fion of the Supply and the Armament, may go to war with them without our concurrence. It is therefore, I contend, extremely important for the Houfe to confider, that they are voting in the dark, as they know nothing of the nature of the difcuflions to which his Majefty alludes, and which conftitute the grand motives for the prefent mea- Cure. It is in the recollection of every Member who hears me, that a Right Hon. Gentleman ( Mr. T. Grenville) formerly brought forward a refolu tion, Rating, that it was the duty of the Houle to enquire into the necelifity of the cafe, whenever it came under confederation to impofe new burdens upon the people. The motion, I confefs, was loft, but the author of it will, no doubt, have tome weight in the Houle. The fanetion of Parliament is now called for to a 'mature, of which, in its caufes and origin, they know nothing. Yet the Conflitution of England tells us not to vote away the money of our Conftituents, but upon good grounds, and I confefs myfelf ignorant of any which can authorife my affent to the Refolution." Lord Hawzissultv explained.—" I have, Sir, no objeition to grant, that if his Majelly had Rated nothinv , in his Menge but the existence of difcuf lions between him and the Government of France, and then anted for the armament which is now propofed, it would become a quetlion, whether the Houle fhuuld agree to it or not ? but when we are informed that not only important difeuffions are carrying on, but that armaments are preparing in the ports of France and Holland, which mutt in evitably be turned againft us, if the difeuffions tail in producing the defired effect, I put it to the Houle whether this combination of circumstances does not form a fuflicient caufe for our placing the country in a Rate of defence ?" Mr. Ezt.tor.—tt Sir, I truft there is no man who will not zealoufly concur in fupporting the motion before the Committee, becaufe it goes to fupport the honour and feeurity of the country. It is a matter of fey ions regret that the country has not been already placed in a Rate of preparation ; but I do not complain of this only, I have Alf° to corn. plain of the uniform darkness which has been loi tered to obfcure fume of the moR important exter nal interells of the country. I with to have it afeertained by a proper enquiry, why it happened, that many parts of the treaty of Amiens were ful filled on our part, while the Powers we had been treating with were making the greateft preparations, and doing the very things we now , make a fubjeCt of complaint ? I am de:in:us of in• I vefligating why many places were given rap by us at the very moment when thefe Powers 'hewed dif- • paitions as hoe ile as they do now ? And I leave , it to the Houle to determine why his Maj'Ry's Ministers did not then eutfue the. line of cenduCt which they at relent adopt ? With le speCt to the refolution before the Committee, I have to tb ferve, that it is unprecedented, not being lane • tioned by ft:fficient information." Mr. CANNING (Aid, it was not his intention to trefpafs on the attention of the Houle many mi nutes, b❑t he could not help obferving, that he thought the Miniiler ought to have laid helm the Houle better gtour.ds for this meafure than lie al ready had done; and though a better explanation was neceffiry can filch an importart question, yet lie was lure every Member would fupport it with thee:Joiners, when tie country was in d:,ng He td been told that there is a great armament car txini, on, on the nther fide of the water, and there f re we reeriired au additional miiitary ant! n.ttal flreneil: to deft nd this country : he thetight it Wa% theretoic proper, that we thottol receive non the fubjell. He begged leave to i call to tl.c recolleCti'm of the Houle tl.e period I, when the French fent an armament to Saint Do mingo this Government was jealous of the con -1,,a of the Firft Conful, and she Mini(ler did not .it that time think it improper to inform the Houfe 'f every particular conflated with his precaution at that period, for the public lakty. If he could tplain his reafon for the caution he ufed at that tine, he thoto-, , ht the Miniffer ought to give the Houle more information than he hitherto has done on a qucilion nt lb much moment. However, Come Gentlemen may vote for an a dditional armament on our part to prevent an invation, but he fhould ‘ give his vote to enable Minillers to bring the quef- Lion hetv.een the two Countries to an iffue, whe. ther Peace or War. We may continue longer in a flats of fulpenfe—niir peace had been Come time dellifive and toicersain—it was therefore time we thoold underhand in what fituation we were placed. In the bider y of the world thcie was nothing of a fimilar n ature ; and in the whole vocabulary of politics there was no phrale togire a clear meaning to our Peace. He therefore thould vote for the quell ion, for the reafons he had jolt given. Sir WILLIAM Pu LTENEY ()Mitred, that one Ge ntleman had faid he was for war ; another exprcired his with for peace; but he Gould endeavour to ffeer the middle courfe. He believed the people of this country would, if there was neceflity, defend their rights, and oppole cn enemy, with as much zeal as ever they had done ; but it did not follow, that we mull go to war, from what we are now about to do by the voice of the Houfe. This meafure went to thew that we were able to (land againff a French attack, if there was an occafion for it. He could not but exprefs his furprife, that any Gentleman thonld with that the Minitter would difclofe at prefent every circumitance connected with the 1 affairs of the two countries—affairs of the utmoft magnitude, which ought to be condufled with great caution and ability ; and he was fure no man was better able to conduit Inch an arduous undertaking than the for.. Gentleman who had now the honour to Rand at the helm of public affairs. The French had arrived at a very alarm ing height of ambition, and had become a formi dable Power, yet, he thought if the wound could not be healed between the two countries, it would be better to encounter a war now, than at a future period. Mr. Fox and Mr. CANNING feverally explained. Mr. TRENCH faid, he thought proper to make two obfervations to the Committee, the one re fpefling a remark made by an Hon. Gentleman, (Mr. Canning,) as to the words of his Majefty's Meffage— , . avowedly for Colonial purpofes."— That Hon. Gentleman has faid, that fuch words' being put into that molt gracious communication, indicated a doubt of Bonaparte's good intention, which, perhaps, in all the circumftances, Miniffers were not warranted in doing. The Hon. Gentle man ( Mr. Trench) obferved on this, that an enemy or perfon having hoftile intentions againft the country, molt certainly would not acquaint us with what was the nature of his defigns; therefore, as we at prefent could have only their declaration upon the falt of the armament, of which, no doubt his Majefty's Minifters have certain information, we could confider this as no other than the avowed purpofe. The other was, with refped to a point in the fpeech of an Hon. Gentleman oppofite (Mr. Fox) ; he had declared, that he fhould not think himfclf nor the Houfe committed, as to the war, by the vote which he or they might give to the meafure now fubmitted to their eonfideration ; he (Mr. Trench) fhould go farther than him, he fhould by he did not confider himfelf pledged even to the armament, by voting as he now did for the fupply, which was the objeet .of the prefent Committee; he confidcred himfelf as only pledged to a mea lure of precaution. Mr. ATKINS Paid, this motion had his molt de cided fupport ; and he 'tithed, that not only ten thoufand men fhould be voted to Government, but that they thould be fupplied alfo, which he was convinced might be done, by a judicious plan of inrolment. MI. CANNING fugge(led to the Han. Gentleman who had moved the amendment, that, under the prefent circuuttiances, it would be better to with draw it. _ _ _ Mr. DENT confented to withdraw his amend ment, and the Refolution was agreed to. The following films were alto voted: 633,5001. for Wages fur the raid Seamen. asiopect. for Vittuals. 33 0,0001 . for Wear and Tear of Ship". 37,c0c1. for Ordnance for the laid Ships. The Report of the Commiuee was ordered to be received on Monday. CAPTAIN D'AtITERCNE. Dr. f. .imitNCl: fail, that it had long been his intention to bring forward the motion, of which he had given notice previ ous to the Chriftmas freers, relative to the arreftation of Cap tain d'Auvergne, hu t he had hitherto been prevented from do ing fn by indifpofition. Circumilances were at tit's moment fo changed to what they were when he had firft given notice of the motion, that he could not at fuch a crifis think of urging it. He fhould therefore poftponc it till more favourable occurrences took place, which might usable him to bring it forward. INDIA BUDGET. Mr. W Kr r ye, laid, that after the loot difeuffion which had already taken place, he hoped the. Noble Lord, whci had a mca fure of great importance to bring forward oo India affairs, would agree to poftpone it. lord Cass r Lrr rtoll Lid, that as the Houk had already Men conli.kra' , ly exhaufted, and as the bufmcfs he had to bring forward would naturally ...copy a confiderable length of time, an entilifled of 44.1.1414 of figures, which formed a very dry fL.bjea, he Mould re.a'.ily comply with the requed of the lion. lemh,r, to poftpone it to a future day. His Lordship there fore moved, the the Order of the Day be read, in order that he n•i4ht move its difeharge—whieb was accordingly done, and the Motion poftponed to Monday. COVENTRY ILECTMN. The Chairman of the Conimitteenppointed to try the mt.vits of the tontlied Eleclion and Return for the City of Coventry, reported at the har of the Houk, "that the Comtrattet had found Hugh 11.srlow, Efq. duly worried as TelemE‘r for that Coy. That Nat hanisl Jeffery,. Eli. was not dui./ qualified to fit in P...hament, according t.. the provifion of tiv. Ado( Queen Anne, for (sewing the Erections of Eleetion of Members to (cry: in Parhament ; and therefore nor duly e k a c .4. The hid Committee alto found, that the Petitions u, Wilberforce Bird, Efq. and Peter Meore, Efq. were nether frivolous nor vexatious ; and tha• the ,pi fition of Nathaniel Jene rys, Efq. to the Lid Petitions was neither frivolous nor vexdioos." The Report was then brou,,ht up, and order,d to be v. - At:red on the Journals. hit. l lit Nr V moe ii, that a n..v Writ I.c trued for the ci ty t . ,,,,n•ey, t!., room of Nathaniel I eery., who had been revoited, by a SeleA Consr.dlt.: 4C: 14 b: July elts.l.:d. dert..l.—.Adj• .tien.:l to Alon,lay. LONDON. SATURDAY, MARCII ii. PRICF OR STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONF O'CLOCK : Iper CAlitonf. mono•, 63 / /, 611, 63 W 4. "Sato, far Arra ace: 6 4 , 61, 611, 64. Old 5 pet Cent. 961, —Omnium rq4 dif. PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY: Ban't Stock 182 , 1182 Imp. Ann. t t 3 per C. Conf. 64 63i 64164 Exchcq. Bills, ss. dif. 'per C. Ann. 975 691 Ornnium 121 131 125 131 I . adia Stock 2c9 Rnglim Tickets 171. 18s. imp. 3 per C. 6315 Conf. for April acc. 645 655 6.1 It will be feen by the Parliamentary Proceedings of tart night, that to,ooo additional Seamen have been unanimously voted for thefervice of the State, the greater part of whnm,wc believe, have already been procured. Independently of the vall numbers every where obtained by means of tLe Imnrri., we are happy to find, that the volunteers who have already entered, are beyond all former example numerous; a circumfiaNce fufficiently demonfira tive of the high and genuine fpirit of Patriotifm that pervades that ufeful clack of his Majetly's fub. jeets. The preparations in the feveral ports are going on with unexampled aetivity ; and from the promptitude and vigour which in every department is difplayed by Government, there is no doubt of the queftion at iffue being fpeedily brought to a de cillon. Fleets of obfervation are to be fent out— of one of which Lard NELSON is to have the command. As is natural, yeflerday abounded in reports.— It was Paid that letters had been received by fome refpetiable Houfes in the City, announcing That an Aetion had taken place between the French Sqoa. dron and the Ships under the commacd of Sir Ft Bickerton, off Malta; in which, after a fhort but fmart enzagement , theßrittiti Seamen proved vidorious. The caufe of this =centre is Lid to have aril . = as follows : The French Admiral infifted on en tering the harbour of Malta, notwithftanding the ftrongeft re monfrances on the part of Sir Richard Bickerton, who de clared, that his orders would not permit the entrance of fuch a military force. The Frenchman maintained, that as Malta was a moral port, an man mould preclude him front this grati fication. Sir Richard at laft, finding all civil remonftrances in vain, fired upon the Frenchman as he proceeded towards the harbour, when the Donald face terminated as already dekribed• The intelligence, however, we do not believe. In the courfe of yefterday morning, Mr. AD DINGTON, Lord IliwitEssusy,and Lord HODIPT, vi feted each other at their refpeetivc Offices. The Difpatches for all our foreign Nliniflers have been completed, and will be fent off in the courfe of this day and to-morrow. A Board was held yellerday at the Admiralty, at which Sir A. Hassoym, Comptroller of the Navy, attended for the purpofe of Rating the num• ber of Ships now ready for Commiffion. Lord GARDNER, Lord KEITH, and Sir EDWARD /gaol. r, were prefent at the Board in the coarfe of the day. Lord KEITH is appointed Commander in Chief at Plymouth. Sir EDWARD Pattaw is appointed to the Tow- NM, at Plymouth. Sir JAMES SAUWARIZ will have a Command immediately. Admiral THORN BOROUGH is to Command in the Downs. Captain E. Bui.i.sa is appointed to the MALTA, and Captain G. MURRAY to the S /ARTIATR the Jail two flips captured at the Battle of the Nile by Lord lklsisoa, and are fuppofed to be the fineft Blips that were taken from the French during the late war. The Admiralty Telegraph was at work during the whole of yellerday, communicating with Pouf. mouth, Sheernefs, and the Downs. Dirations will immediately be given to all Greenwich Penfioners, able to perform duty, to affiß in manning the (hips in the River. Captains BULLER, G. MURRAY, and Pima, were among the attendants yefterday at the Ad miralty. 1 Captain RICIIBILL attended yefterday at the I bfanfion Houle, for the purpofe of affifting in re ' gulating the imprelled m en i n th e City. Th e Lo r d Mayor having other public bufinefs to attend to, is unable to get through the whole, notwithfland ing a very confiderable par; of his time is devoted to it. Numbers of fine fenny's are entering voluntari ly. They long, they fa-,, to convince the French, that Britifh Tars can b eat them fingle-handed. The Lords of the Admiralty have not as yet caufed any protatit ,ns to be Wired, which it is flip poled will not be d tine until they have obtained the number of Men us.nted. Several gun-boa is and bomb-veffels are ordered to be immediately got ready for fervice. Captains and I .ieutenants are to be immediately fent to diffetent parts of the country on the im prefs fervice. Captain !dm, NEL is appointed to the Wi tic si :EA, which is tea. be Rationed at the Mare, in(tead of the ZEALAND and to be smrnedia'cely prepared for hearing an ldmiral's Flag, wh'„) is to have the Command at enat place. It was reported in the City th a t the French funds fell on Tnefday lalt to 59. I f this were true, it woold prove that the French Government expel. ed war, wad were prepared for the late meafures of Minilicrs. We cannot, / aowever, vouch for its truth. Yefterday Lord Gamer -Lir, Colonel of the firft regiment of the Surrey 'Militia, ordered circular letters to be fent to his C )fficers, requefting their immediate attend ance at t h e h e ad•quarters, Kingf ton-upon:l'h Tome day n ext wee k ; • r to R ate t h e i r rea f ons f or anle%, as t • :.e corps will be embodied negletting to do In. is not generally 1 mown, bat it is a aft, that Gos ernineut hare d ifcGvered printed Addretfes from AltTlf O ' Cor now circulating in Ire- Lind, i n .v. dcray fpca:h.ch h e cep l ilt: an d jullifies his conduit, of eAancipating his ccuntry, ALMA'S. Cop; or 3 Ci:,:t:zr Lctrer, addreiTed by tie Secretary of t for the Home Department to the Lords Lieutenants of tr, Maritme Counties of Great Britain: My Lord—As thcreis reafon to think that Aliens landing in this Kingdom from the Continent, n:glea in many inftances to make their declara. dons to the Magillrates of the places where they refide, as required by the provifions of the 9th and loth Claufes of the Alien A. a Copy of which I inclofe, I am to requeft that your Lordlhip will be lo good as to call the particular attention of the Magiarates in the County of to this eii cumflance, and to deflre them to enforce the ovilions of the above-mentioned Claufes, wit:, refrea to fuch Ali :us within their feveral juri di.lions, a; have neglefled to comply therewith, and a: the fame time to return to me a lift of fuch Aliens. I am, &c. (Signed) PLLIIAM. NAUTICAI.4N7 ELLIG&A'CE. PLYMOUTH, MARCH so. --, The [hip which arrived here fail evening, - fated to he the Nziao, of 38 guns, turns out to be the Acasra, of 40 guns, Capt. Wool), from a cruize, lift from Guernfey. Alfo arrived laft evening, the fhit Catherine and Elizabeth, Capt. P RATT . from New Providence, bound to London, laden with mahogany, put in wind bound. Laft evening, about eight o'clock, in confe quence of an exprefs received by the Commanding Officer of this port, from London, the hotteft prefs ever remembered broke out in every part of this harbour, and fill continues with unabated ardour: fo (Odder' and unexpected was the alarm, that very few men could poll:61y efcape, and all the (hips and velfels of every defcription are corn. pleatly (tripped of their crews. At Stonehoufe, Mutton Cove, Morris Town, and in all the re ceiving and gin-[hops at Dock, feveral hundreds of feamen and landmen were picked up and fent di reiltly on board the flag-fhip. One prefs gang entered the Dock Theatre, and cleared the whole gallery, except the women. The utmoß vigi. lance is now ufing by boats from the different men of war fitting here, to board and !trip every veirel on her arrival ; and large parties of manors are patroling thefe towns and neighbourhood, to pick up every man that has not a legal protettion. Conilernation and alarm is, in confequence, very general here ; and the peaceably inclined part of the community arc under great apprehenfums from the bußle and confution which prevail, fearing that the repofe of Europe is again about to be diflnrbed. Certificates were this day delivered by the Ad jutant to the non.conimiffloned officers, drummers, and privates of the South Devon Regimens of Mi liria, to prevent their being impreffed.—The rig ging of the PL•NTAG ANSI*, of 74 guns, Captain ASIMOND, now fitting for fen in Hamoaze, goes on brifkly, her lower rigging is almoll over head. The Favourite, of this port, Capt. Pazassoit, drifted afhore laft night on Mount Batten, where the knocked off her rudder, but by timely affifinnee was got off again, without further damage. Ths Speculator, of this port, from Sunderland, laden with coals, put in here this morning, and was immediately @ripped of all her hands. It is Paid that near 600 men have been irnpreffed in this neighbourhood. It is reported that (event' flips are ordered to be got ready for conuniffion at.tbis port ; among them the following are fpoken of— MALTA, CONiVEII•NT, STAMM, SPAILTIATE, and MARS, of the line.—So earneLl are they in pro curing men, that large detachments of Marines are gone off to Dartmouth and Modbury for that purpofe. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 11. This day arrived his Majelly's fhip la MI m Ram of 42 guns, Captain Bazwrow, from the eaftward, and brought to at St. Helen's; la Dizzaatruzu from Cowes, having been no farther ; alfo a Dutch Pilot-boat, from the Tezel.— Remains his Majefty's (hip CALCUTTA, bound to New South Wales. Late 'aft night failed the AmPHION, of 32 guns, 'Captain HARDY, and la Loiae, of 4o guns, Cap tain MAITLAND, the former for Cork, to procure feamen, and the latter for Guernfey. Direetions have been given for the V , of 74 guns, Captain &aim', and HYDRA, of 38 guns, Captain MANDY, to get ready to go out of harbour to morrow. The order for impreffing feamen is Hill continued with the greateft vigilance, and not a tingle veffel of any aefcriptton, lying in the bar lbour, but what has been completely fearched, and the men, and even boys, taken out. Preparations are making with the greateft aCti vity in the dock yard to get feveral (hips now ly ing in the different docks fitted ; the GRANIrus, a new 64 gun (hip, will be ready, with feveral others, to go out in a few days. The DREADNOUGHT, of 98 guns, was this morning brought down the bar ly)tir from her moorings, for the purpofe of being put in immediate commiMon. treat encpuragc ment is offered for recruits for the marine fervice ; bills have been Ruck up this day, offering a bounty of three guineas per man, and a reward offered :Li any perfon who will bring a recruit. _ YARMOUTH, MARCH it. Sailed his Majefly's frigate LAPWING, Captain SKEEN, and a gun brig, on a cruize; alto the Mercury, Captain Cocas, for Holland, with wines, lail from Barcelona. Yefte►day an Admiralty expels arrived bye ; and in the evening two prefs gangs from the fri gates lying off hers came on Illere, ar.d picked up feveral failors : the prefs aril continues very warm. Shins of war in there Roads : ParitLOPE and Lt n• frigates, and one cutter. Paffed through fa veral fail of laden fhips for t'e fouthward. 1)1i. l'clterday, after a few d Ira illaefi, at :truce Calle, Tor'"' ham, Mr. Richard Lee, wile of Richard Erg. bard-Rreet, Banker. -------- LONDON: Print"! fo, the Propnetora, by JOtP 4I [MO IL (of Malden-lanc, Covcm-Dardeu) at the STA& °rite', Nat, Carey-ftrect ; and rutAfhed by i - • KENT,of Cautorbury-placc,Lasabab at tlikt,Csrey-N'i