The National Register. — London, England, 1811-02-17 00:00:00

DF.Ti.NTIC_iN OF A PORTUGUESE OFFICER. Sir F. Boni:ter r stated, that a Portuguese individual, in 1809, wizen the British fleet lay off Portugal, had been invited to dine with Lord George Stuarc, on board his ship—that after dinner be was shovvii orders front Mi. Secretary Canning for arresting hips.— hat he was confined for a fortnight in a dungeon at I-leli viand, and brut:ght to Coldhath-fields Prison, where he had remaino d two years, without the smallest notice having been taken of him —that he had been denied the use of pen, ink, and paper, and precluded even from reading the newspapers. He therefore would enquire of his Majesty's Ministers if they knew any thing of the business, and he wished that an enquiry would be speedily made whether such a person was to he su rigorously used, and what was the crime for which he was committed. Mr. YoRKE said he knew nothing at all of the matter, and INCI . O such iu existeuce, he wxs sure an inquiry would be speedily Mi. PEKCEVAL said, it being stated by the Hon. Baronet to he an action of a Nlembei . of Patliament, it would have certainly been lictt , :r to have been brought forward when the Hon. Gen tleman (Mr. Canning) WAS' in the House. Sir F. Buarit•rr replied, that he did not see whether Mr C. was in his place or not, and he thought that his Mtjesty's Mi nisters had been well acquainted with the subject in question.— Adjourned. • WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13. Sir 8.. W. Guise took his Seat for the county of Gloucester. Mr. 1411.1 S brought up the report of the Address to the Prince Regent. Mr. ilu reins:sow said, that he entertained every sentiment of respect for the Prince Regent, and the firmest confidence ie the exertions of our army in Portugal, headed as it was by one who united extreme exertion with very great talents. Whether he lo ked to the army, the General, or the Peninsula, he felt the highest degree of dependance upon the effortz.- of the British arms. He could not, however, but protest against the conduct of Government, who had not granted to Lord Wellington a force aufficieol e i4r ti t eor timely io cu-operate in the cause of Spain...— He con I that Pfesent adds was not suited to paltt y compligueuta,laut dematultd the utmost coolness of deliberation and acceradcpotenquiry. The Prince should be told of the state of the empire, of she...partatrbed situation of Ireland, that great and injured and neglected part of it ; of the reduction of the na tional resources, and of the incr.. asing and tremendous resources of the enemy. The Metreaaahnuld express an earliest wish tor * aecure sad honourable peace, and should bear a pledge, that .1 the machinations of the enemy. should be of such a Malik* as to 11144 the continuance. of , war iedispensible, the House would wake use of all iwcapishility 40 support ;he contest ; that it should watch over the public ezpoid it tire and above all, the rank ling wounds of the also cswentry, which was at this period sof ering so much from, injustice. f Sir 'l'. TU R TON ',poke on the same side. An interruption was here made to the debate by Mr. Canning, who begged leave to say a kw words respecting the manner to which his twine was used last night, upon the subject of a native of Portugal, said to be confined in Coklbath-fields with his con currence. He thought it necessary to state to the House, that he was totally unaccitiaiottd with the circumstance.--After some observations emu Sir I , ;rancia autdcit , ad Mr. Whitbread, Mr. pledge) himself to. anguirepartigularly into the subject, and see that justice should be nendered upon the occasion. The alebate ou the ..-'lddreisti was then resumed by Mr. Whit bread, who said, if the House were to judge from the speeches 9 1 44.).N.N1uver and Seconder of the Address, the Country had LOtititlg its* forward to but..interniinable, annihilating war fare. •He sow nothing d6erviog of praise for the past, or likely to excite hope for the flittire t ati what had passed in Spain and $91;t11,11., He wos-aware that our country WAS strong, the peo pia .sipe.. 4 re their opposititet to France, and the reao...rees of the .e.inpirogreat ; • but as we were now going on in Spain and Por- Mgol,titv.v t omuot soon be exhatsted. A!trr. taking an able review of :he state of affairs both foreign and domestic, Mr. Whitbread .voucleasiek s amitteeleclaringthat if the Prince Regent's NI ini,ters liewed,a,44arrrninatiou to act in their accustomed manner, he wuil)l4F•wftrod vilito his ace bounned opposition to their measures. Mr. tt.c.lttovArt. defewied cb,. caolpaigu in Portugal, and tag - :ed.,i4ootecossity aeiti policy of continuing our exertions in that ounfry. lie acknowledged the enemy hail made an impression tiglltsiteicopraneset‘of this .country, but this impre:ssi:ln he only Ats•,texripbrary. .The pretensions of the kuler of 4k4nee.worvnothing less than the ruin or this country, and. till he abated from too.-ie pretensions, it was yossible that peace 4911 4 (ktml Sir JOHN 14EWPORT complained of the systematic neglect shewn towards Irela , .d ; he was firmly of opinion that much of the mischief that hapy. ned in that portion of the empire, and , -uch of that embarritsstmut And calamity in which she was in- r"" ft k: 101 volved, was owing to the loose and negligent manner in which its business was conducted in that Rouse. and regularly tte.er red till the close of the session was ap v roaching. When he came to look at the real situation of Ireland, and to contemplate the very inefficient force of regular troops to keep the peace of the country . he spoke the sentiments of numbers of Gentlemen who also acted wait the Rigia Hon. Gentleman just sat down, when he expressed that there was serious cause or apprehension and alarm. Tile CHANCELLOR of the Exeuttorrt, in reply to Sir 1. Newport, assured him, that no reinfurcemc.nts had recently been drawn from Ireland, and that the amount or milhary force now in that country was probably greater than it had been at Any pe riod which the Hon. Baronet could mention. A conversation here again took place between Mr. Whitbread, the Chancellor of ;:he Fxchehequer, and" Mr. 'Visite, respecting the Portuguee Officer deta. led in Colds ath-Lelcisprison ; Whitbread expressed his stirpri - ,:e that no record of such a trans action was kept in the Home Department ; Mr. Perceval and Mr. Yorke did nut consider it proper to make any statement tmi the subject till all the circumstanct s were ascertained. sir. Yorke, however, said, he had learned that theperson ar. e i tte tiou had been apprehended as a spy, and conducted hither front Ate.- liguland by a warrant front Lord Liverpool. The Report Was then brought up inid agreed to, and the Ad dress was ordered to be presented to they 1-)Lioce Itt:gent.— Adjourned, TIRJRSDAY, Fr u. 14. r Leave was given to bring in 4 Bill to erect Bridg e trom 7 thit Three Cranes, Us tieeti-street, .-. , oto.tiwark. ADD/LESS. Lord CileOßCrt THTNNE informed the House that the dress had been presented to the Prim,. Regent., to which hid Royal Highness was graciously pleased to ratern the following answer • ' 4 Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I thank you Tor your loyal and dutiful Address, and feel hig)lly gratified by the expres‘ shun of co. dolein:e and regret which you lutve.used the situation Of his Majesty's health. lum further. , gratificil utthe assurance of your support in the dientult: utidertiAing• in which I am engaged, winch will alone tnablx me effectually to conduct the Government in the present arduous state of . Sin .1. SINCLAIR gave uotic..• that. he would, en Monday; tali the attention of the House to the laws respecting highways asiel turnpike gates. ' • I.t:ive was given to bring in a Bill to.continue the Bankrupt Act k.i j'cotland. • • . The SenAKnit read that part of.the beds , Commietioner 8 Speech to the Howie respecting the Supplief, which on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exch‘quer,oliiibircellec. red to the Comm.ttee of Supply.—Atijourned. -k • • • ^411,11 • FRIDAY, TER. 15. Mr. MELLisn brought up the Rupurt of the cdmniittee on the expediency of ecectiin . .; a New '1 heatre in the inetiopoli,, The Report was agreed to, and leave given for 'bringing in a Bill fur erecting a third Thcatre. SUPI'I.IES. • The CIIA.NCYLLOM of the Excat2tina moved the Order of the hay, that the House resolve itself into a Com:ltd.:Le of Supply. CREEVRT complained of the intolerable system now practised on the flutist! ; formerly. sal vites were nut. usually granted, withibut firs: entering into gri.vances.....Tliirmnipro priety of proceeding wan attributable to the isactidd which rind lately prevailed with the Nil:lister of the day, be .thatt • MOthter who he might. Minister:. bad it now in their power to-ilitm duce, utid.r ambiguous :Led at any hour of toe tak;htothe ordinary Supplies ; and it was in this way that a utiliirmutasta half of money had tat year been voted to the irast ludia• LuiW patty, a. nieitsure which was lleVer attempted; to be .disetidsod, during its most important stages, :aid even then it made but of about lltiy notactis...for the day. And how was it.at last carrici ? Why, ,Ift,.; ientlns ati g ihe per:..us attits:bed.to the 4abt ilia i,:annpsitty~{iTaß iii rectors of the liana, men in the lritmati, its . not.. doesiitiet. that other Nit misers were prusept.ifi.rittikhier sersi2usiplts. c equally objectionable, was thislasfivraighngdongutyser :retviLes and supfkibsi , • a fa, vide 1)1 7 .411,1*0- 111 - I;it it) o might to btt hilly and fair*: sedvicluxlr. wined order, something nxed, *houttiuiatt adeipsodimaandaaiii.mg into Conuntttees of the },resent slescriptioiry tort: at no% ... t m CHAN4:LI.I.ON of the ELCLIEQUER lobarinurC,f :sca rcely • littew low to interpret Jhe renunkstjuctiirriight Ur.. he Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Creev ey), UnieSS, it:dee :, it. war bib wish to redeem his former ncgligence by his preset 4 at....tiv • ;y. Ht. tone of complaint was not to be tecoticiiesi, to )a is yposing THE NATIONAL RFAASTFR.