The National Register. — London, England, 1811-07-28 00:00:00

GENERAL ORDERS. Head-garters, Santa Oladia, July 1. - • His Excellency Marshal Beresford acquaints the Army, that in pursuance of the sentence of a Coun cil of War, confirmed by his Excellency on the 27th ult. five soldiers of the Militia of the regiments of Evora, Lagos, and Beja (here their names are given), have been shot for the abominable crime of repeated desertion in the time of war. His Excellency also acquaints the army, that the benignity of his Royal Highness has been induced to spare the sen tence of death to which two other soldiers of the same regiment were condemned, exchanging it fbr perpetual degradation in Africa. His Excellency declares how much he feels on being obliged to con firm sentences of such a nature ; but such is the scandalous example which has been given by the regiments of Militia of the Alentejo, by numerous and repeated desertions, that he is henceforward de termined not to pardon any of the individuals be longing to the said regiments, who by desertion abandon their colours; being false to their God, traitors to their august Sovereign, and thus shame fully withdrawing from their defence of their indi vidual liberty, and that of their country. • His Excllency also ordered, that all the other individuals of the above regiment, who have been taken up as deserters, should be present, as accom pikes, at the mournful execution of their comrades, in order that, deeply reflecting on the enormity of• their conduct, the sight of such an example minht fill them• with due horror for their crimes. At the same time, the incomparable goodness of his Royal Highness, dispensing with their bring brought to trial, orders them to be restored to his service, hop ing that the impression of such an example will for ever prevent them from exposilz themselves to a like fate, and that by future good conduct they will wash away their disgrace, and render themselves worthy of his Highness's favour ; but such of them as are to be drafted iiito the infantry of the line as, from age, figure, and strength, are fit for that service. His Excellency cannot omit remarking, that he has generally observed, with great astonishment and di,,- pleasure,a wantof patriotism and public spirit among the inhabitants of the province of Alentejo. Its militia have deserted, and muster much less than half their quota, through the absolute in activity, ignorance, and want of zeal of the Colonels, Captain-, and other Officers, who ;lave totally failed in performing their duty. The Magistrates, Officers of the Ordenan7a, and other individuals, have neglected the recruiting for the line, and the furnishing of all those supplies which their country demands of them ; so that were they not Portuguese, his Excellency would be in duced to believe them disloyal. His Excellency has conveyed to the Royal Presence information of this selfishness and want of zeal in the inhabitants of this province, especially acquaintinq his Highness of the gross ignorance which prevails, from the Co lonel of the militia, to the private in the ra , lks, who are without the smallest instruction or discipline; while from the neglect of all the aulyn-ities belong ing to the militia and ordenenza, deserters live at their homes in tranquillity, and the complement of the corps cannot be accomplished. His Excellency must here observe, that the regiments of militia of Algarve are very different in point of numbers and regularity ; and though they come from a remote and distinct province, yet they have taken a part in the defence of the province of - Alentejo with very different qualities of energy and patriotism. His Excellency is sorry at being compelled to make known so disagreeable a truth ; but it is necessary it should be known, for the confusion of thoseau thorities who neglect their duties; and his Excel lency is anxious that their future conduct may re move from the public mind that impression which this censure is calculated to produce with regard to those who are the subjects of it. His Excellency Lieut -General F. De Paula Leite, Military G. vernor of the Alentejo, will cause these General Orc!ers to be printed, and posted up in the most public places of all - the towns, that all their .inhabitants may know tie same. (Signed) MOZINIIO I Adj.-Gem IMPERIAL PAI?ELIMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. MO•7DAY, JULY 2Q. BANK-NOTES BILL. The Earl of Livekrooe moved the Order of the Dry for tak• ing info consideration the Amendment, made by the Commons in the Bank Notes Bill ; and they having been read and agreed to, his Lordship moved, that a message be sent to the Commons, informing theta that the House had agreed to the Amendments. The Earl of Lau rotoatE then rose, and took a review of thu circumstances in which this Bid had originated, and the whole subject connected with it. His Lordship attributed the adoption of the Bill by Ministers, not to the notice given by Lord King, but to the decision of the Judges in the case of De Yonge, and was of opinion that the real (Meet of the 13111, as altered by Mi nisters, was to give redress (if he night use the terms upon this stabject) artinst the decision of the Judges. The question as to the depreciation of Bank-Nutes, was one which certainly re quired the most delibei ate invevig,etion, and perhaps was a sub ject which rather ought to be written upon than debated. There were, however, certain facts, whieh it was quite impossible to con travert, and welch must, is his opinion, clearly demonstrate the depreciation. le gold coin of the country was nut admissible in circulation, except it was of the standard weight and fineness. Five penny-weights eleven grains was the standard weight of the guinea, and it was gold of this standard weight that Beek Notes promised to pay, or fractional parts in Over, of a fix, d standard. if, therefore, the Bank Note was c nvertible into Gold, acid the pi ice of Gold ruse, the value of the Bank Neer must rise in the same proportion. If a Bank Note promised to pay a yard of cloth of a cyrtaln breadth and fineness, and there was nu difli celty in procu:ing the yard of cloth to eischarge the Note, if the price of the cloth rose, the value of the Note would rise also. But if the cloth could not be produced in discharge of the Note, then the Note would become depreciated; so, if the Gold was not forthcoming to pay the Nate, the latter mast elso become de preciated. The price of Gold having risen above the expressed value of then Note, was complete evidence cf the depreciation of the fatten—The Bank Note was of no value in itself, but only of value front its representing a certain quantity of gold.—V:hat was the object of the Bill? It was nugatory as to preventing the landlord from insisting en his rents in gold, as it Lit hint all his legal remedies, except that of distress. Their Lordships had o.dy to look, in point of fart, to the decumen s tsn their table, to prove that the issue of Bank Notes had been increased wnaout reason. It would be seen that the atneunt of Bank Notes in cir culation, which in 1808, was 17,540,C001. had increased to ISII, to e3,4e.0,0001. making a difference of 5,330.0001. in three ye.ts. It had been said teat the circulative medium had increased ; but it was well known that if there was increase of transact ions tit& • was an increase of credit, ard that a less an rut of cirenlatu,g medium was, in tact, required. So far, however, from their be ing an increase of mercantile transactio7s, he had been informed by several commercial men, that there never was a greater di ' ntinution of mercantile transactions than within the last siz months. The 13111 would be pteductive of a seriuos evil to hankers. It was well known that they were now obhged to give a premium for silver, in order to obtain change to pay the frac- TIP?, NATIONAL REGISTER.