The National Register. — London, England, 1815-02-19 00:00:00

lER. 19. „„hi A s the lowest price, the method punined by the Inspectors G eneral gave a high average. He hoped. therefore, that in coy legis 'five measure that might be adopted, the method of making up the returns. and the towns from which they were made should be re gulated. The motion was carried. The Duke of Nonswat presented a Petition from the Ward of Billingsgate aesinst the Property Tax; he at the same time re marked, that from what lie had ever seen of the execution of the Act, the conduct of the Commissioners was always lenient in the extreme. As to the merits of the Property Tax, lie thought that if any additional taxes were necessary, a tax on the income o f property, judiciously modified, would be the best tax that could be adopted, and would be much preferable to an increase of the Assessed Taxes, or any other. Even the continuance of the present Income Tax was preferable to touching the Sinking Fund. The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM expressed a wish to be informed if the annexation of Genoa to Sardinia was sanctioned by the Bri• fish Government; if it were, after Lord Win. Bentinek, in his Proclamations, had so solemnly assured them of their independence being respected, he considered that we had closed' the war by an set as detestable as any of those which bad armed the civilized voi Id against the French. The Fail of LIVERPOOL declined saying further than that he should hereafter prove, that the British Government bad committed no breach of faith. and that no expectations which the Genoese mere warranted in entertaining had been disappointed. Earl Frrzwlt.LlAM made his promised motion respecting the militia ; his Lordship, after an able speech, moved— g‘ That an humble Address be presented to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, representing that by the Acts now in existence, the Militia was directed to be called out in the event of invasion or danger of invasion, insurrection, or rebellion. and only in those cases—that in the present happy situation of affairs, no one of these case , existed—that they with great humility, represented, that the keeping the militia embodied in these circumstances, was a direct violation of these Militia Acts, and contrary to law—that this grievance called for immediate redress, and that they hoped that hi , Royal Highness would be most graciously pleased to direct that the Militia be disembodied without delay.” Viccomit Sidinontli, the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Ellenborougli, contended that the Militia Acts Nicely left to the Crown a discre tionary power to act silth respect to that force, under the control)! of Parliament, in keeping it embodied or in disembodying it, as was most for the interest of the Public, and that therefore the conduct of Ministers was perfectly constitutional.—Lord Grenville and the Marquis of Buckingham supported the motion; on a division, the numbers were—Contents, I ; Non-Contents, 27—Majority against the Address, 15.—Adjourned. THURSDAY, FEB. It. •. Lord MOKTFORT presented a Petition from Mrs. Catherine Leigh, wife of Francis Leigh, Clerk, against the Bill now before the House for the dissolution of their marriage, by reason of adul tery. The petition stated, that from her poverty she was not in a condition to spew by Counsel that Mr. Leigh was not entitled to the remedy which lie prayed, and that the Bill ought not to be passedi and she requested their Lordships would afford her such relief as the case appeared to require. The Petition was ordered to be taken into consideration on Tuesday. The Lord CHANCELLOR presented an amended Bill fdr &eine Trial by Jury in Scotland in civil cases; the former Bill was withdrawn.—Adjourned. FRTI)AV, FEB. 10. No business of importance occurred this day. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, FEJIRVARY 15. Petitions, praying for soma legis'ative measure to protect the Corn Trade, were presented Rom the Land -nwners and Corn-growers of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Reigate, Croydon, and Guildford. The Bill for more Ppeetlily producing the Civil List Acconnts in' future pa.sed through a Committee. Mr. WHITBREAD inquired, whether a Lord of the Admiralty had not jnft been appointed a Secretary of Legation to Lisbon, with a salary of 12001. a year, in addition to the enormous grant already made to Mr, Canning : for which that Right Hon. Gentleman had yet done nothing but deliver a brilliant speech to a Deputation of the British Factory?- 1 -The question not being readily answered, it was twice repeated. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then said, the Committee was to infer, that he had been asked a question which he was slot prepared to answer.—[On a subsequent evening (W'sdnesday), Mr. Vansittart denied that any such appointment was iu contem plation.] THE PROCEEVINGS OF CONGRESS. Mr. WEITTBRAED said, that notwithstanding the apparent reso lution of the Gentlemen who represented the Administration in that House, to maintain their dignity, to evince their discretion, or to conceal their ignorance, by a pertinaciotn silence respecting the proceedings of Congress—notwithstanding the declared purpose of the Chancellor of the Exchequer not to answer any question upon that subject until the return of crur negociator, by whom that Right Honourable Gentleman promised that a most satisfactory explana-• lion would he given upon all possible topics, he still thought it his duty to call the attention of the House to this vets interesting seb ject. Still he felt it expedient to trace the conduct and march of our negociator, upon points of vital importance to the honour anti interest of this country—to the general repose and future security of Europe. That this negociator had, in concert with our Allies, en gaged in the unholy Congress at Vienna, departed altogether in practice from the principles which they not long since so loudly and so proudly professed, lie had no hesitation in asserting; for there was already but too much evidence before the world to justify the charge—a concurrence of well.fonnded information from various parts of Europe. left, unfortunately, no doubt of this fact. The • unjust design upon Saxony was now matter of indisputable notoriety; and the authenticity of Prince Repnin's Proclamation at Dresden, transferring that country to the dominion of Prussia, could be HO longer questioned. Yet, at the time that Proclamation became known in the country, it would he recollected that the well informed Mini:ter of that House expressed doubts upon the subject, although it was now ascertained that our Noble Negotiator had actually put his signature to a paper authorising the transfer of Saxony to Prus sia, and of course sanctioning the Proclamation of Prince Repnin. Nay, although the Right Honourable Gentleman expressed his dis belief, or even horror at the idea, that any English Minister should assent to suck a measure, our Negotiator was actually a party to it. For this proceeding, however, it would appear, that either our Ne gociator had not the authority of his Government, or that, in con sequence of the public feeling excited by the'transaction, that Go vernment was iinpellcd to change his instructions; and accordingly the Noble Lord was directed to present a protest against the an nexation of Saxony to Prussia. But whether the Noble Lord acted without instructions in the first instance, or received contradictory • instructions afterwards, 'it so happened that Saxony was still in the possession of Prussia. He did not presume to ask any explanation upon this subject, nor did lie expect any. But the case was before the country and Europe, which! would decide upon its merits and upon the principles of those with whom it originated; upon whose conduct in fact it was impossible to reflect, without astouishment and indignation. For they who had been for so many !years appeal ing to the opinion of mankind the abuse of power ; they who had been so loudly invoking the aid of humanity and justice, and every sacred principle against the Emperor of France ; they who had been so actively exciting all heat ts and all hands against that power which was now no 'more, were in their present unhal lowed proceedings, only to be'found imitating, or even eclipsing the worst acts of that power. Who then could review such infa mous coetinct without shame, remorse, and regret? The cause of proceeding designed and pursued with respect to Italy, tinder the sanction of Congress, was but too well known to those who had any opportunity ofinformation,as well as to those who ale suffering. In that country; after a pompons promise, but a short time since, of establishing Italian independence, such scenes were acting, as must revolt the feelings of every man who bad any regard for humanity, justice, and, truths- area, Italian independence was exhibited on the standards, and prattudgated in die I:declamations of oar commander npon his first entrance into that country. By such means, Lord Wm. Bentinck endeavoured to excite die Italian people to co-ope rate against the late Governor of France. Here the Honourable Gentleman read to the House the proclamation of Lord William Bentinck, dated March 14,1814, and issued opon his land i ng in Tus cany. This proclamation invited the Italians to arms, and stromtly exhorted the Italian army to co-operate for the recovery of their rights, by shaking offs foreign yoke, and for the re-establisiftetent of r their national independence , which alone our Commander professed I to have in view, and to which he pledged the good faith. of Went