The Statesman. — London, England, 1814-12-29 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN: :; so. many calamities, she breathes again under the known to t h e D i rec tor-General of the Poll government of a legitimate Klieg. Oblivion of the to the Gosernors of . the Ist end 2d Militt past is promised by him. The constitutional charter sions, the orders relative to General Is'xce l guarantees oar rights. The late Government is as order that each in his' department should if it had never been; and may deem itself happy, 'carrying them into execution. were it in our power to forget the calamities it in- However, on the 14th, the orders still Meted. - !onolieyed :es proofs of this, the Minister The following are the conclusions which the Com. ter of. the General,, which declared his ititete. milles has come to en the two Petitions: — They remain in Paris, and another from the Governor, deem it certain from the enquiries they hare made, announcing his formal refusal to obey. The reporter that the Petitioners did not receive the money which also here read the order, placing the General under should have been allowed them for their maintenance guard of an officer and two gendarmes. in pursuance of the decree of the 3d of March, 1810: Things remained in this state till the 18th, •on also that their 1111111ri were not entered on the list of which day the Minister repeated his orders, with a those for whom such funds were provided. That the declaration that if the General did not obey within late Minister, either from want of adequate funds, or 24 hours, he should be. .considered as in a state of from some other cause, constantly refused to grant disobedience, and should incur the penalties pro the Petitioners the foer francs which the above de- ! flounced by military laws ; he added, that the Gene. cree assigned to them. j rat, on his arrival at Bar, should receive new orders. This. was doubtless very unjust end cruel treat- . It would appear that this, also, was ineffectual; went: they were entitled to complain of it. The for, on the 19th, the Minister wrote anew to the Jaw was violated in regard to them; this can admit Governor of Paris, that it was the King's intention of no doubt. ; that General 'Excelmans " should be arrested and After the restorationi they applied to the Director- conveyed to Soissons, there to remain under the General of the Police of the kingdom. reply inspection of gendarmerie, until orders should be was, that the head of the late Government had no- given for patting him on his trial." placed at the disposal of the Duke of Rovigo funds Those who took an interest in the fate of General sufficient for the pay of all the prisoners of state. lie Excelmans, in vain attempted to prevail upon him to expressed his regret to the Petitioners, that it was not obey. But, after the orders for his arrest and his re nt that moment in his power to indemnify them ; but fusel, it was thought that his apprehension by an be invited them to prefer their Claims to the Tribe. armed force could not.be dispensed with. Accord eels against the old agents of Government,—claims ingly, the General's Petition states, that a picquet Which would necessarily be ineffectual. of infantry and cavalry appeared before bichouse at Nevertheless, as it was possible that the Police three. o'clockin the morning : that it threatened to might latterly have funds enabling them to grant re- break open the doors; that it retired, on being told, lief to the Petitioners, and as additional proofs might that the first man who entered should be shot; in he procured, which had hitherto escaped the present short, that it was on the morning of the 20th that Police Magistrates, the Chamber would probably Baron Grundler made hia appearance, accompanied • think that it was proper to send back to Government by six gendarmes." The Petitioner adds, 46 that the • the Petition of these 19 state prisoners. As to the matter bad not been certified to him by any written separate Petition of M. Grisolles, relative to the' order; not knowing whether the gendarmes whe cruelties he had experienced, and the continuation oft, guard me, may not brie orders to carry me off this the prosecutions ordered by the Grand Judge, it (eery night, I place niyielf and my family under the would be proper to send that also to the Govern- protection of the Chamber." ment. The crimes of which complaint is made arel General Excelmans having, however, on the 20th provided for by the laws. If proved, they must be passed into his wife's apartment, where the Officer of punished. the -gendarmes did not follow him, succeeded in es-. • The petitioner seems to have thought that the char- taping. The Minister of War immediately gave ter of the 4th June rendered the old Ministerti as notice of the escape to the Civil and Military Police. • well as the new impeachable by the two Chambers. This last circumstance gave rise to the searches corn .• This was a mistake. The Constitution of the year plaited of by the Countess Excelmans, who states :i•twight contained enactments quite different. The that her physician was debarred from access to her, • Ministers and Agents of the departed Government although his advice was essential. She adds, that • could not be -accused for acts done in the exercise of i the searches, directed by the Adjutant-General La their functions, but by order of the Sovereign given horde, were executed with great rigour (that 'he itt the Council of State. It was the King, therefore, broke open a letter addressed to one of her brothers ; whom the petitioner should address, and not the that, in fine, during the whole of the 20th and 21st, - Chamber, as the Duke of Rovigo, former Minister the house, the court-yard, and the garden, were of Police, was nit impeachable by it alone, and as a- filled with troops, and that there was even a great dee'sion of the Sovereign was previously necessary.- number of sekliers in her anti-chamber. From these considerations, the Committee proposed Such was the state of the facts. The questions • that the petitions should be sent to Government. which resulted from them were, whether the orders • The Cimsesber.decided accordingly. emanating from the Minister at War could be given in consistency with the existing laws ? whether the °CASE OF GENERAL EXCELMANS AND HIS WIFE. bearers of these orders did not carry therreinto ef • -N. CHALLAv, from the same Committee of Peti- fect with unnecessary rigour; and if so, before what • lities, rose`to give an account of those.presented by t authority the whole matter should be sent • Lieut.-General Count Excelmans and his wife. General Excelmans appears to have thought, and The General, he said, complained of having been , this conviction probably guided his conduct, that no 'kept under restraint in his own house, by an armed different course could be Plinked' towards him than ` force, by order of the Minister of War, almost at towards any other domicillated citizen. The Mi the moment when that Minister placed him on the nister at War, on the other hand, viewed him as a • half-pay list ; and the Countess Excelmans complain- !•military man, and, therefore, subject to all the or 'ed of a search made at her hotel after the escape of "dinances a hick regulate subordination and discipline. .fier husband, who thought it incumbent on him to f On this paint, thitt, it appeared, that the Minister • withdraw from a restraint which' both he and his declared the General placed in deini-adicitc, and the 'wife regarded as arlsitrary: 'General considered himself as Placed in tion-actiofte. The Committee would only present the substance It was the opinion of the Committee, however, that •b€ the details, and sad a few observations !no Officer on half-pay was juitified in deeming him 'mai Excelmans, it appeared, was charged with a mill- ! self independent and out of service. If it was con :tatty offence of sufficient magnitude to call for a sidered. also, that the offence which called f or t h the special report to the King from General Dupont, . "orders of the Minister was committed at a time when the Minister at War. The object of this report was , the General was in full activity, it will not appear to cause General Excelmans to be brought to a Court- !Surprising that the Minister should deem himself au iVlarilal. But the recollection of the General's ser- ...horised to act towards the General in conformity to vices, and the King's goodness, determined his ! the military laws, since a partial dismissal does not Majesty not to enforce all the rigour of the. Ordi- exempt him from them who has incurred it. fleeces. The Miniater of War (says the petitioner) The Minister might, therefote, either prosecute sent for General Ezeelmans, and desired him to the dente with whirls the Get was charged, or - be more circumspect in future. • pfiish the disobedience of which e had beeis guilty. tal t • Tire• Marshal Duke of Dalmatia, being called was in said that he urged the right he thought he the Ministry of War, took the inetructiens of the , had acquired of remaining in his domicile; the obe- King anew, and on the 10th of this month, trans, dience of a soldier was his first duty independent of ',Bitted to General Excelmans an order, of which the : every other consideration ; it coustituted the strength following is a copy : of armies and the safeguard of the citizen. The " Paris, Der.lo. i Chamber had nothing to do with any charges against the General ; that wee a matter entirely for the con : sideration of a Court-Martial. The Minister, then, had not in any legal point of view exceded his'powera; and the next question was, whether the subaltern ';gents had not used excessive I " Mows. COoitt,—l have the honour to inform you, that the King has admitted you to half-pay ac cording to y our rank. Ills Majesty's intention is that you shall enjoy it at Bar.sur.Ornain, in the de. partment of the Meuse, the pla c e of your domicile, and that you immediately repair to that town, I desire that yen acquaint me with your departure for the information of his Majesty." • The General's answer—.- An. Mails.. . . Dno 0 0 • Lisbon ' I • 1 • Hambnr ' • • 0 . 0 - • Holland... . A 1 THE STA.TESM4N. LONDON: THURSDAY DECTMIIER 29 , 1814. Government, that they migh it contained: This motion an abstract of reasons on the Chamber might appear Committee was strongly supt ing was moved. Animated de: place. M. Dzsaux proposed the adjoernment of the question to the nest Sitting, on the ground that the Chamber could not properly take it into considera. Lion until after the papers annexed to the report were printed, on which the opinions of the Deputies must be founded—pfermurs.] M. DUHOLARD.—We wish the maintenance of the Royal authority, the maintenance of the lows, and of military discipline. The Report of the Commit tee indicates many wrongs.: but as public liberty does not require precipitate measures, I support the reference to the neat Sitting. As to Madame Excel mans, of whit does she complain ? Of acts of vio lence which have disturbed her personal security, her health perhaps. I do not find fault with a sol dier for obeying superior orders, but the manner in which they seem to have been executed by the prin cipal agent. fdo not condemn him, but I &tar hit condpct ought to be examined into. We gee no longer under the reign of despotism ; and ir unmet es- . miry acts of rigour have been committed, I most be the wish of the King, of the M:eister, and 'roar% that these acts should be punish '. Ile supported the adjournment of the question till the next hlttlei„, when the report and documents could beprinted., 1 M. Beoocir.—l mean neither to support thepeti. tion nor to justify the petitioner; his conduct wilt be examined by a Court-Martial ; but I must oppose the report of the Committee, vihich appeared to pre judge the question, whether an officer in non activite is bound to obey the orders of the Minister at War. A Court-Martial can alone decide upon this. The Chamber should not in any way interfere with mat ters without its province.; still less prejudge a point now actually before a Court-Martial. I demand, 'therefore, that the abstract of reasons be suppressed. The KEPORTaR.--I must observe, that opinions were divided in the Committee; most wished the ab strict of reasons. This ppiuion was adopted for reasons which I cannot explain to yOu. -[frilte? cried a number of voices.]—l think, however, that the proper way would be to pass simply to the order I . of the day on the Petition of the General. The Chartil:er will decide for itself. M. DURRACH ascended the tribune : the confusion of his ideas and the noise in the Chamber prevented us from perfectly .understanding his opinion ; he, 1 however, appeared to concur iu voting for the post ponement to the next Sitting. M. BOUCHARD succeeded him, and placed the question in its true light. lie said, that whatever might be the opinion of the Members individually, they should guard against exercising , any influence. It was not the business of the Chamber to pronounce —this affair was taken up by the competent tribunal. i He concurred in voting for the Order of the Day.— [Cries of Question !] M. CHANTEREINE defended tile Committee, and maintained that the Report prejudged nothing. . _ Other Members succeeded him; and finally, after souse debate, the ttraer of the Day was carried on the Petition of General Escelmans, and that of Madame Escelmans was referred (a the Government ; but it was agreed, that the abstract of reasons should be suppressed. For a similar reason it was agreed, after some dis cussion, that neither the Report nor the Documents should be printed. • PROVINCIAL PAPER. TO be SOLD, a SHARE in a WELL-PS . l'k- BUSHED WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, wtOcb, from the line of its Politics, and the support which it has expe• rioted, offers a desirable opportunity toasty Literary Charac ter to embark hij Capital in a Cdtwein of this kind. Particulars may be known by applying to John Scott, Esq. St. Mildred's Court, Poultry, Londoo. PKICI OV-lITOCKS THIS DAT AT OWE O'CLOCK Hank 4492 50 tent. Ann. I% XII' 9 per Cent. Ned. 654 d India Bonds 12 13 p 9 per Cent. Conk Exchequer Hills $ p 4 per Cents. P2l Omnii u n Ili 5 per Cent. Navy ' Consols for Ace. 6"ifi rigour iii the execution of their orders. As to this point, the Chamber must hate obseived• how long a time elapsed between the first order and the moment . A Hatnburgh Mail is arrived, hringingadeices from when an overpowering force was pat in action. It Vienna of the 15th . They are rather important 4' Paris, A rc. 1 0. • was obvious, that during this inter* l; the Getieral "MT Loot*,—The profound respect which I shall . might have 'celled in the iateeverl pn of I ciiii ise the present state of our information from tbal.. always have for.the pleasure of the King, as well asi officer • the romps of the Genera vAse s i va `capital. The political horizon is still very variable for the orders at you?, Excellency, would have ic • the subaltern agents of eltielifirge ,-* for ' if 'they had there ;it is again clouded, but etpectitioes are in. we dot havoteeesed am' • 444 that the • ' • • staistly prompted my depirt ure from -Paris, if Madame l . beer, less facile, they tnserensty again visible will wear way without occasioning any tremendous explosion.. Escelmaiss was not at ink *moment on the eve of her selves : to b e g r i m & blithe* turn before a Court., scrouchement, anti if I was tilil *field that my sad-' Martial. The ComMittee would not venture to s . Excel. On the 10th, it seems, a ft er a considerable interrup , den departure, for a cause so unpleasant, might ' ass e r t, however, that the search in Madam lion, the first conference on the affairs of Europe inflict upon her a mortal blow. 1 man's house was conducted with equal moderation. " I beg that your Excellency wilt have the good. ' Deceived by their. first confidence, . they may have took place ; wonderful dispatch of business ! and the n p es t o explain to his Majesty my sits: 4 o o n s that he been more rigorous afterwards ; an d tbeiknxiefies of consultations of the German Committee, had in like may grant me a delay till my wire is out ne,danger. i a wife, alarmed and In pain, may havelexaggerated manner been suspended ever since the frith Net. " Your Excellency will permit me. to observe, w h a t i s neces s ar ily painf u l i t) these proceedings. . ! s h ' e conferences, it is stated, have been resumed, Ant that I have no possession any *here i and th:l4,, for ,' But it may be presumed, that in this instance French the last twenty years, I have bad no other assaileile • so ldi ers did not belie their ordinary. character; if it are s ti l l much p er plexed by protests and contentions. bat at Paris. , . . 11 / 4 was otkerwise the justice of the Minister could suf. Nothing is said of the conciliatory note of the Russian " It is, therefore, not a little painful tor tae to Sciently punish them. His character is known to Minister, and we are left in equal ignorance see myself this torn from my family and affections, ' yon, and the Chamber may leave to him the exami- as to the answers that may have been returned t o it. after 20•years' service, often paidel, never lucrative. station of i , tc h complaints, which are wholly within But it would appear from what is, stated, th a t th ere " I am, etc. , his funclieetess , it considerable effort necessary to 'make the stay of I (Signed) • " EXCELMANS." i The It then paid several compliments to The Chamber would see, continued the Reporter, General Excelibens, whir, he said, had sacrificed a the.oegociating Powers at Vienna at all agreea bl e . that the excuse of the General was founded upon foreign for tune, that he mi g ht not renounce his The Kin g s of BAVARI 1 end WIIATtatIIERG seem & two grnusels, both foreign to that w hich gi v e r i se country. H e truste d t h a t hiss sae vie nes an d exploits have left,itin disgust. • Poland and Saxony are sill to the report of the Minister. The first was the in. would not be forgotten beforethe Ceurt.Martial; and , the chief subjects of dispute. There are some state. dispdsition of his wife, the second the error into added, that the General had written to his Majesty, • I n H vents in the following extracts from the ambergh which he believed the Minister to have Sallee relit. k, protesting to him his attachment.' • live to his domicile. But the Minister,,who knew - He concluded with moving that the Charm pets ,suspicious, but they' are of interest. The the -Roses which rendered it necessarythat the Gene- sbould pass to the Order of f the pit a Loss Gene t ! .. proceedings of the I-anoretiult States aro attract rat shoald not remain. at Paris, op his part, made Ea,celataas' I' 'dea f sad that IWO wife "balk' •Ws considerable al tention : •• . . . • . . . .• r ' ()lice, and be transmitted to the C Lary Divi- exaniine the statements Imam, in wad accompanied with assist in Whi* thstA•eizion of , fonesded. remained., The oPinion of the ( had a let - polled, and the printing tention to bates, however, took p IL ~i LETTER PROM VIENNA, DATED DEC. 15. The political horizon is unhappily not so sere* le there was lately reason to hope. The expectati on ir not, however, given up of soon seei ng a l l h„,, concluded. HAMOURGII ) DEC. 23.—Qur letters "lim o s f ort ; Vienna agree that some difference have again h i eel at the Congress, which it will take some time tear, range. Profound Statesmen Rte Of o pinion * , th s , from the geographical position, as well as 'hy th e principlf ; s of sound policy, for the taaiiit eninee • . i the balance of Europe, Poland ought to b e elliit : with Russia, and Saxony with Prussia. The s ow reigns and other distinguished visiters will res s i e some time longer in Vienna, which is p rove d by ths' circumstance that very lately a Committee has h es appointed by the Emperor to proside measo sese , make the abode of the Sovereigns at Vienna ES RIM able ,as possible. The dings of Bavaria and 19h. temberg will hate no share in these new armee% meats, having given orders to make the necess" preparations for their departure. LETTER FROM VIENNA, DEC. It - On the Mb, after a considerable inter /opt i a the first conference on the affairs of Eu ro p e took ' place. The conferences of the German Coratnittee, seisfih bad been suspended ever since the igth of November, were to begin again immediately. NVirtemberg is said to have presented a note i s : favour of the union of Saxony with Prussia. TI N ; Committee of the minor German Prin ces i s employ.l ed on the plan of a German Constitution, in ouch the wish already expressed by them for the rester'. tion or the Imperial dignity is farther developed, sand when their work is finished, It Min he !ail be. fore the greater German Piwers. , HANOVER, DEC. 16.—At the opeteak tit the Al. sembly of the States yesterday, the Ladies appearsi magnificently dressed in the old Roman costume. As Honesty was the first German State tod.clers for a representati►e system, it has , preceded all the rest in calling the States together, and the eyes oft great part of Germany are turned upon the coins of the deliberations. and their results. The labours of•so many distinguished men, whet the jest coulideams thole 4eleei-eitisiss he chosen to represent the different provintea of the kingdom, will justify the expectations which *elm" a right to entertain, and put to shame *pamphleteer, who lately indulged in the most ritliceloes trutribtr, l against a Government whose constant aim for s! century has been to make its sobjects happy by tw mildness and justice. The procession from the Palace to open th, sembly was really splendid. The Hall was filled alp, the Throne in the middle, and the for the Deputies before it ; the two sides were fill with numerous spectator'. The Royal Duke 4 his place with great dignity ; the manner in his Royal Highness delivered his excellent speech was admirable; every word was marked with ligi• mation and feeling. • The Deputies Hanover receive four crowns, and t, that city two crowns, per diem, as sembly shalt continue. DEC. 19.—The propositions -of the is. said, be published. It is also will be considered whether the debatt lished like those of the English Parliai BEITINSWittrDEG. 11..-rOn the Duke named a Committee to entail the debts of the country. The Cot of the ancient Deputies . , with the at well-informed Burghers, who were ft missable ; whence it is presumed that blishment of the States (which is to his Royal Highness declares, after some changes suitable to the spirit of he introduced, and at the same time the if not oppressive, preponderance of abolished. 11Amaveste, Dee: t2.—The mare Russian army Of Poland (rem this p is 'now published, by which it a l whole will have &fess by the Bth of , Perensannott, DEC. 7.—The Persian Ageism dor to our. Cook arrived on the 12th NovSlOffsti Nowotscherkosk, with a. considerable suit. .444 formerly in the same quality In England.. !.'s The American Treaty still makes allot' of speculation appear insignificant. &is IMF► gress at Vienna, 'with all its mighty interests, dark and portentous if ever, sinks in the son. On this Treaty, which has come upon us sir expectedly, in spite of all the denunciations of war-trumpeters, " and told the rogues th, opinions are still various, even among ialists themselves, and no little dissatisfaction felt. It is styled a premature and inglorious' by one, whicli has cut off the prospect of ref. our reputation, that has been so signally blasted thii short and disastrous war ; another calls it nourable and advantageous in the highest degree, says it seats Ministers firmer in their places evezi—for which he end they, and all who haves ratieerfor places and pensions, thank their stars fer3ently. A third, who thinks he knows Mr. SON and Mr. MONROE. and who Can at trate both the past and the future, makes , that the American Government will spurn at tar' of ratiffing a Treaty which does not give perms" nency to their late glories, and confiro beyond doubt anti future controversy the right; which 'have claicaPdi and which are so esreattal to the not residing in those residing in long as the Ai• he States will, it affirmed, tins, tes shall be lament. 12th instant the line and meats Inunittee consists addition of some formerly not td. on the re.ests• " o take plrt, a • r the Congress) of the times *ill the inconvenient, some classes, be •ch route of the place to Warne ppea re that the ['January, 1915. saloe 6 - * ef t the Con• interests, as the compari- tpon us so on• lations of the s they tied," the Minister satisfaction is iOiO iolyf r fr)ei tl nt : r rit a tt erdi L ur calls it 111 1 - st degree, sad • places OA/ o haves vise• ieir stars verY vs Mr. M i_ .l l/14 ,t once Pow', st; WOW s vre ma at ttar ideA . give Pe!"' Ifirw beYP nd i f which they A to the pie. • I i t n ~'_` r, . t 4. y:x