The National Register. — London, England, 1819-05-17 00:00:00

MAY 17. present year for the public. service. It masktned tot extended discnesion, end on a division there were Ayes 's9—Noes 117— Majonty 78. mEXT IN FOREIGN St:RVICF. BILL: The ATTAR. Ntv-G P. N ERA r. wee, to 'nave for leave to bring in a bill to prohibit enlistment! in foreign Fervice, and the equipment of vessels of war without license. The law of our country on this subject, founded en a statute of George I 1., male it an offence amount in. to a felony to eater into the service of a foreign state. The words of that *Leone might, however, raise a doubt how far it was intended to embrace those entering into the service of states not acknowledged to be such. It would be a most aloud stmement of the hoe, to say, Met those enlisting in the service of an ac knowledged prince or state, violated the law by doing so ; and yet, that they were not prevented front entering into the service of unacknowledged states. The object of his hill, in a cetutiu degree, was to amend the statute, by introducing after " king, prince. state, potentate," the word; " colony or dis'riet who do obsolete the power: of a government." The intention of intro• cluein e e tlieee uonle was to make colieting in the service of unac knowledge! powers, the same es enlisting in the eer.ie,e of those that were acknowledged. 'file law, as it stood, on toe statute., tiro oth and the enth of Geo. 11., annexed :11c limey penalty of felony to the offence of enlisting in the service of a foreign state: but although the law, as it formerly stool, and as it now mod, was equally against entering the Nerviee of acknowledged pot'. ult. rcknowledged spite;, yet it could not punish those who emend the service of unacknowleleal powere If ano roomer countee were at war with her Colonies, and the subjcces of this country eelistod in the service of these colonies, the low could not punish them: hut if they enlisted in the service of the mother country. which was a legitimate power, they were liable to the penalties of felony; fur to enlist in- the act-ice of as acknowletlged state cer tainly was a felony. as the law now stood. But to make the law consistent, it was his object, by this bill, to reduce the penalty from a felony to a ntiolemeanour, and to melee the kite et f uslly applicable to neknowledged anal to to.acknowledgel powers. En. listing in the service of those persons who had assumed to them selves the powers of a government, (whether they were justifiable or not in assuming those powers he should not ingtfere, because he wiehol tea avoid the political discussion of such a question) wee a violation of that neutrality which this country profeeed to observe. lii the second provision of the 1,111, two objects were in • tended to he embraced—to prevent the fitting oat of armed eel tele, and Aso to prevent the fitting out or supplying other ships with warlike stores in any of hit Majesty's ports. Not that such vessels might not receive provisions in any port in the British dominions ; but the object of the enactment was to prevent them from shipping warlike stores, such as guns and other things ob. viously and manifestly intended for no other purpose than war. Thew were the objects of the bill ; and unless it appeOred to the house thou they ought to distinguish between legitimate states (perhar lie ought not to use the word " legitimate"—he meant acknowledged states), arid throe self-coristittited states that were tinacknowldsexi, he could not anticipate erre objection to the bill. lie then niovec'-. iht leave to bring in a bill to prohibit en lit nivents in fareign service, mil the egeipment of vessels of war without license. Before sitting down he begged to al t , What he had forgot to mention when explaining the objects ut the bill, that he proposed the penalty trl the first offence should be for a misdemeanour, and on the ',mond fern felony. Sir JAMES MACINTOSH said, that if he could consider the present ineaetue of his lion. and learned friend, merely as the introduction of a reform into our criminal legislation, he would not, on the presets occasion, have made a singce remark; or if he had. would merely have expressed his approbetion of the pro roved aniendrneni of the law. The repeal of the Y statutes of the 9th and Ytrh Geo. 11. which constituted the entrarce into the serviceof a foreign government a felony, he highly improved of; and he might, it' they hal not now been l:ruught into diecuesion by his hon. and learned friend (the Attorney-General), have felt it his duty to have brought them soon under the notice of the house. They were founded merely on temporary circumstance* end enacted nettaltice which were revolting to humanity, and which, therefore, now could never be inflicted. Hi, Hon. and learned Priced had given to these statutes a general character, as applying to all time; and circumstances; but it' he had looked into history, lie would have seen that they were intended merely for temporary purposes—namely, to prevent the formation of Ja cobite armies, organised in Spam and France, against the pence of this country. Though his lionotintble and learned friend, however, had eirdeavoured to dieguiee the subject, and to keep out of view the immediate ohject which the treasure was intended to serve, it was imporsible to mistake its general character, or to avoid seeing its evident tendency. (Loud cries of hear, hear.) It was indeed a measure ut tc:nporary policy, affecting deeply the character anti eaterests of the country, and requiring the most serious attention of the house before they proceeded one step in the enactment. (Hear, hear.) The bill which his box. add learned friend moved for leave to introduce mtglrt, however it v as worded, and however cautiously its object was concealed, be entitled, " a bill the preventing British subjects from lending their assistance to the South American cause, or enlisting in the South Allle/iCalt service." (hear.) The cautious abstiner.ee of his honourable and learned friend from the political question could not cover his political purpose. On the general subject of the law, as now proposed to be amended, he (Sir James 'Merin. tosii) would not nitiro: many observations. It was impossible to dispute or to deity that the emereign power of every state could interfere to prevent its subjects fnint engaging in the wars of other states, by which its own peace might be endangered or its own :wrests affected. .ilis Majesty could command his own subjecee to abstain from sore by which the incisions of the state with others might be disturbed, and could compel the observations of ocaoct wits them. The question could not therefore 01111 upon this : he was surprised indeed to hear that this principle could be nnule a matter of diepute or doubt with his hon. and learned triend. It was froth the assertion of it. ut the present moment, that his (Sir Janes elacintoeb's) suspicions were awakened. Why was toe house culled upon, at the pnoent time, to 'sent a doctrine which no one doubted, unless it was meant to apply it to temporary objects Y W., tire principle itself doubtful, or was honest neutrality intended by the measure 1 1 (I leer, hear.) The principles of neutrality only required us to maintain the laws m being, as they might affect the character of the belligerent but they could nut coamiand us to change any law. Lease O. all, • , ulcl they regaire us to :her our laws for the evident advantage of one of the parties. (Ilear, hear, front all sides of the Ile was aoare that Iris honourable and learned friend had said, that the enactments of ha Bill had placed both upon a level ; but so fur as they exchanged the existing law, they were in favour of one of the partici. A....cording to the two statutes which tan Bill was intended tr. repeal. :.it evident advantage was enjoyed by one of the belligerents ; and this Bili was intended theiefore to make the condition of one of them better, and of the other INTIC, than it was before. It was so far, theref o re, departure from our neutrality ; as it made a law to affect one party to Cie detriment of another. !Lis honoatahle friend, therefbre, iaetead el intheluct ng a measure to preserve the equal rights of the pieties, had intro ducer.' a measure in effect - mute the averse. It ought to be recol leeted, emit those who rug iged in the service of insurgent states. or state., diet have nix leaven acktrowledged among the family of nations, howevee respectable in themselves, were in a much worse aituatiou than those who assisted recognized governme nts, as they could not bet reclaimed as pritoroes of war, and noght, as ertgaoing in what was called rebellion, be treated as therefore, might be one reoent why they were exempted THE NATIONAL •RRGI§TtR. front the penrdties anther iaed to be inflicted by the statutes of the 9th said 29th of George 11., the dangers to winch thee exaostal themselves being considered sufficient to deter therm Tait: new law, or this declaratory law, as his honourable and learned friend hail called it, worth! go to alter the relative risks, awl beconte in fact a •law of preference in favour to one of the parties. It was an impolitic and severe measure against a people struggling not to throw off theasske of the mother country, hut contending against its re-imposition after they had freed ienuelves titan rt. • (Hear.) It WSS, in fa;t, an act of Irostitty towers South America, and of favour towards Spain; oral viewing it in this light, he was sore it would be looked upon with rei'et by all • the friends of freedom, and excite the indignation of the people of Englr.nd. (Hear.) If the Iloute did nut oppose it, it they did nut :sew their disapprobation of - a measure so aartinl in its nature, he Would say, that they were dead to the interests of the nation, and were contrary to the opinions and the wishes of their constituents. He would no: naw enter farther into the proposed measure ' • other opportuaities would occur during the progress of the Bill for pointing out its tenttene,a, as an occasion would arise la a few days for eatisidering the general course of our polity towards those states against which it tv.esrlirected. In the meaminie he amid rim n:tialu front expressing his disappro batian of at measure 'which lie could consider in no other light than as an enactment to repress the rising liberty of the'South hmcti cnns, and to eatable atesin to raimpose mat yoke of tyranny which tiny were unable to hear, which they had nobly shaken off, and front which lie trusted in God they weadd finally be enabled to free themseltes, whatever attempts were made by Olt 'idolaters of this, or any other country to COI/at:ll=M ur assist their opprtssors. lord CAST 1.T.11 EAG HI protested again a the introduction of the politicall uiples with which the lion. and learned gentleman had filled his speech—a speech which, while it pmfessed to advocate the principles af neutrality, was as far front the spirit of neutral ity as any that he heed ever hears' in that house. He would ap peal to the house and the country, (who, he trusted, too well un dastood what the principle of neutrality and the character and honour of the nation required, to be deceived by tile sophistry of the honourable and limner? gentleman), a hetlicr they would de part loan that regard which they owed to an acknowledged and friendly state by allowing our subjects openly to take part with its enemies. It was to prevent this that the present bill was brought ia. and he would ask any member of the house, if such things were permitted, how we could boast of tau. neutrality (Hear, hear. bear.) It was a little too touch in the lion. and learned gentleman to censure the government of this country, as being hostile to the South Americans and partial to Spain, while we had delayed going what another government, which he would allow to be free and popular, had done long ago. lie would ask him, had the United Stater done nothing to prevent their subjects from assisting the South Auterirans ? They had enacted two laws upon the subject, nearly of the same tendency Ili that now proposed. Colonel DAVI ES concurred in the sentiments of his Honorable friends who opposed the Dill. The cries of " question" became very loud, and strangers were ordered to withdraw. No division, however. took place, the naa thin of tire Attorriey-General lxing agreed tee—Adjourned. FRIDAY. NAV Mt. The Marriage Acts' Amerduieat Dill, the thinl reading of which stood for to.dav, was postponed till %Wednesday nest, at the request of Sir William Scott. FOREDIN Esii.tor 7-lENT 81LY..-..Sir It. WILSOV asked the Attorney-Genotal when he intended to bring in the Bill to pre vent Englishmen from enlisting into foreign Lerviee r He at the some time gave notice that he should U.Sd every abet to oppose it in all its stages. (l(ne). The Avvotint:Y-GLNERAL gave some brief answer, but it was inaildible in the Gallery. GAME I.AWS.--Otr. BRAND moved that the Amendments of the Game Laws' be taken into further consideration. Arun. some conversation between Sir J. Shelly, Mr. l.ong Wel lesley, the lion. F. Douglas, the Marquis of Tavistock, and Mr. G. Banks, the House diviANl. The numbers were—for the Bill 59—against it, Iw. The Bill wits consequently lost by a majority against it O. The House at its rising adjotrmed to Mondry. REPORT Made to the British Consul at Rio, and Commodore Bowles in the Plate. " Rio MARCH G. " Lord Cochrane had hoisted hia broad peutlotiit at Val priraiw. in the Muria lsnbel, (4'50 guns, commanded by Capt. Foster. haring on board olOj excellent Seamen, and be had 10 sail of sess.ls which w ere perfectly ready, and in the most perfect efficient state, for sea; two of them mounted 40kins. 'Dint hit Lordship bail, by a !pedal message, requested an interview will, the Captain of the Ontario. mid that the questions put to him by his Lordship were evidently intended to nscertiin what was thy. amount of the specie which had been shipped in his Modesty's ship Andromache, Captain. Sheriti; and Bluisont, Captain Hickey, rind whether the same was the actual priiperty of the :vanish flosern me iit, or any of its anthorities, these two shipa being then on the coast with it on hoard. The impression remaining on the mind of the Captain of the Ontario was, that could Ins Lordship will ascertain thia latter point, It was his intention to intercept these ships, and seize the pniperty. So soon as thin report was made to Commodore Bowles, he proceeded roucil Cape Horn in the Creole." In consequence of a manufacturer of Carlisle having lowered the price of weaving ginghams 2s. ptr cut, a considerable number of weavers assembled in a tumultuous manner, on Wednesday afternoon, broke tome of his windows, and exhibited other tokens of their displeasure. They also held a kind of meeting upon thu Sands, at which they resolved to petition the Prince Regent to stud them all to America! In an action tried before the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, at the instance of Allessrs. Frisk, tea-dealers, against certain 011icers of the Revenue, for illegally seizing two chests of tea, which they alleged to be spurious, bat which were afterwards proved to be genuine as imported, the defendants have been found liable in 7001. damages. Saturday night, at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, a currier and another man quarrelled and fottght, but afterwards made up their differences ; shortly after, as they were sitting side by side, the eurr:or stabbed his antagonist, so that he died; the murderer is in• custody. 'lG') blio.ll TUESDAY WU TS L. -...0b TIANKTIUPTCV ENLARCF.D. _ 'r. R. Moore. Denmark Court, Strand, puler atalnar, frer: Mry 11 to May 18. • HAN ICRUPTCY SUPERSEIIED. J. O. rarr, Liverpool, merchant. BANKRUPTS. T. Norris. White Trait Yard. Druey I.ane, victualler. IV. Elliott, jun. Tunbridge Well;, .1. Bromley, jun. Stafford, 'Lott niJnufaciiirer. H. \Vood, Naborough. Lcict ,, tersh re, ho ier. r. Flaction, Herwick Street, Soho. jeweller. J. !lead and J. Htllyer, St. Mary Hill, 1.?.5 r.eheap,merchant: T. Hall, Keyford, Sen,crsetebire, woolmapler. J. Goode, ..iverpool, futrebant. .1. Harlow, Bolton Lc !Ileum, Laneashire, droggist. D. Homing, Woraley, L r,ea lire, itmkeeper. .1. Golding, Colchester, tanner. E. Holder, Whyle, Herefordshire, auctioneer. J. Higton and J. Brewer, Breadwlty, lilackfriars, warehouse , mew. J. Austin, Altlersgate Street, corn dealer. On Friday last the Ninme, Lumly bound from Castlenutin to Liverpool, and freighted with corm left the hut Lour of Jungle to proceed on her voyage. The day was unusually fine, however, shelutd not get any coneLleratle dstance outside the harbour, when in the view eta considerable num ber of spectators, she was seen to go down suddenly head fit:mite:a, wiLlout even alloWing time for hoist ing out the beat. The melancholy consequence was, that the entire crew, consisting of eleven bands, met a watery and awful instantattectis grate, us there was Ito possibility of assistance than the shore.— What renders this circumstance yet mote tragical is, that five or six oC the sufferers had but very lately deserted their sliip•in a sinking state outside Dingle. The vessel was freighted by Christopher Galwey, Esl. of Killarney. It appears remarkably providen tial that the mate of the Harmony lately wrecked at Rosbegn, anti who was the only sun ivue of the crew on that occasitre had actually paid a part aids passage money to this ship, bit was induced at the instance of Collector Twiss to forego the money and proceed by a ditil:rent route. 111 r. Henderson has discovered, in New Siberia, the claws of a bird measuring each a yard in lem.,etb ; and the Yakttts assured him, they had frequently, in their hunting excursions, met with skeletons, red even feathers, of this bird, the qai Is of which were large enough to admit a man's arm. This is a fah in support of the tradition, that the earth was for• merly inhabited by giants; fur men not exceeding ourselves in staturewould have been helpless against birds of prey of this magnitude. Captain Cool, men dons having seen a monstrous bird's nest in New Holland, on a low Farley island in Endeavour River, With trees upon it, and an incredible number of sea fowl ; he found an eagle's nest with young ones, which he killed, and the nest of some other bird, of a most enormous size ; it was built with large sticks upon the ground, and was no less than eis and twenty feet in circumference, and two feet eight inches high. A young girl has been asmssinated in Paris umler circumstances of great atrocity' After the murder was committed, and the plunder secured, the ref flans set fire to the bad, in the hope of thins destroy lag all macs of their crime. Happily the flan:ts were soon extingeished, and there is every reason to hope the wretches trill be brought to justice. A servant girl in a 'Eddie-home ia Silver -street, Cam bridge, having disputed with her mistress. on Friday evening, left the house, and was the next unreeling found in the river. An inquest WAS held WI the body and a verdict of Lunacy returned. The New Providence Gazelle Says,—‘f It !nun afford much satisfaction to the inhabithnts of the Colony to learn, that it is again in agitaticut, and that strenuous endeavours are now used, us well by the merchants interested in its commerce, P.S by those concerned in that of Jamaica, to have this island made a depot for a trade with the United States. We .have seen a cup;' . of a Memorial that has been presented to the Lords of the Privy Council, fox the consideration of :natters of trade in the Plan tations, on the above subject, in which the conveni ences and benefits to Jamaica il'orn such a measure, are particularly stated. Private letters encourage the hope, that the object will be attained; but it may be feared, that unless it be so in a permanent way, no advantage will be derived from it, the Go vernment of the United Snit(' being apparently de termined to accord with no temporary measures, as has been evinced With respect to the free ports of Nova Scotia. The Jamaica interest having made itself a party in the appliteation,we may now iuduige the hope of its meeting serious attention and final success." The end of next month it the time mentioned when the Members of the Yacht Club are to as. setnble titr the purpmie of cruising. They will then be enabled to hy in a supply of title and r: / : 50 , 7 , and bets ere two to one that Air Vkillia nCurti. n id Lave the best tios*rted tango et - any of the party. I 111