The Statesman. — London, England, 1823-03-18 00:00:00

Mr. WAKISSO N, in explanation, said that be did not mean to stijr that they would have three millions only ap plicable to the reduction of the debt, but he meant that stere would be three millions currency in the Exchequer from taxe. beyond the expenditure of the country. But he contended that if they succeeded in the sale of the annuities as the Bill of last Sesgion anthoriscd, then they would bite a clear surplus of tive millions, arising from tt e real, surplus of three millions of income over expen diture, and tram the additional two millions by the con yersioo of the life into terminable annuities for forty-five years. Sir HENRI PARNELL said a few words, which were not distinctly audible in the gallery. Mr. RI CAR DO said that it was impossible, by any Act of Parliament, to melee the surplus of Revenue over ex peeditore more than it really was. If a Sinking Fund of three millions were applied, an additional sum might . be derived from the gradual falling in of the life an nuities. With respect to what his Hon. Friend (Mr. Baring) said of the plan of the Hon. Baronet, it was ad mitted that the holders of the 3 per Cent. Stock could taut be compelled to come in, but the whole country - would find it to their advantage to receive four, instead of the 3 per Cent. It would be worth while to try the ex periment, and to obtain the opinion of the country. There were in the market the Long Annuities, which were to expire in 1960, having 37 years more to run. On those the experiment might be tried, and they could be had at 10 years purchase. When the Right Hon. lien finnan, on a former occasion, stated that twenty-four nAlions of the public debt were cancelled, it was the ge. nerd' opinion that the reduction was caused by the oper ation of the Sinking Fund; but his Hon. Friend showed tbat•no part of the debt was reduced by the Sinking Fund. He should vote for the amendment. After a few words from Mr. Ewes and Sir JOHN . Newronr, The Heuh divided on Mr. Bennet's amendment, which ma. lost by a majority of 109 to 59. Another division then took place on Mr. Baring's amen lment, when there appeared —For the motion, 72 Agai net it, 100—Majority, 28. On our return to the 'Battery, we found Mr. JONES mien his legs, justifying his former vote on the question. From the confusion in the Ilallery, it was impossible to co i l sett the Hon. Oentleman's observations. • The Original resolution was then agreed to. FOUR AND • HALF PER CCNT. POND. " ,On the question being put that the Hoes* do resolve it self ler° a Committee of the whole House on the Ord nance Pstimates. ' Mr. CREFVEY nese to bring under the consideration of the WRAP the motion of which he had gives notice, re ameetitor the application of the foer and a half per cent. du ties accruing in the island of Barbadoes. The Hon. Mem ber treced the history of these duties back to their 6rigin. and contended that they were diverted from that original perpose. He maintained that such appliention as they were now destined to. was not warranted by the Act of Charles the Second. He lamented that he should have so erten to reproach his Majesty's Ministers with continuing these duties. lie concluded by moving the following Re solutions: — That it appears to this House. from the Estimates laid before it for the service of the Ordnance for the present year, there is a sum of fe.4.121. for erecting cad repairing fortifications la the island of Barbadoes. That by an Art of the Colonial Assembly of Barbadoes, abich was passed In the year 1063, it was enacted, that, for the purpose of maintaining " the reparation of the Potts, the building a sessions-house and a prison, and all other charges incumbent on the Government there, an impost or custom upon All dead commodities, of the growth 4 tif the ;aid island, and to be stripped o ff the same, should tArpilet trellis Majesty, his heirs and successors, for ever, after the followleg rate or manner—that is to say, four and Stalf.in specie for every five seore." .. net It further appears, from the Journals of this House, the first year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Anne, -a petition was presented from the Planters and Merchants yoneereed in the.island of Barbadoes, setting forth the Colathies * Act of Barbadoes before referred to, and pray " that the said duty of four and a ha lf p er eenturs ' !Wet be a pplieb to the reparation and building of fortifies tiou,s, wad defraying all charges incident to the Govern ' Itireallliere, es the same was originally intended, instead rtrbeinp diverted to other purposes, as the same then was;" aind•that, in consequence of such petition, the House did iddress her Majesty Queen Anne, praying that this ditty right be restored to the purposes for which it was created by the Colonies' Act of Barbadoes." and that this House 4,r informed, by a Message from her Majesty, that she *mild give directions accordingly. • That, notwithstanding such specific application of this fupd-by the Colonies' Aet of Barbadoes to the building and 4epafiring of fort,ifleations in that Is'and, and notwithstand •tnehe recognition of that law by this House, and by her Majesty Queen Anne, this fund Is now, for the most part, itensinmed by pensioners in this country, including even Members of this House, or their families; whilst the friiiiticatiobs and other public works in Barbadoes ere left tw he maintained by money raised from taxes on the people ; and that, under all the circumstances above stated, and ad• yprtiDg likewise to the afflicting condition of a great portion' • °these kingdoms, this Hons~nsiders it to he alike due to ifs cam. c:rarecter, and to the feelings of the people, hum bly to request his Majesty to give direction that the said dirty or four and a half per eentum in the island of Rarhadoes may be again restored to the original purposes for which It was created. Mr. R. WARD had no objection to the agitation of this qtnestion at the proper tine, but in his view any opportm bits alight hive hren pieferred to the present. It was la error to'attippose that the House was about to be call ed to vote matey for any of the purposes motioned in tlse act of assembly of 1663, for be was in a condition to skim thetnot a shilling now about to he rcqnired would be so Ipplied : ft * was not i to be laid out in the erection or repairof fortifications,' in the construction of a Sessions houses or in the building of a prison, the three objects Mentioned in the Act referred to. The great naval ar terial at thirhathees Was - for the service of the whole of the West India ;shade, and not exclusively - for Barbadoes ; and the workshops and storebenses in a course of repair Were applicable to the whole of Om Leeward island's, and none of thrageould be said to be fairly included in the Act of .1663. . _ • Mr. HUMS, in support of the Amendment, urged the injustice of continuing.lo apply these duties in the way they had been. It yeas by a perseverance in such conduct. that the people were made to feel daily more and more the necessity of such a representation in this House, as would make it the organ of the people's wishes, and the assertor of their rights. Sir C. COM* opposed the Amendment. He contend ed that a; objection, which if it bad any weight at all, made against the principle bP the vote of any -grffht res pecting Barbados . * was improperly made now, when a particular item Was under consideration. He maintained that these funds were not diverted from their original Purr" . Mr. BERNAL • characterized the exaction of these °duties as a system of extortion from beginning to end. NI-. WILMOT .definded • the original - grant, and re torted the charge of:bringing this House into contempt with the people upon those who embarrassed and impeded the measures of Government, by unnecessary add vexati ous delays. As to theAreentiment, he considered its in troduction now sve.en a particular item was under conside ration, ateill-timed. • ' Mr. CREEVEC in reply, said so convinced - was he of the propriety of pushing his amendment, that nothing would induce hito,toforego it, but the expressed sense of titellouse. , —(Heal.) • A . division then took place, When there: a ppeared—For the Amendatent,l6--Agaittst it, rib—Mayadry • for the original grant, 30. • • onowagin *satin*. Upson oar return Vi* thelethiry.wo found the House in a Committee of Supply, be l t Et. ft WARD oa his lege, aboat to propose the Ordnance Estimates, Little alteration hav ing been made in the economy of this department. except in the saving since last year, he did not feel It necessary to trouble the Committee at any great Length with details.— They would perceive by the F:stigoates that they were much reduced in their amount, as compered with the last year.— These reductions were to he traced principally to the cessa tion of the gratuities which had been graated to the civil servants of the Ordnance, and which hlid this year ceased.— Eiery department furnished an example of diminntion, ex cept that under the head of " Unprorided," and in that there was an increase of 700/. this veer. 'laving thus glanced summarily at the state of the Estimates, he should now proceed to state them in detail, comparing those of this year with the past one, and showing in what respects the di minutions were effected. The account stood thus :- 1823. 1222. Differences. Ordinary 450,334.. 473,436..13.1 0 9 less Extraordinaries 270,469.. 292,744..22,276 less Superan, Military 317,152.. 319,7 51 .. 2,599 less Superan. Civil 50,374.. 61,552.. 1,178 less Ireland. -- -- 1,044,642 —1,234,112.. 48,470 )vided....... 10,88 L.. 904.. 700 mere Sum required. .1,199,226.. 1,243,995..44,7 70 Deduct presumed Credits of 29,000.. 44,000..15,000 lees credit Stores, &c.... • net white To be voted 1 170,2.10 —1,199,006-29,7 70 1 o'er last ear. The savings made in the Estimates had been, for Eng land upwards of 38,0001. end for Ireland upwards of 6,0001. making altogether the reductions to amount to nearly 45,0001. The whole sum, as the Committee saw, to he asked this year for the service of the Ordnance, was 1,170,226/. which was nearly 30,000/. less than the vote of last year. Having stated thus much, he hail only to say, that if any objiction arose to the vo tes in detail, he would give such information as was in his power. The Hon. Member concleded by moving the grant of 45,027/. 13s. for the salaries of the Master-tle neral and principal Officers of the Orileance, as well as to mike good the increased salaries at Pall Pall and the Tower. Mr. HUME rose to protest against such a large grant for the Ordnance. He complained that the reductions made were not at all so large as the country had a right to expect. In plain language, these reductions amounted to no more than 4 per cent. upon the whole sum. The gross saving of forty-five thousand should have been much larger. If the recommendation of the Commission era of Military I ruiniry had been attended to, this extra vagance in the Ordnance would not be permitted. The Board of Ordnance was as great a delusion as the Sink ing Fund. The members of It bad only nominal duties to perform. The country had a right to expect a closer approximation to the standard of 17P.1i. No one step, however, had been taken to restore it to that footing. He asked why the two establishments at the Tower and Pall Mall were not thrown into one? A great saving would be made by their junction. There were no less than twenty rovers, door-keepers, and messengers at the office in Pall-Mall, who might he dispenced with. During the American war, the Commissioners of Mili tary Inquiry stated, that the expense of the Ordnance did not exceed 1,300,000/. ; now, even in its reduced state, it was as mach at 1,170,0001, In the seventh year of peace, this was too large an establishment. The Hon tamable Member said be could state objections to the salaries of each of these officers in detail ; but aiClo rernment (seemed determined to persevere in the sys tem of non-retrenchment, it would he an idle waste of the "Gine of ,the Committee to fix its attention upon'this sub ject. The vote was then agreed to. Mr. R. WARD then mated a grant of 7051. ce.'lll. for the increased salaries to the civil officers at the Royil Laborafory. Mr. HL 51E wished to know whether the expense of ' the gunpowder e4ablielimentat Faversham was included in this grant. He nnderstood the pretuises there had been let to Mr. Hall, of Dartford, though the country continued to be charged 10,0001. a year for the establish ment there. He objected altogether to the keeping up of an Inspector of gunpowder. Such an officer was quite unnecessary ; or, it one was kept, lie ought to be made to reside where the manufacture of powder was going on. Captain Bayley, however, who filled that situation, lived at Faversham, where there was no powder making, rather than at Waltham Abbey, where , the works were carried on. He supposed the Captain did so in order to claim travelling expenses. As (lover/e.l went had by them 1,000 barrels of gunpowder, lie saw no neceseity for continuing the establishment. Wal tham Abbey and Favereliem had already rust the public I:0,000/. It was char the Inspector of Gunpawder bid not witch to do, for Colonel Chapman, who lately filled the office, was at the same time Secretary to the Master- General, and willed almost entirely in London. Mr. WARD defied that the establishment at Faver sham ever cost 10,000/. a-year. Mr. HUME said, by the average of the last eight years, it was 11,000!. a year. Mr. WARD said that the whole expense of Faversham was not quite 1,71101. a-year. It was true there was no powder made at Faversham, but there were milts there, and it possessed advantages over Waltham Abbey. which rendered the giving it up impolitic. The Committee were aware that the two great London manufactories of the kingdon were at Faversham and Waltham Abbey. At the former the works were still carried on, but at the latter come of the preparatory proofs was gone through which could not be done so well as at the former. In that depart ment called the saltpetre kitchen, this advantage u as most apparent. There wi re alsoextensive siore% at Faversham, and as by the ingenuity of his Gallant Friend behind him (Sir Win. Congreve) the regeneration of damaged gun powder was practicable, the use of these stores for that pnrpose was of great value. Where, then the keeping ep these stores was attended with so touch utility, he tlicteght they should not be given np for a trifling expense. As to the case of Colonel Chapman; it was true he was, at the same time, Inspector of Gunpowder, and Secretary to the Master-General; but the inconvenience of holding the two situations was so great, that lie was obliged to give the former up. Mr. H 1: ME said he was convinced the Honourable Secretary himself felt the futilityof the arguments which lie was using in defence of those establishments. In the year 1317 the lion. Member stated his opinion that they should not he continued. The Honourable Member next took notice of the great expenses incurred by the Government in the erection of buildings fur the use of Officers belonging to the Ordnance. it ivould be impos sible to establish economy in the department, unless the houses were disposed of by Government—houses that cost the Government enormous sums, and in which offi cers now lived just as if they were in palaces, when those officers might obtain habitations at a very cheap rate. , Here be enumerated several buildings, together with the large sums expended in the erection of them, and he holed that next year some steps would be t aken to set ri of all those expensive works. Sir JOHN NEWPORT was of opinion that all expen sive establishments, for which large portions of land had been purchased, ought to be got rid of. He at hided particularly to the establishment of a College in I Ireland. Mr. WARD replied to several of the statements of Mr. Hume. As to the houses occupied by Officers of the Ordnance Department, he assured the Honourable Gen tleman that none of the officers hail more apartments than were necessary for their immediate use; and besides, ggils duties made it neressary that they should reside On the spot where the duties were to be performed. HUME took notice of the sinecure office of Mu ter Gunner, ln St. James's-park, which was held by Ge neral Mood, with a salary, and a fine house attached to the otti , c. That house was good enough for a man worth .2,000/. a-yell . , anti be wished to koow why such ao establishment should be kept up for a man, who had nothing else to do than firinF off a gun on some parti cular occasions, and who besides had 1.100/. a-year as Colonel of Artillery? Mr. WARD replied that the house alluded to had bnt eery few apartments in it, and that Goverement would be glad to dispose of many of the houses now in their possession, The motion was then agreed to. The next Resolution was, the voting a sum of 8,5001. to pay the salaries for home and foreign stations of the first class. 12,277/., for those of the second class; and 8,195/. for those of the third class. On the latter Resolution being moved, Mr. HUME strongly objected to the Ordnance establishment at En field as most expensive and unnecessary. Mr. WARD said that many important experiments were frequently made, with a view of bringing about im provements in the army and navy; and these could not be done in private manufactories. • A sum of 6,5611. a as next voted for paying the salaries of civil servants, storekeepers, &c. On the Resolution being moved for voting a slam of 10,5291. to defray the civil rontinzencies in the Tower, Mr. HUME wished to know, what was meant by sue- vet's taken by storekeepers. A Member said it was customary to send persons an nually to take an account of all the stores in various stat iors. The Resolution was then agreed to. The following Resolutions were then moved seriatim. 4,2931. for the Master Gunners at the different gar risons of Great Britain, except those of St. James's-park. 40,t4291. for the corps or Royal Engineers. 26,3411. for the corps of Royal Sappers and Miners. 241,235/. for the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Mr HUME moved, as an amendment, that this vote be reduced by I 5,000 f. Mr. WARD said that the Committee ought to he aware that the education and preparation of an officer of the Royal Artillery was of such importance, that he trnsted they would pause before they agreed with the lion. Gen tleman in thinking this vole ought to be lossene,:. The number of the officers was not beyond what the service of this country required, and this was the opinion of the Duke of Wellington. Mr. 11Uhl E begged to remind the House, that the lion. Gent. had, on a former occasion, stated that the Duke of Wellington had gone over this establishment man by min, and was of opinion that he could not dispense with a single man. A fig for such authority—(Loud laughing) ;—for in spite of this opinion, lie commenced discharging men right and left. His (Mr. Homo's) object was, not to decrease the number, but the expenditure by a more economical mode of brigading. Mr. WARD could not suffer the misrepresentition of what he had said pass without interfering to set himself right in the understanding of the Committee. He had never said that the Duke of Wellington declared that he would not at any time dispense with a single man. He had said that his Grace stated, that he could not do with a less number ac cording to the then estimates; but he also added, that there were measures in prospect which would enable him very considerably to reduce the number, and that nuticipation was now fully realised. The Committee should now be in formed, that such was the system of regularity adopted at thiedepartment, that the accounts connected with it in ever y part of the world ewe audited every month, so that peculation by a storekeeper, &c. was out of the ques tion. The Committee then divided, end the numbers were on the Amendment—For it, 30—Against It, 69—Majority against It, an. hs original Resolution was then carried. The following Resolutions were then proposed:- 2.2901. for the Director General of the Field Train. 6,9371. for OP Medical Department of the Ordnance. Mr. HUME proposed to take off the salary of the Di rector General, who was paid at the rate of 31, a day, as unnecessary. Tne amendment to that effect was -then put, and the gal lery was cleared for a Chision. The cumbers were—For the Amendment, 27; Against it, 06; —Majority against It. 39. 0,0791. for the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. Mr. FIUME asked if any greater reduction was likely to take place in this establishment. Sir W. BURGH observed that the establishment was re ducing by degrees. The number at the Academy had beet 130 ; they were then reduced to 114—from that to 139. the present number, and they would be gradually re dured to 100. The Resolution was then agreed to. The fallowing Resolutions were then proposed:- 2,4071. Exchequer Fees. 14.0.466/. for the Extraordinary Expenses of the Ordnance Department. 10,6011. for the Lend Service of the Ordnance Depart- 90.233/. for the Ordnance Office of Ireland. After a few observations from Mr. Huate, Mr. W. SMITH, and Mr. WARD, the remaining Resolutions urre agreed to. The Honse resented, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow. SLAMRT. Mr. W. SMITH said, that he was requested by the Hon. Member for Bramber (Mr. Wilberforce) to post pone the presenting a petition from the Quakers, for the gradual abolition of Slavery through the Btitish (loud mons to Wednesday next. This his Hon. Friend did at the particular desire of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who expected to be able to attend on that day. WARCHOVSINO BILL. On the motion of Mr. WALLACE, the Warehousing Bill was read a second time. After a few words from Mr. ROBERTSON and Mr. Al derman Tnoatesos, in recommendation of a mature con sideration Of the measure, it was ordered to be committed on Friday next. The Reports of the Committees of Ways and Means and Supply were received, and agreed to. The other orders of the day were then read, and post. pones' ; and the House adjourned at one o'clock. THE STATESMAN BENEVOLENT SOCIEI'Y OF Sr. PATRICK. A meeting of %Vest India Merchants was held yester day at the City of London Tavern, upon the subject of the proposed equalization of the Duty on East and West India Sugar, when a counter-petition was agreed to. pointing out the injustice of the proposed measure, and representing the ruinous consequences which it would not fail to produce to the Colonies. The great objec tion, in a conitnercial point of view, to the proposed change, is, that the balance of trade to the East Indies, being as seven to two against England, the Sugar from thence must he paid for in specie, to remain in Indlaand enrich the natives ; whilst that from the West is paid for in manufactures and provisions from England or her co lonies, or by the proprietors who reside in Britain, where they spend all the profits of the West Indies. An unusual occurrence took place at Leicester, on Sunday week. A large bear having made its escape from a caravan, in Humberstnue-gate, deliberately walked up the street, apparently well pleased at having obtained i ts liberty; although to the no small consternation and alarm of the inhabitants, great numbers of whom gave him the meeting, though at a respectful distance . as they were returning from their places of worship Poor Bruin, however, was not permitted to enjoy his freedom Ion," for the circumstance having become knoon to'his owner, he was pursued at all poista, and shortly after again placed in durance. The anniversary festival of this. imitation was mix heated yesterday, at the City of Lon lon Tat a rn. Ties D w it as ke a s, : l t: p ß or u t . ..li d o n i e l l t ra h • e n t a i nd ghtelbtaynttlooardwia,asiiine,trsliteocri,hai. onH. left he the Duke of Wellington. Atuargst the compariv we observed, Lords CI enwilliarn, Arundel, A. /111), and Beresford, Sir John Doyle, Mr. Plunkett, Mi. Gait:learn; &c &c. On the removal of the cloth, Non Nobis Domine,rras • excellen.ly rune, by Messrs. Taylor, Webb, Pyne, Broad hurst, Fit ze illiam, and Clarke. The Duke of Beet:leen am then announced to the meeting, that he had received from his 11,jesty, th e .i e most benevolent patron, his annual donation of 1110g4.. His Majesty a health was drank with four times four, and very great applause. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM apologized for the aloe/ire of the Dukes of York au 1 Clarence. The former, he oh served, was obliged to attend his Majesty at Brielitue, and the latter was persecuted by that most tnercilesseneinv th e g one The health of the two Royal Dukes was given with three tim a three. After the usual routine, toasts were drank. ,The Duke of BUCKINGHAM proposed the health of the Marquess Wellesley, the Lord-Lieutenant of I re..me (Loud cheering - ) The Duke of Wettaxeroar begged leave to retarn thanks on behalf of his Eecellency the Lord-Lieu:e nant of Ireland, for the manner in which the company bad drank his health. He wis sure it would give extreme satisfaction to 'hat noble person to learn that hi s h ea lth had been drank witia so flinch enthusiasm by to highly respectable a society.—(Applituse.) 'I he Duke of BUCKINGHAM next proposed thehealth the Duke of Wetington, whom he designated as the hero who, under the auspices of Providence, had set tled the destiny of Europe and of the world.—(Cheers The Duke of WELLINGTON returned thanks. It had always been a high satisfied in to him to find his health inserted amongst the standine: toasts of that society. .He believed that honour was conferred on him, not so much from any merit of his comas with reference to the asai• te ante which he had received from many gallant friers Is in the course of his public life. Souse of dose friends were present on this occasion, and he had no doubt dint the relations of many who were absent, formed a part of the company whom he now addressed. He could a , snas i the assembly that one of the dearest wishes of his heart was, to forward the interests of the Society ; and, with that view, Ito would give his attendance whenever it wee in his power. (Cheers.) Toast—" The citizens of London, contributors to this charity," with three times three. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM proposed the health . Of blarsl.al Lord Beresford, the representative of a family to whom Ireland was much indebted. Lord BERESPORD returned thanks very briefly. The TREASURIR then read the report of donations s from which it appeared that 1,1891. 7s. had been sub scribed on this occasion. The Duke of WELLINGTON proposed the health of the President, whose father, he observed, was the founder of this institution. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM rose and said, that lie re ceived with sincere and grateful pleasure the flattelieg testimony of their approbation. He stood in a situation different from those who had preceded him—be had an hereditary interest in the success of that institution-- (applause). His father, towards whose memory he che rished the fondest feelings of affection and of venera tion, was the individual who presented to his late Majes ty the first Report of the Society ; his Majesty approreil of it, and gave his permission that the late Duke of Kea should be Patron. He had another claim upon the at tention of the Society ; it teas his pride to say that Weh blood ran through his veins. (Applause) Yes, he knew e n o ugh of that country, and of the character of its gereee eons and noble-hearted people, to admire them. No mnti valued more highly than he did their social quelitiee; their unbounded generosity, their courage, their perse verance, their devotion ; those were the virtues that adorned the character of a people who formed art important part of his Majesty's subjects—of A people, who, from various causes had suffereil much ; but as they : hoped for better dap, be would recommend to them to forget the pest, and to look forward to the fieure. (Applause) Tug' Society would always camtnamt his mat notst stipport.: Cf was attached to it from every public obligation and every private feeling. His Grace concluded by retaroing thanks to tlic Meeting, and sat down amid loud expres sions of applau‘e. " The healths of the Marquesses of Hastings andDown shire" were given and received with great applan , e. The health of Mr. Smith and the Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Irish was then drank with entlie siastic cheers- Mr. SMITH returned thanks. He hoped the late dis tress and the means adopted for its relief wonl.l have the effect of impressing inure rierionsly the necessity of ;v.- tending to the long neglected state of Irdatel. lie hoped that the Union would Ins a 'anion of affection between both countries. The :time soon might come when thei energies of both might he urgently demanded, fur the conduct of the Allied P.iwers appeared to him to be data gerous to the freedom of mankind, and to be calculated to bring barbarism and slavery upon the n orld. " The health of the Marchioness of Hastings and the Lady Patronesses of the Society" was next given with great applause. The CHAIRMAN next proposed " the health of Marshal Lord Beresford." His LORDSHIP retnenci thanks. On the "health of the Vice-President" being given, Lord PALMERSTON reterred thauke. "The health of the Stewards' . was then proposed. General Sir JOHN DOYLE returned thanks in a very neat and eloquent speech. The Chairman, atteriled by most of the Noblemen and Gentlemen who accompanh.t hint, retired soon atter ten 'o'clock, after an evening marked by every thing that could make it agreeable. Messrs. Taylor, Broadhurst, Webb, and the other pre fessional Gentlemen who a! tended, greatly contributed by the exertion of their vocal powers to the interest of she scene. SPAN'S!' PAPEIIS. WILTON:a EXTRACTS.) Don Antonio Diaz del Moral renoonced, in the follow ingtortus, the office of Illnisier of the Interior , which hiS Majesty bad confided to him. The letter is addressed to the Minister of the Interior:— " Sir,—l have the hotmur to address to your Excellen cy my resignation of the office of Minister of the ir.terior, to which the King was pleased to appoint me yesterday, by a decree which I have this yery instant, it being eleven o'clock at night, received. While I beg your Excelenry to convey to his Majesty's hands my resignation, I hart. at the same time to entreat, that you will do me the ft your of endeavouring to prevail upon his Majesty to ex cuse me from undertaking the discharge of such impor tant functions, and fur which I cannot consider mysc:f as possessing either the neces , :ary information or knowlf dge. Convinced of my own insufficiency, and resolved never to disobey the dictates of in; conscience, I shall Dot yi..14 • to any measures that may be n.lopte , l with a vi..w to compel me to desist from tendering my resignation. (Signed) "D. ANTONIO DIA:: DEL MORAL. " Madsid, March 1, 13`_:." (PROM TII6 SAMS TO TO2 KING) " Sire.-1 have this moment received the decree Ist which your llajrsty has nouura'el me Minister of the