The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-07-01 00:00:00

IT - . 's - L• 4is ii vat eful puttisliments than thosseof any other it *bolt. I 'titter these circumstances, he s h o uld ..., , latagaii:ly take the sense of the House. iLIMA CASTLERE•iiii expressed his surprise that the Hon. Baronet slatitld have brought forward such a motion at such a period, and upon such groomle. •It did so happen. that the Hen. Baronet took iu general such a different view of the in terests of the country, that it vves hardly possible for him to !ism with him ninny one petut. Even Dem the on. Baronet's own arguments, it was ditlieult to see may proctietil betietit likely to arise from this mottos. if inch abuses did exist, it would not he easy for the hon. Baronet to afford satisfactory reasons to the soldiers themselves for having delayed so loug in bringing the matter forward. It was a anottoti. in Ins opinion, of II most mischievous tentleocy, and, when taken along with former sentiments uttered by the Hon. Bet mast, somewhat resembled a regular systematic purpose to bring the whole military . rode into qi.= repute. and to create an impression in the army of the country, that there was something hi that dale that citUed for alteration. This was car ' tainly not the drat time in which the Honourable Bart. butt milled the attention of the Legislature to the preference he gave - to the French, system of military punishments ; as be had, upon** former occasion, iinfortmintely made some allusion to the cotiduct of the French troops iii Spain. - Now, there Was actually no code of :military law so severe as that of France, kr instead of utianstilunishments, they generally proceed to immediate execution; and men are upon the slightest oftener shot upon the spot. Whereas in this country, no luau's life nor property could be shakes by the arbitrary act of au individual. Every court-duirtial that sanctioned the hifliction of punishment, &del upon oath, and de cided upon the evidence addisced before therm, which was also ultoa t•ath. This being the case, the House would intl 4 e how the lion. Burt, waft jUlitiikil in statiug, that the punishment of iii tudividual rested upon the caprice or whim of a Commanding Officer t In the particular instance alluded to by the lieu. Baronet, perhaps he did Dot advert to the circumstance that the number of men iu that regiment might now Le double of what vt. was before. It way surely a most injurious inisrepresentstiou to state that the military code of this country was harsh and severe, when the British army hod long votitioued to nourish under it, even daring the most try ing times. instead of being of the deliased elistat•:.er the hots. Baronet repro:vented, there was no .e.r.rin who at all knew the sersice, could 'iesitate in deelering that the sol diers felt themselves ...intuited, happy, loyal, and proud of their situations. Sir GE.9111:11 WARNENDUS stated, that differing u he did from the vlou. Baronet upon every one of his military opinious, and disseutitio from what he had said that ttii 4 t.t, he should detail' the House but a short time iu adding a few ouserysitiolis to those of the Noble Lord who had preceded him. Lie certainly. upon a former ort . astin, did conteud, that surd; a state of military discipline was not ne cessary for the 1..0401i Militia, principally upon the ground of its being a hardship to which such men were nuaccustometl, that it might be the means of preventing the volunteer- from being iocorporated with them. It was out 'thence, however, to be in ferred. that he in any degree, disapproved of the present raihtary code ; on the contrary, be highly approved of it, and thought that the - agitation of such a question as the present one must always he attended with mischi nnsequeitees, without the smallest hearth being likely to be deriv.d from it. The Hon. Bart. had been so completely answer ed by the Noble Lord. in regard to the allegation of punishments being regulated by the caprire or whim ofoffseeis, that it was unnecessary for him to enlarge. He should only observe, that in all cases of inspection of regimeuts, the iuspectora sot only have to ex press their opinio ns as to t h e Courts Martial that had previously taken place, but ask every indivi dual soldier whether or not he had any thing to complain of? With regard * the use of the cane in regiment*, it was worthy of remark, that there had only been nor solitary instance of that mode of punishment coming under the cognizanee of • Court Martial. Coon the trial of an ofti. cr. it appeared, amongst other charges, that he had used the cane, and, upon this being represented to His Majesty, seders were immediately issued that aay officer in future using the cane should inert with marks of His Majesty's ilitylevoure. Without imputing mischievous inotivos to the lionounsble Baronet, is bringing forward such a motion, be certainly could not help sayin g , that, in his (minion. it was likely to have that tendency ; and, therefore, it was highly proper for every 000 to m ak e su c h ob servations as might tend to do away those evil cons excess Fistasrome said, he should certainly sop- port this motiou, and his principal ground for doing so was contained iu the concluding paragraph of the Noble Lord's speech, 'which related to the loyalty and meritorious conduct of the British army. He could not COnteiVe hoe it could be said that the object of the honourable Baronet, in making such a motion, was to create discontent ; it was merely one calling fur information, for the withholding of which DO good reibile could be as signed. Ile could see no good reason for objecting to the motion, unless it was the conviction that military p shments were actually in a great de regulated by th e caprice and whirs of officers. was easy to prove, that the system varied und,r different officers in diffevent regiments, and there fore some melioration ought undoubtedly to take place. Mr. Wsx exam thota• ' ht that such a return would not put th e House in possession of what seemed to be wishrd by the Hon. Mover. The degree and frequency of punishment must neees 'only depend so much upou the characters, dis- Positions. an conduct of men, under various cir cumstances, that die House could not, properly, be enabled to judge of the eta; state of the ca-e ; and, therefore. such a motion as the present one, would either he bringing forward no information at all, or such as was improper, by leading to ex. pectations which might not be gratitied. Before as could consent to it, he must have a strong ear.- rietion upon his mind that there were crying abuses iu the punishments of the army, which ought to be •ftetitied. He did n•vt believe that such abuses did exist, and therefore he could not approve of suers an imperfect poshavt7on ben.; curie. IA bat net regniatiene were adopted in regard to pnnieh ments an the army, still a great deal must neces sarily depend upon the habits, notions, and fashions of men. These were things which could not be regulated by Legislative interference, and therefore some other mode of anielioratioo meat necessarily be adopted. Countenance and favour might be shewn to officers who by judicious mannement and well-directed endeavours effected the discipline of their regiments without frequency of punish ment. The introduction of his system of limited service, in his opinion, would hive tended as moth as any thing to lessen the necessity of suet, pu hishruents, and to correct the abuse complained of, if any such abuse existed, had that thll been id lowed fair play. Lyon these grounds he should recommend to the Hon. Ihironet to withdraw his motion. Earl TEM 'ma's priaeipal objection to the present motion was, that at the present ttobinent it could not do gond, but 'night do a great des! of harm.— Suppoong the abuse complained of was one that actually required a remedy, then the whole 'Lathe simmer must pass without any thing lae;ng dame by Parliament, and therefore it tended to bold out to the atmy in general hopes and expectitim a , iu which they might ultimately be di-appointed.— There might this advantage arise from tbs talon of such a question, that it might be the means of turning the attention of officers to the subject, and lead them to consider whether there might not be Some mode of lessening the frequency of courts-martial. Mr. LOCLHART • said, he was decidedly averse from the motion, us totally inaulfscient for any good purpose, but pregnant with every bad one. It was u gitestton, the agitation of which might render men leo disposed to volunteer into the army, or to comply with the Local Militia Bill. Now, he did not conceive that corporeal punishment was ore that was likely ever to be upplievi to the Locni Mi litia. He should be ;lad to know where thc Hun. liaronet hail read of this French system, whistle he had much extolled ? For his part, lie knew, that in the French army there was sometimes a greet laxity, and sometimes a great severity uf punish ment; sometimes pillaging and marauding were countenanced, and sometimes a Commander would p h them with the utmost severity. A division then took place, when there appeared. Airsiost the motiim 77 Fur it 4 Majority 7.1 Upon onr return to the raillery, we found Mr. Ctf.►viT waking hii notion relative to HYDE PARK. After enlarging ul.ou the importance of the pri vilege enjoyed by the inhabitauts of the rut tropobs, in walking in this park, Mr. Creev.y then alluded to the applications that bad ben made through Mr. Fordyce, the Surveyor-General, for leave to erect buildings thereon. He understood that these applications had been made by 'tenants of different political principle'., but that was uo argument against the impropriety of grantiog them. There had been applications made by Lord Stair, the Secretary at War, the Duke o f Bedirwd, Mr. tha w:. and others, in all shoot 8 persous. Did the Right Hon. Gentleman oppo..ite believe that these $ homes would be the last that would be sought for, when it was found out that the Surveyor-Gene ral had the power of granting the privilege of build ing? It was totally impossible to my where the increase of building would stop. The object of less present motion was merely to procure the cor respondence with Mr. Fordyce and the Lords of the Treasury, sit order to follow it up afterwards with an address to His Majesty, praying that he could be graciously pleased to prevent Ali.. For dyce rocking any arrangement., as to buildings its I lyde Park, different from those formerly observed. He then coscluded with moving fir copies of all correspondence, between John Fordyee, Eaq. Sur veyor-General of Crown lands, and the LortisCom ninisiouers of the Treasury, upon the subject of conveying lands in Hyde Park Lyon building leases. Mr. ilansurx TSACRY seconded the motion. He thought the admitting of flay additional build ings in Hyde Park, would only be opening a door fur partiality and corruption. The CHANCLI.Loa of the EACIIVIVILII gave his negative to the :notion, as there wa i l no ground 1 1 whatever laid for it, and it would be throwing ! out a reflection upon. His Majesty. to suppose that .he was intending to act contrary to what he had hitherto done. It was at all events premature. as oo application had in fact been made to lint Ma jesty upmi the subject. Mr. Wii , c1111•11 thought it afforded but little se curity to the Wine, whelk the Right Honourable Gentleman stated it was the intention of the Tt ea sury to oppose soy plan for converting the Park luta streets, squares, or ranges of building. The assurance should come from another quarter. and this assurance should be made iminedimitely ; for should Parliameat neglect to he %misfit' ou this head Dow, the recess intervening, the evil they had now anticipated would then be realised, and the remedy would he ton late. when the plan 144,1 beta acted upon. He did not mean to °Next to the right or privileges of the Crown, iu this respect; he was only worry that any such plan had been pro; po.ed. The strongest ar.zument urged against this plan of encroachment, and that totally unanswered by the Right Honourable Gentleman, was, that , theme buildings would encroach on. and destroy, the priociple of vei4etatiou, in that part of the ground not occupied by them. It was necessary to vege tattoo there should be a large and extensive space of open ground to permit free circulation of air, and inch an extensive space was also of tha,utinomit importance to the inhabitants of this t'.ty. Fresh air was a liquor to which the greater part of Lon doners were perfect strangers,: the) never inhaled it—hut wi.at little they hs4i, of as inferior quality, it was not right to deprive them of. The Pa-ks, in this great city, were the le I.Zs of life —vet thr.-e s t ere o's* about to ix- assailed. It walo an odd circum stance, that the aiemiety to ,it nut of town motht tree (Maar of its Emelt man wished t o get a little .mat ,. .. 4 4- of his neighl .var—atirl thus th e town spread Ti 7411 f 17 MI the aveh4on in sslAich it was held. Ti. however. shoud not he permitted to oa a word m chia-acteristics 11 - * ,v be la 111 et“Wr, Whrhe !.. ur4 coeguifkeee:e. NV h4terer obit ,;.ttuti he to the species of buildinge now on it. it-cold be at kart urged is their Savour, they were roycland public building,. He r e old, however, wisU them away, as they spoiled the forge ememble, in the foilue maileer as ii spot on a piece of silk, however small, epoilisd the whole. The elaironeye of any house. there erected would prove so mail issouthe of smoke, tilt the Perk aide vapour*, and im pede the growth of etre the hardiest tares ; and certainly there never was a i.,oce odd idea than that of the !tight Hon. Gelitlenous. who wielied to de corate the Perk with lieuee,: it put him is mind of the Cit.'s mode of settiug of Lis little acre of ground with temples, aleuves, bridges, &c. until the gnome wei swallowed up by the oroamenta. lie was not incliued to think that a citizen, who had set out ou Sunday evening from ‘Vhitechapel to the Park, by winch thee he had enough of lincews ea Isecithl. would complain the Park fueled lowly for went of theta. The beauty of' the Park had beau, he admitted, much improved by the taste of the Renger, and hence perhaps some thought so m uc h bed Levu done to im prove it, that all efforts to *pod it would prove in effectual. It did appear rather suepieilets, that the matter should have proceeded so far, end yet the public should be enepprised of the intended alteration •, so far the matter did not look well ; and this silence must necessarily bear its comment. Nor was it just thus to moose! Its -as it mutt tend to depreciate its peke, not being laid open to competition ; and that most injurious mode of as certaining the validity of any men's testimony, by means of his own oath, was again to be resorted to, iu order to ascer t a i n the value of the ground.— This species of appraising, on the oath of • party interested most probably iu its reduction, was in judicious and injurious. He secollected that bl inder encroachments had once been made in the Gardens of the Pelee; Ito) ale, near Paris, and they had excited a degree of odium upon this exertion of the Royal prerogative, which lie hoped would never exist here. It could not be denied that the Royal Palace of St James here had some of the necessary requisites for a Royal residence, as laid down by the Right Honourable Gentieman, for if it were not like a Loyal residence, it certainly was like nothiog else upon earth. IA laud laughs.—. Though it was, venerable for its antiquity, vet it had hot much oriel former celebrity, by falling of , late years into alino-t total disuse. The Parks were now the only distingiiirliing feature of Royal splendour. He protested agoilist the encroach ment, as injurious to the country, derogatory to the Crown, and prejudicial to the heights of the inhabitants of this city. Mr. SUEIIDAN said, that, 'getting with every word that had fallen from his Right lion. Friend, (Mr. It'indhani), uud thinking that nothing could he added to his speech, he should trouble the House but for a very short time. It had se hap pencil. that from some peculiar view he had tong once taken upon the suliect, no perton, tredve!". professional, or otherwise, had bestowed more con sideration on the idea of endeavouring to enact the architectural improvement of the metropolis than he had done ; convinced that the magnificence of the capital firmed a sound part of the pride of its population, and that much naafi be. be. detteretoelia4. deeobject, without eliding to t he public burdens. But the more he hail looked at the subject. and the more he hail coneened with isitelligeut peewee, entertaining the Caine ideas he did. the more he had been convim:ed that, uoty,itlisteodiug the dif ferent plans that had been favourably entertained, it ought to be a preliminary and peremptory rev,- lutien, to recoonneud that not a single square foot should be cribbed from either of the three parks, for architectural pnrposes, upon any plea or pre tame whatever—for he perfectly agreed with his Right Hoo. Frieud that it would be inipoeeible to stop, if once the innovation was Legua. The pre sent Chancellor of the Exchequer cud the present Surveyor-Ocoee -II might adopt a hunted scheme, but others migiat fellow them, not bound by their limitations. A house in the park would be the universal object of wealthy ainbitiou—half the tine ladies would dieuver that they could not breathe in any other—Grosvenor-square, in a few years, would be considered only as a better sort of St. Giles's, and the result would be, at no distant peeled, plenty of palaces for our Peers, but neither ride nor walk for the people ; therefore prisseipiis semi. The Cliaocellor of the Exchequer, be thou g ht, had acted with perfect candour ou the present occasion, and he was happy to find that he did not seem disposed to pledge himself to any sup port of the plan which had prods weilobie discussi•ii, But be must express his astonishment at .VdrUlltg that the Treasury knew nothing of the busiuess till Monday last. What, did the Surveyor-General ventare to draw out plans, to treat with individual*, to settle the terms of purchase for plots of land iu the King's parks. without having tido communi cated with the Treasurers, or eadeevoured to erb tais information, whether Hi. Majesty win consent isig to lease out. ma a building speculation, Lis rural dertmenes, to the injury of the pleasure and health of his loyal snbjects. whore cups -meets, in this respect, he had sever hitherto alwidged ? o But," said Mr. Sheridan, o there is another point which I think very material, and which alone has lint been touched upon by my Right Hoooarable Friend. or by any who have expressed their senti ment' oo the occasion. I toren the gross sod scandalous injustice, which, were the plan in goes. lion to take place, will be inflicted upon die pro prietors of toe tiow evistise house, in Park.laur. If ever thieve were situations selected. homers built, and property tai inferred, not I allow upon any direct ampere with the Crown, bet Diem a confidence in its joatsce, that the vire of Ihe Park should rental', open to them, the propnetors and inhabitants of these houses hare a titan' arm that juetive to Hie Slajesty'e gracious consideration. The new him of houses will of course have their fronts and best rooms. to the Park, and presented to the fronts of the existing houses, will be Oita ofSees, their kitch ene. their sculleries, their stables, 1 sod their dueghills ; is this fair to the iwo . irietor. and oectipiers of the Perk-lane property !is it Lair to the property of all the neiolenurhood, I where viciuity to the Perk has been cooetantly ; statei and accepted al • pact ot the ...Otte of houw: i situated in the adjoining streets cod square.. ? (Jr will you make them all veni e eroetioe e You annee.—Then you act unjuot.y. If you *sill he e a 17: - .:,t in Ilerle Park, reel: pave Rotme-tow ; • • the Hyde Perk cavalry, or the Itiartmelto-drivers, would not, I believe, object to a row of homier on each whence ladies from the windows might witneas their expertampl• at beam you would avoid trespassing upirtAnd injuring other people's proja:rtf. Li one thing alone I differ from my 111- uatiourible Friend who has brought forward this motion. He has presumed s partial and piirtienlar favour intended to the Duke of Bedford, on cc couut of the Surveyor-General's relationship to the Duchess. This I must consider us a hasty obser vation. I am boned, from all my observations, to • assert, that Mr. Fordyce's object has been alone to increase the revenue of the Crown, without fat our or partiality, and sure I am that the Noble Duke and his admired eonsort wool* never for a niorr , .it but disdain a prefereuce in their favour ma murk a ground. I coufesa wheri I first heard the rumour of allowing the Duke of .tfi•dford to build a house for himself iu lieu of the old ugly Riding-hnuoe, I had no objection it shoald he so, because it was for the Duke of Bedford—ll/ear! !/ear ! learn Ike l'reantry Bench.)-1 uuderstritid the crit cowl ••1 that sheer—but I do not retract tuj observation. Pull down that idle building, or give the opium it • occupies to a man more worthy than the Duke of • " &NJ ord, and law couteut ; only don't let the ire - • teation of dealing with hint for the plot and b id # in Led to the CIINeW1118111re• SO welt Stated' be toy Rtet Hon. °Friend." Air. Sheridan concluded f with stating his disgust at the itiani:er ire , where crown grants had been iii,o!v of etvn land, there had been no stipulati , al to cotilpril time persons favoured to at't tirai a plan • that should be iustrumeatal to the beauty and groadeur of the capital. tie stated, in ikuptiort ur •' Vs assertion, the various last/awes of Lord ifu, • ' thurser, ut Hyde-Park-Corner; the buildings on, 1 the side of the Green Park ; m u d, ab ove .$ll, Vie • 1 late incursion into Hyde-Park, from Hamilttso. • place. 111 r. Sheridan ended win; announeili m. .. his iutention of renewing, at the nest meei:ngur Par.. liament, his motion sus the general sutler', wiltoh belied withdrawn two yours once, at toe reque,t of the Administratio.# he then acted with. . • - The Sacaresar at- Was (mitt...dud there 1.:.1 • been no intention displayed to humor any particu lar individuals by the proposed al:enition. Mr. CILEEYCY said, he shoukl withdraw 116 mn tion, were he to receive an sinair.ince from ehe Chancellor of the Exchequer that lto steps slum'. I be taken towards the completion of this asitemie,l improvement during the recess. The CHANCE LLOC of the Excntoves said, he could not, contingently with his duty, make say such-amorance. Mr. WYE/iliON maintained that this plass had not been contrived for the purpose of eauderring any favour or compliment en Individuals 4.110111 with Government. A friend of his lied made inquiries as to the pnrchase of a certain i.f this ground to build a home en, bat wt., luttly deterred, when on application welotiii,l the price exorbitantly high. A divi3iefi then took place, whet there ityptiArt.4, for the motion, Ades es Nom. Tr • IS Adjounisi FOkEIG.V INTSLLIGENCE. SOTTIMIIIeIteN, .117/411 21. Sir Johu Moore is not yet moused from Stack- holes, and the Esp.:ll4l°n remains in herbarium It / is said, that it wiii iinw wait an mower to the dia• patch , " sent to Rug'arid by a arentem i er who soiled • os eduesday last. Reports have beau prevalent here, and at singburg. during the last three or four days, that Bonaparte having made a demand of Austrian and Rossi:di Poland. these Powers are again prepaniig for war with him, and that Russia was shout to make peace with this counter ' evacuate Finland. and march bee troops tato l'uiaad. There are not less than between 6 and 7,000 Spanish troops in the Island of Funen : it remains to be seen how the revolution that has taken place in Spain may operate upon them. The troops in harhonr here are all tolerably healthy, except the (kronur i.e.. gion, who have beeu disordered with the ague. 'TOOOIOEI4, Jr!IL By a report from Fielil-larshal Bared Toll. His Royal Majesty has heed infurined, on. the lid' instant, in the forenoon, a convoy-, con .istiog of J 1 transports, mud 63 merelientmeh, arrived la the Sousd, frcut tilittentiorigh, escorted by the Swedish brig Maria. 1 sloop of war, a English gun-brigs, and 1 EdUlish gnu-hoot ; an English gnu-brief, detached from the statism in the Sound, err Nyharusn. which covered the gun-host, the Swedish guard-boats, arid 10 boats manned with infantry sod chasseurs. and some English lanticnea„ immediately put oth—When the head of the coo. coy frove,in sight. 13 llanisli privateers; immediately set sail Irma Eloneur, and 4 banish gun-beats formed in line in Lapgronnd; the Sactili-h gun boats formed in hoe in Heltinglarg Road; the couvoy columned seder sail, and rallied near the Orion. an English ship of the line ; some shot were fired from Croueuburg, and *nine shells thrown, but no other attack was made. After the whole convoy had passed by Hellingher7, it pro. ceeded to Landscrona, escorted by the gun-boots. and arrived there the same day, in the afternoon. (Stockholm Gimette, Jane 20.) By a report made to !La Majesty 11, Field. Marshal Count klingapor, dated Head-quarters. Bralsebtad, the 3d instant, it appears, that tee Bossism*, iu continue to retreat. lasting behind their magazines, mid a counderstile part of their artillery ; 33 pieces of cannon baying heers left by them in Joron arid Wallows and taken by our troopa.(flrid.) General Berms Annfeldt, Commander in Chief of the Western army. has reported to Hs Royal Majesty, from his head quarters in At eanrasteng and ChristiansLiurg. tinder data of the Ittls and 14th inst. that co tt a lush the Aran made an at- • tack on the is -dn.!, riAle of ldelord, with several mated vessels, mid :.t the Mme time attacked the tse.ll-11 piniti/..s at Enninzedale, Giestrisr, Sat 4 Rre-tb.u 4 s, ai.. e a strong detachment was also itga•: at Ji.ohrad. The ',rimy was in co•.s fre I, at h.& intertionv -es-used to lie to iii•ertent commuoicat;.oas bete/eye Ole 1 Svmcilia. positions ; sit necessary tarssoris wets eta.