The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-05-20 00:00:00

jesty's troops. Hence a competition has arisen, which has tended to lower the price of those arti cle*, the produce of our own islands.. and, under the present circumstances, to add to the difficulties which the glut of those articles, for the Want of a market, has 'produced. Such impediineitu and evils to colonial prosperity have arisen from the success of that policy which had been wisely acted upon for the general advantage ; but surely, on every ground of justice and fair dealing, the colo nies, in their turn. hove a right to look for compen sation out of that general interest which has been so materially advanced at their particular expense. At least the landed interest ought not to be the first to complain, in possession, as it was. of a mo topoly, which the fortuue of war had thrown into its hands. General GASCONNZ could not reconcile the speeches either of the friends or opponents of this Measure with the rumours which were, throughout the whole of that day. circulated, with respect to a compromise having taken place on this question. He declared his surprise at the usode in which the Noble Lord attempted to defend the Report of the Committee, and the measure which 'lie hoped would be grounded upon it. Had the colonists and cultivators of the Wert Indies no intrinsic claims for relief ? and was the measure only to lie advo cated on the alleged apprehension of a scarcity ? Ile owed it to the great commercial port which lie eeprmented, to stand forward as the advocate of a deacriptiou of persons, who had long been the victims of the rapacity and injustice by which the anther country had profited, and by which these very advocates for the high price of provisiolis had aisle considerable additions to their fortunes and rentals. He was convinced that the alarm of seer eity was excited only to awaken the prejudices of the people against en alleged discouragement of agriculture, and to defeat the pressing and just claims ,of those deserving and long-suffering pes- SOils, the West India Planters. Mr. Goocu did not conceive it was either im perative or necessary for him, es One of the landed interest, to defend that respectable body from the imputations cast upon them liy the avowed advo este of the SAyeTrale. He felt sincerely for the admitted distresses of the colonists; but though sientely sensible of their embarrautments, and anxious to relieve them, he never could so far lose sight of his duty, as to ground such measure of relief span the subversion of the permanent and Solid Interests of the country. It was not fer that House, because it felt an anxiety to afford com pensation to the great body of West India pro pnetors, to sacrifice the agricultural interests of the country, in order to support speculations carried to an extent not regulated by the ordinary liatib of 1 proper and justifiable precaution. Mr. Was. Firsoenstoi (Member fo r a clear and eloquent speech, commenter, upon the emtrest so glaringly manifested between the re port of the Committee, and the speech of the No- Ile Lent who was its Chairman. The Report re emminendiug tl e measure for Great Britain, at the awn time seated reasons conclusive on the Ma tey of extending it to Ireland. On tha t past of rebe eettainly had not a ditfereut ; %ser Was with feeliage of surprise he least a fol- Preen reconsoten I ttirsu to that Unites to restrict the importation of Irish spirits into this part of the .kindons. When such a manifest breach of the articles of Union was recommended to that House, IA could set sit silent without, in his own omit being guilty of that which. he trusted, never a Pe ettnbuted to him, lamely, an abdication of honour and duty of au (rich Hepreseutative.- 1 - It since turned out that the objection on that,l ground was removed, and the less one substi tuted.ofextending this ruinous measure to Ireland. The report itself had furnished the objections to that substitution. and he, therefore, was not a little surprised to bear the Chairman of the Com mittee. who drew up that report. propose a mea sure against which it so emiclueively argued. lie felt it his duty to state to the House, that he had alone risen in behalf of the interests of that roun try with which be was accjiminted. and expressed his determination, if it should accede to the inn tion for going into a Committee, to move, as an amendment to the resolution which he presumed would be proposed, to lewye nut the words" I' cited Kingdom, and substitute " Great Iliitain." The CHANCELLOR of the ENCHI:QUER adverted to the insimation of a compromise, which had been thrown out by the Hon. General , Galiceyne). Ile declared his own ignorance, and that of his Noble Friend near him, of any such understanding having taken place. And certainly, if there was any dis evedit in being supposed a party to it. the Hon. General had totally acquitted himself of such an accusation. In his conception of the question, lie should first carry iu his head the paramount in terests of the agricultural body of the country.---. Still there was this consideration for the noose to ascertain, whether, under the present state of our foreign relations, and with the existing pros pect of a scarcity at home, it might not be con sidered an act of sound legislative policy to tarn those circumstances to the relief of our colonies, at the same time that a proper precaution was mani fested for MIS domestic wants ? lt.was also worthy • of particular notice, that the remedy revommend esl was of a transient and temporary description, subject to the discretion of the Ctown, to suspend, either when the evil against which it went to pro vide was totally dissipates!, or when its continu ance inirded the more important interests of the snot r country. With respect to what had fallen from the Honourable Member (Mr. Fitz gerald), whom the House had that night heard with such pleasure, and whom he world be happy to hear on every question of general ini penal policy, as well as upon those subjects which more immediately applied to Ireland, he had dos observation to make, that it was the general feeling of the House to view the i o tertsts of Ire hind with the alone regard as those of (:reat Brit on. It was from the isiflueure of that feeling that it at note gave up any measure of policy, which, boa. ever replete with advantages. .01 had the insur mountable objection of violating the Articles of Union. The state of the two coil:ones was now so closely iuterwoveia, that oath noon speedily and inutually participate either in the pleety or the distress of the ...corr. It was evident from the tes timony of those who were opposed to the measure li b ._ recometeuded by the Report, that there was great apprehension of scarcity. Mr. Arthur Yowl had stated iu his evidence, the great deficiency of the lust ) ear in the barley crops; and the Douse bad it from the miqueetioaable authority of the Ho nourable Baronet (Sir John ~ Sinclair) that a great degree of scarcity existed in the Nor thern part of the empire. In Ireland, the crops of potatoes, which, it was notorious, were the ge neral sustenance anti food of the great mass of 'the people in that country, bad, in the last year, very materially failed ; and, front the lute frosts, during the present spring, there ails not the probability of an early harvest in that necessary article of life.— The consequence was, that the people would, for their necessary food, draw uFon oats, and therefore it was but the exercise of a Te.terual relief to extend the reetriition agaiast the distilling from corn to titet country. There certainly was an objection, which, at all times strong, must appear particularly so to a person in his official siteanon, lie meant a decrease of the revenue. Bet hi this case he had but one line of duty to follaw, and by meeting such objection in the only way which it eier had or could be met. Such was the nature of the appro.- housion aguiest which the ionise had to provide, that no consideration of revenue, nor indeed of any other principle, could interfere with the miens of guarding against such a melancholy realization. Mr. l'oxsoonv assured the Douse, that, for his own part, he never felt more surprise this at the manner in which the proposition had been intro duced. The Noble Lord stated it was wholly a British question, and he believed it; lint on readiaig the resolutions proposed to he read by the Noble Lord, he was obliged to form quite a different opinion. It Mkt:led Ireland most materially ; it tended to the ruin of the landholders of that part of the empire. As to the argument of the Flom Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) in answer to his thou. Friend (Mr. William Fitzgerald) he ought to be cautious in holding out to the peo ple of Ireland, that the house of Cominous would, for the sake of convenience, do any thing to violate the Articles of the Union. It ciao dangerous in its nature; audit did not became one of His Majesty's Ministers to hold out an idea that the most sacred obliations between the two countries could lie for a conveidence innovated upon. The lion. Gentleman lied said, the high price of grain war ranted the measure ; in his opinion, it had nothing to do with it ; for the farmers, es well as persons in other occupations, had a right to take advantage of the high prices of their produce, and to have the benefit of a high market. The landholder ass WS much Plaided to it as the iihipholder, and were they to be deprived of this for the sake of the produce of the 11'e4 India colouiet ? Were not the littidholilent the great actual strength of the country in the great contest in which we are 'wawa! ? When every other,resource failed, they found in them one Au _, nature that would make the country Sourish in 4spite of the whole world. What were the prices„ of greiu io Ireland *Wit warranted the interference of the Legislature, or justified the supposition of a fa mine iii that country ? On the toth of last month, Wheat was sold in Dublin market at las. barley 17s. ad. and oats 175. No pewee acquainted with Ireland could say that was a price to warrant the interference of the Ltaislature—(A lot* cry mi hear! hear!). lie acknowledged it was not a very entertaining statement, but it was a very ite ‘cessary Wee; aid dull as it might apples. to be, ' o pt a paper in his hand lie could prove , that on a last market day in Dublin wheat had faller' L:s ti hillings. The lioounthle Secretary had evl a vast deal of confidence in tls , evidence • Mr. Sean. a person wile . he believed, had a place in the reyeaue. lieu by his evidence before the Castnilttee, there could not I,e an Ire for the idea of a scarcity in that country. e positively stated, that the scarcity of grain did nut continue in Ireland. The evidence of the lion. Member for the town of Wexford. Mr. Neville, stated, that iii and about that towii, from the best information, there were twone t, sheds of grain. If the Colonies wanted assistance, Ministers ought to come forward with a proposition for their relief, which would not endanger the interest of the land holder. lit conceived it would :oe the best mode for Ills Majesty's Ministers to give up the propo sition, awl to think of some kind of relief for the Colonies, that would not affect the most respect able part of the inhabitants of the mother country. Sit ARTHUR Weataistear thought it was Twee.- sary to stop the distilleries in Inland ; for he be lieved the distress for grain in Ireland was greater than the people of England could conceive. The harvest failed more that, one-third. The !mottoes had completely failed, a Inch obliged the inha bitants to have recourse to grain fur theiraupport. The Right liunourable Gentleman (Mr. I'onson by) hail stated, that grain had fallen in Dublin ; if it was the fact, it was singular that the Mayor of Drogheda and of Belfast should have preseuted Memorials en the Lord-Lie uteneot ni Ireland, pray ing that he might stop the distilleries. Mr. Swan had not been in Ireland since January ; and it WWI impossible he could be comiwtent to judge of the quantity of grain in that country on the 18th of March last. Colonel Mowv , :omsay contended, that the po tatoes had failed 10 Slifil SO exteut in Ireland, that if the distilleries were not stopped, there was not a doubt but a famine must none. This beim.; his opinion, he would vote for the proposition of the Noble Lord. Sir JOHN NEWPORT admitted, that in the North of Ire'and there had been a partial scarcity, but the South of Ireland had been fully able to supply it. The chief article that hail fatleil a a s poritOf,, and the measure proposed was OA to take effect until July next, when the fresh crops mould be iii, and it mould become perfectly useles. So far from there being a scarcity in all parts of Irelatel, the city which he had the honour to rept-recto, (11 tart ford) bad, since last October, exported leis quarters of oats to this country; and alien the Inch price ass in the north, ante ally ouly at 14 , . in Waterford, and weer varied wore than intl. He depreeateil the measure, as one tending to take away the infante of feeding our selves. De believed the i n terference ..f Cie Legis lature was dangerous ; fur if the tilling fanner l-a.: not an opportunity to take advantage of I!. • iii.,:,h pri..c, as well as the low ' he would it it till the .maul at all, lost turn his hold to some other pt:rpose, that a culla more amply ref ty 1 • . The fallacy of the Iloaeurable lieatleuou's wan arguments.ought to coovinee them, whim they ac knowledge that sugar has risen in price, and that grain has &lien ; tins would not bear them out in the idea of a scarcity. On every ground he de precated the measure, as it was cutting ills the root of the tillage system. 11e was willing to as sist the distresses of the colonies, but lie believal these distresses were occasioned by the heavy du ties and restrictions. These were the actual causes of the distregs; for if they were to take them off, Wed India produce would lie sold at a cheap rate, and the consumption would become greater, as a greater number of persons could afford to con sume it. Sir Aarhus. Wat.t.rsLase spoke in e xplailati on. . . Mr. ELLISON supported the proposition, nn the ground that the Committee Mad made every nece.isary inquiry before they made their Report, and he felt uoidident that the country would be benefitted by it. Admiral Hmt city was disposed to support any measure fur the relief of the West ludia Merchants, but he thought that the meaus ought to be &applied equally from every pact of the community, and that they shotilii out be laid partially %moo any particular clam of men, as was proposed by the present plan. Me. FOIITFR said, it should be resnetulaveil that the sari enitarist must have • market for the red lanry of his trope, and if that was pretested, be would nut continue gem iitg the quantity he did at pretest; fusilier%) he had the exportation to take of his surplus ; now he had only the diattlkr and brewer; and if these were prohibited, hr must lay down his tillage land ; hat be liaised the House would re jest the reenactment, which hail never before been allow ed, mud not trust to a Report cutaiug directly trout the West India Interest in that Howe. Mr. It • out II raid, the conduct of those who supported this unnatitral measure, was like that of • hen hatching a brood of ducks. They tient introduced it to relieve the West India Planters from their evergreen stork on hand, but the llontourabletieutlemas (Mr. Ellison) had taken upsnew grimed ; he bud fend 1.111 a prospect of • great seareity in the crepe, unit brings it iu like Bayes s army il. disguise, pre teudiug it to he only a temporary measure; but he would warn then. mast too muck meddling with the agriculture of the country. To be sure, it it were necessary to lower the prime of grain, by hanging a few farmers, it might be dour • but there *amid be very few another year. He emeludea by sae big, theme disillusions would tend to ruin the price of core, by crealiug an alarm anions the people. Sir (*.nate tea Bt nee Lt. said, he had been told by • high mithority, that brown sugar was is many places the only thing that emild be used by the pour, as a substitute fur 'wer. His constituents were not advocates fur high prices, but only wished for a retuuneratiug price. Lord CAIITLERF AUL. stn. nuowsly supported the usestiow As an argument in favour of the measure be asserted that the price of grain was at premed higher t han in the scarcity of 1795, and as high as in the scarcity of moo, when the distilleries were prohibited. Add to this, we had not et pre sent any prospects of a foreign impart, sir that soy measure that fouled to haslet:id unr present sources of supplies was advisable to adopt. Mr. JOIVI Salta supported the measure. The greatest possible calamity that could Laid any country was a scarcity of corn. It must beconeitlered, that fur the last eighteen year% a very large importation of that article had taken Adore, sad we ought to pruvide fur the cousequences that might as Ise from our being deprived of all foreign sources. There were already a great number of persona deprived of employ, so that we bail nerd to guard against the additional calamity of scarcity. lie kucw of one instance, within these lost six weeks, where nu lest than 1000 permits had been thrown out of work from one manufactory alone. lie really believed too that the West ludia Planters were a must in jured set of people tad that Rune measure was nee-emery fur they relief. The wife a of this premien niesseire would lie to retiree hob of these descriptitss of individuals, and be att end, it with generally beneficial cosseemeuces. Sit litallY Mt spoke against the 'sewn,* ; and stated as average of the prices acute for enteral years, in order to *kW that the supporters of it were not juietified is using such arguments in favour of their measure, front the state of these prices. If, however, the House proceeded into a Committee, he Amid then take an opportmaity of proposing same alteration in regard to the period. Mr. Alderman Hr said this Illealnife Itila expressly recommended by the Committee, after an inquiry lute the same subject bait taken place in tool, and therefore it was impossible that they 1:011111 have reconeeneksl one so totally different from the former recommendation, bad they wet seen that the circumstances of the times made that alters then almolutely lecemary. These circumstances were the changes that Mad taken place in the furtive relations of the conetry, which nue deprived us of a supply of grain. If we did rut emit that supply formerly, why del we take it ? If we did want it, was it possible that any Ministry could be justified iii sitting calmly, and viewing with cinupo i sure, the consequences likely to arise from the country being deprived of that supply in futon:. He could assure the Hulse Mai there was no jokiiie eith the belly Our rummy had aimed two Mows against us, in depriving is of the markets fir prucuriug supplies of grain, and of 11 market for our Sugars. Mr. We. SMITH said, hi- hail sat upon the Committee for two menthe, mad could not help repressing his surprise that the Noble Lord had brought forward such a measuie. lint, inupteetinaubly, this was not a measure of the Committer, which ass imitator.' for the purpose of prupoeitg re lief to the West India Merchants, as they indeed rim ed to be left mstirely rest of the gni +Mitt Hs objec tion to the measure one, diet, as to the West Inches, it was Mille, sod as to searck it was %uric thou uothisig.-- Our importation of (urn hail been hitherto more thin 700,ti00 gamier% but be argued that no scarcity ean to he apprehended. Ile ehould like to know what elicit chid measure was likely to have he hire the next bai vest. It ens only tellim the distilicre that they most stop diatilhinS from grain to the tat of Jaly, , the very time &lend which they %timid have dime so, eitheut any restraint ehatrv,r The cousemienve of this inta.mc would he, to produce scarcity instead of preventiug it, as Om ilistieere would raw move grain between this time sad the Ist 'testy, than they otherwise would have done. Mr. M s u,nLM LAING. brat i t support of the motion. laird B. s %Ist; shortly, in reply, shwived, that the mea sure be hail hail tha honour of submitting to the considera tioo of that Blouse, was one whirl& it would More berm pro per to have adopted, even if the West Indies had mace ridged. But, assured the House, the West Indies were not out of his consideration, and expressed himself a friend to their trade. Ile certainly was tar trots tbinkiug this mea sure unineresary for Ireland. On the contrary, be thought it as urciesary to that country as to this. The only obstacle could mire Guns the Articles of the Union. Ile concluded with observing, that he felt his case wee plitely made out, and that his opinion was not in the least altered hy any thing that had leen said upon the other side of the House. Strangers were them ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, dyes Isms Majority iti favour of Ministers .. —ll The House then went into a l'ommit tea, pre former, and the Chairman ida mined leave 10 sit again. The t* tee on the Local Militia was postpused. 'I he other Orders of the I tay were deferred. Ailjouruiat at HAL/ PAra 101 a WI LULA. It is repartcd, on the authority of a letter re ceived et Falmouth, from a seaman on board the Priner Ernea packet, that 011 the 19th of Mardi She eeoged and beat off a French privateer, after an aletiwi of three hours. The Captain and two seanien wounded, and the packet so much injured, as to he obliged to go into pod,: to be re- paired. Th•,df.^'io, Rosi nrs, from Cardiff, for Lon don, is rut into Portsmouth, dismasted, having Leen run foul of by a frigate. THE,. BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 20. The Gottetiburgh Mail, due on Sanday, arrived yesterday, with intelligence from Sweden to the 11th instant. It has brought an official report of the surrender of Sweaborg, with a considerable flo tilla in the harbour, tothe 11119$ia114. The conven tion for this purpose stipulates, that the flotilla is to be restored to Sweden upon the conclusion of peace, provided England restores the Danish fleet to Denmark• ; and it also indirectly recognizes the Proclamation of the Emperor ALEXANDER, incor porating Finland with Russia. The surrender of Sweaborg, and the terms of the convention, hare excited great indignation in Sweden, and Adinital CaONSTEDT, and the officers forming his council of war, who acquiesced in it, have been dis missed the service. The Swedish Head Quar ters is Finland were still at Ltunijocki, on the Cnth of April. Sir J. SAISMAZEZ, in the Victary, arrived at Gottenburgh on the 7th ; and Colonel MURRAY, who was on board her, immediately pro ceeded to Stockholm. The contents of the Mad are given iu the first page. We yesterday announced the a-rirtil of Capt. Scitom.Y, of the Sukbay, with di-patches for Government. They are from Sir SYDNEY Sutra, at Rio Janeiro. Ile iv also, we understand, the hearer of the Commercial Treaty between this Country and the Portuguese Government, now re iideat in the Brazils. Yestermley-, Her MAJESTY completed her 64th veer, which 'was agreed to be celebrated in a pri vate manner, by the assembling of the whole of the Ito! at Family, and a select !lily of friends, at Windsor. The Duke and Duchess of Volta ; the Dukes of CUMBERLAND, KENT, SUSSEX, and CA:4BIIIPM ; LOUIS SOMERTILLUIWAIST.H6LEIVIS; and Generals GARTH, HARcocr.T, and I)AILIN,SJ. rived on lVethiesdity evening and yesterday moonl it', early. At teu o'clock, His MAJESTY, the Dukes of Tons, CUMBERLAND, KEST, amp CAMBRIDGE, PritIC(SSeS AUGUSTA, SOPHIA, and AMELIA * atcompanird by Lords SOMERVILLE, St. liEl.Es's, Mr. BULKELEY and Lady. and Generals GARTH. GAAS( S NE, HARCOURT. FITZROY. sod DM. KI S. rode on horseback in Windsor Park till past if. when His AIAJESTY returned to dinner. The Royal I)ukes and Princesses wetit to Froguiore to meet I ler MAJEsTY and the Princesses ELIZABETH awl MARY. They remained there till past three ; and returned to time Palace to dinner at four o'cicx:k, when the Prince, the Princess, and Princess CHARLOTTE of WALES, and Duke Of CLARENCE, had arrived. The Mimerra, which is arrived firm Madeira, spoke on the 30th ult. the fleet for the East Indies, all well, between Porto Sento and Madeira. A report prevailed on Wednesday at Deal, said to have been founded upon intelligence received by a boat which lad made its escape from the Island of NValchereu, and arrived in the DOWEIS late on Tues day night, that a British squadron had entered the Scheldt, and taken Flushing. There was a similar report on Wednesday at Dover. We give it merely as site'L • A letter of late date reached town on Wednerlar, front the Coutiuent, which contains the followiliK intpurtant iuforu►etion, tut we do nut vomit fur its authenticity You will be surprised to hear, that the Porte haw resolved, after all, to declare itself in favour of England. The Turkish Government, after havinx been threuteued and cajoled by tuna by the French Minister, in order to induce it to join France and her Allies, to which it was ti) no means imdis• pu•ed, has Neu at length driven to adopt ao opposite resa lotion, from the extent of the demands mods uptm it." The particular point which, tt is said, determined the ( ;ILAN D SIGNIOR to resist, was a demand, that the French army should be penoitted t o p ato , ti t r e ' his territories, on their march to India. Coatiers wer• sent from Constantninple with the intelligence to Vienna and Paris, at both of which places they must Live arrived snort• time. ARci•LE-srRLET Madame Ir.timay Ism the honour to inform the liobilit• and (;miry, Subscribers to the Ascending', the Pablic, and her Friends in general. that her Benefit will take lace on *lbursidsi, the Joint, at the above Private theatre, which will In opened to the pulslic en this occasion, for the first time, with • new Italian Operetta; the principal cha racters b; Madame D'Aimay sad Mrs. Ache, big.« G. Laura and Signor Miarteai. After which a grand Concert ; which, iu addition to the shove performer., will be witted by signor Stlnmi and Sigma Naldi —Tickets, I or. 6d. each, to be hail ut the Office of the Institution, in little Argyle street of Messrs. Goulding and Phipps, and at Mr. Birch - idr. mu.ic warthon.r• in Bawd-street; nt Mr. Kelly's Music Saloon, Pall Mall; and of Medium D'Atray, No. 9, Bolton.-street, Piccadilly. PRICF. OF STOCKS VF-STEADAY. Rank Stork twill :4 tier Cent. rednevl 3 tier tics. Cosa. ... ..... —Wile 4 tier Cent. s .4 al s per Cent. Navy lon fir.: 11.nns Annuities tub Inipt•rial Annuities - otitha. Int/Whine.; l7Oll 71 4 1)illo Runde . a4. 41. preen. Exchequer Rills sa. 64 prow. English Lunen, Tickets .... ...... 201. 19P. Connote Mr easi i nn )lARRI AGE. Yesterday, at St. Georges, Hanover-square s M. Niehaus, Esq. to Mks Susan Adeline Manton. DEATHS. On Saturday the let\ host. the infant daughter of G. 3 Legli, Eaq, of Highkigh, in the enmity of Cheater. Yesterday awash'', after • lingtriut; illtMsS, in the i , th year of her age, Miss %%lord, elde:,t daughter of GmtN3C Najd, Egg of Soho-square . HIGH NATE:II,I'IIIs HAY, AT I.tiNitON-Stillna , Morn. ....min. later .. to j Even .15 .... ouu. aficr..,9 • - 1..0N15/N : "'rioted by t; IMVIDSON, Itu.erlhrourt,Cereystrc.t, uo,l published at 11.. 1 ". 11. Dark of St. l'ltiuroc... ni• I, by . Win 137., of sense place—Omer', 0.1 for do- 'mt.. seat to eke V (Oct , !poet puld , will be d.. 1) utl. . ril!