The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-03-26 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN: Attack Scluannoa.-,We hive been fivtoured with the following letter from the 'Colossus, off ' Belleisle, dated March 10, 1812, to a friend in Plymouth The French squadron has at lest escaped from L'Orielt, and of we go-after them, but in what directioe we cannot tell, only • Goo send we come up with them in time. " Of Brest, March 15. " Not having an opportunity to send till now, I have opened this t• say, we have daily information of the enemy ; and w i t h the ships that have joload As since we commenced the pursuit, Washall swallow them up all alive, alive 0 if we are 60 form- Sale as to catch them. I should not wonder if we see the West Indies, America, or the Mediterranean, before we do Plymouth, GOD ALIIIOIITT send as success. lam writing this ors my knee. as oar bulk beads, chesty, and every thing have been below these four days, so that we are all clear and willing to give them a warm reception. The enemy's squadron consists of L' 4148,1 iliarengs , nevem, sad Nautpolt, with two frigates or corvettes, commanded by the famous Admiral Atzamanos ; oartare the I Bulwark, Tennant, Ponspee, Northumberland, Colossus. .Pei. - tiers, and 7b•statuulosts, of the hoe, Diana and Armidoftfgates, under Sir Rtestitst, Kura, so that I think he will make Monsieur ALLIMANIM &mess a hornpipe. The last time they were seen. they were in lat. 40.40. N. long. 46. 6. W." A letter froes.an Officer of the Northampton East Indiaman has been received iu town, which-states . ; 't at its the "latitude awl longitude, and ea the day (14th instant) the Nodes; frigate saw the li'Orient squadron and three luiliamen, they also saw a French frigatelitlng guns . and making signals; it is therefore micecteleed, that `the Indiamen the French sqnadron were left in sight of, were not the outward. .bound, under the Antelope or La Pique, bat the three h.meward-bound ships, which have all arrived safe at Portsmouth ; the Northampton being one of them, and the other two the Monarch and Za phratus. We. find that the subject agitated in the Dissenter,, as to the propriety of Dissenters joining with the Catholics, in favour of a repeal of the disgraceful Penal Statutes affecting the freedom of religion, has stirred up a controversy on the sobject, which can not fail in the end to benefit the cause of liberty.— The complexion of the controversy seems to counte nance a broader measure than the one designated the Catholic Question ; and the friends to freedom of conscience, must have heard the declaration of Earl GREY with sincere delight, that " his views were not confined to the Catholics, but extended to that of every religious persuasion." EAST INDIA HOylrS.E. - Yesterday a General Quarterly Court of Proptie ton was held at the India House, madnspecial for the purpose of taking into consideration the commu •nieallons which have taken place between his Majes ty's Government and the Court of Directors, respect ing the renewal of the Company's Charter. After the titles of the usual quarterly accounts vele read, a unanimous Resolution of the Court of Directors, " That• the Commander, Officers, and Owners of the ship Ceylon are fully acquitted of all imputation of neglect or misconduct with respect to the capture of the said ship," was, by the Chair man, J. Hosanquet, Esq. reported to the Court, for their approbation, and was by them unanimously agreed to. Mr. SMITH asked, was it the intention of the Court of Directors to make any remuneration to the Cap tain, Officers, and crew of this. ship ? The CHAIRMAN said, he could not answer this question. Mr.Anere said, his reason for putting the (pies tion was, that he understood a remuneration had been made to the officers and crew of another vessel similarly situated. Mr. PETER MOORE said, if his Hon. Friend would slate a case for the consideration of the Court, it would, no doubt, be attended to; but at present this qtreetioa was not before them. Stsmn said, as managing owner of the ship in ,question, be thought himself called on to state what he had done, The Captain and crew had behaved with the greatest bravery, of which an idea might be fbrmed from this single circumstance, that the sur aeon had cut off nitteteen legs and arms during the en gagernent. The Cnetamett spoke to order. He should be. ,happy to hear the lion. Gentlemen when the tares; flop was properly before the Court ; but the pre sent was a point not necessarily connected with the determination of the question put by the Honour [able Proprietor. He had no' doubt of the gallan try of the Officers and crew of the ship in ques tion ; bub.the present Court had been made special fore& particular purpose of great importance to the Compan. - Mr. S u said, he only wished to put the Court in mind that such a thing as that to which he had al ' , ed, Ives necessary in a case like the present. EAST INDIA CDMPANY'S CHARTER. The CHAIRMAN stated, that the Court was now come to the consideration of the point, the nature of which, he trusted, had been sufficiently made known to them by the Advertisements in the public Paws, namely, That this Meeting had been made special for the purpose of laying before the Proprietors the communications which had taken place between his Majesty's Government and the Court of Directors, respecting the renewal of the Company's Charter.— The Papers necessary to be read for the information of the Proprietors, so as to enable them to judge on this importont subject, were long. With a view to save the time of the Court, the Deputy Chairman and himself had looked over these Papers, in order to See what part of thew might be omitted, without abridging the information which the Proprietors had a right to possess on this subject, so important to their interests. Keeping this in view, they had so arranged the Papers that every thing that was neces sary to a complete understanding of the subject should be read, so that they sl.ould at least have the substance of all that had passed on the subject.— They had also ordered, what they could easily anti cipate prove most acceptable to the Court of Proprietors, namely, that the necessary Papers should be printed —[Hear ! hear !)—and he was happy to inform them, so far as he could learn, that they would be ready to be put into the hands of the Proprietors to-morrow morning. He should, there fore, row propose that the Papers, in their order, should be read. The Papers were accordingly read. The first was a Letter, dated 30th September, 1808, from Mr. R. Daudas to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Court of Directors, inform ing them that it would be desirable now to ascertain whether the Company were desirous that the ques tion, as to the renewal of their Charter, should then be agitated. The next Paper was a Minute of the Secret Com mittee of Correspondent*, dated 12th October, 1808, and a Letter of same date, by the Chairman and De puty-Chairman to Mr. Dundas, in which they state it to be their fixed opinion that the Charter should be early renewed, and, of course, that the question as to its renewal should be immediately agitated. The Chairman and Deputy-Chairman had not thought it necessary to resort to the opinion of the whole Court of Directors on this subject, but had grren this as the opinion of the Secret Committee of Correspond ence. The next Paper was a Letter of the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman, by order of the Court of Direc tors, to Mr. Dandas, dated 7th December, 1808 i stating it to be the opinion of the Court that the ex-; elusive privilege should be continued, and the Char'= ter speedily renewed. The Court also expressed their hope that no change would be introduced to al ter or weaken the present system, as necessary to the safety of India; declaring that, in expressing this hope, they - not actuated by - • partial •- Own . • . . '4 w s . , : . ; M'" effect of .imparing its efficiency: Secondly, they Submit that there can , be no occasion to call in (Inv , Lion the right of the Company to the territorial po a cessions which they hold, and Which they have ac quired at a great expence.—Thirdijr., They submit that the situation of' the Co,ufbanyis very-different from what it was in the year 1793; that wars had greatly diminished their finances and increased their debt, end that without attaining, or even having in View, any object of utility to the-`Company, and ['arising from causes which they could not controul. They hoped, therefore s that no measures would be taken to reduce the value of the capital stock of the Company, while the country was so greatly benefited by the influx of wealth from India.—Fourthly, As i 'to the magnitude of the Indian Debt, that, they I submitted, might be easily reimbursed from the ter ritory of the Company in India.—Fifthly, They 1 submitted the propriety of apportioning the ex , perces• of any war in India, between the country and the Company, in the proportions belonging Ulf each. In the event of a war being undertaken by France, at that moment, it must be considenlea mere , ly as a European war, for Epropean objeeb--as a war with France on Indian sail !—And due consi de a.ion, they trt red, would, in such an event, be ' paid to such an occurrence.—Siithly, As to the pe rit d of the renewal of the ChartuL—this was a point which would (mid much to improilb the credit • of the Company, and, therefore, it was essential that the Charter should be renewed for an eauli s likikther for a greater period than that which had beiiiiiranted at the time of the former renewal. 1 The next Paper read was a letter froth Mr. It. Dun- ' das, dated 28th December, 1808, in answer to the suggestions of the Chairman and Deputy Chairmau, 1 containing observations preliminary to the agitation of the question of the renewal of the Charter, but ' not so matured as to enable him to say that they con , veyed the decided opinion of Government on the ! points alluded to. In this letter the Right Hon. Gent. states, that it will depend on the /*so - ratio:Led the Company as to their agreeing to throw open tint trade to India to the inhabitants of this country in general, under certain limitations, whether the con+ currence of Government could be given to the re. newel of their Charter. As to the system at present in force in India, at the same time, there was no ' idea of changing it, Government not having heard any arguments against that system, which seemed to them to counterbalance the good effects produced by it. It might, the Right Hon. Gent. suggested, be necessary to extend the controul at home to the finan• ' cial department of the Company, the more especially ' if the 4th Article of the suggestions by the Com. i pany were , agreed to. As to the army in India, it I was also proposed to transfer the command of the Company's forces there to the Commander to Chief 1 of the thing's forces, it not being in contemplation, however, to deprive the East India Company of the right of nominating the Cadets, &c. The next Papers, and the material Papers, read, were a Minute of the Secret Committee of Corre , spondence, dated 7th of January, 1809, and Let ter by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman to Me. Daudet,- of the same date, in letttch they state that the Letter of Mr. Dundas had received their most serious consideration, and that in ea. . swering ' it they abstained from noticing any of the ' minor points alluded to, confining themselves to . the two propositions of importance, namely, the enlargement of the Trade to the Individuals of this Country, so as to place them on a footing with the Company ; and the Transfer of the Indian troops under the controul of the Commander in Chief of his Majesty's forces in India. It would be with great concern that they heard the declaration of such intentions on the part of the Government of this country, did they not perceive that they were accom panied by assurances that the alterations proposed, would be attended with no change which should not be consistent with the happiness of India. If the propositions now pointed out by Mr. Dutelas, were to be adopted to their full extent, they would com pletely destroy the rights of the Company, as con• ferred by former Charters. . . First, as to the laying open the trade to the ink-. , : 41 , taro k tants of this couutry in general ; this, it was conte ed, would not be such a boon as was supposed to - , country, but might prove more destructive, eve! Omni t...4.-' it was beneficial, while, to the Company it would besia i l • highly injurious. The India trade bad ceased to b. an object of gain : the change which bad taken plum . in the situation of Europe, and the wars which bad : for many years prevailed, bad reduced it to nothiefk, • ~ All attempts which had been made for two centtuiey . tfA l trt , „, to increase the consumption of European manatee- ... , ? tures among the Indian nations had failed. Theasee tires lived on rice—were content with a coveriatet , . light cotton cloth—and had need of none of our sae . perduities, except a quantity of woollens on a small scale, for the more inclement seasons and metals also, in a small proportion ; they had no wish nor any need of our assistance; and our exportations te ! India, were confined merely to the European settlers. IThe more remote and less known regions of the East too, would be found`to furnish an equally unprofit able market for our manufactures. These were al ready explored, with the greatest assiduity and at.. Itendon, by persons employed in the coasting trade; and, on the whole, the laying open of the trade to India would not , in the smallest degree , extend tile . S~ 7 ..... , '~ At i t ►1 were . _ _ any , _ - _ might . - -. slows as to what ht be supposed to be their consumption of British manufactures in India, or > interests. . loyen a trade elsewhere. Neither 'would the preduc- The next Papers reed were a mionte of the Secret i Lions of India afford any new scope for the industry - , , Committee of Correspondence, of date 16th Dir. ' or exertions of the inhabitants of this country ; but JOB, and Letter of thp Chairman and Deputy ; would open, as far as they could be productive of . , s 4e. 'Chairman to Mr. Dundas, of the same date, in any advantage, to every other country as well as to .. which they approve of the answer of the ltth ' this.—While this measure, however, could do no ' October to Mr. Duudas's letter of the 30th of the good to the general trade of this country, it would preceding month. They do not think it necessary : prove, destructive both to the' political and tom.. to anticipate the question, but throw out, , for the movie . ] interests of the Company; and would pro consideration of Mr. Manilas and his collea- duce a ruinous competition, which w.i . uld 'speedily goes, a few • suggestions :—First, they suggest, lead to the destruction of thoseintermediatsly con ed, that the system now adopted 'in India has corned in theiraffic, and filially to the (instruct/ea of been found to be the most' expedient that could be , the country. In this way the benefit of piblic.sales devised,- both with a view to foreign and domestic , would - be destroyed, and every thing would "become prosperity-, The happiness of the natives had been , a ricene of fraud, an the civiVservants ./fif the Increased by It; and by the regulations.Ngil bad been Company mist be tbropli out of employnitnt— .., %. adopted, a provision had been made far -alll4 . uccession The,evil, hoWever, would pot stop here. The Won°. ' "-- sf able and useful, native Millers; The 'Olin sal- '-- of Cl" which it was proposed should be col, .. . _ . - - • safe. Ga a hot poly _ ;hinny . _ .4* these present management, were a use- tinned to the'Co%npany, would not be _ 4 of men, whose fidelity and a'rAischment , would lead many who could - At be easily followee, be yelled on, and the Directors hoped-Abet no nor brought to punishment in Falkland, to commit • would be introduced which would bare the depredations on the weak inhabitants of that coot. •-• L TRIAL of the RIOTERS at EDINBURGI The trial of the rioters at Edinburgh, on the 31st of December last, came on before the High Court of Justiciary ' on Friday last. The Indictment was against six in all, and they were charged with 1. The murder of Dogald Campbell, Police Officer. 2. Knocking &monad robbing Ensiga Cochrane. 3. Knocking dowa sad mbbiag Mr. Laurie. 4. Knocking down and robbing G. R. A. Brown, Esq. 5. Knocking down and robbing Mr. Hughes. 6. Assaulting and robbing Mr. Altair. 7. Knocking down anivebbing Mr. Ferguson. P. Assaulting androids* Mr. M‘Lauren. 9. Knocking down and robbing Mr. Brodie. 10. Assaulting and aNibg Mr. 11 , 1maglilao. 11. Knocking down and bing Mr. Bruce. " And ill the said acts of robbery, or ono or other of them were committed by all and each, of by one or other of the Prisoners in furtherance of pre vious agreement, or plan, to which plan or agree ment they were all and each, or one or other of them, parties." One of the parties charged, James Johnstone, not appearing, was outlawed. The Ar ticles, 4, 8 and 11, were not gone into. Two of the Prisoners, George Nopres and John Grotto, were remanded, and the trial went on against Hugh M'Donald, Hugh Mlntosh, and Neil Sutherland. It came out in evidence that a number of young men laid a plan for raising a mob, assaulting the Po lice, and robbing Gentlemen in the streets of Edin burgh on the last night of the year (or hogmanae night) which they carried into execotion in the most desperate way, knocking down and robbing every 1 one they met. SOme , accomplices were admitted as , witnesses. The trial occupied the whole day. The Court met again on Saturday, when the ver dict was rend, which unanimously found the three Pannels guilty of two several acts of robbery, and the Parel ..iflnlosh, part guilty of the murder of Dug. Campbell. Their Lordships then delivered their opini ems; and after a most solemn address from the Lord Jus tice CLERK, the Pannels were ordered to be executed on ' the '22d of April next, on a gibbet to be erected for that purpose, opposite the Stamp Office Close, High street. The body of M'lntoskte be afterwards de livered over to Messrs. Munro, for public dissection. The Pannels, who are young lads of from 16 to 19 years of age, seemed but little affected. The Court, i and all the avenues to it, were greatly crowded, at a t• very early hour, and a picket of 100 men of the Ist I Regiment of Royal Edinburgh Volenteers attended, iduring the whole time, to preserve order. - - - N.-Di...IL INTEL LIG E NCR. I _-......- 1 PORTSMOUTH, Manes 25. Sailed the Winces, Caroline, 74 gams, Captain Dolma ns; Thehan, 36 guns, Captain Digby ; and Volage, 24 guns, COI. Mackay, n ith the China ships soder convoy ; tits Princess Ca roline returns after teeing dam through the Bay of Biscay ; his,,,, Theban goes on to Cantnn and returns with the annual China` tea ships; the Votage takes Sir !Ivan Nepetua to Bombay, II the government of which Presidency be has lately been appoint• ed ; Linnet, with convoy for Cork. . SHEERNESS, Mines 25. • Arrived from Anbolt his Majesty's brig Crairer, Casale , Toter ; the Captain and Oilcan &the Fly shoo of war, Imely • ' ! wrecked oil* that island, came passengers in ber, and resale at The statement that the last India Company would ! this port until a Court-Martial if lentietted for the purposed require the Loan of Sir millions at least, to answer i enquiring into the ciremnsteisces attending hellos.. the bills which are come and coming upon them front I FALMOUTH, MAWS 23. India, was yesterday announced at the Court 40 ; Appeared of this Poet this morning his Malesty's ship Coe i'roprietors. Though the India Company must pay , atlert r ro 1704 con l* *lad the o r t ti ffigate g i s te e lGrul v rZ o tw e l the interest of this sum, yet it swells the Loan in an I com e ; i d it ranrc B Zi ng Ina her rudder, Abe keel, and haling amount that, in the present state of the sioney very le e ak d y ri : m linihas . come on . to an tk a ot ni:;:r it lit a :e bi lt' w este s a m ar Bay, out market, and with the character which Mr. Pitts irr si eocedoaa ga d l e e rli gl dety a l t S. E. the bas rode It not In perfect safety. Serb vA t. bears on the Royal &change, will be sawately . ral lighters, and the Active otter. withPaarr! front lite Packets, felt by the country. The Steele F.:change was shot c&newhaavrirsese gotta Iser axiiMocr ote artl , l= r eatit h : yesterday before the matter was announced; but it . in i nk , pa r t to-oionow.. Theitata frigate has Some in. 'tide a most sensible impression on all the' persons I DgAIL, Meow „ ?- • . - ';:trrested in the funds who were present. ' I Came down from the Blew Ide Majm_ty'sall_ie Cal li ope; Lord i The suiting of oar East India Convoy is counter- i Cochrane , C'esele). ll4 !"P!!cl; cgs 11 " ili at ' Pafr kk far A • Bel Past.• .r.:: ruled by Government, until the destination o f the , Armed h i, ag o j ed e s . Mary, from's, Pladdisiimist 7. fi et l ilett is ascertained. ' the Ameries,#sens ii 4 411 09 for HaL 'tic Prince Regent of PORTUGAL has given the, - PIM* W i Cali% - • !••e, Order of the Cross to Generals HILL Zi th .o . e z lit o * Dirtiest Wei tOßplif,. . 2 bey ' ' " • ••'..1; A M) and SUNCXII4 • 1 • . '''' . I. the la the westward. . • 1. __ 4 2! A t 1.1 •••14.116... Aid AA .. e_ • —"" nRd has given " a noble example of making the private teeliugs of hostility to the present 'Cabinet, with which he was possessed a year ago, give way to his public duty, of continuing in power men who have o ably served their country." Such is the language of the Courier of yesterday. Such are the fulsome compliments this venal Print, which, only a year ago; was filled with foul aspersions and vile insults* ttions, now thinks proper to heap upon the individ! , lual whom they llen so grossly insulted. M.r.Pracevab . ! :oay succeed iu this way in making au atonemeot to t;te Pune for his shameless conduct. But, however easily his Royal Highness's feelings may be appeased, i ;t is certain, that there is not a Mall of sense and vir tee In the country, but must feel highly disgusted at these proceedings. It is not a matter of conjecture that the part Mr. Pencevac is now acting, is the consequence of his being retained in office ; for his organ, the Courier of last night, in the most express vrins, trumpets the Itecrer's praise, because he had 44 continued in power men who have.so ably served their country." From this statemeet t , it is -ap parent, that had the PRINCE dismissed. Mr. Pia- LILVAL and his adherents, and called others to Lis councils, that : * Gender would have continued, the vehicle of its farmer slanders against -iris -Royal+ Highness's person antigovernment. He would still Lave been treated as a 66 Baby Prince," and a rattle recommended for his amusement. When a Minister is found so profligate as to fill a part, like this, and to avow, in open day, that he flatters his sovereign, because he has approved of his measures, and has been "enlightened by his brilliant career," it is in vain to expect that the country will ever be benefited by a single measure which he adopts. But Mr. PERCEVAL it necessary, for his own stability, to go eveu a laths farther than merely pronouncing a panegyric upon his Royal Highness fur his political sagacity and brilliant talouts—He condescends to eulogize him also for having the discernment to discover that a ,llarchioneis possesses greater abilities for the go vernment of the State, than ail his former political triads put together. In this avowal, Mr. Peactvar. does not seem to be aware that he acknowledges he is himself acting under the influence of this very female ; and that now, as the fact of the PritNca REGENT having chosen the Marchioness of limn. soon to be his chief counsellor is admitted, and bo!dly defended, he, Mr. PanctvAt, will in future be considered as a mere puppet in the drama which is acting. Bat let us hear the gentleman's own decla. ration upon this subject, as given in last sight's Courier : “ Taking it for ranted, that the Marchioness of Marron, doss fojfeence, by her advice, the conduct of the Rsavir—Nrbat then ? Any Peer can advise the Sovereign, 1114 oilier persons mar.-the /Mai tars alone being responsible for the advice, if tiv7 act upon it. It was well observed the other day by a Morning Paper, that the Mar chioness of Haswell. is just as eligible for ad t: 'sing the heads of s Party as the late Du. chess of Decinsereat, who was held in such ve neration for her services to Opposition, particu larly for keeping the Pewee :of WALLS in their in terests. Nay, We will go further ; and affirm, that, whether by mind or education, by pursuits or by ha bits, by dignity of character, or virtue of conduct, the Marchioness of Hsarrozin is far from being the least capable of the tiro to give good counsel. On this subject, as we said before, we pretend to no in formation ; but if we are to consider the conduct of affairs as - the result of the •Marchioness of Ileftveoftn's advice, we shall most sincerely pray for her, as BRITAIN'S GUARDIAN ANGEL. If it be that Lady, who has persuaded the ReGENT to continue in power the servants of his Father's choice, and to conduct himself so dutifully as a Son, 'so patriotical ly as a 'piste, we hope to hear of his Roy.a Ilrca- NEss'iC at Manchester, are every day in the seek!!” Here then the truth is out at last—a truth of which we hive been long apprised ; but whieh we stocely expected would ever have been candidly acknow. 1 ledged by the Courier. The Government of the kingdom is not, as has been generally supposed, surreadeved into thieliiiisfs'it Mr. PEat.:EVAL. The Marchioness of HtaTrein has been found to possess greater political' abilitiea; for conducting the im portant affairs of the State,- than eves the sapient and intriguing Mr.PracEr.u.: What a pitch of de gradation must the minds of the Statesmen of this country be reduced to, when not one of them could I:e found to match this noble and aspiring dame?— I And what a prospect does it present to the nation of the fate which a%aits them under this petticoat go ,ointnent ? We shall resume the consideration or this topic the first opportunity which offers. K •1 - b . ,:. 4 t ; I I ,i'" ' ifi 1 11 -14 It I k ll ii i as