The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-09-04 00:00:00

111 E STATES: COMMON COUNCIL, Sipr. 3. this great City, on a aubjedt in which they esteemed i -- themselves deeply and essentially interested. He This day a Court of Common of Council of the could not anticipate any opposition or objection to the measure contemplated in the present P e tition, rny of London was held within the Cou ncil Roo m the dispatch of ordinary business, and also for but still he must pray the indulgence of the Court, ~i. .'le special purpose of voting an Address to the Prince while he said a few words on a subject which he es.' teemed of such Material importance. The Petitioners ,legent, expressive of the congratulations of the Court ' complained, that they suffered great injury from th e in the occasion of the splendid and important victo. pre o Lon-br ha: ies gained by Lord 'Wellington over the French army sent creased t state f o such a degr don ee, from idge, the increased which d st ht. ate year Salamanca. 1 ____ ___ of the trade of the Metropolis, that the Petition. RIGHT OF VII , CITY TO ALL FINES IMPOSED VOL —.. .---..---- ------ - . , thernseites would apply to Parliament for re- OFEENCLS COGNIZABLE IN THE CITY OF LON. DON. dress, did they not think that they ought on soch I Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Buten ewe to apot e • an occasion, to come, in the first instance, to the Cor tite for the unavoidable absence of his Brother She. Peration of the City of London, which, as the par riff, and to call the attention of the Court to the dian of the trade of the City, ought to be their pecu. s tatement of a case In which the privileges of the City liar protection against the injuries brought upon of London were materially concerned. William them by this bridge. The Petitioners compl a i ne d, Porter, the Captain of a vessel named the Tiger, first, of the inconvenient state of the arches, and that, had been tried at the Admiralty Sessions for a mil_ though there were ten of them, besides seven employ. demeanour, in seducing men from his Majesty's sea ed in the water-works, the centre arch was the only service into the private service of Capt. Porter, and one which was passable, at low water, except for the having been found guilty of this offence, had been very smallest craft. This arch was now quite one. sentenced to pay a fine of 5001., to be imprisoned qual to the trade, and it come out in a late investi for the space of twelve calendar months, and there. Wien, that a loss was thereby sustained of not less than 40,0001. a-year, and of '2O lives. The incon after till such time as the fine should be paid. An intimation had been made to the Sheriffs that this venience had increased to such an extent that it could s e ntence had been remitted, in consequence of not much longer he submitted to ; and the suggestion n. which they had applied to the Keeper of the prison, of the Petitioners was, that the arches should be e to see the nature of the pardon granted. On examining . lagged by throwing two or three into one. His ob- It, they found it to be conceived in terms remit-'.feet was to have the Petition referred to the Com. tuittee on the Bridge House Estates. But he did not ting such part of the sentence, `s as related to the int prisonment." The Court would therefore perceive, mean to pledge himself as to any thing which might this not being a free pardon to the full extent of the be proposed before that Committee. sentence, that the Sheriffs had it not io their power to The Petition seas then read, and stated, that while suffer the prisoner to go at large, without subjecting the River was 530 feet in breadth, the centre arch themselves to be afterwards called on to make good extended only to 46 feet, being the only arch pass. able by the larger craft at high water, an even it the fine. Tioure was, besides this, another reason why the Sheriffs did cot conceive themselves at liberty being impassable at low water by largerbarges, which to liberate Mr. Porter. A grant of a very old date draw from 8 to 10 feet water, while the river at that arch only gives from 4 to 5 feet ; the other had been made to the City, of all fines within the jurisdiction of the City of London, and the Sheriffs arches being dangerous even for small craft of 35 or I accordingly thought it their duty to communicate to 40 tons. I Government that this was a London case, and if the On the motion for referring the Petition to the Sheriffs were to receive this fine for the King, or for Bridge House Estate Committee, the Ci•y, they were equally bound tc keep the pri- Mr. Alderman GOODBEUEItE warned the Court saner in custody till the same was paid : That Mr. against throwing away money on plans and surveys, k o , ,r, however, might not suffer inconvenience in aware as they must be that there were very contra. the m an lime, they recommended to him to pay the dictory opinions of men of the first eminence as to the fine into the hands of the gaoler, and to memorialise state of London Bridge. both the Crown and the City, to have it repaid to him, The Motion for referring the Petition to the Com- to whomever it might be found to belong. A letter mittee was then put and carried. I bad since been received by the Sheriffs from Mr. A1)1)11.148 TO THE PRINCE REGENT ON LORD Wharton, Secretary to the Treasury, stating, that WELLINGTON'S VICTORY AT SALAMANCA. 1 the Lords of the Treasury were disposed to remit the The Requisition for calling a Special Court on this fine to Captain Porter, unless the City should satisfy subject bei n g reed, their Lordships, "by production of the City's grant, I Mr. Deputy Box rose, and regretted that it had . that they had no authority to do so." Having stated fallen to him to have the honour of moving an Ad thus far, he had only to say, as far regarded the case dress of Congratulation to the Prince Regent on this of Wan. Porter, that he had a petition from him in most splendid victory. After the various demonstra. his hand, praying that the fine might be remitted.— tions of joy with which the auspicious intelligence Me had actually pard the fine into the hands of the had been every where hailed, he had expected that it gaolor, and the effect of the Court's granting the' would have been more promptly taken up by some prayer of his petition, would be to order the fine to I of the Members of that Court, who had been in the be repaid to him. Axle ,the letter hoe the s em . i habit of stepping forward on similar occasions.— tary to the Treasury, it deemed to involve very se. , Finding, however, on inquiry, that no such thing rictus questions for farther consideration, namels, the , was on this occasion even in agitation, he had thought right of the City in all cases hereafter. Me concluded it his duty to step forward, and not to suffer so by moving that the Petition of Wm. Porter, which splendid an achievement to pass over in total silence, was read, be, with the other papers, referrod to the little qualified as he felt himself to be for the task. i Committee of General Putposes. i The loyalty and inclinations of the Court, however, Mr. Drxote thought it would be better first to or .he was satisfied, would go hand in hand together in der the line to be returned to Mr. Porter, who, from such a vote, and would amply supply all his w ants.' evidence which had since come out, was free from Oa so proud a subject there would be little occsion blame, and then to refer to the Committee the Call for any observations from him. When we looted to by the Crown on the City to produce the Grant in the manner of the victory, and to itseonsequenees, ' the City's favour. i immediate and remote, every thing most satisfy us of Mr. WAITHIIAN thought there could be but one 1 its vast importance, not to this country alone, but opinion uto Captain Porter—that he was entitled. to our Allies and to civilized Europe.—By it the ' to have the fine returned : as to the other point, it kingdom of Portugal had been completely emanci. was one of a more serious nature. The proper : paed.—By it Spain had had an opportunity of ex. course for the Court to pursue would be, first to re- 1 erting her energies in her own defence, by seeing that mit the fine, and then to refer the other matters to ! her oppressor was not unconquerable:—a stimulus the Committee. had been given to other nations, if they chose to Mr. QUIN hoped that this latter point would not I awaken out of their lethargy • and a prospect had be suffered to remain undecided, but that the Sheri ffs, !been opened which might lea d to the general repose who had, on the present occasion, so conspicuously of the world. Circumstances existed in this battle, manifested their humanity, would be left in posses- 1 which, with former events, marked out Lord Wel- lion of their full rights, without any precedentp like . lington as the first General in the world. We must the present, for curtailing them. not forget the battles of Vimiera, Albuera, Barrosa, Mr. Distort conceived that the prayer of the Pen.! Talavera, &c. and, last of all, this of Salamanca, , tion admitted the right of the City ; and the City.; which was one of the most glorious that bad ever I again, by remitting the fine, asserted its own right. , graced our arms. He concluded by moving, that a I Mr. GRIFFI T III was of opinion that Mr. Porter 1 loyal and dutiful Address be presented to the Prince i not being now in prison, his was not a case which • Regent, congratulating him on the glorious victory pushed for a speedy decision, while the main point ob tai n ed bY his Majesty's Army under the command i was of so much importance to the City, as to war-' of Lord Wellington, over the French army near Se. rant its being all sent to the Committee. i lamanca, &c. . . Mr. WHITE said the prerogative of mercy and of Mr. Qeist rose to second.-the motiou. it was im pardon was in the Crown ; and yet, if he understood possible to hear such a motion, without a proud and t the nature of the argument used by the Sheriff, it grateful recollection of the victory gained by the amounted to this, that a Ministerial Officer of that i Marquis of Wellington at Salamanca—a victory which Court had a right to say to the Crown that it had no i bad gained the highest glory and renown to the Bri- such prerogative in the City Of London. 1 tish arms, and which, he trusted, would have •fhe I Mr. Sheriff BU ICK denied this. The terms of the I moat beneficial effects on the world at large. With. • pardon were, " So far as relates to the twelve mouths' out saying that the Marquis of Wellington was the imprisonment." . • first C ommander in &rope of the present day, he Mr. VVAITIINAN was of opinion the Sheriffs c ould thought he might, without odium, and without fear have acted no otherwise than they had done. They i of contradiction, safely say, that it would he a most would no more have been warranted in liberating Mr. difficult recollected thinto Ind Ms peer in Earepe.--[HeorT) When the situation of affairs some time Porter, had the fine alone been remitted, than they ! would have been where, as in the present case, the • ago in the Peninsula—what opinions had been enter. , pardon was limited to the imprisonment. 1 tamed by many of the most judicious persons in this A Gentleman, whose name we could not learn, country on the subject—and that Lord Wellington been sent out at the heed , asked, supposing the original pardon to have been I was considered as havin g equally explicit iu regard to the fine as the Letter of ,of the forlorn hope—it was impossible not to feel I the Secretary of the Treasury afterwards was, would the recent triumph with all that proud exultation,' the Sheriffs have esteemed that a sufficient warrant whicha victory gained unde r suelt gr eat diee dwinieSes' for the liberation of Captain Porter 1 was so easineatly cola** , to excite. HI bed tit contend with au army *Hied in all the artnsipet few Mr. Sheriff Bi tt en said, y he surel would not. Me had taken a n Oath t o uphold the privileges o f t h e tagems of warfare, a n d thmigh net Sowerior in, va,loge r City of London, end he esteemed the great alluded yet superior le numbers iss, hie ewoo-outi hie conduce had always bees the wisest which could have been to as being one of their privileges. Mr. Sheriff Batas then moved, adapted 41 kis situations, be bed - trisseWited by tom, "That this Court do mottos far as they have pumas elligi, lay—be bad conquered by, defence• - •44sorl—Ycli t he ent of 5001. paid by Wm . puler; is discharge of hie sus. high - as he prized the wisdom , and, the:velour whit*: . trace.' had been &splayed in tha last battle, he could 14 2d. " That the mom) revs eomseeted with Ibissabjeet be ", s ., hi referred to the Committee Of Getieral Purposes, streassaise —”-- - 40 0 to g° so fa . ____ r as t f e s " . sato the same, and to groom" Country sot meow* Agfa I n ' Both of which motion *ere unanirhoudy spied in the reekteOlis elhalle hef;e l 4 l :' to. , ip a state ssl Jetissrgyoffentyiefel LONDON eitTorm. illeen were, that dle.gliee"P l 4! of Mr. FAYILL said, he held in his hand a Petifien wo#4l/ het re theif ellarneSid to the Court, Bloat bra large body, to alight hi tkitOkesitiitity. But• 'idlest almost by the whole of the commercial popelation tif 'intictpationo2f that mlgbt be '. - Peninsula, he sew in, this victory a solid and conso latory fact, which ealled for the grateful admiration and thanks of the country. He could not see that the address which it was proposed they should vote that day, had any thing in the least to do with the praise or the blame of Ministers; and therefore he wished to throw some reports of a letter which hod been talked of on this subject entirely in the back round. would conclude with an observation with respect to some of the results which had been derived froth this great victory. It had clearly proved, what was problematical before, that,• in a commer: vial country like oars, however enervated the inha. bitants might be supposed to be from the corruption of manners and relaaation which great wealth has a necessary tendency to produce, we conid still show a a great and an efficient military force.—[flear !]—lt had also proved what in his mind was most satisfac• tory and consoling to know that however low and abject the state of a nation might be, however much it might be sunk in lethargy 3 that nation might yet be restored to a healthful and vigorous state. This' conviction was forced on him when he looked at the sluggish, the miserable, and the bigoted state ill which the people of Portugal were till lately plunged, and when he contemplated the distinguished gallantry which their recent conduct had uniformly displayed. These were two great results derivable from Lord Wellington's victory, results which it was impossible for us to contemplate without feelings of satisfaction,' and which would claim a distinguished notice from the future historian. Mr. Box explained. Mr. BLUNDEL said, that no man could be more de. , sirous that the unanimity of the Court on the present occasion should not be disturbed, than he was; but he could not help thinking, that if an Address were to be presented to the Prince Regent, it was ad dressing his Majesty's Ministers. He was desirous that Lord Wellington should have the direct thanks of the Court. The thanks of Psrliament hid been directly voted on the occasion of the victory of Bar rose and the capture of Badajos ; and he could not see why the Court of Common Council ought not to adopt a similar conduct. It was a much more con genial mode of proceeding than addressing the Prince Regent.. He therefore meant to move as an amend meat, that the thanks of the Court be presented to Lord Wellington. [Here he was interrupted by a Member on the opposite side of the Court.] Having resumed, he observed, that on an understanding that the Address would be followed up ay a vote of thanks to the Marquis Wellington, he begged leave to with. draw his amendment. Mr. WAITHINIAN should have felt it difficult to suffer a motion of the nature of the present to pass without any observation, however reluctant he might feel on this, as on ail other occasions, to take op the time of the Court, even if h.. had not taken a part formerly in discussing the character and exploits of Lord Wellington. He then proceeded to make some observations on the amendment which a worthy Mem ber had proposed and withdrawn, and the motives which, in all probability, induced him to conclude that ao address to the Prince Regent would be an address to his Ministers; recollecting, no doubt, f that the Court had formerly degraded itself by in troducing into an Address something of such a na tore, at a time when it could not be anticipated. lie • was surprised that the Court should have remained so long without such a motion having been brought for- ' ward upon an occasion where the greatest skill and valour had been displayed, a which we had any ex- ample in history. Had such a motion been brought forward from his side of the Court, it would have been said they were endeavouring sn court popula- ; rity. This motive alone prevented him from coming i forward to the Court. With regard to the motives which might have kept other Members from coming forward, he could hardly entertain an idea that a difference of opinion could exist on the subject. What appeared to him most probable, was. the 1 the difficult situation in which these gentlemen were placed. The Court had on other occa sions quite 'exhausted themselves, and done every thing, in anticipation, which it was possible for them to do in this case. He had not been a little repro-' bated for the opinions be had formerly delivered on I the subject of Lord Wellington. Of these opinions he could honestly say, they were sincere, and however much he might wish to set himself right in the good opinion of the Court, it was still of more importance that he should merit the approbation of his own con science. Whets the Court voted a sword to Lord Wellington he went as far as any man who consented? to that vote in his high opinion of that General, lieving, as he did, that if more was not performed it was owing to those untoward circumstances in which he was placed, which made it impossible for him to do so. He then objected to the sword, because no battle had been fought; and, in his opinion, ft would have been more grateful to the army and to the coati- t try at large if the Court hod reserved all those ho nours tea, the present moment. Swords had already been given, and what could they give slow ? It had been stated by the Worth Deputy (Box) that it wary, not his intention to mingle any thing of a party tiS-4 tore in the Address which he should submit to the : Court. He trusted the Worthy Deputy would abide by that assurance; hi which case he believed that Ir; was impossible for any Address to meet with a more general concurrence. Before concluding he wished to make one observation. However blameable we might consider the conduct of our enemy, there was one point in which he wea deserving of imitation. — CORN-EXCHANGE, Sam 4. Whenever we were flushed with victory, we ought This da y we have but few arrivals of Wheat, and again not q • that moment, and not when we were plunged in mach rem aining on band, maids" supplies; the fen sales effect st gusted prices. Brrley _gaiter lower. ta m a n 1 1,p:448er, toondeavour to obtain the blessiog of a e d nd f m a i lltie in l'ea 3 but little flectuation. Beans of the two sorts Whet with this victory in the_Peninsuie, and somewhat dearer. Tlsereare tolerable supplies of Oats on hand, Ise checks which it is said our enemy has recently and . sales thereof are beavy, hardly at the late redaction. Flour Met 'titbits *North, his mind might not improbably . 4 i re ?...tvaria tion. Ibb 116 s 150 " Tick do. 9O 95 am supposed to be inclined to Peace. If the-Court, raseditto is 155 i Do. (Five 061) therefore, shook' be disposed to go forsaker, it might ve 7O 761 Oats 58 bb' Poland Poland do. 67 70 be proper, perhaps, to-tosbody that ametinseutin the • Mae as Paiatoedo. Alet .€57 • • ;. ! White Om (boilers) 7 7 5 5 le so I Rape Seed weidd OA•mix- the , ' do- ILd ari dr r s i Mk* hopod the Ceirt % gm UO iogeoy thing with the (wagon before them of a 'la - .• 411 - usundraity, sae his , - SM . I r T o tIELD RK r F e .T n . l — .e 8 0 nr i. 4. welailt IMlt#e tiq.l4,lrt Oft ...- 5.. M. CO 111. tie r of Cattle this day * thia'Addrete;ne +hauls ..b... to V. dd. Roasts 550 1,780 eart sd aaptriaisse "...t T,: r a, ...1" .1 Sleeves • •Me - Lamb Mrs. 611 - Pits '• • • 21:‘ forward Ibsi Premontl • •-• 11111YIIARKEr. 1 y . 44. Os. Qd. to 51. do. 06. worthy MeMbor op- . m. 0, ea ik 04. aitogether4oafetaded... *raw 5.05„ a to as Ole tDi And with regard to Lord Wellington, in his mind he had as much merit in not fighting at one moment, when Massena was so much superior to him in force) as in any battle be had ever fought. There was al. ways a greater nitwit in sparing than in exposing an army. Mr. BAOWN Wished to clear hitnsel of some im. putations which he conceived could on . allude to hit conduct on a late Address. , Mr. WAITHMAN said the *hole cane Was sufficient. ly In the recollection of the Court. ~, The Motion was then put and agreed to mint. mously. A Committee was appointed to withdraw and pre. pare the draught of an Address, which, on their re. turn, was read and agreed to, and ordered to be pre• salted by the whole Cour. The Sheriffs, attended by. the Remembrancer ) were requested to wait upon his Royal Highness, to tnow his pleasure when the Cottrt might attend Mtn. Adjourned. ... N4F4L INTE'LLI9II4ITII. DEAL, Stert.t. • Arrived his Majesty's ship Plower, train Plithelaiii. FALMOUTH, ease, 1. ' *rived his Majesty's ship Rapid, ham .be Doves, • - I • Y - ARM - OUTH, Barri& Pawed this morning his Majesty's ship Wraairler, with thereat of the homeward-boaod Baltic Beet. Sailed yesterday the Hearty gun-brig, for of the Tesel/ ; Arrived to-day the Beaver, from the Downs. • There is no foundation for the fears entertained at Ceylon, for the safety of the Owen Glendower, which took out Sir SAMUEL HOOD'S flag to India, but had not arrived in the beginning of April. Besides that the Africaine went direct to Ceylon and made a re. markably quick passage, we are informed, thatTrom the nature of the winds prevailing at that sta.4on • the passage could not be made direct ' • but it %td be necessary to stretch over to Acheen Head, and thence down to Madras. Sir S. Boon, on leaving the Cape, did not expect to arrive at Madras before the es d of March, or Cie beginning of April. The Glendower was not to touch at the Mauritius. She had a very long passage from Madeira to the Cal e, and the ignorance of this circumstance in India, joined with the very short passage of the 4fricaiose, ma ha% e excited the apprehensions upon her delay, which, we are glad to see so satisfactorily accounted for. The following is an extract of a letter, dated on board his Majesty's ship the Guerriere, the 29th July, 1812, in lat. 40. North, long. 65. 30. West: We were proceeding en our way to Halifax, to refit, when we were stopped by the North Ame rican squadron, which had on board three months provisions and stores for us. By them, we learn. ed, that the Americans had declared war against Great Britain, and that their squadron were at sea, under the command of Commodore RODGERS, con aistiug of three frigates and two sloops. of war.— We also were told of the attack made by them upon the 8.. , /videra, and her escape from them. Ag soon as the President's Proclamation arrived at Kali. fax, the Admiral proceeded to sea h quest of ROD GERS, who was supposed to have gone to the Banks of Newfoundland, with a view of intercepting our West India convoy, protected by one frigate only.— His squadron consisted of the Africa and three fri. gates; on their way we fortunately joined the aqua. dron e the more so, as the Africa had parted corn rainy. We have already commenctd operations, having burnt about twenty 'sail of American chantmen, and capttirell a sloop jf, war. This will a not be cruise of emolunleift sap ire do not like • to . Oilman four, 'hips, by On tag prizes in, bee* big in ‘ dally 146 of .falling in with, and ing a;good account of , the American squadron.— On the)letb hest: When we were separated from our squadron, about, 4 P: M. we gave chaos' to a large AMelican frigate. • The Guerrierc being end on, and looking very low, the American molt probably took us for a sloop of war, and stood towards as ; about ten s she made private signals, which evidently shewed !what she was ;, we were at Quarters, and were only waiting to get close alongside of her to commence the action. At half-past three in 4he morning, being only half a mile from her, we discovered' two large ' frigates close on our lee-beam, and * three other men of war astern of them. The private signal was then made, and kept up for a quarter of an hour . unanswered ; we then fired two double-shotted guns over the head-most ship to enfirce atten , tion, but still it remained unanswered. As thele !farce exactly 'greed with the American aqua. !dron, no doubt remained in the minds of tidy "„ one on board, that it was them we were led:: into. 'We therefore tacked and stood Eras You may easily conceive tiltat we felt Mosel r l cannot find language to express it), when day broke to find them English and the American frigate one and a half mile from us. A calm took place —we got our boats out and'endeavoured to tow the ship,: but although every exertion was made, she got away after a chace of 65 hours. Thus have the service lost one of the fittest frigates the Americans have. We have reason to believe that it was the Constitution, going out to join the American Commodore. The Essex has already joined him." • There wasa very hot press on Tuesday and yes terday on theriver, and press warrants were backed ' yesterday in the city by the Loan Kilo& ~. or. uwweb IRS COOK E uu ARY) Mat kilos this. .lure. *tasted 4o ,01444r0, tem- eCae witivata triatopb tbefsfare t;uitritAbOLVW w a r, 0400 1010 91141p,0 Vita tikaditousol.• ti•LOPMINget sot MAN etPotted / 41 /a444 4 . 441 11 1* Mai bet ee anolVlalter-fly It*" MN* W. what the **ging f• laoot traymiwpgh ealkOlp 1110•Vairi tbe seeineatioes .of.tire o the fettro fete et Mae ;posits (Mr. Waithisau) ware all „~,. .:. / • • _ " - .. .~ . 141ro..dr.01111•Iki 14.447 - - 6 _ • 1 I , s 4 r. . i 1