The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1819-05-12 00:00:00

1 I I !I fared to involve any cireumst...tees to will •li that necessity could not be extended. But hoar could it be justified that the subject of a neutral nation, engaged in the service of an independent state, *tumid stiffer Vie utmost penalty that could be in- Meted, merely for having embarked in the service of that nation ? Suppose that when the British arms seized on Copenhagen, a measure of state expe diency which was at the time at least questionable, the subject of • foreign power not at war with Great Britain, was taken in arms aiding in Vie ' , tempt to repel the invaders. would it not have seriously aggravated that act of violence. had Lord Cathcart, or any Commander of the British army, thought proper to proceed to try this individual, and punish him with the utmost severity ?—(Hear, Aear.)—With respect, however, to the respective cases of these two persona, there was a striking dif ference between them. Mr. Ambrister was un doubtedly engaged in arms on the part of the lit dions ; but Mr. Arbuthnot was occupied 'zeta sively as a merchant, carrying on a commerce be aeficial to both countries, between Great Britain and the Seminole tribe. Mr. Ambrister was a volunteer in their army. and of course liable to the fate that attended the belligerent power; hot however it may be competent fur a bel ligerent to allow or refuse quarter in the heat and violence of battle, yet ro soon as the action was over, the uniform practice of civilised nations spared the lives of the prisoners. This itailividuat, however, was tried for what certainly was no offence 'against the recognised laws of nations, sod on evi- Ortice pally hearsay, and altogether suspicious soul unworthy of belief, he was declared guilty of the off ewe imputed to him. But the most violent part of General Jackson's conduct here appeared, tnr slier hating cotisigned the fate of his prisoner to a tribunal, lie alerwords exercised • prerogative and a power a hich lie supposed belonged to his character as General in Chief of the army, not to 'pinwale • sentence which he might consider too, severe, but to increase the severity of °tie which appeared to him too lenient, and by his • de authority reversed the sentence of the court martial, and condetimed to death where the Court had only sentenced to imprisonment amid other punishment, ignominious, it was true, brit still less severe than death. lii the c.,se of Mr. A r bull t, there was no pretence fur considering him as eigosoed even in *defensive war, lle was found in St. Allark,i, but not ill arms; and his sole occu pation among the Seminoles was that of a merchant. Ile had yet to leer) whether the circunivairce of supplying belligrreots with the means of carryitig on war, was, by the ordinary laws of nations, punishable by death. Doubtless if the property of a miwchatit so engaged were seized by the party that supposed itself aggrieved, it was halite to for hotly e ; but allot writer on intervational I.* ever inattitaated so violent • principle as that such a proceeding was subject to death ? Not only, how * ver, had Geogr.! Jackson acted in this arbitrary tuanrier, moth reference to the lowa of nations, but lie so meted iii direct controveriti.in to the written laws of his own country. It was declared by an Act of the United States' Legislature, that if any citizen, or ether IWP4OIt, shall supply any foreign station with the means of carrying on war, or >hall excite soy foreign nation to war against the Ulmer, States, such citiz-n or other person shall forfeit a *ton not exceeding 1,000 dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding 12 mouths. Thus by the lass of the United States, this offence for which the unfortiroate Arbuthnot suffered death, 'veil when joined still' the great aggravation of treason, ors puoishoble only by fine and imprison row.— [Flue Noble Marquis here read the clause to the Act to whirls he had alluded.)—This was slime b General Jackson, earn opposition to a clause V iii the code of the United States, a bleb de a hated that " the "enteric, of a court-martial, affect rug the life of any individual, shall not be executed until it shall have received the approbation of the President." Such were the circumstances of the case a loch lie thought it right to bring before the attention of Psiliament, and which it became the interests and honour of the United States, no less than of this country, should be disavowed by the American Government. With respect to the twili t try occupation of the Florida., it war not incum bent tin him to make any observations—that was a topic for the consideration of the Spanish Go vertiment only, but with this point was connected one to which he felt himself bound to allude; this was, too the military occupabou of the Florida., but the legitimate posseasion of them, so far as that a mild be ascertained by the cession of them to the United Stotts. This was a subject which essen tially coucerned the intereets of Great Britain. There was no part of the colonies possessed by European Powers in America, of which the acqut s.tion by the United States was likely to be at tended with such emineut disservice to the coni 'Beretta interests of this country. Undoubtedly the Government of the United States at present evinced the sonc.erest desire to maintain the relations of peace with Great Britain; but it did nut become a ware statesman to narrow his views to the present moment merely ; it was his duty to look forward to the pusaibilry of war, and to provide spinal such contingency.—(Hear, hear.)-1n the event then of a war with the United States, the possession of t 'w Fluridas must put the entire trade of the %Vest Jodie Wands, and particularly the homeward bouod trade of the bland of Jania:cs, altogether at the disposal of Ilse Coiled States. Hundreds of small craft might issue, not from one but from t veaty ports, and intercept and destroy that valu able brooch of British commerce. The Noble Illarquis then inquired whether any provisions had Leen adopted by the British Government at the Congress of Vsemia, by the influence which this country ought to have possessed in the councils of Europe, to prevent such a calamity— whether they endeavoured to revive that article of the Treaty of Utrecht, by which Spain was bouud not to surrender any part of her colo ',Ml possessions to any oth* Power than Great I;rdaiii. A queatiott to this effect had been asked sort long since in another place, and the an rawer then given by the Noble Secretary of State fur Foreign Affair" (Lord Castlereagh), than whom tiiere could be no higher authority on diplomatic ;bonito, IVO, that this clause to the Treaty of I 'trecht bring confirmed by the Treaty of Seville, I rd become the common law of nations. After a welling a short time longer uu this point, the No b'e Marquis. moved-- " TWO aa Address be resealed to his Royal Highness the Poilice r•rnt, tliet lir mil lo rarinusly pleased to hove laid on the tahh• Caron of an commitaiestioas that may hive poled between the Government of his R onal Iliehners and the Government of the United !Fairs of Acne. r!ra, relative to the Whiney Orropation of the Floridan by the troop, of the ITivitrd States. and to the Execution of Messrs. Arbethoot and Anthrister " Earl BATHvitve said, that the observation' with winch the Noble 111arqins closed his speech, kid no connexion whatever with the qwestion more im mediately before the House, and of this the Noble Alsrquis himself seemed to be perfectly aware by tint having connected it with liis motion. Ile con demned the principle of political conduct which the Noble Marquis had approved, namely, that of guaranteeing the respective possessions of every power, not only against other nations, lint from their own desire to part with them, ond contend ed generally fir the right of every Sovereign to cede any part of his colonial territories accord ing to his own ped i ment and convenience. %Vitt* respect to the Treaty of Utrecht, to which the Noble Marquis had 'alluded. it was evident that if it had been renewed at the Treaty of Vienna, it could not have prevented the cession of the Flori da. by Spain to the United States, because wl.en that Treaty was signed the Floridits were not in the possession of the Sounisti Government. Olt this point he should no farther trouble the [louse, but proceed to express his sentiments on the other topic. In the commencement of his speech, the Noble Marquis seemed to have totally misunder stood the nature of what had fallen from bit Noble Friend (.he Earl of Liverpool), when on a former occasion this subject was before the !louse. His Noble Friend did not promise to communicate to the Ill•mse the result of any communicatiiiiis on this subject between the two Goveriiiiients, but be had stated that lie would take an early opportunity of esplaining the principles which itifluesiced the British Government in the line of conduct they adopted.—/Dear, hear, float Lord Liverpooti— The Government took this subject into their most serious consitlvration, but they saw no cacurn stance in it iswhir, would autliori-e theon to require any ri paration from the American (.overoment. It was to be considered, that if reparation were mire demanded, it became the honour of the coon. try to pursue its claim to the utmost extremity. The question, therefore, was, whether this occur rence was of such a nature as to josiffy our en gaging 1.1 a war as on ail 0(1151011 01 national quar rel. The Noble End then entered into u review of the circuinstames of the case, and contended, that, when a Kitioli subject embarked in the quarrel of a belligerent Power *aging war aglitist another Power, with whom his own Sove reign is at peace, lie forfeited the protection of the British Government. 'Phis principle it was the more necessary to urge at the present moment, fur if it were supposed that Great Britain was bound to extend her protection to every British ad venturer who might think proper to radon k in the ca.s , e of every contending part) in America, when ever the rights of nations were thought to b e %j o int e d in their persons, how numerous would be the causes of interference ! ile areued that Analorker was engaged in the military service of the Se sss i s roles, and Arbuthnot iii the civil service, sod that if any outrage were iiiflieted on them contrary to the laws of nations, the injury vas offered, nut to the of which they were the subjects, but to that with a hich they had united their interests. if General Jackson had acted contrary to the par ticular laws of the United States, it was a matter for the consideration of his owls Government. The Noble Earl, however, desired not to be understood as offering soy apology for the actions of General Jackson, on which lie looked with detestation and abhorrence. Unredeemed by even the wretched plea of espediciicy, they were occulting to every generous sentiment, and every principle of bums siity.—(lleor, hear.)—A II he contended for was, that no injury had, in the persons of Alessi). Ar buthnot sod A min istrr, been offered to this coun try, such as could authorise us ill demanding reps nation, and pushing that demand to war. The communicatious that passed on the sobjeet between the Governments, were matter of much delicacy, which lie was convinced would not be required by the !louse to be made public. The Marquis of LANsooniv, in reply, observed, that the Noble Earl had much ruisuioderstood the purport of what had fallen from him, or be load imperfectly expressed himself. if he was supposed to require the Prince Regent's Govertiment to de mand reparation from the. United States for the conduct of General Jackson. Nothing was far ther from his intentions. Ilia role object was, that an opportunity might be afforded, fur the advantage of civilized society, to the Government of the Unit ed States to disavow any concurrence iu tlie execu tion of those unhappy men. This he it sired, too, us much for the honour of the United States, was mainly interested in the suhjrct. :is for the attainment of any other purpose. lle then ad verted to the principle contained in the clause to the Treaty of Utrecht to which he had alluded, and observed, that however it may be censured by the Noble Earl, it was a principle on which this country had acted for more than 10u year►. It was a wire precaution, whereby the accintoulation of ter ritory by tither Powers to the disadvantage of Great Britain, was contemplated and prevented. There never WAS a case wherein Vie operation of such • principle was more required than in the present in stance, for by this recent transact . the commerce of Great Britrin was exposed to all the power of the United States. The Earl of Itvearoot said, that, after the speech of hie Noble Friend (Earl Bathurst). he should not have offered himself to the attention of the !louse, were it not that the Noble Marquis had made some allusion to lam in the comutralet went of his speech. Ilia Noble Fiiesisi had suf ficiently explained what laid fallen from him on a former occasion on this subject. It had never been his intention to communicate to Parliament any thing more than a statement of i the principles which had g overned the conduct of the Mince Regent's. Ministers. In the tiew of this case, two circumstances presented themselves which were likely to create confus ttttt iu the minds of one was, the morality, or rather he should say, the immorality of the transaction; amid the other, how far the occurrence would justify or even autho rise this country to make a claim fur reparation. (fis the first point, he felt ;so hesitation in avowing, that no mail could contemplate wilts greater abhorrence than he did the atrocious conduct of the American nensral. The transaction was nest only a violation of es•vse ordinary rules of action which regulate the iaterrourse of all rivili•ed states, but we. a w ottott departure from every principle of Isu. messily, and he load no doubt that the cents• melds whirls he stow expressed were generally entertained DO! only in I'arhan►eo►, this country, and all Europe, hut Itilt every gene and en- I ghteited mind in the United States of America was relnally impressed with t 11.4 prow orty,—... (Hear, hear.)—lle then reviewed at ►some length the e . rcumst:us•es of the case, cud ob.rt yin... 4 that nil volunteer,' embracing the quarrel of r foreign nation, were liable to the same fate that awaited the troop% of the country they had espoused ; hr argued that by this rule Arbuthnot and A minister threw themselves out of the protection of their own Go veranda. Oil, had made his election of the milt. tarp service, the other of the civil service, and both by this election reduced themselves to the e tune eilliditl9ll /14 the Seminoles with whom they were engiged. It was • vident that if the Britiah Government had any 'ante Of complaint, it should be addressed rather to the Spanish Government, in whose tei rarity these end; had 'sten captured, than to the Government under which the injury had been itiflicted. lie again adverted aid) es - pref.-ions of indignation, to the conduct of the Atom ican Gene ral, with reference to the rearrsul of the sentence of the Court 51atital that Pet on A nihrister, and the subaequent execution of that utiforitioute man, and remarked, that had such un event twcurred in tins country, or had any British General acted in so atrocious a manner, no matter how high his rank or eminent hit talents or services, lie sboultl stater con dign punishment fur the transgression—(//ear.)— Ile 11., looiveter, Ihat no circumstances appeared to justify the 1 itiJi Guaeritinent in making the 'tent a cattle of ',viand quarrel. The Noble Errl then alluded to the cession of the Flotiths 1 )3 Sp a i n , and reitratked, that HS tutu a crle,ll.ll was Iclt by the Spanish Got ertimerit to he of considerable ail vaiitae to the interests of that it would be extremely hard if the British Goveriimetit were to iiiterpn,t , w pretetst it. It would slot be just, consistetit wins !MUIR! unless. %%IN II airs ever connected with gem rosity anti jostler, to insist on Spain's ceding the Floridas to Great Britain unless we were at Olt roue time prritared In make common tense with leer, and e Inbar k ru lid pre sent (planet. The question was then put, and iiegatitttl ttith out u IF nousr: or COMMONS, 11 EIDA V, MAT 11. The Mt tolfora in !nerve nn the loverkrithior Ejection P. Whin hat tog liens ballotted for Oho. flay, tor gallrry was tort opened mull len ntioulcs Wore lava. The Committee conaist of— Viscount Kormenhy Sir Marcus Somerville A .1. 11a111 mple C. Chaplin, Fog. HMI. F. Howard llon. Sir E. Paget Visconnt Barnard W. Chambertapir., Esq. Williams, Esq. Sir C. J. Greville Hon. 11. It Westenris A. W. Clifford, Esq. I A. 11 , iswell, Esq. Hon. G. Anson K. Flay, Esq. On the maim*, of Mr. MAum-rce, ass nrconni was ordered of the inumlwr of acres in the great ['omit of Dreekeiork, and the uunibcr of trees rut down within a given period. Lome was given to bring in a Rill for the better Lighting and Paving eeitain parts of the City ■nd Liberties of t 1 cut mioster. Mr. KEWNIFDY presented a Petition from the Royal Burgh of Ayr, praying for n Reform in the system of the Scotch Barg d to be printed. Alit...mats Woof) presented a Petition from John Hasler, ram of the injuries he had sustained by the Instil_ silt Debtorie Art, and playing that it may be modified.— Laid on the h&c. nvIIVORCE preseottil a Petition from a number of Individuals forining a put of 'the Guildry Of the City of Edinburgh, against the Bill of the Lord Adviwaie of Scot land, relative to the coosiiisition of the Scotch Boughs.— Hefei red to the Scotch Burghs Committee. CASE or GEORGE CROOKE. Sir lin ANcl5 HURDaTT ►aid, hr rose to draw the atten tion of the House to a Petition of • person of the mime of George Crooke, late a seaman ono board one of Iris :Majesty's ships, complaining of severe oppression. Thr allegations contained its the Petition called into opontinsi the emotion of a veil/ gallant Officer in the naval service, and, at the same time, disclosed circumstances which were sof infinite importance to the eights and interests of every man iu *lw navy—since all those who were amounted with that service, were liable to receive the same ...4acriplion of treatment as that of whids the ... er eonoulained, soilless hr macooted taloa sr. Ile had the Petition for alllllr time in his hands, and womb) love mccento it it onnrh mower, but be was desirous, in She first instance, to have same roma-nation with Sir William lloste, the gallant (officer Si, wloolisi it oeferred—but lie understood that lie was out of the king. dum, and was suit expected to return fur some tins?. The statement of the Petitioner lay in a very morrow tonspass, although the tweak which it contained were of the most into port ant Haute. He conceived it sight to state., that having hail mush, conversation with the Prliliatirr, she impressiuto ion his mind was, that lie was nut a isrrsiiii of bad charnel , " —a cooirloisioss which was bane out by she certificates of several respectalole srdividuals, under some of whom he had .reed in the navy, who spoke of him ■s a carrell and well beam( slits 111; 11111 ; whatever the character of the individual might be, atwitter gourd or 1144 ; it had inolutsg to du wills the justice of the came, lie staled, this, witlriul wry elm Kr beisog exhibited against 111111 ; he as. Cl-111111111 . 11 on Ward the .//siliar, the slap in which be was analog, for five or six wet lis—and that, alien the staid touched at Malta, lie was ordered to naive sic 'loam of la..he s by Sir W. 1.1, 5 .1 e, without su n s C:tourt Martial beaux been held on him. After this, lie sail another man wereput ashore, and left to ►hilt for tbrioselvo sas th. y could. It ass worthy of consiolora Hoes, that the Petitioner was a pressed mass--and, having served furs eunsiderilde time, pay and prise-inuory wese sloe to him, to the summit of 560/ colon he was forcibly , driven from She Milli, aid marl:ell in the monks as a &seeder, whirls desisted his claim to that *hi( belied fairly earned. Whatever his fault might have hero, it was ext►emely hard that Le ►lsould be deprived of his wages. Ile understood it was a general a isle, where a seanow deli...sled from the IletWieV, to stop his pay soil priaeomustry. It appeared to hint to lea very severe role, that • Slap, 11/110 had beeso tweed into the service, and had remained there for tummy years, should he de. 'Hived of the y he had earned, because be left his ship without leave. The t'rtitioar►, howrver, slated that he did net desert, but was sent from the ship. fits %bat gnsund, then, could his pay and prose.moury be witlitstal, as it was at she prem.nt moment' It was souse years suite these eta cuoistanen escrowed, but the Petitioner, after his dismissal f the ship, lead proctored a master, with • limn be temiel. led use the 01111111 CM. lie looped slips • Huh' he takes, is the proper department, to explain this tiansactum, r Ica (mould be obliged to institute some proceedings no the sub ject. lle should nowt muse "Thal this Petit beim/twig up." lie lust a second Petition, viewed by massy respect. able persons, who use. the Petitioner and rossisseiararaleil his sinatiton—and called us t►e nurse to &thud to kis and graut him relief. tic 1 Corsto said, this Petition had been pet into his hands. • few days ago, by an Honourable Alderman but he M . 0....eel to bate any thing to do with tt, 'treatise Ist understood that the Petitioner had Lieu d, tiviest in souse isopropyl practices with • person of the name or Grimaldi, when on board the Illstine, which occasioned his desertion. tittcariceu years had elapsed Wince the modulet he now cons- \ -.3*.. ,•. plainid of li of talon place, and, that hine ' , Pia, this Ism had never laid his raw before the Admiralty lhawbtless ler considered himself well off wad to her* bees banged foe the error, he bad committed.--(ffenr, blip.) Alderman Worm said, it. was very true the Pelitiois had been placed in his bawls, lot.latils4ont ahiuk Be win justi fied in presentiog it. He made many inquiries me Hie sub ject (coin tlw Gillitit (officer impoitte (Sir G. Cockburn), nod from him he unilerst I that a correspondeoce had pawed between 11w Admiralty and different officers Molar whom the Petitioner had served, and slap that Sir W. Haste was likely to return to England very speedily. As be knew that the Petitioner could bring his action against Sir W. Boyer, when lw roomed to this country—as his Petition was in the hands of • respectable Solicitor (by whom it was hitrush it to him), who would do every thing in his power to serve him—and as tlw man with whom the Petitioner went away stood in is very itivpirimis situation—he conceived it better to Elie up the Petiti )))) , as he did not think be could render the Petitioner an y wery ire. —,"//ear./ Sir I. Comte sib rl, that the siibeequent testimonies to this character, which the Hon. Baronet alluded to, had nothing to do with the antecedent offence. Sir Comic BLitt! said. the practice regularly adopted in the 11,1 11:14 thii :—the ship's company were mustered in the presence of the officers Mite in every week ; the names of those who did not appear were dotted—and, if three dots wire affixed to a poilor's name, it Well distin. groished by the letter /:.. straying that he had run from the ship. After this, be would not be paid his wages with out an ntihtfiiiiit the itilnsirally, and his prize-money be• came the pinpertf 44 Cliche. Hospital. That Hospital has inpl a vested richt iii Finch wiz...money, it would he the bright of injustice for 11w Admiralty to attempt to take it away. Now it was most extraordionry that 51w Petitioner, who att• described to be a needy man, having this large sum due to him, never applied to the Admiralty from the year 1801 until 1%17.—(/icor. )—The Hon. Baronet endeavoured to •rcount for this delay, hy stating that he was travelliog on the Continent with his limiter. It was not, however, to be itipposed that he had been travelling for 18 years. When he applied at the Admiralty to have the K. removed from name, in the year 1817, Captain Hoste was referred to. erplain limte's. answer, which he then held in bis hand, was ciecheil in thew trims:—" 1 have to acquaint you, that 1 perfectly remember Crooke's desertion from the ship at Naples or Alalia—aisil I recollect also the desertion of the other man who was found in the hammock with him."— The Petitioner stated, that this man bad received his wages. In coniequenee, the Admiralty caused inquiries to be made at the Nary Board, and they discovered that Grimaldi had also con—that lie had not received his wages—and that, in fait, lie had not applied for them. Crooke, ending he could make nothing of this proceeding, in 1817, waited till Sir W. Hittite "as out of the way, and made the present ap plication Sa the House of Commons. He had, it appeared, got the Hello-limit to state that he did not run, but was turned out of the ship. Captain Home, however, would, be had no doubt, prisist in his statement that he had deserted. Unfortimati ly, the other 18 signing officers were dead .—• lookisig to all the circumstances, he was inclined to attach muse credit to the Ftalealeat of the Captain than to that of the Lieutetinnt.—The circumatancse, taken together, made ►trougk agaiust the Petitinuer—aud, cotuiderilig them, it o mild be for the House to say, whether the Pei'. jUll should or ►huiuli 11111 lie brought 11p. Ale. CEPISF.TT, as we understood, inquired whether any prow!' of a criminality bad been adduced against the Peti tioner? If three were not, it was not right that be should be deprived of his wager. Sir G. ('ocanvaw said, that the Officer who had been applii if to, said the Petitioner was found in an indecent sit n. ii W it l i another sues., and had, in consequence, been turned ti.l.ore. The argument seemed to be, that he must have hi. wages, although his character could not be restored. Sir F. BURDETT said, the Petitioner's statement was, that a drooken man came to his hammock in the night, swearing that it wan his own. The Petitioner resisted, mid the in ti iider rut him down, by which he was severely wounded in the head. There never was a charge of the kind now insinu ated, brought against him—much less was any inquiry in stituted with respect to it. Added to this, malty persons came forward to give him a good character, amongst whom were several officers under whom he had served. lie did nut think the gallant Admiral was treating the Petition with &linen or candour, when he met it with an unsupported allegation of this kind. It was a base insinuation to throw out against any man—and such a course of proceeding ren dered it more particularly necessary for the House to mi. mine the merits of the case. The Lieutenant said the Peti tioner was put on shore—that he was compelled to quit the service. If he hail committed any crime, that was not the mode which ought to have been pursued with respect to him. He should base been punished, instead of being forci bly obliged to leave the ship, in a state of distress and iudi. genre. Afterwards, in order to cover an act improper in every point of view, the letter ft was affixed to his name. The me yof ('apt. Rosie, whom he respected as a gallant officer, did not, at all times, appear to be equally clear on this subject. He had seen letters of his, written to the Peti tioner in 1816, in which lie did not speak positively, but raid, 4, If you have been marked ft on the books of the Matine, as you say, 1 presume it is so." This was at best a deinhtfill evidence as to the fact of the Petitioner's having deserted. Sir G. COCKBURN said, the accusation against the Peti tioner did not rest on mire surmise. The letter said, that GI 'melds was seen coming not of the Petitioner's hammock. Three was no mention made of the hammock having been rot down. Though an officer might, at a considerable dim 'sore of time, suppose that the Petitioner was sent out of the ship, the probabilities were, putting all the circumstances together, that he had deserted. file. Lsrem:roe said, be knew not from what source the lion. Baronet had drawn the expression of indiguatio which he hail directed towards his Hun. Fn i icon' and kinsman (Sir G. Cockburn) because he stood forward to rebut the serious Charge that hail been brought against a gallant Officer. He did not Loom that gallant Officer—Mot lie crrt•inly felt very strong iudignation, when he beheld the character of au bo llollruble man attacked on the slight and unsupported sur mises of au hotineous person, for such lie considered the Petitioner to be —(Cris of " Hear, heur.")—The Ho. nourable Baronet complained that the Petitioner had nut been brought to trial ; but, as the Petitioner had deserted, whet opportunity was there for trying him iii s CAW of this kind, was it not more prudent in the Commander of our of his Majesty's skips to punish the individual, and not to notice the fact further, Mideast of proclaiming it to all the world ?.../Hear, hear.)—lf the Peinsimer were not rum 11C1011e that lie was charged with some of too semoolaltom to bear the light, would he nut have brought the matter IP issue, in some way or other, during • pe lof sixteen years ?--/ Haar, hear)--Nuw,sthe circumstance was brought forward, when, of necessity, the best evidence that could be adiluced must be defective. The wortlry Alderman, to whom the Petition was first iutrustrol, appeared to have formed a proper estimate of it—and acted very properly iu rejecting Hear, hear.)—lt would much better become for Hi. Baronet, if, before he presented Petitions, he in. quires' into the verity of the facts they contained ; instead of coming down at once, without the smallest particle of con. elusive evidence, and indulging is declamatory statements abort justice, when there was uo proof whatever that say injustice bad been cesmstitted.—(Hear, hear ) Mr. CROBWR raid, the accusation levelled at the IPeti. timer's character was not gratuitously introduced. It was elated by Sir William Howe, that this nom, ito whom • large sum of 'vestry was said to be due, bail run away. It was asked, Why did he demi t—it is rot likely be would do so, when en much wages and prise-money were due to hits?" The answer was, because he was detected in judos. cent inactices. It was necessary to Sir William Haste's rue, that be should skew some paramount end overwhelm. lag reason is the case of this uses, in account fur his con duct. lie timid not agree that this Petition should be re. retired. It was not in the power of thy House to grant to the Petitioner his wages. lie loot his 'Mimi at law; he might bring en action against Sir W. Hoste for having cast ecandalinis imputations Wit his character—or f or i m p ro p er ly causing the letter H. to he affivil to los name, by which be lust his wages. Unless by hue lie esiabliebed his character, or stirred that the H wire implopeiiy placed against his name, he could nut get the IHilliCy which he claimed When the Courts of Justme were open to him, to them the Petitioner ought to upply, it would be a bad precedent to such a riliiiim as the present. ~j ~, ~, , gr.tOststiSSET defended the ent;i:tict of Sir Vt l p. Sir F. HURIWTT read 'several tealimonies from Adis,. d Hardy and others, in favour of the retitlett.,'• they were dated in 1797, 17901, 10181, and lwa2. Th e ii,„: Baronet shooed that the Petition - - Committee of that Homo., where i proper decision would he come to, Sir 1. COVIIW explained. Dr. PHILLINORR said, it was Hun. Baronet, in the different ii the Petitioner, never thought i lie had sufferedl7 years to elapse ~ piaint !---(Weetr.)—Tint Don. Baronet nials in favour of the Pelitioner'a rhak 1798, and 1801. War varitleore Noose wrre to he railed on to -- W. Dottie? The *Orrice of the Pet' was evidence that Ilia claim W 4. Sir F. BURDICTT said, some of in DM. An Hon. Member said, that 11 mired Harrey, was a forgery. the name of If ovrey, on the . Hen. Meneker tear oppris►d that Hammy, was rnPnlionrci Mr. Woes:House said, be with Sir W. Hume, and no 11140 an arbitrary act toward* any The Home then derided, when there appeared— For receiving the Petition Against it Majority FOW EY ELECTION. The Chairman of the Forrey Election Cirnncti... 4 „_ peared at the bar, and reported that Lord Viaromit tort traa duly elected. PENRYN ELECTION. J. Strohler, the elder, of Penryn, and James Ray, of Penryn, were ordered to attend (bin Noose on 1 ne.. , l‘v next..-and to bring with them copies of a certain hand.b..; published during the election. AGRICULTURAL PETITION. - Mr. LAIIIITON prevented a Petition from certain r-- pier. of Land iu the County of Durham, praying that pi.. beefing duties might be imposed, in order to prevent the im portation of corn, and to enithlc them lo procure price fur the produce of thin country. While he felt it t•. be his duty to present a Petition intrtioed to him by n p.r. Lion of his constituents, he thought it was dive to Itiociel state, that he retained the same opinion which he cam i•ts in 1815, and conceived it improper for the Legislature Ii interfere with subjects of thin kind The Petition iras read and ordered to be printed. AGRICULTURAL HORSE TAX. Mr. S. VroRTLEY preseateol a Petition frons;e:rtftin piers of Laud in Hold , against the Agricultural llor.c Tax.—Laid on the table. ASSESSED TAXES. Mr. S. WORTLICV rose to present Petitions from a norther of Shopkeepers in different parts of the kingdom, oil Ow subject of the Assessed Taxes. Some of those Pen nons seo•• from Yorkshire—there was one from sev , • sal from other parts of the country. 'they complained of ih mode in which their shops and houses were assessed. Legislature, they observed, had Out tolerated a direct tax us shops—but their houses were assessed in such a manner to to include the value of the shop—and thus, in fact, tile oho ? was indirectly taxed. They also considered it a grievanr.• t►at the window-lights in their shops were cutinicil a:.l taxed, while those in the counting-houses of tnerrh unit were not made to pay. On another point they also called S ee relief. They were occasionally in the habit of esaphiyin, their sons, when they came home from school, to serve in their shops, or carry out parcels. No sooner was Iles known to the assessor, than a charge was made for so man, shop.mess.—(Hear, hent.)—This was a very severe griev. ance. He hoped the G ',gramma' would consider the whin.• of the subject, and devise some .ode by which relief iniet be extended to the Petitioner,. If they did not, lie wool himself bring the question regularly befoie the Hutp.:: (Hear, hear.) Mr.Trtzwiltrit bore testimony to the hardships which were imposed on the trading, comnin oily by the oiterat . the Assessed Taxes, and hoped the Cuancellor of the Exche quer would use his best efforts to modify them. An Hon. Member, whose came we could not collect, sal a few words to the same purport. Lord 1./LICELLEII said, the hardship sustained awls r the existing system was very great. in the c cohv were obliged to have very large shops, in ()I.:es to ilis , ,stei their goods to advantage, whilst behind those shops it', rooms were exceedingly confined and inconvedient. whole was, however, assessed as a dwelling house, and hence arose the grievance. Sir M. W. RIDLZY said he had received letters from 3.1 parts of the country, complaining of the manner in wtoe't the Assessed Taxes were levied on shops and houses. rate bad been imposed by the collectors, in many instatices, in a mode which the Legislature had never contemplated. lie begged of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to indium isiut r when he intended to bring forward a me:moire for it; • modification and amelioration of the Assessed Tatiett cheerfully gave way to the !tight Hun. Gentleman, chi .n expressed his intention of introducing a new measure 11.1 this subject. If the Right Hun. Gentleman would titiviii.r bin satiefactorily, he should press the matter no further—if he slid not, he would again give notice that he 11111'.1111t t.. submit to the House • peopuoition relative to those Wilma.- ems taxes. _ The CIIANCeLLOR Or the EICUEQUIIIII. mid, the law, as it existed at present, afforded a remedy, in such case. a. t h e Hon. Gentlemen (31r. %Vol tley) had mentioned, where the casual assistance uf the children of Ifille/IWUpie was 111.1 , 14 the subject of assessment. With reaper tto that pot of the complaint, which related to shops, he had only o that shops iti London, and most uf the great lawns, were considered as forming part of the datllwg•huwse, :Ad were, on that account, assessed. The windows were a 1.., counted as belonging to tire house. To grass, relief on this point would require a very general 'minim and alteration of the law, which be was nut at pre'rni pr . pared to protect' with. A. to the cuntitniz Wows uf tor'. chants or bankers, where they funned a part Of the d+ell iu;•lwuat, they were halite to be asaes.e.l. With rssprtt to the (nicest question put to him by the Hun. itatuiset, he expected, in a very short time, that he should be able to Ming tinder the consideration of the Hou.e, a muddied measure, subject to such alterations as sought Inc di tined. expedient. He was not able at present to fix the pr, rite daft when he would introduce this tarasurr. The Haub, Repent so entirely occupied the attention of Government. and ra terfrred so much with the financial airangtmeuta whirr, were in progress, that it was impossible at this moment to say when the modified plans of the Assessed Taxes wonl.l I e submitted to the Hume. lie hoped, however, to be mile to introduce it before the financial arrangements uf the vier were made. He could out, however, specify the day. !'er• haps be ;might take the opportithity of submitting/ it lu tiel House IU the course of the next week, i( an ore day SC. cured. Alderman ‘VAIITIMAN 11110 complained of the oppnr.lnl nature of the As►essed 1 . 111‘,.. A tamp-lax WM. IWO dwsely imposed—but that object was indirectly levied by taxing ail the servants who were einukqed by is trail.. This was extremely Lard—since a tura chant, walla awicelecko, could transact infinitely inure besliieba lhau ► MlLtillellll with several assistants. Sir W. DI CRISPIGNY inquired, whet wu the irdoe of the relief proposed to be grouted by the Right Gentians*? The Cualicit-Loa of the EXCHTQUIR wid, it wmild teed ma the priuetple of placing it in the irriire e I e vt I V in dividual to protect himself by compounding tor n!I aseesarnents, by the payment of a gistu sum belnim with which lie was at present chuged. Mr. Bwititicrt Impressed au the Right Hen. Celli!. ii the propticty of relaxing the law utth respect to ILc ii•o•• meet of pergolas employed in shape. lbw o f the a i..,t cause, of Ilia increase of crime in the no tropolia %A. t.. '•". farad its she almost entire want of employment l i d yoni people. Msl'Y of "ow persons *hose fate was must mom t would be employed in diffts eat shops, if it bbil , fur the umeat ))))) of this tax. The Citoicit.wet of the rXCIIEQUFS hyped mite al. OR shotold hr referrPti in to re it w.. more Sko v p c " . to, than by the (louse itself. most evtranetlinokr, ti n t it u , In\ interview. he h ad with it no.re..ary to t o loin' atm vie before 1w mule is ru m . growl ball prntlurs ..tom,. !r's rharartPr, fisted i :7 , ', vrideor• *owls /44 this ~I it.) n 11R-1i! 'tho• thsrart. , .: . . 'mil ~,,, rr 1"..r it 10-• li,, ~, II 111411 II just our. . of she testi. tttttt ia', , weir , , l ,„. ilweertifiroVe, sir.n.,l b 1,1. There was nu Covonolo v l ooe navy bnoloo, on 17n7.._ ~ , ,t at th e went, of Ilmtuy, ~ MVO intimato I. ricr•tain I was moose nnI.UP!! I.• . : p m idivotlio,ol than he wee.