The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-04-20 00:00:00

LONDON HOSPITAL ANNIVERSARY, April 13. 1821. kin' Royal Highness the Duke of GLOUCESTER in the Chair. The following Subscriptions, Benefactions, and Donations were ... 1 . HM. 4 to have been received at this Anniversary, and since the last Annual awing : DONATIONS. • s. if a. Mb Royal Highness the Sir Wm.Msard . 5 6 Duke of tHounster, Geo. Palmer, Esq. Do. 6 6 President . 50 0 'Joseph Pulley, Esq. Do. 5 6 1/r. Cobh • 31 10 Wm. Curling, Esq. 6 6 J. Rena*, Esq. Seward 31 IV Mrs. R. . 5 5 N. 31. Rothschild, Esq. 15 IS J. Pulley. jun. - Esq. 5 6 llre. Rothschild 10 10 William Cotton, Lag. 5 111 George Byng, Esq. M.P. Henry Lee, Esq. . 6 6 V. P. - . 10 10 Leonard Currie, En. 5 5 Senj. Steadying, Zig. Thomas Smith, Esq. 6 1 Steward 10 10 William Marla, Esq. 6 6 James Scott. Esq. De. 10 11 Chas. H. Turner, Esq. A I John Curtain, En. 10 0 Column House Agents 5 0 Richard NiehoU, Esq. 10 I lease Cohen. Erq. - 5 Harry Charrington, Esq. 10 0 Sunday small Donations N. Charrtngton, Esq. of Three Guineas and Treasurer . 10 0 less, by Gentlemen of Mr. Alderman Birdt, the Hebrew Nation 79 7 Steward II stirtera .1: a. Thr Lord Bishop of St. David's 31 10 .1. R. Hunt, Esq. . 31 10 Wri.ey Stoney, Esq. 31 10 Wasey Sterreidii. Esq. 31 10 .1. Marshall, . . 31 10 Ellis Williams, sq. 31 10 Y. D. Whalley, Esq. 31 IV subsea' E s. MariaeSociety - 21' 0 I John Schooling, Esq. cnt.t.tcrtoxs. • At the Chapel, after a Sermon by the Eight Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. David's . L2B Si. 6d. Thirty Guineas constitutes a (Slovenia for Life--Five Guineas an Annual 0011111 On JOHN JONES. Seminary. PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORO - 371Mispay, Aran. 19. SLAVERY. The Marquis of lIUNTEV prt4eiited a petition from Elgin, praying for th• abolition of slavery. Lail BEAUCHA3IP presented a similar petition from War enter. _ _ _ - _ . - . __. - SimiLr petitions were presented by the Earl of Shaftesbury and by Lord Ilexley. Earl OROSVENOR took that opportunity of defending the rincipits of those who 'Riled for the abolition of slavery. It was r.ot their wish to attempt any sudden alteration in the !linen), such as it was; but to effect their purpose by gradual measures. CURRENCY OF SCOTLAND. The Duke of ATHOL presented several petitions from towns and parishes in Scotland, against any alteration in the present aye. tem of banking in that country. l'hw Marquis a HUNTLY presented a similar petition from the Fuming Society of Inverness, and several from parishes in A herdwenahue. _ _ _ Mr. Johnson, from the office of the Chief Secretary for Ireland, presented accounts and papers, in purseance of their Lordships' orders. _ . --- Ilii.Crafer. presented an amount of the number of bank notes stamped In Ireland sines 1790, shstingulshing those of five pounds a:..1 upwards. Adjourned at five o'clock. HOUSE OF C03131C7 - ki;7fi - oxEsDAY, Aram 111. ABOLITION OF NEGRO SLAVERY. Petitions fur the abolition of slavery were presented from Stokesly and another place, by Air. Powcer ; from Leicester by Mr. MANSFILLD ; and from the parishes of Crosby and Rarenscroft by Lord LowTnii. Mr. C. PELIJ A ~I moved Re‘olutions for necriinnally holding the Parliaments in Dublin and Edinburgh ; but as no one seconded the motion. it was withdrawn. CO3IMITTEES ON PRIV ITE DIMS. Mr. I.lTTiiß.si said, that in hr. _::;;;beiiiretrieHouse his limo!ottani respecting private Committee , . he wished It to be stn. deniald that thee were not the same which had been submitted to the Committee appointed to consider the subject last year. lie did ro: pretend to have found a means of remedying all the evils con. reeled with the subject, but he wished only to effect some improve. went in the coosthution of Committees on private Bills; it would be impossible to silence all the complaint% made out of doors against -Committees, but these complainants were not always aggrieved. Members themselves had most reason to complain, for th.• conduct of parties out of doors was suehas to render the attendance.,;, Com. mittees a 01051 difficult and onerous task to themselves. All were wim dst in a omitin,eu Dm, in tile most mining eases. the iingants had recourse to every art to protract the proceedings and to cause delay, and afterwards all the blame of an unsatisfactory or slow decision was ascribed to the Members. Such was the course taken, even in the most trifling road Bills; but when any thing of importance was to be decided, all knew how ob. stnnte and acrimonious the opposition could become, and that no expense was spared in order to compass the private views of the sontending parties. Under such eireunistirees it ass rot to be ex pected that either should be Relished, while at the same time they used every art in their power to harass and torment the Members. \Vintner might be the cause of those ills, he thought that the BOWe ought to find a speedy and adequate remely for them. When speaking of the misconduct of Committees, he did not think it necessary to particularise any Instance of abuse, though he felt that he should he warranted in doing so. But if soy fientlemcn were disposed to deny the fact of such misconduct, be must nevertheless admit its possi bility, and that the measure proposed was calculated to prevent it. The misconduct of Cora /Mlle*/ had been often a subject of attention and of speculation, and many remedies had been suggested. One plan which bad been recommended by persons of high character we,, to leave things as they were, with respect to Committees, but to encourage complaints to the House, so that the ideas of men might become more refined and more amenable to the lnfluenye of opinion. Another plan was, to make at the commencement of every session a universal system c.t Select Committees, to which were to be referred all motions pre vious to their being submitted to Private Committees ; but this plan wnuld only tend to increase the business of Members; std when it was recollected the number of Commitees always sitting—wben it was also considered the number of Honourable Members always absent on official business, the occupations a-d the age of others, and the great increase of all kinds of par. Laments?, business; it would LI evident that the plan, which tend. ed to retailer the attendance on committees a more onerous thity than it was at present was very objectionable. There was another plan, more practicable but lees constitutional than the receding; that was so refer every Bill to a commission appointed for the pur. ix before it was sent to the committee; to that course of proceed. .in . , In objected on constitutional grounds; he did object to any unnecessary departure from established usages. The measure, therefore, which he wished the House to adopt, as being both the latest and most practical, with a close adherence to established ' , suttee, was to leave the private cammittees on their former foot. log, but to appoint a select committee of appeal to which the corn. plattas of die parties, on account of any abuse or misconduct of the private committee*, should be referred. Under such a system It was evident that, although the decisions of the first Committee should be guided by motives of pc/1;onel interest, yet that in the helert Committee, appointed by ballot, every cause of complaint would be obviated. But what he was disposed to consider the principal advantage of such a system was, that it would operate not only in the remedy of misconduct, but in its proven. Jim ; tor how was it possible that it would not prevent &Suer, when it should be known that the proceedings of every private Committee were liable and likely to be revised,and that every instance of partiality and undue preference was sure to be exposed ? It was an advantage that his measure was thunded on resolutions, because, if it proved either imperfect or wholly intme. ratite, it was still in the power of the House to modify or reject it altogether, according to the success of the experiment. One of the provisions of his measure would be to equalize the number of Members liable to serve on Private Committees for different coun ties. The Members liable according to the old regulations were very unequal: for Wilts no less than 154 Members might be cane! upon to sit on Committees; for llerhy only 80; foe Somer. set 17G; for Leicester fll ; and for Stafford fir. If the House was pleased to adopt his resolutions by way of trial, he was sure they would be found to hare done much to prevent complaints, and to maintain the character of Parliament. Mr. S. ‘VIIITBREA l) seconded the motion. Mr. RIDLEY COLBORNI admitted that public opinion was a powerful corrective. but he did not believe it could prevent the abuses of Private Committees. Any persons who attended up stairs might ace how a steady opponent, backed by an ingenious t:ouosel. might thwart the most beneficial measure, and defeat it rather by time than by reason. He feared that nothing short of a compulsory measure would prove an effectual remedy, and that the Committee of Appeal would be found to be only a waste of time and money. Mr. W. PEEL said he thought that any change made in the constitution of Private Committees must be for the hi -tier. Any person who went into a Committee room would see sufficient :o ex cite his disgust, at, much money was expended, and so much pas sion was displayed, in the attempt to defeat measures by delay. Marty rape:table Members. in consequence, had refused t o atten d on Private Committees. The adoption cf the measure proposed would tree the Members from many vexations to which they were now subject. It would relieve them front the numerous cards of invitation, with which he was sure they were all acquainted, and from letters begging them to vote for certain measures. Ile there fore coldially supported his Hon. Friend's resolutions. Mr. W. WHITBREAD advocated the measure. The only objection, he said, which he had heard made against It was, that ft "amid increase the duties of Members, and occupy more of their time; but his Idea of Members was that they were sent to Parlia. nom for the service of the country, and that they ought not to come if they had not time to devote to public business. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that al though he had not much experience in private Committees, yet he was aware that many things occurred in them which were not to the credit of the House or of the Members who composed them. d t a~ CCTIOXS. Z .. James Tomlin,. F.sq. 31 10 John Hatfield, Eoq. 31 10 William Porter. E•q. 31 10 Jas. W. Ogle, Erg. 31 10 !Hrs. John Scott . 31 10 'm. hear, jun. E.g. 31 10 John R. Durrant, Esq. 31 10 James Schooling, Esq. 31 10 f►T lONS. t s. as With etspect to the Resolutions of his Hon. Friend, he ventured to say that they would. prove highly beneficial. They were at least worthy of trial ; if a perfect remedy could not be at once devised. they were bound to do the best they could ; if the measure failed in its intended effect, it might be altered or set aside ; but he did not think that the Resolutions should be neglected or opposed, merely on account of anticipated difficulties. Mr. CALCRAFT was decidedly adverse to the Reaolu dons. lie did not know whether be would not take the sense of the House on them. He thought the opinion of the Right Honourable Gen tleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), with respect to the con. atitution of Private Committees, of very little importance, since he had avowed his practical ignorance of them. Committees could not be blamed If they sometimes followed the example of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and acted too much on confidence—hasty to hear, and always ready to decide. Hut he wished to knew what possible `advantage could be expected from the equalizing the number of Members capable of being on the Committees of each county ? Whatever arguments could be found in favour of such • measure, would apply, he supposed, to the representation of boroughs ; and the Honourable Gentleman, in framing the Resolution, had nn. warily become& parliamentary reformer. He thought it highly im proper to agitate the question at the prevent time ; it was, in fact, to anticipate the misconduct of • future Parliament. The clop. tlon of such a measure at the present moment, wouldobviotnly im ply, that the conduct of the next Parliament was expected to be exceptionable. But the proposed arrangements appeared to hint perfectly nugatory. The Honourable Gentleman, In his plan of equalizing the Committee,, had proposed to take one-half from the neighbouring counties, and the other half from the remoter parts of the kingdom, but did the Hon. Gentleman he. lieve that he could get the gentlemen of Devon, for example, to attend to the business of Yorkshire ; he might perhaps vote on that business, but he never would be induced to beer it. Neither did the lion. Gentlenisa pretend to find any remedy for those letters and invitations of which he complained. The Members of Committees would be just as open as before to applications of all aorta ; but he was sure that the Hon. Gentleman had never yielded, and never would yield, to anonymous letters or oblique applica tions, and although the evil remained, he ( Mr. Calcraft) did not feel disposed to magnify it. But the resolutions failed in another point, they left untouched the great cause of delay. It there was any thing objectionable in the delays of Committees, it might be traced to the conduct of Counsel, who undertook to be present in several Committees at the same time (hear, hear), and to the folly of panics who employed such Counsel. (Hear ' hear.) The consequence was, that Committees were often obliged to ad journ, or junior Counsel only were heard, who were imperfectly in structed. With respect to the proposed arrangement, he found that 200 Members were to be chosen by ballot, and seven out of them were to constitute the Committee of Appeal. That Cov.roit tee would be adored to give its attendance till all the business should be finished. Parties appealing would be bound themeelves in the sum of 300/., and two sureties in 150:. each. All these pro. visions appeared to him sufficient discouragemenis to appeals, and if abuses existed, he did not think the proposed measure would correct them; but he denied the tact of misconduct and abuse. There were, indeed, irregularities in Committees, but it rarely hap. tened that the parties failed of obtaining redress in the House. There was no more injustice up stairs than below. The few errors that were committed might be partly ascribed to the fallibility of that confidence which necessarily took place between man and man In acciety. In the course of this year there had been only one or two complaints made. In one case he hail been himself a com plainant (hear, hear), but that case had been set right by the House, and in that the Hon. Gentleman who brought forward these resolutions was the chief performer. He had always found the House willing to correct injustice, and considered the present mea sure quite unnecessary. Mr. W. WYNNE and Lord A LTHODPE made a few observe firms, the import of which did not reach us. Sir M.W. RIDLEY said that nine out of ten cases always found a remedy in that House. It was ridiculous to suppose that the seine motives which actuated the Members of • Committee would not actuate them in the HOUR!. lie had never shrunk from his duty. and he did not think that Members were justified in complaining of the weight of public business; but he thought it important to consider that next Session the Members would be constantly occu pied with Committees on elections, and that the effect of this nits sure would be to throw a degree of trouble on the House which could hardly be supported. Ile therefore opposed the motion. Mr. S. IVORTLEY said a few words in favour of the Resolu tion. Mr. LITTLETON would only say, with respect to what had fallen tram his Hoitouable Friend the Member for Wareham (Mr. Calcraft), as to the conduct of a Committee of which he had complained, that it was made wholly upon an cx pare statetnent. Mr. CALCRAFT explained. The gallery was then cleared for a division, but none took place, and the Resolution was agreed to. Upon the Resolution for appointing the Select Committee of Ap peal of seven Members, to whom the Report of the Committee up stairs should be referred, Mr. BA NK ES rose and said, that he considered the measure would be clogged with difficulty ; it would impose a very onerous duty on 3lenibers of that House, and occasion great trouble; in. convenience, and expense to the parties. In alluding to the in. creased duty it would impose on Hon. Members, he did not refer to himself individually, because, in all probability. he would be Mr. S. AVOIITLEY did not consider the duty would be of that onerous nature imagined by the lion. Member for Dorsetshlre (Mr. Banker) ; and it was not intended:that any exemption should be made on account of age. The Cotnmittee would not sit above two days, and the hours for attendance would be so regulated as to do away any difficulty on that head. Lord MILTON considered that it would be impossible to limit the period of the Committee's sitting. If ;there were a certain number of votes objected to, the Committee would have to go into them numerically, and hear the evidence upon each. Mr. LITTLE TON, and Sir J. OSBORN, said a few words. Mr. CALCRAFT said it was a question whether the House would enforce the duty without haring the power of enforcing at. tendance. 'flie whole business of the House would be impeded by inquiries as to the members of the Committee, whether ti.ey had or had not voted up stairs, because, if such was the case, they would be disqualified from sitting on the Committee of Appeal ; and he wu sure, from the increwie'd time and labour it would ' , lice upon Honourable Members, the sinincot constitutions would not be able to go through with it. The House had already so many prc. Ihninary measures to get through, every day on its meetirg, that it was seldom that any public business of consequence was cnsbrAl to be brought on before seven or eight o'clock ; and if Lion. Mem. ben, according to the resolution, were to be locked up and balloted for, examined as to age, and as to the votes they had given up stairs, he saw no possible way by which they could get through the business, and therefore it wu that he was determiatd to take the sense of the House upon it. Sir T. D. ACLAM) said that the real use of the Committee was apparent ; it would be a known tribunal of appeal, to which a complaint of gross misconduct on the part of the Committee above stairs might be carried. Ile considered it would have the effect of correcting those acts of gross misconduct upon the part of Members, which had been described. Lord A. 11A3III.TON did not consider that the House would appoint such a Committee t or it' it did, that that Committee would conic toa decision as contemplated by the Resolivion. .Ir. S. WO HT E said, that no panicular Member's conduct would be made the subject or discussion in the Committee or Ap. pad. The object was not to inquire whether Aor II did so and so, hut whether the.votta were according to the evidence produced. Sir M. W. 111 DLE Y said a tew words, When the gallery was cleated for a divisions The numbers were— Foe the Resolution . 441 A gainst it . 22 Illaprity in favour of the Resolution - 22 l'pon moving the Resolution that the Secret Committee, in cases of election appeals, should It ive the power to order either party, u they might deem lit, to pay the whole of the expenses on each side. Mr. BARES moved, as an amendment, that the words " that only one Counsel or Agent be allowed to speak on each side," should be added to the Resolution. Mr. HUME said that the appeals would in much more expedi tiously gone through if each party were to appoint a nominee. If Counsel were to be heard. each petitioner would claim to be heard by Counsel, and as there might he a down petitioners, Ware would of course be a similar number of Counsel. After a short conversation between Mr. Stuart Wortley, Mr. Scarlet, Mr. Littleton, and Mr. J. I'. Grant, the amendment was agreed to without a division. 31r. S. WORTLEY gave notice that he would to-morrow move for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the mode of taking the poll at the elections for the county of York. TRADE AND MANUFACTURES. Mr. HUME said that he had given notice of a motion for a Se lect Committee, to inquire what laws exist which interfere with the Trade and Manufactures of the United Kingdom in its detail. Many of those laws might perhaps be obsolete, and it might be imagined on that account that there was no necessity for inquiring into them ; but when he saw such a measure as that of the Pot. tery Bill intrceluced iota the House, lie then felt that there was such a necessity, and he gave notice of a motion accordingly. Since then he hail had some communication with the President of the Board of Trade, who was also of opinion that something should be doe e in the matter ; but as the Session was so far advanced, he had requested that he (.Me. Hume) should postpone it until next Ses sion. To this he assented, and he should therefore withdraw his motion for the present. Still he should bt glad to see some tiny or sixty statutes repealed, which might be enforced by any common informer, to the great annoyance of the trades of the country. • PAVING AND LIORTINO Towss IN IRELAND. Mr. S. RICE moved for leave to bring inallliftWinTrOlitiatcng and amending the laws reapecting the Paving, Watching, and Lighting Citiev and Towna in Ireland.—Agreed to. WRONGOCS IMPRISONMENT IN SCOTLAND. ........_ Ni. J. P. GRANT mowed for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Wrongous Imprisonment Act of Scotland, passed in the Bib and 9th Si, ion of the first Scotch Parliament of %William 111. The LORD ADVOCATE:said that at this late period of the Ses. Si" lie feared the Hon. Gentleman could hardly attain his object ; but though he would not oppose the motion, it must not be under sto, ti that he pledged himself similarly to refrain with respect to the Bill. If it was to be the same as that which was introduced last Session, he must say that there were many things objectionable in that. _ . The motion was then agreed to. MERCHANT SEAMEN'S WAGES. Lord EBRINGTON moved tor leave to bring in a Bill to eon. time and perpetuate the Act 59 Geo. 111. for facilitating the recovery of Merchant Seamen's Wages.—Agreed to. THE BRITISH PRESS. nEsraucTioN OF DWELLING HOUSES IN IRELAND. Mr. ELLIS moved for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent the wilful and malicious Destruction of Dwelling Houses in Ireland.— Agreed to. PRISONERS FOR DEBT. Mr. HUME moved for a return of the number of Debtors in the Prisons of the United Kingdom. His object he said was, to abo. lirb altogether the system of arrest for debt, which benefited neither debtor nor creditor; and the former in general turned out so ill after a lengthened imprisonment, that it would be better for the morals of the country if the law upon the subject were to undergo an alteration.—Agreed to. APPEAL COURTS. Mr. RIME moved for a return of the number of Appeals from the Colonial Plantations and the East Indies, to the Appeal Courts, since the year 1814. distinguishing such u remained undisposed of. Also a return of the number of days devoted by the Privy Council to the hearing of appeals, and the number disposed of in each year, NATIONAL GALLERY. Mr. HERMES brought up a copy of the Treasury Minutes relative to the purchase of the three pictures which had recently been added to the National Gallery. Sir C. hONG said that as he had recommended the purchase of the pictures, he wished to say, that of the three there was one which was such an admirable production, that he thought the sum given was not too much. He had the opinions of Lord Aberdeen. and of other gentlemen, of its value, before he had recommended the purchase. Ile had received several letters from individuals, and amongst the rest one from the lion. Member foe Montrose, re questing that lie would look at a collection of a friend of his. This be declined, not from any disrespect for that Hon. Gentleman, but because he had unguardedly done so in some instances, and had in. variably made enemies, where his opinion happened not to coin. Bide, as to the merits of the pictures, wi:h the opinion of the pro. prietors. There had been only four pictures purchased during two years, and he hoped the Right Hon. Gentlemen would go on slowly, and not purchase whole collections, as in the very best there were always some so indifferent as not to be worthy of a Na tional Gallery. IIIr.HANKES said that ewes in the National Gallery, small as it was, there were already some planets which were unworthy of it. which proved the position of the Hon. Member who bad just sat down. Air. R. COL.BURNE said, the pictures were original, and the finest specimens of art. He hoped also to see statuary in the Na. Ilona! Gallery. He considered the Elgin marbles would be a great ornament to the Gallery. Mr. HUME wished to have the names of the selectors of any . pictures which might be purchased, and to be informed upon whose recommendation they might be bought. The Treasury minute was then ordered to be printed. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at eight o'clock. MINORITY Of Elghty-one, who, on thel , Fth 117stent; voted for Mr. Whitmore's Motion, " That the House do now resolve Itself Into a Committee of the whole House to consider of t7ie present State of the Corn Laws." Allen, J. A. Hondas, Hon. T. Leader, W. Ramshottom,J.jn. Bright, H. Denman, T. Langston, I. H. Ramsden, .1. C. Bentinck, Id. W. Dowthivrell, J. E. Lloyd, .1. J. Robinson, Sir G. Bernal, It. Ellice, E. Mansfield, J. Rice, T. Spring Burdett, Sir F. Evans, W. Milton, Lord Sykes, D. Brougham, H. Fergusson, Sir R. hlonek, J. B. Stanley, Lord Birch. J. Grenfell, P. 2111dmay, P. St. J. Scarlett, J. Barrett, S. B. M. Gwoyne, Gen. Moberly, J. Taylor, M. A. Buxton. T. F. Gaskell, It. Moberly, J. L. Thompson, Ald. Butterworth, .1. Grosvenor, Ha.R.Martin, J. Tierney, Rt. H u.G . Crompton, S. Grattan, J. Moore, Peter Tulk, C. A. Colthorpe, iion.A. Hume, J. Ord, W. Wall, C. B. , . _, ... .. _.., —.... Caithosite, Hon. II obhouse, J. C. Palmer, Gen. Wortley, S. E. G. Hodgion, P. Palmer, C. F. Wyvill, M. Cradoek, Col. lane+, .1. Philip+, G. jun. Wit+on, Sir R. Calvert, C. Jame., W. Pure+, T. Whitbread, S. C. Creevey, T. Kekewieb, Ridley, Sir M. W. Wood, Alderman Colborne, N.W.R. Labouebiore, 11. Roltrt+, A. W. Wigram, W. Corbett, P. Lester, R. L. Hobart+, Col. Warre, J. A. Caulfield, Hon. H. Leyeeder, R. ..... Rumbold, C. R. Wilvon, T. .._ . .. . Davies, Col. TgLLatt Philip.. mid W. W. Whitmore. Paired off for the Motion—lludaon Gurney with Lane Fox. MISSOI ONGIII. The following is said to be a copy of an authentic letter from an English Colonel, who was one of the brave defend ers of the place:— "Sr.A If N E'S,NE•R LEPANTO. MARCH 14. " Missolongbi has fallen. That heroic city, which for eighteen months had defeated the power of the Infidels, and repulsed seventy. two attacks, was taken by storm on the 10th. Poor St. Aubyn fell on the occasion, but he died nobly. On the oth, while we were rejoicing for our late victory, Ibrahim having been reinforced by 7,000 troops, arrived before the place, and again summoned us to surrender. promising favourable conditions, which being refused, sharp affair took place, the result of which was that he fell back. having loot 700 killed, 200 wounded, 400 prisoners, four pieces of cannon, and two standards. On the 9th he returned with 20,000 men, and a formidable train of artillery, surrounding the town on all stiles. We had only 7,000 men to oppose to him, and those worn out with fatigue, but all resolved to conquer or die. In the •‘ CIVCCI the etwearnent in the Church of St. Sophia, and marched to our pests, from which few returned. At twelve o'clock the enemy opened a tremendous fire from 105 cannons and 48 mot. tars, which continued, without intermission, till ten o'clock next morning, when the walls became a heap of ruins. The enemy then vigorously attacked us in four directions, and after two hours' fighting forced their way into the town. The conflict was now raging in the most deadly form. The streets were choked with dead and wounded, whilst the blood was running in streams. The slaughter of the Turks was excessive, as every house was a complete fortress, and the ground disputed at the point of the bayonet, inch by inch. Our gallant French volunteers did wonders. Three times, headed by our brave and lamented St. Aubyn, they charged and drove back the enemy with great loss, taking a number of prisoners: but in making a fourth and desperate attack, our gallant St. Aubyn was shot in the breast, and died in my arms, begging me with his lest breath, to die rather than yield. In the mean time the Governor defended himself with heroic obstinacy in the great Church. but the doers being forced, and most of his men killed or wounded, he sprung the niine, which destroyed both that and the citadel, over whelming himself and two thousand Turks in one tremendous ruin. The enemy having now entire possession of the hard fought town, we collected about 3,000 of the brave fellows who had fought so well, and after a hard contest, we succeeded in cutting our way out, leaving them In possession ct a heap of' ruins, which I have learned hss east Ibrahim nine thousand of his hest troops in the last attack alone. I joined General hours' on the 12th, with 2,500 men, 150 prisoners, six cannon', and nine standards taken from the enemy during the last fatal attack. We brought the body of St. Aubyn off with us, which will be inte:red to-day with mi litary. honours. I received three slight wounds, but am now fast covering." GERMAN PAPARS. FRONTIERS Or POLAND, MARCH 31. Thnngh we are so near at hand, we learn but little of what passes in the kingdom and at Warsaw. There is a report of the arrest of many individuals, and of indubitable marks of a conspiracy simi lar to that in Russia. It would, however, be unreasonable to at. tempt to give an opinion on the subject till the Government itself thinks fit to lift the veil. It is said that traces of participation have been found even in the Grand Duchy of Poem, and that some persons have been arrested In consequence of applications made to that effect. It is not known that any persons have been arrested In Germany or other foreign countries, with the single exception of a Polish General, a companion in arms of Kosciusko, who had resided for many years at Dresden, who was there arrested by the Police on the application of Russia, and sent as a state prisoner to the fortress of Konigstein till after the examination of his papers, which were seized when he was arrested and sent to St. Peters burgh. The accounts we receive from St. Petersburgh itself are very scanty. All is tranquil there; yet an immense stillness prevail, which many people calldespontlency, but the cause of which may be easily guessed at. The investigation respecting the great conspiracy cannot well be vet completed, much less ripe for decision, as it is generally affirmed that the artesis still continue, so that all the fortresses are filled with prisoners who come from distant Governments All this must deeply wound and afflict the heart a the hurnkne Emperor, who would rather dispense favours on all sides than punish. It is said that in the papers of many of the accused, belonging to the first families, there are statements which astonish the Emperor himself. Thus, it is said that in the papers of Prince Bestuchef there are long lists of instances of the most irregular proceedings in the affair, of criminal justice, and of dreadful punishments not authorised by any law. Perhaps discoveries of this kind may have induced the young Monarchs, whose penetrating eyes are turned to every side, to give a new form to the Committee of Legislation, which had sunk into a state of lethargy, and to take it under his own direction. A report says, that the new Criminal Code must be completed in two years. It may be reasonably doubted whether there is any good foundation for the general report that the Emperor, for the remosal of infinite abuses arising from the circumstance that no officer of state can be arrested fur debt, has abolished this im. munity ; at least it should seem that a tneasure which would so powerfully affect the higher classes cannot be introduced, except slowly and gradually ; but it would oertainly give an extraordinary impulse to internal interwar/le and foreign credit. The whole of the financial system is undergoing a thorough revi sion, and great retrenchments are the order of the day. flue Em perm. has begun with his own household, and, for instance, has reduced the daily expenditure of his kitchen and cellar from 600 to 200 rubles. It was found, so says a report which is not without authority, that under the reign of the Emperor Alexander the sums that went abroad for pensions alone antounted to ten millions of rubles. 'flue Emperor has already ordered very great reductions under this head. A well-known Russian Princess, who of late luta resided at Paris, but was previously highly distinguished by the Emperor Alexander, is said to have lota by this means 500,000 rubles. Such retrenchments cannot fail to cause numerous ember. rassmenta at the first moment, especially when they affect the poorer clams of persons in public offices. But justice cannot be moved by individual considerations, and is not accessible to the voice of compasaion, till every one is rewarded according to his merits. Then the salaries of the really efficient servant; of the State will be raised, and acts of corruption he doubly criminal ; and when the . really active servants are duly paid, the inactive ones may be dismissed with the less regret. An English traveller re marks, that there are more clerks by half in the Bank of St. Pe tersburgh than in the Bank of England. Tice public at St. Peters_ burgh, as well as elsewhere, are very anxious about the result of DRURY-LANE THEATRE. This Evening, THURSDAY. April 20, will be performed the Comedy of THE BELLE'S STRATAGEM. Doric Mot, Mr. Wallack ; Old Hardy, Mr. Dowton ; Sir George Touch. wood, Mr. Archer; Flutter, Mr. Browne. Letitia Hardy, Miss Foote ; Mrs. Racket, Mrs. Davison; Lady Tonchwood, Mn. Omer; Kitty Willis, Miss Nicol. After which the new Grand Romantic Fairy Tale of OBEBON; or, THE CHARMED HORN. The principal Characters by Messrs. 0. Smith, Bennett, Browne. I'. Blanchard, Pupe, Howell, Mercer, Younee, W. Bennett. and G. Smith; Misses Smithson, Vincent, and Macdonald and Mrs. Harluwe. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. This Evening, THURSDAY, April 20, will be performed the Grend Romantic and Fniry Opera of OBERON ; • or, THE ELF•KING'S OATH. The Overture and the whole of the Music composed by Cul Maria ♦oa Weber. The principal Character% by Meysn. Braham, Cooper, Parakeet, C. Bland, J. Inane, and Tinney ; lilkees Paton, Lacy, and H. Caws.; Maclaine Veatri., and MIN. Davenport. . To which will be a r ticled the Melo-Drama of THE MILLER AND HIM MEN. Grindoff, Mr. Farley; Mr. Cooper. Claudine, Mn.. Vining Ravina, Mr.. Fauelt. ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE. MR. MATHEWS AT HOME This Evening, THURSDAY. April 20, with an entirely new Entertain ment, In Two Parts, founded on his Oh ions on Characters, Manners, and Peculiarities, entitled MR. MATHEWS' INVITATIONS. PACT 111.—A Monopolylogue, to be called THE CITY BARGE ! Seven Characters by Mr. Mathews. Doors open at Half-past Seven ;Instead of Seven, as heretofore); this Performance begins at Eight precisely. the mission of the Duke of Wellington. His Grace everywhere accompanies the Emperor to the reviews and inspections of the troops, in the uniform of a Field Marshal. Ile is Belt rd in the most splendid manner in the Hotel des Apanages, and is to receive a table service made in the Imperial porcelain mantiLictory, the ornaments of which are expressly designed to illustrate his exploits. It is observed by the public, with great satisfaction, that the climate and fatigues do not appear to have had any unfavourable effect on his health, which, in general, is not very gond. The time for the Coronation is nor yet fixed, and it is pro. bible that it will not be determined till 'lie close of the investi gations into the most extensively ramified conspiracy that history records. VIENNA. APRIL s.—Melalliques, nao; Bank Shares. 1054. APRIL 6.—Aletallitines. 119 3-19; Bank Shares, 1099 1-5. PRICES 0? BRITISH Dank Stock 'Pt, per Cent. Red. 7$ I per Cent. cont. 794 4 Ditto Acct. 'at a 4 j 4 per Cent. n 7 ki per Cent. Rel. K'i 14 NS} New 4 per Cent. 9.1 94) 9e74 The attroCon of the brokers and Scrip. and left olt .lpin• ST i,O O . C ,4 II A S ni I I F , S , T I I 3 IB -1 i .,; /A 1. Y 1 . 6 India Work Vino Bond. 5 6 pm Bills IlMtnl. s Input Ditto MM.I. M 10 prat Ditto Small M In pm Lottery Ticket , 21/. 111. jobbers entirely directed to the new PRICKs OF FUltEttrN adoenblan Bonds 42 Ditto Heinle 11424, 404 4 I 40.4 1 40/ le I Ditto Acc l t. 404 4 1 40! I 4 Danish Bonds 1823) 333 6 lit Ditto Acct. 364 French Genies $ pet Cent. LAt. 23c. ,sc. lichen./ 23(. 60c. Greek Bonds Ditto Bonds (1923) 14e 14 I SI'OCKS YESTERDAY. Mexican Bonds 4.3 Ditto Bonds 0923; 619 2 19 24 1 3 1 Dit to Acct. 62 19 24 2 1 19 29 f 6 PC111%1411 Rondo 27 M 7.: 8 7 9 Portuguese Bonds 72 Ditto Acct. 72 Russian Roods 77 Ditto Acct. 769 Spanish Bonds 8 79 4 9 7 8 74 Ditto Iti.nda 0923; ► 4i ,E 4 rEsTERHAY. Nit ire. Paid. 4nglo.litexican .......... tii.O 50 274 dis Brazilian Bolivar ............ ............ Q•neral Mining Association Potosi, La Paz, and Peruvian Association . . 50 6 dis Tlalpuzahita 4OO 50 121 di. United Mexican Ditto Now... ............... ...... 40 IS 4; dis PRICES UP SHAI NI •.1 , 41/11•SCI1 CoMPANIUL British and Foreign" Ditto Marine Guardian 100 10 1 dig 100 3 100 10 6 pret ISOM RAILWAY!. Liverpool and Manchester . 190 9 14 dis 111 Se g LLA goes. General Steam Navigation '' New Corn ►xchange ...... . .. ►OO 10 die .... 50 3 a (Hs Tc kr 3Ortinit ADELI'HI THEATRE. Mr. YATES' Entertainment having met with Increased success, he will repeat It every MONDAY, Til URs DAY, and SATURDAY, consisting of Sketches from Life, Manners, ano Peculiarities, entitled YATES' REMINISCENCES; OR, ETCHINGS OF LIFE AND CHARACTER, In which he will introduce the following Songs 'Masquerading"—" Vauxhall Gardens”--" Smithfield Cattle Show"— "Pawabroker'4 Shop"—" Humours of an Election"— "Theatrical Fund Dinner." To conclude with a Monopolylogue, entitled MR. CHAIRMAN. In which Mr. Yates will su'.taln Eight different Characters. Boxes; As. Pit, 2r. Gallery, Is. Dome open at Seven, and !mein punctually at half-past Sevin. Half-price at Nine. The BRITISU firms Commenced puohshing yesterday morn ing at a quarter before seven o'clock. LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1826. The accounts from St. Petersburgh continue to afford proofs that the Emperor NICHOLAS is desirous of gaining the good will of the liberal party throughout Europe. He is perfectly sensible, it is said, of the inefficiency of the pretended European Police, which declares that it knows the whole of the ramifications of all the secret associations in Europe, though it could give no information relative to the plot of the !?6th December, in Russia. Ile has accord ingly signified to the Courts of Vienna, Berlin, and Paris, Mat be can no longer permit any connexion between the police of his dominions and that of other countries. This is the cause of the reduction in the expense of the Russian police establishment, by which it is supposed t!:at many secret offices and correspondences out of Russia will be ren dered entirely useless. Movements of troops towards the frontiers of Turkey are spoken of, but the news is discre dited, because the season is not yet sufficiently advanced for military operations. The ice on the rivers is scarcely thawed in central Russia, and only three weeks ago a foreign diplomatist had both his eats frozen on the parade of St. Petersburgh. The roads in the Ukraine are still im passable from the rains. The King of Prussia has promulgated a decree re-esta blishing the former titles and armorial bearings in the Grand Duchy of the Rhine, which were abolished by the French while that country was in their occupation. We were long reluctant to believe the reported fall of Missolonghi, and we are glad to have some cause for hoping that the evil (lay has at least been put off for some time. The temptation which speculators in Greek Securities throughout Europe have to invent false reports, and the extraordinary facilities of doing so without detection, render the accounts circulated about Greece, in all cases, extremely suspicious, and we cannot therefore abandon ourselves with out reserve to the satisfaction which even this hope has given us. The evidence, however, seems, on the whole, to be fa vourable to that hope. The Journal des Dehats has very ingeniously retracted its assertions respecting the fall of Missolonghi, at the end of its critique on the improrislitiun of Signor Soatcct on this subject, by observing, that new hopes begin to be entertained for that fortress. Our readers will recollect the instructions sent by the police of a province in Spain to its subordinate officers, translated in a late number of our paper. The details given in the Etude of Thursday serve to throw some light on the causes of alarm which had induced the Spanish Government to have recourse to such measures ; and we shall merely repeat at present, that the Spanish emigrants in this country, who ought to be best ac quainted with these subjects, assert their utter ignorance of any such associations as are there mentioned, and if they had any such designs as are ascribed to them, would deserve little praise for their prudence in thus incrusting their secrets to a man so rash and ill-advised as IlAzax. It is positively affirmed at Madrid, that a new treaty of occupation has just been concluded, and thai. the French troops will continue in Spain till 1829. The retire ment of the Due nat. INFANTADO is still spoken of, and the only difficulty seems to be to determine who shall be his successor. The moderate party wish fur the Count d'Oeat.LA, the apostolical party for ('m, ov. The Consfil u ti onne l s t ates , on t h e cre di t of a letter from Lisbon of the Slat March, that Don Pens() was p ro . claimed KING of PORTLIGAL on the 27th, immediately after the arrival of a despatch from London ; and that order s had been given to establish a cordon sanitoire. under the pro. tection of the English fleet, on the coast between Penidie and the Algarvea, or from Cape St. Vincent to the I ;uatliana. On the 2lst of March a strong English fleet is said to bare passed within sight of Lisbon, steering apparently for the Straits of Gibraltar. The same squadron is also said to have been observed from Carthagena. In this we think there must be some mistake. A deputation, at the head of which is the Duke of LAFOeNTS, a near relation of the Royal Family, has been appointed to go to Rio Janeiro, for the purpose of complimenting the new Ki ng of PoRTLIGAI. on his accession ; but it is supposed that the principal object of his mission will be to deter mine the future relations of the Brazils with Portugal. A box has been fixed at the palace of Ajuda, in which complaints and petitions to the Government are to h e d e . everyofmembers it.attend posited, day a t r the It has been reported in the saloons of Paris that a serious altercation had taken place between the President of the Council (VILLE t.E) and the Minister of Finance. We have received the French Papers of Monday, a n d the Efate of Tuesday. The following are extracts:— . _ 11 1 n : e e l 7 t t of the attack. The rt. [From the Etoile, dated Tuesday,‘ pt l . f rift r a l cin l i l : :: a: : :i fi ,,:er, 4,3:lrliie7sttihersoadngfiliriottmteoCritioorshfuuecitedf ed hi 2 a t dre h p:tehniadlitn26gthteh every port of the return of the Greek fleet from Hydra 35 unfortunately not confirmed. (•). . . Our letters from the Archipelago only come down to the 22d March. The following are extracts " On the 9th of March the Turks made themselves masters of the islet of Vaseiladi, after a few hours' combat. On the 12th they took Anatolia), which made a vigorous resistance. The inhabitants asked of the Seraskier and Ibrahim, who were present, that their wives might be spared,which was granted. Some Suliot and Acer. nanLin soldiers, who were in Anaiolico, endeavoured to cut their way through and escape. Part succeeded and the rest peri.h et h The inhabitants, to the number ot 4.700 souls, who surrendered, have been conveyed to the province of Arta. Each family Lad per. mission to carry away SOO piastres (about MO francs), the rest o f the effects and ready money was given up to the soldiers of raskier and Ibrahim to be plundered. During the attack on Va. s i. lath and Anatolico, the Greeks in illissolonglii made a sally to en. deavour to save their countrymen. The combat was maintained on both sides with great obstinacy ; and those ot Missolonghi, seeing their point of defence in the hands of the enemy, are resolved, i , is said, to open themselves a way to gain positions which cannot be blockaded. The coronation of the Emperor of Itug:ia will take Once, as we have already stated, in the month of June. • ' . The Duke of Devonshire left Paris the day before yesterday for London, whence he will go to Russia by the Baltic, on board a steam boar. _ _ The Duke of Ragusa is to leave Paris tomorrow, to repair to St l Peiershurg h. What the journd des Drbals sayito-day, of a new treaty of or. eupation between France and Spain, which is to end in 1112.9. is as devoid of foundation as the news of a cordon sastifedrs, which tho Coostitationad pretends has been formed on the frontiers of Por. tool The Roman Journals affirm that the Austrian troops oecupyir.g Palermo were preparing to leave ir. The little fort of the Mole was to he given up to the troops of his Sicilian Majesty on the 221 of March. MADRID, APRIL G. The Thfanta Donna Louisa Charlotte was delivered of a Prince on the 4:h, at half.past eleven at night. The baptism, which was to take place the next day, is deferred, because the Duke arc{ Duchess of Orleans, who are to be sponsors, h:td not chosen the perrons who are to represent them on the occasion. . . ---.-- This event, which was not expected so soon. delayed the depar. tore of the Court for Aranjuez. It was not till nine this morning that the King set out for that place with the Infant Don Carlos ar.il the two Portuguese Infantaa. Don Francisco remains at Madrid till Donna Louisa Charlotte is recovered. The Duke del Infantado and M. Calomarde are, as usual. the only Ministers who accompopy the King. The first will come to Madrid once a week. An Ex-Deputy of the Cortes. who was PM. ccaled at Madrid, has lately been arrested at Madrid; it is the Priest Thomas, formerly Grand Vicar of this city. As he is one of those who voted at Seville for the wippres..ion of the Royal power, it is said that the S,la de Aleades has already applied tilt him the law which condemns the author of that crime to death; but it is added that the Archbishop has refused to proceed to his previous degradation. It is probable he will only be imprisoned for life. It should seem that the measures of defence, and the timer. dinary precautions both on the coast of Gallicia and that of St. Antler and the Iliscayan provinces, have been caused by informs. Lion which the Government has obtained from the confessions of Baran and some of his accomplices, and from the pipets found on them. If we may believe reports, which are pretty well founded, the following is the substance of t hi s information _ . . That there Is at London a directing revolutionary Committee, of which Alin' is president, and Romero Alpoente, Rids de la Viva. and Flores Estrada, es-deputies and violent comma:gem members. _ _ That the Revolutionists at London are formed into two societies, that of the Lobrodores del Borgne (labourers of the forest), and that of Amigos dcl Bien. That these Societies are composed of French, Italians, Portuguese. and Spaniards. That the discuss the means of revolutionising, first Spain ; and that Mr t uffs purpose the en. voys of Mexico, Colombia, and Buenos A yrea, furniah therefore' with money. The principal expedition which they propose is raid to be intended against Gallicia, and to be commanded by a gentle man of that province; Lieut.-Colonel Pineyro, of the artillery. a pretty good officer, who calls himself the Marquis de Bends a, though he is onlyithe brother of the Marquis. Another G Ilician officer, Banos, formerly Political Chief of Corunna, well known for his exaggerated opinions, and by his influence on part of the popu lation of that province. is now at Oporto, and has 6,000 muskets concealed on the Spanish frontier, near Tuy. Two other revolutionists, Casseda, a distinguished officer of sr. tillery, and Pacheco. his father-in-law, formerly a srngtain and a journalist, man of mean abilities, lives at Lisbon, and corresponds with persons of influence in Portugal. Societies of Republican Masons exist, it is added, at Ferrol. Corunna, Santiago, Carthagens, Valencia, and Grenada, and communicate with the Commit tee at London. That the Es-Deputies, Ovalle and Pilo, are entrusted with what concerns Gibraltar ; and lastly, that a French Ex• Colonel, who is lame of the right foot, was to go secretly to Spain at the end of February. FRENCH Ft:NT/S.—PARTS, APRIL 17 —Five per Cents.. 961. f.5e.; Three per Cents., Of.; Bank Stock. 2,025 f.; Remits ee Naples 71r. 41k.; Royal Spanish Loan, 441 f.; Ilavtian Loan, 7f— Exchange on London, one month, 25f. hOc. ; Three ditto, 2,t. 30c.—Coa .r Authcatipc. - - • (s.) The Elode gave the details of the taking of 31issoteright from two Morning Papers, which gave them as coming from an authentic source.—EDlTo R. The Opposition has evidently given its support to the Ministry on the subject of the Corn Laws, tot from any deliberate conviction of the benefit to be derived to the country from their abolition, but from the certainty that it would tend to lessen its popularity with the landed interest. The Opposition Members are well aware of the many difficulties which attend the discussion of the ques tion, owing to the conflicting interests which it involves, and they were desirous on this account to force it on the House previously to the approaching period of electioneer ing contests ; tut these underworkings of party had been foreseen, and the motion met its fate accordingly. Mr . Ilesztssox, in the debate on Tuesday evening, stated openly, and without hesitation, in answer to the call insi diously made upon him to redeem his pledge, that there were certain questions which, f r om th e ir magnitude and importance, bad been con s id ere d by G over nment as better left in a state of abey a nc e un til th e new Parliament ; that among these was the question of the Corn Laws ; and that the prudence of abstaining from the discussion of this, with the rest, had been distinctly intimated, and was consi dered as acceded to. There is certainly no subject that requires to be emitted with greater coolness than that of allowing a fr"l trade in corn, and yet there is, unhappily, no question of policy that is canvassed with greater irritation. If by any revision of the present system, the ports of Great Britain can be at all &imes thrown open to foreign grain, and at the same time a fair remunerating price be securtd to the pro- duce at home, a most desirable result will be accomplished ; a result most acceptable to all branches of the community. But, in the mean time, we call to mind the warning apho rism of Mr. BURS I : " It is a perilous thing," Says that II I f