The Sun. — London, England, 1823-05-29 00:00:00

ti mof the British Legislature. It was indeed difficult to un derstand what reasonable ground of exclusion there could be aga'nit the Roman Catholics of England from those circum tcribed privileges enjoyed by their religious brethren of the sinter country. He denied that the Catholics had been ex cluded from voting as forty-shilling freeholders on the ground of their religious tenets. That exclusion had been carried into effect against them by an Act of William and Mary, passed shortly after the vaplosion of the great assassination plot. Neither could he admit what he had heard advanced In the course of the debate, that it was a fundamental point in the British Constitution, that difference of religion constituted a ground of exclusion. It was only a reason for exclusion where the Christian religion was concerned—where the shades, of difference laid the foundation for endless warring. But all who would forswear the Roman Catholic religion were admis. sible to the benefits of the Constitution, whether he were Ar menian, Copht, or Hindoo. He protested, therefore, against any such false principle being assumed (el the present OCCA • :don, to serve the purpose of opposition to the Bill of his Noble :Friend. it was afalse position, Urged too for the same pur pose, that any man who voted for this Bill must change his opinion on the greater question.—lle should consider the pets. - severance of the Government and Parliament in an obstinate reftU al to agree to assimilate the condition of the Catholics of the two countries as one of the pointed forerunners to the downfall of the Monarchy. Mr. WETHERELL and Sir 3. 311Acimrosit mutually ex plaineil ; and after a few observations in reply from Lord _Nu oEN P, the motion was agreed to without a division. DUTIES ON MALT AND BEER. Mr. MABKRLEY rose to submit the motion of which he had given notice relative to a Committee on the excise duties levied on the two important articles of consumption, beer and malt. His object was to persuade the House to appoint a Corn mittce to examine into the bearings of the question, in the con fident expectation that such an inquiry would lead to the result -of making the tax on these articles more equable on the general ransomer. He was satisfied that it would be found that it was unfair to make the.poorer classes of the community pay a greater tax on the same article, of necessary consumption, than the rich man. And that this was the case, no doubt could be entertained, when it was considered that a heavy duty was levied npon beer, comprising that depreciated quality of its small beer, most in use amongst the lower orders, - whilst the wealthy orders of the land paid no duty beyond that of the malt, which was the ingredient of their stronger beve. rage. The poor man paid a penny a pot more than the rich,' who was enabled to brew his own beer. It was, therefore, his opinion, that to equalize the burthen of this duty, the tax levied upon beer should be transferred to malt, and this, he had no doubt he should be able satisfactorily to prove, if a Com mittee were granted to him. Ile understood it was to be op posed, and in doing so, he called upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to say why he did not so regulate his taxes that they should press equally and justly on all classes and gradations in wealth. The quantity of malt ditty annually col lected he believed might fairly be stated at 11,200,000/., and the collection of it at 140,000/. • and he must also assume that if the collection of the beer duey were to be added to the malt, -the saving to the country would be 280,0001. a year. The quantity of malt consumed annually appeared to be about 2tl millions of bushels. Of this the public brewer used six millions for strong beer, and for 1,600,000 barrels of small beer per an. num might be added the difference to makeup eight millions of bushels. For the distillery of spirits might be put down 400,000 bushels, and for vinegar 100,000—thus leaving a balance of about 17,000,000 bushels unaccounted for, which exactly sheaved the extent of the advantage of private breweries over public. Thus it was obvious if the beer duty were taken off, and two shillings additional 'laid upon malt, all these private breweries would be touched, and the rich thus made to pay thatavhich the poor only bore the weight of at present. Ile had sheain that, by such a course, the revenue would not be hurt, and a good principle of legislation introduced. Besides which the trade would be thrown more open to competition, by the means of trade becoming cheaper. He concluded by moving, " that a Select Committeehe appointed to consider of the pre sent mode of taxing Malt and Beer separately, and whether it may not be expedient to collect the same amount on Malt alone." The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be was aware that it motion for inquiry was always very captivating in that House, and although it might be contended that the very arguments he used were reasons for going int% the Com mittee, he should nevertheless state them. One of the Hon. Gentlemen's arguments was, 'that by his arrangement much ' , expellee of collection would be saved. In this, however, he was mistaken, for the expence really appeared much more than it was. The tables of collection were necessarily arbi trary and imperfect, because those who collected the Alta duty , collected duties on several other articles of Excise. Thus it was, that although some saving could be made, the whole charge would not be saved. Again, with regard to the Re venue, by augmenting the duty on Malt, the temptation to • evasion being greater, greater vigilance would be required.. This would operate against the amount of saving, and thus. that argument of the Honourable Gentleman was not a very weighty one. The Honourable Member, too, was wrong in supposing that It was the wealthy landlord alone who brewed :at home. On the contrary, it would be found that many agri , culturisis brewed their own beer, and that it was a very pre. velem practice to give beer in the shape of wages to their men. Upon. this supposition. it was, that the Honourable Gentleman assumed that his proposal would shift the bur den of the duty from the poor to the rich; but he would - see that it wOuldin reality have the very . opposite operation in those cases. One of his objections against the_proposition H G 'of the Hon. (gentleman was in point of, time. The way in which it affected him in that respect was, that he was about to introduce measures relative to the duties levied on Irish spirits, 'and as that was a serious branch of the revenue which would entail serious inconvenience should the experiment fail, he did - not wish to enter at the same time upon another experiment affecting; the revenue. He did not mean to say that if he had ant' revenue to spare he would not like to appropriate it to the relief of the beer duty. He looked at that duty simply hi a fiscal point of view, as a matter of finance and revenue. As, therefore, the Hen. Gentleman had failed in chewing that them - would be any great saving in the collection—that the poorer (lasses would be benefited by the change, or any other advan- Aage of a leading nature, he could see no reason for supporting the motion. Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH could not help remarking on the fallacious reasoning of the Right Hon. Gentleman, who gratuitously assumed the argument of his Horn Friend to be 'that this was a question between the poorest and the richest.— Whereas in reality it was stated to be between all the poorer classes and every gradation of the rich portions of the commu nity. This was a measure affecting all the industrious branches of the country ; and there certainly could be no reason far not .appOinting a Committee on the subject. The Right Hon. Gen- Almon treated the question as complicated ; but that was a reason for having a Committee to throw light upon it. But least of all could it be admitted that the Right lion. Gentle man should found an argument against his lion. Friend, by impugning his own official returns. Mr. J. BENETT could not consent to any motion tending, in the present state of agriculture, to increase the duty on malt. Mr. HUME assured the Eight Hon. Gentleman that he was -.himself mistaken in supposing the returns ho had quoted were miscalculated. lie knew that, in making out those statements, the CoMmissioners did their utmost to ascertain accurately the proportion of the cost of collection belonging to the duty on malt with reference to the other duties collected by the same individual. A great saving would be made by adopting the proposal of his lion. Friend. The poorer classes of the commu nity were intimately concerned in it, and on that account, as well as the doubt and misinfinmation that seemed to exist on the subject, sufficient ground hail been laid for going into a Committee. Not one of his Hon. Primp; arguments had been touched, whilst the Right lion. Gentleman had not a leg to stand upon. 'l'ho tax upon beer had been proved to be unequal in its operations, and therefore it'w.as unjust. Ile had no ob. jection to the Right lion. Gentleman's fiscal regulations, as he called them, only he called upon him to proportion the amount of his taxes by the degree of comfort they abstracted from the 'awes on which they fell. tiir JOHN NEWPORT observed that the effect of remov ing the duty on beer and increasing that upon malt, was to pro. :mote the private brewing. He knew that That had been the effect of such a regulation in, Ireland, for in that country, hi thirteen years, the consumption of London beer fell off front 420,090 barrels to 30,000, showing the extent to which private brewing was resorted to when the duty was raised. He found that his lamented friend and the friend to Ireland, Mr. Grattan, 'in 1792, 'made a similar Motion, with the view, as lie stated it, of removing all the oppressive excise regulation on beer. He should certainly vote for the motion dins Hon. Friend. Col. It 001) opposed the motion on the ground that the .proposed change to the levying of the duties would curtail the extent of private brewing, and greatly affect the labouring peasantry of the nation. To raise the duty on malt would be a strange step, after having so lately diminished it. Such measure arould have the effect of interfering with those return ing habits of industry and good order which were attendant upon the people of this nation, being able to indulge in whole some beverage without leaving their own fire-sides to seek it. Mr. WODEIIO USE Could not agree to the motion of the lion. Gentleman opposite for a Commit t e e up on this question. 'He was more disposed to recommend him to withdraw his mo tion at present, upon an understood pledge that the Chancel lor of the Exchequer would next Session come forward to give his serious attention to all the laws affecting the duties on malt and beer. Nothing was more evident than that these laws wanted revision, and that the matter was but little understood, even the quarters where it ought best to be known. It was clear to him that the consumption of malt had considerably diminished for a long time past, as well as in Raol, as Scotland and England ; and he must, therefore, express liis surprise that the highly respected individual at the head of the Government should continue to take the opposite of this fact as a sure ground upon which to rest the views which he entertained on dais and many questions. Mr. WESTERN said, that had the motion been for taking off the duty on Beer, or on Malt; he mould' have acquiesced in it; but as it was with a. ; view to increase the duty on Malt, he certainly could not give his support to, ii. All private brewing, which upon allhands it was admitted vas so bene ficial to the labouring poor, must be cut up by additional two shilliugs a bushel on malt. Mr. BYNG opposed the motion on similar grounds to the preceding speaker Mr. RICARDO said, it hiulleen Proved that the Beer Duty was an-unequal tax, and that of itself was a, sufficient reason for removing It. No lesi objectionable mode of accomplishing that, it appeared to him, could be devised than the present, by whkli nothing would be lost. Lord ALTHORP wax willing to admit the principle of equal taxation with his Hon. Friend who lied just sat down ; but he contended it should be decided by a snore extended and comprehensive view of the state of taxation. It should be „borne in mind, that if the rich paid less in this individual par ticular, they were in some degree entitled to it, seeing how much larger a portion of the taxes they contributed than the pobrer classes, He could not consent to add 2s. to the duty now imposed upon malt. Mr. Alderman WOOD supported the motion. A Com mittee would shew that it was almost impossible to increase ,the duty on Malt. Mr. MONCK spoke in favour of inquiry. He considered the Malt Tax a Land Tax. The landholder paid more in the operation of taxation than the fundholder. Mr. G. BENNET considered an unequal tax was an unjust tax. He supported the motion for inquiry. He could not see why one class should pay twenty shillings duty, whilst another was to pay fifty. Mr. MABERLY replied. One class, he said, paid 24. per gallon, and the other class sd. ; that was a state of things which ' could not continue. The House then divided— , For the Motion Against it - - Majority PUBLIC BREWERS. Mr. F. PALMER brought forward his motion respecting Public Brewers, and moved for leave to bring in a bill to en able the public breWer to retail his beer in quantities of less than four gallons and a half, provided the same is not sold on the premises of the public brewer. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the ob ject of the Hon. Member had in view was already provided for by the law as it then stood. Mr. MONCK, supported the motion, and thought a short bill on the subject would be beneficial to the public. Mr. HERMES opposed the motion. There was no neces sity for any bill on the subject. Mr. J. BENETT made a few observations in favour of the motion. • 27 • 197 • -92 Mr. F. PALMER said, his object was to explain to the public what was not generally known. A penalty of 50/. had been recently levied on a public brewer for retailing beer. To explain what he considered ambiguity he wished to bring in the Bill. The lion. Member, however, after the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, did not wish to press his motion, therefore withdrew it.. Mr. R.. MARTIN moved to bring in a Bill to regulate the issuing of writs of capias at le,gatum, in Ireland. The question being put, the House divided—. Ayes . . . . 43 Noes . . 23__ - Majority . . —2O Leave was accordingly given to bring in the Bill. The House Went into a Committee on the East India Acts, and Mr. Wrzor obtained leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the Trade to India. ..... The Poor Laws Bill was read the , second time, and com mitted for Friday se'nnight. The other Orders of the Day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at ONE O'CLOCK'. A LIST OF THE MINORITY ON MR. MABEIILEY'S MOTION, For a Committee to Inquire whether the Duty now levied on Beer could ho transferred to Malt. Bennet, 110n.11.G. Leader, W. Wood, Alderman Bernal, Ralph 1 % 1 aberlY, W. 14. Williams, W. Crompton, S. Martin, J. Williams, J. Cradock, S. Newport, Sir J. Whitmore, W. W. Denman, T. Phillips, G. jun. Wigram, W. Fergusson, Sir R.C. Rice, T. S. Whitbread, W. D. Folkestone, Visct. Ricardo, D. Grattan, J. Roberts, A. W. TE,T.t.vina. Hutchinson, lion. Roberts, Colonel Hume, Joseph C. H. Robinson, Sir Geo. Moberly, J. Hobhouse, J. C. Sykes, D. PARIS PAPERS. (From the Moufteur.) ARMY OF THE PYRENEES.-'-FOURTH CORPS. " ntroxT FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER SECRETARY OF STATE TO TUE MINISTRY Or WAR. Gznown, MAY, 19, 1023—at Midnight. " Illoxarzuk—A Report of Gen. Donnadieu, dated Castel. Teraol, 10th, six A.M. announces to me, that General Roma. gosa and the Ist Battalion of the 10th, have pursued the enemy as far as St. Felin, driven them out of that village, and esta blished themselves there for the night. " General Romagoaa having returned to Castel.Tersol about six o'clock this morning, reports that a great number of the enemy had perished, and among others the Colonel of the Re. giment of Leon. " General Donnadieu is to march to day upon Mina, who is at Salient. " A report which I have this moment received from General Curial, states that Milano, having about 3,000 men at this time under his orders, has retired from Saint Celoni upon Arangs de Mar, whence, without doubt, he will direct his retreat by way of Mataro upon Barcelona. " I have the honour to be, &c. " The Marshal Duke de Cornegliano, MONCEY." ( From the Quotidirnne.) PAUIS, MAY 26.—The Spanish battalions charged with the siege of Santona, who had been neglected to be supplied with provisions and clothing, were reduced to 200 men—theATreater part of the soldiers having returned to their homes. The be. sieged, in number 2,500, profiting by this circumstance, made a sortie in the night of the 18th, and surprised the 11 and 3d battalions of the besiegers. It is stated that the latter lost 280 men killed, drowned, and prisoners, amongst whom were the Commandant of the 2d battalion, the two majors and adjutants, but nothing is officially known, except that all the soldiers have returned home, and that in consequence the siege is abandoned. [From the Pikte of Tuesday.] PAWN MAY 27...:-News from Madrid of the 10th inst., say that every thing is tranquil in that capital, where the conduct of Abiabal has excited general surprise, which, nevertheless, has not provoked any measure against him. Gen. &yes has been sent with 60 carabineen to the advanced posts of the French army, to treat for the surrender of Madrid. They are unwilling to leave till the French enter, and they wish to have 48 hours, in order to evacuate the town without being disturbed. This information is positive. The following rumours are afloat this morning. According to the reports founded on a letter from Spain, Abisbal having wished to harangue the tinny, and declare the sentiments con tained in the Proclamation which has been printed, was arrest ed, tried, and shot, It is also said, that on Bessieres presenting himself before Miulrid, a violent :combat took place between the soldiers of the Faith and the Constitutionalists, in which the latter had the advantage. We merely give these reports because they appear to obtain a little credit, but we do not vouch for their truth. • Another report says, that immediately on the dispositions of General Abisbal being known to the troops under his orders, the liveliest indignation displayed itself against him ; th e Officers bitterly reproached him with his conduct in the Isle of Leon—conduct whicii should have deprived him of all con. fidenee. He became the prisoner of his soldiers, and only owed his life to the protection of some of the Chiefs. It is thought he will be transported to Seville to give an account of his conduct. It is asserted that the Duke of Angoule►ne has refused a ca. pitulation to the inhabitants of Madrid. ( From the Quotidie!zne. It is reported that the troops under the command of Abisbal to the number of MO have rebelled against their Chief so much had they been irritated by his Proclamation. Abisbal became their prisoner, and immediately after the officer who was at the head of the staff set off' for our head quarters, hoping to obtain a capitulation. His Royal Highness the Duke of Angouleme re fused to receive him, and continued his movement upon Madrid, where it is believed the Duke of Reggio must have arrived on the 23d instant. iFrona . the Pilote.l We announced yesterday the evacuation of St. Ander by General Longa. EVacuation is not'the word, since the Royalis General only quitted the place, upon' his soldiers baying aban. doned hiM on the arrival of the Constitutional Chief Campello, whom they joined. The garrison of Santana made a vigorous' sally on the be siegers (troops of the Faith). The loss of these last has been immense, more than 600 men. The garrison entered Laredo, and took the provisions and ammunition from the besiegers.— Alarm is spreading itself at Bilboa; it would not be surprising if the Pastor (Brigadier Jauriquy) were to present himself there soon with Campello. A detachment that sallied forth from Lerida, met a corps of Royalists, commanded by Illiralles; the Constitutionalists were Victorious, after a very brisk action. The Royalists have been cut to pieces, and their Chief killed on the spot. It is with extreme regret that we find by our correspondence from Gerona, details of the action which General Donnadieu had to maintain against General Roten, details which show that our loss is much greater than we at first thought. The Constitutional division was entrenched on some woody heights ; its positions were formidable. With all the impetuo sity of the French character, General Donnadieu immediately ordered the attack. His order was executed with the enthu siasm and courage which distinguish our troops ; the enemy sustained our attack with great sangfroid ; and not until after a firing which lasted more than four hours, did General Roten quit his possition to fix himself in those that were still stronger. The ardour which our troops have shown in this affair have re ceived the greatest praise. It was impossible to struggle with more advantage against the strength of position, the know ledge ilof locality, and the courage of the warlike soldiers 'of General Roten. SPAIN. On the 24th of April, the Secretary of State for Foreign At. fairs, Ban Miguel, read to the Cortes a memorial on the state of the diplomatic relations of Spain. The lapse of time has deprived this document 'of much of Its importance as well as its novelty; but in consequence of some question asked by a Deputy on the day before the memorial w a s presented, the following note, which relates not only to the conduct of the French Government, but to that of our Ministers, was subjoined : NOTE. " The desire of satisfying the question of an honourable de- Futy in.,,the session of yesterday, the. 23(1, as to whether the rench Government of itself, or, through the medium of any other power, had made any propositions to Spain, after the suspension of the diplomatic relations between the two coun tries, and the Consideration that the explanation of this matter may be the means of removing entire of perhaps great import ance, have induced me to make an addition, which will leave no doubt on this subject, and to enter into details, the state. ment of which I did not, on the drawing tip of' the memorial, think-sufficiently interesting. ; • ' " I have stated that his Majesty's Government communicat ed to the English Cabinet official copies of the notes received from the four Continental Powers, and the answers returned to thoiie notes, explaining the just grounds on which it was thought prefper, under such delicate circumstances, to act in this man ner ; and at the same time that it protested against all claim of interference in its affairs, that it hoped. Great Britain would in. terpose her good offices to avert a rupture which might produce fatal results. The English Government, desirous on its part to preserve the peace of the Continent, (lid In fact endeavour to prevent the war from breaking out; and as the French Govern. ment made alleged vices in our Constitution a pretext for war, England Manifested a wish that we should offer something which might serve as a basis for her negociations. But what proposition could the Spanish Government make under such circumstance? Modifications in the Constitution! To propose modifications to the Cortes would be self-degradation, after having in the memorable sittings of the 9th and 11th of Jan. witnessed so unanimous and solemn an apyirobation of its conduct. The Government, therefore, adhered to its first de clarations, and would not render itself guilty of the most absurd .inconsistency. " While Great Britain was taking these steps in favour of Pence, which, as has been stated, were fruitless, the Spanish Government was shown two or three communications made to Sir William .A'Court—one by the Minister for Foreign Af- fairs, Mr. Canning; and the others by the English Ambassa 'dor in France. In the former, the English Minister stated, that it would be Impossible that his endeavours to prevent the war could have a favourable result, while we made no conces sions on 'our part which might serge as a basis for the media tion. The other two were copies of dispatches which the Eng lish Ambassador in France had transmitted to Mr. Canning, in which he related conversations lie had, had with the Viscount de Chateaubriand on the point in question. " The undersigned Secretary of State does not perfectly re. collect the contents of these three communications, which were read to him by Sir W. A'Court by order of his Cabinet, with out being accompanied by any note, atd of which he ha s on ly a memorandum in his office. lie can only State that the pre. tensions put forth in them were-- " 1. That the Constitution should be declared to be given by the King, from whom it should proceed as from its true source. " 2. That the Council. of State should be appointed by the King, and participate in the legislative authority. " 3. That it should be declared that the time for making re forms in the Con§titution had arrived. " 4. That the Deputies of the Cortes should in future have the property indicated by the Constitution; and something more which I do not recollect. " In the communications of Mr. Canning to Sir W. A'Court no mention is made of the first of these four modifications. "These communications, verbally made anti brought for ward in an indirect and vague manner, could, according to the, view of his Majesty's Government, make no change in the question. Ist, Because the alterations in the Constitution which they involved were altogether contrary to what had already been manifested in the most public manner to the Cabinets of the Holy Alliance. 2dly, Because these alterations are also contrary to the solemn declarations made by the Cortes in the sittings of the 9th and 11th January. tlolemcaautsetertshoeipsruopci high oisitins were notat A le n i d n 4 a th m ly 7 B ie e r ca s u u s i e ta t b h l e e vague manner in which the Viscount de Chateaubriand had declared himself, carried with it all the character of the bad importance. faith of the Government of the Tuileries, of which Spain has already received so many proofs " For these weighty reasons, and others which it is not ne. cessary to state, his Majesty's Government was of opinion that they might over look the insinuations which had been made; anti supposing that the documents would always preserve the confidential character with which they had been invested, the Government did not enter into the subject in the memorial drawn up on the state of our diplomatic relations. But now that malignity has wished it to be supposed that France had made new propositions ; that these propositions had been reject. ed ; and that the inopportune tenacity of the Spanish Govern ment had in part been the cause of the invasion by the French army, it is proper to make known to the Cortes, that the new propositions are the same as the old ones which have been re. jected, since they reduce themselves to changes in the Consti tution; that the Government would not degrade 'itself by such a course of inconsistency ; that the Government is als'o of opi nion that any reform which the Congress might thus snake in the fundamental code, would appear to be wrested from it by terror and force ; and finally, that vague hints, indirectly thrown out by a Government which had given so many proofs of bad faith—which has insulted the Spanish nation—and which has invaded our soil, bringing a vanguard for its army, com posed of factious en em i e s o f the country, do not deserve to be listened to. " In the mean time, while the French Government was thus ambiguously expressing itself to the English Ambassador, it publicly announced th at i t was go i ng t o deliver Spain from her revolutionary oppressors ; and while we were still in full peace, in the middle of February, a French ship of war captured and carried into Martinique the Spanish merchantman Veloz Mari ana, which was bringing to the Peninsula 3,000,000 of dollars belonging to the merchants. On a consideration of this, and a thousand other proceedings on the part of France the Cortes Government could be fully convi nce d t h at t h e con d uct o f t h e could not, in such dangerous circumstances, be other than it had been; that consequently, acting as duty and honour dic tated, its conduct in public and private was the same ; and that if the Ministers should have had any doubt on the propriety of their conduct, their conscience must have been tranquillized in consequence of the patriotic and sublime enthusiasm displayed by the Cortes in the sessions of the 9th and 11th of January, and by the innumerable congratulations which on that account have been presented to the Congress and the Government by many respectable corporations of the monarchy. " Seville, April 2.. " EVARISTO SAN MIGUEL." SEVILLE PAPERS. " ROYAL DECREE. " Don Ferdinand 7th, by the Grace of God, &c. " To all whom these presents may concern-:.know that the Cortes have'decreed as follows : •• •••• 511 " The Cottes, by virtue of • the powers granted to them by the Constitution, have decreed : " Art. 1. The Generals in Chief of the Armies, and in de fault thereof, the Commandant Generals of Districts or Pro. vinees, shall be authorized to form guerilla parties, or free corps. _ Art. 2. The Commanders of Provinces shall be Inspectors of the guerilla parties operating within their jurisdiction, and superintend their regulation and grant commissions, without which requisites it shall not be lawful fur .hem to demand supplies from the people. . Art. i. ho supplies as well as the clothing, and also the organization into companies, battaliims, or squadrons, are to be entrusted to the Generalsin-Chiefi or Commandant-Generals of Districts. •" Art. 4. The rewards to persons serving in the guerillas Anil be awarded by. the Government, on the. recommendations of the Generals-in-Chief.' " Art. 5. In the Districts or 'Provinces occupied by the ene my, all Spaniards are authorized to form guerillas, the Com manders thereof being bound to r e po r t thereon to the Generals in -Chief, and remain subject to their orders; without which the commissions they may receive shall not be sufficient for' them to make war against the enemy.—Sevilk,April 26," &c. The Committee of . Commerce, in the Cortes, having' taken into consideration the complaints made by the Ministers of England, the Low Countries, &c. on the tonnage duty demand ed in Spanish ports, have reported thereon, that all foreign ves sels arriving in ballast ought to be exempt from this duty, when they , come to take the produce of the country away. On the 25th, the regulars and militia belonging to the - 9th and 10th districts wero to assemble at Carmona, in conformity to a circular issued by Gen. Vallacampa. For this purpose he had addressed circulars to the several Provincial Deputations corresponding to the said districts, urging each of them to send one of their own Members there to meet him, in order to concert measures for the equipment and support of the said troops. A few days ago the King visited in this capital (Seville) the celebrated archives of the Indies. What a source of reflections such a scene must present to the thoughtful ! We have soine-1 times imagined we heard the voice of Colutnbus,Cortes, and Pizarro One of the keepers read to the King a leiter from Cortes, addressed to the King in 1522. In it he spoke of dis coveries made by his people in the South Seas, and he requests the King to listen to the bearer of thi s news , at t h e same t i me disregarding those who, availing themselves of the distance of the two countries, counselled him to the detriment of his absent good servants. It seems to us that lie also complained of the extraordinary neglect in the communications, and that for a long time he (Cortes) had heard nothing from Court. Wh at an old malady is this in Spain ! We had already noticed that Prince Hilt was aping Neap°. Icon in his bulletins, at least, since he cannot do it on the score of valour, knowledge, and actions. Those who had never been in Spain, _and cannot know our country geographically, may be deceived by the pompous declamations and ridiculous names given to great fortresses, supposed to be in open towns, vihere a single gun is not mounted; but those who know our country and are told of the fortress of Laredo, must actually burst into laughter, in like manner as they must, when they are told that the French have taken the important fortified places of Vallecas, Gatofe, Carabanchel, &c. General Zayas had entered Avila with his division, where lie had an opportunity of seeing the ravages committed by the Army of the-Faith. _ _ _ _ • It Is now more than a month since the French passed the Bidossoa, and hitherto nothing has happened that we did not fbresee; on the contrary, they must have been deceived in many things they expected to find. Hence, Spain has no rea son for regretting her resolution, yet the French by this time must be anxious when they reflect on the precipitate act in which they are engaged. If we had listened to the threats by which they sought to in timidate us, or the prophecies of those who encouraged the in vasion, by this time they -ought to have been masters of the capital, and the greater part .of the provinces ought to have been separated from the legitimate government, and joined to that the invaders might have thought proper to establish. All this was to have been the work of a few days ! The march of the French troops from the Bidassoa to the Manzanares, ought to have been a triumphal promenade. Thither Deputies from all the provinces ought to have hastened, humbly to so licit the chains and favours of the invaders, and the faction, which they supposed was dotnineering over Spain, ought to have fled,,ashamed and dismayed, or accepted the conditions the conquerors might have wished to impose upon it. Vet nothing of all this has been realized ! and even those who considered this transformation necessary, begin to find they were mistaken. The rebels complain that the French have been too circumspect, whilst the latter say that the rebels and their chiefs have deceived them, for the feelings of the people at large are not such as had been represented to them. • St. S e b as ti an ' s an d Pamplona do n o t surrender ; but rather teach the enemy that they despise his threats. The national army does not disperse, but rather s t rengt h ens an d i ncreases by brave volunteers flock in g to it, and that all are determined to die for the freedom And independence of their country. The war cannot now be re duced to the small circle Louis XVIII. had drawn for it. The force on which he relied is not sufficient, and our resistance is Much greater than he foresaw. In one month, Spain has tripled her physical and moral strength, whilst every day the French army is losing both. HAM BURG H PAPERS. Scuveznix, MAYl7.—The Grand Duke has issued an Or. donnance prohibiting the fitting out of privateers in the ports of the Grand Duchy during the present war between Spain and France ; and likewise the bringing in and sale of merchant vessels taken by privateers. ST. PETER3BURGII, MAY 9.—The Chamberlain Kricozow is appointed Counsellor of State and Civil Governor of Tula, and Colonel Illironow, Counsellor of State and Civil Governor of 'rainbow. STOcxItOI,M, MAY 13.—Count Cederatrom, who com mands the ship of the line Charles XIII. on board which the bride of our Crown Prince is to be conveyed to Sweden, left this city yesterday, on board the steam boat, which goes regu larly between Stockholm and Carlscrona. _ Countess Tascher will accompany her Majesty th e Queen on her visit to Sweden, as Lady of Honour. 11 AMBURGII, MAY 23.—Exchange on London, 37 3-37 6. ST. PETERSBUUCM, MAY 9.—Exchange on London, 9i. CORONER'S INQUESTS. Yesterday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, a Coroner's Inquest was held before THOMAS STIRLING, Esq., Coroner ror Middlesex, at the Elephant and Castle publi c -h ouse, Cam len-town, on the bodies of John Roe and. John Bishop, two bricklayers' labourers, who lost their lives in the following un fortunate manner : It appeared that Mr. Dupre, a master pavier, who some time ago, built a sewer in Drummond-street, Euston-square, had occasion about 12 months since to dam it up about half way, in order to force the water back into a field for the purpose of mak ' ing bricks. Wishing, on Tuesday last, to r emove t hi s dam, and allow the water again to flow, he sent these 2men, about 4 o'clock, into the sewer for that purpose, without any previous precaution, to purify the air. The two men had to proceed about 50 - yards up the sewer before they reached the dam ; and, on their re moving it, a discharge of mud, water, and foul air suddenly burst upon and overwhelmed them. A boy who was passing heard a moan, which attracted, his attention, and h e gave t h e alarm to some men who we re a t work in a field. Augustus Egan, one of these men, stated that on receiving the information from the boy, he instantly went up the sewer, and dragged out Roe, who was still alive. Re conveyed him to the workhouse, here surgical aid was procured, but with. out effect. Mr. Gasket, a surgeon, said that when he was called to 'at tend Roe, he found him in a state beyond th e p oss ibili ty o f re covery. His opinion was that he died by suffocation from foul air, and that a blood vessel was burst in his lungs. Thomas Walker, another labourer, said that he went into the sewer for the outer man after Roe was brought out. The mud was three feet deep. He was about to return, being nearly suffocated, when he laid hold of one of Bishop's legs, and wit h . great difficulty dragged him out; but he was f oun d to be quite dead. He had himself nearly lost his life, being entirely ex haustedwhen he came out of the sewer. The Jury, having viewed the bodies which lay at the work house, returned and examined another labourer in the employ-, went of Mr. Dupre. This man deposed, that on the fatal oc. casion the men were not ordered up the sewer by 31r. Dupre. They had been up three times before, but could not succeed in removing the dam. On Tuesday they went up by their own accord to make another experiment. The foreman and several others of the jury expressed them.. selves much dissatisfied that Mr. Dupre had not taken some precaution before the men were allowed to enter the sewer; and after some discussion on this point, they came to th e f o ll ow i ng verdict :—" That the deceased died of suffocation, occasioned by foul air." • The Jury expressed a hope that either Mr. Dupre or the parish would reward the two men who risked and nearly lost their lives in extricating the deceased from the sewer. The following is the method of shoeing horses practised in some of the villages of Italy : After the animals are thrown on their backs, by means of cords with strong nooses slipped over their heads and round their legs, their feet are made fast to poles, and the operation is then performed. a , .9t , .. Z• . .'''.... * / MASONIC NOTICES FOR NEXT WEEK. - ENGLAND. Monday, June 2, LONDON. Nos. 5, 10, 27, 39, 89, 218, 223, 289. Com. Boy's School, at 7. COUNT aY. Nos. 20, 64, 72, 102, 148, 191,,202, 219, 267, 311, 368, 369, 372, 398, 423, 498, 502, 503, 509, 632, 638, 644. 3, LONDON. Nas. 9, 122, 940, 281, 287, 381, 399. COUNTRY. Nos. 21, 127, 167, 170, 180, 184, 196, 204, 385, 387, 476, 5117, 512, 532, 544, 551, 557, 639. Wednesday, -4, LONDON. Nos. 35, 75, 79, 220. Quar terly Communication. COUNTRY. Nos. 84, 95, 124, 139, 146, 207, 229, 339, 465, 487, . ` 491, 505, 513, 526, 529, 581, 585, 656, 711, 713, 725. Thursday, -5, Lorrnox. Nos. 34, 61, 239, 277, 325, 409. COUNTRY. Nos. 113, 171, 182, 234, 416, 453, 466, 469, 555, 561, 599, 627. .-6, LONDON. No. 210. COUNTRY.' Nos. 13, 30, 55, 58, 470, 538. -7, LONDON. No. 173. COUNTRY. • IRELAND. Monday, June 2, Coax. No. 3-17. Tuesday, 3, Cons. Nos. 3, 95. Wednesday, -. 4, Coiu. Nos. 1, 41. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, • • PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mercurii, 28 ° ' die Mail, 1823. ESTATE—Weinyss i s—Bill read a first time. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN BlLL—Petition of Magis trates of Monmouthshire, for a clause to compel Money pay_ , ment to Workmen to lie on the table. Second reading of the Bill deferred till Tuesday next. BEER DuTtEs BlLL—Petitions of Brewers of Camberwell. and St. Mary-le-bone, against. Report on Bill deferred till June 0. COUNTY COURTS—BiII to regulate ordered. COAL DUTlES—Petition from Milton Abbot, against the Du_ ties on Coals carried coastwise. WATERWORKS—SkiptOn Bills read a third time, and MASTERS AND APPRENTICES passed. NATURALIZATION—Boode's—BiII read a first time. RoAos—Modbury, and Wansford and Bourne—Bills read a third time, and passed. OSSULSTON lacENstso—Report on Petition for Bill read; . Leave granted to give Notices, and Bill ordered. Committee to report on Notices. MESSAGE FROM TILE LORDS—That they have agreed to Shadwell Church Bill—Greenwich, and (iorbals Police Bills Bermondsey, Grange (Lighting), Great Staughton, and Hor sham Roads Bills—without amendment ; and to Trent and Mersey Canal Bill—with amendments. TESTS REGULATION—BiII for regulating the administration of Tests and Qualifications for the exercise or enjoyment of offices and franchises, ordered. EAST INDIA TRADE ACTS [53, 34, 57 Geo. 3, and 2 Geo. 4) Bill to consolidate and amend ordered to be brought in. Poon LAWS AMENDstENT—BiII read a second time, and committed for Friday, June 0. ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR FRIDAY. I. Assessors at Elections Bill—Second Reading. 2. Registry of Vessels Bill—Further consideration of Report. 3. Great Session* in Wales Bill—Second Reading. 4. Quakers Affirmation Bill—Second Reading. 5. Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Bill —Third Reading. 6. Reciprocity of Duties—Committee thereupon. 7. Lancaster County Court Bill—Committee. 8. Commercial Credit (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 9. Unlawful Oaths (Ireland) Bill—Further consideration, of Report. 10. Insurrections (Ireland) Bill—Second Reading. 11. Elections (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 12. Trade—Report respecting Standin g Order to be considered. 13. Silk 3lanufacture Bill—Second Reading. 14. :Tithes Composition (Ireland) Bill—Further Consideration of Report. is. Commutation of Tithes (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 16. Labour of Convicts Bill—Second Reading. 17. Larcenies (Benefit of Clergy) Bill—Second Reading. 18. Capital Punishments Repeal Bill—Second Reading. 19. Felonies (Benefit of Clergy) Bill—Second Reading. 20. Sentence of Death Bill—Second Reading. 21. East India Mutiny Bill—Second Reading. 22. Capital Crimes Defence Bill—Second Reading. 23. Supply—Committee. 24. Ways and Means—Committee. 25. Joint Tenancy (Ireland) Bill—Report. _ 26. Linen Manutacture (Scotland) Bill—Report. NOTICES OF MOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 1. Mr. Lushington—Civil Contingencies, Printing, and deferred Miscellaneous Estimates. (In Committee of Supply). 2. Mr. Goulburn—Remaining Irish Estimates (In Commit. tee of Supply.) 3. Mr. Goulburn—Report Supply. 4. Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer—Vote for a new Build ing for reception of his late Majesty's Library at the Bri tish Museum. (In Committee of Supply.) 5. Mr. Creevey—To take into consideration the Petition from Barbadoes and the other Islands relating to the Four and a Half per Cent. Duties. f;. Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer --Lottery Resolutions. (In Committee of Ways and Means.) 7. Mr. Iluskisson—To equalize the Duties on goods imported. in Foreign Ships with those payable on thelikegoods im ported in British Ship s , i n a ll eases where British Ships are treated with the same reciprocity in Foreigh States. 8. Mr. Curwen—To refer Report on Captain Manby's Petition to Committee of Supply. 9. Sir Henry Parnell—To move, as an Amendment on the Se cond Reading of Insurrections (Ireland) ; Bill, for ap. pointment of a Secret Committee, to inquire into the ex. tent and object of the Disturbances existing in Ireland. NOTICES GIVEN YESTERDAY. Monday, June 2. Mr. Davies Gilbert—Bill to facilitate recovery of Penalties on Convictions before Magistrates. Wednesday, June 4. Mr. Spring Rice—Motion relative to the Conduct of the Chief Baron of Ireland ; grounded on the Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the Fees and of the Officers of the, Courts ,of Justice.. Deterred :non May 28. PRIVATE BILL—SECOND REATANG for FniDA Philanthropic Society Estate. PUBLIC COMMITTEES for FRIDAY., 1. General Turnpike Act 13. Glasgow and Portpa. Amendment Bill at 1. 1 trick Roads 2. Penitentiary . at I. at 2.. KING CHARLES ll.'s RESTORATION-Holiday at the Bonk, Exchequer, East India and South Sea Houses. PRICE or FOREIGN STOCKS IN. LONDON, MAY 29, AT ONE O'CLOCK. Five per Cents. 09i. {Six per Cents. 00. Russian Five per Cents. (Metallic) 00. Ditto New 80i. Neapolitan f Five per Cent. Bonds, 00. 1 Scrip, 00. Five per Cents. (Metallic) 00. {Five per Cent. Bonds, 00. New Ditto, 37g. Scrip, 00 disc. Prussian f Five per Cent. Bonds, 00. 1. Ditto New, 84. Danish Five per Cent. Bonds, 90. Chili 00. Colombian Six per Cent. Bonds, 60k. Peruvian New Loan, QO. Bank Shares al ss. American Six per Cent. 90-08. Five per Cent. 9IS-97. Three per C e nt. 70. i French Austrian Spanish HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. Alorning, 19 minute s after 4. I.F,vei l ing, 3i mintat.% after 5.