The Sun. — London, England, 1823-03-05 00:00:00

occupation of the British ships of war on the Jamaica Motion, and diverts their attentll filfm - the protection:orPritlsh commerce and the suppression of piracy, might be properly regulated and restricted. At the time these letters were written, the . Admiralty laboured iinderkreat unpopularity, Taunts were thrown in many of the public papers upon their naval administration, which WAS fitated . to hav e redueed the Ereittest naval power in the world to receive that protection to her commerce from the cruisers of the Mnited,States, which her own navy did not give ; galling com pariions.were made hetWeen the activity of th e American ships of and the apathy Of our own ; the repeated accounts were given of depredations committed upon British Commerce,"and atrocious barbarities practised upon British . subjects. At such a moment nothing could beluore opportunetor redeeming the 'character of theAdMiralty in the estimation'of the public than the appearance;of these letters in all the daily papers. It ope rated cola a charm in allaying the irritation. and disquietude of the public mind,' and led to a general belief that our trade was fully proteeted, and that the piracies would soon be suppressed. When, however, the Admiralty found that these statements did not pass current with the plain men of busineas to whom they were addressed, 'they seem to have felt sore, and they treated the Committee of Lloyd's, who for months past had re peatedly rung their dismal tales in their ears, much in the man. ner that King Richard the Third is described by Shakspeare as treating his messengers of evil tidings. • ". Out on ye owls, nothing but songs of death ? " ' Th ere, take thou that, 'till thou bring better news :" and the King, suiting the action to the word, gives the poor fel low a good knock-down blow. In cases were men propagate contradictory reports, the usual course is, to produce their re spective authorities, and thus ascertain the truth. The Com 'mace for managing the affairs of Lloyd's did this; but the Admiralty, instead of following their example, broke oil'' all intercourse with them in a tone of offended dignity. 'We have the highest possible authority for the right rule of conduct on such occasions. When one of the Apostles 'was incredulous, his Divine Lord and Master immediately gave-him the sods; faction he required ; but had an individual been, placed in the same situation, who had not the means of removing his doubts, what would he have done ? Just what the Admiralty did : he would have talked of the marked disrespect with which he was treated, of the little confidence that was placed in his communica tions, and have broken off all further intercourse with the unbe lieving disciple. My firm belief is, that the papers I move for will not justify the assertion contained in the letters of the Secretary of the Admiralty. If they do, they . will only transfer the blame to those on whose communications the assertions in question were founded. l• have shown them to be con trary to fact; and it is just and necessary that the real authors of the misrepresentations which haie been made to the public should be known, in order that They may be 'exposed and punished as they deserve.. I shall therefore now move,— "'That an humble addres.s be presented to his Majesty, pray ing that he will be graciously pleased to direct that there be laid before this House copies of the letters from John Wilson Croker, Esq., Secretary of the Admiralty, to Mt. John Ben -nett, jun. dated the oth of October last; and to Mr. Alderman Daniel. of Bristol, dated the 10th of October last, together with copies of the minutes or resosoltions of the Board of .Admirlty, in conformity to which the said letters . were written. Copy of a letter from Captain Walcott, of his Ma eesty's ship Carnation, to the Secretary of the Admiralty, dat d the 12th of August last. • Copies of the log-books of his Maje.sty's ship Carnation, from the 10th of August to the 15th of September; and of his Majesty's ship Dotterel, from the 11th to the 22d of August l as t. C o py o f th e Address from the merchants at Havantutit to Captain Warren, of his Majes c's ship Seringapatani, dat e d th e 14 t h o f December last."-- lear, hear, hear !) Sir GEORGE COCKBURN said, he should trouble the House with a plain statement of facts, and a few observations. Ile was sure he should be able to convince the House that the motion of the Hon. 111 ember for Sandwich was founded in error, snd that it would not have been made in case the lion. Mem her and the Society of Lloyd's had condescended to receive in. formation from the Admiralty.—( Hear, hear!)—lt would be necessary to meet the question upon two points, because the Hon. Member had mixed up transactions in the West Indies with the conduct of the Admiralty. At the time the letter was received from Lloyd's, stating the capture of the Vittoria, the Admiralty lied made every arrangement for the protection of the West India trade. They had received a letter from Capt. Walcot, stating that the Carnation was arriving off' Cape A.n tonio. That Officer had sailed from the Havannali, end was proceeding to take his station off Cape AntOnio for the protee. tion of the trade, according to the 'orders of Admiral l itowleY ; but in consequence of news of the capture of th e Vit t o r i a; s h e sailed again for the Havannah, and fell in with 17 sail of mer chantmen, all safe. As the Dotterel was to sail on the 14th from thallavannali, it was expected that vessel would see the trade safe through the Gulph Stream, and secure their safety. If she did not see them round Cape Antonio, he should himself insure their safety. The Gallant Officer read an extract from the letter, and added that the conduct of Admiral Rowley for the protec tion of trade was approved by the Admiralty. It was quite clear from the letter, that the Carnation sailed from the Ha muth to go to Jamaica. The Commander was, however, anxious to stay off Cape St. Antonio fo r t h e protect i on of the trade, and he did not leave them until they were in safety, AVith respect to the Doterel, s h e was re p orte d i n the letter to be going through the Gulf, and consequently she was ready to protect the trade in that . passage. It was clear from this letter that the Admiralty was In possession of information respecting the trade, but it was too much to tell the Society a t Ll oy d' s , that the oterel would give protection,' because she might not trill in with the trade, but the Admiralty said the Car nation was going to Cape Antonio; and that the Doterel was in the neighbourhood. The 'Admiralty had no idea the above information would give offente, but to their great sur prise, the next d a y came a l etter f rom Ll oy d' s , say i ng t h e information was not , correct, and that they had better informa. tion. ' With respect to the Doterel, they found she was at Newyork ; but the Admiralty knew all that could be known at Lloyd's, and they thought it b e tt er t o i nv i te, the Gentle. men of that body to conic and receive verbal information. The Admiralty thought it fair to place before them what gicy could not put in print, namely, the disposition of the Vest India force. At that time nine or ten sail 'were em. ployetl for the protection of the merchants. After the in vitation was sent, the Gentlemen being disposed to amuse themselves on. Saturd a y, sa id they would come an Monday. They did not, however, come to the Admiralty. They said they had b een i nv i te d b y t h e S ecretary Instead of the Board. ',Vhe . Adrriiialty replied, that they hail directed the Gentlemen should be invited in the usual form, and if a mistake had oc curred, it was not from intention.—{Hear, hear, hear I)—The Gallant Officer submitted to the House, that the Board, stand ing in the situation of Lord High Admiral, did quite enough when they said, Gentlemen, we did not mean to offend you, but we were under a inistake.”—(Hear !)—They wrote a letter .in those terms, and the answer, to their surprise, was, that the Admiralty acted wrong. It was then impossible to continue the correspondence. The Committee of Lloyd's said they knew no reason why a verbal communication should be given instead of a written document, and that it was necessary to have a com munication in writing. It was impossible to go about dis cussing Whether the Admiralty were right or not.. It was ne. eeuary the information should be correct ; but' if a dispute were suffered to arise, as to whether the Admiralty informa tion or Lloyd's was most correct, I there would never be an end to it. Although the Admiralty were ready to give infor mation, they would not enter into such a dispute, therefore de clined further correspondence. If any public inconvenience could possibly have occurred by the course the Admiralty pursued, they might have paused, but it did not appeer neces sary to keep tip the correspondence with Lloyd's. He knew all the merchants at Lloyd's. It was true that they insured the ships of all nations, and information might be of great im portance to them but it was consid ere d more regular to give information to ship owners, than persons at Lloyd's. Under any circumstances the Admiralty were proper judges whether information they were disposed to give ought to be verbal, or in writing.—(H ear , h ear I)—He therefore did think the Com mittee of Lloyd's had been wrong in saying the ,y would have i nformation in their own way. Th e Honourable Gentleman had thought proper to say_ there was not suffici en t f orce f or the Protection of the trade. The fact was, the Carnation was sent out to the Gulf of Mexico Y ; she was to comm un i cate with era and Santi ago , and take in specie. She went to the Havannah, and was sent by the Admiral to take her station off Cape Antonio for the protection of the trade. The Timor, had similar orders. The Hon. Gentleman had argued as if the Ha vennah, Cape Antonio, and Saddle Hill were the same place. Cape Antonio was 100 in ilex froneSaddle Hill. The Admiral took eare.to station vessels off Cape Antonio; the Scout, as early ap the 19th of May, was stationed there. She was obliged to give up the station, and the Admiralty sent the Tyn e t o take her Place. The Hon. Gentleman said the merchants waited *for conv(l until the 27th of May, an d yet the Scout was on the station on the 19th of May. The Athi Scout, the Tyne and the genia all ready to afford protection. The Admiralty had it in their power to have made out a strong case against the as. sertions at Lloyd's, but they had mind enough not to regard all that was said. With respect to the destruction of the 'Pirates, it was well known that the coast of Cuba was not coast to be quickly cleared of the pirates which infested it. They used, vessels called passage boats, in which the a,..arauders, with long knives, boarded vessels and made their Convoys could not protect vessels, because the boats ran ashore, and the crews escaped. The. Adrni t4ltY thought it their duty to put dawn the system of plunder at once. which readily A.pplication was made to the Spanish Government, consented to give assistance. A force was then 244 4 !{) atibdue them Spain furnished troops to take them, after the British vessels strove them ashorc. The number of, Pirittis,destroyed were Pirate vessels taken . 19 _ Pirates killed _ _ _. . 20 Pirates to be tried by the Admiral . - - 40 Taken by Spain • - - • - 17 Total of men killed and taken - If a contrary course had been pursued,, not one of these men would have been brought to. punishment. So soon as these desperate men suffer death voluteers would not: be found, to carry on the trade. If the Honourable Member for Sandwich hid seen the Papers.he would not have considered the Admi ralty liable to blame. On the subject of removing specie in King's ships, Admiral Rowley had expressed a wish that the merchants would take their money; in merchant ships. Their answer was—No ! If we comply with :your desire, it will ruin trade. It was then too much to say Officers had a sordid view in the discharge of a duty they were obliged to perform. The Gallant Officer concluded by observing, that he had said enough to indite() the House to acquit the Admiralty of the charges proposed by the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. T. WILSON regretted extremely the misunderstanding which had taken Place ; and though he could not go entirely with the statement of the Hon. Gentleman (Sir George Cock burn), yet he trusted the discussion of the subject in that House would lead to the renewal of the correspondence, which was of so much benefit to the public. • - Sir ISAAC COFFIN made some remarks, condemning the conduct of the Committee at Lloyd's, Which want of space com pels us to_omit2_ Mr. BRIGHT was much gratified that the statement of the Noble Lord of the Admiralty had vindicated that Board. Sir G. COCKBURN explained. Alderman THOMPSON suggested, that as it was appa rent to the House that exery satisfaction sought by the Gen tlemen of Lloyd's might have been obtained.if they had gone to - the Admiralty, it would be better to withdraw the motion. Mr. Secretary CANNING rose for the purpose of enforcing the suggestion of an Hon.. Member (Mr. Bright), and to ex, press a hope that the lion. Gentleman would not press his mo. tion to a vote, which would shew a disposition to cast blame on the Admiralty ; although for blame there could be no. pretence The Right lion. Secretary bore testimony to t h e trut h of. the Gallant Officer's statement. When the question was pro. posed to him, whether a written communication was the only one that could be received ; and when the other alternative was proposed, namely, whether Lloyd's should abstain from com. mg to the Admiralty, and the Admiralty, go to Lloyd's ? he thought it was rather more seemly, that the Gentlemen of Lloyd's should wait on' the Admiralty. Ile was convinced such communications, so far as public benefit was co ncerne d, ought to be m a d e i n ie usual way, and his hope was, that after this night there would be na difficulty in making such commu. nications in the usual w a y. If an y d ou b t should occur in future on the question of form, Dr. Trusler's principles o f poli teness might be studied, in or der that no offence be given to Lloyd's. There was another question, namely, whether a proper force had been kept in the West Indies. That question did not properly belong to the Department of the Admiralty, because it was clear that the force on the station would have been sufficient, under common and ordinary dream stances.. Their object was to destroy piracy at once, but it was found, without a Spanish force on land, nothing effectual could be done. It Was doubtful 'whether a Spanish force could be obtained, and the landing of a British force on neutral land without previous application was not ad visable. No, one could read the newspapers without feeling that instruction WAS given.to apply for permiision to land such a force. That order had fille t f Europe with reports of the in. tention on the part of this country to occupy Cuba, but what. ever blame might attach to that application it did not fall on the Admiralty. It was the Act of the Government. In case permission bad not been. given, the order was to land in op.. position to Spanish remonstrance ; but Spain admitted the rea son, and cheerfully assented to co-operate with our force. A. more stern Government might have seen the question differ ently, and have made it a case of offence. The , Right lion. Secretary stated this to exonerate t h e Admiralty, and lie ex. pressed a hope that under the good humour on which the de bate had turned, the Hon. Member' would withdraw his ma tion and renew the communications with the Atuiralty on the usual terms. Mr. MARRYAT, in reply, said, that the mother of the Committee of Lloyd's were much misunderstood, If they were supposed to be retarded by any foolish notions of etiquette,: or any thing but a sense of duty, in declining to receive verbal communications from the Admiralty. Ile laid the whole of the correspondence between the Admiralty and themselves be. fore the subscribers, and then call e d a general meeting, f or t h e express purpose of taking it into consideration. At that meet. ing, consisting probably of not less than a thousand subscri. hers notwithstanding all the i nter e st t h e Secretary of the Ad. miralty could muster, only three hands were held up against a vote of thinks to the Committee, for the manner in which they had conducted the recent correspondence with the Adini. ralty. This shewt the opinion Of the great commercial body of this metropolis on the pres e nt subj ec t, and is most triumphant proof of their approb a ti o n o f t h e conduct of the Committee for managing the 'Weirs of Lloyd's. Let me suppose, for a moment, that the statements contained in the letter of the 9th October had been made verbally by the Secretary to the Coin. mittee, and reported by t h em to the subscribers to Lloyd's._ that the subscribers, relying upon the authenticity of th is corn , munication, arid taking it for granted that the tr a d e was f u ll y protected, and 'that the piracies were about to be suppressed, had sustained great losses, and had called the Committee to account for having thus deceived them—the Committee must have referred to the Secretary to the Admiralty for the fidelity and accuracy of their report. The Secretary might have stated, that they had misconceived and misrepresented part of what he had said. Ills word would have been as good as theirs, and they might have been censured and disgraced for having received anti reported verbal communications. Perhaps it is not generally known, that the last Committee for managing the Affairs of Lloyd's Were,actually turned out for alleged miacon. ' .duct on this very point, of. communicating intelligence to the subscribers. In the year 1010, the subscribers to Lloyd's paid not less than seven millions of money for Vessels trading to the Baltic under licences, that were confiscated at one sweep by order of Buonaparte. Shortly afterwardi it came out that the Committee at Lloyd's bad been Warned of the probability of this event, by the Secretary to the Admiral then command ing in the Baltic, but had not communicated his letters to the subscribers at large. A general meeting of the subscribers was convened. The Committee justified thernselvei on the ground that they were appointed solely to manage the pecuniary con. cerns of the house, and had not undertaken to communic a t e intelligence; and urther, that they thought 'it unnecessary to publish these letters, because they did not believe their con tents. The subscribers rePlied, that though they bad not ori ginally taken upon themselves to communicate intelligence, yet that for many years past they had sodone, and therefore they were bound to do it fully and impartially ; arid that in a case of this importance, it was their duty, whatever their own opinions might be, - to give the subscribers an opportunity of judging for themselves. They were accordingly cashiered, and a new Committee was pointed to frame rul e s an d regu lations for th e future good management' of the affairs at Lloyd's. The rules and regulations framed by that Commit. tee were unanimously approved of by a general Meeting of the subscribers, and have ever since been acted upon. The rule of the present Committee is, to receive no intelligence but in writing ; and after the variance which they had found between the statements in the letter from the Secretary of the Admi. rally; of the 9th of O cto b er , and ' the facts Of the case, they felt more strongly than ever the necessity of inflexibly adher. ing to that rule. They were perfectly aware of.what Mr. Hib bert stated at the general meeting, that the communication the Secretary wished to make related to the statements in that letter. Mr. Hibbert said, that whilst he was conversing with the Secretary of the Admiralty, lie laid his hand on a large bundle of papers, as thick as a great folio volume of the Mi nutes of the Committee which Was lying on the table, and said, these are the papers 'which I wished to have shewn to the Gentlemen at Lloyd's. This declaration confirmed the pro. priety of the conduct of the Committee. In the first place, such a vast mass of papers could only he Intended to puzzle not to convince ; for fact lie s i n a very small compass, anti two or three short extracts of letters, such as the Committee sent to the Admiralty, would have been sufficient to justify their statement, if they had any such justification to produce. In the next place, how were the Committee to report to the subscribers to Lloyd's the contents of documents equal in bulk to a large folio voluMe ? The attempt would have been jpre posterous and impracti ca bl e , an d t h ere f ore they acted udi. ciously in declining the interview. It is much to be regretted that the Board of Admiralty did not condescend, in the first first instance, to send a copy to the Committee of Lloyd's of the extract from Captain Walcot's letter, which he had now read ; for thought that Officer appeared to have altered his ori . ginal plan, and the protection to trade, of which he held out expectations, still that letter Would have justified the as surances of the Admiralty, and prevented a ll misunderstand. ' ings. The manner in which communications are now made by that Board to the public, through different individuals, is extremely inconvenient. The Gentlemen to whom they are ad. dressed may be absent from their counting-houses. Many of them never attend either Saturday or Monday, and thus great delay is occasioned. Alter all, they are copied and sent to Lloyd's, as the only mode of giving them publicity.' At Lloyd's attendance is given from morning to night, and the communications are made immediately. I always, there- fore, sincerely regretted the interruption of the former inter course, and am very anxious to see it restored. With these feelings, and as the first step to conciliation, I most readily ac. PRICE 0 : Tills DAY AT Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Red. • shut 3:per Cent. Coni. . 731) 3i per Cent. , d shut I per Cent. 1 cold New 934 i 5 t )er Cents. 1797 — 'Bank bong Ann. shut Imp. 3 per Cents. —, F STOCKS ONE o'cLocg. India Stock India Bonds 23. South Sea Stock — Old Annuities Ex. Bills lO 12 pr. Ditto Small Bank for Act. India for Con. Acct. Cons. for Account 711$3ai PRICE or FOREIGN STOCK S Ix LONDON, MARCH 5, AT ONE O 'CLOCK. Five per Cents. 80. Six per Cents. 00. Russian . Five per Cents. (M e t a lli c) 00. . . Ditto New 73k. Neapolitan Fiie per Cent. Bonds, l 417. / Scrip, 00. Austrian Five per Cents. (Metallic) 00. .. . Five per Cent. Bonds; 39. • Siientals {New Ditto, 38g. Scrip, 38 disc. rnltiian . { bigpfrt'ent.Bonds, 79. Pi Danish ' .Five per Cent. bonds, 78. Chili 63. Colombian Six per Cent. Bonds, 474. Peruvian New Lim, 00. (Bank Shares 411 ,Is. American. ' ,Six per Cent. 01-90" 1 Five per Cent. 36-97. LThree per Cent. 70. -.a.- French 111011 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. Morning, .1:3 minutes after 8. 1 Evening, 16 minutes after 9. THE SUN. SOLEM QUIS DICER& FALSUM AtIDEAT LONDON,___. tvEDNE.s . DAY, M.4RCH 5, 18'23. We can state, on high authority, that It is now the opinion of the British. Court that the War between France and Spain is inevitable. The latest letters and dispatches received from Path, and from a great Continental Power, all concur in expressing the same opinion, and in repro. senting that the last hope of preserving Peace has been destroyed. French Papers have not arrived, in cense. quence of ther - itrong westerly gales during the, last thirty-six hours. The following extract from tho Expectador seems to explain the precise nature of the recent important occurrences at Madrid, which have been so variously represented : " MADRID ' F EB . 21.—W e und ers t an d t h at some patriots, who are not acquainted with the circumstances which preceded -what occurred the day before yesterday and the preceding night, between the King and his Ministers, have formed a sinister and erroneous conception concerning Senor Egea, - who had signed the d6cree for the dismissal of his colleagues. We are authorized to explain to our worthy fellow-citizens, that erroneous ideas have been conceived on this sub ject; that the seven patriots who compose the Ministry had previously determined, that any one of their number who might first receive the decree of dismissal, should sign and promulgate it; and that he should then wait to give in his resignation when the King appointed the new Ministry, or to give up possession to the head officers of departments, according as the King I might choose to act. This lot fell to Senor Egea, for which reason he remained at his post until the events of the night occurred, and by this sa crifice acquired a new title to the gratitude of the friends of liberty. It is besides certain that the fate of Senor Egea is completely Identified with that of his colleagues.—The Universal has observed; " that it cannot have escaped the pe netration of the inhabitants of this capital, that men of opinions diametrically opposite, and of parties which have sworn an eternal hatred to each other, have united their efforts to bring about the ruin of the country, with the perfidious intention of destroying one another, as. 60011 as they shall have obtained their wished-for object." This remark of the Universal is so correct, that on the slightest examination of , the doctrines of certain persons, and the late events at Cadiz, it must appear as clear as the light of day. We, doubtless, know that the number of these die turbers of the public peace is very small, and that they are altogether destitute of support. The steps they took to produce the scene of the dismissal of the Ministers, proves to what length their malig nity and machiavelism can carry them, and how far they are ready to contribute to the detestable views of the declared enemies of liberty. Indeed, what more could these monsters desire, than that, ' after the speech of the King had been read in the august Congress of the nation, he should dis miss, as he did the Ministers ? There would not be wanting persons to believe that this act of the King is equivelent of saying to foreign nations— " All that I have stated to the national congress I disapprove. I keep no faith with the cause of liberty; and the best proof I can give you is, that the Cortes are no sooner disolved, than I rid myself of those Ministers who made me speak as I have done. Moreover by this measure, the activity and energy of the prepa rations for defending the country will be checked the administration of affairs paralyzed, and, before the new Ministers who may be appointed know how to act, the invasion may be effected, the enemy may reach the capital, and replace in my hands the reins of absolute authority."—Such is the interpretation which may be given to this unseasonable and mischievous removal of the Ministry. Now, let us ask those who from ambitious views have tampered with the enemies of the system, and agreed to share with them the places which the seven eminent patriots in whom the nation places confidence, were on the point of leav ing —let us ask them what guarantees they have for flattering themselves that, after having by the help of despotism broken down this first bulwark, they would come better off than the wretched men who entered into office with the absolulistas, under the plan which was defeated on the 7th of July—who, after subscribing to the plan of Chambers, the veto, and other reforms in the fundamental code, found themselves chained down by those whom they had previously trusted, but who, now believing themselves secure of success, audaciously . declared that' arbitrary power, and nothing else, was the thing to be esta blished ? What guarantees, we repeat,do those who engaged in the atrocious intrigue for the removal of the present Ministers possess, that they them selves would not be the victims of their own per fidy and cowardly compliances ? The' promise of ----. Indeed ! promises :—we have high examples of the Punic faith with which they have been observed ! .We, who never have defended the present Ministers on account of affection or friendship, or of any of the less worthy .•motives which our adversaries have coaresely and calumniously imputed to us, but solely because we sincerely believe that their continuance in the Ministry is of great importance to the national cause—will be happy to congratu late them on the day in which the King shall supply their places by men equally compromised in the cause of liberty, and who, along with that pledge, possess also equal disinterestedness, pro bity, and good faith. In the present circum stances, and at least until the ordinary Cortes commence their labours, it assuredly would be dangerous and impolitic to make any change whatever in the Ministry: Lisbon Papers to the /oth February came to hand at a late hour ; they mention that at the sitting of the Cortes on the 14th, Senor MOURA read a report of the Committee on the motion made by him respecting the defence of the country ; they likewise state that the expedition to Bahia, consisting of 2000 men, sailed on the 15th. [FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] STOCK EXCHANGE, Twelve &Clock—Up to the above hour we have no Expresses in from Paris, which, no doubt, is owing ta the boisterous weather ; in the mean time, idle reports are circu lated that hostilities are to commence against Spain on the 20th of this month, and that the Duke (PANaoux.EstE is to leave Paris for the Army the beginning of next month ; Also that the French Funds were c,n Monddy 79. Consols opened this morning at 73k, went down to 73+1, at which price they are up to this hour, with little business doing ; all waiting with great anxiety for the Expresses horn the French Capital, which, no doubt, will arrive in the course of the clay. FOREIGN MARKET.--Little business is doing in the above Market, on account of the absence of intelligence from Paris. Spanish Bonds opened at 304 I. One o'Clock.—No Express has arrived as yet from Paris. Consols have got up a little—they are 73i. By the Lisbon Mail this morning a report prevails on 'Change that the Portuguese are going to declare war against France ; but this report cannot be much credited, as it is sup posed that they would not do it without the con sent of England. FROM ST. MicitAct.'s.- We learn by the Plato that the new Constitution had been accepted at St. Michaels, on winch occasion the place was brilliantly illuminated, and 'the King's effigy burned - . The property of those who were nut in favour of the change had been contiscated.—The new crop was large and good. place in the suggestion of the Right lion. Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, and, 'wtth the leave of the House, withdraw my present motion. A short conversation then ensued, in which Mr. CnoKETI and Mr. ITuatE took part, after which the motion was with drawn. The the Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at OWE o'C L o cK t hi s morning. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. • HOUSE. OF COMMONS. Mar l / 35 4° die Martii ): lB23. • liOADS—Stockbridge - , &c. Dartm out h an d K ey b erryf an d Canterbury and Barham•-43i11s ordered. Teignrnouth and Dawlish—Petition for Bill reported. Ucktield, and Woe•. thing—Bills read a2d time; and committed. 13ninGr—Ilaw—Bill read a third time, and passed. .. GA3*LTGII fs—rtatdiffe —Peti don for Bill reported. Paisley— Bill ordered. CANAL—Edinburgh and Glasgow—Petition for Bill reported. Nu Lost/RE—Croydon (Surrey)--Petitions of. Inhabitants of Croydon, and of Proprietors of Lands, against ; to lie on • the table. VEsTnr —Bethnal Green—Petition of Directors of the Poor, against. WATERIVOR XS—Sldpton COURT or REQUESTS--80t1thWarn Bills ordered. GENERAL TURNPIKE ACT—Petition of Farmers and others, of Pontefract, against. TAX 0 A PPRENTic E slur —Petition of Merchants of Edin burgh, against. .COTT ISII CREDITORS Bills reported ; to be read a third MARRIAGE VALIDITY time to-morrow tthis day). COIIRT llousE—Forfarßill read a second time, and com mitted. Pooß LAWS—BiII to wend the Laws relating to the mainte nance of the Poor, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Nolan • and Mr. Sturges Bourne.' LIME EXE3trr Im4 FROM TOLL —Bill " to explain so much of the General Turnpike Act as relates to the Toll payable • on carriages laden with Lime fir theimprovement of Land," read a first time, to be read Is second time on Thursday, and to he primed. NOTICES OF MOTIONS for' THIS DAY. I. Mr. Spring Rice—Bill to amend Act [34 G eo . 3, c . 20] f or the establishment of Charitable local Societies in Ireland. 2. Mr. Abercromby—Motion relative to Secret Societies in Ire land, commonly called Orange Societies. 3. Mr. Maurice Fitzgerald—Papers in possession of the Irish Government relating to Orange Lodges. 4. Colonel Davies--To present Petition from Colonel Allen. 5. Mr. Ellis—Pa to a Milita r y O utrage at D u b l i n on the' oth November last. 6. Sir Thomas Lethbridge—To present Petition relative to Je. suits in Ireland. ORDERS of the DAY for THIS DAY. 1.• Marriage Act Repeal Bill-Second•Reatling. 2. Supply—Committee. 8. Ways and Means—Committee.. . , 4. Assessed Taxes Repeal Bill—Second Reading. Is. Scottish Creditors Bill—Third Reading. 0. Marriage Validity Bill—Third Reading. 7. Assessed Taxes Repeal (Ireland) Bill—Second Reading. . NOTICES GIVEN YESTERDAY. Priddy, March 7, Lord Viscount Pahnerston —Arm y• Estimates. (In Commit tee of Supply)—[deferred from March 3.] 41fopday, March 10. Mr. Jones—Bill to amend the practice of the Courts of Great Session in Wales. TUE KlNG.—(Brighton, March 3.)—But little has occurred .at the Palace since our report of yesterday. The Public have the satisfaction to know that his MAJESTY continues well, and that his general health.has been improved, rather than deteriorated, by his MAJESTY'S late regretted indisposition.' The Duke of Yoax took a carriage airing this afternoon ; the weather was damp, or, in all probability,' tas Royal Highness would have preferred exercise on the saddle. FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS; The Marquis and Marchioness of Camden, from their seat in Kent ; Lady Anne Beresford, Mr. W. BeresfOrd, and the Misses Beresfbrd, in Park-Street, Grosvenor-square ; Earl Cathcart, in Cumberland-place; Earl and Countess of Vent lam, in Grosvenor-square General Gordon, in Grosvenor.. place ; General Long, in Piccadilly ; the Ambassador of the Netherlands, from Brighton ; Lord Sondes, at Gordon's Hotel, Albemarle-street, from his seat in Kent. DEPART UlIES.—The lion. Colonel Packenham and Family, from Batts' Hotel, Dover-street, for their house in Hertford_ street, May-fair ; Air. and Mrs. Stroud, and Family, from ditto, for Bucks ; Hz Williams, Esq. from. ditto, for Worcester. FASIIIONAIILE PARTIES. Earl Morley will entertain a distinguished party on Saturday next at his house at Knightsbridge. Sir Thomas Farquhar, alert. has issued cards of invitation for a grand dinner party on the 12th instant, at ids hous e i n S t . James's-street. The Earl of Aberdeen will give a grand dinner this day at his house in Argyll-street. Mrs. Mitchell has issued cards of invitation for two routs, one on Friday next, and the other on the 14th instant, at her house in Charles-strtvt, Berkeley -square. The Earl of Darnley will give an elegant entertainment on the 14th instant to a distinguished party, at his house in Berke ley-square. The gallantry of the A r etecastk • Bachelors, we understand, is the prevaili ng t o pi c i n t h at social town, at the present mo ment. The Ladies are to be treated with a grand ball and supper, at the Assembly Rooms, on the evening of Thursday the 20th March. The ball is to be a fancy dress one ; which no doubt will add much to the effect, by the brilliancy of cos tume which may be expected to appear upon the occasion.— Preparations upon the most liberal scale are making, and it may reasonably be assumed, that nothing will be wanting in any wise calculated to promote the amusement, as well as the enjoyment, of the ev e n ing . S ome i dea may be formed of the magnificent intentions of the donors, when it is known that a fund of roan UUNDItED AND FORTY GUINEAS has been set apart for the expences of this gala-night.—( Din ham County Advertiser, March I.) ) , • . ''''l' : Attlt 4 -. ' . 40 It 'qv . 2 .• eol itt 4\ .1 r 4 -. t P j ...,„( - ,-... ' il, eP . ( #.* ) • 1 t r ~,. ~ , ,11 , • , „,- , , F*l ' I v 4 - 1 . .5. -- ,,,,, ftt.-4-01*/ 1 3 ,. 5 .•\- , it e . ; ? * ido -, - - • ,ot yi a . ' —l,,t = ‘f` ~, riveolo . , . , , MERCANTILE SHIPPING. DEAL, MARCH 4.—Wind W.N.W.—Arrived this morning, and remain, the Harrington, Coney, from Bermuda, and seve ral more—particulars unknown. It came on to blow hard the great part of last night, and has continued the whole of to-day. The Adrian, Horn, from Bombay, and the rest of the home ward-bound, and the whole of the outward-bound, appear to ride all wall. Came down from the River last night the Blen heim, Smith, for Grenada ' • Hercules, 'Wilson, for J ama i ca . A brig and a ship arriv e d this morning from the westward, but it blowing so hard off the land they could not get into the Downs ? and have brought up close to the i nner part of the Goodwin Sands. Two Deal boats are off to their assistance, and most probably will bring them into the Downs as soon as it moderates. Pon Tssr 011TH, 111Aiten 4.—Wlnd W.N NV.—lt has blown a tremendous gale of wind the whole of this day, during the night of which most of - the ships drove. The Norwegian ship Toranshiold, Tripka, parted from two anchors anti cables and CAM into harbour. he Portsmouth, Catte, parted ficom one anchor, slipt from another, and in making for the harbour' missed stays, and went on shore on South Sea Beach, where she remains full of water. It is reported that the American ship Packet, Barker, has lost an anchor and cable. FLY MOUTH, Cll 3.—Wind W.—Arrived the Vittoria, Tate, from London for Trinidad; Volunteer, Hudson, from Petersburgh, and Susannah, from London. FALMOUTH, h.iAltClr 3.—.. Wind NV —Arrived th e F r ie n d s , Pearce, from London fur J ama i ca ; Usk, Power, do., ibr Bari hadoes; Ames, Robertson, do., tlerioa. Sailed the French brig Hercules, J o h nson , for Havre. Arrived the Summer paeket front Lisbon. • .• The Headley, Rowntree, of and from Sunderland, was lasi on Corton Sand on Monday night; crew saved. The Union, SpLein, of Southwould, was run down in Val., mouth Roads on Monday night ; crew saved. The Ottaman, of Dantsic, bound to France, has been carried into South West with 12 feet water in her hold, and run on shore to land her cargo. CORN EXCHANGE, MAncn S. In consequence of the boisterous state of the weather there are very few fresh supplies in since Monday, and the Wheat trade remains nearly as it left oft' on that day ; more money is asked for Barley, but very little is doing in that trade. In all other Grain there is no alteration in the prices, and the top prize of Flour is fully established at 60s. per sack. Lord FITZROY SomEnsicz and Lord LEVIsON Gowzit were expected to quit Madrid on their return to this country on the 24th ult. In consequence of the misunderstanding be tween Sir COLQUIIOUN GRANT and Col. Molts- TON, Deputy Adjutant-General, the latter Officer,' ►s recalled, and is to be succeeded by, Colouei GARDINER, Assistant-Adjutant. We understand Government have received advice from India that the Marquess of Tukios has actually embarked, and i 3 now on his voyage to England.---(1 lorning Chronicle.) DRJENNER.—W e were mistaken in saying that Mr. NORTILCOTR was employed in making copies of his portrait of Dr. JENNER. It seems that he is merely finishing the back-ground of .a second Portrait, which he painted from the Dr. himself, as a memorial of esteem for the excellent original. Mr. NonTitcoTr., we find, has never copied any of his portraits, nor permitted copies to. be taken, but always painted again from the original sitters, when he wished to preserve suck reliques of friendship. This admired Artist indeed seems to be chiefly gratif►ed when tie is employed on subjects consecrated by HOLY Warr, or recommended by the instructive page of History. Another of the Irish Papers receiNad yester. • day says " Four of our County Members, hitherto strenuous sun. porters of Administration, and the vnirroolt 1'1'44.13 of tho British Cabinet, waited on Ministers cm Tuesday last. They expressed their indignation, without qualilituttiort or reserve, at the ;conduct of the Matt Government. They declared that they would not lend themselves to the system now pursuing in their ill-fated gauntry. One of these Members, the heir to the Earldom of FARNHAM, the it aproielitatiVO to OW ctrittitV of Cavan, resigned to Lord LivERPOOL, as an earnest of his ?co, in the the situation of a Lord of - the Treasury. The other Afenbers,, it appear*, are, Sir John Stewart, Member er Tyrone ; 141 r, Browalow, Member for Armagh and M. Foam:, „Member for Down; and it. announced in the saute paper, that " the alienittionArom the- Britieh Government of several other meet poWerful and influential personages tail be declared in a few days."