The Sun. — London, England, 1823-05-12 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MAY 9. SILK TRADE. We recur to the debate on this subject, from a - , sense of its great importance the press of other :matter prevented - our noticing it in our last Paper In the manner it deserves. Mr. THOMAS WILSON presented a Petition from the .ptineipal Silk Manufacturers, residing within the City of Lon don, the County of Middlesex, the City and Liberty of West minister, and the Liberty of the Tower of London. The 'Petition, after intimating that, in the opinion and judg ment of the Petitioners, the manufacture in question is at present so circumstanced, -as' to require the attention of the newt!, proceeds to state—" That the Silk Manufacture of this kingdorn, from an inconsiderable beginning, has gradually attained to great importance in a national point of view, sup plying to the State a large revenue—supporting a numerous mud industrious population—and affording the means of an extensive and beneficial investment of .capital. In the earlier periods of this trade, it had to contend, under the greatest dis advantages, with the rival and favourite manufacture of 'Prance. The proximity of the latter country to Italy, her domestic growth of the raw material, and the possession of ma eiminery far surpassing, in its application to silk, any hitherto employed in this country, gave to France, for a long series of years, such predominant advantages, as entirely to confine the sale of English manufactured Silks within the British domi. Mons. Ot late years, however, Bengal •,Silk has been so greatly improved in quality, and so prodigiously increased in quantity, as no longer to leave theoretic in it* fanner state of nearly total . dependence on Italy. From documents of un 'questionable authority it appears, that, in the year 1770, the annual supply from 'Bengal and China was about 100,0001bs. weight only ; that in 1700, it amounted to but 200,00011 ex. ; that in 1800, it was 292,3051bs ; and that in 1820 it had in creased to upwards of one million of pounds ; which, added to the amount of - raw and thrown Silk drawn from Italy, will give a total of Silk imrted into Great Britain, in the year 1020, of two millions five hundred and forty-seven thousand two hundred and twelve pounds weight ; exhibiting a two fold increase during the space, of twenty years, and greatly .executing the consumption'of the French manufactories. " That, important as this manufacture is acknowledged to be, and much as it has recently been extended, it is still de pressed below its named level, and prevented, by existing laws, from advancing to a far higher degree of prosperity than it has hitherto attained; and which, tinder more favourable circum stances, it would, without difficulty, realize. Possessing, as .afsie country does, access to an unlimited supply of Silk from —its Eastern possessions, an indefinite command over capital and machinery, and artisans whose skill and industry cannot be surpassed, your Petitioners hesitate not to express their convic tion, that by judicious arrangements, the Silk Manufacture of Great Mitain may yet be placed in a situation ultimately to triumph over foreign competition ; and that silk, like cotton,' may be rendered one 6f the staple commodities of the country. " That in addition to the pressure of heavy duties, imposed , on the raw material of this. manufacture, the London branch . of the trade is further depressed by inidiciotss and vexatious - restrictions on the wages of labour, by which the operations of your Petitioners are 60 fettered and embarraesed, as to compel 'them to seek relief from your Honourable House. By the 13th (leo. Ilia cap. 69, intituled, c An Act to empower the Magi strates to settle and regulate the wages of persons employed in the Silk Manufacture within their respective Jurisdictions,' , and commonly known by the name of the Spitalfields Act, the Lord Mayne-, Recorder, and Aldermen of London, and the Alagistrates of Middlesex, Westminster, and the Liberty of • the Tower, are severally empowered to regulate the wages, which are to be paid to the JOurneythen Silk 'Weavers by Mese tors residing within those districts; anti that if Masters, so re - siding, employ Weavers in other districts, they are liable to ruinous penalties. " That by art Act of the 32d Geo. 111. cap. 44, the provi since and penalties of this Statute arc extended to Manufactures of Silk inixed with other matetials ; 'and by an Act of the 51st -Geo. 111. cap. 7, the provisions for regulating the wages and prices of•work of the Journeymen Weavers, mentioned in those Acts, are extended to Journeywomen also. " That, since the passing of these Acts, a great variety of or ders from time to time have been issued by the Magistrates, in - terfering in it vexatious manner with the minutest details of the .manufacture; such as limiting the number of threads to an inch ; restricting the widths of many sorts of works ; and deter ,mining the quantity of labour not to be exceeded without extra wages. 'That from the total omission in these Acts of all limita tion in pointof time within which informations may be brought, as well as from the impossibility, proved by experience, of bringing under specific regulation the infinite variety of articles to which silk is now applied, penalties may be incurred town enormous amount, for the breach of some order of which the ' Manufacturer may be totally unconscious. That by the operation of this law the rate of wages, in atead of being left to the recognized principles of regulation, . has been arbitrarily fixed by the award of persons, whose ig riorance of the details of this very intricate and complicated rnenufacture, necessarily renders them incompetent to give a Just decision ; and the result of this mode of regulation has been to fix the labour of many sorts of goods. so extravagantly high, as to drive the ma»sifitcture of them altogether from the districts within the operation of the Act, to other parts of the country, which are free from Magisterial interference. That . these Acts, by not permitting the masters to reward such of their workmen as exhibit superior skill or ingenuity, hut cam. pelling them to pay an equal price for, all work, whether well or ill perfatmed a have materially retarded the progress of im".. provement, and repressed industry and emulation. ccThat these Acts totally preaent the use of improved ma chinery; it having been ordered , by, the Magistrates, that works, iii the weaving of which machinery is employed, shall be paid precisely at the swine rate as if done by hand; thns, while every other branch of our National Manufactures has en- joyed the Atli advantage of this powerful auiciliary, and while improved machinery has been kept in full operation, by our foreign rivals, the London Silk Loom, with a trifling excepe tion, remairs in the saute state as at its original introduction into this country by the French refugees. Your petitioners beg to state That they are in possession of improved machinery ready to 'be applied to severer' important works, hut which they cannot use with success or profit, while under the resole. Live optqation of these Acts. " That the fixed rate of wages which, under all circum stances ,the manufateurer is hound to pay, has had the effect .of ,compelling biro, whenever a stagnation in the demand takes place, ittortmeaiately to stop his loomse and the ,elixtrom come ,quent on such a enspension of work has been manifestedeby • -the tippet& repeatealy mode by the districts concerned in this manufacture to the charity of the public, amid to the aid of, •Pstrliatnetrit "That the inevitable tendency of the provisions of these Acts '4O to banish the trade altogether trom the vicinity of the Metro. strong symptoms of which are -manifesting themselves -every day. Alm works of' the first consequence, which would -have affinded employment to thousandS of' hands, have already deceit transferred to Norwich, Manchester, Macclesfield, Taun lon, Reading, and other towns, where they are performed at +from one-half to two-thirds of the price for which under these ' 'Mut' they can be made in London,: Weatininster, or Mid edlesex. " That the removal of the entire Manufacuire from the Me tropolis, which your Petitioners deem inevitable if these Acts be allowed to continue much longer in force, cannot but be considered, as a great and extensive calamity, involving the dee structionof large capitals, ions invested; and hitherto produce --tively employed.; and consigning to distress a numerous.popu elation, which it woiild be impossible to remove, and which for a long period has depended upon the London Silk Manufacture for the totems of subsistence, Viet even if the removal of the . ,trede could be effected without entailing upon thousands the ruin and misery here anticipated, yet your Petitioners respect fully submit to your Honourable House, that such an event would still tie most Undesirable; the neighbourhood of London • being, from its proximity to the largest market and to the seat of fashion, the moist tillinble and appropriate spot on which tine Manufacture could be condocted. " That several of your Petitioners were examined on the sub. J e d of the Acts b e fore the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the means of extending the foreign trade of the country in 1021, whets, after a full and complete investigation, their Lordships are underitood to have reported "that uniette some modification takes place in this 'law, it must be, in the end,_ ruinous en the silk manufacture of Spital-fielde, anti as injurious to time workmen, as it will be . to the employers;" which Report your Petitioners are infortit. ad was afterwards laid upon disc Table of your Honourable J i se and to which Report, and the evidence on which it was founded, your Petitioners respectfully beg to refer, in proof of the forezoing allegations. " That, in the experience of your Petitioners, these acts have 'frequently given rise. to mast vexatious regulations, the uncon scious breach of which has subjected Manufacturers to ruinous penalties ; that those provisions have prevented the introduction and improvement of all machinery by which labour might have. been facibtated and cheapened, and prevent your Petitioners from affording relief to their workmen in times of stagnation or trade, by compellieg your Petitioners instantly to stop their 100171 e ; and that the operation of these Acts is rapidly banish ing what yet remains of the trade in Spitaltields, to places which eare free from such restrictions. " That, notwithstanding these and other grievances to which 50tir Petitioners; are subjected by the operation of these Acts, still it is not so much their desire to seek relief from theirope an the particulars lastly stated, as to be exempted from ' the arbitrary, injurious, and impolitic enactment which prevents theta, while they continue to reside within certain districts, from employing any portion of their capital in such other parts of the kingdom as may be deemed most beneficial ; thereby de priving them not only of the fair exercise of their privileges as free subjects, and totally preventing all the public benefit which would arise from a competition between the London and the Country Maracturers,, but depriving them also of all hope of ever participating in the" Foreign Trade of Empire. The Petition prayed, that for the reasons and under the cir cumstances set forth, the several Acts of the 13th Geo. 111. cap. 68, the 32d Geo. 111. cap. 44, and the .51st Geo. 111. cap. 7, may be repealed. Mr. T. 'WILSON stated, that the Acts in question im posed restrictions upon the conduct of the silk-trade of the most absurd description. In the first place, the wages of the manufacturer were fixed at the discretion of the Magistrate. In the next place, the interference extended to the quality of the 4rticlen manufactured; silks were to be made only of a given width ; and even the number of threads to an inch was fixed by Act of Parliament. The effect of these absurd and mischievous regulations was, that the whole fancy trade,' the imitation of French articles was carried away from Spitalfields to 3lanchester, and other silk towns in the north. The Hon. Gentleman sat down by reminding the House of the growing importance of the silk-trade to the country. Within the last ISO years the importation of raw material from Bengal alone, had risen from 100,000113. to upwards of 1,000,0001b5. a year ; the whole importation into this country now exceeding 2,509,0001b5. ; and if the present restrictions were removed, a still larger increase might be confidently anticipated. Mr. RICARDO thought it must surprise both the House and the country to see such statutes existing in the year 1823. The provisions of the Acts in question were in the teeth of every sound principle of trade, and were more especially inju. rious to the workmen ; for experience has shewn that these persons never leave the district where they settle, even though' the trade be decayed, but remain a charge on the bounty, of the public. Mr. WALLACE hoped that the Acts would be repealed , for he thought them a disgrace to the statute-book. • Mr. HUSK ISSON fully agreed in the propriety of repeal ing the Acts. He could only account for the existence of such statutes by their having been passed at a time when the silk. trade was .almost confined to Spitalfields. Since the manufac ture, however, had been carried into other parts of the country, either the provisions of those Acts must be got rid of, or Spitalflelds would be deserted. His (Mr. Huskieson's) atten tion had been drawn to the subject almost immediately upon his coming into office; but he had abstained from bringing forward any specific measure, hitherto, because he wished first, to convince the workmen of the necessity of an alteration. Some prejudice, and indeed, a good deal, did still exist among the workmen ; but the House really ought to act for them without reference to those prejudices. It was his intention, at the earliest possible day, to submit a motion to the House for the repeal of the Acts in question. Lord MILTON rejoiced in any prospect of getting rid of the obnoxious statutes ; and observed upon the absurdity of raising a duty upon raw silk imported. Under the present system, a duty was levied upon raw silk imported, and, on the other hand, a bounty was given upon the exportation of manufactured silks. Now, great difficulty was found in ap portioning the bounty, particularly upon goods composed of silk mixed with other materials. Would it not be quite as wise, and more generally convenient, to.get rid of the duty on one hand, and the bounty on the other ? Mr. F. BUXTON promised his support to the Bill, when ever the Right lion. Gentleman should bring it in. He had formerly supported the principles of the Acts in question ; but he was now fully convinced of their impolicy, and was happy to have this opportunity of publicly stating the altera tion of opinion which. experience had produced on him. Alderman THOMPSON bore testimony to the pernicious operation of the law, which he hoped soon to see repealed ; and be trusted that, before long, the trade would be relieved from the duties on raw silk. .Aldertmut C. SMITH said a few words in favour of the measure. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said, that the restraints of the exist ing law had driven one considerable manufacture of silk (horn bazeen), from Spitalfields to Norwich, which place now wholly eng,rossed it. Mr. ELLICE hoped, that the parties who supposed them selves interested in the existing restraints would have time to petition, thong)), after the unanimous expression of opinion given by the House, he could hardly hope, nor did he wish, that their prayers wad now avail to prevent the Bill of the Right Hon. Gentleman from passing. Mr. BARING and Alderman BRIDGES concurred as to the propriety 'of repealing the Acts. Mr. HUSICISSUN said that the House was so unanimous upon the subject, the least possible delay was the most desir able in carrytng their views into effect. Ile would propose tits resolutions on Monday next, and move for leave to bring in a Bill for an alteration of the law, in the different stages of :which the parties alluded to by the Member for Coventry would have sufficient opportunity to present their Petitions. Mr. ELLICE said, that after the discussion which had taken plar2, the unanimous opinion expressed by the House, and the candid declaration of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he hoped that those who.had contemplated an opposition to the proposed appeal, would not persevere in an attempt which' must certainly. be fruitless. The Petition was ord::ed to be printed. FOR THE SUN. GREECE. Mr. Enuroa—The following dignified and eloquent Letter, which may be considered as the Politica' Creed of Greece, and which is there fore at this moment peculiarly interesting, was addressed, in French, by one of its brightest ornaments to Enmusn HENRY BARKER, ES(l. (See Letter of E. H. Barker to the Rev. T. S. Hughes, 4th Edition, page 7) : "Sift--t have received your letter and pamphlet, and feel deeply the interest which you take in the misfortunes ,of my country. As a proof of my gratitude, I will now frankly state my own opinion, and that of all Greece, with respect to your nation. . • " Vire render the English the justice which is their. due— we doubt not their kind anti generous feelings towards Greece—,. and we are persuaded there are among you thousands of hon ourable men who think like yourself. But, with regard to your Gevernment, permit me to say, that the case differs widely : If the Greeks accuse the Russians of a part of their misfortunes, they attribute another part, and especially the massacre at Seio, to your country : Forty thousand Christians of this wretched Island massacred !—thirty thousand carried-ow into slavery, of whom the greater part will end by embracing. the religion of those cannibals !--and the rest struggling with misery and dispersed - throughout Europe !—A Gymnasium destroyed, with its eight hundred students, and a library of sixty thousand voltimes, consumed by ilathes ! These, Sir, are things which yOur Country, should and could, but has not, prevented. I sarnothing of the criminal partiality which has hitherto been displayed towards our Executioners. However little we may feel inclined to the Russians, we dare not trust "your nation while the annihilation of the entire Greek people seems to your country a matter of indifference. " In Short, Sir, such is our wretched situation, that we may say, what Cicero said of Potnpey— yo,w01;;,0 oy pro, ou yowcr77cuv irpoc osi , purc), know whom td fly, but not to whom. ' You flatter yourself, Sir, and you endeavour to make me hope that your present Government will have more favourable feel ings towards the c.tuse of the Greeks ; When I see it I will be- Hove it— sett. iu.m . tOto, Ofd /kr' ; besides, these ft.telings admit of various degrees :—The most noble and Onions part which your nation can act in this crisis, is that of aiding ours to preserve the independence which it has purchased by blood., This is the only mode of binding to you the Greek nation by the ties of eternal gratitude,--this is the sole way by which you can reconcile your interests to your duties,, and combine policy with morality. " But if your Country limits its kind offices to ridding us of the Turks, and preventing our submission to Russia, in order, next, to subdue us its:2lt, or protect us as it hitherto has protected the lonian blonds, let it no longer be deceived by the hope of thus.winning the affection of Greece. The Greeks, Sir,. have not been shedding their blood for a mere change of Masters : they hate the Turks—but they can neither love nor esteem the tyrants of Christendom ; and if they are forced to surrender their liberty, they will never lose either the wish or the hope of reconquering it at sonic happier moment. `, I have thus stated, Sir, with the most perfect sincerity, what my Countrymen expect, and demand, from the generosity of your illustrious nation. Let us not deceive ourselves,— friendship cannot exist without justice, or alliance without mutual benefit. " Permit me, Sir, to owe you of the respect and esteem of your obedient servant, GC " Our warmest wishes are attached to the cause of the • Greeks, and we therefore insert the foregoing Letter ; but we hive been obliged to omit some of the passa#,•es, not thinking the censure which they imply justly applicable to the parties alluded to. PARIS PAPRRS. NEWS PROM THE FRENCH -ARIIIY IN SPAIN. ( From the Monitenr of Friday. ) TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCHES. (Continuation of the Telegraphic Dispatch of the Major-Gene .ral, dated May 6, Five o'clock in the Evening," communi cated in the evening of the 7th.) General Molitor had, on the 4th, a division on the Cinca, and some troops about Calatayud and Daroca. Ballasteros continues to retreat by Terruel and Molina. The Royalist garrison of the citadel ofJaca has taken posses sion of that town. ( Transmitted from Bayonne on the OM of May, at five o'clock in the evening.) BRIVIESCA, MAY 7—Half -past two P.M. The Major-General to his Excellency the Minister of War. The head-quarters of his Royal Highness the Duke are this moment arrived here. The enthusiasm of the Spaniards is constantly on the increase. The Aloniteurof Thursday has published the follciwing re port, which contains the detail of all the military operations of the 4th corps of the Army of the Pyrenees, since the 18th of April, the day it entered Spain :- 3111,ITARY REPORT. " The 4th corps of the army of the Pyrenees entered Spain on the 18th of April, by the passage of Ferthus ; the following day a column passed by the Col de Costaja. The enemy did not show himielf at any. point. The French troops were every were received with confidence. "On the 21st of April, the sth and 9th divisions, and the Spanish troops, commanded by Baron d'Eroles, were assembled round Figoeras, and invested that place. On the same day, the town and citadel of Row were occupied. On the 22d Fi gueras was summoned ; the answer of the Governor was not satisfactory. " The report then details with great minuteness the operations of the several divisions on the left bank of the Fluvia, which being swelled by very heavy rains on the night of the 30th, the Marshall was obliged to suspend his operations till the 2d of May, when the passage having become passable, the Duke of Conegliano repaired to Bannolas.. On arriving there he learnt that the enemy, intimidated by the movements of our left, and the march of General Donnadieu, had abandoned his position the preceding night, and retreated in two directions ; that MI-' lens and Liobera were going to Amer by way of Micros, and . Mina towards Vich, by way of Olot. He immediately ordered' Baron d'Eroles to march from Bannolas upon Mieras, closely to press the column of Milans, which was said to he incom bared in its march by a quantity of baggage. He directed Count Curial to follow the retreating troops, to occupy Castel follit, and to communicate with General Donnadieu, to whom corresponding orders were sent. " General Vasserot remained at. Bannolas, to advance, ac cording to circumstances, either upon Mieras or Gerona. The inhabitants of Gerona had sent a deputation to the Marshal to hasten the arrival of the French troops. For some months past heavy contributions )iad been levied on them : they were menaced with new exactions, by a corps of 300 or 400 militia,. which was at a short distance from their town. " The retreat of the enerny leaving part of the troops free, the Marshal_ repaired on the 2d from Bannolas to Gerona, with a regiment of foot and one of horse. On the road the country' people showed the most lively enthusiasm ; that of the inhabi tants of Gerona it would be difficult to describe. A deputation came as far as Puente.Mavor to meet the French troops. The Bishop, at the head of his Clergy, the Municipal Body, and ahnost the whole population, received them as they entered the city. The keys were presented to the Marshal, who returned ' them to the Regidor, in the name of his Catholic Majesty. In the evening all the houses were illuminated. During the whole night the inhabitants manifested their joy by songs and dances. This general gaiety made a great impression on the French soldiers, especially on those who had been in the last war.— Gerona will become the depot for the supplies of the 4th corps.. Some slight works will make the . place safe against a coup.df. - ntain. If in a military point of view it is important to occupy it, the welcome which the French army has received there, is, in a political view, a most happy presage. There is reason to hope that the same sentiments will be manifested in all the con. siderable towns in the province. " The countries occupied by the 4th corps are going to be organized. A wise and firm administration will tranquillize the minds of the inhabitants, prevent private vengeance, and augment the resources and the strength of the Royal army of Catalonia. " Gerona, May 3, 1823. " By order Of the Marshal Commander-in-Chief, " The Major-General, Chief of the Staff, DESPRBZ." The Journal dcs Debals of Friday says—." It appears cer tain that General R.ego and the Count of /tmarante have re entered Portugal." The Marquis of Matafiorida, and the Archbishop of Tarra gona, Members of the first Regency of Spain, arrived on the: 4th at Bordeaux, coming from Bayonne and returning tb Paris.-.(Journal de Paris.) Sir Thomas Maitland, Governor of the lonian Islands, ar: rived in Paris this day.-4 Md. j I No prices of the Funds arc ijuoted, Thursday being a holyday.] BAYONI4 f:, May 5, to the Evening.—( By Express.) We learn from the head-quarters that his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief fireqUently receives couriers from Seville. Ills Royal Highness has also received within these few days a deputation of the principal inhabitants of Madrid, who have come to express to 'hint the lively desire entertained in that capital to see the French arrive speedily. The Army of the Faith already occupies Valladolid, and according to all appearance will he at Madrid on the 25th ; but it is very po . a.: sible that King Ferdinand may be broUght back to that city before ,that time, hysome regiments which will have thrown off the'yoke of the Cortes.. It seems certain that Morino has been abandoned by his troops. A letter from Perpignan, of the Ist May, which has arrived this evening by express, states that Mina, fearing lest the first engagement with the French should be a signal for an almost general desertion of his troops, has resolved to retreat to Barcelona.—( Quotidienne.) SPAIN. [FROM THE FRENCH PAF,ERS.I MADRID, Ay ntr. 30. The Government has received the report of General Was teros, dated from his head-quarters at 'Tarragona, 19th inst. This brave defender of liberty commences his dispatch with fe licitations that his troops have had the glory to be the first to measure swords with the French. He announces afterwards, that on the ltith two brigades of the division of Col. Don Fran cisco de Bola Figueras were attacked in the environs of Arne. dillo, by a force four times their number, composed of 4 French battalions, with 500 cavalry, and two battalions of Afrancesa. dos. The brigade of Colonel Arana was charged by all the enemy's force; and, notwithstanding its enormous superiority, our troops fought with the greatest enthusiasm, and retreated in order upon A enedillo, where theyunited with the remainder of the division. The combat wai obstinate, and the French sustained considerable lois. The Colonel of Hussars of the Lower Rhine was killed in the first charge of the cavalry. At the same time the coiunin of the Brigadier Don Juan Sanchez was charged, and received the enemy with the greatest coolness ; but it had the misfortune tolose its braVe chief, who was made a prisoner of war. The battalion of active militia of Logrono experienced a loss sufficiently great ; but it nobly sustained the honour of our anus. General Ballasteros conclud.es his , report by doing homage to the courage of his troops, and expressing his inten- ' tion to defend until death the public liberties, and 'the legiti mate government of his country. Our troops maintained, on the 19th, their position at Arnedillo. On the 17th of April, Count Abisbal addressed four propo sals to the militia of Madrid :-- " 1. To march towards SevilleSio keep open the communi cation with the capital. " 2. To join the army, enjoying the same prerogatives. . " 3. To admit every,milititiman into the Guerillas. " 4. That those who choose to remain at Madrid shall deliver their arms to the active army." The greater part of OM army chose the first proposal. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CORTES. In the first sitting of the Cortes, held at Seville on the 23d of April, the Assembly heard the report of the Special Com mittee on the : triumphal march of the National Representation ftom Madrid to Seville. in the same sitting, a message from the Minister of the Inte: rior announced the entrance of the French into Spain. To a question flora M. Monlesinos, whether the French had commenced hostilities without a declaration of war, the Ministers replied, they had no knowledge of any other document than the Proclamation of t h e Duked'Angouleine. The Minister of the Interior, in answer to a question by M. Gonzales Alonzo, said, that the news from the Political Chief of Zamora./ of the lath, had not mentioned the entrance of Count Atnarante into Spain, though it was reported to have taken place on the 14th. On the 24th the Minister of. Foreign Affairs read the decla ration ot war against France. It is dated the 23d of April, the King, a nd addressed to M. de San Miguel. It states, that as the French have invaded the Spanish territory without a declaration of war, and without any of the usual for. nllities, which must be considered as a violation of the law of nations and an actual cbmtneneetnent of hostilities, his Ma. jesty, conformably to his duty of repelling force by force, of defending the integrity of the Monarchy, and punishing the audacity of the enemies who invade it, has resolved, by the ad vice of the Council of State, and according to article 235 of the Constitution, to declare war against France ; ; which he does by the present declaration, enjoining - the competent authorities to commence hostilities by sea and land ; and this declaration of war is to be seleninly published. In the sitting of the 25th, this opinion gf the Council of State was read—" That war ought to be declared against the nation that has invaded Spain."—Referred to the Diplomatic Com mittee. PORTUGAL. LISBON, APRIL 30. NOTE TAKEN ON BOARD OF THE PORTUGUESE PACKET LITSITAI4O, AT 1 O'CLOCK P. 14.4 APRIL 29, IN 20 HOURS FROM OPORTO. The Captain says, that an express arrived to-day at Oporto, with the news that the paciticating army was in Leon, an that on the 25th it would commence its retreat to Portugal; because General :Morino had sent word by an aide-de-camp to tkneral Luiz do Rego that he had attacked the Portuguese rebels, and that they had defended themselves in such a manner, that he could not hinder them from proceeding in the direction of Bur gos, where he judged they might arrive on the 26th of this month, to join the vanguard of the French army. _ _ _ BRAGRNZA, A Pint:lb.—Our army was yesterday in Puebla de Sanabria, in pursuit of the factious, who were marching towards Benevente. The greater part of the officers have joined us. The militia that the factious had • with them were all dispersing. There is a great misunderstanding between the Chiefs themselves respecting their retreat, and the parti tion of the money. It is hoped that before we can destroy them they will rum themselves, which is the most probable.— fortoleta. LISBON, APRIL 22.—The Diaria contains a note from the Governor of Buarcos and Figueira, announcing the arrival of an English schooner, Capt. George Squires, who sailed from Corunna, on the 15th and states that 9,000 French from Ba yonne,, aided by 0,000 of the factious, attacked St. Sebastian, and were repulsed with the loss of 400 men. He also states the entrance of the French into Bilbon. • A dispatch from Gen. Rego, dated Sanabria, April 15, states that the factious having left that place in the morning, abandoning six pieces of artillery, the General was resolved to pursue them, and had writteQ to the Political Chief of Zamora, requesting him to issue a Proclamation, declaring that the entrance of the factious into Spain is a direct attack on the Spanish nation, rhich merits to be repelled by all possible means, and that such men must be considered as the most terrible enemies. - The General adds, that hiS troops long for the opportunity to anni hilate the rebels. • LISBON, APRIL 24.—General Rego writes from Monibacy the 17th, that he was marching after the factious, but did not know whether they took the road to Labanheza or Astorga ; in either cake he would pursue them, combining his move. mints with the Spanish Generals, who were effectually to assist him, and that he had applied to General Morillo, who he learn. ed had arrived on the dth instant at 'Valladolid with cavalry. LISBON, APRIL 2fT.—Letters from Barcelona say that the Captain of a vessel arrived there, at Marseilles, gave informa tion that, at the moment of his departure, a great Revolution had broken out, that the Constitution of 1791 was proclaimed, and Napoleon 11., Constitutional Emperor. The same Cap tain stated, that the people were fighting with the -troops, and that the latter were obliged to retire from the city. Immix, APRIL 26.—The Diario contains some particu lars of the further pursuit of the Rebels by General Rego, who * had not been able to overtake them. A piquet of Spanish dragoons, of the corps of Morino, had arrived at Mombacy on the 17th : the Rebels had taken the road to Astorga, to avoid Morillo, who had left Valladolid. Letters from Oporto of the 22d stated, that the head-quarters of the Constitutional Army were already at Astorga. LISBON, APRIL 29.—The Diario contains an account of the arrival of the Rebels at Leon, of their leaving that town immediately, in consequence of the proximity of the Con stitutional Army. On the 22d there was a Council of War.— It was ascertained that the factious had passed the Esla, very far from Valladolid, where General Morillawas, for which rea ton he could not oppose them ' • the rebels march day and ni g ht. Our troops are an i mate d w i t h the best spirit, but excessively fatigued for want of quarters, on many nights being obliged to bivouac in the snow after marches of seven leagues. The Express which brought this news had left Leon on the 23d, at two in the morning. It had been resolved in a Council of War, that the Constitutional Army should retire to the fron tiers, it not being convenient to advance any farther; the troops were to begin their march after three days repose. The rebels were on their way to Burgos.-...(beano. do Govern() from .pail 20 to May I, Inclutive. SOUTH AMERICA. Ti following is an interesting extract of a 'letter from South America :—• ,"If you send any inerclia " nd r i al ze P t a o l:( t i l l i s i el s B Pl a it Y ' ce, N th ot e ' 6 2 o s ;e l rn B22 men . t here Will not allow it to be s iMported; in fact the recent regula tions made by this conntry are, in effect,'dteital prohibition to fUrniture, ready inade'clothes, and several other things. They .wish, by their regulations, to encourage their own people; but I doubt much whether it will have the desired effect, for the na. tives are very ignorant and lazy, and every way far behind any other nation. Commerce is very dull indeed here, and the market overstock e d w i t h every thing ; all my goods are not even landed yet—so far it is well they were net ; for on the ltjtli of this month, at forty minutes past ten at night, we had a very violent earthquake, which came on so suddenly, that the fa mily with whom Lwas :sitting, could scarcely.get to the door, when the house„ and walls of two feet thick, began to fall. In one moment, the place we were sitting . in, chairs and tables, were covered by heavY. masses of ruins, that would have crushed twice our. numbers ; We then got into the front yard, where the ground was rolling like a sea, and the premi ses falling in all directions, with such dust that, although we were all close together, we could scarcely see each other—the duet almost choaking us.. A large church the next door to us, with steeple and dome, fell to the ground also, but fortunately it fell to the front, and not aside ; three persOns of • the house were much hurt by the walls falling, and one of them, a woman, was dragged froni under the ruins. 'We then flew to the mountains, and passed a very anxious night, waiting for day-light; at length it came, and shewed us a large town • with forts, including three Churches, ell in ruins, with very few exceptions. Nearly 500 lives were lost. It was most horrible at the time of the greatest yiolenee to hear the din of falling houses and walls, the rumbling underneath your feet, and also the cracking of the earth : indeed, so great was the noise, that I did not distingtiali the falling of the church from any thing else, although the next door,—the cries of the inhabitants, all, or as many as could get into the streets, running and ,praying aloud, some half stressed, and some; as they bad gone to bed, quite in their Ilifelt clothes. Sere.: ral other towns, not far froin this, arc also injured or destroy ed. I consider. myself .very fortunate, havxng only.,escaped by the merest chance, and am, thank God; in the best health, neither injured in person or property, while hundreds have lost much, and as ninny more their all. Ou. village was cow pletely buried by ,a neigbouring mounting rolling over it. The earth - has shook almost every hour up to this moment, but not like the violent manner it did the first,night ; yet s,:xeral se vere shocks were felt to-day, and I dare say it will continue some days before it entirely subsides. All the inhabitants are living in the mountains, and the English are ell embarked, so that while the shockS continue, the town, or heap of ruins as it now is, is quite. deserted, and will remain so for a few weeks." TRICK UPON Ma. ELras ? M.Y.M. son DUBLIN.— • A few days ago, Mr. ELL ts received 'letter in London, pur porting to be from Lord MANNERS, desiring urgently, and in rather peremptory terms, Mr. Ellis's immediate attendance in Dublin on important professional business connected With his office of a Masterin Chancery. Mr. Ellis wrote on the instant to the Lord Chancellor, prom isingto set out for Dublin on the next day, and,notwithstandmg theurgencyofthe occasion which had called him to Parliament, Mr.Ellissetout within afewhourson his return to town. He arrivedin Dublin on Monday evening, and on wait ing on the Lord Chancellor, learned, for the first time, that a trick had been practised upon him. Lord Manners not having written to Mr. Ellis, and of course surprised at the receipt of a letter from him of such a purport; had written to Holyhead, to apprise Mr. Ellis of the hoax ; this communication was not, however, received by Mr. Ellis. We shall just add, that Mr. Ellis is yet in town, and as the object of having drawn him front the House of Conimonk at the present moment cannot be mistaken, an investigation little dreamt of by . thepction is pro ceeding. We are restrained to-day from saying more.—(Dab. lin Evening Mail.) A correspondent wr ites us—" It may not by amiss to mention, that as the dung for the Mows must this year be very short, no opportunity should be lost of burning ashes—which, when sown at seed time, makes an excellent manure for wheat. For turnips, and young grasses, they are still more desirable ; but it is strange to observe how few seem to avail themselves of their use, particularly so, as they must be said, almost to come within the denomination of making something out of nothing. Frinn the hoeing *of a young plan tation last suniver, I made as many ashes as sowed. half a 12-acre meadow.".—(Leicester Journal.) PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 110CSE OF COMMONS. NOTICES of MOTIONS, and ORDERS of the DAY, which now stand in the Order-Book, for the Present Week. fifanday, May 12. ORDF.ItS OF TUE DAY. 1. Turnpike Roads (Scotland) Bill—Further consideration of Report. 2. Usury Laws Repeal Bill—Second Reading. 3. Occasional Freeholders Bill—Second Reading. 4. Great Sessions in \Vales Bill—Second Reading. 5. Supply—Postponed Resolutions of 30th April to be coma- Tiered. 8. Grand Jury Presentments( Ireland) Bill--Report. 7. Church Rates (Ireland) Bill—Committee. . 8. Beer Duties Bill—Report. 9. Supply—Committee. 10. Ways and Mearr —Committee. 11. Union & Intercou rse (Ireland) Duties Bill—Third IteadiNg• 12. Spital-fields Silk Manufacture A et—Committee thereupon. 13. Commercial Credit ( Ireland) Bill—Second Reading. 14. Unlawful Oaths (Ireland) Bill—Secondßeading. 15. Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Bill—Further consideration of Report. 16. Registry of Vessels Bill—Committee. 17. Capital Crimes Del enc Bit Second Reading. 18. Combination of Workmen Bill—Second Reading. 19. Customs Duties Act (59 Geo. 3, c." 591 —Committee there upon. NOTICES OF MOTIONS. 1. Mr. Goulhurn--Remaining Irish Estimates. (In Commit tee of Supply.) 2. Mr. (ioulburn—Bill to renew the Insurrection Act t and Bill to amend Irish Act relating to Seditious Societies. 3. Mr. Martin (of Galway)--Bill to prohibit Bull -baiting, and Dog Fights. arced 4. Mr. William Williams—Account of Refined Sugar exp from England and Scotland in the year 1822. Tuesday, May 13. NOTICE OF MOTION. Lord Archibald flamilion—To take into consideration the state of the County Representation in Scotland. (To move Resolutions.) ORDER OF THE DAY. Allardyce's Divorce Bill—Committee, Coun sel, and Wit nesses. _ . ---- 'Wednesday, May 14. NOTICES OF MOTIONS. 1. Lord Viscount Folkestone—Select Committee on the expe diency and necessity of effecting an equitable adjustalq't of Contracts. 2. Mr. Hume—Motion relating to the late Promotions in the Navy. 3, Mr. Hume—lnquiry into the Laws and state of the Colony' of Newfoundland. ORDERS OF TILE DAY. ittee 1. Sheritrof Dublin—lnquiry into his con duct—Comm thereupon..—'Witnesses to attend. 2. Lancaster County Court Bill—Second Reading. - • 3. Marriage Act Amendment Bill—Committee. 4. Witnesses Abroad Bill—Third Reading. Thursday, May 16. t 3. Sir Henry NOTICES OF MOTIONS . 1, 311'..1I0bhOUSe— Repeal of the Whitlow . Tax. _ . 4 2. Mr. Fowell Ruston—Motion on the subject of Slavery, an to move Resolutions. oats, found ed on Fifth Report of the Holyhead Road Conimittee. Parnell—Address relative to St eam B 2. ..M . asters and Appren Friday, Mao ju May 16. • • • 4 3 . . e T o t m th n es iu C ta T ion po:i f u T on ith (l es rela ire nd ian ) onnEas OF THE DAY. 1. Joint Tenancy (Ireland) Bill—Further consideration of Report. 3. Confirmations (Scotland) Bill—Further consideration of Report. I. Ijard aaol F o ra f ri N c o is rt °s h z b° l.l r le7t — on it , 4. Commissaries (Scotland) Bill—Further consideration of Report. XOTICES OF MOTIONS.. ---13 1) 11°- 8 11 :1 C°M 1 —inItt C en0e;DitIttle1eittee. gtHshing tl,o•e who hare been sentence to hard labour tr in ing the number employefedrtounlrnin n 2. M t 3 i rr i Lo scc e ucsobaninrfi,eogtnedtoun—EsPrCetivinvi:ialuteselsonY. ti?)(.nltriaingenc:itynium,.....es, Printing. and deferred' • dtohreelllr4tirsoejainainer.ulsiaciriin,lfiattnintedd; ti:;ii.,.o...othif: PRICE 0 Tlll9 y AT IF STOCKS wag o'cLocor. India Stock ............. . India Bonds ............ 395. 40s. South Sex Stock ............. Old Annuities. ........ 1 9 .... Ex. Bills ............... 20pr. Ditto Sniall ................... Bank for Act. ............... India for Con. Ac` " t .... ' .. - - “ Cons. for Acct. ......... it 341.4 Bank Stock .- 3 per Cent. Red. 7ii 7 11 77 ii 3 per Cent. Cons. 780i4 3; per Cent. _ 1 per Cent. { tier w 98 Old ff6i 5 per Cents. 1797 — Rank Long Ann. 19i 15.16ths Imp. 3 per Cents. — PRICE OF FOREIGN STOCKS ix LONDON, y .{BAFive AT tp):".&Ont'cs.1013.0:00.::: .: 5 '. - e l' i e ie r r C e n n ts ts . . (Metallic) 0u• Neapolitun ..f De v t . t e o per Ne c w en 7l. Scrip, 00. Austrian Fire per Cents. (Metallis) 14 * • {Fire per Cent. Bonds, 0 0 . Spanish New Ditto, 35. Scrip, 00 disc. Prussian I Five per Cent. Bonds, 81 I Ditto iNew, 82. Danish Fire per Cent. Bonds, POI. Chili 67.. Colombian Six per Cent.. Bonds, 68. Peruvian New Loan, 00. .• R. 9.896 - 7 0.— ii r Grand ........s.S(B;i°aoAn'ek.ki American 0 c 3 ret A lb i c : H p: , to sr P 7i epp i l e r ) l e t ' '. c c e :e 4 t( n OnSTF L ß T c ) ; e l alx:lri!el. per 38pIriCerl al einCe Gent. — _______ tn.4.2t9:9l7s—!sD D :gK'l' j : : tnt 0 t 781 0 31.1 S 61 : A )P oc ir: k rnt : ce : l4 • s * Pt:: '''''' • '' : 1 3 , - Gov. Deb- 4 per cent ... — Royal Canal Stock . ''''''' '' —. Gov.-Deb. 5 per cent. 2i Wide-street Cot, PF r e c .. . 07 Do. Deb. with Gov. , t ; ..- Tyeasury,Bills, 5 per cent. Pipe Water Deb. 6 p e ` ' t ., ..-, City Debentures, 5 per Do. . '''' ._..._.... 6 Per "4 / cent Lying in • Exchange on p— Lo ar nd ß o al : s l, ll l set l r a C e y tjn i t : eB..: : :. '''''' 1:-..e.c. '—' French Russian ;intinoF, irb-moRROW a. . Evening, 21 minalo..9 HIGH IVATER AT LONDOZ Morning, 0 minutes after 4. 1 1 11 E SUN. t; SOLEN QUIS DICERS F4LSU• LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 12, 1893 , Oda 9 We have received the Paris Pap era of - and have inserted extracts in anot her COlunin. thC 'The most important intelligence which I The nish is that from Madrid to the 30th °lt' Spanish Government had received which twro bri. LASTEROS'S Report of the action gades of the division of Don FRANCIiCO PE ° CIL . FINGUERAS had foUght off the 18th, in th° their th rons of Arnedillo, with a force four times numbgr. The loss was considerable 0° ~b oa sides ; and after an obstinate conflict the s p: 1 niards maintained their position at AO6llllO. 7 the fi rst Sittingof the Cortes at Seville ,on the ' the Minister of the Interior informed the liapresel" by tative Body of the invasion of the Monarch)" th, General the Frorch Army. In the Sitting o f the g 4 the Minister far Foreign Aff airs read the Pecia.