The Sun. — London, England, 1824-06-18 00:00:00

of t Cathearal.—Ordered to lie on the table, after a few -words from Mr. DAWSON. IMPRESSMENT. -.- Mr. HUME begged to correct a mistake which had gone abroad respecting wont he had said of a Captain Jervis, of the Dispatch sloop, on the late debate respecting Impressment. He had not intended to accuse Capt. Jervis of depriving the men of food as had been represented. The Hon. Member then presented a Petition from a Mr. Perrott, who had on a former occasion petitioned the House for redress of the injury he had suffered from a conviction for obtaining money under false pretences. Ile had been a Lieutenant of the Navy, and was discharged in consequence of the conviction which he again de clared to be unjust and founded upon falsehood. Mr. CROKER said, the charge in question was made against this Officer for forgetting his high character, and swindling some poor people out of money, under pretence of kis official situation. A dearer case of base and detestable fraud had never been made out. One of the documents re lating to the fraud (a forged certificate), had been found upon 'him. He (Mr. Croker) must really object to arguing the case' again. Bir G. COCKBURN spoke a few words confirmatory of the jmnice of the sentence. Mr. HUME said, lie did not blame the Admiralty. He only thought it hard that this gallant man should be left to starve. The Petition was then ordered to be printed. A Message from the Lords here announced their Lordships' assent to several Bills. SCOTCH JUDICATURE BILL. Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that in. rising to move the second reading of the Scotch Judicature Bill, he thought it but due to the 'lease to state that he had no idea of its passing into a law in the present Session. It was right that he should add that this course was pursued not because there was any individual objection to the Bill. Every deference was placed in the cha ✓acter, abilities, and learning of the Gentlemen who composed the Committee whence the Bill emanated. He placed every ▪ liance ite their judgment ; but he also formed a favourable u?-ihicn of tlsemeaseire upok his own opinion. his only rea son, therefcre ' for wishing It to be postponed, was a comd deration of the circumstances under which it now stood before . them. He understood that there was amongst a greahmajority of tile. Representatives of Scotland then present an anxious desire to have a consultation with their constituents. He also understood there were many persons in , Scotland who wished to petition that House upon the subject; at the same time that there were many of the Representatives of Scot land who did not expect that the measure would pass this Session. Under these circumstances he thought it was due to Scotland that the measure should not be hurried through the House this Session.—(Hear, hear !)—He held the Bill in his hand then wet from the press; it contained twenty-three pages, and lie much questioned if it had been read by any one in the House. He had heard it said that there was no reason why the. House should not sit a week longer for the purpose of passing a law. 'ln answer to this, it was to be observed that week. would not answer the purpose, which he had noticed, viz. the giving time to. Scotland to send Petitions to that House, and to consult with their Representatives. He wished, how ever, not to be misunderstood as saying . that the House would .abide the decision of every County Meeting that was held. It was not the same thing that they should express their senti-- extents, and that the House abide by them. A certain deference was due to the inhabitants of Scotland, in consideration of their distance from the seat of Imperial Legislation. In conclusion, he begged to say, that he was prepared to give the measure his . full assent, and next Session should be ready to give it his -hearty concurrence. Mr. ABERCROMBY observed, that judging from his ex perience of the past, he must say that he felt considerable dis appointment at the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman. It convinced him that it would he a mere mockery after that to lead the people of Scotland to suppose that this measure would . pass into a law at all. He was led to this conclusion from see ing the Right Hon. Gentleman place the success of the measure upon the issue of the instructions which the Scotch Members sLould receive from their constituents. He knew too well how it had been on a former occasion, when the Noble Lord oppo site (the Lord Advocate) issued his mandate to the obedient freeholders of Scotland. The issue in fact was thus placed upon the Lord .V.lvocate.—( Hear, hear I)—lf:this were disputed, he -could bring many thousands to speak to the truth of it. If the Right Hon. Gentleman did not mean to decide according to the 4 wishes of the Scotch people, it was then only trifling with them to make this delay. The evil of that House was, that it was _always many years behind public opinion, and it was clear that this measure would not pass till it was forced upon them by , public opinion. If it had been an Insurrection Bill or Tax Act, the Heim would have sat a week longer to pass it. Mr. Secretary PEEL and Mr. • ABERCROMBY mutually ese . - plained. • The LORD ADVOCATE observed, that the llth of May nest was the day upon which it was proposed that this mea. sure should take effect. It was •clear, therefore, that none of that haste ,contended for by the lion. and Learned Gentleman opposite was in reality called for. He considered it would be a very unfair - course not to allow the population of Scotland the .opportunity of expressing their opinion of a measure which so .nearly concerned them. He had done his utmost to prevent the Bill passing, this Session, and if there was any crime in it, he Was chargeable with it. Mr. ...A.BERCROM BY explained. Mr. KENNEDY spoke in favour of the Bill. The question, le thought, was not whether they should row proceed with this Bill in its regular stages, but why it had been delayed to tile present period. It was evident to him that this was charge. able upon his Majesty's Government seeing into whom the Bill originated. Mr. COUitTENAY .concurred in the postponement of the measure. He certainly wished it had come earlier into the House, but as it was he could not desire to see it now proceeded ,in. At the-eame time lie leaked forward cohfidenly to its sue oat& in. the next Session of Parliament. Lord BINNING contended that there was nothing in the ...paktponement of this Hill within two days of the close of the rr*ssion, to call for animadversion. At the same time he beg. ged to say, that if he thought the celct of this postponement would be to defeat,the measure, he would be the last person to coccurin such course. Mr. Secretary CANNING said, that he consented to the delay of this measure singly for the purpose of giving the ap pearance of deference and respect to the national opinion of _Lice:Aland. For his own part, he was perfectly prepared to vote at the present moment. The lion. and Learned Member bad arainadverted upon the conduct of Government. In an= . ewer he -might truly state, that up to a very late period there had been no notion whatever of the feelings which prevailed in certain quarters on the subject. He did not, however, believe, . That there was any disposition in Scotland. to receive the Bill.- -This meaAirewas intended to be again submitted to Parlia ment in the ensuing Session, and though lie might not appre ciate.the importance of what was lost by the delay so fully as the:Hon. ' , Gentleman opposite, he could assure him, that if next year it did not pass into a law, he should be as much dis -appointed as that Hon. Member could be. When, at a late perioriof the Session, they found all that remained in London of the Scotch-representation muclvalarmed at the apprehended efrects of the passing of this Bill, it appeared to them that they would have been wanting in respect to the Gentlemen con nected with Scotland, as he thought the House would be in discretion, if an attempt were made under such circumstances to carry it against the feeling which prevailed. It was no ar gument to say the: Session might have been prolonged. In eelividuals- had already acted on its supposed' duration, and it would now be nearly impossible to procure such an audience in that House as would-be nec essary to t h e f u ll di scuss i on o f 'measure.. Theie had remained no alternative but to -force the Bill on, or to delay the passing of it into a law until 'next Session, and he conseieutiously declared that the latter course had only been acquieseed in, to soothe the feeling of which, he had spoken, in the hope that by soothing it would be overcome. It had been a question whether it would be better' -that the suspension contemplated should be proposed in that or -the other,House. His :Majesty's Ministers were not unaware that the course taken might look as if some difference existed between those who conducted the public business in the Lords, and their Colleagues in the House of Comm ons . B ut t hi s con sideration had been overpowered by that of the superior ini ,portance which would be given to the Bill, by carrying it through all its stages in the Lords, tha t it mi g ht not appear to have been brought up there, as if the propriety of the measure were doubted. -It was better in all respects that the Bill should +3 sent to those whom-it most concerned in a perfect state. He concludedrepeating th e. -declaration, that the delay proposed was only deference to the Representatives of Scotland. _ After a fest/ words from Mr. KENNEDY anti another Hon. Mxstnien. the Bill wes read a second time ; and, on the motion Of Mr. Secretary PEEL., ordered to be committed on that day 'two months. EAST INDIAN' POSSESSIONS BILL. Having moved that the. House shotild go into a Committee an the East-India Company's Possessions Bill, Mr. Secretary CANNING rose, according to a, promise made a few ev ening and repeated last night, shortly to open the grounds of ICt 'diplomatic transaction, out of which this measure arose. The House would be pleased to recollect the state in which this vernment of country was placed with respect to the Go thelh eriands by the . peace of 1814.. At that period, all the possessions of the Dutch on the continent of India, from which they had been driven by conquest, were re stored by Treaty. discuss the policy or the way not called:upon at that moment to generally fel. country case of ou:until of that etep ; but he believed that it was was largely , interested, in s upporting the H tee s and s_uch being the case, it 14 was, however, lit . vas considered w ise not to press aro on the Government of the i ealexiawki , maßeient to state the fact that the course which he had described was taken by Ministers, and 1 had received the sanction of Parliament,' When he came to the Board of Controul many of the stipulations of the treaty were carrying.into execution—on many points 'explanation was required, and many questions were open-for discussion. From the natural eagerness to re-poesess the places which were to be restored, and the slowness attendant .04 their evacuation; some disunion unfortunately arose in the East Indies, be , : tween the agents of, the two countries, and great forbearanced was necessary, to Prevent these from breeding ill humour be t Ween the two Governments in Europe. He did not speak with ill nature of the conduct of any..of these agents; but subordinate persons, at a very great distance from home, were apt to look more at the policy of the measures decided upon than they were required to do, and to act accordingly. They forgot their relative size, as compared with the Govern ment to which they belonged, and soiiietimes acted with out authority, and placed Ministers at home under the ne cessity of supporting measures which they had not advised, or of rescinding what had - been done by their agents. He spoke within compass when he asserted that in the years , 1816 and 1817 not fewer than half a dozen treaties were con cluded by individuals in the East Indies, who• had not the shadow of authority for what they did, froth each of which it had been his duty to advise the Crown to withhold its sanc tion. He was then informed that the Government of the Ne-. therlands, by its Agents, was endeavouring- to regain all the influence which it had forme r fly possessed, and evidently aimed at excluding the English altogether from the Indian Seas. — As was his duty, he desired to be informed of specific acts indicative of such a purpose, that he by means of them might bring the subject before the Government of the Netherlanda.— Toon these inquiries he received no very distinct answers.— He was told of the hostile disposition of the Dutch—of their determination to crush the English interest there—anti of their resolution not to allow an English sail to sbe seen on those seas, and it finished with an obscure allusion to the massacre at Amboyna.—(A laugh.)—He never could .gct any specific facts brought before him, which Ministers could call on the Government of the Netherlands to avow or disavow, or atone, if they could not' be disavowed. On the other hand, many complaints were received from the Government of the Ne therlands of the conduct of our own agents. It, happened un fortunately in one Bence,' that a Gentlemin of distinguished ability, whose zeal for the service of his country could not be questioned,' and who had formerly, been 'Governor of Java, on being removed from that splendid situation was appointed Re sident at Bencoolen. That Gentleman, instead of being called exactly what lie was, the Resident (who was in truth a Super_ intendant of Pepper) was styled the Lieutenant-Governor. This caused some alarm, and it was supposed that the Eng lish. Government meant to make Bencoolen the capital of a new empire. Hence differences arose. If each accused the other of coveting a monopoly of the trade of India, it was to - be remembered that other Powers might have brought the same charge against both. A degree of ill-humour, however, springing from the causes which he had described, was grow ing up between the Governments, .which made it exceedingly desirable that some step should be taken to define and adjust their respective claims. As it was Stated to be the plan of the Dutch to carry on an exclusive trade in the Indian Seas, though the course was somewhat unusual in diplomacy, a dis tinct disavowal of such an intention or desire was called for. In the course of these animosities and partial encroachments, the island of Sincapore had been taken possession of by the en terprise of a gallant officer for England. We occupied it. 13ut he was never quite satisfied, in his own mind, that we had a right to do so; and not feeling sure that we had a clear title, our claim had not been so fully or so vigorously asserted as it would have been under other circumstances. The title to territory in the East, was not in all cases so clearly made out. and defined as in Europe. On this subject some mistakes had Occurred, and - the language of European policy had been erro neously used where it could not apply, while the measures of Government, with respect to some of its late possessions, had been commented upon in a tone of romantic morality which had not usually been called forth on such occasion. It had been assumed that we arc as much found to maintain that state of things which had existed after the removal of the Dutch, as William 111. was to uphold that Constitution, which was com mitted to his care after the flight of James Second. The nego. elation broke off with the Dutch Government in 1821. He had however felt, that while the Government of the Netherlands was charged with desiring to keep exclusively to herself the ►commerce with the East India Islands, England did the same 1 by the Continent of India. This consideration necessarily li mited the topics which might otherwise have been urged. At hen lie looked at the Dutch possessions not one of them was of any great size, but all claimed different jurisdictions and rights.— One claimed participation in the sale of opium, which was -not admitted ; another claimed paiticipation in the silk trade, which was not admitted ; and others claimed privileges of a like character, which were admitted. These were in fact sub jects of constant irritation, which could not but continue so. long as the establishments of the subjects of the Netherlands remained intermixed with ours. It was desirable to get the Dutch to give up these altogether. 14y inducing them to sur render their establishments on the Continent of: India, an end. would be put to some of the, differences and to the et to gnogne sort of argument which had been bandied between them. When we had no lenger to call for an exclusive treaty for ourselves we could with more effect advocate the principles of a free trade. It was desirable that a line of demarcation should be drawn to terminate present disputes and prevent future irrita tion. The retention of Sincapore was another object with us. To obtain this, and to rid the Continent of India of the Dutch settlements which had been mixed with ours, promised to in sure the existence of a good Understanding between the two powers for all time to come. These points were all secured by a treaty which, in return for them, gave to the Government of the Netherlands the settlement pf Bencooien. This settlement it had been more than once proposed to give up, from the maintaining it being so onerous. The question bad been mooted more than once by the East India Company, and itliati only been decided not to abandon it, because if this were done it was uncertain into whose hands it might fall. The charge created by BencOolen exceeded its revenues annually by 85,0001. This was the yearly cost of that barren possession. Same Dutch set tlers had gone to it with a view of raising spices there. To these the Eied India Company had given the ground—had given them the plans, and had lent them money to commence their pro ' ceedings. Thus it would be seen that they had paid 85,0001. per annum for a place in which they could not raise apices without giving away the.land on which they were to grow, and the plants from which they were to spring, and lending the money to cover the first expences of cultivation. He would ask when it had been before a question, whether or not Ben coolen should be abandoned, if the present cession deserved blame, because they had got something for it in return. Mention had been made of the loss sustained by giving up the trade in spices. But with - such loss he had nothing to do, and -the treaty in question had nothing to .do with it. That which was so re gretted was done by 'the treaty of 1814, which gave up to the Dutch the only island in which they grew. It might be satis factory, however, to know, that the East India Company had at present among their stores some five or six years' consump tion. There were a drug in the market hardly paid the ex pence of collecting them, and there was in hand a stock which would last till the East India Company's Charter came 'again under their consideration, we were not likely to feel any scarcity, of nutmegs, pepper, or cloves. To the Dutch mono poly or the spice trade we could not say much, while they could point in their turn to our monopoly of the trade in opium, in salt, and . in - cinnamon. For the lovers of those savoury articles, which the Dutch were supposed to be anxious to keep for themselves, it might be consoling- . to them to know, that the climate and Soil of Sincapore and of Prince.of Wales's Island were considered to be congenial to their growth, and we might therefore ,hope for a' plentifitl. supply by the time, the East India Company's stock in hand should be exhaust ed, if the Dutch should be mad enough (which he did not ex pect) to retain the monopoly of theist so long. By obtaining Sincapore, we had gained what had been pronounced the one thing necessary, the unurn necessarium, for the security of our Indian possessions; we had secured a. continuous commu nication completely along- the whole of the Malay Peninsula ; and by the Straits of Malacca to China, we had obtained the extinction of all the Dutch establishments on the Continent of India, and for these advantages we gave up a barren island, which had cost us 85,000/. per annum, and thus removed the cause of those differences Which had heretofore prevailed and obtained a declaration from the Dutch in favour of as free a trade in Asia as in Europe. This was a bargain which, it appeared to him, could not be blamed as injurious to the East India Company, or to that larger body in which the East India Company merged. The Island of Sincapore thus obtained by treaty had been left under the administration of the East India Company, acting on the Act for regulating their Charter, which passed ten years ago. Thus it was proposed that it should re main till Parliament should next be called upon to consider what modifications of the privileges claimed under their charter might be necessary —he meant that the Company were to ad minister Sincapore as they did their other possessions, and under the same responsibility to the Government of this Country. 111 r. HUM E regretted the cession of Java to the Dutch at the close of the late war. He did not know where the Right Hon. Gentleman got his argument in favour of the cession of that island. If , as he had stated, it was the object of England to supnort the strength of the Ho use o f Orange" why did we with hold from them the Cape, Demerara, and Essequibo ? These would have been given up, if the motive for restoring Java had been - such as the Right Hon. Gentleman had supposed, but the truth was that. Java had been given up i n u tt er i gnorance o f the interests of India. The cession of it was regarded by those who were best acquainted with the subject, as one of the grossest blunders ever committed in diplomacy. In giving up the na tives of Java, bound hand and fbot, to .thasae who had formerly governed them by brute force, we violated the most solemn en gagernents. The removal Of . ilie,Dutch Settlements from the Continent of India, obtained by thi's treaty, he held to be very unimportant. Those settlements were the cause, perhaps, of two hundred chests of opium being withdrawn from our mono poly, and was this- an object worth the price which had been paid for it ? He,adverted to the allusion made by the Right Hon. Gentleman to Sir Thomas Raffles, and eulogised that Gallant Officer in the warmest te r m s . • He was of opinion that the engagements entered into with the natives of the islands now to be abandoned ought to have'been observed. He had no hesitation in saying, that every cession we were now about to make was as great a breach of public honour and good faith as had ever been committed. Ile would agree that to maintain Bencoolen at an annual expenc e of 85,0001. would be madness, and six years ago he wished elle establishment of Prince of Wales's might have been abandon e d witho u t b rea king faith, a s I‘,eh le a s ti s Island d o neand to a b ct e inggivan tip. R u t thos e ex p e n s ive establish ments part by those to whom we were bound by commercial treaties. In giving up the natives to the Dutch, we handed them over, bound hand and foot, to the most remorseless and tyr ann i ca l power that had ever been established in India. The conduct of the Dutch was known to be such as he had described, for proofs of this it was not ne. cessary to go quite so far back as the massacre at Amboyna, for in 1798, when he was at China., the appearance of a Malay boat caused fear, from the murderous disposition by which the natives were considered to be distinguished, in consequence of the injuries they had received from the cruelty of the' Dutch. The measures subsequently adopted by the English had re claimed the natives ; and, though accidents might sometimes happen the character of the people had been completely changed. After, this it was most unjust to' place. them once more under their old masters. We had a right to abandon the island in question, but not to restore their to the Government of the Netherlands. This was an act of great injustice to the natives and settlers. If the Right Hon. Gentleman had been'told that the spices of Bencoolen cot' which he had spoken facetiously) were not good, he was misinformed. In proot' of this, he would read what had been said on this subject in a letter which had • been received by one of our first brokers in, that trade: Here the Hon. Gentleman read part of a letter, which pronounced the mace, cloven:, and nutmegs, to be equal to thole of -Am boyna. He spoke of the evils which might arise from the ces sion of Bencoolen in the event of a war breaking out, and con tended that these would be of a serious character. He did not think the Dutch could give us a fair title to Sincapore. He hoped the measure before the House would bealeferred. If it passed, it would be a recognition- of what had been done. He thought it would be better to leave things as they were for the present, till it was seen whether the mischief could not be re paired. He concluded by moving as an amendment, that the House should resolve itself into the Committee on that day six months. Mr. ROBERTSON thought there were ample proofs before them of the disposition of the Dutch to monopolise the . whole commerce of the Indian Seas - . The island of Sincapore had had nothing on it but a few baboons perhaps, and what diffi culty could there be in taking possession of such a place ? The cession of BencoOlen would prove most injurious to us in case of a war. The Hon. Member called the attention of the House to the danger of giving up possessions in the. Indian Seas— which would give the Dutch the power to exclude the East India trade from the passage to China by the Straits of Sunda and Molucca. It was of great importance to have a passage by Sincapore; a war with the Dutch would destroy the China trade. Mr. C. WYNN said, before he entered into the arguments, he wished to state what the bill was. It had been said they ought to pause, in order to enable his Majesty's Ministers to see what the effect of the treaty would be. This bill had nothing to do with the treaty. It would be found that one treaty had taken place, and that the passing . 'of. this bill could make no difference. The effect of it was this :—Bencoolen having been given up by the East India Company, this bill gave ,he power to cede it to the Dutch. He considered that part of the I-lon. Member's speech (the Hon. Member who moved the amendment) referred more to the treaty of 1814 than any recent treaty. If the Hon. Member had attended to the provisions of the Bill, his view would have been very different. It was said the cession of Bencoolen would be attended with'' the loss of the China trade. What was Bencoolen ? Whatever power had the naval force in those seas, would possess Ben.. coolen. The Dutch, in time of peace; would treat England at Bencoolen as a favoured nation ; and, in time of war, he did not know whether the 'country would require .any favour whatever. The trade, in short, would be carried on after the treaty, as it had been carried on previously. was then said a great sacrifice was to be made. All that we gave up was a fort and one carriage gun. It was also said the Dutch would form new ' commercial establishments. Admitting it might be so, had not Holland the right to follow up commercial prospects, and would not the principles of free trade benefit England in common with the rest of India ? With respect to the spice trade, it was well known that Prince of Wales's Island was likely to furnish as much as this country could consume. The lion. Gentleman supposed there would he bad faith -on the part of the Dutch, but in the treaty the parties had agreed to recognise the rights of the inhabitants of Bencoolen. Mr. IiRIUiIT considered this a question which concerned the honour ana'character .)f the country. If they suffered the Bill to pass, they would give a sanction to the treaty. The Dutch had long been known for treachery, and the commerce of England in the East Indies would be endangered. He op posed the Bill firmly believing the treaty would be violated by the Dutch. Mr. ASTELL could not agree to the statement made by an lion. Member who supposed the treaty would be broken by the Dutch. The parties had agreed to observe it with good faith, and it was useless then to say it' would be broken. II e supported the Bill, Mr. TRANT had attended several meetings where this question had been discussed, and all the mercantile houses trading to India. had given the treaty their approbation. The cession of Bencoolen would be advantageous to she country. Sir C. FORBES thought the treaty might he advantageous to trade, at the same time he considered the cessions made by the Dutch and England a violation of the rights of the popula tion in the places ceded. Colonel MONEY said the . treaty was one of the most im portant for trade in the Indian seas which ever had been nego- - mated. The Hon. Member for. Aberdeen had said the trade would be excluded from the Straits of Molucca,• and the Hon. Member for Grampound also stated that the Straits of Sunda would be shut. The Dutch had possession of Ceylon last war, and trade was not stopped. Near Sincapore they had anchorage for shipping to protect the trade. The question, after a few words from Colonel BAILEY, was put, and the amendment negatived. The House then went into a Committee on the Bill. Mr. HUME asked whether any compensation was to be given to those who sustained loss by the cession of Bencoelen. Mr. Secretary CANNING said he should have no objection to listen to a claim, when a claim was made out, - • The clauses having been agreed to, the Report was received, and the Bill ordered to be read a third tinie this day. SUPERANNUATION BILL. Mr. 'BUXTON rye to move the third reading of the Super annuation Bill. Had the question been brought on earlier, he should have stated his objections to the measure at some length. .lie considered the Superannuation allowance to Clerks very irregular. It was better to make a fixed allowance, rather than give with one hand and takeaway with another. He thought his Majesty's Ministers were not overpaid, and he threw out these hints, not to be acted upon in the present Session, but for the consideration of his Majesty's .‘linisters next Session. 'Mr. HUME objected to the Bill, and moved that it be read a third time that day six months. Mr. BA NKES seconded the motion. If the Bill was not to pass in the present Sesaiorwthere might be an opportunity to do justice to the subject next Session. 1)r. LUSH INGTON approved of the Bill, and thought Mi nisters were not overpaid for their services. Mr. S. RICE supported tile Bill. Sir C. FORBES suggested that the Secretary of the Board of Controul ought to have a superanuation prov►sion. Mr. Secretary CANNING conceived that office ought to have a superannuation allowance, and intimated that it might be a matter of future consideration. The amendment was then negatived, and the Bill read a third time. The Report of the Irish Insurrection Bill was received, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time this day. The other Orders of the Day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at lIALF-PasT Two O'CLOCK. t 7 4, ....VT, 41 , - IMPRESSMENT• The following are the proposed -resolutions on which it is in, tended to found a petition to the House of Commons, to appoint a committee to e xam i ne i nto a ll matters regardin g seamen o f these realms, f or t h e general bene fi t o f the co un t ry, i ts naval service, the shipowner and the seamen : 1. To investigate all the laws and regulations, as also all the existing publi c inst i tutions, con nected with seamen, an d to ex amine how far th ey are establishe d on c orrect p r i nc i ples, for the general welfare. . 2. To investigate all plans that may be produced with a view of framing a system with regard to seamen, that shall do away the necessity of again having recourse to impressment for manning the navy during the time of war. 3. To lay the fbundation of a code of maritime laws, on con stitutional principles, for the good rule and guidance of seamen in the merchant service. The widow of RIEGO IS in a dying state. Her medical attendants consider her case hopeless. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. fl 0 vSE OF COIM9pIE. .Tovis 17 0 die 824. Mr. SVEAKE It reported the Royal Assent—to Duchy of Corn wall Bill, Exchequer Bills ( Public Works) Bill, Cocoa Nuts, & r e. Bill, Fisheries Bill, Salt Duties Repeal Bill, East India Ocidds Bill,' NeWfotinilland JuiliCtitiire Bill, Newfoundland Marriages Bill, Tithe CoMposition (Ireland) Bill, Parochial Stipends Genesal Turnpike Act Amendment Bill, Insolvent Debtors Act Amendment Bill, Warehoused Wheat Bill, Revenue Officers Bill, Saving Banks Bill, Public Credit (Ireland) Bill, Weights and Measures Bill, Pauper Lunatics Bill, Silk Manufacturers Wages Bill, Payne Donation Bill, Connor Benefices Bill, ternan antfliilgobban Union Bill, East India Company's Agreement. Bill, Dublin Local Taxation 8i11,,-Thames and Medway, and Bristol and Taunton Canal Bills,—Redruth Railway Bill, Brenogue Harbour Bill,—Leeds, .Islington, and Paddington Improvement:Bills,Harwich Church - Bill, Dundee -and Bath,gat% Police Bills,—Bolton, Canterbury, and Cheltenham Waterworks Bills,-„Manchester Gas Light Bill, Canterbury Markets Bill, " Newton Poor Rates Bill, Mining (Ireland), and Alliance Assurance Companies Bills, Camden Town, Harwell, Teddington and Evesham, Buck ingham and Towcester, Illuemantle Hall, Barton .Bridge, Commercial, Blandtind and Poole, and Shepley Lane Head Roads Bills,—Viscount Stafford's Reversal of Attainder Bill, —Earl of Mar's, Viscount Strathallan's, Viscount Ken mure's, and Lora Nairn's Restoration Bills,-•-Smyth's, Campbell's, Edmondstone's, Eccles Vicarage, Macrae's, - Maxwell's, Marquis of Anglesea's, Countess of Grosvenor's, Tollett or Armitstead's. Sir Charles Morgan's Earl of Gal loway's Proctor's, .lellicorse's, and Castle Island Estates Bills, Gal loway's, (Cardigan), Walmgate Bar (York), and Potterne (Wilts) Inclosures Bills,—Lancaster Tithes Bill, and to Siller's Naturalizat'on Bill. MESSAGE FROM THE Louns—T.hat they have agreed to, East India Trade Bill, without amendthent ; and to Gaol Act Amendment Bill, Highland Churches Bill, Transporta tion of Offenders Bill, Ilasleborough Walk (Northampton) Inclosure Bill, Australian, British Annuity, and Patriotic - Assurance Companies Bills, Thames Tunnel Bill, and to New-street (Mary-le-bone) Bill, with amendments. That they have passed a Bill, intituled, " An Act to enable his Majesty to grant certain Advowsons, Rectories, and Vicarage, in the several Counties of Carmarthen, Car digan, and Pembroke, in the Principallity of Wales, to a College to be incorporated by Charter, to be called St. Da .rid's College." ETWALL CHARITIES 3yILSON'S DIVORCE ESTATEs—Ormo;le, Cooke's, Sir John Frederick's, Lord Bulkelcy's, and Wright's SEE OF CANTERBURY LEASING BRlDGE—Southwark Bills read a 3d time, and passed. SUPERANNUATION FUND I ECCLESIASTICAL BENEFICES J KENT INSURANCE • IBilk read a second time, CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS j awl committed. COMMITTEES—SaImon Fisheries, and Glasgow and Portpc; trick Roads--Reports brought up and read—to lie on the table. CHAR ITlEs—Eleventh Report presented,—to lie on the table. ROYAL BunGHS (Scotland)—Address "for a Statement from the Magistrates of eachof the Royal Burghs of Scotland, spe cifying what Accounts have been lodged by them annually, in compliance with the 3d of Geo. 4, c. 91 ; distinguishing those of which explanations have been demanded by the Burgesses, and those to which objections have been lodged in the Exchequer." JUDICATURE (Scotland)—Bill read a second time, a nd com mitted for this day two months. Bills to be read a 3d EAST INDIA POSSESSIONS INSURRECTION ACT (Irelan d ) time this day. IRISH ROADS Law EXPENCES (Ireland)—Bill considered in Committee, to be reported this day. NEW CBURCHES—Fourth Report of Commissioners, to lie on the table. ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE—BiII read a first and second time, and committed for this day. ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR THIS DAY. I. General Police (Ireland) Bill—Second Reading. 2. Corporators ( - Ireland) Bill—Second Reading. 3. East India Possessions Bill—Third Reading. 4. Insurrection Act (Ireland) Bill—Third Reading. 5. Law Expences (Ireland) Bill—Report. 6. Clerk of the Parliaments Bill—Committee. 7. Irish Roads Bill—Third Reading. 11. Sessional Addresses—Report thereupon. 9. Customs Duties and Regulation Acts—Committee there upon. 10. St. David's Colleg e Bill—Committee. NOTICES OP ' MOTIONS FOR THIS DAY. . Mr. Elli ce—Papers relating to the conduct of Sir William Lumley, Governor of - Bermuda. 2. Mr. Hutchinson—Papers relating to the Dismissal of Dr. Thorpe from his official appointment at Sierra Leone,_ and the suppression of certain charges against certain Officers attached to the Government of that ColOny. LORDS' PROTEST AGAINST THE IRISH INSUR- RECTION ACT. " DissENT TE First, because the arbitrary powers con ferred by this Bill, however cautiously administerd by the Go vernment of - Ireland, have art obvious tendency to shake the re spect due to the laws of a free country, and thereby to perpe tuate the evils, which have so long distracted a large po r ti o n of the kingdom of Ireland. The frequent recothrse to harsh and unconstitutional expedients teaches the Gentry-and Magistracy of the country to seek for authority as well as security in the sus pension, rather than thepreservation of law; and it countenances among the people an opinion fatal to all subordination; tranquil lity, and happiness, viz. that they enjoy their privileges at the dis cretion and mercy of those who, by the operation of °ther laws, are in a great measure possessed of a monopoly of political power. Secondly, because the facility with which Parliament has hitherto granted such unconstitutional powers, has, in our judgment, mainly contributed to the postponement -of those healing measures, which can alone reconcile the people of Ire land to the connection and union with Great Britain, by ex tending to the great body of the community, in substance as well as in name, the full benefits of the English Constitution. After repeated anti unsuccessful experiments of coercive laws in Ireland—after the constant recurrence of alarms, disturb ances, and outrages in that part of the empire ; and after the almost annual enactment of penal statutes, abhorrent to the genius of our Constitution, and to-the humanity of our age and country, we could not reconcile it to our consciences to consent to the renewal of this law, unaccompanied with any measure for the removal of those permanent causes to which the disturb ances of Ireland are to be traced. (Signed) " LEINSTER. " VASSALL HOLLAND." UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. CAMBRIDGE, JUNE 17.--At a congregation on Friday last, the following degrees were conferred : Bachelors in : Divinity—Joseph Jee, B.D. Fellow of Queen's College, (compounder); Littleton Charles Powys, Fellow of Corpus C. C. ; Richary Gwatkin, Fellow of St. John's College, (compounder); I?ichard Newton Adams, Fellow of Sidney Col lege; John Wm. Whittaker, Fellow of St. John's College; Bennett Michell . , Fellow of Emmanuel College; W. L. P. Gar nons, Fellow of Sidney College; George Pearson, Fellow of St. John's College; Cowperthwaite Smith, of Christ College, (compounder); John Garrett, of St. Peter's College. Masters of Arts—Rev. Theodosius Wood, Magdalene Col lege ; Henry Engleheart, Caius College. Bachelors in Physic—George Shaw, of Caius College; Henry S. Roots, of Jesus College. Licentiate in Physic—E. Lambert, of Pembroke Hall. Bachelor of At tsLArnbrose Smith, of St. John's College. On the same day, the Rev. George Gaskin, D.P. of Oxford, Prebendary of Ely, and Dr. Badham, of Oxford, physician at Kensington, were admitted an tandem of this University. The Rev. George Macfarlan, M.A. Fellow of Trinity Col lege, and Vicar of Shudy Camps, in this County, has been pre sented, by the Master and Fellows of that Society, to the Vicar age of Uainford, Durham, vacated by the death of the Rev. J. Blackburn, .M.A. At an ordination held in the Cathedral Church of Peterbo rough, on Sunday last, by the Lord Bishop of that diocese, the following Gentlemen were admitted into holy orders : Deacons—Henry Berners Shelley Harris, B.A. Worcester College, Oxford; Robert Charles Herbert Hotchkin, B.A.' Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Robert Augustus Lafargue, B.A. Sidney College, Cambridge; • Robert Montgomery, B.A. St. Peter's College, Cambridge ; James Murray, 13. A. Catha rine Hall, Cambridge; John Sargeaunt, B.A. Christ Church, Oxon ; Thomas Cooke Thornton, B.A. Clare Hall, Cam bridge ; John William Wake, B.A. St; John's College, Cam bridge; W. E. Evans, • B.A. Clare Hall, Cambridge.—By Lett. Dim. from the Bishop of St. Asaph. Priests—Hon. George Spencer, M.A. Trinity College, Cam bridge ; Thomas Mercer, M.A. Trinity College, Cambridge; John Thomas Flesher, B.A. Lincoln College, Oxon ; Thomas Watson ' B.A. St. Edmund Hall, Oxon ; Harry Townsend Powell, B.A. Oriel College, Oxon. On Sunday last, Stephen Isaacson, B.A. of Christ College,. and John Smith, B.A. of 't. .John's College, were ordained 1 1 Deacons by the Lord Bishop of London.- MR. GRAHAM'S BALLOON. We announced last week the postponement of Mr. GUAHAWB second ascension, this year, from the gardens of White Conduit House.—Though he had suffered nearly fr. whole week to elapse, the weather yesterday morning scarcely appeared more favourable than on the day that he had declined making his journey. His starting time was three, but the know ing ones, who knew how many gallons went to a balloon, drop ped in from four to five, and even then had time enough to spare, as the preparations for ascending were not finally ar ranged till within a few minutes of six. The gardens, although respectably attended, were by no means so full as at Mr. Graham's ascent!on the 2d instant, and the neighbouring houses did not give so much note of preparation as on the former day. —The time. after five o'clock hung very heavily on hand, espe cially with those obliged to stand, in spite of the vigorous efforts of a red jacketed band, - who,, for fear of missing the right one, played on every possible key the genteelest tune of the day, the airs being occasionally enlivened by a broadside of cannon six incites long. - Old Mr-Sadler the aeronautic veteran, was there, and seemed to observe with a curious eye the gradual inflation of the lion of the day.' T 6 give all the speculations on tne pa.ss• ing scene that we heard were impossible. • But it seemed the general determination of all present, to make no allowance for the amusement of the thing, for " what's the use of it ?" sooner Or later, was asked by every person, whether_ soldier, sailor, . tinker, or tailor. The crowd outside far exceeded the numbtr. within. Every thing was done to accelerate the necessary steps, but as the inflation did not commence till two o'clock, the ap pointed hour passed by, and four, five, and six came before every thing was finally adjusted: these tedious hours proved the most profitable part of the day, we should suspect to the worthy land lord : " waiter, waiter!" was incessantly called, and every body seemed to complain of the want of this necessary medium be tween themselves and a pot of porter. Their Majesties from the . Sandwich Islands had been expected to witness the ascension; and had the balloon gone up on the day originally appointed, they would most likely have been present; but accidents will happen in the best regulated families; and their sable High nesses were, we understand, prevented from appearing by an attack of the measles, which has laid them by the heels in the merry month of June. At about a quarter past five the filling of the balloon was completed, and the ring, to which the ends of the net-work were to be fastened, - was introduced under the neck of the balloon. This ring was formed of cane, bound together by a strong leather casing, and tq the upper side were attached 12 iron loops working with a spring, similar to that em ployed it: deg-chains, to which were inserted the twelve ends of the net-work. On the under side of the hoop were six iron loops to receive the cords that attached the car to the balloon.-7- These loops however were without springs, their place being supplied by the loops that were attached to,the upper end of the cords. At a few minutes before - six, the car, which, together with the balloon, we described in• our account of Mr. Graham's former ascent, was brought immediately under the balloon, and the business of fastening it to the ring was performed in about ten minutes : the last - operation was fastening the six cords, that had been the principal means of holding the balloon during the inflation to the ring; and as soon as this was accomplished, all was ready for starting. It had a fine efiect at this time to watch the undulations of the balloon, as the wind buffetted from side to side, while each motion caused a fresh portion or the silk to catch the rays of the sun. A pilot ballon was dis pats.ed a few minutes before six, and remained in sight about five minutes, taking nearly a due southerly direction. Shortly after six o'clock, Mr. Graham stepped into" the car, accom panied by the gentleman who was to be the companion of the voyage, and whose name we understood to be Captain Beaufoy, of the Coldstream Guards. •At five . minutes after six, every thing being ready, the-balloon was loosened from the stage, to which it had been attached by four strong straps, as well as held down by half a dozen persons. and immediately mounted into the sky with great rapidity. After a very few minutes, however, it appeared staticr.ary as to height, and it was only by its gradual diminuti on th a t its p rogress cou ld b e ascertaine d For the first minute air. Graham stood up is the car, and waved his flag, in which he was ,joined by the Captain. We believe at this period that he opened the valve, anti allowed some of the gas to escape, for the balicon still continued in the same level, though its progress horizontally. appeared to be very rapid. At eighteen minutes after six, when it had been thirteen minutes in sight, the balloon entered - a broad band of blue sky, and at this moment commenced to rise very swiftly, we presumed from the • expansion of the gas, as we could not perceive any discharge of ballast : in about 'three minutes it had crossed the clear blue,' and darted in stantaneously into a small cloud, in which it was lost for about a minute, after which it again became apparent for a short time .as it traversed a small patch of blue, and_ became finally lost to sight at.twenty-three minutes after six, having been, with the exception' already mentioned, eighteen minutes in sight, at first a monstrous thing, to which our sight is hardly yet accustomed, and then by degrees dwindling away - till a thin cloud had power to eclipse its grandeur and magnificence. • , THE DESCENT. Mr. Graham and his gallant companion alighted safe after theft perilous journey. Mr. Graham gives the following account of his Journey "A t Gth hour, 5 minutes p.m. I ascended, in company with Capt. Beaufoy, from the Gardens of White Conduit House, and in consequence of my friends making such ample and clue arrangements, I was allowed to mount into the aerial regions free from any restraint. I ascended with a.breeee from the north, and such was the ascensive power of the machine, that in a few moments I should have lost sight of the earth ; but being de sirous of affording the Metropolis a full view of the Bal loon I continued to skim over th e t ops o f t h e h ouses am id the Cheers of many thousands, who occupied every situation. that could command a view ; to attain this object I pulled the line, and opening the va l ve t o a mo d erate extent, I-could observe ourselves passing over Old Father Thames. Hav ing closed the valve we ascended with . great velocity, and in about five minutes lost sight of the earth. The cloud which the machine entered was to appearance particularly dense and gloomy ; I was now suddenly seized with a violent sensation of cold and dampness, shivering, and wet with the humidi ty of the atmosphere. Every moment seemed to be prolong ed in a tenfold ratio. The balloon, however, gradually arose into a less heavy atmosphere, but beneath one the clouds through which I had lately passed presented an appearance 'truly horrific and dis Mal much resembling huge mountainss, of dirty ice ; the atmosphere-still looked gloomy, but at length the clouds assumed an appearanceresembling pale blue, ting ed at the extremities with a beautiful vermillion. In passing through the first gloomy clouds, I felt a very singular sensation,. not unattended with pain. The machine now.ascended rapidly, and I felt warmer; there were also occasional breezes; this, continued for nearly half an hour, lied communicating my intention to Captain Beaufoy, I pulled the valve line for the purpose of descending. At this time I calculated we had arrived at our greatest height, viz. two miles and a half. Having opened the valve, I discovered we were descend ing, but were still making a considerable progress hori zontally. Now again the clouds around, above, and beneath us, were of the most gloomy and hazy appearance ; but breaking through them we entered others of a more serene appearance ; Although Captain Beaufoy used his telescope li e cou ld dis cern nothing but clo u d s piled on clouds, and he'in vain nought for a glimpse of mother earth. I now found'myself in various currents of air, which forced the machine to all porits of the compass, still descending. I again felt a pain in my hued, when suddenly Captain Bea ifoy informed me that he discovered our native element—open plains anti verdant lawns appeared beneath us. I passed quickly over, and throwing out the grapple arrived safe in the village of Tunbridge, 33 miles froth London, at eight minutes past seven o'clock, having been in the air one hour and three minutes. Persons flocked to us immediately from all di rections, and we then discovered ourselves in a field belonging to Mr. Willes, who was particularly attentive, and rendered us every assistance in -his power. Here I also discovered the great utility of strong iron spring hooks, which I had fastened to the hoop ; to these the ropes of the netting were looped, and thus avoided, not only the dangerous, but destructive work of cutting the ropes to obtain my liberation from the car. —Having left the car, we procured a post-chaise, and the machine, having been lashed on the top, we shortly arrived in Godstone. Here again we experienced the most kind treatment. A gentleman favoured us with a large cloth, in which I enclosed the balloon, and it having been lashed on another chaise, we proceeded to town, and arrived there a short time before eleven o'clock. Captain Beaufoy appeared much pleased with his ascent.—To those Ladies and Gentlemen who favoured me with their company, I return my most cordial thanks, and, on a future occasion I shall feel most grateful for their company." Mr. GRAHAM arrived at his residence, in Poland-street, Oxford-street, at half-past eleven last night.