The Sun. — London, England, 1832-08-07 00:00:00

bertson, who was, be believed, the political agent of the Company at Poonah. That officer had, it appeared, con sidered the various circumstances connected with the owner ship of this treasure ; but he would say that nothing ap peared to him more unsatisfactory than this part . of the ease. Captain Robertson, by what he conceit ed to be justifiable means, procured a knowledge and got posses sion of a very large treasure. Captain Robertson expressed his opinion that the treasure was not in Poonah at the time of its capture. Now be would not say whether that opinion was correct or not, or whether Captain Ro bertson's judgment was right or wrong ; but it was very evident that this circumstance heightened the difficulty of the case. In consequence of this statement, the East India Company interposed, and relying on the opinion of their own agent, they claimed the treasure as an arrear of tribute. This threw another difficulty in the way of decision. At length on the Ist of March, 1823, a minute of Treasury was promulgated, which laid down this principle—that with reference to the money discovered at Poonah, it could only be &aimed by Sir L.Smith, if it were in Poonali at the time that pl ce was captured ; and in January, 1826, another minute was agreed to, which recognized the principle con tamed in the former. No doubt, therefore, could exi•t as to the principle on which the case was to be decided; and it was incumbent en Sir Lionel Smith to make out the affirmative proposition, namely, that the treasure was in Poonah at the time of its capture. This teas a diffis ruby which opposed itself, not only to Sir Lionel Smith, hut to every claimant in this case. The principle laid down in 1823, and recognized in 1826, remained unal tered ; and although he felt the difficulties which this gallant officer had to encounter in making out an affirma tive case, still it was imperative on him to do so. The gallant officer had had recourse to the evidence procured subsequently by Captain Robertson, to substantiate his claim. He was sorry that the gallant officer had adopted such evidence. If it were English evidence, he could not but view it with doubt and suspicion, and he felt still more doubt and suspicion when he considered that it was Indian. The vice voce evidence was supported by what was called documentary evidence. It was not what, in this country, would be called documentary evidence.— Then, he would ask,„,if Sir Lionel Smith had not made out his elaim, and it rested with him to prove the affirma tive, was this money never to be divided?—(Hear, hear,) If they argued that there was a probable case for Sir Lionel Smith, that there was a probability that the trea sure was in Poonali when that place was taken, might it riot also he argued, as was asserted by Colonel Protheroe, that it was removed from the fort of Reighur when that post was surrendered ? Was it not probable that Narrolra, when he proceeded to Poonah, thought, that in thus placing himself in the lion's jaws he would remove all suspicion as to his wealth ? Having taken such a step, was it not likely that he would remove his treasures with him ? But whilst he lamented the difficul ties with which the case was surrounded, he would ask, must not those difficulties be removed ? And if so, by whom were they to be removed ? Certainly, by Sir Lionel Smith. The place was captured on the 17th of November, 1817, and it rested with the claimant to make out his exclusive claim to this treasure, by showing it was in Poonali when the garrison surrendered. Where, be would ask, were these inquiries, which had lasted so many ears, to end ? He would not object to fur then in finity, if he could at all see his way out of it,—if those who demanded it would declare what parties were here after to be examined, and would give them an idea as to the credibility which might be attached to their evidence. What testimony were they likely to procure at Poonah, in 1833 or 1834, that was likely to outweigh what was given at the time, and when the British power was para mount there? Sir J. MALCOLM said, independent of the command which he himself had held under Sir Thomas Ilialop, in the Deccan army, he also held a situation at the head quarters, which entitled him to a share in the prize money as well as the petitioners. Bat as it was a mere personal claim, he had not pressed it; and the more especially as he had been made Governor of Bombay. He had resided for a considerable time at Poonah, and was conversant with the evidence there given upon this subject. The Hen. Member for Br sport had said Captain Robertson had a direct interest in procuring this money, because he would receive five per cent. for all be succeeded in reco vering. That, however, was not possible, because, as a public officer, he was bound to adopt every means to reco ver the money that appeared to belong to the Government fur :t•hich he acted, uninfluenced by any reward or motive beyond the actual pay which he received. Captain Ro bertson was a ma❑ of too much honour and integrity to do any thing which could be fairly censured. With re spect to Sir Lionel Smith, be got together the best evi dence that could be collected at the time. Tee Solicieor. General said Sir Lionel Smith should prove the affirma tive. Now he (Sir J. Malcolm) conceived that Sir Lionel Smith had, so far as it was possible, proved the affirma tive. The Solicitor-General also observed, that he felt strong doubts as to whether the treasure was or was not in Poonah at the time that place was taken. NOW he looked upon the existence of these doubts as the strongest part of Sir Lionel Smith's case ; because, where these eloabta existed, they might be very fairly supposed to ex cite doubts in the minds of others as to whether the G o . Yen - orient was about to make a just decisio❑ or not. Look ing to the evidence, the impression on his mind certainly. was-, that the treasure was in Poonah at the time the place was captured. Lord ALTHORP soh', in this case a solemn appeal had been lodged before the Privy Council ; and the question for the Government was, whether, this appeal having beet, lodged, it was proper to proceed with the distribution of the Ariz -mosey' Under the peculiar circumstances, it appeared. to hint it would be wrong to go on with the dis. tribution—(Hear, hear)—and therefore he would not :e sist the lion. Members' proposed motion for an address to the Crown.—(flear, hear.) He thought it only consi, tent with justice that the appeal should be decided before the distribution took place. Mr. HLTME proceeded to refer to the conduct of Cap tain Robertson after the capture of Poonah. He stated that Captain Robertson took Narroba, threw him into prison, put his clerk in irons, and, in fine, practised upon him every species of cruelty, until he at length induced him, sooner than part is ith his life, to give up this trea sure. The 1-lon. Member proceeded to say, that nothing more atrocious than the conduct practised by Captain Ro bertson in this instance was to he found in the history of human tyranny. It appeared to hint (Mr. Hume) that there ought to be a revision and a re-consideration of this ease, in order to determine, not whether this or that party was entitled to the division of this money, but whether in justice and i❑ honesty it should not revert to the party from whom it had be,n originally taken. The Solicitor- Gtneral had said that the question was, whether one or both of the armies was to have this sum divided amongst them, but lie (Mr. Hume) would say that neither of them ahould have it if they were not entitled to it. It was only oecessary to refer to the language employed by Sir Ed ward West in pronouncing the judgment of the Supreme Court of Bombay upon this case, to see the manner, the illegal and tyraunical manner, in which this property had been obtained from the unfortunate Narroba. Sir E. West in pronouncing the judgment of the Court eta that occa sion, said, that the only question for the Court to decide, in order to bring the matter within its jurisdiction, wa-, whether this money had been the private property of Nar roba, or the public property of the Peishwah, and that it was to be inferred that it was the property of the latter, not only from the fact of Narroba having been the private treasurer of the Peishwah up to the peace, but also from the confessions which had been obtained from Narroba in prison—by, however, the tuo3t illegal and unwarrantable means. Upon that occasion the King's Court of Bom bay, after hearing all the evidence, solemnly decided against the claims of the Hon. Stuart Elplanstone and Captain Dundas Robertson. An appeal from that judg ment was transmitted to the Privy Council, and Lord Tenterden, in pronouncing the decision of the Privy Council with regard to it, recommending the Crown to reverse that judgment, grounded that decision upon the incompetency of the Court of Bombay to entertain the case, and upon what he stated to be the fact, namely, that this booty had been captured in a perfectly hostile man ner, non flagrant; sed nondum cessante bell°, though seven or eight months had elapsed from the capture of Poonah up to the time when this treasure was seizol. hoped, therefore, that it was not too late to give a hearing to the case of the unfortunate Narroba before the Privy Council, that its merits would be fully investigated, and that justice would at length be done in a case of such in justice and oppression. Colonel SIBTHORPE did not object to the motion of the Hon. Member for Bridport, but he really was of opi nion that the Noble Lord opposite should now fix a time, beyond which the claimants should no longer be kept out of their money. Colonel EVANS maintained that the Marquis of Hast ings had not the slightest claim to any Fortiori of this booty ay C o mmander-in-Chief. The Commander-in-Chief of the army of the Deccan, by a division of which the capture of Poonah was tfected, will Sir Thomas Ilislop. The lion. Member concluded by asserting that, according to all the evidence, Sir Thomas Hislop had as good a right to be considered the c•ons'ructive captor, as Sir Lionel Smith was acknowledged to be the actual captor of the booty in question. Lord ALTHORP apprehended that there could lie no doubt whatever that the Maiquis of Hastings was the Couatuander•in-Chief cf the whole army on this occasion. f • His Hon. Friend the Member for 'Middlesex was vely desirous that the Privy Council should take into its con sideration the claims of the representatives of the banker Narroba, but those claims had been alreany decided upon• The decision of the Court of Bombay had been reversed by the Privy Council en the ground of the incompetency of that Court to entertain the question. The proceedings of that Court were accordingly qua.bed, and the on:y question that now remained for revision related to the manner in which the money was to he divided. When that point sbnuld be again brought before the Privy Coun cil, it would pronounce definitively upon it, and in a manner he was sure that would meet the justice and me- rite of the case. Sir C. FORBES agreed in every word that had fallen from the Hon. Member for Middlesex, with regard to the case of the unfortunate Narroba, and the atrocious and abominable tyranny practised i❑ that instance, and he had only to regret that he feared the door was now closed against any inquiry on behalf of the representatives of that ill used and mast tyrannicilly treated individual. It was 3 disgrace to the British name and to the British army, that such enormities should have been practised ; and it was still more disgraceful that the Privy Council should have indirectly lent its sanction to the enormity of such proceedings. He understood, that when this case was i❑ discussion before the Privy Council, the enormities dis. closed in the course of it, as practised tow.teds this unfor tunate man, excited no observations or animadversions whatever. He was gl td that the conduct of Ciptain Robertson had been at length brought before Parliament. Lhe people of India would be rejciced to find that such things were not suffered to pass without animadversion in a British House of Commons. Mr. WARBURTONI did not fe•l it necessary to make any reply after what had fallen from the Noble Lord op posite (Lord Althorp). The petition was then hid on the table and ordered to be printed. Mr. WARBURTON then moved that an humble ad. dress should he presented his Majesty, praying his Majesty to suspend the execution of his royal warrant of the 31st of July, 1832, directing the distribution of the Deccan booty, until one or both of the petitions addressed by Sir L. Smith and Sir T. Hislop to the King in Council, shall have been heard and disposed of. After a few words from Mr. IfuMF, hoping that the representatives of Narroba would have their costs paid out of the fund. The motion was put and atreed to. IRISH TITHE BILL. Mr. STANLEY moved the third reading of the Tith s Composition (Ireland) Bill. Mr. RUTH `'EN took that last opportunity again to enter his protest against a measure fraught, in his opinion, with so much calamity to Ireland. The Bill was then read a third time. Mr. STANLEY moved a clause, by way of rider to the Bill, to the effect that the average of the last three years should be taken as the basis on which to fix the com position. Tim clause was agreed to, as was also a clause moved by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, that the Bill might be altered, or amended, during the present Session. The Bill was then passed. On the motion of L ird ALTHORP, the House resolved itself into a Committee upon the Speaker's Retirement Bill, The Lill went through Committee, and the report was or• tiered to be received to-morrow (this day). BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS BILL. On the motion of Lord J. RussELL, the House re solved itself into Committee on the Bribery at Elections Bill. The several clauses 1 to 11 inclusive, having been agreed to, clause 12 was put to stand part of the Bill, when Mr. 11UAIE suggested an addition, to the effect, that in all boroughs, towns, or cities, where bribery was proved against certain individuals, they should be suspended from the exercise of the elective franchise, without affecting the rights of other electors. Lord J. RUSSELL said, that there was a clause in the Bill, pri:viding that the Committee to whom any petition complaining of an undue return might be referred, should report the names of the persona guilty of bribery ; and he had no objectio❑ to the suggestion of the Hon. Member for Middlesex. An Hom. Altntinn said that such a remedy would re quire a new Bill. Colonel SIBTHORPE complained of the provisions of this Bill, which bad emanated from the Noble Lord oppo sit, , and which prevented the pertbrmance of the common acts of life by Hon. Members. He did hope that the Noble Lord did not intend to force this Bill through Par liament in this the eleventh hour of the Session. lle had asked a civil question of the Government, but, as on all occasions of an inquiry, he could not get an answer. He had inquired whether this Bill would be brought forward, he could get no reply, and though he had been absent only three minutes from the House, cn his return he found the Bill proceeded in. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was understood to say, that the occasion to which the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman had referred was on the evening of Friday last, when the Bill had been committed pro forma, when at twelve or one o'clock in the morning, in answer to the inquiry of the Gallant Member, he had replied, that he should bring forward the measure on this evening, and as early as cir cumstances would admit. Having said so much, it did not appear to him that the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman had brought forward any argument against the Bill now before the /tense. In answer to a question from Mr. H. GURNEY, which was perfectly inaudible, Lord J. RUSSELL said, that the whole of the legisla tive enactments with reference to bribery ought necessa rily to be consolidated, but the present period of the session was too late to accomplish such an object. The present Bill was directed exclusively to prevent bribery in corrupt places returning Members to serve in Parliament. After a short desultory conversation, in which Mr. Dixon, Colonel Sibthorpe, Mr. Courtenay, Lord Althorp, and Mr. Hume took part, the clause, as hell as the clauses up to 19 inclusive, was then agreed to. On the question being put, that clause 20 stand part of the Bill, Mr. FANE addressed a few words to the House, which were pet fectly inaudible to us. In answer, Lard JOHN RUSSELL was understood to say, that lie ad teitted this Bill to be a great constitutional question, at tho same time be thought that where it was proven the majority of a place entitled to representatives were proved to be corrupt, the minority of the electors of that place must suffer in the disfranchisement. Mr. DIXON begged to put a case—for instance, the city of Gasgow, where a certain party, say, 7,000 out of 10.000 might be corrupt, would that be a ground for disfranchising the whole ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied, that such had not been the case hitherto. The case of Liverpool was one in point, and in that case, though bribery had been clearly proved to exist, yet nobody had ever thought of proposing that the town of Liverpool should for ever be deprived of sending representatives to Parliament. The remaining clauses up to the 26th having been agreed to, Mr. T. DUNCOMBE brought under the consideration of the Committee the subject of the interference of Peers at elections, an evil of which he was desirous to prevent the recurrence. The Hon. Member quoted several in stances of the improper interference of Peers, in despite of the resolutions of the House censuring such proceedings. The Marquis of Salisbury had obliged his tenants to enter into bonds to quit their holdings on 14 days' notice, or forfeit penalties of 50/. This was done both in the case of county and borough votere, though the time allowed to the former was, he believed, more than 14 days. What was the object of the Noble Marquis? He answered— to control the votes of his tenants at the next election for Hertford. He contended that such attempts to impede freedom of election were not to be endured. In order to put an end to such improper practices, he proposed to bring up three clauses—the first of which would inflict a penalty of 500/. on any Peer who should be proved to have interfered at elections ; the second clause pointed out the tribunal by which the penalty cues to be inflicted—namely, a Committee of the House chosen by ballot ; and the third clause fixed the mode of recovering the penalty. The Hon. Member concluded by moving that these clauses be brought up. Mr. BERNAL (the Chairman) called the attention of the Committee to the fact, that the clauses aga.inst the interference of Peers did not come within the scope of the title of the Bill, which was to prevent " bribery and cor ruption" at elections. Lord JOHN RUSSELL agreed with the Chairman, that the clauses were inadmissible in point of form, but nevertheless thought the present not an improper time to discuss the principle involved in the resolutions. In his opinion, the resolutions of the House against the interfe rence of Peers at elections, only applied to cases of gross and open interference. lie did not think that it could be the object of a Reformed Parliament to shut out all in terference whatever on the part of the Peers. There was a wide difference between the legitimate and illegitimate influence of rank and property; the former be hoped never to see abolished. Ile objected to the proposed clauses as inconsistent with the ordinary course of justice (this referred to the mode of imposing the penalty), and cal culated to produce collisions between the two Houses of Mr. CURItIE wi-hed to know from the Noble Pay master of the Forces whether it was legal or constitutional that a Peer should interfere in elections. To his own knowledge, the Marquis of Salisbury had indirectly by bribes—(Noes, and hear)—and directly by threats, most illegally and unconstitutionally endeavoured to influence the elector, of the borough (Hertford) which he (Mr. Currie) represented.—(Hear,) Lord J. RUSSELL did not think it necoessary to de precate such conduct in either Peer or Commoner as highly illegal and unconstitutional.—(Hear.) He, how ever, saw no reason why a Peer bhotal not vete at elections. After a vtry desultory discussion on the question, whe ther the Hon. Member for Hertford (Duncombe's) clause was or was not informal, the gallery was cleared for a division, but we understand that no division took place, and that the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Wednesday. GREECE. Lord PALMERSTON moved the order of the thy for the House taking into consideration the Convention re specting Greece, and enabling his Majesty to carry into -feet the provisions thereof. - Mr. HUME objected to this motion being made at this period of the session, and after so short a notice as had bee❑ given of it. He thought the House ought to have more time to consider of such a proposition as that which the Noble Lnrd was now about to submit to die House, involving, as it did, a large amount of the public money. Lord PALMERSTON said, that the notice of this mo tion had been given so long ago as Friday last ; and the matter was of that nature that it could not be delayed without great possible injury as to the object in view. The House were acquainted with the state of the affrirs of Greece at the time that Prince Leopold declined the ac• ceptance of the Sovereignty. Matters had remained, at least with respect to the three Powers, much in the same state in which they then were, from that period up to the present time, and the Powers had not been able to afford them that considera tion which, but for particular circumstances, they would have given. When they were again able to direct their attention towards Greece, the first consideration they bad to determine was, who was the person to be selected to reig❑ over that country. Prince Otho, of Bavaria, was named, and the King of Bavaria had accepted the throne for him. The Convention to which he now wished to direct the attention of the House was then signed, and the engagement with respect to the loan was entered into. The Government thought the terms of the arrangement, as concluded in IS3O, were not sufficiently precise with re spect to the loan, and they therefore required stipulations of a more definite kind to guard against the possibility of al.y pecuniary charges being put upon this country in conse quence of the guarantee. It was therefore stipulated that the loan should not be raised at once, hut in three portions; and the revenues of Greece should be appropriated to the payment of the interest of the loan before they were applied to any other purposes. The present Government had no choice as to engaging in the guarantee with regard to the loan, for the previous stipulations on that subject had been made to the States of Greece, and not to Prince Leopold alone, so that they could not be annulled by the fact of his declin ing the sovereign authority. That the interest of the loan would be regularly paid he had no doubt ; for the revenues of Greece, wasted as that country had been by a long and desperate struggle fur independence, were not now inconsiderable, and might be doubled by a better mode of collection. He did not, therefore, think it likely that the burden would be cast on this country ; for he be lieved that Greece would have sufficient, not only to pay the intere-t of the loan, but he had very little doubt that she would be able to dispense with the Powers fur nishing the third portion of the loan itself. The cause of Prince Leopold declining to accept the sovereignty of Greece was a difference of opinion as to what ought to be the frorrier boundaries of that country. It had been pro posed that they should extend from Volo to Arta, which would give Greece a well-defined mountain line of boun dary. But to that art angement Turkey objected, and it was felt that Turkey could not be required at once to cede that question, without receiving some compensation for the provinces of Etolia and Acarnania. Negotiations had been entered upon with reltion to this question ; and though he was not now able to say positively that those negotiations had come to a satisfactory conclusion, yet lie might say that he was informed such had been the result, and that the Turkish Government had consented to restore that frontier for a pecuniary compensation, the amount o: which he would not state till he was quite sure as to the sum and mode of payment. That question thus decided was of the utmost possible importance, since without such a frontier the safety and independence of the new state could not have been well secured. The expense of that com pensation must of course be defrayed out of the loan which, by the guarantee of the three Powers, was now to be raised, as it was impossible to expect that Greece would be able to pay it out of her ordinary revenues. Even this, however, was not a new engagement entered into by the present Government, but was one which they found subsist ing when they entered effice,and the reasons for which were as strong now as they ever had been, and indeed stronger. The Hon. Member opposite objected to this question being brought forward at this period ofthe Session. His answer to that objection was, that the delay of the final adjustment would he most injurious to Greece. The affairs of Ler go vernment could not be carried on without money. The money she at present required, under the particular circumstances lie had alluded to, could not be raised in Greece at this mo ment. Yet it was necessary that it should be raised. To delay what was now asked would be to refuse it, for to grant it at a future period would be to grant it without its producing the advantages that were expected from it at this moment. It was not because Greece, after the long and desperate struggle in which she had been engaged, was unable to go on without a loan at this moment, that she would be unable to repay it when her affairs had been settled, and she had had the opportunity of developing her resources under more favourable circumstances. He re peated that the n resources of the country were sufficient to authorize the expectation that she would, at no distant time, attain as much wealth and importance as any of the other small states of Europe, su ch as Genoa and Venice, had heretofore attained. was not Mr. BEST had only seen the papers o n which th e motion was founded, on Saturday morning, and he prepared, by the cursory reading which he had , given to N them, to controvert all the statements of the Noble Lord. But, although he might never sit in that H ouse again, he felt bound to ask the House and the country, if this country was justified, in the present state of its finances, in guaranteeing the payment of 500,0001., by a State which was not likely to be able to pay it.—(Hear, hear.) He would ask the Nur.le Lord, was it not the fact, that a very large portion of the first instalment was pledged to Turkey, to pay the indemnity guaranteed ta that State for territory ceded to Greece? It the object of the loan was to enable Greece to improve her resources, how could that be effected if so large a portion were to be absorbed in the payment of the indemnity; and would not the guarantee be thereby seriously deteriorated. (Hear, hear.) Mr. ROBINSON had great objection to those engage ments, by which this country was made liable for the debts of other nations ; and on the present occasion he would ask, how could the readiness of the Government to give the guarantee be reconciled with the statement of the Noble Lord (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), the other night, respecting the finances of this country'—(Hear, hear.) Tile only excuse that could be offered for the pre sent Government was, that this guarantee was a legacy left by their predecessors.—(Hear.) But, whatever might have been the engagements of the late Government, dependent upon the event of Prince Leopold's acceptance of the throne of Greece, the present Ministers could not be bound by those engagements, when the original condi tions were so completely altered. He admitted that there some force in the argument that the effect of the new loan would be to put Greece in a condition to pay the former loans;—(Hear, hear)—but he thought that it could'give little satisfaction to the persons to whom Greece was in debted, when they saw all the revenue of that country pledged to the payment of the new loan. He deprecated the readiness of Mini s t ers a t a ll ti mes to su b s idi ze Con tinental Powers with English money ; arid from what he had observed of the Noble Chancellor of the Exchequer and his colleagues when they sat or, the Opposition side of the House, he should not have expected that they would so closely have followed the example of their predece•isors.-- (Hear, heat.) He hoped, however, that the present would be the last transaction of the kind in which they would , he implicat e d.—(H ear , h ear .) H e b egge d to ask whichwere to advisers begoverned should the Noble Vi scount (P a l merston ) what secur i ty the G ree ks were to have as t o t h e nature o f t h e i nst i tut i ons u nder ?tsettle Was the it f intendedorm of thatdie the they P rince v and re Government as they might think proper ?—(Hear.) Mr. 11. GURNEY trusted that the House would not consent to involvin g th e country i n so h azardous a at a time when our own finances were in a state of so much difficulty. All the proceedings between this country and Greece, from first to last, both public and private, were the acme of absurdity.—(Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. WELLESLEY vindicated the Government from the charge of having unnecessarily involved the country in this engagement; for, if his recollection did not misgive him, the Duke of Wellington's Administration had pledged was proposed to put Leop o ld at t h e h ea d o f the the country to the ratification of th e guarantee, w h en it Prince new Greek State. Ile did not think that Russia would have been a party to the guarantee if there were not a positive certainty that Greece would be able to repay the loan. The effect of the loan would be to place Greece in a condition in which she could maintain her inde- pendence ; and that was a result which would be highly advantageous to England. On those grounds, and because the honour of the country was bound to ratify the guarantee, he supported the motion for the Committee. Mr. T. P. COURTENA V . observed that it must be full iu the recollection of every Member whom he had the honour to address, that after the rejection of the proposi- tion made by Prince Leopold, the late Government never entered into any negociation whatever respecting the loan which now formed the subject of discussion in the House. Throughout the papers which he examined on the subject, he had not observed that the Government of this country had done anything more than make a small advance to an agent of the Greek Government resident in Paris. It had been alleged that the present Government of this country was hound to proceed in this matter, because the business of interference had been commenced by the preceding Ad minstration. He confessed he saw no sufficient reason for setting up a doctrine of that nature, nor could lie at all understand how the present Government, in this transac tion at least, whatever they might do in others, were at all hound by the acts of a former Ministry. The fact was, so far as loins or conventions were concerned, we were not bound. But as the late Government could not by their acts hind the present, neither could they be in fairness held responsible for the original interference, on the simple ground that they were not parties to that in• terference, it having taken place before they came into office. They were certainly r.o parties to that Conven tion, a leading feature of which was the nomination of Prince Otho to the throne of Greece—a nomination not only not desired by the late Government, hut directly disap proved of by them. It had been suggested that there ought to he a short postponement of the present motion, for the purpose of enabling Hon. Members to come to a sounder and more advised conclusion upon that important question. To such a postponement he confessed he saw no objection. Mr. RUNE expressed great surprise, that the Members of an Administration which had taken office on the de clared condition of non-interference with foreign States, should outdo their predecessors in a course of the most ill-advised interference. Could they suppose that it would be in their power to reconcile the discordant elements of which the Greek nation was composed, by placing over them a boy of seventeen, or three men representing that boy? It was idle in the extreme to suppose that a Government so formed, having no foundation in public opinion, could have the energy to maintain itself in such a country. But even if it were a Monarchy of a better cha racter, Monarchy was not the form of Government best suited to Greece—of all others he conceived it to be the least suited to that country. In his opinion a Federal Republic, or at least a good representative Government o: some sort or other, would be infinitely better suited to the purposes of Greece. The money which this country was about, he feared, to advance for the purpose of main taining Prince Otho upon the throne, would be money completely thrown away, and all for the purpose of up holding the Monarchy—and such Monarchy too—Mo narchy in the person of a youth whose father had but just recently taken a part in the Frankfort Confederation. In the present state of the House he thought that coming to such a vote would be extremely improper; and, there fore, he should say, let there be a call of the House, and let the proposition the❑ before them be submitted to a large assemblage of the representatives of the people. Lord ALTHORP agreed with Hon. Members that the House was not bound by the acts of the Ministry, and it could not for a moment be supposed that his Majesty's Government had ever acted us if they thought that the House could be bound by their acts. He regret ted to observe that the question had been argued through out in a manner too insulated, as if tie loan, which was only a part of an extended body of political proceedings, formed the whole of them. It must be well known to the House, that the interference on the part of this country in the affairs of Greece, had its origin at a period antecedent to the accession to office of the Duke of Wellington, and therefore, neither his nor the present Government was an swerable for the consequences. It was, of course, fully remembered that the interference commenced under the ad ministration of Mr. Canning; and even if that Right Hon. Gentleman had been desirous of avoiding the inter ference, he might have found himself not a little embar rassed, for the enthusiasm which at that time prevailed amongst the people of England was intense—an enthusiasm of which, if he remembered rightly, the Hon. Member for Middlesex largely partook. The Noble Lord then entered into a statement of the parts which France and Russia took in the transactions referred to, and then proceeded to ob ' serve, that the people of Greece demanded from the three Great Powers a Sovereign in whom all of them should have confidence, and they all at length agreed in nomi nating Prince Otho. The Honourable Member for Mid dlesex hail observed, that Monarchy would be a most unfit form of Government for Greece ; but upon what grounds did he say so? It was admitted that Greece was in a semi-barbarous state; and did the Hon. Member suppose that that was the condition of society the most favourable to the establishment of a Republic ? He thought it had generally been held, that the highest degree of civilization was, if not essential to the existence of a Republican form of Government, at least the most conducive to that ob ject. In the present state of Greece, it would not for a moment be denied, that some strong controlling power was demanded ; and the idea of forming a Republic in a country so little advanced, did, be confessed, appear to hie mind perfectly visionary. He (Lord A.) at the time the interference took place, was not so enthusiastic on be half of the Greeks as was his Honourable Friend the Member for Middlesex. It had been observed that the parties had done wrong in selecting so young a man as Prince Otho—that remark proceeded upon the suppo sition that they were at liberty to select any one whom they might think proper; but he begged the House to re member that the business of selection was no easy task, and it was rendered doubly difficult by the fact, that it had been agreed upon that no Prince should be selected from the Houses of the contracting parties. Upon these grou❑ds then he hoped that the House would confirm the treaty. Mr. FANE approved of the arrangement, and thought it the best that could have been adopted under the cir cumstances. He did not object to the payment of the money, because this country had a direct interest in the settlement of Greece. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when there appeared— For the original motion For the Amendme❑t Majority --43 On our re-admission we found the House in Committee, and— Mr. BEST objecting to proceeding further, on ac count of tile thinness of the House. Lord PALMERSTON said that, on the contrary, he thought the House fuller than it had been for some time past, and that the thinness of the House could not be consi dered as a fair objection, since it was the fault of those who absented themselves. It was alto to be remembered that this decision was not final, and that the House would have the opportunity of discussing the question in every stage of the Bill. Mr. BEST withdrew his opposition. Mr. HUME said, he would take the first favourable op portunity of again dividing the House on the subject. It seemed as though this country were acting on the prin ciples of the Holy Alliance. Lord PALMERSTON said, that the Hon. Gentleman appeared to think that he was imposing a Monarchical Government on Greece contrary to the wishes of its people. But did he not remember that three Assembliet had been held in Greece for the purpose of considering the form of Government which ought to be adopted, and that he knew two of them, and, he believed all, agreed in fix ing upon a Constitutional Monarchy? Mr. BERNAL then put the question, which was agreed to ; and the report ordered to be received this day. The Special Constables (Ireland) Bill went through a Committe.e.—Report ordered to be received this day. SHERIFF OF SELKIRKSHIRE. The LORD ADVOCATE brought in a Bill to enable his Majesty to appoint a person to act as Sheriff of Sel kirkshire, in place of Sir Walter Scott, who was incapa citated by i►►ness from the performance of its duties. Mr. HUME wished to know whether there was any precedent? The LORD ADVOCATE said there was no prece dent, but the House was perfectly competent to pass such a Bill. REFORNI ACT. Lord ALTIIORP moved for leave to brin g in a Bill to e xtend the time limited by th e R e f orm Actf,r the pay ment of rates, from the 20th of July to the 20th August. The Bill would also provide that a tender of rates should be equivalent to payment—much difficulty having arisen in some instances from the overseers refusing to receive the rates.—Leave granted. The other orders of the day were then disposed or, and the House adjourned at Two o'clock. The general expectation is, that Parliament will rise on this day week, but we think that the business of the two Houses will hardly be finished so early. — Times. We regret to perceive that the LORD CHIEF BARON has found it necessary to enter same of the Assize towns on the Welch Circuit in a private manner—the re sult, we fear, of the judicial character being allowed to mix in the angry turmoil of political warfare.—Alor. Ilerald, DON PEDRO. :From the Chronica Consjitncional of the 28th July, No. 11.) OFFICIAL DESTATCH OF THE LIBERATING ARMV. " Poivro, JULY 25.—Since the 20th instant his Impe rial Majesty has been acquainted with the intentions of the rebel army stationed between the rivers Vouga and Douro to cross them, and thus to threaten the liberating army on their left. On the following day these advices were confirmed, and it became known that they had taken a position in the wood of Pen,fiel, and that their ad vanced guards even reached Vallonga. His Imperial Ma jesty immediately ordered Count Villa Flor to reconnoitre the force and the int-ntions of the enemy. " For this purpose, on the morning of the 22d, a batta lion of Cacadores, No. 5, the volunteers of Donna Maria 11., the marine battalion, and the regiment of infantry, No. 18, and a detachment of cavalry, with four pieces artillery, under the command of Colonel Ilenrique da Silva da Fonseca, marched upon Vallonga. The Quarter- Master-General Bald= d'Almeida Pementel, directed the column, accompanied by the Conde de Ficalho, Aide de-Camp of his Imperial Majesty, and Antonio de Melho, Aide-de-Camp to Count Villa Flor. " At the entrance of Vallonga our advanced guard fell in with the enemy's videttes, and intrepidly charging a corps of cavalry which advanced for their protection, not withstanding a great inequality of numbers, obliged them to gallop off, leaving dead their Commanding Officer and some soldiers. " The sharpshooters of the enemy in great numbers oc cupied successively the small eminences and the woody points which extend from the river at Ponte Ferrara to the hill surrounding Baltar. The battalion of light troops, No. 5, the advanced guard of the column, and which was somewhat forward, with its wonted daring and impetu osity, attacked the sharpshooters, and worked prodigies of valour in a most obstinate combat, taking and retaking, step by step, every sinuosity of ground, which was bravely disputed by the enemy. That battallion alone repulsed the vigorous assaults of the enemy's sharpshooters and the troops which supported them, until the volunteers of Donna Maria 11. came up to support that battalion, augmenting by their valour the glory which they have justly acquired on other occasions. Captain Taborda, of the battalion 5, at the head of his company, broke through at the point of tke bayonet, and dispersed a battalion of volunteers called Royalists, which surrounded him, and which hid endeavoured to cut him off from the rest of his corps. By this means he regained his own corps. " The artillery, commanded by Major A. da Costa e Silva, protected with effect our light troops, and our in fantry charging the enemy, obliged it finally to unmask their fire, and to expose to us the positions tkat it had chosen. The object of the reconnoissance having been thus effected, the column tranquilly fell back before the rebels, and occupied, in their rear, the strong pasition of Rio Tinto, situate between Vallonga and Oporto. " The loss of the enemy in this action was very consi• derable. In the number of the few who were wounded on our side are to be mentioned Lieutenant-Gilonel L. P. de Mendonca Arraes, commanding the volunteers of Donna Maria the Second, and Major• F. Xavier de Silva Pereira, who continued to command the battalion as long as lie was able, notwithstanding his wound. The young Lieu tenant N. de Sa Nogueira, au officer of great valour, was killed charging at the head of his company. " As soon as his Imperial Majesty was assured of what had taken place, he desired Count Villa Flor to march on the Vallonga road with a division of infantry to support the retreating troops should such be necessary and receiving advice of the final result of that reconnoisance while he was on the road with his staff to visit the advance posts on the south of the Douro, immediately changed his route, and took the road to Rio Tinto, which he reached at the same moment that the retiring column from Vallonga, and the troops marching from Oporto to its support, took up that position. His Majesty, being there informed of the number and intention of the enemy, resolved to attack them the following day, and for this purpose he directed the march from Oporto upon Rio Tinto of other troops of the light division. He ordered the advanced posts on the road of the Vouga (the south side) to repass the Douro and remove the bridge over that river; and having by this measure concentrated all his forces in the city which he de stined for its defence, he directed the Count de Villa nor to march against the enemy on the 23d. " In consequence of the orders of his Imperial Majesty, the General divided his forces into three columns. - The right, commanded by Colonel A. P. de Brito, was ordered to advance by the road of St. Cosme ; the centre, com manded by flenrique de Silva da Fonseca, was to move by the high road of Vallonga; whilst the left, under Lieut. Colonel Hodges, moved upon the road of Fortniga, for the purpose of turning the right of the enemy. " On the 23d, at eleven o'clock in the morning, the columns defiled on the field of battle, and scarcely had the light division, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Schwalback, which was at the head of the centre column, reached the ascent of the first hills, when the cnerny's sharpshooters opened a fire on them, which was sustained with great bravery and military discipline by that division, thus giving time to the column of the left to enter into the battle. Whilst the enemy, threatened by the march of that column, and fearful of being turned on the crest of the mountain, detached a party of infantry, covered by numerous caca dores, to its right flank, and attempted to repeat the attack. Our troops, by these movements, were moved to an open piece of ground, when they were there suddenly charged by a squadron of the enemy; but taking shelter in a wood, they repelled the charge, and put the cavalry to flight, with the loss of a great number of men and horses. The Ge neral Count Villa Flor observing his left wing thus en gaged, and the enemy in great strength on that flank, did rected it to be reinforced, and at the same time he ordered the centre to advance,which gave fresh vigour to the combat. " During this time his Imperial Majesty observed, from a position which commanded the field of battle, all the movements. and despatched the necessary orders to the Generals. " The action thus commenced became general in the centre and left of our line, and the right and centre of the enemy's. Our light troops, dislodging from point to point the enemy's troops, performed prodigies of valour. Captain Pereira, of the 3d Cacadores, at the head of a few men of his company, bad the boldness to intimate to the rebel regiment of infantry, No. 12, that they should surrender and lay down their arms, and, immediately firing upon them, made prisoners of some of the men without any loss on his side. The infantry, with incredi ble bravery, sustained on every side our light troops, victoriously repelling the repeated attempts made by the enemy to break our centre. Our artillery, directed with the greatest skill, drove from possition to position the enemy's lines, and spread such terror among them that they could scarcely re-form. The enemy thus forced in flank on their right, and vigorously attacked on the centre, was successively dislodged from the groves and the emi nences, which they obstinately defended, and at length, having lost all hopes of being ab!e to resist on that side, they threw their whole force into their left. " Then one column of the right, which having occupied during the time of the action an advantageous position, held in check the enemy's left wing, and a body of cavalry began to move. It was dusk, and the enemy seeing itself beaten at all points, gained the crests of the mountains which were in their rear, and as soon as the night favoured their movements, they retired, or rather fled in disorder, by the high road leading from Baltar to Penafiel, leaving all the positions which they had attempted to defend covered with monuments of their defeat. " His Imperial Majesty, with General Count Villa Flor, with the officers of their staff, bivouacked on the field of battle, and after having, on the morning of the 24th, made a reconnoissance, and verified the retreat of the enemy, directed our troops on Oporto, which he entered on the evening of the same day, at the head of a column, amid-t the acclamations, the joy, and the blessings of all the in habitants. "In this manner terminated, after an action of seven hours, a day so glorious for the arms of Queen Donna Maria 11., when the General Count Villa Flor, the officers and soldiers of her Most Faithful Majesty, displayed all those military qualities and virtues worthy of men fighting for their independence and the liberty of their country. Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, in the two actions of the 22d and 23d, does not much exceed 300, w hilst that of the enemy, according to every account, is more than 1,200. "One hundred and seventy carts with the wounded were on the Penafiel road alone, without reckoning the ia ~ G • ot p ay s te , rt e i individualsenjoy, at o b f e t n v ue l which h ewr ti r cile - i ( sp l er i i s oi p tt ee themselves h t l ee t evreerinsyti restored rd t enables them once more to enjoy their homes and their fam lice. " As soon as the accounts are received from the different corps, the names of those officers and soldiers w ho have so n obly died for their country, or who have distinguished themselves on these two memorable days in its service, will be published." (From the Chrontca Constitucional de Porto, July 27.) " DEVARTMENT OF THE AD J UTANT - GENERAL'S OFFICE, JULY 26. Hi. Excellency Count de Vill a Fl or , Commander in-Chief of the Liberating Army, kis directed the pall-- cation of the following order, for the information of the army. (Signed) " MENDEZ (Ma j or. ) " Illustrious and Excellent Sir —His Imperial Majesty the Duke of Braganza, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, by sea and land, of her Most Faithful Majesty Donna Maria IL, desires that your Excellency should thank, in his Imperial name, the battalion of Cacadores, No. 5, and the battalion of volunteers, as well as the corps of Guides, for the courage and bravery with which they rivalled each other in their reconnoissance of Valonga on the 22d. His Majesty is highly gratified in having the opportunity 44f praising such noble ardour ; and it is very glorious for them to deserve the honourable recommenda tion, more in this case for the cause in which that ardour was used, than even for the great measureof bravery which they displayed. " The 23d afforded an additional opportunity to those corps of reaping further glory, and satisfying the ambi tion of those whose impatient ardour anxiously longed to measure their strength with the enemy. Oa this glorious day the light division fully justified the high reputation his Imperial Majesty had formed of it. In the left column, the battalion of Officers, the first battalion of the lSrb regiment, the battalion of artillery, of the marine, and of sharps:looters, conducted themselves with the most decided intrepidity and courage. In the centre, the battalions No. 3 and No. 10, by thp impetuosity and good direction of their attack, greatly contributed to the retreat of the enemy. His Imperial Majesty sensibly feels that the important position which the right column occupied did not permit them to enter into the battle. It is, however, certain, that the importance of their position, keeping, as it did, a portion of the enemy in check, and thereby pre venting them from joining in the battle, contributed greatly to the final result. The brigades of artillery in every part completely seconded the noble efforts of their companions in arms. " His Imperial Majesty, who bad the satisfaction to witness the glories of the day, considers it his sacred duty to acknowledge his public thanks to your Excellency in particular, and to all the Officers of your Staff, as well as the Staffs of the divisions, and to all the Commanding Of ficers of the corps who distinguished themselves, as well as to the Officers aad all other individuals who composed the columns of attack. " The battle of Ponte-Ferreira, at which your Et cellency commanded under the immediate directions and order of his Imperial Majesty, is for your Excellency an other title to military glory, worthy to be united to so many others acquirid by you in the service of your country, in the defence of the rights of her most Faithful Majesty Donna Maria the Second, and in the re-estaltlish meat of the Constitutional Charter ; and for all those men who exposed their lives in that battle it will be a monu ment of valour and patriotism worthy of the gratitude of the nation and of the blessings of posterity. " Imperial Head-quarters, Oporto, 25th July, 1832. (Signed) " CANDIDO JOSE XAVIER, " Aide-de-Camp to hiv Imperial Majeity. " To Count de Villa Flor." " IMPORTANT NEWS. " A part of the light troops, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Schalback, under the immediate orders of his Im perial Majesty, marched this morning upon the Carvalhos and Grijo. Scarcely had the enemy's pickets seen them, when they fled, which alto caused the flight of the enemy's cavalry stationed at Grijo, which our soldiers took posses" sion of, making prisoners of some of the cavalry and their horses. " The enemies of the just cause are frightened out of their senses ; on every side disorder and fear reign. They are equally in want of the materiel of war and provisiongt and they only rob and harass the country people. Vic tory marches in the front of our gallant troops, and their very appearance is, of itself, sufficient to determine the flight of the rebels. " The partisans of usurpation are in such a state of de moralization as to be unable to maintain themselves for any length of time. The deludel are beginning to see their error, and may yet have rec.iurse to the paternal clemency of his Imperial Majesty. " Heaven protects the justice of our cause. Patriotgt second the dispositions of Providence—our country will be saved !" (From the Chronica Constitncional do Porto, July 30.) " According to the last accounts of the enemy it ar pears that his present force consists of the remains of the regiments 11, 12, 19, 22, and a part of the 24th, one hundred and fifty to two hundred cavalry, and five piece; of artillery. As to the volunteers, militia, and guerilla" since the battle of the 23d they have been disbanded i° such a manner that there is not now united a sixth pa rt of the former force ; and the enemy is now so weak than he has sent for the guerillas of the Villa Real to reinforc e , him. These troops are in Amarante, having a species vanguard at Penafiel, to which it has drawn its advance ° from Paredes, where it has a post of ordnance. " The rout on the 23,1 was terrible, and has struck ti )6 enemy with terror ; many of the dismounted cavalry carri their saddles on their backs, and many of the infantry se e without shoes. As they pay for nothing, and the bitants abandon their homes, the soldiers are in great ws°; of provisions. The depression of the army is general, an the men complain sadly of their officers, who, they OP led them to battle without knowing how to thr ee, them when there. The soldiers were inviting each othe r to fly, and it was said they would pass the Douro hi Caroveiro and Avintes. There was general dissatisfa r tion at the non-arrival of succours from Lisbon, under, br good General, and all said they would not fight with the' present officers, to whom they give the name of rotor cobardes (cowards and vagabonds) ; that, in fact, char are lost, now that they know that Don Pedro is nea r them. • ci " It is known that th e wounded, who were evil away in carts, amounted to 800, and that a large force with 200 carts of baggage, &c., of the army, to guard I The troops complain that from the nature of the means transport they lost their baggage. The remainder of t"i baggage and the wounded proceeded to the other side ° the Tatnega. " From these accounts, and all others, since the 23d iv° we know of what importance has been the victory over tbe rebels at Ponte-Ferreira. The diminution of the eneitq f force by his loss in the battle, the dispersion of the grel! t e i i part of those who remained, occasioned by the terror O h , which they were filled—famine, the infallible result of t" violence which they had been guilty of in the country want of confidence in their Generals, and the convieWo now felt by the people and the troops that they had h ee re , deluded—a conviction rendered more certain by the P 4 sence of his Imperial Majesty and the Constitutional ar o , —such are the immediate results of this glorious 2e f which cannot fail to prepare other incalculable advao t tr in favour of the noble cause in which all honourable tuguese are engaged with Senor Don Pedro." "PROCLAMATION. 10 " PORTUGUESE !-Two divisions of the rebel ariroo 5 the amount of more than 10,000, h av i ng d are d t° proach this city, and to pass Dou ro , i n or d er t o menace o 0 on the side of Vallonga. A s soon as I rece i ve d i n forrna ti ",l of this movement, I marched at the head of the braire ° t o most loyal liberating army, which I have the gl ol command in chief, and, aft e r a b a ttle which lasted o' o - , hours, I had the inexplicable pleasure of gaining a c ° „,t plete victory, dislodging the enemy from his stro p i 4 positions, and defeating his deluded troops, who fled 0 0 confusion, thus freeing the country which surrounds Y from the horrors which were perpetrated by the follov/petk of the usurper. Tranquillise yourselves, then, inhabit of Oporto ! Unite with the liberating army, and take P, lO with me in the salvation of your country. We shall .e it v soon see annihilated the Government o f the usurp e :i which has oppressed you, and which, w the mi,f o rtuo Portugal, continues in that part of the country which , you—have no fear ! dominates to commit all sorts a at rocities. l am ouo ris "DON PEDRO, Duke of Braganse' HAMBURG AND DUTCH PAPERS• :r e 1 1 1 a t y , %V VV e AUG. 2.—lt is affirmed that itne ri ,„ 4 :l l l THE TUG"' forwarded to the Camp, to the King. According CO 4;1;0 hreichreweeeirveet 31greedised,"eli dible private accounts received here, from London, Zit despatches oado n, feo day h the e f G o r o e ve y r es a Conference, it is said, hap desisted from its denood,l7,, the treaty of the twenty-four Articles shall be aig ne- 1 his Majesty, and the conclusion of betsvee° b i n a treaty , y e ti Majesty and the five Powers is likely to turn ow' favour m a . 3. bly. tbi ° At • —llls Majesty the King returned to place last night, from his visit to the army. Cel t AMSTERDAM, Atm. 3.—Actual Debt, 2i Pe r 45; 43k, 4 3i ; Amort. S d i- 72i 794 yn ~ 4. per Cent., i n ot ditto, ' ditto, 3i per Cent.. 57i 58 4 ; Voluntary Pv ceot 1831, 6 per Cent., 97 97i ; ditto, 1832, 5 per - a l P 82 i 8 31 , —Exchange en London:—One month, lm 5-10 ; r iwo months, 12 12 5-10. rk„y MUNICH, JULY 22.—We learn from Rhenish L,•••lshe that the troops lately sent thither, in many places sasiatiovi peasants in their agricultural labours, and say theY, 0 01 thought they should be obliged to fight, but ba d I r di only good friends, and that it is more tranquil i n the c of the Rhine, than in Munich. t °I MayENcE, JULY 1 7.—The report that se ven 00 _ 0 the sixteen Members of the Opposition in N a ssiu bad Ili, condemned to imprisonment proves to be false ; the Preto, e' minary proceedings are, indeed, closed, but no sentenoc ,A, been passed ; and it is said that the whole of the pr os ings will, probably, be quashed by superior authority. ,i. Stf*' FRANKFORT, JULY 24.—0 n the 16: 1 4 the _I, Diet at Lucerne began the discussion on the desirable Pti, terations in the federal compact, in reference Co for Pc MEM