The Sun. — London, England, 1822-05-03 00:00:00

• itorn the.anpointment of two individuals to the office of Joint Postmaster-tieneral, li, indeed, a Board were necessary in that department, their there should be an umpire, or third person, to give the casting vote. But here there were only two Noblemen, equal in authority, and it was to be presumed in tenacity of opinion ; and therefore he should say, that instead of being a cc avenietwe of the public, they were likely to clog the wheels of every mad coach which ran through the kingdom, and bring the whole business of the office to a stand still. Ile remembered that in a discussion on the Navy Estimates, a case was mentioned, where there were two Storekeepers employed in one office. They wore equal in authority, and had a common key to • the desk. One of them fell sick, and the other, who had the use of the key, in his absence robbed the till.—(A laugh.)—He :sae far from applying this case to the Noble Lords who held the office of Joint Postmaster-General, but he did it for the pur -pose of chewing how absurd it was, to expect any additional security from having two persons in office. If the amount sof the Revenue was to be looked to as a reason, then the office of Paymaster General, which was regulated by the Bills of 11.112 and 1813; was of tenfold importance. This office had-been previously held_ by two persons ; but what did Parlia ment do ? They abolished one of the appointments, wisely judging that as there must be one individual upon whom the responsibility of office must fall, one was sufficient to hold that office. The responsibility of the second officer could not be considered as any thing more than nominal. If the office were an office of trust, which it was, there could be no doubt that that tnist might be safely reposed in any one of the Noble Lords (Chichester and Salisbury). He could safely say, that he never felt more concern at the vote of any motion than that of the former motion of the Noble Lord, particularly when he heard the arguments on which that motion had been opposed. He was glad that an opportunity was now .afforded to the House to reconsider the vote of that night, and he hoped that they would consult their better judgment. The Hon. Gentleman next alluded to certain measures which he had proposed in the years 1812 and 1813, for the abolition of particular offices, of which the office under the consideration of the HOUse was one. The Right Honourable Gentleman, the late President of the Board of Controul, the present President (Mr. Wynn), his Right , Honour a bl e F r i en d (Mr. Huskisson), all supported the principle of those measures. Those mea sures were supported on this ground, that all offices that could be abolished without injury to the public service ought to have been abolished. If such then were their opinion, he might be permitted to ask now, how far the circumstances of the country had since altered or improved ?—He might ask, whether the finances and the general resources of the country had so far in creased as to justify a departure from that principle ? He next alluded to the terms of an Address to the Throne, which he had proposed at the conclusion of the last Session, and which was agreed to by that House, praying that the expenses of civil offices might be diminished, as well as the number of persons em ' ployed. The House was bound, in consistency with that Address, to agree to the present motion. 'When sinecures were to be abolished, was it possible that any one could say the office of a second Postmaster-General ought to be preserved ? It was a simple, pure, sinecure. When an Hon. Gent. who sat next him, asked if the }louse would agree to abolish that office, whether there would remain any more of that clasi ? He (Mr. Bankes) said that he did not know of one, save the Postmaster General ship of Ireland. He had h ear d with regret an Honourable Gentleman say, on a former occasion, that he would support the office, because the reduction of it would dimini s h th e in fluence of the Crown. He trusted that the House would not act on such st 'principle ; he thought it' their peculiar duty to sh ew the people, on all proper occasions, that there was a feeling •within the walls of that House agreeable with their own—he thought it was their duty to concede to public opinion every thing not inconsist e nt w ith th e i r p u bli c d uty . He should, therefore, heartily vote for the moti on o f th e N o bl e L or d , an d he hoped that those who had concurred with him on fOrmer oc casions, who had supported the measures to which he had al ready alluded, would also support the present motion. Mr. HUSWISSON rose in consequence of the allusion which had been-made to him and a Right Hon. Friend of his who was then absent from indisposition. His Right Hon. Friend was preseift when the question was last 'before the House, and be regretted that the Right Hon. Gentleman had not then offered what he had to say on this subject, as his Hon. Friend would have vindicated better than he could hope to do the vote which he had given against the motion' of the Noble Lord. Whatever imputation might be against him (Mr. Huskisson) for changing his conduct now, seeing that he was one of the Ministers of the Crown, would not apply to his Right Hon. Friend, and on -that account he regretted that he had not been called upon when the motion was last before them to explain why he had withheld from it that support which he had not thought it right to give. He must beg leave to fill up the history of the measures which had been named with some particulars at which the Right Honourable Gentleman had stopped short__ The Right Honourable Gcntlerrian had been labouring for some years to abolish sinecures, and ....We the Crown to re compense meritorious ss.s tees In other ways. Having failed tdl2 and Itll3, he, in 1817, was so fortunate as to succeed in a great measure in accomplishing the object which he had in view. But it was then determined by the Committee which sat on this subject that the situation of Postmaster-General was not one of those which ought to be abolished. He had un derstood the Right Hon. Gentleman to be satisfied or nearly -so with the Bill which then passed, and he considered the ar rangement then made to be binding on both parties. The of.. lice in question was not inldvertently passed over, but it had been left as one which ought to remain in the hands of the Crown to reward public men. He did not mean to argue that the Right Hoy_. Gentleman and the House were by that arrangement precluded from dealing with the situation as they might think proper; but this he contended, that. those who had favoured the measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman in 1812 and 1813, might change their course after the arrangement of 1817, with out being justly liable to be charged with inconsistency. He proceeded to thew the utility of dividing the duty of the Post- Masters'-General's office between two responsible individuals, but stated that measures had been taken, pursuant to the Ad dress of that House at the close of the last Session, to investi gate the affairs of the Post Office,' in common with the other departments of the Government. Ile thought to commit this inquiry to 'a"Parliamentary inquiry, must be satisfactory to the House., and in this way they would best follow up the Address which had been voted. He therefore hoped the House would not so far depart front the spirit of that Address as to agree with the present motion. The course which he had defended, he insisted, was most in conformity with the Address of the Right Hon. Gentleman, and it was because he preferred fol lowing that Right Hon. Gentleman to following the 'Noble LO•rd, that he opposed the present m o ti on . Sir J. SEBRIGHT supported the motion, and contended that to maintain the situations in question were necessary, was in fact to declare that it was necessary to give 30001. per annum to some of the Nobility who boasted great historical names, to prevail upon them to do their duty by their King and country. Mr. H. SU,M NER, in consequence of the allusions made to him by the Member for Code Castle, said, that though there seemed reasons for supporting the two offices 'Or the sake of the revenue, he fairly said. his reason for formerly having opposed a motion like the present was a different one. He had observed, previously to the session, and during -this session, that county meetings had been held professedly to take into consideration the distress of the country, tho Ugh at very few of them the professed object of the meeting had been gone into; that persons were travelling over the country to excite disaffection ; and that the sentiments of these persons had been put into instructions to Representatives. Something like the system pursued at these meetings seemed to be followed in the House. Motions were made for repealing'this and that, apparently to reduce the Re venue to inefficiency - , and the same sort of attack was made on the institutions of the coutitry. One day there was a motion to reform two Lords of the Admiralty—(A laugh)—Another day to reform a Postmaster-General —where it would stop he he could form no judgment--(A laugh.)--Though, therefore, a reduction proposed might be proper, it would not be made in a proper manner under the influence of such a spirit, and on that ground and not on the consideration of the individual case, he gave his vote. He should now repeat it with the more satisfaction; after the pledge Of the Chancellor of the Exche quer, that the Pose Office should tome under the revision of a Commission. • - KgH. BRTG lIT totally differed from the last speaker, and thought the House fully as , competent . to decide on this ques tion as any Parliathentary commission could be. • 31r;TREMAYNE said;• a pledge had beentiven, on the passing of the Pension Bill, to reduce all. sinecures, which he should.never consider redeemed, while the two Postmasters -G-eneral remained. • - • Mr. HUSKISSON explained. Mr. S. WORTLEY said, when this subject was last 'before the House, he did not find himself at liberty to deal with it as a simple question, whether or not one of the Postmasters-Ge neral'should. be removed. The day before a motion had been carried for removing certain public officers, and on the sic • ceeding day a motion was to be made against the whole body of another establishment. He sow that a great delusion prevailed, and knowing that such measures could not in • the slightest degree remove the existing distress, he had • hesitated .'to. give his, support to the motion ; and he rejoiced that lie hail not been drawn away to vote for it at the moment. •-•lle thought it to be necessary that the Crown should 'exercise considerable influence in that House. He did not wish it -to possess 'more than it ought to exercise ; hut, at the same time, he did not desire to strip it of this at tribute. Now he felt - himself at liberty to view the question as a sinoe - question, and he•-was of -opinion that they might be justified in giving way tiithe exent to which the motion pro posed to go. They were blind indeed who did not -see that -the great body•of the people had been much disabused. No ;body believed that such a motion could relieve 'the existing dis ,,tress. .Looking at it as a single question, he was not satisfied with the defence of the office which had been set up by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and therefore he was ready to vote for its abolition. If, however, it was proposed to refer the subject to a Parliamentary Commission, it might be well that the House should wait for the inquiry, but if the question were now pressed " aye" or " no" whether there should be one or two Postmasters-General, he should say " aye" for the present motion. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY bad heard nothing in the course of the present debate to alter the view which he had formerly taken of this subject. He considered the office to be one which, both in a financial and political point of view, it was desirable to keep up. It was, however, for the House to decide on this with reference to the opinion of an individual He shewed that the inquiries which had taken place in former years had led to results favourable to retaining two Postmas ters-General. In 1817, the final decision of the Committee which then sat was, that this office was not one which ought to be regarded as a si"ecure. The recommendation contained in the Address of last Session had been already acted upon as far as it could be acted upon by a Treasury minute, and further in quiry was intended. The Hon: Member for Yorkshire admitted it to be necessary that the Crown should exercise some influence in that House. /tut how he came to the conclusion that that influence, which he regarded as desirable and necessary, that patronage of the Crown, which he thought necessary when the subject was last before the House, less required support now than it did then ' • and why those consider a ti ons w hi c h i n , fluenced his manly vote on that occasion should now cease to operate on his mind, he was wholly at a loss to conjecture. He begged that the House would allow him to call its attention to the strict situation of the-question. He requested that they would look at the words of the Address to the Crown of last Session, to which his Honourable Friend ought certainly to owe some deference, as it was his own Address. It prayed —" That his Majesty would be most graciously pleased to direct a minute investigation into the mode of managing and collecting the several branches of the Revenue." The Treasury had done this, and Parliamentary Commissioners had been appointed to make 'the specified investigations.— He would ask, then, was his Hon. Friend, or was the Par liament, prepared to contend that the Postmasters'-General should be reduced, without first ascertaining the opinion of the Commissioners as to their necessity or utility ? If they were not acting in the mere spirit of the day, without giving consideration to the acts they proposed to do,—if their object was fairly to weigh whether one or two Postmasters-General were necessary, they would leave it to the Parliamentary Commissioners first to give them information upon that point. Here, indeed, he wished to join issue with his Hon. Friend the Member for Yorkshire ; but he could not take the issue which he had proposed. He was perfectly prepared to pledge himself that the office should come, with as little delay as pos sible, before the attention of the Commissioners. He there fore thought, that his Hon. Friend, upon his own shewing, ought to vote against the motion. He t rus t e d t h e H ouse wou ld feel; that in referring this subject to the Parliamentary Cam- missioners, the Ministers meant, as far as they could, to give' effect to the wishes of Parliament. They ought to wait for the Report of the Commissioners, and then, and not till then, could they consistently arrive at a decision upon the question. Mr. WILBERFORCE expressed his surprise that his Ma jesty's Government should have avowed that the retention of the present office was necessary for the purpose of augmenting the influence of the Crown. The influence of the Crown meant, in fact, something which would be called by a much coarser name in places where plainer language was used than was usually employed in that House. There could be no doubt that offices were Oren to gentlemen to secure their support of the Govern ment on all occasions, whether right or wrong.—(Hear !)—The sentiments of the Right lion. President of the Board of Control (Mr. Wynn) had totally changed with the side of the House on which he had been accustomed to vote, and from that change of sentiments it was for the House to judge whether he had ac cepted office because he agreed with Government, or whether he, agreed with Government because he had accepted office—. (Hear !)--He should support the motion, because he felt it to be peculiarly incumbent upon the House, in the present times, to be careful of its character, and to endeavour by all just and honourable means, to secure the respect and affection of the people. Sir F. BLAKE said he was willing to give Ministers credit for what they had done, but a great deal more remained to do, which was necessary to the welfare of the State. He thought the Hon. Member for Aberdeen had done as much good to the country as all his Majesty's Ministers put together.—(A laugh.) He thought the reasons which had been given for opposing the motion to be most preposterous. One Postmaster-General was evidently enough, and the sooner they got off a second the better. Mr. R. MARTIN conaemned the conduct of the Opposi tion, which, he contended, was rather dictated by a desire to annoy the Government, than by any consideration of the ab stract merits of the question. He did think the admonition of the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be a most fair one when he told Gentl emen t h at if t h ey voted honestly and fairly according to their conscience, they need not be afraid to meet their constituents at any time. He, for one, was not afraid to meet his, and it was a proud thing, that out of the hundred Members sent from Ireland, very few were found to run from their decks in the hour of danger, and, like some Honourable Members, to leave their quarters and get under the hatchwayi.—(A laugh.)— He called upon the "Honourable Member for Yorkshire to rally his impaired faculties and to stick to his quartera manfully ; and if he should be placarded for voting for two PoStmasters-General, he would be his second. (The laughter which followed rendered the Hon. Member's conclusion inaudible.) Mr. MACDONALD congratulated his Noble Friend (Lord Normanby) on his having returned to the charge with a spirit, perseverance, and talent, which augured well for his public cha racter. Now that the King's Ministers had had leisure for re flection, and an opportunity of collecting the opinion of their country friends, he had felt' some curiosity to see what new shifting course they would adopt ; and that curiosity had been amply gratified by the turn which the debate had taken to-night. With the exception of the Member for Surrey, he believed there was not a single unofficial person who had ventured to stand up in his place, and justify the vote which he intended to give against the motion. The tone of the Noble Lord (London derry) was indeed considerably subdued, quantum matatus ab ilia Hectare! Where was now his high tone ? How had the mighty fallen since the l as t d e b ate on t hi s question ! Humble and. beaten, and retiring \ from his former ground, this mighty champion of the influence of the Crown, who had once de clared that without this office it would be impossible to carry on the Government of the country, was now ready to refer to certain Commissioners a question which had been already twice decided in that House. It had been said that the office was a part of the necessary patronage of the Crown, and therefore ought not to be touched ; but it was for the House to determine whethq that argument ought to have weight with them. He would appeal to the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. F. Robinson),,who had made so strong an ap peal on a former occasion, in favour of the inferior clerks of his own department, whether lie could stand up in his place and say, that a second Postmaster_General was necessary? whether he could say to those clerks, that they must be sent adrift, but that a duplicate Postmaster_General must be retained ? Ile wished also to know from the Noble Marquis (Londonderry) what he meant by a very favourite phrase, which he had used upon that and many other occasions " a well understood-economy;" it re minded him of what Hudibras said of pain— " Simply, 'tis not bad nor good, But merely as 'tis understood." The Hon. Member then entered into a statement, to show the various sources of influence possessed by the Crown, and con cluded with 'cautiqning the House apltinst ,giving their sanction to the continuance of unnecessary pl'aces, with a view to extend that influence. • Mr. MONEY said he had listened to the course of the de bate, in the expectation of hearing it proved that no duties at tached to the offices it was proposed to abolish. In vain, how ever, had he listened for the information that was to' prove that office a sinecure. On the contrary, he had the means of know ing that very considerable duties and responsibilities devolved upon the holders. In the last year there had been 2,000 enclo sure reports, upon which the Noble Lords had to give their opinion: * That they had great.responsibility was shewn by the fact that no disbursements could be made but by the warrant of a Postmaster-General.. Was the office, then, a sinecure, or an office without employment or responsibility ? He was per fectly satisfied that if the office were abolished, it would be an act of ill-judged parsimony, in which the feelings of the House would run away with the best interests of the country. Lord A. HAMILTON wished to ask the Honourable Gen tleman one question, namely, for what length of time one of the Postmasters, he meant Lord Clancarty, had been absent from thexountry ? He believed that he was away about two years, and this was a complete answer to the Honourable Gentleman's speech—(Loud cries of question, question !). Ilr. MONEY was proceeding to speak again, but was pre vented by cries of " Spoke, spoke !" Mr. MANSFIELD said, that from a conversation he had lately hail with a Gentleman best qualified to give information on the subject, he was convinced of the truth of the statement made by the Hon. Meniber below him Oir. Money), and he knew it to be the opinion of the Gentleman to whom he alluded that it would be more advantageous to the Public, as well as to an individual, supposing it were farmed, to pay 10,0001. to two Post-masters than to confide the duties of the office to one. Lord NORMANBY made . ; few observations in reply, and the House then divided. The numbers were— For the Motion - - 210 Against it - - - 201 Majority for the Motion • - _l5 The Report of Supply was then received; and the Resolu tions agreed'to. The other Orders of the Day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at TWELVE O'CLOCK. BANK OF ENGLAND. Yesterday a Court.of Proprietors was held at the Baltic Of England upon special affairs. The Court was crowded to excess, and considerable anxiety was manifested to hear the communication which it was understood would be made from the Court of Directors. THE.BANK CHARTER. The GOVERNOR, accompanied by a large body of Directors, entered the Court at 12 o'clock, and stated that early in the month of April they had received a communication from his Majesty's Gov,ernment upon the subject of a renewal of their Charter for 10 years from its present date, upon certain condi tions, which were embodied in a letter addressed to the Governor and Company, by the Earl of Liverpool and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which, with thepermission of the Court of Pro prietors, he would now read. , It was as follows : , " Fife-house, April 26, 1822. " GENTLEMEN,—In consequence of the several conversa tions which we have had with you, on the subject of the pro position for some relaxation in yOur exclusive privilege, as far respects the number of partners who may be engaged in any banking establishments in England, we request of you now to submit the following proposals to your Court, as the result of the discussions which have taken place between us : " That the Governor and Company of the Bank of-Eng land should consent to a provision being inserted in an act to be passed for that, purpose, that from and after the passing of such act, it shall and may be lawful for any number of per sons in England, acting in co-partnership, and residing and carrying on their business not less than 65 miles from London, to borrow, owe, or take up any sum or sums of money on security of their bills, in notes payable on demand, at any place ex ceeding the distance of 65 miles from London; all the indivi duals composing such co-partnership being liable and respon sible for the due payment of such bills and notes ; but that no other power, privilege, or authority, shall, previous to the Ist day of August, 1844, nor until after repayment to the said Go vernor and Company of all such sum or sums of money as now are, or shall or may hereafter be, due to them by Government, be granted, to any copartnership or society of persons whatso ever, contrary to the laws now in force for establishing, regu lating, or continuing the Bank of England, save and except the power to persons in England, acting in copartnership, and residing and carrying on their business not • less than 65 miles from London, to sue and be sued in the name of a public officer, if Parliament shall think fit to grant such authority. " That until the Ist August, .1844, no co-partnership or society of persons, exceeding six in number, or any body or bodies politic or corporate residing, or having their establish ment or house of business within sixty-five miles of London, shall issue any bill or bills and notes contrary to the provision of the 39th and 40th George HI. c. 28. " In the event of your Court being willing to, agree to such relaxation of your present exclusive privileges, we shall be ready to propose to Parliament that the time for giving notice for redeeming and terminating the exclusive privileges of the Bank shall be extended for ten years, such notice to be given at any time after the Ist of August, 1843, instead of 1833, as provided by the 39th and 40th George 111. c. 28. " That the permanent debt of 14,686,8001. due from Govern ment to the Bank shall continue upon the same terms and con ditions, and at the same interest as at present, until redeemed. " That during such extension of the charter of the Bank, all sums of money which now are, and shall become p a y a bl e , f or any part of the public re venue in England, shall be received and accepted by the collectors, receivers, and other offi cers o f t h e revenue in England authorized to receive the same, in the notes of the Bank of England, p a y a bl e to b earer on demand, or in , current coin of the realm. That nothing in this arrangement shall in any degree affect or vary the rights, privileges, emoluments, or a d vantages, to which the Bank is now entitled under any Act or Acts of Par liament ; or under or in pursuance of any employment by or on behalf of the public, except as is hereby expressed,'stipulated, and provided. " We have the honour to be, Gentlemen, yourvery obedient, humble Servants, " LIVERPOOL. " . • " To the Governor and Deputy-Govern N or VANSITTART. of the Bard of England." The GovEarroa then informed the Court, that the Directors, having maturely considered the terms of the above letter, had adopted a Resomtbn declaratory of their concurrerce therein, which they now submitted for the approbation of the Court of Proprietors.—(Hesr, hear.) Mr. SHAW extolled very highly the prudence of the Di rectors, and their solicitude, as well for the interests of the Proprietors as for the nation at large; anti proposed a Reso lution to the effect that the Court approved of, the terms on which the Charter of the Bank was to be renewed, and that the Directori should be instructed to carry the proposed ar rangement into execution, in case it obtained the sanction of Parliament ; and also, that they be empowered to make known to,Parliament their opinions upon the, subject. Mr. YOUNG thought the question was of such vital import ance, that some adjournment would be desirable, in order to enable the Proprietors t) form a sound opinion upon it. He was proceeding to comnent on the probable effects of such establishments, and on tie extension of the currency, when a desultory conversation arise between several of the Proprietors, in the course of which it was declared that country banks would have the opportunity of raking their payments either in so vereigns or in paper. .t was stated by the Chairman in the course of the conversatbn, that although the Bank had the power, it was not their intention, at present, to issue any smal notes. • Mr. RAN - nLE Jacitspx considered the measure fraught with danger ; but no nun was more anxious than he was to meet the views of Goirenment in relieving the distresses of the country ; and if the Res)lution was, the Court of Proprietors " consented" to, and lot- approved the terms on which the Charter would be renewd, he should give it his support, for he considered it rather u measure to be submitted to than de sired. • • Mr. Rax-NrEs, of*Sonersetshire, 'seconded the Resolution, and expressed his convicion that the Court of Di rectors, i n ac ceding to the measure, wre actuated by the most liberal views for the general benefit. De combated, as unfounded, the in sinuations which were thrown out against the Bank, that they never conceded ally thin; hut for valuable considerations,—that their profits were too lage,—and that the distresses of the coun try at large were to be attributed to the system pursued by the Bank of England. Ater the concessi o n w hi c h th ey now ma d e, he hoped that such narges would never be revived. The drawing in the paper-crculation had been considered as a rash and presumptuous mesure, fraught with the most dangerous consequence ; -but beheld, that th e s t e p h a d not been adopted by the Court of Direcors less for the public benefit than for the reasonable privateadvantage of the Bank. After some fur ther observations, theipeaker concluded by expressing his most hearty concurrence inthe measure. • Mr. HOARE exprssed his assent to the measure. He wish -ed to impress upon he Meeting that they were a bo u t t o g i ve up a most v a lu a bl e tr ti c l e , anti deprecated the idea that they should receive the Foposal as a boon ; but held that it should be consented to as ; measure to be adopted for the security of the wholecountiey. Mr. STucKEYsaid he should not attempt to follow the Hon. and Leamec Gentleman through his long speech, but he thought it very unwise so much to allude to Gentlemen not present, and to wlat passed in other places. They met there as Bank Proprietors: and in that capacity he should say a word or two on the measure before them. Whateverobjections there may be to the scheme its:elf, it seemed to him that it ought to receive the sanction of th a t Court. Th e Directors appear to have made what may be called a good bargain: Il e w i s h e d i n all other insta nces th ey h a d equally attended to th e i n te res t o f their constit uen t s . Mr. Ricardo's name having been often mentioned, he would tike that opportunity of saying in the presence of all the Directors, that in his (Mr. Stuckey's) opi nion, they had losi for their Proprietors more than a million, by not adopting to the full extent what is commonly called the Ricardo System, by paying in uneoinedgold. The Directors appeared to him •to have mistaken a circulation of coin for a standard of. value, by which, he again repeated, they had lost for their Proprietors inore than a million sterling. A PROP RIET oit asked, in the course of the discussion , whe ther the B a nk h a d g i ven up a ll id ea o f a d opt i ng a better note, or a better pap er f or t h e i r no t es th an th ose t h ey now set forth ? The CmtruatAN.. answered, that the Bank had now a plan under ctnsideration. After some further observations it was agreed, that the word " approved" should be omitted in the Resolutions, which then read,--." That the Court consented to the proposition contained in the letter of Lord Liverpool," &c. The Resolution in that shape was put and carried unani. inously, when the Court adjourned. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. PARIS, APRIL 30.—A private letter states that the Austrian Cabinet received, on the 21st inst. from Constantinople, dispatches of a nature so important, that they were immediately laid be fore the Emperor. M. de Metternich immediate ly sent off special messengers to Paris, London, and Berlin, and the report was circulated at Vienna, that every thing was finished with the Ottomans, that is to say, that hostilities were about to commence.—(Constitutionnel.) A letter from Frankfort, of the 26th instant, states that intelligence had been received of the arrival of the Emperor of Russia at Minsk, where the Imperial Guards were stationed.—( Idem.) Baron Pasquier has set out for Italy on a mis sion.—(ldem.) All the letters from the North breathe no thing but war ; and according to one from Lemberg of the .16th, the Russian army had passed the Pruth at several points.—(Journal de Paris.) It is not true, as several Journals have an nounced, that au express arrived yesterday from Vienna at the hotel of the Austrian Ambassador. (Gazette de France.) A private letter from Constantinople, of the 3d of April, states:—" We are in constant dread as to the probable result of the great question now in discussion. If war should take place, which has been the general opinion during the last three days, we run great risks. Many European fa milies have embarked within the last few days.— ( /dem.) It is not true, as some Journals have announced, that on Sunday there arrived at Paris, from Vienna, three couriers, within 24 hours. As little is it true that Count Lutzow, the Austrian Inter nuncio at Constantinople, has left that city for Vienna.—(Journal des Debuts.) A messenger from London arrived yesterday morning at the residence of the Count Pozzo di Borgo, the Russian Ambassador ; he stopped but a few hours at Paris, and then set out for Peters , burgh.—(ldem.) Letters from Montauban (Tarn et Garonne) of the 23d instant say, " after a long drought, a mild and penetrating rain has watered the coun try, and revivified vegetation, which had lan guished under an ardent sun. The apprehensions that had been entertained respecting the harvest have been dissipated by this fortunate change of weather, and if no disastrous event happens, we may hope for an abundance of the principal fruits of the earth. The meadows have most suffered from the drought, and will produce little hay this year; the pulse and fruit-trees had also suffered, but appear now to promise abundantly. It is expected also that there will be a sufficient supply of wine. The Brussels Oracle, of the 27th instant, says, —" We learn that by virtue of orders from the French Minister of War, several detachments of troops, cavalry and infantry, had left the garri sons of the department of the North, to proceed to Picardy, where the consternation is general in consequence of the multiplied fires, which spread terror in that province, and which are evidently the work of the most atrocious malig nancy. It is remarkable that the French Royal ists accuse the Liberaux of these excesses, whilst the latter retaliate the accusation on the Anti- Constitutional Royalists." We have received this day, by express, the Spanish Journals of the 23d. They do not con tain any news of importance ; and at the depar ture of the courier Madrid was tranquil.—(Ga zette de France.) An express has arrived from Madrid, who is said to be the bearer of dispatches of the utmost importance.—(Journal de Paris.) FRENCH FUNDS. April 30, Five per Cents. Exchange on London—One Month 25 f. c. Three Months 24 f. 85 c. AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, APRIL 25.—( Extract of a private Letter.)—We waited With impatience for this day's post' from Vienna, but, neither pri vate letters nor the Journals of that capital men tion a syllable respecting the impOrtant dispatches which the Prince de Metternich last received from Constantinople. This silence leads to the presumption that the Court of Austria will shortly publish an official Manifesto, on the issue of the negotiations of its I nternuncio with the Ministers of the Porte. All the commercial letters are warlike. This opinion gains great weight from the report that a personage of high distinction at Vienna has written tb a friend in the South of Germany that, notwithstanding the well-known earnest desire of the Emperor Francis for • the maintenance of peace between Russia and Turkey, things had reached such a point, that all his Imperial Ma jesty's efforts had been. rendered useless by the obstinacy and blindness of the Divan, who had pertenaciously rejected every measure of conci liation. NUREMRCRG, APRIL 24.—The Russian Mani festo is not yet published, but several private letters confirm the great movements in the Rus sian Army of the South, and state that the army of Lithuania and the Polish army have also re ceived orders to hold themselves in .readiness to march. VIENNA, Apnir, 18.—Several of the first mer chants of this city have formally contradicted the report of a new loan to be contracted for by our Government. We learn from a revectable source, that the question of a new loan is en tirely subordinate to that of war and peace, or to that of the participation of our Government in the war, even if it should take place. Up, to this moment there is no movement, among the troops of any importance. The mea sures of the Council of War have hitherto been limited to orders to the Commanders of several corps to have their regiments ready to march at the first notice. These orders have been given to about twenty-eight regiments, which, in case of need, will reinforce our army of observation on the frontiers of Turkey. APRIL 19.—The Councillor of State, De Ta d scheff, had this afternoon his audience of leave of the Emperor • he will set out to-morrow for Petersburgh. His mission appears, therefore, to be at an end ; and it is generally stated in public, that all the differences with the Porte will•be amicably terminated. M. de Tatischeff would not wait for the courier from M. de Lutzow. It appears that the accounts from Constantinople, of which he is already in possession, are suffi cient to decide his departure so often announced. The Turks continue to make defensive prtpa rations in Moldavia and Wallachia. They are erecting fortifications in various places. Six hundred cars, laden with ammunition, arrived near Silistria on the sth inst. Letters from Bessarabia state, that the Russian flotilla stationed on the Danube had quitted Ismail, and gone to Reni, at the confluence of the Pruth and the Danube.' Russian pontoons, conveyed by land, have arrived on several points of the Pruth. (From the Austrian Observer.) We are authorised to declare, that the article dated from the Danube, April 12, inserted in the Allgemeine Zeitung of the 15th instant, is, from the beginning to the end, nothing more than an unfounded fiction, both with respect to what is said in it of the present disposition of the Porte, and of the pretended subject of the negociations of M. de Tatischeff at Vienna. AUSTRIAN FUNDS. Metalliques . 6641 Aprill7 - Bank Shares 7 9 2 - - . April 18 Metalliques - - 74 1 Bank Shares - - 661 April 19 - f Metalliques f - - 74 34 6 Bank Shares - - 660 AUGSBURG, APRIL 22.—The Allgemeine Zei tung has the following article:—" Letters from Vienna of the 18th of April say, that M. de Tatischeff was to have his final audience of the Emperor on the following day, and set out for St. Petersburgh." The latest accounts from Italy say, that the Neapolitan Government has succeeded in dis covering, in a town in Sicily, a concealed depot 'of above 100,000 muskets. Nunierous arrests continue to take place at Palermo. Accounts from Ancona say, that 63 Greek fugitives from Misolunghi have arrived at that port. in the most wretched condition. His Holiness, with his accustomed beneficence, im mediately sent assistance to these unfortunate persons. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. MOUSE OF COMMONS. furls, 2° die Mail, 1822. LIGHTING BlLL—Chorlton Row (Lancaster) BOGNOR MARKET BILL BRAY DRAINAGE AMENDMENT BILL GREAT YARMOUTH CHURCH BILL DUBLIN FOUNDLING HOSPITAL BILL GAS LlGHT—Wigan INCLOSUREs—Ellingham and Ibsley (Hants), Wingfield (Wilts), and Sturton, &c. (Not tingham) RoADs.—Leicester and Peterborough, and Whitchurch and Ternhill—Bills read a third time, and passed. Shaftes bury and Sherborne—reported, to be ingrossed. LINCOLN COURT HOUSE—Petition for Bill reported, Re' port to lie on the table. P,AV ING, &c.—St. Mk -le-bone--Petition of Inhabitant Householders in the New Road, against; referred to the Committee on the Bill. LONDON BRIDGE WATERWORKS BILL--Further time granted for making the Report till Monday 20th May. COMMERCIAL DOCKS—Petition of Proprietors against the re newal of the West India Dock Acts ; referred to the Com mittee on lorireign Trade. SMALL SurpmExTs—Petitions of Merchants and Manufac turers of Newcastle-upon-Tyne ' complaining of Bond and Debenture Stamps th e reon ; t o be printed.. WEST INDIA AND AMERICAN TRADE BlLL—Petition of Sugar Refiners of London, AGAINST, to be printed. LEATHER TAX—Petitions of Tanners and others, of Ux bridge, for the repeal thereof, to lie on the table. PLYMOUTH BREAKWATER—Petition of Inhabitants of Kitlf.• sand and Cawsand, complaining of the effects thereof ; to b e printed. YORKSHIRE ELECTION POLLS BlLL—Petition of Geng: Clergy, and others, of Dew s b ur y, i n f avour , to be Print second reading deferred till Monday 13th May. OfoU• CORN LAws—Petition of Owners of. Land in Suffolk' , cora cester, Sussex, and Kent, a ga in s t t a ki ng out Bondeu.oted. for home consumption ; to l ie on t h e ta bl e, an d to be n.i s o f AG n T URAL DI sT RE ss—P e titi ons from the Hundreds of South Greenhoe, and of Wayl an d, and from the. Parish Martock—to lie on the table, and to be printed. • e r ROYAL BUR ITS ACCOUNTS BlLL—Petition of e Ebenz Bow, Dean of Guild of th e B urg h o f S t i r li ng ; to b e printeu• SuPPLY,—Resolution reported, and agreed to:— " That a sum, not exceeding £39,000, British Current' t be granted to His Majesty, t o p ay off and discharge such Tt the Proprietors of Five per Cent. Annuities and Goverin el !. Debenture, payable at the Bank of Ireland as have sig n ! fled their dissent to receiv e F our P oun d s per C entum Annui ties in lieu thereof." SILK LACE DUTIES BILL-_" for repealhig the Duties p a Plain Silk Net or Tulle, and for granting new Duties lieu thereof," _presented, and read a first time. Read a third time, and passed. ORDERS OF THE DAY for THIS DAY. 1. Warehousing Bill—Second Reading. 2. Warrants of Attornies Bill—Committee. 3. Colonial Trade Bill—Second Reading. o 4. Agricultural Distress Committee—Further consideratio n Report. 5. Juries (Scotland) Bill—Second Reading. 6. West India and American Trade Bill—Second Read illg. 7. Stamp Duties on Legacies Acts--Cominittee thereupon. 8. , Supply—Committee. 9. Ways and Means—Committee. Repo rt 10. Naval and Milit ar y P ens i ons ( payment t h ereo f) , — thereupon. 11. Malt Duties Repeal (Ireland) Bill—Report. 12. -Countervailing Malt Duties Bill—Third Reading. 13. Scottish Malt Bill—Report. 14. Linen Bounties Bill—Report. 15. Silk Lace Duties‘Bill—Second Reading. NOTICES OF MOTIONS for THIS DAY. te of I. Sir John N e wpo r t,—C omm i ttee to examine into the Si t the Grand Juryyresentments of Ireland, with respect t o mode of assessing and levying the same. . giS 2. Mr. Grenfell,-Copy of all Correspondence betwee r, relay Majesty's Government and the Bank of England, r` to the renewal of the Bank Charter. •x' For Mr. PlwsENT's Letter to the Right Hon. F. J . BINSON, M.P. see th,?. Fourth Page. Ba' PRICE OF STOCKS TIIIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. ..77 1 Bank Stock 23n 238 237 1 238 Imp, 3 per Cents. ex divi'•oo4 3 per Cent. Red. 77iiii Irish 5 per Cents. . ..... 3 per Cent. C0n5.794 78k 79 4 79 India Stock ................. 3 1 per Cent. BBk 89i India Bonds ..............g9 ldl 4 per Cent. N ol e d w 94it South Sea Stock ......... Excheq. Bills ...... ..... 5' per Cent. Navy Ann. 1021fi1 Bank for Cons. Act. ..... 5 ?er Cents. 1797 - Bank Long Ann. 19i 13-16ths Cons. for Account. ..... .71,13;0 HIGH WATER AT LONDO . Morning, 48 minutes after 1. • BRIDGE TO-111011110112 Evening, 12 minutes after THE SUN. SOLEM QUIS DICERE FALSUM AUDEAT ? F RIDAY,LONMDAOYN3, 1 822. We give extracts in a preceding column fro m the Paris Papers of Tuesday, and from Brugsels Journals of Wednesday. No intelligence Las co r tho tre, ;p re; tnut Pro i ti Pa hi s j has, 'lasi, tut] Ik tvi b e j f„ til 1) , Atlsi Vi lle ii, s. and Step ti lioli c ii Pit \ti thi Ilere .th eir th em 4\frecti l'titlf, 1• 41 4rici ( f Stl( 11 1 E li ffer e 1 ) h e Pa '4te s Pa ~~~ th r , sui