The Sun. — London, England, 1822-07-24 00:00:00

life more disastrous s'oeee it was -catettlated to tie up the 'hands of the Legislatueefi•om performing its most sacred duties. Mr. WIIeITOT observed. that it was the necessities of the -State oiCanada that had called forth.the Bill this Session. BURDETT expressed his approbation of the mea . •-esure, as one which would be of great benefit not to the colonies • only, but to this country. He hoped that notwithstanding the theoretical and technical objections which had been adduced, the measure would pass into operation next year. - Mr. BERNAL expressed himself very much surprised that the Hpn. Baronet, who had now accused the oppone nts of thiti Bill of theoretical and technical objections, had not appeared in his place on a former evening, to defend the measure, and refute the objections by argument, instead of endeavouring to - do so now by , mere declamation. The fact was, that the House had been called upon to sanction this measure without notice, and without a single paper being laid on theeible. Mr. BRIGHT thought that though it were conceded that <the House had a right to alter the constitutions of the colonies, still they were bound to examine even the abstract principles which were involved in the alterations. The Petition was ordered to lie on the table, and be printed. PRISON LAWS CONSOLIDATION BILL. Sir F. BURDETT presented a Petition from Mr. H. Hunt, against this Bill.—lt was read, and ordered to lie on the table. SINKING FUND. Mr. HU:IIE postponed his resolutions on this subject until " Thursday next. INDEPENDENCE OF COLUMBIA. Mr. LE NNA RD, in rispig to bring forward his motion, call ed the attention of the House first to the great importance of the subject. As it was desirable that Parliament, in its consi deration of the question, should be aided by the knowledge of what was passing immediately with respect to it, he should. move " for the production of all correspondence : , between his 'Majesty's Government and the agents of Columbia. He did this in order that the House might be informed as to what demands of recognition might have been made by Columbia, and as to the manner in which those demands had been - -treated by England—whether entertained or rejected. He could not see that the success of such a motion could in any way interfere in the negotiations existing between Spain and this country ; still less could he anticipate any objection to his proposal upon the slight ground that{ in the present state of the affair, it would be irregular for Parliament to 'interfere. In coming, however, upon the merits, to the question of Columbian Independence, he would not (the Honourable Member continued) enter into any details as to the course of the South American contest. The result of the struggle, every one knew, was this :—Spain, late the tyrant of 25 , 000 , 000 of men in that country, was now completely expelled from the scene of her oppressions : it was true indeed' that one fortress , in Columbia did still remain unsubdued,- but the free Govern -ment had the means of reducing it at pleasure, and were only • Waiting an inevitable capitulation in order to spare as much as -possible the unnecessary effusion of blood. Columbia was the first of the free states, let it be remembered, which had este, "lens' eel a liberal and an independent Constitution. The aboli tion of slivery, the freedom of the press, universal toleration, and a representative system of Government—these were the leading features of the Constitution of Columbia ; and , were they , not such as to entitle her to the approbation of her fellow na tions ? In cases similar to the present, difficulties sometimes might have been found ; but in the present question, taking it with all its circumstances, there could be no difficulty whatever. This was no acknowledgment of a struggle for independence—. no recognition of the rights of a people who might be sub dued and thrown again into bondage to-morrow—no ques tion of assisting colonies who were in rebellion against their parent State ; the Columbians had already established their in depend'ence ; there was not the slightest prospect that Spain, weakened as she was becoming by internal dissension ' would ever be able again to disturb it. The Government of Colum 'bia was already independent de facto ; and by delaying to ac knowledge her title to independence, we injured her interests, and sullied our own reputation. The right of one country to recognize independence acquired by revolution in another stood beyond all dispute. England herself had exercised the right not long ago, by acknowledging the revolutionary Government of France. In fact, we had virtually acknowledged the inde •pendence of Columbia. We had acknowledged it by the com merce which we had carried on with her ; and it would not be 'very creditable:to the character of England, to have it said that she did justice in the case only where she was interested in doing it. Let the House see that England was not outdone in generosity and liberal feeling by other nations. America had already acknowledged the independence of Columbia. The reasons for that measure, as they were detailed in the state paper of Mr. Adams, appeared to.him (Mr. Lennard) unan swerable; but he regretted -that in so honourable a course, America should -have been allowed to, take the lead,of us. When gentlemen recurred to our feeling towards old Spain in this measure, let them remember what course Spain had taken as to England in her struggle With her American colonies. Ifad she set the example of any nice-forbearance to us ? And - there were other circumstances which, as he (Mr. Lennard) 'thought, gave the South American colonies a peculiar claim upon England for the recognition of their rights. This coun try, in point of fact, had urged on the colonies to the attainment of the rights and liberties which they now possessed. In the year 1797 the governors of our West India . possessions had been instructed to excite the South American States to throw off the yoke of Spain ; and thoSe States had only now adopted that advice which they were too weak to adopt at , the precise time when it was first urged to them. Nor would he confine himself to the mere question of justice : let the House see how England was, in truth, interested in the decision of the present question. Columbia 'had published a proclamation declaring that no country should share her commerce which refused to admit her independence. Those who had attended the late meeting at the city of London Tavern must have seen what the feelings of the mercantile in terest were upon the subject. He (Mr. Lennard) thought that, both for the sake of this country and of Columbia, Govern - ment was bound-to come to a speedy decision; an d there fore should sit down by proposing to the House=that an hum ble address be presented to his Majesty, praying that copies may be laid before Parliament of all correspondence between Mr. Zea, or other agents of the Columbian Government, and his Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, or the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 'England, with respect to the riglft of the Columbian Government to be recognised as independent. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY thought that the Hon. :Member had gone beyond what he had proposed in the early part of his•speech. He had anticipated that the Honourable Member would merely ask for information to guide him in • shaping any subsequent motion he might have to submit on the subject. He had thought that the Hon. Member would be prepared to state the line of conduct which he was to follow, -after having obtained the information which he sought. He, however, thought it would have been more constitutional, as well as more expedient, that the object had been to ascertain what position Government stood upon with regard to Spain and the countries in question. The Ilonourable Gentleman's motion would not bring the House to a decision on the ques tion. Now, the fact was, that Ministers • had not . taken any measure on the pblitical part of the subject, although it had been matter of discussion with the Colonists, and also with Spain. There was really no use for moving for the production • of the principal document, as it had appeared in all the papers in Europe. It had never been the practice to lay before Parliament papers in discussions which belonged ex clusively to the responsible Ministers of the Crown, anti which had not been conducted to a fit state. The disclosure would be inconvenient, and could not'lead to any practical result of the smallest value ; and, therefore, it was one of the most un necessary pieces of information that Parliament could charge itself with. It would not promote either the good taste or the policy of the country, and it might affect the policy of the --world. He would allow that the Treaties which existed between Spain end this country were not to be at all considered as permanent bars in all changes that may happen among the ...States of the world but; as little would he allow that the con - duct of any particular Government, upon any particular case, ought to be.a rule for the Government of this country. He hoped that this country , was not to be expected to run a race with other countries for the recognition of any country, . upon the mere ground that it wits to he for our. interest. Ile was sure, that in the present aspect of the discussions on this very great and important queAtion of policy, he could not make the House understand the views of Ministers. The House would, however, sec that ,Government ought not to regulate the policy of this,country by what had been the no,. licy of Spain during the American war. It would be much better .to make her, by generous conduct on our part, feel that she had been in the wrong, than to take that wrong as the basis and 'guide of our own policy. The fact was, that th ese colonies were . already recognised as IndependentStatese and really' there was nothing Le the conduct or policy of the Executive Government of this country, of which they complained. For his own part, he had never hesitated on holding intercourse With their agents, when asked to do so, although he certainly had not considered tieent as official. Latterly their vessels had been recognised, nod they had- been allowed to import their produce directly into this country. We had shewn that we wished to cultivate a friendly intercourse with th'em. There was no restrictive law of which they could complain. They . we're a Government de facto, and as such we, de (itch), carried on intercourse with `them. The 'Honourable Gentleman did not seem to know all the facts of the case. It was impossible that he could know what was passing between this country and Spain, and yet the knowledge of that was necessary to the understanding of the ,•-question. He felt that he could not go into the quettion with. out embarrassing the subject. The question had, therefore, :better be left in the hands .of the Executive Government; it .would be better not to call for information, unless some praeti eal measure were to follow. Sir J. MACKINTOSH thought that it was not uncommon in the practice of Parliament to move for papers with a view rather to introduce a discussion on a particular subject, than to obtain information. Such motions were frequently made without any intention to tie up the hands of the Executive, which he'admitted should not be interfered with as to time and circumstances. Ile was ready to Maintain that the recognition of this Government could be no infringement on the rights of 1 Old Spain. Spain was the country which had more frequently than any other raised their questions among the other nations of the world ; ~for her provinces and colonies had more fre intently thrown off her yoke. In 1642 this country signed a Tzeaty of Alliance with the King of Portugal, one year after he had been declared .such in opposition to the Crown of Spain. He quoted also the recognition of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, at the very time that the Envoy of Spain was actually calling upon the Government of this country to treat them as rebels against his master, the King of Spain. Thp result, however, was, that the King of Spain very soon gave up , his demands in this respect, and that very Envoy was sent to the Netherlands as his Bri tannic Majesty's Ambassador. Ile could not conceive a stronger precedent to justify the opinion that Spain would not fed aggrieved by the recognition of the independence of her late Colonies on the part of England. But it might be supposed that Spain had acted in the way he had described, when it was unquestionably out of her power to recover the United Provinces. The fact was the very reverse of this, for at the period to which he had referred great military operations were in progress, and•with a fair prospect of suc cess. But under such circumstances, Spain had not dis puted the right of England to be on friendly' terms with those Provinces ; and she had remained at peace with England, though England continued the friend of the United Pro vinces. Nothing could be stronger than , the recognition, on the part of Spain, of the right of another independent State to take that part which was best calculated to promote the interests of its own subjects. 'What was the nature of the re cognition for which he contended ? Was it intended to esta blish and strengthen the Governments of Colombia, Buenos Ayres, Chili, or Mexico ? Not in the leastdegree. It was not a guarantee to preserve the present order of things ; it was not to bind us toward them, or to connect us with themby alliance; it was merely called for because it would be for'the advantage of British subjects. He admitted that a country which com mitted itself ,to the policy of revolted colonies, as France had done with those of North America, .and as Spain had done a year after Franci had taken that course, placed itself in a state of warfare with the Mother Country: But here the case was very different. We, by recognizing the independent Go vernment, should , neither express approbation nor disap probation. We had no right to express either, but by the act of recognition, we should merely do that whi ch was 'neces sary to relieve our own subjects from the disadvantageous situation in - which they stood; as compared with those of another great commercial nation : and not doing this,:he con. sidered the Government was guilty of a violation of its duty towards the English merchant, by declining to take that course which might be taken without giving any just cause of offence to Spain. The recognitie^ of a Sovereign, not in possession, • as France,had recognised me •son of James the Second, was an insult, if not an attack on the independence of the country con cerned, as it was an intrusion. It was pronouncing an opinion where the party had no right to pronounce one, presuming to act as judge, where it had no right to claim jurisdiction, and by consequence it offered a wanton 'and gratuitous insult. Here the case was totally different. We were not called upon to de cide on the questionable claim of a Prince otit of possession. It had not been urged as matter of complaint against France, on the restoration of the 1-euarts, that she had sent Ambassa= dors to the Protector Cromwell. The right of recognizing an existing Government had been considered to belong to every State, beeause it was held to be the duty of every State to promote the interest of its subjects. He proceeded to contend that it was essential to British interests that a Diplo matic intercourse should be established between this eountry and the Government of South America. This would enable us to obtain information that would put a stop to those depre dations which had been directed against our commerce, and lead to the extirpation of the pirates, who had long been in- the habit of preying on the property of the subjects of neutral nations. Ought we to continue to sustain such injuries because Spain refused to give up a claim which all the World knew she wanted the means to enforce ? Perhaps it was not generally known how long Spain might•be expected to persist in such a claim. It was only for the moderate period of sixty-seven ' years that she had persisted in maintaining her claims on the united Provinces, after_ they had become independent.— (A laugh.)—Were we now to submit to the inconveniences under which our commerce laboured for sixty=seven years ? He further suggested that the feelings with which• the Govern ments of South America must view the sullen manner in which her independence had been half recognized—the passing of the Foreign Enlistment Act, under the Pretence of maintaining a strict neutrality, but which was, in fact, a measure of hostility towards them—and the way in which our commerce with South America had been indirectly dealt with, which resembled the conduct of a person who was ashamed to be seen with another, but for his own convenience was willing-to have a little closet conversation with him L---the feelings likely to be excited by these circumstances-were calculated to lead- those Governments, in ffuenced perhaps by our commercial rivals, to adopt regula tions that would:be injurious to our trade. Ought we to submit to such evils on account of the exploded claims of Spain? Was this country in such a state that we could afford thus to play with the capital of its merchants ? If by such a course we only diminished our exports to South America, the House would surely consider this a miserable exchange, if we gave up these out of respect for the claims of Spain. Such a line of con duct, he hoped, he •had shewn was neither justified by _com mon sense, nor by the line of conduct which any other Govern ment had ever pursued under sim;!ar circumstances. He con sidered that we had a right to recognise a Government actually in possession, that our subjects might not be placed in a more disadvantageous situation than those of other subjects, and that he would maintain we might do without violating any duty which we owed to Spain. China might as well be ex pected to demand that we should not do so, as Spain, for the Emperor of China had for some years past: exercised as much authority in the South American States as the Spanish King. To abstain from recognising the South American Governments under such circumstances was, as Mr. Burke had said, (using an old English saying,) " to prefer the frill and ruffles to the shirt"—the form to the substance. He again described the disadvantages under which our merchants laboured for want of a diplomatic agent to back their representations when they were aggrieved. In conclusion, he declared it to be his opinion that the Hon. Member for Ipswich deserved the thanks of the House for bringing this subject forward. If the Gentlemen interested, honourably interested as British merchants in the decision 'come to by the Government, would now by their votes evince their feeling in its favour, he thought the effect would be to strengthen Ministers in the views they took of this question, if they were sound ones—to, confirm them if they were wavering, and if they were wrong, to recall them from 1 error, and to a line of policy more conducive to the interests of their country. _ _ _ Sir R. WILSON expressed a hope that Spain would not much longer delay to recognize the independence of South America,_ a.s he was convinced that the longer she did se, the longer she would continue to act against her own interest. He wished to ask the Noble Marquis whether the question of the recognition of South American_ Independence was at present viewed purely as a British question, or whether it was fettered in any way by the Treaties made, or the Negotiations carried on at Aix-la-Chapelle or elsewhere ? The Marquis of LONDONDERRY had no objection to answer the question. He had no hesitation in saying that he considered the question to be wholly and solely a British ques tion. It was viewed without reference to the interests of any foreign power, and was only to be disposed of according to the law of nations, the treaties which had been approved by Parliament, and with a to expediency, and that genero sity and prudence which it became this country to display. Dr.. LUSHINGTON wished to ask a question. Two years ago he had brought forward a motion' on the subject of an at tempt understood to have been made by the French Court to establish a Bourbon Prince at. Buenos Ayres. The Noble Marquis had then stated hirnself to be about making a repre sentation to the French Court on the subject, not denying the authenticity of this report. He (Dr. Lushington) had never lost sight of the subject, and he now thought the time had ar rived when the House and ' the Country were entitled to know whether the French Government had given such an explanation as the Noble Marquis considered satisfactory, and such as it became the honour of this country to receive. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, communications had been made to the French Government on the, subject of the documents which had been produced from Buenos Ayres, in the answers to which it was not admitted by the French Go •vernment, that the agent at Buenos Ayres was justified in the representations which he had made. Mr. MARRYATT begged to state What was perhaps not generally known, that British ships trading to South America, at present, paid just double the tonnage duties which were paid by the subjects of other countries who had Consuls established there. Many of our merchantmen in those parts had 'been plundered in a most extraordinary manner by what was called the Chili fleet, under the command of one of our own country men. Several of the parties aggrieved had complained to the Government in -Swath America, but having nobody to sup port their representations, they, stood but a poor chance of getting redress. When an American vessel was carried into Lilt; the only American frigate on that coast immediately went and openly released the captured ship, while our men of war suffered British ships to remain in the hands of those who had thought proper to detain them. He mentioned this to shew that our commerce was at present carried on under great disadvantages. He, however, thought it a little ungracious that our Government did not recognise the independence of South America, while they were disposed to profit by the mart which it opened to our trade. He hoped the recognition would not long be deferred, though he admitted it was pro per that the Government should be left to decide on the time and circumstances under which this should take place. The'Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, if the lion. Gen tleman had brought forward the case of any particular capture in the South Seas, he thought he should have been able to give a satisfactory explanation. There had been in all sixteen or seventeen cases. • Some questions were still pending. Our officers had strongly remonstrated in several instances, and upon the whole he believed the cases had been disposed of in a manner that left very little ground for complaint. Speaking with all respect for a science with which he had some acquaint ance, he meant diplomacy, in the present state of affairs in South America, he thought the representations of our Naval Officers were likely to be quite as successful as any that could be made by a diplomatic agent. He therefore did not think that the in terests of British Merchants had at all suffered from their being less entangled than they might have been with diplomatic discussions Mr. MA RRYATT explained. Dr. LUS HINGTON stated a case to Have occurred within his knowledge, in which an independent sloop had been cap tured by one of our cruisers, and carried into one of our West India Islands. The case was brought to this country by ap peal, when the King of Spain thought fit, through his Ambas sador, to claim the property in the captured vessel, on the ground of his being a pirate. He was sorry to say the claim had been partly admitted. He knew the case well, having been engaged in it as Counsel. It had been necessary for them to go to the Tower to search for precedents. Finally, a com promise took place, and half the property went to the King of Spain. Dr. PIIILLIMORE explaiped the necessity which had existed for discussing the claims set up to the pro,perty which had been mentioned. The claim of the Spanish king had not been recognised as correct, but the neutrality of this country between Spain and South America llud been recognised on this occasion. Sir GEORGE COCKBURN said it was easy' to find fault with the conduct of British officers, but they had a difficult duty to perforth, from the manner in which Spanish property had, been covered by British ships. As to •the tax imposed by Lord Cochrane on our trade, that was done by right of conquest. Haying conquered the territory to which - our merchants were proceeding, he had told them if they paid such a tax, he would allow them to come there ; but if they would not do so, they, Must go elsewhere. He did not say this was not an improper assumption on his part, but the merchants were not compelled to pay the tax. A remonstrance on the subject had been suc cessfully made, and Lord Cochrane had been recalled by the Chili Governnent. He said this in order to justify the Com mander on that station. Our officers there would much-rather have to act with their guns than with their tongues, but he thought their forbearance commendable. As a great nation it would ill becoMe this country to shew its teeth on every occa sion. When this was done at all, it ought to be done with some efficiency. The House then divided, when the numbers were— Ayes Noes - - - - 53 Majority against the motion - —35 SLAVE TRADE. • After a short conversation, in which Mr. WamoT, Mr. WILBERFORCE, and the Marquis of LONDONDERRY parti cipated, Mr. WILBERFORCE consented to postpone the mo tion, of which he had given notice, to prevent the extension of Slavery at the Cape of Good Hope, till . Thursday next. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. On re-entering the Gallery, we found Mr. BROGDEN bring ing up the report of the Committee of Supply. Several Resolutions were agreed to, without discussion. Upon that for _granting 7,0001. to the Royal Society in Dublin, Mr. HUM r, rose to enter his protest against this grant. The original objects for which this money had been granted were agriculture and the arts ; but as they had recently been en tirely neglected, he could not consent to grant money for any such purpose. He should, however, content himself at present with merely entering his protest against it. • The vote was then agreed to. The otlur Resolutions were then agreed to without discus sion; but upon the motion that Bills be brought, in pursuant to them, Mr, NV. -SMITH said, tliat he should take that opportunity of making a few observations on the public defaulters. An the last Il years the deficiency in the collection of the Revenue of the Post-office Department in Great Britain and the Colonies was only 9,0001. on an annual revenue of 1,300,0001., and the number of defaulters only 21 ; while in the Post-office in Ire land, where there was only a 23d part of that revenue, or ‘ 55,0001., there was a deficiency of 19,0001. and ten times the number of defaulters. Upon the whole Revenue of Great Bri tain and the Colonies, the deficiency amounted to 390,0001. ; whilst upon that of Ireland, which was only 2-liths of that amount, the deficiency reached full half of that sum. Mr. GOULBURN begged Hon. Gentlemen not to forget ,the different circumstances of the two countries, when they en tered into comparisons of this nature. England was much more in advance than Ireland, in the collection of the revenue and the enforcements of its laws; and eterefore it was unfair to make a comparison of its situation with Ireland, under such circumstances Mr. HUME contended that the state of Ireland had no thing to do with the argument. The money was lost in the hands of the collectors appointed by Government; and it was with the impropriety of such appointments that his Honour. able Friend had found fault. He would now mention a cir cumstance which he should not perhaps have the opportu - nity of again mentioning during the present Session. He had moved in the course of it for a return of all public defaulters ; and the returns had been made and printed from all the offices except the Ordnance and the 11 7 ar-office. Those, he understood, had been made, but -he had not seen therm The abstract of the volume-v:llk% these returns formed shewed that in ten years the amount of deficiency by defaulters amounted to 1,124,0001. and upwards ; and this was a sufn which he thought that the Chancellor of the Exchequer ought imtnediately to look after. The deficiency arose from appointments where no proper securities were taken, and from allowing too great ba lances to remain in the hands of the collectors. The Hon. Member then read the followi'ng abstract of the Parliamentary papers for vhich he had moved, exclusive of the Ordnance and War-office : Abstract of Parliamentary Paper, No. 327, of 1822.—Public Defaulters within ten years. Treasury—Mr. Chinnery's balance . . £60,110 15 54 Army Pay-office . 3,220 14 21 . . Barrack Office . . ‘ . 1,793 16 4 • Navy Pay ditto . . . 28,122 6 6 Royal Marine Pay-office . 3,083 15 3 Victualling-office . 3,505 7 9 . . . Tax-office . 67,280 6 4 Customs, England . 2 . 4,074 4gi Ditto, Scotland . . . . 3,205 16 -44 Stamp-office . . . . 11,254 9 3i Post ditto . . . . 11,595 17 0 Commissioners for auditing Public Accounts 482,111 5 oi Colonial Audit-office . . 12,885 14 0 Lottery-office . . . . , 2,941 15 8 Wooda, Forest, and Land Revenue-office 1,451 15 Di Auditors of the Land--England and Wales 19,483 8 4; Court of Exchequer—Scotland . . 13,221 7' 0 - IRELA ND. Tax-office Excise . • 27,525 9 A i 3,952.19 6 Stamp-office Post ditto Military Accounts 61,746 8 3i 21,328 13 11i 270,525 16 4i £1,124,395 3 1 The Bills were then ordered to be brought in pursuant to the Resolutions. The Tithe Leasing Bill then went through a Committee, in which the blanks were filled up, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at ONE O'CLOCK. MST OF THE MINORITY FOR MR. LENNARD'S MOTION FOR COPIES OF ANY COR RESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INDEPENDENCE OF COLUMBIA. Bright, Henry Denispn, W. J. Rice, T. S. Barrett, S. M. - Hume, J. . Smith, Wm. Bernal, R. . IlutchinSon, Hon. 'Wilson, Sir R. Barnard, Visct. C. H. Cradock, S. Mackintosh; Sir J. TELLERS. Crespigny, Sir W. Moore, Peter Lushington, Dr. Crompton, S. Monck, J. B. , Lennard, T. B. Davies, olonel Palmer, C. P. MARTIN and Co. beg leave to remind the Pub licthat the next Day of Drawing will take place Next Tuesday, 30th of July. The Wheel contains Two Prizes of 30,0001. Two of 20,0001. Consols. Two Prizes of 20,0001. will be Drawn in the first five minutes, and may be now on sale at MARTIN :Ind Co.'s Offices, 8, Cornhill, and 120, Oxford street) or by their Agents in the Country. PORTUGAL. LISBON, JULY Ic2.—Within the last week there have been numerous arrivals of vessels from different parts of the Brazils, and the news brought by them has been regularly communi cated to the Cortes. The Portuguese ship Hannibal had arrived from Rio Janeiro, but the accounts she brings are not so late as those which have previously reached England direct. There were six French vessels of war lying in the harbour of Rio when this vessel came away. Several persons who accompanied the King from Rio Janeiro, and who, by a Decree of the 3d July last year, had been banished from Lisbon, have been allowed to return. In the morning of the 11th, at three quarters past six, a violent earthquake was ex perienced in Lisbon, which lasted from six to seven seconds. The oscillation was more per pendicular than horizontal. It consisted of two shocks, with a small interval, and was felt more severely on the opposite side of the Tagus. Private letters mention that very little damage was' done. By this conveyance we have' re ceived the Prospectus of a new Lisbon Paper, called La Gaeta de Portugal, and if we can judge from the professions of the Editors, it will become a valuable acquisition to the Constitu tional Cause of Portugal. In the sitting of the 66, when the additional Articles to the Constitution were further dis cussed, M. Moura observed, that there had been, on the 2d instant, a disagreeable occurrence in the Castle of the City, among the soldiers of the 24th regiment. No officer or subaltern, however, was concerned in it ; they were all privates, and by the vigilance and patriotism of the General they had been all taken on board the St. Sebas tian man of war.—He learned from a person worthy of credit, that those unhappy soldiers confessed they had been seduced by an individual of consequence. He therefore thought it would be imprudent to accede to the motion now before them, viz. to revoke the Decree of the 3d of July, 1821, by which certain persons who accompanied his Majesty were removed to a distance from Lisbon. The motion, however, was carried, after a long and animated debate. The Lisbon Gazette says, of the disturbance in the castle of St. George, " that Gen. Sepulveda, being informed that, under the pretence of de manding their discharge, Some soldiers of the 24th endeavoured to excite a mutiny, and hav ing privately given the necessary orders to the commanders of the several corps, the General was on the alert. When he received information, about two o'clock in the night, that there was an insurrection in the castle, he immediately went there, and found all quiet again, owing to the sudden appearance of the officers and subalterns, who, mindful of their duty, and of the honour of the Portuguese name, soon restored order. It seems that the few who took part in the mutiny uttered no exclamation besides ' the' King for ever! we desire our discharge.' The Serjeant of the regiment who commanded the guard on duty, immediately put it under arms, and would not suffer one of the rioters to go out as they wished to do. The King has rewarded the fidelity of the Serjeant, by giving him an Ensigncy ; and the same to another of the 16th Regiment, who gave the first information of those criminal inten tions. The following morning the General or dered the two regiments, 10th and 24th, to be drawn out, and having remonstrated with them on their improper conduct in an excellent speech, they were marched to be present at the execu tion of the sentence of the soldier of the Ist re giment of infantry, who was shot the same morn ing, at which afflicting scene they all skewed the greatest firmness. The 10th regiment, which was under arms when the General arrived at their quarters in the night of the Ist, gave reason to suspect that the seduction had produced more effect on them than on the 24th regiment, and he was well perSuaded that there must be a seducer or seducers, who deluded such brave men ; but time will rectify this suspicion, for eleven of those who were picked out, as ringleaders having been arrested, requested to be interrogated as soon as possible, since they have something to say." In the Sitting of the Cortes on the 10th, a Re port was presented by the Committee appointed to consider the terms of the Treaty of .sBlO be tween Portugal and Great Britain. PInnING and Co. No. 1,- CORNIIILL, re mind the Public that, on a former occasion, - when an Option was given of returning Shares and receiving back principal part of the Purchase Money, the £30,000 Pijies were returned, and re-purchased by fresh Adventure rs ; on that occasion Two of the Capitals so returned were ',sold by Pinntro3 and Co. and from the present demand for some of the cast off, or returned Shares, there seems an expecta tient [that the saute thing will occur again, and that the FOUR Capitals of £30,000 and £20,000 Consols (the latter of which will be decided by the Ferst4rawn Prize NEXT TUES DAY) may easily be obtained by purchasing some of the se cond-hand Shares uuw on Sale at PIDOING'S'LLICky Corner, Nu. I, Cornhill. ESCAPE OF A PalsoNEn.—Sunday . evening, after the prisoners had been to Chapel in the House of Correction at Brixton, one of them, named John Osborne, who had been only com mitted to that prison on Thursday, was missing ; a search took place, when it was found that he had effected his escape over the prison-wall by means of a rope. His escape was known in about five minutes after it bad taken place; but, notwithstanding several of the officers-went in pursuit, they did not succeed in re-taking him. EXTENSIVEROBBERY.—Yesterday information was given of a most daring robbery committed at the house of Mr. - BRIGHT, silversmith and jeweller at Doncaster, consisting of apparel, 40 gold watches, necklaces, trinkets, silver plate of every description, to a very considerable amount. From the manner the thieves had entered there is no doubt but that they were experienced.thieves from London, and that a plan had been preconcerted which enabled them to carry off the property effectually. , The wheat harvest is now become general in most parts of this county, and promises a crop as abundant in quantity as excellent in quality. Many breadths of beans have also been cut, and are found more productive than had been antici-, pated. A sample of white wheat, two years old, was produced in our market on Saturday, which brought 625. per quarter.—(Kentis4 Gazette.) PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Martis, 23° die 'lulu, Roans—Southwark and Surrey SILK BOUNTIES BILL STAGE COACH DUTIES BILL NATIONAL MONUMENT (SCOTLAND) 82'2. Read a third tilw:, and passed. BILL NEW SOUTH WALES DUTIES BILL EAST INDIA COMPANY'S LOAN BILL MALT DUTIES COLLECTION BILL QUEEN'S SERVANTS PENSIONS BILL GEItERAL TURNPIKE BILL FOREIGN T itAD E CO M3II T TEE—Report brought up 3 114 read ; to be printed. MESSAGE FROM THE Loßos—That they have agreed to, Leather Duties Reduction Bill, Insurrection (Ireland) all , Endowed Schools (Ireland) Bill, Duchy of Corawall and to Amendments to Bankruptcy Laws Amendment WI, without amendment. PlRACY—Petition of Merchants, Ship-owners, and Under writers of the Port of Liverpool, complaining of the capture of British Ships by Pirates in the West Indies ; to lie on the table, and to be printed. CANADA GOVERNMENT AND TRADE BlLL—Petition of Merchants trading with Canada, in favour; to be printed- Bill, as amended, to be printed. NOTICES OF MOTIONS for THIS DAY. 1. Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer,—Further Grant of FA' chequer Bills, to - complete the Aids of the Year. O n Committee of Ways and Means.) 2. Lord Viscount Palmerston,—Ophthalmic Hospital. ( I ° Committee of Supply.) • 3. Mr. Arbuthnot,—African Forts ;—Quarter's Income whic• would have been due to the late Queen ;—Salaries and El" ences of Commissioners of Courts of Justice in Irelawi* In Committee of Supply.) • 4. 3r. Uoulburn,—Dunleary Harbour. (In Committee ° f Supply). ORDERS OF THE DAY for THIS DAY. . 1. Spirits Exportation (Scotland) Bill—Committee. 2. Stamp Duties Bill—Committee. • 3. Coroners (Ireland) Bill—Third Reading. • 4. Supply—Committee. • 5. Ways and Means—Committee. 6. Greenland Fisheries Bill—Report. 7. Commercial Credit (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 8. Supply, (Barracks, Public Works, and Law Charps), --- urther consideration of Report. . 9. Tithes Leasing (Ireland) Bill—Report. 10. Canada Government and Trade Bill—Further considera tion of Report. 11. Superannuation Act Amendment Bill—Committee. 12. Barilla Act [5O Geo. 3, c. 52]—Report thereupon. 13. Deeds Registry (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 14. Barrack Estates Bill—Committee. 15. Gas Washings, &c. Bill—Report. 16. Lotteries Bill—Third Reading. 17. Punishment by Hard Labour Bill—Third. Reading. 18. King's Bench Business Bill—Third Reading. 19. Ancient Histories,—Address for Printing—Conv 3 -- ate • thereupon. 20. Isle of Mann Postage Bill—Committee. NOTICES GIVEN LAST NIGHT. • Thursday July 25. Furla 1. Mr. Hume,—Resolutions explanatory of the Sinking - [deferred 23d July]. tst 2. Mr. Wilberforce,—To prevent the extension of Sla'arY the Cape of Good Hope [deferred from 23d July..] be 3. Mr. Wilmot,—Address for Commissioners of InquaY, lon . sent to the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, and Cey' also, to the Leeward Islands [deferred from 23d July.] • Tuesday, July 30. 4. Colonel Wood,—Resolutions regarding the Laws of Set tle ' ment of the Poor. , SO *.* For THE ARMY, and J. S. on Mr. PEEL'S 111,..-7 the Fourth Ege. PRICE OF STOCKS • THIS DAY AT ONE. O'CLOCK. Old Annuities ..............5 . _ r Ex. Bills 5 6 Pr' Ditto Small Bank Stock 248 3 per Cent. Red. Bl 3Ri 3 per Cent. Cons. 79i 80 3A per Cent • 91134 4 per Cent. 1 i ()Id ' 9881 New 981 % per Cents. 1797 Bank Long Ann 20,N. Imp. 3 per Cents. 794 80 Bank for Cons. Act. ......... India for Con. Acct. • ......gel Cons. for Account 80 1" NEw 1. ° 1 1 , 7 %. June2l, 1$""" Di v d. from April, 1821.- AMERICAN FUNDS. LONDON. July 23. nothing done. Bank Shares 3 per cents 5 per cents. 1820 95 . ' 9fi* - nothing done. 1821 6 per cents. 1812 1813 . 1814 . 1815 . 7 per cents, ' Divd. from July, 1322. ~ T e 7i 8 pr. Exchan shut. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-1110BR O „ Morning, 34 minutes after 6. 1 Evening , 58 minutes aTf.e, THE SUN. SOLEM QUIS DICERE FALSflif AUDEAT • LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 182 . 'j By private letters from St. Petersburgh the 29th of June, it appears that very general cli °P. tisfaction prevails there, not only from the ol'P v, rent change which has taken place in the C °l/11' cils of the Russian Court with respect to Tor l ' es :: but also from the injurious effects which the oe" tariff has had on the trade of that empire. 'll the Russian Government begins to feel seriousif impolicy of its commercial regulations, especially as they affect the trade with G res r Britain. The general trade of Russia was n eve ( lnt in a more depressed condition ; and it is evi— that the impolitic duties which have been ;tit posed by the new tariff on importations into that it country must be reduced, and placed on the former footing. We received this morning the Paris Pap ers Sunday, of which the following are extracts ' PARIS, JULY 21.—The Brussels Oracle of th e t ,be instant contains the following article : " Letters fre nt _ A of frontiers of France state, that the events which have Fos - of Madrid and the incalculable consequences to which M e)? n o°. lead, engage at this moment the attention of the Fre ncil po eS vernment. The forces assembled at the foot of the 171 t —f l l have been augmented. It is stated that several regime nts Zvi' arms, forming part of the garrisons of the 16th mili tarY sion, have been put in movement within a few daYS now learn even that the garrison of Amiens is on i ts Ingr: two The regiments of light infantry of the line, consisting c). s o , battalions, will be augmented by a third battalion• i f il ; te a, tangement of the Minister of War in this respect i s compe the and the publication of the Royal Ordonnance d irec " ti lCav execution of this measure is momentarily expee ted * —' stitutionnel. ) ; r1 uni ted The King of Spain has ordered proceedings to be of t he immediately relative to the conduct of the battalion'