The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-05-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—WCDNESDAT, NUT S.
Their Lordships were engned in a close Committee of
Fri, d ges, relative, as we und,rstood, to one of the sanding
Orders, collaterally anilying to the case of L ,rd Viscount
Dd..iyille.
Ti,- order for the excles;on of strlngert was stri-tly en-
' foreee, hot the Committee adj•nutted till five o'clock to mor-
i row evenme. On our admission into the 11...1,:5.,
A Counter Petition, from the Unit- 'icy ~f Oxfore., to that
i . pooentea on the part of the Roman Coliolie, of I e.,,,i,i, ‘,.,
reading by the Clerk. It wa, ve,elitc,l .ily the 1,•,n1 CS. u.
caller, High Steward of the lliityer,ity, and owl.:red to In. on
the table.
Th • Bias before the Heine were foricioltd in their r, :;refire
act es.
MR JUStICE FOX.
The LORD CHANCELLOR notified his in-
tention of coining forward oa an early day next
wee!, por.siblv on Monday (but on that, lie should
be regulated by the considcrarionof a Noble friend's
attendance, to whose accommodation, all their Lord.
ships, be was sure,would be most willing to attend),
with a Molitia for having some record or entry
,
•
113ade un the Journals of the principle upon which
the proceedings that hitherto obtained in the case of
Mr. JOstice FOX proceeded ; cr at least as far as
•
such principles were understood by some of their
[ Lordships. Ile was apparently about to move for
&summons, ill reference to his contingent intention
foi Moocer, but was informed, that a summons al-
ready stood for that day.
Lord GRENVILLE said a few words in an un-
der tone of voice, in consequence of what tell from
the N:ihle Lord, but seemingly, that he should not
tlren trouble their Lord'hiiss with any observations
on the business.
UNIVERSITIES ADVOWS(hN RILL.
On tills Order being read for the re-commitment
of this Bill ;
The Eael of SUFFOLK, who had inadvertently
yisen to address their Lordihips before the Order
Vas reads again rose, and made fpveral observations
etpressive of his hostility to the, Bill ; he particu-
larly deprecated the discustion o: a measure, vrO;ch
would so injuriously affect the Loy patronage of
the country. in so thiolin attendance of Lay
Peers. He thought, re, the consideration
a. of the Bill ought to be postponed, until a fuller
" attendance of the Lay Peers should he obtain-
ed. There was another ohjeCtion which struck
him forcibly with respen to the Bill, namely,
its intrenching so materially, in his opinion, upon the
statute of Mortmain. Though, he thought, in the
resets state of things and of religion in skis country.
treat acquisitors to the church may not expelled
from suck a consideration ; yet, from persons in a
dying state, particularly women, something in
that way moy be required. Yet, still its opera-
tion with respeOt to that statute was, he thought,
a micelial consideration. He again pressed the
idea of its being improper to discuss such a measure
wi..h so thin an attendance of Lay Peers, and with
such a body as presented itself en the reverend
beech. be despaired of having his objedions properly
r. intetidocl tr. .
One or toe of the Reyererd Prelates having ob-
served, that not many minutes ago there had been a
remarkably full autodance of Lay Peers ;
1,. I The Noble Ea olseerted, he was aware of that ;
their Lordships were tired out by listening to a very
.long conversation : he intimated an intention to
. ' Yr move to have the Bill postponed.
The IP Ka CHANoIZLI..OII observed, he
should Mtn it incumbent on him to oppose suds a
motion : the Noble Earl should recoiled that the Lill,
both in principle and detail, had been itgoinlind
again discussed ; with respett to the objection of the
thin attendance of Lay Peers, a great number were
in attendance not ten minutes before, who, if they
thought with the Noble Earl, with respell to the
operation of the Bill on the lay patronage, would
most probably have remained to express such appre-
hensions.
Some few remarks, in the way of explanation,were
afterwards interchanged between the Earl of Sur-
root and the Noble and Learned Lord, in which the
lettslobservedtheremay become Peers who preferred
their dinner to their duty ; and the former, seeming
to think, as toe proceeding then stood, it would be
preferable not to trouble their Lordships further at
present, accordingly quitted the House.
Lord Viscount SIDMOU CH expressed his
thanks to their Lordships for having so readily de-
ferred the recommitment of the Bill from Monday
until that day, in consoquo cc of his inability to at-
tend ; however, it was no: Las intention then to trou-
ble the Committee with the discussion of the clause
he intended to propose, as he lavlieved many of their
Lordships, who had so tecensly retired, withdrew
upon an understanding that what lie meant to bring
forward would not be di -cussed that night. He
therefore should r. o press it ; not that lie intended,
after what passed, to intern; pt the progress of the
Bill. bat to take the opp.otonity of a future stage,
to propose what he inteode .1, possibly on the consi-
*atom of the report, the t:iird reading, or, if such
may be deemed mote mos:tient, as to a certain ex-
tent, it would be more rag lam to discuss his intended
propositions its a Committee. and with that view to
recommit the !Oil.
The Eisi.np of G7s:FORD, after the discussions
the measure hol unorgone, deprecated any Unlit-
cessary delay.
The Coniti.ii!el proceeded with the consideration
of the Bill; a 0..: on the suggestion of the Bishop of
throw, !everal anwrohnents, chiefly of a verbal
oature, were Ina,:e. tik
Some farther cony Lion ensued as to the pre-
fet able mode a sub.,c,paviit proceeding, with a re-
ference to the Noble N. isc.eaia's intended provi-
sions, betsseen his Lordship seed retie or two of the
Reverend Prelates ; the t:-Ott vas, that the Report
of the Bill was ordered to 5-: received to-morrow,
and an apparent underszandino, that on Monday,
the Bill shonid he ::!.,,i a third time.
To ! LO lop toi :, t N ::1,11..1.0it presented a Bill,
the principal ele,•Oof which teas, to encourage the
elitisation, planting. &c. of Choreb, College, and
hospital Load, alio to provide regulations with
re,ped so the growth, telling, Sc.. of timber on the
same. Ali he should prooose at present would be,
the first reading, and plinth% of time Bill, intending
. k should be over for cuesideratioa; and, in the meaa
lime, he alsoult consult the opinions of the Re-
* 'tread Personages opposite to him, ausl which he
meant to take previous to his proposing any thing
Suttter upon the Bill. The Bill was fostbwsth read
It first kiMekaissl osolesed to be printed.

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Mr. tow o, attended by several Members, brought
up a ptivate Bill from the Commons, which WAS
read a first time, after which the House Adjourned
till to-morrow.

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HOUSE OF COMMONS.
An Account was ordered to be prcented of the Seer made
from Barley, and alto from Rick and \tilt, in Scotland, from
the sth of July, 1801, to the Itteat 'term&
Mr. Johnson, from the Cluef Secretary'. Office in Ireland,
presented an Account of the Sums sicirelided in Criminal Pro
sectirimis in Ireland, during the years 1801.2 3, and
dried to lie on the Table.
The Irish lust Fruits Office Bill went through a Committee,
and .was ordered to be reported to morrow.
Lord J. TtlY NNE obtained le ive to bring in a Bill foe the
more easy recovery of small debt• hi the city of Bath.
Sir \V, DOLBEN presented a petition front the Scholars
and F. I .ins of tile Universtty of Oxford, against the claims
lately mg d by the Roman Catholics of Ireland, in their peti-
tion to l'arliament.--Ordaed ter lie on the taint.
Mr. LEE. said, thin as tine n ight pusiibly arise some dif-
ference of opinion with rerdect to the Irish Small Mini Bill,
which was read a fiat tint', lie should move that it be read a
second time to•morrow, with "el view th.d the blanks should be
filled iip, and th.• Bill printed; which was agreed to.
Mr. AL FN: \N DER brought up the Report of the Irish
Ponce Bill, which was ordered to be rvad a third time to-

inntrow.
'fire Irish small Promissory Note Reitraining, and the Irish
and Engl,.h Bank Si".ver Token Bills, were read a third time
and ria.sed.
To; Hill for encouraging the ers.sumption of Beer in Ire.
hod went t;iroulll a Canimittee, the Report of which was
ur.l..i. d !o hi- received to-nionow.
'lne Hill for rendering the Duties en Wine imported, per-
nsati-nt, was read a firsttime, on the motion of Mr. Huskis-
suit, sod orttroA to b • read a second time to-morrow; as was
also ih-f Slate Duty B-11.
The Spanish Red Wine Duty Bill was read a first, and
ord-,.d to Ile read a second time mi Tue,day next.
The Land "lax Commi•onii,vs Names Rill went through
a Committee, the Report of which was ordered to be received

'0 RI 0 row.
C,,mmittee on the Isle of Man Bill was deferred till
Vl ed ne.day next.
'The Thames Ballast Bill was referred to a select Committee.
Mr. GREY moved for a new writ fir the County of Galway,
in the room of Lord Dunlo, now Earl of Clancarty, an Irish
Peer Ordered.
A Message from the Lords announced that they had agreed
to the Soots Excise, and several private Rills.
THE LATE SHERIFFS OF LONDON.

Sir FRANCIS FANS presented a petition from
Sir William Rawlins, Knight, and Robert Albion
Cox, Esq. stating, that having been Sheriffs of
London and Middlesex in the year 1802, they had,
in consequence of the proceedings in the Middlesex
Eletlion, unfortunately fallen under the displeasure
of the House, for which they entertained the most
sincere contrition; they added, that they had already
undergone a long imprisonment in Newgate, and
that the longer continuance thereof would be highly
prejudicial to their healths, and to their pi irate con-
cerni, and pr•tying that on these considerations the
House would condescend to liberate them. The
Petition was ordered to lie on the Table, and the
Hot•ourable Baronet gave notice that he should
move to-morrow that they be brought up the mat
day, for the purpose of being discharged.

0

NEW DUTIES IN IRELAND
Mr. FOSTER observed, that when he brought
forward the Irish finances, he stated that he should
have to propose Additional Stamp Duties in Ire-
land. He did not mean, at present, to state any
more than the heads under which the duti,s would
stand ; without specifying, at pre;ent, their parti-
cular amount. The first was, a DUI •,11 die admis-
sion of Attorneys, by a stamp on tti,..r articles ; a
Stamp Duty on the Powers for reeeiviitg Rents in
Ireland; duo on It :erred Rents, and the lastri-
ments for the Incic,se of Rents ; ditto on Probates
of Wills ; ditto c).l Legacies; ditto on InsurancPs
against Fire : which he meant to assimilate exadly
with the duties imposed in England, and in which,
he Was happy to 5.17.", that he had the approbation
and concurrence of all the parties concerned is
these insurances in Ireland. tie concluded with
moving several general resolutions, conformably with
what he had stated.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, lie dil not mean
to make any objeaion to the Resolutions, in this
early stage; but he apprehended, that the stamp
duty upon the indentures of Attorneys Clerks
might operate against the freedom of eledion, as
these persons, after serving their clerkships, were,
at present, possessed of the right of voting for Re-
presentatives in Parliament, upon which it was by
no means desirable that there should be any addition-
al restraint. He hoped, therefore, that the duty
would be so modified, as not to be produdive of the
injurious effe4l% he apprehended from it.
Mr. FOSTER replied, that he should be very
ready to accede to any modifications the Hon. Bart.
may thiok proper to propose, for the purpose of ob-
viating all his apprehensions.
The Resolutions were then agreed to—together
with an additional one, that the foregoing duties be
paid in English currency. He further moved, that
an allowance of 7h 101. per cent. be made to all sta-
tioners in Ireland, who sold stamps without any ad-
ditional charge for the paper, which was agreed to.
EARI.S SPENCER AND ST. VINCENT.
Mr. DENT gave notice, that if the papers
moved for by an Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Jeffery)
yesterday, should be ordered by the House, it was
his intention to move for an account of the promo_
;ions of Officers, during the Administration of Egils
Spencer and St. Vincent.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHF.QUER
moved for a Selea Committee to consider of the
account between the public and the East-India Cont.
patsy ; which was agreed to, and the CommittPe ap-
pointed, consisting of Mr. FItANCII, Mr. Jou N-
s.) &c. of the Opposition, and api oportiouate
number from the Ministerial side of the House.
SIR 110 ME POPHIAM.
Mr. KINNAIRI) said, he came down to the
House, fully prepared to give such a statement as,
he wasconv inced, must inducethc Liodse to go into the
Committee wiiich he meant to move for; but, having
since found, that his motion was not likely to meet
with any opposition, he should not waste their time
with any thing more, than reminding them of the
great importance of the motive, which was, " That
a Seled Committee be appointed to consider of the
several papers before the House, relative to the re-
pairs of 11;s Majesty's ships Romney and /.2 Sensible.
while under the command of Sir H. Popham, in
the Red Sea.
Sir H. POPT-lAM said, that the only motive he
hai for offering a few observations was, that he
should not be supposed to acknowledge the justice
of any charge alleged against him, by Lis acceding

to the .mtaien for a Committee of Enquiry. There
was not a single particle of charge, watch he was
not, at the present moment, fully prepared to te-
fute, in the completest manner; and though there
may be some points proper enough to go before a
Committee, he must. at the outset, deny, that they.
could attach criminality upon him ; though he must
declare, that there was a degree of criminal inairs-
try made use of, to attribute blame to him. The
Hon. Gentleman ( Mr. Kinnaird) said, on a former
night, that he had been treated consonant to the ge-
neral usage and praaice of the navy, and in the
same manner as Sir Richard Bickerton, Sir Richard
King, and Sir Andrew Mitchell. When this as-
sertion was first made, he must acknowledge him-
self to have been so nervous, that he did not feel
bold enough to contradict it; but he had, at present,
a full refutation, in a letter from Sir Richard King,
in which he informed him, that when some imputa -
tions were made against his conduit in the East In
dies, he attended. and was examined before a pub-
lic board. In his case, however, there was a de-
viation from the usual praaice, and he seemed to
be singled out as a viiim both to the Navy
and the Admiralty Boards. They had sent for Capt.
Sauce, to try whether he could say any thing against
him, and he had at present a copy of their letter to
that Officer, and his answer, in which he pettedly
exculpated him. This was on the Ist of Oillober,
and they ordered Captain fiance to attend on the
Tuesday following, at ten o'clock. They then en-
quired of him why he received in the La Senri6le
stores, men, &c. different from those appropriated'
to vessels of that class ? He must here beg leave to
say. in corroboration of Captain Sance's testimony,
that he never gave orders for any alteration in the
quality of the stores, and that when he left the La
Nentile in the Red Sea, he left it nearly a wreck.
Vide in the Red Sea, General Ilaird consulted him
whether, after the army should be disengaged from
the Egyptian expedition, it would be most advise-
able to attack the Mauritius or Batavia ? The an-
swer was, that he had not a sufficient naval force fur
either ; but he at the same time thought it his duty
to enquire whether, if such an attempt could be
made, the East India Company would furnish the
necessary stores ? and receiving an answer in the
negative, he was under the necessity of supplying
the ships in the best manner he could for the service
they were destined to perform. Every thing relat-
ing to this subjea was fully explained in the report of
the boatswain of the ship ; and he had to complain
that the Navy Board refused to receive it, though it
fully accounted for the ring and shank of which so
much had unnecessarily and injuriously been said.
The papers specifying the particula rs, were afterwards
lost, but that could never be made a fault attribut-
able to him. To speak of the ship itself, he had to
state that, on leaving England, he was obliged to sail
down the channel with a strong westerly wind, which
obliged him to put into Portland Roads with the
vessel in so very bad a state, that nothing but the
extreme importance and necessity of the service upon
which he was sent, could ever have induced him to
sail for India in so ill-conditioned a conveyance. Ali
this would be proved by th% papers on the '1 able,
as well as the unavoidable repairs which the ship had
received in the different parts where he was obliged
to stop. Having heard that, notwithstanding all
these disadvantages, imputations were made against
his charader by the Board of Admiralty, he did not
hesitate to demand an enquiry, which bring refused,
lie must insist that never was an officer so injuriously
and unjustly treated. The same ill usage was fol-
lowed up in die overstrained Reports of the Com-
missioners of Naval Inquiry ; and reports were cir-
culated that he was to be prosecuted in the Exche-
quer, after having been refused a Court Martial,
which ever had, and ever must be, the proper
judicature, before which an officer of the Britsh Na-
vy should, in the first place. be tried. This was the
system under which the Naey of England throve,
but in this case, for some per verse or wayward mo-
tives, that praaice was reversed. %Vas it right to
substitute for the regular tribunal of a COWL-mar-
tial, a scandalous paper war, and an innumerable
set of scurrilous pamphlets, originating from sources
from which they ought not to have come ; as he
was assured on no less authority than that of some
of the publishers themselves. In proof of this asser-
tion, he could produce a letter from a Gentleman
who was formerly a Member of that House ( Here a
zeneral ern of rend ! read!). He then read a letter,
stating the indignation of the writer at learning from
the publisher of one of these scurrilous pamphlets, that
it came from the hands of Earl St Vincent's Board
of Admiralty. The letter was signed by 4‘ Joh
Macnarnar' (formerly Member for Leices-er)
(a laud laugh!) He next adverted to the coo ua
of the Admiralty, in sending a letter to a subor-
dinate Officer, Captain Edwards, soliciting and ex-
horting him to ransack his memory, and try whether
he could discover any blame imputable to him (Sir
Home), from the time of his sailing from England
till his return. He read a copy of that letter, dated
31st of November, 1803, and asked, whether it was
a proper kind of condua in men, boasting of libe-
rality, to tamper with an inferior officer, in a way
so very insidious?
Mr. K iNN AIRD called the lion. Officer to or-
der, for having first read the letter, and afterwards
repeating words very differently from those which
it contained.
Sir H. POPHAM proceeded to observe, that he
did not consider himself at all irregular, in giving
to the letter, what must appear to every one to be
its fair construdion ; and appealed to the Gentlemen
of the Learned Profession, whether he would not be
authorised in doing so, even in a Court of Law ? He
would repeat, that it was unfair and illiberal to soli-
cit any officer to ransack his memory for any thing
that he could think blameable in the condua of a
superior officer, from the time of his leaving Eng.
land for India, until the period of his return to this
country. He might possibly overstrain the con-
struaion, but he would put it to any man of honour,
whether such a letter was a fair one, from a public
board, in respe& to any individual ? In some in-
stances, it was possible that his conduce mignt have
been, in some degree, irregular; but be would ever
maintain, that it was not criminally so; while be
could not help animadverting on what he must call
the criminal industry that was employed against him.
He, in common with the House and the public,
highly applauded the general proceedings of the
Commissioners of Naval Enquiry; but be was not a
little surprised at the manner in which he was spoken
of, after Mr. Lewis bad been ezamined as to his

63.

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randdet, and aftetbe had, upon that astl-_ ;is
testimony. bees honourably acquitted hf. ;0007i„,i•
with any Naval Officer. Upon that sullen, be rentsa
short pith., letter (e las2b) to die Combissioners
of Naval Enquiry, challenging an investigation in
any supposed collusion between Mr. I,ew:s and hill.
Ilaiisig the whole course of his command, Ice vs 44
conli,lent that it would appear, that he always ma-
nifested the strongest desire of retrenching expenses,
and had contributed to it, by every means in his
power ; as a proof of which, ihe would state, th it
the whole of the Ohl materials belonging to the
Roinavd, s.ild for no more than lei after the re-
•• • Which he fancied wriuld he sufficient to I
pap,s. le w.
that repairs were not made till they were ahsolntely
necessary. It was n itural enough that he should be
somew!i it warm upon this subjed. Ile never e,.

_...._ _ . .. .. „_
peaed that he shoal I have occasion to mention any
thing in that H "Ise iespecling his private family;
but lie hoped due allow.micc would be male tor .
any warmth even approaching nearly to intempe.
ante, which he might be led Into. when it VIII con-
sidered what a length of time he remained tudar
these aspersions, and that he hal a famly which I
must of course have feelings with him on a sulijea .'
in which his honour and charaaer were so e., a-
tially implicated. As to the accusation reap. Clileg
the high rate of exchange, he had only t.) say, that
rhaete than 2
gaveot:d7 6dsf.. ; while other
for nobillsheing diawn at a inglivr
bills,
irons various
offices on the same service., were drawn at is. in 8,,
exchange. His rations also to each man, in the
Sick and Hart Office, were no more than 45. and
a farthing, while those of Admiral Blankett, on the
same service, were 4i...red...per man. A :other

leading objet of his d rring his command w ,s, to
consider how much freightage could be saved; and he
had the satisfadioi to say. and was ready to privy.
that, on his arrival to the lied Sea, be di,i h irge.d
freightage to the amount of 17,0001. per month, awl,
by following up the same system, it afterw.t,
amounted to a saving of '27,00J1. per motalt.
the House thin c' mrare these impottant •
with the paltry sums supposed to be °yr: •
in the repairs of tht ships, and then• judge w
he was most en•i+h d to comanendation Or to

sure? After haei g performed these services, ar a
discharged his ..uty in the Red Sea, wan
ships almost unfit for service, he sailed tar
Calcutta, where he was under the nescesity
of ordering those repairs, the expenses of which
had been so much complained of. If it was
possible for the Committee to make the matter more
clear than it was from the documents on the tal-rle,
and the statement he now made, he could tilt have
the least possible objeaion to it. He would agate
repeat that in some instances it was possible he
might have been wrong; but such errors were
wholly to be ascribed to the difficult nature of the
service. He certainly had much to complain ei
the manner in which he had since been owed, botk
by the Admiralty and Navy Boards, and under
such impressions he should consider the institution
of a fair enquiry as the happiest moment of his life.
Mr. HUTCHINSON expressed his satisfaaion
that these papers had boon moved. for, as he was
convinced the general impression ttust be the same
as it was on his mind, viz. that the Hon. Officer had
discharged a mast important trust with great &A-
lity, great perseverance, and treat honour; um!, in
doing this, had evinced an extraordinary degree of
talent. He was a friend to the Committee, but, w
from any douibt as to the charatter of the Hun.
Officer, and it was with the greatest pleasure I.c
seized the present opportunity of delivering his st -
timents of approbation Oil his general praise-srott:.y
condua during the whole of that expedition.
Mr. PITT s tiJ, that, in agreeing on his part to a
Committee, he dol so on the same grounds as tlri,u
adduced by the last speaker ; that it was not mein,:
to any doubt as to the condua of the Hon. Offic
who, in hi. of idols, had most clearly dune as,,,f
every shadow t f a uspicion or insinuation that tout I
be raised agsinst it, and he could say; from l
own kn.:wit:Ll..us, that his whole life had been ~
in the most zealous, honourable, and utitte.t::
exertions in the service of his country. but
thought the Committee was absolutely tiece.•
sary not only to investigate that mass of v.l.i-
-minous accounts relative to these ships; but aiso
into the citcuinstance of the report of one Board
to another criminating his conduit; and still fur-
ther into the extraordinary circumstance of the
loss of those documents on which that report WAS
tinanded ; a loss which, be hoped, would be tound
to have been altogether accidental ; but which, as it
stood at present, certainly deserved inquiry. There
WAS another subjea also which he hoped would be
clea-ed up, and which was, perhaps, as astonishing
as any that ever happened in a tree country like
this—an English Officer in the Navy, impre,sei
into the service, as a common seaman. The lice.
Gentleman, wishes to have all those points \'wt
sifted and investigated ; but he apprehended Cie
Motion, as it then stood, did not go far enoug'ats
accomplish that. He had, therefore, drawn
some additional matter, which he thought sven:l
fully answer the purpose, and which, if it was no:
objeaed to, he would propose, by way of amt
meet, which he did, to the following purport :
And that the said Committee he diraosed to CUSIPf i,.:0
the several matters relative to the said and to
din
sal reiaorts and proceethite. of thr Navy the dattalt!',
and the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry t also iutisahc 1tv1.4
of the Navy Board of the 4th of May, 1804; teal thr sow.heis
that were lost relative thereto ; and also into the 71.'"
it•
actions which viol; place relative to the insprs-son, ri
Ewan Itartholoinea-, into the service of the Nai y. •
non 4CA111.111, and to moor% the same, will then '
the Home.
which being read from the Chair—
Mr. JEFFhItY (Poole) said, that ti,c I
Officer, in what he had that night so teat is •
eloquently stated, had convinced his mind fllAt
had discharged the important and arduous duty
trusted to him, in such a manner as refltaed ale
highest honour on his zeal, his talents, and his Per:i
severance, and he was happy in the opportunity
paving this small tribute to his merits.
Mr. 11. SCOTT paid the highest compliment t!,
the manner in which the Hoo. ()timer had elecilt:7
the high and insporram trust committed 10.1
charge; most particularly in the savings be _7
made of 27,0001. a month, whilst in the Red !•',
He hid corresponded with Sir H. and le")
others relative to this expedition aPirrs'oto the te;
'pony of all he had been able to polka, he e`l„
knew or heard of any man who had cooduami t'
self better than the Host. Officer allotiod to lald

I

~-

in the whole of the expedition committed to his
charge.
A jutieal MARKHAM said, he did not rise to
make the least opposition t.) the motion, or to the
ameniments just proposed. lie only wished to
Make one or two observations on what had fallen a
from the Hon. Officer. lle had complained of
SCIITTIIOO3 pamphlet that had been published.
Whether it was scurrilous or not he could not say
lie would only say, that it was not manuttured
by Ent St. Vincent's late Board of Admiralty;
and he, for himself, disclaimed any share whatever
in it. The Hon. Officer nettled, however, to have
entirely forgotten his own pamphlet against the
Admiralty, which was one of the highest and most
important Boards in the kingdom. lie had never
hoard oft it till he went down to Portsmouth, j
November, and there he found it Lad be •n circt.t.
thee.much read among the Officer; of the
Navy lle thought it very extraordinary this
Board should be so grossly abused by an Officer who
was at the time atling under them. If a pamphlet
was wrong, that was written merely against an in-
dividual; how much more so must that be which
was diretted against a public Board, to which are
entrusted the most important concerns of the coun-
try ? lie did not wish, he said, to oppose inquiry.
On the contrary, he courted it ; but he cautioned
Mr. Pitt to consider, whether the step he was taking
would not tend to weaken the hands cf the Admi-
ralty? He warned him to be careful how he agi-
tmA the delicate question relative to the liberty of
the sublet!. As to the report of the Navy Board. II
the Admiralty were not authorised to refer matters
w:-en they thought proper to another Board for in-
quiry and investigation (which is all they have
done), he would be glad to know, whether it was
likely the Admiralty will ever do its duty in future ?
When Earl St. Vincent first went to the Admiral. y,
he endeavoured by every means in his power to re-
.tore the Navy to the mat respeeable state the best
friends of the country could wish ; and when he
looked to his condott, either in the civil, or mili-
tary line, he knew no one more capable, or who
had takes more efficient measures to attain that de-
,irable objett • and he believed, from his soul, that
the Right Hon.i Gentleman (Mr. Pitt) would he
eartily glad if the Navy was now in as good a st.tte
as when that Noble Lord had quitted his high
station at the Admirnity.

Mr. W. DICKINSON expressed his surprise at
hearing the Hnn. Gentleman say, that he wished ,
for inquiry, when he might have given the lion.
Officer that opportonity long ago, and not have de-
tained him su long from his duty to his country.
The fait was, ha ought to have been sent by the
Admiralty to a Court Martial, who, ailing as a
Jury, must either have acqnitted or found him
gaiky immediately. Hsi did not mean to say any
thing against the Naval Commissioners ; but the
lion. °Corr had been sent to another Court, which
night acquit or delay, according to their own co-
piers, and might wish for peisens brought before
them to criminate themselves. They did not, how-
ever, decide upon hi< case, for they A-fused to hear
it, and referred him to a Court Martial. He said
this, to chew that inquiry, if desired, might hose
been had long ago.
Admiral MARKHAM said it was not a fit busi-
ness to go to a Court Martial. There was such a
complicature. of charges, and such a mixture of
sistlennit matters, that a Court Martial would net
have been equal to its full and adequate investiga-
tion. This was at least his own opinion, and on that
he had shed.
Mr. SHERIDAN begged to trouble the House
with a very few words. -The Hon. Gent. who spoke
last but one had said be would not say any thing
:against the Naval Commissioners, and had immedi-
ately afterwards sided them a Court which might
acquit or delay, according to their caprices, and that
tioy might wish for persons to criminate themselves.
This was a kind of language he could not bear, and
taeuibt tits Member ought to use, when the corn-
minion hid been renewed, and the same powers
invested in their hands by the House, as they had
before. If the Hon. Gent. thought they were a
Bonet ailing according to caprice, or wishing per-
sins to criminate themselves, he should in a man-
ly way have come forward, and stated such fads as
strong objedions to the renewal of the commission,
and not at this time deal out insinuations against
Hon. Gentlemen who had ailed with so much zeal,
fidelity, diligence, and inflexible integrity, in the
great trust reposed in them, as to acquire most de.
vedly the universal approbation and applause of
the whole country.
Mr. W. DICKINSON, in explanation, assured
the House that he did not mean to cast the slightest
refleition on the Commissioners.
Mr. KINNAIRD said, that, after what had
passed, there was a fair opportunity given him to
make those renraiks on this whole transaction, which
be was sure the House would believe he was not
unprepared to make, but he would not give way to
the temptation. There were, however, one or two
points which he could not refra;:i from noticing.
fie had been reproached by the Hon. Gentleman
vim had just sat down, with not having moved for
a Committee in die first instance, arid thereby keep •
ins the Hon. Officer from his duty. He begged
the I louse would recollea the immense mass of pa-
pers that were moved for on both sides, and
he thought it must be evident to every one, that
it was impossible he could see the extent of the
proceedings, or be able, in the first inq.!nce, to say
what would be the fittest mode to persue. There
Was another point also, he was at a loss to account
for ; he could not see any thing in the p ipers which
warranted that Hon. Gentleman's assertion " that
the Commissioners refused to hear his ease, and re-
ferred it to a Court Martial." As to the case of
Bartholomew, he thought it required the fullest and
the inkiest investigation, and, he had no doubt,
would turn out to the discredit of those who now
gave it so muds the air of a charge against the late
Admiralty.
Mr. W. DICKINSON said, he did not state
the Comnsissioners referrieg it to a Court Martial
was is the papers, but took it from what was said
on it in the House by the'Hdn. Baronet, who is at
the head of the Commission; and, from a private
conversation he had since had with him, he found
he was st.ll of the same opinion.
The question was then put, and the original
motion, with the amendment added to it, was
agreed to.

THEE BRITISIR PRIESS.

LONDON,
THURSDAY, MAY 9.

A General Press and Embargo have taken place
in consequence of an Order in Council•by 11;; MA.
J EsT Y. The embargo extends to all shipping in the
ports of the United Kingdom coasting vessels, and
vessels laden with grain 'and provisions, or such as
have cleared out at the Custom-house, excepted.
The general press and embargo will, we suppose,
be followed by the calling out the Levy en Maste.

By the Lisbon Mail which arrived yesterday, let-
ten have been received of the 24th ult. The 'Alan
was brought last Sunday to Falmouth, by the
Advices are said to have reached town,
communicating the depar►ure from Cadiz of eigh-
teen sail of the line, with fifteen thousand troops on
board. This statement appear* to have originated
in the sailing of the combined fleet. The thane was,
on the 3d instant, chased by a lugger, and the next
day by a schooner, supposed to be enemies, as they
d:d not answer signals.

An Evening Paper cf yesterday—we mean► The
Gooier, for, it would be an aft of injustice to its
contemporaries, and of disappointment to itself,
were we to suppress the name—coataius the follow-
ing oisservation :

" In this state of uncertainty with Teemed to the deigns of
the enemy; unable to say whether every hour may not b:iirg
U. account of ale. heik4 ofr Ireland, we must as•rt, that out
obje•fiurw against the dis.-aission of the Catliolic tataertion at
the present moment are encreared tenfold; yet it is r.solved
to bring on the discussion on Finlay in the llottie of Lords; 013
Monday in the House of Commons. One mole yet remains
by which the evil of discussing the question may he consider-
ably diminished, though not entirely done away. There is not
one subjeCt, the present excepted, which ought not to be
made public. But the present is one which is so cakulated
M. revive those animosities that wire on rapidly subsiding in
Ireland, that we think the debates upon it ought not to
forth to the public. In several discussions list war ainin Irish
a;fairs, strangers were excluded, and the exAusinn Way a•ry
gmerally approved of. Surely, if it was proper then, it would
be at least as proper now ; and we hope some Member in each
Hume will enforce the standing orders.'

It requires not a little command of temper and
feeling to observe upon this paragraph, without run-
ning the risque of offending against public decency
and decorous. A superficial glance at it will satisfy
our readers, that it is a poisonous effusion from the
mind of a ven tl slave, imbued with a malignant
spirit, hostile to the liberty of the Press. Such a
do6rine could be maintained at the present day only
by some knavish sycophant, who, availing himself
of the prejudice of his employers, would make
public loss the source of private emolument. If
speeches are made in Parliament, for the purpose
of inflaming the public mind ; if they are reported
in the daily morning newspapers, in fu, therance
of that diabolical purpose, let the doors of the Cal-
ler? be closed against Newspaper Reporters for ever.
Of all the restrilions that ever were imposed upon
the liberty of the press, this will be the lightest to
the individuals immediately concerned. The money
expended by Proprietors of Newspapers upon Par-
liamentary Debates, may be applied in a way equal-
ly produaive ; and the twenty or thirty Gentlemen
of talents who arc employed in it, cannot fail of
earning better bread. But let the persons to whom
this wholesome, constitutional, and liberal advice is
given by The Cealeier, beware of the snake in the
gt ass —The principal Editor of The Corner, the very
man, who preaches this dodrine of Parliamentary
Debate, dhotis januis, who would convert a British
Senate into a secret tribunal, with all its inquis,itorial
horrors, is at this moment a patient suffeting from
wounds which he received on 'Thursday last
in an illegal and audacious attempt to break
into the House cf Commons after the doors were
closed against him by the order of the SPLAKER
Suppose. then, strangers were not to be admitted
on Monday next, And the Morning Papers, from
which this ungraternl Curie copies its Parliamentary

pc----.

7,3 p.

,'

reports, are to be prohibited From publishing any
thing upon the subjelt, what security have we
that the same n an, who scaled the walls of
the House of Commons on Thursday. will not ven-
ture a secorvl attempt; that lit v. ill toot, as an eaves-
dropper or a sponge, collelt something that may
have passed within doors, and give it to the public in
a distorted and mutilated shape to answer his own
private purpose ? This certainly would be a great
objea atchieved by the Proprietor of The Courier.
The Evening Papers ate mete servile copies of the
Morning Prints, in respelt of Parliamentary Reports.
Take, however, the privilege of regular reporting
away from the latter, and the Evening Papers be-
come original in that particular, as, it is through
them that what passes in Parliament must, of ne-
cessity, first transpire. We know that Parliament-
ary reporting exists only by a sort of tacit permission
or connivance ; resulting from a conscious rellitude
and a love of constitutional liberty. That this in-
dulgence has produced all the good that might be
expelled from it, we do not pretend to say. It is
not within the limits of a newspaper to do justice to
every speaker in the course of a long debate ; but
we do know that the indulgence is not abused. We
do know, that, with the solitary exception of the
writer in The Cuurter, to whom we allude, it is, and
has been for several years past, the ambition of
every Gentleman in the department of reporting, to
give the debates with impartiality and fidelity, and
we know that he is rewarded and esteemed ac-
cording to the degree of ability with which
he performs that task, without any regard to the
principles of the paper, its prejodicess its passions, or
its party. Newspapers, therefore, have not forfeited
their claim to this indulgence, and we hope Parlia-
ment will not take it away at the suggestion of the
Editor of T4e Courier. That he should desire the
doors of the House of Commons to be cloud
against Newspapers, lest the publication of its
reports might inflame the public mind in lieland,
miry well excite contempt and wonder. This very
Editor of The Corrier.—so tremblingly alive to the
feelings of Ireland; so fearful of hurting the deli-
cacy cf the Irish Catholics; so anxious for the
tranquillity of the country,—is the habitual calum-
niator of Ireland : he is the man who conjured
up an army of 30,000 rebels on Leighlin Bridge ;
who cut cbwn a wood, where wood never grew,
to make pikes for them; who represented Dublin
in a flame, about three weeks ago, at a time
when llubha never was more tranquil ; who is daily
rep:esenting the people of Ireland as fools and
blunderers; who, within the present week, has
abused Mr. GILLY for calling foe punishment upon
a libeller ; and, on Tuesday, condemned Lord
Ila aowicice for marking with his displeasure an
attempt to irritate and inflame the mind of the Irish
Catholics; the very Aft, for the prevention of which
he now contend: the debates of Parliament should
be withheld from the public. When a man, thus in-
veloped in a mass of suspicion, contradillion, and in-
consistency, comes forward, as a State adviser, he
ought to be carefully watched. The person to whom
we allude, laboured hard against Mr. Pier, and
every Member of the present Ministry. They had
better take care that what he meditated in vain as
an enemy, he may not accomplish, in fast, as a
friend.

Yesterday His MAJasry dined with the Princess
of WALLS. at Blackhea:h. .

In the evening the Roy •r. FA L(' r.v hononred the
Concert of Ancient Musk with their presence.
Yesterday morning the Prince of IVAI.ES visited
the QUEIN And Pio NC:I.:D.4ES.
Mr. Justice .1 oil issmi's case was argued on the
9d Inst. in the Court of Common Picas, and is to be
further discussed on Monday.
The outward-hound West India fleet, under con.
voy of the Et/afire frigate, has returned to Fal-
mouth. The fleet spoke Sir Juuv Oen& on the
29th ult. and receiving the informAti.)n ut the Too-
lon fleet having passed the Streights, thought it pru-
dent to return to port.
The Meenwrll, Paxson, one of the fleet which
sailed from Cork on the 29th of January, is suppos.
ed to have been captured near Barbadoes.
The Di9etch, PAUL, from Savannah, arrived at
Liverpool, was boarded by a French privateer 130
leagues westward of Cape Clear.
The Fame, CLACK, from South Carolina, arrived
at Liverpoul, was boarded on the 27th ult. by the
Bon privateer, of Bourdraux ; she had captured
that morning a brig from Honduras, bound to
London.

The Captain of a vessel from Charante, arrived
at Plymouth, states, that. one three-decker and a
two-decker full of troops, sailed from Rochefort, on
the Ist of May—that an embargo had been laid for
eight days, which was taken off the day he sailed.
which was the 2d of May.
Lord NELSON'S fleet was seen from Carthagena
on the 13th ult. standing fur the Streights against a
foul wind. The Spaniards were seen by the Auer,
on the 12th, about eleven leagues from Cadiz, beat-
ing to the Westward.
A conciderahle degree of a'tivity Continues to be
displayed by tbelienry's flotillas along the opposite
line of coast. Aieuer from Folkstone of the ith,
says—a' There arc at this moment upwai di of 100
sail of the enemy's gun boats off the Sandhills, sup-
posed to come from I Lyre or Dieppe ; they are now
steering towards Boulogne. Three of our cruisers
are standing over to them. The signals ate up at
our signal post. and rho squadron in Dungeness
Roads aro now undo: weigh ropunite thorti."

f

■

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
•
ZITI•CT OW A LITTER TROY SARylign, DAVID
MARCII 23, 1805.
" We are momently expeining the French squad-
ron, who have been levying contributions, and pil-
laging the other islands: Dominique, St. Kitt's,
Montserrat, and Nevis, have all felt the force of
their strength ; and, though they have not taken
possession of any, yet the losses to individuals must
be considerable. If they attempt this island, they
will get as handsome a dressing as they ever
had ; for our land forces are double theirs, in
troops of the line and Island Militia; but they
may injure the town, and certainiy destroy the
shipping. The Colonies are wholly unprotei2-
ed : only one sail of the line. The French have
two three-deckers, and three seventy-fours. besides
frigates to cope with our friggres. If *reinforce-
ment does not arrive in a day or two from England,
we must expett an attack here. All the storey in the
town are shot, and the goods carried into the coun-
try. It gives me inn:lite pleasure to tell you that
the whole island, to a man, has come forward with
spirit and liberality. We despise the idea of allmc.
ing the French to levy a contribution on it; ; and, I
am certain, they win stiffer the town to be battered
down before they submit to such a dett stfilt ion. We
are all in high spirits, and mean to 'hew them that
this ancient and loyal colony is not to he attocked
with impunity. You shall hear from me again as
soon as we are quiet."

71) 771 E EDITOR OF DIE R. 71371 PRESI.'

St a~ln reading the Official Dispatches of Genii?
ral Prevost, inserted in your Paper of yesterday, it
is impossiSle not to view with admiration the con.
dud of that brave little corps, whom the Gefieral
calls " The Precious Remains of the dtith." and the
detachment of the Ist West Indian Regimens, with
which it was associated. . .
By these carps, noder the eiimmand of °sprain '
O'Connell, of the tat Rzgiment, a very laperiew
enemy was not only kept in check, hut tiler- By
driven back. and yi4lory maintained in the kit
wing, till, from th • defeat of the Militia on the
right, it became necessary to order a retreat.
But this forms fie lean pact of their praise. Re-
lying only, as the General says, on "the excellence or
these troops," he resolved on one mare attempt,
a bold one it was, to keep the sovereignty of We
island. He retreated himself to Prince Rupert's, a&
the opposite extremity of the island, accompanied
only by two .4:der-de-Camp, and gave orders re
these two lite.: corps to follow him, %el:kb they
effeettially did by a four days continued march
across the mountains of Dominica. The General
says, and all whalmow the island can confirm the
statement, that it Is "Ile not! raantry e,risi.
ins." The militia had aged very bravely; but the
General felt this enterprise too arduous to be pre-
scribed to them. He only gave leave to such Of
them to partake of it as chose to volunteer;* and
seems to have endeavoured to stimulate the gal..
batty, by inviting expressly those only wlid were•
willing s 4 la esalere emir hardship; end Ir;ere service ;4
but it does Oct appear that ant of them accepted the
invitation.
No disparagement of the *Nth can arise Sewn
thia lad alter tfteir behaviabr At 'Rance to It serves •
only to mark the extreme d•fficulty of the service.
The two little associated bands acticed at (hi ICS
Riircrt's, and, by enabling General Prey at to r-jetk
the enemy's sninn.ons, and defend the lon, un-
deniably saved the Island.
Well earned, thaefore, was the General's praises
and nresonably do we regard this, a., a new, and,
those. on a small scale, a very signal urtmph of
Brit 'discipline and courage.
But there is one circumstance of 'he case. which
I believe is not generally unikriened, and witi:h
public gratitude ought not to eimei al • The 1 first
West India Regiment though uflivired by Euro-
peans, has in the ranks none but Negroes. Tiiere
*re at least 8 West India Regiments so c tiled, and.
numbered from I to 8 ; which ought ether to be.
called the African corps; since they are, officers
excepted, wholly composed of Afrii ans.
In every service they have ben engaged in chi.
ring the last and present war, their behaviour has
gained commendation.
In the present case they share the laurels of one
of our bravest Regiments, and we owe to them that
the British flag now flies at Dominica. Yet these
are troops whom West Indian prejildice would fain
have disbanded..--These are men, who, as their op.
pressors tell us, are fit only to be driven like harass,
arid sunk for ever in the most abJed and brutalising
bondage. Ats Asouramitst.

•

The Bill now before Parliament for inquiring
into the public expenditure of the departments con.
nefled with the army enaEls, that the Commis.
siotters are to investigate regulations of Commis.
sioners of Public Accounts. .tncl Committee of Pub-
lic Expenditure ; to inquire into the expenditure
and condna of the Officers of Odnance, Secretary
at War, Commissariat, Royal Hospitals, dec. and
the expenditure of the public money in the West In-
dies. The Commissioners to examine upon oath.
and to be empowered to enforce attendance of wit.
nesses. No person to be eompe!led to answer tinge
thins tending to criminate himself.
A CH•LLtWGE.--Assiduous industry will, in
series of years. amass large fortunzs from small
beginnings : bet the wit of man is challen;.ed to de.
vise any mode, eiceptingime. by which an mdivi.
vidnal can instantly acquire Fifteen .1 housand
Pounds with a stake of Five Pounds only—nay, toe
the trifling risk of only Twenty-five Shillings, 'nay
in one moment gain a fortune of above Three Thou.
sand Pounds. The great Lottery, which ccm.
menses on Monday neat, is literally capable of ef.
fettling this, and much more, in proportion to the
stake : a Lottery that displays a Scheme the me t
Abundant in Capital Prizes, considering its small
number of Tickets, that ever was, or *at ever will
be, perhaps construded.
Near MONDAY, 10,0001. RST.P a AWN.-
ifeassav and Co. beg leave to remind their
and the public, Oiat the present Grand Ste'
commenv.‘ drovAing on Monday next
Shares are on Sale in great variety of
at the lowest prices.—N. i 3. Prises
mand, whether a ;01. of A 3019UW.
co.llllale

PT.!) II A
3d their tiiends,
Stine Lottery
t Tickets and
t numbers, And
paid on de.
ft dicir