The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-26 00:00:00

11' lq) I N 1)1..% ND,

Mr. WILMOT HORTON presented venous papers relative to
the labuicl of Newfoundland—Ordered to be printed.
The House then Adjonmed at halCpast seven o'clock.

NOTICES OF MOTIONS THIS DAY.

.... _
1. Mr. Abercromhy—Bill for more. effectual Representation of the
City of alinbureb in Parliament.
2. Mr. flunic—To Committee on Postage Rates, to more that
Newspaper may be sent free to the Colonies.
3. Mr. Martin (of 4lalwayi —Select Committee to inquire whether
the practice of Bear baiting, and other cruel sports, has a niis-
cbievous effect on the morals of the people.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
Postage Rates—Couieuittee thereupon.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPERS.

'Monday's Journala, with the Eluik of Tuesday's date,
arrived yesterday.
[From the Etvik.]
Manikin, FES. 15.
Pin Majesty has issued a Decree in favour of the Royalist army,
of which the following are the principal dispositions:—
The widows and families of the soldiers who have died during
O campaign, or subsequently, in consequence of wounds therein
rireived, will enjoy the pension due to the rank immediately above
that in which each soldier lost his Ile. The widows, &c. of such
as were taken prisoners and shot, are to be considered in the same
manner as of those who died in the field ; and the same regulation
extends to the families of those who died while confined in the pub-
lic gaols.
In the last class are included the widows and the families of per-
sons who have suffered capital punishment for their attachment to
the Royal ramie. They will receive the pensions of invalided
Royalists who are maimed by wounds received in the Royal cause.
Such as have suffered be condemnation to the galleys, ice- for the
same cause, are to be indemnified. In order to wipe sway every
stain cast upon the families of those who have died on the scaffold,
there will be adtled to the registration of their deaths the following
phrase:—" He died gloriously and nobly in defence of his religion
and King."
The rest of the Decree is merely administrative.
NAPLES, FES. I
. .

The King has just issued a Pecree to abridge the sufferings of
those who wait for judgment. llis 31ajmity has ordered the accused'
to be divided into two classes:—l. Such an are to be judged by the
laws In full three; 2. Those who are to be tried by temporary
cmmnissions of a less rigorous nature. The situation of the accused
will be transmitted without delay to the Minister of Justice, in order
that the process in each ease may be regulated to avoid the delays
which hare hitherto occurred.

Ftt EX:CH FUN FEE. 23.—Fire per Cents. Consols,
99f. 30r. ; Rank Stock, 1733; Neapolitan Fire per Cents., H 6;
Rentes d'Expagne,2B. Exchange on London, onemonth,23f. 40c.;
three months, 2.31.

COLO;IBIAN DEBTS.

TIIE Public are hereby inforieil, that the following
is the LAW passed by the Colombian Government, for-
molly published in the Official Gazette, and now in force, to which
the Commissioners must conform, in the approaching investigation
of the Debts of the Republic :
LAW.
_ _

.......
The Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of 1
Colombia in Congress assembled, having examined the Message of
the Executive Power, and the documents thereunto annexed, and
in which the conduct pursued by the late /Minister of Colombia,
regarsls hie financial oerrations in Europe, is submitted lo a
resolution of the Legislative llody, and taking also into consitkra.
tion__ _ _ _ _ _ .

Ist. That even if the Ea-Minister Zea had been legally 'tithes..
Hied for finance operations% and with competent power to solicit
Loans in the name of the Republic of Colombia, he only could
have negociafed and contracted for them, but in no way definitively
concluded them, and much less received and disposed of the
amount thereof, without having obtained the previous consent and
approbation of the Congress, or its express authority to receive and
dispose of the same, without which the Lenders could not advance
the said amount, without spositarteonssy subjecting themselves to
the contingency of an approbation or disapprobation, which subse-
quently might he expressed by the Legislative Body, exclusively
authorised by the fundamental laws of the Republic to contract
debts on the credit of the nation, and dispose of the treasure
thereof;
'llly. That the Ex-Minister Zee rot only contracted in Europe
a Loan of Two Millions sterling in the name of the Republic,
but he has also received, distributed, and con.umed the greatest
part of the same on his own authority, in making comproniises of
antt-rior demands not competently settled, and of subsequent ones
which he himself has created by operas ønser.ortioualy burtheneotne
Ito the State, either by increasing the capitals, gratuitously doubling
the interest, and by acknowledging debts, some without the ne-
cessary vouchers, others purely gratuitous, and with exorbitant
additions to many and in fine, by receiving as money the obliga-
tions and bonds which the said Zen himself had given, b.; virtue of
an agreement entered into in London, on the Ist of August,
1020, to the creditors of the Republic, without their respective ac-
counts having been legally audited and passed; together with other
obligations he also put into circulation in the same arbitrary manner,
without having
.in due time solicited, waited for, or ever obtained
the approbation indispensably. necessary for similar operations.
3dly. That the two Countries of New Grenada and Venezuela
being united into one body of a nation, under the denomination of
Republic of Columbia, on the 12th of July, 1021, by a solemn act
of their legitimate represertatives, assembled for the put-pose. of sane-
. tinning this new political association and its fundamental institutions;
by the said Act, the powers of all the previous functionaries and
public agents ceased, and 1,0 consequence thereof also terminated
the powers conferred under daze of the 24th of December, 1319,
in the city of Angostura, on the Ex-Minister Zee. not oily so as
to disable him from continuing, by virtue thereof, the diplomatic
operations to which his instructions were confined, but also chiefly
from entering into financial negotiations to which he afterwards
sought to extend the said powers. at the time he was already in-
.formed of the substantial change shove-mentioned, as is proved by
the allusions he makes to the new laws, in the bonds he issued on
the 13th of March, 11;22.
4thly. In short, that at the game time it is the duty of the Con-
gress to guard against :he waste or malversation of the property of
the nation, whose rights are deposited in their hands; it is equally
so religiously to comply with the just obligations in which their
; responsibility, honour, and reputation are implicated ; and wishing
Ito consult and abide by these considerations, and not defraud pri-
vate individuals out of their just rights ;

THEY DIMEIT DO DECIBEE,
" Art. 1. The compromises made with creditors. leans concluded,
and abet financial operatics carried into effect in Europe by the
Ex.Mlnister. Frenciero Artesia Zee. are hereby disappmved.
" Art. 2. Nevertheless, all thaansounts which the creditors can
legally prove to have been furnished for the Republic, in money
and effects, together with dick respective interest, are acknow.
kdged.
" Art. 3. For their settlement the Executive Power is hereby
fully =Amite* so as to be able to do the same in the manner tloy
may think most expedient.
" Art. 4. The evecutive power h hereby in like manner author_
'zed to approve and ratify, themselves, or through the medium of
such person or persona to whom for this purpose they may delegate
their powers. the result of the said settlement, so that they may
call in the obligations, bonds, or bills, rut in circulation b: the de.
ceased Francisco Antonio lea, and isatie such as they may deem
necessary as far as the amount settled and approved of. which said
bonds are to he signed bcthe Presided of the Republic, or the
person exercising the Executive Power, or by the person by him
duly authorized, so as to receive these mew obligations or bonds as
numerical an ~,,, nts in any mho lean that may be decreed ; sod,
finally, in enter that they may name arbitrators, er friendly and
conciliating retereei, in the ease or car" of any disputes arising
with the creditors, whrher in the territory of Colombia, or in any
other ceuntry of Europe.
" Art. S. 'The aforesaid Executive Power shall be authorized to
agree as to the term for the pay Log eft* of the amount which may
he tints settled, as to the mortgages by which :Ito demands are to
be secured. and as to the manner in which the intr :it is to be paid,
until the consolidation of the natior.4l debt has be e ompleted, in
which the Congress are engaged.
" Art. 6. Virally. the Executive Power is hereby authorized to
remove ail difficulties which nay occur in the execution of the pre-
sent decree.
" Done in Bogota. copiesd of the Republic, this Ist day of July,
18a, eta! 13th of Independence.
(Signed)
et JERONIMf TOII RES, Vice-Pres. of the Senate.
" DO3IINOO CALCEDO,
PlTSiiiert of the Howie of Repreaentedrev,
" ANTONIO JOSE CAIIO. Secretary of the citrate.
" JOSE .111AQUI:a: SI 'A RES, Pep. and Secretary.
" Palace of Government in Bogota, this 7th day of July, 1823.
Let the same he executed.
(Signed) " FRANCISCO DF. P. S.INTANDER.
" JOSE MARIA DEL CASTELLO,
Secretary of State, for the Final:CC Department."

Ehe Nrittoft WOO.

The BRITISH PMTS. commenced puhltshing yesterday morning
at six o'clock.

LONDON. THURSDAY, FILIIIWARY 26, 1824.

The Journals of Toulouse ant Bourdeaux state, that
the long announced decree of amnesty (in fact, a roll of
proscription) from Ferdinand has at length appeared ; and
a Bayonne letter, to the 17th of February, gives the par-
ticular', which will be fcnnd below. The decree, though
made public in Madrid on the 11th and 12th, was not, it,
appears, tyficiallg published, and is stated to have been
sub' ~.quently withdrawn, on the remonstrances of the
French Ambassador, as utterly inconsistent with the in-
structions of his Court. The Journal des DtMts denies
its authenticity, but says the real amnesty is daily expected.
We think* very likely that the decree, given in the Jour-
nals of the South and the Bayonne letter, had appeared. It
is framed exactly as we might expect from the incorrigible
crew of bigots and terriles who now surround the con-
temptible Spanish despot. What a state of degradation has
that wretched country arrived at, when it cannot make head
against even the I'irste of Algiers ; and yet the mighty Fer-
dinand talks of conquering South America! The Viscomte
Marceline is said to have brought with him from Ma-
drid the treaty definitively arranged f:r the occupation of
Spain by the French troops. Spain is now, to all intents
and purposes, a province of France, and Bourmont is the
military Proconsul who governs. The family compact
of the days of Louis XIV. is again renewed. There is
now no balance of power in Europe : a few great despots
awe the Continent, and, like the rod of Aaron, swallow
every minor state. There is a confederacy of despots
against the people generally : liberty is trampled beneath
the hoofs of their Croats ; their Pandours, and Cossacks,
and ba_yonets, everywhere are the instrummits of legisla-
tion. This state of things cannot be perpetual in western
or central Europe. and the bright (lay of freedom is rising
fast over eastern Europe, which was benighted for so many
ages. Gtecee, by the most glorious and unparalleled
efforts, is consummating her independence, and will yet,
with her gallant thousands, again plant the Cross in
Byzantium, and shake the throne of the Ottoman to its
foundations, if the ambitious Russian does not rush on with
his ravenous hordes, and clutch the tempting spoil.

BAYONNE' Fr*. 17.

We have news from Madrid of the 12th. The decree' of amnesty
has at length appeared : the following are the articles :-
1. Pardon is grunted to all persons who have taken part in the
revolution.
2. Excepted, the authors and chiefs of the revolution in the Isle
of Leon and of Continua (their names are published); the authors
of the conspiracy at Deana, particularly Count Abbibal, Alexander
O'Donnell, the Deputies who voted in favour of the Regency of
Seville, as well es the Members of the Regency : his Majesty re-
serving to himself to exclude front this alas some persons who
have rendered him services in the recovery of his liberty, and the
authors of memorial.; and writings composed for the purpose of
taking the Crown from the King and having him brought to trial,
as well as the Infants; those who in secret societies made proposals
of the same tendency ; and those who, since the abolition of the
coma itutior.al system, have attended or shall attend secret societies,
or others that may be established ; the authors and editors of hooks
or writings against religion and the throne; the judges and officers
who were charged with the trials of Elio and pallier • the pro-
moters and participators in the assassinations at Grenada and Co-
runna ; those who, haying had an active share in the Constitu-
tional floyernment, have gone to America to disturb that country ;
and those who, having Red to foreign i•ameries, write and compute
against the Government of his Majesty.
3. All those comprehended in these exceptions shall be tried
according to the laws.
4. All others shall enjoy individual liberty and safety • those who
are in prison shall be released, and their property, if sequestrated,
shall be restored to them.
5. This pardon does not authorise the restitution of employments,
even those which were allowed liefrre the 7th March. On this
head, as well as relative to the purifications, a special decree shall
be issued.
6. Those who are not part of the exceptions, and those inrludtd
in the capitulations with the French Gererals, shall submit to die
tribunal, which shall intervene as stated in Art. 3.
7. All the Decrees and Ordinances issued up to this day, rela-
tive to persons who have adhered to the Constitutional System, are
hereby revoked.
This Decree has not been published officially. It has become
known durin.: the day that the French .Inihassailor had prevailed
to have it withdrawn, beentise it was drawn up in a manner not
agreeable to his instructions from his Court.
Letters from fi.:adis say, that two Spanish merchant vessels have
just been taken, but it is not known by what nation. The cause of
the aggr,sien of the Algetines is said to be, that after a war be-
tween the two Powers, Charles the Third agreed to pay to the Dey
•en annual tribute. Since lititi no payment has been made, and the
Pg. taking advantage of the weakness of Spain, or moved by other
reasons, clam:a the arrears. 'flue Government is certainly uneasy,
aaniidinoTonteri have been given to put the coasts in a state of defence.
' Re...outers and money are wanting, but boats are being ['mud, and
is placed on some points. An order has been issued foe
the French Guards to remain with his Catholic Majesty. It is
I said that a treaty between France and Spain is on the point of
being signed.

It is, we understand, the determination of Ministers
instantly to scud another expedition against Algiers:
bomb-vessols are preparing fur the purpose. A force we
hope will he despatched, strong enough to defy all resist-
ance; to annihilate the marine of the barbarian, and lay
Algiers and its defences in ashes. This is the only argu-
ment that will he available with this sanguinary horde of
murderers and pirates. Lord Exmouth's former squadron
was not of sufficient strength ; we ought to have a land
force to co-operate: the work of destruction caiinot be
complete without it. The Powell of the Coutincot, and

France in particular, otrght to unite with us, and furnish
a military force. These pirates are the common enemies
of all nations, and ought to be exterminated from the
coast of Africa: they are the curse of the Mediterranean.
Our next visit, however, will be. we trust, a decisive one,
'and leave more lasting impressions than the last on the
memory of the Corsairs, and the pirate called their I XI,

Sir John Wrottesley's proposed plan, for the alteration
of the coinage, brought forward by hint last night, was
quite Utopian, and uncalled 'or. The Honourable Baronet,
—to accomplish %%bat balmy results we cannot guess,—
proposed to have only three tables in denominations, in
place of four, as at present existing,--natnely, pounds—next
shillings, each to be in value one tenth of the pound—and
farthings, one thousand of the latter to be equal to the
pound. In the farthings, tha Hon. Baronet stated, this would
make an increase of four per cent. above their present
value. This plan, the mover stated, prevailed in France,
in America, and, bongo iitlcreaM,, in China. The
worthy Baronet concluded his strange propositions by
moving an Address to the Throne, praying that an inquiry
might be ordered into the best method of adapting the
coinage of the realm to a decimal scale. Alt. Wallace, the
Master of the Mint, very properly opposed the motion and
plan of Sir John Wrottesley, as not possessing any ad-
vantages, even if adopted, and quite uncalled for at the
present moment. In the course of his speech Mr. Wallace
instanced the evils arising from the discrepancies in the
currency, and the embarrassments created by it in the pre-
sent intercourse of this country with Ireland. The cur-
rency of the two countries would, however, the Right
Honourable Gentleman hoped, be soon assituiLued, and
another obstacle be thus removed to the close and friendly
feeling that was every day strengthening between the two
countries. Sir Henry Parnell stated the injurious effect
this discrepancy of currency brought with it to Ireland.
It had been I.is intention, he said, to bring forward a motion
on the subject, as hc hail intimated last Session, but as Mr.
Wallace had undertaken the important subject, he would
leave it in his hands. The original motion of Sir John
Wrottesley was of course lost. Any meddlisg with the
currency further could now be productive of,nothing but
alarm and distrust. The change from a paper to a bullion
circulation has, in the main, been attended with the great-
est benefits, and brought restored confidence in its train.
But the entire currency of the country ought to be put on
an equality: Irish money will not circulate here; and
there is always a loss as against that country, of at
least tq per cent. in the exchange with England ; it
has been so high, during the last war, as twelve, four-
teen, and even at one time near twenty per cent. All
English money circulates in Ireland at an advance: thus
1/. English is 1/. Is. ';,l. Irish; but Bank of Ireland paper,
tokens, and tenpenny pieces, the current circulation of
Ireland, will not be received here. Thus all money trans-
actions with this country are catried on at a great loss and
inconvenience, an inconsistency as between one part of the
empire and another that ought to cease. The Custom-house
regulations, that fewr and annoy in the intercourse between
both countries, are of the same character, and should be
altogether extinguished. Measures, we are most happy to
see, arc every day !ti progress to cement the Union between
both countries, and make them really one. It Is only now
the measurce of Moo are beginning to be felt. The inter.
course between England and Ireland ought to be as un-
restricted as between Middlesex and Yorkstire. The
Currency Laws, Custom-house regulations, and all other
enactments ought to be put on the same footing. The
more extended the connexion with Ireland becomes, the
more will that country be benefited. 'Were tranquillity
and conciliation established in that fine island, where
every necessary of life is now so cheap and abundant,
British capital would soon, from its capabilities, and the
cheapness of labour and provisions, be difitoed largely.
Let its hope that a better policy, as regards itelani, will
be now unfolded, and that all proscription and unworthy
restrictions cf every sort will gradually be abolished by
the wisdom of Government and the Legislature. The
most incalculabL: benefits would arise from such a policy:
confidence, tranquillity, and prosperity, would all follow
within a very short period ; the saving of expenditure to
Great Britain would he immense, and her acquisition of
stmngth in every way proportionate. Can Mieisters much
longer act in the present narrow and unworthy policy,
which has so many evils in its train?