The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-24 00:00:00

of his professional duty it was necessary for him to
reed a pia of one of those puldicatioor, he meant
the Sutir!st, and he would not hesitate to say, thst
never, witi•in the ineusory of man, was there written
more fold and more abominable slander than dies
graced every page of that infamous publication.
That filihc work addressed itself not merely to those
who conkd rerd, hut to the eyes of those who could
not. The particular libel to which he alluded in that
work, pierpurted to be the secret history of what
took place i,, the bed-chatisher of a married ft.
mily—of a Nobleman who was justly held the or-
:lament of the Peerage. That false and indecent
deacroptioit was illustrated by abominable foriiits,
to make it more intelligent to the more igloo.
rant reader. The Editor of that Paper lent, it
seemed, his disreputable support to the Govern-
ment, end he slandered those against it, odious
anti vile a. he was. The Editor of that Paper
was thought worthy of promotion : he was not
banished, but he was sent out by the Noble
Lord to represent the British Government, as
Consul to New England, a country justly es-
teemed for the. purity if its character. He was, he
said, sorry to hew tbekpeech of an Hon. Gentle-
-113411 (Mr. Willserfnice), beetiose it seemed to him
to attack that object which. until that hour, every
cue considered that Honourable Gentleman& as
the petroic--fie meant the education of the peo-
ple. For his own part, so highly did he value
caseation that he would sooner see even the
freedom of the Constitution perish, than the mind
of MUD retrograde. lie would prefer education to
what was called liberty reigning over dark, unci-
vilised, and barbarous times. But liberty and
framing were not incomputable; on the contrary,
they were co-existent ; they were not strangers, but
the nearest and d t kindred; mid as freedom
wet the parent of learning, it was unnatural to sup-
pose that that parent could only be preserved by
the destruction of its most valued and most favour-
ed offspring.
Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that he never had a
conception that the individual in question (the
Editor of the Satirist) was connected with the
uul)lication, until a question on the subject had
breii put to him by the Hou. and Learned Gen-
troom some time after the appointment of that
Before that time he had never heard
it surget,ied that the Individual was the writer of
that improper publication. and he certainly had
been recommended to him as a person qualified
for the situation. He could not help observ-
ing that the Honourable and Learned Gentleman
seemed to direct himself to him (Lord CaNtlrreisgli),
mid he hail the more to complain of became he
(Mr.' Brougham) must have known that he (Lard
Castlereagh) was at the time the individual was no-
minated to the office in total ignorance of his hav-
ing been connected with the publication alluded to
iii such strung terms of condemnation. He had an
inquiry made into the circumstance at. the time,
but he did not feel himself warranted in recom-
mending hie Royal Highness the Prince Regent to
cancel the appoiminent of the individual. It ap-
peered to him that the Hon. amid Learned Gentle-
man went out of his way, and certainly his attack
oil the Gaveentnent was nut warranted.

Mt. BM/GUAM denied that he had made any
unwarrantable attack on the Government. The
Noble Lord declared that he did not know of the
individual being Editor of the publication in ques-
tion previews to his appointment—lint he had made
inquiry. sod he most have ascertained the fact of
his boring berm is that situation—lie must have
ascertained lon. if any inquiry were made on that
head, that the character of the publication was
tery infamous but ilia Noble Lord persisted in
confirming the appointment after he had made the

Lord CASTLEREAGII-=. The appointment of
the individual hail been previously gazetted."
'Mr. ISBOUGHAM—" But he had not sailed for
A nsericii."

Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that after he had been
guested, and about to ►ail for his destination, he
r•vald out recommend his dismissal as a fit mei-

►ore.

11r. SCA IILETT said, that the provisions of the
. Bill would subject any writer who might condemn
any pa,ticular proceeding in that House to the
plinishinsin, if convicted a second time, of perpe-
tual banishment. And yet he would ask the House
was there any public writer whs. in the fair latitude
of iliscusaiou, might not allude, in terms, too, of
ilisispiwobation, to a particular proceeding lii that
House ? He would put one case : the vote on the
W.lchern expedition. The people felt a universal
indignetiou at that vote. The House depended
muck on public opinion, the more so, because it
did not contain a perfect representation of the people.
lie objected to a clause which, by construction,
would subject to punishment fur libel, and such a
dreadful punishment as would follow the second
conviction, innocent and even meritorious writers.
The Cigna of cutnposing was new one in the law ;
he monk' ask the Attorney-General when was there
a conviction for composnig ? The offence of cons-
inning was unkuown to the law of England, and
was only practised in the disgraceful trial of Alger.
iitm Sydney. He considered the words " mallet-
..us;e and advisedly" were wanting, and he would
tbetetore vote for the amendment,

Sr J. MACKINTOSH Smitl. without troubling the
Hou►e, he would only refer to the words of the
:With of the King, and he would risk, why it was
Ilia the exanple of that Act should be departed
horn?

Tilt AT roRNEY-GENERAL objected to the words
1111111.4 Ctmary. and as only leading to confusion.
Bill was not defining a new crime, it was only
ro.guisbug a new punishment—there moot be a
malicious intention, otherwise no conviction could
take plaer.
Mr. SuARLETT raid, he recollected when the
wood •. false" was considered necessary to be stated
to the intl.ctmetit ; that was, however, yet aside by
the ilecioion of a single Judge. He l*nped he ►hould
hot Ittr to see it maintained that a malicious inten-
tion %fluid be unnecessary.
Sir J AIMS MACKINTOSH said, that what the At-
tosney-Criieral considered due to public feeling its
1795, the Attorney-General of the present day re-
fused to grant, a proof of the progress of doctrines
iol favour of the rigour of authority. mod against the
►ecurity of public freedom. •
The ArToas EIf.,GEN ERA I. strongly repelled
slut he considered an insinuation against Ministers.

Coloud ELLtsrots spoke against the amend.
meta.

Sir J. 37 AClLlArrosti remioiled the Attorney-
General that the 36t is of the King created no new
i.tiesicr ; the law et libel via, as old as the commute

The gallery was than cleared for • division, hut
we understood dial the amendment was owl:swirl]
without • diviaion.

The ArroatsET.GENISAL said, that the clause
enacting the penalty of baiiishastrist on the rotninia-
&ion of a second offence, as it now stood, was caps.;
hie of being construed retrospectively ; to iihviste
which, he should propose, as an amendment, to in-
troduce the word., " after the passing of this Act."
The amendment was agreed to, without any dis-
curios,.

The ATTORNEY-GentRAL then said, that in
order to avoid the legal consequences attending
banishment for life, a penalty included within the
latter words of the same clause, he al !d propose
the introduction of words to this effect—" For
such term of years as might seem proper in the dis-
cretion elf the Court."

Mr. J. P. GR•NT was desirous to know on what
suiliority his Hon. and Learned Friend stated, li.it
banishment for lire and for years were not antendrd
with the ►acnc consequences..
The ATTORNEY-GRNIRAL--" On that of Lord
Coke."—/A Isugh./
Mr. J. P. GRANT expressed his doubt of the
accuracy of his Hen. and Learned Friend's recol-
lection.

The SOLICITOR-GBMRRAL said, that Lord Coke
laid down in terms this distinction, that the one
wa• a civil death, and the other not.
The Amendment was then agreed to.
Mr. BROUGHAM wished the term should be li-
mited to seifrii years.
Mr. W. SMITH said that this amendment did not,
by any means, obviate his previous objection to the
measure on the score of severity disproportionate to
the offence. _

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that it had not
been proposed for that, but another purpose.
Lord CASTLEREAGH thought that there were
cases of libel of so very heinous a nature, that on a
second conviction the delinquent should not be
suffered to remain the country.
After some observations from Sir J. MACKIN-
TOSH, Mr. W. Sum', and Mr. G. LAMB. the
House divided on retaining the amended clause.
'f he numbers were—
For the clause
Agaiu■t it. 3O

Majority for the clause.... 79
The remaining parts of the Bill having been
read and agreed to. the SPEAKIIII resumed the
Chair, and the Report was brought tip and agreed tn.
Mr. Alderman HEYOATE then proposed the fol-
lowing clause—`, That this Act should remain in
force for three years from and rifler the iitooting of
the same, and to the end of the then next Session of
Parliament."
Mr. MAYAN seconded the bringing up of the
clause.

Lord CASTLERRAGH opposed it.
The motion w•s then negatived without a division.
The Bill w•s then ordered to be read • third
time this day. •nd the House •djourued •t HALF-
PAST Two o'CLocu.

VENEZUELA AND NEW GRANADA.

FURTHER SUCCESSES OF THE PATRIOTS—SANTA
MARTHA TAKEN—CARTHACrENA BESIEGED,
&e. &e. Sce.

TXTRACT OF ♦ LETTER FROM OUAYANA, DATED
OCTOBER 14, 1819.

" A courier has just arrived from the capital of
New Granada, bringing us journal's and much
good news. Already Santa Martha must be free,
and Carthagena blockaded or besieged. A con-
siderable body of picked troops marches to the
assistance of Venezuela, and must be already
on the frontiers, if not within its territory.—
The enemy's squadron has disappeared from Mar-
garita, and the crew has taken refuge in the hos-
pitals. Some Spaniards of the regiment of Babas-
tros have arrived at Maturin, and given intelligence
of the retreat of the enemy's naval force. We have
received the cargo of a launch, consisting of gold in
coin and bars. They are now unloading the rick-
ages ; and until they are weighed we are uncertain
of the amount ; but the whole of this cargo is des-
tined to purchase muskets, and only muskets.
With secrecy and caution, ally enterprising specu-
lator may ship them any where, and deliver them
here, where they will be instantly paid for at it fair
price."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM •MGOITURA, DATED

oCTOBKR li, Ibl9.

" You may now reckon as free the whole of New
Granada, with the exception of Cartliagena. In
consequence of the expedition in aid of Lima, the
whole of the kingdom had been deprived of its gar-
risons. In Popayan the garrison is very small, and
that of Antioquia does not amount to sixty men,
intended merely as a guard for the mint. There
have been sent to Antioquia 500 men, and to
Popayan 1,500, in order afterwards to liberate all
the conterminous provinces, the best results being
expected from the enthusiasm with which the Re-
publican troops are every where received. That
which is now of t importance, and to which,
as is reasonable, the greatest attention bus been
paid, is to raise a great army, in order to resist any
expedit' which Spain may scud out ; for the
Royalists have now here no force capable of un-
dertaking any thing against Santa Fe."

A corps of cavalry is now raising in Stockton on
Tees. Monday se'nnight General Vivra ri
iu-
spected all the hatteries and depots at Tynemouth.
Orders have been received to dismantle ►he garri-
moos ►t Berwick, Iluly !aloud, and Bamburpl6, rod
to remove the alumni stores, &c. to the Castle at
EJii.bu►gh.

Tfl E BRITISH. PRESS.

LON DON,
FRIDAY, Dgcemaga 44, lei 9•

We are happy to find that some portion of the
French contributions, however small, will form a
part of the Ways and Meatus of our Exchequer for
the emoting year. Such, at least, n. the purport of
au answer given last night by the CHANCELLOR of
the EXCHEQUER 10 Mr. Home, who submitted a
motion to the House of Commons upon the subject
of these contributions. Our readers, we presume,
■re aware that our Ministers bound Great Britain
by treaty to the Government of the Netherlands, to
pay two millions sterling for the erection and repair
of certain fortresses, as a barrier for that kind
against France, and that so much of the money re-
ceived as our share of the French contributions has
been directed to that object. The CHANCELLOR
or the EXCUEQUER did nut state last night the
precise amount of the French money which. he cal-
culates may be made available fur the public ser-
vice, but we fear it will prove very incon►iderable.
Thr general state of the revenue for the current
quarter. we are told by the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, equals that of any preceding year,
even the most favourable. This is a moat cheering
and gr.tifying statement, and, independent of the
immediate good that must result from its effects
upon the money market, will, we trust, be attended
with the further advantage of restoring coofideoce
to the country, and iiispirtug new life and vigour
into the operations of its internal commerce. It ap-
pears that although five millions were appropriated
by Parliament in the last Session to be paid to the
Rink, not more than 1,200,000 f. has been as yet
actually applied to that purpose. This delay in
the discharge of so important a debt can be ac-
counted for solely by the pecuniary embarrassments
of the Government during the last, and notwith-
standing the statement of the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCUEQUER, we believe we may add the present
quarter—for, however large the receipt of the
revenue may appear during the quarter uow cur.
rent, it is certain that a considerable proportion
of the amount has been formed by Exchequer
bills. The embarrassment thus experienced, from
having its depreciated paper returned upon the
Treasury, will, we hope, induce the Ministers
speedily to adopt some effectual step towards re-
ducing the unfunded debt still more considerably.
The Misdemeanors Bill received the Royal As-
sent yesterday, and will, we are convinced, when
fairly considered, meet with the general approba-
tion of the people. This day the Royal Assent will
be given to the Bill for the Prevention of Seditious
Meetings. The Newspaper Stamp Duty Bill was
read a first time in the House of Lords, and or-
dered for a second reading on Monday.
The Libel Bill was, after some debate, referred
to a Committee in the House of Commons. In the
Committee the measure was warmly and übly dies
cussed.

An account of a disturhance at Newcastle-upon.
Tyne, on the night of the 18th instant, was given
in our Paper of Wednesday. As the alarmists of
the Ministerial Press have exercised their ingenuity
to exaggerate the facts of the case, we this day give
a circumstantial detail, for the purpose of correct-
ing the imposition practised upon the public mind.

Yesterday the dial:retches were closed at the East
India House, and delivered to the Purse!s of the fol-
lowing ships,
Earl of Balearras, Captain J. Jameson ; Warren Hastings,
Captain T. Larkins; and Thames, Captain C. Le Blanc—for
Bombay and China; and London. Captain P. Cameron—for
St. Helena, Betwoulen, Prince of Wales s Island, and Chius.
Passenger% per London—
Prince of Wales's Island—Mr. Weir, writer ; and Mr.
Harding free mariner.
. .

r. and Mrs. Burin*. Mr. and Mrs. Evans.

St. Helena—Mrs. Simpson, and Mn.. Moore and child.
Passengers per Ifurl of Hokurras—
Bombay—Memo. Dent and Bell, writers; Captain War.
den and titdy, Captain Parr, and Captain Browne and
Lady; Messrs. Hadow, Wilma', Boyd, and Walker;
Messrs. Lyon and Crawford, free mariners; Mrs. and Misses
Pringle; and Messrs. Kink, Kussey,Jarnesuis, Hughes, and
Down, cadets.
Passengers per Thames—
_ . _

Bombay—Mr : Mills, writer • Captain Irving; Mr. As.
sistant-Surgrou Leslie and I:arty; Mr. King; Misses
Hughes, Carter, Crosby, Stevens, and Hunter; Messrs.
Cooke, Le Blanc, Hawke*, Payne, Briggs, Hogg, and Parry,
cadets.

Pangenger per iVarrea Hastings—
Boinbay—M r. Justice, cadet.

A letter from Dover, dated December 42 (Wed.
nesday), says--" Hig Exceltency Earl CATHCART,
with family and suite, front Russia, arrived lust
night, in the Lord Duncan packet, from Calais ;
and also yesterday arrived, in the King George
packet, from Calais, the Nlurchioness of DOWN.
liHIRE and family."

The East India Company's ships Bombay and
lle►efurdsAire arrived at Bombay on the 4th Au.
govt. The Mar/wit Camdea and Inglis failed
tram Bombay rm. China on the 24th July List.

The Earl of LOW*DA I.E. Lord Lieutenant of the
County of Cumberland. arrived in Cerlile on Sun-
day evening seinuight, for the purpose of incertaiii-
nig the htste of the tin:Dirt, and of promoting
such measures as might be deemed advisable fur the
preservation of the public peace ; and on Thursday
a meeting of the inagi.tracy of the county .(at the
request of the Lord Lieutenant) took place at the
Bush Inn, at which measures were adopted fur car-
rying the Military Training Prevention Bill into
effect. They at the same time uttered a reward. for
the discovery of persons eisgoged in such unlawful
practice.

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