The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-05 00:00:00

MOVEMENTA.

The'F.►rl and C,untess of Sefton and the Ladles Molynenz left town
yesterday, for their veld, Stoke Farm, Berks.
The Countess of Dartmouth left town yesterday, for ber seat at
Blackheath.

The Honourable Thomas Grenville left town yesterday, for Dropinore.
Sir Robert Buxton, Bart. left town yesterday, fur Ida seat, Shadwell
Lodge, Norfolk.
F. NIMIIIII, Esti, has left town, for his neat, near Colchester.
R. B. Philipps. Esq., M.P. has arrived at his house its spring-gardens,
from his seat, Melon Castle, Wales.

7'o THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

London Coffee-House, July 4, IRA
Stn,—Allow me, through the medium of your highly-
respectable Journal, which has. I am informed, an ex-
tensive circulation among the members of tha legal pro-
fession, to inquire, by what lawful authority it is that the
Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery is em-
powered to demand of suitors and other persons, to whom
he is directed to pay money by an order of the Court, to
produce reeeipta from the Legacy Office, sheaving that the
duty in respect of their annuities of other legacies has
been discharged, before he will pay them the sums of
money to which, under such orders, they are entitled? I
cannot conceive upon what constitutional principle the
Court of Chancery, to which the subjects of this country
resort for equity between man and man, is thus converted
into an engine for enforcing the payment of one of the
most odious taxis in the whole history of finance; and I
have asked every professional gentleman, whom I have
the honour of knowing, both in town and country, by
what statute law the Accountant• General is made to
wring taxes from the poor annuitants, who receive their
tnoney out of his office ; for it is upon them that the re-
gulation in question falls with peculiar severity.
My own case is an instance in point. About six years
ago the will of a relation gave tome, and to three others also
nearly connected with him, a small annuity each, with
benefit of survivorship. Upon this the duty was paid by
the executors, before they transferred the funds belonging
to the deceased into the hands of the Accountant-General.
But a short time since the death of one of the annuitants
has increased the annual amount payable to the others in
a small sum ; and this aldition, I am informed, will be
treated as a further annuity, and as subject to duty accord-
ingly. To this, since the Legislature has so enacted, I do
not mean to object; but I cannot help thinking that the
course which it is said the Accountant will pursue in the
matter, is very oppressive and unconstitutional.
The July dividends will soon be payable, and if my co-
annuitant hail been still alive, I should have received the
half-yearly payment in respect of my annuity, as it stood
before her death, without difficulty or question ; hut the
Accountant-General will now, my solicitor tells me, re-
quire, before he pays even that upon which the duty has
already been paid, insist upon my producing a receipt for
the duty in respect of the additional annuity, to which I
become entitled in consequence of her death ; though, as
she has been dead only a quarter of a year, I shall not re-
ceive, by several pounds, so much as the duty will amount
to, and the Comptroller of the legacy-duty would not re-
quire me to pay the duty, if I were to receive the ita-
creased annuity in the ordinary way from the executors,
till the whole first year's increase had become payable.
I do not blame the Accountant-G.•neral personally, of
course ; but I must say, the operation of the rules of his
office is extremely hard upon suitors, exacting, as they
compel him to do, from the annuitant, or other lega-
tees, the production of a receipt for the legacy-duty before
he will pay them any part of their legacies, when it may
very probably so happen that they must borrow the money
for the purpose ; and I hope some of your readers who are in
the law, will have the goodness to take the point into their
consideration, and favour the public, through your paper,
with the result of their inquiries as to the means by which
an officer of a Court of Equity is authorized to enforce by
anticipation the payment of a tax so oppressive as the
Legacy Duty, under circumstances which hear so severely
on the legatee. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,

Ruslicvs.

The Duke of York continued better yesterday. His
Royal Highness took an airing, as usual, on Monday after-
noon, in his carriage. The Duke of Sussex, the Duchess
of Gloucester, and the Princess Augusta, visited their
Royal Brother yesterday.
The Duke of Wellington transacted business at the Fo-
reign-office. yesterday.
Prince Polignac, the French Ambassador, transacted
business yesterday with Mr. Secretary Canning, at his
Office in Downing-street.

The following is an extract of a letter from Caracas,
dated May 14:—
Before this reaches you, you will probably have heard of a po-
liticg eruption which has recently taken place. Venezuela has de-
clared herself independent of the General Government, or rather
elainte the right of enacting her own provincial I tws, and of govern-
ing and directing her provincial finances and judiciary, regsrdless
of the Supreme Executive Government of Bogota, but remaining at
the same time one of the States of the Republic, enjoying the pri-
vilege of provincial legislation. If this is the true intention of this
rupture, I think it not an unreasonable dtmand. All this has ori-
ginated since the suspension of General Paez front the common I of
t't'sdep r ment. When he was on the eve of (limiting for logo a, to
defend Ilia conduct before the :-enate, the troops became ac-
quainted with the circumstance ; the otlic:rs could not restrain
them ; they threw away their arms; the afters threw away their
swords ; the eohliers demanded their General; declared a determina-
tion not to serve under General Escalon ; in short, Valencia he-
!tame a scene of confusion and uproar. The Cabikto assembled,
and General Paez was reinstated in his command. The moment
he appeared amorg his troops, they returred quietly to their duty ;
only three or four persons were murdered. This led to a declara-
tion of independent e, the final result of which is concealed in the
somb of time. General Paez is expected here to-day. Ido not
know whether he brings troops or not. General Mario() came
in a few days since with a small body of cavalry from the
plains. Ile was met and escorted into town by the mem-
bers of the Cabildo, or some of them, and by a number of pri-
vate eitizena. They entered the city about weven o'cleck in the
evening, with some degree of noise, crying " Vies Bolivar ! Viva
Paez! I'iva Marino ! Viva Venezuela!"--the old cry of "Viva
Colombia, viva la Petrie," appeared to be ectrely forgotten.
Such now is the state of things here, though I scarcely ever knew
Caracas so perfectly tranquil,...No excesses have been committed
by the soldiers here, nor have I heard of any murders except those
in Valencia. One of our papers contains the address of General
Santander to the people of Colombia, or. his retiring from the Vice
Presidency. The principal argument used by the General for this
act is. the danger to liberty resulting front the pralorged con-
tinuance in power,of one man,and that a military man.' "—Gazette.
- -

Extract of a letter from (7uracoa, dated May 11:—" We
have had accounts from Laguayra, that the country is in a state of
revolution, under General Parr, or the opposition party. lam in-
formed that he was lately ordered to Bogota, to answer some charges
made against hint ; that he assembled his troops and informed
them of the order, and in answer they declared for Independence of
the Government at Bogota. and establishment of laws independent
as a sovereign state. without being compelled to refer to Bogota on
every trivial occesion. Valencia submitted, declaring for nide.
pendence under ltolivar, and Para then commenced his trarch upon
Cameras with.2ooll men. This news reached this place four days
ago by a Government Dutch vessel. An embargo being laid
iti Laguira and Perto Cabello, we hav,: heard nothing

COLOMBIA.

'From El Cuknnbiono of May 10.1

C•RACCAS, MAY 10.
We have received advice. from Bogota, dated 10th April. Froin
the Goerla de Colombia of the 9th, we; have: extracted the ire.
portant law respecting the new organization of our Custom House
regUlzt ions, and we congratulate the country on this inroad on loti
established prejudices, and all the obsturity and chicanery of Spa.
nish

- -
The Congress determined, in its sittings of the 17th March, that
all Military and Civil Servants of the Republic, Archbishops sod
A ishops, Prebends, Curates, &c. having seats in Congress, shall
not be entitled in future to other emoluments than those which they
may derive from their respective professions, or from their sal*.
ries as Members of Congress ; but in no case will they be allowed
both.
A law has also passed the Congress permitting the continuant,
of the Senator and (lene►al in Chief, Antonio Jose de Sucre. in the
Republic of Bolivar. during the pleasure of the Colombian Go.
vemment. Another law has also been sanctioned, having for Its
object the opening two roads from Quito to the coast of the Pacific,
one of them to the Bay of Caraccas, and the other to Esmeralda&
The Congress has also determined that the sittings of the Superior
Court of Justice of the Department of Zulus shall be held in the
city of Merida.
Colonel Diego Vallenilla is named Intendant of Orinoco, and
Colonel Jose Maria Ortega, Commander in Chief of Condinamares.
The Executive has admitted the renunciatiors of Sr. Francisco
Mande, Sebastian Orellana. and Vicente Canino, who were nomi-
nated, in a former Gazette, Ministers of the Superior Court of Jas.
rice of Orinoco.

We have received Panama papers of the sth of February, and
those of Carthagena of the fish of .larch. The former make no
mention of the approaching Congress, nor of the arrival of General
Bolivar in the Isthmus. We understand, however, that let:ers of
a later date from his Excellency are in town, dated Lima, and
stating that he should repair forthwith to Panama, and thence to
Bogota.
His Britannic Majesty's frigate Galatea anchored off La Auer'
lost week, having on board Mr. Alexander Cockburn, Minista
Plenipotentiary from the British Government to our Republic.
rile. C.,ckburn continued his voyage to Carthagena on Saturday,
fiom whence we understand he designs procecdmg to Bogota by
the river Magdalena. By the sante opportunity arrived Mr. Da,.
kin., on his route to Panama, whither he proceeds ass Commis.
sioner of the British Government, to be pres.at at a meeting of the
General Congress.

LA GITATIA. MAT Li,
Annexed I give you • statement of our market at this date. Mt
dutteaon Beef and Pork have been taken off for the space of tilt
mon-ha from 26th ultimo.
Flour, 12 dollars a 12 1-2 per barrel ; Cheese. 18 a 20 per 1001 b.;
Lard, 17 do.; Beet, 16 per barrel ; Pork. 16 do. ; Codfish, 4 a
per box ; Mould Candles, 10's, 2.7 p. per 100 ; 18 s
per 100 lbs.; Butter (yellow only) 18 per keg; Rice, 6 per 100 lb' ;
Soap, 2 37.1-2 per box.
Exports—Coffee on board 14 &Pars a 14 50-100 ; Indigo. 237
1-2 100 per lb. ; Hides, 16 a 17 per 100 lba ; Coco., 27 a 28 pct
fan.