The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-02-06 00:00:00

THE BRITI SH PRESS.

LON DON,
FRIDAY. F6BRUARY 6, 1818.

A Secret Committee was appointed last night in
the House of Laid., by ballot, for the express pur-
pose of deciding upon the post conduct of Mi-
iii.ters in the exercise of the high authorities in-
vested is them by the Suspension Act of the hot
Se stun. It require. no extraordinary sagacity to
the purport of their Report, whets it is
known that the LORD CHANCELLOR, Lord LIVER-
POOL, Lord Ilaintowyr, And Lord SIOMOUTII,
.tre Member* of the Committee, a,%,1 that tin: isti!),
r%i:!ettee that can be received by thew is bUCII
the Sl.::i•ters themselves have thouOit proper to
sc:tet. I. .pears that by the invariable practice
• !! .1 Lord+, their Co,mnittees are in ver

empowered on their original appointment to send for

•' persons, papers, end records." How ouch e custom
originated it is impossible now to imegine, but it
would he no less difficult to discover one good
reie‘osi fur its continuance. Eurl GROSVESCIS

moved, lost night, thwt the Rowse should dept h%
frnu► it; but the Noble Lord was not supported,
and the motion was negatived.
lit the Commons Lord CAMERIAGit moved the
appointment of • similar Committee, which, after
an animated debate, was decided its his favour by
an immense anijority of 02 to .29. lie the appoint-
ent of these Committees the Ministers avow two
objects—one to give Parliament information re.
specting the internal state of the country, and the
other to give the country satisfaction with regard to
the conduct of Ministers. Rut haw can either ob-
ject be attained by the mode now adopted ? The
state of the country cannot be learned from a
partial and interested statement, made to serve a
special purpose, mind to which no forum rim there-
fore attach credit ; while Ministers, in affecting to
put themselves on their trial, constitute themselves
both judges and witnesses ! It will, perhaps, be
urged, that on these Committees will appear
several distinguished Alenthers of the Opposition,
whose presence •mid concurrence most exonerate
the Reports from any charge of partiality ; but let it
be remembered that it case prepared, we must
presume, with considerable cure •lad ingenuity, and
supported solely by er puree suit written eviderice,
is laid before them, aml that it is morally impossi-
ble for any Committee, so circumstanced, to refuse
their asseut to what is thus submitted to them.
Militates, however, will thus obtain their mil ob-
ject—a Bill of Indemnity ; and their conduct
hitherto is a sufficient proof that, with the eau-
ranee of personal safety, the Ministers feel very
little concern either for the information of Podia-
mein, or the satisfaction of the country.

-.......J=2MM..

We hare received Paris Pipers of Monday, Fe-
bruary 2. The JourNal des Debuts contains en
article from Genoa, dated Jan. 15, which commu-
nicates the following dreadful outrage. It purports
to be related by the Vice-Consul from the Sardinian
Court to Algiers, who had fled from the scene of
horror.

•• A Sardinian brig had been captured and con-
ducted to Algiers. under pretence flat its papers
were not regular. The Vice-email, protested
against the seizure, and proceeded to the Palace of
the Day, with his colleagues, the other Consul..
The Day received them, surrounded by his
guards, with his sword in his hand. The English
Consul presented himself at the same instant, to
protest against tint. sets of violence which his ' son
and *WO nieces had experienced. They had been
seised in the streets, the young man was thrown
into a dungeon, and the two ladies conveyed to
the Day's seraglio, where they were clothed in
Turkish habiliments. The DaT enraged, ordered
the Captain of his guards to bring the young Elig-
!Woman before him, and had his head cut off in
presence of We,/other. The bloody head was ex-
posed at the gale of the palace. and the English
Consul retired trembling. The Vice-Consul, in
answer to his demand, was ordered instantly to
leave Algiers. His daughter was dragged from him
by violence.—We can hardly credit these horrors."
If thi► doubt respecting the truth of the state-
ment be derived from its improbability only, those
who entertains it form a very• incorrect estimate of
what the brutal violence of a military despot is
capable of performing. For the sake of the indivi-
duals said to be concerned we trust the account
is not true ; but the mention of it gives us un
opportunity of once more repeating our recorded
opinion. that the existence of these Pirate Regencies
is a disgrace to Europe and to humanity. This
country once enjoyed an excelleht opportunity
of at least neutralising Algiers, but nu advantage
was taken of it. The brave blood shed on that oc-
casion has been shed in vain. A second expedition
will be necessary, and we trust it may be so directed
and employed as to give peace and security to the

Five Niamburgh Mails have arrived ; but the
Papers ore nut of litter date than those previously
received from that city. Only one Mail, that of
the 30th January, is now due.

A Flanders Alail has arrived, with Papers from
Brusvels to the 3d inst. The expatriated French.
men who linge► in Frankfurt continue to excite the
fears and jealousies of the French Government.

German Papers to u recent Jute arrived last
night. 'Their contents are of no interest.

We have received New Orient's Papers to the
17th December, but they costiviat DO WWI.

The following is a correct account of the appoint.
ments to the four trimpporis taken up to accompany
the Expedition destined to explore the Northern
region", and now fitting out at Deptford :
The 1941willai Captain norm, Lieutesinat Robeetsua—
awl the Alexander, commanded by two Lieulemmas, Lieut.
Parry and Lieut. Hoppoer—foe the Nurt&West Paarraxe.
The Donative, captain Balkan, Lieutenant Nairn'
—and the Trent, commended by IWe lieutenants, Lieut.
Fral.klin and hit ot. Ite..eey—for the North Pole.
What was reported concerning the North East
paioilige, is u mistake.
The Dorothea sisal Trent steer doe North for the
Pol•!.