The National Register.
London, England, 1812-02-23 00:00:00

116

T.

sossomi•••N
pubtteadon ul :N.LI RIISSCLVN c;011- v:44Olh:CllCe with, his Government,
by which it appears that really, and in fact, the French Government
did not release any American ships taken after November 1, until they
had become acquainted with the President's Proclamation, and that
vessels have been taken so late as December 21, in the direct voyage
ram thisf country to London,"
Mr. Munroe'; answer to Mr. Foster is dated the 14th Jan. It is too
low;*, to be iwerted in our Paper. He says in utie part of it—" But you
still insist that the french decrees are unrevuked, and urge in proof • of,
it, a fact drawn from Mr. Russell's correspondenceethat some American
vessels have been taken since the first of N.P,,•mber, in their route to
Enland. It is a satisfactory answer to this remark, that it appears by
theg same correspondence, that every American vessel which had been
t ;ken in that trade, the seizure of which rested on the Berlin and Milan
decrees only, were, as soon- Ls that fact was ascertained, delivered up
to their owners."
Mr. Munroe concludes by sayiog : " On a full view of the conduct of
the British Government in these transactions, it is impos-ible to see in
it any thing short of 3 spirit of determined hostility to the rights and in-
terests of the United States."
A secoi,d Niessage front the President dated on the 17tb 'January,
contains a letter from Ir. roster, dated on the 28th December, 1811,
recalling to his reetdlection, that so far from spiriting up the Indian's
against the United Stites. Sir James Craig, the Governor of Canada,
did communicate to Mr. Moricr, in Nov. 18:0, for the purpose of its
being commueicated to the Amemican Government, which Morier
did, and frem the fermentation among the Indian tribe's, he appre-
hended it to be their intention to make an attack on the United States.
The answer of Mr. :Coster is delayed to the 9th January, 1812. It
merely states, that it is satisfactory to the President to know that no
countenance was given to the Indians by the British Government.

IMPERL-1 L PA aLLIMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY. YES. 17.

REVERSIONS.
Earl GaoSVESIOR said, he took the first opportunity, on his return to
town, of calling their Lordships' attention to a subject, which, whatever
others might think, he considered to be of great importance. • He la-
mented that a Bill prohibiting the Granting of Offices to Reversion had
been lost in the House of Commons, and he could not but consider the
decision as an instance of great, inconsistency. He was at a loss to con-
ceive what arguments could have been urged to induce the rejection of
such a measure. It surely could nuthave been argued that it was of too
trifling a nature to deserve the attention of the House;for if it were of a
trifling nature, why not pass a measure so consolatory to the feelings of
the people. The continuance of the practice of granting offices ihrever-
sion was grtarly to be deprecated, pregnant as it was with every spe-
cies of underhand transactions. It was probable, boa ever, that a Bill
svo . I come before their Lordships for suspending this practice for a li-
mited time - and he trusted that if such were the case, the suspension
would not be merely for a year, but for twenty, thirty, or even fifty
vears. If such should not be the object of the Bill, he gave notice that
should propose to extend the su=pension, for a•considerable period, in
order that they might nut be called upon to consider it from year to year,
merely as a temporary measure. If such a Bill did not come before
their Lordships within a reasonable time, he gave notice that it was his
intention to propose a Measure of that description.
AMERICA.
Lord HOLLAND seeing a Noble Lord at the head of the Foreign De-
partment, in his place, wished to ask, whether in the present state of the
negotiation with the United States of America, it would he improper
to lay before the House such Papers, or at least that part of the.Corres-
yondence which it was notorious had already met the public eye?
The ;Marquis WELLI'S L EY said he had nut received the commands of
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to lay any of the Papers alluded
to by the Noble Lord before the House.—Adjourued.

••••••1••=6

TUESDAY, TEL 18.
The Earl of LIVER row. presented a Message from the Prince Regent,
'gating, that his Royal 14 ig !mess, in consideration of the eminent services
of Lord Viscount Wellington, had been pleased to confer on him, and
the heirs male of his body, the dignity of an Earl, by the name, style and
title of Earl of Wellingtini • and that his Royal Highness was desirous
that an annuity of 20001; should he granted to the said Earl of Welling-
ton, in addition to the annuity before granted to him.
Oa the motion of the Earl of I.iv PliO Y., his Royal Highness's Mes-
sage was ordered to be taken into .consideration on Thursday, and the
Lords to be summoned.--Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, TEL 19.
No business of public importance.
THURSDAY, TEL 20.
Marquis of LANSDowN K postpon,!d kis rnodosi respecting the
in Countil till to-morrow sc'unight. •

.

R

FEB. 23

EARL WELLINGTON.
The order of the day being read for taking into consideration the
Prince Regent's Message, conferring on Lord Wellington 'the tide of
Earl, and recommending a grant of 20001. per anuuna, to support the
dignity,
The Earl of LIPERPOOL rose, and moved that the House do concur
in the said grant. The Noble Lord (Wellington) had magnanimously
declined to receive pecuniary emolumoits. to a large amount which
had bee'n otTertd him by the Prince Regent,of Portuzai, and by the
Fortes of Spain, in return for the great services 1.,e had performed; and
he had fur the last three years eyrnsive establishments to support
with a very moderate fo.•tune, the honourable earnings of his own ser-
vices in the cause of his country; these circumstances considered, he
had no doubt their Lordsbips would deem the proposed grant not only
as a debt of honour, but a debt of strict national itiv.ice. The Noble
Earl concluded with moving an Ade.reas to the Rk.gent, signifying the
cun. urrence of lie I-lousy svitn t :vierrige.
After a • fcw ore; fro:(. Earl GROPit.NOR, who thought the sum
much too small, the Address was voted nem. dis.—Adjourned.

YRIDAY, YEE. 21.
ROXBOROUGH CAUSE.
Their Lordships met at three o'clock, when, after entering on
the discussion o€ that part of the Roxborough apptal, which related
to Wauchope and the Ladies Kerr, the decree of the Scotch Court of
Session was, after some legal and appropriate observations from the
Lord Chancellor, affirmed.
NOTTINGHAM FRAME-BREAKING BILL.
Sir JAMES Gantri.s.it, and others, from the Commons, brought up
the Nottingham Eranie-breaking Prevention Bill, which was read the
first time, and ordered to be printed.—Adjourned till Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, FEB. 17.
ARMY ESTIMATES.
Lord PALMERS TON wished to postpone the consideration of the Army
Estimates till Friday next. 'He should, in the mean time, propose that
the House go into a Committee of Supply, for the purpose of granting
100,0001. for the services of the Local Militia from 24th December, 1811,
to 24th December, 1812.—The House having gone into a Committee of
Supply, this sum was granted accordingly.
NOTTINGHAM FRAME-BREAKERS.
On the question for the second reading
.of the Nottingham Frame-
work Bill being read,
Mr. A e 'teat) al IS ,in the present alarming situation of the county of
Nottingham, could have wished, instead of opposing, to have supported
the measures of Administration ; but, alter the most mature considera-
tion, he felt it altogether impossible to concur in voting for this Bill.
Every body felt the danger of a numerous bOdy of men leagued together
in active opposition to the laws of the country, and who Irave hitherto
defeated both the civil andmilitary poWer. Oils danger was the more
alarming from the Connection between the county of Nottingham and
other manufacturing districts of the country. The mildest character of
the present Bill was, that it would be •Ineffectual. They had been told
that the riots had continued many • months ; that the local police had
been aided by the London police ; that rewards had been offered for
conviction ; but that all the efforts of the civil power, joined to the al-
lurements of profit, and the assistance of a military force, had been found
completely ineffectual ; and that with all this powerful array, not a sin-
gle conviction had taken place tinder the existing law. The Right Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Ryder) proposed to make the offence capital. But
.could this measure operate on persons in the situation of the unfortunate
men in question, among whom there had already been found to pre-
vail such an uncommon degree of union, concert, and good faith, it he
might be all awed the expression, to one another, that not one of them
shad even yet been detected. He would ask Gentlemen, how they could
.support a measure which would have the direct contrary effect to what
they wished ? After the body of information poisessed by Miovertnisters on
this subject, - he thought the present Bill elisplayed a great py of in.
vention. He concluded with some observations on the distressed state
of the country, which he thought ought to make a deep irrpressiou on
.the House, and induce them to 'reconsider those' measures which had
plunged the country into this dreadful sittiatio.n•
The Hon. Capt. HER axial' conceived she. punishment of death would
only render discovery more difficult. It had been stated that the tenant
had often connived at the breaking of the frames in the cottages. Could
not an action be brought against the tenant for the loss; and if unable to
pay, might not imprisonment be resorted to ?
Mr. J. Sum' believed there was no existing law for the protection
of lace-frames, which_ were, therefore, completely out of the reach of
the law. He supported the present measure, because something must
be done, and because if something was not speedily done, the mischief
might soon be beyond their power to remedy.
Mr. Loexuatur justified the policy of an increased severity of punish-
ment.
Mr. H ERBER r (of Kerry) supported the Bill, and instanced the good
effect which was produced by a similar mode of procedure En the caeu
of
ihr White boys is Ireland.

F

The I
Orders

~~

FEB. 23.

)od
I Qf

TOE NATIONAL

am. •
r. WROTTESLEV expressed hit firtu conviction that this Bill would a
rather retard, than produce the object in view, the punishment of of-
fenders. He begged to be informed why, since the 428th of the King,
not one offender had been prosecuted under the statute which passed ..'
in that year. He contended on the authority of Mr. Justice
Black-
stone, that until other modes of puntshment were found ineffectual,
death ounbt never to be inflicted.
Sir S.ROMILLY stated, that the real question to be considered was,
Whether the Bill before the House would afford any remedy to the evil
complained of,.which it was insisted it was necessary immediately to
corract. Undouatedly it was a monstrous disgrace to the country; but
what prospect was there that the riots would be suppressed, by convert-
a-
ing a use'.: terror of transportation into a punishment by death ? The
great evil to be complained of veas, that the law had been converted into
a mere dead letter, that it had been made only aslifeless scarecrow, from
which custom had removed even the terror that might originally have
seen felt on beholding it. if, indeed, the statute of the 28th Geo. 111.
had been duly enforced, and these disgraceful and itagoitous proceedings
bad been persevered in, in defiance of it, then indeed there might he
some plan ,idle ground at least for the measure before the House. The
four objects to which the punishments were directed, related only to the
wilful and malicious proceedings of individuals, and by it a refractory
apprentice, who broke even ad itastrument belonging to his master's
frame, woOld be liable to suffer capitally, since it was imperative upon
him to lay an is immediately before a Magistrate. Gentle-
men on the other side, no doubt thoneht that they were supporting a
tuesastire to secure the future tranquillity of Nottingham an.l the sur-
roundiug counties from these iilestal combinations; hue on looking at
the wording of the Bill the ywould find themselves grievously disappoint-
ed, for the net, instead of being wide enough to secure all, could only
catch a very few of the offeniders. What Hon. alenitter, let his contuses
tions be what they might, could say that he knew the reuse ref these
riots ; wlistalcr they originated in malice on the part of the workmen
against their masters for ill-treataneva, or freni a determination toic-
stroy machinery, which lessened the ptoeortion of manual labour ?
Whether any, and what combination, had been entered inso, and what
subscriptions had been raised to resist the efforts of the Legislature ?
These were questions of greet importance, and to proceed without in-
formation upon them, would be Inghiy, .uribeconeing ohe dignity and
wisdom of the House.
Mr.3a-ratrasT said, that after the long continuance of these disgrace-
ful scenes in the midland counties; after the exultution of the common
enemy ; after the impatience universally expressed by the country, that
Ministers should bring forward some more efficient measure than the
existing law,—the emergene7 of the case admitted no 'such delay as
would be produced by going into the lung examination before a Select
Committee. •• - .
Sir A. Pincer admitted, that if the object of this Act had been mere •
ly to extend the punishment of transportation to the breakers of laces
frainta, be should have; liven it aopport, but it had an additional oats.
ject, in which he could by no means concur, viz. the making of both.
offences capital. He cautioned the House against yielding to the gene-
ral indignation expressed against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes
by passing a measure which his loon. and Learned Friend (sir S. Windi-
ly) had shewa to be conipletely futile. He contended that it would be
an idle waste of time for the House to no into a Comnuttee on a mea-
sure which would ultimately be thrown out as wholly inadequate to the •
object in view.
Mr. Secretary Rime& di.l not•wlh to occupy the time of tbe House
at any length, after the ample observations which had fallen front him
on a preceding evening. He would do justice, however, to the Magis-
trates of Nottingham, who had discharged their duty in a monk exema
plary tnanner. Nor had the Magistrates of the county heen less zea-
lous; though not deriving the same success, because their vigilance was
necessarily employed on a larger district. With regard to the present
Bhl, the question was one of vast importance; it was one which affect-
ed all the manufacturing interests of the country; and if the House
should consent to the second reading of -the Bill, they would conscien-
tiously discharge their duty to that country and to themselves. He
thought that if its second reading was now rejected, consequences would
ensue to the country of a nature not easily to be anticipated.
Colonel tiASTAIID wished to know how any person could venture to
affirin'that Government had not been supine ? The insurrection had
continued for four months, and nothing bad been done to repress it.—
lie could not, therefore, juin in the praise of the Right Hen. Gentleman,
whose duty it was to have suppressed these riots.
Mr. Wort BREAD observed, that though he certainly was not in tEe
habit of defending the King's Ministers, yet, front all he could collect
oilieir thiengtie
ulibrjesc,t, and that too from those who were best able to satisfy
t
he was convinced that every thing had been done by the
Right Hon. Gentleman which could be done. Still,however, he would
vote against the BM being read a second time, because he objected to its
principles and because he did not think that it wouki produce those be--
24__
tial effects which were expected.
FAA NIEtAND supported the second reading of the Bill, when the
House divided upon the question. The numbers were--Ayes
Noes 17. •
The least India Loan Bill was read a third time and passed.
Ardiourtie4.

117

lUESDAY4 Ft 1L 18.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRIN..E REGENT.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE27ER brought up the following
Message from the4Prince Regent, which was read by the Speaker :
GEORGE, P.R.
The Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty,
having taken into his Royal consideration the eminent and signal services
performed by General Lord Viscount Wellington, in the course of a
long series of distinguished xploits in the campaigns in Spain and Por-
tugal, and being desirous to mark the sense he entertains et servicee so
houteurahle to the British arms, and so eminently, beneficial to the
interests of the nation, has conferred, in the. name and in the behalf of
his Majesty, upon General Lord Viscount Wellington, and the heirs
male of his body, the rank and dignity of an Earl Of the Unwed King-
dom, by the name, style. and title of Earl uf Wellington.
The Prince Regent, further desirous of granting to the Earl of WA-
lington a net annuity of two thousand pounds, in addition to the
annuity already granted by Perliament and subject to the same limlta-
dons imposed in that grant, recommends to the House of Comm'"n
to enable his Royal Highness, in the ante and in the behalf of
Lis
Majesty, to grant ant setoe such annuity, and to make such further
provision as aforesaid, as may be thought !nest effectual for the benett
of General the Earl of Wellington ant his family.
Tae CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that this Message be
referred to a Conimittee of the whule House.—Ordered.
He then moved, that the Howse on Friday next, should resolve iteelf
into a Committee for this purpose.—Ordered.
WARD O 1 TRADE.
Mr. A. BARING, in pursuance of hie notice, rose to move for se-
veral papers on the subject of the Trade .e:•ri::d on by means of license;,
preparatory to dot impoitant dis,:assion on :rile ,obj,!Lt of the Orders in
Council, which -was soon to he ht th,-
.1:10114e. 1-L
that whatt-ver opinions might be entertained by the CAl:let, or by the
Board of 'l7 ratle, would venture to eetert :het the: e was no Member
of the House at all connected with commerciel aftairs, et ho would de-
fend the licensed trade as it is now, and as it has bece tbr sonic rime
carried on. NVlteti rite immenee increase of influence: it efferdad to the.
Crown and: the State, of subserviency to the Minieter, to which
lit
reducrd the mercantile interest Of the country, were taken into consie
der.oi(n; he thought the House would at least pause before it refused
the document:, .for whit it he was about to move, previous to entering
upon the general Imply-. His motive for moving for these Papers was,
that he was informed that two cargoes of spirits had been introtiticea
into this country under license, at a time when such permission wess
generally refused. One of the cargoeslad been :`old, and the owner
• had derived an immense profit from it ; hut the other, owing to stole
informality, unconnected with the present question, bad been seized
and confiscated. There indi,,patahly was room for a great, deal of freed,
and it, would he well worth hie, or any other merchant's while, to pur-
chase licenses for the importation of spirits ar. ati eXpense of 13,(0)1.
He did not mean to say that corruption existed- any wnere, but it was
not fit that such a temptation to it should be allowed. He concluded by
moving, that the Papers he had referred to should be laid before
sue
kiouse.
Mr. Rosa said, that the Hon. Member who had ju't taken seat,
could not be more anxious than he and his codeagues of the. Beard of
Trade were, that the general question o sic nses should be dlicu.seo
some intelligible and tangible shape as soon as possible, and he tee.ed
the Hon. Gentleman who had given a notice on the' subject, wo aid
bring it forward without delay.
•
Mr. MARRYATr did not heli_ve that any mal-practices soul t he
charged against any of the Clerks of the Board of Trade, but the wh.
lc
system' of licensing was moot injurious to the trade of the cmwtry.
.The forgeey, perjury, and bribery on which our commerce now de-
pended were admitted by nearly every persoe intere-.ted in commercial
transactions, and the confiscation of our 6hip;ling provided with licenses
in various notations, to an error roue amount, had been the ruin of
!tome of the most wealthy merchants in the City of London, beeid( s
filling the coffers of the enemy with the pree!ece of the sale of their
cargoes. He thought the production of the memorial from Heli,;‘,l:eld
might be injurious, but before,he gave his voteagainst it, he he...ged to
observe that he iiitirety Jisapproved of the w!iole system of
Mr. bitoucitANl lwg,gtal the Ilnuse to bear in its recollection one f cr
which had been disclosed in the course of ,the press nt riisces-i•m,
that the Crown by Means of this traffic in licenses.arising out of at, I
connected with its traffic in Orders in Council and co:nr.•,,t ,ial prohi-
bitions, is possessed of the power of employing for the auginenti,t.on
of its defence Au.Ltat coal, these pieces of papers called Uctmes, to
any extent, and the value of this power might be easily estuii.tied,
his Honourable Friend (Mr. Baring), perhaps tke first merchant in tl.e
kingdom, would not hes:tate to give fur one uf them the enormous ~uut
of 15,0001.
The CsiANCEI.I.Ox of the Exeu eet, r: a remarked thet the fact, which
had been just stated to be of such importance, must occur in eve;-y
where it was thought necess try to carry on trade with a nation .tote
whom we were at war. It wa, by no means true to in:...ert, that Ge-
vernment endeavoured to keep all trade within their grasp; the c eitrerf
was the fact. No merchant iti the country was more anxious t:iao
Boerd of •Frae to see the period arri, e ri hen ail necessity for be
should be removed.