The National Register.
London, England, 1811-07-28 00:00:00

MR. SMITH TO MR. MORIER.

Department of State, Dec. 29, 1810. .
SlR—Taking into view the subject and circumstances of your
letter of the 15ill instant, I have ►n acknowledging it only to
remark to you, although it is sufficiently evident from the fac'e
of the documents before the Public, that no hostile or unfriendly
purpose is entertained towards Spain, the only Power known to
the United States in the transaction, yet our Functionary at
London has been enabli d to give your Government whatever
explanations may comport with the frankness and the spirit of
conciliation which have been invariably manifested on the part
of the United States.
I have, &c. (Signed) R. SMITH.
John Philip Morier, Esq. Charge d'Affaires, &c.

Letters from the River Plate, to the 25th of April,
have been received. They do not refer to any pare
ticular acts of hostility which had taken place be-
tween the governments of Monte Video and Buenos
A ores ; but state in general terms, that the greatest
animosity prevailed between them, and was likely to
occasion a great deal of bloodshed.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-garters, Santa Oladia, July 1.

- •
His Excellency Marshal Beresford acquaints the
Army, that in pursuance of the sentence of a Coun-
cil of War, confirmed by his Excellency on the 27th
ult. five soldiers of the Militia of the regiments of
Evora, Lagos, and Beja (here their names are
given), have been shot for the abominable crime of
repeated desertion in the time of war. His Excellency
also acquaints the army, that the benignity of his
Royal Highness has been induced to spare the sen-
tence of death to which two other soldiers of the
same regiment were condemned, exchanging it fbr
perpetual degradation in Africa. His Excellency
declares how much he feels on being obliged to con-
firm sentences of such a nature ; but such is the
scandalous example which has been given by the
regiments of Militia of the Alentejo, by numerous
and repeated desertions, that he is henceforward de-
termined not to pardon any of the individuals be-
longing to the said regiments, who by desertion
abandon their colours; being false to their God,
traitors to their august Sovereign, and thus shame-
fully withdrawing from their defence of their indi-
vidual liberty, and that of their country.

• His Excllency also ordered, that all the other
individuals of the above regiment, who have been
taken up as deserters, should be present, as accom-
pikes, at the mournful execution of their comrades,
in order that, deeply reflecting on the enormity of•
their conduct, the sight of such an example minht
fill them• with due horror for their crimes. At the
same time, the incomparable goodness of his Royal
Highness, dispensing with their bring brought to
trial, orders them to be restored to his service, hop-
ing that the impression of such an example will
for ever prevent them from exposilz themselves to a
like fate, and that by future good conduct they will
wash away their disgrace, and render themselves
worthy of his Highness's favour ; but such of them
as are to be drafted iiito the infantry of the line
as, from age, figure, and strength, are fit for that
service.

His Excellency cannot omit remarking, that he has
generally observed, with great astonishment and di,,-
pleasure,a wantof patriotism and public spirit among
the inhabitants of the province of Alentejo. Its
militia have deserted, and muster much less
than half their quota, through the absolute in-
activity, ignorance, and want of zeal of the
Colonels, Captain-, and other Officers, who ;lave
totally failed in performing their duty. The
Magistrates, Officers of the Ordenan7a, and other
individuals, have neglected the recruiting for the
line, and the furnishing of all those supplies which
their country demands of them ; so that were
they not Portuguese, his Excellency would be in-
duced to believe them disloyal. His Excellency
has conveyed to the Royal Presence information of
this selfishness and want of zeal in the inhabitants of
this province, especially acquaintinq his Highness
of the gross ignorance which prevails, from the Co-
lonel of the militia, to the private in the ra,lks, who
are without the smallest instruction or discipline;
while from the neglect of all the aulyn-ities belong-
ing to the militia and ordenenza, deserters live at
their homes in tranquillity, and the complement of

the corps cannot be accomplished. His Excellency
must here observe, that the regiments of militia of
Algarve are very different in point of numbers and
regularity ; and though they come from a remote
and distinct province, yet they have taken a part in
the defence of the province of -Alentejo with very
different qualities of energy and patriotism. His
Excellency is sorry at being compelled to make
known so disagreeable a truth ; but it is necessary
it should be known, for the confusion of thoseau-
thorities who neglect their duties; and his Excel-
lency is anxious that their future conduct may re-
move from the public mind that impression which
this censure is calculated to produce with regard to
those who are the subjects of it.
His Excellency Lieut -General F. De Paula
Leite, Military G. vernor of the Alentejo, will cause
these General Orc!ers to be printed, and posted up
in the most public places of all- the towns, that all
their .inhabitants may know tie same.
(Signed) MOZINIIOI Adj.-Gem

IMPERIAL PAI?ELIMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MO•7DAY, JULY 2Q.
BANK-NOTES BILL.

The Earl of Livekrooe moved the Order of the Dry for tak•
ing info consideration the Amendment, made by the Commons
in the Bank Notes Bill ; and they having been read and agreed
to, his Lordship moved, that a message be sent to the Commons,
informing theta that the House had agreed to the Amendments.
The Earl of Lau rotoatE then rose, and took a review of thu
circumstances in which this Bid had originated, and the whole
subject connected with it. His Lordship attributed the adoption
of the Bill by Ministers, not to the notice given by Lord King,
but to the decision of the Judges in the case of De Yonge, and
was of opinion that the real (Meet of the 13111, as altered by Mi-
nisters, was to give redress (if he night use the terms upon this
stabject) artinst the decision of the Judges. The question as to
the depreciation of Bank-Nutes, was one which certainly re-
quired the most delibei ate invevig,etion, and perhaps was a sub-
ject which rather ought to be written upon than debated. There
were, however, certain facts, whieh it was quite impossible to con-
travert, and welch must, is his opinion, clearly demonstrate the
depreciation. le gold coin of the country was nut admissible
in circulation, except it was of the standard weight and fineness.
Five penny-weights eleven grains was the standard weight of the
guinea, and it was gold of this standard weight that Beek Notes
promised to pay, or fractional parts in Over, of a fix, d standard.
if, therefore, the Bank Note was c nvertible into Gold, acid the
pi ice of Gold ruse, the value of the Bank Neer must rise in the
same proportion. If a Bank Note promised to pay a yard of
cloth of a cyrtaln breadth and fineness, and there was nu difli-
celty in procu:ing the yard of cloth to eischarge the Note, if the
price of the cloth rose, the value of the Note would rise also.
But if the cloth could not be produced in discharge of the Note,
then the Note would become depreciated; so, if the Gold was
not forthcoming to pay the Nate, the latter mast elso become de-
preciated. The price of Gold having risen above the expressed
value of then Note, was complete evidence cf the depreciation of
the fatten—The Bank Note was of no value in itself, but only of
value front its representing a certain quantity of gold.—V:hat
was the object of the Bill? It was nugatory as to preventing the
landlord from insisting en his rents in gold, as it Lit hint all his
legal remedies, except that of distress. Their Lordships had
o.dy to look, in point of fart, to the decumen s tsn their table, to
prove that the issue of Bank Notes had been increased wnaout
reason. It would be seen that the atneunt of Bank Notes in cir-
culation, which in 1808, was 17,540,C001. had increased to ISII,
to e3,4e.0,0001. making a difference of 5,330.0001. in three ye.ts.
It had been said teat the circulative medium had increased ; but it
was well known that if there was increase of transact ions tit& •
was an increase of credit, ard that a less an rut of cirenlatu,g
medium was, in tact, required. So far, however, from their be-
ing an increase of mercantile transactio7s, he had been informed
by several commercial men, that there never was a greater di-
' ntinution of mercantile transactions than within the last siz
months. The 13111 would be pteductive of a seriuos evil to
hankers. It was well known that they were now obhged to give
a premium for silver, in order to obtain change to pay the frac-