The National Register.
London, England, 1817-02-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Mr. Pt•rceval, attentive to the interest of the public, hail pro.
v hied that the advances of loans Afoul(' be made in part
without interest, acid other part at a low rate—six millions at
four per cent. and three millions at three per cent.; nor did
lie think it would be wise now to shake those arrangements
at a moment when new bargains were about to be made.
%With respect to the preparatory arrangements made for the
resumption of cash payment, he thotight it would be impro-
per to make atly enquiry; but it was known that to a certain
extent preparatihes had been made for pa) ing certain of their
notes of a particular date the.,e sere the 11. and 21. notes.
lie conceived that there would be no difficulty in obtaining
he currency for their notes, to answer all the purposes of a
circulating medium, until the 'Teller:al resumption takes place.
lite period ti soil for that general resumption being the 5111
of July, 1818, he had hoped that the Bank would not have
been harassed with motions for enquiry. The Hon. Gentle-
man hail not lironglit forward any thing new, and therefore
lie should object to the motion.
Me. P. Moons: conceived, that the speech of his Hon.
Friend required no argument to support it. IVltat lie rose
principally for was to observe, that as the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman talked of the nova probandi lying with his Hun. Friend,
lie took a strange method of enabling him to prove his state-
ments, by refusing him evidence. He had no doubt, that if
the motion was acceded to, he would satisfy the House and
the country of the truth of his allegations. The profits of
the Bank were enormous; to spew which, Ire need only state,
that lately the Corporation divided seven millions, the profits
of their trade. He could state, that for every million of paper
they issued, they gained 999,0001. profit —(A Lough.)
Mr. MARRYATT thought, from experience, and from the
Right Hon. Gentleman's own spewing, that further advantage
might he expected. He instanced the fact of the public
Bank of the United States of America transacting the busi-
ness of the Government, without making any charge on that
account. The enquiry wag of great importance; more so
than was imagined; nor did lie think the Bank was would be
enabled to resume their payments in cash, in consequence of
the advances made to Government, which in the gloss total
amounted tot I millions, while their permanent capital was
only 1.; millions. How then, lie would ask, could they re-
sume their payments in specie? It had been held out by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer that they would be enabled so
to do at the end of the war. We had been two years at
peace, and no advances hail been made towards that desira-
ble object. IVlty was this? Because the currency of the
nation is a paper one, and it was well known that paper
credit was the ruin of all States. Until we attained a return
of specie we shall be undersold in all the foreign markets.
He should therefore support the motion for a Committee.
Mr. liusaissost observed, that the Hon. Gentleman had
assumed that no period had been fixed for resuming cash
payments. Now it would be useless for an enquiry, when
the House had fixed the Sth of July, 1818, for that purpose.
Mr. MANNING declared, that on all occasions the Bank were
ready to give every information to any Member of this Hence.
He had come down to the House without any notice of the•
precise nature of the charge; fin- the Hon. Gentleman had
not intimated it to the Batik Directors; but he had the satis-
faction, after hearing the Hon. Gentleman's speech this even-
ing, to find that every item and every statement bath been
printed and circulated in a daily paper of the I Ith of Janu-
ary. He therefore must suppose that the lion. Gentleman
had the misfortune to lose his notes, and they bad crept into
the paper in question. With respect to the enormity of the
charges alluded to, he had to state, that the whole expelice
to the public fur the employment of clerks, house expeneo s,
and loss by forgeries on the funds, was at the rate of Id. is
1001. The charges of management of the public debt at
present is less than in 1807, when the Debt was about
605,000,0001. and now it is upwards of 800,000,0091. As to
the charge 0140001. which the Hon. Gentleman had called a
disgusting one, he (Mr. M.) hail, at least ten times, told the
Hon. Gentleman, that the charge was for the purchase of
South Sea Stock, which was as much the real estate of the
Bank as any of the estates of the lion. Gentleman could be
considered his own property, and with which the Parliament
had no right to interfere. He hoped that this would lie the
last time he should hear of the subject. The lion. Gentle-
man quoted an opinion of Sir F. Baring in favour of the Bank
capital, as having a material influence on the commercial
spirit of the country, in a circulating point of view. He
concluded with opposing the motion, concurring with his
Right lion. Friend (Mr. Vansittart), that no ground had been
laid for acceding to it.
Lord A. HAMILTON supported the motion, contending,
that if in the present state of the finances it could he %hewn,
that a saving to the amount stated by his Hon. Friend might
be made, he thought the House were bound to go into the
inquiry. No arguments of a contrary tendency had been
adduced ; acid it became the Government to institute an in-
quiry, in order to convince the public of their sincerity to
take care of their interest.

Mr. Alderman C. SMITH contended, that the circulation
of Bank paper affected materially the manufacturing in-
terms.

Mr. GRENFELL replied, and the House divided.—For the
motiun—Ayes, 40—Noes, 90—Majority against the motion,
SU.

Lord A. HAMILTON observed, that some time before the
meeting of Parliament, the Bank issued a notice, stating that
they would pay certain notes in specie, on or betime a day
named. He wished, therefore, to have an account of the
notes of that description which had been paid in consequence.
The Noble Lord then moved for a copy of any notice issued
by the Bank, in 1816, respecting the payment of their notes
in specie; and also an account of the notes paid in specie, in
consequence of that notice.
Mr. VANSITTART observed, the subject had been so re-
peatedly discussed, that he should not enter upon it now.
Hut with respect to the resumption of their payments in con-
sequence of the notice referred to, the Bank had shewn a dis-
position to meet the wishes of Parliament, by anticipating its
provisions at all earlier period than prescribed by law. He
should oppose the 'notion.
The motion was then put and negatived.—Tbe House then
adjourned to Friday.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21.
POOR LA Ws.

The busicess of the greatest general interest this day, was
Mr. Ctrawan's motion relative to the Poor Laws. I%e regret
exceedingly one want of room for the very ante and eloquent
speech which Mr. Ciirwen delivered on this 'Devi: •ion. The
Poor Laws, he said, were in their origin most excetient. They
provided sustenance and comfort fir the aged and the infirm,
but the legislators who enacted them never anticipa►ed that
die funds provided for poverty, age, infirmity, and disease,
should tee lavished upon persons who were not 'Miele(' with
those formidable ev its. Formerly Priors' Hates amounted to
only a waliou and a hall' now they amount to eight nullious

FEBRITARY 24

and a half. This was a cause of' deep and hitter regret,
and no one conkd lament it more sincerely than tie did. If
an increase of happiness could be obtained by permitting the
Poor Laws to remain in their present state, he would be the
last to attempt their alteration, but he felt strongly convinced
that their existence in the present state, was one of the
chief causes of national misery. to the endeavours to pre.
serve the lower orders from indigence, the legislature has, by
recurring to them, too great a facility of obtainiiig an asylnin„
super-induced a habit of preferring present enjoyment to fii-
lure comfort, and making than the victims of discontent, by
depriving them of the elevating s!iirit of independence. His.
content and depravity most be the result of so great a portion
of the people being in a state of pauperism and depend lice.
In In eland, where the Pour Laws are not in tot re, the external
appearance of the lower orders of the inhabitants, and of'
their habitations, excite the strongest feeling, of horror and
disgust : io MIC who sees them for the first time, but would
wish lie had never seen them, and yet the conversation and
the conduct of the people indicate content and even happi-
ness, fur they are independent, they live by the frills 01 their
own industry, and are never assailed by the degrading appel-
lation of pauper. Their hearts are full of strong feelings
and warm affections, and their wretched hot els are the seats
of open-hearted hospitality. He further observed, that a
great cause of there being at present in England such a num-
ber of paupers, was a strong disposition which existed to
early marriages, the affect of which was to bring into the
world hundreds of children, on whose prospect of future
support their parents never once bestowed a thought. He
was not desirous of controuling matrimony, but he felt that
the Legislature could take such measures as WOlll,l make the
people parties to their own happiness. He expressed his full
conviction that the ad of Elizabeth should remain precisely
as it was, and he undertook to skew that then the burden
would be light. He was willing to give Ministers every cre-
dit for the utmost readiness to prevent even the most minute
increase of' the public distress. He did not know whether
their opinion coincided with his or not, but on this point he
had quite made up his mind, that he would not go into the
Committee unless there was a good prospect of ootaining
effectual and speedy relief. 'flie Honourable Member said,
that he had a variety of letters front Shropshire, Sussex, and
many other places, stating they paid from 18 to 20s. in the
pound. He calculated the number of paupers to amount to
two millions and a half, and the amount of subscriptions and
Poors' Rates to be abort 8,300,0001. which made on th.-2 whale
26 per cent. upon the entire rent. Many lawyers of high
eminence of high eminence were of opinion, that all
property in the Funds and elsewhere were liable to Poors'
Rates ; and by a quotation which he made, it appeared that
in the year ltiti3 it was resolved by the Judges, that every
person should he charged according to his estate, and by the
22i1 of Geo. I. property in the funds was made chargeable.
As to the policy of taxing funded property for the poor, it
was quite as politic to do so as to lay the Income Tax on it.
He calculated the amount of nacres' on funded property,
Debentures, flank Stock, 'idle Stock, South Sea stock, &c.
to amount to three millions and half; if this, together with
landed property, was taxed, even at a very low rate, it would
yield a sothcient sum fur the poor. He also observed, that
money lent at interest should also be made chargeable. He
was of opinion, that pauperism was inure the effect of com-
merce than of agriculture ; and lie also observed, that the
poor laws were peculiarly oppressive upon persons who were
not natives of England. He assured the House, that he felt
his inadequacy to perform the task which he had undertake»,
and before he colichnleil, he begged leave to conjure the
Nobie Lord to raise and immortalise his name, loy lending his
assistance to amelioration of those unjust anal oppressive
laws. He urged him to come forward—he entreated lion to
tell the House and the country what they had to expect, as
every thing depended upon Win. The Holt. Member cou-
eluded by moving that a Committee be appointed to inquire
into the state of the Poor Laws.

Lord CASTLEREAGH Said, tii;Hon. Member (Mr. Curwen)
might rest assured, that his Majesty's Ministers would most
cheerfully dedicate so much of their time as they could pos.
sibly withdraw bum other duties, to assist in the investig,a-
tnni of this most important subject. though he might en.
tertain doubts whether all the sangine views of the Hon.
Gentleman could be realized by the labours of the proposed
Committee, he certainly believed that much good might rea-
sonably be expected from the measure. His Lordship spoke
at very great length, and concluded by expressing the ut-
most gratification iii supporting the motion for a Committee,
and his exertions in the Committee should be given with the
utmost cordiality.
Mr. CuitsvLN in explanation, disclaimed any views of coer-
cion with respect to Saving Batiks, lie had only in his con-
templation places where the majority of the parishioners of
all descriptions should be disposed to adopt the plan.
The motion was agreed to, and a Select Committee ap-
pointed.

SHOP TAX.
Previous to Mr. Corwen's motion, Sir JAMES SHAW rose to pre-
sent a Petition from several Merchants, Traders, and Shopkeepers.
in the City of London, on a subject to which he begged leave to call
the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was re, Ling
the new reading and new construction give), to an Act of Parliament
by the Commissioners of Taxes, whereby they attempted to levy a
Tax on W.vehouscs and Shops, which were solely occupied as such,
and were nut in any respect dwelling-houses.
The Cu %xcEr.toa of the Excit Ecto En said, he was fully aware
of the hardships of this LAI', as stated by the Hon. Baronet, and he
could akblJe han an.t assure the House, that immediate inessuris
would be taken to prevent its recurrence in future.
•
The Petition was ordered to lie on the table.
PUBLIC HOUSE LICENSES.
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY presented a Petition trOM 250 respectable
inhabitants in the vicinity of White Horse-lane, Shadwell, complain-
ing of the conduct of Nlagistrates in the licensing of public-houses.
He should only ask at present, ter time petition to lie on the table,
as he intended at a future time to move fur a Conuuntee on the sub-
ject.
On this account, therefore, we shall poopone any farther report of
the debate on this important subject, tzp,:cuilly as it is our intention
to enter upon it at length, in a future number.

PERSONS UNDER. SENTENCE OF DEATII.
Mr. BxmisET moved, that the Papers presented to that !louse on
Wednesday, rela:ive to Convicts in Newgate under sentence of l)tath,
be printed. Ile states', that at four o'clock yesterday there were no
fewer than 100 persons under sentence of death. It would shod any
one to see the state of despair and of horrid impiety in which these
unhappy person', were. With the exception of a few individuals.
they were half intoxicated and perfectly callous. So shamefully in •
deed wa, the ailministtation of Justice in this particular coming:bd,
that he Lail been told by those who were aeett,toun-11 to these scents
of woe, that these wretched beings received situ pleasure tile order
for their execution. Ile wished to ask the Noble Lord, why the
Recorder had not yet made his Report for the month of October ?
Lord CASTLEREAGH replied, that the Report Ina! been ordered
to be received on Wednesday last ; but the re repcon ut it had beta
unavoidably delayed, and was now fixed fOT to-morrow.
Tin: =Liu Max Mar awced to.

♦ • • • err

REFORM.
Sir R. HERON presented a Petition from Gainsborough, pra,ing
for Triennial Parliaments, for representation co-extensive with direct
Taxation. and for Election by Ballot. In pre-Tilting this Petition,
he observed, that his szntiments were 611111111 r to those of the Peti-
tioners, with the exception of the Election by Ballot. The Petition
was then ordered to he on the table.—Adlourned.

Front the LONDON GAZETTE, Saturday, Feb. 22.
BANKRUPTCY ENLARGED.
HOOPER R. and R. Manning, of Launceston, Cornwall, brewers,
from Feb. 22, to March 4.
BANKRUPTS.
BOTTLE W. of Green-street. Kent, saddler, Feb. 25, March 8,
April 5, at 'Guildhall. Att. Mr. Nelson, Essex-street.
PEARSON G. of Macclesfield, silk manufacturer, March 1. 15, April
5. at Guildhall. Att. Mr. James, Bucklcrsbury.
WEBSTER G. of Mirfield, York. clothier, March 24, 25, April 5,
at Bradford. Att. Mr. Evans, Hatton-garden.
Emil% atm° w B. of Manchester,' warehouseman, March 10, IL
April 5, at Manchester. Atts. Clarke and Co. Chancery-lane.
M' WILLIAMS J. of G,orstestreet, Spital-fields. victualler, March
1. 8. April 5, at Guildhall. Atts. Templer and Co. Burr-street.
BARNETT R. of Mill-wall. Poplar, barge builder, Feb. 45, March
8, April 5, at t. illhall. Att. Mr. West, Rey Lion-street.
Asuwoterit J. of Booth old, Lancaster, woollen manufacturer, Feb.
25, March 4, 29. at Guildhall. Aus. Milne and Co. Temple.
St wstowns J of Berkeley, Gloucester, ship builder, Feb.2s, March
8, April 5, at Guil Mall. Att. Mr. Lake, Dowgate-hill.
STRIP:ET W. of New-court, Throginorton-street, wine merchant,
Feb. 25, March 11, April 5, at Guildhall. AU. Mr. NVarrand,
Salisbury-square.
STOLWORTHY G. of Shoreditch. victualler, Feb. 25. March 4,
April 8, at Guildhall. Mt. 'Sr. Pinkerton, Clement's-inn.
Su.sw S. G. of St. Alban's, bookseller. March 1,8, April 5, at
Guildhall. Att. Mr. Downes. New-inn.
BotracittEft W. of Kirg-street, watch maker. Feb. 25, March 8,
Aprils, at Guildhall Att. Mr. Beckett, liroad-street.
I.Losrn J. of 'f ring, Hertford, surgeon, March 1,8, April 5, at
G•rildhalL Atu. Aubrey and Co. Took's-court.
TUSHINGHAM J. of Chester, bookseller, Feb. 25, March 8, April
5, at Guildhall. Att. Mr. I.owden, Clement's-inn.
WILLIAMS T. of Coleman-street. Feb. 25, March 4, April 5, at
Guildhall. Att. Mr. Farren,
Gut, T. of Cowen-bridge. Lancaster. shopkeeper, March 6,7, April
5, at Lancaster. Au. Mr. Ellis, Chancery-lane.
Pot.r.ocx J. K. of North Shields, bookseller', March 7,8, April 5,
at Tynemouth. Atts. Robinson and Co. Austin Friars.
bint.r.ocu 1. of Bictos Heath, Salop, nurseryman, March 12, 13,
April 5, at Shrewsbury. Att. Mr. Griffiths, Southaturton. build.
?Joonv J. of the Halfway-houses. Portrea. grocer. March 11, 12,
April S. at Gosport. Mts. Briggs and Co. Esses-street.
DuNst E. of Wolseley, Stafford. innkeeper. March 5,6, April S,
at Iluesley. Atts. Rudall and Co. Barnard's-inn.
Jo'rs T. of Liverpool, merchant, March 10, 1 1, April 5. at Liver-
pool. Mts. Blackstock and Co. Temple.
llaarmtst B. of Birmingham, common-carrier. Marclil4. 17, April
5, at Manchester. Au. Mr. Chester, Staple-inn.
ILARTI.EY W. of Ilailden. Yorkshire, worsted-manufacturer, March
21.25. April 5, at Bradford. Au. Mr. Evans, Hatton-garden.
Btsv NETT G. and J. late of Little Ecclestan with I.arhrick, Lances.
shire, tanners. March 6,7, April 5, at Garstang. Att. Mr. Blake-
lock, fiericant's-inn.
BOARDMAN B. of Norwich, hatter, March 5,6, April 5, at Nor-
wich. Au. Mr. Gehlard, Gray's-inn-square.
FAWCETT T. of Huddersfield. butcher, March 7,8, April 5, at
Huddersfield. Att. Mr. Battye, Chancery-lane.
MARSH It. of Brentfonl, shoe-maker, March 1, B. April 5, at Guild-
hall. Att. Mr. Jones, New-inn.
Pr ;MST J. of high-street, Poplar, grocer, Feb. 25, March 1. 5. at
Guildhall. Atts. Templer and Co. Burr-street, East Smithfield.
GOLDSMITH C. of Bridge-street, Blackfriars, tavern-keeper, March
1, 8. April 4. at Guildhall. Att. Mr. Latkow, Doctor's-commons.
fiffISON J. of Frodshain, Cheshire, beer-brewer, March 3,6, April
5, at Chester. Att. Mr. Leigh. Poultry,
STANDISH 1.. H. of Bishopsgate-stroet-without, straw-hat-manu-
facturer. March I. 8, April 3, at GuildhalL Aus. Mitchell and
CO. Fowke's-huildings, Lower-street.
Daew 5. of Liverpool. Joiner, March 17, 18, April 5. at Liverpool.
Mts. Blackstock and Co. Temple.
GREEN J. jun. of Walsall, Staffimlshire, druggist, March 4,5, April
5, at Penlcridge. Att. Mr. Hunt. Surrey-street, Strand.
COOPER J. of Low Mcllwnnd, Lincolnshire, malt.ter, March 26,
27, April 3, at Gain.lurgh. Atts. Alkaander & Co. New-inn.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

LO N DON :

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1817.
NO foreign Intelligence of great interest has arrived
since our last publication.
The Paris l'apers of Monday last, contain very little
besides the usual routine of Court paragraphs.
Some German Papers say that M Lavalette is now
in Germany, and that he is going to reside with the Ex-
Queen of Holland, in the dominions of the King of
Bavaria.

The negotiations between Saxony and Prussia are
proceeding with the greatest activity.
We have not been able to procure any satisfactory in-
f irritation to ground an opinion respecting the insurrec-
tion in Madrid, as announced in the Dutch Papers,
though we have seen letters from the Spanish capital
of the 27th and SOth ult. as well as 3d instant. They
are all perfectly silent on the subject.
Jamaica Papers of the 13th January state, that the
Legislature of Jamaica have complied strictly with the
request of his Majesty's government, to prevent even
the possibility of any infringement of the laws for the
abolition of the Slave Trade.

There is an article respecting Algiers in the French
Journals which we are sorry to be obliged to notice.—
We are thereby intiwmcd, that the Dey of Algiers has
changed the term slave into that of prisoner of mar ;
but has abated nothing of his cruelties to those who fall
into his power by means of his cruisers. We suspect
this to be a fabrication of a malignant spirit, to whom
the triumphs of humanity are as poison. If it be true,
the head of the Dey of Algiers has been. too long or►

fr » n , • cr

his shoulders ; for such combined duplicity and cruelty
place him beyond the pale of human society.
The Moneteur has published several interesting Of-
ficial Documents on the subject of the recent negocia-
tions between France and the Allies, for the reduction
of the Army of Occupation. The chief of these Docu-
ments are, the Message of the King to the Chambers,
and the Official Note of the allied Plenipotentiaries,
upon which the Message was founded. The communica-
tions were received by both Chambers with loud accla-
mations, and Addresses of Thanks were instantly voted :
the French funds rose to 6i, and a general feeling of
satisfaction pervaded all. The terms of the boon thus
granted by the Allies to France were already partially
known : by the Ist of April next. 30,000 of the allied
troops, being one fifth of the whole, will quit the
French territory ; and a loan has been obtained on ad-
vantageous terms from foreign and French Bankers : so
far the Official Note of the four Allied Ambassadors
enable us to speak with confidence ; but the Duke de
Richelieu, in his communication to the Chambers, al-
luded to greater ameliorations in the financial embarras-
mews of France.

A Mr. Sergeant it seems is arrived from America on
a mission from the National Bank to negotiate a hun
in this country ; hut it is said that the terms offered

are not sufficiently tempting to the monied interest here ;
and these being a presumption that the National Bank
is obliged to borrow in order to keep np its payments in
specie, the lenders will be naturally induced to insist
upon harder terms. We say, the harder the terms the
better.

If any one subject, with which the public mind has
of late been engrossed, claims immediate and superior
attention, it is that which forms the Report of the Se.
cret Committee presented to the House of Lords on
Tuesday last. However some of our contemporaries
may affect to sneer at that Report, to our minds it pre-
sents a multiplicity of subjects of the deepest interest to
the state, and to the morals and happiness of every mem-
ber of the community. A conspiracy to overthrow the
venerable fabric of the Constitution—however wild
and chimerical its plans—howeve r apparently inefficient
—however contemptible in point of character, the con-
spirators—however or wherever formed, cannot in any
well organized mind, fail of exciting other feelings than
those of ridicule and sarcasm—and it is worthy of par-
ticular remark, that the sneers—the scoffs—the in-
decent taunting of those who affect to laugh at what
they choose to denominate the " pretended conspiracies"
are not so much directed against the truly contemptible
and really wicked conspirators as against those very indi-
viduals, who, by theirvigilance and activity, have defeat.
ed the diabolical plans of the conspirators. It isnot against
the traitors,nor against the treason; but against the minis-
ters who have stemmed the torrent that,with increasing
velocity, was threatening to overwhelm and inundate
the face of the country, that all this mockery and deri-

sion is directed—by insidious interrogatories—by artful
misrepresentations--by the moat wanton and indecent
inuendoes, doubts are endeavoured to be excited respect-
ing the veracity or the judgment, or both, of the mem-
bers ofthe Secret Commi tte. The contents of the " green
bag," instead of exciting sentiments of abhorence and
serious consideration, are spoken of as matters unworthy
the attention of the Legislature.

But let any peaceable citizen, any real friend to the
country, who has the least pretensions to a love for
peace and good order, for morality and religion, seri-
ously reflect on the transactions which the Secret
Committee have so fully developed, and then ask him-
self whether he considers it a matter of mere joke
that numerous persons holding secret meetings, with, in
many cases, the avowed object of overturning the pre-
sent system of Government—whether the dissemina-
tion of cheap tracts calculated to poison the minds and
corrupt the morals of the lower orders of the people—
whether the manufacture of pikes, the purchase of fire-
arms, tl-e fabrication of flags and tri-coloured cockades,
the well-known emblems of revolution :tad anarchy—
whether the plunder of gunsmiths' shops—whether
open attacks on the life of the Prince Regent—whether
attempts to seduce or destroy the soldiery—whether de-
signs to attack the Tower, the barracks, etc.—we say,
let any peaceable man seriously ask himself whether he
can look upon these proceedings as matters of trifling
importance, fitting only fur ridicule and scorn. If such
a person does really exist, we can only compare him
to the madman " who scatters arrows, firebrands, and
death, and then says, I am only in siort."

' 61

REFORM MEETING at the FREEMASONS'
TAVERN.
--o

On Saturday the "Friends of public order, retrench-
ment and reform," dined together at the above Tavern.
William Lucas, Esq. presided. The heal ths of the King,
the Prince Regent, &c. the Queen and Royal Family,
having been drank, Mr. Lucas addressed the meeting.
and stated that there would be proposed to them a de•
claration expressive of their sentiments.

Mr. Peters, of Cornwall, moved the declaration,
which was as follows:
Resolved. That this meeting, having seriously reviewed and consi-
dered the alarming situation to which this country has been reduced.
by a lavish expenditure of the public money, and by an unarurolled
and corrupt administration of public affairs, and believing that con-
tinued apathy and supineness on the part of the higher and middle
orders of the community, at such a moment, must ultimately engen-
der distrust and violence in the minds of the people, have determined
toprornote, to the utmost of our power, a constitutional reform of the
Commons House of Parliament, as the most effectual means of ear'
?ening tho e abuse, of which the nation so justly complains, and of
securing shat system of economy, moderation, and good government.
so essential to the freedom, the tranquillity, and happiness of the
country.

To the attainment of this great object. a steady and cordial co-
operation among the real friends of constitutional liberty has become
indispensably necessary; but this union can only be accomplished.
or at least rendered efficient, by an unity of object, and by the mu-
tual sacrifice of all subordinate considerations.

Waving, therefore, the discussion of particular tenets and de-
tails of reform; resisting corruption on the one hand, and violence on
other; this Meeting pledges itself to leave no legal and constitutional
means unexerted, for inducing the Legislature to take the grievances
of the people into its early and serious consideration, and (by amend.
ing the state of the representation) to render the House of Commons,
in fact as it is of right, a controul upon the Executive Government.
and • an express image' of the feelingsof the nation.

It was carried by acclamation. Sir Francis Burdett,
the Hon. T. Brand, Mr. Waithman, Ald. Goodbehere,
the Hon. D. Kinnaird, Hon. Philpot Curran, and many
other political characters were present.

German and Dutch papers were received late •last
night, but they do not contain any intelligence of ma.
tenal interest. Prince Oscar, son of the Crown Prince
of Sweden, appeared, fur the first time, before the Mi-
litary Assembly, at the Royal Palace, on the 28th of
January, and addressed them, in his new cnpacity of
Vice-Speaker. His father was present, and he spoke
at great length. The same Journals seem to apprehend
that the Prince of Benevento is still far from being in-
active. They talk of his carrying on a close correspan.
denee with this country by means of couriers; and pre.:
tend to insinuate, that the concerns of the Duke of Orw
leans are principally managed by him.
Buonaparte has grown very sullen and indolent since
Las Casas has left him. He now writes very little ;
and when he is toil that his neglect of exercise will
prove injurious to his health he replies, " so much the
better." He lately said he wished they would order
him to be shot He would sit calmly on the sofa (where
he then was), and receive his death. Unhappy man to
what a state has thy ambition—thy vice—thy-enormous
crimes reduced thee.
RETRENCIIIIENT.--A clause added to the bill for
allowing his Majesty certain duties on sugar, tobacco,
snuff, &c. gives effect to the wish expressed by certain
of his Majesty's servants, to relinquish a part of she
emoluments of their offices to the Government, for die.
year, to commence in the ensuing April ; it allows the
Treasury to receive their contributions.
The Committee of Finance have rissolved to recom.
mend the abolition, after the death of the present pos.
sessors, of the

Governorship of the Isle of Wight ;
The Clerkship of the l'ells ;
The two Chief Justices in Fyre ;

The four Tellerships of the Exchequer ; and
The office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

The follewing daring and infamous placard was last
Wednesday posted upon a wall between Richmond and
Kew. It was printed in large letters in the must stalk-
ing form, and posted in the most conspicuous place near
the spotr--

" ENGLTSHDIEN,
THE REGENT
MUST BE PUT ASTDE FOIL THE ADVANCEMENT Of
THE GENERAL GOOD.
" Hatl yan rather rtesar were livint: and die all Slave•,
"Than that Crest', were dead, to live all Frenchmen."

ARMY EsTsmAits.—The estimates of the army
have teen printed anal delivered. By these the num.
her of rank and file, India and Frame excepted, are,
for Great Britain, Ireland, and the Colonies, 8O,.;:38:
the addition of commissioned and non-commissioned

officers raises the number to fY!,t2B2. This, we rnpre-
heml, is about 10,000 men more than Lord Castle-
reagh took credit for with the house in his late speech.
The whole establishment was. if we recollect ar'g'tt, to
be 123,000 men: of these there were to be 23.000 for
France, and 17,000 tin India, which are to be main-
tained at the expense of the countries where they are
stationed: 81,000 then only, in round numbers, re-
main fin England, Ireland, and the Cokmi,:::,

u~~

IIEPOR7' of the COMMITTEE of SEC.

The report made to both Houses of Parliament, evil
-he read with painful interest by every well-wisher of •
the best interests of the countrv.
Our readers will probably differ as to the extent of
the mischief disclosed in evidence to the Committee.
Whilst some will doubt of a traitorous conspiracy,
more %till hesitate to believe, that disaffection prevails
to a considerable degree amongst the low( r orders of
the people. The distresses of the times, by whatever
-cause they arc occasioned, whether from a sudden
transition from War to Peace, ns some contend, by the
operation of the elements, 1w excess of taxation, by
what has been termed, a delusive paper currency, or
by whatever other assignable cause, the distresses of the
-atuntry have fanned the flume of &sweat:lit, and ripen-
ed the public mind fix the reception of those mischiev-
ous doctrines, which scent to have taken deep root, and
propagated with such malignant avidity, the unhappy
fruits of which are demonstrated in the tumultuous and
seditious proceeding's now in evidence bethre the Com-
mittee. Whtther these proceedings amount to the
character of *I ligh Treason, or not, we have as yet no
means of determining ; but that the most culpable
meetings have been held, and illegal measures organ-
ized to effect an alteration in the state, that secret
combinations of individuals in different parts of the
empire have existed, that illegal oaths have been ad-
ministered, and arms fitbricated, with a view to carry
these iithrious purposes into effect, no man who has
mead this report with an unprejudiced mind, can hesi-
tate to believe. If to these facts we add the charge of
endeavouring by systematic ridicule, to undermine the
props of religion amongst the lower orders, to destroy
whatever has hitherto been held mmit sacred amongst
men ; we must be endowed with more than stoical.'
Itpathy, not to be alarmed by this determinate and
-organized attack on a nation's virtue, and a nation's
',happiness. To the consolations of religion in adver-
sity, men have ever looked with fund and fluttering
lope—this is the sheet-anchor to which suffering hu-
manity in all ages has clung, as a preservative from the
-worst of evils that can happen in this life, by opening
-to us the bright prospect of a bet ter beyond it, but if we
ealke up our minds to believe that the " be all, and the
and all" is here, then indeed if we happen in this sub".
lunary state to berniserable, we are " of all men, most
oxiserable," haiing nothing beyond to look forward to.
We terniiaate all our views by the cloudy horizon pre-
senting itself; and is it extraordinary, that in so dismal
-a view of thins, man should consider himself as eman-
cipated from the common obligations of duty, and
should Le ripe for every mischievous impression which
Ilse art and malice of the worst enemy of the human
race can communicate?
To this miserable condition are men reduced who by
the prison of infidelity renounce their hopes of a better
and happier state ; this conserpienee those who adminis-
ter the .deadly poison are full aware of—they argue
flirts—eon we tut once remove the pillars of honesty,
*id that . sense of right so strongly imieicated in the
human breast, we render men capable of any mischief,
ripe for any innovation and change, fit in short for any
monstrous -undertaking—the transition from religious
despair to political desperation is easy and natural.
Men who ha ye nothing to hope, nothing to fear, andevery
thing to gain, will under the influence of such deli-
rium act the part of madmen, and join in the senseless
-schemes of any bold and unprincipled leader.
In our last paper we commented on the dangerous
tendency of those schemes of reform advocated by the
patrons of universal suffrage, and annual Parliaments.
We stated, that universal suffrage and annual Parlia-
ments were unknown in the history of the country—
that -property bad ever been held, tind most wisely held,
to Le the,parent of taxation, that no persons not directly
subject 'to the payment of taxes ought to have any vote
in the election of their Representatives—that annual
Parliaments would open a wide door to bribery and
corruption, and would present. an annual recurrence of
the most disgraceful scenes of riot and confusion. These
arc the pernicious schemes of amendment and reform
which are recommended by the affiliated societies of the

Hainixlen and %Secret .many members of
these Societies really entertain such visionary notions,
and deceive themselves into a belief that they may be
realized, we arc ready to believe ; but we be-
lieve that many avail themselves of the pressure
of the times and the distress so generally prevalent
amongst the lower orders ; of the credulity of some,
and the discontent of others, to lay the foundation of
mischief, to stop and undermine the construction of
society, and to involve every establishment in disorder
and «infusion. Yet the wicked hopes and designs of
such men are merciful when compared with the doc-
trines of another society now in evidence before the
Committee, that of the Sptnceans, whose tenets avow-
edly lead to the destruction of all property, who arc
plca!A, with singular modesty, to consider »tll the land
in the country as the " People's Farm," the present
Land and Farm-holders as so many trespassers and in-
truders on the property of the people, and subject to
the people, who, they contend, are the only true and
Tightful owners. They t-onsitit r Parliamentary Reform
4 pad-ostensible pretend !Ur association, but as only