The National Register.
London, England, 1808-04-11 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

The gallant Admiral had no discretionary powers-41e in-
stantly dispatched the Coquette with the important advices
—and it is now for our Government to determine what
course they shall pursue in this very delicate situation.
This dreadful famine is not confined to Portugal, for
Ministers also receiNed dispatches from our fleet °a' Cadiz,
britlging an account of most serious disturbances having
' taken place in Madrid. The people, alaruied at the pro-
spect of want, and learning from every I)art of the king-
dom that the grain as bought up for the use of the French
(for we understand the French do not seize but buy from
the Farmers, under a threat, however, that if they conceal
or keep it. back from the market, it will be cooliscated),
there is an actual insurrection ; but the people have no one
to direct their et arts—and the consequence will be a hor-
rible and useless eliusion of blood.

There is a Bill which has passed the House of Commons.
and which is now depending in the lords, calculated to
alter the course of proceeding.* on indictments and infOrma-
don* in the Courts of King's Lench in certain ca*rs:—
Bythis Bill it is proposed to enact—" That whenever an,
person shall he clAarged with any offence by indictment or in-
-'
fortnati(m in the Court of King's Bench, not bring treason or
" felony, iheJinoge may is.:ue his warrant, and cause such Iversen
" to be apprehended, in order to his or her beip; bound to rile
" King %id' sufficient sureties, in such sum as in the said
" warrant shall be expressed, with condition to appear in the
" said Court, and to answer, &c.—and in case of rie:;lect or re-
• fusel, it shall he law ful for the Judge to commit such person
to Ow common gaol of the county, city, or place, there to
" remain, &c. And in case he or she shall not enter a plea or
" demurrer in the said Court to such indictment or information,
" it shall be lawful for the prosecutor to cause an appearance,
" and also the plea of not to be entered in the said Court,
•'and to proceed to trial thereon, as if the Defendant had
appeared and pleaded not guilty.—And there is a clause to no-
" thorize the execution in :Scotland of warrants isue.l iu Lithr
" &c. &c. &c.
It is a cruel measure to try any man for an offence
in
his absence ; and it is equaly dreadful to authorize the im-
prisonment_ of any friendless man whose poverty precludes
him from procuring facts, merely because lie may have
called his neighbour a rogue, or in negligence committed a
nuisance. 1 o almost all poor men, whether guilty or not
',nifty, this Bill will produce imprisonment ; and as to the
fear lest critninals should abscond, it may he urged that
stances of flight for petty offences very rarely occur; what
they do, the banishment itself is generally sufficient pen-
ance.
This extension of punishment, for surely this is rather a
measure of preliminary punishment than of needful pre-
caution, would be dangerous enough, even if limited to •
cases of indictment; but that an Englishman should be
dragged, perhaps twenty or thirty miles, from his home,
lieu mere information, is revolting to every principle of
nherty and the Constitution.
We earnestly hope t hat some of the Law Lords will check
this lfilt iu the Upper House. .

Yesterday the Bank begun paying the Dividcnds to :he
Public at large, due the sth inst.
Some letters have been • received from Madras. Our,
Gated the .22d of October, is more explicit on the subject
of Sir Edward Pellew's secret expedition to the Eastward,
:han any previonsly received. It is stated that Sir Edward
left Madras on the 10th of October, in the Culloden, ac-
cuiripanied by the Powerful, Dasher, and :samaram men of
var, and the Worcester and Byrangore, used as transports.
tie was accompanied by 500 men of his Majestfs Nth regi-
ment, a company of artillery and pioneers. It was said
he was to proceed from Penang., where he was to be joined
!)y more troops from Bengal. It was first surmised that
•he object of attack was Manilla, which was taken by the
English iu ; but, on comparing the strength of the

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