The National Register.
London, England, 1817-04-07 00:00:00

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Pants, MARCII ^3.—The Duchess of Angouleme
will go to-morrow to St. Germain-en-Lap:. Her Royal
Highness will be present at the benediction of the flags
of the National Guard, and will attach the cravats.

At Ajaccio, in Corsica, six brigands have suffered
the punishment of death for their crimes, with a degree
of obdurate ferocity, which may equal any thing in the
annals of human turpitude. Three of them were bor-
thers, of the age of from 20 to 30 years. When asked,
a few hours bellire their execution, if they would eat
something—" We will give you," (said the jailer) what-
ever you tlesire."—" Ail, well then," replied they,
gi et: us the heart of naming tine of their cue-
mks
To the nil:111)er of phenomena which have distinguish-
ed the prc•:ent season in all parts of Europe, several new
and extraordioary particulars are constantly adding On
the 2d of Febi nary there was remarked, at Odensec,
in Denmark, in the south-west, a sort of a shower of
fire, which fell with great rapidity, and seemed to in-
c i as it approached nearer to the earth.
a storm ot• rain, hail and thunder, burst
sudd,:nly over Rome; the lightening struck on the cha-

TIT

teau of St. Alige, and much damage was done. On
the 18th, about three in the afternoon, there was beard
at Agen, in France, a loud explosion, similar to one
that occurred at the same place, on the sth of Septem-
b,:r, 18 14, when several aerolites, or air-stones fell. The
explosion appeared to come from the southern part of
the heavens, and immediately a light breeze which was
blowing from the north was calmed, and during more
than two minutes afterwards a succession of detonations,
more or less strong iva.s heard.
The last occurrence which is noticed is still more re-
markable. It happened at Alcocer, in Spain, on the
'2oth. The weather was rainy. At three o'clock in the
afternoon there was some lightening, followed with
thunder; about half past six there arose all of a sudden
a most tempestuous wind ; torrents of rain and hail-
stones fell ; the whole Heavens becalm illuminated with
lightening', with the exception of' a black cloud which
increased by little and little to a great bulk ; at seven
a detonation was heard of suelk appAlline loudneis, that
the people in the streets fell in terror to the ground, and
a suffocatinm smell of sulphur ensued, no ways calculated
to revive their shattered nerves ; a second detonation,
not so loud, followed, and the black cloud then bursting
open, an immense globe of fire issued from it, and de-
scending rapidly on a Convent of Franciscans, destroyed
the iron cross which surmounted it, set tire to the tim-
ber work, and dividing itself into two volumes of flame
enveloped the whole ofone side of the Church, and mak-
ing an opening of more than six feet in the walls burst
into the interior.

This extraordinary explosion was succeeded by a
thick shower of hail, soon after which the atmosphere
became quite tranquilized and serene ; and the inhabi-
tants, recovering from their surprize, exerted them-
selves to extinguish the fire in the Convent, in which,
however, they did not succeed till the greater part of it
wail damaged or destroyed.
The following is an article, dated Elbertield, March
12 :—" There have passed through our town within
the last fortnight two prisoners of war, returning from
Russia. They have stated that there are still in the re-
mote provinces of Russia many prisoners, who only want
the necessary means to return to their country. One of
these soldiers was a Frenchman, the other a native of
this town. He had dwelt in a russian town named
Gewerstlenensky-Gorod, which seemed to be situated
towards the south, but a very great distance from Mos-
cow. In the month of Mardi, 1816, the time of his
departure, there were about SOO prisoners, all Ger-
mans. The Frenchman had resided, up to July, 18 6,
in a place named Malouka, which he stated was situ-
ated in Siberia. On the 18th of July he had set out
for it with a column of 700 prisoners, 23 Officers, and
niru medical men, under the conduct of a Captain ; but
only :300 arrived on the frontier of Prussia, the rest hav-
ing perished on the way. About the end of January,
they arrived at Berlin: the Frenchman set out from that
with 41 Hessians fin. Cassel.—He assures us, that when
the colnmn passed the town of Caloga, there were in
it 720 other prisoners of war engaged at work on a canal
which they were digging near that town, and which they
said was to be united with the Black Sea. At Moscow
he had seen 1 100 other prisoners, French, Germans,
and Neapolitans. According to what he had heard,
there were -1000 foreign soldiers at this moment on the
march for Germany. The Authorities of Eberfehl have
prepared a proces verbal of the assertions of those two
soldiers."—Le Monileur.

Friday, two Dutch mails were received. Some of
the letters by them from Rotterdam mention, that
American vessels are still frequently arriving in Dutch
ports from China, with cargoes of tea. The Captains
are said to exult much in the misunderstanding which
has lately manifested itself between the British and
Chinese at Canton, and which the American Consul
there does not fail to increase by every means in his
power. One of the American Captains recently ar-
rived at Rotterdam, boasted one day at table, that a
' short time only would elapse before the. British would
have to purchase their teas from the Americans. The lust
American ship Lurived in Holland from Canton, brings
down the accounts from thence to thelBth of December,
and even at that date the Embassy hal not made its
appearance. Captain Maxwell was at Canton about the
middle of December, anxiously waiting the arrival of
Lord Amherst and Sir George Staunton, in the hope
of obtaining the liberation of the unfortunate Chinese
Who were thrown into prison and iahununly treated
fn. no other offence, as it is alleged, than showing the
British the direct road to the Palace.

Voluminous accounts have arrived this week of the
operations of the contending parties on the Spanish
Main. They describe a variety of contests batween
the Independents and Royalists, which appear to have
ended in favour of the former, and if faith can be
placed in the statements given, the al irs of the Inde-
pendents in the Caraceas are going on prosperously.—
Ferdinand and his Ministers have, it is believed, been
!tying to induce the Allied Powers to assist him in
slbduing his rebellims American subjects, anti it is
trongly rummired that our Gwernment is again en-
t'eavouriug to mediate IxAsNeen them: but such media-

APRIL t.

tion can do no good, when, as is well known, one par-
ty asks that the other has determined n•it to grant.
By a Mail from Jamaica we arc sorry to learn, that
the Western Ocean swarms with armed ye-ads, which
intercept an-I plunder the ships of all nations indiscri-
minately. They call themselves " Independents:" their
conduct is that of Pirates ; and we hope their career
will be stopped precisely in the way in which in times
past the seas were cleared of their predecessors.
By the Jamaica Mail of Wednesday, the following
intelligence was received from that part of South Ame-
rica which is in the occupation of the Independents.—
They do not boast of any brilliant exploits of recent oc-
currence :
" BARCELOSA, FEB. 6.—Sir G. McGregor is RS ar-
dent in our lay!: cause as ever, and his present absence
from the Army of Venezula is solely owing to severe
ill-health, and a desire to try a voyage or two at sea,
which I am rejoiced to find is fast restoring him to
health. Ile has wirelmgad 0...1 manned fin. the Repub.
he, a large ship, mounting QO guns, of which Ili! com.
mand, with adequate allowances, has been given to a
judicious and a distincuished North Caledonian of the
name of McGregor, who will afford every sort of favour
and encouragement to the brave heroes who may choose
to join him in our great and glorious cause. It will also
be useful to state, that our Chiefs and Government have
resolved to admit British, Scotch, and Irish to naturali-
zation, and to employ them in our Armies and Navy,
under all the advantages and privileges of American
born Citizens of the Republic, and to such as have al-
ready serve.] as Officers liar some time, additional rank
will be allo,Yed in both Army and Navy. Where par-
ticular serviees prove singu'ar talent or extraordlnary
ardour and zeal, higher rank and command will be be-
stowed upon them.'

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, IdARCIT 31.
The Speaker of the 11,nise of 0411ln-ins attended, with
several members, and heard the Royal A—ent given by com-
mission to the Seditious Met tings and the Naval Officers
Half-pay Bills.
The. Cochineal and Indigo Bills were pooled.
The !louse then, on the motion of toe Earl of Liverpool,
adjourned till Wednesday fortnight.

HOUSE 01' COIOIONS.

MONDAY, MARCH 31.

The Spe•iker,attenili4;;;e;rlallnenilieri, went up to the
House of Lords, an 1 hearil lie Royal ASSellt given to at es
ral hills, for which re the Lords.
The Rye and Rock Salt 11 lk ‘it re read a first time.
Mr. M. A. TAY; VR ' an td•Tre•• to the icet e,st, re-
rine,iiina his 5c.)... 11 sl to Aire nr4p., rm. t'efra,ing
th I ii• progress for the better poring of
• • eets in the metropolis. *i he Hai. 6eaticman trusted,
that when the extent Jou importa... e .•• the /,1 N Ie LIPIOI.
tic ~ tile .1 •lis.• MO' i..n.
Mr. RAIIIURNT ill the aosem.e of his Right Hon Friend
('Jr. Vansittart), WA- prerarril to say, that the application
was a ',roper uue. The st• p taken by the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman in bringing in the bill, was a proper one for the pub.

lic benefit.
The SPEAKER could not let the %object pass without loser
observations. The question WAS one of importance, att
regarded the present disgrareful state of the pavement.. A
bill in its progres., even thongli it was of a private
would create tunny fees; but this bill, %Well might affect the
in:crest of private individual., must be delayed, .n order to
giro notice to those parties MU-re-tett ; tOr the Hon. Gentle•
MAW had nut gis ell ;my notice ; and those interested ought to
be informed of the hill, so that they might jtulse for them-
vets e..
The address was then agreed to. .

Mr. M. A. TAYLOR then moved the second reading of the
bill, which was accordingly read and referred to the coast•
deration of a (iris ate committee.
Mr. PosisoNnv, in the absence of Mr. Grattan, gave notice
that he would, about the 20th of April, bring forward the
subject of the Catholic claims.
Mr. BuoidGuast presented a petition from Mr. Brooks. a
pawnbroker, w High-street, Blooinsbitiy, complaiiiing of the
caiirliiet Of the Bank of Fakland, iti having seised him and
charged hint with feloo, for lie ,ing in his possession a
(urged Haul note, which he refused to delit er up whin
before the 111:112,..trate; and in Clllll% wiener of whir h, at the
slesite of a person eane.l.l Westwood, he was co,nmiucJ 11 r
further e %annum ion, and detained iu custody- 21 hours, w
Mr. Westwood consulted the Batik upon the course he shook!
Immo, Mr. Brooks had applied to the Batik to proceed
a..ainst him by indictment, but they had nut dune so.
The .petition was laid on the table.
Mr. VANAI TART moved that the House at its rising shoal
adjoin. till Monday tortiik ht.
Mr. PosisoNin observed, that this day the House hail
heard the Royal Assent given to the last of those coterie
.I:eit,llreA 1411101 1.;61,1 brought in, in lien of relies i the
ng

dtett•rsses ot• the peipie. PariaTiment, w h.t h 11:111 Fat ICI' It°
mutuh•, had 11011 r lane inane than pa•s 1.1101 111 P 'sures.
the (la •tress WAS rt•umveil, or lit Ira•t solicited, the lici:•e
could not hope that the 1% ais would he le: sena d. The l'..in•
'outlet. of M•tnautt awl Es penalatnee had not Bette naarli to
relive the dist:less ; the call upon them ought to be (Wick'
tiley should nut have suliered 'he distress to continue; •It
least sosnuthang shoull 11.1Ve In cis alone to clic% e them. If
measures or that kind had hecia resorted to, 4 long alljnion.
mein might have been had ; anal indeed the health or the
!speaker %%mild have b rn )1 great indnuentent.
C.111'4 NI h 6, 1101%1/11101 1141ilog the olaseiValiall Sof 1111
Right Hots. t len, leman , trusted 1114' Ministers were ili*pori
to attend to the dl•:resxes of the people ; hut if the It igLI
Ilientleman esp. I they would be able 111 111. 11'
.•.,110011. to removal 1•I• the causes, he would he
hey 41,11,11 11 ,1 1'1.1.4X 11 11141. 011111,1,.4111.. 11111 W.,s line ttilC. t
11. pc that when tin I Imise again met, ►ome p.... 1 word A
ortought torwriti ter the relict of the people he alivuld