The National Register.
London, England, 1819-03-29 00:00:00

MILITARY BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

On Friday ni4ht in the House of Commons, a
question of privilege was brought forts ard, for the
particulars of which we refer our Readers to our
Parliamentary Report.—At any time this would be
a subject of consequence. but its importance greatly
increases when we cotailer the present censurable
inclination on the part of the Government, to intro-
duce the sabre and bayonet on every oceasion.—The
Prince cannot hold a Levee, without the public
streets being crowded by Soldiery—how much more
honourable the feeling of Elizabeth, when
pointing to the populace, who had cause to esteem
her—she exclaimed " THESE ARE MY GUARDS."
A performance at a Theatre is not now allowed
without the Guards being stationed even as iow as
York-street.- We all know that Cromwell entered
the House or Commons attended by Soldiers, and
ordered them to " 'faLe away that bauble"
meaning the Speaker's Macc; and really ifrhe House
of Commons had not so properly asserted its privi-
leges as it did on Friday night, we should not kave
been surprised if the present Ministers under a
Monarchical Government, had emulated the hardi-
houil of the Usurper.

We have received Boston Papers to the 2d instant,
and New York to the 28th ult. Their contents are
important, as announcing the cessation of the Floti-
das by Spain to the United States of America. The
Treaty %vas laid before the &maze by ihe President,
en the 22d of last month. The proce«dings in Con-
gress relating to Arbuthnot and Ambrister are still
important.—Thougu the House of Ri.prescntatives
has come to a decision, there is yet an expectation
%Ilia the Senate 'will reverse its It'2solutions, The

Committee on this subject in the Senate, consists of
five persons; one of these, Mr. Forsyth, appointed
Miuister to the Court of Spain, vire Mr. Erving,
who returns to the United States, had resigned his
place in the Committee. it was reprted, that of
the remaining four, two were for the Resolution
disapproving of the conduct of Gen. Jackson, and
two for concurring with the opinion of the Com-
mittee or the House of Representatives. It lied
been found necessary, in consequence, -to ballot flm
another, to give a majority, and on investigation,
Mr. Eppes had been appointed. A Resolution vas
then proposed fiat delaying the investigation, which
vas negatived. While matters nnuain io this state
with respect to Jackson, we arc concerned to ;Ind the
public mind so debased, in New York particularly,
where the citizens are feasting and honouring him,
for his sanguinary deeds and wanton and cruel ex-
ploits. Oo his arrival at New York, he was saluted
by the roaring of cannon, hut the yelling of savages
would have been more suitable on such an occasion,
or the roaring of buiche,s.—immediately after land-
ing, he was escorted by the Governor's Guards, with
music, no doubt playing " Sec the Cotique,ing Hew
comes!"---but to render the procession more com-
plete, he should hay:: been preceded by flags made
of the shrouds of Arbuthnot and Ambrister, with a
score or two of executioners, Leming each a human
skuil, as the triumph of inhumanity.

French papers to Saturday last have arrived. Nine
Peers, in addition to those alretuly rcreived by the
.Chamber, were introduced in the sitting of the 18th
instant ; when likewise M. de Seze made a Report
from the Committee on the proposition for repeal-
ing the law against seditious cries. Although the
Committee recommended the abolition of that
M. de Seze announced his entire disagreement with
his colleagues. Front the proceei.ings of the Cham-
ber of Deputies, it appears that the sentences passed
upon a certain class of French criminals—namely,
those who had been condemned to exile—cannot be
carried into execution, all the countries bordering
on France having. refused to let these convicts pass
their frontiers:, from motives very easily to be un-
derstood. The Government, therefore, must par-
don these men's offences, or find some means of com-
muting their several punishments. It is in our
opinion, satisfaitory to learn, that the Commission
appointed by the Chamber of Deputies to report on
the message flout the Chamber of Peers, relative to
the election law, has, throtrt,h its Chairman, Count
Beugnot, reported against that alarming resolution
which formed the subject of the message.

We have received some German papers, one of
which contains an article from Berlin, stating that
M. Humboldt has been authorised to prepare the
details of the new Prussian constituti.)n; the firm
of which, if we understand it clearly, bears in some
respects a closer resetublance to that of the United
States to that of any other Government with wltii•lt,
we are acquainted. Each province is to have its
assembly of local representatives, whence are to be
selected a higher order of representatives, who
arc to attend the general Parliament or Diet of the
kingdom. If this constitution be curried into effect,
it will compose a sort of federative monarchy ; but
which, being at the same time a military monarchy,
appears likely to experience in its administration
some difficulties of no small moment. If there be a
strong executive power at the centre, the predomi-
nance of the military spirit may render the Crown
an overmatch for the films of a free Constitution.
If, on the other hand, the prerogative be weak, the
conflicting interest of the local assemblies may tear
the wliole machine to pieces. The Germans, we fear,
hare nr.lcli to learn, in what relates to the practical

The expected p.•jcts de tui concerning the liberty
and abuses of the press, were on Tuesday last pre-
sented to the Chamber of Deputies, after an infra-
ductory oration by the Keeper of Seals.
The first poi :1, submitted by the Keeper of the
Seals, enumerates the several species of literary of-
fences, with thu penalties to be annexed to each of
them ;*the second regulates the mode ot judicial
proceeding to be olsserve:l towards persons charged
with such offences ; while the third relates to the
journals and periodical publications, which, as being
far the fature withdrawn from the censorship, will
require some special provisions of law. The class of
offenders placed foremost on the list arc those who
by 't pictures, emblems, or placards," shall
instigate others to the perpetrition of crimes, in
which the said instigators are also declared to be
accomplices. Should such criminal practices consist
of imputations nr alPgations injurious to the King's
person, they sulject the author to an imprisonment
of nut less thaa 6 months, nor exceeding 5 years, and
to a fine of from 500 to 10,000 francs. Various
kinds, degrees, and objects of defamation, public
and individual, are lai.ldown with elaborate minute-
ness: and the punishments, which umsist in all
eases of fine end imprisonment, are graduated ac-
cording to the ollence. Siiveclies in the Chambers,
however, and reports or pipers printed under their
authority, are exempt front the opertdiun of the new

jarljel.
With reseeet to the journals, daily and petiodical,
the chief provisions of the law have been already
anticipated ; viz. that a dec!aration shall he made ut
the names and places of alxate of two of the Edi-
tors, with that of the Oflico d tiv authorized where
the paper is pr:ntt.d. Ld. That bail shall be given
to the amount of 10,000 francs in retries for the
daily journals, and .1,0:/0 renies for these periodi-
cally published.

The pnjev v're ordered to be Printed and ilk-
tributtal, and a day was to be fixed fur their dis-
cussion.

Prince ravprild is shortly cspected in England :
his Hoyal Highness is on lus way home ; he was to
leave Coburg' soon after the I..ith inst.
The report as to the destruction of Messina by an
earthquake, appears to be without the slightest
foundation.

We understand an Algerinc Ambassador and suite
are shortly expected to arrive in London.
CA3IOIIIII6E, Marsh 25.—Their Noy 1 High-
nesses the Duke and Dachess of Glouccster have,
we understand, signified in the Lord Bishop of
Bristol, their intention of being present at the en-
suing commencement, and of honouring his Lord-
ship aad family with their company at Trinity-ludge
during their stay.
Further advices from Jamaica to the 9th ult. were
received on Friday. The state of the corps, owing to
the continuance of bad weather, was very unpromis-
ing : a letter dated St. Mary's, lan. 28, says,—" I
have befbre mentioned, that our prospects were very
had in this quarter generally, laid ant sorry to add
that they have been still further blighted by the late
unprecedented bad weather we have experienced ;
perks s the severest winter ever known fiir rain, not
having. !lad ten dry days since the beginning of last
November, which has nearly destroyei the little cof-
fee we laid remaining on our t ees, and occasioned
the smallest crop I ever made on this place ; l'be-
lieve our mighbours have suffered equally."
The beautiful Circassian, in the possession of the.
Persian Ambassador, about to visit lt:iigland, and who
is su closely confineJ at this time from the inspection
of the Parisians, is expected to be imported here
with the same sacret restraint ; but whether the vi-
gilance of our Custoui.houseofficers will be dispensod
with on so critical an atkir as a lady locked up in a
cabinet, is au ordeal which the prop:it:tor of the fair
stranger has to hazard.
Extract from the Bulletin tic Commerce of 20th
March :—" Paris, 19th March.—By advice front
Aiurseil cs of the I th inst., it was reported there,
that the city of . essina had been swallowed up by an
earthquake, and that upwards of 40 vessels, which
were in the port, had loutish-n.O. It is added, that
the coast of Calabria had suffered considerably. This
news fortunately requires cenfirmation.”—Mem. A
list irons the agent at Lloyd's at Marseilles, dated
12th"inst., dots nut mention this re-nrt.