The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-09 00:00:00

DUTCH MAIL.

THE HAGUE, APRIL 6.—ln the sitting of the Second
Chamber of the States General on Saturday, the 4th of
April, the project of law, letter A, relative to the sup
pression of the fund for agriculture, was rejected by a
majority of 45 to 13. After long debates, and a detailed
defence by his Excellency the Minister of the Interior,
the Minister then declared that he was authorised by the
King, to withdraw the other projects of law, connected
with that which had been just discussed. His Excel-
lency then presented a note, which had become necessary
in the projects of law relative to the suppression of the
fund for the national manufactures, which is to be dis-
cussed in the sitting to-day (Monday). In the sitting of
the Second Chamber of the States General to-day, the
project of law for suppressing the fund for national ma-
nufactures, was adopted by a majority of 51 to 3.
The Chamber afterwards opened the debate,
upon the project of law for continuing the road from
the Bosch to Culemborg, which debate will be continued
this evening. In the same sitting, the general report on
the project of law relative to pensions was brought up.
THE HAGUE, APRIL 4 —A year ago the Government
applied to the States General to be authorised to di-
minish for a time, or completely to suppress the transit
duty ; the fixed, and navigation duty levied on the
Rhine by virtue of the convention of Mayence, of the
31st of March, 1831. It was assigned, as a ground for
this application, that some States on the banks of the
Rhino had declared their readines likewise to
abolish those duties. France, Bavaria, and Baden,
were the first to set an example, from which it was
permitted to believe that all these States would perse-
vere in their liberal sentiments, but it was not so. Ba-
varia and Baden did not perform the promises
they had given, respecting the exception from
navigation duty. Accordingly, the decrees
of the 19th of March and 12th of April, which granted
in favour of those states the suppression of the fixed
duty, and a diminution of the navigation duty, have not
been carried into execution. The French Government
have given notice that it has completely suppressed all
navigation duties on the Rhine, as far as Dutch ships are
concerned, and that it expects to be treated with entire
reciprocity by the Government of the Netherlands. For
this end the Government has presented to the States
General the following project of law :
We, William IL, &c., and considering that the
French Government no longer levies anv navigation duty
upon goods conveyed up the Rhine by -Dutch chips, and
that no transit duty is levied in France—with the ad-
vice of the Council of State, and the sanction of the
States General, have decreed and decree as follows :
Art. I. Goods conveyed directly to the Rhine
from the Dutch ports, in French or Dutch vessels,
or those coming from French ports to be
imported into the Netherlands directly, by the
Rhine, in French or Dutch vessels, shall be exempt
from the navigation duties in the Dutch rivers, as well
as from fixed duty, which is levied in the Netherlands
according to list A, and its exceptions 11. and 111.,
annexed to the Convention of Mayence of the 31st March,
relative to the navigation of the Rhine, modified by the
subsequent Convention between the States on the
banks of the Rhine, dated the 15th of September, 1845,
,taking such measures as we shall judge desirable to
prevent abuses.
Art. 11. The exemption granted by the present law
shall remain in force, so long as the French Government
shall grant Dutch ships the exemption from duties above
mentioned.

Art. 111. The present law shall be in
force on the
third day after its promulgation in the official journal.
We learn that the magistrates of the city of Am-
sterdam, having been consulted on the plan for forming
a harbour for steam-boats and fishing smacks at
Scheveningen, after consulting the Chamber of Com-
merce and Manufacture, have not only expressed them-
selves in the most favourable manner, but likewise stated
in the strongest terms their opinion of the advantage
which would be derived from the speedy execution of
this plan.

Itl,nrcoiame
poripsinEgsrwrGLilAnNaml
the
sConqueror.
RoLscotvgEts
EsoQP. TEE
y.o BY TYLOMAS
Printed and illustrated uniformly with
" Lives of the Queens of England," price 10s. :;li.cklandd's
The above work is published this day by Mr. Colburnboun
may now be had of all booksellers. Mr. Colburn ha's also
just published-2. Adventures in the Punjab, by Major
Lawrence, Political Agent in charge of British relations with
Lahore. 2 vols., 215.-3. Viscount Feilding and Captain
Kennedy's Travels in Algeria and Tunis in 1845. 2 vols.,
215.-4. The Sixt Volume of the Nelson Letters and Dis-
patches.-5. Genehral Count Montholon's History of the
Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena. 2 vols. Bvo. ; and, 6.
Russia under the Autocrat Nicholas 1., by Ivan Golovine, a
Russian Subject. 2 vols., 21s. bound.
LADY HESTER STA.NHOPE.—AII who have perused
the recently published memoirs of this remarkable individual,
will be glad to learn that three new volumes are announced
for immediate publication by Mr. Colburn, comprising the
Narrative of her travels. The work is intended (says the pro-
spectus) to complete the " Memoirs" of Lady Hester Stan-
hope. As the " Memoirs" embraced a period of about 15
yearg, in which were traced the causes which led to the
" decline and fall" of her Ladyship's somewhat visionary
empire in the East, the travels will take up her history from
the time she quitted England, and by a faithful narrative of
her extraordinary advantures, show the rise and growth of
her oriental greatness. A distinct line may at once be drawn
between this and all other books of travels in the East—for
it boasts of a heroine who marches at the head of Arab tribes
through the Syrian Desert—who calls Governors of cities to
her aid, while she excavates the earth in search of hidden
treasures—who sends Generals with their troops to carry fire
and sword into the fearful passes of a mountainous country
tp avenge the death of a murdered traveller, and who then
goes liekncf4esa and unprotected to sit down a sojourner in
the alp* •• • •

SIR HENRY HARDINGE, G.C.B.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.
Sir—The late brilliant achievements in India having
caused, in the public mind, an extraordinary interest in
whatever relates to the gallant Governor-General of the
British possessions in that portion of the globe, I beg to
hand you, for the gratification of your readers, the ac-
companying memoir of the military services of Sir. H.
llardinge in the late French war, written by his friend
and companion in arms, the late Lieutenant-General
Sir Benjamin D'Urban, from whom I received it at the
time of the general election in the year 1820.
Sir Henry Hardinge, I may observe, was elected, at
the time of which I have spoken, one of the Members
for Durham, which city he continued to represent, with
some little interruption, arising from his acceptance of
office as Clerk of the Ordnance and Secretary-at-War,
until the dissolution of Parliament consequent on the
death of George IV., in 1830, a period of upwards of
ten years, during the whole of which he enjoyed the
respect and esteem of the inhabitants, while he was
almost idolised by that portion of the freemen who
supported him with their suffrages.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
FRANCIS HUMBLE.
Advertiser Office, Durham, April 4.

Sir Henry Hardinge (the near relative and intimat
friend of the gallant Lord Stewart°) is the second hero
whom the present generation of his house have devoted
to the service of their country. His brother, Cap-
tain Hardinge, of the royal navy, after a brilliant pro-
fessional career, in which deeds of skilful intrepidity
won his successive promotions, at length commanded
the San Fioreezo in the Indian Seas, and fell in the mo-
ment of victory, at the close of a three days' action (re-
newed by him each day) with La Piedmontaise, an
enemy's ship of far superior force, which was then cap-
tured.
He died in his 27th year, but full of glory; and by a
vote of Parliament, a monument in St. Paul's Cathedral
records his achievements, and the approbation of his
country.
Sir Henry Hardinge entered the army young, and
joined his regiment in Canada before he had attained the
age of 15. He returned to England at the Peace of
Amiens, obtained the rank of captain in the 57th regi-
ment in 1804, and having become a student at the Royal
Military College, under the late General Parry, pro-
secuted his studies there with all possible diligence
and success ; and having accordingly made great
proficiency in the more scientific branches of his
profession, was selected to fill an appointment upon the
Quartermaster-General's staff of the expedition which
proceeded to the coast of Spain in 1807, under Sir
Brent Spencer. In 1808, when Portugal rose to throw
off the French yoke, Sir Brent Spencer's corps was united
to that which had sailed from Ireland under Sir Arthur
Wellesley (now Duke of Wellington), and Sir Henry
Hardinge was actively employed in the successful cam-
paign which expelled the army of General Junot, and
was present in the battles of Roleia and Vimeira; in
the latter of these he was severely wounded. Notwith-
standing which, in the close of the same year, having
been pitched upon to carry important dispatches from
Government to General Sir John Moore, ho performed
the journey with singular rapidity, through many diffi-
culties, and delivered his charge to the general iu the
neighbourhood of Beaevente.
Sir John Moore, it is well known, remained himself
with the rear guard of his army through the whole of
his arduous retreat to Corunna which ensued ; and
having attached Sir Henry llardinge to his person, he
accompanied him in all those severe affairs which every
day took place with the enemy's advanced guards ; and,
finally, was the only officer near that great and lamented
general, when, at the battle of Corunna, in January,
1809, he received his death wound, and fell in the arms
of victory.
Sir Henry had just returned from ordering a move-
ment of the troops which the general had dispatched
him to effect, and was in the act of reporting its execu-
tion to him, when he was struck by the fatal ball. He
supported the dying hero at this trying moment ; and
by the desire of his-afflicted family wrote, for their in-
formation, the clear and pathetic account of that
solemn and impressive scene, which is annexed to Mr.
Moore's narrative of the general's last campaign and
death
Returning to England with the army, he received the
rank of major ; and in the month of March, in the same
year, went to Portugal with Marshal Beresford, who had
been intrusted with the organisation of the Portuguese
army, to aid in the momentous struggle then about to
ensue, and from which may be dated the delivery of
Europe from the despotism of Bonaparte.
The Marshal appointed him lieutenant-colonel in, and
deputy quartermaster-general of, the army; and he im-
mediately became, and was through the whole war, one
of the main instruments of the discipline and good order
which was so effectually established in it, and of the
brilliant and continued triumphs with which that dis-
cipline was crowned.
In this capacity he served with the right of the allied
army under the Marshal at the passage of the Upper
Douro, in face of and driving back the corps of General
Loison, and in the subsequent operations against the
enemy during the pursuit of him into the borders of Ga-
licia. For his conduct upon this occasion he was men-
tioned in the Marshal's dispatches, and thanked in his
general orders issued at Ginze, 20th May, 1809.
He then accompanied the Marshal in h;s command of
the army of observation in Castile, during the Duke
of Wellington's advance into Spain, and the battle of
Talavera, and was employed in many important duties
of that period.
The next campaign was the famous defensive one of
1810, in which the Duke of .Wellington foiled the in-
finitely superior forces of Marshal Massena. In this, the
zeal, intelligence, and activity of Sir Henry Hardinge
were very conspicuous upon many, occasions, as well in
the arrangements belonging to his official duties, as in
the various affairs of the advanced posts, and other
operations before and after the retreat to the lines of
Lisbon; and especially in the battle of Busaco, after
which victory he was mentioned by Lord Beresford in
his dispatches to the Portuguese regency, and recom-
mended by the Duke of Wellington for the medal of
distinction granted upon that occasion, which he received
accordingly.
In the campaign of 1811, Lord Beresford having the
command of the separate corps of the allied army in the
Alemtejo and Spanish Estramadura, Sir Henry Hardinge
was everywhere distinguished, as well in the many affairs
which the active operations of that period produced, as
in the siege of Badajoz, which formed a part of them,
and at which he served ; but especially for his conduct
in the memorable and glorious battle of Albuera,
where, amongst many
other instances of judgment and
presence of mind, he anticipated an order (which had
been dispatched by Lord Beresford, but had not yet
reached the general to whom it was sent) for an import-
ant movement at a very pressing period of the battle.
He was mentioned in high terms of praise, both in the
dispatches and general orders ; and after the battle re-
ceived the medal of distinction granted upon this occa-
sion, and was promoted to the British rank of Lieut..
Colonel.
The eventful campaign of 1812 commenced with the
siege and capture of the fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo
and Badajoz. Sir Henry Hardinge served at them
both, and at the latter was particularly distinguished in
the storm of the strong out-work La Picarina, where,
it is not too much to say, the success of that important
enterprise was mainly owing to his judgment and in-
trepid example.
He was mentioned in very strong terms in the report
of General Sir James Kempt, who commanded the as-
sault of the fort, and by the Duke of Wellington in his
dispatches, and he received the medal of distinction
granted on that occasion.
After the capture of Badajoz, the army, advanced
into Castile, besieged and destroyed the enemy s fortified
establishments upon the Tonnes, and thence proceeded
to those operations against Marshal Marinont, which
brought on the memorable battle of Salamanca, and all
its important results.
In these operations, the Quartermaster-General of
the Portuguese army,.ir Henrybeing absent in the command of
S
a corps of cavalry,
duties of that post with his accustomed ability and Hardinge performed the
dis-
tinction, especially at the affair of Castrejou on the 18th,
and in the battle of Salamanca on the 22d of July, for
which he received the medal of distinction.
dec,isSivier Ic2ltemn
Tower and Sword for his distinguished
mili-
tary order of the
he had
conduct, and the servicesrendered throughout
accompanied Mar •
During the winter of this year he received the
pryaigtt Hardinge,of 1813,
s still
in
i
the war.
and
which the Duke of Wellington may be said to have
French Quartermaster General of the
the rank of colonel in the Portuguese
Por-
tuguese army, Marshal Lord Beresford in
In the brilliant
s
the advance to Vittoria; and in that battle, on the 21st
cleareddo ilnige nt
hoSewpdariuent:
received
teohdfe
of June. in the midst of. his usual exemplary exertions,
was severely wounded in the body. He received the
medal of distinction granted upon that occasion.
service, and, after a short. Vittoria, stay at he followed
the army and resumed J duties ; and a • "
them in the battles of the Pyrenees o again performed
on theai 27th, 28th,
and 30th July, and in the subsequent
though his wound was still open, causing him
el-
and subjectiug him to a severe surgical ng him great pain,
the course of these exertions,
operation during
For these battles he was again m
Beresford in orders, and received dentioned by Lord
distinc-
tionßeresford
granted upon that occasion. Ile suebmedal of
at the siege of St. Sebastian, and the operations of
served
at
perations of pas-
sing the Bidassoa.
He was present in the battle of the Nivsll e on the 10th
of November, and those of the Nivo
n
1 1 th, 12th, and 13th December. His conduct
the 9th, 10th,
usual, conspicuously able and gallant, and cull*‘-‘da'f: rtahs
the most pointed praise and eulegium in the Marshal's
general order of thanks of the 25th December of the
same year.
Sir henry Hardinge was now appointed to the com-
mand of a Portuguese brigade of infantry, with which
he proceeded to distinguish himself in the operations of
the the campaign of 18144 In the affair upon the Adour,
and in crossing the Gaves, and especially near Pallas,
on Feb. 15, where, in conjunction with General Ilyng';
brigade, lie won some strongly y occupied heights with the
bayonet, and in the gallant style, from very supe.
rior nntnbers of the s o
__neinr, and for whi h he received

* Who, piece the oncleogrof. this memoir, has succeeded
!? the Marluisate of ribltc.w