Star.
London, England, 1808-01-13 00:00:00

NON-IMPORTATION ACT.

Mr. NEWTON said it would be recollected by the
House, that on Monday next, the 14th, the law pro-
hibiting the importation of certain goods, wares and
merchandize, would go into operation ; and it was
also known, that this law, in its present state, was ex-
tremely defective. For the purpose of preventing the
perplexities which might arise from these defects, he
offered the following Resolution :

Resolved—That the Committee of Commerce and Manufac-
tures be instructed to inquire whether any, and if any, what al-
terations are necessary to be made in the act bearing date the 18th
day of April, 1808, prohibiting the importation of certain goods,
wares and merchandize ; with the power to report by Bill or
otherwise. He said, it was the duty of all Governments to pre-
vent litigation; and to amend any of their laws which were found
to give rise to it.

The Resolution was agreed to—ayes 84.

The House went into a Committee of the whole
on the Bill from the Senate, making an appropria-
tion of 850,000 dollars for the building of 188 addi-
tional gun boats.
Mr. 7qii.xxii moved to strike out the words 4# eighty-
eight." He thought that the gun-boats, in addition
to those we already had, would be quite sufficient.
He said that the aggressions committed on our com-
merce, could not have been prevented by any num-
ber of gun-boats. A few frigates would better
enable us to avenge the insults offered us. He was
no friend to a large navy ; but he thought that a
few ships would be of great importance to this
country.
This motion occasioned considerable debate. It
was opposed by Messrs. Burwell, Cmwninshield, and
Blount, and advocated by Messrs. Milner; when the
question was taken, and the amendment was lost.
The Bill was then agreed to without amendment.
The same Committee of the whole proceeded to
consider the Bill making further provision for the
protection of our ports and hat hours, and for build-
ing gun-boats. Considerable debate also took place
on this Bill ; but before it was gone through, a motion
was made, hat the Committee of the whole rise, re-
port progress, and ask leave to sit again.—This mo-
tion was agreed to.
The Committee of the whole then rose, reported
progress, and obtaned leave to sit again.
Mr. BLOUNT immediately moved, that the House
again resolve itself into a Committee of the whole on
the same Bills.
This motion was agreed to; and the House accor-
dingly went into a Committee of the whole on the
same subject.
Another motion was soon after made and carried,
that the Committee of the whole again rise, report
progress, and ask leave to sit again.
Mr. DANA offered the following resolution :

Resolved, That it is expedient to provide for regulating the
anduct of such merchant vessels, as, by agreement of the respec-
tive owners, may sail in concert for mutual assistance and defence
in any lazful commerce; and also for settling, according to the
enurse or proceeding in Courts of Admiralty, the respective rates
contribution to be made between them on account of any loss
cr damage which may be thereby incurred.
Mr. C,

lELD was opposed to going into
subject. Were we willing, he
merchant vessels to arm them.
Idy, while we were in a state of
we prepared to deny the right•

of search of: merchant vessels for contraband goods.?
Although, he said, wa might be obliged to have re- ,
courseto the mode pointed out in the resolution,
yet, at the present time, it would be improper to
adopt it.
Mr. DANA said, that it was not the object of the re-
solution to change the situation of our affairs with re-
gard to foreign nations—it was merely intended as a
permanent national regulation. We had laws, he
said, regulating the distribution of prize money, and
the amount of salvage in cases of re-capture--these
were permanent laws ; and yet they only operated in
time of war. If, after discussion, the House should
conceive that it was improper to adopt the principle
contained in the resolution, it might be rejected.
The resolution was agreed to, and made the order
of the day for Monday next.
Mr. NEWTON, from the Committee of Commerce
and Manufactures, presented a a bill supplementary
to the act prohibiting the importation of certain goods,
wares and merchandize," which was made the order
of the day for Thursday next; and then the House
adjourned (4 o'clock.)
DEC. 9.—Mr. BOYLE, from the Committee of Pub-
lic Lands, presented A bill making further provision
for the sale of the sections of lands heretofore reserved
for the future disposition of Congress." Referred to
a Committee of the whole on Monday.
' The House proceeded to consider the rcport of the
Committee of the whole yesterday, on the Bill from
the Senate making appropriations for building 18$
additional gun-boats. Considerable debate arose on
agreeing to said Bill, occasioned by a motion to strike
out the words ".188 gun-boats," and insert a 124
gun-boats and four frigates of 44 guns each." The
question was taken on the amendment, and it was lost,
ayes 10. The bill was then ordered to be read a third
time to-morrow. The House then adjourned at half
past two o'clock.

NEW YORK, DECEMBER ii.
Sr. BAaxnowmaw's:—Captain Burrell, who ar-
rived yesterday, in twenty-three days from Point-Pe-i
tre (Guadaloupe) informs that an embargo was laid
on that port for eight dayi previous to his sailing, ow-
ing to an expedition that was fitting out at -Point-Pe-
tre; consisting of the brig General Erneuf and a large
cutter, both French privateers, carrying upwards of
three hundred men. This expedition was planned
against St. Bartholomew's, and was completely suc-
cessful. The fort was surprised and carried at mid-
night • an American brig and schooner lying there,
both belonging to Baltimore, were captured—they
were under Swedish flags,and loaded with coffee from
St. Domingo. The expedition returned to Point-Pe-
tre on the lyth of November with their prizes and
80,0001bsof coffee, taken from the store of Mr. —,
agent for thelkmericans engaged in that traffic. The
negligence that these rich cargoes were at St. Bar-
tholomew's, which tempted to the expedition, is sup-
posed to have been communicated by J—, a mer-
chant at St. Bartholomew's, who has done a vast deal
of American business, and had a great share of their
confidence, but became disaffected in consequence of
another agent having been sent out. This, however,
is only given as a suspicion.
SeverAl large West Indiamen have been captured
by French privateers, and brought to Point-Petre,
with coffee, sugar, and cotton, from Demerara and
Surinam. Markets at Point-Petre for American
commodities, very dull, aid payment in bad sugar
and high price.
DEC. 12.—1 t is rumoured this morning, that Ge-
neral Turreau, the Minister of France, has demanded
that the Government of the United States shall shut
their ports against the British. Whether this rumour
is well founded (and the predictions of vassalage
thereby verified), a very short time will furnish a full
explanation. If any Government has dared to insult
our country by such a demand, is there an indepen-
dent or rational man in the United States that can
hesitate, for one instant, to say how it should be an-
swered ?—Pol. Reg.
DEC. IC—The United States schooner Revenge,
Captain Reed, arrived at this port on Saturday even-
ing, in 26 days, from Cherbourg. Captain Reed is
the bearer of very important dispatches from France
for our Government. He left this city yesterday mor-
ning, for Washington. Captain Reed informs, there
is every prospect of the existing differences between
this country and Great Britain being amicably set-
tled ; and also, that Bonaparte has declared, that
there shall no longer be any neutrals ; and that if this
country should send a Minister to the Court of St.
James's, after a certain period, he would consider it as
a declaration of war.

~.;~6

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E EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13..

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Console, money, 644—for January 644—Reduced 6311.
ontnium 2 preen,—Escheq. Bills 3s. pre.
PRICE OF STOCKS YE.S.f.F.RDAY.
Bank Stock 22.541 India Bends, par ls.
per Cent. Red. Ann. 6311 Imp. 3 per Cent. 63
S per Cent.Cons..63ls Imp. Ann. 7 9-16thsi
4 per Cent. 811 t Each. Bills, 4s. 2s. as. pr.
per Cent. 965 f Ocunlum 2i at
Long Ann. 18 1-16th • English Tickets, 201. 1%.
India Stock, 180 i Cons for arc. 64,a

Mr. CROWNINSIIIELI
lny regulation on the
asked, to allow our in
,elves, and go in a boc
wutrality ? Or, were
•