Star.
London, England, 1813-02-04 00:00:00

THE MAJOR-GENERAL.

" Ellling, January 10.
if MowszigNEnn—l have read in the retersburgh
Gazettes, that on the 17th of November, at midnight,
my corps, 4,000 strong, sent a flag of truce and laid
down their arms ; that I saved myself, alone and
wounded, by passing the Burysthenes over the ice. I
cannot believe that the General of the Russian army
could, in his reports, have given place to such nntruth ;
and although I know the little confidence which in
Europe is paid to these reports from the Russian Ga-
zettes, constantly discredited by the absurdity of their
tales, I nevertheless take the liberty of writing to
your Excellency, and I entreat you to have ;ny letter
printed, tp give a formal contradiction to the state.
meta, that my corps laid down its arms, and that I
alive passed beyond the Dnieper. Very far from that,
on the 17th of November, ;I alone sustained all the
enemy's efforts. I had at that moment but 8000 men
under my orders, and in consequence of the unfortu-
nate circumstances in which we were, I had no artil-
lery. The enemy had a numerous one. I halted
all day. I then discovered that it was not the same
infantry, for they several times attacked me, and not-
withstanding their great superiority of number, could
make no impression.
" At ten, p. in. a Colonel, with 4 flag of truce,
was sent to propose I should surrender ; tp this im.,
pertinence I replied, by making the officer prisoner,
and carrying him tp the other side of the Dnieper,
to which I made my troops repass, and the next day
conducted him to the head-quarters of his Majesty,
at Orcha ;---when I arrived there with rpy corps, I
scarcely wanted 500 men, who were killed in the
battle of the preceding day.
64 All the Russian reports are romances. There is
nothing tine in what they say, excepting the loss of
my artillery; and your Highness knows that it was not
in human power to bring it away in the midst of
frosts, and over the ice, all my horses having fallen
under the fatal !unreality occasioned by the rigour of
the cold. During the whole course of the campaign
the Russians have not taken, either from me or my
comrades, a single piece of cannon in tlw face of

pARLIAIffEATAItr ricoc.vpiNG.T,

HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY s.

The liouse of Lords mg thjs day, forthe brat time after the
recess.

Lord Oardner, Lord Mount gdgempbe, Lord Stanhope, the
Marquis of Bath, the Archbishop of Yoik, the Bishop of Nor-
wich, Bishop of Bangor, Bishop of Chichester, and others took
the oaths and their seats.
The Earls of W ESTMO a rt.auD and Haatwoop appeared at
the door in their robes, for the purpose of introducing the latter
in the usual form, upon hi. new dignity. Mr. Cooper, the Clerk,
however, informed them, they were too late, as it was almost
four o'clock, and the oaths must be taken, according to the rules
of the House, before that hour, which could not then be done,—
'This business was, therefore, postponed.

CATLIOLIC CLAImg.
The bishop of CHICHESTER presented a Pe-
tition from a number of the Clergy of that Diocese,
against the Catholic Claims.
The Bishop of CHESTER presented a Petition of
a similar import from the Dean and Chapter of Ely.
Earl NELSON presented a Petition to the same
effect from some of the Clergy of the Archdeaconries
of Norwich and Norfolk.

The Bishop of NORWICH, after expensing his
regret that he should have had the misfortune to
differ in opinion on this question from so many of the
Clergy of his own diocese, observed, that he thought
this a matter in which it would have better become
the Clergy not to have interfered at all ; but to have
left it, like other great State questions, to the wisdom
of the Legislature. He adverted to the effects of the
outcry of " Church in danger," in the time of the
riots under Lord George Gordon, as an instance of
the danger of such improper interference. That out-
cry had produced outrages, which were really dan-
gerous both to Church and State. He hoped now,'
however, that the people of this country were too es-
lightened,.to be misled by the weak or wicked cry of
64 No Popery 1" and that those prejudices which
were giving way in other places, would give way
here also. It was for the Legislature to decide upon
this, as a great measure of state policy ; auk it was
not to be supposed, that the Legislature would do
any thing incompatible with the security of the Esta-
blished church,

The Bishop ofSALISBURY presented Petition;
against the Catholic Claims from the Dean and Char.
ter of Sarum, the Arch-Deaconry of Sarum, and the
Dean and Clergy of a peculiar jurisdiction in that
diocese; and from certain of the Clergy of I3erks,,
Wilts, and Exeter.
All these Petitions were read, and ordered to lie
on. the table.
The puke of NORFQLK, adverting to certain
expressions in some of these petitions, complained of
the misrepresentations of the tenets of the Catholics
in some of them. if these had been contained in any
of the petitions which were jeft in the ale-houses for
signatures against the Catholic Claims, they would
have required no comment ; but coming from a
learned and well-informed body, he could not forbear
calling the attention of the Hpuse to them. The mis-
representations of which he complained were, that
the petitioners ascribed to the Catholics of this day,
some of the most objectionable tenets anciently held ,
by some Catholics at least, as to the power of the,
Roman Pontiff. The Pope once claimed the power/
of deposing Sovereigns, and had actually attempted
to depose one of the Sovereigns of this country. This
tenet was, in the most pointed terms, disclaimed
both by the English and Irish Catholics. Another
misrepresentation was, that the Roman Catholics
were subject to no further exclusion than that which
existed as to the Protestant Dissenters ; an assertion
which was notoriously without foundation. It was
fitting that the public should be put on its guard
against Such misrepresentations.
Lord HOLLAND adverted to another point* on
which the Catholics had been misrepresented by the
Petitiones, namely, in regard to the infallibility of the
Pope. This tenet was as.,solemnly disclaimed as it
could be by oaths. It was certainly proper that the
country should be aware of these misrepresentations,
and he was happy that his Noble Friend had adver-
ted to them. His Lordship also wished to know, or
at least put the question, as to how many composed
a peon and Chapter? and whether, in order to do a
corporate act, the attendance of the whole, or only
of a majority, wasisecesiary ? It was proper the pub-
lic should know this also.

The Bishop of SALISBURY, in reply, stated,
that the Chapter was composed of seven members ;
and that a majority only was required to do a cor-
pprate act.
The Petitions were ordered to remain on the table.
Lord SIPMOUTI-I presented a Petition from the
Mayor, Aldermen, &o, of Leeds, Yorkshire, against
the Catholic Claims.—Laid on the table,

EAST INDIA COMPANY.
Lord MELVILLE presented Petitions from the
Chamber of Commerce of Edinburgh, the Conven-
tion of Royal Poroughs in. Scotland, and the Town
'of Stirling, against the Bast India Monopoly.—Laid
on the Table.

The Duke of NORFOLK wished to know when
Ministers intended to bring forward the question as
to the renewal of the East India company's chaitt.r,
in that House ?

The Earl of LIVERPOOL was not prepared to
answer that question at that moment. Parliament
would p;obaply think it right to wait till the com-
pany petitioned.—r4djourned till Friday

HOVSE' OF COMMONS.
A uew Wcit vos or4eryd to be issued for the Borough of New
Romney, In Kent, in the room of Sir I.'l'. Dueszwottru, Bart.
who has accepted the Chiltern Htindred;.
Eleven Members took the Oaths, and their Seats.
Mr.IINLAy brought up a retition trout the Lord Protest

e

mid ivrAgistnigesAfGlaagew, apipat the renewal of the excic,..o,
Chanty of the Bast India Company.—Ordered to lie on the tati
Mr HART DAVIS presented a similar Petition from
'Merchants, &c. of Bristol —Ordered to lie on the table. *
Mr. WHARTON obtained leave to bring in a Bill to emronn
the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to grant a small allow.
ance to Prisoners confined for fines and penalties, in consequent
of disobeying the Revenue Laws.
Mr. ROBINSON obtained leave to bring in a Bill to extend the
powers of a former Act for allowing the Exportation of Copper,
Mr. BENNETT moved for an Account of the Duties on Lea,.
then, for the last two years.— Ordere i. Also, an Account of the
.Dilties on all Articles of Worked Leather, during the same
period—Ordered.

THANKS of THE HOUSE.
Lord CASTLEREAPH rose and said, that in
the Vote of Thanks of that House to the Marquis of
Wellington and the Army, for the glorious battle of
Salamanca, the f ortugue4e Army had, from load.
vertence, been omitted to be includ,d. He felt it
his duty, therefore, to mention it to the House, and
to move that the same thanks as were given by the
House for that memorable event, be extended to
Marshal Beresford, and the several Generals, O.
cers, and men of the Portuguese Army ; which was
ordered accordingly.

a GOmew, apjuet the renewal of the rxtic,
Bast ladle Company.—Ordered to lie on the
DAVIS presented a similar Petition from t!..
c. of Bristol —Ordered to he on the table.
TON obtained leave to bring in a Bill to emr
o
leslfseo• r
se
ri tlifibtce nat
ae duri Customsoenr:d,a for
allowingw leaveast
fines d
tEa
noxtbcdhoi
the
en
Also, grant
the
,rm
anog in a Bill tnco7r:: ts: ele dla 1:
per
E'rr moved for an Account of the Duties on 1,,a.
art two years.— Ordcre L
Anides of Worked Leather, dung the wte
LSTLEREAPH rose and said, that in
• Thanks of that House to the Marquis of
and the Army, for the glorious battle of
the ortugue4e Army had, from inad.
een omitted to be includ..d. He felt it
terefore, to mention it to the House, and
at the same thanks as were given by the
that memorable event, be extended to
Tesford, and the several Generals, Pc
ten of the Portuguese Army ; which was
tordingly.
AMERICA.
dship then brought up certain papers. 'T.
p discussion of the differences between the
rernment and that of Americir, and I.ro.
the taking then; into consideration on to.
tnight ; which was agreed to, and the no.
I accordingly.
BRITJSU PRISQNERS.
(I'PBREAD brought up a Petition from
len, masters, and mates of English vessels,
era in France; which stated them to have
five, some sir, and others seven years con.
an allowance of only 29 francs per month
'ench Government, and that their situation
colorable. They therefore humbly pro fed
the interposition of the House. The lion.
stated, that the Petition had ouly come
s the day before yesterday, though it %%lc
icember, 1811, so dust it had been thirteen
slaking its way to him. While he con A
ment deeply the miserable situation of so
4r unfortunate countrymen as were now
France, he should abstain from any com-
e present occasion, not knowing to which
it was attributable the blame of no ex.
ing taken place. He should only move,
rr leave to bring up the Petition, which was
the Petition ordered to lie on the table.
MOTION FOR PEACE.
fITBREAD then gave notice, that he
Thursday the 4th of March. brig forward
s the subject of Peace.
COMMITTEE OF SIMPLY.
mmittee of Supply, Mr, WHARTON
I 4 sum, not exceeding F 963, be granted
ers, Esq. for his trouble of investigating
t relative to the Public Works-414)O. 4s.
try for the Public Offices-462059, for de.
expenccs on the Impeachment of Warren
;sq. Several other sums were then voted
ineous services.
Ise being resort ec4 the report was ordered
ed on Friday.
LOCAII TOKENS.
;se went into a CoMmittee on the Local
:t, in which
LAhICELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
hat notwithstanding his disapprobation c:
once of Local Tokens, yet such he was
would be the inconvenience of putting there
ire a sufficiency of some circulating me• 4
ver or gold coin, should be provided by
t, to answer the public exigences, that be
:essary to continue them for a short time
:e was in hopes, from the more favourable
h had lately appeared relative to bullH
rse of exchange, that six mouths would be
r the above purpose; and would therefo:e
at the Chairman be instructed to move
bring in a Bill to continue the said Act
jod °t time. •
ew words from 4slr. WHITBREAD zni I
lAMILTON, the House was re' ;
airman obtained leave to bring in 4 i
he said Act.
LSTLEREAgH moved, that the' House,
cicrattiourn to Friday.—Q4cred.:
rROPERTY TAX.
:ANCELLOR of the gXCHEQUER
s rising to make the moOork he was about
o the consideration of the WM; ACfe4
• to advert to what bad fallen from as
leman opposite to him (Mr. Creevey) )04 1
aljournment of the House, relative tolbt to
xt That Hun, Gentleman had moved
papers, which would not, if produced, n
the information he wished for, because
y-tax, since it was first introduced as as
• had undergone so many changea as. 4 is
as, that nothing but a most complete ac•
for several successive years, could silo" A
bearings. In the year 1803, it produced ti
zillions and an half ;—in 1805, upwards
ms ; and last year it produced mqg•bas f 1
ions. One year it brought in, he beTieved• st
illions, bnt that was in consequence
ry exertions to find cut what it could be
oduce. It was his intention, however, v
e subject fully before the House; and f,1'41
curate judgment might be formedapt di
letermined to have the account as fullo T
He, therefore, would move ,4 for an g: tit
e annual value of lands, tenements, II 13.
nts, and the profits arising from Mae' c
ions, and the duties laid thereon, ;hewing
nount cf the - property-tax from the veal tti
1807 incluiive, with the several dedtie. 81
rom, and the various classes of exempting' api
EEVEY said, hP thought it necessary ('
It: produce of the property-tax, arising
aid that arising from trade and rot tit
ler to see which was most productive; and ids
ant now moved for would shew' that, he fel
no objection to it. The motion vast en
1111
ItEstpur.
lANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUEI 141
is concerned 10 state, that there aPigarej.Lii
cit in the revenue of last year, anrountlnf 44
too • but it was, at the same time, one
ink, that the cawere uses'of it not petl9
kLly to occur again. Ope cause was, thi