Star.
London, England, 1805-05-29 00:00:00

NAVAL £:VLUM.

Sir J. B. WARREN' prefented to the Houfe *
petition from the Diredors of the Afylum for the
Orphans of Seamen who have dicd in the fervice of
their country, preying aid.
Captain PIERREPOINT feconded the motion,
;" that the petition be now received," and expreffed
.his Gull perfuation that the Houfe and the country at
large, would be cheerfully difpofed to concur in
granting liberal aid to an intlitution, the objet of
which was *to proted the orphans of thole gallant
feamen who had bravely fallen in the defence of their
country. , . • •
Mr. WILBEIt ORCE too fupported the petition,
and heartily approved its objet ; hoping the rioufe
would intlitute a full y into the tubjcd, and
extend its provitions to • orphans of officers in the
fame manner in in the Military Afylum at Chelfea.
The petition ,has reach,..and referred to a Corn-
miuee.

MICRUSS OF THE ARMY.
Colonel CRAURJRD rote to atk the Right Hon.
Chancellor of the ischequer, whether, in the cootie
.of the prelim Salon, it was his intenoon to bring
forwArc! any endure for the more &ritually incresf-
ing the diftofeable force of (hg- country ? a meafure
which he copteivcd of the utmukimportOcct and

without which it would be impoffible for us to extri-
c:.tc rurfelves with honour or advantage from the
%Vdli in which we were engaged.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER an-
fwered, that not having Peen the Hon. !limber of
late in the Houle, he conceived it probable that he
night not he aware of the meafures already adopted
fur that porpole ; one of which was the Bill for al-
lowing foldiers from the militia to volunteer into the
line—a meafure which he had now the fatisfallim
to fay had been produelice of very fuccefsful confe-
quences to the general fervice, fo far as it had gone
in this country, and which he underllood, though he
had as yet leen no aftual return, had been very foe-
cefsful alto in Ireland.
Colonel CRAUFURD replied, that although he
was prevented from attending his duty in Parliament,
he was not entirely ignorant of the meafures adopted.
That to which the Right Hon. Gentleman alluded,
was one which he had himfelf laft year firenuoully re•
commended, and now fo highly approved ; but he
begged leave to remind the Right Hon. Gentleman
that it was but a temporary expedient to increafe the
line for the prefent, and that fome effedttal proyifion
for a permanent lupply to the fervice was abfolutely
neceffary. But as the Right Hon. Gentleman feem-
ed to have no particular meafure in contemplation for
that putpofe, he fhould-himfelf, at no very diftant
day, brink forward a motion on that fubjed.
"'RUE COURTS 3tLL. _ _

The Order of the Dq was then read for taking
the Report of the Prize Courts Bill into further
confideration, and it was moved, that the Bill be
recommitted. Upon the queftion being pot,
Sir CHARLES POLE objeaed to the Speaker's
leaving the Chair. He thought that the Bill was
improperly called " A Bill for the better Encourage-
ment of Seamen, and the better Manning of his Mil.
jefty's Navy." and expre(fed his opinion, that the
tide of A Bill for the better Encouragement of Doc.
tor's Commons, would have been more appropriate.
The idea of making feamen pay for the production of
accounts, and in other innances, pointed out in the
Bill, he thought highly reprehenfible. The provi-
/ion which was to compel wounded and maimed lea-
men to pay the expcnces of proceeding in other cafes,
was, in his opinion, dill more liable to cenfure than
any other part of the Bill. The number of Proctors
ought to be increafed, and the fees ought to be con.
fiderably dimini.hed, but according to the prefent
Bill, the charges made by the Proftor would very
improperly be to be taxed by the Regi der, who
would be interelled in the excels of the charge com-
plained of There were 880 caufes which went
through the hands of one perfon in the cootie of IA
War, and at what was an ettimate rather below the
general run of charges in prize faits, at 751. each,
this would amount to 66,0001. This was a proof
that the expence was enormous on the captors; and
when it was confidered that at the latter end of the
lift war there was at one time an accumulation of
more than 4,003 undecided Appeal Caufcs, it mutt
be evident that fome alteration was wanting to be
made in the mode of adminiflering plaice in the
Courts to which the Bill refirred. It was far from
his intention to impute any thing improper to the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman oppofite to him
(Sir W. Scott), as he was convinced, icon long ob-
tervance of his conduct, that he had done every thing
in his power towards advancing the interelts of Bra.
tiffs (cameo ; but his own attachment to the fervice,
and the want of loch provilions h the Bill as he
thought were long wanting, had induced him to fay
what he did. Ile therefore Ihould think it his duty to
oppofe the Speaker's leaving the Chair.
Mr. JAMES MARTIN thanked the Honourable
Member for having made the obletvations which he
had then delivered, and believed that his fentiments
were thofe of the public.
Sir lOHN NICHOLL expreffed his regret and
furprife at hearing the gallant Admiral bring forward
loch charges as thefe without making a reference to
any particular fall, and without pointing out any par-
ticular part of the Bill which he withed to be amend-
ed. He denied that the contents of the Bill would
not bear out the framer of it in giving it the title
which it bore to the full extent of the terms. He alfo
denied that any part of the expence would be borne
by maimed and wounded (earners. We had but one
King's Prollor ever fince we had a navy, and it would
be highly improper to increafe the number. By the
Law and Conftitution of the Country, all right of
prize was veiled in the Crown ; and the intervention
of this prerogative might be necelfary in opeftions of
delicacy, as to foreign powers. It was for the advan-
tage of captors that they fhould not be involved in
fruitlefs litigation, and it was the interea of the pub•
lie at large that this prerogative of the Crown fhould
be continued without the Imallell alteration. As to the
mention of high charges, fuppofed to be made in prize
cafes, it was to be remembered that a great deal of
money was paid to tranflators and interpreters, and
that the King's Proctor had a large eftablifhment of
clerks, fo that not one-fourth of the amount of his bill
could be faid to come into the pocket of the King's
Pro&or. If any perfon was diffathfied with the taxa-
tiou of the register, he had the power of appealing
to the Judge. If the regular forms of office were
not adhered to, we might be liable to the cenfure of
other nations, and it might be faid that we ailed on
an Algerine principle. The cafe of Spanifla register
Blips was particularly expenfive in its proceedings ;
they were called regifler (hips from a 'raft number of
perfons' property being regiftered on board them.—
Theft regitters would, in fome inaances, amount to
fufficient to make a large folio volume, and the tranf-
Loion and copying fuch a document mutt neceffin ily
c very expentive ; it would be as improper to con-
tine the expence of all profecurions within the fame
Num, as it would be to fay that every fuit in Wel-
=inner Hall fhould cult only rot. The Bill which
the Honourable Member had himfelf introduced into
Parliament tali Sefton, would have made the ex-
pences of proceeding in fume cafes heavier than they
would be by the prefent Bill.
Sir CHARLES POLE explained.
Adm. MARKHAM approved of the general ten.
elency of the Bill, but was of opinion that there were
ether parts of it which were very liable to objeaion.
ft was wrong that the Governor of Greenwich Hof-
pital and the Treafnrer of the Navy fhould have the
power of giving what they pleated to thole under
them, and that the public Ihould have to bear what
vas laid on at their pleafure, and yet this would be
ronfequence of having a Board to fit at Green-
ni:ll liofpital for the payment of prise money. Sea-

' men were also dir,t;:fed to irregularities Yrorc .thcir
habits of life, and the assembling of a number of sea-
men at Greenwich might be detrimental to the good
order of the Hofpital. The officers of the Dock-
yards were alfo very improperly to be appointed
agents in the outports, as they had already a fuLcient
quantity of bufinefs on their hand.. [Mr. Pitt and
Sir W. Scott nodded affent, and faid acrofs the table
that that should he altered.]
Sir WM. SCOTT defended the principle of the
bill at fome length, and obferved, that the objeetions
made to it were more proper for a Committee. But
fuch reflections as were thrown upon Courts of Juf-
tice that evening ought not to be made ufe of on
flight grounds. It was an imputation on both thofe
who framed, and thofe who adminiftered the laws,
to fay, that the interefts of feavnen were neglefted ;
and, if he had faid fo himfelf of that Honourable
Gentleman, he should have upon reflection thought
that he did him an injuflice. It was effential to the
honourable charafter of the country, that the cha-
rafter of Courts of Justice that had to adminifter not
only to our own fobjefts, but to thole of foreign
hates, should be prefe, ved inviolate ; but declarations
fuch as he heard would have a tendency to injure
them in the eyes of other nations. If there were any
improprieties in the Members of thofe Courts which
were fpnken of, the Courts themfaves would be rea-
dy to chaltife its officers.
-Admiral BERKELEY thought that fume objec-
tionable parts might be amended in the Committee.
Sir C. POLE laid, that if it were wrong for him
as a hlember of Parliament to exprefs what he thought,
he was apprehensive that he would often fot.

Dr. LAWRENCE bore telimony to the good
intentions and praife-worthy exertions of the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman (Sir W. Scott) who had, in
the upright and zealous discharge of his duty, d
more inr the interelt of feamen and to the difadvin-
tage of proaors, than all his predeceff3rs fut toge-
ther.

Mr. JOHNSTONE moved an inftralion to the
Committee on the Bill, that they make provifion to
infure regularity and difpatch in Prize Cafes.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
oppofed this, as the caufe was already removed by the
great arrear of Appeal Caufes having been got rid of,
and by provition having been already made to infure
greater regularity in the Vice Admiralty Courts,
which had occafioned a great number of Appeal
Caen. It would be very wrong that foreigners
fhould have any ground for thinking that our Courts
of Admiralty were tdo municipal, and we mull; there-
fore, adhere as much as pollible to what was the ge-
neral and approved law of all civilized nations. The.,
motion was then withdrawn, after which the original
quellion was again put, and carried unanimoufTy.
The Bill was then recommitted; feveral claufes
were added ; and, the Houfe being refumed, the Re•
port was brought up, and ordered to be received on
Friday. The other Orders were dirpofed of.—Ad-
jourued till Thnrfday.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29.

KING C TE/L &MOND nerrenten...—Holiday.
PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY.
Bank Stock 172 t t 73 In lia Bonds, ts. a ts.dif.
3 per C. Rcd. An. 58 ST/ 58 Irilk S per Cent 85it
3 per Cent. Con( Ann. 58i . Exclicq. Bills par. 21. prcm.
4 per Cent. C. 74j4 Omnium prem.
S per Cent. 1797 971 98 Englilh Tickets 191. TOL
L. Ann. 16 z t-T6th. CooL for Acc.syitt
India Stock tBat
DUBLIN. MAY 22.-5 per Cent. Coy. Deb. 891.
Exchangu.—Dublin on London tot I t.

In the Houfe of Commons laft night, the Hon.
ROBERT DUNDAS SAUNDERS, fon of Lord MELVILLE,
gave notice a his intention to move, on the day when
the Impeachment fhould be propufed by Mr. WHIT.
BREAD, that leave be given to Lord Mitt.v ILLS to ap•'
pear in that Houfe to defend himfelf. Many years
have elapfed fince any fimilat motion was made. In
fuck cafes the Peer who claims this privilege, is al.
lowed a chair in the body of the Houfe, and to fit
with his hat on, which is only what the Commons
themfelves have the privilege of doing. We believe
there has been no inaance of this kind fince the time
of Lord MACCLESFIELD.

The Gazelle of laa night contains the difpatches
frcm General LARs refpeeting his attack on Hos-
zas's cavalry, which we yeilerday inferted. It like-
wife mentions fume fucceffes gained by Col. MURRAY-
A letter from Bombay, dated in February, Rates,
that his Majely's i9th Regiment of Foot had 'been
furprifed by the troops of the KING of CANDY, and
cut to pieces. The Officers, who fell into the enemy's
hands, were treated in the molt barbarous manner.

The AMAZON frigate is arrived at Portfmoutb, and
has brought difpa,ches from Lord NELSON. They
merely Rate, that his Lord(hip was on his way through
the Gut, and that he was espeeed to clear it on the
evening of the 30111 ult. There is not the lealt intel-
ligence relative to the combined Toulon and Spanint
fquadrons. The Captain of a neutral veffel is arrived
from Cadiz, from which port he failed on the 21R of
April. He (imply Rates, that there was in the har-
bour at that tine, three 3-deck:rs ready for lea, and
that fix or eight fail of the line and teveral frigates
would be ready in about three weeks.

The intelligence which we yellerday communicated
from Holland, refpaling the intended prohibition of
all commercial intercourfe between that country and
England, is corroborated by feveral private letters
received in the City, which !late, in addition,

" That if any kturs WI be received. and be opincd adted
upon hi any manner whatever by any merchant, trader, perfon or
perfons of any defcription in Holland, from an 7 of the fubjeds of
the Crown of Great Britain, after orders to b. itracd to the con-
trary, that every Inch pei fon dial! be liable for every fuch offence
to the forfeiture of tco-D gull es (abort flertng), halt of which
is to be paid i:ito tln.e4.4:t to e. the dtat.:; and the other half to the
storake&"