Star.
London, England, 1809-04-21 00:00:00

SALE OF OFFICES, &C.

. -
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
having.moyed the second reading, of the Bill to pre.
vent the 'Sale of Otficei—

Lord FOLKSTONE said, the present Bill pro,
fessed to check abuses in the sale of offices in evc, t. :;e-
--pat tment of the country. He felt it difficult to f flow
the Bill in its different-parts, referring as it did to the
Act cf Edward VI. on the same subject. He was
satisfied that the object of the Right 11,,n. Gen. ieman
opposite (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) hid been
to make the Bill as comprehensive as p ssiole, for
which he gave him full credit. He was, however of
opinion, that little good would attend the Bill, as in-
deed little good attended Bills of Prevention. The
House knew.well what Bills had been passed to pre-
vent bribery and corruption in the elections of Nem,
bers of Parliament, yet that the evils sought to be
provided against still existed, because the only effect
of these Acts was to render the persons concerned
more circumspect, and the practices more difficult of
detection. If the Inquiry for which he had moved
the ether night had been allowed, it would have
been in the power of the House to see whether
the Bill proposed would be likely to do any good.—
The Inquiry,4however, had been refused, and he was
therefore bound to say, that however an Act like the
present might increase the difficulty of continuing
the practices sought to be checked, the evils them-
selves would still exist. He did not quarrel with the
Right Honourable Gentleman, however, on this ac-
count. He had uo doubt the .Right Honourable
Gentleman had done what he thought best—but he
would ask, why any exceptions had been made ?
Why had offices in the Courts of Law been exemp-
ted,they being the most objectionable of any ? Was
it fitting that offices connected with the administra-
tion of justice should be made the subject of sale ?
It surely was not so, and the present was a fit (Ivor.
tunity of eradicating the practice. There was, how-
ever, another exception in the present Bill more im-
portant than that to which he had just alluded, more
important, on this account, because the attenti.4l
of the House and of the Country had been more par-
ticularly called to it in consequence of the Report
of the East India Company's Offices Commiztee—
that seats in Parliament were trafficked for. V.': en tie
considered that this practice bad been of such long
standing, be thought it impossible that the licuse
should not take some notice of it. He threw 11 out,
therefore, for consideration, if it would not be proper
that a provision to prevent this disgraceful practice in
future should be introduced e Or if it would not
be the better plan to ins,itute an inquiry in the trct
instance, and then to pass such a provision = Ike was
satisfied the Right He nourable Gentleman would nos
object to the introduction of such a provision. The
Treasury was said to have a great trade it this :raffic.
The Secretaries of the Treasury were understood to,
bethe great persons cqncerned in carrying it on. ji

R;gbt Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Pereeval)
friends chose to deny the charge, he (Lord
c:•,
-.11.,t0ne) should he glad to propose the appoint-
'
•ee a Committee to inquire into it. He was
•
• r ever had been, connected with any traffic of
r t, He could not therefore say that it consisted
own knowledge that the charge was true; but
• could say. that he understood and believed that
togs, • - (Hear, hear ! from the Ministerial Bench, liar-
: • ~ from Mr. Rose.) He was happy to hear him.
•••• 11:.ered by the Right Hon. Gentleman. What
~,,:aced was matter of public notoriety ; and it was
. Inderstood that previous to every election an
crce e•a, opened in the Treasury, for the purchase
:eats in Parliament, which again were sold to
of more or less interest and ability, who again
:.•
p., portion to their possession of those qualities,
•i ~ higher or lower price for their seats. There
,
C •
tpo lately been a vacancy in that House, be.
:u•••• the person holdint,r, the seat had not been wil-
to comply with the stipulation on which he re-
ved it. Itis Lordship believed the Right Hon.
keetleman would not deny what he had stated. If
1., ed, his Lordship was anxious for a Committee to
;;,,tire into the fact. He should not propose the
;;o,
pointreent of one at present, but only threw out the
~letreation, that the attention of the Right Hon.
Gee tlernan should be directed to it. According to
should fall from "him, he (Lord Folkstone)
shotei regulate his conduct. He could not, however,
e-exar from exprie:sing his surprise, when the Right
F. t. Getitkman, assisted by the Attorney and Soli-
r::;: General, saw occasion to bring forward a Bill
zeree kiad, that they should have kept out of view
eat cefeece which was more important than any other
of trafficking whatever.
BANKES observed, that as to the abuses in
ye East India Company, he, as Chairman of theCom-
ri;:m appointed for the consideration of that subject,
brought down a recommendation to the House,
the it was not necessary to pass any specific legisla-
ere measure on the subject. Although the system
tithe Government of this country changed with, the '
lerid‘z to whom it was confided, it was not so with
Last India Company. One of their aegul.tiuns
re, that at any distance of time, an appointment ob-
tained corruptly would be set aside. He conceived
feat the presere• bill must be useful, as rendering this
sot of corrupt ;on more difficult than it was before.
Mr. CREEVEY said, that the Noble Lord was
teeseelv correct in stating, that seats in Parliament
d been notoriously bought and sold by the Treasury.
He would say, that this was not only his belief, but
they it was within his knewledge. The Treasury not
only openly bought and 'sold those seats, but they
kept in a great degree the monopoly of that market.
It thi; was attempted to be denied by Ministers, he
shoell be glad to have the opportunity of proving it, •
are{ he could easily prove it from the lips of any one
wile had ever been Secretary of the Treasury. It
sn absolute nonsense and delusion on the public, for
the Heuse to spend their time in considering abuses
in the Commissioners of the Lowry, and every other
!ninny department, when they kne•s, and when the
public knew, that the greatest of all abuses was con-'.
stantly praclied by every Secretary of the Treasury,
in buying and selling seats in Parliament. To talk •
of a dissolution of Parliament as an appeal to the -
people was mere mockery and imposition. It was'
perfectly well known that a dissolution of Parliament
was not an appeal to the people, but to the Treasury.
(Boar, hear ! ) Although he had great respect ler
the last Government, and owed some personal favours '
to th.em, yet he mu* say, that their dissolution of
Parliament, at the end of four years, like the dissolu-
tion by the present Ministers, at the end of about
four months, was not an appeal to the people but to
the Treasury. (Loud cries of Hear, hear !) Until
the House was disposed to suppress this odious and
unconstitutional traffic, the legislating on those minor
abuses was mere mockery and delusion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, he was happy to find that the Noble Lord ( Lord
Filkestone) had attributed whatever there was of
obscurity in this Bill, to the elesire of making it as
remprehensive as possible. He was also glad that
.‘ Noble Lord had admitted that the Bill would
:.der the commission of these offences more difficult
;uture. As to the purchase and sale of places con-
! 7!"J with the Courts of Justice, that had prevailed
• -.en very remote times, but he believed that it would
:Tie said that the practice at all interfered with the
..rayot the administration of justice. As to what had
'von sugested with respect to the prevention of the
for seats in Parliament, this would be a matter
which might fairly be stated when the Bill should
•7ne into a Committee. If the Noble Lord or Hon.
Gentleman would then bring forward any proposition
teat sort, the House would be very ready to take
of into their cotticieration. The Noble Lord had stated
erm belief of the existence of such transactions,
ee..! Hon. Gentleman had gone further, and stated,
i• eee: within his absolute knowledge. The Hon.
.nun, to be sure, might have sonic knowledge
• tee confidence which was reposed in hint by tic
A,rierestration, with whom he was connected.

-•.. . Ikar ) He could not recollect,
t that Honourable Gentleman (Mr.
\-) h-: ;, at the time when a specific charge was
a Secretary of the Treasury for such
e :,-iven the House the benefit of his know-
i '
i.eHouse would perceive, that the case he
when a charge was brought against a
• -r the Treasury (Mr. Fremantle) for inter-
' • i the election of Hamp%hire, where he was
..!..rceilv a freeholder. The Honourable Gentle-
. tiler) tell the Hot' ,c a word of that prac-
a v.ithin his own knowledge, of Secre-
Tre;:sury corruptly interfering in the
:Members of Parliament. When he had
how did it happen that his patriotism
that remarkable occasion? (llear,hear.)
:• v..ot:id, however, then bring forward impartially
specific cases that were within his own know-
h;•_, would probably find the House very ready
ad to them.
CREEVEV, in explanation, said, that what
•I stated was not as a chargq! against any parti-
•• Administration, but a mere matter of fact.—
~:nowledge which he spoke of by no means pro-
` •(.!!-(1 from any confidence which had been reposed
;lan by his friends.
...`,lr. WHITBREAD said, that ho was happy that
p,Testions of his Noble and Honourable Friends
litar.,(.l to be received with so much cordiality by
412,ht Honourable Gentkruau (the Chancellor of

LONDON.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21.

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Consols, for money, 67! —Ditto for May 67168.
Exchequer Bills. to.. to 12s. prem.—Omnium 1 prem.
PRICE. OF STOCKS YESTERDAY.

_ ..
Bank Stock 2.11 2454 244 i India Stock 1844
3 per Cent. Red. tiCill I India Bonds, I Is. 13s. pre.
2 per Ct-nr. Cons. 67i15 Bache+ Bills, 10s. 12s. pr.
4 per Cent. 813 82 al i Lottery Tickets 481.45.
5 per Cent. Navy 98;t Consols, for acc. 6741-1
Long Ann. 18i 5-16

, Letters from Seville of the 21st ult. mention the
retreat of CtIESTA beyond Truzillo, and account for
it by stating what we fear is rather an aggravation
of than a consolation for the calamity—The Spanish
General NIENESTRO'SA, it is said, gave up, through
treachery, the bridge at Almaraz.. The enemy, by
these means, crossed the Tagus with his cavalry and
artillery, &c. The traitor was instantly seized, and
within three hours afterwards shot.

General REDING, too, we understand through letters
from Spain, imputes his disasters to treachery.
These letters being of a date prior to that of thl? en-
gagements mentioned in the extracts which we gave
yesterday from the Dutch papers, we are still left in
a state of uncertainty respecting them.

Paris Papers to the I 2th inst. arrived at a late hour
last night, from which we have given a few extracts.
They are not of much importance ; but the Franco-
Turkish accounts shew how keenly NAPOLEON feels
the success which has attended the British negociation
at Constantinople.

These papers give no Indication of a probability of
the differences between Austria and France being ac-
commodated.

SECOND EDITION.

STAR-OFFICE, Two o'Clock. •

We stop the Press to amounce, that Sir HARRY
BURRARD NEALE, Lord GAMBIER'S Captain, has this
moment arrived at the Admirulty with dispatches
from his Lordship, announcing, that, in an attack
made by him with the ships under his command on
the French ships at Rochefort, he has succeeded in
destroying FOUR SHIPS of the LINE, by means
of the CONGREVE Rockets.

Since writing the above, 'we have learned from the
most respectable authority, that the attack in which
these Ships were destroyed, took place on the night
of the 11th instant ; that the enterprize was headed by
Lord COCHRANE ; that not only four Sail of the Line
were burnt, but that two were driven on shore, and
that there is good reason to believe, if the remainder
of the French squadron did not succeed in an effort
they were making to move further up the harbour,
that the whole of them would be destroyed !

The following are the three Decrees in &your of
our Commerce with Spain, alluded to in the STAR of
yesterday :

THREE DECREES IN FAVOUR OF THE COMMERCE OF
GREAT BRITAIN.

1. In consequence of urgent instances of the Minister of his
BR' rANNic MAJESTY, the Supreme Central and Governing
Junta of the Kingdom, and in the royal names of his Majesty
FERDINAND the With, commands, that in this Custom-house,
and in all the privileged Custom-houses of this province, English
goods shall be admitted without any limitation or restriction, and
that the duty shall be paid for the same at the rates only, at which
they were charged before the war in 1804 —By order of his Ma-
jesty, this notification is made to your Excellency, both for informa-
tion and observance of the same.—May Goa preserve you many
years. (Signed) SAAVEDRA.
Seville, Feb. 28, 1809.

2. in order, that in the existing circumstances, all impedi-
ments may he as much as possible removed, which interrupt the
intercourse with English ships, and induced, by repeated applica-
tions of the Minister of his BRITANNIC MAJESTY, the same Su-
preme Central and Governing Junta, &c. arc. has determined to
permit all English goods disembarked in our ports, which may
not be sold in the country, to be re-exported on the payment
only of 2 per Cent. and no further duties are, in such case, to be
required. By order of his MAJESTY, this Notification is made,
&c. &c. (at ante.) (Signed) SAAVEDRA.
3. The near alliance which subsists between this port and that
of London, and in consequence of the aslistance the latter has
given us, which deserves to be returned by our warmest attach-
ment, and most profound respect, his MA jEs r ir has condescended
to allow to the ships of Great Britain to convey to the ports of
Spain the articles of bacallao (dried cod fish), the same duties being
payable thereon which were required before the war of 1779.
Such cargoes so received may be sent to our settlemets in Ame-
rica, in the national vessels.

Ey order of his MA)EsTr this notification is nude, &c. &c.
(st ods) (Signed) SAAVLDRA.

A number of letters and packets from India,
brought by the Walpole, which was wrecked off Mar-
gate so long ago as the 18th December last, were de-
livered h‘ town yesterday morning.

The disputes between the Legislative A'ssembly
and the Commander of the Fortes at Jamaica are
adjusted : it is said Ceneral CARM►CHAEL is to be re-
called ; and the right of the Assembly to investigate
the point in dispute allowed. The Duke of MAN-
CHESTER to retain the Government of the island.
Dispatches have been received from Admiral Sir
SAMUEL HOOD, brought to Yarmouth by the CHAN-
TICLEER sloop. The Admiral, in the CENTAUR, was
left off Wingo on the 14th inst. along with the AR-
DENT, BELLEROPHON, STATELY, and MAJESTIC. No-
thing farther has transpired respecting the proceedings
of the New Government; but the people express
great attachment to this country. The inhabitants
of Gottenburgh wished that the English fleet should
continue in Gottenburgh Roads ; but this Sir SA•
NICEL HOOD considered as too hazardous to permit.
We may expect, therefore, to hear of frequent arrivals
from that port, from which a fleet sailed lately, and
is now on its passage to England, under convoy of
the NED ELVIN sloop of war.
Lieutenant LORD, who commanded the CLAUDIA
cutter, which was lost in January near the Naze, ar-
, rived in the CHANTICLEER. When the vessel was
wrecked, the crew saved themselves on a rock, where
they remained 15 hours exposed to the inclemency of
the weather. Fourteen of them perished through cold.
The M2I,PONIENE and ALEXANDRIA frigates, SNIPE,
RANGER, and ROSE sloops of war, arc crutzing off the
Scaw, and have taken several Danish vessels.

Much snow and ice still remain in the Cattegat.
Election of a Temporal Peer of Ireland, in the
room of the late Marquis of Suco.—This Election
closed on Friday last, at Dublin ; tile numbers were,
For Lord Mou VI Joy • • 39
-- Earl of LEI 1 :: I .•.1 - -. 13
-- Lord DL NALLY .. -. a
•
Whereupon the Clerk of the Crown and rianaper
declared Lord Viscount MouvrJoY duly elected.

LITERARY ;N --Yesterday the Anniversary Meet-
ing of the Literary Fund tank placo, at the Free-
masons' TitYCM, in Queen-street. The dinner was
attended by a numerous and highly respectable com-
pany, who spent the evening with that decorous con-
viviality which was congenial to the Patrons of so
laudable a Charity. A very animated and Patriotic
Address, written by Wm. THOMAS FITZGI.:RALD, Esq.
was recited, which we understand is the 13th Annual
Poetical Contribution -.vhich this Gentleman has made
to the Society. 'There was also a very elegant' and
appropriate Copy of Verses from the pen of Mr.
CtlAßsu, very ably recited by Mr. 13novvxE.

The Hon. Captain BOYLE, of the Royal William
guard-ship at Spithead, is appointed a Comrnissionr
of the Transport Board, in the room of Capt. TowaY,
deceased. •

Yesterday morning died, at his house in Cavendish-
square, Earl HARCOURT, Viscount NUNETIAM, many
years Master of the Horse to her MAJESTY. His
I ,ordship was in his 73d year, and is succeeded by his
brother WILLIAM in his titles and estates.