Star.
London, England, 1813-06-24 00:00:00

MALTA, MAY 28.

The British Government has neither wished to
avow the motives of personal ambition which in-
duced it to seize upon Sicily, nor the means empL)y-

any public fun.—
The fidelity of the Duke of Areali, the .King's Se-
cretary .ind General of the Guard—the devotion of
Medici, Secretary to the Queen, fatigued Lord Ben•
tinck. The first was conducted to ; the se.
cond, more unfortunate, was sent to Londi-n. Che.
valier Contronc, Intendant of the Mitit.:ry Pace.
acting as'if he had been a sobject of Ferdinand, and
not of Lord Bentinck, shut himself nip in a citadel t
but even these measures were too pacific.--exectiii ns
were wanting. Soan did frightened Messina see a
Revolutionary Commission sitting wietin its walls:
Lord Bentinck composed it of English and diva:eel
Sicilian Office's; but such was his mistrust, that tl et
. English farmed two-thirds of it. Every man drag.
pit before this trilunal a as, withoitt pity, cinder:mid
to death as a Jacobin—and he was a Jacobin aho
complained of English granny, and invoked his
country's laws. • ••,
By means of thus branding with j teobinistri, the
English carried division and terror into every
fa-
mily. Nobles, who had resisted corruption, f..i.hful
subjects to the constituted laws of rite state,- and who
preserved suffi.ient courage to complain, were incar.
cerated, ban:shed, massacred
The King, more a slave than his sutiects, was
himself forced to sign the list of ploseriptioos ; and it
was always in his name that the most devoted of hit
servants were ordered to leave Sicily : of all his pre.
rogatives, it was Cie only one which his allies left hirr
.the sad honour of exercising.
In default of subsidies, his Majesty had create
some imposts, in order to pr wide for the suppilt
his troops. .Lord Bentinck, in.the hope of making
himself popular, abolished those taxes, and reduced
the army.
But, at the same time, he forcibly formed into re.
&lents all foreigners, incorporated them with the
English sloops, and, in contempt of all treaties, dimi-
nished the Royal Guard, sent into Spain three regi-
ments of the Italian Legion, and did not eve' deign
to justTy himself, according to hi; custom, i r th.se
acts cf authority, by electing the King's signal ore.
The Jsle of Pone r was deliv.nei to the'sim.aal
troops. Wi inimeJiately saw the British Standsr
float over it. And this pretended expedition to,
place
. without the knoa 'tube of the Resent or his.
Ministers. • •
The Island of Lampadouse, belontling to a P, race
of that name, offered a vast and commodioos hare
bour. The English rrevailed upon owner
!
to let it for ten years to a tnerchent cl their slating,
under prveace of defending it against the Corsars.
They sent troops, anununition, erected batteriel, and
constructed forts. •
The English had conceived the project of givim

•Mlf

I

a new constitution to Sicily, and the more slimly to
obtain the reform of abuses, Lord Bentinck, of his
full authority, and unknown to the King, convoked
a new Parliament, which he took care to compose as
judiciously as his Military Commission.
A new Constitution, in effect, proceeded from the
bosom of this strange assembly, an ill-framed and
monstrous copy of the English Constitution. That of
Sicily actually placed the King in tutellage. Among
other innovations, it gave Parliament the exclusive'.
right of making war or {peace ; to dismiss all the
Magistrates, confiscate all common, royal, or eccle-
siastical property; abolish pensions, and thus place
several hundred individuals between the misery and
the Marne of owing their existence to the favour of
their opp_reasors.
The Regent allowed the Parliament to undertake
the nation should maintain 7000 men to serve the
English cans-, wherever their presence might be use-
fut. These 7000 men'have lately been demanded to
form part of an expedition upon the toast of Spain,
and lord BenLinck's.army remains in Sicily, to finish
what he has commenced, the great work, which his
'Proclamations call the regeneration of the kingdom.
A - nervous disorder threatened the Hereditary
Prince's life; he expressed a desire to see his father
Lord Bentinck dared, not to refuse skis ; but the
King was obliged to some by night, and retureed,
sifter being concealed chuhig the day in thi Regent's
'apartment.
Not contented with having debased the Royal Fa-
mily, Lord Bentinck dared- to ask Ferdinand, that
the Queen should be given as an hostage, if he did
not choose to definitively abdicate in favour of his
sen. The Xing had the courage to refuse him.
The British Envoy then offered the Queen a pass.
port to proceed to Austria, but she saw die snare, and
learned that in effect it was Lord Bentinck's inten-
tion. to have her stopped by English ships, which
would conduct her to London.

In his rage Lord Bentinck inundated the island
with Emissaries, who accused the Sovereigns of being
devoted to the cause of France, of having impove-
rished the country, attempted individual liberty, ty
rannized over his subjects. These Agents particularly
calumniated the Queen, represented her as the prin-`
cipal cause of all the people's sufferings, and endea-
voured to make it be thought that her death or ba-
sishment would be a public benefit.
But the people knew their real enemies; they were
upon their guard against their insinuations, and hardly
knew which they detested most, the proud despotism
under which they groaned, or the Barons whose tur-
bulence prepared this obscure and atrocious dominion.
They knew the plan the latter had formed to estab-
lish an aristocratical Government upon the ruins of
she Throne; they understood that the Conn of Lon-
don, which wished to obtain possession of Italy, at
rst flattered the hopes.of the conspirators, and that
interposing, like the judge in the fable, between the*
Princes who aspired to the Regency, it afterwards
condemned their pretensions tp equal oblivion.
The people, confirmed in their resentments, un-
faithful subjects and foreigners, who collecting the
unworthy fruit of their treagm, came under the false
appearance of friendship, to deprive an allied Prince
of Sovereign authority, from this Prince, who, in his
relations, had always manifested for the Court of
Londein so marked a predilection, that the Sovereign
houses to whom it was related -were offended at it.
If the English dare not yet avow 'facts so memo-
rable, and so worthy of figuring in the annals of their
policy, it is just that their cotemporaries collect them,
sp order that history may some day perpetuate their
remembrance.
The Monitcur of the 17th June contains, under the
head Army of Arragon, an extract cif a letter from
the Duke of Albufera, Commander of the Army of
Arragon, to the Minister at War, dated Valencia,
24th May, 1813, stating, that on the Ist and 2d of
that month, the troops of Colonel Trayle made a
fruitless attack on the fort of Onda. This partizan,
it is added, being encouraged and supplied with arms
by the English Consul Tupper, had dune much mis-
chief in the goberstacion: of Castellon and Pensicola.
The fort of Balmer had been blockaded for 36 days
by the troops of Eroles, but General Count Maureu
Matthew, by a rapid march from Baralna to Tarra-
cona, put Eroles to flight, while, at the same time,
olonel Pleque, leaving Tortosa with a column and
supply of provisions, completely revictualled the fort,
liipd frustrated all the hopes of the enemy.
Captain Beaumont, Aide-de-Camp to General Hu-
tert, in the night between the 15th and 16,n, sur-
prised a party of four hundred Ggerillas, the greater
part of whom were killed. General Clausel conti-
pues the pursuit of Mina, and General Paris has
taken advantage of these movements to send off from
aragossa for France, on the :;7th, 2400 prisc;ners and
20 officers,
' By the, last accounts from Madrid, which are of
,9th and 17th, every thing was then quiet there,
and no rnovtount of the army had been made.
The same Monittur, under the head of Army of
the South cf Spair, contains a report, addressed by
the General of Divisii n, Foy, to General Clauzel,
ommander of the Army of the South of Spain, dated
Liqueytio, 2d *lune :
In it he states that his division set out from Bilboa
\tack the two batta-
of from 800 to 1000
WAS SO successful,
, of whom 27 were
drowned, without the
or wounded on his
Biscay, he saysi may
•stroyeds and the Ist

, of arms and stores,
Mondef;a, their great
di r depot at Bedar-
:luclesl 44 Qn the 3;st
into the sea porti be-
tas the coast is fire
armed vessels which
of Gascony are gone

1041LIAMIRT4Ar PROCZEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE U.
Te Hones met at ten O'clock-in the mo • .
In the Appeal from tbreourt of Session in " Hen-
demon and snootier v. Allan and others," Mr. Nolan end Mt.
Scirlett wan heard for the Appellents, and Mr. Parks for the
Respondenta—lud ,
a Whyte Dickson,`
In the Appeal v. Dickson," Judgment was aerated.
In an Appeal from the Court of Session " Hall and another
V. Ross," Sir Samuel Ito:Wily and Mr. Adam, jun. were heard
for the Appellant, and Mr. Thompson and Mr. Murray for the
Respondents.--Judinent partly reversed and partly remitted to
the Court of Session.

The Cape Wine 11111. th 3 Irish id& Dudes Bali and the Irish
Militia Bill, were read a second dine and committed for to.
1 morrow.

The Lottery Bill, the Trish Arms Bill, and the Irish Conn
_Howes Bill, passed through Committees and were reported
'The Manure Carriage Bill passed through a Coninaittee."—;te-
port on Wednesday.
The Irish Tobacco Bill was read a third time and pawed.
The third reading of the Irish Catholic Officers' Bid was, on
the motion of the Duke of Noe/OS.li, fixed for Friday.
A Message from the Commons by Mr. ADS/MOTO?' and
other Members, desired a conference relative to the amendment
made by their-Lordships In the Militia Enlistment Bill.
The conference being agreed to, and Mr. Qualms' the Do.
puty Usher of the Black Rod, having announced that the Com-
mons were waiting the conference in the Painted Chamber, the
Managers appointed by the Lords, namely, the Lord President
(Earl of HAAROWSY), the Earls of MACCLESVISLID, BUCKING!.
NANISDIRR, RADNOR LIVIA root., Pow's, and Lord Viscount
SIDNOWTH went forth. On their return the Earl of HARROWS*
reported that the Commons disagreed to-the clause added by the
Lords, on the ground that it was unnecessary.
A Message was ordered to be sent to the Common., desiring
a present conference in the Painted Chamber relative to the East
India Resohitions. This having been agreed to, and the Commons
being waiting, the same Managers (with e exception of the
Earl of R.tostoa who was not at the time in the House, and in-
stead of whom the Bishop of Cutcnes raft was appointed) went
forth. On their return the Earl of Hammy/sr reported that
they had communicated to the Commons the agreement of the
Lords to the East India Resolutions.

A Message from the Commons by Mr. ROBINSON and other
Members, desired another canference relative to the East Judia
question. The conference being agreed to, and the Commons
being ready In the Painted Chamber, the same Managers as in
the last conference went forth. On their return, the liar) of
HARROWST reported that the Commons bad communicated a
Resolution (that agreed to last night In the House of Commons)
relative to fadlitating the introduction of Christian knowledge
into India.--This Resolution, on his Lordship's motion, was or-
dered to be taken into consideration to-morrow, and the Lords
to be summoned.

A number of Petitions were presented by Lord Easstnz for
facilitating the introduction of Christian Knowledge lute India,
which were ordered to lie on the table.

The Irish Cotton Trade Bill passed through a Committee with
amendments.—. Report to-morrow.
On the motion of Lord Ea PKINZ some papers were ordered
relative to Mr. Palmeri claims.
On the motion of the Earl of I.AODERIDAI IL a Committee was
appointed, to consist of all the Lord. who have been prevent this
Fession, and to Inert on Friday at one o'clock, to take into con-
sideration the agreement with Mr. Palmer, sud to report to the
House.

, On his Lordship's motion al.lo a message was ordered to be
sent to the Commons, dewing leave ter the attendance of the
Right Hon. C. Long and the Right Hon. George Rose, to give
evidence before the Committee.

'1 he Election Write bill passed through a Committee with
amendments.—Report to-morrow.
The Duke of NORFOLK observed upon the compensation
given in the Bill of 4520 per annum to the Messenger of the
Great Seal in lieu of his fees for the delivery of Writs, and wish.
ed to know the nature of those fees.

Lord Viscount biDMOUTH stated, that the fee had been li-
mited to ten guineas upon each writ, and the annual sum alluded
to was given as a compensation for the loss of those fees, the
object of the Bill being that the writs should be transmitted
wit bort delay to the proper officer.
Lord BOktRINGDON gave notice of hij intention to move
the second reading of the Vaccination Bill on Wednesday.
On the motion of the Earl of LAVDEROALC the consideration
of the Borthwkk Peerage was postponed till Tuesday, and his
Lordship postponed his own motion in this case till Friday.
Adjourned till to-morrow (this day).
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

On the Motion of Mr. H. ADDINGTON, Managers were
appointed to hold a conference with the Lords on the subject of
an Amendment made by their Lordihips on the Militia Enlist-
ment Bill. '1 he Managers being appointed went forth, and on
their return, Mr. Addington reported the result of the conference,
which was ordered to lie on the table.

Conferences were also held with the Lords on the subject of
the Resolutions on the East India Company's Affairs, the keperts
of which were also ordered to lie on the table.

The Irish National Debt Bill went through a
Report to-morrow.
1 he Irish '!'okras Bill was read a second time

Mr. LONG obtained leave to bring In a Bill to facilitate the
making up of the Paymaster's accounts.
Mr. WESTElibil presented a Petition from a Mr. Trotter,
complaining of a denial of access to the Court of Session in Scot-
land. It appeared that co Advocate would sign his Petition,
which was a preliminary ha the scotch Courts, and he was thereby
prevented from prosecuting his suit.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE thought a sufficient case was not made
out fee the Interference of the House. if the Ban iettrs of Scot-
land, than whom there was nut any where a more Just a d
ho-
nourable body of men, bad refused to sign the Petition, au doubt
there was something improper in the man's case.
Mr. WESTERN had no acquaintance with the nature of the
transaction ; though he had felt it to be his duty to present the
Petition.—Ordered to lie on the table.

M: . SMIIH moved the second reading of the Trinity
f‘s be understood there was no opposition in-
tended, he :,iientd wish it to go at once into the Commirtse to
make a lea, alterations. It was then read a second time, and
went through a Comm'rtee, in which a tew verbal alterations
were inserted in the kill. The Report was then received, and
ordered to be taken Into cons. .on on Monday neat.
Mr. HORNER rose to ask the Rie.t Honourable Gentleman
opposite, whether it was his lotto:loft to submit any proposition
to Parliament, tr. increase the pensions of r..t.red Judges, so as to
restore the proportion which once existed between the income of
acting Judges, and those who bad left the& nch.
The CHAN:. ELLOR of the EXCHEQG said, there were
some arrangev:ents under consideration as to u.e judicial depart-
ment, but 11,1 was not prepared with any measure. •

•
on the 27th bl.,y, in order to' attack the two batta-
lkas pf ilivay, consisting each of from 800 to 1900
•n, in which attack he says he was SO successful,
Jat he made prisuners SCO'snen& of whom 27 were
• fEcers, and 200 were killed_ or drowned, without the
os3 r.f a bippc wan eat, killed or wounded on his
own LiJc. the 2d heittalitm of Biscay, he says, may
ccpsittqfd as corn' letely destroyed& and the 1.41.
lost 50Q men in its
He had caused a magazine of arms and stores,
bich the insurgents had at Mondega, their great
at Zhattr, :nit! thtir powder Ofepat at Bedar.
Tons, to be 4.st: oyed; #le coaciades, "On the Slst
, ay and Ist June I Kilt irOPPS into the Sea ports be 44
weep pilboit and quipna. Thus the coast is free
roar Bayonne to irsant,ova. The armed vessels which
4, insurgents 44 ift the'po of aascony are gore
'oSoptatuirr!''.
TgA. Hovq. yebtpday i.. chiartetly general
car was held, when the di/Offen!' on the tampan?*
tock, for the half year for.meneing !fie 15111 January
sti and endinithe .th Jupy next, was declared to be
pcOlt-72-W fillsnFn Ccloset!' e er the committee for inspecting the Conn-
any'4t s ByezlAwL in Op room Ot k 01111143:
eq• aegiathe 7