Star.
London, England, 1801-12-29 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Houk having met purfuant to adjournment from Mon.
day lail, Mr. Ear AIC ea took the Chair at four o'clock.
A new Writ war ordered to be ilcued for the Eiedion of a
Member for•Haverford Well, in the room of Lord Keating-
too.deceafed. . _

Mr. W. DVIIDAS profaned feveral Petitions from various
places in Sceslaod againft the opening of the Corn Diftilleries.
Ordered to lie on the Table.
SAILING OF THE FRENCH ARMAMENT.

The CM•MCCLLOR of the EXCliakyalt moved,
that the Houle fhould, at its riling, adjourn to
Monday next.—The reafon, he fah', fcr adjourn-
ing the Houfe for fo (host a period at this time of
the year, arofc from prudential confiderations,
which he hoped it never would become neceffary
to explain ; and certainly to explain at the pretent
moment would be extremely improper. He had
no doubt the Houft would give him credit for the
motives which aauated him, and would acquiefce
in the motion.

Mr. T. GaemviLia laid, on a Motion for ad-
journing the Houle even to fo near a day, he could
not fit Silent under exilling eircumftances, nor con.
fiftently with his fenfe of duty forbear calling the
attention of the Houfe to a fubjett of the moll &-
dons importance, if not of alarm. He had been
one of thofe who did not approve the grounds
upon which the late preliminary treaty of race
with France was concluded, becaufe he did not
conceive thofe grounds either fo honourable, fo
advantageous, or Co confillent with fecurity to this
country, as exifting circumflances warranted his
MAjefty's Minifters to demand. He had, on the
night when thole"preliminaries were fubmitted for
the opinion of the Houle, delivered his fentiments
fully on the fubjeft. A majority of the Houfe had,
however, decided by theirvote againft his opinion;
he therefore felt it his duty, as he always Should,
in fuch circumflances, to fubmit with profound
deference to whatever appeared to be the. declared
fenfe of Parliament ; and he role not now for the
pii. pole of flailing any new objeftions, or giving
any embarrament whatever to his Majefty's Mt-
nifiers on the fubjea of the pending treaty. There
was, however, a circumflance which reached his
knowledge this day, fo Itrongly fupported by the
voice of general rumour, and accredited by ge-
net Al belief, as could not Cul to interell the fcrious
confide: adult of every man who heard him ;'and
filch an one as he could not, confcientioufly as a
Member of Parliament, gr confiftently with his
duty to his country, pals over in filence at fuch a
moment and on fucb a motion as the prefent.—
The circumflance to which he alluded was the
ctirrent, generally received, and uncontradieted
rep. . t, that during the very negotiation now pend-
ing of a definitive treaty of peace with France,
founded on thole preliminaries to which this Houfe
had In recentlygiven its approbation, a French force
of not leis than Sixteen fail of the line, with tranf-
ports, conveying ten thnufand troops, aCtually
failed from I3rell harbour on an expedition to the
Weft Indies, avowedly, as was laid, for the ifland
of Saint Domingo, without any molellation or
hindrance whatever on the part of Great Britain.
Whether the f.tet was as is generally rumoured'
and believed, it was for his Majefty's miniflers to
acknossledge or contradia. But if true, the de-
cided superiority fuch a force would give to France
in that quarter of the world, and the menace of
danger it carried to Tome of our moll valuable and
important fctticments in the Weft, Should the
enemy have it in defign to break off the negocia-
lion and recommence hollilities, were confidera.
dons nt.: to be ccntemplat Al without the molt led- •

oss Adam. He W 012141. sot same to fay that the
Government of France entertained filch a defign
as that of rejecting the many fuptrior advantages
ceded to them in the preliminary treaty, and of
breaking up the negociation for the purport of
recommencing hankies, which this proceeding
would in fuch cafe enable them to do, upon grounds
and probabilities of tired fo totally diffident and
ruperior to what they could have done, bad their
fleets 1-en kept blocked up in their ports, as they
were immediately previous to the fignature of the
preliminary treaty.. He would not undertakelo
decide with what ultimate views the French Go-
vernment, during the negociation of a ticaty,
formed upon a truce concluded by both countries,
upon a fupporcd union of fentiments upon the ge
ncral grounds on which this truce was to he cx-
tended to a permanent treaty of peace, had thratght
fit to fend out fuch a force without the :akin of
the Britifh Government. But convinced he was,
that if any Itipulation for affect to filch a menfurc,
pending the negociation of a definitive treaty, had
been found amongtt the preliminary articles, a very
great number of thole who had warmly and im-
plicitly approved chore articles, would never have
been prevailed on to afrent to Lich a proceeding,
without the moR ftrong and unequivocal Ain arkcs
indeed that no impediment whatever cacti to the
final conclufion of the treaty. He bad already
profefred his difinclination to embarrafs his Ma-
jetty's Minißers by any new oppofition on this (A-
te& He meant not to found any motion upon
this &Ned to which he now called the attention of
the Houle ; but he thought himfelf in fame fort
entitled to the thanks of his Majeßy's Minifict s for
calling the attention of the Houfe to this lubjed,
which he did with two objeds—Firft, that he
might give them an opportunity of contradiding
the rumour, if unfininded, for the fatisfadion of
the public mind and the relief of general anxiety ;
and, fecondly, if the fad really was as .;cnerally
Rated and believed, that they might have an op.
portunity of eonyincing the country at large of
their vigilance and adivity m.obtaining the necef-
Cary communications with the French Govern rent
upon the fubjed, and of their being prcpaicd in
the neceirary Iteps for our fecu,ity, whatever might
be the deigns of this expedition. But in all events
he hoped that Minillet s, by being fully afcertained
of the defies of the French Government in this
bufinefs, might be enabled to retain in their hands
the means of counterading the efreds of any haile
difpofition'until the terms of peace fhould be finally
concluded.
The Cgamcsccoa of the Excneosita.—l know
by experience how difficult it is, where the feelings
are interefted, to limit the difcuaion to the queltion
beFore the Houfe. Yet, making the largelt allow-
ance foi curiofity and cal, I am afraid it would
be no eafy matter to reconcile to order this long i
ditTertation upon a rumour. The Hon. Gent! ma t
is anxious to afcertain the lira ; he willies to ki ow,
whether a itatement. which has reached him, of an
armament having failed from Breit to the Welt
Indies, is or is nut well founded Of this event
' Government has received no regular information,
but that it has taken place there cannot be a doubt.
The degree of alarm and apprehenfion to which it
ought to give rife, I allow to be a fair fubjeiß for
enquiry and (peculation. Whether there has been
any communication upon the lubje& between the
two Governments, this is nit the time for me to
Rate. Whether meafures of p;ecaution have bcen
adopted to ward off,dangers which are not
hut which may afrail us, the Houle will not at pre-
fent call upon me to declare (a loud cry of hear I
bear!). But this lam ready to fay, that nothing
has happened to invalidate the reafouings of the
noble Lord alluded to by the Hon. Gentleman
(Lord Hawkelbury) ; and that the illuftrious per.
lon now at Amiens his experienced no tinforefeen
obliacle in the execution of the truit committed to
him.

IRISH LAW COURTS.

Ma. &molts, (Member for- Donegal) begged
leave to thimble the Houle with a few words, and
which he intended pi incipally for the car of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, Mr. Addington. In the
courfe of the lall Seflion, a Bill had been intro-
duced into the Houle by a Learned Friend of his
(Mr. G. Ponfonby), for the purpole of aftimilat-
iug the proceedings of the Law Courts of Dublin
with thole of Wellminfter, a mcafure growing, as
it were, out of the Union, and anxioufly defined by
the people of Ireland. the 13i11 was received with
general approbation ; but as it was a mcafure of
too great moment to be baldly adopted, it was
very properly referred by the Secretary of the
Lord Lieutenant to the hint Judges. Thefe
Learred Pcrfonagei, after having given the fob-
jeet the fulleft confideratina, framed a Bill, in
which they unar.imoully concurred, and tranf-
miited it to the Right Hnn..Sccrctary, Mr. Ab-
bot. The Setlion being fai advanced, there was
no time fuflicient for thc Bill to pafs thrinigh the
various flages, and therefore it was net proceeded
upon. He faid, that had any of the Learned Gen.
tlemen, to whim the country were fo much in-
debted for the introduction of the 841, been in the
kingdom, he ttiould not have thought himfelf war-
ranted in laying a word upon the fuhjeet ; but he
could not refrain from expreifing a with that the
Right Hon. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer (to whole attention to the concerns
and interefts of Ireland he with pleafure bore tef-
timony) would gratify the people of that part of
the Ututed"Kingdom by a declaration that this
favourite objed of theirs had not been overlooked,
but that it would be brought forward (portly after
. .
the reeds.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQSEIL afrillred
the • Hon. Gentleman that the Bill had not been
overlooked, and that it was in the contemplation
of the Gentlemen concerned to bring it forward
with' all due a-patch ; and here he t( ok occalion
to rtmark, that in the circtindtance of his moving
the queftion of adjournment, it had no relation
whatever to the fubjot which had kilt occupied
the attention of the Houle, namely, the failing of
the Breft fleet, no more than the fairing of the
Breft fleet had to do with the adjournment.
Mr. Gat/MLLE, in explanation, Paid, that he,
confidered himfelf perfefily in order, and as afting
confilletuly with his duty: a Tuition of adjourn.

ment had been put whillt a matter of infinite
nitude and alarm, but for his interference, would
have patted in filence and unnoticed by Minitle:„
The CHANCELLOR or THI EXCHFIVIt then,
plied, that he gave the anfwers which he was w.fr.
ranted in doing, fot the very purpofe of allayint
thofe alarms.

The-queflion was then put and carried.
The SECRETARY AT WAR prefented feveral ac-
counts, which were ordored to lie on the table.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR OF THE Ex-
cmiciyra, the Committees of Supply and WAV
and Means wcre pinioned to Monday next;
which day the Houfc adjourned.

LONDON.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29.
PRICE OF S POCKS Tim DAV AT ONE O'CLOCL
C,r4ols, fur opg. 68:? —Reduced 67;--
4 per Cdlst. 83-} 84--New Onutium. a r: .qt,

In Common with all the papers, we yzflerday
laid the KING wo.lld hold a levee to-morrow.--
We were mifinftn med. No levee will be held
further notice ; pr.bably not thcfe three weeks.
The Pit IN CE of WALES returned to town theist.
ter end of Lail week, for the purpofe of paffing part
of the Chrillmas Holidays with the ROYAL Femur
at Windtbr, where- a grand entertainment ..vas
given yellerday. We are forty to learn, however,
that his Royal Highnefs was foindifimfed on Sun.
day, that he WAS advifcd by Sir Wat.rrit FA R0...V.
HAR not to leave his room. ):-:is diiorder is a vio.
lent cold, attended with fever.

The (holt adjournments of Parliament, perhaps,
may be owing to the general (late of atf.tits, to the
profpeas refpefling the negociation,the date of the
Bank as to its payments in cant after the definitive
treaty, to the apprehenfion that in confequence of
Tome unForefeeh bectrrence, either Li regard to the
late mutiny, or the French operations, Its interpo.
fition might he necelfary. The circuit-lance, how..
ever, is calculated to excite etinfiderable fpecula.
tion, and therefore it is fuppofed that the caufes
mull he firong, otherwifeMinifiers would not have
expofed the public to the agitation and anxiety it
pccafions.

. We yefterclay received two Portfmouth Paperi;
one Oates, in the moll pofitive terms, that the
gunboats at the above port that went into harbour,
and were partly difinantled, were ordered, on Wed.
neirtay lafl, to be refitted and viaualled with all
pollible difpatch; and that the Dedaigneufe had
carried out orders to Sir JAMES SAUbtAIbEZ to
recommence the blockade of Cadiz. Both theie
Itatenv.nts are as pofitirely contradieed in the
Portfmouth Telegraph, which obfer% es, that arl
the gun brigs, except one, are pofitively gone irta
harbour to be paid off, and the orders to SO
JAMES were for him to difpatch Tome of his fqua.
drop to the Weft Indies. •

The following are the names of the Officers who
command the fix Companies of the &ft Bourbon
of the Coldare.rm Reg-n,:nt of Guards, whichar-
rived at 11ortimoutli on Wednefday !Alt, ur the.
TRUSTY, Captain GuION, from Egypt:
Major-co:Kra FINCH, Cont- Captain DA LINLI •

minder of the Brigade of Captain CAMPILLL
Guards Captain HA Mal 0 N
The Fart of CORR, Colonel Enfign IieCKCIT
Commandant of the Troops Entign BIOT /RTO
Lieutenant-Colonel Pm:tor Mr. NscuoLLS. Payinafter
Brii!ade-Maj.,r CARRY Mr. Nl•Kr malt, :;Lrgeon
Captain Sir Joust GORDON Mr. Hot,atss, Q..liarter-Mart.
Government have fince the arrival of the troops
from the warm climate of Egypt, given to each
private and nOn-commialoncd officer, a change ni
warm flannels and other necefiltries, before they
are marched to their refpetaive places of canton-
ments.

The Firft Surry Militia are under orders to.
march this day from Canterbury for Shornchffe.
The South Gloucetter Militia, at prefent at
Shornehlre, in Kent, have received a route for their
own county
The Hon. HENRY CAULFIELD, fon to the late,
and brother to the prefent Earl of Cosattmosr,
has announced himfelf a candidate for the county
of Armagh.

The late Mr. RUSH has divided a yery handfome
fortune among his relatives, and left his worthy
friend, Mr. LYNN, his nephew, Mr. 1311.00 R, and
Mr. TACART, his Executors.

On Friday lart died, in the 67th year of her
age, Mrs. Rasmsroan, Sifter of the late Sir Wa.
Jowls.

Saturday (e'nnight HENRY BOWERMAN was,
fe.-ved with an indictment to Rand trial before the
High Court of Julliciary, at Edinburgh, on the
4th of January next, for fending a challenge to
the Earl of LAUDERDALE.

We have great fatisfaelion in flitting, that by
an overland difpacb, received yeflerday at the
India Houle, accounts have reached this country
of the fafe arrival at Sydney Cove, in New South
Wales, of the LADY NELSON, commanded by
Lieut:Gß ANT, a vellel of 6o tons only, conlirulied
under the immediate direetion of Capt. SCHANE.
Her pelage from the Cape of Good Hope to New
South Wales was only ten weeks, in which Ibe
encountered a variety of weather, but arrived
without the fmalleil damage, and with her crew
in the moil perfeEl health.—)The letters from Go.
vernor KING are dated in March lail.—The LADY
NELSON h2d then faded to profecute thole ditcor
ries on the coalls of that immenfe country, for
wlsich the was fent from home.—Tlic utility

velrel was ftrongly acknowledged by Contact
Kim c, and there can be no doubt but we nisi
loon hear of important additions to the confined
knowledge as yet gained of that country. It
was feared before (he failed from England. dla
it was impofille for Inch a velrel to circumnasi
gate the globe.—'The doubts upon this poin
are happily removed by the (ale arrival of the Lad
Nelfon, and the great utility is further proved
the tiding keels, the invention of the Officer abo'
named.