Star.
London, England, 1801-04-16 00:00:00

HOME OF COMMONS.

The Donated Barley Bill WAS read a fccond time and com-
a:wed for to-morrow.
The accounts of Exports and Imports were prefenttd from
the Commdloners of the Cuttoms, and ordered to be printed.
the Committee as the Cußoms Duty Bill was ordered to
report on Friday.
The Report of the Committee on the (landing Orders re-
lative to Inelofuree was referred to a &led Committee.
Sir Robert Buxton brought up the Report of the Commit-
tee on the Brewers petition, which was read and agreed to,
and a tilt ordered thereon. -
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT called the attention of
the Houfe to a Petition which he held in his!hand
from a perfon of the name of John Herne, a Sol-
dier, in the Guards, which he proceeded to read.
It Rated, that Herne had been arrefled co the
r sth of June, r 798, on board a tranfport, at Port!:
mouth, then under failing orders for Cork ; that
h: had been fent to Portfea prifon, and from thence
brought up to Bow-greet, where he was examined
by Mr. Ford : that immediately on his being ar-
refted, he applied to Colonel Archer to know the
cattle, who refuted to giver him any information ;
that he was interrogated by Mr. Ford as to his
propenfity to reading newfpapers, and required to
tell if he did not frequently read newfpapers to
the other Soldiers, and if he did not know a Sol-
dier of the name of Maloney ?
Here Sir ROBERT Burrom moved that gran-
gers Medd withdraw.
We underftood that the Petition was rejefted on
a divifion of the Houfe.
The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER was on
his legs when we were re-admitted, (peaking in
reply to a motion made by Mr. Tierney, for ex-
tending the time for the third reading of the Bill
to prevent Treafonable Meetings, then under con-
fideration. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
wifhed it to be read a third time on Monday next.
which he confidered would be giving Gentlemen
on the oppofite fide of the Houfe fufficient time
to bring forward whatever objeftions they may
have to the paffing of the Bill, and that in the in-
termediate time it might pats through one Rage
each day. •
Mr. PITT laid, this was not a new meafure ; the
utility of it had been proved by experience, and
he confidered the time pm fed to be given by his ,
Majefly's Minifters for ant oppofition which may
be brought forward againft the meafure fully fuf-
ficient. The Report of the Committee, which
Mewed to the Houk that it was the intention of
the difaffeaed that meetings fhould be held in dif-
ferent parts of the kingdom on the fame day and
hour, the more effectually to put their plans into
execution, by directing the attention of Govern-
ment to In many points at one and the fame mo-
ment—fully juftified the conduit of his Majefty's
Minifters in bringing forward the prefent meafiire.
Mr. TIERNEY laid, as to the oppofition he had
to give to the meafure it was a matter of indiffer-
ence to him at what time it was given, but he wifh-
ed to accommodate his friends who could not at-
tend. lie certainly wifhed the People to have an
opportunity of petitioning againft the rneafure if
they were inclined to do fo. He faid he knew of
no Petition, but he hoped and united there would
be Petigons ; the Public ought to have an oppor-
tunity of even petitioning for amendments in the
Bill, if they confidered even amendments need-
far . It was very irregular to pats Bills in fuch a
ha way ; except in the cafe of the Sufpenflon of
the
iiHabeas Corpus Aft he knew no initance of a'
Bill being paired without being printed, and the
Public being denied an opportunity of judging of
it. It was not ufual heretofore to pats Bills in the
war now propofed.
The Citaacattoe of the EXCHEQUER had evert
with to accommodate the lion. Gentleman. and
hia friends ; but not one petition ever having been
brriught into that Houfe for the Repeal of the St-
d.-ion Bill before pallid, although in force for five
hears, convinced him there was not much likeli-
ood of Petitions being prefented againft the pre
fent meafure. The Hon. Gentleman perhaps
would Ay the Bill prevented the aflembling of
perfons to petition, but this he would deny, for
at no period in the hiftory of the country was there
an inftance of more petitions being prefented to
that Houle, during the fame fpace of time, than
were prefented while the Sedition Bill was in
force. He never knew fo great a change as took
plaice in the minds of the People three months af-
ter the pairing of that Bill, with refped to its ten-
dency—perfons who oppofed it from -a principle of
..., jealoufy from the fuppofition of its being an in-
fringement of their rights—a jealoufy which he
hoped and trufted never would be extinguifhed—
had within three months contidered it as a meafure
which preferred thofe rights they fuppofed it went
to infringe. He reminded the Hon. Gentleman,
that this was a public Bill againft which, by the
of age of that Houk, petitioifers could not be heard.
He contended that time enough would be given
by fixing the third reading for Monday next, and
could not therefore content to enlarge it.
Mr. SHERIDAN faid, it was not parliamentary to
prefume that Petitions would not be prefented
againft the Bill under difentlion. He felt bimfelf
utterly at a lofs to know upon what grounds the
balk evinced by the Right Hon. Gentleman could
be jullified. The former Bill was expired fix
months, and yet not one meeting was called. They
mutt be lazy confpirators to fuffer inch a laph of
time without making an effort. He fuppofed the
prefent appearance of difaffellion mull have arifen
in confequenee of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Pitt) being out of office; the difaffeded fuppofing
they had not the vigilance of the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman to contend with, began no doubt to !hew
" themfelves, and therefore the prefent meafure be-
came neceffary, which wouldnot have been fo if the
Right Hon. Gentleman had remained in office, to
prefetve tranquillity. He faid he mug always in-
ter his Protefl againft the Committee that recom-
mended the measure ; t 9 the individuals that corn.
poled it he had no objedion, but againft the mode
by which they were chofcn he had many objedions.
Ile then recapitulated many of the arguments
urged by him on Tuefilay night againa the mode
en elating perfons to terve on Committees where
it was neccifary they flioidd aft aireordfoo to -

contended, chat though a fits• faelious people might
exiß, yet this did not call for the mcafitre we had
paired and were about to pals. He dared fay the
company kept by the Right Hon. Gentleman (the
Chancellor of the Exchequer) was what is termed
amiable company—that would not objeft to the
Bill in his pretence. He did not confider it fafe
that during the fulpenfion of the Habeas Corpus
At keen houfekeepers fhould fign a requifition to
the people to meet, to apply to Parliament on any
political queilion ; and he was perfuaded it would
not be eafy to find perfons to do fo, who by the
Rep would get!herufelves marked by Spies and In-
formers, and fubjeCt themfelves, on the moil flimfy
pretext, to be committed to prifon as dangerous
and feditious perfons. He gave Mini tiers credit for
their confiflency in pairing the Bill with as much
difpatch as poflible, in order to afford as little ciif-
carton as could take place on lo important a mea-
lure.

Lord HAWRESBURY contended, that the number
of Petitions prefented to the Houle whilft the late
Bill was in force, was the bet proof he could ad-
duce that the Bill did not operate againft the Pe-
titions of perfons whore Petitions &old be attend-
ed to by that Houle, and that it did not prevent
meetings of perfons convened for any good pur-
pole :—Lord Lieutenants, Grand Juries, or (even
Houfekeepers, could call meetings ; this could not
be confidered as deprivin"- the people of the right
of petitioning. He readily admitted the right of
the people to petition, and regretted as much as
any m.ui the neceinty of placing a reflraint upon
them—the meafure was juflified by neceflity alone.
During five years no real inconvenience had been
experienced by the Bill ; indeed, never was a mea-
lure more univerfally popular. He could fee no
objeetion to the manner in which his Hon. Friend
propofed to pafs the Bill through that Houle.
Mr. WiLstatroxes raid, the Bill was regarded
through the country with affation and gratitude.
The unpopularity of the meafure in the fira in;
Rance arofe from mirreprefentation ; but the peo-
ple were now convinced of the miliake, and of the
utility of the Bill. He raid he was told himfeif, at
a meeting at which thirty or forty Magiftrates at-
tended, that filch a meeting could not take place
after the palling of the Bill ; but this aftertion was
loon found to be erroneous. He defended the con-
duet of the Committee.—He recommended the
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan) before lie com-
plained fo loudly of the Gentlemen at his fide of
the Houle not forming a part of the. Committee,
to refleet on the fmallnefs of their number in that
Houfe, and how few of the people of the country
agree in opinion with them. He juftified the man-
ner of choofing Committees in that Houfc, and
raid, thofe who compofed the Committee of which
he complained could allign fufficient realbns why
the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan) fhould not be
chofen one of its Members. He congratulated the
Houle on the vigilance of Minifiers, who, whiff
they ailed upon emergencies a ith vigour, did not
touch a hair of the head of the Conftatution.

Mr. LASCELLES laid, the Magiftrates of York-
fhire were much more likely to petition for than
againfl the meafure. He contended it only went
to counteraft the machinations of relllefs and evil-
minded perfons, and as fuch fhould have the fup-
port of that Houfe and the country.
Mr. TItItNEY role to propofe an amendment to
his motion.—He was called to order by . I
Mr. PITT, who Paid the Hon. Gentleman had
not a right, after being heard once by the Houle,
to make a motion of amendment.

The Sciatica Paid, he wiflied to have the fink
of the Houfe on the fubje& ; he felt himfelf unable
to decide—a fimilar objeaion had been before
made, and it was his with to be direded by the
wifdom of the Houfe; he thought much trouble
would be Paved to the Houfe by preventing perfons
who had fpoken in a debate propofing amendments
to motions, and no pollible inconvenience could
arife, as this did not preclude any other Gentleman
from propofing the amendment which, in his mind,
would be the molt regular and orderly method.
Mr. BAKER corroborated the opinion of the
Speaker, if it was material for any public objee
to move an amendment, it might as well, he con-
ceived, originate with any other Member, as one
who had already fpoken.
General Wairotx moved an amendment, that
the uord ,g now" Should be omitted, and as Mon
day next" inferted in its room.
Mr. TIERNEY Seconded the motion, and was
happy to find that the objedions to his (peaking
were removed by having one of his own mind to
originate the amendment he pro fed to offer to
the Houfe. He denied that the Bill had been po.
pular heretofore, and only wished for delay, in
order that the Houfe might have an opportunity
for more information, which he underftood it was
intended to prefent to them, to Phew the neceflity
of the meafure. He called on the Right Hon.
Gentleman oppofite to him to produce a precedent
on the journals of a proceeding of Such importance
taken on the affertion of twenty-one Gentlemen,
however refpeßed, of a Committee which was
chofen in a manner equally unprecedented ; not
one of whom was taken from the Oppofition fide
of the Houfe, which was not fo infignificant in
point of number as Rated, for on a late occafion
they amounted to Ito Members. The meafure
before the Houfe did not prefs fo much in point
of time. ,It was not by any means fimilar to that
for the Snitsenfion of the Habeas Corpus AR. He
was furprifed that an independent Member, the
Reprdentative for Yorklhire, Should Stand up to
defend fucb a mode of culling a Cornmiuee. lie
teemed, indeed, a perfea mailer of the art of bal-
loting—by him it was faid there could be no
wastast.
danger in admitting the Members of the Oppofi.
tion into Committees which were to examine and
to report on matters of fag—but it teemed that
the Committee en this °coition Should be compofed
of Poets, to deal in fancy, and to report from
imagination. It was pretended, indeed, that Op-
pofition was a Band that concerted their mrafures,
and might, if fufered, appoint a Committee of
their own, but Government was fuppofed to be a
fet of look unconneffed individuals—they formed
no plans—they exercifed no influence. The fui port
of tbe_Hon. Gentleman to this misrsThre

opinions of his conflituents chill very ftrongly
with his votes, and be was of late applied to to
prefent fome petitions to his Majelty much againft
his own wifhes, Co much indeed, as to betray an
unwillingnefs on his part, dirgufting to his confli-
tuents. It was certainly true that the Bill had
been much mifconceived, and the reafon was plain.
The laws in general were too perplexed for the
people at large to underhand ; they only looked
and judged from the titles of Bills, and the title
of the Bill in queftion did induce fuch a mifcon.
ception. In the cafe Of the Income Tax, a Rory
was told of a man who prefented a lilt of his pro-
perty altogether, telling the Commiffioners, " I
don't underhand your Bill at all—there is my pro-
perty entire, and give me what you pleafe of it."
[A laugh]. The -Bill, he contended, was quite
inadequate to meet the evil complained of, for it
only profeffed to prevent popular Meetings on any
Cubjea conneeted with Church or State, while it
left the difaffefted at liberty to coiled affemblies
of the people under any other pretexts.
Mr. WILBERFORCE explained and utterly denied
that any difpute had arifen between him and his
conflituents refpeding any petitions. He dif-
claimed the leaft peril-mat difrefpea for thofe by
whom fuch petitions had been relented to him,
however he might differ with them on a particular
political queftion, namely, as to the time proper
-to folicit a Negotiation for Peace.
Mr. Joliarrox condemned the method adopted
of choofing the Secret Committee, and argued that
Minifters were wanting to their own interefts in
following fuch a plan, as it fubjeeted the Report
of that Committee to fufpicion without doors.
The SoLiciToß GENERAL Paid, he fhould have
oppofed the admiffion of Members from the other
fide of the Houfe to-the Committee for two rea-
fons ; the firft was, that as all the rafts and evi-
dence produced by former Committees, on fimi-
lar occafions, had been infufficient to procure their
acquiefcence in fuch mcafures as that evidence
called for, he fhould, therefore, defpair of their
belief in any information the Committee poffeffed,
of which he had the honour to be a Monber : their
oppefition would, of courfe, embarrafs the necef
fary precautions of Government. His fecond rea-
fon for oppofing their elettion to the Committee
would be, that he had heard it declared, from the
other fide, that a Committee of Secrecy did not,
by any means, bind its Members not to difclofe.the
communications they miht receive; and he was
well aware, on this occafion, what injury would
arife to his Majefty's agents at home and on the
Continent, had fuch information been•difclofed as
had induced the Committee to make the Report
en the table ; and it certainly was not abfurd to
fuppofe it poeible, from the declaration alluded
to, and from the communication ruppofed to exift
between fome Gentlemen on the other fide; and
perfons of a very equivocal charader abroad.
Mr. SHERIDAN was perfuaded that no Gentle-
man on his fide of the Houfe was capable of vio-
lating the compact which was generally under-
flood to exift between the Members of a Secret Com-
mittee; but had no doubt that Minifters would
have aded wirer had they chofen the Committee
from mutual independent men—not the partizans
of Oppofition, nor the pledged fupporters of Ad-
miniftration ; yet a few Oppofition Members would
have done no harm to the Committee—their in-
credulity, as Gentlemen term it, might be an
ufeful check on the too great credulity of others.
They might haye told them that they were only
becoming the inftruments of thofe whore object
and intereft it was to raife a falfe panic, by adopt-
ing idle rumours, on the report of hired infor.
mers, as the ground of mcafures trenching on the
liberty of the fubjed, and endangering the fecurity
of the Conaitution—[the firing of the Park guns
interrupted Mr. Sheridan, by attracting the atten-
Lion of the Houfe]—he expreffed his joy at the
event which produced the interruption, but hoped
it was not the fignal of fome new plot (a laugh).
He reprobated the mode in which the Secret Com-
mittee was chofen ; if it was necefrary to ballot in
Inch a manner, it would be more manly to avow
it, and he recommended to appoint the Honoura-
ble Member for Yorkfhire Political Ballot Maher-
General—he feemed fo well to underhand how to
CAR the parts, and to produce the denouement of
the political plot. He confeffed he had fome re-
fpeCt to the declarations of theßight Honourable
Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer),
that he would not be influenced by any party di
tinetions, and therefore he had fome apprehenfions
that he himfelf,or fome of his friends would have
bees chofen on the Committee, but he now found
that he had more refpea for the Right Hon.
Gentleman's profelliont than he ought.
The SPEAKER called the Hon. Gentleman to
order, as wandering from the queftion.
The SOLICITOR GEN ItRAL expkatned.
TheCH•tic EL toe. of the E x easily s a faid that the
objettions of the Hon. Gentleman oppofite to him,
to the fyflem of balloting, had been repeatedly urg-
ed before, and as repeatedly refuted. It was that
fyftem which left the will of men molt perfealy
free ; if any number of names were recommended
to their choice, that recommendation did notfetter
their their judgment. No complaint had been
ever heard againft the Direiftors of the India Com-
pany, whole uniform
fuch
it was to prefent to
the Electors a lift of fuch perfons as they deemed
eligible to fill the places vacated by thofe who go
out by rotation ; bccaufe filch a Bill was never
thought to retrain the will of the Eleaors. In
anfwer to the obfervation fo particularly addreffed
to himfelf,refpeding precedent, he declared he faw
nothing in the eftabliffied pradice of the Houfe to
difcountenance the mode of proceeding on this oc-
calion. He would not oppofe his imperfect me-
mory to the minute, accurate and diligent refearch
of the Honourable Gentleman (Mr.'rierney) by
whom that obfervation was made, but he mull
fay that the Houfe was competent to proceed on
any queftion however important, without any pre-
vious Committee of Enquiry, as it had on the
Sufpention'of the Habeas Corpus Ad ; and fuch
conduct would be perfealy juflifiable, when an
univerfal conviction of the neceffity of the meafure
prevailed, as it would be without doubt more re •

and the truth was that fuch was intended, hnt tk:
evidence was fo confufed and complicated, ar.J
the fags fo numerous, that it was difficult, if nct
impoffible, to coiled and arrange the different
points which bore on the cafe before the Houle
within the time that it appeared neceffary to costa
the meafure. That was the principal reafon why
the ftatement demanded by the Gentlemen on th•_
other fide was abilained from for the prefent ; I,•tr
he claimed credit for the unanimous declaration
of the Committee, that the Bill was highly necef.
Cary; and he was perfuacled there was nothing it:
the manner- in which it was introduced it%eon.
cileable with the accuftomed rules and ufages of
the Houfe.

Mr. TIERNET fpoke (hortly in explanation, and
maintained that there was no cafe on the records et
Parliament, where a meafure trenching fo much
on the Privileges of the People was ever adopted
on the General Report of a Committee of Secrecy.
LordCOLE deniedthat the SecretCommitteelee
formed from what was generally called a patty.
He hod the honour to belong to that Committee,
and he difclaimed a conneElion with any part.:
other than that which was forward to defend h:.
King and Country, and he hoped that no other
party was to be found in that Houfe. He was Ca-
tain that none other ought to be fuffered to In in it.
Mr. /slicHott.s fupported the amendment. If
Minifters, he Paid, thould decline to produce the
evidence of the alledged neceffity belc.re the Lit
was enaded, the natural inference throJgh ti
Country would be, that the evidence was Ituc fu-
ficient to fuftain their Ratements.

The amendment was rejetled without a di% ifion,
and the Bill was read a fecond time, and ordered
to be committed to-morrow.

The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQIJER exprefred
a with that the Hon. Gentleman opplafite to him,
would, as a matter of accommodation, confent to
pollpone his motion which Rood for to-morrow.
W. TIERNEY acceded to thc•requeft of the Right
Hon. Gentleman.

Mr. VANS ITTART reported from the Committee
on the Inn-Keepers' Allowance Bill. The Report
was agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a
third time to-morrow.

The other Orders of the Day were deferred, af-
ter which the Houfe adjourned till to-morrow.

LONDON.

THURSDAY APRIL i 6.

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK:

Confab 59f—for May account 604
Omnium 61 7 74 8 91 prem.
PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY :
Bank Stock
Cent Rad Long Ann. Cent 1,07
tPt -2)194493f
3 per . 471
3 per C. Coat ytt SbOrt AIM St
4 Per Cent. ConE 7 kj7ll Ornaium 6## 74
per C. Navy 954 969 96 Conf. for May Moot 4

The following is the tlinfe or Proclamation of
the new Emrsaoa, on his afcending the Throne :

" We, by the Grace of GOD, ALF 'CANDI& the
FIRST, Emperor and Autocrator of all the Rula,
&c. &c. declare to our faithful fubjeas
" It has pleated the decrees of the AL mic trry to
shorten the life of our beloved Parent Sovereign Em-
peror PAUL PETROVITZ, who died fuddcnly by an
apoplelic Rroke, at night between the t th and
lath day of this month. We, on receiving the Hz-
reditary Imperial Throne of all the Ruflias, do re-
ceive alfo at the fame time the obligation to govern
the People committed unto us by the ALMIGHTY,
according to the Laws and the heart of her who
refts in Goo, our molt auguß Grand-Mother Sove-
reign Emprefs CATHERINE the GREAT, whole me-
mory will be dear for ever to us, and the whole
Country. Following the Reps of her wife intentions,
we hope to arrive at the objelt of carrying Ruflia
to the fummit of glory, and to procure an unin-
terrupted happincfs to all our faithful SubjeCts,
whom we do hereby invite to foal their fidelity to
us by an oath, before the face of the All-feeing Goo,
whole alliflance we implore to grant us power to
fupport the weight now Telling upon us.
" Given at St. Peterlburg, the Lath March, 0. S.
Mar. (Signed) " ALRIANDtt."

This morning we received French Journals one
day later thin thole which arrived yellerday.—
The following notice of the death of Paws L is
given in the 7os:rag! Jet Ddats, of the 13th :

• PARIS, APRIL 12...-A courier who arrived this
day with difpatches for M. KALITSCHRW, brought
him the following intelligence : "On the asd of
March the EMPRROR of RUSSIA, PAUL I. was
found dead in his bcd."

The other articles in the French Journals are
not of fuflkient importance to demand any part
of our columns this day.

The details which we laid before our Readers
yelterday, refpeaing the brilliant achievements of
our brave Tan, are confirmed as to the accuracy
of the particulars, by the Gazette Extraordinary
1 which was publifhed at a late hour laft night.
Extra& from fevers] private letterz brought
by Captain °TWAT have been handed to tis,
which would have furniflred Tome very inte.
relling remarks, but thefe .are now rendered un-
neieflary, the Gazette having been publifhed, and
two mails from Hamburgh having arrived this
morning, which bring the Dania' accounts of this
glorious event.
Our Rtaders will fee by the letters from Copen-
hagen, whi.h we have fubjoined to the Gazette.
ihdiilfilallik‘fiarit.ih&i....brmig Admiral airr,,

•
the 011..i—Lisid /4400 pain his perfonal terpeAs'
to the Fatima of the Cittiwii on the 3d, and it is
tielieved, that aliive negotiations are going on for
an aajuftment of the differences between the twu
biters.
In the courfe of yeltarda y two exprelles arrived
froth France to Mr. OTTO. The events *bids
have taken place in the North cannot fail to in-
fluence the felni-riegociations which have been for
force time going Cl 4
LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
ADMIRALTY OFFICE, •PRIL 15, 1801.

Captain brwef, of his MAjefty's Chip the LONDON, arrived
in town this morning, with difpatches from Admiral Sir
Hypo P , Commander in Chief of a Squadron of his
Majcity's &fps employed on a particular Service, to EVAN
HCPCAN, Efq. dated on board the LONDON, in Copenhagen