Star.
London, England, 1809-06-03 00:00:00

vral terms, that the offence should be vlaioed by the punishment
id a toh demean° r.

Pitt to have been more luminoni and correct than
those his successors could boast of in the Financial
partment ; and that at one period of his life it seemsii
to have been his design to become a great. Financial
Minister, by economy as well :t. calculation I—but
waether he had clanged his triewt in 1792 he could
not tell, but from that period all his schemes of esco,
nomy had vanished, and the most expensive and un-
fortunate measures had been pursued, without any re-
gard to the resources of the country. The Right
Honourable Gentleman had stated the offices and
places abolished, but he had nut mentioned those
created during the same period. The abuses in the
Barrack Department alonb were more than an offset to
all the other instances of (economy. He argued that
the influence of the Crown in that House was by
much too great, and concluded by moving, as an
Amendment to the Resolution proposed, which, in his
opinion, did not go far enough—" That some limi-
tation ought to be put to the number of persons bay-
ing seats in that House, and holding places in his Ma-
jesty's Government."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
in a speech of great length and ability, contended,
that the influence of the Crown had not increased of
late, while, on the other hand, the wealth and itflu-
ence of the Commons, represented by this House,
had increased in a very great proportion. The pro-
posi:ion, that the influence of the Crown had increes-
ed, was one which he was prep fired to negative. He
contended also, that the independence of the Welch
Judges was completely provided for, and therefore.:
that they m;ght properly be Members of that House.
Mr. W. SMITH observed, !ha: it had often been
rep `ated that the present times were a period of com-
parative plenty. Now though he was not one of the
laudatores tcmpor.4 acti, yet surely the very Bill we
were debating about last night, proved that the abnse
of the sale of seats had been greatly increased. The
fact was, that the bad practice w•is fortenately-over-1
"tiled, in some instances, by principle
Mr. PONSONBY thought the amendmcet of his
Honourable Friend very important, and su6. as
would require the serious consideration of the liouse; •
he trusted therefOre he would allow it to he on the
table, and not to press it to a division. He would la-
ther vote with him than against him, though he sloe ild, •
at the same time, wish time fly farther deliberation.
• Mr. LYTTLETON also concurred in the idea of
postponing the discussion on the amendment.
Mr. H. THORNTON expressed himself to the
same effect as to an adHirnment. Upon the whole,
however, he was inclined to think that the infinence
of the Crown had considerably extended, in conse-
quence of the increased patronage in the army and
navy, and in all the establishments of the State. It
became Parliament to be continually watchintend
improving our Constitution, according to the tempe-
, rate manner of our ancestors.

completely disorganized his own army, that it would
have been unfit for efficient operations for Willi time.
Marshal Sinus hat effected his retreat into Gallicia,
after having lbst all his artillery; baggage, aminuni=
gun, and about one-fouith part 'of his army in this
silicon campaign. Sir Aftrituti WELLLSLEY has began
his march to the southward, in order to carry into
effect the operations which he had planned, as soon
as SOULT was di iven nut of Portugal. The retreat, or
rathecahe flight of the French, was so rapid, that it
was found impossible to bring them to action. In one
instance our advanced guard, composed principally of
detachments of the Guards, came up with the tear of
the French, and attacked them with such impetuosity
that the French, after a short resistance, fled with pre-
cipitation. The Frent.li killed or hlwr.-strung all the
horses and mules belonging to their baggage-waggons
•and artillery."
Another account, to the fullm-Ang effect, was also
circulated :

Several ether clauses of the Till unde-went conalde •able dis-
zussiup ; atter which the !louse ;laving been resumed, the reptrt
was urdei eel: obe recei% ,o_rno, row.
SUGAR TRADE.
IVir. BARHAM gave iiu:ry, that he would, on Tuesday next,
sahniit to the Pouse a motion relative 1-o this trade; and, In order
that thtty mi7ht be in possession of the nere,sary inlormation, ue
bid now to move that err.: , papers should be laid before them.
These papers were-Ist, Copie. of all memorials, application,,
liefore t:... Commissioners of the Treasury, or the Board
Si`lZt the hire, 1808, rela:iee to the admission of
Fnrrign Sugars tto home consumption on the payment of tSriislt
colonial duties, and the warrants issued by the Treasury or Board
of Trade, in cnnstouence of the same.-2d. Copies or extracts of
all letters from the 'Gtwernors of our Colonies, respecting the de-
preeiztion of the produce of these enlouie..
After a few remarks from Mr. Hu stet: so N and Lord CA ST Lt..
REACH, en the impropriety of making the latter it;telligence pub-
Dc, the former motion was agreed to, and this withdrawn, .

THIRD REPORT OF THE COMMITTLE OF I,;N:‘. CC:E.

On the motion of Mr. MARTIN, the House went
into a Committee on the third Finance Report.
Mr. MARTIN said, that one thing had happened
to give strength to his former opinions, which was the
permanent taxes, which only brought in 30 millions
for tf.e la..f. year, while the interest of the national
debt is SI millions, and upwards. If that account
be true, we are arrived at the time when we must see
that every shilling added to our e::pcnditure must
assist in rendering the War Taxes more permanent,
and every day adding to the permanency of the In-
come Tax also. As a discussion on all the parts of
the 'Resolutions' would occupy a• deal of time, he
would consider them briefly. His first Resolution
went to. recommend economy in the public expendi-
Wet on account of the perilous situation of affairs,
and the increasing weight of Taxes.
Mr. HUSKISSON thought* the resources of the
country had been stated by the. Honourable Gentle.
man in too g,loorny a light. He considered the per-
manent taxes as sufficient to defray the inteiest of the
national debt. He did not think that the permanent
taxes had diminished within the course of last year.
But if they had, the duties on timber, &c. had been
less, in consequence of the little imported this year,
whereas list year had been one of considerable corn
merce. The produce of the War Taxes has increased
since last year above one million, which more than
makes up for the supposed deficiency in the Perma-
nent Taxes. He deprecated any opinion of despon-
dency being entertained by the Committee, with re-
gard, to the state of the Taxe,s.
Lord FOLKSTONE conceived that there was
much fallacy in the arguments used to spew the pros-
perity of the country.
Mr. MA RTIN explained.
Mr. TIERNEY thought his Hon. Friend (Mr.
Martin) was perfectly right to impress on the House,
by his first Resolution, the necessity of economy at
the present state of. affairs. He stated, that the Con-
solidated Fund had been £900,000 less in its produce
that the. Chancellor of the Exchequer had said he ex-
pected it would be ; he judging it would produce
four millions, whereas it had only produced, for the
last year, 5e3,100,000. He said, the Peace Establish-
ment would amount to 419,500,000, and the perma-
nent Taxes would only produce £3d,500,000, leaving
a deficiency of f 11,000,000.
Lora MILTON conceived this discussion irrele-
vant to the question on the third Report of the Com-
mittee of Finance,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, if Gentlemen would examine the Resolutions
he formerly moved, they would find they were
only new arrrangements of those of Mr. Martin.
He proposed to subaitute, for that Gentleman's
first resolution, that it is the opinion of this Commit•
tee, that in all cases of Public Expenditure, economy
is necessary. •
Mr. MA RTANI then consented to withdraw his first
resolution. "
Mr. ROSE sail, that during the administration of
Mr. Pitt, many economical retrenchments had been
made• with regard to public money, exactly on the'
same principle with what Gentlemen now wished to
lay down. .He would. support. the Resolution of his
lti,ht
Mr. CREEVEY observed, that the Right Hon.
1
Gentleman had ornitte'd, in his account of pensions,
those on the Scotch Establishment and Leeward Ftutdi
of 44 per cent. to the amount of 73,0001. In the year
1786, it had been stated, that the Leeward Island
Fund, from which the Duke of Gloucester had an al.
lowance of SOON. a-year, was insufficient to produce
that sum, which was provided by the public. From
this fund, however, pensions were afterwards given
• to a variety of persons, and, among others, Lady
Chatham, Lady Grenville, and Sir Home Popharn,l The accounts receive' yesterday in. else Portuguese
Mr, 1-luskisson, and Mr. Rose, which he considered journals and in numerous private letters from Lisbon,
as so much money taken from the public, and argued, were highly gratifying ; and,till the substance of the
at the same Vme, that this fund of 44 per cent. was Government dispattbes was snikred to transpire, re-
not the property of the Crown, but a part, originally,
coved very general credit. But, surprising as it may
of the public revenue.
a
Mr. ROSE, in explanation, stated, that Mr. Pitt,ppear that papers published under the immediate
as a proof of his disinterestedness, died poor The controul of the Portuguese Government should be
leeward Island Fund, in the year 1786, was in debt made the vehicle of impostnre, these accounts were
to the amount of /..420,000; and, since that period, altoe-ether delusive.
the public had hard the benefit of it, as it had been
Th
applied to the Civil List. ! e actual state of affairs appears to be briefly
Mr. WILBERFORCE expressed his approbation . this :—General VICTOR having at last broken up from
of Mr. Pitt's financial talents and arrangements, as the position he occupied at Merida, and, 'having
having proved extremely useful to the country. • crossed the Tagus, at Alcantara, has entered Portu-
Mr. CREEVEY, in explanation, stated that the
gal. The bridge at Alcantara was bravely defended
fund of four and a half per cent. had been raised ori-
ginally by a Colonial Act at Barbadoes, for the de-
for six hours by the Portuguese Legion; but the su-
tenet of the colonies, and of course belonged to the periority of the enemy enabled him to force a passage.
revenue r.f the country. 1 The accounts given of the movements of this corps
Mr. LONG contended, that if time gave a pre- abound with these inconsistencies which the intelli-
.

Letter:, have been received from Sir A WriII:UVIEL-
LESLEY, dated Montalgre and Ravaens, May 17.
The enemy haviug destroyed all his guns, ammu-
nition, and baggage, with the ex.ccption of such part
of his plunder as could be conveyed upon mules ; •
and, having left all his sick and vwounded, had el- •
fected his retreat through the mountains by Villa del
Rey to o:.ensee. There had been a slight nffair with
the rear-guard at Ravaens, in which the enemy suf-
fered some loss. It was supposed that since the com-
mencement of the campaign upon the Vonga, the
enemy had lost one-fourth of his army. Letters have
been received from Abrantes, dated May :.'O.—A
French corps of l'2oo men had faced the byidge of
Alcantara, and ha/ proceeded to Cartel Branco, on
their route towards Almeyda, with the intention, it
eras supposed, of succouring Sault; but it is imagined,
that when the retreat of Soult is fully known, they
will move down the- Tagus to take advantage of Sit
ARTHUR WIILLIZLIa'S absence. Another French
corps, but few in numbers, haciappeared on the South
.Bank of the Ta”. 9ns at Membrio and Salorino."
0
To the preceding we shall only add the following
letter, which contains the proceedings of Sir Aft.tnutt
WELLF.g.LY up to the 17th ult. and some interesting
details of the operations East of Lisbon :
" Lisbon, Sunday Naon, May 21,11'09.
" The news from Sir Arthur Wellesley's combined army
reaches to thel7th ; he was advaocing towards the Minho, and
had daily combats with the rear of tke enemy. Soolt appears to
have made the hest dispositions for a retreat, and it is to be
feared that he will succeed in the two-fold objects of drawing off
the main strength of our forces, towards Chii/icia, where INey's
corps will be at hand to stipport him, cad thereby overmatch Sir
Anhui's ;-,,allant army, white the Eastern frontiers •ot Puetagal
will have been forced br Victor.
" This General entered Akantata on the 14th instant, with
1.5,000 men, and, it is confidently reported, that he has in all
26,00 a. The 7:ri;141 1-IPgintems at Altra7;t s are as follow :-
1400 twa Regiments heavy Cavalry, :Id ;mu 4:11-460 27th Re-
giment of Foot—SCO 24th ditto-560 3!st <itto-500 45th ditto,
--420 50th ditto—Maier-General IVl'Kenzie second in ccor-
manet 4RPO six Battalions Kirg'sGerman Le-dian, Major-Gene-
TA Murray, Chief in Command. And 450 to 300 British Con-
valescents will sail today i-or Abrantes. In all, 33.90 to 2440.
Ther.r are as many mare Lortuguese soli'lerr, besides 2000 that
sailed from hence yesterday. 'lhese will feflm an aggregate total'
of IS to 19,000 -cgalars, besides militia aid Yeomanry, who can
• easily be augmentet to 20,0 t more. Yet strong tears are enter-
.
; tain:d of the result of the first general anion, owing to the exp2r.
rience of the eneray.
1 " The news of Victor's army b.icg already in Portugal reached •
us on the Pith, at.-night. I; :.:o; ereu on each side of the Tagus,
front Alcan"ars ; and.probably wittie onet ranch of it is attarkiog
Abrantes, the other tlivisiaet will 'pass this river between Ctult.a,
eighteen -leagues from hence; on tt.is side, and push or. to Lishc,t.
'l'l.is str'...es me ti be the plan of Victor ; and if his number be
above stated, t here is no doubt of their gaining possession of the
cl.plt;,l; which will be the certain presage of our total and final
diSteontfiture in ail parts of this country.
" In Lisbon there are no troops of the line. Abont 350 Ma-
rines, belonging to the ships of Ire: in this harbour, took posses-
sim-, of the Cattle of St. Gte.rge on Friday, to do duty there. A
great many gnu boats, under the condiatet of Lietc:naots a•id
Masters or the English squadron here, were seat up to Abram:se
and stationed with a view to impede the crossing of the river by
the enemy ;but the extent attic shoals is so great, that it requires
other au‘iliarica to stop the passage.
" The news of Oporto having beau retaken from the French,
reached us on the•l7th, and ceased great rejeivngs; three nights
illuminations, and guns tiring from forts and shipping, made a
lasting irapression•on all ranks of people, bat esl,ecially the mid-
dling class, who are really loyal, and impressed with gratitude to
the British. Inclosed are the Pipers to the 20th, from which
you can extract senile information, although very little touching
'the particulars which I detail.
" Captain S. Lieutenant P. and Dr. C. of the 45th, who were I
given tip for trial to the Portuguese-60111C months back, have
been fully uplifted of the murder of the.Spauish Captain of
merchant-Wm, and are now at liberty. . e.
" Discount on paper:money is at kot por inttaL• It actuates
dally, as never incline. • • ••
r " There are 411 transports ordered from hence to Opens, to
incolve french prisoners. In this city all is tranquillity.
a, P. S.—(/12y /3).—1 have broken this letter open, to inclose
the L:niSes Gazetk publishesl this day. I have nothing new to add.
Fourteen transports for Oporto sailed this morning, to take French
prisoners on board."

Lord FOLKSTONE was perfectly ready and pre-
pared for voting for the amendment.
Mr. WHITBREAD said it was by no means his •
wish to take the House by surprise. He only wished
that Gentlemen would turn it in their minds, and
come prepared to decide it upon a future occasion.
He dwelt at some length on the inconvenience of
blending the higher Law Officers with political situa•
tions. We often found that the Lord Chancellor was
obliged to break up his Court, and defer the sentences
of his Court, to attend a Cabinet Council, or his duty
in Parliament. He then gave notice, that he would
move it on Thursday in the House.

The conversation was then continued for some time
longer, after which the first Resolution was read and
agreed to, and the others were withdrawn till Thurs-
day, when the It:_Tort was ordered to bn! taken into
farther consideration.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of,
And the House adjourned at Halt-past Two.

TuE EkExc_NG STAR.

LONDON.

SATURI)AY, JUNE 3.
PRICE OF STOCKS Tkiii DAY AT ONE
COovols, for snooty, eilik--Ditto, for aec. 491—Om:aura 4- pr.
Esehequer to s. t• Ms. pre.
PRICE OF tiIOCIU YESTERDAY.

Bank Stock '2sli • India Bonds, ISs. 17s. pr.
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S per Cent. Nutry99i 991 i Omniunt Al pre.
Long Ann. IS 7-t6 Consols lair acc. 69)

Dispatches were yesterday received at °the Admi-
ralty hum Admiral CocuttANE, Commander in Chief
of his Majesty's Naval Forces on the Leew.ird Island
station, e,,ntaining the agreeable int;liigenee that the
Island called the &antes had surrendered to I.ii
Majesty's arms, and that the garrison are prisoners
of war.
_ _ . _ _

pT`_ The French and Dutch Papers arc filled with de-
.
!trip:lye sight, that rin•ht was now vested in his Ma-
p gence from Spain and Portugal often presents, and tails of the successes obtained over the Tyrolese by
e..:y, as, since the reign of George 1. pensions bad
it remains doubtful whether it has been the intention the French and Itssli:sn troops. The Austrians are
yea 4110 Wed out of that fund to pebrsons who had no
di yepresented as having been entirely driven out of the
of VICTOR to join Soma., or merely to prods