Star.
London, England, 1822-01-18 00:00:00

LAW PROJECT ON THE PERS&

• PRESIDENT.—The order of the day calls to the
tribune the Reporter of the Committee appointed to
consider the Law Project for the repression of of-
fences of the Press.—This Committee consists of

3131. Chillier, Wooer, de Peyronnet, Preveraud de la Ban-
tres,?, Chillaud, de la Iligaudu, Pardessus, Pommeral, Florian
de liergauly, Nleynard.

M. CIIIFFLET, the Reporter.—The Law Project
which your Committee has directed me to report has ,
for its object the repression of several offences which
were not provided against by the Laws of the 17th
.May, and the 9th If June, 1819. In generally adopt-
ing the proposed measures, your Committee has per-
ceived still too much reserve. Permit me to make
some preliminary observations. Here the Reporter
entered into very long details. He applauded the
sphit which dictated Article 1, against writers who
insti!t tw ridicule either the religion of the State, or
any other t eligion, the establi hment of which is re-
cognized in France. It would be no longer imagined,
as in the deiii ium of party spirit it had been. that the
law of Fiaixe was atheistical, aud that it ought so to
be. He ex, rested the same approbation of Article 2,
which provides against the insulting of the Royal
Authority; and of Article 4, I el-46 we to instigations
to hatred and contenit t of the King's Government—
(Viulent murmurs on the left).
M. de GIKARDIN—This definition has a frightful
latitude.

M. Cumwr, in continuation.—To tranquillize,
however, the most anxious minds, your Cummittae
proposes to adJ to this Article, U the present provi-
sion shall not militate against the right of discussion
and the censuring of Ministerial acts"—(Agitation).
Voices on the left.—Under the good pleasure of
the Commission of Censorship and its circulars.
The Reporter proceeded.—The law of the 17th of
May authorised the Journals to give accounts of the
debates of the Chamber of Deputies, provided they
were reported correctly and with good faith ; but that
law enacted no punishment against the opposite of-
fence, namely, the reporting the Sittings of the Cham-
ber and Tribunals unfaithfully. The present Project
supplies this defect. Not only the Editors who pub-
lish unfaithful accounts may be punished by fine and
imprisonment, but, according to Article 7, the pro-
prietrr and editors of the offending Journal may be
prohibited from giving any further accounts of legis-
lative or judicial proceedins. The Committee is of
opinion, that a total prohibition would be too rigor-
ous, and that it a ill be sufficient to interdict the pub-
lication for a limited period.
Voice on the left.—lf the suspension should hap-
pen during the Session of the Chambers, that will
render the Journal prodigiously interesting.
Other Voices.—This is much the same as if, in-
stead of condemning a man to death, you merely pro-
hibited him from breathing, for twenty-four hours—
(Laughter and tumult).
The Reporter.—Tho Committee cannot disguise to
itself, that the provision of Article 9, against persons
who may endeavour to disturb the public peace, by
exciting contempt or hatred of citizens against one
or several classes of persons, is somewhat vague, and
it has therefore rectified it. The Committee is of
opinion, that the Corporations recognized by the
Charter deserve as least as much respect in society
as individual!.

M. de LAM um, and other Members on the left,
exclaimed, in the midst of much tumult--The Char-
ter recognizes. no Corporations ! It will turn out at
last that we shall be allowed to speak of nothing—
not even of the Missionaries. We shall be told also,
that they are Corporations recognized by elic Charter.
(The Reporter continued his details, in the midst of a
noise which prevented what he stated from being
culleeted.)
The PRESIDENT.—The Reporter must not be in-

,ItMß.—There is much imprudence
•ai.e.! by the Reporter.
•Ye,, yes; imprudence!
r.—Tlie Rcpcutni speaks in the,

'name of the Committee. Tat will have the.op
tunity of replying to him In Vie debate in the public
Sitting. Joterruptions like these cannot be tolerated.
The Repyrter procilded td the ofences committed
theJougah. iHe proposed so willpower the Courts
which judge in the last resort to suspend or suppress
a Journal, the editors of which should be guilty of a
relapse to seditious provocations—(An explosion of
murmurs).—This suppression is not, as has been pre-
tended, a confiscation; for confiscation is what is
donefor the profit of the Treasury, and that is what
the Charter has thought fit to abolish—(lnterru ptions).
Voice from the left,---We cannot hear ; encore I—
(A laugh.)
The Reporter.—The weapon with which a maniac
would strike his victim is taken from him. Are wea-
pons of malevolence in the possession of a Journalist
less formidable? or are not our neighbours every day
obliged to destroy infected articles ? It is proper that
the proprietors should make the sacrifice—(Laughter
and interruption in different senses).
A Voice on the left.—Do you compare the articles
of Journals to the yellow fever ?
A Voice on the right.—We are rather afraid of the
tricoloured fever.
The Reporter.—The suppression of a Journal ren-
ders measures necessary for preventing its re-appear-
ing under another title. Without that provision the
law would be illu,ory. The Committee has not
thought it necessary to enter into a consideration ofthis
subject ; a Law of Police which provides against this
case is submitted to you. The Reporter now arrived
at. the most important part of his subject, and entered
into long details on the question, whether Juries ought
to continue to take cognizance of offences ofthe Press.
Ile observed, it could not be forgotten that scandalous
impunities had been proclaimed by some verdicts.
MM. GIRA RDIN, LAFITTE, &c.—You should rather
speak of scandalous convictions.
General Foy.—What 1 the Reporter of a Committee
speaking against the judicial judgments.
M. LAFITTE.—He is calumniating the Prefects
who appoint .'uries.
The REPORTER continuing.—Where, then, is the
guarantee which society wants?
M. de Ctr t;v ELI N and others.—ln a Jury, of which
we have only the shadow.
The Reporter.—The Committee has instructed
me to propose to you to refer to the Royal Courts
the cognizance of offences of the Press, on references
being made to them by the Chamber of Council.—
What just distrust can you have of Courts which
judge finally in appeals relative to your fortune and
' your honour? The power proposed to be given to
them will augment their political importance, and
elevate them in public opinion.
M. de LA MEWL—Say, rather, that it will ruin
them in public opinion.
The Reporter.—lt must be remembered, that the
judgment is to be pronounced in a solemn sitting of
both Chambers of the Court, and that the number of
Judges present cannot be less than twelve. They
will, therefore, constitute a sort of Special Jury, and
there can be no reason to apprehend that the decisions
sr ill be marked by partiality. The Members of the
Committee are unanimous in their opinion. The
Reporter concluded by expressing his hope, that the
law project and the amendments made by the Com-
mittee would be favourably received by a Chamber
so eminently religious and royalist.
M. de Coaccu.cs.—And constitutional.
Several voices.—This is a true Report of the Com-
mittee of Genes al Security.
The Secretaries then proceeded to take down the
names of the Members who proposed to speak in the
debate. The following is the list :

For the Law and the Conclusion of the Reporter—MM. Do-
pleads Grenedan, Revelliere, le General Partonnrauz, de Castel-
bajac, de Bouville, de Kergorlay (Florian), de Montbron, Clause'
de Coussergues, Donnadiru, Pardeuus, de Martignac, Frenilly,
de Cayrol, de Bourrienne, Barthe.Labastlaide, de Sesmaisons,
OlUvier (de la Drome), de Bonald, Dubruel, de Marcellus, Cor.
net Dlncourt, Crignon d'Auzoner.

Against it—MM. de CorceUes, Etienne, Sebastiani, Payee de
Vanclieuvre, Royer-Collard, Medlin, Devaux, le General Foy,
Bignon, d'Argenson, Ilumann, Jobe's, Keratry, de Bondy, Lab-
bey de Pumpicres, Demarsay, Dupont (de l'Eure), de Girardin,
de Jouvencel, Florent-Saglio, Rodet, Guillsem, Manuel, Dar-
rieux, Humblot-Comte, Legraverand, de Saint -Aubire, de La-
meth, Beslay, Daunou, Lefevre-Gineatt, Delaitre Caumartin,
Cabanon, Laiane de Villeveque, I)elessert, Bogne de Faye,
Lafitte, Benjamin Constant, Casintir Perier, Robin Scevole, de
Brigode, Delaroche.

the PREstossr.—The Report will be printed and
distributed. The Chamber has only to fix the day for
its consideration.

A ♦oice on the right.—Thursday.
The PRSslDENT.—According to the rules of the
Chamber, there must be twenty-four hours between
the distribution of the Report and the debate. It is
not possible that the Report can be distributed to-
morrow.

MM. de Coaczu.Es, MECHIN, GIRARDIN,
Then make Monday the day.
Voice on the right.—That cannot be. You forget
that Monday is the 21st of January. There can be
no sitting on that day.
M. de CORCELLES.—Then put off the debate till
next year if you like—(Laughter).
M. BENJAMIN CONSTANT.—I propose that the dis-
cussion be adjourned to Tuesday, the 22d. It is im-
I possible that a law which has been completely mo-
dified by the Committee, which changes the whole
of our jurisprudence, which destroys the natural or-
der of jurisdictions, and which I maintain is hostile
to the Charter, can be discussed until we have had
time to read and reflect on the voluminous Report
which you have just heard. This law, in fact, intro-
duces into jurisprudence principles which I shall not
now attempt to characterise, but which require a
long and profound examination. By acting hastily,
the Chamber would do injustice to itself—(Laughter).
The proposed law is contrary to every principle
hitherto recognized. For my part I declare that I
cannot discuss such a Report within '24 hours.
A number of voices.—Do not discuss it now ; this
is not the time.

Amidst great tumult the PRESIDENT repeatedly
rang his bell, but found it impossible to produce si-
lence, and M. BENJAMIN CONSTANT, after some far-
ther observations, left the Tribune, declaring that dis-
cussion was impossible in an Assembly which pos-
sessed such a rnajnrity.
The PRESIDENT then put the question on the con-
sideration of the Report for Tuesday. This was ne-
gatived, and Saturday was fixed for the debate.—
There will a Public Sitting on Wednesday, for a
Report from the Committee of Petitions.

E'

:N IN(

.

IN.
- .
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1822.
THE FUNDS.
STOCK EXCHANGE-ONE O'CLOCK:
This is Settling Day, and the Brokers and Jobbers
are engaged in the settlement of Accounts. Consols
are one per Cent. lower this settlement than on the
last, the Market is steady, at 761/s %, and for the
new. Account 76% 3/4. The Jews have continued
their -speculation, and taken a large quantity of
Money Stock, which they have pawned with their
Banker's, holding themselves responsible for all risk.
At this hour the Market has declined a little, in
consequence of a heavy delivery of Money Consols,
which the Bulls have not been prepared to take ; it
is supposed the Bankers refuse to lend their support
to ;he system of pledging Stock for the purpose of
Jobbing. Consols are now, for Money, 76, and for
the Account, 76%. No Defaulter declared up to
One o'Clock.

Lo:

Bank Stock 2881/2—S per Cent. Red. 76% 5 54
s per Cent. Cons. 76% 76%755
31/2 per Cent. 87 %-4 per Cent. 96% 34
5 per Cent. Navy 108% 107 Ya
Bank Long Annuities 19 7-16 lh
Imperial 3 per Cts. 76
India Bonds 775. 765. 765. pre.
Ezcb. Bills £lOOO, 4s. 6s.—Ditto small 4s. 6s. pr.
Cons. for Accoant 761,4 14.

The French Papers of Monday and Tuesday have
been received. Those of Sunday still remain due.
In the Chamber of Deputies on Monday there was a
new and interesting discussion on the subject of the
Press, which arose on the reading of the Report of
the Committee on M. de SERRR'S Project. M. Cirri.--
FLPT, the Reporter, or as we should call him, the
Chairman, stated at great length the nature of the
proposed law, which had for its object to repress of-
fences of the Press not provided for by the Laws cf
the 17th May and the 9th of June, 1819. The first
Article was against writers who insulted or ridiculed
religion; the second provided against insulting the
Royal Authority ; and the fourth Article related to
" instigations to hatred and contempt of the King's
Government." M. de GI RA RDIN observed that this
definition had a " frightful latitude ;" when M.
CHIFYLICT said, in order to tranquilize the most
anxious minds, it was proposed to add to this Ar-
ticle, that " it should not militate against the right
of discussion and the censuring of Ministerial acts."
—The law of the 17th of May, which authorised ac-1
counts of the debates in the Chamber of Deputies,
provided they were reported correctly, did not enact
any punishment against reporting them unfaithfully.
The new Project supplies this defect, as it is called, by
enacting that not only the Editors who publish un-
faithful accounts may be punished by fine and impri-
sonment, but the Proprietors and Editors of the
offending Journal may be prohibited from giving
any further accounts of legislative or judicial pro-
zeedings. The Reporter, as if conscious of the seve-
rity of such a law, said that it was only intended to
interdict the publication for a limited period. One
of the Members commented rather happily on this
proposition, which, he said, was much the same
as if, instead of condemning a man to death, you
merely prohibited him from breathing for four-
and-twenty hours. The next proposition in this
famous, or rattlbr infamous Report, was to empower
the Courts which judge in the last resort (which here
means the Royal Courts), to suspend or suppress a
journal, the Editors. of which should be guilty of a
relapse to seditious provocations. What the Reporter
or the Committee mean by " a relapse to seditious
provocations" does not seem very obvious, but the
object of this part of the law is to prevent a sup-
pressed journal from re-appearing under another
title. The last part of the new law much resembles
that proposed by M. de PRYRONNET, by which the
trial by Jury is to be abolished ; and offences of the
Press referred to the Royal Courts. The Reporter
concluded by expressing his hope that the Law Pro-
ject would be favourably received by a Chamber 44 so
eminently religious and royalist ;" but this hope does
not seem likely to be realized, for no sooner was the
Report concluded, than forty-two Members inscribed
their names to oppose it. The discussion comes on
to-morrow, and it is easy to see that it will be a
stormy one.

It will be recollected that there are two law pro-
jects relating to the Press before the Chamber; ore
proposed by M. de SER Itr, the Ex-Minister, the Report
on which we have noticed ; when this has been dis-
posed of, then comes the new Project of M. PEYRONN Er.
Both projects are almost equally odious in principle,
and are equally subversive of free discussion ; and,
although a Committee has been found to approve
the former, yet we trust that there is still sufficient
virtue in the Chamber of Deputies to prevent either
of them from passing into a law.
The French Papers of Monday bring no additional
information of importance relative to Russia and
Turkey. The Illoniteur, under the head of Frank-
fort, gives a letter from Constantinople of the 10th
December, which states that the Porte has admitted
the principle of the four demands of Russia, but re-
quires muclificationrin the manner of their being car-
, ried into execution. The Porte does not formally

rehounce the requisition for delivering up the ter
•ogetc,
but, what is regarded as an implicit renunciatiqn
ceases to press that point. To this effect is the no.;
says the Constantinople letter, transmitted by til;
Divan to St. Petersburgh, and it remains to be seen
what reception it will meet with. is said that die
Firman published by the GRAND Szioatoa, for sou_
pressing the outrages pf the populace, had been 4t•
tended with complete success.
The Austrian Observer gives the particulars (f
the horrible butchery that was committed at Tti,,o,
litza. Six and thirty thousand persons, including sal
women, and children, and forming the whole GI thte
Turkish population, it is said, were destroyed; a„,l
only one person, the son of the Pacha of Cone}.,
was spared, in the hope that he might be useful :0
the Greeks in the enterprize which they had nieji.
tated against Col inth, If the father will not surrey..
der the city, it is to be expected that
.the son v. ,',
share the fate of the other victims.
It is stated, on the same authority, that accork!:--
-.)
to the last advice's from the Persian capital, t: e
&NMI had declared that the hostilities committed
by his son had no connection with the actual situ.
Lion of the Ottoman Empire, and that they we: e
der ta ken solely for the purpose of punishil,g the
Curds for some predatory acts of which they had
been guilty. These people acknowledge only a nt.
minal dependence on the Porte, and are in the 114 it
of plundering both the Turks and Persians.
A private letter from Madrid, in the Paris Pa e--,
dated the 3d instant, states, that the Council of Stae
which had, in the sitting at which the KING
been of opinion that the Ministers should be sq.
ported. had afterwards altered their determinati(
and advised their dismissal; but their resignaticn
not been made known. A report was cui rent in t: e
evening of the 3d, that all the Ministers were de.
prived of their offices, v, ith, the exception of M. RAR-
DAXI and M. PELLEC.:RIA. This caused some irrita.
Lion among the political clubbists, as they charge the
former Minister, who held the portfolio of l'oreigo
Affairs, with having conspired against the constitu-
tional system, through the agency of foreign diiic-
matists ; and M. PELLEGRINI, Minister for the Colo.
nies, with having given the fatal instructions to the
late General O'Dosoic, which accelerated the Li
of New Spain.

It is stated in letters from Seville, that the re-
volters had required a new oath from their associres
and proselyteF, -the object of which is to yield o
obedience either to the Cortes or to the Governmenz.
The inhabitants, it is added, are averse to their fat.
tious schemes, which are the work of a few indOi-
duals only. The soldiers of the army of Cataloria
have published their determination to support t! e
Constitution and the King to the utmost of th&r
power. In Navan-e the revolters, amounting to about
600 men, are said to be in a most miserable cond.-
tion. . The tumults at Bilboa have been .11, pre,s:d,
and the Chief of the Insurgents is now wandzring
about the mountains, accompanied oily by a few tb,e::.
PRIVATE LETTER.
" PARIS, JAN. 14, SEVEN O'CLOC,!.
" The report on M. Serre's Project of Law for tbe
regulation of the Press has been presented to-day : the
discussion commences on Saturday. The Repeater
was M. Chiffiet (Member for Doubs), aho is new to
this Chamber, but who sat and voted with the majo-
rity for the Chambre Introuvable. He was then ti.c
Reporter of a Commission which proposed to renje.:
the Clergy proprietors, and strongly suppoz ted
proposition of M. de Ronald to suppress the right of
divorce. He was appointed President of the edi.r.
Royale of Besancon by Ultra interest. Such being'
the Reporter on the Project of Law for regulating ch.:
Press, the nature of the Report may be easily con-
jectured. I cannot at this hour give any detailed
count of its contents. It was extremely long, occu-
pying the Chamber from half-past three to within :t
quarter of five. It was drawn up quite in an Ultra
manner, and was frequently interrupted by the load
disapprobation of the left side of the Chamber. Th'
principal point of novelty in it was a recommendatioa
to abolish the trial by jury in all offences of the F re, ,
as in M. Peyronnet's Project with respect to the Jour-
nals, and to transfer the decision to the Corm-17,757.1e
in solemn sitting, with not less than twelve
This, said the Reporter, was all the guarantee that
the freedom of the Press could demand. The Cham-
ber was full. The Sitting was very stormy the dis-
approbation of the Liberals vehement, and the
sum of the Ultras equally clamorous. As soon a;
the Report was read, no less than forty-two Nlentbers
inscribed their names to oppose the Project. Amor;
those inscribed in support of it is M. Clausel Je Con ,-
sergues, who made such an unreasonable and al),:ri
attack en 3L de Cazes, as the murderer of the Du ;se
of Berry : he is at their head. The galle:ies wore
crowded to excess. Persons had even taken their
stand at the door by eight o'clock in the morning,
though the Sitting did not open till half-past one.—
The discussions n ill be very important. France i 4
yet far from being settled in her liberties, when ques-
tions of such importance as Trial by Jury are opened
for discussions in Reports like the present.
" The Report on M. Peyronnet's Bill for the Police
of the Journals, it is said, will not be deli% ered till
the debates terminate on the Project of Je Serre.
is somewhat spiking that the Reporter of this Com-
mission, M. de hlartigoac, as well as. of the . other.
'should belong to the Royal Court. M. de 31attiguac

I.Cri opted.
bi.CAsi►'ln PERI
la the discus ion ra
Other Vuices.-1
Tisk: PIts..:iIDENT

;s Proeureur-General of the Royal Court of Limoges,
and spoke lately in favour of M. de Satre, when his
conduct with regard to striking a Barrister off the
list was made the subject of complaint to the Cham•
ber. M. de Martignac is considered as a good and
steady Ultra.. • He was nominated (says an Ulu..
.1 lurnal) a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the
King, for his fine and loyal conduct at Bnurdeaux on
t!ie restoration, and during the hundred days.' There
an, of course, be no doubt of the nature of his Report.
" Funds at the close of the Market were--Five per
Cents. S 3 f. 90 c. (five cents. lower than the price in
the printed list.)"

Ca. Leeward Island Mail arrived this morning,
wilici, Ir,i St. Thomas's on the 21st of November, anu
13,11:,:idoes on the ith ult. we received the following :
ADDRESS TO THE MARINERS OF THE LIGHT

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