Star.
London, England, 1824-04-20 00:00:00

DECREE or rits KING or rift NETHERLANDS.

We, William, by the Grace of GOD, King of the Ne-
therlands, Prince of Orange Nassau, Grand Duke of
Luxembourg, &c. Ike. having taken into our considera-
tion that, since our accession to the Throne, Commerce
has not acquired that extension, and been carried on
with such vigour as the re-establishment of a general
peace and our amicable relations with all the world had
promised; that, consequently, the trade of ship-building
and the equipment of ships, and our home manufac-
tures, have not reached the state of prosperity of which
they are susceptible; that the trifling success of our
shipping interest, and our trade beyond sea, but above
all 'our Indian trade, may be imputed to these circum-
stances ; that commerce and navigation have not in
every respect answered our expectations, nor acquired
the stability to be desired by commercial men ; that
hitherto they have been in a great measure supported
by our Government, but even this support has been
found insufficient to some of the merchants; the re-
sult shews that the mother country has not reaped the
advantages of navigation and commerce established
on a proper basis, at the same time that our transmarine
'possessions have been exposed to great deprivations.—
We have therefore taken into our most serious consider-
ation, and it is the object of our constant solicitude, to
.apply a remedy to this state of things, to encourage
agriculture and every branch of industry, and to give
Ito the kingdom, with the assistance of GOD, all the ad-
vantages which its rank amongst nations, its geogra-
' phical position, and the importance of its Colonies de-
mand. For this purpose we must not, like some other
•
nations, have recourse to a system of prohibitions, but
on the contrary, endeavour to maintain an unrestricted
navigation under our flag and that of other friendly
nations, and a judicious employment of capital and
labour, so as to give life and vigour to the whole. That
a Company in which the native and the foreigner may
each contribute to the welfare of the kingdom is parti-1
cularly adapted to these objects. That such a Company
should have alone for its object commercial pin-suits,
without interfering in state affairs either in this king-
dom or in the Colonies, and that its operations should'
not be restrained by the Government, nor its connection
with the Government, other than by law established, in
respect to all Joint Stock Companies. It being our
Royal pleasure to assist in the establishment of such a
Company, and give all persons an opportunity of parti-
cipating in its advantages, we Decree as follows:
1. There shall be opened in the Chambers of Cens-1
merce in the following cities, viz. Amsterdam, Antwerp,
Bruges, Brussels, Dordrecht, Ghent, Leyden, Middle-
burg,
Ostend, and Rotterdam, subscriptions for a Ne-
therland Commercial Cbmpany, which shall be esta-
blished for a term of twenty-five years, conformably to
I the law concerning Joint Stock Companies, with per-
mission to apply for an extension of the time limited, at,
the expiration of the twenty-five years.
2. The stock of the Company shall be, in the first in-
stance, twelve millions of guilders. However, it may
be increased to twenty-four millions, should the sub-
scription exceed the sum limited, or should the Com-
pany deem it expedient.
Should there be an increase in the sum limited, the
first subscribers shall be at liberty to add to their sub-
scriptions in proportion to the original sums subscribed.
S. The shares of the Company shall be for 1,000
florins each ; they may, however, be subdivided into
fractional parts of 500, and 250 florins.
4. 'The sums subscribed shall be paid by instalments
at the times to be hereafter mentioned; and five per
cent. on each share shall be paid fifteen days after the
books shall be closed.
5. The books shall be opened for subscriptions at the
Chambers of Commerce abovementioned, fifteen days
after the date of the present Decree.
The Chambers shall render accounts daily of the pro-
gress of the Subscription to the Department for Na-
tional Industry and the Colonies, in order that the esta-
blishment of the Company may be decreed and the time
fixed for publishing the Subscription. Should the whole
Subscription exceed the sum required, the first Subscri-
bers, in point of date, shall be preferred.
6. Two months after the Subscription shall be opened,
or earlier, should the sun of twelve millions have been
subscribed, the Colonial Department shall invite the
Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce to call a Meet-
..
mg of the Shareholders, in order that they may depute
some of their body to meet at the Hague, to concert
with a Communion' which we shall appoint, a plan of

operations for the said Company, which shall then be
submitted for our approbation.
The number of Deputies for each Chamber shall be
fixed by us agreeably to the number of Subscribers. The
books shall be closed on the last day ofJune,lB24. Should
the subscriotions amount to more than twelve millions,
the surplus shall be applied as directed in Article 2.
7. There shall not be allowed to this Company any
exclusive privilege whatever. We declare, notwith-
standing, that we will grant every protection which an
establishment of so much importance merits.
8. The Deputies will take into consideration every
thing that can tend to the encouragement of commerce,
navigation, the fidieties. agriculture, and the manufac-
turing industry of the nati,in.
9. The Company will also extend its views to the
trade of the East Indies, the extension of commerce and
navigation to our own pssessions and every other part
of India, and the neighbouring countries, the tea trade
of China, and the fisheries in the Indian Seas.
10. The Society will give the preference to the na-
tional manufactures, in all cases, except where they cant
not be applied to the purposes required.
11. The Company shall employ for transporting
goods, whether for their own account or for the account
of others, national ships only, sailing under the Nether-
land flag, and shall give a preference to Netherland-
built ships.
12. The Company shall have a preference in the ship-
ment of stores for the use of the Colonies, and for the
transporting of stores and merchandize from thence to
the Netherlands. For these purposes the Compaay shall
communicate with the Administration. _ _

13. To shew our desire to promote the welfare of the
Company, We guarantee to the shareholders an annual
interest of 4i per cent. to commence from the second
year, that is to say, 1825-1826, and the profits shall
be divided in such manner as to secure the stability of
the Company.
14. Being desirous still further, by our example, to
promote the establishment of the Company and the na-
tional prosperity, we put our name and that of our
house at the head of the subscription, for the sum of
four millions of guilders ; and should, contrary to all ex-
pectations, the amount not be subscribed, before the 30;h
June, 1824, to the extent of twelve millions, we will
subscribe for our own account to make up the deficiency.
Our Minister of Public Instruction, National Indus-
try, and the Colonies, is charged with the execution of
the present Decree.
(Signed) WILLIAM.
By the King,
3. G. de mey Van STREEFKERK.
A true Copy.—The Secretary of State,
L. H. ELIAS SCHOVEL.
Given at Amsterdam, 29th March, 1824.

SPAIN.

--.4•—•
MADRID, APRIL io.

The number of Royalist volunteers of this capital
will not be diminished, because it does not exceed that
fixed according to the extent of population. •
It is announced that General Rivaud has refused to
take the command of the Army of Occupation in Spain.
It is al,o stated that Viscount Dijeon will replace Bour-
mont, and Marshal Monten will command at Cadiz,
the second brigade of the Army of Occupation. It is
General Deperamons, who, at this moment, commands
at Madrid.

It appears that the Spanish Government has not
thought it sufficient for one Agent of Finance's to go to
Paris, therefore it has sent M. Burgos, whose principal
mission is to examine what means of credit the Spanish
Government can obtain there.—French Paper.

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

MADRID, Aran..s, 1824.

The people of Madrid have for these few days past
been put into a state of alarm by the report of conspi-
racies, of the discoveries of arms, of seditious and vio-
lent expressions against the King and Royal Family,
dce. and a few nights ago upwards of twenty persons
were taken up and conveyed to gaol. Yesterday an
edict was published and stuck up, informing the public
that the enemies of the tranquillity of Spain had deter-
mined that she should never enjoy that blessing—that
they invent malignant rumours, spread odious calum-
nies, and that there is nothing they leave unattempted
to obtain their perverse designs. Among other things,
they have sent circulars to the Commanders of the
Royalist Volunteers of the Pi ovinces, enclosing a pre-
tended Royal order, making it appear to be the will of
the King that the Volunteers should resist the execution
of the regulations lately adopted and published for these
corps, and to which is forged the signature of the Ge-
neral Commandant of the Madrid Volunteers.
The divided and subdivided. state of the Constitu-
tionalists, jlteir exilement from their homes and from
their country, make it evident that they have no party
anywhere physically strong enough, or, it ought to
be supposed, =rally weak encrogh, to engage in any
attempt at the present moment, or for a considerable
time to come, should the French troops be withdrawn.
It is, therefore, manifest that all has been a scheme—if
not of the French, then of the Royalists, whether of
the Government, of the Friars, or of the Police—ar-
ranged for the purpose of spewing the disturbed state
of the country, and the necessity for the French re-
maining here CO keep all quiet, as according to the
Convention, they should evacuate Spain in July nest, if
the state of affairs would permit it. This farce has,
therefore, been got up, on purpose to afford this pre-
text. The artillery has returned frrm Aranjuez, another
French regiment has come in, and the treasury and hos-
pitalshave been ordered to remain in Madrid.
To all residing in Spain it is apparent that the Ft cr.ch
should remain in the country, for without them tnere
a
would be no Government at all. The WAitt of money
precludes the idea of the formation of the Spanish
arnin
all parts
ts
thatyioarssaelisvko services
rendered, c of
td
l contenting
eie,i, aDisturbances e
would be the result of ~!:eir 'fo the world,
however, it is necessary to produce facts to prove it,
and they are not to be had without coining.
' multitudes
n o
af claim-
ants
The order impeding the entrance of anybody into
Aranjucz, without the King's express permission, is in
part a political
Alliance, and I undo stand no one sees his Majesty but
111C3lIt C of the Ministers of the Iloly
in presence of General Doutmont. They hope by Oil

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to keep the king in the same mind for six days together,
that he may enter into their views, and order the adop-
tion of their measures, and not be interrupted by any
groom or lacquey, whose advice he might ask and take.
Of the servitnts, high and low, only two of each depart-
ment have IlecoiriOnied the Royal fimily ; and none of
the Camanillai nor priests or friars are allowei into their
presence. Time will shew us what will be the end of these
proceedings, for really there is no divining it at present.
At Toledo, all who scent of Constitutionalism have
been turned out, and the friars are making great prepa-
rations to receive the King for the Holy Week.