Star.
London, England, 1823-03-18 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPER&

• PILAU, MARCIII,4I •
A subscription is raising at Lyons o purchase some
testimonial of respect and admiraticui for the conduct
Of M. Manuel.—Courier Francais.
BAYONNE, MARCH 8.
One of our builders, who is to undertake the
bridge of boats on the Bidassoa, says, that it will take
him a month to complete his work, and that he has
not even received ciders to begin, which would lead
us to believe that hostilities will not be so prompt as
has been said. Other naval builders had been or-
dered to undertake to build fifty pontoons, of thirty-
five feet long and three and a half deep, but only ten
days were allowed them, and it was consequently im-
possible for them to undertake the commission.
A letter from France announces that Mequinenza
(the only fortress in the possession of the Spanish
Royalist insurgents) had offered to capitulate on
terms which, it is thought, would be accepted.

PARIS, MARCH 16.
The papers and private letters represent Madrid as
exhibiting an alarming spectacle. The silence of the
capital is not even interrupted by the vociferation► of
the populace, as in the stormy days of February. Se-
dition herself has lost her train, and appears to he
enveloped in darkness. Nothing is heard but the
threatening voice of the Cortes—all else is stupor.—
The population of Madrid remain mute.
At the departure of the Courier, there was mention
of a plot to keep the King at Madrid—and we know
that in Revolutions it is sufficient to seduce the mul-
titude, and irritate it against the most faithful, to
give their intentions the name of plot, and to present
them as conspirators.
Attempts have been made to shake the fidelity of
our soldiers. A letter from St. Beat, of the 6th, says,
that on the 4th, an individual presented himself at the
advances posts of Fos, and proposed to'the corporal
to pass into Spain, whither he would .conduct him.
Indignant at the proposal, the corporal seized and
carried him to his Commanding Officer. He declared
that he had been sent by the Spanish post of Puntant,
to endeavour to seduce the French soldiery to desert.

We are assured that a telegraphic dispatch re-
ceived yesterday announces, that Toulon has just
escaped the frightful disaster prepared for it by some
wretches, who, spread over our beautiful France,
have sworn the ruin of it. The ret penal and powder
magazine were set on fire in several places. This
was perceived time enough to prevent any accident,
and to defeat the infernal hopes of the incendiaries.

PRIVATE LETTER.
" OI'ORTO, mAncu t.
I hasten to address you a few lines relative to the
state of this country. In my last I apprised you of
the soulerement' in Tras os Moines, and that the par-
tizans of the Conde d'Amarante were numerous and
important, but from the activity of the Authorities in
Oporto, the general conclusion was, that there would
be nu difficulty experienced in quelling the factious
adherents of (apparently) so wild a cause.
The face of things has, however,. undergone a
most alarming change. Nothing but dismay, trepi-
dation, and despair, reign among those in rffice—all
.the inhabitants also that are attached to the present
system, and have made themselves comuictious as
Constitutionalists, display the utmost anxiety and con-
sternation. You may naturally conjecture our situa-
tion; although we have every reason to anticipate
that the personal security of any English families will
not be endangered, still who can foresee—who can
venture to say now, what may be the effect of a colli-
sion that must be tremendous and obstinate on both
sides ? At present no immediate danger threatens this
place. At Villa Real they have 111031 enthusiastically
declared in favour of the old Government; here the
soldiers had very little sway ; the inhibitants them-
selves unanimously met at the Camera, declared their
abhorrence of the present system, and proclaimed an
absolute monarchy. At ChaYes, the spirit of the
people has, if possible, been more decisive : numbers
of the inhabitants flocked to welcome the Conde, and
anxiously anticipated his arrival. Two regiments of
cavalry greeted him With loud cheers. A small de-
tachment of infantry, also stationed at Chaves, unhe-
sitatingly espoused his cause. At both these places
the principal and most weighty inhabitants headed thi
cause. The movements of the Conde have been made
with the utmost rapidity. lie is now marching upon
Valmen and Braganza, and as he proceeds acquires
strength and popularity. His forces are not known ;
his regular troops are calculated (perhaps vaguely) at
nearly five thousand men, the principal part of which
is cavalry ; he has, however, a most hardy, numerous,
and desperate band of Trasmontanos under his com-
mand. The peasantry of the province of Tras os
Monies are preferred to that of all the others for sol-
diers—they are robust and invincible. The Cnnde's
Proclamations have been handed about amongst us
with the greatest freedom.
" All the force that could be with safety dispensed;
with has been sent against him, but the troops are
not firm ; they would not go•before they were paid ;
and it has been stated, that numbers of the common
soldiers have declared that they will not fight against
their countrymen.
_

The COnde de Balsamano, his son, Domingos
Pedro, Joze Joaquim de Carvalho, and Joao. Rib.
Viamia, are sent seven leagues beyond the Douro,
to the South."

Extract of a private letter from Paris, dated the
15th March-5 P. M.

" The Duke d'Angouleme starts to- morrow for the
army ; his Staff, who accompanies him, does not con-
tain one name calculated to inspire either confidence
or courage in the soldier. The report of the Duke
Decazes coming into the Ministry is totally un-
founded : there is not one of the present Members of
the Administration that could remain one moment
under the Duke's system, which is that of the Chan:
ter, and nothing but the Charter. The Ex-Minister
resides on his estate of Gibeaur, near Libourne, where
he is introducing the English system of Agriculture,
which he studied with much attention during his re-
sidence-in England. Should the French armies meet
with reverses in Spain, it is then probable that M.
Decazes might be called on to stop the progress of
the danger ; but we apprehend that he would decline
coming into oMce to repair the evils his enemies had
produced : indeed, it is more than probable that the
evil would be beyond remedy; for when once re-
verses assail the House of Bourbon, they will be like
the torrent, that having broken down the banks, no-
thing can impede its progress.'

, VittIAMENTARI'
.121 s • •-- -, 4
' HOUSE OF I.OIRD3OKARCH 17.
Sir Totowa' Actrun, and oeveral:Mensisers from the C 4,111-
mOtti. brought up the Turnpike Act Amendment Bill.
Mr. WIGIXA HAM also brought up the Irish Yeomanry Corps
EilL—Both were read the first time.
A Person from the Office of the Chief Secretary of Ireland,
presented certain Returns, pursuant to an order of the House.
Mr. AUDI, from the Superintending Committee of the Gene-
ral Penitentiary, Millbank, presented a Report of the 4ccounts
and state of that Institution.—Laid on the table.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented a Petition froyn
the Mayor and Corporation of Oxford, praying fur a rept:A-of
the Insolvent Debtors' Act.

------- -----
Lord RILENBOROUGH presented a Petition from John
Smith, a Baker, in Rugby, in the County of Warwick,
against the Insolvent Debtors Act. The Noble Lord expressed
a hope that the Noble and Learned Lord, who was supposed to
have given his name to the Bill, would direct his attention to it
with a view of amendment. He was, however, persuaded that
Noble Lotd had little to do with the 13111 as it then stood. Ile
was most desirous to advance the prayer of the Petitioner, as
he was convinced no Bill had done more mischief.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said the Noble and Learned
Lord would nut admit the Bill had received his sanction. That
Noble and L'arned Lord never gave his name to the existing
Act. The original Bill was spoiled by improvements elsewhere.
Both Petitions were read and laid on the table.

The Portman-square Improvement Bill, and several other
Private Bills, were read the second time.
The -Irish Assessed Taxes Repeal Bilk and the Irish Arms
Bill, were read the second time, and committed fur to-morrow.—
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. BY \G presented Petitions from the Parish of St. George
in the East, 'Middlesex, against the Insolvent Debtors' Act.—
Ordered to be printed.
The London Bridge Rebuilding BiU was read a second time,
and referred to a Select Committee.

The Sheriffs of the City of London presented Petitions, pray-
ing for leave to bring in rills to enable the Lord Mayor and
Common Council to make certain alterations in the City.—Re-
ferred to S...lect Committees.
Sir T. A CL AN I/presented a Petition from Ilfracombe, pray-
ing for a remission of th... Duty on Coals.—Laid on the table.
Lord BEI. GRA VE presented a Petition from Chester
against the Insolvent Debtors' Act.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. \V. WHITMORE postponed his motion relative to the
equalization of the Duties on East and West India Sugar, from
Wednesday next to the 21st of April.
Sir J Ol I N NEWPORT presented a Petition from the Cham-
ber of Commerce, Dublin,against the proposed measure for equa-
lising the Duties on East and West India Sugar. Laid on the table.
. .

Arr. V. FITZGERALD presented a ►imilar Petition from
Cork, and observed, that the postponement of the lion. Mem-
ber's motion would afford time for similar prayers from every
commercial town in Irehnd.—Laid on the table.

The Report of the Committee on the &ate of the Penitentiary
at BlB!bank, was presented at the bar.—Lald on the table.
The Lime Exemption Bill from Tull was read a third time,
and passed.
Dr. PHILLI MORE rose to postpone the order of the day
for a Committee on the Marriage Act Amendment Bill. He
took that opportunity to state, that the object of this Bill was to
exclude all from the Marriage .Act of last year which had been
introduced into it by the other House of Parliament, and to re-
insert all that had been expunged by that House, which had
originated in the House to which be had the honour to belong.
The reason of his now wishing to .postpone the present stage of
the Bill was, because the Lords had appointed a Committee
upon this very subject, the result of which he thought it advisable
to wait for, before proceeding any farther. lie then moved, that
the Bill be committed this day IV nnight.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY hoped, that on a subject on which it
was so important to settle the real state of the law, no unneces-
gat y delay would be permitted.—The motion was agreed to.
Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE proposed the second read-
ing of the Division of Counties Bill, the object of which was to
define in a more explicit manner than at present, the authority
of the Divisional Justices.

-------
Mr. STUA IVORTLEY was not aware of the necessity
of such a Bill.
Sir M. W. It IDL P.Y thought it unnecessary, nd would there-'
fore propose as an Amendment, that it be read a second time this
day six months.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE was anxious that the nature of
the Rll should be better understood : the Amendment was, he
thought, premature.
Sir LETHBRIDGE said,that ample time would be given
for that purpose before the committal of the Bill.
Sir M. W. It I DLEY consented to withdraw bis Amendment,
and the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be commit-
ted on the s'h of April.
On the motion of Mr. Secretary Pm. the King's Property
Bill was read a third time, and passed.
Mr. HUME gave notice, that be should to-morrow move for
Returns respecting the Revenue and Expenditure of Ireland for
the last three years, and for the whole period since the Union.