Star.
London, England, 1809-05-06 00:00:00

EOTTSE OF COMMONc.

ME. ROBERT DUNDAs took the oaths and his Seat.
The House went into a Committee upcn the Glass Duty Col-
lection Bill; which, after some observations from Mr. Huskisson,
Mr. B Bathurst, and Sir J. Newport, the'several clauses were
agreed to, and Report ordered for Monday.
Sir J. NEIKTORT gave notice of his intention to move for a
Crinniirtee, on 1 hursday next, in order to refer to them Stamp
and Post-Office incidents.
'1 i e Scotch Local Militia Bill was read a second time, and or-
dc to he col-emitted to-morrow.
Mr. MUM! R gave notice of his intention to move, on the
month, sonn: motion relative to the.Post-Office.
lord I'o CHESTLR Five notice that he should, on Friday,
move tt.r (,enviiirter to search the Lords' Journals for prece-
dent, as tc..he StilEding Order with revect to Divorce Bills.
ClJARcib:s ACAINSI"I II E RICHT lION. SPENCER PERCEVAL,
ANT) UM!) VISCOUNT cAsTLF:iteiton•
Mr. NIA DDOCIiS rose, in consequence of a pre-
vious notice Nvhich he had given, with respect to some
charges which Le meant to alledge 'against his Ma-
jesty's `.l;ri:t.rs. The Honourable GentleiCut said,
‘,6 Aware as I t the little claim which I possess
to the att,•ntion , wse, —et
) I never be
induced ihr that 1,...s •I• !,),•:;...i) my duty. I
am inti:eild theref,,:e, by th(.: st7,4i;y2st sense of duty,
to bring lorwarsl dial ‘,f curt option against two
of iLs Mernbtr,'.—(lira, futir .1) illerc will he
no occasion tor met,,
stat:.• thipiz. more at present
• than to obso ye, that
le;nl:tte my pro-
c.,edings by the forms of the 11!alir.g one
general obs, tvati,n, that the hirli I shall after-
. wards have to di,:close are t,t
glaring and dange-
rous a nature, that it becomes the dignity if this
House to institute tut Inquiry. If," as on a former
night, there arc, in the opinion cf some persOns, Gen-
tlemen who have descry:4 the nanies of traitors and
,iacobilis for pursuing corruption, I trust that lit bring-

ins, these charges forward I shall not be deemed de-
serving of those epithets.—(Loud crier of hear, hear.)
I My object is only to call the attention of the House
to these practices, which, if Suffered to continue, will
in time sap the very foundation of this free and happy
constitution.—(Hear, hear.)-1 beg leave, Sir, to
move, that the Journals of this House, of the 13th
February, 1700, be read as far as they relate to the
cases of Samuel and Francis Shepherd, Esqrs. then
Members of this House."
'The Clerk accordingly read the Resolutions, from which it ap-
peared, that Samuel Shepherd, Esq. bad been guilty of bribery
and corruption ; and that he should be heard, and evidence called
to the liar cf the House.
On the 15th of February following the charges were delivered
in. The acts of bribery, as we collected, were relating to New-
port, Southampton, Malmesbury, &c.
On the sth of March following, evidence was examined as to
the charge respecting Newport—Samuel Shepherd, Esq. was ad-
judged guilty of bribery and corruption, and several other reso-
lutions were put and carried. The result was, that Samuel Shep-
herd, Esq., was committed to the Tower, &c.
Mr. MADDOCKS then rose again, and observed,
that the precedents having beenread, it appeared that
in the first place, the step which the House took in
Mr. Shepherd's case, was to receive information of
the Charges, then to hear Evidence, and, lastly, to
come to a decision upon that evidence. Under this
impression, and conceiving that in following this pre-
cedent he was strictly proceeding according to form,
he should inform the House, that the Right Hon.,
Spencer Perceval, by the means of the Hon. Henry
Wellesley, and by other Agents, had been guilty of
Corrupt and Criminal Practices ; and also that Lord
Viscount Castlereagh had been guilty of similar prac-
tices. He should therefore move,
" That the Charges against the Right Honourable Spencer
Perceval, and Lord Castlereagh, be beard at the Bar of this
House on Tuesday next."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,—
" I know not the course which the House took in
1700, but since that time I do know that it has been
usual for any Honourable Member when he has ft
Charge to bring forward, to give some intimation to
the party accused, previous thereto.—(Hear, hear.)
The present motion had been brought forward with-
out any particular statement against me ; and there-
fore, Sir, I shall do nothing but make my bow, and
le we the question to the decision of the House." Mr.
Perceval then retired.
Sir JOHN ANSTRUTHER contended, whether
the party accused stood in the responsible situation of
Minister or not, still there were principles upon which
the conduct of the House must be .governed. The
Hon. Member, in his opinion, would have been more
consistent if he had considered the situation of the
party before he had come forward with a proposition
of so extraordinary a nature—(Loud cries of Hear,
hear !)—What was it ?—The Hon. Gentleman wish-
ed the House to assume, that they were in possession
of the specific charges of corruption. Would the
House say what information the Honourable Mem-
ber had given .with respect to the charge against
the Right Honourable Spencer Perceval ?—( Hear,
hear IJ—What was he called upon to answer in his
place, or to provide Counsel to defend ? The Hon.
Baronet had always understood, that in Courts of
Justice, and as far as his experience went as to the
proceedings in Parliament, upon charges, that they
equally partook of the legality of form. Had it ever
been heard, that in a British Court of Justice, a man
had been called upon for a defence without knowing
the nature of his' accusation—(Loud cries of Hear,
hear !)—lf the Hon. Gentlemen were permitted to
accuse in this kind of manner, and the Gentlemen
were to withdraw upon the accusation being made
against them, why the Hon. Gentleman might in
tact have the whole House to himself—(A. loud
laugh).—This was a serious matter, and seemed to
him to be part of a general system of scattering loose
and indefinite charges.—The Hon. Gentleman had
certainly mistaken the precedent it had formed, a
long examination before a Committee of the House.
--[Here Mr. Maddox abserr'ed, that the Hon. Baronet
had better look at the Journals.]—The Hon. Gentleman
was certainly mistaken. The Resolutions proved
that a Committee of Privileges must have taken a
long examination, because there was a variety of
other Resolutions.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT apprehended there
warn of much difficulty in the mode of proceeding.—
It was evident that there were precedents to shew
that the House proceeded invariably upon the infor-
mation of any Hon. Member, who, of course, took
the responsibility upon himself. He rather thought
, that his Hon. Friend, however, would have no objec- ;
tion to state'to the House the precise nature of the '
charge. There had been a case in point in the reign
of Charles 11. in which a Member (Sir Thomas Lee)
had been accused of bribery, upon the information of
an Hon. Member, and the House granted a Commit-
tee of Inquiry, upon as slight grounds.
Mr. BiDbULPH observed, that the surprise
which had been testified by the other side of the
House at the manner in which his Hon. Friend had
brought forward his Motion, was not greater than
his own at the manner in which it had been met.—
He had not been aware of the subject of the Motion
until he had entered the House ; and having asked
his Hon. Friend, he had thought that it was the im-
perious duty of some of the friends of the Right Hon.
Gentleman and the Noble Lord charged, even to se-
cond the Motion, in order to clear their characters.—
He could not conceive it possible that Ministers could
sit in their situations if even a hint had been thrown
out against their public characters. Formerly, it
had been the practice, if persons holding responsible
situations had been charged with being the agents of
corruption, their feelings would have been aroused,
and-they had come forward and demanded an in-.
"quiry. By their silence on this occasion this night,
they admitted the truth of the reports. No Minister,
until he took or found an opportunity of clearing
himself, was fit to hold a responsible situation. It
had been said that the charge contained nothing.
He desired the Hon. Member who had so stated to
say whether in substance it did not contain some-
thing. He would only beg the House to look at
it. Two Ministers had been accused of indirect
practices to procure the return of Members to
ment. If that was not a subject for the solemn in
vcstigation of the House, he was at a hiss to know
what was. He trusted therefore the Hoitse would
not suffer the Motion to be scouted on account of its
being irregular in point of form. . •
Mr. B. BATHURST said, he did not know where
the Hon. 'Gentleman -who had just sat' doWn had
found the substance.s ,f this chine: The reception
which it bad met with seemed tube the.opinion.of the

•
House at large. 'What was the object of it ? It went
to accuse every public man who had held a responsi=
ble situation with a dereliction of duty—(H•ar,
—lf such a mode abringing forward a charge was
to be entertained by the House, any Hon. Member
might get up in hii place, and say, I have a charge
to make against such and such a Member, and the
House would be bound instantly to inquire into it. He '
was afraid that this mode bad originated from places
where the Hon. Gentleman frequented. He knew
that persons who were in the habit of attending those
public meetings had entertained opinions, that men
holding public situations were not fit to sit in that
House. The Motion had not been brought forward,
he was afraid, for any sober purpose of eliciting
truth, but of adding fuel to that cry of corruption
which was so prevalent abroad—( Hear, hear). It
was indeed Spargere voter in vulgam ambiguar. Indeed
he saw no substance in it. It was full of suspicion
and hints. If the Hon. Gentleman had stated some-
thing in a tangible form, then indeed the House might
have adopted the. Motion. He would not go into
the precedent of the case alluded to by the Hon. Ba-
ronet, as it did not stand upon the same footing with
the present motion. To entertain it, would be con-
trary to the ideas which he held of individual jus-
tice. The Hon. Gentleman had not given the least
intimation of the nature of the charge, or the grounds
which induced him to make it. If the House were
to go the monstrous length of adopting it, the Hon.
Gentleman might to-morrow get up and charge him
with a similar offence. There was a mode of stating
the charge so as to put the House into possession of
facts. Then the Hon. Members might be heard in
their defence—the course was a very plain one. On
the present occasion, the Right Hon. Gentleman
could do nothing but retire as he had done. The
House must see that it was a public case, and that
they were bound to say that the case was not brought
fairly before them.

Mr. BIDDULPH rose to correct a mistake of the
Right Honourable Gentleman, he had not the least
knowledge of the Right Honourable Gentleman,
and therefore he had no right to impute to him hav-
ing been at places which he had never frequented in
his life.
Mr. WHITBREAD here spoke to order ; he ob-
served, that his Honourable Friend had misunder-
stood the Right Honourable Gentleman, for his ob-
servation had been general, and not as applicable to
him.
Mr. B. BATHURST admitted he had so said ;
but he begged pardon of the Honourable Gentleman
if he had been misinformed ; he certainly had sup-
posed that he had attended those public meetings.
Mr. BIDDULPH denied that he ever had atten-
ded them.

Mr. CARTWRIGHT observed, that it was cus-
tomary for any Honourable Member to give notice of
any motion which he had to make personally. He said
that sufficient grounds had not been laid to justify
the steps which the Honourable Gentleman wished
should be taken. He therefore could not consent to
the motion.

Mr. MADDOCKS, in answer, begged leave to
state, that when he gave notice of the motion, he had
generally said it related to the conduct of Ministers
in procuring the return of Members. If he had pro-
ceeded wrong, it had not been his fault, he had taken
a light to guide him in his way, he had referred to
the precedents on the Journals, which he conceived
was the best reference which young Members could
have. He was ready to apologise if he had acted
wrong ; but he had brought forward the motion in
such a shape, from an earnest desire to conduct it
according to the forms and precedents of the House.
He had consulted several Gentlemen both in and out
of the House, and they all concurred with him, that
he was right in the mode adopted. It was much bet-
ter than for him to have told a story, and sent it out
to the country before those against whom he made the
charge could have an opportunity of being heard. It
was, as he hoped, a sort of delicate attention which
the Home would not find fault with. But he was
ready now to state—(a great cry of Chair, Chair,
Chair )—on which

The SPEAKER observed, that the rule of pro-•
ceeding which had been adopted, called upon him to
stop the Honourable Member. The course which the
House had invariably taken when Members had been
heard, and then had withdrawn, obliged him to state,
that the time was past in which it was necessary to
enter into particulars of any charge : he believed, the
fundamental rule of Parliament was so. As to.the
mode, the Honourable Member would allow him to
say, that though the forms of the House precluded
his going into the investigation, yet he conceived it
was the right and duty of the House at all times to
receive charges of pOlitical misconduct against any
Member hoisting a public situation. Another mode
was by oral charges, stated by a Member in his place.
With respect to the precedent, the. Journals were so
constructed, they made no speeches, but they implied
that information had beea received by the House on
the subject. The substantial sense of the words would
shew it, tor the word 6, thereupon" implied, that•the.
House were in possession Of the facts of the case ;
that something had passed which had made it neces-
sary for the accused to be heard in his defence.—
Having stated thus much, the Honourable Gentle-
man was not shut out from farther inquiry. Upon
the present question they must come to a decision—
Aye or No.
Mr. MADDOCKS declared he had no wish to state
any thing against the Right Hon. Gentleman in his
absence.

Mr. Secretary CANNING was not desirous of
attributing to the Hon. Gentleman any improper mo-
tives. It arose from an error in his conception.—
There could be but one sentiment in the House as to
the propriety of getting•rid of the question. If the
Hon. Gentleman had intimated his wish to withdraw
the question, he should have no objection ; but he
hoped it would not be deemed uncourteous proceed-
ing, if he called on the House to come to a decided
negative, in order.that a proceeding which was evi-
dently founded in mistake should not be liable to re-
currence.

Mr. WHITBREAD thought the reason assigned
by the Right Hon. Secretary for withdrawing the
motion, because it would make the case of Shipherd
a mistaken one in point of precedent, was not,cor-
rect. His Honourable. Friend had thought it right
in these times to make 'a general charge, rather.than
enter into particulars. The. House had been told often
enough of time-wasting Committees ; .and in .Order

to avoid falling into the error of calling for a C,;,,,.
mittee, he had generalized the charge, taking eale,
however, to select two of the principal Membete (e.
the Government as the objects, which he did at hi
own risk and responsibility. He had heard reoch of
late of an awkward word, called "tangible.'' TI a
Honourable Gentleman ( Mr. Bathurst ) ha d j ust call-
ed for the charges to be put in a tangible
laugh !J—Why they were tangible enough, and unite
distinct from the system pursued elsewhere of attack
against the Government. The Right Honourable
Gentleman now accused had also, when the late
charges against his Royal Highness the Commarlear
in Chief were first stated, declared that they evera
not in a tangible shape : put them," said he,. ;
a tangible shape, and then we'll talk to you." well,
they were so put, and then the Right Hon. (les-
tleman's tangibility slid from under his grasp._,
(Hear, hear!)—A great deal had been said abaut se-
cieties and public meetings, and of speeches made at
those meetings to influence and excite the public
mind.—(Loud cries of hear, hear, from the Mini:tcr:al
ride!)—What, he would ask, was it that excited d„r
public mind? Why, the late investigation ! hir.
was it that had further excited and kept alive seeit
cion of corruption ? Why, the crimes which had bete),
acknowledged and proved against persons holding
high Official situations ; hut which had not been ac.
ted upon by the House of Commons I—(Lsati
of hear, hear I)—With respect to any part which he
might have taken at these Meetings, he was neither
ashamed nor afraid to avow it. If what he had
said had been correctly repeated, he was not ashama
ed of it, nor would he retract. He was not sorry he
had gone among the people.—(Hear, hear !)—H.
had not attended at one of thoi-e Meetingi, (the Conv: t
and Anchor) ; not because he did not think it per;.
per, but because advantage might be taken of it, t)
excite the public mind against poisons attending tiros
Meetings—(Hear, hear!)—He had always been P.
strenuous supporter of Parliamentary Reform, such
a Reform as should lead to an alteration in the pre•
sent construction of the House of @ommons. He bd.
no wish to exclude from Parliament such Officers of
State as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the First
Lord of the Treasury, the Secretary of State, an lie
fact the great and efficient Officers of the Crown. He
would not go so far as the Act of Settlement in 1 700
went as to exclusion ; but he would go the lengt
saying, that he did see before him persons (whom he
would not name) who ought to be excluded—Lcad
tries of hear, hear!)—lf such a measure was to be
brought forward, he would in supporting it go great
lengths. The Honourable Gentleman admitted that
the corruptions in the State were not grosser than in
former times ; on the contrary, they were not se
gross.—(Hear, hear !)—But though they wire not so,
that formed_ no ground for denying inquiries into
abuses. With respect to the preser.t Motion, he
wished his Honohrable Friend not th withdraw it,
cause it•was essential to the honour, the 4inity, and
the privileges of Parliament, to investigate the accu-
sation. lie thought his Hon. Friend should have
stated the natu of the charges.
Mr. YORK conceived, that any Gentlernan who
knew the History of his Country would have abstain .
ed from making the motion. This'country was the
freest in the world—the independence and liberty
the subject had been at no time of
,our Hist, ry
great.— ( Hear, hear ! )—The mourable Genth m
had taken upon himself to violate the most corn:rem
principles of justice. The best way for the Hoax to
mark its sense of the impropriety of his coadeot,
would be by inserting an Amendment, importing--
4' That the charges not having been stated, or seeci-
fiedi therefore it was rejected." The motion was a
most ridiculous one, and by ad -pting his Amu'.',
matt, a lesson would be read to other Geatiemen to
attend to the proceedings of the House.
Mr. GOOCH defended his conduct at County
Meetings ; condemned the speeches of other Gentle-
men at particular meetings, as having done more to
destroy public unanimity than any thing else. As for
the patriotism of the Hon. Gcnaemap, lie would :is
soon give his vote to Mrs. Clarke for her virtue, as to
the Hon. Gentlemen rot' their patriotism—( Hear,hmr!
—There was a power behind the benches on which
they sat greater than themselves, though they con-
ceived themselves the essence of concentrated political
purity.—( Hear, hear!)—He respected the Hon. Ba-
ronet (Sir F. Burden), but he must dissent from every
principle which he had ever uttered.
Mr. LYTTLETON contended, that the voice of
the people was to be heard by the resolutions which
had followed the meetings alluded to, and also of the
country at large. He complained of being misrepre-
sented by the public press. Heiwished his Hon.
Friend to stand on the privilege of Parliament, and
not to withdraw his motion. The charge in his opi-
nion was definite enough. If there was any one point
in which the nation was aggrieved, it was the inilu-
ence of the Crown which had materially increased in
the House.

. •Mr. BRAND thought, the line of debate which had
been adopted varied extremely from the original me-
tion.-!-The doctrines which he had heard this night
.from the other side of the House Were strange, they
seemed to proceed from Gentlemen not conversant
with the history and constitution of their country.—
( Hear, hear.)—He had ever understood that it was
the antient, free, and acknowledged principles of the
Constitution, for constituents to direct their Represen•
tatives—that a moderate, practical, and enlightnAl
Reform, pressed by meetings regularly and constitu-
tionally convened, could not lead to mischief, but
would open the eyes of the House, and benefit the
Nation !- (Hear, hear! )—He was astonished to hear
Gentlemen declaim against those meetings—tl-t
principle he was ready to defend.
Mr. S. BOURNE condemned the motion, as hay.
ing for its object the accusation of individual Mem-
bers of the Government, without their being hearj iu
defence.
Mr. HUTCHINSON and Mr.WYNNE siippcm-
it.—The Motion was then put, and negatived with"L
a division..
Some conversation then took place between Mr.
CANNING, Mr. MADDOCKS, &c. as to the brill:, int; il:e
Charges again forward.—Mr. PERCEVAL and'' Lord
CASTLEREAGH having returned into the House, Mr.
WHITBREAD wished it to be now proceeded on. At
length it was agreed that it should stand for Tliur-
day Am.

COLONEL- GORDON'S GRANT.
Sir 0. MOSEI.F.Y rose to bring forward his motion On
subject. He had
perunst theyvera whi h had brew 1 •

'se Ifnuse, and also the Report of the Creates Land Stamm's,
wither of which had proved satisfactory to his mind. There
was ore circumstance which had not been noticed at all by the
cervevors. He alluded to a detached building belonging to the
eto-pi ' I, which had been half pulled down by Colonel Gordon,
ta
pursuance of his improvements. It did not appear, however,
if:nit any compensation had been made to the Hospital on that
account. If the Surveyors had considered theinterest of the pub-
lic at well as of Colonel Gordon, some report should have been
made on this subject. He thonght the pleasure grounds ought to
have been kept for the benefit of the ptor wounded soldiers who
hat' fought and bled in the service of their country. In the Re-
pel; of the Surveyors it appeared that a sum of 381. a year had
tiren allowed for keeping up the pleasure grclunds, he would have
undertaken to have kept them up for ten. Much stress had been
leid on the value which Colonel Gordon's house would be of to
the public at the expiration of his lease. The plan of building
row was, to build so as to last precisely for the extent of time to
which the interest of the proprietor extended. Upon all coml.
dcr ati ors, the Surveyors were of opinion that no bitchier ground-
rent ought to be paid by Colonel Gordon than the sem of 551. a-
sear : ne had made some inquiry on this subject, and he had been
informed that many gardeners in the neighbourhood would gladly
have given 201. an acre for the land ; thus there was a less of 251.
per annum to the public. On a view of the premises which he
had taken, the infirmary, from the high row of trees one side,
and the new-erected buildings on the other, appeared to him
rather like the Court of a Prince than a place intended for the re-
novation of invalids. He was not actuated on the present occasion
by any motives of enmity to Colonel Gordon, but it was his opi-
nion that no individual ought to have been in possession of the
ground which had been disposed of to hint ; and if the House
would agree to the motion which he should have the honour of
srbmittirg to its consideration, he would pledge himself to prove,
at the bar of the I louse, that most of the officers had objected to
the plate to the Governor,Sir David Dondas, if not to the Board.
Under these considerations he should move,
That a Committee of the whole House be appointed to in-
Ore into the circumstance of erecting an Infirmary at Chelsea
jisspital ; and also into the grant made of certain Lands to Co.
ford Gordon ; and that the several Officers of Chelsea Hospital
be examined at the bar of the House on the subject."
The CHANCELLOR of the LXCHEQUEK could not agree
with the Memorable Baronet in the propriety of appointing a
Committee of the whole House. If the House thought proper to
appoint a Committee at all on the subject, it would be proper
to appoint a Sul, ct Committee. But after the statement which
be should submit to the House, he submitted there would be no
necessity for the Honourable Baronet pressing his motion. The
Honourable Gentleman went into a long statement on the sub-
ject which has already been before the public. He observed also,
that the Court had had the opinion of • physician and surgeen,
(not belonging to the Establishment) as to the propriety of erect-
ing a building in the situation proposed by Colonel Gordon ; de-
termining, if their opinion had been contrary to the measure, to
have induced that Gentleman to give up the premises. Under
these circumstances, he hoped the House would not feel the in-
quiry necessary.
Mr. BIDDULPH entered into a long explanation of the con-
duct of Lord Yarborough in the negotiation with the Board for
the purchase of the ground in question; and insist that the No-
ble Lord had not, as had been insisted on, attempted to drive a
bard bargain with the Board on the subject. He eonclud:d with
supporting the motion for the House going into a Committee.
I ord MILTON defended the character. of Lord Yarborough
from the insinuations that had been thrown out against him, and
by which the Noble Lord, than whom there was not a more
honourable man in existence, had felt himself very much hurt.
The premises had been valued by a surveyor
iemployed by Lord
Yarborough, at £BOOO, by other surveyors they were subsequeetly
valued at £4700. Sir J. Bankes, a Gentleman of high character,
dissuaded Lord Yarborough irons taking this latter sum; but the
Noble Lord conceiving that Government required the premises
for the use of the Hospital, closed with them on those terms.
-Not six months afterwards, however, the lease was granted to
Colonel Gordon on condition of his laying out £3OOO and paying
a rem of £SO a year.
rolr. HUSKISSON explained his statements on a former
nisY.; that it was not understood by Lord Yarborough, or the
lreasury, that the purchase of these lands was made for the pub-
lic use. He never meant to make any reflection on the honour
of Lord Yarborough, or his conduct in this transaction, but mere-
ly to state that his Lordship, after taking every proper means to
ascertain the value of his possession, had obtained the full suns
for it. He then adverted to what had fallen from Mr. Biddu!ph,
and repeated, that the ground had not been purchased with r üblic
ninnen but with money arising from the sale of Crown Lands.
He dtfendecl the Lords of the Treasury from having any know-
ledge of the circumstance, that it was intended to build the lice.se
co a scite which would annoy the Hospital; and in order to
prove their attention to the comforts of the Pensioners, mention-
ed, that understanding some buildings might be erected on tee Ra-
ntlagh Estate which would have that effect, they were in treaty
to purchase it, and prevent that happening.
Lord MILTON
General Ta‘lll.-E FON wished the Motion to be persevered in,
and a Select Ccmrnittee appointed.
Colonel Sir MARK WOOD spoke highly of Colonel Gordon,
as a man who had devoted his lite to the service of his King and
Country, in almost every clime, ar.d the last man in the world
vello would accept of any favour which would deprive a British
veteran of a single comfort.
Lord PERCY observed, that Colonel Gordon bid for this
ground as say other man might have done ; and if any blame be-
longed to the transaction, that blame did nct appear to attach to
that Officer.

Mr. Yersuct expressed 16 lisdignation at die manner in which
the Hon. Baronet had misreiSiesented the ilEt--4/lear Hear /),
that of describing the soldier as a priiodnir. He did not envy
the Hon. Baronet's understanding, whied was so different front
I his as to misconceive and misrepresent SO plain a fact.'
• Mr. W. SMITH expressed his bead, that from some means
or other his Majesty's Government had been imposed upon; and
could not for a moment imagine that any thing hsd been done
' which would warrant the appellation Of Job. He went into the
papers, and from a computation deduced, that the Reports of the
Surveyors were very favourable toteh lessee.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER and Mr, W.
SMITH explained.
Mr. LONG stated positively thit it never was Dr. Mosely's
opinion that the whole ground Was necessary for the Hospital.—
He noticed that Colonel Gordon's being obnoxious was easily ac •
counted for, and if the grant had not been to him, it would never
have been heard of. He then went into the detail of the case,
and controverted many of the statements made by Sir F. Burdett.
He would be as anxiowS For retaining the ground as any one fur
the purposes of the hospital, if it could be shewn it would be ad-
vantageous to the men e'en as pleasure-grounds, of which they
had already fourteen acres kept up as these must also be, were
they appointed for that purpose, at a considerable expence. Ail
he wished was, that the minutes of evidence taken should be laid
before the House, and then the House might determine what
course to adopt, and he would consequently make a motion for
all the proceedings since 13th April last.
Mr. WORTLEY, after, what they had just heard, would not
have risen, but to notice what had fallen from the Honourable
Baronet (Sir F. Burdett), who had denominated this, from its
atrocity, the job, the jobrometer, and the job of jobs. If it was
so, there appeared to him very little justice in the cry of corrup-
tion and reform which the Honourable Baronet was so ready to
join in, as if this was the worst of jobs the present day could pro-
dace, we might safely reckon these the purest of times. The
Honourable Baronet ought to be very cautious how he stood up
in his place and undermined the character of officers on such
grounds as these, and he was sure when the country came to ex-
amine the faprs, they would be convinced that the Government
had done nothing that could fairly be called a job.
Sir 0. MOSELY shortly rLplied to the statements of the Ho-
notir.lble Gentlemen who had spoken against his motion, and
pledged himself to prove that the Officers had remonstrated, and
stated to the present Conmhuider in Chief that the whole ground
was necessary. He agreed to the suggestion of big Honourable
Friends, and would propose a Select instead of a General Com-
mittee.

A division took, place, when the numbers were—For the mo-
tion 7.t—Against it 170-14Ljority 97.
Strangers were not re-zdinitted.—The House adjourned at half
past eleven.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

SATURDAY, MAY 6.

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Consols, for money, 6714—Dino for May, 67.11
Omnium I prom—Exchequer Bills. los. to I 2s. pre.
PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY.

Bank Stock 24.51
3 per Cent. itcd. 6611
3 prr Cent. Cons.
4 per Cent.B4i YI
5 per Cent. Navy
Long Ann. 18 3-16thsi

Imperial 3 per Cents. 6511
Imp. Ann. 7 3-16*
India Bonds, 1.35. 14s.
Exchey. Bills, Bs. 11s. pr.
Consols, for sec. 67i*

Lir F.BURDETT animadverted upon the Report of Dr. Mose-
ley, which appeared to manite:.: such an extraordinary solicitude
for the genteeler inhabitants of West Squar, who were truly so
Much annoyed by the exhibition of the beds and blankets of the
rbor i'eusimiers, whose comfort did not scent to excite any ve. y
correspondent interest. As to the panegyric of the Honourable
Gentleman (Mr. Wood) upon the character of Colonel Gordon,
that panegyriederived itsjustffication trout the magnanimity of that
Officer in this instance taking all the advantage to himself. Upon
the fullest view of the whole of this case, with all the papers and
explanations whiclr Ministers brought forward about it, he could
rot hesitate to repeat that it was a job, a most disgusting and oh-
roxious j-ib. It formed indeed a sort of rule, by which to appre-
ciate the real character of a job. There were barometers to as-
C.-irtain the gravity of air, and thermometers the degree of heat,
and he would aall this a joliremetfe. (A !cue.) It was impossible
that any man who could look at this transaction impartially for a
moment, without his remark, although it exposed him at the
outset to .o much animadversion ; and that the comfort, conve-
nien.ie, and pleasure of so many deserving men, who were, com-
paratively speaking, so ill rewarded for their hard services, should
be sacrificed for £.5:2 a year. In fact, he would give double the
sum tort-event such a disgrace, such an injustice. He wished to
be distinctly understood as making that offer to Ministers for the
ground in question, and he was ready to secure the payment
tither from any estate of his, or from money in the funds. (A
7". krar,hear.) From the part which Austin took in thisbusiness, it
would appear that he was in full scent of a job, and knew what he
Was about. But the privation of an exercise, which the proposed
buildirg would occasion to the Infirmary,waa the most afflicting part
of the case. Why should not the whole of this ground be appro-
priated to a place for the pleasure and enjoyment of the Pensioners?
Thty were much in want of such a place. As the case stood at
Frmrit,they were not permitted to walk in the green plot which
fronted the river, and which was originally laid nut for pleasure
Freund, the pensioners were not permitted to tread upon.—
no, that spot was set apart for the accommodation of about
twelve or thirteen families, the wives and daughters of the Offi-
cers, who had the " good births" of the Hospital. And a. to
garden, not a leek from it was given to a Pensioner. 'The Gr-
vernors and the Treasury could not be ignorant of this, and why
:arm did they not avail themselves of the opportunity which the
ayplisition of ti.is ground afforded to remedy such injustice ? This
would hate been a good act of reform, without any appt o:deflation
to the davger of that general reform which seemed to create so
:such dire alarm among the whole ministerial world. He might
fur censure for contributing to that alarm; but while such scan-
4ahais abuses were permitted to exist—while even charity itself
was made a pretext for prodigal expenditure, and a cover for the
basest corruption, be would persevere in provoking such censure.
His ctniors might call him Jacobin if they would—and if that
epithet was out of date, they might fabricate another. He was
rolling to hear any name affixed to those who were active in their
endeavours to det, et and to punish injustice and corruption. The
Yon ..urable Baronet concluded with expressing his disposition to

Last night, in the House of Commons, Mr. MA.-
DOCKS preferred a format charge against two of his
Majesty's Ministers, Mr. PERCEVAL and Lord CAS-
TLEREAGH, for corrupt practices relative to the elec-
tion of Members of that House. It came so unex-
pectedly upon the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
that he withdrew from the House. Objections were
taken as to form, but at length by a general under-
standing Mr. MADOCKS'S motion was negatived for
the purpose of having it again brought forward on
Thursday in a more regular form.
Owr readers will see, by the conversation which
took place on Colonel GORDON'S business, that there
is now some prospect of the ground at Chelsea re-
verting to that use from which it ought never to have
been alienated. It is true the Majority decided in
favour of Colonel GORDON, but it is apparent that
Ministers will find means to induce him to relinquish
his lease.

agree to a motion tot a :-:elect Committee, to which Ministers
:night refer ar.y papers they pleased, and that they thought, ac-
cording to their system, could avail them. At the saint time that
he agreed to a Select Committee, he begged it to be understood,
that he by no means thought a Committee of the whole House too
~!t Inn cr too Important a mode of proceeding fur a case of this

:u:

" VALENCIA, MARCH 14.
' "We have this day received the news of the enemy laving
token possession of Marcella, which is in this province, and only
18 leagues from us. They hive 3000 infantry, and 700 cavalry,
and nothing to prevent their forming a junction with the division
of Arragon, and advancing upon this Cir 7."
" GUERNSEY, MAY 2.
" The &iv) IPster Of marque arrived here last night frOm
Meant, from whence she sailed on the last day of March., In.
telligence of a late date bad been received there from Colonel
Doyle. The Freush ire positively retreating from Spain, and
two or three posts have been recaptured from them. The senti-
ments of our friends are favourable, and I am rejoiced to find
that things are going on so well."
Besides the above letter, one from Alicant, of the
30th of March, also joins in the statement that the
French are abandoning Spain. They mention that
15,000 armed peasants had been collected in Arragon
under the command of General DovLE, and that they
were to take possession of Belluna.
Three Members of the Junta of Valencia and the
Intendant, had been removed at the request of the
people, being suspected of infidelity to the Spanish
cause ; but this had been done without the least in-
terruption of the public peace, and had given general
satisfaction.

Various contradictory reports still continue in cir-
culation, both in this country and in Holland, on the
subject of hostilities between the Austrian and French
armies : a Gentleman who left Holland on the 28th
ult. states, that he read in the Royal Courant, an ac-
count of a victory gained over the Austrians by the
French, at the Lech, (where we know; from various
accounts, the French meant to make a stand) in
which the former lost five thousand men. At the same
time the Gentleman adds, that the intelligence was
by no means credited; as accounts had been received
in Holland, from various quarters, that the French
had been defeated with great loss. No papers or let-
ters are permitted to be sent from Holland.
We are sorry to be obliged to add, that the report
that the Austrians have been defeated is in very ge-
neral circulatio'n in the Government offices—so much
sn that M inisters are said to have received some in-
formation on the subject which can hardly be ques
tioned.

Mr. Mese, the Chief Cashier at the Bank, Tester,
day, attended at the Stock Exchange, and informed
the Gentlemen there, that the Minister would on Mon-
day give an interview to such persons as were disposed
to treat for the approaching Loan. It was understood
that the amount required would he t'16,000,000; but
it was not ascertained whether this sum would include
the pecuniary accommodation which we understand
it is proposed to give the Emperor of Austria.
Yesterday, a General Court Martial was held at
Chelsea, on the Hon. Captain COCHRANE, on a charg.
preferred against him by General CLINTON, for im-
proper conduct, in having quitted his post without
orders, on the retreat of the British army to Corunna.
General Ceteeros and Colonel GRANT were heard in
support of the charge. The evidence of the latter was
decidedly in favour of Captain COCHRANE, who will
be heard in his defence this day. The Princess of
WALES, with some of her suite, and Lord COCHRANE,
brother to the officer uneler accusation, ss ere present.
Thursday and yesterday, four troops of the 18th
Dragoons marched into Oxford, on their route to
Chichester and Arundel.
The 51st Regiment has removed its quarters from
Sandown to Kingsbridge, in Devoushire.
Last week the 3d battalion of the Royal Surr©y /1i-
His Majesty's ship CALEDONIA arrived yesterday at litia marched into Lewes, on their route from Reding-
Portsmouth, from cff Rochefort. Letters from the street, Kent, to the barracks at Little Hampton, in
CASAR, one of our ships at present off Rochefort,
Sussex.
speak of an attack intended to be made on the French Monday marched into Maidstone, to remain till
further orders, 400 volunteers from afferent Militia
batteries on shoye. If there be no mistake in this
$ Regiments, designed to form a part of the 3d battalion
we may expect to receive important intelligence from of the 7th Regiment of Foot, or Royal Fuzileers.
that quarter in a few days. About 300 foreigners, taken in French prizes, and
A letter from an Officer on board Lord COLLING- confined ameng the prisoners at Mill Prison, have
WOOD'S ship (the OCEAN) states, that his Lordship voluntecred into our army, and have been sent to the
has no intention of returning home this Summer. His Isle of Wight, to join the foreign corps in our service
at that depot. Many more, both at Plymouth and
Lordship, as has been already reported, was engaged at Dar. mouth, have expressed a desire to do the same,
in preparations for an attack on the coast of Naples. being, as they express themselves, weary of fighting
under the banners of so restless and ambitious a mas-
SPAIN. ter. It must be ob ved, the greater part of those
The Recoosz sloop of war has arrived at Ports- who have thus volunteered, are chiefly composed of
mouth from Gijon, which place she left on the 29th Danes, Swiss, Germans, and Italians, who had been
compelled to enter in:o the service of the Usurper.
ult. The Racoon had been sent from Cadiz to Gijon
Died lately, W ILLIAM MAS;ETER, Esq. Surgeon
with money for the use of the Asturian armies. The of the 26th regiment, or Cameronians, and J BOYCE,
Marquis ROMANA had arrived at Gijon, on his way Esq. Surgeon-lst battalion 36th regiment ; both lost
through the Asturias, for the purpose of personally their lives in the zealous and humane execution of
enquiring into the resources possessed by the Patriots their duty, attending the sick of their regiments, who
are ill of the malignant fever, which they brought
in that province. At.cuo, the Governor of Corunna,
with them from ~}rain. Never were men more re-
has been sent prisoner to France, in consequence of spected and beloved by men and officers than these
being suspected to be a Patriot, notwithstanding his two Gentlemen ; they were followed to the grave by
having taken the oath of allegiance to King JOSEPH. j the whole of their corps. Mr, MASSETER had been
The following is an extract from a letter from ; wounded at the battle of Corunna.
Gijon, brought by the Racoos : Letters from the Brazils state that a duel had been
$4 The Marquis de la ROMANA has honoured me • -
! fought between Mr. GAMBIER and Captain Weseartv,
of the AGAMENINON man • of war, which terminated
with a visit. He has lately been engaged in inspect- without bloodshed.
ing the state of the province. His Excellency pro- I Yesterday morning an English Officer arrived at
poses to make some alteration in regard to the Civil Lord CASTLEREAGH'S Office, with dispatches from
Authorities, with the conduct of which lie is not per- Spain'
fectly satisfied. It is supposed that a part of the I The Diana frigate, with Admiral DE COURCY on
Asturian forces, under General BALLASTEROS, board, bound for the Brazils, and supposed to have
been lost or captured, arrived at Madeira on the 20th
proceed in a short time, against Santander." of March.
Another vessel, the ECHO, has arrived at Guernsey, i A vessel is arrived from Hayti, which sailed the
from Catalonia, and the intelligence she brings, al- 21st of March from Cape Francois:: At that time the
war continued between the rival Chiefs with varied
though somewhat contradictory, is rather favourable success. The crops of coffee on the island had been
to the Patriotic cause in the South of Spain. We have very small, the chief part of the inhabitants being en-
been favoured with the following letters on the subject.: gaged in war. Cape Nichola Mole was blockaded by
" VALENCIA, MARCH 23. CHRISTOPHE'S squadron.
"We have just received the pleasing intelligence of Reus and Last night, at ten o'clock, a fire was discovered in
Vales having been evacuated by the French. The encampment
the workshop of Mr. Chandler, a carpenter, in Little
was breaking up, and the communication by land was again open. Wild-street, Lincoln ' s-lnn-fields. Several other houses
Bonaparte had ordered 50,000 of his troops to march inunedi-
besides that in which the fire originated, sustained
• partial injury.
ate'y into France.'