Star.
London, England, 1831-04-14 00:00:00

SITTING OF AP•IL

Dl. Ch. de Bronetere Minister of Finance, presented a project
of law with a communication from the government to the following effect:
Gentlemen—You have authorised the government to make a loan of
twelve millions of florins, in order to accelerate our preparations for de-
fence. We have understood your intentions.
I am able to announce to you that the keepers of the forests
are enrolled in the regiments, and that eight battalions of volun-
teers will be very shortly formed at Namur, whence they will proceed
to the Grand Duchy.
The first division (Ban) of the civic guard, amounts to above
50,000 men, and will won be made moveable. Their names induce the
application which I make to you for &supplementary credit of 8,000,000
of florins to be applied to the expenses of the war department.
In the name of the Belgic people—The National Congress De-
crees—

A supplementary credit of six millions is granted to the Minister of
War for the extraordinary expences of the second quarter of 1831.
Referred to the sections for consideration.
The President requested the Assembly to have an important pro.
posal read, which had been laid on the table at the beginning of the
sitting. It is signed by 20 members of the Congress.
The purport of it was to authorize the Government, in consequence
of the critical circumstances in which Belgium is placed, to employ su-
perior foreign officers, and give than commands in the Belgian army.

SITTING OF •PIIII. 11.

The proposed supplementary credit of six millions was voted unani.
mously.
M. Joanna made a report in the name of the Central Committee, on
the proposal for the admission of foreign officers. This proposal gave
rise to very long and animated debates in this sitting, and that of 12th,
in which the remarkable circumstance occurred, that some of the mem-
bers who had signed It, declared that they were opposed to it, u con.
trary to the Constitution. M. Lebcau said it was a most strange
thing that twenty members should present a proposal, in which
the Ministry had no concern, and that now that the ministers adopted
it, several of its authors opposed it. —M. Gendibien, one of the
authors said that the debates of the last two days had induced him to
change his opinion. It was at length agreed that the Government
should be authorised to employ a GeneraLln-Chlef and some other
officers, who are to take an oath to defend the ludependence and the in-
tegrity of Belgium, to obey the laws, &c. Eighty members voted for,
and forty. two against, the law.—Brussels Papers, April 13.
The German papers, by the Flanders mall, viz. Franefort Journals,
to April 10, A lons/int Zeit meg, to the Bth, inclusive, contain only the
news from Warsaw to April 1, already known. The Prussia* Stale
Gazette of April 7, (only one day later than received by the Hamburgh
steam boat,) has no news from Poland.

The debates in the Commons determined two important
points ;—one, that the infamous WEYMOUTH BUSINESS ie
to become matter of formal investigation before the suitable
tribunal— the House itself. It appears that the original
documents have been submitted to the inspection of Mr.
O'CoN ELL, who, in consequence, gave notice of a motion,
for which he was applauded by Lord JOHN RUSSELL ; and
his Lordship declared that he considered the honour of the
House implicated in the transactions which had been made
public. Mr. O'CoNsELL's denouncement was received
with loud cheers ; end the statements which have appeared
in this, and other papers, have evidently produced us great
a sensation in Parliament, as out of it.

Previously to Mr. O'CorniELL's announcement, Sir E.
SuGDEN had been describing the alterations arising from
variances in the Population Returns, as changes in the prin-
ciple of the Bill, which now, he said, was totally changed
in its character—assertions in which he was cheered by the
Borough Faction. He also availed himself of Mr. HUNT'S
statements, that 200,000 people objected to the Bill ; and
said he calculated that the discontent would be general
when the changes were known.
Mr. CAMPBELL and Mr. O'Cow ELL refuted this de-
clamation, making it appear that the details must necessarily
be governed by facts of population, all the principles re-
maining as before. In his reply, Mr.O'Cox wzu.. electrified
the House by epigrammatic allusions to the Weymouth
affair.

Mr. STANLEY and Lord ALTHORP explained the circum-
stance, which led to some variation in the details. It ap-
peared, too, that some populous places had put in claims,
and, as there was no objection on principle, some additional
Members would be conceded to them, so as to increase the
total above the five hundred and ninety-six. But this is no
alteration in the principles of the Bill—on the contrary, a
further recognition of the same principles.
Mr. C. FERGUSON was very severe on Mr. HUNT, whose
mode of advocating the bill, always drew cheers from its
opponents. He thought, too, that if his Preston Consti-
tuents entertained the opinions avowed by Mr. HUNT, they
were too ignorant to be trusted with the franchise.

Sir R. PEEL associated himself with Sir E. SUDDEN, in
asserting that the alterations made the bill a new bill !
He, therefore, called for postponement. But Lord ALTHORP
assured him that none was either necessary or would be
granted.
On the motion that the Essex petition should lie on the
table, Sir E. SUDDEN retorted on Mr. O'Cow N ELL, and
stated that nine-tenths of Mr. FRAZER'S letter, published
yesterday, were scandalous falsehoods. He believed Mr.
O'CoN It ELL had not seen the originals !—But Mr. O'CON-
NELL said they had been shown to him by Mr. NORTH-
COTE; and he accepted Sir EDWARD'S challenge, and
should move for an inquiry. Lord Jon)/ RUSSELL thought
the subject merited inquiry, and stated that he should vote
for giving Sir E. SUDDEN nn opportunity of vindicating
himself.

Sir E. Suo DEN could not understand the object—if they
wanted to prove the sale and purchase of seats, they might
refer to Bletchingly. But Lord Jour considered the abuse
at Bletchingly as no justification of other abuses; and stated
that in consequence, Bletchingly would be disfranchised,
and it merited inquiry, whether or not Weymouth was in
the same situation as Bletchingly. It was a law that the
sale of seats directly or indirectly should not be allowed,
and he was doing his duty in putting an end to it.
Lord N 1.76 EN r brought in a bill to put an end to Custom
and Excise oaths, of which 101,596, and 194,612, were
taken last year. In place of 92 of 94 of them, he proposed
a declaration and forfeit of £lOO in case of falsehood.
Mr. O'Battx made a motion on the condition of the
County of Clare, and thought the Insurrection Act ought to
be resorted to, assisted by the military.
Mr. STANLEY ascribed the violences to high rents and
absenteeism, and said it was a war of the poor against the
rich. He thought the Insurrection Act ought not to be
resorted to, till further information was received.

Major MACNAMARA concurred with Mr. Stanley, and
thought the first object was, to ascertain the causes of the
distress, and to endeavour to remove them.

Mr. MAURICE O'ColilizEL, the new member for Clare,
in u clear and able a maiden speech as ever was made in
Parliament, then detailed the causes of distress, and the

pro, ;!:ate causes of these insurrections, relating many
of the flagrant abuses of power, and negligent adminis-
tration of the laws. We must refer to the speech,
worthy of beir.g read with the same satisfaction out of th,
House that it was listened to in it. Ignorant magistracy,
improperly selected, are, it appears, a chief cause of discon-
tent in Ireland, as in England and every where.

Mr. D. BsowNE wished that it should not go to the world
that the distinct county of Mayo, for which subscriptions
were sought, was in a state of insurrection.
A discussion then took place about a Poor Law for Ire-
land, in the immediate necessity of which the majority of
the speakers concurred. Mr. HUNT concluded the De.
bate, by expressing his astonishment, that as nearly ail
desired Poor Laws, no Irish Member at once brought in a
Bill for their adoption.
In a Committee Mr. TENNYSON moved the Ordnance
Estimates ; amounting to £1,714,995 to meet which
£1,418,817, being £270,627 less than last year was voted ;
besides various sums for Salaries, Barrack Masters, &c.
amounting to nearly £lOO,OOO.

CITY. ONE O'CLOCK.

We understand that the last prices of the 3 per Cent.
French Rents was 55 45. This rise is owing to the success
of the Ministers in regard to the Electoral Laws.

CITY. TWO O'CLOCK.

There are more accounts in town than one of the report
that England is going to take possession of the Scheldt, and
the Prussians of the fortresses of Belgium : still we cannot
give much credit to it, for France would never suffer such a
step to be taken by the Prussians, who could march into
France at their pleasure.

The Dutch Mail still continues due, which is anxiously
expected, and may bring some particulars of the further
successes of the Poles.

In the French morning journals there appears to be an
error in regard to the quotations of the Dutch Funds,
which they state to be 43i but their real price is 39i to
40.

In the Foreign Market Spanish Bonds have lowered from
2to 1 per cent. All other Securities are much the same
as yesterday.

Consols, which were in the early part of the morning
796 to 1, are at present 781 79.

NAVAL IVTELLIGENCE.

Maus ARRIVED TIRIE DAY—Dublin, 1 ; Waterford, 1 ; Guernsey and
Jersey, 1 ; Hamburgb, 1 ; Flanders, 1 ; France, 1.

IRON OUR

YAZNOUTH, JAN. 23.—Sailed, the Preston, Capt. Woodthorpe,
with upwards of 140 passengers ; and the John Darnford, F. W.
Stepburn, with upwards of 200 passengers, both for Quebec, and the
Vrouw V inner Schansker for Holland, and two revenue cutters on a
cruise.

DEAL, Aram 13 —Wind N.N.B.—Arrived the Dorothy, Foster.
front Cadiz, and Black River Packet, from Jamaica. Arrived front
the River, the liranken Moor, Sharp, and Quebec Packet, for
Quebec. _ _ _

POILTIMOUTH, Arm 15.—Wind N.E.

Nemours. Aram 12.—Wind E. 8 E.—Sailed the Mary Ann,
Jacks, for Van Diemen'. Land.
_ _ .

- .
FALMOUTH, Aram 12.—Wind E. S. E.—Sailed the areasslan,
Douthwaite, for Madras and Bengal.
Doe's, Aram 15--Arrived off the port, the St. Thomas, Mammen,
from St. Thomas's.

Extract of a letter from on board the Sophie, arrived off
Dover from Batavia, dated the 9th inst :—" We touched at
St. Helena, and whilst there, the French frigate l'Oise ar-
rived from Bourbon, with troops, and sailed on the 11th of
February for France. The captain obtained permission to
lead his veterans to the tomb of their immortal chief. They
behaved with the decorum which became such fine old
soldiers, and showed their sense of the liberality of his Ex-
cellency Governor Dallas."
According to the Estimates just produced, the " print-
ing " for the Lords and Commons will be only 28,30 01.
more for the present year than it was last year ; for 1830,
the sum was 76,0001; for 1831, the sum is taken at only
104,3001. But let it not be supposed that this is all the
expense. Tha very next Estimate is, " For paper required
for printing bills, papers, votes, &c. under the orders of the
two Houses of Parliament, the expense of which in 1830
was (only) 27,4871." Rare news for the butter-shops at all
events. It is right to add, however, that the present minis-
ters have had some active, and useful correspondence, and
inquiries as to the savings in this expenditure.
The late Administration boasted of the number of Com-
missions reduced—or rather, of " Boards" chopped up, or
allowed to fall into decay ; but the miscellaneous Estimates
just prepared, show that there is at least one Commission
that is taking tremendously deep root ; for the " Law Com-
missioners" it is proposed to vote for 1831 the sum of 33,5001.
the sum voted for 1830 was 16,6001. so that the amount for
the Commissioners' expenses alone is more than doubled; and
their former labours produced some frightfully ponderous re-
ports, and some dozens of Bills to amend the laws. What
are we to expect from more than a double quantity of those
Ilaboure ?

Yesterday was commenorated the first of a renewed series
of anniversary meetings of the gentlemen educated in St.
Paul's School, at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-bill.
Sir John Sewell, Bart. presided over a highly respectable
company of 120, who sat down to a sumptuous dinner, in
celebration of the founder, Dean Colet. A number of ani-
mated speeches wore made by Mr. Frederick Pollock, the
barrister, Dr. Clarke, the Rev. Mr. Soames, Mr. Elliston,
and Mr. Williams. Messrs. Hawes, Fitawilliam, Pyne, and
Taylor, kept up the spirit of the evening by a number of
glees and songs ; sonic of them were beautifully executed.
A chairman and stewards were elected for the year ensuing.
SALE OF SHIPS OF WA R BY AUCTlON.—Yesterday, pur-
suant to an order of the commissioners of the navy, seven
vessels of war were sold at the navy office by what is termed
" Dutch auction," in the hall of the navy office, Somerset-
house. The ships sold were—the Sampson hulk, burden
1,380 tons, lying at Deptford; the Camel storeship, burden
558 tons, the Hecla bomb, burden 374 tons, lying at Wool-
wich; the Infernal bomb, burden 374 tons, lying at Chat-
ham ; the Camilla, burden 433 tons, lying at Sheerness; the
Prothee, burden 683 tons, lying at Portsmouth ; and the
Pandora, 383 tons, lying at Plymouth ;—there was another,
the Rennie, sailing vessel announced, but not offered for
sale. The commissioners at the sale were, Sir Robert Sep-
pings and Mr. Dundee. The prices obtained were—the
Heels, put up at 30001. knocked down for 19901; the Infer-
nal, put up at 30001. sold to Mr. Snook for 19101. ; the Ca-
milla, set up at 12001. brought 11001. purchaser Mr. Ledger ;
the Pandora, put up at 15001. sold for 9001. to Mr. Snook.
The other ships were not sold—they were thus put up and
disposed of—the Sampson, put up at 3,5001. stopped at
2,5001; the Camel, put up at 5,0001. stopped at 3,0001;
and the Prothee, put up at 2,5001. set aside at 1,5001.
The whole sale did not occupy half an hour.