Star.
London, England, 1812-04-28 00:00:00

'COMMERCIAL DISTRESSES.

General GASCOYNE said, that he was instruct-
ed by his constituents to present to the House a Pe-
tition, signed by 6560 most respectable individuals of
the Town of Liverpool, who, in the space of only
four days, had stepped forward so affix their signa-
tures, for the purpose of praying the repeal of the Or-
ders in Council as the cause of the commercial distress
which affects not that place merely, but the country
in general. The majority of the persons whose names
now appeared at the foot of the petition, were those
who upona former occasion had complained to the
House of the burden of calamities from which no
steps had been taken to relieve them, and which had
since continued to press upon them with increased se-
verity. The melancholy statement of the actual con-
dition of Liverpool, which was inserted in the Peti-
tion► was unwillingly obtruded upon the feelings of
the House, in consequence of the contradiction given
upon this subjet.t to the information which one of its
Members (Mr. Creevy) bad deemed it right to af-
ford. Upon the general question he would now say
nothing, but merely move that the Petition be I
brought up. The question having been put,
Mr. CREEVY referred to the 6560 witnesses who
bore ample testimony of the perfect truth of the ;f•

sertions he bad made regarding the real miseries of
the inhabitants of Liverpool
General TARLETON observed, that the accounts
I be had obtained, and which he had communicated
to Parliament on a former occasion, in opposition to
the allegations of Mr. Creevy, were derived from the
most respectable authority.
Mr. WHARTON bore testimony to the deference
due to the quarter to which the Honourable General
(Tarleton) was indebted for his intelligence, and sta-
ted that he had himself received letters corroborat-
ing the facts formerly brought before the House.
The Petition was then brought up and read.—lt
asserted, that nearly 16,000 poor had been relieved
by !Abbe subscription in one week, and that in the
whole about one.sixth part of the population of Li-
verpool bad obtained charitable donations, rendered
necessary by the unparalleled distresses of the times.
Numbers of once industrious mechanics a i mid obtain
no employment, and were reduced to the hard ne-
cessity
of begging in the streets. It was as impious
as it was unjust to attribute any of .these evils to-the I
visitations of Providence. The Petitioners added,
44 that they had heard with real alarm, that a highl
and confidential servant of the Crown did lately make
use of lanaliage which appeared to develope more
satisfactorily, the views and intentions of Ministers,
than thousands of State Papers, and which sheaved
that they are prepared to risk the very existence
the country, rather than remove the Orders in Colin.
cil, the cause of the augmented calamities endured."
After reprobating the system of Licences, they pray.
ed that the Orders in Council might be withdrawn,
since their effect had been found to be, to diminish
the revenue of Great Britain, to ruin her mu-chants,
and to encourage neutrals to depend upon their own
resource: for manufactures, they had before derived
from this country.
Mr. ROSE said, that he felt it incumbent upon
him to give the most posit;ve contradiction to one
paragraph in the Petition which referred immediately
to himself, and which was founded on the grossest
misrepresentation.
Mr. TIERNEY said, that the question was not
whether the Right Hon. Gentleman was insensible
to the miseries presented to his view, but whether he
had employed the unfortunate expression referred to?
He did not understand that the fact was denied that
he (Mr. Rose) had said that the two countries were
in the situation of two men whose heads were in a
bucket of water, and the struggle was, which of the
two could remain longest in that situation without
suffocation.

Mr. ROSE.—I assert again that I have no recol-
lection of having used such an expression, and I am
certain that it was not addressed to any of the Gen-
tlemen who waited upon me. Ido not undertake to
deny it. positively—it might have been said by me.—
(Hear, hear.) All I can undertake to state positively
is, that no suctidihrase was used by me to the De.
putition • but whether I said it to any other indivi.
dual I will not pretend to determine. I deny too that
if I used it, it proceeded from any want of feeling on
my part for the distresses complained of.
Lord STANLEY said, theta few days afterwards
he met some of the Gentlemen of the Deputation,
who repeated to him the words referred to in the Pe-
tition, and certainly it was considered by them as
shewing a great jlegree of insensibility on the part of
the Right Hon. Gentleman. •
Mr. WARD remarked, that the expression had
been repeated se him by a Member of the House a day
or two after it had been used.

After a few words from General GASCOYNE the
Petition was laid upon the table.
Lord G. L. GOWER presented a petition from
the Borough of Walsall, complaining of the depres-
sion of trade, and praying the repeal of the Orders
in Council as the cause of it. It was ;aid upon the
table.

Mr. BROUGHAM, after the conversation that
had just occurred, felt it right to say a few words be-
fore he presented to the House a petition from certain
inhabitants of Liverpool, which had been committed
to his charge. The names to it would have been far
more numerous had it lain for signatures more than
an hour, which was impossible, in consequence of its
being sent,to London by the same express that con-
veyed the petition presented by the Hon. Member for
that town. The individuals who had signed it, had
heard of the extraordinary expression employed by
the Right Hon. Gentleman—(A laugh)—and, how-
ever it might be matter of merriment to others, it was
a subject of a most melancholy nature to them, be-
cause it shut a door by which even hope was exclu.
ded, and they were unwillingly compelled to believe,
not only that Ministers would not remove the cause
of their complaint, but that :hey would not even listen
to the proposition of enquiry. (Hear, hear) Neither
he nor they meant to accuse Government of levity,
or even of indifference : the melancholy state of
affairs would render such a charge ridiculous, but
they felt it was high time to appeal to Parliament
from their decision, which was, that each country was
to try an experiment like two men with their heads in
a bucket of water I The application of the peti-
tioners was not that the Orders in Council should be
repealed, but that certain sinecure places should be
abolished, held, by individuals who were fattening
upon the war, while the rest of the country were
starving. The indignation felt, had led them into
personalities and indelicacies towards individuals, but.
their languageto the House was respectful and de-
corous. Upon the whole, the numerous addresses
presented, however they might differ in their objects,
proved irrefragably, that great distresses prevailed,
and it was the duty of the House to enquire into
their causes, and to endeavour as speedily a t pcssible
to afford relief. Mr. Brougham was of opinion, that
the only adequate remedy was, to lay the axe t. 4 the
root by the abandonment of the present system of
commercial warfare.

On the question being put, that the petition by
brought up,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
reprobated the discussion'of a question now which
could be fully debated at its proper time to-morrow.
He felt himself called upon to say a few words with
regard to the expression so much talked of, which
WAS said to have dropped from his Right Honourable
Friend. He never was more surprised than when he
beard that as injurious impression had been left upon
the minds of some individuals present at the inter-
view, for the Deputation from Birmingham appeared
perfecdy satisfied with the reception afforded them.
Taxing his own memory, he had not the least trace '

of buch a phate as had hum 03 often alluded to,
though it might have been uttered out of his hearing,
or iftdeed within his hearing, he might not have no.
ticed it. He positively denied that it coull justify
any such mischievous impression as that to wNeh
had been distorted.—(Afar, /seer.)
Mr. TIE RNEY said, the most correct way would
bep to avoid misapprehension, fir the Right Honour.
able Gentleman to state what he really did say....
(Rear, &ear, and No, no, from many.)
Mr. ROSE again repeated, tim.t he had no reeol.
lection of the words. Certain he was that there wu
at the time no feeling in his mind that could
disrespect to the deputation. Such an imputation
must once again utterly deny.-iii-(Heer, hear.)
Mr. BROUGHAM again assured the Right Ho.
nourable Gentleman that he did not charge the
words as having been spoken disrespectfully, but they
most certainly afforded to the Petitioners the cont.
mental which they had put upon them.
Mr. A. BARING trusted that one good would
arise from the Petitions, namely, an inquiry into the
subject of the Orders in Council.
Mr. LYTTLETON said, one of the Deputation
who waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, tole
him, that the Right Hon. Gentleman did use the
figurative expression in question.
Lord MILTON said, he had heard the same
thing. What the Deputation complained of was.
that the words were a commentary on the system
pursued by our Government.—The Petition was then
brought up, re.td, and laid on the table.

TUANICi TO TIIR EARL OF WRI.I.INOTOW.
The C H A NC E LI.O R of the EXC HEQUER had
Ii:-.^n, and was about to address the Speaker, when
1.(,3 d MILTON suggested that Monday was one
of the days on which, according to the regulation
made by the llouse at the commencement of the
Session, Orders of the day ought to have the prece-
dence of Notices.

The SPEAKER observed, that in all cases Votes
of Thanks preceded every other description of busi-
ness ; and more epecially, he was persuaded that on
the present occasion the House would not conde-
scend to pay any attention to any other question until
'they had disposed of the motion which was on the
point of being submitted to them—(lfear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
then spoke to the following effect r—o Sir, from the
opportunity which on former occasions I have hadof
collecting the sentiments of the House on the coarse
of proceeding with respect to questions similar to
that which I am about to submit to their considera-
tion, I agree with you, Sir, that the House will al.
ways be dispose.l to give to them an undoubted pri.
ority. It gratifies me, however, to be enabled to
assure the Noble Lord, that, in my view of the pre-
sent subject, it will not be necessary for me to Jana
the House at any considerable length ; anticipating
as I do the unanimous concurrence of all who hear
me, in the motion widi which I shall have the honour
to conclude.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Sir, I have so
frequently, during the short period of the last eigh-
teen months, had the happiness to submit to this
House a motion sim I.ir to the present, that Ism
justified, from my experience on thus: occasices,
in confidently expecting that not a single dissenting
yoke will be raised against my present proposition.-.
Hear, hear.) We may differ in opinion, Sir, endue
Near, hear.)
question of the manner in which the war 44
e Peninsula has been conducted—we may even dif•
1 fer in opinion on the probable effect of the late, or d
'au) other splendid achievement of our brave troops-.
but it is impossible that we shoulclififirer in °Odom'
the able conduct of our General, and on tar: galbs•
try of our officers Rod men, with reference to then.
cent occurrence, in which these qualities have bee
so successfully and so gloriously exhibited—(flan,
hear.) The House will recollect that at no.great die-
ranee of time, antecedent to the late distinguished
achievement, the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo'took
place. Immediately after that capture, Lord Wel.
linotcrn meditated the direction of his forces towards
that fortress, the acquisition of which it is now out
otject to acknowledge. The arrangements for that
purpose were made with greatexpedition by the Noble
and Gallant Lord, during the time he kept his head.
quarters ; and so completely were the enemy deceived
by the celerity and the secrecy of those arrangements,
that they were evidently unapprised of the intended
movement until it was too late for them to enteitaia
any hope that they might be able to collect a forte
adequate to the defeat of the.object which the British
army had in view. As soon as his preparations were
complete, Lord Wellington proceeded to Badajos.
He arrived at Elvas on the I lth of March. On the
16th he invested Badajoz. On the 17th he broke
ground, and pushed forward his operations with all
the rapidity which the utmost exertions of the offi-
cers and soldiers of his brave army enabled him to
do. The House are in possession of the details im-
mediately subsequent, from the pen of the Noble
and gallant Officer himself ; and I am sure that any
attempt of mine to re-state them, will but ttnd to
weaken the effect which they are calculated to pro•
duce. It appears, however, that the fire from the
second parallel open ej on the 3 lst of March; sad
,•
that practicable bleaches having
of the bastions of the fortress, on the 6th at night, Lfsed
Wellington gave orders to proceed to the storm.-_
The plan on that occasion was, that Lieutenant Ge-
neral Picton should attack the Castle by escalade
been effected in two
with the Sd division—that Major Wilson, with a
guard from the fourth division, should attack then. •
velin of St. Roque ; and that the Hon. blajorZete:
ral Colville at the head of the 4th division, and the
light division under Lieut.-Colonel Barnard, 'D'
attack the breaches in the bastions. Lieut. ,
Leith, with the left brigade of the division under ow'
Jur-General Walker, was to make a false attack tiro
two of the out-works. This feigned attack wayh
expected to take effect, but directions were gle.eTl
turn it into a real attack, if circumstances got!
prove favourable. At ten o'clock at night. dig"
tack commenced. The amnions of the tiO 611/
L.,.. j...
that occasion were never exceeded.—(liegri wit
They had to contend against an able Gener4 J
commanded the powerful gatrisoe not clam;
by the casualties and privations of a long siegl_,__:,
capable of making a determined resistance t 0 tool
assailants, and prepared by every means toil!
that resistance the best chance of success. lac s__L
filet continued for above two hours, durinuM
period the enemy resisted with a gallant Inif
due to them to say was as glorious as that
assailants. It is undoubtedly true that dlia."''''

i

Mete etposed to blink* greater dam het we
owe it to the enemy to acknowledge that they sle.
fended themselves with the utmost spirit and deter.
initiation, and in such a. manner as to produce no in- I
sonsieerable effect. While this dreadful conflict aas
going on in the breaches, General Picton succeeded
El his escalade, and established himself in the Castles
lifajor Wilson carried the ravelin of St. Roque. Major-
General Leith pushed forward Major-General Wal-
ker's brigade, It hich converting the feigned into a
Teal attack, and aided by the 38th Regiment, and the
15th Portuguese Regiment, forced the barrier on the
wad of Olivenca, and escaladed the bastion of Saint
Vicente. Our troops being thus established in the
Castle, which commands all the works of the town,
and the 4th light division being. formed again for the
attack of the breaches, all resistance teased, and at
daylight next morning an unconditional surrender
took place,. Sir, in calling the attention of the House
to these gallant and distinguished exploits, it is im-
possible for me not to advert to the loss which our
brave army sustained. The House Inuit be aware,
bow ever, that in the attack by storm of such a for.
'tress as Badajoz, the loss must necessat ily be severe.
—The House must also be aware how important it
was to lose no time in the achievement of the object.
The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded with moving,
That the Thanks of this House be given to General the Earl
of Wellington, for the great ability and military skill manifested
isy him at the recent siege of Badajoz, by which that " important
fortress was wrested from the possession of the enemy.
General TARLETON seconded the motion of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
General MATTHEW coincided in every word of
praise which had been uttered by the Right Hon.
Gentleman who preceded him.
The motion wal then agreed to nem. con.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
next moved
The Thanks of the House to Lieutenant Generals Sir W. Be-
reford, Leith, Pictoa, Stewart ; Major Generals Colville, Bowes,
tempts Walker; Ertgadier Generals Manley, Power (with the
Portuguese btig.de). &c. &c. &c. for their distinguished earn.
eons in the siege of Badajoz.
The motion was agreed to !lent. con.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
proceeded fo move
Tht Thanks of the House to t lie Officers of Engineers and Ar-
tillery, and to the Officers of the Portiegtat.,e Artillery, for the
rofe4ional ability, valour, and indefatigable ze !which they bad
parcifesicd at the siege of Badajoz.
The motion was agreed to nvn. con.
. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
is moving
" That the House do highly acknowledge and approve the dis-
esguished bravery and zeal trianittsted by the lion-commissioned
Olkers and Privates at the siege of liatlajoz,"
Observed a peculiar circumstance connected with
the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz. This
vas the humanity hewn bftur troops as testified in
the small number of the garilson that were killed,
and the great nuinber taken prisoners. Notwithstan-
ding the determined resistance or the garrison of Ba-
dajoz, it appeared that the British sold:cry, when iri-
nephant, abstained from any sanguinary revenge,
'for of 5000 men above 4000 were taken prisoness.—

(Hear, hear.)—Atteed to nem. con.
On the motion cf the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, the Speaker was directed to com-
municate these severat votes to General the Earl of
Wellington—The other Orders of the day were then
disposed of, and the House adjourned:

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

iItESDAY, APRIL 28.
FFICI!OF STOCK' THN DAY AT ONE O'CLOCE:
per Ct. Reduced 59j1-4 per Cent. 744 i
3 per Ct. Cons. for too:ter 60$—Do. for ace. 601 60
Sper Ct. 91it —Scrip I pre.-I.6ng Anns. 1 of
het. Bills par 4.5. dia.—Bonds par I dis.—Omn. --
RUT THURSDAY THF. WHOLE LOTTERY WILL

BE DRAWN.

SECOND EDITION.

bEPARTURE OF BONAPARTE FOR THE

NORTH.

From a Gentleman who left Paris a few days since
ire learn; that BoNAPants had left Paris for the
North—that Prussia had agreed that France should
rarrison all her ports on the Baltic. When the above
Gendernan left Cherburgh, on Sunday last, the
Hornet sailed for America—first lauding a number
of Passengers at Cowes.'

Yesterday we hid before out Readers the Message
from Mr. MADISON to both Houses of Congress, char'.
ging Great Britain with employing, through its Mi-
nister, a secret agent in fomenting disaffection to the
constituted American Authorities, and intrigues with
the disaffected, for the purpose c.f bringing about re-
cistance to the laws, and eventually, in concert with
altitith force, to destroy the union, and bring about
a connection between the Eastern States and Great
amain•" We now lay before our Readers the pre-
*coded

I 't