Star.
London, England, 1815-05-20 00:00:00

ToRCIED PROCLAMATION.

Mr. WHITBREAD thought there was no chant('
of seelog the Noble Lord at the head of the Foreign
Department in his place that night; he wished to ask
the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite, whether
e Proclamation, published that day, and purporting
to have been issued by the Duke of Wellington, was
genuine or not ?—lt was material to have the ques.
lion speedily' set at rest; and he expected to hear that
this alledged Proclamation had no foundation in
truth, as he confessed it bore to him no marks of
autheliticity.
Mr. W. I'OL said, that Government had not
the slightest reAsoa to think the Proclamation in ques-
tion au,thntic ; or, indeed, that up to that moment,
his Grace had issued any Proclamation whatever....
(Ilear, hear.

LITTERS OF BONAPARTE.
Mr. HORNER. said,•that notwithstanding the ab-
sence of the Noble Secretary of State for Foreign Af-
fairs, it was impossible to allow the day to pass with-
out calling the attention of the House to certain letters
which that Noble Lord read, some days ago, as part
of his speech in that House. Those letters were now
declarett by the Government of France, in the face of
all Europe, to be forget ies. At the same time, he had
gin doubt that the Noble Lord thought them at that
time genuine; and, indeed, it might turn out that
the charge of forgery might recoil on those who had
made it. They were. however, necessary to be cleared
up, before going into the important discussion on
Monday; and the two documents he referred to he'
thought must be in the Foreign Office. One of them
was a letter from the Count de Allacas to .Lord Cas-
tlereagh, inclosing three ether letters; the other was
a letter from the Duke of Wellington to Lord Castle-
reagh, dated Paris, January 4r. expressing his opinion
as to the coriduct of Murat. He then moved an
humble Address to the Regent, that he would be
pleased to. order the above-mentioned documents to
be bid before the House.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
hoped that the Honottrable Gentleman, would not
snake his motion now, but allow it to stand as a no
tice, and not Kur,s it in the absence of his Noble
Friend. This he knew, that finding a publication in
the Trench papers, that ;he letters contained in that
of the COunt de Elacas were forgeries, it became the
intention .4 his Noble Friend to communicate to the
1-those what he knew on the subject. The Duke of
WellingtOn's lettet, alluded to in that publication,
was a genuine one ; but it was written before it's
Grace had seen or heard of the documents to which
it was said to alltidet 'rom the way in which he
understood the statement ih the French Papers, no
act of forgery was attributed to this Government. It
Was a charge' brought.t4 the present French Govern-
ment against the Royal GOirnment of that country.
His 'Nob Frieriel; be knew, would, give all the infor-
maticshe. possessed on this subject.
Mr. HORNER 'had neither said nor thought the
charge 4'oolo bad been made against the Go,
iernment of this. country. Qh the ground of the
cif the Noble4..occr oo objection to, post.
trtn for these i)a.pars t Monday,.

though he considered ft of the higLest importance
the: the business should be speedily cleared up.
[Here Lord CASTLIREAGN entered the House.]
Mr. HORNER. then repeated his statement; and
trusted the Noble Lord would be able to explain the
business in such a manner as would be satisfactory to
the House.

Lord CASTLEREAGH said the letter from the
Duke of Wellington was a genuine one, but it applied
to totally different papers from those which he (Lord
Castlereagh) had read in the House. Yet it surely
did not shew any impatience on the part of his Grace
to strain any constructions with respect to Murat's
conduct ; since his information well warranted him
in coming to the conclusion, respecting it, which he
had come to. Some of the documents contained in
the Count de Blacas's leper were found after his
(Lord Castlereagh's) leaving Paris, and they were
transmitted to hins,as genuine. There were eight of
them in all : but the only question as to the authen-
ticity, seemed to be respecting three of them, which
were draughts or memorandums, of letters by Bona-
parte. When these letters were found in the archives
at Paris, the Count de Blacas took a precaution as to
them; for when he was said to have fabricated them,
he took a copy of them, which he transmitted to him
(Lord Castlereagh), and at the same time delivered
over the originals of them to the Prince of Castelci-
cala, the Sicilian Ambassador, who shewed them to
him (Lord Castlereagh) that very morning. These
letters plainly shewed that Murat was managing his
own interests between the Allies and Bonaparte.—
But, setting these three documents out of the ques-
tion, the five others would put the authenticity of
them beyond all doubt. In some of these Bogaparte
acknowledged Murat as King, and addressed
htm—
" Mon frere, et mon cousin." He apprehended that
this charge of forgery was only part of that system
which had fabricated Proclamations from the Duke
of Wellington and from some Prussian Comman-
ders ; for such a system was, no doubt, necessary to
mislead the people of France, in order the better to
carry on the ambitious projects of that man. These
documents would be laid before the House. as well
as the letter of Lord Wellington, to whom they were
transmitted, and he laid them before the Sovereigns
at Vienna, who entertained no doubt of their authen-
ticity, and immediately determined to attack Murat
for the duplicity displayed by him ; but he, in the spi-
rit r,f his former treachery, attacked Austria first.
Mr. HORNER said, the conduct of Murat was
not then the subject of discussion ; but it was, how
far the documents read on a former night by the No,
ble Lord, were or were not genuine ? His only rea-
son for moving for that letter of Lord Wellington
was, that it might shew that the other Papers De-
ferred to were not in the possession of the French
Government so late as January list. He complained
of the delay in laying Papers before the Ht.use that
had been moved for 17 days ago.
Lewd CASTLEREAGH did not believe that any
culpable deity !:ad taken place, as to the production
of the papers. if the Honourable Gentleman wishes
to see the original documents he had referred to, he
(Lord Castlereagh) believed he could obtain him a
sight of them ; and then, he had no doubt, he would
be convinced that they were not fabricated. But
perhaps those who received intelligence from the
other side of the water had anxious feelings they
might not be genuine.
Mr. HORNER was convinced his character was
so well known in that House, that he treated the in-'
binuation of the Noble Lord, as to his receiving infor-
mation from the other side of the water, with the
nrost perfect indifference.
Mr. TIERNEY asked, whether the Noble Lord
intended to communicate the Duke of Wellington's
letter to the Count de Blacas ?

Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that W it could be
found in the office, it should be given, but he was
ready to admit the copy in the Moniteur as authentic.
Mr. TIERNEY asked, did the Noble Lord see
the papers upon the subject of which the Duke of
Wellington had written this letter ?
Lord CASTLEREAGH said he had not; they
were papers of no importance to him.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH asked whether the Noble
Lord Was enabled to assert that Done of the five let-
ters, the authenticity of which had not been ques-
tioned, were submitted to the Duke of Wellington
when he wrote his letter.

Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that three of these
letters had been found since his arrival at Paris from
Vienna, and that there were then a great number un-
examined in the offices.

Mr. HORN.ER said, that the letter dated from
NAngis seemed inconsistent on the face of it, and that
he had so stated it in the former debate when the let-
ters were read.

Lord CASTLEREAGH said, this letter did not
alter the case, and that the Honourable Member,
when the letters were read, seemed to feel the weight
of their internal evidence orauthenticity, in common
with the rest of the House.

Mr. HORNER said, there was much that required
elucidation on both sides.
The motion was then put and carried.
LETTER SILL.
On the motion for the second reading of the East-
India Ship Letter Bill,
Mr. MA RRYATT moved that Counsel should be
called in Against the Bill.
The SPEAKER said, the proper course was to
read the Bill a second lime, and then that Counsel
should be heard on the motion for its being committed.
After a few words from Sir C. MUNCIE, Mr. WAL.
Lace, and Mr. Aldetman ATKINS,

Tie CHANCELLOR of the 'EXCHEQUER
thought the only stage when any alteration couisi with
propriety be made in the Bill, would be in the Com-
mittee. At the same time, be thought the filling up
the ordinary I?lanks would be sufficient. The House
then agreed to the second reading.
Mr. MA RRYATT then moved that Counsel
should be called in against the Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
said, that -Counsel were heard before the Select Corn-
naiitee on the Bill. He therefuee thought that calling
them in now would be only wasting the time of the
House.
Mr. S. BOURNE said, the speeches of Counsel
againit the Bill were in thi hands of all the Members.
The House then divided—For calling in Counsel
13, Against it 3--Majority
The Bill was then reold a lecond time, and ordered
to be committed that day ae'spight.--idjourned.
• " ' • - •

• 111.4NDARS MAIL.

BASLE, MAY 4.
Bonaparte addresses circular letters to the princi- '
pal Courts of Europe. The Declaration of the 13th
of March had answered them beforehand. Think-
ing to produce an effect upon a country of small ex-
tent, bordering upon France, and which he supposed
to be disunited and devoid of energy, he has applied
to Switzerland s one of his agents demanded a free
passage to acquit himself of his mission to the Diet
of the Confederation. He was refused. He contented
himself with conveying to the Council of the Nation
the dispatches of which he was the bearer. The
same language of imposture was remarked in it. The
indignation was general—the agreement unanimous,
—the answer prompt, and worthy of an independent
people.
The refusal to recognise Bonaparte's wishes for the
happiness of France—the noble and frank expression
of what Switzerland owes to its honour and its dig-
nity, and to the powers whe have pacificated and ag-
grandized it—such are the sentiments contained in
this memorable answer, which recalls the most glo-
rious times of the Confederation. This is, doubtless,
a great example ; and the Swiss, henceforth united
ampng themselves, and attached to the general system
of Europe, will Leap the fruits of a conduct so worthy
of praise.
rile following is the answer of the President of the
Diet to the Duke of Vicenza :
" ZURICH, APRIL a._

44 The communication which his Excellency the
Duke of Vicenza addressed to the undersigned, on
the 4th of April, which reached Zurich on the 16th,
has been laid before the Diet.

‘, When France, at peace within herself, shall have
recovered her happiness under a stable Government,
generally recognised in Europe, the sincerest wish of
Switzerland will be fulfilled. Faithful to their prin-
ciples, and to honour, of which the conduct of the
Swiss soldiers, recalled to their country, furnishes a
fresh proof, the Cantons have not been able to divest
themselves of a lively uneasiness, on account of the
late events, and their probable consequences. To se-
cure its dearest interests, its independence, and its in-
ternal tranquillity against every attack, the Confide-
ration_has felt that it ought to take measures of pre-
caution and safety. Several changes have taken
place in its Constitution—ancient frontiers have been
restored to it, with a more favourable-demarcation.
From these circunistances, and the new relations in
which it is placed, there result obligations of honour,
which gratitude, and even the interest of its political
existence, command it to fulfil. It cannot, therefore,
by recognising the existing Government in France,
follow a system opposite to that of all the powers of
Europe. That loyalty and fidelity which have dic-
tated its conduct, will continue to regulate it for the
future.

‘• Such are the explanaii ins to which the under-
signed must confine himself, and which hP concluies
by begging his Excellency the Duke of Vicenza to
accept the assurances of his high consideration.
" The BURCOPRASTRIL Of the Canton of ZURICH,
President of the Swiss Diet."

The Diet assembled on the Ist of this month to
hear the Reports read, which were just received from
Finsler, the Quarter Master General, and which
arinctineed that a- numerous French army was assem-
bling near Chambery, under Marshal Grouchy.
.1 sre Uiet has resolved to require the evacuation of
Carouge by the Piedmontese troops, in order that
that town may be occupied by the troops of the Con-
federation. The military 'commanders have been
charged to take care that Switzerland do not run any
danger, and likewise to take precautions relative to
the navigation of the lake of Geneva.
In the night of the 29th, near Melay, at the foot of
Doleberg, some musket-shot were fired between a pa-
,role of Argovia and some French, probably Na.
tional Guards, for these in general shew the most ani-
mosity towards Switzerland. The patrole passing
along the skirts of a wood, heard a noise, and cried,
who goes there ?" It was only answered by being.
fired upon. It instantly returned the fire, and the
two parties continued to fire for an hour and a half
in the dark, till at last the French evacuated the
wo.,d. At the report of the musketry, all the inha-
bitants of the neighbourhood assembled and took up
arms. This affair, in which we had not one man
wounded, does honour to the Argevians and Vaudois.
Since the 30th of April, the Swiss head-quarters
have been transferred to Morat. It is affirmed that
the-General-in-Chief intends to form three camps :
at Yverdun, at Arburg, and at Liestal. It was also
said that the half of the second contingent would be
put in motion ; so that with the regiments returned
from France, we should have on foot an army of
48,000 men.

As the French continue to augment their fortifica-
tions on the side of Basle, batteries are to be erected
there on the side of St. John's gate.
The troops of the Confederation in our neighbour.
hood have just been reinforced by three companies of
this Canton.

Five hundred Thurgovians arrived here on the 2d.
The same day eighty Swiss soldiers, in the service
of the King, also arrived. Eve vy body was eager
to give them a good reception. Many recruits, who
had not yet been incorporated, are also come back.
We expect fresh detachments of these corps at &isle,
and other places on the frontiers. Subscriptions for
these brave men are opened in many parts of Swit-
zerland. We have no news of the depot of the 4th
regiment, which was at Arras.