Star.
London, England, 1809-02-23 00:00:00

been a very great improvelfient at Chelsea Hospital,
and in the care and attention paid to wounded soldiers.
Mr. YOSSE then put to General NORTON the following
Question i
Q. Has the discipline and condition of the British
army declined or improved during The Administra-
tion of his Royal Highness ? A. I-really cannot say
about the discipline. I know there was a very good
system of discipline before the Duke was at the head.
I believe a very good system of discipline prevailed
in our armies, when General Wolfe and other British
Generals gained great honour. I really cannot say
that it is my opinion, that the discipline of our army
is better now than it was then.
General FITZPATRICK said, that though of
vety old standing in the army, he had, perhaps, not
as good opportunities as others of forming a correct
judgment on the subject. He should, however, say,
' that he believed the British. army was in every respect
wonderfully -.improved under the administration of
his Royal Highness. He did conceive that this was
a thing of such notoriety to every Officer in the ser-
vice, that he thought it was hardly necessary to ap-
peal to the testimony of General Officers on the
subject.
SirJAMES PULTENEY concurred inevery word
that had been said by his Right Honourable Friend
opposite him (General Fitzpatrick). At the time
when his Royal Highness came to the command, it
was a period when such abuses had taken place as
threatened to desitoy the discipline and good condition
of the army. Promotions were got merely by money,
or by raising men for rank. Instances were then fre-
quent of a man being raised to the rank of Lieutenant-
Colonel in a year or two. His Royal Highness, how-
ever, introduced a regulation which was rigidly ad-
hered to, that no man could be a Captain under two
years service, or a Field Officer under six. The dis-
cipline of the British army was also much improved.
Before he came into command, six British regiments
could not be put into a field, and go through the re-
gular field manoeuvres with any due precision. His
Royal Highness, by introducing an uniform system
of discipline throughout the British army, had much
improved their field discipline. At present, any num-
ber of British regiments could go through the various
operations of manoeuvre, with as much precision and
concert, as the different companies of a single regi-
ment.
Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY said, that as to
the system of promotions which formerly prevailed,
he did not know much about it. He believed, how-
ever, that it was very irregularly conducted before his
Royal Highness was appointed Commander in Chief.
The regulations which he had laid down had been
strictly adhered to, and had given general satisfac-
tion. He had frequently occasion to apply to his
Royal Highness on this subject on account of the si-
tuation he held (Secretary for Ireland). He always
found that his applications were attended to, and he
knew that many had obtained commissions from di
arct application to the Duke of York. He was a
Lieutenant Colonel at the time that the Duke of York
took the command, and for the last twenty years, he
had paid great attention to the army,'and thought he
could form a judgment. The army was most mate-
rially improved in every respect, both in soldiers and
in officers. The Staff of the army was much better
than it was formerly, the cavalry were better, and the
officers of cavalry were better also. The army was
more complete in numbers, and superior in subordi-
nation and dicipline to what it had been. It was su-
perior in every thing of interior economy, in provi-
sions for subsistence and clothing. He was convinced
that those improvements had been owing principally
to the regulations introduced by his Royal Highness,
and by his superintendance and influence over the Ge-
neral Officers and others, who were to carry these re-
gulations into effect.
General MATTHEW also bore testimony to the
excellent state of the British army.
The evidence on both sides here closed.
The evidence being finally concluded, Mr. PERCE-
VAL suggested, that as the whole of the minutes would
be printed by Monday next, it. might be proper to-fix
the earliest opportunity after, for taking the report
into consideration ; he therefore proposed Thursday
next for that purpose, which, with the approbation of
Mr. WARDLE, was agreed to.
The House being resumed, the report was bronght
up, and the consideration of it fixed for that day.
Mr. C. W. WYNNE gave notice, - that he would
on the day following submit a motion to the House,
respecting the evidence given by General Clavering
before the Committee.
The SECRETARY AT WAR presented the Annual
Mutiny Bill, which was read a first time.
The House adjourned at half-past three o'clock to
this day.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK :
Consols, for snoney, 6715—f0r account 67,11-01un. 1 pr.
' B:chequer Bills 12s. to 13s. pre.

By a Mail, from Lisbon we have received Portu-
gueze Papers to the 16th instant. They are filled
with proclamations, which we have not room to give
at length : their tendency is to threaten with punish-
ment the disturbers of the public peace ; and, we
are sorry to state, that it appears from the tenor of
one of these documents, that the British subjects now
in Portugal had been insulted by the populace. The
following is the preamble of the Proclamation on this
subject Just representations have been made of
an insult offered in this capital, to the Officers of the
.navy and army of his BRITANNIC MAJESTY, to the
Governors of the kingdom, and to individuals at-
tached and belonging to the British Embassy in Por-
tugal."—lt concludes by' exhorting the people to
manifest a proper submission to the laws.
In another Proclamation, all Frenchmen are or-
dered to be sent out of Portugal within eight days, oz*
pain of imprisonment.

We have reEeived Bahama Papers to the 28th of
December inclusive, but they contain no news.

NAP'AL 11VTELLIGENCE.

The George, at Liverpool, was lost at New Provident., a.
the 17th of December last.
The Swallow, Ryan, from Newfoundland, for Ross, is an shut(
Youghall Bay. Crew saved.

TORBAY Frs. 21,—Sailed the Channel fleet, to resume OA
stallion Off inst.—Wind N.W.
ikt-ticnirn, Fes. 20.—Arrived the ship Sarah, MAttzt-t
front London for the Mediterranean ; the brig Elisabeth, COOEI
from-Liverpool fir Rio'de Janeiro, much stimaged ; the ship Bs.
sannah, from Liverpool for the West-Indies, 24 days out, and
Is very leaky ; the brig Jolly Butcher, WATT master, from Less.,
don for Cordons very moth damaged in her sails and riga!,
Ike.. the Antelope transport, Captatn WAERIN, from Lisbon;
tosletelless ships SKIN t,STIIILLIL,SHId rECLAIR,frorn creite ;
the Charlotte packett, Brae, from Lisbon, with mails;
dispatches, and 24 passengers, in six days : among whom is Cs.
lonel HAWKER charged with dispatches from the Hon. Mr.
lifts.ti las, for Government. Mr. SHAW, the Messenger, is also
on board. It was reported at Lisbon that the Emperor of Austria
has declared war against France. The Walsingham packet was
arrived out in 22 days.—Wind West.
PLTMOUTM, Fits. tl.—This morning sailed the 8A1171.Z11 ,98
guts, ZzAtous and ELIZABETH, 74 guns each, to join the Chan.
nel fleet; BOSIZAT 74 guns, for Cadiz • AMAZON, 38 gum ~
, r„
Lisbon, with a General Officer An board; and the Black Joke
lugger, with dispatches for Cadiz.
PLY nowt et Dace Pea. el.—Arrived the ADRIAN hired
cutter, from the Channel Beet.—This day near 30 sail of traits.
perts, having the remainder of the troops on board, who have
been so long lying here, (with the exception of those sick in the
different hospitals and barracks), sailed from Hannutze and Cit.
water, for Portsmouth and the Downs, under convoy of the Goa.
HAWK brig of war. -
PORTSMOUTH, Frs. 22.—Sailed his Majesty's ship
with the Warren Hastings, True Briton, Neptune, Scalesby Cas.
tie, Cumberland, Lord Melville, Perseverance, Nottingham,
Cantatic, Lord Duncan, Baring, and the Lady Castlereagh, for
the East Indies. The Cifratells sailed yesterday with his M.ajesty';
ship Nassau, for St. Helena.—Sailed his Majesty's ship HIRER-
' NIA, and the Vitt! U.K Paris, to the Westward; Qurrrc sr?
PODARGUS, on a cruizc.

Drat., Fes. 22.—Arrived bL Majesty's ships EUR TA its s nnti
ZINOSIA from a cruizr. Put back the outward-bound, fit,
which sailed yesterday, and remain in the Downs with his Ala•
jesty's ships as per test. •
GRXFNOCK, Frs. 20.—An American brig called the Emit:-
your, from N,.:w York for Boston, arrived here this morning, in
38 days; her cargo consists of 170 bales cotton, 190 barrels tar,
21 hogsheads tobacco, s barrels flour, 11 half do. do. Y kegs hogs
lard, 1 tierce beans, 9 barrels pork, and 1 tierce crackers: eighteen
vessels, chiefly shipss cleared out same day for Boston. The
Nereid, Jo umitro iv, arrived here on Saturday last, from Detne-.
tars, after a passage of 46 days; left the Commerce, WATT;•
Hero, Casteroc ; Paragon, late Ma LER ; and Belleisle,
GEMMtLI., of this port, loading, and expected to sail about the
6th inst. The Duke of Kent, Dot/GALL, of this port, was loading
for Liverpool, and expected to sail about the same time. Spoke
no vessels.

Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, his MAJESTY arrived
at the Queen's Palace from Windsor, where he was
received by the Dukes of Yoßx, KENT, SUSSEX, and
CAMBRIDGE. At two o'clock has MAJESTY held a
private Levee.
The following had the honour of being presented
to his MAJESTY :

Colonel JAMIS CATLIN CRAOTURD, on his return from Pot.
tugal and Spain, where he served as Brigadier General.'
Lieutenant EDGAR on his promotion to his Majesty's 2d RP.
giment of Life Guards.
Lord BROWNLOW, on his being appointed Lord Lieutenant of
the county of Lincoln, in the room of the late Duke of An-
caster.

Captain MILLMAN, of the Coldstream Regiment of Guards,
Aid-sle•Camp to Brigadier• General Catlin Craufurd, on his return
from Portugal. _ .

Mr. WILLIAM WYNDIIAM, 'on his return free a Foreign,
Mission.

Lieut.-Central Lord PACrr, on his return from Spain.

Admiral Sir CHARLLS COTTON, on his return to England.
Captaia.CARNAC, on his exchange from the 11th Rtgimcnt of
Foot to the Ist Regiment of Life Guards.
Lieut. Bairs.rx, Aide-de-Camp to Lieut.-General Lord Pac xr,
on his return to England.
Capt. RowLEr, of his -Majesty's ship the Eagle, on his return
from Sicily.

Lieut. itt.t.t., on his promotion to his Majesty's 2d Regimert
of Life Guards, by Lord ileathfield.

Lord WILLIAM BENTINCK, on his return from Spain.
Mr. HUNTER, Consul General in Spain, on his arrival is
England.

Lieutenant Paassaarors, on his promotion to his Majesty's
2d Regiment of Life Guards, by Lord Heathfield.
The Rev. Dr. CAREY Sub-Almoner to his Majesty, on his
being appointed Prebendary of Westminster; he at the same
time presented the Sermon preached by him before the House ok
Commons on the Fast Day.
Colonel FOSTER, on his being appointed to his Majesty's Privy
Council in Ireland, and on his return from the Continent.
Lieutenant F. Fatirr, on his being appointed to his Majesty's
2d Regiment of Life Guards.
His MAJZSTY held a Privy Council, and gave pri•
vate audiences to the Duke of Poarclato, the other
Cabinet Ministers present, and the JUDGE ADVOCATE,
who laid before his MAJESTY the proceedings of se.
veral Courts-Martial.

It appears from the Eight Rep ort of the Commit.
tee of Military Inquiry, that the allowance for the
table of the officers on guard amounts to 9181 i. Bs.
per annum. The table is for 16 persons, which makes
the rate of the yearly expenditure for each, about
5741. The table was formerly maintained by the pay
of a certain number of men, called outlier:, whose pay
was stopped in consequence of their receiving permis•
sion to work, but this practice was abolished by order
of his Majesty; in 1793.

The report that last night was to have been the last
appearance of Mrs. CLARKE at the Bar of the House
of Commons, in support of the charges against the
Duke of Yorke having gone abroad, the gallery and
all the avenues to the. House were filled at an early
hour. Yesterday, when she withdrew from the House,
the pressure was so great it was found necessary for
two Gentlemen, one on each side, to escort her, and
a AGM of constables who were in attendance to clear
the way.—Mrs. CLARKE seemed pleased with these
marks of attention. She displayed a new drt. s
upon the occasion.—lt was a white satin pelisse aid
bonnet, with a veil.

Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the East-lod:a
House, when the undermentioned appointments toot place, viz.
—Mr. JAMES COOGAN, Paymaster of Seamen's Wages, in the
room of Mr. CHATFIELD, resigned.—Mr. WM. COLSON, De-
pety Paymaster.—Mr. JOHN Moasce, Clerk to the Committee
of Shipping, in the room of Mr. JAMES COGGAN.—Mr.RICHARD
La GROSS, Assistant Clerk to the Committee of Slaipping.—Mt.
AUGUSTUS WARREN, Chief of the Office for Private Trade,
outwards. '

The destination of the ship Henry Addington, Capt. KIRRPA•
Tana, was altered from Bombay and China, to Bombay direct.
Ex tcu o N —An immense crowd of people, particularly wo
men, assembled yesterday morning at an early hour, to witness
the execution of John Nichol'', convicted of forging Bank Notes ;
and Margaret Barrington convicted of taking a false oath to sb-
tain letters of administration, with intent to defraud a soldier's
relatives of price-money due to him. Both the unfortunate peo-
ple made their appearance about eight o'clock : they were dress-
ed in black, and seemed perfectly composed. They prayed apps•
rently very fervently for about five minutes, and were then
launcbed into eternity.

LONDON: Printed and Published by LEVEL ICENT,of CAP
tertiary Place, Lambeth, at the STAI-Or net, No. l. Cuff*
street. Published also at the STA a-Or rtes. Temple U.