Star.
London, England, 1814-12-29 00:00:00

s:

_
emanating from the Mihister at War coal be area
in
consistency with the existing laws? whether the
bearers ot these orders did not carry them' into effect
with unnecessaryrigour ? and if so, before what au-
thority the whole matter should be sent
General Excelmans appears to have thought, and
this convlction probably guided his conduct, that no
different course could be pursued towards him than
towards any ether d ,miciliated citizen. The Minister
at War, on the other hand, viewed him as a military
nun, and therefore subject to all the ordinances which
regulate subordination and discipline.
On this point, then, it appeared that the Minister
declared the General placed in eloni-activill, and the
General considered himself as placed in nen.activid.
It was the opinion of the Committee, however, that
no officer on half-pay was justified in deeming him.,
self independent and out of service. If it was consi-
dered, also, that the offence which called forth the
eiders of the Minister was committed at a time when'
she General was in full activity, it will not appear
surprising that the Minister should deem himself au-
thorised to act towards the General in conformity to
the military laws, since a partial dismissal does not
exempt him irom them who has incurred it.
The Minister might, therefore, either prosecuti
the offence with which the General was charged, or
punish the disobedience of which he had been guilty.
It was in vain that he urged the right he thought he
bad acquired of remaining in his domicile ; the obe-
dience ot a soldier was his first duty, independent of !
every other consideration ; it constituted the strength
of armies and the safeguard of the citizen. The
Clamber had nothing to do with any charges against
the General ; that was a matter entirely tor ,the eon!
sideration of a Court-martial. The Minister, then,
bad net, in any legal point of view, exceeded his
powers ; and the next question was, whether the su.'
Worn agents had Dot used excessive rigour in the
execution of their orders As to this point, the
'Chamber must have tabservedhow long a time elapsed
between the firstorder and the moment when an over.
:powering force was put,,,i4..,action. It was obvious,
that during this intervai, the General might have
called in the intervention of a civil officer ; the es•
ope of the Generalaaay also acquit the subaltern
iw*s et this cluirge ; for, if they had been less fa.
they would have exposed themselves to be
*brought in their turn before a Court-martial. The
:Committee would not venture to assert, however,
that the search in Madam Excelman's house was con-
ducted with equal moderation. Deceived by their
finteciefidence, they may have been more rigorous
iftweards ; and the anxieties of a wife, alarmed, and
in pain, may have exaggerated what is necessarily
,
Manful in these proceedings. But it may be pre-
mid, that in this instance French soldiers did not
'bat their ordinary character; if it was otherwise,
the justice of the Minister could sufficiently poi*
them. His character is known to you, and the Ch M.
lir may leave to him the examination of such eitto
filints, which are wholly within his functions. The I
niter then paid several compliments to General
stun, whe• he said, had sacrificed a foreign
that he might not renounce hii country. He
tasted that his sacrifices and exploits would not be
fptgotten before the Court-martial ; and added, tha:
* General bad written to his Majesty, protesting to
him hia attachment. He concluded with moving
that the Chamber should pass to the order of the day
Da General Excelnsans' petition, and that tha of his
wife should be nawassaid tb the Government; that
'et allaght examine thisitneinents it contained.—
1 was neellaltilallia with an abetract ot
mos ea which the decision of the Chamber might
sppear founded.
The opinion of the Committee was strongly sup.
toned, and the printing was moved. Animated de-
bates, however, took place.
.M. Demur proposed the adjournment of the goes
-
Ica to the next sitting, on the ground that the Chan-
ts's-could not property take it into consideration until
tsar the papers annexed to tl e report were printed,
sesebich the opiaions of the Deputies must be founded
M. DUNOLARD—We with the maintenance of the
Royal authority, the •maintenance of the laws, and
0 military discipline. The Report of the Commit.
40e iodinates many wrongs: but as public liberty does
Sot minim precipitate measures, I support the mfr.:
inure 49 the next Sitting. As to Madame Excelmans,
ig what does she complain ? Of acts of violence
"Web havedisturbed her personal security, her health
perhaps. Ido not find fault with a soldier for obey-
sag superior orders, but the manner in which they
seem to have been executed by the principal agent. I
do not condemn him, but I think his conduct ought
to be examined into. We live so longer under the
reign. of despotism ; and if unnecessary acts of ri-
gour have been committed, it must be the wish of the
of the Minister, and your's, that these acts
should be punished. .He supported the adjournment
of the question till the next Sitting, when the report
and documents could be printed.
M. Bzuocn.—l mean neither. to soppott the Peti-
tion nor to justify the Petitioner ; his conduct will be
examined by a Court Martial: but I must oppose
the Report of the Committee, which appeared to pr h.
judge the question, whether an Officer in nos aetiviii
is bound to obey the orders of the Minister at War
A Court Martial can alone decide upon this. The
Chamber should not in any way interfere-with Ont.
ten without its province, still less prejudge at*
now actually before a Court Martial. demads
therefore, that the abstract of reasons be suppressed.
The REPORTER.—I must observe, that opinions
were divided in the Committee ; 'nest wished the ab-
stract of reasons. This opinion was adopted for rea;
toes which I cannot explain to Joe.—[Why? cried
number of voices.)-1 think, however, that the pro-,
per way would be to pass simply to the order of the,
4.1 y on the Petition of the General. The Chamber
will decide tor itself.
M. BURBACH ascended the tribune : the confusion'
of his ideas, and the noise in the Chamber prevented
us from perfectly understanding his opinion : he,
however, appeared to concur in voting for the post,
policemen to the nut Sitting. 1
M. CHANTIMIIS defended the Committee, and
Pmataiaird that the report prejudged nothing. .;
M.,Boucimusaueeeeded him, and placed the Tow
lion in its timeliest, He aid that whatever unfit
be the Opioien if she Members individually, they',
scould guard against energising any influence. It
business. of the Climber to pronounce ;
1."-eirat wit* Mists up by, the competent•tribunal:

teiletertea tatilittirtti 4iitift.
.efbi
(Crtes of pegfion gris •y••• irn t.:l
Other Memben soceeetledfidli drier
some debate, the Order Of. fito Day'araiia *Oa
the Petition of General Eteilmarts, and that of MA:.
dame Exaelmans was referred to' the Governme4;
but it was agreed, that the abitractof reasons should
be suppressed.
For a similar reason it was agreed, after some dis.
cussion, that neither the report nor the documents
should be printed. • _

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

THURSDAY DECEbtBER 29, 1814.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT TWELVE O'CLOCK:
4, Reduced 6511-4 per Cot. 1121-.-5 per Cenx Navy shut
Consols shut—for account, 61fif—Oomiuns I
• Bank Long Airs. 16 346ths s•i6ths—liouda IYa. iSa. pre.
Exchequer Bills Is. dis. 31. prem. •

We continue our extracts from the French Papers
received yesterday.
The petitions of the French State Prisoners to the
Chamber of Deputie► will do more to- make the un-
thinking among the French, appreciate properly the
blessings of a good government, than ten thousand
speeches and questions of abstract right. What must
be that state of society which exposes every man to
the danger of being cast into prison, without affording
him any means to be brought to trial ? Such were
the blessings belonging to the French under their late
idol. How different the present circumstances of the
French people I Even a General d'Excchm ANS may
dare to disobey the crders of his superiors, and be sure
that he shall not be punished till he shall have been
tried! We mention this fellow's conduct as an illustra.
Lion, because it ought to be made generally known in
France, that he can not only disobey orders (which
his possible a man may in some eases do in ignorance)
but deliberately violate the honour of a Gentleman.
It appears by the records of the Transport Office,
that General Count d'Excusiass broke his parole
of honour in England during the late war :—a fit re-
commeadation to the office afterwards conferred on
him of Aid-de-Camp to BONAPARTE!

A Hamburgh Mail arrived this morning. From
the Journals which it has brought we extract the fol-
lowing articles :

HAMBURCH, DECEMBER 23.
Our letters dirtct from Vienna agree that some
differences have again arisen at the Congress, which
it will take some time to arrange. Profound states.'
men are of opinion, that from the geographical posi-
tion, as well as by the principles of sound policy, for
the maintenance of tile Balance of Europe, Poland
ought to be united with Russia, and Saxony with
Prussia. •
The Sovereigns, and other distinguished visitori;
will remain some time longet is Vienna, which is
proved by the circumstance that way late 6 a Commit-
tee has been appointed, by the rtilperor, to pro; 141,
measures to make the abocir of the Stiveteigits-la
Vienna as agreeable as possible..
The Kings of Bavaria and Wurtemberg having no
share in these rrew amusements, have given orders
to make the necessary preparations for their departure.
VIENNA, DECEMBER 12.
On the 10th, alter a considerable,interruption, the
first conference on the affairs of Europe took place.
The conferences of the German Committee, which'
had been suspended ever since the IGth of November•
were to begin again immediately. Wuttemberg is
said to have presented a note in favour of the anion
*of Saxony with Prussia.
The Committee of the Minor German Princes is
employed in the plan of a German Constitution, in
which the wish already expressedhy them for the re-
storation of the,lmperial dignity is farther developed,
and when their work is finished it will be laid before
the greater German Powers.
VIENNA, DECEMBER. ts.
The political horizon is, unhappily, not so serene
.as there was lately reason to expect. The hope is
not, however, given up of soon seeing all happily
)ncluded.

' HANOVER, DECEMBER 16.
At the opening of the Assembly of the States yes•
terday, the ladies appeared magnificently dressed in

the old Roman costume.
As Hanover was the first German State to declare
for a representative system, it has preceded all the
rest-in calling the States together, and the eyes of a
great part of Germany are turned upon the course of
the deliberations and :heir results.
The labours of so many distinguished men whom
the just confidence of their fellow-citizens has chosen
to represent the different provinces of the Kingdom,
will justify the expectations which we have a right to
entertain, and put to shame a Pamphleteer who lately
indulged in the most ridiculous diatribes against a
Government, whose constant object for a century has
been to make its *objects happy by its mildness and

justice.
The procession from the Palace to open the As-
sembly was really splendid. The Hall was tastefully
fitted up, the throne in the middle, and the seats for
sho l;)quities before it. The two sides were filled
witlinhistroos spectators. The Royal Duke took
hit plate with great dignity. The manner in which
bis Royal Highness delivered his excellent speech was
admirable. Every word was marked with animation
and feeling.
The Deputies not residing in Hanover receive four