Star.
London, England, 1812-02-08 00:00:00

does not approve of the noi, that it lof littic cnnse-•
quence whether it passes or not ; but that it shall hot
pass, because it does not suit his wisher. If Mem-1
bers suffer themselves to be so trilled with, it will cer-
tainly do little credit to their consistency. Of this I
am certain, that if the House consents to it, the pub-
lic will be by no means satisfied with the abandonment
of a measure to which they directed their anxious eyes:
they are persuaded the mens,ire is a good one, and if
it be now rejected, they will not fail to attribute it to
the right cause, the undue influence which the conti-
nuance cf the practice places in the power of the Mi.-
Wster. If the Bill be negatived, it undoubtedly will
wit have the effect of raising the character of the
House in public estimation."

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said he had always thought it of little importance,
and had always expressed himself to that effect.
Mr. W. ELLIOT said a few words in explanation.
On a division, the numbers were—For the second
reading 56. Against it, 54.—1 t was then moved
th at the Bill be read a second time this day siz
months, and and another division took place—Ayes
55—Noes 52. On the question of adjournment—
Ayes 45—Noes 59.

VAGRANT SOLDIERS ANT) SAILORS.
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY rose, pursuant to no-
tice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill fur the re-
peal of the statute of the 39th of Elizabeth, which
made it a capital offence for soldiers or sailors to go
about wandering and begging. He hoped that in
this instance, at least, he should have the satisfaction
of meeting no opposition to the removal of one law
from the statute-book which inflicted the punishment
of death. He considered that it was absolutely a
disgrace to the statute-book that such a law should
remain in it.

Mr. FR ANKLA ND rose to second the motion;
but would by no means allow, that the law was a
disgrace to the Legislature or the country. Since
Justice Blackstone wrote, this act had been virtually
repealed by an act made in the year 1792, which de-
clared, that slldiers and sailors begging under certain
circumstances, should be considered rogues and vaga.
bonds.—Mr. LOCKHA RT supported the motion.
Sir SAMUEL ROM ILLY did not see that there
was the least cccasion for panegyrizing the Legisla-
ture cf the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In the very
same reign, statutes were passed making certain kinds
of witchcraft, and communing with the devil, capital
offences. He thought his Hon. Friend might just as
well panegyrize the wisdom of the Legislature for
those laws as for the others.—Leave was given to
bring in the Bill.

CONVICTS ON BOARD TIIE HULKS.
Mr. Secretary RYDER rose, to move as an in-
struction to the Committee already appointed to con-
sider the state of the penitentiary houses, and also of
the mode of transportation to Botany-bay, that they
should also take into their consideration, the state of
the prisoners confined on board the hulks.

Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY SJWlloObjection to
this motion ; and as he believed that the enquiry re-
specting the propriety cf transportation to Botany
Bay would necessarily require much time and detail-
ed information, he should agree with the suggestion.
The Motion was then put, and carried.
AMERICA.

Mr. BROUGHAM moved for the following pa-
pers, to the production of which he understood that
there was no objection :
" An Account of the valu. of Goods exported to, or imrorted
from, the United S:ates of America, for the last ten year ~ tlrs-
tinguishing the years—an accuunt of :he number and tonnar of
American vessels carried into the ports of this country, in the
years 1808 and 1609, by virtue or the Orders in Council—an ac-
count of the amount of the taxes levied as tonnag. duties on
American and other v,ssels in consequence of the sad Orders—
as also, of the number of crminierciat licencss d doti.rg the
last ten years, distinguishing the British ports fur valirch they were
granted."

The papers were granted accordingly.
Mr. ROSE said, he should wish for the production
of other accounts, to exhibit in a ftirer view the ques-
tion of trade with America. He should theretore
move for an account et the tra 3e to the different ports
of America and the West Indies during the last three
years. The object of this motion was to shew, that
if the trade with one part of America had lately fallen
off, the trade with the other part of it was increased.
The account was ordered accordingly. Adjourned.

THE 111 ENING STAR.

LONDON.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8.
pater OF STOCKS THIg DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK
3 per Ct. Cons. fur money 621 i?—Do. for ace. 6211
3 pvr Ct. It..duced 63j-4 per Cent. 78j
5 per Ct. 93}—Bonds t7s.l3s. pr.—OmniuM 3 dis.
Exch. hills st. 7s. Bs. pre.—Long Anna. 16;
5W111.3 is the only Office that sold a Prize of £20,000 In
blart,6, in the last Lottery.

We have this morning received New York Papers
to the .sth, Philadelphia to the 4th, and Boston to the
Ist cf January. The proceedings of Congress still
breathe hostility. The Bill for raising an additional
force, has undergone many discussions in the House
of Representatives. It will be recollected that when
originally brought into the Senate, the number pro-
posed to be raised, amounted to 50,000. This was
reduced to 23,000, before the Bill passed the Senate,
in which state it came to the House of Representa-
tives. Our accounts from New York bring down the
Debates to the Ist ult. at which time the House had
come to no decision. An Amendment suggested by
the Committee of Foreign Relations, to reduce the
number of men from 25, to 15,000, was negatived
by a majority of 21, the numbers being 44 to 65. It
w•as afterwards proposed to raise the number from
23, to 50,000, and a keen debate ensued. Canada,
it is evident, will be the first object of their attack in
the event of a war. Measures are in progress through
Congress to enable Government to call out and arm
the whole of the Militia force in addition to the above
50,000 men. Leave has been given to bring in a
Bill " for the protection, recovery, and indemnifica-
tion of American seamen."

A Bill has passed the Senate for raising six cons.
panics of Rangers to watch over the Indians under
the command of the Prophet, who are said to be