Star.
London, England, 1820-05-26 00:00:00

Si ATE PAPER.

We stated, some time ago, the very curious cir-
cumstance that King FERDINAND VII. had remon-
strated with _his relative on the throne of France
against the perpetual attacks of the French Ultra-
papers (as they are callej,, upon the character'and
progress of the Spanish Revolution. We now subjoin
the official communication which, we are informed,
was presented on the Ist instant to the Duke de
LA VAL MONTMORENCY, at Madrid, on the above
subject.. It must strike every one that it was the
establishment of the Censorship in France which alone
could produce or justify such a demand upon the
Government of Louis XVIII. and, certainly, as this
Spanish State l'ai:er was to the French Ministry one
of the most unlooked-for consequences, so they must
have felt it to be one of the most unpalateable fruits
of that measure.

NOTE PRESENTED DY•THE SPANISIJ GOVERNMENT to

lIIS EXCELLENCY TUE DUKE DE LAVAL MON34Ip-
RIMY, TUB AteSSASSADuII OF Ul3 liOsT CiItISTIA.N

MAJESTY.

" The recent law, which re-establishes in France a previous
Censorship over all periodical works, evidently places them en-
tirely at the dl.:posal of Government: yet, for all that, several c.f
them have not ceased to display a spirit no less hostile to Spain
than inconsistent with the sentiments of the age in which we live.
" The Spanish Government, equally strong in the glorious ad-
hesion of a people worthy of the liberty for which they are in-
debted to their King, and in its conscious rectitude of the prin.
ciples which direct it, despises, as they deserve to be despised,
those, productions, at once short-lived and violent, of a faction
which, affecting not to understand the advantages of the politi-
cal system established in their own country, continues to feed
itself with chimeras, and, breathing out impotent desires, inces-
santly prays for the resurrection of superannuated institutions, it:-
compatible with the intelligence of the age.
'' At the same time, the Spanish Government cannot omit to
call the attention of the enlightened Cabinet cf his Most Chris-
tian Majesty to the melancholy results of such culpable conduct;
because it sees clearly that the object is to spread everywhere
disquietude, fear and distrust, by inventing stories of insurrec-
tion and dissension, and by thus alarming Europe with the im-
pious echo of their mischievous predictions. No one is better
able than your Excellency, by the rank which you so worthily
occupy, to appreciate how much hNd faith and imposture such
writers combine with the erroneous maxims of their politics.
Your Excellency, who sees Spain present a great spectacle of
peace and concord, without any other alterations or difficulties
than such as must necessarily be felt in a slight degree in a nu-
mer.ms family which charges its plan of managing its domestic
affairs ;—your Excellency, who is a witness of the sublime uni-
formity with which the Spanish People declared for the Consti-
tutional System, which promises them numberless days of tran-
quillity and of happiness ;—your Excellency, who doubtless ob-
serves with a penetrating eye the salutary tendency of our funda-
mental laws, which, far from being the product of vain theories,
are derived for the most part from the ancient laws of Castile, con-
secrated by time and experience, and which are equally separated
from humiliating despotism and the fury of a mad democracy;—
your Excellency, in short, who doubtless admires the great-
ness of soul and the rare virtues displayed by a magnanimous
King, cordially united with his faithful people, and rejoicing in
not possessing any other power than such as is necessary to
govern in peace, and to labour effectually for their glory and
happiness;—your Excellency yourself will be surprised at rract-
ing in certain public Papers, and certain despicable Journals of
France, that Spain is the prey of a handful of factious men, that
she is now oppressed under the yoke of pkrensied demagogue;
that rivers of blood must yet flow, and that Europe is menaced
with the sudden contagion of these frightful evils : such things
would surprise your Excellency, if anything could excite sur-
prise at the conduct of men who have the direction of such writ-
ings, and if indignation were not the only sentiment which they
ought to excite.

" But the Spanish Government, unacquainted with the ob-
scure methods of tortuous diplomacy, sure of the noble and
unanimous wish for a fraternal union pronounced by the nation,
is very far from wishing to demand from any Government, laws
of exception, laws of restraint, the extinction of intelligence, or,
in short, anything not conformable to the principles which it
glories in professing. It will content itself with pointing out td
the French Cabinet that which its own good sense cannot fail
to suggest—the ill effects which alight result among two nations
formed to reciprocally esteem each other, to see that, under the
rules of a Censorship dependent on Ministerial authority, such
gross calumnies are committed against a neighbour ind a friend,
whilst articles intended to counteract than, to elucidate con-
cealed truth, and to support the cause of reason and justice,
1
are rejected.

" Hii Catholic Majesty, who has received from his august
uncle so many proofs of tender affection, and who, in return, has
answered his most Christian Majesty with sentiments not less
elevated—convinced that it cannot eseape the high wisdom of
that Monarch, how important it is that the most cordial esteem
and friendship should reign between two nations which paternal
sceptres govern under, analogous institutions, and which possess
a multitude of common interess, has no doubt but that the
French Government will adopt the most efficacious means of
preventing the breaking of those ties, and of tearing up those per-
nicious seeds which imprudent or culpable hands ate sowing, in
order to reap their bitter fruits. In presenting these observa-
tions,by order of the King, I take this opportunity of renewing
to your Excellency the assurance of my.h.gh consideration."

By a letter, dated 19th March, from an officer in
our squadron on the coast of Africa, for the preven-
tion of the Slave Trade, we are informed that, not-
withstanding the exertions of our countrymen em-
ployed in that arduous service, the abominable prac-
tice continues with unremitting activity. Many
captures have been made by our ships and 'vessels,
but it is to be feared several of them will escape
condemnation. On board one of the captured ves-
sels, a small Spanish schooner, were eighty-two
slaves, thirty-five of whom were young t,irls; and
on board another, a French schooner, were found,
beaded up in two casks; two girls of eleven years of
age each. As the casks in which these poor crea-
tures were confined bad no breathing holes in them,
and were stowed with other casks in the vessel's hold,
they were nearly dead when released. The girls are
row on board tl.c TARTAR, Commodore Sir G.
[CcuAra,

PAALMMENTAIII' PROCEEDJAVS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 25.
The oaths were administered to Lort:s Nom/wins., Comm;
and another Peer.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL, rose and said, tint a math*
having been made by a Noble Alarquis (Lansdown) on a former
night, for the production of all t::e Treaties made by Great
Britain with Foreign Course, for the last ten years; be wlsted
to take the opportunity of stating, that it his desire that
(very possible facility should he afforded towards tarrying the
rotation of the Noble Marquis into effect. Bat in referring to
the 'freaties moved for, be fotnal that they were exceedingly
voluminous, and as they had all come it various tin:es Mere
Parliament, hr thought it best, with a view of saving trcut7s,
to take 'a list of them, which he then held in his hand, in order
that the Noble Alarquis might point out such as wire rczl!,
connected with his uiterior motion on the subject ; much de-
lay would therefore be obviated is layit.g them cn their Lord-
ships' table.

Marquis of LANSDOWN said, that he would con-
fire hu n:otion to those Treaties now subsisting and in actual
force. The production of others, although made w.tlliu the time
specified, he did not think it necessary to call for.
Lord MELVILLE presented a Petition from the Commis-
siotiers cf Supply cf the Cotfiny of Edinburgh, praying air
a Repeal if the additional Daty upon Wool.—Ordered to lie
on the table.

Lord ERSKINE presented a Petition from certain Occu-
pier; of Land in the County of .Suffolk, praying for Parliamen-
tary relief. The Noble Lord said a few .words upon the objets
of the Petition, and observed that the Petitioners did not re-
quire from the Legislature the appiication of any new principle
to their case; they only looked fur protection, and the enferea-
ment of a principle already recognized and adopted. They
were ready to prove their allegations at the bar of the House,
and to shew that the protection which Parliament had intended
for them had been seriously evaded. They wanted, therefore,
the fixed and permanent operation of that legislative measure
which was designed to put landed occupiers upon a 1. vel with
those manufacturers who were, Ly prohibitory duties, sect:red
from the competition of foreign artisans. His Lordship zd,7eri,
that the expense of importing Corn from the Continent was raat
greater than that incurred by the grower of such prndace to
some of the Counties of England : bat it was not his intanti^n,
in presenting this Petition, to enter into the conlitleration cf the
subjects which it inrolved.--:The Petition was then read.
Lord LAUDERDALE deprecated the introduction of sash
Petitions at the, present time. He differed with the Noble Lord
as to their not contairiag new principles. He had himself sup-
ported the Corn Bill, but bethought the Petitioners had no right
to ask fur that which they now demaoded. As to the matter
of the Petition, it was the same as that of most others upon tl e
same subject; they were all, in fact, drawn upon the principl.
a
advanced by a Mr. Webb Hall, who had been made Secretary
to the Board of Agriculture. That body, he observed, could
never compensate the mischief shish it had done by such an ap-
pointment ; and if a Ileform was to be adopted on an economical
plan, he was of opinion that it ought to extend to the abolition
of the Board of it gricuhure.
Lord ERSKINE thought the observations of the 1:..h1e Earl
uncalled for. He had not said a word of 21r. Webb Hall, and
he did not see the necessity for introducing the name of that G: r-
tleman on the present occasion, as he intended to confine him-
self merely to moving that the Petition do lie on the table.
The Marquis of LA NSDOWN said. that he held in his hand
two Petitions. Ile could not say whether they had criginated
with the Gentleman adverted to by his Noble Pri.nd or nor,
but he could say that they were signed by numerous and most
respectable occupiers of land. One Petition was signed by per-
sons who occupied land to the annual amount of £55,880, and
the other to the amount of £25,186. As to himself, the Noble
Marquis observed, that when the question came to be discussed,
he might probably take a very different view of the subject from
that taken by the Petitioners. He believed there could not he
an exception In their favour. Nor was it, perhaps, in the power
of the Legislature to grant their request. But he thought it ne-
cessary to state, that whoever might have drawn up the Peti-
tion, he was confident that the Petitioners would not have pet
their names to any sentiments which they did not believe. They
were a numerous, respectable, and, he was sorry that he should
add, a suffering class of the community. The Petitions were
then read, and were from the South and West of Wiltshire.—
Ordered to lie on the table.

Lord DA CRE presented a similar Petition from occupiers of
land in the County of Herts. His Lordship stated, that the
principle of the Corn Bill h..d been rendered quite inoperative.
As he bad voted for that Bill, he would also give his support to
such measures as were necessary for carrying its principles into
effectual operation.—The Petition was then read, and ordered
to lie on the table.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE expressed a hope, thzt the
Agriculturists would desist from bringing forward that or any
other question.
The Duke of BEAUFORT presented a similar Petition from
the County of Gloucester.—Ordered to lie on the table.
The Earl of WARWICK presented six Petitions to the
same purport, from the County of Warwick.
Lord HA MPDEN one of a like nature from the County of
Sussex.—Ordered to lie on the table.

Lord DYNEVORpresentecfa Petition from the Inhabits:M
of the County of Carmarthen, prajittg for a modiEcation o! :he
Welsh system of Judcature.--Ordered to lie on the table.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN Moved, that a certain reaper
should b 6 printed, winch had been laid on the tab!.:, in COMpii_
ante with a motion wi:ich he had made rehipive to the Trade
between Cant ;n, America, ;..rid ether parts if Europe. }se
observed, at the same time, that he uncercood the East !Jetta
Home had not the means of preparing those returns for wli h
he had moved, but that they had info:math:tit 'which snik,let
throw some light on the subject.—Ordered.