Star.
London, England, 1818-01-30 00:00:00

THANKS TO THE MARQUIS OF HASTINGS.

The SPEAKER informed the House, that he had received
from the Marquis of Hmtinp a letter, admits/Fledging the re-
ceipt of one from the late Speaker, transmitting to his Lordship
the Vote of Thank► of the House on the Bth February, 1817.
In this letter the Roble Marquis stated that he had no preten-
sions to the honour conferred upon him, beyond his earnest
anxiety to uphold the proud trophies raised by the valour of his
countrymen in the regions of India. He offered his tribute of
respect to the House for the honour they had done him, and ac-
knowledged, with peculiar thanks, the Battering :maser in which
the Speaker had communicated to him the vote of the House.
The Noble Marquis further stated, that he transmitted to Ge-
neral Sir David Ochterioey and the other Men employed in
the Nejmeleeewer, the thanks voted to them on the oecanion.
The House then adjourned until Saturday.

AMERICA.

.............. ..

ARMY AND FORTIFICATIONS.
The following Message was received from the PRE-
SIDENT of the IigITILD STATaS by Mr. J. J. Mdtritog,
his Secretary:
" In compliance with the Resolution of the House of Repre-
sentatives, the Secretary of War has the honour to make a Re-
turn of the present strength of the Army of the United States,
with the distribution thereof among the several military posts--
The Military Establishment, as it now stands, is sufficiently ex-
tensive to keep the fortilkations in a state of preservation, but is
wholly inadequate to defend them against a regular attack by
a force of sufficient strength or skill. To garrison the forts on
the maritime frontier alone would require, according to the best
information and estimates of this Department, more than thrice
' our present number, to repel the assaults of such a force. The
portion of the army stationed in the neighbourhood of fordfica-
dons now erecting, are employed to aid in constructing them;
but only an inconsiderable number has yet been so engaged; ow-
ing to its dispersed situation. Though not. i-nmediately compre-
hended in the Resolution of the House, it is but justice to the
Army to observe, that it has been employed to a considerable
extent the last year in the construction of roads, arsenals, and
other public works connected with the defence of the country.
" The existing fortifications are thoUght to be wholly Insuffi-
cient in the event of a future war. As the declaration of war
is the act of the whole community, justice, honour, and huma-
nity require that every portion of the country should, as far as
possible, be protected again its ravages. This is •among the
most sacred duties of the Government ; and, irnpntmed with its
importance, a Board of the most skilful Officers in our service
has been constituted, in examine the whole line of our frontier,
and to determine on the position and extent of works that may
be necessary to the defence of our country. This grrat work is
not yet completed; and in its present state, it is Impossible to
speak with any precision as to the extent to Which our fortifica-
tions ought to be carried. The soldiers will be able to render
important aid in constructing the works that may be determined
on ; but from the composition of the army, they can only come
in aid of regular and professed workmen. "J. C. Catmint."

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1813.
Hors CHAD.us's MARTTIDOM.—HoIiday at the Bank, &che-
quer, and South-Sea House.

The Bank Ite*riction business was incidentally
brought before the House of Commons last night.—
We think it impossible to mistake the aim of the
statement made by the CHANCELLOR of the E:OHR•
QUER. It confirms what we stated on Wednesday,
that at the meeting which took place on Monday at
Lord LivEasoot.'s, it was determined to continue
the Bank Re friction for two years longer. The con-
sequence will be a nominal increase in the price of
lands and in rents, and a real increase in the price of
bread and all the necessaries of life.

The French Papers of Monday arrived to-day, but
contain no intelligence of any interest. The KING
has had a grand Levee, at which, among the more
prominent personages present, were Prince TALLxv-
, RAND and a group of Marshals of the Bonapartean
School ; but nothing appears as yet to indicate•the

proise effort which the Tate signal derta bit Ministch,
in the Chamber of Peers, has had on Cie stability of
their administration.
•

_~..~:

The Mite of Wau.tnoron has again left Eawt for
Paris., ife embarked yesterday afternoon, at Dover,
on hoard the Lord Ddncan Packet, Captain
ll.►:att-
row, under a salute from the Fort. The Paris Papers
of Monday state, that the whole of his Graces estak
blishment has arrived there from Cambray, and that
the arrival of the Duke himself was daily expected.
It is probable that his Grace's preient stay in Paris
will be of some duration.

A Flanders Mail arrived to-day, and has brought
us Brussels Papers to the 28th ittstant, from which
we subjoin a few extracts :

BRUSSELS, JANUARt 26.

The prices of corn have fallen at the last markets
in these Provinces; and there is every reason to ex-
pect a further decline when the corn from the Baltic
shall appear itt the market. Every thing combines
to make us hope a very great reduction in the prices
of this article. •