Star.
London, England, 1810-05-02 00:00:00

PRIVATELY STEALING BILL.

Sir S. ROMILLY moved the further cons:dera-
tioif of the Report of the Privately Ste‘aling Bill. The
amendments being agreed to, he moved that they and
the Bill should be engrossed.
Mr. HERBERT expressed his concern at differing
with the Learned Gentleman ; he was sorry he could
not now agree with him. With respect to the fre-
quency of capital punishments, they were now con-
rably diminished. If we take from the list of those
guilty of crimes pun'shable by death, the many who
escape from the want of prosecution, by intercession,
bribery, the ingenuity of counsel, and, lastly, the means
of trial by Jury, w•e shall find the number of execu-
tions comparatively few. He lamented the many
abuses arising from the maxim that crimes are pu-
nished not for satisfaction, but to prevent future
crimes. The Learned Gentleman had asserted that
the statute of Queen Elizabeth for punishing all per-
sons above the age of 14, capitally associated, to be
a barbarous law ; the Honourable Gentleman should
have recollected that in those times the Item comitatur
was inefficient, incapable of even acting against gyp-
sies. Taking this into consideration, it would appear
that this law was not unjust. Persons of such a deserip-
tion, a statute of Henry the Eighth condemns to ba-
nishment ; and afterwards one of Philip and Mary,
enacts a capital punishment ; it is in confirmation of
these that the law of Queen Elizabeth alluded to was'
made ; have not we ourselves been as severe in the
Acts we have passed in the case of the White Boys?
If the laws of England are condemned on the princi.l
ple of being enacted on an emergency, the Constitu-
tion must be condemned. He would ask wiiat
nishment could be inflicted besides death ? Would
the Honourable Gentleman wish, as in Russia, to in-
troduce the knout? would'he agree with the Marquis
Beccaria, -and condemn a criminal to perpetual im-
prisonment ; adopt the mode of nailing the ears to a
pillory, or solitary confinement? He believed there
were many in the country who would strain every
nerve to prevent solitary punishment.. We cannot
lament the loss of the lives of individuals, when so'
many public blessings arc obtained by it.' If means
were rather taken, to prevent the extention of mita-
gions diseases, nineteen lives to one would be saved
more than by the abolition of Capital punishment.—
He deemed the terror of death salutary in preventing
the crime of opening letters, Blackstone, he said,
disapproved of the alteration of capital laws. For
all these reasons he felt it his duty to negative tire en.
grossmenr.
Sir J. NEWPORT said, that if the Honourably
Gentleman approved of the severity of the law, it was

an_
tsecessary he should agree in the deduction from the change of eiriumstanees and. opinit.::,
make neo
'L.- fallen in.
prineoe,.thai the mass of mankind were injured by use, would it not be wiser policy
so bloody a system was evident.' Mary case& could more conformable to the times ? The di ew-
,
be adduced to prove that the severity of the law is not which waseo be left in the Judge was not 'cr
-I°"
so much feared as the certainty of it. He recollected and death, but as to the degree of punishne
that some time ago, in Ireland, it was felony to cut a I inflicted, and when that punishment was '
tree by day or night. He was acquainted with a same repugnance in parties to prosecut
very respectable person who took great pride in the exist. He would agree to the Bill of hit
cultivation of trees, and on an individual's being taker Learned I riend, because it was an experit
in the act of cutting one of them, he worked himself he thought might be safely tried, and
up no carry this rigour into effect. Previous to the humble opinion would prove efficacious.
Assizes he endured a constant agitation of mind, and The ATTORNEY GENERAL opposed
when they did come, he declared that on considers- On the best consideration he could give
tion he could not bring his mind to carry his rigorous he continued in the opinion that it weap.
intent into effect. Such circumstances injure the continue the present criminal code. Wh
country. A person guilty of a crime calculates not be its defects, be was persuaded that
only on his punishment, but on the feelings of man- same time as mild and efficient as any
kind ; thus we find, if a criminal is allowed to calcu. I devised. It was the great advantage
late on his chances, the certainty of punishment is that it operated rather by prevention
taken away. Every writer on the subject says that I ment—its effects were felt, or at least
the effects of punishment result not from its severity before they were seen. He could not to
but from its certainty. When the Honobrable Gen. retical speculations consent to alter the
I tleman speaks of trial by Jury, he should recollect stood. In the course of his practice he ,
I that it rather is a convincing proof of the assertions of as a criminal judge ; and he never knew
' his Learned Friend ; a Jury inclines to mercy, and in which the law was strained beyond
the only way which presents itself of acquittal is by bounds. On all occasions he had known
perjury; the Legislature should not therefore put and the Jury perform their duty. He
such an onus on the mind of the people. The Ho- that the Bill of his Hon. and Learned
pourable Gentleman goes to a different part of the but a preliminary to a greater ahem
world to find a punishment. He certainly did not minal code, and he therefore felt liimse
read the Act, or he would have seen that on the very necessity of opposing it. He could not
face of it, his Learned Friend provides a punishment, loose a general discretion on so importer):
by leaving it in the discretion of the Judge to inflict. He regretted that his Hon. and Learned '
He was well aware that solitary imprisonment is not condescended to take the opinion
worse than death ;—yet, he believed, it would be e' Judges), who from the high offices they
good to the community ;—for then the prisoner when be presumed to be best informed with -
.1-eft to commune with his own thoughts, would come particular parts of our jurisprudence.
out reformed, and not, as now, instructed in the pro- respected the talents and industry of ,
fligacy of others. He, at present, would never cease Learned Friend, he could not give his ,
to say, that the Criminal Law was defective ; and overturning the whole system of our criminal
hoped his Learned Friend woul:. continue his career his recommendetion. However multipl:
of humanity until he had established his principles of under that system might be, it still was .
capital punishment on a rock never to be shaken. advantages superior to that of any in the
Mr. DAVIES GIDDY said, that he would offer possibility of inflicting punishment not
• a few arguments, in which he would neither approve of tended to the prevention of crime. The
nor oppose the mitigation of capital ltws, but rather now stood, ptoduced those effects which'
adopt a middling course. The Learned Gentleman Learned Friend proposed in his Bill.
in his pages says that Nature has fixed her limits on might perhaps possess more symmetry,
one side of the question. He would say, 'that many more beautiful to the view, but he must
! theories are fallacious, and human judgments cannot if he made his election to abide by ••
be all-perfect ; the mitigation of punishments he , quated and wholesome code.
would leave to the Jury. With respect to punish. Mr. MORRIS would not presume
ment without express rules, though the decision experience in criminal jurisprudence against
would be arbitrary,• and, odious perhaps as the ex. the Honourable and Learned Gentleman
pression might seem, still he conceived it to be an lase; but, limited as it might be, it was st
approximation to perfect jurisprudence. He approv. convince him of the necessity of thealteration
'ed of the necessity of certainty in punishment ; he Until lately, his practice had been .1.
thought, however, it should be united with severity; criminal courts, where he had full opportunie
He adverted to the crime of sheep-stealing, which, acquainted with those pious perjuries, _
from the extent of our commons and the value of weaknesses which were cited by his Learned
sheep, if not punished with severity, the consequences in proof of the imperfections and insuffi,-
would be most injurious. He agreed in the mitiga. provisions in our criminal code. lie wa,
tion of punishment for breaking open a door, which, great benefit would accrue from the adopts
if many are connected together, condemns the whole. Bill, and it should therefore have his cos
He would rather wish that the persons who ernme. The most effectual preventive of crime;
diately effected the crime should only be punished. would be to make the law as mild as possii
I Mr. WINDHAM argued at length against the 1 the same time not to render it a dead :
Bill. He defended the present system, on account of I Mr. FRANKLAND said, that, enter
• the mildness with which it was administered, and tbe I did the highest respect for the telents an,
tenor it held out to offenders. his Honourable and Learned Friend,
The MASTER of the ROLLS supported the Bill, , agree' with him in his views of the sub.!,
convinced that the object which it had in contempt*. i House. He wished that his Learned
. tion would be effected if suffered to pass into a law. : oils to the introduction of his series of .
I Without entering into an examination of the general ! suited those who were best competent ti
opinions upon the subject, he would shortly state his . frmation. However sanguinary our
' reasons for thinking it deeireable, indeed he believed : might be in appearance, there was not .
that it was agreed on all hands that it was so, the ; tical application so mild a system under
I only question which arose was, whether if any other i fact, many of our laws were preserved
! punishment was marked out iestead of death for the i rorem. They were like a blunderbuss
crime, it would have the effect of deterring persons i the window of an honest citizen retired
i from the commission of it ? When any alteration in : try, kept there !o frighten away the thie,
Ithe laws of the land was proposed to be made, it be- which a shot might not have been di!
I came the House to look into them, and see whether , twenty years. He contended against I
they were effective in their operation. Now what , the law against stealing in a shop, the
had the Learned Gentleman who brought in this Bill which was absolutely necessary to protect
said upon that head ? Why, he had stated, that in able artifices ernpluyed in the exposition
many cases they were not operative ; for, that where , a commercial country like this, such L
the crime was punishable with death, the punishment i cessary,for property could not be safe
in very few instances had been carried into effect.--: He was adverse to weakening the penal
The inference which he should draw from that cir- I feet of which would be more mischievotr-
, cumstance was, that either the law, or the practice of ; House was aware of. He was persuaded
it, was wrong. Whichever was the case, the truth Ibe better to leave the application of the e
I was, that it had been contended, the laws were not I tee the conscience of the Juries, the discreti
efficacious in preventing the crime. The infliction of I; Judge, and the Royal mercy, whenever
death being abstained from, be apprehended that the : necessary. In a country where political
I just conclusion to be drawn was, that the practice is ! freedom was so much enjoyed as amon/
I right ; because, if the law in itself was wrong, it minal statutes must of course be num,.
I would most assuredly have been noticed as such in were. These multiplied punishments
1 some way or other. If the practice then was not the price we paid for our liberty ; the-
' blamed, and no fault had been found with the Judges balances that must unavoidably tare
or the King's advisers, for not enforcing the law, it . tering our criminal system, or disturbing
. clearly shewed that the public opinion was, that the , material degree, we should destroy those
law is too severe, and is not adapted to the offence. . lofty sentiments which were the best safe!
There seemed indeed to be a sort of universal confe- I Constitution. He thought the code mi,.
' deracy in the people to abrogate the law. In some ' allowed to remain as it was. It was less
instances prosecutors did not like to go on to convic. !in effect than appearance. It prevented
tion, because of the penalty to the offender. Juries' °to recurring to punishment. No other
would in other cases exempt the offender from the was persuaded, would answer the great .
capital punishment, so that it might not be left it lation so well. He must therefore oppose
the breast of the Judge to execute it : nay, even conceiving it to be the first step towards,
the Judges and the King's advisers were of the i and, in his opinion, dangerous innovation
same opinion, and did not think it advisable to minal code.
inflict a punishment which the law had expressly de. Mr. 'WILBERFORCE could not
fined. With respect to the law then being effectual, our liberties could be infringed, or our
offenders were prosecuted, and Juries were induced to minished by a mitigation of the penal
acquit in many instances, not that they did not think : hundred years ago that penal code WAS
the offender guilty, but because they thought the of. rigidly enforced. Since that period the
fence was to be too severely punished with death.— ' capital punishments had garedually decreased,
The law, therefore, 'was not good which left to the yet our liberties had been more generally
discretion of Juries to give a verdict contrary to their more deeply founded, and more thoroughL
oaths, or as Blackstone emphatically termed such stood. The question before the House
decision which placed Juries in the situation of o corn. the punishment of death ought to be ate
mitting pious perjuries ;" because it was adverse to crimes under discussion ? In his opinion
their feelings of justice. Ought the Law to stand He thought that the eyes of the country
which men could not conform to, without sacrificing i ally opening to the defects of our criminal
their feelings or their consciences ? It might be said, Ihe trusted, that by the adoption of the
that it would be wrong to deprive the Crown of the r of criminals in penitentiary houses, crimes
power of pardoning. Without wishing to deprive the I more frequently prevented, and crimie
Crown of that power, it was quite another thing to . less injurious to society. With respect
endeavour by indirect means to lessen that power, for I prison of the Honourable Gentleman
it was never intended that the King should have the , ceded him, he should merely say, that it
power of administering the laws generally, either ! the house which that Honourable Gentleman
tinder the advice of the Judges, the Secretaries of , imagined, had fired his blunderbuss I
State, or any other person whatsoever. In answer to : bad hit only once, lie would not have .
those who objected to any general innovation of the I alarm in his neighbourhood. Such was . ~ ~
Lawee he would reply, that if Laws were, from the tion between those, who, according to the exisur4

civfhuithtislsee.l fallen
imnd
discretion
make new Laws
e
s not that of lit,.
unishment to ix.
d
:pertinent which
s.d which is his
ins.
opposed the Bill
give the "hit.;
ivottld be bat tt,
Whatever snits,'
at it was at Lhe
n3r that could be
ge of this cede
ion than ,
Ist aPinehended,
It upon any the,
the law as it now
he had often sat
knew an instance
eyond its proper
known the Jadge
He was (curia
irncd Friend was
erstion in the cu.
imsclf under the
I not agree to let
portant a subject.
arned Friend had
In of those (the
they filled must
6 respect to the
ice. Much as IF
of his Han. aal
his assent to tba
• criminal law, at
plied the offences
was attended wits
a the world. The
not 'infrequently
The law, as it
hich his Hon. and
ill. The system
etry, and appear
must excuse hint
)y the more anti.
!Ile to set up his
against that ot
leman who spoke
was sufficient to
teration proposed.
principally in the
portunity of being
's, those amtabk
Learned Friend
iffieiency of many
le was persuaded
adoption of the
is concurrence.—
me, in his opin'or,
Is possible; but at
14 letter.
entertaining ash.
is and motiv,s of
d, he could not
übject before •
led Friend,
of Bills, had
at to give him .!;•
nir criminal c
not upon its pia.-
ndcr the sun. In
rVei only is !tr-
uss and rattle in
red into the coun-
thieves, and front
n discharged for
nst the repeal of
the exis;ence et
wotect the j ustiti-
ition of goods. Ia
ch laws were ne-
afe without them.
enal code, the et-
hievous than the
rsuaded it would
the criminal laws
discretioa of the
Lever it should be
tical and personal
nong us, our en.
aimesous and se-
nts were part ut
le- were counter•
ice place. By al.
urbing it in any
I, those high and
safeguards of our
:e might be safely
Is less formidable
:rated crimes with•
other system, he
Treat end of legis.
oppose this Bill.
ards an important
vation in the cri•
lot conceive that
our happiness di.
enal code. 'fwo
was much more
d the number of
r decreased, and
terady diffused—
ioroughlY under•
use was, whether
e annexed to the
aion it ought not.
nay were gradu•
iminal law ; and.
the confine'
crimes would be
imitalc rendered
pect to the 0111.
lan who had re'
3t if the "me
Gentleman
s 187'2 times aai
me excited inu:h
I was the prof:Pc'''.
5 to the exiitirsg

had rendered tikathatitlS iiabld to apitai
went,
and those who had itlffered it He thought a
case KA been fairly made but foi the interfeitmce of
parliament, and he should therefore support the Bill.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL seconded the re 4
mendation of his Hon. Friend who had just sat
d-c:lwn, for the general establishment of penitentiaries,
haling known the beneficial effects of that system from
11:, own experience. It was indeed notorious, that the
tersequence of ordinary imprisonment of the hulks
and of tranvortation, was to confirm, or Lather to
g,s•-
ffeavate the habits of bad men: It was, therefore,
ii
necessar7 to devise other means, at least for the amend-
-ot qF offenders, so as to fit them for restoration to
society, and he knew of nothing better than that pre-
ieibed by the Act of the 19th of his present Majesty,
for the establishment of Penitentiaries. The Learned
Oen,leman denied, from his own experience, that the
fear of the punishment of death had the effect ascribed
to it upon the minds of prosecutors, witnesses and
;uric; : and he believed no practical man could say
to; or that that fear had no effect upon criminalss—
indeed it would seem very strange that the fear of
death should be operative upon the mind of proseen-
to, witnesses and juries, while it should be wholly
inoperative upon the mind pun the offender, who was
lae subject to that pshment. As to the
slene to
lan of impunity to offenders resulting from the opera.
tica of ins fear, he was quite astonished at the asset*.
6,, 17( rit was well known that prosecutors could
if thevplease.d. leave out the capital part of the charge
in their indictment ; and the juries being so apt, as it
was said, to reduce the value of the goods stolen, in et;
der to evade the capital punishment; how could it be
said that the law, as it stood, afforded any facility to the
escape of guilt. as even the evasion of the capital pu-
tishment could not secure impunity to the criminal ?
Upon the whole he felt it to be his duty to oppose the
motion, conceiving the law, as it stood, to be neces-
sary for the protection of an Englishman's house,
which was provtrbially his castle (a cry of hear, hear,
from some Gentlemen on the o(asosiiion aide.) Yes, said
the Learned Gentleman, I would have an English-
man's habitation protected from being the refuge of a
eriminall as well as from being the object of a crimi-
nal's attack (some cheers on Me Ministerial Benches.)—
Alier s .me panegyric upon the general system of our
petal laws. the Learned Gentleman concluded with
dbs-rving upon the impropriety of abridging the dis-
(Tejon of the Judges, or introducing any innovation
where no practical mischief was found to result from
the existing- establishment.
Mr. CANNING wished not to be misunderstood
h the vote he meant to give upon this question. He
would vote for the motion before the House, while
he subscribed to much of the general reasoning ad-
duced by its opponents, and protested to the greetr
part of that ascribed to the Learned Mover, upon his
opening, which he did not happen to have heard.—
The Right Hon. Gentleman exposed the fallacy of
the argument used by his Learned Friend who spoke
last, with regard to the operation ?f the fears of the
punishment of death upon the mind of prosecutors
and juries, compared to that upon the minds of offen-
ders ; for the distinction was clear between the feel-
' jogs of a well-regulated mind, and those which must
be supposed to belong to hardened sinners. The one
night be very unwilling .to inflict that which the
other might be comparatively indifferent about suf-
(trill. As to means which his Learned Friend
descika as still in the power of prosecutors to pro-
tect offenders from capital punishinent, he confessed
that he could not reconcile the use of these means,
with the conception which he had of the obligation to
which prosecutors, as all other witnesses, were sub-
ject to tell " the whole truth." But lie did not wish
to leave the life of man to such discretions, or to sub-
ject offences to a greater degree of punishment than
they deserved, which was fairly the case before the
Bmse. He begged to protest against the charge of
innovation as applied to this ease. For himself he
tboug!it he might say, that no such imputation
mild apply to him. But, in fact, k could not at all
apply to the motion. It might as well be said, that
the Act this motion proposed to repeal, was upon its
original enactment an innovation. Probably it was
then a great innovation, which a change of circum-
stances had now rendered it quite unnecessary any
longer to continnz. He could not, therefore, allow
such a cry to influence his judgment.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
did not agr.,e in the justness of the criticism passed
upon the speech of his Learned Friend (the Solicitor
General), by his Right Honourable Friend who spoke
last, in the proposition put by the last Speaker. He
argued from the case of the hardened offender against
the scruples of an humane juror ; but it was not the
hardened offender they wanted to deter, but those
who had not, perhaps, been actually guilty of any
offence. He denied that the opinions of legal men
were poised upon the practical good consequences of
.the law as it now stood. He rather thought that the
authority of legal men were at one side, and that side
tie law, as it was, and not as it would be, innovated
upon. It had been said, that juries were deterred
from bringing In verdicts of conviction) but how
many were deterred from the commission of the of-
fence ? Prosecutors who abandoned the capital part
of any charge which they could substantiate, might
be backward in promulgating such proofs of their
own humanity. But what records could they expect
to have of the numbers who bad been deterred from
the commission of crime by the dread of death ? these
Persons were not likely to confess that they would
have been dishonest but for the law. The proposed
change was founded upon theory, which, however
plausible, ought not to be allowed to bear down the
opposing testimony of long established practice.
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY replied. He contended
that the grounds upon which the toroposed Bill rested
Were not those of theory, but of practice. The ob-
jections that had been visited upon this Bill in conse-
quence of any opinions he might have offered upon
Other •
subjects, he thought it quite unnecessary to
make any answer to, as he then rose to defend his
bill. and not his errors i▪ n judgment (if they were
rs), upon questions wholly unconnected with the
Present question. He contended, that prosecutors
Were deterred from prosecuting rather than run the
rite' of devoting to anignominious death some persons
Who had been long in their service, and whose coun-
tenance had so often reflebe the beams of their mas-
ters' benignity. This mig• ht an aggravated case •
but why_should a case because it was aggravated, be
thereforel... without remedy ? The severity of the law
412 deterred Juries from a full discharge of their duty.

About st year ari a laud wal convicted at the Old
Bailey, of stealing a ilflo Bank note out of a dwelling
house. The Jury brought in their verdict, that she
Was guilty of stealing a thing out of a dwelling-house
to the value of 395. Had the Jury in this case acted
up tb the solemn appeal they had made tb Goa # and
what had forced them into the commission of an of-
fence so awefiilly greater than that they were appointed
to try I An Hon. Friend of his had ridiculed the
sition, that the certainty of the punishment was More
efficacious in preventing crimes than their severity; but
did that Gentleman forget thatthis maxim was tliemain
principle of all the arguments of Dr. Paley ? It had
been saki, that he had the authority of the Judges
against hitii: The Judges generally had expressed
no opinion upsin it; but their known practice in screen.
ing, through Motives of humanity, the culprits befbre
them from the capital part of such offences, was an
evidence in favour of such as he now proposed.
Sir Samuel Romilly then proceeded to shew the cruel
operation of the law, from its uncertainty, on those
Unhappy wretches wlib had buoyed thetriselves up
With the hopes of pardimi With even the assurance
of it, at the very moment that the Judge was exhor-
tins them to make the best use of their short time in
pieparing themselves for that other world into which
they were so speedily to pass. Was not this (he
was sorry to use the Viords)—but was it not turning
into a solerdn mockery that pious prayer with which
the awful sentence of the law concluded ?

The House then divided on the question that the
Bill be engtossed.-Ayes 31—Noes 33—.-Maiprity Q.
On our readmission, we found Sir SAMUEL Ro-
MILLY deprecating the thinness of the House, and
hoping that they would not, in the present state of the
House, press the Consideration of the. second question.
Mr. BRODGliAllio Mr. WILBERFORCE, and Mr. Gm-
try, supported this opinion.
Mr. PERCEVAL and Mr. RYDER were for deciding
upon the question then.
Strange's were then excluded, but we understand
no division took place.—Adjourned.

11-1 E EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, MAY g.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONt O'CLOCK.
s ler C. Cons money, 70H—acc.
Red. 691-4 per Cent. 1141-5 pa Cent. Navy 100 to 104

Paris Papers to the 24th have arrived, tut they
ate so completely occupied with the discussions in the
Hbuse of Commons respecting Sir FRANCIS BURDETT,
and the documents recently laid before Parliament
relative to the misunderstanding between Lord WEL.
LINOTON and General CUESTAy that we have been able
to find nothing in them worthy to be presented to our
Readers.—We have, however, been enabled to pre-
sent in our front page, a few extracts from Dutch
Papers to the 29th ult. received this morning

Mr. DICKENSON, who accompanied Mr. MACKENZIE
to Morlaix, is returned, and is most probably the
bearer of some new proposition on the part of the
French Government. He is to return to Morlaix in
a few days, to rejoin Mr. MACKENZIE. The re:rort of
their having proceeded to Paris, and been treated with
marked distinction, is quite unfounded.
A Gentleman who came over in one of the cartels
mentioned in the STAR of yesterday, states, than an
expectation of peace with this country was very ge-
nerally entertained throughout France; and that, in
consequence, the situation of the British prisoners was
greatly ameliorated. The women and children were
furnished with every necessary, and treated with great
kindness by the inhabitants of the different places
through which they passed on their route to Morlaix.

By diff!rent accounts from the Peninsula it appears
that the French) or rather the Foreigners in the
French service, are deserting in more than usual
numbers to the Spanish and •Portuguese armies.—
They had been generally taught to believe, that
Cadiz would have been surprised, and that the occu-
pation of that place. would close the arduous and in-
glorious war with Spain. In that hope they now find
themselves completely disappointed, and the conse-
quence of that disappointment has been a general
dissatisfaction in the French army) heightened and
exasperated by the manifold privations and hardships
to which they are daily, and without hope of extrica-
tion, exposed. The French deserters, who have already
come over in great numbers, declare that the desertion
would be very general, for the reasons we have just
stated, were it not for the apprehension that the,
Spaniards would give them no quarter. From this
apprehension they have, however, been relieved, by
the most positive assurances from the Spanish Govern•
ment, not only that their persons shall be inviolable,
but that every attention will be paid to rendering
their situation both comfortable and secure. In pur-
suance of that assurance, means have been employed
to convey these encouraging pfospects to the French
troops. Not only have they been assured of personal
safety, but the additional and irresistible persuasion of
money has been employed to second and encourage
their acknowledged inclination. We have other proofs
of the judgment and energy which now characterize
the conduct of the Spanish Regency, and we will not

fail to take an early opportunity of communicating
them to the Publis.—ln the mean time we lay before
our Readers the subjoined letter from an intelligent
Officer serving with the army under Lord Wm.-
LINGTON :

" VIZEU, APRIL it.
" We left Spain without regret, oa the 9th of De-
cember, and took up our cantonments in this part of
Portugal, which we reached in the beginning of Ja-
nuary, and where we have remained ever since.—
Ten battalions were left with General HILL, at
Abrantus, which have since moved- to Portugal, and

,• t '
the iist if the artily acettiiies GUarcli Ceioriee, Ph-
he4, Francoso, and every town and village la this
pait of the country. One gieat blessing has arisen
from our removal fault Spain—sitkness has taked its
leaie of us, and out hospitals, which at the tithe I
last wrote, formed nearly a third of our whole army,-
are wow reduced to a very Moderate kale, smallei
even than under common ciictinistances in England:
The banks of the Guadiana Ceitainly proied an un-
healthy situations but considering the fatigues and
hardships we had Undergone, conitotly hutted, from
the period we left Abrantes till the very end of Oc-

Itober, badly fed, and often not at all, and Wee:slit
marching—no situation could have been fciund which
would not have kin thought unhealthy. The Mid
of autumn and the latter part of a campaign haie in
all armies the same effects ; and when the French
bulletins tell us that the madness of our Government
sent one army to perish in the marshes of Walcheren
(a truth not to be questioned), they add also, and

another in the sands of Estremadura l Our generous
'Countrymen, who have so iriolently and invidiously
attacked the character of Lord Wituatiorow, will
not fail to catch at this hint ; but if they wish to do
any more than expose their own ignorance, they will
inquire whether the principal part of the sickness
was not the natural result of previous hardships ansl
of the unfavourable season, and whether any human
prudence could in a great degree have diminished it
They will inquire too whether the French armies,
(the experience and wisdom of whose Generals they
never doubt) did not also lose a few men at that sea-
son—though no mad leader led them to the Gua-
diana; and should they find that they %gee eten
more unhealthy than ours, and still are extremely
sickly, they may perhaps begin to find out, that the
more they talk of the Management of armies', the
more only do they confound themselves in their owri
stupidity 4

a Lord Vigra.murcs, in spite of all their attacks, is
beloved by the army, and adcired by every one in this
country ; and that battle, which we are told by. a great
orator in the House of Commons, has rendered vic-

tory and defeat synonimotis, has in this country raised
the character of our arms, beyond what you would
almost think possible, and convinced the Portuguese,
and all the better informed Spaniards that an English.
man can fight to the full as well on shore as at sea, a
remark which not a few of the Spaniards, who were
present in the engagement, made.
44 With respect to the Portuguese troops, all will
agree in expressing their surprise at the improvement
made in their appearance, between the time we left
their country and our return to it. There are few
battalions in this army, in point of outward show, su
perior to them, and they are daily improving. How
far they can be brought to fight, as they are naturally
not over-tourageous, remains to be seen. A batta-
lion of them is added to two English ones in a great
number of our brigades, and the rest are now moved
to Castel Branco, &c. so that if the French advance.
i we shall soon have an opportunity of trying.
46 o.lr news from Spain, such I mean as are made
known in the army, are very few, and little to be de.'
pended upon. The French, however, are certainly
not in a very flourishing state. In the good will of
the people they have not gained an inch, and their
efforts, on our leaving'Spain, to over-run it at a dash,
have rather weakened theta than otherwise. At-
tempting to reach Cadiz by surprise and terror, they
have opened its gates to us, and have upset the uld
Junta, whose treachery anti stupidity have done so
much for them.
4, We hear nothing of moving. Our out-posts used
to have frequent skirmishes near St. Felice!, on the
Agueda, in this neighbourhood, where the corps com-
manded by NEVI SOLTLT, KELLERMAN, and LABORDE,
was stationed. Lately, from our having had six weeks
incessant rain, they have been perfectly separated, and
it is said the French have retired.
,4 This is the season of Lent, and the mummeries
carried on are most amusing. It has been thought by
some wise people that our difference of religion would
be the greatest bane to us here, and that we should
every day be more detested by this bigotted people.
Now it has turned out quite the contrary—at first they
were sadly afraid of us, and used to run from us as
from mad dogs ; but latterly they have become quite,
reconciled, and look at the ceremonies of our church,
which by the way are not forced very intrusively ou
their notice, with curiosity and even satisfaction, at
finding something like Christianity among the Hea-
thens. They are uniformly kind to us, and like our
soldiers, who, disgusted with the treatment they met
with in Spain, are grateful for the difference, and be-
have remarkably well to them.
d, We have a number of Spaniards attached to ow.
Commissariat, with mules, &c.—they have assimilated
themselves not a littk to us; for it is nothing uncom-
mon to see two or three of them speechless from drink,
a thing never heard of in their own country. They
are a very different race from the Portuguese—in ap.
pearance wonderfully superior; and, if they had a
leader, equal to any thing as soldiers. The very first
glance tells you whether a peasant you meet is Spa-
' nish or Portuguese, and most cordially do they hate
each other."

The Bachelors of Windsor are making great prepa-1
rations for the celebration of her MAJESTY'S birth-day,
on the 19th instant. Her MAJESTY having honoured
them with her presence on the 25th October last, ss hen
they succeeded in their claim to a piece of ground.

THE ARMY.
•

1

Yesterday the first division of Sir SAW= Maid
surra's regiment; the 103 d, commanded by Colonel
Hartout.i. Scorr, marched into Gosport for em-
barkation; the 2d division marchec in to-morrow;
when Sir Samar. will see both of them.
Wednesday the gallant 45th march into Portsmouth
for embarkation, then the 31st and 35th, with part
of the 25th.-Generals LIST= and FI TZRoY are er•
pected at Portsmouth, to see and Like leave of their
fine regiments, before these noble fellows go abroad
on service.

It is said that more Artillery, as well as some re.
giments of Heairy Cavalry, will be sent out to Lord
WELLINGTON'S army:

General PORTER is very speedily to have a grand
review of these corps, the West-York, Slimpshiro,
and Sussex Militias.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PLYMOUTH, APRIL 30.
Nved tiie IaTaLLIORMIT gun brig firm a ender Mel.
coati frigate from a crease ; and the PReASART Sleep await
from the westward. Came in the Nancy and Active from Macs
NIL Sailed the POORNII frigate, of 36 guns' foe Portirtiouth*
=time, she will shortly sail, with three other trip es, foe
. PORTSMOUTH, MAY I.
Arrived his Majesty's ship LION, from the Downs...4ood by
Majesty's ship PORT Maxott, with a convoy for Guernsey and
Jersey.—Went out of harbour his Majesty's ships Comtattrolt,
Mottwacu, and Patwaosa "rh HALLS is appointed eon*
for the West ladies.—Wind E.S.E

DEAL; MAY I.
Arrived his Majesty's ships ST. Gamma and Minswiana,
from Portsmooth.—Passed the back of the Goodwin Seeds hies
Majesty's ship VICTORY, for Yermonthl—Carne down has the
River his Majessy's ship Siam& and theft'Till East India ship
with several other ostwardbound.—Wind N.E.
SHEERNESS, MAY 1.
Sailed his Majesty's ship GtocisrAwr, with the tower kin
oottenburgb. When the next will sail, is not lined.—Wind Y.

FROM

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, MAY 1.
Ritract o f a Letter from Captain Worth, aids Majesty's Sloop
Helena, to Vice-Admiral Whitshed, dated at Sea the 19th of
April 1810, and transmitted by the Admiral to John Wilson
Creker, Esq.
I have to acquaint you, that his Majesty's sloop
under my command gave duce to a sail seen at day-
light, which continued until nine o'clock at night ;
then, after firing a few guns, she surrendered, and
proved to be the brig Grand Napoleon, of Nantz ;
she sailed from thence on the 13th ult. manned with
one hundred and twenty-four men, armed with 16
guns, viz. twelve eighteen-pounder carroaades (Eng-
lish), and four long guns. She is the most complete
appointed French cruizer I have ever seen : is two
hundred and eighty tons, and three months old.
Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant Richard Welsh, commanding
his Majesty's Cutter Surly, addressed to Rear Admiral D'Au-
vergne, Prince of Bouillon, Commander in Chief at Guern-
sey, and transmitted by the latter to Tohn Wilson Creker, Esq.
His Majesty's cutter Surly, Gaanvilleßay, April 21, 1810,
Sir—l have the honour to inforti you, that yester-
day at noon a sail was seen from thy deck, steering
along the enemy's coast ; we immediately slipped in
chace, in company wtth his Majesty's gun brigs Firm
and Sharpshooter ; at four P. M. she ran on shore
in the mouth of Pirou ; the boats manned and armed
were sent in to bring her out, which was gallantly
done by Sub-Lieutenant Hodgkins, who commanded
the boats, he having run an anchor out under a heavy
fire of musketry from the troops and crew of the ves-
sel, and hove her off from the beach'; she proves to
be l'Alcide French cutter privateer, mounted four 4-
pounders, which were thrown overboard in the chace,
and from the number of men who went from her
with muskets, &c. I concluded her crew to be thirty.
I beg leave to recommend to your notice, Sub-
Lieutenant Hodgkins, of the Firm, and Mr. Lagaw,
SecOnd Master of the Sharpshooter, for their steady
perseverance and determined conduct in bringing her
out from off the beach, under such a heavy fire of

musketry from upwards of 400 troops.
I am sorry to add that we had one man killed and
one wounded in this little affair, as per margin *.
I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)
R. WELSH, Lieut. and Corn.
FIRM.
Mathias Robcrg, Second Master, killed.
John Cross, Boatswain's Mate, slightly wounded.
WHITEHALL, MAY 1, 1810.

The Kiwi has been pleased to grant to the Right Honourable
HENRY BARON MULOCAVI, the office of Master-General of his
Majesty's Ordnance of the nited Kingdom.
The KING bas also been pleased to constitute and appoint the
Right Honourable ORARLES \Totes, Sir RICHARD BICKERTON,
Eart. (Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron of his Majesty's Feet),
ROBERT WARD, Eqq. JAMES BULLER Esq. WILLIAM Do-
marl., Esq. (Vice-Admiral of the Blue Auadron of his Majesty's
Irleet), ROBERT MOORSOM, Esq. and WILLIAM LOwTIIIIR, Esq
(commonly called Viscount Lows-nix) to be his Majesty's Com-
missioners for executing the Office of High Admiral of the United
Xingdom of Great Britain and lrelind, and the Dominions,
• Islands, and Territories thereunto belonging.
MILITARY PROMOTIONS.
WAR-OFFICE, MAY 1.
let Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Charles Moray, Gent. to be
Cornet, by purchase, vice Quicke, promoted.
29th Regiment of Light Dragoons---Priee Carter Edwards, Cent.
to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Du Cane, promoted.
Sd Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant John Gordon to be Captain of
a Company, by purchase, vice Wilson, who retires; Ensign
John Norman to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Gordon.
ill Ditto—Thomas Rowen Sheean, Gent. to be Ensign, by pur-
Oase, vice Sherlock, promoted; Serjeant Major -- Hor-
ner to be Adjutant, with the Rank of Ensign, vice Blair, who
resigns the Adjutantcy only.
6th Ditto—Arclubald Campbell, Gent. to be Ensign, without
purchase, vice Hippestey, who resigns.
Oth Ditto—Richard Keating, Getit. to be Ensign, by purchase,
• vice Pluukett, promoted.
7tb Ditto—John Hutchinson, Gent. to be Lieutenant, without
purchase, vice Brakell, who resigns.
10th Ditto—Lieutenant Henry Calthrop to be Captain of a Com-
pany, by purchase, vice Massey, who retires.
16th Ditto-e Captain Francis Carpenter, from the 2d West India
Regiment, to be Captain of a Company, without purchase,
vice Hart, appointed an Inspecting Field Officer of a recruiting
District.
91st Ditto—Assistant Surgeon Charles Clarke, from the 6th
Garrison Battalion, to be Assistant-Surgeon.
32d Ditto-i-Ensign James Jervey to be Lieutenant, without pur-
chase, vice Swcetman, promoted in the Io3d Foot; Andrew
William Playfair, Gent. to be Ensign, vice Jervey.
:39th Ditte—Hospital-Mate Thomas M Pcrrott to be Assistant-
Surgeon, vice Stewart, appointed to the 42d Foot.
illst Ditto—Ensign William Watsou to be Lieutenant, by pur-1
ckase.
legth Ditto—Lieutenant James Reed, from the 3d Foot, to be I
Captain of a Company, without purchase, vice Whillingham,l
promoted on the Star in Portugal.
19th Ditto—Lieutenant Henry Pittman to be Adjutant, vice.
M'Gregor, promoted.
160th Ditto—Hospital Mate George Meade to be Assistant-Sur•
geon, vice Gordon, promoted.
63d Ditto—Richard Fry, Gent. to be Ensign, by purchase, vice
Perriman, promoted.
69th Ditto—George Harpur, Gent. to be Ensign, without pur-
chase, vice James, promoted.
74th Ditto—Lieutenant Donald Macqueen to be Captain of a
Company, without purchase; Ensign A. Hope Pattison to be
Lieutenant, vice Macqueen.
76th Ditto—Captain James Carr to be Major, by purchase, vice
Covell, who retires ; Lieutenant Edward Wakefield to be Cap-
tain of a Company, by purchase, vice Carr; Ensign Thomas
Andrews to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Wakefield.
Ilith Ditto—Lieutenant Thomas O'Neill, from the 9th Foot, to
be Captain of a Company, vice D. Mackenzie, deceased; En-
sign Joseph McKenzie to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice
J. McKenzie, promoted; Ensign Alexander Campbell to
be ditto, vice Castle, promoted.
esd Ditto—The Hon. Wm. Cecil Pay: to be Ensign, without
purchase, vice St. Clair, who resigns.
oath Ditto--Lieutenant S. S. Rowe to be Captain of a Company.
by purchase, vice Horton, promoted; Ensign Joseph Holmes
no be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Rowe.
*7th Ditto—Joseph Leslie, Gent. to be Ensign, by prase, vies
Carroll, promoted. . e
91st 1./Mo.-Quarter-Master Stott to be Adjutant (with
the rank of Ensign), vice Garland, who resigns the Adjutantcy
only.
95th Ditto—Second Lieutenant Wm. Chapmin to be First Lien-
tenant, vice Mercer, deceased.
.th
West-India Regiment—Ensign and Adjutant -- Walsh to
have the rank of Lieutenant; Ensign Malcolm Fraser to be
Lieutenant, without purchase; Stodart Rutherford, Gent. to
be Ensign, without purchase, vice Fraser.
Sd Ceylon Regiment--Cornet Samuel Rind, from balf-pay of the
Royal Waggon Train, to be Second Lieutenant, vice McDo-
nald, promoted in the 19th Foot.
Car R • ne—George Paton, Gent. to be Ensign, vice Munich
promoted in the 4th Ceylon Regiment.
Dillon's Regiment—Adrien Erna, Gent. to be Ensign, vice
D'Orfeullies promoted in the Chasseuss Britanniques. s
chasseurs Britanniques—Ensigns Rodolphe de Chaillet and
Lenhart, to be Lieutenants ; Jean de Seger, Gent. to be Ensign,
vice de ChaMet ; Louis Antoine Depuy de Melgneil, Gent. to
be Ensign, vice Lenhert.
Ist Garrison Battalione-Captain J. W. Butter, from the 7th Gar-
rison Battalion, to be Captain of a Company, vice Belle, placed
on half-pay of the 7th Garrison Battalion.
Lieutenant Isaac Herbert, from the 7th Garrison Battalion, to
be Lieutenant, vice Creaghe, placed on half-pay of she 7th.
Garrison Battalions

fat lord Vessel Baitllike..-Sulleoel 1.41. agAtthaf, Nen
• Wirer date' two nisi, to VellaigeOltrila (ladilbek who
ozebaages:
10ti Dftto.-Ensign loin Patteraost,'.frOto the 126 Royal Vete-
ran Rattalios, to be Lieutenant, vies Campbell, deceased.
Royal Newfoundland ratrick Ray to be
Liattenanr; vice Loft, promoted in the 48th Foot; Wiliam
Kanble, Gent. co be Ensign, vice Kelly.
Nova Scotia Fencibles—Henry Trevor, Gent. to be Ensign, vice
Glazenbrook, deceased.
BREVET.
Major-General Thomas Graham, to be 13,--

a particular service only.
Major-General Hildebrand Oakes to be Lieutenant-General in
the bland of Malta only.

STAFF.

To be Chaplains to the Forces,
James Allot, and JamesAcott, Clerks, late Chaplains of Brigade
in Portugal.
Richard Burnett, Cies), late Garrison Chaplain at Heligoland.

IMMORANDUM.
The appointment of Richard Macnamara, Gent. to be Cornet
in the 21st Light Dragoons, as stated in the Gazette of the 24th
ultimo, has not taTten place.
Lieutenant Straghan, of the 56th Foot, is superseded, being
absent without leave.

---- -------- ----
Erratum in the Gazette of the 31st March, 1810.
For Captain Thows Abraham,frews Half Pay of the 16th Foot,
to be Adjutant of the Royal Military College, with the rani V
Ensign, vice Dalgatty,
Read Captain Thomas Abraham,'" Half Pay of the 16th Foot,
to be Adjutant of the Royal Military College, with the sew-
&rimy rank of Captain, vice Dalgatty.
In the Gazette of the 24th ultimo.
94th Foot.

For Lieutenant Edward Kingdom to be Captain of a Company,
6y pwrohase, vice Campbell,
Read Lieutenant Edward Kingdom to be Captain of a Company,

-
withost purchase, vice Campbell.
Commissior: in the Central Regiment of Staffordshire
Local Militia, signed by his Majesty.
Shapland Swinney, Gent. to be Adjutant. Dated April 21, 1810.
Commissions in the Tower Hamlets Militia, signed
by the Lord Lieutenant.—lst Royalßegiment.

Ensign William Pegg to be Lieutenant, vice Macnarnara, re-
signed, Dated April 25, 1810.
Charles ShieWent. to be Ensign, vice Pegg, promoted. Dated

as above.
John M'Carty, Gent. to be ditto, vice Laurence, resignel Da-
ted as above.

2d Royal Regiment.
Major Samuel Jackson to be Lieutenant. Colonel, vice Wilson,
deceased. Dated April 25, 1810.
Captain William Forsteen to be Major, vice Jackson, promoted.
Dated as above.
Frederick Macnamara, Esq. to be Captain, vice Forsteen, pro-

. _ . .
nutted. Dated as above:
Robert Butler, Gent. to be Ensign, vice Stre:ch, resigned. Da-

•
ted March 25, 1810.
Commission in the Ayrshire Battal:on of Rifle Lo-
cal Militia, signed by the Lord Lieutenant.

Charles Dalrymple, fn. to be Captain, by Brevet. Dated Apzil
17,1810.
Commissions in the Derbyshire Lncal Militia, signed
by the Lord Lieutenant. —Derby Regiment.
Samuel Storer, Gent. to be Lieutenant. Dated March 31,1810.
'George Hubbal, Gent. to be Ensign. Dated as above.

Chatsworth Regimens
Benjamin Myott, Gent. to be Lieutenant. Dated 4pril 6, 1810.
John Cashel!, Gent. to be Ensign. Dated as above.

Erratum in the Gazette of the 16th May, 1809.
Chatsworth Regiment of Dirbyshire Local Militia,
For Harry Bache Thornhill, Esq. to be Lieutenant-ColonelCom-
mandant, dated Sept. 14, 1808,
Read Flory Bache Thornhill, Rag. to be Lieutenant-Colonel
Commandant, dated Sept. 14, 1808.
In the Gazette of the 14th ultimo,

Ist Regiment of Nottinghamshire Local Militia.
For William Hurst, Eq. t. is Captain,
'.Read William Hurst, Gent. to 6e Lieutenant. Dated Sept.lo, 1809.
3d Ditto.
For Wiliam Thornton, Gent. to be Ensign,
Read Edward Thornton, Gent. to be Ensign.

BANKRUPTCY INLARGID.
May 14. William Charles Cox, of Nether Kautsford, Cheshire,
innkeeper, dealer and chapman, at six, at the Angel Inn, in
Knutsford.
June 26. Ambrose Castle, of Furniyars-Inn. I.ondor . money-
scrivener, dealer and chapman, at ten, at Guildhall.
June 12. William Shawe, of Long Acre, Middlesex, cheescmon-
ger, dealer and chapman, at ten, at Guildhall.
BANKRUPTS.

Samuel Temkine' of Worcester, flax-dresser, dealer and chapman,
to surrender May 22, 23, and June 12, at eleven, at the Stat
and Garter Inn, Worcester. Attornies, Mr. Long, Worcester.
or Mr. Wir.iarns, Quality-court-6hembers, Chancery-lane.
Abraham Matthew, of Shaftsbury, Dorse:shire, ironmonger,
dealer and chapman, May 16, 17, and June 12, at twelve, at_
the Bush Tavern, in Corn-street, Bristol. Attornies, Mr. Ed
ward Stephens, Bristol; or Messrs. Sweet and Stokes, N..). 6,
King's Bench Walks, Inner Temple, London.
William Foster, of Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, merchant,
dealer and chapman, May 15, at eleven, May 16, and June 12,
at ten, at the White Swan Inn, in Barton-upon-Humber.—
Attornies, Messrs. Brown and Martin, Barton-upon-Hurobir,
or Mr. Grey, No. 4, Gray's-lnn-squaee, London.
DIVIDENDS.

June 4. Wm. Calvert, late of Liverpool, merchant, at one, at
the Golden Lion' Inn, Liverpool.--May 28. John Roberts, late of
Liverpool, merchant, at one, at the Golden Lion Inn, Liverpool.
—June 5. Wm. Thorn, late of Leeds, Yorkshire, cloth-merchant,
at eleven, at the Swan lon, Huddersfield.---May 26. Thomas
Jenkins and Thomas Frederick Wollen, of High-street, South-
wark, Surrey, linen-drapers, at one, at Guildhall.---May 19.
Richard John tho younger, of Truro, Cornwall, victualler, at
eleven, at the Red Lion Inn, Truro.--May 15. Charles Baker,
life of Saville-row, Lambeth, Surrey, Sour-factor, at eleven, at
Guildhall.---May 19. William Bullen, of Bow-lane, Cheapside,
London, warehouseman, at one, at Guildhall..—May 15. Charles
Cowlisl:aw, of Ashborne, in Derbyshire, grocer, tea-dealer and
chapman, at one, at Guildhall, I.ondon.—June 1. Wm. Leach,
now or late of Horton, parish of Bradford, Yorkshire, woolsta,
pier, at eleven, at the Talbot Inn, Bradford..—May 22. William
Hayes, of Kiburn, Middlesex, brickmaker, at ten, at Guildhall.—
May 23. Wm. Payne, of Bath, druggist, at eleven, at the Bush
Tavern, Bristol.---June 2. Lawrence Cotton, of Fenchurch-
g ' reet .ondon, merchant, at twelve, at Guildhall.—June 21.
John Allen, of the Platform, parish of Rotherhithe, Surrey, coal"
merchant and wharfinger, at ten, at Guildhall.---May 22. Wm.
Johnson, late of Hertford, coal and corn-merchant, at ten, at
London.—May 31. Thomas Young, late of Downend,
of 3 Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire, but now of the parish of =en, Monmouthshire, dealer and chapman, at twelve, at the
Bush Tavern, Bristol.---May 29. Wm. Clayton, of Dolhead,
Surrey. grocer, at eleven, at Guildhall, London.

CITY Busnass.—Yesterday a Court of Aldermen
was held at Guildhall. The Committee appointed
to investigate under what circumstances some persons
were killed or wounded by the military, within the
City, on the 9th ult. presented a Report thereon,
which was ordered to. be printed, and a copy to be
sent to every Member, previous to being taken into
consideration at the next Court. The Thanks of the
Court were voted to the Bishop of OXFORD, and Arch.
deacon ILLmowonzu, for their Sermon:. at Christ-
Church, on Easter Monday and Tuesday. Courts
of Conservancy were appointed for Surrey and Mid-
' dlesex, on the 15th, and for Essex and Kent, on the
21st of June. The Billingsgate Dues were settled
the same as last year. The first Court in June, was
appointed, for the Election of Rulers of the Water-
mens' Company, and Beadles of the Court of Re-
quests. Several persons were sworn as Brokers ;
and a quantity of gOld, sworn to as fr.eign, for ex-
portation.

hic ifdrAL diCiDkaht
Oa"' • kiilBl/10N--MDCcoC.
eardidayere.--J. W; CHILDE.-,We merely
notice this picture to state that subjects of this kind,
unless drawn with extzeme accuracy, well coloured,
and highly finished, are seldom attractive objects in
an Exhibition. It may, however, sometimes happen,
that a masterly sketch may display many of the finer
touches which are not to be found in the most la-
boured productions ; but in contemplating the sub-
ject before us, we are at a loss to conceive how it ob-
tained a place where it is, and that at a time when
we are told Wilkie, who is not this year an Exhibitor,
was persuaded to withdraw the only picture he sent,
because it was too slight"!
11. Cattle in a Storm.—J. WARD, A.—Mr. Ward,
with thin freedom which his pictures of brute nature
form4y possessed, has lost even the accuracy of de-
lineation for which they were deserving of particular
notice, even during the life of his master and friend,
G. Morland. He now aims, forscipth, at sublimity :
the Rubens of a pig-stye--the Salvator Rosa of a
farm-yard We really wish him to descend from
his Bucephalus, of which he has so imprudently un-
dertaken the management.; and calmly, on kot, as
heretofore, contemplate the beauties of simple nature.
She will lead him to Truth, from which he is now
suffering himself to be hurried away by an Ignir
Fatuue.

17. A Charger in a Skirmish, without hit Rider.—
Sir F. BOURGEOIS, R. A.—Now here is a subject in
which, Though a study of mere brute nature, subli-
mity is admissible. With something too much of
that flutter and dislocation of parts, peculiar to the
stile of the Artist, we have an animated representa-
tion of a noble animal, yet more enobled by his situ-
ation. It is a very spirited, and brilliantly coloured II
picture.
32. Portrait of Lord Grenville.—T. PHILLIPS, R.A.
—His Lordship is here represented in his academical
robes, as Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
The likeness is admirable, but the colouring we con-
sider of rather too ruddy an hue, increased, perhaps,
by the prevalence of black in the drapery. The face
appears to have been touched up since the picture
was placed where it now hangs ; and not having been
subsequently varnished, it is seen to a disadvantage
in some points of view. It is, however, one of the
best portraits in the Exhibition.

thoox-Rarl..—lt will be recollected, that some
time past Lieutenant JOHNSTON was found murdered
in the Kent-road, near the. Five Bells, and that several
persons were apprehended on suspicion, but nothing
appeared to justify their detention. Collingbourn, the
officer, yesterday received information, that a woman,
named Bateman, who resides in a court near Warren-
lane, Woolwich, and who, with her husband, occasi-
onally get their living by carting coals and bricks, has
been heard to say to her husband-4, You villain you
know you made me drive the cart on, while you and
Smith (who is a prisoner for felony in Maidstone-
gaol) got out and murdered poor Lieut. Johnston."
On receiving this information, Collingbonrn, Goff,
and Wortley apprehended them, Lnd brought them
before the Magistrates at the above Ace, who have
detained them till further inquiry can be made.

Bow-STREET.—Monday T. Hardwick, in custody
on suspicion of being one of the robbers who broke
open the shop of Mr. Custard, its Bedford-street, and
stole woollen cloths to the amount of £llOO, was
brought to. this Office, for further examination.—
W. Blackman, a constable belonging to the parish of
St. Pancras, said, that, on the morning of the rob-
bery, he went to Covent-garden Market, for the pur-
pose of serving a warrant. About five o'clock. he
met the prisoner at a public-house, in Covent-garden
Market, and, knowing him, they had a quartern of
gin. After which, two strange men entered into
conversation with him, which ended in a dispute. It
was supposed to have been a planned affair, to keep
him in the house, as it was only a few yards from
Mr. Gustard's house. Lavender, the Officer, who
apprehended the prisoner, said, he had been to the
widow of Madox, who was executed for the robbery
last Wednesday, on the afternoon of that day, to re-
quest her to attend ; but she had declined, on ac-
count of ill health. He was committed for re-exa-
mination.

On Saturday evening, as one of 60 Bow-street
horse-patrole was riding over Blackheath, he heard a
voice calling out, « Pull up, d— your eyes, stop,"
&c. He rode towards the part, when he overtook a
post-chaise, in which were a gentleman, two ladies,
and a little girl, who had been robbed ; they inform-
ed him the way the highwayman had taken, when he
pursued him, and came up with a man on horseback,
whom he took into custody, and, on searching him,
and not finding any thing particular, he was per-
suaded he had thrown something away. It being then
very dark, it was impossible to ascertain the exact
spot, until the following morning; he, therefore, left
his stick on it, and conveyed the highwayman to
London. Early on the following morning, he went
to the place, and found a loaded pistol. On Monday
evening the highwayman underwent an examination,
when the driver of the chain said he was confident
the prisoner was the man who robbed the passengers.
He said his name was Chad:, Brown, and was com-
mitted for further examination.

GUILDHALL—Monday Phi/lifts was fully
committed, chargeck with stealing a watch from J.
Boulonger, a copper-plate printer. The complainant
was returning home on Sunday night, when the pri-
soner and another man hustled him in Barbican, and
drew out his watch. A young man instantly gave
the alarm, and the prisoner was secured, after he had
given the watch to his companion, who carried it
away.

Monday night as Mr. Fortescue, of Tower.street,
was passing up Norton Falgate, in a chaise, it was
overturned by running foul of a coach, whereby Mr.
Fortescue was severely hurt.

A few days ago an assistant in the shop of a drug-
gist, in Bristol, putting up over head a large bottle of
ether, spilt it upon his clothes • and, being alarmed,
called out to his companion, Who, not aware of the
danger, came with a candle in his hand, to see what
was the matter, when the vapour caught fire, and, in
an instant, he was enveloped in flames. In this situa-
tion he ran into the street, where a gentleman wrapped
his great-coat- round him and smothered the flames,
but he was considerably scorched in his face, neck,
' and hands.

L4Il !kTELLLC2NCE.
:OURT OF COMMON PLEAS, mAy
[ADJOURNED SITTING.]
DALTON V. OILLRIPIE.
This was action on a policy of insurance on the
ship Laura, a collier, in a voiage from North Shims
to London. From the evidence of a Mr. Graham,*
master's mate on board a ship of war, who conk his
passage in the vessel from Shields to London, it ap.
peared, that off Cromer, about half-past eight in the
morning, the vessel sprung a leak, between the butt.
ends and the stern, which gaited ground very ra.
pidly. That at 10 A. M. being off Winterton, they
made the signal of distress, on which a boat came off
from that place, and the crew of it assisted the ship.s
crew to keep the pumps going. The wind was fair
for Yarmouth, and the tide also. The Wiateron
boatmen advised laying the ship on the Cockle Sand,
as then part of the materials might be saved ; but the
Captain and the witness thought it more advisable t
endeavour to make Yarmouth haven ; the leak, kw.
ever, gained so fast, that when about three miles
from the haven the vessel sunk in deep water. Nv::.
ness could no otherwise account for so sudden a leak
in that particular place, but by saying, that the butts
ends were rotten. Several other witnesses wt.,' cu.
mined in behalf of the plaintiff, who all deposed to
the same effect. _

Serjeant BEST, for the defendant, attempted to set
up the defence of fraud on the part cf the plaintiff
(who was owner as well as master of the vessel) ; or
of the ship's not being sea-worthy ; the first, on the
ground of certain letters written by die pliintift Ivrn.
self to various persons, containing contradictor) ar.
counts of the vessel's loss ; but those letters, u:im
the Learned Serjeant came to produce them, could.
not be found, although it was sworn that his client
had got them, and had not returned them all. The
other defence was merely founded on the latter part
of the evidence of Mr. GRAHAM. The Jury, there-
fore, found a verdict for the plaintiff.—Damages set.
tled between the parties.

BIRTHS.
Thursday last, the Honourable Mrs. Ryder, of a son, who died
the succeeding day.
At Grantham, on the 4th instant, the Lady of Sir Montazte
Chohneley, Bart of a son.

DILD.

At Errogv, in the 76th year of his age, Captain John Fraser.
lle served as a light infantry officer during the whole of the im-
mortal Wolfe's American campaigns, and witnessed his glorious
dem h.

A few days ago, at Want, in the parish of Heflan, near Den-
bigh, Mr. Thomas Edwards, otherwise Tym or Nam, tho Ltri-
tish Dratnatic Poet and Satyrist ; a nun, whose native, though
uncultivated talents, cave given hint a considerable and durable
celebrity in the Principality.

District.
91st Ditto—Assistant Surgeon Charles Clarke, fro
Garrison Battalion, to be Assistant-Surgeon.
32d Ditto-i-Ensign James Jervey to be Lieutenant, w
chase, vice Sweetman, promoted in the 103 d Foot
William Playfair, Gent. to be Ensign, vice Jervey.
99th Ditto—Hospital-Mate Thomas M Pcrrott to bi
Surgeon, vice Stewart, appointed to the 42d Foot.
illst Ditto—Ensign William Watson to be Lieutenat
Ouse.
letfth Ditto—Lieutenant James Reed, from the 3d
Captain of a Company, without purchase, vice W
promoted on the Star in Portugal.
19th Ditto—Lieutenant Henry Pittman to be Ad
McGregor, promoted.
moth Ditto—Hospital Mate George Meade to be As
geon, vice Gordon, promoted.
83d Ditto—Richard Fry, Gent. to be Ensign, by pm
Perriman, promoted.
69th Ditto—George Harpur, Gent. to be Ensign, w
chase, vice James, promoted.
74th Ditto—Lieutenant Donald Macqueen to be C
Company, without purchase; Ensign A. Hope Pal
Lieutenant, vice Macqueen.
76tit Ditto—Captain James Carr to be Major, by pun
Covell, who retires ; Lieutenant Edward Wakefield
tain of a Company, by purchase, vice Carr; Ensil
Andrews to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Wakel
Ditto—Lieutenant Thomas O'Neill, from the 9
be Captain of a Company, vice D. Mackenzie, des
sign Joseph McKenzie to be Lieutenant, without put
J. McKenzie, promoted; Ensign Alexander Ca
be ditto, vice Castle, promoted.
$34 Ditto—The Hon. Wm. Cecil Pent: to be Ensig
purchase, vice St. Clair, , who resigns.
s4th Ditto--Lieutenant S. S. Rowe to be Captain of a
by purchase, vice Horton, promoted; Ensign Josef
go be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Rowe.
*7th Ditto—Joseph Leslie, Gent. to be Ensign, by put
Carroll, promoted.
91st Ditto.-Quarter-Master Stott to be Mil
the rank of Ensign), vice Garland, who resigns the
only.
95th Ditto—Second Lieutenant Wm. Chapmin to be
tenant, vice Mercer, deceased.
441 West-India Regiment—Ensign and Adjutant
have the rank of Lieutenant; Ensign Malcolm Fr
Lieutenant, without purchase; Stodart Rutherford
be Ensign, without purchase, vice Fraser.
Sd Ceylon Regiment—Cornet Samuel Rind, from hall
Royal Waggon Train, to be Second Lieutenant, 1
n4d, promoted in the 19th Foot.
Cape Regiment—George Paton, Gent. to be Ensign, v
promoted in the 4th Ceylon Regiment.
Dillon's Regiment—Adrien Erna, Gent. to be E
D'Orfeullie, promoted in the Chasseuss Britanniqut
chasseurs Britanniques—Ensigns Rodolphe de Chaillf
Lenhart, to be Lieutenants ; Jean de Segue, Gent. to
vice de ChaMet ; Louis Antoine Depuy de Melgot
be Ensign, vice Lenhert.
Ist Garrison Battalion.--Captain J. W. Butter, from tl
rison Battalion, to be Captain of a Company, vice If
on half-pay of the 7th Garrison Battalion.
Lieutenant Isaac Herbert, from the 7th Garrison I
be Lieutenant, vice Creaghe, placed on half-pay
- Garrison Basilian.