Star.
London, England, 1811-05-22 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. WARD brought up three new clauses to the Oreenvrich
Hospital Regulation Bill, which were referred to a Committee.
The Pauper 'Asiatic Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Dublin Harbour Bill was read a second time, and °Merril
to be committed to-morrow.

The Irish Butlenge Bill went through a Committee of the
whole House, the Report of which was ordered to be received
to-morrow.

The Salt Duty Bill went through a Committee of the whole
Horse, the Report of which was ordered to be received to-
morrow.

Mr. LUSHINGTON brought up the Report of Supply, which
WAS ordered to be committed to-morrow.
The Newfoundland Judicature Bill was read a third time and
passed.
The Canada Rum Bill went through a Committee, the Report
of which was ordered to be received to-morrow.

The We of Man Sheep Bill went through a Committee of the
whole House, the Report of which was ordered to be received
tomorrow.

The Quarantine Bill was read a third time and poised.
The Timber Duty Bill went through a Committee of the
whole House, the Report of* which was ordered to be received
to-morrow.

Mr. LUSHINGTON brought up the Report of the Distillers'
Indemnity MU, wkicb was ordered to be read a third time to-
morrow.

The Depety Usiser of the Black Rod summoned this Florae
to the House of Poen, to War the Royal Assent given to several
Bills. The Speaker accordingly attended, and on his return In-
formed the House, that the Royal Assent had been given by
Oommiuion to several Public and Private Bills.
Mt. PALMER'S CLAIM.

Colonel PALMER said, that the House, in the
Session of 1808, had come to a resolution, which was
still on the Journals, that Mr. Palmer was entitled to
a premium of St-per cent. upon the profits cf the Post
Office, and that the arrears due to him on that ac-
count amounted to 5re54,702. He then moved—
" That an humble Address be presented to his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, praying, that his Royal
Highness would be-pleased to order the payment of
Mr. Palmer's claim, and that the House would pleege
itself to make good the same."
Mr. ROSE said, that the allowance of 2i per cent.l
to Mr. Palmer was intended not merely to reward
hint for his plan, but was also intended to insure his
services in superintending the plan, and seeing the let-
ters delivered properly ; after some time, however, it
appeared, that in consequence of some difference of
opinion arising between Mr. Pitt and that gentleman,
the latter not only neglected to set the delivery of the
letters expedited, but also informed others how they

!night put the Post Office to expenee, and suggested
a mode for delaying the delivery; and this fully ap-
peared from the Report on the subject now lying on
the table.

Mr. P. MOORE said, the question had already
been so much discussed that it was unnecessary to go
fully into it. One circumstance, however, he would
mention, arising from Mr. Palmer's removal: namely,
that the happy result of that measure had been an in-
crease of £30,000 expences in the Post Office depart-
ment. With respect to the Justice of Mr. Palmer's
claims, the pledge of thecountry to him was, that when
the revenue of the Post Office amounted to eao,ooo,
he should receive 2 per cent. and, in his opinion, the
honour of the House and of the country were pledged
to make good that Gentleman's claim ; and, therefore,
the motion had his fullest support.
Mr. W. DUNDAS fully agreed to the benefits de-
rived by the public from Mr. Palmer's plan ; and as a
'reward for the invention, Government had made him a
liberal allowance ; but he thought he had no further
claim upon the House.

Mr. C. WYNNE could not help doubting the le-
gality of the grant to Mr. Palmer altogether ; he
thought no Minister had a right to mortgage the pub-
lic revenue, without 'coming to the Parliament, to any
individual whatever. The House was at full liberty
to consider the merits of Mr. Palmer ; but he did
not think it was bound by this engagement. With
respect to what had fallen from the Right Hon.Gen-
tlenran opposite, he (Mr. Wynne) was of opinion no
patent would have held good after Mr. Palmer's con-
duct; he would go farther, he thought Mr. Palmer
;night have been indicted for a conspiracy.—(Hear,
hear!)—The Hon. Member concluded by proposing,
that debate should be adjourned, to give an op-
portunity of considering Mr. Palmer's claims in all
their stages,
Sir T. TURTON contended, that there was no-
thing in the Report of the Committee, or in the evi-
dence produced before them, which went to impeach
Mr. Palmer's integrity.
Mr. LONG contended, that Mr. Palmer was bound
by his contract to perform his official duties, and the
salary and allowance was to be paid him in consider-
ation thereof, instead of which he disobeyed the or-
ders of the Post-Master•General, and entered into a
conspiracy to retard the delivery of letters, with a
view to throw the blame on that Officer. For these
reasons he must oppose the motion.

Mr. WHITBREAD noticed what the Chancellor
of the Exchequer had said the preceding day, relative
to the increasing revenue of the Post-Office, and asked,
was it not to Mr. Palmer that the nation was chiefly in-
debted for this great increase of revenue When the
invention took place, Mr. Palmer was entitled to a pa-
tent, which not being granted, the public are under an
engagement of honour to secure to him all the rights
the patent would have given. After the House had
in 1808 decided in favour of Mr. Palmer's claim, the
House of Lords sent the question to a Court of Law,
where he could obtain no redress, the Court being
shut against him. He was ready to admit, and would
not detend, the indiscretion of Mr. Palm's.. But it
was the duty of the House to grant him some remune-
ration for his cervices and his losses.

Mr. DAVIS GIDDY opposed the proposition as
a claim of right, b tt would Mr. Palmer cast his cause
on the clemency of the House, he would lend his aid
to the proposition.
Mr. FULLER never had listened to such jarring
arguments on any subject. One Gentleman ( Mr.
Giddy) had opposed the invention of Mr. Palmer, on
account of its simplicity, which was only pulling the
letters from the side of a horse intothe insideof a coach!
Why the simplest mode was the beat —he was amazed
to hear that invention should have no claim on account
of its simplicity. And needed Mr. Palmer to come to
the House and demand his due, which had only been
denied to oblige Mr. Pitt, who lived for the people, no
body else—poor man, he died poor! (Loud laughter.)
And should his family and his children be casten
loose on the world ?—his daughters would not go
off without some fortune. His family would be
starved, and he would go out like a candle, leav-
ing nothing behind. They talked much on the bu.
sines and had never come to any determination.
—.Why did they not refer it to some Court of
Chancery, which was able to decide it for them. He
was sorry to hear Gentlemen coming this way and
that way, exclaiming, what was the word of a Prime
Minister? Why, his pledged word was as good as an
act of Lords or any thing else!—(Hear.) By that
narrow policy they were involved in the present war;
they would not listen to a man who would have car-
ried your light cannons post ! He went off to the
enemy, and was received with transport. The House
was niggardly in its benefactions to men of genius.
The method now used of the bomb-shells was invent-
ed by a friend of his, which when thrown made ter-
rible havock among horse I and when some remune-
ration for the discovery was proposed—Oh ! said they,
he's a man of fortune, mid needed it not. Thus did
the country go on disobliging her best benefactors,
which was like losing a hog (on ewe of two year: old)
for an halfpenny worth of tar (Loud loughiog).
Mr. PE RCEVAL contended that, even if Mr. Pal-
mer's invention had been secured to him by a pateot,
his conduct was such as would have forfeited that pa-
tent ; and it was on that ground Mr. Pitt had resisted
the claim. He declared it as his opinion, that the ori-
ginal bargain with Mr. Palmer was one of the most
offensive jobs that ever was entered into--(Hear,
hear ! ) ;—but as the job did take place, the annuity
was given on the condition, that the duties of the of.
fice should be performed ; they were not performed.
The office was forfeited by misconduct ; and on that
account the agreement was forfeited. Here the Right
Hon. Gentleman read over the letters of Mr. Palmer,
and other documents, all of which were read in the
House on former occasions, in order to spew that that
Gentleman's conduct was nothing less than a con-
, spiracy to defraud the Public. If ever there was ma-
lice in a public officer, it was this atrocious attempt
to put the whole of the Post Office in confusion, for
the purpose of venting his malice on the Postmaster.
General. Even the Honourable Gentleman opposite
(Mr. Whitbread) admitted, in a manly manner, that
the conduct in question was indefensible. He would
say it was atrocious and fraudulent ; and Mr. Palmer
ought to be thankful for the W5OOO a year which he
received. Having forfeited his office he had no one
to blame but himself, and he could be entitled to no-
thing more than he received.
Mr. SHERIDAN attributed the whole increase of
the Post Office revenue to the adopt* of Mt. Pal.

mer's plan. and he trtistea 111 r. P. would not consent
to give tip his claim to compensation.
Mr. RYDER and Mr. CROKER opposed the mo.
tion.—Mr. JEKYLL warmly defended the conduct
of Mr. Palmer.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL argued at con-
siderable length against Mr. Palmer's claims ; when
the House divided—For the Address 107—Against
it 4.2—Majority in favour of Mr. Palmer's claim 65.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed
of, and the Douse adjourned.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22.
PRICE OF S I'OCK.S THIS DAY AT ONI: O'CLOCK.
Cone. money G4{—for account.
4 per Cent. 80-5 per Cent. Navy 81
Facheq. par to 44. prom—Bonds Y 1 pre. Omnivai I pre.

Government had received no official account of the
important events communicated in the STAR of yes-
terday, but no doubt is entertained as to the discom-
fiture of the French army. If the dispatches are sent
by way of Lisbon, a day or two will probably be lost
in consequence of the state of the wind.

The House 4 Loris was, last night, numerously
attended by Peers, amongst whom were all the Royal
Dukes. The crowd of strangers behind the Bar was
excessively great, attracted by the subject of the Berke-
ley Peerage, but more particularly by the Bill re-
specting Protestant Dissenters ; which, •p the motion
of Lori ERSKINE, was deferred for six months without
a division.

In the House of Commons last night, Mr. PAI,
NEWS long-contested claim was carried by a majority
of 107 to 42.

Yesterday the inhabitants of Windsor and others
were again gratified by seem his MAJESTY on horse-
back. His MAJESTY came out of the Castle at half
past twelve o'clock in very cheerful conversation with
Princesses AUGUSTA and SoPHIA and his attendants ;
1 mounted his favourite white horse, Adonis, and rode
into the great Park, accompanied by Princesses AU-
GUSTA and SOPHIA, Generals GWYNNE, GARTH, and
Colonel TAYLOR. His M.umry did not return from
his ride till a qugrter past one.
Letters from Cadiz to the 10th instant, completely
contradict the statements of the enemy having raised
the siege of that place.

It was reported last night, that during the retreat
of the French towards Salamanca, MAsSENA had been
made prisoner.

The Cadiz Gazette, of the 2d of May, contains a
letter from General CASTANOS. dated from his head-
quarters at Fuente del Maestre, April 21, stating,
that on the 17th, General BERESFORD ordered Count
DE PENNY from Villa Franca with the Spanish cavalry
under his command, to reconnoitre LTsagre.

Letters from Corunna to the 14th, afford consider-
able sanction to our late accounts from France of the
return of JOSF.Pti BON APART E to Paris.

CORUNNAt MAY 10,- Joseph Bonaparte arrived
at Valladolid on the 27th of April, and set off on his
way to Paris the day following. He said on his
departure that he would return in two months, but
this was not believed. Negrete acts as Regent in his
place, and the French report that Berthier is coming
into Spain. Affairs are assuming a more warlike
aspect under our new Governor, Santocildes, who is
indefatigable in organizing the army, which did not
before deserve that name ; for a more wretched and
naked set of men were never seen. The task is a
laborious one, but we can already perceive an im-
provement.

" MAY 12.—8 y the arrival of an express from Ge-
neral Tahuada, we learn that Joseph Bondi)Arta arri-
ved at Valladolid on the 27th of April, and on the
28th left it, on his way to. Paris. This important
news the General received from a confidential person
at that place, who sent a peasant express with thz in-
formation."

The following accounts have been received by the
Gibraltar Mail :

GIBRALTAR. MAY 5.

We yesterday received the official accounts of the
important successes of the Spaniards in Catalonia,
who have surprised the almost impregnable fortress
of Figueras, which commands the chief entrance into
Catalonia, and who have also taken the towns of Olot
and Castersollit, with the whole of the French garri-
sons, amounting to 2000 men. The Patriots, elated
with these victories, are driving every• thing before
them ; and the French hive not a single gun left on
the coast to C.e East of Barcelona.

The circumstances attending the capture of Figue-
ras were ns follow :—SomeCatalonian soldiers, whom
the French had forced into their service, sent intelli-
gence to Colonel ROVIRAS, who commanded a body
of 1500 Catalonians, that if they would approach the
place at night, they would open one of the sal*
ports to his troops. Accord:ngly on the night of the
10th of April Colonel Roolnas, with his party, en-
tered the Citadel of Figueras, and after putting to
death the only sentry who discovered them, he so
completely surprised the whole garrison in their beds,
that not a shot was fired, or the smallest opposition
made ; and the whole garrison, consisting of 1000
men and 4.0 officers, were taken prisoners.

MAY 6.—A1l accounts from Andalusia represent
that that province will be abandoned by the French
in a very short period. They are completely panic.
struck by affairs in Portugal. It is not improbable
that they will altogether quit Spain. Joseph is gone.
All Catalonia and Valencia are in arms. The fall
of Figueras has inspired every class with enthusiastic
zeal, and not only regiments of men, but of women
and children, are raised. The other strong places are
or will be abandoned, and that part of the country
may be considered as free, as, by a Captain who arri-
ved last week, we learn that not only the siege of
Tarragona is discontinued, but that the fortress of
Tortosa is deserted by the enemy.
The Patriots in Valencia have killed in a month
700 of the French, and, on the whole, we may say,
without hesitation, that their cause is desperate.