Star.
London, England, 1819-05-03 00:00:00

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ec' 45.14 •Pid ject of Law on die Pre!
titer proof of4be truth of as alleged -
mitted in justif4cation Seveinl amendments to
Article• ar proposed by the Commission were dis-
cussed: -M. Lizor moved to substitute for the whole
Article the following sentence :.4g No evidence shall
be admitted to prove the truth of defamatory facts."
The principle of this Amendment was v.'armly op-
posed by M. BENJAMIN CONSTANT, who contended
that it would be disgracefttl to the public func.
tionaries as well as destructive to the Liberty of the
Press and of Speech to enact such a Law.

The KEEPER of the SEALS concurred entirely with
M. Constant, and avowed it to be his decided opinion
that the responsibility of Public Functionaries could
only be rendered efficient by the aid of the Public
Press.—M. FAVART DE LANGLADE moied, as a pre-
ferable amendment, that only written evidence shoul I
be admitted in proof of defamatory assertions ; and
M. Ltzor having withdrawn his amendment, this
was put to the vote. The numbers were at first
doubtful, and a scene of rather disgraceful contusion
ensued, which ended ultimately in an adjournment.
On Thursday the subject was again resumed; and
after the discussion and rejection of several other
amendments, the Article (20) was at last adopted in
these terms—" No person shall be allowed to prove the
truth of defamatory facts,except in the case of impu-
tation against the depositaries or agents of authority,
or against individuals who have acted in a public capa-
du, for facts which have a relation to their functions.
Is the latter case, the facts may be proved before the
Court of Assizes by the ordinary modes of proof.
The proof of the facts imputed shall exempt the au-
thor of the imputation from all punishment, without
prejudice to punishments awarded for every injury
which may not be necessarily dependent on these fact s:.

Articleg2l, 22, 23, and 24, which merely regulate
the procedure resulting from Article 20, were sub-
sequently passed with very little discussion.
The Bouaz de FAYE presented on article 25th on
amendment, which has for its object toleave the Jury
in all cases to determine the quota of-damages.
The Chamber adjourned the discussion on this
amendment till Friday ; leaving now only five arti-
cles of the project of law to be gone through.

The Royal Court resumed on Thursday the case
between General CANUEL and Messrs. SAINNEVILLE
and FABVIER, when, after hearing the Counsel for
the latter, and deliberating four times in private,
they reversed the judgment of the Court below, ac-
quitted the General of calumny, and ammerced
Messrs. SAINNEVILLE and FAuviEtt in the sum of
3000 francs each, besides expenses, &c.
Five per Cents. Thursday, 66fr. 80 c.
[The letter of our Private Correspondent we must postpone
till a future day.]

American Papers have arrived to the I lth April.

The New York Gazette of the 10th of April, con.
tains the following state of affairs on the Spanish Main,
communicated by a Gentleman from Margaretta, of
the 17th March, 1819:
.4 We learn from St. Thomas's that affairs are going on very
prosperously. On the 6th March, near Cassangua, the army of
Morillo was attacked by General Piet, who eompleatly defeated
the Royalists, with the loss of GOO killed on the field, no prise-
ners—loss of the Patriots 64 killed. Morillo and his army so
situated that a retreat was impossible; and General Bolivar was
only waiting for a division of 2500 English troops, which were
ascending the Oronoco, to juin him, when the destrUctiou of
Morillo end bis army would be inevitable-500 English troops

had arrived at Juaa Griego, and Colonel English. with 2500
more, was daily expected, when the expedition fitted out at Cu-
mana, under the command of General Ondinette, will be 6000
strong, 5000 English and 3000 natives, assisted by a squadron
of 15 sail well manned, under Admiral Brion.
" Admiral Brion had sailzd on the 14th in pursuit of the
Royal squadron, and on the 16th chaced them into Cinnana
Bay, when a dreadful cannonade took place, and continued the
whole day : the result of the attack was not known. The In-
dependence of Venezuela will be compleated to a certainty : the
resources of the Patriots, in men and money, are great. the
Patriot brig la Irresistible, of 14 guns, arrivi.d at Juan, ( Mar-
garetta), on the 16th, bringing in with her his Catholic Majesty's
ship Norcyda, of 18 guns and 142 men, whi...h she captur...l,
after an action of 14 minutes. The Noreyda lost Z 3 men killed,
and 22 wounded."
NEW YORK, APRIL 7.
The ship Suffolk, arrived at Boston, on the 4th of
April, from Batavia, in 96 days ; spoke the ship Au-
gusta, January 4, from Canton for Falmouth. On the
17th of February, off St. Helena, was boarded by
an armed brig, who informed that Bonapatte had
been dangerously ill, but was convalescent.

BALTIMORE, APRIL b.
The captain of the schooner Fair Play, arrived in
fifteen days from Aux Cayes, informs that General
Gomar, one of Christophe's commanders, with a
considerable force, had passed into the mountains;
and that General Boyer, with 5,000 troops, had gone
in pursuit of the hostile army, and having cut off
their retreat, a battle was daily expected.
4, We learn," says the Charleston Southern Patriot, ,
" that previous to the sailing of the schooner Calypso,
which arrived here on the 16th ult. in six days from
Havannah, accounts were received there from Vera
Cruz, stating that the Patriots had Lima completely
in their possession."
FROM THE CHARLESTON COURIER OF APRIL 1.
A duel took place on the 26th instant, at Darien,
between Major M.Queen M'lntosh and Colonel John
L. Hopkins. Major Milntosh was killed, and Colonel
Hopkins was wounded. The latter was afterwards
taken into custody.

The private lettliks received from New York this
morning are dated the 10th of April. It appears
from them, that the commercial distress is great in
the extreme. From every part of the United States
the same melancholy account is given. Trade and
commerce were at a total stand, andlsankruptcies and
compositions occupy the attention of the Citizens.

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