Star.
London, England, 1826-12-09 00:00:00

ORDNANCS CONTRACTS IOR TIMBER.

Mr. WARBURTON wished to direct the attention
of the Gallant General (Sir H. Harding) to the sub-
stance of a paper put that morning into his (Mr. War-
burton's) bands. It appeared that the Ordnance had
contracted with certain individuals for the supply of a
particular (supetinr) species of timber, at a specific
price. Now it was impossible to supply the superior
article coot' acted for at the price specified ; so that the
supply must be filled up by substituting an article
bearing an inferior price. The notoriety of the fact kept men
of honour hum contracting for the supply, and induced him to
threw it out as a suggestion for the gu dance of the Ordnance.
Sir H. H A RUING thanked the Hon. Member for the sugges-
tion, on which it was impossible for him then to say more than
that it should be attended to by the heads of the Ordnance Depart-
ment.

A Messenger from the House of Lords requested a copy of the
Report of the Select Committee of Emigration.—Granted.
On the motion of Mr. BERRIES, the Ten Millions Exchequer
Bills' Bill, and the Transfer in Aids' Bill,were lead a third time
and passed.
The consideration of the Bill for assimilating the Postage Duties
of the United Kingdom was postponed till the 13th of February.
The Reports of the Committees of Ways and Means, and of
'Supply, were postponed till Monday.
Mt. BROUGHAM begged to remind the Hon.
Member (Mr. Horton) that when he (Mr. B.) presented
the Petition of Bishop Burnett, complaining of the con:
duct of Lord Chatles Somerset, he stated that it was
impossible that all the charges were true; for if so, it
was a libel on the House and the Government that Lord
Charles should have been continued an hour in his
tficc. He thought, however, that the Report, so con-
fide..tly appealed to by the Hon. Member, as content:qt.;
a I;futatioti of Bishop Butnetes case, left sufficient of
his charges untou..hed to induce the House to enquire

into the conduct of Lord Charles, who, the Right Hon.
Foreign Secretary declared, to be then on his way home
to demand an enquiry—infaCt, to be, tried for his
misconduct. He was absent from the House last night, when the
subject as before the House, otherwise he should got have tres-
passed on their time then.
I Mr. HOBHOUSE wished to procure some infOrria-
Lion from the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Herries), tin
the absence to the Secretary to the Woods and Forests,
as to the Charing Cross Improvements. His consti-
tuents were most anxious on the subject, as many of them could
neither sell, let, nor repair their houses till they had authentic in-
formation on the subject.
Mr. HER-111ES replied, that all he could 's ty, as the
subject was not in hi 3 department, was, that the prelimi•
nary steps, the purchasing of property, valuing of
houses, &c. occasioned some delay to the active exhibi-
tion of the Commissioners' labours, which were, nevertheless, un-
ceasing, and would soon be apparent to the Public.
In answer to a question from Mr. BERNAL, Mr. W. HOR4
TON said, the Report of the Sierra Leone Commissioners would
be ready in February. . _ _

Sir A. GRANT I;rought up the Report of the Committee on the
St. Domingo Postage Bill. The Resolutions were read and agreed
to; and the Bill ordered to be read a third time on Monday.

DOWILIt SETURNS.

The SPEAERR called upon such Members as were returned
for two places, to declare those they took their seats for.
blr. ESTCOURT (returned for the University of Oxford and
the borough of Downton) declared he sat ad Representative of the
former, and that he vacated his seat for the latter.

Sir O. GRANT (at a later period of the evening) declared he
took his seat for the borough of Aldborough, and that he vacated
his seat for the borough of Listowell, in Cornwall, for which he
was also returned.

On the motion of Mr. WYNN, a new writ was issued for the bo.
rough of Duwntoir,in the room of R. Southey, Esq. nut qualified.
COLONEL bitADLEY'S CASE.

Mr. 11UME, on moving for certain returns, connected
with the case of Colonel Bradley, reminded the House
of his having more than once brought that Gentleman's
case before them, as one of peculiar hardship.. This
Colonel Bradley held the King's Commission, as
tary Governor of the Island of Honduras; and for re-
fusing to. obey (with that Commission in his hand) the
" letter of service" of a half pay officer, his inferior in
rank and authority (Colonel Arthur), was placed under I
arrest; and notwithstanding his 21 years hard service,
on resisting this unjust sway, and complaining of the
conduct of Colonel Arthur, was dismissed his Majesty's
service; and all because he had not aristocratic influ-
ence at the Commander-in-Chief's office. while Colonel
Arthur had. This was the case in a few words; and
it. turned, in a Parliamentary point of view, on one
point—whether an officer, contrary to military usage,
should make a ,s letter of service" supersede the King's
Commission, and that too held by a full-pay Colonel;
while the other was held by a half-pay Major (for such he
was then)? He intended to bring the case of Colonel
Bradley again before the House.; and in order to make
it perfect at all points, he would move for a copy of the
instructions sent by the Duke of Manchester on the 7th
of July, 1814, to General Fuller, Chief in command,
at the Honduras—then for General Faller's letter to
Colonel Arthur, authorising him to assume the com-
mand over Colonel Bradley—then for Colonel Arthur's
report to the War Office in 1821, on the circumstances of Colonel
Bradley's arrest, and of his correspondence with Lord Bathurst on
the subjk.ct.
The SPEAKER having put the question from the
Chair, respecting go Copies of the general order issued
by the Duke of Manchester, on the 7th July, 1814,
relative to the appointment of Major Arthur, Superin-
tendent of Honduras," _ _

Lord PALMERSiON objected to the production
of the document required by the Hon. Member. He
did not do so because the documents had no existence,'
for the Commission, or as it had been called, the letter
of service did exist: Neither did he oppose the produc-
tion of the papers because he was unwilling to furnish
proper information. He objected to produce them,
'because there existed no Parliamentary grounds to de-
mand their production ; and more than all, because, if
produced, they would not furnish a case that admitted
of Parliamentary interference. He repeated, no pro-
ceedings in that House could be founded on the docu-
ments if produced. As the Hon. Member had taken
the trouble to investigate the details of this matter, he
(Lord Palmerston) would shortly state the case, in order
the better to correct the erroneous view of the subject
taken by the Hon. Member for Montrose. The facts
were simply these—Lieut. Col. Arthur was appointed
by the Duke of Manchester, Superintendent of Hon-
duras in 1814, and received a letter of service at the
same time from Lieut. General Fuller, the Commander
on the Jamaica station. This commission, or letter of
service, authorised Colonel Arthur to assume the com-
mand of the Island of Honduras. Colonel Bradley, an
officer under his command, resisted the authority of
Colonel Arthur, on the ground that the regiment of the
latter was disbanded, and he himself consequently
placed upon half-pay. Lieut. Col. Bradley argued,
that Colonel Arthur therefore ceased to possess any
military authority over the Island of Honduras. But,
it was to be observed, his authority was derived not
from the commission which conferred on him regimental
rank, but from the letter of service granted him by Lieut.
General Fuller. This was the simple state of the case;
but Col. Bradley chose to interpret for himself the mili-
tary law; and not content with that, acted on his own in-
terpretation. In fact, he took upon himself the responsi-
bility of an act of military disobedience, and he must now
abide by the consequence. If right, well and good ; but, as
it turned out, he had acted wrong—let him take the re-
sult. Colonel Arthur considered it his duty to super-
sede Lieutenant Colonel Bradley, and put him under ,
arrest, for what must be admitted by all military men
to be a flagrant act of mutiny. A report of the trans-
action was made, and the question referred for decision
to the Commander in Met at home. The Royal Per-
sonage having heard both parties, Colonel Arthur
through his report, and Colonel Bradley by means of
his representations, decided that the former was right,
and the latter wrong. Having come to this decision, as
it was clearly impossible to pass over so flagrant a vio-
lation of military law, his Royal Highness resolved to',
remove Colonel Bradley from the service. This was
the unavoidable consequence of that officer's own act ;
at the same time, the decision was carried into effect'
with the greatest possible kindness and leniency to the
party. Instead of being cashiered (a punishment justi- I
able by his offence), he was allowed to retire, and re-
ceive the full value of his commission: So far as he

(Lord P.) had related the transaction, every military
man in that House must perceive Colenel Arthur had
acted right. He had acted right in superselling and
putting under arrest the offender. In a subsequent stage
of the proceedings he had Acted wrong; Colonel Arthur
kept Mi. Bradley under arrest after he had been in.
formed that Gentleman was removed from the service
by the Commander•in-Chief. This information did not
reach Colonel Arthur, through the official channel, up
to the time of the release of Mr. Bradley. At the same

time, he (Lord P.) was of iipinion Camel Arthur might
have taken off the arrest suoner than he did. However;

he acted differently, and kept Mr. Bradley under arrest
till he received information officially, through the
General in command at Jamaica, of the decision cane
to by the Commander in Chief at home ; when this in.
formation w as received, Colonel Bradley was dismissed,
he never having been kept under close arrest, as stated
by the Hqn. Gentleman opposite, during the smite
period. Colonel Bradley, dissatisfied with the decision
of the Commander in Chief, brought bis- case before a
legal tribunal. He appealed-to the lawi-of his country
for redress. He (Lord Palmentoe)-Was present at 6e
trial, ancl the result was, that the Court affirmed that
Colonel Arthur possessed military authority to cw.fine
Mr. Bradley. However, as it appeared that, although
Colonel Arthur had a just right to put him under alter,
he had continued the arrest longer than was necvssary,
on that ground the Jury gave Colonel Bradley 200,
damages. Colonel Bradley was not sat6litd with the
determination of his Royal fitglmess the Commander
in Chief, and he now proved himself to be equally d;s.
satisfied with the verdict of the Jury. Accordingly,
he moved for a new trial, on the ground of misd.rvc.
tion by the Learned Judge who tried the case ; but t e
application was refused. Thus, the Houw would per.
ceive, Colonel .Bradley's assertion, of having rt seise,) a
grievous injury, was negatived, first, by the Commander
in Chief ; next, by the Court of Law, on the trial ; and,
again, by the same authority,•on his second application.
—After this he would ask, on what grounds Colonel
Bradley came here? He (Lord Palmerston) considered
the command of the army as the peculiar prerogative of
the Crown. At the rime time it was nor his intention
to defend an abuse of that authority, if any such abuse
existed ; but it was incumbent on an individual, applying
to Parliament for redress, to make out the abuse. In
this instance, there had not been offered any thing which
could be considered as even prima facie evidence of such
a case; and, on that ground, be would resist the motion for the
production of the documents required by the Honourable Member
for Montrose.

Mr. HUME, in reply, reiterated his former state-
ments, and contended, that the letter of set vice referred
to, could not be considered as superseding the Military
Commission. Under the Military Commission, Colonel
Bradley was Major Arthur's superior Officer, and
therefore not bound to obey him. There seemed to be
great doubt about this letter of service—a document,
which the N3ble Lord sometimes designated a Military
Commission, and sometimes a letter of services This
inconsistency induced him, Mr. Hume, to suppose no
such document existed; or that if it did exist, it had
been fabricated, subsequent to the arrest and dismissal
of Colonel Bradley. If the Commission did exist, why
not produce it? If such a Commission existed, why
was Colonel Arthur so anxious on the subject I the
relation in which he stood to—Coloael Bradley ?. His
(Mr. Humes's) conclusion from the whole of tie case
,was, that no such Commission existed : or, if it dtd, that
!it had been got up subsequent to the arrest of Colonel Eradley, fur
the purpose of screening Colonel Arthur from the consequences of
that act.

Lord PALMERSTON was at issue with the Ile-
nourable Member on a point of fact. That H 0111,111.1-
ble Gentleman had said, the Commission did not now
exist, or had been. fabricated, and anti-dated, to
serve a particular purpose. This he (Lord P.) beggedf
in the most unqualified manner, to deny. The Hon.
Member might make what allegations he thott&ht
proper, but he could not tear away the seal from the
bond—he could not destroy a record- existing at this
moment,
.and which had existed from the period he had
already stated. It was also said that the commission
was fabricated—and, come from whom it might, he
pronounced such an assertion to be a base, fake, and
scandalous calumny,-and he repelled it, and. thieve 'it
back upon its author with all the contempt and repro-
bation it deserved—(Hear, hear). He (Lord P.) had
already stated, that the commission was signed by Gen.
Fuller, and it was only a few.months ago, in his place
in Parliament, and on a motion on this subject, brought
forward by the Hon. Member (Mr. Hume), that he had
read the dispatch of. Gen. Fulkr, in which he alluded to that very
commission. There could not exist two greater falsehoods than, first,
that the commission was not in existence—or next, that it was
fabricated for the base and unworthy purpose suggested by the
Hon. Member (Mr. Hume)—(Hear, bear).
Mr. HUME wished to know by wh .t authority the
King's Commission was superseded by General Fuller's
letter of service—which moreover was fabricated in
1819—five years after it was pretended to have been
given. He denied the existence in tea of Col. Arthur's
authority lu 1814; would prove from Colonel Arthur's own letters
that he had no Commission at the time ; and that, therefore, this
letter of service was a subsequent fabrication.
• Lord PALNIERSTON replied, that to deny the ex-
istence of Colonel AYthur's authority in 1814 was a
base, infamous, and scandalous calumny.; and that
whoever declared it uttered a most infamous falsehood.
He (Lord Palmerston) on a former occasion read a passage to the
House from General Fuller's letter, acknowledging the authority;
and that it was a wicked falsehood to deny its existence.
Colonel Tomos opposed the returns.
Sir H. HARDING said, that there was a base im-
putation on the Army conveyed in the Hon. Member's
denial of Colonel Arthur's authority, which was by no
means invalidated by his having been on half-pay, as almost av the
Staff Officers in the Empire were.
Mr. HUME would bring the question to one point.
DBriad Cdieyoulondneerl
sArzrtsth,uprosse, a ts:he autthiomrie of his
tyfrom pGetnietrtai Colonelwa
r.
ranting him to do so ?
Lord PALMERSTON.—I have sufficiently
answered the ques-
tion already In the affirmative.
Mr. HUME repeated the question.
Sir H. HARDING thought the repetition• of a ten times an-
swered question should be discountenanced by the Howse.
HoLdnO.rs
ePmAbie. s
kinittSelfle°CtN
bility of comprehending a simple answer. He was com-
dtildioungoltit
auldiemcitbotusf eanneyss Opfosths
ie.
pletely indifferent whether the Hon. Member understood
him or not; as his now saying that Colonel Arthur had
the authority, was not intended for his information, but
for that of the House.
Mr. HUME was not to be diverted from his purpose
t by abuse, which was no argument ; and if he did sot
' possess the brightness of parts for which the Noble Loid
was so distinguished; it was his misfortune, and not its
fault. As to the offensive language of the Noble Lord, ile
should hold it as he always did, and ever would hold it,
as he was sure the House held it, in utter contempt. lie
would net imitate the Noble Lord, by saying he declared
a falsehood ; but, by Colonel Arthur's own hand-
writing, he would prove it to the conviction of the House.
Sir H. HARDING said, his warmth arose from the lion.
Member having declared, a few nights since, that the officer
the army were slaves.
Mr. HUME said, be meant that if officers were refused redrro
when aggrieved, they were in the condition of slaves.
Sir H. HARDING, the Hon. Member's fa make it somewhat
difficult to know what should be replied to his arguments
assertions. _ .

Atter_ a few words from Mr. HUME, the 11106011 for th*
returns were put and negatived without a division.

• ItIONA )(MINS COMMITTIR
Mr. R. MARTIN was anxious to have Wed more n:.m..‘ :0
this Committee, now that they have leave to Mt (hull's the tCt
but wag thnuaded by

Mr. BROGDEN, whe declared, his perfect satisfaction with
the Committee as it stands.
mouses AND LONDON STEAK NAVIGATION COMMITTER.
Mr. WOOD presented a Petition from the above Company,
praying to be beard by Counsel against the Leith Navigation Bill,
then in progress through the House.—Referred to the Committee
of StsaJing Orders.
Adjourned at ilotr-Paso St: o'CLocc.
LI SlMirtuor23

---.4P..---
EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER.

Count Villa Real, the Portuguese Ambassador at
tEe Court of Madrid, is returned he►e, with all his Le-
gation, having demanded his passport the moment he
gat positive information of the intention of the Spanish
Government to allow the deserters to return to Portugal,
armed, and commanded by that dotard, the Marquis
of Chaves.
This has naturally caused great sensation here; but
it now turns out, that the departure of the Portuguese
Legation from Madrid, was followed by Notes of the
nnisters of England, France, Austria, and Russia,
hich brought the King of Spain to his senses. He was
also threatened by the French Minister to leave Madrid.
" How long will Spain remain with a despotic Government?
Those who say,very long, are not aware of the state of that coumry."

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER. 9, 1826.
STUCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

Consols, which left off \yesterday at 84i I) for the Account,
opened this morning at the same price; but soon after they receded
It) 841 4 far the Account. Up to the present time, •rry little bu-
siness has been done. Reduced may be quoted at 83* sellers.
The general topic of conversation on 'Change, relates to a hoax
played off yesterday, to affect the Colombian Bonds. The letter
has been referred to the Committee.

The Foreign market, in consequence of the supposed letter from
Dlr. Huanuo not being of that Gentleman's writing, and a report
that BOLIVAR had ordered one million of dollars front his private
purse, to be sent to pay the Colombian dividend, that Stock has
again improved this morning. Spanish Bonds are also looking up.
In Shares little is doing, but they still maintain their price.
Current prices Old Spanish 131 I, Mexicans 701 I, Colombian
new 59i 40, Chilton 58 40, Greek 111* 19*, Russian 87 j.
CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

Within this hour the Como! Market has become heavy : Consols
which were in the earlier part of the morning at 841 e for the Ac.
count, have receded to 84, and at present may be quoted at 841,
and Reduced 821 to 83, being a fluctuation to the present time of
per cent. the cause of this sudden decline in the market is not
exactly known.

An Express has arrived from Paris, but Its contents have not
transpired. Some large sales have been effected, one of one hun-
dred thousand, at $44, and it is supposed fur the Hebrew party.
There is very little doing in the Foreign Market at present. Spa.
nish Bonds appear to improve ; and South American Securities re-
main steady. In Shares there is nothing doing worth notice.
La TEM—Consols have improved: done at mil for Account.
PRICE OF STOCKS AT FOUR O'CLOCK;
Bank Stock 203
3 ier Cent. Red. 831/4 82%g
per Cent. Rel 89% 1k
4 per Cent. 1826, 97%8 98 977/s
Long Ann. 19% lAz 5/8
India tlonds 40 42
£l,OOO Excite+ Bills 19 20
£lOO and £2OO ditto 20 23
Cons. for Acct. 8414 841/8
FOREMN FUNDS, TWO O'CLOCK.
enlo,i.bian Iluni., 6 p Ct. Mex. Ws 1825, 6p. Ct. 701.
Do. Bonds, 1824.40 394 1)0. Acct. 704 71 704
Do.Aect. 40 394 1 4 Ituss. lklil/2181i2, 6 p C. 871
Daushh Ponds, 3 pet. 614 Co. Ace.
Greek Bonds, 5 p Ct. Span. Bondi 5 p Ct. 154 4 1
Do. 80nd5,16`,15, 5 p C. 19 184 Ditto Acct. 131 4
BRITISH AND FOREIGN SHARKS, TWO O'CLOCK.

SNARL PAID.
300 7.5 57e 60
400 !25 335