Star.
London, England, 1811-05-04 00:00:00

SPANISH PAPERS.

PROCEF

S.

PARLIAMENTARY

,EDINGS.
•
.
HOUSE OP LORDS, MAY 3.
, Several Private Bills were brought op from the Comma" sad
were laid upon the table, and afterwards read the first time.
The other Bills on the table, all of a private nature, were for-
warded in their respective stages.

BERKELEY PZIRAGE.
The COmmittee of Privileges met at one o'clock,
agreeably to their adjournment of yesterday, and the
Judges *also attended, in pursuance of their Lordships'
order.- Serjeaat BEST 'proposed to give in evidence a
deposition of the late Earl of Berkeley, in a suit in
grancery ; whiCla was objected to by the Attorney-
General—and, after their Lordships had heard this
objection supported by the arguments of that Learned
Gentleman, and opposed by those of Serjeant Best
aod Sir Samuel Romilly, it was ordered, upon the
motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, that a question as
to this subject be put to the Learned Judges.
The question having Leen put by Lord Waureca-
naet,, Se) leant Best proCeeded to call Mrs. Gardener,
the daughter of a clergyman. The next witness was
Mr. Tudor, the brother of Lady Berkeley, who
being shortly examined by Sir Samuel Romilly, was
cross-examined by the Solicitor-General at consider-
able length. The Learned Gentleman was still pro.
ceeding with the cross.examination, when
The Earl of LIMERICK moved, 16 That the Com-
mittee do adjourn."
Their Lordships accordingly adjourned the further
proceedings till Tuesday, at half past two o'clock.
After Prayers, the House proceeded to the conii-
deration of • •
LORD CLONCURRY'S DIVORCE RILL.
The Counsel (Mr. Dallas) for the Petitioner, and
Mr. Garrow, for Lady Cloncurry, were called in.
• Mr. DALLAS called a Roman Catholic Clergyman,
of the name of Mr. Smyth, who stated, that he had
lived at Rome, and that•there was no mode pro-
vided by the Romish Church whereby persons not
members thereof could be kgally married.
It was next proposed to give in evidence, a letter
written by Lady Cloncurry, after her leaving her
husband, and when she was living made? the roof of
her father.
Mr. Gkaaow objected to this letter being received,
as liable to all the objections which induced daeir Lord-
ships to reject another letter of this Lady.
,Mr. DALLAS contended, that the circumstances of
the two were widely different ; and agreeably to the
general principles of the law as to the admissibility of
a party's confession, this letter Might be received.
The Lotto CHANCELLOR agreed there was consider-
able difference between the circumstances of the two
letters, and recommended that this letter should be
. given in evidence now, leaving the question still open
to their further consideration.
Earl STANHOPE recommended their acting upon
some certain principle of the law of the land, and pres-
sed the opinion of Lord Ellenborough in his favour.
Mr. Ryan proved the receiving of this letter, in con-
. sequence of one which he wrote to her Ladyship, and
which also was in answer to a former one of her's.—

• CADIZ, APRIL,
'rheillegeneY Gazette of this day contain, an offi-
cial article' -entitled, " Aeconnt of tie operations by
which the Royal Navy aided the Expeditleit "Mich
sailed in the end of February, end beginning of
March; from Cadii against the army of Marsbic-
tor."- This article, which of great length, mi-
. nutely details all the proceedings of the Spanish ves-
sels in tranfpQrting and landing the troops, the attacks
. which were made lathe Bay, &c. It serves -as a
supplement to the detailed report of General LaPena,
which appeared in the Gazette of the 9th ; and ter-
minates with a resolution of the Regency, expressing
their satisfaction for the services of the Marine.
Aenu. 17. rThe donate contains a letter from
Yelves, dated the lOth, in which there is the follow-
ing statement.:—e" A cavalry soldier has crossed the
river by swimming, at Talavera Real, and got pos-
session ot the boat which the enemy had there. Ge-
neral Beresford has made a rem:nal:ante, in the course
of' which ha was nearly taken prisoner."
• Extract of a letter from Ayamonte, dated April
11th ;—" Let them say,what they will, Ballesteros
is the General of the .rebelution. That the country
suffers is true ; but it suffers cheerfully on seeing the
good intention with, which its efforts are rewarded.
Ballesteros-is very strict and severe : but he is like-
wise active, energetic, and. indefatigable. His fortune
may be various; but at least it maybe observed, that
he, perhaps, stands alone among our Generals ; that
he knows the proper method of Making war on the
French. To7day he Is here, I to morrow there ; the
day alter he returns, and next day again advances ;
se that'the enemy are More dismayed by the conti-
nual fatigue which he causes them, than injured by
the loss ot men. We should net .be surprised at see-
ing him enter Seville, if he had had two thousand men
More. His troops adore him on account of his cha-
racter ; they obey hurt because of his conduct, and
♦ would sacrifice every thing forhim, as they know that
he would sacrifice himself for them ; hie example con-
stantly animates them t the soldiers desire to 'fight
under him, and he affords them opportunities. They
talk here ot intrigues against him, but we do not be-
lieve that in Cadiz you can be any more ignorant that
we are of the merits of this General, who has at least
eminently distinguished himself by his peculiar tactic
of keeping the enemy in perpetual motion."
MADRID, MARCH vs.
The review of the troops here, that was fixed for
• the 10th instant, did not take place, on account of
- the unfavourable state of the weather, it was said, but
rather in copsequence of the arrival of a Courier, on
the evening of uie.9th. King Joseph would see no-
body on the 10th. On the 11th, the detachment re-
turned here that had teen sent to escort a body of
- prisoners from Olivenza to Segovia. They had with
them several•waggoos, and several French and Cas-
tilian families, waiting for the escort at Segovia.
D'A.rmagnac, lately appointed Governor of Cu-
enca, set out yesterday on his march, preceded by se-
veral troops with artillery, which; according to gene-
ral repOrt. are destined for Cuenca by the way of Ai-
- ganda ; but others say that•their object is to fortify
themselves on the; right of the Tagus, between To-
,lefie and Villamanrigue, by
.wbich . an easy commu-
nication may at all. times be. preserved between the
troops of Guatialaxara. and those of the province of
• Toledo, towards Talavera and la Mancha, advancing
or concentrring themselves as circumstances may re-
quire ; avoiding in this manner the incursions of the
parties la Mancha, in the province of Madrid, and
•. that the troops may be saved/the eicessive fatigues to
,which they are exposed from continual marches and
etaieter marchee,on account of thosehostile incursions.

In her first she enquired as to the health and state of
mind of Lord Cloncurry and the family ; to which
the witness answered, he was much distt?cted in his
mind about what had happened ; and afterwards the
witness received the letter allnded to.
At length it was agreed that the letter should be
given de bene este at present, and it might afterwards
be taken into consideration. The further proceedings
were adjourned till Monday.—Adjourned.

. HOUSE OF COMMONS.
At half-past three, when the SPSAKER took the Chair, it was
ordered, upon the motion of Mr. FOSTILI, that the House at its
rasing should adjourn to Monday next; and that Committees
should have leave to alt, notwithstanding such adjournment.
A Message from the Lords intimated their assent to the Lon-
don Dock Bill, and the Navigation Bill.
Upon the Motion of Lord HIM NM ER, Dr. Thornton's Bota-
nical Lottery Bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. D*wes, front the. Bank, presented an average Account of
Bank Notes in circulation during the years 1781 and 1762, pur-
suant to order of the House. This Account was ordered to he
printed.
A new writ was ordered far the election of a Burgess for the
Burgh of Lewis, in the room of Mr. Kemp.
The House went into a Committee upon the Acts relating to
Inland Coal Navigation, and their Report was ordered to be re-
ceived on Monday.
The Irish Stage Coach Bill was read a third time, and passed.
The Eagle Insurance Bill was ordered to be read a second time
this day three months.
The Custom-House Fees Bill was committed, and ordered to
be reported on Monday next.
The Cinque Port Bill was reported, and ordered to be read a
third time on Monday.
The Irish Lunatics' Bill was reported, and ordered to be
read a third time on Monday next.
The Innkeepeers Allowance Bill was committed, and ordered
to be teported on Monday.
The Committees on the Portugal Treaty and Soathern Whale
Fishery Bills, were postponed till Monday.
The Parish Apprentices' Bill went through a Committee, in
which several Amendments were proposed and agreed to, one of
which extends the provision of the BiU to Parish Certificates.—
The. House resumed, the Report was received, and ordered to
be taken into further consideration on Monday; and the Bill, in
its amended state, was ordered to be printed.
Upon the motion of Mr. CREE+EY, the papers presented to
the House relative to India, were, after a few observations from
Mr. Dundas and Mr. Peter Moore, ordered to be printed • and
some letters upon the same subject were ordered to be produced.
IRISH JURY PRESENTMENTS.
Mr. WELLESLEY POLE rose, and took this 1
opportunity of answering a question put by an Hoe.
Baronet (Sir John Newport) a few nights ago, re-
lative to the presentments to be made under the Act
of the 49th of the
_King. The first return under that
Act was to have been made upon the 25th of De-
cember last, by the Treasurer, to the proper officer at
the Castle of Dublin ; but by that Act it did not ap-
pear who the proper officer was. Upon the 19th of
last month 27 of these returns were presented,
and had been transferred to the Chief Secretary's
office in London, and they were ready to be present-
ed to Parliament; but it had been thought proper to
delay doing so, till the remainder of them could be
procured. There had certainly been neglect in some
of the clerks, in not complying with the stipulations
of the Act, but it might have originated from the
doubt as to who was meant by the 4f proper officer in
Dublin Castle," mentioned in the Act. If the Ho-
nourable Baronet thought it desirable to blame or to
punish any person in the county of Waterford for
) that neglect, he certainly could not opposkhis doing
so, as it would operate as a caution for the future.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT observed, that whoever
was the compiler of the Act alluded top be seemed to

•
We are assured that. on the 15th or 16th, a con
• voy is to set out for France, along with .which Aran
za, the comM4sary of Seville, goes to, meet his wife
--this, at least, is the prices ; but, witheut 'doubt,
. there are other-objects in view, "and one of the first
,- via be to represent to,the Emperor the impossibility
of keeping possession of the Andalusia:, in the Pre-
sent circumstances, witlt the number of troops there,
and the little importance Tat die *Pre eat Generals
attach to the orders Of mph. It .is observed that
it
A.ranza uses two sorts language. In public he
says, that the people Of. Adis ardently. desire to be
subdued by the French ; that the Cortes are divided
into many patties; and that all despair of a happy
. issue to the auks fif Spain. on which account they'
would have opined their gates to the French, had it
ac been for the predominating influence of the Eng-
lish., But iu private, where he reposes confidence,
his language is very different, and he confesses the dif-
ficulty there is of preserving the Andalusia: with the
troops-Oat are now there; and, in short, his relations
with Joseph have contributed much to put him in bad
humour, as well as compelled him to take other mea-
sures, and to try all possible means to keep up the
communication of that army by Estramadura and
La Mancha.
The Minister. 4 apt! Bernard feel very much alarmed
on learning that the guerrilla parties compel the
transports and waLrgons with goods and provisions
from Andalusia to make their way for Valencia. In,
short, they are much afraid that there may be a want
.f provisions, in the caciital,as they would have every
reason to be apprehensive of the resentment of the
people, should A scarcity begin to be felt.


...

it proper to move amendments npon them, in order
•
.
to reconcile them to the evidence. T. o enable the
example upon this occasion of neglect, the Right Ho.'
have considered the Chief Secretary for Ireland ast
House to understand those inconsistencies, he should
the proper officer: but with respect to making any,/
nontable Gentleman misconceived him, if he though; . now take the liberty of reading a statement he
made of them, and should propose their being * had
his object was to do so. All he wished was, chit p
the .
drilscnteusa.
I
presentments should be laid upon the table of the for the use of the Members, previous to the -
House, In pursuance of the stipulations of the Act of sion of the subject. He heel not drawn up this state.
the 49th of the King. ment in a technical form, so as they should be agreed
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.—MIce ELLAN EO CS ESTIM ATM. to by the House, but merely confined it to matter cf
RENPFriE r4Led; some fur-
The House went into a Committee of supply, and
Ifoancgo—WrTitltieenHsutonte.mMeettint btoerthteheenffreecatdniteno tthetoned,which
House
a
Mr. WHARTON moved—
.. That the sum of Z 20,000 be granted to his Majesty foe , was
popron the motion o
produced and
fMr. G
ordered to
making reeds and bridges in Ireland and Scotland."—Agreed to. 1 ll
" That the sum of X 46,000 be granted towards defraying the ther Accounts as to the issuing Bank Notes led
expence of the Inked Navigation of the south-western part of Bank Post Bills, in 1786, 1787, 1788, 17519, 1716
Scotland." 1 and 1791, were ordered to be produced. .
Mr. ABERCROMBY wished to know, whather it i
moved
—u X
That a
st:ect
was intended that this should be an annual grant, or I Mr. LUSHWINppo
ETTGATINOSTNattmao
LE IG.
otherwise, as he thought it was far from being atten-
ded with those beneficial consequences that were sup the Office and Duties of the High Bailiff of West-
- ComMiliee be a anted to inquire into the nature of
•
posed likely to arise from such an arduous undertaking.
monster, and the burdens incident thereto, and to re.
The SPEAKER defended the undertaking as one
Bkely to be of that utility to the country that was ori-
port their opinion thereon to the House."
1 ginally predicted. In the year 1809, one half of the i Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said, he conceived it
canal was completed ;and the present estimate was I was not necessary to make any inquiry as to any thing
relative to the Bill for regulating the Elections of
less than that of former years by £lO,OOO. Pa.
I
haps it would not be irrelevant to inform the House, Westminster. If he understood the object of that Bill.
that the average number of persons employed upon it was for the purpose of indemnifying the High Bai.
this Canal was 1000. No rise had taken place in the ;tiff for the expences of the Election, a thing which
I
price of their wages • but within these Mx weeks 500 could not be done by any Act whatever, although
i
indviduals, who would have been otherwise destitute any compensation might be made to him (the High
of employment, had been engaged in this useful under- I Bailiff) that might be deemed necessary. It was as
office borne by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.
taking ; and he thought it right to notice, that the en-1 and they were bound to see its duties fulfilled. They -gineers had had no unforeseen difficulty to render the
work more .expensive or arduous than was at first endeavoured to make it a lucrative concern to them.
beonceived. If Gentlemen had any doubt as to the selves, sad if they made a bad bargain with the per.
utility of the work, they had only to look to the re- ' son they employed, they had only themselves to blame
`for so doing, A Bill of this kind would not tend to
port that had been made upon the subject, and there
relieve any future Nigh Bailiff, but would merely pia
they would find that the merchants of Liverpool and .
those connected with the trade of St. George's Chan- ' ' money into the pockets of the Dean and Chapter of
nel, were all favourable to its completion. With re- Westminster, for they would raise the price of that
situation. They ought of themselves to provide a
spect to this undertaking in a military point of view,
the passing of frigates from one end of the island to Place for carrying on the Election, and therefore he
saw no occasion for arliament interfering at all in
the other would surely be a beneficial result arising
from it. the defraying of the erpenceP alluded to. A Learned
had some time ago, ia
Mr. ABERCROMBY complained that, contrary Judge (Lord Ellenborough)
to the original intention as to this undertaking afford-
a cause upon this subject that came before him, pro.
nounced the strangest decision or opinion he had ever
ing a prospect of permanent employment to the poor.
heard stated in a Court of Justice, for he had said,
of Scotland, a great portion of the individuals ern-
that when a Member of Parliament had the beri;'t
ployed were brought from Shropshire. It remained to
be decided how far a large lake like that of Loch Ness and advantage of being elected, that candidate ras
was capable of affording the wished-for commuai; bound to satisfy the returning officer for the expances
cation. incurred. This was surely the most extraordinary
The SPEAKER added, that the naval opinions doctrine he had ever heard of, for be should be glad
given upon this subject were all favourable to the un-
to know what benefit and advantages that Learned
dertaking, as likely to be of the greater utility whew Judge alluded to ? At all events, it was the duty of
the ,Dean and Chapter of Westminster to provide the
completed. From the returns that had been made,
it appeared that there were only six persons from the txpence of Election ; and it appeared therefore that
midland counties of England employed in the work. any Bill upon the subject would be nugatory and
Mr. W. SMITH bore testimony to the utility of useless. He should upon these grounds oppose the
the canal. As to the persons employed, he believed Present motion.
that at first there was an unwillingness in the people Mr. W. WYNNE said, he felt satisfaction in this
of Scotland to undertake it ; and that it was not un-
motion being made, as it would tend to shew how
til a few persons from England were brought to con- the matter stands. It was necessary that the House
s
mence it, that a spirit of industry grew up, and in- should have an accurate statement of the grievances,
dividuals flocked from all quarters to complete it. (if any existed,) in order that they might be remedied.
The Resolution was then put, and agreed to. He thought that the principle of all elections should
be, that there should be no expence falling upon the
Mr. WHARTON next moved, candidates. It would be better to defray Use expellee
That £5,600 be granted for Surveying the Reads of North Bri- i by a rate imposed upon the City of Westminster.-.taCarried. I There should be an adequate number of Poll Clerks.
Constables, &c. provided by the City of Westminster,
and not by the Candidates nor the High Bailiff. The
Court House of Westminster had been formerly used
for the purpose of the elections; and he thought this
should be the case still, and a circle made round it,
to prevent the crowd interfering with those engaged
in them.
Mr. P. MOORE expressed himself decidedly in fa-
vour of the proposition of his Honourable Friend (Mr.
Lushington. The Committee sought to be appointed
would be of,great benefit in laying before the House
the most accurate information on the subject. He
had been witness to many very riotous scenes at the
Westminster Election, and he thought some remedy
ought to be resorted to, to prevent their recurrence.
The mob seemed to consider the hustings, after the
election, as their property, and the lives of indivicht•
als bad been frequently endangered by the violence
with which they were pulled down. The elections
at Coventry used to be carried on in a similar man-
ner—but the system had been amended, and as much
decorum was now preserved there, during the time of
election, as in any other city in the kingdom. A booth
was erected in the principal street, and the expense to
the Candidates was not more than £5O or £6O a-picct.
Some regulation of a similar nature, he was cony:s-
cot, would be of great service in the city of West-
minster.
Mr. LOCKHART stated, that he still felt the
same objection to the bill which he bad expressed on a
former evening, and which would influence him, as he
at that time observed, to oppose it in every stage. His
objection was, that the bill would have the effect of
placing a burden on a candidate fur a seat in that House.
Every Gentleman who became a Member of Parlio
ittent had, he doubted not, the welfare of his censti.
tomes at heart—but, if he were sent into the House,
loaded with expenses, it would perhaps weaken that
twinciple of duty. He felt also another objection to
the bill, which he would shortly state. He agreed
with the Hon. Member opposite (Sir F. Burdett) in
„his opinion as to the decision which had been given
against him. He knew no ground on which that de-
cision rested, except that it thad been so decided;
and had the Hon. Batt. put in a Bill of Exception,
the cause would probably have had a different ter-
mination. Now the bill pending before the House
appeared to recognise that decision, and, on that
grottnd also, he would oppose it.
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. I Mr. LUSHINGTON would not have troubled
Mr. WHITBREAD stated, that an Hon. Friend
the House, in the present instance, if he could have
of his, the Member for Hertfordshire (Mr. Brand), , obtained the wished-for information by any other
had given notice of a motion upon the subject of Re- •
'
. means. He thought the dissimilarity of sentiment
form in the Representation of the people, for the 9th i which he had heard on the subject
inst. but had desired him, in his absence, to postpone lin favour of the measure. One Honourable Member
it to Wednesday, the 15th of this month. . had said, the expence ought to be defrayed by the
BULLION. 1 High Bailiff—another, by the Dean and Chapter of
Mr. RORNER stated, that previous to the debate I Westminster-r and a third, by a rate on the inhabi._
upon the state of our currency, he wished to comet or ' tants. This was sufficient to shew the necessity of
shew the fallacy of the counter resolutions intended to investigating the subject, and placing the business co
be submitted by a Right Hon. Gentlemau opposite a permanent basis. was an argument
(Mr. Vansittart). Some of the statements they con- ' The question was then put and carried, and Mr.
reined were totally inconsistent with the evidence al- , LUSHINGTON named his Committee.
ready laid before the House ; and therefore. should The *mind reading of the WestniMiter liustings Bill was poo
there be an occasion afforded hint, he should think resod till ibis 411 y fortolblow*A4"ll.l4 till Mead"'

That £5,66 be granted for paying off certain Annuities.--
Carried.

-----
That £7,100 be granted to defray the expenee of Works upon
both Houses of Parliament in 1811.—Carried.

Tat £5,720 be granted for the Light-House at Heligoland.—
Carried.

That .E 4,65.5 be granted to make Compensation to Mr. Samuel I
Davis for the losses sustained by the Old Marsha'sea Prison not
having been evacuated for nine years after that Gentleman had
purchased the premises, owing to the New Prison not having
been completed.
Mr. WHITBREAD objected to this vote, as it diCI
not appear how the delay in completing the new Mar;
shalsea Prison had been occasioned. He thought the
loss should be made good to the public by those who
had contracted to complete it nine years ago, and he
should therefore be glad to know who made the con-
tracts, and what terms had been introduced to guard
the public interest. He hoped the vote would at feast
be delayed till further explanation could be obtained.
Mr. WHARTON said, that it was in 1782 when
the new prison was determined upon, and it was
thought it would be completed in 1803, but he be-
lieved that owing to.an adequate number of men not
having been employed, it had not been completed till
1811. He could lay before the House the Report of
the Architects, if necessary.
Mr. WHITBREAD added, he should be glad to
know all that had passed in the Board of Works on
the subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ,
said, that as the lease, on the part of the public,
of the old prison, had expired, it was but reasonable
that compensation should be made to Mr. Davis, who
bad become the purchaser of these premises for the
purposse of making them into a manufactory, he ha,-'
ing, for the benefit of the public, allowed the premises
to remain till the other prison was completed.
After a few further observations from Mr. WHIT.
BREAD, the Resolution was agreed to. •
The next Resolutions moved were—
" That £10,500 be granted to make compensation to the Com-
rniuieners of Peak Accounts."—Carried.
" That £3OOO be granted to defray the expence of the National
Vaccine Establishment."—Carried.

" That 46060 be granted towards the Royal Charter House."
Carried.
" That £23,000 be granted for rebuilding public edifices in the
island of Trinidad, destroyed by fire."—Carried.

The House resumed, and the report w•as ordered to
be received on Monday.

c .