Star.
London, England, 1803-04-23 00:00:00

rAtiLl4lll.ENTifitr PRQCEEDIAGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FRIDAY, APRIL at.
Their Lori:alp', purfusnt to the Order of the Day, refolved
into a Committee of Privileies, and Lord WALSINOURDI
having taken the Chair,
Mr. Townftiend, of the Herald's Office, and Mr. Cullen,
in Officer of the Archbilhop's Court st Canterbury, were
farther examined refpeding certain points touching the claim
of the Rev. Mr. Thymus to the Barony of Chandos. After
which their Lordthips deferred the farther confideration of the
cafe till Monday nest.
The Houle then reigned, and after prayers were read, the
Royal Alfent was given, by Commillion, to nine public and
private INN; the former confined of the Four Million Ex-
chequer Bills Loan; the American Loyalitts, the Militia Of-
ficers, and Sir James Saumarcz's Annuity Bill.
The Lords Commlinatiers were, the LORD CHANCELLOR,
the Earl of ROSSLYN, and Lord WALSSNCHAM.
Lord Vilcount COURTN zr took the oaths and his feat.
The Earl of LIMIRICR prefented a petition from John Har-
ney, confined in the Four Courts Marffialfea, in Dublin, on a
verdi.lt of damages for fedudion ; which Petition Rated, that
on the trial the Judge, after the examination of fome witneffes,
recommended to the Jury not to find a verdid with damages,
which they did notwithitanding: That on a motion in the
King's Bench there, fuck verdict was let slide, and a new trial
granted ; on which new trial', in the fame County, anotb.. r per
did was given againft him, for the fame amount in damages :
That he was fo much impovcrilhed by thefe trials,and the mo-
tion to the Court, that he could no longer relit the proceed- i
ingsagainft him, and he was in confequence a prifoner for the
damages : He therefore prayed that he might be permitted to
take the benefit of the Infolvent Aft now on their Lordships'
table. Lord Limerick concluded by moving, that the f.id
Won do Be on thetahle.
The Loan grritteli-i.oa left the woollaek, and laid, that
In theilnroleent Bill now on the table, there was a clank very
properly excluding perfons confined for damages for reduction,
from the benefit of the Bill. He thought, hovreveri that the
Petition Rated Nth eircumtlances, that it might be allowed to
he on the table, but whether any thing further Ibould be done
lo it, remained for their Lordfhips future confideration.---Or-
dered to lie on the table... Adjourned to Monday.

1:10USE OF COMMONS.
A Meffage from the Lords required the attendance of this
nook at the Bar of the Lords.to hear read his Maleity's Com-
pillion for declaring the Royal Affent to certain Bills.
Read a third time, the Bill for enabling his Majelly, to grant
a Patent to build aTbeatre in the City of Glories* palled, and
ordered to the Lords.
A Petition was prefented by the Cotton Manufaituren of
Perth. Ordered to lie on the Table.
Several peridons were prefented by Mr. ORM so r, from cer-
tain Clerks belonging to the Law Offices in Ireland, praying
confideration of their refpedtive cafes' in relation to the Bill
now prefendfig for the regulation of Law Proceedings In Ire-
land. Ordered to lie on the Table.
Read a third time the Expiring Law Bill for continuing the
Duty and Drawbacks on the Export of Coffee and Sugar; alto
the ris Revenue Bill.
The Hoak went into a Committee on the Clergy Non-refl.
dame Ball; the Report was brought up and received, and or-
night,to be taken into further confideration on Monday fort-
and the Bill, as amended, to be printed.
COVNTY
Laid L. Cow ea rote to call the attention of the Houfe to a
Madre, ei which he had given notice previous to the Recefs.
The abhaft of Ids radian was, that a Committee be appointed
to emidire into tht Rate of the County Bridges. It was brought
*sword hit year, and he now again renewed the motion, not
steely in compiles= with the Inkrattions °lbis coefbtuents, but
offa with the with°, of many other Counties eonfiderable both
withregard to their mem, their trade, and thdr wealth. Some
morfurs appeared abfolutely neeeffary to be adopted on this
Mope, that the Meet in thelaw as it now Rood might be duly
eamikatal, and the proper remedy applied to carted it. In
dna view he hoped the Hoofewonid agree with him in the Mo-
doo,rtaat • Cooroulesoe Us appointed to enquire into what more
elledttial powers 'mold be granted to the justices of the Peace
for repairing of County Bridges, and the Roads connoted
therewith... Leave given. •

SACRISTS! IL ICTION.
Mr.Sittrn moved the order of the day, for taking
hag confideration the refolutions of the Committee
ma the report of the Iloheller Eteaion Commit-
tee. Agreed to; and the firft refolution was read
by the Clerk. It Rated the opinion of the Corn.
Ohm, " that it appeared to them; that a fyftem
of the molt grofs bribery and corruption had bees
carried on in that borough, by certain perfons en-
gaged and interested in the Paid
Mr. Sitivu immediately role, and Paid, he had
the honour of being Chipman of that Committee,
4,10 that it appeared to him. from the evidente on
whith the Committee had formed the; opinion,that
a grofs and fhameful fyftem of bribery and mi.-
Tuption had been carried on, under a confpiracy
formed for that purpofe. He felt it unnecelfary
ttD trefpafs on the Hook, by a minute detail of
the evidence to this effed, which had already been
fo long upon the table, and which every Member
had an opportunity of perufing; but as the Houfe
had, upon former occafions, vindicated its own
privileges, by proceeding with rigour againft the
'Wons guilty of Inch condud, if the Houle thould
think proper to agree to the prefent refolution. he
Thould be induced to follow.itup by another refolu-,
tion, 4. That it is the opinion of this Houfe, that
fosse further proceedings are requifite, as well on
the fajta of this refolution as on that of the le-
cond, third, and fourth refolutions of the Commit.
tee, and that the Houk do direft his Majefty's
Attorney-General to profecute Sir J. White Par-
ibas, Thomas Hopping, and other perfons con-
cerned with them.
' Sir M. W. Ravirr laid, that one of the Gentle
men, who wawa candidate at the late eledion. was
A Mr. Davifon ; and he wilhed to know from the
Honourable Member, whether the Refolution he
propofed to bring forward was intended to impli-
cate him ? He underftood there was fome proof
to Thew that Mr. Davifon had entertained fume
intention of pnrchafing a majority of votes in his
favour of that Borough, and for that purpofe had,
fome time before the eledion, been in treaty with
other parties to that effed, but that he never did
ad upon that intention, but had, previous to the
eledion, declined every Inch purpofe, and with-
drawn himfelf from all concern with the parties.—
His with now, therefore was, to know whether it
Ras intended to implicate Mr. Davifon in any aft
ST bribery ?
• Mr. WALLACE laid, he was one of thole gentle-
men who had fat upon the Committee, and wit nefred
the .flagitious fyftem of bribery and corruption
which came nut upon evidence ; he was. however,
of opinion. that before this Houle came to any
refolution for direfting a profecution by the Attor-
ney General, there fhould be flrong proofs, almon
beyond doubt, of his guilt, before he (hould be
put upon his trial ; and from a train of I eafonii.g
at conliderable length upon the tircumflances of
the cafe, he argued, that ni grand jury in the
ingdorn,
upon the whole of thofe circurnliances,
ii
Could find a bill aga:nfl Mr. Davifon, though the
proof was palpable that Mr. Oldield, who was tie

aeenfer of Mr. Davifon, was himlelf a trader In
Boroughs, and a Dealer in Corruption. That it
appeared, that whatever intention Mr. Davifon had
originally formed of reforting to bribery, he had
completely abandoned it.
Mr. BUaDON alfo vindicated the conduit of Mr.
Davifon. Though it was clear that he had origi-
hally agreed to the propofition of Mr. Parfons, to
purchafe thirty votes, at the ftipulated price of 301.
per vote, which would fecure him the eleftion of
the town ; yet he afterwards declared, he would
wafts his hands of the concern, and have nothing
to do with any of the parties. It was in evidence,
that ground was purchafed at immoderate prices,
and houfes built thereon, at the expenee of Mr.
Parfons,for the purpofe of deciving thole degraded
wretches, who thus abtifed that' franchife which
they ought not to polled, in differing themfelves
to be bought and fold: tie was, upon the whole,
clearly of opinion, that Mr. Parfons and Mr. 014-
"field ought to be put upon their trials.
Mr. JOHNSTON!was clearly of opinion, that Mr.
Davifon ought alfo to be pit on his trial, from the
palpable circumftances which appeared in evidence
againft him, not merely on the teftimony of Old-
field, but upon the concurring evidence of others.
Lord Cott thought the guilt of Mr. Davifon
was fo palpable, that unlefs he was profecuted, it
would be impoflible to profecute the other parties.
Mr. SHERIDAN contended, that whatever proof
there might be, on the minutes of evidence before
the Committee, as to the original intention of Mr.
Davifon towards alts of bribery and corruption,
there was no proof whatever of any fad, to Phew
that he afted upon thole intentions; and it furely
was not the fpirit of Britifh Law, to punifh men
for mere intentions, however criminal. Such in-
t*ntions were abandoned under the influence of a
penitential (pink, before the intended crime was
committed. A. man might charge a gun with in.
tent to murder a man; but furely the law would
not condemn him for murder, on a bare intention
never fulfilled. *An Han. Amber behind. him
(Mr. Burdon) had talked in terms of high indig-
nation about the vile degraded wretches at Bebe
ter, who had accepted of 301. bribes for their votes.
He did not (land upass the advocate of fuch abufes.
He could with the inftances of loch impunity were
much lefs frequent. Unhappily, however, there
was not much of novelty in the circumflance; and
a man was to the full as vile and degraded a wretch,
though he were a Duke or Marquis, or an Earl,
who, for interefted views, fold his influence over
Mations for ¢ or pool. as he who fold his vote
for 301. Many inftances of this fort were but too
notorious, particularly in the Wined of the late
Union, when many Peers were not afhamed to re
ceive large bribes for the furrender of their interefts
in boroughs, over which they had no right to ex-
utile but that of a corrupt influence. With refped
to the refolution propofed, he hoped no Member'
would vote who had not had the minutes of evi-
dence, and thofe who had, mull, he was confident,
acquit Mr. Davifon.
Mr. Vann-rater (poke at confiderable length,
in fupport of the implication of Mr. Davifon.
The Mama of the Rota.: thought the Houle
ought not to come to any decided opinion on this
fubjelt, much lefs to dire& a profecution by the
Attorney General, in confequence of a decided
opinion formed by the Honk upon the affumed
guilt of an.individual. The pratice, though le-
gal, had been, in parliamentary ufage, but rarely
adopted : and he took the principle to be, that the
Houle fhould not direa fuch profecution againft
individuals, except for public offences againft the
Conffitution, and fuch as there was no likelihood
that any individual would take up. Under AR of
Geo. 11. the crime of Bribery was fubjeffed to a
very fevere penalty. When the Ad palled from
that Houfe,the penalty was but pl. But the Houle
of Lords wiling to get rid of it, and thinking.
probably, the heft mode to infure its relation on
return to the Houle of Commons, would be to alter
the furn of the penalty, they made it fool. But.
Much to their furprize, the Commons adqpted the
amendment,and the Bill paffed; and under this Bill
the perfon guilty of bribery is liable, under the Sta-
tute of Limitation, to be profecuted for the penalty
ady tittle within two years from the time of its com-
mittal. Now if in the prefent cafe the Houle lhould
direa the Attorney General to carry on a profecu-
lion, and that he (hould fucceed in convifting the
party, the Court would feel itfelf bound to inflict a
mere nominal punifhment, knowing that the party
was liable to be profecuted and punillted by another
tribunal in• large penalties : nay, the trial of the
fame man in both cafes might be carried on fide
by fide, and the Attorney General would have no
power to controul the popular informer, in carrying
on his profecution. Befides, the Houle, in this
cafe, by
.entering into the merits of this charge.
and coming to a decifion to dire& the profecution,
would, in effect, prejudge the cafe, and prejudice
the minds of jurors, which would be doing that
which Courts of Juftice. in all other cafes, would
punifh with feverity. Betides. the Houle did not
feem to be aware, that there were trials pending in
thofe very cafes already; that Mr. Davifon was
afttially fued at this moment by information on
penalties to the amount of 48,0001. and the other
parties in the cafe for very large fums alfo. Clear
in the principles which he had laid down, and con•
iinced of the impropriety of the propofition for
this Houfe to direct a profecution, where the par-
ties were likely to be prolecuted and puni(hed le-
verely, if guilty, by other means, he moved the
previous queflion.
Mr. Fox Paid, the previous queftion might get
rid of the debate for this evening, but could not
prevent its being refumed on another day.
On the previous queftion being put,
Mr. BURGOS role, and laid, that he perfectly
coincided in opinioh with his Right Hon. Friend
who moved this queftion, that a decifion in the
Frefent inftance, on the original queftion, might
have an effect on the decifion of a Jury in thofe
numerous alions laid to have been brought. It
was necelfary, however, for the Houfe to recoiled,
that they had come to a Teichill,Nl that Mr. Davi-
fon had been concerned in the laid corruption ;
and to another Refolution, that the Houle would
take matures towards punifhing him for the fame.
If he tunic:flood his Right I 1,41. Ft lend tight, be

meant, by the previous glutton, to put an end to
the bnfinefs altogether; but this he could not agree
to; and he was cocain the Houk would be of
opinion with him, that they could not, confiftently
with their own dignity and charader, Coffer the
matter to pars off, without leaving it in their
power hereafter to take up the matter in fuch a
way as (hould to them kern moll proper, in order
to carry into tiled the refolutions they had entered
into. He therefore begged leave to enter his pro-
teft, in behalf of the Houk, againft the idea that
the previous (Felton, if carried, fhould preclude
the Houfe from following up the Refolutions they
had entered into, at any future time they might
think proper.
Mr. GREY expreffed fome furprife that the
Right Honourable Gentleman who (poke Ia fl fhould
fuppofe the previous queftion could preclude the
Houfe from following up its refolutions already
etntered into, as the uniform praelice of the Houk
as known to be, that the previous queftion only
poftponed the confederation of the fubjed to fame
future opportunity. He thought, however, that
the Refolutions which had been paffed, ought to
be kept in view. It was evident that proceedings,
altogether incompatible with, and deftrudive to
the freedom of elation, had been &Red on at IL
cheflor, not only in the late eleetion, but on many
former occafions ; and it peculiarly behoved the
Houfe to fupport its charades and dignity. by
Mewing to the world, that they would not omit any
opportunity of evincing their determination to
punifh, and put a flop to as far as they could, loch
fhameful pradlices in future. He hoped, therefore,
the Hoofs would keep the many in their molt
attentive confederation, and whatever might be
the fate of the anions alluded to, that they would
exert the power they bad, either by disfranchifing
thofe who (hould be proved guilty of felling their
fuffrages, as in the cafes of Shoreham and Crick-
lade, or take fuch other meafures as to them fhould
kern molt proper to put a flop to fuch fcandalotn
proceedings in future, and to fupport the honour,
the dignity, and independence of the Houfe.
Mr. Beanus, in explanation, Paid, that he was
equally furprifed the Hon. Gentleman who fpoke 'aft
fhould fuppofe he was fo forgetful of the pradice
of the Houfe, as not to know that the previous
queftion was only a poftponement of the meafure.
He thought his Right Hon. Friend had conceived,
that, by the previous queftion, the bufinefs was
entirely done away, and on that account only he
had entered his proteß againti it.
The Maim of the R 411.23 explained.
The previous queftion was then put on the &ft
Refolution, and negatived without a divifion.
I *Mr. Joon SMITH fald, that notwithitanding all
he had heard on the fabled, be Rill agreed with
the Committee, and mutt perfill in moving the
original Refolution.
The original Refolution was then put, and ne-
gatived without a divifion.
The previous queftion was then feverally put on
the other Refolutions, and negatived without a
divifion.
The Ctrancastoa of the Elena:apse (aid, that
he coincided in opinion with the Hon. Gentleman
oppofite (Mr. Grey), that the Houfe having come
to the refolutions they had on this !Miners, it was
incumbent on them, in fupport of their honour
and dignity, and alto in fupport of the freedom
of elation, not to let the bufinefs drop. He had
not been able to examine the whole of the report,
but he underffood there were proceedings which
ought to be put a flop to. lie begged the Houk
would underhand, that in what he now faid, he
did not mean to give any opinion ; but he thought
the Houfe ought to enable themfelves to pursue
hereafter their refolutions with effect ; and he,
therefore, moved... That the report be taken into
further confederation on Tuefday
Ordered.

HIGHLANDS 07 SCOTLAND.
The Citaucst.t.oa of the Eacusqrsa Paid, that
previous to the recefs he had, by command of his
?dajetty, prefented a report refpeiting a Survey
of the Highlands. The ()Ned of this was to ob.
tain a perfea knowledge of the cautes which had
effeaed fo confiderable an emigration from that
part of the United Empire. The population of
the country was of the firlt importance, and no-
thing could more conduce to its in.creafe, and turn
that increafe more effeaually to the benefit aeon].
merce, than fuck meafures as were likely to afford
ufeful employments in agriculture, and an eaten-
five field for ettablilling manufaautes in that part
of the Empire to which the Report related. He
therefore moved, " That the Paid Report be re-
ferred to a &lea Committee, to etamine the mat-,
ters therein, aad to report their opinion to the
Houle."—Ordered.—" That five be a quorum of
the laid Committee"--Ordered.—Adjounsed.

LONDON.

SATURDAY. APRIL. i 3.

PRICE OP STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK
3 per C. Reduced 631 I.
3 Per C. Conf. sessity, 644 for May, 641.
Old s per C. Ann. 99—New atop&
PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY:
Bank Noels 17t 16, 17of s wee-M.1797, 994
3 per Cent. Red-651 65i 65 Long Atm sp 7.163.16
3 per C Coot 664 651 66 lAA. $ per CCDIL
New 4 per Cent. SA :31 Fick* Bills, par. II a. diC
s per Cam Aso. soot 991 Cool. fee May. 67{ 65{ 664

We Rated yefterday that Mr. Anotimros's ex-
planation oo Thurfday, called for by the mifcon•
ception of many refpelting the notice he gave on
Tuefday. had had the effed to deprefs the Funds.
and they might be expelled to be Rill lower. This
aanally happened; before the clofe of the market
yefterday the 3 per cents were at 63i.

One Broker, who has many French connexions,
but who is known to be a man of refpeEtability.
'fold very largely, and it was concluded that he
ailed on informatins► from France. A report was
alfo circulated. that Admiral Tura soaouon bad
engaged and taken two Dutch frigates ; and ano-
ther that a new Treaty of Alliance offenfive and

defenflve betwen PryMa and Frahce bad' ;tuft
been concluded. Thefe unfounded rumours were.
coupled with Mr. Anotecrom's explanation, and
and it was inferred that he now had left fanguine
hopes of peace than on Tuefday.
The price this day is about I per Cent. better.
The PEncu to (loop of war, of 18 guns, has at,
rived at Portfmouth from the Cape of Good Hope,
after a paffitge of two months and two days. She
brings accounts of the arrival of the CONCORDE
frigate, Captain WOOD, at the Cape, with orders
for its evacuation. It was accordingly furrendered
to the Dutch two days before the Placing left it.
Admiral Sir ROGER Cvarts, with his fquadron,
may be expeCted to arrive in a week or ten days
it was finally arranged when the PENGU/11 failert
when they were to depart ; but it was generally be.
lieved they would fail about a week after. The
PENGUIN has brought home a Colonel of the
honk, and about thirty foldiers. The Sr. Fro.*
asmzo frigate, Captain BIRCH/OE, had arrived at •
the Cape /Om time previous to the Coscoxne,
with duplicates of the orders that were fent by the
IraocENE, to retain the place.
Difpatchcs were received from Sir R. quarts. ,
at the Cape by the Firearms, announcing the giv„
ing up of that place to the Dutch.on the stlt of
February..

This morning difpatches were received from Sir •
RICH•Rn BICKIRTON in the Mediterranean by the
DRAGON,
Yefierday difpatches were forwarded from the
Admiralty to Commodore Hood at Trinidod. •
By the DRAGON, arrived from Gibraltar, Now.
have received a number of letters, all exprefling in
the iirongeit terms of regret, the fenfation.i of the
inhabitants on the near profpeB of lofing, for a
while at lealt, their beloved. Governor, who, 4y
this time, is on his palTage to London. Hit un-
remitting attention to the prole Lion, interellt, and
comfort of every clots, has made an imp!etGon
the public mind which will not foon be. effaced.—
They were the first objects of his iblicittirle, and.
his exertions were crowned with that fuccefs which
the benevolence of the °Nee merited. Nor were'
his endeavours to organize the army, which at
the time be took the command was in a high (We
of indifcipline, lefs fuccefsful. 4n one who, wilt
take the trouble to look into Capt. Wzzsatis
count of the expedition to Egypt, in thzt pan
where the forte • tottched xt Gibraltar, n will be..
convinced that if w% MO labour. At that.
time, it was. no 0eu414 'thin.' for the tsiee
be feen lying drunk jpsr;abis Re the roeil
beefily and degraded en imais.4 frinei
now far otherwife; and dielieakhdindeoMforts 4'4
the men have increafed with die•fleielnefrof•itfik
pline that was reiderekindifisenSbje:
Our limits will not allow u to infect all the W. A..
tens that have reached ue.t'but as they are all at
a-Smiler compleaion, it is the left =drag. Vales--•
however, fubjoin the following :