Star.
London, England, 1810-06-15 00:00:00

THU ADMIktALTI COURT'.

-. On 0.,r return to L.A. G4llery, we futini rho there•
tort of the 3i.1 for making Rego' tonne in the Alt-
:m.4l,y t..:otals had been taken into fg.litt:::: 0c1i,!1..
ration.

Mr. H. MARTIN eves speaking, and staani: l' r;
objection: t the Bel, w ae ceutended;fairported
to be in reality it WAS not. haste. I tf ia • :• tr.!
c.lled a Bill for regulating the office of the Lourts
Admiralty, ought to be entitled " a Bill to Ferenc
R Cour L ." The Hon. and leered
eleutternan conceived that -the object which u , re.
fcssed to have in view was to reform the abuses in
r-eard to the enormous fees taken by the Itegistree
and the Marshel ef the Admiralty. now the very re-
vers' woeld be its effect. When the me 'sure for the
ablation of reversions was in agitation, it was not in-
tended to regard remote interests,nor indeed dielPar-
l• ;merit when leNtslating in regard to offices where
enormous rrofits had, he might say, scandalized the
country, ever retard remote iaterests. He willied
to know, therefore, why the particular office of Reese
.•ar, to which the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Per-
ceval) had the Reversion, deserved to be extorpted
from the general reguletion. Formerly when the Bill
was before Pirliametit for suppressing the fees in tho
office of Tenets of die Exchequer, no reference WAS
bad to a Noble Lord who then held Lie situation of
Chencellor. The place of Registrar was given lathe
present possessor by a Nebie Lord at the head of tho
Admiralty, and the gift was afterwards conirmed
by the King. Inc the first instance, therefore, the ap-
pointment was illegal. His Majesty cniild not be said
to have any interest in the office. The Honourable
And Learned Gentieman contended, that any Anises
could not be regulated by Act of Porliameat, but
must be done by Hs Majesty in Council. In that
vinion be was fortified by the opinion of the Learned
lit ire at the head of the Admiralty Courts, wh" in the
Case of the Rainsbergs, where tie Marshal claimed
such Large foes as astonished me Judge, that learned
person bad stated " that it belonged to his Majesty
"alone in Council, to make any alteration in the table
of Fees in any of the Courts of Admit:shy."
.Net
one word was said about the Marshal in the
With respect to the money of the suitors. the Ries
Hon. Gentleman in answer to a question put to hart
the other evening, whether the Rer-istrei- rraincd e:
made use of the suitors' muni s, thet Right Hor.
Gentleman declared di it he did not Now he. (Mr.
M.) had in his pocket a letter trorn 'the Right Ho:-
Gentleman which stated a difierent thing. It was an
undoubted fact that the Noble Laid who is 'tic Re-
' gistrar never did retain one factuing of suitors' nu n.l
as forming a part La the profits of nis officc upon has
examination before the Committee. tie saw no rea-
son why the Registrar of the Admirahr should not
by compelled to deposit in the dank the saner mo-
nies as in like manner is required from the &f asters
in Chancery. He believed that t!.e real object 14 this
Bill was to prevent its being so paid in, and therefore
he should object to it. altogether
The CHANCELLOR ut the EXCIIE,I,:UF.R
observed, that the Honourable Gendernen had :..ken
great merit to himself for his peaetration it. oiscever-
ing that the title of the Bill was larger than its con-
tents. He had called w ith much gievey upon him
(Mr. Perceval) to explain or point nut ail one pas-
sage which related to the Martbal's Unice. With
respect to that oilice, it must be in the lecolltction
tho House, that when the Bill was 0: igihatly inaoa
duced, it was professedly fie. the purie se at Aguas-.
Ling the office of Registrar only, and the but et
course applies to that particular (Alice. The Honou-
rable Gentleman had said much AbOUL the tele ot the
Bilk; it tire tide wits objectionable, that might bs
altelectl on the third reeding. It was ratht r s it;
tiff the ii9souretge Gentleman. should now obila

the Bill, and contend that the tegtslation of the
(Ace did not come within the view of an Act of Par-
liament, when this very office was, in the opinion of
the Honourable Gentleman, one of those which
ought to be regulated by Act of Parliament. With
respect to the assertion, that it was intended by the
Bill to prevent any regulation, that was founded in
fallacy, for he would most solemnly deny that any
such intention existed. He had no difficulty, however,
in admitting, that it was not intended to diminish the
profits of the office. The opinion of the House on
the subject of interfering with the vested rights Of in-
dividuals was, he conceived, uniform. The House
thought that the regulations ought not to apply in
that case. As to the original grant of the office of
Registrar, notwithstanding what the Honourable
Gentleman had asserted, it was a leg • rant. The
other observations respectitig the rn es of suitors
were not well applied ; for he (Mr. Perceval) had
made the statement across the table, not being ap-
prized exactly of the face; he had the next day rs.
ceiveci from his brother full information, and lost no
time in communicating that information to the Ho.
nonrable Gentleman. The profits in one year recei-
ved by the Registrar were about £7BOO. It was at
the option of the suitors, either the captor or corn.
plainant, by application to the Court, to have the
monies laid out for the benefit of whomsoever the
decree might terminate in favour of. As to the ana-
logy of the case to that of the Masters in Chancery,
that would not bear, for theirs was a case of delin-
quency, here no complaint had been made. The
B:11, even supposing that an Order in Council was
. the proper mode for regulating the office, could not
preclude such Order being made.
Mr. BANKES thought, that whatever the prac-
tice might have been, no public servant could be jus-
tified in putting out the public money to hazard for
his nun advantage. He did not say that a degree of
delinquency was attached to the practice which some
imputed to persons so acting, but be still thought the
act unjustifiable: he had the greatest respect for the
character of Lord Arden, but thought some altera-
tion ought to be made in the office of the Registrar of
the Admiralty.
Mr. STEPHEN observed, the Court of Admiralty
had the power of interposing in behalf of one of the
parties, provided proper security were given for any
icss that might arise from the sale to the other.
Mr. Alderman JACOB understood the Honour.
able Gentleman's object to be a solid and substantial
reform. The question was, whether the office of the
Yegistrar of the Admiralty should remain as it is, vr
he regulated by certain rates of interest, after such
rates have ceased to exist? The present measure,
hronght forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Went to save the public money, and was as far as it
went (and nn one had contended it ought to go far.
ther) a measure of reform, yet it was opposed by
those who professed to be friendly to a reform. If
the Bill did not go as far as they might wish, that
could not be urged as an objection to the measure,
seeing it intettered with no other plan of reform. He
Amid give it his most hearty support.

„
Mr. W. SMITH was of opinion, that if no other
ground of objection existed, its insufficiency to answer
the purpose for which it was intended afforded ample
grounds for the opposition it had experienced. That
of which he complained, and which he would call a
Monstrous usurpation, the employing of the public
money for private emolument, was only supported by
modern practice against ancient law. He wished the
office to be better regulated. There were three great
sinecures in the country, the emoluments of wliieh
were immense in war time, but dwindled to nothing
on the return of a peace. Was it right that such sine-
cures should be held by the Ministers of the Crown ?
Surely not, as a premium was thus held out to them
for the continuance of the war. Did the Registrar
of the Adm.ralty give security for the office he held?
If he did not, it was ton much that lie 'should be suf-
fered to make use of the public money. They ought
lint to argue so mach on the respectability of die dm-
racter of the party holding that office. Public money
so used was used improperly, he would not say ille-
gally, net that the Ncble Lord s.) using it was aware
of the impropriety of making such an application of
It. Upon a view of the whole, whatever the stage of
the Bill might be, he should move that it be postpo-
zed to that day three months.
. Mr. ROSE shortly replied to the principal argu-
ments of the last Speaker. The sum left in the hands
of the Registrar of the Admiralty did not exceed
i:80,000. Of that £30,000 was for the country, and
.1:30,000 belonging to captors. The measures about
to be adopted would materially lessen the sum lett in
his pre, and if the parties interested did not gain that
which was their due, it would be their own fault.
mensure, he contended, was in itself innocent,
'ad as far as it went, had a tendency to supply a
practical reform to many evils complained of. It
.mould prevent grants being made for the time to
•:orrie as they hitherto had been, and above all, it
not prevent the suitors from taking their own
'Aloney. He could see no inconveniencies likely to
e..ist from it, but he thought it would be productive
et considerable advantages.
Mt% G. JOHNSON thought, that in the Courts of
Admiralty abroad it was impossible to attend to every
,-,mplane. It was unjust for the neutral to be obliged
i)ay zo the Public Exchequer. To exempt the na-
•,e, trom this renroach, some regulation should be
11'..

Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY was of opinion that
the Bill should undergo a more serious deliberation
than the prescat.—Excessive reward was a system
that should be abolished. There were-several objec-
tionable parts in this Bill ; he wat far, however, from
any improper motive* to the Right Hon.
Gentleman. He conceived that the custom ofofficersj
in a Court of Justice, having in their possession the
money of suitors, and applying the same to their
trivate advantage, should not be sanctioned by the
Legislature. He was astonished at what had been
laid respecting the Masters in Chanter/ ; he denied
tht accusation of general delinquency. He could not
APprove of the Bill, either in its resent or amended
form.
hlr. ROSE explained.
Pie SOLICITOR GENERAL hoped that tho
statements of the Learned Gentleman would not
meet with the apyrobation of the House. The mod'
Proposed by his Right Hon. Friend was the best ; to
adopt any other would be incurring the imputation
of folly and meanness. It would remedy every evil,
and Ace in the hands of the suitors a Ty reasonable

posszets kegtstrar he deemed to be a Banker,
chosen eoluntarily, and not a trustee, at had been re-
presented: The doctrine on which the Bill was in-
tended to be thrown out would shake the legitimacy
of several estates which had been granted by the
Crown. No resumption of a grant ever took place
without the party receiving a compensation.
The question was then called for, and strangers
withdrew.

After some time, without a division taking place,
we were readmitted, and found _ _ _

Mr. MARTIN speaking on the same subject. He
made a variety of observations on the nature of the
net proceeds of cargoes. He had no desire to oppose
the amendment.

Mr. ROSE said, that every assertion he made on
naval subjects were as well entitled to credit as those
of the Honourable Gentleman. It was his intention
to bring in a Bill of Regulations next*Session, for the
purpose of doing justice to a very valuable set of men.
The clause was then brought up,rcad,and agreed to.
Mr. G. JOHNSON then proposed another clause,
relative to the adjudication of prizes.
Mr. ROSE stated, that a clause of a similar nature
already existed in the 46th of Geo. 111.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Sir SAMUEL
ROMILLY, the SOLICITOR-GENERAL, and Mr. W.
SMITH, made a few observations.

The clause was then read and agreed to.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
stated, that the appointment of the office was only
during pleasure.
The Bill with its amendments was then ordered to
be engrossed and- read a third time to-d.►y.—Ad-
journed.

THE EVENINU srmt

LONDON.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13.
PRICE OF STOCKS 'I'IIIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
S per Ci. Cons. shut—for npg. 7.t.
per Ct. Reduced 70—i per Crat. 11514.
S per Ct. Navy shut—Otunium I pron.

Di:.patches, dated the Tdd ult. were this morning
received by Government from Lord IVELLitioroN.
The head-quarters of the army were at Celerico.—
No militiry operations at that time had taker. place.

The accounts brought by the Oporto convoy are
to the 22d ult. and from the Head-quarters of the
British army three days earlier. The French have
been for some time establishing large magazines (4
provisions at Salamanca, from which k was con-
cluded that they had some great enterprize in con-
templation. The force of General JUNOT on that
station is much larger than has been represented,.
consistirg of 1600 cavalry and 18,000 infantry. The
subjoined letter, though not of the latest date, contains
some particulars deserving of attention :

1, PINHEL, MAY H.

" We have been here ever since the month of Ja- '
nuary, having, alter leaving the Honourable Regi-
ments of Guards, with the Commander in Chief, at
Viseu, crossed the Tagus, via Abrantes, its our march
hither. Some are of opinion that we shall soon make
another movement in advance, and give the enemy
battle. The fact appears to us to be, that Monsieur
would rather play a game that would cost him less
blood and trouble. Indeed, situated as we are in
point of numbers, I do not think it would be wise or
politic in us to advance, although I am happy to say
thc army is healthy : for, notwithstanding the enemy
is continually annoyed by the teas:ng and desultory
fighting of the Spaniards, I think he might succeed
in pushing on and cutting us off from Oporto and
Lisbon. I art glad to say that the spirit and enthu-
siasm of the Spaniaids are still alive ; as well as
their hatted and detestation of the French. Nothing
can be a greater proof of this, and of the broken cam-
municmion, and isolated sate of the French t.rmies,
• than the facility with which the British prisoners
escape front Madrid, who are perpetually dropping
into us in patties cf two, three, and four together,
habited in die me st fantastical native costume, mad
so effectually disguised, as even to deceive their for-
mer acquaintance. The skirm:shing which the enemy
had with our advance, under General ROBERT CRAV•
roe D, on the frontiers, near Almeida, Was most
likely for the good-natured purpose of keeping us on
the alert in that quarter, while some more consider-
able divisions of their army might pass by Castello-
Branco, and south cif the Tagus, to cut us off from
Lisbon. Every day we were in expectation of a
brush with them. I hope Lord WEELINGIOI4 has
profited sufficiently from p Ist experience, not to ad-
vance hence without a certain prospect of success.,
His Lordship arrived here yesterday, and it is be-
lieved, intends setting out to-day for Almeida, to T, -
connoitre our positions, and see what is best to be
Jane. I heartily wish the campaign was over. Ge-
neral CRAUFORD commands the advance, nor could
we have a more zealous or active Officer for such a
service."

. .
Letters from the North of Spain have also been re.
ceived, viz. of the 26th from St. Sebastian, and of
the 30th from Corunna. In OaHide the greatest ar-
dour prevails among the peasantry fur the defence of
the country, but they are almost without arms.—
It is stated that the French are now sixty thousand
strong in theneighbourhood of Ciudad Roth igo and
Salamanca, and that an attack upon the allies was ex
pelted by the first convenient opportunity. It was sup-
posed at Corunna that upon the apro* of such as
event, General hiLtiu. would send a reinforcement to
Lord WELLiNcrcs i yet it is extremely doubtful if
such a co-operation will either be desired-or permitted.
It is added, that the desertions from the enemy are
froquent, and that the assistance of these vagrants had

materially conduced to the improveinent of the forti-
fications at the defiles of Villafmncat and at the north-
eastern extremity of Gallicia.

THE KING COBBETT.—This MOillfilgt at an early
hour, the avenues leading to Westminster Hall were
crowded in an unusual manner with persons anxious
to hear this important trial. The Special Jury having
been called over, and Lord ELLENBOROUGII having
taken his seat in the Bench, at nine o'clock, the plead-
ings were opened by Mr. GARROW, on the part of the
prosecution. He stated, that the complaint now made
against Mr. Cobbett, was for certain libellous words
in his Register tending, as the indictment alledged, to
excite mutiny and desertion in the army. The pas-
sage alluded to occurred some months ago, when Mr.
Cobbett noticed the circumstance of a party of the
German Legion having been called in to quell a riot
or mutiny among the privates of a local 'militia regi-
ment in Cambridgeshire. After the evidence for the
Crown was gone through, Mr. Cobbett stood up and
addressed the Court in a speech which lasted an hour
and a half. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then replied
at great length, when Lord ELLexisoaotJam summed
up the evidence : the Jury then retired for a few mi-
nutes, and returned a verdict of Guilty. Mr. COBBETT
was in Court when the verdict was returned.

Paris papers to the 6th and Dutch to the 10th
instant, have arrived. They do not contain the slightest
allusion to Spanish affairs. King Louis still re-
mained in Holland.

The Royal Family of Wirtemberg are in great
grief, occasioned by the death of the young Prince
(bornlast year) CILUILES PAUL FREDERIC, son of his
oval Highness Prince PAUL.

Sir TuoMAs TURTON stated, last night, in the
House of Commons, that four French frigates had
attacked and plundered our establishments at Ben-
coola.t, in the Island of Sumatra, in the East Indies.
%Ve slope that his information was incorrect ; at least
we have not heard that any advices to that effect have
yet been received by Government. Bencoolen has
more than once been visited by the enemy.. About
seven years ago Lisots, in the Marengo, accompa-
nied by two or three frigates, took possession of the
harbour, and captured or burnt a large fleet of India
men and other vessels.

Yesterday a meeting of the Underwriters took place
in the Subscription-room at Lloyd's, to receive the
Rep:3.r of the Committee appointed to watch the pro-
gress of the new Marine Insurance Bill, and to oppose
the same from pacing into a law. Mr. VA UX, the
Chairman, having stated the object of the meeting, and
the minutes of the last Board having been read, the
Report was given in and read. The Committee ac-
knowledzed the zeal and ability which had been shewn
by Mr. MAttavaTT, and that their present success
was in a great measure owing to the active part be
had taken in the affair. Mr. MA RitYAT assured the
meeting, he should always teel a deep interest in sup-
porting the cause of those with wham he had spent so
many years of his life; and that, as far as he could, he
would oppose the progress of the Bill in question, in
case it should be again brought forward in the next
Session of Parliament. The thanks of the meeting
were voted to Mr. MARIIVAT and the Committee,
after which it adjourned.

FOUR.IN-11AND Ci.t.s.—Yesterday was the dsy ap-
pointed for the last meeting of the Four-in-hand Club
this season. Cavendish square, Ivforti mer. street,
Holles-street, &c. were filled with spectators, chario-
teers, equestrians, and pedestrians, stxm after the hour
of noon. Mostly all the members of the rival clubs
were present. Every window in every house was
crowded with elegance and fashin. All being in
readiness in Mortimer-street, at Mr. Buxton's door,
about half-pait-one o'clock, except Lord HawKe.
After a short delay, information was brought to
Mr. BUXTON'S house, that Lord HAWKE'S equipage
had been upset, and himself almost killed. This dis-
tressing intelligence flew like wildfire among the as-
sembled spectators, who expressed the utmost sorrow
at the accident. The following particulars are cor-
rect :—Lord Hawxs left his own house, in Glou-
cester place, in a curricle, intending to drive to the
stables, where his barouche and four are kept. His
Lordship had in the curricle two young blood-horses,
which had never been in harness ; they ran against
a huckster's cart with a considerable degree of vio-
lence, the shock of which was so great as to throw
him completely out of the curricle to the distance of
many yards. By the concussion, his Lordship's
shoulder was dislocated, and he received many severe
contusions on the head, &c. In a state, totally sense-
less, he was carried into the house of Mr. CLAVERING
SAVAGE, at No. 67, in Gloucester-place, and medical
assistance sent for. Mr. HEAVISIDE% the surgeon,
attended ; he replaced the shoulder-bone, and dressed
the wounds in his head. The Hon. Maims HAWKE,
(the Noble Lord's brother) camewith Mr. HEAvistnE.
A Bulletin was afterwards issued, as follows :

" Lord Hawke is as well as can be expected."
Notwithstanding this accident the following Mem-
bers of the Club started, taking the usual route, but
proceeded no farther than Turnham-green, where they
put up, and returned to town late in the evening, viz.

1. Mr Charles Buxton's Chariot - - - - 4 bays.
2. Sir Charles Bamfylde's Chariot - - - 4 roans.
S. Sir Jo:lu Rogers's Chariot
4. Mr. John Spicer's Chariot
5. Lord Purtarlington's Chariot - - - 4 greys.
The last is a newly-admitted Member.
Lord HAwl“, seeing the danger, with the greatest
humanity and presence of mind, advised his groom
to get out behind ; he accordingly did so, and escaped
unhurt.

CORN Excii•Kor, 11/faite.-1 ANT, JUNR 15.--The Market to-
kt3y continues to have larger supplies of Wheat—mostly this
week's foreign arrivals of near 20,000 quarters, and sales support
our last quotation—Barley and Malt nearly at last prices—Beans,
of the •wro kinds, likewise—New'Picks 4us. to 48s. per quarter,
but few White Peas, and full as dear—there are short supplies
of Oats, and this trade is quoted rather higher.—Fbur as our last.

GCNZRAL. CVI&X 4CY All wises.
Wheat, 85s. 98s. 11 Ys. gains, (old) 600.885,
he ditto, 1 i ss. 118 s. Tick ditto (uld) 48s. 545.
Lye. 48s. 545. Oats 245. 289. 33..
ladey, 335. 475. Poland ditto, 355. 38a. od.
visit itis. 82s. Potatoe ditto, S9s Ods

White Peas (b.silers) 74e. Hs. Rape Seed, si6o. 6s.
:rey Peas, 465. sls.
Fine Fleur 9Ss. 100s.--Seeonds 901.955.

•i