Star.
London, England, 1810-03-14 00:00:00

MMNI

GOTTENBURGH MAIL.

GOTTENBURGH, MARCH 1.

Some days ago the ice began to break in the vici-
nity of this place, and is now floating ; the fortunate
result of which has been, that near Wargo and Tjenro
some hundred tons of large fat herrings have been
e tnght. The price of new caught herrings in our
market varies from 24 to 10 shillings. Large shoals
appear among the south rocks, but the strong current
throws considerable difficulties in the way of the fisher-
men who devote themselvei to that branch of our
fishery. In the neighbourhood of Uddewalpa and
Strompstadt, no herrings have as yet been caught.
MARCH 6.--General Miolis is said to be on his way
to Stockholm, as Ambassador from France.
STOCKHOLM, MARCH 1.

His Majestihasieeii pleased to raise General Ba.
ron L. Bogislaur Von Seeding to the rank and dignity
of a Countof the Swedish empire.

PAALLOIENTART PROCEEDINGS.

• HOUSE 6F LORDS, TUESDAY, MARCH Is.
Counsel were finally heard in the Appeal Spence v. Auchie,
The further consideration of the cause was deferred till Friday,
when judgment would be given.
A Messenger from the House of Commons brought up the
Mutiny Bill, which, on the motion of Lord .Livrapoot, was
read a first time, and ordered to .be read a second time on
Thursday.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL presented further Papers respecting
Spain, which were laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
Lord Wellington's Annuity Bill was read a third time, and
passed.
Accounts were presented of the receipts and disbursements of
the East India Dock Company:—Ordered to lie on the table.—
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The East India Judicature Lists were referred to a Committee.

On-
the motion of Sir E. KNATCHBULL, a copy was or-
dered to be laid before the House of a letter dated " Horse-
Guards, 4th August, 1809," from Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon to
the Secretary at War, relative to the conduct of the Medical
Board in the Expedition to the. Scheldt.
A Person from the West India Dock Company presented the
annual account of their receipts and disbursements.
The Highway Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
crmmifted.
Mr. MELLISH moved for the second reading of the Gas
Light Bill.
Mr. H. SMITH was proceeding to make some observations,
when the Speaker interposed, and recommended the postponing
its further consideration till to-morrow.
A Message from the House of Lords announced their Lordship's
request for a Copy of the Correspondence relative to the Scotch
Distilleries, and the Report of the Committee of the House of
Commons on the same ; to this request it was replied, the House
would send an answer by a messenger of Its own.
The various Expiring I.aws Bills went through Committees,
the reports of which were ordered to be received to-morrow.
Mr. M. FITZGERALD brought in a Bill to amend the Irish
Road Acts, and Grand Jury Presentments of Ireland. Read a
*lt time, and ordered to be read a second time.
Mr. A. COOPER presented a Return of the Corps of Artillery
Dellsers.—ordered to he printed.
Mr. LUSHINGTON brought up the Report of the Committee
of Ways arid Means. The Resolutions were agreed to, and
Bills ordered accordingly.
A Message came from the Lords, announcing their assent to
Lord Wellington's Annuity Bill.
Mr. R. WARD brought in the Royal Marine Mutiny Bill.—
Read a first time, and ordered to he read a second time to-morrow.

DEFALCATION.
Mr. WARD moved the Order of the Day, for the
second reading of the Marine Pay-office Regulation
Bill.
Mr. CREEVEY observed, that he undertood this
Bill was brought in.as - a consequence of the defalca-
tion discovered i n the accounts of Mr. Villiers. He
therefore thought the Bill ought not to proceed farther,
nor the House be called on to legislate upon this sub-
ject, without the adi,antage of having before them the
Report of the Finance Committee.
Mr. WARD answered, that if the Office required
a Bill of regulation, he could not see .bow any delay
was rendered necessary by the want of ai y inforMi-
tion respecting the default of Mr. Villiers, with which
this Bill had nothing whatever to do.
Mr. CREEVEY replied, he wished to know how.
it was that Mr. Villiers's defaleation of il145;900 oC-
cnrred, or how it could possibly have happened, with-
out being much sooner discovered ; and be thought
the House ought not to be called on to legislate for
the regulation of the Office in which such a matter
had occurred, without the benefit of a Report from
the Committee who had investigated the subject, to
enable them to shape the Bill for the better preven-
tion of similar occurrences in future.'

Mr.BANLES said, that in respect to the accounts
of Mr. Villieriaind his office, the subject had been for
a consderable•tinie under, the consideration of the
Finance Committee, who, he trusted, would 'ere long
be enabled to make some specific report upon that sab-
ject, and as tc the manner in which this defalcation
bad occurred, the Committee had traced it like Many
others, to the very defective manner in which accounts
were passed by those whose duty it was to audit them;
and more especially in the Navy department. The sub-
ject was found extremely complex, and the Committee
therefore chose rather to forego the commendation of
as expeditious report, in order to a more deliberate and
correct investigation ; and althouzb no exertion was
omitted on their parts to expeditpae business, still he
could not flatter the House with hopoof a full report
uron this subject very speedily. The leading cause
of this and similar defalcations not having been sooner
found out and checked, was, that those whose duty it
was to pass tbe accounts, contented themselves merely
with comparing vouchers with the sums. charged as
expenditure; without looking at all to the receipts in
the hands of the Officer, and the interest thereon.—
The Committee, he said, would be ready to afford the
House every informatioa which reached their know-
ledge, to aid its proceedings upon any point where
such information should become necessary ; and for
this purpose he had come down to the House pre-
pared with some extracts from the Minutes -of the
Committee, for the information of the Honourable
Gentleman, understanding that his Bill was to proceed
elis day. He thought, however, that it would
be expedient to postpone the further proceeding
on the Bill for some days, as it was not unlikely
that the Committee might ultimately feel it their
duty to recommend the abolition of the office of
Paymaster a Marines altogether, as unnecessary,
because he was My an intermediate person between
the Treasurer of the Navy, who acted as banker,
and the Deputy Paymaster of Mat ines, s ho issued the
pay. Although the saving upon the indinidual office
would not be very considerable. yet, as part of a sys -
tern of employments, which appeared unnecessary, it
seemed to the Committee, is their present view of the