Star.
London, England, 1811-03-12 00:00:00

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For their protection, he thought a change in the law
necoary.
11616 rd PALMERSTON said he was not aware of
a single case of this nature happening in England.
Mr. PARNELL restated one of his cases, which
was that of a private in the Royal Artill7y having
been lately imprisoned 12 days at WoolWich, for re-
fusing to attend the service of the established church.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'
thought the Catholic soldiers had sufficient protection'
in the known sentiments of the Irish Government and
the general orders they issued. In this country it
would be much better that the effect should be pro-
duced by a regulation than by a law. If the Catho-
lic soldier was to be specially exempted, every class
of dissenters in the army would conceive themselves
equally entitled to exemption.
Mr. WHITBREAD suggested, as a better course,
to address the Prince Regent to alter the articles of
war in this respect. Perhaps General Orders from
the Commander in Chief in this country, similar to
'the orders of the Iris) Government, might Rrochice
the same effect:
" After a few mutual explanations, the House di-
vided—For the clause, IS—Against it, 40%--Maj. 3S.
• Mr.-MANNERS SUTTON then *posed two
amendmAnts, of 'which he had given notice on a for-
mer day, The fist was to give a power to Courts-
martial to inflict the punishment of imprisonment in
the place of corporal punishment, when they should
judge it proper. At present they had no option ; bUt
whenever the punishment was not capital, they were
bound to name some corporal punishment. The
amendment which he now proposed would not take
from them the power of inflicting corporal punish-
' meat, but would give them a power which they now
have not—that of substituting, at their discretion, the
pinishment of imprisonment for Corporal punishment.
The other amendment he had eo propose, was to
strike out certain words of the 120th clause of the ar-
ticles of war, by which, embezzlement of stores by
officers appeared to be punishable only" when serving
out of the United Kingdom." These words he wished
to strike out.
Colonel W.ooDthought theidea of allowingCourts-
martial to substitute imprisonment for corporal pu-
nishment was a most admirable one. He thought,
however, that sortie crimes, drunkenness for example,
*et be better punished by mulcting the soldier of
part of his pay ; or otherwise, when his imprisonment
was out, he might go to the ale-house again. '
Mr.MANNERS SUTTON said, that he did not
I wish to enter into the minutia of regulations. His object
was merely to giie Courts-martial a power which they
head not now, that of substituting imprisonment for
corporal punishment.
The Amendments were agreed to, and the Bill was
ordered to be read a thitd time to.day.
The Marine Mutiny Bill pasSed through a Commit-
tee, and the Report wai ordered to be brought up this
day. The other orders of the 'day were then disposed
nf.—A.djonrned at past One.

and h a Considerable pbeitielcto the projects of the.tmenly in there
parts.:—l have the homer to be; &c. "a. c. stateroaa. '
• " To Ms Ercellency Lord Viscount Wellington."
Extract of a Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Grant.:"
" This division of the enemy which arrived at Guards, de-
tached 2500 Men foe Belmonte, three leagues fronethis town.—
Ali the small 'Blazes round this place have been sacked and rob.
bed.—,At theasier time they sent and informed the inhabitants
of Colvilha, they intended to establish their bead-quarters here,
and would shoot any person who should attempt to fly. In order
to be able to frustrate their intentiOns, and save the principal
town in this district, I marched frouLFusislae In the night of the
Bth, with 400 Ordenenza, almost Allalfrom Alpodrisha and Cas-
tello Branco, with one sia-pounder, and arrived here at three the
following day.
" In the morning of thelBth, the town was attacked at eight
o'clock, by 1500 of the enemy, from Behnonte in two columns.
Having posted my people to the greatest possible advantage, I
suffered the enemy to arrive within musket shot, when in ten
minutes they were put in confusion, and obliged to retire In dis-
order ; but the fire and manseuvres executed for three hours, by
some of ehr best companies of ordenanzas, causedAkeas a great
loss on theirillanks and rear-guard.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, they retired by Peizora for
Belmonte. Seven of the enemy were found dead, many others,'
together with their wounded, they CalliS4 with them. We had
only font men wounded. .•
" General Claperede is is Guards, and a Brigadier in Bel-
monte; the first has abet) men, and lee pieces ot artillery, but
few cavalry. (aigned) " 1. GRAN r.
" To Colonel Durban."
Extract of a 'letter frqm Sir William Erskine to
Colonel Murray' : • •
r .
• Mamelteira, February 21.
." The enemy having for some time been in the habit of senefing
a *roe( patrole almoutover, night to &etude, I gave orders to
'.Ensign Sheerubitx of the hussars, to place himself, with thirty
men of the 16th light'
dragoons ant hussars, in ambuscade in the
vicinity of Ferragoas, in the morning of the 19th, for the purpose
of Intercepting this parole should it appear; and at the same
time to watch the movements of the enemy, who It was rt-ported
was about to make some considerable moement.
-11 The piegaerkt Malhaquelo was reinforced, and ordered to
be in readlalsslo sappier the said party. The enemy's patrole
did not appear, as was etpected, on the night of the 19th or 20th ;
but it the afternoon of this day, Ensign Sbeerebitz (nut haviak
sufficient forage to enahie him to remain for a longer time) ors
doted a small patrole4owards where the enemy's picquet was ha
Oleanede, In orderto allure it out, which had the desired effect g
thc enemy followed this petiole with an officer and W infantry,
and an officer and so dragoons, which were drawn by the patrols'
to the ambuscade, when Ensign iheerubitz fall:Toe them, kills&
or made prisoners the officer and the whole of the infantry, task
three dragoons, killed some others of them, and compelled the
remainder to fly in disorder to theirrats, which were eta short
distance. The infantry officer' who was taken prisoner 'was.
wounded. In all 17 prisoners were made; we had a bona
, wounded. Ensign Sheerubits conducted himself on this oasilas
with much judgment, and I be; you will inform the Commander,
in Chief of his good conduct."
" Mamelleira, Feb.2l.
" Colonel—The Officer made prisoner is an Aide-de-Camp et
General Clausels. He had been 'lying in ambuscade last week,
with different parties, in order to take some of our patrols, sad
was at tie very moment waiting for our patrole from Itto Mayor;
but seeing the small patrole in the road of Ferragoas, he wished
to intercept it, and in consequence fa ll into our ambuscade. He
is so severely wounded, that he cannot set out from this }lice to-
day. One oldie dragoons made prisoner has died of his wounds,
and the greater part of those take, are wounded, though slightly.
(signed) " o. aistusit."
" Colonel Murray, Quarter Master General."
Extract sif a disp.,tch from Marshal General Lott
Wellington to his Excellency Miguel Pereira Forjas
" Head Quarters, Caruso, Feb. 10.
1! The division of Ocoee% Claperede appertaining to theft])
corps, reaaaiued in the city of (Wards on the 10th, the date oldie
last ascounts which I. received from that vicinity. Though I had
information and had myself observed several movements in the
Interior of the position of the enemy, I do not perceive any ma-
terial alteration in the whole ot his fume ; and I am of opinion,
that the movements observed, have been principally with a view
to procure provisions; the difficulty of obtaining which eve. y
increases ; so that even the inhabitants of Forces Nevas and Mos
mar; the only ones who remanitit in their houses at the time M
the invalids of the enemy, hare ritirrdfrum that part of the COW.
try aljnost dying wit,h hunger.
Oa this occasion I have the satisfaction to communicate the
copy Of the enclosed dispatch, which I received relative to tin s
conduct of the Ensign Shiprubits, belonging to the regiment
of
Hussars, No.l, who in the night ot the 9th, with a small detach-
ment from his corps, surprise il a piquet of the enemy, and made
a greater number of prisoners than that of which his detachment
was composed,' without the loss of even a single man.
Herefollows a letter from Lieutensat•ColotiedAranschild,
with'tho panics'su of the action.)

THE EVEI,IING ► TAR.