Star.
London, England, 1811-02-02 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

• The Speaker took the Chair at a quarter past
'three, for the purpose of receiving private petition;
this being the last day allowed for that purpose.
.At five o'clock Mr. WHITBREAD rose, and
teeing the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place,
begged leave to state a fact which had come to his
knowledge since the last sitting of the House. He,
'had been informed, that there were two or more war-
rants in existence for the issue of money from the
txchequer, signed by his Majesty's hand, and bear-
ing date between the 25th and 30th of October, 1810.
•:-.-!, He wished to have the answer of the Right Pion.
Gentleman touching the fact, because upon that an-
i,azer would depend whether he should or should not
16ring forward any motion upon the subject. .-•
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
,answered, that he understood from report, though
not from his own knowledge, that there were two
iviarrants in the Exchequer, signed by his Majesty's
and, for the issue of small sums, bearing date the
th of October, 1810. The one for the issue of a
all sum to the Commissioners of the Treasury, the
Other for a small sum to a Mr. Chinnery, who was
officially in the habit of issuing payments for public
purposes. He must, however, accompany this state-
ment by an explanation, that it was usual, in the
course of business, to send blank warrants to his Ma-
jesty at Windsor, for his signature, with the dates not
'filled up ; and they came -back, signed by his Ma-
jesty, and the dates were usually inserted on the days
inch warrants were sent to the Exchequer. He un-
derstood, also, there was a Privy Seal Warrant in
existence, signed by his Majesty, and bearing date
the tiitb of October; on the evening of which day
Sir Henry Halford, one of his Majesty's Physicians
in attendance, first declared his Majesty's mind to be,
in a ruffled state ; and these were all of which he had
received any information.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, he apprehentled the
Right Hon. Gentleman to state that the King's Sig-
' nature uas obtained to those warrants in the ordinary
course of proceedings, and that it was not unusual to
obtain his Majesty's Signature to such warrants with-
out filling up the dates. He thought, hotsVir#o it
wguld be expedient to know at what time theie ware
cants were given, and if there were more blanks left in
*MOP f 9; OW dater Vorm what the Fight lion.

Gentleman had stated respecting the other warrant
under the Privy -Seal, he had evinced a disposition to)
communicate all he knew upon the subject. He should
feel it his duty, however:, to move for copies of all
suca tai rants or papers, signed, or purporting to be,
signed, by his Majesty subsequent to the 26th of
tober. fie would make the motion now, if the Right
Honourable Gentleman had no objection : or, giving
his notice now, bring it forward upon any future day
most agreeable to the Right Hon. Gentleman.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
submitted to the Right Hon. Gentleman, that it
would, perhaps, be more convenient if he would sub.
mit his motion to the House on-a future day.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, he had no wish now to
press it, if not quite convenient to the Right Hon.
Gentleman ; he would, therefore, postpone it to a
future day, and give the Right Hon. Gentleman Ito.
tics of his intention to bring it forward.
Adjourhed till Monday.

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

SITTING OF THE CORTES, DECEMBER 19.

Barrul rose, and made the following motion r—
" All acts and treaties made by Kings of Spain in a
state of captivity, and prejudicial to the nation, .shall
be declared null and void ;" which he supported by
a very impressive and argumentative speech.—
Arguelles seconded the motion ; he said that it was
necessary to take this subject into the most mature
consideration ; that Bonaparte had preserved the life
Alf Ferdinand VII. of his brother, and uncle, for more
seasons than were generally conceived ; that he did
;ittr for the purpose of introducing a division of interests
into Spain, and obtain by intrigues what he was not
Bible to effectuate by arms. He made mention of the
case of Baron Kelly, and added, that from that mo-
ment the public opinion ought to have been prepared
to meet events of the most extraordinary description.
Let us only suppose (he said) that the innocent
and candid Ferdinand, who from his education and
youth cannot be possessed of the necessary experience
and resources to withstand the Machiaevlian arts of
the usurper, may be compelled to contract (I do not
say that he will do so) one of those marriages which"
have always proved an inexhaustible source of cala-
mity for Spain—and who knows whether the tyrant,
surrounding him with his satellites and advisers, many
of whom are, to our misfortune, Spaniards, he may
send him to Spain accompanied by an army, appit-
rentli national, composed of Spanish prisoners who
are detained in France, and augmented by egotists,
weak and indolent men—should we hesitate a mo
ment as to the part we ought to take ? The Cortes
are bound by oath to preserve the independence and
integrity of the nation. They must keep that oath,
or be buried under its ruins. The usurper may at.
tempt to treat with the Congress, promising to restore
the King, to make improvements and reform in the
nation, and to evacuate the Peninsula. But what secu-
rity, what guaranty will he offer ? Let us act as the
, Roman Senate did with Hannibal, when at the gates
of Rome he desired to treat on peace. Let him quit
the territory of the Republic, and we will listen to his
proposal. Since the league of Cambray (he proceeded)
France has constantly aimed at the same end—to.
lord it over Europe ; and Louis XIV. who was bet
another Bonaparte of his times, had no other view
' when he said 4, there are no longer Pyrenees."
GALLIOO moved, that to the Decree the following
clause be added : " That, in case of Ferdinand VIL
ceding any provinces to France, all persons listening
to the proclamation which may be issued in the
King's name, or inducing others to do so, be declared
traitors to their country."
Munn seconded the clause ; and exclaimed, dd Let
us rather die, (and may tin bombs fall into this hall
and destroy us all,) than treat of a capitulation I"
QUINTANA said, that the value of the Cortes, like
that of paper-money, depending on the opinion of the
public, it was now time to illustrate it ; and should
Ferdinand (married no matter to whom) enter Spain
with arms in his hands, and with the aid cf Bona-
parte, he must be treated as an enemy. He added,
that England and Portugal ought to be made ac-
quainted with what was going on.
LLattro made the following proposition : " That.
should Ferdinand arrive, accompanied by a Spanish
army, and sent by Napoleon, hostilities should be car:
ried on against him, tinder black banners, that is,
without giving quarter."
The Sitting was adjourned till ten next morning.

LISBON, JANUARY 7.

ROYAL EDlCT.—Lucas de Scabra da Silva, Coon-i
senor of his Highness the Prince Regent, Intendant-
General of the Police of the Court and Kingdom,
Sic. maketh known, that by a communication of their.
Excellencies the Lords Governors of the Kingdom.
of the date of the 3d instant, it appears that his'
Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased to de?
termine that the regulations established by the ediCtl
of the Bth October of last year, for the *emu:nods-1
Lion of the pOor fugitives, who have been obliged to'
abandon their land and property, shall be extended
and strictly observed to the end of June following,
under severe penalties to those who disobey.
And that none may plead ignorance of this cobs.
mand, it is ordered that the present edict be placarded
in the public situations of this capital. (Signed)
LUCAS DE SCABRA DA SILVA.
Head-quarters at Cartaxo, Dec. 28, 1810."
ORDER OF THE DAY.—His Excellency the Mania
having given orders on the Ilth September, 1810,1
that a Military Council should be held to examine ,
into the conduct of certain officers of the garrison of
the fortress of Almeida, and particularly of the offi.
cers of the regiment of infantry, No. 24, his Excel-
lency has now the great satisfaction to announce to
the army that the Council appointed, having for iti
President, Marechal de Camp Francisco da Silveira,
has given the most favourable information with re-
spect to the following officers—Castro, Sarmento, Pi-
martel, Antas, Alcanforado, Sousa, Gil, Aragon,
Snares, Costa, Pinto, Pinto, gennao, Doutel, Doutel,'
Alpoun, Lunos, Fonceca, Pinheires, Pinto, Bece, Al-
meida, Teixeira, all of the regiment No. 24. Furthers
of the officers of Nos. 11 and 4, Cardoso, Pedroso,
Gutterez, and Guerreio. His Excellency after this
examination retains the conviction he always felt of I
the patriotism of these officers, whom he considers
among the moss zealous friends of their country in
the public serviCe, (Signed) Idoatasto, Adj.-Geo.


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