The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-02-03 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN,

I, CORUNNA, ha.2B.
" We Are informed Oat on the 19th Instant, the fortress of
Ciudad Rodrigo was taken; although we are not able to give
the particulars, the tact is certain; we therefore hasten, althoagb
the official accounts have not yet been received, to lay it before
the pu hlic.—( Cortland Diary.) ,
.rid
" By private letters from the Asturias, eservlng of the greats
est credit, we are assured of the total ev Nation of the Princi-
pality. The enemy marched io the dir lion of Leon. We
have also received intelligence of the Air er of Ciudad Ro-
drigo, oa the 19th, in the morning; but this intelligence re-
qaires continnation.—( Exacts Cerreo de Espana en la Co-
rinna, Jan. 48, lan.)

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, Pixt.4.
Arrived the Port Mahono 18 guns, Capt. Lumley, from a
Cruise off the bark of the Isle at Wight; the Antelope, 60 guns,
Capt. Carpenter, from-Yarmouth Roads.
The Argo, 44 gutis, Capt. Warren, is gone down to St. Helens,
she will sail to-morrow morning, in company with the Princess
Caroline, 74 guns, Capt. --, on a crilize la the Bay of
Moray, in quest of iberench frigates.
Ships at Ms Pools Illhyal William, Puissant, Hannibal, Vic-1
tory, Impeteux, OIL Domingo, Armada, Cressy, Orion, Marlbo-
rough, Poietiers, Norge, Valiant, Nan, Melpomene, Grampus,
Jason, Matkarel, Kile, Derwent, Dasher, Scylla, Buzzard,
Hazard, Bramble, Hope, Fisgard, IPadargas, Linnet, Miseltoe,
Hyperion, Noe, Maine, Crane, Hotspur, Pyramus, Leopard,
Partridge, Temeraire, Ant, Alert, Crocodile, Thais, Argo, Ali-
serve, Hyacinth, Avenger, Diadem, Gladiator, Christian VII.
Impregnable, Abercrombie, Pompee, Courageux, Plantagenet,
Queen, Vigo, Iphigenia, Ariel, Comet, Wanderer, Feitet,
Mures, Thracian, Cheerly, Dextrous, and Nimble.
PLYMOUTH, JAN. 91.

" FIGUERAS, J. 24.

" We have just now learned (seven ki die morning) that the
French have abandoned Grado, and destroyed the bridge of
Plastic-a% lam preparing to puttee them, and provide provi-
sions for the troops. I will determine with Senor Poste upon
wha your E tecileucy communicated to me in your official
dispatch of the 19th.

" I. A. SANCHEZ.

" Arguicra, Jan. 21"

TO THE SUPERIOR JUNTA.

EXCIILLEXT Sta.—The advanced pasts have informed me,
that the enemy have abandoned Peanutlan, Soto del Barco, and
all the points of the line of ?Talon, and by spies I am told they in-
tend to quit Grads); same even assured me they have already
abandoned it, and destroyed the bridge of Penallor. These
movements clearly show their intention of leaving the principa-
lity, and I have con►equently adopted all the requisite measures
to pursue them iu all directions.
" Inclon, Jaa. 21"

Arrived the Charlotte, Crews, from Oporto, with wine;
sailed from thence 11 days since, in company with 18 sail, under
convoy of his Majesty's ship Resolute ; parted from the convoy
a few days since; Hera, of Exeter, Ticket, from Oporto;
Union, Trenaman, from Neath, with calm; Juba, of and from
Boston, Beckford, Master, from Tun:lova.

FEBRUARY 1.

Arrived the Ann and Eliza, Ewer, from Oporto, with wine,
for London; Monique, Shan': from Oporto, with wine and
fruit, for London; Harmony, Humpbrys, with wine and fruit,
for London; Drake, Skinner, with•wine and fruit, for Dart-
mouth ; Tbetis, Perch, with wine and fruit, for Southampton ;
Triton, Richardson, from St. John's, New Brunswick, with
thitherto(' staves, for Loudon; Mary, Bans. in ballast, from
Gibraltar; Russian galliot Anna and Rebecca, with fruit,
from Seville; Hunter, Hodge, from Gibraltar, with fruit;
George, Barnett, from Oporto; and Flora, Sanders, with wioc,
from Oporto;--all for London.
Arrived his Majesty's ships Hermes, from Corunna ; Tremen-
dous, from the Eastward; Bristol, lsl, and Lightning, from
Portsmouth; Nimrod cutter, from Basque Roads; Resolute,
from Oporto; and Intelligent, from a cruise; and the American
schooner Milan (detained by hts Majesty's ship Princess Char-
lotte), from Baltimore to Bourdeams.

Sailed his Majesty's ship Diadem for Portsmouth.
YARMOUTH, Jag. X.
Arrived the Portia and Redbreast, and remain in the Roads,
with the Solebay, Vice-Admiral Murray; Thresher, Starling,
and Chanticleer.
COVE, JAN.
His Majesty's ship Alert, Captain George Trollope, arrived
here on Friday night, from P,:rtunouth, with the five following
Transports : No. 165, A. C. 11. F. G. S. I. They are to take
out a large Detachment of the Royal Artillery Driven' Corps, to
join the army under Lord Viscount NV Ilington. The Alert went
to sea again on Saturday morning.
The Earl Spencer cutter has the convoy signal for the Downs.

The Amelia, Hon. Captain Irby, arrived at Sierra Leone on
the Tab of November, from Spithead ; and the Kangaroo. Cap-
tain Lloyd, had arrived at Goree, with a convoy. The Anielia
had sailed again, to cruise down the coast. The Protector,
Lieutenant Kitchenor, was to sail for Engl.ind in December;
and the Tigris, Captain Rifles, in h'arch, lenvinl the Amelia
and Kangaroo on the coast. The Thais brought als ale gold dust
from the coast; the internal wars of the Indians checked all
commercial speculations. She left Sierra Leone on the 9Uth of
i December.

' THE MARKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE, FEB. 9.

The fresh arrivals of Wheat to-day make but a short ply,
and sale hrisk, at an adv.,uce of full 6s. per artqp ee w ..M rI e y
likewise in short supply, and rather dearer—Malt all. Whit I
Pea+ fully at last prices—Brans of each sort somewhat Ilighey—
There are also short supplies of flay, and this track named b.
and Ys. dearer—Flour likewise higher ss. per sack.
Wheat...
Fine ditto llO 112 ' Do. (Fine OW; .. 54 55
Rye
Barley 42 521 Poland do.
Malt 79 96, Potatoe do.
White Peas (boilers) 76 92 1 Rape Seed
(re). do.
Beaus
i —vs.—

SMITIU MARKET.—Fes. S.
To sink the Offal, per stone of tilh.
Beef ....ss. 9d. to Gs. 2d. Ilea) of Cattle this day :
Ntation —54. 0.1. to tis. 00. Renqb
Veal ....7s. 04. to i:s. 01. Sheep
Pork ...Xs. 40. to ;s. 4d. Calves
Lamb ....Os. lid. to 0•. 00. Pigs . 210
11 t V-MAIS.KIiT._. . _ .

Hay
Straw
clover 51. Or. od. to 61. &. Od.

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2.,. .

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SIR JAMEi MAtMINIOSII'S

LAST GLI AIME.

tvnom CITE nollakT commit, JULT 20. i

The Sessions of Oyer and Terminer, and Geaeral Gaol Deli-,
very for this place, were holden on Saturday last Wore Sir
James Mackintosh and his Associates, and continued till late on
Tuesday evening following. The Grand Jury having been
, sworn in, the Recorder proceeded to deliver to them a charge,
, which was rendered more than ordinarily interestinic by the non-
' oration it contained of his approaching delearture for his native
1 country. We have it in our power, most torttuksiel r, to give a
faithfu*l outline of t:iis impressive and elo iment Charge, and we
have also been gratified by a perusal of the letter written ny the
Grand Jury on the occasion, which wo are enahlA to insert,
with the Recorder's answer. T,*: Grand Jury being sworn, the
Recorder delivered the following Charge :
Gentlemen of the Jury, the. present Calendar is
unfortunately remarkable for number and enormity
of crimes. To what cause we are to impute the very
uncommon depravity which has in various forms,
during the last twelve months, appeared before this
Court, it is difficult and perhaps impossible to deter.
mine. But the length of this Calendar may probably
be, in a great measure, asst ibed to the late commend-
! able disuse of irregular punishment at the Offie s of
1
Police, so that there is not so much an increase of
crimes as of regular trials. To frame and maileaia a
iystem of Police warranted b law, vigorous eiesegh
for protection, and with sufficient legal restraints
jto afford a seearity against oppressioe, meat be
I owned to be a matter of considerable difficulty in the
crowded, mixed, and shifting prTulatton of a peat
Indian seaport. It is no wonder, then, that' there
should be defects in our sy stein, both ia the eflic.;cy
of its regulations, and the legality of its principles ;
' and this may be mentioned with the mere liuirty,
because these defects have originated long before the
time of any one now in authority, and have rather,
indeed, arisen from the operation dr time and chance
, on human institutions, than from the fault of any
individual. The subject has of late occupied much of
qty attention. Government have been pleased to
permit me to lay my thoughts before them ; a permis-
sion of which I shall in a few days avail myself, and
I hope that my diligent enquiry and long reflection
may contribute somewhat to aid their judgmeut in the
establishment of a Police which may be legal, vigor•
ous, and unoppressive.
In reviewing the administration of law in this placa
since I here presided here, two circumstances present
themselves, which appear to deserve a public explana-
tion. The first relates to the principles adopted by
the Court in cases of commercial insolvency. Its
India no law compels the equal distribution of the
goods of an insolvent merchant. We have no system
of Bankrupt laws. The consequence is too well
known, Every Mercantile failure has produced a
disreputable scramble, in which no individual could -
be blamed, because, if he were to forego his rights,
they would not be sacrificed to equitabie division, but
to the claims of' a competitor no better entitled than
himself. A few have recovered all, and the rest have
lost all. Nor was this the worst. Opulent commercial
houses, either present, or well served by vigimnt
agents, almost always foresaw insolvency in such
time as to secure themselves. But old officers, wi-
dows, and orphans in Europe,could know nothing of
the decaying credit of their Indian bankers, a.id they
had no agents but those bankers themselves. They
therefore were the victims of every failure. The rich
generally saved what was of little conaequence to sham,
and the poor almost constantly lost their all. These
scenes have frequently been witnessed in various
parts of India. They have formerly occurred here.
On the death of one unfertuuate Gentleman since I.
have been here, the evil was rather dreaded than felt.
Soon after my arrival I laid before the British
merchants of this island a plan for the eqnal distri-
bution of insolvent estates, of Ishich accident thee
prevented the adoption : since that time tie. prii.ci-
ple of the plan has been adopted in sever' cases of
actual or of-apprehended insolvency, 'by a convey-
ance of the whole estate to trustees, for the equal
bcnelit of all the creditors. Slow dispositem to
adopt similar arrangements appears of late to manifest
itself in Europe, and certainly nothing can be better
adapted to the present dark and unquiet condition
of the commercial world. Wherever they are adopt-
Theed early, they are likely to prevent bankruptcy. A
British Institution will open its Annual Ex-
very intelligent merchant justly observed to me, that
hibition to the public this day.
}under such a system the early disclosure of ember-
In the Consistory Court on Friday, Sir W. Scorri rassment would not be attended with that shame and
annulled the marriage of WILLIAM PETER POUCETT /danger which usually produce concealment and final
a minor, with Lucarri 4 Toattams, in consequence i ruin. In all cases, and at every period, such ar-
of the bans being published in the name of William . rangements would limit the evils of bankruptcy to
only, though the party was baptized, amid generally ' the least possible amount. It cannot, therefore, be
known by the name of William Peter. I matter of wonder, that a Court. of Justice should
There has been considerable agitation at Grantham ; protect such a system with all the weight of their
and the neighbourhood, on the subject of the Banks ; 1 opinion, and to the utmost extent of their legal power.
and, Sir WILLIAM AIANNERS has advertised that, I —I by no means presume to blame those creditors
" in consequence of the failure of so many country I who, on the first proposal of this experiment, with-
banks, he will take nothing but Batik of England ! held their consent, and preferred the assertion of
notes in payment for rent in future." their legal rights. They had, I dare say, been ill-
We understand that a list of the most notorious ; used by their debtors, who might personally be en-
thieves now on the town has been transmitted to the , titicd to no indulgence from them. It is too much
Committee now sitting for inquiring into the Police to reuire of men, that under the influence of cruel
of the Metropolis. , disappoiatrnent, and very just resentment, they should
! estimate a plan of public utility in the same manner
The Managers of our different places of amuse-
with a dispassionate and disinterested spectator. But
meet shoo* at least at this time, studiously avoid :
protracting their performances until an unseasonable experienceand reflection will in time teach them that,
hour • as this encroaching nuisance, we are fully con- : in seeking to gratify a just resentment against a cul-
vinces7l, materially befriends a number of miscreants Pablo insolvent, they, in fact, direct their hostility
in their system of nightly plunder and desperation in against the unoffending and helpless part of their
our streets.
'fellow-creditors. One defect in this voluntary sys-
Letters from Jamaica of a late date have been re-Item of Bankrupt Laws must be owned to be consi-
ceired. The House of Assembly has, on the motion : derable. It is protected by no penalties, against the
fraudulent concealment of property. there is no
of Mr. SHAND, doubled the duties on all articles ofl
,substitute for such penalties but the determined and
grain imported from the United States of America, i
j vigilant integrity of trustees. I have, therefore, with
gran flung cornmeal, bread, rice, and pease.
I pleasure seen that duty undertaken by Europeau Gen-
Colonel DA.VIES has been appointed Lieutenant- , 1
it emen of character and station. Besides the great
Governor of Van Diemen's Land, and will take his , considerations of justice and humanity to the credi-
passage on board one of the transports fitting out in : tors, I will confess that I mit gratified by the inter-
the River, for New South Wales. It is reported, f -
a erence English Gentlemen to prevent the fall of
that he takes out a company of Marines with him. I eminent or ancient commercial families among the
Ministers received Dispatches from,the Mediterra- natives of India. The second circumstance which I
nean and Gibraltar, yesterday, by which we under- tidal( myself now bound to explain, relates to the
stand that another French frigate (one of three that dispensation of Penal 14w. Since my arrival here
ventured out of port) has been taken by the Eagle. in May, 1804, the p,m4stiment of death has not bees
We have not heard the particulars. inflicted by this Court. Now the population, sub-
The French General Count Dottszttsre has sent ! ject to our jurisdiction either locally or person-
fsom Spain, as a present to the National Institute, ally, cannot be estimated at less than two hundred
a meteoric stone, which lately fell in Catalonia; and 1 thousand persons. Whether any evil 'consequence
M. Plcvcr, a Correspondent of the Institute, has I has yet arisen from so unusual (and in the British
given an vccouut of the fail of two other stones, i dominions unexampled) a circumstance as the disuse
one of which fell in a ship, a case certainly never iof capital punishment, for so long a period as seven
before known in the history of these phenomena. 1 years, among a population so considerable) is a guess,
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