The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-01-31 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS.

VIENNA, JAL 15.--The conscription for 1815 has
been ordered to be enforced in the Austrian Mo-
narchy, conformably to the existing laws, without
any alteration whatever. Orders have also been
given to complete all the regiments.
They begin to collect the new Supplementary Tax
of 50 per cent. on incomes aring from industry. Mer-
chants, artisans, and artists, complain that the land.
holders are favoured ; consumers, on the other hand,
complain that every object of &et and manufacture
gets dearer, and that the price finally falls on them.
Monied and landed men, however, assert that their
capital is unproductive from the depreciation of paper,
' and burthens which daily increase... But the Austrian
Government, which is compelled to meet considerable
expences, does not the leas pertist In its s'sters of
finance. The poor annuitants and stockholders are
the chief 'offerers. When once the fate of Saxony
is fixed, the high Powers will take into considera-
tion the provinces on the left bank of the Rhine, and
warm discussions may still be expected on this head.
Those people, therefore, who fix a period to the
sittings of Congress, and say with a sort of confidence
that it is likely to last only three or four weeks,
may be much deceived in their calculations.
The Emperor Alexander declares that he will not
leave Vienna till all the important matters are deft-
' nitively settled.
The Committee on the affairs of Italy attracts at-
tention. It is composed of M. Wessenberg for Aus-
tria, Count Nesselrode for Russia, Count Noailles
for France, Lord Clancarty. for England, and M.
Lobrador for Spain. It is occupied in deciding the
fate of the three Legations' the Mark of Ancona,
and other domains of the Holy See. Opinions ars
much divided on the point, whether this Committee
I will pronounce on the affairs of Naples and Sicily.
FRANKFORT, JAN. 17.—We are assured, that the
Principalities of Fulda and Hamm have been defini-

tively assigned by the Congress to the King of Ba-
varia. The Elector of Hesse will receive an indem-
nity for Hansa, which formed part of his states.
JAL 9.—A trifling event had well
nigh have been productive of fatal results. Three
Jews from Venice waited upon the Podesta, fur-
nished with an order from the Prince of Reuss,
Goveiner of Venice, in which they were de-
scriberas noble Hungarians, and as Commissaries
appointed by the Emperor of Austria to cellect
and send off for. Vienna some productions of the
arts, at present in the Italian provinces subject to
Austrian domination. The order imported that
the Podeals should, assist the Commissaries in
carrying oil :the famous picture of de Martyr.
dom of St. Appoline, by Dominichino, which
is in the Cathedral, as well as that of the Assump-
tion of the Virgin in the Church of St. Peter. The
Podesta at first displayed much reluctance, these
pictures being held in great % eneration ; but think-
ing himself bound to obey superior orders, he was
proceeding to take down these two chefs-d'ceuvre.—
The people, however, ran to arms, and assembled in
the two churches, uttering seditious cries against the
Austrian Government. The lives of the pretended
Commissaries were in the greatest danger, when the
Podesta, haranguing the people, and promising that
the pictures should not be carried off, succeeded at
last in getting them back to his palace.
On conversing at greater length with the Com-
missaries, a good deal of obscurity and hesitation
was remarked in their language. The Podesta de-
tained them on- various pretexts, though they in-
sisted on departing. In the mean time he sent off
a Courier to the Prince of Reuss, who replied that
he was entirely ignorant of the order and of the
mission of these Commissaries; that he suspected
fraud, and that therefore these persons should be
secured. They were taken to prison, and it was
soon discovered that they were three Ragusan Jews,
who, knowing that there was no Austrian authority
at Ravenna, thought it would be in their power to
steal these valuable pictures. The three Jews have
been since put in the pillory, where all the exertions
of the civic guard could scarcely prevent them from
being pelted to death.
PARIS, JAM. 27.—The Journal des Debuts contains
the following remarks on the acquittal of Gen. Ex-
celmans by the Court-Martial appointed to examine
into the charges brought against him :
" Such is already the' influence of the just and
free Government which we owe to the maganimity
of the King. Is It not evident, that under the mili-
tary despotism of Bonaparte, Gen. Excelmans, sus-
pected of corresponding with a foreign Government,
in open contest with the General under whose orders
he was—ls it not evident, we say, that lie would have
been condemned, perhaps shot—at least exiled or
thrown into a dungeon like Gen. Marescot or Gen.
Dupont ? The Members of the Court-martial who
should have dared to acquit a man placed before then"
by Bonaparte, would havebeen marked by his Police
as enemies of the State, and their future promotion
would have been for ever stopped. We recollect too
well the base applications of Bonaparte to Moreau's
Judges, and the abominable affair of the Antwerp
Jury. The Judges of Gen. Excelmans have nothing to
fear : court is not to be paid to the King by finding
men guilty ; be only wishes for innocent and faithful
subjects. For the rest, Government bas displayed in
this trifling affair as much firmness as moderation :
the Minister of War, la causing Gen. Excelmans to
be put on his trial, has shown that no one will escape
that vigilance which must naterallyfollow the critical
state from whic,h we hare jest issued. But if vigi-
lance place a oven io a state of accusation, justice if
at hand to investigate the charge. The only thing
Icalcotated to excite astonishment, if the fact be trot,
blbat Eicelimins should have at first thought of ab-

sconding from the orders of his Minister: it may be,
Isaid, however, that the recent acts of violence of
arbitrary power formed bit &rebut. SO short a time
has elapsed since we recovered the knity of human,
i nature, that we still doubt our happiness. We can
scarcely persuade ourselves that ate are file, end the
recollection of a tyrant pursues us even In the arms
'of a father. Let us learn, in short, from this new
example, to bless the Government under which we
lire, and to redouble our love for a King whcim all
Europe venerates and admires : our military glory
will be so mach the finer, according.- as we associate
•it With the virtues of the citizen, and respects fot
logics and theiaws."

PARIS, J4N. 244

zaretsit.3
Au affair of great importance islehispered aboui,
viz. that the Ex-Empress Maria Louisa has caused
to be enregistered a protest in favour of her rights
and those of her son, in the Protocol of the Sittings
of the Congress. Though it may be a matter of mere
form.; yet it bears some interest with it. It appears
that it is to the new instructions of Lord Castle-
reagh (arising out ()tithe public spirit that manifested
Itself in the last Sitting of your Parliament) to
which we'must ascribe his Lordship's recent len-
!
image, being less anti-national than formerly. It is
known that Alexander bad more then once been ea
the point of getting into his coach) bet Lord C. was
firm ; and it appears that Saxony will weather the
storm which has threatened her—but how cruel
it is to consider that one injustice Cannot be averted
or repaired without another. Saxony will not give
up her existence, but it was stipulated at Kellsch that
the House of Brandenburgh should have twelve mil.
lions of subjects ; now Prussia Proper does not con-
tain so many inhabitants, and it matters not to the
King of Prussia of what race they are. Since all that
was legitimately disposable has been alienated in fa-
vour of Princes who had no right nor pretensions)
whence can this complement of twelve millions of
faithful subjects be taken but from Poland ? This
however, is only for the arondissement of Prussia!
for she must be round--absolustir*OtM! With
what impudence is this calculation 6tthe indemnifi-
cation due to Prussia made? The House of Bran-
deoburgh then has lost its inheritance ! Truly the di•
mensions of their States were formerly different front
what they are ! For the loss of their provinces in
Poland, they most have so many millions of subjects
to govern—for the kingdom of Hanover so many—
, for Franconia so many—their projects on Holland
and Switzerland so many.—This is royal justice !

farm CATROLICS.—At a select Catholic Meeting
in Dublin, on Monday last, it was agreed pat Lord
DONOUGHNIORE and Mr. GRATTAN should continue
to be intrusted with presenting the Catholic Petitions
to Parliament. An aggregate meeting was held on
Tuesday. At one o'clock Lnrd FINGALL, and two
gentlemen and a boy, entered the Chapel. On being
called to the Chair hedeclined, because, he said, that
faith was broken with him on the subject of the Veto 4.
He disapproved the resolutions, and retired in a tor•
_.
rent of hisses. Mr. O'CoNtroa, of Belanagar, was then
unanimously called to the Chair. Resolutions for
u•iqualificd emancipation were then moved, and car:
vied with enthusiastic acclamation. A letter was
read from Lord Domounmoax, declining the presen-
tation of the Catholic Petition ; but at the sometime
expressing his conviction, that emancipation should
be granted, unclogged by restriction, and unqualified
by securities.
I On Wednesday, Colonel &Lax, one of the
i prqsentatiees of Berwick, arrived there, and imme-
diately commenced an active canvass. On the after.
noon of the same day, Colonel ST. PAUL, the other
Representative in Parliament, also arrived, and
began canvassing. The cause of this premature Can.:
vass is altogether a mystery. It is reported that a
third candidate, a branch of one of the first families
in England, is daily expected, in support of whoat
an association of burgesses has been formed.
The remonstrance to the Board of Trade, by the
silk matinfactarers and others concerned in the silk
business, against the East India Company being al•
! lowed to sell Bandanna handkerchiefs for home con-
` sumption, has had its weight ; and the Company
have communicated to the Board, " that it is thefi
determination to wave their privilege ;" and state
their reasons for so doing, to be that the sale of the
Company's raw silk would be lessened. This infor..
mation was, on Thursday last, communicated by
the worthy Members for the county of Chester to
the silk manufacturers and weavers of Macclesfield.
FOREIGN CONMERCE.—Since the restoration of
the independence of Holland, the commerce of Rot-
terdam has wonderfully revived. From November,
1813, to December, 1814, there entered the Meese,
besides coasters, 1284 large ships, and sailed'
1308. . In 1780 there entered the same river 1612
ships; in 1793, 1963 ships; and in 1808 only 63: after
that period, a vessel only entered now and then under
license. The trade of Lubeck, which, after the
events of 1806, was totally stagnant, has also fast
recovered. In the last year 1043 ships entered that
port, and 943 left it.
The West India convoy, which was I to sail from
Portsmouth on Saturday morning, is delayed for a
week longer, several other ships being nearly ready
in the river.
On Friday last a Coroner's Inquest sat on the
body of a young Gentleman of the name of Nugent,
a clerk in' the Army Pay ()Ace, who blew his brains
opt with a pistol .on the preceding day. The Jury
returned verdict of Lunacy. The cause of this
rash act is conjectured to be gambling embarrass.
meats.