The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-19 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

Mr. ABERCROMBY.couId not agree to the motion
of the Hon. Member for Coventry. A recurrence to the
old law would he highly injurious to tbd creditor,; for,
as had happened before, the gaols wield be filled until'
they were crowded, and then a temporary Act would be
passed,for discharging them.? without* a regird to the
conduct of the different debtors. He understood that
there wart' sum of 10,0001. in the 104 s of the officers,
of the Insolvent Court ready for'dietribution among dif
ferent creditors, not one of whom applied for any divi-
dend. He thought the House ought not to part with
the princi?le of the Bill. In Scotland the law was more
lenient than it etas in England; and yet the people there
• were perfectly reconciled-to it. There was, no doubt,
ie *Odell, a cautious disposition against the giving of
ex,ensiii credit, and he thoUght it would be better if
that disposition found its way to England. He could
by aio means aeree to the emotive.
Mr. NW:MOUSE thought that if the Ron. Mover
really wished for any alteration in the preient law, he
d& not do better than leave it to he proposed by the
Sblicitor-Oeneral, from whomit was sure to receive thit
favourable attention from the House which, was with-
held from measures generally proposed 6om his (Mr.
IBibliouse's) side. He should be glad to wait for the
promised measure of that Hon. and Learned Gentleman,
and trusted that. when he produced it, it would be found
to contain some provllion fur altering the constitution of
thefoeolvent Court. He hfid just received from one of his
Constituents the bill of of a So)icitor of tt.a. Court for
conducting the business of an Unopposed Insolvent ; and
the amount was not less than 441., ten guineas having
teen charged for drawing the schedule. In this case,
therefore, the lemoivent, who bad not been opposed by
Ids creditors, was la er havtimir given up all his
-property, to be arrested at the suit of his Attorney for
getting his discharge.
Sir A. WILSON said, thr,t a Meeting had lately taken
place In the borough of Southwark, to petition fur the re-
peal of the Insolvent Rill, but there was not a person in
that Meeting. however hostile he might be to the enact-
ments of the Bill, who was an enemy to its principle. He
would recommend to his lion. Friend to withdraw his rao-
tion, and leave it in the 'mends of his Majesty's Law Of-

&ere.
Mr. BRIGHT said he would not vote for any Bill which
would punish with imprisonment for life ; but he was of
opinion that the time of imprisonment ought to he pro-
portioned to the quantity and the circumstances under which
it was contracted: The great objection of commercial
men to the present Bill, was the diMculty of proceeding un-
der it. He suggested that the Habeas Corpus, or power of
removing the dean., should be taken away entirely, and ,
also that insolvents should be deprived of the privilege of '
the rules of the King's Bench prison. Another provision
he 'herald like to see inserted In the Bill was, that when- I
ever the Court remanded an insolvent, he should be entire-
ly
under the control of the Court, and should not be dis-
charged at the pleasure of any individual creditor. He also
disapproved of the r. gelatines In the Act respecting the
appointment of essigters. He thought a clause should be
provided for the partlcelar case of accninniodatioa-bills,
which often were found to lead to great frauds.
Mr. SYKES said lie approved generally of the principle
of the late Aim, but he thought much inconvenience attend-
ed the execution of it. He did not allude to the cases that
came before the Chief Commissioner, but to the proceed-
ings before the Commissioners in the country.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL said be recollected that I
the feelings of the House was in favour of the principle
of the Hill.—(Hear, hear, hear indeed, if the motion
of the Honourable Member were acceded to, all the pow-
erevested is the different persons acting under the I nso!..
'vent Act would be rescinded. Many persons would be
liable to new arrests, many soma of money now in the
hands of different persons for distribution would become
impounded, and every inconsistency and extravagance
would follow. Most of the provisions of the present
Act were necessary to give effect to the principle of the
Bill; so that as a necessary consequence, no one who
approved of that prioeiple could vote for the present itto•
tien. He had examined all the Petitions %4 hick had
been presented to the Houle on this subject; and he
found that no one suggested a practical remedy for the
oils of which they all complained. Much bad been
aaid in favour of the Irish Law, and he bad therefore ex-
amined the Irish Act paragraph by paragraph with this
English Act, and lie found that their provisions were the
same. lie did not deny that evils existed under the pre-
sent law; but he believed they were much exaggerated.
He thought that whenever a debtor appeared to have
dealt fairly, gave up his property, and consented that his
future property should be liable for the payment of his
debts, his person should be discharged. This was the
principle upon which he approved of the law.—(Hear,
Lear.)—Ile thought the provisions of the present Act
were good ; but he believed that creditors were generally
inert, and declined bearing the expense of bringing evi-
dence before the losolvent Court, to show the fraudulent
conduct of their debtors. When they were thus inactiie
they must take the consequence ; and ought not to expect
persona to be confined upon a mere surmise of fraud. The
debts dichiarged under this Act were stated toadsoant to Ili
millions; but this was a miwake. Every person legally
educated was aware that a Man who had given a Bid of
Exchange, which had circulated among several persons,
was compelled to put each of them in his schedule, lest
lie should not insert the proper person to whom the mo-
ney was due. This circumstance rendered necessary the
insertion of many debts several times over, so that, the
nominal amount of the Debts appeared to he not unfre,-
quenty ten times more than their real amount. The de-
bciency of assets was to be accounted fur in the circum-
stance that persons discharged under the Insolvent Act
were generally persons in an inferior situation of life,
without any capital; while in cases under the Bankrupt
Laws the object of them was generally a person in an
extensive business, and with a considerable capital. He
could only assure the House that he bad no desire to
withdraw from the ;hedge he bad given to direct his at-
tention to the subject.—(Hear, hear.)—He should do so
moat assiduously, and would, in due time, state to the
House the result of his labours ; and if he thought he
could do so effectually, would suggest an improvement of
the present law.—(tiheers.)
After a few words from ,Hr. J. Sum, and from the
SOLICITOR GENERAL in explanatiou,
Mr. ELLICE said, he entirely conrsured in the gene-
ral views of the lion, and Learned Dentleman, and was
most happy to find that the Law Officers of the Crown
had pledged themselves-to take up the subject.
Mr. HUME hoped, that when the Hntiowahle end
Learned lientlentan proposed any alteration of the pre
sent law, it would include a reduction of the present ex-
pense of carrying the law into execution. lie trusted
also that the operation of the Bill would he extended to
Crows Debtors. He was not only fur the principle of
she present Act; he was against linprisonmeut fur debt
all. Ile could not, therefore, but desire to see the
benefit of the law allowed to Crown L)eb'o:s, thany of
wilorn remained in custody 10, 15, or 20 years, sad
lose of whom died in custody. The law officers of the
Croen acre Eder enabled to show unjust and undue fa-
vour fog political teasons. While they imprisoned for
life a poor wretch owing 201 such a man tit, Mr. Theo.
dove Rooke was allowed to remain at large, who owes
10,0e0/.
Sir J. NEWPORT said that the Irish Insolvent Law
was generally approved of. This, he believed, was
mainly to be attributed to the limited credit which was
given bYtraders in Ireland.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in explication of are-
mark of the Hon. MeMber for Westminster. said that the
ail‘ he had referred to was not an act of the Court. It
was merely an oreinary Attorney's Bill.
Mr. HOIIHOUSE said it waltke Bill of an Attorney
of the ('stet, for obtaining the discharge of the prisoner
tinder 'pr,seut Act.

TheSOLICITOR.GENERAL said that it might, like
other Bills of Attorniaa, be taxed in the mod manner.
Mr. C.. WILSON spoke in favour of the principle of
the Bill, though he wished to see it modified.
Mr. P. MOORE, in coneequence of the pledge given
by del Solieitai-General. would cheerfully Withdraw his
motion.
The motion, then, with consent of the House, Was
Dr. PHi LLIMORB moved for leave to bring in a Bill.
'to amend the Act of the 19th George the Third. It Wes.
an Act against profane swearing, and there was a chmie
in it which required every clergyman in the kingdom to
read the who!e Act In church four times in the year, un-
der a penalty of five pounds for every omission. That
penalty was often souglit ambitiously and maliciously,
and his object was to repeal that clause of the Act which
imposed it.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT thought no Act of Parliament
whatever ought to be reedits Church. He thought it was

a mod improper practice..
Mr. C. WILSON concurred in the sentiments of the

last speaker.
Dr. PHiLLIMORE also concurred, and rema►ked that
he bad himself refused to introduce the clause in ques-
tion, The Bill he noir proposed to bring in might pro-
bably be extended so as to meet the sentiments of the
Right Hon. Baronet.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.

LORD LIEUTENANT OP IRELLND.
Mr. HUME, adverting to the notice of motion which
he had given far dispensing with the office of Lord Lieu-
tenant, Chief Secretary, and other great officers cf Ire-
land, stated that he wished fbr certain information upon
various points, in order to support the case he intended
to lay before the House. He should therefore move for
several returns. The first was a Return of the income
end expenditure of Ireland for the year ending January
ISIS; his object being to show that England had to con-
tribute between two and three millions towards the ex-
penditure. He next wished for an Account of the Im-
ports-and Exports of Dublin, in order to show that that
part liad gained by the Union. The Return', then, fore,
which he required on this point, would he for a period
of ten year's before 101, and ten years preceding 1823.
The next was a Return of the tonnage of vessels of Ire-
land outward and inward, distinguishing those of Dub-
lin. The next was a Return showing the amount of fees
received by the Council Office and Secretary's Office in
Ireland for the last two years ; but if there should be any
difficulty, he would be satisfied with ibis a. count for one
, year. And the last was a Return showing the amount of
fees paid to the Attorney and Soliciter General, and
other King's Counsel of Ireland for the last five years by
the different Government Offices, distinguishing the sums
I paid by each Office.—All the motions were agreed to.
MUTINY BILL.—YORRIGN POLICY.
On the Order of the Day being read fur the third read-
ing of the Mutiny Bill,
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said he had hoped that
Ministers ha I determined to put an end to the cruel
practice of flogging soldiers of the English army; but
from an °lase' vation made ou a former evening by a No-
ble Lord (Palmerston), relative to the dismissal of an
Officer, he pas induced, though reluctantly, to give up
his hope. As this subject therefore was, iu his
of the highest importance, he gave notice that, on the
first open day, he should bring it before the House in the
form of a substantive motion. He thought be could not
take a better opportunity than the present of expressing
his surprise and sorrow at the conduct of Government
respecting the sta'e of affairs between France and Spain.
The pretence which long bad been made for keeping up
a large standing army, ego that Government might be
enabled to preserve the balance of power; and now he
was called upon to protest in the strongest manner
against the dereliction of character shown by this Go-
vernment, even upon their OA n expressed opiriens. As
the Right Hon. secretary fur Foreign Affairs, was ab-
sent, be should not go so fully into the question as he
otherwise should; but be could not forbear rentioding
the House that Ministers had, at the beginning of the
Session, by his Majesty's Speech, given the House to un-
derstood that they were maintaining the honour .if the
country. Yet, notwithstanding thole assurances, it ap-
peared that in consequence of the Council of Ministers,
we were not in a condition to stay to the Bourbons, "You
shall not disturb the Balance of Power."—We had in
fact allowed that balance to he destroyed ; we hail deli-
vered Europe into the bands of two or three aggrandised
coalesced Despots.—(Cheers from the Opposition.) And,
in the generally exaggerated language of Itir. Burke,
who had applied the description to France, " the
country had been blotted out of the map of Eat-
rope." Mr. Fox, fond as lie was of peace, had said
that there was a point which would justify war from
tnotises of interest as well as those of wisdom—he
meant national honour.—(Hear, hear, from the Oppo-
sition.) The feelings of every man in that country
was in favour of that gallant and noble nation which
was about to be engaged in its defence against foreign
aggression. Should Spain be conquered, there could he
little doubt that Portugal would be attacked; and he
understood that even the Secretary of State for Foreign
Alihirs did not deny that in such a case, we might be
called upon by our treaty to take part with Portugal.
In our present conduct, therefore, there was neither ho-
nour nor pulicy. If France entered Spain, Portugal
would naturally next fall a prey to her rafacity. The
question then for this country was, whether we stimuli
go into a ear with a gallant nation, to bear the brunt,
or whether we should be obliged to enter upon it single-
banded, with the odds against us? As this was not the
proper time to enlarge upon the subject, he would say
no more at present, hoping still that the 9uestion was
not finally determined. He would still contnine to hope
that this important question was not to he so decided
that this country was to be reduced to so low a state as
to adopt so mean, so dastardly, and so unwise a part, as
to observe a strict neutrality in the present state of the
world.—(Hear.) That would be the only way of pro-
moting the true principle of the Holy Alliance, at which
every English breast revolted. But if it were intended
that we should perform such a part, why, he asked, had
nut Parliament been informed of it before ?—(Hear,
hear.) Why had they been deluded irito silence, in or-
der, as it was pretended, to give effect to the pending tn.-
gociations ? lie did not know that the House would
have agreed to one half of time Estimates that had been
granted; that it would have permitted so many taxes to
remain unrepealed.—(Hear.) He was sure that they
would cot have consented to remain so long idle, which
Lad been polo:rive of tatis`action only to the Minis-
ters, who, he did think, had not shalt fairly by the
House in this basin:as. The whole matter must soon
come under the fail consideration of the House ; for
which time he would reserve himself, only desiring at
first to be understood as not acquiescing in the propriety
of the conduct of this Government upon the present ue-
casion.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Secretary PE Z!. rose to deprecate the fart'alr
prolongation of this disen-aion. If the If an. Baronet
thought it improper to discuss th question of flogging
in the army with fist malice, he ought to have felt still
mere strongly epos so important a question as the pre-
teet.—(Hear !)—ln the absence; too. of his Right lion
Friend (Mr. L..unina), which alas caused solely by india-
p;rsitian, the diacuasion was El-timed, and more particu-
larly as the Hon. Baronet said he expected a case to be
mane out or. the part of Goveioment. Ile should not
save condemned until he I,ivi heard the defence. Isis
Right Hun. Friend (Mr. Canning) had pledged himself,
early after the recess, if things remained in the same si•
maties, to ester into a full and detailed sla'ement of the
proceedings of Ministers Li this question of the: French

invasion of Spain.' It aebuld be but justice, therefore, to
*sit till that statement was produced. In the mean
.time, he (Mr. Peel) had no hesitation in saying, that he
differed in his view of the question emir. ly from the
Hon. Baronet, and he was sure the whole country would
bear with satisfaction. that nothing had happen.d in its
relation with other States, which, at the same time that
it did not compromise its honour, was at all calculated
,to disturb its tranquillitv.—(Hearl)
Ur. HOHHOLTSB.derended the course taken by hied
Hon. Colleague. He contended that the vote before the
Holm naturally suggested the observations which were
made, and that. after all, the Hon. Baronet could not be,
said to have travelled much out of the record. His (Sir
P. Burdett's) only .object in rising was to enter his pros
test against the acquiescence of Ministers in any measures
which were calculated to compromise the national honour.
It might well he said, that if England permitted Spain to
become a province of France, her name was blotted from
the map of nations. The House had been promised a?... II
vindication of the conduct of Minister. It appeared to
him to be a difficult task for them to clear themselves in
the eyes of the country. A report was certainly abroad
that the int,rference of Coaernsa-nt hitherto was directed
rather in hostility to the cause of liberty in Spain, than
with the view of promoting it.—(Hear.)—This report, he
believed, took rise from the conduct of Sir William
A'Coprt at Madrid, by endeavouring to procure a Modi-
fication of the Constitution from the Cortes. If Sir
William really acted so, it was the meanest as m ell as the
most dastaidly attempt to induce Spain to betray and de-
grade herself. Addressing himself to the Mutiny Bill,
the Hon. Member used some arguments to show that the
power of dismissing (officers from the Army without
Court Martial, was not an inherent prerogative of the
Crown, fur in the feudal tiro a the King had rib laranVat
all. Ile also referred to the opinions of Lord Chesterfield
on Lord Cobham's dismissal in (leo. 11. to show how
que,tionable such a right in the Crown then was. Upon
that occasion it was state.' that 0.-o. 1.. in the preceding
reign, was so sensible that this right was not an appurte-
nance of the Crown, that he instructed Lord Stanhope,
by whom the cominuni,ation to the House was made; to
bring in a declaratory Hill upon the subject. tie hoped
his t4allant Friend would not give up his efforts in

irig the power of the t..;rate uin this respect.
Mr. T. COURTENAY defended the absolute prero-
gative of the Cr•twn in tisinissaig officers of the Army
without the interfercuce of a Court Martial. Such a
power uas en undoubted right of the Crown, and had
been exercised by it invariably from the Revolution
downwards. This usage was equivalent to the law of the
land. The existence of this right, however it might have
been denied by individuals, was never essentially titles-
tinned by the Noose of Commons. George the First,
though a King, was no authority upon the subject, for he
was a foreigner, and necessarily knew little of the Con-
stitution. Without such a power, an Army in this coun-
try nould he independent of all controul. He differed
hoin the Hon. Baronet in the estimate which he made of
the feelings of the people of England upon the Span-
ish war. The Hon. tiaronetwas net warranted in saying
that the feeling in favour of that war was general.—
(Ilear.) It was certainly the wish as it was the duty of
every EngliEhum to see the national honour supported ;
but lie was sure the people would not withhold their gra-
titude from a Ministry who, whilst they preserved that
honour, did nothing to impair the national prosperity.—
For lie asserted that the country at this moment contain-
ed seeds of prosperity, which required but a few years of
peace to bring them to maturity. All he asked was, that
the House should not come to any conclusions until they
had heard the case Ministers were able to make oat. Is
did not follow, that because this country refused to en-
gage at once in war, its honour was therefore eumpro-
wised.
Sir ROBERT WILSON thought that the Right lion.
Secretary, and the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat
down had thrown down the gauntlet on this subject. He
was firmly persuaded, for one, that the majority of the
people were in favour of war In the cause of Spain. It
was a war of the tyrants and bigots of the human race
against the rights awl independence of free nations. The
people saw that this was a war against the liberty of this
country, and they would look to that House to see who
were the abettors of such a cause. 'ibis war was a war
against Spain to force her to do what it was impossible
she ever could do without for ever excluding her from
the sympathy of the world, viz, to force her to yield the
point of honour. An abject Briton indeed he mast be
who could sit by and see what was going on by France
against Spain, and not feel ashamed of the inactivity of
his own country. He had not yet been answered on the
subject of the Foreign Enlistment Bill ; bet he hoped
the generous people of England, whether that Bill were
repealed or not, would not refrain from giving their
best assistance by every means in their power to the Spa-
nish cause. He hoped it would be remembered that al-
though ttAs Bill was then in force, the standard of liberty
had first been planted in South America by British
bards.—(Hear.)
Mr. T. WILSON thought the preservation of peace a
great blessing, provided it involved no compromise of '
the national honour. Ile spoke the sentiments of the
commercial men of London, who were not advocates for
war. This class had suffered as much as any other du-
ring the late war, though from the nature of their capi-
tal the losses were less perceptible upon then than upon
the agriculturists. The merchants were still for peace.
Sir F. BLAKE complimented Ministers on their man-
liness, and hoped that they would not be induced to com-
promise the honour of the country for all the semi-barba.
roue hordes of the North. lie was glad to hear on a
former evening that the navy was in so excellent a state,
lung and for ever might it remain so.
Col. DAVIES, contended that every one, who, like
the Member who spoke last bat one, assisted at the din-
ner given to the Spanish Ambassador, pledged himself
to support by arms the cause of Spain. The declaration
of the Right Hon. Secretary(Alr. Canning) on this point
twilight, filled hits with 'shame and sorrow. Fur that
Right Hon. Gentleman he had a high respect, and atone
time he lamented that indisposition should have deprived
his Majesty's Councils of the able assistance of one who
was so great a friend to liberty and the independence of
nations ; but when he saw that the first use which the
Right Hon. Gentleman made of his emancipation from
his bed was, to publish to the world the sham' fad resolu-
tio i to whichl his 3lajesty's Ministers had come to;he (Col
Davies) wished to Hon the Right Hon. Gentleman's in-
disposition had still kept bias confined there.—(Loud
laughing.) -
Mr. RICARDO protested against the Gallant Officer's
doctrine, that all who assisted at the Spanish dinner had
pledged themselves to support the cause of Spain by
arms. He was present, but his voice was still for peace.
So far was he from approving of a war at this time, that
be thought our wisest course would be to keep est ar Ia
altogether; and it did not follow that all those who.weite
present at the late dinner were ready to vote for our go.ng
to war in order to assist the Spadiards. Their object in
going there W. 13 to express Clear sympathy for the brave
Spsn sit nation.
Mr. DENISO'N deprecated the idea of this country
rushing into a war, of which it wouid be impossible to
foresee the consequences. It east our duty to avo'd as
long as we could any thing likely to plunge as Into such
an abyss.
- Sir J. NEWPORT, lamented the question of peace or
war had not been left where the Right lion. Secretary
(Mr. Canning), had left it in the former part of the even.
log, as It MIS impossible to pronounce a judgment with-
out hearing the statement lie had promised to the House
Looking at the calamities war had inflicted on this oil-
Con. be thought we ought well. to weigh the queetiou

before we plunged lito another; although he would
rather we incurred the same burdens, and the same
calamities over again, them see the honour of the coun-
t ry compromised.
Mr. JONES remarked on. the material alteration
visible in the opinion of the Hon. Baronet opposite(Sir
' F. Burdett) who in a late war upon the same principles
which be now contended justified another, did nothing
bat deprecate its ever having been commenced.
• Mr. WILLIAMS deprecated discussion, hut when he
considered the infamous attack upon Napirs,and what
had.been the conduct of our Ministers, lie thought we
ought to give the Spaniards every confidence-. He dis-
one/lid having given any pledge by having attended the
dinner; but he did thereby bold up to the world his de-
testation of the conduct (..f the Governimmt of France.
When he looked at the tyrants of Enr.epe, it was impos-
sible tint to feel that their very people must detest ;hem ;
and that he might not take up the time of the H..iuse, he
would tepeat (whlch he thought very applicablete-weir
case) the cords of one of our modern Poets :
Nations would do well
To extort their truncheons from thepuns hands
Of heroes. whose infirm and bri by minds
Are gratified with mischief; cud who spoil.
Because men suffer it, their toy—the world:*
After a few ob.ervatiogts from Mr. flume,
Lord PALMERSTON called the altention of the
• House to a new clause which be proposed to add to tato
Mutiny Bill, to render the E st India Couipanfs officers
• amenable to the provisions of that Bill.
• This clause wan added to the Bill, which was thew
read a third time and passed.

ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.
On the Report of the Supply Committee being broogl: t

up,
Air. HUNIE tookoccasion to protest ag4inst the larev
scale upon which the Ordnance Est:wat•s had been
framed. Ile considered that the whole of the Ari.T
was upon too lagr a scale, if things remained as regart.-
ed our foreign affairs in their present state. Bit as that
was doubtful, he would say no nose at presmt.
The whole of the Resolutions were then read, and
agrieti to.
The his!) Grand Jury Presentment Bill, and the Mae•
riage Act Repeal Bill, went through Committees.—it--
port to-morrow.
The Irish Tithe Bill was read a first time, and order-
ed fur second reading on the •_'ls:

FIRST FRUITS.
Sir J. NEWPORT gave notice of a inotien on this sub-
ject for Thursday the 10th April.
Mr. HUME gave notice of a motion for Thursday
next, for a return of the 'lumber of persons pi osecutei
fur blaspliemoas libels.
The Marine Mutiny Bill was read a third time and
passed.
The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the
House adjourned at half-past eleven o'clock.
FALMOUTH PACKETS.—We understand that the Dee*
tation from the Merchants, Packet-owners, aid Inhabit-
ants of Falmouth, now in London, are unwesriid in their
efforts to bring under the notice of Ministers, the very
injurious erects which must result to the Caunuerciat
and Mercantile Interests, &c. generally, *from the pro-
posed alteration of the direction of the Packets, as wed
as the additional expene which the regulations Shunt to
be adopted by the Admiralty respecting the-e vessels,
will impose on the country. We are, however, sorry to
learn, that hitherto they have not made much progress.
though their representations have been seconded by
many most respectable individuals, who have been satis-
fied that the intended changes will impede act! nut fa-
cilitate the communications between this tenantry and
those places to which mails awl passeneere ere con-
veyed from Falmouth. From the steps taken by the
Admiralty, we have no expectation Ministers will be in-
duced to relinquish their plan.
An order wes this week received at Plytnotith Dock-
yard, to ft out the Astrara frigate, with an additional
false keel and ivies.' bilge piece:, to guard against injury
from grounding at low water. When completed, she ha
to proceed to Falmouth, where she is to hear th • pennant
of the Commodore, who is to superintend the Packet Es•
tabliebnieut at that Port.
Of the thirty gun-brigs which the Admiralty have or-
dered to be built fir the Packet sera e, as stated in one
paper of last week, the Rolla, Saracen, Savage, Scorpion,
and Sea-lark, are to be constructed at Plymouth, on the
model of the Hope and Mutine, which are already in a
state of forwardness ;—the Leveret, Mesquite), Recreir,
Rapid, and Myrtle, are to be built at Portstnonth ; five
others,whose names are not given, are to be built at Mil-
ford, atd the remainder at the other Royal Dock-cards.
—The equipment of these vessels and the Ailtnira!ty es-
tablishment intended to be kept up at Falmouth, will
cause a considerable additional expense, which when
pressed, Ministers will doubtless propose to get rid of, in
pert, by transferring the Establialiment to the superin-
tendence of the Port Admiral at Plymouth.—This we Ap-
prehend, will be the issue of the business, unless the its-
tended transfer of the direction can be prevented, of
which we fear there is very little hope.—(West Britwi
ALNAGHAN Assizes. el Rut 10.—Between tweh-e
and one o'clock, the Hon. Baron M'Ceeeteteo arrived
in Monaghan, and shortly after lie proceeded to tee
Court-house, when the Commission was read, the grand
Panel called over, and the Jury sworn.
His Lordship, in charging the Grand Jury. said the
state of the Calendar was not such as to reqttive any ob-
servation; for whether he considered the number or mag-
nitude. of the crimes, they were of a nature that might
be expected in any populous County. He regretted so
mention, that besides the offences specified in the Calen-
dar, he had been informed by the Clerk of the Crown,
that there were an immense number of indictments
against individuals for a crime which pre veiled to an
atnazing extent in the County; hr meant that of illicit
Distillation. There appeared to be (his Lordship said)
no fewer than 141 indictments against persons accused of
being engaged in this illicit traffic; and lie implored
the Gentlemen of the Jury, as they regarded the charac-
ter and respectability of the County, to use their in-
flueuce and to exert themselves individually to put an
end to that disgraceful traffic, %hie s demoralized and
riffled those engaged in it.
On Friday last, at Edinburgh, Mary SPKin 3014 who
appears to have been the keeper of a brothel, was cUR•
vi. ted of the mureer of Mr.'l'.Howatt,in a drunken squab
ble which took place at her house. She was sentenced to
be hanged on the 16th of April.
CARLISLE, MAIM! 15.—ESCAPE OP PRISONERS.—
Early on Thursday morning, five prisoners broke out of
the gaol of this city,by means, we understand, of a pick-
axe, and a few other trilling instruments. They were
conAued in the Low Gaol, and forced a hole throiCeh the
west end of the wall. Irving, one of the party, who is a
weaver, prevented the nose iu making the breech from
being heard, by moving the shuttle in his loam, although
lee had RA web at the time. So in after their eecepe.
• Bradley, who is imprisoned for stealing a watch, weid
through the hole undressed, knocked at the prison door,
sod Sem the outside told the turnkey what had been
done; he spin returned through the hole to his
Pereutent. Two of the party, Irving and Jackson, h ire
uceveluntarily surrendered tiirMSCllirstothe gaoler; the
others have not been heard of. l'he followieg are. the
*Malta of. the prisoners who eat-aped, with the crimes fur
which they tmere committed. Win. Irving, convicted of
an assault upon a mileary officer ; Joseph Jackson com-
muned on a e}targe of smuggling; Michael *Patin, sen-
. tenred to ti ewonthe imprisonment for stealing eve, el ;
John ,Lowden, convicted of a conspiracy, and sentenced
to two yen,' insprisonnaent ; and John Tbompstin,
posing )45e pig. •