The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-02-20 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

fought to a pretty purpose) is to be strongly tinned
at the Congress to get the present Spanish Govern-
ment read some salutary lessons of ethice. But
even " preachie and floggie ton," will not, we sus-
pect, do with such a fellow as 1
ARDINAND and his
briars. The statement on this head is to the follow-
ing effect ; it is from Vienna, of the sth
66 It is now reported here that a principal object
of the mis,ion of the Doke of WELLISGTON is to
l.iy before the Congress the deplorable situation of
the Spaniards under their fanatic and vindictive King,
and to obtain for that people a fate which their uoble
resistance to the French oppression has so well de•
served. It is nt the same lime intended to present
the consequences of a revolutionary resistance on the
part of that people, which might be attended with
many other effects calculated to disturb the repose of
Europe."

By all means curb the people and reform FERDT.
NAND, if you can. But is the political pulpit from
which he is to receive his admonitions so very pure
and perfect in itself as to leave the royal sinner and
his Jesuitical advisers t:o room for bandying back
accusation, and disregarding reproof? And will it
not continue to be regarded by the liberates as rather
too bad to cram the precious brotherhood who have
now the reins of government in Spain down the
throats of the people, .whether they will reform or
not ?

The task, you see, Reader, which the Congress
has set itself is not an easy one, and accordingly they
ate to take time to it. At the date of the advises
from Vienna, the Emperor and Empress of RUSSIA,
as well as the other Sovereigns, were every moment
expected to depart, their travelling equipages being
ready ; but their absence will, it is asserted, be but
of short duration. The Monarhcs will meet again at
Vienna ie the spring, to resume the work of general
pacification and human reformation. Row good they
are! and how much the world is obliged to them !
—the money spent in fetes and dancing out of the
question. Oh the dancing, preaching, nose-count-
ing, land-meting Congress !!
Prince TALLEYR %ND is • said to be expected imme-
'timely at Paris. An account of the disturbances at
Rennes is gircu in a Brussels article, which we sub-
join.

It is clearly demonstrated that the Sovereigns who
have latelsy been called the Liberators of Europe have
been actuated by a desire of self aggrandisement
alone, and if any one doubts this let him look at the
Note of Prince HANDXNEERG, the Prussian Mi-
ttister, which we have given among our extracts
hunt the French Papers. Prussia in this Note,
decidedly insists on the whole of Sazonl.
.. Austria has been under the necessity of ari*ering
it evasive!y ; but it is evident that the object of all
the Primers is more to prepare the means of future
war, than to secure the happiness and trat;quilaty of
the Continent. M (THAT seems to be recognized by
most of the great Powers, his Envoy being allowed
to sit and vote in the Committee on the affairs of
Italy, notwithstanding the vigorous opposition of
Franco and Spain. The accounts from Itome are
such us we have before received,-and not such as-to
add much to the conviction of the Holy Father's in-
. fallthilitv.

From Madrid we have the expression of great
apprehensions that we mean to seize upon the
Spanish American possessions, foreseeing the impos.
sibility of the Government of Somin paying the im.
metise sums that we have advanced to her during the
war. The Spaniards are also in fear of an invasion
from Portugal, and are as much at a loss to account
for the necessity of Mr. CANNING'S mission to Lis.
bon as we are.
The following article from Hanover communicates
i particulars which, when token in connection aids
the present financial difieulties of this country, will
be read with indescribable emotion, by all who bare
any feeling or idea of our national embarrassments
•
and their causes :-
1 ll.oroyen, Fan. 7.—The English are fortifying the
City of Stade. The expellee is calculated at twelve
millions of franca, about siz hundred thousand
pounds.

The number of guns, the quantity of ammunition,
and other articles of warlike stores, provisions, &c.
whi.:l are daily arriving from England, is so itnmenv,
that the expence that country must be at is almost
incalculable. Added to which, they bateau armpsf
near 100,000 men, which they are daily augmenting.
So that, between the troops of Hanover, HoHasid,
Belgium, and England, not less than 200,000 men
can be in British pay. A report from Brussels, of
the 13th of February, has been industriously circu-
lated, that it is the intention of England to withdraw
. its troops, and leave Belgium to maintain its own in-
dependence ; bat this is evidently without foundation.
Rowe, Fes. 3.—The Court of Naples is employ-
ing every means to excite a revolt here against the
Pope; their emissaries are placarding the most Nu.
riot's reports against him, but his srbjects constantly
evince the utmost attachment to him.
Baussus, FEB. 9.—Lord Castlereagh is expected
here hourly. Two packet-boats are in preparation
for him, one at Ostend and the other at Calais. The
Officers of the British army in Belgium daily orrivel
with their respective corps, as dO detachments of
cavalry and infantry, and it is understood that 20,000.
veteran troops of Lord Wellington's old army will
immediately join the army here.
VENICE, JAN. 28.—Yesterday, at ten o'clok at
night, a file broke.oat if the Royal Palace bell; it

was soon got under. There is reason to believe that
this was not accidental.

BAMSERG, Fie. is understood that the Mil=
slan and Prussian plan of indemnifying the King of
Saxony on the left bank of the Rhine is completely
against the wish of the Court of England. The ge-
neral opinion is, that he will receive indemnities
elsewhere for the cession of the fortresses of Willem-
berg and Torgau for the two Lusatias, by which,
according to a statistical table, lie will lose about a
third of his kingdom.
FRENCH FUNDS, 7.9 f. 20 C.

BRUSSELS, FEB. 16.—Letters from Petit] inform
us that there has been a great disturbance at
Rennes, occasioned by the imprudence of M. de
I3oissay, who called himself the King's Commissioner:
he had invited the ancient Vendeans to repair to
Rennes in order to give an account•of their services.
The Britons are very hot-headed, as is well known,
and this imitation displeased them extremely. M. de
Bois-Gay we, near being killed ; the Prefect was in-
sulted, thewindows of his carriage broken, and he
wed his safety to the presence of mind of his coach-
man and the swiftnest of his hones. The town of
Rennes presented the appearance of a popular tu-
mult ; the different quarters resounded with the cries
of an enraged multitude, who, however, at last
dispersed of themselves. M. de Bois-Gay has re-
turned to Paris.

The Report of the COnstnittee on the Corn Laws
is to be brought up in the House of Commons this
evening. We had prepared some observations on
the proposed measure, which the influx of foreign
news has compelled us to defer.

For the official particulars of the brilliant action
attending the capture of the President, which has
most seasonably retrieved the tarnished glory of our
naval arms,we refer to the Gazette of Saturday, copied
in another part of this Paper. The details are given
by -Admiral HoTHAI( and Captain If Aims, of the
Dirdestic, Captain IroPE himself, who has added this
unexpected laurel to our Naval Crown, modestly
furni-hing. only the returns, and bearing testimony
to the bravery of his Officers and ship's company,
which this heroic exploit has sufficiently testified.

-.. ----------- ---
I A Meeting of The Borough of Leeds took place in
the Court-house, this day week, Jonx Bitootte,
Esq. in the Chair, it was very numerously and re-
spectably attended.—Mr. ToTTIE proposed a string
of Resolutions in the usual strain, which were
seconded by Mr. CLAPHAM, jun.—A Mr. HALL
moved the previous question in the following words :
" I conclude, the Minister having declared his in-
tention not to propose the renewal of the tax, it is
virtually extinct, and as I would not kick the poor
'dead horse, which has carried me safe to the end of
a perilous journey, as the most respectful way of
disposing of the Resolutions just now proposed, I
move the previonsauestion."—Mr. . THOMAS IKIN,
one of the CommiWoners of the Property Tax, se-
conded the motion for the previous question, which
was, after a long and interesting debate, re-
jected ; and the original motion carried. And the
Petition, which is already numerously signed, was
transmitted to the County Members, and will artier,
in London, this day, in sufficient time to be present.
Pii, previous to the introduction-of the CHANCELLOR
of the Excuzetrea's new measure of Finance.
On Saturday Ministers received accounts. of the
progress of the armament destined to the capture of
New Orleans, but the dispatches aro not official.—
The troops landed within 10 miles of the town, and
93 miles from the ships. The British had not got
more than 2000 men landed, when they were attack-
ed by 7000 Americans, and .a schooner of 16 guns
on their flank. A severe action took place, in which
we lost 260 men killed and wounded, among whom
were several gallant Officers. The Americans were
finally repulsed, and the nest day the troops ad-
I winced, and on the Ist of January were within five
miles of the town, with the certainty of its immedi-
t
i ate fall. On the 2d they were to advance, and open
' a battery of 30 guns on the place. Our accounts are
from the Havannah, where a vessel was sent for pro.
visions. The weather of that place was exceedingly
cold. The thermometer was at 28, and many men
had been frozen to death, though oranges hung on
1 the trees fully ripe.
Letters WOIC received on Saturday to the 1 lth ult.
from Amelia Island. in which, it is stated, that the
Islands of Stialery and Cumberland had been taken 1
I possession o an armament employed for that pur- ,
! pose, and fittee out at New Providence.
I An Aggregate Meeting of the Catholics was held
Fan Thursday last, in Dublin, when a letter from
Lord DONOUGHMORE was read and received vi ith
• • the greatest enthusiasm, in which he stated thttti
he '66 agreed with the Catholics of Ireland
upon the necessity of Petitiouing, this Session,
for full, unqnolifted,. and complete Emancipation
e--and moreover signified, that -he should re-
sent the Petition, and exercise his best influence •to
promote its seeress,' bit* present-Session of Partin.
• ment."—Another -from ?dr. GRATTAN was also read.
It is reached io terms, es usual, cold and repulsive.
The Right Hononrable Geutlemah would not. pledge
Ihimself to terms. It was impossible for hiM to say 1
whether he would or Would not bring on the Dis-
t cession this Session, but observes, that whether he
or another present the Petition, he will support it,
• &c.-,-Much dissatisfaction.
-A very serious forgery of bonds of the city of Dub-
lin has, it is said, been lately discovered. The Board
of Aldermen refuse to consider the Corporation ac-
t coontable for the emount of these forgeries.
Lord. CrimantAan is not expected to arrive in
town until to-morrow week. • .
By some extraordinary mistake;; the CuAsteer.tort
of the Excir RQUER has pricked as Sheriff for the conn-
ties of Huntingdon and Cambridge, --- MIT6HELL,
F.sq. who has .been dead mote than twelve month.).
DEAL, FEB. 19.—Agrived his Majesty's ship
Plover, from Portsmouth, and sailed for the River.
—Sailed the Dextrous gun-brig and Swan cutter, to
cruise off the North Foreland.

BOROUGH ELECTION.

TO THE. EDITOR Or THE STATESMAN.

Mr. EDITOR,—Your Paper being much read it
Southwark, %%here a large body of military (f!;,,
some cause or other, accidental or intentiot.t,
matter which, being A FACT) during the lute election,
of a Representative for that Borough, in the eir,c,,“
Merry THORNTON, Esq. deceasell; and which, it
appears, occasioned a formal protest against !Ile
legality of that Election to be made by the ulirn!;;,l
Electors, before the close thereof, I am ;NI to
trouble you with some extracts from " the speech
Earl ;11 ANSFILLD (then Mr. Murray), es Cnutispi
for the City and Liberty of Westminster, compte•'.:.
ing of an.unclue Election for the said cud on ccco,„.t
of the nib-olfaction of the tnilitarg during the Puii,
delivered before the House of Commons, ott
day, 13.. c. 13, 1711."
The spirit you have evinced at all times, in oil rir.
cutnstauces, and under every species of oppre•siori
and cruel persecution, for the mninterrattre of cle
true principles of the Constitution of your country
(though you MAY DIE in her service unpitied,
unprotrcted by the public you have served),
not, I feel satisfied, be appealed to in vain on a su!..
jest sitnl to the liberties of the people; because the
Westminster Election having been declared void,
venture to presume such will -be the case pith the
late Southwark, if " free Election" means any thing
in the present corrupt state •of the representation,
and the Protestors persevere.

[EXTRACT FROM TUE SPEECH ALLUDED To.]
" 'Fliers is, Sir, a very material fact, concerning
the late election for Westminster ,—a phenomenon,
which, I believe, never appeared in England before
that time, that is, a body of troops, armed and ac-
coutred, coming to the election ; and as it is a mat.
ter which may, perhaps, deserve the full comaderatioe
of this House, I wiil beg only, to throw oat a pro.
position for your consideration—first a general, and
next a pat ticular one. The general•is, that a body
of regular armed troops, nader military discipline
and military command, ought to be present at the
place of Election on no pretence whatsoever : and
the next is, that in the present case the body of
troops came with a view to influence, and in fact did
influence the Election and return. Sir, lam aware
of the latitude in which the first proposition is sub.
milted to you ; that I have said on no pretence what-
soever, and I mean to argue it (with deference to
your future opinion) as largely as it is a constitu.
tional propositien ; one of the corner-stones (if
may so say) of our hoppyConstitution, is this masim,
that ill Elections ought to be free,' for much of
the rights and liberties of the subject depend upon
' this House, and the well-being of this Douse-de-
pends on the Freedom of Elections. Sir, the CQm.
mono, so long ago as the third of King -EDWARD 1.
• would not rest this valuable right on the bare maxim
of the Common Law, but thought fit to hate a Par-
liamentary Declaration of it ; and (to make use of
my Lord COKE'S .observation) was very wisely
penned, in such words as to bind the Kisses himself.
Can a body of troops armed, with their • pieces load.
ed, he present at an Election, and 'carry no terror
or menace along with them? Regular troops were
unknown to the Common Low, And by the Bill of
Rights, after the Revolution, it is declared they are
ALL CM/11*(11y to /MT, unless delared by Act of Par.
'lament ; and their PRESENCE at an Election hare
been thought so incompotable, that constantly the
troops have withdrawn out
,of any town where the
Election was to be, and have staid until the Election
was over, and this was the opinion of every body.
" Sir, in the first year of the last Parliament, on
the question incidentally arising, whether it was in
the porter of the Crown to LEAVE troops quartered
in a town where the Election was ? though the Act
recites it never hid been•done, on-the *ire question
being started, the Parliament thought fit that doubt
should not last any longer, but they brought in a
Bill to remove the possibility of a doubt on that
head. What is the preamble to the Bill? Why, that
all Elections ought to be free; and the conclusion is,
that all troops SHALL GO out of the town, and not
to return till after the day of election. lam aware
of an objection that Kill be made by way of excep-
tion-; it will be said, what, cannot the troops come
to keep peace? A specious pretext indeed 1 I aL-
LIEVE THERE NEVER WAS, NOR EVER WILL BE, THE
CASE OF AN ARMY REING lIIESENT AT AN ELECTION,
BUT EVERY SOLDIER 11.19 A DOUBLE VOTE. We need
not go into many instances to show this has been the
case. The same cause will produce the same effect."
Then putting several cases of necessity, be goes on to
state, in answer to possible objections that may he
taken to his constitutional positions—
" That fall argument of contending for Inez.
ception to Constitutional principles; that fatal argu-
ment has brought us many times to the brink of de-
struction. Nothing is clearer, than that no freeman
is to be imprisoned but according to law : what; not
if the King knows he is coming to email( him? The
argument was
_syecious, and the power of judging
.was trusted somewhere, nod it took away the whole
liberty of the subject. (How prophetic! !I) Every
man was imprisoned for a mar:datum DOMini Regis.
There was another resolution taken, that no money
should be lesied on the subject, but by the consent
of Parliament : w hat, not a case of necessity ? TiPy
argued, it might in a case of necessity,and that over-
turned the whole rule; and. when money was raised,
it was for uccessity. Suppose there comes an extra-
ordinary case, never within the intention cr t!.O
Legislature, that produced the dispensing poser
which dispensed with ail the power of the 1.,••2i,s
lature. It • must tend to lodge a diseretiel,l')
power with somebody to judge of that neeess!ts•--.
It must be lodged with the e ilitsry officers; fa it
aill tint mend the case, if it is lodged with the te•
turning off:cer. ,Shall it be bid down that fro is
may go to an Electiln ? These ere fatal nrgotssots
indeed ! How far is necessity to justify ?Is it "Sollt•
dent that the officer suspects or SMELLS a riot? Is
it sufficient, ti.hen he knows in his own mind he is
going to do a thing which onotre TO reel-our VIE
et:one? If so, that will conclude a too genetll
discretionary latitude, wherever the returning
car thinks fit to have it; and, I BELIEVE. IT watt.
NOT MIMI( BE DOUBTED RUT TIE MILITARY OFTICEN
WILL EXERT lIIMNELF ACCORDING TO III; CANDI'
DATES TIIAT SENT FOR nrn•

" Sir; thtLegislatule, in the Mit I just mentientl