7 House then divided on the motion: Ayes 43-Noes 80-Majority against the production of the papers 37. Feb. 25. The Thirteenth Report of the Commissioners of Military Inquiry was presented. The House divided on the second reading of the Western Junction Canal Bill: for it 93 against it 103. Mr. Whitbread made his motion on his Majesty's health in 1804. The Hon. Member, in the course of a very long speech, detailed all the circumstances on which he grounded the Resolution he should submit: the principal were, that prior and subsequent to the first notice of his Majesty's illness and recovery in 1801 and 1804, the functions of the executive were uninterruptedly fulfilled, and various important acts of state performed, for which no constitutional sanction could possibly have been procured from the King, in the state of mental incapacity in which his Majesty then was. During those periods also, great and important changes had taken place, in the Ministry, the blame of which he believed, and was prepared to prove, belonged to Lord Eldon, who was High Chancellor, and at the head of his Majesty's Government. It was, however, to the circumstances attending his Majesty's last illness, that he wished to draw the attention of the House; in order to procure, as preliminary to another inquiry, the appointment of a Committee to examine the Lords' Journals for the evidence of the Physicians respecting his Majesty's state in 1804, and to report the same to the House. Lord Castlereagh declared himself willing to take his full share of responsibility, as belonging to the Ministry of 1804. He said that the Ministry of that day did not take a single step without consulting the Physician as to his Majesty's capacity, which was certified by them. After noticing the critical state of the country at that time, threatened with an invasion, and the difference of opinion which prevailed among the leading men in both Houses, he concluded by stating his conviction that the conduct of the Ministry would not merely experience an acquittal, but approbation. Mr. Yorke expressed his concurrence in all that had fallen from his Noble Friend: and was followed by Mr. Bathurst. Sir F. Burdett was in favour of inquiry, which, though long deferred, was no argument that it should be totally abandoned. Mr. Whitbread replied; after which the House divided: for the motion 81against it 198. Feb. 26. in Mr. Wardle made his motion respecting Corporal Curtis, of the Oxfordshire Militia, who, he stated, having complained to his Colonel of the improper detention of pay by the Lieut.-colonel, and some abuses in the Quarter-Master's department, was severely threatened, and ultimately tried for wearing coloured clothes, and being a mile distant from head quarters. His sentence was, to be reduced to the ranks. He was afterwards tried on charges of mutiny and discontent, and for speaking disrespectfully of his Colonel, and sentenced to receive 1000 lashes: these were flicted while he was so sick and weak, that he was obliged to be supported while tied up to the halberts; during his punishment, he fell into frequent fainting fits, and having received one fifth of the quota, the remainder was commuted to service in the West Indies. What Mr. W. particularly complained of, was the severe treatment which this man had received in his request for a General Court Martial not being in the first instance acceded to, in order that he might make good his charges; as also that, when tried, his two witnesses had been intimidated, and his Counsel refused communication with him. He concluded by moving the appointment of a Committee to take into consideration the case of Corporal Curtis. Sir. F. Burdett seconded the motion. Mr. Manners Sutton entered into explanations tending to shew Curtis's guilt; and read some letters which had passed between Mr. Wardle and the Commander in Chief, and which were characterized as being singularly arrogant. Lord C. Somerset, General of the District, and Col. Gore Langton, Commander of the Oxfordshire Militia, strengthened by their testimony the statement of Mr. Sutton, and proved that the trial had been fairly conducted. Mr. Perceval complained of the mischievous and inflammatory harangue of the Hon. Mover, and censured his attempt to erect himself into a walking Committee of the House. In his application to Sir D, Dundas, not to send Curtis abroad, he had requested the suspension of the law, but denied all information as to the grounds of his request, and declared that he solicited it as a Member of that House by whose vote the soldier was raised and paid. On a division, there were only Mr. Wardie, Sir F. Burdett, and Col. Langtm, for the motion. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 28. On the subject of the Berkeley Peerage, the Lord Chancellor proposed that the Prince Regent should be petitioned to appoint a Law Officer to represent, in the pending discussion before their Lordships, the claims of the eventual heir, who was a minor. Lord Holland moved for a copy of the verdict of a Coroner's Inquest, which sat on the body of a man named W. Colner, who had been confined for a debt of 71. in the prison of the Marshalsea, and died of hunger. The deceased was found in a place where there was neither door nor window. He had been reduced to such a state of misery, that he had been seen gnawing the refuse bones in the yard, in order to obtain some means of prolonging a wretched life. Two shillings had been found in his pocket, which had either been put there after his death, or given when such helps were far too late to afford any relief. The motion was agreed to. In the Commons the same day, on the order of the day for the second reading of the Marine Insurance Corporation Bill, seven counsellors appeared at the bar, of whom Messrs. Garrow, Dauncey, and Best, alone spoke. A short discussion afterwards ensued, as to the propriety of its being read in order to commitment, when Messrs. Baring, Adam, Grenfell, Morris, and A. Baring, and Sirs J. Anstruther and T. Turton, contended for the second reading; and Messrs. Maryatt, Perceval, Stephen, and the Attorney General, opposed it. On a divison for going into the Committee, there were, for it 25 — against it 26. The Bill was therefore lost. March 1. Mr. Dundas brought up the Report of the Committee appointed to investigate the facts respecting Colville, the prisoner in Coldbath-fields. The report stated briefly, that, on mature examination, there appeared to be sufficient grounds for the confinement, and that nothing appeared in the circumstances of the confinement deserving of censure. The Committee, however, thought that Coldbath-fields prison was not the most suitable for this person, who was to be kept from all communication with others. The report concluded with saying, that from the peculiar and public nature of the circumstances, it was not thought proper to go further into detail. Lord Folkestone said that the Committee was unanimous. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after stating that various applications had been made to him on the subject of commercial inconveniences, arising from the suspension of credit, and the stop page of various foreign markets, moved the appointment of a Committee of 21 Gentlemen the surviving Members of the Committee on the same subject in 1793, should be on it, to consider the present state of Commercial Credit in this country. Mr. P. said, he made the motion rather in compliance with numerous solicitations from Merchants of the first respectability, than from any impression on his mind of its necessity: he denied that these difficulties were in any degree owing to the state of our relations with America.—The motion was agreed to. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 4. Lord Holland, in moving for a list of all the individuals prosecuted on ex-officio informations for libel from Jan. 1801 to Jan. 1811, and of the number of persons convicted in consequence thereof during that period, stated, that from 1801 to 1807, there had been only 14 informations filed ex-officio, and that during the last three years there had been no fewer than 42 of these only 16 had been brought to trial, and the remaining 26 were suspended. In former periods, exofficio informations were used as the means of extortion-in later times, as the means of oppression- and now, as the means of influence. - Lord Erskine, Earl Grosvenor, and the Marquis of Lansdown, supported the motion, which was opposed by Lords Ellenborough, Eldon, and Redesdale, as generating a groundless distrust in the great officers of justice. On a division, there were Contents 12-Non-con tents 24. In the Commons the same day, in consequence of a Petition from the Printers, Publishers, &c. of the United Kingdom, Mr. Martin gave notice of his intention to move this day fortnight for leave to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the 39th of the King respecting informations. Lord Palmerston brought forward the Army Estimates. His Lordship, having stated the details, said, he felt a satisfaction in thinking that our army was in such a state as to render it unnecessary for us to do more than provide the means of supplying the yearly casualties, amounting to from 20 to 30,000 men. The Recruiting for the Regular Army amounted to about 11,000; of foreign troops we could command 3 or 4000 each year; and to supply the excess, he should propose that a proportion of the Militia should be allowed to volunteer each year into the Regular Military Force. The Militia was now 92,000, and and of this 24,000 were effective. This was more than we could have occasion for, as applicable to any purpose of national defence. By reducing it to the old standard, and allowing 10,000 to volunteer into the Regular Army annually, still there would be no occasion for the ballot for two years. This was the mode least liable to objection, and which had been known hitherto to succeed. He concluded by moving his first Resolution, namely, "That 207,474 Land Forces be granted for the service of the year." After a short discussion, the Resolutions were agreed to. March 5. Mr. Brougham, after a short speech, in which he stated that an illicit traffick in slaves still continued to a great extent, moved and obtained leave to bring in a Bill to render more effectual the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, by making super-cargoes, and those concerned in it, liable to transportation for not more than 14, and not less than two years. Sir J. Newport's motion for extending the interval between the first and second reading of every Public Bill relating to Ireland, was, after a short but warm discussion, negatived by a Majority of 45. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 6. On Lord Cloncurry's Divorce Bill, her Ladyship's letter of confession, being obtained under promise of forgiveness, was deemed inadmissible to prove the fact of adultery, and negatived. In the Commons the same day, the House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Mr. Wharton proposed the following grants: For the support of French Protestant Dissenting Ministers in England and Ireland, 9,2801., maintenance of convicts at home, 78,7007; for the relief of the poor of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, 1,3281; towards defraying the extraordinary expences of public prosecutions, 2,2171.; for defraying the expences of prosecutions relating to his Majesty's coin, 4,000l.; for defraying the fees on passing public accounts, 5,000l.; for foreign and secret services, for the year 1811, 175,000l.; for defraying law charges for 1811, 20,0007.; for the support of the Public Office in Bow-Street, 12,000l.; for the Journal Office of the House of Lords, 21,000l.; for defraying the incidental expences of the two Houses of Parliament, 36001.; for printing Journals 6,0001;; for reprinting Journals and Reports, 60007.; for the salaries of the Officers of the two Houses of Parliament for 1811, 18801. The votes for the relief of the Protestant Dissenting Ministers, the Poor in St. Martin's-in-theFields, and for defraying the expences of public prosecutions, were postponed. March 7. Mr. A. Taylor called the attention of the House to the hardships which appellants in the House of Lords and suitors in the Court of Chancery experienced from the great delay which now prevailed in the hearing of such causes. The Hon. Member cited, in support of his assertion of the business in the Court of Chancery being increased, the fact of the Bankrupts being about a century ago not more than 106 in a year, whereas, in 1809, the number was 1100; and last year about 2,400. The Chancellor of the Exchequer admitted that there was a certain deficiency in the Judicature alluded to; but suggested, as a Committee had been appointed in another place, the propriety of waiting the result of their investigation. After some further discussion, during which Messrs. Adam, Simeon, Wilberforce, Sir S. Romilly, and the AttorneyGenerul spoke, and in the course of which many 'instances of delay were adduced, the previous question was put and carried on the original motion. Mr. Ponsonby submitted his motion on the subject of Mr. Secretary Pole's Circular Letter enforcing the Convention Act'; and concluded with moving for a variety of papers and dispatches between the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Government of this Country, relative to the assembling of the Catholicks. Mr. Wellesley Pole made an able and luminous reply; his speech comprised a narrative of the proceedings of the Catholicks for some time past. Messrs. Whitbread, Parnell, Elliot, and Tighe, spoke at some length in support of the motion. On a division there appeared, for it 48 against it 133 - Majority 85. In the Commons the same day, the Chancellor of the Exchequer requested leave to bring in a Bill to equalize the duties on malt and sugar: he explained, that, by his proposed plan, the duty would be upwards of 2,000,0001, and a gain to the publick of 380,0007. Mr. Curwen contended that there could be no saving to the publick, the advantage which sugar possessed over barley being so great, that an equalization would ruin the counties which grew the latter. These counties also sent 4000 head of cattle to the metropolis; which supply being cut off, would add a half-penny per pound to the price of meat, and raise the price of milk. Messrs. Adam, Barham, Marryatt, W. Smith, Foster, Parnell, Sir J. Sinclair, Sir J. Sebright, and Sir J. Newport, also spoke; after which the House divided, and the resolution was carried by a majority of 49. (To be continued.) INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES. Admiralty-office, Feb. 16. This Gazette contains the Copy of a Letter from Capt. Bourcher, of the Hawke sloop, noticing the capture of Le Furet French privateer, of 14 guns and 86 men, from St Maloes, after a chace of 19 hours.-Likewise the Copy of a Letter transmitted by ViceAdm. Bertie, from Capt. Paterson, of the Hesper sloop, mentioning the capture on the 15 Nov. of the Mouche French schooner, by the boats of the former vessel, under Lieut. Nixon, in which Mr. N. and two seamen were wounded; and on the part of the enemy, the French Captain and two were killed, and five wounded. seamen Admiralty-office, Feb. 19. This Gazette contains the copies of two letters-one from Capt.-Rowley, in reply to the Secretary of the Admiralty, giving it as his opinion that the name of Capt P. Parker of the Menelaus, was omitted by mistake in Vice-Admiral Bertie's Dispatches, and bearing testimony to Capt. P's gallantry and zeal, he being employed under his direction off Port Louis, and a detachment of a hundred seamen and marines of his crew being landed to co-operate with the troops.-The other letter is from Lieut. R. Barton, temporary commander of the Blanche, noticing the capture, in August last, of La Confiance French Privateer, of two six-pounders and 30 men, in the Indian seas. Downing-street, Feb. 26. The following dispatch has been received at the Earl of Liverpool's Office, addressed to his Lordship by Lieut.-gen. Viscount Wellington, dated Cartaxo, Feb. 9. The Enemy have continued in the neighbourhood of Badajoz, and have broke ground before the place on the left of the Guadiana, and have thrown some shells into the town. The bad weather, however, has obliged them to draw in the greatest part of their cavalry from the ground between Badajoz and Elvas, and the communication has been re-established. Gen. Mendizabel sent men By the last accounts from the frontiers of Beira, it appears that a part of Claparede's division of the 9th corps was still upon Guarda on the 4th inst, with -an advanced guard upon Belmonte. This was the position he was ordered to take on the 5th of Jan. by Gen Drouet, referred to in my dispatch of the 12th ult. Gen. Foix arrived at Salamanca from Paris, with letters for Massena, on the 13th Jan; and I imagine that he yesterday reached the head-quarters of the army. He had with him an escort of between 2 and 3000 men. Col. Grant, who commands the Ordenanza in Lower Beira, had followed to the neighbourhood of Sobugal the detachment which escorted the couriers which marched from the Zezere on the 22d of Jan, and had taken much baggage from them, and several prisoners. On his return, he attacked Gen. Foix's escort with a fresh detachment of Ordenanza, at Enxabarda, at the entrance of the Estrada Nova, and I inclose his report of the 2d inst. on this affair, and an extract of his report of the 4th inst. to Marshal Sir Wm. Beresford, and the Marshal's letter to me: -I hear from the Enemy's head-quarters, that they state they lost 500 men in this affair. There has been no movement of any importance in the Enemy's army since I addressed your Lordship. Chamusca, Feb. 1. MY LORD, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the report of Lieut.col. Grant, whom some time since I sent to superintend and command the Ordenanza on the frontier of Lower Beira, and towards Guarda. The foree of the Enemy, differently stated, appears to have been between 2 and 3000, and was under the orders of Gen. Foix, and apparently to serve as his escort to enable him to join Marshal Massena. Lieut.-col. Grant took post at Enxabarda, near the commencement of EstradaNova, coming from towards Fundao, and under which the Enemy was obliged to pass. The success of Lieut.-col. Grant, and the loss of the Enemy, have been much greater than either the number of men that the Lieut.-col. had with him, or than circumstances would have given reason to look for, and will give great animation and encouragement to this nature of warfare in all that part of the country. The people engaged have got very considerable booty, as there is no French soldier that has not much of what he has pillaged about him; and he is always a good prize for his captor. I have, &c. W. C. BERESFORD, Marshal. Enxabarda, entrance of the Estrada Nova, Feb. 2. SIR, Be pleased to state to his Excellency the Commander in Chief, that yesterday, the 1st, a column of the Enemy under the command of Gen. Le Foix, consisting of 3000 cavalry and infantry from Ciudad Roderigo, passed for the Estrada Nova to join Massena. They slept on the 31st at Alcaria near Fundao. On the 1st, with 80 of the Ordenanza from Alpedrinha, I took possession of a height near this village, by which they must pass; a well-directed fire was kept up for two hours, and only terminated by the night; the result was 18 killed on the road, a very considerable number wounded, and ten prisoners; several of the wounded were found dead this morning, from the extreme inclemency of the weather; several cars with grain, and a considerable number of bullocks, were also taken; and, having sent parties to annoy their front and rear, I have reason to think they must suffer considerably if they quit the Estrada Nova: we lost only one man, with a few horses wounded, amongst them my own. I am, &c. J. GRANT, Lieut.-Col. Col. D'Urban, &c. &c. Another letter from Col. Grant, of the 4th, states the loss of the Enemy at 207 killed, and 18 prisoners, with all his baggage and cattle. This Gazette also contains a letter from Capt. Adderley of the Echo sloop, stating the capture of the Confiance French schooner privateer, of 16 guns, (14 of which she threw overboard in the chace), and 62 men, after a chace of eight hours. Admiralty-office, March 9. Admiral Sir R. Curtis has transmitted to J. W. Croker, Esq. a letter which he had received from Capt. Loring, of his Majesty's ship Niobe, giving an account of his having, on the 4th inst. captured Le Loup Marin, French lugger privateer, of 16 guns and 64 men; she had sailed the same day from La Hogue, without making any capture. Capt. Hancock, of his Majesty's ship Nymphen, has transmitted to J. W. Croker, Esq. a copy of a letter he had addressed to Vice-Adm. Sir E. Pellew, reporting the capture, on the 3d inst. of the Vigilant French lugger privateer, of 14 guns and 50 men, out one day from Dunkirk, without making any capture. Also a letter from Captain Godby, of the Prospero sloop, reporting the destruction of a Danish cutter privateer, of 2 guns and 25 men, on the 17th of last month, off Christiansand. Downing-street, March 11. A dispatch, of which the following is an extract, was received yesterday at the Earl of Liverpool's Office, addressed to his Lordship by Lieut.-gen. Lord Viscount Wellington, K. B. dated Cartako, Feb. 16. Since I addressed your Lordship on the 9th instant, I have received further details of the affairs at and near Badajoz, from which it appears that the Portuguese cavalry having been unsupported in their passage of the Evora on the 6th instant, were obliged to retire across the Evora, in which operation they sustained some loss. The whole of the cavalry and infantry were then drawn into the fort of Badajoz; and, on the 7th inst. they made a sortie upon the Enemy, in which they succeeded in obtaining possession of cne of the Enemy's batteries, but they were obliged to retire again, and, unfortunately, the gans of the battery were not spiked, or otherwise destroyed or injured. Their loss |