will be effectually established.—The Opening of the Congress at Vienna has been retarded, from unavoidable causes, to a Jater period than had been expected. It will be my earnest endeavour, in the Negociations which are now in progress, to promote such arrangements as may tend to consolidate that Peace which, in conjunction with his Majesty's Allies, I have had the happiness of concluding; and to re-establish that just equilibrium amongst the different Powers, which will afford the best prospect of permanent tranquillity to Europe.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons, -I have directed the Estimates for the ensuing year to be laid before you.-I am happy to be able to inform you that the Revenue and Commerce of the United Kingdom are in the most flourishing condition. I regret the necessity of the large Expenditure which we must be prepared to meet in the course of the ensuing year; but the circumstances under which the long and arduous contest in Europe has been carried on and concluded, have unavoidably led to large arrears, for which you will see the necessity of providing; and the War still subsisting with America Fenders the continuance of great exertions indispensible.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,-The peculiar character of the late War, as well as the extraordinary length of its duration, must have materially affected the internal situation of all the countries engaged in it, as well as the commercial relations which formerly subsisted be:ween them.Under these circumstances I am confident you will see the expediency of proceeding with due caution in the adoption of such regulations as may be necessary for the purpose of extending our Trade, and securing our present advantages; and you may rely on my cordial co-operation and assistance in every measure which is calculated to contribute to the prosperity and welfare of his Majesty's dominions."

The Regent and the House of Commons having retired, and the Speech having been read by the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Abingdon moved, and the Earl of Delaware seconded the Address, which, as usual, sympathised with his Royal Highness upon every point of his Speech, and adopted all its language.

The Earl of Darnley complained, that Britain derived from the brilliant results of the Continental War none of the advantages of Peace; a large army was kept up in Flanders, our affairs at the Congress were still unsettled, while our efforts were insulted and repelled on the other side of the Atlantic. While our military repufation was raised to its highest pitch, it was extraordinary our naval should have sunk.

Lord Melville, to show that the naval force of the country had not been inactive, said, that the American vessels captured and destroyed were 38 ships of war, 199 armed ships, and 1900 merchantmen; while we had 20,000 of their seamen in our prisons.

Lord Grenville said, that the Speech spoke only of new burthens, of severe additions: no economy, no husbanding, no reduction. He reprobated the manner in which the war was pursued against America. At Washington we had destroyed buildings not connected with military pur poses, though in Europe they had always been spared during the last 20 years.

The Earl of Liverpool denied that the war was continued for a new boundary, and justified the retaliatory system adopted. The Address was carried without a di vision.

In the Commons, the same day, Lord Bridport moved, and Mr. Graham seconded the Address.

Mr. Whitbread at great length arraigned the conduct of Administration. He called · · upon Ministers to state the cause of Parliament being so early assembled; whether we were fighting against America on a question of a new boundary, or of im pressment, or of our maritime right; whe ther it is to be discussed in the Congress at Vienna. He condemned the warfare which Sir Alex. Cochrane continued to wage against the defenceless inhabitants on the American coast. This officer justified himself by saying he had received orders from Sir Geo. Prevost, who had, however, adopted both by Proclamation, and by his actions, a different system in invading the Champlain territory. On this subject he wished for information. He conceived our officers had not been supported in Canada. Capt. Barclay, on his Court Martial, accused Sir J. Yeo of not sending him forces and supplies, yet no inquiry was made into the latter offcer's conduct. He thought the blame lay with Ministers, who had neither supported Sir J. Yeo or Sir G. Prevost, both brave and tried officers, and prematurely condemned. He lamented that such an officer as Gen. Ross was compelled to commit acts so abhorrent to the usages of civilized warfare. The Admiralty had been engaged during summer in investigating the conduct of a naval officer who had saluted a civil officer, Mr. Croker, with 16 guns he had been reprimanded; in the mean while, our own coasts had been neglected, and American privateers were making numerous captures. He was surprised at the absence this night of a Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning.) He had accepted a situation under those whom on a former occasion he had not deemed

fit persons to advise with. The Right Hon. Gentleman expressed regret at the probable dismemberment of Saxony; the occupation of Italy by Austria, instead of establishing its independence; the erection of Hanover into a kingdom, which might involve fus in disputes with Continental Powers; the contempt expressed for the Crown Prince of Sweden and the King of Naples, though each had been courted when their alliance was of importance to destroy the power of Buonaparte; Ferdinand of Spain had persecuted the patriots who had shed their blood to procure his restoration; he hoped an inquiry would be made into the conduct of the officer at Gibraltar who had delivered up two officers that had taken refuge there. The Hon. Gentleman concluded, with expressing his regret at the burthens under which the people still laboured, and at their probable increase and the ruinous state of trade and manufactures.

1

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied. Messrs. Tierney, Baring, Ellis, Bathurst, and C. Grant, shortly spoke.

The Address was then agreed to.
Nov. 12.

Mr. Croker, in introducing a Bill for the encouragement and reward of Warrant and Petty Officers and Privates of the Marines for their long and faithful services, said that it was intended by the Admiralty to make a very liberal promo. tion of Midshipmen and Masters' Mates, and to employ all the rest fit for service: so that none should be cast loose upon the world, but kept upon full pay. The Lieutenants and Midshipmen would also have permission to go into the merchants' service. The marines would be placed on the exact footing of the army, with similar pensions. A registry would be made of all seamen discharged; and small pensions being allowed, they would be kept from emigration. The House then went into a Committee of Supply, when the Resolution for 10 millions, being arrears for the Army, was agreed to.

Νου. 14.

In the Committee of Supply, Sir E. Warrender (one of the Lords of tlie Admiralty) said, that as the war was unfortunately still carrying on with America, he should move that 70,000 men should be voted for the service of 1815, including 15,000 marines; also that 1,615,250%. be granted to his Majesty for wages for the said 70,000 men at the rate of 14. 15. per month, for 13 months.

A long discussion respecting the finances followed, in which Mr. Whitbread bore a large share, and which was followed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer moving for the grant of 1,600,0007. to make good Our engagenients with the Sovereigns of Russia and Prussia; and 12,500,0001, for

outstanding and unprovided for Exchequer bills, of which the total amount was stated to be 59 millions: granted.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer them called the attention of the House to the gallantry displayed by the late Gen. Ross. He had served in the campaign in Holland, as Major of the 28th regiment; and in the attack made by the French on Sir R. Abercromby's lines he distinguished himself so as to receive the thanks of the Commander in Chief. On that occasion he was wounded severely; but on his recovery he accompanied his regiment to the Mediterranean, and was present in the expedition to Calabria; and at the battle of Maida his regiment charged the enemy in flank, which greatly contributed to the success of that day. He next served in Sir J. Moore's expedition; and at the battle of Corunna he again appeared with distinguished lustre. At the battle of Vittoria he signalized himself so as to be immediately appointed by the Duke of Wellington to command a brigade. He next appeared at the battle of the Pyrennees, where his regiment charged four times, and he had two horses killed under him, in leading his men to the charge. He afterwards greatly distinguished himself at the siege of St. Sebastian, at the battle of Orthes, and the crossing of the Nive. He was next sent to the coast of America, where he brought the lustre of his achievements to the highest pitch; but soon closed his glorious career. He was there called on to punish the Americans for the cruelties they had committed in Canada; in the execution of which his moderation at the attack on Washington was praised by the Americans themselves. With that vengeance, he (Mr. Vansittart) hoped all necessity for like measures would cease; for instructions had been sent off to our Commanders on the American coast to pursue retaliatory measures no more, unless the Americans should give fresh cause for a renewal of them. The gallant General led off his troops from Washington in safety; but soon after, in a similar expedition against Baltimore, while making his dispositions for the attack, he was killed by a rifle-shot, in the 40th year of his age. All that now remained for his Country was to shew some marks of its gratitude, equally honourable to itself, and gratifying to his relatives. He then moved an Address to the Prince Regent, that he would be pleased to direct a monument to be erected in St. Paul's, to the late Major-general Robert Ross.

Mr. W. Keene and Mr. Ponsonby supported the motion; and after a few words from Mr. Vansittart, Mr. Whitbread, and Mr. C. Grant, the Address-was agreed to,

nem, con.

Nov2

Nov. 15.

A

Mr. Tierney moved for an account of the charges on the Civil List at the years ending in Oct. 1813, and Oct. 1814. long discussion followed, in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Messrs. Whitbread, Tierney, Banks, and Long, participated. The conduct of Mr. Canning in accepting a situation under Lord Castlereagh, for whose talents he had once expressed decided contempt, with the large salary of 14,000l. per annum, and previously obtaining places for Mr. Huskisson and his other friends, drew very severe animadversions from Messrs. Whitbread and Tierney. The motion was withdrawn; a statement of the expences of the Civil List being forthcoming.

Nov. 16.

In the Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the continuation till July 1816 of the malt, pensions, sugar, tobacco, and snuff duties; also the issue of twelve millions and a half of Exchequer Bills: agreed to.

Nov. 17.

Mr. Whitbread presented a petition from the proprietors of the Auction Mart, stating that, having been assessed in the sums of 2771. 9s. beyond the legal assessment, they had applied to the Commissioners, and afterwards to the Lords of the Treasury, for relief, but in vain: that the sum having been levied on them, the expence amounted to 3217, 14s. being 15 per cent. on their property. They prayed the House to take their case in consideration, and allow them to prove it, and to be heard by Counsel at the Bar. Mr. Whitbread remarked on the oppressive, inquisitional, and obnoxious nature of the Property Tax, and called upon Mr. Vansittart to declare if Government would dare to levy it after the 25th of April, when the Act ceased. The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, he had no hesitation in saying that the Property Tax, like all the other War Taxes, would expire on the 25th of April next, unless it should be continued by the authority of Parliament; but, as to the arguments used against it, they would not cause him to shrink from his duty, if it should be found necessary to propose a continuance of the whole, or a portion of the Property Tax; and he did not doubt that if such necessity were made apparent, the Country would cheerfully bear the weight a little longer.

Colonel Pulmer prefaced a motion for an address to the Prince Regent for a copy of the proceedings of the Court Martial on Col. Quentin (see a subsequent page), by reading the charges, part of the minutes of the evidence, his letter to the Regent, aud extracts from the sentence, adding comments thereon. He quoted the opinions of Lord Edward Somerset and Lord Combermere, one of whom had said the

officers of the 10th were most zealous and attentive to their duties, while the other had declared that he had never met with a finer corps of officers. Gen. Gardner had also said that the discipline of the regiment was the admiration of all who saw it, until the arrival of Colonel Quentin, when it became bad; which was corroborated by Lords Combermere and Somerset. He challenged Col. Quentin to prove any instances of good conduct with the regiment abroad. He had not disproved a single fact adduced on the trial. The men were not only permitted to rob, but to get drunk; 70 or 80 of them were in the hospital at once from the effects of drunkenness; when a reproof came from a superior officer, Colonel Quentin introduced a General Order in the Orderly Book, which was done to shew to the Colonel (the Prince Regent), whose ear he had, and whose mind he abused. He had done every thing to get him (Colonel Palmer) out of the regiment, but he did not dare personally to insult him. The letter addressed by himself to the officers, he would not have made public, if he had known it would have turned to the prejudice of the officers. He had been called upon by his Royal Highness to be the prosecutor, and he had consented. The conduct of Col. Quentin had been previously the subject of conversation at all regimental messes, and yet he did not court investigation. The sentence was rigorous and unnecessarily severe. He had, however, no complaints to make. He had acted throughout, as well as his brother officers, from a sense of duty; and he should now leave the subject in the hands of the House.

Mr. Manners Sutton replied, and opposed the motion, on the ground that it would be extremely inconvenient for the public business, to make that House a court of appeal for a military tribunal on ordinary occasions; and that this particular case was thought to have nothing in it so peculiar as to demand a departure from the regular practice of Parliament.

Mr. Tierney supported the motion, and Mr. W. Pole replied; and the motion was negatived by 144 to 37.

Nov. 18.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, in a Committee of Supply, for the sum of eight millions, in part of ten millions, to cover the arrears of the Army Extraordinaries. The amount of the Subsidies paid to the Continental Powers, including Spain, was 7,300,000l. ; and the troops to be kept on foot were 75,000l.

Mr. Tierney said, that under the Treaty of Chaumont, Hanover would obtain great advantages, and pay nothing for them.

Mr. Baring recommended examination into the accounts of the Commissariat in “Spain, and in the Mediterranean.

ABSTRACT

FRANCE.

A prayer and a solemn promise of Louis XVI. made in 1792, has been published, in which he implores the mercy of God for not having during his power repressed licentiousness of morals. To repair his faults, and to become a king according to God's heart, he promises, if he should recover his liberty and power, to revoke all laws pointed out by the Pope or the Ecclesiastics, as inimical to the integrity and purity of the faith, to the discipline and spiritual jurisdiction of the Catholic Church, and the civil constitution of the clergy; and to restore to the clergy all the benefices of which they had been dispossessed,—— It is apprehended, from the manner of this publication, that the authority of the Catholic Church will be extended in France, and some of the church-lands restored.

By the law lately passed in the French Chamber of Deputies, all emigrant property not sold, and actually constituting a part of the domains of the Crown, is to be restored to its original possessors, or their heirs, according to the second article. Such property as had been sold, and has again been confiscated, or has fallen into the possession of the Crown, is also to be restored. The civil death incurred by emigration is abolished from the date of the Constitutional Charter. On the 4th inst. the projet de loi passed by a great majority.

Private communications from Paris mention the arrest of Gen. Dufour, and forty other French officers, at a coffeehouse, accused of conspiring against the State. They have been sent to the Castle of Vincennes.

The following are some interesting particulars of the arrest of the Minas, at Paris. It appears that Mina junior, after the failure at Pampeluna, took refuge at Pau, with several officers, who had determined to follow the fortunes of himself and his uncle. He presented himself to the Police-office, and address ed a memorial to Louis XVIII. setting forth the principles by which he had been guided, as a soldier, in the defence of his country. He stated that he had constantly supported the cause of the Bourbon family-that his great object was to aid in their restoration to the Spanish throne, upon the basis of a free Constitution-that such Constitution had been framed, and acknowledged by the whole nation; but that Ferdinand, unmindful of the valuable blood which had been spilt in his cause, instead of adopt

ing the Constitution, had persecuted with the utmost rigour those patriots who had most distinguished themselves in his behalf, and had thereby plunged the nation into endless calamities. In consequence of this state of things, he (Mina), and many of his companions in arms, faithful to the oath they had taken to the Constitution, had made exertions for its support; but, unhappily, having failed in their undertaking, they now applied to his Majesty to receive them with hospitality in France, or to grant them passports to any other country than Spain. About the same time General Espoz y Mina, the uncle of the former, arrived in Paris with four or five of his officers, and waited upon the Spanish Chargé d'Affaires in that City, Count de Casa Flores, under fictitious names, for passports. One of the lega tion, happening to recognise the person of the General, gave notice to the Count, who with the acquiescence of the French Commissary of Police, had the gallant General taken in eustody; but the fact being communicated to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, he ordered the Commissary to be arrested, for having violated the laws of France by obeying the orders of a foreigner who had no authority in that country. Louis XVIII. was now made acquainted with all that had taken place; when he replied, "Let these Gentlemen be instantly set at liberty; the laws of France afford them hospitality: and it is my will that the Commissary be dismissed from his office."

UNITED NETHERLANDS.

We learn from the Dutch Papers, that the United Netherlands are to be erected into a kingdom, under the title of the Kingdom of Belgium.

The sovereign of the Netherlands is wisely endeavouring to gain the affections of his new subjects by granting them a Constitutional Charter, founded on the most liberal principles. The Charter does away the rigid feudal laws imposing labouring for the landlord, mitigates the severity of the game-laws, allows the freedom of religious worship, establishes the independence of the magistrates, and declares that no taxes can be levied without the consent of the States General.

land, by which the independence of the Cantons may be more efficiently maintained. Some reports say, that it is to have a Constitution assimilating in a great degree to that of England; and others go so far as to state, that it is to have a Kingly Government.

SPAIN.

The persecution of the members and adherents of the late Cortes appears to be carried on with an unrelenting severity, which, were the offences of which they are accused real, would seem to humane minds beyond measure; but which is most revolting, when it is considered that the objects of that severity only did their duty, in endeavouring to establish the freedom as well as the independence of their country; and that their efforts alone have preserved a throne for that Sovereign, in whose name they are charged with treason. Twenty-four persons of all classes are condemned to exile, to the gallies, or to pecuniary fines. Of all those condemned, the most remarkable is the late minister of war, Gen. O'Donoghue, who is ordered to be imprisoned four years in a castle in the Island of Majorca. The same fate, we are assured, is reserved for P. A. Giron, one of the General Officers who distinguished themselves in the late war. The Abbé of St. Ildefonso, aged seventy, who had lived with great esteem, is banished to a monastery for six years, and his property sequestered. A more terrible fate seems to be reserved for the leading members of the Cortes. Their grateful Sovereign had left Madrid, in order, it was supposed, to avoid being present at the execution of their sentence.

The latest accounts from Spain speak of further arrests; and among the number, that of Don Pedro Macanaz, the Minister of Justice! This is the Minister whose signature has appeared to the severe degrees of confiscation, banishment, and death, against the supporters of the Constitution!!!

Thus the "beloved" Ferdinand, after crushing the liberties of his country, is proceeding to imprison his Ministers. A most malignant spirit seems to direct his Councils. We are happy to observe, however, that the Sovereigns

at Vienna are understood to have expressed themselves strongly on the subject to the Spanish minister there, who has written to his Government, recommending milder measures.

It is stated in the New York Papers, that no sooner bad the refusal of Ferdinand to accept the Constitution become known in Mexico, than all parties in that country unanimously resolved on

independence. What degree of credit may be attached to this information we know not; but the event, if true, will be one of the most important in its results. to Spain that has ever occurred. It is extremely doubtful, whether the Spanish finances will be able, without the support of the Mexican remittances, to maintain the ordinary expences of the Government.

ITALY.

It appears, that the Emperor of Austria has sent to the King of Naples the formal ratification of the Treaty of Alliance between them, accompanied with a declaration of his unalterable disposition to support with all his means the interests of his Ally. This may be considered as putting an end to all doubt respecting the permanency of King Joachim's authority.

Flemish Papers to the 18th have brought us the Speech of the King of Sicily, on opening the Session of Parliament at Palermo. The kind and grateful manner in which his Majesty expresses himself towards England, forms a striking contrast with the conduct of the beloved Ferdinand of Spain. His Majesty says, "Before all things, employ yourselves on those objects which do not admit of delay without violating propriety and exposing our tranquillity. Two loans have been made under the guarantee of the British Government; be speedy in giving them your sanction, and in providing the means to meet them; it is one of the first and most sacred duties

of justice, and also of gratitude, to a generous and magnanimous nation, to whose alliance and liberal assistance we owe a great part of the good which we enjoy; and to which we shall likewise owe the still more precious good which we hope shortly to enjoy."

GERMANY.

The following we believe to be an authentic Summary of the proceedings of the Plenipotentiaries at Vienna:

Before proceeding to the installation of the Congress, a meeting of the Ministers of the leading powers was held to arrange its forms. Several difficulties presented themselves; and among the rest that relative to the admission of powers Plenipotentiaries from those which bad not been yet generally recog nized-Murat, Genoa, Saxony, &c. The mode of voting formed another question, from the reluctance of the Powers of the first rank to be placed on a footing To arrange with the inferior ones. those matters, it was suggested that a Commission, to be called the Preparative, should be formed, in which all that related to the formation of the Congress

was