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on the then increased debt again confirmed, by parliament; or, rather, again passed over in silence; and in silence it has remained till the publication of the present report, for I pass over the paltry sop of £60,000 per annum thrown to the public in 1806. Of that report, however, by far the most curious part is the studied apology which it contains for the conduct of Mr. Pitt at the time of the renewal.-"The circumstance of "the bank" (says the report)" gaining a

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opinion upon the complicated concerns of "this extensive business, were probably not

fully before either of the two parties at "the time of this agreement, as it is ob"vious that they cannot be collected with"out considerable and detailed investiga"tion, nor digested without industry and "attention, and the pressure of other duties "may well account for a want of leisure for "so laborious a research at the period of "the renewal of the charter." What a miserable subterfuge! The documents had been, or ought to have been already three times before parliament during his own administration. Once in 1786, again in 1791, and again in 1797. It was but carrying the report of his own commissioners made fourteen years before, and with fourteen years of increased debt to strengthen it, into effect; and his memory might have been spared this stale and shuffling apology. And shall such conduct be deemed not criminally negligent, or profusely corrupt?-Such, Sir, has been the history of the present Report*; and who, on reading it, will say that the Bank of England is a patriotic corporation, or that the House of Commons are the virtuous and vi gilant guardians of the public purse? Before they can even set about correcting an evil of acknowledged magnitude, and daily and hourly increasing, twenty years are suffered to pass away, and three different reports of their own body all breathing the same language, are received and disregarded.-May the fate of the present, of the fourth report, be more auspicious, May it produce something more to the people than a few thousands from the unclaimed dividends, and a fresh.confirmation or the old neglect of the present rate of allowance. May it oblige the bank to recur back to their old dividend of seven per cent and in preventing them *The Report will be found in the Appen. to Cobbett's Parlimentary Debates, vol. c.

from taking advantage of their own misconduct, may it place them on an equitable footing with the other creditors of the public. But, I confess, Sir, that notwithstanding the indication of an approaching storm in Threadneedle Street, which the Report seems calculated to raise, notwithstanding the hints and interviews and conferences and paragraphs, that are daily paraded to the eye on this business, I do not see that the barometer of the bank, the price of its stock, at all gives way, I do not perceive that any fears are entertained in the penetration of this grand temple of corruption for the safety of its present profits. The present price of its stock is above 226, and the directors, it should seem, place a firm reliance on their knowledge of the men they have to deal with. Of those men I shall not for the present say much. I will say, however, that if they should receive the directors of the bank with as firm a front, as they seem disposed to receive the external enemies of their country, they will so far, at least, deserve the thanks of the people. As soon as the report is disposed of, I shall request permission through the medium of your Register, to follow up the subject a little farther. -I am, Sir, your obedient servant,-H. B. -Lewes, Jan. 21, 1809.

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(Concluded from p. 160.)

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, that all penalties and forfeiture arising under this act may be sued for and recovered, and shall be distributed and accounted for in the manner prescribed by the act, entitled "an Act to regulate the collection of duties on Imports and Tonnage:" and such penalties and forfeitures may be examined, mitigated, or remitted in like manner, and under the like conditions, regula tions, and restrictions as are prescribed, authorised, and directed by the act, entitled

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an act to provide for mitigating or remitte ing the forfeitures, penalties and disabilities, accruing in certain cases therein mentioned.' Supplementary Act...

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, that. nothing in the act to which this is a supplement, shall be so construed as to prohibit. the importation of the following articles, that is to say-Wrappers and outside packages in which goods, the importation of which is not prohibited, usually are and hat

be wrapped or packed at the time of their importation.-2. Bags or sacks in which salt shall be imported.-3. Glass bottles or phials, in which drugs, medicines, or any other articles, the importation of which is not prohibited, shall be imported.-4. Printed books, maps, and charts.-5. Watches, mathematical, astronomical, and surgical instruments.-6. Shallons and woollen stuffs. Sec. 2 And be it further enacted, that the articles of the following description shall be held and considered as being embraced by the description of articles, the importation of which is prohibited by the act to which this act is a supplement, that is to say. All articles manufactured entirely of silk and wool, or of silk and flax, or of flax and wool;-Floor cloths ;-Woollen cassimeres, carpets, carpeting and mats, whose invoice prices shall exceed five shillings sterling per square yard -Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that whenever a doubt shall arise whether any articles imported into the United States is is embraced by the description of articles the importation of which is prohibited by the act to which this act is a suplement, the comptroller's decision thereon, approved by the secretary of the treasury, shall be final and conclusive, and be taken and held in every respect as the true construction of the act.-Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, that no articles which shall be imported from any place beyond the Cape of Good Hope, on board any vessel, cleared out before the day of

from any port within the United States or the territories thereof, for the said Cape of Good Hope, or any place beyond the same, shall be subject to the prohibition enacted be the act to which this act is a supplement.

JAMAICA. -Speech of the Lt. Governor to the Council and Assembly, and the Assembly's answer, at the Opening of the Session, in Oct. 1807.

Influenced by an uniform desire to promote the public benefit, I have deemed it expedient to assemble the legislature at the earliest period I thought consistent with your private convenience.I should have rejoiced, had I been enabled to congratulate you on the success of our allies on the continent of Europe: amidst their reverses, how ever, it is to be recollected that the resources of the British Empire remain unimpaired; and I trust that an honourable, secure, and permanent peace will be, under the blessings of Providence, attained by the firmness and moderation of his Majesty's councils, and by the valour of his fleets and armies.I have much satisfaction in learning, that the general scarcity of provisions, recently prevalent,

is likely to be succeeded by abundance: the late seasonable rains will secure the island from a sudden return of this evil; yet I earnestly recommend your adopting the most efficacious measures for preventing the recurrence of so great a calamity. It was to me a source of very peculiar gratification, that the distress was alleviated by the effects of my proclamation, which extended the term of the intercourse with the United States of America; but the subsistence of the inhabitants should depend as little as possible on a resource so precarious as that of a supply from distant countries.-The establishing of St. Ann's Bay as a free-port, and the making of Port-Morant, Port Maria, and Falmouth, ports of entrance and clearance, are objects of great importance, and cannot be regarded otherwise than as additional proofs of his Majesty's paternal care for the welfare of his subjects in this colony. -I rely with that confidence, which the ex perience I have of your known liberality so well justifies, for those supplies which the exigencies of government require -My inspection of the militia throughout the island affords me the satisfaction of making known to you the general improved state of that essential branch of our defence. Some of the regiments in particular have made considerable progress in discipline and appearance, while the laudable spirit of emulation and loyalty, which pervades the whole body, cannot fail of producing the most beneficial consequences -The forts and batteries along the coast have already derived advantages from your wise regulation during the last session: a system of regularity, economy, and military arrangement, now exists in this establishment, which must effectually tend to the general defence of the island. When I reflect on the great and arduous contest in which the British empire is now engaged, it were vain to conceal that our present meet ing is in times of no common difficulty: from you I expect all that can be effected by public spirit, united exertions, and the sacri fice of individual interests to the general weal; from me you may rely on receiving, upon all occasions, the most cordial co-ope ration in every measure which is calculated to increase the public happiness, promote the prosperity, and insure the safety of this country.

Assembly's Answer.We, his Majes ty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Assembly of Jamaica, beg leave to thank your honour for your speech at the opening of this session :-We are fully sensible of your honour's uniform desire to promote the pub lie benefit, and gratefully acknowledge your attention in assembling the legislature at the

earliest period you thought consistent with our private convenience:-We regret the reverses which have befallen our allies on the continent of Europe; but we, however, sincerely join with your honour in the hope, that, as the resources of the British empire remain unimpaired, an honourable, secure, and permanent peace will be, under the blessing of Providence, ultimately attained: -We shall give our serious attention to your honour's recommendation of adopting the most efficacious measures for preventing the recurrence of so great a calamity as a general scarcity of provisions, recently prevalent, but which has been providentially removed by the late seasonable rains; and we gratefully own the beneficial effects of your honour's proclamation, in alleviating the distress incident to a dependence on a resource so precarious as that of a supply from distant countries:-We duly appreciate his Majesty's paternal care for the welfare of his subjects in this colony, when we contemplate the great importance of the extended establishment of the free ports and ports of entry and clearance :--Your honour may rely on our granting such supplies for the exigencies of government, as the extent of our means, and the existing circumstances of the country, will justify.We are happy to be assured by your honour of the general improved state of the militia, and of the system of regularity, economy, and military arrangement, which, under your honour's direction, exists in the present establishment of forts and batteries, as regulated by the act of the last session: --Fully aware that our present meeting is in time of no common difficulty, when the British empire is engaged in a most arduous contest, and the colonies are suffering under the pressure of new and peculiar distresses, we are sensible, that it is incumbent upon us to sacrifice our individual interests, and to unite our greatest exertions for the general weal: and we rely with the most perfect confidence on your honour's assurance or a cordial co-operation in every measure, which is calculated to increase the happiness, promote the prosperity, and insure the safety of this country.

merce. -On the représentation of the minister, that the liquidation comptains ap pointed in 1800, were, by their mode of conducting business of this nature, perfectly adequate to the object in view. We now order that liquidation commissions be at present appointed, in every respect, strictly according to the principles and spirit of the Ukase given the 25th of Nov. 1800, upon a report of the College of Commerce in consequence of the embargo laid that year on the property of the English, with this only alteration, that the fixed number of Russian merchants to be chosen for the liquidation commission of this plan, but not otherwise appointed than with the confirmation of the minister, and in the other towns with the confirmation of the chief authorities contiguous thereto. The said commissioners ate to take cognizance of all the goods and property of the English which were embargoed by our Ukase of the 21st (uit.) Oct. 1807; and this sequestration is to be extended to all their capital monies and bills, excepting their monies placed in our Banks, which, by the laws, are in no case to be touched. The Councillor of State, and Member of the College of Commerce, Baikoff, is to be president in the commission here.

FRENCH COMMERCIAL DECREE, signed, Napoleon, and dated at Milan, Nov. 23, 1807.

Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine-Upon the report of our Minister of the Finances, we have decreed, and decree as follows:-Art. I. All vessels which, after having touched at England, from any motive whatsoever, shall enter the ports of France, shall be seized and fiscated, as well as their cargoes, without exception or distinction of commodities or merchandize.-II. The captains of vessels who shall enter the ports of France, shall, on the day of their arrival. proceed to the office of the Imperial Customs, and there make a declaration of the place from which they sailed, of the ports they have put into, and exhibit their manifests, bills of lading, sea-papers, and log-books- -When the captain shall have signed and delivered his declaration, and communicated his papers, the head officer of the customs shall interroBy our Ukase of the 28th Oct. last, to gate the sailors separately, in the presence of the Minister of Commerce, Count N. Rau- two overseers. If it results from this examiantzoff, regarding the laying on an em mination that the vessel has touched at Engbargo upon the English property in Russia, land, independent of the seizure and contiswe ordered liquidation commissions to be cation of the said ship and cargo, the capformed here, at-Riga, and at Archangel, un- tain, as well as those sailors, who, upon exader the controul of the College of Com-minations shall have made a false declara

RUSSIA.Sequestration of English Property; dated at Petersburgh, Nov. 19, 1807.

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tion, shall be deemed prisoners, and shall not be set at liberty until after having paid the sum of 60,000 franks, as a personal penalty for the captain, and 500 franks for each of the sailors so arrested, over and above the pains incurred by those who falsify their papers and log-books,-III. If advice or information communicated to the directors of our customs give rise to any susdicions as to the origin of the cargoes, they shall be provisionally warehoused until it is ascertained and decided that they do not come from England or her colonies.IV. Our commissaries for commercial relations, who deliver certificates of origin for merchandize laden in the ports of their residence destined for that of France, shall not confine themselves to an attestation that the merchandise or commodities do not come from England or her colonies or commerce; they shall in dicate the place of origin, the documents which have been laid before them in support of the declaration which has been made to them, and the name of the ship on board of which they have been primarily transported from the place of origin into that of their residence.

PORTUGAL.- -Gen. Junot's Proclamation,

upon entering Lisbon, Nov. 30, 1807.

Inhabitants of Lisbon,-- -My army is about entering your walls; it was coming for the purpose of rescuing your ports and your prince from the influence of England. -But this prince, so respectable by his virtue, has allowed himself to be hurried away by the counsels of some wicked men who surrounded him, and he is gone to fling himself into the arms of his enemies. He has been made to feel apprehensive for his personal safety, his subjects have been counted for nothing, and his interests sacrificed to the base cowardice of some courtiers.-Inhabitants of Lisbon, remain quiet within your houses; fear neither me nor my army; we are formidable only to the enemy and to the wicked. The great Napoleon, my master, sends me to protect you.

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after us, and in default of our children, and male legitimate descendants, hereditary in the person of Prince Eugene, and his direct legitimate descendants from male to male by order of primogeniture, to the perpetual exclusion of women and their descendants.

-3. In default of our sons and male descendants, and the sons and male descendants of Prince Eugene, the Crown of Italy shall devolve to the son and nearest relative of such of the Princes of our blood, as shall then reign in France.-4. Prince Eugene, our son, shall enjoy all the honours attached to our adoption. -5. The right which our adoption gives him shall never, in any case, authorize him or his descendants to urge any pretensions to the Crown of France, the succession to which is invariably fixed.

The decree of the 20th confers upon Prince Eugene Napoleon the title of Prince of Venice. Another decree confers upon

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our well-beloved grand-daughter, Princess Josephine, as a mark of our satisfaction to our good city of Bologna," the title of Princess of Bologna. Another decree declares the Chancellor Melzi, Duke of Lodi. After the above decrees had been read, the Emperor made the following speech :

Gentlemen, Possidenti, Dotti, and Commercianti, I see you with pleasure about my throne. Returned after 3 years absence, I am pleased at remarking the progress which my people have made--but how many things remain to be done to efface the faults of our forefathers, and to render you worthy of the destiny I am preparing for you.-The intes tine divisions of our ancestors, their misera. rable egotism to particular cities, paved the way for the loss of all our rights. The country was disinherited of its rank and its dig nity; that country which in more distant ages had carried so far the honour of its arms and the eclat of its virtues. I will make my glory consist in regaining that eclat and those virtues. Citizens of Italy, I have done much for you; I will do much more. But on your side, united in heart as you are in interest with my people of France, consider them as elder brother. Always behold the source of our prosperity, the guarantee of our institu tions, and that of our independence in the union of the Iron Crown with that of my Imperial Crown.

COBBETT'S

Parliamentary Debates.

The First Number of the Tenth Volume of the above Work will be ready for delivery in the course of a few days.

Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bag-haw, Bryd, es Sext Covent Garden, where former Numbers may be had; sold also by J. Budd, Crown and Mine, I all Mall

VOL. XIII. No. 6.] LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1808.

[PRICE FOD.

Two historical facts. During the existence of the late ministry, Mr. Fox being then secretary of state for foreign affairs, the son of the then' Lord Chancellor, Erskine, was appointed minister plenipotentiary to the American States, that young gentleman being then called to the bar in England. About the same time, the Lord Chancellor Erskine gave to a son of Mis. Bouverie a living, in the church of England, generally estimated to be worth twelve hundred pounds a year.

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of

SUMMARY OF POLITICS. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS (continued from page 171).—I. Vote of Thanks. II. American States. III. Danish Expedition.On Thursday, the 28th January, a motion was made, in both Houses, to give the thanks of parliament to the fleet and army employed in the Copenhagen expedition. At the time, when the titles and marks of honour were bestowed, upon Admiral Gambier and others, I expressed my opinion, that the measure was wrong; because, though the success of the enterprize was of great national importance, to insure that success required neither courage nor skill, except, perhaps, in a few persons of inferior rank; because, from the very statement of the advocates of the ministers, it appeared, that the means provided were such, as, when compared with the object to be accomplished, rendered failure morally impossible, because it would have been a crime to fail, and that, therefore, to succeed was little more than a negative merit; because, in short, to bestow honours upon the commanders of such an expedition, was to proclaim to the world, that it was, in English commanders, a great merit, a highly distinguishing characteristic, not to be drivellers, or traitors, since no men of common understanding could have failed, unless from a want of fidelity. These arguments, and some others, which were made use of in the Register, and in other public prints, at the time referred to, have now been repeated in parliament; against these arguments nothing of any weight has been urged; and it does, to me at least, clearly appear, that the vote of thanks, as well as the other honours, have, in this instance, been prostituted to party purposes, that is to say, to the purpose of giving to the whole measure an eclat which it did not deserve, with a view of enhancing, in the minds of the people, the merit of the present ministers. But, while the spirit of party appears to have dictated the motion for a vote of thanks, there has appeared, in the opposition to it, a spirit of exactly

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the same character. Messrs. Windham and Tierney (the latter of whom had almost sworn, that he never would belong to any ministry or party with the former) seemed to have, for their grand object, the indulgence of their spleen against Sir Home Popham, who, it must be confessed, has been a zealous and formidable opponent to them in politics, but who, upon that very account, should, on this occasion, have es caped particular notice. Mr. Windhama bestows many compliments upon Lords Cathcart and Gambier; with respect to them, he takes care to rub off with one hand what he lays on with the other; he brings forward the excellence of the private character of the one, and the past services (though he does not particularize them) of the other; but, of Sir Home Popham he recollects nothing but the demerits. takes, or rather, he finds out, occasion to observe, that " one ostensible part of the

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expedition had been entrusted to an of"ficer, whould only plead, in his behalf, the approbation of a self-created "tribunal, in opposition to a sentence of condemnation, which had lately been passed upon him by one legally constitut"ed, and who, in his fortune, had ex

emplified the old adage," that when the "King loses, the Knave wins ;" an adage, which must be very old indeed, for, I scarcely think that any man now living ever heard of it before. It was travelling quite out of the natural course to notice, in this particular manner, Sir Home Popham and his court martial, especially as no particular mention had been made of his services, upon this occasion, by the ministers, and as he bad received no sort of reward, though it was pretty generally understood, that of the merit of the execution of the measure, no small share did belong to him. Certainly, the approbation of the Lloyd's men d'd him no honour; or, if he were, as he appeared to be, so very proud of the swords and the thanks, which they had to bestow, one might, with little regret, see him left to them as his sole possession in this way;

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