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Tuesday Jan. 14.

DISTILLATION FROM GRAIN.

On the motion of Mr Perceval, the House resolved itself into a Committee, to take into consideration the subject of distillation from grain. He began by calling the attention of the House to the act passed last year for the encouragement of agriculture, by permitting spirits to be distilled from corn; and which act also tended to encourage the distilleries, and increase the revenue; he must, however, now state, that the failure of the crop last year made it necessary to adopt another measure, for the purpose of stopping distillation from corn, so as to reserve the grain in the country for the food of the inhabitants.In the the month of October last, the prices of grain had very considerably risen. It was known to every body, that the crop was a very scanty one; and this scarcity, added to the diminished supply likely to be received from foreign countries, had given just grounds to the distillers them-selves to expect, that a suspension of the law for permitting distillation from grain inust take place. In order, however, that neither the distiller nor the revenue should suffer, it was his intention to propose an additional duty of 1s. 8d. a gallon on spirits distilled from sugar; and also a duty of 121d. per cent. additional on foreign spirits. The latter was for the encourage ment of the English distiller. For the same purpose there should be a duty of 5d. a gallon laid on Scotch spirits, and a prohibition against the importation of spirits from Ireland. He concluded with moving a resolution, that from the 5th February 1812, to the 5th of December next, no spirits be distilled from wash made of

corn.

The resolution was agreed to.

Several other resolutions were then adopted, the substance of which were,That it should be lawful for the Prince Regent, with the advice of his Privy Council, by Proclamation, after the 31st of October, 1812, to permit the distillation from grain, or to continue the suspension for 30 days

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after the 31st of December 1812. A third resolution went to subject sugar-wash to the same duties as were paid on corn wash. A fourth went to impose an additional duty of 124d. per cent. on all foreign spirits imported, with the exception of

rum.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then stated, that he did not purpose that the prohibition should extend to Ireland, and that of course it would be necessary, that a suspension in the intercourse in spirits should take place between the two coun tries.

Thursday, Jan. 16.

The House having gone into a commit tee to consider so much of the Regent's speech as related to the King's establish ment:

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in a speech of considerable length, proposed his plan for the new arrangement. It will comprize 28 officers, including four Lords of the bed chamber, four Grooms of the chamber, seven Equerries, with the Groom of the Stole at its head, and in his absence, the Vice-chamberlain The king's private property is to be invested in three Come missioners, one of them a Master in Chancery. The whole additional annual expence to the nation is estimated at L. 70,000. The whole of his Majesty's household is to be under the control of the Queen, who is also to receive the annual sum of L. 10,000, in consequence of his Majesty's decreased establishment, chiefly in horses and carriages. His Royal High ness the Prince of Wales is to be allowed L. 100,000, to reimburse his expences as Regent, since he took upon him the duties of that office. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving resolutions to the effect of the above statement.

Mr PONSONBY could not see in his Majesty's situation, what required a large es tablishment about his person. He also objected to the sum of L. 100,000, proposed to be granted to the Prince Regent, to cover the cost incurred by the assump tion of the government; as, in the last Session, the Prince declined any assistance on that account. He therefore hoped the Hon. Gentleman would pause, and enter into further explanations, before he precipitated his measure.

Mr TIERNEY objected to the establishment of a second Court, as a thing unknown in the Constitution; and which he considerd as set on foot for the purpose of creating a separate influence. As

to

to the appointment of a commission to take care of his Majesty's private property, Parliament had no more to do with it than with the property of the king of France.

A desultory conversation ensued between Mr Sheridan and Mr Perceval; when the resolutions were put and agreed to.

Friday, Jan. 17.

The House resolved itself into a com mittee of supply, in which, upon the motion of Mr Yorke, the sum of L.3,345,861, was voted for maintenance of seamen and marines for 1812, L. 3,500,000, for wear and tear of the navy for the year 1812; and L. 649,750, for the Ordnance service.

On a motion of Mr Secretary Ryder, amended by Mr Abercromby, a committee was appointed to inquire into the state of the nightly watch, and the police of the metropolis.

Monday, Jan. 20.

The House went into a committee of supply, and voted L.100,000 to the Regent, for the expences he has been at, in conse quence of his assumption of the exercise of the royal authority. Mr Tierney and Mr Whitbread objected to the grant, without a message from his Highness; but their objection was overruled.

Tuesday, Jan: 21.

Mr BROUGHAM rose to call the attention of the House to the subject of the droits of Admiralty, which were deemed to be vested in the crown, and which at present amounted to not less a sum than L. 8,000,000. Mr Brougham very forcibly expatiated on the danger to the constitution from such a sum being vested in the crown without any accountabilitythere was no safeguard against its being portioned out amongst undeserving favourites or mistresses; it might, in short, be converted to any use, public or private, harmless or dangerous; and more especially was it of the worst tendency, as it made it the interest of the crown to levy war in a way least consistent with its own honour, or that of the country, and without that frank, honourable, open declaration of hostilities, which, until lately, had been thought consistent with old English faith, Hear, hear, hear!) The Dutch war, in the reign of Charles II. presented the worst, most infamous, and degraded specimen of this system, (with the exception, perhaps, of the attack on Copenhagen, and the Spanish frigates.) The Hon. Gentleman finished an eloquent

speech, by concluding, from all that he had said, that the fund was contaminated; that it had its origin in violence and fraud; and that in its maturity it gave protection to inferior agents in similar courses; and that throughout it was most suspicious. He called on the House to look to what might ensue from permitting it to remain on its present footing. Look to the dreadful consequences if ever it should happen, which he would not suppose probable, but which was possible, that a monarch of this country should hereafter exist, who had the misfortune to have an adviser, ill acquainted with the principles and ana logies of the British constitution, or caring little about either; not having studied the character and temper of the people, or disregarding their resentment; rash enough to consider boldness as the surest way to power, and blinded by his avarice, so as to be desperate enough to venture on so dangerous a career-if ever it should happen that the crown was cursed to have, and to listen to such a minister, as Charles the Second had listened to Lord Shaftsbury, only look at the fearful result; at the ruin of commerce, at the loss of honour, and the degradation of the English character for ever. (Hear!) Only suppose that such men might ever exist, and that a Prince might be advised to acquire a personal, uncontroled property, at the same risk with regard to America, that Charles II. gained by the Dutch war, what ruin of every description would be the consequence? and yet gentlemen opposite argued, that all this might be done by law and the constitution, even without that mockery of responsibility-an act of indemnity. He did not mean to say, that. he thought these events likely; but similar occurrences had once taken place; it was possible they might again happen, against which it was the duty of Parliament to provide. He was now done; and thanking the House for the attention with which they had honoured him, apologized for the length at which he had detained them. Again he called on them to pause, before they voted any increase to the civil list. The constitution knew of but one course a limited monarch, with a fixed expenditure, settled by Parliament, to which he was accountable. He concluded by moving several long resolutions, agree ing with the tenor of his speech

"That all other funds in possession of the crown, otherways than by grant from Parliament, applicable in the manner pointed out by them, and to be accounted

for

for to them, was contrary to the constitution, and full of danger to the rights and liberties of the people; that it was the duty of Parliament to investigate these accounts of the droits of Admiralty, and to appropriate them to the public ser vice," &c. &c.

Mr BRAND Seconded the motion, which was opposed by the ministerial side of the House, chiefly on the ground of the antiquity of the droits.

On a division, there appeared for the resolutions, 38-against them 78-Majority, 35.

An amendment of Mr Tierney's was also lost on a division of 94 to 36.

Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Mr LUSHINGTON brought up the report of the distillery suspension bill.

Sir J.. NEWPORT objected to the clause which prohibits the importation of spirits from Ireland, as a breach of the union.

Mr SINCLAIR opposed the bill altogether, as hurtful to agriculture.

Sir G. CLARKE wished the Scotch distillers to be charged with duty in the same mode as in England, and brought up a clause for that purpose.

It was opposed by Mr Perceval, and rejected.

Thursday, Jan. 23.

The bill for preventing distillation from grain was read a third time and passed.

ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.

On the motion of Lord Folkestone, the petition of Mary Anne Dicks, now imprisoned in the gaol of Bristol, in conse quence of a suit in the ecclesiastical court, was read.

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Lord FOLKESTONE then rose to submit his promised motion relative to the Eccle siastical Courts. The inquiries which he had made since the petition of Mary Anne Dicks had been put into his hands, had convinced him that it was not a particular grievance to which he should direct the attention of the House, but to a system of proceedings, from which similar severities were daily emanating. His Lordship entered into a detailed history of the rise and progress of the spiritual jurisdiction in this country, and then cited a variety of cases of individual oppression, resulting from the perversion of the sentence of excommunication from its avowed purpose, which was pro salute anime. He concluded with moving, "That a committee be appointed to enquire into the state of the jurisdiction of the Inferior Ecclesiastical Courts, and

to consider whether any reformation is ne cessary to be made therein and to report their opinion to the House."

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'T'he question having been read from the chair, a debate ensued, in which Sir W. SCOTT allowed that some abuses had arisen in the inferior courts; but contended that it was impossible to prevent them in every instance.

Sir S. ROMILLY explained the dreadful consequences attending a sentence of excommunication. It prevented the parties affected by it from being witnesses or suitors in courts of law, and thus deprived him of all protection for person or property. King James I. had sent a message to Par Hament for remedying the evils then felt from excommunication for slight offences, but from that day to this nothing had been done in the business. The case of the petitioner was fully sufficient to prove the oppressive effect of this mode of punish

ment.

She had suffered two years imprisonment for applying a vulgar epithet to a woman who kept a house of ill fame.

After some further discussion, in which Sir J. Nicholl, Mr W. Smith, the Attor ney General, and others, took part, Lord Folkstone withdrew his inotion, in conse quence of Sir W. Scott having undertaken to bring in a bill for reforming the proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Courts; and the consideration of the particular case before the House, was deferred to a future day.

Friday, Jan. 24.

The House went into a Committee of Supply, and the following sums were voted:-L.1250 to Captain Manby, for his Life Preserver.S.

L.4699. 4s. for the repairs of Henry the VIIth's Chapel.

Mr Wharton then moved, that L. 10,057 should be granted towards defraying the expences of erecting a bridge over the river Eden, at Carlisle.

Sir JOHN NEWPORT rose to object to the grant. The people of Cumberland had no higher claim to the public money than any other county.

Mr WHARTON and Sir JAMES, GRAHAM observed, that strong representations had been made on this subject to the Committee by the Scotch, and particularly by the Irish Members: and the purpose of the intended bridge, said Sir James Graham, was to facilitate the entrance of the Irish Members into the British Parliament.→→→→ (A laugh.)

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Mr WHITBREAD, in reply to what had fallen from Sir James Graham, observed,

that

that it was curious that the bridge, which had been allowed to be wide enough for the passage of Scotch Members, and Scotch cattle, should be too narrow to admit the passage of the Irish Members.-A laugh.) These latter gentleman were indeed of great weight, but he had not been aware that their breadth was such as to require a bridge of ampler dimensions than the Scotch. (A laugh.)—At any rate he could not conceive why the county of Cumberland should be particularly favoured; and the present principle, if extended, would put in the hands of Government the erection of all the bridges in the kingdom.

After some discussion, the Committee divided, when the resolution was carried by 35 to 27.

Monday, Jan. 27.

On the motion for going into a committee on the royal household bill, Mr Tierney opposed the Speaker's leaving the chair. He argued against the principle and various clauses of the bill, as unconstitutional, and also injurious to the honour of the Prince Regent. In these censures he was joined by Mr Whitbread, Mr Ponsonby, and some other members.They were answered by Mr Perceval, who was joined by Mr Adam, the Prince's Chancellor, and on a division, Mr Tierney's motion was negatived by 141 to 59. In the committee, Mr Tierney made several ob jections to points of form, which were overruled by the proper messages, and the consent of the Prince Regent; and all the clauses were passed, with only one divi sion of 105 against 33.

Mr ADAM explained the origin of certain debts which it appears the Prince of Wales considers himself bound in honour to pay, although not legally compellable; and to this purpose it is intended to apply the 70,0001. per annum which is left to his Royal Highness, by his exchequer revenue. The Honourable Member concluded by saying, that this last duty to his Royal Master was the last of his own pofitical life. Affairs, it was of no conse quence to the world to know, drew him to the labours of his profession. In taking

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Mr LOCKHART brought forward a motion for a Committee, to inquire if any and what persons becoming bankrupt can sit in that House, which was negatived without a division.

An animated debate took place in con sequence of the rescinding of so much of a former order respecting the return of Police Magistrates, as required them to give in their present qualification; which had been adopted on the motion of Mr Secreta ry Ryder, on the ground that each Magistrate, acting without such qualification, being liable to a fine of L. 100, it would cause many of them to criminate themselves, which was a principle unknown in English law. Sir F. Burdett, in moving for the restoration of the order to its original form, contended, that there had been many very improper appointments of Police Magis trates, and conceived that this was the only way to rectify the abuse. The motion of Sir Francis was lost by a majority of 57 to 7.

HISTORICAL

Historical Affairs.

EAST INDIES.

FINAL REDUCTION OF JAVA.

Nour last Number we inserted the of

cial details of the capture of Batavia, by the British troops, under the command of Sir Samuel Auchmuty. Dispatches have since been received, announcing the capitu lation of General Jansen, with the remain der of the French forces, and the surrender of the remaining part of the island of Java, eastward of Samarang, to the British.The dispatches containing these accounts, were forwarded by Governor Farquhar, from the Mauritius, and were brought to England by the Phoebe frigate. The details were published in a London Gazette Extraordinary, on the 20th January, but they are so voluminous that our limits will only admit of the following abstract :--

General Jansen capitulated on the 17th September, and surrendered all the country, not already subject to the British arms, to his Majesty. The Europeans in the service of the enemy are prisoners of war. The native troops were dismissed to their homes. General Jansen did not retire to Sourabaya, as was expected, but retreated to Samarang, where he endeavoured to collect the remains of his scattered forces. On the appearance of Sir S. Auchmuty before that place in the Modeste frigate, with a few transports, the French commander evacuated the town, as he before had done the city of Batavia, and took a mountain position at Jattee Alloe, about six miles off, on the road to Solo, the residence of the Emperor of Java. In this position he was at tacked by Colonel Gibbs on the 16th of September, routed, and pursued for 12 miles up the country, most of his forces and artillery taken; and the next day he surrendered as above stated. The British loss in the attack, was only 2 rank and file

killed; 1 serjeant, and 9 privates wounded. Sir S. Auchmuty took 56 pieces of cannon, and ammunition in proportion.

All the other places held by the French fell in succession, as the British frigates and marines were landed. Cheribon was taken without loss, by Captain Beaver, of the Nisus, and there the French General Jamelie and his suite were captured, on their way to join General Jansen. Sourabaya surrendered without resistance on the 22d September, and Fort Ludowick, containing 98 pieces of heavy cannon, followed the example. A detachment from the Nisus marched 35 miles from Cheribon to Carang Sarabang, and seized a large magazine of coffee, &c. valued at 250,000 dollars, and made about 700 prisoners, although their own number was only 239. Not one man was hurt. They also seized 9 waggons laden with silver and copper money at Bongas, with a great quantity of arms. Taggal was taken possession of by Captain Hillyar, of the Phabe, who found the Government stores capacious and well filled with coffee, rice, and pepper.

The greatest resistance was experienced at the fort of Samanap, which was taken by Captain Harris, with the boats of the Sir Francis Drake and the Photon.

By Captain Harris's desire, the fort of Bancalang was taken possession of by the Sultan of Madura, on the 10th of September, and British colours hoisted. The Frenchgovernor, and all the Dutch inhabitants were sent prisoners on board the Drake. The whole of Java is now in possession of the British forces, much to the satisfaction of the natives. Lord Minto concludes his letter, which is dated from Batavia, Sept. 29, by saying, "Your Excellency will observe with satisfaction, from these documents, that the final pacification of the island has been hastened by fresh examples of the same spirit, decision, and judgment, which

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