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Downfall of the Pope.-Notice of the Secretary of State, Cardinal Cassoni. Rome, February 2, 1808. "His Holiness, Pius VII. being unable to conform to all the demands made on him by the French government, and to the extent required of him, as it is contrary to his sacred duties, and the dictates of his conscience; and being thus compelled to submit to the disastrous consequences which have been threatened, and to the military occupation of his capital, in case he should not submit to such demands.- -Yielding, therefore, in all humility of heart, to the inscrutable determinations of the Most High, he places his cause in the hands of the Almighty and being unwilling to fail in the essential obligations of guaranteeing the rights of his Sovereignty, he bas commanded us to protest, and formally protests in his own name, as well as in that of his successors, against any occupation whatever of his dominions, being desirous that the rights of the Holy Chair should remain, now and henceforward, uninjured and untouched.As the Vicar on earth of that God of Peace who taught, by his divine example, humility and patience, he has no doubt but his most beloved subjects, who have given him so many repeated proofs of obedience and attachment, will make it their peculiar study to preserve peace and tranquillity, private as well as public, which his Holiness exhorts, and expressly commands; and that, far from committing any excesses, they will rather respect the individuals of a nation, from whom, during his journey, and stay in Paris, he received so many flattering testimonies of devotion and regard."

NETHERLANDS.

which counsellors are to plead; and all addresses to the public authorities must be on stamps; as must also every page of the ledger ploy it as a document to prove his debts. of a man of business, if he mean to emEvery mortgage is registered at the stampoffice, and a large duty paid upon it. This is a regulation which furnishes great advantages to the country at large; for a man caunot deceive another by taking a second mortgage on his estate while the first is unpaid, as it can always be known, by applying to the oflice, what mortgage lies at that time upon it. In every department is a stamp-office, and a registry of the sales and mortgages of estates, where ordinary stamps are distributed, and extra ones may be procured; for an unstamped deed may be rendered legal, by being stamped afterwards, and a triple duty paid.— They have taxes on land, windows, and doors; an annual poll-tax, and one on household furniture. Besides these, many manufactured and printed goods pay a duty; and the post-horse duty, and turnpikes, bring in a large revenue. Money is at an exorbitant interest; one per cent. per month is often paid, and little is lent under eight, or ten, per cent. per annum. The scarcity of the circulating medium is so great in the departments, and even in the great commercial towns; and the old resources have so much disappeared, that a sufficient encouragement cannot be given to the mechanic to finish his work. He must offer it at a low price if he expect it to be sold, and consequently must bestow less labour upon it, or work it up from inferior materials.-WORSLEY.

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To the articles subjected to a stamp duty, under the French government, this writer might have added, every sheet of periodical and pamphlet publications on which, individually, is a stamp impressed, as is done on paper-hangings for rooms, in Britain. We regret that all counties in our island, are not some are: the convenience and advantages, of these institutions, have long recommended them to the pub lic. In the case of morgages, &c.

State of Taxes, and Interest of Moncy-register counties: as However Buonaparté may detest England as a rival, he has seen that the ingenuity of Mr. Pitt is well worthy of imitation; and is actually following him. Wines, spirits, and beer, are subject to heavy duties. Property is taxed, though not in exactly the same way: licenses for the sale of almost every thing must be taken out, and a special license for the sale of tobacco and gunpowder. Two-pence half-penny was the price of a pack of cards twelve months ago, but now they are not to be bought for less than half a crown; and none may be sold without being first duly stamped. The revenues arising from stamps are immense; every thing of a public nature, even the processes of law, which are to appear in the court, and from

Our readers will compare the interest of money in the departments, which appears to be common in various parts of France, with that which has been established for the capital [Vide Panorama, Vol. II. page 852.]. Both the northern and the southern provinces are obliged to pay 8, 10, or even 12, per cent. for money; while the bank of France offers money at 4 per cent. There is either (which we belieye) some fallacy in this offer, or there is no intercourse between the capital and the country. A disproportion so monstrous could

not long exist in Britain. Under this dis-jesty. This commission has now laid their advantage what export trade, a trade implying report before the King; and in consequence credi: given to adventurers, can the depart-lords, have been banished for a certain nu mof it, the Duke of Infantado, and other

ments undertake, or maintain?

PERSIA.

ber of years, and a bishop has received orders to retire to a convent assigned to him."

French Embassy.However chimerical the Plenty of Money, but no Wool, &c.-Inproject of sending a French army by land to direct intelligence has been received at Cadiz, India may be considered, it is certain that from Spanish America; it appears they have Buonaparte is seriously occupied by arrange- there great abundance of money, in silver, ments connected with that enterprize. The and ingots of gold, which they know not English government are in possession of in-what to do with, and in return they are abformation, that during the month of Novem-solutely in want of woollen cloths, hardware, ber, more than two hundred French officers and other articles of manufacture.-There passed Bussorah on their route to the Persian arrived in our port last year 1,018 vessels, Court. A French officer, disguised as a Per- under different flags, 704 Spanish, 74 French, sian merchant, was lately apprehended at La- 61 Americans, 58 Danish, 28 Algerines, 20 hore, and amongst other papers found in his Austrians, 14 Moors, 18 Ragusans, 12 Sarpossession was a minute survey of the coun- dinians, 9 Turks, &c.-Barcelona, Feb. 1. try, from Herat to Candahar and Cabal.The present situation of Persia, although it is not calculated to offer any interruption to the passage of a French army, is not competent to afford it many facilities: the empire appears to be distracted by intestine commotions, and severely embarrassed by foreign ag. gression.

RUSSIA.

SWEDEN.

Alterations of Fortifications.-The fortifibeen very much diminished; they were not cations of the city of Gottenburgh, have lately only imperfect, as being formed on principles formerly adopted, but they were so extensive, that they were unable to stand more than a week's siege. The principal batteries how

ever, remain. Those of the Crown and the Gothic Lion, with the citadel of Ny-Elfs

two rocks, in the middle of the river Gotté, the mouth of which it defends. The works of this citadel are strengthening, with great assiduity. The ramparts of Malmoë are also in a progress of demolition: but the citadel will be preserved. By this alteration, six new rows of houses, will be added to the city in the midst of which will be a public square, to be named Gustavus Adolphus.

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Account of the Russian Admiral, Siniavin. This officer is of one of the first families in Russia. About the year 1783, being then a youth, he was sent to England by the Rus-burg, situated half a league from the city, on sian court, who obtained permission from the British government for his being admitted a volunteer in our navy. He was accordingly, by order of the Lords of the Admiralty, received on board the Leander, of 50 guns, then destined for the Halifax station, in America, where he served about three years. He was afterwards employed for nearly the same time in the Mediterranean, as a volunteer midshipman, on board the Pearl frigate, then commanded by the late Honourable Seymour Finch, brother to the Earl of Aylesford, which ship he quitted at Smyrna, in 1789, in order to render to his own country the benefit of that knowledge and experience he had acquir ed from us, Russia being then engaged in à war with the Turks, against whom he seemed, by nature, to be a zealous adversary. During the last war he served, and held the rank of a post captain in the Russian navy, and was one of their fleet that wintered in the Medway; but on that fleet being ordered home, and the Emperor Paul entering into the views of Buonaparté, he retired, and continued in retirement until Russia again made common cause with this country.

SPAIN.

Conspiracy against the King-Since the liberation of the Prince Asturias, a commision has been named for the purpose of investigating the charges relative to the authors of the conspiracy entered into against his Ma

OBSERVANDA INTERNA.

State of the British Forces.-It appears, from accounts laid before the House of Commons, that the total number of men enrolled in the militia in England, since the first of September, 1807, is Principals, 3.129, Substitutes, £2,956, making together, 26,085. That the effective number of Volunteers in Great Britain on the 1st of De cember last was, Field Officers, 1,367: Captains, 4,225: Subalterns, 8,485: Staff Officers, 2,548: Serjeants, 15,581: Trumpeters and Drummers, 7,533: Rank and File, 290,000: and that the total effective strength of the Regular and Militia Forces was, on the first of February last, Cavalry, 26,520: Regular Infantry, including Foot Guards, 178,295: Artillery, including Ar tificers, 24,781: Militia, 77,164.- Tota Rank and File, 306,760.

The Trial of General Whitelocke,—This trial has occupied the public attention, and very properly, for a long time: the charges against him have been fully proved, but we cannot spare room for particulars, as a mere abstract, of so long a trial, would occupy a great portion of our number, yet would be wholly unsatisfactory. There are various editions of the trial from five shillings or under to a guinea in price.-It occupied thirty Third Charge. That the said Lieutenantone days of real business: with very few general Whitelocke did not make, although it was in his power, any effectual attempt, adjournments or delays. The following are the charges and the sentence: as confirmed by his own personal exertions or otherwise, by His Majesty. to co-operate with or support the different divisions of the army under his command, First Charge.-That Lieut.-general White-when engaged with the enemy in the streets Jocke, having received instructions from of Buenos Ayres, on the fifth of July, 1807, His Majesty's principal Secretary of State, whereby those troops, after having encounto proceed for the reduction of the province of tered and surmounted a constant and wellBuenos Ayres, pursued measures ill calculated directed fire, and having effected the purport to facilitate that conquest; that when the of their orders, were left without support or Spanish commander had shewn such sympfurther orders, and considerable detachments toms of a disposition to treat as to express a under Lieutenant-colonel Duff, and Brigadesire to communicate with Major-general dier-general Craufurd, were thereby comGower, the second in command, upon the pelled to surrender; such conduct on the part subject of terms, the said Lieutenant-general of Lieutenant-general Whitelocke tending to Whitelocke did return a message, in which the defeat and dishonour of His Majesty's he demanded, amongst other articles, the arms, to lessen the confidence of the troops surrender of persons holding civil offices in in the skill and courage of their officers, bethe government of Buenos Ayres, as priso- ing unbecoming and disgraceful to his chaners of war. That the said Lieutenant-gene-racter as an officer, prejudicial to good order ral Whitelocke in making such an offensive and military discipline, and contrary to the and unusual demand, tending to exasperate articles of war. the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres, to produce and encourage a spirit of resistance to His Majesty's arms, to exclude the hope of amicable accommodation, and to increase the difficulties of the service with which he was entrusted, acted in a manner unbecoming to his duty as an officer, prejudicial to military discipline, and contrary to the articles of

betraying great professional incapacity on the part of the said Lieutenant-general Whitelocke, tending to lessen the confidence of the troops in the conduct of their officers, being derogatory to the honour of His Majesty's arms, contrary to his duty as an officer, prejudicial to good order and military discipline, and contrary to the articles of war.

war.

Fourth Charge. That the said Lieutenant general Whitelocke, subsequently to the attack upon Buenos Ayres, and at a time when the troops under his command were in possession of posts on each flauk of the town, and of the principal arsenal, with a communication open to the fleet, and having an effective force of about five thousand men, did enter into, and finally conclude a treaty with the enemy, whereby he acknowledges in the public dispatch of the 10th July, 1807, that

Second Charge. That the said Lieutenant general Whitelocke, after the landing of the troops at Ensenada, and during the march he resolved to forego the advantages which from thence to the town of Buenos Ayres, the bravery of his troops had obtained, and did not make the military arrangements best which advantages had cost him about two calculated to ensure the success of his opera- thousand five hundred men in killed, woundtions against the town, and that having ed, and prisoners;" and that by such treaty known, previously to his attack upon the he unnecessarily and shamefully surrendered town of Buenos Ayres, upon the 5th of July, such advantages, totally evacuated the town 1807, as appears from his dispatch of July of Buenos Ayres, and consented to deliver up the 10th, that the cuciny meant to occupy to the enemy the strong fortress of Monte the flat roofs of the houses, he did, neverthe-Video, which had been delivered to his less, in the said attack, divide his forces into charge. and which, at the period of the treaty several brigades and parts, and ordered the and abandonment, was well and sufficiently whole to be unloaded, and no firing to garrisoned and provided against attack, and be permitted on any account; and under which was not, at such period, in a state of this order to march into the principal streets blockade or seige; such conduct on the part of the town, unprovided with proper and of Lieutenant-general Whitelocke tending to sufficient means for foreing the barricadoes, the dishonour of His Majesty's arms, and whereby the troops were unnecessarily ex-being contrary to his duty as an officer, preposed to destruction, without the possibilityjudicial to good order and military discipline, of making effectual opposition; such conduct and contrary to the articles of war.

SENTENCE, &c..

The Court Martial having duly considered the evidence given in support of the charges against the prisoner, Lieutenant-General Whitelocke, his defence, and the evidence he has adduced, are of opinion that he is guilty of the whole of the said charges, with the exception of that part of the second charge which relates to the order that the columns «should be unloaded, and that no bring "should be permitted on any account.'

The Court are anxious that it may be disstinctly understood, that they attach no censure whatever to the precaution taken to prevent unnecessary firing during the advance of the troops to the proposed points of attack, and do therefore acquit Lieutenant-General Whitelocke of that part of the said charge. The Court adjudge, That the said LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WHITELOCKE BE CASHIERED, AND DECLARED TOTALLY UNFIT AND UNWORTHY TO SERVE HIS MAJESTY IN ANY MILITARY CAPACITY WHATEVER.

The King has been pleased to confirm the above sentence, and His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief has received His Majesty's command to direct, that it shall be read at the head of every regiment in his ser vice, and inserted in all regimental orderly books, with a view of its becoming a lasting memorial of the fatal consequences to which officers expose themselves, who, in the dis charge of the important duties confided to them, are deficient in that zeal, judgment, and personal exertion, which their sovereign and their country have a right to expect from of ficers entrusted with high commands.

To his Majesty, who has ever taken a most lively interest in the welfare, the honour, aud reputation of his troops, the recent failure of South America has proved a subject of the most heartfelt regret; but it has been a great consolation to him, and his Majesty has commanded it to be intimated to the army, that after the most minute investigation, his Majesty finds ample cause for gratification in the intrepidity and good conduct displayed by his troops lately employed on that service, and particularly by those 'divisions of the army which were personally engaged with the enemy in the town of Buenos Ayres, on the 5th of July, 1807; and his Majesty entertains no doubt, that had the exertions of his troops in South America been directed by the same skill and energy which have so eminently distinguished his contwanders in other quarters of the world, the result of the campaign would have proved equally glorious to themselves and beneficial to their country. By command of his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief,HARRY CALVERT, Major-Gen. and Adj. Gen. of the Forces,

Droits of Admiralty. The account of the Net Proceeds paid into the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty, of all property condemned to His Majesty as Droits, either in right of his Crown, or in right of the office of Lord High Admiral, since the 1st of January 1794, to the present time, has been laid upon the table of the House of Commons, pursuant to the order of the 12th of February theluding Dutch, Danish, Spanish, Prussian, last.-The account contains the ships' names, Papenburgh, &c.; the masters; the date when the proceeds were brought; the Drous in right of the Crown, and the Droits of the Admiralty, distinguished from each other; and the net proceeds, or balance, remaining on each, amounting in the whole to £723,890 3s. 84d. and concludes thus:

Out of these balances there has been paid

the sum of And the balance now remaining amounts

to

There have been also paid into the Registry Spanish proceeds condemned to his Majesty, being taken prior to the declaration of the former hostilities against Spain, amounting to £288,302 14s. 5d., which have been all paid out except the sum of Received from the Vice Admiralty Court at Gibraltar, on account of the proceeds of sundry Spanish ships and cargoes, captured prior to hostilities against Spain, and condemned to his Majesty in right of his crown in the said court 315,668 17 2 Paid pursuant to his Majesty's warrants thereout

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..224,813 8 4

Leaving a balance of...... Subject to rewards to be granted to the captors in some of the cases. Ditto from the Vice Admiralty Court at Jamaica

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Paid pursuant t)

wariant

....£7,656 12 7

Leaving a balance of ...
Ditto from the Vice
Admiralty Court at
Malta, out of which
nothing has yet been
paid to the captors
Ditto from the Vice
Admiralty Court at
Bermuda, ditto
Ditto, from the Vice
Admiralty Court at
Antigua, ditto
Ditto, from the Vice
Admiralty Court at
Barbadoes, ditto...
There has been also
brought in by the
Commissioners for
the care and disposal
of Spanish property,
taken prior to hosti-
lities, as the balance
of specie remitted to
them fromGibraltar,
in the following
ships, viz. Pomo-

na,

St. Edward, Cory, Cleopatra, Fu

ents, Hermosa, the last taken by the Beagle

There have been brought in various small sums,

as

freights of ships de-
tained under the
Prussian embargo,
amounting to

.........8,447 19 2 Out of which has been paid and returned ........3,039 16 3

Leaving a balance of ......
The Commissioners for
the care and disposal
of Prussian property
taken prior to hos
tilities, are now
bringing in the ac.
count, sales, and pro-
ceeds, of such ships
and goods as have
been sold by them,
the amount brought
in is ....
The whole of which
is subject to the re-
wards to be allotted
to the actual cap-

tors.
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Exemption of Duty to Foreigners. appears, from an account laid before the House of Commons, that the total amount of all exemptions granted to foreigners, in respect of the duty on dividends in the various funds of Great Britain, and on the dividends of the East-India, and South Sea Companies, under the Property Tax, amounted for the four quarters, ending the 5th of April, 1807, to L09,072, 18s. 10d.

Cultivation of Hemp and Merino Wool.— 5,409 2 11 Lord Somerville, in appendix to Mr.Wissett's valuable Treatise on the Culture and Prepara tion of Hemp, has renewed his patriotic en deavours to call the attention of the Land Owners of Britain, to the importance of growing upon our own soil an ample supply of this valuable commodity. He estimates our annual consumption at 35,000 tons, independent of what may be required for seed, and this quantity he points out the means of raising with great facility, without any ma terial derangement of our present system of husbandry, so far as regards the growth of corn. His lordship's communication abounds with observations, political, economical, and practical, worthy the serious attention both of landlords and tenants; and the noble agricul

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