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The project of a new constitution for the states of Wurtemberg has been brought forward. It has met with much opposition, and occasioned a great deal of discussion. The people insist upon the re-establishment of their former rights; and the King, who is said to be goaded on by the Emperor of Russia, seems determined to oppose them. Russian influence is said to be so great in these states, since the marriage of the King with the sister of the Emperor, that the whole of the military are now attired in Russian uniforms.

The new Council of State of Prussia have, by a great majority, rejected the plan of finance submitted to them by M. Bulow, the minister of finance, and have petitioned the King to assemble the provincial estates, whose proper business it is to determine on all matters of supply.

The Paris papers contain, under the head of Frankfort, a long memorial or remonstrance to the Diet from the free towns of Hamburgh, Lubeck, and Bremen, on the subject of the visit paid to the British Channel and the North Seas by the Tunisian pirates. The memorialists state, that the captain and crew of one of the Hamburgh vessels have been carried into slavery, and they have appointed a committee of five to report upon the best means of securing the trade of Germany against these depredators.

The state of the organization of the Austrian army has been published in the Belgian journals, from which it appears that there are 564 generals and 380 colonels, of whom 321 of the former, and 163 of the latter, are unemployed. The forces are composed of fifty-eight regiments of infantry of the line, of which six are in France, and three in the Neapolitan dominions. There

are twenty-one battalions of grenadiers, seventeen frontier regiments, a battalion of czaikistes, a regiment of Tyrolean chasseurs, composed of four battalions; twelve battalions of chasseurs, of which two are in France, and five battalions are in garrison. Besides these, there are the cavalry, the artillery, the miners, sappers, &c.

A letter from Vienna, of the 2d July, says, that the mountain called the Hunsruck, in Upper Austria, has disappeared, and its place been supplied by a lake. This mountain was very high, and the country around took its name from it. Since the preceding month, several phenomena had warned the inhabitants that something awful would happen, and there were frequent subterraneous noises heard. About a dozen cottages, which were built on various parts of the hill, have of course disappeared; but it was not known whether any person perished in them.

In the course of last month Switzerland sustained dreadful damage in many parts by inundations. Several rivers broke their dykes; houses and bridges were destroyed in many places; and on the banks of the Lake of Constance many communes were laid under water. In the Oberland, the fields, meadows, and plantations, were entirely submerged, and masses of the soil were seen floating about, torn up by the fury of the waters, covered with potatoes, vegetables, and hay. The storm had caused great misery to the poor peasantry, already suffering severely from the dearth of provisions.

SWEDEN.

The Hamburg papers contain a singular letter from Stockholm, describing the measures adopted by Government for the suppression of Foreign trade, by bringing back the manners of the people from modern refinements to the standard of their ancient simplicity. Voluntary associations are forming in the different provinces, for laying aside the use of all foreign articles,-for wearing no clothes of foreign manufacture,--for using no liquors except such as are made at home,-and for retrenching all superfluous expenses at weddings, christenings, burials, &c. This system is too artificial to last, and we may be assured that, however strictly it may be enforced for a time, it will soon be evaded in all points.

The Hereditary Prince, Oscar, was admitted a member of the Council of State on15th July.

DENMARK.

The Danish Government has availed itself of the first moments of peace to remove the burdens caused by the war, including the extraordinary income tax, which had been imposed for eight years.

On the 25th ult. the prisoners in the House of Correction at Copenhagen revolted, and set the prison on fire; cannons, loaded with

grape shot, were brought down and fired upon them. The ringleaders were tried on the 27th by a Council of War, and several of them were executed. The damage done by the fire is estimated at from 3 to 400,000

crowns.

America.

UNITED STATES.

The letters from America speak of the continued exertions of the Government of the United States in building a formidable navy.

The new President commenced in June a tour through the States, and was every where received with the most cordial demonstrations of satisfaction. To judge from the answers made by him to the various addresses which were presented to him as he passed, his views are decidedly pacific. He seems averse from shewing himself too much in public, and has uniformly declined to accept of any invitation to the public dinners which were offered him.

THE BRAZILS.

The insurrection at Pernambuco never extended beyond the limits of that province, and the authority of the insurgents was not of long duration. While a naval force was instantly despatched to blockade the port an army marched over land from Bahia. This force was met by the insurgents at some distance from Pernambuco, on the 15th May, and, after an action which lasted till night, the latter were totally defeated and dispersed. On the 16th, Martins, the chief of the insurgents, at the head of a small column, was attacked by the royal troops, defeated, and taken prisoner. He was sent to Bahia, and accounts from that place, of the 12th June, state, that he had been executed there the day preceding. About seventy other prisoners, who had been sent there along with him, all persons of some consideration, were about to be tried, and it was expected would share the same fate. While the insurgent army was engaged with the royal troops, the sailors and marines from the fleet landed, and hoisted the royal flag at Pernambuco, and the latest intelligence from that place states, that tranquillity was completely restored, and the royal authority firmly re-established in the province.

SPANISH AMERICA.

The New York Columbian states, that the independents have retaken Barcelona, and mentions the receipt of intelligence, that the royalists have been completely defeated at a place called the Missions, about a hundred miles from Augustura.

Bolivar is stated, in advices from Jamaica, to have entered Caraccas on the 18th June, at the head of 5000 men, having beaten the royalists twice in the same day. It appears that the patriots are in possession of that VOL. I.

whole country, Augustura excepted, where the king's troops are closely besieged and reduced to great extremities. Women and children, to the amount of 1500, had left the city, and all sorts of unclean animals had been resorted to for food. It is affirmed, on the authority of a gentleman arrived at Baltimore from St Thomas's, that the patriots had actually obtained possession of the place, as well as of all the country on the Oronoko. With a view to strike some effectual blow against the royal party, before the arrival of reinforcements from Spain, they had collected all their forces on the river Oronoko; and, according to an account in a Boston paper, the decisive battle had already taken place. The royalists are said to have sustained the impetuosity of repeated attacks with great firmness, but were in the end overpowered, and compelled to fly in all directions, leaving 549 slain, and about 500 prisoners. The capture of the two Guayanas was expected to be the result of this battle, the date of which is not however stated.

There appears to be seven patriotic armies in Caraccas and New Andalusia, whose united numbers amount to 23,300 men. The naval force, commanded by Admiral Brion, consists of 32 vessels of war.

Sir Gregor M Gregor is positively asserted to have sailed with a considerable force from Charleston, and to have commenced his operations by seizing Amelia Island; a capture which may expose the movements of the Spaniards in the adjacent quarters to serious difficulty.

Mina is said to have been joined by 7 or 800 militia in his march from Soto la Marina, a small town where he landed, to St Ander.

The independent Government of Caraccas has issued a degree permitting English and American goods to be imported for a duty of 8 per cent., instead of the 17 exacted from other nations; but promising to these other nations the same mitigation of impost whenever they shall shew to the patriots the same conciliatory disposition.

BRITISH AMERICA.

Newfoundland papers, to the 11th June, mention, that the scarcity of provisions was no longer felt. There had been extensive arrivals of provisions from Halifax and from Ireland. The Royal Gazette, of the 27th of May, states, that his Excellency, General Lord Dalhousie, governor of Halifax, adopted measures immediately to afford relief, and that they were carried into effect in the most prompt manner by Captain Baldwin of his Majesty's ship Fly, every officer attached to government using the greatest exertion to alleviate their wants.

Letters from Halifax, of the 16th, state, that numerous vessels continued to arrive there with emigrants from Great Britain. Within the three weeks immediately preceding that date, about 1000 individuals 3 Y

had been landed, and immense numbers were on their way to Canada. The brig Traveller, from Leith, with 60 emigrants, foundered at sea in the month of May, but the passengers and crew were saved by the ship Valiant, and landed at Prince Edward's Island in the gulf of St Lawrence.

WEST INDIES.

The Jamaica papers, of the 2d June, contain details relative to the predatory vessels with which the West Indies is infested. At Jamaica they give the appellation of pirates to their crews, and denounced vengeance against them. The trade of that island seems to have suffered most severely from their depredations. Nor is the evil likely to be lessened speedily, for Commodore Taylor, as he is styled, a bold and adventurous leader, has collected no less than 13 armed vessels in these seas. His immediate object was represented to be an attack on Porto Rico, the richest of the Spanish West India islands, and close to St Domingo. It has sustained several attacks from well appointed expeditions during the last three centuries, and Commodore Taylor may therefore find himself battled. Much, of course, depends upon the depositions of the troops and inhabitants. The Jamaica Courant, of the 16th of May, says, "Information from home states, that Lord Melville had forwarded to this island positive instructions to check in every instance the piratical depredations of any flag which may be found annoying the commerce of this colony."

Asia.

EAST INDIES.

Despatches overland from India have been received at the East India House, from the Governor of Bombay, dated March 22, and communicating the important intelligence of the taking of the fortress of Hattrass by the British army. The circumstances which led to this event are as follows: A chief, named Rio Doss, had for some time past manifested a spirit of restlessness and encroachment towards the British, and, by taking possession of this strong fortress, his hostile designs against the British possessions bordering on the MahRemonratta territories became obvious. strances and explanations proving unsatisfactory, recourse was had by our Government to more effectual measures, by prompt and vigorous military operations. Our army, composed of British and native troops, immediately took the field under the command of Colonel Marshal, an officer of high military reputation. Arrived before the place, he summoned it to surrender; but the enemy, confiding in his strength and means of defence, refused to capitulate. It was then determined to carry it by storm-a heavy bombardment was commenced; and bombs and Congreve rockets were used with ter

rible effect. A bomb falling on the maga-
zine occasioned a tremendous explosion,
which destroyed numbers in the garrison of
Hattrass. Our loss, by the fire of the ene-
Lieutenant Court-
my, was inconsiderable.
land was the only officer wounded. The
conduct of Scindia, in the countenance he
has given Rio Doss in his hostile dispositions
towards the British, is much blamed. A
probability might be entertained of a Mah-
ratta war, were it not for the impression
which the British arms may have made on
the councils of the Mahratta confederates.

We are concerned to announce a melancholy accident, which occurred in Columbo harbour on the 27th of January, by the upsetting of one of the boats belonging to his Majesty's ship Iphigenia. From the accounts received it appears, that a party of officers belonging to his Majesty's 73d regiment had proceeded on board the Iphigenia on that day, to dine with the officers of the ship, and that on their return in the evening the boat unfortunately upset, by which distressing occurrence no less than seven lives were lost. Ensigns Campbell, Coane, and Hanwell, of his Majesty's 73d regiment; and Lieutenant Sanders of his Majesty's ship Iphigenia, two seamen, and one boy, were drowned; the remaining seven got safe on shore.

The letters from the Mauritius by the Pallas, which sailed the 8th of April last, convey very gloomy intelligence of the state of that colony. In consequence of the dreadful fire, houses of the highest commercial character have required six and ten years to meet their engagements.-All metallic money had disappeared; and the Local Treasury had been compelled to issue notes for sums as low as a rupee. These are depreciated in the Bazaar, and, even in exchange for brass money, the holder is compelled to allow a premium. The second expedition to Madagascar has experienced as disastrous a result as the first. Before the Pallas sailed, the Musquito sloop of war was despatched from Port Louis to bring back the survivors; but it was feared, from the dreadful mortality, that all the new settlers had perished, amongst whom was Governor Farquhar's Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant-Governor Le Sage.

CHINA.

By an edict published by the Chinese Emperor, the failure of Lord Amherst's embassy to Pekin is ascribed to certain impositions practised by the minister Ho-shetay. An hour of audience had been appointed, but the envoys having travelled all night, and their dresses of ceremony not having arrived, they could not present themselves; and the Chinese minister made a report to the Emperor, couched in disrepectful language, in consequence of which, the embassy was sent back without an audience. Had the minister, says the decree, "addressed to me a true report, I, the Em

peror, could certainly have issued my commands, and have changed the time of the audience, in order to correspond with their intentions in coming ten thousand miles to my court."-The edict then censures severely the conduct of the minister, and also several other officers of the court, who knew of the imposition, but did not undeceive the Emperor.

The latest accounts from Canton state, that much discontent prevails among the people of Cochin-China, occasioned by the King nominating for his successor a son of one of his concubines. The Emperor of China, who pretends to have a right to interfere in the appointment of the kings of that country, has expressed his displeasure at the nomination.

PROCEEDINGS OF PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

ACADEMICAL SOCIETY.

Thursday, May 1.-Lord SPENCER presented a petition from this society, similar to that presented to the House of Commons by Mr Wilberforce on the 28th April.

LORD SIDMOUTH'S CIRCULAR. May 2.-The LORD CHANCELLOR stated the result of his inquiries respecting the cases of Spence and Hogg, mentioned in the opinions of the law officers referred to in Lord Sidmouth's circular letter. With respect to the case of Spence, it appeared, that on the 13th of April 1801, an information upon oath was sworn before Mr Ford, then at Bow Street, by a person of the name of Seale, that he had printed for Thomas Spence a work entitled, " Society restored to its original Principles ;" and for that work Mr Ford held Spence to bail, to appear in the Court of King's Bench on the first day of the ensuing term. On the first day of the term, the then Attorney-General filed an information against Spence, who was called on his recognisance, and appeared. He was subsequently tried and convicted. With regard to the case of Hogg, it appeared that an information was sworn before the then Lord Mayor (1801), by a person who had purchased at Hogg's shop the trials for adultery. The Lord Mayor held Alexander Hogg to bail, to appear in the Court of King's Bench on the first day of the ensuing term, and the recognisance was drawn up by the then Attorney-General. On the first day of the ensuing term, the late Mr Perceval having, in the mean time, become Attorney-General, that gentleman filed an information against Hogg, who was called upon his recognisance, and appeared. Subsequently, upon Hogg's delivering up all the books charged against, the prosecution was dropped. There was no opinion given with respect to these cases, in any other way than by the proceedings he had

stated.

Earl GREY expressed his acknowledgments for the candid statement of the Noble and Learned Lord, but observed, that it did not appear that in either of the cases the point had been disputed, or that there had been any question raised as to the legality of the proceeding. There were only

the opinions of Attorney-Generals, but no decision of any court of law that could be recognised as an authority. He still considered, therefore, the circular of the Noble Viscount as unconstitutional, in attempting to interfere with the administration of justice; and he feared it would lead to a practice productive of the greatest mischief to individuals. In this view, after taking considerable pains to inform himself upon the subject, and having been able to find no competent authority to sanction such a measure, he felt it his duty to bring it under the consideration of the House, and on Monday se'nnight he should move for the case referred to the law officers of the Crown, upon which their opinion had been given, and which was of great importance, with a view to form a proper estimate of that opinion.

The Lords were ordered to be summoned for Monday se'nnight.

Monday, May 5.-On the motion of the Earl of EGREMONT, the Landlord and Tenant's Bill (the object of which, we believe, is to give power and authority to landlords to resume possession of farms belonging to them at the end of six months after the abandonment of the same by the tenants, instead of waiting a year) was read a second time, and committed for to-morrow week.

TREATY WITH NAPLES.

May 8.-The Earl of LIVERPOOL laid on the table a copy of a treaty of commerce and navigation, between the King of the Two Sicilies and the Government of this country.

EXTENTS IN AID.

May 9.-The Earl of ROSSLYN presented a petition from certain persons, complaining of the abuse of extents in aid, a remarkable example of which had lately occurred in Bristol, in the case of a banker in that city; and praying the Lords to adopt such measures as might appear best calculated to remedy the evil. Laid on the table.

POOR LAWS.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved the appointment of a committee to consider the present state of the poor laws, and whether any and what remedy could and ought to be applied to the evils of the system.

After a short conversation, the motion

was agreed to, and the committee was directed to meet on Monday, at twelve o'clock. LORD SIDMOUTH'S CIRCULAR LETTER.

Monday, May 12.-The order of the day being read, Earl GREY moved for a copy of the case laid before the Attorney and Solicitor General. The debate was long and interesting; and the motion was lost by majority of 75 to 19.

May 13.-Lord MANVERS took the oaths and his seat.

A bill for the regulation of certain customs' duties, and several private bills, were brought from the Commons, and read a first time.

LIBEL LAW.

Lord ERSKINE, adverting to the discussion of the night before on the subject of the powers of Justices of the Peace, with respect to commitments for libel, observed, that it was impossible that so large a question, and one of such magnitude and importance, should have been fully considered and discussed in the course of one night. A great deal more must be done in order to understand what the law really was on this subject, and it was on that account that he thought proper now to mention, that it was his intention to move for a return of the precedents on this subject. After a number of observations as to the uncertainty of the law, and the oppression which must ensue from the powers of Lord Sidmouth's circular, he repeated, that if it should turn out that magistrates had the power to institute search, and hold to bail for libel, he would never rest until the law should be altered. In the mean time, he wished to have it clearly ascertained what the law really was on this subject; and with that view he gave notice, that he would in a few days move for a return of precedents of the description which he had mentioned.

May 14-The Landlord and Tenant's Bill was read a third time and passed.

A bill for incorporating another Gas-light Company in London, after some discussion in regard to the responsibility required, was read a third time and passed.

May 16.-The Catholic question called forth a long and very interesting debate. The Earl of DONOUGHMORE, after a long and very able speech, moved, "That this House do resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider the petition of his Majesty's Roman Catholic Subjects." The motion was supported by the Earl of Harrowby, the Bishop of Norwich, the Earl of Darnley, Lord Grenville, and Earl Grey; and opposed by the Bishop of Landaff, the Earl of Liverpool, and Earl Bathurst. The motion was finally lost by a majority of 52. The numbers were,-contents 90; non-contents 142.-Adjourned at one o'clock till Monday.

TITHES IN CANADA.

May 22.-Earl BATHURST laid on the table a bill of the Canadian Parliament or Assembly, pursuant to an act of the 31st of the King, by which it was directed, that

when any change was made in the state of the Established Church in Canada, the circumstance should be communicated to the British Parliament. It had been directed, that when grants of land were made, a 7th should be reserved for the clergyman of the parish; and a doubt had arisen whether this was in lieu of, or in addition to, tithes. By this bill it was declared, that the reserved 7th was in lieu of tithes. The bishop of the diocese had been consulted, and was satisfied.

The Stone Bottles Duty Bill, the Metropolis Paving Bill, and others, were brought from the Commons, and read a first time; and the Lottery Bill was read a third time and passed.

May 23.-The Royal assent was given by commission to a number of bills.

The Justices in Eyre and Exchequer Offices' Abolition and Regulation Bills, were brought up from the Commons by Mr Gilbert and others, and read a first time.

LORD SIDMOUTH'S CIRCULAR. Lord ERSKINE moved for an account of all cases in which persons were committed or held to bail for libel, by magistrates, since the year 1648.-Ordered.

ADJOURNMENT.-HABEAS CORPUS SUS

PENSION.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL rose to move, that the House should adjourn till this day se'nnight. He took that opportunity of giving notice, that on that day he should probably have to bring down a message or communication from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to the House on the state of the country; and that he intended, on the same day, to move the re-appointment of the Committee which had examined and reported on the communications before made on the same subject.

Friday, May 30.-The Earl of LIVERPOOL stated, that certain circumstances had

occurred which rendered it inconvenient to bring down the message relative to the state of the country this day, as had been intended. He had now, therefore, only to give notice, that it was proposed to bring down the message, and to move the proceedings upon it on Tuesday next.

The House was ordered to be summoned

for Tuesday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

PETITION OF WOOL-GROWERS.

Thursday, May 1.-Mr BURRELL presented a petition from the wool-growers in the vicinity of Brighton and Shoreham, complaining of the diminution of the price of wool, in consequence of the large importation of foreign wool. He stated, that wool, within the last eight years, had fallen 50 per cent. The petition was ordered to lie on the table, as was one on the same subject from Essex, presented by Mr Western.

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