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General Sir W. Keir's official account of the expedition against the pirates in the Persian Gulf was published at Bombay, in a Gazette Extraordinary. The town of Ras-ul-Khyma, the strong-hold of the pirates, was taken possession of on the 9th of December, after a resistance of six days. The troops landed on the third, and on the following day dislodged the enemy from a bank within 900 yards of the outer fort, which was expected to afford good cover for the men, and to serve as a depot for stores, previous to the erection of the batteries. In this service Major Molesworth, of his Majesty's 47th regiment, was killed by a cannon shot, and Lieut. Stepney, of the 65th, was wounded. On the morning of the 6th several guns were opened on the fort. The enemy made a sortie the same night, but were repulsed with considerable loss. On the 7th several fresh batteries were opened on the fort, and fired, with scarcely an intermission, till sunset. when the breach of the curtain was reported nearly practicable and the towers almost untenable. Immediate arrangements were made for the assault, and the troops were ordered to move down to the trenchies at daybreak the The bombardment connext morning. tinued during the night, and the batteries having recommenced their fire before day light, completed the breaches by eight o'clock. The party moved forward about that hour, and entered the fort through the breaches, without firing a shot; and it soon appeared that the enemy had evacuated the place. The town was taken possession of, and found almost entirely deserted, only 18 or 20 men, and a few women, remaining in their houses. The loss of the British during the siege wasKilled, 1 major, (Major Molesworth,) 4 rank and file: grand total, 5. ed, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 2 havildars, 1 drummer, 46 rank and file: grand total,

51.

Wound

By letters received from Batavia, dated January 24, it appears, that nearly the whole of the Dutch troops had been drafted from thence to Palambang, in order to strengthen that military position. The inhabitants of Batavia were, in consequence, much alarmed, as not more than 600 European troops were left to defend the place against the Malays, who are able to muster a force of nearly 100,000 men. Should the Malays attack them, it was apprehended that a general massacre would

ensue.

AMERICA.

UNITED STATES.-On the 9th May, a message from the President was delivered to Congress, respecting the negotiations in regard to the possession of the Floridas, in which, after complaining grievously of the tergiversation of Spain, he submits to Con

gress, that though they would be fully justified in taking immediate possession of the Floridas, it is still expedient, in the present distracted state of the Spanish Government, to wait until some settlement takes place, after which the President anticipates that this long protracted negotiation may be brought to an amicable conclusion.

The American papers contain a Report of the Committee of Ways and Means in the House of Representatives on the state of the revenue of the United States, which shews the following results of the examination of the Committee:Permanent Expenditures, Temporary,

From which deduct Items
not required (as speci-
fied) for 1821,

Estimated Amount of
Receipts for 1821,(per
Statement,)

Leaving a Deficit, in

1821, of

Dollars.

11,378,975

13,596,034

24,975,009

1,600,000

23,375,009

19,720,000

3,655,009

The Committee conclude their Report by earnestly recommending economy and retrenchment; and by a resolution calling on the President to draw up such a plan as will enable Congress, in its next Session, to make such reductions in the various branches of public expenditure as may be required by the state of the finances.

CARACCAS.-The New York Gazette, of the 9th May, contains the following intelligence, under the head" Glorious News."

"Yesterday we received a proof-sheet of the Charleston City Gazette, containing news from South America, that the Royal in Caarmy under Morales, of 5000 men, raccas, had been destroyed, and that the whole province was in the fuil possession of the Fatriots." This intelligence was received in a letter from St Thomas of April 18, and a postscript to the letter mentions the arrival there of a schooner 14 days from Angostura, with the following verbal news:-"A very bloody action has been fought between General Paez and the Royalist army, 300 miles from that place, in which the Spaniards lost every man, amounting to 5000 men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Great rejoicings were the order of the day, such as ringing of bells, cannonading, &c. This action must have been fought near Calaboza, with the Royalist army of General Morales, who, with the whole of his forces, must have been annihilated. The evacuation of Caraccas is a necessary consequence, and the entrance of the Patriot army."

A letter from Angostura, dated March 7th, mentions an event which, however

horrible, is but too characteristic of the exterminating mode of warfare carried on between the royalists and independents on the Spanish Main. On the 11th February a party of Spaniards entered the town of Santa Barbara, and as there was no previous intimation of the approach, the place was completely taken by surprise. Their object appears to have been the capture of a British officer of rank in the service of the republic of Venezuela, who had distinguished himself in the operations against the Royalists; as their first step was to surround the house in which he had resided, and where he had been previously long confined by indisposition. Fortunately he had been removed but a few days before to head-quarters at Maturin. The Spaniards then proceeded to the hospital, where they found 25 sick men of the British legion, and a Lieutenant Pointer of the same corps, whom, with the commandant and all the men of the town, they put to death in the square, by cutting their throats. On retiring they carried off with them the greater part of the women.

HAVANNAH.-A New York paper, of the 8th May, gives the following account of what took place at Havannah, when the news arrived there of the Revolution in Spain:

We learn by the Sally, from Havannah, that the new Government of the Cortes was established at that place. The city had been illuminated three successive nights, and all vessels entered and cleared at the National Custom-house. The name of King is not mentioned. The Governor was compelled to take the oath, four times, in the public square, in the presence of 6000 troops. Two English brigs were in port at the time, having on board each half a million of dollars. They were boarded by order of the newly constituted au thorities, and the money brought on shore, and the following message was left : If the king have any demands against us, let him send his accounts, and they shall be settled.'

CHILI-Capture of Valdivia by Lord Cochrane.-A letter from Valparaiso, of 22d February, contains the following account of a heroic exploit of Lord Cochrane, which has since been confirmed by the receipts of official intelligence.

Lord Cochrane, on his return from Lima, did not enter this port, but stretched on to the southward, with his own ship the O'Higgins, to take a look into Valdivia. While reconnoitring the batterics, a Spanish brig of war appeared in the offing, standing in for the port, upon which Lord Cochrane immediately hoisted Spanish colours, which decoyed the brig close alongside before the mistake was discovered. The captain of the port of Valdivia, with his whole boat's crew, were caught in the

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same net. This officer was so entirely off his guard, that he came on board the O'Higgins, and was advancing on the quarter-deck with the utmost ease and unconcern, when he met Lord Coch rane, at sight of whom he started back with surprise, and said, I believe I have made a mistake;' to which his Lordship coolly replied, The greatest you ever made in your life.' The brig above. mentioned proved to be the Petrillo, Spanish ship of war, from Lima, with arms, stores, and 20,000 dollars in cash, for paying the troops in Valdivia. She has since arrived safe in Valparaiso. His Lordship then put into Talcahuano, when he took on board his own vessel 250 soldiers, and reported that he was bound to Valparaiso. He, however, returned to Valdivia, landed his small battalion on the beach, and led them on to the charge in person, himself carrying the flag of the O'Higgins as a standard. The Royalists, after firing a few rounds, were driven from their guns at the point of the bayonet. Thus was Valdivia taken, the strongest point in South America, Callao excepted, having mounted in its batteries 110 pieces of cannon. The colonel and officers of the garrison were made prisoners. The whole was accomplished with the loss of very few men on the part of the Patriots. As to officers, Lord Cochrane had few to lose, for his first Lieutenant was absent in the prize, and his second was sick, so that he was himself Admiral, Captain, and Lieutenant of his own ship. After having secured the prisoners on a small island in the bay, and manned the batteries with a portion of his sailors, he embarked with his troops on board some small vessels he had captured, and sailed with the intention of subduing the Island of Chiloe, a short distance to the southward, and now the only hold the Royalists have in the south. This brilliant exploit has given a different turn to affairs. The expedition to Peru is now talked of with confidence, and active preparations are making, but nothing will be done till his Lordship's arrival, for he is the main spring of the whole. We expect him on the 25th."

BUENOS AYRES.-By the receipt of Boston papers of the 1st May, and an arrival from Rio Janeiro, we learn the fol lowing particulars regarding the late occurrences at Buenos Ayres.

It appears that, on the 1st of February, an engagement took place between General Rondeau and Ramirez, the Commander of the troops from Sante Fe and Entre Rios, in which the former was defeated; in consequence, a temporary government was formed at Buenos Ayres, and it is now stated that Sarratea was at the head of civil affairs, and that Soler had the command of the military. These important changes in

the ruling persons of the province produced an expectation that a mutual good understanding might be established with General Ramirez, and we know already that this has been effected by a convention concluded on the 23d February.

By the way of Rio Janeiro, letters have been received from Buenos Ayres of the 29th February. They confirm the disasters of Artigas, who is stated to have sustained so complete a defeat in his last engagement with the Portuguese, that he had not ten men with him at Mandisovi on the 20th February. His chief reliance was on the return of troops sent against Buenos Ayres. This, with the hope that Buenos Ayres and Santa Fe would still take part

with him, kept up the spirits of his partizans; but it was believed they were too much weakened in all quarters to attempt any thing of importance for some time to come. The convention between Buenos Ayres and Santa Fe had restored the intercourse with the interior. Business was improving, and confidence rapidly reviving. The meeting of deputies, whenever it should take place, was not likely to encourage the wish of the Artigas party, by producing a war with the Portuguese, as they would be compelled to favour the wish of their provinces, who, for the most part, are desirous of penetrating into Peru

or Cuba.

PROCEEDINGS OF PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, May 10.—Lord STANHOPE made a motion for the appointment of a select committee, to take into consideration the practicability of giving employment to the poor, especially in the manufacturing districts. The speech of the noble Lord embraced some of the most important topics of political economy, particularly relating to the use of machinery, which, he contended, had greatly increased the distress of the country, by throwing the poor out of employment. The noble Lord was answered by the Earl of LIVERPOOL, who defended the use of machinery in our manufactures; and maintained, that to our superiority in this respect it was to be ascribed that the British manufacturer was enabled to undersell the manufacturers of other countries, where the wages of labour was much less. The noble Earl declared that the members of administration were most willing to assist in an investigation into the distresses of the ma nufacturing districts, with a view to devising means for their relief; and that they had abstained from originating such an inquiry, only because they were unprepared with any legislative measure which promised to lead to an useful end. A similar intimation had been some nights before given in the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, though not in terms so explicit. The motion of Lord Stanhope was negatived without a division.

May 26. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE brought forward a motion for a committee to inquire into the means of extending the foreign trade of the country, which was agreed to without a dissenting voice. His Lordship began by showing the impolicy of

attempting to divide the community into separate interests, and the necessity of a good understanding being maintained between the agricultural and commercial classes, as the best means of promoting the permanent advantage of both. The present distress he ascribed, as has often been done, to the excess of commandable industry, and the diminution of capital; and endea voured to prove that the only effectual re medy for the evil was to be sought after in the removal of the restrictions which at present limit and obstruct the transactions of the foreign merchant. In support of this opinion the noble Marquis took a detailed view of our continental and transatlantic relations, and concluded by strongly urging the necessity of using conci. liatory measures towards Ireland, the inhabitants of which, he maintained, would, under a happier administration, become great consumers of our home manufac tures, and open up a channel for the em ployment of British capital highly advan. tageous to the interests of the united kingdom. He was followed by the Earl of LIVERPOOL, who concurred with him in all his general statements. He stated his opinion candidly and fairly, that this country had not flourished in consequence of the restrictions which it had imposed on trade, but in spite of them; and he pro fessed at the same time his readiness to promote the proposed inquiries into these subjects, and to regulate our commerce as far as may be found consistent with exist ing interests, according to what he conceiv ed to be the standard of true policy. He was of opinion, that after the fictitious ca. pital, which, by overtrading, had given birth to much of the present distress, had

disappeared, the manufacturing and commercial concerns of the country would recover from their depressed state, and resume their former activity.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-April 28When the report on the address of the House in answer to his Majesty's speech was brought up, Lord A. HAMILTON took the opportunity of impressing on mimisters the state of the manufacturing districts of the west of Scotland, so lately the scene of disturbance. It was said, that time was the only, though the slow, remedy for preventing evils; but government was bound to do its utmost to mitigate the suffering. Last year L. 50,000 had been voted for emigration, and something else ought to be tried. The Hon. Member for Glasgow, now in his place, will know the urgency of this case, and the necessity existing, that steps should be taken to promote emigration, or afford other relief. At this moment, even to many existence was a burden, and without food or raiment, what remained for them to hope? Assistance of any kind would tend more than any thing to put down the turbulent spirit which had lately evinced itself. He feared, that ministers were not aware of the extent or intenseness of the evil, and attributed too much to disaffection and too little to distress. He wished to know, before he sat down, what had been done with the L. 50,000, how far it had been effectual, and whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer was prepared to proceed farther in the

same course.

the droits of the Admiralty, the hereditary revenues, and other funds received by the Crown. Mr Brougham's proposition in regard to these funds was, that they should be taken from the management of the Crown, and placed under the immediate control of Parliament, the Crown receiving due compensation for the loss, and that the personal expenditure of the Royal Family, in place of making, as at present, one of the many complicated articles of what is called the civil list, should be kept quite separate from all the other expences of the civil government. The motion of Mr Brougham was negatived by a majori. ty of 118, the numbers being, for the motion, 155,-against it 273. In the course of the debate, however, it was stated, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that, in order to bring those funds more directly under the control of Parliament, an account of their amount and of their application by the Crown should, as a matter of course, be laid before the House every session.

May 9-Sir J. MACKINTOSH brought forward several important propositions relating to the criminal laws of the country, the object of which was to soften the severity of our criminal code, by substituting, for certain offences, the punishment of transportation for that of death. He also proposed that a new Committee should be appointed, with the same powers, and for the same purposes, as last year, which was agreed to.

actions of Edwards the spy for the last two years; which, after a discussion of some length, was negatived without a division.

On the same evening Alderman WOOD brought forward his motion that a Secret The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER Committee of the House should be appoint. did not wish to go into any detail with regarded to examine into the character and transto the particular question, as to the measures ministers meant to pursue for encouraging emigration. He thought the Noble Lord miscalculated the means of the country. Considerably more than L. 50,000 had been expended in shipping 5000 persons for the Cape of Good Hope. Emigration to America he considered very injudicious from the present condition of the United States, and the severe distress there prevailing. In the British colonies land had been granted to a considerable extent, but in consequence of the immense num ber of emigrants, the strongest representations had been received from Canada. He was not at present prepared to recommend any new plan. Before a fresh colony was sent out to the Cape of Good Hope, it would be wise to wait until some accounts were obtained from the settlement lately made there.

May 4.-Lord ARCHIBALD HAMIL TON moved the re-appointment of the Select Committee on the Scots Royal Burgh question. The motion was acceded to, and the Committee nominated.

May 5.—Mr BROUGHAM brought forward his motion, to take into consideration

May 11.-Mr MABERLEY, in moving for an account of the outstanding Exchequer Bills, and the interest due thercon, entered at some length into a review of the state of the Finances, and commented with considerable force on the plan proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer last Session, for constituting a Sinking Fund of L.5,000,000. The Hon. Member contended, that this plan was visionary, and under existing circumstances could never be realized; the new taxes out of which the Fund was to have been constituted having failed to be productive, our expenditure having exceeded our income, and the Sinking Fund having fallen into arrear a very considerable sum in the course of the last year. Mr Maberley, as he did repeatedly during the last session, urged Ministers to meet the evil boldly, and adopt the only measure which could, in the slightest manner, relieve the finances of the country from their present state of embarrassment, namely, to impose a tax on real property, by which, he contended, a sum of

L.10,000,000 at least might be raised, without affecting labour, trade, or professions. If this measure was adopted, he contended, the assessed taxes might be repealed, as a boon to the middling classes, and a surplus of L.4,000,000 at least would still be left to aid the revenue. He concluded by moving for an account of exchequer bills and Irish treasury bills, outstanding on the 5th of January 1819; distinguishing the different classes, and the principal from the interests. The Chancellor of the Exchequer declined entering into any premature discussion on the subject of the finances of the country, and signified his assent to the moAfter some observations on the part of Mr J. Smith, Mr Baring, Mr Grenfell, and Sir J. Newport, the motion was unanimously agreed to.

tion.

May 15.-Lord A. HAMILTON moved a resolution to this effect, that the House should agree with the Sixth Report of the Parliamentary Commission for inquiring into the fees and emoluments of offices connected with the Courts of Justice in Scotland, and that a fifth Baron was unnecessary to do the business or discharge the duties of the Court of Exchequer in that country. It was supported by Mr Tierney and opposed by the Lord Advocate; Lord Castlereagh moved the previous question. The House divided on the original question, when the numbers were-for it 177, against it 189-Majority 12.

May 16.-Colonel DAVIES moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to examine the military expenditure, which now amounts to nearly seven millions, and on which, he alleged, a saving of at least four hundred thousand pounds might be effected, by having it differently modified. The motion was negatived by a majority of 80.

May 19.-An interesting debate took place upon the second reading of Lord John Russell's bill for transferring the elective franchise of the borough of Grampound to the unrepresented town of Leeds. Lord CASTLEREAGH wished rather that the forfeited franchise of Gramp und should be extended to the adjoining hundred, urging, in support of this plan, the precedents with respect to Cricklade, New Shoreham, and Aylesbury, as also, the risk that would otherwise be incurred of losing the Bill altogether in the other House. He objected likewise to the bill in its present shape, as tending to recognise, especially by its preamble, the general principle of Parliament. ary Reform, and as admitting the expediency of bestowing the right of sending members to parliament upon those populous and wealthy towns, which did not at present enjoy such a privilege. This view of the question was also supported by Mr Canning. Mr Tierney, on the other hand, Mr Wynn, Sir J. Newport, and other

members, considered the bill entitled to the sanction of the House, precisely because it did possess that tendency, and because, by adopting it, parliament would convince moderate men, who thought some reform necessary, of its disposition to consult that feeling, when it could be done in so safe and unexceptionable a manner. Mr BEAUMONT, however, the member for Northumberland, intimated his intention of moving in the Committee, that, instead of transferring the franchise to Leeds, and thus creating a new borough, it should be given to the West Riding of Yorkshire; for which purpose the county of York should be divided into two counties, of which the North and East Ridings should form one, and the West Riding the other. This intended amendment met with the concurrence of all parties; for both Lord Castlereagh and Mr Canning allowed, that, if the principle of transfer was to be adopt. ed at all, they should decidedly prefer giv ing the elective franchise, forfeited by Grampound, to the West Riding of Yorkshire.

May 5-Lord ARCHIBALD HAMILTON brought forward his motion, in the House of Commons, for a return of the freeholders in the different counties of Scotland, for the purpose of grounding on it a subsequent motion, to improve the county representation in this part of the United Kingdom. His lordship's motion, involving no specific measure, received no opposition from ministry, and was of course acceded to.

May 26.-Lord MILTON moved for the repeal of the Duty on Foreign Wool. After some discussion, the House divided -for the motion, 128-against it, 202majority against the motion, 74.

May 30.-The case of the agricultural petitioners was brought under the consideration of the House of Commons, by a motion of Mr Home Sumner, for referring their petitions to a Select Committee; and, to the surprise apparently of all parties, the motion was carried by a majority of 49, the numbers being 150 to 101. Lord Castlereagh, Lord Milton, and others, expressed regret at the decision of the House, and a motion was made to defer the appointment of the committee till next day; which motion was afterwards withdrawn, and it was at last agreed that the debate should be adjourned till the following day, when there would be a fuller attendance of members. The object of the agriculturists, in their application to parliament, is, as they themselves state, not to procure any new measure, but to render the one presently in force efficient for its proposed end, which is stated to be, to secure to the grower of corn the remunerating price of 80s. per quarter.

May 31. The adjourned debate on the

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