committed, the report received, and ordered to be taken into further consideration on Friday, and to be printed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 6. Numerous Petitions were presented from all parts of the Country, complaining of the existing agricultural distress; and Mr. Curwen, as one mode of relief, gave notice of a motion for the repeal of the Agricultural Horse Tax.-Sir R. Wil son, adverting to the Letter published in the Papers, purporting to be the declaration of our Ministér, Mr. A'Court, to the Neapolitan Authorities, as to the conditions on which our squadron in the Bay of Naples was to observe a strict neutrality, namely, that they would do so as long as the Neapolitans respected the King and Royal Family, put a question to Lord Castlereagh, whether such was indeed the foundation on which our neutrality rested.The Noble Lord, however, declined to answer the question, but intimated that the gallant General, if he thought proper, might move for the document which he had alluded. - Mr. Maberly brought forward a motion on the public expenditure; and going through all the items of expenditure for 1820, and comparing them with those of 1792, contended that a saving of at least 3,000,000%. might be made in our expenditure.-Mr. Vansittart replied to Mr. Maberly, and moved the previous question.-After some observations on the part of Mr. Calcraft, Mr. Huskisson, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Lushington, and others, Mr. Maberly's motion was negatived by a division of 83 to 109.

March 7. Mr. Plunkett brought in his Bill for the Emancipation of the Catholics; when the first reading passed sub silentio, and the second was fixed for Friday, the 16th instant. Mr. Hobhouse presented a Petition from several inhabitants of Westminster, complaining of the power lately assumed by the Judges, of fining for contempt; which, after considerable discussion, was withdrawn, in consequence of the impropriety of several expressions contained therein. Mr. Gooch moved for a Committee to enquire into the causes of the Agricultural Distress, and to report thereupon to the House. The motion was seconded by Sir E. Knatchbull, and acceded to on the part of Mr. Robinson. ▲ lengthened discussion followed, and ultimately the motion was agreed to.

March 12. The House went into a Committee of Supply, and Lord Palmerston moved that 81,000/. be voted for the land service of Great Britain during the current year.Col. Davies moved an amendment, that the Chairman should report progress, and ask leave to sit again; with a view that GENT. MAC. March, 1821.

he, Col. Davies, might move for a Committee of Investigation and Inquiry into the Estimates. Mr. Macdonald subsequently stated, that he should move that the number of men should be reduced by 10,000; and Mr. Bennet expressed his intention to support the amendment. After a long discussion the Committee divided on an amendment proposed by Col. Davies, that the Chairman should quit the Chair and report progress-for the motion 95, against it 216.-The Committee had afterwards a great number of divisions on motions of adjournment, and that the Chairman should report progress, in all of which Ministers had large majorities.

March 14. Mr. R. Smith moved for copies of all communications which have taken place between our Government and the Government of Austria relative to the Austrian Loan.-Lord Castlereagh did not oppose the motion, and the papers were ordered.

The House went into a Committee of Supply, and the discussion on the Army Estimates was resumed; when Mr. Macdonald proposed, as an amendment, a reduction of 10,000 men in the military force of the country. Upon this proposition a long discussion ensued, and ultimately a division took place; when the motion was rejected by a majority of 96, the numbers being, for the reduction 115, against it 211.-A second division took place, on a motion of Mr. Dawson for reducing the number of men 5000; but this was also negatived by 195 to 130. The original Resolution for granting 81,458 men was then agreed to; and the Report was ordered to be received the following day.

March 16. CATHOLIC QUESTION.

Mr. Plunket moved the second reading of the Catholic Bill; previous to which, however, a number of petitions, from various bodies of Protestant Clergy and others, were presented against the Bill, and one from certain Catholic Clergy, and other individuals, of the county of Stafford, against the Bill now pending, for regulating the intercourse between the Roman Catholic Clergy and the See of Rome. The presenting of this Petition gave rise to a lengthened discussion, which was commenced by Sir Thomas Lethbridge, who contended, that the allegations contained in it were such as fully proved the fallacy of the present measure, which the Petitioners already prayed the House to reject. He was convinced the Bills now before the House, instead of conciliating the Catholic Body, would but tend to irritate them. The Hon. Baronet also declared his opinion, that the measure would be productive of general dissatisfaction among the Members of the Estab

lished

lished Church, as would be proved by their Petitions against the Bill. The Protestant body of his Majesty's subjects had only remained apparently acquiescent up to this time, under the firm persuasion that the House would reject the measure before.it reached a Committee. The opinion of Sir T. Lethbridge was supported by Mr. Peel, Mr. Dawson, and others; and controverted by Mr. Plunkett, Sir H. Parnell, Sir J. Mackintosh, &c. &c.

When the Petition was disposed of, Mr. Plunkett moved the second reading of the Bill; to which an amendment was proposed by Mr. Bathurst, namely, that the Bill should be read a second time this day six months.

After considerable discussion on the principles of the Bill, Mr. Canning addressed the House. He said that the argument against the question now was as if the spiritual connection with a foreign state was the only one. On the contrary, a connexion of a totally different nature formed the ground of the enactment of the Penal Laws. The Hon. Gentleman here entered into an history of the Penal Laws, and a recapitulation of their enactments; and concluded it by arguing, that if the danger had ceased which called for them, or that no danger had ever existed, it was full time to revoke them. Suppose a murder was said to have been committed by a person wearing a wig and spectacles, still, if it appeared no murder had been committed, was every man wearing a wig and spectacles to be punished. The Right Hon. Gentleman took another review of the Penal Laws from the reign of Elizabeth to the present. He asked, were they Roman Catholics who brought Charles the First to the block? He then alluded to a Bill having been sent up from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, in 1641, for excluding the Bishops from seats in Parliament. The Bill was rejected in the Lords by a small majority, and in that majority every one of the Catholic Peers had voted. In a few years after, those very Bishops voted for the exclusion of the Roman Catholics from Parliament. He trusted, as one good turn deserved another, that the passing of the Bills then before the House would afford the present Bishops an opportunity to pay the debt. He contended that, from the moment of the passing of the Repeal Laws in 1793, the conviction on every man's mind was, that a total repeal should follow. What! give the power to elect, and withhold the eligibility to be elected? We had abridged the Channel, and brought the Irish amongst us; and having done so, were we to stop now? For two cen. turies we had been erecting a moundwrought it high ;-and frowned upon the

waters to prevent their approach. Were we now to fortify that mound, or leave it to moulder away by accident? Or should we cut the Isthmus, and float on the mighty wave, the ark of our combined Constitution. The Right Hon. Gentleman here combated the arguments that had been used against the Bills; admitted that the Roman Catholics should be excluded from the Chancellorship, and from the Universities; ridiculed the idea of any danger to the State, by the possible election of Roman Catholic demagogues to seats in that House. He never knew a demagogue come there, who did not in six months find his level; and he wished, that in any plan for Parliamentary Reform, which might be adopted, a little nest of boroughs should be left for them, and their only qualification should be a speech in New Palaceyard. The Hon. Gent. then bore testimony to the loyalty and sacrifices made by the Catholics, and concluded a most eloquent and brilliant speech, of which the want of space prevents our being able to give more than a faint outline.

The second reading of the Bill was ultimately carried, on a division of 254 to 243; majority in favour of the Bill 11.

March 19.. CASH PAYMENTS.

On the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Acts of Parliament relative to payments of the Bank in Cash. The Right Hon. Gentleman then brought forward his promised resolutions. He stated that the object of the present measure was only to authorise the Bank Directors, if they thought fit, to do that in 1821, which they were legally authorised to do in 1822, leaving to their discretion the mode, the proportions, and the objects to which they would apply their issues. The immediate circumstances which induced him to submit his intended proposition were, the measures taken by the Bank to meet the wishes of Parliament in 1819. So effectually were these measures taken, that the Bank accumulated a larger treasure than was expected, or was once in contemplation, for May, 1822. The continual accumulation of treasure, without the power of issuing it, operated to the diminution of capital, and by continually draining from other countries part of their circulating medium, subjected all parties to great inconvenience, and other unfavourable results. He should only detain the House while stating one other circumstance, namely, the repayment of the debt of 10,000,0004. due from Government to the Bank.-(Hear, hear!)-The instalments hitherto were regularly paid, nay, even anticipated; and he hoped, by the 5th of April next, that the last instalment

stalment would be paid, with less inconvenience than most parties foresaw at the time when they considered its repayment as necessary to enable the Bank to resume cash payments.

After Mr. Baring, Mr. Ricardo, and others had addressed the House, the resolutions were agreed. to, and leave was given to bring in a Bill founded on them.

The Grampound Disfranchisement Bill then occupied the attention of the House, and was passed.

March 20. Some conversation took place between Mr. Grenfell, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Calcraft, and others, on the old question respecting the Public Balances in the hands of the Bank of England, and the remuneration allowed to that body for the management of the National Debt. The Public Balances were stated at 3,600,000%; upon which the Bank might be estimated to make an annual profit of 185,000l.; and the sum allowed for the management of the Debt was 270,000l. annually. Mr. Grenfell contended, that the sum of 10,0007 would afford ample remuneration for holding the balances; whilst 100,000l. would be a liberal allowance for the management of the debt; and thus upon these two items a saving of upwards of 300,000%.. might be made to the Public. Mr. Gren fell said, he would move nothing on the subject, but would not fail to call the attention of the House to it on every occasion.

FOREIGN

NAPLES, SARDINIA, &c.

Sir R. Wilson moved for a Copy of the Letter of Sir W. A'Court, British Minister at the Court of Naples, to the Duke de Gallo; and also for Copies of any Instructions from Ministers at home, relative to the same. The motion was opposed by Lord Castlereagh; and, after a discussion of some length, in which Mr. Canning, Sir J. Mackintosh, and others. followed, the motion was ultimately negatived without a division.

March 21. Mr. Courtenay brought the case of the American Loyalists under the hotice of the House, and moved for copies of all communications with Government on the subject of their claims, from 1812 down to the present time. The motion was not opposed; but the Chancellor of the Exchequer held out no hope of any further relief.

Mr. Western made his motion for the repeal of the additional duty on Malt; this was seconded by Mr. Mackenzie, on behalf of the Scotch Distillers and Barleygrowers. It was also supported by Mr. Ellice, Lord G. Cavendish, and others; and opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Huskisson moved, as an amendment, the previous question, and was supported by Lord Castlereagh; after which the House divided-for the original motion 149, against it 125. Majority against Ministers 24.-The result was hailed by loud cheers from the Opposition.

The Austrian Declaration of War against Naples has been published. It begins with a history of the Carbonari, whom it charges with a design of overturning all the Italian Governments; in 1816 the vigilance of the Royal Government on its restoration, succeeded in baffling the endeavours of this dangerous sect, until 1820, when the events in Spain gave them new energy, and by the contagious influence of fanatical doctrines, it increased its power so much, that the laws and police were unable to check it, and a part of the military were seduced in consequence. In this state of things, the Austrian Monarch interfered, to preserve not only Naples, but other States in Europe. The King of Naples was invited to Laybach, to confer with the Allied Sovereigns. When the King came to Laybach, he found it in vain to ground a proposal on a condition absolutely rejected by the Allied Sovereigns, who would not suffer the continuance of the present order of things at Naples, and that, if the Parliament was not dissolved, arms must be had recourse to. It then

states the determination of crossing the Po, and says, that the Emperor of Russia, if necessary, will join his forces to those of Austria. But they have no object but the safety of all States, and the peace of the world.

A Document has been published by the King of Naples, addressed to the Prince Regent, bis son, from Laybach, in which, after professing every wish to promote the happiness of his subjects, states, that he had taken a long journey-that after an interview he had no longer any doubts as to the judgment formed by the Allied Powers in respect of the events at Naples; that finding their determination irrevocable not to recognize the present situation of affairs of Naples, but to attack the nation by force of arms, that they, desirous of preserving the interests of the Neapolitan people, propose that he should establish a system of government calculated to guarantee for ever the repose and prosperity of the Kingdom. He therefore desires the Prince Regent to give every publicity to this document, until he can arrive to perfect the system proposed.

The

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The Neapolitan Parliament has made a Declaration of War against Austria' only. Nothing is said in it respecting France, Russia, or Prussia.

Neapolitan Gazettes to the 3d inst. contain a Decree by the Prince Regent, aunouncing his intention to repair to the head-quarters of the army, accompanied by Lieutenant-General Parisi, the Minister at War. General Colletta is charged, in consequence, with the portfolio of the Ministry of War and Marine. Another appointing D. Ferdinando Rodriguez, Colonel on the Staff, a Director of the Ministry of War; and a third, extending to the Sicilians the rewards assigned by the Parliament to those Neapolitans who distinguish themselves in defence of their country. In an Extraordinary Sitting of Parliament of the 27th February, mea. sures were adopted to distress the enemy on his advance, by removing from the place the munitions of war and provisions. Signor Poerio said, that the object of the Committee, in framing the Decree, was to deprive the enemy of all hopes of supplies, and to proceed in the same manner as was done in Spain with respect to the great French army.

The Austrian army has advanced against Naples. The first column, commanded by General Stutterheim, passed through Florence. The second column, commanded by the Prince De Weid, arrived in that city on the night of the 12th of February. The Prince de Hohenlohe and Baron Villatte have command under the Prince. General Frimont had his head-quarters at Florence on the 13th.

A Proclamation has been put forth by his Holiness the Pope, dated from the Quirinal, Feb. 7, enjoining his subjects to pay respect to the Austrian army passing through his States; to consider them as friends, and not to oppose them in their passage. A contrary line of proceeding will be marked with the most circumspect vigilance, and visited with the severest rigour of the law.

The Moniteur gives the following as an extract from the First Bulletin of the Austrian army

"General Pepe had several days since collected the greater part of his forces between Civita Ducale and Aquila. On the 7th he advanced with a body of 10,000 men upon Rieti. Two columns of this corps manoeuvred on the heights which form the valley of Rieti, and threatened to turn our advanced guard, which was posted there under the orders of General Geppert, whilst a third column moved straight forward on the road from Civita Ducale to Rieti. These movements were judiciously conducted, and the points of attack well-chosen. Our light troops suffered themselves to be approached, not

[March,

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yet believing that they were enemies who were marching towards them. We had expressed to them only the words of peace. A very brisk fire soon convinced us that we had mistaken their character. The battle then commenced; it was near the hour of noon; the enemy's attack became serious, and Lieut. Gen. Walmoden or dered his reserve, which was posted at Casa Vicentini, in the rear of Rieti, to march to the support of General Geppert. He directed an attack, with a very infe rior force, upon the two columns which formed the enemy's wings, and they were driven back into the mountains, notwithstanding all the advantage of the ground being in their favour. The centre columa fell back upon Civita Ducale.

"The enemy abandoned that city at ten o'clock at night, after having pillaged it. Our advanced guard immediately occupied it, and our soldiers were received as deliverers.

"We lost in this action about 50 men killed or wounded. Captain Schmidt, of the 7th battalion of chasseurs, was killed. Capt. Pfield, of the hussars of the King of England, and Lieut, Braun, of the 1st battalion of chasseurs, were wounded.

"During the battle of Rieti, a body of 3000 men that had assembled at Leonessa advanced upon Pie-di-Lugo, and attacked Col. Schneider, who was posted there. He repulsed them with the loss of several killed or wounded. In the course of the day we took several prisoners, and among them a Captain of General Pepe's staff."

On the 10th the garrison of Alexandria, 10,000 strong, proclaimed the Constitution of Spain. At this news the King of Sardinia wished to march the troops that were at Turin, but they refused, crying,

The Constitution of the Cortes for ever! The Prince of Carignan and General Giflenga were sent to Alexandria, but on their arrival they cried, The Constitution of the Cortes for ever!' and placed themselves at the head of the movement. In this crisis the King of Sardinia thought to calm the ferment by offering to grant the French charter, but it has been refused. All the garrisons in Piedmont have followed the example of that of Alexandria. The Prince of Carignan, and General Giffenga, at the head of 25,000 men, marched for Milan.

His Sardinian Majesty afterwards abdicated his Continental dominions in favour of the Prince of Carignan, the presumptive heir to the territories of Savoy and Piedmont;' and proceeded to Nice, to embark for Sardinia. The Spanish Constitution has been proclaimed in all parts of the country, and the army continued its hostile movement against the Austrians.

It is a remarkable circumstance, that of

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of the three brothers, who constituted the former branch, two have successively abdicated, Charles Emanuel IV. abdicated in 1802 in favour of Victor Emanuel, who has now followed his example. Charles Felix Duke de Genevois, the third brother, is in his 56th year, and has been married for 14 years to a daughter of the King of Naples, but has no children. next in succession to him is the Prince De Cariguan, great grandson of Charles Emanuel, first Prince of that name. He is about twenty-two years and a half old, and has been married about three years and a half to a daughter of the Grand Duke of Tuscany; but is also without children.

FRANCE.

Advices from Paris of the 8th convey the important fact, that the French Government, through their Minister at Madrid, have declared to the King and Government of Spain, "that they will not in any way interfere with the Constitutional system established in that country;" further adding, "that the French territory or frontiers shall not be made use of by any power whatever for the purposes of hos tility, or with a view to disturb the order established by an independent nation for the management of its own local concerns."

SPAIN.

Late accounts from Spain represent Madrid as suffering a very alarming degree of agitation. The King opened the Session of the Cortes on the 1st of this month, and excited by his Speech from the Throne an unpleasant feeling in the minds of the Deputies.

King Ferdinand, it appears, was waited upon by Arguellas, the Minister of the Interior, to arrange with his Majesty the Speech to be delivered from the Throne. The King replied, that the Speech was already prepared. On the 1st of March, as above stated, he repaired to the Hall of the Cortes, attended by a strong escort, and delivered his Speech. In alluding to foreign affairs, the King asserted, that

his good understanding with foreign powers had undergone no alteration;" that, "he had ratified the cession of the Floridas;" that "he had felt it due to the dignity of his Throne and people to declare to the Allied Sovereigns that he will recognize nothing (in their conduct towards Naples which shall be at variance with the principles of the positive law of nations, on which repose their liberty, their independence, and prosperity." At the conclusion of the Speech, the King inveighed in terms of much bitterness against the public insults and outrages to which he had been exposed, and against the evil designs of those who would persuade his

people that he entertained designs unfriendly to the Constitution.

Advices from Madrid to the 9th inst. bring the reply of the Gortes to the Speech delivered by Ferdinand VII. After touching on the previous topics of the Speech in successsion, it thus adverts to the passage respecting the proceedings of the Congress at Laybach: "It was just and natural that the political changes which have taken place in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and the intervention which the Sovereigns of Austria, Russia, and Prussia, pretend to exercise in that respect, should have excited the solicitude of your Majesty. The Cortes conceive that it becomes the Spanish nation, which has so many claims to the gratitude and admiration of Europe for the glorious part which it took in the emancipation of the Continent, and for the generous efforts with which it sustained its own independence, and gave an example to other nations, to take such measures as may protect it from all political vicissitudes, and place it in the requisite state of security."

In the sitting of the Cortes of the 4th, a great debate arose on the absence of the Ministers, which deprived the Cortes of all means of knowing the state of the nation'; and particularly the nature of the outrages committed against his Majesty, which were alluded to in his Speech. Some Members declared, that the dismissal of the Ministers was the work of his Majesty's evil counsellors. The nomination of the new Ministry was not kuown till the midnight of the 4th. The Universal of the 5th says, that the choice made by his Majesty will completely satisfy the desires of all friends of liberty, and will calm the uneasiness excited by the sudden dismissal of the late Ministry. Morales, the Insurgent Chief, who some time since fled to Portugal, has been delivered up to the Spaniards, by the Portuguese Authorities at Almeida.

PORTUGAL.

Lisbon papers to the 3d inst. contain an account of the proceedings of the Cortes on their first meeting for the dispatch of business. After a plan of a Manifesto to the nation had been agreed to, the choice of an Executive Government was the subject of discussion. It was in the sequel determined that the Regency should be elected out of the assembly. The five Secretaries of State for the different departments were next chosen. It was resolved, that in the event of the King arriving, the Constitution should be presented to him; and that in all public Acts the word "Constitutional" should be added to the title of King. A Committee of five was appointed to draw up the Articles of the Constitution.

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