ページの画像
PDF
ePub
[merged small][ocr errors]

MONDAY, MAY 31.

which placed every Clergyman in a new kind of fubjection, and was establishing. an influence which might materially affect the Government of the country. He re commended to Government to make an addition of 40 or 50,000l. to Queen Ann's Bounty. This was what every man who loved the religion of his coun try would wish to fee done,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer thought that the greater part of the obfervations of the Hon. Gentleman were more applicable to the Bill when in a

A Bill for granting certain Allow-Committee, than to the prefent question ances to the Serjeant Majors of the Militia was introduced, and read a first time. The Police Bill was committed after a few words on the Speaker's leaving the Chair in the Committee, the blank for the falaries of the Magiftrates was filled up with the words 400l. a-year.

Mr. Nicholl, adverting to a notice given by an Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan) of a motion which had been for fome time deferred, wifhed to apprife the Houfe that he should make a fimilar motion himself, fhould that alluded to not be brought forward within a fhort time.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that the papers relating to the fubject alluded to which Government had hitherto received, were more imper. fect than he wifhed; but he had no ob. jection to meet the propofed enquiry, if any Gentleman thought proper to have it agitated.

CLERGY RESIDENT BILL. The Report of the Clergy Refident Bill was taken into farther confideration.

Sir W. Scott moved that the Bill be recommitted,

Mr. Simeon made a long fpeech on the queftion for the Speaker's leaving the Chair. The Bill was now effentially different from what it appeared to be when originally brought in. In its prefent form it not only totally abrogated the Act of Henry VIII. but velted a molt inordinate power in the hands of the Bishops. The Act of Henry might require fome amendments, but he did not think any one would say that it ought to be entirely done away. He argued, that if the penalty of sol, was not thought too much in the reign of Henry VIII. it could not be a fevere fine now; for the relative value of money at the period when it was impofed, rendered it equal to sol. in the present times. He dwelt for a confiderable time on the impropriety of giving to much power to the Bishops,

for the Speaker's leaving the Chair. He therefore did not think it neceffary to take up much time of the Houfe in replying to what had just been ftated. But, in the first place, he could not help obferving that the Hon. Gentleman was totally mistaken as to the ground on which the Bill was brought in. It was not introduced for the purpose of enforcing the refidence of the Clergy, but originated in a meafure which had for its object the relieving that refpectable body from a perfecution under which they laboured. The Hon. Gentleman had approved of feveral parts of the Bill; he did not object to the principle, but only to certain details; but fuch a view of the Bill was not that which ought to induce the House not to go into the Committee, where all objections might be removed. There was indeed one objection of the Hon. Gentleman which deferved particular notice, and it applied not to what the Bill contained, but to what was not included in it. He meant a provifion for the inferior Clergy. That he acknowledged was a meafure called for by every principle of humanity, juftice, and piety. The interefs of religion, the true glory and real prof perity of the country, required that it thould be carried into execution. Were fomething of this kind done, were the places of public worship increased, and the inferior Clergy placed upon a more refpectable footing, this nation would have the fairer profpect of increasing profperity and permanent happiness. These confiderations were not, however, grounds that could induce the House to refuse to go into a Committee, but were rather strong arguments for proceeding in a work of fo much importance, and of which this Bill ought to be confidered as the first step.

Mr. Taylor was against the Speaker's leaving the Chair.

The Mafter of the Rolls differed completely

pletely from his Hon. Friends over the way (Mr. Simeon and Mr. Taylor). He reprobated the enforcing Church refidence by means fuch as that which had been reforted to-means which must either prove altogether evalve, or intole rably oppreffive. The Clergy in other countries where no fuch law existed, were not more lax in their discipline than thofe of this country. In fhort, this law placed the Clergy in a more degraded fituation than that of common Imugglers.

Mr. Taylor explained.

The Attorney General admitted that there were objections to the Bill, but they were not of fuch a nature as to prevent it from going into the Committee, from which it would probably come out very much altered.

Mr. Windham wished the Bill had

been confided more to the judgment of: his Right Hon. Friend, and it would then have appeared in a less objectionable. point of view. He thought the Church difcipline should be confined within the Church, and not be brought before a civil tribunal. He wished a proper de-, gree of confidence fhould be placed in the Clergy, and then they would be careful to perform what they were required.

The Houfe then refolved into a Committee. A long and uninteresting con verfation enfued refpecting the adoption of fome of the clautes, but principally of that which permits the incumbent to. farm for his own benefit, upon making application to the Bishop of his Diocete, and procuring his licente lo to do. This, claule was agreed to. Adjourned,

[blocks in formation]

This curious A&t begins as follows: "In confequence of an uninterrupted fucceffion of favours and bounties poured upon us by that Being who is impaffive and immutable, the Supreme Creator, Almighty and All good; the Founder of the Power of the Caliphs, Ever-latting and Ever-glorious, aflifted by the univerfally falu tary miracles of our great Prophet Mehmed Mufiapha, Minifter of the Prophet, and Conductor of the Saints, who are the Suns of the two worlds; (may the choiceft bletfing reft upon him and those who accompany him)-I, who am his Servant, and Lord of Mecca, Medina, and Holy Jerufalem and its Temples, and of all the holy and high places whither all nations bear the tribute of their prayers; I, the Supreme Caliph and happy Monarch of fo many vatt countries, provinces, cities, fortreffes, and caftles, fituated in Romelia and Natolia, on the White and Black Seas, in Hidjaz and Ifak, and who am the envy of all the Potentates of the world; I, who am Sultan, and Son of a Sultan and Emperor, Son of the Emperor Sultan Gafe Selim Khan who was the Son of Sultan Mustapha Khan, who was the Son of Sultan Achmed Khan!"&c. &c.

Kotfchoubey

Kotfchoubey and Baron Stedingk, the King of Sweden's Ambaffador at St. Petersburgh, on the occafion of the latter's acceding, in the name of his Swedish Majefty, to the Convention between his Majesty and the Emperor of Ruffia, figned at St. Petersburgh the 17th of June 1801.-This dispatch itates, "That he (the Count), after endeavouring to refute the various ob. jections that had been urged by the Baron de Stedingk against the tenor of the Convention of the 17th of June 1801, and to demonftrate to him that that Treaty prefented to the Northern Powers all the advantages that it had been found poffible to obtain, had proceeded to observe, that the antecedent Convention between Ruffia and Sweden having been in fome fort broken by that which had fince been concluded between Ruffia and England, and to which Denmark had alfo acceded, it would certainly be advifeable for Sweden to accede likewife to that Treaty, in order that the might not remain in a manner infulated, and that fome common pact might still continue to exift between the Powers of the North."

[FROM OTHER PAPERS.] PARIS, June 27.-By a letter from the Commiffary of the Marine, at Bourdeaux, we learn the fuccefs of General Richepanfe again it Guadaloupe; that colony furrendered without firing a fhot, as foon as the forces arrived. The following are the most important points in the letter alluded to:

"When the divifion of Rear-Admiral Bouvet appeared, the Prefect Lescalier was at La Defirade: he was taken on board the Admiral's ship, and thus obtained the means of proceeding with the army to Point-a-Pitre. The wind was very violent, and the fea very rough, fo that they were only able on the first day to disembark the companies of Grenadiers and Chaffeurs, who formed at the port. General Riche panfe then wrote to the Mulatto Pelage, who immediately came. The General ordered him to withdraw into their quarters the negro troops who were affembled on the fore in arms, and who were reconnoitring the Grenadiers and Chaffeurs. This order was executed on the spot. The Captain of the Grenadiers then proceeded to the fort which commands Point-aPitre, for the purnote of taking poffef fion of it. The Black fentinel cried

out that he fhould not enter the Captain immediately ordered the pas de charge to be beaten, on which his com-" pany entered the fort with so much precipitation, that a panic fear feized the negroes who guarded it, who efcaped by means of a private stair cafe which communicated with the house of Pelage. The Mulatto Ignace, Chief of Battalion, and Palerme, a Negro Commandant of the place, fled with 250 negroes, and having paffed the Canal, they took refuge in the fort of Baffe terre, which is of little importance, and which was commanded by Delgres, a Mulatto, formerly Aid-de Camp to Captain-General Lacroffe. In fpite, however, of this momentary infurrec tion of Delgres, and his followers Ignace and Palerme, the Mulatto Gedeon, Commandant of Baffeterre, promifed the utmost fafety to the inhabitants of that town, and guaranteed them from all infult on the part of the infur gents, who had retired into the fort. Gen. Kichepanse having disembarked the rest of the troops, on the next day after his arrival, purfued the negroes, who had fled from Point-a-Pitre, taking the road to Baffeterre, where his prefence recalled to their duty the handful of miferable Blacks, who were already conquered by the terror with which they had been truck at the mere fight of the Grenadiers and Chaffeurs dilembarked on the firft day, Captain Caul, who commands La Caroline, re ports, that at his departure from Pointà-Pitre, 800 men of colour had been difarmed and put on board the tranf port vessels, and that the Mulatto Pelage was a prifoner on board the fhip of Rear-Admiral Bouvet as well as the Ex-Captain of Port Mont Roux.”

PARIS, July 9-Admiral Villaret fet off on the 5th for Breft, from whence he will proceed to Martinique, of which ifland he is appointed CaptainGeneral. The divifion which is to accompany him confifts of two fhips of the line, fome frigates, and light vellels, in which the troops destined to take poffeffion of Martinique will embark,

letter to the Minifter of War, gives the July 12-General Richepanfe, in a following interesting detail of his operations at Guadaloupe, dated May 25.

On the 7th, we effected our dif embarkation at Gofier, and at the port of Point-à-Pitre. At the latter place we had every reason to believe that we

fhould

fhould meet with refiftance from the batteries of l'Iflet-à-Cochon, and thofe of the forts of Fleur d'Epée and l'Union. Two hips anchored before the Gofier, and difembarked their troops, who immediately afterwards were ordered to march upon the Morne Mafcatte, in or. der to take the fort Fleur d'Epée in the rear, and cut off its communication with the redoubts Bimbridge and Stivenfon, The troops difembarked at the port of the Point were to march to the river Salée, to take poffeffion of the Fort de la Victoire, and then of the Fort L'Union. All our difpofitions were, however, useless; they were expecting us on the quay, where they received us with cries of "Vive la Republique! Vive Bonaparte!" The troops formed themselves on the Place de la Victoire, where I found Pelage, who affured me of the entire fubmiflion of the whole inland. I ordered him to deliver up all his posts at the forts of Fleur d'Epée, Union, and La Victoire, and also the redoubts Bimbridge and Stiven fon. He promised me that he would give orders in confequence, and alfo to affemble under the redoubt Stivenson all his troops in this part of the island, and which I wished to review the fame evening. The French troops affembled upon the Place La Victoire, under the fort of that name, where the detachments were formed which were to occupy the different forts, and which fet off for that purpose. A moment after, I was informed that Ignace, the Com. mandant of the Fort of La Victoire, would not fuffer the troops I had fent to enter the fort. I ordered them to enter at the pas de charge, and to make prifoners of Ignace and his troops. The Commandant of the detachment beat the charge, but Ignace retreated with his troops by a gate oppofite to that by which we entered. During this time I proceeded with the rest of the troops under Fort Stivenfon, the rendezvous alligned for the affembling of the Black troops. The day had difappeared, and, in fpite of the obfcurity of the night, I perceived that a great number of Black foldiers were spread about the country under arms. It then occurred to me, what I had often heard said, that Pelage was a traitor. Having arrived at the place of rendezvous, I found Pelage, who informed me, that many of his Officers, and a great number of his foldiers, had deferted him. I joined, however, those whom I found there,

and fpoke to them in terms fuited to the occafion. Little fatisfied with what I had feen amongst thefe troops, and with the defertion of others, I decided to embark thofe whom I had with me, in the night, and I informed them that I wished to have them with me in proceeding to Balleterre.

"On the next day I fent 600 men by land towards Les Trois Rivieres, and re-embarked 1500 men in the frigates but the port being like a moule trap, a fhip cannot make its way out, except when it is calm. A calm does not take place fometimes for feveral days, and is generally of fo little duration, that rarely more than one veffel can get out. We were obliged therefore to transport the troops on board the hips anchored off Gofier, and much time being thus loft, added to contrary winds, we did not arrive before Baffeterre until the 10th at noon. The dif charges of cannon directed against us left us no longer in doubt as to the fituation of affairs. Being ready, however, either for peace or war, we lost no time in difembarking. At the first difcharge of cannon, I fent a canoe with a letter to Pelage, borne by an Officer of the colony. Not feeing him return, the troops, which were placed in the chaloupes, rowed towards the fbore, and landed a little beyond the mouth of the river Dupletis, under the fire of the batteries and musketry. The valour of the troops was confpicuoufly difplayed on this occafion, and I affure you they had much ado to gain, during the day, the right bank of the River des Peres. During the night the troops all aflembled on this bank, and at day-break they did not march, but

run

:

at the enemy. The pofition of the enemy on the left bank of the river was agreed on all hands to be a very fine one, and the rebels were well armed. Their pofition was, however, forced in ten minutes; a part of the revolters threw themfelves into Fort St. Charles, and another part gained the mornes on our left we purfued them towards Galion and the Bridge de Nogere. General Serifia, who remained at Grand Terre, having had orders to affemble what troops he could in that part, now left what force he thought indifpenfa bly neceffary for the maintenance of tranquillity in the country, and with the battalion of the 15th, which had come by land from Petit Bourg to Trois Rivieres, joined us by Les Pal

mifte and La Val Canard. Until then, we could not undertake any thing against the fort. This junction being effected, we difembarked the cannon from the hips, and after inconceivable difficulties, having to drag them up very steep mountains, we at length formed a battery of thirty pieces of cannon, which was enabled to act on the zift. On the 22d, at feven in the evening, the fort was evacuated by the rebels, who profited by the non-execution of my orders, by which 400 men were to have been placed on the left bank of the Galion, for the purpofe of taking them prifoners. The army in confequence purfued this mob, which is now fcattered through all the woods and mornes. Their Chiefs are Delgreffe, Maffuteau, Ignace, Gedeon, Palerme, Kironanne, &c. Some habitations are burnt, but there are no longer diforderly affemblies. I can now maintain my troops in the communes, and eafily keep down all the brigands. In the affair of Baffeterre, the army had 300 wounded, and about 100 killed. Many Officers of all ranks have distinguished themselves.”

The following letter, received on the 13th, by the Minister of the Marine, explains the reafon of the late coercive measures used towards the Rebel General :

"Head Quarters, at the Cape, June 11.

"CITIZEN MINISTER, "I informed you, in one of my laft difpatches, of the pardon which I had been induced to grant to General Fouffaint. This ambitious man, from the moment of his pardon, did not ceafe to plot in fecret. Though he furren dered, it was because Generals Christophe and Deffalines intimated to him that they clearly faw he had deceived them, and that they were determined to continue the war no longer. But finding himself deferted by them, he endeavoured to form an infurrection among the working negroes, and to raife them in a mafs. The accounts which I received from all quarters, and from General Deffalines himself, with respect to the line of conduct which he held fince his fubmiffion, Teft no room for doubt upon this fubject. I intercepted fome letters which he had written to one Fontaine, who was his agent at the Cape. Thefe afforded an unanswerable proof that he

was engaged in a confpiracy, and that he was anxious to regain his former influence in the colony. He only waited for the refult of disease among the troops.

"In thefe circumstances it would be improper to give him time to mature his criminal defigns. I ordered him to be apprehended, a difficult task; but it fucceeded from the excellent difpofitions made by the General of Divifion Brunet, who was entrusted with its execution, and the zeal and ardour of Citizen Ferrari, a Chief of Squadron, and my Aid-de-Camp.

"I have lent to France, with all his family, this to deeply perfidious man, who, with to much hypocrify, has done us fo much mifchief. The Government will determine how it should difpofe of him.

"The apprehenfion of General Touffaint occafioned fome difturbances. Two leaders of the infurgents are already in cuftody, and I have ordered them to be hot. About a hundred of his confidential partizans have been secured, fome of whom are fent on board the La Muiron frigate, which is under orders for the Mediterranean, and the reft are diftributed among the different fhips of the fquadron.

"I am daily occupied in fettling the affairs of the colony with the least poffible inconvenience; but the exceilive heat, and the difeafes which attack us, render it a task extremely painful. I am impatient for the approach of the month of September, when the season will reftore us all our activity.

"The departure of Touffaint has produced general joy at the Cape.

"The Commiflary of Justice Montperon is dead. The Colonial Prefect Benezech is breathing his laft. The Adjutant Commandant Dampier is dead; he was a young Officer of great promife.

"I have the honour to falute you, "LECLERC."

[blocks in formation]
« 前へ次へ »