rance to send it forth without a stamp, in` open defiance of the law. This "List" contains an account of the price of stocks, foreign and domestic; of the course of exchange; of the rates of insurance; of the prices of corn and coals; of inward and outward bound vessels, as well ships of war as others; of captures and other occurrences at sea, and in the different parts of the world; of the situation and movements of His Ma enemies; of accidents, battles, defeats, and victories. If this be not a newspaper there is no such thing. Yet it is published with. out a stamp, and that too under the pretended sanction of your lordship. For a proof of what I have here asserted I could appeal to the whole of the numbers of this publication; but I shall here lay before your lordship an extract which I think will suffice. tion from them is the voluntary act of the proprietors of the several newspapers, I answer that it is not so. If the mail arrives too late for that day's delivery, then the proprietor of each morning paper must submit to give a guinea to these venders of what ought to be regarded as the secrets of the mail-bag, or his paper must be ruined by the advantage which others will thereby obtain over it; so that the purchasing of these translations is far from being a volun-jesty's fleets, and of those of the fleets of his tary act, on the part of the proprietors of newspapers, who yield to the extortion from necessity and not from choice. The people of the Post Office may, in these cases, demand whatever sum they please. They have the exclusive privilege of selling; a complete monopoly; however exorbitant their price, or insolent their manner of demanding it, it must be submitted to. Were the Hamburgh papers sent round to "The Pheasant, from New Providence, the several newspaper-offices as soon as they "arrived at Bermuda the 18th of April, arrive, be it when it may, the translations "brought intelligence there that H. M. would be left to the talents and industry of" frigates Cleopatra and Andromache, went the several proprietors of papers, each of whom would thereby avoid an expense of about 30 or 401. a year; and it is certainly a's easy to send round the foreign papers themselves as to make out and send round a translation from those papers. The people of the Post Office would, indeed, by such reform, be prevented from extorting about a" thousand pounds a year from the proprietors of newspapers; but I am certain your lord-" ship would not regard that circumstance as a diminution of the credit of the office over which you preside. on a secret expedition to cut out a num"ber of Spanish ships from a port on the "north side of Cuba, near Punta Malas, "with all the boats they could collect, but "succeeded in taking possession only of one "armed schooner. The Spaniards were "apprized of the attack by a schooner which sailed from New Providence three "days before the frigates, and were ready with their gun-boats, batteries, &c. Lieut. Joseph Taylor and two midshipmen of "the Cleopatra, with eight men, were kil"led, and a number wounded." It is, my lord, in the nature of abuses to This extract, my lord, which I have increase; accordingly the people of the Post- copied from the "Shipping and CommerOffice, having, without interruption, fol-"cial List" of Monday, June 8, 1801, will, lowed the trade of newsmen, and that of editors; having bought and sold manufactured newspapers, and supplied the manufacturers with the raw materials, conceived at last the idea of becoming manufacturers themselves. I have now before me a paper, having the King's arms at the head of it, and bearing the title of "General Shipping "Commercial List," purporting to be "pub"lished by subscription at the General "Post-Office, every Monday, Wednesday, "and Friday," and further purporting, what I was much astonished at, that it is published "conformably to a plan submitted to and "approved by His Majesty's Post-Master "General." This paper, my lord, always contains what I am sure your lordship never intended it should. It is called a "List," but is to all intents and purposes a newspaper, though the proprietors have the assu I am persuaded, leave no doubt on your lordship's mind as to the illegality of that publication. The injury which it is calcu lated to do to other news-papers, all of which are loaded with a heavy stamp duty, is evident. There are many persons who want to hear no news but that which this paper contains, and such persons will certainly prefer a three day in the week paper, which costs but 11. 5s. a year, to one which costs 31. 18s. This Post-Office paper prevents also the publication of a great number of commercial advertisements, the place of which it supplies, and does thereby, as well as by narrowing the circulation of stamped papers, very great injury to the revenue. This paper enjoys other peculiar advantages. Not only are the proprietors paid for their time by the public, but their paper is printed and published in the buildings appertaining to the Post-Office, and is conveyed through London and its environs by the letter-carriers, who are also paid for their time by the public and further, the proprietors of this unstamped paper have a privilege which even members of parliament do not enjoy, to wit, that of sending their paper postage free by the Penny-Post. With an undertak ing thus supported at the public expence, what private individual, my lord, can be supposed capable of maintaining a competition? For my part, I am so fully convinced of the injustice and illegality of this establishment, that, had it not assumed the sanction of your lordship, I should long ago have brought it to the test of the law. But, my lord, it is not the injury that my interests have sustained, and do yet sustain, from the regulations of the Post-Office, and the conduct of its inferior officers, that would justify my having taken up so much of your lordship's time; it is the more serious injury which I am convinced must arise therefrom to the cause of truth, of real liberty, and of unfeigned loyalty, that has urged me to take up the pen on this occasion. From what I have stated, it is evident that the Secretary of the General Post-Office and his subalterns, possess an influence over the press which no man, or set of men, ever ought to possess. We may talk about the liberty of the press, my lord, but while the Secretary has the power, in virtue of his exclusive privilege of franking, to give one newspaper or other periodical publication a preference over another, in America and the West Indies, while this privilege enables him almost entirely to exclude from those extensive and populous countries any paper, or other periodical publication, which he happens to dislike; while his power of exacting the full postage for packets from America or elsewhere, or of remitting that postage at his will, places every newspaper at his mercy in a very important branch of its foreign concerns; and while the discretion vested in him, of giving or with-holding, as his interest or prejudice may dictate, the advertising custom of the General Post-Office, creates, as it ever must do, a strong temptation in every news-printer to truckle to his will-while the clerks of the roads, by carrying on the business of newsmen, have it in their power to add to the sale of one newspaper, and to diminish that of another, at the same time that the public purse supports them in a very unfair rivalship against the newsmen of London and Westminster : while the clerks in the Foreign Letter-Office assume the sole proprietorship of the news that arrives by the Hamburgh Mails, which news they compel the proprietors of papers to purchase, which they sell on terms that they themselves dictate, and that they can vary towards different persons at their pleasure: while some people in the PostOffice, (no matter who) are permitted to publish a newspaper without a stamp, to print it in, and issue it from, buildings appropriated to the public use, and to circulate it, through the medium of the PennyPost, postage free, at the same time that all other news-printers are compelled to pay a heavy stamp duty, to print and publish their papers in buildings provided at their own expence, and to allow a considerable per centage for the circulating of them; while these things are, my lord, we may, as 1 before observed, talk about the liberty of the press, we may think we possess it, we may even boast of it as the birth-right of Englishmen, but it will exist no where except in the imaginations of those who are unacquainted with the facts which I have submitted to your lordship. * * * With all becoming respect and humility, with a full assurance that none of the abuse3 of which I have complained have been tolerated by your lordship, with a perfect submission to your superior judgment, and, a perfect reliance on your impartiality and your justice, I remain, my lord, your lordship's most humble and most obedient servant, (Signed) WM. COBBETT, Right Hon. Lord Auckland. * I have no desire to swell the catalogue of neglects and abuses in this important office, otherwise I could give no very pleasing account of the Packet-Boat service, which is, in numerous instances, conducted, by the inferiors, in a manner scandalous to the last degree.-At home, too, I might mention the shameful imposition of what is called early delivery-money; that is, money levied, by the people of the General Post-Office, by way of payment for the delivery of letters, to particu lar persons, at an hour much earlier than letters are delivered to persons who do not submit to this imposition; whence it comes, that some persons, at the west end of the town in particular, have their letters at ten o'clock, while others, in the very same street, may not get their letters till twelve, or, perhaps, one or two o'clock; and there can be little doubt, that the general delivery is greatly retarded, in order to compel persons to pay for the early delivery -Far be it from me to insinuate, that the Post-Master General winks at this abuse it is impossible that he should: but, where is his secretary, where are his comptrollers. where the numerous host of interior officers that are maintained by the public in this exorbitanty expensive department? : ་་ MESSRS. FOX AND O'CONNOR. "country, and in Ireland, government had been "complimented for suppressing the rebellion, "though it had been suppressed b acts still "more reprehensible than those which originally "fomented it. That unhappy country has now, "by a continuation of the same system of ty"ranny and oppression, been forced into what is "called an union, and thus deprived of every "thing dear to it as an independent state. I do "not speak of the policy of the measure in the "abstract, nor pronounce that in no circum"stance it could have been advantageous or ad"viseable; but I most strongly condemn the manner in which it was brought about. By "the means of a Parliament, which it was allow"ed, did not fairly represent them, and was ut"terly incapable to govern them, these people "were compelled, against their inclination, to "give up their independence, and to abandon "their separate existence." In p. 338 et seq. of this work, Mr. Cobbett addressed a letter to the former of this pair of patriots, towards the close of which the following questions were put to him: "But, suppose, for a moment, that you "were really obliged to go to Paris on this "affair" [to examine manuscripts], "was "ARTHUR O'CONNOR obliged to meet you at Calais, and to pass the evening with you tête-à-tête? Was he, soon after your "arrival at Paris, obliged to follow you thither, in the company and in the carriage of Lord Oxford? And was Mr. Er"skine obliged to break off from the en"chantments of a jubilee, in order to meet "you in the capital of the world?"-The correctness of the first of these assertions (for they are assertions in an interrogative form), has frequently been doubted by per-selves, that they were REALLY IN HABITS OF INTIsons unacquainted with our scrupulous attention to facts; but, we think, that the following article, which we have extracted from the ARGUS (the English paper pub Jished at Paris) of the 20th instant, will completely remove all doubt upon the subject. It should be observed, that O'CONNOR himself is one of the persons employed in conducting the ARGUS, and, of course, the article here extracted may be fairly looked upon as containing his declaration on the subject of which it treats. Extract from the Argus of Nov. 20: After these expressions, could Mr. Fox, with any propriety, decline seeing Mr. O'Connor in Paris? But we are very certain, that the moment the Editors of the Morning Chronicle shall have learnt, from MR. Fox and MR. ERSKINE them MACY with MR. O'CONNOR, they will instantly change their tone, and no longer talk of MR. O'CONNOR having been obnoxious to the opposition members, during their stay in Paris !!! FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Paris, Nov. 22.-Citizen Bruyers, aid-de-camp to General Leclerc, is arrived at Paris; he left the Cape on the 10th of Oct.--General Leclerc, Gen. Dugua, and Gen. Rochambeau, were at the head of their troops, and in the best state of health; the rains had been this year fifteen days later, and the sickness at the Cape still preserved all its malig nity. On the 7th, however, the first rains fell, The Morning Chronicle of the 11th Nov. after and already in the interior the sickness has ceased. heartily abusing the Argus, in the same paragraph-Gen. Leclerc had collected in the arsenals 45,000 levels its scurrility against Arthur O'Connor, by muskets, of which the blacks had been disarmed: observing, "that he is the man, whom even Irish 12 or 15,000 more were still expected-A negro rebels must despise, and whom every honest Eng- general of the name of Bellair, had revolted, and lishman must detest. It must be endured, be- assembled around him some hundreds of the bricause it cannot be prevented, that this man gands, who had set fire to several habitations in "should walk the streets of Paris, boasting of his the plain of the Cape; he had, however, been "treasons, and rendering society odious to its arrested and shot.-A strong fermentation mani"English visitors, by his intrusions." We wish fested itself amongst the blacks during the latter to know upon what principle ARTHUR O'CONNOR end of August, and beginning of September. Seeis to be despised by Irish rebels. Is it, because he ing our hospitals crowded with sick, and our solsaved the lives of Oliver Bond, and other Irish pa diers unable to quit their cantonments on account triots, that he is to be detested by Irishmen? Does of the excessive heat, the negroes were emboldened the Morning Chronicle forget their abuse against to act-The Polish Legion, which disembarked on the late administration for the system they pursued the 9th of October, displayed great bravery and in Ireland? Did they not cordially agree with courage in the pursuit of the Brigands.-Gen. Mr. Fox, when, speaking on the affairs of Ireland, Leclerc visited the hospitals and the barracks, at the Shakspeare Tavern, on the 10th of October, and did all that was possible for man to do, to di1800, he made use of the following words.- minish the effects of the dreadful yellow fever."From what has happened in a neighbouring Madame Leclere on her part refused to quit the country, it appears still more clearly, that there colony, and declared that she would not leave it "is a fixed and systematic plan for depressing the cause until she was certain that her care was no longer "of liberty, and enslaving the people. Tumults were necessary to her husband, and that the sister of "excited by the most unjustifiable measures, and the First Consul ought to know how to die in the "atterwards were quelled by means of the most midst of a camp. The convoy of troops from "dreadful atrocities. Villages were set on fire- Carthagena, and one of the convoys from Roche"torture in its most horrid forms was employed to gain fort, were not then arrived.-(Moniteur.} "discoveries, and military power was ticed of all "CONTROUL from evil authority. Yet both in this A part of the Deputies of the Helvetic Republic, arrived at Paris some days ago. A deputa tion of fifteen of them had an audience last Tuesday, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Cairo, Oct. 12.-The Pacha, who takes at Cairo the title of Viceroy, is fortifying with great acti vity the palace which Buonaparté occupied, under the apprehension that he may be besieged there by the Beys, who have taken possession of Upper Egypt, and extend their power even to the Pyramids. The troops of the Pacha have been five times beat by those of the Beys.-The English are still at Alexandria. General Stewart commands there with 4000 men.-The Turks have 3000 men at Damietta, 2000 at Rosetta, and 20,000 at Cairo. Banks of the Mein, Nov. 16.-The English Ambassador, at Vienna, transmitted lately to the Count de Cobentzel a note, relative to the affairs of Switzerland, the object of which was, to engage the Emperor to interfere with the French Government, in favour of the re-establishment of the ancient régime in Helvetia, but the Court of Vienna not only formally refused to interfere in the affairs of that country, but moreover, as it is said, ordered M. de Diesbach, who was desirous of presenting letters of credence, in the name of the diet of Schwitz, to quit the Austrian States. Berne, Nov. 11.-Orders had been given for the disarming of the people of Helvetia in general: but representation having been made upon this subject, it is now determined that those only shall be disarmed who took part with the insurgents. DOMESTIC. On the 24th instant, his Majesty held a Levee at St. James's, which was numerously attended, it being the first after the opening of Parliament. The presentations were, Mr. Portalis, Secretary to the French Ambassador, accompanied by Messrs. Geveria and Bagne, Aid-de-Camps, by Andreossi; Lord Lowther, Lord Robert Tottenham, Lord Glendore, and the Hon. Mr. Lambe. The Privy Council met on Friday the 19th inst. for the further examination of Col. Despard, and the other persons taken up on suspicion of treasonable practices. Two printed copies of the Oath administered at the Oakley Arms were found in the Colonel's pocket. He is fully committed to Newgate to take his trial for High Treason. Among the papers found in the possession of the prisoners, were seditious toasts and songs, but the most material was, one declaratory of certain rights, with a copy of the oath taken on becoming a member. It begins with-" Constitution, Inde pendence of Ireland and Great-Britain, Equalization of all Civic Rights." Then follows an assurance that the members will unite to maintain the families of all those heroes who may fall in contending for their rights. it appearing that this alarming combination had agents in different parts of the country, particularly in the manufacturing towns, messengers have been dispatched to the magistrates of these places, with instructions to take the speediest and most effectual measures to make every possible discovery relative to the subject.-On Saturday the 20th inst. several of the persons implicated underwent a further examination. The whole of the persons yet discovered amount to 36, amongst whom are four soldiers of the Guards. The Privy Council met again on Wednesday the 24th inst. Fourteen of the persons in custody were brought up for examination; and several warrants were issued for the apprehension of other persons supposed to be implicated in this conspiracy. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.* November, 19, 20, and 21. On the above days no business of importance was transacted. Both houses were chiefly employed in swearing in new members. Tuesday, November 23. HOUSE OF LORDS.-This day at half past two, his Majesty went in state to the House of Peers, and being seated, in his royal robes, on the throne, the Commons attended at the bar. His Majesty then opened the session with the following most gracious speech : HIS MAJESTY'S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH. My Lords, and Gentlemen,—It is highly gratifying to Me to resort to your advice and assistance, after the opportunity which has been recently afforded, of collecting the sense of My People.-The inter nal prosperity of the country has realized My most sanguine hopes; We have experienced the bounty of Divine Providence in the produce of an abundant harvest. The state of the Manufactures, Commerce, and Revenues of My United Kingdom, is flourishing beyond example; and the Loyalty and Attachment which are manifested to My Person and Government, afford the strongest indication of the just sense that is entertained of the numerous blessings enjoyed under the protec tion of our happy Constitution.-In my intercourse with Foreign Powers, I have been actuated by a sincere disposition for the maintenance of Peace. It is nevertheless impossible for Me to lose sight of that established and wise system of policy, by which the interests of other States are connected with Our own; and I cannot therefore be indifferent to any material change in their relative condition and strength. My conduct will be invariably regulated by a due consideration of the actual situation of Europe, and by a watchful solicitude for the permanent welfare of My People. -You will, I am persuaded, agree with Me in thinking, that it is incumbent upon Us to adopt those means of security which are best calculated to afford the prospect of preserving to My Subjects the Blessings of Peace.-Gentlemen of the House of Commons,I have ordered the estimates for the ensuing year to be laid before you; and I rely on your zeal and liberality in providing for the various branches of the Public Service; which it is a great satisfaction to Me to think, may be fully accomplished without any considerable addition to the burdens of My People.-My Lords and Gentlemen,-1 contemplate with the utmost satisfac A correct report of the debates in both houses of parliament, from the commencement of the present session to the Christmas vacation, will be given in the SUPPLEMENT to the present volume of the Register, which will be ready for delivery on the 15th of January, 1803, at farthest. This Supplement will also contain " A Complete Collection of all the Debates upon the Preliminary and Defini tive Treaty of Peace with France;" in which collection the prominent passages of each speech are particularly pointed out. tion, the great and increasing Benefits produced by that important measure, which has united the interests and consolidated the resources of GreatBritain and Ireland. The improvement and extension of these advantages, will be objects of your unremitting care and attention. The trade and commerce of My Subjects, so essential to the support of public credit, and of our maritime strength, will, I am persuaded, receive from you every possible encouragement; and you will readily lend your assistance in affording to mercantile transactions in every part of My United Kingdom, all the facility and accommodation that may be consistent with the public revenue.-To uphold the honour of the country, to encourage its industry, to improve its resources, and to maintain the true principles of the Constitution in Church and State, are the great and leading duties which you are called upon to discharge. In the performance of them, you may be assured of My uniform and cordial support; it being My earnest wish to cultivate a perfect harmony and confidence between Me and My Parliament, and to promote to the utmost the welfare of My faithful subjects, whose interests and happiness I shall ever consider as inseparable from My own. Lord Arden moved the address, which was, as usual, an echo of the speech, and was seconded by Lord Nelson. A debate took place on the danger to be apprehended from the encroachments of France. It was commenced by the Marquis of Abercorn, and supported by Lords Carlisle, Grenville, and Carysfort: the speakers on the other side of the question were the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Pelham, and Lord Hobart. The address was agreed to, nemine dissentiente. Lord Walsingham was appointed chairman of the committee of privilege, of all the committees of the House, and of the private committees during the session. HOUSE OF COMMONS.--The House was engaged until half past two in swearing in members; when the Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the bar, and stated his Majesty's command, that the House should attend him forthwith in the House of Peers. The Speaker, accompanied by several members, proceeded accordingly, and on his return, the House resumed the swearing in of members. Mr. Wallace brought in the Clandestine Outlawry bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time. The usual committees of privileges, grievances, courts of justice, trade, and standing orders, were appointed. The several standing orders of the House were read and agreed to. The Speaker then read his Majesty's speech (see p. 690) The address was moved by Mr. Trench, and seconded by Mr. Curzon: after which, an interesting debate ensued, on the conduct of France, since the conclusion of the treaty of peace, and on the inability of ministers to conduct a war, if war should be found expedient. This opinion was maintained by Mr. Cartwright, who was followed on the same side by Sir John Wrottesley, Messrs. Canning, Windham, T. Grenville, and Sir H. Mildmay : the speakers on the other side were Mr. Pytches, Mr. Fox, Lord Harckesbury, Mr. Addington, Lord Castlereagh, and Mr. Whitbread. The address was voted, nemine contradicente. a message from his Majesty, informing their lord. ships, that he would be ready to receive the address of the House, at St. James's, at three o'clock. A variety of arrangements were made relative to the hearing of Scotch appeals; and some proceedings respecting private business took place. The Lords went with their address to St. James's, at half after two. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sundry unimportant petitions were presented: petitions were also presented against the election of the members for the following places, viz. Great Grimsby, Penryn, B5rough of Stanmaer, Nottingham, Barnstaple, Chippenham, Caermarthenshire, Coventry, and Bridge water. Mr. Trench then brought up the report of the address on the King's speech. On the question for the second reading, Mr. Wilberforce rose, and delivered his sentiments on the propriety of abandoning continental connexions, and on the necessity and wisdom of maintaining peace, a debate of a similar nature to the one of yesterday. Mr. Wilberforce was supported in his opinions by Sir Francis Burdett, Mr. Johnstone, General Maitland, Mr. Yorke, Mr. Fox, Mr. Addington, Sir James Pulteney, Lord Hawkesbury, and Mr. Bragge. The speakers on the other side of the question were Mr. Elliot, Mr. Dillon, Lord Temple, Mr. Windham, Lord Morpeth, and Mr. Canning. con. The report of the address was agreed to nem Mr. Vansittart gave notice, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would move to-morrow, for leave to bring in a bill for the better establishing and regulating the militia of Ireland. Mr. Vansittart moved for "An Account of the Produce of the Permanent Taxes for the Years ending the 10th of Oct. 1801, and the 10th Oct. 1802." "An Account of the Amount of Boun ties paid on the Importation of Corn and Rice for the same periods," and "An Account of the Amount of Exchequer Bills, issued under the Aut of the 41st Geo. l. ch. 4, now outstanding aud unprovided for." Thursday, November 25, HOUSE OF PEERS.-Two naturalization bills were brought in; and some arrangements made relative to the hearing of Scotch appeals. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-Mr. Burdon moved for leave to bring in a bill for continuing the suspension of an Act of the 15th and 17th of his present Majesty, prohibiting the circulation of Promissory Notes, under a certain value.-Leave granted. A petition was presented from the Burgh of Kircudbright, in Scotland, complaining of an undue elec tion. Mr. Corry moved for leave to bring in a bill for the Regulation and more effectually enrolling of the Militia of Ireland.-Leave granted. Mr. Vansittart moved, that that part of his Ma jesty's speech, relative to the public service should be read he also moved, that a supply be granted to his Majesty; and that that part of his Majesty's speech should be referred to a committee of the whole House to-morrow. At a quarter before 3 o'clock the House adjourned, and the Speaker, accompanied by several members, proceeded to St. James's with the ad dress. |