THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE 9TH OF MAY, 1803.

Letter from Lord Hawkesbury to the Lords of the Treasury, dated 24th March, 1803.

MY LORDS, Mr. Gyldenpalm, his Danish Maje ty's Chargé d'Affaires at this Court, has represented to me, by order of his Government, that, owing to the failure of the crops of the last season, the kingdom of Norway is at this moment in the utmost distress for every species of grain. He has consequently applied for permission to export to that country, from the ports of Scotland, 5.000 quarters of seed corn (oats and barley), if your lordships should see no objection to comply with this request. It is highly important, at this advanced season, that no time should be lost in giving the necessary orders for that purpose. (Signed) HAWKESBURY,

Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Commissioners of Customs in Scotland, dated 25th March, 1803.

GENTLEMEN, Lord Hawkesbury, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, having represented to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, that Mr. Gyldenpalm, his Danish Majesty's Chargé-d'Affaires at this Court, has applied for permission to export to Norway, from the port of Scotland, 5,co quarters of seed corn (oats and barley) in consequence of the distressed state of that kingdom from the failure of the crops of last serson; their lordships are pleased, under the circumstances stated by Mr. Gyldenpalm, to comply with the request. have therefore received their lordships' commands to desire you will forthwith give the necessary directions for permitting the exportation of the above-mentioned quantities of oats and barley to Norway accordingly. (Signed) JOHN SARGENT.

Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Commissioners of Customs in Scotland, dated April 14, 1803. GENTLEMEN,It being in contemplation to issue an Order in Council to permit a certain quantity of seed corn to be sent to Drouthiem in Norway, and several vessels having been loaded for that purpose, as mentioned in the enclosed paper-1 have received the commands of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury to desire, that you will give the necessary orders to permit the said vessels to clear out and sail for that place accordingly; and to cancel the coasting bonds.The Order in Council alluded to will be transmitted to you as soon as possible.

(Signed) N. VANSIT TART.

Names of Ships and Misters engaged to take Part of the Seed Grain intended for Denmark; viz.

The Lady Ridlers, Smith, Master, at Lynn, loaded with 1,000 quarters bariey; ready for sea, and only waiting permission to sail. -The Calne, Joseph Stanford, Master, with 600 quarters barley, at Yarmouth; ready for sea.- The Marga

ret, John Bishop, Master, with 600 quarters barley, also at Yarmouth; ready for sea. -The Diamond Packet, James Nesbitt, Master, in loading at Berwick; will carry about 6qo a. 620 quarters of oats. SCOTT, HARRIS, and Co.

Londen, April 13, 1803.

Notice issued by the Commissioners for Claims under the Convention with the United States of America, dated from their Office, Great Marlborough Street, May 7, 1863

Whereas by an Act pasted in this present Session of Parliament, intituled "An Act for ap "pointing Commissioners for distributing the "Money stipulated to be paid by the United "States of America, under the Convention made "between his Majesty and the said United States,

among the Persons having Claims to Compen"sation out of such Money;" Thomas Macdo nald, Esq Henry Pye Rich, Esq. and John Guillemard, Esq are constituted and appointed Commissioners for the purposes aforesaid; and it is enacted that the adjudication of such Commiss sioners, or any two of them, as to all claims made for compensation out of such money, and also as to the apportionment or distribution thereof as aforesaid, shall be final and conclusive: And whereas it is thereby further enacted, that no claim or request of any person or persons under the said Act, shall be received after the first day of June, 1804: And whereas his Majesty by the said Convention (dated the 8th day of January, 1802), consented to accept of the said money so to be paid by the said United States, (amounting in the whole to £600,000 sterling), for the use of the persons described in the Sixth Article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, concluded at London, on the 4th day of November, 1794, between his Majesty and the said United States, in satisfaction and discharge of the money which the United States might have been liable to pay in pursuance of the provisions of the said Sixth Article-All persons who think themselves entitled, as being within the description of the said 6th Article or the said Treaty, and the meaning of the said Convention, to claim under the said Act; and who have not already preferred claims at this Office under the said Convention, pursuant to and in terms of the notice in the London Gazette of the ith day of September last, (which claims so preferred in terms of the said notice, will be held and considered by the said Commissioners as claims under the above Act of Parliament,) are hereby required, without delay, and at farthest on or before the said first day of June, 104, when the sum total of claims will be finally made up and ascertained; to present and deliver at this office, their respective claims, in the form of memorials, addressed to the Commissioners under the said Act of Par Itament, and duly signed by the parties, or their agents respectively authorised for that purpose, with such relative lists or schedules of debts and debtors as the several cases may admit of or require; the said memorials and relative lists or schedules distinctly setting forth the several points enumerated and described in the said former notice under the convention; of which former notice, printed copies will be delivered at this office to all who shall apply for the same. And inasmuch as claims have already been received, under the said convention, to a much greater amount than the money to be distributed, and the commissioners, while they prevent, as far as in them' lies, all unnecessary discussion and delay, will nevertheless proceed so as to ensure as much as possible the means of full investigation, and of equal justice to all concerned, notice is hereby given, That the several claims, schedules, and accounts, with a list of all the claimants, will be open at this office for the inspection of every claimant, or the authorised agent of such claimant, who may state such objections in writing (duly signed by such claimant or agent) as he may desire to have submitted to the consideration of the commissioners; which objections the said commissionersy if

they see cause so to do, will allow the respective claimants against whose claims, in the whole or in part, the same shall be directed, to see and answer; such inspection of claims to be made in the manner, and according to the rules, which, with the general orders of the board for regulating the course of the proceedings before them, will be communicated at this office. By order of the commissioners. J. W. HAY, Sec.

At a general meeting of the Manufacturers of Silk Handberchiefs, and others concerned in that branch of trade, held at the London Tavern on the 6th instant, to consider of the proposed admission of Ladia Silk Handkerchiefs for Home Comunpiion, subject to certain Duties. -Mr. Alderman Lea, in the Chair.

The former minutes were read and confirmed.Received and read communications from Manchester and Macci,sfeld, and the resolutions of the public meeting of Mac lesfield.-The following resolution, were passed unanimously:-Ist. That the remonstrances of the silk trade, through their committee appointed at the general meeting of the 18th of February, against the intended permission to import India silk handkerchiers for home consumption, having met a decided opposition from government, it is the opinion of this meeting, that as the admission of India silk handkerchiefs under any daty, however high, would inevitably ruin the silk handkerchief minufactory of this country, which gives employment to thousands; and would moreover serve probably as a precedent for a similar permission to import India silk piece-goods, to the destruction of the whole of the British silk manufactory, it becomes the indispensable duty of all persons concerned in the silk trade of this country, to resist, as strongly as possible, that clause of the consolidation bill about to be introdeced into the Hon. the House of Commons, which would allow India silk handkerchiefs to be imported into this country for home consumption, subject to certain duties —2d. That a petition, sigued by all persons interested in the silk trade, be presented to the Hon. the House of Commons, praying to be heard by counsel against such part of the said bill.-3d. That the committee appointed at the tormer meeting be continued, and be requested to draw up the said petition, and artend its progress through the House.-4th. That the committee be requested to wait on the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, and H. C. Combe, Esq. praying them to present this petition, and to wait on the other members for this city, the members for Middlesex, Chester, Staffordshire, Coventry, and other parts of the country interested in the silk trade, praying their support.-5th. That the committee be desired to draw up a particular statement of the grounds upon which this innovation is opposed, and that the same be printed, and a copy sent to every member of the Hon. the House of Commons.-6th. That it appears to this meeting, that increased duties have, from time to time, been imposed on the importation of silks without an increase of drawback; it is recommended to the committee, to consider of the best mode to obtain the equalization.—7th. That the resolutogs of this meeting, signed by the chairman, be published in such Morning and Evening Papers as the committee may direct. RICHARD LEA, Chairman.

(Signed)

FRENCH FUNDS. Tiers Consolidés. May 1st. 53. 40.-3d. 53. 20.-4th. 53. 25.-5th. 53. 10. 7th. 54. 25.-8th. 54. 75.-Moniteurs to the 9th have been received, but the last contains no price of funds.

Rye.

Barley.

Malt

PRICES CURRENT IN LONDON.

Eng. Wheat prq.475. to 61s Hops per cwt. 100s to 163s 32..35 Hay per load.... 90..140 21..26 Beef, per st. 4s.4d. to 5s.8d. 41..46 Mutton 5s. od. to 6s od. Oats 15..21Veal .... 5s. od. to 6s. 3d. Pease (white).... 36..42 Pork.... 4s. 4d. to 5s. 4d. Beans (horse).... 30..34 Tallow 4s. 2d. Flour per sack 43..47 Av. of Sugar pr cw. 41s.5d. Seconds..... 40..43 Salt, per Bushel 14s.10d. Coals per chal.. 50..00 Bread 9d the Quar. Loaf.

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SUMMARY OF POLITICS. PRESS-GANGS.-At, and in the neighbourhood of Newcastle, some very serious disturbances have taken place in consequence of the impress service. The mischief appears to have arisen, chiefly, from an advertisement, inserted by some of the ship-owners, in a paper, the editor of which has long been famed for his disloyalty. These persons admit the necessity of the impress service for the purpose of manning the fleet, but they are by no means of opinion, that the accomplishment of that object ought to interfere, for ever so short a time, with their individual interests! This combination was, however, broken by the more respectable class of Ship-owners, who seemed fully sensible of the criminal folly of their brethren. Nevertheless, as it is much easier to foment than allay a malcontent spirit, a very troublesome opposition to the service has been raised amongst the lower orders of the people, which has produced consequences far from being pleasant. His Majesty's officers have been insulted; in some instances, acts of violence have been committed against them and their men; and, we are well informed, that a boat from the Lapwing has been even fired into from Newcastle bridge. That a vile democratic printer, that is to say, a rebel by principle, and almost by trade, should endeavour to create so mischievous a disposition, is not at all wonderful; but, that his nefarious efforts should be contenanced by any portion, however small, of the ship-owners of Great-Britain, is a circumstance that could not fail to excite both astonishment and indignation, at any time, and espe cially at this moment, when their whole body is petitioning His Majesty's Parliament for a repeal of the tonnage duty, upon the express plea, that their ships are the nursery where seamen are raised for the Royal Navy! This is the ground, and the only good ground, of their petition. It is well known, the experience of ages has proved, that a numerous fleet cannot be expeditiously man ned without the aid of press-gangs. therefore, the ship-owners oppose this es. tablished, this absolutely necessary mode of

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obtaining seamen from their ships, those ships are a species of property entitled to no more favour than dwelling-houses, barns or stables are entitled to. The Royal Navy is necessary to the maintenance of the honour, the security, the independence, of the country: its object is to protect the persons and the property of all His Majesty's subjects; but, it cannot be denied, that it yields a more immediate protection to mercantile mariners and the mercantile marine than to any other class of subjects or any other sort of property. The farmer or mechanic may, without much offence against reason, be supposed capable of entertaining doubts of the necessity of a fleet of men of war, the operations of which are so distant from the scene of his calling and the seat of his property; but, the shipowner must know, that, without the protection of the Royal Navy, his trade must instantly cease.-And, as to the legality and justice of the impress, considered in respect to the seamen impressed, the man must be very ignorant, or incorrigibly perverse, who calls either in question. The warrants, in virtue of which the impress is executed, are as legal as any warrant whatever; and, what ship-owner, what mariner, does not know, when he becomes a mariner, that he will be liable to the impress? This is one of the conditions, on which he enters the profession, and on which he demands and enjoys the numerous advantages thereunto belonging. If we look round the country we shall find, that no small portion of its wealth belongs to men who have, in one way or another, followed the sea. And, if that property is saved, if they have been too, protected in its acquirement by the navy of the country, shall they not be called on to contribute towards the support of that navy? The mercantile marine of the whole empire does not employ less than 300,000 persons, not more, perhaps, than 30,000 of whom are ever, at any one time, impressed into the service of their country; and, is this contributing too largely to the support of that, without which their whole profession must immediately perish? The militia is not, indeed, raised by press-gangs; but, it is not composed of volunteers. The soldiers are compelled to come into the ser vice, and a service, which, though it does not take them out of the kingdom, is much more contrary to their habits and their inclinations, than that of the fleet can possibly be to the seamen of the mercantile marine, who have been inured to the element on which they are to serve, and whose minds are accustomed to long absence from relations and friends. As to the compensation,

too, what poor man's calling offers a better or more secure? In the first place, the impressed seaman has a bounty full as great as if he were a volunteer. His pay is nearly as great as he can obtain in a merchant ship, his provisions and accommodations better. He has his chance of prize-money, and, if he is in greater danger from powder and ball, he is in less danger from the wrecks and other accidents to which merchantmen are exposed much more than men of war; and after all, if he be disabled or worn out in the service, his king and country provide him with a comfortable and honorable maintenance for the rest of his days, which he may spend under the the roof of a palace far surpassing any one of the dwellings of his sovereign, whereas, should the same circumstances overtake him in the merchant service, he must pine out his life under the misery and degradation of a workhouse.— This is the light, in which the subject must be viewed, by every one who takes time to bestow on it a careful and impartial examination; and therefore, we cannot but express our reprobation of the conduct of any persons whatever, and particularly ship-owners who attempt to throw obstacles in the way of the impress service, by the means of which only, the Royal Navy can possibly be manned.

STOCK JOBBING NATION. The Mercure de France of the 26th of March last, has the following remarks on the conduct of the London stock jobbers.-"Hitherto, we have "been able to discover, in the minds of the "English, little more that the spirit of "stock jobbing, which seems to have ac

quired new vigour from the warlike-blus"ter of the ministers; and, as the spirit of "stock-jobbing is no more than the parody " of the spirit of patriotism, one may take

the liberty to laugh at the agitation it pro"duces. The gaping inhabitants of the Lon"don 'Change, look, with great solicitude, "towards the stocks in France, to see whether

two months ago, what must he think of us now? What must he think of the nation, which has been disturbed, to the remotest corners of its territory, by a mere waggish trick, played off on the Mayor of one of its cities, and, a second time, by a paragraph in one of its news papers? These are most alarming symptoms. They prove the body politic to be in a state of fearful feebleness. Its nerves are shattered.-It starts and trembles at every report.-The events of the last week have, we fear, stamped the character of the British public for ever, or, at least, till some great and strong, and perhaps violent remedy be adopted for the cure of the money-loving malady, which now weighs us down to the earth. What that remedy will be, or whence it is to come, we know not; but, this we venture to assert, that England cannot, with its present feelings, long continue to be an independent nation.-Our readers will do us the justice to acknowledge, that we long ago predicted, that it would be on the side of the funds, which France would first attack us. We then stated, that, with our present funded debt, it was impossible to maintain public credit, while there was a power, who could raise and sink our funds at its pleasure. It is absolutely impossible; and, therefore, that debt must be destroyed, or we must, by some means or other, get rid of that menacing power, which France has acquired over us, and which she now exercises, with so much address and insolence on her part, and with so much folly and cowardice on ours. It is asserted, and, we believe, upon no very weak foundation, that the French have gained two millions in the British funds, since the date of the King's message. Of this sum a part has passed over to France in cash, the rest has been and is now passing in merchandize, through various channels, and the effect is felt amongst our bankers and other speculators in stock. We now feel the salutary, the practical influence, of that " ca

pital, credit, and confidence," which Lord Hawkesbury and his worthy colleague held. forth as the best security" to Great Britain.

-While, therefore, France is gaining so immensely in this way, as well as by the base folly of the English nobility and gentry, who are daily making a pilgrimage to kiss the boot of the First Consul, that nation would be very foolish not to keep peace with us on almost any terms. A little quarrel, a menace of war, about three times a year, would effect her object much sooner than it could possiby be effected by any other means.

France," said Mr. Windham, in his speech upon the Preliminaries," will be "under no necessity to go to war with us;

and nothing but ber cwn intemperance and in"solence, and an opinion of our endurance and weakness, beyond even what they may be found to deserve, can force upon us that extremity. She has much surer and safer meaus of going to work; means at the same time sufficiently quick in their ope "ration to satisfy any ordinary ambition :

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she has nothing to do but to trust to the progress of her own power in peace, "quickened, as often as she shall see occasion, by a smart breat of war. I cannot conceive the object, which a judicious appli"cation of these two means is not calcu"lated to obtain. A peace, such as France "has now made, mixed with proportions of a "seasonable menace of war, is a specific, for the undoing of a rival country, which seems to me impossible to fail." (2)-How correct, how exactly correct, was this opinion!-Whether the intemperance and insolence of France have, or have not, been pushed beyond our forbearance is a question that remains to be solved; but, that she has tried them to the utmost is certain.If peace, beloved peace, should, after all be continued for some time longer, the stock-jobber's hope will not, however, be realized. The nation must keep up an establishment nearly equal to that of war, or we shall have to arm a-fresh, and pay new bounties, twice or thrice a year. One or the other of these must be, or we must become the subjects of Frenchmen. The candid minister now stands between the horrors of war and the greater horrors of a financial deficit, which will be discovered, to the eyes of the most ignorant, long before the end of the year. War would be a good act of oblivion for his estimates of December last, and, accordingly, the French writers do not scruple to say, that, to obtain this act, was one of the objects of the present quarrel (3). Indeed, every man of any tolerable knowledge in the public affairs of the country cannot but perceive, that it is absolutely impossible for us to maintain, for any length of time, the peace establishment last fixed on, without annual loans or immense new taxes annually added to those already in existence; and, that such a course would, in a very short space,inevitably produce a failure in the payment of the interest on the public debt, or consequences infinitely more fatal, it requires no great sagacity to foretell. Therefore"the hope of the coward must perish." Something must be done to add to our power, or to diminish that of our mortal

enemy. The lovers of "peace and plenty," the hypocrite, the coward, the drunkard, the glutton, the pic-nic, and the miser, may continue to unite their voices in the praise of peace, they may continue to despise the terms of that peace, they may continue to revile all those who yet stand up for national honour; but, neither their praise nor their revilings shall avail them aught; that honour must be regained, or their wealth, and their luxury shall be destroyed, and they themselves shall become the most wretched, as they already are, the basest of mankind.- -There are some persons, who, adopting the opinion lately quoted by us from a daily paper, seem to think, that a remedy for all our evils is to be found in a mere change of ministry, without any subsequent sacrifice or exertion on the part of the country. "Give us MR. PITT," say they," only give us Mr. Pitt, and we shall "think ourselves perfectly safe." And why? We should be glad to know why? Is it supposed, that Mr. Pitt can curtail the seacoast of the French, which now sweeps round one half of the Continent of Europe 2 Can he make Buonaparté disband any portion of his army? Can he prevent the sud den rise of a French naval force? Can he reduce, greatly reduce, the establishments of England, without hazarding the safety of the country? If he cannot do these things, he can bring no security in peace. Undoubtedly the French would not insult him as they have done his creatures; they would proceed more cautiously, perhaps not quite so fast as they hitherto have done, but their object would be still the same; and, it is by no means unlikely, that caution and a relaxation of pace would only render its accomplishment the more sure. It is the immense disproportion of that relative state, in which we were placed by the treaty of Amiens, that must be got rid of, before any reasonable man will see a hope of safety for England, and this is to be done only by war; yes, horrid as is the sound, war, war, another war, a successful war against France, is the remedy, and the sole remedy, for the disease, which is now eating out the heart of the kingdom, "What!" say the slavish crew who have been crouching at the feet of Buonaparté, "would you go to war in order to drive "the French within their ancient limits? "You are mad."-Mad as we are, you degenerate beings, the nation must think with us, and act up to its thoughts, or your splendid mansions will 'ere long change possessors, the emblems of your honours will be trampled in the dirt, while you yourselves will shift places with those who