The sugar canes have also suffered, and many of the buildings. The storm commenced at three o'clock in the afternoon, and had attained its greatest violence between six and eight o'clock. By ten o'clock it had ceased. JAVA. Recent Dutch papers contain accounts from this island, which state, that, at Batavia, two of the leaders of the late disturbances have been tried and executed, and that degree of tranquillity which terror produces has been restored. In the administration of their colonies in the east, the conduct of the Dutch has always been cruel and oppressive; and it is to be regretted that the extensive and fertile island of Java should have been surrendered to their rapacity. During the short time that it was under the dominion of Britain, various important improvements were introduced into its domestic administration; the practice of torture, according to the humane and enlightened maxims of British jurisprudence, was abolished; new and better modes of collecting the revenue were adopted; and a spirit of mildness and of regard for the interests of all the various classes of which the population is composed, was evinced, which made the British government highly popular. The event shows that a different system has now been followed, and that the Dutch, in place of following the maxims of moderation and of good policy, have resorted to their old arts of rapacity and oppression, and that in this manner, in place of rendering their subjects tranquil and happy, they have made them discontented and rebellious. AFRICA. MOROCCO. The last accounts received from Africa announce that the plague has made rapid progress in the kingdom of Morocco. It continues its ravages in most of the towns and villages, principally at Fez, Rabat, and Tetuan; 200 individuals die daily at Fez, from 60 to 70 at Rabat, and about 80 at Tetuan. This scourge still rages at Tangiers, but not with such fatal effects as elsewhere, although no precautions whatever are adopted against it, since it is permitted to bring there, for public sale, the clothes of those who die at Tetuan. EGYPT. The governor of Egypt, Mahommed Ali Pacha, is represented as making great exertions to extend the commerce of that country. He has formed at Alexandria an insurance company, with a capital of 100,000 piastres, divided into 200 shares, of 500 each. It began doing business on the 1st of April last, and has obtained the countenance of the first commercial houses in Egypt. The excavation of the canal which is to lead from Raminieh Pompey's Pillar is commenced, and the Pacha himself frequently superintends the workmen, who are very numerous. SIERRA LEONE.-Gazettes from this settlement have arrived to the date of 20th February last. In one of them there is a contradiction of the reports which found their way into the English papers some months since, of the dreadful mortality that prevailed in that settlement. It says, The total number of Europeans who died in the Peninsula in 1818 was eight men, three women, and two children. We lost no civil, military, or colonial officers, excepting one young gentleman, who died a month after his arrival, and is included in the number." CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.-We regret to state, that recent accounts from this colony bring intelligence of the rising of a large body of Caffres, who, from their numbers, were at first enabled to destroy every thing opposed to them. Two valuable officers and a great number of men had been kil led; but, as the British troops, and indeed the whole country, were up in arms against them, hopes were entertained that this formidable insurrection would soon be put down. The governor himself, in order by his presence the sooner to suppress the Caffres, had, with a competent force, proceeded to the interior. Great inconvenience was experienced for the want of cavalry in so extensive a country; had not this been the case, it was believed, that, in a few days only, tranquillity would have been restored. AMERICA. UNITED STATES. A dreadful fire occurred at Norfolk, (Virginia,) in the beginning of April, which destroyed above 100 buildings of different descriptions. Thirty-four families were left without a habitation. The loss of property was estiSeveral mated at above 60,000 dollars. destructive fires also broke out in Washington on the 8th and 9th April, and, in consequence, the publication of the National Intelligencer was temporarily sus pended on the 10th, as the hands attached to the establishment were engaged the whole day in giving assistance to the suf-. ferers. An interesting decision has recently been made in the Supreme Court of New York, in the case of Captain Percival of Boston and Captain Hickey, late commander of the British sloop of war Atalanta. Dur ing the existence of the non-intercourse law with Great Britain in May 1810, the schooner Mary was fallen in with, on her return voyage, by the above sloop of war, then in company with the frigate Cleopa tra, and, after an obstinate chace from early in the afternoon till between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, the sloop of war came sufficiently near to bring the Mary to; and, after her sails were down, except the jib and foresail, with a little hoisted, she was run a midships by the "sloop of war, and sunk in a very short time after. The captain and crew saved themselves on board the sloop of war. She had on board a valuable cargo, and considerable specie, owned by Captain Percival, who had not time even to save his papers or wearing apparel. During the late war with Great Britain, Captain Hickey was transferred to a command on the Lakes, and, at the conclusion of peace, on his pasAsing through New York, on his return to England, was arrested at the suit of Captain Percival. The trial came on in April last, and, after a patient investigation by an intelligent jury for three days, the verdict was rendered in favour of Captain Percival for 29,734 dollars, 94 cents, and costs. Wells and Ogden, counsellors, were bail for the defendant. A new steam-ship, called the Savannah 'Packet, of 300 tons burden, has been built at New York, for the express purpose of conveying passengers across the Atlantic. She is to come to Liverpool direct. A trial had been made with her from New York to Savannah; she went to Staben harbour and back in one hour and fifty minutes. She is able to outsail any steam-boat in the American rivers. Her cabin is furnished in a most elegant style. There are 32 state rooms. The cabins are on an entire T new principle, those for the ladies being entirely distinct from the gentlemen. She is commanded by a Captain Reyens, one of the first engineers in the United States. SPANISH AMERICA.-American papers of the 28th April mention, that General Macgregor had made good a landing near Porto Bello, at the head of about 1500 men; and we learn, on the same authority, that the governor of Panama had sent for assistance to the governor of Carthagena, in the dread of an immediate attack from the Independent army in that quarter, which, after having obtained possession of Lima, was advancing rapidly to the northward. According to accounts receiv ed by the Jamaica papers, Bolivar is represented to have under his command an ar my of 16,000 men, of whom 6000 (though this must be greatly beyond the truth) are stated to be British. With this powerful army he bad retired across the Oroneco, having feigned a retreat, in the hopes of inducing Morillo to follow him, while, in the mean time, Artigas was to ascend the river with a strong force in gun-boats, and thus to place the Spanish general between two armies. If this stratagem succeeded, as was confidently expected, Morillo would find himself in a very perilous situation. On the whole, the affairs of the Patriots were never in a more thriving condition, and, therefore, the most favourable results from these different enterprises may be daily expected. f At Lord DONOUGH MORE moved for the ap pointment of a committee to inquire into the nature of the political disabilities under which the Irish Catholics labour, with a view to the removal of those grievances. The motion gave rise to an animated discussion, but was finally rejected by a majority of 41, the gross numbers (including proxies) being on the division,Contents, 106,-Non-contents, 147. HOUSE OF LORDS.-On the 11th May, the Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved for the -production of the correspondence with the American government, relative to the exe2cution of Messrs Arbuthnot and Ambrister. His Majesty's ministers, while they opposed the production of the papers moved for, warmly joined in the abhorrence so generally expressed in this country at the barbarous conduct of the Republican general towards these unfortunate persons. On the 25th, Earl GREY obtained leave the same time they argued, that, whilst to bring in a bill, which was read without they would have rejoiced to have seen A- opposition, for the repeal of the oath and merica retrieve her character by the pu- declaration against transubstantiation and nishment of the offender, still her not do- the invocation of saints. The bill, howing so would, not justify any interference ever, provides, that nothing therein conon our part; that it was altogether a mat-tained shall extend to dispense with the ter between the United States government and its general, and did not in any wise warrant the intervention of any other party; and that a war on this ground was not at all to be contemplated. In this latter conclusion there are few, we think, who will not immediately coincide. Catholics of Ireland. On the 17th, oaths of allegiance and supremacy. It does not tend, therefore, in any way to relieve Roman Catholics from any disability, but to relieve Protestants from the neces sity of declaring the Roman Catholics su perstitious and idolatrous, a declaration which, while it is totally useless, is a sub ject of offence to the Catholics. Cash Payments by the Bank On the 20th, certain resolutions, submitted to the House by Lord HARROWBY in a preceding night, were agreed to without a division, and almost without opposition. These resolutions are founded upon the report of the committee, (see page 462 last number,) and agree with the suggestions therein given by the committee for the gradual resumption of cash payments by the Bank of England. The discussion was opened by the Earl of Liverpool, in a speech of considerable length, in which his Lordship inculcated with great force the necessity of adopting the proposed measure immediately if it was designed that the country should ever enjoy the advantages of a metallic currency or a fixed standard of value. The mischiefs that might follow a contraction of the circulating medium which had given rise to so much alarm, were treated by his Lordship as greatly exaggerated. On this part of the subject his Lordship argued that it is the rapidity of its circulation, and not the quantity of currency in a country, which gives life and stability to commerce. Wealth, he contended, will always create an efficient vehicle for the transfer of property, if not in the form of coin, either in the shape of Bank notes or bills of exchange. Lord Liverpool was followed on the same side by Lord Grenville, and the Marquis of Lansdowne, who warmly approved of the Report of the Committee. The single speaker who opposed Lord Harrowby's resolutions was the Earl of Lauderdale, and his opposition was, by the Marquis of Lansdowne, attributed to a whimsical love of paradox, rather than to any obvious imperfection in the plan, proposed. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-On the 11th May, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER obtained leave to bring in a bill to authorize the receipt and appropriation at his Majesty's Exchequer of certain sums voluntarily contributed in aid of the public service, by the most noble the Marquis Camden, out of his profits as Teller of the Exchequer. Lord Castlereagh stated that the noble Marquis had already sacrificed L. 61,740 to the public, and he now proposed to relinquish, during peace, L. 9000 a-year. This patriotic sacrifice of the noble Marquis was warmly eulogized by the members present. Sinking Fund.-On the 13th Mr GRENFELL brought forward a proposition for securing to the public the benefit of the sinking fund, to any loan to be raised in the present year for the public service." This motion was negatived by a majority of 117 to 39. The existing system was defended by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as indispensable to keeping up the price of the public securities. It can not be denied, however, that the real sink ing fund is the sum by which our income exceeds our expenditure, and which last year amounted to L. 1,600,000; for if we pay off an old debt of fifteen millions, and incur a new one of L. 13,400,000, we have bettered our condition just L. 1,600,000. The true policy of the country, therefore, would be, to appropriate at once the reve nue of the year to its expenditure, and then let the excess, when there is any, be vested in the sinking fund. Finance would thus be simplified, and much expence saved to the nation. Enlistments into Foreign Service. The same evening, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved for leave to bring in a bill to induce the punishment for entering into the service of foreign belligerents, (with whom we may be in a state of neutrality,) from felony to misdemeanour in the first instance, and only to make the second offence a felony. The new bill is also to extend to persons entering the service of colonies assuming to themselves the character of independent states; and is evidently intended to operate against the efforts of the South Americans in their struggle with the mother country. The gallery was cleared for a division, but none took place, and leave was given to bring in the bill. Since its introduction, however, the measure has met with very general opposition throughout the country, and petitions have been presented to the House against it, from numerous bodies in various quarters; and it is indeed questionable whether ministers will be able to carry the bill into a law, as its second reading on the 3d June was carried by the small majority of 13-the numbers being 155 to 142. State of the Country.-On Tuesday the 18th May, Mr TIERNEY moved" that the House do resolve itself into a committee on the state of the nation,” and in a speech, by which that motion was accompanied, a masterly and distinct sketch was given of the circumstances which call for the important review. The propositions laid down by Mr Tierney were, that the situation of the country was one of difficulty, danger, and dismay; and that it was incumbent on the House to deliberate how it might be extricated from its difficulties, and freed from danger. He took a survey of our commercial and financial embarrassments; and endeavoured to prove, even from the premises of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that we were unable, from internal exhaustion, to cope with foreign enemies, to exert our former strength, or to maintain that tone and attitude among the nations of the world, which Britain has been accustomed, and is entitled, to hold. This commercial distress was denied by Lord Castlereagh to exist, or, at most, it was but of a temporary nature; and concerning the financial affairs of "the nation, he only said, that he should reserve it would mend the matter to communicate himself for a future occasion. After a de- this grievance to the country at large. bate of considerable length, the motion was negatived by a division of two to one against the mover-the numbers being 357 to 178. Although the nominal object of this motion was to consider the commercial and financial state of the nation, and the tendency of the honourable member's speech was of this nature, yet all were made to bear upon one grand point, which was to be the result of the contest, viz. the removal of the existing administration. This was the avowed object of the mover; and on this point, therefore, almost all the speeches which were delivered hinged. The result of the debate, therefore, clearly shows, that, though the House of Commons, on particular questions, may oppose the present ministers, yet that, generally speaking, their measures are approved of. There were present in the House, immediately previous to the division, 539 members, four of whom, attached to the Grenville party, viz. Messrs Wynn, Phillimore, Frankland Lewis, and Freemantle, went away without voting, making the number who divided 535, and exceeding by 20 the largest division to be found on the journals. The total at the division on the question for turning out the Walpole Administration, in 1741, was 503; on that of 1783, on Parliamentary reform, 442; on that of 1787, respecting the regency, 472; on that of 1807, relative to the new adminis tration, 505; and that on the Catholic question in 1812, 515. Court of Chancery.-On the 20th, Mr M. A. TAYLOR moved for a committee to consider the act of Elizabeth, empowering the Lord Chancellor of England to have jurisdiction in cases of bankruptcy. His object he avowed to be, to relieve suitors in equity from the expensive delay expe rienced by them in Chancery; and the mode he proposed to do that by, was to take from the Lord Chancellor the jurisdiction over cases of bankruptcy, and appoint a new judge in that department. His motion was negatived on a division of .49 to 77. Duty on Coals.The same evening, Mr H. SUMNER moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the acts imposing a duty on sea coal carried coastways, and also so much of the act of the 39th of the king as went to make the tax on coals a permanent part of the revenue. This motion gave rise to a protracted debate, in which several members on both sides delivered their sentiments. The motion was ultimately lost on a division, the numbers being, for the proposition 49, against it 151. This vote, we apprehend, will be generally approved of. It is very possible that parti. cular districts may be oppressed by a partial duty on coals; but we do not see tha Cash Payments.-This important subject occupied the attention of the House on the 24th and 25th, on which occasion many members delivered their sentiments; and the result was the unanimous adoption of resolutions similar to those passed in the Upper House. The debate was opened by Mr R. PEEL, who, in a very able and candid speech, advocated the plan recommended in the report of the secret committee, for resuming cash payments, which he thought was the best which could be adopted. The delay for four years was neces sary on two grounds;-first, because it was indispensable that a large sum, perhaps ten millions, should be paid by Government to the Bank, to enable them to adopt the proposed measures, which payment could not be made in a very short time; and, secondly, because if any sudden contraction of the Bank issues, or diminution of their discounts, should take place, extreme distress would be occasioned throughout the country. To the reso lution that ten millions should be paid to the Bank by Government, an amendment was proposed by Mr Ellice, which fixed the payments at L. 500,000 per month, to commence in June next; and the amendment was supported by Mr Tierney, who professed little faith in the promises of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, especially as an instance was before his eyes, when, in 1816, a promise was made to pay a mil lion per month, and so far fulfilled, as that L. 700,000 was paid the first month, and nothing ever afterwards. This amendment also fixed the resumption of cash payments at a distance of three years from the pre sent time, and rejected the plan of bullion payments; but the whole amendment was afterwards withdrawn. A bill founded on the resolutions was introduced by the Chan cellor of the Exchequer on the 27th, without comment; and it was read a second time on the 2d June. The necessity of reverting to a metallic currency has thus, after the most mature deliberation, been distinctly recognized by both Houses of Parliament; and though some differences of opinion may exist as to the time and manner in which the proposed measure shall be carried into effect, it seems to be generally allowed, that the restriction up. on cash payments should cease, as soon as a return to the ancient practice is admissi ble. The agitation excited among the mercantile classes, by the discussion of the question already begins to subside, and will vanish entirely when it is perceived that no harm arises from the adoption et the measure, the consequences of which may be considered as still remote. Tables of Logarithms-On the 27th May, Mr DAVIES GILBERT moved an ad dress to the Prince Regent, which was agreed to, praying" that his Majesty's mi nisters at the Court of Paris may be directed to take such steps as may be most expedicat for procuring the very valuable and important logarithmic tables, contained in the large manuscript of logarithmic numbers, and measurement of parts of the circle, calculated in France, and now extant in that country. The manuscript to be printed at the joint expence of the two nations." That these tables must prove of the greatest use to astronomical and geodesical calculations, requiring a great degree of nicety, cannot be denied; but it is no less true, that it is impossible to adapt them to our division of the quadrant, and the graduation of our instruments, without employing perpetual reductions, which.. must greatly diminish their value. This being the case, the propriety of introduc ing these tables into this country may be questioned, unless we, at the same time, carry our homage to the mathematical su periority of France a little farther, and accommodate the graduations of our instruments to the French division of the quadrant. The House this evening adjourned for the Whitsun-holidays. BRITISH CHRONICLE. Poor Laws of Scotland.-A bill has been introduced into the House of Commons, by Mr Kennedy, member for the Ayrshire burghs, the object of which is to prevent appeals to any other Courts against the proceedings of heritors, magistrates of burghs, and kirk-sessions, in regulating the relief granted to Scotch paupers; and to do away the understanding which has hitherto existed, of these bodies being amenable, in the execution of this part of their trust, to any other jurisdiction, in consequence of the law on this subject not having been properly defined. New Churches.-A committee of the General Assembly has presented a statement to Parliament, shewing in what parts of Scotland Parliamentary aid is most wanted for building additional churches. From this statement, it appears, that there are 47 parishes in which the population exceeds 4000, and where the present churches or chapels do not accommodate more than one-fourth of the inhabitants. Among these are several large towns, Old Aberdeen, Montrose, Dumfries, Dunfermline, Glasgow, Paisley, Greenock, Lanark, Falkirk, South Leith, and the parishes of St Cuthbert's and St Andrew's in Edinburgh. There are 67 parishes, chiefly in Highland districts, which exceed 20 miles in length; and among these are included some which are even 50 and 60 miles. There are 11 other parishes mentioned, in which the inhabitants, from their insular situation, are very ill provided with religious instruction. The whole number of parishes for which aid of some description would be required, in the first instance, is 125. One singular fact brought into view by this statement, is the rapid increase of the population, both in town and country parishes, since 1811. Within the last se ven or eight years many parishes have added one fourth, and others one-sixth, to the number of their inhabitants. 13. Court of Session.-Yesterday this Court met for the summer session. Twelvé of the Judges were present; Lords Bannatyne and Succoth were absent, and there is a vacancy on the bench by the lamented death of Lord Reston. The two Lords Ordinary took their seats, for the first time, in the rooms lately built at the south end of the great hall. Besides being a great improvement to the appearance of the house, they will be of material advantage to their Lordships, who are now removed from the bustle and noise that unavoidably prevail in the Outer House. 17. Melancholy Accident.-On Saturday the 15th, Mr Stewart, a Lieutenant in the Navy, accompanied by Miss Brooks, only daughter of Mr James Brooks, and. Miss Agnes, second daughter of Mr William Brooks, all of Musselburgh, went out on a pleasure sail from Cockburnspath, about eight miles east from Dunbar, where they had been on a visit to their friends, and a little before mid-day the boat was upset in a sudden squall, not above 200 yards from the shore, and, shocking to relate, all three perished. There was a young man, a fisher, also on board, who with great difficulty reached the shore, in a very exhausted state. Respite. On Saturday night, a respite, during the pleasure of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, was received for Peter M'Kinley and William Donald, who were sentenced at the last Circuit Court to be executed at Dumfries on the 19th inst. for housebreaking. Conspiracy and Fraud.--On the 20th of April, John Meyer, John Kinnear, Mozely Woolf, Lewis Levy, Thomas Kyse, Mon |