The 25th, relates to the training and exercising for a certain number of days.

The 26th, enacts, that in case of invasion, the corps may be embodied and marched to any part of Great Britain.

The 27th, while training or embodied, to be under the mutiny act and articles of war. The 28th, entitles to the same privileges and allowances as other militia forces.

The 29th, provides that men may enlist into the army, navy, or marines, except daring periods of exercise. Vacancies by enlisting to be supplied.

The 30th, levies fines for men deficient. The 31st, provides that two-thirds of the fines shall be returned when the men are found.

The remainder of the clauses, mine in number, relate to the assessments for meu deficient, the providing for payment of bounties, the col ecting of fines, Sc.

SWEDEN-Proclamation of General Armfeldt, on entering Norway.

Inhabitants of Norway.-The Danish government has declared war against Sweden, without any cause or provocation on her part; it has crowned the calamities that afflicted the North, and spontaneously submitted to a foreign yoke. The Swedish troops, therefore, enter your country according to the laws of war, in order to prevent hostilities from being committed in their own country. But the laws of war are carried into execution only by soldiers; the peaceful inhabitants of the towns and country, if they excite no disturbances, shall enjoy tranquillity and protection.-The Swedis soldiers, celebrated for order and discipline, respect the personal safety and property of the unarmed; and should Providence bless his majesty's arms, rhe army under my command, so far from proving hurtful to your different trades, shall open your ports to commerce and importation: quicken your industry; and secure in the North an asylum for loyalty and honour.-AUGUSTUS MAURICE ARMFELdt.

SWEDEN.-The King of Sweden's Proclamation on the Rupture of the Intercourse with Prussia. Dated Stockholm Castle, April 5th, 1808.

We, Gustavus Adolphus, by the grace of God, King of Sweden, of the Goths and Vandals, &c. unto all our true and loyal subjects, greeting:-We herewith graciously make known to you, that his majesty, the King of Prussia, has declared to us that all kind of intercourse between his dominions and Sweden is suspended; and that in

consequence thereof all trade and navigation to Swedish ports is prohibited under service penalties; and that further, all Prussian harbours are shut up against all Swedish ships. -This proceeding has not by any means been occasioned on our part; the said government, reduced by French tyranny, affords a fresh proof of the oppression to which all states must submit, that entertain any connection with the French government. An unfortunate lassitude, which prevented Prussia from resisting in due time, has brought her to the distressed situation in which she is now placed--groaning under the domination of France, which still occupies a considerable part of the remains of that monarchy with a numerous army, not withstanding the conclusion of peace.-We commend you all and severally to the merciful protection of Almighty God— GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.

SPAIN. From the Madrid Gazette Extraor◄ dinary. Order of April 2.-F. encà Army.

Soldiers-The general business of Swe den has retarded for some days the arrival of the Emperor, but the combined armies of France and Russia are already on their march towards Stockholm, where they will unite, and the Emperor will lose no time in putting himself at the head of his armies in Spain, it is necessary then, that you should put yourselves in a state to appear before his Majesty, and to merit his approbation. General Reboissiere will order cartridges immediately for the infantry to fire with. The Grand Duke hopes to inform, bis Majesty of the good conduct of his troops, and also hopes to have to praise them in all re spects Soldiers, I see with pleasure the good order and discipline that is among you, and above all, the harmony that exists between the French and Spanish armies; I am filled with satisfaction. The Spanish nation is deserving of all the best wishes and good will of the French army, as on their part, they do not cease to give us proof of their love and affection. This morning, a soldier who had been condemned to punishment, was about to be delivered over to the hands of justice; but the inhabitants of Madrid have interceded for his pardon, which has been granted; but this must be the last instance. Soldiers, redouble your friendship with the inhabitants, and cement more and more the friendship that ought to unite us.

JOAQUIN, general in chief of the staff, AUG. BELLIARD.-- Madrid, April 24

1808.

SPAIN.-Madrid Gazette Extraordinary.Proclamation for the better Discipline of the French Troops-ordered by the Grand Duke of Berg to be printed for public notice. Dated Madrid, March 27, 1808.

Soldiers-You are not about to enter the capital of a friendly power; 1 recommend to you the best discipline, the best order, and the best friendship with its inhabitants. It is a nation to which we are allied, and which ought to find in the French Army a true friend. And recollect, the good treatment you have already experienced in the provinces through which we have traversed.-Soldiers-I hope this recommendation will be sufficient, and for which I am guaranteed by the good conduct which you have already observed; but if I find any individual forgetting that he is a Frenchman, he shall be punished; and any excess shall be severely punished in consequence of that which I shall order -That any officer committing any crime, or neglecting his duty, shall be deprived of his commission and be delivered over to a military commission, for justice.-All soldiers found guilty of robbing, concealing, or of violation, shall be shot.-Any serjeant or soldier, convicted of abusing or ill-treating the inhabitants, shall be delivered over to the rigor of the laws; if of murder to be shot. Any serjeant or soldier found drunk in the streets, shall be condemned to eight days' confinement in the stocks, and the serjeant be sent into the ranks.-All serjeants or soldiers found in the streets after the beating of the retreat-two days imprisonment.-Generals, chiefs of regiments, and commanders of the French Army in Madrid-each of you will see, as far as it concerns you, that these orders are punctually executed, and that they be read at the bead of every company. -JOAQUIN, lieutenant-general commander of the Vanguard of the French army, of the troops eantoned at Madrid.

sion and ports of discharge for the ships freighted with the goods specified in this license. In the event of no such orders being at Cape Frio, I request the commanders of the fortresses of Lage and St. Cruz to ask for the same royal orders through the secretary of state's office of the proper department, and communicate them to the bearer.

Conditions.-1st. That all merchants wishing to expert cotton goods of British manufacture to the Brazil, without waiting for the regulations of his Royal Highness, whether in Portuguese or British ships, should be obliged to take a licence from the Privy Council to proceed to Cape Frio, and there to wait his Royal Highness's further instructions, as to their port of discharge, to which alone they must give bond to go. -2dly. That every master and every shipper will give a bond equal to the value of the cargo, at this Custom-House, for the due delivery at the Custom-House of the port of discharge ordered by his Royal Highness-3dly That every master and shipper will bind themselves to pay at the Custom-House of such port of discharge, the same duties that were paid in Portugal upon woollen, or in lieu thereof, such as may have been already established by his Royal-Highness the Prince Regent upon cotton goods of British manufacture -4thly. -According to your offer, and to ascertain that no India goods are exported thither, the manifest of said cargo sworn and anthenticated as usual at the Custom-House, will be signed by the agent and consul general, Mr. John Charles Lucena, and by me.5thly. On these conditions, which contain all that fair trade can wish for at present, I will most willingly provide every captain with a licence to proceed under the above arrangement, and in case po orders are found at Cape Frio, to proceed as directed on the cover of my licence.-P. S. I need not say, that upon your application, with the licence of the Privy Council, &c. &c. &c. the manifest will be signed by men and my licence delivered immediately, without the least expence to any of the concerned.

SICILY.-From the London Gazette,
April 12.

The Gazette contains two dispatches from Major-General Sherbrooke, commanding his Majesty's troops in Sicily. The first, dated the 8th Feb. states the surrender of Reggio to the French on the 3d, and that four Sicilian gun-boats had fallen into the enemy's possession; and also confirms the

loss of the Delight sloop of war, which in endeavouring to recover the gun boats got on shore on the Calabrian coast, on the 30th Jan. and it being found impossible to get her off she was burnt. On this occasion Capt. Handfield, with several of his ship's company, was killed, and Capt. Seccombe, of the Glatton, who was on board the Delight, was dangerously wounded, and died on the 3d Feb -The second dispatch is dated the 23d Feb. and incloses the following report from lieut-Col. Robertson, the commandant of Scylla Castle, stating the evacuation of that place.General S. adds his highest approbation of the conduct of that officer and the officers and men serving under him in the castle, and of the naval officers and seamen enployed to bring away the garrison.

Messina, Feb. 13, 1803'

SIR-In obedience to your orders, have the honour to report the particulars of what occurred since the first appearance of the enen.y before Scylla-After being invested by Gen. Regnier's army during seven weeks, and battered for six days by fourteen pieces of heavy ordnance, the little castle of Scylla has fallen into his hands: But I have the heartfelt satisfaction to add, that not one of the gallant garrison placed under my orders has become his prisoner.-In the latter end of Dec. the arrival of troops and ordnance stores at Seminara left me no room to doubt the enemy's intention of besieging Scylla, and parties of the peasantry were accordingly sent out to render the passes of Solano impracticable, and to create obstacles to this advance, by cuts across the various paths which lead from the heights of Milia down to Scylla. This work, as well as the levelling of fences, &c. proceeded rapidly and effectually under the direction of captain Nicholas, Assistant Quarter-Master-General; when upon the 31st of December, the advanced workmen and the out-posts of the masse were driven in by three French battalions and a detachment of cavalry, under gen. Millet, which took post upon the heights above; and on the following day Regnier brought up two more battalions, and spreading his out-posts-to Favezzina, Bagnara, &c. completed, the investment of the town. At this time the garrison of the castle consisted of two hundred British, and from four to five hundred masse occupied the town.-The enemy's troops were now incessantly employed in forming the roads necessary for bringing his

who assailed the town on all sides: our guns, however. covered their retreat; and I had the satisfaction of sending off these brave peasants to Messina without leav ing a man in the enemy's hands.-The force which General Regnier had brought to besiege Scylla consisted of a body of cavalry, the 23d light infantry, 1st 62d. and 101st, of the line, in all about 6,000 men; with five 24 pounders, five eighteens, and four mortars besides field-pieces. On the morning of the 11th he opened his batteries directing his efforts to the destruction of our upper works, and the disabling of our guns; while under cover of this fire, he Laboured to establish two breaching batteries, at 3 and 400 yards distance. It was not, however, till the 14th that our parapet and guns were rendered useless; nor till then did the slaughter abate to which their parties were exposed from our grape and shells.-From this time our defence was confined to musketry, as our guns lay buried under the ruins of the parapet, and the close fire from five 24 pounders became incessant. In the meantime we discovered him attempting to mine the right bastion upon which he continued at work for three nights, but I apprehend without the expected success.In the night of the 15th, the French pushed round the foot of the rock, with the intention of destroying the Sea staircase, but we happily discovered them, and beat them of with the slaughter to which their desperate situation exposed them.

To be continued.

VOL. XIII. No. 21.]

[PRICE 10D.

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SUMMARY OF POLITICS. WESTMINSTER ELECTION.- -Whatever some men might think of the politics of Sir Francis Burdett; however the public might be divided in their wishes as to the result of the election, however divided in their feelings as to the success of the efforts of the persons who proposed Sir Francis; still, as to the manner of conducting the election, from the opening to the close, there was but one sentiment, and that was, that it was an instance of obedience to the constitution, which had not been witnessed for many years' past, and which, if independence of mind and public spirit were not extinct in Eng. land, must become an example to the elec tors of other places and districts. "This is,

indeed, an instance of strict observance "of the law; 4his is, indeed, the practice

of the English constitution; this is, in"deed, a free election; and, if all anembers "were thus elected, we should hear no

more of that jobbing, which is now the "disgrace and the curse of the country." Except amongst the mere venal; except amo: gst those who will approve of nothing that does not favour their views of plunder;" except amongst those, to whom no one can have the face to deny the title of public rob ber, this was the universal sentiment, relative to the whole of those memorable transactions; which led to the scating of Sir Fran cis Burdett in the House of Commons, as one of the members for the city and liberties of Westminster.It was, therefore, not without a good deal of surprize, that the public saw an attempt made, by the High Bailift of Westminster, to make the member, so elected, and who had never been what is called a candidate, who had never even offered himself for the suffrages of the electors, pay for his election. This persan applied to Sir Francis for what he termed his share of the expences of erecting hustings, keeping poll-books, dinners for himself and assistants, and many other things too numerous to mention, amounting to a sun, which, if the demand had been acquiesced in, would have gone nearly to ruin.

(802

a man, who had had no more than his three hundred pounds a year (the income necessary for qualification), and who had had a family to maintain; so that, supposing such a demand to be legal, the law would, in fact, have ordained a punishment, and a most cruel punishment too, for an obedience to the law itself. We have so long been accustomed to look upon seats in parliament as a benefit to the holder; we have so long seen men struggle for this sort of possession with more eagerness and at greater risk than, they struggle for almost any other sort of possession; we have, for so long time, been accustomed to see seats in the House of Commons openly offered for sale, by public advertisement, and offers to purchase, made in the like public manner; our minds have been so long familiarized to this set of ideas, that it appears, at last, to have become a settied notion, that a seat in the House of Commons is a valuable acquisition, and, of course, that the possessor, or occupier, ought to pay for it. But, all this is in diFeet hostility to the letter as well as the spirit of those statutes and those usages, which constitute what is called, the constitution of England, according to which a seat in the House of Commons is no benefit, but exacts, from the person placed in it, certain duties which he is obliged, under heavy penalties, to perform; and, therefore, a man, according to the English constitution, can no more be compelled to pay the expenses attending his election to serve as member of parliament (provided he does not, by his own act, agree for such payment), any more than he can be compelled to pay the expenses, which may attend his being elected to serve as constable or tythingman or churchwarden or even as juryman. There is, preparatory to an elec tion, a writ, or command, issued by the king, to the electors of such a place, or district, to elect one or more members to serve in par liament. When this command is fulfilled, another command is issued to, and served upon, the person or persons elected, who are, in this second writ, commanded to give their personal attendance in the Parliament 2 G

ney.

-Mr. Perceval says, that a new trial, should have been applied for; and, that, if that were refused, there would be no re lief." A new trial bas been applied for, and refused; or, at least, so I have read in the i. newspapers; and, of course, according to Mr. Perceval's opinion, Sir Francis, and every other man in his situation, has no relief; and, every man, upon whom the elec tors of any place may think proper to impose the duty of representing them in parliament, is certain to incur a punishment. If he refase obedience to the king's command to attend in parliament, the House will punish him, and must punish him, if they do their duty, and they may punish him by both fine and imprisonment, and continue to do so repeatedly, until he does obey the king's command. If, on the other hand, he obey the command, the returning officer punishes him by making him pay a bill of expenses; for, observe, that, if Sir Francis's statement be correct, the merely taking the seat, that is to say, the obeying of the king's command, is, of itself, to be considered as proof, that he owes the amount of those expenses. if this be law, be punished Nay, he may, both ways. First, for having disobeyed the king's command, and, then, the moment he does obey it, for having obeyed it.I shall be told, may be, that the House would not, in fact, have been thus severe; and, that the persons, who generally therein agitate questions, would have scorned to utter a word of complaint against Sir Francis, if he had not entered the House till doomsday. This may, possibly, be true enough; but, then, what would become of the representation of Westminster? "Oh!" exclaim a thousand eager voices, "I would, with all my soul "have supplied his place, and would have

"

paid the High Bailiff, dinners and all, "without saying one single word about the matter." I believe, gentlemen, that, for once in your lives, you speak the truth. But, there is still a difficulty; for, how will you find the means of convincing the electors of Westminster, that you will not, or would not, if in your power, endeavour, nay take care, to lick yourselves whole again? When I was at HONITON, the electors of that place told me, in plain English, that a member, who pledged himself to take nothing from the government, did not suit thein; for that, they knew too much of mankind to suppose, that, except in very peculiar cases, men would expend their money without a reliance upon a reimbursement, and even upon a profitable return ich," said they, "is verified

cprouch for you will not ex

pend a penny to moisten a poor man's lips "this hot weather." I endeavoured to shew them, that whatever they received, in this way, they were, in the end, compelled to refund with more than Jew-like interest. For that, the amount of the candidate's reimbursement exceeding his expenditure, it followed, upon their own principles, that the people must be the loser. "For in"stance," said I, said I," the gentleman, to "whom you are now going to give your votes, will receive, in consequence of your suffrages, £3,000 a year. That, "in four years, amounts to £12,000, and, according to your own statement, he

66

purchases your votes, or rather, to soften "the thing, he gives you, after you have "voted, about £2,000. So that, you "must be the losers by the amount of "£10,000 at every election.” "No," answered they; "for the £12,000 is divi"ded amongst all the nation, and the "£2,000 amongst only about 400 of us." "But," replied I, "if the electors of every "other place act upon your principle, then ་ you must bear a share of the loss sustained 66 upon the whole." "Aye," rejoined they, "but there are but few electors in the whole; and, therefore, however the "whole nation may lose, we, who have "the voting for members of parliament, "gain." So, then," concluded 1, "the advantage is reserved solely for those who "are ready to perjure themselves; this, "according to you, is the birth-right of Englishmen ; that there are amongst them, some who are ready to take bribes "and false oaths, and that the rest of the "people are to be taxed by them, and for "their advantage." Being thus penned up,'" they told me, that I was a methodist parson, and that I might go and preach to the devil for that they should remain staunch to their religion, and their parson, who, in fact, was one of the most violent clamourers for my opponent.- -Very different are the principles, by which I know the clectors of Westminster, or, at least, a great majority of them, to be actuated. They want no pay for voting: they do not desire to thrive by the distresses and miseries of the nation at large; they desire representatives, who will seek no emolument from the national purse; and, of course, they desire that those representatives should be loaded with no burthen but merely that of the duties imposed upon them. Surely, nothing was ever more reasonable than this; nothing, considering the general state of the representation,, more praise-worthy; yet have the beastly hirelings of the press not failed