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the truth of it, that there are twenty to one who can now read English, to what could when the Welsh was entirely neglected. The knowledge of the English is become necessary, from the treasures contained in it. English books are now generally called for; there are now a hundred books, I am sure, for every one that was in the country when I removed from England, and first became a resident of these parts. English schools are every where called for, and I have been obliged to send young men to English schools, to be trained up for English teachers, that I might be able, in some degree, to answer the general demand for them. In short, the whole country is in a manner emerging from a state of great ignorance and ferocious barbarity, to civilization and piety, and that principally by means of the Welsh schools. Bibles without end are called for, are read diligently, learned out by heart, and searched into with unwea ried assiduity and care. One great means of this blessed change has been the Welsh schools.-6. By teaching the Welsh first, we prove to them that we are principally concerned about their souls, and thereby naturally impress their minds with the vast importance of acquiring the knowledge of divine truths, in which the way of salvation, our duty to God and man, are revealed; whereas, that most importan! point is left totally out of sight by teaching them English; for the acquisition of the English is connected only with their temporal concerns, and which they may never want, as they may, as the majority do, die in infancy. In my opinion, in the education of children, it is of the utmost importance, in the first place, to impress their winds with a sense that

they are candidates for another world, and that the things pertaining to their eternal felicity there, are of infinitely greater importance to them, than the little concerns which belong to our short existence. The neglect of this is, I apprehend, a very great defect in the education of children.

"In certain instances, I have been obliged to continue the teacher in the same place nine or twelve months; but, in general, six months is quite sufficient to teach all the children that are of proper age to receive instruction. I prefer a quicker circulation to a long stay; frequent returns of the school to the same stations are necessary, unless a Sunday school prevents the necèssity of it.-Our children will learn their vernacular tongue in three months, better than they will learn English in three years. -Numbers of old poople have learnt to read their Bible in Welsh within these two years and, in many instances, the parents have been instructed by the children."

"I lately visited a district between.our mountains, in which a good woman, a widow, and her two children, a girl of twelve years of age, and a boy of eighteen, have been the chief instruments of teaching all the inhabitants to read well, and to understand the first principles of Christianity; and that only by Sunday and Night schools."

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the above Society, will be held on Wednesday the 1st of May, at the FREEMASON'S TAVERN, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, at eleven o'clock. The president will take the chair precisely at twelve.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

CONTINENTAL INTELLIGENCE. On the morning of the 25th instant, intelligence was received of a very brilliant action which was fought between a part of the French army before Cadiz, under Marshal Victor, and a body of British and Spanish troops under General Graham. The French force amounted to 8,000 men, that of the allies to 5,000. The latter had landed in the vicinity of Gibraltar, and after a march of sixteen hours, arrived at the height of Barrosa, near the mouth of the Santi Petri river. The Spanish part of our force,

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amounting to 2,000, was left in possession: of the height, while the remaining 3,000, which were almost entirely British, moved down to secure the communication with the Isle of Leon, across the Santi Petri. the march, General Graham received notice that the enemy were advancing to the height of Barrosa. He immediately countermarcked to support the Spanish troops left for its defence, whom he found to have abandoned their position as the enemy ascended the hill. Retreat, in the face of such a force, appeared to General Graham likely to involve the allied army in ruin. He therefore

resolved, trusting to the known valour of British troops, to attack the enemy, although they were nearly three to one, and had also the advantage of ground from having gained the height. A powerful battery of ten guns was soon opened on them, and admirably served; and a succession of charges of the most heroic description ended in the complete defeat of the French. "No expressions of mine," observes Gen. Graham, "could do justice to the conduct of the troops throughout. Nothing less than the almost unparalleled exertions of every offier, the invincible bravery of every soldier, and the most determined devotion to the honour of his majesty's arms in all, could have achieved this brilliant success against sach a formidable enemy so posted. In less than an hour and a half from the commencement of the action, the enemy were in full retreat. The eagle of the eighth French regiment, eight pieces of cannon and a howitzer, remained in our possession. One general was killed, together with other officers of distinction, and about 3,000 of the enemy were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. The prisoners consisted of two generals (one since dead of his wounds) and about 450 officers and men. Our loss consisted of 7 officers and 195 men killed; 54 officers and 986 men wounded, most of whom it is said are likely to do well. The two thousand Spaniards rejoined Gen. Grabam's division after the conclusion of the action, and the next morning the whole force crossed the Santi Petri, into the Isle of Leon. On the retreat of the Spaniards in the first instance, the Commissariat mules, which were under their care, were dispersed, so that it became necessary to cross the tiver in order to obtain supplies.

An attack was made, about the same time, on the French lines before Cadiz, by some British gun-boats and a party of marines, who succeeded in demolishing several batteries and spiking the guns.

Accounts have also been received, that Massena had begun his retreat from Santarem, and that Lord Wellington was in pursuit of him but no farther particulars have reached this country.

Previous to this, several transactions had taken place which require to be noticed.--On the 25th of January an engagement was fought near the Guadiana, between a Spanish force under Gen. Ballasteros, of about 4,000 men, and double their number of French. The Spaniards were forced to give way, but the field was well contested, and the retreat orderly. The loss of the French is stated at 2,000 men, that of the

Spaniards as comparatively small.-On the 22d of January, Olivenza surrendered to the French, although a few hours before, the governor had written in the most encouraging terms, aud the' beseiged were in want neither of provisions nor ammunition. -After the fall of Olivenza, the French prepared to besiege Badajoz. General Mendizabel, with the Spanish force which had been under the command of the Marquis Romana, was detached for its relief and took post on the heights of St. Christoval near Badajoz. In this position he was attacked by the French on the 19th, and although the enemy had two rivers, the Guadiana and Evora, to cross, his army was completely surprized, and therefore easily defeated and dispersed; and the Spanish camp, which was standing, was taken, with the baggage and artillery. A part of the Spanish troops, effected their escape to Badajoz, the garrison of which has thus been increased to 9,000 men. The siege commenced on the 1st of February.-A large convoy of provisions which was advancing from Ciudad Rodrigo, under an escort of 3,000 men, for the supply of Massena's army, was attacked by a small body of Portugueze militia, under Lieut. Col. Grant, which had planted itself in an advantageous position near a defile at the Estrada Nova, through which the convoy had to pass. Upwards of 200 of the enemy were killed, and nearly the whole of their baggage, and the cattle that were under their escort, were abandoned.-The operation of the Guerillas in Spain, as well as of the Ordenanzas in Portugal, continued to give considerable annoyance to the enemy..

A son has at length been born to Bonaparte. This event took place on the 20th. instant.

NORTH AMERICA.

Mr. Pinkney, the American ambassador, has had his audience of leave of the Prince Regent. His mission to this country he considers as having terminated by the refusal of our government to relax its commercial decrees. The negociation however will be renewed, and we hope with better success, by Mr. Foster, who is about to proceed to America, with proposals from our government. In the mean time, a bill has been introduced into the American congress, and has passed through several of its stages, for prohibiting the importation of any goods of British growth or manufacture, or the entrance of any British ships, except in certain specified, circumstances, into any part of the United States. The correspondence,

however, between the American functionaries, and the French government, which has recently been laid before the Congress, and published in the American newspapers, plainly shews, that Bonaparte's repeal of his Berlin and Milan decrees has not prae

tically been carried into effect, several vessels having been condemned under those decrees, subsequently to the period when it was declared that their operation should

GREAT

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

1. We are happy to observe that measures are about to be adopted in parliament for amending the law respecting insolvent debtors, both in England and Scotland. The subject has been taken up by Lord Redesdale for England, and by the Lord Advocate for Scotland. Lord Redesdale's bill provides, that a barrister of not less than six years standing shall preside in a court, which shall be a court of record, to be called "The Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors;" that any person applying to this court, after having been confined three months, may be liberated, on assigning his whole property for the benefit of his creditors, and engaging to pay, when able, whatever sum may still remain owing. Persons wantonly wasting their effects, or fraudulemly disposing of them while in prison; persons having obtained credit on false pretences, or imprisoned for damages for adultery or seduction; also persons having lost by gaming, since in prison, ten poundsin one day, or fifty pounds in the whole; shall not have the benefit of this act until after five years imprisonment. Persons in custody for sums embezzled in breach-in trust are not to be discharged until they have been confined ten years. No one, having taken the benefit of any former insolvent act, or who shall take the benefit of the present act, shall be entitled to a similar benefit till after an interval of five years. A judge from each of the courts of King's Bench. Common Pleas, and Exchequer shall form a court of final appeal in all cases arising under this act. It is proposed to be enacted, that no arrest sivall issue except on bills of exchange and promissory notes where the original debt, exclusive of costs, did not amount to twenty pounds.

2. Sir Samuel Romilly has again brought forward his propositions for the improve. ment of our criminal code, and for the institution of penitentiary houses in different parts of the kingdom; and we are happy to say that they have met with a more favour able reception than formerly.

3. A bill has been brought into the house of commons by Mr. Broughain for rendering more effectual the acts abolishing the slave trade. Its object is to punish as

cease.

BRITAIN.

felons with transportation for fourteen years, or with imprisonment and hard labour for five, all who are concerned in the slave trade as principals; that is to say, as owner, or part owner, factor or agent, captain, mate, surgeon, &c.; and to punish, as guilty of a ® misdemeanour, all who shall assist in any inferior capacity, as petty officer, seaman, or servant. We rejoice to say, that in none of its stages has this bit met with the smallest opposition.

4. The case of a man of the name of Colville, who has been confined for some time in the prison in Cold Bath Fields, by a warrant from the secretary of state, was brought before the house of commons by Sir Francis Bur dett. A secret committee was appointed to examine the case, consisting, among others, of Sir Francis himself and Lord Folkstone. The result was a report, in which all the members of the committee concurred, stating that the arrest and detention of this man were perfectly justified by the circumstances of the case; that on public grounds it was necessary he should remain in confinement; and that he had suffered no inconvenience which was not necessarily incident to a prison.

5. A motion was made by Mr. Wardle, respecting the trial by court martial, of a corporal in the Oxford Militia. The circumstances, as stated by Mr. Wardle, bore every mark of cruelty and oppression. When they came, however, to be sifted, they proved to be so utterly groundless, and the proceedings with respect to the corporal-appeared to have been marked by so much moderation and forbearance on the part of his of ficers, that only one man in the House could be found to vote in favour of Mr. Wardle's motion for inquiry; and that was Colonel Gore Langton, the commanding officer of the re giment to which the man belonged. It ap peared in the course of the debate, that Mr. Wardle had written to the commander in chief demanding that the culprit might not be punished, until he, Mr. Wardle, should have an opportunity of bringing bis case before parliament. The commander in chief begged to know what the grounds were of so novel and extraordinary a request, and assured Mr. Wardle, they should receive from him all due consideration. Mr. Wardle

tefused to condescend to any explanation, and insisted, rather whimsically, on his tight, as a representative of the people, to suspend the man's punishment without assigning his reasons.

6. Mr. Whitbread brought forward his promised motion for inquiry into the conduct of the servants of the crown in the year 1804, when he alleged that many acts of state had been done in the king's hame when the king was incompetent to signify his pleasure upon them, and was under the entire controul of his physicians. He grounded his assertions on the evidence of Dr. Heberden, who had stated that his majesty's indisposition lasted from the 14th of February, to the 23d of April in that year. During the whole of the month of March, the king's name had been used, acts passed and messages delivered, and other things done; although he was then, according to Dr. He berden's evidence, in unsound mind. The defence made by those who had then been in office, was that they had taken no step without the opinions, and full consent, and concurrence of the physicians in attendance on his majesty; and that his majesty was never called to transact business, but when all the physicians declared him fully competent to do so. Mr. Whitbread's motion was negatived on a division, by 198 to 81.

7. On the suggestion of the lord chancellor, a committee has been appointed by the house of lords, to take into consideration the case of suitors in Chancery, and in the House of Lords as a high court of appeal, and to provide some remedy for the delays, which, in consequence of the vast accumulation of business, have unavoidably arisen, in the decision of suits in both these courts. In the common law courts it appears that delays have not arisen, except through the negligence or dishonesty of law agents. These courts almost always clear off in every term the whole of the business which comes before them in that term, unless when they are induced to grant a delay, from a wish to suit the convenience of the parties, or to forward the ends of justice.

8. A discussion has taken place in the bouse of commons, with respect to the steps taken by the Irish government, as stated in our last number, to check the unlawful proceedings of the Catholic Committee. The explanations of Mr. Wellesley Pole, the chief secretary of Ireland, appeared to give general satisfaction, both as evincing the habitual moderation and forbearance of the Irish government towards the Catholics; and the necessity which had at length arisen CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 111.

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for its interference. The Catholic Committee, formed at first expressly and exclusively for the purpose of petitioning parliament, had of late assumed a very different character, and seemed to aim at different objects. They had begun to erect themselves into protectors of the Catholic soldiery, and had actually appointed a Sub-Committee to inquire generally into the grievances of the Catholic body. They had, in short, been allowed to proceed much farther than any Protestant association would have been allowed to do, merely lest the government should incur the imputation of intolerance. The necessity at length became urgent, and it was determined by the lord lieutenant, with the entire concurrence of the lord chancellor and the attorney and solicitor gene ral, that while the utmost latitude of liberty should be allowed to the Catholics in respect to petitioning, they should be restrained from transgressing the bounds of law.

9. The number of seamen voted by the House, for the service of the present year, including marines, is 145,000. Various improvements have been introduced by Mr. Yorke, into the mode of voting the estimates of the navy, which have given general satisfaction.

10. The restriction which existed last year on the distillation of barley, has been removed; and it is now left to the option of the distiller,' whether he shall use sugar or grain. The duties are so regulated, as to make the pecuniary advantages equal, in both cases.

11. A very great defalcation appears to have taken place in the Irish revenue during the last year. The net revenue of 1810, was near 800,000l. less than in 1807, although additional taxes, calculated to pro'duce 862,000l. had since been imposed. The revenue of last year was considerably less than the interest of the public debt. A committee is to be appointed to investigate the matter.

12. Lord Holland has brought before the House of Lords, a shocking case, of a man who died lately in the Marshalsea prison, and who, it appears, was literally starved to death. It is likely to lead to some prospective measure, which will prevent the possibility of the recurrence of so cruel and disgraceful a transaction.

13. A subsidy of two millions has been voted to Portugal, which is double the amount of last year's subsidy, to enable that power to maintain troops, and defray other expenses of the war.

14. A variety of papers have been moved 2 D

for, with a view to elucidate the late disastrous occurrences at Madras. The conduct of Sir G. Barlow was severely censured by some members, and as warmly defended by others. We could perceive, however, that the approbation which he obtained from his majesty's ministers, was by no means an upmeasured approbation." They defended his administration generally, but expressed themselves adverse to that principle on which the Madras government had acted, of giving to inferior officers a right to deliberate on the orders of their superiors. Where the legality of the order was so plainly contrary to law as to produce an impression of its illegality at first sight, there the inferior might be justified in hesitating to obcy; but where the illegality was constructive merely, and not obvious and palpable, there the inferior could not be considered as having a choice, and the responsibility of the act must rest wholly with his superior. This we understood to be the general colour of the opinion expressed by Mr. Dundas, the president of the board of control. In consistency with this principle, it appeared in the course of the debate, that Colonel Boles, whose suspension by Sir G. Barlow for having published, in his capacity of deputy adjutant general, an offensive and highly reprehensible order of his commanding officer, General McDowal, had greatly contributed to the discontents of the army, had recently been restored to his rank in the Company's service, and had received the arrears of pay, which had accumulated from the period of his suspension. This decision, though it may inculpate the propriety of Sir G. Barlow's conduct in that particular case, yet of course does not involve the propriety of his con duct in the dispute with General M'Dowal, neither does it form the smallest justification for those most unwarrantable acts of insubordination and violence, to which some of the officers of the Madras army afterwards had recourse.

15. The only parliamentary proceeding which we have still to notice is that wich respects the state of commercial credit, and the means adopted for its relief. In consequence of numerous representations made to government of the distresses existing in the commercial, but more especially in the manufacturing, classes of the community, and chiefly in Glasgow, Paisley, and Manchester; a committee was appointed to investigate the causes of these distresses, and to report their opinion to the House. The report of the committee stated the distress to be considerable, and to arise from the large

amount of goods, particularly cotton goods, exported to South America and elsewhere, for which little or no return had been made, and from the want at present of a vent for our manufactures: and recommended the issue of exchequer bills for the relief of such as could give adequate security for their repayment at periods to be fixed, in the same manner as had been done in 1793. Accordingly a vote has passed the house of commons, to enable his majesty to issue six millions of exchequer bills for this purpose.We are certainly very far from anticipating from this issue the advantages which many are disposed to expect from it. In 1793, the issue of exchequer bills was a wise measure, because it was a measure, exactly adapted to meet the evil which then existed, and which was not either the failure of commercial speculations, or the want of good and tangible securities, but such a want of circulating medium, that even the best securities could not command a sufficient portion of it to carry on the ordinary transactions of commerce. At present there exists no such want; on the contrary, money may be raised, if the merchant's securities are unexceptionable, with the utmost ease, at the legal interest, and even for less. If, therefore, the present applicants for parliamentary aid possess those securities which will justify the commissioners in granting them an issue of exchequer bills, they might easily at this moment obtain, by the ordinary channels, the accommodation which they want. If they cannot obtain it, it can only be, because the securities they propose are not satisfactory. We admit that it might be a measure of good policy, as well as benevolence, to grant some relief to the working manufacturers of Manchester and Glasgow, whose distress is certainly great; but beyond this we greatly doubt whether the bounty of parliament ought to extend. The present embarrassments are allowed to have been produced partly by wild speculations, which have led to heavy losses. It never can be wise to excite an expectation in those who are prone to engage in such speculations, that they may look to the national purse to deliver them from the effect of their own impru dence. As for those who can find no market for the manufactures which fill their warehouses, it cannot be expected, nor is it to be wished, that they should increase their stock of unsaleable commodities, the only way in which relief can descend from them to the working manufacturers. They may be enabled, it is true, by a loan, to pay their bills as they become due, but still this

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