on the 13th of January, in the last year, I carried into operation the duties on imports which are now imposed, adopting the general system, as to their collection, which has been resorted to by the most polished nations of Europe, and incorporating with the arrangements the judicious provisions of the decree of the 29th of March, of the same year, as to public bills, and the 8 per cent reduction in the 8th article of that decree; (this diminution is in favour of American merchants, by whose assistance the public bills were put in circulation). Notwithstanding these prudent and moderate regulations, conformable with equity and justice, considerable clamour has been raised against the exor bitancy of the duties, the complainants not attending to the urgent necessity which required them, in the form of an indirect contribution, extending to all classes of consumers, and under this false pretext of exorbitancy, a contraband trade has been carried on, in defiance of all the precautions that have been introduced to prevent it.

Under these circumstances, to promote the increase and prosperity of commerce, and to remove every obstacle to its success, I have determined on a very large reduction in the duties of imports, and have informed the Customhouse of the capital of the same, which is to take effect from the present time, under the subsequent conditions:

1. The payment of the duties is to be made, two-third parts in money, and one-third part in public bills; modifying this pay

ment by the first article of the decree of the 29th of March, 1817.

2. The Custom-house is to receive for these two-third parts of the duty, all such of the public bills as have been issued by the Supreme Government, on which is expressed on the face of them that they are to be current instead of cash.

3. Credit for the duties is to be given to the importers, on taking possession of the goods, 20 days for the half amount, and 40 days for the remainder.

4. For the security of the state, the Custom-house officers are to have a guarantee, satisfactory to them, which is to be required without distinction of persons.

5. This article provides for the mode of payment, when the importer neglects the discharge of the duties.

6. The 8 per cent granted under the 8th article of the decree of the 29th of March, in favour of the natives of South America, is reduced to 4 per cent; and also with respect to others to whom the same favour was extended.

toms, and by them to their Collectors:

My Lord;-I have the honour to acquaint your lordship, that by a letter I have just received from Mr. Squitcovich, our ViceConsul at Oran, dated the 27th ult. I am informed that the ravages of the plague in that city have been so extensive as already to have swept off one half of the population. On the day on which he writes, 150 persons had died.

Mr. Squitcovich further adds, that the whole province of Oran was infected; and that the mortality was considerable in Tremesen, a town on the Morocco frontier, having a population of between 20,000 and 30,000 souls; and that the disease had already began to show itself at Fez, the usual seat of Government of the Morocco dominions, and a city, from its numerous population, and the commercial spirit of its inhabitants, having the most extensive relations of any in the empire.

My last advices from Mr. M'Donnell, at Algiers, are dated the 23rd of May. The deaths, during the preceding week, had not exceeded 50 per diem, while previously to that they had in some instances amounted to 120. I fear, however, this decreased mortality is rather to be attributed to the reduced population than to any other cause.

Mr. M'Donnell states, that the crew of the frigate presented by the Emperor of Morocco to the Dey of Algiers, had, after remaining a month on shore, embarked about three months pre

viously on board a hired vessel, to be landed at some port on the Morocco coast. We have not yet received any intelligence of its arrival. It is needless to

observe that this crew must have the disease amongst them to a great extent.

In consequence of the above intelligence, I am employed in taking further measures for the security of the public health of the garrison.

(Signed) G. DON, General. To Earl Bathurst, K. B., &c. 6. Winchester, (Virginia).This town and its vicinity have been visited by one of the most destructive floods known for many years. It commenced raining on Saturday night last, and continued at intervals during the whole of Saturday and Sunday night. All the water courses were raised to a height scarcely ever before known. The damage sustained is immense; but it is impossible for us to form any thing like a correct estimation. Mill-dams have been broken, fences swept away, meadows overflowed, and much grain in the low grounds destroyed. The injury done to property in this town alone is supposed to amount to 30 or 40,000 dollars-principally caused by the filling of cellars, where groceries were stored.

17. Bourdeaux-We are now very much occupied with an incident which interests the whole of the reformed church of France. One of the deacons of our church has just been condemned to pay a fine by the Tribunal of Police for not having decorated

decorated the front of his house with the usual hangings, during the procession of the host on Corpus Christi day. This prosecution appears to us a manifest violation of the 5th article of the Charter; but what appears more surprising still are, the arguments employed by the public ministry (the law officers of the Crown) who demanded the condemna tion. They rested these argu. ments on a regulation of 1757, which they cited at the audience as their authority, and which you will observe renewed the rigour of the persecutions against the Protestants, the exile of their pastors, interdiction of their assemblies, the annulling of their marriages, the declaration of bastardy on their infants, &c. What must we think, in the age in which we live, of seeing such atrocities dug up from their grave? No attempt is made, it is true, to bring them again into exercise at the present moment, and the attempt could not succeed though made; but it might be expected that shame would restrain them from recalling those barbarous decrees, especially as by so doing they violate existing laws, and aim a direct blow at rights consecrated by the charter.

Article 5 of the charter is thus expressed: Every man professes his religion with equal freedom, and obtains for his worship the same protection." It is evident that, if the Protestants can be compelled to put out hangings, then to bend the knee, &c., acts prohibited by their conscience, there is no longer any toleration in religion, and by

degrees we may expect the revival of former abuses. Attempts of the same kind appear to have been made in the whole of the South. We know of energetic representations made, addressed to the government by divers consistories, and we think it necessary to display zeal and firmness in the delicate circumstances in which we are with regard to the Concordat. The Concordat presented to the Chambers, but not discussed, threatens us with a revival of all the laws of the Church, and you are not ignorant what the ultra-montane party mean by these expressions. I know that some of the provisions of this charter may be amended, but is it not deplorable that the idea of proposing them should have been entertained? If we show weakness or indifference, can we tell how far our supineness or want of energy may be abused in the discussions of the approaching session of the Chambers, to extort from them concessions which may endanger our liberty of conscience?

A peculiar system of management appears to be adopted by those who move in these affairs. They appear to act in concert, as the same attempts have been made in different places. The condemned have demanded signed copies of their sentences; they have not received them, and probably never will. This mode of proceeding appears a tacit confession on the part of the Authorities that their decisions are not founded on law. It is to be remarked likewise, that though several Protestants resisted a compliance

JULY.

Arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Yesterday morning, July 1, between 12 and 1 o'clock, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent arrived with their suite in four carriages at Claremont, the seat of the Duchess's brother, Prince Leopold, who was in readiness, with his attendants, to receive his Royal Sister and the Royal Duke. 2. Paris. An accident of a very melancholy and fatal nature occurred yesterday evening at the Montagnes Beaujou. The Baron Dufresne, military Intendant, on leave at Paris, visited this garden with his family. It was his birth day. Yielding to the wishes of his daughter, and young Ducros, his nephew, aged only eight years, he placed himself along with them in one of the cars, holding the latter on his knee. When they had descended about half way down the mountains, a wheel of the car broke; the young lady was thrown to some distance by the shock, fortunately without experiencing any injury, but M. Dufresne and his nephew were precipitated against the balustrade,, which broke, and one of the supports of which passed through the body of the boy, and mortally wounded M. Dufresne himself. The spectacle was most shocking. The viscera of the unfortunate sufferers were laid open and torn in a dreadful manner. They died in great pain a few hours after the accident. M. Dufresne was aged 43, and has left a widow, and daughter aged 13, to lament his loss.

Commerce. Official Official Documents. The following letter, dated Custom-house, London, July 3, 1818, having for its object " to prevent prosecutions being commenced upon unfounded information against Persons and Vessels," has been transmitted to their Collectors :

Gentlemen;-Deeming it highly material, in order to prevent prosecutions being commenced upon unfounded information against persons for having been concerned in offences against the laws of the revenue, and against vessels for having been employed in the contraband trade, that the officer receiving the information should, in the first instance, make the most minute and particular inquiries upon the spot, as far as the same is practicable, not only into all the facts and circumstances connected with the charges, but also into the character and probable motives of the informer, and his witnesses, as well as into the character, habits, and connexions of the parties accused; and that all these circumstances should be fully and confidentially reported to us, in order that we may be enabled to weigh and consider the nature of the evidence in each case, previous to our directing informations to be filed against persons, or proceedings to be had against vessels, for past offences; and that where the charge does not appear to be satisfactorily made out, we may direct further inquiry to be made, in order to enable us to determine on the propriety of commencing proceedings.

We direct you to govern yourselves accordingly, and to be very

particular