The Speaker acquainted the house, that he had received from major-general sir John Stuart, the following letter, in return to the thanks of this house, signified to him, in obedience to their commands of the 22d of December last:—
Baker Street, 28th Feb. 1807. Sir; it is since my return to England that I have been honoured with an authenticated copy of your letter of the 24th Dec. (of which the original had been addressed from Mr. secretary Windham's office to the Mediterranean), transmitting the unanimous vote of thanks of the house of commons of the 22d of the same month, to the general and other officers, to the troops, and to myself, in token of its satisfaction at the conduct and result of the action with the French forces, on the 4th of July last, on the plains of Maida in Calabria. I shall fulfil a most grateful duty in obeying the command of the house, to communicate to the army, as above directed, the great and public 1055 honour by which their discipline and gal lantry on that occasion have been remune rated. And I venture to anticipate the sen timents of pride and gratitude they must feel, conjointly with myself, on thus receiving, in the unanimous thanks of parliament, the most distinguished and most expressive token of national approbation to which a British soldier can possibly be encouraged to aspire. While I presume to request you, sir, to become the channel of conveying to the house my individual impressions on this subject, I am to solicit that you will receive also the expression of my own acknowledgement for the flattering terms of personal compliment with which you have been pleased to notify to me the high distinction conferred upon me in the Resolutions. I have the honour to be, &c. J. Stuart, major-general.—Mr. Walter Jury was, according to order, brought to the bar, where he received a reprimand from the speaker, and was ordered to be discharged out of custody, paying his fees. The reprimand was as follows; viz.Walter Jury; A select committee of this house, appointed to try and determine the merits of a petition, complaining of an undue election and return for the borough of Maidstone, have reported, that you being called before them as a witness, did upon your examination misbehave your self, grossly prevaricating, and refusing to give evidence. For that offence you were thereupon ordered into custody; and by this house afterwards committed to his majesty's gaol of Newgate. The tribunal before which you were summoned, is justly dear to parliament and the country; and this house will not endure that its dignity should be insulted, or its authority eluded, with impunity. Sworn to declare the truth between the parties, and again admonished of the solemn obligation under which you stood, you nevertheless thought fit to persist in your prevarications, until it was manifest that your obstinacy was wilful and criminal: and this house has accordingly branded your misconduct, by sentencing you to an imprisonment with male factors and felons. At length by your petition it appears that you acknowledge your offence, and express your contrition: the ends therefore of public justice are attained; and it remains only for you, by a sacred regard to veracity, through the remainder of your life, to 1056 endeavour at redeeming yourself in some degree from the heavy disgrace into which you have fallen. In compliance with your petition, this house has ordered that you be now discharged; and you are discharged accordingly.Ordered, nem. con., that the said reprimand be entered in the journal of this house.—Lord Howick presented the following message from the king: viz.G. R. His majesty thinks proper to acquaint the house of commons, that a treaty of peace has been concluded between his majesty and the king of Prussia, a copy of which, as soon as the ratification thereof shall have been exchanged, his majesty will communicate to this house. And his majesty thinks it proper further to apprise this house, that his majesty's minister, who signed that treaty, has, in pursuance of an authority granted to him by his majesty for that purpose, and in consequence of the great urgency of the state of affairs in those countries, which are now the seat of war, taken upon himself to make an advance of money to the Prussian government, to the amount of about 80,000l., which advance his majesty has been pleased to approve; and he trusts that this house will enable him to make good the same. G. R.On the motion of lord Howick, the above message was ordered to be referred to a committee of supply.