Star. — London, England, 1802-11-12 00:00:00

COMMERCE.—No. I. TO THE EDITOR. Sta.—Every man who has paid much attention to the nature of Commerce mutt have obferved, that, with nations as well as with individuals, it is 2 precarious poffeffion, depending at all times upon diligence, exertion, and the protation of the State; yet fometimes liable to attacks and difillers, which neither diligence nor exertion can avert, if not powerfully protelled by the Parent State. Unbiaffed by any political opinions or attach ments to any party, but guided merely by the with of being ferviceable to a country which has dif tinguilhed itfelf in a peculiar and brilliant manner, it is natural to take a view of its fituation, at a mo ment different from any that has hitherto occurred, and is, in every refpe&, of the higheff importance. The laft War, contrary to the ufual effeet of hof tilities, produced a very great increafe of Britith Commerce, which arofe from two caufes : the fuc cefs of the navy, the noble and adventurous fpirit of our merchants, who felt the foffering protection of their Country, and dared to purfue, nay carried their Commerce to every corner of the known world ; therefore one of the firft and moll evident confiderations for this Country is, to inquire how has the Peace affeEted us ? and what arc the objeEts of molt importance for our fvlinifters and Rulers to attend to ? Commerce and ManufaCtures are the very root and branch of all our confequence as a State, and if not protected and encouraged, mull inevitably go to decay. Let us look to the earlieft ages to which authen tic records go back, and we (hall find, that differ ent degrees of induftry and intelligence amongll mankind, together with the variations of the pro duce of different countries, led men to exchange produce, and thereby commence commercial tranf aaions. The fine manufactures of Egypt were exchanged againft the aromatic produaions of Arabia, and the precious metals and jewels of the EaR, at the earließ periods recorded in hißory. The fame Commerce which had been carried on at firft by land was afterwards continued by fea ; and Tyre teems to have been the &II city that role to great wealth in the Weftern world merely by the fruits of Commerce. To Tyre fucceeded Carthage. When both were defiroyed, navigation for Come time yielded the palm to the Ealtern mode of conveyance by cara vans, and railed the magnificent city of Palmyra in the midway between the Perfian Gulph and the Mediterranean Sea. The riches, pride, and habits of indolence which accompanied Commerce in all cafes, brought on the ruin of thofe who polrefred them, by railing up enemies, who were aZtuated by the double incentive of envy and avarice. ALEX moose the GI eat converted the proud city of Tyre into a miferable abode for fifhermen, and the Ro man arms laid low the beautiful columns of Car thage and Palmyra. We have fince teen Venice, and Genoa, and Cenflantinople poffeffed of the fame branches of Commerce, enriched and enervated in the fame manner. It is true that thefe latter cities loft their pre-eminence by another caufe. The difcovery of a 'mirage by the Cape of Good Hope turned the Commerce between the E ail ern and We (tern World into a new channel. It is to be remarked, that Portugal, Antwerp, Bruges. and the cities which fucceeded to Venice and Genoa, loft their fuperio tity by their enervation and indolence. The only end in tracing this pmgrefs of Com merce, is to thew, that unlefs the fame means are taken to retain that were employed to acquire it, nn fpecies of advantage is of a nature more tranfi tory, or apt to defect thole who have got in into their poll - di - lon, and England may decline as other States have done before. Holland, which enjoyed the greaten share of the Commerce of Europe, after Antwerp and Bruges funk into infignifieance, has itfelf been on the de cline for more than half a century, and its ruin was completed in the American war. It was at this period that England began its no b'e and grand career as a Commercial Nation, and at prefent is in a prouder fituation than any of its predeceffors, and ought to take warning by their fate. It has, like the wealthy cities of antiquity, become an objed of envy to its neighbours ; but having hitherto preferved the warlike virtues, and refined the effe.lh of wealth, it has been able to refill their efforts. To continue to do fo it will neverthelek require all the bravery and virtue of the peorle, and the wifdom of thole who govern the national affairs. The year 1792, wt , ie:i was the laft year of peace, was alfo that in whic', the Commerce of England in time of peace was moil extended ; one may there. fore be allowed to fuppofe, that even if there had been no war, our commerOd fituation might have been flnurifhing ; but, fine that time, our Com merce has augmented far beyesd the former Rate ; fo thgt tildes great care is taken, that which has been gained by valour and enterprize,maybeloft by negligence, want of ability, or want of forefight. During the war, when it was declared at one time, in the bolorn of the Convention, that the French had not even one folitary trading veffel that navigated the Ocean under their flag—when they bad 101 l their iflands—and the Dutch, as well as all the. States in the Mediterranean, Spain and Por tugal included, were in a fituation little fuperior-- it is clear that England, by the power of her wealth and induflry, polkaed an extent of trade that (he never could have had while other nations came in for a (hare ; and now that the Colonies and Ifig:.ds are reftored, and the vac's at liberty freely to n..vigate the Seas, Commerce mull become a emitter of competition, as it was Lefore ; and, if not prorated and cnconraged, mull end in ruin and der..ty. During this war, the load of taxes tho been fo greatly augmented, as to influence the prices of labour and provillons in an unex ampled degree, which places this nation ender tcrlideraale dif.Ovantages, and may lead us to ealeu:ate on fume injuTtes in the competition With other powers. . _ _ be prevented from falling in confequenee of a peace—the want of proper regulations and neccf fary protedion. To treat this fubjed as it requires, and as it deferves, it will be necelfary to nate fails, and enter into derails, which, in my next, I (hall endeavour to do, keeping in every thing as free from the politics of the nation as I poffibly can, my only intention being merely to throw light on this momentous bufinefs. NEPTUNE. FRANCE. PARIS, NOVEMBER 9. If any credit may be given to the German Jour nals, one of the principal objeds which at prefent engrotres the attention of the politicians of Vienna, is a pretended alliance that is to take place between Rufla, Auftria, and England. But, as the fpecu- i in German politics do not repofe an over confident reliance on fuch impolitic rumours, they take the precaution to add, that the authentic ate of the Diet of Ratifbon abundantly prove that France and Ruffia remain infitaraqy united, and that the Court of Vienna !hall never obtain any conceflion without their mutual confent. And indeed, who in his fides could well fuppofe the exiftence of In monftrous, fo anti-pacific, and fo anti-continental an alliance ? How can it be well fuppofed that the Ruffian Government, whore views are fo profound, whole projeds are fo yak whole policy is fo Eu ropean, could ever thiqk of forming an alliancewith an infular power whore fole ambition aims at prey ing on the vitals of the Continent ? How could it be prefitmed that the Cabinet of St. Peterlburgh, which prides to immortality under ALEXANDIR I. by the foundeft policy, by the moil jut} laws, by the incentives which it holds forth to national commerce and indultry could, by an alliance fo much again)Nature, facrifice fo noble a profped of future pro fperity and political influence, while Raffia and France, by remaining united, may for ages pre ferve the Continent of Europe from the scourge of foreign, and the devaftations of civil wars? Thee Englifh themfelves may and do confefs loudly, that the alliance between France and Ruflia proves the confervation of Europe and the prefervation of France.—Lei Warfare.: de la Patric. Five per cents 53 fr. 90 c. FROM THE PARIS PAPERS. Rohe, OCT. i6.—The Holy Father fet out on the Itth, with a train of three carriages, under the efcort of four noble guards, and a detachment of cavalry. When his Holinefs reached Oftia, he repaired to the houfe of Cardinal ALaant, and then to the fort, where he infpeeted the works ; be thence went on board two of his armed vertels, which had come from Civiti Vecchia, and bided them amidst feveral difcharges of artillery. The Holy Father then continued - his tour from Oftia, by Caftel Fufaao, where he was received by Prince CHIGI. After dinner his Holinefs viewed the falt works in that place, and towards night returned I to this capital. Coarou, SEPT. 24.—The ftorm has been fuc seeded by a calm. The horrid anarchy which prevailed Mere has at length ceafed, and our hearts, too long oppreffed, abandon themfelves to the tweet hope of foon teeing realifed the adiantage ous protnifes made to us by the Minifter Plenipo tentiary of Ruffia, in the name of his Majefty the Etat time. This Prince, by his beneficent media tion, has already obtained the remiflion of one half of the tribute impofed on us. STRASBOURG, Nov. r.—Switzerland prefents to our view a fingillar condition. Whilft the Hel vetic Government is again recognifed by the Can tons of Berne, Argovia, Soleure, Bafle, and Fri bourg, which compote the Weftern Switzerland ; the other Cantons acknowledge the authority of the Diet of Schwitz, not exa&ly from attachment, but more from fear and to avoid a complete anarchy. The French troops which advance on all fides will make the Cantons enter into the Conftitution of the empire. Already Bafle, St lcurc, Berne, and Fribourg, arc in theirpolTeffion, and vie underftand that already the advanced guard of the 27th den3i brigade has arrived at Zurich, and another demi brigade is on its march to Lucerne. It is difficult to give any opinion upon the public fpirit or the political fentiments of the inhabitants. In con- Ildering the Swifs only in regard to their adherence to the old or the new Government, one may aver that where private intereft, wounded by the aboli tion of the ancient regime, does not interfere with the political fyftem of the inhabitants, men of un derftanding, and poffeffed of property, are inclined to the new Conftitution ; while the popular part of the community is outrageous for the old fyftem, particularly in the great cities. It is obferved, in general, that fince the return of the Government to Berne, its partifans restrained in molt of the Cantons by terror, declare themfelves, and pro mote the ettablifbment of the conftitutional fyftem. Among the diftriets which di ftingnith themfelves by their adherence to the Central Government, we reckon the whole of the Canton of Lucerne, that of Turgovia, a great part of that of Senlis, which forms at prefent the cliff.: ia of St. Gall and the Rhin that, the cities of Argovia, a part of the country of the Canton ofßerne,and, in general,the countriesof the Canton of Bane, Schaffhoufen(and Zurich: thole laft have given a ftriking example. In the coun tries of Bafle the Sub-prefects and the Municipali ties have been reinftated in their authorities, as Coon as the account was received of the return of the Helvetic Government to Berne ; in that of Schaff. honfcn the peafants had fent an addrefs of congra tulation, at the fame time that the city had pub lifhed a proteft againft all its ads, and had with. drawn the contingent troops which the city had detached againft the adverfaries of the Provifionary Government of Zurich, a nd reca ll e d t h e i r D eputy I from the Diet of Schwitz. In fliort, in the Canton of Zurich all the difirias are in a Bate of infurredion againa the new authoritietof the city, and are waiting w i t h anx i ous P • • ••• WO • LONDON. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12. PRICE OP STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. 3 per Cent. Conf. 67H—Ditto, for time 671 — Old s per Cent. Ann. roof —New s per Cent. 9911 Omolum zol dif. PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY: Imp. 3 per Cent. 66 6sl Imp. Anll. II 9-16 ii-i 6 Excheq. BilL 31.41.prem. 3d. ditto, is. at. pron. Omnium 91 so dif. Englith Tickets 171. 17$. Conf. for Acc.6B/ 671 Bank Stock t 8o 3 per C. Red. 67f 66 67 3 per Cent Conf. 68 67f 4 per Cent. 8341 i 5 per Cent. zoofff j per Cent. 1797, too 99f I Long Ann. 19 ii-161 We have received Paris Journals to the loth inftant, from which we have given extracts in the preceding columns. We have alfo received letters from Gibraltar, of to late a date as the 25th of Odober, of which the following is an extra& : ag GIBRALTAR, OCTOBER 28.—8 y the laft ac• counts from Malta we learn, that Sir RICHARD B:ccarroti had failed thence with the fhips under his command, to join the five fail of the line which left this on the 6th inflant. " It is now certain that the objea of our fquadron is to watch the force which the French have col lated at Toulon, where they have now twelve fail of the line ready for fea, and thirty thoufand troops. All our (hips were prepared for aaual fervice, they had again mounted all the guns which they had put in the hold, on hearing of the Peace, and it was generally believed in the fleet, that they should attack the French armament if it offered to put to fea. There can be no doubt, from the force which the French have been gradually collecting in there feas, that they have fome grand obje& in view, if we do not prevent them from accomplifhing it. Two more French line of battle chips paired this to the eastward three days ago. " Orders are left for every (hip that comes here to join Sir RICHARD BICIIRTON without dklay. " The Dey of Algiers (till threatens to go to war with us, and it is conjeaured. from his affum ing fo unufual a tone, that he has been fecretly urged on by the French to aft as he does, perhaps with a view of calling the attention of our fleet from Toulon to Algiers." Another letter from the fame place fays " Appearances here look very fufpicious. We timid not be in the leaft degree furprized to hear of an aftion between our fleet and the Toulon fquadron; for it is no fecret here that our fleet has orders to prevent the French armament at Toulon from failing." While fuch a jealoufy exits refpefting affairs in the Mediterranean, it would be abfurd to expea any fpcedy accounts of our forces having quitted Malta. Its retention, for a time at lea% may now be confidered as determined upon. Even Alexan dria, we think, may alfo be kept till the matters prefently under dircuffion between this countryand France be finally arranged; for though it was before understood that the stoops there were to be carried to Malta, it is extremely probable other iraruftions have been forwarded, the nature of which could not have tranfpired at Gibraltar, when our former letters came away. Indeed, private letters from Alexandria (but we have not learnt their date) (late, that " the Mamelukes and the Turks had almoit daily encounters ; and it was fuppofed that the Ottoman troops would be driven out of Egypt, excepting fuch as took refuge in Alexandria, which, in thefe circumflances, the ,Britith Government has not thought it right to evacuate." Government received difp; tches from Egypt and Malta on Tuefday laft. They were brought over by WILLIAM Erom, Efq. Their contents have not tranfpired, and it would be ridiculous to affect a knowledge of them. From public meafures, however, fome opinion may be formed of the uncertainty of peace. We have given fome• inte. rotting faes from the Mediterranean, which bear upon this quellion,in addition to which we may add, That all the Regiments of Infantry have orders to complete to their full eflahliflnent, and to fe lea fuch Officers to recruit as are moll likely to obtain men. That the 6zft Regiment is ordered to Malta, and the toth to Gibraltar. That the 9oth, 9111, 92d, and 93d, ordered to be difbanded, are ordered to be recruited as fait as poffible. That circular Letters, under date of Saturday, are ilfued to the Colonels of each Regiment of Militia, to make immediate application for their full proportion of cloathing, and to apply " forth with," to the Ordnance for any number of arms deficient of the quantity that will be required for the incrcafed number of Militia. And that the penfionet s are ordered to make immediate appearance for garrifon duty. Why is a Commander in Chief appointed to the BritiO Army in the Mediterranean, in the perfon of General OAK' s, when we cannot have a gar• CORN MARYVi S. CORM INSPECTORS RETURN FROM UXIIRIDer, Wheat, per Load, f rom 14 1 . to 161.NOV6t4SER 11. Barley, per Quarter, from 11.75. to 11.11;. Oats, per Quarter, from 11. 3s. to 11. 95 . Beans, per Q.2arter, from tl. 14.5. to 21. Peafe, per 4L:tiarter, from 21. Bs. to 21. T2S. MARK-LANK, NOVEMBER 12. There is no alteration whatever in 'Wheat fince Monday-nor has there been any frefh arrivals of Barley ; prices continue the fame.-Oats rather dearer.-Beans may be quoted as on Monday._ Boiling Peas are cheaper. General currency a s under :- Englifh Wheat, per qr. 5 05 . 545. Prime Urea, 575. 58s. Fine Dantzic Wheat, 575. 61s. Rye, 325. 365. Barley, 245. 265. (New) 295. 3 0 s. Malt, 445. 485. Fine ditto sos. Oats, Ifs. 225. 24.5. Old 255. 265. nixie Beans, New, 3 ts. 345. Old, 3gs. 38s. Tick Beans, New, 295. 335. Old, 3 15 . 335 . Hog Peale, 38S. 435. Boilers, New 465. cis. Carraway Seed, 361. to 4ts. per cwt. Coriander, aBs. to 3os. per cwt. Canary, 9os. to 935. per qr. Rape Seed, 341. to 351. per.l2ll. Flour, 465. sos. 525. per fack. There are now two quarters, up to Midfammer laft, of the Civil Lift, in a courfe of payment; confequently there remains but one quarter due. Lord HAWKE SBURY yellerday gave a grand din. ner to General A roatossi and all the Foreign Mi. rafters. Lord SUDLEY gave a grand dinner y4lierday at his houfe, Dover-areet, to a number of friends, and in the evening a card-party. The Duchefs Of DEVONSHIRE gave a petitfouper a few evenings fence at Devonthire-houfe, to Lord and Lady Bassoaoocu, Lord DONCANNON,Lord and Lady MELBOURNE, &C. The Marquis of e'ALISBURY arrived yefterday at his houfe in Arlington-ftreet, from Hatfiekl. Lord CAMDEN left town yefterday for his feat in Kent. The Duc de BootLom is arrived in Town From Jerfey. Lord ORMOND arrived yefterday at Blake's Hotel, jermyn-ftreet, from Bath. Sir JAMES and Lady GRAHAM arrived yellerday at Blake's Hotel, jermyn-lireet. The Duke of PORTLAND IS at Lord STAMFORD'S, in CharlesAlreet, Berkeley-fquare, until the repairs of his houfe in Piccadilly are finned. Holwood, we underftand, was aetually fold at the public Cale, and, we are forry to fay, at lealt fifteen thoufand pounds under its real value. Since the journey of Prince WILLIAM of Glou cefter to the North, prints, platter butts, and every fpecies of likenefs of his Royal Highnefi, have in. creafed at Copenhagen, and feveral other places, beyond all common calculation. All the well. executed prints of the Britith Royal Family at large have alto fold the better on his account, and the tale of the moment. By Letters which we have received from Jerfey, we learn, that the CHIET Como'. has appoin:ed a French Commercial Conful for the Elands of Guernfey, Jerky, Alderney, and Sark, and he has already taken up his refidence in the Ifland of Jerfey. This is the firft time, we underDand, that a Conful was ever appointed for thefe Elands.— His appointment, he reports, is a good one, equal to, at leaft, _cool. per annum ; and that if his re fidence as Conful is not recognifed by the Britith Government, he will refide there in a private ca. parity. Our Letters add, that the People of Jer fey do not much like, or approve of this appoint ment, or of the promifed refidence among them of this French Gentleman. • There being a fearcity of Royal Marines at Chatham Barracks to do the Dock-yard duty there, orders have been fent to Major General BOWATER, Colonel Commandant of the Plymouth Divifion of Royal Marines, from the Right Hon. the Lords Commialoners of the Admiralty. to get ready for embarkation for the Chatham Divifion of Royal Marines the following officers and private ,. , viz.— Lieut.-Colonel and Capt. TENCH, Lieut. Colonel and Capt. MEREDITH, Lieut.-Colonel and Carain WILLIAMS, Lieutenants C. MEREDITH, R. BIG• NF LL, R. TUCKER, A. CAMPBELL, and J. H. GRAHAM, twelve Surgeons, and 3co rank and file. They embark to-morrow on board the Hut- BAR, of 38 guns, Captain P. WILKINSON, in Ha• moaze, which goes to Chatham to compleat her complement of feamen. PASSWAN GGLOU is marching toward; Belgrade, for the purpofe of wrelling that place cut of the poffeffion of the Janiffiaries. According to intelligence from Vienna. at King of Etruria tranfmitted to the Duke of Par ma, his Father, a Ilion time before the deceafe of the latter a note, by which he formally renounced his right of Succeflion to the Duchy. A Funeral Service was performed at Vienna, on the alit ult. to the memory of the deceafed Duke of Parma, at which his Imperial Ma:jetty and the whole Court Allied. The Count DR SARAU, the Imperial Ambaffa dor at Peteriburgh, arrived from thence at Vienna on the 25th ult. He is, it i s fail, to be appointed Provincial Marthal of Aultria. A Gentleman of Leeds, in his defcription of ;;i1 eloped wife, lays, 66 the has a tongue that ruts razor." An Irifh Gentlemin lately offered a considerable bet that the FIRST CONSUL would be tl'c tall.— " What then," laid a friend, " do you make of t he Sactuul 2nd Third Confuls ?"....44 Oh ! I nut, the"