The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-01-29 00:00:00

■ LI lER.iTURE. La opere trefium cognorcers. f Hoa. Having presented the reader in oar last Paper' with a view of some of the deformities of the Molt A t. Woat.u, we will now place before him some of the sublime and terrible beauties of the Naasre t. Though the scene,which is replete with human interest, at ill always the more forcibly controul the attention of man, yet the lineaments of inanimate and wild na ture are infested with their own peculiar attraction, and can please, without harrassing or alarming the imagination. The precipice and the cataract, while they strain the eye, or stun the ear, are not clothed with the terror which rests upon the fierceness of the passions : those enlarge and elevate the fancy, but this seises and gives a shock to the heart. From the works Which now lie before us of two tra %idlers who have visited the northern and some of the western parts of our island, we shall select two descriptions of nearly similar scenes, the first from Mr. Campbell's ".tourney from Edinburgh through Parts of North Britain," and the second from Mr. Lipscomb's " Journey into South \Vales." In Ca ta nos tA, Nature is generally of a larger stature, and a wilder niten than she is in Cast BR : but in tte instances, which we have chosen as parallels, she appears to be as great in the latter as in the former. The two narratives were published in the last year ; they cannot consequently be made the subjects of our particular remarks. " From Inver we pmceed along the banks of the I:rahan, which, as we advance, becomes more and more rapid, impetuous, and noisy, till turning a little to the left, where an arch is thrown over a thasm through which the river hurries onward, we command a view of its fall, while the car is stunned by the mighty roar of so vast a volume of water in its precipitation over huge and dark coloured rocks, that seem in vain to arrest it in its course. The ef fect that so grand an object is calculated to raise in the mind, it is sincerely to be regretted, is much in jnred by the appearance on the right, immediately opposite to the cataract, cat a pavilion of modern taste, placed on a hanging precipice called, by way of eminence, Os:ian's Hall*. The stranger is ushered into this mansion with ridiculous ceremony. Suffice it to say, that,elegant as by some it may be deemed, a lover of the chaste simplicity of nature views this pavilion as not consistent with the grandeur of the scenery around it. It ought to be removed. " We proceed in our ramble along the Brahan through paths conducted with much taste and fancy, to what is called The Rumbling Brig. On our way thither, we frequently meet with huge fragments of Tech, grouped so fantastically, as to lead the ima gination to conceive them the labour of the giants of old, or of the heroes celebrated in the poems of Os- Sian. The artist who conducted the pathways along the hanks of the Brahan, availing himself of these accidental appearances, formed with appropriate skill and taste, a rude and dark apartment in which the following lines, the composition of a ladyt, are inscribed : . . ! see the form that faintly gleams; "Ili Oscar, come to cheer my dreams: On wreathes of mist it glides away : Oh' star, my lovely Oscar, nay. Awake the harp to doleful lays, And soothe my soul with Oscar's praise. Wake, Ossian, last of Finaal's line, And mix thy sighs and tears with mine. The shell lit-sued in Oscar's hall, Since gloomy CJ irbac saw thee fall. The me o'er Nlarven playful bounds, ?Jro hrars the cry of Oscar's hounds, Thy four grey stones the hunter spies : Peace to the hero's ghnat !" he cries. Several inscriptions are to he seen in our ramble along the rugged banks of the Braban, characteris tic of the scenery around. 4 , When by heavy falls of rain the Brahan rises to its greatest possible swell, the rapidity and force that it displays is truly amazing, Witte o'er the brim, with many a torrent swell'd, Ant the mis'd ruin of its banks cierspread, At last the roued-up river pours along ; Resistless' roaring, dreadful, down it comes VTOIII the ride mountain and the maw" wild, Tumbling through the racks abrupt, and sounding far ; Then o'er the sandy valley floating spreads, Calm, sluggish, silent; tillagain, coostrain'd B tween two meeting hills, it bursts away, Where rocks and woods o'crhang the turbid stream; There gathering triple farce, rapid and deep, It boils, and wheels, and foams, and thunders through. Tnosisras.—Worter " A rude arch joins the chasm through which the Brahman " boils, and wheels, and foams and thun ders." It has been called by the country people of the lowland districts " The Rundimg Brg," and by those of the higher " ai Drechd chleich," the Bridge of the Stone ; perhaps from the appearance the chasm exhibits ; having a huge fragment of rock wedged mid-way down the yawning steep, under Which the fury of the fall is hid for a moment, but is again caught by the eye in the dark pool a little beyond the bending brows of the rocks, over which the arch is thrown, sullen, silent, and deep." • From its lame, one would naturally expect to find this Lill in a stile of rude magnificence suitable to our idea of the era of Ossian. Nothlop can be conceived more diametrically cippogite. It is elegant, and finished to a degree of finical nicety rarely tube met with. On the inner door of this hall, so hermitage, as it is sometimes called, it painted a figure re presenting Dalian. It is, in fact, a copy of the Belisarius of R üben4 or Vandyke, by a young artist of the uante of Stuart, snt elive of the late Duke of Athol. t Mer. D. Fordyce. THEATRE-ROrAL, DRURT-LANE. THIS EVEIsIING will be tweiented a New Comedy called HEAR BOTH SIDES. The principal Character: by Mr. Dorton, Mr. Panniwer, Jun. Mr. C. emble, Mr. Ray mond, Mr. Siren, Mr. Wrougliton„ Mr. Cherry, Mr. vg ew i lgt . r , Mr. oitlins, Mr. floltinesworth. Mrs Pupe, Mrs. Jordan . The Prologue to be spoken by Mr Bannister, Jan. And the Epilogite by Mrs. Jordan. To whieh will be added, 'THE DOC7OI ANT) APOTHECARY. The (knifeman w►o made his Thud Appearance last night, a R chard the Third, will repeat that Character in a few days. piptilltE-ROTAL, COVENT-GARDEN. THIS ILVElilltiO will be performed the Comic Opera of FAMILY QUARRELS. The principal Characters by 3&. Bealtam, Mr. Mandel, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Emery, btu Beverly, Mr. Simmons, and Mr. ?nclerton; Ski Mattocks, Mrs. St. Leger, Mrs. Dibdirt, Mw Waddy, A. Signora Storace. in whit* win be adoleil.. HARLIQUIN's HABEAS. ThlrnansGentlestam - wiso performed Othello on Mon slay Weal time gmitem applause of a most splendid and Ower• flowing T raise. will saps.* the Character on Menday; and oaths (allowing Mosley •ill pedlars am Cbtabotar (CLAW, he V maw traisevel. THE BRITISH LONDON, SATURDAY, JAN. W. Since the dispatch of a Courier-extraordinary to Paris, by the French Ambassador, on Wednesday last, a report has gained ground that it related to a request male by the FIRST CONSUL to our Go vernment for assistance in St. Domingo. The Paris papers, up to the `-:sth, received yesterday, do not contain the latest accounts received in France from that island ; but private letters from that c'ty state some particulars which s - confirm the report to which we allude. It is s- • that the moment the FIRST Cost::. received the last dispatches from St. Domingo, couriers were .sent off to change the destination of all the troops under orders for colonial expeditions, which it is now supposed will be sent to that colony. This account, if true, evinces a determined resolution to persevere in the enterprize. From the desperate situation, however, of the French affairs, General ROCH AM REAU may not be able to hold out until the arrival of succours from Europe ; and, therefore, it is not improbable but that the Fi asT Comet may have requested the more immediate aid and snpport of Jamaica. If we consider how much the welfare of our \Vest Tmint possessions would be effected by the ascendency of the Blacks in St. Domingo, the request, if any such has been made, cannot be deemed an unreasonable one. Several of the Paris Papers contain accounts from Constantinople of a later date than any before received, which state, that by recent dispatches from Egypt, it appears the defeat of the Turkish army was not so disastrous as report at first represented it. They have also published a pretended letter from Frankfort, in which the conduct of England is calumniated, and that defeat is attributed to the assistance afforded by the English to the Beys. The object of this fabrication is evidently to cast a stain upon British faith, and to accelerate the departure of our few remaining troops. British faith, however, is in this instance as pure and entice as the French fears and jealousies are false and groundless. Some time has elapsed since orders were sent out for the total evacuation of Egypt ; and the force that was there, has probably ere this arrived at Malta. These Papers likewise contain another article which we consider a very great curiosity. It is a plan of the new Constitution, for the Aristocratic Cantons of Switzerland, drawn up by Citizen Recut-. REA. The nevi. CONSUL was perfectly right when he presumed that no native of Switzerland was capable of framing a system of Government to his mind, and therefore he wisely imposed that task upon one of his Counsellors of State. The plain and simple notions of the unsophisticated Swiss were in deed ill adapted for the execution of such a complex and variegated work. It is composed of Grand Councils and Petty Councils. In the one, the Le gislative is blended with part of the Executive Powers. The other is a medley of Executive, Admi nistrative, and Judicial Authority—Judges, Jurors, and Ministers, all united in the same persons, some with pay and some without it.—The labours of the Diet of Ratisbon appeared to be at length draw ing to a close, but a new point has started up, which is likely to procrastinate its sitting.—The Im perial Minister has made a very important propo sition to that Assembly respecting the future compo- sition of the College of Princes, as far as relates to Religion.—lle proposes tlbat the number of Catholic Votes shall amount to Seventy, and the Protestant Votes to Sixty-eight. This plan, if carried into effect, would give Austria a preponderating influ ence, and will of course be resisted by Prussia. The Funds are 56.95. We have inserted an Extract of a Letter from De merara, by which it appears, that the Dutch have been put into possession of that island. The Message of the President of the United States to Congress, a very interesting article, will be found in our last page. By the late vacancy in the East India Direction, Groan SMITu, Esq. succeeds to the Committees of Warehouses, Accounts, Buying, and House ; and WILLIAM ADAIR JACKSON, Esq. to Shipping, Private Trade, Preventing Growth, Private 'Lade, and Government Troops, and Stores. At the Court of Common Council held at Guild hall on Thursday, two Petitions to the Hon. House of Commons, one for regulating the Coal Trade, and the other for enlarging Smithfield market, were agreed to, and ordered to be Signed by the Town Clerk, and presented by the Sheriff's, attended by the Remembrancer. By letters from Franklbrt, of the 15th instant, we are informed that the Hereditary Prince of ORANGE. who has lately taken the title of Reigning Aince of rade, is going to quit that , city, and proceed to Berlin, where be will pass the reminder of the winter. All the disputes which have arisen between that Prince and the Bishop of Fulde, are at present fully adjusted. Prince William of Brun:aria .artived it Berlin OR the 6th January, accompaniOd by his young consort, Princess Maria of Baden: He *flighted at the Palace, where apertnas,ttirete prtpared for Wm bV other of lip Mijety. ' WEST-INDIES. Emmet of do Loki., dated Downy* l Der.. 1802. go Yesterday • the English flag was hauled down under a salute, and the Dutch flag hoisted with the same ceremony ; never was sorrow so universal amongst the Dutch as well as the English. I assure you, I felt much affected at to dug leave of officers, among whom I have been so long. All the British vessels are to be over the Bar this evening." - It is reported that a serious commotion has taken place at Lyons, occasioned by a most determined resistance to the execution of the law relative to the Conscripts. According to some reports, there has been an engagement between the troops and some young men, in which forty of the latter perished. It is still doubtful to what extent this report is well founded, but what gives it some probability is, the ferment the law excited at Lyons, since the levy of the Conscripts was announced, and the precau tions taken to reinforce the Garrison of that city with 2000 men. The French Government has received accountsfrOm St. Domingo to the 21st Nov. They have not been made public, but they are of a very unsatisfactory nature, if men may judge from the agitation mani fested by the FIRST CONSUL on reading them, and by the determination he afterwards adopted. Cou riers have been dispatehd to change the destination of the troops appointed for the Colonial expeditions. They are to repair to St. Domingo, where Ho. citAmBRAU has promised to hold out to the last ex- tremity. It appears certain that General Deoci and his Secretaries and Aides de Camp poisoned themselves, because their secret negotiations with the Negroes had been discovered. General Hum tit:Rr has, for the same reason, been transported. A Literary Society, in imitation of that in Lon don, has been formed at Pans for the relief of men of letters in distress. FRANCIS NccrcuAtcAt and Mr. Prefect FRocitor are chosen to be its Presi- dents. The Members of the Committee appointed by the Minister of the Intetior to decide upon the sketches for the works of art intended to celebrate the peace of Amiens, and the law for the restoration of wor. ship, are Citizens DAVID, VINCENT, MEGNIZII, GISIONDET, Painters; JutiEN, CIIALIDET, GIRAUD, Sculptors; PERCIER, CHAINUIN, RAYMOND, Ar chitects; VlscoNri and MILLIN, antiquaries. Letters from Gibraltar of the 3d January state, that the Cynthia sloop of war was to sail for Eng land the first fair wind, with Capt. Donn, Secretary to his Royal Highness. The inhabitants of the place had presented an address of thanks to his Royal Highness, for the justice and mildness of his go vernment. Accounts from Gibraltar of the 3d, state that three of the ringleaders, in the late riot belonging to the 25th Regiment, were to be shot on the fol lowing day. It appeared clearly orr their trial that it was a drunken riot, instigated by the wine-sellers of the garrison, whose trade has been lately much restricted, though at the same time, it was evident, that the Dutchmen in the regiment, of whom there are upwards of 70, are extremely discontented at not having been discharged at the peace, as they expected. The Garrison was in a state of perfect tranquillity on the 3d. This intelligence is the more grateful, as it refutes the account given in the Paris papers. The chapter of Cologne had, at the time of its flight, conveyed its treasure to Ahrensburgh, where it remained secreted, till, on some recent intima tion, a search was made, and eleven chests were found, containing, among other precious articles, a crown of massy gold, the Three King's, and Twelve Apostles, of the same metal. The disco very has given rise to a variety of claims. The French Government claim it, as belonging to the Cathedral of Cologne ; the Landgrave of HESSE DA RMST ADT claims, as Lord Of AHRENSBERC ; and the canon of Cologne in his own right. Citizen PELET is now at Antwerp, where he is in speaing the harbour, and examining into the state of commerce ; the means of repairing the harbour, and of rendering it fit for military and commercial purposes. He seems to be convinced that a port, so advantageously situated, and one of the safest in the world, might again be made, what it formerly was, by affixing encouragements, and defraying the expences of the repairs, which would not be consi derable. The inhabitants are filled with the most sanguine hopes of the advantages they will derive from the presence of the FIRST CONSUL among them. We learn from the frontiers of Westphalia, that during the ensuing Spring there will be formed a camp, composed of 20,000 Prussian troops, in the vicinity of Munster. His Prussian Majesty is to pass it in review, and make the troops go through all the grand manceuvres. The Prince of Orange, the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, the Duke of Brunswick, and several other personages of dis tin&ion, arc to assist at this review. The whole of the army is to be new-clothed ; mean time the re cruiting service is carried on with great aflivity in his Majesty's new possessions in Westphalia and Franconia. Mad. Dr Sr AEL's novel is the object of the con stant invective or all the Consular Royalists. The Republicar.s praise it as much as they dare. CHE- N I Elt'S Play of Feudal: is another, though a more in significant subject of contest. The pretexts of war jive arc literary, but the contending factions are political. At the representation of Cinna,. the Con sular party violently applaud the passages where AUGUSTL S is praised for having established a trait= quit monarchy on the ruins of faction, ane espe cially where he is exhorted to perpetuate quiet by the appointment of his successor. The neighbour hood of the Temple prevents any resistance to the applause. -On Tuesday night, as Mr. William Wood, mid shipman of the Pnaces, Charlotte' Indiaman, lying at Deptford, last from Amboyna, was going on shore, he fell from between the lighter and ship, and was unfortunately drowned. Every at tention was paid without success. His body is not yet found. The frost again setting in, has occasioned =Other stoppage of the supplies in the Corn Market ; hence (except:mg wheat wanted for immediate use by the millers, and which are rather dearer) prices may be considered at nominal, and a 2 meal, Monday's itatßatilir ORIGINAL POEFR r. TWO EPIGRAMS, Tr/restated frees the Latin I. THOMAS WARTO?f, B. D. In st superb Edition of his Poetical Works, just published. Nis TtIPSUDI. the arnie of warlike Marta, his shield and helmet, Levi.. stole, and on his little form display'd Soon VENUS meeting; "Ah, Mother! Ah, well met, " Look here now, mark my martial arms," he said; Then she; " In brazen arms need Love appear, `, When Lova unarm'd gives wounds, ah, too severe !" An sine*? Appreheruis server vera ? Ant RM. An ancient wife, with hearing woundy bad, Her apples vending to each Eton lad, Rc one was met, when " HOW'i the Clock ?" he cried : " Four, four a penny, Sir." The dame replied. In haste again he ask'd. " Nu nut another, " Ed not sell more," she said, " ev'n to my brother !" Enrag'd,' lie stanvp'd " Speak, lest I use you ill !" " Well, if you won't," bile cried, " another will'" OLD Nscr. THEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE. DRUKV-I. ANE. The Gentleman, who has been twice before re ceived with so much favour by crowded audience•., in the arduous character of Richard the Thxd, per formed it for the third time yesterday evening, and was again most favourably received. This gentleman does wonders in the part, for as absolute novice. His fourth and fifth acts, if not allogedier free from objection, are, in the mair., given with great . correctness, spirit, and energy, and he exhibits manifest improvement in the scene; in which Cio'ster is playing his deep game to obtain the crown. With such uncommon powers, he must, we should presume, make a very respectatsle figure in some other chafacter of importance. Report say s, that he is next to appear in Shjlod. CrIV/ST CARDEE. The Comedy of The Man of the World, was per formed at this Theatre, last night, to a very brilliant and crowded Audience. Mr. COOKE, in Sir Per tinax Macsycophant, supported the character, which he has already so well established, without any di minution of credit;—indeed, next to Richard and lago, we consider it the part best adapted to his ta lents. PARISIAN FASHIONS. At, the Opera, in which the boxes are very brilliant, we lately ulr4rsed a great many head dresses, half velvet and halt= hair. There were also others in great number, of which two thirds were gold tinsel, and the front with twisted ringlets, formed a diadem. The head dreeses, iu long :lateral ha.t, were plaited behind and atthe sides. The quantity of ringlet , „ in false hair, is also diminished. Crops are in great abundance. This d.sigreable fashion only vanishes at intervals, to appear again with some slight changes, that do not lessen its deformity . It is consideredthe first style, both among men and women to leave only the hair behind in its natural direction, and to frizzle the rest, after having brought it,upon the forehead.— The Mobs made by the Milliners are of black velvet, sur mounted wish two white perpendicular feathers. The black velvet hats have three stages, one above another. The satin hats and capotes are turned up before, they are white, orange or rose. Sometimes the leaf, very broad on the right side, ends abru;n ly upon the forehead, leaving the left temple exposed, in the fashion that existed about four years ago. In all sorts of head dres.s.:s the lair of the nape of the neck is completely hid, and the fon:head covered with twist.al curls. Veils are little wore. The creeks are less common than flat feathers. We occasitai ally see soft aigrettes of bed of Paradise feathers. The publki Balls are deserted—the private dress ones are well attended, and the Masked Bulls exhibit more Domirne thmi characters. The Earl of IMACSFIELD is applying himself with great assiduity to the study of chemistry; the high wayman, who lately robbed his Lordship, imagined he had discovered the philosopher': stone. The display of bridal favours yesterday in Bond street, shews that many fashionable students have recently entered the Temple of Hymen. Lady ELIZABETH MATTHEW has arrived in town, and ►s in daily expeetation of being joined by her father, Lord LANDAFF. 'I he marriage of Lady FRANCES VILLIERS has not yet taken place ; her Ladyship still remains Jingle at Stratford-place, and Colonel PoNsoNsv is gone to Ireland, to adjust some family matters pre vious to the solemnization of his nuptials. Lord MEI.YILLE, it is expected, will be introduced in due form into the House of Lords, and take the oaths and his seat on an early day after the recom mencement of the Session of Parliament. We shall soon see, whether the Opposition, which has arisen ever since the Preliminaries of Peace have been laid before Parliament, lras acquired any new advocates and supporters during the Recess. Lord ST RAD:OS*ORD is expected in town (COM Bath to forward his poetical work, we trust his Lordship will prove an exception• to the old= saying.. that ceater-drinkers make bad Poets. The trial of Mr. Psurixit fur a libel on the French Government, is to come on at the Sittings after the present Term. Mr. asaaow is retained against him. The Duchess of DEvousniar had a select party to supper en Thursday night ; among whom were, his Royal Highness the Prince of WA LEs, Lady CARLISLE, Lady SPENCEIt, Lady MI L BOURN, Dow , ager Lady hssEx, Lady G. CAViti D MI, &c. Some years since the ancient and beautiful pillar. King Eowa ne's monument, on Burgh Marsh, in Cumberland, fell. Lord .LowritEs purposes re building this venerable piece of antiquity in the ensuing spring. An organ is now erecting in the choir of the High Church of Glasgow, being the first instance , of instrumental music in a Scotch presbyterian church, and is a strong ihstance of the dissemina tion of liberal sentiment. The amateur concert at Hughes's Room, Wigmore street, was numerously attended on Thursday last. Miss FRC:MARIN and MISS DAYLES executed Bra HANI and &ran Ace's duet in the Cabinet with great taste. The glees by Messrs. F. and I. ELLic.)r were in the style and a graud concerto, an the violin by Sric. mover-Im, leader of the band, was executed in the most masterly manner. Master &arm sang, irtbin a tilde of Esturbstzb T i me," and was highly iipplanded. Miss Ike. Aix was to hare sung come Italian 4.a ~a+, but was prevented by a se• vert cold; her faeseoce is expected at the next meet. in& - 11 1 111Pm' 'Sm. . .......