The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-03-01 00:00:00

W . El • cnrely rest. Take heed, Leonce, God wishes to be our first friend, our only master ; and an entire sub mission to his will is the only means of remaining unenslaved by any other yoke."—" Leonce," added she, with an agitated voice, " Leonce ! fain would I bear with me the idea that you are to be happy ; but much do I fear, that you have not taken the road to happiness. If I could but prevail upon you to bring up our child in the principles that I have been taught—but, alas ! the poor child ; who knows that he can live any time ? Ere long, perhaps, and he will he an angel in the bosom of God." — Here she suddenly stopt short, as if startled at some idea that shot. through her mind ; and she eagerly called for her confessor. Leonce imagined her anxiety arose from having too long continued to suckle her child. He went to her confessor, and said to him: " Sir, you have been the cause of much mischief to us ; endeavour to repair it as far as lies in your power; relieve Matilda's mind from all intrusion of remorse "—" 1 shall do my duty," replied the confessor, as he entered Matilda's cham ber. This confessor is a man ;tali:iced at the same time by fanaticism and by cunning: convinced himself of the truth of the opinion he professes, yet resorting to all the art which perfidy itself could exert, in order to impress that cenvilaion upon the mind of others—sternly unmoved by every thing that would disgust or discohcert him, but ever ac tive to follow up whatever success he may obtain— stamping, in tine, with a perseverance which no thing can st ear out, that religious dignity which boasts of humiliations, and which places its pride in sufferings and mortifications. He remained for several hours shut up with Ma tilda ; and whets Leonce rentrned to her, she :y -reared more firm and serene, without manifesting any anxiety to speak with him alone. During the whole of the night which preceded her death, the yoeng and beautiful Matilda courageously sub mitted to all those ceremonies with which the ca tholics are wont to besiege the dying. I had with drawn into a corner of the room, behind the ser vants, who listened on their knees to the prayers usually read over the dyieg. I perceived, in a mirror, the bed of Matilda, and I observed her confessor, frequently presenting the cross before her dying lips. At this sight 1 felt an agitation within me, which all the efforts my will could exert were unable to subdue—" It is right," said I to myself, " thus to draw round our last moments such a gloomy apparatus r to surpass in frightfulness the terrors of death itself, and to strike with so many terrific ideas the imaginations of those who are yield ing their last breath ? The sacrifice is scarcely so much to be dreaded as the preparations ! Were it not better to let the end of man come on like the close of day, and make the sleep of death resemble, as far as may be, the sleep of life?—Sure I am, at least, that he who dies regretted by all he loves, must he anxious to g:2t rid of all this funeral pomp. Aff&tion accomranies bins till his last throve' : he deposits his memory in the hearts of those who sur vive him, while the tears of his friends solicit and call down upon him the benevolent regard of hea ven ; but the unfortunate, who is left to die unat tended, may perhaps be desirous to have his death itttested,by some striking solemnity, that the minis ters of God should chaunt armed him those s impressing prayers, which bespeak the sympathies of heaven with the sufferings of humanity, and that the most awful mystery of nature, death, should not be accomplished, without the accompaniments cf pity and of terror. Lconcc remained daring the whole of the night at the foot of Matilda's bed, wholly absorbed in the deep impressions by which his soul was overwhelm ed. Ile has since told me, that while he observed a woman so young and so beautirul thus•resign her self to death with calmness so unruffled. he could riot but ask himself why, under the pains that assail tte heart, we were so desirous to live, since death could cause so little dread even amidst all the enjoy s nents that minister in life to the most splendid pros perity ? do true is it, that in the most happy condi tion man alwaya feels a secret dineust at. existence, which consoles our regret for tot:, ing at our end, however short may have been the journey. You are well acquainted with the powerful ex pression which charaelerizes the phi,iognomy of Leonce, but particularly the singular charm and energy with which it depicts the majesty of grief. He had passed the night in one and the same atti tude, standing up erect and motionless—his hair hung loose ano l disordered, and at that moment his beauty had something in it truly striking. Matilda, who for a long time had her eyes closed, then hap pened to open them, and the first obje& that caught her sight was [tome. "Good Cod!" she exclaim ed, " is it my husband, or a messenger from heaven that I behold!" She had scarcely uttered these words, when to the blanc paleness that overspread her face a vivid red succeeded : she called. her con fessor, and spoke to him for sonic minutes in a low tone of voice. I could only gather a few words of his answer, viz. " Ycs, madam, you may bid a last farewel to M. de Mondoville ; but alter that you should remain alone with us." " Leonce," said then Matilda, as she pressed her husband's hand between both her own, " Leonce," she repeated again, with a look that mingled in it at once both the shades of death and the liveliest sentiments that can animate life, " I hare always loved you, let this be the only recolleaion that you cherish of me. Has not Jesus Christ himself said, that to thr e e who have loved ms-b, vvueh shall be forgrvos ? Do net slight my memory, do not, without trembling awe, tram- ' ple on the tomb of the woman who loved but you alone upon earth." Leonce niched into tears, and rushed towards Matilda. In a few minutes after, the confessor drew near the bed, and said to Leonce, " Retire, Sir, Mad. de Mondoville has now only to think of prayer, and of the dread concerns of eter nity." Leonce rose up with indignation. Matilda foresaw tbat-he was going to burst into expressions of anger, and hastened to say to him,. " Leonce, it is my last, it is my greatest sacrifice ; but it must be so!" Leonce, overwhelmed by this order, with drew, and his eyes beheld Matilda no more. She erpired an hour after. From that moment 'Leonce never onse %tinted his son, whose health is in a most perilous state ; and 1 pm pretty well convinced that he has no notion of him at the present moment ; but at the same time, T make no doubt, but that if his son were bet ter, he would set out immediately to rejoin Delphme. He has not as vet mentioned her name to me ; but this morning, as we were standing together at the window, the moment the day began to dawn, he said L'‘rnr, " itentark, my frientt, see how the sun rises ( , n the side of Switzerland ; all his rays diet 4' f t: • - on us from that quAtei.." He then stepped s - hoft, apprehensive of betraying his secret thoughts ; but in his face it was easy to read the emotions of des pair which he was Vainly anxious to coacetl. Pray let me know where Delphine resides, I must acquaint Leonce with•hrr abode. Ah ! no obs.a die stands now in the way of his happiness ! May the unfortunate Matilda pardon me ! But I can not but thank heaven for having united together two beings who loved one another, and who shall henceforward be separated no more ! Elita and I present our best respects and tenderest atTeion. HENRY nr: LEBENrEI. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. MONDAY, FEC. '2B. The Bank Restriction Bill received the Royal Assent, by Commission. The Commissioners were, the LORD CHANCELLOR, Lord AUCKLAND, and Lord Wm.sttsonAst Mr. ALFA...NUL': was heard in reply for the Ap pellant, in the Arpcal Cause, Finlayson v. Jones and I‘l6lCenzi.2 attar which the Lord Chancellor went, at some length, into tile merits of the cause, and affirmed the Interlocutors of the Court of Ses sion with 10Cd. costs. The Militia-Training Bill, and three Road Bills, were brought up from the Commons, and pre sented by Mr. Alexander, Mr. Grimstoac, and others, and were severally read a first time. On Reading the Militia-Training Bill, a first time, Earl GRAHAM (Duke of Mora . a osE) rose and said, upon the pay and training of that constitu tional force, the Militia, he conceived it depended, whether this empire was to continue a free and in independaut one, cr not ; and therefore, though he was not prepared to name a day for the secontfread ing:of the Dill, be should, on the second reading, hope that their Lorships would attend, as he meant particularly to call their Lordships r.otice to it. , . ~ +?eply hnpresseA him with a just sense their rality anti:mention to his interests and dignity. It was, therefore, with great regret, that he felt it his duty to inform them that !natty heavy claims on his honour and justice still remained, for the discharge of which a very considerable sinking fund Must ne cessalily be appropriated out of his income. Con sequently, until those demands were satisfied, dear bought experience had convinced him , that he c ould not, however o‘ever it may be his wish, resume that state which the House had manifested so kind a solid tude to see him enjoy, without running the risk of contrading new debts. That notwithstanding the claims he had piefered to the arrears of the reve nues of the Duchy of Cornwall, during his mino rity, had given him a strong confidence, founded on the best legal authorities of reoovering the same. Vet the interposition 11 his Majesty, and the gene rous proceedings of the House had determined him to relinquish any further prosecution of that subjed, arid that he does most cheerfully relinquish the same, and had given orders to his Solicitor for that purpose. Mr. CALCHAFT, after having briefly observ ed, that the resolutions of the Committee had fallen exceedingly short of the object for which. they were intended, gave notice, that on Friday next he would make a motion for more effedually reinstating his Royal Highness the Prince of \Vales in his just state and dignity. Mr. ERSKINE said, he felt himself called upon to observe, that the notice which the I lon. Gentie• man had given, was certainly without the know ledge of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Mr. CALCRAFP said, he had omitted to state the circumstance, and most certainly he was adu ated entirely icy his own feelings and the sense of duty which (after due deliberatidn) he felt as a Member of Parliament. The Prince's message ‘..as then ordered to be en tered on the Journals of the I louse. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved, that instrudions he given to the Gentlemen appointed to take into consideration his Majesty's Message, and to prepare a Bill accordingly, to re peal such par: of the act as relates to the appropri ation of 13,000 pounds from the revenues of the Duchy of. Cot nwall. Mr. CORRY, after making some remarks on the manner of voting grants in the Irish Parliament, which, with a very few exceptions, were annual, said it was necessary to call the attention of Parlia ment to the state of the Irish revenue, und moved, that certain papers relating thereto, be laid before the House ; which was agreed to. Mr. CORKY then moved, that the I louse should resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider the state of the Irish Revenue, on Wednesday next.—Agreed to. Mr. CORRY gave notice, that on Thursday next he would move for leave to bring in a Bill for laying a restridion on the Bank of Ireland, similar to that of the Bank of England. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved, that a report of Absentees be made on this day se'noight—Agreed to. The CHANaLLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed, that as he saw the worthy Chief Magis trate of London in his place, who had given notice of taking the Ship-Owners Petition into considera tion on Wednesday next, he would take the oppor tunity of stating, that the accounts, notwithstand ing, the utmost diligence, and the most p articular enquiry, could not be prepared for a few day longer. A few words then passed between the Lord Mayor and Mr. Addington, when the con sideration of the same was postpimed to Wednesday se'nnight. Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. T. Lowther, Mr. Chol mondely, Mr. Dallas, Hon. Edward Foley, and the Hon. Newton Fellowes, obtained leave of ab sence for short periods. On the motion of Mr. WICKEIAM, the House in a Committee went through the Bill for preventing Revenue Officers from voting at Eledions in Ireland. —Report to-morrow. Mr. WICKHAM gave notice that he should, on to-morrow, move for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent vexatious law-suits for small debts in Ire land. On the motion of the SECRETARY at WAR, the Mutiny Bill was read, the amendments agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time on Wednesdny next. Some accounts from the Treasury and Customs of Ireland were brought up, and ordered to lie on the table. the SPEAKER apprised the House, that after this day he did not mean to enter upon private busi ness after public business, except on days of ballot. He also gave notice, that he should take the chair pezcisely at three o'clock, if he could form a house, on to-morrow, and several succeeding days, for the purpose of expediting private business. The other orders of the day were then read and deferred.—Adjourned. THEATRE-ROYAL, DI?URY-LANE. TIIIS k.VENING will be pri,elitet.l a New Historical Play,. in There Atts, called THE HERO OF THE NORTH. The Ovniute Music compos.td and selected by Mr. Kelly. The principal Characters by Mr. Pope, Mr. Wrqughtun, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Raymond, Mr. Dowmo, Mr. Banhister, Jun. Mr. De Camp, Mr. Caulfield, Mr. Mr. Grimaldi, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Fisher. Mrs. Young, Mrs. Mountain, Mrs. I frariowe, Miss Menage, _ _ - - - I•li,r Nlenon, Miss Ty= To which will be adat,d, THE ANATOMIST. The Now Play of the Item of the North continuing to be receive! with universal applause, the Public are num respect fully iliforuied that it will be repeated every Monday, Ttiosd iy, Thin; !ay, and Saturday, till further notice.--0 i Thursday, vi •rtie Paulnil. And no Saturday, with The Werldiii: Day. Mmidir, Mr. Cooper, of the Philadelphia and Nm; York Theatres, well make his First Appearance on this Stage in the Ch.iricter of l lainlet.—.ophelia, Mrs. Jordan. THEATRE-ROrAL, COVENT-GARDEN. THIS EVENING will be performed the Comic Opera of THE CABINET. Orlando, Mr. Fkaliam; Peter, Mr: Mundcn; Whimsieulo, Mr. Fawcett; Count Curvoso, Mr. Emery; Margin: de Grand Chateau, Mr. Blanchard; and Lorenzo, Mr. Incledon. Cu rim), Mre. Mattock:; Constantin, Mks. U. Johnatou ; and Floretta, Signora Sturace. To which will be added, THE PRISONER AT LARGE. On account of the Indisposition of a principal Performer, the New Comedy is unavoidably deferred till Saturday. On Thursday, Family Quarrels, with (first tuna this season) The Jew and the Doctor CI lANDOS PEERAGE. The LORD CHANCELLOR reminded their Lordships, that he lud some few days since begged titt:ir attention to the Chandos Peerage, which had been hitherto postponed on account of the absence of two Noble and Learned Lords. The further hearing, on the claim of the Chandos Peerage, stood as an order of the day for Thursday ; as, therefore, it was nut likely that the two Noble and Learned Lords in question would yet be able to attend, be meant,' on Thursdny next, to move that it be ad journed for another fortnight. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. sioNn.rv, res. 28. The SPEANLR took the Chair a: half-past three o'clock. The Chairman of the Liskeard Committee brought up a report, intimating that a letter had been received from Lord Charles Somerset Manners, stating his inability to attend the said Committee, in consequence of i:1-heahh, upon which they had adjourned till to-morrow. Mr. YO".ING, a medical gentleman, having been called to the Bar, and questioned by the Speaker, stated to the House, that Lord Charles Somerset Manrers was unable, thro , Th indisposition, to at tend his duty in the Committee. Leave was therefore given to his lordship for absenting himself from the said committee. Mr.Cunat.ES Dtmnas brought up a Report from the Waterford Committee, stating, that in conse quence of the absence of Sir Edward Wilmington, Bart. one of its Members, the Committee had ad journed tiil to-morrow. Sir FRANCIS r.fit.l.Nf AN, M. D. appeared at the Bar, and slated to the House, that the absence of Sir Edward Winnineton proceeded from indisposi tion, which rendered hint unable to attend his duty in the Committee. Leave of absence from the said Select Committee was in consequence given. Lord EUSTON brought up a report from the Dunfermline Committee, complaining, that James Trotter, a witness who had been duly summoned to attend the said 4 .•• , mmittee, had negleded the same ; he therefore moved, that the said James Trotter be taken into custody by the Serjeant at Arms. Mr. W. DUNDA'S said, before such an order was issued, he would wish to know, if the Commit tee was certain that due notice had been served on the witness ? The SPEAKER thought it his duty to observe, that such weight was attached to the report of a Committee chosen by the House, that any thing contained in that report, must he considered as stated on the most indubitable authority. The question was then put, that the said .lames Trotter be taken into the custody of the Serjeant at Arms, and that the Speaker do issue his warrant ac cordingly. Carried. Lord EUSTON brought up the Report of the Dumfermline Committee, stating, that it was the opinion of the said Committee, that Sir John Hen derson, Bart. was not duly returned to serve in Parliament for the Dunfermline distrid of Royal Boroughs, and that the Hon. Alexander Forrester Cochrane is duly elected for the same. Lord Eusroe then moved, that the Deputy Clerk of the Crown should attend To-morrow, and produce the return-books of the Dunfermline distrid of Boroughs, and erase the name of Sir John Hen derson, Bart. and all that relates to him, from the same. Ordered. •l he DEPUTY Ursuirar of the BLACK ROD sum moned the House to attend in the House of Lords, to hear his Majesty's Commission read, for giving the Royal Assent to a certain Mt. On the SPEAKER'S return, he informed the House, that the Royal Assent had been given to a Bill tin continuing in force, until six weeks after the meet ing of the next Session of Parliament, the Bill for restricting the Bank of England from making Pay menu in Specie. Ills ROYAL. HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES. Mr. TYRWHITT rose, and stared to the House that he was authorised by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to communicate to them a message, which in substance was as follows : That the Prince felt .the most lively_ sense of respect and gratitude for the gracious interposition of his Majesty, in recommending his situation to the conside: ation of the House • and also that the conduft of the House, which he had learned from the notes of their proseeclings on that occasion, had - On Saturday, A new Comedy will be produced, called John Bull ; or, An Enali.,lnnAn'i Fire Side. The Prologue to be sookett by Mr: Brunton—with a Lyrical Eptlfigue by Mr. ohostons. Tu w litch will be added, Two Stringi to your tow I THE BRITISH PRES& LON DON, TUESDAY, MARCH 1. -• The view of the situation of the French Repub lic, in its internal and external relations, as laid before the Legislative Body by the Flie:T CONSCL, was yesterday the subjea of general conversation. On that part of it which is offensive to this Country, there is but one opinion. Government will, no doubt, consult its own dignity, and pass it by like the other diafriber which daily issue from the French press—s% ith silent contempt. • We never remember a period, even in times of the most profound Peace, when the public mind ap peared to be in a more composed and tranquil state than at present. This may perhaps be considered by some as extraordinary, then it is recolleeted that negociations ?bay possibly be at this moment carry ing on between the English and French Govern ments, the result of which may be of the utmost importance to both countries, and to Europe itself. It is matter of infinite satisfitEtion to us to observe the unanimity which has throughout pervaded all ranks and d2scriptions of people, on the arrest, the trial, ;Old the execution of Colonel licse A ap, and his accomplices. Vigilance in his Majesty's Mini sters, in the cleteCtion of this most foul conspiracy, has been followed up by wisdom in our Courts of Justice, and firmness in giving effed to the verdiec of an upright and unbiassed Jury. Twelve hundred men are al: - out to sail imme diately from Dunkirk for St. Domingo ;.six hundred have already sailed from Havre for the same desti- nation. Several ships of the line arc, it is said, to he built, during the course of the present year, in the South ern Ports of France. _ _ • The of Nlediation respeaing Switzerland, was formally announced by the First Consul, to the tm Deputies, previously elthed by the Helvetic Consulta, at the Thuillet ies, on the 19th instant, in the presence of the Ministers, the Senate, and the Council of State. On the 21st the whole of the 56 deputies were introduced to the First Consul. The latter, in his conference with the Deputies, is said to have inveighed against the conduct of the old Government of Switzerland, and of the late Repub lican Government—the former for its ambition, and the latter for its cowardice. _ _ Saturday morning, Earl SPENCER left twin for Kettering. We understand that the Committee on the ventry eleEtion have come to a resolution, which goes to annul the ele.stion of Mr. JEFFERYS. We have considerable reason to hope that a Com mercial Treaty with France is now negociating by Lord \l m - at Paris, and is in a state of forwardness. Dispatches, on this subjea, have been several times received from Paris ; and the Cabinet Council has sat upon them. We hope such a Treaty will do more honour to Ministers than the Treaty of Amiens. Lady NELSON, it is said, has taken Mrs. Des- PARD under her protection. If so, we presume that Mrs. I)LSPARD is disposed to conduct herself with a temperate submission to the British Government, in act and in speech. We can allow for the ex cesses of grief, and hope she will deserve the coun tenance of so amiable a character as the consort of our great Naval Hero. The Office for concluding the Irish affairs under the direction of Mr. WICKHAM, will he removed this week from Great George-street, Westminster, to St. James's-place. The YORK HERALD, received yesterday, contra dias the report that several persons last week were apprehended and committed to York Castle, on a charge of High Treason. The sixth Meeting of the F.xeter Harmonic So ciety, last week, was very fashionably attended, and the utmost harmony prevailed throughout the eve- ning. An elegant volume, entitled "Petrarca," and con taining a sole Rion of Sonnets, amatory, elegiac, and descriptive, from the most admired Poets, by Mr. HENDERSON, i,S in the press. Mr. WALKER, who translated the Duc DE NI VERNOIS' Fables, is about to publish a Poem, enti tled " The Champions of Order," in praise of the noble exertions made by the heroes of this country, who supported the cause of religion, morality, and just government, during the late tremendous strug gle. The third voluire of Mr. KING'S " Munimeuta. Antigua" is far advanced at the press. Mr. AT w (you is proceeding to add a second part to his scientific work on " Arches." A splendid work on " Indian Fishes," by Dr. RUSSELL, whose publication on Indian Serpents is so highly esteemed, may soon he expected, under the patronage of the Hon. East-India Company. Mr. Spit.S tical is preparing to publish " Views and Descriptions of various Parts of the Holy Land," hitherto little known to Europeans, which he visited under the proteilion of Sir SYDNEY SMITH. Some further sele&ions of " Italian Poetry," to the extent of six or more volumes, may be expeaed, under the care of Mr. MATHIAS. A continuation of" DEN o N'S Account of Egypt," will be published by Mr. PELTIER. he same Editor is printing a very elegant edi tion of BossuEr's Works. It is said, that the public may expel an account of the " Persian Embassy," from Mr. MALco cm. Major RENNZLL iS diligently proceeding in his great Geographical Work, announced in his former book on Herodotus. The Botanic garden of Cambridge has lately re ceived the addition of 118 new plants, most of which are from the Torrid Zone. An en&ine to extinguish fire has been procured by the St. George Eire Office, and was exhibited be fore the Exatanu on Friday se'nnight, which seems to possess advantages superior to any we have seen. It is called a barrel-engine, with pipes and• hose annexed. It will contain upwards. of four hogsheads of water, and as it will be kept constantly filled, may be drawn to a fire; and be ready to play off the moment it arrives. This quantity of water, judiciously applied at the commencement of a fire, may -be more efficacious than many tons when it bas attained any height.—Liverpool Advertiser. - 10,