The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-04-01 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, FRIDAY. APRIL 1. We yesterday stated, in common with our con temporaries, the report of an action in the Mediter ranean, founded upon the authority of an article in THE CLOSE of Wednesday evening. One of the Treasury Journals of yesterday, while it copied the account, affected to treat it lightly, by observing, that isoofficia/intelligence of any such event had arrived. Who ever said, or insinuated, that any official in telligence bad been received ? THE GlosE very candidly stated, that it rested solely upon the autho rity of private letters from Holland, corroborating cements, to the same effect, lately given by per sons arrived from Flushing. THE G tone very eundklly stated, that no official intelligence had been received ; and it added, as a reason for the absence of such intelligence, even presuming the report to be founded in fact, that &vessel dispatch ed from the Mediterranean must have a very tedi. ens passage, owing to the prevalence of the east erly wind, which rendered it almost impossible, for some time past, to beat up channel. But though no official intelligence (but we beg pardon, pray what is official intelligence ?) has been received, we believe the report is not totally discredited at the Ad - enmity. Independent of the accounts from Hol land, we think them are very strew reasons for be. lievi ni; that an engagement has takeplace in the Me diterraneaa ; and if an eagagemettebas taken place, we feel no uneasineu as to the results The Sp aith squadron sailed from Carthagena on the 10th of February, and they d:4 not reach Palmas Bay till the 23d, and were seen there so late as the Oath. Sir Blesses STRACILAN passed Albonus, which is a little to the westward of Carthagena, on the 11th of the same month, working op the Mediter ranean against a contrary wind. The Carthagena ortnadrou was, wt know, seen by the Hydra, and others of our cruisers, for several days. It appears therefore scarcely possible that Sir Ricuaan, in stretching backwards and forwards across the Me diterranean, beating against an easterly wind, could avoid falling in with soma of our cruisers, and getting intelligence of the Spanish nest.— The Bay of Palmas, it is perfectly well known, is an open bay. We think, therefore, there is every reason to believe, that Sir Ricaaan did obtains intelligence of the situatien of the Spanish fleet, and having obtained that intelligence, we are sure ' Ifs would not hesitate to emelt them. The squadron destined for the Baltic, and so long detained at Portsmouth by contrary wind, sailed on Wednesday. It consisted of the Mars, 74, Capt. !AMIN ; Orion, 74, Sir ARCH. DICKSON ; Polyp Aeneas, lit, Capt. Hay wool) ; Sakette, Capt. BiTHURIT, and Daphne. friget vs, Capt. MASON ; Nutilat, CR:)t. HEN. STEW ART; Insolent, Lieut. Aloa is ; Hearty, Lieut. Wich ; Protector, Lieut, MurcluEriun; Redbreat, Licot. .tentsort ; Steady, Lieut. STOW; and the Thrasher, Lieut. DOAN FORM The sailing of the squad rOll at such a moment s!....ivs:the urgency of its ohject. The wind was still adverse at N.E. and it is very proba ble that the ships will be oliiiged to return. — The Orion, Salcette, and Daphne, have stores and provisions on boani sufficient for u foreign station, from which it is inferred tint those ships are for a sp:cial service. Lord Foancs and family, and the len. General Ltmt.tx and suite, are arrived at Portsmouth, to take Caeir passage to the Mediterranean, in the fleet which is about to mil from that port. The Cam brian, of 44 guns, now at Plynarsiith, is to convey The Prohibition Bark Bill. evr.ected atzttatc.l tins day, in the Ilouae of Lords, has i.sithing to recommend it—if carried into ttlect, it sill bets unavailing as it is It is a fact that may tic: 'relied upon, that oivices of the bark of the reel oak, winch • , WX4 ill France, is just as efficacious its one ounce ~, Permian Bark, aii.l is g,licrailly u.ed in that ,aatry, and a much better medicine than the adul i..,rat4sl bark commonly sold in our own couatry. The Presidrist, of 38 guns, Capt. A. Mali ENV'', c•yecteil to take Viscomit LAIRD tiOTO Portsmouth to the Brazils. Judge Lawaetsen,froni the Court of Kin;,'s Bench, has succeeded the late Judge Roos E, me Cle Bench of the Common Pleas. Ais coney has, of manse, occurred in the king's Bench. The. Llanish sloops sent into Hall by the (/is, ate wrong-built vessels, capable ofeneutintering the beavy seas often experienced upon the coast of Nor !ray and in the Baltic; and very suitable for transport !ng troops though the narrow ehan nels of the Danish 1.14ii,14, or front one part of the coast to the orii,r. Their cargoes are non landed, and consist of stockfish, oil, trundles, ease. of t„-!as., wood, &c. The Danes possess a great niiiiiher of these ire...els, and wwild soon collect a sufficient niiinlwr of duns to transport a large army from I lolycein into Zea land, l'inlatid, &c. The Danes kive fitted out a number of armed ships of great fores. theta were originally itsdiarneu. 171EATRES. DIVET-LAN I!. Last night, a new Comedy, called The Wurld, was produced at this Theatre. It is written by Mr. 'KEN Nei', who has so successfully contributed to the entertainment of the world. The prin cipal characters are thus represented : CHARACTERS. Oen lot Fehe Within lirßovoirrox heifetz MATER/DS Subtle Solid PURNER. Leiter DE CAMP. Lady Bleenvield Mrs. JORDAN. Mr& Barclay Powr.LL. Ekon'', Barclay Mks Boyce. The story tame priucipally on the characters of Cheviot and Echo. The latter has bees lung kept out of the world by the partiality of parents, and at length arrives in tools in order to commence man of basitess, and pay his ad dresses to Lady Bloonitield, a young and fashionable widow, whose father, • rich merchant, bad been indebted to the father of Lam fir his prosperity. Young Echo, with the butt natural disposition, is led to imitate every block head, and fall into every absurdity, in order to make • figure, and keep well with the world. With this view be bu been induced to abandon Eleallo, Barclay, an amiable girl, of a poor family, to whom be had been attached in the country, and whom be deserts in a state of adversity. Cheviot is a ftrandhag, • dependent from his infancy on a Mr. Havenant, a man of fortune, In Northumberlaud, who his placed him, to be initiated in trade, with Subtle, a gambling and 'pecu lating merchant. The high spirit of Cheviot revolts from the practices of his preceptor, and he therefore leaves his, sad becomes anther. ratlterthati mutt to his protector for farther assistance ; Dernmatielsaviog never adMitted Yids to his presence, he disdains complaining to him, or cutlass to be tumid as a here object of charity. He is discovered in London by Withers, who had been his uccaduual visitor is the country, and being taxed by him with the 'estimate's of his disposition, eiders iutu a vindication of his feelings, is which he throws some reproach on the parents who thus deserted bins to • state of dependence so tepuguat to his feelings. A variety of incidents, which it is nut our pro vince to ernustrate, occur, in which Cheviot engages the affeetione of Lady Biseteleid, sad discovers Mit. Barclay and Elsease, whom Echo had deserted, prisoners in the King's Beach. Their 'nubble, as admirers of Lady Bloomfiehl, briug them Into contention; and Cheviot, by • strong and planned attack upon the feelings of Echo, rouses him to assert an iairpeedesee of sentiment, and follow the laudable impulse of he heart ; in coasegsence of which be shakes elf Isis unfeeling and worthless companions sad advisers, and is Teetered to kb Eleanor. Cheviot is ultimately discovered to be the sos of Duettist, who, under the same of Withers, bad visited blot as a stranger, sad who, principally to avoid the odium of the world, as be woo the offspring of an illicit attachment, bad sever avowed bleu but as an object of charity. Mrs. Barclay is found to be his mother, who, since she bad beet seduced by Davenant, had become the wife of another. The parties all suet, and become region tiled, is the hour, and through the bersevulsat mediation of Lady Bloomfield; to whom Cheviot, though leis pride and poverty had bduee insisted him studiously to conceal ▪ pasesia, is now encouraged to avow it and the offend • psrtiss aekaustledge the evils of surificiag their peace of sad the honourable dictates of conscience!, to the *patios of • otbatidging world. From this story the author has produced an ex , cellent comedy, itch in incident, wit, and good writing. The interest is admirably supported throughout, and the grave and the gay hap pily blended. The moral lesson which it incul cates, dwells upon the saeritices which the best dispositions aniaduced to make to the opinion of the world, and from thence the piece derives its title. These errors in our thor.il system are dis played with great judgmest and comic humour.— The character of Cheviot is finely drawn ; and the seatitueuts and high sorsa of honour with which the part abounds, do credit to the heart and the head of the author.—Mr. 113Lttstort never appeared to more advantage, or receive,' more merited applause, than in this new character.— The part of Echo also possesses much novelty, and was admirably supported by Mr. BANNISTER; who, in his imitation of Mr. Dauntless, the Bond. street lounger. highly amused the audience.— Mr. Matrums appeared, for the first time, since his accident, and was ref-saved with loud and pro longed plaudits. lie was a most lively portrait of the busy good-natured old Bachelor, who knew everybody's business. Lady Bloomfield, a lively amiable young widow, in love with; Cheviot. and who is determined to bestow her hand and property on this neglected child of fortm,e,wits filled by Aln JOE.DA"N with the most faseinatiti4 sweetness' and vivacity. In the scene where she visits the Barclay family in prison, the silvery sounds of her voice thrilled through every bosom. Mrs. Powett. and Miss BOYCE were extremely interesting in Mrs. and Mass Barley. Mr. Wan 1 , iiroN, al ways correct and judicious, gave every (Meet to the part of Dartliatat, the slave of prejudice. The &moment was highly wrought up, and produced great interest. The comedy was received through out with the most rapturous applause, and an. nounced for second representation amidst repeated " braros !" and acclamations. Mr. De CAMP spoke the Prologue extremely well. The Epi logue was admirably delivered by Mr. ELLISMN. It possessed great point, and excellent allusions to the title of the Comedy—The World. A niore brilliant or crowded audience we never witnessed on any occasion. COVVIIT-OARDEN. The Comedy of The Max of the World way, last night, performed to an overflowing house. It was succeeded by a new Burlesifue Melo-Drama, taken from the 'French of Monsieur MARTAIN vaLLE ; and a comic conversation, supposed to posy in the box-lobby between the author, box book keeper, and one of th , • audience, is introiliaccd, by Prelude, to inform the Public what species of farce they are to aspect—from this we easily anticipate a travesty after the manner of Tent Thumb the Great. or Chromoshotoothologos. The followi nb is a sketch of the plot The piece coruscates with a view of a castle, where Sir Hildebrand, is mock heroics, informs his coorrlasst, Nicholas, that a sorcerer has robbed him of hie daughter, his nephew, and his castle--the recovery of these, and the subjugation of the tsrsot niggard, form the ground-work of the succeed scenes, in which we ere presented with every species of pageantry sad splioulesir visually exhibited is pieces of a more serious nature; istiospersed with robbers, enlivened with t ARS and spectre., and finis►ing with a combat sad condagratitio. The music accompasying the action is in the sane .-stirlesque style, as are also the wont, of the soup. Mrii.cs Simmons, Earley, cud Blanched, are the heroes ; Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Liston the heruidta, abuse tragi-comic adventures div.rsify the piece. the idea of this Pir ce is borrowed from The awl tin! style and execution art• iu the man ner of Tons Thlllllb, but greatly inferior iii merit It w.us a dangerous experiment : id though not, flat:cruiLfly rveLived, its fate 4:acceded the genera! expect ativn. VOW?? 6P COMMON COI:WM 11iiitcW 31. The Court WU Itliembied, this rimy. in conse queace of a requisition signed by Messrs. Waitir wan, Gocethehere, sad Quin, to take in to deratiou the pro ; :riety of petitioning both Houses of the Legislature on the rejection of the Bill for preventing the grant of offices in reversion, by the Upper House of Parliament. After the disposal of some private Petitions, the Lord Mayor aoquainted the Court, that the Depu tation from that body had waited on the King with the Address, to winch His Majesty was pit acd to return his most gracious answer, which Mas thou read. Mr. W•ITUtt t N proceeded to the particular oh ject of the Meeting, acid eontinented with . . - derable acuteness on the objections which he had heard against that wholesome measure for restrain ing the grant of offices in reversion. It seemed to be forgotten that the prerogatives of the Crown were originally i b -rusted for the ultimate benefit of the people, and, of course, when such prerogatives warred with the public intermit, for which they were created, there wus an end of their lawful exercise. tincli apprehensions wen% under the present state of things, totally idle. The Court had to recollect the great increase which the Crown must have, from the enormous amount of the public debt, from the severe •pressure of taxation, and from the considerable addition made to our naval and mi- litary establishments. Under circumstances, where the influence of the Crow• was. awirmatiwas with tbs. proseet 'fiats. 'manta- demble, some of the wisest Statesmen of the day declared that increasing influence a great evil, and were employed in devising means to check its inordinate advancement. He quoted Blackstone, Hume, and Montesquieu, to corroborate the clan gers which the Constitution would have to contend with, both from the extent of the public debt; and from the probability of the Legislative Power being rendered much time corrupt than the Executive. Under such a conviction that Court had acted in • the year 1779, when it returned its thanks to the Peers who voted for the diminution of the Execu tive Influence. Ile requested the Reinembrancerto ' read the orders of that period, torther with the answer of the Duke of Portland, oue of the Peers, who dreaded the danger of that enormous iudu ence. (The minntes of the proceedings were then read, and also the letter of the Luke of Portland, in which that Nobleman placed uncommon stress upon the absolute necessity of diminishing the great and growing influence of time Cr ow - n.) Such was then the opinion of the Noble Lord, now at the head of His Majesty's Councils, and ytt it was astonishin.,7 to find, that even lie, with all the in fluence of the Ministry, was unable to carry through the upper House of Parliament so mode rate a measure as that for restricting offices in reversion. It was Aso irrecoterilable with the outward support given Icy Ministers to that 'lieu sure, to find amongst its most active opposers, Lords Arden and ktedesdale, the brother and brother-in-law of Mr. Perceval, the Chancellor of Lie Exchequer. He considered such opposition to the wishes and wants of the people unwise and injudicious. Indeed, corruption had so pervaded the legislative ranks of this country, that it was a matter of wonder to hint how the people could so long ailostly salmis toSheispwition. Peersokall 1 ranks pensioned, and Commoners hying out large sums of money to purchase seats in Parliament ! bi this avaricious age it were hard to attribute any other motive but time hope of repaying themselves, with interest, drawn from the public labour and exertion. He cited whole families of public men, for the lust :-veaty years, drawing 30 and 40,0001. a-year from the public burdens : and he had heard of a Peer, who, with a fortune of "now . per annum, was mean enough to accept a pension of 3001. a year for his daughter. After a number of strong and argumentative observations, Ise con cluded by moving, .‘ That the Court should pe tition both Houses of Parliament, expressive of its regret at the rejection of the Reversion Bill, and stating the necessity of carrying it, and all other means of public retrenchment, into immediate effect." Mr. Deputy GOODREMERE briefly seconded the motion, and expressed a hope, that the Coert would evince the true feeling of patriotism, by declaring in favour of those measures which were best calculated to draw forth the energies and unanimity of the country. Mr. Sheriff SMITH considered this entirely a question depending on its own immediate merits. Therefore he was unwilling, though holding an official situation, to give a silent vote upon it. Ile was ignorant of the motives which could have in- Humored the Douse of Peers to reject the Bill, but he was persuaded the rejection neither tended to support the dignity, honour, or credit of that branch of the Legislature. Alderman GLYNN was friendly to the motion, because he thought the grant of offices in reversion lialde to great and wanton abuses. The repeal was no infringement of the prerogative, because, in his opinion, it was more the intcrest of the Crown to have the grant of such offices in possession, rather than in reversion. Still he could not approve of many of the observations with which the worthy Commoner prefaced his motion. The surprise ex pressed b% hint at the patience of the people, was, in his opinion, a very precipitate and dangerous remark. Mr. NV AtTilM .1 N, in explanation, did not incline to shrink from his opinion. lie was one of those who felt it the duty of the people to take a lively interest in all public measures, and to watch with jealeusy, and resent with strong remonstrances, every attempt made upon the true interests and most sacred rights of the Constitution. Mr. (luta eloquently detailed the numerous evils emanating from the exercise of such an masa lutary power as the grant of offices in reversikm.— When he saw how they were bestowed, and con inhered how the Throne was h , sieged by legions of hungry sycophants, he wits forcibly reminded of the story of Sir Francis Wronghead, who had a Suailay livery to fit servant:, of all sizes. It was thus in places of reversion : men were apprnated to places, without any reference to talents. charac ter, capability, or even the power of actually per fa:oin the ordinary lunctions. lie adverted, in a l'oreiblo ma:l,tor, to the example of Franco, where tin: sordid and oppressive venality of the privileged classestrant plea upon every privileitotthe people, and finally subverted the throne itsulf.. I contended that such grants operated powerf: 7 agaiiist the splendour and dignity of the Crown, y depriving the Sovereign of the IfiCallS of coufein. t i offices upon those who evert alone worthy- to enjoy them. The ob,ertation of 31ontesquien was la mentably exemplified in the fate of the late 'lever- . salmi Bill, where, in opposition to the injunctions of the Sovereign hints. lf, and in disregard of the wishes and pilitinns of the people, the Hereditary Counsellors of th.' State scouted from their House that. measure which had received the dtionimouo support of the representatives of the people, and which was the earnest of those acts of public economy, so peculiarly called fbr by the severe burdens and unparalleled patience of the people in cheerfully acquiescing. Mr. DIXON, Mr. Kv.uete, and Mr. WEAVEL, supported the motion, without at all plet.ging themselves to any party . views. The motion for petitioning was then put, sod in a most crowded court was unawisecnntly curried. The only City Representative who attendee was Alderman Comae. Mr. Aldermen Bieca retired before the motion was put from the Chair. The l'etition was ordered to be fairly transcrib ed, and presented to both Houses by "the Sherif* attended by the Reinembrancer. FASHIONS FOR APRIL. On this subject we here nothing new to offer our toodore. • *Zoo& Mow* is apes ead fee Oa In)o Sin at I/00. nark. The hank triads have toads it hopoesible for Sri fag Fashions to take the lead ; sad, instead of the primrose, the violet, and the joisqviil, fur ceps, starlet rustles, sod cloth . coats, still prevail ; and tor treeing Deere% velvets, dodo * and aunts, icmaui absolute. PRUSSIAN DECI.4R4TION. " His Royal Majesty, the Kiag of Prussia, our .out gra cious Sovereign, bee lisen solicited by both imperial Courts of Paris mid at. Peteribargh, consisteatly with the system of the other P,nrcrs oft he Cootinect, sod the deelaration &pis* Eugiaad, to estend the same measures opium Swedes, whit+ Lave been token against Eagiand, am shoomat of bet fresh alliance with that Power bu invitation of the irelara tion issued by the Emperor of Minis on the lot\ (iid) of February, is this year, His Majesty has secordisey beak s.l u(lrdresolit with Sorleu, sad commode all is aloe inederbba, under the penalty of severe posislameut, to refrais ham ali community or intercourse whatever with Sweden. la par iusace of this, from the present moment, end till farther or- - ders, all Prussian harbours shall be utterly closed agaiunt Swede It vicewl■ ; Prussian Tassels shall no Linger be not auto Braden, w ithtr shall Sitedish or neutral ships, or wares which coins from Swedeu, be admitted into Prussian llior bocrs—Kuniersbcre, March ti." WEST.W.VSTER SESSIONS, 31.utcn. The Quarter Sessions commenced, this day. berme Mr. Justice MAINVIAI“Nti. Thomas Salmon, a stage coachman, wilt found Guilty of an assault upon John Paget, a Serjeaut in the Coldstream Regiment of Guards, and sew tcuced to pay a tine of .L. 5. Mr. Wm. HOWELL was yesterday elected, by ballot, to the office of Water-bailiff, in the rose of HENRY SHEPHERD, Esq. deceased. The Jain. FAaTilinse. from Malta far London. p is put back to Malta atter throwing part of her car,, overboard. Ihr Aurora, Youso, frosts Gottenburgb for London, is lost at the entrance of the Humber : also a Swedish vessel, name unknown. The Committee appointed to try the merits of the last Sussex Election, have confirmed the rota of the House, by refusing an exchange of lists of Freeholders, consequently, Col. Saaotson's Pe tition falls to the ground ; but the Petition of the Freeholders, against Mr. PnxLsit, for treatink, is proceeded upon. Monday last died PETER RAINIER, Req. Admi ral of the Blue. He was made a Poet Captain. October (29, 1778, a Rear-Admiral, June 1, 1795, a Vice-Admiral, February 14, 1799, and an Admi ral of the Blue, November 9, 1805. Admiral RAINIER was Commander in Chief in the East Indies for several years, where lie amassed a vast property, and returned from thence about two years since. At the last General Election he was returned to Parliament for Sandwich, his native place. A canvas has commenced for that borough. By letters received yesterday from Launces. ton, Cwitivall, the trial of tiir ,CnatirrornEft 11.►wKi%s, and others, fur bribery, at the election for Members for Penrhyn, November, Itio6, and for which the House of Commons ordered him to be prosecuted, in consequence of evidence taken before a Committee appointed to try the merits of that election, was to come on, on Wednesday, at Launceston. 't he remains of Miss EYE and Miss Wootamit, Cie two young tubes who. perished iu the late dreadful tire it Chelmsford, were on Saturday in terred in one grave, in Cie church-yard of that town. Their funeral was conducted with peculiar solemnity. Twenty-four young ladies, habited in white, [Acceded ;be coffins. The pails were borne by twelve yoang ladies in white dresser and hoods, sup2orted by the same number of young men, in black, with white hatbands. The relatives and of tlie deceased, and a numerous train of the prit.cipal inhahitunts of the town, in deep iiiournin.z, followed. Mrs. SMITH, at whore house tl!e lire broke out, died the same inorniug—Mira ANtS it in a fair way of recovery ; but Mimi W I T.KINION sill remains in a very precarious state. On Friday the Ilth in t. at a country club di. - ner; at Aberden, a d.:li of inw potatoes were pre sented, the produce of a garden in C. 1 . neighbour hood. They were planted on the I,t of January, and nisei a ithout any artilicial heat. Our Cerresponteiaz fr,in Doe •r informs us, that of the stnu:„glers who have Leen hitherto permitted to run into on :he 1- ~ncli ...at for the pm pose of loadi.i; with bratolies and other goods. not one man nor .essel nui over to • tie coast of Franee within tie- l•kst te. days. A • • ,).1 a oede-trine ec. union in that county. His name is Youctas, and his inidertake.,., is to L.;o 1..••" s n !kJ' for ei lit tlse...+. lie taartntl nit 11101 . 11ssii, at aboat four miler froat g! , to a s t tot near W;irminstei. The noki.2;tiniag fora bet (1 150 guineas. a II