The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-05-13 00:00:00

I . - ie eater le isdreete.loovit or inoefdo. 7 7.) The Hon. Gentleman, he said, might smile alai shake his head if he pleased. hot he should repeat his positive declaration, that he was unacquainted with who it was the Danish Minister applied to, or made his bargain with, or that there was any suspicion of tl.e least partiality, till he heard it in that House from the Honourable Member (Mr. Coke). if that, cr any ether Hon. Gentle man. beta such an opinion, and thought proper to MEMO for any papers which may explain the whole transaltion, be shbuld not find it him any objection to produce them. For the prudential reasons be fore refined to, the order pf council to prohibit the export of gratin was not at first, as he before stated, rMiely enforced at the same time that measures were taken to prevent it. While these measures were carrying inm effect, the Danish Minister, in a case of grearemergency, applied for permission to export a moderate supply of the two species of grain, which it was ascertained that this country could well spare. In compliance with this. direc tions were sent to the Commissioners of the Customs in Scotland, to permit that limited exportation on the Friday. On Saturday the House did not meet, so that no communication could then be made, and the subject of the prohibition was discussed in Par liament on Monday. The chief reason, however, for withholding the communication was, that it was not expedient publicly to promulgate the measure until the negotiations going on in Paris should he at • au end, as it might probably be liable to a hostile sinvoraftion in foreq,oi countries, and have an un fererable effect uoon our ewn public credit. The Ministers were desirous of making both communi cations at the same time, and theogli he was aware that the interval between the exercise of these aft, of power and their conar.unication to Parliament, onght to he as short as possible, yet he trusted that .the conclua of his Majesty's confidential servants would be justified by pubic conv...nience. Mr. Ceke, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Lord Temple, severally explained. Mr. FOX said, that any expression the Right Hon. Gentleman might hare observed upon his countenance, was not meant to imply any disbelief of his assertions ; for he could not suppose that he, or indeed any Minister of this ccuntry, could per. sonally interfere on such ar. occasion, and he was willing ever to exculpate even those subordinate in offset. What he disliked w a s, such a method of proceeding ; for though hetruly believed the decla ration of thet l isht Hon. Gentleman, yet the means he took be it in his power to be partial, and had he, or any one under him, either exercised that power or abstained from it, he would ask, who was to verify it ? Such circumstances were at all times liable to suspicion: for Ministers in all countries were never supposed to be the present put of the people. It was possible enough that though the solution was not made by Ministers, it might have been recommended, and that recommendation to the Danish Minister would have been nearly irresistible, if it accompanied the permission to export. If the measure was necessary, why not apply to Parliament and let there be a fair competition in which any man would be at liberty to make his proposals ? It was a strange argument, either for the propriety or necessity of this proceeding that Ministers withheld their communication of their having taken one li berty with the law, because they had taken another liberty with it on a subject wholly unconnected with the former. The argument laboured wonder fully in maintaining that singular proposition.— Ile confessed that he did not objen to the thing itself, but to the mode of it. He could see no hos tile construftion that could be put on our prohibit ing the exportation of corn at any time, nor any reason why that, at least, was not communicated ; but he must object to every proceeding of the sort alluded to, as being always very suspicious, and in their very nature liable to jobs. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not perceive bow the argument laboured in tracing the conneaion between the prohibitions of naval stores and grain, because if the necessity for the first had not occurred, the Order of Council would not have been renewed fur the other prohi bition. Mr. P.YDER thought, if Ministers applied for an Ate of Parliament, it would have made no differ suce to the Ministers ; for, if they pleased, they might have had the same means of corruption in tither case. Even in case of an Mk of the Legis lation, the Treasury might itself have employed a person to export die seed grain to Norway, or might produce the same circa by a recominendatiou to the Danish Minister. _ Mr. FOX replied, that there was a great differ ence between an individual being favoured by Par liament or (avowed by the Ministers; but the fio'l was, that if Parliament had been applied to, public notice would have been given, which would enable any persons so disposed to offer themselves. Leave WAS then given to bring in the NIL Lord TEMPLE withdrew his notice of motion for papers, until he should see whether there may be occasion for it. CLERGY RESIDENCE BILL On the Motion of Sir W. SCOT the House re solved itself into a Committee on this Bill. Mr. P. Carew in the Chair. Sir W. SCOT r then prorsed again the same .lause, which was so much discusieci nn the pre cPding evening, to allow Bishops the power of granting Licences fur Non-residence, untie' twin t 'lodine; a:ions. The Committee went through the Bill, mint.”..l.y elrlisting ever , ' clause. A vanety of Ame ndments were proposed and adopted, and new clauses were The lic.use having resumed, the report was re ceived, and ordered to be taken into further consi deration on Tuesday next. The first Report of the Committee on Naval ;buses was brought up, and urJeieJ to be printed. The House Adjourned at a quarter before one in the morning. THEATRE-BorAL, DRURT-LANE. To MORROW I.\ ENINC% will Ire Performed a New Comedy c TIIF. NIARRIAC;F. Thp tliisraaers by Mr C. %If Dw.er, Mr. ton, Nl' 11.illieirt.wortli, Mr. B • ler, .1.111. Mr Palmer. M r . jr,ifie, PlissAl. Mr. Prom, Mr. Etaus, Mrs. Powc.ll, Miss Nte.ioli, Mrs. MAddeeks. Mrs. Svark.i, .Its To which will ht ada d, LODOISKA. I 1 4‘,nE BRIJ LONDON, FRIDAY, May IS. The three per Cent. Consols, which yesterday continued pretty steady, about 64., till about two o'clock, suffered a sudden and considerable varia. tion. In the space of little more than half an hour they rose to 01, nearly two per cent. but they fell back again as suddenly, and left off at &ll. The Telegraph that corresponds with Deal was at work between twelve and one o'clock, and, as we learned last night, bad announced a frigate in view at Dover, but we do not believe it com municated any other intelligence. It was, how ever, sufficient, in the present state of the pub lic mind, to ascertain that there was something new, and fancy could not fail to raise a thou sand superstruftures upon it. Among the most prominent *as a report, that disturbances had broken out-it Paris, pi odezel by the aversion of the people to a renewal of the w.tr.—lt was also said, that B.txerAatlz had received a fell from his horse, and was so much hurt as to be unable to attend busi ness. His illness, it was therefore supposed, would delay his final answer to Lord Wm ess wre, for se veral Jays, and, consequently, afford all that time for pacific expenation. It would be an idle task to proceed farther on the detail of the various rumours of the day, most of which instead were in fa& the etrat and not the cause of the sudden change in the money market. The rise in the Funds was, we be lieve, partly occasioned by the arrival of the Paris papers up to the 9th inclusive. From these it ap pears that the French five per cents. had risen on Saturdey to 5 ti, and that no apprehension was en tertained of Lord 'We tTWORTII'S immediate return. The Duchess of DORSET is stated to have left Paris previous to Saturday last ; but this circumstance is specifically explained ; that her return has been long determined upon in consequence of her advanced s tate of pregnancy. Private accounts have also been received,tendingto inspire a hope for the continuance ofpeace. It i s well known that the question was debated in the Council, whether BONAtARTF. should as sume the title of Emperor ; and that notwithstand ing all his influence and intrigues, it was decided against him. That circumstance, added to the unamiableness of his charafter in private life, has turned many friends into foes, and, aided by time, has lessened the admiration which his military exploits alone had excited. According then to private accounts, nothing is wanting now but a war with England to complete his unpo pular ity. 'Although the press is doomed to silence, the ingenuity of the Citizens has been able Mdevise the means of informing him of this important truth- Every means of pamphlets and licentious prints are secretly, but widely circulated to degrade him its the eyes of the people. Not content with arraigning him for his own faults, they visit upon him all the sins of his family and connec tions, compared with whom the Bourbons are represented as angels. With this growing pre judice against him in the public mind, a war, it is thought, would make his situation extremely pe rilous. This is a change in his fortune that must teach him an important lesson ; from this he will learn, as the example of our own beloved Sovereign might have sheen, that to be secure, happy, and unsuspeCting upon a throne, a Sovereign should live in the hearts of his pcoplel; that splendid atchieve ments may dazzle the eye for the moment, but that the domestic virtues and real goodness alone can make a lasting impression. Several of his distin guished Generals, aware of this declining popala rity of their Chief, have expressed themselves ad: verse to the renewal of the war. Even Messee A. one of the most dashing and daring of the set, con siders the invasion of England a desperate truce, and declined a part in the undertaking. ,In this situ ationit issaid he has sent for Roc it A St at. et: as the only General of talent in whom he can confide; and who, by his accept.urce of the command in St. Domingo, bad given a proof of his desperation. However he may wish to avail himself of that General's talent upon his return, we do not believe that the order for the evacuation of that island, if any such has been sent out, wets diaated solely with that view. Some accounts say, that the Blacks have expelled the French by force ; but it is much more pro. bable that the Fr fret . Coast.: l e foreseeing a rupture in his own determination not to yield to the demands of the British Cabinet, may have sent out orders for the evacuation of the island, for the purpose o f saving Roeusarmee and his force from the same fate which befet MENCP: and his army in Egypt. These, and various other rumeers, adverse to war, ut;ltlit have yesterday feund their way to the market first, and there produced an effeCt before other ru niouvi equally ntinterees, but warlike, could over take them, but which, when known, produced an immediate retra.lion. Of this latter descrip. tion are private accounts of formidable prepara tions for invasion in the ports of Fritice.—Pri s ate intelligence from St. Meioses .. state, • that there art at that place forty gun-boat., of which twenty. . I five were six days ago comp letel y ready with flu it full complement of two hundred men each, and that the remainder were fitting out with the greatest expedition. The same a&ivity and appearance arc reported to preseitt themselves . at Rennes, and all the other ports on the opposite coast of France, at which men are entering with the greatest zeal, and troops repairing every day. Meantime the several English families residing on the coast have been in formed by Goiernment that they have L :,7.lling to fear even in the event of actual hostilities, and that it is not intended to give them any trouble. This intimation, however liberal and generous it stray appear at first blush, will, we fear, turn out to be little less than an order of detention. Persons thus be friended and encouraged may be told they must have some bad motive in leaving France, and the good which is expaesl by BONAPARTE from hir Commer cial Consuls, must make him fear, that, returned to England, they might give us useful information as if they had been settled in the commercial towns of France as spies.---Of the determination of our own Government, to prefer war to an acceptance of any conceoions short of that required by the ultimatum last delivered by Lord Witirwoarit, it would be superfluous to say any thing. 'the whole tenor of the conduel of Ministers shews, flea their minds are made up upon this point, and that they are re solved to chide the issue. It is, therefore, to the conduct of France we are to look for the chance that still remains for the continuance of peace, and with the eeception of the concession made in the last answer transmitted through Lord Win T WORT H, we do not see any pacific symptoms. Since that was known, circumstances have transpired of a contrary tendency, of which description, we consi der the Duchess of Doesee 's departure from Paris, notwithstanding the explanation given in the Paris papers. The French Ambassador was not at Court yesterday, neither was he at St. Paul's, where a seat was reported to have been pre pared for him. It was also reported that his ser vants were busily employed yesterday in packing up for his departure ; and that it was understood in the family, that the General and his suite would posi tively leave town this day at twelve o'clock. Hav ing noticed the reports that probably contributed to give a momentary elevation to the Funds yesterday, we have noticed the latter as a few of the number that may have contributed to their depression. The columns of the Moniteur, filled with the text of the General Decree of the Germanic Body, as sandioned by his IMPERIAL MAJE}. TY, and with the addresses of the Little Cantons of Switzerland to the FIRST CoNst; 1., on the re sult of his mediation in the settlement of their Constitutions. The latter breathe sentiments of the deepest gratitude and the Lost fervent at tachment. In his answers to the respective ad dresses, BONAP ARTE seems no las lAirere than the fallen descendants of WILLIAM TEL L. To the inhabitants of Uri, he says, " I have con sulted your interests only ;"—he assures those of Underwalden that he " has been in sentiment one of their fellow-citizens ;" and to the people of Schwitz he addresses the follov ing language:— , Whatever may be my cares and occupations, I shall ever consider it as a duty, and a pleasing enjoyment, to contribute in every possible way to the consolida tion of your liberty and your happiness." These are fine words, but they cannot make a proselyte of ALOYS REDING. A modification of the present Ministry, upon a stronger and bruader basis, ha , been spoken of for some time past, and is now, we believe, upon the ewe ,f being carried into effea. Mr. TIERNEY is confidently mentioned as one of its new Members ; but the hopes of Mr. Fox's friends appear to be upon the decline. Mr. l'irr has announced his in tention to attend in his place upon the discussions on the state of our affairs with France. No Messenger arrived yesterday, nor at one o'clock this morning. Should wind and weather have proved favourable, some account of Lord Wutswoirru's condu&, after the receipt of the dispatches sent to him on Friday, may be expected in the course of this day. The Admiralty Office was cron-ded with Navy Officers of all descriptions yesterday morning, aaiongst whom were Lord NLI,SON and Admiral MS t.BANK. It has been remarked, that at the grand and splendid Levee, which the Emperor Alexander held at Petersburgh on Faster Monday, he first addressed himself to the British Ambassador, and afterwards to' several other members of the Diplomatic Corps, previous to his accosting General lledouville, the French Ambassador, and Citizen Colbert, the of ficer who delivered to the Emperor a letter in the First Consul's own hand-writing. According . to private accounts brought by the Hamhurgh Mail, Cu AMP A 0 NY, the French Ambas sador at Vienna, after receiving a courier from his Government, lately presented note to the Impe rial Minister, in which he dem t iJ. ti at, in case of a war, the Austrian harbours sh mld e shut against the English. Though no answm been returned to this 'note on the Y7th tilt, th•Te i eves y reason to believe that such a demand will not be complied With.• ~, T .- , r.--•---..,. ~~ FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. TILE FRENCH PAPERS. Mats, MAY R. Supposing that war with England takes place, two qtu:stiobs present themselves. Will it be particular or general ? England, in exciting enemies to France, divides the force to the latter; but she insures her viaories and resituttes upon the Continent. France may attack F.ngland in two ways ; either by con centrating all her force for an invasion, or by exer cising her whole influence in such a manner as to ef f.!,!-1 the ruin of the English trade. In the first case, the neutrality of the . Continent would be useful to France ; in the second, k will be necessary that all the powers should take part, either for or against England. Which of these two would be more bene ficial to France, we will not take upon us to decide. It any Sovereign could fix the balance, k would, without doubt, be the Emperor of Russia. We know not Nvhat England can offer. It is pre tended, that France has proposed to deliver Malta to him, on ,Nar.—citoyen The departure of the English Ambassador is no longer considered probable. It is announced, that the packing up of his furniture is discontinued, and that his Excellency will come to no farther *ter mination before the return of a Me..senger, wmm he sent off on Wednesday with dispatches for his Government. In regard to the departure of his lady, the Duchess of Dorset, to which no great ins portance seems to be attached, it is an ineident . frOin which no decisive consequences can be deduced, since it has been known at London. for some months past, that in the beginning of summer the Duchess was to return to England to lie in. A great part of the English, however, who were in this capital, have quitted it with a sort of precipitation.—Gazette ds France. The same uncertainty still subsists with respetk to the negotiations between the English and French Governments. The necessity that is felt of pre serving peace, induces a hope, that it will not be broken.—journal de Paris. The French troops that are in Zealand observe so exaa a discipline, that the inhabitants are delight.'d with them. General Leconrhe is appointed Inspeaor General of Infantry in the fifth and sixth military divisions; and iii Switzerland of all the French troops stationed there. . • General St. Stmanne is to inpe& all the troops stationed in the four departments on the left Batik of the Rhine. The Prefeanre of the Seine is to be removed front the Place Vendome to the Old Hotel de Vile. The Place de _Greve is in consequence to change its name. His Grace the Duke of Bedford dined last Satur day with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Duchess of Gordon, her daughter Lady Georgieit, and a number of other English persons of diAinehon, were of the party. M. de Atto, Minister Plenipotentiary of Bavaria, had last Wednesday a tea party, a supper, and ball. The company was not numerous. On the same day the Duchess of Gordon had a very large party. Her Grace was that day at borne. The mode in which an English invitation is couched, is, that on such a day those from whom the invitation comes, will be at home ! There is a report that General Rochambean is to return from St. Domingo, and that he is to be re placed by General Laixiye. General Rapp is returned from Switzerland. M. Constantin de Nlalliardoz, and M. Albert Fegeli, both of Friburg, are just arrived, charged with a mission which is supposed to relate to the appoint ments of the new authorities in the Helvetic Cantons. The approaching arrival of the First Consul, in the Department of Monte Tonnere, has been offi cially announced to the Prefect of that Depart ment. The following is the answer of Bonaparte to an address of thanks from the Landamman and the Members of the Council General of the Canton of Ury : Citizens Landamman and Members of the Council General of the Canton of Ui y,—l have been strongly affetaed with the language of your letter of the ‘Zatth of March. I wished by the act of mediation to re,cue you from signal evils, and to confer on you g reat benefits. 1 looked only to your interests. Forget all your divisions. Form only one people. I will regard, as one of my most important occupations, the maintenance in all its extent of that ancient friendship which during so many ages united you to the French nation. 4. Tell the inhabitants of your Canton, that I shall ever be ready to aid them in any difficulties which they may experience, and that in return I expect the continuance of the same sentiments which you express towards me. (Signed) The answer of the First Consul to the addresses of the Canton of Underwald and Schwiti, is couched in similar terms. It is worthy of notice, that, in the addresses of all the democratic cantons, the First Consul is thanked on the specific ground of his hav ing suifered them to revert to their ancient consti tutions. " BONAPARTE." 7Hr. HAGVE, APRIL 30. On the gtli of next month there will be a great sale at Amsterdam of nearly 40,000,000 lbs. of coffee, which were collened in the magazines of Batavia, and on the plantations of that island, and which have lately arrived in the ports of the Re public. A large quantity is still expected, which, :f put to sale upon its arrival, must lower very consi derably the price of that article. A similar sale will take place at Rotterdam on the 15th June. Citizen Gokinga is appointed President of the Government for the months of May, June, and July. Lord Hawkesbury announced the evacuation of the Cape, in the following card, dated Aptil 2J, to our Minister at London, Citizen Schinunelpen , nink : I have the honour to transmit to you, an extraa of dispatches received this (14) , from Lieutenant- General Hope, addressed to Lord Hobart, one of the principal Secretaries of State. From this ex traa, Sir, you will find that the Cape of Good Hope was evacuated by his Majesty's troops, on the 91st of February. I had great satisfa6tion in learning, that the most perfea isarmony nnifonnly prevailed between the troops and the officers of the two Powers, during the time they were toge ther in that Colony." AWNS . eo.la . - • .1111110 11 1 , FP7 - • ~`/ RIILI AL