The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-10-24 00:00:00

` j• • ARRIVAL QF MESSERCiRS FROM • FRANcE. is DEAL. OCT. 21. D iu 041 e' A Flag of Tntee arrived' in the Doyens - morning from France. She came out of Boulogne, last night, at tei, o'clock, and,tifter'aery boister ous passage, arrived in the—Dewiis about eight 'O'clock this morning. Two inesseingets have since been landed from one a Russian Officer, the other French, and ogee waiting on the Port Ad miral, the Russian courier set out about eleven o'clock in a poet-chaise and four fur London, ac companied by the Adiurral's Licutenaut.—The 'rench Officer was not permitted to go, and .Las since been put on board the Princess of Orange, in the Downs, till the pleasure of our Ministers be known.—lt is, however, stated, that this was done by order of Lords Hawkesbury and Castlereagh, who are both it Weimer Castle, and were con- a alted on the circumstance previous to tiwir hind- t;. Such is the secrecy observed oa the occasion, t tat not a word har tratispiied with respect to the it'sject of their mission ; conjectures here are va rious, and some have ventured to assert that they arc charged with overtures of a tiegociation for peace; others conjecture that they are dispatched in comegmence of the meeting of the Emperors at Erfurth, with an invitation to the British Govern ment—but all is inert supposition at present. " The vessel which brought them over is pat tinder charge of the Clyde frigate, Commodore Owen ; aud, it is ortpposed, IS to wait to votivey her passengers bark agars to France, or, at least, the disoisiou of out Government on the dispatches. She is a French victualling lugger, waked No. 1, oa her bows" RETRACT OP ANOTHER LETTER. " DEAL, OCT. el. " I just drop a line to say that at eight o'clock this morning, during a meat violent gale of wind, a French fishing boat, with a flag of truce, came to an anchor in the Downs, awl landed a Russian Nublesnan, accompanied by a Messenger of the same nation, anti • French Gentleman. The fur seer, with the Messenger, and one of Adm. Camp bell's Lieutenants. set off in a post-chaito awl four for Loadon.--The latter was not seemed to make any stay on shore, but was sent off on board the Cipds.frigate, until commuaicatiou bas, been made to Government. Th e above personages arrived at Boulogne et ten o'clock last night, and went immediately on board the fishing boat that was waiting to receive them, with particular orders to head either at Deal se Dover, whichever they could first make. I send you this in haste, having waited till the port is just going out, hopiag to gain further parti culars.' THE BRITISH PRESS. - LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 44. OPEILTURE4 OF PEACE. We announced, on Saturday, excheieefy, with the exception of, one ether moruing paper, the ar rival of two moseengers from Frence, supposed to he the bearers of overtures from N a POLLON and AJAX ANDLIt at Erfurth. The following are the particu ' hrs uuder which those foreigners ma.:e their ap pearsuice. At eight ,on Friday tuorning,during violent gale of wind, a French tisliing-linat, with a flag of triter, came to an anchor in the Downs, and was immediately hoarded from one of our cruisers, who took out the Messengers, two Ruisian and one French officers. They were landed laid conducted fel the house of the Port-Admiral, and at elesen o'clock the Russian Officers, aceniupanied by a Nara, Officer, proceeded in a chaise and four for London. The French Officer, in consequence of orders, it is said, front Lords illwersevev and CAUTLIMLAGII, uho were at Widmer Castle, %:is sent on board the flag-ship in the Downs, there to wait till further instructions were received . _ from town. Thu bout, which brought them over, sailed from Boulogne at ten o'clock, nn Thnrr slay night, with orders to land at Deal, an or der basing been lately issued which appears to have been well known in France, prohibitiug.the sending of Flags of Trace to Dover, and direct ing all such to be sent to the Downs. After the Messengers were taken ont of her, she was pia undue charge of the Clyde frigate, and nn commu nication persaittecl between her and the shore. The Itussiun Officers, with .Mr. Ca*'un. one of Admiral CANCIBELCA Lieutenants, reached the Foreign Office a few st s i ttt stes before eleven o'clock en Friday night ; and in css:.sequence of instruc tions prerinuily given, (Gov:rust:eta having been early apprized by telegraphic su is Meat ion of their arrival at Deal,) were immediately sent to Mr. CaN 111freshothe in Bruton-street,wlsere, we understand, arvend of the Calsitiet Ministers were assembled. The Dispatches with which they were charged were delivered to Mr. Caw sum in person, who acknow ledged the receipt thereof in the usual manne' The Russia's Officers were iifterwinis conveyed to the house of Mr. Susnc, oue of the Foreigu Mrs ;yrs, in Pimlico, where they remitimil during isiglit, and between seven and rigla Sstur usoriliag the) set off iu s chair end fuur for 11111 1 1 r ~ Deal. About twelve o'clock Mr. SHAW, aim In a chaise and four, took the same road. The general supposition Is, that the Foreign Messengers were disinneed without an answer, and that, upon second thought, and at the special in stance of the Duke of PORTLAND, Mr. SHAWE was sent with orders to recut them. It is also said, that an order was sent off, ou Saturday night, to Deal, to release the French Messenger on board the Clyde. Some persons conceive, that Mi►►isters, not Choosing to trust the foreign Officers, have sent off their answer by Mr. Snzwe; bat. upon the whole, we are inclined to think that Mr. SHAH'S was sent off with orders of recal, and tbat the French Officer, detained at Deal, is to have permission to come to London. Orders, we un derstand, were sent also by the telegraph, to Deal, in the course of Saturday, to stop the departure of the French and Russian Messengers, in case Mr. ,SHAVVE should not overtake them.— This communication from the enemy, although i long expected, create►! a considerable sensation. The stocks rose one • per cent. and it was not the 'halt of some ardent speculatots in that branch of Commerce tluit they did not rise much higher.-- The most improbable rumours were circulated, and the contents of the dispatches were as cond. deadly promulgated as if they had been posted on the front of the Manion-house, or the pillars of the Royal Exchange. It was said that BONA. PARTE was willing to renounce his designs upon Spain, to withdraw his troops from thence, and to liberate and recoguize Xing FsautaasD. In short, he was represented as the most tractable and accommodating creature alive. The number of these proselytes, fortunately for the honour and consistency of the national character, was but small. The proposal to treat, under the present circumstances of Europe, met with albiositiniversal disapprobation. It was considered as an insidious Attempt to sow suspicion betwen us and Spain, to alike the people of that country distrust the mo tives and sincerity of our assistance, and by so doing, to paralize their efforts, sad cast them at the feet of France. .............- The Pelona, Hon. Capt. litea, arrived. on Sa turday, at Portsmouth, from St. Andero; which place she left on the 7th instant. She does not bring any later news than that of the recapture of Bilbao by the French, who entered that city, 18,000 strong, on the 46th ult. The Spaniards. commanded by Generals BLAKE and PALA:roe, completely surround titan.—lt is not their inten tion to attack the French in Bilboss, but to starve them out.—The Marquis of ROSEARA'S troops, from the Baltic, which landed at St. Andero, had begun► their march to join the grand sriny before Bilbao. The French troops from Lisbon ate to be lauded at Quibenne It was originally intended to land them at Rochefort. The order for this change in their des ti uatioa was received, on the 12th inst. by the Re sistance, Capt. ADAM, then convoying the second division of the French army on its passage from Por tugal to France. The Paretic, the arrival of which from Portugal, we announced last week, wiled' from Lisbou on the Gth, and the Niobe on the 7th instant, leaving Sir CHARLES COTTON in the Tagus, with the Hi berain, Ganges, Plantagenet, .laditcious, Reso lution, And several frigates. We have been fa voured by the former with the following letter, written by an Officer attached zo Sir Joux Mooex's army : " Camp, near the Palace of Chinos, Portngal, six units from Lisbon, Oct. ii, t SOS. We arrived on this coast, after • tedious passage of *tee weeks, in which 1 suffered more at era than ever; and I am happy to say I us again on teers,draia, fur never was a man mum tired of a transport; yet it is provoking to think, tha' after a cruise of four months, from North to Mouth, and, as I may Bay, in quest of an enemy, that we should arrive a few days too late for the gloriosa battle of the vial of anzust ; though probably it is &wisest, for some of us. We landed and marched over the bald a few *lass after the battle. I saw one distressing scent, %Inch was, in s very I.lNii village, nearly ion Erroels prisoners, so badly rounded, as not to he in a state to be removed ; the legs sad arms that badlbeen taken off were lying in heaps in the gardens—plenty of practice fur is, of your profes sion as t►e French had so many wounded that oar Sur genus could not attend to them. Not having been in the en gagement, I shall say hat little about it ; it continues! about three hews, awl, !believe, was very secret Indeed tor th, I heard souse French Officers say, who bad served in several camysigne, they never sow any thing like it; the tre mendous and well-directed fire kept up by our artillery asto nished them much; and they ackaowledgt mater having been aft completely routed is their lives before. With respect to their terms of capitulation, I must refer you to the Eirglish Garrile, *hid' yon will, of course, see, lung before I Oral,. Although Sir'. Moores army was nut in the action of the 41st, it is to that force that Sir A. Wellnley's troops ■re indebted toe so decisive a victory, as Geo. 3 snot would not lime attacked them, had he not known that we were becalmed ou the coast, which was what prevented oar being in time, and, to ewe J•not's own words, " he thought he could have annihilated Fir A. Wellesley's army before our arrival"— You wail perhaps say, that the army which attacks has the arlysatage, which, I brit. VC, is in general thought to be the caw, but iu a billy and mountainuns country, like this, it is smite the reverse, mid the position Sir A. Wellesley occupied was • very semi•; one ; bat to give the French their due, I em told they advanced to the attack in a most galisat and determined manna, bet t►e odd etre! of the English, pu • 1, as it genersity does, victorious —We have CitleTil'llfed some privation. since we lauded, n few fatiguing marches, and, fur the first firrt.right, we lay in the fields. without au/ SO% (ring OM baggage, except what ..•c carried en Dor %meta—provider reakee.-etere stir%) tra.bsre had few Lentil aerial ouc"' 1 Abel the beat way niactjb Mg been in a bet climate before. We boa it reported to aim that our Commander im Chief, Sir Hew Dalrymple, b recalled ; iu that came Lienteuast-Geueral Sir H. Berm will bate the command." A Gentleman, just arrived from Spain, who was present when the Spanish troops evaenatt.d Linos on the 4th inst. states that the retreat of the Spa niards was admirably effeeted, and in a style so highly military as to reflect pent honour on the skill of Ge neral BLAKE and his brave officers. There is a cool ness and reflection in every enterprize taken by the Spaniards that almost insure success to that valour they display whenever call d into action—they are only in want of cavalry and artillery. To supply the place of the latter, they caused large trees to be felled, bored, and strongly limited with iron. With these, in their first actions with the French. they did ccusiderable execution, clearing whole ranks with these wooden caution. Their enthu siasm for the English charatur has considerably di - creased since the terms of the Convention of Lis bon became generally known. They were struck with torpor when they learned that we had agreed to send, unconditionally, the whole French army in Portugal, at our own expeise; well provided with arms and amrutinitino, to join their comrades in France, ready to put the threat of NAPOLEON into execution, of annihilating the whole kingdom of Spain, and of which we had started up so recently the friends and protectors ! When we maturely revolve in our minds the ac tual position and prospects of BonAPAicre: beyond the Pyrenees, where he has most unadvisedly com mitted to hazard hi+ military reputation, on which foundation all his greatness and acquisitions de pend; and when we contrast his present embar rassed situation, frustrated or defeated in his flagi tious plans on Spain, with the elevation that he had reached in the month of April last; we shall instantly see the motive and the reason for his pre mint mission to this country. Whatever projects of partition, robbery, or spoliation, may be ma tured at Erfurt, whatever new objects of rapacity or of ambition he may propose to ALTIIINDER for the future subversion of Europe, it is &wines that ostensible propositions, of a conciliatory or pacific nature, would precede them. It is not only in the genius and character of this scourge of the human race, always systematically to throw out insidious or illusory blandishments, and ardent aspirations after 'mice, previous to his most violent attacks-- other . ressona compel him to hang recourse to the expedient in the present instant*. his machinery. physical as well as moral, has greatly suffered in the Spanish business. Near seventy thousand of his veteran troop* have disappeared in less than ties months. if DALRYMPLE restored him his forces at Ciatra, though previously defeated, CAS TAWOII did not do the lame at Bnylen. Valencia, [ and Saragossa, and Gerona,have dissolved the charm which rendered his soldiers superior to all others.— ' JqtIEPH BONAPARTE, instead of displaying his " majestic attitudes" at Madrid, is become the scorn of his own army, and presents only a con temptible fugitive, hiding himself among the villages of Castile or of Navarre. Worse evils im pend over the Corsican dynasty or family, " des , tined," as NAPOLEON had the presumption and folly to assure us, only six months ago. " to govern Europe ;" lint now bound to the stake, unable to recede without shame and humiliation; unable to advance without extreme hazard ; and covered with the turpitude of crimes that justly render them the opprobrium of inatikind. If NAPOLEON cast his view forward, lie beholds two adversasies, of a new description, with whom he is about to contend for several months to crone—the Pyrenees. and Winter. lie well knows, that, after the beginning of November, whatever Conscriptions he may com mand, or his Senate may sanction, they cannot be driven through the defiles of Navarre and of Catalonia, without the utmost difficulty, nor subsisted in those provinces, unless by the greatest exertions. Other parts of his political and military machinery are likewise greatly damaged by friction, and demand repairs or renovation. Neither Prus sia, nor Austria, nor Russia, were guaranteed by ►mountains, from sea to sea, throngh the centre of which snowy barrier his legions must para. None of these states were defended by an armed popula tion, indignant at the pt rtidy, cruelty, and atrocity of their enemy. Nor could any of those powers communicate at all seasons with Great Britain, by means of the ocean. They ►were either destitute of ports, cod of maritime strength, and of Colonies ; or they could convert these instruments to little practical benefit. Spurn and Portugal poises', and can employ all thi:ses powerful agents, to a►d the common cause. Even that master-spring of all his operations in the field, by which Rome subject ed the earth, and which the Corsican Casa". has so widely applied in oar own times, to facilitate his conquests ; namely, that of employing the nations already subjected to extend his empire over others yet unanbdued ; this expedient has become doubt fill, and appears capable of recoiling on its inven tor. The Spaniards have turned upon him his own weapons. While BONAPARTE only considers the Pole, the Switzer, the Italian, or the German, as inetehaiev, to be agitated at his pleasure, and made the instfunients of his nefarious arts, or oz:tragerius violence; the Spaniards, 'regarding them a s composed of the mime material with thenisek and not inaccessible to th feelings of sham e humanity, and of our Con non nature, hare' pealed to these invisible ageuts, placed by the breast of every individual. Nor has the been vain. BONAPARTL: has already mid will deeply feel its operation beyond Pyrenees. Desertion will be added to defeat, troops which were destined to conquer, may defend, the territory of Spain. While , tended on Lis arins, the foreign soldier, ed into the French legions, might be a canary ; but hunger, cold, and prix nied with misfortune, will sharpen his moral and enable him to distiuguich the tyrant from oppressed. France itself, hitherto, three the menceinent of the present war, a tacre of the calamities produced by her Ruler's or taking only a feel:'.e share in it, mint uvw come actively instrumental to force upon of a neighbouring pco i de, a vile adventurer, or lam origin, equally odious and contemptiLe, for this object. not less immoral and than unprecedented and of the French nation is become the proverbial theme tent times. It is beyond all doubt ation of these appalling home to the bosom of duced the interview at Erfart, thence to Great Britain. vious, and a natural instrui recourse. BortaeaaTe hope to succeed in Spain, or prolong the contest. reign at Vienna, or at . over the Pyreuees, utigh latent; perhaps not a au( not sure, after the events the Prussians, or the will submit to the opprobrious Corsican Triacule, stigmatized to appetites or gratificatmos • In this dilemma, what was RAND, recalled from Valency, 0111111br i , after two days lawitridivised, as the best Proplsitione of Peace. treated - his advice and reniunatrances enterprise with disregard,' in September. CauLtsc the interview, and even should not be relished 'ots of various kinds, put in action to overcome or reluctance to meet his of the most beneficial on the part of NAPOLEO: sian Ministers; intentions peace and felicity to causes of the interview Some Dutch papers hive are not of a later date contents are not of any the same conveyance new star with France was towards the close of people endeavoured to specie, with a ♦iew to transport, and the price rose to 13 florins, while 2L12, and the exchange Count Zecur, Minister check this injurious panic, he was charged by His ' that His Minns inah intercourse with all the , and that the military measu ed were solely for the ' and the maintenance , contrary nature should MAJESTY invited comint f them, in order to their sioners have been *moil Exchange, in order to alarming reports for stocl The utmost vigilance triati frontiers, with regard pssaports are rigorously slightest error, they are Several Danish ()Seers entered into the Russian their march. in bodies to Petersburgh. The mountaineers lately suspended all . Zara, &c. and, by their . alarm. that it was necessary body of &ustrian troops Country•. It is a remarkable six 'Members of the , 7th and 10th Regiment,. embarked at Portsmouth, puted that there are 40 ready armi n g iu the army Capt. Samar, Paying -Comp Portsmouth, is appointed Duck-yard at the Cape Pen es appointed to the has taken the command W. STuART, of the Lavinia, at IV tonouti operation nh thenisd I .l th :t : R o Pa f pe r e rld e a r l ii it l i g gs t o h f eni sli a ls aie n:t con non nature by , have ' a t re tdiisggo,he agents, might di s hg already ehe Np rto lo npsb ar t c eue e di ti i e ' rpw a i ta r , a t .4.b ol n i . ) tn c i ill be added to defeat, an rd . 17! to conque r, may th u d Spain. While sueeeia a foreign soldier, incorpo Id, and privations, worn , ill sharpen his moral leo aguish the tyrant from t 11, hitherto, since the cc ant war, a mere specter share in it, mug now and to force upon then,, lc, a rile adventurer, or 1 ii MI immoral and deteatsb, d disgraceful. that the bl, s to flow, and then's+, theme of abhorrence to tt the pressure and the g facts, which begin to vo f the Tyrant, that have p Erfurt, and the mission ALEXANDER RID an nstrument, to which to b perceives that he cau in, though he may protr To send I)on JOIEPR tit Konin,, , Nherg, when dri tight be a hazardous es., successful one. For we vents in Spain, whether e Bohemians and Hungari ppmlarious bondage of t iginatized with a vubj Cations altogether degrad: was to be done? TALL falency, and consulted by tys of deliberation, is so,' est remedies, Alexander . NAPOLEON, who, ID A remonstrances on the Spa Bard, listened to his Cou INCOURT was ordered to 'cell to threaten if the led at Peteraburgh. In ids, and of both sexes, come the Czaa'a inesolu his Conqueror. Assort 3 and philanthropic juin LEON, were given to the ' stains which are to p Europe I Such were iv at Erfurt. s hive been received, but e than the Bth instaut. iv interest. Private let :e state, that the alarm was so prevalent at 1i r the last month, that o convert their property, to its greaser safety, are ice of a ducat, in consopt tile Convention money • age on Augsburg, at ro titer of Finance, with a vie oink, ollicially declared, is IMPERIAL IkirAJIDITY to mintained the utast fn the powers of the Coot' measures which he had ad le tranquillity of the inn :e of peace—that reports tild he discredited —and umunication u to the sat their prosecution. Cow apointed tit be present A prevent the dissern:snac stock-jobbing piirpoaei- ace is now observed in the regard to travellers, e" angle examined, and. °° are rejected. facers and seamen have I asian service, and are no es of 40 or 50. thriniii ll Pr. of Nigeria and Lipp II intercourse between heir robberies, excited so accessary to send a num - roops from Fiume to 'coo miwac....aar=amewma ecircumstance of Comorostrineethatetber e House D ents of Dragoons. Witt ;mouth, for Spain. It is 40 Members of tlis ho army in Spain and Porta saying-Conotnissioner ail • pointed Commiselet.er Cape of Good Hotel,. to the Sirews.--Copt. mond of the Zcahos; an' Lavinia, at Po, tvitiouth.