The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-02-19 00:00:00

■ r__. COITTEMPC':MtARY EI3GRAPHY. This day are publi4imi, in Five Volumes Ottavo (three of the Volumes havir: just been re-printtd,) price Two Guineas and a Half in board,, ehibellithecl with ne.irly One Hundred outline Pintrait., nr either '.dune se i aarately at Half a Guinea, PUBLIC CHARACTERS dt the Years' 1798, 1 1799, 1360, If4ol, and 1S0,:, co I , iiting awl Au 411ENT IC MEMOIRS of upward. of Two HOND ILO PERSONS iriw living, or very recently deceased, who have the most con ncu,) Illy distintuislied thembelves in the Lac 16LaTuitt, in tlid NAVAL and MiLITART service, in the varloos LILAMPIrD ViiOrLASIONi, iii LITLIAVVIV, in Szitsce, and in the un cut. Aets. After this Work has beta published nth increasing success, anti with univeisal approbation dlaing live years, the Editors dunk K unnecessary to expatiate on iu Chancier, bat shall content themselves with introducing the opinions crpressed of it by the most respectabliof the penoekal Critics. " Thu work proceeds accmdine to its fint design, and it groins to improve as it advances with time The Volumes con tain a &unutterable nu mber of Memoirs of Persons, our C6lltern poraric:, who egcure in the moral, the political, and the scien tiic walks of iwnety. The discussion' of liuMg Charafters is a diffiru:t ate mit, but, in the execution of it, the Authors of this Work have acquitted themselves with as much SUCCCS4 as can reasonably be expeCted." Monthly Review. " this Work excites much eitrinsitv, because it ptofessini! y treats of living Characters, and we infer that its information is anti correct. It is but justice to own that we have been altogether amused by the publication." British Critic. "A siirit of candour and moderation evidently pervades the trurent publication. Some of the char.ictivs are drawn with givat diserimmation, and diselay an acutenessof powers, and a tlicity of esmiession, not to be found in the fl.eting protiuc ,f ike day. lo short, tLc Wink abounds di moral and critical oboervations that evince correctnras of jutinciit, and delicacy of taste." Loaiinti jew. " Tbi6 work diaiovers respectable teeits of di-crimin.ition, awl 134111 c merit of b.sing nocontanirtiated by the virulem. e of -- -- patty spirit. ,„ Critical it, rifle. " The item:dot contained in these velrimes are full and ac curate in point of information; jurricioui in their literary and eritiezl strictures; and exhibit well drawn and appropriate clia- Carters of their r o?ective subjects. They are not written un do the uniOrin influence of any partFcular theological or 1.04- (1611 bias." Ma/ "home! iteg,trtr.. VOL. I. for 1795-17'. 5 9. The I:arta Moira Mr. DUrti3ll Sir John Sinclair , Lord Kilwarlen Nit-. Roscoe Mr. Curran The Earl of Liverpool Lord Monbooldn Mr. Abraham Newbuid Mr. Diiiie.s Barrington. Mr. Fox Dr. O'Leary Mr. Pitt Lord Yelvorton Dr. Darwin Mr. Isaac Corry Lord'Hoort Mr. John Bertl-ford • Sir 6 L. Staunton Mr. John Forster Mr. Thomas Taylor Dr. .Burney , tir.neral MalvillC Dr. Herechel lee *Ulu+ of Loudon Pfr. Justice Grase Dean Tucker Mr. Ken' blc Lord Duncan Miss litward The Bishop of Rochester The late Lord' Chancellor of Mr. Justice Bigler • Ireland Pt. Wolcor - Mr. Cumberland The Abp. of Canterbury Sir Archibald 'Macdonald Mr. Arthur Murphy Mrs. Siddoni The Earl of Dartmouth The Bishop of Sali.bury e Bishop of Durhaso li Lord Edon r. Lug (the Cans 4n•) Tne Du/se of Norfolk he Bisli.)? of Wi:iclithazr Dr. Towers 'lr. Jackson, of Exeter' ' Lord Thudow I« rd Nfaline.bo:l The Marquis Cornwallis Dr. 3ralepl. 19 4 .iiie Dr. Friedley The Itisl.ap of Worcester Mita More The Earl of Buchan Mr. Alderman Boyden le.r. ?tor ticote Mr. George Dyer The Bishop ef Lland..ff Mr. Disraeli • Mr. Pr•iiry Eukine Mr. David Williams Lord Charemoris Mr. Gilbert. Wakeleld Mr. Grattan Mr. Opie Sir W. Sydney Smith Lord Rokeby Dr. Thomas Ht.weis Loid Nelson Vol. H. for 17 4 . 1 9-15.,3. tie Twirl of Ss. Vincent Major Caitwright W. Sheridan The Duke of Leinster The Rev. Dr Parr Mrs. Inebbald DHen. T. Erskine Esrl Fitswilfiarn . Chute:, Huffed Mr. I'Villtiarn Godwin Lord lisencesbirry The Rrrv. Mr. Grease* peso Milner ._ Mr. Shield The Bishop of Meath Sir George Yonge The Rev. William Fairish Dr. Garnett air Franca , ' Burgeon Lord Dillon The Dlike of Richmond Lord Castlered M s. Abington Dr. Adam Vergr.ssen Mr. Saurin ittr. IV Illism Hay ley Dr Samuel Arnold The Cdunress of Derby Lord Bridpott Mr. Pratf The :idarquil of Lans.lewn Dr. I larrington :lir John Parnell The Duchess of Gordon "Pr. Southey Dr. Currie Dr. Duigenan Miss Linwoel Mr. George Ponsomby Mr. William Cowper Mr. Granville Shrip _ Lod Kenyon Mr. Pelham Mr. Hastings The Duke of Grafton . The Duke of Bedford Mr. Secretary Cooke . VOL. 111. for 1800-1801 • Mr Matthew Roulton Dr. Hugh Blair Professor Puts= Mr. Barry M. Pinkerton Mr. Jelin Ireland Mr. Wilberforce Sir William Beechey Mrs. Cha.lotte Smith The Duke of Portland Sir Rslidi Abercro nby Mr. Joseph Batiks Lore Mitchum r 4 Sir P.•ter Parker Earl : tinhops: Mr. Edmond Cartwright • Mr. Gorge C.olman Lord Grenville . . Dr. James Greror7 . Dr. W.lliam Hawes The Duke of Bridgwater Mr. Edmund Rai.dolph Dr. William Mayor Mr. Paul Saucily) , Mr. R ybert Ker Porter Mr. John Clerk Mt J ihn Tlielwall Mrs. RobillSoll Mr. strifferaon Dr. Lettsom Mr. Bushrod Washington Mr. Alderman Skinner Dr. John Giles Dr. James Anderson Lord Hobart The Prince De Bouillon Mr. Bidlake The Duke of Mariborimgh EA of Rimshrn The Lord Justice Clerk of !...11 . Degaid 5t...:,:% art Scotland. - . VOL. IV. for 1801 18• 2. Mr. Aldiugton Rev. T. Maurice Sir Richasi Hueaes ' General Strutt Li ,1 Spenci-r i Mr. Dauson (Sedburgb) bard Alvantsy Dr. Kennel Mr. J. H. Taoke Mr. Caleb Whitetoord General Bowles Dr. Mitchell !Wargo's.; Tuwrislicnd Colonel Tatham Governor Frankiih Bishop of Lincoln Earl of Fife Mrs. Cowley Dr. Moore Dr. Brehm Go'ciiiel Despard General Mitchinson Lurd Shericid James Martin, M. P. Mr. Wlll4liliorl .D 6. Rees Costa Ruroftad _ Mr. Arthur Young _ _ vol. If. for 1 Ror- 'so 3. Lord Melds/tut • _ ; Rey. Richard Pulwbele fn. JellUet • Mr. Harris., riCtivent-garden 'l'l;e Golasruida Mc( lartstoplagr Aiirdie Dr. Vusutaat ' Mr William Gifford Lord Mai.artnery Profteasor Carlyle • L mi Harr.rlgt,ai • Mr. Henri Maek.uuie A releir2c.m Pal.-y Dr. Busby Maw l: ft toli.du Mrs. Millington • • y ir R wh-rd Ili}!, (wt. Mr. William Hutton R:tv. /fowl's() Hill Ur. William Thomiun Dr..follu Lialir (Bp. of Elphin) sir• William Clumtl/7 ri g . Goons Hill Sir Francis Burdett . Adm. Sir R. Carts, bars. Mr. James Wart pr Thornton Mr. JAI* P..iitier, late of die Stalor.“ anent! Ira Allen Post-office Mr. "I"..ldrim, of C t,uhr:dge. 4,Jrd Minth Irr. Trotter. Printed for It tea A Ars Pitt stir/ION:417 71, St. Paul's Church ; ,:d, and to be iisd oi ill ills deokso...lars. • "-rte ' r • • ZIT EllifTtr RE. . Ea protium cognorcere. Treatise on .elstronorny,—in which the Element: if the Science are deduced, in a Natural Order, from the apnem-an:es df the Heaven.: to an observer ea the Earta, &c. by OLINTHLS GRE'.ultY. In the order of the Sciences, immediately after those which respect the operations of rite btu- v in the intelle&ual and the moral world, must he ranked those which show to us the same ALMIGHTY AND ZENITICLN c BEIYG, acting in the material . universe, as its creator, its preserver and its go vernor. Of these sciences, which are classed toge ther under the denomination of Natural Philosophy, Asritorosty, from the superior magnificence of its objeds, and perhaps also from the greater dif ficulty of its attainment, may properly be consi dered as the chief. When we contemplate man on his planet—an atom on an atom in the immensity of the universe, and regard hint as he throwshis view through the ocean of air surrounding his earth, and makes the worlds, which float in the infinity of space, the subjects of his calculation and knowledge, we must be struck with the seeming disproportion of the means to the end, and be tempted to wonder not less at the capacious and pervading intellect which the ALMIGHTY has "folded up in man," than at the amazing magnificence of power and of wisdom with which the extended spectacle of na ture overwhelms us. It is probable that the phx nomena of the starry heavens have excited the at • tention of man from the earliest ages of his existence. We have reason to believe the astronomy was eul tivated with drat, at a period antecedent to the flood ; and we are certain that, soon after that ter rible consummation, the motions of the heavenly bodies were observed ; the year measured, the fixed stars arranged into constellations, the obliquity and the signs of the zodiack ascertoined, by intelligent and ievestigating curiosity, on the plains of Assysia, and on the banks of the Ganges and the Nile. The maxithte situation of Phoenicia, which incited her to commerce for subsistence and for wealth, impelled her to astronomy as to a necessary study ; and from this country, it is likely, that the science was more immediately carried into Greece. In this happy soil it flourished, and attained to very consi derable growele Pythagoras knew and taught the true planetary system, with a central Sun, and a revolving earth. Meton observed the Solstices : Eudoxus determined the precise length of the solar year ; Calippus foriiied a celestial sphere ; Eratos , thenes, of Cyrene, measured the circumference of the earth ; Archimedes ascertained the distantes of the planets, and was the first construaor of an orrery; and Hipparchns discovered the eccentricity of the orbits of the planet% and made a catalogue ofmore thane thousand fired stars, with their latitudes, longi tudes, and aparent magnitude. With Hipparchus, the astronomy of Greece may be considered as at a point of elevation, from which it subsequently declined.— ' Ptolemy, of Pelusium, invented a new system; and, for the purpose, as it would appear, of accommo dating the sense, offered the most egregious violitior. to the reason. His system, however, during the course of many centuries, entirely superseded that of Pythagoras, and men, indulging in the evidence of their sight, respeaing the motion of the sun and the stedfastness of the earth, were careless about the absurdities with the admission of which this grati fication was procured. In the beginning of the six teenth century, Copernicus ventured to question the truth of the Ptolemac system, and tore-estab lish that which had preceded it. After a long con- Rid with ignorance, prejudice, and bigotry, the fol lowers of this great man succeeded In the vindica tion of truth; and assisted by the invention of teles copes, an event which happened early in the 17th century. Kef.ler and Gallileo, Des Cartes and Cassini, Halley and Newton, left nothing to their successors to accomplish, but that which could be effeded only by more continued observation, and with more perfed instruments. The discoveries of Herschel, by the powers of those reflectors which he has himself construded, have greatly augmented the mass of our knowledge • and, by adding some thousands of stars to our catalogue, and a primary planet to our system, may be considered as forming a remarkable epoch in the history of astronomy.— Many able works have of late years disseminated this great accumulation of science ; and, making it the common property of the learned, have commu nicated its result, which was all thatthey could com municate to the multitude. The subjedof our present notice, which in its charader holds a middle place between the popularity of Mr. Ferguson and the severe science of Mr. Professor Vince, is addreesed to every reader, who is only commonly conversant with the mathematics, and who is not wholly unac quainted with the praCess of algebraical calculation. For an account of Mr. Gregory's plan, and the ar rangement of his matter, we shall transcribe a por tion of his preface, which contains a very just, though a very. short analysis of his work. " The work commences with a determination• of the figure and dimensions of the earth ; which is followed by an explanation of terms relating to some imaginary points, lines, and circles on the earth, and their corresponding ones in the heavens : the apparent diurnal motions of the heavenly bodies arc then briefly described, the diurnal and annual apparent motions of the sun are more particularly pointed out, and the method of ascertaining the si tuation of the ecliptic (or circle in which the sun's annual motion appears tQ be performed) is explained. This is followed by an eludication of the seasons, a determination of the length. of the year, and an ac count of the precession of the equinoxes : these are succeeded by a description of the methods by which the relative situations of the fixed stars have been ascertained, the nature and necessity'of the artifi cial distribution of them into constellations is shewn, and an enumeration of the constellations, and the most noted stars in each, is given. The Author then explains the nature of parallax, refradion, and the equation of time, since the correftioni depend ing upon them are of so much consequence ; and exemplifies the use of that part of astronomy which determines the apparent motion of the sun, and the relative situation of the fixed stars, by a colledion of problems, in which are given the methods of de termining the rising, culminating, setting, Etc. of Loth the sun and the stars : this part of the work includes as much of the science as could be known ereyious to the discovery of the planets, or the de termination of the orbit and motions of the moon. After this the astronomy of the planets is com menced : the most striking of their apparent mo- '~--_ ;. ~. - • ports, ire d'escribed, at the description is followed. ) by a ellneise sketch of the most celebrated systems , whichtave been invented' to account for the varioua phenomena l ; and t eas - dbo art assigned'for assuming • the system of Copernicus, as improved by Kepler and Newton. The theory of apparent motions is then laid down, and applied to the plierionterrat of the planetary motions : the law is shewn by which the planets are retained in their orbits, and its con formity with the law of gravity is rendered obvious. To this succeeds the determination of the orbits of the planets, and the various elements of their theory, from observation : in order to effete this in the most natural way, the situation and magnitude of the earth's orbit are firseestabkshed, a: a proper basis • for those &eometrieal operations which lead to the determination of the orbits of' the other planets. The apparent and real diameters, the times of rota tion of the.sun and planets, and the inclinations of their axes, arc then ascertained ; and the illustration of their phases, stations, and other appearances, is completed. These are followed by the astronomy of the moon and satellites, and the ring of saturn— by the cfoCirine of solar and lunar eclipses, and oc cultations of fixed stars by the moon—by an expla nation of the nature of the transits of mercury and venue over the sun's disk, and the method of deduc ing the sun's parallax from observations on these transits. After these are given three chapters, on the astronomy of comets, the aberration of light, and the dvtermination of terrestrial latitudes and longitudes. In the last chapter, the contemplation of the fitted stars is resumed ; an enquiry is made into their distances, magnitudes, nature, number, and motion ; 'and this naturally suggests some re fit:aims on the immensity of the universe, and some arguments to prove the existence and attri butes of the great First Cause :. with which the treatise concludes. Throughout the whole, it is supposed that the reader has obtained a previous knowledge of the principles of algebra, plane and spherical geometry and trigonometry, conic sections, mechanics, optics, and the projeflions of the sphere : the doctrine of fluxions is only made use of in one or two instances, and those respefting matters of mere curiosity.' IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. FRIDAY, FED. 18. Lord PELHAM rose to put off the consideration of his Majesty's Message relative to the arrangement of an establishment of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, from Wednesday next to some future day, which, he said, he would name on Monday. The reason that his Lordship assigned for this al tzration was, that Wednesday next W:l3 Ash-Wed nesday ; and it was not customary, he believed, for the House to sit on Ash-Wednesday. His Lordship moved, that the proper officer do lay before their Lordships an account of the issue of Exchequer Rills, from the sth of January 1793 to the sth of Jan. 1802, and also to the 6th of Jan. 1803. Ordered. Ilis Lordship gave notice, that he should move the second reading of the Bank RestriCtion Bill on Tuesday instead of Monday, in order to give time for the several papers moved for to be got ready. The LOAD CHANCELLOR read to the, House, from the report of the Committee presented by Lord Walsingham, the names of the Peers who were by 'Aces disqualified from sitting as Judges, uuder the East India Judicature Bill. Aojournecl till Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS► FRIDAY, PER. 18. The House met at half past three, 'for the pur pose of, balloting for a Committee, to enquire into the merits of a Petition, complaining of an undue Eleftion for Covenvy. It continued in debate upwards of three hours upon that subjeet, during all which time, strangers were excluded. The House then adjourned till Monday, without having chosen any Committee. THEATRE-ROTAL, DRURT-LANE. THIS EVENING will be preseuteda New Historical Play, in Three !sac, called THE HERO OF THE NORTH. With new Scener9, Dresses, and Decorations. The Music composed and seleCted by Mr. Kelly. To which will be added, the Farce of FORTUNE's FROLICS. _ The Public are respectfully informetl, that the Proprietors have engaged Mr. Coney, of the Philadelphia and New Awl: Theatre. THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. THIS EVENING will be performed the Cantle Opera of THE CABINET. To which will be added, MODERN ANTIQUES. On Monday next, the Character of Hamlet will be per formed by A Young Gentleman, his fifth appearance. A New Comedy is in rehearsal, called John Bull; or, An Englishman's Fire-Side. To CORRLSPONDENTS. •.* We have reran to believe, that the Letter upon the French Stae, in our Paper of yesterday, was much admired. We thcrefire insert, this day, another upon the same sub let, which vre have received from the same Valuable corre spondent. r`if The article signed S. Q. upon the Coal-Trade, is not fit for insertion. THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, SATURDAY, FEB. 19. The ftte of Colonel DLSPARD, and of his six condemned associates who were not recommended by the Jury to the Royal mercy, is at length fixed. They will suffer on Monday, pursuant to their sen tence. The three remaining traitors, LANDER, NEWMAN, and TYNDAL, who were recommended to mercy, are respited ; and, it is thought, their sen tence will be finally mitigated into transportation No orders, however, had been issued, at a late hour last night, to the Civil Officers, whose duty it . is to carry the law into execution ; nor had they any official assurance of the determination of Go vernment upon tte subjea. The wretched beings , tllcrnselves, who are ti,.suffer, were also last night ignorant of their fate. Mrs. DESPARD aitends her husband ; 'Vito, we are sorry to hear, still flatters himself with hopes of pardon ; and the friends and relatives of the other prisoners, we also believe, have , still free access to them. The' caution which we have observed in our communication . upon this subje6t, is an assurance that we Would . not commit ourselves by this positive assertion, except upon good authority.. We therefore spared no pains to ascertain, the fact, before we would venture to state any thing with precision. The hour and place of execution, and other particu— lars, have been also'communicated to us, but we are not at liberty to mention them. In exercising this forbearance, we feel very little difficulty ; for we do not think, that the enlightened reader wishes to know more than the broad filet, and that he can have no interest in the petty detail of wretchedness and horror. We yesterday received New York Papers of the 15th January. It would seem, flom one article which we have extracted from them; that SEBAS TIAN[ has paid a commercial visit to Louisiana.— The allies of l! ranee have shaken hands with the . Btys of the western world, and promised to restore thent to the sovereign dorainion of their native land. Extra is from the New Torh Advertiser, of tilt 15th of January :—" An Indian visited Fort Wilkinson, some time since, and gave an a:- count of a conVersaticin lately held between the Spa niards and the Indians, wherein the Indians were told that the French were about to land irr Louisi ana, and would take their red lrethren by the hand, and. assist them to drive the Americans horn the lands of which they have dispossessed them." • Yesterday a Court of Direetors was held at the East India House, which adjourned at six o'clock till Wednesday next. The ship Peter and Catherine, from Madras, left St. Helena the 19th December ; her passengers are, Major J. A. Castleman, of his Majesty's 51st reg. C. Samuel, Esq. of Supreme Court ; John Turing, Esq. civil service ; S. M.Morris, Esq. surgeon ; Capt. R. N. Wynne, of invalids • Capt. W. Wynne; Licuts. T. Chadwick, E. Smith, and J. 'Grant, of his Majesty's 25th dragoons; Mr. and Mrs. White and child ; Lieut. Davis, infantry ; Quarter-master Everett, 19th dragoons, and Master J. Penrose Da vies. Yesterday a payment of 30 per cent. was made at the Bank, towards the redemption of the Om nium now in the hands of the Direaors. The operation of this payment on the funds was very trifling ; there was some fluEluation in the course of the day, but upon the whole Stocks left off at nearly the same prices as the day before. The 'stun expetied to be paid in, amounts to about two million, and at present we have not heard of any defaulters. Letters and papers from Jamaica, of the 25th of December last, state, that the Government of that 'island has proposed some relief to commercial cre dit, by extending the time of payment for inland hills, should the debtor find it requisite to ask such an accommodation. The value of Jamaica pro perty has fallen, in many cases, nine-tenths since the conclusion of peace ; and the goals are full of debtors of all descriptions. A Letter from Demarara, of the 2d December states, that on the 25th ult. his Excellency Gover nor 14EER.TEN and suite, with 1400 troops, arrived there from Holland, and landed the day before ; the 11th British West India regiment, commanded by Colonel HYstor, and the Orange troops, having previously embarked. This morning, a salute of 21 guns was fired, and the flags changed. Every thing was conducted with great order and regulari ty. Upon the parade, on that day, six or seven soldiers dropped down, and were carried off the ground ; and the writer was of opinion. that in less than six months, more than half of them would be dead. As a proof how much the 'English have en riched the island, since it has been in their possession, the writer assures, from coned statements, that the exports from 1796 to 1802 have been, 15,600,000 dollars ; number of vessels loaded, 1100 ; number of slaves imported, 30,153, being nearly a tripple ratio of what it was before. On Wednesday the Pickle schooner, Lieutenant LAPENOTLERE, arrived at Plymouth, from Malta and Gibraltar, with dispatches, which are supposed to be of importance, and which were brought imme diately to the Admiralty by Lieut. Jump, late of La Vosturer brig, who came home in the Pickle, with his officers acid crew, his ship having been sold as unfit for service. The Pickle left Malta on the 20th Of December, and Gibraltar on the Ist inst. At the time of her leaving Malta, the British troops had received no orders for the evacuation' of that place. • At a meeting of the Royal Society, on the 10th inst. several papers were read, among which were two dissertations on the Transit of Mercury over the Sun's disk, by Mr. HERSCHELL, and Professor BUGE, of Copenhagen; and a paper by the former gentleman, proving that the telescope is not at - - fated by a humid atmosphere, and therefore that astronomical observations may he made during a fog. Wednesday the Nottingham Fencibles arrived at Birmingham from Bionisgrove, on their way to their own county, in order to be disembodied. The warfare of St. Domingo is condated on both sides with a fierceness which is almost without ex ample. It is now evident that no reconciliation can take place between the French and the Negroes as a body. Nothing but the extermination of the latter can -now give the French secure possession of an island, once the most flourishing colony in the world. The merchants of France conceive it to be essential to the restoration of• commerce, that St. Domingo should be rzconquered, and the Govern ment see no prospect of creating a navy, but through a trade which experience has shown to be a productive nursery of seamen. This is tl.e chief reason for believing that the French Government, whatever may be the ultimate views, are seriously employed about their own interests in the West Indies.