The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-05-09 00:00:00

J ;1;/1 cur. ", • • . 1 N.. •• .. .. .. 1 . ..,i t ! : , , 1 1)11 , i t' A •• 1 ' ! 1 „ ~ / t ' • iI 10 *, 1 • ' • I r s• '. 1.. • 1 ! ' t 1 fl 1 I II A I 1 1 0 i li e . , t ' 1 1 , i i 1 . , • . il l , r J 4. ‘ • R r , r I iii , i l 1 I' i , ) • ,4 1 ~. I . 11l lAli 4ii- . 'lle town of Veare, situated in the Isle of Wal cheren, has likcwis..! a French garrison at Middle bourg. The garrison is composed of French troops, and one battalion of Dutch infantry. The English constantly mute sometimes at the mouth of the Scheldt, in sight of the coasts of the Isle of Zealand, and sometimes on these, the ciriavant Flanders. IdAblinq MARCH 78. We have received intelligence from Mexico, d.ited on the .2 ; )th of Ofloisei kg,. in ;ehich.it is an nounced, that according to an account from the Phillippine islands, an Illegitimate King of Tun kin, alio had taken up arms agaiiva the lawful , sovereign of that kingdom, who is also _King of Cochin CLina, nas been co::!plezely beaten by sea ; , 2:1 his ships were taken or destroyed : he has also experienced a treat low by sea. This defeat is very favourable to the Missionaries, as the usurper was - a declored enemy to Christianity. and had sworn to annihilate it in that country. In the y,:ar 1800, twenty-four Dn:ninican Mis sionaries 1' ..ptized, in the province of Sarno ltosario ire lobtilrypiaes, 9f:55 children, ancl . snB men and women. They Plso administered the communion t, 63,302 individuals. STILAS6OI:I4O, ATIIL 10. The two French state prisoners arrested at -Vienna am arived here, and have been given up by the Frentrh Authorities to the .instrian Captain who was sent to cscert them. It is reported here that they had der:imped some years ago from Egypt, ss ith a Fart of the nnlitary chest belonging to the French artny. A Intitual of Rotten states, some persons speak of a Treaty of Commerce between France and En d ; Azad, but therm Afoubt tOrget, that at the time of the famous ;may si z ned b 1 the Min;ster , Vergen. res, the Forts Ana . R.ouen saw noining but English colours dying. From the Ist of January to the 30th of Altril, - 17 , there entered these two ports 159 ships. Of that number how many were • French ? Seven. How many Dutch ? Four. How many English ? A hundred and forty-cight!! That simple comparison in the commercial balance must dispel every idea of a Treaty of Commerce with the Cabinet of London. A letter from Lisbon, April 7th says, that the Dutch .cittadron, commanded by Admiral de Wix . ter, and composed hf three ships of the line and some frigates, has received, by a frigate from Holland, a sudden order to set sail and return home. Some letters from Rome speak of dispositions be ing making by the, English for the evacuation of Malta. PARIS, M AY 4. The war faftion has succeeded in persuading the British Cabinet, that the treaty of Amiens . is pre. judicial to the interests of England, in'as ninch as it has withdrawn from that Power a part of its coniitiests. Might it not be said, that England squared her conduCt on this principle—what is bond to be taken is good to be kept. had France adopted a similar political principle, would not the law had the same right to pretend, that Italy, Holland, Poroigal, and a part of Germany, were conciue-ts, which it might be very convenient to keep? •lt would be making war, not merely as corsairs, but as pirates, to pralice the reasoning upon which a rolair4l 11011IIIe to peace, &c. to Mil ties, would have the British Government act upon. 'Elia.: a Powtr who has been f recd to sustain a long -end ruinous war, should demand and obtain in demnities proportionate to its losses and sacrifices, had nothing in it inconsistent with rea,on and jus tice :o—on the contrary. But that a Nation who daily rejoices, in full Parliament, through the organ of her ministers, in the prosperity of her affairs, in the o:tension of her possessions, in the increase of her wealth and resources, in the augmentation of her forcs, and the line of the power of her rivals, should consider as fair prizes every hind of property which she may have siezed upon through the circumstances of war, would be holdin a theory, the praetice of which would be truly alarming to the oecurity of the human race.--Clef du Callao. An Austrian Ambassador is speedily expetled at Fribourg. One of , the - brothers of the First Consul is also espeCled. Letters from Lyons state, that the appearances of the troops is in general highly favourable, and that the lines, which are the great objetl of attention in the Department of the Rhone, have the most beau tiful appearances. Letters from Viennh Mention, that a determina tion has been made •to grant to the Regency of /slarco the same prescats which it received from the Republic of Vienna. LIARON, MARCIP 29. The departure of General Lannes was accom panied with too many marks of discontent not to create an eagerness on his return to give him satis faftion for the grounds of offence which had been made known. The following arc the changes which are to take place in the •Nlini.trv, con • sequence of that event :* the Duke d'Alnicida, who had the direelion of the war department, and . the •ckpartment for foreign affairs, will exchange his place for the appointment of the Marine and the Indies, and will be replaced by Viscount d'Atutdia.— By this it will be seen that his disgrace will not be complete. The whole 'weisht of disgrace will fall on M. Maniquy, intendant of the customs, who, in con s4stinence of his want of civility to the French Am bassador, will lose his place, to occupy one far less important. This measure of our Government sufli cientry proves That it is 'anxiously desirous of pre serving the friendship and good will of the French Government. BANKS OF TfiE APRIL 28. The Ministers of the lqc,diating Powers at Ra tisbon arc at this moment occppied in . drawing up :1 note, which is to be addressed to the Deputation et the Empire and the Diet, supporting the prkensions of the different States, respeaing the unjustifiable encroachment of the Court of Vienna in Suabili, and commanding on this point the full and entire 'execution of the general ma. This notc.will be published in a few days. VIENNA, APRII-17. On the . 10th irytant, at the requisition of an AmbassuJor 1.0 out Court, a foreigner lately arrived was taken into custody. lie had taken the name of a 7rench.officer of distinalou,, apd. celebrated for eei . r.eral . livlornatie missions. Military honours bad sbsen pad to him in .seXeral towns. 43( is saii,,tha4 reinforcements of troops are to sea into• mil. ibtended journey .of his Irii ri4lNl4)vsty to that.country, is wholly given up. His limy Will, however, go to Prague, 'after the c tion of the marriage of the Grand Duke to the Princess.of.i4sony, waif= thence; •.~.. . • • perhaps to the frontiers of Russia. bne of the r. chief r hjeas of the Archduke Palatine's journey to Petit; burg, is supposed to be a definitive arrange- :flea, for an interview between the Emperors Francis and Alexander. This interview is to take place on the kinks of the Dniester, and most pro bably at liaminieck Podolski. ST IIIA4BURGH, Arm 30. Yesterday there arrived here two French pri sOPerttof *NMI the Imperial Court caused to be arrested in the hereditary states 'of the Austrian monarchy, at the particular request of the French Ambassador Charnpagny. These two prisoners were brought here, and lodged in the hands of the officers of police, who will have them conveyed to Paris by the Gendarmerie. The Austrian detach ment which escorted them to our town returns to Vienna. We are assured• that these prisoners are suspeaed of having deserted from the army of Egypt with a considerable quantity of money, during the period that Bonaparte was at the head of the french army in that country. DUTCH AND HAMBURGH MAILS. ttAnue, APRIL 20. Troops still continue to pour into the Jsle of Catband. Never during the late war were prepa rations of defence carried on with such activity in the Isle of Walcheren, or the opposite island. A great • quantity of heavy artillery has been taken from the arsenal cf Hu: sling, to be placed on the batteries estaldish:od 0., tile coasts and the heights in the inte rior of the country. The number of English cruizers in our roads is is about thirty; they generally cruize betwixt Dun kirk and the Mou:h r , f the Meuse. Our funds yesterday experienced a rise of two per cent. 11111.7.:SELS, APRIL 4 21. The preparations for establishing a line of tele graphs are completed. It is to extend through ci-devant Flanders, and will extend to the frontiers of the Batavian Republic. No new French troops are to enter Holland unless war is declared. ROTTL:RDA . M, MAY 3. On our Change to-day, the apprehension of ap proaching hostilities rose superior to the flattering hopes of a continuance of peace, occasioned by the fall which the French funds have undergone of nearly two per cent. Colonial Products continue No alteration for the better has taken place in ou r Funds : the Batavian Hescriptions left off at 62,; a 01. itallovEtt, APRIIL 2 ) 2. His Royal Highness Prince Williani of Glouces ter i. 41 expected•here to-day from Brunswick. After staying here about a week, we hear he will depart for Berlin. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, who on the 19th departed for Brunswick, returned from thence yesterday. From Berlin we hear, that a Courier has arrived there with dispatches from Paris, and which dis patches are of a very pacific tendency. It is said that the Fren.:h Government is singularly satisfied with the measures which his Prussian Majesty has adopted under the present circumstances. 0140 A, APRIL 2. ' They write from Leghorn, that in the beginning of the list week, an English curvet arrived there from England. As soon - as the dispataes which it brought were known, all the English merchants hastened to carry their property on board the .hips lying i:: the road. Two days afterwards, however, these vessols entered the port. THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 9. Yesterday we received Paris papers of the sth instant. I'he Pubkiste, a demi-official paper says, " Lord I'VurrwOßTl: had announced his departure, as fixed for this day, Wednesday he 4th, at five in the morning. This Ambassador has altered his re solnticn, and it is not said, whether this delay is to have a short duration. Whatever may be the cause of this new incident, it is impossible not to conceive from it, some hope for the continuance of peace." In our Paper of Saturday last, we stated, that notwithstanding it was generally be licred and positively asserted by one of them, that Lord WitiTwo aril had left Paris on Wednesday, the FRI.NCH AM B.AssAnoft here did not despair cf the continuance of pt- tee. As we then stated, the FRENCH AMRASSA DO ri did expei!l a Mes senger from Paris on Friday night, whose instructions he was aware, would ultimately determine his con duct, and if General I..wilt:rotes name was introduced in announcing that exi , ectation, it was probably with a view to excite a pre-dispo sition in the Messenger's favour ; General LAUR I SION having been the person selected try the French Government, to signify the present treaty of peace between the two countries. This cert tinly was suf ficient to shew that hostilities were not irrevo cably decided upon, and that an opening r,:maimed for the possible continuance of pc:, We accordingly stated it as such, in that I,cnitLi extent, beyond which we did not think we' Wild be justified to Batter the public feeling. A • 9n of the 'same - - however, appears to . report, reached a paper affeetedly ministerial, w,,i,h thou;, • fit on, Saturday to swell the simple ci c.irns,ance i an expatcd countermand from tne Fieuch Govern. an absolute accommodation, and ndjuakment of the points in dispute between the two countries. must sty that this spetulatiott of the print'sMed to, is, to say the best of it, injudicious. We are sorry to say that it is without any substantial ground. Lord Whir wort n had instructions to leave PAris on Wednesday last, in case the propositions of his ment, and the arrival of a French Messenger, into Court should not have been previously acceded. t 0... These instructions were so positive and explicit Minis ters did not conceive that they had left him any foundation for the exercise of a diScretion upon the subjeCt. Having received, therefote, no itunlli geuce from his Lordship, as of Tuesday last, they naturally considered General ANDREosses demand for passports on Friday as conclusive evidence that such answer had not been obtained, and that the negotiation was broken off. Upon this ground, and • we believe the country will consider it a very rea sonable one, the Minister made his partial commu nication to Parliament on Friday. Nothing can be more degrading to this nation, or take more from its dignity, than the state of uncertainty that has prevailed siiicc the commencement of the present discussions ; to be lulled into the hopes of peace one day, and frightened with threats of war the next ; to be kert upon the rack of suspense, as if our fate were in the hands of the FIRST Cossur, and we were entirely at his disposal, is a state of things new to England, and unworthy of its bold and decisive character.— Ministers arc perfeetly sensible of this, and felt when they sent their final instructions to Lord Wiiir- WORTIi, that longer delay would compromise the national interest, honour, and dignity. They are consequently, as we believe, very much dissatisfied with the condua of Lord WHITWORTH, who, by his disobedience of his positive instructions, has taken the entire responsibility of this most momentous question upon himself. It is well known that after the disappointment which had already taken place, the CHANCELLOR of the Excimourit was resolved not to risk another ; and that at the time he promised a communication to Parliament on this day, he had sent such instructions to Lord woirrn as left no middle course, and that his Lordship in no event could have remained in Paris, after Tuesday, unless the ultimattyn of his Govern ment was acceded to.-1-lis Lordship has, however, chosen a line of conduct for himself, and success alone can justify him in what he his done.—The circumstances of the case, we understand are these : On Tuesday his Lordship not having received a sa tisfaCtory answer to the final proposition of his Go vernment, demanded a passport for his•return. The passport was accordingly given to him, but it was accompanied at the same time with a proposition on the part of the French Government, which his Lordship transmitted to his Court, considering it a justifiable cause for deferring his departure. His Lordship is considered a man of a solid and sound judgment, improved by much diplomatic experi- ence. Indeed, it is scarcely necessary to observe, that Govermnent would nothave selected any other than a man test-rate diplomatictalentstofill the situation of Ambassador to the Republic of France. Many therefore, relying upon the character of the man, have Frew:Tied, that the proposition of the FIRST CONSUL must hare been satisfadory, and that his Lordship would not have been tempted by a tem porizing or evasive answer, to disobey the orders re quiring an immediate return. In this hope we fear they are deceived, and that his Lordship has sacri ficed some of his usual judgment to his love of peace, and that disinclination which he knows both nations have to a renewal of hostilities. Those who cherish the . former opinion assert, that hi s M AJESTY came to town on Saturday merely for business, such as signing commissions, &c. which might be considered as merely routine, in an unsettled state of affairs.— We have reason, however, to believe, and we do not speak lightly, nor upon vague authority, that the reverse is the fad.—Mr. Sit... Le, the Mes senger, arrived on Friday night from Paris with dispatches from Lord Warr woirn, announcing the cause of his Lordships' delay in that city, con trary to his instrudions. The contents were con sidered of so much importance, that three Messen gers, viz. Messrs. DntssiNo, osr, A r, and L r ut. were sent to his Mai i:sry atWindsor, to request his attendance in town. The Messengers arrived at Windsor at six o'clock on Saturday morning, and between ten and eleven, his MAJESTY set out, and arrived at the Queen's-house a little after one. A Cabinet Council was then held, attended by Lord FIAwKESDCRY, which lasted until four o'clock, after which his MAJESTY returned to Windsor. Of what passed at that Council, we can only judge from what has followed, and subsequent proceed ings, to shew that the answer of the French Goren meat, which Lord WHITWORTH considered a justifiable cause for defeiring his departure, has not been considered satisfactory by his Com t. After the Council broke up orders were sent off to all the principal ports to expedite the equipment of our tleets, and a most severe press took place immediate- Protedions have been disregarded for the first tin ', and that tenderness for the mercantile in terest, which the Minister assigned as the sole causa. • why the ships in commission were not complewly manned, has been totally laid aside.—lndependents however, of this new appearance of determined hos tility in the meastrres of Government, we have reason to believe that our Government have posi. tively rejefend the qualified uhimatuni upon which Lord WHITWORTH thought fit to delay his depar ture, afialrat'ati express has been sent off signifying the same, and enjoining his immediate returri. Unless therefore the Fits? CONSUL shall agree, without modification cr alteration, to the ultimatum of our Government. Lord NV HtTwoura must leave Par is the moment he shall receive she answer to his L•ir dispatches. That event may take place on Tuesda , and his Loidship may therefore be expeded at the end of this week ; and ) as in the mean time the ne. gotiation may be considered as going on, there is still some chance of a possible accommodation. Those who• consider peace as the common interest of both countries, and that the FIRST CONSUL, who has hitherto aded upon a bullying principle, may ) like all other bullies, retract when stoutly resisted, are of opinion that he will yet yield something.-- Bnt, whatever may be the result, Lora WHIT WORTH is placed in a *very critical situation, and Ministers arc very much dissatisfied with his condua, conceiving, that in the discussions which had already taken place they had gone their full length, and left no further pretence for that system of procrastination, evasion, and un certainty, which constitute the most destruc• tive warfare that France could wage against this country. Under these circumstances it is almost superfluous to add, that the Minister cannot make his promised communication thin day to Parlia ment, unless, indeed, he shall think fit to con demn the condua of Lord Warr WORTH, and re jea that chance of an amicable adjustment which his Lordship has given under a most awful re sponsibility. Whatever may be the result, or what ever the view of the subject, we have reason to be lieve that a most interesting debate upon the state of the negotiation, will take place this evening in the House cf Commons. Mr. SILVESTER left Paris at twelve o'clock on Friday—reached. Dover at six, and set off for Lon don immediately, where he arrived about three o'cliack on Saturday morning. A gentleman who arrived on Saturday front Paris, says, On Wednesday night he was _passed at Montreuil by the Courier of the French Govern ment, with dispatches fur General A NDREOSSI in London. Lord WHITWORTH was still in Paris, as he supposed. On the road to Calais three other Messengers passed for the English Government and General ANDREOSSI. At Calais, on Friday morn ing, arrived Mr. Sttvarrta, the English Messen ger, who reported that Lord WHIT woRTH was still remaining in Paris ; and from his general observa tions, it was presumed that the politics of St. Cloud had assumed a more complaisant tone : with this idea the inhabitants of Calais seemed elated, from lie opinion that they would still be permitted to enjoy the blessings of Peace." According to private accounts from Paris, the politics of that city during the last fourteen days have had a warlike-tendency, occasioned by the Par liamentary and other official statements from Eng land, which were strengthened and accredited prin cipally by the arrangements of Lord WHITWORTH ; it is well known that his Excellency had made every preparation for a sudden departure his baggage had been made up, and sealed by the Custom-house officers ler several days 'Afore Sett:Hay se'nnight ; he had even declined any personal interview with the CHIEF CONSUL for several days, requiring pro posals, in writing only, for any additional overtures respecting the pending negotiation. His Excellency even absented himself from the Levee on Sunday se.'nnight, which is generally attended by all the re presentatives of foreign governments on the grand parade day. On Sunday se't.night the grand parade was held, and the public anxiously looked for the presence of Lord WHITWORTH, as the symptom of Foliecal confidence and amity ; from that day, the alarm became general, and nctiting but rumours of war prevailed. Tuesday night, at twelve o'clock, was reported to be the hour of decision, and I nd Won woRTIL'S departure was expeaed to have lea taken place.—The English in Paris hastened their d Letters received by the German mail of Satur day state, that the differences between the Courts of Petersburgh and Russia, have been amicably settled. The young King, it is said, purposes to meet the E nperor at Riga during his attended tour of that p trt of his Empire. General ANDREOSSI yesterday called upon Sir . Jost:en BANKS, and' several of his private friends, to take leave of them. He expressed himself in terms of great regret at the approaching rupture between the two countries. The Board of Admiralty was sitting nearly the whole of Friday night, and a considerable number of ships were ordered into commission. A great nurn bee of new appointments also took place. Admiral Co IL NIVALL is, who is appointed to com mand the Channel Fleet, is expe&ed to hoist his Hag on board the Ville de Paris to-morrow, at Ply mouth. Lord NELSON goes to the Mediterranean in the event of a war. His Lordship has made many pre paratory arrangements, and the itty.bion li igate is held in readiness to convey him out. The Courageux, of 74 guns, is under 'orders, at Plymouth, to proceed to the Mediterranean. The Stork, sloop of war, from Honduras, and the Gipsey, schooner, from a cruize, on the 7th March, arrived at Jamaica. The French schooner, Superior, sailed at the same time, charged with dispatches from the French Commander at the Cape, to the Havannah. The Elephant, Vanguard, Belleroplon, of 74 guns, and Dvirie, of 40,, continued in Port Royal on the 7th. The Gaiath, Ctantirriand,Theseut, of the line, were on . a eruize ; is were the Tartar, Shari, and Echo, the latter off the noith-side of Ja maica, an tithe Ca/ . )pro off Cape Tiherbort. • , THEyfrRE-ROTAL, DRURT-LANE. TO-MORROW EVENING will be performed a New Comedy THE MARRIAGE PROMISE. The Ch.aniers Ly Mr. C. Kemble, Mr. Dvr er, Mr. Dnw ton, Mr llollmpworth, Mr. Banicy, Mr P.tlnwr, Pope, Mr. Poo,' Mr. Purser, M. trans. Mrs 1.,,54,! MsMel:on, Mrs. M.Aeblochs, Mrs. Spark., Mrs. Jorda.). To which will be added, LOPOISKA. •