The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1807-12-18 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT: HOUSE OF LORDS, Dec 17. Before 3 o'clock, this day. the House met for the purpose of proroguing the Parliament. Mr. Quarme. the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, having been previously ordered to command the attendance of the House of Commons to hear the Royal Commission read, the Chief Clerks and other Officers of the House of Commons, headed by Mr. Dyson, as representing the House of Commons, accompanied by Mr. Strachey, Mr. \Vhittam, Mr Bellamy. senior and junior. Mr. Mitchell, and several other Officers and Clerks of the House. ass eordingly attended at the Bar, when the Royal Commission, proroguing Parliament, was read by Mr. Edward Walrasley. After the Commissioo ; was read, the LORD CHANCELLOR addressed both Houses as follows : Sly Lids and Gentlemen, virtu, of His Majesty's Conmitslon, en as and either Lords directed, which you have now heard read, we are eirthnused further to prorogue this present Parliament until T (med.!, the 14101 Sanitary next, then and there to meet for dit,..rteti of hominess ; and it stands hereby further prorosuird VOW the said Thursday, the elst of January next. The Commons then withdrew, and. after the usual salutations, their Lordships retired to unrobe. The Lords Commissioners were. the Lord Chan cellor, Lord Arden, and Lord Mulgrave. The Archbishop of Croterbury came down, arci attended in his robes, as is Commissioner, but did sot sit. his presence not having been necessary. three Peers being sufficient. Earl Camden had also attended. and the Duke of Portland, pursuant to a request for that purpose. When a sufficient • umber of Peers appeared on the Commission, a Message was immediately sent to inform his Grace that his presence was unnecessary; but he had ►eft home be fore its arrival, and he attended in his robes, to ant if called upon. AMERICA. staw-with, elev. 9. Captain Cropsey, of the schooner MeerAerter, arrived from St. Croix, Basic-End, informs, that the British bad cot out all the Danish shipping at West-End, St. Croix and likewise several Ameri cans that had Daisial property on board, and were beating up with them to Tortola; that they were under apprehensions of a visit from thenn at Besse . Eod—in conyquence at which, all American vessels that had taken in cargoes, were discharging them. Congress are new met on the extraordinary call of the Executive. The• interesting events which have recently occurred, have excited the pub lic expellation to an unusual pitch ; and there is every reason to think that this expetetion will be fully satisfied during the session. For a crisis in the affairs of our country has undoubtedly arrived which cells for decisive measures. Should the wan ton aggressions committed on our rights, and the ;emits offered to our national chaltufter, be unre dressed, the American spirit cannot, will nut, rest swished. What course shall be pursued will test with the wisdom of the representative body. To them exclusively the Constitution assigns the high power of declaring war, of . granting letters of marque and reprnat, of raising and supporting armies, and of prov:ding and maintaining a navy. To the same body is likewise assigned the power of regulating commerce with foreign natio),s, and of laying and colleting duties. imposts and excises. Whether the former or the latter of these means of coercing our enemy will, in such an event, be pursued; whether the violated honour of the na tion shall require a dared resort to war, or sltall seek a surer reparation through the medium of eommel cial regulation sr restriltion, or a total sen-intercourse, it will rest with the immediate Re relenUatives of the people, and of the State Go- Winlffients, to pronounce. It is fortunate. at a crisis so solemn, when the measures taken may have ulti mo,e divas of the greatest consequence, that the voice of the people *ill be clearly expressed by Representatives, recently chosen, and who may be therefore presumed unequivocally to speak their sentiments. These sentiments hare been already at sae point audibly expressed by the people. An unanimity. almost without parallel, has manifested their indignation, and their determination to have reparation. They have not, however, but in a very few cases, ti)likrtaken even to recommend that cootie of nii.isures, which it will be the policy of this country to adopt, provided the temper of Britain shall be hostile. This has been most properly lilt to the government. and es pecially the kgislaiive department, which will not only possess the meant of forming a correct judg ment, but likewise, from its organisation, be more competent, dispassionately to weigh the interest) of the country, and deliberately to 'deft those insuu meats, either of offence or detente, which events and a sound policy shall requite. Nothing cal be move Awned or ill-founded than the charges made on the other side of the ocean against the condo° of the American people on this occasion. Out rageous as were the insults we received, and ere wrongs Whiffed upoe us, the sensation they pro duced, though deep. was calm and solemn. Not an instance of turbulence or riot marked the eller veuente of the public mind through the wide ex tent of the union. Its feelings were. it is true. plainly and forcibly expressed, but altogether un mizei with any dietation to the government. v.:.ich was. and still is, left free to adopt such measures as if a; all diem best. A different course might have been pursued, without the least encroaatimesst of public opinion on the legitimate powers of the Ito vernmeot For is is the prerogative of every Arne sican eitie.n, unreservedly to'espressl.is opinion of pirolic men and public measures ; not only to ap prove or condemn what is done, but to recommend. as forcibly as reason and let can urge them, such measures as he thinks best for his country ; and it is the duty of the government, whenever such ex pression clearly announces the national will, to obey it. But although this is the prerogative of every American, although it is the indefeasible right of ■ republican, yet, in this instance, such has been the singular, and, we will say, the illustrious display of circumspeftiomand of confidence in the wisdom and virtueot theconstituted authorities,that there lass been an almost universal forbearance to suggest any defi nite measures of redress. No doubt was entertained, nor is any doubt now entrtaioted by the people, of dmio.a mmis ug a gias le adopt what shall be best; and it may not be going too far to say, that there are few men in the Union that woad not, were the alternative offered to them, ra ther that the government should decide than them • selvei."—(Nat. ha.) Toll 4 Eteellency Btigadier•Greteut James Wilkinson. sta....When once Wig chain of infamy grapples te a knave' every, new link creates a fruit sensation of detestation and hear. As it enjoiny or precipitately unfolds itself, we be ' held in each succeeding CallneYill l l, 1111 . 1 arising (slit the same virrupt and contaminated Mire!, the sante base and de generate conduct. 1 coul•1 net have *unissued that you would have completed the catalogue your rime•, by adding to the guilt of trealhere, forgerti, and peri.ni, the accomplishment of cowardice. But every succeeding day presents yen in a new light to the public, awl plunges you still deeper in crime and . _ ignominy. Having failed In two different attempts to procure an inter view with you, such as no rntleman rf honour could refuse, I have only to pronounce and publish you to the world as a Coward and Poltroon. One word more before I take my leave.-a-Thia is a critical moment in the life of your Esteell.tney. Your reputation is gone for ever, and vow lite totters on the verge of dissolution. As you cannot pretend to the esteem of any man living, yen should have sought a momentary reputation in the applause of even your enemies. loss should hare twin brave, end died taw a roan. Your enensie. would then have forgotten the wrongs you had done them. Your country would have been appeased, and even Judas forgiven. You should have considered that there 14 same small merit even in a villain's bravery : it was all you were supposed to possess this side the grave. You should have made much of it—it might have weed to wipe away some portion of the stain which your treachery and turpitude have fitted upon your character. S. SWARTWOUT. Richmond, Oct. gl, 180 V. I certify, that, on the lath of October, 1807, between the hours of four and five, p. n. at the Washington Tavern, in the city of Richmond, 1 was on the point of walking out from my lodgings, when a knock waa heard at the door ; I asked the person to walk in, who proved to by Israel Smith, who was this day discharged from the Circuit Court of Virginia. He asked fur General Wilkinson, who was in the romn, and to whom I sheared him. He asked for a private interview. Tire General replied, that he had no secrets, and 'if he had any thing to communicate, he could do it where he was. Smith drew a letter from his pocket, and handed it to thu General, who asked from whom it cane! Smith again observed, that if the General would go in private, he would tell hum ; the General repeated, that he had ua secrets, and requested Smith to inform him from whom the linter mime Smith said, from Mr. Swartwout. The General handed hack the letter unopoot ed, arid requested Mr. Smyth to i n fo r m m r , Swanwout , that he held no correspondence with Traitors or Conspirators. At this Ult/Itlelit I step' out of the room, and heard no more. SILAS DINSMI)RE. We certify, that we were present at the interview between Mr. Smith and General Wilkinson, es crated above by Mr. Dinsmore, and pledge ourselves that his nhrrativo is lureslly craved en far as it goes. We further certify, that when Dins more left the room, Mr. Smith asked General %Vilkinson if he meant his observations to apply le T'ie Genera' ob. served that be (Smith) might do as he plemeda-and added. these are me quarters, and there is„tbe door ; please to walk out..—Mr. Smith retried. T. H. CUSHING, JOHN FOWLER. PNILADEL•IIII) NOV. 7. Several of the British prints, in announcing the arrival of the ifretttge. state the existence of a ru moar, that the American Government had required an answer to their representations within four Jays, and deduce from this circumstance their anti-pacific temper. it may be satisfadory to state, that this rumour is altogether unfounded. No such de mand has been made, nor has any definite time been prescribed for receiving an answer. It is true, that a prompt answer is expeilted, and there can be no doubt Fn: that. if the British klinistry wish to main tain peace between the two centuries. a prompt an swer will be girds.—(Bat. latelligencer.) Nev. S. Extra& of a letter from a Gentleman at Bout deaux, to his father in this city, dated Sept. 8, 1807: " The Emperor of France leaves no stone unturn ed to ruin Great Britain. There are at present no less than 100,000 men marching through this place, on their way to Portugal°. I think Spain is in cluded in their ohjee : and shall ha much surprised if the present King is not dethroned. It appears that Lucien is to be the Kih of Navarre, which will comprehend Biscay, Navarre, and Catalonia ; Portugal to be given to Spain in lieu. It will not end there." The following particulars of the attempt upon Judge Robins, of Maryland. are from Poulson 's Deity Aghtrtiser. of the 27th Oetober : On Sunday morning, the 18th instant, on hie re ' turn from Caroline County Cowl, Judge Rollins was shot through the body by some unknown as sassin, at about three miles from Denton, in company with Josiah Bayley, Esq. in separate carriages a gnu was discharged, containing IWO balls, one of which passed through near the shoulder blade and came out at the left breast; the other ball greeed his ear : from the dirglion, the person must have advanced into the road to ire. and retreated un der cover of a thick wood. With the assistance of Mr. Bayley, Judge Robins was able to reach the residence of a gentleman in the neighbour hood, with the los, of much blood, where. we understand, his wound was examined, and natter ing hopes are entertained of its not being mortal. Circumstantial evidence is strong against a certain —, who some time since made his escape from Worcester county, to avoid the penalty of the law, to the stale of Delaware, where it is understood he has changinti tante. He some time since wrote a very insulting letter to Judge Rosins, for his vi- • gilance is having him hrt,tight to justice, in which he threatened the Judge with vengeance—to strengthen said suspicion, it has since been awe:- taimd. that a stranger has been lurking about Den fin, during the Coast. with a pair of pistols and a gun, who frequently inquired of the servants when the Judges would go home ? The citasens of Dela ware would do justice to society. to be vigilant in Ludting out such a charadar.—Great credit is due the citizens near where • the deed was perpe trated, for their alacrity in pursuing the perpetrator. which we hope may be crowned with success, I by bringing to condign punishment so hardened a 1111 villain. I a itnitiCitilliVaoll, OCT. 511. 14€14nriay anti Dtatressimg !—On Monday. at 12 o'clock, the house for merlyieloging to Mts. Carter, in this towh, was discovaed to be oa fire. The corpse of William Stallard, the more recent pro prietor. had not been sent to his earthly home, when a sick and mourning family were driven by a new calamity, with the remains of a parent and a hus band, from the solitude of their sorroars, to weep under the next hospitable roof, over their compli cated misfortunes. The•itolse was on an erelt.ence. ami a strong wind from the north-asst blew the flames into ae iway ut the town. 1.. tlai cnwse of A dew huisr• • chime-15 not Gi503.12/ east oyez 1 e three of the best improved F vare., with part of two'others, were stripped of all their improvements,. The rapid►ty of the fire, in the horrors of its devas• ' tation through houses highly combustible horn the operation of the late drought, the consternation that prevailed, destroying concert and presence ..f mind in most of those who were laboriously attire, the incompetency of the engines to perform their offices with full effect, prevented maay of the sufferers from saving a great proportion of their moveable property. Tbc upper tobacco-warehouses, with all the tobacco stores, were consumed. A Bake of burning m,ttter was thrown on the roof of the Bank house. which stood at the distance of two streets from the general conflagration, and so furious was the progress of the flames, that all the books, papers, and money, in the vault, were of necessity exposed during the whole of the fire to its glints, but have since been recovered entire. Happily, no human life was lost. THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, FRIDAY. DECIMISR Is. WAR WITH TURKEY. We may now consider Turkey as added to the long list of the enemies •f England. At nine o'clock, last morning, a telegraphic coining nication was received at the Admiralty, annonnt. ing the arrival of Sir ARTHUR PAQET, after an unsuccessful mission to the Ottoman Porte. The ship haviag come from the Mediterranean, was im mediately put under quarantine, and His Excel lency, of course, was not permitted to land. Three of the Lords of the Admiralty were therefore obliged to sign a memorial to the Lords of the Council, requesting that the quarantine might be takes off. A meeting was accordingly held, and the vessel was released, to enable Sir ARTHUR Note to' come to London. Ile is expeaed in town this day, when it is supposed his report of the total failure of all his means to conciliate the Turk ish Government, will be followed by leostllities that power. .i + : , 1 against We have already stated, that some political ar rangement of importance is in agitation, in which all parties are interested, although we are nut com petent to state its precise nature. The Duke of P o had a long conference on Wedrsiday with the SPEAKS& of the House of Com Mons, at his house in Palace-yard. Yesterday he had another. All the other leading bli.mbers of Administration, and one of the Royal Dukes, had also conferences with the S yesterday; and at three o'clock Mr. Canartro left town for Windsor. His MA• JSITY did not go out during the whole of the day. The Expedition fitting out at Portonloth, under Vice-Admiral Sir CH MILLS COTTON and General SPENCUR. will sail without delay ; report states, on to-morrow. The Naval part consists of the fol- lowing ships, now lying at Spithead 1— Minotaur ~ vies Adm. Sir Chartes Cotton, , • • ,• Captain Meas.. Spencer, .. 74 Hot:. Captain Stopfrord, Srenewick, . .74 Captain Graves. Saturn, . 74 Lewd A. Beauelerc. • Antelope. . 50 Captain Galway. Is 4 . • .• 40 Captain Laughatne. Diomcde„ • .30 Captain Domaine/. And some light vessels. The 32d Regiment completed its embarkation on Tuesday, and the 50th yesterday. We have received some American papers, but none of a later date than those which :mired on Monday last. They contain, however, some int,- resting intelligense. A vessel arrived at New. York, states, that the British force had cut out all the Danish shipping at West End. Bt. Croix, and also several Americans, with Danish property on board, and had proceeded with them to Tortola. The Nafional Intelligenter appears very 'anxious I. contradia the report that the Paesioarer had re quired an answer from the English Government, within four days, to the dispatches brought to this country by the Revenge schooner. No such demand. it asserts, was made; and therefore, the inference of en hostile temper, on the part of the American Go vernment, deduced from it, is without founda:iraw. The formidable preparations for the expedition against Spain and Portugal commenced much ear lier than the French Papers taught ns to believe. Indeed, until lately, The Times, and corn. of the other London Prints. affeßed to treat the accounts of the assembling of an army at Bayonne as totally destitute of foundation. It appears, however, from a letter in the American Papers. dated BJurdeaux, September 8, that an immense army was marching, at that date, through that city. on its way to Por tugul $ that Spain was supposed to be included with in its destination; that a new kingdom, comprising Biscay, Navarre, and Catalonia. would be carved out for Lucite 800 aaaaa $ and that Portugal was to be given in compensation to the KING of Spats. A.drearlfel fire lately broke out at Fredericks burg, Virginia, which destroyed 200 houses. The damage is estimated at 400,000 dollars. Dispatches are hourly expeacd at the Admiralty, from SIT SIDNEY SMITH. The sgthicir..n under hie creentemed pima Care Fiaisterre ou the 14th „, _... . ' , ,~.. • %•• last, and we may presute••, reached the Tagus on the 16th or 17th. A tnon:h has thus elapsed since his arrival at his destinatim, without having fur.. nishrd us with any advices from him. The public mind begins to feel some anxiety and Impatience • from this long silence, and, as usual in such eases., ennjeEture is made to supply the pl.see of real in. telligence. N'atious turnouts are in circulation; one. at we stated yesterday, announced, that he win killed in an attack upon the Russian ihips in the Tagus; another state; that he has captured Fire Russian sail of the line; another that he was unsuo- emshil in some attempt that he made in the 'ragas. and that he is coming home in a very shattered state; that the flihsrsig particularly has lost her masts; ant that cvet y one of hh ships has suffered. though not to the same extent. We could not Crate either of tbesa reports to any authentic source. We believe that they have originated in a paragmaph in Tin Gums. on Tuesday, stating, that orders had been given at Plymouth on Saturday to all the Kt N o's pilots at that port to be upon the alert, and hold themselves is readiness at a moment's notice. From this order it was inferred at Plymouth, that Government es. petted the arrival of some crippled ships that might sequins the assistance of the Pilots. • • - • A Council sat yostaiday at Lerd Min.:navels Office in theAdmitaltyjor the examination of pilots, who are to be employed upon another new Expe dition. A great number of pilots attended.— Their examination related tb a particular pun of the enemy's coast, which it would not be proper to mention. Lotd G. L. Crewels is hourly expeeted from St. Petersburgh. A Messenger arrived, lad morniog, at the A miralty, with dispatches from Admiral Mom T A co. the Port-Admiral at Portsmouth, containing dis patches from Lord Cassinowoon. Yesterday a meeting of the Russian Meech's. was • held at Barsoo's Coffee•bouse, to take 1e consideration the propriety of addressing a Me morial to Government, fur the release of Russian ships and their cargoes. It was numerously at tended by the principal persons connested with MU trade; and, we understand, it was the expressed wishes of the meeting, to avoid any publ:g e their proceedings, until the answer of the was received. We are well assured, that the Court of Dire&ors of the East-India Company have ordered the Go. vernment of Bengal to provide a large quantity a( hemp for the consumption of Great BritAin, and direfted the extension of the cultivation of that artily cle in India. Wednesday Messrs. WALen and NESIITT waited on the Minister. and concluded on baying two Lob; series of 25,000 Tickets each, instead of two of 30,900, as they first propoed. The payments aro , tube as under : Deposit. 22d tree. L.I 10 - - 21.1 Jaw. .... 1 0 19th Feb Three days before Drawing L. 17 and a deposit of 10s. per Ticket on the second Lot ts ry, to be paid at the same time as the deposit of the first. Mr. Cs Ysa, the Admiralty Messenger, left the Admiralty. on Wednesday right, for Portsmouth. with dispatches. to be put on board a fast sadists vessel for the East-Indies. Dispatches. received yesterday from the Teal, dated the 16th inst. announce the capture of severed French privateers. The particulars will appear in to-morrow night's Casette. An American Gentleman arrived in town on Wed nesday from Bourdesux. whence i.e sailed en 30th ult. in an Americas ship, which. with Authore s s*. der the flag of the United States, had bed Misr. go-A there for fi ve days. The order for the ' 41118. bargo was put in execution on the 2ith. on 'hi& day every Captain was dircded to deliver up his papers to the Officers of Customs. This measure is stated to have been resorted to for the purpose of preventing the escape of some person from Fraacm It was not known whether the plied was WOW plished, but on the 30th the embargo was taken oIL A Court of Common Council was held yesterday, at Guildhall. The Court agreed on a Petition Irma the job ibitants of Tower Ward, to move the Corse Office. The Court agreed to abolish the office of Coats mon Hunt. The CHAMICRLAIN was direded to pay of 40,0001. Temple-bar Bonds, before the Sth of July next, and to give six months notice to the several parties interested. After much argument. it was resolved to refer it to a Special Committee, consisting of all the Alder men and Commoners from each Wasd. to consider the best mode to be adopted For increasing the Re giments of London Militia, and for carrying the propes.4l military plans into execution so far as they relate to the City. Last week Mr. TeLsoao has been employed in taking a general view of the West coast, and the country intervening between thence and Carlisle. preparatory to his commenting an glint survey for the intended Canal betwixt that city and the Wert Sea. Government have within these few days become possessed ot some very important French documents. which disclose secrets of the highest magnitude fa resped to the designs of 800 AAAAA a. A very cos siderable degree ot sonsequence is. we understand. attached to them. They are signed by BONAOAIII II and T• 1.1.2 A , and persons well acquainted with the signature of both, are persuaded that they An genuine. The private letters that accompanied the last American Papers counteract, in a great measure, the tied which might otherwise have been pro duced by the President's Speech. They state, with confidence. that the opposition he will have to C.:- counter in Congress will be se strong. as to render abortive any endeavour of the Gallic party to in volve the States in a war with Great Britain. ./Mlll, , M wAs The ated. ..4 VI Tim faith lad t 1 the • Northt " the roc Viso ger Mr/ Vint kayo' • the: The P IL A b tare. Lord Py4si •li ei an fri Mr. 1 raid, Oise lei OA The tame] a Ms Ile li t ther 'se That Earl of Pion, 4 . So aftO A Mr to p atre, ted b 74 6 . You A Ad tog, I gh at WWI prom • Panty Mr. 11 travail ■ia Bath, I. Gt. Thus „ e 7, • nal Play lees. I m lam] /am Jahie I uto thl cited. aps'e 11e g ra 'l'hi Maide the cg et f