The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-05-10 00:00:00

7 1F r i Mows. (To be eantintietl.) IMPERIAL P,IRLIA:IhL•:JI. up the Island of Rfalta to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, would be the same as to deliver it over to the French.-11 the krights of the Order, in possession of an indcptntdcnt soverzignty and revenue, enjoying every case and pleasure that the imagination can form, engaged in ob. jeas of luxury, caressed and reverenced as rso many sovereigns ; it, in this coniftron, the French could command .thera .ko.vit their terrestrial pa radise to wander in the wide world, and could in duce them to pf.co i ne Vartizans of their cause, what must not the power of the same Fr ench 'over them now be, dependent, degraded, dishonoured, reduced' to 'beggary, • in tvhom is extinct every spark of tolurar, and who -have been guilty of the blacked, the most infamous of crimes, that of treachery, the most horrible infidelity, apos tacy towards their God, and violation of the sa cramental ordinances.— France has three langues : Spain two. The Spaniards are dependent upon the French, and were so at the moment the Island was betrayed. Two lanp,nes only remaia, which can, in any manner be said to be indepen de-, Ole Knights of. Nnples and Sicily. All those of the Cisalpinc Republic and of the coun tries either conquered < r subje to a vassalage, if not in name, must, in fad, be partizans of the French. Almost cwt.) post of confidence was t:rcupied b y the French. In short, there are not (even insluditig those of the Nev.. Anglo-Bavarian limp's.) more than a thi• - tieth part of the Knights who are not at the band disposal of France.— The (Insane treasuses dissipated, and the corn runtimes isuppomny them to be alt restoreci) be longing to France, the Order must, 01 . necessity, look up to France for tl , e expemes t f Conning and tineainiug an army IT occupying the for tions, a,:d for purchasing and equipping a fleet, or at least a few gallies, in or ler to prate, cotn 'tierce, to cruizu against case ioncteis, and to provi sion tic island. HOUSE OF LORDS. MONO %V, MAY !:. The adjourned debate on the ChanJos Pelnge, was resumed in the Conn - nit:cc, when Lord 13ulton ruse and spoke for.sonie time in behalf ut the (Lan dos Peerage Claimant, to which the Lord Chancel lor mace a short reply. The further hearing was adjourned . to Thurficiv. Eight Bills of a private nature, such as Enclosures, Road, and Estate were brought up from the Commons by Sir William Heatlicote, Sir Robert Williams, Mr. Ellison, laid others, presented and read a first time. Mr. Stevens presented accounts relative to the is.ate and distribution of Queen Anne's Bounty, in conformity to the u: der n.ade upon Lori Auckland's motion. Lord AUCKLAND said a few words on the suhjea, and moved that the accounts be printed. Papers relative to an Appeal from the Court of Chan cry in li dant!, were delivered at the Bar, after the usua. cad: had heen administered. N i? NTION : FRANCE. Lord r EWA M rose to make a communication to the I-louse, such as the circumstances of the c .se would admit ; this he should do as 4 matter of duty, aad out of respect to the Noble Lord who had given notice to make a motion calling upon Ministers for an explanatien of their conduit ; and out of respea to the rest of the House. He reminded their I ord ships that en Friday last he had the honoor an nouncing that the French Ambassador had set; to the foreign office for passports for himself and his soite, and [fiat ii:4ruttions had been sent to Lord Whitworth that unless he could bring the negocia ft it wrh the l'irst Consul to a favourable issue, he w.s to tpi . t Faris .as last Tuesday. A change of e'reunistances had since induced his Lordship to delay . his le oing the capitalo. .rante, but this al ie...to-.4 had mt been attended with any other change fnoh,:r :loin the necessaty delay, which arises from tat? fact itself, an.! he ent e riaint..l a cooild,ot hop: that he would very shortly he enabled to cc,nte fur *aid with a reeular communication to the House. Berl( f remitted his thanks to the No ble Secretary of State, fur the very candi'i, civil, and gentlemanlike terms in which he had made a rt: . e.ence ? It was one among many instances of the polite and open condun which belorged to him. After what he had heard, he must feel himself bound to pay respect to a certain decorum, which ought on all eccazions to be preserved in that 'louse, and to give their Lordships no further trou ble otlo.r than to state that understanding that it was his Majesty's Ministers' intention to take the earliest opportunity of bringing their long negotia tion to a speedy conclusien. With regard to the nature of the motion which he had intended to make, while he was on his legs, he hoped their Lord ships would forgive his referring to it after what had passed on the former occasion, as he thought it might require some ; , pology. He would there fore state, distinitiv, the rounds of his imended motion ; he never had an idea to attempt to crimi nate his Majesty's Government fcr its conduet, but he felt in common with all their Lordships, and the country, that it was indispensibly necessary that the long and tediously protra.led negotiation should be brought to a point. He did nut wi.h, his Lord ship said, to embarrass his Majesty's Ministers, by leis projated 'notion, but he might be permitted to doubt, w hether any good could possibly result from delay. 1 - le had no intention of Riving *offence. ILivieg said this much, he wished further to pre niiie at the same tinie, that he should feel it 171CtLITI• bent on him, if it should appear contrary to the ex pectation !add ont that night, contrary to their feel iw:s, contrary, to all that the country felt, that Mi nisters should - again think fit to enttr into a new regoeiution, and again to render it liable to that spvcics of uncertainty, which thh public had fur su long a petiwd suffered with .the most painful sas. pense,.he should feel i, his duty again to trouble &eir.Lords'..ips with a motion for an address, ex pressive of the sense of the House, and to enquire sew the causes of the delay so injurious.to the pub lic +wishes, and the public intertst His Lordship ebuluded with movinp that the Order be dia. ebierge.:. Earl 51'1;C= trusted - that 440 Lordships w.d...; excuse hit snaking sifew• observations. lie sorrel,eiaiteiy with the 143114 Lori who had just sec down, In the - propriety elf his withdrawinit shit sixation. After slid& a CenUrtalliSathal as had mac. It wad certainly e unadvisrb:e to persist. Air Lordship %kW his .;piaion of the view upon L.. 4 UUS:IL to wawa to funha • r p. .1 ~~.. -mtlik_ . • was the real situation in which Ministers were 'placzd. Those. who - thought Ministers right, from what they knew of their emulate, would naturally "agree to the Noble Lord's motion, -, and those who thought as he did, would not adopt any measures Nv h I might tend to embarrass his Majesty's Go crnment, alreadi in a situation of too great dilE cilltv. In that view, concurring with other friends of his to` couscnt, to the delay, upon other grounds he should feel it his duty to urge the necessity of further information. PENAL OFFENCE BILL. Lord ELLENROROUGH moved, that the 'rouse resolves itself into a Committee upon this Bill. Lord A LVANLIN moved a clause; The Committee went through the Bill, and the Report is to be made to-morrow. Lord KING said a few words respthing his in tended motion, on the Public !Accounts; and said, he hoped to be able to bring it forward on Friday next. Lord PELHLAM laid a paper, containing a Re turn of the Field Officers of the Mil:tia, upon the Table, in pursuance of the Order made on the mo tion of Lord Rolle.—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, MAY 9, NF(; MIION WIIII FR ANCF. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER addressed the House in these words sir, though I am fully a'vare it is somewhat irregular, yet I feel it due to the House to ask its indukence. I stated, on Friday last, that 1 expected to '6e authorised to make a communication ;"irii his ivlajesty to the Hote‘e as ca this day. 'l'hat expeClation was founded on circumstances w hick would not admit of any ot!.er conclusion, than the one I named. I think it right to stake that other circumstances unfore seen and unexpeded, have prevented the departure of Lord Whitworth from Paris, and that this depar ture did not take place the time I e::peifted. What those chcmiotances were, I trust this House will not expeCt I shunid disclose—(Hear ! hiene! was (xelo.nsed on all zida.)—Dut, Sir, I tea it to be due to the House to state, that 1 have not a doubt in my own mind that the points in discussion between the two Governments will be brought to a decisive re sult in a very few days ; I mean, Sir, in the course of to-morrow. or Wedneday morning, and I am therefore justified in entertaining a peifc.l convic tion that I shall be able to make a communication to the House in a very few days." No Member ruse to make any observation. The House was more numerously attended than we have observed it in the course of the present Session. Tne London and Westminster Coal Market Bill was read a first time ..nd ordered to be read a second time. An account was presented from Queen Anne's Bounty office, to the ist of January, 1803, which was ordered to be laitl upon the Table. Accounts of the produce of Taxes from 1902 to 1i50;, and of exports and imports for the satire pe riod were presented. A Message from tht . Lords informed the House, their Lordships requested a copy of the minutes of the evidence before the Committee on the Nottingham EleEtion, on which the House had passed the Not tingham Magistrates Bid. Mr. I. 11. BROWN: I, moved, that a copy of the minutes should be sent to their Lordships, and the Masters in Chancery were called in and informed to that etre& The third reading of the Coroner's Bill was post poned till to-morrow. The Hi •::se went into a Committee on the Report of the London Port Bill. The Report was ordered to he received to-morrow. Upon a motion to postpone the consideration of the Ildieste:- Election petition, Mr. ROSE objetr:cd. He-thought this was one of the grossest cases he lad e'• , r heard, and he • could not consent l'iat the sub . ; << should tie detened beyond th.; day se'nnight. Mr. W 4. LLACE he s'iould not °Ned to this Arnemitnent ; but as a&ions had been brought lustag.. Mr. Dar.son, the Mayor of !lchester, for bribery, he should, perhaps, it his duty to move to defer the business till atter those actions had been disposed of. Mr. LEE said, the proceedings of the House ha 1 not been delayed merely t'ecaut , e individuals thoi;7,!: - . proper to commence altions. The subject was deferred till this day se'nnight. It was moved, that the Seleet Committee to whom the plan for the improvement of the Highlands of Scotland was referred, should have leave to report from time to time. Mr. VA NSITTART brought up several public accounts. The report of the Irish Courts of Law Bill was received and agreed to. The Ea.a India Vo'lunteer's Eill was read a second time, and committed fur to , morrow. Lord CA:aLEREAGH ga , . notice, that on Wednesday next be should move some regulations relative to the ailaits t.Le East India Company. lie report of the Ltinatl , 7s Est: -. .te Bill was brought up, and the Bill read a second bare. Mr. VAN srn-ART brought. up a Bill for re pealing so much of certhin Ans of William 111. as relates to the exportation of bullion.—Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Wed= nesday next, and to be printed. The CH L ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he should, on to-morrow, make a motion for deferring the further consideration of all eledion petitions until the next Sessions of Parliament ex cepting what stood fixed fur Thursday next. On the motion of Mr. BRAGGE the Bill for improving thelarbour of Bristol, was read a second time. Mr. BR AGGE said, that as he understood there were several petitions against the Bill, and others against several parts of it, he wished that it should meet with the fullest discussion in a Committee. lie therefore moved, that" it be committed to a Se left Committee:—Ordered accordingly. Mr. BR AG QE and !sir. BA l LLIE presented seve ral petitions fer and against the Bill, which were re ferred to the same Committee to which the said Bid was referred. On the motion of Mr. J. CLAUDIUS BERES FORD, the further consideration of the Report of the Dnblin Bridge Bill was deferred. iie then moved for leave to bring in a Bid for rendering more effedual an Aft of 'the 40th of his present Majesty for promoting the trade and, tenth ring mote commodious the Harbour of Dublin.—Leave haven .-2t djuuraed ' TIT T I? RITISH 1-)RE,SS. LONDON, TUESDAY, MIW 10. Yesterday both Hbuses of Parliament were croud ed to an excess of which modern experience does not afford an example. Mr. Fox, Mr. Gs Ly, and all the other distinguished Members of the House of Commons weir in their places. The CH ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER found himself obliged to defer once more his promised communication ; and the terms which he used upon the occasion confirm the account given in our paper yesterday of the state of the negotiation bewcen this country and France. He said, "the expeaation which he declared o Fri day, of being able to n:ake a communication yesterday, was founded upon circumstanc et which would not admit of any other conclusion."— This scriares exaaly with our statement, that die instruaions to Lord Wnrr wort•ti were positive, and left no room, as Miniters conceived, f;.r the exer cise of a discretion upon the subjat. The circum stances, therefore, which delayed the return of Lord Wititwo RTM, were un ex pea ed and unforeseen. The CH A NCEL L 0 R oldie EXCH Equ L.. re also said, "he had not a doubt in his own mind, but that the points in discussion between the two Governments, will be brought to a decisive result, in a very few days, viz. this day or to-morrow morning." The inference that immediately follows from the declaration is, in unison with our statement, that the orders sent to Lord WHITWORTH, on Saturday, and which might he supposed to reach him this evening or to-morrow morning, were peremptory and decisive. We have already stated, that the overture upon which his Lordship thought fit to ground his delay- at Paris was rcjefled by our Government, and that pe remptory orders were sent off requiring his Lord ship's immediate return, unless his ultimatum was acceded to without reserve or modification. That ultimatum embraced three principal points, which are thus laid down in a Morninir Paper, Of yester day.— " That the French Traopv should evacuate Holland ; " That the Swiss should be restored to a fret Government; and, " That Malta should r-main in the hands of the British for a certain nember of years, and, eft.Twards, until some new ar rangement could be made respecting it, which should coin pletely sccure its independence." The answer to this proposal, assigned by rumour to have been given to Lord WHITWORTH, when lie demanded his passports, was to the following effeLct I. That arrangements shall be made fur withdrawing the French troops from I Tolland. 2. That a negotiation should be entered into upon this point; and that the intention of toe eirst Cousal wa., to eual.42 the Swiss to form a fie! Governm',nt. 3. France oh;ects to our retaining Mzilta for co long a tinif.. cs w;r have proposed ; she fixes a shorter period. But she offers to use her influence with the King o!" Naples, for the ;impose of ohtaini;:g, in full sovereignty for us, a small island called Lampedosa, between Africa and Siely ; and which has a port c 'Fable of holding allout six or seven sail attic line. We have reason to believe, that this account es sentially differs from the proposition of the French Government, transmitted by Lord WHITWORTH through the medium of Mr. SILVLSTER. the English Government certainly complained that France not content with the annexation of Belgium, avowedly had annexed Holland. by stealth, and has made her a lona file. integral part ci the French Republic at the very moment she is mocking her with the name of Ally. • It is also well known, and indeed theeverits of Oetot)er last sufficiently sbew,tha t the subjected state of independent Switzerland, was not a circumstance unworthy of a place in any stilitt general, and comprehensive arrangement which an English Minister might wish to make for the affairs of Europe. That the li/tin/a/um of our Government comprehended these points, might be safely inferred from the course of events and com mon principles of English policy. • But of the answer which rumour has assigned we.entertain very serious doubts. According to that statement, the two first points are given up specifically, and with them also the general principle contended for by France, that England has no right to interfere in the affairs of the Continent. As to the third point, that also wotild seem to compromise the fundamental principle in the new doCtrine of France, by which she would consider the Mediterranean as her own sea, and it is also couched in terms which we do not think the English Government would rejeCt ; for if all we ask is that we shall be at liberty to retain Malta for ten years, and France will only agree to five, he would be. a bold Minister, who, after signing the Treaty of Amiens, would plUnge the two countries in war for the difference. We therefore doubt the accuracy of the reported proposition of the Ft iliT CONS V L. The proposition which has been communicated to us as the answer of the French Gsvernment,is, we think, much more probable. According to it, the Frast Cossut. offers to evacuate Holland and Switzer land, provided we shall evacuate Malta. This is a platisible proposition. on his part, but nothing can be more fallacious. Should we evacnate Malta is its present state, it passes immediately into the hands of France. The island and its independence are gone for ever, and it bec-:rnes the property of France in perpetuity. It is •not so with the evacua tion of Switzerland and Holland by the French armies. The FIRST CONSUL may, according to the ebb and flow of his policy'or ambition, evacuate them this day, and fill them again with his troops to-morrow. 'Unless, then; a covenant could be annexed to the contra•ffthat Switzerland a:id Hot- land, once free from the French yoke, should never be again galled by it, the offer is no equivalent for . the surrender of Malta. And even supposing a contrast to that effcd, who shall enforce it ? Are Austria and Prussia competent to guarantee the neu trality and indepe*dt.nce of Holland and Switzer:an ? certainly not.—Russia indeed, we are told, has ex pressed some anxit.ty respeding the present state of holland, but still we fear the inclination and ability of even Russia to proted Holland in the present state of Europe, from French influence, contioul, and interference. Yesterday we received the Alovittl:r of Friday last, which contains an account Of the Sitting of the Legislative Body on Thursday. Nothing was done of any importance. The President announced, dut no other business remained but that of appointing a new President and Secretaries, which the Assembly determined to do on Saturday last, to . which daY they adjourned. No hint was given of any commut nication to be made from Government on that day. The Ilioniteur of the 6th announces the important intelligence of the arrival of the E.xPEROR'S ratifica tion of the Indemnities, at Ratisbon, on the 281 ult. " And thus," as the o&cial Paper says, " are the affairs of Germany terminated." The price of the French Funds on Thursday is not mentioned in Friday's Moildair. Oa Wednes day they were 531. TIIEA?R£- ;) !Mtn? r-L4NE. THIS EVENIN:: will he perfortituil a Nev. Comedy, ca • 69, (I THE MARRIAGF. PRO7'ISE. The Chateler:ll Mr C. Kmble, Mr. Dwyer, Mr. Doti too, Mr. Ifullii.g•wortli, Mr. Bartley, Mr )".,hoer, Mr. P., pr., Mr Pkv.40.1, Mr. Puri .r.. Mr. Evati4. Mrs Poweii, Miss M4rtlott, Mr.. Nladdoc;.s, Mrs. Sorks, Mrs. Juntan. To which w.ll Iw ;.d,1,11, LODOISK A. On Mori:lay, for the fist.' time this Season , and with Splelid.iur, tile Trag,stv of Pizarro. Ki.llr by Mr. Pope, (his Teat Avipearanee in that Character.) A Dutch Mail also arrived yesterday with papers and letters, from which Nye have made some extraCts. • The Earl St. Vincent left St. Helena 31st March, and was spoke by the Sir Edward Hughes at sta. The Suf.,lk and Favorite, (private merchant ships from the Cape,) sailed from St. Helena 19th March. Lady Ann Barnard, from the Cape, also sailed from St. Helena 23d March ; the Toung Wilton', whaler, sailed from thence 18th March. The Sir William' Bentley, extra-ship, arrived at Bengal 27th March. Mr. Sii.vcsr ER, the Messenger, arrived at Dover at ten o'clock en Sunday morning, and in a quarter of an hour afterwards the Duchess of Tork passage vessel, which, in consequence of orders received by the telegraph on Saturday, had anchored in the roadi to be in readiness for him, was under full sail with him . for Boulogne. The wind ()lowing fresh and quite fair, it is imagined he must have landed ita France soon after one, on Sunday, in which case he might have reached Paris by noon yesterday. Three hours after SILVESTER had sailed, a French Messenger arrived at Dover, who hired a vessel and sailed immediately for Boulogne. A. I.INDEGREN, Esq. the Hon. east. India Com pany's Agent at Portsmouth, received an order on Saturday morning, by express, signed by several GT the Court of Dirators, to prevent the sailing ,down Channel of six outward-bound East Indi amen - which went from the Downs yesterday morning. They had, however, passed the Isle of Wight about two hours before the order was received; but we under stand, that vessels have been dispatched to order their return into port,Should they be - so fortunate at to overtake them. This is considered as the strongest intimation of war that has occurred since the arma- Orders.were received on-Stinday morning at the deck-yard, Portsmouth, for a return to be made of all ships, whose state requires the Est repair to render them sufficient for two yearsiervice, and to report what time it will take to get thervi ready. In addition to the, ships already ordered .and in commis: sion at that port, two of 98 guns,.and six of 74, will be ready in' Eve weeks. An eipiess arrived there about noon, with orders to press from all protec tions ; in consequence of which about 700 men were obtaiaed in Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport. The soldiers aided in this service, guarding all the ave nues. Captains DURHAM, LAKE, and HI LL, of the navy, were very active and zealons_ittlendieg their assistance. If we may judge from the frequent passing and repassing of French and'Diatch couriers between the Hague and Paris, the correspondence between these two Governments must have been very active far several days past. The whole of the French tra,p, in the Batavian Republic, Including those dest.ne ,l . for Louisiana, already form a considerable ara.‘ . The general opinion of official men remains un..!- . tered, and war is conside r ed by t h em as i nev i ta bl e . Much, however, depends upon the condo& of the French Government. If BONAPA RTE has offered to concede any thing, the same policy may induce him to concede all that is required ; and though we„fre not disposed to give him credit either for good faith or good will to Great Britain, his reluaant'compli ance wou:d. of course, be the means of avoiding, for some short time longer, the manifold evils and calamitie7 of war. It is apprehended by many that the contre pr y er. of the CHI Le CONSUL is designed for the purpose only of gaining time, in.order.to o save his West India and o th er squa d ron i now n their return to France. Should this be the opinion of his NI AJES 'S Ministers, whi c h appearances seem in a great degree to favaur the.promptitttde of .their decis i on will f rus t rate the artful views of the Cosloc ; and the iemnant of the French naval force may, in that case, be shortly expeeted in ;LI ports of Lritaiu. r t . ...fti~'3Sii ~F