The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1804-09-15 00:00:00

Terms of both sezes, ed conspiracy of Moreau, havelately arrived in England, after being shut up in the Temple, in the Cenciergerie, and in La Force prisons, for several months; and, after having en dured all the augmentations of the horrors of cap tivity, that the dread of tortures and of poison must inspire. It has been observed by several political writers, that little reliance is to be placed in the re ports of prdscribed persons ; but, when correspond ! ins with rumours which they could not know, being confined when these were disseminated, and con- II genial with the charaftera of men in power, their persecutors, they deserve, at least, to be narrated; as they throw some light on the infamous transac • tions of the present barbarous government of France, which may be exposed to a wcll•merited detestation, but which it is impossible either to libel or to calumniate. During last February, March, and April, the number of persons arrested as accomplices in the al ; • leged conspiracy, amounted, at Paris Ant, to eight thousand three hun.hed, gentlemen as well as la dies ; old people near fourscore, as well as boys and girls under fifteen. I,la number of prisoners taken up in the provinces is known to the police only ; but, in the department of La Vendee, two third parts of the inhabitants were either anually arrested, or put under the inspeiftion of the military com manders, or of the police agent, as suspaled ad herent; to the Ilourbeens. At Paris, the following formality was observed with a Prisoner after being taken (torn his home, by the spies of the Police, accompanied by the gews d'annes d'Ellie he was carried to the office of the Secret Police, which is sitting night and day. If any other prisoacr was examined, or if it was in tended to inspire terror. the arrested person genet rally continued shot up, chained there, in what is called la cherosre d . .-7:tlT, or the Chamber of Hell, .for 48, and sometimes 9' hours. This room is a large hall under ground, where no light pene trates, paved wi t h s tones, and in the wall are large iron rings, to which the chains of the prisoner, with whicn L's hands and feet are bound, ere fastened, and locked w:. l, a padlock. He cannot move fartho from the r 7 :-.g tiro,: ix feet. This dark hall is far; IMOU: s .I to coe•ain 1.50 risoners at the same time. The on 4 time light is admitted into this abode of 2ry, is when the jailers arc bringing a ne v vi& m to be chained, as they then generally carry a lan tern in their hands. Nothing but sighs and lamest. tations are heard, and no consolation can be given, ... win be received, as, even here, the ..unrest person to an innocent sufferer may be a person, or spy, sett to obtain and betray confidence. Half-a-pound of bread and two pints of water are allowed each prisoner, fur each 24 hours. IVben • to his first interrogatory, he does not leave the Chamber of Hell the same way he entered it, but passes through other large subterranyous rooms, where the ste.:ck strikes one of his Lenses. and blood-stained rags, instruments of tor• titre, and coffins, another; for these rooms are sn well lighted, that he can see spots of blood not only on the wall, but on the door. Arrived before the Secret Police Magistrate, who generally was the bat barony Real, or the ferocious Fouche, sometimes both ; he is told that his pretended crimes have long been known to the Government, he being watched for months by the Agents of the Secret Police ; of course all evasion or dental are of no other avail than to expose himself to the rack, and certain death. If he persists in being innocent, he is carried back to the Chamber of Hell the way he left it, and the turnkeys shew him, en purant, the instruments of torture, explain the manner of ap plying them, the terrible tufferings they produce, and fioiah, by intimating, that kw persons have strength enough to survive their torments. After being far forty-eight hours more in the Chamber [ of Hell, upon bread and water, he is carried to a second interrogotary,londer supposition, no doubt, that want of nourishment has enervated the strength of his body, as well as anguish reduced the vigour 'of his mind. If he is cwt suspeeted of being a chief, or a principal confidant of the pretended chief conspirators, he is then, after undergoing a orcond interrogatory, sent to the Temple, or some other prieon, after signing made-up interrogatories, which, if he refuses to do, forty-eight hours more in the Chamber of Hell teach him to be less obsti nate. If he has been arrested by mistake, or no evidence is found against him, he continues in pri son as long as it pleases the police, which seldom open the doors of the jails, if friends or relatives do not make pecuniary sacrifices, which has been the case with tho.e persons, who have had the good luck to escape over to England. If the persons ar rested be related to suspecled individuals, or sup to ; ossess great talents, or known hatred usually we. Of impr have again though the _siie demanded a vo luntary banishment to the ' onionles,, tide lid rial places at Paris are known to he inhibited by most of them. Tt is well known that Georges's servant, Picot, before the criminal tribunal, in the presence of the public, declared that his confession had been extorted by tortures ; and no one at Paris doubts that the virtuous Pichegru received the reward for the great services he had done his degraded coun try, by death upon a raek. A gees d'armes d'Elite, of the name of Jean Pierreaur, oti.e of his executioners, Is now raving mad, and shut up at Charanton, where he never ceases to cry out : " I have murdered Pichegru, the most honest man in France' Before he was sent to Charan ton, he proclaimed this, both on the Pant Ness/ and in the Palau Ro,al. Roland, the friend of Pichegru, lost On the rack the use of his right leg ; but his descredon, in not mentioning it be fore the tribunal, saved his life, which Is said to be the case even with Major Roussillion. During all the interrogatories of Georges, Pichegru, and Moreau, at the Seem Police Office, Bonaparte, was, with his favourite Aid-de-Camp Duroc, in an adjoining closet, where he could hear what was going on; and it was he who, in a fit of rage against Pichegru, who denied every thing, and refused even to sign the interrogatories, ordered the instantaneous and atrocious murder of this great General, who is more admired in France for his greatness of mind, when surrounded by Bonaparte's assassins, than for his illustrious atchievements, when lead ing on those vi,florions armies, ta Yillom France is indebted, not only for all her conquests, but from escaping, per haps, subjeflion to the confederate powers in 1794. Every person, who has the good luck of being set at liberty, is, before he obtains his release, sibliged to sign a declaration, praising lenity, generosity, and humanity, of the present Co eernment, and of the persons eo-oloyed by it, to wl.ich, and not to his in noce,scc, he owes that the do: is of the prison have not been shut for ever ,least him. He is informed that this decLiratii in .s in the hand of the police, a mam , at d'arret, ‘‘hich will be made use of, the in stant his conclaa becomes suspeaed. We have been assur:J that the late eonilua of Bonaparte has more serv:l the cause of the Bourbons in France, than all the arms of their adherents in La Vendee, and the undertakings and endea vours of their f. iends at Paris, and in the provinces; because, forni:rly, the French Royalists, residing in France.were t3:vided among thensv-Ives : some were fur Louis XVIII., others fur the Duke of Otlesats, and others again fia the ice of Conde ; but thef are now united, and rc;..:d their legitimate Sovereign, Louis XVIII., as the only Prince wh t can 64% them from the cruel and tyrannical yoke of the Cor sican. Beside', all other Frenchmen, either at tached to Pichegru, M.,reau, or to a republican form of government ; and who have no crimes to reproach themselves with, have joined the staunch Royalists, in hope of escaping the vengeance or r ppression of Bonaparte. whose cruelty against the Duke of Enghien and Pichegru ; and whose envy and ingratitude against Moreau, have made hint detested by every man, who does not want this up start's elevation to collen plunder, or to escape the punishment due to his crimes. Bonaparte is so well convinced of the public hatred, that. during his late journey, he has declined all guards of ho nour offend by citizens, and trusts the protec tion of his person only to Mamelukes, who poisoned or murdered with him in Syria and Egypt or to those pitied men of his guards. or gene d'armes -fife, who, during 1793 and 1795, were his accom plices in his massacres of the i :habitants of Toulon and Paris. 'THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, SATURDAY, SIPTESIIICIt 15. Yesterday we received a series of the Moniftur from the 29th last, to the sth inst. They are totally destkttte of news. The five per cents. on the Ji were 56 f. 40 cents. We yesterday animadverted upon the insidious and danger-us sent ments professed by a morning print respelling invasion. Es principles and doe. t. •.:e, simplified, reJuce themselves to this, that the aTair off Boulogne upon the 29th, was the " grand experiment ;" and, as it failed, that the danger is over, at least, for the present. Secondly, that if the attempt should not be made lx•fsre the equinox, it will be deferred until the Spring ; and, thirdly, if deferred until the Spring, that the q estion may be considered as at rest, and adjou-ne I r oe die; in other words, that the attempt will r. ter be made. Having alrea.:y exposed the fallacy cf the first proposition, the few obe7vatiuns whip ve mean now to make !hall be addresv• I to the part of this eztraorjiaary Jocuiue. Never w. , here a more fruitful source of speculation end conjeflore than the subject of invasion. According to some, the enemy are to be driven over in a storm ; accoring to others, they : cannot venture but in a dead calm•-- son:n say, they are to come enveloped in a fog ; others, that a bright day will not obstrt:et their pur pose. We admire the modesty and sagacity of the man who can see his way clearly through this mass of conk :lure, and pronounce with confidence that, after the equines, invasion still be impraEliiable. The Dutch expedition was undertaken in the very halcyon days of summer, and yet it was defeated by a storm. Can the almatiack politician in The Times be certain that there will not be one cairn and tran quil day after the equinox ? The public have been taught to suppose, that an opportunity of a few days, at the most, would be sufficient for the enemy ; but this new politician requires mure time. lle reckons not by days, but by seasons, and would persuade us that all is safe in winter, and that summer is the only time of danger. The Paper ti which we allude, gave Government great credit for their vigilance and aftivity last winter, when the means of invasion, now mature, were only in embryo. New we are told, that their vigilance WAR folly, as there cars be no danger in winter. There is neither sense nor consistency in this mode of argument. But strong faith may supply the ab• sence of reason, and authority is sometimes a good substitute for proof. Now we should be glad to know to what great name the paper in question can refer, to bear it out in its paradoxes ? Mr. Pt s declared, last session, in the liou,e of Com mons, at an advanced petiod of the winter, that he did not think the enemy, having so long delayed their enterprise, would attempt it until Spring ; best he did not say that there was no danger after the Autumnal Equinox ; or, that the enemy became every day less formidable in pro portion as they should augment their meani of annoyance. This is the only authority to which the writer CAR refer; and, as to his reasoning, it con tains neither sense nor logic. The third proposition, which maintains, that if the attempt be not made before Spring, it will never be made at all, appears more weak and groundless than either of the former. A foreigner and a fugitive has mounted, at a single bound, the throne of Francs, and encircled his brows with an imperial diadem. Ile has won a throne, and can appreciate its value. He also knows, that a failure in the expedi.ion against England would endanger hi, power, perhaps his life. The love of plunder, ha tred, cruelty, and anfoition, urge him on. Craft, cunning, and selfishness, all predominant in his character, call him off. But, then, hose can he get ..►er the shame of shrinking from a fight where he is the challenger ? This might be a difficult busi ness in ttl: case of a King of ENGLAND, an Em• peror of Items, or a King of SWEDIN. The fugitive of Acre, and of Egypt, can easily cut the Gordan knot. He can draw his sword upon the comment ; it is already half oat of the scabbard. Ile can hide his disgrace and his dis cormiture in a continental war. But let him be come seasoned upon his throne; let him have time to overwaelm the continent, and have Den mark and Sweden crouchi g under his foot, like Swedes' and I lolland, and we will ask, may he not then renew his threat of invasion with more confidence, and attempt it with less personal danger than at present ? Dy the Gottenhurgh Mail, received yesterday, we learn that :a courier Arrived thete frcin Petersbutgh, on the 2tith ult. with important dispatches tram Sir JOIIN BORLASE WARREN for Lord HARROWIIV. When he left it, great preparations were making for a grand review before the Est r CROlt of 60,000 choice trool•s. The letters by this Mail also state the f.s.rt before known, that a Russian fleet, of seven sail of the and sit frigates, has reached the Sound ; one pun of which is to cruise in the Bahic, and the other in the North Sea. They are considered merely as fleas of observation ; but will be ready to aa upon any emergency. According to a letter from an officer on board the squadron of the Duke of Bow Limn, near Jersey, betwen :10 and 10 of ths French gun-boats, arrived lately at tit. Ma 0 from Brest, attempted in Ow night between the 7tli and Bth inn, to steal away farther to the sr. stward, supposed to Cherbourg's. As the night was buds dark and foggy, ,thity could not be perceived before the morning of the Bth, when an immediate chace was ordered; but, the wind and tide being in their favour, they suc ceeded, by skulking along the coast und, r the proteetion of their batteries, after receiving some of nor tire, which dismisted four of the stoutest vessels, to return to St. Malo, where twent; other armed vessels were drawn out in a line to protct their arrival. A letter from SanJgate, of the 13th, says, " A very heavy cannonade took place last evening, be tween six and seven o'clock, on the opposite shore, and was continued very briskly till late in the even ing; but so thick was the haze on that coast, during the whole time, till dark, that t h o•e who were on the hills could not observe any thing ; in the first of the morning, sonic of the boats wee seen out of Boulogne, but not many ; the tiring has been at times repeated during the whole of to-day, by which we are led to suppose some of the enemy's vessel. are coming oat of the harbour to exercise." against the Corsican family. a dose of poison t removes them from the prison to the gra , t he eight thousand three hundred persons tahbasisim._ 'S POLICE OP PARIS. Dowd last spitng, net a foUtth Ititt made their appemance in society . ; and sezes, implicated in thepretend- police v•3ents say, that they hive dem foreats, Georges, and Pichegru, luntary banishment to tha tC-IfACE minx. Yesterday afternoon, thelv vtl•li.rfmd°Aurrdilt9idflellistverl;2l;a. favourable tOr the return of the Royal yaclintluacr.J!, her Attend Ants from sat, and His M AJESTY and it, attendants took to thei r b arge a considerable- rat out from the .shore, und reachei i t in safety, bur without any of the przradc algal on t h e i r l anding. Tr.-o of the yachts did nut conic to their mnor i ag - herr 7 reight. o'clock : the, comary havin g , tgainst their s•rill, slept ca hoara, owing to the thick fog after dark, which prevented their approaching the shore. Some of the compon) were landad lat.: hi Ole evening. at six miles distan..e from hence, ru i r had to walk in the dark And for ! , wirich AV,I , , so L k.' that tlleylost themselvcs, and were several liner ; i ; arriving at their houses or apartments in this town. In tl:c evening, Their !MAJESTIES ag:tin honoured the Theatre with their presence, to sea I loic a O FT '. excellent Comedy of Follett of a hay, Child, and Tit house ove: flowed in every part. The charaClers cf Abney/yr?, and the Page, were well sustained MISS DFC AMP, Mr. SANDFORD, and Miss (; R A„ and Mr. NA V La It, in Antonio, the druycen Craftittirtf was notch applauded. Mi ss Weals, It Lillit Para. Mrs. ‘VI)ItSDALL'S Pick*, and Mr. Navi.ml'. rar. f . w;:re admirabl y perfbrmed. this morning, th e Princesses Aucerrs and So. tA bathed. The troops m the neighbourlstiuA were all out ; among then', the Duke of CAN , !MI :.t the head of his German Legion. Hi. MAI usry took a short ride to view them, but r..- turned on account of the fog, which is here • • thick as td give us an idea of the Teed) , retain, winter. This evening is the Litt of Miss 1/t: Ca:te't c. pigeinent, and her benefit ; for which Their NI ;. JESTits have commanded The Sulsfier's , and The Irish She will appear in the /Vd,/,:. Checr t ' l and the llttsi icy Brady. Arrivals at the King's Head note! Mil and Lady, G. A. Aylwia, 0. Bowl, I-, Mr. RAl'', Mr. Wingrove, Mr. Ph01i,.., r 'r en., NV. Wright, Mr ClrynclJr, Ms. Jul.tt. , Mr. 80,. Mr. Rods Mr. Wong merry. Arrivals at the Royal Hotel, 136 Sept. 1804 liorner, Mr. Halrertirot and Mr. au,: M.r- Levertoss, Mr. ReeunsoA, EISIFIO4VABLE .11ARRLIGES. Yesterday morning were married, by the Hol. and Rev. Mr. Wei uest.s v at St. Cietnge'sChurchs Hanover-square, the Ike. P. Ec ERTON. Ch a p. lain to the Earl of Castors, to Miss Dts Pm, youngest daughter of the late Jamas Du PAL, Esq. Governor of Madras, &c. &c. acc. bride w... 1 given away by J. D' Pat: Pountas, and Miss For. Deur, Niece to the Duchess of GORDON. were also preseht, Miss MAxwttt„ Cokhol and Mrs. O'Louoisulte, Mr. and Mts. De Par. The Bride was dressed in plan white muslin, trimmed with point lace. She wore a whits straw bonnet. end a deep Brussels lace veil, of great value, and looked ni Ist fively. After the matriage careinom i they returned to Mr. Du Pais, in Granolas:lves. from which they set of to pass the llone7 Mums rt Cheffont Park, Bucks. ;be marriage of Mr. Best-, who lately 1,404 Lord CAMELTORD, with Lady A. STItkTFGR;)• daughter of the Earl of Al.Dsuitot. , ;l4, is uravoi !- ably postponed for a few days. Mr. IScsr and t! i• your:. Lady are at Cheltenham. The intended marriage bemeen the Mittliils Ducotas, and Miss BECRTORD, of postponed tail the beginning of Oilober. Lordship is now doing duty with his regimen!, and the Lady is at Fonthill. The Prince of Waars, we are h .ppy to find, it completely secoveresl from the effea of his LW accident. Lord lrelit.vrr.t.t is arrived in town firm Scum after his arrival, I lis Royal Highness the Dui. of Scssrx and Earl CAMDLN had long interview' with his Lordship. Lady Hamra ros, and a large party, ate t7l * visit to the Rev. Nfr. Bor. TON, at Brat:caster, Lord RANI-LAC:IN and hs new-married bride, have returned to town, on a visit to his father-id• law, Sir P. ST evetcres, at the Admiralty. The Young Rostuu.. in allusion to his successfal rum at the theatres, is called the Lit .1, The late Jou% iVav, Esq. begin life in aver/ humble station. His success has proved, that be could see his Ivey in the world. New fortifications, we are told, are to be ereCie.: upon the coast, for our defence in water. The etni grant ear have proposed to supply the how-wori. Mr. 11,arr, one should have supposed, wou!d have heca the last man to have reproached ttc Crier. Con. Marquis with being .::grrp '1*.!;•! Fulham Volunteers had yesterday a gram! geld day, and afterwards were inspeiged by Lrrit ItAK! who is to succeed Colonel Nlev met Ito the command of the said Corps. The Countess of Lonnorsocantr arrived in town yesterday, frim 1::r seat in Ireland, and im" 1 " diately set off on si visit to bet sun, Lord CASTI. ae sun, last Sheen. Mi. ‘Vsouoirros, from Drury-lane 'Theatre, !:-• arnived at Margate, t enga g e Miss DCNC Al 4. The apartments at the Horse-Guards, 1.41: ..:' been f , utid inadequate to the accommodarion t . i.• differe..t Departments of the War-Office, six ruo.. - of large dimensions are no,' adding over the r • sent utti. es, three on each side of the turret in ti,` center, which are to be so construfted as to puler vt the uniformity of the building when viewed from thi Parade in St. damn's Park. Among the various inventions of man, to Mtn:. the attention of the curious, perhaps none excel du* of the PANORAMA, given to the Public by Mesa, REINAGLI and BARRER, in the Strand. The'. Gentlemen not only present us with a view, which• for exquisite taste in the Artist, cannot be exceed but oue that is grand, classical, and initrulive--it OEM is so astonishing, that the speaArtir imat inc` himself placed on a height in the very centre oldie ancient CITY of Rome, which enables him to riot the rurroui...!ing country forty miles tl ther with its churches, ruins, amphirbea•:ei ar'• Such are the beauty and correiness .cene, du ;l at once elucidates the history and Jesaririom" . Rome, as given to us by the masa Wale hisolia" I