The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-03-20 00:00:00

h ♦ ~.. - - q uit/ ; and, as to the mode Irfwhich they discharged the fundtions of their office, it would be time enough to consider of it when their reports should be tegn larly under discussion. Mr. FOX declared, that he was desirous of of fering only a few words upon the present subject. With respect to the appointment of Mr. Fordyce upon a committee for the remedy of abuses, he had before expressed his disapprobation of it, and found since no reason for altering his onini , n. He would not say that any imputation had been thrown upon the charaEter of that gentleman ; but it must be al toss.d that he was under circumstances whiih did nut render him a very eligible member of that Board. The present Ministers, though they may nut be altogether partial, may be supposed to have their cashes, in regard to the rueption which was given to the reports of the commission instituted by parliament. Without personally knowing Mr. Fordyce, he confessed that he had a good opi nion of him; but living, as he was acknow ledged to do, in a state of dependence, aad ever , I , r Li , existence, upon His Majesty's Minis ! • oat be supposed to be possessed of that • : -t sterling independence necessary for bed: a., o.:iee as that to which he was appointed. ht some respeCts, his case may be considered as one of pure misfortune. It was perfectly clear that the a g e nt, Mr. Cobourne, was not rf his own appoint ment, but strongly recommended to him by the Martinis of Rockingham; and that the failure of the other agent, Mr. Fordyce, the banker, carried an universal astonislunent throughout toe country as well as the metropolis ; in proof of which he could refer to a letter written by the late Mr. Gar rick to a brother proprietor at that time, in which he ascribed the diminished recbhits of the theatres to the failure of that banking-house. If there was a prospe& of the balance being ever repaid, he said, it appeared to him a matter of indifference whether the fats should be brought before the House by the report of a committee, or by moving for official documents. The SECRETARY at WAR stated, that the ehjel of the Crown Commission was strictly con fired to naval reform only, and that Sir Charles Middleton was extremely anxious that he should have the as,istance of Mr. Fordyce's talents. The paridtice of these talents, for several years, was tentormly applied to the extieftion of the debt which ha h id so much at heart, that he rejefted a proposal made to him of vesting MOOOl. in the hands of tzustees, for the benefit of his numerous family. Mr. JOHNSTONE said, that he should he no advocate for any harsh measures, unless the result of the enquiry should make it necessary ; but he could net conceive ho.v F,•rdyce coll.l he kis. tihed by the failure of his agents, ac there was no. thing to prevent him from obtaining scot' it ks frisn them, previously to their aprintnicut. In the case of an individual, the House would naturally be in clined to a liberality of conclitl ; btu in matters fs . account, they could not do justice to the public, without, on their part, ailing in the -AMC manlier which every min would do, in the management of his private affairs. Mr. CREEVEY, fis eonsequiMee of the intima tion given by Abe Clumellot Ail Ito Exchequer, that the accounts he referred to would be nroduced in another manner, begged leave to withdraw his mo tion, which was agreed to. NAVAL ENQUIRY. Mr. GREY, in the absence of so Hon. Friend of his (we believe Mr. Kinnaird) r at present confined by indi,positi(m, gave notice, that he would bring forward a motion on the sii , eje!'t IA the 10. h report of the Commessiokers of Naval Enquiry, on . 1 burs day fortnight. The order of the day hieing read, for bringing up the report of the I.itga:y Duty Rini Mr. pirr said. that notwithstanding this c r.ler was not peremptorily fixed her this tidy, yet he thought the full state of the I ions.. was such as to Lilly warrant its being then entered on. He wished, ht wever, to know. whether there was any Hon. Member who had any objeaion to make to u? Mr. GREY said, it was generally enderstool, that the business which had the precedence of tie kg.icy dirty, would take up in much time, as to preckide the chance of its coming o.i this day, and, as such. several Hon. Members were not present, MLo intended to deliver their sentiments whenever the sallied should be discussed. He hopt 3 / 4 1, there fore, it would not be pressed by the Right Hon. Gentleman. Sir J. N&WPOR r opposed it on the ground, that there was a considerable deal of Irish business to he brought forward, and as it was not allowed to he postpmed yesterday, which was the anniver sary of the Tutelar Slim of Ireland, and a day on which the Irish Members acrid have wished to have attended the institution, could they have done a without adereliction of their Niliamentary duty, he hoped nothing would Min day h. allowed to im pede I*.. that N4'23 not absolutely fised,tur discussion. The Report was then brought up and *agreed to, Alt! the Bill ordered to be read t. third time on Frlday. l'he Rill for the relief Of Lord Jour Tiorsiss was read :a third time and posed. The Irish Excise Duty, Stamp Duty, Postage Duty, and Malt and Spirit Duty Bills, were eve rally committed, and the Reports brdeted to be re ceived to-morrow. 'The Floll6e scent hit a Committee on the Irish wtoms Dray ; Mr. Axel mania in the Chair. Mr. FOSTER ;aid, that not.eithstanding the six per cent. retail duties had been la;.I nn for upwards of a century past without being complained of, yet, as, on the present occasion, they had been warmly and strenuously opposed by Hnirntirable Gentlemen who were representatives film rimy different parts of Ireland, he would not, at present, press them any farther. On the Clause imposing the tax on timber be;ng read ; Sir J. NEWPOR ! I , sifter recapitulating the ar gunrents lee had used against it on a f"rmer nighr, newed, as an Amendment,"'that the Duties men tioned in the Schedule relative to timber be lett out." this a division took place. For the Amendment, 34 , Against it, M. The Bill then went through the Commitre-, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow. Mr. H. TrIORN TON gave notice that he would, on Thursday, mar. a Moran for appointing a day for the exchange of Lists on the Middlesex Lleaion. --Adjourned. I irtiE PRESS LoN DON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20. Lord GRENVILLE, in the House of Lords, and Mr. Fox, in the House of Commons, severally gave notice last night, of their intention to present, on Monday, the Petitions of the Roman Catholics of Ireland. Mr. Ga v gave node-, in the House of Commons, of a motion to-morrow fortnight, upon the Tenth Report of the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry. Mr. FL Tnoasyrois also gate notice of a motion to-morrow, fur appointing a day for the exchange of lists upon the Middle sex Eleßion, preparatory to a scrutiny. The Diana Packet arrived at Falmouth on Sa turday from Lisbon, after a very quick passage of only four days. She brings an account, that only one of the Nledttertanean fleet was taken by . the French. The length of the aCtion with the at ttso and Anacreon, and the crippled stite of the enemy, hiving enabled the rest of the fleet to effeet their es c tpe. Thus has this boasted stroke against British commerce come almost to nothing. Two Gottenburgh Mails arrived yesterday, toge- ther with a Russian Messenger, who biings dis patches said to be of great importance. The Purser of the Admiral Aplin arrived yester day at the East India House, with an account that the long missing ship the Prince of Wulei, Cap tain PR ICE, had been captured and carried into the Mauritius. _ _ The Sir James Saamores cutter, of 12 guns, which arrived at Plymouth on Sunday last with dispatches from Gibraltar, and which sailed horn that place nbout a fortnight ago, brings account thtt the Garrison at that time enjoyed the most perfdl beak:). Extra& of a Letter from Oporto, dated March 5 " This coast is 1.111 of privateers from Vigo, Murso, Scc. which captured on the 3d inst. the Mary, Dun .-sty, of Newcastle, and two other vessels, which bailed from- Portsmouth under convoy of the ifoobur. e , di. frigate; which has gone on with the fleet for Lisbt n." The Hop, MEL L WOOD, from Newfoundland for Oporto, and 40 :lonia, Porn, from London, were captured near Oporto on the 24th ult. the former is retaken, and is rime arrived at Oporto. A considerable reduCtion has just taken place in the Staff of this Kingdom Thirteen Majors and Brigadier Generals, employed on the Volunteer Duty hate been discontinued, with their several Mrs of Btigade. The charges against the Hon. Colonel Jonts srossa having been gone through, he commenced his defence yesterday with an eloquent speech of three hours. l'he Court then adjourned at his request till this day. The troop. going on the Secret Expedition are two squadrons of the 20th Light DTAWX3III, dis mounted. under the command of Lieutenant-Colo nel TA-time. and twelve regiments of Infantry of the Line, selected from the strongest. Aln igade is under orders from Ireland, and is to -join toe ex pedition at Cot k ; the 81st and .58th regiments are amongst those named. The Officers ache Dragoons ate allowed to embark horses in small proportions. 1r is confidently reported, that no General Officer, above the rank of Brigadier, is going on the Espe dition, except General Sir J. H. ell A la, who com mands the whole. _ _ Capt. Liao, who rs glori'usly beat off LINO'S, is a brother to Dr. Lib: o, of Portsmouth, and untie to Lieut. J. LIND Mt,K (son of Dr. Mete, Phy sician to this Garrison), a promising young officer, now serving in the Lassa [fixate. The Channel Fleet, consisting of 19 sail of the line, sailed from Torbay on the 17th, to resume dicir station off Brest I.d GAR Dm aR i arrived in town, and will soon take the command of the Channel Fleet. A Court of Aldermen was held yesterday at Guildhall, at which the Loin MA von, 18 Attnii mt.:, Soca:Yrs, and City Officers, were present The Court. on inspecting the Mealweighers re turns, ordered the price of Bread to be reduced half an Assize, or Id. in the l'eck Loaf, which will take pine to-morrow, when the Qoartern 1.0.tf Wheaten will he sold at Is. 3.d. and Household Is. 21d. The Right Rev. Father in God, the Lord Bishop of Rocriasree, and the Rev. Genitor HENRY GLASSt, M. A. Re&tor of Hanwell, Middlesex, and Chaplain to His Royal Highness the Duke of CA At- BRIDGE, were requested to preach the Spite' Ser mons nu Monday and Tuesday in Easter week next. A rercon from the Isles of France (v. 4 Ameri ca), wh . eh place he left on the Bth of November last, states, that the Princess Charlotte. and another Com pany's ship (reported to he the Prince of Wed,* ), had been carried in there. A letter from Folkstone, dated Monday, says.— " The signal was yesterday made from the heights for the first time these some months for th enemy's small cruisers standing to the Westward from Ca lath ; several ships of the squadron, which had ...tiled on Saturday evening, were at this time seen ch,se in with the enemy's coast. There was some fit ing iu the course of the day, and a great deal diuitig last night; several shells were thrown about midnight from the batteries to the East nt Boulogne, to which port the enemy's vessels ate probably endeavouring to make their passage." The following letter from an Officer belonging t ) th:: Diamond frigate, and dated the IYth inst. •tf Blest, spews that it still remains in port:—" We are left on the look out, with two other of His Ma jesty's frigates, since our squadron bore up for 'Tor bay ; the enemy remain in the inner harbour, with sin variation w . latever in their position, that indli ates a disposition te sail. We run close in occasionally, and count twenty-one sail of die line, apparently equipped; but from the neutral vessels, and fishing boats, which we board, we learn that they are not half manned." I- THEATRE, in.--- DRURY-LANZ. Last night, Their M AnSTIES and the fiy• PRI , cessiis honoured this Theatre with their presence, to see the Comedy of The Honey Alson. a second time, and the Force ~f .Liairmionv. Miss Dt CA MV. in the absence of Mrs. JOAO', t: sustained the part of Chtra. Considering her as the substitute for that admirable aftress, whose return is anxiously et peaed, we do not think it would he fiir to criticize her performance too minutely. The whole enter tainmvnts went off with great rclat. The Rovai. PARTY were received with the most enthusiastic de monstrations of loyalty and affeElion by one of the most crowded houses of the season. The usual songs were sung, and the illustrious visitors seemed much pleased with then entertainment. His MAJ VAT V wore blue and gold. IHE QUk EN—A. eery dark rot* embroidered with ad ; white bleeres and coil ; white tippet and gloves; a black turban, OU•CPS .1 wills dli:Atlath diamond ear-rings and neck. lace PRINCESS AUGUSTA—A white ctn.,' dress, richly spangled waft silser ; a tact tippet. confined on the shoulders; Alan - lend necklace and ear-rings, white Her headtlress k 'sawn haradeau, richly unlamented .with diamonds ; a disiniiiiil crescent awl stars, six white leather., and Wrack lace lappets This dress was extremely eiegailt PRINCESS EI.IZ ARETH—A dark round dregs, sleeves covered with a silver net; diainund necklae, and ear-rings ; a lace handkerchief fastened on the shoulders; a yello• crape turban, .iiented with viper; a Alamund crescent in hoot, him ostrich fzathers a plume de coque, and a most beautiful beep' tof natural Row s. PRINCESS SOPHIA'a Dees+ the same as Princess Augusta's. PRINCESS MARI - a...A peach coloured tissue robe, whde crape sleeved; a lace tippet and white &yes ; diamond neck • lace and eserities ; head-drevs, a black velvet bandeau, with two chains of diamonds, crescent, wars, &e. and three white feathers. a beautiful S. PRINCESS AMELIA—wik *cadet and gold tissue robe, white deeves, ornamented with st.dd ; rat heed dress, a hick velvet bandeau, ornamented with very large pearls, and add necklace m 4 ear-sings to match ; eaplume of white 'e alters, and black lace lappets. MUSICAL PARTIES. Mrs. Msyntizu gave a Grand Concert at her house in Grosvenor-street, on Monday night, to about 300 persons of fashion. Madame Br ASCHI executed a song, composed by M. BIANCHI, in a most finished style. Diszr played a Coarevto upon the harp, which was much admired. A Trio for the piano forte and horns, composed for this Con cert, by Meow e, was performed by the Ls it N ire as, and the Composer. It was universally admired.— The Band was very ably led by Mr. Wklcusitax. Mr. Heavisinc gave his fifth Musical Party on Monday last, at his house, in George-street. Han over-square. It was numerously and fashtionably attended. Captain HEAVISIDE was the principal Violoncello. He is a very excellent Performer. The First Ladies' Private Vocal Concerts will take place next Monday, at the Hnn. Mrs. BOLIN. SON'S, Privy Gardens. BAST LESS AN and Bk AII AM are engaged far these Cnacerts. The performances are to be held every fortnight. On Monday night a Grind Concert was given at Cambridge, under the direction of Dr. Halos.. Miss TENNANT was the principal singer, and exerted her charming voice with fine effra. ROM. THE LADY TOWNSHENDS' ROUT. Those very elegant and Accomplished young Ladies gave a grand rout on Monday evening, at their father's, the Earl of LEICESTER% house; in Orosvenor-square. In the arrangements for this entertainment, every attention was paid to the ac commodation of the visitors, and every apartment displayed the utmost taste and magnificence. In this elegant circle, consisting of 44X) of the first rank and fashion, were— The Wein.; of Chandra; Counteme of Galloway and Clare ; Va.countetnes Goefort, Cranley, and Marshern ; I. drn A. Cumberland, Eliot, flume, Campbell, G. Cavendish, 4*. Johat,ton, Bu,wn, Browillow, Sebright, ■nd Walker; Vue COUnta Cranley, Marsham, and the Han. Miss Gronstnnet. Mr. HAMMERSLEY*4 ROUT. On M.nitlay evening, Mr. HAP4MlCast.sv gave a grand rout at his house in Pall Mall, which was most numerously and fashionably attended. There wore present — The Diiches,of G•trdon Earls of Warwick. Longford, and Scarborough, the Archbi:ltoir of Dublin and Lady Somerton, Vixotantewi Hawarden and Newz k ; Ladies 'reinplt town, 11. Gdauntr, C. Henrik, Roberta, Heteig awl Buxton; Vis counts Hawarden, Cranks! and Newark; Sir Lucas Pens, General. Calvert awl Balfour; Cul. Balfour; Mntre.ses Long, ‘leyrick, WoOil, Talbot, Ciiiitori, Lee, Glover, R tchardwin, [Linter, Fitzhugh, and eleincutri ; Mi.set Fordyce. WiLets, Egerton, Blackburn?, and Murray ; and Mr. Greenwood. 1.2 -4 Chanloerlain's Oftcr, Waf eh 19, 11‘03. Notice 14 hereby given, that there will be V A •ing Room at St. James's, on Thurirlay next, the 41st irutant Yesterday, about one o'clock, Her M lESTY and the Pairaccsses, attended by the Dowager Lady SIDNEY, arrived at the Queen's House from Wind sor. In a short time after the Dukes of Ka. r, Sussex, and CaMIRI DO I, visited Her MAJ CST y. His MAJCSTY arrived about four o'clock from Kew. The Earl and Countess of. CHIC tt, UTE are ex pelled at their house in Stratton-street this day. The last arrivals at Clifton are, Lord and 10.1. , Rtversdals, Lord 3 , 1 , 1 Lady Ldfortl, Ilan PA. . Werdeura and 'amain, Major Nixon, and Mrs. fir ,d..rl Mr. and Mrs Dooms. Since the appearance of the Young Russia., • - $r receipts of the Theatre include not only pounds, lime, and peace, but also bats, skirts, and shoes. rise Duke and Duchess ut GORDON halm taken a house in Portman-square. Viscount and Viscountess Bioawa will remain in town until the departure of Marquis Coati wa t.Lts for India. The List of Partnerships dissolved, in last night's Ga :stir, contains the dissolution of a Lfe without a death. Mr. Cos MAN has a new Comedy in preparation at Covent Garden. Report speaks highly of its merits. Mr. Cow, the artist, has been requested to execute a 3:ar4r of the Chow Chickta, fora gentle man in the Pus!try. The charming house above Richmond Bridge, the residence of the late Faro. Plum, Esq. is taken by Lady MARV Mimi's, wise has purchased the lease and furniture, . - • • FURTHER EXTRACT PROM THR TENTH REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OT NAVAL ESQUIRY. Mt. TROTTER ' S DEYLNCE THr ARTICLE SO OrTLN FFFFF RED TO, •ND comsrpsinn uros. IN 1111. EXTRACT Tann THE * IIRPOnT GIVEN In THIS YESTERDAY. As many of the questions you have thought pro per to ask mr, appear to me to be intended to ena ble you to judge. whether, in consequence of m y having been supposed to derive advantAgei from the use of money in my liands, the public have ever suffered any loss, or experienced any inconvenience, by delay or interruption in the payments which hay. been made under my direCtion. Ltnissttesegleaire to - state the following circumstances: . • In the first place, f desire to state, in the most explicit terms, that the arneunt of money issued from the Exchequer, or otherwise, paid to the T rela sorer of the Navy, did not depend upon me, n. .r upon the Treasurer, whom I represented; that it was not in my power to increase or diminish the sum under my care, by one farthing, such amount ben .g. determined exclusively by the Navy, Sick and Hurt, and Ttansporf Boards, who respe,-t -ively fix the amount from their owu views of its ne cessity. In the next place, I state with equal precition, t'.o of a sum exceeding one hundred and tbuty four million's; which, under the regulatioU of the Aft dirating the money to be issued to the Rank s was put under my direftion, commencing with rr.y appointment to the office in 1786, and ending with my resignation of the office of P.tylbaues last year, not one penny (except a sum of 6051. which I have stated to the Navy Board as 4 official that) re mains in my possession, or in that of any of my Principals : nor in the payment of all that sum has there ever been the least delay, orloss, or interrup tion, every de:nand having been satislitd, and' The balance which remained having been paid over to my successor. • With regard to the mode in which this •has been done, I feet myself equally tree of blade.. In the year 1785, an As of Parliament passed, dicing, that all issues to the Treasurer of the Navy from the Exchequer should be placed to his credit althe Bank of England, and be drassn from thence by drafts, specifying the he-ads of service for which it was wanted. These direaioni have accordingly been invariably followed; but, to make every indi vidual payment of each department of as extensive office by such drafts, could nevor tie the intention of the Aft ; nor were such payments ever attempted to be so made, either by me qr uy my predecessor. or successor in office ; accordingly, . sums were drawn by me from the Bank, in gross, to form fonds kir the satitfaCtion of such pay meats, of the amount of which. I, as representieg the Teta surer, was left exclusively to judge. -Wh ile the . di fice continued in Broad -street, and was tolicquendy n.rar the Bank, such balances under my care were comparatively less. When it was removed to tio merset-plare, and bogs the riik of' carrier and'the inconvenience of sendifig 'stlppits became reater,'The turns under my rare there ti course auk. maned, and then, as well as for lteetrity arid accu racy, as to facilitate my parriebtObld'rttows to the assistance of a private Banker, for which I had previonsly the erprest approba t ion (if the - Trearurer then in office, and which I do not* consider AS , the least departure from the letter or spirit of the above aft. • . As the aggregate of balances under the charge of the Ireasurer of the Navy will, upon a review,-- app pear very large, it must b e recolleaed, trat he a@s as banker to the Navy Board, Vi6ualling Sick and Hirt Board, and Transport Board,,wlio pass their accounts separately, and have no connec tion with each ether; and who, from .xperience, find the mode of 'keeping the several heads of ser-. vice cLtinft, the most convenient ; bat, whether dm aggregate be great or small, I repeat, was no cart of mine. My duty was to have a sufficiency of thew funds, at every moment, in such a shape as to ratie. fy every authorised demand ; and, in the execution of this duty, I claim merit in having so tulfilled it. that every claimant wrs not only paid without best cation or interruption, but in the way most conve nient to himself. The end of public satisfaetion having been thus attained. and admitted by those who have bad cou net:lions with the office. by the Boards who have eentrouled it, and by the officers and clerks who have.afted under me, I cannot conceive it will be imputed to me a. a fault, that, in the management of sums which, in case of any accident haring hap pened, were of a magnitude to have overwhelmed me, I have consulted my own safety and that of the public, in lesser arrangements, by krep:og con siderable sums in my own hands, and in th.N. a private banker, which lessened the ft-Tient risk tending the carrying the drafts to the Bank, And obtained use greater facilities in checking my ac counts. No negative is put upon my making such arrangement by the only ant, 23 Geo. 111 cap. 31. that bears upon the sulsjat. and to these. perhaps, is principally owing the exemption from any error or delay in the irhole of my public d..ty. But it is no.s unnecessaty to dwell upon the me rits of the mesh: I followed in the former part of my Pay mastership, as, in the latter part of it, the mode now adopted was introduced ; and from that period till the present moment, no money has been in my hands for the purpose of preparatory supply of funds to the cashiers and paymasteis. It is no doubt gebelally presumed, that advan tages are derived from the use of puiilic money by those in whose hands it lies. I have myself no doubt. though I cannot prove it, that suet Alvan tsges were enjoyed by my predecaseir.. It is evi. dent, from what I have stated, that they might have been enjoyed by them with honour and with safety to the public ; and the exceeding smallness of the &buy of Paymaster, when comp's, ed with the immense extent of the trust and responsibility re posed in him, and• with the complex devotion of his whole time to te service of the public, affords a presumption that such advantages have b:ea con sidered as firming a part of the retriuu , ratioe of so anxious ai.l confidential a 4. barge : a. the 1i1114.' time. I by no means preteni to Alain that the use of such advantages centre shewn to be any share dis tinily recognised and sandioned by law. Under the” circumstance-. alone it • kept in ignorance of the views with 3M. is. that toms which skis ass. . .