The Sun. — London, England, 1803-01-01 00:00:00

MAILS. DLit. French IP • • • • • • • • • . • : Aaalvtn. THE SUN. 10L1114 outs DICIR.II iwcsum AUPSAT ? LSO_ D ON, ANU ARY r, rgo3. TO THE PeBLIC. AT the commencement of every Year since the .Esta . ilishment of TAPaper, it has been our 'rallied , to express our Gratitude tothat_Public by 'which have been so liberally encouraged—and each occasion has gifven vs additional moti , ves far feeling expr,-ssing that sentiment. The confidence qubich , Lve are known to posses!, ren. ders it-unriecesiary for us to have recourse to the common prattler of our Co n temporaries, suesring from doubtful circumstance; at the real slate of things. Our reas)nin7c are formed upon authentic . and, by a comparison quit/a ewer other journal, ale desire our gesieral .11110r1401011 to be tried, and our merits to be examined and deter. mined. The preference., however, which has been sheww to to has, la;ght natural& he expeastd, created Emonies as well as Friends. We are not unfre quently the objecrts of Ca/ism/Iy, and art attacked only that our reply may bring those whO assail us into notice. There art thole who never speak of us except in terms of the grossest virulence and scurrility ; who pride themselves upon what they call strong writing; and 'who think it consists in personal abase. The only, consequence to us of the malignity of these Mee is, to convince the World of the bitterness of their envy andjetdonsy, arising from the Success our journal.—We hardly need add., that We shall :not . condesc,;nd to notice the Libtkof suclOpersons, or to hold any communica. lion with them. To anus ground of attack alone 'we shall say a word— ,lnconsistency has been imputed to us—if in any dessee ha-vt appeared inconsistent, authent;c information has been the cause of it—We have not 'varied more than thinir and circumstances have 'varied. We have, within the course of a jinx months, expressed our well-grounded fears of . the renewal of War, and our hopes for the mainte. wince of Peace ; and 'we appeal to every man , • •".z who possesses a correa knowledge of the recent tranradiont upon the Continent, whether there has not been, iu the course, of a short period, and at no - vrs,:y distant intervals, the strongest grounds for bolding this wositr language. An ignorant perseverance in one uniform and flied opinion, Islay be dignified 'with the name of Cunsistenq— . Such Consistency will neithrr be gratijj•ing or use. fal to our Readers, or'creditahle to us. , flit must change our view of things with circumstances.-•-- Perhaps the most inconsistent of all Men, arc,those :who 'email 'wedded :o an opinion once taken, "although t.isegs:ounels upon which it was originally . • formed have heels complete' ) changed. From Consistency of Prineiile We shall never be fund to twerve. ire admired the Patriotism and 104113? PO[11611(6044 D0e7,44,, of Mr. Prt - r—.lre admire the lane le1;110Intil is Mr. AuotNevroN.- . Th e la'ster_h a s ;went& established a . fre,rh claim lo our confidence— Ilehas preserved' the true line Of discretion in the delicate situation in which the • Nation is placed--He hat neither: adopted the low and humiliating tote of Mr. Fax, star j oined the quari;4o cry of Mr. WINDIt.wt and his. Ad herents. The general situation , of the Country •rue tontrroPlate in m iify respeal "with iatisfaftion. The 17oserisk ieg state of our Trade and our Revenue, and the rapid progress of the &inking' Fund in the extin e . lion of 944 are subjditi of great consolation ; and if, from the altered. and unsettled state of Europe, nue are not free from anxiety, 'we have at least the comfort of know;ng, that no vitae-me; or exertion "will he 'wanting in those to . 1 . - o Lon oar 'welfare it entrusted. Their first rare 'will he the Seturity--tbeir s next, the I'roptr4y of the Country. Several of the French Newspapers still . continue to pour for'lls their 'virulent abuse si,osm some of the gyeatett and best Charatert of this Country ;. aud some f the least reputable-of our .7ouruah, blame.' of treai:nz their detailed falsehoods 'with contempt, have'retaii...4 their inveflipe. We Viers 'wish the licentiousness of Newspapers conlii (betted, !without ;,ifrbising tk invaluable Li. herty of 401 Press, Personal rejledions, xrncon welled with political torssiderations, xtpu the Cha. roller cud Conduit of Leading Alen Foreign Countries„ &tome a ,fit subp7 for the Cogstizonte of Coirrts of Lau ; bit where Political Ques: ;ions are ialsolu.d, the fullest discussion is jet. • N. iifiaMe, ands:4th discussion should nrver he: re ierained, except from prudential tonsiderations. Neither the alum of M. HAUTERIVB Mr M. FIEVEE, upon the Leading Members of the last, or the present Administration, *will ever provoke us to reply in the language of personal inveaive; but we shall always make the fullest anirnadver. 110111 On the proceedings of other Power:, in cases in which we think our vain National Interests are involved. We cannot conduit this Address 'without again re., guesting the Public to accett our most cordial Thanks for. their extensi , i)e Patronage, or quitbout repeating the assurance that we shall use our test efforts to continue to deserve it. WE' received this morning the Paris raisers to the zgth ult. They contain a most important Let ter from Berrie, which states the substance of what pared at an interview between the FIRSVTOMUL of France and the Deputies who form the Swiss C0,,.j whir. The language held upon this occasion by BONAPAITE, and his Letter to the Deputies, which was read tnAhenuon a former day by BAR. THELELIY, explain pretty clearly .his intentions with respect to the' future destination of that Country. He recommends, as the basis upon which the new CeMstitution of SwitirArlan's' is to rest, first an Evalit . ) , of Rights amot the Eigh teen ,Cantons ; 'secondly, an entire renunciation of all Aristocratic Family Rights; and lastly, a Fe. derative Conformation in respect to each particular Canton.—The minute details of their internal Go vernment. are'nominally entrusted to the People Of Switzerland, lint with %sped to their external policy, and their coonexion will) any Foreign Power, these are points upon, which they ate told they Must not presume to judge for themel ves,bat they must receive and obey the Mandates of the Government of France. All connexion between Eiiitaisd and Sqviizerlandis. positively interdiCted, and,'-indeed, it • is, plainly avowed, that 'Switzerland would have been formed into. two Departments of France, : 'the two Coon. tries hattnocpeen separtiod by Nta tie. Such is the It language 410 ltas been held, tto the ones independent and happy people of Switzerland, and such is the fate to which they are destn ed.. The Funds continue at so. A•r the dose of,a year so abounding in important occurrences, so.pregnant with matter of anxiety ar.d of interest, md at some periods calculated to inspire hope, at others to excite appreitension, it would be to impose an unnecessary restraint on our feelings, were we to refrain from offering to our Readers, such observations, as .a.rareful review of the past, and an impartial consideration of the present state of things, seem almost naturally to present to our minds. Perhaps we may even hazard some opiniinis as to the future. At the beginning of the rear tSoz, Great Bri tain found hers Orin a peculiar, and, indeed, critical situation. The Pre,liminaries of Peace with France and her Allies had been signed three months; and little or no advanCe seemed t bc made towards the conclusion of . .a'Definitivo.Trea t y. On the part of this Country, some impatience at this unexpeded delay soon began to. manifest itself, proportioned to the sincere spirit of reconciliation with which Svc .theatlidd the sword, in the midst of Success and . victory impatience was not a little aggra vated by the vieWs, - which France evidenced during the Negotiation, both to Foreign and Coot - Joel-1W aggrandizement. The formidable Armament sent for the retink') of Sr. Domingo, was . by inany, suspedei.to be direded against some of our , West India Possessions: and Government, though evi. dently entertaining no inch suspicion, thought proper to Neind out a strong Fleet to watch its mo. rions', prudently determining to leave nothing to chance. These circumstances, coupled with the protraned suspense which hung over the Public Mind, led to speculations not very faVouruble to the result of the Negotiation. The Funds Conti. nued depressed ;—Trade seemed to stagnate ; and the Spirit of Commercial Enterprize was aftaid to chew itself. Under such inauspicious appearances, it reqUired,no moderate degree of caution, address, temper, And firmness to - conduct the Negotiation to its hoped-for issue. The Public Confidence, how. :tvcr, never seemed to desert those, to whose hands were entrusted the maintenance of our Security, and the preservatkon of our Honour ; and which, it was well known, they would never be induced to' compromise, in the pursuit of their great and fa, Vottrite 'obket. The adoption , of too .submissive, or too haughty a tone, Would; probably have pre. eluded its attairAent. It - Wail pursued with a steady ask t l undeviating course, and success was the reward a perseverance and. wisdom. The hopes, the apprehensions, and the anxieties of the ?col*, were put an end to in ;he month of March, by the arrival of the Del lye Treaty.- The happy consequences of the honourable -ter. iurination of the War which this Treaty presented, were, the almost immediate repeal of the Income Tax, and a very gteat reduaion of our Naval and Military Establishments. The discharge of the mortgage (s6,000,000l.) on the former, in addi tion to the large sums which it was ileCGOßary to provide for the winding up of the War, imposed a difficult and arduous duty on the Minister. How it was executed, the Publicperhaps has not forgot,, and that the Loan was made on more favourable terms than any that had preceded it : as the taxes which were laid to defray its interest, have' proved prodative beyond all example. All the measures of Government experienced the cordial and zealous support of the distinguished Individual, who Wis, of all men out of office, the best capable of Ai mating their importance and value. Every thing wore a striking, a satisfactory, and a h o pef u l ;11). pearance. • • This, however, was of no long duration.,. The irritating and hostile language of the French Official Joernal, occasioned inquietude, by, na. turally suggesting doubts of the sincerity of the 'French Government. Strang indications Of a dig. position unfavourable•to the independence of Rol. laud manifested themselves, Nor had that uneasi. ness on this' account subsided, when the cause of Switzerland roused the : attention, and excited the indignation of this Country and of Europe. We forbeae to enter into any comment on, or any de- tail of,he circumstances which re-established the dependance of that unfortunate and devoted Coun try. Suffice it to observe, that it was under a strong impression frhi the extraordinary occur rences which had taken place there, and in a state of perfed4gnoranee as to the measures which His Majesty's IVlinisters meant td pursue, that the New Parliament assembled in the beginning. of Novem ber.. A more anxious and critical period has seldom occurred in the History of Great Britain. The mea. 'sures, of progressive aggression by France on the independence olContinental Powers, Might perhaps have been considered as affording sufficient jestifica. Lion for the armed interference of this Country. But how would IVlinisters have been able io repel the charge of gross' inconsistency in hastily abandoning those advantagetand blessings which their . ownPeace had been the instrume nt o f p rocur i ng f or us ? •True to their system, they happily found a Parliament unani. rnously disposed to support them whilst steadily acting up to it. But though policy forbad them rashly.,. to' part with the Olive branch from one hand, public • Security required that they should buckle 'on 'the Shield to the other, That Shield, the Encrgyif Parliament, and the Resources of the Country have abundantly supplied, and cannot fail to afford us ample safety, dire led by the strong arm of a firtn and discreet Government. . We cannot ,sufficiently congratulate our Country, men on 'the Proceedings which have marked 'the first Meeting .of the new Legislature. We have witnessed on every occasion, unanimous demon strations of a lofty National Spirit ; we have seen the ready adoption of Measures, which have placed the Country on a rocleof Internal Strength ; we have ;had to rerce and to glory in an uncontradided play of Commercial Prospefity and Financial Re source, unrivalled in our Annals. These are the means of Security which we have in our hands :sae these are the formidable and faithful Alli 4 which we have ready at cointnand. With a poikerful Mi. litary and Naval Force; a flourishing llevenue ; 1 ; spirited Parliament ; and a vigilant and economical • Goaafament—What can,Great Britain have to fear ? What has' she not to hope from the 'impr ess i on which this aggregate of circumstances, to us so cheering and consolatory, must produce on any neighbouring. Powers, whom our weakness alone could furniSh with teMptation to aggression ; whom possibly nothing but a knowledge of our, Strength could deter from it ! It was with peculiar satisfadion that we observed the Statement, from high Authority, that the Ad.. ditional E4pence of. the increased Establishment would probably be nearly defrayed by the Excess of our Revenue. We understand, that the difference between- even so high a Peace Establishment, and that which was kit op . during the latter period, of the War, amounts to no less a sum than 20,000,0001. Of the Charges which have been brought against Administration ,for :too rapid a diminution of our Naval and Military Strength, repeated and conclu. sive refutations have alecady been given.' To those who have hazarded the no less idle and unfounded accusation of want . of Energy and Vigour, we an, s • • swer by a single question—What solitary instance can► be a need, since Has MAJ Y called the m NI LidM the 4 present Situations, ,that can furnish even a coloor for it ? On the singular and extraordinary state of Par. ties at the present moment (which to sonic may na. turitily afford matter for anxious speculation) on the 'conduft of some of those who have headed the Op. positknn to Government, and on other topics of a public nature, we propose shortly to oft*.er observations. At present we than content ou with adding, that if the internal happint prosi•t!rity of a Country can be justly conside a true criterion by which the talents and wisf its Rulers ; may he estimated, there never wa cause for complaint, never more cause to be fed than at the present moment. Not that admit ibis by any means as a perfea rule by the conduet of Public Men can properly and ci ly be measured. That adversity and public t 1 must be the necessary consequences of a iv , wicked Administration, can scarcely be but experience 'his too often proved, that , the measures of the most able Councils may ti in an unfortunate result. Turning aside, ho from men, it is impossible for any refl.glin, vidual totonteMplate the pr esent s i tuat i on o: Britain without, consolation, or ,to anticip future without svell.grounded hope. The of the Country are not immoderite; We a , for the advantages of exclusiVe Commerce would wish indeed to see our neighbours in sion of their full share of it: A fair . pitrtic of its benefits would, in our opinion, rot best Bond of Union the surest preser of Public iranquillityr Our great aim, ai objed of our first wishes and endeavours shot to preserve our Honour Aimed, our Securi impaired. Woe to that Power that shall pl to insult the one, or to invade the other. HIS MAJESTY held a Council yesterday Cabinet Ministers at Windsor, at which the C, CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Lords PELIIA.M HAWKESBURY, and most of the Privy Counr tended. The. business, it is said, was relat, signing the. Commission for the trial of C WSJ' Alt D, and the persortenow in custody on cion of having been guilty of treasonable pr: against the State. The MILE of YORK, accompanied b: GREENWOOD, returned to Town yesterday ing from 13ath. Mr. H. AT DINGTON is appointed raymaster, its • the room 'of Lord GL EN ER lE, who succeeds Mr. ROBINSON as Surveyor of the Woods and Forests. , The former, is gone,, we understand, to Harwich, to offer himself C;andidate there. Mr. SA RG EN T , t h e Secretary to the Treasury; is gone to his seat in Sussex,' for the Recess. Lord .CHARLES SPENCER is enjoying the festio Vities of Blenheim, .with his brother the Duke of 11/I,tlttiloaouctt, • We . have ,aueltbrtty t ..con a paragaaph which was copied into this Paper, respthing Major `Dkviori, who is now travelling in 'the Suite of PRINCR WILLIAM of GLOVCLSTRR. That Gen:. tleinau is not the son of :the celebrated - Hibernd.. Austrian General of that ~name, who n .was killed when on- a reconnoitring. party before Dunkirk; but was born in the County. of Kent, ,of Kentish parents, and is a Gentleman of an iodtpemlent fore tune ; he is al so a M a j or in the West Kent Regi• merit of Militia, and wag in aCtual service in that Regiment during the whole of the last War ; he vo. lunteered himself with the Prince on the Expedition to Holland under - His Royal Highness the Dot* of YORK. A Hart:bosh Mail arrived yesterday evening, but has brought no intelligenct.worthy of notice, By Advice, from Holland of the 201 Git,. it appears that the two French Generals, Vicrop, and CitSAR 13! RTIII RR, have arrived there with orders from the FIRST CONSUL, for the Expedition fitting out in the Ports of that Country, to,,sail imme. diately ; but it is presumed, from various impedim ments, that it cannot put to sea for a'fortnight. Private Letters from Amsterdam, brought by the Batavian Mail, state, that public,credit has suffered much 4y a proposal on the part of the Government to change the Rptcriptions, payable after the Peace, for National Paper, without any definitive period of payment. In consequence of the proposal, the Re, scrip Lions fell nearly fiVer per Cent, in the coursed two days. Count AotoottAoA is the new Minister appointed-. ,„' by the Court o f M a d r id to our Court, Orders have: . been transmitted _by His Excellency to peovidrs : a superb place of residence for him in London, but las :; arrival is not experted for nearly three months. The Prussian Minister at Paris, the Marquis Ds. Ixceitest xi, gave on Christmas day a magnificent 11.11 at his Hotel.. The Corpi Diplomattquc as. sisted at it. The Princesses Do r wouto CAstgooktirtddy LADIN, Madame. Vtscowri, Madame De CETI . ° and her daughter, and the Marchioness De GALL°, were present. Yesterday a Court of .Directors was held at the. India House, when Captains IVIAxw ELL, Guslort anti WELLAUV IC P, were sworn into the command: Of their respettive ships. Capt. Fo.a.usa of the Cumberland, rook leave of. the Court, previous to that ship receiving her final Dispatche s fo r Coast and China. ( biter .adjourned at Six o'Clock till Wednesday. next. -- - - During the last year, up to the 'WI of Decem. her, 12,030 Vessels passed the Sound. On Christmas Day the Margrave and Margra. sine of AzistAcit's Annual Donation of Bread and Beer, &c. was given .to the Poor around .eenhain, when 36 families were relieved, and the IVJargra_ vine added several dozen of worsted stockings to • the gift, for the children who wanted them. Lord Viscount Loy/Tara has given directions to his Agent to pay ten guineas annually, to the Blue Coat Schools, Schools or Industry, and Sunday Schools, Afar the Edly,ation of „Poor Children) in Kendal. The sum. of Ave pounds, the annual donation of Mrs. Ase t toty, of Aahby.St..liedgers s , in :North' -amptoUshirei Was distributed ainongst. the Poor of Brigham, near Cockermoutli, on Christmased ; to their great relief at this inplcment season. k ... • ,1 re r s. ourself, ~ iness anc. idered .'is visdom • 16 ' was less be so tis.. • : , It we ca , by tilii ','. . [I carte t ~71, Le dist ~ .. i' - i' , veak ') • „:,::: 1 .-...; (lout ' ‘,, i 'o: , he t, t ' i ,47, i 1 ; , k , i terl ~ f:, ,-,. howl : •,,,'' `''''7-4 ~ king • - 11- : of Great :ipate the ' l 7 ,:, ...- e wishes '''' . ....A, e ask 60t ' ,l ,:i! rce : we 0 ;',1,44; ~, 4.i , t nIOO9SCS. 1 r ticipation !_,.. ) ' 1 .74,'. and the .l".=-,`.: I s i re o ?T u vv l e d a t l thi , v s,: e i:; 4 :4 ‘; :,. , ' ;.' ; urity un. ' I presume , :4, ft,' iy of the li, Le Cli AN. .V ElAm and 4 uncil ai. Nl' dative to it', Colonel ) on suspi. . ... 1 praetics*, , by Mr. '" 4 Y MO(Liii. 'aster, in teds Mr. Forests. Harwich, easury, is he festi.. Duke of ,aragaaph ig Major Suite of, tat Gen:. -i.,, Hibetno. Rs killed Dunkirk; Kenii,fs x' ° y dent Ident for. nt Regi. `.. J . ) C in that x..,'4 : he vo. i' c h Kpeditio - . he Dugs —4 . -1 evening ; :.., '43 . !,. notice.. ` ° :T , ult.. it f,fL :Top, and ; di orders DTI fitting ' , it immt.