The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-13 00:00:00

LICENSING VIE PRESS.

A* we have the authority of Lord SIDMOUTU
f r avowing that Ministers had under their consi-
slewion, whether it might not be expedient to im-
woe a censorship upon the Press, when they deli-
berated upon the measures necessary to curb its
I:centiou,ness (as the term goes), and as what has
happened once in a Cabinet constitutional as the
p-e=eot, may again recur to the fertile conception
a its Nlembers, we should recommend to their
perusal (the Poet Laurent, no doubt, has the book),
!: oN 'a Speech to the Parliament of England
.1;•- the Liberty of Unlierned Printing, of which
i‘ r follossiiig is an extract. It was originally pub-
hi!.ed miller the title of " Areopagitica:"—
" And how can a man teach with authority,
which is the life of teaching, how can he he a
elector in his book as he ought to be, or else had
tititer be silent, whereas all he teaches, all lie de.
lasers, is b'it under the tuition, under the correc-
tion of his patriarchal licensor, to blot or alter what
pre6stly accords not with the hide hound humour
skis,ch he calls his judgment. When every acute
reader, upon the first sight of a pedantick licence,
will be ready with these like words to ding the
bfAt a cult's distance from him, I hate a pupil
tpui,;:er, I endure not an instructor that comes to
me under the wardship of an overseeing fist. I
k7iow nnthilig of the licenser, bat that I have his
own hand here for his ignorance ; who shall warrant
me his judgment ? The State, Sir, replies the sta-
t one
r ; but has a quick return, the State shall be
gorrri,ours, but not my critics ; they may be
uostskets im the choice of a licenser, as easily as this
licenser may be mistaken in an author. This it
game common star; and he may atble, from Sir
F:ancis Bacon. that such authorized books are
bat the linguage of the times.' But though a
licenser should happen to be judicious more than
• (Lowy, which will be a great jeopardy of the next
sutcesuoit, yet his very office and his commissions
▪ loon to let passe nothing hot what is Vial
gam,y rrorised already. Nay, which is more la.
sneittab!e, if the work of any deceased author,
though iit.er so famous in his lifetime, mad even to
tbrs day, come to their bands for license to be print-
ed or reprinted, if there be found in his book one
*enterer of vent'rous edge, uttered in the height of
zeal, and who knows whether it might not be the
dictat of a dirin spirit, yet not suiting with every
low decrepid humour of their own, though it were
I(noz himself, the Reformer of a kingdom, that
siseab it, they will not pardon him their dash : the
'ruse of that great man shall to all posterity be lost,

THE BRITESii. PRESS.

tirhkti Maseisisifir IA alarmed and
agitated as that two has been in consequence of
the former meeting, we lament that these wicked
we deluded people Should have determined to ex-
par it to the dangers that may be expected to arise
from bringing the people again jut*, a state of im-
mediate opposition to the Magistrates awl the mi-
l:tory, while the feelings of the one party are in a
state of active irritation, and the apprelomsiont of
the other so highly excited as possibly to precipi-
tate them into !matures of unnecessary violence.—
The Bormiglireeves and Constables of Manchester
and Salford have issued to I permits possessing
their confidence a circular letter, apprising theft
of their having received information from various
sources that the disaffected spirit of the people in
the vicinity of Manchester "is on the eve of
breaking out into open violence ;" and the intelli-
gence from Manchester further informs us, that the
military quartered in the town have mode the most
formidable preparation., such as imply an appre-
hension of being attacked by the moil tee. They
have fortified their station near the New Bailey
(which is hounded on one side by the river Mersey,
and on the other by the New Bailey wall), by
cutting sluices to interrupt all cominumeation, and
throwing up an embinktnent; and at the New
CMOs barrack• they are preparing it defence of
brick-work. Should the appreben b )))) • of the
Magistrates he really such as they express its their
circular letter, and as are implied by these military
preparations, they would be very censorable were
they Hot to issue notices prohibiting the threatened
assembly of the people. A very had spirit, uo
doubt, seems to be at work in Lancashire wills the
people of that county : the goestion of reform is
new, they seize upon it not us a speculative twilit,
but as the certain promise of a future good, and
pursue it with all the ardour and enthusiasm that
novelty inspires. these feelings is unhappily
now added a rancorous asperity, occasiouril by the
proceedings of the 16th of August; hut we crunot
think that any body of them sidficirinly large
to be in the lent degree formidahle to the
military force stationed in Maticherier„ could
be imluced to take up arms against the existing
frame of government, for they are in gr-iirral too
intelligent not to know that their principles are not
countenanced by the great mass of the people, that,
standing isolated in the midst of the nation, they
must contend moonlit fearful odds, and in the in-
stant of their insurrection fall victims to their own
temerity. We hope, fur this reason, that the fears
expressed by the Magistrates of Manchester are un-
founded or exaggerated. These Gentlemen are
placed in an extremely delicate and difficult sitwo
lion, and are on that account entitled to much in-
dulgence; but there is a rashness that arises from
excessive timidity which is much to be dreaded,
and by which they in the former instance seem to
have been infiuen..ed. In this habit of the mind
the sufferer miscalculates his danger, mid in the
blindness of ju Igment which accompanies it, rushes
upon the very evil he sought to avoid. So was it
with the Magistrates of 'Manchester on the 16. h of
August, for while they expressed their utmost soli-
citude for the preservation of the public tianquil-
lity, they were the first to break the peace, and
chose for this wise exploit the very moment when
the exercise of their authority was must likely to
be attended with danger.

Paris Papers of lVedilestlay hot have arrived
at our Office. The Chamber of Deputies was oc-
cupied on the preceding day iii choosing the can-
didates for the situation of President of the Cham-
ber during the present Session. M. ItavEz. the
President for the former Session, had been chosen
some days since, and the list was completed on
Tuesday, by the addition of M. LoURVoISIER,
M. LAINt, M. BELLART, and M. SATOTE-ROL-
LIN. The Chamber adjourned to the next day,
when the above candidates will be presented to his
MAJUITT, that he may select one for the office.—
The Marquis de LATOUR-MAl:Route entered upon
the Ministry of the Wur Department on the 7th
instant.

The 5 per Cents. on Monday were 68 1. 90 c.—
Bank Actions 1,465 I.

The Dutch Paper* which have arrived express
some apprehensions fur the tranquillity of the north
of France, from the turbulent spirit of some des-
perate men, who are said to be actuated by re•
volutionary feelings, a contempt for religion, and
a hatred of the existing government. We are
happy to find in them the following proclamation
from Sir THOMAS MAITLAND, dated Corfu, the
nth of October, stating that tranquillity was per-
fectly restored at Santa

" His Exeelleecy the Lord Cummissioner, pro fempere,
feels the greatest pleasure 1113 announcing that public tran-
quillity is entirely restored at Santa Maur*, and that several
ringleaders in the revolt have fallen into the hands of his
Excellency's Resident. The deluded peasant■ who were
led Autrey by the machinations of vile and contemptible
mew, bare returned to their homes, and resumed their lawful
labours. His Excellency's Resident is eapged in discover-
lag the origin of the mail revolt of the peasants, and the
jest severity of the less will afterwards fall ow the heads of
t►eee who bare seduced them.

" By eider of his E‘eelleney,
(Signed) . G. OSBORNE."
" Corfu, October 8, 18)8.

The late strong gales hare caused great damage
among the shippittgon our coast. The whole hue
of the eastern coast, ss3s a letter from Yarmouth,

presents a scene of devastatiori god ruin. *reek
lies scattered at every step. and the melancholy
conclusion is. that giversl ships, with their nnfortu.
note crews, hive gone down ; besides these, there
■re many ls stranded, some of which are so
much danniged as to render them not worth re-
pairing. "Vinous articles have been washed ashore

at thig. place, and • crew of 14 men arrived in so
open boat. oft Wednesday, having been obliged to
quit 'heir *hip. which was entangled in the sands.
The ves•rl wag plainly seen from the shore ; it is
hoprd sloe will be saved. it is reported that one
or the revenue cutter is lost.

On Sunday se'rmight, the nutter, 2K, Captain
the lion. JoIIN GORDoN, arrived at Portsmouth
from the Newfoundland station, last from Cadiz,
which place (efter a stay of 43 hours) she left on
the 2:1,1 nit. The fever which hail been raging at
Cadiz tire months, and which carried off, on its out.
set, 170 persons daily, was fest subsiding, there
being only fourteen deaths on the dry previous to
the Tamar's sailing. An order was in consequence
daily expected to open that port, and Po►t St.
:Nary',. The Tamar had no commuuication
with the chore. The cold weather setting in,
instantly checked the rage of the malady, and
hid a most salatary influence on the state of
the public health generally. It was computed
that the five line-of-battle ships and seven
frigates lying at Cadiz (forming the principal
force of the grand Expedition), had lost, on an
average, 250 men each, by the fever. They are
now considered in a healthy state. It continued to
be reported, that the Expedition to South America
sail in (anothei) two months. The Tamar,
during her cruising on the North American shores,
got on shore on Burge Point, in the Straits of
Bellisle, coast of Labrador, on the 13th July last,
in a thick fog, steering the usual course. The un-
accountable current prevalent on that dreary coast
hrs been the loss of many lives and much too-
petty, and had orally proved equally fatal to the
Tamar, but for the prompt measures adopt-
ed by the Captain aid Officers. The main and
enizen-mots were cut away, the guns thrown over-
board to lighten her (the guns were afterwards
weighed). She was got off after nearly seven hours
hard striking, mod next day run back to L'Ruce a
Loup, where spars were procured for masts and
yards from ANDREW PIERSON, Esq. who, with his
usual hospitality, was particularly attentive to the
wrists of the officers, and greatly assisted in the
speedy refitment of the ship. She afterwards
completed her cruise to the northward. On her ar-
rival at St, John's, she was hove down, keel taken
out, and the damage sustained found to be trifling.
The Tamar was the largest vessel ever love down at
St. Juliii`r, the Media brig, being the only
mau-
of-war hove down before. The Tamer was released
from quarantine OH Wednesday. She is ordered
into harbour to be paid off all standing.

We understand it is intended, on the part of
Opposition. to niovr on the third reading of the
Seditious Meetings Prevention Hill, shich stands
for this evening, that Ireland be excepted from its
operation, Vaere bring no case whatever made out
to justify its extension to that country.

There will be no Chrotmas recess. The House
of Commons will only adjourn from Christmas eve
until Monday the 27118. Au adjournment for a
mouth or three weeks will probably take place in
the end of January.

On Friday Sir THOMAS MUNRO left town tn pro.
ceed to India, as Govern► 4.f Madras. He takes
out with him the insignia of the Most Honourable
Military Order of the Bath for Major-General Sir
JOHN M•LCOLM, Knight Grand Crow; also for
Major-General Sir WILLIAM Tooter: and Sir WIL-
LIAM DOTETON, with which they are severally to
be in►ested by the Marquis of HASTINGS.
A meeting of Merchants was held on Siturday in
the City ou the subject of a Loan to the Venezuelan
Government, when, we understand, • large sum
was subscribed.

We understand Col. W. COONS. of Wheatley.
has resigned his commission as Colonel of the 3d
West York Militia.—(Doncaster Gazette.)

M. Caout.Lxints and his son have been tried
before the Court of Assize at Paris, for selling sedi-
tious engravings, namely, portraits of BONAPARTR
and his family, and particularly a print of • Ilene
de pia. which, its unfolding itself, displayed an
eagle, besides • caricature, in which BONAPARTE
is represented as again upsetting Louts XVIII.
mad his throne, with Vire 1 'Ampereme at the bot-
tom, awl the following inscription around it :
Je repreadt Nom helmet et Se luiste la calcitic.
The Jury returned a verdict of acquittal.
A letter, of recent date, has been received bye
Gentleman in the vicinity of Chichester from Phila-
delphia. As we can place implicit confidence in
the same, we think the deplorable situation of that
part of the globe *lnstil(' be disseminated for the
information of our cousstrymen at home.—The fol-
lowing extract will suffice
Trade is fairly at a stawd•still ; there is mot • Rank is
which we car canifide. lour partner, whom you left Hon.
rishieg, is reduced to poverty. Hail lau article to sell, I
could do nothiag with it. Of money, there is muse ; and
credit bas long since been exploded from the book of com-
merce. I regret to sihl, that one of the must benevuleat
institutions winch tree grated soy country, I mesa that
übich under the sppellation of ' A Monti for Distressed
Euglislinstm,' was set ow Coot and inpported by oar country.
men who bad previously obtained a respectable footing is
America, sad who, observant of the alarming and gowning
evil of emigration, bad. with true fraternal (reliefs, codes-
mired to C011•1011Ct its dire effects, has been obliged to de.
Wr! its iuroisipetrticy to wet the infinite uumber of appli.
iens far relief."

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