The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-28 00:00:00

,

TWE BRITISH PRESS.

LON DON,
MONDAY, FLB. 28.

We have received Paris papers up to the 23d
inst. announcing the meeting of the Legislative
Body and Tribunate upon the 21st. According to
custom, an expOs?, or view of the state of the Re-
public in its internal and external relations, was
upon the occasion before the Legislature. This of
fit ial document, signed by the First Consul, is up-

on the plan of his Majesty's Speech on the openirg

of nuliament; and as it is extremely important, we
have inserted it at foil length. It begins with con-

gratulatiog the Legislature upon the increase of in-
dustry, the result of the Concordat, the success of
the several institutions for public instrunion, the

vigilance of the Magistrates, the discipline of the
military, the aaivity of the Gendarmerie in the sup-
pression of popular disorders, the improvement of
agriculture, arts and manufaaures, the state of de-
fence along the coast, the increase in all the branches

of commerce, and the flourishing state of the re-
venue. These and every other principal objcet in

the internal state of Fcance are represented is a high

degree of amelioration, and the picture of her co-
lonies is drawn in colours not less glowing. The
islands of Martinique, Tobago, and St Lucie, are

said to have been given up in the height of pros-
perity. This we believe to be a fact, but we cannot
so readily credit the next averment, in which it is
asserted, that Guadaloupe is in a good state of im-
provement, and Guiana rapidly arising from it ob-
scurity. 46,5 t. Domingo," it says, " had submit-

ted, and the author of its troubles was in the power
of France: every thing announced the return of
its prosperity, when, by a horrid disease, it was de-
voted to renewed calamity : but the plague that
solateclour army has now ceased its ravages, and the
forces that remain in the colony, to6ether %‘ ith those

which will speedily arrive, cannot fail to restore it
to peace and prosperity." This !ilter part, too, we
think somewhat questionable. The island may, no
doubt, be speedily restored to peace, but its present

race of neg,oes must be f,Tst destroyed; and we

.
fancy it will be a work of tirn!, and immense er-
pence, to introduce a new set that shall be fully
adequate to the cultlvation of the colony, in
the full extent of its former pre,perity. The re-

port then proceeds to that part ( f the subjea, most
.
interesting to an English reader—the political state
of Futope, in relation to Franc?, or what it is
pleased to call the " rose an d tranquillity of she
Continent—a repose arid tranquillity which we fear
are nvvre the result of weakness and exhaustion,
than the sound repose of health and vigour.-1..-irst
in the procession of melancholy captives that adorn
the triumph of the Conquerors, is ex7iibited
Ir .1. ram,: REPUBLIC. She is praised for her una-
nimity, and her military force, which are said to
have already given her the appearance of a long este.
blislical State. Liguria follows next, and is congratu-
lated upon her mixed conctitation, and the virtues cf
the Citizens who are placed at her head—by which
we arc to understand, their devotion to France.
Batavia closes the procession, with a gentle hint,
that she must never dare to oppose the will of
France, who can be her only friend, and her
most fatal enemy. Germany, Prussia, Bavaria, Aus-
tria, all the Secular Princes, &c. are then crowded to-
gether as a mixed populace bringing up the rear of the
procession, and are complimented upon:their good
health and spirits, with the exception indeed of the
Ottoman Porte, who is said to be in a very doubtful.
state, and to require the support of tla: French Am-
bassador now at Constantinople. ere this all, it
would afford ample room for serious contemplation ;
bat the attention is too strongly attraCted by what
follows, to dwell upon any of those topics, however
fruitful. The Report adds :—" In England two
parties contend for power. One has concluded the
peace, and seems resolved to maintain it; the other
has sworn implacable hatted to France. Hence
arises that floCluation in opinion and in the Conn-
Cils, that attitude Nil ich is at once pacific and threat-
ening. As long as this contest of parties continues,
there arc certain prudential measures necessary up-
on the part of the Republic. Five hundred thou-
sand mcu must and shall be ready to defend and to
avenge it. But whatever may have been the suc-
cess of intrigue at London, it will not be able to
draw other nations into new conneCtions. The Go-
vernment has said, with a just pride, " alone Eng-
land is now unable to contend with France."
Language so insulting and so unprovoked was never
before used by any Power to a nation with which it
professed a wish tolive in peace and amity. \Verethere
two opposite parties in his Majesty's Council, and was
France to expel peace or war, as either prevailed,
the reasoning of the Fl RST CONSUL would have
some foundation. The fast, however, is nosori-

ously the reverse. The party, as he is pleased to call
his Majesty's Government that signed the peace, has
been uniform in its wishes and exertions to maintain
it. No Government was ever more free from the
reproach of hostile disposition, nor was there ever
a period of English history that less threatened an