The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-03-10 00:00:00

LONDON,
THURSDAY, Marten 10.

nose who expeEled that the parliamentary de-
bate of last night would throw a light upon his
MsiEsTv's Message, and give a distina view of tl•e
grounds of al'irm, will find themselves much dis-
appointed. That the Minister would go into detail
and disclose the particulars of the cli,cussions now
subsisting between his MAJESTY and the Frei), 11
Government,. tone but the ignorant and' ill..inform-
ed could . suppose, but it was by no means un-
reasonable t 4; presume that some expresSion, some
hint in elucidation of the subje6t might casa-
Ali, fall in the course of debate. Nothing, how-

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ever, of that tendency could be perceived in .
I louse of Commons. The CH ANGELI at of the
Excitr4u,:a called for an unanimous vote in favour
of the address, upon the ground that it would
pledge the House to any one of the points in dis-
cussion wkh France. Every thing that might in-
volve a difference of opinion was avoided, and it
was only reposing a j•ist confidence in tat .tlinLter
to presume that he would not create an uniiecess..ry
alarm, and call for measures of precaution without
any appearance of danger. When then the ques-
tion was merely whether the House was ready to
assert the interests of the country, and to place it in
a situation that should bid defiance to France, N, e ,
could e:tpetft no other answer than an unanimous vote. •
The brief and general conversation that preceded
this result is remarkable for its delicacy, its mode-
ration, and its firmness. It did not contain one ex-
pression that could give the slightest offence to •
France. It held out no threat, it conveyed no in-
sult, it made no boast. ii it betrayed any extra- •
ordinary warmth, it was only in the part of Mr.
SREIIDAN'S speech in which he threw from bathe
taunt in the Consular Manifesto, where it baasts,
that "England, single-handed, is not able to con-
e-rad with France." Here the Honourable Mein- •
her was greeted with loud and universal cheer's,
that plainlyevinced what the sentiment and sensations •
of the House would be, were France to urge us to .
that extremity. We never witnessed a more anxious
and numerous attendance. The body of the House
and the galleries were completely filled with Nim-
bus.

In the House of Lords, as in the House of Com-
mons, nothing transpired respeccting the particular
nature of the. discussions or military preparations
alluded to in the Message, but the conversation dis-
played more spirit and energy. The Earl of
Mo ta w made an eloquent speech, in which he seems
to think that the preparationi making in the ports
of France and Holland are intended for an invasion
of England. Indeed that appears •to be the most
probable danger in the contemplation of Govern-
ment, as the measures of precaution to be adopted
are defensive. The Militia are to be immediately
embodied, and 10,000 seamen and marines will be
added to our present establishment. In this state of
things, his Royal Highness the Prince of WALES
with becoming spirit, delicacy, and liberality has
declined any farther assistance from Parliament, to
enable him to resume his princely state .and splen'
dour.

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Every part or the town was, yesterday, full of
bustle: the 'Cliamge was the great objea of attra&ion
at the east end of the Town, the Admiralty at the
West. Iklore than 200 Navy Captains attended at the
latter place, and left their addresses, under the idea
that their services may be wanted. Fifteen hundred
able seamen were picked up in the course of theda-i in
the c ity, and expresses were sent off to the scveral
Having discovered that a system of 'moderation and
concession will not preserve peace, Government
may, probably, expeCt, that measures of vigour and
energy will prevent hostilities. The means of safety,
however, necessarily suggest the idea of danger,
and it was impossible that the funds should stand
in the face of such warlike symptoms. Atone time
yesterday, they were so.low as 624,. but they left off
at 631.

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Press-Warrants were issued from the Admiralty,
4 an early hour on Tuesday ; and about six in the
evening they were backed by. the • Right Hon. the
Lo an !via oR. We painfully witnessed these war.
like appearances in the heart of the City yesterday
morning. The Officers-Seized every senor that was
passing through Cheapside, Cornhill, ac. even the
RuyalExchange, the seat of trade, was no security to
the poor tars, for a large press4ang, in the middle of
the Charge, was tearing them away to the tenders.
At night a
.general press took place on the River,
and in the city : in consequence of which, about fit-
teen hundred men were procured. In addition to
these, we also understand that a number of vagrants
and disorderly persons, confined in the Poultry
Cumpter, ware ordered to be sent on board his Ma-
jesty's ships. The strong sensation which these ac-
tive measures of preparation has excited in the minds
of the monied men, is apparent from the sudden tall
of the Funds.
The LORD MAYOR went on Tuesday, in state,
to Oilman-street church, and held a Wardmote for
the eldtion of an Alderman for that Ward, in the
room of the late Alderman Macau LE y, when Mr.
LEE was chosen, without opposition. After which
his Lordship held the annual Court for: licencing
Victuallers, at Guildhall.
The Duchess of DORSET is far advanced in her
pregnancy. Preparations are already making at the
tlotel de Charost, to winch Lord Wiiiewolien re:
moves in April, for her Grace'S lying-in, which is
expeeted to take place before the end of May or
early in June.
Last week two complete new vessels were pm.-
" chased in the River for the Company lately est d•
blislied at Waterford fur carrying en the Nymph
Bank Fishery in an extensive mann:r. These ves
sels contain wells for keeping the fish alive, and
fitted out and manned the same as those employed
from hence to fish cn the Dogger and Well Banks,
in the North Sea. Thee are the first vessels of the
kind ever eiriployed to tish on the coast dirt:laud.
The third meeting the Irish Harmonic Club
was held on Wednesday lest, at Herrington's Cral-
ton-street, Lord EttasoroaT, Piesdent fur the
year, in the chair. About 160 neenil••••, attended.
The ntusicah feast exceeded every thing el the kind
attempted in this country.-

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