The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-19 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Last night we received by express the Paris jourtals of
Monday, with the Etuile and Journal des Debuts of Tues-
day. The following are extracts:—
(Front the Eteik.l
PARIS, FEN. 17.
The King has just conferred the Grand Cross of the Royal and
Military Order of St. Louis upon the Count d'Arnarante, a I ieneral
officer in the service of Portugal ; and the Cross of Commander of
the same Order upon the Count de Villa-Heal Souza. The public
will recollect the glorious part which these two General officers tu..k
in the restoration of legitimate authority in Portugal.
[from the Jostrual An Drlvits of Monday.)
On Saturday the King received, in a private audience, the Mar-
shal Duke of Ragusa.
NT'RE ',BERG, Nov. 9.
The Correspondent of this day contains the following article :
CORFU. JAN. 6.
We have this instant received the agreeable news that the descent
projected by the Greeks upon the Isle of Mitylene has been coin.
pletely successful. The (.reeks, to the number of froil seven to
eight thousand men, have everywhere hoisted the standard of the
Cross, and on their approach their barbarous adversaries were forced
to take refuge in some forts. It is probable that the Turks will be
compelled, in a very short time, entirely to evacuate the Isle.
Other letters state, that the Turkish gammon of I'atraa, being
infomied of the preparations making to invest that fortress and take
it by assault, thought it expedient to evacuate it, and retire to
Lepanto. . . . . . . _ .

on the above intelligence (which is copied by the 'Nile of the
following day with:nit comment) the Jourmal des Debuts has the
following now :—" It appears to us that these advice' ought pre-
viously to have been received in France. The evacuation of Patras
is doubtless probable; that of the descent in the Isle of 3litylene is
much less to. and we think it premature."
FRENCH FUNDS, VEIL 10.—Five per Vents. opened at 9W. Mk.;
for the end of the month, 99f. 90e.; Neapolitan, 1151. ; Spanish, .If

FREE TRADE WITH SOUTH A3IERIC.I.
From the Journal deo Damls of Tuesday.l
PARIS, Few. In.
We cannot refrain from fixing the attention of our readers upon
the recent decree issued by the King of Spain, in favour of freedom
of commerce in the Spanish Colonies. It detaches the question of
commercial interests from that of the independence of the Colonies;
it places on a distinct basis the interests of commercial nations, at
the same time that it creates or re-unites in the colonies A numerous
party to the parent state; it announces the return of practical and
reasonable ideas, and paves the way for subsequent ameliorations.
The principle upon which this decree is founded is comprehen-
sive, and in accordance with the enlightened policy of the age. The
ships of the Allied and United Powers, admitted into the ports of
the Spanish colonies, will pay import and export duties Nowt the
Aging ophe Nmaiity between the subjects of these powers.
In vain will it be said. that Spain concedes nothing, because she
does not retain her Colonies. lksitles that this view is not correct,
seeing that she still . several Colonies of great importance,
and that others are ar from being entirely separated and pacified,
Spiln has on WY side the right; and the right, even without means
of action, constitutes an immense passive force.

When the prejudices of all dames of Spaniards, upon the question
of authority ovcrthe Colonies, are remembered—when it is recol-
lected that the Cortes obstinately determined to adopt, with respect
to their trans-Atlantic possessions, the notions of Charles V. and
Philip IL, we can hardly persuade ourselves that this Decree, so
salutary to Spain, has, in fact, been promulgated.
Every thing nay now be hoped for.
Spain has placed herself in the most favourable position for
listening to arrangements with her colonies, and after such a con-
cession, she may and ought to calculate upon a general feeling of
gcod will towards her.
Haring, in exercise of a right, opened the American Colonies
and the Spanish Islands to the ships of all nations, a great and
memorable revolution in the commercial cod the political world
has been accomplished ; 'it is one of the most auspicious results of
our enterprise in Spain, and upon which we cannot too warmly
congratulate the Government.
This result will be the more duly appreciated by all parties
and by all interests, because France has stipulated for no exclu-
sive advantages for herself; she has considered only the interests of
Spain, and included herself modestly and generously among the
crowd of nations invited to partake of these new sources of
wealth.

I From the Afforiterir of Monday, Feb. 16.1
The official pan contains a Royal Ordinance, appointing the
Marquis de Talaru Knight Commander of the Orders, to wear
the insignia till his reception, as a testimony of his Majesty's satis-
faction, add a recompense for his good and loyal services.
(Non Official Part.)
Settayertarstx, FED. 7.
The surveillance of foreigners still continues in Switzerland, and
occasions frequent reports. In the frontier cantons, however,
meant are found to unite equity with the strict formalities which
have been prescribed. Much more rigour is shown on the northern
frontiers of Lombardy towards all strangers coining front Switzer-
land, who are again subjected to a rigorous examination, even
when their passports are in order. Those who have not passports
countersigned by the Austrian :Minister in Switzerland tae obliged
to return to Berne to have than done, even when they are persons
well known, and bearing passports delivered by their own Govern-
Meat.

F AAAAA ORT, FEB. 9.
Proceedings on account of political misdemeanours have com-
menced fur some time past in various parts of Germany. The real
object of these proceedings is not known, and there arc different re-
ports on the suhject.
We have learnt nothing new respecting the persons arrested in
several parts of Bava►ia. A central committee it seems has been
appointed at Munich, to which all magistrates employed in the
proceedings are bound to report all the circumstances that come to
their knowledge.
The Bavarian government has required of the Court of Prussia
that Gen. Lestocq shall be given up: after quitting the service
of Wirtemberg, he had fixed his abode at Doug-ponts, the tribunal
of which city contlenined him to a long imprisoment. De
Lestocq had art out for the North of Germany. lle has been given
up, and conveyed to Deux-ponts.

Rowc, FEB. I.
The Authorities of Ancona have received news that Jusistiff Pacha.
Governor of Patras, had at length succeeded in opening negotiations
for the surrender of that place with Prince Illaurricordsto, who had
at first required that the Turkish garrison should surrender at
discretion.