The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-18 00:00:00

rULIL.I .

CUILDHALL.
Yesterday 7oln Kithire was fully committed,
by ALlcrmanLE Mrs...:ale7,on a charge of bigamy.
Mary Garner, his second wife, attended, and
proved the circumstance of her marriage, and that
of his first wife being still living.

M AN:;ION-1101:SE.
Yesterday :fermi:7lo P:acock was charged before
Alderman MACAUL AV, (in the absence oldie LORD
MAYOR) with stealing :;(i yards of silk binding, the
property of Mess T. and J. Johnstone. Mr. Tho
Johnstone depcsed, that he is a partner with
his brother in a Manchester warehouse, in Oxford-
street ; that on Wednesday night, about eleven
o'clock, as he was passing on Ludgate-hill, near the
end of Fleet-market, he was accosted by a Gentle-
man, who informed him, that he had seen a man
that instant in the at of picking hiff pocket. Upon
which Mr. Johnstone missal the silk binding. Three
of the City Officers produced the property, which
they had taken upon the prisoner, who was well
known to them as an old offender, and whom they
had cautioned but a short time before.
The prisoner stated, that he was a tradesman ; and
that he lived in Harley-street, Seven Dials. The
Alderman observed, that the evidence against him
was so clear, that he was under the necessity
or cornniiitinv him. He bestowed grcat praise
upon the officers for their prompt and vigilant con-
duct ; and commit:ed the prisoner for trial.

A Dutch paper states as follows :—" On the
3d inst. at a farm-house, about the distance of three
miles from the Lemnier, some one knocked at the
door late in the evening, just as the good man was
on the point of retiring to rest. I k asked, " Who is
there ?" and though the answer gave him to under-
stand that it was a friend, he still had his scruples ;
end delaying to admit the friend who demanded
entrance under that much-abused appellation,
voice informed him that the person without was a
benighted traveller, ignorant of the road, and al-
most perishing with cold, and therefore humbly re-
quested permission to pass the night under his
feiendly roof. The heart of feeling humanity could
not withstand these pitiable accents ; suspicion va-
nished; the doer Hew cpen ; the hinges, the bolts,
the lock gave way to the genial sentiments of com-
passion; but scarcely was the generous act per-
formed, ere six ruffians pressed inwards, and pro-
ceeded unceremoniously to the inner apartment,
where, in the first place, they demanded re-
freshments. The farmer, too late aware of his
credulity, perceived that all resistance would be
vain ; for the countenances and the resolution
of his ncEturnal guests bespoke their infernal mis-
sion ' trembling, therefore, he called up his wife,
who had just retired to bed ; and she, agitated by a
thrusand fears, lighted a fire, in order to fulfil an
order which it would have been madness to resist.
While preparations were making for this extraordi-
nary supper, which, with the clamour of the ruffians,
occassioned an unusual noise, the servant man, who
slept in the garret, was fortunately aroused: he left
his bed, and creeping softly down the stairs, peeped
into his master's apartment, where he saw the in-
truders, and the evident agitation of the farmer and
his wife. Fortunately he did not shew himself,
wisely conceiving that he could render r.o essential
aid against so unequal a force, lint proceeded gently
towards the back door, which having opened with-
out the least noise, he bound on his straits, and de-
pa'tted for the Lemnier with inconceivable expe-
dition. Arriving there in a few minutes, he gave
information of the circumstance to the police, and
requested and obtained assistance; and thnsreinforced
he returned to his master's dwelling, on approach-
ing which, they heard the cries and rnournings of
the farmer and his wife; for, haviag supped, and
not dreaming of molestation, they had judged it
high time to execute their attrocious design, and for
this purpose had bound their viain.s. At this cri-
tical instant the servant-man, with the officers of
justice, entered the apartment, and the villains,
surprized and confounded, had not time to think of
resistance, before they were every one seized, and
shortly afterwards safely conducted to a state of
imprisonment."
On Tuesday morning last, was seized by John
Rough, one of the Principal Assistant Water-bailiff's,
ten large stow-boat nets in Long Reach, from a
large fishing smack working unlawfully for smelts
and other brood of fish, to the great detriment of
the fishery.—Three of the men, with three nets, were
brought before the Lord Mayor on Wednesday, who,
after an attentive hearing of the parties, ordered their
nets to be burnt, and tined them in the penalty of
five pourds each, and severely reprimanded them
for their infamous conduct. The other four are to
appear on Saturday next, and his Lordship has de-
clared he would punish, to the utmost of his power,
all who should be found offending in like manner.
Capt. WEST, of the navy, whose accident from a
foil in fencing we stated last week, we are sorry to
add, is dead, in consequence of that unfortunate ac-
cident.
Monday last as a gentleman was walking over
Durham-Down, between five and six o'clock in
the afternoon, in the road a little way beyond
Clifton turnpike, he was stopped by a fellow, who
appeared to be about twenty years of age, and five
feet, or five feet two or three inches high, in a
dark coloured great coat, and of a dark ill-looking
countenance, with rather a small face, and an aqui-
line nose; who with a pistol demanded the gentle-
man's money and watch, and robbed him of his
purse with a few guineas in it, and likewise of a
gold watch, , capped and jewelled, with a gold
c,:ain, se4, and key.
•

N41"..1L INTELLIGENCE.
•
PORTSMOIITH,•FRB. 16.
Remain at Spithead, his Majesty's ships as per
last. At St. Helens, his Majesty's ship Le Hercule,
Capt. Ferris, and Monkey brig, Lieut. Weir. Wind
W. N. W. blows hard.
Orders arc received to release from quarantine,
his Majesty's ships Ploolvich and Chichester.
F ALMOUTII, FEB. 14.
Sailed the Mary, Norton, with fru;t, for Truro,
and the French brig Laborieu,e, Capt. John Michael
Charpentier, in ballast, for Rochelle.
This morning appeared off this harbour, and
proceeded on for Havre de Grasse, the American
ship Minerva, Capt. Folgen, with cotton, logwood,
3:.c. from New Orleans, which she left on the 13th
No✓ember last, and called here for orders.
Arrived this morning, the Prince of Wales packet,
Todd, with Mail from Lisbon, after a passage
of twelve days. Left lying in the Tagus, the
Duk of York packet, which sailed from hence with
Mails for Lisbon on the 24th ult. and had only sit
days passage out ; she was expected to sail again
from thence the 10th inst. Passengers by the Prince
IVales arc Mr. Henderson, Mr. Roach, and Mr.
Edmunds.—Wind W.N.W.
DOVER, FEB. 16.

Passed by this morning the Lord Nelson schooner,
Capt. Finmore, and the Swifl cutter, Capt. Adams,
both of this place, horn St. Nlicht-ei's, bound to
London with fruit.
The Duchess of Cuntlerland passage-vessel, Capt. J.
Wliite,will sail to-nii‘r-ow morning at three o'clock,
with the Hon. Lord John Campbell and suite for
Calais. _ _

The Express packet, Capt. Dell, will also sail
about the same time for Calais, with mail and pas-
sengers
No arrivals front either Calais or Bonlo7no. The
wind has blown hard almo.t Al day from the West-
ward, but at present (six o'clock) moderate.

4ML IGd.

••••m••••••1,

WASHTNCTON, JAN. 1.
" Tn virtue of a proclamation issued yesterday
by General ROCHAIKISEU, the arrete of September
last is revoked, and the importation of dry. goods
again permitted. I lose no time in communicating
to you this important change our commerce, as
it may induce you to a shipment of India goods,
which, I am confident, will answer well. Ittire are
in daily expectation of troops from France, and on
their arrival it is believed that affairs will become
very brisk.
Roe ti A M BEAU has also decreed, that foreigners
may introduce all wares and merchandizes, not ervi-
merated in a decree of the 15th Frudidor, in the
year 10, subjed to a ditty of 20 per cent. ad valcrem ;
the Colonial Prefed is to make out, every six
months, a tariff of all the wares and merchandizes
so imported."
The New York General Adverther of the 11th
says, " We Lam from the Captain of the sloop
Selima, which arrived last night in 21 days, that the
navigation of the Bite of Leogane was very danger.
ous. The Negroes capture all vessels that they fail in
with—they give no quarter, but put every soul to
death.—Three American vessels have been taken by
them, and the crews masacred. A passage-boat
from Leogane to St. Marks, with forty-four persons
on board, was taken, and every soul murdered.—
The svenien they put. to death with circunistanees of
barbarity too shocking to be mentioned. The day
after this tramadion Wok
.place, the boat was cap-
tured by the boats of a French frigate, after a despe.;
rate resistance. She was manned by twenty negroes,
seventeen of whom were killed in the aftion. The
surviving three were.brought to town, and exposed
to the rage of the populace, who kicked, stoned, and
trampled them to death. Even women, to giatify
their revenge fur the murder of their sea, stamped
on their heads till they expired.
The war betwixt the French and the Brigands
continued to be very bloody. They gave no quar-
ter on either side. The Negroes were numerous,
but badly armed. During a battle those in the rear
stand wit:- their arms folded, and step forward to
supply the places of those who fall in front.
{,Frequent actions had taken place on the plains
near Port Republicaia, in which.the French were
successful, but the town was closely besieged
at the time of Cie Selima's sailing, and the Brigands
committed t'.epredatinns under the very walls. No
less than 200 plantations have been deitroyed in that
neighbourhood. Three of the Negro encampments
were plainly to be seen from the shipping-in the
harbour."