The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-04 00:00:00

THE.ITIZE.

DRURY LANL.
A young lady made her first appearance here last
night, in the charaaer of Ma arena, in the musical
Entertainment of No Song no Supper. Her name is
EL Lis, and we believe she is a sister of Mrs. Po v% ELL,
but we could not trace any likeness.—Miss ELLIs is
about middle size, well proportioned, and possesses
a pleasing countenance.—The audience received her
most kindly, and enabled her by their encouraging
applause to triumph over the difficulties of her si-
tuation. She was therefore in a great degree free
from embarrassment, and did not seem to suffer in
her exertions. Her manner was animated and play-
ful, but her a&ion was not uniformly natural, and
though free, did not display all the winning graceful-
ness of ease. As a first essay, it was deserving o;
praise, and betrayed no defel which care and fami-
liarity with the stage may not remove; her voice is
clear, powerful, and evidently capable of modula-
tion, but we do not think her style and manner of
execution do much credit to Dr. licsa v who is an-
nounced as he preceptor. The air Relieve my
Wants though extremely simple and affating, was
given without feeling, and in dire& oppositiont o
nature. This observation would be harsh, if it had
any other obje& than to guard this young Lady
against a false taste, which in its rage for the bra-
•Jura, would even make airs of simple pathos, in-
tended to speak to the heart, the means only of ex-
citing astonishment by a display of powers. Consi-
dering how seldom the qualities of sense and sound
are united in the same person, we must regard this
attempt a, one of flattering promise, and the lady
an acquisition to the Theatre.

Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, her MAJESTY
and the Plt I NCESSES arrived At. the Queen's House
from %Vind,or. His MAJLsiv did nut arrive till
about half past three.
In the evening their MAJESTIES had a concert at
the Queen's House, seleaed by his MAJESTY, and
performed by her Majesty's band.
The Princesses SOMA and Amu I A remain at
Windsor.

Yesterday morning, about nine o'clock, his MA-
JEST Y, attended by General Gvist NNE and Colonel
FITZROY, rode in Windsor Great Park, and in-
speded the farms till about one o'clock.

The KING has been pleased to appoint the
Jo N PATON to be his MAJESTY'S Almoner in Scot-
land, in the room of DuCtor WILLIAM GLOAG, de-
ceased.

The Earl of MAN FIELD is appoitcd Colonel of
the Perthshire Militia.

The 25th of this month is fixed for the Countess
ofMouNTNORRis's Masquerade, at Ealing-grove.
The F.arl of DARNLEY givcs a grand Dinner this
day to the Diredors of the Antient Music, at his
houst in Berkeley-square.

The Earl of NIoIRA give% this day a grand Din-
ner at his house in St—larnes's-place, to the Prince
of WAI, es' the Duke of NORFOLK, Duke of Ltts-
STEN Earl of Dct BY, Earl of GUILD: o D, Messrs.
Fox, GREY, an,l SHERIDAN.

Miss A BRA 'As' private music, last night in Park-
lane, was attended by a seleet party of friends.
Mrs.llatassrsstav gave her third grand Rout this
season last night, at her house in Pall-mall.
Mr. Fox appeared yesterday in the House of
Commons in mourning for the death of his uncle,
the late Mr. CONOLLY.

The Whig Club dined yesterday at the Crown
and Anchor, but the principal Members were ab-
sent upon their Parliamentary duty. Mr. Biles
t0,.1: the Chair in the absence of Mr. Fox, and the
ovening was spent pleasantly, but without any poli-
tical conversation.
We hear that Mr. COLMAN has enlisted Mrs
CHAP MAN, now performing at York Theatre, in his
Theatrical Corps for the summer campaign. This
Lady's versatility of powers must render her an ac-
quisition to any Company.

--

DUTCH MAIL. -

ROTTERDAM, APRIL 29.
The probabilities between peace and war appear
as yet to be equally balanced. The final evacua-
tion of the Cape, and its cordial communication to
our Government, seem to declare in favour of the
former; to which may be added a report, that the
numerous French legions marching to Italy have
received counter-orders. On the other hand, it is
said that a French-Hanoverian army is colleFling at
Nimeguen ; a French vessel has already been visitod
by an English cruizer ; and the warlike preparations
are still proceeding.
'this state of suspense is extremely prejudicial to
the commercial interests of this country. Colonial
products,and indeed every article,are extremely dull.
The funds also continue in their depressed state :
the rescriptions are noted at 631.
The French funds are on the rise.
A Dutch paper of the 30th April, gives the fol-
lowing article as an extra& from a Paris paper just
received :

" All the Continental Powers have a rooted inte-
rest in the preservation of peace ; England alone
breathes war. Hence, it must be evident, that it
the Cabinet of St. James's actually provokes a rap
ture, the British Ministry will fly in the face of Bit!
sentiments and wishes of all the Powers of Fumpe.
What must be the natural and immediate conse-
quence of such a procedure ? Must it not impress
upon the mind of Europe a firm conviaion, that
the maritime ascendancy of Great Britain is incom-
patible with the repose of the Continent?—that
peace can never he permanent and stable, whilst it is
in the power of England to disturb and threaten
it, at pleasure, on the strength of her navy ? To
what possible events and contingencies his convic-
tion may ultimately lead, we forbear to enquire.
It is not, however, probable, that any one power
will be suffered to aft the part of a general bug-
bear and to dispense rain, or stmshire, to all the rest
of Europe, as suits the whim and caprice of the
moment.

" The fad is, the British Ministry have ad 6d the
part of a man who rashly provokes a quarrel, and
in a moment of passion proceeds so far, that he
knows not how to recede. It is not after this man•
ner that either nations or individuals, who have jus-
tice on their side, condud themselves ; the natural
way is, to state implicitly the cause of complaint, to
demand reparation, to at with frankness and sin-
cerity: and then we will take upon ourselves to af-
firm, the dispute would be speedily decided."

At a Court of Common Council, held yesterday
at Guildhall, the following business was done:—
Mr. Deputy BRICK WOOD was appointed a Mem-
ber of the Committee for carrying into execution the
Ad of Parliament for rendering more commodious,
and for better regulating the port of London, (in
the room of Mr. Deputy It! k re, deceased) and
one of the Nominees of NVest India Dock Stock.

The Court appointed the eleaion of Junior Clerk
of the Court of Requests to be tilled up at their next
meeting.
The Court voted their unanimous 'Clanks to the
Rev. Mr. JOHN HUTCHINS, M.A. Chaplain to the
Right Hon. the LORD MAYOR, for the Sermon
preached by him at St. Paul's, on Sunday last,
being the First Sunday in Easter Term, before his
Lordship, Judges, Aldermen, and several Members
of this Court, and City Officers ; and that he be
desired to print the same, and a Copy thereof to be
sent to every Member of the Court.
Previous to his Lordship going into Court, he
ordered the price of Bread to be continued the same
as last week, viz. gd. the quartern loaf wheaten,
and lid. household.

At a Court of Lieutenancy, held at Guildhall
this day, Majors PLoNtea and Wic As, of the West
and East London City Militias, were ele6ted Lieut.-
Colonels of the same regiments.
The LORD CHANCELLOR has not yet made any
decree respeding the division of the property of the
late CHARLES BARELR, Esq. as has been errone-
ously stated in several of the newspapers ; nor is it
expated that his Lordship will be enabled to do so
for sonie time to come.

Yesterday morning arrived a Mail from Lisbon
brought to Falmouth by the King George packet, in
13 days.
According to letters from
.Berlin, the Ei 'so of
PRUSSIA intends going to Wilhelmsbad, near Ha-
nau, during the course of the present month. He is
to pass through Erfurt. As this journey coincidvs
with that which the FIRST CONSUI. IS to take through
Belgium and the new departments on the left Bank
of the Rhine, it is supposed that his PRUSSIAN MA-
~esry will have an interview with him in some of
the frontier towns.

Letters from Corfu, of the 15th ult. mention,
that the Russian Plenipotentiary, Count MOCENIGu;
was preparing for a tour through the other islands
of the Republic of the Seven Islands.
Mr. K :NG, the American Envoy, is about to re-
turn home. Mr. WILLIAMS will be left Charse der
itrairrs.
It is in contemplation to repeat this year the ce-
lebration of the anniversary of Mr. PITY'S Birth-
day, in the same distinguished way that it was ob-
served last year.
The last accounts from Holland state positively,
that the moniel people there are taking every op.
portunity cf sending their cash and other valuables
to this country.
A letter from Dover of the 2d May, says, " The
Messenger, Mr. Sisaw, is not returned yet. A
French messenger arrived this morning from Calais,
in an open boat, with dispatches for General AN-
DREOSSI, and set off immediately for London.
Lord Cooes landed from Calais yesterday. The
wind blows so hard that nothing can be expelled to
arrive to-day, either from Calais or Boulogne.
Letters received at Edinburgh, on Friday Last,
from Petersburgh, dated 29th March, say, " That
the Russian fleet ordered to be equipped with the
greatest dispatch, and an army of thirty thousand
men to be got ready immediately, and every thing
begins to assume the appearance of war." It was
stated a few days ago that Russia had ordered some
military preparations ; but they were supposed to
have been occasioned by the differences that had
arisen between her and Sweden—differences not
likely to lead to any serious consequences. It is
generally believed, indeed, that the interference of
France in the affairs of the Republic of the Seven
Islands has given much displeasure to his Ism-
RIAL MAJESTY ; but it is not likely that Russia will
assume an attitude hostile to France at present.

e•" . •

LIIIY INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, WESTMINSTER, MA? 3.
CHATER V. BELL.
This was a case for the opinion of the Court, upon
a question arising out of an aaion upon a foreign
bill of exchange, whether immediately upon the re-
fusal of payment a regular protest ought vibe drawn
up and transmitted to the indorser, or whether it
was sufficient to send him notice of the dishonour of
the bill. Upon the present occasion the bill was
presented on the 2lth April, and refined. Notice
was duly transmitted of the dishonour of the bill,
but the regular notarial document, recording such
refusal to pay, was not transmitted till the lath of
May.
As the case has been already argued, we shall
take but little notice of the further observations of
Counsel.

Mr. Co t,RTOP was heard on the part of the Plan-
tiff, and contended that mere notice was suricient
without the transmission of the formal protest it-
self.

Mr. G nus maintained the reverse of that propo-
sition.

Lord ELLANBOROUGH observed, that this was a
case of considerable importance to the commercial
world. If he looked at the dieta in the old law books,
they all ran one way ; but if he adverted to what the
pr.oEhce was, he found it pretty strongly the other.—
In the books it was laid down that the protest must
be made on the day it bore date, and sent by the
post of that same day. Contemporary writers of
that time, which was about the year I tin, admit-
ted that such was the law, and that dodrine had
been considered in the books as the law ever since
But it did appear there was a general pradice to the
contrary, which had been recognized by merchants,
and that time had been given to the Notary Public
to draw up the instrument authenticating the refu-
sal of payment of bills. Pei haps this was a relaxa-
tion which had been given into with a view to the
convenience of the Notary Public. However this
might be, his Lordship thought that a new decision
on the subject might affei very materially the inte-
rests of foreign merchants. It would be too much
to decide such a question without more minutely as-
certaining what the custom of merchants was. It
seemed to him there should be a special verdid, and
a formal finding of what was the law of merchants.
He should be inclined to think, that notice in the
common way, by protest, was not sufficient to en-
able an indorsee to recover of the person from whom
he had the bill, and so the law was understood by
all the writers upon it ; but as there were different
opinions upon the subjeft, he thought it would be
too much to disturb, without sufficient notoriety, a
contrary pradice, which it appeared had prevailed.
Putting the custom out of the question he had no•
thing but what was contained in the law books to
guide him, and they said that the protest must be
made on the day the bill was dishonoured and trans-
mitted to the party, in order to furnish them with
the means of recovering over.
The other Judges concurred in the sentiments ex-
pressed by this Lordship ; but it being suggested
that the sum in dispute was not worth the expence
of a special verdid, the Defendant was advised
by his Counsel to make enquiry as to the custom,
and if it should be found universal in such case, to
pay the money without further litigation.
Lord ELLENBOROUCH afterwards sat at Nisi
Prism.