The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-03-23 00:00:00

•

gany rumours were, of cotme, propagated in the
course of the day. In the variety of speculation
and report, the only probable conclusion that can be
drawn is, that nothing decisive has yet taken place.

By the American ship "Wive, arrived at Fal-
mouth, and which left the Cape four days after
the Prince: Amelia packet, we learn, that the Cape
remained in the possesion of the British on the ldth
day of January, according to the articles of agree-
ment entered into between the British and Dutch
commanders.—Of which we insert a copy.

The French funds have improved. They were on
the 18th so high as tiO. Our own yesterday kept
pretty steady.

The Argus, an English Paper printe, at Paris,
received ye::terday, has some remarks upon his
Majesty's Message. It denies, generally, that any
preparations arc going un in the ports of France--
the only fcr:ce that they were equipping having al-
ready galled, partly to the West Indies, and partly
to the East Indies. As to the expedition fitting o t
in the Dutch ports, it says, the destination is •
well known to be for Louisiana, that this cannct
possibly have furnished any ground of
" England therefore only makes this a pretext to
cover its ulterior views."

The Leyden Gazette of the 18th M.trch, says, the
Message of theKtNoofENGt.nND was sent to Parisby
extraordinary couriers. This unforeseen event could
nut but he followed by prompt resolutions on the
part of the French Government. We cannot knew
the whsle extent of the measures adopted in con,e-
quence ; but we are assured that they have taken
steps not less vigorous than those taken by England,
and that in case of hostilities, all the ports of the
European coast, under their influence, and which
may facilitate the means of an invasion, would be
immediately lined with troops.
A Board was held yesterday mornir,,, at the
Treasury-office. It was attended by Lord 'G
EU la G. L
I.IIY N F., Mr. Bost), &c. &c. Stc.

Mr. SpAkkow, the King's Alessenger, who re.
tinned on Monday from Paris, performed his jour-
ni, from London to Paris and hack again, in six
days, out of which he remained twenty-four hours
at Paris.

Accuunts received yesterday from France state,
that Peace is the general topic of conversation in
that Country. The people there, we have no doubt,
speak as they wish, but the wishes of the people
are, we fear, little regarded. Ihe perfea and stu-
died silence of the French papers, accounts for the
total ignorance which prevails in that Country re-
speCting the nature or subjeCts of the discussion be-
tween their Government and ours.

The Palatine of HUNGARY was to set out on the
7th inst. for Petersburgh, where he is to be affianced
to the Princess of 13AotN. The marriage is to be
solemnized at Cracow, where the presence of the
Emperors of GERMANY and Russia is expeeted.
Accounts received by the Hamburgh Mails, state,
that the French troops destined for Louisiana are
all embarked on board the transports at the mouth
of the Meuse. They consist of 4000 infantry, a de-
tachment of the I;tth regiment of dragoons, a de-
tachment of artillery, &c. The expedition is to put
to sea in a few days.
The Merchants of Turin have obtained from the
French Government the free exportation of wrought
silks from Piedmont.

Letters from Ratisbon state, that it is expeeted
that the business of the Indemnities will be entirely
terminated w,, a month.
The Chevalier d'ANDUAGA, the Spanish Envoy
to London, set out from the Hague on the 7th
instant for this capital, by the way of Antwerp and
Paris.
PASWAN OGLOU continues to pursue an arbitrary
and independent conduCt, and is little embarrassed
by the displeasure of the Porte. He is still in force,
and has not disbanded the greater part of his troops,
as report had stated.
Admiral Sir Jou% Cot pors, Admiral STAN..
HOPE, and Lord li. PACLET, are in the numerous
list of Naval Officers who have tendered their ser-
vices at the Admiralty.
Orders were received yesterday at Dover to re-
mount the ordnance pieces, which were dismounted
upon the ratification of peace.
A Rotterdam paper, of the 19th instant, says,
" The grand question of Peace or War is suspended
on the will of I.IoN Ap Aat L. There is no absolute
hostility pre-determined by the English Minister;
the limits of concession, on their part, are chalked
out ; and as France may approach that point with-
out injury to her safety or her honour, it is hoped
she will weigh the consequences, and suffer the scale
to preponderate on the side of humanity, and of re-
gard for the dearest inkiest: of thin cuuntry, which are
immediately at stake ; thus convincing us of the im-
portance of her amity."
A private letter from Path says, " The only in-
terruption to the sudden torrent of discourse, by
which the saloon of the Thuilleries was invaded on
Sunday last, was attempted by M. DE MARCOW,
the Russian Ambassador. When BONAPARTE said,
" that France had waged 'war for ten years," " and
all Europe," said the Ambassador, " felt that to be
a Li.ingerous nod fearful crisis." When the scene
was over, and the principal after withdrawn, all the
other Ambassadors shunned Lord W iiirwu at it, as
if he had caught a political influenza, or the pesti-
lence ! M. l)s: MARCONI/ alone continued with him,
and remarked with great good humour on the deli-
cate and embarrassing situation in which Lord W.
found himself placed for the moment. The Count
DE Conti TzE 1., the Austrian Minister, was the only
person of the Corps Diplamatique who was not pre-
sent on the occasion, and his absence has since been
noticed by the FIRST CONSUL with no light degree
of displeasure."
A daring robbery was attempted on Wednesday
evening last, at the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel, in
King-street, Bristol: some villains, who are supposed
t have concealed themselves in the Chapel, re-
moved from its situation an iron chest, which was
fixed with masonry into the wall, (containing a
considerable sum in cash, and some writings of im-
portance) ; after having succeeded in getting it out
of the Chapel. Some of the tackle used in carrying
it off gave way, and the chest (about 3 cwt.) fell on
the ground with such violence and noise as to occa-
sion an alarm, when the depredators were forced to
decamp without their booty. The goodness of the
locks, and the strength of thechest, bad rendered
fruitless every attempt to open it.