The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-06-20 00:00:00

LORD GRENVILLE AND MR. PITT.

The following Letter is given in a Morning Paper as a coned
Copy of that written by Lord Grenville to Mr. Pitt, lliaoll
the Subjci of the present Administration :
(COPY.)
" MT DtAR "Mar R, 1804.
" 1 have already apprised you that all the persons, to whom,
at your deiire. I communicated what passeJ between us yearr.
day, agree with me in the decided opinion, that we ought nut
to engage in the Administration which you are sow employed
in forming.
" We should be sincerely sorry, if, by declining this proposal,
we should appear less &sners than we must always be, of rep-
del ing to His Matesty, to the etinost of our power, every ser-
vice, of which he may be grscinuely pleased to think u: ca;.a.
ble Na consideiation of personal ease or comfort; nu a.pre
hension of resounobility, nor reluctance to meet the real saii-
ation Into which the country has been brought, bare any
weight in this decision : nor are we fettered by any engage-
ments on the subject, either expressed or implied ; we rest our
determination solely on our strong sense of the impropriety of
Our becoming puttee to a system of government, which is to
be forme! at such a moment a, the present, on a principle of
occlusion.

" It is unneerwary to dwell on the mischiefs which have al-
rawly resulted from placing the great Offices of Government in
weak awl eiscapable hands. We se-• no hope of any effectual
remedy for these mischief% but by uniting in thy Public Set-
vice f &Alms a proportion as possible of the weight, talents, and
character, to be found in Public Men of all description% and
without any exception.' This opinion I have already had occasion
to express to you inches same words, and we have for some time
past been publicly acting in conformity to it; nor can we, while
WC remain impressed with that persuasion, concur its defeating
an object for which the circumstances of the present times afford
at once so strong an inducement, and so favourable an occa-
sion.

" An opportunity now offers, such u this country ha< scE
dram seen, for giving to its Government,in • rannsent r d peculiar
difficulty, the full benefit of the sertices of all those, who by
the Public Voice and Sentiment, ere judged most capulile of
contributing to its prosperity and safety. The wishes of the
Public on this subject are completely in union with its intere-ts
and the advantage., which not this country alone, but all Eu-
mpe, and the whole civilised world, might derive from the este.
blitlimun of such an Administration, at such a crisis, would
probably have exceeded the most sanguine expectations.
" We are certainly not ignorant of the difficulties which
might have obstructed the final accomplishment of such an
object, however earnestly pursued. But when, in the very first
instance, all trial of it is precluded, and when this denial is
made the condition of all subsequent arrangements we cannot
but feel, that there are no motirei, of whatever description,
which could justify our taking an active part in the estAblish•
mint of a sty stem, so adverse to our deliberate and declare,'
opinions. " Belicve me ever, my dear PITT,
" iblUdi affectionately your's,
(Signed) tt

Dees.—An unfortunate affair took place at Col-
chester, last Wednesday, between two officers of the
3d West York Regiment, Messrs. H. and %V. the
latter of whom was mortally wounded at the first
round, the ball penetrating his arm, and one of the
lower ribs, and lodging in the vertebrz of the back.
The cause originated in a court of inquiry, which
was held on a Lieutenant F. of the same regiment,
against whom Mr. H. was called to give evidence :
on leaving the court, the former accosted and abused
him, saying, that his evidence was false; of which
conduit Mr. H. very properly took no other notice
than reporting it to the Court. A short time after
this had happened, Lieutenant W. a friend of Lieu.
tenant F. took great pains to propagate the report
that Mr. I had suffered an insult without resenting
it ; adding, that however he might affront him, he
should not be afraid of being called out. This was re-
ported to Mr. H. by his friends, who advised him to
call on Lieut. W. The consequence was that they
fought ; the latter fell, and the former, who was uni-
versally liked in the regiment for the gentleness of his
manners, and many other good qualities, is obliged
to leave the country with ha wood, Capt. C.