The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-03-14 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
TUESDAY, MARCH 14.

A circumstance occurred last night in the House
of Commons, from which un inference has been
drawn, unfavourable to the COMMA N DER-I K-
CHILF.—TiIe SEC RETA RY at W• 11., in the course
of his speech, having stated, that he was fully con-
vinced, from what had already passed ou the IttliF.
ject of Mrs. CLARKE'S testimony, that her evidence
was considered by the majority of the [louse us un-
worthy of belief, this expression was eagerly called
by the Howse, and marked with disapprobation, .by
eager exclamations of " Nu! Au!" from eery
part of it.

Although the Inquiry into the con lust of the
CossM•NDER-iN-CHIEF, whatever be the ietiliet,
must lead to good, yet it is not a good without
alloy. Among the evil consequences resulting from
it, is the complete suspension of all military pre-
parations or exertions. Neither at the Horse Guards,
nor at the War-office, nor iii any department, is any
thing stirring. Vet never wa, a moment so cnticul,
or so favourable for action; lint, perhaps, it is pre-
sumptuous even here to complain. Mad it not been
for this Inquiry, perhaps Ministers might have
found time for another ill-concerted and unfor-
tunate expedition.

Previous to the resiemptiou of the 'Debate last
night in the I Iroise of Commons, upon the Charges
against the Duke of Yoax, Mr. I'vacev AL intima-
ted, in the event of its not being finished on
Tuesday, the propriety of an adjournment ontil
Thursday. To afford the Members a respite
from the fatigue of long and protracted sit-
tings, appears to have been Mr. PERCEVAL's mo-
tive ; but it had the effect of reviving the report
of an intention on the part of Ministers to get rid
of the question by a Prorogation. The Mutiny Bill
will be reed a third time, this day, in the House
of Commons, and by dispensing with the usual
forms, it may he passed, and receive the Royal
Assent in the House of Lords we Thursday. This
circumstance was stated in support of the opinion
of those who ventured Ito suspect that Ministers
had determined upon a Prorogation as soon as they
could possibly suffer it to take place. We are not,
however, of that opinion. In the present advanced
stage of the Doke of Yofte's business, and in the
present state of the public mind, he must be a hold
Minister, indeed, who would venture upon such a
step. If Mr. PERCEVAL. in wishing for the adjourn-
ing over for a day, be influenced by any other than
his erofessed object, it relates more probably to a
partial change of Ministry than to a Prorogation. It
was confidently reported last night, thatthree of the
Ministers, the Duke of PORTLAND, Lord CAATLE-
ILEAGH, and Lord MULORAVE, as not being ufb-
ciently solar in the cause of the Cosfm•NDLR-IN•
CHIEF, were to resign on Wednesday. Marquis
Wittr.enst to succeed to the Treasury. iVe
have reason to believe that there is much bustle,
and some difficulty, among the Members of Ad-
ministration. Thee dare not advise His M—v
to accept the D. of Y.'s resignation ; yet they
dread carrying their own motion in the H. of
C—s, lest the city of London and the counties
should petition the Crown to remove the Cosi-
la AN non-t EF : it being well known that Lan-
doll, York, and Surrey, in that event, are prepared
for that course. Above all, they dread their own
dicnisral. Such is our situation here at home,
while Boa 'assort over-runs the Continent unop-
posed, and transfers his forces from Castile to Ba-
varia and the Tyrol.

Louts the XVlllth, and Madame Hoestx,
have both received letters by the Messenger who
recently made his way over to this country• from the
Continent. The dispatches in question. though
dated from different parts of Germany, concur in
declaring that no hone rtmained to the House of
AUSTRIA of avoiding a rupture with Bortarstm.
The truth of this fact is unquestionable; ytt,
down to the latest accounts transmitted through
Holland. we see that negociations still continued to
he carried on between the Courts of St. Cloud and
of Vienna. Nsent.Eos will profit, no doubt, of
this delay, to withdraw his choicest troops from
Spain, and to march them towards the Danube.
A vtssel arrived at Plymouth, on Friday. states
that Admiral DuLawoarst has joined the fleet off
Rochfort.

A Mail from Gottenburgli arrived yesterday,
with Letters and Papers to the 4th in.t. The late
embargo is imputed to a misunderstanding be-
tween the ENtrusu Mistime and His Seri:nun
MiJIMITY. The precise nature of the dispute is
not stated, but it was amicably adjusted on the
same day, and the removal of the embargo was the
immediate consequence.
The Dutch Papers to the Bth instant abound
with military movements and preparations. The
ARCHDUKE CHARLES is to be at the head of the
Austrian Army. It is to 1:e divided into nine
corps. The Duke of Anil/11'4DX vise daily expect-
ed from Paris, to ammo the command of the
French army in Germany.
The Hope brig of war, Capt. PRARCE, arrived
on Friday at Plymouth, from Lisbon aryl Cadis,
with dispatches for Government. It does not ap-
pear that the French had entered Portugal up to
the 20th lust. The Portuguese, and the people
is the South of Spain, are represented in high spi-
rits. The /lope, on her passage, spoke the Sur-
veil/ante, with the convoy from the Brazil, which
informed her, that on the Ist lust. they saw a squa-
dron of four French sail of the line, and two frigates,
steering W.S.W. They are supposed to by the ships
that escaped from L'Orient, steering fur the West
Indies.
The Egeria arrived at Yarmouth on Sunday,
from the Baltic ; she had captured the Dmuii.h na-
tional cutter AalbuttN, mid four other vessel, laden
with deals. The Charger was at !amidst:roue on
the 34d ult. with a convoy for England. The
Egeria left Wingo Beacon on the 4th instant.
On the 2d of last month, as some Deicers were
returning to Bermuda, from a party at St. David's
Island, the boat upset, and Lieutenant RAM. of the
Royal Navy. Captain Passe, and a Serjeant of
the Royal Marines, were drnwited ; their bodies
were found on the following day, and interred with
every honour due to their rank.

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