The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-12-27 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS•

LONDON,
THURSDAY, Drcaraut 27.

Mr. Vicar, our ('4,,,_e d'.l,rsieei at the Court of
Madrid, had not arrived in town at a I ate hour last
night. Speculation is almost exhausted in assigning
probable causes for his delay so long after the period
sf his expeaed return. According to some. Bo-
has put his new diplomatic system in (wee
against him, and kidnap:Ned him upon the way.
Others presume, that he has beets driven out of his
course by the late tempestuous weather. For our
own part, we are not inclined to adopt eithtr of those
opinions, although both have been countenanced
by Papers ptofeuedly ministe:ial, and which affeft
to speak trom authority. Of Mr. Faxar's departure
from Madrid, so far back as the 14th of November,
very little doubt appears to be entertained, but
it is very probable that he ma) have been delayed in
Portugal by business ; and that his non-arrival is not
so great a disappointment to the Minister as to the
pubic. Several weeks have elapsed since Gen. Moose
sailed CT Portugal. His departure and destination
were kept so seem., that even his Aid-du-Camp was
ignorant of both, until the Last moment ; but it has
been since generally understood, that he is gone to
Portugal to v:ew that country, not only with a sol-
dier's eye, but also with the eye of a politician. It
would be his duty to examrte and consider how, in
the event ($1 a war with Spain, Portugal might be
best deleaded azainat the attacks at her French aad

. .

Spanish neighbours, or by what means Portugal
might be able to preserve peace, and continue her
present friendly connettion with this country. Upon
both these subjefts, Mr. Fete s is, of all the men whom
Gen. Moots could consult, the most competent to
give him advice and information. He must know
better than any other man,the disposition of the Court
of Madrid towards that of Lisbon, the extent and
nature of the danger which threatens Portugal, and
how it may possibly be evaded or resisted. May
we not therefore presume it to be the wish of Govern-
ment that Gen. Moose should avail himself of the
counsel and advice of Mr. FRERE upon the spot, and
may not the latter be at this moment awaiting the issue
of plans and proposals, submitted by England to Por-
tugal, for her safety and proteetion ? Under these
circumstances, we see no necessity for recurring to
the unfavourable state of the weather, or a new vio-
lation of the law of nations by Bona r *RYE, to ac-
count for the delay of Mr. FRIER E'S return. This
explanation is certainly more plausible than either,
but we do not pretend to say, that we have any au-
thority for it. The subje& ;s a fair question for con-
jeeture, and, is such, w: are at liberty to give an opi-
nion without incurring the imputation of trifling,
sr an attempt to mislead our readers.

The creatures of BONAP AR TE lately circulated,
with great industry, through the medium of the
French press, a forged letter, purporting to be from
a Swedish Nobleman, stating, that the object of the
interview of the BOURBON PRIIICIS, at Calmar, in
Sweden, was, to area the migration of Locos the
XVIII. of his rightful rank and title as King of
France, in favour of his nephew, the Duke of
AneoutLitr.. What passed upon that occasion we
do not pretend to xaow, but we can state frmni
gsitherity, that nothing to that etrea formed any
pan of it, nor ever was in contemplation.—
We apprehend, however, from the publication
of the forged letter, and the importance attached
to it in the French Papers, that BONAPARTS is
not entirely ignorant of what passed at the inter-
view between the Bowe son harness, and that the
letter has been published with a view to excite a pre.
judice in France against the measure really agreed
upon at Calmar. We have heard from a respettlable
source, that, should a Continental War break out,
and another league be formed against the pre-
sent French Government, Louis XVIII. will be
admitted a contrasting party as King of France
and Navarre, and that he will plant the Royal
Standard upon the iliffereea frostier: of his
kingdom : it will be joined by those of his sub-
jets who detest their Corsican tyrant, and sill re-
tain a sense of their duty. His MAJLiT T, how.
ever, being ton old and unwieldly for a military
life, will resign the command into younger hands,
and, according to report, pmclaini his nephew, the
Duke of Ascot:lAm es Regent and Lieutenailt-Cle-
neral of France and Navarre, with full powers to
.1/1 as circumstances may requite. This young
Prince, besides his personal courage and royal birth,
has claims to the attachment of Frenchmen, which
no other Bouanon can produce, or pretend to.
He left France when a youth, and no one can there-
fore reproach him, much less accuse him of what
mali:ious and guilty rebels have falsely and wick-
edly disseminated against some other Princes of
his house. He is the nest presumptive heir to
Luca XVIII. and married to the only sur-
viving child of the virtuous Lout; XVI. He
has, therefore, a double claim to the love and
veneration of all good Frenchmen ; a claim on his
own account, and a claim on account of his Royal
Consort, whose fortitude, greatness of soul, and
whose suffrrings, have made her the objeet of ad-
miration, even among the most furious Jac- bias.

YesterdAy the Itt:ssisx As/eats/toot trans.ciei
business At I.ord Hstotowsy's Office. from torte
o'clock, till WI past four.
The Coraine. uno, from Militia, fur Nzwfoand-
Land, i. Llst on Cape Cursed.
Great quantities of stores have been sent from
the depot in Winchester, belonging to Government,
to the different hospitals round the toast, in the
coarse of lag week.

The SP ABDO AMBASSADOR hag ROt lately received
any difpatches tram his Court. He spent his Chrizt.
mas Day to the cnmpaay of a few feted friends a i:h
whom he is AiZtlit'•ltted to iSiOCiate.

A promotion of Flag Officers i, expelled to take
place before the Meeting of Parliament, which will,
of course, include that gallant Otracer, Sir Sr oat v
SMITH.

It is said that Mr. Fox has pledged himself to the
Ronan Catholic Committee of Ireland to present
their Petition to P.uliament, praying for a .total
emancipotion.
The Iron Bridge, at the Wapping Docks, is at
length opened fur the use of the public. It makes
a trA ight line of communication the whole length
of Wapping.
The Order of Council for an embargo on all
Spanish ships at Plymouth and its dependencies,
WAS put in lures on Monday. and tour Spanish
merchantmen were in consequence boarded by the
officers of the Custom.. The Spanish men of war
are also placed in a sim.lar situation, and their car-
goes of sundries are landed, and under dire. ions
and care of the Collerlitor of the Customs of that
port.