The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-16 00:00:00

CERTIFICATES.

March 8. Joll,n Gillet, Joseph Hawksworth, and William
t;illatr, of Sheffield, common brewers.
William Potter, of Rath, upholder.
Beniamln Vane, of Birchin-lane, insurer.
IN'ilLana Champion, of Worksop, common brewer.
Willi to rdwler, of Shefford, and Matthew Samuel
Ilavnes, of Greville-strert, insurance-troktrs.
Thor:Lis Eldridge, of Old-street; victualler.

The Brandcnburgh-House Theatricals, which
were to have cominenced en Monday night, are
postponed until the 18th. These elegant amuse-
ments will consist of two pieces: the first is intended
for the entertainment of his litighness the MAR.
eirtAvt's numerous tradespeople; and the second ;or
the fashionable circle of his acquaintance. The
!CPO* AVINE, andthe Hon. CAPE!. CaavEN, will
sustain principal charaCters.
The Nil:lister, we understand, has altered his in-
tention of funding from /iv to eight millions of Ex-
chequer Bills. He means, on the contrary, to re-
new the present Bills, and, by that means, to prevent
an increase of stock, which would not be very de-
sifable at the present moment, as the market is stil
rather overloaded by the last Loan.
We heard a report some days ago, which is now
repeated so ccnfidently,that we cannot help noticing
it. It is said that Earl St. VINCENT retires from
the Admiralty Board, and is to be sitc:ieed.id by
Lord MLLVILLE. The abilities of the latter fr.!'
that, or any other piiblic situation, are sufficiently
known to the country, and his distinguished parlia-
nientary talents will form a great accession of
strength to Administration in the Upper House.
It has long been a question, whether. France
ought to confine herself to her own territorial re-
sources, or to aim at holding a respectable rank
among commercial nations? The FIRST CONSUL
is evidently inclined to the latter policy, from the
wish to create a formidable marine.
The advantages derived by the maritime cities
from this system, accounts for the sailing of more
than an hundred vessels, of from one to three hun-
dred tons, from various ports to the colonies, in the
space of a year, whichhave returned laden with their
produce.
By an account communicated to the Legislature,
lion' Mr. A aLier GALLATIN, Secretary to the
Treasury, it appears, that the finances of the ge-
neral government of the United States, arc now
richer by the sum of 8,085,1517 dolhirs, than they
were eighteen months since. Considerable difficulty
has been found in procuring an arrangement for the
remittance of those sums of debt from the United
States, which arc payable in Amsterdam from the
Ist of February to the Ist of June next.
Earl Moms, with that philanthropy which ever
distinguishes his charafter, has been inquiring into
the situations of the debtors in the different prisons
in the country, previous to the second reading of his
Bill for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors ; and the re-
sult has been such as to induce him to bring it for-
ward early in the ensuing week.
A dispute lately took place in America between
Mr. Rua ttnne, of South Carolina, and a Mr.
ELLERY, of Rhode Island, on public affairs.—
Mr. R. challenged Mr. E. who declined, but Mr. R.
having met him at an inn, beat him with a cane,
pulled his nose, &c. A ',notion ha. been made by
Mr. GRAY in the House of Representatives, that
any person who fights a duel shall be rendered in-
capable of holding any public office or station in the
United States. The motion was related, On the
ground that the ilouse had no right to decide upon
the qualification of public officers.

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SPRING ASSIZES.
cocP/RD.
JUSTICE LAWRENC.R AND JUSTICE CHA.MBRE.
Reading.—Mutlday, February 26.
Orford.—Wer!neiday, March 2.
Worc,ster and City.—Saturday, March 5.
Gloucester and City.—. Wednesday, March 9-
P fotrunutis —.Saturday, March 12.
Hertford.—.Tuday, March 15.
Arco sbury.—Saturday, March 19.
Stafford.—Wednesday, March 2S.
WF.STER N.
BARON THOMPSON AND JUSTICE LE BLANC.
Vinchrster.—Tuesclav, Match I.
Sarum—Saturday March 5.
D.Tchester.—Thursday, March 10.
Exeter and City.—Moaday, March 14.
Laqurestun.—Saturday, Mai en l'J.
Tuuhlum.—Fr illy, March 25.
NORTHERN
LORD ELLENROROUGH AND JUSTICE ROOKE.
lo,k and City—Saturday, March 5.
Lancustcr.—Saturday, March 19.
NORFOLK.
LORD ALVANLEY AND JUSTICE GROSE.
Apushury.—Saturday' March S.
liedford.—Thursday,March
littutiogdou —Saturday, March 12
Cambridge —Wedneiday, March 16.
Tiuiprd.—tiaturiay, March 19
Bury St. Eslmunds.—Thursday, March 24.
HOME.
BARON HOTHAM AND JCSTICE HEAT H•
ifertti,rd —Monday, March 7.
Chritn!fin-d.—Wcinciday, March 9.
Maidannte.—Mondayt March 14.
hiagstuu.—Monday, March 21.
Iturihon,—Mor.day. March 26.

Lill, INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF KING's BENCH, GUILDHALL, Ft.! t 5.
SITTINGS AY TER TERM,
noese (qui Tam) 14 THOMPSON.
This was an action brought by the Plaintiff, a
Coal-Meter, against the Defendant, a Wholesale
Coal-Merchant, to recover the Penalty of 1001.
given by the Statute of Geo. 11. for an unjust and
fraudulent delivery of coals, purpmeing to be ten
childions and a half, with the ingrain.
It appeared that the coals were purchased by Mr.
Thomas Marryatt, a Tavern-keeper,. who stated,
that on the 16th of August he applied to Messrs.
Thompson and Co. the Defendants, for ten and a -
half chaldrons of coals, which were sent and depo-
sited in his cellar ; they were kept apart from any
others, and a seal was put upon the door. On •
looking at the quantity, a suspicion arose that they
were not justly measured, be therefore had the cu-
riosity to see them re-measured. Two Meters were
then sent for, who measured them, and found a de-
ficiency of 18 bushels less than ten chaldrons and
a half. Mr. Marryatt had some idea, that the per-
sons who had measured them, had not done justice
between the parties, from private motives of their
own; he therefore had them measured again, when
they were still found to be deficient.
Mr. Henry Greer, and several other City Coal-
Meters said, that the coals had been purchased fur
Mr. Marryatt, at the Pool, where they were fairly
measured, and safely conveyed to the Defendant's
wharf, but after they had been placed in the barge,
they were removed into two different apartments,
containing five chaldrons and a quarter in each.
Mr. Yana and Mr. Biggs, persons employed to
measure the coals, stated there was a considerable
deficiency.
.Mr. Gaaftow concluded the cause, and was not
sparing of those forcible, but just remarks, which
the conduct of the Defendant appeared to merit.
He contended, that the coals were not delivered as
they were bought at the Pool, but that a less quan-
tity bad been sent to Mr. I.larryatt, 'than he was
entitled to receive. The Defendant, and coal-deal-
ers in genCral, might feel an inclination to maintain
lawsuits, rather than do justce ; but when many
such causes as the present were tried, and the ne-
cessary costs had been paid, they would find wrote
upon the other side of the page, '6 Honesty is the
bat Policy." It was plain to the eyes of the Jury,
that Mr. Marryatt was to have been supplied with
ten chaldrons, and a half by the Defendant, accord-
ing to the Statute. This had not been done ; the
penalty was consequently forfeited.
Mr. Easettse endeavoured to infer, that although
the delivery was unjust, it was not fraudulent on
the part of the Defendant, but the effect of the
usual waste that constantlyattends the del i veryof coals.
The Jury gave a verdict for the Plaintiff—Da-
, mages 1001.

LONDON SESSIONS, Feb. 14..
DISOLVENT DEBTORS.
The. Court sat for the purpose of discharging Pri-
soners under the Insolvent Aft.
The Baron DE MINCKWITZ was opposed by Mr.
Co x sr, who attended as Counsel for Mr. Godfrey
Feize, ,on the ground of his having obtained money
under false pretences. The Learned Counsel stated,
that this Gentleman had obtained a large sum of
money from Mr. Feize, which he should prove was
coming under the description of that clause in the
Aft which precludes a prisoner from taking the
benefit of the Al.f
Mr. KNAP:, Counsel for the Prisoner, objected to
the competency of Mr. Fein's evidence, which was
overruled by the Court, and Mr. Feize was accord-
ingly examined, and gave the following testimony :
The Prisoner, on the 17th of August, 1795, applied
to him, representing himself as a German Nobleman,
sent over to this country to purchase horses for the
Emperor and the Grand Duke, and obtained from
him the loan of 1,1001. for fourteen days, saying he
expeaed remittances in that timelrom ienna. On
the 18th of SepteMber, he repaid him 8501. and
solicited him to recommend him to a jeweller.—
He afterwards advanced him More money to
the amount of 1,Q561. believing him to be
the person he represented himself. Some time
afterwards, he discovered that he was arrested,
by Nodes and Co. the jewellers, for a large sum,
and being alarmed, he applied to him, w henthe Pri-
soner told lum that he would no longer deceive hint,
that he did not expert any remittances.
Mr. KNA 14 contended, that as no aftual proof
had been adduced of the Prisoner's not being the per-
son he represented himself to be, he was entitled to
his dischargethat a naked lie is no fraud.
The Court asked Mr. Feize if he parted with his
money on the faith of his being the agent of the Em-
peror of Germany and the Grand Duke ? which Mr.
Feize answering m the; affirmative, the Court order-
ed the Priseittie to be rtinancied, being of Opinion he
came under the clause, and that he had obtained the
e MO•tieurldet false pitttric es.

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BALLOCIM •
TO THE EDITOR UP THE BRITISH PRESS.
SIR,
The following ertraff from a letter, which I re-
ceived from a friend with whom I was personally
acquainted at Constantinople, giving some account
of the rejoicings on receiving the news of the capi-
tulation of Alexandria to the British troops, may be
acceptable to your readers ; as it affords at once an
unvarnished picture not only of aerostatics, but also of
the genius and amusements of the inhabitants of the
Ottoman Metropolis, with the latter of which other
parts of Europe are very little acquainted.
" When the news of the capitulation arrived here,
orders were given for public rejoicings to be made
on the water, in front of the pelece. The manage-
ment of the spectacle was, agreeible to established
custom, entrusted to four military corps; the Je-
bijy (or Garda-munition:), the Admiralty, the 0/11-
noneers, and the Bombardeers and Engineerso.vho are
distinct from the Gunners ; these were to exhibit, on •
four successive days ; and an interval of fifty dap
allowed for the arrangements.
Being attached to the Engineers, I proposed to
a friend, who held a principal part in the arsenal, to
construct a Balloon of sail-cloth ; he •i:nmecliatelt
closed with my offer, but could only spire such old
sails as were unfit for service, and condemned to be
cut tie for other uses.
• " Having made my calculation, and fixed the
diameter of- my Balloon at fifty feet, I picked out a
sufficient number of old royals, and top-gallant-sails,
the thinnest I could find, and framed my Balloon
into two hemispheres of twelve gores each ; and to
prevent any accident by fire, I steeped one of the •
gores in a solution of ail ammoniac and size, as re-
commended by Mr. Ca vat co in his Aerostacion ;
but it attracted the. humidity of the atmosphere sp
quick, that I renounced the mode as ineffectual. L
then pasted paper on one side of each gore, and,
when dry, washed the paper with the above volution,
which proved not only a good preservative against
fire, but also the ravages of the rats, whose depre-
dations had been manifest before the adoption of
this plan. The two hereiiphers were joined by a.
zone, three feet wide ; so that the Balloon. was fifty
feet in diwieter, taken horizontally, and fifty-three
feet per*dicularly ; the whole weighing eight
quintals."
-Xfter giving account of two trials, in which the
Balloon answered the -projector's most sanguine ex-
pectations, he proceeds as follow :
" The next day the Grand Signior sent an order
to take the balloon to a country-scat, about two
leagues from the city, whither he would come Saco:.
and witness its elevation, about noon cf. the following'
day. At two o'clock P. M. of the day appointed,
the order being given, the balloon was inflated in
twelve minutes; the weather was line, and no win&
stirring; it rose perpendicularly to a great height,
where it remained nearly stationary during eight
minutes, immediately in front of the Linperer.
After that space; a light wind giving it a progressive
motion, it gradually descended, and. at length touch-
ed the ground half a league distant from the place
of its ascension, after remaining twenty-two minutes
in the air. •
" Another order was issued to prepare a floating-
rift, from Whieh the balloon was to ascend ; and L
adapted a gallery to it, capable of containing two
men, and which increased the weight to ten quinrele-
Several people, satisfied with the suet ess of the for- -
mer experiment, applied for leave to ascend before
the Grand Signor, in hopes of a suitable reward, but
permission was not granted; neither was I allowed
to suspend a grate containing fire, lest it. should fa 1
on the houses. I therefore ornamented the helicon
With trophies, aitd placed two figures of men, in mi-
litary form, in the gallery.
The different corps having completed their at-
rangeinents, a day was appointed in which each was
to exhibit in turn. The exhibitions consisted of. a
number. of rafts, fitted up as forts, gardens, coffee-
houses, &c. with music and fire-works, for the space
of three or four hours. When the arsenal's turn
came, the attack of Alexandria was represented, in
a manner diverting to children only ; after which,
the balloon was again exhibited.
" Having acquired some reputation in a country
in which the previous attempts had been only scree:
few paper balloons, which had totally miscarried, L
received an order to prepare one of taffeta, eight feet
in diameter. I prepared the varnish, as direaed by'
Cavallo, from linseed-oil aad sandarach ; but it wee
not only very brittle, and contintrelly scaling off,
but when fiildedd up, it adhered so strongly as not
to be separated...
" I received an order to let this balloon off on
Monday, September the 20th at a Koidik belonging
to the Empei or upon the Bosphorus; but the varnish
having peeled Off, I sent an excuse to the Emperor,
who accepted it, and ordered it to be let off on the
Thursday following at the Oimeilia ; but after-
welds, instigated, I suppose, by some envious inch-
vidiials, sent one a peremptory order for the ascen-
sion on Wednesday the Wd, which, front the
perplexed state of my apparatus, appeared, at the
time, almost impossible. However, with the assis-
tance of our friend Mr. Hubert Desvignes, enamel-
ler to the Emperor, was enabled to obey this arbi-
trary command of al arbitrary sovereign, and every
thing was in readiness at half-past nine, P. M. of the
Wednesday morning. The Emperor came at ten ;
the ballOon ascended in twenty minutes after, and,
with a strong wind at N. E. passed over the city ;
it remained visible about half an hour, then enter-
ed a cloud, and has never since been heard of..
" On the Friday following, I was sent for to the
Seraglio, and ordered to construel mother balloon of
taffeta, fifteen feet in diameter, and to complete it
in ten days. It was constructed at Dolma Bakehe,
a pleasant valley, near the sea-side, in the form of an
amphitheatre, and near to tievresidence cf the. Grand.
Signior.
" Thursday the 7th of OCtober was Feed on for
the exhibition. An inclosure was made in. the
middle of the valley for the apparatus ; and guards
ed by Bcstatclits, who kept the crowd. (,which
amounted to operas of 30,000), at a distance. The
Bosphorus wis covered. with 'boats.; and. the eppo,.
site shore of Seeteri literally covered. with. spce-
tatOrS.
" At eleven o'clock the Eirrpesor, attended by
the whole Court, came to his liioshlr, which was
situated on an eminence, anti: decorated in. the reo4
superb style. • The Capudex Paella, with a nu-
merous retinuee arrived. a few Minufeg later, an'
took his station in a. kioshk, on the' opposite side of
the vaifey.. 9bt balloon vras infiated in. the shcri
space of thiffy-nitie ritinincs, After the sups sea a*

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_ was neatly
wind caused .it
immediately
the Pa•la,
for a salute
balloon rose,
Ind the speCta-
iiration by a
general !' It
passed vertically over Constantinople, where it was
plainly seen by all the inhabitants, and gradually
lessened to the sight ; the Emperor all the while
viewing it through a telescope.- In forty minutes
it was no longer visible ; and, on the Friday after-
noon, was picked up by some boatmen, floating
near the shore of the Island of Cyricum, 120 miles
distant from town. I conjecture that it continued
in the air about eighteen or twenty hours, because,
when only half filled with gas, it was capable of
sustaining itself, and it conk not lose that quantity
of gas in a much shorter interval.
DESVIGNEs and myself were then called forward
to salute the Emperor at a respeaful distance, and
receive the Imperial bounty ; but judge our sur-
whoi a man, who had been only employed in
laying on the varnish, was also called upon ! no dis-
enmination being made here between the artist and
the mere workman ; of which take the folloulng as
a specimen :
" A celebrated organist having given a specimen
of his talents,' the Turks ordered a handsome pecu-
niary gratification, but gave the larger part of it to
the be gravely remarking, that as be
had the greatest share of the labor, he was ;witted to the
greatest share of rescard ! ! But we were destined to
receive a greater mortification ; for a fourth person,
who never had the least concern with the balloon,
was, in a manner, smuggled into our party, and re-
ceived the same share of the present as we did.
This scheme was contrived by some of the Court
favourites, in order, by this shuMing manner, to pay
off a debt owing to this person, at the expence of
the Emperor, who was,' most probably, deluded
into an idea of his having had a considerable share
in the construCtion of the ballocn. But the 'ft:As
are invariable the same. As they possess neither ta-
lents nor science themselves, so are they incapable
of discerning, or appreciating the value of them in
others." 3. B.

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CONTRO7ERTED ELECTION PETITIONS.

NPR'

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NAVAL INTELLMSNCE.

1.
PORTSMOUTH, rte. l
Came into harbour his Majesty's ship Arrow, of
30 guns, Capt. Vincent.
Arrived from the East Indic.: his Majesty's ships
Intrepid, of 04 guns, Capt. Hargood ; La Chifonnei
of 36 guns, Capt. Stuart ; and La Virginie, of 30
guns, Capt. Astle ; and remain with the Neptune,
Calcutta, Loire, Woolwich, Amazon, Dryad,
Blanche, Chichester, Kite, Morglaaa, Port Mahon,
and Starling.
Remains at St. Helens his Majesty's ship Le
Hercule, of 74 guns..--. Wind W. by S. and mode-•
rate.
Capt. Williams, of his Majesty's ship Dryad, of
36 guns, is appointed to the command of the Russel,
of 74 guns, in the harbour.
Capt. bomett is appointed to command the
Dryad, of 36 grins, at Spithead, intended for a
particular service.
His Majesty's ships Cbicheiter and Woolwich con-
tinue under qnarantine.
The Apollo frigate, rf 36 guns, Capt. Dixon, has
made signal for sailing out of harbour.
Letters from the Last Indies mention, that Ad-
miral Sir Rogcr Curtis is not expected to sail for
k;ngland, as no orders had been received for that
purpose when those accounts came away.
DEAL, Mi. i 4.
Sailed the Bloodhound gun-vessel, on a cruice.—
Wind W:

DOVER, FEB. 14.
Arrived the Pratce of Wales packet, Car. Sutton,
from Calais, with a quantity of foreign coin.
Sailed at two o'clock this morning, the Active
passage-vessel, Capt. Oarnilton, with Wm. Stand-
lord, klsq. and family ; also the Two Friends, Capt.
Gillut, light fo!
YARMOUTH, FEB. 14. -
Arrived the Lydia, Nicholson, from Hull ; Catha-
rine and Mary, Knight, from Rochester ; yaws,
Carter, from Rochester ; Ondow, Artis, from Liver-
pool ; Two Friends, Wiseman, put in wind-bound ; ,
and the Traveller, Booth, from Sundeiland to
Sheerness, put in wind-bound.
Sailed the Triton, Dcnant, to Boston ; AMion, An-
derson, to Whitby ; Thomas and Mary, Ciaulin,
Leith ; Nymph, Shepherd, to Leith ; and Wiwi,'
Bromley, to Hull.
The Lion,. of Yarmouth, Teasdall, arrived at
Ancona the 18th ult. from whence she proceeded to
Venice, and arrived there on the 20th.
Remain in the Roads, La Pig= and Leda frigates,
and Lynx sloop of war.—Wind W.
GRAVESEND, FFB. 14.
Passed by the Fancy, Beale, from Bilboa ; and
the Amity, Smith, from Venice.
Sailed the Chilton, Walker, for Charleston ; Rae-
ragon, Minton, for Hamburgh ; Susannah, Taillant,
for Calais; and Twe Gebroders, Daysau, fir Dieppe.
GREENOCK, FEB. 11.
The Paadora, Galt, whtch arrived here yesterday,
spoke on the 26th January, in lat. 51. N. lung. 9. W.
the ship Diana of Boston, from Charleston for Li-
varpool, lying-to with a misen top sail bent for a
main top sail. I ler other sails appeared to have
sufFered severely, in the preceding gales of wind :
'I here is too much reason to tear, that the ship
Dairy/dr from Quebec for inis port, has been lost
on the island of Barra, and the crew perished.

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DUBLIN, FEB.IO.

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bUBLIN CASTLE, FEBRUARY 9.
His Excellency has been plea9ed to appoint the
following Gentlemen to be High Sheriffs :
A:lough—John Moore, jun of Drumtranagher, Esq.
K erry—Willia ns Meredith, of DicksorTe, Ea"q.
Ktlkenuy B. Esq.
Mayo—Michael Corm...:k, Esq.
Westmeatb—Joseph Morgan Daly, of Daly Castle, Esq.
NV lleighingt•m, of Dona:d, Esq.
Ten. 10.
Capt. Wilson, and a party of the peace-officers, on
Monday, apprehended a number of persons, who, it
is supposed, were concerned in robbing the Wicks
low Mail, on Friday last ; several of the notes were
found in their possession.
A person of the name of Neale, his wife, and son,
have been also apprehended, upon whom were
found bank post bills, and notes robbed ont of the
Mail on same night.
A point of law, reserved by the Court of Kill's
Bench, a few days since, on a verdia by a Special
Jury in favour of the Plaintiff, Thomas Dade, of
London, Esq. against Messrs. Newman and Hay-
land, in which the former wasadjudged damages to
the amount of :;irti6l. sterling, on a corn-contrast
determined to have been violated by the Defend-
ants, is expected to be argued in a few days by the
srongcsi. power of the Irish Bar.
The Circuits are expeaed to take place about the
20th of March.

Friday, Saturday, and Monday, three division, of
the 79th regiment, under the command of Lieute-•
nant-Colonel l‘l'ele:ur, marched into Be'fist from
Donagliadee, where they landed on Wednesday and
Thursday list. They are on their route for Lon-
donderi y, for which place the last division marched
on Tuesday morning.
On the Val inst. Mandamuses to restore Sir John
Newport, Mr. Ramsay,' Mr. Wezkes, and Sir Sis
mon Newport, to their places of Ald"rmen of War
terford, wcrc delisened to the Mayor of that city.

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top had been cast oft end the machine
ready for launching, a.slight puff of win
to incline towards the Emperor, and ii
bent in an opposite clireftion towards
which the wondering crowd mi.took f
effeded on purpose. 'Ffie moment the b
a band of martial music struck up, ant
tors expregted their supt i.:e and admi
general shout of ' Allah ! Arab ! I.li,