The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-05-17 00:00:00

THE SdINTES.

17i. &dates. or 411 Jo/aft Islands, wbere the
L'Orieid squadron had sought refuge, ere sn ditoomi-
nated, He having been discovered no holy dayy
by the Spatodrils, are three sm:•1 islands, situated
to the south-east of Gunildt,dape. The roost
westerly of them in called Terra de Bar, or the
Lela snit, the most easterly. Terra de flaw,
or the MO Island. The third, which lies exactly
io the middle, between the other two, seems to Ise
nothing more than a large Lure's rock. but
is of use in assisting to form a very pod har-
bour. The iclemi of Terra de Bas is about
three leagues in circumference, but the other
is larger. These ishisids• have constantly a
fresh breeze, let the wind blow from what
quarter it tray.; and on the Terra de Bas is n 'loot
wooden church, with two very convenient creeks,
both for anchorage sad landing. They arc about
two leagues distance from Guadeloupe, and bye
from Marie Calmar.

GENERA COURT-.II.IIITI4L—Sia6 Dem.

CHELSEA COLLEGE, TussoAY, May IS.

The Conri•again assembled, and proceeded in
the examination of evidence in support of the de-
fence of Capt. COCIIIRANE. The principal part of
the morning was occupied in hearing the evidence
of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland.
His Royal-Highness came into Conn about t4even,
dressed in his full uniform, as Colonel of the 13th
Light Dragoons. The Piesi•lentoind all the Meus•
hers of the Court rase to receive him. A chair test
given him, but his Royal highness stood while he
gave his testimony, lie delivered it in a mita'
dists.tct, and emphatical manlier; end he
spoke in very high terms of approbatimsuf the uni-
formly zealous conduct of Captain Ordinate. It is
expected the defence will close to-morrow ; alter
which a few days will probably be given to the Pro-
secutor, to prepare his reply. The Court was ex-
cessively crowded, particularly while His Royal
Highness was present.

THE LATE FINE AT BILLINGSGATE.

MIL EC ITOII-•-As a constant reader of your Pa-
per, 1 beg tesgive roa the following particulars of
the late tire, of whi•it I was an eye witness from the
counitesseement, till 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
A large quantity of turpentilie that lay on
;al pt.'s.quity, owing to the hem of the weather, had
leaked eumidrrahly, and it-is supposed that the.
watchman was gatherin.; it up in • tin pot for his
own use, when a spark from his lanthont set fire to
that oil the groulid which instantly communicated
to the ca.k.—Aware of the danger, he called some
other watchman mad Customhouse officers to assist
him in rolling it into the Thames it being low
water; loathe cask burst, and the liquid fire ran
slow. the shore sod spread to the small craft that
lay there aground. The flames merle rapid progress
on the quays, cud men communicated to the ware-
hoes.. of Messer% vin eit Co. anti from them to
Yates's & Co. while the sheds under which good.
am shipped or Nude I took Pre, and it sprehd to
the Deal vessels of about 70 touts hurtheu that
cane in the preceding tide, awl from theme to
the Hull trader whose Captain was on board mid
just going to hed. "Ike Britamtia. Margate/4w, lay-
ing close to her soon cau:ht lire. tnget with. moo-
ther trader, and a -mall Dutch brig. Maimd' the
fire raged very furiously, groat part of the Hull
vessel and cargo might have been saved at the next
tide, had she been scuttled ; but being a lae4e
brig of 250 tons and upwards, and tarrying sae
gnus ; some persons spread a report that too of
her guns were boded, and that she had a colt-i-
-disable quantity of powder on board, which had
the effect of entirtly preventing any assistance be-
ing given either to her or the other ceases. the
wiple fearing an explosion. She continued to
Intro very fu rionsly till the tide began to make in
the afternoon, when having previously had a large
hole cut in her bow, what remained tilled with the
tide. Site bad on board 14i toas of raisins and fir,
four or live tons of cheese, and one hogshead of
hams hamming to Messrs. Shipp arid Co. of Snow-
hill ; 15 tons of iron shot, a tittautitY of ensile, a
mealier of crates of earthenware, some hogslitials
of whitening, soul considerable other property
dry goods. The Deal vessel was laden with wine,
spirits, and a considerable quantity cf ironmon-
gery, such as scythe., ice. The warehouses of
Elvers alone mutative!. beside other property to a
great amount, 10,000 Jobs of butter. great
quantities of bacon and cheese. In the cellar of
the warehouse upon Ralph's-quay there were be-
longing to the (.ro.vn a great quantity of over
proof seized spirits, which at one o'clock yesterday
were not the least damaged; but there being 110
person present to give directions, the whole (with
the exception of nue piece of Henault, was either
destroyed or buried in the ruins, two dosen might
have been saved had the firemen not been ex-
hausted for want of sustenance; haviag been
there all the preceding night. The Loudon
Assurance engines did not throw less, in the course
of the tide, than 400 tons of water. Gis its being
represented to Collluniviiener Row, of the Customs,
he sent a fresh supply of men to the engine. The
only accidents that happened were those ineutioned
in your palter of yesterday, though the firemen
were much impeded by a number of bags that
came by water. Greet quantities of the grease were
picked up at Greenwich, floating down the Thames,
and the river was covered with boats all day.
Messrs. Banes and Co. saved upward. of -20 tons of
cheese out of the lower warehouses, after the whole
stark was on fire. 1 am, Sir, &c.
FACTO.

P.S. The whole of the stack of warehouses be-
longing to Government. I understand. are un-
insured; the property is principally insured iu the
Globe and Imperial.

Yesterday a person applied to the Alien Office
for a passport a. a neutral. The clerks to the
office haviii4 some soispiesuii, he not giviter a pro-
per recount of himself. advised with the heady of
the department—on exa tttttt ation lie proved to be
a French prisoner who Kid broken from his parole.
His apartments were searched, Ind several letters
in foreign !magyar, were found. 141
close custody.