The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-08 00:00:00

AMERICAN PA PE LS.

Ale of United States journals to a late date were re-
ed yesterday, at the New England Coffee-house, from
ich we make the following extracts:—

[From the Washilegium Gazelle of January 23.
The deaths in Philadelphia, from the 10th to Ma 17th instant,
noustad to 113, of which 21 were from the alms-houses, and 24
ere people of colour. Among them were 15 adults, and 13
billren, In all *.hl, who died of the small-pox in the natural way.
'his disease has made its appearance in two or three places in the
Inked Scans, is an alarming manner ; and unless checked, by a
eminence to the inoculation, or mine other mode, may operate as
lilted among us. The malady, as it presents itself in Phila.
Vita, is said to be of a character which vaccination will not
event.
Oa irednerday last, the 21st instant, high mass was celebrated,
St. Patrick's church. in this city, commemorative of the
eath of Leah the X l'lth of France, who, on that day, in
AC year 17213. was guillotined at Paria.—The French and Russian
Legations, and the Rev. Mr. together with many others,
attended, in order to testify their profound regret for the fate of the
unfortunate monarch.

3, From the Baited States Gazette. Jan. 30.1
The Legislature of Massachusetts has by law forbidden the sub-
stitution of an oyirnerrtion for an oath, in a court of justice, by
those who are conscientiously scrupulous upon the subject, as the
Quakers, &c. " because it would have a mischievous tendency, to
discredit witnesses in civil and criminal trials." We regret such
an oppressive decision, by the Heneral Court of so respectable a
State, and really think that something less than sound judgment
must have been exercised when the bill proposing an opposite
course was negatived. It certainly could not have entered the heads
of these Legislators. that a man should be prevented from perjury
by the trifling diffcrence between 1 decor and f affirm.
VIOLENCE Or PARTIN—The Oreek Question still agitates
the public mind, and, if we may borrow an expression which we
rather condemn, wastes the public money—speech follows speech
in Congress, and as usual in that body some bitter feelings are
awakened. Mr. Bartlett, of New Hampshire, has offended 31r.
Clay by a very imprudent and very reprehensible reference to the
presidential question, and Mr. Clay, with a bitterness of sarcasm
for which he is rather peculiar, and with a hauteur of manner to-
tally unbecoming the time and place, has replied to the insinu-
ations. It is to be regretted that scarcely a question of moment
can be agitated in Congress without frequent hints at personal Ten.
contres. Mr. Clay says that Blr. Bartlett " can obtain no sada-
faction on that floor, let him get it where he can !" Mr. Clay,
when the Committee rises, is to preside in the house, and we are
certain embarrassment must follow such collisions. if not some.
thirg more. It is certainly no recommendation to a legislator that
he must continually back his asseri runs and replies, by a hint at
the " last appeal."
OnFAT Flit AT SATAVYAII.—EXITIICt from a letter dated Sa-
noneh,•2oth January, three o'clock, A. 51.—" I write these few
lines in a moment of general confusion. A fire broke out at ten
o'clock last night, in the wooden buildings on 3loore's wharf, and
the whole of the buildings on that wharf, as well as those on Rice's
wharf, are destroyed. The fire is now raging with great fury in
the Tabby building of Mongin's (formerly Bullock) but fortunate-
ly the wind has shitted to the north, and all the wooden buildings
between the tire and Hunter's stores, are pulled down, so that we
an under no apprehension of the flames extending any further.
Puvious to the wind's changing, nearly every article was removed
out of the stores to the east of the lire, as far down as Mongin's
range of mores. .Not less than 300 bales of cotton have been thrown
Into the river, and as many hhds. and Ids, of dillbrent kinds of li.
uoes. The wind was very violent, for a while, and the sparks set
ere wryest/ally to a numbei of houses in the city, bet by the great
CSITIIOIII of the firemen, it was extinguished."