The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-19 00:00:00

NEW SURREY THEATRE.

- - •
This present TL'EVDAY. Ott. 19, and every Erening.turlng the Week
will be presented a Vela Drama. called
THE KCEUB :
Or. THE INDIAN PIRATE'S VESSEL.
ennelude with
DER FREISCHUTZ
0,, Till DEIIIN OF Tilt WOLF'S GLEN AND THE 11111/
CHARMED BULLETS.

The Bat Tins Pates cosnmenced publishing yesterday morning
at a quarter past five o'clock.

LONDON, TUESDAY, Ocrozza 19, 1594.

We congratulate the British public, anti all lovers of
justice, that the statement in an Evening Paper of Saturday,
respecting the Spanish loan "by commission,'' is wholly
unfounded. It would have been a matter of deep dis-
grace to the capitalists of France or England, if the bank-
Eqpt Government of Spain had received any pecuniary
assistance until it had fairly and honestly acknowledged
the debts of the Cones. The rumour, however, had the
effect of occasioning a fall of one per cent. in Spanish Stock.
'l'he wretched scheme of a loan " by commission" is, to
be sure, an expedient which would be ascribed to no Go.
vernment under the sun but that of FERDINAND VII.

It affbrds us further satisfaction to learn that the Great
Powers are all using their influence with that infatuated
Monarch, to prevail upon him to restore the public credit
of his treasury. As be is absolutely in their hands,
if they choose to make him do justice,—the course
winch, in his case, as in roost others, is, fur a per-
manency, the best policy that can be pursued,—we
may expect that the holders of Spanish bonds will at
length have some dividend on their claims. It is im-
possible that the financial affairs of Spain can much
(anger continue in their present state. Some alteration
must be made in them, and, indeed, in every part of the
political edifice of that wretched and distracted country.
When we find men like Cars and Easo risking their
safety for the institution of some rational system of govern-
ment, we may be assured that the impracticability of
acting upon the wild absolutism of Fannie:AND is felt in
every quarter. We must, however, in all probability, wait
for the removal of the French troops. At present Fax-
NAND has no friends: the Serviles are as much disgusted
with him as the Liberals. In order that he may reign on
any terms, he must in some shape call around him the
strength and wisdom of his people.

It was observed with some surprise, when hostilities
began with the Burmese, that they were abundantly sup.
plied with European arms and equipments. In conse-
quence of the urgent representations of our Indian Go.
vernment, to the Governor of Batavia, a proclamation was
issued in June last, directing the seizure of all arms and
ammunition found on board of ships anchoring in the
rata., or navigating the straits of Sunda, beyond what
might be requisite for the purposes of defence, and the
imposition of a fine to the amount of four times the value
of the contraband articles. Under this proclamation, when
the last advices left Batavia, four vessels had been re-
tained, one of which, the Caroline, had 4,000 stand of
erns on board, and ammunition besides, altogether to
the value of 8,0001. This ship had been confiscated.
Two others, the Franklin and the Guardian, bail been
released on security for the payment of the fine.
The cargo of the fourth ship, the Shannon, was found
to be considerably damaged. A proclamation to the
same effect was issued in 1422, and it has on for-
leer occasions been construed so strictly, that British
vessels touching st Batavia, with arms for the service of
tl:e East India Company, or our own ships of war on that
station, have been subjected to fine and confiscation. The
Dutch Government are obviously exposed to the same dan-1
ger as the British, from the unrestrait:ed importation of
arms into India, and they Lavc accordingly acted in this
instance with commendable promptitude. We un lerstandi
that the Cochin Chinese have been largely furnished with'
the materials of war from France. The Burmese, how-
ever, and their neighbours, will now be cut off from this
supply, and they will consequently be deprived of one of
their most important aids during their contest with us.
Considering the impression already made upon them, and
the privations of every kind they will soon begin to expe-
rience, we may calculate upon a material abridgment of
the length and expense of the war; unless, indeed, the ex-
tmvagaut self-importance of the haughty Court of Ava
should lead it to protract the struggle, in confidence of
ultimate success. iVe deeply regret to find that little hope is
entertained of recovering Mr. THORNTON from the Malays.
It is feared that he has met his death among the savages
by whom he was made captive ill October last. Every
exertion had been made in vain for his discovery. A con-
fidential native bad been despatched to Rettce, a place
distant about twenty English miles from Singapore, with
a': offer of 10,000 dollars for Mr. THORNTON'S liberation,
top.ther with an assurance of free pardon to all who were
(NA:teemed in him seizure : but though information had been
7iven which induced Mr. Tiiosxrox's friends to believe that
a regociation would have been opened, when the agent ar-
rived at Ruttee be found no person with whom he could
c titer into any treaty, and the place of Mr. THORNTON'S
t'etention remained utterly unknown. This mysterious
orcealtuent had latterly filled the friends of the unforte.
and much-resFected gentleman, with the most serious
a:'prchcnsions as to his fate.

The following is an extract of a letter from the Agents
to Lloyd'a at Batavia, dated 25th June :

•' The American ship Franklin, which attired her on the 10th
Ca. from Palling, was detained in consequence of having on board
Einety stand of arms, which were confiscated, and the vessel re-
leased without enforcing the penalty. The Guardian, Sutherland,
iron Londc.n, was likewise detained for having 300 stand of arms
0^ board for Singapore. which were also confiscated, and security
g! fm ter the amouat of tire fine, before the vessel was allowed to
pre; eel. A vessel passing through the Straits of Sunda is equally
subject to seizure, should she anchor at Anger. The Caroline ar-
rived the 16th inst. bound to Singapore, with upwards of four
thousand stand of arms, and a considerable quantity of atinnun it ion."