The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-01-08 00:00:00

these injmies were accumulating, by her fothrarance, 1

and that no hopes of tedress remained from remon-
strance or negotiation, His CATHOLIC 741.XJ Est T
was obliged to resort to arms to maintain the dig-
nity of his crown and the prosperity of his people.
Such, we undertand, is the substance of this State

Paper, every Paragraph of which is said to bear the
stamp of French diillation. BourtmoNvitcs, Be-
N PARTE'S Crenadier Athbassador, was at Madrid
at the time, and, no doubt, gave his assistance. It
is worthy of remark, that this declaration was not
published until nearly a month after all political and
commercial communication was completely dissolved
between the Countries ; for we find by the Waiting-
ham, that not only Mr. FRERf, but also Mr. fluuras,

the late British Consul at Madrid, had left that

city either together, or nearly about the same
time. We need not seek any farther proof of

•
the distraCted state of the Spanish Council;.—
Mr. FIUME assuredly did hot leave Madrid until all
hopes of preserving peace had vanished. At that
time the condnd of the Spanish Caloinet must have

, ; and

convinced him that it had come to a positive de-

eision ; and yet how much hesitation, anxiety, and
doubt, must hare succeeded in the long interval be-

tween that period and the declaration of war ? A
letter from Lisbon, of the 2d, states, that the Eng-

lish cruisers were aftively employed in capturing
every vessel under Spanish colours, and that
they had already taken many valuable prices.
Our ports are full of privateers, long looking

with anxiety to this event, and ready to sail in
quest of Spanish treasure. Consequently, in a few
months, the seas will be swept as clear of Spanish
as they are now of French trade and commerce.

It is difficult to coaceive, that, in this strife between

Eng Lind, France, and Spain, Portugal will be suf.

fered to remain neutral. The mutual friendship

that subsists between that 'country and England,

is crime enough to call forth the utmost vengeance
of the Corsican, and her trade and commerce stimu-
late his insatiable thirst for plunder. It does not
seem to be within the reach of human wisdom to
walk so guardedly as to keep clear offence to the
Belligerent Powers, in the present circumstances of
Portugal, and surrounded, as she is, with dangers.
The only chance that remains for her, is, that Eng-
land,by a powerful diversion on the Northern side of
France, and the augmentation of the Portuguese
army, by a large portion of British valour, may be
able to arrest the revolutionary volcano which now
threatens to pour its burning lava over the fertile
plains of the South, as it lately did over so huge a
portion of the North, and to reduce Portugal to the
state of Hanover or Holland. From the first mo-
ment of the present war with France, it has been
repeatedly inculcated that Spain must be eventually
involved in the quarrel. There is no instance of
a war with France which has not produced that
consequence. If such has been the case for-
merly, the charaCter of the government of France
held out little hope that the present time
would afford an exception. At no period of
the closest connection of the Bou aeons, did she
exercise so great an influence over Spain.—
In fad, BONAPARTIi is not more absolute in the
Cabinet of St. Cloud, than he is in the Cabinet of
Madrid; and it has been long obvious to the most
shallow observer that the bayonets of Spain were
equally at his disposal as herdollars. The s! stematic
opposers of the Ministry will not fail to avail them-
selves of this circumstance. They will ads, in a
triumphant tone, why was not ten dispute with
Spain brought to an issue sooner; and why the
evil day was only postponed to give her an
opportunity of bringing home the accumulated
produce of her Mexican and Peruvian mines?
These objeCtions may be still more triumphantly
answered by the friends of the Minister. Spain
cannot, after her declaration of war, become
a more efficient ally of France, nor a more
dangerous enemy of England, than she has prov-
ed herself to be in her long, hollow, and delu-
sive neutrality. France wanted not men, she wanted
the sinews of war, she wanted money, and that the
treasury of Spain supplied. French pi ivateers were
fitted out in Spanichharbours against British trade and
commerce, while English shipping found in them
neither proteCtion nor accommodation. Provoca-
tions like these could not have been received without
immediate resentment from a really independent na-
tion ; but in the case of Spain it was necessary to
proceed with caution. The charafter of England, for
honour and generosity, required extreme delicacy
in the demonstration of a hostile feeling towards a
country supposed to be friendly at heart, and forced
into the struggle. If then our patience and endurance
have confirmed that charafter, if they have left it
only unimpaired, the end has been cheaply pur-
chased, by all those treasures which would be
lodged in the national Bank of England, had she
declared war against Srain six months ago. But the
country has gained much more by her forbearance.
England has not declared war against Spain. It is
Spain that has declared war against England. The

justification, therefore, lays with our enemy, and
the dreadful responsibility is removed from our owa
shoulders.

Private letters from France, extrads from many
of which have been inserted in this Paper, give a
deplorable pidure of the state pf the English cap-
tives at Verdun, and other British prisoners in
France. Private subscriptions have been set on
foot to soften their miseries ; and our Government
have assisted by advancing considerable stuns for
their relief. The means, however, hitherto adopted,
having proved inadequate to their wants, Govern-
ment have at length deterrtined, it possible, to ac-
complish some plan for their effedttal support. With
this view, Mr. Puorr has been lately nominated as
our Agent at Paris. His power and authority, how-
ever, are limited to therelief of British prisoners only;
and, if we consider the vindidive spirit with which
these unfortunate sufferers have been persecuted,
it is probable that even this measure will not be al-
lowed by the relentless Corsican. A serious obsta-
cle, in the way of such an arrangement, presents
itself at the very outset. For the purpose of carry-
ing the nomination of Mr. footer into effect, pass-
ports must he demanded from the French Govern-
ment; but how or in what manner is the demand
to be a Dressed ? What is to be the superscription
of the official letter ? Will " NAPOLEON the Fibs..
Emperor of the French," be content to be described
as the " person exercising the Government of
France r' or as " Monsieur floe AP ART ?" If, in-
stead of asking a favour from him, we Proposed to
grant one, he would not be likely to consent upon
such terms. On the other hand, how much Govern-
ment may commiserate the sufferings of the English
prisoners in France, and their seams may deserve that
pity ; it cannot be expected that they would purchase
the relief of a few hundred individuals, by a con-
cession, which, however indirCe, Bon A e AIME
would hold forth, as an acknowledgment of his
usurped title. 'this, we understand, to he the whole
extent of the present view of Government, which
has been magr.ified into a proposal for the establish-
ment of a carfel between the two countries for the ex-
change of prisoners generally. When the nature of a
cartel, however, is duly considered, we do not see Low
it could comprehend the objea of Mr. Pao ET'S in-
tended mission. If we consented to exchange
French or Dutch prisoners of war against the Eng-
lish captives in France, consisting of innocent tra-
vellers, who visited that country in time of peace,
for health, pleasure, or business, and were induced
to prolong their stay under a solemn promise of
protedion and safety; we would admit the legality
and justice of their original detention. We would
palliate, if not justify, one of the foulest and most
treacherous crimes of the Usurper, and rescue his
charater from eternal disgrace, as a violator of the
laws of nations, the enemy not of England, but of all
mankind. It may, however, be worthy of notice, that
an Evening Paper of yesterday, professedly minis-
terial, still maintains that a general cartel has been
agreed upon between this country and France.

The ilamelPrer, so lung ashore in Bantry Bay, was
got off on the 213411 ult. after the incessant and labo-
ri6us exertions of her Officers and men, assisted by
others from the shore, for several d.tys. We are
happy to add, that she has sustained little or n,t
d.tmage.

We understand that it was on Saturday finally
arranged, that the Duke of Posrt AND should re.
sign the Presidency of the Council, to which Mr.
A ODINGIoS is to he appointed, with a Peerage. It
is equally certain, that Lord MULOItAVII will he
the new Secretary of State. His Lordship paid a
visit to the Office yesterday, at twelve o'clock. Mr.
Etttor, Lord H A tiIIOWIY'S Under Secretary, re-
tires with his Lordship ; and, we believe, his suc-
cessor is already appointed. Mr. VANSI rr ART is
succeed Sir E. Nitres. in Ireland.
Yesterday the Duke of Moe,- a oss was at the
Office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
from one tiil four o'clock.
In the coarse of the morning, the Russia% ante
Swe.Dlsti ANBAssADOIIII transaned business there
esterday, at one o'clock, Mr. PITT arrived
town.
Lord NeLsoN's fleet was left all well as the 4th
of December, off Barcelona. He has detained a
great number of •Alnalile Spanish ship; ; bin we are
sorry to hear that hi -• Lordship's health ohlig,:s him
to return to England. When the Amlus• nie
the fleet, his baggage had been shipped on board
the vessel that was to bring hurt home.
A letter from Folkstone inform us that some
gun-boats have made their appearance again it,
Boulogne Roads.
By advices from the island of Jersey, some hopes
are entertained of !getting off His Majesty's ship
Serer.. driven on shore on that island in the late
severe easterly wind.
The Henry, WHIATLEY. from Lir( r;.0,51 for
London, has struck on a rock, and is full of water
at Scilly.
Dispatches have been received from Admiral
CoctillArit, brought by the Pickle, in 49 how s. It
is said that they mention the Admiral's hating been
ashore at Ferrol, bin, hearing that his boat's crew
had been detained by a party of soldiers, he pru-
dently got into a shore boat, and rowed to his ship
off Barateaux Bay. The crew of his barge were ski-
tamed in the Spanish guard-house; and, it is sup-
posed the French at Ferrol were the instigators of
the business.

.

SUSSEX, hit. 5.

charitable festivities of Chrismliitlar re-
ceived, in this county, the usual beneficent attent:on.
'Elie Bishop of the Dimese made his usual distribu-
tion of raiment, food, and good cheer, to the adult
and infant poor of Nchester. At Lewes, Mr.
Kemp, their late worthy Member, literally turned
the vrord S 3 Aughibarcs, by di,ttib.uting to 1411
poor persons of Lewes and Poigliton, hiscu4..s, the
produce of two loads of fl which he had pm.
vided at Copthorne, for the assistance of the mai.
tary, had the expeOed invasion taken place. At
Lewes also, Martin Cripps. Esq. ct tha: et.tco, sent
to the prisoners in the blouse of Correaion, 44:4.
of hot roasted beet, with 4 proportion of Britoil
plum pudding. Lewes also produced last neck.
gathering of 2.01. for the prisoners in klorsham gaol.
Nor must the goodness of Mr. Bishop, of Vs'estbur.
ton, pass unnoticed, who, after regaling the whole
parish poor with a Christmas dinner at his holor,
gave them, as a blessing, a load of wheat I We
doubt not but numerous °the; instances have escaped
our knowledge ; thus justly enabling the poet to say
exultingly to his natise country :
" Meek charity has mark'd thy land her own.,
" And mercy item has fie'd her sapphire rumie !"