The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-03-07 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
FRIDAY, M•ocH 7.

If a man were to roll himself in the mud, kick-
ing and Ringing it in all direlions, from Temple-
bar to Charing-cross, the disgusting speaacle would
arrest the attention of every passenger. To a cer-
tain Jacobinical Print, the principle of conduct con-
tained in this observation, appears to be no secret.
Notoriety is its ',lien ; and a puff from the wrong
end of the;trumpet ofFame,equally answers this pur-
pose, as from the right. It is,besides, more cheap and
'mayor attainment; and consequentlymoreacceptable
to the party; and it is, perhaps, also, the only species
of notoriety the Print in question is competent to ac-
quire. We are led to these refleftions by an article
which it contained last night, stating, that " Mini-
sters have swept the offices down to the lowest clerks
and porters, to make way for their dependents ; and,
that not only are the offices swept to the bottom,
but new ones are created to gratify partisans." A
Print, whose pages are uniformly devoted to the
foulest calumnies, ought to have known its charac-
ter, with the public, ►etter, than to expel that its
bare assertion, in any case, would be credited with-
out proof. But, in the instance of the present Mi-
nistry, this observation applies with still greater
force. From its avowed hostility to Mr. Foa,
Mr. WINDII AM, Lord Motaa, Lord Gars.
vtt te, and their friends ; from the scurrilous
abase which it has lung continued to heap upon
them, the first impression made by any new charge
is, that it must be false ; that it has been dilated by
the same motives of every preceding calumny ; and
forms a part of o:ie and :he same sistem of slander
and detratlion. Some of its readers will probably
remember also, that at the time of the formation of
11 the present Ministry, the Jacobi' Print expressed a

CCll•fiie3t hope,that it wou:,l'
se to e r irao their ser-
vice; and as this does not Appear to be the case, dis-
appointmeet may be naturally supposed to have
whetted its hostility ; and this consideratien must
consequently sill farther reduce any credit that
may he claimed for any new charge which it
thinks proper to make upon the present Government.
Under these circumstances, it became peculiarly
incumbent upon the Print in question, when it po-
sitively averred, that .• Ministers had swept the
offices down to the lowest Clerks and Porters,
to snake way for their dependent,," to advance
some proof in support of its allegation. As
it has not done so, the public will know how
to treat a charge coming from an authority so
sespicious, and the source of so many scandals uron
the present Ministry. They will conclude, that
if such a general sweep had taken place, no mo-
tives of delicacy would have prevented that Print
from publishing the names of the parties. But we
are told, not only are the offices swept to the
bottom, but new ones are created to gratify par-
tisans" The first part of th;s position we have
shewn is a mere unsupported assertion. We will
go farther, and aver that it is a direct falsehood.
Now, how stands the second part of the position,
the charge of " the creation of new places to gra-
tify partisans?" Colonel Ce•wre an, we are told,
is appointed Under Secretary in Mr. Wieror•ses
Office, " though one is sufficient." Ministers are
at this moment arranging a new system for the de-
fence of the country ; and if, in that arduous and
widely-extended business, they have availed them-
selves of the assistance of Colonel CRAWF unto. can
they be fairly charged with a wanton and un-
necessary creation of places, to gratify partisans ?
But even admitting that a sinecure place were made
out for Colonel Caewruan, it will not support the
charge. An attempt is made to mislead the public.
They are assured, that new and useless offices are
treated for the purpose of patronage; and when we
come to the proof, we find the statement a gross
exaggeration and misrepresentation, founded upon
the solitary case of Col. UR AWTURD. SO much then
for all the porters and housekeepers who have
been swept away, and all the new and useless offices
that have been created by the present Ministry.
Oh t but then the two Foreign Secretaries, both
• Mr. liasestoren and Mr. WARD are discharged,
a proceeding quite unusual." This is the real
grievance of which the Print in question complains.
It may pretend to lament tl a old porters, all of
whom are snug in their places ; but Mr. WA a ci's
removal is the real source of its sorrow. its
misrepresentations, and its resentment. Offis.iel
Bulletins no longer adorn the columns of the Jaco-
bin Print. The shallow Quid/macs are no longer
astonished at the extent of its resources, and its
important communications, vouched upon no less
than ‘• official authority." Want of room pre-
vents us from pursuing this subje& farther, at pre-
sent. We will certainly resume it with the earliest
opportunity.

Mr. WNITIREAD yesterday presented a Petition
to the House of Commons on behalf of Mr.
Ta cm. Es stating," that his refusal to answer que s-
liens was in consequence of the advice of Counsel,
and not from any disrespea to the Committee ; that
he was sorry for his error, and ready to answer
any questions that should be put to him." Mr.
Tao rr CR was then ordered, on the Mottos of Mr.
Wurr may, to be discharged from the custody of
the SIRJEA sr at Aims, and he was set at liberty,
after receiving a reprimand from the SVIACSR.

Earl St. Visicrisr will leave town this day, for
Portsmouth, to hoist his flag on board the 11,6er,i3.
An article contained in the Gottenburgh Mail,
says, that a considerable Russian naval force is ex-
peded in the Baltic early in the Spring.
Private accounts from Holland state, that Prus-
sia and Denmark persevere in resisting the de-
mands of B , to shut their ports against
the commerce of England.
A respettable American honse hat been advised
►y an American Captain, who has arrived from
Portland (in America), after a quick passage, "that
War had been declared by the United States against
Spain; and that great preparations were making for
the commencement of hostilities. No farther steps
had been taken with regard to Great Britain."
Notice has been given to the Gentlemen who
usually bid for the Lotteries, that the Chancellor of
the Exchequer will be ready this morning to re-
ceive proposals for the Third Lottery. In conse-
quence. the following Lists were formed in the
course of Wednesday

Messrs. Cope and Co.
Mews. H.ndey, Polley, and Cn.
Memel. Pt .che,deon, Se,,ft. awl Co
A Morning Paper of yest,rday stated, that, in
order to facilitate a cartel between this country and
France, " our Government was even willing to
consider the English subjeas detained in France,
previous to the commencement or notification of
hostilities, as prisoners of war, an I to include them
is the due exchange, upon the usual principles of
man for man, rank for rank, or certain proportions
of men for certain degrees of rank."—We trust and
believe that this report is unfounded. The de:en-
:ion was as atrocious violation of the of nations,
and we cannot suppose any British Minister would
listen for a moment to a proposition that should
tend to consider such pertons as prisoners made
fairly in war.