The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-26 00:00:00

FR-INCE.

PLUS, TED. 21.

,(A.oin a Zior.-ticeial toper.)

The Great Powers of the North, who have been
for more than half a century distinguished by a
fondness for the
,pleasures of taste and of the Fine
Arts, as by the encourageir.eats they have given to
the advancement of science, and to the general ex-
tension of human knowledge, now exhihit new in-
stances of that illustrious and benefigent prnteftinn—
instances not less glorious to the Majesty of the
Throne, than success in war or political negotiation.
The Emperor of Russia has sent out two ships, on
a voyage of discovery round the world, and has
erorciced the most liberal munificence to his Aca-
tlemy of Fine Arts. The King of Prussia has nobly
.eistiagnished by his bounty, a man of the first emi-
tience in literature ; has added. eight thousand im
pet ial crowns a year to the revenues of the oniver-
sky of Halle ; has condescended to regulate anew
the constitution and the plan of study in that univer-
sisy. The Emperor of Germany likewise encourages
the fine arts to the best exercise of their powers,
in favour of those whose talents and services have
donelononr to the dominions of the House of Au-
stria. Rome and Italy are repairing, with new
colleElions,• and new master-pieces of genius, their
„losses by the war. Spain consecrates a part of the
new appropriation of her ecclesiastical revenues, to
the improvement of her former establishments of
taste, art, and knowledge, and to the institution of
new ones. Now that the din of war is no more
. heard on the banks of the Rhine, these will again
be visited as in times past, by all who admire the
beautiful, and the grand in nature, A collection
:already begins to be formed at Mentz, of master-
works in the arts of design, which will, shortly,
more than rival the famous gallery of Dusseldorf.
France, and especially its capital, now restores
or finishes, to the last perfection, its monuments of
art and genius. It completes its muteam,:decorates
its churches, multiplies and supports with niapi.
cent generosity, its learned societies, invites the
ablest artists from abroad, and nobly rewards them.
Having sorpassed the military glory of the age of
Louis XIV. it aspires to equal that age in the pro-
ductions and the pride of taste and elegant genius.
It adds to thew, such care to instil fit moral prin-
ciples into the rising generation, as must for ever
ensure us against the return of barbarism..
Britain alone is still incept on plans and labours
less congenial with the state of peace. The pacifica-
tion of her colonies and even of her internal pro-
vinces, the troubles of Ireland, the mutiny at Gi-
braltar, the uncertainty as to the real present state
of India, am' the difficulties of the first session of a
new Parliament, leave the British nation and go-
vernment, neither rase nor leisure to relish the
charms of the fine arts. But this is the result rather
of the British Constitution, which delights in poli-
tical commotion and debate, thadof any new plans
of hostility either 'dread:A or meditated in that
country.

.217,1PWL lATELLIGENCE.

POILTSMOUTIi, FE& 24.

Arrived isle. Majesty's slip Leopard, of 50 guns,
Capt. Collier, from the East Indies, last. from St.
Helena, and remains at Spithead, with his Majesty's
hips Nettens, 1,4, Calstata, lroolnt;e6, Blanche,
Loire, dlrolk, AlaZo4, Dryad, CyntLia, Port Mahon,
Kite, and C,',firrer.
Remains at St. Helens his Majesty's ship Le &r-
-eale. Wind S. V 4. blows fresh.

His Majesty's ships Viaoriow, of 74 guns, and
Orfripais, of 32 guns, are hourly expated to arrive.
-Sailed the Cyrehta sloop of war, Capt. Wright,
to Chatham, to be paid off.

MAL, !►LS. 24._

Arrived and sailed for the rive:, the .41nrander,
Silbery, from Savannah, and Raver, Harvey, from
St. Michaels.—Wind S. W.

PLYMOUTH, TEL 23.

Arrived the auoret sloop of war, from a cruite;
Tbree Brothent, Evans, fronrCork; and Friuuk, Le
'Gros, from Guernsey.

DOVER, FLU. 24.

Sailed the Prince of Wales packet, Capt. Sutton,
'with mail; ('apt. Dunbar, of the 21st regiment,
Thomas Cooke, Esq. Count Andreoni, and several
'other passengers.
Sailed the Akrcary, of Yarmouth, with wine and
brandy, for Amsterdam ; Swallow, of Waterford,
with fruit, from St. Michael for Londut ; Logue,
of and for pottenburg, with salt from St. Übes ;
3far:a, of Udderwalla, from Alicant, for Sweden.
The ilitive passage vessel, Capt. Sampson, is at
Calais, waiting for Lord and Lady Morpeth and
'family, who are daily expeded to arrive there from