The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-01-15 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY IS.

From the state of Mr. Pi T r's health, it is doubt-
ful whether he will be able to attend his duty in
Parliament at the opening of the Session. Doc-
tors VAUGHAN and BAILICV have been in to
attend hire, at the request of Su WALIga FA sot.-
ss. Should he net experience a change for th-
worse, he certainly will attend in his place on
the first day.
It has been frequently stated, as matter of regret
and surprise, that an attempt was aot made to
destroy the Boulogne flotilla immediately after
BOMA, ARTIC withdrew the great body of the
troops from that quarter into Germany It
was said at the time. that no more than 4300
regular troops remained to garrison the place,
and that the batteries along shore were served by
the crews of the flotilla. Under these circumsances,
it bas been presumed that the force which we sent
tie Hanover wonld have been perfettly competent to
the taking of Boulogne, and the destruflion of the
flotilla, in the harbour. It is no answer to this objec-
tion to say, that our Allies demanded our first cares,
and that the destrudion of the Boulogne flotilla,
being a purely British objea, it did not become the
generosity of the British nation to begin by striking
the first blow for herself. If the British trcnps
could have been carried at once into the theatre of
the continental war, and there become operative in
the decision of the campaign, this argument would
have some weight. But that is not the case. We could
not strike an immediate blow for our and there-
fore an attempt on Boulogne would not have fairly
subjetted us to the charge of a selfish preference to
our own interests. We believe, therefore, the.
nothing but a convinioa of the impralicability of

an attack upon Boulogne prevented the attempt.—
Could it have been made with the slightest pros-
pet of success, it would ha►e justified a great
sacrifice of men and money, but the place was re-
connoitred by General Mooat, by Sir SIDNLY
Smarm, and several bther enterprising officer
and skilful engineers, all of whom. we under-
stand, reported it impregnable. Could we have
destroyed the Boulogne flotilla, i.ivasion would
have become impossible, and nothing would have
remained to distract our attention from a vigorous
prosecution of the war upon the Continent. The
re occupation of Hanover by the British tro ps, is
also supposed to be a measure objectionable in
the eyes of the Opposition, and likely to form
a ground of complaint against the Minister.—
If considered as a whole. a distinet, and sub-
stantive proceeding, it would, perhaps, be diffi-
cult to defend it from the imputation of preci-
pitancy, or folly. But it is idle to Assert that the
British troops were sent to the Continent, merely to
occupy Hancivo-. Alley went to co-operate on that
side of against France. with their Allies.

Europe,
the Swedes, the Russians, and the Prussians. The
Swedes and Russians have entered Hanover, in
common with the British troops, but surely it will
not be said that the obje& of the Swedes and
Rnssians is merely the occupation of that eleclorate?
Were the Allies to prove successful, every man
must have known that Hanover would follow of
course; and to promote their muss was the pri-
mary object of the march of our troops into Hano-
ver. That etre& it was well calculated to produce,
from the very moment the expedition appeared in
sight of the Elbe and the Weser. The accu.
mulation of a large army in Hanover, although
it should never fire a shot, must operate as a
diversion in taynnr of the Allies, in th. heart
.if Germany. Had the carnpaig.s in Austria
and Moravia proved long and dosh•fol, had
Bor.:seal ra suffered a great teverse, or been driven
track from Vienna. the weigh: the aim). in 'fano-

•
ver would have told in the scale ; it would Lave
tided the deubtful, And cons ,led the clefe.a- ot.
enemy. The allied army i s
,11.m.sver w„ssid
begin to :hew itszif on the frontless of Hol I to-i.
the oppressed, impuverished, and ensl sved 1)0
might, perhaps, begin to remember, that they of
possessed h.ippiness, liberty, and commerce.
But, is Government to blame, because the ee,
has not answered the speculation?