The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-25 00:00:00

~-.-.;

was learning moderation ; that he is not indiffer-
ent to public opinion, and that he asks no more titles
or dominions in Europe. But if we examine below
the surface of things, we will not find any one of
these conclusions. The fate of Switzerland excited
a very strong sensation in Europe. In England we
know its sufferings were not beheld with indif-
ference by the Government or the people.—
The Swiss themselves were in arms. If then the
FIRST CONSUL, in such circumstances, has thought
fit to proceed cautiously, moderately and advisedly,
the merit to which he would hare been otherwise
entitled is lost in the motive. He has not made
himself Landammaa of Switzerland. He has not
placed Switzerland within the " natural limits" of
France ; but what credit can we give him for his
forbearance, when we find by the Proclamation
of General Nr. , that the mass of the people
are adverse to a new order of things, even
before they know its particular nature, or detail.
This is to preserve the charaEter of the Swiss.
Whether the new Constitution from the grand
French manufadory be good or bad, is to freemen
matter of indifference. It is planned, executed,
proposed, tendered, and enforced by foreign hands,
and as such, whatever may be its excellenze, it is
unfit for the Swiss. To qualify or temporise, would
be, in such a case, to abandon the principle. The
Swiss know it, and will not easily recognise the right
of a foreign power to dietate a Government to them,
however specious the form in which it is presented.
And it is Fere we find the test of the Ft RST CONSUL'S
principles, with all his affected moderation. "As
soon," says he, " as this Constitution shall be put
into real aaivity, the French armies shall be with-
drawn from Switzerland, and I shall recognise Hel-
vetia an independent power." In the present state
of Switzerland, in great part disarmed, and in all parts
covered with French troops, what is this but to force a
Government upon her, and to mock her with a
promise of independence, upon condition she shall
forfeit her claim to it by an unqualified ad of sla-
very and submission !

The Helvetic Government has just addressed the
National Prefeas of the Cantons of Basle, Soleure,
Berne, Fribourg and Leman, a circular letter, to
enjoin them to guard, with the greatest circum-
spection against every importation of English mer-
chandizes ►nto Switzerland. For this purpose they
were to watch the depo'ts of merchandize which were
in their respective districts, and to establish guards
along the French frontiers, &c. This step has taken
place in consequence of the protests made, on that
subject, to the Executive Council, by General NLY.
In the Sitting of the Tribunate of the 18th Feb-
ruary, Citizen Cocos presented a memoir on the
necessity of spreading the Vaccine inoculation in
France.

A paper of yesterday says—" We understand a
remittance has been made from Russia, for the
plunderage of cabin and other stores of the British
ships which were there during the late embargo ;
but no allowance, we regret to hear, has been made
either for the wages of our poor seamen, who were
detained there six months, or for the demurrage of
their ships."
The Austrian Commissary, Count BrssiNc, who
lately arrived at Venice, has made every prepara-
tion fur placing the Venetian territory on the same
fo,,ting with the rest of the Austrian Hereditary
States'. The commercial people at Venice have
likewise agreed to accept Vienna Bank-notes, to the
amount of 300,000 florins, which now circulate
there, as in the other Austrian States, as ready-
money.

The changes which have taken place in the War
Department, in Germany, have produced the hap-
piest effects. Every thing proceeds with as much
rapidity as precision, under the direaion of an
I Zero, to whom the Austrian Monarchy owes a new
benefit. Other changes and ameliorations are pre-
paring, which prove more and more the determina-
tion, of our Govornment to abandon the old syEtern
for a new one, better adapted to the present state of
things in Europe.
The manufaaures are enriched by an useful in-
vention. A Paper-Merchant of Burythan, near
Nuremberg, named Loeschge, has, after many
essays, succeeded in employing tan, that has been
used, and a small quantity of common rags, in
making very good wrapping-paper.

To avoid the inconveniences which would result
to Merchants of the Bata vian Republic, if they
were obliged to expose to the Commissaries the
state of their fortune, by the production of their
books, the Legislative Body has decreed, on the
proposition of the Government, that the inhabitants
of the county may declare the state of their for-
tunes, in order to fix their quotas towards the im-
positions and revenues, only confirming their decla-
ration by an oath. But if this sieclaration appears
suspicious to the Departmental Diredorv, it shall
nominate five Commissaries, who shall be autho-
rized to enquire into the truth of such deposition.

The Leyden Gamte contains another summons
to Admiral S'roaT to appear before the High Mi-
litary Tribunal. Two Dutch captains are also
cited.
A Concordat is preparing at Rome, between the
Holy See and the Catholic part of the German em-
pire.

Letters received from Genoa, dated Feb. 22d,say,
" If we may believe the reports in circulation, some
new subject of misunderstanding has arisen between
France and the Regency of Algiers. It is said, that
a ship of Marseilles, dispatched to Algiers for a cargo
of grain, has been obliged to depart without ob-
taining it, and arrived in five days at Toulon, with
a letter delivered to the Captain by the French Com-
missary at Algiers. It is added, that the Dey has
intimated to the Commissary an order to quit that
residence, but he refused to do so without the autho-
rity of .his Government. Perhaps these reports
have no other foundation tha* the slight difference
which took place with regard to Denmark, in which
the Eceach Government Interfered."