The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-05-04 00:00:00

16ritisb Pros

LOO 1 )0N ,
FRIDAY, MAY 4.

No progress has been made towards the comple-
tion of the new Ministerial arrangements. Mr.
yesterday, postponed his motion in the Com-
mons, and the Marquis of STA /TOR 0 his motion in
the Lords, from this day until Monday, in order
to afford the Minister time to maturely consider his
course. The latter question produced some conversa-
tion. In answer to the Marquis of ST A ro ItO, Lord
HAWITUDURY said, the same circumstance still coati

nued, and in the same degrtr, upon which he originally
wished the motion to stand over. Lords MLIV I L tr
and GRENVILLE attempted to draw from Ministers
an admission, that the forming of a new Adminis-
tration was the circumstance alluded to, but they

tetteived no answer. This anxiety to have the cause
admitted, and expressly defined, betrays great doubts
and fears on the part of the Opposition. with respect
to the real views of the Minister. Mr. Fox had a
long conference with Lord GRLNVILtt behind the
throne in the House of Lords. Mr. PITT had also
a long conversation with Lords GRENVILLE and
Met.vitte, previous to the postponement of the
motions. Coupling all this anxiety with the si-
lence of Ministers, we may presume that there
is no perfect understanding between all the par-
ties upon the subject. It was reported, indeed,
with confidence, that Mr. Parr will come in
without the Fox's or Gessivtt.r.ts. We have no
reason to believe that he is so fully committed with
them that he could not with honour secede from

their party. If, however, he were to adopt that
course, Mr. Fox's friends would no doubt charge
him with deceiving them, and in the present scat_
of things it would not be consistent with Mr. Prres
prudence to offend that party, aware as he most be
of its encreasing influence.

Letters from Gibraltar to the Ist instant are re-
ceived. The latest accounts arrived there from
Lord NEtsort were dated the 4th of March. His
Lordship was then off Toulon with nine sail of the
line. The French fleet, on board of which troops
bad been embarked, was still in port."
We learn, with great regret, by letters received from
Lisbon. of the 2lst ult. that the Hifsdostan, of St
guns, Captain Le Geo', which sailed February 12,
from Plymouth, with stores for Gibraltar and Lord
NELSON'? had caught 6re and was burnt. With
the fate of the crew we are unacquainted.
The Marquis WELtastav's History of the
Causes of the War with the Mahrattas and RAJAH
of Bekaa, in which all the deep intrigue; of the
FiftsT CONSUL are completely unravelled and laid
open to view, has excited much curiosity. This
splendid memorial of the Marquis's administration
te shortly to be published. It contains all the plans
of the various adions ; and the whole forms a most
complete narrative
The Swift cutter, which sailed a few weeks since
from Plymouth with dispatches for Lord NELSON,
fell in with in the Straits of Gibraltar a French pri-
vateer of superior force, which she fought with
great gallatery for some time ; but her Commander
toeing unfortunately killed, with several men, she
was obliged to strike, and the dispatches fell into
the hands of the enemy.
General PICH EMI u left all his papers in England,
arranged for publication, before he embarked.
On the 16th of February, Commodore PAID LE,
commanding the United Stares frigate, made an at-
tack, in the middle of the night, with his boats, on
the late American frigate the Philadelphia, lying in
the harbour of Tripoli, fully manned, and ready for
sea. They completely carried the frigate in a few
minutes, killing about forty of the crew, and driving
the rest overboard, or into their boats; after which
they set her on fire, and completely destroyed her,
having only one man Hounded in the gallant ation.
By returns made to the House of Commons, it
appears that the qu.o:tity of raw sugar imported
in the year 1803, was 3,164,230 cwt. of which
1,630,26] cwt. was exported in a raw and refined
state, making the consumption of this country
amonnt to 1,459,960 cwt. the whole paying a duty
of 3,133,3821. Ss. 4d.
General LAKE'S portion of the booty taken in the
purest gold, at the single town of Agra, amounts
to 36,0001. Colouel Sr. Li.orit's to 40001. and
every Captain who served on that day to 20001.
each.
A considerable alarm prevailed at Dorchester, on
Tuesday morning last. A report was circulated,
and fur some time generally credited, that the enemy
had eireded a landing an Portland Beach. The
d: urns immediately beat to arms, and the volunteers
eepa•red with all possible expedition to their respec-
tive posts. General GaRI H, the Commander of
the Disuict, was sent for, and the military were in
perfect readiness to march, when it was found that
the whole was a false alarm, originating in the ap-
pearance of a number of our own ships off that
part of the coast.

To.morrow will he the Fourth Day., Drawing of
the precept Lottery ; and until that time, 'I ickets
and Shares, warrantd undrawn, may be had in
great variety, at both the Old Established Oqices of
T. Bun, 4, Cern/nil, and 9, Charing Cross, where
• all I'vizes from Twenty Pounds to Twenty Thousand
will be paid oa demand. The following is the State
of the Wheel:-
9 Rises„( I 20,000 9 Prints .1 1,000
10.000 9
:NOW 14
2,3110
Ste. &e. at.
A-11 outy six Days to drr.