The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-02-27 00:00:00

LON DON,
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25.
ESCAI'Z OF ME Bkrxr FLEET.

The Racoon sloop of war, Capt. WEi.su, arrived
on Saturday morning, at Portsmouth, with iutel-
h4ence of the escape of the French Bret from
Brest. The Racoom was on her passage to Cudiz,
a lieu. on numbly noon off U►huut, she fell
iii with the Lyra sloop of war, Capt. nEVANS,
Nhich ship laid been just dispatched to Plymouth
by the reconnoitring frigate stationed off Brest,
with intelligence, that all the ships of war :that
acre reirily fur sea in Brest, had escapist out.
either oa Monday night last, or curly on Tues-
day morning.— They had not been seen by any
of the ships ou that. station, the course they
steered is nut known, nor is their destination—the

wind was northerly.—Copt. WELmt conceiving it
to he of essential importance that early information
should he communicated to the Admiralty of the
circumstance, made every possible haste to Ports-
mouth; on Isis arrival there it was immediately com-
municated to London by telegraph.

It k stiiptwed, that. as Lord IMIIIEn, who sailed
from Torbay on Tuesday afternoon. was not at his
station on Thursday, his Lordship had received the
inform;ttion, and had gone in pursuit.—The opinion
as to their destination is divided between Cadiz and
Martinique.—lt is apprehended that they will be
joined by the six sail of the line, (two of which are
three tlecket,), which the French took possession of
at ferrol.—The following ships sailed from Tor-
bay oitii Lord GAMBIER, 62.—Caledgnia, I to, Ad-
miral Lord CIAMBIEII, Captain Sir U. BoURARD
NLA LE, (Captain of the Fleet.) Captain BEDFORD;
Royal Geori“.. 700, Vice-Admiral Sir JAHN Tito-
:ass Lk( awcityru, Captain DUNN; Si. George, 9s,
Pear-Admiral ELJAB lIARVLY; CIipttIIIIIIILLYAR;
Dreadnought. ns, Itvor-AdinirafSovicatr, Capt.
SA I.T ; Tsinerairc, 9s, Sir C. 11/13111.T0N ;
74, Sir RIALIIAIID KING; tuiptiates; 74, Capt.liu
LAWFORD; Christian J Jlfh, Captain J. 1145-

actiaig ; Warspitn, Holt. Copt. BLAnt-
woon.—Tlie //rPo, 73, C•aptaio N re'. 'IAN, looker,
into Torbay on IVedue•sday, awl thr•u proceeded
for the station off Cvlinot, to join Inv
The Bran Fleet is believed to consist ul• ten mil of
the line and beveral frigates.

One of the most Ml!limit effusions of Mr Fut.'
genius, sr.,* an ►mpromptu Address to the rising
sun, the rays of winch burst suddenly iota the
of Cointuons, nenr the close of one of his
must splendid speech.' in that Waite. What a
golden opportmiitb• did 'Mr. C•ti SING possess, on
Friday night, had he the promptitude of that great
man, to puy a splendid compliment to M►. SHERI•
DAN, his toition • and friend : The sun, whose
cheering rays shone upon his eddy youth, and ri-
pened him into manhood, was then, 'tis true, over-
clouded ; but the fruits of his KTDIII*, Dueler the in-
fluence of a devouring element, rivalled, at the
moment, the splendour of that4iamimiry. and Riled
the sky with its descending glort. It has happened,
more titan once, that the citizens of this grist me-
tropolis have been kit:cling with delight, in crowd-
ed houses, at Covent-gardeu and Drury-Ism., to

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Mr. StIERID.t May.. wondering Senatss
were valuated wigs his •:ices The page sf,
history presents 114 a.:!, Pi -is, Statcsineu, seal
Orators, but, witi, liar :ice-snug of Mr. Sutoni.,
a e have heard t•f i t. mar, die powers and ctitan ity
of a':rsr mind endaare., them all, who was ut
the t :mum and the TLIIENCL of his age. He
he the inductive of his genius, erectsil the
ei:i ,:ce. which has, for sisteeu years. been a source
of pride aad pit isiire to this great metropolis, acs
the de,tmclion of wh.lch is now the siihject of er.;.
versa; ode: est :mil regret. That which in Franis
and otiur eininii.ies is presumed to require tine
wealth of the !-;iiite to build, and the wisdom 01
Government to manage, did "dr. Sitristoa%,
the mere force of his individual groins, aeluvvi. I
The greatest ornainzat of the first city in the
world, in population, wealth and splendour, as a
public Wilier. nail the source of the largest supply
to the public ,tu:•k of harmless pleasure, th
whole, material and immaterial togetliei, w
the creation of his powcrini mind. such are -
only a van of the merits of a man, now st ripe, ;.i
the threshold of the ere of life, of his property, •
one of those visitatioas with which Providence ores.
aimndh• pleases to impress upon the mind, the va-
nity of all earthly grandeur, and the transitory
nature of all human possessions. If, then, inn tea
case of a fire or a flood at Leyden, or a Ititriieaue
in the We.t Indies, a Briti►h public could feel ter
enemies and strangers, how powerfully must their
sensibilities lie awakened by the calamities of a
man, in whom every subject of England has an
interest, and whose talents constitute him au
object of public care.—What mere public feel.
ing or private friendship Lay suggest to retrieve •
h:s affairs, we cannot anticipate. IVitether tinny-
lane Theatre is to rise again, a plimitix. from its
ashes, or whether, at a monsent of unexamplA
pressure, a moment we confess moat milatrouraLle
for any exertion of public spirit, he is to find a sups
port in the liberality of the State, we copilot p:•.
amine to say.—The City of Loudon, which, by its
vote, considered him the mau worthy of reeorelia;
the transeendant merits of Lard NEI,BOS, can..,::
be indifferent in such a cause.—Let it not be said
that the capital and the country arc only jest to
the dead, and know not how to honour awl reward
living merit. The mitts who have had hearts mei
hands open is the day for Spanish Patriots, must
fact for the Advocate and Champion of those Pa-
triots, himself the best of Patriotssof whom any
country could ever boast. Were such a man fni-
lered to be emit flown to the earth, by a calauid.y
against which nu human prudence could guard,
and no human power prevent, it would be a dis-
grace to the country to which he belongs, a dis-
grace to the age iii which he lives, and a subject ui
reprobation and astonishment to posterity.

Some of the papers say, that the case of the
' Duke of YORK being nov iu the course of trial,
it would be indecorous to make any observa-
tions upon it.—This language in mc:e affectation,
cant, and isquealuishitess.—lithe Duke of YORK be
innocent, the more his ease is discussed the more it
is for his advantage. Falsehood has every thing
to fear, while truth has every thing to hope,
Irian examination and inquiry.—ln the few obser-
vatimit., however, which we propose to make, we
shall accommixlate ourselves to the taste of the
Duke's bui-discst friends and advocates.— We
will confine ourselves to his letter to the
SPEAKER of the (louse of Commons, on Friday
lust, as read from tile Chair, and laid upon the
table, the authenticity of which, under such cir-
cumstances, we presume will not be qnsetionr,!.
The first objectionable passage in that epistolary
production that strikes us, is that where he de -
dares his innocence " upon the honour of a
PRINCE." We have heard of the honour of a
Gentleman, and the honour of a Peer, but the ho-
nour of a Prince, as a recognised solemn sanction
and asseveration of truth, is quite new to us. 1,1
public society, the laws of which are pammousit In
all others inefficacy, the honour of a gent :t.ti.a.i
equivalent to an oath. 141 the House of Lords the
/meow of a Peer is rrceitv.l by the Constitution as
an obligation equally binding; but of evideece
delivered " upon the honour of a Privet" we met r
heard heforc. 'this discovery was reserved for the
new morality; the Copeuliageo morality of Mr.
CAN NISIG and Mr. Pekin:vat; and zirtainly ism t
to be• found in any of the musty books of rut
morality, which these gentlemen effect to despise.
hut admitting the honour of a- Pritee to be as
appeal recognized by usage, we think it mho.' I:
considered " a custom more honoured is Metal
than the observance," at the present moinent,
that the honour of a Peer or the hamar of a Geo.
tleman would have had as much weight with the .
publie•.—Not many years have chinned since the
Emperor ALEXANDER and the King of Paessts
pledged themselves, as Printer. over the tomb of
FitiDERICIL the GREAT, to eternal friendship and
co-operation; ytt many months &A not elapse
until one of these honourable Princes joined the
staudard of his enemy, iind retired from the field,
clud in the apoils of his fallen friind. Of all inju-
ries, the mast galling that one lintann being can
indict upon another, i♦ to raise him high out of his
sphere, Quad devil him t hc:e. „
"Quo, edit Bstraprlu• 4iss Jelit rests nests valour."
According to our of cite Duke of livalea also.

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cites, Yin PesinivAL. his Royal 1141 torts extirm.t-
oj opoa lii. CLitaits 16,G00t. in little mire thin
two yeast. According; to another of hid oil,,o,atod.
Mr. Anus, his 1.1..141 lliKhne4t soo.i after (1,!...
clinett to pip her an ationity of 4qol. . lf, the a.

Ibis luxurious concubine was to be thus thrown
Own flit summit of earthly splendour, into
the losreyt abyss of poverty and wretchedness, whet
heroines of 4. the honour of a Prince," this new

coiaetl oath in the month of a Royal Mike, which

*ea pledged to break her fall, and secure to her u
&mut retreat from a life of adultery ? But our ob.
Section gots farther :—There is no TAD known to
the constituthn as Prince, bite the Prince of
WALEV; His brothers, are, in common parlance,
Mikes, and when the word " Prince"
Aceurs in common conversation, we thiolc uult
the Prince of WALi.s. inu.t look,
t:lererore, 1111110:1}; his evil star:, or the
A*lnni of his evil Count:Mors, for a title so new
ws " Prince," assumed by a Duke of YORK,
is All :Akre+ and pentium to the Hon,t of Coin-
nions.—The nest piiwis4e in his R iyal
letter, and w:iieh centains•tlie essence of it, is that
where he *ars—

" My csevriousness of innocence leads me eonfidently
to hupr, lOU the }fosse of Commons will out, •pun such
evidence as tlavy hAve ni apt any pnxeediats peeks-
dicialto my ho: character ; but if, upon itch tc•li•
111114ny a, has hzen odduccd azainst me, the Manse of Coat-
s•ues cam think my inuoreace questioaable, I claim of their
jo,tace, th A I shall net be coidemaed witbrat trml, nor be

al‘yr.re4 of tit.• beach and prutectioe which to afforded to

. .
every Wane% ihOjert, by douse saactious under which, aloes
evidence es reeceed in dee ordinary adiaieistratioa of Ilia
law"
Now the conseionsnesi of his innocence is a very
just ground for the antici:iation of as honourable
insjaittal; butt how the Royal Duke could expect
that tlki* econscimism-si, a thing only known to
'Mown', could isflutace the conduct of the Douse
of Commoas, we cannot 'conceive. This consci-
ousness of iimocence is only vial in fir° eoaseien-
ate. 1. Ah. my dear Lady reazie," soya Joseph,
in Ur. SileßlDAß'il al niroble Comedy, "'tic that
couscioumess of your innocence that ruins you.
What is it that *mikes you iirk;ou lent in your eon-
duet. and careless of die censures of the world ? Thr
consciousness of your innocence. What is it makes
you regardless of forms, and inattentive to y"ur
hnshatitl's (wife's) pence ?—Why the coaseinasinsis
of your innocence." But we will not pursue this
farther. We should not hove thvellel upon it so
long', had we nut considere.l it the language of
some political Joseph in the hat or his Royal High-
nesit's Alvocatra,, MI I trot ItIC lanyag* of the
man who imlited the love letters to Mrs. CLARKE.
And now comes the claim of his Royal Flightless
.. to the beat tit, and prutectiou which is apparels
to every British subject." This behest, we say,
never has beets refused ; hot his Royal Heggioess
appears cot (my be satisiled with the justice of
a British Allbjeet. and ilthreands something more.--
lie does not detour to the jurisclictmu of the
House of Comm ma. No, he is a 'tiling to aitide
by the dec:"iuu of dust tribunal; but if that deci-
sion should be unfteount!de, in that event he dis-
owns its authority, and claims a trial by his l'eers.
Thus, he claiuss the elnkace of tin trials for him,
and will n tly *.laud the ('haute.: of one trial a.raissat
lapin. This, certainly. is Lot clout justice betweeo
the country and the iiiiiividuil. If Ins linial
Liigittiess lie ally objection to be hied timiti the
prrient process hetore the Dottie, he nucht to
protest against their proceeding, posit;vely and
directly. He ought not to take the chance of an
actiniuml there, but to demigod a trial b*fore what
he conceived a tribunal c peteut to administer
British justice. .

We have received Cal:. *awl !Seville Garottes to
t,. bth iinibilit. They confirm the Mirth:getter
which was previously ri .4.4.1.11 from Jamaica, of the
probability of the speedy reditetioa of the city of
St. Domingo. The defeat and death of I:ERRAND.
the French (Sovernor, are officially nothied. They
:dim eontaia the details of the first attacks on Sara.
girssii. The litre PALAIPJX. sustains hi* former
reputation. nod will hear of no alternative between
death awl victiory.
'rise fie iv sail of transports, antler the or.lers of
Capt. Junta 11.11.3TEp, wiiali are to take on board
Nitijor-Geu. 1111. L's expedition at Cork. are wind-
'woad at Ports:sound'. The force to embark is to
' consist of five regiments and 4uo cavalry. Their
destination is believed to be Nlitiorese. The Pare
Mahan, Captain Cinema 2 es, takes the transports
to Cork.
A large Medical Staff. and a large quantity of
Medics' and Purveyor's Attires, are e.nlearking at
Fort.moutli for General BERE4II,OIID'i eapeilition.
liis Military :ibid . will be found on reference to
T/ic Gazette of Su'.urday.
The Ernassrick, of 774 guns, which arrives, on
Tuesday at Yarmouth, from the Baltic, hail been
beset hi the ice in the Cattegati from the :hi littu-
sty.to the 10th of February. during which interval
• she wag driven on shore several times, and the crew
were obliged to throw all the gunvovertroard, ex-
rept two ii-potiuders to make signals ; they bud
lost all their anchors but one, mail that had only
lone fluke. The Stiperh, Admiral KLATiI, and
Dries, are the only large ships nn left hi the M-
ile; the firoutelai, l.: has brought intelligence of
their helm; frozen up in Flemish roads. Gist.tou-
hut ch. lint that they are in perfect safety.
The Barites'', tits Capt. LISiCE: Zillodeiti. 74,
Capt. Boys; and the Elisabeth, 74. Hon. Captain
CONZO74, soiled from Plymouth on Monday, to
tenth& tiff Fermi.
A letter from Valencia, (listed the 6th last. states
the departure of the Austrian Miuiater froiu Paris
to Victim*.

Yesterday morning FL .4 SI Al EITY. Prinreases AU-
GUSTA, Amt:LIA. and M tRY. neeitinpanierl i.c Lady
and Geiwrals Dc lit:DE, FlTittoY, rind
CaaTwucHr, net! to St. (;.'or-.,•'s Chapel, and
heard a sermon preached by the IMO. and Rev. Dr.
Lrotie, the Dean, front I Peter, chap. v. ver. 6 :
" ilnothlr yourselves therefore n ,der the mighty hand of
God. that be any exalt you is due tom."
'l' he ROYAL FAMILY afternards returned to the
Palace.
Friday morning, His AIAJEITY, the Duke of
CAMISIIDGE, Prins-tsars Atka:STA, SOPIIIA, and I
Astr.sts, accompanied by Lsrly ELY, die-atm-al%
•rAYLOit, rode in Windsor Gre it Park, and returned
at twelve o'clock top the. Palace.
Friday beiug the Duke of estaisetouv's Birth-
day, the same was oh.erve d and kept by Their
MASZSTILA and the 'AOYAI. FAMILY at '% urbane.
HIV Rata) I ligliaess comp': ted Inn 3.ith sear.
—dm Royal tli.th tra41.16 nets suet at the Tuns
Tavern, tVindsnr, where they hail their annual VII.
tertaimuent on the occasion. The dinner was well
served up by Mr. II t t.. 1.1., of et wish .0 tar lay
and constitutional toasts, iamtinnenis, and song.,
were said stud sand on the svcaa:on. The company
broke sip at 12 o'clock in perfect h moony.
St. James's Palace is to it,. bent u,i its former
itlan, with all possible 'need. ('lie persons tvbo
bad auartments there ere to be reinstated.
liter Dukes of CAMBRIDLB cel SUSSEX left
Windsor, tot Saturday, for I orlon.
On Thursday the Duke of Yule, Earls GUST-
aim and Giseargneggsn, owl a impart* of 'Adair)
Officers, dined with the Earl of Ciatctsr.srEit.
61 Friday evening, about seven a clock, the Earl
of OaIPORD died at his house in tkut 40-street.
He &V %acceded at his title and eitat-s by his snit,
Lord WALPOI.E.

Amongst the last Ba h arrivals are :
The Bari and 'testi Funniest, Lady and these Misses
Psalm, Lady Pearson. Lady Veral/e, thr tr,,,!..u,
Hon Mr. Fans, Hue. Mr Forward, Hos H. Arcies,S.rlV.a.
Miura, Sir T. revs ell, Major.tiere Smith. Colonel and H.,.
Jeakiason. Colonel arGessia, Colo oel HM, Colossi Gre-
ed* Colaltel Marren, Lital..easleselisselMrs. I(Clarey.
The Nlisse..; .riSotrUa g 11.4.1 their usutl party,
last night, at their hone in Hanover-square.
Lord and Lad.. Soutats are expected iu town,
this week, from t'sei •• seat in Stowers.
Earl CitotscisOW.l.CY, we are sirry to eVe, was
not so well, yesterday, AS might be es peeteil from
the favourable change that took place a work sacs.
Earl Sietscaa entertamel a wiect party of No-
bility at diluter, yesterday. at but house in St.
James's-place.
The ararsetA that I etely prevailed in the Howse
of Onn.naas 1144 4:o;rlpir•ely Retched iliterfeer Ca-
sty's Air:stub mud the hints are alt. dank..
The Cnantess of Szreoit had a select part's, best
night, at her house in Arbligio.i..treet, which was
attended by the Hareltiouess of SALIsoURY ;
Ctionteses CAW:SEM, t)fiwayalt Serra Y. CLANK,
mad several other persons of elistiliction.
Hyde Park was yesterday tilled with ele4ient
Menpasiv. T:te rides had a very splendid apneas.-
neer. Her nova, il.4lmess Princes. Sonia,' of
GLOIICESCCK, Ditchesses of Sr. A e.a•a's, I.ieNr-
i nose, Lerna, su l Noaritisarrat.v:o, trivmd
the rides. Hot itoyal Highness toe Doke of CAM-
saltine was on horseback. Tue Park was nearly
cleared by live o'clock.
Lady Usoithe Cavgteolati left town, out Tours-
day, for s
ori:t
eluner gastneat is expected, this day,
from Belvo.r Castle.
Madame C.sra r. tier conclude!! her
operatic en-
tertaiu,n•_.tts at !lob, o f T.ll rselay last. The
House WAS crowded iu every port, and the atieheque
were deliz;hted with the exertio.is of the fair Syrea.
Mr. I'oNSONEY gave a 4ra.ill dinner. on Satur-
day, at lute house in Arlington-street. to Earl
TEMPLC, ViSconat Vl4caUat 3111.T0,5,
Lord OSSOLSTOT, the Right Mtn. W. WlsDH.tia.
Right lion. General FITZPATRICK, Ins WATSON
W. WYNNE yid a. ROM lAN. General FEtteellSON.
and Messrs. NOKTR and W. WYNNE.
The Candies* of CARR4IIPTOI gave a grand
rout. out Friday night. at her house, in Britton.
street. The preparations were in her Ladviship's
tenet style of elegance. The grand mute dentart-
meats was brilliantly lighted with eta, its helm.
tiful lustre,. There were upwards of two h milked
Nobility and Fashionables present.
As the music of tile lately .(anted Opera 411
Drury-lane was by a Bishop, the Author may justly
cons •ilein that it did riot receive the benefit V
Clergy.
Mr. litmus, of Covent-Ginlen Theatre, is date.
gerroisly iiidisposed. Ile is attended by surgeon
wiLSOK.
Lord CHARLES MANNERS hits been no *shooting
party in 'Wiltshire, and will return to town this dry.
The Countess of CAMDEN had d card-party, on
Thursday isigl:t. at her house, in Arlington-4mM.
The Duchess of NORTHUMBERLAND, Marchi=
of Satissuar. Countess Screw., and the
Pettey and TAYKoR, were present.
Seen are the attractions of the new face. Is les
a Prints? rat the Haymarket-Theatre. that on So.
tienlay evening, at half-price. the Theatre sown
Rowed. Mr. JOSLS gives a most admirable pane
trait of the lively young Nahlerrem, sapported air
all the comic honour of Mr. Lino!. sad MA
MIINDC4I.
The General of his Grace the Duke of .4 SCASTER
took place on Friday ree'en.ight at Swinestearl. The
assemblage bf sorrowing trielaa out iil;4
was very considerable. About twelve o'clock the
funeral cavalcade set out from (irtinstif
Castle, Lincolnshire: The pall-bearers were7tC
Esti of Anvireitt., Sir Jona Taotr.ore. Bart.
Sir SAIIIILL FLVOL'EIi Bart. Jacoa Revarearnieor,
Esq. CIIARLES JANES Paces. Esq. our t! Rue.
Mr. Foses:a. The chief lineament were, General
LSI/ARO. the' Rev. 'Alr. Lavaire, GREAT-
HEAD, Eaq. 310STAGrt: MATHEW, E-q. M. P. Sir
hlontancs Cuosseeterv, Bart. ARUNDEL,
Esq. Dr. WILLI,. Dr. AaNui.n. the Rev. Mr.
livastvr, &c. ke. ate. C• 110•4-41 Ist • numerous
Vasa of tenants, arid fouttfon i;eatletara's carriages..

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ROYAL :'.&WILY.