The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-06-15 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE. BRITISH PRESS.

SIR—A quotation of four energetic lines of an ap-
plauded Elegy was inserted in your paper on the 31
of May. To them was subjoined a curious political
comment. It excited my desire to seek what far-
ther information might be cony eyed in the context.
Anxious to see some glimpse of light cast upon the
perplexities of this portentous crisis, I sent fur the
Poem. Disappointed in my search of the discussion
of a point so important as the practicability of an
u.:cr extinction of war, I threw the work aside : re-
curring, some weeks after, to examine the tenour of
it, I found the subject I looked for was there a di.
gression from what ought properly to have been the
sole °Nee of the Elegy, the melancholy termina-
tion of a virtuous and happy matrimonial union.
This objeft is, indeed, impreased with uncommon
pathos and elegance by the venerable writer It is
peculiarly interesting in these times, when what
constitutes the great security of all social happiness
is growing proportionably less and less in request
and credit,* dissipation and licentiousness are more
diffused. Nevertheless, the whole Episode, how-
ever introduced, will, I trust, be acceptable to your
intelligent readers, in the present state of the public
:mild. To the disconsolate and querulous, it be-
speak.: better hopes and tidings ; to the reflefting ob-
ser..er of the zeal state of things, a more welcome
view of human life ; and to the pious Christian , a
more stedfast confidence in the merciful, though
mystical, dispensations of the Divine Providence.
That being must be stupidly sunk below the condi •
tion of humanity, or religiously exalted above it,
that, in contemplation of the crimes and tcalamities
exhibited on the theatre of the world for these twelve
years past, can feel no anxious wish for relief in the
painful sight. It is for this consolatory purpose,
that I am here induced to transcribe these four
stanzas, accordant to the sentiments of every bene-
volent and considerate mind :

Though prone, alas ! to vent the frequent sigh
O'er human frailty, two minutely scann'd,
Dejeaion drives not yet my sot rching eye
From the prime work of an all•graeious hand.
Let rapt enthusiasts paint the hell-do .m'd race
AU black throughout, as tainted from the birth ;
Till touch'd by rare predeein'd light of grace,
Rise to bright saints the darkest fiend, oe earth.
Let gloomier moralists on virtue, fame,
Nay common sense extiliguisli'd, on the times,
Pie all redemption worse thin w3r3r, declaim,
Ring their harsh-grating cant is ill•coucordant chimes.
Xll.

Britiin, let (righted augurs brd thee rue
Thy pristine ►pint qu •.ich'd, with haggard eyes,
Astrea's Freedom's weitward night pursue,
Sneed at th' impenitent vengeance of the skits.
Malignant*, in their die tartatean, st. it*
To steep each fairest charaler that breathes;
Each tmphy rend from merit yet alive,
To grace the dead with all its plunder'd wreaths.
While Spleen at peers aspiring to be slaves,
Their mates as vulgar sir wiper., to be free,
At floit patrtotit, rev'tend atheists, raves,
Car id.rer presents mere) un, more welcome themes to me.
XIII.

It points where gospel With, it.; genuine light
Extending, error'. hill-horn mists above,
Shall (Sc, with force divine, all human sight,
On the sole fount of bliss, of jot, of have;
Views nations, in a league fraternal jnia'd,
The recreant foes of concerti to confound,
Sworn, one disarm',: igade, t* embrace mankind;
By Heaen in a:n.ty perpetual bound:"
Views War, Mead fiend, his ruffian front erect,
Avenger, umpire, judge of public wrongs,
Stopt short, by voice of hymning seraphs check'd—e
Tas m tee Priamof Peace thefiste ewends ►efnlga.
XIV

It marks wheat day-spring never dawns, unbless'd
With recent proofs of love indulgent pour'd
When elsaiiklins mopes repine, with gloom oppresed,
Earth carols blythe, with heas'nly bounty steed.
It marks where genial v.rtuc silent steals
O'er giant-striding vice a triumph stall ;
Ways hourly brighening lir, improvement feels.
That shames prostaostom of encroaching ill.
It marks where, 'moist the roar of faction: fell,
Roligion, Reason, long decried, their voice
',seine interpose. That impious yell
Struck mute j the full-roiled choirs, in songs of praise, rejoice
The Nes far a Prmete ledaigenee of Grief, page 6.
New Baud-stmt, May 29, 1804.

The Academy of BePes-Lettres and Antiquities,
at Paris, has proposed a Medal, weighing 26 ducats,
as a prize for the best Treatise upon the following

subjedi
To ernmpt-e, pht!necrohically, the Tragic and Comic The•
atre et the Ga•s and Itiim..ns, with that of Modern Nations;
to detsit their respective achantaus, and shew w li.it is the de-
gree of perfection to which the Lhantauc Art may yet eseeceto
arrive."

The Treatise must he sent to the Academy before
the 20th January 1605.
We understand that a second aquatic bet has
taken place between the two gentlemen who h.id the
much talked of rowing match down to the Sore .sod
back to Rotherhithe. The wager is, we believe, in
consequence of A difference of opinion respelling
the best men who rowed in Mr. D.'s boat, he
imagining Jolts SUEPPEARD and .LANES HOWELL.
as good as any, and Mr. W. on the contrary, con-
sidering ISA AC Woon and EDWARD BRONMEL bet•
ter. The match is for one hundred guineas a-side,
and a new boat to be given to the best oars. To
slut at three o'clock on Tuesday, the 26th instant,
from Mr. D.'s Wharf at Rutherbithe, go round a
boat moored at Chatlton Sand Wharf, and return
to Mr. D.'s Wharf at Rotherhithe. The panics to
choose their boats ; no fouling.
Tuesday morning the baggage of Rear Admiral
'Sir EowAao PeLLsw, Bart. and live stock, were
sent on board the Callodea, of 74 guns, Captain C.
COLE. fitted for his flag. at Plymouth, with eight
mouths stores and provisions for the East Indies.
She will go round to St. Helens before the 16th, as
Sir E. Psttew is expelled at Portsmouth oa the
18th inst. She is to convoy out the remainder of
the East Indianian for Madras and China.

LAW INTFLLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING's BENCH, WESTMINSTER, il:Nt

THE KING e. JOHN LOCKER, JOHN LOCKER WAIN.
WRIGHT, asd ISABELLA his seafr.
The Defendants, in this cause, were brought up
this day to receive the Judgment of the I,a,rt.
Their Lordships were informed, that Mrs. Wn:a-
might was in a sedan chair outside the Court, and
in every weak stare.
Lord ELLENIOROLO:I dire bed her to be brought
ia, in an open chair, and that she should rece•-.4:
every accommodation possible. Her appeararce
was strikingly interesting, from the delicacy of her
person, and the elegance of her dress. She was
carried in between two of the Tipstaffs ; and when
set down in Court, was supported by two female
servants, who could, with the utmost difficulty, keep
her from fainting ; while her unhappy husband,
with indescribable anxiety, assisted. She is a love-
ly looking young woman, but much emaciated ;
her eyes were closed, and she was so dreadfully agi-
tated, during her stay in Court, as to make it almost
impossible to keep her from swooning.
The Defendants, Wainwright and Wife, had been
conviaed of aiding and assisting the other Defend.
ant, Locker, in taking away from the custody of her
lawful guardians, Mary Pierce, a minor, of the age
of 19 years, the illegitimate daughter of John
Pierce, Esq. deceased ; which said Mary was en-
titled to a personal property of upwards of 15,0001.
and causing her to be clandestinely niairh:d to the
said Locker, who was a man of low means, and ad-
vanced in life, being upwards of 60 years old.
Mr. BuRROWS, as Counsel for Mr. Locker, offered
some reasons to the Court, to induce them to miti-
gate their judgment. There was no evidence, he ob-
served, to prove that his client had used any strata-
gems to inveigle Miss Pierce, or made any effort to
influence her mind in his favour. It appeared she
was a lady of good sense and understanding, at the
time this business took place; she was near twenty
years of age, and fully competent to choose for her-
self, He further urged, that this was a crime which
seldom happened, and was one which from its nature
must ever be unfrequent, for in no instance did the
property of the minor pass out of the hands of the
Trustees, until a proper settlement was made. Mr.
Locker was not a man, as set out in the indiiftment,
of low means, and poor. property ; it was proved
he was a man of independent fortune, and respea•
able character, and therefore pecuniary motives could
not be his objea. He had been confined since the
month of August last ; and, under all these circum-
stances, he trusted the Court would be somewhat
lenient in their judgment.
Mr. ERSKINE, in a most feeling and impressive
speech, addressed the Court in behalf of Mr. and
Mrs. Wainwright. The charge, against this un-
happy lady and her husband, he confessed, was a
most improper one, as conspiring in aiding in this
marriage; but, were all circumstances considered,
she was not so criminal : from the evidence of the
Right Hon. Mr. Foster, and several others on the
trial, it was evident she most have believed this man
to be of independent fortune end good aura/ter ;
she did nut mean to pillage and plunder this young
lady of het property; she was her near relative,
and only thought she was rendering her a service;
besides, she would have been, in a very few
months, at her own free will and disposal, and sure•
ly it was also to be considered this lady was under
the influence of her husband. The Learned Coun-
sel declared his anxiety for this unhappy lady was
swallowed up in the miserable, he would almost
say, indecent speaacle, which appeared before him ;
he could not express his feelings upon this occasion,
it was no imposition on the Court, the situation of
the lady was evident to all who beheld her ; she was
a better Witness for herself (Ilan any Physician could
be ; when a female frame was attacked in that af-
Riding, agonising way ; when the mind was torn by
so many confliaing tortures, imprisonment was but
another name for death ; he therefore prayed for
mercy on that heart-rending objea, and, in giving
that mercy, he observed with the Poet, " it blesses
both him who bestows, and him who receives
it." Their Lordships would deliver from death
that unfortunate lady by suspending that part
of their judgment, which would otherwise
end in her dissolution; he therefore begged their
Lordships would permit another Physician, besides
Sir Walter Farquhar, to examine and report the
state of the Lady's health, before they would pro-
nounce their final Judgment.
The ATTORNEE.GENEMAL observed, he could
not anticipate the event of his Learned Friend's
speech, or to what length it would go in mitigation
of punishment; he only lamented, that no affidavit
had been produced, but that made some time ago ;
there was ample time to make such ; but beyond the
circumstances of the Lady's ill-health. there was no-
thing to take her out of the charafter of a most
egregious offender; the conspiracy was formed for
vile, corrupt, and mercenary motives; and this was
persevered in to the last ; for, before they left the
Hall, after the severe reprimand from the Chancel-
lor, Locker was detelled in whispering solnething
in dhs Pierce's ear. The offence was admitted to
be an offence of great enormity ; and, as to Locker
and Wainwright, no ground of mitigation whatever
appeared.
Lord ELLiNsoitoucH—" Let the Defendants be
remanded for the present, and the Court will make
an ord:r for their being brought up afterwards."
Mrs. Wainwright was then carried out almost life-
less.

At one o'clock, Lord E LLLLL oftovott sat at Nisi
Pries---a few causes of no moment were decided.

The humane and ingenious Abbe SICARD, the
Instruaor of the Deaf and Dumb, had the courage
to give evidence in behalf of General MOREAU. He
confessed that he was acquainted with, and ap-
proved of the projea of effeaing a reconciliation
between PICIEEORU and MOREAU ; that the corre-
spondence consequent upon that projea, contained
nothing but justifications on the part of the one, and
assurances of friendship on the part of the other.
Ten new batteries are nearly finished at the Hel-
der, and will make that place impregnable from the
sea-side. All the gunners are to be Frenchmen du-
ring the present war, as sixteen Dutch gunners ate
supposed to have deserted to the English cruisers near
that place,

A BM t.

(As amendedbitheConamatee),
For ritah:ishing aul sniintammg a permanent additional Force
fir thc D:fence of the R-alm, and for supplying the \la•
Regrds. Forces; and for al.: radial Reduction of
tete %Ilium of England.

:Vhereas it is expedient th it a nermalent ndlitional force
alienist be established and niJoitaitied wider reclr.ar officers, fur
tits defence uf the realm, and rir augmenti itr, and suindvitig
i I Niajevty's regular force.: ; and that the %1it:11a of England
s!to,t!d be gradually reduced, tinder Ctft3l3 re:trictions and re-
at;uns, to the original (pions specified in an Act tressed is
tw, Fwty•second Year of the Reign of His present Majesty ;
May it therefore please Your Majesty,
That it may be enacted ; and be it enacted by the King's Most
E <cegtnt Mit),,ty, by and with the advice and consent of VI..
I. mi. Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
as.ersibled, and by the authority of the same, that
a permanent additional force shall be established and main-
uisied in Ens/Load, arid shall be raised aud complete.] iu toe
manner by this act directed; and frons and after the comple-
this, arklitioual force wider this act, the quotas to be
maiiitaiiied and supplied in the manner directed by this ac,,
by each of the several counties in England, shall be a.
fol'uw

Redford, 475; Barks, 841 ; Bucks, 898; Cambridge, 711 ;
Chester Coy nod Count), 1,327 ; Cctawa::, 970; Cumberland,
928 ; Deity, 1,408; Devon, with county and city of Exeter,
1,268; Dorset, 616; Durham, 638 ; a, 1866; Gloucester,
1744; Hen-ford, 780; Heaford, 720; Huntingdon, 231;
Rent, 1941; Lancaster, 360F1 ; Leicester, 964; Lincoln,
9052; Middlesex, exklusive at the lower Haadoti,
Monmouth, 440; Norfolk, 1813; 1086,
Northumberland, 973 ; Nottingtta m, 845 ; t):;focd, 91/4 ; Rut-
land, 114 ; Salop. 1486 ; Somerset, 23:36 ;
1175; Stafford, 1699; Suffolk, 1 ,t;6; Surrey, 11204 ;
1104; Warwick, 1479; Westmoreland, 364; WOISITSte'•
924; Wda, 137%; Yolk, W. ttidiug, with the City of Yotk, ,
.3 43 ; N. R 1366 ; E R. 340 ; Ati4lesea, 192 ;
306; Cardtyau, 365; Carmarthen, 607; C41714T00. 1%)
Denbigh, 516; Flint, 301 ; Glamorgan, 694; Ithilloottli,
lel ; Montg imery, 418; Pembroke, 3UI; and Raddor, 210.