The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-09-29 00:00:00

•"' /4-7 --'----, -—-- - -_----,.,
I should express snrprise at Rear-Admiral Linois.
when, on the following day, he presented himself
with the officers of his squadron to pay the r respeas
to me.
At Jay-break of the 14th of January, the men-
at the mast-head discovered four, eight, and suc-
cessively twenty-seven sail to the N. N. E. The
numbet of these vessels left no doubt that it was the
China fleet. The Admiral had with hiarat this mo-
ment only Le Berctau and L'il...enturier ; the frigates
La Belie Pouffe and La Sentillaate, having kept
under sail, had been carried two leagues to lee-
ward of the ship by the force of the currents and
stress of weather on the preceding day. At a quarter
paq eleven, a detachment of five of the enemy's
ships came to reconnoitre the squadron, while the
others lay to. The Admiral, taking advantage of a
squall, which prevented the enemy from seeing our
movements, speedily called in his frigates, and kept
I the wind in line of battle. The squall being over,
the five hostile ships formed in a line and likewise
I kept the wind. At half past five p. se. the Admiral
nude a signal, that it being his intention to avoid an
engagement in the night. he would wait for day.
light to attack the enemy. He, however, endea-
voured to get to windward of them.
If the position of the enemy, during the day, had
been bat an artifice to impose on us to conceal their
weakness. they would have availed themselves ef
the darkness of the night to endeavour to conceal
their retreat from the squadron, and upon that oc-
casion the Admial might take 'advantage of
their movements. But he was presently convinced
that this security was not pretended. :Throe of their
vessels had constantly their lights and the hest lay
by the whole night, and kept themselves in
order. This position enabled the Admire:Cr
gain the wind, and observe them more nearly. The
26th, at six in the morning, the enemy were within
a cannon shot and a half. The calm did not permit
• the Admiral to undertake any thing against them;
' but he profited of it to call the Captains of the squa-
dron on board his ship : he informed them, that his
intention was to advance against the enemy with
the first fair breeze, to menace the centre of their
line, and to cut off the vessels in the rear. All the
Captains were anxious to second the projeds of the
Admiral, and informed him of the ardour which pre-
vailed amongst their crews, and it was not without
admiration that we saw in reality some ofthesick,then
so numerous in our division, quit their hammocks, to
drag themselves to the post of battle. At half-past
seven, the enemy hoisted their colours ; our squadron
also hoi,ted theirs. Although near enough to distin-
guis4 ila .erseta of the fleet, the Admiral could not
discover its real force. Twenty of their ships
1 had the appearance of two-decked vessels. We
lhougli .e discovered a frigate; a sloop of war had
F a blue flag, so had three other vessels. These made
part of eight vessels which seemed more par-
tieularly charged with the protedion of the convoy.
by the information which the Admiral had ob-
, tained from neutrals coming from China, he had
learnt that there were seventeen of the Company's
vessels, six country ships, and the brig, in all twenty-
' four vessels, ready to sail. The three extra vessels
which we saw might be the intended convoy. At
it eight o'clock, the wind having freshened a little,
i the fleet stood to the south, drawn up in a line.
i From eight to ten vessels formed a double line to
windward of the first. The squadron bore down on
the bead tithe line, carrying all its sails ; but thi•
wind having shifted (torn E.N.E. and at the same
eime having died away. no longer permitted the Ad-
i miral to stand to windward At length, at noon,
' taking advantage of a little breeze, he ma le el.
ready to cut off the two vessels in the rear of di:
enemy's line.
Scarcely was his mancravre perceived, when
five ships of the double line attempted to get
leeward, and fell upon the division. It then ii.-
came necessary to change the plan of attack. ..ii ' to
avoid being placed between two fires: L p.it to
windward to meet the two first ships of the line
who had put about, and to attack there.
At hall past twelve, the 111:re-go fired the
first shot, and the engagement commenced imme-
diately after. The nearest of the enemy's ships sus-
tained some damage; but being supported by those
which followed, she put herself alongside a-new,
and kept up, as well as the rest, a very brisk fire.—
The ships which had stood off joined those which
engaged the division, and three of them which had
• been among the first engaged in the adion, manoeu-
vred to get round to leeward of us, while the rest of
the fleet, corning up with all their sails spread,
sheaved that their plan was to surround us.
The enemy, by this manoeuvre, had rendered the
position of the Admiral very dangerous. The su-
periority of their force was evident. and there was
no longer time to deliberate upon the part to be
taken to avoid the disastrous consequences of an un-
equal engagement. The Admiral, availing himself
. et the smoke which enveloped him, sheered off, and
running to E. N. E. got to a distance from the
enemy, who continued to pursue him fur three
hours, firing several broadsides, but out of cannon
shot.
The Admiral was able to remark, daring the
&lion. that from six to eight ships of the line fired
from the it two decks. There is no doubt but that
they wished to be attacked, as it was not until the
moment of the engagement that they aliened their
upper tier of guns. This engagement lasted forty
minutes. The enemy's shot generally pointed at
our rigging, but did us slight damage. No: one
issa was wounded.
As this cruise afforded no farther prnipen of ad-
vantage for wis monsoon, the Admiral resolved on
the Inch February to steer for Batavia. After pass-
ing through Gaspard's straights, the frigate diradeate
' stood in ou the :2 tst of fehreary towards toe squa-
dron. On the n':ith it came to an anchor at. flatnvia.
Vice Admiral Hai ...ink, commanding two men of
war and a frigate, recently arrived from Europe,
was likewise at anchor in the road. The limited
instrudinns of that officer would not permit him to
undertake any expedition against the enemy, by
' combining his forces with those of the Admiral.
In tire days the squadron had taken in water and
six months provision t it had likewise taken on.
beard refreshments for the sick, the numbec ct
whom on board the .I.teen.je alone amounted to .'•s„
The Admiral wishing to accelerate the sale or ere
prizes, the Ar'sfir,,i Re,,,,er and the 11l *ran a, as:cr
consulting the captains of the squadron, accept a
' • - hin by the Shabendar, to pin-
ata cargo ter the sum in.

133,000 piastres, exempt from all decluttions. The
Council of the Government, cut of respeEt to its Al-
lies, permitted the mousy to be exported by the
squadron.

On the 4th of March the squadron weighed from
Batavia, and found that of Admiral Ilattsinck at
anchor under North Island : it had set off four days
before. In standing into the Streight of Sunda the
French sqiiadron was bee:;lmed ; and being carried
away by the excessive s i.ilence of the currents, it was
for same time in considerable danger. A small an-
chor belonging to the Belle P. ,le, was fortunately the
only hiss it sustained. On the I;th, having cleared
the Streight of Sunda, the Admiral dispatched the
frigates Belle aid At •Id d. on a cruise, and
of keeping with him the S,mithode and Le /green'',
he steered for the Isle cf France, where he arrived
on the Ist of April.

Extract eta Latter from thsimmin Gmeral Deeaen, to the

inOte:. of the art,' C“tooie-,.

licad•Quarter4, 14a.f Fra %lay 20, 111104.

I had the honour, Citizen Minister, to inform you
in my preceding letter of the return of two frigate!,
Ls Bale Pomle, and L'Alalinle. They anchored at
the lde of France on theAh of May with their
prize, the Althea, valued at about fire millions of
fraacs.

SCPT. 17.

LETTERS.
FOUND ON BOARD TIIF. ENGLISH PRIZE THE
ADMIRAL APLIN.

NO. I.
LETTIM FROM LORI) ORENVILLZ TO MARQUIS

uLLLE.LEr.

My &!IrWa:lcaley,

July 12, 1410$.

Two days ago I. received ynur letter of the 14th
of February, and I answer it this moment, althe
I am entirely ignorant when I shall have an oppor.
tunity of conveying my answer to you With re-
spit/ to your residence in 'lndia. that question has
been long since decided; and such i. the distance
that separates Ilf, that brig before this reaches you,
the time fixed for your departure will have arrived.
I am entirely innorant. wheeler the even, of the war,
which our wise Ministers have at length declared,
will induce them to request the continuance of your
residence some time longer in India. There is no
one more capable than they are of appreciete
hig the certainty of that event, so th it we
must suppose they have taken all the measures
such an exigency required; but however every thing
sheers they have been •taken unawares, as it this
event had been the least expefted, consequently it
is not impossible that when they saw the war was
inevitable, that is to say, on the very day it was
declared, they may have flispatched an order fee
you to remain in India. But as this is a felt of
which I am entirely ignorant, I cannot, of coulee,
reason on it. If it does not take place. I hope
nothing will prevent me having the p;easure of see-
ing you nest year, provided you have, at that pe-
riod, still. a ca4.4itu to re suit When I make use.
of this last expression. do not suspose that my dis-
satisfaaion at the conduit Gove -merit has, in
any thing, chained my.opinien as to the means and
resouicee of this country. I have never been of the
number of ',oleic., on the subjeet It is now less a
matter of opinion, than of a peseta keowledge equi-
valent to a certainty, when I say that the country
possesses not only abundant and ample means of de-
fence, but even those of masing the enemy seris.usly
repent of his hostile conduce. of forcing him to tear,
and consequently to manta us. But hitherto there
has been so much indecialoe, timidity, and tardi-
ness in all the measures taken to obtain resources,
tad our f rage at this moment bears so much
tlie irr: r.,,,,in of fear, that I cannot have the
• oa of btinc founded in doing justice is
• r to the talents that are employs d,
and the dispositions which have been t ikeit.—
My plan of pol.itscal coadua, as you most have
seen, ditfers more and mare from that of Govere-
ment. As to the opinions which I had given on the
peace, I have at this moment the statisliaion
see they do me perfea justice througanut tla
whole country. Not only silbsenuent events have
proved, that the little body with which I adel in
concert on that occasion, was composed of t --
only persons who could then appreciate this ree
sure and its consequences, but we have had a ge-
neral acknowledgment that we had a just view t
thins. All the infamous calumnies of Govern-
ment on this ssibjea have recoiled with double
force upon themselves. In all that I have since
done, and its all that I have a! -tained from doing,
you will discover, I hope, those principles and those
sentiments, from which no °Olden, however un.
favourable it may be to the personal condut'l est.
any individual, shall ever make me devi ite.—
If I had been sure of an opportunity, I would
have written you a detail of all that passed lan
April with regard to the intended change of Go-
vernment, and I would have explained to you (as
far as I have been able to comprehend it), the
principles of .he condua which Pitt has since
pursued. I feel great pleasure in seeing that while
my quarrel with Mr. Addington brumes every
der .I,llOVi ifli4lll4 all the motives which cause)
a difference of opinion and cosidua between l'itt
and me daily diminish. We have not yrt been
able completely to assimilate out plans of political
coadua. Our situation, in truth, is in au essential
point of view entirely thffseent. Although he
has not eaually recommended Addington tor
his employment ;and in reality, who, r:towing
him, could recommend him?). yet he has
aderded Inns a more aaive portion of influence than
my opinion would have permitted him to give him
in the frnrnation of the new administration. He
has advised his measures lout! after he had ceased
to share in them; and he has approved of them, in
the differeat points which appear to me the most
ci ionised, aad which were so in reality, as the event
has proved. He is, of course, more restrained in
his condua than I am; and he does not now enjoy
the inestimable advantage of having never con-
cealed on compromised my opinion upon suhjeas of
such political importance—but I believe lass ideas of
their public condua are not very different frosts mine, I
and to all this we most add, a -.ly-nseri•ed re.
seeencrt, by season of Addir.g,tet,'s personal con-
s! a towarde him. He tkerctore no longer come de
s•_.:,:irtler;:s, If he has wtitten to sou (s hich
c...-rsinty he w old h eve .1.171 e. it he hal not. ae-
leered :he bad lial..t ..t not writing to any person) :
I say, he has written to yo::, he has ex ertssed, I
Fr....tadc..l o it, an his sratimenee w.:::J,L :g.

serve, and it is in this persuasion, I say so much 0
von f his opinions. ln truth, the measure witch
be last adopted (I mean to speak of his m • of
adjournment. or of his vote of censure), ill j' ia
itself, as I think it has been, and unfortunate t its
result, since it has diminished his public influence,
has at least the merit of expressing, in the most un-
equivocal manner, his disapprobation of the cooduet
of Government. I do not hesitate to guess what
new events will take place, before- your arrival ;
and the only advice winch I wish to give you, is
that which I have already more than once sitggested,
not to pledge yourself to any thing bol'oie you
do arrive : but to preserve the liberty of taing ac-
cording to the motives you think ought to direa
your condui3 when you shall be on the spot ; and
according as the different connections of the persons
who are at the head of affairs in the various subdi-
visions of parties, shall give you room to judge
what is best suited to you. With resped to the
idea thrown out in the extract which you have sent
me of your letter to Addington, you ought, I think.
only to look to it as an event of the remotest pos-
sibility. As to eternal enmities, I detest the
idea t and if I have an eternal enmity, it is against
the: partisans of a principle so detestable ; but we
owe much to public opinion as well as to the
petsonal situation and charadter of individuals,
which it is necessary to respell long after they have
ceased to feel resentment, or to take pleasure in
:tieing proofs of it. And nothing appears less pro-
bable than that you will see Pitt and meat any near
period, I think I may say at any period of our
lives, disposed to establish connections of friend-
ship and conk ence with Mr. Addington.—
The papers, if you have got them, will inform you
that all our conversations turn, at present, upon
the invasion, and that, at length, we begin to take
measures to put us in a state to face the enemy,
should they effect a landing, which, though very
improbable, is certainly not at all impossible.
To talk of conquering or subjugating 10 or 13
millions of men, if they are prepared for battle, and
direfted by a Government, desirous and capable of
animating their efforts, would be completely ridi-
culous. -tint experience has :hewn us, that the
number olone of inhabitants, and even the advan-
tages of local situation, are nothing, if the direction
of the defence remains in the hands of men, who
are not distinguished, except by their weakness and
incapacity.
In Holland itself, and even in Germany, Italy,
and Switzerland, the Governments, and not the in-
habitants, lost their country ; and, in the same
manner. if, in this island, or in Ireland, we expe-
rience any cnnsi lerable check, we shall owe it. not
to the timidity and ignorance of the nation, hut of
the Government. You must have yourself judged
to what extent then qualities exist in the present
Government, if (as I presume) you have, before
the receipt of du, letter, read the correspondence of
Lord Hawkesbury with Otto and Lord Whitworth,
and compared VIII dates of the several counter-or-
ders, upon the siibjeet of the Cape, during the
course of our communications with France.

It would be superfluous to add to the length of
this leuer, by dw:liong upon do ploasure I
have felt on finding in yours those expret.si.ms of
friendship, which retrace our old and cnnstant
conneetion. I have never done for you more than
you would have d me for me upon a similar occa-
sion and if the ion ipe planned against you is to-
tally without effcal, I cannot flatter myself with
having contributed to this result by my ,x:rtions,
although you may, nevertheless, I think, regard
the bustn:ss as terminated. It does not am ear to
me that a word will be spoken upon the siibj:cl un-
til Easter, and I really think that you hav'e nothing
to apprehend. The only thing to fear upon the
subjed, is the pain and disagreeableness of a pricata
dispute of this na:ure. Ever Your's,
(Signed) CU:MILLE.

NU U.

iitslllT WELLISLET TO Tilt MAt4tIS Or WrtLEi-

LEY, HIS gigot-1i

My Jcar 11.1.,ningtoil,

Lure Jun, July

I learned from Lady Wal!esley, that a dispatch
hy land was to be sent off the le,th, and I hype the
this letter will reach you in time to put you in a
state to make preparations for leaving India in Ja-
nuary mat. I shall give you an account, as soon
as possible, of every thing that has passed relative
to India since my arrival, and then you will be
able to jado what degree of sipport you may
expeoft from the present Ministers; and whether
the Board of Contmul has not been really trans-
trued from the Board, to the Court of Di-
rectors. I arrived in London in June, and I im-
mediately waited upon Lord Castlereagh, who re-
ceived me with tt.e greatest politeness. He spoke
to me of you in the most favourable tern:t.—
He approved of all your measures, but :tt the
same time it is perfealy clear that he is nut
able to obtain what the Court of Directors have
resolved not to grant. tle spoke to me al, ut
the College, and appeared to me convincea ut
the importance, as well as of the ne.:c,.:zy
that Institution. He hoped, he said, to be .tile
to prevail upon the Dire tors to eorrinue it upon
your plan, with some modifications which you
might not think important. Ile tc.ld roe that
the Dire/love had writtili hint upon this and
other subj..% several very ;urinal letters, and tat:
nothing could be ma:,: ais.grerAltic than the si:aa•
Bonin which he nai placed.
I told Lord Castlereagh, that in this business the
Court of Diredors bad completely broken th it ad
to you, as one of the principal condaions up
which you were to remain a year lover, was, t..at
they sisutild nut interfere in any of your norniaa-
lions ; that they had removed a man wt:o had patsed
through all the subordinate ranks in the se; vice the
Company. I then told him that your hcaith vrai very
good, and that there was no s.ici.tice ssoien you
were not ready to make tor the pubic service;
but that I thought it impossible y..ti e.,..11 remain
in kola longer than the month of Januiry next.
excepting you were wairoly solicited uit t..tt Mad
by His Majesty's Ministers, and the Court of D.rec-
tors ; that as ;n His Majesty's Mitiiiteti, I
they were of opinion that your stay i.t In :i tisras
desirable citcumstance, for many tea...a; ; and ith
regard to the Court of Direetors, lie 0n,{..: to know,
..toetlier tiii:y.wishi:d it or not. lie gave me do an-
,wer on the 'mg point; but was yen explicit on the
second; lot he told me, that tht C.-or t of Di-
x,ao„w,,,, .0 tw4i3tiAnt whiJi you

II

Lave manifested in some of your dispatches ;elicit
proves that they have not the leastrbidtehhaigituiiyitelicco,etici
Inte einsgts Indmofore thaatn andoh st:ilinthnaedmaitate
wtfoozodulthelsdn)i,s,shuibtjehk: erea
pet-
suaded they were desirous you should
iresign,m itth;oLoakrl:.
nituawnacse oi impossible
rosusri bsiteay6rin
I
c i to
anotherln the public
conversation
interest.
Castlereagh, he spoke a Hier': oil
Mahratta nitociations, and I con sire 9ft
propriety of your meesnres at Pooaa . the-,
advantages which may result from them, 4•.
could establish our interest at that Court. He
main
asked me, whether you had come a„
filed determination relgtive to the period of vont
return to England? I repeated what I had said te
him on a former occasion ; to which he 112:1!..! nn re-
y.
ptansl
asked
dh
iHmwehtsei pltahotekyreoluo ft
eh
ntoht
euel
tah toi
nmyedoi nu nationilw ebliaLloiep:ptarrool
o?a
cf
Barlow, but that you thought no servant of :be Com-
pany ought to succeed to the general governmeie •
I likewise said that the new nomination was
because Barlow had before been designed to oseesed
oli ,p 1 interim, and that it was piefe34llltt to ts
your return before any person should be oresentof
for this new nomination. I think there is a cereal.;
secret intrigue concerning Barlow's nomiaatice,
and I think this is the explanation of it. Whea M.
nisters proposed Lord W. Bentinck for Madras, the.
Court of Dires2ors mad e the most formal oblations to
the nomination, but were at length obliged to yield;
consoling themselves with the idea that one of its ow,
servants would be appointed Governor General.
I have seen Mr. Addington' at dinner, at Lord
Castlereagh's. He spoke to me of yosu iq the most
pompous and affationate terms: He likewise men-
tioned Barlow's nomination as a measure a nick
must be very agreeable to you. .The Mutt of me
conversations with Lord Castlereagh has convinced
me that It linisters are sensible of the import:tete of the,
continuance of your stay in India, and are erriemely
desirous you should remain there, but that they are
. not strong enough to dispute the point with the Coen:.
of Dirators, who are fully determined to oblige yam •
to return, I think that new attempts might be
made with success, to induce the Court of Peatets
to solicit the prolongation of your stay. But:trier
havingeecently seen them violate the engagement
which they made, not to interfere with any of your
nominations, it would neither be prudent nor dipti-
fied to take any step ehich would give them eccse
sion to suspes that you are desirous of remaining
in India, or that any other motive than a thorough
persuasion that it is only for the public. good, could
induce you to remain a single hour longer than the
period which you have filed for your return.
I received a civil but a very cold reception of the
Chairman: he spoke ernerzning improvements in
common, but said not a word concerti:le my ior.
serial services. lie aopearei disposed to find some
faith with all we had done at Poonah, and we
Forted after a c 'nversation of ten minutes; he tell-
ing me that he was so busy he had not had time to
read the dispatches (though they had been five days
at the India House), but that he hoped to hare
frequent occasion to converse with me on the affair
of India. I have not seen him since, though I staid
a fortnight at London waiting for the oppirtunith:
and the Court had not the civility to melte me to
one of the dinners which are given every Wednes.
day. I have since been &alio-est to return to Chester-
('
house for the sake of my f.e.dth, which still conti-
nues very bad.
Anether motive, which causes me to wish fur
your return, is the situation of the diiferent parties
in England. I suppose you have received a letter
from Lord Grenville on that sublet, ; however, I
will tell you all I know, and which I had from an
ir.timate friend of Pitt. It appears, that some
weeks since, Addington proposed to Pitt to come
again
into administration, on certain conditions. Oa
this overture of Addington, Pitt began a negocia-
ti in sr itli him ; stated the conditions on which he
was desirous of composing a part .of the adalint,-
trAtion ; declaring that he would not insista
bringing in any person against whom the king
might have any oblation ; but he desired that the
business might be kept a profound secret, till it was
completely arranged, and, at the same time, he re-
served the liberty of receding from this negosiaton,
if he was of opinion that his services could net he
useful to the public welfare. On these conditions
he gave Addington a sketch of his plan, men:iced
several persons whom he intended to propose, and
among whom was Lord Grenville—still, however,
continuing to declare, that he wished to introduse
no person in opposition to the King ; but that here-
served to himself the liberty of receding. Addirgtoa
submitted this plan so his colleaeueo by whom it war
related. and the ileercietion was broken off. At
preseia all Adding•on', friends declare that Pin t. s
refitted to return into administration, be•auie
wished to be allowed to Ling ils Grenville, &c.
Pitt, as yeu will have ken, rtes since opposed .IJ-
si ngton in the House, and they no longer
to each other. Lord Grenville rwlnis th ••tr. •
Canning) has told me that Pitt colter: • •
contempt for Adeline con, that he .would

With him, on 4.1 y cozation
the Len: time Pitt cr: Oz. ev:ry dAy in
Ag.tinst t!: • 1.),1e.1ce !s .t

;11.1, t•.O !rue

• fl,

ha, trn'rrc.i it carat,.. :Ai.

%.•...;cll (01cl-wise wc-'ll.l cr •
ease. Oa one vcc.tivn !: • H - •

tn o:e.a.toni:.!irttent of every one, the n.

only .'U. Nevertheless I, many
that it is irnrossible t:i:ni;< o f7,-,
present looting, art I think. 1).t: e..ti :-
office in the course (fa makes
th.tt you should be on tile
.I,p.•t t,) tor;.l t •

new .141m:v.istrwtiota, which.wotild then b c
if l';•t were At the head. WhAt do y L:• ••••

this? Yru w,u31,1 be able to obt.i,o

relative ra anJ, if you LLiaii pr. p.r, t,..

as C.Jve: nor-Genet-AL

Au.

I begin this krt.: at I.ondnn, but havi
vr;:h I. r.l C.tszt:re.o;:t. to:1 me t:,-
would no: ••••!. if ttn
l'ely h.t. been a: .kddinettoo's, to slut tk :o' •
ir.e; hai promisesime to.:
tzh (.1 the Ituw..; of c enpe:i t •
reftors to rzw.trJ me for my ,trvice, I:
CM, I exp:a fto:n :::ern. I
(-zn• .f) 11. \Vv.:

the proposal Oatle him I
chase the two prices anal