The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-04-14 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A SUBSCRIBER should have known, that the recent tr!.ns•
action .t Weynieuth will come before a eitirt of Justice, and
that any oboslvations at pr...vosiit would be premature. The Ic
gality of Prep-Warrantr hay be..n long since established; and
it is for a Jury t../. decidc whether the right has Len abused is
tit 2 ease eluded to.

AU fOLYCHUS is informed, that his EiFay upon the Lord
Miym s is very dJ!, and cousequently nut appropriate to
so livzly a su'Jject.

••• Our Correspondent at Paris has favoured as with a series
of interesting Papers respecting the Nano,/ sr.. It:smuts,
wllie:i we shall submit wcasionaily to OUT Reader:.

THE BRITISH PRE M.

LON DON,
THURSDAY, APRIL 14.

The Consular Decree, for placing the town of
Fludiiag in a state cf siege, is not an isolated aft,
but appears to be part of a system.—Private letters
state, that the Dutch troops have been ordered to
withdraw from Helvoetsluys, Goree, Brill, &c. and
that French troops have taken exclusive possession
of these several places, the French General having
asearned the sole responsi.oiiity of their defence
and protthion.—His MaJr.sr v's Message having
stated that formidable preparations were making
in. the French and Dutch ports, which requir-
ed measures of precaution upon our part;
and the best-informed persons, having since
frequently declared that the armaments were intend-
ed for the invasion of this country, we had
reason to presume that the FlasT Co Nsut would
use a Dutch port just as he would a French
one, for carrying his plan into execution. There
was nothing, therefore, to excite surprise in his
placing Flushing in a state of siege, except the mode-
The Batavian Goverment, we find by a letter from
Rotterdam, had notice that the town Nvould, in case
of necessity, be placed in a state of siege ; but the
decree for that purpose being the single aZI of :he
French Government, and the Dutch being no par-
ties to it, we are unable to ascertain whether the
Ftusr CONSCL has obtained the consent of the
Dutch Government, or has ;tete-Lin opposition to it.
If the latter be the facl, it Would, indeed, be a
favourable circumstance for England. It would
chew that the Dutch are grown ashamed of th;:ir
degradatior ; that they are as averse nosy to a French
yoke as they were foimerly to Austrian tyranny,
that they are human nature still. Fut supposing
the measure to have been effaced with the consent
of the Dutch Government, still the case affords
symptoms of jealousy on the part of France highly
advantageous to the interests of England. This ex-
traordinary procedure, with respeft to Flushing,
would only chew that the FIRST CUNSCL entertained
a jealousy of it, and ground for that jealousy might
exist peculiar to the place ; but when we find the
same system extending itself to the other towns
upon the coast, we have reason to presume that
disaffetction to France is general in Holland. We
do not recolleft that in the Dutch Expedition the
Dutch soldiers were turned out of their own garri-

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sons, or r. fused leave to fight in the ranks With their
FreLill friends. Why then .refuse their assistance
now, and tell them they are unfit to aid in the de-
fence of their country, but because it is discovered
that their Laarts and principles are changed ?
iioNA PAs t: is now become as good a judge
of human nature as Mr. PIT r..—Mr. PITT
speculated upon Lie co-operation of the Dutch, be-
cause it was not in human nature that they should
be attached to a nation that had destroyed their in-
dependence, and plundered them of their property.
IioNA pAit T thinks so too, and he accordingly turns
them out of their towns, and fills their ports with
French soldiers, on whom he can rely.—Many cir-
cumstances have transpired which justify this view
of Dutch politics. From the moment of the sign-
ing of the Prelitninazies of Peace, the Dutch have
manifested a disposition that could not be grateful
to France ; upon the day of the celebration of peace
at the Hague, a jealousy broke out between the
Dutch and French troops in that place. We rzr.,';
also remember the early disposition evinced by the
Dutch to resume their former commercial relations
with England, while France was meditating the to-
tal destration of our trade. We have observed the
lingering stay of the French troops in Holland, and
we have seen with what sturdy resolution the Dutch
have lately resisted the financial arrangements of
the Fißsi CoNsCL.

We find by the Paris. Papers of the 10th, received
esterdai, that the proposed relative to the
Bank of France has been withdrawn, and another
proposed in its stead. It differs from the original
one in two points. The original one had roposed
that the aitions of the Bank should be 45,000 at the
le att. The new law limits them positively to 45,000.
The fixh.g of the dividendat 6 per cent. was proposed
to takeplace from Sept. 23. The Regents of the Bank
having declared that the shares would experience too
great a depression, by so sullen a redudion of the
interest, which has been 10 per cent. the Govern-
ment now suggest that the reduelion shall not take
place till September 23, 1801. This alteration in
the proposed plan has not raised the value of the
Bank anions—they are 1115 fr. All the Paris Pa-
pers are silent upon the subjed of the negociations
and warlike preparations.
The French hve per cents. are 51 fr. 65 c.

Scarcely a day passes that does not bring with it
a new Cabinet. The arrangement of yesterday, in
the best informed circles, was as follows :
Mr. PITT, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
with a Peerage.
Lord HOBART, Governor-General of Bengal.

Lori Metvt wt, first Lord of the Admiralty,
vice Earl of ST. ViNcr.v.r.
Earl of ROSLYN, President of the Council.
The Funds rose yesterday, and the improvement
was attributed to this change.

A letter from an officer, just returned from the
Dutch coast, to his friend in Maidstone says,—" We
have been cruizing off Gorse for some time, where
there are several Dutch men of war, accompanied
by three French frigates, and supposed to be about
26,000 troops. We left Goree on Tuesday, when
we were relieved by another frigate, and afterwards
met the his, jAlinerva, and Hydra, under way, it is
supposed, for the same staion.
The rise of the French Funds is no criterion at all
of the state of public opinion in France, respeaing
the great question of peace or war, because the
funds there are so entirely under the control of the
Government, that they may he raised yr depressed
by it at pleasure, without any reference to the ac-
tual state of things. '1 he late rise is stated to have
been occasioned by an order of the Government,
that all surplus profits of the Bank shall be invested
in the Five per Cents.
It has long been a favourite projeCt of the English
Cabinet, with a view to the emancipation of Hol-
land, to obtain possession of the island of Walche-
rem, on which Flushing stands. Several small
English squadrons have lately cruized off Flushing,
and other parts of the coast of Holland. England
is fitting out all the Dutch men of war at Chatham
an 4 Sheerness, professedly to defend the mouth of
the Thames, but possibly to invade the island of
Walcheren, with the inhabitants of which, of Flush-
ing, in particular, an understanding may exist. Of
this licks:U./UM:. may have intelligence.
It is said that the Pliisr CoNset, some time ago,
required of cur Government to deliver up to him
all the property vested in the British Funds by the
diffvreet Swiss Cantons! While we felicitate the
brave Swi:.s on the non-compliance of this country,
' we congratulate the united Empire at large on our
political beatitude, and glory in the idea that our
Government does not possess the power of being
unjust. •
The French Minister at Rome lately gave a
grand dinner there, in honour 'of the hereditary
Prince of MXCKLENDURGII STRELITz, at which
most of the persons of rank in that city were
present.
The Fizsr CoNsto. conceives, perhaps, that, in
case of hostilities, an attack will be made upon the
Gallo-Batavian armaments carrying on in the ports
of Holland; and has thFrefore resolved to take the
proteaion of the whole at once into his own hands,
without any respea to the authority of the Batavian
Government, whose state of vassalage is thus be-
come more degrading than ever. The Dutch Exe-
cutive does not appear to-have been even so much as
consulted on the occasion ; for the proceeding has
avowedly taken place by order of the Consular
Chief alone.
On Easter Monday the Lord Mayor humanely
ordered the prisoners confined in the City Compters
8501 b. of beef, and yesterday the whole of the
broken viauals, left at the late public dinner, at the
Mansion House, was distributed among persons of
the same description.

,

INDI.I HOUSE.

Ye,terclay n Court of Diretiors was held at the
East India House, when the following Commanders
took leave, previous to departing for their respedive
destinations, viz.
Capt. 11. %Yawn, of the War!cv, ,
Jame ..Wootlfortl, China
J. Firqualtar4on, Alfred, )
John Price, l'r. of Wale,, ..PAnitny Je Matt.,irt
Georg? Boilli.tite, F.4?x,
W. (:el4tora, Furope, ‘lArlra. and Bengal.
Ilanry Sturrock,
The extra ships were thus stationed and timed,
viz.

C-Intet, St. H delta and Bengal.
Tigris, hita•leirs and
Glory, 111.4.1., Bengal, to be afloat the 21st instant.
Ann, Bombay.
Grnriai Swart, Madras and Bengal.
Northampton. B !oral, to he afloat the sth of May New
Ship, Mr. flurry, Bengal, to be afloat the 21st of May ; and all
of them to sail from Gravesend one calender month from the
time of their twin afloat.
The thanks of the Court were unanimously voted
CO JOHN ROUARTS and JACOB BOSANCiLET, EST's.
Chairman and Deputy Chairman, for the eminent
services they have rendered the Company during the
last year-
The Court adjourned at six o'clock till this day.
Yesterday the dispatches for Madras and Ben” 1,
by the Earl Howe, were finally closed at the Last
India House, and delivered to the Purser.

PASSER:ARS FOR FORT ST. GEORGE.
Lord Win. Itantinck and Lady.
Colonel William Dowdeswell, his Lordship'. priyata Secre-
tary.
Major !ferny Monckron, his Aid-do-Camp.
Mewl. J Cassa major and G. E. Rus,ellt Writers.
Mr. A. flight, Assinant Surgeon.
CW9ray, R. Harrington, H. Wright, .1. G Iton,
W.ll. llAuedtant, S. RoAlcstua, and J. Fagan, Cadets.

FOR BENGAL.
Hun. C. R. Lindsay, and Philip Motirlann, Writers.
Nusert Fox, with the Colossal Sumo of Marquis COM-
wallis.

Yesterday a Ballot was taken at the East India
House, for the eleaion of six Di, caors to serve four
years, in the mom of the undermentioned gentle-
men, who go out by rotation, viz.
Mr. Alderman Le Meiurier, Sir Thomas Metcalfe,
Sir F. Haring, John Manship, and
Sir II Inglis, George W. Thellucion,
At six o'clock the glasses were finally closed, and
delivered to the Scrutineers, who had not reported
the numbers when this paper went to press.—The
Candidates were :
John Behb, E4q.
Simon Fraser, Esq.
John liudlrston, Esq.
John Inglis, Esq.
Charles Malls, Esq.

Thomas Parry, Esq.
Richard C. Plowden, Esq.
Thomas Reid, Esq.
Abraham Robarts, Esq. and
George Tatem, Esq.

There appears no doubt that the Batavian Repub-
lic, (if a Republic it may still be called) will be made
a chief point of attack against this country in the
event of war. The seizure of Flushing by the French
is probably a preliminary step ; but whatever may
be the views of the Ftesx CONSUL, and whatever
may be the issue of the present negotiation, this
country is prepared for the worst, and determined,
with a fearless and undauntless spirit, to preserve
her rights unimpaired, and her honour inviolate.
The Maltese Commander, Dc Bt,sv, whom the
new GRAND MASTER has nominated his Minister
Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary to the British
Governor of the contested island, is a Frenchman of
illustrious extraCtion, and took an active part in the
Revolution. After the 18th Brumaire, however,
when he saw a change apparently effected in BON A-
P A RI. t's conduet, he too became less violent.

The Caledonian Mercury says, the real state of
public affairs can be obtained with more accuracy
from an Edinburgh paper, than from the Cockney
quidnuncs of London.
The BISHOP of LINCOLN has collated the Rev.
It. POINTER, M. A. Reatm of Southhoe, Hunting.
donshire, to a Prebendal Stall, in the Cathedral
Church of Lincoln.
Mr. KEStB r. E has become a proprietor of Covent
Garden Theatre, having recently purchased the
share which a few years ago was bought and re-sold
to the Chief Proprietor, by Mr. LEwts.—This share
is a sixth part of the Theatre.
The Dutch squadron, commanded by Admiral
DE WINTER, is arrived at Lisbon.
BELCHER, the pugilist, arrived in town late on
Tuesday night, and proceeded to his abode in health
and spirits. The only injury he has sustained in the
late rencounter is a slight mark on the forehead.
It has however proved quite different with his anta-
gonist, who is at this time under the hands of a sur-
geon, and much bruised, inwardly and externally;
since the tight he has confessed to a friend, that the
blows of BELCHER have nearly killed him, and that
he shall never he a sound man again.
The charaCter of Plaint, or the Ruffian, was al-
ways that of a boxer who could bear much beating;
he has undoubtedly received as much as he could
well bear, and is most likely satisfied that his boast
of being as great a scientific boxer as his antagonist
was without foundation.

Previous to the contest, a clergyman, who was
also a magistrate, came with a constable to inter-
pose his authority, and disperse the persons -assem-
bled upon the occasion. His orders were however
derided by the mob, and he was forced to retreat
without being able to preserve the peace.
The pugilistic contest between BELCHER and the
YOUNG Burr AN, r-oduced very little sport, and
very little betting,—the advantage from the first
moment being decidedly in favour of BELCHLR..—
The Hon. B. CRAVEN was so pleased with the con.
duCt of BELCI!ER, he took him in his carriage hoar
the stage to Newmarket.
M'CON N EL, now under sentence of death '1 Horse--
monger-lane prison, has received a farther respite,
until enquiry shall have been made at Bourdeaux re-
spe.ting sonic circumstances stated in his petition for
mercy.
The Prefal of l'olice, at Paris, has lately employ-
ed no inconsiderable portion of his time and talents.
in devising a code of laws for the regulation of a
very important class of the subjeds of his CON-
SULAR MAJESt Y.—Hawkers of News, Ballad-Sing-
ers, &c.

RICH AR D BA R a ER, who many years was a labour-
ing gardener at Chichester, received a few days
ag►o a very considerable fortune, under a decree of
Chancery, as a relation of BAR ak:R, Esq. who
suddenly died intestate, at Osborne's Hotel, in
the Adelphi, within a few days of his return from
India, with an immense property, which the decree
has given to six poor and distant relations of the de-
ceased; but is ,Jilierent proportions,

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