The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-09 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
MONDAY, MAY 9.

Yesterday we received Paris papers of the sth
instant. I'he Pubkiste, a demi-official paper says,
" Lord I'VurrwOßTl: had announced his departure,
as fixed for this day, Wednesday he 4th, at five in
the morning. This Ambassador has altered his re
solnticn, and it is not said, whether this delay is to
have a short duration. Whatever may be the
cause of this new incident, it is impossible not to
conceive from it, some hope for the continuance
of peace." In our Paper of Saturday last, we
stated, that notwithstanding it was generally be-
licred and positively asserted by one
of them, that Lord WitiTwo aril had left Paris on

Wednesday, the FRI.NCH AMB.AssAnoft here did not
despair cf the continuance of pt- tee. As we then
stated, the FRENCH AMRASSA DO ri did expei!l a Mes-
senger from Paris on Friday night, whose instructions
he was aware, would ultimately determine his con-
duct, and if General I..wilt:rotes name was
introduced in announcing that exi,ectation, it was
probably with a view to excite a pre-dispo-
sition in the Messenger's favour ; General LAUR I-
SION having been the person selected try the French
Government, to signify the present treaty of peace
between the two countries. This cert tinly was suf-
ficient to shew that hostilities were not irrevo-
cably decided upon, and that an opening
r,:maimed for the possible continuance of pc:,
We accordingly stated it as such, in that I,cnitLi
extent, beyond which we did not think we' Wild
be justified to Batter the public feeling. A • 9n
of the 'same - - however, appears to .

report,
reached a paper affeetedly ministerial, w,,i,h thou;, •
fit on, Saturday to swell the simple ci c.irns,ance
i an expatcd countermand from tne Fieuch Govern.

an absolute accommodation, and ndjuakment of the
points in dispute between the two countries.
must sty that this spetulatiott of the print'sMed
to, is, to say the best of it, injudicious. We are
sorry to say that it is without any substantial ground.
Lord Whir wort n had instructions to leave PAris
on Wednesday last, in case the propositions of his
ment, and the arrival of a French Messenger, into
Court should not have been previously acceded. t 0...
These instructions were so positive and explicit Minis-
ters did not conceive that they had left him any
foundation for the exercise of a diScretion upon the
subjeCt. Having received, therefote, no itunlli-
geuce from his Lordship, as of Tuesday last, they
naturally considered General ANDREosses demand
for passports on Friday as conclusive evidence that
such answer had not been obtained, and that the
negotiation was broken off. Upon this ground, and •
we believe the country will consider it a very rea-
sonable one, the Minister made his partial commu-
nication to Parliament on Friday. Nothing can be
more degrading to this nation, or take more from its
dignity, than the state of uncertainty that has prevailed
siiicc the commencement of the present discussions ;
to be lulled into the hopes of peace one day, and
frightened with threats of war the next ; to be kert
upon the rack of suspense, as if our fate were in the
hands of the FIRST Cossur, and we were entirely
at his disposal, is a state of things new to England,
and unworthy of its bold and decisive character.—
Ministers arc perfeetly sensible of this, and felt when
they sent their final instructions to Lord Wiiir-
WORTIi, that longer delay would compromise the
national interest, honour, and dignity. They are
consequently, as we believe, very much dissatisfied
with the condua of Lord WHITWORTH, who, by
his disobedience of his positive instructions, has taken
the entire responsibility of this most momentous
question upon himself. It is well known that
after the disappointment which had already taken
place, the CHANCELLOR of the Excimourit was
resolved not to risk another ; and that at the time
he promised a communication to Parliament on
this day, he had sent such instructions to Lord
woirrn as left no middle course, and that his
Lordship in no event could have remained in Paris,
after Tuesday, unless the ultimattyn of his Govern-
ment was acceded to.-1-lis Lordship has, however,
chosen a line of conduct for himself, and success
alone can justify him in what he his done.—The
circumstances of the case, we understand are these :
On Tuesday his Lordship not having received a sa-
tisfaCtory answer to the final proposition of his Go-
vernment, demanded a passport for his•return. The
passport was accordingly given to him, but it was
accompanied at the same time with a proposition
on the part of the French Government, which his
Lordship transmitted to his Court, considering it a
justifiable cause for deferring his departure. His
Lordship is considered a man of a solid and sound
judgment, improved by much diplomatic experi-

ence. Indeed, it is scarcely necessary to observe, that
Govermnent would nothave selected any other than a
man test-rate diplomatictalentstofill the situation
of Ambassador to the Republic of France. Many
therefore, relying upon the character of the man,
have Frew:Tied, that the proposition of the FIRST
CONSUL must hare been satisfadory, and that his
Lordship would not have been tempted by a tem-
porizing or evasive answer, to disobey the orders re-
quiring an immediate return. In this hope we fear
they are deceived, and that his Lordship has sacri-
ficed some of his usual judgment to his love of
peace, and that disinclination which he knows both
nations have to a renewal of hostilities. Those who
cherish the
.former opinion assert, that his MAJESTY
came to town on Saturday merely for business, such as
signing commissions, &c. which might be considered
as merely routine, in an unsettled state of affairs.—
We have reason, however, to believe, and we do
not speak lightly, nor upon vague authority, that
the reverse is the fad.—Mr. Sit... Le, the Mes-
senger, arrived on Friday night from Paris with
dispatches from Lord Warr woirn, announcing
the cause of his Lordships' delay in that city, con-
trary to his instrudions. The contents were con-
sidered of so much importance, that three Messen-
gers, viz. Messrs. DntssiNo, osr, A r, and L r-
ut. were sent to his Mai i:sry atWindsor, to request
his attendance in town. The Messengers arrived at
Windsor at six o'clock on Saturday morning, and
between ten and eleven, his MAJESTY set out, and
arrived at the Queen's-house a little after one. A
Cabinet Council was then held, attended by Lord
FIAwKESDCRY, which lasted until four o'clock, after
which his MAJESTY returned to Windsor. Of
what passed at that Council, we can only judge
from what has followed, and subsequent proceed-
ings, to shew that the answer of the French Goren-
meat, which Lord WHITWORTH considered a
justifiable cause for defeiring his departure, has
not been considered satisfactory by his Com t.
After the Council broke up orders were sent off to all
the principal ports to expedite the equipment of our
tleets, and a most severe press took place immediate-
Protedions have been disregarded for the first
tin ', and that tenderness for the mercantile in-
terest, which the Minister assigned as the sole causa.

•
why the ships in commission were not complewly
manned, has been totally laid aside.—lndependents
however, of this new appearance of determined hos
tility in the meastrres of Government, we have
reason to believe that our Government have posi.
tively rejefend the qualified uhimatuni upon which
Lord WHITWORTH thought fit to delay his depar-
ture, afialrat'ati express has been sent off signifying
the same, and enjoining his immediate returri. Unless
therefore the Fits? CONSUL shall agree, without
modification cr alteration, to the ultimatum of our
Government. Lord NV HtTwoura must leave Par is
the moment he shall receive she answer to his L•ir
dispatches. That event may take place on Tuesda ,
and his Loidship may therefore be expeded at the
end of this week ; and) as in the mean time the ne.
gotiation may be considered as going on, there is
still some chance of a possible accommodation.
Those who• consider peace as the common interest
of both countries, and that the FIRST CONSUL, who
has hitherto aded upon a bullying principle, may)
like all other bullies, retract when stoutly resisted,
are of opinion that he will yet yield something.--
Bnt, whatever may be the result, Lora WHIT-
WORTH is placed in a *very critical situation,
and Ministers arc very much dissatisfied with his
condua, conceiving, that in the discussions which
had already taken place they had gone their
full length, and left no further pretence for

that system of procrastination, evasion, and un-
certainty, which constitute the most destruc•
tive warfare that France could wage against this
country. Under these circumstances it is almost
superfluous to add, that the Minister cannot make
his promised communication thin day to Parlia-
ment, unless, indeed, he shall think fit to con-
demn the condua of Lord Warr WORTH, and re-
jea that chance of an amicable adjustment which
his Lordship has given under a most awful re-
sponsibility. Whatever may be the result, or what-
ever the view of the subject, we have reason to be-
lieve that a most interesting debate upon the state
of the negotiation, will take place this evening in
the House cf Commons.

Mr. SILVESTER left Paris at twelve o'clock on
Friday—reached. Dover at six, and set off for Lon-
don immediately, where he arrived about three
o'cliack on Saturday morning.
A gentleman who arrived on Saturday front
Paris, says, On Wednesday night he was
_passed
at Montreuil by the Courier of the French Govern-
ment, with dispatches fur General A NDREOSSI in
London. Lord WHITWORTH was still in Paris, as
he supposed. On the road to Calais three other
Messengers passed for the English Government and
General ANDREOSSI. At Calais, on Friday morn-
ing, arrived Mr. Sttvarrta, the English Messen-
ger, who reported that Lord WHIT woRTH was still
remaining in Paris ; and from his general observa-
tions, it was presumed that the politics of St. Cloud
had assumed a more complaisant tone : with this
idea the inhabitants of Calais seemed elated, from
lie opinion that they would still be permitted to
enjoy the blessings of Peace."
According to private accounts from Paris, the
politics of that city during the last fourteen days
have had a warlike-tendency, occasioned by the Par-
liamentary and other official statements from Eng-
land, which were strengthened and accredited prin-
cipally by the arrangements of Lord WHITWORTH ;
it is well known that his Excellency had made every
preparation for a sudden departure his baggage had
been made up, and sealed by the Custom-house
officers ler several days 'Afore Sett:Hay se'nnight ;
he had even declined any personal interview with
the CHIEF CONSUL for several days, requiring pro-
posals, in writing only, for any additional overtures
respecting the pending negotiation. His Excellency
even absented himself from the Levee on Sunday
se.'nnight, which is generally attended by all the re-
presentatives of foreign governments on the grand
parade day. On Sunday se't.night the grand parade
was held, and the public anxiously looked for the
presence of Lord WHITWORTH, as the symptom of
Foliecal confidence and amity ; from that day, the
alarm became general, and nctiting but rumours of
war prevailed. Tuesday night, at twelve o'clock,
was reported to be the hour of decision, and I nd
Won woRTIL'S departure was expeaed to have lea
taken place.—The English in Paris hastened their
d
Letters received by the German mail of Satur-
day state, that the differences between the Courts of
Petersburgh and Russia, have been amicably settled.
The young King, it is said, purposes to meet the
E nperor at Riga during his attended tour of that
p trt of his Empire.
General ANDREOSSI yesterday called upon Sir .
Jost:en BANKS, and' several of his private friends,
to take leave of them. He expressed himself in
terms of great regret at the approaching rupture
between the two countries.

The Board of Admiralty was sitting nearly the
whole of Friday night, and a considerable number
of ships were ordered into commission. A great nurn-
bee of new appointments also took place.
Admiral Co IL NIVALL is, who is appointed to com-
mand the Channel Fleet, is expe&ed to hoist his Hag
on board the Ville de Paris to-morrow, at Ply-
mouth.

Lord NELSON goes to the Mediterranean in the
event of a war. His Lordship has made many pre-
paratory arrangements, and the itty.bion li igate is
held in readiness to convey him out.
The Courageux, of 74 guns, is under 'orders, at
Plymouth, to proceed to the Mediterranean.
The Stork, sloop of war, from Honduras, and the
Gipsey, schooner, from a cruize, on the 7th March,
arrived at Jamaica. The French schooner, Superior,
sailed at the same time, charged with dispatches
from the French Commander at the Cape, to the
Havannah. The Elephant, Vanguard, Belleroplon,
of 74 guns, and Dvirie, of 40,, continued in Port
Royal on the 7th. The Gaiath, Ctantirriand,Theseut,
of the line, were on .a eruize ; is were the Tartar,
Shari, and Echo, the latter off the noith-side of Ja-
maica, an tithe Ca/.)pro off Cape Tiherbort.
• ,