The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-08-04 00:00:00

shadow ;.hut when it it recollected how muds of the

adverse party's cause depends upon it, the task as.
mimes the appearance of greater utility and impor-
Mace. Let it be remembered, that the text of
these Reformers is " Look only at their public
services !—we have nothing to do with the private
sices or motives ant r chieftains."
Notwithstandingthi, aiertion, it appears to us
to be very strong prima fucie evidence of a bad
mum, if we see only bad men engaged iii promot-
ing it. If • person Cr persons notoriously wicked
are earnest in advising us to adopt 'any particular
measure, we are not only incliutd to examine into
it most scrupulously, but, (tom suspecting that
such min cen oaly act from Moister motives, and
have on laudable design, we are tempted to take •
course directly opposite to what they recominend.
tr, Sliest me your company, and I will tell what you
aref " is a very wise saying; and mignt. with equal
• .
justice, be emended to " shew me your character,
and I will tell the nature of yonr designs."—We
have not the faith necessary to expect purity (tom
a polluted source, nor can we readily believe that
lunch good will result from doing evil. Grapes are
not produced from briars.
10 the questions involving the privileges of the
blouse of Cumming, between the House and Sir
Fr.enci4 Burdt tt, and between the House and John
Gale June., the private characters of these itirlivi-
duels have nothing to do more than the characters
of any other men ; fur these are abstract lineations,
in which the whole people of England are concern-
ed, and they must therefore be tried on their own
. merits, without reference to the persons of the indi-
sirloals in whom they arise. But it is not so in the
general cause of Reform ; in which, from the gr-
/head arguments we have adduced, it appears to be
not only right, hut indiveniehly necessary, to look
minutely into tke oharacters of those who are most
prominent in advising us to do some act by which

we shell amigo of present condition.
When Mr. %%calk_ stood forwmil as the resti-
**gator or the Duke or'York fur Incontinence
liatiiirlity to his anerriagewows, we ccrtiqTy should
not hove given hisn so much credit for the marility
of his lecture, hod we known that be himself,
father of a legitimate family, was nightly lulled to.
teat its the artns cf a Delilah. The rpseitst reproach
of Swim rr:.roriag sig, woultt have occurred to ua
se 'methly. that we Peer we shatild hare bcoctitcd
very little brim the hypocritical cant. When Bur-
dett preache. trmt•erste Reform-I,llou' tiotip,
nt otimends 111,611,11 --when Wirithma pariegy-
runs Proliity—viteti Horne Tookt instils Deyotion

...when Rifler
phases Liberality, or Mallet Charity, to politicalnp-
ponents--so suspicious are we of our advisers, that
we almost fear there lurks something vicious even
in these virtues. Of this we are convinced, that the
intentions of their eulogists are most corrolit. We
put the precept mud the example together—we tak-
their lives for the context of their doctrines—and
we come to this conclusiou—that they are, to ay the
least, not the men who
" Alive to brighter worlds, sod lad Me way."

In fine, admitting that there was something rotten
in the state, we would not intrust its repairs to per-
sons whose whole lives give the lie to their precepts.
Who would intrust the management of I►is af-
fairs to bankrupts in rime and fortune ? Who would
eorwinit the dear trtrits of wife, daughter, or sister,
to the keeping of notorious adulterers? Who
would regulate his conduct by the dictums of those
whose lives were a series of offences against all laws,
human and divine? And yet all these irrecon-
cileshle inconsistence, are involved in the assertion
—that we arc not to look to the private characters
of those by whom we arched, and %Omie opinions we
espouse. What is there in the silly enthusiasm of
a Burdett that can reconcile us to the mischievous
designs of Despards, O'Connors, and the dregs of
wretches whom no example can wean from the vile
principles they adopted at the period of the French
Revolution ? What is there in the dark machina-
tions of a Tooke, the garrulous inaninity of a
Cartwright, the brooding revenge of a Waithmort,
or the conspiratorial talents of a Wardle, that can
bribe us to forego the blessings we enjoy. end
plunge into the wide and dangerous ocean of Re-
form, under the direction of such pilots? Surely,
before we embark on so hazardous a voyage, we
would be right to convince ourselves that vice and
folly were not our steersmen !

• But these people are entitled to our thanks fur
their public services. We may love the treason,
though we abhor the traitor—we may ptixe the
service, though we despise and detset the instru-
ment by *lnch it is performed. This is true, but
with some limitation-R. While human nature is
constituted as it is, we must be content to subscribe
to this not very ennobling doctrine, nor expect
mankind to etnulate the virtuous Roman, who, de-
testing alike the traitor and the treason, the ser-
vice and the servant, restored to the inhabitants of
the town he was besieging, their children, who had
been put into his power by the perfidy of their
schoolmaster. We do not look for sentiments
equally honourable to be generally adopted in our
days ; and are, therefore, constrained to concur iu
the opinion (which good minds, however, can en-
tertain with but little complacency), that we must
commend the work, though we disapprove of the
agency. But we will not be led oue step further—
we
will not grant one other atom of concession—

we will not, from the lustre of the service done,
steal a single ray to brighten the deformity of the
agent employed. It is this consideration that should
render us very cautious even how we applauded
the service itself; for it is with great difficulty
that men can feel delighted with an act, without
also approving of the actor, stid of the means em-
ploye.] to
.attain the encl. It is not easy to sepa-
rate the means taken, from the accomplishment of
the object ; and it is of this difficulty that oar ad-
versaries avail themselves, and call upon as to sanc-
tion, by our approbation, the whole conduct. as
well as the result of their leaders' plans. Hut,
though the confusion so insidiously introduced
may impose on the vulgar, illiterate, and unde-
scenting, the discriminating mind will detect and
despise the fallaciousness of such ressoniug. The
mind that eon compare and decide, will reject the
sophistical argument ; and, though it may not pos-
sess virtue or strength sufficient to consign to equal
ignominy the act, the actor, and the vile,meins he
employs, it will yet come to a just conclusion on
the two latter points of its investigation. and at
least determine that the means are detestable, and
the ector unworthy or future trust, as of recompence
fur the past.

In what we have advanced on this point, it will
appear, tbat *e have taken it for granted that real
services are ;serf:wined, u asserted by these Re-
formers, and have argued in this respect on their
own principles. This is, however, a doctrine which
we would }pasta ourselves against being thought to
subscribe to in point sof fact. It is indeed a qnes-
tion which every onan's bosom must decide; but if
we have been snceessful in chewing, even to those
who think the end justifiable, that the actors and
means are infamous; how much more f wciloly most
one opinions apply to the judgment of those who
hold, that the objects in view ore and have been as
atrocious, as the motives of the actors, or the deists-
ritv of the oceans.

Were our greatest enemy in the world basely
assassinated bye wretch on whom he had conferred
mihy &roars, could we be so lost to every lione4
feeling, as to thank the murderer,or praise the horrid
deed or would nut our indigos:dims be roused to
the higkort pitch against both, while we denounced
dreadrod crime, and hurled our i•nprecations at
Aktilain's head ?
Frote the same clams of feelings it is that we can-
not 'weir the man who would rob another of his
good Italy by stdiornation. treachery. and perjury,
even thongh by th.t a•t we shotild reap the most
unbounded brittle& Far less cau we bc4tow our

approbation on the detestable crime of subornotion,
treachery, and perjury by which this act is accom-
plished—far lest Call we be prevailed opon.to pit(
, our trust to that our i's sleeve, or ever to esp,ct any
good result from a character so abhorrent to every'!
holiest or manly heart!
But the I limits of a newspaper forbid ottr,parti-
colorizing the various mistrusts we would have in
such men and their accomplices, in other species of
what they call Reform. 1:10113 one eiemplei and
the main argnmeut upheld in this essay—that we
are bound to look at men's characters, motives, and
measures, before we either applaud them for the
past, or put confidence in them fur the future, it
will be easy to make the application to every other
class of impostors. If a party of persons of broken
fortunes are found to hr the sole upholders and par-
tizans of the wild cry of B. form—:f we discover in
those who now insult their Sovereign by their pre-
tended lorilty and attachment, the same men who
for the last IG years have endeavoured to subvert
his Throne, an I have denied him the possession of
any single virtue, estimable quality, or fitness for
rule—if only those who have made them>rlvee oh-
notion; to the laws of the country, rail ngainst the
Constitution and corruptions of the Government—
it behoves us to suspect—it is our duty to expos--
it is our dearest muterest to resist the dangerous
.1.

SEVENTH TIME.
TITEATRIS-ROVA L. 11 41Y-MIURKFT:

TUIS EVENING,

SATI: DAY.,

Aps' s, will be

peeurined a Mew cnnirdy, in RI e pets, cullt d
FILCH LIE* Hi 'PH F. CITY.
The Principal Chirasters by Fir. Madsen.. Mr. Jitney,
Mr. gyre, Mr. Holland. Mr. Grove, Mr (:arr. Mr RA). Mr.
Liston. Mrs. (Hoerr, Misa De Camp, Mr.. lE)re. :111s. Len-
t:ail, and Mrs. Gibbs.

he Prato:nc to be spoken by Mr. Stanley, the Epilogue
by Mrs Glower.
To which will he added, the Mimics! Entertainment of
THE REVIEW; or, THE WAGS OF WINDSOR.
COO; Choiseul, Mr. Mathews; John Lamp, Mr. Liston.
Grace Ga)luve, Ms. Gibbs; Lucy, Mrs Liston.
On Monday, the Ihnibtful Son ; with High Life Below
Stairs. On Tuesday, the Spoird Child ; with the 11:tt le of
Witham: aftr.r • 13101. n new Burlesque Tragic Opera iu one
act, rafted, BouiliAstes Faring°.

NEW MELO.9ILAME--.THIRTEENTH NIGH C.
LYCEUM TIMATRE.--..RNGLISH OPERA.-
THIS EVENING, SATURDAY, August 4, be per-
forturil (17th tirne) Ole Crank Opera of
TRICKS UP44N THAvv.l.LErts.
The Principal Characters by Mr. Prusoa, Mr. philqw,
Mr. Horu, Mr. Kniebt, Mr. Sinith, Mr.J. Swills, Mr Oa.
Wiry, and Mr ‘Vertivr. Miss Muir, Mrs. Osgcr, Mass
heily, s ul *ll. Healey.
After Hoe • Opera,
A SPANISH DIVER. VISENIF.NT.
Principal Dancers—Mr. libardiii, Mr. NOW*' KW Lap-
pin°, Miss &milt, Miss Bristow, Mi.s Twane.ey,Miss Davis,
Aliso Tow, Miss Grtea, Miss Prtu, Miw Duitsetts, auJ tha
whole Corps de Ballet.
With hr Use 13th limit) • New Melo-Drausatic Eatertaia-
.
mcnt, called

TWENTY YEARS AGO.
The Principal Characters by %Sc. ILsynitisei, Mr. Eeriest,
Mr J. Smith, Mr. Dos ton. Miss E. button, 3litrelly.
The slewlu-Dramatic F.ntertair iiiii Twenty Years
Apo, continuing to be revived wit► uuiveml bursts of ap-
plause Aunt weery part oldie Theatre, will be repeated every
(writing °vet week.
thi Mnadny, Oh this Lose ! or, The Manaciadcrs.—Ou
Tuesday, Faint Alarms
ou Monday t►e 'Jib inst. will he perfiorrned (iii time)
a New Grand Retitle Serio•Ctwuie Paatorninie, called Jack
the Giant Kilter ; in a bieb Mr. Etradhary will wake ►ie first
appearance as this Theatre.

TH BRITISTrPRESS.

LONDON,
SATURDAY. Auuun 4.

A Mail from Jamaica arrived yeigerday, with
Letters and Papers to the 24th of June. They do
not contain any important news. The Assembly of
the Island had been further prorogued to the 24th
of July.

We have received American Papers to the 4th
ult. from which we have extracted the followiug
article :

•• sorrow, .rocs O.

" The EMBARoo.—There seem elidently to be
indications in the Court Party papers, that the fatal
measure of the Embargo it to be revived. All the
prints, beginning with the National Intelligenter,
and ending with the Nee Ila.nrchire Patriot, are
throwing out allusions to the wisdom of the policy
which adopted it, and fling at the fataldelusiou
by which it was discontinued.
" Such being the indication of the Court papers,
it will become the Federalists to paint the fatal el-
fects which resulted front it, in the most glaring co-
leurs ; to shew the present evils resulting from the
Non-intercourse Act, were evil, created by the
Court Party ; and evince, that the policy of the
Country Party would have led to safety and inst..
peorlence, had the Government possessed the mag-
nanimity to have adopted it."
k Several transports have arrive] at Plymouth, with
sick troops and French prisoners, from Lisbon.

A Gottenburgh Mail arrived last morning. Its
contents confirm the report, that the recent capture
of part of the homeward-bound fleet was the result
of a preconcerted plan, tenon information trear•h.
erously given by a neutral to the Danes at Chris.
tiaustsdt. The remains of the CaowN PILINGS
were interred od the 13th fast.

The latest accounts from Cadiz state, that the
position of the enemy was so strong, as to preclude
any hope of •t tacking it with the least prospect of
success. The gsrrisou of the isle of Leon pobteised
the rime advantages; the works thrown upf.sr its
defence were so formidable as to leave no room for
apprehension. With the Pxceptioil of ereA4rmal
tiring from Matagorda and l'untales, there was.no
appeartute of hostilities.