The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-10 00:00:00

A Dutch Mail also arrived yesterday with papers
and letters, from which Nye have made some extraCts.

•
The Earl St. Vincent left St. Helena 31st March,
and was spoke by the Sir Edward Hughes at sta.
The Suf.,lk and Favorite, (private merchant ships
from the Cape,) sailed from St. Helena 19th March.
Lady Ann Barnard, from the Cape, also sailed from
St. Helena 23d March ; the Toung Wilton', whaler,
sailed from thence 18th March. The Sir William'
Bentley, extra-ship, arrived at Bengal 27th March.
Mr. Sii.vcsr ER, the Messenger, arrived at Dover
at ten o'clock en Sunday morning, and in a quarter
of an hour afterwards the Duchess of Tork passage
vessel, which, in consequence of orders received by
the telegraph on Saturday, had anchored in the roadi
to be in readiness for him, was under full sail with
him. for Boulogne. The wind ()lowing fresh and
quite fair, it is imagined he must have landed ita
France soon after one, on Sunday, in which case he
might have reached Paris by noon yesterday.
Three hours after SILVESTER had sailed, a
French Messenger arrived at Dover, who hired a
vessel and sailed immediately for Boulogne.
A. I.INDEGREN, Esq. the Hon. east. India Com-
pany's Agent at Portsmouth, received an order on
Saturday morning, by express, signed by several GT
the Court of Dirators, to prevent the sailing ,down
Channel of six outward-bound East Indiamen- which
went from the Downs yesterday morning. They
had, however, passed the Isle of Wight about two
hours before the order was received; but we under-
stand, that vessels have been dispatched to order
their return into port,Should they be-so fortunate at
to overtake them. This is considered as the strongest
intimation of war that has occurred since the arma-

Orders.were received on-Stinday morning at the
deck-yard, Portsmouth, for a return to be made of
all ships, whose state requires the Est repair to
render them sufficient for two yearsiervice, and to
report what time it will take to get thervi ready. In
addition to the, ships already ordered .and in commis:
sion at that port, two of 98 guns,.and six of 74, will
be ready in' Eve weeks. An eipiess arrived there
about noon, with orders to press from all protec-
tions ; in consequence of which about 700 men were
obtaiaed in Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport. The
soldiers aided in this service, guarding all the ave-
nues. Captains DURHAM, LAKE, and HILL, of the
navy, were very active and zealons_ittlendieg their
assistance.
If we may judge from the frequent passing and
repassing of French and'Diatch couriers between the
Hague and Paris, the correspondence between these
two Governments must have been very active far
several days past. The whole of the French tra,p,
in the Batavian Republic, Including those dest.ne,l.
for Louisiana, already form a considerable ara.‘ .
The general opinion of official men remains un..!-.
tered, and war is considered by them as inevitable.
Much, however, depends upon the condo& of the
French Government. If BONAPA RTE has offered to
concede any thing, the same policy may induce him
to concede all that is required ; and though we„fre
not disposed to give him credit either for good faith
or good will to Great Britain, his reluaant'compli-
ance wou:d. of course, be the means of avoiding,
for some short time longer, the manifold evils and
calamitie7 of war. It is apprehended by many that
the contre pryer. of the CHI Le CONSUL is designed
for the purpose only of gaining time, in.order.to o
save his West India and other squadroni now n
their return to France. Should this be the opinion
of his NI AJES 'S Ministers, which appearances
seem in a great degree to favaur the.promptitttde
of .their decision will frustrate the artful views of
the Cosloc ; and the iemnant of the French naval
force may, in that case, be shortly expeeted in ;LI
ports of Lritaiu.