The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-01-28 00:00:00

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SURINAM.

Cop e a Litter from a Gastkoras mMiriam to •
Minim a this City, iiaspi Paresseribe, 1216 08.
1802.

gi Diaß

a Having already written you very fully in
answer to your several favours, 1 have only to say,
that the British flag still flies in this colony, al-
though, agreeably to the definitive treaty, we have
been looking for the Dutch fleet since July.—l hope
it will be remembered with gratitude for the pro-
tection it has given to property, until opinions inimi-
cal, not only to the prosperity of the colonies, but
even subversive of the happiness of those whom they
seemed to favour, have had time to subside. In the
effervescence of public opinion, private property
was on the eve of that ruin which has desolated St.
Domingo, when the colonies fell into the hands of
the British, and have encreased under her fostering
influence beyond all calculation. The laws of the
country have not been innovated, and by continuing
the civil power in the hands of the former magis-
trates, the people have suffered no new vexation.
The future welfare of this colony will of course de-
pend, in great part, on the measures adopted by the
Dutch Gover.tment. It is probable many things
require to be corrected, but precipitate measures
often defeat their end. The principal persons
now in office, the Governor and h iscal, possess
an intimate local knowledge; and, should no
alteration be made in these appointments, will,
of course, enlighten and assist the new Govern-
ment, in na :king arrangements for its permanent
welfare. Governor Friderici is so eminently distin-
guished fur his talents and enterprise, as well as his
accurate knowledge of the country, acquired by a
residence of thirty odd years, constantly employed
in reducing the revolted negroes to a state of amity,
or in promoting the useful arts of peace, that he pos-
sesses the confidence of all dekriptions of the inha-
bitants. He views Surinam with the fond partiality
of a parent, and makes his private fortune useful to
the public welfare, by being the first to make new
establishments, and encourage others. In the neigh-
bourhood of his estates the most liberal support is
given to settlers, and the best advice his experience
can furnish. Accessible at all times, without losing
the dignity of his situation, his urbanity and pleas-
ing manner set every man at his ease ; and, like the
Duke of Marlborough, it he cannot grant a request,
he seldom sends the person discontented from him.
—ln she t, he is one of the few fitted by Nature to
command, and who promotes his own welfare by
promoting that of others.
Should Governor Friderici be continued in
command, and no changes be made inimical to the
interests of settlers, I dare say a great deal of
British capital will be invested in the colony, which
offers every advantage, and has been hitherto little
known to strangers. Ncw settlements are every
day undertaken, and many only wait for the perma-
nent establishment to decide them. Hence the Ba-
tavian Republic derives decided advantages in the
end from the temporary loss of her colonies.
44 From the uncertain state of things, we are just
now very much in want of supplies of all kinds, par-
ticularly provisions, as the English have been afraid
to venture, and the few Dutch ships have brought
little. The price of produce, too, keeps up very
high. The coffee crop is likely to fall short ; but
cotton will be very plenty, from the regularity of
our seasons ; and sugar is a very certain article :
but few estates produce what they ought from want
of slaves, which, I hope, will be attended to by
Government. Believe me always, dear Sir, yours
truly, eitc."

WNW,

We extra& the following from the last number of
the Ma-cure de France.
" The most profound tranquillity prevails in the
political world, since the British Parliament has
adjourned for the Christmas recess. It might hence,
perhaps, be justly inferred that, if Great Britain did
not aim at keeping Europe in a state of disturbance,
each State feeling itself less compelled to attend to
the projeas of its-neighbours, would devote its at-
tention and its exertions to the improvement of its
administration and the increase of its commerce,
without thinking of injuring that of other countries.
But in such a situation of things England would not
find her account. For as England was watchful to
usurp a commercial and maritime sdpremacy at the
time when the Continent was employed only in chi-
valrous enterprizes, she feels it indispensible to make ,
the Continent go regularly to war every ten years,
that she may have an opportunity to consolidate
her usurpations in safety. We are, therefore, now
allowed a short interval to breathe.
" The present Administration have dextrously ex-
tricated themselves from the intrigues that were at
work to make them give up their places. luring
the truce which they enjoy till.the 3d of February,
it is probable that the different parties may endea-
vour to conic to some understanding, or by the stir
they are attempting to make, they may end in
standing wider asunder than ever. If the two Op-
positions could bring themselves to agree respecting
the persons whom they would force into place, the
present Ministers must be compelled to yield : but if
the parties do nut succeed iu concerting some mu-
tual arrangement, the Ministers will remain im-
moveable, and the more perfectly masters of Parlia-
ment, as the two Oppositions must have increased
their divisions by all their fruitless efforts at an ac-
commodation.
What part does the King take in all these con-
tentions ? None. The Parliament is niade sure of ;
that is the great operation in which the Crown is in-
terested. The King is well aware that whoever be
the Ministers whom chance may assign to him, they-
will always be jealous of their power and authority,
and obliged to follow the same plans which their
predecessors have adopted ; for the Members of
Parliament have a powerful interest in not permitting
the power of the Crown to be diminished, by which
they and their families are enriched and loaded with
favours. Ministers who support a free representa-
tion, would soon bad that the first and last act of
the liberty of the two Houses would produce no
other effect than a change of Administration ; and
atter that every thing would again resume its old ac-
customed course."

The Briannia, Brown, of Liverpool, from De-
merara, with two hundred of the 11th West India
regiment on board, was wrecked on the 23c1 of De-
cember on Hog John Point, Antigua.—All the
people were saved, but the ship and part of the
stores will be totally lost.