The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-01 00:00:00

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

A singular attempt to commit suicide, occurred
on Sunday evening, at the Cheshire Cheese, Fleet-
street :—A respectable-looking
.yOung man, who
had frequently been in the house, and had con-
ducted himself With propriety, and who, from his
appearance, and other circumstances, is supposed t
be a Clergymet, after dining, and Offering up large
libations, suddenly left the room in a state of ex-
treme intoxication ; in a short time the report of
a pistol was heard i seihie Gentlemen in the house
instantly ran into the yard, where they found the
your'g man in the greatest pertubation, his moeth
bleeding most copiously, and the pistol, on their en-
tering the yard. thrown from him. • He appeared
at first much agitated, and declared he was " a dead
man." Nothing further than a violent contusion
of the lip, however; appeared to have taken place,
and Whether the pistol was loaded with ball or not,
is yet unknown. On his being taken into the house,
and questioned as to his intention, he said, had his
design taken, place, he should have been now in
Heaven. In some further conversation, he, in a
very incoherent manner, attempted to justify suicide.
On being asked where he lived, he said in Mount,
street, Lambeth : his conduct evincing every mark
of insanity, whether from intoxication or otherwise,
it was deemed necessary to place him in a state of
security until the morning; he was therefore taken
to the Cemptcr.
Yesterda l ilotome underwent a private examination it
the Jtutiee , Guildhall, cm which occasion, he
expressed the most sincere contrition for his beha-
viour, aril attributed it solely to the effect of li-
quor. He was therefore discharged.
-
On Saturday, about one o'clock, as a boy was
riding a horse down Drury-lane, it became restive.
A gentleman passing at the time, received a kick
from the animal, which killed him on the spot.
Large bodies of the patrole being stationed in
Hyde Park, on Sunday last, several pickpockets
were taken up among the spectators, at the Serpen-
tine River.
The New English Palladana, of Dec. 2, contains
the following article : " Information has been re-
ceived at Philadelphia, from Cape Francois, to
Nov. 17. The main force of the Blacks were en-
camped within twelve miles of the Cape. the inha-
bitants of which place were in constant dread of a
desperate attack : A want of' ammunition on the
part of the Negroes, alone delayed the assault,
and a supply was expelled from Port Republican.
The French force at the Cape was about 2000 men,
andtheir enemies in the vicinity 10,000 men strong.
It is difficult to decide whether the French or the
Negroes are the most cruel. St. Mark's had capitu-
lated with the Negroes, whose final success is almost
certain. Americans are allowed to depart with
their property."

LAW INTELLIGEATB.

•
'COURT OF KING's BENCH, JAN. 31.
This being the Anniversary of the Martyrdom
of King Charles the,lst. neither the King's Bench
or any other of the Conics at Westminster Hall sat.
Sir Nash Grose merely took his seat on the Bench
for the purpose of justifying Bail, and hearing mo-
tions of. course.

' L I C. 13 .
stAactioac I:OH-STREET. •
Robert Salmon was examined by the Sitting Ma-
gistrate, charged with attempting to rob the shop of
Mr. Charles Harris, a linen-draper, •in Berkeley-
square. The Prosecutor stated, that he had, foi a ,
considerable time past, observed the Prisoner in
company with several other suspicions persons lurk-
ing about his door. On Saturday last ha Was stand-
ing in his shop, and saw the' Prisoner Put his hand
upon the glass of the window; he immediately rUsh- '
ed into the street, and round the glass had been cut .
with a diamond, but not knocked in, as the offenaer
had not sufficient opportunity to 'complete. his de-
sign. Mr. Harris, on attempting to take the Pri-
soner into custody, was assaulted- with much vio-
lence ; he howaver found meAns at last to have him
secured. The Prisoner alledged in his defence,' that
he was ping by Mr. Harris s shop without any ill
design, NJ:en he was taken into custody by the 9i6
ders of the Prosecutor, who mistook him for the
persons who had attempted to commit-the robbery.'
The Magistrate committed the Prisoner, in order to
be indicted for the offence at the ensuing sessions.

MO?vTHLT AGRICULTURAL REPORT,

FOR JANUARY, 1803.

The severity of the weather in the present month
has not been very favourable for the operations of
husbandry, unless for those of getting out the ma-
nures upon the meadows; clover-leys, and land un-
der preparation for early pease and bean crops.
The young wheat craps have in general a wary
promising aspect, excel t..the very late sown ones;
which have scarcely had time to fix .themselves so
in the soil, and become sufficiently vigorous, as to
withstand the severity of the frosts. The attacks of
the grub-worm, and other insects upon them, have,
however, been considerably checked.
Much cf the old grain being now. threshed out,
the markets become rather dull. Average price of
corn, &c. for England and Wales, Jan. 15th. Wheai
565. 9d. ;, rye 375. Ild. ; barley 455. 3d. ; oats 19s:
6d. ; beam As. 2d. ; pease 38s. iOd.
The turnip crops do not appear to be, in general,
so much injured as might have been supposed, from
the sudden and untisual intensity of the frosts, and
the want of snow to cover and proted them.
Rye, and winter tares, have a good appearance,
and are promising crops h most districts where they
are cultivated. In many instances they are this
season so forward as to be in a state proper for
ting for green f,..cid for cattle or other animals.
Notwithstanding the warmth and unusual open-
ness, of the weather, until the present Month, the
priccf of all sorts of fat stock continue high. Beef
in Smithrield Market fetches from 41. to ss. 6d. ;
mutton, .sa. to 6s. ; veal, Cs. to 7s. Gd. ; and pork,
4.t. Bd. to ss. Sd.

In Nev.- gate and Leadenhall Markets, lied sells
from Ss. €4. to 4s. sd. ; mutton, 4s. to 55.,; ve.i!,
ts. 4d. tatu. 4d ; and pork, 4s. 81. to 3s. Be..
PotatGeg are nn the advance, probably from the
late sererity of the weather, as from 41. 10s. to 71.
per ton.
Horses of 'lie good kinds, whether for the saddle
or the cart, arc high.

Salta popili noreina /two—SEVERAL MEN are em-
ployed at a constant daily expence, by the litim ANE
SOCIETY, at the Serpentisie River, who request sluS-
err to avoid weak parts of the ice, dic. .HisMA;ESTy,
for the preservaton of the liver e f his luyeets, in 17i)3,
ter:Otto:ly granted a plot of ground for a Rere v ng
House, which is furrrshed with aft Electrical Appa-
ratus, Couchette, and Warm Bath, fir resuscitation.
Many of the N03.11.,v, viewed it on _Sunday
with admiration.—An Institution moldy &maw me-
rits the warmest support of the affluent, and philan-
thropic, as its exertiont are at all :carom of t? e rar
devoted to the preservation of life..—SL seriptions
are received at Caron Dimsdale's,Langston's, Drum-
mond's, and at No. 8, Spital Square.
On Sunday se'nnight, Mr. Justice Bats., with a
party of soldiers, surprised a number of people in
the act of making Batik note's, at a paper-mill, near
Templeoge, near Dublin. The note-makers mad'e
a desperate resistance, lit which two of diem were
killed ; four were afterwards made prisoners. Mr.
BELL received a *ound of a bayonet in the knee,
from a woman : Ihe notes taken are executed with
astonishing accuracy, acid are to a very considerable
amount. . .

• •
Captain WitsotO the gentleman wlin *As wreck:-
cct at the Pelew Islands, is just returned from China,
and reports, that the Keys id tbi Ch;ste,i, Langautlei
late,ly published in London by Dr. HAGER, has
been presented to the gentlemen of the English fac-
tory at Canton, and to ,some of the Chinese fiterioi,
and - that the work has met with their complete ap-
probation.
We are concerned to state,' that letters from Con-
stantinople, mention the loss of all the anti-
quities collected by Lord Elgin, in Greece.. This
coltectionv containing,many invaluable specrmeus, of
-ancient sculpture, &c. was shipped on-rboard a
vessel,
,which put into Crigu Bay, in, stress of w,.a-
L'.na the pilot letting gii the anchor ill too
deep water, the ship. was driven on the rocks,
and sunk in fifteen fathoms water: . .
ghefolloyfirg is stated to be the presvit Military
of the French Republic :
INFANTRY One hundred and twelve brigades, •
Thirty-one brigad s of light troops.
CAVALRY... Two regiments of c trabitieers,
Twenty-foar ditto heavy cavalry,
Twenty one ditto dragoons,
Thirty-two ditto horse chasseurs,
Thirteen ditto hussars.
. .

ART►LLERY Eight regiments of foot artillery,
Nix ditto horse artillery,
Fifttreen companies of artificers,•
Two battalions of politimiers,
Eight ditto of the train.
ENGINIERS Nine battalions of sappers,
Nine companies of mine, s.
thousand six hundred and twenty.cix
brigades, viz.-1813 horse, and 813 of
foot, the whole formed into 26 lezioui.

ST. DOMINGO.

F

joarn:l of Proceeding: at Cape Franco's, between April
and November, 1802, giv, n by a French Officer of
" Rani to an Officer of a Brit'sh Man of War, then
lying at Cape Francois, Nov. 21, 1802.

Three or four days after the departure of the Cer-,
bents, 32 guns, in April last, CH RISTOPHE, the
Black General, third in command, entered the
town, with a flag of truce, and negotiated a peace
between the Negroes and Whites,- by authority of
TOUISSA INT. In ten Hays, Generals Touissaisir
and DESSALINES, first and second in command,
came also and surrendered to General LEC LE RC, by
whom Touissa INT was pardoned, and permission .
given to reside at any of his plantations in the
island; in consequence of ahich he repaired to one
near Gonaives.
CH R ISTOPHE and L FifiiLINES now began to act
in unison with General LECLERC—One was ap-
pointed Commandant of the Northern district over
the Negroes, the other Inspector General of Culti-
vators in the island. In this pleasing dream of
security they continued for some time, until Des-
-5.51. iN Es denounced Tovssa INT • a conspirator
against the French Republic, in consequence of
which he was arrested at his plantation, put on board
a French frigate at Gonaives, and sent to France.—
For some time after tranquillity seemed to reign,
till Commandant Mac Esas roused the Nailer es
to their farmer depredations. They began by de-
stroying and burning the plantations an the island of
Tortudas, burnt Port-au-Pair. and all the adjacent
country. Dessa LINES Was sent against them ; but
always contrived to' leave, on every retreat, his
stores and annnttnition in possession of the Negroes.
They now ticame•:• more enterprising, by burning
again the plains of the Cape. CH RISTOPHE
now ordered. t' 3. agaiost them, 'rho also contrived
to let them into the pop ession of his camp stores;
and every thing wore a serious aspect.
General DESSA LI NES accused a General BF.L LA IR
and his wife as the principal instigators of rebellion
they were arrested, brought to the Cape, and shot.
The conspiracy among the Negroes now began to
be very ripe ; General Cc/tiny/am (a Mulatto Corn-'
mandant), together with the other two, contrived
to get all the Negrees in the town to join them ;
also a regiment oT Blacks, the 6th, which was in .
Barracks. DESSA LINES was to join CHRISTOPHE
and the Brigands privately, then to march to Haut
de Cap, where CLAIRVAUX waited for them ; from
thence immediately to proceed to the Cape, where
they had no obstacle to fear, as the Negroes and
6th Regiment were :tidy to join them, and the
White inhabitants unainicd, by a &amid gitjec from
the Commandete in Chief, diiecting their fire-arms
to be taken from their, that they might be issued to
the Blacks well inclined to the Republic. Such -
was LECLERC'S infatuation. CLAILvAUX (who is
naturally said to be a cowird) feared to wait the
denouement, it should rapear, for he all at once de-
serted. Hatt; de Cap, took the 10th, and another re-
giment in prri.on there, and went over to the ene-
my. This step alarmed LEE' LEnc ; the Whites were
immediately embodied as a national guard;
.all the
regulars mustered, and•every active exertiii made
to prepare for their reception, which was hardly ac-
complished, before the whole host of Negroes fell
on Haut de Cap, the 14th Oetobev, at midnight,
and carried the town end :works by storm. At one
a. m. two regiments of the Polonese troops then u:i
duty, frightened by the horrid wild cries and vells of
the Blacks, gave way with great lass. The French
retreated to a pass pl wife and a half Gom. the town
of Cape Francois; rnd .there mad! a stand until the
morning , the firing o 1 musquetry was heavy while
it lasted, but neither side lost many mei.. At eight
a. es. the negroes set fire to the camp of the French,
taking with them cannon, &c. We then continued
about ten days quiet. LECLERC evacuated ;di the.
small posts to the coast, drew ail his strength to the
Cape, appearing much panic struck, for he em-
barked every thing from the Cape for Tortudas, and
even spiked, all ,she guns of the town that bare on
the shipping; these cirearnstances raised a general
alarm among the inhabitant!, they, immediately
shipped all their proper[;; there it: scarcely now a •
dollar to be seen, and vessels arrived from France
-with merchandise are preparing to return. .At the
expiration of another ten days they attacked Haut
du Cap again alit six o'clock in the morning, car-
ried it. and the works before ten, and drove the
French. to their old stand at De la Cour, shewing
a determined resolution of entering the Cape.;
for this purpose they raised works on the hill, and
opened two batteries on the French below them t
they fortunately, hawevef, had only 121 b. balls for.
19 pounders, and this, together with their being
bad engineers, prevented them from cutting the
French to pieces ; the latter returned bomb-shells,
well directed, which appeared to discommode theni
much. The. Negroes three separate times at deid of
night attempted to surprise them, making the most
' desperate attacks, but were driven off with loss :
the French increased, and the Negroes slackened
their fire, urtil the 6th of November, when they once
more set fire to Haut du Cap,,alestroying every
thing as usual. They are now encamped on a river,
four leagues fr.org Cape Francois. In the mean
time ',Lc LE Relied disarmed, slipped, and drowned
• the whole of the 6th regiirelt, witi, a great nuns.-
; ber of the Town Negroes, together with their wives'
. and children ; Ire trial was wanting at this time,-
theif colour condemned them, innocent and guilty,,
and their corpses.lioating in the harbour occasioned
such a pestilence, that General Lec LE de was c J/11.
pelle.l to retire out of the garrison, and died three
or foar days before the negroes were driren off.—
. Madam Lecas ac sailed the 9th from the Cape, in
the Swifteure, for France ; three line of batik ships'
were in the harbour with two frigates, one of which.•
had only seventy men left out of a complement of
two hundred and seventy. It is not an uncommon
; • •
• thing on shore to see eight or ten carts full of bodies
every day taken from the hospital for interment, a
dozen in each ; and, upon the nearest calculation, it
is estimated that there are not more than two or
three thohSand effective men remaining out of th 4
whole original number.
Great praise is said to be due to the inhabitants
of the town (merchants, Creoles, Americans, am)
for their active support against the Brigands ; it is
said their assistance entirely turned the scale of the
last day's attack ; they are.regularly called uporr
duty, and furnish horses, &c. for the use of the;
trooN. Thus it seems that the French have made
a Quheron business of it, and are, as far as I can
see, likely to lose the Island altogether; if it turns out
so, property here will become very precarious in arr
parts.


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