The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-25 00:00:00

ITAYTI.

PROCI.A3IATION OF PRESIDENT DOVER.
" PORT-AU-PRINCE, MARCH b, 18.18.
" My proclamation of the 11th July, I h 2.5. informed you of the
negotiation concluded In this capital with the envoys of his Chris-
tian Majesty. In accepting the act which recognizes the inde.
penitence of Ilayti, we did not conceal from ourselves the vague.
ness of its dispositions. We saw at once the diversity of interpre-
tation that might be given to it ; but we should have thought it in.
furious to the French Government to suppose it actuated dv any
other thoughts or intentions than such /1.4, in a declaration of that
nature, can alone honour and immortalise the sovereign who pro-
claimed it.

" I am far from prejudging any thing against the loyalty of the
views of the French Ministry 4 time, doubtless, will clear up. to
the satisfaction of lanai panics, the important points as to which it
is our duty to exercise the asst scrupulous vigilance. Neverthe.
less, I shall always feel boned by my engagement, beenusegood
faith should be the first rule of conduct for those who govern
States.

" Still, in the condition of things, I owe it t 6 myself, to my
country, and to the world. to declare the sense in which the Go-
vernment of Hayti accepted the ordinance of the 17th of April.
" Interests, however, at.d rights so dear as those of our coun-
try, could not be abandoned to arbitrary interpretation. lily
duty required of me to ask precise explanations. I have asked
them. The Commissioners chosen for that purpose, 1 invested
with full powers, and who were moreover charged to regulate in
France the basis of our commercial relations, have returned. They
have done every thing in their power worthy to fulfil their minion,
but they have not obtained that which they were specially charged
to require. The essential clauses of the Convention they have
handed to me, not being conformable precisely with the interest of
Hayti, prudence requires that nothing shall be concluded in the
business, in the well-founded hope that ulterior explanation may
produce the desired result.
" Free and independent for 40 years, Hayti only saw in that or-
dinance the application, with respect to her, of a formality to legiti-
mize, in the eyes of other nations, the government of a people who
had constituted themselves Sovereign. It is this formality front
which results the renunciation b 7 the King of France, tor herself
and his successor, of all sovereignty over the territory of the re-
public, which we have obtained for an indemnity, of which tl.c6rst
instalment has been paid, as will the others be punctuylly. The
present Legislature, in declaring this indemnity *national debt,
have given a new guarantee of the good faith at' their government.
" Thus there cannot exist, in the opinion of the world, the least
doubt that such is the only reasonable interpretation of the ordi-
nance recognizing the independence of Hayti—an interpretation,
moreover, in strict accordance with the preceding manifestos of this
Government."

Si NGULAR COCCI; RRENC E.—On Wednesday lut, as three
gentlemen were fishing in the river Almond, a little above the
Union Canal aqueduct, one of them discovered it the bottom of a
pool, about one foot in depth, a live toad firmly attached by his
mouth and legs to a dead trout. When discovered, he was seated
astride on the trout's back, grasping or hugging hie prey round the
neck by his fore paws, while at the same time he had fast hold with
his mouth of the back of the neck. On being taken out of the
water, Ye still retained possession of his delicate repast, until it was
actually dragged from him by force, and when deprived of it, he
made three or font determined efforts to regain the water. The fish
did not seen much injured in the neck, and was about sic inches In
en gth.—Edinbargh