The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-03 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
THURSDAY, Fxs. S.

A good deal of reasoning has been recently em-
ployed in the public prints, to slew that a system of
moderation was the fittest to be partued for the sup-
pression of the disturbances that agitate some of
the principal counties in the South of Ireland. The
argument, as founded upon general principles of
policy, is perfectly correct; but all the information
tl-at has hitherto been laid before the public, has
steered quite clear of the particular nature of the
evil to which the general principle of Government is
thus applied. It has indeed been almost universally
acknowledged, that these disturbances have nothing
of a rebellious taint ; but this discovery is but a poor
consolation, when we consider how many other
formidable, if not fatal diseases, may destroy the
health and happiness of a State.—An extract of a
letter from Dublin, inserted in a subseittierit part of
our Paper, in which the cause and progress of this
afflicting malady are satisfactorily accounted for,
cannot, therefore, fail to prove deeply interesting to
our readers. It comes from a quarter sufficiently re-
spectable and well informed, to intitle it to implicit
credit, and it has all the corroborating testimony in its
favour that can be derived from perfect concordance
with the observations and knowledge of all persons
acquainted with the local customs cf the south of
Ireland, and the peculiar state of its peasantry. The
county of tiMerick being a very rich soil, and 'its
capital a great exporting city, it follows of coutse
that provisions, and consequently the pi ice of labour,
must be higher there than in neighbouring counties
not possessing the same advantages. The county of
Kerry is, on the contrary, a wild county, thinly in-
habited, and in which the price of labour is com-
paratively small. It appears then, from cur
Correspondent's letter, that the labourers of the
latter have bee:: tempted, by the increase of wages,
to migrate to the county of Limerick ; severll of
the landholders of which have been selfish and
impolitic enough to invite and encourage these new
settlers. The consequence has been, that the native
labourers, fired with jealousy, and obliged to put
themselves out of bread, unless they should agree to
a reduCtion of their wages, have become discon-
tented, and have wreaked their vengeance upon the
intruders, and the landholders who support them.
Such being the real state of the Country, it is al-
most impossible to reflect, without indignation,
upon the conduct of those rash and short-sighted
politicians, who cry out for martial law as the only
mode of restoring tranquillity; and on the otherhand
it is impossible to contemplate, without applause, the
temper, the wisdom, and the humanity of the Go-
vernment, that has refused to apply so desperate a
remedy !—lt is a solecism to give the name to that
which could only aggravate the evil and inflame the
disorder. The Irish peasantry have been represent-
ed by their native libellers, as having something so
vicious in their nature and constitution, that no kind-
ness could conciliate their affections—no treatment
but force could restrain their ferocious and sangui-
nary temper. From the moderate and cautious
conduct of the Government, we should hope that
this prejudice had ..assed away; that a new system
will in future be observed towards that hitherto ill-
fated country ; and that in p.mishing the disorders
of the tenant, it will not act as if the landlord must
be of necessity guiltless. Indeed we cannot read
the accounts of the conduct of the native gentry, on
this occasion, without attaching to them some blame
for rashness and severity. They call for the Insur-
rection Act in the first instance, a remedy which
should be resorted to only in the last extremity ; and
disappointed in that hope, we find several of them
forming associations, of which it is a principal rule to
discourage all labourers of bad or doubtful character.
Now this, far from being a measure that could pro-
duce a salutary effect, must be attended with the
mast lamentable consequences. It is, in fa& to
give up every man of bad or doubtful character, as
irreclaimable and incorrigible, to the arm of the
law, f-r if he be refused the means of earning an
l.o:iest livelihood he can only acquire it by rapine.

rt-

By a curions coincidence, on eke ♦ery day an which 1
we received the Dublin Papers with an account of
resolutions to this effect against bad and doubtful
labourers, we also received American Papers,
stating measures of great severity taken against
dorkfri 1 Negroes in St. Domingo. From every ac-
count which we have received, we are confident
that a vigilant government, aided by a spirit of con-
ciliation, upon the part of the landholders, will be
found fully adequate to the testoration of tranquil-
lity, without having recourse to measures of extra-
ordin.iry rigour.
A report has been for some days in circulation,
that several British merchants, in the city, have con-
tracted with the French Government, to convey
French troops and stores to St. Domingo. Upon
the most diligent enquiry yesterday, we found the
report to be perfectly correct. French agents have
been employed for some !hoe past in the city, on
that business, and -:ts e contracted lOr a large quan-
tity of shipping. The policy of this accommoda-
tion, on the rart of our Government, is much ques-
tioned. The West-lndia merchantc, we under-
stand, consider it essential to the rrescr:•ation
our colonies.

:New York papers, up to the 25th December, re_
ceived yesterday, state, that a rupture has taken
place between Spain and America, in consequence
of the Intendant of New Orleans having issued a
proclamations which deprives the Americans of the
right that they hold by treaty of 1795, of depo-
siting there the merchanalze s'...hich comes down
the rivers Ohio and IdiJsiitypi; until sold or ex-
ported to the West-Indies or eleswhere.—The
River Missisiippi receives the whole of .the naviga-
ble rivers, which skirt the 'Western Botmdary of the
United States, and at its outlet into the Gulpli
of Mexico stands New Orleans. The river has
a very quick descent, and consequently a-very
rapid current, which obliges the Americans to sell
the vessels or rafts in which *they bring their goods
down to New Orleans, and to deposit the goods
for sale dr exportation at a certain per centum.
As this river is the only outlet of the western parts
of America to the Atlantic ocean, and it is utterly
:impossible fot the inhabitants of those parts to
bring their produe to market by any other channel,
the Kentucky Legislature have delivered a very
energetic Memorial to Government, praying It to
take prompt and decisive measures to redress the
grievance; upon which, it is said, the American
Government has made a very spirited remonstrance
to that of Spain.

When it is recollected, that Louisiana runs from
the point opposite to New Orleans, up towards the
source of the Mississippi, until it meets the Ameri-
can territory, it will serve to explain the jealousy
which the Americans appear to entertain of the
French acquiring possession of Louisiana, and even
of New Orleans. his latter event, the following
extract of a letter from New Orleans, taken from a
Ncw York Paper, shows to be in contemplation.
" There is no doubt whatever, but that the French
arc to possess this country (New Orleans); this
event will, in all probability, take place in the course
of the Spring." Thus Spain, at the very moment
she relinquishes her territory, draws upon herself all
the odium of a dispute with America; in which she
can have no intcrest, and of which France will reap
all the advantage.

Yesterday, at three o'clock, Mr. HUNTER, his Ma-
jesty's Messenger, left town with Government Dis-
patches Si R for _ORLAEZ WARREN, Rear Admi-
ral of the White, and Ambassador at St. Peters-
burgh.
A New York Paper, under head of St. Domingo,
says, " The French at Port Republican have in.
vented a new way of getting rid of the Blacks—.
They have got a ship called a " Styer," on board of
which vessel they shut down a hold full of Blacks,
and stifle them to death by burning brimstone. The
morning after, they discharge the bodies into boats
and launches, carry them of the harbour, and throw
thorn overboard. The Whites have erected a gal-
lows in the market place, and the Blacks one upon
the hill, where executions on both sides were hourly
taking place in sight of each other.
Another New York Paper says, under head of
Cape Francois, there is no probability of getting any
thing to cat on shore, at this time (Nov. '29) owing
to the Brigands cutting off all intercourse with the
country. They were nearly in possession of the
town, about three weeks ago, but in an action
about that time there were nearly 2000 of them
taken prisoners, who were tied hands and legs to-
gether, and hove overboard into the sea on the out-
side of the reef. There is no possibility of landing
any thing here at present, owing to orders from
General Rochambeau, which were issued on Mon-
day last, hut for what reason we cannot conceive.
Both Houses of Parliament meet this day, pur-
suant to adljournment. Mr. Wick it AM is expected
to appear in his place in the House of Commons,
upon the presumption that some information will be
immediately demanded, respecting the disturbances
in the south of Ireland.

Yesterday a Court of Diretclors was held at the
East India House, when the following Officers were
sworn into the command of their respective ships,
viz. Capt. PRICE, new ship Torin ; Coutts, CHARLES
LENNOX.

Lord WILLIAM BENTINCK took the usual oaths
and his leave of the Court, upon being appointed
Governor of Fort St. George.
His Lordship afterwards dined with the Members
of Administration and the Directors, at the London
Tavern.
The Court adjourned at five o'clock till Friday
neat.