The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-04-15 00:00:00

IDINBURG ff, APRIL 10.
ADDRESS TO TII.. I..AkL OF MOIRA•

We have been favoured with the following state-
ment of the proceedings of the general Meeting of
the Inhabitants of this city on the .20th ult. called by
she Lord Provost and Magistrates, by public adiret-
*semen', containing the address to the Right Hier.
the Earl of Moira, together with his Lordship's
answer :
'I he Lotto PRovosit having taken the Chair,
Isis Lordship moved that an Address be presented
to the Right Hon. .the Earl of Moira, expressive of
the sentiments of respect and attachment entertained
by this city for his Lordship ; which being seconded
by Sir William Forbes, of Pitsligo, Bart. was una-
nimously agreed to.
And, upon the motion of the LORD PROVOST, the
following Gentlemen were Appointed a Committee
for preparing the Address, viz.
The Load Provost, Ddgald Stewart, F-Sq. Pro-
Lord Advocate, fas-ror of Moral Pliitoisos
Sir William Forbes, phy in the University of
Henry Mackensie; Esq. and thus City.
When they accordingly withdrew, and after-
wards returned to the Meeting with the tenoning
Address. which being read to the Meeting by the
Lord Advocate, was unanimously approved of.
"To the Right Hon the Lot of Moira, &c ifre.
" MY LORD—.On your Lord.] ip's remotest, for the pe-
seta, from the military command in Scotland, to an important
Situation tO the councils, and in the armies of our Sovereign,
• w!, the mag-strems and inhabitants of the city of Ednib,4ll,
offer, with one consent, to your Lordship, this tribute tut our
respect and cordial attachinmit
' " We recollect, with grautarle, that, when the nation was
threatened with a pewelful and dangerous invasion, your
LordthiVo presence commanded rt, confiders..., and renewed
our vigour; !emir military talent: collected all nor HlSO•reff,
and coacontr4nd our strength ; mid, under your Lordship, thus
Csilletry rem at ooer to • state i 4 proud defiance, justifying
ovelyezpeetation excited by your high military character and
. selesee; while your Lordship's mild and conciliatory virtees,
said to oar respect and gratitude, sentiments of the wannest
"personal esteem and affection.
" !repressed with these feelings, we cannot fermi,' from tet-
- dry•44l Our talifeignivt itay, that the alliance your Lordship
laii fumed with the amiable representative of one of our noble
. lIRRASiIIi familwg, Sandi a Sore plebe Ins the COutilltraliCe of
your connection with this part oldie Motel Kingdoms.
" Signed in our name, and in nut pre,-oce, at Edin-
burgh, this 29th day of March, one thousand eight
' hundred and six years, by
(Signed) " WM. FETTES, Provost."
ft was further moved by the LORD ADVOCATE.
~. rend resolved. That the foregoing, address should
be transmitted to the Earl of Moira by the Lord
Provost.
Lord SEMPLE addressed the Meeting, hiartily
approving of the address, though, in general, he
did not approve of what came from the Magis-
trates of Idintangh. He meant no reflection upon
. _any one ; but if he wire to say any thing personal
of the present Lord Provost, it would be highly
approving of his conduct in filling up the late
uncastegin ;he University of this city.
Brigadier-General Dittos( described to the Meet'
the wecellent posture of defence in whittle
• Ilia sweets, had be placed by Lord Motes.
- 11110 alit Lis arrival, his Lordship had proposed
to Government the plan for assembling the volan-
t Wee for some weeks upon permanent duty,
'tibia t' bee of the mes stoutessential use in pro.
eerEide
ausiimi ir discipline ; and that he had made the
gout able arrangements. for not only speedily col-
limating Isis forces in case of invasion, but likewise
for securing their subsistence when called into the
. field of action. That so great was Lord Moira's
reliance on the valour and discipline of the regu-
lar, militia, and volunteer forces, of which the
armyis composed, for the defence of Scotland ;
and so layout able did he think the natural strength
of the country to . successful resistance, that
be deemed it unnecessary to incur the expence of
fall-werks to aid the efforts of the troops in op-
peeing the enemy. His Lordship was, however,
ef.opinion, that the new harbour of Leith, which
does so much honour to the administration of our
Magistrates. ought to have fortification combined
with its construetion, in order to prole& the ship-
ping and increasing commerce of this great city.
during the occasional absence of the ships of war;
and that his Lordship was with that view endea-
vouring to obtain a suitable aid from Government
to this great work. He concluded an ani-
mated speech, by saying, tt We all know that every
. virtue attaches to the charatter of Lord Moira,
which can adorn a man ; and he may be justly
said to possess every great and good quality which
son be wished for in a General.'
Nat Mery ices. Esq. late Lord Provost of this
city, then addressed the Meeting—. 1 hengh he
was sure ha could add nothing to the celebrity of
the charaelif of the Earl of Moira, yet, from the
ofli.lal situation he formerly had the honour to held,
and the particular opportunities it afforded him of
witnessing theconduel of that worthy Nobleman, he
felt himself irresistibly called on to embrace the
present opportunity of saying a few words expres-
sive of his sentiments of him. The mind of Lord
Moira seemed to be continually bent nn the great
purpose for which he was sent here. At an early
pettish' he had heel informed by his Lordship, that
Sr was not without peat diffidence and anxiety,
lie accepted of the trout, the good of his country
and his own charaiaer being so much at stake. His
Lordship's anxiety arose chiefly from the small
number of regular forces allattesl fog the defence
. of this part of the kingdom. His chief hopes,
therefose, rested on the spit it mid discipline of the
militia and volunteer forces of Scotland. To gain
, r „their confidence and regard, his Lord..hip consider-
.ed of the highest consequence ; and the Meeting
..... were well aware of the pains he took, by the most
- conciliatory manners, to attain that desirable objeCt.
His Lordship did gain their affeetions, which was
strongly evinced by the universal e.teens and regard
they showed for nim, and affu;ded, at the same
time, a strong pledge, that, in the hour of nerd,
they would follow their leader in their country's
cause. But it was not among the soldiery alone,
that Lord feloira's influence was confined. He
.. saw ibat is ce.operation of all ranks might be neces-
. eery in the great plan of defence. His Lordship
paid the most flattering and polit.e attention ti ma-
fistracy. He cultivated the acquaintance and
riendship of the nobility and gentry, and to the
,lower racks was affable aid condescending. It
. mi 044PfY te,l, that wherever his Lordslitp
... ripe. and admirers, and it might

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strange? in any country, making so deep and to I
favour able an impression, in so short a time. His
Lordship courted popularity, by the most winning
manners, and horn the best of motives. It was to
strengthen his arm in the defence of his King and
Country ; and in doing so, he has merited our high-
est regard ; and it is trusted he will ever be held in
the most grateful remembrance. .Ir. Macvicar,
therefore, most heartily approved of the address.
Upon the motion of DAVI o Boy t.r. F.,q. Advo-
cate, thanks were returned to ihe Lord l'rovost
and Magistrates for calling the Meeting, and to his
Lordship for his condntt in the chair.
And upon the motion of ADAM Git.r.tEs, Esq.
Advocate, the thanks of the meeting were unani-
mously voted to the Committee who prepared the
address.
The Lord Provost has received from Lord Moira
the following answer to the address :
" MY LORD, London, April 9, 1806.
" I have the honour to acknowledge the letter in which
emir Lordship has had the goodness to inclose to me the
Aildrtss from the City of Edinburgh.
" To say that I ani flattered by such a testimony would
be a very inadequate expressiori ; for the compliment applies
to the gratt6cation of seutimenrs much more lively than my
vanity. Having appreciated, with the truest sensibility, the
manly and generous confidence reaperienced from the city
during the whole of my residence with you, it most be no
ordinary satisfadion to me, that the Magistracy and Inhabi-
tants should wish to record the continuance of dispo-
sitions towards me, in which I have reason to take so much
pi ide.
Me efforts to methodise the intrnal resources of Scotland
would hare been very insufficient, had it nut been for the uss-
common seal and energy with which, an all quarters, my re-
C.lllMenit 151.505 were carried into effect ; tat, when you ascribe
to sue more merit in the resell of the ariangements than my
suggestion: could be entitled to assume, my consciousness Ores
not diminish the obligation for the 'damp winch you have put
upon me services. That very partiality is a woof of iciuditess,
and augments the-claim on my acknowledgments. If, in the
exercise of the functions entrusted to me, 1, in ally degree,
however humble, succeeded so. far as to promote this objects
of His Matedv': paternal care for the security of Scotland, I
=nit deem myself most fortunate.
I beg your Lordship to accept my sincerest thanks, for the
polity ti nes with which you have accompanied the comma.
nication ; and let me entreat )ou to :assure the Magistrates and
City, that this valuable testmiony of their regard is met by me
with the warmest gratitude, and repaid by nae with the mat
unfeigned attachment.
I hare the honour my Lord, to be, with high respett,
yew Lotdship's most obedient and humble servant,
(Sigurd, " MOIRA."
" The Right Hon. the Lord Provost of Edinburgh."
J ARSA T.

The following Particulars of the escape of a Prisoner frets
Bitch*, in France, in the month of Ovtober last, having
relation to tire actual Situatien of the English Prisoners in
that Country, we Crinic it may be interesting to our Readers.
Francis Bisson, of this island, was taken prisoner
oft the coast of Brittany, on the 18th of May, 1803.
He was at first conclußed to Lamballe, and after-
wards to Fotintainbleau, where he was allowed the
city, and three 'leagues round, for his prison ; war
not being yet declared, he received no subsistence
from the Government. Having escaped to Paris,
he was stopped by the Police, and re-conduCted to
Fonraiftbleau, where he was pot into close confine-
ment; from thence he was brought to Epinal, where,
in a short time, there were 1,200 English prisoners.
Here, he was granted rather more liberty, and was
pretty well situated, when he was condufted to
Phalzbourg, where he procured the place of inter-
preter to an hospital, in which were about 50 Eng-
lish prisoners confined, and very badly treated. He
remained here until the Ist of April, 1804, and was
' afterwards taken to Verdun, at which place there
were nearly 800 prisoners, two-thirds of whom are
detained there contrary to the law of nations, only
being in France at the moment of the declaration
of war. However, the latter are ant closely con-
fined, nor severely treated ; they have the liberty
of walking a league from the town, and are oftea
allowed to go farther ; but permission to go to any
great distance, must be obtained by favour or nas
ney. Those who have fortunes, easily find the
means of procuring money, and consequently are
well received by the inhabitants ; some of the rich
have there established a public theatre, a tennis-
court, horse-races, and billiard-tables ; but NI. Bis.
son did not find his situation agreeable at Verdun ;
he had but three sous a day, and a pound and a half
of brown bread ; he escaped a second time, but was
again taken and condatel to Bitche, where many
respeetable English are confined ; he succeeded
again in escaping, and the following is his own ac-
count of it :
After 29 months of imprisonment, 16 of which I
passed at Bitche, I was put into a cell under grou..d
for having negletted answering to the call of the
30th of Septemher last. I found means to escape
the second day, in this manner—ln the evening the
gaoler brought me water, but did rot bring his
lanthorn with him ; as it was very dark, I stole out
softly without being perceived, and he barred
the door, thinking me still in the dungeon; but
though I had succeeded in deceiving the gaoler, it
was still necessary to avoid a centinel, and gain
the court yard ; I stooped as low as I possibly
could, and perceiving that, fortunately, the centry
box was empty. I made use of it to climb on
the rampart, and 1 endeavoured to get to the ground
by the help of the cavities in the wall: but scarcely
had I attempted it, when a stone rolling from under
my foot, I fall from a height of about sixty feet ;
although stunned and bruised by the fall, I hal,
however, the good fortune not to have any bone
broken; when a little recovered, I gained a neigh-
bonring forest, from whence I hoped to escape, by
the banks of the Rhine ; but 1 had been before so
much exhausted, that overcome with fatigue, and
the pain of my bruises, I lay on the ground and fell
asleep. When I awoke, a man in uniform asked
me, who I was, and where I was going ? I told him,
that I was a French grenadier, coning from the
hospital, and going to join my regiment at the other
side of the Rhine. He looked at me with a very
incredulous a.r, and asked me, if I were not Francis
Hisson, who had just escaped from /Incite ? I af-
&Bed to appear surprised, and haughtily asked him
to permit me to continue my route. He asked me
many more questions, which, by chance. I answer-
ed rightly, and after giving me some refreshment,
he politely showed methe Shortest way to reach the
Rhine ; 1 however perceived that he strnngly, sus-
peCted me, but that he was too humane to an est me.
1 soon arrived at the Rhine, and in speaking to •
bigatman, I was surprised toe learn that he was in-

formed of my Hight ; hut fortunately he wis so
careless, that all the prisoners might have e,capecl
without his paying any attention. As I conversed
with him, I perceived two o. ns-rl'arntrs; at that mo-
ment I considered myself lost ; but, by an unex-
petted good fortune, they passed without taking any
notice of roe. As soon
.as I was at the otter side
of the Rhine, I proceeded ro Rast telt, and horn
theace to Frankfort, whtlre I rece,ived the greatest
hospitality from two Germans, and from two of my
countrymen, whom I there tonna. ,I think it ne-
cessary also to mention the civility of Mr. Brooke
Taylor, our Envoy, who gave me a pa4port for
Embden ; but being informed that the French had,
in part, evacuated Hanover, I proceeded to Ham.-
burgh, where the English Consul revised my pass-
port, and from thence I 'embarked for England.