The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-03 00:00:00

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about fifty Amities wi:l alone swallow up more than a third
of the whole sum allotted to the indemnity. This is a
compendious and expeditious mode of making a wealthy
aristocracy, though perhaps not altogether the most ad-
'icon.. Petitions v:ill be presented to the Chamber of
Deputies beru e the discussion of the indemnity takes place,
suggesting that the emigrants now in the Chamber ought
not in decency to interfere personally in a matter in which
they are so deeply concerned. The first petition of this
kind will be from an advocate, M. GRAND, who founds
leis recommendation on an elaborate argument, derived
from the universally-acknowledged principles of justice
'and honour. It was reported that M. DE I._i BOU
Do NN AY! intended to submit a motion to that effect, but the
Ari.,tarpe has, on his authority, denied the statemcnt. The
emigrants, it may therefore be presumcd,will not be induced,
f: °in any over-scrupulous feelings of delicacy,to abstain from
voting themselves to be fully entitled to the immense sum
proposed to be granted to them. As they constitute a large
majority in the Chambers, the indemnity will, under those
circumstances, be an appropriation of the public stock, per-
haps the least decorous or defensible ever recorded in the
history of nations. The whole Ounce is obviously a mere
projoct to give wealth and power to the predominant party.
The Indemnity is therefore to be confined to the class to
which they belong, and the loyal Vendeans, who defended
thc.King's cause on the soil of France, are to be refused
anysompensation for their losses, in order that they who
tied from the field may enjoy all the benefits of victory.
PARIS, JAW. 31.—FitExcu Et:Nos.—Five per Cents. opened
; closed at 103 f. 25c. ; Rank Stock, 140 f. ; Rente de
Narlas, crrtiti:ate Ealconnet, 831. 75c. ; Royal Spanish Loan,
1311, 56f. Exchange on. London, one month, 23r. ; three ditto,
24f. Cs:.—Coors Aizt'ienikthe, Jan. 31.

A report was in circulation yesterday that despatches cf
a warlike complexion had been received from the Powers
of the Holy Alliance. We have no doubt that the Speech
to-day will put an end to those groundless alarms. The
Act of Recognition is merely the last of a series which ne-
cessarily led to it, and which has been slowly completed'in
the face of Europe, on principles distinctly avowed by the
British Government, and at no period questioned or ob-
jected to even by Spain. On what pretence then could a
hostile remonstrance be now made by any of the Powers of
the Continent ? We have only now actually done what
w. long ago forewarned them we should do, anl what no
one of them ever denied we had a perfect and absolute
right to do, whenever we thought fit. We repeat it, there,
is no reason to apprehend that the peace of Europe will be:
disturbed.

It is expected that Sir CIIARLES STUART will not ex-
perience much difficulty in obtaining the consent of Por-
tugal to the recognition of the independence of Brasil.
His Excellency's instructions arc understood to be very
urgent, and his success is not considered to be in the least
degree doubtful. The negotiation between the two coun-
tries is in that state, which only requires for its completion
the presence of the mediatorial Ambassador at Lisbon.

The attempt which has been made to sacrifice Mr. Kea N
to a pretended regard fur public morals, htings forcibly to
mind the sarcastic arguments published by Swirr in sup-
port of his " Project for the adrzncemcnt of Religion and
Morals." In his time there was a great outcry raised
against the progress of vice and immorality, which it was
affirmed were on the point of producing the ruin of the'
State. Cant has been in all ages a thriving profession, and
thtre has therefore never been any Lick of professors. They
who have raved violently about the degeneracy of the age,
have generally found it no. difficult matter to obtain the
reputation of extraordinary sanctity with the multitude,
though it leas too often occurred that the depravity they
have so freely implied to others, has been only a sketch
of their own feelings. No man better understood or
more thoroughly hatcil this Lind. of hypocrisy than,
Swtrr ; and in all pieces, grave ar humorous, it was
one of his chief °Wets to expose the hollowness of
that numerous class of Christians who bear with exem-
plary resignation the misfortunes of others, and give
no quarter to vices of which they hope not to be suspected.
It is certainly an easy mode of acquiring a character for
humility, by preaching patience to the sufferer, and for
virtue by heaping contumely and persecution on those who
have strayed from the right path, especially when it happens
that we can in this way

" Compound for sins we are inclined to
By damning those we have no mind to."

It may be questioned, however, whether the interests of
society would not be more surely promoted by less violence
of conduct on the part of those who hold themselves to be
qualified to assume the censorial office over their neighbours.
It may be reasonably doubted, we think, whether on such
occasions, malignity does not wear the garb of purity in
order to satiate its dislike of the individual, under pretence
of manifesting its abhorrence of the offence. In the case
of KE•N, none would more willingly give him up to the
vengeance of his enemies than we, if we were quite sure
that his immolation would for ever purify all play-goers,
and play-actors, from all taint or suspicion of immorality.
But if this would not be the probable result of making
him the scapegoat of theatrical sins, we cannot un-
derstand the principle of justice on which ho is to
be selected to gratify the inordinate cravings of the
saints who write the disgusting articles in the Times news-
paper, in which the stage is compared to a " cesspool."
It was such men whom the witty Dean of St. Patrick's
bad in his eye when he published his " Project," with
the view of showing, by the reductio ad abrurdam, the
mischievous and impertinent lengths to which, if consist-
ently followed, the principles of the hypocritical system
would lead :

" Among all the schemes offered to the public in this projecting
oge, I have observed, with some displeasure, that there has never
been any fur the improvement ut religion and morals ; which,
beside the piety of the design, from the consequences of such a
reformation in a future lite, would be the best natural means for
advancing the public felicity of the State, as well as the present
happiness of every individual." • • • •
'• Human nature seems to lie tinder this disadvantage, that
the example alone of a vicious Prince will, in time, corrupt an age;
but that of a good one will not be sufficient to reform it, without
further endeavours. Princes must therefore supply this defect by
it vigorous exercise of that authority which the law has left them,
by making It every man's interest and honour to cultiratc religion
and virtue, by rendering vice a disgrace, and the certain ruin to
pr-ferment or pretensions: all which they should first attempt In
their own courts and families. For instance, might not the King's
domestics of the middle and lower sort, be obliged, upon penalty
of suspension, or loss of their employniems, to a constant weekly
attendance on the service of the Church; to a decent behaviour
in it ; to receive the Sacrament four times In the year; to avoid
swearing and irreligious prophatie discourses ; and it, the appear.
ance, at least, of temperance and chastity ! .Hight not the care of
all this be committed to the strict inspection of proper officers ?
Might not those of higher rank and near access to his Majesty,
receive his own commands to the same purpose, and be counte.
noticed or
.disfavoured according as they obey ? Might not the
king lay his injunctions on the Bishops, and other great men of
undoubted piety, to make diligent inquiry, and give him notive,
any person about him should happen to be of libertine principles nr
morals ? Might not all those who enter upon any office in his
Majesty's family, be obliged to take an oath parallel with that
against simony, which is administered to the clergy P It is not to be
doubted, but that if these, or the like proceedings, were duly coo-
111R :NI, morality and religion would soon become fashionable Court
Virtues; and be taken up as the only trethods to get ey• keep etn.