The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-05-19 00:00:00

THE BRITISR itrigii.

LONDON,
FRIDAY. MAY 19.

We have received 'Lisbon rapers to the '6th inst.
from which we have made some extracts. They
relate chiefly to the positions of the several ar-
Mies. 'ir A mime WELL.:.B:.RT'r van reached
Coimbra on the Ist. h consisted of 10.000 Infain-
try and 500 cavalry, fie hao his head-quarters at
Leyria ; and General BERESFORD was in his rear
to the math-east, at Thrmar. These were:the po-
sitions of the British anny according to the latest
accounts.—A detachment of 10,000 men from the
hlarqbis of Row.' A'S army, according to report,
had reached Chaves, 'there it will be supported
by the force under the Marquis of Sumas,'
at Amarante. Sir Roaster Wixeores corps had
joined the latter on the 29th : previous to wide!'
both the,e corps had .some fighting, but not of
much importance; in which, however, we regret
to state that LieutenantetolonelPiiial was killed.
SOCLT, thus placed between the British force inhii
front, and the Spanish at Chives in his rear, can only
avoid an action by curtain:oiling To-cross Portugal
along the Douro. irterea had not, so late as the Vstit,
attempted to joie hint. He was at that date still at
Merida, and it was reported that the cities of Al-
cantata and Placencia had been bikini by assault by
the combined Spanish and British forces, and that
the garrisons, consisting of attachments of his
troop', hud been cut to pieces. The news in the
Lisbon papers, from the North of Spain, is not
later than the lath last. The French were ,then
retreating to Valladolid.

We yesterday announced the arrival of the
Fourth Bulletin of the French aruir in Germany,
stating at the same time that it contained no mili-
tary news of any interest. It is dated on the Ist
of May, at Braunan, to whiOh pla^e BONAPARTE
had trimsferred his bead-quarters from Burg-
hausea. Its *Silence, however, is not unsatisfac-
tory, for hail the events in the Tyrol, the Venetian
territory, ■nd Poland, been even of a doubtful
character, it would fiat have failed to represent
them is favourable to France. We find, how-
ever, by the letters from Paris, of the 9th of May,
that thongh Fuctxt .134.auttattsiois had spread
a Tal•ort of "the Austrian army flying precipitately,
and that he was on .the point of pursuing them ;"
yet, in direct contradiction to it, the " hend-qoar..
tars of the French army were as late as the 4th of
May, at TrEvio.'"i'llis admission Aufficiently
proves the eli•asters of Ike Viceroy, and the sums;
of the Archduke Pmts.
We may see by the promise which Napormos
made to the Bishop and principal functionaries of
Sultzburg, " that they should never again come
under the rl9minion rd. the House of Austria,"

• .
• what are his intentions relative (,'gist Sovereign
and country. But we likewise observe with ex-
treme satisfaction, by the intercepted ,g socret in-
stiuctions from the Emperor Fasacts, to the Pre-
silent of the Government of Saltstptirg," published
by BON•PARTE in his fourth Bulletin, the reso-
lution 'Wowed by His IMPERIAL MAJESTY, on a
supposition of the French udrancing to Vienna.
It merits the utmost attention. "hi case that the
enemy ahonid approach the Metropolis," says lie,
‘, Pest is immediately to.become the centre of a.
acts affecting the whole Monarchy, and the pub.
lie money is to be sent there." In other words, it
is to be made the temporary Capital, and seat of
the Austrian Government. Th.s eirciiinstt nee is
most material, as it prover that the occupation
of Vienna by the Invader is foreseen and anti-
cipated ; consequently that resistance will not eease,
because that city may fall into the hands of the
enemy. Pest is • town, situated on the right, or
East Bank of the Danube, exactly opposite to
Buda, the antient capital of Ilungsry, with %Inds'
place it communicates by a loidge constructed on
{pontoons. Even though the I:rent:4, therefor%
were to penetrate to Itini.is yet the archives and
treasure tieing lodged ut might easily and
speedily be removed into Tiaysylvania ; or to Cas-
chau,.Eperies, Tetneswaer, and other fortresses of
Upper.Hingary. Such a disposition evidently pro-
supposes, and iudicates. the intention of retiring., if
necessary, into the Eastern provinces at the foot of
the Carpathian Mountains, and there maintaining
the conflict. If the Austrian EMPEROR and Ca-
binet possess sufficient energy, as well as firmness,•
to execute this system, NAPOLEON will not easily
reducethe Monarchy to submission. Ve see that
he is pushing rapidly forward towards Lints, as
his head-quarters.were advanced to Ried on the lst
of this mouth; while MASSENA is said to have been
at the time in the vicinity of Lintz. Should the
Archduke Casar.xs be able to attack and to de-
feat the French corps under DAVOUST ; or should
GeneMl HiLLF.E be able to maintain himself at
Oetingcb on the Inn; BONAPARTE may be never-
theless compelled to stop, if not to retreat. De-
cisive success can altne enable, or autholize him to
morel' to Vienna, white various Austrian armies
occupy tilt country behind him.

The ATTORNET.GINZZAL, List night, siihroitted
to the House of Commons his propositioo "re-
',peering Public 11/I.:.etings. His principal object is
to obiige Debating Societies to obtain the sanction
of* licence.

The [louse of Commons,ln,postponinglast night
the discussion of an important measure respecting
Leland, on account of the indisposition of Sir JONN
NEWPORT, paid a handsome,.and at thetausetirue,u
just compliment to the talents of the worthy Ikero
net, and his uniform zeal and attention to the its,
terests of that put of tilt. United Kingdom.

The Manifesto of the Court of Vienna has
reached this country; and will. we find he publish-
ed in the shape of a ptimphlet.—lt is sup-
posed to have been drawls up by GEN TZ. and,
as we stated in a former paper, contains twenty-
font sheets. It %of course greatly exceeds the
limits of aNewepuper. We will endeavour, on the
first open dayito give the substance.
It was rep:mted a few days ago that the progress
of the Austrians in Poland was sanctioned by the
Emperor ALEXANDER, itid that the latter had
since declared against France. This report was
again in circulation yesterday ; but we have not
beard any thing to induce us to rely upon ita au-
thenticity.
TundaY evening, Capt. Witutet Aid-du-Camp
to GAD. DechwtTu,arriveil at Lord (...,ASTI.EILE •GICS
01SEE, with four of BONAPARTE./ Eagles, which
. were takes at ALirtinique. They are small stand-
. 80% with the figure of ;In eagle in the venire, richly
etabreitlereil

Gesetel BEctorrxit is coming home, and Sir
airsemieis Paceuer is to he, Commumier in Chief in
the West ',viers.

Strong reinforceme:ts are cmharl;ing at Ports-
mouth for onr foreign corps in Sicily, under Sri J.
STZWAHT, particularly for the Chasseurs Ilritan-
niques, Ua Rotes regimint, I.ad McuttoN's
Swiss regiment.
The Port-am-Prince, of London, is taken
at Tougstaboo Island, and the clew have been mas-
sacred by the natives.
Anion; the regiments which hare been most
successful in getting volunteers from the Mi-
litia, we understand tivat the 24tb has been among
the first. The Ist battalion of tbis regiment is at
the Cape of Good Hope, and will soon go to In-
dia.

The urmy will learn with pleasure, that Gene-
ral SPeacEe's health [icing perfectly restored, he
is about to set off for the army in Portugal.
The Ninth Report of thcCommissionersif Military
Inquiry has been published. It is of conside►able
length, and enumerates ninny abuses. The Commis-
sioners conclude their Report in the following words :
4, We have now completed that view of the abuses
in the West sndia Army Expenditure, and of the
measures to he adopted to prevent their recurrence,
which we hare undertaken to exhibit. The evil
has doubtless been of great magnitude, widely ex-
tended, and deeply rooted. But if the opportunities
for fraud shall be diminished, by making the con-
tractrin this country for the necessary supply of the
forces in the %Vest Indies ; if a regular coutroul
over thorn who direct and manage the expenditure
he established, if the account be naeitigateil soon
after it is incurred ; and if, in case of rnalpractiees,
the offenders be immediately prosecuted in the
country, and re impartial and firm administration
of the Law can be insured ; it may be expected
that the evil which has heretofore existed, will be
in a great degree prevented."

•
NAVAL r.,TELL.TtE.NcE.
IitTSM OUTA, WkY .17.
gailed the Magicienhe frigate, Captain Curtis;
with the raseil and Cur of Ceorl 1-1,1. e cnnvoy ;
Nymphs. ft ighte, I lull • C.i pt. for the Down. ;
mud the Lircret, oi.h a rismo%
Arrived the Pestct airs, Lieutenant Tontlinson,
Pinta cruise.
The Cracker is appointed eonroy for the DO W
Tile Itreatedary and Hindustan, for New Sow.'
Wale., will tail to-morrow morning.
ElLipps will Hail t:'-nrorroar, with tie Amp!'.
:site, It:Atte, and the Augasta, Thoeireen,
portt., fur Lisbon.

LA CE

COURT of• COMMON PLEAS, Wzruatirtali.
Sittings at Nisi Praas Wort Lord (77 iff Justice MANN/MD.
MIUTI.EII v. WM. •

This watt an action to recover IGO. for 'rerun:,
a patent tlreen House mid Hen Hauge in the
Defeuda et's garden, Bt dford.sq are. The charge
was supported on tidinelsoreinetit. Fri defence, it
was contended flint the Plaintiff entered into a ape.
clue agreement With the Defendant, to pay him
651: for the coMpletlon of the Obeli of the building,
and Out he had paid 10111. into Cciart, twirl; .•
, sunt.egrecd for, and the surplus Went to pay
fitting up the inside of the Green-house, and
building siesta and roosts in the lien-leuar, mod
also for erecting; a spire and weother.cork, in the
shape of a phimaant, for which a chiirge of ill.
was made. ••
One of the Witnesses observed, that a common
cock might have been niade for much less, belt
this being of a.portieular texturc, he thought the
charge re .niuhlr.
Lord Chief Justiee MAteserrED, in summing lop
the evidence, observed, that in rt ease tried before
him at Guildhall. the Jury had determined. that
%%lira a builder held out, that a building or on ol-
teration wn.,1.l uot amount to niore than it particular
sum, he was only entitled to that amount. It was
the ease of a Milliner %%Ito wished to enlarge obe
*of her rooms. The builder told her the improve.
ment would not cost more than 171.; he afterwards
brought his action for sod. which was more tibia
the amount ()flier whole stock in trade, and if a
verdict had been given against her she would hare
'been reduced to bsggary ; and although the pre.
sent defendant was in opulent., ireninstances, lie
erns entitled to the seine protiktion. The Jr)...
after live minutes' •consultation, gave a verdict for
the &feminist.