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

LADIES' FOCAL CONCERT.
_..........-

The Ladies' First Grand Vocal Concert was held
last night ar the Duchess of Goat:totes, in St.
James's-square. The grand drawing-room was
most brilliantly lightod ; several additional globe
lamps were placed. The second drawing-room was
arranged for supper ; a magnificent table was laid
for forty. At ten o'clock, the music commenced
with a beautiful Overture, by Asiott. Signor
RIGHI, and Signor RovaniNo, sang a charming
duetro, in their happiest style. Madame Dual":
sang a beautiful air with great taste, sweetness, and
delicacy. Madame 131 ANCHI, and Mr. Astoti,
sang a fine duetro, by ASIOLI, and displayed great
science in the execution. Madame GR ASSINi was in
fine voice, and sang a beautiful airtfrnm Nosotahr,
with great taste and feeling. Madame Deist's.,
Madame Brant"' r, Signor litoNi, and Signor Ro-
VEDINO, executed a quartetto in the finest
style --
The %Ante entertainment was in the usual style of
her Grace's entertainments—every thing that taste
and magnificence could didate. The company sat
down to supper at one o'clock. Some charming
glees were sting, to which Mrs. liesturrm E lent her
sweet sounds. In the brilliant assemblage were—
Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Cambtidge
Gloucester
Dochmses...Northumberlaml, Bo!ton, and De Castries.
Dukes—De Sem, arid De Castries.
Marehroriesset--Srattotd, and Exeter.
Marquise( Lome.
Countesses—PArtymere, Derby, Cork, Manners, Sefton,
Cholm.rndeley, Elgin, Clare awlTaukerrillr.
Earl'.—St.l.4,' 1 Clielmendeley, and Limerick.
Viscountess Grill.
atollo6 Le Dean meet..
The lore Cnanc 11,tr.
L44l,s—Perev, Vernon, Seymour, liamiiton, Seabright,
Haem•tten, arid A. is Witntharit
Lnr I,4rdritrin, 54 Petty and C. ymuur.
Stra—F Standi-b, J Shelly, and W. Abdy.
an 4 Mrs. Montague.
Hon. Mu Duncan

comer-CI %ante.
Last night, Mrs. Stniatiss reminded L r place
at this theatre, in t 7 'e pet tierro, in the
tragedy of Pizarr,. rhe trent.cendant ntlents
of this lady, ar rt• w"ere displaced *0 M.,re ad-
vantage, than in the 4.ltiptity reveng e/vire.
—Mr. POPE performed 'pit of Pishrre for the
first time, aid rec. iced rreeh and merircil applause.
Mr. MVIIRAT claimed the• irdulg• nee of the au-
dience for Mr. Beuh roe. who had, at a very
short notice, undertaken rl e part of Annerr, Mr. C.
RIMILIE having been seized with a I,,,,itseirtess; Mr.
BRUNTON performed the part va:h sit mica good
sense and discrimination, the iiirlience ha 1 nothing
to regret by the e‘ange I°ll. house w.ll elegant,
hilt not crowded. Thr Countess of CH Alt l.avlr ta,
Viscountess CR ANL Lord Cu c Le, the Countess
of Essex, and Dowager Lady REAT, were pre-
sent.
Yesterday, Ttierits had a concert at
the Castle.
The Duke of CA MattDei left Windsor for town
Yesterday morning. Her MAJCSTV and the
Pat/masses took an airing to Frogniore.
This day, Their MAJESTits, and the two elder
Patric , will come to town.
The Duke and Duchess of Benrown have signi-
fied their intention of attending the Charity Sermon
for the Female Orphan School, io
Mrs. Husee's musical party, at her house in Gros-
venor-street, is postponed from the 25th instant, to
May the 2d, the 25th being Her Royal Highness
Princess MARY'S birth-day.
The veteran performer, Mr. BITTIRTON, is play-
ing with great success at Carlisle.
The Marquis and Marchioness CORNwAtt.if in-
tend giving up their town house, and retiring to
their bcatriful scat at Culford. Suffolk.
Sir G. Coanwei.t has removed to his new house,
in Wimpole-street.
The Duke and Duchess of MACCHaSTER are ex-
pelled ins/ few days from Kimholton.
The Earl and Countess of BARRYWORE had a
sena musical party, last Sunday evening, at their
house in Sackville-street; which was attended by
several of the Nobility, amongst whom were—
The Duchess of Gordon, the Duke and Dechess De Cas-
tries, the Earl and Dowager Countess of Sefton, the Countewei
of Clancarty, Darnley, and Clare the Earl of Harrington ;
Ladies Hawarden, Trench, Montagu Darnley, and Itneslyn ;
General and Lady M. Cotton, Sirs William Kerr and Ably;
Srantskre, Messrs. Mellish, Burrell, and Coventry.
The fair Sprats, the Miss Gusts, fascinated the
company with their sweet sounds ; and were joined
by their noble host. It was half past three o'clock '
when the company separated. The Duchess of
Gosoos, with her usual affability, declared how
highly she had been entertained.
The Countess of Mot lA, we are sorry to learn,
has been seriously indisposed at Dodingron Castle,
in Leicestershire, owing to a severe cold, arid the
atigue of her journey from Edinburgh so soon
after her ecrisrek. error. Earl Mollie sat up with her
every night. We are happy, hot • ,to hear, that
she is so far recovered, that there is now no appre-
hension of danger. F.arl Morita is expected about
the end of the week at his house in St.
place.
Last night the Manager and Performers of Sails-
bury Theatre, gave a night's perfoi mance, free of
all expense, to the widow and children of the late
Mr. ()Lie ta. the stage-keeper, who died suddenly.
The performance was very appropriately d Care far
the Heart Ache.

A most superb Ball was given on Monday se'n•
night, at the Swan, at Alresford, and was honoured
by a numerous Attendance of rank and beauty. Earl
and Countess 'l'tasr Le. Lady MART Gatervut.a,
Lady SEENCCR CUR-HESTER. Lady Milli RAT, Lords
Rummy, G. Gliv4viLis, SPINCEI4 CHICHESTER,
EllOll/OTOW. and JOCELYN, were among the com-
pany. Lord Romney and Lady M. G• amvi %At, the
fair daughter af the house of Bucetrao rt• ra. opened
the Ball, and the dancing continued till near three
&clack, when the company sat down to an elegant
slipper. The whole arrangement of the evening's
ascertainment displayed taste and liberality.

KINGSTON; (71.11.41C.1,.) Fss. 15. 1
The Speatyr of 74 guns, the Hon. Captain Stop.
ford ; L.fs4rect/. of SO, Captain Malcalot ; and Attar,
of 74, Captain Pion, anchcired in Port Royal har-
bour on Wednesday afternoon, having brought in
with them the French ships L'Alexandre. of 80 guns,
and Le Brverf, and Le yupilre, each of 74 guns.—
It is with the most si•:cere and heartfelt sentiments
of congratulation that we are enabled, by their ar-
rival, to lay before our readers the accounts of ano-
ther most signal and decisive victory over our inve-
terate and implacable foes, achieved under the aus-
pices of the gallant Vice-Admiral Sir John Duck-
worth, K. B. our late worthy Commander in Chief
on this station.
The French squadron having met with several
gales of wind during their voyage, were under the
necessity of remaining longer at Santo Domint,o than
,they had at first intended, for the purpose of rerair-
ing their damages, as the seamen had been em-
ployed in caulking the sides of their ships, which do
not appear to he more than half finished. To avoid
the risk of falling in with a British squadron, they
had kept to the northward of all the islands, and
gone down the Mona Passage. We understand
they were very well informed as to the state of tour
naval force in Port Royal Harbour.
The French Commander in Chief, General de
Division Lesseigue, is stated to have been ashore
at the commencement of the action, and to have

ha
gone on board L'lmperial about the middle of it.
the greater part of the French Officers had been at
a ball given on shore the previous evening, though
they are mentioned to have received il:formation,
that very evening, of a British squadron being to
windward, from an American, supposed to be the
ship Haene„ spoken on the 4th by the Peageri.
Lesscizoe's Officers had, previous to the sailing of
the I) mish schooner, which afterwards carried the
news of his arrival to St. Thomas's, endeavoured
to persua ,e him to burn her, but his evil genius,
unfortuuately for huts, over-lilted their counsel.

Mr Fox was so much indisposed yesterday morn-
ing, that it was feared he could not attend the Par-
tiameut House ; he, however, went down for a short
time.
Private Letters from the Continent state, that
Boas A r art has commenced a Negociation with the
Coon of Madrid, the nhjea of which is, to induce
the KING of Sr AIN to cede to France the. whole of
the province of Catalonia to the River Dam, and
tha. Spain is to be indemnified with the Kingdom
of Portugal.
Mr. A. Sim riot+, Purser of the extra ship Union,
Capt. JOHN Wit:rest, from Bengal, arrived yes-
ter my at the East India Home. She sailed from
St. H-lena, on the 2d February. and left there
the Honeu: able Company's ships Bering, Travers,
and the Caq:e, waiting for convoy. The extra
ship Hrtreei ; country ship Ali ; the Adventure,
Pc .eversinee, and Striqenpaiune, whalers, sailed untie]
convoy of the Orion, which she brought safe into the
Cove of Cork. The passengers per the rostett
are—
Mrs Stream, sari two childreo Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson;
Ca ,twin Tho:nas Ramsay, of the European greasiest; Lieu,
tcbant Francis it. C1.1.1,e, of the Yth Nair." lof.ntrs ; Littler-
ant 14,0ry We*.h, of the 4th ditto; Lreuse, sot Vernon, of
Hn ,i•aty% trik Light keregooos; Oat. 14.0fy Sammy,
aid Captain Scott, of the ct.untry service.
The ship City ,P.Ofieloll, Ca pt. LANDON, was at
Bombay on the sth of November lasts and was to
touch on the coast, homeward bound.
The kap/trees, I-feaster, and Norihrmiertand,
RAI NCOCIC, outward-bound, sailed from St. Helen::
the 72Sth of January last, and were to touch at the
Cape of Good Hope.
A letter from Dublin, of the Bth instant, says—
.' The Guild of Hosiers have held another Meeting,
and come to further strong Resolutions respeaing
the Union, which unequivocally mark the main ob-
.
jeet of their views. The more dispassionate and re-
speetable, though not the most numerous part of
the Guild, have published a temperate, but firm
protest against these irritating proceedings of their
brethren, who now go the length to propose a public
convention, for the purpose of petitioning for a repeal
of the Union."

On Tuesday the gist Regiment of Light Dra-
goons marched from York. on their route for Read-
ing, Abingdon, &c. in Berkshire; and, on Wed-
nesday, that highly respeftable and ()Id •eteran royal
Regiment of Dragoons, the Scotch Grevs, march-
ed into that city, to supply the place of the 21st.
It appears from accounts laid before the House
of Commons, that the net produce of the duties
an auctions, for three years, Cu the sth of January
1 BOG, amounts to 595,0761.

Also, that the net produce of the duties on wine
by the acts of 43 and 44 Geo. 111. trom their com-
mencement to the latest period, amounts to
193,6581. 13s. 44d. under the 43d Geo. 111. ; and
272,7731. 6s. I I Id. under the 44th Geo. 111.
Also, it appears from an account of the quantity
and value of tea sold at the East India Company's
sales, at a price below 2s. 6d. per pound, tot six
years, ending 3;h JAIWit y 1806, and all duties paid
thereon, with an average of the quantity sold, and
duty paid yearly, that the quantity sold under 2s.
Gd. per pound amounted to 13,759,604 pounds
Value of the quantity sold, 1,362,1831. II s.
Quantity sent duty free to Ireland, 1,213,313
pounds. Quantity paying duty, 14,546,2D1 pounds.
Duty on the value at fifteen per cent. for an average
for 180 i, 1802, and 1803, 32,9371 41. 4.d. at 6.1
per cent. for 1805 and 1306, 137.6531. Ils. lid.
The principal brewers at Sheffield, Nottitigham.
Bcc. are petitioning Govet nment to take the duty off li
malt liquor, and lay the whole upon malt, by which
the duty would tiffe3 every one according to his
consumption, and that whether he chooses a strong
or a wtak beverage.
On Friday last, a Court Martial was held on
board His Mansrir's ship Salvador del Aieodu, in
Ilamoaze, on Henry Deacon, and John Bra-r,, both
of His Mau Est. v's sloop Matra, who were charged
with escaping from the Engaceanto receiving hulk.
on the night of the 23 inst. and taking with them
he writing desk of the Surg-on of the Moselle, with
his cash, to the amount of 151. ; all his papers,
likewise the silver spoons belonging to the officers'
mess, and many articles of wearing apparel. The
charge of the robbery was fully proved, and the
unhappy culprits condemned to Death. President,
Rear-Admiral St 1 TO!4; officiating Judge Advo-
cate, ROIL AT Looart., I.sq.

*l.VcriEsrrA, APRIL i& .
Oa Thursday, 'its R. , • .lAniir,s toe 131 k.: of
Cumberland. Commandei-in-C.,!. or t • Ilsi•iCt.
returned to his residence, in the Cliss•, aft, r atl • is..
sense of several moilths. His Royal Broths-T. the
Duke of Cambridge, came with him. and a:copies
East, gate-ho'use, belonging to Sir H. v, Bart.
[Ns being his first visit to tl,is city, he emptnyeiii
the morning in viewing the pu ,lic buil:l;mm accom-
panied by General Porter, his Aid-de•Cstrops. fine{
Major Davies, or the Barrack Department, ike.—
Mr. Hollis, the Under Sh:tilr, atteadei his Relyal
Highness to shew him the New Gael, which is tiow
completed, and at which he expressed great &snafus.
tion. He also went to the Bridewell, and was v-ry
minute in his enquiries rt both places, and expressed
to the Under Sheiiff his fall approbation of the good
order and regulation he found bot,:: at the Gao knd
Bridewell, and which he desired Gen. Porter would
certify, ass Magistrate of the county.
Thetr Royal Highnesses were escorted into the
city by the Queen's Regiment, who had been station-
ed for that purpose so early as two O'clock in the
morning. On Thursday mornin; the Royal Dukes
reviewed the whole of the troops here on C
Downs, before a Brea: number of spedators. Their
Royal Highnesses expressed their great satisfasflion
at the discipline and fine appearance of the troops.
An elegant dinner was provided at the George Inn,
in this city. at which the Royal Dukes were present,
and a great number of military officers. The Duke
of Cambridge left this city, this day, for Ports.
mouth, and his Royal Brother is top ea Bandar
morning next.
PO /GB.

MAR LBOMOUOM-STMT.
THY FAMILY OF SWINDLERS.
Yesterday, J• 41: kl'Evar. alias APlfi. Awe, bis
wife, and Nevre and Wilk..,, two of their tdddle*.
underwent a second examination. on the chirp of
conspiring together, with Mrs. Wakefield, dip inegis•
ter, to defraud. Tree day fixed far the shooed
examination had been alteted for the
tion of some of the witnesses, and. conseq .
an application was made to put off the present in.
quiry till a future day, to give such persons an op.
portunityrf preferring their complaints.
The charges which were entered into at ligament
examination, were substantiated ageiast the lltia
soners and Mrs. Wakefield. One of the tradeousel
remarked, that Mrs. W. when she called to give sob .
order for a velvet pelisse, plumes of feathers,
kc. wished to look at some boxes of rouge. Such
were shewn to her, when she said Lady D
and others of her acquaintance, used three sorts if
this ornamental article, but she was contest with
two only ; and she gave an order for two Down is
be sent, with other articles, which were 1~ paid
for. The lady was stated, by the tradesman, t, be
a prepossessing woman, and of artful edema. "that
Maoist a ayes informed the persons in the oSer.
that an application had been made to pawpaw the
examination. and, consequently, they would re-
serve their charges for a future day. He inquired
of the mother, Ann M`Kay, what was the name of
Mrs. %V.'s father; bot she refused to satisfy him,
alleging, that it would interfere with a business in
arsitstrion at' Doane, Commons. She oddest, that
Mrs. W. was a. natural child. and her father had
been dead many years. The Prionten were re-
manded for another examination neat Tuesday. The
Office was uncommonly crowded.
WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.
Yesterday, these Sessions were held, before the
Chairman, WILLIAM MAINWARIMO. Esq. and a
Bench of Justices, for the purpose of swearing in
the Grand Jury for the County of Middlesex, and
the usual number of constables. This ceremony
takes place every Session of Oyer and ferminer,
alternately at Hicks's Hall. Clerkenwell, and at
Guildhall, Westminster, in order to maintain the
jiiti.diainn of the City and Liberties of Westmin-
ster, in the County of Middlesex.
After some other routine business. the Court was
adjourned till this day, at Clerkenwell, when the
Chairman will proceed, at ten o'clock. to try the
sev-ral traverse's ; the list contains upwards of
fifty Defendants. There are also a number of
felons for trial.

Yesterday, the Office's, Non-commissioned Of-
ficers, and Privates, of the Royal East London Mi-
litia, presented their Colonel, Sir John Earner, with
a very superb sword. Tre ceremony took place in
the Artillery Ground, about two o'clock, in the
presence of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Lords
Harrington, Petersham, and Banbury, and a great
number of persons of fashion and respeaability.
Yesterday, the London Sessions commenced.
They were held in the Court of Common Pleas,
Guildhall, before the LOUD MAYOR, the Re-
COIDLM, and some ALroaeracts. After the usual
business of swearing in the Juries, one traverser
was tried, on an indiament for an assault. The
case was insignificant, and totally devoid of in-
terest. Some Prisoners were then brought up and
eischarged, and the Court, at an early hour, ad-
journed until Wednesday neat—the Old Bailey
Sessions.

li
1~
I

Sir Ito tear K t mosmi Lt. as Senior Capt. of ilso
Royal Bristol Light Horse Volunteers, succeeds to
the Majority, vacant by the resignation of L. Awns, •
Esq. and will leave town this week to take the
command.
A letter from Portsmouth, dAted April IS, sari,
'S His ;loyal highness the Duke of Cambridge, at-
tended by our Lieutenant-Governor Sir George 1
Prevost, Brigadier-General Porter, Colonel Lynsin.
gea, &c. after inspetiug the troops at Hilsea•bar-
racks, chiefly composed of the King's German Le-
gion, on Friday last, did Colonel MAW the honour to
partake of a cold collation. F affability and ems-
descension of his lloyal Highness delights all vrho
have the happiness to approach his presence. The
Duke very particularly noticed the Colonel's chil-
dren, and questioned the boys about their future in.
tentions, when all declared for the army, and the
oldest told his Roy +1 Highness, he was going to the
Royal Military College At Marlow, at Midsummer.
The Duke then went off in his travelling carriage 1,,
for Windlor, which he would not reach betorem.d-
night. as he was to inspe& the troops at Guilaord
is passins."