The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-02-21 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS

LONDON,
THURSDAY, FEIRU•Ir el .

We stated yesterday, that the number of troops
embarked on board the Toulon Fleet amounted to
10,000. This statement is confirmed by the Ham-
burgh Papers received yesterday by the Gottenhurg
Mails, of which six have arrived. An article from
Genoa. of the 16th last, represents them exactly
at that amount; and adds, that they embarked in
the midst of very bad weather with the utmost ex-
petlition, and were supposed to he destined for Mi-
norca and Majorca. That the 'l'oulon Fleet, of the
sailing of Which very little doubt is now entertained,
should have escaped the vigilance of Lord Natso,s,
can create no surprise. It will be recollected, that
his Lordship, in a late letter respeeting the thanks
of the City of London, expressly denied that he held
the Post of Toulon in strict blockade. We have now
the authority of the Foreign Papers, that at the
time the enemy's fleet is supposed to have sailed,
his Lordship was cruising at a distance of forty
miles, in a line that enabled him to ob-
serve the whole Italian, French, and Spanish
coast from Palermo, by Leghorn, Toulon, and
Barcelona, to the streights of Gibraltar. Under
these circumstances, it is obvious that the Toulon

fleet woe at liberty to sari when they pleased ; but
there'', also good reason to presume that they could
not hit long at sea before his Lordship would have
some 'intelligence of that event. Whether their
objett, were wit!i;n, or without the M-rditerranean,
his Lordship's station was equally advantageous to
watchstheir movements, receive intelligence, and go
in pursuit. Minorca, Majorca, Sicily, and Egypt,
have been mentioned as the probable destination of
the enemy ; but it is all mere conjecture, Govern-
ment not having received any information upon
the subjeft. The Toulon fleet consisted of only seven
ships of the line, and Lord SiELsoNr has eleven ;
of course we may anticipate a splendid victory, as the
result of an engagement between them. The only
apprelattision which we understand Government
entertains, is, that the sailing of the Rochfort and
Toulon squadron may be a combined movement
for she purpose of forming a junClion, in which, if
they succeeded, the combined force might attack
eui squadron off Ferrol, and overpower it. With
resped. to the Rochfort squadron, it is mentioned as

a curious fall, that, findlug the Afejestecer, one of
the squadron, atter it had been for some time at sea,
crippled, and unable to proceed on her voyage, it
convoyed her back, and basing seen her safe into
Rochfort, set out again for its destination. It was
last seen to the southward of Cape Finisterre, har-
ing passed Ferrol and Coruna& witholat any attempt
to release the ships blocked up in those ports ; but it
does not follow that it might not return fur that pur-
pose, after it had effeCted a junaion with the Toul-n
fleet. In any of these events, we may hourly
exile& to receive some account of them ; but if
they be de .tined for the East or West Indies, as some
imagine, curiosity will probably remain long un-
gratified. If we recolleCt right, the first accounts
received of Rear Admiral Linors's squadron, after
its escape from a French port, were those of its -Ir.
rival and operations in India. The foreign Pap,„
state, upon the authority of letters from Italy, that
the French have required all the Italian Gore-a.
ments, which have hitherto remained neutral, to ,tr-
clare themselves for or against France. Thi, is
equivalent to an order to wage war against Eng.
land. Florence and Rome, it is said, have ohey-st
the requisition, and may be soon reps.:led to shut
their ports against English ships, and English com-
merce. Naples alone seeks to preserve her neutra-
lity, which she will be able to purchase only upon
the most degrading terms. France insists upon a
right of choosing the prison who shall pres;de in
her Councils; and if that condi.ion b.! acquiescei
Naples must cease to be an independent state. 'Por-
tugal is also represented as Llegot.i.ttin.;. for het era.
trality ; but the foreign pope's do not menion
price which France and Spain demand fur it.

The CHANCELLOR of the Exca aqui', in swigs
the Budget on Monday night, did not speak with
as ranch confidence and precision upon the subs&
of Continental Alliance as was expeeted. It has been
hence contended, that Bona ea a r E's representatioe
of the Continental States as adverse to a connefhoe
with England may be true. Our readers wiU, how-
ever, recollea, that he only refuted the report of a
subsidiary treaty betweei her and Sweden. lie only
asserted that we had differed upon a question of
terms, and that Prussia threatened to march an army
into Swedish Pomerania, in case a treaty to that
effect were executed. This, however, most clearly
implies that a subsidiary treaty between Englar,l
and Sweden has been upon the Lapis, and that no-
thing but an overwhelming influeucehas hitherto pre.
vented its execution. But is thereno other Power upon
the Continent, except Sweden, that wadi be likely to
accept pecuniary assistance from England! Rase
daily adding to her force in the Seven Islands,
the conveyance of troops to so great a distance t:r.es
home must be attended with large expence. So
far as their presence aff.-srds ptc.tedlion to the Turkish
Empire, these troops promote a British objea It
required no small expence of Br:rish blood, and
British treasure, to re-conquer Egypt for the Pears,
but we never heard the policy of that proceAieg
called in question. Arrangements with Russia, fur
the security of Turkey, may, therefore, be easily
conceived, to the support of which England Might
fairly be expefied to contribute. It was also report•
ed yesterday, in the political circles in the Weir ad
of the town, that a rupture between Franal sal
Austria is at no great distance. This report we
give just as we received it, without pretending to
say what degree of credit it deserves.

In our preceding columns will be found, the 06-
dal account of the taking of the Fort of Rampoora,
in India, upon the firth of May last, by Lieutenant-
Colonel DON. The acquisition of this important
iortress puts us in possession of a false portion c‘
the territories of HOLZ AIL

A outer has been dispatched by Governown •••
Sir Row A o Pert. ew, ao advise him of the email
the French fleet front Rochefort, and of the pouini-
lily of its being destined for the East Indies.
'Fsesday dispatches were received at the Stl:r '-
tary of State's Office front Governor 4 two at w
South Wales. They state the arrivrl of the /3.~~.4. i'e
store-ship, Capt. Kkar, who. soon after his arris.d,
was sent on discoveries apon the coast of blew Cale-
donia, whe. e he had found a most eacell.2at herboor.
on the N.W . side, which he called Port St. V IntOtte
in compliment to the Earl of Sr. Viscusz.
Yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, recruiting
parties of upwards of twenty regiments of horse
and foot, with a great number of recruits, mastered
• on the Parade, St. James's Park, and underwent
gervral inspeaion by Colonel Roattesoet
On Monday evening ,and during the night, a hea-
vy firing was heard At DOVel ; tt was supposed to
proceed frani an attack made by our alines upon
the enemy's craft, stealing Along shore. Tuesdat
afternoon, a fincship was sent into Dover—de came
out of one of use French ports, and was boarded
and taken of Esraples, by the Aatunar sloop and two
gun-brigs. The French Light Artillery asbefe
kept up a heavy firing on our ships and boats as
boarding. The Alernse and out gun-brigs were
left in chace of mote cleft, when their prize was
seat into I)over.
Two wealthy graziers, of the neighbourhood of
Great Grimsby, having made an exorbitant elver
on the Captaiii of a 'tinsel lately stranded on that
coast, for their assistance in securing the w!tcksi
were lately taken before the Magistrates at Spilsbyr
and sentenced to pay a fine of 501. with 101. costs.