The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-10-18 00:00:00

RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS.

It would be both impertinent and unneeessery to
tall upon the attention of the public respecting tin.
origin and meaning of a Jubilee; it is sufficient for
us all to know that it is a tune of celebrating some
greatly good and uncommon event, that for this
purpose it was used iu past 'ages among the Jews ;
anti has in the same way been observed to after-
tittles, not only in England, but in the other king.
Jonas of Euiope. The only question ri4rveil for
our decision, at the present time, is, the best mode
by winch it'''. day of festivity shall be properly so-
lemnised.

It is admitted by all, that the joy which we ought
to exhibit on such an occasion, should be so mani-
fested, that it may raise our hearts in gratitude be-
fore the Throne of Heaven ; and we cannot but ac-
know ledge, that to do good In our fellow creatures,
is the ony tree source of joyful satisfaction, and the
must solemn proof of sincere adoration; for fie
tense offered up to the Most High, call he en grate-
ful to hie goodness, as that of a benevolent actin.,.
On the twenty-fifth day of the preseet mouth,
we have resolved to commeonseate the long reign
of that
.mte,t gracious. Sovereign, who hat Acid,

for nearly half a celitury, the sceptre of these
three United Kingdoms; whose mildoess iu the
exercise of regal power— whose exeiordery conduce'
in the path of morality--.-sind whose tirm attach.
meta to the religious institutions of his aneestoras
have endeared his life in the eyes of his people, and'
will render his reign illustriou, iinionot future gea
neratious. On that tidy, Majesty, no doubt;
will psrticiprite in the general
01 his cOttitg,
try, and will testify his own gratitude, by extend-•
ing his rural mercy and forgiveness, to the utmoAt
Inuit of reasonable expectatio.i. Übe only point,
therefore, left for the considOratinit of Ins subjects
is, how they shall most cordially and religiuusty
express their joy, in unison with that of their So-
vereign To have recourse, at such a trine, to ows
tematious ceremony, or to march in
procession,
amidst the show of pageautry, would be to courrett
our rejoicing into a egerisilisplay of vanity ; *gams
for as to riot staid*. these tunes of approavhing
ace •4 s coVavagance of sumptuous dimiere,
-Mon the wants and necessities of the
poor,° from the extreme of folly, to fall into
; and, lastly, to illuminate every wino
(boy in the rwltn, or even in London, would be a
profusion of expense, without the production of
uenelit, and would exhibit but a transient &spiry
of the gladness of our hearts ; for the blaze of a
*hole city is comparatively when contrasted
with the brightness of one R ood action. Hut, to
stretch out oar hand to the dying victim of taisforz
tune and misery, to restore the imprisoned firthef
to his helpless and distreseeil family, and the long.:
coefined debtor to his place amongst society, would
ler to heal the wounds of affla:tion, and to repait
the ravagerof misery ; it would produce that timi
feigned joy, which would arise frhsti a thousand
hearts, in grateful Jubilee Name the Creator of
the cluiverse, mid thereby draw down his blowup
upon as hereafter ; far every good deed' promotes
siteeetaliall of benefits to all meruity.
It has been intimated, that the emancipation oT
prisoners for debt, should rest eutirely with the
benevolence of the Kin.; ; that the iiiterfermice of
the public would &toggle from that respect which
is due to the prerugetiie ; mud that we ought to
resort to Milne intier means of eelairilthig thIN
livid. But, though it is the King's prerogntive To
release the impri,mned from the misery of a gain, hid
discretion has never permitted the exercise of that
power ivheretly the debtor might be relieved, mii4l
the ered t tor rained or considerably titjured. On all
ordinary occasions, such en exercise of the royal
would be m 1.04 and grievous to the
subjet, nod n day of jubilee ought nut to sanction
an net us right, which at all other times would be
determined as completely wrong. His Majesty's
cleinency, extended in Ilium way would be wily
elisogitie the scene of distress, without lessening
the rinantity of human misiry. Si for as
titivates, or the peculiar circumstance* of great
ones will admit of royal forgiveness, without en-
dangering the happiness of society, there can be
nn doubt His Majesty will iiiterfe4 ;at the same
time it would be cruel for us to expect that our
Sovereign should relieve Insolvent Debtors, which
lie could not consisteilly do, without making com•
lweilfatioll to injured creditors. This act of tense-
valence would cost His Majesty, as an individual;
. a most enorntoov expense; but it would be scarcely
felt, when collectively borne by the generosity of
his people. Then let us all, as Englishinen and
Christians,- unite together, and celebrate this day
of Jubilee, and instead of uselessly ex:tending our
money in ?beating, and th'e momentary effusions of
'hew and. illeinninatirtM tee ter restore the distressed
husbauil latyes• of his affectionate wife,
and the onfieriumite parent to his sulfenng chil-
dren. Let us release the mechanic, that he may
he useful to society ; and the cootined soldier
and sailor, who will manifest their gratitude by
ti;htint; the battles of their country in die hour
of d:t:i4er ; anti let It. do all this, by the pay-
meet of their debta.—Let WI carry this project
into immediate execution, for the small slime
which would have been expended iu feasting, shin,
wr illoniimition, will fully accomplish die object of
our wishes ; and, if generally eilopted, will MUM-,
~,o,ut.• all prisoners fur debt throughout -OW lands
tell., are worthy of coimpassinii, or would be sir.
vieeeble to society.
Co..selar dn. mode of celebration in every tee,
lola, it will terminate actual suffering,lellevusteit-
ter or restore happiness to thotniandirof indi.
viduals, which are great objects on the side of hu-
manity; and also consider how this money, so ex-
pended, will be circulated its those chauuels where
it will best conduce to national utility, and that the .
individuals so emancipated, will, instead of being a
burden, increase the riches and the strength of
one country, which two considerations are certainly
worthy oldie most enlightened policy.
A gentleman, who is very .ready to illumine'', or
to adopt any other 'node of celebration, which can
testify hie gratitude and loyalty, first suggested
this address to the public, by stating dint he **mild
cheerfully subscribe double the snuotint of what it
cost him to illuminate, for the relief of Poor
Insolvent Debtors; and, if eiery one on this
great occasion would be guided by the same
gnoditess of heart, and subscribe in proportion or
according to his ability. the day of jubilee will
not he kept in outward and osteututimis se mono,
but in the exercise of true benevolence, cud Chris-
tian charity, in drying up the tears of affliction,
and turning the sorrows of u prison into the joys of
•
a family.
It is, therefore, requested, that illumination rimy
be laid aside, and that all people, of every dal., in
this metropolis, will sobscribe something to acs
conspitsit this great purpose of hinrismity, end that
theiteximple will be follow:Al by every towns nod
place iii the United Kingdom of Great Britain, sod
Ireland. On this subject we are hippy, to conclude
b' seritraig our reavicis that any +ghat:notion !or
this purpose will he received at Si,. Holden's, No.
23, New City Chetnhers, Bishopegete-street, and at
Voyd's Cot/Le-houses

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PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.

11111111 ACT OF A LETTER 'mot A GERTAIIIIIII 19
!MESHING. D,STO'llarr. 117, 18op.
DEAR Sta--it is a ttataintl suppositibil that yon
would wish to know the state of affairs herr, inde.
pendent of the interest it • may be to many of the
readers of The Limerick Gazette, should you wish
to publish any of the following 'facts
diately previous to quitting South Siveland, we
destroyed all the French batteries, and embarked
their runs on board our transports; they consisted
of 14-pounders and 6-inch howitzers, both classes
of which were as good guns
_perhaps as could be
made. The batteries id Fort Bathz, and that near
the village of Waartleii, were the most considerable;
we now evacuated the island, and with the next
tide were opposite this town. I imagined I Mile
on my way to England with the brigade of artil-
lery I was all along attached to ;' hut sects were
the numbers of sick in Flushing, that an order
was sent out by a, cutter to direct all medical
Hikers on shore. I was the only one that. could
be found, the other vessels, with the medical staff
of regiments, being farther on their passage to
riigland ; I never witnessed a more melancholy
sight than on entering this place, scarcely a house
escaped that had net been penetrated by a shot, or
still worse by a shell, many were struck by six, se-
ven, eight, or ten, others entirely in ruin ; the Stadt-
Mouse, which ceriainly must have been a noble edi-
fice, has now only its principal front remaining, to
give the stranger an idea of what it once was ; this
largest church here, with its steeple, fell in with a
tremendous crash—now the solitary shell remains,
with the lead on the edges of the roof nicked all
round, and Ilmmitng like so many icicles. The
numbers killed duringthe siege, I understand, were
aosuparat vele few; one shell, however, killed and
vrouinled eighteen of the inhabitants. Since I came
here, i have visited the positions, batteries, kr. of
our farces during the attack, which. from what 1
have heard, and indeed myself observed, were mann-
viably calculated fur the reduction of a much inure
extensive and stronger place than this. Flushing is
• large town, the streets in general are open and
wide. and the canals that communicate through it,
in various directions. are as useful for the convey-
ance of goods, as ornamental to the place. The only
vessels worth ineutiouing that were found on the
stock. here, were a 74, which our carpenters are
now taking to pieces ; a frigate and a corvette they
are finishing. Tue state of the sick here is truly la-
mentable, there are upwards of Atlo Wilier/ in
hospital, exclusive of 139 vent 100 ,to England.
The 2.J.1 regiment of foot have only 11 effective
men, the proportion of sick iu the other regiments
is from 430 to 500 men; you cannot *Mk out with-
out seeing either a group of poor fellows going to
tl* hospitals for admiesioo, or a dreary funeral up
and diovn. I performed the tad office of
bearer to au old brother officer and particular frieuii
a few days ago ; the 77th regiment buried two 0/1.4-
c-rs in two succeeding 414% less than a week.—.
The priocipsil remedy fair the diseases picialent
here, is bark, which ar are out of, amid 1 thick it
is miaccouatable that we do not get a supply ;
We are slow four sky., without if, cried frel the lase
Imverely, as out tneu are daily ; what is still
Morse. we cannot find soy tarilicioe as a substitute
Half as effector! in preventing or connteractiag the
sdfeetion. The remittent, intermittent; awl typhus
saltier Peers. are the principal diseases. The sol-
diers shins coma into the hospitals .either sith a
tenesitteut sir iniarmaiiteut laver ; but those. its defi.
pace of ell our exertions, assume in a *hod time the
/NSW character the suddenness of the attack, the
iedeecribable lemmas of spirits induced, and the
lepiddebility end snaking that follow, are peculiar
Characteristics of the disease. I have seen thaw*
symptoms repeatedly. mid mild scarcely give ere.
alit to them, was I not an immediate agitates to
them. The hospit4s in general are neat and,
cleanly in the eatretogs-and • cap:telly 'ventilated
Arid fumigated. The 8.401 Artillery, Hospital here
stands foremost in thwo.reapeet; this is partly
to be attributed to the excellence 444 a aituabon.
ipar hopes' they have obtained for this purpose.—
The last general return of the sick, inWalcheren,
was 9,700. Brigadier-General Montrosaor coin-
mands here; Sir Eyre Conte, the Commander-in-
Chief, resides st Middleburg..-the latter place is
shout five iniles-frem this, sad exceed, it is every
respect ; it is a large and handsome town, fortified
principally by an iosincose ditch; the streets
are very broad, seat, end ; the Square is
extensive, and remarkable for the Stadt.house. a
beautiful huililitig indeed—a master-piece of ar-
chitecture.; the canals iu this tawu are really
charming and picturesque, having many noble
houses, gardens, and walks, situated on them.—
What a pity it is, that this island is so unhealthy—
it may well be celled a garden throughout—the
cultivation of it exhibits, on every acre, the indus-
try of its inhabitants."—/Limerick Gazette.)

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON.
WEDNESDAY, Ocrossa IS.

Dispatches were received, yesterday, at the Fo-
reign Office. from Flushing: IVe understand that
the sickness of our troops is decreasing, end that
the building of barracks, and other measures for
the retention and protection of the Island, were in
full activity. Goveriinst:iit have issued orders for
replacing the buoys at the entrance of the Scheldt.
Letters from Hollaild, or the 12th, arc said to have
.eeu received, which mention that peace has actu-

ally !well signrd between France and Austria.—
They even pretend to know some of the terms,
viz :—that Upper awl Lower Austria shall be
placed at the disposal of Fritnve; and Out a French
army shall be stationril, till the: pears with Eng-

land, is those parts of the .instriait Enipire vehicle
are to' vermin in the poo,ession of 'the ttligteroi
FRA NCIL-7-lf peace has bora signed, it to extiaor-
&Rory there have been no rejoie.ngs on the French
roast.

-r
The ladefatigabk fripte stewed, on Saturlay,
at Plyinotstb, from Fermi. At Let departure the

Spaniards were tnarelong in great race to attack
,Marshal NEY, who had fallen back on their ap-
yoach. They were well apppliad, awl in high

We understand that Mr. Rossas DUNDAS
SAUNDERS arrived in town yesterday to attend the
Levee, this day, when he wilt be presented with
the seals of the War Department. The lion. W.
PoLs will at the same time take leave, preparatory
to his immediate departure for Dublin, as Irish
Secretary.

We have been ratified for some time past with
accounts from Weymouth, of the convalescence of
her Royal Highness the Princess AMELIA. A re-
port, which, we trust, will prove unfounded, was
prevalent, last night, in the west end of the town,
that the complaint of her Royal Highness had taken
a sudden and alarming turn.

The medical report, last night, at the Duke of
PORTLAND'S, stated, that his Grace was much
better; but that, from the nature of his 'naiad),
little hope could be entertained of his recovery.—
His Grime, we understand, has entirely last bis ay
petite, rad taken no food for sonic days.

It will be seen; in our subsequent columns, that
we have it not yet iu our power to announce an end
of the disorder in Covent-Garden Theatre. That
disorder we have uniformly opposed, from a pure
and conscientious feeling and conviction, that it oat
not the voice of the people, but an uproar excited
by a base and sordid faction, and kept alive by the
most insidious and unjustifiable means. The first
cry wine, " Shew us that there is cause for raising the
prices." Cause war shewu, and the uproar increased.
Next, " No CATALAN! !"—.CATALANI was given
up, and the uproar increased. The real and ge-
nuine friends of " matitiegeriisur had, it seemo,.dis-
covered, that those abominable fortirsers, the
licwats family, still remained ; and that fire disin-
terested gentlemen, of unsullied honour, had CD.
tered into a conspiracy with the Managers to
cheat the public. Attempt* having failed to en-
Lst particular mules in the Opposition, recourse
has In en hail to women, in hopes that any seve-
ray exercised upon the fair sex, would bring odium
upon the Managers.- 'With a similar view, an old
man, sinking into the grave, was, last night, put
forward to raise a tumult which he could not hear ;
mid, as will be seen our account, as reported
front Bow-street. Sencto.l Midfield, shaman to a
druggist in Bishorgate-street, was a second
time brought out to harangue the audience, in
the dress and character of a naval officer :

thus violating the laws, and degrcding the na-
val prefepsion, by his ii.flaminatory language
and gross itnpo,tnre. We hare never been
strangers to the public voice, nor slow to whey
Its eall; but we do confess. that, in these base
subterfuges, these low and in-an stratagems, and
all this prevarication and shnilling ofcomplaint and
grievance, we mulct recognise a single accent of
the public voice, nor a single hare of British cha-
racter.

Yesterday morning Colonel Tersest, the Se-
cretary to.the Cuaninauder-in-Chief, transacted bu-
siness with Mr. PiIiCIETAL, at his house in Down-
ing-street.
Yesterday Sir Dail q polDra held a public day
et his office in the lionse-Guards, and gave audi-
enees to the Earl of Pewits, Sir Geosoe N was NTs
mad Geoevals HARRIS and Ntcnota.
We understand Mr. Conn, late Under-Secretary
of State to Lord CaallaillEAGS, is to socceed Mr.
HVIIIIII4OI, as Secretary to the Treasury.
It is reported that it is His Masusev-ri most gra-
cious intention to restore, on the 25th instant, all
the titles in the Scotch Peerage which had been
forfeited since the year 1687.
The detachments of the different regiments of
the line belonging to the King's German Legion,
at present at Lymiogion, are ordered to iiroceed
to Portchester, which is to be considered, iu future,
as the depot of the infantry of the Legion.
From the most rutheutic intelligence from the
isle of Walcheren, it appears that the deaths are
decreased, though they now amount to erin per
week. Three thoussud sick have been sent home
lately, which takes all the serious cases away.
Letters from Holland, of the lith instant, state,
that the French have prohibited the exportation of
wheat from any French or Dutch purl, under the
severest penalties.
The following extract from the Royal Courant of
iloteterrlam, of the inth inst., sheos how little con-
nexion, commercial or political, Welchem' con now
innirdain with tile re'4 of Zealand
The Commander of the distriet of the province of VII.
land informs sack persons whom it may concern, that all Mu
Majesty's subjects, who a° far forget their dory, as to maiuttin
any iiitircourse with the enemy in Walcheren, by purchasi..g
say gouda pat lap to sale by them, either directly or tudii ectly,
shall be considered nut tolls as criminals, but further he in-
capable of holding any odic,. under Nis Majesty. Those
who have been compelled to quit Walehereo, and have
sustained any lam of pcopeity thereby, may not come
to aay tering with the eistiti) for it, restoration, but dull, iu
due time, be remaaeratcd by the Government.
Letters from the Island of Walcheren, of the
13th instant, have been received. The following
is en extract of a letter, dated

" V 1 (I•VCRUSOII, OCT. 13, isno.
" The skit in the hospitals are reeoiering beyond n...-
Sure. Were it not foi the numher of convalescents in them
of the okt disease, our hospitals, upon an 'venom would
Out he more crowded than those of Loaland, I invaii at
the moment of writing The old Government of 171 y% is
about to be restored, and Gen Finch, it is said, will be our
Commandant."
A (:lateral Court. Martial sat...last week, at I last-
ings--Golonel %VOOO, of the East ?lliddle•ex Re-
giment, President, and Captain Bottamt, of the
Nottingham Regiment, Deputy Judge-Advocate,
for the trial of • Lieutenant of the Royal West
Middlesex Militia, on charges of disobedience of
orders 41111 11111Teri't fel CClllallei to his Command-
ing Offi:!tr. '1 he result is not yet toads known.

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