The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-11-22 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY LXPEDITION.

An expedition is now fitting out with extraor-
dinary activity, which is considered of great na-
tional importance, ■nd has excited universal in-
tersst 01111 expectation. Its intended course and
movements, its well as its final destination. are as
vet only subject of conjecture, and have produced
niiicli speculation. The principal officers employ-
ell in the service presume they are going on a voy-
:il:,, or discovery• for a new passage to Cape Safety,
the old c.tlr4e having been at late obstructed by
reefs mid which have been thrown up by
extraordinary revulsion Irons the bottom to the
surface. judging from the quality of the
-hip., their crews, and equipments, apprehend that
they are bound direct for the Golf of Desolation.
through the Straits of Re: fractious. and . down the
Sea of Despotism into the Ocean of Folly.
The vessels to be employed in the service were all
originally ships of wars which have MO much ser-
vice. but since the peace have either been laid ap
in ordinary, or used as transports. The following
1s a bit
:
The Liverpool, 74. Captain JENIET, a dell
heasy sailor. with slight timbers. and badly manned.
The Cast/ere*, 74. Captain This wea-
sel is also badly manned for a line-of-battle ship,
and has been within the last few years used us a
transport between this and the Continent, during
which time she has made many successful trips,
and carried on a very lucrative trade in diplomatic
snuff-boxes, gold rings, &c. besides large quanti-
ties of English treasure, exported for the use of
foreign states, as subsidies, loans, &c. The Cas-
t/me was condemned as unserviceable some years
back by an eminent surveyor; but the opinian of
the latter was overhauled upon a trial of her fire at
Wimbledon, and she has ever since htld her place
in the service.

The Canning, 64, Captain Spouter.—This is
a shewy verses, and a fast sailer, currying little
ballast. In the late war she made several prizes,
and reckons among her captures the Lowther, the
ilnakisson, &c. Since she came into the merchant
service she has been rendered remarkable for a pro-
fitable speculation in the Lisbon trade. Although
with pert-holes for the show of a 64, her scantling
is only that of a frigate.

The Exchequer, Capt. VAN.—The name would
imply a Dutch vessel, but she certainly is not
Dutch built. She is chiefly used as a store-ship in
the grand fleet to carry the money chest. !ler guns
are of very small calibre, and easily silenced even
by a frigate.
The Mist, Captain POLE.-I.lkis vessel has all
the metal and other materials necessary to consti-
tute a ship of Merlin stamp ; but her Captain has
riot displayed much judgment in any actions in
which lie has engaged, although he has had many
tippet tonities, particularly in his engagements with
the Crown and the Sovereign. He does not seem
to know how to measure his distance, and, oh
shame to British prowess I is notorious for striking.
There is • great number of bombs, fire-ships,
and ether small fry attached to the above.
It was supposed that the expedition would not
set sail until after Christmas, but a sudden order
lately appeared in the Gazette, to hasten its depar-
ture, and the squadron will fall down to.nsorrow,
the 23d instant, to Retten-rote, from whence it will
start in the course of the day, wind and weather
permitting.

Of the probable result of this expedition, there
are 'orlon. opinions. AVe:e the squadron to proceed
by Fair/lead and Constitution Promontory through
Lawful Passage into the Patriotic Ocean, visiting
in its way the little Islands of Economy, and tak-
ing in fresh supplies in the Bay of Reform, there
would be very little doubt of its ultimate success.
But those places lie within-a quarter of the world
totally unknown to, and neve► traversed by, the
Officers employed its the expedition, and it may be
therefore confidently presumed they mean to shape
a very different course.
There is another circumstance which deserves
serious notice, ■nd must excite apprehen.ions
for the result: the crews are known to be
downright mercenaries; they will not figl.t if
nut well fed and paid; and it is whispered that
the Commander in Chief has been greatly disap-
pointed in the ways and means. llowever, half
a loaf in such fellows is better than no bteud, and
we have little doubt that they will be content with
short .41lowatice for the prevent, if accompanied with
a pruisnae and hope of future plunder.

11 AZ 4RD and Co. sold iu Shares the first-drown
Prize ill the pretext Lottery, entitled to Twenty
Thousand Pounds (Money and Consols), No. 7,370, at their
Offices, Rii)al Exchange Gate; 26, eurnbill ; and 324, Os-
ford-street, corner of Swallow-strict ; where Tickets and
Maris arc now selling fur the next Day of Drawing, Decem-
b. 9. alien Two more Prizes of 23,0001. (Money and
nu•ol. wail be d►awa in the brat fire luinuirs, sud Four
otitis 20,1.:nif Prizes may be drawn.
it is 4 curious circumstance, that 81511 should
tint uttlt• 'hare his own Capitals, but nisi) sell parts
of those of other Office-keepers; yet strange as it may ap-
pear, it is nettrilseless true, as his Agent at Liverooul beiug
short of Shares, and there not being sufficieut time to write
to London for inure, he bosizlit some of Mr. Welsh's Agent'
one of whirls was s 20,0001. Prize, in the pre►ent Lottery,
and the Agent at Edinburgh, bring aims out of Shares,
bought a few, and one of those was another Prise of tO,OOO/.
a Lich plea, ly demonstrates that Butt ts not ooly lucky him-
self u ON Office-keeper, bast hie 'igen-fleas. tray WM); sod
we trust th y will give a good account of the Six Prizes of
20,0001. iu the Wheel, Two of which most be drawn in
the First l':ee Minutes, Next Day of Drawing, 9th of Next
Mouth. We recollect last time there were (as nor.) Six
20,0001. Prizes, DISH sold Three of them ALL IN SHARK%
sad they were distributed over all parts of the Untied ►wg-
dam.