The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-12-14 00:00:00

LONDON,

MONDAY. Dacsusga 14, IBM

The opening of the French Legislative Anew
blies. on Thursday last, is announced in the Paris
Papers which have arrived at our Office. The
KING'S Speech on this important occasion will be
read with considerable interest, as it represents an
animated picture of the political and civil state of
France, and which, though highly favourable, both
as it regards the Government and the country, can-
not, we firmly believe, be considered as overcharg-
ed or flattering. The removal of the Allied Army
of Occupation, in itself the most prominent event
that has occurred since the prorogation of the
Chambers, and the most grateful to a Frenchman's
feelings that could have occurred, takes precedence,
as might have been expected, in this periodical
exposition of public affairs. The KING judiciously
contemplates this event as the close of his people's
sufferings, while he also justly represents it as the
termination of the Revolution. He exults with
pride and energy in having French troops once
more within the fortresses of his kingdom, and
flatters the national vanity by praising the patience
and forbearance evinced by the people during the
occupation of their provinces by a foreign force.
It is a good rule of state policy, particularly in
France, to praise the people ; and there is no oc-
currence within the range of possibility but may,
by a moderate share of ingenuity, become a source
of commendation. Not long since the French ailed

to be praised for valour and ambition ; but circum-
stances being much altered, some other virtues
must be sought for, and this impatient and rest-
less people are now complimented for their forbear-
uuce in enduring • burden from which they found
it difficult, if not impossible, to free themselves'.

The KING alludes to the Dect.saretou with
which the Allied Sovereigns closed their labours at
the late Congress at Aix-Is-Chapelle, and considers
it a proof of their determination to prevent the re-
currence of wars by the observance of treaties and
" the gua►antee of existing rights." This corn.
meat by his MAJsary offers a clear exposition of
the principal object that intarested the Rulers of
mankind in their recent union. It gives what
might be called " a broad hint" to those of his
subjects who might vainly hope to disturb his pos-
session of the throne, that should they conspire
another revolution, the Hussars, the Croats, and
the Cossacks, will once again be let loose upon
their fine country ; and that although the " Army
of Occupation" has been withdrawn, measures
have been devised fur its re-establishment, in the
event of any dangerous popular commotion.

To celebrate the close of the Revolution in a
manner that may at the same time evince a seine of
divine benevolence, and by testifying a sincere re-
spect for the Constitution, inspire the people with
confidence in their Monarch's intentions, his
JCSTY purpo►es to confirm the Charter by a reli-
gious solemnity. Fond as the French are of theatri-
cal effect, we fear that such a device will not he at-
tended with any serious benefit. It will follow too
close upon the •• religious solemnity" of the Chimp

4 M'd, when 'Bus APARTL'S Ade Addi:ioit(i ‘s. s
confirmed amidst the shew ut religion by the so-
lemnity of oaths, and hailed with shouts of enthu-
siasm.
The state of the (loaners and of public credit t twid
not fail of being noticed by the IstNte, who briefly
attributes the recent decline in the funds to " ttait-
sitory circumstances common to other States."
It cannot fail, however, to exercise a hem ficial
in-
fluence in the Mill Let, that his MAJc i y should
have declared the loan now in the course of cmi-
tract should " fix a limit to the inestase of
the public debt." From this year he promises
a diminution in taxes, which are already mo-
derate in their amount, judiciously imposed,
and regularly paid. The ordinary expenditute
of France is considerably within her income,
consequently the sinking fund can be effectually
operative, and France may, within the @cope of
an ordinary life, look to be wholly exempt from her
public debt. flow long will the people of Eng-
land endure with patience a system of Government
bearing a disheartening contrast to this financial
picture of our rival ? Is it not enough that we
should have borne the burden of taxes, almost in-
tolerable, during the continuance of an expensive
and protracted war, but must we still be oppressed
with it on the restoration of peace ? We can see
iso " limit fixed to the increase of our debt,"
unless the people will earnestly and universally
raise their voices for the reduction of our pre-
sent war establishment, and enable their Repre-
sentatives in Parliament to plead their cause with
confidence and success. This duty principally be-
longs to the noblemen and gentry of the country;
they are emphatically the protectors of the People,
and should prove their claim to that noisiest title
by compelling the Ministers to practise economy.
The only remarkable•point in the KING'S Speech
.that remains to be noticed is his allusion to the bid-
Intintfor the Army, under the Recruiting Law of
the last Session. HIS MAJESTY asserts, that the
law has been executed with submission, and often
with joy. The departments of the Seine and Rhone
could not have been within his MAirsaTt's contem-
plation when he uttered this sentence.

M. ANGLES, the elder, being the oldest Member,
presides in the Chamber of Deputies •otil a Presi-
dent shaft have been elected.

The Five per Cents. closed on Tuesday at
68 f. 30 e. Bank Stock at 1,5671 f.—On Wei-
nesday the Five per Cents. were 67 1. 40 c. ; Bank
Stock. 1.667} f.

A Flanders Mail arrived last night with Papers
from Brussels to the 14th instant. The Duke of
GLOUCESTEIL arrived at Frankfort on the sth.
The following is an extract :

BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 8.

The High Court of Justice of this city pro-
nounced on the 26th November a final decree, in
a cause which implicated important questions of
public law, and of the law of nations. A loan of
300,000 francs had been made in 1811 by the
French Government to the proprietots of some ma-
nufactories of Ghent, who in the circumstances of
those times would have been forced to abandon, but
for this assistance, establishments which it was of
great consequence to the public interest to preserve.
A notarial act attested the loan, and the borrower
engaged in it to repay at stipulated periods; he
had given • mortgage upon his property. The
question to be determined was, whether this claim,
which still remained undischarged, had become the
property of the Allied Sovereigns, and in the se-
quel of the kingdom of the Netherlands, in cense-
quence of the conquest of Belgium ? 2d, Whether,
in every case, it had not remained or become again
the property of France, according to the stipula-
tions of the 25th article of the Treaty of Paris, of
November 20, 1615 ? Mr. Tarte, sen. and Mr.
Destoop, the Advocate-General, enforced at length,
and with great force of argument, the principles of
public law and of the law of nations, which favoured
the claims of the Treasury of the kingdom of the
Netherlands. Those arguments were successful,
the sentence confirmed these claims, and overruled
the opposition of a creditor who had a mortgage
on the estates after that in favour of the French
Government, and wished to establish the right of
the latter.

A German Juurnal affirms that the Swedish and
German Powers of the Russian Empire, viz. Cour.
land, Livonia, Est!lonia, and Finland, will shortly
receive a particular Constitution adapted to their
situation. and to the advanced state of civilization
which these provinces enjoy.

A Dutch Atril has arrived. with Papers to
the 7th instant. The anniversary of the birth.
day of the Prince of ORANGE WAS celebrated at the
Hogue on the tith. A discovery of pearls has been
made by a Captain PRISSE in the province of
Luxembourg.

Captain the Hon. HENRY DUNCAN, of the
Li/fey, fitted for the Mediterranean station, hits
been appointed to the Rerolationaire, which ship
is to he fitted for the East Indies. Captain the
Hon. FLEETWOOD PILLEW has been appointed to
the 4114. It is said the Rerolutionaire is intend.
ed to take out a new Governor-General to the East

The Demo», Capt. MASON, recently arrived •t
Portsmouth from Valparaiso, veiled the latter end

Indies.

of . lily, tare"' orerl'aii.R were making to and
the !Mk pendent Ili II;111 to sr;, voinasiiiix of tight
sail, well aimed and manned (oiir of them a two-
ilecherl, for the toisrpow of blockadi,o,r, LIMN, and
I lite, Crptllig the flet t of transports with troops front
Cadiz, de,titiril for that !bluer, of which nothing
li.id been beard since one of thew attired at Buenos
Ayres, to join the Indepeadenh, instead of the
Itoyalists at Liana. General MARTIN was collect,.
tog his forces to attack Limns on the land side.

On Thursday the Sapphire, '24, Captain II ART;
f.tr the Jamaica station; Leror, SU, Captain 134a4
limit/MEW, C. B. for the E .st Indies; and the /fed.
wing, Id, Captain INK N. for St. Helena and the
Cape, arrived at Portsmouth from the River.
They will proceed to their destinations inn few dap.

On Wednesday the Drirer, Captain RFID,
sailed from Portsmouth for her station on the wer•t
coast of Scotland ; and the Primrose, Captmi.
Plinuorr ilium St. ['elem.), for Plymouth, to be
paid off.
The 18th and 39th Regiments are expected to
embark at Portsmouth, ins Wednesday, f.r Cork.
The 4.5t11, 35th, 91. d, rand 'l.l battalion Rifle., fir►
the sante destination, will follttiv, as soon as tran►r-
ports can be got ready to take them. Eleven
of tran■ports arrived rat that pat last week frosts
Cork.

The Ist 11117610 n of the I,t Ellie Battalion, front
France, marched into Fort Comberland cm S.ttur-
day morning ; as did the 33d Regiment into Port 4-;
month and lithe' Barracks, and the Stet Regiment
into Ilasbe and Gosport Barracks.
W.-diiesdav marched into Southampton the 54th
Regiment of Foot from Chester. Their dedina.
Lion is the Cape of Good Fiore.

Rear-Admiral DOH•LII CAMPBELL re-hoirted
his flag nn Saturday, at Portsmouth, on board ilie
Salisbury, 58, Captain JOHN WILSON, which ship
went out of harbour on Friday morning. The
Rear-Admiral will shortly proceed to take his com-
mand of the Leeward 1-I:itida.

The Camekom,Cmptstio MINOAT, is placed wider
the orders of the Commander•iii-Clpef at l'oi is-
mouth.

On Wednesday the Saracen, 18, Captain JOHN
GORE (b), was released front quarantine at Plos-
mouth; she left Benno,la on the I6th ult. The
Be!tette, Captnin, GEORGE PECIIELL, had wiled
for Halifax. The Harrier, Sir CH•GLES Joszs.
may be hourly expected. The Saracen is to be
paid off at Chatham.
On Thursday morning, about four o'clock. the
Linnet, Lieut. APPLEBY (tender to the flag-slop at
Portsmouth), captured between Worthing and Lt-
tlehampton a smuggling boot, with font men, hav-
ing a cargo of 320 tubs of spirits, and .50 packages
of tea, tobacco, and cards. The Linnet had pre-
viously chased a smuggling cutter, but could not
get up with her.
A few days since the Vigilant cutter seized a
lugger, with upwards of 30 tuba of spirits, off the
Owers Light-vessel.
The Lords of the Admiralty have made a pro•
motion in the Navy, limited to those Officers of the
longest standing who have just concluded their
three years' of peace service.—The slumber n f
Commanders promoted to the rank of Post-Captaiis
is twelve, namely—
Captains Marlin White, J. Cookealy, !amen Marra!, C.
G. R. Phillott, George M Jones, W. Wolrig., A. F. Wee-
tropp, John Rosa, George Brine, C. R. MUUIIIOIII, Lord
John Hay, sod Hon. G. J. Perceval.
The number of Lieutenants promoted to the rank
of Commander, we understand, is sixteen.

Resr-Admiral the lion. Sir 111 saY BLACK•
WOOD, Burt. it is amid, will succeed Sir RICHARD

KING, Bart. as

the Emit

Captain AVILLEs is appointed to the U'ye, LG.
ordered to be completed at Chatham for imme-
diate service on the coast of Africe, iii the room of
the Cherub, lately paid otf.
Sir Tnomas M. HARD* is appointed to the
Superb, 74, guardship at Plymouth—Mr. JESSE
to be Purser.

The Racoon sod Pelican have been paid off at
Portsmouth, and laid up in ordinary.
Remain at Spit head —Antelope, Sapphire, Leven.
Redwing, Saracen, Shamrock, and Hound.
Sir WILLIAM Score has decided, that, in all
cases of capture of ships In rivers, harbours, Stc. by
conjoint expeditions (Army and Nan ), the parties
are not entitled to head money ; but only when cap-
tured ut sea, and by ships alone.

An important constitutional question recently
occurred at Chatham, by an attempt to subject
Serjeant KING, of the East India Company's re—
cruiting service, to a military Court-martial. Tile
opinion of Counpe4 has been taken on the bubject,
which iv, that, by every maxim of law, 11111 i 0:1
every constitutional ground, KING 10 not amenable
to martial law.

Accounts have been received from York, in
Upper Canada, dated the 31st or October, with
intelligence that the persons belonging to, or con-
nected with, the North West Company, who were
accused as principals and acceAaries iu what was
called the murder of Governor SEMPLE MA his
party, in the Red River, in 1816, %ere folly ac-
quitted. The trial of BONCHE and Baowa, who
were parties in the contest when Mr. SEMPLE and
his followers were killed, took place berme Chirf
Justice Powni. on the 06th, and lastril two days ,
that of the other parties on the 30111 Oztoher ; auJ
in the last trial, in clinging the Jury, the Juifze,
Mr. BOLTON, declared that, in his opinion, there
was not a particle of admissible testimony off ci:i,g
the prisoners. Bouctiv, the half-bred
who was first tried, had been confined 26 'um ti
as close prisoner, previous to his discharge on
ac9ulttal.
Sheffield and its neighbourhood were visited Mk
Thursday, the 3d instant, by a most tretni.ndone
storm of thunder and lightning, which cau-ert the
greatest alarm throughout the town and its
The lightning appeared one vim brilliant t.htet.
It passed over the Brocco into the valley iotiiralii.
where it struck a strung brick wall lie to tie
round, tore up a part cf the foundation, a,.(1 Rh-tor
out a se.h-window from • house, and carnal it
the opposite side of the room : fortunately no pet'
son received the least injury.