The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-09 00:00:00

IMPORTANT DISPATCHES FROM ST. HELENA.

Last evening we received a letter from our private
Correspondent at Portsmouth, from which the for.
lowing is aw extract :
"Portswouta, SterateTleck
lishirelay Evenly".

"The Captain Brio', arrived this dap from
St. Hekna. Tbr Captain is gone off for London is manias
and Nur, and the strictest cadent are kit that no cossniani•
ration whatever is to he had with the ship fur twenty-four
boars front the time of his departure, which will expire
about there o'clock to.niorrow. I apprehend that Bona-
parte its &lid, and that his ftllllollll are brought to England
in the ifitscnito, or, perhaps, be has made bis escape."

The following account is from The Hampshire
Telegraph:—

'1 Port:NorA, Saturday, NorcakT 7.

" This afternoon, about ball-past two o'clock, his Majesty's
sloop or war .liusquitm, Capt. Geo. Brine, arrived from St.
kna, is 31l days (basis; sailed on the 29th September),
with dispatches of eery great lasgarfance. Capt. Brine was
landed with them, by the Cuattim-buirse boat, and, at half• past
three, he set off in a rust.c►atse and futur for the Admiralty.
All communication with the Margrete being interdicted foe

twelity:four hours, we are suable to state what is the nature
of the dispatt'kes, though we have no doubt it is of the high-
est Importastee. Various rumours have been circulated since
the tortval larthe Phurvitio ; but knowing, as we do, that
the contrails Of the dispatches ere not boo.a by any indivi-
dual here, it would be trifling with our a-eiders to repeat these
mere spehnlative opinions. ,lad it been possible to bare
asceit:iiisad fhe intelligence brought, they might be assured we
should have had the sitisfaction of communicating it its them.
The basest intelligedee received from St. Helena, previous to
this arrival, was of *the 11th of September. By a letter from
Ih. Helena, of that date, the naval force there consisted as

follows —Conqueror, 71, Admiral Plampie, Captain Stan.
fell ; Tors, Defile!, l'odurgsts, Itedpult, Farotrits, Miss-
'vino, and Ree 0011; the Iwo letter were to sail for Eng-
land -easy soon. The letter mates-1 Napoleon is never
to be wen, and the respeciefrilies of some of his attendants
is mock on the decline, Bertrand particularly. A house is
hegiin for the t:i•dtraat Emperor, close to Longwood, ■nd
the anxiety of the Governor to 'have it completed induces
him to ride daily to the spot, and in less than a ycarl Mink
ins will have au muse to complain of his dwelline."

If the steresy observed by the hearer of the
dispatches inspired un idea of their importance at
Portsmouth, the conduct of Government on re-
ceiving them in town was eminently calculated to
curtfirin that opinion mid deepen the impres-

lies. The dispatches were addressed to Earl
BATHURST, but being intrusted to a Naval Officer,
Captain Bailee felt it his duty to deliver them at
the Admiralty. About six o'clock last morning
Lord MELVILLE received them, and he lost not a
moment to communicate them to Earl BATHUILIT.
A Council was immediately coiled, and inenengers
might be seen 'flying in all directions, to summon
the persons whose presence was considered nemr
eery. to early as half.past screw O'clock hk.
Ceolee had arrived from Munster house. The
Law Officers were also -requested to attend, and
before eight o'clock a Council was held, consist-
ing of the Earl of Lermitoot, Earl BATHURST,
Lord MELVILLE, Mr. OWNER, the ATTORNEY
and Sor.tcurna.Gtneast., &c. The Council
continued in deliberation, with very tittle intei-
mission, nearly the whole day, either at the Admi-
ralty or at Lord Eittlicasr's of but the most
studious silence was observed, and not a particle of
the matter under consideration was suffered to
transpire.
The death or escape of BONAPARTE, It suggest-
ed in our Poitsmouth letter, is an obvious specula-
tion, but if either had been the subject matter of
deliberation, we cannot conceive • necessity for the
presence and advice of the Law Officers. There
would 'be eo oecasiou to consult them in the one
rase 'about the administration to his will, or in
the other 'bout issuing • capias to bring him
hack to his place of imprisonment. We are
not, therefore, inclined to adopt the opinion of
our Portsmouth Cafrespondent ; and yet we know
not one more probable to substitute in its place.
We heard, indeed, at a late hour last night,
that • plot had been formed in St. Helena to
liberate BONAPARTE, that several persons had
been arrested, and that the Governor had sent
home for instructions how to proceed. The name
of one distinguished Naval Officer was mentioned as
a leader in the attempt; mud it was also said, that
it was the Itasca's, and not the Aretsquito, that
bad arrived with the dispatches. From the
silence observed by Ministers, we believe, how-
ever, that this rumour is also nothing more than
mere speculation, Lord MELVILLE left town
at three (Mock for Apthorp, Northamptonshire,
on • visit to the Earl of WESTNORLAND.

We do not recollect any occasion in the late long
and eventfal war in which Government thought it
necessary to preserve such profound secresy. The
subject may be therefore presumed of a critical
nature and great importance. Should any thing
transpire in the course of the morning we will
give it in a Second Edition of our Paper.

We received last night the Paris Papers of
Thursday last. The Chambers will meet on the
30th instant. The Royal Court has decided that
there was no ground for prosecution against General
CANUEL, and others, charged with • conspiracy
against the State, and they have been set at li-
berty. It would seem that the name of RemILLY
is associated with the most refined philanthropy.
M. ROWILLY, one of the party, declined the im-
mediate enjoyment of his liberty, ■nd preferred
staying with a sick companion mita able to leave
his prison.—The late depression in the French
Funds is attributed by the Mo•irear to gambling
speculations on the subject of the evacuation.—
The Five per Cent. Consols were on Wednesday
68i f. ; Bank Actions, 1,550.

We have received New Orleans Papers to the
17th last. Although accounts have been received
of the progress of fever in that city, no mention of
it is made in these Papers.

A Paper of the 16th says—" We hear the Con-
gress is soon to proceed to the Indian Ocean, un-
der the command of Captain Elliott. The Ontario,
Capt. Biddle, we suppose, may by this time have
taken possession of the mouth of Columbia River,
■nd the Macedonian, Captain Downes, will de.
part for the Pacific Ocean in a short time."
The same Paper observes ••• The system which
has of late been adopted by Government, of
sending their ships of war upon distant expeditious
is desirable in every point of view. The exhibition
of au active naval force secures the respect of foreign
nations, who, though they may be jealous of our
power, yet will not readily violate our rights: by the
same plan, the increase of discipline and eli-
ciency of our ships, and the instruction of young
officers and seamen are promoted, whilst the ex-
tended commerce of the United States is every
wl►ere protected from encroachment."

Sate/day morning arrived at Portsmouth the Esk,
ito guns, Capital's LEN Noce, from Jamaica, which
Wand she left on the 2d October, touching at
Gonives, St. Domingo. She has bronglit home
MAO dollars, on private account. The Pape,
Captain ELLA*, sailed for England, with •
large freight of specie, on the 26th September,
and may be daily expected ; she was to touch at the
Havaimeh. The Primrose, Captain PHILLOTT,
had also left Jamaica for England; she was previ-
ously to go to Honduras. The Esk brings uu news
from the Spanish Main ; all operations between the
contendiLg armies had ceased fur some time, in con-
sequence of the rains having set in. The Larne was
the only sh►p left at Kingston—other ships of the
►quadron were criiisin:;. The Lord Wellington
packet was to sail fur Port lliqyal the ith of Octu.

ber, and pould probably arrive at Fair:toutl: vile
mouth before her return became due.

The Childers sloop, of 18 guns, Captain I‘TEST-
ROPP, which arrived on IVednesday at l'ortennoith
from the Leeward Island station, to he paid oil',
left Tr' lad previously to the Scomander she ronl.l
hriog nothing new respecting the Independents in
,South Aineoica. She left at St. Vincent's the
Antelope. Rear-Ail I HARVEY, the only ship
remaining on that station, very healthy, as were
also the inhabitants of that island.

The Evening Paper whale cold and ungenerous
attack upon the character of the lamented Sir SA-
MUEL ROMILLY we had occasion to notice in our
last number, endeavours to excuse its conduct by
representing it as flowing merely from a " diversity
of op inion:4mnd (credal Adams) from an "inflexi-
ble attaclrinent to what it believes to be the truth.'
This is ever the ready pretence of those who would
be thotight not to deviate from the straight path
designedly, but would rather have their wander-
ings attributed to "an error of judgment." than
to the evil propensities of the heart. " There
are critics," observes this censor, in his justifica-
tion, i• who can quarrel even with the pages of
SINANSPIARE and Mtvrox ;"—we thank him for
the illustration, and will readily attribute his
criticism as unjust as it is illiberal, upon the cha-
racter of one whom the good and wise of every
party have emulously admired, to the same *onest
"diversity of opinion" and "inflexible attachment
to truth" that have distinguished those critics who
can discover Do charms in the poets he mentions.
Respecting the honesty of his opinions, however,
we must be permitted to entertain doubts, when in
the expression of them we can discern so many
traces of an envious and little mind. Admitting
that the friends of Sir SAMUEL ROMALLY might in
the first moments of their grief and horror have
mourned the loss of him in terms of praise not
nicely suited to the sentiments of those who had
been accustomed to think differently from Minn on
points of general interest, was the time well chosen
to weigh the exact propriety of every phrase ere
yet the grave had closed upon him for ever ?
It is, forsooth, " the folly of transcendent enco-
miums which provokes rigorous scrutiny ;" but
even his enemy is forced to acknowledge that
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY was "a good man," and
that " his talents marked him out for public
notice ;" and more than is contained in this
tardy confession we are not aware has been said of
him. This is therefore a miserable pretence, but it
thews the real motives to the aggression. The
Athenian who required Ant•rtees to write his own
came on the shell of banishment, made envy the
excuse for his injustice; and, like him, these who
would detract from Sir Salmon. Rosa LLY's fame,
cannot bear to hear him the constant object of
praise and sorrow.
The talents of any individual can be estimated
only with reference to the particular pursuit in
which he is engaged, and to which lie principally
devotes the energies of his mind. To have suc-
ceeded in one difficult undertaking is by no mains
a proof that the same person would have bees,
equally successful in any other requiring equal
exertion and industry. It would, however, be still
more unfair to presume the contrary against him.
Sir SAMUEL Romr.LY, by his eminent success in
that path of exertion which circemetances and his
own choice contributed to mark out for him, and
by the high and dignified station lie in consequence
held in society, proved himself to be possessed of
first-rate talents for the study and practice of the
most abstruse branches of a profession proverbially
beset with difficulties. He was undoubtedly the
first man at the Chancery Bar. To this pursuit
the powers of his mind were chiefly directed.
while the enormous mass of his professional bu-
siness demanded the far greater portion of his
time and industry. Indeed, *lieu his profes-
sional avocations are considered, we cannot but
be surprised how he could devote a thought
to the political concerns of the empire ; yet now,
although in Parliament he found himself by
the mere force of his talents required to take a
leading part—although his speeches there, which
must of necessity have been in a great degree the
unstudied effusions of a well-stored mind, were
alike distinguished by force of reasoning, elegance
of language, a generous warmth of feeling. and u
felicity and chastity of ornament—although his opi-
nions were heard with admiration, or received with
respect, his fame is sought to be lowered by an in-
vidious comparison with the greatest orators of our
country, who had given up the powers of their
minds ezehtsirely to the affairs of State and the
practice of Pecliarrient, as lie lied to the study of
Law and the practice of Chancery.' With es
much propriety might the high fame of BURKE,
and Parr. and Fax. and Sueetoste, have beeu di-
minished by comparing their legal attainments with
those of Sir SAMUEL. Routt.t.Y. But it is asserted
that Sir S. Row ILLY bad not the grasp and exten-
sion of mind that would become a Statesman, and
his profession is pointed to in support of this allega-
tion. Monstrous presumption! Is a maw of dis-
tinguished talents, cultivated by the study of liberal
sciences—having his mind adorned with the attain-
went, of literature—and in a country eminent fur
the general expansion and freedom of thought, to
be braiided with the charge of having a contracted

*Marl, mer,fly because he his closely stui!ic.l. and
en►uluusly expLained, the ;:geit of Ilia (46111111'y ? Is
IP) exemption to Ile Inwle front this sweeloing cans
sure—noel shall every blockhead, Incause he is riot
a lawyer, be allowed to oppress with 01,10,iiis alb en-
tire profession ? What constitutes this Ini.,sted grasp
oT mind, that should lender it iuc•ompatillle with ilie
nicely and accuracy required for the investigation
of ats Lindividital case ? It the exp.lience of the
effects of law, of its properties or its deficiencies—
is the investigation of the course of justice, rod a
practical knowledge of the habits, character, aid
feelings of the people—is a minute observance of the
action of the political system, the ministry of which
is wholly intrusted to the profession of the law,
inconsistent with the qualities that become a Legis-
lator and a Statesman ? tut Where is the proof that
Sir SAMUEL RUM! LILY had a ra,tricractsal wind, un-
suited to affairs of State ! Was it by excludiut,•
from his view of politics the present comforts and
future prosperity of his country, when the dangerous
extrusuptice mud ambition of her Titters squandered
her wealth and smiled her liberty ? Was it by di,-
regarding the rights and privileges of 'other 'tenons,
when both were attacked with au indifference that
laid the foundations of future dissentious 11 No
doubt he had a uarrow and contracted mind when
he could descend so low in the scale of humanity as
to notice the cries and groans of the unhappy
Negro, and strive to rouse the indignation of Par-
lisment ■t the cruelty of the task-master. The at-
tempted revision of our penal code, alike disgrace-
ful to our national character, and ineffectual for its
proposed oljecrs, was another proof of his
contliied ideas. Fle did not commend the
bartering of principle for power, nor attempt to
justify the degradation of oar species by wholesale
transfers of human beings. Finally, he did not sup-
port the present Administration, and hence arises
, the covert invective that is attempted to be throw!'
upon his memory•. Through him the Opposi-
tion is sought to he wounded ; but what must
be the frame of that mind that invades the
silence and repose of the tomb to seek the weapons
of political warfare ?

We shall not stoop to inquire who lie is that pre-
sumes to criticise and censure the mind of Sir
SAMUEL ROMILLY, and sets up his own capacity
as the measure of what is great and masculine. To
hear such creatures prate about the narrow mind of
such a man as was Sir SAMJEL ROMILLY, tod
think of justifying it by a pitiful sneer at a liberal
profession, can only excite feelings of contempt.
Of his political principles, posterity alone can ban*
an unerring and impartial decisive'. Of this, how-
ever, we are quite assured, that in his speeches in
the House of Commons, Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY
never uttered • seatiment which did not speak a
generous sympathy fur the interest and welfare of
others. In his parliamentary exertions, however,
say his censors, " we can still discern the workings
of ambition." Can ye so, immaculate observers of
purity ! but was it a depraved ambition—was it u
lust after place, or power, or emolument ? Had he
sacrificed his principles, the Woolsack was his
prize, and possibly this proof of his integrity " is
these degenerate days," may be another mink of
the narrowness of his understanding.

His censor concludes his observations of Satur.
day evening with saying, that he " reluctantly
engaged in the discussion" of Sir SAMUEL RoMIL-
LT'S merits. This is probably an illustration of
his " inflexible attachment to what he conceives
to be truth." Did he nut commence it ? Who re-
quired. or will thank him foe his observations?
Nut the public—for there he has univeruilly ex-
cited disgust; not the ftlinisters—for, sills till
their faults. they have too much gruero•ity io
vilify the character of a deceased sotogooibt. It
is only in vulgar minds that political warfare can
assume the appearance of personal hostility.

Yesterday the LORD CHANCELLOR had an an.
them:eel the Pitt t4cE IW:ear at Carlton-1101hr.

Yesterday morning, at an earl• hour, Cain. K EN-
NEDy arrived in a Must-chaise and hour is, Downing-
street. The Captain has come from Bengal, and
has also brought dispatches from St. Helena. In
consequence of Ilia arrival Earl K4THUas't• wail sent
fur to town. The Earl of Ll,ECpoui.. Viscnunt
ELvii.te, Viscount St DMOUTH. had consul..
Wiens with the Captain, and there was a consi-
derable hustle at the Public Office* in the course
of the day.

The 50th ntuf g2d regiments are to embark fur
Saimaiea ; the Sth, 5111, 9th, atttl gist regitnesite
for the Leeward !bland*. The Syth regiment
marched into Foit Cumberiand oil Tuesday. pit-
paratoty to embarking for Ireland. The 79t:'
re-
giment, or Cameroon's, will replace the l!i•t it.
ginnent in Portsmouth garrison.

The company of Royal Marine Artillery, It -
therto quartered at Plymouth, hap bent reenuvid to
Fort Nlonckton.

The Newcastle. intended for cointriiision, Imc
been a second time counter-ordered.

_
The Ilikrnia, for New South Wsleq, arrived at
Portsmouth on Friday. from the River, tilth d''
convicts on board. Eighty more wrre sent u,
board her on Saturday, from the hulks at Ports-
mouth.

The /fusitags, new 74, built of teak. at Bow-
bay, and mtended as a present flout the ilimour-
able East India Company to Government, is ill-
rived iu the Downs. She left the Aliimitios 011 the
etli t•f /Wept, and St. Harem' cut the 19.11 ,1
September: The Hon. Mr. For.rLSlt:t•: landed 4,1
Plymouth front her, with ilispatoie.. Our
at St. 1-telena were healthy, bat the eiro, 11f II
'tips on the station are trploricti t.l I,e g•-1•1
aB•eeled wit II ti) ry.