Star.
London, England, 1803-10-19 00:00:00

FOREIGN' MEDIATIO'.

The • abfurd reports lately circulated in regard to
the mediation of Ruffia and Pruffia between this
country and France, though fur fame days pall the
lubjeet of converfation, are confidereci by every per.
fon who paffefres the lean degree of political figacity,
as ehtitled to little or no credit. We have no doubt
that LONAFARTF, who hegios to forefee the difficultie,
lie is likely to encounter in his propofcd plan of inva-
finn, would gladly negotiate, provided he could get
the Northern Powers, and particularly Rullia and
Prui.lia, by tiering as Mediators, to fecond his views.
The Cot: su LAR Cti IF r, indeed, is new in a dilemma.
lie knows the En midahle preparations made in this
country to receive hint, which mull greatly leffen
his hopes of fuccefs ; and he knows alfo, that
nothing but an invanon will pleafe the french
nation, or gratify his folaicrr, Nvllnfe hopes have
been excited to the ItighLf/ degree of expeaation.—
But Britain, to ufe an expreflion adopted by the
French, " has atiumed the attitude oft Minerva ;
her helmet on her head, and her lance couched ;"
and the will not lay it .(ilia till the has convinced
France, that a nation of 1...ph-p.-rs know how to
defend their propel ty from thole who with to plunder
them. While Britain thus rarefies fpirit, and has
fufficient means and energy to maintain her rights and
defend her national dignity, we hope the will never
'Lien to any terms of peace propofed through the me-
diation of any foreign Court whatever, unlcfs on fuch
principles as are continent with her honour, and
likely to eflablifh her future recut ity. As all the Go•
vernments of Europe now nand aloof, quiet fpeeta-
tors of the conteft, which Britain is obliged to carry
miner banded againft France ; as not one of them
interfered to prevent the unjult occupation of Hanover,
a country entirely neutral, and which fome of them
were bound to proted r—and as none of them have
dared to make any oppofition whatever to the aggref
lions of Bo AAAAA re, the prefent difpnte is entirely
our own ; and, while we trouble none of the European'
powers for their Alliance, they have little right to
interfere in the quarrel. In fiat, while we are left to
defend ourfelves the beft way we can, offers of me-
diation would come with a very bad grace from any
of the Continental Powers, who have
.(hewn fo little
regard to their public duty, and to the tranquillity
of Europe. Before they prefent any overtures of
mediation, let them oblige the French to evacuate
Hanover ; let them remove that caufe which has
produced the blockade of the Elbe and Wefer ; and
let them Phew that they are more difpofed to pro.
mote the interefts of public jullice than to gratify
their own private views, or to favour the ambitious
defigna of the French Government.

The Earl of Moms is appointed Commander in
Chief of his blajefty's forces in Scotland. His Lord-
faip will fet off in a few days to tale upon him the
command of that Kingdom.
Major General CAMPBELL has returned from his
infpeetion of the Country between the City of Cork
and Bantry Bay, fur the reinforcement of which laR
mentioned place, the 46th Regiment, and a detach-
ment of artillery, were immediatt.ly ordered to pro-
ceed.

Among other aElive meafures of Government, re-
fpeeting the menaced invafion, an experienced !staf-
fer of the Navy is repeating a furvey of the coati,
and marking out anchorage for flops of different
draft of water ; fo that they may be enabled to take
their allotted Ration at the thorteß warning. liis
Majelly's (hip YORK, is now on her ground near
Dungenefs ; the RAIsoNABLI is off Havre, while
the UTISCHT and the MONARCH, with fume frigates
and gun•brigs, are in the Downs.
A Letter from Rouen in Normandy, contains the
following particulars
:
is You will receive this by the EngEfla Young
Ladies to whops Mr. Peron, an English merchant,
domiciliated in this town, fome time ago behaved fa
very handfomely. They were in the g:eakli dif.
trefs for want of money, and, but for his arliflance,
might probably have perilhed, at leaft they never
could have obtained enough to carry them to Eng-
land. You will naturally cape& that fending.this
letter by filch confidential means, 1 Ihould fay fume-
thing of public affairs. Our preparations are cer-
tainly great and bugling; and the Invafion of
England is in every one's month, and yet with
every one it is fpoke of with indications of doubt and
incredulity. Upon this information I do not will
you to have any reliance, further than it may be con-
firmed by other intelligence. It is true, we, as fet-
tled mere:tants, are at large ; but it behoves us to be
very cireumfpeet in our condua, and little curious.
What I have (aid, however, of the public indications
I do not fay lightly. You may alfo depend, that
the country here in general dirapproves of the FIRST
CONSUL'S condlift towards the Eoglifh. In cafe of
another peace, it mull neceffarily check that influx of
forcignersinto France, from which many towusderived
great pecuniary advantage. Somewhat coupled with
this lag obfervatinn, is the treatment experienced by
the Cow sot on his late vifit to this town. Of this, I
fpeak as an eye wieners. He rode round the town, at-
tended by his Aids-de-cartip and guard, and was gaz-
ed at with a kind of fallen wnnefer,bilt without one de.
monfiraticn of joy or attachment. Wien he came op-
polite the Town hall, be made a Intlf-intentinnal halt,
as it flruck me, to give eccafion for lime eepreflions
of agplatife. A profmnd (Hence feized the multi-
tude. You alight literally have heard a pin drop. In
a kw moments he mrsved on. Not a tingle huzza ef-
ca;sed. Trade is very dad. Many failures have taken
place, and more are cspetled. By a peifon ink ar-
rivr d hum Paris. I hear things are jolt as had there.
He bays, that ant above fix commercial honks in that
metropolis can be conficiered as Ileac:)1y fribtlantial.
On the ilighteft talk of a Loan, individuals, both
here and there, immediatciy draw their effeels from
the hands of merchants and banker•. Ile law Soo
conk, ts is in the road chained two tad two. They
were in.ticliing towards the ctiale.•'