• been fighting for twelve years, a storm appears to rise in London, and they are inclined to fight twelve years longer. The King of England says, that France is making immense naval preparations; he has been led into error. In the French ports, there is not a single armament of any consequence; the whole fleet has sailed for St. Domingo and the colonies. With respect to the ports of Holland, which are likewise quoted in the message, there is only one armament under the command of General Victor; and all Europe knows its destination to be Louisiana. The King farther observes, that differences prevail • between the cabinets of Paris and London. I know of none. It is true, England ought to evacuate Malta; and Malta has not been evacuated; and as his Britannic Majesty is bound to that effect by the most solemn treaty ever ' concluded, there can be no doubt respecting the speedy evacuation of this island. It is intended to intimidate the French people by warlike preparation? It is possible to kill, but not to intimidate them!'-In the course of the assembly, when the First Consul again approached Count de Markoff, he said to him in a semi-audible voice,

The English ministry wish to retain Malta for ⚫ five years longer: such a proposal was insulting, and no treaties ought to be concluded, which it was not intended to fulfil.' At the conclusion of the assembly, when the English Ambassador was about to retire, the First Consul said to him, "Madame the Duchess of Dorset, has spent the unpleasant part of the year at Paris. It is my sincere wish that she may also spend the agreeable season. But if it should happen that we really must go to war, the respon sibility is exclusively with those who deny the validity of their own contracts, since they refuse to observe treaties which they had concluded."These words of the First Consul require no comment. They explain completely his present opi. nions, his past conduct, and his resolution for the future. It is sufficient to compare them with the tergiversations, the duplicity, the evasions, and the Message of the English Government, in order to be enabled to decide on the justice of the dispute.

FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Constantinople, Feb. 19.—The arrival of the French Ambassador at Constantinople has been for this capital a signal of joy. At the disembarkation of General Brune, announced on the 24th Jan, by a discharge of 17 pieces of cannon, a numerous crowd collected, and spread themselves throughout every quarter that he was to traverse.-The Grand Signior repaired to his Kiosk to see the Ambas. sador and his procession pass. The Reis Effendi, and the Capitan Pacha, complimented him, and all the French residing at Constantinople respectfully received him at the entrance of the Palace of France. They saw in the arrival of the Ambassador of the republic, and in that of the Commissaries of commercial relations of the republic, destined for the different ports of the Black Sea and the Levant, the pledge of the accomplishment of all their hopes. On the 9th of Feb. the Ambassador ordered the celebration of a Te Deum, and at the moment when they chaunted Domine salvos fac Consules the French squadron apprized of it by a flag, elevated on the top of the palace of France, fired a salute of 21 pieces of cannon, to which all the crews answered by the most lively acclamations of joy.-The first interview between the

French Ambassador and the Ottoman Ministers sufficed to re-establish France in that honourable position which she ought to hold in the Levant. The churches of the Latin worship have returned under the protection of the republic, which had been deprived during the war of the exercise of its ancient rights. The sequestration placed upon the establishments which belong to it, is removed. Confidence is re-established between the inhabitants and the French, and the residence of the Ambassador will soon produce those advantages which the peace gave reason to hope for. (Moniteur.)

Berne, March 15.-On the 10th of this month the firing of cannon announced the fate of this country. The Landamman, after attending divine service, went to the Town Hall to install the committee of organization, of which he is president. At nine o'clock a message was sent to the commander of the troops, with a decree of the committee for resuming the ancient cockade, which is blue and black. The Landamman was dressed in a costume of black, and wore a sword.

Hague, March 16.-A courier from the British government disembarked the day before yesterday at Helvoetsluys, with dispatches, which are said to be of the greatest importance, for the British Envoy at Petersburgh. He also brought dispatches for Mr. Liston, the English Minister at the Hague. -The new measures of the British Government have reduced the business of our Bank to a kind of stagnation. There prevails a general stupor throughout the country, arising from the contemplation of the unfortunate situation in which we shall be placed, if war should again destroy those prospects which peace had began to realize.-At the very moment almost that the expedition was about to sail for Louisiana, an order arrived from Paris to prevent its sailing.

Bourdeaux, March 21.-To the eagerness with which sugars, coffees, and cottons, have been bought up for three days past, have succeeded the most perfect calm; the exchange the day before yesterday was remarkable for the inactivity of the demand for produce which, 24 hours before, was an object of the greatest avidity. It appears that the ardour of speculation is cooled, and every thing now proves that it was our political situation with respect to England that caused here those or ders of which so few people knew the motives.

Hamburgh, March 29.-This day was called an extraordinary meeting of the senate, which has given occasion to a thousand reports, and renewed the opinion of an immediate rupture between France and England. It was occasioned by a violent note, it appears, of M. Reinhard, the French minister, occasioned by a tefusal to print, in the gazette of this city, some declaration against England. He has not only insisted on this, but as is generally believed, demanded, that in case of war our port shall be shut against the English and their allies, and all English property confiscated. Whatever demands he may have made will surely be granted, unless the King of Prussia interferes to prevent it. This declaration, whatever it be, is, we understand, to be printed to-morrow.

March 29-past 9 at night.-Last night, and during the whole of this day, the inhabitants of this city were in the greatest agitation and alarm, occasioned by a variety of reports, which had a powerful influence in depressing the course of exchange on London.-In consequence of the arrival of a courier from France late last night, the senate was convened, and held an extraordinary meeting, which lasted four hours. The subject of consider

ation was a threatening note from the French minister Reinhard, relative to the following affair: -A few weeks ago Reinhard applied to the magistrates to procure the insertion, in the Correspondenten, of a manifesto from the pen of Buonaparté himself, full of the most indecent invectives against England. This production was referred to the syndic and censor of the press, Mr. Doorman, who permitted it to be inserted, after striking out the most objectionable passages. The manifesto, thus modified, appeared in the Correspondenten of the 25th inst. under the head of Paris, March 15, as an extract from the "Bulletin de Paris," This, however, instead of satisfying the French minister, has provoked bis utmost indignation, which is not to be appeased but by publishing it in its entire state. The re-publication in an official shape is accordingly to take place tomorrow in all the Hamburgh papers, which, in consequence of an order from the government, are not to be put to press until after ten o'clock,

Milan, March 14.The Consulta having written officially to the First Consul, to express their gratitude to him for having caused the flag of their republic to be acknowledged by the Barbary powers, and also to testify their concern for the death of General Leclerc, received the following answer from Buonapartè, dated 21st February: “ Citizens members of the consulta, I have received your letters, and am obliged to you for the obliging expressions contained in them. Death is common to all, but the memory of good actions never perishes. The Minister Marescalchi sends you the act of mediation which I have made for the Swiss. The order and tranquillity of that country is closely connected with the order and tranquillity of the Italian republic.

(Signed)

"BUONAPARTE."

March 29-Respecting peace or war we waver still in uncertainty; but as soon as it is known that the English have seized upon a vessel, 80,000 French troops will march to Italy, 60,000 to Holland, 20,000 towards Naples, and General Murat has already departed for that place, in order to require of the King the opening of his ports in Naples and Sicily to the French army. Buonaparté is said to have declared, that should it come to a war, he would acknowledge no neutrality-but allies or enemies.

Basle, March 25.-It is now certain, that the Helvetic troops are to pass into the service of France. The Landamman has issued a proclamation upon this subject, addressed to the troops, in which he says "Your lot is fixed. The Firs Consul receives you into his armies, and his patonal care will make you forget all that you have suffered."

Paris, March 31.-Reports have been spread respecting Martinique, which are unfounded. According to the latest intelligence received by Government, that colony is in the best state; the sickness had entirely ceased, and the loss of men which had been experienced, was repaired by the arrival of a battalion of the 84th demi-brigade of the line, 650 strong, all in the best state of health. -Moniteur

Brussels, March 21.-Letters from the Hague state, that French couriers are continually arriving here, charged with dispatches relative to the present situation of affairs, as also to the dispositions which are to be made on the coasts of Holland, from the Maese to the Texel. In case of a rupture with England, there will be assembled on the coasts of the Batavian republic a respectable force, which may be employed for a disem

barkation on the northern coasts of England, or in Scotland. General Victor, Captain-General of Louisiana, has sent an officer of his staff to Paris for instructions. It is much feared in Holland, especially at Amsterdam and Rotterdam, that war will be renewed. Military preparations are making with the greatest activity from Dunkirk to the mouth of the Seine.-March 24.-They write from Dunkirk, that there, at Havre, and Boulogne, several marine officers are arrived, to superintend the preparations in the Dock-yards, where the men work by candle-light. All the gun-boats and light vessels will be again fitted out. The troops which were to be embarked at Dunkirk for the colonies, remain till further orders. Along the coasts of Flanders, and what was formerly Picardy, seve-. ral camps will be formed in the beginning of April,

Mentx, March 22-In the departments of the. Sarte, Meuse, Rhine, &c. orders have been received for divisions of troops to march for the

coasts.

Hague, March 26.-The French troops which were to sail from Helvoetsluys to Louisiana, have hitherto remained embarked. To-morrow they will be all on board, to the amount of 2,500 men, and their earlier or later sailing will depend on the termination of the differences between France and England, concerning which negotiations are now pending. About 2000 troops, to be employed in the Louisiana expedition, arrived yesterday at Helvoetsluys in forty vessels, from Hirzogenbutsch. March 29. The Batavian Government has received official intelligence from its Ambassador in London, that although a Cabinet order of the 14th of October was dispatched to the commanding officer at the Cape, to suspend the evacuation of that place till further orders, and which had had the consequence already known, another or der of the Cabinet had been made up to the 16th of November succeeding, containing definitive orders for the evacuation of the Cape, which order went from England on the 29th; so that the Cape has now been for some time in the hands of the Batavian Government.

DOMESTIC.

From the London Gazette.-St. James's, March 16. The King was this day pleased to confer the Honour of Knighthood on William Paxton, Esq. William Blizzard, Esq. and Charles Blicke, Esq.

Whitehall, March 26-The King has been pleas ed to appoint Mr. Patrick Fotheringham, to the Office of Commissary of the Commissariot of Orkney and Zetland, in the room of Mr. James Stewart, deceased.

Whitehall, March 29.-His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland has been pleased to appoint the Reverend Peter Hawker, Jun. of Woodchester, in the County of Gloucester, to be one of his Royal Highness's Chaplains, in the room of the Reverend Samuel Peach, deceased.

St. James's, March 30.-The King was this day pleased to confer the honour of knighthood on James Duberly, of Gains-Hall, Huntingdonshire, Esq. Francis Searle, of Kingston-upon-Thames, Esq. and John Dumaresq, Esq.

Crown-Office, April 2, 1803.-Members returned to serve in this present Parliament. Borough of Brackley, Anthony Henderson, of Kensington, Middlesex, Esq. in the room of J. W. Egerton, Esq. now Earl of Bridgwater.-City of Coventry. Peter Moore, Esq. in the room of N. Jefferys, Esq. whose election has been declared void.

Whitehall, April 4.-The King has been pleased to grant unto Ralph Bigland, Esq. (Richmond Herald), the office of Norroy King of Arms, and principal Herald of the North parts of England, in the room of George Harrison, Esq. promoted to the office of Clarenceux King of Arms.-This Gazerte contains two Orders in Council, the first prohibiting, till the 30th of April, the exportation of corn of all kinds, as also to admit the importation, duty free, with the exception of rice and malt; the other prohibiting the exportation of various articles of fresh and salted provisions, butter, onions, &c, till the 12th of June.

On Wednesday the Right Honourable Lord Hutchinson, K. B. was made free of the Worshipful Company of Salters, and proceeded to Guildhall, attended by Sir John Eamer, and the Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Company, to be admitted into the Freedom of the City, voted to him by the court of Common Council for his eminent services.-The Chamberlain communicated to his Lordship, the thanks and resolution of the Court of Common Council. He was sworn into the Freedom of the City, and afterwards a sword of 100 guineas value was presented to him, as a token of the sense this Court entertain of the gallant and meritorious conduct he has so frequently displayed in support of the honour and dignity of his country. His Lordship theu addressed the Chamberlain as follows, viz." Mr. Chamberlain,-I have received many honours from my sovereign and my country, but I prize none more highly than the respect which I have, through you, received this day from the first commercial city in the world. I still entertain hopes that a peace may continue; but should the ambition of a proud enemy again cause us to take up arms to protect every thing that is dear to us, I trust I shall ever be ready to discharge the duties of any situation I may be entrusted with, and prove myself not entirely unworthy the favours conferred on me by my sovereign, and particularly from this great city."

Bankrupts. Hance, W. Tooley-street, Southwark, merchant.-Stokes, W. Old Broad-street, merchant. Sly, G. Wanstead, stock-broker. George, F. Panteague, Monmouth, coal merchant. -Hutchon, T. Coleman-street, merchant-Rome, R. Penryn, merchant.-Richmond, J. Skerton, Lancaster, gardener. Acocks, B. Red Lion-square, coal merchant-Norton, P. Whitchurch, Salop, inn-holder.-Bestow, F. Milk-street, hosier.-Bishop, T. Little East Cheap, carpenter.-Barkly, J. N. Tower Royal, merchant.-Powney, D. the younger, Sherborne, Dorset, victualler.-Brook, E. Wakefield, money-scrivener.

Deaths. On Sunday last, at her seat at Burton Pynsent, Somersetshire, in the 83d year of her age, the Right Hon. the Countess Dowager of Chatham, relict of the late Lord Chatham, and mother to the present Earl, and the Right Hon. William Pitt. In Sackville Street, Dublin, Lord Walscourt. On Wednesday, at his house in Ficcadilly, in the 74th year of his age, the Right Hon. Sir W. Hamilton, K. B. STOC. April 1

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2 us. VENICE, 55 livres piccole 2 us. effective per L. ster. LISBON..

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MADRID.. 354 effective AGIO, bank on Hol. p.

SUMMARY OF POLITICS.

THE HAMBURGH MANIFESTO, which will be found in p. 527 of the present sheet, was, as appears from its date, written at Paris, and it is a fact, now well established, that it was inserted in the Hamburgh paper by the command of the French government. The editor, it appears, refused to insert it; but, the SENATE of that free city, in consequence of a threatening note from M. Reinhard, the French minister, compelled him to obey the command. We state, too, upon good authority, that Reinhard, in the name of his government, has declared to the senate of Hamburgh, that, if war breaks out between England and France, Hamburgh must take part with the latter. Our readers will perceive how this accords with the provisions contained in the declaration of France and Russia, relative to the newmodelling of the German empire, which provisions expressly state, that the free and im perial cities of Hamburgh, Bremen, &c. &c. shall, in case of future wars, "remain neuter, "and that their neutrality shall be assured "by the empire, and recognized by the "other belligerent powers." (1)-As to the manifesto itself, it contains nothing new; nothing which has not, in spirit at least, been repeated, once a month, or thereabouts, in the Moniteur, ever since the conclusion of the peace of Amiens. The object of it is, to throw upon England the odium of the rupture, in which object, as far as relates to the continent of Europe, France will completely succeed. The base abandonment of our allies, has created against us such universal jealousy and hatred, that there is no charge against us, however false and absurd, that will not obtain implicit belief.-With respect to the insolence of this manifesto, and of the language of Buonaparté to Lord Whitworth, we question the propriety of the term. Language, like most other things, must often be considered as relative to something else. What is insolence when made use of towards one description of persons, is not insolence when addressed to another description of persons: the very

(1) See Register, Vol. II. p. 265,

compliments which a man bestows on his slave, would be the height of insolence if offered to his equal. Previous, therefore, to our seriously fixing the charge of insoJence on Buonaparté, we should take care to ascertain his real relative situation with respect to the persons, towards whom he has exercised what we are pleased to call insolence; and, we, for our parts, are clearly of opinion, that it is absolutely impossible for Buonaparté to be insolent to either the ministry who made, or the people who applauded, that disgraceful treaty, the fulfilment of which he now demands.-Viewing the Consul's language to Lord Whitworth as to its effect with regard to the interest and honour of France, we are very far indeed, from thinking that it proceeded from passion, or from madness, and that Buonaparté forgot the dignity of bis station." This opinion does, indeed, seem to be worn out with our contemporaries, who have now discovered, not only that there was "method in the madness," but that the whole scene was

premeditated," and even agreed on in council, the day before it took place! And, what could have been better imagined to strike terror to the hearts of the timid herd, by whom the Consul was surrounded, and who instantly retired to their hotels to draw up and dispatch to their several courts an account of the humiliation of England; to communicate the glad tidings, that England, haughty England, was reduced to a level with themselves?" Lord Whitworth "behaved with great dignity and firmness!" Yes; firm as a post, and almost as silent. There was a time when, under such circumstances, an English Ambassador would instantly have left, not only the drawing room, but the country, and when his own country would have replied, not by a cringing state-paper, but by the mouths of her cannon. But, that time is gone, never, we fear, never to return.

THE AFFAIR of GOREE, an account of which will be found in p. 523, exhibits another proof of the indecision and imbecility of the ministers. If they meant to hold this conquest, in consequence of the previous violations of the treaty of Amiens, on the part of France, how came they to give up a dozen places, each of which was of fifty times the importance? And, if they meant to restore it, why were there not vessels to bring the garrison away?-During the debates on the definitive treaty, Mr. Addington, in reply to Mr. Windham, made use of the following words:" If the Right Hon. "Gentleman has any specific object be"sides that of a general censure upon the

"treaty, let him state it. Does he mean "to prevent restitution being made according "to the provisions of the treaty? If he does, "let him state it. But, it is an object, in "the prosecution of which, I believe, be will "not be countenanced by this House." (2) What will now be said to this cowardly crowing of pompous chanticleer upon his own dunghill? Does it now want any motion of Mr. Windham "to prevent restitu"tion being made according to the provi "sions of the treaty?" That gentleman does not now stand in need of any vote of the House to "countenance" him in his opposition to the disgraceful and foolish compact, which, if it has not been rendered null and void by the French, has already been, in numerous instances, grossly and shamefully violated by the English ministry.

AMERICAN STATES AND LOUISIANA.Recent advices from the United States in-form us, that the Congress have, at last, agreed to talk about measures of preparation with regard to the Mississippi navigation. Certain resolutions were, in the month of February, proposed, and passed in the senate, relative to the building boats and calling out a portion of the militia; but, from any thing which has reached us, it does not appear, that preparations were actually determined on. The French, as soon as they hear of the anger which has been excited in America, will, as we before observed, take care to adopt such measures as shall effectually do it away. (3) Indeed, we have good reason to believe, that these measures have been already adopted; for, there appeared in the Paris papers of about fifteen days ago, a short paragraph, stating,. that Spain had countermanded the orders, which had been given to the intendant of New Orleans, and in consequence of which the Americans had been deprived of a place of deposit. Should circumstances, however, make the Americans resolve on a seizure of New Orleans, on driving out the Spaniards, and on keeping out the French, they will, if they begin instantly, have only one serious difficulty in the way; to wit, that of getting out of the mouth of the river in spite of the maritime force of France and her allies.We shall treat of this subject more at large another time. At present it is impossible to say, with any tolerable degree of correctness, what are the views and intentions of the American President and his Party.

THE ADDINGTONIAN NAVY.-The re

(2) See debates, Register, Vol. II. p. 1214. (3) See Register, Vol. III. p. 297, where the line of conduct, which France will be likely to pursue, in this respect is pointed out.

These, we are told, in the same statement, are "all the line of battle ships in commission at home," though Mr. Addington's "lunar month" expires this very day; for, the King's message was delivered to parliament on the 9th of March. Where, then, are the fifty ships of the line? Here are but nineteen; and, even according to the express acknowledgment of this statement, five out of these nineteen are not yet fit for sea. But, we asserted, that there were not, last Saturday, six ships of the line, at home, fit for sea, and, from the following statement, which is not, and which cannot be contradicted, our assertion is completely established.

NEPTUNE, 100 men short of her complement.
VENERABLE, ditto.
CULLODEN, ditto.
COURAGEUX, ditto.

HECTOR, repairing.

ALBION, fit for sea.

TOUNANT, Do men.
MALTA, no men.
SPARTIATE, no men.
PLANTAGANET, fit for sea.
MARS, no men.
CONQUEROR, not rigged.
DREADNOUGHT, fit for sea.
RUSSELL, only 300 men.
ARDENT, only 200 men.
SCEPTRE, only 20 men and boys.
MINOTAUR, only 125 men.
THUNDERER, only 200 men.
RAISONABLE, fit for sea.

This, then, is the true state of the British navy! Well may the wise, zealous, and provident heads of that department,

station blocks and hulks to guard the mouth of the Thames! This is the happy and honourable result of those "excellent regulations," introdued by Lord St. Vincent, and applauded by the sapient Mr. Addington! And, is there nobody; is there no one member of parliament, who will call upon the minister for the fulfiment of his promise, relative to the fifty ships of the line? The month of emergency is now expired: where are the ships? If "imminent danger of invasion" did not exist a month ago, and if it has not existed from that time to this, the proclamation for calling out the militia was and is unlawful. If such "imminent danger" did exist, it was a case of great emergency; and where, then, we repeat, are the fifty ships, which were, in that case, to be got ready for sea in the space of a lunar month?-On an occasion like this, it may not be improper to refer to the opinions of Lord St. Vincent, at the close of the American war.-" SIR JOHN JER"VIS desired the House to take a view of "the fleets of other powers, and extolled "the wisdom of keeping up a formidable "and respectable navy. The peace might not "last long, and if a new war should "speedily break out, it would then be too "late to complain of the reduction of our "maritime force. We could only be con"siderable by attending to it, and nothing "could be more impolitic than to yield inconsider "ately to idle and unsubstantial reasoning about "parsimony, proper and wise expenses were the "best and happiest economy. And in this "country no money could be wasted that "was applied to preserve the naval

66

strength, for upon that strength our se"curity depended in the most effectual "manner." (4) This was a very wise and manly way of thinking. Who would, in the year 1783, have imagined, that Sir John Jervis would ever have lent his hand to reduce the British navy to that state in which we now find it? Who would have imagined, that he was destined to be the instrument of the system of parsimony which he here so forcibly condemns; and that, the time was to come, when he himself should conceive the notion of defending his country by blocks and hulks!-But, parsimony was the basis of that treaty, to have counselled which Lord St. Vincent regards as "the pride of his life."-Our former article, on this subject, (5) has brought forth most dreadful abuse, through the channel of some of the daily papers, which abuse we should, from

(4) Parlr. Debates, Annual Register for 1783. (5) See Register, Vol. 111. p. 475',