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house and stores were entirely swept away, yet that he and his numerous family have all, though with extreme difficulty, providentially escaped. Nor is there mention of any other English family having suffered in the slightest degree. The vast aggregate of water is conjectured to have been produced by the bursting of 3 water-spout in the mountains (an accident not unfrequent) for, although it had rained on the day of, and on that preceding, the event, yet the quantity which had fallen was not at all sufficient to produce such a flood. A pretty considerable village, which lay in the course of the torrent, is entirely destroyed.

Subsequent accounts afford reason to believe, that report has much exaggerated the distress occasioned by this event.

RETORT COURTEOUS.---A few days ago, a Quaker being brought before a justice of the peace at Huddersfield, on account of some religious scruple, the magistrate, with a voice roused several keys above its usual tone, cried, “Well, I understand thou art a Quaker." "I am," replied the friend," and what hast thou to say against that." The justice, with his wonted sagacity, and forgetting the extensive meaning of the word ALL, observed, "I have only to say, that if all men were Quakers, Bonaparte might come and slaughter us as soon as he pleased." Nay," answered the man of peace, "thou'rt mistaken, friend, for if all men were Quakers, then would Bonaparte be one also, and if he were, I am sure he would kill no man!"

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A very singular circumstance has excited the attention of the neighbourhood of Leeds. A pregnant female, of the name of Applegarth, has actually made an affidavit before the mayor of that town, at the instance of the parish officers, to the following effect :---“ That she had been employed at St. Cloud, in France, in the palace of the First Consul, as an upper house-maid; but was obliged to leave her situation in an early stage of pregnancy, on the breaking out of the war, and that Bonaparte is the father of the child.”

GUN BOATS.---The plan of invading England with gun boats was proposed, during the seven years war, to the Minister of Louis XV. the Due de Choiseul, by Captain Kervagelen, who had resided a long time in England, and in 1740 and 1742, when Russia and Sweden were at war, had been in the service of the latter, The navy of France, at that period, was much inferior to the British navy, and though our regulars were employed in Germany, America, and India, the number of our militia was not one third what they are at present; our volunteers were even less numerous than our militia; our coast almost without defence or defenders; and our councils distracted by factions and divisions; the then regular and paternal government of France, considering the improbability of any success, and the great certainty of the loss of lives in the attempt, after building near one hundred gun boats, relinquished that mode of invading England, as totally impracticable. In 1796, the gun boat system was revived in France by a Captain Muskein, son of a late merchant in Antwerp, who, in 1789 and 1790 had been a lieutenant in the Swedish service, and as such distinguished himself in the war between Russia and Sweden. According to his plan, se veral hundred gun boats were contracted for by the Directory, who made Muskein the commander over the flotilla. In the spring of 1791, he attacked, with fifty gun boats, the island of St. Marcou, but was repulsed with great loss. This erial disgusted the Directory, and Muskein was disgraced. Bonaparte, who

cares less about the lives of his slaves than even the cruel directory, has revived this destructive, if not absurd plan, because it flatters his ambition, agitates England, and involves Englishmen in great expence, by great and expensive defensive measures. The success of carrying on the war with gun boats, in the Baltic, on the coasts of Sweden and Russia, is owing particularly to the natural circumstance, that in the Baltic no tides interfere with their manœuvres. Peter the Great was the first who constructed these vessels after his conquest of Livonia ; and in the Gulph of Finland, and during the absence of Charles XII. did great mischief to all the Swedish towns upon the coast. In the war of 1740, the Swedes had a gun boat flotilla, but not numerous enough to resist that of Russia. It was particularly in the last war between Russia and Sweden, that the great Gustavus III. proved the adventure of gun boats. After the unequal battle in July 1770, near Wybourg, between the inferior Swedish fleet and that of Russia, the Russian, gun boats, or, as they are called, the galley fleet, attacked that of Sweden near. Swenfund, and, after an engagement of twelve hours, were completely defeated, with the loss of 80 gun-boats and other vessels, and 10,000 prisoners. This vicry the Swedish monarch gained in person, with Sir Sidney Smith by his side, only a fortnight after his defeat. At this action Muskein was present, and brought it forward as an argument in favour of a flotilla of boats.

The Rev. Mr. Beloe, who has recently been appointed one of the librarians in the British Museum, is now employed in forming a regular catalogue of the very extensive and valuable library bequeathed to the Museum by Garrick. The enquiring public will derive very considerable advantage from the labours of Mr. Beloe, since considerable inconvenience hath constantly arisen from the irregular and complex manner in which these books have hitherto been arranged.

A short time since, a black servant in Loughborough House Academy, Brixton Causeway, secreted himself under the maids' bed, and being found by them in that situation, they gave an alarm, which he wanted to soothe by rude means. Their screams bringing some persons to their assistance he jumped from a two pair of stairs window, and dislocated his neck. He has since been buried under the verdict of an inquest of Accidental Death.

The number of the poor in Paris, supported by public charity, amounts at present to 130,000, of whom 111,600 live in their houses, 13,900 in hospitals, and other charitable houses, and 4500 children are boarded and educated in the country.---The dearth of provision is daily increasing at Paris.

The following correspondence between the Prince of Wales, the King, the Duke of York, and Mr. Addington, which (under what authority, or with what propriety, it is not for us to enquire) has found its way into the public prints, is of so interesting a nature, that our readers might justly complain were we to omit

it.

No. I.

Carlton-House, July 18, 1803. SIR,---The subject on which I address you, presses so heavily on my mind," and daily acquires such additional importance, that, notwithstanding my wish to avoid any interference with the disposition made by his Majesty's ministers, I find

3 H-VOL. XVI,

it impossible to withhold or delay an explicit statement of my feelings, to which I would direct your most serious consideration. When it was officially cominu nicated to parliament, that the avowed object of the enemy was a descent on our kingdoms, the question became so obvious, that the circumstances of the times required the voluntary tender of personal service: when parliament, in 'consequence of this representation, agreed to extraordinary measures for the defence of these realms alone, it was evident that the danger was not believed dubious or remote. Animated by the same spirit which pervaded the nation at large, conscious of the duties which I owed to his Majesty and the country, I seized the earliest opportunity to express my desire of undertaking the responsibility of a mi litary command. I neither did nor do presume on supposed talents, as entit-* ling me to such an appointment; I am aware I do not possess the experience of actual warfare; at the same time I cannot regard myself as totally unqualified, or deficient in military science, since I have long made the service my parti→ cular study; my chief pretensions were founded on a sense of those advantages which my example might produce to the state, by exciting the loyal energies of the nation, and a knowledge of those expectations which the public had a right to form, as to the personal exertions of their princes, at a moment like the present. The more elevated my situation, in so much the efforts of zeal became necessarily greater; and I confess, that if duty had not been so paramount, a reflection on the splendid achievements of my predecessors would have excited in me the spirit of emulation; when, however, in addition to such recollections, the nature of the contest in which we are about to engage, was impressed on my consideration, I should, indeed, have been devoid of every virtuous sentiment, if I felt no reluctance in remaining a passive spectator of armaments, which have for their object the very existence of the British empire. Thus was I influenced to make my offer of service; and I did imagine, that his Majesty's ministers would have attached to it more value; but when I find that, from some unknown cause, my appointment seems to remain so long undetermined; when I feel myself exposed to the obloquy of being regarded by the country, as passing my time indifferent to the events which menace, and insensible to the call of patriotism, much more of glory, it then behoves me to examine my rights, and to remind his Majesty's ministers, that the claim which I have advanced is strictly constitutional, and justified by precedent; and that, in the present situ ation of Europe, to deny my exercising it, is fatal to my own immediate honour, and the future in'erests of the crown. I can never forget that I have solemn obligations imposed on me by birth, and that I should ever shew myself foremost in contributing to the preservation of the country. The time is arrived when I may prove myself sensible of the duties of my situation, and of evincing my devotion to that Sovereign, who, by nature, as well as public worth, commands my most affectionate attachment. I repeat, that I should be sorry to embarrass the government at any time, most particularly at such a crisis; but since no event in my future life can compensate for the misfortune of not partaking in the honours and dangers which await the brave men destined to oppose an invading enemy, I cannot forego the earnest renewal of my application. All I solicit is, a more ostensible situation than that in which I am at present placed ; for, situated as I am, as a mere colonel of a regiment, the major-general, com-* manding the brigade, of which such a regiment must form a part, would justly

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expect and receive the full credit of pre-arrangement and successful enterprise. I remain, Sir, very sincerely yours,

(Signed)

Right Hon. Henry Addington, &c. &c. &c.

No. II.

G, P.

July 26, 1803..

A week has now elapsed since the Prince of Wales transmitted to Mr. Addington a letter on a subject of the highest importance. Though he cannot anticipate a refusal to so reasonable a demand, he must still express some surprise, that a communication of such a nature should have remained so long unanswered. When the Prince of Wales desired to be placed in a situation, which might enable him to shew to the people of England, the example of zeal, fidelity, and devotion to his Sovereign, he naturally thought, that he was only fulfilling his appropriate duty as the first subject of the realm, in which, as it has pleased Providence to cause him to have been born, so he is determined to maintain himself, by all those honourable exertions which the exigencies of these critical times peculiarly demand. The motives of his conduct cannot be misconceived, or misrepresented; he has, at a moment when every thing is at stake that is dear and sacred to him, and to the nation, asked to be advanced in military rank, because he may have his birth-right to fight for, the throne of his father to defend, the glory of the people of England to uphold, which is dearer to him than life, which has yet remained unsullied under the Princes of the House of Brunswick, and which, he trusts, will be transmitted pure and uncontaminated to the latest generations. Animated by such sentiments, he has naturally desired to be placed in a situation where he can act according to the feelings of his heart, and the dictates of his conscience. In making the offer, in again repeating it, the Prince of Wales considers, that he has only performed his duty to himself, to the State, to the King, to Europe, whose fate may be involved in the issue of this contest; if this tender of his services is rejected, he shall ever lament that all his efforts have been fruitless, and that he has been deprived of making those exertions which the circumstances of the empire, his own inclinations, and his early and long attention to military affairs, would have rendered so peculiarly grateful to himself, and, he trusts, not entirely useless to the public.

No. III.

Downing Street, July 27, 1803.. Upon receiving the letter with which Mr. Addington was last week honoured by the Prince of Wales, he assured his Royal Highness that it should be immediately laid before the King. This was accordingly done, and the letter is still in his Majesty's possession.. A communication was afterwards made to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in a mode, and through a channel which: Mr. Addington humbly hoped his Royal Highness would approve. Mr. Addington, however, now finds it to be incumbent upon him, in consequence of the expectation which has been expressed by his Royal Highness, to state, that his Majesty, on being informed of the sentiments and wishes of the Prince of Wales, applauded, in the strongest manner, the feelings by which his Royal Highness is actuated; but referred, nevertheless, to the answers which his Majesty had judged it necessary to return to similar representations, which, in obedience to

the commands of his Royal Highness, had been laid before his Majesty upon former occasions.

No. IV.

Carlton House, July 28, 1803.

The Prince of Wales has received Mr. Addington's written communication of last night, the Prince of Wales has only to observe, that he requires Mr. Addington to submit to his Majesty his last note, dated the 26th of this month.

No. V.

Downing Street, July 28, 1803.
Half past 11---P. M.

Mr. Addington is just honoured with the commands of the Prince of Wales, and will not fail to lay his Royal Highness's letter, dated the 26th of this month, before the King.

No. VI.

Downing Street, August 1, 1803. SIR---In obedience to the commands of your Royal Highness, I laid before his Majesty the letter dated the 26th of July, with which your Royal Highness had honoured me, and I have it in command from his Majesty to acquaint your Royal Highness, that "the King had referred Mr. Addington to the orders he had before given him, with the addition, that, the King's opinion being fixed, he desired that no further mention should be made to him upon the subject." I have the honour to be, with every sentiment of respect and deference, Sir, your Royal Highness's humble, &c.

(Signed)

[To be concluded in our next]

HENRY ADDINGTON.

BIRTHS.

The lady of Henry Reynell Reynolds, Esq. of a daughter. In Upper BrookStreet, Lady Wilson, of a son. Lady Porchester, of a daughter. Lady Amherst, of a son. The Lady of Edward Lee, Esq. M. P. of a daughter. The Lady of Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart. of a daughter.

MARRIED.

Sir Henry Carr Ibbetson, Bart. of Denton Park, near Otley, to Miss Scott. At Portsmouth, Major-General Lloyd, of the Royal Artillery, to Miss Beaumez. At Wanstead, His Excellency le Comte de Rally, to Mademoiselle Adelaide, Princess of Bourbon. At Layton, Essex, William Curtis, Esq. of Lombard Street, to Miss Lear. The Earl of Belvidere, to Miss M'Cay Mahon, to Miss Smith, daughter of Lord Carington.

DIED.

Lord

In Derbyshire, of a scarlet fever, Lady Harriet Stanhope. William Jackson, Esq. aged 88, one of the cashiers of the Bank of England, in which service he had been between 50 and 60 years. Joseph Wilton, Esq. R. A. aged 82. in Oxfordshire, Francis Page, Esq. In Blackfriars, Mr. John Feltham, author of the History of the Isle of Man. Richard Olebar, Esq. one of the clerks extraordinary of the Privy Council.

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