1805.) 
ftranger, who read it with confidence, into 
an idea of its character the very reverfe . 
of the truth. The papers which are ne- 
ceflary to explain the difcuffion between 
“the two Courts, are promifed in the 
Speech, and are preparing to be laid be- 
fore’Parliament. We lament that we are 
not now enabled to give our readers the 
fubftance of thofe papers; bur we ven- 
ture fo far to z anticipate their merits, as to 
pronounce, that they form no excule for 
the feizure of the Spanith veffels, which is 
the only quetiion between the two Courts, 
as our Minifters have contrived the Le 
ter, that will engage the attention of Eu. 
rope.. 
The only remaining topic of impor- 
tance in the Speech is, the late communi- 
cation from the French Government to 
our Cour ae containing profeffions of a 
Pee 1c difpofition.”” We fiall have oc- 
cafion (in fpeaking of the domeftic tran. 
actions of the French Government) to 
look a little at the evidence of this pacific 
difpofition of France 5 but here the quel 
tion is—-what importaut mformation have 
Minifters given to Parliament and the 
Country on this moft interelting fubject ? 
—Not more than would be derived fiom 
the flight of birds, if we were a people 
given to fsothfaying. We cannot even 
earn that we have an ally on the Conti- 
‘nent ; and all that feems to bé intimated 
is, that we are trying to get an-ally or 
two. If we are doing fo, why do we 
hold fuch a courfe as to make ita queftion 
of hefitation (perhaps even of difficulty.) 
with “Thole Powers which have given the 
ftrongeft proof of their wife and dignified 
ientiments, and of the warm intereft they 
take in the fafety and independence of 
Europe,” whether thofe honourable feel- 
ings will lead them to league with us, or at 
prefent to ftand aloof in the conte, and 
wait the current of events for other means 
to reftore the independence of Europe. 
It is with great fatisfaction we ftate, 
that the embargo on Spanifh veffels, 
which we announced in our lait Number, 
was afterwards partially taken off, under 
the following circumftances.—During the 
negotiation; the Spanifh Merchants made 
application to our Government, to know 
whether they would be permitted to freight 
their fhips at that time in our ports, and 
received an an{wer in the affirmative; and - 
in conformity with that affurance, fuch 
Soanifh veflels were relieved from the em- 
bargo. A report prevails, to which we 
readily give credit, that, on the reprefen- 
va 
State of Public Affairs in “fanuary, 1805. 
71 
tation of a number of re{pectable Spanifa 
Merchants, of the dearth of corn in Spain, 
an Order of Council has been obtained, 
permitting veffels to carry corn to the 
ports of Spain, excepting fuch ports as 
contain naval arfenals. 
Letters of marque and reprifals have 
been iffued againft the Spaniards. 
The Houfe of Commons has voted 
120,000 men, including 30,000 marines, 
for the fervice of the navy, for the prefent 
year. Inthe Houfe of Lords, on the mo- 
i of the Marquis of Abercorn, an open 
ommittee is appointed, to coniider of the 
matters alleged againft Mr. Juflice Fox 
(one of the Trith fudges), and of the evi- 
dence which may be brought in fupport 
of the fame. This meafure, at. prefent 
fo unufual, is occafioned by certain alle- 
gations refpecting. the conduct of that 
Judge in the adminiftration of the func- 
tions of bis high office, contained in va- 
rious petitions prefented by the Marquis 
of Abercorn during the lat feffion. The 
Parliament has net yet proceeded to any 
other bufinefs of importance. Itis, how~ 
ever, firmly belicved, in confequence of - 
what has fallen from Minifiers in debate, 
that treaties of alliance between this 
Country and Rufha, and Sweden, will 
fhortly be fubmitted to Parliament; and 
it is added, that thofe two latter Powers 
will receive fubfidies to maintain a force 
in aid of our war with France. 
The Batavian Government affords 
every mark in its power of the reluctance 
with which it continues in any flate of hof- 
tility towards this country. On the 11th 
of this mosth, a cartel from the Texel 
arrived at Scarborough, with 1:2 Engiifia 
prifoners, who had been confined in vae 
rious prifons of Holland. 
Preparations for a fecret Coedaan of 
great magnitude, have heea forming for 
a confiderable time ; and, whatis fineular 
enough in this country, ihe precife Ghee: 
is fill a fecret. The expedition is faid 
to be particularly ftrong in artillery. 
A. fyitem of fortification oa the coafts 
appears at length to be adosted. Con- 
traéts are faid to have been made for 
erecting eighty-feven martello-towers 
between Hythe and Beachy Head. The 
whole line of the coaft the enemy may be 
expected to attempt, will be Prenethenes 
with an extenfive {cale of fortification. 
The Amphitrite, one of the fineft fri- 
gates in the Spanifh navy, is captured by 
the Donegal, commanded by Sir Richard 
Strachan. A fort engagement. teok 
place, 
