the support that he can in his own line, upon condition that they provide, in their line, for one of his relatives; and, in order to an honourable fulfilment of this stipulation, we bear, that the diverting gentleman has been busily at work, during his absence from the boards, arranging the drolleries and jests which he has collected from the books and newspapers, ancient and modern. These are, we are informed, all pasted together in slips, which are numbered and fitted with a shifting head and tail piece, so as to be ready to foist into any speech that the actor may have to repeat. We do certainly see many things to blame; but, when we find cause for commendation we are the first to bestow it; and, we trust that no one will suspect us of flattery, when we congratulate the ministers on the acquisition, which they have made in the inimitable talents of MR. SUETT, whose singlehanded exertions, dictated by his true English feeling, will, we doubt not, be more than a match for all the support that Buonaparté can derive from his innumerable host of chanteurs and harlequins. object of all his party intrigues. Fox he does not envy; he cares very little about the popularity that he may obtain ; that will not injure him; that only makes Fox "an antagonist more worthy of him. But, every thing which Mr. Windham gains is taken from Mr. Pitt; and this the latter well knows, that it has been owing only to the success of a well combined system of misrepresentation and detraction, that Mr. Windham was not, long ago, universally regarded as his superior. The times are, however, approaching, when this base system will no longer have a prevalent effect, and when the nation will look for a guide in the man who foresaw, who foretold, and who endeavoured to prevent, all the mighty mischiefs, which have already befallen, and which are now befalling us. We may be mistaken with respect to the conduct of the nation in this respect; but, as to the alter. native we assuredly are not: either Mr. Windham, or some one of his mind and principles, will direct the affairs of this country, or this country will be subdued and enslaved. If Mr. Windham had been minister of Great Britain, America would not have had to purchase Louisiana of France, We are glad to perceive, that MR. the King of Sardinia, the Stadtholder, and PELTIER's trial will be ready for publication the Vendeans, would not have been aban next week; and also, that this gentleman doned, Germany would not have been new-will, in the course of the present month, modelled, the French troops would not have been at Hanover. We shall resume this subject in our next. THE CITY ADDRESS, which will be found in p. 868 of this sheet, comes rather tardily, and by no means breathes that ardour for the contest, which we could have wished to hear. In fact, the address amounts to this, that the Corporation of London are ready to risk their lives and fortunes in order to enable their beloved King to make peace with the rebel and usurper of France as soon as possible; and, in these dutiful, loyal, and patriotic sentiments, we dare say, they are most cordially joined by ninety-nine hundredths of their fellow citizens. POSTSCRIPT. MR. SUETT. Always ready to correct the errors into which we may fall, we have now to state, that we were misinformed as to the intended appointment of this gentleman to the post of Secretary at War. But though our information appears to have been incorrect, it was not altogether unfounded, for we understand that Mr. SUETT, while he declines taking the office himself, is to give the ministers all We revive the AMBIGU, which the tyranny of Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bagshaw, Bow Street, Covent Garden, where former Numbers may be had; sold also by E. Harding, No. 18, Pall-Mall, VOL. III. No. 24.] London, Saturday, 18th June, 1803. [ Price 100 CONTENTS. On the Navy, 897. Gen. Mortier's Let. from Niewburg, 899. Capitulation of Hanover, 900. Orders by the Magistrates of Hanover, 901. Buonaparté to his Bishops, 901. Loan, 903. Parliamentary Minutes, 903. Budget, 906. Military Events, 915. Naval Events, 916. Letter of Mr. Cobbett 10 the Minister on the Taxes, the Loan, and the National Debt, 916. SUMMARY.-Hanover, 925. King of Sardinia, 926, Garbled Papers, 926. War of Necessity, 927. 897] TO THE EDITOR. [898 any other public man, could be so completely SIR,-In your Summary of Politics for ignorant of the nature of naval epuipments, the week ending the 7th of May, I ob- as to assert in the parliament of this mariserve a paragraph referring to Sir Henry time empire, that fifty sail of the line, Mildmay's motion upon the state of the navy, “ready for sea," means only "fully rigged in which you again quote the promise made" and fitted out," but without the "complement by Mr. Addington, on the 2d December" of men." Such a palpable want of common last, in the following words: "What ap- understanding I do not wish to attribute to prehension can be felt for our safety, the meanest capacity; much less can I be "when it is known, that by the prudent and inclined to think, that the first minister of "wise conduct of the First Lord of the the crown could entertain such a fallacious "Admiralty, such arrangements were idea, or attempt to impose it upon the re"made, that, in case of emergency, fifty presentatives of the people.-But, Sir, I "sail of the line can be prepared for sea am far more inclined to believe, that, in"within one month, and even a larger stead of your quotation being correct, Mr. "number, should the exigency be pressing. Addington must have said-If we have but "Thus we are situated, ready for any event." men, fifty sail of the line will not only be -The explanation which you represent ready for sea, but shall be actually at sea, Mr. Addington to have given respecting in less than a month. Thus much Mr. Adthis promise, in answer to Sir Henry Mild-dington might have said with great truth may, on the 4th ultimo, bears on the face and safety; indeed, he would have been of it such a glaring trait of dissimulation, perfectly correct, if he had taken a much if not of treachery, that I really cannot shorter space of time for the equipment of conceive the minister, incapable as he may such an armament, provided the ships were be of his station, could have committed in a state fit for service; but this the injudihimself in such a gross manner to the House cious measures of the Board of Admiralty have of Commons, to the nation, and even to the rendered totally the reverse.-The circumwhole world. If you did not hear the ex- stance of ships being fully rigged and planatory words from Mr. Addington's lips" fitted out," but without "men," would be yourself, I do hope and trust you will feel yourself called upon, in justice to the minister and for the credit of the country, to declare, that the quotation you have given from his speech, in answer to Sir Henry Mildmay, is incorrect, and that the reporter from whom you extracted it, has grossly misrepresented him.-If this be not the case, well may you exclaim, "What a shuf"fle!" Indeed it would be a trick of the darkest hue. That any minister of any country should declare in the face of the world, that fifty sail of the line, "ready for "sea," means only "fully rigged and fitted out," but without the "complement of men," is what I cannot yet credit.-Admitting, however, for the sake of argument, that the quotation you have made from Mr. Addington's speech is correct, though while I feel myself, as I have already observed, under the necessity of doubting, is it possible to conceive, that Mr. Addington, or indeed 66 worse than having none at all; for without men to take care of them, their sails would be rotting and their stores spoiling, and the ships themselves in absolute danger of being driven from their anchors for want of hands to secure them in tempestuous weather. How often do we hear of our ships, when even completely manned, driving from their anchors, and experiencing the most imminent danger? So much, indeed, that many are under the necessity of calling for assistance.-It would be well if Mr. Addington, or any other minister (whether your report be correct or 1:ot) would give himself the trouble to acquire a little theoretical knowledge, before he speaks on a professional subject, upon which he has not had any practical experience. The evils that arise from the assertions of men in high and dignified situations, when speaking upon professional subjects, of which they have no knowledge, are incalculable. For what man, much less a professional man, could inagine that a declaration of a minister in parliament, that fifty ships of the line could be ready for sea in a month, simply meant rigged and fitted out," but withoutmen ?" Into what a false hope of security must the nation be lulled by such a declaration, and into what a state of despair must it be driven, when the threatening approach of the enemy to our shores should call forth an explanation, as you have ascribed to Mr. Addington, on this momentous and important subject?-Let it be supposed, the French could effect a landing and preserve a footing even but for a short time, in the vicinity of our naval arsenals, and were there to find fifty sail of the line, fully "rigged and fitted out," and of course without men, for with men the enemy never could have approached them; the consequence would be, that these fifty ships of the line would instantly be sent to the ports of France, from the very circumstance of their being equipped for sea; while the other ships which should be found in a state of ordinary, or unequipped, would, if not destroyed, be suffered to remain in our hands. Of the two, it would be far better that our whole marine should be destroyed, than that we should furnish the enemy with the means of our own subjugation. (to be continued) PUBLIC PAPERS. Letter from Licut. Gen. Martier, commanding in chief the French army, in the Electorate of Hanover, to the French Minister at War.-Dated Head Quarters, Niewbag, June 4, 1803. CITIZEN MINISTER,-I had the honour to inform you, by my letter of the 28th ult. of the march of the French army towards Hanover. Atter a march excessively fatiguing across arid sands and marshy heaths, I took a position on the 31st before Wechte. I was assured that the enemy guarded the line of the Hunte. Gen. Hammerstein, commanding the advanced guard of the King of England, occupied Diepholtz with the second and six h regiments of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and a division of artillery. I made my dispositions to dislodge him on the folJowing morning. The second division commanded by Gen. Schiner, that of cavalry under the orders of Gen. Nansouty, received orders to march to Goldenstedt, to force the passage of the Hunte, and then march to Suhlingen, that they might cut off every thing they might find between that place and Diepholtz, which the division of Gen. Montrichard had orders briskly to attack. The enemy seeing that by this movement he was turned on his right, retired during the night to Bersten-On the 1st ipst. the advanced guard, commanded by Gen. Drouet, had a warm skirmish before Bauver, with the rear-guaid of the enemy, On the 2d the army united before Suhiingen; the advanced guard moved war's Besten; it here fell in with the enemy, and notwithstanding the superiority of numbers, and the extreme faFigue of the troops, who had that day marched welve leagues, Gen. Drouet gave the order to attack. The enemy kept up a warm cannonade. Some squadrons of the second regiment of hussars charged with valour the light dragoons of the 9th regiment. They broke the line of that corps, who fled, and we took several prisoners.I was informed by my spies, that the head of the bridge of Niewbourg was repaired, and that the enemy had collected all his artillery on the right bank of the Weser. I saw how important it was for me to precipitate my movement. I marched my reserve artillery, and I made all my dispositions to push and beat every thing before me in the Weser, to force the head of the bridge of Niewhourg, or to pass behind Stolznau, and intercept by that means the communication with the capital-The troops were in march when the Civil and Military Deputies of the Regency of Hanover presented themselves before my advanced posts: they invited me to suspend my march, and announced to me that they were ready to make advantageous propositions-My answer was in the negative; they returned to make me new propositions; I informed them I would listen to none, unless I had the certainty of immediately Occupying the country of Hanover, and particularly all the strong places belonging to it. After a long discussion, they signed a convention, which I accepted under the condition that it should be ratified by the respective governments. You will see that the army of the King of England are prisoners of war, that I am master of the whole country, and particularly of the mouths of the Elbe and the Weser.-I have given orders to seize all the vessels which are on those rivers. The Duke of Cambridge, the son of the King of England, and Governor of Hanover, judged it proper to give in his resignation before the battle, and to make his retreat in haste. He had, however, promised to die with the levy en masse; it is probable, that he will be embarked before we arrive at the mouth of the Elbe-We found at Niewbourg 14,000 new muskets, and a good deal of artillery. According to the accounts rendered to me, I presume that I shall find in the magazines and places of Hanover about 100,000 muskets, and more than 100 pieces of artillery.-I shall be the day after to-morrow in the City of Hanover, the continental capital of the King of England. I have found a considerable number of horses for remounting the cavalry, and furnishing the artillery. Much praise is due to the care and zeal of Gen. Dulauly.I have the honour to salute you. EDWARD MORTIER, Convention signed between Messrs. the Civil and Military Deputies of the Regency of Hanover and Lieutenant-General Mortier, Commander in Chief of the French Army. Art. I. Hanover shall be occupied by the French army, as well as the forts dependent on it. 2. The Hanoverian troops shall retire behind the Elbe; they shall engage on their parole of honour not to commit any hostilities, or to bear arms against the French army or its allies, so long as the war shall continue between France and England. They shall not be released from this oath until after they have been exchanged against an equal number of French generals, officers, subalterns, soldiers, or sailors, who may happen to be at the disposal of England -3. No individual of the Hanoverian troops shall quit the place assigned him, without information being given to the general commander in chief-4. The Hanc verian army shall retire with the honours of war; the regiments shall take with them their field pieces.-5. The artillery, powder, arms, and ammunition of every description, shall be placed at the disposal of the French army.-6. All the effects whatsoever belonging to the King of England, shall be placed at the disposal of the French amy.-7. All public monies shall be sequestrated, but that of the university shall be appropriated to its original object.-8. Every English soldier, or agent whatsoever, in the pay of England, shall be arrested by order of the general commander in chief, and sent into France.-9. The general commander in chief reserves to himself the power of making in the government, and authorities constituted by the Elector, such changes as he shall think proper.-10. All the French cavalry shall be remounted at the expense of Hanover; the electora e shall also provide for the pay, clothing, and food of the French army.-11. The worship of the different religions shall be maintained on the present footing.-12. All persons, and all the property and families of Hanoverian officers, shall be under the safeguard of French honour.-13. All the revenues of the country, as well as the electoral domains, and the public contributions, shall be at the disposal of the French government. The engagements already made shall be respected.-14. The present government of the electorate shall abstain from exercising any species of authority throughout the country occupied by the French troops.-15. The general commander in chief shall levy on the electorate of Hanover such contribution as he shall think necessary for the wants of the army.-16. Every article on which doubts shall arise, shall be interpreted favourably to the inhabitants of the electorate.-17. The preceding articles shall not prejudice the stipulations which may be agreed upon in favour of the electorate, between the First Consul and a Dv Mediating Power. Done at the Head Quarters at Suhlingen, the 3d of June, 1803.(Saving the approbation of the First Casal) ED. MORTIER, Lieutenant-General, Commander in Chef.-F. DE BREMER, Judge of the Electoral Count of Justice and Provincial Counsellor.-G. DE BосH, Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Electo al Body Guards. FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS. Orders issued at Hanover, addressed to the Magistrates, E. c. on the 31st of May, 1803. As we understand that many of the Magistrates and Public Officers of the country wish to receive directions in what manner to conduct themselves, should French troops advance near the frontiers o: this territory, we recommend to them in general-1. That they regulate especially their whole conduct on the principle of the strictest neutrality, which it belongs to this territory to maintain, as entirely independent of the Crown of Great Britain and Ireland, and a completely separate possession, according to the constitution of the Empire, and the guarantee of the treaty of Lune, vide.-2. That they readily furnish whatever may. be required of them; as it is hoped only on the frontiers, and-3. That they on no account desert their offices and posts, but remain in them, and faithfully fulfill their duty. C. A. R. Count Von KIELMANDEGGE. Circular Letter from the First Consul of France to the Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops of that country.Dated 7th June, 1803. Sir,--The motives of the present war are known to all Europe. The bad faith of the King of England, who has violated the sanctity of treaties, in refusing to restore Malta to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who has attacked our merchant ships without any previous declaration of war, the necessity of a just defence, every thing obliges us to resort to arms. I, therefore, write you this letter to tell you, that I wish you to offer up prayers to obtain the blessing of Heaven upon our enterprises. The proofs I have received of your zeal for the service of the state, assure me that you will contorm with pleasure to my inten tions. BUONAPARTE. FOREIGN. Rome, May 16.His Holiness held a secret consistory this day, at the Quirinal Palace, when Joseph Charles Lor, of Norogna and Abranches, grandee of the kingdom and head of the patriarchal church of Lisbon, was created Cardinal. Petersbourg, May 26.-The hundredth anniversary of the foundation of this city, by Peter the Great, was celebrated here on the 24th inst. with the greatest solemnity. Naples, May 28-The approaching contest be tween England and Fiance has created the greatest alarm throughout the dominions of his Neapolitan Majesty, who is said to have applied to the Emperor of Russia for security. Berlin, May 29.-A few days ago, M. de César departed on his embassy from his Majesty to the Batavian Republic. Hogue, June 2.-The Legislative Body of the Batavian Republic terminated its session yesterday. Cit. Heldewier was nominated President of the extraordinary sittings which may take place previous to a new convocation., To-day a message was sent from the government requiring an extraordinary session. The Legislative Assembly adjourned to the 14th inst. Paris, June IL- - Addresses come pouring in : daily from all parts of France to the First Consul, assuring him of support in the war against England. The city of Rouen has voted a 74 gun ship for the government -Voluntary subscriptions for building gun beats, &c. are made with great liberality. DOMESTIC. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. The Gazette of Saturday, June 11, contains an Order in Council for prolonging, to the 1st of January, 1804, the Order of the 13th July 1801, which declared the Port of La Valetta, in the Island of Malta to be free to the subjects of all states in amity with His Majesty. Carlton House, June 3, 1803.-His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has been pleased to appoint the Reverend Charles Barker, B. D. Sub-Dean and Canon-Residentiary of Wells, to be one of His Royal Highness's Chaplains in Ordinary, Whitehall, June 14, 1803.-The King has been pleased to grant the dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the following gentlemen, and the respective heirs riale of their bodies lawfully begotten, viz.Richard Brooke de Capell Brooke, of Great Oakley, in the county of Northampton, and e* Ac..dée and Roborough, in the county of Cork, I q.— The Right Honourable John Stewart, et Athenree, in the county of Tyrone.-The Rev. Janes Stronge, Clerk, Master of Arts, of Tynn, in the county of Armagh, and of Thornhill, in the county of Dublin. Crown Office, June 14, 1803.-Member returned to serve in this present Parament-Town of Nottingham-Daniel Parker Coke, Esq. in the room of Joseph Birch, Esq. whose election for the said town has been determined to be void. Nottingham, June 6.-At the close of the poll, this evening, for the election of member of parliament, Mr. BIRCH had 1165 votes, and Mr. COKE 1355. Majority in favour of Mr. COKE 190. Mr. Birch having consulted his friends gave up the contest. The town was very quiet. London, June 10.-The LORD MAYOR held a ward. mote this day, in the ward of Bridge, for the elec. tion of an alderman in the room of GEORGE HIBBERT, Esq. resigned, when Sir MATTHEW BLOXMAN was elected.-June 11. Capt. JAMES BOWEN, Capt. THOMAS HAMILTON, and Mr. E. BouvĒRIE have been recently appointed to the Transport Baard. The Right Hon. JOHN STEWART, late attorney-general for Ireland, has resigned, and is succeeded by STANDISH O'GREADY, Esq.-June 14, Yesterday morning at ten o'clock the gentlemen who intended to hid for the loan, waited upon the minister at his house in Downing-street. The biddings were as follow:-Messrs. ESDAILE and Mr. SuEWELL, L. 6 5 Long Ann.-GOLDSMID and Co. o 8 4 Ditto.BARING and Co. o 8 4 Ditto. The BANKERS, O 12 3 Ditto.--The STOCK EXCHANGE, O 12 3 Ditto.-Messrs. EsDATDE and SugwELL, of course, had the loan. The tollowing was the rate at which the loan was taken : Sol. 3 per Cent. Consols, at 584 the price of Saturday. .46 14 O 8ol. 3 per Cent. Red. at the same price.... 46 14 O 6s. 5d. Long Ann. at 174 years purchase.. 5 12 3 Discount,. 63 ..... 2 PARLIAMENTARY MINUTES, from p. 875. Wednesday, June 8.LORDS.-Counsel heard on the Scotch Appeal, Lothian, &c. v. Henderson, &c. which, after a speech from the Lord Chancellor, was postponed to April 1-Earl of Clanricarde took his seat.-Bills before the House forwarded. -Message to Commons to request a copy of the report concerning the Highlands of Scotland. Oaths administered to-Belcher, and Bill for his naturalization read second time. -Adjourned. ·COMMONS-Weaver's Bill postponed to Friday.Ordnance Dépôt Bill read, and ordered for second reading to-morrow.-Fish Company Bill ordered for second reading on Tuesday. Two Bills on Consolidation read and ordered fo: second reading to-morrow.--Soldier's Relief Bill passed. Report of Committee on accommodation of Merchants brought up. Resolutions agreed to, and Committee on Consolidation Bill instructed to make provision accordingly.Notice of motion, on Friday next, for additional seamen. Estimates of Transport service, prisoners of war, &c. laid on table.--After some conversation, second reading of Bilor amending Turnpike art, negatived. Molise of motion, to morrow, for leave to bring in a Bill to discharge professional Seamen trom Militia.-Committee on Militia Pay Bill, report received, and Bill ordered to be printed. Irish army estimates laid on table and ordered for Friday, Motion for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent destruction of shipping in Ireland, and another to regulate collection of revenue in Ireland, postponed till tomorrow. Exchequer Bill Bill read second time and committed for to-morrow. -Committees of Supply, and Ways and Means postponed till Friday. Adjourned. Thursday, June 9 LORDS Counsel heard an Appeal from Court of Chancery, Thelluson v. Woodford, postponed till Tuesday.Ship destroying, Supplementary Militia, Soldiers' and Seamen's Relief Bills, and several private Bills brought from Commons.-Chandos Peerage, after some conversation between Lords Hawke and Walsingham, Bishop of St. Asaph, Earl Roslin, H. R. II. the Duke of Clarence, and the Lord Chancellor, postponed till Monday.-Bills on table forwarded.-Adjourned.—COMMONS... Message from Lords stating their agreement to Land Tax regulation Bill and several private bills. -Reports respecting Highlands of Scotland ordered to be transmitted to Lords, agreeably to their request. - Port of London Bill read second time and committed for Tuesday. Motion on petitions of distillers postponed.— Committee on Consolidation Duty Bill postponed till to-morrow. Gen. Gascoyne gave notice of two motions in Committee to-morrow, I. to extend tonnage duty to Ireland, 2. that no import duty should be greater in the outports than in London. -Accounts respecting the funded and unfunded debt of Ireland laid on table,On motion of Mr. Corry, leave given to bring in a Bill to prevent destruction of Shipping in Ireland, and another to regulate collection of revenue in Ireland Assessed Tax Consolidation Bill, and Assessed Tax Collec tion Bill read second time and committed for tomorrow. Committee on Exchequer Bills Bill, report to be received to-morrow.Leave granted, on motion of Secretary of War, to bring in a Bill to allow Seamen in Militia to enter in the Navy.Bill brought in, read and ordered for second reading to-morrow. Report of Committee to prepare an estimate of the pay and clothing of the Irish Militia laid on table.- -Malicious Shooting Bill read and ordered for second reading to-morrow. -Committees on Medicine Duty Bill, and East-India Shipping Bill postponed till to-morrow. -Adjourned. Friday, June 10. LORDS.-Foote's Divorce Bill read second time, and, after some conversation, committed for Monday.Several private Bills from Commons read.-On motion for committee on the Clergy Non-Residence Bill, the bishops of St. Asaph, and Oxford, and Lord Auck land, entered into a long discussion of the bill itself. Earl Caernarvon spoke to order, and after some conversation, the commitment of the bill was postponed till Monday Earl Suffolk moved to postpone Chandos Peerage till Tuesday; after some conversation between his Lordship, the Lord Chancellor, and H. R. H. the Duke of Cumberland, motion withdrawn-Bills on table forwarded. Adjourned. COMMONS.-Message from Lords stating their assent to National Defence Bill and several private bill -Papers relative to Irish distilleries laid on table. Report of Committee on the relief of wives and children of Scotch Militia brought up, and committed for Monday. On motion of Lord Glenbervie, ad |