crifices which fuch a war might render neceffary. Their fyftem of finance is much more fimple and lefs artificial than that of London, and fo much the more folid. It all lies in their foil and in their courage. On the first news of the English meffage all eyes were turned to the Cabinate of the Thuilleries. As most trifling motions received a character of importance, its most unpremeditated words were eagerly caught up. Every one impatiently expected the affembly for the prefentation of foreigners, which Madam Bonaparte holds once a month. Every one was prepared to draw fome inference from it. It was fplendid as ufual. Ths Firft Conful made his appearance, and faid, on his entrance, to the English Ambaffador, who was ftanding befide M. Markoff, "We have been at war for twelve years. The King of England fays, that France is making immenfe naval preparations. He has been led into an error. In the French ports there are no preparations of magnitude. The whole fleet is gone to St Domingo and the colonies. With regard to the ports of Holland, to which the meffage alludes, thefe are only the preparations for the expedition under General Victor, and all Europe knows its deftination is for Louisiana. The King fays further, that between the Cabinets of Paris and London differences continue. I know of none. It is true that England ought to have evacuated Malta; and as his Britannic Majesty has bound himself by the moft folemn treaty ever entered into, it is impoffible to doubt of the speedy evacuation of that inland. And," added the Firft Conful,-" those who would attempt to frighten the French people fhould know, that it is poffible to kill, but not to intimidate them." During the courfe of the evening, when the First Conful happened to be near M. Markoff, he said to him, half aloud, that the British Miniftry wifhed to keep Malta for five years more. Such a propofal was infulting, and no treaties fhould be entered into which it was not refolved to obferve." At the conclufion of the Affembly, when the English Ambassador was about to retire, the Firft Conful faid to him, "Madame, the Duchefs of Dorfet, has spent the unpleafant part of the year at Paris. It is my fincere with that the may alfo fpend the agreeable season. But if it fhould happen that we really muft go to war, the refponfibility is exclufively with thofe who deny the validity of their own contracts, fince they refufe to obferve treaties which they had concluded." These words of the Firft Conful require no comment. They explain completely his prefent opinions, his paft conduct, and his refolution for the future. It is fufficient to compare them with the tergiverfations, the duplicity, the evafions, and the meffage of the English Government, in order to be enabled to decide on the justice of the difpute." SWITZERLAND. Letters from Berne, of the 29th of March, give fonie details of a mutiny, which has broken out among the Swiss troops. It appears that a confiderable number of French troops were killed; and it was not till the whole of the French were under arms, that the infurgents were induced to give up their leaders. Arrears of pay are spoken of as the cause of this mutiny. Many perfons are, however, of opinion that it originated in a spirit of hoftility to the French troops. EGYPT MALTA. Letters from Malta, of date aft January, state, that neither Sir Alexander Ball nor General Villette have received any orders whatever refpecting the evacuating of the island; on the contrary, Sir Alex. Bail has been ordered to raise 2000 Maltefe troops, of which they have already embodied 800; they defer raising the remainder till it is fettled whether we are to keep the island or not. The orders for evacuating Egypt were difpatched from this on the 9th of January, fo that we expect fome of the Egyptian troops here about the beginning of March. Our last letters from Alexandria mention, that Gen. Stewart was extremely anxious to leave that country, as the plague had made its appearance at Alexandria, and the neighbourhood; and the hoftility of the Mamelukes and Turks fo near the army rendered it extremely difficult to preferve a neutrality betwixt them. The Mamelukes had been uniformly fuccessful, and had given the Turks a complete defeat in one action. Lord The laft letters from Egypt fay, "We are ftill in as great uncertainty, with regard to our departure from this country, as we ever were in. I am happy to inform you, that the plague which in November broke out among fome of the foreign corps has been prevented from spreading any farther, in confequence of the exertions of the Board of Health, of which Colonel Beresford is prefident. Some few cafes of plague occafionally occur among the inhabitants, and they are immediately fent into the peft-hofpital, where they receive medical treatment from Dr Buchan. All communication between the different regiments and the town, and with each other, is cut off, except among the officers. You will hardly believe it when I tell you, that the Turks have no fuch thing as a phyfician or a furgeon in their whole army. Lord Elgin arrived at Malta on the 24th of February, on his way home from Conftantinople. EAST INDIES. Letters overland, of date 4th December, fay that a Mahratta war is inevitable; that the Coaft and Bay army was to take the field immediately after the monfoon, under the command of General Campbell and Colonel Oakes. BRITISH INTELLIGENCE. LONDON. The Whig Club.-A very numerous meeting of the Whig Club took their monthly dinner at the Crown and Anchor tavern, Mr Fox in the Chair. The healths of the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Thanet, Mr Grey, Mr Combe, Mr Sheridan, and of many others, the principal Members of the Society, were drank, Mr Clifford gave the health of Mr Fox, which was drank with great applaufe. In return ing thanks, Mr Fox faid, when laft he had the honour to addrefs the Club, four weeks ago, the firit news of the alarming state of affairs, the King's meffage, had juft tranfpired. Still we were as much in the dark refpecting the causes of this alarm, as we then were; and therefore nothing could be faid upon them; but of this he was confident, that no man in England would more readily and cheerfully fupport war if called for by principles of honour and justice, than the Members of the Club; and if brought on by other motives, he was fure they would all lament it. There has been much talk of Mr Pitt and Lord Melville coming again into office. "The following paragraph is taken from a London paper-lhe uprightness of their intentions (the ma jority of the prefent Minifters we mean), the real love they bear their country, the principles which they have uniformly practifed, and a fimilarity of mind and fentiment, identify them with the man (Mr Pitt) to whom the eyes of the nation are at this moment anxiously tur ned. The measures of the prefent Miniftry, as far as that great man's fentiments are publicly known, have received his warm and unqualified approbation and fupport. He approved of the peace which the Minifters made, because he thought that peace was neceffary to, and anxiously defired by, the country, and becaufe that, even with fuch a government as exifted in France, the experiment of peace was worth the trial. That peace was made, we rejoiced at the time, and we now as fincerely rejoice.-Short as it has been, the nation has had a breathing time; and we fhall now enter upon the war, if war we must have, upon ground which the moft inveterate and malignant Oppofitionist will find it impoffible to mifreprefent or condemn.Unlike an Ex-War Minifter, and his little band of blood-hounds, we are not the advocates for war, much lefs for eternal war-bellum ufque ad internecionem-but we are prepared to defend, to the laft drop of our blood, the rights and independence of our country. If we are thus then to fight for our all, we furely may be allowed to exprefs a with to be conducted in the field by thofe leaders whom we love.-Let Mr Pitt, Mr Addington, Lord Hawkesbury. Lord Melville, and a few others whom we could name, direct the affairs of the nation, and we thall think not only our fafety enfured, but our victory certain." Fatal Duel. Lieutenant-Colonel Montgomery, of of 9th foot, and Captain Macnamara, late of the Cerberus frigate, had a meeting at Primrofe-Hill, which was attended with fatal confequences. "To prevent any mifreprefenta tion, the following is a correct detail of the duel that took place between Col. Montgomery, and Captain Macnamara, of the Navy, taken from the information of a Gentleman who was on the spot. "On Wednesday evening thefe two gallant officers were riding in the Park, each followed by a Newfoundland dog; the dogs attacked each other, which caufed an unpleasant altercation; the Colonel was very warm, and remon#trated very haughtily, which was retorted by Captain Macnamara, who told him he was an officer of the Navy, and unaccustomed to fuch imperious language; the Colonel's anfwer was Sir, you know where to find me," and this was loudly repeated and reiterated. "A rendezvous was the confequence, which took place, by Colonel Montgomery's appointment, at seven o'clock that evening, on Primrofe-hill. An apology was offered on the ground by Captain Macnamara's friend-which was retufed. The ground was meafured-twelve very long paces. The Colonel fired firft; his fhot took place in the lower part of Captain Macnamara's belly, who returned the fatal fire that deprived Colonel Montgomery of existence." 15. Mr Kemble clofed with Mr Harris for the purchase of a share of Covent-Garden Theatre. He pays 30,000l. for it, and is to be Acting Manager next fealon. It is thought Mrs Siddons will play there alfo. EDINBURGH. In reporting the fituation of affairs, laft month we mentioned the active exertions making here for refuming a refpectable warlike polture. During the whole of this month they have been carried on, the preis for feamen has been unremiting, the militia corps of moft of the counties have been embodied, and much preparation made. Still, however, we are kept in tufpence, both as to the particular caule for preparation, and the iffue of the negotiations pending with France. Upon the whole, however, the afpect is not fo wailike as at the end of laft month, and with fome degree of con fidence we look for a continuance of peace. April 4. It is with pleafure we notice the improvements of the Steam Boats upon the Forth and Clyde canal. It is more speedy than the draft by horfes, and at one third of the expence. There was a grand fete at EglintonCattle, in honour of the marriage of Lord Montgomery. Scots Peerage.-A very keen contest is likely foon to take place, in order to fupply the deficiency in the reprefentation of the Scots Peerage, occafioned by the death of the Earl of Dumfries. We understand the three following Noblemen have already declared themselves candidates, viz.The Earl of Kellie, Earl of Lauderdale, Lord Elphinstone. Mr Giles, South Bridge Street, has been appointed Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer, and Builder for Scotland, to his Royal Hignefs the Prince of Wales. On Tuesday the 19th, it blew a very heavy gale from the N. W. Several of the hips in Leith Roads drove from their anchors. About 10 o'clock, during the hardeft of the gale, an open boat from Newhaven, manned with 18 fishermen of that place, at the imminent risk of their lives, pushed off to the affiftance of the thips in distress. The firit ship they approached was a but the fea run fo very high they could Danish velle, the Leon of Eafterezer, not attempt going alongfide, but watched an opportunity and threw fome men on board, by the ftern of the veffel, although the mainmast, for want of the proper itay, threatened every moment to fall on them with a dreadful crath. They next proceeded down Frith to the affiftance of the Dunrobin Castle, which by this time was drifting at the mercy of the waves, betwixt the island of Inchkeith and the north fhore; and although, from the violence of the fea, the boat was frequently nearly foundering, from their dexterous manage. ment of her, they fucceeded in putting 8 or 9 men on board the Dunrobin Caitle; and with difficulty afterwards gained the north thore, and arrived fafe at Newhaven yefterday morning. Too much praile cannot be given to thefe poor but intrepid fishermen, who, feariefs fearless of the approaching danger, fo gallantly pushed off to the affiftance of thofe in diftrefs; and when it is confidered that their exertions, in all probability, faved both veffels from deftruction, it is to be hoped their conduct will meet with a liberal reward. Every fchoolmaster, after his election, is to appear before the prefbytery, with atteftations of his having qualified to his Majefty's Government, and figned the confeffion and formula of the Church of Scotland, and the prefbytery fhall thereupon examine his fufficiency in refpect of literature, &c. other to be elected on due intimation. The heritors and minifters to fix the fchool fees.-The education of youth to continue under the fuperintendence of the minifters of the established church, as heretofore, and to continue to take cognizance of the conduct, character, and behaviour of schoolmatters. The prefbytery to regulate the hours of teaching and length of vacations.-School mafters are reftricted from undertaking any business or employment that may withdraw their attention from the duties of their office.-Prefbyteries are to take cognizance of the conduct of schoolmasters, and upon proof of neglect of duty or immoral conduct, or cruel or improper treatment of scholars, to cenfure, fufpend, or deprive them of office.Heritors of 1ool valuation only to be entitled to vote under this act.-Former acts continued, when not altered by this act. Scots Appeal. 25. This morning, about one o'clock, William Chefman, foldier in the 42d-In cafe he is found unqualified; anregiment, was found near the head of Libberton's Wynd, dreadfully cut and ja fuch a manner, that he died foon after being carried to the City Guard. -Another foldier of the fame regiment, and feveral women were taken up on fufpicion of being concerned. Abstract of the beads of a bill now be fore Parliament, for bettering the condition of the Schoolmasters in Scotland. After Martinmas next, the amount of falary to each parochial schoolmafter fhall not be less than the average annual wages of a day labourer, nor above that of two day labourers, in that part of the country where the parifh is fituated.-The Sheriff is required to examine proper witneffes, and determine the amount of the average wages of a day labourer, and to fend a certificate thereof to the minifter of each parish. The heritors fhall meet within three months after the date of the certificate to fix the amount of the falary, according to the circumftances of the parish, the fame not being lefs than the annual wages of one day labourer, nor above that of two day labourers. After the elapfe of every 25 years, the Sheriff fhall again afcertain and certify the average annual wages of a day labourer.-In every parish a fchool houfe is to be provided and a proper dwelling-houfe for the fchoolmatter, with a garden containing at leaft of an acre, inclofed with fuch fences as are generally used in that part of the country-the expences to be defrayed in fame manner as prefcribed by the act 1696-The heritor from whom ground is taken for thefe purpoles to have relief against the other heritors according to their valued rent. The provifions of the act not to extend to royal burghs, or parishes partly landward and partly burgal, but the schoolmafters are to be maintained in the fame manner as heretofore, the falary and accommodation being always equal to thofe provided by this act. VOL. LXV. In the appeal where the Marquis of Bute, and Ld. Herbert Windfor Stuart, his second son, the Hon. James Stuart Wortley, fecond fon to the late Earl of Bute. The Lord Chancellor moved to affirm the decree of the Court of Seffion, which was ordered accordingly. High Court of Juficiary. Feb. 28. Came on before the Court, the trial of Robert Wilson, lately refiding in Rofe Street, accused of the murder of Janet Moodie, his wife, on Thursday the 27th of January last. The prifoner pleaded Not Guilty. No objection was made to the relevancy of the libel. It appeared from the proof, that on the night libelled, a little after ten o'clock, the cry of murder was repeatedly heard in the tenement where Wilson refided, which alarmed the neighbours; and fome of the witneffes prove it came from the pannci's houfe. A number of people affembled in the paffage, chiefly women, but none of them went into the house. A gentleman who refided in the house as a lodger, came home before eleven o'clock, but faw no Rr thing thing remarkable, and the pannel dressed his fupper before he went to bed. Next morning, between seven and eight o'clock, Wilfon knocked up his next neighbour, faying his wife was dead. The neighbour rofe, and found Mrs Wilfon dead and quite ftiff. She got the affiftance of fome other women, and the corpfe was dreffed. While this was doing, fome marks of violence were obferyed about Mrs Wilfon's face and neck, which were more vifible next day. One of the perfons asked the pannel when Mrs Wilfon died? He faid he did not know. Was it before or after the cries of murder were heard?-He answered, there were no cries in his houfe. Two witneffes, one of whom lived above, and the other below the pannel, swore they heard a noife in the pannel's houfe during the night, as if ranging the fire. The pannel did not call up his lodger till nine o'clock, when he informed him his wife was dead. When this gentleman left his lodgings at ten o'clock, he was met by fe. veral people, who wifhed him to niake fome investigation into the affair; but this he declined, as Wilfon had wrote for his wife's brother to come up from Leith, who came that night; and, on account of the clamour raised about his fifter having died a violent death, called on the Sheriff, and was defired to return next morning. He mentioned this circumftance to Wilfon, who faid he was willing to go to the Sheriff, and accordingly next morning he went in company with Moodie and two other men, first to Mr Clerk, who was confined by indifpofition, then to Mr Davidfon, to whom Wilfon faid he wished that furgeons should infpect his wife's corpfe on account of the clamour of the neighbours. Mr Davidfon referred him to Mr Scot, and furgeonswere accordingly ient on the Sunday, who infpected the body, and gave in a report, from which it appeared, that from the marks on different parts of the body, and from the state of the lungs, the had died a violent death, by ftrangulation, and to this report the two furgeons (Dr Farquarfon and Mr Bryce) fwore. Wilfon was not taken up till the Saturday afternoon. It alfo appeared from the evidence, that Mrs Wilfon was a weakly woman, often complaining, and very frequently in bedThat her husband and the lived happily together, till lately, when the thought he paid too much attention to another woman who lived on the fame floor. This the communicated to her lodger and a woman her neighbour, which laft fwore that Mrs Wilfon informed her that between and Martinmas la, her husband had twice at tempted to adminifter poifon to her, first in a glafs of toddy, and then in fome water gruel. For the prifoner, it was proved, that he was always refpected by his neighbours, and was a perfon of an honeft character, and decent in his behaviour-That, after he was accufed by the neighbours, he did not abfcond; on the contrary, he took every means in his power to get the matter inveftigated, and went for the purpose to the Sheriff. Dr Monro was called for the pannel as to the report of the furgeons, from whom he differed in feveral particulars respecting the probable caufe of Mrs Wilfon's death. The evidence was clofed on both sides a little after feven o'clock, when the Lord Advocate for the Crown, and Mr Campbell for the pannel, feverally addreffed the The Lord Jury in very able speeches. Justice Clerk fummed up the whole in his ufual candid manner. At eleven o'clock the Jury were inclosed, and on Tuesday at two o'clock returned a verdict, finding by a plurality of voices the libel Not Preven; on which the pannel was difmiffed from the bar. Circuit Intelligence. Jedburgh, 4th April 1803. The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here by the Right Hon. Lord Armadale. James Youl, accused of ftealing a single fcep. The Advocate Depute refricted the libel to an arbitrary punishment-and the Jury having unanimously found him guilty, he was fentenced to be transported beyond feas for five years, under the ufual certifica Dumfries, April 8. The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here yesterday, by the Right Hon Lord Armadale. Alexander Buchanan, accused of breaking into a lint-mill, and stealing from thence leveral parcels of flax-and Gordon Tagebolm, accused of breaking into a fhop, and itealing a fmall quantity of rum-beth pleaded guilty; and the Advocate Depuis having reftricted the libels against them to an arbitrary punishment, they were found guilty by the Jury upon their own conicl fion, and fentenced to be transported be yond feas for five years each, under the ufual certification. Judgment |