Nothing had been learnt of the expedition to Santo Domingo, and Aux Cayes; nor any details received of the transactions at the Mole, or Port au Prince.

Gen. Leclerc states his having already embodied 12,000 black soldiers.

He had sent Toussaint his children, with a letter from the Chief Consul, and had given him to understand that he would receive his submission. Toussaint, however, had shewn no disposition to accept the offer. The Commander in Chief speaks very confidently of the speedy reduction of the island.

Previous to these very important occurrences, a Treaty had been concluded with Toussaint, by the Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, on the morning of the day on which the latter received advice of the signing of the Preliminaries of Peace. Gen. Nugent, in consequence, sent to acquaint Toussaint's agents of the circumstance, which rendered void the Convention; and intimated a wish that they should immediately leave Jamaica, announcing, that he had recalled the British Resident at Cape Francois.

The talents and capacity of Toussaint, as well as his moral character, are exhibited to considerable advantage, in a proclamation which he published about two months before the arrival of the French armament. After stating therein the services he had rendered to his country, both in war and peace; the justice he had uniformly administered; the humanity and forbearance, with which he had acted towards his enemies; the pains he had taken to repress vice, and to promote the prosperity of the colony; and the strict discipline and order, which, by means of the principle of emulation, he had introduced into the army;-he adverts to the endeavours he had used to form Gen. Moyse, (the person who had headed the late insurrection against his authority) to similar sentiments. "I explained to him the holy maxims of our religion," says he, "proved to him that man is nothing without the power and will of God; that the duties of a Christian ought never to be neglected; that when a man dares to brave Pro. vidence, he ought to look forward to a dreadful end. But instead of hearing these fatherly counsels, he would follow no guide but his passions, and he has perished miserably. Such is the lot reserved for all who would imitate him. The justice of Heaven is slow, but it is certain; and, sooner or later, it strikes the guilty with the violence of the thunderbolt."

He then proceeds to point out to parents the obligation to train up their children in the fear of God, always regarding religion as the basis of all the virtues, and the foundation of social happiness accuses them of negligence in this respect; and remonstrates with them on the dangers likely to arise from the idleness, licentiousness, and crimes, which were the natural fruits of ignorance and irreligion. The idle and dissipated, he recommends it to magistrates to repress with inexorable severity, as the scourges of society, unless constrained Christ. Observ. No. 3.

to become useful; and he requires them also, on pain of the public indignation, to rid the different towns of all those women who live by prostitution.

"The most sacred of all institutions," he adds, "is marriage. Hence a wise government ought to crown good house-keeping with honour. It ought never to desist, till it has extirpated the last roots of immorality. The military commanders, and public functionaries, who have wives of their own, and yet retain concubines; or who, being unmarried, live publicly with a variety of women, are unworthy of command. They shall be dismissed." "In fine, every man living in the colony, owes his fellow-citizens a good example. No one, under any pretence whatever, ought to be excused from the labour of which he is capable. Creole parents, having property, ought to reside there, to work, to make their children work, and, in the intervals of repose, to instruct them themselves, or employ a teacher to instruct them, in the precepts of religion; to inspire them with an abhorrence of vice, to explain to them the Commandments of God, to engrave their principles in their hearts in a manner never to be effaced, and to imprint on them also this truth, that as idleness is the mother of all vices, so labour is the father of all virtues."

"Such are the proper means to form useful and respectable citizens, to render this colony the happiest country in the world, and to banish forever such horrible events, as remain, never to be effaced, in our memory."

In the month of January, a fresh insurrection broke out in Guadaloupe, which extended generally to all the Blacks in the island; and in which all the Whites are said to have been massacred. This event has excited great alarm in the English islands.

ENGLISH WEST INDIES.

Letters have been received from Grenada, dated the 17th of January, which communicate the intelligence, that the spirit of insurrection amongst the Blacks, has lately burst into action at Grenada; but, owing to the prompt measures of the government, the insurgents were surrounded, many of them were made prisoners, and some of the principals

were executed.

An insurrection has been also discovered in

Tobago. The whole of the Negroes in the island were involved in the plan, which was to murder all the Whites, and to plunder the houses of all the arms and ammunition.

Many of our readers will probably have anticipated the remarks, we feel it our duty to make, upon the events which have lately passed in the West Indian Islands. Horrid as these are in the bare recital, they probably fall far below the miseries which menace that devoted quarter of the globe. We feel no surprise indeed, in contemplating either the recent occurrences in St. Domingo, or the movements which have taken place in the other islands. "The justice of Heaven," to use the energetic, but perhaps misplaced language of 2 D

the Negro Chief, "though slow, is certain; and sooner or later, it will strike the guilty with the violence of the thunderbolt " But that which excites our surprise, is the little less than judicial infatuation, which, under existing circumstances, prevents West Indians from discontinuing the annual importation of from forty to sixty thousand Africans into the British colonies. Their folly and madness in this procedure, can only be equalled by his, who, though anxious to preserve his dwelling from the flames, which have already begun to devour the contiguous building, should employ himself in storing every apartment with combustible materials Are West Indians so warped by prejudice and passion, as not to perceive this? We trust, that if they are, government, in its wisdom and moderation, will not only appreciate the extent of the danger, but provide an adequate remedy, by prohibiting the importation of African slaves into our islands, until, at least, the issue of the present crisis has been ascertained. Such a measure must be acknowledged by all unprejudiced persons, to be both prudent and politic. For what is the just object of our dread, at the present moment, in that quarter? Is it not an excessive negro population! Why then increase this evil, by the continual influx of men, whose sense of recent injury, whose yet untamed savageness of manners, whose lively recollection of native freedom, and whose horror of that state on which they are entering, undiminished by the experience of any of that kindness on the part of their masters, which many who have resided long in the islands, it is alleged, and we are willing to concede, may have felt, will stimulate them, as soon as the signal of insurrection is given, to acts of more than ordinary daring, and of more than ordinary ferocity?

We have heard it reported, that our government means to assist the French, in subjugating their revolted colonies; but we trust the report has no foundation, except in the misguided hopes of a few sanguine, but short sighted individuals. The necessary result of such a policy, must be the inevitable ruin of our possessions in that quarter. Toussaint, whose interest would otherwise lead him to cultivate our neutrality, by carefully abstaining from every action calculated to create suspicion, would then conceive himself driven to provide employment for the British force, by despatching his emissaries to every corner of the British islands, to preach the salutary doc. rines of insurrection. But the subject is far too extensive for our present limits. We shall, therefore, only remark, that if the West Indians remain unmoved by such considerations as are here produced; if they will persist in the same ruinous line of policy which prevented their applying to government, to prohibit the appropriation of immense sums of British capital to the improvement of the conquered colonies, whereby the value of the old islands is already greatly diminished, while a

formidable rival to our commerce is created; if they will continue to prefer the vain gratification of mortifying the hopes of Abolitionists, to the solid advantages arising from security; what inference can the Christian Observer draw from their conduct, but that, being marked out for destruction, they are themselves, through the power of a fatal delusion, made the instruments of it?

Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat.

GREAT BRITAIN.

THE London Gazette of the 20th of February, contains an account of the Capture of the French National frigate, La Chiffonne, of forty-two guns, and two hundred and fifty men, by his Majesty's ship La Sybille, Captain Adam, on the 19th of August, at the Seychelles, after a spirited conflict of nineteen minutes. It also mentions the gallant behaviour of Captain Adam, in boldly pushing into the harbour under French colours, notwithstanding the narrowness of its entrance, and other natural difficulties, until he came within half a musket shot of the enemy, who was moored across, and defended by a battery of four twelvepounders on shore, from which red-hot shot were fired during the action; fortunately none of them touched La Sybille. Our loss, one man killed, two wounded; that of the enemy, twenty-three killed, thirty wounded. Most of the crew of La Chiffonne, escaped on shore. It appears that this frigate sailed from Nantz the 14th of April, with convicts, to the number of thirty-two, under sentence of banishment, for being concerned in an attempt on the life of Bonaparte.

The succeeding Gazette contains a detail of the proceedings of the Chance, private Ship of War, fitted out from the Cape of Good Hope, commanded by Mr. William White, and mounting sixteen guns, twelve and six pounders, and fifty men. On the 19th of August, near the Island of St. Lawrence, on the Coast of Peru, Captain White fell in with, and closely engaged for about an hour and a half, a Spanish ship, called the Amiable Maria, of about six hundred tons, mounting fourteen guns, eighteen, twelve, and nine pounders. Boarding was then attempted, which ended, after a desperate conflict, first on the upper and then on the lower deck, in putting him in possession of the Spaniard, whose loss was twenty-five killed and twenty-eight wounded; that of the Chance, one man killed and five wounded.

On the 24th of September, Captain W. encountered a large Spanish Man of War brig, called Limeno, mounting eighteen long six pounders, and one hundred and forty men, sent from Guiaquil, for the express purpose of taking the Chance, which he captured, after a severe action, yard arm and yard arm, of about three hours. The Chance had two men killed and one wounded; the enemy fourteen killed and seven wounded. The Captains of both the Spanish ships were killed.

Preliminaries of Peace have also been ratified between Me and the French Republic; and I trust that this important Arrangement, whilst it manifests the Justice and Moderation of My Views, will also be found conducive to the substantial Interests of this Country, and honourable to the British Character.

Copies of these Papers shall be forthwith laid before you, and I earnestly hope that the Transactions to which they refer, will meet with the Approbation of My Parliament.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I have directed such Estimates to be prepared for the various demands of the Public Service, as appear to Me to be best adapted to the situation in which we are now placed. It is painful to Me to reflect, that provision cannot be made for defraying the Expenses which must unavoidably be continued for a time, in different parts of the world, and for maintaining an adequate Peace Establishment, without large additional Supplies. You may however be assured, that all possible attention shall be paid to such economical arrangements, as may not be inconsistent with the great object of effectually providing for the security of all My Dominions.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I cannot sufficiently describe the Gratifica tion and Comfort I derive from the Relief which the Bounty of Divine Providence has afforded to My People, by the abundant produce of the late Harvest. In contemplating the Situation of the Country at this important Conjuncture, it is impossible for me to refrain from expressing the deep sense 1 entertain of the Temper and Fortitude which have been manifested by all descriptions of my Faithful Subjects, under the various and complicated difficulties with which they have had to contend. The distinguished Valour and eminent Services of My Forces by Sea and Land, which at no Period have been surpassed, the unprecedented exertions of the Militia and Fencibles, and the Zeal and Perseverance of the Yeomanry and Volunteer Corps of Cavalry and Infantry, are entitled to My warmest Acknowledgments;

—And I am persuaded that you will join with Me, in reflecting with peculiar Satisfaction on the Naval and Military Operations of the last Campaign, and on the successful and glorious Issue of the Expedition to Egypt, which has been marked throughout by Atchievements, tending in their Consequences, and by their Example, to produce lasting Advantage and Honour to this Country It is My first Wish experience the Reward they have so well and most fervent Prayer, that My People may merited, in a full enjoyment of the Blessings of Peace, in a progressive Increase of the National Commerce, Credit, and Resources, and above all, in the undisturbed Possession of their Religion, Laws, and Liberties, under the Safeguard and Protection of that Constitution, which it has been the great Object of all Our sacred Duty to transmit unimpaired to Our Efforts to preserve, and which it is Our most

Descendants.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

LORD BOLTON moved the Address, which was as usual an echo to the Speech, and was seconded by Lord Lifford

The DUKE OF BEDFORD rose, he said, with no intention to disturb the harmony which he perceived was likely to prevail, but to express his hearty concurrence in the sentiments of the Address. He was however of opinion, that a more fit time for making Peace might have been found at a much earlier period of the War; but no blame was, on this account, to be imputed to the present Ministers.

The Address was agreed to nem. dis.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

LORD LOVAINE moved the Address, which was seconded by Colonel Woodhouse.

Mr. Fox expressed his decided approbation of the Address. He heartily joined in the general joy to which the Peace had given rise.

Mr. PITT rejoiced in the unanimity which was like to prevail. He highly approved both of the Peace with France and of the Convention with the powers of the North; expressed

his thanks to the Ministers who had effected these great objects; and concluded with an eulogium on the valour of the navy and army, and on the fortitude and loyalty of the nation at large.

Mr. WINDHAM differed from the two gentlemen who spoke last in approbation of the Peace. He observed that by the indiscriminate surrender of our conquests, we had thrown out of our hands the only means of counterbalancing the enormous aggrandizement of France; but concluded with saying, that there might possibly exist some unknown and irresistible necessity, which had induced his Majesty's Ministers to submit to the terms of the Treaty, and that the nation ought to thank, instead of censuring them for the measure they had adopted.

Mr ADDINGTON, the Chancellor of the Excequer, denied that the preserving of our conquests, and the extension of our colonial sys

tem, was the most effectual way to counterbalance the aggrandizement of France; but that it was in the preservation of our constitution, in our capital and industry, that we were to look for our means of future defence. "As to necessity," said he, "I disclaim it, sir. I will be no party to any such plea."

Mr. SHERIDAN said that to the Address as it now stood he had no objection. He differed from those who called the Peace honourable and glorious, and still more from those, who thought it inexpedient to make any peace at all. It was a Peace of which every man was glad, but of which no man could possibly be proud.

EARL TEMPLE begged that in voting for the Address, he might by no means be understood as giving his approbation to the Preliminaries of Peace.

The Address was carried nem. con.

Friday, Oct. 30.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

LORD PELHAM, Secretary of State for the Home Department, laid before the House the Convention with Russia signed at Petersburgh on the 5th of June, and the Preliminary Treaty of Peace with France signed at London on the 1st of October.

LORD GRENVILLE expressed his wish to obtain some explanation of those articles, which related to the integrity of our allies, particularly of the clause respecting the integrity of Portugal, whether it was meant to preserve that power as it stood before the war, or, at the Date of the Preliminaries.

LORD PELHAM declined entering into any explanation on the subject until the Preliminaries themselves should become the question before the House.

Upon the motion of LORD ST. VINCENT, First Lord of the Admiralty, seconded by Lord Nelson, the unanimous Thanks of the House were given to Rear Admiral Sir James Saumarez, "for his gallant and spirited conduct in the action with the united fleets of France and Spain, off Gibraltar, in which he had destroyed two Spanish men of war, and taken a ship belonging to France."-Like votes were passed in honour of Captains Hood and Keates, and such of the Officers as principally distinguished themselves, and of the Seamen and Marines under Sir James Saumarez, in the two Engagements in the Bay of Algesiras and off Gibraltar.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Votes of Thanks, similar to those this day passed by the Lords, were passed in the Com

mons.

LORD HAWKESBURY, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, having laid before the House copies of the Convention with Russia, and of the Preliminaries of Peace with France, moved that the latter be taken into consideration on Tuesday, and the former on Friday next.

Mr GREY having made inquiries similar to those of Lord Grenville, Lord Hawkesbury

Mr. WHITBREAD wished to be informed if any communication had been made to Holland and Spain, relative to that cession of a part of their territory, which had been agreed upon in the Preliminary Treaty with France.

LORD HAWKESBURY answered, that the Preliminary Treaty certainly was agreed on without any participation, on the part of either Holland or Spain; but that France was considered as capable of acting for them as well as herself His Lordship said, that as he was now up, he would answer two questions put on a former day, by Mr Grey, relative to the Sixth Article of the Preliminaries. The meaning of that Article was, that the territories and possessions of her Faithful Majesty should be maintained entire as settled by the Treaty of Badjados. With respect to the admission of manufactures of other countries into the countries of Portugal, upon the same footing as those of England, he could only observe, that the preference now given by each country was reciprocal; and that, if Portugal admitted the woollens of other nations to be imported upon terms, heretofore enjoyed exclusively by us, we should be at liberty to place all other wines upon a footing with those of Portugal.

On the 3d of November the day on which the Preliminaries of Peace were discussed in both Houses, Lord Grenville, in the House of Lords, asked for previous information, respecting the state, in which our Treaty with France had left the territorial and commercial independence of Portugal. Lord Pelham answered that as to commerce, Portugal was still at liberty to treat with this country; and that respecting the boundaries of her territory, it was guaranteed from and after the Treaty concluded on the 29th of September 1801. The former Lord not being satisfied with this explanation relative to commerce, he, after some opposition from Lords Hobart and Thurlow, made a motion for the production of Papers relating thereto, which was supported by Lords Spencer and Caernarvon, who contended, that it was inconsistent with propriety and candour to call on the House at once to plunge into the discussion of a matter on which they did not possess the necessary information. After some further conversation it was, however, agreed to enter on the Order of the Day.

The Address of Thanks was moved by Lord Romney, and seconded by Lord Limerick. It was opposed by Lords Spencer, Grenville, Warwick, Fitzwilliam, the Bishop of Rochester, and Lord Caernarvon; and was supported by the Dukes of Clarence and Bedford, Lords Westmeath, Pelham, Hobart, Rawdon, Mulgrave, Westmoreland, the Lord Chancellor, and the Bishop of London. The House did

not rise till a very late hour in the morning; the speeches were long and animated: that of Lord Grenville on one side, and of the Lord Chancellor, on the other, displayed such knowledge, and eloquence, as have seldom been witnessed even by the august assembly, in which those speeches were delivered. Upon the division there appeared, Contents 94,Proxies 20, Non-contents 10.-The Non-contents were, the Marquis of Buckingham, Earls Pembroke, Warwick, Fitzwilliam, Radnor, Spencer, and Caernarvon, Lords Grenville and Gwydir, and the Bishop of Rochester.

In the Commons, on the same day, and on the same question, the Address was moved by Sir Edmund Hartop, and seconded by Mr. Lee, member for Dungarvon in Ireland.

The Address was supported by Lord Hawkesbury, Mr. Banks, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, Lord Castlereagh, and Mr. Addington; and was opposed by Mr. Thomas Grenville, Lord Temple, Lord Folkestone, Dr. Lawrence, and Mr. Windham. No division took place. The speech of Lord Hawkesbury which was very long and very able, contained some statements conveying great information, amongst which was the following, presenting a comparative view of our commerce upon an average of the three last years of Peace, and the three last years of War. His Lordship said that by the paper which he held in his hand, it appeared that the value of exports of British plantation for three years preceding this war, was 2,185,000. For three years of this War, 3,561,000/-Colonial produce for the same time for Peace 3,877,000. During war, 5,101,000/-East India imports for three years of Peace, 3,183,000. For the same period of War, 5,617,000/-Exports of British manufactures to America, three years of Peace, 3,694,000l. For the same period of War, 6,232,000/-British manufactures, &c. to our colonies for three years of Peace, 747,000. War in the same period, 1,224,000. British manufactures exported to the Continent of Europe, 1,530,000. War, 2,145,000l. On the Report of the Address Mr. Windham and Dr Lawrence, Mr. C. Wynn, and Mr. Elliot, delivered their sentiments in opposition to the Preliminaries of Peace. The Secretary of War, Mr. Wilberforce, and several other members, spoke in defence of them; after which the Address was passed without a division.

On the 12th of November, both houses gave their unanimous Thanks to General Sir John Heley Hutchinson, to Admiral Lord Keith, to Admirals Rainer, Blanket, Bickerton, and Warren, and to the officers, soldiers, sailors, and marines, under their command, in, and on the coast of Egypt.

The Convention with Russia was the subject of discussion, in both Houses, on the 13th of November. The principal speakers, in the Lords, were Lord Grenville and the Lord Chancellor The former delivered a speech of great length, and ability, the chief object of which was, to convince their Lordships of

the perplexity, and even danger, that must inevitably arise from the wording, and the terms, of the Convention, as it now stood, and to prevail on his Majesty's Ministers to adopt such new arrangements as might, before it was too late, prevent the evils he dreaded.

The Lord Chancellor made an able reply, though he rose under an embarrassment which he was not ashamed to acknowledge.

The Address of Thanks to the Throne passed without a division, as it also did in the Commons.

In the House of Commons, on the 21st of December, Mr. Windham wished to know, whether, in the progress of the pending negotiations with France, any definitive arrangements had been settled, relative to the integrity of Portugal. It was well known, he said, that previously to our having formed the preliminary treaty with France, France had, unknown to us, formed another treaty with Portugal, by the operation of which the stipulations contained in our treaty, in favour of the latter, would be rendered completely nugatory; were this suffered to pass, we must be considered as submitting to a most scandalous fraud. Mr.Addington (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) replied, that he had no hesitation to declare, that his Majesty's ministers had every authority, short of actual and definitive signatures, to rely that the treaty of Badajos was to be considered, on all sides, as the basis of definitive arrangement with regard to Portugal, and that the treaty of Madrid was to be annulled.

On the 28th of December, in the House of Commons, Mr.Thomas Grenville expressed his apprehension,that the Noble Lord at the head of the foreign department, would be induced to lower his tone, in the pending negotiation, and that much worse terms would be obtained, in consequence of his Majesty's Ministers having suffered Bonaparte to send out, into the neighbourhood of our valuable and vulnerable colonies, so considerable an armament, as that which was well understood to have lately sailed from the harbour of Brest; and he wished to know, if Ministers possessed any consolatory information on that alarming subject. The Chancellor of the Exchequer declined entering into any explanation as to the sailing of the armament, or the precautions which we had adopted relative thereto; but assured the Honourable Gentleman, that the circumstance would not induce the Noble Lord (Hawkesbury) to lower his tone in the pending negotiation.

COURT OF CHANCERY, MARCH 4. In the cause of the University of Cambridge, and Messrs. W. J. and J. Richardson, Booksellers, in London, respecting an Injunction restraining the sale of certain Bibles and Common Prayer Books, printed by the King's Printer in Scotland, the Lord Chancellor has given judgment. His Lordship was of opinion, that there was that species of right and probable title vested with the University,