FRENCH WEST INDIES. ST DOMINGO. The various official details which during the month have been laid before the public, bring down the account of the operations of the French army, in St. Domingo, to the 1st of March. It appears from these details that the French had made considerable progress in getting possession of the island; but that they encountered great difficulties, and an obstinate resistance on the part of the blacks, and had even sustained occasional defeats. With out any of those allowances therefore which ought to be made on account of the favourable colours generally given by the French to their military transactions, we may infer from the letters of the commander in chief, that the contest, in that quarter, will be long and bloody. We are not to wonder at the partial success which has attended the efforts of the newly imported veterans of France, when op. posed in the plain and more practicable parts of the country to the comparatively undiciplined legions of Toussaint. In the full possession of health and vigour, they have been able to make extraordinary exertions But it may be expected that the effect of these exertions will be the introduction of diseases which will prove more formidable than even Toussaint himself. No decisive action seems to have taken place, though there have been a great number of severe conflicts, in which the French, though in general victorious, acknowledge themselves to have been several times worsted. Some of Toussaint's generals are said to have submitted to General Leclerc, who states himself to be in possession of all the Spanish part of the island, and of the open country belonging to the French part. The war however is likely now to prove more desultory in its nature, and of course less favourable to the progress of an European force.* *The following is the substance of the last despatches from St. Domingo. On the 17th of February, four columns advanced from the Cape in different directions, and after sustaining several painful actions with enemies, who were concealed, took possession of the positions they were directed to Occupy. On the 18th the divisions were encamped near Plaisance, at Dondon and St. Raphael. The Alps are said not to present equal obstacles with those of this country On the 19th, Plaisance and St. Michael were taken possession of, and also Marmalude, though defended by Christophe with 1200 men In the Gonaires the black General Maurepsas had successively defeated the French Generals Humbert and Boudet, setting fire to Leogane and Lacroix des Bouquets. On the 20th, General Debelle marched against him; but being attacked by the blacks, in all points, he was compelled to retreat. On the 22d Christophe was driven from Enmeri and Bayonnai, and the next day from La GUADALOUPE. This island is said to be restored to a state of complete tranquillity; but no intimation is given how this change has been brought about. The Mulatto, Pelage, is said to be Chief of the military force, and the civil authority to be exercised by M Roustagnenq, Principal Commissioner of the Marine. SIERRA LEONE. By advices received from that place, dated Feb. 3, it appears that peace had not yet been made with the Chiefs of the Timmany nation, although the truce which had been agreed on, continued at that time unbroken. Little reliance, however, was placed on the good faith of the natives, who were believed by no means to have given up their hostile designs, but on the contrary to be diligently seeking an increase of strength. The colony was considered to possess suffi cient means of repelling any attack which might be made upon it. GREAT BRITAIN. A general election is understood to be not far distant. The prospect of this interesting event will justify our introducing in this place a few remarks on the political duties of an inhabitant of Great Britain. Every man who has a vote for a representative in the British parliament has a trust committed to him which is of great importance, and of which he must give an account hereafter. In judging of the general principles on which we ought to bestow our vote and influence the following hints There are two errours may be of some use. into which men, exercising their minds on political subjects, are liable to fall. Some in their zeal for liberty complain of even the necessary expenses of Government, and the proper restraints of law. Others being too much alive to the evils of popular commotion, lean to the side of arbitrary power. The happy constitution of Great Britain lies between these two extremes; and it it the duty of every British elector to contribute to the observance of the due medium by those constitutional means which are within his power. There cannot Coupe a Pintade, from which they fell back on the river Ester. On the 23d General Toussaint was attacked in the Ravine a Coleuvre, where he is said to have collected about 5000 troops. A battle ensued, in which man was opposed to man. Toussaint's troops fought well; but they were at length obliged to retire in disorder to the Little River, leaving 800 men on the field. On the 26th Maurepas, who had baffled General Debelle, was surrounded in his fastness by different divisions, and forced to surrender. General Baudet took possession of St. Mark. General Leclerc proceeded, on the 28th, in pursuit of Toussaint, who had retreated to the Mirabelais. "The fatigues experienced by the troops," it is added, "cannot be equalled, and I cannot describe the indignation which they feel against these attrocious banditti.” fail, however, to be much diversity of opinion even among the most honest and reflecting men respecting the precise degree of liberty, or of restraint, which may be proper from time to time under the varying circumstances of a country. They whose temper, education, reading, habits, and connections have led them to direct their thoughts more to the evils and the dangers of the one extreme, will be carried farther in one direction They who have been differently circumstanced, in the other. We ought not therefore to judge very unfavourably of that man, the complexion of whose mind may not exactly accord with the colour of our own, in respect to these subjects. We should assert our sentiments; but we should exercise peculiar candour towards our adversary, provided we have reason to think that his motives may be upright, and that he on his part mixes no personal animosity with his political difference. Unfortunately, however, it for the most part happens that the people of this country, ranging themselves under certain political Chiefs who are engaged in a vehement contest for power, adopt even in the minutest points the creed of their leaders, and then display a warmth which is perhaps even greater than that of those under whose banners they have enlisted themselves. But how trivial in the eye of a sober and conscientious Christian; how doubtful also and difficult are many of those political questions by which the utmost passion has been generated. Some national points are undoubtedly of great moment; but how unimportant, for example, is that question now become, which about six years ago produced in this country more heat than almost any other; the question whether a temporary bill should be passed to restrain the assembling together of political meetings, and to require a previous notice to be given to the Magistrate: a question on the occasion of which it was declared by the leader of the opposition party, that the duty of obedience was now become a point, not of morality but of prudence. That law has now ceased, and the circumstance of its expiration has scarcely excited a moment's attention. We trust also the occasion for it exists no longer. The law for suspending the Habeas Corpus act has in like manner expired. Our present administration is acknowledged to be mild. Still however our government, while it has some systematic supporters, seems to be likely also to experience a systematic opposition. We profess it to be our wish, that in the ensuing election of representatives, the persons chosen may be many of them of independent character; and moreover, that they may be men not distinguished by the warmth of their political passions. It is the property of violence on the one side to beget violence on the other; and it is only by means of the general prevalence of a spirit of moderation that all necessity for strong laws can be done away, and that a large share of that liberty, for which each side professes to contend, can be enjoyed with safety. The commercial influence is said to be increasing in this country. It is an inherent principle of our constitution that the advanc ing wealth and importance of any body shall give to it a growing weight in the legislature. It may, however, be questioned, whether the mercantile interest is always the most virtuqus, and certainly the countenance given by many of that body to the Slave Trade, seems to justify the doubt. Let those, however,who feel the iniquity of that traffic, and how much it adds to the weight of our national guilt, allow no consideration to induce them to give their vote to men whom they know to be determined opposers of its abolition. They who have exercised with advantage to their neighbourhood the duty of Magistrates in the country: they who have already given attention to various kinds of public business: they also who by the course of their studies, by their rank, and by their circumstances, are fitted for the high situation of a British legislator: they, moreover, who are likely to bestow their time on the performance of their parliamentary duty: above all, they who are "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness,' are the most proper objects of our choice. But if among the several candidates for a seat in parliament, no one should fully, or even nearly, answer to our ideas of a faithful representative, we ought not, on that account, to abstain from all exercise of our vote; for the possession of a franchise is a trust which we have no right to abdicate. Let us choose out of many objectionable persons him who may be the least objectionable. The real Christian, moreover, will set his face against all that immorality which is generally practised by some, and too much tolerated by others, at the period of an election. If all the religious part of a populous borough would resolve to vote against that person, whoever he might be, who should endeavour to turn an election into an auction, and to enter parliament by the means of illegal treating; and if they would also render that determination sufficiently public, might they not supply some answer to the common argument in favour of the violation of the law, and of general drunkenness? We mean the argument, that treating is necessary, because by pleasing the common people it secures the addition of a certain description of votes. The fear of the loss of some votes might then be set against the fear of the loss of others, and the balance, in some cases at least, might be thought to turn in favour of the system of sobriety. It is perhaps hardly to be conceived how much service may be rendered by a few virtuous and determined men in a time of general relaxation of principles. Let Christians remember, that a time of election is a season in which their religion is to be tried. * Exod. xviii. 21. They who are not Christians may learn from it the truth of at least one doctrine of Christianity; a doctrine which they are not always ready to admit, though on some occasions they are forward to assert it, since it seems to them to form an excuse for their own crooked conduct. We mean the doctrine of the general prevalence of evil, or in other words, of the corruption of human nature. The financial Arrangements of the Minister, for the current year, have now been made. On the 5th instant, the competitors of the Loan waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and gave in their biddings, which were made upon deferred Stock, as follows; viz. Smith, Payne, and Smith Everett and Co. Baring and Angerstein Robarts and Co. Esdaile and Co. £6 19 3 7 15 0 7 15 0 8 15 0 9 4 0 9 5 0 9 15 0 £131 19 3 So advantageous are these terms to the public, that the interest of the Loan will not exceed £3. 18s per cent. The Amount of the Loan is twenty-five millions. In consequence of a determination to repeal the Income Tax, which stood pledged for fifty-six millions and a half of Debt, and to fund eleven millions of Exchequer Bills, it became necessary to provide means for the payment of Interest (including the Loan) on £97,934,437, amounting to no less a sum than £3,163,161. The new taxes to be raised for this purpose are-1s. 0 1-4d a bushel on Malt-1 1.4d. a pound upon Hops-2s. a barrel upon Beer, estimated to produce Two Millions. An addition of one-third to the present Assessed Taxes, which are to be consolidated, estimated at One Million. A Duty on Imports and Exports, estimated at One Million, making a total of Four Millions, which leaves a Surplus of near £800,000, to be applied to other branches of the public service. Notwithstanding these large demands on the Public, the Funds have risen. Omnium, which at one time was as high as seven, bears now, (April 26) a Premium of four per cent. and the Consolidated Three Per Cents. are at 77. Circular Letters have been sent from Lord Hobart to the several Lords Lieutenants of Counties, signifying his Majesty's highest approbation of the zeal, &c. of the different bodies of Volunteers, and associated Infantry, but dispensing with their further service. The same sense is expressed of the merit of the Volunteer and Yeomanry Cavalry; the various Corps of which, inclined to continue their services, may still remain embodied. G Hilaro Barlow, Esq. has been appointed to succeed to the office of Governor-General of India, on the death or resignation of the most noble Marquis Wellesley. His Majesty has been pleased to appoint General his Royal Highness Edward Duke of Kent, K. G. to be Governor of Gibraltar, vice General Charles O'Hara, deceased. The Honourable Spencer Percival has been appointed Attorney-General in the room of Sir Edward Law, now Lord Ellenborough, who has succeeded Lord Kenyon, as Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench. The last of the French prisoners were embarked on the 19th instant at Plymouth, and all the vessels with prisoners on board sailed in the afternoon, with a fine breeze at N. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. (Continued from p. 206.) On the 19th of January both Houses met, and after some conversation respecting the sailing of the French fleet and army to the West Indies, which was advanced as a sufficient reason to induce Parliament to continue its sittings, adjourned till the 2d of February. Tuesday, February 2, 1802. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. Canning rose to call the attention of the House to the subject of a notice given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of an intention to bring forward a measure for making provision for the discharge of the arrears of the Civil List, by the sale of certain of his Majesty's possessions in the West Indies. He wished to be informed, whether this measure would come before the House in such a way as to afford an opportunity of discussion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that the lands he had alluded to were the Charib lands, in the Island of St. Vincent; but he did not think it his duty to bring before Parliament any distinct question as to the sale of those lands. Mr. Canning wished to know if the proposed sale was to be confined to St. Vincent's, or to extend to the uncleared lands in the other colonies also. The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, that he did not restrict himself from applying the same measure to the private property of his Majesty in the other colonies. In a Committee of Supply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on opening the Army Extraordinaries, observed, that the Committee was now in possession of accounts of the application of £2,500,000, granted last session, for defraying extraordinary expenses, and of the manner in which a sum of money, raised on a vote of credit, had been expended. An account of the expenses of the army, beyond that included in the estimation of last year, was also before the House, and he was concerned to state, that its amount was £1,847,000. He then proceeded to explain particularly the various articles composing this excess, and concluded with moving, that a sum to that amount should be granted to his Majesty. For the diminution of the Navy Debt, he also proposed that the sum of £2,000,000 be voted to his Majesty by the committee. Mr. Robson commented at great length on the Accounts, to many of which he objected; but he at length professed himself satisfied with the explanations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. N. Vansittart, and the Secretary at War. The motions were then agreed to. The Secretary at War moved for the sum of £114,000 for the pay of the militia, from August to December, 1801, which was like. wise agreed to. Monday, February 8. HOUSE OF COMMONS. After some private business had been gone through, Mr. Alexander brought up the Report of the Committee of Supply, which was read a first time. On the question for the second reading, a debate of some length took place, occasioned by an attack made on Mr. Pitt, who was then absent, by Mr. Tierney. Mr. Tierney charged him with waste of the public money, and with concealing its expenditure, that the odium of it might fall on his successor. Mr. Steele defended his friend Mr. Pitt, as also did Mr. W. Dundas with much warmth, against the charges of Mr. Tierney. He said it would have been more generous in the Honourable Gentleman to have made his attack when Mr. Pitt had been present; and he appealed to the House, whether the late Minister had not always manifested the most incorruptible integrity. Mr. Tierney disclaimed all personalities, and said he did not impute any sinister view to the late Minister in keeping back the public accounts. After some debate on the irregularity of the accounts, the question for the second reading was carried in the affirmative. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the sum of £2,100,000 be raised by loan on Exchequer Bills. Agreed to. Tuesday, February 9. HOUSE OF COMMONS. At four o'clock (the Speaker not being present), the senior Clerk informed the House, that he this morning received a letter from Mr. Speaker, the substance of which was, that his Majesty having made him Lord Chancellor of Ireland, it became his duty to resign the chair of the House of Commons. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that his Majesty gave the House leave to choose a Speaker, who was to be presented for the Royal Approbation on Thursday next, in the House of Peers, at two o'clock, and then moved that the House should adjourn till to-morrow. Wednesday, February 10. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Master of the Rolls, after passing a high eulogium on the Speaker, who had just resigned the Chair, and also on his predecessor, proposed Mr. Abbot as the successor of Sir John Mitford. The motion was seconded by Mr. Baker. Mr. Sheridan perfectly concurred in all that had been said in praise of Sir John Mitford, and of the Right Honourable Gentleman who had just been proposed as his successor; but he thought, that the practice of looking into the profession of the law, for gentlemen to fill the Chair of that House, was not warranted by the ancient custom of Parliament. He concluded by proposing Mr. Charles Dundas, in which proposition he was supported by Lord George Cavendish and Mr. Courtenay. Mr. Abbot said, he could not but be apprehensive of his own insufficiency to fill so important an office. With the support of the House he might accomplish much, but without that support, every effort would be unavailing. Mr. Charles Dundas expressed his desire to remain a private Member, and, paid some compliments to the talents and virtues of Mr. Abbot. Mr. Abbot was unanimously elected, and the next day received the approbation of his Majesty by Commission. HIGH PRICE OF PAPER. Mr. Shaw Lefevre presented a Petition which, he said, was signed by upwards of 200 persons concerned in the bookselling and printing business in this metropolis, stating, that in consequence of a late act of parliament, imposing an additional duty upon paper and mill-board, their interests were materially affected; and that their trade must cease if the House did not interfere. The Petition was read, and ordered to He on the table. MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY. "G. R. under the necessity of acquainting his House "His Majesty feels great concern at being of Commons, that the provision appointed ent of the Civil List for defraying the expenses of his household has been found inadequate to support the same, in consequence of which certain debts have been unavoidably incurred, an account of which his Majesty has ordered to be laid before his House of Commons. His House of Commons to take the same into conMajesty relies on the zeal and affection of his sideration, and to adopt such measure as circumstances may require." The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the message be referred to a Commitice of Supply-Agreed to nem. con. Monday, February 15. HOUSE OF LORDS. Lord Pelham presented a message from Lis Majesty relative to the Civil List, similar to that presented in the House of Commons; which was ordered to be taken into consideration on Monday next.-Adjourned. Wednesday, February 17. Lord Pelham presented the accounts alluded to in his Majesty's message. Ordered to lie on the table. February 17. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the accounts, which, by his Majesty's commands, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer had presented and delivered in relative to his Majesty's Civil List, and that they should report the same as they shall appear to them, together with their opinions thereon, to that House." Mr. MANNERS SUTTON said, he hoped he should not appear to trespass on the deliberations of the House, if he invited their notice to the concerns of the Prince of Wales. The eldest son of the King of England was Duke of Cornwall from the moment of his birth; and being so born, he also, from that very same moment, derive all the rights belonging to that dukedom; of course, the revenues arising therefrom are so many inalienable funds for his sole benefit. But notwithstanding this, one part of them has been applied to the purposes of the Civil List, and another part of them to the purposes of the public, that is, in fact, all to the purposes of the public. From 1762 to 1783, the amount of these revenues exceeded 400,0001, and if to that were added interest, it would be found that the whole sum amounted to little short of 900,0007. And deducting all that had been advanced to the Prince, between 6 and 700,000/ This claim, however, had never yet been taken into consideration If the House should be pleased to adopt any principle or mode by which the affair could be investigated, they should have his best assistance. Mr Fox perfectly agreed with the learned Gentleman who spoke last, but objected to the payment of the arrears of the Civil List. He thought however that the discussion should be deferred for the present Mr. PITT said he agreed with Mr. Fox, that the best time for discussing the propriety of paying the debt, or augmenting the amount of the Civil List, will be when the House shall be enabled to form a judgment as to the circumstances by which the debt has been created; respecting the claim of his Royal Highness, he agreed also that it ought to be brought to an ultimate decision. The motion was agreed to. III. OBITUARY. THE Queen of Sardinia died at Naples on the 7th of March, at four in the afternoon, in consequence of a putrid fever. She was born on the 23d of September, 1759. Lately at Menlough, in the county of Galway, Ireland, Sir Walter Blake, Bart aged 85 years; also on the same day, Lady Blake, aged 80 years. They had been married upwards of 60 years. April 11, at Alconbury, Huntingdonshire, the Rev. Isaac Nicholson, in the 70th year of his age. He was suddenly taken ill as he began divine service in the afternoon, and expired a few hours afterwards. Aged 93, the Rev. Jeremiah Belgrave, Rector of Preston, in Rutland, and of North Kil. worth, Leicestershire, the former of which livings he held 68 years. April 12, suddenly, Sir Robert Smith, formerly Member for Colchester, and lately a Banker at Paris. April 13, at Bath, after a short illness, the Rev. Thomas Barnard, B. D. Rector of Steeple Langford, Wilts. April 14, at her house at Farnham, near Portsmouth, at an advanced age, Mrs Montagu, relict of the late Admiral Montagu. April 15, at Bath, General Adeane, Colonel of the 45th regiment, M. P. for Cambridge. shire, and one of the Gentlemen of his Majesty's Bedchamber. April 17, in Hanover-square, the Right Hon. Henry Temple, Viscount Palmerston, of Palmerston, in the county of Dublin, and Baron Temple, of Mount Temple, in the county of Sligo. April 18, at the Priory, near Derby, Dr. Darwin, well known in the literary world. His death was sudden and unexpected, being to all appearance in perfect health an hour before. April 20, at Mr Coutts's, in Stretton-street, Piccadilly, the Right Hon. George Augustus North, Earl of Guildford, Baron North and Guildford. April 20, at Studley, in the county of Warwick, aged 91, Thomas Chambers, Esq. in the Commission of the Peace for that county. April 21, in Bedford-square, after a week's illness, Job Mathew, Esq. of Woodford, Essex, Governor of the Bank of England March 12, at Edinburgh, aged 80 years, Mrs. Mary Nisbet, relict of the Rev. Dr William Robertson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh. Lately, at Penzance, Cornwall, in the 107th year of her age, Mrs. St. Hill, daughter to General Ingoldsby, who nobly distinguished himself at the battle of Blenheim, under the Duke of Marlborough. At Belmont, in Hampshire, aged 98, Mr. Warner, uncle to Jervoise Clerk Jervoise, Esq. M. P. who receives an accession of personal property to the amount of 30,000l. together with an estate of 10,000l. per annum. April 13, in Grosvenor-place, after a long illness, the Right Rev. Dr Moss, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Canon of Sarum, and F.R.S. March 18, at Catharine Bank, near Edin |