On Feb. 16th a sharp action took place on the banks of the Narew, between a division of the French army under General Savary, and a Russian corps commanded by General Von Essen, said to have been on its march to join Ĝeneral Bennigsen, in which the French claim the victory. Its result, however, seems to have been of no great consequence. It appears from an address to the Helvetic nation, that the Swiss shew great unwillingness to raise the levies required from them for the French army. The Jews at Paris, assembled in grand Sanhedrim on Feb. 9th, received a plan of organization of their worship from the committee of the Consulta, in which the duties of the rabbis are particularly laid down. It is observable, that their exertions are directed to be especially employed in enforcing the duty of taking arms in defence of their country; and the 4th article of instructions runs thus: "To impress the military service upon the Jews as a sacred duty, and to explain to them, that as long as they devote themselves to this ser vice, the law will give them a dispensation from such usages and customs as are incompatible with it." Thus, under the rule of Napoleon, every thing is compelled to give way to the military system! The Porte has issued a proclamation, forbidding the passage of ships of all nations through the canal of Constantinople during the war with Russia. The last advices from the seat of war mention, that the Russians again advanced, and appeared on the left bank of the Passarge, upon which river, at Peterswalde and Braunsberg, some sharp actions took place on Feb. 25th and 26th, which, according to the French accounts, terminated in their repulse with loss. The French head-quarters continued at Osterode to March 7th, They are said to labour under great want of provisions. From the frontiers of Turkey it is affirmed, that the Russian advanced guard, in attempting to pass the Danube, has been defeated by the Turks. The cele brated Passwan Öglou, so long a rebel, and latterly a trusted subject, of the Turkish empire, is dead. Intelligence has arrived at Vienna and Berlin, that the Porte has declared war against Great Britain. This determination is said to have been taken in consequence of a threat from Admiral Louis to bombard Constantinople, unless the Porte would consent to an immediate renewal of the treaties with Russia and England. The English Minister, Mr. Arbuthnot, with much diffieulty, made his escape with his effects on board the Endymion frigate. The latest accounts from the frontiers of Poland concur in representing the French as upon the eve of retreating into Germany. All persons belonging to the foreign embassies at Warsaw have been requested to repair to Berlin, which will be the imperial head quarters. The Russians have persisted in their efforts to gain possession of Braunsberg, which unfortunate town has been burnt in the conflict. The projects of Col. Burr have continued to excite alarm in the United States of America; and on January 22d a long message from the President on the subject was communicated to Congress. It states, that, according to the information sent by Gen. Wilkinson, Burr appeared to have two distinct objects; one, the separation of the States west of the Allegany mountains from the union; the other, an attack upon Mexico, preceded by the seizure and plunder of New Orleans. His means for the execution of these daring projects seem, however, to have been very inadequate, and the measures taken to defeat them can scarcely fail of effect. Three of his principal emissaries have been apprehended, and two of them have been sent for confinement and trial to the Atlantic States. The Black government in Hayti (St. Domingo) has undergone another revolution on Feb. 11th, in which much blood was shed, and Christophe, the new sovereign, lost his life. Of public occurrences at home, that which has most engaged general atten. tion has been the trial of Sir Home Popham by a court martial, which commenced on board the Gladiator, at Portsmouth harbour, on March 6th, and terminated on the 11th. The charge against him, transmitted from the Lords of the Admiralty, was, "That with a view to attack the Spanish settlements in the Rio de la Plata, for which he had no direction or authority whatever, he withdrew withdrew from the Cape of Good Hope the whole of the naval force which had been placed under his command for the sole purpose of protecting it, thereby leaving it exposed to attack, and without the means of affording protection to the trade of his Majesty's subjects, notwithstanding he had received information of the enemy's ships being in the neighbourhood of the Cape, and had been apprized of a French squadron being expected at the Mauritius." The defence chiefly turned upon his conviction that the Cape was safe, and his knowledge, from frequent conferences with the last Ministry, that the possession of the Spanish colonies in that quarter was a very desirable object, joined to the supposed discretionary power vested in every commander. The sentence of the court martial was, "That the charges against him have been proved; that he is highly censurable for having withdrawn his force from the Cape and proceeded to Rio de la Plata; but that, in consideration of circumstances, the court adjudges him to be only severely reprimanded;" which was accordingly done. The bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was read a third time in the House of Commons, and passed without a division, March 16th. A bill for admitting Catholics to commissions in the British army, which had been introduced into Parliament by Lord Howick, appears to have occasioned such an opposition from a certain quarter, as to threaten serious disunion in the cabinet. It has, in consequence been suffered to drop. A Bill brought into the House of Commons by the Solicitor-general, for rendering the freehold property of persons who die insolvent, assets for the payment of their simple contract debts, which appeared to obtain the concurrence of the public, as a measure of justice and true policy, was, on a motion for the the third reading, March 18, thrown out. Its principal opposition was from the Master of the Rolls, who regarded it as a dangerous innovation on the legal system of the country. The Slave Trade Abolition Bill, after being sent up from the Commons to the House of Lords with some amendments, obtained the final concurrence of that House, and has received the royal sanction, From the manifest decline of influence in the ministry, the public were sufficiently prepared to expect a change in the government, how much soever such an event at this critical period might be lamented, After several days had passed in the usual uncertainty and agitation attending such a state of affairs, the discharge of the former, and the appointment of a new ministry was com pleted on March 25th. In this arrangement the great offices of state are filled in the following manner: Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Canning, Lord Hawkesbury, Lord Castlereagh, Lord Mulgrave, Lord Privy Seal, First Lord of the Treasury, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord Chancellor, Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Admiralty. On the same day a motion, considered as hostile to the new ministry, passed the House of Commons. It was, that an humble address be presented to his Majesty, beseeching that his Majesty will be pleased not to grant for life, the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, or any other office usually held during pleasure." On the subsequent day, the late ministers explicitly stated to both houses of parliament the grounds of their dismission. They entered into the reasons which had induced them to propose the measure of opening posts in the navy and army to all dissenters without exception;-for it was not confined to Roman Catholics. When they found, contrary to first appearances, that the measure was highly disagreeable to his Majesty, they consented to drop it; but they were further required to give a written engagement never again to propose it to him. This they conceived to be entirely inconsistent with their duty as Ministers, and declined compliance. On the ground of this refusal alone they were dismissed, MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. THE principal feature in the commercial transactions of last month has been the new loan. It was contracted for early in the month by Messrs. Barnes, Ricardo and Co. representing the body of stock-brokers, on condition of receiving 701. consols, and 701. reduced along with 101. 12s. 5 per cents for every 1001. in money. The contract this year differs materially from the three last loans of 1804, 1805, and 1806. All these were taken by Sir Francis Baring, Messrs. Goldsmid, and Messrs. Robarts and Co. united, whereas, on the biddings for the present loan, each of these great parties acted separately. It is remarkable that neither of them should have obtained the loan, and that the gentlemen of the stock exchange should have outbid them all. The circumstance of their bidding separately was owing to the following causes, 1. The smallness of the loan, being only 14,200,0001. 2. The great profit made by the last loan in consequence of the negociation with France. 3. The favourable impression created by the new plan of finance. These important considerations induced each party to covet the whole, and made the Stock Exchange bid higher for it than any of their competitors. The common opinion that vast sums of money are made by loan contractors is entirely erroneous, for no kind of speculation is more precarious. Let us briefly review the history of loans for several years back-In 1801 the loan amounted to twenty-eight millions, and came into the hands of the leaders of the monied interest, viz. Baring, Goldsmid, and Robarts. It was a profitable concern in consequence of our successes in the Baltic and in Egypt, but above all, by the unexpected signature of the preliminaries of peace with France. In 1802, the year of peace, the respectable house of Smith, Payne and Smiths, were the contractors, and from the disquietude occasioned by the violent aggressions of Bonaparte, omnium fell to eight and ten per cent discount. To this very disadvantageous bargain, succeeded another almost equally unfavourable, in 1803, when the old established house of Esdaile and Co. took the loan upon too high terms. Neither of these houses, however respectable as bankers, are looked up to as the heads of the monied interest, and the public confidence that oninium will be maintained in price, is by no means so great under these circumstances as when the loan is in more powerful hands. After the severe losses of 1802 and 1803, Messrs. Baring, Goldsmid, and Robarts were contractors for the three succeeding loans. The two first yielded a fair profit, chiefly in consequence of the strength of these parties, by which is meant their command of money and influence at the stock exchange; but the loan for 1806 became, as already mentioned, uncommonly profitable from the hopes of peace with France. The loan for the present year is not only taken at a dear rate, but it is like those of 1802 and 1803, in the hands of men of much less power than the leaders of the monied interest. We are therefore extremely doubtful of its price being kept up, Had the stock-brokers offered a participation of their contract to Messrs. Baring, Goldsmid and Robarts, it is probable that this division would have accomplished the stability of the whole. But as they have not done this, it becomes the interest of these wealthy houses to lower the price of omnium, and it appears so, as that they are likely to prove stronger than the contractors. The favourable impression, in regard to Lord Henry Petty's plan of finance, continues equally strong as at first; and in this opinion we decidedly participate. When we have done justice to this part of the conduct of Lord Grenville's administration, we have mentioned the only act conducive to their popularity in the mercantile world, and their other proceedings, the West India American Intercourse Bill, the late American treaty, their disapprobation of the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's, and their deference to the landed interest in all points where the landed and commercial interests are supposed to clash; all these circumstances have concurred to render Lord Grenville's administration extremely unpopular with mercantile men. Without assuming the defence of that administration, (for which this is not the proper place) it is due, in justice to them, to remind the merchants, that many of the evils with which the trading part of the community are oppressed, are the inevitable result of protracted warfare. This applies particularly to the distresses of ship-owners and ship-builders. Neutral ships are so cheap and convenient vehicles, that we must not be surprised to find them generally resorted to in the fourteenth year of war; and a decline in the extent of ship-building is the necessary consequence of diminished business on the part of ship-owners. The unexampled depression of West India produce is owing chiefly to two causes--the stoppage of export to the continent, and the excess of the importations above our consumption. The amount of the duty, heavy as it is, has probably little effect upon the market. These interesting points will be fully illustrated by the committee lately appointed on the motion of Mr. Hibbert to inquire into the state of the West India trade. We shall observe their proceedings, and lay their result as early as possible before our readers. We venture to prognosticate that no measures will afford effectual relief to the sugar market except the permission to use sugar in distilleries and breweries. The successes of our intrepid allies, the Russians, over the French, in four successive engagements, have been most welcome news to commercial men and have essentially contributed to keep up the prices of our public funds. The first East India and second West India Heet have sailed several weeks ago from Portsmouth, and have had very favourable winds. A large East India fleet, of fifteen sail, is daily expected, having been left, in the end of January, at St. Helena. The next arrival will be the Jamaica spring fleet. Sir William Young, a member of parliament, and author of the West India Common-place book (a late work in 4to.) is appointed Governor of the island of Tobago, Sir Wm. wrote, many years ago, the History of Athens, and haslong been known both in the literary and commercial world. He probably owes his appointment to his intimacy with Lord Temple, but whatever may have led to it, we are assured, from the candid and beneficent spirit of his writings, that his conduct as governor will be praiseworthy. It is singular that an author of his experience and information should disfigure valuable remarks by unnatural inversions and a singular quaintness of style. The Average Prices of Navigable Canal Shares, Dock Stock, and Fire Office Shares for MARCH, 1807; at the Office of Mr. Scott, 25, New-Bridge-Street, London, The Trent and Mersey, or Grand Trunk Canal, 8807. The last half yearly dividend was 201. Leeds and Liverpool, 1711, ex. dividend 41. per Share for the half year. Grand Junction, 881. Ashton and Oldham, 100l, Peak-Forest, 581. Worcester and Birmingham, 381. Ashby de la Zouche, 221. to 241. Union, 221, to 231. Kennet and Aron original Shares, 201. West India Dock Stock, 143l. per cent. London Dock, 106l. to 110l. East India Dock, 118l, Imperial Insurance, 10l. per cent. Premium---Globe, 1031, to 1041. AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY. THE late wet and stormy weather has been succeeded by cold and drying winds with sunny intervals, which have had a universal good effect upon soils of every description, but a longer continuance of dry weather is much wanted by the cold and rough soils. Indeed, the continuance of sharp easterly winds is particularly desirable at this season, not only for the important purpose of drying and moulding the harsh and wet lands, but that we may have the cold early, and the warm weather at its proper time. According to the good old proverb, a peck of March dust is worth a King's ransom. The agricultural reports from every part of Britain and Ireland, were never more favourable, either within memory, tradition or record. Abundance of all, superabundance of some articles of the first necessity, and the prospect equally encouraging with the actual possession: and to this may be added, not barely living, but ample prices. The wheats, although too luxuriant on the best soils, from the almost unexampled mildness of the winter, and in some parts injured by the influenzal, or variable state of the weather, have suffered comparatively little from vermin; and from the immense breadth sown, may produce such overflowing quantities at harvest, as to put us quite out of pain on the account of importation. The quantity of old wheats in hand, is said to be, in general, much as usual at this season, which is to say, there is no idea of want. Every hand busy in getting in the lent corn. Beans and Pease generally finished, and the wheats rolled. Some of the forward pease cut off by the frost, have been ploughed up, and spring wheat sown upon the land: in several counties, where spring wheat is a novel article of culture, it has been sown on the wet and backward lands; this will be a risk crop, if autumnal, and not the real spring wheat seed, be sown. The average acreable quantity of wheat for England, Wales, and Scotland last year, has been stated at 2 quarters; but in strong probability, it did not exceed 2 quarters; the sample of middling quality, fine samples very rare; yet, under such circumstances, the vast breadth of the crop produced abundance. Perhaps a superfine sample might obtain in London 90s. per quarter at this time. Cattle crops of every description never before so large, or better preserved. The last year's Mustard crops, and seeds in general, clover excepted, plentiful in Essex, and elsewhere. Satisfactory accounts of the fall of lambs, particularly in the West. The quantity of sheep and lambs, however, lost in the late snow storms, is far too considerable, and the continuance of such accidents, we may hope, will, under some favourable influence of the moon on men's brains, induce them to contrive and afford shelter to their suffering flocks. Lean stock dear, and not by any means so plentiful as the fat; a strong proof of good grazing. Cows cheaper, a pound or two in twenty. Horses very dear, such nags as at this season thirty years since, were well sold at 40 guineas each, now worth 100 and upwards. FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDent. The weather in the preceding month has been favourable to the operations of husbandry-the bean culture is nearly finished, and the sowing of oats and peas is in a state of great forwardness. The frost we have had has been of infinite service to the barley tilths on strong soils, which look kind and well, and the lands in general in the fen counties never at this season looked better, The recent cold wind we have experienced has considerably checked vegeta tion, and the crops of wheat and winter tares have suffered somewhat in their appearance, which a little warm weather will soon recover. Coleseed standing for a crop looks promising and well, and but little now remains for feed. Turnips remain sound and good, the Swedish sort remarkably so, affording excellent feed. Meadows and pastures want some warm weather, and owing to the mildness of the winter much fodder remains on band. Sheep |