of the distress under which that part of the kingdom labours, which is imputed to the war; and determining that a petition should be presented to his Majesty, praying him to adopt such measures as may be thought most advisable for restoring at an early period the blessings of peace. The meeting seems to have been entirely unconnected with party, and was neither countenanced nor attended by any of the leading persons of the county.

On January 21st the session of Parliament was opened by commission, and the King's speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. The greatest part of it consisted in a recapitulation of the well-known events which had taken place since the prorogation. It states that his Majesty had been apprized of the enemy's intention, after the treaty of Tilsit, to force the neutral powers into co-operation against this country, and to employ the whole naval force of Europe for that purpose, and specifically the fleets of Portugal and Denmark, On this ground it justifies the proceedings relative to those countries. It mentions that the enemy's attempts to excite hostilities between his Majesty and his late allies have been too successful with respect to Russia, Austria, and Prussia, and that the ministers from those powers have demanded and received their passports. It laments that his Majesty has not been able to terminate the war with the Ottoman Porte; but applauds the firmness of the king of Sweden in adhering to his alliance with this country, in which it trusts that he will be duly supported by parliament. The speech then adverts to the rejeсtion of the treaty of amity and commerce by the United States of America; and affirms, that "for an unauthorised act of force committed against an American ship of war, his Majesty did not hesitate to offer immediate and spontaneous reparation." It speaks of pretensions made by the American government inconsistent with the maritime rights of Great Britain, which his Majesty is determined never to admit, yet expresses a hope that the subsisting difficulties of discussion may be removed. It then alludes to the measures of retaliation which have been resorted to in consequence of the French decree of blockade, and which will require parliamentary aid for their full operation. To the House of Commons the speech states such an increase in the produce of the permanent and temporary revenues, as lead to the hope that it may be possible to raise the supplies for the year without any material additions to the public burthens. It concludes with asserting, that the sole object of this "purely defensive war" is the attainment of a secure and honourable peace, but which "can only be negotiated upon a footing of perfect equality."

In the subsequent debates upon the addresses, the ground taken by the opposers chiefly related to the aggression of Denmark, relative to which, some of the speakers considered the necessity of it as not sufficiently justified by any documents laid before parliament, while others in the most unqualified manner condemned the measure, as a violation of all public right and equity. Other topics were touched upon, but only collaterally. One amendment moved by the Duke of Norfolk, and two by Lord Grenville, in the House of Lords, were negatived: no division was attempted in the House of Commons.

Accounts have been received of the sailing of the Rochfort fleet, consisting of six sail of the line, one frigate, and a brig, which escaped the English blockading squadron. This squadron, however, with a detachment from the Channel fleet, are gone in quest of them.

The

The Americans have accommodated their differences with the Algerines. A large number of troops has entered Zealand from Holstein, and many gunboats are preparing in the Danish harbours, probably for an invasion of Sweden, should she persist in her alliance with Great Britain.

After much anxious speculation on the probable resolutions of the American Congress, the mercantile world has been astonished by the intelligence of a very extraordinary act passed by that body on the 23d of December. In order to avoid the losses and hostilities which could not fail to be the consequence of the measures respectively adopted by England and France for the destruction of neutral commerce, it has taken the decisive step of laying a strict embargo upon all the vessels of the United States, which by this act are prohibited from departing from any of their ports; and at the same time ships from all other nations are commanded to quit the American harbours, with or without cargoes, as soon as the act is notified to them. Thus, for the sake of peace, America has consented to suspend all that traffic which seemed to be her animating principle, and to cut herself off from the rest of the world. The act passed by a majority of near two to one.

Britannia now navigates a subject ocean, on which her ships have not a friendly port except those of her own colonies-Queen of a Sea without a

Shore!

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT.

The present is, perhaps, the most singular æra which the history of commerce ever presented. France and England, the two countries which hold the destinies of the universe, seem to be rivalling each other in throwing impediments in the way of trade-not that such is the intention of our ministers, but that it is a natural consequence of the circumstances under which their late orders in council have been brought into operation. The aggression was clearly on the side of the enemy, but it is equally clear that the insignificance of his maritime strength makes his aggression of comparatively little effect. Our measures are only those of retaliation, but the extent of our naval dominion makes that retaliation equivalent to a complete subjugation of all maritime intercourse. Buonaparte, who, with all his skill in tactics and court intrigue, is a very indifferent political economist, has long been puzzled to account for the amplitude of our revenue and the stability of our credit. Like other superfi cial reasoners, he can conceive no way of realizing wealth but by gaining it from foreign countries; and he thought that his prohibitory decrees could scarcely fail to cut up our riches in their source. Accordingly his noted proclamation of 21st November, 1806, which he modestly termed blockade of the British isles, forbade at first the entrance into France or her dependencies of all neutrals from England. On the representation of the American ambassador, however, the decree was immediately suspended in their favour, and this suspension continued till October last, when, in consequence of our order of council of the 2d of that month, the prohibition was made absolute. His late decree, issued from Milan, not only confirmed this absolute prohibition, but subjected to capture at sea all neutrals which conformed to the British regulations. As yet, however, we know of no example in which this has been acted upon, for our last accounts from Holland mention, that the detained Americans were to be released and their cargoes admitted to entry on paying 25 per cent. duty. At the same time it is understood, that this indulgence is extended only to ships which arrived some time ago, and that the decree will in future be enforced in all its rigour.

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We may daily expect to hear of the sensation produced in America by our order in council of 11th Nov. The ship which carried them out is understood to have reached Boston on the 13th December, but as the distance to Washington is considerable, a week or ten days would elapse before these orders could occupy the deliberations of Congress. Of the two houses, which like our Lords and Commons, compose the American parliament, the Senate is evidently the more pacific. The Philadelphia merchants lately presented a memorial not only against the Non Importation Act, but against the claim of the American government to have their merchant ships exempted from our search. Of this petition the House of representatives expressed their disapprobation ab initio, and refused even to refer it to a committee. The Senate, it was thought, would have done the same, but after a warm debate it was carried by 16 to 13 that the reference should be made. The embargo was caused by news from France.

All accounts from the continent agree in stating, that the price of produce is much increased, and that the wish for peace is universal. Although our sufferings are much less than those of the continent, they are, notwithstanding, so great as to excite considerable attention in parliament. The Yorkshire petition has made great noise. Addresses in favour of the ministry and of a vigorous prosecution of the war have begun to come in. Scotland takes the lead, and the Gazette of the 24th contained three of this description, namely, from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Port Glasgow. These addresses do not dissemble that they suffer by the war, but they maintain that it is only by a perseverance in the contest and in individual privation that secure terms of peace are to be obtained. Another part of the mercantile body, however, think differently. They consider that Buonaparte's relinquishment of his pretended right of interfering with our maritime laws is an earnest of his desire to make peace. They think that enough has been done in war to assure the safety of the country, and to give permanence to a state of tranquillity; and they are therefore willing to meet the French half way in the work of negotiation. These persons are in the habit of referring to Lord Landerdale's negotiation, from which it appears that Buonaparte offered us the retention of Malta and the Cape, with the restitution of Hanover, and was willing to make a large addition to these cessions if we would give Sicily to the king of Naples.

Our ships were admitted into the port of Memel after the peace of Tilsit, without any other formality than that of hoisting an American flag. This, it seems, has not escaped the observation of the French; and it is alleged in their late official paper (Moniteur, 7th Jan.) as a reason for treating Prussia with rigour. We are thus excluded from every corner of Europe except the coast of Sweden, and no trade can henceforth be carried on with the countries dependant on France but by smuggling. If the expectation of peace is not realized, we may soon expect to see the plan of smuggling generally adopted.

Two publications have lately attracted much notice in the mercantile world. One is entitled, Britain independent of Commerce, and professes to shew that commerce is of much less consequence to our national prosperity than is commonly supposed, the real wealth of the country lying in its land. The other, entitled Commerce Defended, admits the value of land, but combats the arguments against trade, proving by a chain of elegant and forcible reasoning that it is to commerce that the land-holder is indebted for the greatest part of the value of his property.

An East India fleet sailed from Portsmouth about the 20th ult. and another West India convoy (the third for the season) is spoken of for the early part of the present month. The homeward-bound West India fileets from Jamaica and the West Indies may soon be expected. Their number is much smaller than usual, and fortunate it is, considering the miserable depression of the sugar market. Nothing has yet been done by Government to relieve the unfortunate planter. An idea has been lately circulated, on the authority of the Edinburgh Review, that the low price of sugar is owing to a general overstock in the whole market of the world. But this is not the case, for in many parts of the continent sugar is scarce and dear, and were peace restored, its consumption would increase surprizingly; both the means of the purchasers would be augmented, and and the expences of conveyance would be lessened-circumstances of incalculable importance in determining the demand for an article.

The issue of the dividends, which for January and July amount to above six millions each time, has made money continue plenty. The number of bankruptcies is smaller than last month, but is still very considerable. Stocks have been rather higher, owing partly to the expectation of a negotiation, partly to the plenty of money. Wine, which had fallen very much on the arrival of the Lisbon ships two months ago, has since risen in price.

The low price of molasses or treacle has induced many farmers to use it, after being much diluted with water, in fattening cattle. Its effects, we are informed, exceed the most sanguine expectations, and it begins to be accounted the most healthful and economical food of any for this purpose. A letter, explaining the mode of using it, lately appeared in the London newspapers, but want of room prevents us from noticing it at length in this place. The principal suggestion in it was, to dilute the molasses in the most copious manner with water, as the fattening power would still much exceed expectation.

The Average Prices of Navigable Canal Shares, Dock Stock, Fire Office Shares, &c. in JAN. 1808; at the Office of Mr. Scott, 28, New-Bridge-street, London.

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, at 6301. per share, including the half-yearly dividend to Christmas of 201. clear of property tax.--Grand Junction, 901. to 911. ex. dividend.-Ashton and Oldham, 901. to 891.-Ellesmere, 551.-Grand Surrey, 451.-Croydon, 521. 10s. to 551.-Kennet and Avon, 201. shares at 10s. premium. East India Dock Stock, at 1221. per cent.-London Dock Stock, 110. ex. dividend.-West India Dock, shut.-Imperial Assurance, 101. per cent. premium.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR JANUARY, 1808.

The present occupations of the farmers are, manuring and preparing the lands for the various spring crops, and sowing beans and peas. The mazagan beans and few winter-sown peas look well, as do the lands generally. Some of the rye and rape crops, but the tares are supposed not to have planted so well in general. From the excessive price of seed peas, and 35s. per bushel has been given, a greater quantity of barley than usual will probably be sown this year.

The wheats in many parts have inclined to be rank and winter proud, from the late warmth and openness of the weather; but the frost has in some degree checked the too luxuriant vegetation, and it may be said the wheat crop, for the greater part, never looked better, nor is there any complaint of the wire-worm. A considerable breadth of land is destined to spring wheat, in those districts where that important culture is in use.

The frost, and particularly the changeable weather, will very soon destroy the remainder of the turnip crop. Grass has been short the season through, yet much stock has been wintered abroad, not much to their good proof. The young artificial grasses look well on all good lands. Straw is universally short, and home feeding dear, from the high price of hay, and perhaps from the too general neglect of certain profitable articles for winter use. Oil cake sells at 17 guineas a thousand. Potatoes are applied in some parts to fattening both sheep and oxen, but not extensively.

Lambing of the Dorset ewes has been generally successful, but a considerable number of lambs have been lost in the snow. In exposed situations, and in districts backward in improved cultivation, much distress will certainly be experienced this spring from a want of food for cattle. Cows plentiful, but bare of flesh, and generally a scarcity of good fat pigs.

Smithfield. Beef, 5s. Od. to 5s. 2d. Mutton, 5s, Od. to 5s. 4d. House Lamb, 6s. Veal, 5s. to 8s. Od. Pork, 4s. 6d. to 6s.Od. Bacon, 6s. Irish do. 3s. 8d. to 5s. Fat, 4s. 2d. Skins 20d. to 25d.

FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.

The unsettled state of the weather in the preceding month impeded in a great measure all field work. In the milder part some attempts were made to commence the business of ploughing for the setting of beans and sowing early oats, which have been stopped by the fall of snow. The winter green growing crops will be much benefitted by it. The men have gone to thrash in the barns to procure straw for the foddering yards, or with the teams to carry out manure, remove earth, and bring home fire-wood.

Feeding sheep in the dry weather did well at turnips and coleseed. The practice lately adopted in the fens of cutting and carrying coleseed to stallfeeding cattle has become pretty general, and found to answer. In the markets few sales have been made of cows and calves store stock, which are offered at very reduced prices. Hay has rose in value very considerably, and garden stuff every where were never known so dear.

WE beg leave to remark to A. B. who has sent a letter of observations upon the paper "On the Imitative Principle as an Instrument in Education," that he appears to have overlooked the writer's declaration, that he regards " a day-school as no deviation from the domestic plan." Others of his objections have been anticipated by the exceptions expressly stated by that writer.

The following pieces are left at Messrs. Longman's and Co. upon return to their respective writers on application.

Prose. Werter. A. B. on the Poor. St. Dominic the Loricated. Hibernicus. W. R. A. B. J. C. Т. М. Т. W. W. D. Oberon, V. D. L. S. Lactuca. C. D. M. B. L.

Verse. Ode to Ambition. Buchanan imitated. On the Death of Mrs. C. Smith. Henry and Hannah. On the Panorama of Youth. To the Memory of J. P. Palm. J. M. S. Man of Misery. Arundel. Greek Epitaph. Liw. A. Z. Sorrow's Banquet. Stanzas on Woman.

Many of the above are returned not for want of intrinsic merit, but on account of superabundance of similar matter, or some particular reason relative to our miscel lany.