Buonaparte has lately fitted up his library in the English taste, and rather plain than otherwise; it is decorated with marble busts of celebrated characters; among which are those of Mr Fox and Lord Nelson.

March 2d. LORD SOMERVILLE'S SPRING SHEW OF CATTLE. At an early hour this morning, Mr Sadler's yard, in Goswell-street, was opened for the exhibition of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and of various new implements in agriculture, new seeds, and other matters interesting to gentlemen of landed property, cultivators of the soil, and others, which had been sent in, in claim of the premiums annually given by Lord Somerville. During the fore part of the morning, a great number of salesmen, butchers, and others, whose occupations had called them to Smithfield market, attended and examined the cattle, and at an early hour in the forenoon, these were succeeded by a most unusual concourse of distinguished and practical breeders, graziers, and agriculturists, and which continued till a late hour in the afternoon.

Among the company present were many persons of the first rank and distinction, and it was the general opinion of the amateurs, assembled upon this occasion that this shew surpassed all former ones which they had witnessed, in the number and

perfection of the animals exhibited, and in the company attending.

A carcase was exhibited of a longhorned cow, which proved unable to travel to town, weighing 12 score and 8 lib. per quarter.

Lord Somerville exhibited the carcases of five fine and fat Anglo-Merino sheep, killed on the 19th, and intended for his public dinner to-day at Freemason's Tavern, the average weight of whose carcases is 18lb. per quarter; loose fat 14lb. and wool

lb. His Lordship also shewed five half-bred Merino and Ryeland carcases, of 18lb. per quarter, loose fat 12lb. and wool 63lb.

Specimens of shawls and stockings, manufactured from Lord Somerville's Spanish wool, were exhibited. One pair of stockings, of the usual size, were so fine, that they could be drawn through a lady's ring. A skain of yarn was also exhibited, of 4000 yards and more to the pound. Imitations of Indian coloured shawls were also exhibited, from his majesty's Merino wool, of which the flannels are composed with a warp of silk. Various specimens were also exhibited of agricultural implements on an improved pattern.

3d. (Second day) Sadler's Yard was again crowded with company of

the first rank.

The very excellent animals exhibited, again afforded a rich treat to the amateurs. Two surprising fat rabbits were shewn, bred and fed by Joseph Baldock, of Rochester; one of them, a buck of two years old, weighed 74lb. Mr Sester shewed his revolving potato-washer, and one of his large chaff-cutters, &c. &c.

Yesterday evening an inquest was held on the body of M. le Comte de Fentiere, formerly a colonel of distinguished merit, in the service of

Louis XVI, who was found dead, the preceding day, at his apartments. It appeared by the deposition of Agnes Laura, who attended the deceased, that he was about a week confined to his room; but, on Monday last, finding himself somewhat better than he had been, he gave the witness permission to go home to her family until the following afternoon. She did so; and, upon her return, found the door fastened; she knocked and called repeatedly, but received no answer. By the advice of the landlady of the house, she brought the Marquis de Fitz-James, an intimate friend of the deceased, to the house. He sent for a smith, and had the door broken open. The deceased was then seen with his clothes on, sitting up in his chair, with his head reclining on one shoulder. His hand and stomach were warm. Sticks were laid in the grate for lighting a fire, but it was not lighted: a mould candle was found to be burnt out, as it stood upon the hearth. The was no appearance of violence whatever, by which the cause of death could be even surmised. Nicholas Daniel, a Frenchman, and J. Homer, the landlard of the house in which the deceased had lodged, corroborated the testimony of the former witness. -Verdict, Died by the Visitation of God.

4th. HERTFORD ASSIZES.-Thos. Simmons was indicted for the wilful murder of Sarah Hummerstone, by assaulting and wounding her in the neck, with a knife, of which she died in a few minutes. This is the case of the inhuman wretch who murdered the two unfortunate women at Hoddesdon, and the court was crowded at an early hour in the morning to hear the trial. It did not last long, as the facts lay in a very narrow com

pass. Samuel James, surgeon, deposed, That on the 20th October he went to the house of Mr Boreham, at Hoddesdon-that, on his entering the house, he saw Mrs Hummerstone leaning against the paling near the door, and that she died three minutes after of a wound in the neck, near the spine.

Sarah Harris, servant of Mr Boreham, said she had lived four years with him; Simmons, the prisoner had lived three years there, and quitted it last Michaelmas: the prisoner wished to marry her, but her mistress disapproved of it: they had quarrelled before he quitted the serviceon which occasion he beat her; and when he had done, he said he did not care if he had killed her. He has

often said he would make away with her, because she would not marry him. About half past eight in the evening of the 20th of October he came to the house---she was in the kitchen, and heard him coming along the yard; he was swearing violently. He came up to the window, and struck at her through the lattice, and swore he would do for them all. She desired him not to make a noise, as they had company; he said he did not care for the company, he would do for them all. Mrs Hummerstone hearing the noise, opened the room door, and came to the yard. She told him to go away. He gave her a blow on the head, which knocked off her bonnet; she ran into the house, and he immediately followed her. The witness immediately heard the shrieks of murder, but did not know from whom. All the family were in the room; the three young ladies, Mr Boreham's daughters, Mrs Warner the married daughter, Mr Boreham and his wife, and Mrs Hum merstone. In a very short time the

prisoner came to the wash-house to her; she shut the door, and cried out murder. The witness ran into the sitting-room-she saw some one lying under the window-she ran from thence down a passage-the prisoner followed her she there met her master with the poker in his hand; in running hastily, her master, who is a very old and feeble man, was knocked down. The prisoner caught her and threw her down, and drew a knife on her. He threw her across Mrs Warner, who was lying dead, as she believed. He drew the knife across her throat, but she guarded it with her hand, which was cut. He made a second blow, when she wrested the knife out of his hand. He immediately ran away, and she saw no more of him.

The evidence of Sarah Harris, was corroborated by various other witnesses, so as to leave no doubt of the prisoner's guilt.

The jury found him guilty; and the learned judge immediately pronounced the sentence of the law that he should be hanged on Monday next, and his body anatomized.

The prisoner heard the sentence of death with great indifference, and walked very coolly from the bar. The young girl, whom he attempted to murder, was in great agitation, and was obliged to be supported while she was in court.

6th. KONINGSBERG. His royal majesty the king of Prussia, has issued a declaration, in which he states, that being_solicited by the imperial courts of Paris and St Petersburgh, to act according to the system of the other powers of the continent, he has, in conformity with this request, broken off all relation with Sweden, and commands all his subjects to re

frain from any intercourse with that power.

8th. Intelligence has been received from Lisbon, by which it appears that Buonaparte, so far back as the 23d of December last, signed a decree at Milan, by which he finally determined the fate of Portugal. The decree was not promulgated at Lisbon until the 1st day of February.

It declares the throne of Portugal abdicated by the family of Braganza, which is never more to reign; and that henceforward the kingdom of Portugal is to be united to and considered as part of the dominions of France.

It recommends the cultivation of friendship between the troops of France and Portugal; to cement which he promises, that those of Portugal shall hereafter be considered as sharers, and entitled to participate in the glory obtained by the troops of France in the memorable battles of Marengo, Jena, Austerlitz, &c.

It dissolves the regency formed by the Prince Regent, the members of which are placed in various stations in the public departments, and are in future, to act under the controul of the French government.

9th. Yesterday, in consequence of a special message, the governor and deputy governor of the bank of England, with a number of bankers and others, had an interview with the chancellor of the exchequer, who informed them that it was his intention to fund exchequer bills to the amount of £4,000,0000, and that he had called them together for the purpose of enquiring from them at what terms they could be funded in the four and five per cent. stock.

The gentlemen retired, and on their return, a question was asked, whether any alteration was to be made with respect to the sinking fund? It was distinctly answered, that no change whatever was to be made in it. The gentlemen then gave in a paper, offering to the chancellor of the exchequer two proposals as to terms, viz.

1. For every 100%. exchequer bills to receive

651 of 5 per cents esti mted at 977. 10s 50%, of 4 per cents estimated at 807 15s ex divid

Or, 2. for every 100% exchequer, to receive

80% of 4 per cents estimated at 80% 15s. 391. of 5 per cents estimated at 37% 10s Which would be a bonus of from 2 to 24 per cent.

10th. Yesterday, Mr Hare, from the bank, read at the Stock Exchange a letter from the chancellor of the exchequer, respecting the funding 4,000,000l. of exchequer bills. In this letter, he announced some variation from the proposals made the day before. In regard to the reduction, if the sum written in should exceed four millions, it was apprehended that difficulties might occur as to the fractional parts of the bills; and it was therefore proposed, that books should be opened this morning at the Exchequer Office, where the holders might write in their bills, including all these dated up to the end of the year 1807, specifying their numbers and dates, and that, as soon as the sum of four millions should be complete, the books should be shut up, and the subscribers should respectively have the whole sum inscribed.

As to terms, he proposed an option. If they chuse to take all 5 per cents. he proposed to give for every

1001. exchequer bill, 1051. in the 5 per cents. Or, if they preferred to take part fours and part fives, he proposed to offer for every 1001. exchequer,

631. 5s. of 5 per cents.

50%. Os. of 4 ditto. which, in both cases, would be a benus of from 1 to 2 per cent.

11th. Meeting of the American Merchants, relative to the Orders in Council.

Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, a meeting, convened by public advertisement, of the merchants, manufacturers, and others interested in the commerce betwixt this country and the United States of America, was held at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. Mr Baring, who was called to the chair, stated the object of the meeting, and produced a petition, proposed to be presented to both houses of parliament. It set forth

That the late orders in council, issued by his majesty's ministers, were calculated not only to ruin the individuals concerned in the American trade, but to prove highly inju rious to the pecuniary resources of the country. The petition then prayed the legislature to permit the petitioners to be heard by themselves or counsel, and to produce evidence in support of their allegations; and it further prayed, that, if the petitioners made out their case, the orders might be rescinded.

Mr Gleney, in moving for the concurrence of the meeting in the prayer of the petitioners, expatiated chiefly on the importance of the American trade, not only on account of the increasing demand of that country for manufactures, but because our connection with America

tended to facilitate our communication with the Continent. Mr Sansom, in opposing the presenting of the petition, justified the orders in council, as a necessary and effectual measure for retaliating upon the enemy the injustice of his own decrees. He regretted extremely that matters of a political nature should be mixed with matters of commerce. He concluded with saying, that, as the petition could serve no other purpose but to harrass ministers, he should propose an amendment to the original motion to this effect:

That it was the opinion of the meeting, that at the present period it was inexpedient and unnecessary to petition parliament against the late orders in council.

Mr Inglis argued strongly against presenting the petition, and was of opinion, that, in place of the orders in council, much stronger measures ought to have been adopted for harrassing the enemy's commerce. Alluding to the abject state of Europe, he observed, that, since France was master of the continent, it was the obvious policy of Britain to seize her colonies, and to allow no neutral state to trade with them during war. He highly commended Lord Howick's letter to Mr Bish, the Danish envoy, and his letter to Mr Erskine, in which he expressed his determination, to interdict the trade of America with the enemies colonies; the principles contained in these two letters might be contended to be the ground-work of our whole policy, in regard to neutral commerce.

Mr Bentley highly approved of the petition. He said, that nothing could be devised more preposterous, or more detrimental to the commerce of this country, than the late orders of council. He said, he believed

some secret agent of the enemy, must have suggested them to his majesty's ministers (a hiss.)

No better proof (he observed,) could be wanted to demonstrate the ruinous consequences of the orders, than the great diminution of the revenue of the post office, within the last two months, for he held the receipts of the post office to be the commercial barometer of the kingdom.

Mr Gordon was anxious, that gentlemen should fully consider the nature of the petition before they signed it. The orders of council appeared to him to be a very judicious measure to protect the commercial interests of this country, against the unparalleled hostility of the enemy.-Upon the whole, instead of approving of the present petition, he thought ministers entitled to the gratitude of the country.

Mr Sharp, in opposing the petition, stated, that he thought the orders in council more calculated to injure ourselves than the enemy. Mr Marriott opposed the petition, deprecating all complaints against government, while executing measures, in their opinion, so conducive to the security of the country.

Several other gentlemen expressed their sentiments, but, as they either supported or opposed the petition, on the same grounds as those already stated, it is unnecessary to repeat their arguments.

The question being put, the shew of hands seemed equal, when the chairman directed, that all those who were for the petition being presented, should stand on the left side of the room, and those who were against it should stand on the right. This being done, a decisive majority appeared against petitioning.