Virginia Argus

Boston, Dec. 26.

LATEST FROM ENGLAND.

By the Galen we have London papers and advices to the 18th November—many days latest.

On the affairs of the United States, there were nothing in the papers but speculations.

It was thought by many in London, that on the expiration of the restrictions on the Prince Regent, a partial change of the ministry would take place—the marquis Wellesley retiring to take his former situation in India, and Mr. Perceval descending to a peerage—that Mr. Russell would furnish evidence that the French decrees, though not revoked, had ceased to operate against the commerce of the United States, and that the orders in council, so far as they affect our neutral rights, would also cease.—This is the report, which we hope will be realized. The parliament will positively assemble early in January; and the restrictions, if not repealed, will die a natural death in February, and will not be renewed.

The old king was gradually descending to the tomb.

Mr. Russell, our late Charge d'Affaires in Paris, had arrived in London, to exercise the same functions in England. He arrived in the Constitution frigate, capt. Hull, which was to revisit France before her return to America.

Bonaparte remained in Holland, remunerating the Mynheers with his presence, and the smiles of his fair Empress, for their moan.

The affairs of the North and East remained as usual. Sicily was stated to be in great fermentation: and its Amazon Queen sick.

We repeat, if that Island is not soon English it will be French; it cannot long remain Sicilian.

The London papers, amongst numerous official naval letters, contain one giving an account of the capture of La Renommée and La Néréide, of 44 guns each near Madagascar; by which it appears, that their consort, the plundering La Clorinde, struck her colors in the action, but skulked off in the night and escaped.

Bonaparte is taking the most strenuous measures to supply his subjects with our southern staple, Cotton, from the Levant, though it must cost them nearly double.

Cent. Sum.

While the Galen was lying at Spithead, a seaman from the Constitution, deserted to the British frigate Havanna. He was demanded by capt. Hull, who was referred to the port admiral at Portsmouth, and by him informed that the seaman should not be restored until the admiralty board had instructed him on the occasion. In a day or two after, an American sailor swam from the Havanna to the Constitution, & being demanded by the British commander, capt. Hull refused to deliver him, until he had received instructions from the U. States, taking for the basis of his refusal, the precedent which the British officer had furnished him in the first instance. The affair stood thus when the Galen sailed.