Star. — London, England, 1811-09-30 00:00:00

already Attained, and inability to resist misfortUnes that impend. IV. It is a common error, to consider the misfor tunes of Sovereigns as those of their nation ; and it is loosely thought among us, that the misfortunes of the Court of Naples have been also calamitous to the Sicilian subjects of the King. But this has not been the case : on the contrary, the misfortunes of the Court of Naples have essentially promoted the pro. «parity of Sicily. It does not appear necessary to ad rduce proofs of the beneficial effects to the Sicilians of the residence of their supreme Government among them. A friend, who has visited Sicily at two diffe rent periods, and both from what he noticed and heard from others, between the Autumn of 1809 and the Spring of 1811, assures us that a visible improvement had taken place; and the most discontented of the Sici lians will not scruple to admit, that since the flight of the Court from Naples and its arrival in Palermo, the country has been augmented in riches and comforts. It is not necessary to allude at present to the obvious causes of this improvement. It is sufficient that the fact is indisputable, and that our aid to Sicily cannot be grounded on any alledged misfortunes. V. We have undertaken the defence of Sicily, not because the Sicilians are unable to defend themselves, but rather because they have not provided for it. The nobility and clergy of Sicily are exempted from taxes, and the population, in no proportion like our's, is called on to furnish troops The population of Sicily Is perhaps equal to that of Scotland. The clergy and nobility, who are masters of the greatest part of the island, do not contribute any thing to the service of tha State ; the clergy are even paid by the British for the barracks which they afford the British soldiers sent to protect them. In natural riches, Sicily is greatly superior to Scotland ; and when one reflects that for several years no less a sum of British money than Z 1400,000 has been without expectation flowing into it, Sicily may be regarded even in point of hoard ed wealth, as superior to Scotland. She is not there fore leas able to defend herself. To place the matter in a brief form, and a clear light, let us consider the two countries as equal in resources and population. VI. The number of the British troops quartered in Sicily is about 15,000 men. The whole militia of Scot land does not exceed 12,000 men. The charge of these 15,000 men, with the subsidy, is upward of 5t1,200,000t. The whole annual amount of the assess ed taxes and income tax of Scotland, is not equal to this sum. It is therefore clear, that were we not engaged to defend Sicily, Scotland might b: relieved from the income tax, the assessed taxes, and her militia, without impairing the Revenue appropriated to other purpo .. ses, and without diminishing our disposable army. VIL The Sicilian army is generally understood not to amount to 20,000 men, but taking it at the same number as the British garrison, it would follow that on army of 35,000 is d:emed sufficient for the de. fence of Sicily. The population of the island is esti mated at a million and half, and it is probably not less than that number. A population of 1,500,000 souls is capable of furnishing an army of more than 30,000 men. Were the resources of the country ex cited, there would then be no need for our army in Sicily ; anfl were the Nubility and Clergy taxed only to the amount of the Income Tax and Assessed Taxes paid by the territorial proprietors of Scotland, Sicily would have no need whatever of our aid. Our aid is therefore not required by any inability on the part of Sicily to defend herself; nor called forth by misfor tunes which she has suffered ; nor by considerations of commercial utility, and still less by the apprehen sion of injury that we might sustain, were she ac tually occupied by the enemy. Is not the fair con clusion then from all this, that for some object Of p-licy uct yet revealed to the common world, we Mace resolved to bestow a great boon on the Siciiians? In our next we shall examine the effects of our -gene tons Machiavellistn. N.B. A t prevent, owing to the state of the exchange, it is about et 000,000. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. MONDAY SEPTEMBER SO. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. 3 per Ct. Cons. for money 634}—Ditto for account 651 3 per Ct. Reduces! abut—Navy 5 per Cent. 94+95 4 per Cent. slut—Bonds le. 15s.pre.—Omoram tits. Ixeb. Bills (3d.) le. to Cs. dis.—Ditto (3;d.) Is. to Y.s. prem. Lord WILLIAM BENTINCK, whose sudden return from Sicily has already been noticed, had a long au dience, on Saturday at noon, with the PRINCE RE. *ENT, at York-House, to which he was introduced by the Marquis WELLESLEY, his Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. To pretend to divine the precise incident which oc assioned Lord WILLIAM BENTINex's visit to this coun try would be absurd, while the Government choose , so conceal it ; but the general complexion of our re lations with the Cabinet of Palermo cannot be dis guised, and sound policy will, 'ere long, render it im perative that the great council of the Nation be fully informed on this busincas. That French intrigue has been active, and with considerable success, with the Sicilian Cabinet, can -IE 4 we believe be doubted. Report says that Lord Wm. BaNTITICK, to a remonstrance which he pre sented on this subject, received an intimation .that •ur interference with the affairs of Sicily would not remitted. ligweyer 11U3 amr bet we man - in a series of &tides, to skew that this country ism right to interfere—that our Ministers owe it to this country and to ttre world not on!y to interfere with these affairs, but, if necessary, , to compel every Si cilian traitor to submit to our dictation, or to ba nish them from the island. In another part of our Paper, our Readers will find our first Number on this important business, and the rest will be conti nued with as little intermission as possible. alm.ww••=••• The Fox frigate has arrived at Portsmouth from the East-Indies, where she has been these 15 years. By her we learn, that the Expedition for Batavia had sailed a few days before the Fox came away. The Fox left Bengal the Bth May. She has brought a re port of the total loss of his Majesty's frigate DovER, Captain TUCKER, in Madras Roads, in a violent gale. Some few of the Officers were on shore, but all on board perished. The City of London, and I Echo whaler, came under convoy of the Fox ; they proceeded for the River. The Fox frigate has brought home half a million of specie, and brings in account of the capture of two out of the three French frigates which appeared off the Isle of France a short time since. —Those taken are the RENOMMEE and NEREIDE, and were captured by his Majesty's ships GALATEA, PIICERE, ASTREA, and RACEHORSE. The other, the CLORIND, escaped, and it is supposed made for a French port. The capture took place off Madagascar. Yesterday the Diana packet arrived at Harwich, with two Mails, from which we have given some ex tracts in another column. The passengers by this packet say, that the expectation of a war between Russia and France is very general in the North. This has been long affirmed, and it cannot be doubted that both of these powers are dissatisfied with each other ; but we are persuaded that a state of actual hostility between them is still remote. Ina battle . which took place between the Turks and Russians, on the 12th ult. the former are stated to have been victorious. THE KING. " WINDSOR CASTLE, SEPTEMBER 29. 11 His MAJESTY continues in the sante state." 46 WINDSOR-CASTLE, SEPTENIBZR 30. 6C The KING continues in the same state. (Signed) 14 H. "[ALFORD. IC MILLIE. R. WILLIS." The Archbishop of CANTERBURY, and Lords Avtrs- FORD and WINcHELSEA, arrived on Saturday atWind sor, where they had a consultation with his Majesty's Physicians for upwards of an hour, and afterwards waited on the QUEEN in the Castle, with whom they held a Council. Lord CHARLES SPENCER came into waiting yester day, at St. James's Palace, as a Lord of the KING'S Bed-chamber, for the week ensuing. Sir GEORGE OSBORNE continues the Groom. Yesterday, about one o'clock, the PRINCE REGENT, accompanied by the Duke of CUMBERLAND, left town for Windsor. Yesterday being the Queen of WIRTEMBERG'S birth day, the PRINCE REGENT, the Dukes of CLARENCE and CUMBERLAND, arrived a little before three o'clock, to dine with the QUEEN. His Royal Highness the Duke of SUSSEX has had another relapse. The scarlet fever has lately razed among the men in the Royal Family's stables at Windsor, which is the cause of the PRINCESSES not riding out on horseback lately. COVENT-GA ant:v.—The tragedy of Izabella was per formed on Saturday, in the very first style of excel lence. Mrs. SIDIX3NR, as Isabella, electrified the au dience by the most animalea display of her truly great and transcendent abilities ; KEMRLE was never more successtul in his representation of Biron. The applause was universal and unbounded. The House was crowded. LYCEUM.—Sattirday, the Comedy of The Confede racy, and the Farce of The Weathercock, were per formed. The only novelty in the representation was in the part of Gripe, which was sustained, for the first time, by Mr. KNIGHT. His performance of the ava ricious, amorous old citizen, was well conceived, and I , as happily executed. By the last Annual Report of the Daily and Sun day Schools in the town of Douglas, Isle of Man, on Mr. LANCASTER'S plan, it appears that this institution promises fully to answer the views of its benevolent founders. The Day School consists of 140 boys and 55 girls, and the Managers, besides defraying the current expences, have been enabled, by the liberal support of the patrons, to appropriate £2OO towards the erection of a building to belong for ever to the. Charity nor can there be a doubt that the liberality of the friends of the Institution will soon contribute what farther sum may be necessary. The TONNANT, which has arrived at Plymouth from off Brest, chaced on Wednesday last, A French frigate for eight hours, and would eventually have come up with her, had it not been for a misfortune she met with in carrying away her main-top mast. This enabled the enemy to effect her escape into Brest. When she found the TONNANT was disabled, she gave her three cheers. The above frigate is sup posed to be one of the three on their return from the Isle of France. A shocking 'catastrophe lately took place in Por. tugal. Owing to some misunderstanding about a billet, two British Officers, a Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain, took upon themselves to throw the baggage of a Portuguese Officer out of the window ; and on the latter's remonstrating, the Colonel ;pit in his face. The Portuguese drew his sword, and with one or two blows on the head dispatched the Colonel.—The Captain had in the mean time armed himself to as sist his friends but the Portuguese officer was too alert for him, and with one thrust laid him dead at his feet. An English picket was called in, to which he refused to surrenders but immediately did to sue of own country. • _ ~- THICAMIED OR JESSE?" ANA GUARNSET. ...I-omm... EXTRACT OF • LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN JERSEY, DATED 22D SEPTEMBER, 1811. 44 We are all in a state of anxiety, mingled with hope. Thank Heaven, the enemy threatens our ; shores. Every possible preparation is made to repulse I them. At day-break, glasses may be seen in all di-' rections, each person anxious to communicate the news of their approach. No less than 50,000 troops are said to be assembled at Cherbourg, destined for 1 the attack of Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney. They intend, it is said, to cross the Herring Pond in boats, each containing 9.5 men and mounting ,one 24-pounder in the bow, and one 5 inch mortar ! astern. Confined in a manner as we are, and de- Isponding at the idea of being prevented from sharing ithe danger and the honour of our brave comrades in ISpain and Portugal, it will greatly relieve the dis tressed spirits of our little army in this island to think that they will have an opportunity of giving a proper reception to such visitors." THE ARMY. By the Fox frigate, which has arrived at Spithead with dispatches from India, we learn, that the grand Expedition against Batavia and Manilla had been delayed, from various causes, but had at length sailed, under the command of that popular and able officer, Sir SAMUEL AUCHMUTY, the Com mander-in-Chief of the Madras Army. He has under him General WEarnuttm.E., and a great part of the ablest officers (King's and Company's), in India. From a channel which we have established, we can promise our Military Readers the earliest and most authentic information of the Expedition. Wednesday last, Captains TURING and KENNEDY'S troops, 18th Dragoons, marched into Richmond, Barnes, Mortlake, and the adjacent villages ) , to re main on King's duty till further orders. The British Light Cavalry (with the exception of the four Hussar regiments) have lately had their uni forms completely altered, by a Board of Field Offi cers, appointed for that purpose by the PRINCE RE GENT. They are to be in future as plain as possible ; and the Hussars, viz. the 7th, 10th or Prince's own, Itth or King's own, and 18th, are to continue to wear the splendid uniforms by which these regiments are at present distinguished ; which will probably be an in ducement for young men of fortune and fashion (who wish to make the army their profession) commencing their military career in the Hussars. Friday SO substitutes were landed at Gravesend from on board the London and Edinburgh Company's smack Trusty, Captain BALLIN4ALL, from Leith, for the Edinburgh regiment of militia, at present station ed at Colchester. Yesterday 12 men for the Royal Artillery were landed at Woolwich, also a party for the 71st regi ment, at Deal, from on board the same Company's smack Sprightly, Capt. SUTHERLAND, from Leith. Yesterday forenoon 30 fine young men, volun teers for the 4th Battalion of Royals, at present in Stirling Castle, were embarked at Tilbury Fort on board the smack Pilot, Capt. SANDERSON, for Leith. Upwards of 400 Foreign recruits, deserters from the French army, have arrived at Portsmouth, from Gibraltar. The six companies of the Royal East Middlesex, who hzve been for some time doing duty at Porches ter, have returned to Portsmouth garrison, having been replaced by detachments of the Dublin City and North Cork Militias. The East Essex have marched to Hilaea Barracks. The following is an extract of a letter from aft , officer of the 2d Battalion sth Regiment, dated Fu. ente de Guinaldo, September 4.—" Our Division (General PicToN's) left Campo Mayor on the 17th' July, and retraced its steps back to Castel Berneo,' where we expected to be cautoned for some time, but, to our great astonishment, as soon as we were a little settled, we received orders to march again ; on cross. ing the Coa, at Sabugal, some of us went to visit the' old ground where the regiment had been engaged ; although within a quarter of a mile of the town, we found the field just as we left it, not a man had been buried. We have been sent by order of General PICTON to do duty here, which is ; head-quarters, and have now little to do, as, with the exception of Ciudad Rodrigo, there is not a Frenchman 'nearer than Placencia. Appearances at present indicate that they have had enough of it. Ciudad is not regularly invested, but its communication is cut off ; five de serters left it yesterday, who say the garrison consists of five battalions, amounting to about 1500 men, they have no cavalry, and are obliged to pull down . the houses for fire-wood. Preparations have been making some time for a siege, and heavy ordnance is coming up from Lomego, but as we don't seem to be very expeditious it is probably, o draw the enemy's'i attention to this quarter, and in the mean time great care is taken that no supplies get in ; the guns may probably be for Almeida, which is repairing.—Don Julian is neat Salamanca, where the French have not more than 1000 men. Lord WELLINGTON has gene. rally one or two of the officers of every regiment to dinner, daily, where we see all the great people, and hear the politics discussed. His Lordship, Generals GRAHAM, STUART, and the PEDICII of ORANGE, ho noured us this morning with their company at ( 1. Inv service' .. . , • , ' rz~' NATAL 11111:LLICIENCI. EAsr INDIA SHIPPING. His Majesty's frigate Fox art ived at Portsmouth the 29th inst. ; sailed from Bengal the Bth M.ii, with t'ie CM( op LONDON, which parted off Scilly the 6th, biowing fresh. The Eurnaa'res and ancOler estrA ship expected to sail immediately ; the Fox to:ached at St. HO na and sailed from thence the llth August. .1 h.: Echo whaler sailed from Sr. Helena with the Fox'alid Ctii or LONDON, :.net. left in compinr with the latter ship. The AuritanoEn, extra ship, ssiiled from Madras, for England, ah'ut a int•nill previous to the &par tore of the Fox frmi B‘ngal. TURBAN. SEP rEmmt: ts. &tiled his Majesi ship DANENIARK for Plymoufhl and the SABRINA, ORESTES, HELICON, FEXVENT, and SHELDRAKE, on a cruize.--Wind N.N.W. FALMOUTH, SEPTENIBER Arrived the Jersey, DUVAL, from C;braltar, in 18 days. The Duke of Kent packet, for 1.6b0n, arid the Hobart packet, for America, will sail the first faie wind. PLYMOUTH, SEPTEMBER ta. Arrived the FIONLER cutter, from Corinna; the INTELLIOENT gun•brig, from Liverpool; and he FANCY cutter from Lobe. Came up harbour, the DIANA frigate. Sailed the AQUILON frigate, to entire off Brest; and the ToNNANT, 80 guns, for the same - station. The PIONEER had a short passage from Co runna, but brings no news worth quoting. The enemy Lad fallen back ag.in, as was surmised some days ago ; and all alarm of an immediate visit from them at Corunna, had subsided. PORTSMOUTH, SEPTEMBER 29. Arrived the Fox frigate, from the East Indies, after an absence of 15 years.—Passed by the City of Lon. don East Indiaman, and the Echo Southseatnan ; also about 60 sail of merchantmen from Quebec. Arrived his Majesty's ships DECOY, &NBA, and OALANIO, from a cruize; WoLvEnnot, from Lisbon ; SPARROW sloop of war, from the West Indies and the Bristol Channel.—Sailed his Majesty's ship MARVIRR with a convoy for the Downs ; OwEN GLENDOGR, for the East Indies ; ALPHICA, for Plymouth ; and ULYSSEI, for guernsey. MAL, SEPTEMBER et. Sailed his Majesty's ship VANGUARD for Plymouth; and the NORTH STAR, with the whole of the outward bound, for Portsmouth.—Arrived his Majesty's ships EGMONT and CLEOPATRA, from Portsmouth, to join Admiral Youxo off Flushing ; arrived the BEDFORD man of war, from off Flushing ; BRUNE frigate, from Leith ; CASTILIAN sloop of war, from off Boulogne ; and the DEFENDER gun•brig, from off the North Fore land. YARMOUTH, SEPTEMBER sto. Sailed yesterday p. m. to join Admiral Yomco's fleet off Flushing, the QUEBEC frigate, Captain fIAW• TENS. The prisoners were landed from the Lsysast yesterday, and escorted to prison by a detachment of the 54th. Four men belonging to the Acura have deserted, taking with them the boat. Sailed the CHANTICLEER, ACUTE, and PORTIA for the Dogger- Balk, in quest of some French privateers from the Dutch ports. Arrived the CALYPSO with dispatches and letters from the fleet in the Baltic ; and the Os• PREY sloop of war, from a cruize. Passed under con ♦oy a homeward-bound fleet. Admiral MURRAY has hoisted his flag on board the Balms. Remain— i Leveret, Vixen, and Redbreast. DITRIBUTION OF PRIZE MONEY. Bra'►rdageren, for the Prince Carl and Telegraph; and Intel ligent, tor tie Minerva, on board, on Thursday ; recalled Wed. nesdays and Thursdays, at 14, Clement's lan. Apmeinnen, for the Edward, Louisa, Doris, and Fadreno. lands, to morrow, at 3, Brick-court, Tcmple ; recalled Tuesdays♦ and Thursdays. _ _ Contu‘, for sundry Danish vessels, on Friday ; walled TOW days and Fridays, at Si 5, Norfolk street, Strand. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. The Frau Anna Maria, —, from. Lisbon to Landes, was taken near the Owen, the said inst. retakes the next day, and ar rind in Yarmouth Roads. The Veous and Brune frigates sailed from Leith the 22d inst. with is vessels, most of them from Archangel for the Nere. The Adelphie, from London to Quebec, was all well the 10th tilt. in lat. 47. long. 57.33. with the Alert sloop and part of as fleet, oat eight week'. The General Wellesley, arrived in the Clyde, from Jamaica, sailed the let ult. in company with the Robust, —, trout Gree nock ; Barrosa, Barry, for Cork ; Lord Cochrane and Ranger. for London ; and the Adventure, for Dublin, parted from the R obast, Ranger, and Adventure, oil the east rad of Jamaica. Ths Barron and Lord Cochrane are arrived. By a cartel, which left Morlaix on Tnesd.iy last, several bags of letters have been received from the British prisoners of war at Verdun, Arras, Givet, Several, addressed to persons at Plymouth, give a most heart-rending picture of the wtetclitcl state of our unfortunate captive fellow-countryman. Disease and mortality are making great havoc among them, not on account of any additional rigour in their treat ment, but owing to their long confinement. Many of them had, from time to time, obtained their liberty, by marrying French women, and others by engaging to work in the enemy's arsenals and manufactories ; but in either case they are compelled to sign an en. gagemen. not to quit the French territory. MARK.LAN/L ••.-The arrivals of Wheat this day make a middling supply, and sales in general 'quot ed at an advance of about Is. or 2s. per quarter— Barley in short suerly, and rather dearer—Malt sup. ports its price—VV bite Peas again higher—Grey, and Beans of each sort at little variation—There are some fresh arrivals of Oats, but short remaining supplies, and sales also again quoted higher..-Flour fully u late prices. 01111111•1. SitatitcY AS taNDltit Wheat 85s. 965. 1111 s. Beans, 465. 541. line dace, 114$. III& Tick ditto, 4t4. 4.1116 Rye, 441. 4bs. Oats, IS.. i». t 54. Barley, 4ga. 48s. N. Poiassd dim, No. 379. OIL Malt, 74a. SO'. Potato' 4ltte, Sic see. Whip Peas (Bailees) 9114. 945. Rare Seed £4O £4l the kiss: I lit, ur girlimyse, te• c• eft. _ - % • I