Star. — London, England, 1809-03-21 00:00:00

MARTINIQUE. CAPTURE OF THE GREATER PART OF IT. BARBADOES, FEB. 7.—The Expedition arrived off Martinique on Sunday, January 29, but the land when first made was supposed to be St. Luce, and the fleet was near the Carval Rock off the N. point of the island, before the mistake was discovered, a very strong current having swept them far to windward, which compelled them to haul off for that night. On the morning of the 30th, the signal being given to make sail, they separated in two divisions, the Acasta hoisting a broad pendant, and leading that with the . division of the army under the Commander in Chief and Sir George Prevost, intended to effect a landing in Bay Robert ; while the Admiral proceeded with that under. Major-General Maitland round Kum, and entered the Bay of St. Luce. The Commander in Chief immediately issued a' proclamation, addressed to the native and other inha bitant, apprising them that his Majesty, yielding to imperious circumstances, wished to restore to them the former Government of France ; that his Majesty being deceiVed in the hope that the Government he had formerly established among them would have been sanctioned by their new masters, rather than that they would have forgotten the respect dile to the Proprietors, laments the unfortunate posi tion which the events of war may occasion them, in the again reducing their colony. The termination of their misfortunes was now , however, arrived—famine would disappear—the sources of their prosperity would be restored—their ancient laws re-established —and that Government, which had formerly pro tected their persons and properties under the British flag, be again established. It was with these inten tions, they stated, that his Britannic Majesty had en trusted to them the command of a fOrmidable force by sea and land to retake Martinique, and to regenerate in that suffering colony plenty and tranquillity, the inseparable companions of a just Government.— With these gracious intentions they invited them, in_ the name of humanity, to submit immediately to the force of his Majesty, who would not fail to punish the temerity of a fruitless resistance. They therefore or dered all Commissioners, Civil and Military, to quit their respective duties, and all the inhabitants, of whatever class or condition, peaceably to return to their respective homes, .and maintain order; de claring, that all persons taken in arms would be treated as prisoners of war ; that all free coloured persons so taken would be traesported from the island, and all slaves under similar circumstances be tried by a General Court.Martid. To the Ministers of the Gospel they gave assurances that their religion would be protected, and the estates and rights of their Church be respected. At noon on the 3044 the first division of the fleet entered Robert (a most spacious harbour on N. E. coast of the Island, but difficult of access), and Com modore Beaver, of the Acasta, with three armed launches, having approached and reconnoitered the shore, and all the preparations for landing the troops being instantly in readiness, at three o'clock in the afternoon, Sir G. Prevost and Brigadier-General Houghton, with the first brigade of this part of the army, consisting of the 7th regiment under Lieute aiant-Colonel Packenham, 23d under Lieut. Colonel Ellis, and five companies of the Ist West-India regi ment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tolly, landed in a most orderly and regular manner, without any oppo sition, the inhabitants of the village and neighbour hood even meeting them on the beach with welcomes to the country ! At about half-past five. Lieutenant- General Beckwith, Commander in Chief, with Bri gadier-General Colville and the second brigade, con sisting of the Bth regiment, under Major Maxwell, the 13ill under Lieutenant-Colonel Keane, and four companies of the Ist West-India Regiment under Major Clifton, also landed ; at which time Sir G. Prevost, with the Ist brigade, had marched forward, and was far advanced in the country ; and the re serve, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Blackwell, consisting of the 3d battalion 60th regiment, under Major Mackey, and the flank companies of the 25th regiment, and 4th battalion of the 60th, with the 4th West India having becn also landed, the Com mander-in-Chief proceeded with his brigade as far as Papin, about seven miles from Robert, Sir O. Prevost being that night still further advanced. On the fol lowing morning (the 31st) Captain Dick, cf his Ma jesty's ship Penelope, with one Lieutenant, three Mid shipmen, and 45 sailors, and three Marine Officers and .55 Marines, left Robert for the attack of Trinity, which surrendered upon their approach ;'and thus far the whole of this part of this Expedition proceeded with uninterrupted success. The landing * of the second division of the Army, commanded by Major-general Maitland, conducted immediately by Sir Alexander Cochrane, was also ef fected on the 30th, the Admiral leading the fleet into the Bay of St. Luce, which being defended by two bat teries that threatened to annoy the troops, he instantly dispatched 60 marines to drive the enemy from them, • and they accomplished the purpose in the most effectual manner, having, after spiking the guns and throwing them down the hill, broken up the carriages and plat form, and returned with the loss of only one man, sup posed to be drowned. The landing of troops i mined i. :ttely proceeded. Major-General Maitland with Lieu tenant-Colonel Barnes and his first brigade, consisting of the G3d regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fairt lough, and York Rangers, under Major Henderson, being debarked at a little after eight in the morning ; and before ten, followed by the second brigade, com manded by Lieutenant• Colonel Wall, consisting of the flank companies of the 15th and 4Gth regiments under Major Payne, the 15th regiment, under Major Davidson, York L. 1. Volunteers under Lieutenant- Colonel Streicher, and rith West India regiment tin der Lieutenant Colonel Prevost ; the reserve, com manded by Lieutenant-Colonel M'Nair, consisting of the 90th regiment under Major Wright, and 3d West India under Major Allen, soon after following. While these brigades were landing, the enemy set fire to the Carnation sloop of war (lately captured from us), lying in Maran Lay, and totally destroyed her ; the troops mean time commenced their march, and with great gallantry reached the heights leading to Point Borguese and Cape Solomon, and the fort situated on the latter was taken possession of by Major Hen derson, and the guns of it being rendered useless, he proceeded with his c n - ps, and took up 'a position di, rectly in the rear of Pigeon Island ; in his progress to which, some accounts state, he made 200 of the nvilitia prisoners, A 13-inch mortar being got up the i CAPTURE BARBADOES, Martiniqee on when first made Beet was near t island, before strong current which compelle the morning of make sail, they hoisting a broac division of the ; and Sir George in Bay Robert that under Ma and entered the The Comma proclamation, a, bitant i s apprisin imperious circu the former Gov, being deceived i had formerly e been sanctioned that they woul to the Proprie tion which the e the again reduc their misfortune would disappe; would be restore —and that Go , tected their pers flag, be again e tions, they state trusted to theml sea and land to in that sufferirq inseparable con With these grac the name of but force of his Mak temerity of a frt dered all Comm their respective whatever class c their respective daring, that a] treated as prim persons so take island, and all tried by a Gene of the Gospel t} would be protcc Church be respe At noon on ti entered Robert coast of the Islas modore Beaver, launches, having shore, and all th being instantly the afternoon, Si Houghton, with army, consisting giant-Colonel Pa Ellis, and five c ment, under Li most orderly anc sitior., the inhab hood even meetil to the country ! General Beckwii gadier-General sitting of the 8. the 13th under companies of ti Major Clifton, a Prevost, with the and was far ads serve, command consisting of the Major Mackey, 25th regiment, a 4th West India mander-in-Chief Papin, about sev being that night lowing morning jesty's ship Penel shipmen, and and .55 Marines, which surrender, the whole of thi with uninterrupt Tbe landing command(d by immediately by fected on the 30 .1.- 71......0 e• T #. • • • • • . • height and brought to bear on. the enemy, it was and as repittiEdly received the enemy on opened with much apparent effect on the morning of the „ of the lsayonet. A detachment of - the West the 31st, Major Henderson, with a party of sharp- India ceps, it is said, was engaged in the front. of shooters, being at die same time advantageously pos- the battle, and behaved uncommonly well, having ted, within 300 yards of the enemy's works, and con- twice stood the charge of the enerny!sgrenadiers,,and, siderably annoying them with musketry and Shrap- although broken by them, rallied and completely nell shells. The fire of the enemy was vigorously touted them.. Captain Taylor (erroneously men returned on this post, and they often threw four or tinned in our last as Lieutenant-Colonel) of thelth, five shells to each one of ours, but not with much Major Maxwell of the Bth, and . Captain Sinclair of effect, although unfortunately two seamen of the the 25 th , being killed ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Pack- Pompee, employed in the battery, were killed by the enham, of the 7th, Majors Campbell and Turner, of bursting of one of them ; and by that of another, Sir the Royal West India Rangers, and Captain Gled. A. Cochrane on a visit to them, had nearly sared staves, of the Sd . West India Regiment, wounded ; the same fate. • it is presumable that their corps had an active part While these operations were carrying on in this in the action. General Beckwith is stated, in many quarter, the enemy, who had upon our first approach letters, to have personally led to the, attack, and is burnt the Carnation, now also destroyed the.Favou- said to have narrowly escaped the enemy's premedi rite sloop of war, lying at St. Pierre, which Captain tated aim, which killed a soldier by his side, in the Napier, of the Recruit, had orders to cut out ; and act of receiving the General's horse from him. The the Admiral, with the principal part of his squadron, •possessien of Sourier is of the first consequence to our hiving, after leaving several vessels in advantageous operations against Fort Bourbon, which is scarcely situations for keeping up a communication with the otherwiseassailable; and thereductionof Pigeonlsland army, and supplying them with stores and provisions, gives all the facilities of supplying the troops through a taken up anchorage at Petit Ance d'Arlet, and direct communication from Fort Royal Bay, so that being informed that the enemy's frigate AMphitrite our future operations will be carried on with but little was ordered from the Carenage round to Pigebn- interruption and impediMent. These positions be- Island, with a view of dislodging our party from the ing gained from the enemy, the final reduction of the mortar battery, he sent in two frigates and a brig to island rests entirely on the impression which we can intercept her, and during the night they worked up mike upon his principal and only remaining strong into the Bay, and brought up beyond Pigeon Island; hold, Fort Bourbon, and this may now be considered which the enemy discovering, they set fire to their as entirely circumvallated by our troops. General frigate, and she was speedily consumed—giving, by Maitland, with his army, having moved from Lamers- I thus prematurely destroying their vessels,thestrongest tin round the Cul de sac de Cohee, to Point Negro ; demonstration of the appjeliension and dismay into and Major Henderson, With his party, proceeded by which they had been thrown. water across Fort Royal Bay down to Cass Naviere, The one mortar battery that had opened on Pigeon "and has taken a position on the heights above it. It Island on the 31st, and with the co-operation of Ma- i is from Fort Bourbon only that the enemy can make jor Henderson's brigade had been constantly annoy- any further defence ; and he has there concentrated ing the enemy, had the happy effect also of diverting his whole force, now confined to regular troops, all their attention ft oni the . proceedings of our engineers, the militia being disbanded and sent trom the fortress. who in the mean time had been indefatigably em- From deserters (a great many having come over to played in constructing a battery of five mortars and I us from the first of our landing) it is understood, that three howitzers on a more commanding eminence, in 1 General Villaret has avowed his intention of perishing effecting which, our seamen displayed a perseverance, under the ruins of the Fort sooner than surrender it, and underwent fatigue and laboUr almost peculiar to and three other General Officers with him have sworn themselves, this height being hitherto considered as to share his fate. This desperation has created much inaccessible. Sir C. Shipley was su pe r intending and discontent among his troops, and if the reports re directing this battery in person, the works of which ceived in our camp are to be depended on, a mutiny were entirely covered by a thick wood fronting the has manifested itself among them. harbour and completely_screeni4 it from the view of From the activity which prevailed when the last the enemy at Pigu:on Island ;it was in great progress accounts left Martinique (the 6th inst.) there was on the 3d instant, and so far completed, that a party every probability that our preparations for a gene of seamen had gone op to the heights for the purpose ral attack on the works would be ready in eight or of felling the wood during the night, and the whole ten days, the heavy cannon being at that time landing line of battery was intended to be opened on the fol- arAnce Noir, where the Admiral and several of his' lowing morning. So advantageous was this position squadree, with the ordnance ships, were at anchor, fa- dislodging the enemy, that it was confidently ex- and using every exertion to forward the siege. petted they would, within 21. hours after the battery The inhabitants of the Island -are throughout, at was opened, be compelled to surrender Pigeon Island, least neutral, if not friendly to our reduction of it. a post, seemingly,designed by nature for defending the They have not in any instanee annoyed our troops, grand harbour of the Island, which would cone- and towards the squadron have shewn great hospi : - eliently be then completely open to our fleet. talky, having repeatedly supplied them with fruit, During the operations carrying on here, and the vegetables, &c. St. Pierre's has . not been either at progress for a more effectual attack on the enemy's tacked or summoned, but the inhabitants have, it is strong position of Pigeon Island, Major-General ; said, sent to offer a surrender. Our possession of it Maitland, with the main body of his division of the can be no object until the reduction of Fort Bourbon, army had advanced as far as Lamentin ; while Gene- with which it will consequently fall. ral Bcckwith and Sir G. Prevost had proceeded to- A vessel arrived here this day, running clown to wards Bruno and Sourrier, both brigades of this di- wind Ward ;‘ at Martinique, heard a brisk cannonading vision having frequent skirmishes with the enemy in during Thursday night, and saw a large fire in the their march. On the 2d instant they came to same direction. more ge neral battle with the enemy in the neigh bourhood of Sourrier, an important height, that in some measure commands the redoubt or advanced works of Fort Bourbon. The particulars of this affair had not been further ascertained, when the last advices left the neighbourhood of Fort Royal Bay, than that our troops had made themselves masters of this position, having defeated the enemy with the loss of nearly 300 men, and of a few on our part, includ ing several Officers ; among whom are particularly regretted, Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor (Deputy Ad j u :ant-General ) killed ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Pac k enham, and Major Maxwell, wounded. The latest accounts are on the 3d instant, and are up to the evening of that day (Friday last), at which period, and at the very moment of the departure of the ves sel arrived from the scene of action, the Postcript of the lette'r adds, " that Pigeon Island has surrendered." Fen. 11.—The mortar-batteries mentioned in our last detail of the operations to be in forwardness, constructing over-against Pigeon Island, were com pleted on the evening of . the 3d, having a range of about nineteen hundred yards of the enemy's posi tion, and directed by Captains Beausise and Debar dien, and Lieutenant Turner, opened their fire at eight o'clock at night, in conjunction with the thir teen inch mortar first brought up, directed by Capt. Gravenbrock, from a lower position. The precision with which these several batteries played upon the enemy had the most surprising effect ; scarcely a shell alter the first three or four erring in its mark, upwards of '2OO being thrown in the space of a few hours, and one of them falling on the splinter proof of the ene my's works, exploded with such a dreadful crash as tore every thing up around, kilted and wounded seve ral men, aiid generally threw the enemy into dismay: his fire, which had hitherto been brisk butt ill directed, (not a man being hurt in our batteries), now slack ened, and in a few minutes entirely ceased. __ At five o'clock in the morning of the 4th, he threw out the white flag, and without further resistance sur rendered at discretion, having nearly sixty men killed and wounded during the bombardment. Upon our taking possession of this important post, five officers, and 130 privates were surrendered prisoners of war, and sent on board the Pompee. TUE tIVENING STAR. LONDON. TUESDAY, MARCH 21. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Consols, for money, nil-I—for acc i 671+—Onmium 1 1 pre. Exchequer Bilk, 10s: prem. We yesterday laid before pur Readers a brief out- I -line of such .particulars at had reached Town re specting the capture of Martinique.. A circumstan-i tial detail of that event will be found in another part .of our Paper. The capitulation of Cayenne is also given at full length in our columns of to-day. We formerly no tice& the success of the united British and Portuguese expedition against this valuable Settlement. The operations of the main body of the army up- ! der General Beckwith and Sir George Prevost has also been attended with signal success, although un fortunately it has suffered much in its attack on the enemy's l oiition at Sourrier. No correct de tails have yet been received from it ; but as far as has transpired, is satisfactory as to its progress, although mingled with regret for the brave men who• have fallen. It appears that the enemy well contested these heights with our army ; but although he was en trenched and had light artillery with ham, our troops drove him from his position and gained the po s'on of them, which gives us a commanding lituation for ca rr yi ng on a regu l ar s i ege aga i ns t F ort EmrbOn s . According to loose accounts, which are all that have yet been received from the Commander in Chiefs division, with whom Sir G. Prevost is acting, our troops advanced against Soul-tier after several hours bard fighting, in which ;hey were repeatedly SPAIN. Accounts to the 7th inst. have been received, from the neighbourhood of y, go , P-)ntevedra and Villa Gracia, that the peasantry in various places of the country are in insurrection winst the French,.— Several skirmishes have, it is leaid, taken place be tween them, in some of which the peasants were suc cessful. There were about 800 French at Comma, 1500 in St. Jago, 300 in Padrin, 400 in Pontevedra, and their main body, consisting of about 10,000, was between 'Thy and Orence. Roman's-army was be yond Montinez, on the borders of Portugal. The intelligence which we announced yesterday of hostilities having actually commenced between France and Austria, receives a considerable degree of credit. Dutch papers to the 18th, containing Paris news to the 13th, arrived last night. They-contain nu merous details of the warlike preparations of the French and Austrians, and the marching of armies. Private letters have also been received from Hol land, which speak more decidedly on these points than the printed journals. Some of them assert, that hostilities have recommenced, and that the first blow was struck on the side of Italy ; that the French Ge neral MARMONT had advanced against Trieste ; that the Austrian Commandant, aware of the enemy's in tention, came out to meet him; and that a smart ac tion ensued, in which the French were defeated with considerable loss. In addition to this account, we are informed that of the immense French armies already in motion, a division has lasterect Dresden ; and a Oen tleman who arrived yesterday hem Holland further, states, that, a battle his been ttmeit - on the frontierl of Bavari,l, which, like that in the neighboitrhood of Trieste ; also terminated in Wow of the Austrians; t but of this event no Certain accounts have yet hee.l ''received. . It is proper that we should state, that the Masts' of the vessel arrived at Dover, according to accoun' received this day, does not state that any formal d i .. claration of war had been published before he leh Holland—he only states the general and prevairg opinion that hostilities were determined on by o ne or both of these powers. The Dutch Papers, as well as the private letters frcn: Holland, state the capture of his Majesty's frigat , ! PROSERPINE, in the Mediterraen, by two French fgt. gates, la Penelope and la Paulineare : she was car ried into Toulon. From the French official account , it-appears that the Paosrapnia had been very aud., 1 cious, frequently standing so close to the shore as t o . look into the port of Toulon. This provoked ti lt 1 French "Admiral, who sent out against her the tv ;-, above-mentioned frigates. Once sheescaped by fi; g l, , ' but on a second occasion her pursuers cape up v.-i , :, her about half-past four o'clock in the morning. A:, engagement ensued, which was fought close along. : side for three quarters of an hour; at length the Pnu ' SERPINE struck to her two opponents. The enemy states the PROSESPINE to have had 11 men killed, aid 15 wounded, and that both the French frigates came out of the action without the loss of a man killed or wounded. SWEDEN. We are sorry to state that Government yesterday received dispatches from Admiral /CHAVES com manding in the Baltic, - which bring intelligence of a very serious insurrection having broken out in Swe den, which threatens to have the most serious con sequences not only upon the internal tranquillity of the kingdom, but upon the stability of the Go. vernment. 'We understand that several thousand peasants have risen in the province of Weirrniland, and were proceeding from Carlstadt to the capi tal. We have also heard that a General Officer has put himself at the head of a body of the military, And taken possession of Stockholm, from whence the King has retired under the protecticn of about 3000 ' troops, who have remained faithful to his person. A declaration has been published by the insurgents cnn. taining a statement et their grievances, arraign n;; war as tl e cause of them, and insisting upon the r. blishment of peace, as the only means by which the•- can obtain either alleviation or redress. Some perr rs imagine that this insurrection originates in the of the enemy, but we rather conceive it to b.: the effect of the misery to which the country is all ea,:y reduced, and the calamities with which it is still frt. ther menaced by perseverance in so unequal and ruin ous a conflict. report was in general circulation ycs'e ti , at the King of SWEDEN, opf..essed by dittcuities, serpent on the long ddratiQn of the disastrous by which his treasury ,had been exhausted, and hi. , I.rest provinces dismembered, had at last consentesi to pacific arrangements with the Emperor ALEXANDER. It was admitted that large sacrifices were to be made to the Court of retersburgh ; but that on account of murmurs at borne and disappointments abroad, impe rious 'necessity demanded such concessions fez the repose of the kingdom. A report is circula t ed of the loss of his Majesty's fri gate the LIVELY, Capt. Micitnawv, off the Burlings, with the distressing circumstance that every perished. Captain MackiNLEv was an e) plaicliced seaman, and no man was better acquainted with tht. Portuguese coast, he having been all the winter cruiL. ing on that station.—Our port letters being silent re. specting this affecting rumour, we hope it will prove w have originated in some mistake. The trial of Mary Bateman, the sorceress, fcr the wilful. - Murder of Rebecca Perigo, wife of William Periga, of Bramley, near Leeds, commenced on Fri day morning, aid continued until near gine o'clock at night. The Jury, without retiring, found the pri soner guilty. The public curiosity, which has been so strongly excited respecting Mrs. CLARKE and her connection with a Royal Personage, will, in a few days, be amply gratified by the publication of two volumes on the subject, from the pen of that celebrated Lady herself. The Anecdotes, Royal Love Letters, &c. contained in the work, will furnish a fund of enter tainment, and throw much_ light on some hitherto unexplained parts of a recent investigation. PLYMOUTH, MARCH 19. Came in the Parragon, Captain 13110VVY, from Ber muda, baernd to Hull ; Celista, Capt. WITIIBRHLED, frm Surinam, with sugar and cotton, for London.— six other ships sailed at same time, but dispersed at various times on the voyage ; Spanish brig Bueno Fe, Captain ELONSLGA, from Bilboa, with Spanish wool, for London, last from Falmouth. The ALERT sloop of war that was ashore yesterday,.on the bridge near SG Nicholas Island, is got off, and gone up Ha moaze to be inspected, to ascertain whether she as da maged. PLYMOUTH DOCK, MARCH 19. The "Anemusa and RESISTANCE frigates, while cruizing off St. Sebastian's, a few days ago, fell in with and captured -a French National schooner and four _tuggers under her.convoy, laded with provisions, wine; brandy, TM stores, for the French army in Spain. Two of the tuggers were sunk, after taking out their provisions and stores ; the others have been sent, nne into this port; and the schooner and other luggep, into Scilly. - A gallant attack has bees trade on the garrison of St. Sebastian by the above two frigates, who, after silencing the baueries, landed a body of seamen and nurines ' who entered'one at a time through a breach which had been made, spiked the guns, destroyed the fortifications, and carried off property to a consider able amount. This gallant exploit was effected with- out loss on our part. The ARILTHUSA and RIESIATANCS have considerably annoyed the enemy along the coast, as well as at St. Sebastian's ; they `have destroyed nil the telegraphs, and bran tof the materials, signals, arc. : Prfatiad and - -ly x3tbrr, of Ciu - - - L 1 WO tailpry Place, Lambed, at tholkriadOrrtcy No. 1, Cirty • • street. Pubilabadelao at tilt lITAia-Cir Rica. Tao* stet in , . de. lett , t irg one rcn ;ate fit. car. Int s ti b•': A:, 3ng. . nu- en ard ime d or rday :um. of a Save- con- illity Go. sand [and, capi. r has tarp, the WOO . A con• • slit- the- E; - eady I frt. ruin. , that. ,1 Liz :ntesl ;DER• nade mt of mpe- r the 's idea? :aced the at re- prove r the Him Fri- clock e pri. )ngly , ctlon days, umes Lady &c. !rater- herto Ber- iEED, fon, ul at ueno anish LERT ridge Ha- s da- . while 41 in and ;ions, pain. their one into on bf after and -each i the hider- with- Itably t St. Rphs, !TA, t t :key