Star. — London, England, 1811-09-28 00:00:00

SICILIAN PAPERS. GAZZETTA "BRITANNICA. • Mrssosta, JULY 31.—We learn from Palermo, that on the night of 'the 19th inst. the following. nobility j were arrested by order of the Sicilian Government, • ' and were immediately afterwards sent on board the Sicilian ship of war the Tartar, to be conveyed to the island of Favignana, &c. Their names are, the Princes of Belmonte, Villa Franca, Aci, Castel Nuovo, and the Duke of Anglo. • The arrest and exile of these Noblemen has given rise to a report, which is wholly destitute of founda tion, which is injurious to the English character, and calculated to diminish the authority of the British re siding in this island. The report is,. that these pro ceedings were instituted at the desire of the British Government, and that the Admiral and English Charge d'Affaires, residin' in Palermo, had taken a principal part iu the execution of' it. It was also asserted, that an English ship of war was employed on this occasion. Such a representation is known to be utterly false and absurd, by the inhabitants of Pa lermo, who were eye-witnesses of the transaction ; it will also be acknowledged that such an interference would be both opposed to the established conduct of the British Government, and to the duties of its prin cipal agents in this island. Be the !imners nn this subject what they may, we are empowered from the highest authority to contra dict them, and to dedve that .the English had not only no participation in 'the business, but not even the smallest knowledge of it. The inventors and propa gators of such vile calumnies could have no other Abject than to firotnote discord between the two na tions, and to disunite the hearts of the Sicilian people horn their best friends. • ROYAL EDICT. 46 It having been represented to his Majesty, that on several occasions the un ‘rmentioned subjects have ehewn manifest proofs of tt.rbulence, and of a dispo sition to interrupt the public tranquillity, having taken the advice proper on such occasions, and after mature deliberation on the consequences of such disobedient conduct, he has resolved in his sovereign pleasure to order the arrest and exile to different islands of the following persons: the Prince of BelmonteVintimiglio, the Prince of Villa Franca, who is also suspended from his functions of Colonel. of the Ist Regiment of goval Dragoons, &c. the Prince of Verulsterra , the .prince of Villarmosa, the Prince of Aci, who is also dismissed from his post of Adjutant-General of the King, &c. &c. (Signed) 66 rEISDINAND." Conine' signed, &c. Palermo, July 19, 1811. AMER lOu . WASHINGTON, AUGUST SO. We an snared that Mr. Pinckney has not held 'ant such Conversation as that vehich is ascribed to him in ao. txtract of a letter from Alexandria to a Gentleman in Boston, dated July 8. 1811_1 4 ,p_gblished .in the Aurora of the -11-ds ult. The extract here al laded to attributed to him certain intimations respecting the dispositions of the British Ministry, &have imme diately issued letters of mittque end reprisals against American vessels, on receipt of *hes/sea:urea of lest *Session, had they not been restrained by the Prince kegent, who declared his determination to await the result of Mr. Foster's mission, Bcc.—Arei. COLVIN O. SDIITII. I The National.. 1 idelligelseer co ntains a long address from Mr. Colvin, vindicating his character from cer tain calumnious insinuations in the papers attached to the Smithite party. It sets rot with daring the Editors to put their charges against him into such a form as will give him an opp.4rtunity of proceeding • against them in a Court of Justice, and expresses his willingness to allow them to enter a justification. He then proceeds as follows : " I have understood that certain parts of my com munication of the 22d ult. are by some persons con sidered obscure. It is thought the declaration, " I wrote the letters to General Armstrong and General Turrean for the good of my country," contradicts the assertion that " I verbally remonstrated with Mr. Smith against the proceeding." To place the statement in a stronger light, permit me to illustrate it by a few remarks. " The writing of the two letters was an act of pri vate friendship, in doing which I served the man whilst I condemned the conduct of the Minister.— The sentiments which the letters contain ire such as the Euwei or of the French has merited—but policy did nut prescribe the expression of them all that time. Ivirote them far the good of my.country, inasmuch as they were to he used, and one of them was used in her behalf. Mr. Smith never dictated to me.— His common conversation was de I want you to frame a letter in such a style or temper, for sech a purpose;" Ind rthen wrote the letter agreeably to 'my own ideas. -But why should I dwell upon these two let ters have written, at .least . twenty.--and the re cords of the department- of State verify the fact. I do not pretend to-have written ell that bra. his name, ' but lam persuaded that Mr.'Stitith never wrote one diplomatic letter, as Sectetari of Stite, of any pith or neanent. I never considered this as a matter for exultation—no man ever - heard rite open my lips on the subject - I had literary'reputation enough. But I felt it a business of labour. These letters were coin posed after office hours, and sdmetimes kept me em ployed till midnight. I never received any compen sation for them—and this brings me to the topic of gratitude. If by gratitude be meant that sensation of thankfulness which is felt for benefits conferred, •. then Mr. Smith ought to be grateful to me. He has received more favours at my hands than I ever re ceived at his. It was under . his Secretaryship that I went into the department o f State—but in this case, I merely received payment from the public for ser vices performed for the public ; and he placed me and lett me at one of the lowest salaries. My situa tion remains the same. Mr. Smith never did me any Other favour worth mentioning. How then, can I be Called ungrateful ? I claimed my letters indeed, when he pro,tittoted them to a wrong use ,; and, it I lend my sword to an acquaintance to adorn his person, and he draws it upon my friends, shall I not prevent the mischief he ihteads? I certainly ought to do it, and IWould do it at the peril of my life." Whilst Mr. Colvin was rejecting upon the delicate . . situation he was placed in by the publication of Mr. Smith's pamphlet, he received the following letter from the Lx Secretary : " Baltimore, July 1, 1811. " SlR—Understanding that you have just been art" ruined to the Bar at Washington, and thence pre suming that you intend to devote yourself to the pro fession of the law, and to abstract yourself from pub lic life and political strife, I have to repeat to you my disposition to give you every assistance that may be in my power. But Baltimore would, I think, be The affairs of Sicily are now press:ng upon the a more suitable field than Washington. It you should Public attention. LordWM.BRNTINCK returned hone, concur with me in this opinion, and shcaild accor dingly establish yourself here, you may calculate on unexpectedly, last night, finding himself unable to my occasional instruction, and upon the entire use of treat with the Neapolitan Cabinet. We are not dis my law library. The Criminal Court here affords pleased with this decided step of his Lordship. No almost daily opportunities, by volunteering your ser- one will longer be able to affect to disbelieve the ne vices, of exhibiting Fools of your talents, and of Whys , .arious practices of the Court of Palermo. We beg recommending yourself to all kind of persons, for all kind of business that might be worthy of your atten- leave to recal to recollection a report officially con tion.---Accept my best wishes. • "R. SMITH." tradicted by order of the King of Sicily, that a treaty " Mr. J. B. Colvin, Washington. was concluded in Paris, in January last, between Fen- This letter added to the embarrassments Mr. Col- DINAND of Sicily and NAPOLRON. yin felt in consequence of the rupture between the i We shall not take up our Readers attention with President and Mr. Smith. He answered the letteeso I repetitions of the vague rumours to which Lord Wit as to avoid expressing a direct opinion of Mr. Smith's ! 1 LIAM 13ermiictes return have given tise. On Monday pamphlet, but in terms reprobating some of the stric tures upon it that had appeared in the Inielligenter. A we shall take an opportunity to lay befere the public few days after he went to Baltimore, and had an in- I an outline of the state of our prodigal connection with terview with Mr. Smith and the Editors of the Whig- that unhappy Island, and despicable Neapolitan and Sun. He told the former of these Editors, that Cabinet. . • Mr. Smith's pamphlet was full of errors, ant that he wrote the letters to Geserals Armstrong and Tur- It is only necessary at present to remind oar Rea reau ; the latter he informed, that he thdtight he dersthat Lord WILLIAMBENTINCK sailed only a shOrt should answer the pamphlet under his own name.— • time since to take the command of our troops is that' This intention was also communicated to others of hi s : quarter, and to act as British Minister. That his acquaintance at Baltimore. The consequence is thus stated :•• 44 Immediately on my return toWashington Lordship . may yet return to Sicily is probable from; I -received the following letter from the Editor of the' the circumstance of his having left his family there. Whig. It shews that the alarm was taken at Balti- 1 He came home in the CEPHALCS. more—that I was menaced with abuse if I should THE EVENING STAR. i LONDON. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. S per Ct. Cons. for money 63} Ditto for account 63{ 3 per Ct. Reduced shut—Navy 5 per Cent. 98} 4 per Cent. shut—Bonds 141. 15s.pre.—Omnium dis. Esch. Bile (11.) 3s. to Is.dis.—Ditto (Sitt) Is. to Ss. prem. utter any thing against Mr. Smith ; and that the Edi tor of the Whig became the channel for conveying the menace, under the mask of friendship." A Lisbon Mail arrived this morning. The fol lowing are the chief articles of intelligence which we have received on this occasion t LISBON, SEPTEMBER 19. EXTRACT 07 AN OFFICIAL DISPATCH FROM MARSHAL GENERAL LORD WELLINGTON, FROM PUENTE DE GUI " Baltimore, July 19, 1811. HALER), To HIS Mtelll.l.lMY SENOR D. MIGUEL PEREI. " SlR—Your fratakness while here, in conversing RA FoßjAz, DATED SIir7EMBER 4. on the late unfortunate dispute between Madison and " A division of the guards of General Dumoustier Smith, induces me to be equally frank ie mentioning arrived at Salamanca on the Isr instant. what may be of use to yourself and credit to the de mocratic party. As year were unreserved in speak- " 1 received information that a division of the Sth ing of the pamphlet of R. S. and its objectionable Corps had moved against General Ballesteros, near features, I happened to talk of your remarks in a cer- I Ayamonte. That • General retired to the Isla de tain democraec company, where the Address and ' eaThncellas, situated in the mouth of the Guadiana ; Review became subjects of free conversation. It was it whilst the enemy remained, although but in small hinted to me by one of the gentlemen privately, that he understood you had declared your intention of ; force, in Ayamonte, oe the 4th of last month ; but coming forth in your own name against R. S. in , as transports had arrived to take away General Bal. support of M. but if you should, you were vulner- ! lesteros and his troops, it was supposed that he would able ; your conversations when mellow, in a particu- ; a g a in retire from Ayamonte. lar house in Washington, last season, (I know not whether he meant last summer or winter), had fur. " According to accounts from the South-east, and wished ground for your discredit.—l asked, how?— !those sent me by Mr. Wellesley, it appears that the And he replied in a whisper, that en a certain occa- . Spanish army of the kingdom of Murcia retired in eicia . you had spoken in the most contemptuous style'. the beginning of August to its position of Lorca. of Madison, and had affirmed that you knew, while • certain• Measures were in operation for procuring, his One of the divisions at the time it retired, had been nomination or election. [ Tl.is part of the letter con- repulsed by the enemy. I have just received a letter rains an allusion too execrable for insertion : the al. e ftom General Silviera, dated the Ist instant, by which fusion . was made, no doubt, to prevent the publica. i, I know General Abadia had retired in the best order don of the letter—the whole story is an invention.] from Baneza and Ponte d'Argivo, and that he was New, added he, triumphantly, while I sat motionless . ~.._. . again preparing to occupy hie tkilliticAl.: :11 fr ont of with astonishment, if ',Addison resorts to Colvin's tea- t timony in one case, let him be prepared for recogniz. I Astorga, in consequence of the retreat of the enemy." ing it throughout. As fot this matter, I know ne. ' • EXTRACT OF AN OFFICIAL DISPATCH FROM THE SA:uice thing of its accuracy or inaccuracy —it is hearsay to . TO THE SAME. DATED HEAD-QUARTERS, FUENTA DC me—but, as Paine says, "it would not tell well in outerauno, SEPTEMBER 11. history:" You are in possession of my motive in a A detachment of the Guards andlterg Lancers, communicating it—without injunction or restraint. which arrived in Salamanca on the Isk instant, drove I pray Goo we may have a full settlement with France; but reaily when I look at our spiritless beha. on the 4th from Ledesma, the troops of D. Julias, viour, I have doubts and fears. If Madison makes , and have since obliged them to retire across the river concessions to England, and persuades the Senate to I Yettes. sanction them, we are undone. But, surely, he has " The enemy, notwithstanding, has again retired too many warnings before him to allow him to . from the said point to the vicinity of Tormes. The swerve from the right track. Should he deviate, , however, it is not in the newer (I hope) of coalitions enemy retired from Ayamonte on the night of the between Virginia and Massachusetts, or of bargains 21. th ult. and one of their detachments made as at in Pennsylvania, to re-elect him. But in all vicissi. ' tack upon the Castle of Paymago, in which a small tudes and shiftings of precedents, and parties, and garrison of Spanish troops had been left by General partizans, our rule shall (I trust) be principles-- Ballesteros. The enemy, in this attack, was repulsed measures, not men ; or, if you will, measures the start.' dard of men. I verily believe, if England were revo. by the said garrison. lutionized, or subjugated, we should enjoy more bar- i " A detachment of Spanish troops, under the corn mony on this side the water. Should yon write a ' mind of General Morilla, in Estremadura, joined to line when you have leisure, let it be endorsed, " Pri . - the teeion of Colonel Dcrverie, and the horse of the 1 vate." In that case, my partner would not open it, h but deposit it in my private drawer should I he out sth corps, the whole under the orders of the Conde I.of town.—Yours, truly (and hastily), a. 1, jde Penne Villemur, obtained some advantages in an The answer was as follows : I attack which they made upon a detachment of Foy's' ~ Washington City, July 12, 1311. I division in Caceres. They drove out the enemy from, le DEAR Si 11 —. 4 thank you for your friendly hint s ' that city, in a manner which does diem honour, and tinder date of the 17th inst. Viewing it as agenuine , made some prisoners." mark of sincere regard, it meti:s my warmest ac- i Szi-e. 17.—Our Head-quarters are still at Fuentes knowledgments. Permit me, however, to assure you I ide Guinaldo—our troops are well up—if Marmon' that the burthen of the gentleman's whisper is untrue, : is therefore inclined to come on—for lehom large ate of that, whether mellow ex . unmellow, I never spoke of Mr. Mailisou with contempt, [&c. &c.] I have inforcements have arrived at Salamanca, it is said of heard, to be sure, very vile tales repeated, &c. &C. by Imperial Guards, it is generally supposed that a n:en who ought to have had more delicacy ; but I battle is on the eve of taking place—that Marmont never believed them ; and if I ever alluded to them, it I will attript the relief of Ciudad Rodrigo—in which was for the purpose of reprobating them. 1 am against all coalitions from any quarter , and would oppose case he will, most assuredly, be opposed by Lord them. Whatever I may do in the case of Mr. Smith, Wellington. Our troops are in excellent order and it will be only in the cause of truth. Perhaps it may inclination for giving the enemy a drubbing. he well for the Republican party that I should be Eight thousand French foot, and I'2oo horse, have silent."—Mr. Colvin concludes in these terms: . I " I hive borne as much as any man might to bear. been beaten near Villa Franca, and driven to Astorga, I will endure defamation of me from that quarter no by 2.2,000 Guerillas, under Abadia, with the loss of b nger in silence. No combination of wealth or fami- 500 men, one General, and two guns. ly influence shall with impuni - y sacrifice me to cover i MBE SEPTE R 1. their own sstiame ; and I admonish Mr. Smith, that , CADIZ, from this day forward 1 hold himself and his brother, ; On the 15th July, the famous Mina, with 9000', the Generel, responsible for the abuse of me that men, (part of them composed of Longa's division, may, in their behalf, appear in the Whig, because I and 5000 troops belonging to the Catalonian army,) knotty it is in their power to prevent it. But• I shall had a most glorious action with the enemy, at six relinquish newspaper publications, and resort to a leagues distance from Pempeluna, consistingef 11,000 pamphlet ;and if I am again faced out, notwithetan- , ding the facts I have already stated , Mr. Smith will infantry and 800 horse —among whom there were have cause to lament the day that he provoked the 9000 conscripts. Upon meeting the French, formed moderation of tny- temper." 1 in order of battle, but without dam . ' I; ti advaace, . LETTEIt FROM MR. IRVINE, EDITOR OS' TILE BALTIMORE WHIG, TO MR. COLVIN, CIIIEF CLERK IN TILE DEPART. MENT OF STATE. Mina made a similar evolution ; and, seeing do/ would not attack, alter a few discharges of muhisetr!, he attacked them with the bayonet. The result w.a their being immediately put in disorder: more that 1000 of them were killed, and 1300 prisoners taken. CADIZ, SIPTEMBER I. According the last intelligence from Catalonia, General Lacy entered the French territory for the purpose of imposing contributions and bringing away the flocks; some troops marched against him from ch.! blockade of Figueras, which gave Brigadier Rovira an opportunity, on the 15th and 17th, of intrGdacirg some provisions into the place. We have received from the North of Portugal 1:., following circumstantial accounts of the battles whit the Sixth Spanish Army maintained against t'..e French, under date of 30th August : " The' enemy attacked, on the afternoon of the 25th August, at three o'clock, the division which w.ts at Dauheza, and at four, two strong columns pre anted themselves at Orbigo against three of smalltr force, composed of 7000 men, causing another coltuna of '2OOO troops to pass the fords of Benav ides, chick was tp atutek the Bank cf the left part of the S2aai.lt Arm}. " The di vi.ion of Catrena presented itself in the beat ,order upon Castro Contigo, and the remainder of the 'army krpt its position, presenting its force in front of the ener4 till it was night ; it tl..en marched t• the indicataJ point of )unction, wkich was the town .of Ca.strillo f and on the following morning comb. as hea4-quarters at Ands NuelLt, posting the •dirisiont of Generals Belvesiel and Castanian in Tu. rienco and Ravanal. gi At four in the afternoon it was observed urn tl.e enemy, in two strong columns, marched upon Itava. nal and St, Catharina ; is consequence of which Ge. neral Castanion took a position agreeably to the in structions he had received in Fnencebadon, and Cen. Belvedel between that point and head-quarters. at! At eight at night, intelligence was received of the enemy having penetrated into Ravanal. and.eztended his movements in the direction of the high-road ; the enemy in consequence supposing it would be attacked r , on the following day, took a position on the heights , ' of Rugo and M •lina Seca. 44 At six In the morning of the 27th, the division cf Custrantras being already in its position, the Officer informed the General-in-Chief, that the enemy pts rented themselves in considerable force, and were in Imotion to attack him : in fact, half an hour after. Iwards the battle commenced, when the General-in. Chief, Abadia, assisted with the reserve, which he had at his disposition, detaching from it a regiment to succour Manzanal, which was attacked at the same rime. The engagement lasted nearly three hours, 1 and was gallantly contested on either part : the corps fought within pistol shot. .. 44 The superiority of the enemy, and the pmbable result of so unequal a contest, decided the General to 'unite his forces, and match tor the bridg.::l,Do• mingos Flores. On the afternoon of the same day, the enemy reconnoitred the Spanish army as far 4 ' Pontlerrada, but afterwards retrograded three leagues _in the direction of Villa Franca, without our tal!).; l able to know to what to attribute this retreat, al though it very probably was owing to the consider , able loss they suffered in Mancanat and Molina :eca. On the same Light various detatlimeitts .:n.i flying t • parties, which had been observing the enemy, joined. We have since received the following, of the date of the 3d instant : 44 The 6th Spanish army, on the 31st of August, in Molina Seca, and its vanguard in Fuencevedon, hay. ing extended his reconnoitrings to Rational, and Sta. Catharine. The enemy retreated in three columns, for Orbijo, Astorga, and Banhaza. 66 Their retreat was so precipitate, that they left some of their wounded iu the power of the Spaniards, and provisions for their army for three days. 44 The accounts received to-day, confirm all that has been said of the great loss of the enemy in the glori:.ts action of the 27th. On the 90th died one of the ..vounded Gen, rals of the enemy. He had re ceived two balls in the right leg, and one in the breast. ,They say he is General Cursin. The Colonel of the 72d is likewise dead, and the Colonels of the 27 th, 54th, and the Legion of the Vistula, were wounded. 46 Considering their numerous artillery, among which there .were two howitzers, 8-pounders, and two pieces, 12-pounders, the relation of their wound ed and prisoners, deserves attention. * 66 They affirm that their pion was to defeat the army of Gallicia, make a rapid march upon Lugo, fortify themselves there, and endeavour to possess themselves of Corunna, but all these projects were frustrated by their retreat." ELVAS, SEPTEMBER 6. In the beginning of Atigust .Soult cared Grena da with 11,000 infantry 'and 2000 cavalry, and with these troops was to encounter the troops of Freyre and Blake : and accounts from the interior of Anda lusia say they were repulsed, and afterwards there were some actions of small consideration. A Chief of a party, named Giraldo, writes from Mancha, of the date of the 25th of August, that Soult, with 20,000 men, attacked the army of Freyre and Blake, between Veles lubro and Lorca, and that the enemy was repulsed with loss: that on the 17th of the same mciirh the division of the Count of Montijo attacked the four Polish regiments, and made a great slaughter of them. (The action of the Isth W4l of little importaLee.) lIIMIWN MENIII.I ,