Star. — London, England, 1809-04-10 00:00:00

TO THE PROPRIETORS OF EAST INDIA STOCK. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, 'HE great public principle on which I have been' TI induced to hope for your support, in the arduous contest in which I am engaged, being, I trust, fully understood, I should have waited in respectful silence for your decision on a point so essential to your interests, and at case same time so important to myself; but I cannot delay to express my gratitude for the almost unexampled and spontaneous promises of support ay:deb I have received throughout my canvas, which are such lit to give me very confident hopes as to the result. I regret as much as ary man that this contest should have been delayed until within ore week of the election, but I hope it cannot be imputed to me, when it is recollected that I waited in deference to your Court of Directors, and in expectation of their usual recommendation (which, under the present peculiar circumstances, was looked to with much anxiety) until the very last moment prescribed by your bye-laws for candidates to declare themselves, and after which the Proprietors could have had no choice at the present election ; and it is besides highly detrimental to my interest, inasmuch as it prevents the accomplishment of my earnest wish, personally to explain my motives to every individual Proprietor. My pretensions for a seat in the Direction basing already re ceived the approbation of more than one thousand Proprietors, I trust it is only necessary for me to rept at my assurances that I am elected you shall find me a diligent and conscientious servant. 1 have the honoar to be, Lathe.; and Genslemen, Your most obedient servant, kOBERT WILLIAMS. King's Head, Poultry, April 7, 1 tiO9. I COMMITTEE ROOM, KING's HEAD, POULTRY, • April 8, 1809. rrio Reports, as malicious as unfounded, the Ltive for which will be easily discovered, having been in dustriously circulated, the one that Captain WILLIAMS does not intend to proceed to the ballot on Wednesday next, the other that he is not eligible to bold a Seat in the Direction, The Committee for managing that Gentleman's Election, feel themselves called upon to contradict the same in the most posi tive terms, and to hope the Proprietors of East India Stock will not suffer such unworthy subterfuges to deprive them of their un doubted right of election. _ _ _ The Committee sits every day, and any communication for Cap. taro LLI A MS'S interest, &c. will be thankfully received. PORTUGAL LISBON, MARCH 23. A courier has arrived here with intelligence from Braga, that upon the approach of the French van guard, the armed inhabitants of that city waited upon the Portuguese General, B. Frere d'Andrade, in great numbers, offering to advance and meet the French force. He refused them, alledging, it would be im proper, and the height of madness to attack them in the passes ; that he had provided every thing, and would give them battle. The great number of peo ple from the country, who hourly joined the citizens from all parts, and the rapid advance of the French, caus,3 the peasants to be exceedingly clamorous, nay, furious ; the General refused ammunition to those who had fire arms. At this crisis, it was discovered the Portuguese troops were without cartridge., which caused so great a ferment among the multitude of piker - nen, that they attacked the General and guard.. A desperate conflict ensued, when the peasantr y for ced the house, and instantly killed the General an.l his Aid-du-Camp, literally cutting them in piects.— One of the Secretaries who survived a snort time, after receiving several stabs, called for mercy, and entreated permission to make a full disclosure, and pointed out the places where the ammunition was se creted and buried, together with two papers which fully proved that the General had agreed with the French Commander to adm;t 80,0(X) troops in three divisions, into Portugal. The terms, &c. were fully proved. In consequence of which the Marquis Lola and three c:her Noblemen, Commanders of the forces, were seized and sent prisoners to Lisbon. The star, &c. of the General was embrued in blood, as a mark of triumph over perfidy. In consequence of the discovery the rage and frenzy of the people was unrestrainable. They sallied to meet the French, and a hasty and terrible conflict ensued : the Portuguese completely destroyed the first advance of 500 French cavalry, with the second division they equally suc ceeded, and 500 and upwards of horses are captured and sent to Oporto. Among the prisoners taken are numbers who were part of Junot's army. This spi rited conduct of the peasantry of Braga has caused, universal joy, and we hope will be productive of si milar emulation. MARCH 24.—About o'clock this morning, when the packet had been under weigh more than an hour, Captain Haul.. received an order from the Ambassa dor not to sail till the arrival of the post from Oporto. I have seen several letters from Oporto of the 21st instant, which fully confirm what I wrote to you yes terday, respecting the murder of the Portuguese Ge neral at Braga. They say that such of the Portu guese troops as marched against the French were fur nished with balls too large for their guns, and the discovery was not made till they came to action, and that the movements of these troops was so directed as to give the enemy every possible advantage. It will he recollected in England that General Sir Arthur Wrelieslcy, on his examination, gave some ac count of General Bernerdine's conduct during the time he (Sir Arthur) was in this country. Some let ter; say, that General Baron Ellen, in the English vrvice, who succeeded Bernerdine, has been de feated and has retae;aed to Oporto; others say, that he has gained considerable advantage over the enemy, and has fallen back to a be ter paation. They all seem to agree, hawesar, ;hat the enemy is within a days march of Opart, and that the city all con fusion. l'he genera . , o, iuin,i here is, that t?.ie French have not sarticie.:t I,ri.e in that quarter to make an attack. opor .o has been very stionoy fortitied, and i all toe neabaant, that were able h.:se armed them selves in some way or other and have gone out to Beet them. On the 10th of t:' is month an engagement took place in Santo Andte, between one battalion of the regim• nt of font, No. 6, three companies Of the Vo lunteers of (:have::, the egimmt of of Villa Real, and the Frci.ch. Our troops !:ehaved with the greatest gallan• ry, and the enemy's loss was very severe. People w:i witnes,ed the action state, that the Fr •nch r mph yed fr,- ni ten to twelve waggons to carry off their w: (inded. A great number of etters received from Opoi U' agree in stating, that the French have been defeated on the read of Braga. One of t h em , ;.f the 19th inst. contains the following passage s. I have just time to inform y.:u, that at ten o'clock this morning an express arrived from Baron Eben, with the pleabii.g intelligence that yesterday, at four o'clock in the afternoon, a second attack was made by the corps under his command ; the result of which wls, that the French were defeated with great loth and five hundred cavalry were taken prisoners, with their horses." His Roy.tl Highness the Prince Regent has ap pointed General William Car Beresford, Field Mar bhal and Commander in Chiefof the Portuguese army. It appears from an Extraordinary Gazette, pub lished at Seville on the Ist inst. that the division of Spanish' troops commanded by the Duke of Albu querque, was attacked on the ‘22d ult. in the position of Consavigra, by a French force of eleven thousand foot and three thousand horse ; which attack was made with the enemy's usual impetuosity, but com pletely failed, owing to the uncommon intrepidity displayed by the Spanish troops. The French weft repulsed and defeated with the loss of upwards of 4.00 men. Field-Marshal I3ERESFORD has issued the following GENERAL ORDERS: Head-quarters, Lisbon, March 13. " His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of POR• Tro A L having most graciously teen pleased to entrust to Field-Marshal BERESFORD the command in chief of his armies, thinks it tight, on assuming the said command, to state and declare to his comrades in arms his sentiments on this occasion. The Field-Marshal and Commander in Chief, during the time he served in the army which was sent by his Britannic Majesty to support the admirable and prodigious efforts made by the Portuguese to recover their liberty and independence, so unjustly attacked, had an opportunity of becoming intimate- ly acquainted with the military character of the na tion ; and although he thinks he has given the most effectual proofs of the favo , trable idea he had formed of that character, by accepting the above command, yet he wishes and hopes to prove in a more decisive manner, that the command in chief of the Portuguese army could not have possibly been confided to any other Officer so thoroughly convinced of the innate military talents and disposition of the Portuguese who want nothing but some skill and uniformity of plan in the direction of their warlike energies to prove that they still are what they have always been, if not the best soldiers, at least equal to the most valiant and most intrepid troops of Europe. The Field- Marshal Commander in Chief will therefore exert himself with incessant zeal and application to render those qualities as efficient as they are accustomed to be when they are assisted by a strict and well-regu lated discipline. It is universally acknowledged that the Portuguese are loyal to their Sovereign, obedient to their lawful authorities who represent him, and en dure, without murmurs, the privations and inconve niences to which armies must frequently submit.— The patriotism, energy, and enthusiasm, of which they have but very lately given the most unquestion able proofs ; the glory which they acquired in Rous sillon, and tie successes which they obtained on the n, , rthern frontiers, clearly shew their determined in tv_pic.lity and valour, qualities which cannot but ren der them worthy of their ancestors, and as famous as them. " No nation, Portuguese, is therefore better qua lified than you are to form the best troops. The Field-Marshal, Commander in Chief, convinced of this truth, finds himself, with the utmost pleasure, identified with the Portuguese nation. He is a Por tuguese Officer, and confides to the Portuguese his character and honour, perfectly satisfied that they will be preserved unimpaired, and returned to him with gain. The Field-Marshal, Commander in Chief, deems it necessary to assure you, that he will at ail times consider it as one of his most important duties, to raise and reward merit, whenever he shall meet with it, and that the only recommendation he shall notice will be that derived from zeal, activity, skill, valour, and patriotism, qualities which shall at all times find in him a sure and zealous protector. The Field-Marshal, Commander in Chief, calls the at tention of all the General and subaltern Officers to the present state and improvement of the army, and being convinced that the best method of introducing discipline and a strict observance of duty into a mi. litary corps consists in the example set by the officers, he hopes they will never fail to give their men a les son so necessary and important. The Field-Marshal Commander in Chief feels anxious to embrace the e truest opportunity of imspecting the different corps which have already taken the field, as well as the rest of the army ; and he shall avail himself of all occa sions which offer to promote the satisfaction, deco rum, and advantage of the officers and soldiers who arc entrusted to his care. 4 , Head-quarters, Lisbon, March 13, 1809." PROCLAMATION 07 NIMISIIAL SOULT TO THE PORTUGUESE, WITH REMARKS. In consequence of the memorable successes ob tained by the army of his Majesty the Emperor and King, my August Sovereign, 1 again approach your territory to take possession of the whole of it in the name of my master." (When the Frmcli before in the month of Febru ary last, ventured to pass the Minho, they in like manner issued a paper with the ridiculous title of Proclamation ; they were, however, defeated, and proceeded to the frontiers of another province more open, and where they hoped to encounter fewer obsta cles- They are mistaken, they will meet with a bar rier of brass. They may occupy some small part of the frontier country, but an incessant and relentless war shall make them abandon their enterprize ; the whole of the country they can never conquer.) " I do not, therefore, expect that I shall meet with any resistance, but flatter myself I shall be received with the same cordiality with •vh:ch we were receiv ed little more than a year ago." ( We received the French well in November 1807, because his Royal Highness expressly commanded it; and it was never expected that they would prove so cruel and rapacious as we found them : Spain likewise then made common cause with the French. Does not Marshal Soult know how we were treated by Junot, who trampled on our independence and our constitution ; made slaves of our youth, violated our women, and defaced the images of our saints ; what horror! what desperation I And, can he flatter him. self, that we shall receive him cordially Ah ! had such a proposition been made to our ancestors what fury would have possessed them Our neighbours in their wars against us, always advanced, and relied on some equivocal rights of succession; and during the eight centuries our monarchy has lasted, no inso lent stranger has ever dared to say to us—l wish to be lord of your kingdom ; receive us cordially. But it was reserved for the present age to see and hear monstrous extravagances of every kind.) ' " What effect can resistance have ? What can you propose to yourselves, when all those armies which frenzy had assembled in Spain are destroyed ?" (This is a great falsehood—the same armies exist which did exist, and it they did not, why, atter hav ing entered Madrid more than three months ago, have you not been able to advance either to Castillo Branco or to Badajoz ? Besides, do you not know, that Por tugal contains three millions of inhabitants, and con sequently 500,000 men capable of bearing arms, and all willing and eager to bear them ? Perhaps you imagine we have not arms, but we have considerable quantities, and our Government has no doubt applied to England for more. Perhaps you think our armies are separated and cannot be united. This might have been the case under the old system, but certainly is not under the new ; we have considered and are aware of the necessity of uniting our forces, or at least of making them act in concert.) " That English army which made its appearance on the Continent only to foment the spirit of disorder and rebellion, and inflict all kinds of calamities, has been defeated, and forced to embark for England, after having lost one half of its soldiers, its best Ge nerals, all its ammunition and artillery, its horses and baggage." -( We are weary with so much repetition with re -1 spect to the English army. Bessieres, in January, said that the English had lost 10,000 men ; and Soult says they lost 17,500, (the half of 35,000, of which the army of General Moore at first consisted) ; we I shall, no doubt, soon be told that all the English were killed or taken, and not a single man reimbarked ! 'The French should know, that several British divi- sions are already disembarking in the Tagus, and that more are expected ; and, as the British Cabinet knows its first interest is the interest of the Peninsula, it is greatly to be hoped that a British force will land in the Asturias, and, joining those valiant mountai neers, proceed to take Ferrol and Corunna, and at tack the rear-guard of Soult. It will likewise be very proper that England should send efficacious succours to Catalonia to reconquer Barcelona, be cause that place remaining in the power of the enemy, greatly impedes the operations of the Patriots in the South of Spain.) _ _ " Portuguese, in the name of his Majesty the Em peror and King Napoleon, I offer you that peace which you yourselves have driven from your country." (You come to offer us peace ! with whom then are we at war but with you ? We were at peace when your arrival caused war. Your proposal is self-con tradictory. The peace we seek mnst be compatible with the sacred rights and honour of our august So vereign, and with our national independence. Do not change the meaning of words : what you offer us is slavery and not peace. You propose that we should be quiet, and suffer you to seize without resistance, the Government of the nation ; this is truly a very extraordinary manner of treating for peace.) " I offer you protection for yourselves and your property, for your religion, and the Ministers of that religion." (Napoleon, in like manner, offered to protect our property for a contribution of 40 millions of cruiza ' does ; and M. Junot increased this favour, by distri buting it in such a manner as to produce 80. The same Junot protected the plate and gold in the , churches, taking only the sacred utensils necessary for your defence, he was tiltewise willing to divest re ligion of the superstitions by which it was dishonoured —in other words, like Julian the Apostate, to reduce ' it to that ridiculous simplicity which must render it contemptible.) I " I offer you likewise an entire oblivion of the past, and will engage that you shall receive the clemency of his Majesty the Emperor." (Clemency from a man entirely a stranger to us, and from so vindictive and ferocious a tyrant ! It is not possible either to wish it or to hope it.) " You shall enjoy the benefit of the sublime insti tutions of the same august Sovereign. It will be easy , for me to deliver you from the calamities which you cannot deny that you endure, and assuage the evils which you have suffered, if I arrange your Admini strations, and organize the Portuguese army." (We have experienced the sublime Government of your august friend, and GOD protect us from it ! Of our calamities you are the cause—for Portugal was flourishing before your fatal arrival. Your pre sence, far from assuaging, would most miserably ag gravate our evils. Our Administrations and our armies are already organized, and it would be the last lof degradations to suffer your Government again to disorganize them absolutely.) I •' There are among you citizens whose intentions I have ever been pure, and who ougot now to exercise their influence to pror iote the re-establishment of good order. They may be assured their services will be well received, and the most efficacious protection will be afforded them, whatever their situation, whether in the army, the church, or the State." (If Marshal Soult means by these pure citizens any partizans of the French Government, they are a dreadful disgrace to their country, to say no more.) " Reflect, Portuguese, on your situation." (It is the best in the world for defending ourselves ' against our enemies.) " And consider well these generous offers, while it is time. But let your submission be prompt and sin cere, if you with to avoid the evils from which I would save you." (And so it is only for our good that you came from Poland to our distant country ! What exalted cha rity—You are a new St. Francis. But the ridiculous • custom which began at the revolution still continues, by which the modern French profess and write the I direct contrary to what they practise.) I " And your country shall be made to shine with a ; new splendour." (No doubt by pausing B e i ra , Alta and Algarve to I produce some new Cameons : less brilliancy will suit Its better.) (Signed) " THE MARSHAL DUKE OF DALMATIA, 66 &CARD, General in Chief of the Staff." FROMTHE DUTCH PAPERS. TROM THE ROYAL COURANT Or Tilt 4Til INSTANT. " Louis Napoleon, by the grace of Gon, and i!. , Constitution of the kingdom, King of Holland a• Constable of France, taking into consideration tit, - the term prescribed by our Decree of the 27th of N vember, 1808, No. 5, expires on the 31st inst. 'l ; t ;, ing further into consideration that it is necessary, die present period, to take further measures, tithe: for the renewal of the aforesaid Decree, the pre-:: ous Decrees, respecting the means of t,,rrying• execution the prohibition of all commerce with t!:. enemy, or of replacing them, in whole or part, b , • other measures calculated to place all matters relativ . , to navigation on a footing of complete uniformit; with the Decree of France and of our Brother ti.,. Emperor ; and notwithstanding the difficulties aricin from the maritime war ; and those which comm suffers for its own interest, being continually anxku to contribute to drat important object, we hale e creed and hereby decree— ART. 1. All commerce, correspondence, and cotnrnunirP....z. with England, remains prohibited according to the purport Of previous Laws, Decrees, and Regulations, and particularly of them as expired on the 31st inst..° far as no alteration is the:.. in made by the present decree. Aar. 2 and S. From the first day of the succeeding month April, the following articles may be exported to and import -3 from friendly or neutral countries in Dutch vessels, or those sailing under the flag of Neutral or Allied Powers. ART. 4. The commodities prepared for exportation shall not be put on board until previous notice has been given thereof to the Marine Director of the Ways and Means, with a particular spe cification of such articles, which cannot be exported but from the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Groningen, Embden, Harlingen, Veere, Zierikzee, Delfzil, and Brouwershaven. ART. 5. In order to the ad nission of any vessels into the bar. hours of this kingdom, they must enter in ballast, or laden wish the products of the North, specified in the 3d Article, with the exception alone of sack vessels as are laden with salt, or those which in the years 1606 or 1807 obtained our licence to proceed to China for a cargo of tea, upon shewing our said authority. ART. 6. No other goods than those mentioned in the 4th Article shall be suffered to be imported under any pretence whatever; all prohibited goods of whatever description, and in whatever quantity imported, and also the vessels on board which they may be found, being hereby declared liable to confiscation. ART. 7. In case of suspicions arising respecting the origin of the cargo, from information received by the Officers of the Marine Director, the same shall be provisionally sequestrated until proof be given that it has not come from England or her colonies. ART. 8. Our Consuls in giving certificates of origin for goods shipped at their ports of residence for Dutch Ports, shall not con fine themselves to certifying that the goods neither come from England nor her colonies, nor belong to English commerce, but tney shall further specify the place from whence the goods origi nally came , the documents produced to them in proof of the re spective declarations, and the names of the vessels in which they were conveyed from the place of. origin to the port where the Consuls reside. They are required to transmit a copy of the said declarations to our Marine Directors. [The other Articles relate to the details of the manner in which the above Articles are to be carried into execution by a Marne Director and three Naval Commanders of the Coast Districts.'— The Decree is dated Utrecht, St st March. The office of a Marir.e 4 - 4inrctor of Ways and Means being newly created and. assigned to a Mem ber of the Council of State, as the labours of the Mi nister of Finance are too numerous, and of too great importance to admit of his exclusively devoting his attention to this department. ' E i VENINU s'l'A 11. LONDON. MONDAY, APRIL 10. PRICE OF STOCK; THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK : Ccnsoh, for money, 681—for April 68f—Omnium 1 pre., Exchequer Bills, 11 s. M. prem. PRICE OF S POCKS ON SATURDAY. Bank Stock 243 Long Ann. 18i 5-16 3 per Cent. Red. 671 i India Bonds, 13s. 16$. preen 7 per Cent. Cons. 67{ 78 Excheq. Bills, 125. 165 pre. 4 per Cent. 82H. Bank Stock for acc. 848 i 5 per Cent. Navy 98fli Consols for acc. 671 68 SPAIN. The ship Fame has arrived at Falmouth from Cadiz. She left the latter place on the 21st ult. at which time CUESTA'S head-quarters were At Mania. nares in La Mancha. The Catalonian army corn manded by Albuquerque had joined CUESTA's ai rr. v at Tarraboaa. Their force is stated at 50,000 in( high health and spirits, and animated with the mc•st fervent ze.,l nd devotion for their country. We hive received other accounts from Spain in Dutch papers which have come to hand. The refusal to at'rn't t' e Bri'ish truups into Cadiz is very naturally made the suSject of ex t - Lion by the enemy. PALAfrOX is II , :t ee Id, as was reported, and it is probable that the French have altered their intentions with respect to him, since we are told, that he is to proceed to Nancy from Bayonne under the escort of a single Officer. These papers say, that the defeat of the corps of REDING by Ge neral ST. CYR is confirmed, and that the latter has advanced to the walls of Valencia. Marshal VICTOR (Duke of Belluno), it is added, was to hstve passed the Tagus on the 16th ult. at or near Almania, to cut off the Insurgents (as they are insultingly callcd) under the command of CLTESTA. Some particular; are mentioned with regard to Gen: al ROMANA, v hich are so manifestly erroneous as not to deserve the least attention, SIR JOHN DUCK WORTH. The VIL: T 7)E. PAMS left CaJiz on the 21st ult. ler the Mediterf.inean. Sir JOHN DUCKWORTH'S squ.t dron had been at Cadiz, before the Fame left that place. He quitted it on the 17th tat. and it was under stood meant to proceed to the West kJ: , s in pnr.lit of the French saps now known t i be at Rochefort. It is extremely probable that Sir JOHN may receive information from some British cruizer, which ni y prevent his pursuing so fruitless a cruize. We km ,v that in the Government Offices hopes are enterta:ned that the gallant Admiral will soon be at Plyniotab. Orders have in consequence been sent to the IClig's pilot at that port, to be on the look out for his ships. PORTUGAL. The Dispatch packet has arrived at Falmouth in 13 days from Lisbon. In the preceding columns A ti • i t Tt at a- n- -v st ,to t -