Star. — London, England, 1807-03-12 00:00:00

q‘-(34r .1-Triff. . . . . IS 1 c -. `k T . , ~ 1., i, • ~.,_-.4,-,., • ..„,...___,-.) ~ .. , . . .1, .. AL, '••••:-...-......., - A : 7 1 " It. l.a. _t• NUM BER 5654 ] THURSDAY, MARCH 12,, 1807. [PRICY MIX. LAST NIGHT BUT TWO. THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. SIR HOME POPHAM': TRIAL. it in fafety in Table Bay) there was little or no pro. bability of my being ahle to take peffeflion of any Blips of the enemy which might put in there, or into any of the bays or harbours of the Cape or parts ad. jacent. .. I mull now reply to the continuation or fequel of the charge, coupled, as it is, in a manner not, as • I conceive, the moll candid, with the preceding parts which I have atifwered, and I hope refuted. This fequel rens thus—. all which he the Paid Sir Home Prpham, did, potwithflanding th it he had received previous infofmation of detachments of the enemies (hips being at fea, and in the neighbourhood of the Cape, and notwithllanding he had been apprifed that a French fquadton was expedel at the Mautitius, of which he informed us by his letter to our Secretary, dated the gth of April, 1806, only four days prior to his departure from the Cape to the Rio de la Plata.' General linker. or repeated by me to Mr. Marfdtr, as pofitive intelligence, but merely as a matter ra conjelture. Every Member of this Honourable Court man be aware that, in the progrefs of a war, a varier,' of rumours obtain circulation refpeCting the mose ments and fuppofed dellination of the hollise nav a % forces, and that, in a difiaut quarter of the globe, fome of thole rumours are wafted in oppofire direo• tions, till the event proves that a report concerning the expected arrival of one frradron, at a particular place, has originated From the circtimilance of that fquadron having.fallen in with a vefiel hound to that place, and conveyed through her fame intelligence calculated to deceive and milked, as to the real ob jelt of its deflination, while this &Ire intelligence has the imaginary effee of dividing, or multiplying this one fquadron into •two detachments, and thus creat ing a double caufe, either of alarm or precaution. 66 This was the cafe in the prefent inllance—the fquadron alluded to by General Anker, was no other than Willaumez's fquadron, which, as Lrightly into , ;tined, would either put into the. Rio do Is Plata, or the Brazils, for water and refrefhmen4s, and then proceed to the Well Indies ; which conjeaure in duced me to dsfpatch a veffel to Admiral Cochrane, on that nation, to enable him to be, prepared again& the enemy's at rival. " I next informed the Admiralty of my then intend ed difpofition of the fquadron under my command, in there terms 66 As this letter is to be conveyed by a foreign Chip, I fhall not enter into any minute detail, but fay it is my intention to proceed off Rio de la Plata in the firti inflance, to fend the Raifonable to her denina. tion by the time fixed ; the Diomede to Rio de Ja neiro, to procure tie for the colony, of whicl► it is in the greaten waft, and return immediately to Falle Bay with the other •!hips; unlefs I fhould hear that Admiral Limit is at St. Catherine's, preparing to cruize for the outward bound (hips ; in which cafe I fhall endeavour to intereeitt him, if it does not infringe on the time of my return to-the Cape, to receive their Lordthips commands in confequence of the difpatches conveyed by l'Efpoir." " The letter concludes as follows : _ _ TO MORROW EVENING, MARCH 13, 1807, will be performed PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR, MARCH 6. THIRD DAY. DIM NOM POPHAM'S DEFENCE, CONTINUED PROM THE STAR OF YESTERDAY.) II Here, Sir, I muff for a moment advert to the inernaions of the ad of Anglin, tElog, ordering me to fend a frigate to cruize on the Ealt Coaft of South America, between Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. From fuch an order, it is certainly poffible to draw this inference, that I had no fpecific duet:lion with relation to the attack of the enemy's fettlements in the Rio de la Plata. This I•have already fully ad mitted. The then Firii Lord of the Admiralty, who, I am well informed, was not in the habit of at tending the confultations of his Majefly's then confi dential fervants, was not acquainted with any thing Which had paired in relation to the expedition to South America, as is evident from the following letter from Lord Barham, in anfwer to one I had written to him from St. Helena, vacationing the in tended attack on the Rio de la Plata : Barhant Court, 9th Auguft, 11306. ' Dear 8ir..1 have received your letter of the 31 it April, from St. Helena, and alto the papers relative to Miranda's Espedition. If the Lt had boo communicated to me before you failed from England, 1 aught have hoped to have been ufeful in promoting it ; but the misfortune of Mr. Pitt's death, and the natural change that has taken place In the adminiftration of public affairs, has. am afraid, rendered all there views abortive. I can fay nothing de cif ite on your prefentexpedition, as it mutt depend on your know ledge on the Rate of India when you took it; but if I had continued in the Adminiftradon, I Ibould have been difpofed to have given ; THE FIRST ACT AF THE CREATION. With the Sand of " On mighty pens," by Mrs. DICKONS. Coaasofed by Jofeph Haydn, M. D. Oxon. with TWO GRAND MISCELLANEOUS ACTS, In which Mr. BRAHAM will introduce, for the firit time, a Nrw Song, called England's King, and England's Glory ;" con:pored by by Mr. I. Afhlsy, of Bath Principal Vocal Performers : Mrs. DICKONS, Mrs. BLAND, Signora GRIGLI ETT, Mr. MIAHAM, Mr. EVANS. Mr. YYNE, lgr. SMITH, Mr. DOYLE, and Mr. BELLAMY. Lcade• of the Band, Mr. ASHLEY. Organ, Mr. J. ASHLEY. The remainder of the Band and Choruffes (which sre numerous and complete) by the molt approved Performers. Doors to be opened at Six o'Clock—begin at Seven. Half Price at Nine. For the accommodation of the Public, the Theatrical Orcheftra will be laid into the Pit. _ FASHIONABLE INSTITUTION, ARGYLE-STREET. 'THE SUBSCRIBERS are requelled to take notice, that the MORNING READING ROOMS will open on Monday the 16th inftant, and that the Office, where pro fpeetufcs may be had, is open front two till five, for the delivery s Tickets. J. BOYLE, Sec EAST INDIA HOUSE, March it, 0.07. THE COURT of DIRECTORS of the UNITED COMPANY of MF. RC HANTS of ENGLAND tra&ig to the EAST INDIES, Ico b,re6y give Notice, That at the Qiartcrly General Court appointed to be held on the 25th inft. a motion will he made that Mr. Edward Ephraim Pote, late of the liengal Civil , Eftablithment, he permitted to return with his rank to India. WILLIAM Rii.MSAT, Sec. full credit to your lotintions, Public affairs ire in a Bate of an. certainty—negnelations are on foot, and Lorl Lauderdale fent over to Paris. The country is fanguine, and I hope with reafnn ; but Mr. Foes !late of health mutt be a weight in the nppellte fcale.—lt is (aid that Sir David Baird, as well as yourfelf, will be recalled ; I trait, howevcr, - that.yoa will fuccred in your attempt before that day happens( I fincerety with you fucc.fs. I have not (cen your difpatches to the Admiratty Board, having no acquain tance with the Flat Lord.--I am, however, with much esteem, your's, BARHAM EAST-INDIA HOUSE, Mink t 1807. THE COURT or DIRAC - 10AS of the UNITID COMPANY of MERCHANTS of ENGLAND tradiag, to the LAST INDIES, do hereby give Notice, That at the Quarterly General Court appointed to he held on the 25th infant, the following Rcfolutions of the Court of Di redlors, will be reported to the General Court, agreeably to the Aa of the 39 Ceo. 3. Cap. 89, viz. Refolution of the 30th July, 18:16. fully acquitting the Com• :slander and Owners of the Lady Burges, from all imputation of negled, or inikondud in refped to. the lois of that Ihip Refolution of the 7th January, 1807, fully acquitting the Com. wander and Owners of the Warren Hollings. from all imputation of negled or mikondud in refpedt to the lots of that flip. Refolution of this day fully acquitting the Commander and Owners of the flip Earl of Abergavcnny, from all imputation of negled or mircondlllt in raped to the lots of that fhip. WILLIAM RAMSAY, Secretary. ' P. S. We have been very fuceeftful in the difpaition of our (quadrate as far down as the capture of Unties by Sir J. B. Warren.' 44 It is here obvious, as I have (laud, that I had no communication whatever with Lord Bat ham upon the fubjea of South America ; and alth -ugh I knew that La Plata w If a part of the Cape Ila , ion !ail war, as well as the Mauritius, yet I doubted whether the tail place would be confidered fo this war; anil upon writing a letter to Mr. Barrow on the fubjeel, I re• ceived the letter of the ad of Augun, which has been read in evidence on the part of the profecution, accompanied by a private letter of the fame date, Rating, that he had not been able to get a bomb allowed, but had fent the abovementioned order, for a frigate to the coati of South America ; but that it did not appear to be need . ..try to look out to the cafl ward, as little was to be apprehended from that quarter ; and he added, 4 that it would only create a jealouly in the Commander; of the Indian fear, whole commands extend at prefent to the Mau dam ORDNANCE OFFICE, March 4, .8,7. T HE PRINCIP"SI. OFFh:ERS of Hit Najdly's ORDNANCE do hereby:kg Notice, That Propofals will he received at their Office in Pall Mall, on or before Monday. the aid inftant, from fueh Perfoos as may be willing to undertake the Supply of FORAGE for the ORD. NANCE HORSES tlationedin the following Darla.% viz. NORTH BRI FAIN. NORTHERN. YORKSHIRE. EASTERN, erchifive of Warley. SOUTHERN, exclulive of Chatham. SOUTH wi , sr, including Portfinoutb, lIIe of Wight. and Chriftchurch. WESTERN. WOOLWICH, with its Dependencies, Watley and Madams. LIVERPOOL. For a period of fix Months, from the tit of April ner., the Forage to be furnithed in Rations, wattling of nibs. of OXI'S, at eolbs.per Babel Islbs. of UPLAND MEADOW HAY, and Sibs. of WHEAT or RYE STRAW. MA to be delivered at the refpettive Stations. at the eapence of the Contradlor, who is ago to humid% fuck Horfes with Oats at Flbs. per Ration, as may be billeted in the Dittrid for which he contrads. The Prnpnfals may be delivered feparately oi jointly far each Station, and it is expede.l that the Contractor than receive the Stable Dung that may from time to time accumulate, making au allowance for the fame. Further Particulars may he known upon application to the Officers commanding the Royal Artillery in each Dittridt ; and alto at the Secretary's Office in Pall Mall aforefaid, any day be tween the Hours of l'en and Four o'Clock, where the Propofals are to be delivered reeled up, and indorfed " Propofala for the fupply of Forage ;" but no Propofal can be admitted after the ftid 23d inltant, at twelve o'clock at noon of the fame day ; nor will any Tender he noticed unlefs the party making it, or an agent in his behalf, (ball attend. By Order of the Board, R. H. CREW, Secretary. A CATALOGUE of a LARGE and VALUABLE COLLEC TION of BOOKS for the YEAR 1807. This day wa• pubtithed, CUTHELL and MARTIN's CATALOGUE of an extenfive and ufcful Collcetion of Books in ♦arious Languages, and Chafes of Literature; uil fak for ready money, in Mtiddle•ruw, Holborn, where Catalogues may be had, price two GOVERNMENT STATE LOTTERY, Begisls Drawing iith APRIL, 18'37- I)ICHARDSON, GOOD LUC K, and Co. refpeft fully acquaint the Public, that the New State Lottery TICKETS and SHARES, arc now on Sale, in variety of Num bers, at their Licenfed Lottery Offices. corner of Bank Buildings, Cornhill, and facing the Gate of the King's Mews, Charing Crofs. SCHEME CONTAINS 4 Prizes of 420.c00 I 4 Prizes of Ls 000 4 10,000 10 1,000 to Prizes of 5001. &c. &c. &C. G OVERNMENT STATE LOTTERY, to twgin Drawing rah APRIL. SCHEME. 4 Prim of 420,000 are 480,000 4 10,000 an. 40400 4 P 3,000 20,000 TO lam 1,000 - 10,000 10 - 500 3,000 30 am 100 3,000 40 am 50 am. 2,000 3,000 am SO am 601000 woo Firft drawn Tickets is each 11,•• 30,000 £ sp o t= CAPITALS DETERIVII NA ME. 25, - mo Tickets. Fist-drawn Tact, tit Day, - £20,000 Ditto sd Day, . 20,000 Ditto 3.1 Day, - 20,000 Ditto 4th Day, - 20,000 Ditto ..... ,nth Day, - 10,003 Ditto 6th Day, . 10,003 ricxErs and SHARES are on Sale at every Lieenfed Lot tery Mee. PRESENT PRICE. Ticket - £t9 16s. Half . 10 3O I Eighth - 42 ti 0 Quarter - 5 3 o Sixteenth - a 6 6 The above Scheme will point out the neccffity of an early pur dial:,' as Four Prizt. of 2-;,0001. eacb , will be lure to be drawn in Th. fi at ;our Day,, exOulive of other Capital Prizes. 0 - 1 It is publicly known, and officially to fome of the Members of this Court, that during the late war our cruizers were conftantly either off the mouth of the river, or abfolutely cruizing off Monte Video ; one of the very (hips indeed (the Diomede) which had cruized there, was now one of my fquadron ; and independent of every other confideration, I note only had the opinion of that refpeetable officer, Cap tain Rowley, who was on the Cape nation' laft war, that the Rio de la Plata was confidered as a part of that Ration ; but it was alfo the unanimous. *pinion of every officer under my comthand, fome of whom, if neceffary, will; 1 have no doubt, give their teili mony to this drat. I beg it, however, to be under (food, that thefe opinions were expreffed long before our arrival at the Cape. 46 I have entered at fome length on this fiihjeCt, be caufe an impretlion has been circulated with c ontide. rabie indultry, that I had no authority whatever to go to the Rio de la Plata, but it mu( be evident by the letter of the ad of May, that the Admiralty con lidered that river as an enemy's port which ought to be conitantly watched by fome of the cruizers under the orders of the Senior Naval Officer at the Cape, and confequently within the limits of his command. Nay, if it were -,poffible that it could be contended, that becaufe the order direeted the fending a ft igate, [had no right to carry there my whole fquadron, I lhould anfwer, that the object of fending a frigate would be nugatory, unlefs it was allowed to act on the intelligence (he might bring. For I would a(k, whether if a cruizer had brought an account that two of the enemy's line of battle (hips had entered the river, totally difmatled, but that they were moored off Monte Video, and every exertion was making to get them refitted for fea, I (hould not have been juttified in fending a force from the Cape to at tack them without a moment's lot's of time." After chewing, from the opinion of Sir David Baird, that the Cape was in a fufficient Rate of de fence, Sir Home went on to anfwer other parts of the charge on this point. I have already, I truß, repelled that part of the charge which accufes me of having 4 left the Cape not only cxpnfed to attack and infult, but even with out the me ins of affording proteEtion to the trade of his Majelly's fubjeas, or of taking poffeffion of any Blips of the enemy, which might have put into F f any of the bays or harbour& of the Cape, or parts adjacent' 6 ' ( have explained to the Court, that the Infos at the comacatemeat of which I left the Cape, was , 'ailverfe to the attack of an enemy en that fettlement, which, as I before obferved, was a reafon affi geed by Commodore Johnaone and General Meadows far not venturing on fuck a meafure, and that oar that ac• count elk) no Wile operations were to be appre. headed in that quarter at the timellof nay-departure for the Rio dc la Plata. 4 8 I have (hewn too, that I took the 010 a alive and effeaual meafures of precaution to affurd pro teilion to the trade of his Majelly% fubjeBs in every quarter, and that even bad I remained with my fquadron in Simon's Bay (for I raid not have kept " I have called the manner in which this fequel of the charge is concluded, uncandid, for it conveys to 'the mind, that I left the Cape at the very moment - when detachments of the enemy's {hips were (vetted there, of whole arrival in the neighbourhood of the Cape I had received previous intimation. That this is not a fair or candid interpretation will be manifel, when it (hall be feen by the perufal of the whole of my letter of the 9th of April to Mr. Madden, and by an examination into the particulars of the infor mation afferted or implied to have been thus given by me to the Admiralty, refpating detachments of the enemy's !hips, that my txpreflions in one part of the faid letter completely explain, thofe previoufly ufed either in another paragraph of that letter, or any prior intelligence given by me refpefting the ene• my's !hips in other letters, and that I had in my communications to the Admiralty fairly difpofed of Willaumez's fquadron, which in fad was the French fquadron laid to have been expected at the Mauri tius. " What, Sir, can be more uncandid than thus to allude to part of a letter, and by not adverting to fome other part of the laid letter, make it appear that the writer (and that writer the commanding officer of a Briar fqnadron in a diftant quarter) (lands as it were, before his judge, fell convidled of improper condo' by his own official communications? My refried) to the Court, and the controul which I have endeavoured to imprefs upon my feelings and my language, prevent me from giving way to the fenfa• tions which naturally arife in my break while I am commenting on filch a proceeding. Juftly as I have a right to complain of it, 1 (hall content myfclf with pointing it out to the notice of the Court, and with proving to the convidlion of all the honourable Mem bers of which it is computed, that there is no jolt ground for the interpretation which is attempted to be impreffed upon their minds, that I not only knew of the expeEted arrival of detachments of the enemy's (hips at the time when i left the Cape with my fqua dron ; but had nryfelf adlually given to the S-cretary of the Admiralty information to that effeli. A perufal of the leiter in queflion, with a few remarks upon it, will be faticient wholly to do away the imputation to which I have jolt alluded: " Diadem, Table Bay, 9th April, 18c6. " s the feafini is now very far advanced for lying in this Bay, and the weather particularly unfettled for the time of the year, I propofe quitting it with the fquadron immediately, more efpecially as from r:..e length of time that has elapfed fume we I heard of Admir. I Willaumcz's fleet, It is very improbable, and inconfiftent with the fituation he was in, that he thould conic here at 'reran " 44 nits, Sir, in the 'very first paragraph of this letter, fo far from my laying that I had received previous information of detachments of the enemy's ! (hips being at fro, and in the neighbourhood of the Cape ; I begin by liating, that as the feafon is very far advanced for lying in this (Table) Bay, and the weather particularlyunfettled for the time of the year, I propofe quitting it with the fquadron immediately, Aping as an additional reafon for my departute, that, from the length of time that has elapfed fince we heard of Admiral Willaumez's fleet, it is very improbable, confiftzne with the fituation he was in, that he thould come here at prefent. " I then proceed to remark that, To determine his pofition at this moment would be impoffible, and it would be almoil equally difficult to decide on the belt mode of applying the exertions of the fquadron, the enfuing two months, to the greateft advantage.' " From the foregoing paragraph, it is, I think pretty clear, that I was under no apprehenfion from the arrival of a hoflile force at the Cape ; or, in any of the adjacent bays or harbours. " My next paragraph in the faid letter is, that 4 The intelligence we received by La Volontaire, and which has already been tranfmitted to you (that is to Mr. Marfden,) for their Lordthips' information, appears materially to incline to the fuppnfition that the Weft Indies is the deflination of Admiral Wil laitmez's fleet; but (the Court will be pleated, I hope, to give the next paragraph their particular at tention, while I obferve, that this is the part on which this unfounded interpretation of the letter revs,) General Aoker, the late Governor of Tranquebar, who is juft arrived here on his way to Europe, in formed me in the cootie of converfation, that a French fquadron was expelled at the Mauritius, but that it was impoffible for that ifland to tupply any sour to it, without looking to Rio de la Plata, or the coati of Brazils for a lupply ; on which confi deration I think of employing the fqu.sdron in cruiz ing a {hot t time off that coati, inflead of remaining idle, will be a difpolition fraught with fome advan- Cage, and which, I hope, will appear fo evident to their Lordfhips, as to induce them to approve of the Meafti r e." " Here, Sir, I have Hated my reafons for fuppofing that the ulterior denination of Admiral Willaumez's ' fquadron was the Weil Indies ; and in the fame para graph of my letter, I add what was mentioned to me by General Aniscr, the late Governor of Tranquebar, in the courfe of general cnnverfarion, refpetting a French fq.r.idron expeeited at the Mauritius. But it is to be remarked, that this Wii oot given to we by " When I have the op;rortunity of a fafe con veyance to write more fully to their Lordfltips—l hope the additiona l l reafons, I 1110 then give, will be fufficient to fatisfy their Lordfltipt of the expedi ency of the meafures which I am now about to adopt." 4. Having thus brought the whole or th is letter of 9th of April, sBo6, before the Court, fubmit to their confideration whether, on a candid and difpaf fionate review of its contents ; I am not borne out in afferting that no paffage in it can be fairly and juftly confrued, fo as to imply, that I apprehended or expeeted the arrival of a French fquadron at the Cape, about the period of my departure from that fetilement on the expedition to the Rio de la Plata, and my intended departure to that River before any communication had taken place with General Baird as to troops, and before therefore I could contem plate the expedition to Buenos Ayres, is proof of the interpre-ation I put upon the intelligence I had received, namely, that no hoffile tquadron could be then expeBed at the Cape, but it there was any truth in the intelligence, that I was more likely to meet any French fquadron in the Rio de la Plata than at the Cape. • u As to the circumftances of my leaving the Cape only four days after I had written to Mr. Madden this letter of the 9th of April, my reafons for fn cluing are fully detailed in the official letter which I addrefled to him as Secretary to the Board of Admi ralty, on the 13 , 1 April, which has been'read to the Court, as part of the charge, and which I now re quell to be confidered as again read. Thde reafons are fill more enlarged upon in a letter I addreffed to the Admiralty from St. Helena, under the date of the 3oth April, to which the letter of that date, read on the part of the Profecution, is only at: addenda, and therefore I mutt now defire to have the material letter read in this place. rr The Court is thus in poffelfion ofthe reafons which I save to the Admiralty for having come to a deter mination to proceed as I did, to the Rio de la Plata, on the r3th of April, 1806, and from the validity of thofe reafons, added to the explanation into which I have entered, by my letter of the 9th of April, referred to in the charge, I fhould hope that I have fully and clearly vindicated myfeif from this part of it, and repelled the infinuation intended to be con veyed by the manner in which my faid letter of the 9th April is therein mentioned. u If 1 am Aced why I was fo anxious to leave the Cape in filch apparent hark, as not to wait for the ar. rival of the men of war expeCted from England ? my anfwer is, that I was apprehenfive that any delay in my departure, added to the probable length of the paffage to the ealt coafk of South America, might defeat the objet of the expedition, by retarding m) arrival in the Rio de la Plata until that feafon which, from the information I was poffeffed of refpeCting the navigation of this river, might render it itnpotfible to afcend it high enough to attack either of the fettle ments of Monte Video or Buenos Ayres. " I am now defkrous of calling the attention of the Court to the manner in which the Secretary of the Admiralty replied to my letter of the 9th of April, wherein I apprized that Board of my intended depar ture for the Rio de la. Plata. This letter is in the following terms : • I hav: received, and communi cated to my Lords Commit Loners of the Admiralty your letter of the 9th of April •lak informing them of your intended proceedings with the fquadron un der your orders.' Have I not then, Sir, a jolt right to fuppofe that the Admiralty Board did not difap pr we of my4having failed with the fquadron from the Cape, for certainly it is rational to inter, that the quitting the Cape would have fubjeeted roc t,o a charge of mifconduet, whenhthe letter ackn‘whiclging the communication of my letter, was exaElly tirtular to that which related to the capture of the Cape To the letter of the 13th no anfwer appears to hare