Star. — London, England, 1807-12-24 00:00:00

COMMERCE IYI7 H INDIA TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. git —I will thank you to infect the following re marks, which have been fuggetled by reading in your paper the account of an inland communication with India—a projeel that, by the concurrent tali mony of both French and Ruff' n uports, teems to occupy at prefent the enterprifing fpirit of Bonaparte. The writer of animadverfions on this head, pub based in your paper of the 14 h, appears to compare the difficulties attending an inland trade to India, with the canal-tit - tint' of the tower of Babel—yet he himfelf mentions one way by which this objeEt was formerly effeeted ; and there is air) another way taken notice of in Guthrie's Travels in the Taurida, lately publithed, both of which were padded by the ancients, and teminated in the Euxine Sea. It is an old remark, that what has been done once may be done again ; and Bonaparte, it mull be acknow ledged, is wore likely to accomplifh what other men have nut dared to attempt, than to fail in following the footsteps of preceding adventurers. This ancient traffic mull have been attended with great uncertainty and danger, by being carried on through barbarous nations, little difpofed to treat traders with refpe3; but Bonaparte, on the contrary, is both feared and refpeEted in thole countries. He has fucceeded in bringing Ruflia and Pet fia under his influence and alliance, and thereby accomplithed the molt difficult part of his enterprize, as thefc two eztenfive empir es c.rnmand all the country between India and the Euzine Sea, of which the Turks will be glad to guard the entrance for him, left he fhould avail himfelf of the command of the important pals at Cattaro, and advance into their country, to take the trouble off their hands. It is raid in the fame remarks, that " the paffage by the Cafpian Sea, at well as that by Suez, have long been favourite objefts with Bonaparte, and con fiituted one of the principal incentives to the treaty of Tilfit." What foundation there may be for this laft fuppoli , ion, I know not ; but it is perfeetly noto rious that Napoleon has long envied us the wealth of India, and I fear we have not been frifficiently guar ded againtl his views. It was certainly bad policy in us to permit any offence to be given to Perfia on the fide of India, as well as to fail in our promifed fupport of Ituffia, when contending with the whole force of France'. We ought to have contliered that thefe (fates join Hindoftan along a vaft extent of tem perate region, exempt from the calamities which ren• der a patTage acrofs the burning lands of Egypt Co very difficult. We might have had the merit of conti iating Ruffia and Perfia together, which Bonaparte has now acquired, and perhaps has rendered himfelf guarantee for the fecurity of the latter, who fought his protection, not only againft RufEa, then our ally, and who attacked her on the North, but againft us alfo, who gave her trouble un her Southern frontier. In fhort, we might have done what B:oaparte has done, by which means we (hould have guarded the weak fide of India, which now lies open to him. That his intention is the dearuaion of our com• merce, no man can doubt : already he has cut off every fource of trade that fl ,wed hither from the Continent ; and if lie thould divert into another channel the rich (beam of Indian commerce, we (tall referrable a blockaded city, whole ((applies are cut off one after the other. But furely in this war againft our refources, there can be but one opinion refpeeting the bell means of defence. We mutt hut. band thefe refources by all practicable means, and particularly by a fair and :pill regulation of the public expenditure. This, in fad, is as neceffary a part of our defence, as a Aria dillribution of provificns would be in a fortrefs threatened to be taken by fa mine. If in fuch a fortrefs the public fibres were lavi(hly expended by lame, whila others felt all the hardfhips of the liege, could it be expe.fled that una nimity and order would pervade the garrifon, and would not the very knowledge of fuch evils being ist exillence encourage the hopes of the enemy It is much to be wafhed that tke many antis and unfrequented coatis of the Indian Ocean may afford us the refources which the remarks ab )ve alluded to fuppufe ; but, however patriotic and praifeworthy it - may be to ilimulate the public attention towatda this objedl, is is to be feared that it cannot (as imagined) afford occupation for all the velfels now excluded from the Continent ; although all might, by means of copper Iheathing, be adapted to that navigation. It is well known that this is the only effettual ;steler vative againfi the great nui[•ance of Indian naviga tion, the (cited° navalis, called all by naturalifis affligium navium, finm its being ahle, in a (hurt time, to perforate a fhip't bottom like a Cleve. But copper, though produced here at prefeit in abundance, is much dearer than in any other part of Europe, or indeed of the world, u; lets it be the EaR This is the effect of an chi Ad of Parliament, which was vet y fal..tary when it was made, hut has lince become a nuifance to navigation. This Aet prohi • Theugh we give this communication in the Author'' , own word', we cannot agree with him in this part of his itatement..-. DOCUllielltil 110 W he'ore the public. and which cannot k contra• ruled, prove that it was an tz:lef. itipulstion of RAI bead( tillt this country was pet to furvilit men for the operation• in the North : we were to co-operate by a dive' bins to tavour of the common cede. Put if this was not to be in the North, where rife c•:utd it be. but wie•re t 7 is country did co overate, viz. iq the South/ What t irrnil.ottr arms into Italy—into tiialyv-to the Dar.lancilea—to 1-g yrt-v-but tau &Oily to Ridisa %sited the importation of foreign clpper, the better to encourage and enable our own miners to fupply the country. Since then, however, new mitres have been difcovered, and the produce eonfiderably exceeds the confumption—but the price, inflead of falling, is in. creafed ; fur as there can be no competition, the fel lers, who are very few, fupply the home market at their own price, and (hip the remainder to America, where the price is on a par ts ith imports from other countries,. Thus the Bsitiih navigator pays about double the price for this article that any other European fhip owner does, and even the Americans can [heath with Btitifh copper cheaper than we ourfelves can, and do a&ually outfell our EAR India Company in our own article in India. This might be remedied by a duty on copper exported, and a bounty on ihips fheathed at home, regulated in as to make the one pay for the other, and which would rather encourage than other• wife the working of our mines, as it would increafe the fele of that portion fold at home prices ; and fo reigners would pay the encouragement given to Eli: tifb navigation, which in fa& would be improved in more ways than one, becaufe the fame fbeatting that protells Tails from defiration by the worm, gives fuperior expedition and fecurity, by which long voy ages are fhortened, and very valuable property often efcapes captum I am, Mr. Editor, your's, &c. M. P. C. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Coactls, for Jan. 641—Reduced 62/ 63-omniuni prem. Exchequer Bills par. to is pre. PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY. Brnk Stock 22.41 Imp. 3 per Cent. 6211 3 per Cent. Red 63 6z 63 621 I Excheq. Bills, as. pr is. dif. par 4 per Cent. 84 Omnium i ; prem. Long Ann. s 7 23-t6thsi I City L.ttery Tickets 71. 145. India Bonds, is diG Conf. for on. 641 i The authenticity of the account received from Gi braltsr, and dated in all the letters from that garrifon, of an infurreelion at Madrid,in which 3000 Spaniards hid been killed by the French foldiers, is very ninth doubted by the Spanifh !mules in the city. Letters from Madrid of the ;oth ult. do not allude, in the flighted manner, to fuch an event, which they could hardly have failed to mention had it occurred at the time mentioned, viz. the tzth nit. One of thefe letters, however, gives reafon to eve& Come terrible cataflrophe in that quarter. The writer far, "The bonnets of the NUMB of As r ultras recurs quite over; but Come terrible intrigue is dill going on, which it it apprehended will terminate fatally for Come people." We yeiterday announced the arrival of Admiral MURRAY'S fquadron at Cork on the 16th ioR. from Monte Video. The tranfports amounted to upwards of thirty fail, and had on board the sch, 36th, 38th, 45th, and 47th Regiments of Foot, the 17th Light Dragoons, and Coate detachments of Artillery.— Fourteen fail of tranfports, bad tilers, were left to make their patTage as well as they were able, under the convoy of a frigate. The fleet encountered very tempeßuous weather from the time they left Monte Video till they made the 16111 coati, notwithftanding which the troops are all in high health and fpirits. The 87th Regiment had been recruited to *zoo man, vo lunteers from the different regiments, and is gone to India. Not lets than 1,500,000 dollars are on board the (hips of war, on account of the merchants, and about zo veffels betides ate in the fleet, laden with hikes and tallow. General 134RESFORD'S Aid de Camp, Captain PLENDIRLIATH, has arrived at Cork, to take his pairage to Madeira in the VIRGIN is frigate; a cir cumliance which feems to confirm a report, that the force embarked in Sir Sexual. Hooo's fquadroa is tleftined for that Wand. WEST INDIES. The Windfor Cagle packet, which brought over the Leeward Ifland Mail received yefterday, left 'rouble on the Bth ult. Admiral Cocu tee s was at that ifland, waiting for the arrival of a Britith fort-. from Barbadoes, under General Bowysa, for the purpofe of attacking the Danith Wands. A part of the Admiral's fquadron had been employed in cloCely invefaing the Wands of Santa Cruz and St. Thomas. The fquadton confliled of the following (hips Guns 8o Cygnet BeHeine Alexander - 7 Eicurcus Circt Ctins • z 8 16 There iflands, it was thought, would not fall with• out cuntitlerable refitlance. When the Mail fat out, the Well India fleet had nut failed ; it, was colletling at Tortola fur that purpofe. Private letters from Dominica, dated the beginning 'of Cgiober, !late that an infuriation had broken out in the French Ifland of Martinique, which had excited the grellteti . alarm. By great exertion, however, the ringleaders were 2 . nprehended and immediately put to death ; and at the date of the Utak letters there were appearances of returning fobordination. Pro.. vitions of all defcriptions had become very fcarce there ; bcef was at four joe per barrel, and fins at the enormous price of from 14 to 15 dollars per cwt. The Ptincefs Amelia Packet, with mails from Falmouth, and Thais fire(hip,' from PlymoUth, had auived at Barbadocs. 'The TOrtola pair, from the Leeward Muds, loins intelligence of about a dozen privateers having been captured by the crui zers under Atim:ral Coe Ha* N 11 9 $ command. The Auguß packet was, we nada fland, Liken by a privateer. By letters from the Well Iniies, received vela day, we learn that the troops in the iflands of Grenada and Antigua, have otders to hold them (elves in readinefs for embarkation on a fecretexpedi lion, fuppofed to be againft the Danifls The letters ate dated the 28th Oelober lift. Yefterday, about twelve o'clock, his MApISTY ar rived at the Qseen's 1 1 .414ce, from Windfor, where he was received by the Dukes of Yoaa, KENT. and Cv St- BERLAND ; his MAJIISTY looked remarkably well. At two o'clock his Majasry held a private levee, which was attended by The Archbifhop of Canterbury, the BUhop of Carlifie, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Prefidelic of the Council, the Firft Lurd of the Treafury, the three Secretarbs of State, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Firft Lord of the Admiralty, the Duke of Moo frac, Vifcount Strangford, Lords Forbes, Ileatlitield (gold aids), Willoughby de Broke (in waiting), Sirs Admiral R. Curtis, A. Paget, G. Olbotoe (Groom in waiting), Admiral Dinner, Captains Yen and Watfon, and Meals. Ryder, Thornton and Fawkttier. The following had the honour of bring prefented to his MAJESTY Sir AR TUUR PAnrr, upon his ratan from his million to Turkey. Captain Yao, by Lord MULGRA VZ, upon his return to England, with difpatches from Sir SiuNey Surro, off Portugal; alto upon bcing promoted to the ia.sk of Putt Captain. The Rev. Dr. GOODKNJUG H. The De4ll of CANTKSBUILY, upon his being appointed to the Bilopric of Carlin-. Captain WATSON. of his Majeftra fhip the li.flexible, upon his return from Copenhagen._ . - EDWARD Ttioa N TON, Elq. upon hip beirg appointed Hs Majef. ty's Envoy Datraordinary and Miniiler plepipoteutlary to the Court Of Sweden, by Mr. CANNING. His hxcellettcy took leave of his IVf Ala STT previous to Lis departure for Sy.,cieu. Lord Fuaaas, - upoo his befog apisoitated to the command of the 3d gull - lion Battalion. Vikount STIIANGFOILD, by Mr. CANNING, upon his return from his Embaffy at Portugal. Sir Rooms CURTIS and Admiral Dosser laid Wore his MA. essry another voluminous Report of the Commilßoners of the Naval Inquiry. His MAJESTY held a Privy Council, and gave audiences to The Duke of Portland—Earl Camden—Lords Hawkribury. Caßl4:reagh. and Mulgravc—Vikount Straogford—Sir Arthur PagetNleffrs. Canning, Perceval, and Ryder. The latter, as Judge Advocate General, laid before his Majefly, for the first time fi nce his appointment to that office, the proceedings of feveral Courts Martial. The Court did not break up till about half pall fix o'clock, when his MAJESTY fet off on his return to Windfor, efcorted by a party of Light Hark. The footmen and grooms attending his MAJESTY were provided with flimbeanx. The Duke of Mow raosn attended his MAJESTY, as Mailer of thq Horfe, yeflerday, for the brit time for upwards of three months, having been detained in Scotland, in confequence of his accident in being thrown from his horfe. His Grace left his feat at Buchanan, Stirlingthire, on the 7th. Difpatches, dated the 18th initant, were received yefierday at the Admiralty from Lord GARDNER, off Wham. His fleet continued all well. • The enemy had made no movement. Lift of the Members who are to form the Court Martial to try Lieutenant General WHITTLOCIER: General Sir B t MEADOWS, rrtadalt. Generals °ASTI' Lt. 00141'4 HARRIS NORTON FARIUNGTON LAIC! MiNNIIIIS CLANRICKAROR LOSTIIS WELRORD °ousts OAR Li-Generals Fox STARKLY Sir J. Dort Sir C. Roas. The 4th Battalion of the Royals, under the com mand of that zealous Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Hay, after tending 200 men to their ad Battalion and 250 to their 3d, will be upwards of moo firong ; fo great were the exertions of the Officers of this carps during the volunteering from the Militias, and fo high was their' charaiter with there regiments. They are now in Edinburgh Cattle, and will be fit for any fervice in the enfuing fpring. During the late and prefent wars, we have often had occafton to notice the utility of Light Troops ; the very great advantage they would be of in defen ding an interfaced country, like Great Britain ; and how much they are now employed by our aaive and enterprifing enemy. Experiments are making in Guernfey, under the direction of thole experienced Officers, Lieutenant General Sir Jona DoxLa and Brigadier General Faas BR, with rnufkets, improved as we underhand by a very tlmple procefs, but which appears already to have fo far fucceeded, as to have doubled the effect of the common muficet, when firing at the rams target. This improvement is Paid to be adapted to every kind of muilset firing, but is parti cylatly expated to increafe the effeet of fire from fharpfhooters and light troops of all defcriptions. An American vellel arrived yelterday from Ant werp, which the left on the isth Before this fhip failed, an order cf a very extraordinary nature had arrived from Paris, by which exportation of every kind was prohibited. The fame order, it was fuppofed, would be extended to all the ports under the con:ruul cf Vrance • but the motive of it, if it :tally cliff, we are at alofs to conjeeure. The following is a copy of the 'nitrations which have been ailed in favour of the Ruf f ian merchants, trading to this country : Oar will and pleafure is—That all veal' and their cargoes coming lions a port of Ruffia dired to a port of our Wilted King• dom, which have already failed or mall fail before the tit day of next January, gull not be interrupted by our cruizyrs, to wham• foeircr fuck veffels and their cargoes may belong: and, in cafe any veffel fo carping [hall be detained and brought in, foci veffel with her cargo mall be forthwith liberated, upon giving bail to anfwer adjudication ; and ilia be finally reltored upon proof that the vef fel was coming with the goods for importation into the United Kingdom; and the Matter Chan be permitted to recaive his freight, and to proceed with his vcffcl and crew to any port (not blocka ded) of the country to which the veffel' belongs." Letters received from Biddeford, fate the melan choly elfeas of the fevere form on the 7th intl. off that harbnur ; three (loops and two brigs which failed from that port on the morning of the 7th, were, melanchOly to relate, on the morning of the B.h on the (bore on the bar, petfeel wrecks, and the crews petalled. On board one brig was the Hon. and Rev. HAY DRURISIOND (who had left his Lady and family at Biddeford, confilling of three children), and was going to Greets , ch. His port folio with letters, and 360 drawings of the vati')us places he had vrfited, was walhcd on fhore, but none of the bodies were oundls , hal the above letters left Biddeford. N-IUT.T.II, INTELLIGENCE. FALMOUTH, DEC. 21. Arrived the CHI Liu!. y gun brig with difpattl.e. from the Mediterranean. Sailed the Manchefler packet, Captain Devic, rnai!:: for Barbal es and J irmtica ; and the C:I EE itrur. cutter on a cruicc . Wind N. E. POP. I'SNTOI7 DE:',EMBER 23. The India fleet failed yellerday. Not Ling arrived or this day. The fleet fur the Mediterranean ine expra:d to fail on Fiiday the wind is fair.—Wind N. DEAL, DECIINMER 33. Sailed his M.,ieit)% (hips B.'.NTLikkR, for Port!: ) mouth, and the OS peer, on a cruise; alit, the Fanny privateer, to the ve!lward. Arrived the BLAZER• gun brig, from a cruize, and remaii.a in the DAVIN with the red of Ihips oti per 1411. Wind W.S.W. SI - ILERNLSS, DEC. s 3. The following Sv.-cdith !hips have received convoy infiruetions from his Majdly's (hips KITE and FAL* CON, to proceed to Gottenburgil, but the foggy weather which has continued f the two or three lad days, has prevented their failing. Albertlna Margaretha, Snaciedru, with fait and fugar. • Frederica, Neilfon, with Pals. Enigheten, Johnfon, with ditto. Atlas, Heldt, with ditto. Flora, Lindberg, with ditto. Indultry, Fagots, with ditto. Gultave Adolphe, DalUtrom, with ditto. Preheat, Bartward, iu ballalt. Arrived a large Prpflian (hip, with mails fir Cha. tham yard, and failed immediately ; all', the Eli zabeth, Gunatc, to take in !alt and HI at this port from the Danifh ptizesond proceed wi:h it to Got tenburgh. Every exerrlbn is making here to fit out the (Lips; the (mall veffels Item to have a preference. There are between 70 and 8o fail of pendants here and at Chatham, of which there never was an inftance before. The Mariner gun brig is come down horn Chatham. The Goliah will go out of harbour in a day or two ; and fo great has the exertion of Capt. SKaati and his Officers bee;, that the Guerrier fri gate is expelled from Chatham in a few days, altho' fo very recently commillioned. The Inflexible is to be paid off, being very deft Live. GREENOCR, DECEMBER u. The Minerva, from Oporto, one of the laft fleet, is between this and 04 Cloch Light-hoof!. Three brigs, and fome floops, have come to at the Tail of the Bank, names unknown. ABERDEEN, DECEMBER i 9. By a letter from Mr. WILLIAM STEVEN, filipbuilder in thi. place, to his father, received on Sunday lan, dated en board the Gleneur privateer. of Dunkirk, the 26th of November, it appears, tits Margarets, BLacaar mailer, a fchooner belonging to this place, was unfortunately captured on the 24tti of that month, off Flamborongh Head. The make was kept oa hoard to condemn her, and (he was or dered for the Tex!. The Margarets was laden with (hip timber, from Selby in the Humber for Aberdeen. Mr. STEVEN (tares, that he was well ufed on board the privateer. We arc happy to add, that the priva teer has been finca taken by the Scorpion (loop of war. HULL, DECEMBER 20. In confequeace of notice of the Ruffian embargo being given by Sir S. SHARPS, every &ilia veffcl left Cronftadt. The Elbe, gale ; &trey, Dryden ; Apollo, Gourley ; and Mary. Woods, all of this port, were the lag to depart. The Elbe and Betfey had got bclOw 'the guard Grp, and die Apollo below the Mole, when a cutter was difpatched after; theM;and carried them back. The Mary was feized in the Mole. The Apollo having on board the fraggage of our Ambafrador r , was afterward; liberated, and allowed to proceed. The cargo of the Arno, ( which was rugered to depart from Cronttadt, after the embargo, with the baggage of Lord Lay ssoa Gown) was taken out by order of the Killian Government, before the was given up. The Berwick packet, jamiefon, with ordnance (lines, from Purlieu to Fort George. was obliged to throw 160 boxes of (hot and (hells overboard during a gale, in Biidlington Bay, on Tuefday laft. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. GIL AVEIIND, cause," 23.--Paired by the Thomas, Simp fon ; and tht. Maria Elizabeth, Fotland, from the Baltic.—``ailed the Venice, Wells. for Dublin ; Prinecfs Mary, Glbron ; awl the Good Intent, Cully, for Malta. The jefu Maria, jEz, from Oporto, for Cork, is put into Liihon. - _ The Msrgery and Mary, Srasciterr, from New. foundland, for Demerara, has been taken, retaken, and carried into Dominica. The Mentor, Geoias, from New Yolk for Braid, has been retaken, and carried into Cork. The Duke of Xork, DAVIS, flow Liverpool, is cut off on the coati of Africa. The Sananritan, —, from New York for Ant. were, is loft . off Flulhing ; crew lived: The Rachael and Lucy, —, from Billyraintr for Liverpool, is loft on Lochwielly. The Qeorie, —, from Bridport to London, wa t t taken on the 29th ult. off Elpogenefs, by a French privateer. • _ _ . The follc.wing is an extra& of a letter from Lieu. tenant Taacty, of the Linnet gunbrig, dated the 17th infiant, to Captaih HONYMAN, of his Majefty's {hip Leda : . . " The lbip which you Cent me to reconnoitre laft evenings II on Iltore on the math, near Calvadoes; the Is Englilh, pierccetor i 8 guns, copper bottomed, and no name on ha item ; but from the picking up of a boat on the i6th Intl called the Mentz, of London, Thomas Hill Mater, It Is likely &gamy be Co called." N. B. The Pliieni; Hitt, is now at Ynttlinoulb, - bound to the Mediterranean.