Star. — London, England, 1808-05-27 00:00:00

GIBRALTAR, APRIL 30. The Mes:ina Britirti Gazett: states, that the Toulon aid Rochefort squadrons have conveyed, under Rus sian colours, a fleet of transports with 7000 French troops on board, from the Eastern coast of the Adri atic to the Isle of Corfu, where the troops were landed. Two of the transports, one with 200, and the other with 140 men, were captured by his Majesty's frigate Proserpine. The Carthagena squadron continues in Port Mahon, closely watched by our cruizers. MAY 11. You have doubtless heard a great deal about the in vasion of Spain and Portugal. Mora than 240,000 French troops are now in these countries ; and, in the en: irony of Madrid, 50,000, to seize upon the capital in case of necessity. After having nominated the Prince of Asturias King, Bonaparte persuaded him to make a journey to Bayonne, against the inclina nation of the people, who were so disgusted in the towns through which lie passed, as to stop his coach, and particularly in Victoria, where they cut the har ness, and took the mules from it, leaving him sitting in the coach ; but in consequence of the intreaties of the Spaniards and the French, by whom he was ac companied, he was allowed to proceed upon a solemn promise that he would speedily return. The whole of his subjects, and particularly the inhabitants of Madrid, (where there has been a great riot) are cla morous for his return. . We are assured by many persons of respectability, who have just arrived from Madrid, that from 8 to 10,000 French have been killed,and also a vast number of Spaniards, in the late riot. The French General and the Duke dcl Infanta, President of the Consejo, suc ceeded, with great difficulty, in restoring order, prin cipally through their assurances to the people, that the new King was immediately to return from Bayonne. The people have specified a short term, within which they desire the return of the King, and have pro claimed their resolution that unless he returns within that period, the French soldiers shall forfeit their lives. The return is looked for with universal anxiety. PARLIAM.EIIrI4Rr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURSDAY, MAY 25. Mr. LONG presented accounts, shewhsg tho produce of the Danish ships seized at the commencement of the war with Den mark, and condemned by the Court of Admiralty as lawful prizes to his Majesty. Sir CHARLES POLE moved, that the said accounts be print cd.—Ordered. The Duchess of Brunewick's Annuity Bill waf read a third time, passed, and ordered to the Lords ; as was the Miliory Commis sioners Bill. The LORD ADVOCATE cf SCOTLAND, having obtained have, brought in a bill for better regulating the Court of Ttinds in Scotland with regard to their powers of augmenting and modi fying the Stipends of the Scots' Clergy.—Read the first time, and ordered for the second reading to-morrow. The Crown Lands Revenue Improvement Bill was read a se cond time, and committed for to-morrow. 11:r. I.V4RDLE moved for some further documents respecting the Contracts for clothing the Army, which were ordered. Mr. FOSTER obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Act for regulating Auctions in Ireland. Mr. G. VANSITTART moved for an account of the amount of Monies paid to the Receiver-Goneral, as levied from persons deeinsirii ;n :gyve in the Militia, in consequence of being balloted thereto, carder the 47th oft;;;. Sing.—Ordered: PRIZE-MONET. Sir C. POLP. rose, pursuant to his notice, to bring forward his motion respecting the Distribution of Prize-money arising from the Danish Ships ; tut Tile CHANCELLOR of the EXCHF.QIYER informed the HonourAlie Barenet, that his Majesty's Ministers were actually takirg metric to effect the purpose of the Honourable Baronet. Lir C. POLE expressed his great satisfaction at this, and de c'inedo of course, to proceed with his motion. BANK OF IRELAND. ' ' Sir JOHN NEWPORT rose, to ask the Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer whether, in the Bill he was to bring forward for renewing the Charter of the Bank of Ireland, he contemplated any instruction to the Committee on the Bill for admitting Roman Catholics to be Directors of that Bank, they having been hitherto excluded. Mr. FOSTER answered in the negative. Sir JOHN NEWPORT then said, hr shculd,on Monday next, bring forward a motion upon that subject. ARMY. Mr. CALCRAFT moved for an Account of the Number cf Men raised by Regular Recruiting, in the month.: of February, March, April, and May ; distinguish's:l each mends, and also infantry from Cavalry.—Ordered. MR. PALMER'S COMPENSATION. Mr. BANKES moved, that the returns of the net proceeds of the Post-office revenue, hid before the House, should be referred to a Committee up-stairs, observing, that a great part (lithe sur plus revenue, since 1793, arose from causes totally distinct from Mr. Palmer's plan ; such, for izmance, as limuirg the privilege of franking, increasing the postage of letters, &c. it being right, that in doing strict justice to Mr. Palmer, strict justice should also be done to the public.--This ova.: ordered, and a Committee accor dingly nominated. ORDER OF THE DAY. Mr. TIERNEY rose to move the Order of the Day for the House resolvieg itself into a Committee to hear further evidence cn the Petitions sgaiust the Orders in Council. He urged the prece dence due to a subject so long pending, snd the great inconve nience to eve respectable witnesses, who were obliged to absent themselves from their business, in attending day after day, to give ev id e nce. He hoped the Noble Lord (Castlereagh), would have ho objection to postpone his Local Militia Bill for this purpose, which would be a relief to gentlemen after List night's debate. Lord CAST LERLAGH was willing to accede to this, if the witnesses were ready. The witnesses, however, did not appear to be in attendance. The question of preference between the two measure gave rise to i desultory conversation, which continued for nearly an hour, in the course of which the Speaker was frequently under the ne etas?• y of interfering to adjust the order of proceedirg. • Mr. WM TR FAD at length moved, that the order for the at tcntlatice of the witnesses be enforced, and that they do attend at Ota bir to-morrow, to be examined touching the cause of their non-attendance this day. Before this question was disposed of, a messenger announced that the witnesses were now in attendance. The House then resolved itself into the Committee. In support of the Petition, the witnesses examined were Mr. Rucker, Mr. Ainswell, and Mr. molten, merchants, of I.ondon, and two other persons ; after which, the Chairman left the Chair, and was ordered to report to-morrow. St L B') Aft D, • Lord FOLKESTONI rose to express his regret, that the Military Commissicners' Bill had been read the third time and passed before he came down to the House, although he had arrived befi)re the usual hour of commencing public business, having some observations to make on the subject of that Bill The observations related to thu Medical Department of the Army, in which the Commissioners, in their R e rort,ltad ssumed to themselves the credit of having di-covered many gross frauds, and effected many im portant ergulat.ons with very great savings to the Pub. ic; but at the same time they have passed over totally without notice, the merits of Mr. Knikht, Surgeon- General, by whose vigilance and jucli.:N!tis arrange ments those benefits had been really suggested, before the matter came under the trig LI iry of the Beard. 'flie Noble Lord wished io ask his Majesty's Ministers, whether any directions were gives do proceed Irian any of the parties detected in those frauds and impo sitions, and particularly against one person, who was a delinquent to a very considerable amount ? Mr. STURGES BOURNE answered the Noble Lord, that certainly very great praise was due to Mr. Knight, for his exertions ; and said that the cir cumstance of these services being passed over in the Report of the Committee had not escaped attention. The Report itself had been laid before the Lords of the Treasury, whom, he was sure, the Noble Lord and the House would de - ern to have acted wisely, in not proceeding to order any proceedings against any of the parties implicated, without cautious inquiry. The SECRETARY at WAR said, the Report had been also submitted to the War Office, where no time had been lost in devising the measures necessary to be taken on the occasion. They were ready, and only waited his Majesty's assent. But he was sure the House would not deem the difference of a few days more or less of much importance, upon a sub ject which called for so much caution and circum spection. On out arrival a dispatch 112 i leht to Lord CULLING woos, then at Malta, to inform him of the same ; mean while, till we could know his pleasure, we re cruited our water, and got a supply of fresh provisions. On Monday received orders from Lord Cou.litowoon, to put to sea immediately (we were then twelve sail of the line) and cruize off Maretimo, still expecting the French would endeavour to effect a landing in Sicily ; the next day Lord rn—LLINGWOOD joined us, in the ()caws, with Rear-Admiral MARTIN, in the CANOPUS, and the MALTA ; we cruized of Maretimo nearly a fortnight, during which time the Admiral received intelligence of different kinds from the fri- gates : at last, Rear-Admiral MARTIN, with four sail of the line, was sent to Palermo Bay, and the re maindzr of the fleet steered away for Naples, suppos ing the French fleet to be there ; it did not however prove so. We afterwards got information that they were cruizing in the Gulph of Tarento, so after them again we went, but with no better success—ln short, we have been dodging them till now, and are now once more in Palermo Bay." WEST INDIAN MILITARY ACCOUNTS. Mr. HUSKISSON, pursuant to notice, and after some preliminary explanation, moved " For leave to bring in a Bill to enable the Commissioners for West Indian Military Accounts more effectually and expeditiously to investigate the same." Mr. BANKES complained of the great delays which had occurred in the audit of those Accounts. It had been deemed necessary, for greater expedi tion, to send out, some time ago, two.Commissioncrs to the West Indies, to make an examination on the spot ; one of those had gone, the other, he believed, had not yet proceeded thither. The other Commis sioner found, on his arrival, that he could do nothing without his colleague, and taws the business had re mained to this day. He thought that the Army ac counts should not all be confined to the examination of one office ; but that some more expeditious and ef. ficient mode of examination should be adopted. For, notwithstanding the augmentation of the Commis sioners of Army Accounts, the army accounts re mained without any audit that could be relied on ; and at this moment there was an arrear of '23 or '24 years. wholly unexamined. Mr. HUSKISSON explained, that one of the Commissioners to the West Indies was disappointed and did not proceed. It was easy to find Gentlemen in all respects competent and willing to go thither. However, a gentleman was at last pointed out to Government, who resides in the West Indies, and whose commission was made out and would shortly be transmitted to him ; consequently there was reason to hope that Rini= delay on that quarter would be speedily obviated. Leave was given to bring in the Bill. Mr. HUSICM.ON also obtained to bring in a Bill for more cf &away examining lir..aack OMee Accounts. COTTENBUKCH, MAY 13. Baron Nicht,las has obtained leave to quit Stock holm to go to Carlscrena, there to embark on hoard the same frigate (a Swedish one) which is appointed to convoy Mr. Tarrach, the Russian Minister, to Ko ningsberg. Count St. Prust will go by the same fri gate. The Lord Duncan packet, Captain Hamilton, arrived to-day with Brigadier-General Sontag, Mr. Smith, Paymaster-Getter: 1, and several other Officers of the Expedition, the whole of whom are expected here to-morrow. The packet fell in with two Danish privateers off the coast of Jutland, one of which, having 40 men an board, she chaced on shore, when the enemy all forsook her and fled up the country. Captain Hamilton would have destroyed her, had not the delay which would have attended such an under taking been inconsistent with his duty. A small Bulletin, from Stockholm, states, that the Swedes have been successful in an affair near Ma berg, and have taken a General Officer and seven other Officers, 200 men killed, and 400 made priso ners ; but this is all counter-balanced by the miserable business of Sweaborg, of which there is nothing new by this post. MAY 16.—Several English transports, with treops, have entered the harbour this afternoon, and the whole of the fleet with the . expeditior is insight. Sir JOHN Moonz has not yet landed, but is expected hourly; we are as yet unacquainted with the point to which this expedition is to be directed. MAY lB.—The English Expedition is arrived, and all the ships, nearly %X) sail, safe at anchor. It is i said they will wait the dispositions of the King of Sweden.—The remainder of the gun-beats and other vessels given up to the Russians by the convention of ; Sweaborg, is said to amount to between two and three hundred, which will furnish the means of trans-1 porting a great number of troops, and place the capi tal (Stockholm) in imminent danger. It is reported that some English ships of war are going thither ; but it will be almost impossible to prevent the Russians EXTRACT OF A LEIIFER FF.OSI AN OFFICER ON BOARD from coming over within the innumerable rocks along SIR RICHARD SIItACIIAN'S ELECT ; the coast of Finland. The Mans, Admiral KEATS ; " The intelligence gained by us hem the Pm:matt and the AUDACIOUS, Captain GOESELIN, with Lieute frigate, concerning the French Fleet, having been , nant General Sir Jens Moots; General Hort, Gene communicated by us to Sir RICHARD STRACIIAN, he ral CLINTON : &c. &c. are also arrived. immediately steered away to the Southward ; having STOCKHOLM, MAY T. made Cape Ortegal, and hearing nothing of the His Majesty has this morning received advice from enemy's Fleet, we kept along the coast of Portugal : the General ie. Chief, Count Klingspor, that the army off the Rock of Lisbon, we fell in wilt nine sail of the , in Finland again gained a considerable advantage ; line under Vice-Admiral Sir CHARLES Corros, and over the etlealy near Revolax, on the 27th of April continued along the Coast till we came off Cadiz, last ; when the Russian General Boulatoff, 7 officers, i where we met the fleet under Admiral Penvis ; from and 400 men were made prisoners, of whom 1001 Gibraltar we got information by the LAVINIA frigate, I were wounded : two sixtetn-pound howitzers, two ( which ship was dispatched to that place to gain in- ! eight-pound brass cannons, two standards, twenty. telligence) that the French Fleet , consisting, of five one artillery and infantry ammunition waggons , eight sail of the line and two frigates , had p assed the Gut ; drums, and a considerable quantity of arms , were , ten days before, and were gone tip to the Mediterra- ! taken front the enemy, whose loss in killed is said tol nean. Sir RICHARD Srstacums was quite elated, and : have been seven officers and 200 men. More circum. immediately made all sail, expecting to come up with 1 stantial accounts of this affair will be published with them very shortly—our squadron consisting of the : out delay. Catnan, SUVERB,COLOSSITS, RENOWN, SPARTIATF.,WAR- 1 His Royal Majesty has received from General Ba rnett, and Cratetataann ships of the line, and Lananta ! ron Armfeldt the following report, made to him by frigate. We had now a fair wind, were clear for action, ! Colonel Gahn : and in hopes of reterning soon to England with the I " Itt order to take post, pursuant to my orders, on French Fleet ; but a foul wind soon damped our hopes, ! the right of Count I.eyonstedt's brigade, I moved but not our resolution : we kept almost always in from Medskoy on the 24th of April, at eleven o'clock sight of land, and could frequently observe fires on . at night, with the corps under my orders, consisting the Spanish shore as signals for us (en enemy.) of 480 men. We saw the islands of Majorca and Minorca, i " Notwithstanding the excessive fatigues of our and ;sassed by Corsica, the birth place of NAPOLEON, march, obstructed by a heavy fall of snow, we reached for whose fleet we were in search. The Island of the enemy's advanced posts early in the morning, Sicily being supposed to Ile the destination of the drove them back, and marched about three miles far enemy, we steered for that Island, and made the then into the country. The enemy having at length land 21st March. We cattle to an anchor in the Bay rallied, and assembled in force, they bee= to make of Palermo, and found there Rear-Admiral TIIORN- a vigorous resistance; but, owing to the gallant and Boaouon, having under his Criers the ROYAL. Sow determined conduct of Captain Godee, they were dis t:non FORNILABLPi KaNT, EAGER, and Tituwinnut, lodged from a strong position which they had take THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. FRIDAY, MAY 27. • PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK : Conioh motley, 671 eti—for July 119—Reduce.1 671. Lxcl. Bills, is to tip. pm—hulls Bocids, 38. prem. The Transit (4 Masted ship) belonging to Ply mouth, passed that port on Wednesday. bound fcr Londez, in 26 days from Malta and 11 from Gibral tar. She came through the Gut with a fleet of trans ports, full of troops, destination unknown.—The news 12y this vessel will probably come down two days later than the accounts by the Townsheni, but the letters have not yet reached town. A letter from Admir:llKvis, dated 9th March, states, that he had received a letter from Lord Coe. LiNowoon of the 16th April, at which date he was off Minorca, with 16 sail of the line. We have also received accounts direct from Sir RICIIARD STRACILAWS fleet, The letter is from Pa ' lermo Bay, in the form of a journal, but unfortu nately the date is not filled up. As, however, it con tains some interesting details, we shall lay it before our Readers : T'! up, near an almost impracticable pass, and corupeO e a a to give way. K In the mean time, the strength of the enemy having increased considerably, they advanced from A Nya, attacked the detachment which I had ordered to cover my rear, and at the same time threatered my flank. I immediately joined the above detach. ment, and endeavoured to cut my way through the enemy's troops, far superior in number : twice my small corps succeeded in driving the enemy back 1 but at length, having lost upwards of 200 men is I killed and wounded, spent all my ammunition, and t.:3 means of defence left, I was at length unfortunate:l- I compelled to surrender, and taken prisoner, with the 1 troops under my command, who displayed the great. est gallantry and valour during the Whole of that un fortunate affair. (Signed) 4 ' P. CAHN, " Colonel and Chief of Battalion. • 4 Weakly, April 25, 1808." Letters from Civita Vecchia state, that the Russian Minister, Consul, and other Russian Gentlemen have arrived there, from Sicily, in consequence of his Sicilian Majesty having declared war against Russia, . IGOTTEN BURGH MAILS. and seized a Russian frigate which was lying in a Si. We have this morning received Gottenhurgh ilian pore j Mat 10.—His Royal ',Majesty received yesterday, Mails, which bring the pleasing intelligence of the General Baron Armieltit the following replan• safe arrival of the Expedition under Sir Jona Moore dated head-quarters, Uolmedal, the sth and 6th of and Admiral Keats, in• Gottcnburgh Roads, on the this month : 17th instant. Their ultimate destination was un - I . 44 At two o'clock this morning intelligence was re. known at Gottenhurgh when the lettetecame away, , ceived from the First Brigade, that the enemy made but it was reported they were to await the orders ef a false attack on the left wing at ten o'clock, it being the gallant King of SWLDES. The Swedes in Finland have been again victorious ; h:s real intention to attack the right near Musterad. over the Russians. i I immediately detached a sufficient number of troops to strengthen the above position, whcoarriving in time, had the good fortune of driving the enemy back, and completely defeating their design. The army re. mains in the former position. G. M. A. ARMIELDT. a When I was on the point of dispatching my yes. terday's report, I was informed. by Colonel Baron Cederstrom, that the enemy had begun an attack on the left flank of our position. I immediately mount. ed my horse, ( tiered the point attacked to be relight.. ced, and had the good fortune to witness the cool and intrepid conduct of your Majesty's troops, who, after a severe conflict, compelled the enemy to retreat. " I-lead-quarter', Holmedut, the cth gay, 11108-.44 eight " o'clock in the morning._ (Signed) . • " G. M. ARMFELDt . " General in Chief of the Wetyrn Xrtny." MAT 12 —His Royal Majesty received yesterday the following report from Lieutenant rapselman, of • the Royal Navy, dated :f • " Schooner No. 9, at anchor is the North pnit Kun.llng, May 9, 1108, 9 o'clock, A: M: Pursuant to my orders, I crossed, on tlit; 6th May, the Bay of Oland with my division, andtook My station- off Kloffoskaer, where I dropped anchor about ten o'clock at night. The 7th, in the morning, weighed anchor, and stood for Mkt:shag-A; whete I arrived at nine o'clock in . the _ moining, but tyat h...4 :rre b vented by the ice Etiom praceeding 'further to- the north.. I had already tiellit f e my arrival sent orders to Commissioner Klenberi, in Dogerley, to seligon all boats which the enemy might make use s of to cross over to Finland, and that hi should imme diately join me on My arrival at that station. repeated this order -at Mushaga, and as I un. derstood that he dispatched all the enemy's orders, and was therefore a dangerous person, I ordered the peasants to arrest and bring him on board my ship, in case that he should not immediately comply with my above orders. The peasants acccp dingly apprehended the above Commissioner, and brought him on board the cutter, where he is now confined, together with several other public officers of Kumling, who applied themselves to procure pro visions for the enemy's troops. Having intercepted orders from the Russian Commander in Kumling to the Russian Officer commanding in Oland, to imme diately retreat with his troops, I adopted the resolu. eon to proceed with my division to Kumling, and came to anchor off that island at 12 o'clock at noon. a At three o'clock in the aft r loon 'received are port that the peasants in Oland, in consequence of my approach, took up arms and rendered themselve mas ters of all the Russian troops in Oland, both officers and men, excepting a Major of Cossacks and a few men, who have not yet been taken. Having ascer mined the strength of the enemy's corps in Kumling, which consists of 660 men, I sent a flag of truce, and summoned them to surrender : the Russian Colonel Wonitch, who commands the corps, has, however, hitherto refused to submit. I have, under his eyes, taken a large yacht, and sunk several boats on the east side of the islard, and ordered the peasants to seize upon the enemy's powder magazine, and ccr.- duct the Russian prisoners of war under a strong ef. cost to Grislehaven : of the execution of these orders I have, however, not yet received any report. (Signed) C. J. VON ILAPSELMAN, Comrnandes of the Eipcditior." MAY 9.—Baron Captain Ramsay an ived here yes terday with the following report from Count Klings; por, General in Chief of the Finnish Aimy, dated " Head-quarters, Lemming°, Apra 29. " Since the advantages obtained over the enemy by your Majesty's army in Finland, on the 18th inst. near Sckajocki, I ordered the second and third bri gades to take up another position in the environs of Lumiocki, in order to secure the communication with the troops near Sawolaz and our own magazines.— The fourth trigade was postril near Tinprmr, and fest• Ts cos readT owl • 14 41 30 The I is 0 TAO. 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