Star. — London, England, 1813-04-10 00:00:00

PARIS, APRILA Situation of the French Armies in the North, oft the Stith of March. 1813 The garrison of.Dantzic dislodged the enemy hem all the heights of Oliva, in the beginning of March. The garrisons of Thorn and Modelin were in the best state. The corps which blockaded Zamose had removed to a distance. Upon the Oder, the fortresses of Stettin, Cttstrin, and Glogatt were not besieged t the enemy still kept without cannon.shot of them. The garrison of Stettin had burnt all the suburbs, and prepared all the ground round the lot tress► The garrison of Spandau had also burned every thing which could operate against the defence of the place. Upon the Elbe, on the 17th, an arch of the bridge of Dresden was blown up; and General Durutte had taken a position upon the left bank. The Saxons had marched round Torgau. The Viceroy had left Leiptic, and had on the 21st 'his head-quarters at Magdeburg ; General Lapoype landed the bridge and fortress at Wittenberg, which was armed and provisioned for several months: was given up to him in good condition. Arrived 't Magdeburg, the Viceroy, on the 22d, sent General ~ uriston upon the right bank of the Elbe. General aison had marched to Mockern, and pushed forward is posts upon the Bug and Zuzar : he found only some pulks of light troops, which he overthrow, and "which he took or killed about GO men. On the 12th, General Caria St. Cyr, commanding 32d milit r.-y division, judged it advisable to re to the left bank of the Elbe, and leave Ham. (h to the national guards. Prom the 15th to the different insurrections broke out in the depart ts of the mouths of the Elbe and the Ems. Ge. Morand, who occupied Swedish Pomeronia, having been informed of the evacuation of Berlin, re treated upon Hamburgh. He passed the Eibe at Zollenpischers and on the 17th effected his junction with General Carta St. Cyr. Two hundred of the enemy's light troops having ovet taken his rear-guard, be caused them to be charged, and killed some men. General Morand took post upon the left bank, and General St. Cyr marched upon Bremen. On the '24th, General St. Cyr dispatched two plowable solumns to march against the batteries of Carlsbourg and Bloxen, of which some smugglers, assisted by the peasantry and some English disem barkations, had taken possession. These columns touted *the enemy, and retook the batteries. The Chiefs were taken and shot. The English, who dis embarked, were but about an hundred: we were only able to take forty prisoners from them. The Viceroy had collected all his army, 100,000 strong, and 300 pieces of cannon, round Magdeburg, manoeuvring upon the two banks. The General of Brigade Mont brim, who with a brigade of cavalry occupied Stun dal, having learnt that the enemy had passed the Lower Elbe in boats near Werden, marched thither on the 28th, dispersed the enemy's light troops, and entered Werden at full gallop. The 4th Polish lancers made a successful charge, in which they killed about fifty Cossacks and took twelve. The enemy hastened to gain the right bank of the Elbe. Three large boats were sunk, and some smaller ones shi vered to pieces : they were laden with 60 horses, and a similar number of men. We succeeding in saving 17 cavaliers, among whom were two officers—one an Aide-de-Camp to General Dornberg,wlso commanded this column. It appears that a corps of 1000 horse, 000 infantry, and six pieces of cannon, have marched from the side of Brunswick to excite revolt in Han over and the kingdom of Westphalia. The King of Westphalia has . set out in pursuit of this corps, and other columns, dispatched by the Viceroy, will fall upon its rear. Fifteen thousand of the enemy's light troops, on the 27th, passed the Elbe near Dresden, ;in small boats. General Durutto marched against them. The Sa:wns had left this point undefended by collecting round Torgau. The Prince of Moskwa,: with his head-quartets and cerps d'armee, on the 26th 'arrived at Wurtzbuig his advanced guard debouch ed from the mountains of the Thuringe. The Duke of Ragusa had, on the 22d of March, his head-quar ters at Hanau : his divisions were collecting there. On the 30th of March, the advanced guard of the corps of observation of Italy had arrived at Augs burg. All the corps crossed the Tyrol.—On the 27th, General Vandamme arrived in person at Bre men. Dumonceau and Dufour's divisions had al ready passed through Wesel. Independently of the army of the Viceroy, cf the armies of the Mein, and of the corps of the King of Westphalia, there will be, In the first fifteen days of April, r. ear 50,000 men in k •the 321 military division, in r.rder to make a severe 1 example of the instirrections which have troubled that division. Count Beetinck, Mayor of Vartl, had the infamy of putting himself at the head of the insur gents : his estates shall be confiscated, and he will have tor his consummate treason the cerrain ruin of his family..—During the while month of March there has been no affair. In all the skirmishes, of which that on the 28th (at Werden) was much the most :Considerable, the French army has always had the advantage. • APRIL 4. • On Thursday, the Isr of April, the Senate aszem -4blel at three o'clock, under. the Presidency of his iSserene Highness the Prince Arch Chancellor of the Empire. In conformity with the Orders of his Ma , jesty the Ernpeicr and Kitg, the Prince Arch-Chan :tenor has caused to be inserted in the Registers of the Senate, the letters patent signed in the Elysian Palace, on the 30th March last, by which the EM pet or confers on her Majesty the Empress and . Queen Maria Louisa, •the title of Regent. CONSERVATIVE SENATE. .‘ comm: which ri,it was , 1 st 1%11,4 Lauri! Maiso, ( his po :` some t of whi On f the Si pass ti ;burgh 20th, tnents teral , Navin treate Zone with ,)enern: be cal • , Gene Gene On 1 'hove Carib assist , • ? bark route 1 Chiet temba • able I had c piece t Rpm ,': bran, i' l d..d, ' ' Low , on th i l , enter ) lance abou baste large vere4 ts sin 17 c; Aide this , . 260 C from over Wes 1 t odic upon trool I , in sn ~ them 1 colic with atriv • ed fr • of R ters • On 1 .. , 1 corp burg I .27th i I men. ' ( I read t arm] of th in i th the x ean : divis infar • gent! Piave his fl has' I . that 1 eons; adva I t i• SITTING OF THE IST OF APRIL. The Sitting wAs opened at three o'clock in the af ! temo , n, umier the Presidency of his Seiene High.; iiess . the Prince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire-.• His Excellency the Minister t Foreign Atians was pre ;pent at the Sitting. 11 ' . His Serene Highness the Prince Arch-Chancellor Own spoke a; foll,,ws: • . • • " GENTLEMEN--His Majesty the Emperor and rittg- will put himself at the head of hi; armks. The Empero,v wishes to give his augnst partner a double proof of his confrdence.% It it for these mo that he has caused the letters patent to be tape.: nine re* ndemen, t e Empress will assist at the Couocils where the greatest interests of the State - will be discussed. She will have the Regency of the Empire until the moment *hen victory will return the Emperor to our wishes. " Ills Majesty could net make a dispwition more Consistent with the public good, nor which wobl.l he more agreeable to his People. The Senate will give - their applause to it, and preserve in their records this act of the Sovereign will, 44 Other objects of high importance ought, like wise, Gentlemen, to fix your attention. 46 A Report from the Minister of Foreign Affairs will inform you o f the alte ra ti on th a t h as taken place in osr political relations by the defect;on of one of the Northern Powers. The part she has embraced is a sad consequence of the character which the steps of that Cabinet has taken for a long time past. This circumstance imposes On the Nation the obligation of making a grand effort, the means whereto will be found in the firyiet: which are going to be proposed for your deliberation. 64 At a moment of such interest, the Senate well perceives of what gre.:t importance it is to develope the resources of France, to cause the enemy to feel its full weight to convince him of the inutility of his • projects ; and, finally, to reduce him to desire sin ! cerely that peace which the Emperor's triumphant hand has so frequently offered him, but which would not be worthy of his Majesty, unless it in sured the repose of Europe, and the free commerce of all Nations." One of the Secretaries read the letters patent, by which the title of R egent is conferred on the Empress and Queen, bard Louisa. They are conceived in the following terms : " rotroN by the grace of Con Emperor of the French; King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, Mediator of the Helvetic Confederation, &c. " To whomsoever these Presents may come greeting. " Being willing to give to our well-beloved spouse the Empress and Queen, Maria Louisa, some marks of the high confidence that we repose in her, we have resolved to invest her, and we do by these presents accordingly invest her, with the right of assisting at the Cabinet Councils, wherever such shall be con voked during our reign, for consideration of the most important affairs of the State ; and considering that it is our intention immediately to place ourself at the head of our armies, to liberate the territories of our Allies, we have likewise resolved to confer, and we accordingly do by these presents, confer on our well beloved spouse the Empress and Queen, the tide of Re gent, to exercise the functions thereof, in conformity with our orders and instructions, such as wehavecaused to be inserted in our Book of State, intending that in formation of the said orders and instructions shall be given to the Princes Grand Dignitaries and to our Ministers, and that the Empress shall in no case whatsoever depart from their tenor in the exercise of her function as Regent. gc We will, that the Empress Regent shall, in our name, preside in the Senate, the Council of State, the Council of Ministers, and the Privy COuncil, especially for the examination of Addresses for par dons, on which we authorize her to give sentence, after having heard the Members of the Privy Coun cil. But in all .cases it is not our intention that, by reason of the Presidency conferred on the Em press Regent, she should either authr rise by her sig nature, the presentation of any Senatus Consultum, or proclaim any law of the State ; in this respect we refer to the orders and instructions above men tioned. " We direct our cousin, the Prince Arch-Chan cellor of the Empire, to communicate these present letters patent to the Senate, which• will cause ;hem to be entered in their registers, and to our Grand Judge, the Minister of Jastice, who will cause them to be published in the Bulletin of the Laws, and send them to our Imperial Courts of Law, to be there read, published, and transcribed into their Registers. Given at our Elysian Palace, on the 30th day of March, 1813, and the 9th year of our reign. (Signed) " NAPOLEON. " By order of the Emperor, the Minister Secretary of State, (Signed) " The COUNT " Seen by us, the Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, (Signed) " CAMBACEitgSe" His Excellency the Duke of Bassano, Minister of Foreign Affairs, communicated the following Report: REPORT or TILE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR AND KING. " Stan—The days of Jena and Friedland had laid the whole of the extent of the Prussian monarchy at the disposal of your Majesty. Powerful considerations rendertd it adviscable either to keep the fruits of those victories, or to place cn the throne of Prussia a Prince who woLld have no interest contrary to that of France, who would have nothing to reclaim from her, and who; above every thing, would not suffer himself to be led away by that versatile spirit which has for a hundred years past, characterised.the policy of the House of Brandenburgh. " But the Emperor of Russia offered at Tilsit to declare war against England,' to concur in shutting the Continent against her commerce, in order to con strain her to wish for peace, if the King of Prussia was replaced among the rank of Sovereigns. " This perspective operated on your Majesty as a seduction to which you could not resist, you indulged the hopes of seeing the tranquillity of the world re establithed, and theconimerce of Fl-anee at length en joy-that splendour, to which it is insured by the rich ness of heti. - soil, and the industry of her people. You sacrificed to such great interests the calculations of suspicious policy, and at your second interview with the . Emperor Alexander, you consented to receive the King of Prussia, whose presence, instigated by a just resentment, you would have avoided. it had been formerly the general opiniOn that the icing of Prussia had been drawn to take part in the war'against her own will. • 44 Your Majesty was pleased to think that the ex. perience he 1;:a' lately atade, ivotild for ever put him on his guard a:;ainst dangerous seductions and dark illusions. - In short, your Majesty, to whom genero sity is habitual, easily persuaded yourself that you Were going to uce what would never - be forgotten. The Prussian monarchy was restored, and the House of Brandenburg continued to reign. Your Majesty ought to have put. him from the frontiers ot. the Rhine, and takch from him the protection of the coasts. You created die kingdom ot Westphalia, and thi, shoal remain is your concluded with England. " You wished that the restoration of those impor tant places should be made an object of compensa tion in the negotiations with England for our mari time possessions. The King of Prussia had no right to discuss the gifts which he received from your Ma jesty's geneiosii y, the importance of which elevated him above his hopes. The contributions of war laid on the Prussian territories were reserved as equitable and necessary indemnit;es for the expences of the un just war which Prussia had kept up. Your Majesty's armies were not to evacuate the territory ceded to the King of Prussia, until after the entire payment of the contributions. until peace was " Nevertheless, Sire, by the Convention concluded at Berlin on the .sth of November, 1808, in conse quence of the conferences at Erfurth, your Majesty consented to remit Prussia a part of her debt, and withdraw the French troops from her territory before the payment had been made. " The alliance of France with Russia appeared to have guaranteed the fidelity of Prussia ; your Ma jesty wished to rely upon it ; but the weakness and habitual indecision of that Cabinet might every mo ment deserve that confidence. The conduct of Prus sia during the first years which followed the peace of Tilsit, was guided by sentiments very different from those of gratitude. Far from fulfilling her engage ments, she appeared to watch for occasions, and wait opportunities which might permit her to avoid them. In 1809, regiments were seen, aiding the influence that secret and seditious societies exercised, ranging themselves under the standards of your Majesty's enemies ; a scandal unparalleled in the annals of Go vernment. 6 4 In 1811, when a visible change 'an the dispositions of Russsia gave reason for fearing that war was again about to be kindled in the North, Prussia understood that her fall depended entirely up n her foresight, that it the allowed events to take place, she could no longer be mistress of choosing a part, and that it was requisite to adopt one whilst she was at liberty to make a choice, she requested the favour of your Ma jesty of being admitted to your agiance. This ques tion presented itself in its full importance. It ap peared prudent and right policy to profit by the grie vances which Prussia had given you by the conti nual incertitude of her conduct, and it war should take place with Russia, to declare it against her at the same time, in order not to leave a dubious power in your rear. Prussia did not spare her solicitations and ntreaties. The steps which he took at St. Petersburgh, to en. deavour to influence the determinations of Russia, whilst it was yet time, bore such a character of frankness, and • wee so evidently diretted with a sense to the interests of France, that it struck your Majesty. You no longer balanced, you again saved Prussia, by admitting to an alliance with you. • " When your ',Majesty went to Dresden, the King came there to meet you, and there, by word of mouth ; reiterated the assurances of an inviolable at tachment to the system you had eribtaced. " As soon as your Majesty was become master of events, and that was as soon as it could be effeited by genius and 'courage, Prussia iernained faithful; and the Prussian corps did its duty ; but when the French army in its turn experienced the chance of war, the Cabinet of Berlin kept no longer any measures. The defection of General d'York • called the enemy into the States of the King of Prussia, and obliged our armies to evacuate the Vistula, and fall back on the Oder. Prussia, to dissimulate her intentions, ..ffered to furnish a new contingent .. . She had a sufficieut number of troops, all formed, and of cavalry in Si lesia, and from thence to the Oder, which would then have been so useful in opposing the incursions of the enemy's light troops. But she was resolved not -to keep her promises. li " The King unexpectedly left Potsdam, he aban doned a residence, in which he was covered by the Oder, to throw himself into an open city, al. ' go into the enemy's presence. Scarcely had lie arrived at Breslau, when General Bulow, who commanded some thousands of men on the Lower Oder, imita ting the treason of General d'York, lie opened his cantonments to the Russian light troops, and fscilita ted the passage of the Oder to them. It was under the guidance of newly• enrolled Prussians that these troops came to make little skirmishes at the gates of Berlin. The Prussian Cabinet had thrown off the mask. The King, by three successive ordonances, immediately called to arms all such young men of family as • were rich enough to equip and mount themselves ; then all the youths from 17 to 21 years of age ; and, lastly, the men above that ago. It was an appeal made to the passions, which Prussia had felt the necessity of reprimanding, whilst she was de sirous of our alliance, and whilst she remained I aithful. The Chancellor of State called around him the heads of those sectaries, who, in their seditious fanaticism, preach up the overthrow of all social order, and the destruction of the Throne. Prussian officers were sent with eclat to the Russian headquarters. Russia* agents succeeded to each other at Bt eslau ; at length, on the Ist of March, the th ussian Government con summated, by a treaty .with Russia, what General d'York had commenced. It was on the 17th of March, at Breslau, and on the 27th, at Paris, that the Ministers of the King of Prussia officially announced their masters having made common cause with the enemy. 6 6 Thus Russia declared war against your Majesty, in return for the Treaty of Tilsit, which replaced the King on the throne, and for the Treaty of Paris, which admitted him to an alliance. " I add to this Report the pieces presented to your Majesty when Prussia solicited your alliance, with an extract of the letters of Monsieur the Count de Saint Masan, on the same subject, (under letter A.) . ▪ The Treaty and Conventions concluded at Paris ► for establishing the all.iance, (under letter 13 ) " The Convention concluded by General d'Verk with the Russians, and his Proclamations, (under letter C.) " The Papers relative to the dispositions made by Prussia on the subject of the detection of General d'York, (under letter 1).) • The Papers relative •to the Mission of General Hatzfeldt at Paris, (u Eder letter L.) " The extract of a Report en the connivance of General Bulow witl► the enemy, (under letter F.) 4 4 The three Edicts for the extraordinary levie, (under letter G.) The King's Orduruiance, ac. tab • opmerwq,„ • „ Mr•••• Joaffl.•••••••• 'MR •yo sk.ossysy Assos ter H.) And finally the Notes by which the Prussian Coverunent liar notified to your Majesty's Ministers, that they have violated the alliance, and declared war, (under letter I.) " I am, with the most profound respect, your Ma. jesty's most humble and most obedient servant and faithful subject, THE MICE OF BAssANo." APRIL. S. - . Yesterday (Sunday), the 4th April, the Empress received a deputation from the Senate, composed of 30 Senators, when the President of the Senate pre sented to her Majesty- the following Address : MAIMPA-..-iiiS Majesty, on the eve of setting out to command his armies, has confided to yot.r Imperial Majesty and Queen, the Regency of h Empire. He could not have granted to his people a greater consolation in his absenoe. 66 The Senate, Madam, experiences a lively s:itis faction in thinking it shall see its walls adorned wall all the brilliant virtues with which your Majesty Liu ; bellishes the throne. It:offers you the tribute of its respect and its devotion. It adds, Madam,- that of its inviolable fidelity to the greatest of Monarchs and his Dynasty, as the homage the most dear to your Majesty's heart, and the most worthy of the Gland Daughter of Blanche and Maria Theresa, and the Mother of the King of Rome, and of the august Spcuse cf Napoleon." The Empress replied in these terms : GlrNll.k.MEN—The Emperor, my august and well-beloved husband, knows what love and affection my heart contains for France. The proof of devo tion which the nation daily gives us, increase thei good opinion which I had of the character and gran deur of our nation. " My heart is much oppressed at seeing that happy peace distant which alone can render me content.— The Emperor is sensibly afflicted at the numerous sacriaces which he is obliged to demand of his people ;—but since the enemy, in place of giving peace to the woild, v, ill impose shameful couaitions upon us, and every where preaches civil. war, treatni. and disobedience, it is necessary the Emperor shouli have recourse to his ,always victorious arms, to con. found his enemies, and save civilised Europe and its Sovereigns from the anarchy with which they are threatened. • 44 I am truly affected with the sentiments whick you express in the names of the Senate.'! The Ittoniteur of the eth is filled with decrees fcr the organization of the Natioiial Guardi. Every Frenchman from the age of twenty to sixty, capisblg of service; are tb be called out. Thirty seven 'co horts, of 1000 men each, for the protection of 'rpecial points, are to be organized 'at the following places—.: Flushing, Ostend, Dunkirk, Calais, Bologue, Al=n treuiel, Abbeville, Havre, Cherbourg,, Malo, Brest, L'Orient, Be Rochelle; Isle 'de Ri, Oleron, Toulon. • ,FARLIAMEA7:eIRr POcEZDINGS. ~~~ , i HOUSE QF LORDS, APRiI. 9. The Earl of GROSVENOR took the oaths. The Noble-Ear! soon after rvisented a Petition from the inhabitants of Chester. in favour of Cie Catholic Claims. • The Bishop of CHESTER stated, that the meeting had been convened to; the purpose of signing a Petition contrary to due presented by the -Nyble Earl. The persons adverse to the ppd. tion in favour of the Catholic Claims were 2000 against 60.° Earl Gil OSVENOR admitted the statement of the Right Re verend Prelate, ytt conceived that the signatures to the Petition he had presented were as respectable, though not so numerous al t signatures to the Petition alluded to by the Right Rev. Prelatd: The Petition was laid en th.:l able: • . air Jaw es Graham, and several . others from the Commons, brougLt up the robacco and'anuff Bill, and several private bill,k which v ere lead a first time. . The Led of DARNLEY, adverting to his motion which stood for this day, respecting the distribution of our Naval Fcrce cri the Coast of Aniurica, eke. observed, that it was his intention 16 take the earliest opportunity of bringing it forward after th".• Hos hdays, and consequently discharged the order of the day. • • • ' I he Earl of LAUDERDALE intimated, that he had Liven notice some tinie afo dt his Hitt'Talon to rake a Motion on the Currency o; the Country. It was probahl , h- sheui4 isortxluee the subject to Inc cousideration of tht-ir lordships shortly aftet the Easter Recess. His me:ton would be, for a Committee• of that House to inquire tutu the general scat-• of the Currency. On inspecting certain Returns nwved tot by a Noble Friend, phrk porting to be an Account of Bank I Atens, las Lor . nip titre, awed that Dinars were omitted, and that the was co••tined to Three Shilimg, Pieces and Eigh,een-penny Piece). blasirg fork merly been of opinion the Dollars came tund.r tac ..7.:ipellatiOn of Bank Tokens, he bad nett met with any rircunistanc;•• to alteit that opiMon, and his of jtct uteri-tore was, to get a return if Dollars int:laded in the Rot:gm to which he h. d atoded. " • ' Lord GRENVILLE ni ~eo fur a Rettira of the Oplnllns of the Commiesioners of the Excise and C..:,tonis, reipetting Our effect whitill a free Trade to India will produce on the Publics Revenue.-Ordered. EAST INDIA QUESTION. The Marquis WELLESLEY rose on the or3s.r of the day, to make his Motion for papers connected with East India Affairs, and to offer to their ships important observations, preliminary to the cussion of that great question. The Noble Marquis' observed, that, under all the revolutions that had taken place, and causes which hat affected the rights pt the people, no question had arisen more ardiumg than that which Parliament was required to decide with respect to India. It was a question involving not only the highest consideration of Government policy, but special matters of political economy and military tendency. It was, perhaps, consi lered as question of political economy, one the most complex. Without incurring the imputation of any disposition to act with hostility, he might be allowed to say, it was lamentable that Parliament had to consider it under great disadvantages. The subject should have been considered much earlier. Parliament trii,i;lit ' have taken the lead in a discussion of the question at a better opportunity, but in this cite, wisdom was not applied in time to insure a decision, proceeding from inartire deliberation. The Noble Marquis thee reviewed the question in its va: is bearings. It first presented itselt to their Lordslips as a commercial question. Petitions coming from all parts had been laid en their table, callin i; on them to second the franti: intomions of commerce. They had called for a Select Committee to consider those p pees and pe titions, without leading them, and without coming to any decision how the question was to be coniider ed.—A Noble Friend (Lord Getnville), a itit the wisd. m vhich distinguished Lim as a great states man, had observed, and truly observed, that the question rested on the collection of land revenue, and giving the natives of India permanent right in the Thee were other points which deserved their Lordships' attention as tquaily imiortaut. Hia 77 7 I I