Star. — London, England, 1808-03-26 00:00:00

THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. SATURDAY, MARCH 26. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY Al' ONE O'CLOCK. Casio* money, 64.1 —for April aec. 64 1 1-11-omnium 51, 4 pre. Navy 5 per Cent. 97—Exchequer Bills, 45. pre. EXPEDITION TO THE BALTIC. We - have already stated that the idea of sending troops to Sweden has been abandoned. It is how ever intended speedily to send a strong naval force to the Baltic. Indeed the ships are now ready, and nothing. but the prevailing easterly winds have pre vented them from sailing before this time. Admiral Sir SAMUEL Hoon, a tried and brave Officer, who is to have the command, left Town on Thursday and arrived at Deal the same evening.— The Centaur is hourly expected there from Ports mouth to receive his flag. Sir JAMES SAUMAREZ is also expected to take a command in the same expe dition, who will hoist his flag on board the Victory, on his arrival in the Downs. GOTTENBURGH MAIL. This morning we received journals and letters from Gottenburgh to the 21st inst. The KING of DEN MARK, who had long been in such a state of mental debility as not to be able to perform any of the execu tive functions, died suddenly on the 13th inst. The CROWN PRINCE (now FREDERICK VI.) has succeeded to the Throne ; but there were no acclamations or rejoicings when he was prOclaimed.- 7 -In an action re ported to have taken place in Finland, the Russians are said to have lost 5000 men, and the Swedes 1700. Thl latter retreated after the action. The following are the principal articles received by this Mail: DECLARATION OF THE KING OF SWE. DEN AGAINST RUSSIA. " That the Russian troops on the 21st of last Fe bruary invaded Finland, was first made known to his Majesty by a telegraphic dispatch, and soon after con firmed by a Prwclamation, issued on the part of his Imperial Russian Majesty, and profusely scattered through the Swedish Provinces, inviting the people to sedition and revolt. 44 A rupture made without any previous declara tion of war—nay, without one single grievance being stated—commenced with treachery, and led on by a traitor to his native country,* is an event of which but few precedents exist, and which cannot but excite in dignation and disgttst, on the very face of the tran saction. But if the late relation between the two Courts be taken into consideration—if this proceeding be examined as far as it is directed against an'ally, who always conducted himself in a faithful and ho. nourable manner, it is difficult to mark the heinous deed with the term it deserves. It will stand Single on the page of history down to the latest times. 44 At a period when his Imperial Majesty seemed anxious to relieve oppressed rulers and countries, when he seemed aware of the danger which threatened all Europe, his Royal Majesty, animated by the same sentiments, continued with him in close alliance, placing implicit confidence in a friend, a relation, an independent Monarch ! The Russian Emperor had . entered into engagements beneficial to the general cause, and tending to check the destructive ambition of France ; he was sufficiently powerful to fulfil those engagements. His Royal Majesty, therefore, joined him as a friend, animated by-the same sentimentc ; and he is now invaded by him, because he was his ally. Never could a Prince enter into similar engage ments with anJther power, with stronger hopes of their being sacredly fulfilled. The Emperor had been personally calumniated by the French Government ; the Russian nation had been calumniated and puhlicly proclaimed as savages and barbarianst. All that is sacred to Governments was intimately interwoven with the common interest, how then could any mistrust or suspicion possi bly be harboured, when the Emperor expressly de clared that he should reject all offers of peace, how ever advantageous they might be, which could not be reconciled with the honour of the Russian name, the security of the country, the interest of his allies, and the general tranquillity of Europet. _ _ _ "How far this Declaration is consistent with the peace of Tilsit, has already been decided by the pre scat age ; and posterity will affirm the doom. The King stood on the theatre of war, and was rot ac quainted with the negotiation for an armistice and peace until the latter was concluded, contrary to the express stipulation of the treaty concluded between Sweden and Russia the 14th of January, 1805, (Art. IX.) The intelligence of this unexpected event was followed by an offer to contribute to the Conclusion of creace§, which induced his Majesty to renew the • loran Sprengtporten. ' 6 A peorle (the Russians) which, from the barbarity of its manners and ways of fife, must be univemilly abhorred."—Ce tteral Orders, Vienna, the 23d Brnnsaire, year 14 (Nov. 14, 160 .5). " Those savage hordes, whose assistance will for the last time be claimed by the Governments of Europe."-2.lth Bulletin of the Grand Army (No. 16, 18°5). " Were the Creek tenets al lowed to be diffused between the Baltic and the Mediterranean, we should won see our provinces attacked by swarms of enraged barbarians."—A proclamation published at head-quarters, War saw, the 29th lune, 1807, sinned N. BONAPARTZ. • Russian Manifesto of August 30, 1806. S General Budberg's letter to Baron Wetterstadt, Ptincipal Se t gretarf for Foreign 41fairs, of the 10th of Jury, 1807. demand of an armistice, which was stiPalatdfil th e ' treaty of Tilsit 11, but met with a denial, and then bar. ned to appreciite the value , of the co-operation o f Russia. The King being now unable to defend:any longer his German dominions, was obliged to surrey der them. • • “ After this loss, occasioned_ by the secession of Russia, his Royal Majesty left the theatre of war, and merely endeavoured to enjoy in his kingdom that tranquillity which he was entitled . to expect from his situation. He had fulfilled his engagements with Rus sia, and now expected to learn what under a changed system wouldbe done in his favour. The King had supported the Russian operations with his ships of war, had opened to the Emperor his magazine of warlike stores, had rejected and hardly noticed the offers made to him by the French Government**, one of which was, that in case of a rupture with Russia in the midst of a war, when the Russian frontiers and the capital itself were perfectly de fenceless ; all the provinces lost in the reign of Charles XII. should be restored to Sweden, and that besides any 'part of the Russian empire should be procured to the*King, which he should require. His Royal Majesty is far from claiming any praise for having rejected such offers ; but his right of expecting honourable proceedings from the power spared, was strengthcd by his conduct. The secret articles of the treaty of Tilsit, which were first sus pected, and afterwards acknowledged by the Russian Ministry, began to appear. The terrific measures of . France to hem in the whole Continent of Europe, and shut it against the English, had commenced to be carried into eirect, and to spi cad misery and want from port to port, and throughout Continental Eu ' rope from State to State. The Government was permitted to act according to iti own judgment and experience, and no medium acknowledged between vassals and foes; peace. me:int confederacy ; confederacy, subjeCtion ; and principles, laws, and systems, were dictated by France to her so styled allies, who humbly receive thew from Paris, unmindful of the wounds which they should inflict on the common welfare. s. Preparations for X rupture with,. England were made in Petersburgh as early as last autumn, and merely a convenient season was waited for to carry them into execution, when by a note of the 6th of October it was proposed to his Majesty to co-operate in the same manner as in 1780, in an attempt to shut the Baltic against foreign ships of war. 44 His Royal Majesty retutaed for answer, tinder date of die 13th of November, that as long as the' French Government w;!s lording it over so consider able a part of the Southern ports of the Baltic, and Practising its• excluding system, there could be no tranvillity in the Baltic, wherefore his Imperial Majesty must first prevail on the French to quit them ; and as the above demand was repeated on the 27th of the said month, and compliance was required,' as an obligation arising • from the con vention of the year 17N0, it was fully stated in a reply giver. the 21st January last,- that by the. convention concluded between Russia and England in the year 1801, and towhich Sweden acceded by the cyrK-ess desire of Russia, and under her own guaranty, the fornter armed neutrality was done away ; that his Maje..ty then entered into direct engagements wi thEng hich he could not in justice violate, as long as that power continued to fulfil them on its part ; that aloi kg with the formerarmednentrality the stipulation to shut the Baltic natty ally fell totheground, a stipulation which was the less fitted for the present circumstances, as the former Danish navy then reckoned upon, did' no longer eyist ; and as England had besides opened a passage through the Great Belt, but that as Swe den was not at liberty to contribute with an armed force to preserve tranquillity in the Balti2, she would endeavour to obtain by negociation with England, that the latter should send thither no ships Ff war un less some other power rendered that measure neces sary by hostilities committed in that sea. 64 That Sweden should serve Russia for a bulwark, since she had been pleased to provoke England ; that Sweden should sacrifice her fleet and her trade to protect Cronstadt, was certainly asking too much. Hostile preparations now immediately commenced on the Russian frontiers. His Royal Majesty, however, looked still with indifference on them as long as no grievance had been stated to him, and no claim pre ferred. • 66 The offer to obtain by negotiations the tranquil- I lity of the Baltic, opened prospects of peace and profit for Russia, and for the whole North of Europe, and therefore assuredly could not be refused. The ports of Russia could thus haVe continued their trade un disturbed, and this trade could not but prove ex tremely desirable to his Imperial Majesty, after an unfortunate War, and a still more unfortunate Peace. —The offer was made on the supposition- of Eng land's consent, which there were strong grounds to expect ; and fiis Majesty hoped to obtain it., before the English fleet, Which was so much dreaded, should be able to reach the Baltic. A direct answer to this offer beitig avoided, his Majesty's Ambassador was directed the 15th of February, to make remonstran t!. Tendency and bearings of the secret Article. ' General Bernadotte made an offer of Norway to a Swedish Officer, who was taken prisoner. The French Minister, Bou riennt, offered Netzel to the Swedish Charge d'Affaires, on the 4th November, 1806, and General Grandjean offered to Coionel Baron Tawast, the 27th May, 1807, any eztention of the Swedish frontiers that might be d*sired in case of a rupture with Russia. p*that subject, when at once all official coin leankatinns with Sweden were broken off, and the troops . enteied Finland, with tie fallowing , Pipapsnation (These Proclamations, addressed to 'this swed,k Soldiers of the Army in Fhdattd, and to thitishabitints of that Country, have already been given at 'till length:) . Every lawful Government—every manly and ho nourable Soldier—every (faithful subject, condemns the proceedings. " This sodden invasion of a friendly country, com menced with treacherous attempts to stir np is unprecedented even in our times. otherwise so rich in instances of the most tmvrartantable acts of violence and despotism. The . Russian empire, allied with France, is not sufficiently powesful to overcome the resistance of a province - which, on account of -the season, is entirely left to itself. Treachery and re bellion must be called in for assistance ! " The Government endeavours to buy the peo ple in a mais, and seduce them by offers of happiness and liberty ; the Commander in Chief endeavours to buy soldiers by the piece, who had not been able to buy serfs in the markets of Petersburgh and Riga. " Faithful inhabitants of Finland, respectable peo ple, your King, since the beginning of his reign, has constantly endeavoured to diffuse knowledge and pro sperity through your country ; a treacherous friend is now attempting to disturb' your repose, and throw ~you back into the darkness of ancient times. His sword ' is'Unsheathed over your heads; his blood-stainedliands are extended to complete your ruin; do rot rely on his treacherous promises, which merely tend to unncry the arm of loyalty, and decoy you from your faithful attachment to your King and country. Concerned at the misfortunes attending on war, but convinced that he has not provoked them, your King feels sa tisfied that your attachment to his person remains un impaired, and you may depend on his making the utmost exertion, assisted by a powerful Ally, to pro -1 tect and avenge you. " Stockholm, March 11, 180 R." GOTTENBURGH, MARCH 21. An embargo was laid yesterday on all Prussian ve,s,..ls—the following are here, viz.—Juno, Rosenr :.;ON Albertina Marianne, Mossop ; Underneming, Riiooht, and the Nika, HAM, from London for Me mel; Maria, AUCKLAND, from ditto, for Pillau ; Prelang, HAXNANIAN, for ditto, and the Friendship, R.omas, from London for Koningsburg, and two others; also two at Marstrand, viz. Rudolph, and the Fate. Two others sailed, but will most likely be brought back. On the 19th sailed for the •• , !!..:11.1, his Majesty's . ships Vanguard, Stately, Lynx, Quebec, Falcon, and Constant. A courier has arrived this from Stock-, lhohn, with dispatches for En,1 . t1,1. It seems there has been an affair in Finland, L..—.7een the Russians and Swedes, in which 'the former are said to have lost 5000 men, and the latter 1700. The Swedes have, however, retreated. This happened near Tawast chus : we have not yet received the particulars. An embargo was laid last week in this harbour upon all Russian, Danish, and Prussian ships. HAMI3URGH, MARCH 4. A division of Spanish troops are ordered to march to the Isle of Rugen ; Grateen's division is also expee- . ted to go to Pomerania. MAUCII 7.—Yesterday morning the Prince of Ponte Corvo reviewed about 10 or• 12,000 French and Spanish troops. Immediately after the review, the Spanish division received orders to march to the Isle of Ruben. HEISINBURGH, MARCH 19. Yesterday a courier arrived from Elsineur, with ac counts of the death of the King of Denmark, which took place, suddenly, on the 13th of this month. On the 16th the Crown Prince was proclaimed King, on the Parade, by the title of Frederick the Sixth ; but there was no acclamation, nor the least appearatice of joy on the occasion.—Bernadotte had arrived at Copenhagen ; and, it is said, that about four thou sand French troops had got over to Zealand ; and that more were daily crossing the Belts. AMERICA. The following are extracts from private letters.— They are both from characters highly respectable : • ¶' NEW-YORK, FEB. 17. • " Before this lime, I feel much confidence in say ing affairs between Great Britain and this country will be amicably, and I trust, permanently adjusted. Every e:rcumstancc which has come to my know ledge, within these three days, flatters us with such a prospect. I think I may venture to add, that you may place entire absolute reliance on my assurance, that though there may be no treaty note concluded between the countries, all apprehensions of war are vanished.—There can be no war:—that there will be a rupture with France is more than probable. I should not trust myself to speak with sat much certainty to you, Gentlemen, considering it may be of no small moment to you, had I not what I consider indubitable ground:. I have added this information, aside from my business, for your private satisfaction." " FEBRUARY 110. " The embargo has produced such a general stag nation of trade, and so completely destroyed all confi dence among merchants, that every thing is at a stand. We have already had many failures, and some of them to a great amount ; and if the embargo continues for three months, there will be a much greater number. Many refuse to sell but for ready money, and to lessen isisportnnhies for credit, h ave shut up shop. The gent al opinion, however, is d in all differences will be amicably settled. M r . R ou, who arrived at Washington on the 13th of Janas% has taken a house in that city for six months. The orders in Council arrived here on the 19th : d ley have not given half the diipleasure I expected. Flour in,Fredericksburg is from 3 to 31 dollars p er barrel—Cotton at Charleston, upland, 12# Cents,. No •kind of *mince is selling here." The following is the Message which Mr. Jona now Sent to Congress, when- he transmitted our Ord en of Council of the 11th of November last : • " Washington, FA s, “To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United' States. . Havinrreceivcd an official co:rununication of certain ord ers of the littitish Government against maritime rights of Neutral s , bearing date the 11th of November, 1307, 1 transma them to Congress, as a further proof of the increasing Aangero to our na. vigation and commerce, which led to the provident act c g present Session, lay irg an embargo on our own vessels. " THOMAS JEFFERSON." • At the moment when the House of Representa. tives were in full debate, at Washington, en the 19th January, the pipes which conduct the warm air from under the Hall, burst, and the Members were all actually and literally =waled out of their place. PORTUGAL. " HIBERNIA, OFF I.IS3qN, FEL °' , usos. 61 A French gun vessel placed to guard the Mouth of the Tagus, was cut out four nights ago by a boa t belonging to the Confiance, under extraordinary ic r. cumstances. " The Confiance had anchored close in shore for the purpose of watching the motions of the Russian squadron ; a boat with a Midshipman and fifteen men were ordered to row round the ship during the night; they, however, took it into their heads to go into the Tagus, and after rowing near the Russians without being discovered, on their return boarded this vessel, commanded by a Lieutenant and fifty men, three o f whom were killed, and nine wounded. Swords were their weapons, not a shot having been fired on either side : she was not missed until the morning, although she lay within musket shot of the immense batteries or St. Julian sand Belem Castles. " A Flag of Truce was sent in next day by the Confiance with the wounded ; but Juror was so much enraged at the circumstance, that he sent ordas to the batteries to sir,k her; but she had reached the city before his orders could be put in execution. The wounded were, however, received ; but after march. ing the officer and boat's crew about as prisoners for some hours, they were sent on board the French Cora. ipodore's ship, with a guard, for the night. JUNO?, however, thought proper to order their release in the morning, and they returned to their ship in the course of the day. The General had placed the greatest ' confidence in this Lieutenant, and had given him po. sitive orders to guard against oar boats. The Mid. shipman has been promoted to the Alfred. " The Portuguese were quite oierjoyed on the occasion, and frequently expressed • their hopes ma expectations of an English Army coming to their relief. The French are not without their fears of this, as they are disarming and disbanding the Por. tuguese troops.. Several of their Officers have got on board here, and some have been shot, for .eridea. vouring to inflame the minds of the People, according to JuNox's account." . • - • • . .. t•. . In our last accounts from Gibraltar-it was stated, that Sir SIDNEY SMITE had arrived theri: un• derstand he was preparing to sail for the Brazils, as Commander in on that station. He was ex. pected to take his departure on the 6th or 7th inst. J •s rr Accounts had been received at Gibraltar before the sailing of the last packet, that NAPOLEON was posi. tively expected at Valladolid in a short time, to ar range affairs in Spain to his satisfaction. He will never attempt any thing serious against Gibraltar, till he has made such arrangements as will pn.t the whole Spanish force at his disposal. Advices from Madrid state, that a Decree, bearing date 'A st January, 1808, had been published there, prohibiting the sailing of any vessel belonging to the nations in alliance with France and Spain. The rea• son assigned for this act of the Government is, that such vessels may not fall into the hands of the British.i os Vri It is stated from Mexico, that in case BONAPARTE succeeds in revolutionizing Spain, the people of that country are not indisposed to throw off the yoke of foreign dominion, and raise among themselves an in• dependent Government. Admiral Sir J*zcm SALTA' tRE landed at Wei . • mouth on Wednesday, from Gutrnsey, accompanied by Captain Dumwasstava and his 6ecretary. He came over in one of his Majesty's frigates, and inn& diately proceeded in a chaise and four for London, being about to be employed on a secret expedition. Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the East India House, when Captain COLLI,B was sworn into the - command of the ship Travers, consigned'to Ma' dras and 13enc;a1.—The Court adjourned, at six o'clock; till Wednesday Yesterday a meeting of the inhabitants of St. Giles's, Cripplegate, was held in the Parish Church for the choice of a Lecturer, to succeed the Rev. Dr. GRE* CORY, deceased, when the Rev. G. F. BATES, B. A. Queen's College, Cambridge, was upanimouslyelec- 4 tb the same. .~f