Star. — London, England, 1810-10-04 00:00:00

RIVATE LETTERS FROM SPAIN'. Head-quarters at Tarragona, August a 4. After the action of the 2d, we have had news from Reus that the enemy lost 500 men, two Colonels, some other officers, and a General of Division woun ded; and that they have not dared to approach the town of Canonja, where they paid for their gas conade. We also know, that in the road of Salon they hive their flying artillery, consisting of 15 light pieces, with the exception of two 12-pounders and two 8-inch howitzers. In Reus they demanded a contribution of 16,000 dollars, and 600 dollars daily; bat theitynntamiento having refused to satisfy them, they arrested them all, and threatened to send them to Barcelona. This morning, the division of- Ibarrola entered, consisting of 55(K) infantry and 300 cavalry, which encamped in the Olive Grove; but this evening it left us for Canonja, which has made every one tranquil. The great number of deserters is a serious conside ration, as in an, this month, their number amounts to 733; to-day, 85, for the most part armed, 50 of whom came from Gerona. The enensy, to impede so great an evil, have their encampments surrounded with cavalry, notwithstanding which they cannot put a stop to it. August 25, at two o'clock in the Evening. Last night, at one o'clock, the enemy began to leave Reus, carrying with them 24 of the principal inhabitants of that town, for not complying with the contribution. This morning at six, the rear-guard left it, and at the same time the vanguard of Iba rola's division entered it. All the morning a most tremendous firing was heard from thence, which has been from the said division and another of 5000, which was posted at Valls. General O'Donnell left this at ten o'clock, and at one all the troops that were in the garrison, to meet the ettenu a from which we expect favourable accounts. AfilPelve o'clock, 49 deserters, all armed, and some grenlediers, came in. In Reus there were no exceases committe4► We re• main here without any enemy before us, which we are sorry for, as in 15 days more we should have had the pleasure of seeing their whole army desert to us. From Tortosa they write in greater spirits than ever. —This morning a circumstance occurred which' was likely to have bad disagreeable results, had not a stop been put to it :-20 deserters began throwing stones at a. soldier of cavalry, near the custom-house, immediately foor others came to succour him, and having drawn their swords, one Italian was killed and four wounded ; at last a stop was put to it. ALICANT, SEPTEMBER 7. We are rather a little uneasy, as General Sebas. tiani, alias the Duke of Murcia, is advancing at the head of 7000 men. Blake has his head-quarters at Alcantarillla, where he has 14,000 men, say 700Gof whom are fighting men. All the gates of the city are shut except that of Reyna, through which no one is permitted to pass that is not well known. Saprotata 10.—We are now a little more at ease with respect to our situation here. Sebastiani has retired, and the Spanish head-quarters have advanced, and some parties have reached Lorca. Blake is very active, and enjoys the confidence of every one. In Catalonia 0' Donnell bas certainly defeated Macdo nald, and obliged him to evacuate Reus. is army would have suffered much more, had General Ibar. rola acted properly. He is arrested, and will proba bly be shot. If any thing will save thisc ountry, it will be the determined conduct of O'Donnell and Blake. PALMA, AUGUST 21, '2" The French army under General Maedonild Marched from Barcelona the 14th inst.. having the* 'me day received a reinforcement of between 12 and 15,000 men, upon Igualada, in the rear of the Patriots stationed at the Llobregat. From Igualada, they fell down upon the Coll de Santa Christina, which they forced on the 17th and 18th. Early on the morning of the 18th, 8000 men entered Reus, by which they obliged the patriots stationed at Falest and Tiriza to abandon their positions, and to save themselves by running into Tarragona in the best manner they could. It was not known at Tarrago na, on the nth, where General O'Donnell was.—. The consequence of the above is, that the enemy have become masters of the Ebro, and surrounded irth Turtosa and Tarragona on all sides. Their ? , -roe on this side the Ebro is stated to be about 5 0,000 men. TARRAGONA, AUGUST s. General O'Donnell is just returned from Tortosa. During his absence of six days, he reconnoitred the enemy's position at Tivisa with about 2000 men, ;',‘ their advanced posts, and obliged them to sate their force, which proved to be 5000 This being ascertained, he ordered his little to retreat; in effecting which they were assail / the enem, who, notwithstanding his superio was compe l led to fall back, with the loss of 200 Ours was comparatively small. On his re. to Tortosa, the brave O'Donnell ordered a sally made immediately, with a view to destroy the ty's entrenchments on the opposite side of the which was carried into execution with the ut gallantry and spirit. The French were 'sar i, thrown into the greatest confillion, took to heels, abandoning their , guns, knapsacks, hel &c. We made 100 prisoners, and killed and ided many. The desertion from Barcelona con very great. Upwards of eight hundred men entered this garrison within three weeks; they chiefly Italians and Poles. concenl strong. army e 4 by t nty, NT; Men. turn to to be n enemy! river, I most 8 prised, their he mots, :::ive e 4;1, chi( 1110 ing • LA-Ptilfrit ifirtafiOriliffilliffed hods the Uwe Ayres Owe* wog Mt - . *NM* • Oadit docommits, which threw ;Meek It 1R ite stele of the trade ell this enemy with On *MO illinelloonts • Ms the Rio de la Plata. 'The new Govirmalid hr aUt, aiffie date of these pspen, bad time to revise all the Coalmen:lA re !Witless of the did ingoaffile 'yam, and the fonds: duties stilt remained in fate. Of the pernicious effect of these duties on trade, the representadon of the Commktee of Bridals Merchant. . at Buenos Ayres affords the meet morrincing Foots, The cor. respondence rupee:dog eoatrabaid ceinnerce will be found particularly int:orating. onsentrATion OF Irlit Atli?* ON 811000L11t04 ' Bums Ayres, July 11. Nothing is better calculated to support the dignity of a Government than firmness in repressing abuses which had been sanctioned by the practice of many years. Contraband trade, • which has been - the ruin of many states, was carried On in this city with that notoriety, that it seemed to have lost all its deformity; the risk that is undertaken is calculated from the &I.' ficulties that are to be overcotne, and the Merchant is compelled in this manner to take into his estimates the situation of the place to which he trades, as well as the penalty imposed upon the introduction of clan. destine merchandite. With what shame will the memory of those Governments be recollected, who _ countenance the criminal propensitiei of man, who know no other imports than contraband, which they protect ? Eternal disgimce attend those mercenary men, who, insensible to honour and the general good of the State, have ruined commerce, injured the cus toms, and destroyed the seeds of our felicity. ' The English merchant who comes to these regions, inclined to maintain the honour and integrity which characterise his nation, finds himself compelled to smuggle, because he finds that legitimate trade does not meet that encouragement which it f a - merly did. A compliance with the laws enhances the price of his goods, and while he is unable to obtain a market for his goods, he loses the c , mfidence of his principals in London, for the great charges he necessarily incurs in his negociations ; he is therefore under a P:eiessity of imitating the smuggler, or rem ftio inngrieved specta tor of the advantages that are obekmed by it with impunity. The Spanish merchant cavqot with dig. nity dispose of the consignments made to him, but finding illicit trade carried on with impunity, he is reduced to the necessity of becoming a vile instrument in the frauds and caprices of others. To this unhappy source - ought to be attributed the degradation of com ii - merce, the uncertainty of prices, the vacillating state of trade, the pusillanimity of merchants in under taking speculations, their own debasement, and the draining of the treasury, which, within the last year of free commerce, has been unable to answer those demands which occasioned its'establishment.- It is not the object of this paper to detail all the evils which smuggling has introduced among us.— We shall confine ourselves to state the situation in which our mercantile relations stand with those of Great Britain. It was a matter of notoriety with the Government, that a greAtquantity of contraband goods was on board the ship Jane, and they sent a compe tent guard to secure the cargo.; it was examined, and its owner ascertained, in order that a judicial investi- Fation should take place, and the parties introducing it contrary to law shoul d receive their merited punish ment. Scarcely had the ship been seized, when the English merchant who was owner of the cargo, pub licly confessed that it was illicit. He repeated the same confessiod-before several Members of the Junta, and to the extent of his property he offered to make any sacrifice that would be accepted, to escape that , punishment which threatened him. But fortunately he did not live in a time when impunity for offences can be obtained at fixed prices. In the mean time the ship was taken to the Canal de Balizas, where she was speedily unloaded ; but while the same diligence was taking place respecting another ship, the Juliet, which was in similar circum stances in the morning of the 6th, one of his Britan- ' nic Majesty's ships of war hastened up to her, and put a troop of English Marines on board of her, and hoisted a flag, as it were, to retain her without the consent of the Government. A people inspired with zeal and enthusiasm for their rights, could not observe this movement with indifference, which, at first sight, possessed the appearance of a public defiance. The agitation was general, and the Government might have been involved in a difficulty of no easy repara. tion, but the prudence with which it acted succeeded in stifling this misunderstanding in its cradle. The English Commander, R. Ramsay, was called before the Junta, and a pacific and patient discussion termi nated this transaction happily. He assured them that his'only object in hoisting the national flag in the ves sel was,.that, until the final decision of the Committee, she did not cease to be English. He acknowledged the justice of our pretension, and they accepted his generals offers in favour of the public order, which were, that inasmuch as was in his power he should prevent smuggling, and restore the good faith anti dignity of commerce. A delicate question has terminated happily, and special instructions have been 'issued to prevent •nn- Celasant misunderstandings in future, which frequent rise from toe much zeal on the part of inferior officers ; but if, unfortunately, an unforeseen combine lion should destroy the harmony which is the base of the Provisional Commerce, who-will be answerable for the serious evils which must follow ? The mer chant who sees the regular channel of commerce ob structed ; the Spanish merchant, who is deprived of _lucrative consignments ; the Lc - nitro - 1r inerdirint, who sees a suspension of those importations on which he calculates important advantages ; our planters, who see themselves reduced to the former stagnation of - exports, all will direct their imprecations against the smuggler, who, for a sordid gain, exposes to irrepa ,zable risk the welfare of the State. The Junta have resolved to cut all these evils in their spring. The Isoilourable trader shall not be confounded with the, smuggler • the latter shall be prosecuted with AC snit ener gy with which the former will be protected, and to facilitate a final set t, the Junta have or 'tiered that the signature : this consignee shall not be received in the Custom-house, nor' in the Royal Consulate, for any consignment or foreign negocill; don, until the final issue of the process, that the Eng . ,lish merchant may understand that the violator or the laws shall have no participation ,of that gene t ina' reception, which is granted with so much good-wild to the honourable merchants and subjects of the Eng , fish nation. , receipts , heavy disburse. menu indispensable fee& peeseevetion of the State. Among the different resources which presented.them selves to accomplish this end, they have preferred a free provisional conimeree with the English Nation; and they have repealed the laws which prohibited it, with the tmo-fold object of introducing such articles as will create an active circulation, and increase the ties which already unite the two nations. For this purpose a rule has been formed,. and solemnly pub- lished, instructing national and foreign merchants in the invariable conduct which they ought to pursue; and intimating the injury which the contraband trader will cause to this establishment, as well as the pre tendons which will be taken to prevent it. and the punishment which will fall upon the offenders. (ou know very well that as our security depends upon this single resource, the character of an infamous de linquent must fall upon him who undermines the I :only means of our preservation ; and that if the Spa nish merchant is false to his King, his Country, and himself, as a clandestine trader, the English merchant who deals with him is equally false to the honour of ' his nation, to the duties of his profession, and the gratitude due to a people who give a generous recep tion to every individual of his great nation, who have before the whole world supported the great cause in which we are engaged. The conduct of the English Government towards the Monarchy of Spain, in its greatest difficulties, is an eternal lesson to other nations of the confidence with which an alliance with Great Britain ought to be re ceived ; flint and uniform in her principles, she be stows equal ;are in preserving the integrity of the Spanish territory as in maintaining public order. But this security will be useless, if the most serious means are not taken to repress excesses, which will ruin the treasury, and are disgraceful to those Who commit them ; and when our ports are opened W. a free im.l portation of Elfish merchandise, it is intolerablel that the sordid interest of a few should break . the bonds of decency, and excite an irritation, which in , the end would subvert the foundation of our taw system of commerce. In these circumstances the Junta hare resolved to be inflexible in inflicting punishment upon offenders; but at the same time, considering that it is your duty to influence the subjects of your Sovireign not to abuse a privilege, which by regular and decent means they may freely enjoy, and from whose abuse injury and ruin falls upon the honourable trader, who exactly conforms to the conditions imposed upon him, we trust you will, therefore, employ your authority and your zeal in preventing an excess so contrary to the dignity of our laws. It is a satisfaction to the Junta to direct this letter to a Chief of such prudence, honour, and credit, as yourself. The circumstances which impel us to these measures are very notorious, and the honour of the English/nation is too delicate to leave room to suppose that her officers would conspire-to injure a people who resist all ties but those that result from good faith and the practice of the social virtues. The Junta depend upon your own zeal upon this point, and that at the same time you will instruct the Admiral and the Go 'vernrnent of your nation of what we wish to be done, that they may give effect to our just wishes where your .uvrn power is insufficient. GOD preserve you many years. Buenos Ayres, 6th July, 1810. To the Commander of his Britannic Majesty's Forces In the River Plate. REPLY OF LIEUTENANT RAMSAY. I have received a letter from your Excellency of the 6th instant, wherein you state the motives which induced you to open this port to British commerce, under certain conditions and regulations, which are to serve as a guide to native and foreign traders in their negociations, as well as the resolution which the Government have taken to give effect to such penal ties as are annexed to those conditions, according to the laws of the country against smuggling, and desi ring me at the same time to use the influence which I possess in supporting the views of the Government to abolish illicit commerce, and thereby render a ser-' vice to a country who treats with so much hospitality subjects of his Britannic Majesty, who are engaged in mercantile speculations in these provinces. In answer to all which I ought to inform your Ex cellency that I have carefully perused it, and com municated its contents to the English merchants who reside in this city, and that the principals of them together with myself, are entirely of opinion that th; ideas which the Government express are just, proper, and ought to be carried into effect; but I hope that it will be done with this consideration for the security end the liberty of the subjects of his Britannic Ma jesty, and the protection of the property of those met.- ' chants who wish to conform to the laws of the country, and. the commercial regulations which have been [ adopted, and act according to the sentiments which I your Excellency expresses of reciprocal good faith, and the practice of the social virtues. At the same time, I ought to make known to your Excellency, that hitherto wily a small part of that hospitality to which you allude has been given on the part of the Government to the English merchants ; and that although their situation has been somewhat ameliorated, there still exist certain orders which en ' courage smuggling in a much greater degree than your Excellency appears to be aware of, and which I will communicate to your Excellency the moment I can attain the necessary documents. On my part, I will exercise all the authority I pos sess to give effect to the plan which your Excellency Proposes, that is—the benefit of the honourable mer chant, and the legitimate commerce of my fellow countrymen who daily esteem, more and more, the relations which unite us to our respective Govern ments.—l have the p.onour to be, &c. LIEUTENANT RAMSAY, OT THE MISLETOSIIIIIOONTR, TO THE JUNTA Or BUENOS AYBEL k g , • Permit me to call the attention of your Excellen cies to the annexed copy of a letter, addressed to ma .by the Combittee of the English Merchants esta blished in did city, hilly convinced that the subject to which- it terates will receive from your Excellencies' all the attention doe to an affair of so much impor-1 tante to a liberal and enlightened Government. The letter has been addressed tome, and I believe I cannot better promote the cause of the English Merchants than by transmitting to you a certified copy of the =FUR OF THE _ - Banos Arra s JaN to Sit—Our sehtimettts are entirely can Niibilge strith those manifested by you to the Protisimai Anna, in reply to their lettee on smuggling. 1,41.1110 y ap. prove of the resolution wh.ch the 3i:inhibit+, taken to destroy a system as prejudicial to the revenues Isf Government as to the interests of honourable merce. Much as we lament that Mete has beef any one of our countrymen who hal ctimmeneet tech a traffic, we cannot terrain from stating, that t edoties demanded by the Custom Houle, on 11 ilneened, are sometimes very excessive, that they powerfully stimulate to the practice of smuggling, and we are clearly of opinion, that were the Govermhent to adopt a more equal system of duties, it would produce the happiest results, and it would be the mast certain means of putting an end to a corrtmerce which might to be equally detested by the metchantsofboth nations. To give a more comprehensite idea of the manner in which the duties are at present collected, permit us to state two examples which have occurred to some of the undersigned, and who are informed that they might cite many others of the same nature. In the month of January last was Imported hi the ship Anna; from Liverpool, by one of the under signed, consigned to D. Sentura Marco, a bail marked T.B. No. 2, containing 46 dozens and a half of cot , ton stockings, the duties on which amounted to 370 dollars, seven teals, which was about eight dollars a dozen. The stockings actually remain on hand, and cannot be sold, as the greatest price which has been offered for them does not exceed nine dollars per dozen. The duties, although they arc nominally said to amount only to 89 and a 3d per cent. on the prime cost, have in this case exceeded a hundred per cent. In the month of December last, in the same manner was imported by one of the undersigned, a cargo of woollen goods, in the Little Venus. from Rio Janeiro, consigned to D. Jose Lisaur, which were classed by the Inspectors as :balloons, and the duties on which amounted to about nine reals per yard. A great part of these goods remains unsold, and the highest price offered for many of them does not exceed eight teats per yard, that is to say, less than the amount of the duties, which, on goods of inferior quality, extend from 140 to 100 per cent. As the quantity of thee kinds of merchandize is considetabk, the dude% amount to about ten thousand dollars, the greater part of which is already out of the pockets of the pmptietors, who have no chance of reimbursement by the sales. We ate of opinion, that if the Provi sional Junta, which has already manifested its incli nation to liberal ideas of commerce, reflect seriously upon the subject, it will be convinced that the only means of effectually =si ng the contraband trade, is at all hazards to m te and to equalize the du ties. When the result of importinit goods, and passing them through the Custom-house, is precisely the traer fice of the property, it can scarce be hoped that there will not be found some individuals willing to run the double risk of losing their goods and reputation. —From the great variety and hovelty of many of the goods which have been imported into this Omar" since the opening of the Port, it may happenthat the Officers of the Custom-house are on many occasions ignorant of their real value. The ezeetingi however, of such excessive and arbitrary duties, is not only rid. nous to individuals, but injurious to the Treasury. If you think fit to present a representation to the Prd visianil Junta on this - subject, we intteat yod to take advantage of that opportunity to shake known to that Government our gratitude for the favour and tion which it has pleased to thew to the English t - trade, and to give an assurance that the most respec table part of the English Merchants residing here will always be ready to submit to the judicious regulations which its wisdom may think fit to adopt. We have the honour to be, &c. &c. (Signed) • Msetumon Robert Staples, Francis Clyde, Cavern Asada, /ohs Hui S medley. REPLY OP THE JUNTAi The Junta having received the represeatation of the English Merchants recommended by you. has di rected that the accomplishment of its consideration should be secured by the different Ministers, whose business it is to investigate the subject. The Junta -will hasten their proceedings, and in the mean time 'sure you that they will embrace every means whist tbe advantages of commerce, the interests of the Treasury, and the respect for the laws may combine. (Signed) Cornelia Saavedra. Dr. Mariano liarsoo, See. %nos Ayres, July 13, 1810. The late Iift.ABRAOMM GOLDSMID',AFFAIRS, The letter which we yesterday 'mentioned to have been received by this House from the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, contained merely those assurances • which the Gentlemen, who waited on him, received from him in person, on their last interview ; to the purport, that every lenity and assistance should be given which could be done with propriety. The cre. ditors, in the course of yesterday, had the contents of Mr. PERCEVAL% communication laid before them, with which they seemed perfectly satisfied ; and in the course of the day all those claimants, without se curities, signed an agreement, to wait a certain time for the settlement of their demands. The creditors of another description, who were in possession of securities for their money, did not sign, nor were they required to do so according to the present at-. rangement. Yesterday several large sums became due to the Stock 'Exchange for differences in Stock, and sappy sing the house of Mr. A. GOLDSIUD was not to settle them, the claimants of this class held a mew ing at their rooms, to take the matter into considers. tion ; but before any proceedings had taken place Thereon, they were informed that their demands would be satisfied. The Governor and Directors of the Bank, who had promised their aid to the House of Mr. Gout. sss ID, met yesterday, for the purpose of taking hue consideration to what anent they would go. Nothing official was communicated on the subject s. but memo informed, the result was highly favourable to 4 the volved pasties. It was confidently said, that the Bank agreed to pay to the extent of 45 per cent. on the Orms;um pledgzd onaccount of Mr. GOLOSiageS House, which se 10 per cent. beyond what wait*. petted. ,Consols yesterday left pi at 60. 9 orpo *et 411 0, 10 , 0";.. s buolari . . • . . , . . . ' taIogiIIOWIMOONVA 10 1 10fillffitiffilea of ' -,l.. , ,•,:nm.aasrainnio MAJESTY ) * mar . somiiiiran t 14 'The wants of the Tataisitry have compelled th • Government to adopt extraordinary nseestires to mak Is the receipts sufficient to cover the heavy disburse - ,11 "" 7 - 1 F 7 . 1 "r7Prr edetelonfleto of di. Conimitt . t iiniSas floor to be your tieellendee Rif* obedient bu L t amity (Sigli 6 d) RAMSAY. Lama OF THE COMMITTIIIto Td MUT. RAMSAT. naleftte &hit M ' Elk to Intintati tirr OCTo Msrmlci—ip Id. wszolumbitlN OCTOBER S. WO Guineas, Bee fei. en bens. &c. 4-7 r-olds a rrsL, 70. 46. pyr.out. se. Mb. 6104 W Dec. it and are it. B. C. o r F . Euelpo's eh. t. Reeding ) by Gehenna, re old • a 1, 1 Wleiwns's th. its. Gift s 5 yea aid SU. Howertb's b. g. Dwarf, 6 yrs end . .to Sto 2 apt Reading-7 W 1 opt Gift-k 7 to 4on ThetifrE sweepstskes of OOP ma. ft• a Ti r e el& bid. alb. each. A). 14 Klesalrd's eb. c. Tbs bendy,by Gehenna Ld G. H. Oweedlah's b. e. Eceleston. by Cando . . I to 4 on The Dandy. Sweepstakes et Slop. sash. Ab. M. Lord poly's Spaniard, est.lolb. 1 Duke of Grafton's Fledges tat 'fib. • 2 I to 1 on Spaniard. Major Wilson's Juniper, est. 71b. beat Lord Oxford's Peahen, Bet lib. Atrow the Rat, 110025.-7 to 4 apt Juniper. One-third of a Subscription of idSp. with, for S-year-old Coln, ult. sib. and Fillies, est. eib. D. I. taint Ade the property of Subscribers. Duke of Grafton's br. C. Whalebone walked over. -A