Star. — London, England, 1810-09-01 00:00:00

AMERICA. WASHINGTON, JULY tS. We are informed that on the 24th June 1810, the United States brig Vixen, Lieutenant Trippe, carry ing 14 guns, on her way to New Orleans, under or ders from our Government, near the Bahamas, was, in a wanton and unprovoked manner, fired into by the British sloop of war, the Moselle, Captain Boyce, rating 20 guns, 32-pounders—a 32-pound shot car ried away the main boom of the Vixen within a short distance of Colonel Poindexter, a member of Con gress, who, with his family, had taken passage on board on his return from Congress; and a splinter from the boom wounded slightly Mr. Rodney, son or the Attorney-General of the United States, who likewise was on his nay to New Orleans. The subjoined extract of a letter from a gentleman of great respectability on board the Vixen, to hisfriend in this city, will give a detail of circumstances ; and on the conduct of Lieutenant Trippe, we will forbear .. - to make a comment, because, in our war with Tripoli, this officer signalized himself ; but more especially as we are informed that he has been ordered by the Se - cretary of the Navy to repair immediately to Wash ington, for the purpose of an inquiry into his conduct, in not returning the fire of the Moselle. " On the 24th inst. (June) an occurrence took . place, which was equally unpleasant and unexpected. The character of the affair, however, corresponds with the treatment which we have so often received from the British Naval Commanders on former occa sions. The Moselle, a 20 gun brig, carrying 32 pounders, was lying at anchor tinder the Stirrup Roy, near t! !e Bahama Bank. The Vixen approached her under full sail, with her pendent and ensign hoisted. The Commander of the Moselle hoisted French co. lours, and exhibited several private signals. Captain Trippe, on perceiving a beat which he supposed wish ed to speak his vessel, hauled up and received the Officer, who requested him to go down to the British vessel. With this iequect Captain Trippe declined a compliance, furnishing the Officer, at the same time, with the name of the vessel, and her destination.— Captain B.)yce, who commands the Moselle, fired a shot at us as we passed, which Captain Trippe consi dered as an intimation, that he wished to speak with us. Several musket-balls were fired from the boat into the vessel ; and at the very moment the British officer was politely received on board the Vixen, and before he had taken a memorandum of the reply, which was given by Captain Trippe to the message which was delivered—Captain Boyce fired a round shot, which came over the quarter-deck, and penetrated the main boom of the Vixen. Captain Trippe immediately dis charged the British officer, and prepared fot action. The British brig slipped her cable and got under way, menacing an attack on our vessel. So soon as she approached within a proper eistance, Captain Trippe dispatched a boat, with his first Lieutenant, to demand of the British officer an explanation of his conduct, who sent his Lieutenant on board the Vixen, with various apologies, which were not understood in a satisfactory manner ; and Captain Trippe addressed a note to Captain Boyce, requiring a written state. ment of the reasons which had induced him to fire • two shots at his vessel. 00 Captain BOyce returned for answer, that he re cognized, with pleasure, the existing amity between the two countries, and was extremely sorry for hav ing fired at 4 , s—that the reasons which induced him to fire, were that he could not distinguish our colours, and saw no preparation for taking in sail—that he had been informed that two French privateers were fitting out in the United States, and supposed we might pro bably be one of them. He also pledged his honour, tlfit his shot was not aimed at our vessel. The ex planation was deemed by Captain Trippe sufficient to prevent any further conflict; and we instantly made sail, and proceeded on our course. The injury which we sustained was trifling. Mr. Rodney's son was struck by a splinter from the boom, which occasioned his mouth to bleed a short time—no other person was touched. " The conduct of Captain Trippe in this affair was highly honourable to himself, to the American navy, and to his country. The Vixen was prepared for ac tion with the greatest promptitude and order, and the explanation demanded in a manner which left no doubt, as to his determination to vindicate the honour of the national flag, or perish in the attempt. The official assurances of Captain Boyce could not be questioned in an officiii form, but I feel the most perfect conviction that he knew the Vixen to be an American man of war —that..he fired the second shot directly at the vessel, with the view of provoking a return of time fire, and thereby furnish him with an excuse for going into action with a vessel of inferior metal, and then shift the responsibility from himself by declaring that his shot was fired through mistake, and without any intention of injuring the vessel. I was on deck and saw the gun on the forecastle of the Moselle levelled directly at the Vixen, and was not more than three feet from the place where the shot' struck the boom. The insolence of this transaction is not more remarkable than the meanness displayed by the British commander, in forging excuses for his conduct." BOSTON, JULY Is. A letter received by Mr. Gilbert, at the Exchange Coffee•honse, yesterday, from his correspondent in Salem, says : " Captain Williams, who arrived here this day, in forms, that on Wednesday, at noon, in sight of Cape Ann, he was boarded from a small British privateer, and treated with civility. An American ship was in company, enucerning which Captain W. made en-, quiries of the boarding officer, but received only eva sive answers. He afterwards hailed her, and received nn answer; but a passenger stepped over the side, and chalked the word Taken," as perceived through a glass. She appeared'to be about 300 tons, had a red bottom, varnished sides, woman head, air port between the main chains ; could not read Wer name, which appeared to be a long one, men, women, and children, passengers. Captain W. supposed a prize :luster was on board to carry her to Halifax. PHILADELPHIA, JULY 14. We are indebted to a friend for Caraccas Gazettes down to die Bth of June. The following official papers are conclusive as to the ground taken by the bitith Government. The consequence of the pro tection of their coast will leave them at liberty, com pletely to organize their Government, make arrange menu for defence and close federative alliances with the whole of Spanish America. - CARACCAS. JUNE 4. We have just received the most satisfactory news from our Commissioners at Curacoa, whose mission has been favourably received by that Government, and dignified with respect highly gratifying to ours, as will be observed by the following dispatches, faith. fully translated. They will shew the friendly part which his Excellency the Governor of that Island has taken for the just cause of Caraccas ; and the protec tion which the British forces have declared isfavourof it. Government's Hatt, Curaeoa, May ES. MOST ILLUSTRIOUS GENTLEMEN—I have the ho nour to acknowledge the receipt of a dispatch from Your Highness, under date of the 17th instant, exhi bited by Lieutenant Colonel Don Mariano Mortilla and Don Vincent Stelias. The sentiments of sincere friendship expressed by your Highness, and so lively manifested by your worthy representatives since their arrival at this colony, have made on me the deepest impression ; I da therefore tender in return my most positive assurance that nothing shall be omitted on my part to strengthen the good harmony that now happily subsists between us, entertaining no doubt that your Highness will on all occasions act with perfect reciprocity. Accept, I. pray you, Illustrious Gentlemen, the assurance of my highest considera tion, while I do myself the honour to be your High ness's most obedient and very humble servant. J. J. LAYARD. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. EXTRACT OF A LETTER, DATED STOCKHOLM, At/DUST 18. The King had, last Thursday, a long conference with the Secret Committee, or Secreta Utskott. A list was presented, containing the names of the King of Denmark, the Prince of Augustenburg, the Prince of Oldenburg, and the Prince of Ponte Corvo ; they being the persons who were proposed as successors to Gustavus's throne. The objection started against the King of Denmark was—that, as a King and So vereign, be could not, at the same time, hold an infe rior otfice as Crown Prince ; and that it would, there fore, rather be an insult than a compliment to offer him the succession to the Swedish throne. It is to be understood, that none of the Princes named has , directly applied, but merely that e; ch of them has , been proposed by some Nobleman. In this way the King of Denmark was got rid of. A letter was then read ; it was from the Emperor of the French, full of condolence for the loss Sweden had sustained in the death of her Crown Prince, expressing the greatest attachment for the King and the nation, and stating, that nothing could be more pleasing to Bonaparte than to be able to assist Sweden, and to see her once again in her former happy state ; that, as the Swe dish people had regained their freedom and indepen dence, under the reign of so magnanimous a Prince as Charles XIII. Bonaparte would wish, that, by choosing a man with Charles's sentiments and forti tude of mind, they may retain that freedom which only can restore them • o the'r former rank in history; but, at the same time, he will by no means Meddle with the elect on—the more so, as he is fully aware that the enlightened Members of the Diet will be the best judges in this respect. Baron F--, thereupon, in a long, and, as it is said, tedious speech, proposed the Prince of Ponte Corvo. The King and four No blemen seconded the motion, and the plurality of vcos being thus in favour of Ponte CorVo, it is thoug!it that he will be chosen ; however, the subject was to be discussed again the next day, when, or at farthest next Tuesday, it will be laid before each State of the Diet. No one spoke in favour of Gustavus's s m ; not even the name of the House of Vasa was merf. ned. We are quite at a loss how to consider this choice, (should Bernadotte in fact be chosen Crown Prince,) for Lot longer than a week ago there was a rumour that the French Ambassador was re called ; some say for his being too busy, and having thereby incurred the displeasure of the King, while others said it was on account of some evidence brought forward on the trial of Count Fersen's mur derers. Baron Silverspari e, who was the Adjutant- General the day Fefsen was murdered, has lost his office. The Spr ak 'r, for the Nobles is Baron Flem ming, Fit st Lord of the Bedchamber; for the Clergy, Archbishop Rev. Dr. Linborn ' • for the Burghers, Mr. Wegelin ; for the Peasants, Lars Olson, farmer. BERNE, AUGUS r 1. Her Majesty the Queen of Holland arrived on the 26th of July at Lausanne, under the name of Madame Durowski. This Princess set out the following diiy at five o'clock in the morning for Secherau near Ge neva. We flatter ourselves that her Majesty will re turn here in a few days, with her agust mother, her Imperial Majesty Josephine. BANKS OF THE M iINE, AUGUST 2. The following are some details which have reached us from Paris, respecting the unfortunate fire at the hotel of Prince Schwarzenberg. The Emperor and Empress had scarcely retired at the commencement of the tumult, wiL.n the crowd precipitated itself towards the three doors which led from the hall. It is impossible to form an idea of the despair and terror which seized upon every body, when the cry of" Save himself who can," was heard; they crowded together ; they ran against each other; some persons were trampled under foot ' • the lustres, the ceiling, the beams fell and wounded the tinfnrtu• nate, who issued frightful cries. The heat caused the glasses and lustres, *ith which the hall was decorat ed, to crack with an explosion as loud as that of a pistol. Prince Kurakin was thrown down by a lustre, which broke his arm, and, in this conditirn, was trampled upon by those who endeavoured to save themselves. Many Ladies experienced the same fate ; otheis W ere overtaken by the flames, which set their robes of gauze and lace on fire, and either consumed or damal e 1 them. A great number of Ladies made their escape to the garden almost naked, and hid' themselves in the thickets. Many wished to save themselves by a hole which the fire had made in the walls, but not being able to find the passage, were burnt or suffocated. They reckon the number of persons who perished at from sixty to seventy. Dia. monds and jewels to the amount of many millions were lost in the tumult. Prince Kurakin had in his hat a superb solitaire, estimated at 400,000 francs, I which he lost, as well as his epaulets, worth 800,000 francs. Besides, at the moment he was thrown down, he was nearly losing the finger on which he wore a superb ring in brilliants. THE EVENING' STAR. LONDON. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. 3 per Ct. Cons. money, 681—for sec. 68f. 3 per Ct. Reduced 68i-4 per Cent. 851. Navy 5 per Cent. 993—Ex. Bills, par to 4s. pre. Bonds 225. prem.—Ossinlum ti dis. PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY. Bank Stock 158 257 k Long Ann. 18 9.l6ths 3 per C. Red. 69 68ff Exc. Bills, is. dis. Ss. prem. 3 per C. Con. 68-11 f Omnlum 2f3f dis. 4 per Cent. 8511 Lottery Tickets p 22. ISs. 5 per C. Navy 991 ff Cons. for uc. 649 In another part of our Paper will be found some interesting extracts from American Journals, received this morning. They chiefly relate to maritime ag gressions said to have been committed by British crui zers. It appears by German papers to the 21st ult. from which we gave some extracts_yesterday, and from which some farther extracts are given in a preceding column, that between 60 and 60 persons perished in the fire at the Austrian Ambassador's at Paris. Letters were received yesterday from Pernambuco to the date of the 10th of July. Cottons had ad vanced 20 per cent, at that Settlement, but nothing of a political character had occurred deserving notice. A frigate has been for some time secretly preparing to take out dispatches to India. It is generally sup posed that this frigate will also take out a new Goon.- nor-General, and a new Governor for Madras. The Duke of MANCHESTER has not arrived in this country from Jamaica,as stated in several of thepublic prints. The Secretary of his Excellency is returned home with dispatches to Government, which has pro. bably occasioned the mistake. No further accounts have been received from Cadiz or from Lisbon, but a Gentleman who has arrived from Alicant by a merchant vessel, whick left that port the end of July, gives a satisfactory account of the state of affairs in that neighbourhood, and men tions that General Szaasmon, after the losses he had sustained, was in no condition to make any impres sion there. The fortifications were daily improving under the direction of skilful engineers, and General BLAKE was expected to resume the command of the troops at the North-eastern extremity of the Peninsula. Never, since the commencement of the present con test, has Spain exhibited a more interesting spectacle than at the present moment. The reverses experienced by the patriots in the course of the struggle have de veloped circumstances which rather serve to increase than to diminish the hope of ultimate success. Spain is the only extensive country on the continent which since the comencement of the revolutionary war, has opposed the French armies by the undisciplined ener gies of her population. When the disciplined troops of the most powerful nations had sunk with unpa ralleled rapidity before the overwhelming strength of France, anti the instrument most relied upon had so entirely failed, even the novelty of the other engine was calculated to inspire hope. Spain had consider able advantages for this kind of warfare; the country was extensive, well adapted for defence, and if any serious resistance should be made, not to be at once overpowered. But even those who were disposed to place the largest share of confidence in popular ener gy, where it had been cherished and prepared for exer tion, reasonably doubted whether, under the circum stances ofSpain, it could be very general or permanent. The influence of the Government had been felt not in creating and encouraging, but in repressing and destroying ; while, on the other hand, the means of aggression in the hands of the invader, were of unex ampled force, and wielded with unprecedented skill and vigour. It was impossible for any reflecting mind to indulge very sanguine hopes of the result against such immense odds; and many among the best informed, an:icipated only this favourable effect, that the general odium against the tyrant which must spring from success in such a cause, would lay the foundation for future more promising opposition. It was apprehended with reason, that the first disper ' sion of her raw levies would be the signal for univer sal submission. But her protracted resistance has surprised both her friends and her enemies. Spain has been over-run, her undisciplined multitudes have been dispersed, and her Government has been con fined to a corner of her territory : hut though re peatedly defeated, she is far from being subdued. There can be no deception here, as the French ac ' counts furnish the evidence. In the abstracts of the letters of the French Gene rals, which have taken place of bulletins, we find de tails of successes in quarters which had been long ado stated as perfectly subjected—a proof that Spanish in surrection has kept pace with French victory, and that the enemy no sooner thought his work finished, than he found it was all to do over again. The con test has been protracted till the deep-rooted hatred of the French has been confirmed-till the habit of re sistance has been formed—till the provocation has been increased, and the despondency arising from partial defeat diminished. However averse we may be to the encouragement of vain or unreasonable ex pectations—however much the chances may'still be against the ultimate success of the Spaniards, their perseverance under all the difficulties which their cause had to encounter, justifies, in the actual state of the Peninsula, a higher degree of hope than could have been reasonably entertained at the beginning of tile contest. The more we consider the language, and contem plate the spirit of the intercepted correspondence, pub lished by the Spanish Regency (of the authenticity of which we can entertain no doubt), the more are we induced to hope that the exertions of the patriots may ultimately prove successful. The greatest of their sufferings are past ; those of the enemy are just com mencing. The Spaniards have felt and survived the first tremendous inflictions of French licentiousness and rapine. We shall see whether their oppressors will be able to bear up against the vengeance they have provoked, and the famine they will have created. —lf the French, according to these letter, are to receive no supplies_but such as they extort at the point of the bayonet, their competency to support many more campaigns in Spain becomes very doubtful. THE ARMY. Yesterday MOraing the large fleets, cor.sihtiog of 176 sail, which have so long been waiting with rei n . forcements for our army in Spain, Portugal, the Me. diterranean, and the Cape of Good Hope, sailed f rom Cowes Roads and Spithead. Generals Sir WILLEM ( EasEINE, LONILEY, and HAY have gone by thisleet to Lord WELLINGTON'S army. The 2d battalion of the ISth, or Royal Irish, have disembarked, and parched for the depot of that re. nowned corps in Devonshire. Sir JAM= PULTI:1111 is soon to visit them. The Slci Regiment is on the march from Susses to embark at Portsmouth. General SONTAG is second in command at Cadiz. There is to be a grand review of all the corps ift Portsmouth and the neighbourhood, next week, for the Princess CHARLOTTE of WALES. A great deal of company flock thither from Southampton, Bognor, and all the neighbouring counties. It will be a su. perb military spectacle. The Duke of GLouczsu ft is to be of the party, with all the Fashionables from the Isle of Wight. The following extract of a letter contain: an an. theistic account of the state of the Officers cf the 43d regiment, wounded in the affair on the Coa : 44 COIMSRA, AUGUST 4.—State of the Officers of the 43d regiment, wounded : a Capt. Dialog, slightly, almost well, is with the regiment. " Captains Lloyd and Napier, doing welkand with the regiment. Capt. Hug, severely, but.in a fair way ; gone to Lisboa. " Lieutenants Harvest and Johnson* slightly, doing wail, and with the regiment. " Lieutenants Shaw, Hopidni, and Stephenson, doing well, and at Coimbra. " Lieut. Frederick, his leg amputated; in the general hospital. Tuesday last the sth regiment of Dragoon Guards were reviewed on Leiden Heath, Colchester, by Lieutenant-General the Earl of CHATHAM, K. G. A letter by the last arrivals from the Cape of Good Hope states, that the Garrison, commanded by the Hon. Lieutenant. General GREY, consists of the Ist battalion of the 24. th, 72d, 83d, 87th, and 93d, with the 21st Light Dragoons. Provisions are very cheap —beef, 3d. per lb. bread 2d. per lb. a bottle of wine 10d. ; and other articles proportionably low. There is no mention made of the reported expedition to the Isle of France. NAVAL INTELLIGENCL PLYMOUTH, AUQOST 90. Sailed the LATONA. frigate, Captain SOTHEIT. with Marines on board for. the Mediterranean fleet ; she will touch at Gibraltar . and Cadiz ; the BRISK sloop of war, Captain Coona, for Cork, with two transports under convoy. having on board a detachment of ar tillery and ocher troops; the WEARLS schooner, for Falmouth ; and the NIMROD cutter, for the Black Rocks. Five ft. tn. The PENELOPE frigate, and a sloop of war, are now passing by to the Eastward ; the sloop is too far off to make her number. The GLEANER ketch could not come up with the privateer she went after yesterday, there being no wind, and the enemy making use of sweeps, effected her escape. Arrived the Ame rican schooner Tamaahmooh, W. STORY master, from New-York, with flour, staves, Ike. for this port : and the Morning Star cartel, from Morlaix. The pilchards have at length visited our coast. and have been caught in considerable quantities. Several large catches of fine herrings were also made last night and to-day. Half past Five, A. m. The INTELLIGENT gun-brig has just made her number c I imagine she. is from Cadiz or Gibraltar—she sailed from this port on Mon• day, the 23d of July, with dispatches for the Medi. terranean, &c. It is impossible to have any commu nication with her in time for post. PORTSMOUTH, AUGUST 31. The fleets that sailed yesterday brought to at Cowes, and sailed this morning.--Sailed bits Majesty's ship PANIPILION to the sass• ward, and cite ANT scboonerin i cndie.—Wind W. DEAL, AUGUST 31. Arrived last evening and this morning, and silied for the River, about 21 sail of Jamaica ships.—Wind E. SHEERNESS, AUGUST 31. Sailed his Majesty's ships SIULDRAtt and RITHAID, wit► several Transports, bound to the Island of Anbok ; the Merchant ships bound to the Baltic, took protection °tibia convoy [roma, Nose. The next convoy direct to the Baltic will sail es the ith of September. GREENOCK, AUGUST 29. The plot Elisabeth and Margaret, BLAIR, from Dublin foe Glasgow, formerly stated to have gone on shore near Ardrossaa on Wednesday night, was got into Saltcoats harbour on Saturday afternoon. The cargo will be saved, except the sugar, which, it is feared, will be entirely washed out. The following is a dew* tion of the persons who were drowned : John MiCenzie and Alex. Glen, of Dumbarton, seaman; Murray, of Stirling, tanner--bb son was also In the vessel, bat is saved; an old Irishman, name unknown; a young vromall, gad child about 12 months old, going to her husband in Glasgow, who is a tradesman from Dublin ; two women, names unknown, one Wonting to Haddingron, a solaces wife, the other said to Its a young woman : a man belonging to Saltcoats, who caw to lam the people in a boat, was also lost. The Cl, M'FA aLa has arrived at the quanuttine stadia. Holy Lock, yde from Malta, last from Gibraltar, forty days from tbg former. FROM LLOYD'S LIST. Glees:rev, Au GUST 31.--Arrived the Margaret, Richard", from Guadalotipe ; Hannah, Ellis; Hadriott, Pearson; FSVOUritc Roodin ; and Elizabeth Sophia, Brown, from Jamaica; Ham , .---, from St. Domingo ; Annabella, Clark, fronfrobago; Brasil packet, Hicks, from Buenos Ayres ; Collingwood, Forbes, /min Surinam; and Refs-Deer, Sayer, from Philadelphia. Sailed the Spanish Patriot, Duren, for Cadis ; Alpha, Sorel', for Ph lads'' plua, and Jane, for Gibraltar. The establishment of the flotilla at Gibraltar, bids fair t• be of very effective nature. Independent of Commodore TENROP, who commands the whole, Cap tain Roasar HALL, and Captain Fut.ows, with ten Lieutenants, are appointed to this service. Wednesday, a Court Martial assembled on board his Majesty's ship Pfuscsss or ORANGE, in the Downs. Lieutenant JOHN Lances, commanding his Majesty'S gun-vessel CRACKER, was tried for neglect of duty: the charges not being proved, he was most honotu• ably acquitted ; and the President, on returning ham his sword, expressed his hope that Lieutenant LRAM would hereafter wear it with as much credit to him self as he had heretofore done. Between twelve al d one o'clock this morning, a fire broke out in a small tenement near the Elephant and Castle, Newington, which entirely destroyed din same, together witn a cooperage adjoining, and con siderably damaged several other houses. A great number of engii.es shortly arrived, but their attend• ance was useless, owing to a scanty supply of water. %