Star. — London, England, 1810-07-18 00:00:00

THE CARACCAS. We Imre received information upon which we can rAy, that the people have determined to establish their independence, and that they desire only to unite themselves with England, as the faithful subjects of heir legitimate sovereign 1 7 erdinand VII. We have teen favoured with particular details on this subject; and think it material to call the attention of our . Readers again to the manifesto which was published in April last. Extract of a letter from a respectable Planter in Trinidad, dated May 19, 1810, accompanying the inclosed Proclamation : 46 By this letter Jou will pelceive that the indepen dence of the opposite Continent has been solemnly de clared ; being an event of so much interest to all our hopes and wishes, that I cannot deprive myself of the pleasure of congratulating you on this occasion with all my heart, being persuaded, at the same time, of the important benefits that must necessarily result to Great Britain. 44 It is said that Emperan, who was Captain-Ge lieral (of Caraceas) has confessed that he took an oath before he left Spain not to resist King Joseph, when the moment arrived to declare his sovereign preten sions over these provinces, and that he was also com missioned in Madrid by Joseph as his representative in Venezuela." MANIFEST OF THE SUPREME JUNTA OF CUMANA, DATED APRIL 2s, 181 0. The Supreme Junta of Government established in this capital, in then tme of his Majesty Ferdinand the Seventh (whom Gop preserve), to its inhabitants and those of the Provinces of New Andalusia and New BArcelnna. People of Cum-ma—People of Barcelona—lnhabi tants who dwell on the 3 , _41 of these provinces of New Andalusia, awl New Barcelona ; loyal and beloved countrymen, listen an give ear to the reasons and causes from which h is originated the form of govern ment recently instituted,lisren and attend to them, that if by chance there should be among you any who, doubtinz the evistence of such serious circumstances, disapprove, without sufficient reflection of the plan, or, from too much timidity,think it impracticable, or, from want of information, suppose the respectable members who compose it not properly authorised; you may now come to the knowledge of facts of which the whnie uni verse is and has been witness ; remain quiet in the hope that harmony, unanimity, and all the social virtues, being combined in the appointments which form the basis of the edifice of our common security; we shall render our names immortal, and hand down to poste rity the enjoyment of peace and future felicity. You must have heard, since our beloved Sovereign Don Ferdinand the Vllth, was proclaimed King, the state of confusion with which Spain has been over whelmed for want of its lawful head ; you must also have heard of the ruin and destruction caused to its inh ibitants by the criminal and perfidious Godoy, in intelligence with the Emperor of the French, assisted by some of its own unnatural children, who, second ing the views of that ferocious tyrant, did not stop to sacrifice their country by every means in their power, and finally, you are not ignorant that the central Junta of Government of the kingdom of Spain, created in the name of our Soven ign. Lord Ferdinand the VII. has di s solved itself in consequence of the irruptions of '1 the enemy, or what is yet more certain, by the unfor tunate corruption and venality inherent to the ante- riur despotic Government. In this state of things, not being possible to preserve the country without a Chief to govern it, the provinces of America began to reflect on the best mode of constituting a Government to preserve themselves from the dixorders attendant oni anarchy, and the invasion of the Tyrant ; and finally some of them have established legal Congretra, by means of the authority which, though vested by the people in their Kings, have, nevertheless, perserved in their Cabildos a similar authority, which might be' brought into action in all cases of emergency, and more especially in such a crisis as the present. One of the'first which has signalized itself on this occasion is the capital of Venezuela (Caraccas), which, well aware of the melancholy situation of affairs in Spain, sac! ettinction of its authority, determined at once, on ' she wisest and proptrest measures to be adopted, by convoking the Notabbs of the district, and electing, by suffrage, a certain number froth the whole, to form a Supreme Junta, and by su'pending from their respec tive offices all those who held the principal employ. =ells under Government ; either because the autho rity wider which they were constituted having ceased to exist, or because their opinions, being opposed to those which we cherish; they were considered hostile to the present order of things. This change not been made by a tumultuous Tool), but by a wise. prudent, and deliberate convoca tion. Do not imagine that although the principal authorities have been deposed, others have slot been pppoin'ed to fill tlr:ir rlaces :—No j the Government has been changed as to individuals, but the legitimate authorities have been re-established, and -acknow ledged in their successors. This important and urgent determination has been . communicated by the wise Junta cf . Caraccas, to the iLustriou Cabildo of this city (and not to the former G. +ernor, Colonel Don Eusebio Escudcro, who has been dsTosed), and enjoining the necessity of conspir, ing all to the same end, by coalescing together, tQ monk for the common min.. The Cabildo, no less prudent than penetrated by the natural impulsion which actuate] the minds of those faithful people, immediately assembled to de; cide on what was expedient to be done, in (pllowing s ) laudable an example ; and having me L in congtegOtT tam, in the Town-hall, all the individuals who coin- pose it, and many of the principal inhabitants of the city, they there celebrved a solemn act, by which the following persons were elected to govern the province, by the unanimous suffrage of the votes of the whole Cabildo and a great part of the inhabitants. President, L)on Francisco Xavier Maya, Alcalde of Wit election. ing*Presidem, rloi . Francisco Was, Alcoa& of se. Fond election. • e • • i••••• T)on Joseph 11Lasnierez, D. Geroninio Martinez, D- Francisco Sanellia4D. Jose Jesus Alcalt,l). Manuel Man, D. Domingo Maya, D. Je.e Santos, Deem D. Mariano Qova, for the people; Licentiate Don 'An. dre Callejon, for the Clergy ; Captain Jose Flores for the military ; D. Juan Bermudez, for the plante rs ; D. Juan Manuel Tazada, for the merchants ; D. Pe dro Manias , for the peop le of colour ; Doctor D. Juan Martinez, assessor; D. Diego Vallenilla, secretary. In consequence whereof, this body corporate has assumed all the faculties and offices which were ves ted in and administered by the Colonel Don Eusebio Escudero, to whom, nevertheless, gratitude and re spect will always be manifested, as well for his laud able conduct as for the spontaneous resignation be immediately made of his appointment. You have now heard concisely the motives upon which this change in die government has been 'bun ded ; nor can you be ignorant that the Cabildos- are vested with faculties to take upon themselves the reins of government in such critical circumstances, and to adopt legal means for the appointment of persons, through whom the public may both represent their opinions, and be acquainted with the res)lutions of government • and finally, you have now a national authority wit h which you may unite in brotherly love to aid and assist one another reciprocally. We may now exclaim that we are no longer appre. hensive of seeing our city destroyed, by beingdivided against itself. We have now the satisfaction to see that we bear a share in promoting the welfare of our country, which hitherto we were always deprived of, as an exclusive privilege of foreigners ; we, therefore, hope that reciprocal harmony will henceforward pre, vail, and that you will acknowledge the representative authority temporarily established as your protectors. By waiting patiently the result which must ensue from precautions so wise, you and your children will be happy. You will be convinced more by future experience than by any promises we may at present make of the utility of the Junta, of the mildness with which it will act, and which will always be insepara. ' ble from their mode of government, and of their exer tions and vigilance to promote the happiness of the inhabitants of the district under their command. Do not disapprove or censure, prematurely, the re solutions of the Junta, becau.e, at first sight you may condemn them, or because you do not comizchend their views; you may hear individuals describe or propose plans which may appear preferable, but do not believe that such plans would have been disre garded had they been found advantageous. Bewdre of criticising the individual merits and talents of the Members who have been elected—we will assist em-h other in carrying the burthen, observing the precepts of Jesus CHRIST, by exercising the duties of i.o ciety which PROVIDENCE has been pleased to confide to us, and that every man be rewarded according to his merits. And, the better to confirm that union and tranquillity, so essential to the maineenAnce of peace and harmony, we recommend and enjoin that the Judges and Justices,-as well Ecclesiastical as Se cular, and the men of property under our goy ernr a e n t, do unite with us in patriotic zeal, to aid and assist, with their best endeavours, vigilance, and loyalty, the accomplishment of our good intentions, by send;ng an individual from every Cabildo, town, or corpora tion, as a deputy, to remain at the seat of Govern ment, with such instructions as nay be thought con ducive to . the end proposed. And we hereby decl ire, that our pretensions are no other than the preservation of the Throne of Fcrdinand VII. the safety of th • country,the triumph of religion, unionwith our neigh bours, and destruction of tyranny. By command of the Supreme Junta of Govern ment. DIEGO DE VALLENII•LA, Sec. CUR 12313, April tB, 1810. HAVANNAI, MAY S. Town House.—A Cabildo Extraordinary having met on Thursday, the 26th instant (April) by sum mons, his Excellency the Seignior President, Gover nor, and Captain-General, there was read a commu nication from his Excellency, inclosing, among other documents, the Royal Circular of the Supreme Coun cil of Spain and the Indies, dated from the Royal Isle of Leon, the 24th of February last, witaansv, after notifying the appointment of the Supreme Coun cil of Regency, created by the late Central Junta previous to its dissolution, to govern the kingdom during the absence and captivity of the Seignior Don Ferdinand VII. is ordained and commanded due obedience to the Supreme Regency in all the domi nions of the Spanish Monarchy in the Indies, accord ing to the act inserted in the said Sovereign Reseript. And the Ayuntamiento beingfully satisfied that the said Supreme Governing Junta proceeded to the creation of the Council of Regency, with the legitimate and necessary authority conferred upon them, and sworn to by the nation, as representing our august Sovereign, Ferdinand VII. and that they proceeded to :he same upon the just and urgent motive of its being the form of government most conformable to the fundamental laws of the kingdom, and nue,t adequate to the sal vation of the country, in its present difficult circum stances. Resolved, with the sanction and approba tion of his Excellency, to acknowledge, as lawful, the said Council of Regency, and to take the same oath of fidelity and obedience to thou, that they took to the late Central Junta. in. the name of, and as re presenting their natural and lawful King Ferdinind VII.; which oath, being administered by his Excel lency the Seignior President, Governor and Captain General, after the same had been administered to him self by the Royal Alferes, they accordingly took a nd signed an act thereof in the presence of GOD and the Holy Cross, in the terms and under the conditions in the said act mentioned; engaging to obey and execute all orders, decrees, and provisions, it shall think fit to issue in this form, and in the Royal name; and placing at its disposal their lives and property, to effect the salvation of the country, to preserve these dominions, united with the mother country m fraternal concord, as an integral part of the magna, nimous and heroic Spanish Nation, and to rescue the said Seignior . Don Ferdinand VII. whose soveivignty l and dynasty they anew recognise and Mat to main tail), as legitimately represented by the existing Go. vet nment, or any lather substituted in its stead, wbe , ther assembled iq its present resident* fie say other, the most remote part of the Monarchy; where the name and glory of Spain shall be p . reserve4 ant ' loyalty and the catholic relil'iH -OP edit purity. uof tinder the auspices rimkatuutont guskramily of Bourbob. ro*uithik _).(tv!' fitivATaiUrntits: w LISBON, JOLT O. le It is feared that Ciudad Rodrigo, if not already fallen, must very soon surrender to the superior force Of the enemy. The intelligence from its neighbour hood is only up to the 3d, when the bravery of the garrison had been particularly displayed. On the night of the 29th the town was set on fire in several places by red hot balls, but not much damage was done. On the 30th June, a sortie that the garrison made injured than considerably, and they were re pulsed with loss. The lines of the enemy are, in some places, within 250 yards of the walls, and their bat teries of heavy ordnance daily make breaches. The enemy, .vary sight, has some new work of annoyance erected.' ' ~r~~ -- idWe have nothing very recent from head-quarters. Lord Wellington was travelling about the country from Celerico through Vizeo, Guarda, and other places. Fears were entertained for the safety of Ge neral Hill's 10,000 men, and . the Marquis of Roma na's 9000 Spaniards, as we learn, that about 25,000 French ha*e taken hat direction. The skirmishing between the outposts continues, and the success is in variably attributed to the British, but these engage. meats are of no comparative consequence. " The greatest anxiety is expressed in this city, as every day a dreadful battle seems near at bond. the result of which will decide the fate of Ponurit Every necessary article is cheap, and a great quantity of bread and flour has been conveyed to bead-quarters. Many officers of the Commissariat have been hese making preparations. Lord Wellington is extremely attentive to this part of his duty." " ALVEREA„ JULY 4. de A heavy and incessant firing of musketry, in the direction - of Ciudad Rodrigo, has been distinctly ' ' ; heard by our outposts during the greater part sf the night. It gradually abated as the morning . advanced, .and ceased entirely about six o'clock. It is supposed by some who have more enthusiasm than prudence, that the garrison had made a sortie ; and by others, who calculate on the dispatity of the numbers and resources of the besiegers and the garrison, that an assault has been made by the former, and gallantly and resolutely resisted by the latter. This opinion is corrob 'rated by the breach, which, in a fort/I.T let. ter, I stated upon good authority to be ekht yards in length and two in d. pth, which, considering the heig..t of the parapet, and the facilities the en:my possess of procuring tasciiies. deerncd practicable. The result will be known in :r hours. It is mat. ter of surprize that the garrison, with such dilapidated walls, and wretched outworks, should have held out so long against at force greatly superior in every respect. " A division of the French army has crossed the Agueda, below Ciudad Rodrir, which has rendered it prudent for General Cranford to fall back frt.nt the position he occupied on the left bank of thstriver to Fort Concept. n. The French are concentrating their forces, .tho from the most correct information th.*t can be procured, are in tking every preparation for the invasion of Portugal. We are daily receiving reirforeements, and cont , ntie in pod health, hi ; h sp . rirs, din he hest possible sate THE E% EN t LONDON. WEDNESDAY, - JULY 18. PRICE OF sTOCICJI This DAY AT 1141: O'CLOCY • 3 per Cent. Com. 3 per Cent. Reduced If ,per Cent. s per Cent. Ofli—Eseh. 2s. dis. to pm. Bonds Ws. pram.—Omnistn 1 Ms. YES rERDAT. PRICE OF Bank Stock 258 259 per C. Red. Ann. 64 47 881 3 per C. Con. 84 117t1 4 per Cent. 841 S 8 84 S per C. Navy 9st ssi Long Ann. ISt 18 3-18ths Imp. $ per C. WM OmAnn 14 21 1 db. India Hoods 14s. Is. pr. Exc. 101 1 s. es. prem. 5s di*. Lottery Tickets on. ISt. Coos. for see. 70 lei Of PORTUGAL Dispatches were yesterday received from Lot"' WELLINGTON, brought by Captain &non, one of his Lordship's Aids-de-Camp. They are dated the 4th instant, at whtcd date no general action had ben fought, nor was one expected, so long as C Rodrigo should continue to hold out. That ptu e, as we sr•atel psterlay, continued to make a vigorous resistance ; but we are concerned to add, that rea. sonable hopes of its being able to hold out for any considerable period cannot be entertained. Lord Wxootvo raw has moved to a position between Almeida and Ctlerico, id or der to support General CEAUFURD. By an intercepted letter, it appears that MAESENA expected that Lord WELLINGTON would ad. "'Once to interrupt the siege, and that he had prepared his operations accordingly. The different French corps were all in readiness to move; but Lord WaL LINGTON has completely disappointed them ; so that, this part of their plan has entirely failed. They must now attad the British army, which they will not ven ture to do until they have taken and semi:wad Ciudad Rodrigo. They will then have to attack it in a country favourable and prepared for defence, and they will have to attack it with diminished numbers. The general opinion is, that it is Lord WELLING- Tom's intention to try a battle In some of the strong positions in Portugal, but when and where the battle is to take place, and whether a battle will, be fought at all, it it not very easy at this distance to say, We know tine there is a very strong position leading across from Lisbon to the sea-coast, in front of Cintra, which has been carefully fortified, and which can be defended against superior numbers. It covers three points of embarkation, in'which our ships are all in readiness to receive the troops, in case of necessity. General ROiCANA had been with Loyd Wiri.J.INO• TON for two days, and had returned to Bat*); before Captain &mom left head-quarters.—A private letter of so fates date as the 6th, states, that the Marquis had been at heed-quarters on the evening -of the sth. Whet4er-we should cgnsicletettiit is 1149ther visit, or rather as a mistake in the date, we cannot determine ; 7 and theinincletter states, that on the morning of th e eth a amen of war was held, at which th e M arqu i s all the dental Officers of a certain rank assisted. —The ohjects of deliberation were conjectitred to b e the policy of making an attempt to rAise the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, and making those arrangements for that general engagement, which, from many circom. stances, was considered as likely to take plate in the course of a few days. It is obvious, however, that nothing could be known of the points under discus sion ; and we believe we'inay state with confuleme, what we have hinted above, that the accounts rt. ceived by Government do not warrant the idea that any attempt whatever will be made to relieve Ciudad Rodrigo.—lndeed, we may add, that strong fears are entertained that the place, ere tl:is time, has been obliged to surrender. In the preceding columns we have given various letters from the army, which will be found interesting to many of our Readers. The accounts from Cadiz, as we stated rsterdsy, come down to the beginning of the poem woad; For some weeks preceding, the advanced posts tithe garrison had been established on the•continenr, at least eine miles from the town. nous that pnint, as asfrom the Isla, which is distant fromCadis about seven miles, the batteries form a complete chain. The French have thrown up immense works, but they are mostly for defence. It would seem from the pnli. tions occupied by their army, that they apprehend a tortie. The greater part of it is Sn quartered, that it could be brought in a short time to theiapport of their works in front of the Isla. Towards the sea their force is inconsiderable. At Matagorda the enemy, it is believed, have been occupied in const.ucting a mortar battery, but CA: is thought to be too distant to be injured by shells thrown from thence; and besides, the position was not considered tenable. The town is abundantly pro. tided with supplies of all kinds, particularly w a fp r , of which there is in the reservoirs sufficient for tl.e consumption of eighteen months. The sortie for which, as our Readers have already been idurnsed, preparations had been making for some time, was expected to take place by the middle of the present month. The destruction of the frencib magazine% stores, and provisions, which k has been the labour of several months to ogled, would be the thief object of the feet;e. this %mock was to be in dependent of any cooperation from the corps GIG,. nem! LUCY in the !Sierra Ronda. The expedition under.the direction oft Officer is not upon the at. tended scale which was at first intended t it was doge t, upon .Maitur; :otuidlerst,on. not prudent to attempt iacomprebensive an operation without having preiriodilt forbad and secured all the means of in. fiern4 &Puce- . . Letter's from Murcia state, that the French ad vanced :into that neighbourhood in three difsiont• composed of IE4O men, but that the army of V len. cia being immediately put in motion to encounter them, they thought fit to withdraw. In their retreat they committed many grievous excesses. Limier die apprehension of their return, the people of Marcia were preparing to give them allbetnal resistance. By accounts froni 'Vinery: we receive the unplea. sant news, that Megninenta is at list taken, and the French statement is thus contented. Contidstiog its c .mparative weakness, it made a bug -..cl gallant defence. The ecav , porde • .yll whom we_ate fa. spouted with this intcstriation, w ss in daily expectation the appearance of the 1 tench, and vibs preparing to ship himself off with his property fa Minorca. _ Letters tram Crtrunn4 he account of the expedition from Ribadeo tn BAntnna. The Regency at Cadiz has at last listened to the prayers of the Cal- LliciAns. A sum of money and x quantity of muskets had been shipped elf from :ht. Bay, J were hourly expected to arrive in the harbour of Comma. • Nearly fifty letters containing return "f the troops under MASS&XA and other FrenchGener.ds a ere lately intercepted. It was from these that the list of the enemy's force published in the STAR of Monday. was taken : that statement may :beefing be considered as official. To the Accounts published in the Portu guese Papers of the numbers belonging to the French, the British and the Portuguese, we never gave any kind of credit : they uniformly under•rate their own numbers and those of the French, and exaggerate those of the British - for what purpose we know not. nor shall we now enquire. The Princess SOPHIA of GLOVCINTRIt arrived at Windsor on Monday to dinner with the Qom and PRINCESSES, and in the evening returned to London. • Sir HILARY HARITORD, Doctors BAILIZ ;Ad DVS' DABS, visited the Princess AI4RUA on Monday Mail* and remained with her Royal Highness all night. Yisterday morning his MAI/STY and Princess Av. COSTA took their usual airing OA horseback till we o'clock, accompanied by Lady CALMAR, Count 8 "1 Cvlueral 3wwri4 colonels TAILOR and Dm 'atm. - - evening a Meeting of the Electors ofVfest• minster was held at the Crown and Anchor Tow , when it . watar eed that the Electnrs should dine gather, to cerebir4re Sir FRANCS BURDLres to the 'rawer. The day is not fixed. H A woman. of the name of Sable, irac killed yewr.' day b7l " k alt film; a led hors, belnnging to sn 04- ficer at Knightslirkign. - ghe was wheolOs• a IWO of linen, at which the horse took fright.