The National Register. — London, England, 1809-03-26 00:00:00

itARCIt 195 THE NATIONAL REGISTER. hen s communicated to the people at large, gave infinite sails raction. About three o'klock os the same day (the 22d) the people became again very tumultuous, from the idea that the, town was betrayed, and that measures were secretly arranged by those at the head of affairs for putting it into the hands of the enemy. They declared that nothing should satisfy theM on this head short of a positive and explicit declaration from the English themselves, ou whose honour and good faith they had the most perfect reliance, that they would assist in the defence against the common enemy. It was requested pailicutarly, that two British Officers, one of them of the artillery, should inspect the forti fications, in conjunction with two Spanish Officers, and to super- Intend and direct the preparationi for defence. Two Officers of the description desired .waited accordingly on the governor, by the British Commander's orders ; and all the Officers of the Bri tish Staffaccompanied the friars who Were most active and had most influence in keeping ti*. people within bounds to a balcony, whence the friars harangued the populace, g iving them every ass t o ance of the co-:operation of the British f orces, and the sup port of the British nation, and frequently appealed to the Bri • tish Officers to confirm by their own voices the. pledges given in their name and their presence. This proceeding had 'the effect of perfectly quieting the people for this tithe. They disperged, and retired to their homes, amidst loud visas in `favour of George 111. and Ferdinand Vii. and the British and Spanish tuitions. On the 23d, a protlamation wa issued by the Governor, and the father guardian of the Capuchins, (whose sanction was ne cessary to contirni the assttrances given in the name of the civil power), containing pledges fogy the adoption of every me sure desired by the populace for the defence and security of the town, and promising the disolissal of several' ohnoxiotts persons, and rt partkular inquiry into the conduct of the Marquis de Ville'. who was it, custody of the Capuchin friars; and secured eqoally from the populace and from escape in their priory. resides the general, suspicion of a design to betray the town by means of the introductiea of foreign troops, the Marquis de Villel had ren dered himself personally ildspected, by releasiog several of the persons confined on the ground of being attached to the French Interest. He was reported to have declared, that all others who were confined for that cause had only to go through the form of sending hitn a petition, to obtain the stunts induigence. lie had also interposed very injudiciously in the amusenients of the peo ple, wl.ich Leing always marked with allusions to the cireum !•hiuces of the present laniat ions to Ferdinand, to 'Mer le; and independence, it r, as suppozsed that his hostility Was di rected against these acclamations of liberty and loyalty in parti :ular. The Marquis had carried his interference in this point so far I.s to confine some ladles ia the 'louse of !IMfry, and to threaten others 'with the sante disgraceful ptinholunent ; and this outrage on respectable females rendered the people so furious ,a.gtiitist him, that nothing but the veneration in which the Capuchins are held could:l'ord him security. About twelve this day the populate proceeded to the Castle of Santa Catalina, and demanded the person of General Canal), late second in comaiand of the Spanish troops employed in Por tugal, and another prisoner coutiaed there, both of whom they meant to put to death. But by the interposition of Colonel Roche, who !lad just arrived from Se%ille, and another British Officer, who both addfessed them in Spanish, and impressed them with a tense* of the impropriety of such violent conduct, they desisted. Shortly after; however, they seitied Don Joseph lieredia; who bad a few hours before been distdissed, at their instance, from his Office of Collector of the Ilublic Rents, and killed him on the spot. lie was just stepping. into a boat, to make his escape to Port St. Mary. The rest of that day passed Without any further tumult. Tnutt9DAV, 2C—The town appears very quiet this morning, and it is hoped no further disturbance will take place, The Priests and Friars have exerted themse:ves very much to tran quillize the people throughout, preaching and haranguing in every quarter where any di.pusttion of violence was shewu, hazarding their persons to save the victims marked for destruc tion, and using all their inftttencU td restore peace and good to der. 4. Martinique, the whole of which, with the exeeation of Fort Bourbon, which was expected to surrender in a few d: v,,, t% as in our possession. The details of the attack are given at considerable length in the Barbudoe Mercury, from which *e extract the substance of the tolerative. . The Expedition 'Arrive& toff - fat into * Ntatoinv the 9.9111 of January. tht the morning of the :10oh they separated in tee divisions, the Acosta hoisting a broad pendant, and leading that with the division of the arms under the Cominaniier in Chief and Sir G. Prevost, intetided to effect a landing in Bay Itabert; while the Admiral flir A. Cochrane, proceeded with toot under Major General Maitland round Maran, and entered tae Bay of St Lore. • The Commander in Chief immediately issued a Proclamation; inviting the inhabitantt to submit immediately to his Majesty's forces, holding out on :he one hood the advantages they would derive from quiet submission, aad on the other the calamity that would arise front a fruitless resistance;. In the afternotin of the:3olli, the division under the immediate command of Lieuteaant-Geueral Beckwith, effected a landing at Robert ; Sir G. Prevost, aced Brigadier General Iloughtoa, with the first Brigade, landed first, and advanced the same evening some distance into the country. This britrade consisted of the 7th regiment, under Lieuteurant-Colonel Pilenham, .23d under Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, and five tompanies of the West India regiment, under Lieutenant“7olonel Tolley, a The second brigade led by Lieutenant-General Beck w ith, having under him Brigadier-General Colville, consisted of the Sth regi ment under Major Matt Well, the lath under Lieuteuaot-Colonel Keane, and four companies °Nile Ist West India regiment, under the Major Clifton. The reserve commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Blackwell, consisted of the 3d battalian ( . 10111 regiment, tinder Major Mackey, the flank companies of the' sth regiment, the Ith battalion of the 601 h, and the 4th West India regiment. Triuity suiTentlered on the 3lst: The second division, under the robitnand of Ma'ir-General Maitland, also landed Oft the 30th at St. Lute. The fc rst bri= Bade, led by Majiar-:leueral Maitland, haying under him Lieu. tenant-Colonel Barnes, consisted of the 63,1 regiment, under Lieutetiatit-ColOnel Fairtlough;and York Rangers; under Major Henderson. The second brigade, cominanded hy Lientrnant. Colonel 'Real% consisted of the flank companies oho 16.11 and 46111 ren t• iments, under Major Payne, the 14th regime .1, 11 ll:ter :MOW Davidson, York L. I. Volunteers, oad'er Lie a.o•,at- Colonel Streicher, told Sth W.'. I. regithent, Colonel Prevost. The reserve, commanded liy LiemetWlif• Culdael MiNair,.enniisted of the 90th regiment, Under Maj:ir Wright, and fld ‘Vest India, on ler Major Alleti. The fort at Cape Solomon was taken posSession of, and posi tions were taken for the purpose of at ITlrk lug tt ith erekt Pigeon Island; which held out till the 4th of February, and then sur rendered at discretion,nearly sixty then on the part or the enemy hating been killed or wounded during the bombardment. Five • officers and ISO privates of the garrison surrendered prisoners of war, and Were-sent on hoard the Pompee. lb the m'ean time Majtii.4ieneral Maitland With the main body of' his division, advanced to La t rnehtin. Lieutenant-General Beckwith and Sir G. Pfevo 4 t, proceeded towards Bruno and Sourrier, having frequent skirmiahes w itb the enemy ou their march. On the 2d of February they had a more gfaieral with the (nimbi' in the neighbnurhood of tiourrier, a aheig ht whin h affords a commanding situation forattacking fort Bow non. The possession of this height was olostinatelv contested by the enemy for several hours. They reratedly charged 'lair troops, who, •as often received them on the point of the bayonet. 'no: ene m y were at length driven from their position, and our troops ona• tained possession of the height. The ss hole of the detail. of this affair had not -Patted Ilarbadoes at the last date of these papers (the 11th ult.) our los; ic, n howevi r, stated at 12 men killed and 240 wounded. A flatboat: the officers are, Captain Taylor of the 7th, Major Maxwell if the Bth, and Captain Sinclair, of toe 25th, kilted; and I,k-infonaut-Colonel Packen!mm of the ,to, Majors Campbell anti Turner of the Royal West India Itai.,,ers, and Captain Gladnanes of the Sd West India I) twded. Lieatenant-Greperal Beckwith who led the attack, had a anti= row escape. a soldier beiag killed by his side; The of the enemy is stated at about 300 men. After this action .the enemy concentrated the whole of his force in Fort Wootton. .Major •General Maitland with his ui vision moved from Lamentin, round the Cul de •ill! de Cutter. to point Negro ; and Major / Henderson, with. his party, proceeded by water across Fort Royal Bay dorin to• Cass Naviere, and took a roaition on the heights above it, ATTACK UN MARTINIQUE. , intelligence was yesterday received.by the Ilam, arrived at Liverpool from Barbadoes, which she left on the lith of Feb. of an attack hiving been_atade by our 'troops on the bland of 4