The National Register. — London, England, 1815-04-30 00:00:00

APRIL 30. NATION, only differs with ours in the period of the duration of each parliament, which is limited to five instead of seven years.— It is more perfect than the Charter granted by Louis XVIII. and is to be proposed to the acceptance of the nation. Books are to be opened throughout the country, in which every individual will inscribe his assent or dissent. These Re gisters are to be examined by the Member of the Electoral colleges, assembled in the Champ de Mai on the 26th of May next, when the Constitution will be discussed, accepted, and solemnly sworn' to by Napoleon and the nation. Against this Constitution, which places Napoleon, with respect to poli►ical power, on the same footing as the King of Eng land ; no objection can be urged, provided it does not re main a mere dead letter. We should like to know, with Lord Castlereagh, whether when Buonaparte finds himself at the head of 400,000 men, he will think the Constitution en titled to as much respect as he possesses for it at present. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES IN ITALY. The war between Austria and the king of Naples, Joa chim Napoleon, for he has now resumed that name, has for mally commenced, not only by the rapid advance of the Nea politans to the Po, which they arc reported to have crossed after several inconsiderable actions, but by the publication of a manifesto. dated Vienna, April 12th, in which the Empe ror Francia complains of Murat's treachery and aggressions, and declares, war upon him. The latter has invited the Italians to use, in an animated proclamation, and is reported to have been joined by such numbers as to have been en couraged to change the Neapolitan colours for those of Italy, and to proclaim himsclf King of that country. FRENCH I'APERS. A letter from Ostend, dated in the evening of 'Wednes day last, says, that 20 French dragoons had that morning been brought into Ypres, who had been taken prisoners by some German Dragoons, without firing a shot, while en deavouring to levy contributions on the Flemish fron tiers. It is also added that a French Officer of distinction had been apprehended as a spy, between Popperinge and .Dixmude, who it was reported was General Vandamme. Teesday Paris papers arrived to the 23d instant.—They inform us of the increased preparations of Bonaparte for war, and contain several articles from Italy relative to the war be tween Austria and Naples, all of which represent the advan tages obtained by the latter in the first operations as very con siderable. The Austrians having retreated behind the Po, the enemy pursued them across that river, the passage of which they effected at San Beneditto. On the side of Tus cany the Neapolitans have also made some progress. They entered Florence on the gth, General Nugent having re treated from that city ; and on the morning of the 10th an action was commenced in the neighbourhood of Leghorn, in which General Nugent was so severely pressed, that the whole of the troops had been marched from that place to support him ; but the result was not known at the date of the last ad vices. Murat has published a proclamation, addressed to the people of Italy, inviting them to rise and establish their inde pendence. " Formerly masters of the world," he says, " you have expiated that fatal glory by an humiliation of 20 cen tunes. Be it henceforth your glory to have no masters. Every nation ought to confine itself within the limits which teture has assigned it. The sea and inaccessible mountains— these arc your frontiers." It would be little difficult to dis cover from this Proclamation alone, what could he M. Mu ;:kt s object in issuing it. He doCs not mention Bonaparte, REGISTER. nor does he speak of any one of tote Allied Powers, except England, whom he highly eulogises. The French funds have fallen to 57 ; 1 0 We have French papers of the 26th in which it continues to be asserted that Buonaparte is preparing to visit the northern fortresses, or in other words to put himself at the head of his army. It is said, however that - be had not yet left Paris, but private accounts state him to have quitted that capital in the afternoon of Wednesday. AMERICA. We are sorry to find by the following account, that the small expedition up the river St. Mary, had failed before the news of the peace had been received to cause the sword to be sheathed. PORTSMOUTII, APRIL 28.—This afternoon the Erebus sloop of war arrived from off Georgia, last front Halifax. The ieformation brought by her is extremely unfortunate. It appears that on the 23(1 of February an attack of an unsuccessful nature was made p St. Mary's River, by the boats of Admiral Sir Geo. Cockburn's Squadron, under the direction of Captain Phillot, of the Primrose. and Captain Bartholomew, of the Erebus. The force had proceceied a distance of 100 miles, and within three-quarters of a mile of ifs destination, when it was attacked out of the woods on the Florida side (the Spanish side therefore nentral) by the Patriot', and with them a great number of regulars and dismounted riflemen. The place where the force was attacked, and the river for about So miles below, is only from 30 to 50 yards wide, and the banks covered so closely with trees to its edge, that it is only in some places a lauding can be effected. A sharp skirmishing took place. and in about 2A minutes the Enemy were dislodged. The enemy's works, which were the object of attack were every way prepared, and the bugle sounding the approach of our force, it was derma! prudent to retire. In less than a quarter of an hour the boats were again attacked, and in such situation that the assailants could not be seen for the trees, and not more than 15 yards from the centre of the river, it being extremely narrow in that part. This attack lasted about t?la minutes, and in less than an hour another attack took place on the retreating boats, from both sides of the river. Out force conducted themselves with the greatest coolness and intrepidity, and fought their way through this powerful opposition, for a space of nearly 40 miles, front two o'clock in the afternoon till one the next mottling. Early in the action Captian Mellott received a slight buckshot wound above the left knee, and a slight flesh wound in the hip. The loss we sustained has been severe, and consists of ^.. , 9 killed and wounded, and among the latter 18 dangerously. Captain Hartlio. lomew was also wounded by a tifleman in the back part of his head, and as he was putting up his left hand to feel the wonial, a part of the middle finger and thumb were shot away by another of these expert marksmen ; he was also woutided by a buck-shot under the left breast, and was struck with another in the neck, almost in the great artery.—Lieut. Clark, of the Devastation, mortar-vessel, shot a rifleman in the act of pointing at him." The Duke of Wellington arrived at Ostend on the l6th inst. accompanied by General Lowe, General Barnes, and two aides•de-camp; he alighted at the hotel of the Mavor. Mr. Delmotte; he arose at four the next morning, and rode out to inspect the whole of the fortifications, and ou his re turn reviewed the 44th and three Hanoverian regiments at eleven o'clock ; then he went to the Hotel de Commerce. and after some deliberations with the Commandant and Col. lfamerton, he set off for Nieuport between one and two. He was dressed in deep mourning, and seemed to be in good health ; he was greeted by the populace, who appeared to regard him as their protector. The Earl of Dalhousie, Sir Thomas Picton, and Sir Lowry Cole, are to re-assume their commands as Lieutenant-Ge nerals under the Duke of WellinAton. A strong Channel fleet, it is said, will be immediately col lected, as a fleet of observation, under the command of Lord Keith. Naval arrangements are also making in, and relative to, the island% near the French coasts. 30. NEM and tor- V 8, Lou, of T. its. ed ia. lot ve its e-