The National Register. — London, England, 1809-04-23 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. which was a decisive proof that those things were considered as money's worth, as a marketable commodity. It was impossible for him to know that the practice which had prevailed to such an extent in a neighbouring kingdom, also prevailed in this country. if this practice was not destroyed, it would in the end destroy us. .As to the tale of judicial aituations, he did not pretend to say that it affected the purity of the Administration, but he would still say that it was an anomAy, which should he removed. It would be easy to place the fees of their offices in a general fund, for increasing the salaries of the judges. lie agreed perfectly with his ilot:ourable friend (Mr. Crcecey) that a Dissolution of Parliament was not an appeal to the people but to the Treasury. On the last Dissolution Ministers endeavoured to set the people mad, and then talked of appealing to their sense. The sense of the people had some slight influence fat a General Election ; but the great preponderating influence was the influence of the Treasury. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday sennight.—adjourned. Friday, ilyril 21. No business of importance. TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS AND THE PUBLIC. A. Portrait of the DUKE of KENT, engraved by Scilly Inv, from a Picture by Edridge, in the possession of the Princess Arne* that was intended to be delivered GRATIS This Day, could not possibly he prepared in time. The Proprietors possi- ' tively assure their Subscribers and the Pu4lie, that the Portrait will be ready for delivery on SUNDAY NEXT, April SO. 'Tie Proprietors of The National .I??gister have learned Iv ith the utmost regret, that many of its Readers have been deprived of receiving the Portraits which have been delivered GRATIS. To prevent similar complaints, and to secure the preservation of the Portraits, as well as to pi f:vetit anneressary and improper ci , :rges, the Proprietors he leave to inform Subscribers, that the Prints will not, for the future, he delivered to the Venders of Newspapers, without particular orders from the Subscriber. The Portraits will be left at the Mice until seat for. Immediate Orders should be sent to the Office, 11, Catherine stre;.A, Strand, by letter, post paid, or given to the Newsmen. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. tottDon, SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1809. POLITIC.IL lir6NT9 CP TI:111 R'EER. DESTRUCTION OF THE BREST FLEET. It is with the most sincere pleasure we have to announce, that ztnothcr laurel has been added to the National Wreath, invos!l the Temples of the Guardian Genius of Bria. Victory, indeed, to use the words of poetry, st,i7is to have tiken her permanent scat in the I.lfith tm n;res —here she secnis to wave ; ter wings , and to Bold lbr proudest throne. The assault on the Trench Fleet, in Basque Roads, has bccn as successful as the fondest imagination could antici pate. The Brest Fleet has been altogether destroyed, or reodered unserviceable. Perhaps, the whole Naval History of the country cannot produce an example, in which British Valour has made a more daring attempt, and been accom panied with a more brilliant result. It is truly cheering to our hearts, that in a lime of so much general disaster to all the States of Europe, we have such frequent occasions to congratulate our countrymen on our own successes. If in the gcaeral club of the war every one had contributed • APRIL 23. so much effort, and so much success, the general issue would have been verfdifferent, - and Europe would not have to reckon so many Nations subdued, 'and so many millions extirpated. The attack on the Brest Fleet was made on the llth of April, at eight o'clock in the evening. The attacking squadron, as it would appear by the Gazette, for this offi cial narrative is in some degree confused, consisted of two divisions,--the covering squadron of Lord COCURANE, and he fire-ships led on by Capt. WootnninGE, in the Mediator. The Wind blowing from the Northward impelled them, of coarse on the enemy,who were anchored to the Southward, and the freshness of it, together with the consequent heavy sea, gave a momentum to the Mediator, which enabled it to break the boom, or chain, by which the approach to the enemy's fleet was defended. The French forts and shipping opposed the assault by a very heavy fire, but the bravery of the British seamen overcame all obstacles, and compelled the enemy to run. their vessels on shore.—Seven of their vessels accordingly grounded, five of which, however, got into the Charente before day-light. On the following day, the 12th, about two o'clock, Lord CocKaANE led the attack in the lmperieuse, and opened his fire on the Calcutta, which very speedily struck her colours ; the Yille de Varsovie and the Aquilon, were then successively attacked, and successively surrendered. The prisoners were removed, and they were set on fire. The enemy themselves destroyed the Tonnerre, seeing it impos sible to save it. The Vile de Varsovie was a 80 gun, the Tonnerre a 64, the Aquillon a 74, and the Calcutta a 56. On the night of the 12th another attempt was made to fire the *ships on shore, but from the shallowness of the water it was deemed more prudent to abandon it. The vessels likewise which had escaped into the Charente, were separated beyond the reach of present attack. The Gazette here concludes with a well merited compli. ment to Lord Cocriamsc, who certainly seems to be tread ing in the steps of the lamented NELSON, and who, if Pro vidence shall preserve his life, will doubtless obtain the same eminence of glory and reputation. It is truly conso latory to the feelings of the country, that in times Of such :peril and difficulty heaven seems to have given us men, suited to the occasion. There is no languor, no reluctance; no despair of the public cause, either in our fleets or in out armies ; our soldiers and sailors go forth in the full assur ance of victory, and this laudable assurance, this noble confidence, enables them to accomplish their expectations. Long may this spirit continue, for so long will otir country not only be safe, but glorious. The result of this glorious affair therefore is, that the lii-est fleet has disappeared from the surface of the. seas ; fir:: sail have been destroyed, three driven on shore, and the commander of the fleet compelled to run into the Cha rente, which is certainly not either a safe or a' favourable station, or . it would have been taken before. The wit& of our losi consists of two officers and eight men kilted, and sixteen officers and two men wounded. The accounts were brought to the Admiralty by Sir HENRY B. NzaLE, the first Captain of Lord GA.151111E12. The intelligence was. immediately communicated to the Loan MA von, and through him to the Public. • The Park and Tower guns were fired at five o'clock, and at night-fall the Public Buildings, the Horse Guards, Trea sury, Foreign Office in Downing-street; Somerset Douse, and all the other Public Offices, were brilliantly *llluminata.