The National Register. — London, England, 1808-05-15 00:00:00

,;',}fir p . •••••• TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Friday night, pro posed in the House or Commons, a plan fur couvertiag three per vents. consols. and reduced, into life annuities, according to an equitably estimated scale of purchase.— These annuities are to be paid out of the sinking fund, which will thus be made to redeem at the present price of the funds all sums converted into annuities', whereas those SLIMS, if they should remain in the.funds, must be redeem able by Government only at a much higherprice, because the operation of the sinking fund and the restoration of peace, seem likely to. create a constant increase in the value of stocks. Perhaps the advantages of this plan will nut be very extensive, because any body who hai a mind to employ his money in buying annuities, may buy them at present on good security : but every relief is to be ap pro‘ed, however partial, and we think the sinking fund is well employed in such a scheme. The only persons likely to sutfer materially, are the proprietors of the insurance offices, who will find, but in very few cases, an inclination on the part of the public for prefering the security of their offices to that of Government. • There seems to be no longer any doubt, from the intel ligence brought by some tiritish ships, that the Rochefort 'Squadron has returned from its cruize to Toulon. The French Papers announce, that Gantheaume entered Tou lon on the evening of the 10th. Bonaparte has laid an embargo upon. all American ves sels in the French ports : a measure which is stated to have been in conformity with the Bayonne Decree. We under stand that pains have been taken in the drawing up of the Decree, to make it appear a proceeding less hostile - to America than was at first conceived. However, there is something ridiculous in the pretence that this act is to be esteemed a nseasure of kind consideration towards Ame rica but Bonaparte says, that the precaution is necessary for preventing her property from being seized by the Bri tish, who would certainly way-lay them on the high seas. General Klingspor, by a report dated 11th April, gives intelligence of a skirmish between his troops and the enemy in Finland, which was attended with no remarkable result. In a second report, dated the 20th, he relates a slight ac tion, which terminated in the retreat of the enemy. It was supposed at Gottenburgh, that the Swedish army in Finland had suffered severely in an action near Bralin stvdt. In Norway, General Arnifeldt had driven the ene my across the Gloinine, and was pursuing his advantages. An engagement took place, on the 26th of April, in sight of Stromstadt, among twenty-eight Norway coasting vessels, four Swedish gun-boats, and one mortar boat : the follow ing is the Cottenburgh account of the action:— At half-pabt five o'clock the Norway flotilla appeared, mounting guns from 6 to 21-pounders. Four of our gun-boat , , ;and one mortar, towed to meet them, about half way, half a gun-shot from the town. The engagement was begun by our gun-boats, and continued under an incessant shower of halls, for the space of one hour and forty minutes. It terminated so that our boats gave the last fire. In the presence of the spectators, t woof the enemy's vessels were sunk, w ith their crews and every thing on board ; three of them they towed away, and one was missing, which doubtless has been sunk. On our ►ide there were four killed, and two men so much wounded that the died shortly after; seven were slightly wounded." In the Foreign News we have given the principle articles of the last Gottenburgh Mails, which relate to the Russian invasion of Gothland. Dutch Papers to the 10th inst. arrived yesterday after noon. A letter from Milan, dated April 25, is inserted, 'which says, it is now confirmed that Admiral Gantlicannie left part of his fleet behind him at Corfu. General Du bread. who has arrived from that Island, on board the bri gantine Friedland, states, that there has been left the liranie Iripte, of 44 guns, two corvettes of 32 guns each, six brigs. and two galliots. And also accouuts from Ilulsingfors, dated March V 3, which state, that a division of the Russian army is advancing to Wasa, on the gulph of B o th n i a. It is supposed the Swedes will be cut oil by this division. 'The retreat of the Swedes is so rapid, that they have not even time to spike their cannon, far less carry them off: • ANOTHER Ex PEDITION.—Report is afloat in military cir cles, that a Grand Expedition will soon start, to consist of 20,000 men. Sir Arthur Wellesley or General lieresford to command it; with a brevet rank. Among the corps the following are to go :-2d, or Queen's Regiment; 3d, or Duck; sth, ttith, or Canieronians ; 40th, - 45th, 71st, Sstli, and 95th. Some Cavalry go in this el pedition, and a very large Stair. The Expedition under General Prevost arrived at Hali fax on the 7th of March. It appears from the return of the number of men want. ing to complete the Volunteers in Great Britain up to their original establishment, that the deficiency altogether is :18,655. Au order has been issued to increase the number of the Royal Marines serving in the Navy, as follows :-25 to a ship of the first rate, 20 to a second rate, 15 to a third rate, 10 to a fourth rate and large frigatt.s, and in pro portion to smaller ships. Accounts from Oporto reached town on Friday. They are dated up to the Sd inst. It appears that the famine in Portugal is not so severe as the English have been led to conceive it. It also appears, that the French allow ship ments of wine to be made, under certain regulations. (hie of the principal is, that the merchant, or shipper, is t o pay an additional duty uponwine, at the rate of 365. per puncheon. Tuscany is now divided into three Departments; namely, Florence, Siena, and Leghorn; which are subdivided into several Prefectures. The Privy Council is abolished, with all other Public Boards of the former Government, so that no traces are left of the antient form. • A Mail from Tortola arrived on Thursday night !in twenty-eight days. We arc sorry to find, that Port &Ls pagne, in the Island of Trinidad, has been consumed by tire. The cause of this dreadful disaster has not transpired. file Mail left the islands all sell. The Catholics of Switzerland and the Pope are at this moment at variance. The small Council of Lucerne have addres, , ed a Memorial to his Holiness, to permit the abo lition of monasteries within theirlerritorv. A Commercial Treaty between Bavaria and Italy has been agreed upon, but not ratified. While the present obstructions in the way of navigation continue, this treaty will be of great importance to the whole of Hal), Ger many, &c. The late Admiral Rainier has left property to the amount of nearly 6250,000/. ; and after providing amply for his near relations, he made the Wowing bequest : " 1 bequeath one-tenth part of my personal property to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the time being, towards the reduction of the National Debt, in acknowledgment of the gene rous bounty of the national establishment of the Royal Navy, ill which I have acquired the principal part of the fortune I now have, which has exceeded nty merit and pretensions." Letters from Iron, dated the 25th of April assert, thll, through the interference of France, the Prince of the Peace has been set at liberty. It is adde d, that the unfortunate Prince, when takell out of his prison, was without a shirt, and had a beard several inches long. The Court of Sweden went into mourning on the :2 6 th ult. for six weeks, for the late King of Denmark, tian VII. who was uncle to the king of Sweden. The Queen of Holland has been safely delivered of a son, on which occasion great public rejoicings took place. The serious spectacle now exhibiting at that elegant 'Theatre in Catherine-street, equals any performances of the summer amusements. The story is taken from that celebrated poet Valerius Hams, and the maaner in which it is got up does credit to the llanagers. 316 .--. MAY 15. ver7 ".T