The National Register. — London, England, 1811-09-08 00:00:00

r , 660 of our own produce, and the independence of Spa nish America, followed, as it must be, by the formation of rich and powerful States, in that hi therto neglected portion of the universe, would open new fields to our industry, and supply new in citements and rewards to our commercial activity. Such are the chief advantages which we should reap from a treaty concluded on such a basis. They appear very considerable : let us not be deceived by appearances. The additien of fresh colonies would only diminish the value of our own. The superior number and appointment of our trading vessels placed the commerce of the world into our hands at a time when the field of competition was opened to every other nation, and «hen we possessed but com paratively few colonies and settlements, which, it is thus ascertained, are not the sources of our prosperity, and.pecessary for its suppoi t and increase. We have beside to cc - insider that even w..re these advantages as important as they seem, it would always be a drawback more than equal to their value, that they must depend on the caprice and atbitray will of a man who is no less celebrated for the ravenousness of his ambition than for his disregard of, the faith of treaties. In a future number we shall resume this subject. It is impossible to conceive the hardships which are imposed upon the merchants of Hamburgh. In conformity with the express orders of Buonaparte, the heav►est pun►shment is inflicted on those who are detected in a c orrespondence with England.— The most respectable merchants are sent into sla very for the most trifling offence of this kind. A recent case has occurred which deserves mention. About three months ago, a young merchant of the name of Sch►oder was arrested, and sent to Paris, on a charge of having in his possession some cari catures and pamphlets reflecting on the conduct of Buonaparte. It now appears that this unfortunate youth, having been tried and condemned " to be branded in the forehead, and to be sent 25 years to the gallies," Buonaparte expressed his disapproba tion of so lenient a sentence, and gave orders that he should be shot. This sentence, it was believed at Hamburgh, was immediately carried into exe cution. It appears that at Dantzic, General RAPP has acquainted the Senate. that his Majesty the FRENCH EMPEROR has taken •off the embargo, and allowed exportations, on payment of 20 francs per barrti, in place of 60 francs, as heretofore. Though the em bargo at that port was not, strictly speaking, a part of the Continental System, it was essentially con -fleeted with it in policy and principle ; and whenever we find the FRENCH EMPEROR giving Way to indul gencies in favour of commerce, we cannot but consider his conduct, pro tanto, a virtual departure from the spirit of his commercial interdicts. The negotiations between Mr. Foster and the American Government have, it is said, been sus pended. • • NATIONAL R 'ER. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. • FROM THE FRENCH PAPERS. FRANCE. 4 Toy cox, AUGUST Majesty's ships the Majestueux,' Boreas, Ulm, Danube, and the Impregnable, srpcnt /he whole of the ‘2oth in chasing some enemy's ships which had approached the port. On the Mgt, the Austerlitz, Wagram, Sceptre, Suffrein, Do. nawerth Breslaw, and some frigates , joined • the above divi sion, and performed evolutions the whole day in presence of the enemy's squadron. This day ten of our ships maneeuvred in presence of the enemy. Vice-Admiral Emeriau has given an activity to this squadron which cannot be exceeded. PARIS, .Anousr sl.—lt is ly?lieve.d that the stay of their Ma jesties at the Castle of Compeiz,ne will not be long. SPAIN. MADRID, AUGUST 16.—The day before yesterday, at sun rise, the solemnity of the fete'of his Majesty the Emperor of' the French was announced by salutes of artillery. Yesterday the salute was repeated. His Majesty received the felicitations of his Ministers, nt the great Officers of his Household, of the Diplomatic Body, and of the Officers of the garrison. In the .evening there Was a bull-fight, at which his Majesty conde scended to bepresent. Ills presence excited the most lively en thusi ism. There were afterwards grand Illuminations and fine tire-works. It was' renearked yesterday and to-day that his Ma jesty wore the dress of the French Princes. . . . The French Ambassador gave to-day a brilliant entertain ment in Lis palace, in houour of his august Sovereign. The Ministers, the great Officers of the Crown, the Diplomatic Body, the principal Civil and Military Personages of the Royal Household., and the French and Spanish Generals, were in vited to it. At the suit of the authorities of Valladolid, the King has graciously pardoned thirty-two persons who were arrested on various accounts. They_ wt!re culpable, without being actuated by criminal intentions; the perfidy of the enemies of Spain had led astray their understandings, without corrupting their heal ts. The King has sent D. Pablo Aram, the Minister of General Police, hitt) the provinces of Se,zoeia and Avila, there to orga nize definiti - iely all the branches of the Administration. During his absence his place will be filled . by the Minister of the. Indies. Persons distinguished for their knowledge and devotedness will be sent into other provinces. OFFICIAL NEWS FROM THE ARMIES IN SPAIN. " CAI t.f,NTA.—An Aid-dc-camp of Martinez, the Com mandant of Figueiras, deserted on the Bth of August, and an nounced that the garrison was in a frightful state of destitution, and reduced to a few ounces of bread and a little water; that no longer expecting relief, they had determined to make a des perate attempt and break throtigh with the bayonet : but Fi gueiras was surrounded' with .a formidabbe line of circumvalla• tion, more• than .1600 toises in extent ; this line was formed by a chain of strong redoubts, connected together by entrench ments, and protected by a double row of abattis. For 4ome nights an increased vigilance took place ; the Generals spent these. nights in the lines; the Dlske of Tarento had taken the mosteffectual measures fur depriving the enemy of all means of escqin - ; his fate. 'flaying elhansted all his provisions and ammunition, Martinez, on the night of the 1 . 6:11, attempted to force the lines at the heat' of all his garrison ; he had advanced near the first abattis, when a' terrible fire opentd upon his co lumn, killed 4()0 of his men, and compelled him to re-enter the fortress. On the morning of the 19th, he surrendered at dis cretion, demanding only that life should be spared. The garri son defiled, without arms, upon .the glacis; it still . consisted of 3500 men, and near 350 06fficers, of whom there was one Field •Marshal, several Brigadiers, and 80 superior Officers; this.gar rison arrived at Perpignan on the 21st and 22d. Two thousand men perished in Figueiras by our fire, or by disease, since the commencement of the blockade, .which lasted four months. The place not having been attackt.d; and all the operations,hav ing been confined to those of . a rigorous blockade, this important fortress remains untouched. The perseverance and activity displayed by the blockading troops cannot be too highly praised; the at tillery and engineers, in, their immense labouv, hart rivalled each other in zeal." , , • e• t