The National Register. — London, England, 1821-09-24 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICA. SURRENDER OF OF LA GUYRA. We have reason to believe the following is an ac curate narrative:— On the (28th of June last, the vessel le Colosse, on board of which Rear Admiral Jurien hoisted bis flag, :nat which is commanded by M. Rosamel, left the road of St. Pierre at Martinique, in company with the frigate la Galalkee, commanded by M. Cutlet, and the vletta l'llirondelk, commanded by Al. Rupert. This squadron suited in the direction of Margarita, and on the J(Jth of June anchored about a league from the land, opposite the fort La Galore. The next day two officers were sent on shore, where they had learned that the inhabitants had refused to fur nish their contingent of 1,000 men, which had been required by the President ot' the Republic, and that their chief; Arismendi, being desirous of acceding to their demand, had been sent away from the island, and had escaped to Barcelona on board the independent goletta Le Nouveaux Goagres, on the .sth of May last. The squadron again set sail, and arrived on the 3:1 of July in sight of La Guuyra, where the Spanish Sig was flying. Three French vessels were at this anchorage, le Sylene and l'Egeric, commanded by MM. Morice and DLmanoir, and a merchantman from Martinique. _ _ _ According io orders from axon Duperre, com mandant of the station of the Leeward Islands, r Egene and Sr/lore immediately joined Rear Ad miral Jurien's &wino. These two vessels remained a day at La Guayra, where the Spanish garrison was reduced to the last extremity. To make the narrative of the events which fol lowed the arrival of the French ships in the road stead intelligible, it is necessary to give a statement of the situation of the republic of Columbia with respect to the war at that period. On the 27th of May last, after the taking of Cameras and La Guayra, Brigadier Morales re paired to Valencia to join Gen. La Torres, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal army, leaving Col. Pereyra with 1,500 men to defend the capital against Bermudes, who was at the head of a divi sion of the Independent army. After stone engagements of no importance, Pereyra was constrained to fall back, and the inhabitants of La Guyara, menaced with a new invasion, removed on the 22d of June to Porto Cabello. On the 231 Bermudes entered Caraccas to attack Pereyra's divi sion, but he was defeated and put to flight by the latter, who fbreed him to a distance of seven or eight leagues from the city. On the 24th, Bolivar and General Paez, gained the battle of Carabobo, against Gen. La Torre and Brigadier Morales, who took reftige at Porto Cabello. Col. Pereyra then gave up the pursuit at Bermu des fur the purpose of moving again upon Caraccas, but he was intercepted in his march by another division of ail victorious army, aLd compelled to retire to La Guayra, which was then occupied by a detachment of only 20 men belonging to the Inde pendent troops : he arrived there on the 2d of July with 900 men, after u fbrced march of several days in almost impassable ravines. Bolivar, who entered Caraccas on the 30th of June, directed his route on La Guayra, and surrounded the place on all sides with a carps of about 4,000 men. Colonel Pereyra was thus shut up in La Guayra, where not a single inhabitant remained; he was without provisions, without stores, with u division of 900 men, whose sole nourishment fur two days past was the juice of Lane sugar canes, and who manifialted their deter mination of dying of starvation sooner than fall into the power of' the besiegers : the advanced posts of the latter were in sight the very day the Spanish division entered that place. Such was the state of La Guayra on the 3d of July at noon, when Bear-Admiral Jurien anchored in the roadstead. He immediately sent M. Lulande, his first Adjutant, to Colonel Pereyra. This officer, reduced to the hat extremity, had resolved to die in the place rather than surrender to Bolivar; he ha renewed the demands which he had made the pre ceding evening of the Captains of the Xylem and the Egerie to embark the Spanish gun ison, and convey it to Porto Cabello, adding, that it was so succour which he then asked from the French; that he had made up his mind to remain on shore with the blacks, and perish with them if it were necessary; but that he besought the Admiral to receive on board the Europeans, who tip to that day had shared in his fortunes, assuring him, moreover, that they should leave their arms and baggage on shore, and take their departure us refugees. After having spoken to this effect to Mr. Lalande, Col. Pereyra sent on board the Co/oasts two officers of his mutt, with in structions to make an official statement of the dispo sitions of their Ode. Reur-Athuiral Jurien, juJ e ing 'mediation to he the only course towards a I..conciliation of the duties and interests of 'lli pat tics, engaged Pereyra to accept the colituistion wiikb bolavar had rovel.ed TIM NATIONAL REGISTER to him, on condition that that General should con sent to the embarkation of the Spanish troops on board the King's ships. This, which was the only means of safety, was cagorly embraced by the officers and by the soldiers of the Spanish division, and the negotiations tvcre instantly commenced. In the course of the evening there appeared in the offing a convoy of fifteen nail, under the escort of a ship of war, which appeared to be steering for Porto Cabello. The night was passed in tranquillity. On the 4th July, at day-break, the advanced posts of the lodependont army were within half cannon shot of the town, several flags of trate passed to and fm, and Bolivar in person pitAied 'Omani a recommitting party up to the advanced guard ; shortly afterwards the Spanish colours which were flying were struck on the citadel, and the troops which occupied it de scended into the town. At half-past seven in the morning a Field Officer of the Spanish division, and an Aide_tic•Cump of Bolivar, repaired on board the Colossus, to announce to Rear-Admiral Juricn that the capitulation had taken place with the modifications pointed out by him, and to request, on the p..rt of Gen. Bolivar and Col. Percyra, that he would be pleased to give orders for the embarkation of the Spanish troops, which were to evacuate the place in two hours, with their orals and baggage. After these arrangements, M. Lalande, lieutenant of the navy, was again sent on shore, to communi cate with Col. Percyra on the means of forwarding as much as possible the embarkation of the Spanish troops, and with orders to visit General Bolivar, who, with his staff, was in one of the first houses in the suburbs. M. Lalande was exceedingly well received, and the General addressed him as follows:—" I must beg of you to give my thanks to the Rear-Admiral fir the conduct he has pursued in this affair: he has preserved the strictest neutrality, and he has at the same time given me an opportunit) of playing to the world, and to the Spaniards in particular, that we do not make war like barbarians. Col. Pereyra is an excellent soldier, who defends with incredible constancy the cause which has been confided to him: I have grunted him a capitulation which he could not have expected; in line, I have grunted all that he asked, because I know that he has defended him self to the last extremity: any longer perseverance would have been a useless waste of blood in a war which has already cost so much ; and we are both of us much indebted to the Admiral for the opportunity of sparing it." M. Lalande was likewise instructed to say to Gen. 13olivar that French commerce relied upon his jus tice and his protection in the case of any ship of our nation touching at any of the ports, or on any part of the coast subject to his command. " You may as sure the Admiral," he replied, " that the trade of France shall no where he so well protected as in the republic of Columbia. We have lately a second time taken Caraccas, the town most attached to Spain, and no disorder has been committed even against the Spaniards: what then shall we do for a nation, which, in the present instance, gives us so fine an example of neutrality in this our family quarrel?" At 10 o'clock in the forenoon M. Lalande returned to the beach, where the Spanish troops were drawn up; the boats of the squadron were ordered to re ceive them, and the embarkation was effected, not withstanding innumerable difficulties, the sea rolling very heavily, and breaking with great force on the beach, which could not be approached by the boats without great risk of being dashed to pieces. The officers and withers, exhausted with hitigue, pressed with hunger, and with their clothes in rags, were forced to wade up to their shoulders in the water to get into the boats ; and even women, worn out and suffering from privations of every kind, reduced to the saute necessity, presented a scene the most touching and most afflicting. The cares and activity of M. Lalande effected this operation with the best possible order. This officer exercised, under these circumstances, a zeal the most remarkable and most worthy of praise. About two o'clock there remained ashore only Col. Pereyra and some other officers, who repaired on board in a sepa rate boat. All the soldiers embarked had preserved their arms. The unfortunate Spaniards, whom the cold had seised after being thrown into the water, came on deck almost dying, and had great difficulty in drag ging themselves up to the place destined to receive them. But scarcely were they on board when every one hastened to relieve them from the wet tatters with which they were coveted, and gave them clo thing more comfortable anti decent. Captains Com mandant, Etat Majors, young officers of marines, masters and seamen, disputed the pleasure of laviA ing their succours on the old soldiers, whose honour able wounds attested their valour. About half an hour after the embarkation of the Spanish troops, those of Columbia made repeated discharges of musketry in the place in token of re joicing, and the captain of the French craft, Le Pe tit Fox, complained that he had b.en fired upon, and that several balls had reached on board. M. La lande was again sent to inform General Bolivar of this circumstance, and to demand the search for and the punishment of the guilty ones. That General replied, that he was in despair lest such an accident sliould fall out, notwithstanding the orders for the prevention of it which he had the precaution to issue. It was known subsequently from information which he causal to be taken, that some soldiers having drank without moderation of strong liquors, hail air:a:till their pieces towards the sea, without the intent of firing on Le Petit fur. M. Paris, French agent, consigner of this vessel, having already several cargoes in the warehouses of La Guayra, and fearing to see them carried off; had entreated Rear Admiral Jurien to assist him in em barking them, and he bad been promised marines and boats to effect the operation more promptly ; but circumstanws having altered, M. Paris no longer deemed it necessary to remove them. The day was far advanced when all the disposi tions relative to the embarkation of the Spaniards were terminated. The calm did not permit the squadron to set sail, and the departure from La Guayra was postponed till the following day. The sth July, the squadron hoisted sail. The calm and the feebleness of the wind did not allow of their their arrival at the anchorage at Porto Cabello till the following evening. Rear Admiral Jurien imme diately sent an officer to General La Torre, to demand boats for the disembarkment of the Spanish troops. The convoy which had been descried front La Guayra on the 3d of July was tinind in these roads, together with the Asia, of 6t guns, The Viceroy of Mexico and of Grenada, and Plenipoten tiaries from Spain, had arrived in this ship to treat for peace with the Independents of Columbia, An Aide-dc-Camp of General La Torre came on his part to invite Rear Admiral Jurien and some officers of the divisian to his house. They found there the Viceroys, the Plenipotentiaries, and the principal Chiefs, who received them in the kindest manner. A person sent from the Bepublic of Columbia had entered the city to propose an armistice. Bolivar himself was to come in a few days from Valencia, which is only seven or eight leagues distant, in the interior. Every thing seemed to announce the end of this obstinate and untbrtimate war. On the Bth of July, Rear Admiral Juricit pro posed to sail, and continue his cruise, with the Colosse ship of the line, and the Galathee frigate Before he quitted Porto Cabello he gave orders for the captain of the brig S:ylene, of the Egerie cor vette, and the Iliroadelle galliott, to return to Nlar aniline, and put themselves under the flag of Rear Admiral Duperre. TR.IDE WITH RUSSIA. Russian Consulate, 26, Great Winchester street, September 19, IWI. $ll,-.4 beg you will lay before the C anmittee of Lloyd's, for the ir.forruation of all those that may be concerned in the Baltic trade, that I have received official communication from my Go vernmen., stating, that in a recently constructed harbour, situ ated in the small bay of 'l'olsburg, in the government of Estho nia, not far from the estate of Kunda, it has been ordained by an Imperial ukase of the rith of last month, that a regular Custom house barrier should be established there under the name of Kunda, as attached to the district of the Custom House of Revel s for the exportation of all Russian products, as established by the last tariff; but that the importation to it from any foreign ports is confined to the articles of salt and herrings only : ull other foreign merchandize imported into Kunda will be subject to the regulations already established in such cases. Russian produce from Russian pirts may, however, be imported on the general established principles, and that all vessels arriving and sailing from the harbour in question must pay the same duties and charges as are now collected in the port of Revel. I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant. A. IHIBATCHEFSKT. John Bennett, jun. Esq. Secretary to the Committee of Lloyd's. Orders have - been transmitted to New South Wales, where the 48th regiment is stationed, to reduce that corps, at present 1000 strong, to the establishment of the rest of the infantry 11 was owi.ig to a special application from the late Gover• nor, in 1818, that it was increased to that strength., It is now preferred to place the 411th on the save footing with the other infantry battalions, and to tbrward an additional regiment to the station. The Si (or Bulf4) have receives orders of readiness for New South Wales, and are on their way to Chat ham, whence, according as convict ships go out, they will be sent in detachments on board those vessels. Three Englishmen, Doctor Woodney. Lieutenant Clapperton, of the navy, and Lieutenant Denman, of the army, have undertaken a journey to the in terior of Africa to decide the question respecting the source of the Niger. They mean to embark at Fahnouth to proceed to Tripoli, and travel to Mout :mil:. in Fezzau, under the spacial protection of the Bey of Tripoli, to whom the travellers have been strongly recommended by the English Government. They intend to explore a way to Bornoon, which did not appear difficult to Captain Lyon, then follow the course of the rivers which they may meet, or the route of the caravans.;