The National Register. — London, England, 1815-09-24 00:00:00

610 which -sails of the line are now built and equipped by each state of the Union, she will still preserve a nume rical superiority in vessels ; but experienced seamen and not ships alone form a navy, and she would have only raw hands to manreuvre her squadrons and light her battles. In such a situation could she hope to preserve the sovereignty of the sea? Could she even long maintain an equipoise of maritime power, and hers once lost, although she might retain her territorial independence, could she keep a frag ment of that trade which she now almost singly engrosses, of that prosperity which Tyre in her days of pride and of fortune pever equalled, and of that influence which now wields nations as the instruments of her will, and seems to mould the destinies of the world ? These are not imaginary or distant perils. Even whilst we write, the substance of our maritime Empire is passing away, and unless measures are adopted to stop the easy but rapid downfall of our grandeur, by preserving in peace the elements of our triumphs in war, the awful voice that sighs over the ruins of • Tyre and of Carthage, will soon have to proclaim—that Britain has bcen. THE LAST REGAL MOMENTS OF MURAT AND HIS WIFE. When Murat after his total defeat, returned to Naples, on the 19th of May, of the whole of his army only four of his offi cers accompanied him.—He presented himself to his wife with a pale and downcast countenance, saying, " Madame, why could I not die?" This was the last phrase he uttered in play ing his part of King of Naples. Terror had taken pos session of the palace, and the city was in. a state of tumult. The conquerors refused to include the fugitive King in the capitulation, by which the kingdom was delivered up to them. Next day (the 20th) Murat cut his hair, which he used to wear long and in curls, and dressed himself in a grey coat, without any decorations. Thus disguised he secretly reached the shore, whence a small boat conveyed hint to the Isle of Ischia, and thence on board a merchant vessel, which waited far him a few leagues off: Ilis wife, who appears to possess snore vigour of mind, made her retreat more majestically. She first retired with her children to the castle of Ova, and afterwards to Gaeta, still maintaining communication with, and some authority over, the fleet and the arsenal. She sent Prince Cariati to propose to Commodore Campbell, that he should receive her, under the protection of Great Britain, on board his squadron, and that, to ensure her embarkation, 500 soldiers.sbould be sent to meet her. All this was granted cn condition that she should immediately deliver up to his Britannic Majesty and to Ferdinand IV. the arsenal, and the little Neapolitan fleet. Thus Caroline Buonaparte obtained time and facilities for embarking her plate, jewels, ready mo riey, all that vias valuable of her property, and about 500 of her partisans. Her departure was a singal for the populace of Naples to ►edouble their outrages; but the arrival of the conquerors soon re-established order. The Heir of the Throne made his entrance, and the Queen could see from the Bay of Naples the illuminations which celebrated the over throw of her tyranny. She was about to sail for Antibes, but her departure was suddenly suspended by the Austrian Ge neral, wh,o reclaimed her. It was necessary to make a new capitu'ation, and to sail for Trieste, whence site was conduct ed with her children to Fratz, in Sty ria —The valuable gold and diamonds, the possession of which was left to her in vir tue of the capitu'ation with Commodore Campbell, is esti elated at t 8 millions of francs ; but the diamonds and other riropet ty are claimed by the Courts of Naples and Spain, as imlonaing to these bwo Clowns. trap .11-Ill• • • • SEPT. 24. DESTRUCTION OF PD!?' RDYAL, JAMAICA.- It is with much sorrow we atiw'u re a drea , ltol event. wls'ch has laid almost all the town Of Port It I. Jamaica in NO es The tot. lowing account is extracted from ti t Jamaica Rorial Gazette.:— Jansaics,July 15. gi We have this day the melancholy and ektru.•litv task of recording the effects of a fatal and destructive fire, svi ich broke our it. the town of Port R. , yal about helipast oar o'clock tots noon It began in a negroeyard in Cannon-street, and was occasioned by a negro woman's making a fire in an intro!). r Wei e It qui kI c comd,utticated to the adjoining buildings, and anion the fir', to Miss Fiteuiii's fine lodging-house ; from thence it spread its ravuges to q.e hic and opposite houses, and froni the very . tents hreer 'ha iir• eiiiled, burning shingles, & C. were soon viafte'd to others, whit hty leg rtniark ably dry, quickly burst tint itt d blaze, so that by tea+ o'clock three as four parts of the town were burning in a must horrid ni un r.—The Ci usternation that now prevailed ii the town, as we air ihttamed, surpasses description ; every minute fresh flames tt ere .• forth ; the principal street in which the Court-house, Tarrant'' Tlyet it, Mr. Bassan's and Mr. Jackson's stores, are situ •ted, becietwe •• eeltime of fire and smoke, and from thence it spread to the whole of the streets and lanes towards the harbour, the wharfs, and the Naval Hospital, Mr. R. M Kowan's house and whsrt, and all adjiiiiiii.g, to , ‘ithin a few houses of the Officer's quarters on the Pa t dde. The fire Laving com municated to Mrs. Whittaker's house towards the west corner of the Parade, it was suggested to pull down the houses opposite. so as to open a passage between those on fire to those uhieli ii had net yet reached. which. being effected by very great exeiriohs. was the means of pre venting the flames from continuing their feta+ off ern Owe' tie row of houses on the Parade leading to the Artillery Hospital %hick were thus fortunately preserved from the dreadful element. The D •ck-yard has been miraculously saved nothing but the extratirdiears exertions and skill displayed on this unhappy occasion could have •• cured it ; as it is, some of the buildings near the wall, close to Mr. Jackson's tire, have been demolished, partly by the fire, and partly hs pulling them down, to prevent the flames from communicating to those of more value, situated further in the yard. To attempt to esiiiiitae the loss sustained by, or particularise individuals u lio have suffered on this Me! ncholy occasion, would be absurd. Suffice it to say, that, of all classes, some have lost much, and some their little all I The fire was not completely got under until early yesterday morning, and of ill fated Port Royal all that now temains, besides the Dockyard, is Fort Charles, the Artillery Bar-acks and Hospital, the Church, the street in which Mr. Peter Doffilits house is situated, the street at the back of it, in which Mr. Henry Beer's liquor-st o ry is, and also from about fourteen to sixteen houses on the Parade, commencing from Mrs. Clarke's old lodging house, and running each - way to about six or seven houses. " We regret to state. that several lives were lost on this unfortunate occasion. "Au alarm of fire was also given in this city yesterday, *bleb, however, was soon extinguished : it proceeded from a small house in Matthews's-lane, and it was discovered that a parcel of rags had bees stuffed under the shineks, which had taken fire. Indeed, from ap pearances, it seemed as if they had been wilfully set on fire by some incendiary." [FURTHER PARTICULARS.) Kingston, Jamaica, JCIly 15. Two seamen, belonging to the Carnation brig, of 18 guns, were killed; a seamen belonging to La Deeouverte brigantine, had his skull spit open by the tailing of a beam, and dropped dead on the spot, Rear Admiral Douglas standing near him at the moment ; a negro man was killed by the falling of a wall, and two children are stated to hare beeu burnt. Several individuals are wounded---among them, a seaman oF La Deeouverte, and one of the Royal Artillery dreadfully, besides many negtoes. A vast number of unfortunate individuals walked from Royal along the palisadoes for this city, about fifty of whom reached Fart Nugent yesterday in a most deplorable state ; while many, com pletely etch iusted, were compelled to lie down on the road, without a drop of water to allay their thirst, and we fear some may perish, if veldt'', are not sent to convey them to town ; imdeed, the scene of desolation and misery, that this dreadful fire has occasioned, is truly m”laticholy, and can only be imagined by those who have witnessed it. Shocking to relate, during this horrible scene of desolation, and bile the unfortunate sufferers were in the utmost despair, a 'umber of ruffians ((we must call them sa), destitute of all feeling and principle, proceeded to plunder the trifling property that individuals were enabled to snatch from the conflagration: a few of these depredators have been taken and lodged in the Guard-house of this city, and some of the goods ikszorcred : several bare esoped, but siuctmly bore due THE NATIONAL