The Statesman. — London, England, 1815-05-18 00:00:00

F f '~:; alluded to. With this small force, and two six pounders, the brave and gallant General snowed on t o the attack through the village, which bail been sot on fire, and after making two unsuccessful as saults on the fort, in the third, whirr nobly cheering on his men, within 30 yards of the gateway, he re ceived a mortal wound, and fell, most sincerely la mented end regretted by the whole army. It is impossible for me to state particulars of the asgaults which occurred; having been directed by our lamented Chief to remain with two companies of the 53d (which had been sent for to reinforce the Table La 41), and two companies of native infantry, to cover him, and protect the guns ou the batteries ; but I must beg leave to refer his Lordship to Cap tain Byers, Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Gil. lespie, for mom minute details than it is in my power to state. Captain Byers left camp this morning, on bis way to head-quarters, and I trust that the in. formation he will be able to give his Lordship will be most satisfactory. The signal for the columns to move to the attack was lint heard, either by Major Kelly, Capt. Fast, or Captain Campbell. It is impossible t can conclude this report with out espressing the highest satisfaction at the deter. mined bravery of the troops employed yesterday.— To particularize any would be doing an injustice to the whole ; and I trust that this general expression of avrobation will be equally satisfactory to all concerned, as it is intended by me to convey, in the f Ilest manner possible, the high sense I entertain or C 0 zeal and courage of every Officer and soldier of this army who were engaged yesterday. Inclosed I h ave the honour to transmit a return of the ktiled and wounded; and have the honour to be, &c. (sive.') SEBRIGIIT h 1 kIYBEY, Colonel. To Lieutanout-C , .1 , mel Feigns, ' Adjulant-General Armv. P. S. I am apprehensive many circumstances which have occurred, have been left out in my report, from the many interruptions I have experienced, and the multiplicity of h..4iness I at present experience from the command 01 this force, as well as that of the 2d division of the field army devolvi►►g on me, but which I shall correct the moment I discover any ; and I must crave his Lordship's iudulgeuce in this par ticular. Since writing the above, I perceive I forgot to mention having ordered a Littering train from Delhi, to move with all possible expedition towards Seharunpore. It will have to pass the Timly pass, as that of Kerri Is not practicable fur heavy guns. (A true cow.) (Signed) G. It FAGAN, Adj.-Gen. RETURN of the STRENGTH of the different COLUMNS of ATTACK on the FORT of KALUNGA, October 31, 1814. Total-4 Field °Seen, 8 Captains, 40 subalterns. 3 Assistants, 3 Quarter-Mastro and Interpreters, 3 Assistant-Surgeons, 61 Native Commis.ioued Ofbeers, 1 set-jeans and anvils due, 70 drummers, buglers, and liurnpeters, 2499 rank and Ale. RETURN of KILLED, WOUNDED, and MISSING, of a dettechnirtit of the Armv at the Awault of the Fort of Ka lawn, under the c amend of Major Gen. Gillespie, Oct. 31, 1814. Total-2 Lieutenants. 3 Ensigns, Aserjeants, 1 drummer. 24 rank r. nn dn e, killed ; 1 Lima's...m.4;4Bnel. 1 Major. 1 Captain, 9 Lieutenants, I Cornet, 2 Ensigns. 3 Native Cam -11111644011e4 011ocerN 9 serjewits, 2 havilclars, 2 trumpeters, iliminasets, 195 rook and file, wounded ; 6 rank and Ale mission. OFTICEIs NAMES KILLED AND WOUNDED. KILLED. Major-Gan. Gillespie. fish Native Infantry—Lieut. and Adjutant O'Hara. Light B motion—Lieut. and Adjutant Gosling. link Native Itifiatity—lEttai f io kotbergill. rimseers—Eibign Ellis. WOUNDED. AA I ght Dragoons—Lieut.-Cal. Westenra ; Capt. Bretton. se verely ; Lieut. flejautis, slightly ; Lieut. 'Taylor, Cornet M.irdiin -Id. severely. 5i Font—Lieutenants Young and Anstiee, 'comet". Ist Batt. 7th Native Infantry—LlMO Davison. Met-,rtinsent 19th Native infantry—Lieutenant Broughton, duns grrously. Light &mastless—Major Wilson, Lieutenants Thackeray and Monteith. severely. rimeers—Lieut Eili..lll, severely. t sigiareSS EIS igfl ( Lieu iert h no m a ne. Capt. Byes. A id-de.umnp. (Segued) G. W WALKER, Capt. Al. B. F. Forces. (A ti copy.) G. H FAGAN, Adj.-Gen. r ~., F:. WES TMLVSTER MEETING. , Yesterday a numerous and respectable Meeting of the Inhabitant householders of W. stminster, was held in Palace-yard, for the purpose of protesting against the revival of • war with France, on account of the person whom she may choose to adopt for her Sovereign, and also for the purpose of adopting a Pe titimi to rudiment. At lbw . o'clock, ARTHUR Mows, Esq. the High B'iliff, took the Chair, and read the Requisi tion, in obedience to which he bad courened the blotting. Major CARTWRIGHT then came forward, and was greeted who loud applause. He commenced by saying Nish what lively indignation the murder of any private individual is society, or the spolia lion of hie property, was at all times received ; and what then ought not to be their feelings, when these horrors and atrocities were about to be inflicted in a wholesale manner, by letting loose the miseries of war, rapine, and desolation upon an entire people? If these consequences were always held in view, they would be cautious how they entered into a war just or unjust. In his opinion, there were but two causes which could legitimise hostilities—one was invasion by a foreign power • it then became the duty of every man to take th e field, and draw his sword in defence of his country.—[Applause.]—The other was, when an vnoffending people threw themselves upon o$ for protection against injustice and op preesion ; in both these cases war was justifiable, but in no othero—[Lond cheers.] —Unhappily the Mi nisters of this country now desired war with France, not for either of the causes be bad mentioned, but for the dethronement of her Sovereign, and his im mediate surrender to the vengeance of enemies who were thirsting for his blood. They want that France should be placed like Poland, at the mercy of her conquerors. Was this a just ground of wart—Surely not. It was known to all who heard him, that the present Ruler of France had lately seat over an Emissary with the olive branch, bet this produced no effect. Instead of a peace offering, bad he dis patched a herald of vengeance to this country—lad he desired that they should adept a form of Govern mint at his dictation, and consign to proscription the object of their ehoice?—Wbat, he would ask, THE STATESMAN. - would be the opinion of an Englishmen at the un- revolted, and melt refuse its support and confided!. f— paralleled effrontery of such a messageeAnd how, to those who degraded themselves from the lofty therefore, could he countenance its being dictated to rank of Sovereigns, to base level of soul-mongers France ? [Greet applause.]—Now, as to the po. and soul-masters. Ile trusted that the Meeting licy of such a measure at the present moment, inde- would strongly express; its hatred to that execrable ' pendent of its injustice, it was glaringly impolitic— tyranny which had in Spain established the dominion , this he would show, not from any abstract points of torture, and that Inquisition which had been most of morality in philosophy, but from matters of blasphemously called holy. This Holy Inquisition had fact, which were clearly intelligible to every one been ab o lish e d by Bo n aparte, who had now also abo. I who heard him. They all recollected and felt the lisped the Black Slave Trade. [Applause.]—Such 'esti deplorable state into which the late war had loathe the blessings which Spain had received from the re. people, and carried them almost to the verge of hu- establishment of hereditary right, and of its beloved' man endurance. They remembered (for they had Ferdinand, who bad prepared himself for the labours good cause) the terrible and inquisitorial oppression of his monarchy by embroidering petticoats for the of the Property Tax, against which they had heaped Virgin Mary.—[A laugh.]—lt was true Louis the Petitions upon the table of the House of Commons; Eighteenth had manifested similar piety, for when while yet in this reduced condition, were they to his proceedings were interrupted by the return of tolerate the renewal of an unnecessary war, for Napoleon, he was distributing Orders of the Holy which such additional supplies must be torn from Ghost.—[A laugh.]—lt had been said that the them? if they were, so far from there being any po. ' people of Genoa had hoisted standards, on whidis. hey in the measure, he would pronounce it to be t were inscribed, " Hell, the Devil, and Bonaparte." down-right insanity.—[Loud cheers.]—With this., It was no wonder that these persons, who had sees impossibility to renew fresh means, or to provide for i the effects of religion and legitimate right, should Immense existing financial embarrassments—with a' say, "if such be heaven, give us hell,"—" if such debt that no intelligent person with whom be had be good, give us evil,"---" we prefer liberty, eves weer conversed, dreamt the country could pay, what I under the protection of an usurper, to legitimate chance could there be of meeting the expenditure i slavery, though sanctioned by the usage of a thou. 'alone of such a contest, or what prospect but the . sand years." If the injustice of war were not a suf. rein of those constitutional blessings which their an.] licient reason to induce the people of England to castors had wisely cherished ? Looking to Frannie, miter their protect against it, the enormous sum of what danger could be apprehended from her Govern. money which most be raised to support it, the is. ment? Her present appearance led to an opiniou crease of the taxes, 'which were even now so high, quite the reverse from the chance of hostility on her would be a sufficient reason to induce all to behold part towards us ; instead of aiming to destroy Eng- , it with dread, except those who basked in the public lish laws and liberties, she was occupied in trans- I disgrace, who fattened on the spoils of the people, planting them from their native seed-bed, and em- . and flourished in the ruin of industry.—[applause.] bodying them in her own political system.—[Loud' —lt was enough to deter any man that one-fifth of applause.]—The Ruler of France, like other Sove- the people had been by the last war reduced to the reigns, had his faults and infirmities : let these who condition of paupers ; that the want of employment bad been copying his evil, now imitate him in his , which that war had caused, by choking up the chan good—let them return to their own subjects, and in- ' nels its which the industry of this once happy coon , stead of conspiring against the liberties of France— I try had flowed, would be increased. The necessity I let them do as her Ruler does—let them give their too of high duties and imposts, to protect the mane. people a Constitution, and arms for its defence; this , lecturer and agriculturist of this country against us. would be a simple and unobjectionable way of este.- i taxed, un-tithed, and un-poor-raled competitors, bliehing what they say they want—the peace and the . had also arisen from the late long wars, and by repose of Europe. Bonaparte appears to be one of another war would be rendered more urgent. The those men who grew wise by experience--he has wit- I only ground of war which had been alleged was the nessed the failure of his darling olqect—he has seen', character of Napoleon, which the Press of this that the prop of a standing army was, iu the hour . country had been employed to blacken • but they of danger, but a broken reed. The other Coalesced should remember that the same arts bad been made Powers have had the same fatal experience—the walls , use of to blacken the President of the United States of Berlin, Vienna, and Moscow, have seen the fu.' of America, in the inglorious struggle with which a tility of relying for their integrity upon military ;id. I sum of money bad been spent which four years pro. France herself, after all her victories, will hardly i duce of the Property Tax would not recap The repeat the experiment ; and is, therefore, if left worthy Gentleman seconded the motion. alone, not likely to endanger her own safety, by a The Petition was then adopted, two or three per. renews lof hostilities with her neighbours. The sons only being dissentient. other Sovereigns had better adopt the sense spirit ; Major Ceserwaroux then proposed the following at all events, it' they did not make great haste, they Resolution:— . would fied their career stopped at the very threshold " That we cannot adequately convey our Thanks to, nor our of France by an armed population, united for com- admiration of, our Represeatotive, Sir Francis Burdett, Bart., mon purpose , of self-defence. To anticipate success for the inflexible integrity of his public conduct, and his scorn under those circumstances was the height of folly and of the proudest Patrons of Corruption." weakness ; he, therefore, warned the people against Sir F. BURDETT then came forward amiist loud lending themselves to the phrenzy of war. The applause, and addressed the Meeting in weary the venerable Gentleman concluded by reeding es ex- following terms : • tract from the Thanksgiving Prayer for the 'Piste GENTLEMEN,—It will be with pride and satisfaction with America, which described the evils and horrors that I shall again appear to present the Petition which of war, and the gratitude of the people for the re- you have now voted in the Assembly which calls it. turn of peace. He then proposed the following self the House of Commons of England ; but when PETITION. I say this, ram not able to persuade myself that it TO THE TIONOURA BLE THE COMMONC OF THE will produce the slightest effect in averting the con ' UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRIT‘IN AND test with which we are threatened, nor can I hope ' IRELAND, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED, that more regard will tee paid to the sentiments of this THE PETITION oy THE INHABITANT woutemountas respectable Assembly than was paid to those of the OF THE CITY AND LIBERTIES OF WESTMINSTER, 1 SeowEtn,—That, should England wage a new war against Liverymen of London. That Assembly will ens- France. on the grounds recommended by his Majesty's Ministers, brace the same objection to the principles of the of interfeling in the French choice of a Sovereign, such war, on Petition , namely, its hostile feeling towards cot the part of England, would be alp/sally unjust. I That a determined rejection of Peace, by the insult of re- ruption, and the determination which it expre ss ed t o ' fusing to negotiate with the Sovereign on the Theciae of Prance, procu r e a just an d ab so l u t e ly necessary reform.— ' will lint lessen the inju•tice of inch war. After you have been so ably addressed on this sub- That cruelly (oppressed as the English people already are, by Taxes to the utmost extent of humeri endurance—Taxes, which jest, I should trespass unnecessarily on your time if aredailv adding tn the immense member of ourPanpere—to plunge I troubled you with more than a few words—[cries our country, Wider b.(' il circumstances, lusts it new war, both un- I ... no!] ; but it is necessary, and you have a r i g ht ja,t and unnecessary, would have less the appearance of -Aft or. o f dinary deficiency ill A helot's than it would resemble desperation I to expect that I should lay before you my undis. or insanity. guised sentiments on the present situation of the That, es respects the welfare of our country, your Petitioners could not account for a policy so much researhling madnem, did country, and on the war, on the verge of which we they not re( ousel that the domestic enemies, who have seem to be standing. lam the more desirous of ex. the patina of its rightful Representation In tsetegisiature. Ire pressing my sentiments , as the people of E ngland , a perpetual ilderest in inierioi up foreign war, whereby tee). . may far th er *•• the people of their property, sad in rime nave no constitutional organ left but public meetings, wholly subvert the cowatution. such as the present, by which they can make known That evil cuuniellori, alert in the adoption of unjust meows those sentiments to one another, which, when to as unjust rad, have already, by corrupt influence. obtolioed 'an unqualified re-enactment of the Property Tax, which, raising strongly expressed and universally manifested may articles of consumption iii price, and dommehing the means of make some impression, even on that House to payment, is a crime of creel privations. Trial such /mil couusellont and their abettors not only act ea which, for forms sake, they are always ad the iniquitous principle of Taxation without Representution, dressed, on the same principle which operates on but Dies in prefeleate adopt, as sus instrument a terror in up ! devils, who we are told, is believe and tremble too." holding their onconstitutinotal power, that detested inquisitorial s yste m , is reprobation of which. the iniverrail indinriti(oo oft Though in the case of the Petition, which was pre. seated by the City of Loudon, it was b o ldly asserte d I our raucli-injon d Country war, to your Hocourable Hook., so ! lately made kimwio. that it was the Petition of a f ew in cons id era bl e per : orTsbahall if arty Minister or Minister, of the Crown have advised, ..o unjust tad needless war against France; or sons, and in an equally convenient manner will all Kiley tech Minister or Ministers. by ui justifiable measures, or other Petitions be dis unless the voice of by insulting the French Government, have caused. ur s h all P p osed of ,all me the avxrwhelniing calamity Of such a ear t• beeenp• is, ` the people is expressed with that force that its ene miss cannot refuse their belief nor suppre 9 their evhaide, such Minister or Ministers ought to he impeached. sineWiimeheryett.ohree late its s et m i loners s i e s r l oa lr? , „ fi t ns ha i t tie ) ( o a ts , r i o H n . 1 7 . ..fi ro ou r s , e go w in ill • 8 tip. prehensions.—[Applause.]—With respect to the im. IS. but that it will likewise afford the nation a l earn portant and awful topic before us—the war in which we are about to be en d I consider ' and the only possible shield, . .gains) any !web wrimes in l emare, by resorting toe radical Reform, which shall complete- gage must it as the same as that which for so lung a time we for- I/ identify Titration with Representation, one years it being merly carried on, during the progress of which the Parliaments of a duration not exceeding mast manifest that, deprived of these rights, the people have no „ r eople were duped by some other pretence, until the liberty. DO security for their property, n. protection against heleg needlessly involved in foreign wart, or exposed tudionesiic period, when no one can deny, that the re-establish persetentea and oppression. ' 1 ment of the Bourbons is the r e a l cause o f i ts re- Major CARTWRIGHT next proposed— newel, as it was the real ground on which it ors " That the Petition mow read he adopted as the Petition of ginated. If we recal to mind the apprehensim'i of the Inhabitant Howseboldeis of Use City and Liberties of West mioster ; and signed on their behalf 1,, Ihe I I igh Bailiff a French invasion and the successi ve f e i gne d pre. nd le ' 1 Householders, and presented to the Iftou-e of Commons by oar ; tences which have been raised to cast in Representative Sir Francis Burden, Bait. `shadow the real nature of the contest, it Mr. P. WALKER, in seconding the Petition, ex.. will be seen that all these pretences have been pressed his concurrence in what hind beets said by the abandoned, while one object has been universally last speaker, on the injustice end impolicy of making kept in view—the restoration of the Bourbons. The war upon a man who had beets chosen by the whole people of England can no longer he dupes to false of France, and who bad called around him the noblest • pretences—to be fooled once an age is quite sufficient friends of liberty and independence. He hoped that i —the object of the war stands clearly revealed the Meeting would express its abhorrence of this —[applause].—A pretence, however, must h e h a d, new and atrocious attempt, as well as its disgust at and one only pretence can be found—the character those undertaken by the Congress of Vienna to of the present Ruler of France, who, we are told, is parcel out freemen, like flocks of sheep, to this or a man with whom we cannot subsist on terms of theother Sovereign—one asserting that a just portion amity and peace. But who are found in alliance of souls had not been assigned to him—another ex. against the Emperor Napoleon ? The Emperors of claiming that his portion was not equal to his deserts, Russia and of Austria, and the King of Prussia. and all in their kind and generous interest for the What treaties have these Powers not violated with eternal welfare df liamlnity, wishing to take upon him, with os, and with one another—[loutl applause], themselves the care of the souls of the greater part —as their immediate interest and their selfish deNire of Europe. At such practices all the civilized world ,of aggraudisement made it convenient for them to do so?, Whet faith then can bind these Allies to US. 41 10 to say the least, are on a par with him against h em life they conspire ? It was not the present Eop er , r of France, but the Government of this count r . a l ia violated the Peace of Amiens, and a Messag e , on that occasion, brought down to the House 4 Commons disgraceful to the nation, but which rais e d the Minister of the day to a Peerage, and which it was now notorious contained not a word of truth. Accounts, "as false as hell," were then circulated of armaments preparing in the ports of France f., e the invasion of this country, and this Governm ent refused to do what it had stipulated to do, viz. to deliver up Malta to France. That war has since terminated, and the result was, as the (abject !4•1 been, the re-establishment of the Bourlins, shieh Bonaparte, when First Consul, was once told %ere the only terms on which peace would be accepr e ,i,..... On the saute grounds are we again to be itivolvo a war.—Who can foresee the result of one who can foresee from this mad war what ren.s_ quences may ensue ? Yet it is in the power of this country, at present, to continue in a State of sleety and to maintain the peace of Europe. France i s confined to its ancient limits, has manifested a oleos. _of peace, has not only renounced the views and evert deprived itself (.f the means of aggression, atel people has shown a desire to turn to that rational and satisfactory employment of forming in a country I Which for ages has been a prey to despotism and cu . perstition, in all their horrid varieties-4 fair, ru 0. Berate, and • rational system of Government. Why, then, shall we go to war ? We must go to ear to maintain the existence of the Borough factioa,— IThat faction cannot see with indifference the prospect ' for France of a fair and equitable Represeatie re Assembly—this is the cause of their enmity. It will be instinctive to look at their Allies ; for it is a true adage, " Tell me your company, I will tell you who you are." They have not in their alliance one free State ; their Allies are all despots, who, A ire fair words in their mouths, proclaim (heir derire to maintain social order, and to preserve the peace of i the world. It was with the same feelings, an d t h e same professions, that the maternal Catharine was induced to alleviate the miseries of Poland, by (ski n. ' a large share of it to herself—that the King of Pres. sia and the Emperor of Auetria, trampling ow th rights of independent States, invaded and dividrd the remainder of that unhappy country. Crimes avhich are nearest home affect us most, and we therefore shudder at the remembrance of the atrocities w hich were committed during certain periods of the 110-0.. lution in France; but if tried in the balance, they will not be found equal to those of which the' 1135. sians were guilty in Poland. Bending with el spoils of that ancient country, the Allied P.awers march against fLanv, to renew the scenes degas. talion of which - theiast 25 years have seen so tench, I settle pet clown the spirit , of freedom whiclethe en. lightened state of the 18th century hail spread, and will, I trust, continue to spread, over the civilize& world. Let us call. tc m ina the attacks, which, dor. ing the - last war, were-made on the Constituti en t.f England—the prosecutions end persecutions endued by those who dared to raise their voice against ' measures of the Governmeot—the victims who Ifni remained untried in cells and dungeonsaor no ether crime but that of which I am guilty. in which I glary, the desire to put an end to an irrfemourly coerept House of Commons, .and to put it in the potattr of the People to choose their own ftepresentotives,.and to protect their own property and ((berry in Pasha meat.—[Loud oppluuses.l—We remember the ,sais pension of the Habeas corpus Act—how fatally to some persons— ! [Here acme ittjudirioth friend of the Government put head nut ten ssindow in Patar , -arclond tmere,l pesTr.,l though he speedily retreyeeJ, the di,npitrottaihtio gtgainet him, hod the 1440 e towed 4,11 she H. late Baronet, Interrupted the Bleritof fitr f(l44e time) Sir F. B. then proceeded. " How can we for. hear to bieieve, that men who have so torenuotely endeavour to undermine the liberty of their ono country, would make use artily pretence to suppte, , it in any another ? Let us also look to foreign coun tries, In order to judge of the disposition and Timis of our Ministers. It will be recollected, that when Spain was invaded by the French Government, and that the Spanish people manifested a resolution to resist the Invader s that resistance was loudly ap plauded by . the Government of this country. No thing, indeed, was heard from Ministers and their adherents, but glowing eulogiums upon the character of the Spanish Patriots; what, however, has been since the conduct of those Ministers towards the ob jects of their former panegyrics ? These Spanish Pa• triots established a Constitution, calculated in their view for the freedom and happiness of their country; but after having answered the end of Nlinisters in resisting the French—after having been encoursgod to expect, that when liberated from the dominion' .r France, they should be secured the enjoyment of that Constitution which, although not bound by parch' ments, we were bound by honour to protect--fit' Gnrte , , with whom we were ectually in alliance, wets basely deserted; both Constitution and Cortes wet" subverted, and a sum of money wrested from the in dustry of Englishmen, was actually sent by the E"1 - Loh Government for the purpose of :titling the t•A .verter—aye, for the purpose of supporting that odious and contemptible Despot and Usurper, Fetdinnud VII. accompanied by his Inquisition and his tortures. But the patronage of torture was, perhaps, net extra ordinary. • Such has been the conduct of our Mi nisters towards the Spanish Patriots ! But farther, , when some of those Patriots sought refuge in Gibed tar, and were surrendered to the Swinish Tytinti our Ministers refused to interpose in their favoar, itt order to save them from persecution, upon this ground truly, which was stated iu Parliameet• that this country could not consistently interfere is the internal concerns of another Government. VA '" Ministers who professed such deference for tioi principle on that occasion—who wmild not I ti' terfere with the concerns of a foreign Governs'ott where freedom, justice, honour, or any principle connected with the interests of lunnanity wYs at stake, bad no hesitation to interfere, where despon,s was the object.—[Loud trpplwired Yes, Ow Ministers had no hesitation to interfere with Fritco, for the purpose of preventing that county} :rani choosing its own Government ; or with Genoa, for the purpose of transferring it to the ou;wrtttil's' Tytatit of Sardiuia ; or with Saxony, for the. F'" pose of arresting it from the dominion of its eV.' S' ..L.. I I = . .11 _•