The Statesman. — London, England, 1809-08-29 00:00:00

I :- THE gATIMITION. THE_ ST _ • dry simmer can arrest its progress. Thu titan. --„,..-- datiun was widely spreading throughout the Ode Ti. folio's ing Letter appeved is a MorningPa- tish Lines ; and, if the sluices had continued opek per, with the comprehensive title of 66 Bank: of but forty-eight hours longer, it would *ye been impossible to have prosecuted the operitiosse of the Scheldl." We viesume It to be a compilation . the siege. The bohtbaidinint task place tithe of information, receivedfrom various quarters, old critical moment ; and the uhparalleled gallatitry. as well as ne4, u many of the fact: in the narra- with which. the battery was carried that e0m..7. tire are of soinswhat entient date: , mended the sluices, put an end to the danger, and " Head-pantry, Ter-Goes, South Be eland, ensured the conquest of the town. It is an opt. August 25, It SS. neon generally prevalent here, that the towf 44 Since the surrender of Flushing; nothing has might have been carried by assault on the first occurred in teem islends of sufficient interest or night. The French prisoners.ednsit their panic to importance t• merit a special communication.— have been so great when driven into the town, that This real or apparent interruption of active opera. they found it impossible to Omelet a single OM. tions has given rise to a valiety of conjectures and palsy, still less a regiment; and if any campus. much regret. The reduction of Flushing by sion be expressed for the situation of the town, enemas of replier approaches and bombardment before an inhabitant, it uniformly ',rottens this bad already consumed much precious time ; and observation :—' liirlinee Nett is it, that the town those who consider celerity as the great element of ' has suffered so much ? Why did nut your army military success, were naturally anxious to see the ' come in at once, and then you would have Iniesting force transferred from before the :turrets- ' taken possession of the town, without an hen dered fortress to a scene of fictive service. Whilst ' dralth part of the injury, and with one-third this fueling universally pervaded the army, and the , 4 of the loss i' linked it has been stated, that a inhabitants who wished its operations to be erown- prupositiun was made in the &ft instance to carry edwith success, it was a source of much' disap- ' the town by assault ; but that the proposal was polnonant to leant, th it a deley'llf 21 hours after declined, from a humane regard fur the safety of the time stiptilated for the evacuation of the fur- the innocent inhabitants, who might fall victims tress . by - the prisoners of wafwa's to take phsee.— to an assault. This is only rumour, and upon This delay, though by some represented as granted , such a ground it is not right to draw injurious infer. upun . the request of the French Commandant, was elices ; and certain it is, that whether Flushing by Others, and those not the worst informed epou could or could not have been taken by assault, such sithjects, attributed to an inadvertent mis- the utmost skill and gallantry were displayed in its tale on the part of olio of the English Com- final reduction. • to ssioners fur negociating the terms of capitu- 66 The loss of the French by the bombardment lition. The conditions of surrender had at -must have been immense ; but the time allowed first been prepared in theshape of a rough draught, between the execution of the instrument of eapi into which all the necessary alterations and inter- tulatiun, and the actual surrender of the fortress lineations might be introduced, previously to the to the British troops, enabled them to remove Tasking a fair copy, which was to be the official lowest of theevidences of its extent. In one small instrument, and signed, in form, by the Commis- hovel 'war the battery out the left of the town, sinners on both sides. When the whole process above 300 of their dead repose together under a bad, after some time and discussion, been Coln. very superficial covering of sand. Any estimate plated, it was not thought necessary to preserve of the number of inhabitants killed can yet be bet bkillt the interlined rough draught and the executed conjectural, as the mutilated and ondistingnishable document ; and consequently, one was destroyed ; remains of many unfortunate victims are every but it was not till the Commissioners reached hour taken out of the ruing, and blatantly depute- Ilead.quartert, that tt was discovered that it was ted iii a shell fur promiscuous interment. lint of the unezeeuted rough draught only that was pre. all descriptions of the inhabitants, the burghers served. Withoitt an authentic instrument, the suffered the must. On the morning after the first terms of the capitulation could not be acted upon ; bombardment, ninety of that class, many of them and hence arose the delay of twenty-fonr hours in of considerable respomehility, were borne to the final execution of them, according to the re. their graves; and the number of their dead coved presentations of persons professing to be Well in- scarcely hare been inferior on the second day. This teemed , upon the 'abject. No blame is perhaps ,extraordinary havoc amongst that particular elms, ifttributable for the mistake, if even this state. arose front their having been compelled previously sleet be correct ; bur, unquestionably, the ton to the siege, by Gen. bioNxem, to form themselves ea single day, when so much depended upon into corps of city militia, fur the Osteissible per expedition, is a ground of much regret. Some pose of maintaining the police of the town, but little jealousy, too, . has been, stated to exist be- witl the real design of putting them into a state tween two of the highest sellathrs in the command for service against any British force that might be, of the army, respecting the appointment of Coin- employed against the fortress. Accordingly, on thissidnera; one consiering it as his right, by the first investment of the town, the corps of virtue &his having arranged and directed all the burghers had the post of honour assigned to them, dperations of dip siege; whilst the other exercised' on 'the most exposed parts of the fortifications. the right of 'Kleist appointmeist, in virtue of his lit this perilous service they were compelled to re inaltority as Commander iu Chief. 'Fuis has been main during the whole of the two successive bum. rumoured its the military circles; but it is due to baohnents, and to this cireemstance is owing the both these °lacers to state, th;t the most perfect great loss that cussed amongst them. At one time, harmony and coraliality scent uniformly to have when they could no longer withstand the tremen. subsisted betwixt them throughout all the open. dues fire front the British batteries and ships, the Buns of the campaign. . '' 4 cures of burghers attempted to retreat from the " The situatium of the town of Flushing, when ramparts, but were met by the French wish fixed put iatu the posremion of the British army, and bayonets, and, as may well be supposed, reluct. British subjects were admitted to see it, was de. andy forced to face that danger they sought to plar s ably frightful. Scarcely a house had escaped avoid, in order to escape the more inevitable de. damage, arid near!, tvio..thirds of the whole were structioit by the hands of their oppressors.— in a heap of sntoltiog rains;, 'or though, still The consequence was, that they suffered most guiding, much shatteleilovol 'tottering to the grievously, whilst scarce a gun was discharged fp 'iodation. The deed bodies, had, however, against the British lines or fleet that was not hoe! Moored, and consig ned precipitately 'hi pointed by Dutch hands . Of is corps of burgher- Bulk 'graves. Great numb ers of the inhabitants cannoniers, consisting of e 2, two only escaped, Suffered, perhaps nut less in the whole than 300; all the rest having been either killed, or dreadfully and those who escaped, were chiefly indebted wounded. From the active part they took in the fur safety to the shelter of their cellars, or defence of the town, it was impossible that their where they had none, to the humanity of their I conduct could be pasted over without some uutice. neighbour, who had. In one case, that of an i The Commander in Chief, therefore, es soon as English family lung resident in the town, the ex- the British troops were in possession of the town, tensile vaults 'seder their house were thrown ordered the corps of Burghers out before him, open to the Inhabitants, without distinction of with their arms awl accoutrements; but, upon its Ba or sex, of country or religion; and it is grati. being proved, that they had been forcibly obliged ing to and, that Of above IV persons who took to assist in the defence of the town, he directed Inge there, wit one suffered injury, though the that they should lay down their arms, and did house had been repeatedly perforated with cannon not think it necessary to notice any further their hills, rockets, and booths. Whilst the town and previous hostility. .. ,. Its unfortunate inhabitalits were Alm exposed to I 66 ' Immediately upon the fail of Flushing, at. the destructive effects of the bombardment, .mere range:news were made Cu; the distribution of the, terribtelhan any diem record, the mercileis Corn- forces employed in the lines before that town.-- ell indent took possession of the vaults under the The obvious and alarming accumulation of the iltlidthoese, where he continued feasting, and en- enemy's troops out the opposite shore of Cadsand, effected by the havoc and lainenta , iona that rendered it necessary to leave a much stronger gar. surrounded him on all sides, u n til that great risen in Flushing and this other fortresses of the pile became itself a victim to the floates, and island, than would uthermise have been necessary. threatened to bury the cause of its destruction tin. BianA ()OTTE himself was said to he in that guar der the mesa of its ruins. Wises thieve from this ter at the head of 13,000 men, with the avowed b'ding het*, he is represented by some of his own intention of attempting tho re.conquest of virscors, as having passer! from one vault to an- Waleberen. The French camp became visible, Ober, until he reached that under his own house, and was observed to be gradually increasing, site re he was, when the inevitable destruction, to from Flushing. In such a state of things, aid which he had never befere been exposed, cum- as it was in curiteasplation to secure the possession reed him to unconditional surrender. Ile is of Middleburg, by planting above 'mu hundred justly its object of execration iu the tout', which pieces of cannon upon its points of defence, it . i be has suceess,ively pillaged, oppressed, and laid was not at once that all the arrangements etiultll in ashes; whilst the second in command, a brave have been coinpleted, as well for adjusting the seed generous seedier,. who footlessly shared the strength and proportions of the different • garri-1 dangers of the boinbattfatent with his comrades setts, as for expediting the march of the remain. and the inhabitants, is the object of their continuo der of the troops from the lines to reinforee the respect and esteem, maid body of the army in South Beveland. A " The offensive stench which proceeded from delay of some days euitsequently succeeded ; and the half iniuthered . fanit's, on the first entrance it was not till the 20th, or 21st, that the last of of the British, added euusiderably to the edlict- the troops bad been removed from the lines. Some lag impression produced Ity the sight of so much of the must distinguished battalions have been left havoc and human misery. But the desolation is in Welchem,. The 36th, 77th, Colonel Coot nit confined to (be lowa or the present season. *Asses corps of detachments, and three eom the desperate meeatire of opening the sluices, re. ponies of artillery, form the chief of the gar. sorted to by the /ranch General, hal laill a eunsi- risen of Flushing, of which fortress General &Mite rortioil of the island under water, abet' Pirrose is Governor. The alth, with tit .: marfhTs, estiNad an extent at nip hi-f, eltich it will be garrison Camvere; the 26th are at Arilemeyda, vorth it I,•e , t throe years to repair. Ilad the in. and the 71st and 81st fere§ part of the garrison itsitlaion takett place Sono:months s•nmer, it a ould of Middleburg, of which General Soseeari is Ga vot halm been attended with rbe same carious eon. 'motor. The. whole British force retained in thee stqnences ; but at this season s wheu the power of island, including artillery, cavalry, mid other eeisoration is so small, and the quantity of aie. I corps, the 23d and li3d, not already eivreihnd, is turnu.si - ratos so toslaiderablei Ilse Mischief maid estimated at nine or km thousand men ; so that if, be greatly aggravated Wore the interposiikep ori 'itithe absence of the mein body of the army, the' AN. French slauld make any attempt upon the island, 'they will aot fail to meet a warm reception and a *Tiff resistance. Bsettaeorre is represented as *cillecting some hundreds of gun-boats from Bost •logne, Isc. efireugh the canals in the interior, with ifftdee'llir some offensive operatiod. Whatever may bathe tided of tbeenetny's preparations of views, his eppeeraoce ht forme upon the coast of Cadsattil his operated already as a diversion in favour of Antwerp, and against the accomplishment of the ulterior objects of our Expedition : and so strong is the impressioh that this demonstration of the enemy is serious, that the inhabitants of Flushing are terrified at the prospect of another bombardment, and the British Governor finds it necessary to adopt nearly all the precautions that could be called for by list, presence of an enemy Ibefore his fortress. The rentinets are doubled every night ; none of the inhabitants arc rilowed ' upon the ramparts; nu vessel, even British, is 1 permitted to enter or leave the harbour without a ;mitre( ; and the strictest regulations arc en. fur with respect to the entrance or departure of all persogs, not connected with the army or the navy, at thegates of the town. General Femme was appointed Commander in Chief in the Island; but as he Is returned to England ill, Sir Edict COOTs has gone back from this place to take the summand there • with an understanding, however, that if the further objects of the Expedition arc to be prosecuted, that gallant Officer is still to go en as smotet in command with the army. "It was not till Monday the 2lit, that the head-qitarters of the Qom:intim in Chief were relented from Middleburgh to this town. If it were not fur the march of allthe troops that could be spared from Welchem, towards ibis island,* it wtittld have been enthral- to suspect, that the slow removal of the lived-quarters was an omen of an abandonment of nil ulterior objects, so far, at least, as the army could Lie cuiploeil fur tht if attainment. But the continued transmission of troops, and the actual advance of head-quarters, left no room to doubt, that something more *stolid be attempted, if nut accomplished, on this side. Before the Commander in Chief left Middleburgh, he issued the annexed Proclarnatioss, which wat yesterday posted up in this town also. This is the only !owe of any coleseqncuce upon the island. Thu troops are consequently quer. tered in the several small villages' nith which this island abounds. They may be all astern. bled in twenty.four hours for active service ; but a variety of circumstances concur in sup. port of the impression that nothing further will be attempted. Lord CHATHAM provisionally re. moved his head.quarters to the position occupied by Sir Jourt Hoer, opposite Bergen.op-Zoom, on Wednesday. On the same day Sir Erse' Coors came over from Walcfseren with his whole Staff and Suite, and proceeded to the advanced head-cleaners, as was supposed for the purpose of a►i immediate commencement of active opera. Lions; but yesterday he returned to Waicheven. A Council of War has been held---a circumstance, which shows either that souse doubt as to the pro priety, or some difficulty as to the Moues of a movement in advance, exists. The inflettice of the climate begins to be felt by both officers and privates. The complaint is an endemic Intermit. tent, which, though seldom or ever fatal, Is still always tedious. " On tire whole, when the large detachment to Walcheren is considered...when the consequent reduction of the active army, the increased tliffl.• catty of further operations, from the matured and 1 extensive preparations of the enemy, are taken i i into review, it is most probable that nothing I further viii be attempkd. Undoubtedly if any im / mediate advance were intended, Sir Etas Caoll4 the second in command, who has hitherto con.l ducted all the active operations of the army, would i l not have been sent back to Walcheren yesterday 1 with the whole of that Staff and Suite which me. companied him hither from Walchereit but the: hay before, in the expectation of proceeding upon ins. mediate service. Besides, it is confidently weed., ed here, that Sir Joux Ilona, and other Generals, have strongly protested against any movement in advance, under the present circumstances, what. ever might have been their opinion of such a pre. ceeding at an earlier period of the campaign. At all events, it is notorious, that a considerable dif ference of opinion prevailed upon the subject in the Council of Wrr. But, if something be not dune without further delay, it is net unlikely, that in. stead of bang the attrckiug, the British army may be the assailed party, as the comity have had full time to collect' a large force, and the channel between Bergen-op-Zoom and South Beeeland may be passed by forting. Of the operations of die navy nothing is known here, bet Item re moues is hich it would nut be right to communicate, becaeseit is impossible to judge what dependance is to be placed uptie thorn. The measures resorted to ty therein authority fur obstructing the usuarchan. eels of bawl:nation of that description have been so vigorous, and certainly so effectual, that all access tai such intelligence has been completely closed: other- ; wise, the arrangements made for the early comnise.l niertion of such events as may bare taken place, were of oath a nature, as to render a priority din. I telligence certain and infallible. No change has taken ;trace in the quarters of the troops, siuce the &Trivet - of the - Commander in Chief. Lord Room( x and Lord Peace are here: the former is ill, but superseded its hit chief command by the arrival of Lord CHATHAM. if is to be feared ' that many more Officers may suffer ender the ins ftueuce of this noxious climate ; and it may with tout much hazard be asserted, that there are bet few of the °Seers of the army or navy, who, though not actually indisposed, are not sick enough of the climate, if not of the Expedition." .....ri11i1.....- AN OTO ER LETTER. quickly, if such operations are 'derided upon. To this gar rison, from which I now write, alarm hub alreadr given rise to some precautions. Lag night the pirgitets and !.estries were doubled, and orders were Armen to the sentinels to di- reet a vigilant attention to the ships of war of in the road ord. and that if blue rockets were discharged from any of then, a communication WM to be itannediatedy made to the Commanding Officer. General The motive for lista* thoseuvders was the apprehension of un attack from the. enemy, who, to the number of 19,000 men, are posi tively said to be in Cadvand, under the cominaud of Bett s amour, fur the avowed object of recovering this Island..— Within these few days, three hundred guo-boath have reached that place from Boulogne, tbrouglk the canals, and I ware you, it is the decided emovietloo of noise of the most intelli gent inhabitants, that the attempt, even with all the proba bility of failure, w ill certainly be made, and that General Monies' (they sayl gate them the ili•UnitlCC, and Ileasta norves military fame C. committed by his Master upon the issue. At all even;. the brigadestationed here, consisting of the 36th, the 69d, and 77th regiment', with the Honourable Calomel Coctsaaa lef battalion of embodied detachment', are kept upon the alert, which, together aka the positions taken by our ships of oar, afford to as the most coadeat hopes that the earns, may repent his temerity, notwithstand log the opportunity which the damaged condition of the batteries of tliis fortress El;-1 . , at thi. inon►eat, present to ttera. At various times in the count of the morniog, we bave heard a strong compass's" in the direction of Fort Lillo; It is sapptsed to proceed from the may's batteries up the river apse oar po-boats. which are stationed of its batiks. The priocira! fart of Sir Soars Bore' army still coatintueo in wort comfortable quarters in South Bet - eland, and really If romett'ire ulterior is intended by this army to be executed, indecision and delay must cease. " The duty of this garrienn is very severe. every regiment being obiiged to familia,. independent of lbe n cesmry guard., rirties tf 130 nrd 100 men to dismantle the works, which were cortArceleJ for its bnitiliaidinent. There is piev4leat here a rumour, that the w..rks of i'lliddli-hurgh are to be he tnedi-dely put lu $ state of defence, and that tine handerd dil:Oani 016 are to be placed no the ramparts of Flash ing. Such an intention Mdicates a deo_ mhatioa of asibiag Walclsereu a depot, from which British meastactores may always find their way to the Continent. faders, I, this day, in imputing the stores in the Mead, wker»ed a strong il lustratiun of what the perbevoving spirit of trade will effect, and of the difficulties which in its operation it will certainly samurais. There are now lying i tho gusty of Flootung, sue hundred pieces .1 us-donate of Canes sammtartare, with the proper marls of that fueadvy spas them, .0 lately moon factored a the year ISM. Bete is as evident proof that the Ingenuity of pia laughs at the intricacy of British Orders at Council, sad at all the efforts of French imerdiets. Within this hoer this garrison received the agreeable bi- WHigaset, that French property to a coosiderable amount has bees dionserred at blidgileburgia. Hy the aciiyity of the Comusissiorrers. specie to a large .neat has been Nand, and nearly two hundred teas of salt-petre. The mores here are very rich, the arsenal being now lilled with the most material nar:d Mores.-1 cannot cossende thin letter without stating, bat the enemy bore ample testimony to the unparalleled abi lity with which oar artillery was conducted daring the bom bardment." FROM TUE MIDDLEBURG COURANT. Mitrottsuao, At:Q.23..0u the 21st last. an following Prochinsations WCTO published ; " Ills tavelletory Lod Chatham, etagraanaing the trolpt et Ms Grimm* Majesty, being Informed that fanny tleierters, mod perams belongise to the French troops, aatt same of tbssaatssed. are en tbe kind, orders, thut the beforr-mesa . thsted immed sr imeemell deserters, or other persons, be ar rested, teat deil stied ewer to the nearest Eaetisa deosehment, bad that as one permit* to hartasor tech deserters, oe pain of belngrestemeed, as elm/teflon, to pay a re/14;t! of LOU Am ter (*tae boil of *skid* shall be gives to the Issformer. about WM shall be kept ferret), sod be otter.% ise severely pa abated .aceording to mUleat lairs Militar, deserters. and tither perm. beloagiar to the Treads army, sot surrendering with,* thsredayr, stall be purristml as ---► PC.OOLAMATMN. " Hi►lscelletaey Lord Chatham, de. Ac, being informed that fanny persona pest from see Weed to another, withal{ heinc farnithed with the necessary poppure, orders, that no one pretense to ac pair from the Island cf n hich he is as in h.thinust, to another Island, withmut liming obtained a woo pan from the Alagistrfttr, which oust be stgne.l by the Ce ner.ii, or ComosatailtftgOificer, on pain of befog arrested. " AH Ferrymen aad Marimsrs are ematutund..4l to take P 3 owe over, unfamished with a The tranogressoe of this command shall not oaty suffer the loss of the boat. or vessel, but shall, according taairrytastaates, be wishes. at cordinl to military la w " DANISH ORDINANCE. COPENHAGEN, AUGUST 5, 1809. FKIDERIC VITU, KING, • .. " Plevitiog, Wedoevarvy, A.g. " The rumours afloat here arc vo oarless and eetleadic tot y, as to induce a perish to &obi the nest probabit though proceed* hem the kit eutheiky. Whethee the mein Wert of the Easteditioe, viz. the stiware et the caret'', Awl, sal be atteleptell ae fem. depose, as we hoe orvierstsed, upon the expeetediteelsion of the Oehivett. The trarporte:.m4ehip3 of war have, however, receded .p the West Meat; is osier to be ready to tlimubart the troop Make known that ciroumstanees hare defer. mined us to order and command the following re. specling privateering ; 1. N. armed private ship or vessel hrni•bed with shrew*, or contuvi;cion to endure vessels according to our order of Will September, IEI4, shalt be permitted to sail from on,' of oar port.; from this date. until WP shall order to the contrary. 4. All our authorities. bailiff:. he. arc commanded to watch over eke eceaistuus of this Decree- ShottLi any Osmium oder of an armed ves4el tvri:h to tail from a port of le‘s tecurity to a as.sre secure one, he shall be permitted to do to by our bai liti etc. but on condition that the Coassaaoder oblices him self. itanteditelf. aid w•ithont cruising, to make direct for the part he has requested to be permitted to go to. 5. The angers of privateers are ordered to rend theta as amass possible ; and if they should not he laid up altbiu four weeks from the publication of this, they are ordered to at-- mutt to she Actberttias hove far. and la what owlet they have Bade ,oared to iecal them t and the Authorities are charged to look to the fultiltnent of It. 4. Serb Comomnders of privateers at lotted to go on a miscreant the graters parts of our Dukedom of Holstein, ttdwTeoaiagen, flown, and Frederlekstada, to cruise to and sltaU be permitted to do so, provided they Otter lamas obligation oat to emit,. beyood the waters of Ileligokuad, nor Wyatt{ the height of Toasting. If privateers of our other dosninians arailesiroas to go through t►e Schies. wig, irloistele Meal, or Moog the West Coast am* Jutlani, o the harhoars of Holstein and Schleswig, with a ♦iew to tise under Heligoland, they are permitted to do so, providtd wy go Armt as ordered is sectiria 1. 5. The delivery of licr fires nod vsishaislavis for privaletis is isovvpone4l until owe furCiar Royal Commands. AR who ire clamped are comasandesl to ad aceordinety. Gives leader OUT howl and seal, to oor:residosee, C pet.. Mien, tbe .A46gitid VV.. • PRZURRICK R. Motrino. Eceritt SAlMtve, florin.