The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-02-21 00:00:00

INDIA. ADMIX/NAL SUPPLEMENT TO TM CALCUTTA GAZETTE. FO2T IFILLI2IIII, JON 2 1804. the Mitt ROW Wirdn - e - ernor General has receivbd a dispatch from his Excel lency the Commander in Chief, dated the 18th May, l 8 of which the following copy is published, for general information To His Excellency Cie Mat Noble the Marq- e MrAle , ley, Governor General, &t. My Lo R —Your Lordship IA ill have already been informed of the success of an assault made by the de tachment from the army under Lieut Colonel Don, on the Fort of Ramponra, the Kith instant. I have the honour, for your Lordship's informatiJn, to trans ** Lieut.-Colonel Don's detailed report to that It is necessary for me to call your Lordship's at tention to the spirited and judicious conduit of Lieut.-Col. Don in planting and leading the assault, and the truly meritorious and gallant conduit mani fested by the whole of the officers and men of the detachment in carrying the fort. This service has been performed in a most exem plary style, and refleas the highest honour on the mops engaged, both cavalry end infantry, who behaved in the most steady and gallant manner. - The high sense I entertain of their condua, I bey* endeavoured to express in my orders of this date, and particularly that of the 2d battalion, 21st Regiment, a young corps, embodied but a few months, and who could only have been brought to their present advanced state of discipline by the un ;emitted exertions of their Commanding Officer, Major Wade. In offering your Lordship my cordial congra tulat;ons on the acquisition of this important for tress. which puts us in possessiln of the whole of th... territories of Jeswunt Rao Ilolkar, on this side cf I cannot conclude, without recommend ir, Lieut.-Colonel Don to your Lordship's fav Jur notice, to whose services I feel myself infinitely indebted. Lieutenant Colonel Don speaks in high terms of the service he derived from the Artillery, under the orJet s of C tpt. RAban and Lieut. flay ; the merito riou• conduct of this corps,on all occasions,lhavefre- pertly had the honour to .notice to your Lordship; in IN.< instance their con dua appears to have been /smite:loy conspicuous for gall.ntr) and successful exertion, and particularly in the person of Serjeant D•Laughien,'chn had charge at the tweloe.pounder that !tweed the gates, and evinced, in that situation, the trite charaner of a British solder, and will, I trust, meet your Excellency's approbation and preiteaion The 3d Regiment of Native Cavalry, under the command of Major Doveton, on this occasion, sup ported that high chandler for steadiness and bravery, which they have had frequent opportunities of ac. quiring and confirming in various instances where they have been engaged. The benefit derived to the service from the advice si received from Captain Wood, of the Engineers, Liosteaant Colonel Don acknowledges with grati pide. I have, in various instances, during the cam paign, bad opportunities of remarking thi.. zealous exertions, ability, and aCtivity, of that Officer on every occasion, and I derive infinite satisfaCtion from bating k again in my power to bear testimony to Iris mei its. I have the honour to be, my Lord. your Lcr.iship's most faithful and humble servant, G. LAKE. Hew May IS, 11104. To Lieutenant Caionel Adjutant General. Sin —Yesterday I did myself the pleasure of corn rn.l::,icating to you. for the information of Ilk Excel lersey the Commander in Chief, that I had carried into f • eieintion Ilse plan of attack which I had formed for the rednAion of Rampoora, and that it had succeed ed beyond my expedations, in so far that my loss is infinitely leis than what I feared it might have been. It gives me infinite satisfaftion to state, that not one of nay Officers employed on the assault has been wounded; an 1, considering the nature of the service, much as I regret my loss in natives, yet I do thirik it ksii than what might have been looked for. This I principally attribute to the attack commencing somewhat before day-break, when the enemy could • set discriminate the Office's, and indeed could hardly distinguish my column, at the same time that it was sufficiently light for my purpose Instead of taking op a position on the side of the hut towards which the principal entrance is si tuated, as I at first intended, 1 continued to occupy my original ground of encampment, as the garrison might have been induced to barrocade the gate ways, which I had determined to attack, by my moving in that direction. And, yesterday morning, at two o'clock, I marched with the flank eompa. Dies, and four battalion companies of the 2d Bat calii.n Bth, and the flank companies of the 4d bat talion Ilse regiments, which, with one 12-pounder at the bead of the column• for blowing open the - . ~..... gates, and another in the rear, to keep in check any of the battalions that came from Tonk, and which were mostly posted outside the fort, formed the as saulting party. Captain Raban, with one 12 and four 6-pounders, and three battalion companies of the 2cl Battalion, 21st regiment, followed in the rear of the party, to within a certaii distance of the fort, and took post in a situation proper to enable him to fire upon any part of the works, from which the enemy might appear to annoy us. Another great inducement that I had, to occupy a position opposite to the grand gateway, and thereby alarming the enemy, was to move down in silence at once to the fort, and cut off the means of communication betwixt it and the Tonk Batta lion, posted at some little distance to the right of the first gate. Confident that I would succeed in this part of my plan, my instru&ions to Major Doveton were calculated accordingly. His regiment was left in camp, ready to mount as soon as he heard the at tack commence, and to move down in that direc tion, which the fugitives would necessarily be ob liged to take, and which I had pointed out to him the preceding evening. I moved with the detachment undiscovered, until I arrived within 250 or 900 yards of the gateway, when a piquet of the Tonk Battalion on my righ t fired upon us; but, as it did not immediately alarm the garrison, I continued moving on without taking the smallest notice of them. After having advanced to within 100 or ICO yards of the passage, the garrison commenced a smart fire from the ramparts, and, at the same time, I perceived a number of the battalion running along the top of the glacis, endeavouring to gain the gateway, upon whom I opened a heavy fire of musquetry, and defeated their purpoie, as well as upon the men who occupied the rampart. 1 pro ceeded on to the first gate, and blew it open, con tinuing my fire of musquetry on the works, and dis lodging the people who occupied them. The second gate was not shut, being out of repair. The third and fourth gates were also blown open, when I entered the town, and, having ordered par ties to secure the ramparts, 1 pushed on to a small gateway on the south side of the fort, through which the enemy were making their escape, and, on gaining the ramparts, I kept up a fire upon the fugitives, driving them from the ditch, and forcing stem to the plain, where I saw Major Daveton at tacking them in all quarters. The bludjecb battalion fled in the direftion I ex pefied, and met with the same reception as their brother fugitives from the fort, from the 3d Regi ment of Cavalry. Enclosed I have the honour to transmit, for the purpose of being laid before his Excellency the Commander in Chief, a return of the killed and wounded of than part of the detachment employed yesterday morning. From this, his Excellency will Perceive that the loss of men and horses in the cavalry has been considerable, from the very obsti nate resistance of the enemy, who persisted in re fusing quarter, on condition of laying down their arms. I have also the honour to enclose a return of the guns found in the fort ; and Captain liaban being now employed in examining a magazine, con taining a considerable quantity of gunpowder, shot, &c. as soon as that is completed, a return of them shall be immediately forwarded. From every inflntnation I have received, the enemy's strength was from 1000 to 1100 fighting men. Of these there were from 40 to 30 killed, and many wounded on the works in passing through the gateways, and in the town, dating my approach, and on my arrival on the southern side. Major Doveton's report of those killed and wounded by the 3d regiment of cavalry states them to be 350 to 400. On getting possession of Rampoora. I found the ramparts to be much thicker than stated in a former letter. to some parts they are forty feet thick, and none less than eighteen or twenty. Lieutenant Smith having been diretted to make a sketch of the fort, and to take seetions in different plAces, I shall add nothing more on that subjen, except that Captain Wood has given direltions for the repairs of the gates, and for some other little alterations to be done by his own people. Besides the military stores, there are a very small quantity of grain, and a few bollocks of public property, in the fort. These I have ordered to be secured ; and I have likewise done every thing in my power fur the proteftion of ;he inhabitants, with whose houses the fort is full. For some time they were exceed ingly alarmed; but I am happy to observe, this morning, a considerable degree of confidence, and which it will be my duty to augment. Having thus detailed the whole of my proceed- inns, for the information of his Excellency the Corn mander in Chief, I now come to what I consider not only as a part of my duty, but to me a very pleasing one indeed. and that is, to acquaint you, that the cendua and behaviour of every individual employed yesterday morning, were suet► as to merit my Most hearty approbation and thanks. Nothing could possibly have surpassed it, and in that light I beg you will represent it to the Commander in Chief. 1 feel myself, in a particular manner, indebted to Captain Raban, of the artillery, and Captain Wood, of the engineers, for their ready cooperation and advice, during the whole of the service. Lieutenant Hay, of the artillery, is fully entitled to my nolic:, for the effectual manner in which he diredted the fire of the twelve-pounders in the rear of the column ; as likewise is my Adjutant, Lieutenant ‘lanby, for his alivity in conveying my orders. 1.0 the whole of the commissioned, non-commissioned officers and privates, Europeans and natives belonging to the ordnance department, my best thanks are most fully due. I beg you will likewise state to His Excellency, that the precision, gallantry, and ailivity, with which my instructions to Major Doveton were cat- Tied into effeFl by the 3d Regiment of Cavalry, reflex the highest credit on the whole of this valuable corps ; the only thing I have to lament, is the heavy loss they have sustained. The European Commissioned Officers of the Na tive Infantry, from the able manner in which they commanded their respeElive divisions, were not less entitled to my warmest encomiums than the Native Commissioned, Non-commissioned Officers, and privates are, for their attention and implicit obedi ence observed by them throughout the whole of the attack. In these terms I beg leave to represent the behaviour of the companies of the Bth and 83th Re giments, and, you may confidently assure Hi; Ex cellency, that no troops whatever would have be haved better in a similar situation. I have only further to add, that nothing could be better managed, or more gallantly performed, than the blowing open the gates of Rampoora, by Ser jeant 01.augblen, and the party of European Ar tillery attached to the leading l 2 pounder. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, P. Dolt. Lieut.• Col. commanding a Detachmen from the Grand Army. Camp Rampoora, May 17, 11504. IRTURN OF [ILIAD WOUNOIRD AT TIC 114- SAULT OF TIC TORT Of RAIIIPOORA, ON THE 16 - r el MAY, 1804. Tor* I.—.. Europeans Wounded; on,t Lieutenant, cne Cor• poral, one Gunner, one Matrons. Nat.'s.; Killed--Two Hairdders, one Naik, nine Sepovs. Natives Wounded—Two Joinders, four Nevadan, one latiggehirtrfour Sorra, eleven La cars. Six' horses killed, and eighteen wounded. THE BRITISH PRESS LONDON, THURSDAY, FEIRU•Ir el . We stated yesterday, that the number of troops embarked on board the Toulon Fleet amounted to 10,000. This statement is confirmed by the Ham burgh Papers received yesterday by the Gottenhurg Mails, of which six have arrived. An article from Genoa. of the 16th last, represents them exactly at that amount; and adds, that they embarked in the midst of very bad weather with the utmost ex petlition, and were supposed to he destined for Mi norca and Majorca. That the 'l'oulon Fleet, of the sailing of Which very little doubt is now entertained, should have escaped the vigilance of Lord Natso,s, can create no surprise. It will be recollected, that his Lordship, in a late letter respeeting the thanks of the City of London, expressly denied that he held the Post of Toulon in strict blockade. We have now the authority of the Foreign Papers, that at the time the enemy's fleet is supposed to have sailed, his Lordship was cruising at a distance of forty miles, in a line that enabled him to ob serve the whole Italian, French, and Spanish coast from Palermo, by Leghorn, Toulon, and Barcelona, to the streights of Gibraltar. Under these circumstances, it is obvious that the Toulon fleet woe at liberty to sari when they pleased ; but there'', also good reason to presume that they could not hi t long at sea before his Lordship would have some 'intelligence of that event. Whether their objett, were wit!i;n, or without the M-rditerranean, his Lordship's station was equally advantageous to watch s their movements, receive intelligence, and go in pursuit. Minorca, Majorca, Sicily, and Egypt, have been mentioned as the probable destination of the enemy ; but it is all mere conjecture, Govern ment not having received any information upon the subjeft. The Toulon fleet consisted of only seven ships of the line, and Lord SiELsoNr has eleven ; of course we may anticipate a splendid victory, as the result of an engagement between them. The only apprelattision which we understand Government entertains, is, that the sailing of the Rochfort and Toulon squadron may be a combined movement for she purpose of forming a junClion, in which, if they succeeded, the combined force might attack eui squadron off Ferrol, and overpower it. With resped. to the Rochfort squadron, it is mentioned as a curious fall, that, findlug the Afejestecer, one of the squadron, atter it had been for some time at sea, crippled, and unable to proceed on her voyage, i t convoyed her back, and basing seen her safe into Rochfort, set out again for its destination. It was last seen to the southward of Cape Finisterre, har ing passed Ferrol and Coruna& witholat any attempt to release the ships blocked up in those ports ; but it does not follow that it might not return fur that pur pose, after it had effeCted a junaion with the Toul-n fleet. In any of these events, we may hourly exile& to receive some account of them ; but if they be de .tined for the East or West Indies, as som e imagine, curiosity will probably remain long un gratified. If we recolleCt right, the first accounts received of Rear Admiral Linors's squadron, after its escape from a French port, were those of its -Ir. rival and operations in India. The foreign P ap ,„ state, upon the authority of letters from Italy, that the French have required all the Italian Gore-a. ments, which have hitherto remained neutral, to ,tr clare themselves for or against France. Thi, is equivalent to an order to wage war against Eng. land. Florence and Rome, it is said, have ohey-st the requisition, and may be soon reps.:led to shut their ports against English ships, and English com merce. Naples alone seeks to preserve her neutra lity, which she will be able to purchase only upon the most degrading terms. France insists upon a right of choosing the prison who shall pres;de in her Councils; and if that condi.ion b.! acquiescei Naples must cease to be an independent state. 'Por tugal is also represented as Llegot.i.ttin . ;. for het era. trality ; but the foreign pope's do not menion price which France and Spain demand fur it. The CHANCELLOR of the Exca aqui', in swigs the Budget on Monday night, did not speak with as ranch confidence and precision upon the subs& of Continental Alliance as was expeeted. It has been hence contended, that Bona ea a r E's representatioe of the Continental States as adverse to a connefhoe with England may be true. Our readers wiU, how ever, recollea, that he only refuted the report of a subsidiary treaty betweei her and Sweden. lie only asserted that we had differed upon a question of terms, and that Prussia threatened to march an army into Swedish Pomerania, in case a treaty to that effect were executed. This, however, most clearly implies that a subsidiary treaty between Englar,l and Sweden has been upon the Lapis, and that no thing but an overwhelming influeucehas hitherto pre. vented its execution. But is thereno other Power upon the Continent, except Sweden, that wadi be likely to accept pecuniary assistance from England! Rase daily adding to her force in the Seven Islands, the conveyance of troops to so great a distance t:r.es home must be attended with large expence. So far as their presence aff.-srds ptc.tedlion to the Turkish Empire, these troops promote a British objea It required no small expence of Br:rish blood, and British treasure, to re-conquer Egypt for the Pears, but we never heard the policy of that proceAieg called in question. Arrangements with Russia, fur the security of Turkey, may, therefore, be easily conceived, to the support of which England Might fairly be expefied to contribute. It was also report• ed yesterday, in the political circles in the Weir ad of the town, that a rupture between Franal sal Austria is at no great distance. This report we give just as we received it, without pretending to say what degree of credit it deserves. In our preceding columns will be found, the 06- dal account of the taking of the Fort of Rampoora, in India, upon the firth of May last, by Lieutenant- Colonel DON. The acquisition of this important iortress puts us in possession of a false portion c‘ the territories of HOLZ AIL A outer has been dispatched by Governown ••• Sir Row A o Pert. ew, ao advise him of the email the French fleet front Rochefort, and of the pouini lily of its being destined for the East Indies. 'Fsesday dispatches were received at the Stl:r '- tary of State's Office front Governor 4 two at w South Wales. They state the arrivrl of the /3.~~. 4. i'e store-ship, Capt. Kkar, who. soon after his arris.d, was sent on discoveries apon the coast of blew Cale donia, whe. e he had found a most eacell.2at herboor. on the N.W . side, which he called Port St. V IntOtte in compliment to the Earl of Sr. Viscusz. Yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, recruiting parties of upwards of twenty regiments of horse and foot, with a great number of recruits, mastered • on the Parade, St. James's Park, and underwent gervral inspeaion by Colonel Roattesoet On Monday evening ,and during the night, a hea vy firing was heard At DOVel ; tt was supposed to proceed frani an attack made by our alines upon the enemy's craft, stealing Along shore. Tuesdat afternoon, a fincship was sent into Dover—de came out of one of use French ports, and was boarded and taken of Esraples, by the Aatunar sloop and two gun-brigs. The French Light Artillery asbefe kept up a heavy firing on our ships and boats as boarding. The Alernse and out gun-brigs were left in chace of mote cleft, when their prize was seat into I)over. Two wealthy graziers, of the neighbourhood of Great Grimsby, having made an exorbitant elver on the Captaiii of a 'tinsel lately stranded on that coast, for their assistance in securing the w!tcksi were lately taken before the Magistrates at Spilsbyr and sentenced to pay a fine of 501. with 101. costs. by 1 Lca 14t1 vice stop the(