The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-10-05 00:00:00, page 2

From the Boaton Gaze til.
Messrs. Russell & Cutler,
The account of the destruction of the
English ship Boyd, and the murder of her
crew, by the inhabitants of New-Zealaud,
will perhaps occasion much anxiety to the
friends of our seamen, who may be navi
gating the waters of Austral Asia. It is
in my power, I think, to remove any un
easiness that may be excited by that me
lancholy event, by relating the cause which
probably produced it. The New-Zealand
ers are not cannibals from mere brutal ap
petite. They devour the carcases of their
enemies slain in battle, '* while yet warm
but neter eat human flesh as an ordinary
or desirable viand. In the unfortunate in
stance which lately occurred, the English
he kindly offered to go with Dalrymple and
shew him the spot where he could purchase
what he needed, not only in abundance, but
of the best quality. To gratify his wife
with a short voyage on board a large ship,
Bruce took her with him. After being fur
nished with the articles required, Dalrym
ple put to sea, treacherously carrying his
' guents from their home; and notwithstand
ing their tears and remonstrances, and
Bruce's warnings of the inevitable effects
of his conduct, in the first Englishmen who
should visit New-Zealand, the barbarian
persisted in his shameful design. After
being at sea a few days, Dalrymple fell in
with another ship, on board of which he
put Bruce, under pretence that he had at
tempted to excite a mutiny among his crew.
He then proceeded to Pulo Penang, where,
after the most cruel and abusive treatment
he sold Aetocke to a settler, for fifty dol
lars. The Princess indignant at such con
duct, flew to the Governour of the Island,
and, as she had learned enough of the Eng
lish language from her husband, to con
verse with considerable fluency, made
known tbe circumstances in which she was
placed, and claimed his piotection. Co
lonel Macalister, the Governour, imme
diately paid the price of her purchase, and
received her into his house. Bruce soon
after arrived at Penang, and his wife was
restored to him. But the justice and gene
rosity of Colonel Macalister did not stop
here. He sent them at the publick ex
pense to Calcutta, with a statement of the
Injuries they had received. Lord Minto,
the Governour-General, commiserating
their hard fate, supplied them with every
necessary tliat their peculiar situation re
quired, and fitted out a ship, in which he
sent them home, enriched with valuables
of various kinds for themselves and their
royal parents. Probably, before their ar
rival in New. Zealand, the inhabitants of
that place seised the first opportunity that
presented, to glut their revenge, by mur
dering the innocent countrymen of the per
fidious Dalrymple. The wretch whoocca
aioned so much misery and bloodshed, died
soon after the sale of Aetocke, and before
the arm of justice could punish him for his
crimes. The ladies of Calcutta, were par
ticularly kind and attentive to the unfortu
nate Princess. They sootbtd by their sym
pathies Mtepconsolations the heart of a
daughter To cruelly separated ft*nm her
father and family. She was sensible of the
favours which she juceived, aud gratefol
were undoubtedly considered as foes.
In the spring of the year 1809, Aetocke,
a daughter of the King of New-Zealand,
with her husband, a native of Scotland, ar
rived in Calcutta. 1 had frequent oppor
tunities of conversing with these persons,
and from them received the information,
which I shall, with your permission, now
communicate to the publick.
Robert Bruce, in the year 1798, went to
Botany Bay, on board a transport, in tbe
capacity of a Cabin boy. Soon after his ar
rival, the King of New Zealand paid a
visit to Port Jackson. On his return, iff the
ship to which Bruce belonged, he was very
sick. During his illness, Bruce was his
constant attendant, and he in a great mea
sure owed his recovery to the solicitude
and fidelity of the young adventurer. He
persuaded Bruce to quit the ship and re
main in the Island, conferring on him the
office of commander of his troops, and in
vesting him with the highest order of No
bility. The badge of this distinction Bruce
will carry with him to his grave. His face
is tattowed all over, in a most curious
manner. The King himself condescended
to operate on his new subject's visage, and
when he had rendered him beautiful in the
eyesofa New-Zealand belle, he gave him
his favourite daughter in marriage. In
performing the work of tattowing, the King
was assisted by the most dignified of his
counsellors and snges. They were employ
ed upwards of two months in decorating
the hard countenance of the young sailor,
according to a pattern supplied by the taste
and ingenuity of his intended bride.
Bruce and his wife lived in peace and
happiness for a number of years. He was
able and willing to assist such strangers
as occasionally visited New-Zealand, and
took pleasure in procuring such supplies
for them as the Islands afford. At length,
a Captain Dalrymple put into a port where
Bruce was then residing; but as the kind
of wood whilh was wanted, abounded in
another place at a considerable distance,
jftimllanp.
for them; often expressing the pleasure
she should feel in relating her adventures
under her paternal roof, and convincing
her countrymen, “ that Dalrymple was one
devil in a nation of angels." She waa bap
tised, in Calcutta, by the Rav. Mr. Thoma
son. This was done at tbe instance of her
husband, and she was named Charlotte,
after the Queen of England, for whom, as
a sponsor, one of the principal ladies of
Calcutta stood proxy.
Aetocke was about 18 years of age; of a
tall majestick stature. Her countenance
was mild, but expressive of a warm and
feeling heart. Her voice was strong though
not unmelodious. She sung io a kind of
monotonous recitation, the history of her
misfortunes, and the sufferings of her father
for her loss. At an entertainment where
she was a guest, she observed the company
to rise when they drank their wine, and on
being informed that they rose in honour of
her father, whose name had been given as
a toast, she burst into tears, and was so
agitated by emotions of filial tenderness and
gratitude, that she was obliged to retire
from the table.
Aetocke would have been handsome, if
her upper lip had not been tattowed in a
figure resembling a crab, the claws of
which, encircled the extremities of her
mouth, and unites just above her chin.—
Bruce, the husband, was an illiterate man,
but not devoid of understanding and ambi
tion. He spoke of the inhabitants of New-
Zealand with affection, and represented
their King as governing his subjects with
truly paternal authority. He always as
serted that the New-Zealanders were not
cannibals; that they were on tWe contrary,
human* and hospitable, and willing to be
instructed in useful arts. He said that he
had explained to many of them the leading
doctrines and principles of Christianity,
and believed that if missionaries, men of
learning, were among them, they
might be easily civilized and converted.—
He jvas sanguine in the expectation, that
the King of England would before long find
the expediency of establishing a settlement
in New-Zealand, in which case, his Ma
jesty would experience the advantages at
tending a friendly intercourse with the na
tives ; but he feared that Dalrymple's con
duct must be the cause of much misery and
bloodshed, before he and his wife could ex
tinguish their father's resentment, by full
and satisfactory explanations.
Aetocke related a variety of anecdotes
relating to her family; among them, one
is remembered, which proves that even
among savages, a due regard is paid to the'
distinctions of rank which prevail, and are
acknowledged, in civilized society. One
of her sisters had disgraced herself, and
would have contaminated her illustrious
blood, by her affection for a vulgar fellow,
whom *' nobody knew,” in tbe beau monde
of New-Zealand. Her father, as soon as
he discovered the existence of this detest
able passion erected a cage, like a dove
cot and raised it on a post fifteen feet high.
In this prison, whose dimensions would not
allow the inhabitant to lie down strait, or
stand upright, the King incarcerated his
daughter ; resolving she should die there,
or conquer her love. She was fed with wa
ter and dried fish at the end of a pole, once
a day. In this condition she remained up
wards of*two years, until she was thorough
ly cured of her vile attachment,,and beg
ged to be again received into her parent’s
favour. The success of this experiment
induced tbe king to keep up the house on
the post, as an object in terrorem for the
good of his subjects. It is said that a peep
at this prison is sufficient to allay the most
violent passion, that is unsanclioned by the
consent of parents, and tbe etiquette of the
circles of rank and fashion. No instance
has been known, since the punishment of
the Princess, of a virgin so forgetful of what
she owes to herself and her family, as to
love or wed, beneath her proper degree.—
Bruce, notwithstanding the King’s affec
tion, was not entitled to the hand of the
royal beauty, until after two months of dai
ly torture, he bore on his face his patent
of nobility, and his high prentensions to
the first match in the empire !
If the circumstances which I have re
lated, have the good fortune to relieve the
anxieties of affectionate bosoms, fortheir
absent friends, or to afford a moment oi
amusement to any of your readers, my de
sign in composing this communication, will
be crowned with success. Perhaps, on ex
amining my rusty Port-Folio, I may find
some attempts to verify the melancholy
impromptus of the New-Zealand wander
er. They will be at your service, if they
can be regained. They were thought in
teresting when I heard them, and I had
them rendered in to rude English by her
husband. The notes have been mislaid;
but as every benevolent heart can conceive
and übderstand tbe sentiments of a female
separated from the earliest and tenderest
objects of love, their loss is not seriously
regretted. Her’s wore the warm and vi
gorous affections of nature, which are uni
versal and common as the principle of life;
which are felt throughout all animated
creation, and will continue to and
govern man, until in a new state of exist,
ence, his powers and his enjoyments shall
be directed andelovated by the sublimer in
telligence and capacity which distinguish
angels from the inhabitants of this perisha
ble world. L.
A virino, which appeared to be intend
ed as a rejoicing, took place on Thursday
on the French coast. This circumstance
gives rise to varions reports and conjec
tures, but nothing is with certainty known
respecting the occasion of this firing.—
Some suppose that Bonaparte has gone by
the why of Boulogne and Calais, on his
journey to Holland, and that he passed
through these towns on Wednesday; others
have attributed the rejoicings to some ad
vantage gained by the enemy in Portugal;
but it is likely that the first account of any
afftir of importance which may occur there
will reach this country direct from Lisbon
or Oporto. We do not know whether tele
graphs have been established between Bay
onne and Paris; but without some such
mode of conveyance it would be difficult
for the enemy to have had intelligence on
Wednesday of a date much later than that
of which we are already possessed. It is
reported in the military circles, the com
mand of the advanced guard of the British
army in Portugal is to be transferred to
General Stuart, brother of tbe Earl of Gal
loway. It is said, that the force with which
the French engaged General Crauford at
the bridge on the Coa, amounted to 14,000
infantry and cavalty, while the British
force did not exceed 5000. Tbe loss of the
enemy is supposed to have been nearly 900.
The defence made by our troops on the
bridge was one of the most brilliant affairs
that has occurred during the war in the
peninsula.
The choice of a successor to the present
King of Sweden is not likely to terminate
in the way that was generally supposed.
The influence that procured the election of
the late Crown Prince still survives and
predominates. Letters of the 13th instant
from Gottenburg state, there was little
doubt that the Duke of Augustenburg would
be chosen Crown Prince. A great majori
ty in three out of the four States had de
clared for him. They were all nearly
unanimous in their opposition to the King
of Denmark. The orders of the clergy and
the peasants had declared against Berna
dotte ; the first, it is said, on account* of
his religion, the latter because he was a
Frenchmen. The name of the Prince of
Oldenbnrgh does not appear in the list of
candidates, nor does the least suspicion ap
pear to be entertained of the possibility of
"Gustavus Adolphus coming forward to as
sert his right to the throne.
We have given from the Lisbon papers
of the 2d, the summons of General Loison
Tib more attention we pay to the Duke
of Cadore’s letter to General Armstrong,
the more embarrassed we are to form any
conclusion as to its real Import. On the
first cursory perusal, we supposed that Bo
naparte meant fairly and explicitly to pro
mise, that on the first of November bis
Berlin and Milan decrees would cease to
operate. We wish that the original French
letter were before the publick; for tbe
document, as translated, in fact promises
nothing, but on conditions, which admit of
constructions so various, that it is impossi
ble for merchants to know what to expect,
even if the utmost confidence be placed in
what the Emperour pledges himself posi
tively to perform.
We had thought that one condition was,
that io consequence of.the repeal of his de
crees, the British should rescind their Or
ders in Council. But we find that the let
ter, as published, makes no such stipula
tion. \lt says that it js "understood, that
in consequence of thie declaration, the Eng
lish shall revoke their Orders in Council.'’
If by thia it is meant that this annunciation
or declaration must be followed by a revo
cation of the Orders in Council, between
the time of giving tfiis notice and the first
of November—that is, before the decrees
cease to operate, nothing is more certain
than that the terms will not exist; for
there a sentence in any English pa
per, nor is there the least probability from
the nature of the. contest between France
and Great-Britain, on which we can ground
an expectation that the Orders in Council
will be repealed, before the French decrees
cease to operate.
It is for our government—who have the
" view of the whole ground”—to tell the
people of the United States, how this am
biguous promise is to be understood. Has
Bonaparte done any thing more than re
peated bis old proposition, or not ? We
trust our merchants will hazard nothing,
until our government declare bow the Em
perour is to be understood; and then we
trust they will hold him to such construc
tion as they adopt.
It is true, the Chronicle, and some other
democratick papers, are giving the " mag
nanimous” Emperour credit, for a positive
repeal of his decrees. But it will be poor
consolation for the loss of a valuable cargo,
to.say, the Chronicle deceived us. It is
for those who have the management of our
foreign relations—those who are the guar
dians of our rightsand prosperity,to instruct
the people of the United States,, how they
are to tonduct on this occasion.
foreign Untelltgence,
Received by an arrival at New-York, from
i
FROM T«1 REPERTORY.
GREENOCK, August 29.
The trading ship George has reached
Falmouth from Lisbon, after a voyage of
14 days. A gentleman from that capital
has this day favoured us with some accept
able intelligence. The number of British
troops, according to the latest returns, ap
peared to be 28,000 effective men, not in
cluding the 7th regiment, which had just
arrived from Halifax, and which was com
posed of remarkably fine seasoned troops.
The Portuguese regulars, and even the
volunteers, were well clothed, gnd made a
respectable and soldier-like appearance.
With General Hill are several native regi
ments. Some of the Highdalgos who have
commands under him bad been put under
arrest, on account of their offensive deport
ment on one or more occasions, when they
manifested less temper and discretion than
warmth and courage. The vast embou
chure of the Tagus was full of shipping, for
the reception and convoy of the army,
should necessity require its re-embarkation.
The northern bank was lined with batte
ries, but the southern shore waa destitute
of a single gun, and there were none mount
ed even on the ramparts of Almada, which
was constructed to protect the navigation.
Just before this person passed the bar, a
large transport with convalescents .was pro
ceeding up the Tagus, that they might re
sume active duty in the camp.
To-day we have no arrivals from either
France or Holland, bet we have some in
formation from the latter by two Dutch
gentlemen who left that country by the last
conveyance. It is impossible to express,
unless influenced by the same passions, the
indignation which the conduct of Bonaparte
has excited. The conduct of Louis has
awakened the same feelings, and he is said
to have embezzled the sum of twenty mill
ions of ducats, which have been transmit
ted to Germany.
It is supposed that some relaxation of
this decree will be applicable to cases here
after, where coffee and other colonial pro
duce shall be obtained through the medium
of France.
to the commander of Almeida, to surrender
that fortress. The contempt with which
it was treated (the answer being only ver
bal, aad the messenger not having been ad
mitted into the body of tbe place,) must
convince the enemy that the reduction of
Almeida will be no easy task. Although
the town was summoned on the 24th, tbe
investment, it would appear, was not com
pieced two days after, as General Cox was
able to communicate with Marshal Beres
ford on the 26th.
The prohibitory laws, interdicting the
admission of colonial produce have not been
found sufficient. A new decree has been
signed by the Emperour, commanding that
coffee shall, under no pretence, be received
into private houses, or used for domestick
consumption, and penalties are enacted on
those who shall dare to transgress this
mandate.
The following is an extract bf a letter
from an officer in our army in Portugal :
“ Things appear to be now fast drawing
to a crisis in this country. The enemy,
failing in bis attempt against Cadiz, seems
determined to prosecute the campaign with
great vigour in Portugal. After repeated
and varied manceuvrings to decoy our army
from their favourable positions, and after
continually menacing us with an attack,
the French did not shew themselves in real
earnest with us till the fall of Ciudad Rod
rigo, after which they pressed upon our
advanced corps, obliging them to retire in
to the vicinity of Almeida, before which
place they made their appearance in great
force on the 24th. Here they encountered
the light brigade of our army under Briga
dier-General Robert Craufurd, with great
impetuosity; and, lam sorry to say, not
withstanding the steadiness and bravery of
the corps of which it was composed, such
was the impetuosity with which the supe
rlour numbers of the enemy advanced, that
they bore every thing before them like an
irresistible torrent, not, however, without
affording to our troops engaged an oppor
tunity of again displaying their gallantry,
when brought face to face with the enemy.
But what could be expected of us from
such a vast disparity in point of numbers ?
We lost in killed, wounded and missing,
about 30 officers and 400 men, and were
obliged to retire.
" Had Cranford’s affairs brought on a
general action, the result would have been
more fortunate for us, but still more san
guinary. lam at present attached to the
division of the army under General Picton,
consisting of three brigades. At midnight
of the 20th we relinquished our position at
Pinhel with our left in front, retiring to
the neighbourhood of Alverca, where Lord
Wellington had established his head-quar
ters. Having here taken up a position, we
continued one day, and on the 28th fell
back to this place, (Linhares,) one of the
most delightful and picturesque parts I
ever beheld in the whole course of my life.
Hitherto our retreat has been gradual and
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
Landon, Anguat 25, half past 7, P- M.
Snif/su Attttr in Portugal.
AUSTRIAN DECREE.
LONDON, August 25.
" Linhares, July 31, 1810.
orderly J «Very preparation, however, is
making for more rapid movements retro
gradely. God grant it may be unnecessa
ry ‘ It is said that, if need be, we are to
retire to the fortified camp in front of Lis
bon, with our right on tbe Tagus at Villa
Franca, and our left extending towards <
Torres Vedras, and .the sea coast near
Povca or Suzana, comprehending distance
of about thirty miles. When driven to this x
resource by innumerable opposing legions,
rest assured we’ll “.fight till from our
bones the fieah be hack'd.** But many will
rue such a day. I hope the Portuguese
will not flinch then; if so, alas! my poor
devoted comrades! Soane of the Portu
guese look extremely well under arms;
but whether they will fight c'eei une autre
chose. Expect to hear of something de
cisive immediately."
LISBON, August 8.
" The exact position that our army oc-*
copies is known to few in this city, but it
is said to be advantageous. Our troops are
in good health, while it is said, that in the
army of Massena a dysentery to a great
extent prevails, which,, in this season of
the year, is more destructive than the sword •
and therefore the longer Lord Wellington 41
delays fighting the better. The British I
are less subject to this malady, as they ’
have been quartered in lofty situations.
" Our post from head-quarters to this
place is not so frequent or so regular as it
is to be wished, considering our anxiety <— ♦
We do not hear that there is reason to
think that a battle will be fought so soon as
a few weeks ago we imagined. Almeida
is closely invested, and the French seem *
determined, if possible, to take it-”
Notwithstanding the apparent cordiality
of the new alliance between Napoleon and
the House of Austria, the spoils of the an
cient grandeur of that House continue to be
carried off to France with the same sweep
ing rapacity as before. A letter from
Aygsburg, dated the 15th July, has the .
following paragraph
“ A new and very considerable division
of the archieves of the sometime German '
Empire is arrived here from Vienna.—
The removal will be continued with great
care from this place to Strasburg, and
thence to Paris. The conveyance is form
ed by contractors who have made an
agreement with the French Commissaries.
It is understood that many other divisions
of these archieves, which* remained at
Passau, will soon follow this now on its z
passage.”
General Beresford has lately issued a
number of General Orders to the Portu
guese army under his command, by which
it appears, that several hundred of the
peasants have deserted their standards
and fled, not to the enemy, but to their
homes. Several of them .have been ap
prehended and punished, the General hav
ing with him Magistrates duly appointed
forthat purpose, and others have been
sent to work the mines. «
From the Portuguese papers.
Lisbon, August 2/
Copy of a despatch from his Excellency
Marshal G. C. Beresford to his Excellency
D. Miguel Pereira Forjes.
Head-quarters <f Avelhans de Ribeiro.
July 27, 1810.
*' I have the honour of transmitting to
your Excellency, in order to their being
laid before their Excellencies the Govern
ours of the Kingdom, the inclosed letters,
which I have thia day received from Brig
adier-General Cox; and I cannot, but con
gratulate their Excellencies on the good
disposition and excellent appearance shewn
by the Portuguese soldiers, both within and
without the fortresses.
" The false and ridiculous arguments of
the enemy could not be more completely
exposed than by sending such a letter to
an Englishman, who is an officer in the
Portuguese service; which letter he de
signed to answer only by ordering the offi
cer who was the bearer of it to retire, as the 4
fortress would defend itself to the last ex
tremity.
" May God preserve your Excellency,
’ " G. C. BERESFORD.
" Marshal and Commnder in Chief* ,
"Almeida, July 25.
" Sir—J have the honour to inform your
Excellency, that yesterday, soon after the
retreat of Brigadier-General Cranford, a 0
flag of truce appeared at the gates of the
fortress, and I received a letter from the
French General Loison, of which I send
your Excellency the inclosed copy. Hap
pening, at the moment to be in the cover
ed way, close to the barrier gate, I receiv
ed the letter, without permitting the offi
cer who brought it to enter the place, an
swering verbally that I would not accedo
to the proposition contained in tbe letter,
but was resolved to defend to the last ex
tremity the fortress which I had the hon
our to command.
“ 1 have tbe satisfaction to say, that thq
troops of this garrison are in Mgh tpirito,
aud evidently shew tbe greatest ardour.—
The artillery of the place played with
some effect upon the enemy during the re
treat of General Crauford, and thp firing
continued at intervals for some tinft after.
I fired this day upon some pursuieg par- 1.
ties who made their appearance, aud t
have also had a fair petty skirmishes with