The constitutionalist — Exeter, N.H., 1810-12-10 00:00:00, page 2

Sometimes he raises a king over one
section ; then transfers him to another
"where his presence is most obnoxious ;
and where cruelty and oppression alone
control his subjects. The sound of
liberty, by which he marched to the
head of the empire, is not heard where
his power is felt. The expected milk
•of liberty has been curdled by the ac
rimony of despotism.
The ocean as yet has terminated his
career. In Great-Britain he has thus
far found a barrier to his mighty
schemes. By her navy she has placed
bounds to his conquests ; and by her
navy she has avoided the death blow to
ber'liberty. The tyrant is conscious
of his own inferiority on the ocean, and
has applied all his subtlety to destroy
that navy which is her shield and her
defence. Commerce, the life blood of
the British nation, has been assailed
with such deadly shafts, that the as
pect has for a long time looked gloomy.
Should he succeed in his attempts to
annihilate her commerce, she must bow
to the despot and tamely wear the gall
ing yoke. She is almost excluded from
the continent, formerly a great source
of wealth. The great channels in this
country are dried up; and nothing re
mains but the smaller streams.
If the influence of Napoleon coni
tinue to operate, and the present con
sumption prove fatal to the tommerce
of the world, the power of G. Britain
will languish, her weapons of defence
/will rust, moulder and decay, and she
will become an easy prey to the blood
hounds of France.
If Great-Britain fall, what will be
the situation of Mis country ? Shall we
Napoleon is remarkable for the
keenness of his perceptions, and is en
dowed with transcendent talents. He
seemingly foresees the most important
human devices, and eludes the grasp of
the most acuteand persevering. Dark,
subtle, and designing, he sacrifices
kingdoms to gratify his ambition.—
Although his passions frequently swell
qpd burst like noxious meteors, and
sometimes apparently dethrone his wis
dom ; yet it merely clarifies his mind,
as the electrick spark does the atmos
phere. Impetuous and malignant, his
ambition extinguishes his magnanimity ;
and every virtue is smothered by his
insatiable thirst for glory. Preemi
nent in war and politicks, he is not
trammeled by any delicate notions of
sensibility. He delights in the distress
es of mankind, and'smiles at their mis
ery. The groans of the innocent arc
his musick ; the blood of heroes his
nectar.,
This phenomenon first appeared dur
ing the revolution in France: A scene
alone calculated to gratify his vehement
ambition. He was spreading desola
tion in Egypt, when news arrived of
the crisis of affairs in France. He left
his troops to perish, hazardously cross
ed the Mediterranean, and anxiously
proceeded to Paris, predetermined to
ascend the throne. He opposed every
obstacle, and purchased his crown with
the blood of. millions. The fame of
Alexander and the cruelty of Nero is
forgotten, while reflecting on the deeds
of Napoleon. Kingdoms and empires
have fallen before him. Italy) Sicily,
Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Prus
sia, Austria, Denmark, and Sweden
have been overwhelmed in the irresisti
ble torrent of his power. Spain is now
struggling to avert the general wreck
of empires; but her struggles only
tend to prolong her misery. Though
the fate of Russia is certain, yet she is
preserved to aid in the accomplishment
of his schemes in the North. She is
now a waving Satellite of France,
and will soon be extinguished.
The Continent of Europe shrinks at
his nod, and has become' a scene to
gratify his whim and caprice. It is his
pride to degrade and debase mankind,
and elevate himself on their ruins.
COMMUNICATION.
For the Constitutionalist.
LISBON, OCT. 22.
Copy of a Despatch from Marshal
General Lord Wellington, to His
Excellency Don Miguel Pereira
Forjaz.
Most Illustrious and Excellent Sir,
Since the despatch which I sent to
,our Excellency dated on the 13th inst.
the enemy have been principally oc
cupied in reconnoitering our positions,
and fortifying their own ; for the pur
pose of effecting the former object they
have had several skirmishes with the
troops composing our advanced posts,
who have uniformly behaved very well.
On the 14th the enemy made an at--
tack with infantry, supported by artil
lery, on a small detachment of the 71st
regiment, which formed the advanced
guard of the division uhder the com
mand of Lieutenant General Sir Brent
Spencer, near Sebral de Monteagraso,
with the view of covering one of his
reconnoitering parties. Our detach
ment, led by the Honourable Lieut
Col. Cadagan, and Lieut. Col. Rey
nell, charged the enemy with the high
est intrepidity and compelled them to
retire to the above mentioned place.
The whole force of the Bth division
of the French army, and part of the
6th, arrived that afternoon at the camp
near Sobral, and consequently I judg
ed it necessary to withdraw the divis
ion under the command of Sir Brent
Spencer from the advanced situation
which it occupied.
4
Lisbon papers to the 30th Oct. con
tain two letters from Lord Wellington,
to His Excellency Don Miguel Pereira
Forjax, dated at Peronegro the 20th.
The General mentions several success
ful skirmishes between his army and
the French out-posts; of an attack on
the French by some gun-boats under
the command of Lieut. Berkeley, on
the Tagus; and of the affair of Col.
Trant at Coimbra.
The disciples of Washington trem
ble for the fate of their country. —
they fear that those blessings, which
their Saviour bequeathed, will soon be
arrested from them. They shudder at
the prospect of bloodshed and desola
tion. Is this the mere phantom of be
wildered imaginations? Is there no
cause of alarm? Can we remain un
moved at the convulsions of the world,
and be calm at the approach of deso
lation ? Great-Britain is now the sole
barrier against universal domination.
Were Napoleon master of the ocean,
he could pour into this country im
mense forces, which would be aug
mented by foreign renegadoes and
French emissaries eager to rally round
his standard, now lurking in the bosom
of our country, infusing the Corsican
poison. Can any enthusiast believe
that we could vanquish, with compar
tively a handful of men the great con
queror, who has subdued nearly a
hundred millions on the continent of
Europe? The Heroes of America
would fight in vain. Though their
valor and patriotism would merit the
plaudits of the world, yet their speedy
overthrow, would excite the commis
eration of posterity ; for their inde
dependence would besubverted. Should
Great-Britain perish, we shall be buri
ed in her grave. On her tomb will
be inscribed the fate of Columbia.
be spared while .all the wdrld beside
are subjugated? Will he, who "sprang
out of the jarring elements of tumultu
ous democracy" thirst for no more?
Will he then be glutted with human
blood, and satiated with power? Has
his conduct exhibited greater love for
this country than it did for Spain?
Surely he has burnt, sunk and destroy
ed our vessels; seized and confiscated
our property; inhumanly imprisoned
ourseamen ; trampled upon our neu
tral rights ; infracted a solemn treaty;
and in the most unequivocal terms in
sulted our government. What then
can we anticipate from his Zone ? What
can we calculate from his benevolence?
What can we expect from his humani
ty? His conquests originated in the
ferocity of his ambition ; and he is yet
stimulated by a thirst for power and
dominion. Can we rationally calculate
on a total change of his principles? As
soon will the Ethiopian change his skin,
or the Leopard his spots.
Foreign Intelligence.
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
MANLIUS.
The enemy continue to occupy the
same positions (in front of the army)
which I stated to your Excellency in
my former despatch of the 20th inst.
that they then occupied. I havehow
ever detached some troops towards
Santarem, General Loison having on
the 23d marched to that place with
the division under his command ; and
it appears by advices from his officer
commanding at Abrantcs, dated on
the 24th iust. that the enemy's corps
of infantry and cavalry entered Tho
mar on that day.
The accounts which I have receiv
ed from the prisoners and deserters,
who have been brought to this army,
all agree in confirming the statements
of the difficulties and miseries, which
the enemy suffer by reason of the
great scarcity of provisions of every
kind.
They also state that the enemy
were collecting and preparing materi
als to construct a bridge over the riv
er Tagus, but though we have a good
view of that river, of the different
points, of the positions which the army
occupies, and have officers and several
individuals employed on the left bank
of the river for the purpose of observ
ing the motions of the enemy, I have
not hitherto been able to discover the
place where they are at work, nor o
ver what part of the river they can
place the Bridge, should they succeed
in constructing it.
The enemy at the same time appear
very desirous to obtain or collect boats,
and for that purpose they endeavoured
The following is the second letter :—
Extract of a despatch from Marshal
General Lord Wellington, to his
Excellency Don. Miguel Pereira
Forjaz.
Most Illustrious and Excellent Sir.
The difficulties which the enemy
experience in procuring subsistence,
and which they have incurred by in
vading this country without having
provided magazines, and without hav
ing adopted measures to secure their
rear or their communication with
Spain, has placed them under the ne
cessity of sending out soldiers to pro
cure supplies, and owing to this cir
cumstance not a day passes without
deserters or prisoners coming in.
Every thing remains tranquil in the
north of Portugal, according to the
last despatches that I have receiv
ed. ',
On the following day Brigadier Gen.
Miller, and Col. Wilson arrived at Co
imbra with the detachments under
their command. They afterwards
made prisoners of nearly 350 soldiers,
who had separated themselves from
their regiments on their march, for the
purpose, as they say, of procuring
food.
Col. Wilson has since advanced with
a guard of infantry and cavalry to Cor
deixa, while brigadier General Miller
is in Coimbra.
A detachment of the garrison of Pe
niche sent out by Brigadier General
Blunt, has also been successful, having
made 48 prisoners from the rear of
the enemy's army, and killed nine.
Lt. Colonel Waters whom I employ
ed with small detachments of infantry
and cavalry, likewise took a consid
erable number of prisoners from the
enemy's rear.
My last intelligence from Cadiz is
the 4th instant.
I have the honour to be &c.
WELLINGTON.
Head Quarters at Peronegro 20th
October, 1810.
I enclose to your Excellency a copy
of a letter from Marshal Beresford,
relative to those events.
The gun-boats on the river Tagns
commanded by Lieut. Berkley, with
which Admiral Berkley supported the
right of the army, near Alhandra, also
had an action and fired on the parties
with which the Enemy reconnoitered
on that side, and in this respect their
services have bee, of great utility.
I have at the same time the satisfac
tion to acqnaintyour Excellency, that
the information which I transmitted to
you in my former despatch of the 13th
inst. relative to the march of the de
tachments of the troops cammanded
by General Baschar, has been since
confirmed.
Col. Trant arrived near Coimbra on
the 7th inst. and immediately attacked
the advanced posts, which the enemy
had without the place, and which he
cut off and prevented from entering the
city, to which he marched with the ut
most rapidity, and took possession of
it. The resistance made by the ene
my was not of long duration. He
took prisoners 80 officers and 5000
men, the greater part sick and wound
ed. I have the honour to enclose to
your Excellency, a copy of the dis
patch, which Col. Train sent to Mar
shal Beresford, and also a copy of the
letter which the Marshal, in conse
quence of that affair, transmitted to
me.
His Excellency Don. Miguel Pere
ira Forjaz.
The enemy continue to front our
line, with the exception of Loison's
division, which has advanced toward
Thomas; their object is probably to
reconnoitre, and to procure provi
sions, of which the army of Massena
is in great need. To supply the al
most entire want of flour, they make
use of corn in the following manner.—
They boil it in the grain, or pounded
as well as they can, and when boiled
until it is softened, they make a kind
of cake, which, even without salt, and
without leavening it, they throw into
the fire, or into ovens, as may be
most convenient and then eat it. Mis
erable mode of subsisting ! The cattle
which, could not wholly "be taken a
way, although the large droves which
pastured on the banks of the Tagus
were sent to the southward, are now
consumed, and there is in this respect
,n extreme scarcity. The inhabitants
of the central country situated be
tween the two roads of the Tagus, and
the sea coast, did not put their cattle
within the line, perhaps because they
erroneously supposed that the ene
my would not advance so far as the
Sierra de Monte Junto; but their
quantity was not great, and the ene
my's army consumed what there was
in the first fifteen days of their stay in
our vicinity.
A part of our troops which left
Coimbra entered Obidos ; and in that
quarter andsn the side of Ramalhal,
whither some British caplry have
gone, it is impossible for the enemy to
make excursions, or procure provi
sions. In fact they are reduced tosubsist
on what is afforded by the lands along
the Tagus, from Villa Francauo to
Thamar.
Yesterday arrived the Spanish divi
sion, commanded by Gen. La Garrera,
composed of very good troops, who
will continue to merit in our country
the praise of valour, which they ac
quired in Gallicia, in Castile and in
Estremadura.
Also arrived in twelve vessels, con
voyed by an English frigate, the pris
oners who were taken at Coimbra, and
who were carried from thence to 0-
porto, where they embarked for Lis
bon.
As yet we have no news from our
armies of any action of importance.
General Massena, who certainly was
very ill informed respecting Portugal,
and our troops, marched with all the
pride, which is natural to him, into
the Portuguese territory, and suddenly
his extreme ardour is converted into
an apathy truly contemptible. He
perceived our lines, but wanting his
usual weapons, which are bribery and
treason he has not had the boldness to
attack them. —We know to a certain
ty that the number of his deserters and
sick is prodigious; the former assert
that his privations are great, and that
the sick were treated in the most
wretched manner.
1 LONDON, OCT. 22.
On the 15th Oct. an expedition saik
ed from Corunna for the Bay of Bis
cay. Sir Home Popham, commands
it, aided by commodore Mends and
Geri. Renovales. The town of San
tona was the first object of the intend
ed attack. Expecting to he joined
by the inhabitants, they had taken ten
thousand spare muskets.
A desperate action was fought in the
Channel between a French privateer
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE
LISBON, OCT 26.
The partizans had become more
bold and enterprising than formerly,
& had formed a junction in the vicinity
of Valladolid in the beginning of the
month of Oct. to the number of 1500,
for the purpose of taking a convoy of
money, arising from the contributions
which the enemy had imposed upon
the country; but their design fail
ed.
I have the honour to be with esteem
and particular consideration —Your
Excellency's most obedient servant.
WELLINGTON.
Head quarters at Peronegro, 27th
October, 1810.
on !± ^"^ inst.t° dislodge a party of
militia from Chamusca, by firing on
them, with artillery in order to obtain
possession of some boats which were
near that place, but the attempt did
not succeed.—Towards Ramalhal and
Obidos the excursions of the enemy's
detachments are limited and confined to
such a degree that in reality they are
in possession, of no more ground than
that on which their army is posted.
By the last despatches from Gen.
Silveira, dated on the 17th inst. it ap
pears that every thing remained quiet
on the northern frontier, nor had that
General then heard or received any in
telligence of the march of troops in
Castile.
My last news from Cadiz is the 4th
inst.
Ilis Excellency Don Miguel Periera
Forjaz.
OCT. 30.
" I am happy in being able to add,
that the loss sustained in the operation
wihch has led to this event, amounts
only to 1 Subaltern, 1 Seargeant, and
16 rank and file killed; 1 Major, 7
Subalterns, 2 Sergeants, and 63 rank
and file, wounded.
" I have the honour to be, &c,
"Liverpool."
To the right Hon. the Lord Mayor.
The expedition which made this cap
ture sailed from Madras, and consisted
of the 69th and 86th regts, with de
tachments from the 12th, 33d, and
89th regulars, 6th and 12th native in
fantry, artillery, &c. 2500 Europeans
and 2000 natives, to be joined by 1000
from Rodriquez. Lt. Munroe, of the
86th was the only officer killed.
The next object of the above expedi
tion will be the Isle of France, the only
colony on earth, we think which calls
Bonaparte master.
On motion of Oliveros, the regen
cy was unanimously required to give
an account of the general Administra
tion ; to present daily and monthly
an account of the interesting events and
occurrences ; and a list of promotions
ince April Ist 1808: They also re
quired of the Judicial Power an ac
count of all causes for high treason
now pending.
The American deputies solicited a
declaration, that America was an inte
gral part of the Monarchy, and that a
general amnesty be issued for past
transactions, Committed. The doors
were then closed, and the Cortes delib
erated on confidential business.
We continue to receive official ac
counts from our army in Portugal.
The troops are under cover and aft
plentifully supplied. We are at least
36,000 strong ; besides the Portuguese,
Spaniards, &c. The reinforcements
for the army will be landed at Corunna,
Oporto, &c. to reinforce the patriots
who are cutting off the supplies.
At Busaco, Gen. St. Simon was ta
ken by the 43d regt, not by the 52d as
reported. We have 84 pieces of artil
lery in the field.
French prisoners are constantly ar
riving at Portsmouth and Plymouth.
There are nearly 60,000 now in the
kingdom.
Reinforcements are proceeding for
Portugal, Spain, &c.
LONDON, OCT. 25.
CAPTURE OF BOURBON.
Public Auction.
TO be sold at Public Auction on
WEDNESDAY the 12th Dec.
next, at two o'clock, P. M.
The Estate lying on the main road to
Kingston, and on the corner of that
leading to Brentwood, within a short
distance of the Gun Factory and the
Exeter Cotton Factory, and at present
occupied by Mr. Charles Barstow- —
Consisting of a HOUSE, BARN,
BLACKSMITH'S SHOP and other
Out-Houses, together with about twen
ty acres of excellent LAND.
The sale to be on the premises, and
conditions of sale made known at time
and place, Exeter, Dec. 3.
We have received the Journals of
the August Congress of Spain. They
have directed that all debates on army
affairs should be with closed doors.
On the Ist October, on motion of
Hermida, a Committee was appoint
ed to report on anonymous papers
presented to the Cortes.
schooner & the Briseis, a British vessel,
commanded by lieutenant Bentham—
it lasted one hour; and the privateer
was taken. " The French captain
was so resolutely bent on conquest or
death, that even after the schooner had
struck her colours, and the Briseis
people had boarded with a view to ren
der every assistance to his vanquished
opponent, he, while lying on the deck,
shot through the knee, ran his sword
through one of the best men belong
ing to the Briseis and killed him on
the spot; but the carpenter of the
Briseis observing the transaction, im
mediately threw the French captain
overboard. He was however, after
wards (most undeservedly) saved by
lieutenant Bentham, the humane com
mander of the Briseis. Lieutenant
Bentham is Lord Gardier's flag lieuten
ant.
" My Lord —Capt. Parkinson,
Deputy-Adjutant-General to the de
tachment acting under the command of
Lt. Col. Keating, has arrived this even
ing at my office, with the intelligence
that the Isle of Bourbon; since desig
nated the Isle of Bonaparte, had sur
rendered, by Capitulation, to his Ma
jesty's arms, on the Bth of July
last.
The rules and Orders of Congress,
on motion of Mr. Luuan, were order
ed to be read daily.
Last night the following official note
was communicated to the Lord May
or for the information of the peo
ple:—
LONDON, OCT. 24.
SPANISH CORTES.
" downing-street, oct. 24.