The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-13 00:00:00

Il'irarAL artstz,vialisluiviiiAro cAnit
The following letter is.published, in ,an Evening Paper,
as from their correspondent. at Cadiz.. It relates more fully
the circumstances of the late misundemtamting in that port
' between a French ship of war and in English packet. l'he
lair was shortly stated in the Paris rapes
" CADIZ, AUG. 22.
"' Scarcely one day passes without bringing one party or
another in collision With the French, in this truly unhappy
city. The %Valtingham packet, Cap .ain Bullock, eight
days from England, came in sight of The French squadron,
at two o'clock on Tuesday, the 18th instant, and at a quer-
ter before three, under press of canvass, the wind favoura-
ble and fresh, she bore up alongside Of the French brig
stationed at the entrance of the Bay to enforce quarantine
regulations. The Commanding Officer now fired a gun,
to bring the packet to, but whether it was owing to her be-
ing under press of sail at this moment, or to the obstinacy
or stupidity of Captain Bullock, no notice was taken of the
signal gun. Another gun was then discharged with ball,
across her stern, and a third across her bow, successively,
neither of which she noticed ; the French brig then made
signal to the Commodore, and the jacket now let go her
anchor outside the bay, and at a conskterable distance both
from the brig and squadron. The Captain, being alarmed
at such proceeding, lowered his boat, ..vith an intention to
Igo alongside the Admiral's vessel, to';ascertain what he
should do; but the instant the Commoilare's vessel saw the
boat lowered, she discharged d ball across his bow. The
boats of the brig and the Commodore's ship were already
manned with marines, and fast approaching the packet, the
Captain of which remained petrified till their arrival, when
he was informed that his conduct, in thus disobeying :heir
orders, subjected him, if they chose, to severe penalties,
and that he must, without further delay/ weigh anchor,
and proceed to the quarantine ground, and there remain
until visited in a regular manner by the pratique boat.
inether- Captain Bullock, of the packet, did not fully
understand what was said to him, or, intimidated by
thraistly I cannot say, but the fact is, he instantly weighed I
anchor and stood out of the bay with the greatest expedi-
tion, without delivering the mail or having the least coo-
munication with Shore. The British Consul, all this time
an eye-witness of what was going on, could not compte-
bend the meaning of the packet quitting Cadiz without tlt•t
livering the mail. Night fast approaching, and the packet
getting out of sight, no alternative was left for the British
Consul than to send an express to General Don, of Gibral-
tar,
to apprize him of the circumstance, and to request him
to detain the homeward-bound packet, which was then at
Gibraltar, till the arrival of the other, and to deliver to him
the mail for Cadiz. Early the next Morning, the express
arrived at Gibraltar, and when the news was 'partially cir-
culated, the whole garrison was in consternation.
" Wednesday morning, about ten o'cl6ck, to the sur-
prise of all Cadiz, our gallant Captain, Bullock, hare up
in sight of the French squadron; a second time. He re-
mained for some time off the Light-house, not knowing
what he should do, but at last he determined to send his
boat &afford with a flag of trace. However, this measure
did hot succeed, es the brig manned her boats a second
time also, and ordered the packet's boat back to the vessel.
The Captain at length resolved to know the whole affair,
and not doubting for a moment but France and England
were at war, hoisted the white flag, and bore up to the
quarantine ground. He was soon visited, in due form,
by the health boat, and received pratique. Thus the af-
fair terminated.

" About ten days ego a large convoy from Havannah
owes off Cadiz light-house. A small French cruiser sta-
tioned there, informed the convoy they would not get ad-
mittance into Cadiz, but must proceed to Port Mahon, to
perform quarantine. The convoy requested to be permitted
to communicate with the shore, and to apprise-the merchants
of the safe arrival of the different ships under convoy, and
to receive ulterior instructions. The mode Of communi-
cation they would leave to the discretion of the French
Commodore and Bowl of Health. This indulgence was
refused them, though they had remonstrated pith the
French, and at last supplicated them not to order the
convoy to proceed to Port Mahon, as they Were hi dis-
tress, and one of the frigates dismasted, and otherwise in-
jured, from an incessant fire kept up by the Colombian
privateers almost all the way from the Havannah, and
that they were also informed several privateers were in
waiting for them at Gibraltar, and the coast from Cape St.
Vincent to the Straits was thick with those vessels. No-
thing could change the determination of the French Au.,
thorities, and the convoy was ordered off; however, the
Commodore asserts, that he offered to take from the con-
voy all correspondence which they might have brought
from the Havannah and that quarter, either to the Govern-
tnent or to other individuals, but the Commander of the
convoy refused to deliver up such correspondence into the
hands of tne French. Under these circumstances the con-
voy steered to the Straits, and the morning following two
of the vessels anchored in the Bay of Gibraltar, viz.: the
Isabella and La Fama, and in 48 hours afterwards the
letters which they brought (and, perhaps, passengers also),
were safe in Cadiz.
" General Aymerah makes his entrance into this city, as
Governor, to-morrow. It is supposed his high spirit will
not easily brook French control ; therefore, we may ex-
pect a short reign."