The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-09-16 00:00:00

PRIVATE CO): R T'SPON nrxcr.

cnt.umso, res. 2S, 1805.
The old plan of sending detachments into the
enemy's country, has been followed up with much
keenness. although not, perhaps, with so much suc-

. .
cess as might have been either wished or expelled.
In Oflober last, there was a general plan in agitation
of sending strong detachments from every side of the
Island ; this was put off very unexpeCtedly, and, in the
room of it, there wet e parties sent from the four prin-
cipal posts, to enter into the interior. The original
pl in was to have been so far different, that they were
all to have marched to Candy, after destroying
which, they were to have returned by different roads,
to their garrisons. This was the opinion of most
who have been long on the island, but did not meet
the General's idea, and, of course, we pursued a
different try,thod, which, I am sorry to say, did not,
in any alegree, compensate for the expellee of our
expedition.
Major Binur marched from Collimbn in Sep-
tember, with a detachment of near 300 men, which
went into the interior, by the Houotaller road.
They continued their march as far as Battaghitl-

dena, which is close to Adam's Peak ; and, from
thence, proceeded Southward, until they came into
our own territory at Cattoni, near Matura. This
detachment did not see any enemy to stop them,
although they were repeatedly fired on from the dif-
ferent sides of the road. Tiieir loss was very
trifling, having not even one killed, acd only S or 6
wounded ; they, however, did 311 the execution they
could, iu their rout, in ravaging the country which
they passed through. Since our return to quarters,
we have been so fortunate as to lose hut •ery few
mon by the fever, which, perhaps, m.ikes up for our
n it hrinz A 51,3 t r h..re destroyed more of our in-
•eter ve to!s.

Thee were mint other detachments gent
from time different p.ls,g, which I,kewise m t %vita
lit,le lo,g I'h. one which went trim G.. 11,,
wa. under the command of Colonel MaJdis m, ,g ho
since has gone rs Bomhay. The one Isom .14nr_

&mushy under nij--r llonner, did not mret with
en, v thing worth retiting. The one which marched
has Battecaloa had a most severe attack on them,

by not being supported by the parties which were
expefted from Colamb° and Gated. It was com-
a:tinted by Captain Johnson, formerly of the 19th,
and consisted of ..:50 men. Johnson a!ways suppos-
ed that he wis to have been supportei by the
other detachments ; and, under that ides, he pur-
sited Isis march to Candia, with all the haste he
could. On his way there he met with a most
violent opp•isition ; and, on his coming into CanJy,
WIS astonished at not finding any of the other party
arrived: he remained in the palace three days,
and then endeavoured to mike good his way to
Trincomallee, in which he was opposed by almost
the whole of the Candian nation.

On his reaching the river, he found the whole
of the hills, in every dire lion. covered with
Candians, who were headed by Ma'ay deserters,
and kept up a m-.st constant fire from their
gingals and small arms, during the whole of the
time the detachment was getting over. After
they had acoomplish•d this, with the loss of the
whole of their provisions, and most of their military
stores, it was decided, they should march immedi-
ately for Trincomallee. On their proceeding as far
as the pass on that ro.td, it was found completely
blocked up with trees laid across the road. and the
adjoining mountains full of people, who were per-
petually firing at them, as they endeavoured to
overcame these obstacles. In getting down this pass,
they lost a number of Europeans and natives, and
had three officers severely wounded. They still per-
sisted in marching on, at it was the general opinion,
that, unless they did so, they had no chance of say-
ing their lives.

After a fatiguing and harrassing march, they
at length reached 't'rincomallee in a most dread-
ful state ; and, shocking to add, being obliged
to abandon their wounded, who, on this occasion, fell
almost all into the hands of the enemy. who, it is
said, have, for once, spared them.
The loss of men of this party has been more
than any other which has yet taken the field. There
were six Europeans killed, and nearly the same
number wounded ; two officers (who were wound-
ed) taken prisoners ; two men, sixty-six natives
(Bengal Sepnys) taken, killed, and wounded; and
about 150 coolies kifled and wounded.
1 am sorry to say, the officers belonged to the
19th regiment, and, I believe, one of them you may
have seen, Berkeley Vincent ; the other was a fine
young boy of the name of Smith, who had lately
joined the regiment; it is reported, they are both
alive in Candy.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LON l)()IN ,

MONDAY, Si►reraci 16.

Lord Igmsom arrived at Portsmouth on Satnrday,
and the Viaory prepared, immediately after his
Lordship's arrival, to put to sea.

The reports of the Foreign Papers, and the obser-
vations of our cruisers, all uniformly concur in re-
presenting the Camps at Boulogne as broken up, and
a considerable part of the Army so long assembled
there, as matching to the Interior.
We were the first to announce a similar move-
ment of the troops upon the Dutch Coast—and
our report has been since confirmed by a mass of
evidence. Among the most recent articles of intel-
ligence upon the sublet", is a letter from an Officer
belonging to Admiral Russet.'s fleet, off the Texel,
dated Sept. 8, which says—'s The transports began
on Saturday to disembark their Hoops ; they are now
all on shore, and have marched into the interior, for
Nimeguen. Many of the transports have sailed
back for Amsterdam. Admiral DE WINTER. has
struck his flag, and his ship's sails are unbent; also
the top-sails of Admiral KIKKERT."
It is thence fairly presumed that the invasion is
given up for the present, but we are not therefore to
beat our swords into ploughshares, and in-
dulge the idea of perfett security. BoNApARTL
may march his army back to Boulogne as rapidly
and unexpededly as he marched it away, and, should
he take that course, we shall then have invasion re-
vived, with as formidable an asped as ever. It is
at this moment, however, we are assur ed, that an ex-
ped:tion will be sent out, consisting of from 25,
to 35,009 infantry, and 10,000 cavalry. The follow-
ing is a more correct account of the force, under or-
ders for that purpose, than the list which we gave so
long since as Saturday, the 7th instant :

CVVAI,RY.
Royal Horse GuarJs-Ist.
Dragoon Ou.arJs—lth, fit h, and 7th Regiments.

Light Dragoons—lst, 2J, 3J, 4th, Cith, 7th, 9th.
10 h, I WI, 12.14 13th, 14th, 15,h, AA 21st Regi-
ments.
German L-ginn —I st Dragoons.
st Light Dragoons.—Total, 13,000 men.
INFANIRY
Foot Guards--Fire bAttaliotts of the three regi-
ments.
Ist Ilatialion of the 4111. kb, •14th, gist, 23J,

_.

--,

31st, 1044 43J, 52.3. 89th, 91st, 92J, and Ist and
2d battalion of 9Stl: Foot.—Total, 17,000 Infantry.
REGIMENTS IN IRELAND.
The following regiments in Ireland have also re-
ceived ord-rs to hold themsAves in readiness far fo-
e'gn service:—
CA VA IR I.
2d. 3J, and ,t 1: Dr.ignons.
Itith, 17th, 13:h, and 2.11 Lizlit Dragoons.—
Total, 4,500 men.