The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-04-11 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

• LONDON,
TUESDAY. APRIL ii.

The surrender of Fort Bourbon by the French,
and the consequent complete possession of the
island of Martinique by the British forces, were
yestridny announced to the public 'by the follow-
ing letter to the Lord Mayor:—

" Adwiraltyo6ice, Alunclay, April 10, 2 p. m.

"Lord Mulgruve has the honour to acquaint the
Right Honourable the Lord Mayor that a tele-
graphic communication, from Plymouth, just re-
ceived, announces the surrender of the iiland of
Martinique."
The Dispatch packet, Capt. HARRIS, arrived on
Friday at Falmouth, in thirteeu days from Lisbon,
with letters and papers from that city to the 25th
taste... The sub►tance of the public papers we gave
yesterday ; in a hich it is statedthat the French un-
der Marshal Semr bad advanced into Portugal to
Braga, on their way to Oporto, but had been beaten
and driveu back in two div6ions, au the loth unit
by the Portuguese. Little credit, we fear, is
doe to his account; for, the day before the packet
left Lisbon, advice was received there that a body
of eight thousand French had advanced to Braga,
and were expected to enter Oporto in a few
The greatest ■pprehcusious were en-
tertained for the safay of the shipping at
Oporto, which it was feared would ant be able to
get out, owing to the very heavy sea on the Bar.
On entering the Portuguese territory, Marshal
SOUL?, the Commander-in-Chief of the French

Army, issued a Proclamation, in which he offers
to the inhabitants protection of their persons, pro-
perty and religion, and an amnesty, on condition of
their surrender without resistance. The Procla-
mation, and the notes of the Portuvese Editor
upon it. arc given in our preceding column".—e
The British army at Lisbon, miller Sir JOHN
CHADOCK. amounting to about 15,000 men, were
encamped round Lisbon, where the cannon had
been remounted on the forts, and every other-pre-
paration made for a vigorous defence.—The bri-
gade of General HILL, which sailed from Coil:
on the 27tb ult. would probably reach the Tagus
about the 3sl instant. The Packet left a t Lis-
bon Ills Majesty's ships • Ganges, Semiramis,
INCIZOta, Esprit, Intelligent, and Nile.

If it be fact, as various of the Continental Pa-
pers have asserted, and as no reasonable doubt re-
mains, that General DVPONT has been shot by his
Corsican ruler, nearly in the same munuer, and
with the same accompaniments, as attended the
execistiou, or, more properly, the murder of the
Duke D'Estmatm ; we have to rework, that we
believe this is the first instance of the tyrant's
adopting such a jerlicial mode of proceeding to-
wards any of his offending .Generals. For, howe.
ver the punishment may have been pre-determined,
some ostensible form of trial, and of condemna-
tion, must, we presume, have preceded the sill-.
fence passed on him. The Emperor is, apparent-
ly, no longer to be restrained by those considera-
tions and attentions, by which the lira Consul, or
the Commuusder4N-CAief, were withheld. Hither-

to, as far as history or report can penetrate the
dark recesses of his flagitious policy, only two of
his fUeneral Officers have been withdrawn front '
life; and both those by unascertained modes, ei.
tiler as to the hand that inflicted the blow, or the
time and place where the victim fell. Theifest of
these unfortunate men was, Admiral VtuLasi novo,
who, early in 1806, having obtained of this coun-
try the periniceion to return, after the battle of Tra-
falgar, to France, on his parole, ventured to avail
himself of that fatal licence. Conscious of having
done his duty, however unfortunate in the result, he
was eager to justify his honour from the imputation.
thrown upon it by his enemies; and he had, iu de-
fiance of repeated warning. given him by his friends,
,ant to approach the furious N•Pot.aos, the im-
prudence to set out from Morlaix for Paris. Di
GRAUi, who wet made prisoner by Lord Rosins
in 1783, had been graciously received by Louts
XVI.; and NlLLEssuss demanded a trial. Dot
BOParaaTtt, who had dispatched the Vicomte
I DC RUSILLT to Catillt, to asperse& him in the

commend of the French and Spithibli fleets, revtr
forgave him for not waiting the arrival of his MilC-
ertnor. VILLENEti•E 'arrived at-Rennes in Bin.
but war found on the following morning
murdered in Ilia brd. He sould 'have beim at
111 lour (hips more, and It WWI doubtlrss ue.
cessary to atop his farther advance towards the
cspitul.

Over the exit of the second, General Banta, a
still more impervious veil is drawn. Whatever ass
the peculiar nature of his crime, it was mysteriously
concealed; but, his not having captured the King
of SWEDEN himself, when he took Stralsund, ass
the cause commonly assigned by the French them-
selves, for his arrest and disgrace. He was con-
veyed in a close chariot from Stettin to Paris, iu
lair. More of him is not knots ii, exci pt that it
has been signified to his relations, he am- nu moo_
In these acts NAPOLSON copied his Italian inoili
CiiiAn BOR(il A, to whom the knife uial the
*ere familiar instruments. But, Ti it i.t rs,
whom, in the vindictive, implacable, and pit,fatiiiit
chart, • er of his mind, he likewise bears a close o -
semblance, ntornm 9ampte ternpora iii divert's. The
crime of DOPoNT, a capitaliitioi: which laid
French army at the feet of Spain, was irremissib :
and Decor:l., after the experience which lie eii:e.!
must or ought to have had of his Corsican Master,'
appears to have acted 4 least with dangerous teme-
rity, in trusting to his clemency. It is, however,'
unquestionable, that he was allured back to Fratit e,
hr assurances or the most cordial reception. A
species of Princess, accerding to the revolutionar„.
jargon of the time, was to have been given him in
marriage. She is a posthumous daughter of the
Tate unfortunate General ARTHUR DILLON, by
second wife, Madame La TOUCHK, a widow, of the
island of ,Martinique, who was nearly related to Her
Imperial Majesty. DueoaT landed, under the-sr
fallacious hopes and expectations, at Murseiites,
some months ago. Sed, multion abludit
has now expiated, by his death, his misfortune
at Bayles. Not au JUTIOT; to whom NA POLUOS
has always felt grateful for the service rendered
by the Convention of Cintru, in concluding which,
under the then existing circumstances, he eer-
Minty ii.erited well of his master, and of ins
country. No man better knows than Boa ',-
PARTE, how to appreciate Iretwrett those two
acts, or between their effects. W:iile Jumos.
created Duke of Abrantes by theTyraut, re-enters
Spain, and is employed before Saragossa, Dermal.
has finished by disgrace and death. A Luca xpatt
himself, after his conquest of MMus and subjec-
tion of Persia, does not seem to have better
known how to retain in subinissiou his Ge-
nerals, by rewnids, or by pouishtnents, than does
the present scourge and arbiter of the Continent.
Extract of a letter front Oporto, dated 4.1 d
March 1909--.• On the kith 'tomtit, sailed His
MAMMY'S ship Venus to the northward, on a
cruise. All the ship* here are uoluadiu.r--and fine -
weather; and there seems no doubt they will all
get their loading ou board in good time. It is
currently reported that there are a WU( I Athr French
troops near Chaves, if leagues to the N.B. of this
place; and it is supposed they are a part of the
grand army of C;allicia : but the people in this
port are determined and resolved to Mend the
place to the last ; fortifications are making in all
parts of the entrances."

Lieutenant-General Sir ASTMCit WELLFILET.
K. B. Commander-in-Chief of the forces iii Por-
tugal, arrived at Portsmouth on Sunday to go out
in the Surveil/ante frigate, Sir (1. y R. The
instructions given to Sir ARTHUR will be of a gens-
ral nature. For cases of au extraordinary kind, and
exigencies which may arise in the course of the cam-
paign, the most implicit reliance is placed ou his
acknowledged talents.
The 3d, or Prince of WALBS*3 Dragoon Guards.
Col. Sir G. T. C4l.casrr ; and the 4th, or Qv LEA'S
own Light Dragoons, Col. SONZULT, completed
their embarkation en Wednesday. There were
followed by 130 Royal Artillery drivers, with 900
horses. ll'he whole sailed on Saturday morning
for Lisbon, under convoy of the Frederickskin.
Capt. SRARLIt. The transports consist of sail,
many of them being filled with every description of
malitery stores.
The 'following changes in office, we understand,
are to take place immediately :
flirJ•urs Put:tansy to retire from the office of Secre.
thy at War and to be succeeded by the Right 1i0n0u.411141
Ctioscts CON .
Mt STURGIS BOURNE to succeed Mr. LONG as PSI.
staffer of the Forces.
Mr. Betwixt's successor, as a Lord of the Treasury, is
sot yet appointed.
Sir lastEs PULTENLY retires, we understand,
in consequence of the resignation of his Royal
Highness the Juke of YORK. He possesses an
ample fortune, and will be shortly devoted to the
Peerage, with the title of Lord MtRRAY.
Several transports, laden with arms. ammuni-
tion, and clothing, for the use of the Spanish Pa-
triots, are about to sail for Gijon. It is confidently
stated, that the French are retreating from Gallicia
and Leon. Romans, it is added. greatly harnsses
them in their retreat, and has intercepted almost
the whole of their plunder.
Sir J. DUCKWORTU'S squadron sailed from
dis in the widdle of March, bound to the West
Indies.

At a Common Hall, held at Nottingham, on
Tuesday, the Freedom of that town was voted to
Mr. W•aots ; and, on Thursday, Mt tints( or
the inhabitants, a aeries of Revolutions way ugi yeti
to, approving of the late inquiry_ into public
abuses, and returning thanks to Mr. %%7Am:its
and his principal Popporttrs in the [louse of Com-
mons. The Resolution-, were then carried imani-
nionsly ; except one of thanks to DA tttta. ['.,RA I.
Cuss, Esq. which was negatived by a con-Movable
majority.

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
Since you announced the intended visit of Mrs.
Jordan to this city, the box book-keepers at the
theatre have been put on permanent duty. Though
it is late in the season, and the Masters of the Ce-
remonies have had their Spring Benefits, which
is generally the signal for the Chelteilliain Fly
Coach to commence its career ; nay, though many
of those who quaked more than the earth did on
Good Friday last, have not returned to their /threat
habitations, such is the attruction of this admira-
ble actress, that riot a seat can be procured in the
blare for the ensuing fortnight.
Lsily Charlotte Denm•s gave an elegant hall mid
Slipper at her house in isliew Sidney-place, on Tiles.
.14y last, to near three hundred of our first-rate
hishionableii. The spacious rooms were beam'.
folly decorated, the supper and wines excelleut,
iud the Nucleon Band, purposely brought from
London to assist in the dances, was a complete
um city here, and of course greatly admired.
Oar spiiited little townsman, Mr. Thos. Hobbs,
intends giving us another treat in the musical way
shortly at the Abbey Church. The performances
he brought forward last year were DO judiciously
arranged, delightfully executed, and generally ad-
mired, that 1 heartily hope he will experience every
encouragement a liberal public can bestow. I 1111.
derstand he wishes to mute the transcendent abili-
ties of Billington, Brahma, and Bartlernan, on the
occasion, independent of the vslinaile performer*
resident in Bath.

A E.
The Drury-Lane Coinpany performed last night
for the last time at this Theatre. After The Titres
And Me Deuce, Mr. E.Ltarroti came forwaid, and
rezurued thanks fur the liberal patronage which
they lied received, end announced their future per-
furnmee-ut the Lyceum in the Stroud. His ad-
dress was received with loud applauae. The Se-
rious Opera of La Setairairvide followed, in which
Madame CAT LAN I volunteered her splendid
talents. She was greeted with au enthusiasm
worthy of her liherality and her powers, which
were exerted with extraordinary effect, and the
whole entertainment of the night went off with
uncommon eclat. We never witnessed a greater
pressure, or more powerful attraction. The
whop• of the Haymarket, from Piccadilly down
into Pall-Mall, Wits b 0 rompletely filled with
carriages, that they could not move; and,
long before six o'clock, it was with great dif-
ficulty that their owners, ttioligt.ti to alight, mind to
walk in their splendid dresses, to.ild force weir
way, on foot, through the crowd to ti;.• doors of the
thi..itre. The inouuent the IifJOE• were o[Wiled,
the company poured in like a torrent C4llllOll
every thiug before thein.—The glass of .c:le in-
tenor doers was broken; the cheque takers,
and box and door-keepers, were swept front
ti.eir :daces, and a beViIC of genera confu-
sion and alarm eiemetl. Oa entering the Pit,
s+•vere persons Here thrown (10W0, and shoes,
t Ottani,. bud liorifikerehiels, flew in all (brew.
bons ; sod pelisses were torn to pieces. Several
ladies. fainted in the course of the night, but
we did not hear of any accident more serious
than the breaking the panne!, of carriages out of
dories, and the effects of severe pressure within.
It is cautioned that more parsons went away dis-
appointed than were accommodated in the house.

4ititit..
—.,
0
er"- 7‘,.. ,
4 BATH, APRIL sth.
.