The National Register.
London, England, 1808-04-11 00:00:00

TUE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Island with the force sent against it, that idea was aban-
doned, and the more general one prevailed, that the expe-
dition was meditated against Java.
The following is the extract of a letter from Demerara,
dated January 20, 1808 :
" I have to inform you that an embargo was yesterday laid
on all shipping:, merely to prevent the Americans from getting
away till we see for which side they declare."
From this extract, which was on Monday exhibited at
Lloyd's, it would seem, that the Governors of our Colo-
nies assume, or are invested with a very extraordinary
power indeed. Perhaps this proceeding may be the re-
sult of imperfect instruttion from our Government at home,
or of forward zeal on the part of the Colonial Governor.
Let us hope, that sich a measure will not tend to exaspe-
rate the feelings of the Americans. We remember a simi-
lar proceeding some time since on the part of the Gover-
nors of Grenada and St. l'incents, Maas it took place under
circumstances somewhat different from those which now
exist, and as it continued but a day or two, it did not ex-
cite much attention.

Captain Duncan, who for some time past has had a
command in the Portuguese naval service, had the good
fortune, about the end of February, to escape on hoard
the Russian squadron in the Tagus, from whence he further
succeeded in getting on board a vessel of our blockading
Sleet, and is now arrived in England. This officer remained
on board the Russian squadron till the 19th ult.; he of
course had ample means of ascertaining the state of
opinion, and disposition of the Russian officers there.
Captain Duncan states, that they are anxious to leave that
uncomfortable station, could they do it with safety. The
Russians had suffered greatly from the want of necessaries
of all kinds. Junot had forbidden any supplies being sent
to them ; nor had they been enabled for some time, to
procure from the stores of Portugal an ounce of fresh
vrovisions of any kind. In the meanwhile the inhabitants
of Lisbon were reduced to the necessity of making bread
of peas, beans, and all the inferior sorts of grain, which,
silien mixed together, were scarcely eatable; and even of
this kind the supply was scanty.--Several Councils had been
held on hoard the R usssian squadron, to consider of the
measures to be pursued at such an emergency. At one time
it was proposed, that the Russian 11,0 should put to sea,
consisting of nine sail of the line and a frigate, and risk an
engagement with the F,m,Tlish ; but on reflecting that every
one of their ships were damaged in their masts, the plan
was abandhned as impracticable. Besides this, the crews,
for want of proper nourishmeAt, were in a very sickle
state.—Thn plan that had met the sense of the majority as
the less evil of the two, was that of hying up their ships in
the Tagus. and of marching their crews overland to St.
Petersburgh. This project had not been carried into exe-
cution on the departure of Captain Duncan ; but he is of
opinion that it must soon take place, from necessity.
Mr. Gambier, the late Consul at Lisbon, is appointed
Consul at the Brazils, and kill embark, in a few esys, on
board the Presidente frigate, Capt. Mackenzie, for that
place.

On Saturday the hottest press ever known took place on
the river Thames, when au unprecedented number of able
seaman were procured for his Majesty's service. A flotilla
of small smacks was surrounded by one of the canzs, and
the whole of the hands, amountin to upwards of 100, were
carried off.

A curious discovery, which involved the reputation of a
young lady of character, was made in Pall-Mall, on Sun-
day night. An officious hackney-coachman set down a
gent!cman, and the young lady in question, in Pall-Mall,
between eleven and twelve o'clock, and the coachman 'de-
manded two shillings for his fare; the gentleman having
given him eighteen-pence, the coachman, dissatisfied, se-
cretly followed his passengers ; and, after an afectionate
parting, the young lady knocked at the door of a respec-
table house in Pall-Mall, not many yards from the spot

APRIL 11.

here the coach had stopped. T e coachmanfi accostedthe
lady at the door for another sixpence, which she refused to
give ; and, on the door being opened, and the coachman
still pressing for his money, and still being refused, he ap.
pealed to two persons belonging to the house, whether the
time he had waited, together with such a distance from a
certain house, of notoriety for the accommodation of Le
sexes, in the vicinity of Soho-square, did not entitle him
to a two shilling fare. The lady fainted on her faux pat
being related ; and the meddling coachman was dismissed
with his sixpence.—The lady's gallant is the son of a Lord.
Early on Thursday morning eleven French prisoners made
their escape from the Vigilante prison ship in Portsmouth
harbour, by swimming from her, alongside of a frigate in
ordinary, and took her boat from astern; from thence
they proceeded to one of the King's buoy boats (a fast
sailing vessel, being coppered), secured the men, three in
number, below, belonging to her, and about a quarter be-
fore five o'clock went out of the harbour. It being a ves-
sel belonging to Government, was not hailed from the
watch-house, (though observed going out), and, no doubt,
ere this have gained the French coast. Two of them, in
attempting to get alongside of the frigate in ordinary,stuck
in the mud, one of whom was found dead, and the other
much exhausted, who was taken back to the prison ship.
It is strongly rumoured that the prisoners who had effected
their escape have since been taken, from the following
curious circumstances : the four Englishmen below, came
to a determination to cut the mast asunder, in consequence
of which, the vessel was overtaken by a ship dispatched
for that purpose, and carried into the port of Chichester.

THE COURT AND WORLD OF FASHION.

Wednesday, at two o'clock, his Majesty had a privali,
levee at the Queen's Palace. The following had the honour
of being presented :

Master George Allan, by the Earl of Harcourt, on his being
appointed a Page of Honour to her Majesty ; the Bishop of
Limerick, on his promotion ; the Duke of Newcastle, on his
marriage ; Major-General Cotton, on his promotion ; Lieut.-
General Mattwell, on his being appointed Colonel Of the 3d Ve
term; Battalion.

Major-General Payne delivered to his Majesty the Order
of the Knight of the Bath, worn by the late Lord LiNing-
ton.

His Majesty held a Privy Council, and gave audiences to
Ihe Cabinet :Ministers present, among %shoal was the Duke
of Portland.

Thursday, at two o'clock,' her Majesty held a Drawing-
room at St. James's Palace, which, for the time of year,
was but thinly attended. The following were among the
presentations to her Majesty :

Major-General Campbell, upon his being appointed to the
command of the sth Garrison Battalion, and being removed to
the Staff; Master George Allen, by the Earl of Harcourt, upon
his being appointed a Page of Honour to her Majesty ; Admi-
ral Sir James Saumarez, upon his being appointed to a com-
mand; the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, upon their mar-
riage; Captain Hope, upon his being appointed first Captain
to Admiral Sir James Saumarez; Lord Napier, upon his being
appointed his Majesty's Lord High Commissioner to the Gene-
ral Assembly of the Church of Scotland; Rear-Admiral Sawyer,
upon his promotion ; Lieutenant-Colonel French, upon his
promotion and appointment upon the Staff in America ; Gen.
N. Balfour, upon his promotion ; the Rev. Dr. King, upon
his being appointed a Prebend of Westminster Abbey ; General
Bertie, upon his being appointed Colonel of the 89th regiment,
in the room of Mr. Whitelocke ; E irl Ca-an, upon his being
appointed Colonel of the 77th regiment of foot; the Bis top of
Limerick, upon his promotion to that ftishoprick, by the Earl
of Moira ; Viscountess Hawarden, upon coming to her title ;
Major-General Cotton, upon his promotion ; Baron Wrangel,
by the Swedish Ambassador; the Rev. Dr. Goodall,
-of Eton College, upon his being appointed a Canon of
in the room of time late Dr. Duval. the Master