The National Register.
London, England, 1811-08-11 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTFR.

GENERAL SARRAZIN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SlR—The interest which this ci-devant republican chief still
endeavours to excite in his behalf, through the medium of the
daily Journals, is neither prudent nor becoming a man who sub-
sists by the bounty of this country. When obligations are volun-
tarily conferred, the bestower of the gift and he that receives it,
are viewed with the same gracious eye by the public. But when
the receiver afterwards obtrudes himself upon his benefactor,
and, under the. specious pretence of rendering him a public ser-
vice, succeeds in gaining additional favours, the obligation then
assumes a very different character. It becomes the wages of a
hireling who is willin, upon any terms, to retain the counte-
nance of his benefactor. Such appears to me to be the conduct
of General Sarrazin. He sought an asylum in this country from
the pretended persecution of his master —He found that asylum ;
he was protected; he was cherish,. d ; he was provided with an
establishment equal to his rank by a brave and generous nation.
This ought to have animated his bosom with sentiments of gra-
titude; and modesty, in our acknowledgements, we all know,
the true criterion of a grateful heart. Instead, however, of
General Sarrazin enjoying the liberal gifts of his friends is con-
tenement and silence, he has never ceased, since he arrived in this
country, of annoying the public with his petulant complaints
against Buonaparte and his native land, as if he expected, by these
means, to acquire an eminence and a fortune, to which he is no
way entitled either by his public or private conduct.
In order properly to appreciate the real merits of a question
of this niture, it is necessary to take into view the relative situ-
ation in which General Sarrazin stood with the Emperor Napo-
leon, before he abandoned France.—From his own writings, it
is a;certained, that he had gone hand and hand with Buonaparte
in all his schemes of ambition ; that, in fact, he had been a very
active instrument in procuring his election as First Consul for
life, and in bringing about his elevation to the Imperial purple.
In both situations, he also admits, that he had swoon to protect
and maintain his power.—lt cannot be doul)ted then, that what-
ever may have teen General Sarrazites original political prix si-
pies, he had gone a-. far in his apostacy, by aiding Buonaparte in
bis places, as that chief himself.—This feature in his conduct
grill enable us to decide pry tty correctly as to his true character :
An apostate from Republicanism, he became the votary of arbi-
trary power; he unreservedly devoted himself to the wild ambi
thus projects of his matter. Having inlisted under his banner, and
sworn eternal fidelity to him, his interes.s became so interwoven
with those of Buonaparte, that any attempt of their enemies to
avarate them, would have proved unsuccessful. Yet, in a very
short time—only a few months after Sarrazin bad given the most
satisfactory proofs of his fidelity to his master, we find him aban-
doning his cause, flying to his avowed enemy for protection,
without assigning any tangible reason for his conduct, and there
venting all his spleen through the medium of a British press,
against his former friend, his confident, and his acknowledged
Sovereign. Surely, if a trifling deviation from moral rectitude,
demands explanation as a small atonement, the conduct of Ge-
neral Sarrazin will not be excused upon slight grounds. Buona-
parte owes his elevation, if not to the people over whom I e
rules, at least to his soldiers; and let it be remembered that Ge-
enral Sarrazin was not the least active among them in promot-
ing Napoleon's views. His subsequent declamations against his
usurpations and power, cannot be considered a very genuine
pledge that he will not in future play the same game in this
country to effect the purposes of his master, as he did in
Prance, to procure his elevation to a Throne. Having been
guilty of a second apostacy in renouncing the regal authority of
Buonaparte, where is the security that be will not commit a
ittird, and betray Britain, should .he by anti-republican wiles
Jug malts, made- UMW Man of its watt? Lf Gentsat•Sar-
.

razin is sincere in the disclosures he makes, it is char ttat he has
been led to this step only in consequence of his being disapp Hint-
ed in sharing the p: incely rewards Buoraparte confers upon his
followers. For this, from his account, I apprehend the General
has himself alone to, blame: something like reserve always
marked his devotion to Napoleon, who is too :enetrating not to
discover where any thing like want of sincerity appears in his ci-
tizens. Unbounded in his ambition—unacquained with half mea,

surer, he calculates upOn none but those who are influenced by
similar motives. From the whole complexion of Sarrazm's write
tings it appearsthat the terms on which he stood with liuonaparte,
whatever they may have been originally, were not always of the
most conciliating nature. His frequent memorials to the Em-
peror evince a dissatisfied mind ; and however well founded his
complaints, •he ought to have been aware, that his late Master
has nut only always pridtd himself upon being the planner and
executor of all his important schemes, but claims the exclusive
light of conferring rewards when and where he thinks them
due. In fine, in reference to such men as General Sarrazin,who
once held compar.tively high and respectable ranks, and aban-
don their country from supposed injury they have sustained to
throw themselves into the arms of its avowed enemy, I have no
hesitation in saying, that, from the very nature of the step, they
must lose mitare in the estimation of the world for their rashness
than they can ever gain by unnecessarily obtruding themselves
upon th• notice of those who might even feel disposed to pity
their misfortunes.
10th August, 1811. ARISTIDES.

A SCOTCH BALLAD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SlR—During my last visit to the Highlands of Scotland, I
met with the following truly interesting ballad, the melancholy
ending of which very sensibly aff..cted the old man who recited
it. The evident marks of antiquity it bear=, may induce you ro
insert it. As the poor old fellow could neither read nor write, I
wrote the words as he pronounced them.-The admirers of true
ancient Scottish poetry will therefore excuse the orthography of
AN EncLismmlut.

Wha's he that's tane my lad awa ?
The lad who lo'ed Aa true,
Wha's he that's tane fra me the lad,
The lad wi bonnet blue
Thus cried a maiden in despair,
Beside the =miring Spey,
She spoke unto IVl'Donald young,
Dressed out in plumes so gay.
I took thy lad, MiDonald cried,
The I Id wi bonnet blue,
And I did slay him wi my dirk,
All for the love of you.
But if I slew the lad ye lo'cd,
Na loss is that to thee ;
For if thy husband he'd ha been—.
Thy husband I will be.
Na na! the mourning lassie cried,
That cannot, shall not be;
So-ner than wed a murderer,
l'd lay me down and die.
Yet I did loe thee better far,
(IVl'Donald cried) than he;
On which the Maiden either did,
Or seem d, consent to gie.
And he has tane her to the kirk,
And she's become his bride ;
Aad she bas lain her in her bed,
And he lies by her side.
And In her right-hand, as she lies,
She grasps M'Donald's dirk;
Which to the hilt, into his side,
She drives with vengefu' jerk.
Die! Die! she cries, thou munrrOUS VAX t
On which he gave a groan ;
Espied soon, and busied was,
So now the &giant!!!

MILITARY.

WA R.OPPICE, A UG. 10.

STAFT.—Colonel James Willoughby Gordon to he Quarter-
Master-General to the Forces, vice Lieutenant• General Brown-
rigg, appointed Commands r of the Forces in Ceylon.
Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Christie, of the 11th Veteran
Battalion, to be Commandant of Hospitals, ♦ice Major-General
Burnett, appointed to the Staff of Ireland.

Sir George Prevost is appointed . to succeed Sir James Craig,
as Commander in Chief of his Majesty's forces in Canada.
Sir John C. Sherbrooke, K. B. is to be Commander in Chief in
Nova Scotia.
The Duke of York has received two Addresses from Ireland,
on his re-appointment to the office of Commander in Chief.
One from the City of Dublin, and the other from the City of Li-
merick.
On Friday the Supreme Board of General Officers assembled
at twelve o'clock at the Commander in Chief's Office in the
Horse Guards, which was attended by their Royal Highnesses
the Dukes of York, Kent, Cumberland, and Cambrige, Generals
Calvert, Berrard, Hope, and a number of others. The principal
business taken into consideration was the Military College
at Blackwater, the Barrack Department, the new clothing tor
the infantry, &c. The Board yid not break up till about three
o'clock.
Lieut.-Colontl C. Campbell who arrived in town on Tuesday
morning, with dispatches from Lord Wellington, in the after-
noon was introduced to the Duke of York, at his Military Levee,
upon his arrival. General Don was also introduced to his Royal
Highness upon his returning to Guernsey, to resume the com-
mand. There were also presented at the Levee, Lord Paget, Gen.
Stevens, Gen. Thornton, and Gen. Payne.
The Gazette of Tuesday night contains the appointment of a
successor to Colonel Bevan, deceased, late of the 4th foot, now
serving in Portugal. Colonel Bevan commanded an advance be-
fore Almeida, at the time the French garrison effected its escape
from that fortress ; and we regret to learn, that some unjust re-
flections having been cast upon the conduct of Colonel Bevan
upon that occasion had such an effect upon his feelings, that in an
unfortunate moment the country was deprived of his valuable
life by his own hands.
Lord Wellington has been created by the Prince Regent of
Portugal, Conde de Vimiera ; Gen. Beresford, Conde de Fran-
coso ; Gen. Silveira, Conde de Almirante ; and Col. Trant has
been invested with the Order of the Grand Cross and Sword.
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has approved of a
jacket and helmet for the heavy cavalry; the former is much
larger, particularly the sleeves, in every respect, than those now
n use, and is better adapted for real service than the tight jackets
now worn. The helmet weighs nearly two pounds, and comes
very low behind. They are to be immediately adopted.
The 23d Dragoons, which is commanded by an Earl, and has,
among the Captains, two Lords belonging to the first families in
England, is supposed to he the most economic regiment of Light
Dragoons in the service, the interior economy of it is so well
managed.
The. Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Ponsonby, from the 23d Dragoons,
is appointed to the command of the 12th Light Dragoons, and
will, without delay, join that corps on service.
The Lisbon Gazettes contain official accounts of a great many
promotions in the rortuguese army by Marshal Beresford.
Among others, we observe that Lieut.-Col. Ashworth has been
appointed Colonel of the 6th regiment of Portuguese Infantry,
and I,ieut.-Col. John Buchan, Colonel of the 22d. It gives us
satisfaction to observe, that a number of Portuguese Serjeants
Save received commissions.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

NAUTICAL IA TEL LIGE4VCE.

We have the pleasure to announce the safe arrival of the East
India beet, under convoy of his Majesty's blips Belliqueuz and
Menelaus; viz. i.rniston, Wexford, Elphii.stone, Cuffnells,
Woodford, Alfred, and Wincheisea, from China the 14th of
February ; 'I homas Grenville and Earl St. Vincent, from BCC-
gal ; Exeter, from Bombay ; and Ceylon and Windham, frock
the Mauritius. The fleet leas brought home two millice;il ster-
ling, in dollars, from the Mineie Government, to purchase LW,
val stores; a measure never known to have been adopted be-
fore by the Chinese Government. The fleet saw nothing of
Sir Joseph Yorke's squadron.
The Sylvia cutter is arrived from Madras with dispatches.
We regret to state, that they announce the death of Admiral
Drury, just as he had completed the naval preparations for the
expedition against Java, which was on the point of sailing.
It was expected that the Madras and Bengal ships would sail
direct from the former place about the latter end of March, un-
der convoy of the Diomede frigate, of 50 guns.
Some of the Bengal ships had already assembled at Madras,
where they were completing their cargoes; and others were
daily expected from different ports on the coast. The letters
from Bombay, we regret to state, announce the failure of two of
the principal native houses at that place.

Four French chasse-marees, have arrived at Plymouth, rap-
tured by the boats of the Amazon frigate. They were fallen in
with, in company with five others, eff the Pentnurks, and the
latter were driven on shore and destroyed, in a gallant style,
without any loss on our part, although under a heavy fire from
the enemy.
His Majesty's ship Fortunee, Captain Vansittart, has sent Into
Cove, the American ship Meteor, of and for Pai.adelphia, from
Bordeaux, laden with brandy, wine, and silk.
The naval promotion, announced in Saturday's Gazette, is in
commentaration of the glorious battle of the Nile. Most of the
commissions are dated the Ist truant.
Sir S. Hood was, on Friday, appointed Commander-in-Chief in
the East Indies, in the room of Vice-Admiral Drury deceased.
Rear-Admiral Stopford has, in the mean time, sailed from the
Cape of Good Hope, for le Mauritius, in the Seipion. By
letters from the Cape, we understand, that communication, are
now opening with Madagascar, fur the purpose of supplying the
Isle of France with cattle, &c.
The Lords of the Admiraley have been pleased to promote
Lieut. 3. B. Curran, of the Roial Navy, son or the Muter Of. th 4
Rolls in Ireland, to the rank of (ommander.
The latest accoisets front the fleet off Toulon are of the 15th
of June. It-then consisted of five three-deckers and nine two-
deckers. The enemy had t 5 sail of the line ready for sea, fru.
of them three-deckers. A few days previous to the above date,
the Wizard brig, Captain Shaw, took a Moorish ship, with pro-
perty valued at 30,0001. off Sardinia.
In consequence of the large emoluments made by Naval Com-
manders in Chief on the several station', we understand that
it has been determined by the Board of Admiralty, by way of
extending more generally such high reward to deserving Officers,
that no Admiral west of the Cape, shad continue on such duty
more than a year at one time, end pursuant to this new arrange-
ment, Sir Edward I'ellew is appointed to succeed Sir Charles
Cotton.
The Sultan and Lavinia frigates, lately went into Sagona Bay,
in Corsica, and set fire to the timber collected there by the
French, carrying away a part, which tle.y landed at Mahon.
Monday sennight, a Court Nla;tial was held at Portsmouth,
on Mr. T. Bourne, Master's Mate, of his Majesty's ship Cro-
codile, for occasioning the death of Thomas .Jones, a seaman
of the Crocodile, by heating him, with a trarlinspike on the
head. The charge was in part proved; and Bourne was sen-
tenced to he c'ettired in the .14.A-slialif..a six mouths, dismissed
from his Majesty's vrvice, and rt.ndered incapetile of ss:rei.ig
in the Royal Navy af.:in.
In the Admiralty Court, Wednesday, in the case of the Roliz,.
Coffin, IViaste:-; this was a suit instituted by the Treasurer o,
the Navy, against Alexander Davidson, itsq. a prize-agent, for
the non-distribution of the proceeds of the above prize, which
was captured by the Medusa, in November, 1806. It appeared
that the proceeds amounted to 50001. The Court was of opinion,
that Mr. D. was liable to pay themelinary interest from the Ist
of August, 1810, whop the distribution ougbt. to have Wren

place.
New SOUTH WALs s.—On Thursday, 45 male convicts were
sent from the Hulks, at Woolwich, on board the ship Guildford;
55 more are to be embarked in her from Sheerness, and 301) front
the hulks at Portsmouth; she then proceeds to New South
Wales. Supplies of agricultural and other useful implements
and materials are now in readiness to be sent out Hi three vessels
expressly taken up for that purpose, and which cannot fail mat
terially to promote the growing Interests of that colony.