The National Register.
London, England, 1809-10-08 00:00:00

TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

616.,

PRIVATE CORRESPONDEKCE.

••••••■lo:aft..-
. " MIDDL G*, SETT. our movements at pre-
sent seem to evince a deter►nination on the part of Ministers
to make the experiment how tar the Island of Waicheren is
tenable against any force the enemy may have it in his
power to bring against it, and for this purpose every exer-
tion is making in erecting batteries to prevent anfiittack
in the neighbourhood of the narrowest part of the Slooe,
between Jutland and South Beveland. Twelve '4-pounders
are already mounted there, and the gun-boats supplied
with Shrapnell's shells, have proceeded to the tame point,
to be ready to act, should any movement take place from
the channel between South and North Ileveland. Additional
guns are mounting on the sea defences at Armvert, and
the parapets at the salient auzles of all the bastiniii at
Flushing are to be raised consHera;)iy. Yet it is still the
opinion of those best calculated La judge on the-necasion.
that it cannot be the intention of Government to retain an fr
island where there are several ♦ulcserable points, and on
which the enemy will have it in their power to make a de-
barkation in spite of every el Tort on our part to prevent its
It was still a few days since supposed that the distance be-
tweenArmvere and North Beveland was at least two mile.

and a half, and that our shipping between that and the ex-
tremity of Jutland would remain in safety, and be ready to
frustrate any attempt of the enemy in that direction. Expe-
riment, has, however, discovered the fallacy of the suppo-
sition, and lhe distance between the dyke at North );eve--
land and Armvere has been ascertained- to be only a mile
and a quarter, the enemy, therefore, by erecting strong
inortar and get] batteries oil the dyke would prerent any
of our ships from remaining above Vere, render that for-
tress untenable, and give an opportunity to the enemy's
flotilla to make 'good a landing on that point, without our
receiving any asses ance front our navy.' In a short time
the enemy will, no doubt, have such batteries erected along
the Slooe, as to render it impossible for our gun boats to
remain where we are at present itationed, and thereby
leave the entire of the East part of Watcher= to the pro-
tection of the land batteries that we may erect. In addition
to this, the enemy hat'e most extensive means of annoying
us from Cadsand, and Cie West. Scheldt, by sending out fire
ships, &c. atroeg our fleet ; the consequence of which will
be that we shall lose our ships by their running aground, in
attempting to avoid destruction,
" I have in what has been stated, supposed our troops to
be ins an effective state, and in possession of an island
having communications by various roads to every point
that can be attacked. It is, however, a melancholy fact to
state, that the situation of our troops is most deplorable—
pent up in barracks and hospitals, without roofs in some
instances, and intirely without windows, in many without
bedding, without a fire-place in any room; two-thirds of
the whole force in a dangerous state of sickness, and the
remaining third so harassed by their attendance on the sick,
and the duties of the different garrisons, as to form a I;ic.
thee of the lowest state of misery and despair. Guard to-
day, work party to-morrow, and picquet after the working
party, is frequently the routine oldtity. There is in no in-
stance to be seen any of those scenes of merriment, or '
gaiety, so often observed in England ; dejection is pictured
in every countenance, and the interval hetween the different
duties is almost invariably appropriated to sleep.—Should
the enemy attempt any thing at present, it is impossible to
oly what might be the consequence. Notwithstanding the
nember gone to England, the sick in Watcher= amount to
imp who require at least 2000 to attend them—this re•
duces our effective force to a mere handful, totally incapa-
ble of opposing a serious attack. What is to be our situa-
tion when the enemy has completed her means of attack k
God only knows!
There wilt then be perpetual marching and counter-
"marching to and from the differentvinis menaced; it must
always be by Light, and through roads scarcely pusable

OCT. 8;

at present, and in another month overflowed in numerous
places, and not, to be distinguished from the fields through
which they pass. As to crosing any part of the island, ex-
cept by the roads t allude to, is impossible. Should Minis-
try persevere in retaining-the island during the winter—the
lon in men will, if any reliance is to be placed in long ex-
perience, be great beyond any thing upon record, and every .
individual who may 6e lucky enough to escape the present
attack, will he almost certain of failing a'vic;im to some of
the winter di?enaes, many of which, from the debilizated
state in rhich ;hey must then be, will prove fatal in three
instances out of forir. You may be surprised when I tell
you, that iu the week from the 10th to the lith inst. 400
men have died in Walcheren ; yet it is a fact you may rely on,
end it is the decided opinion of medical MCI' that the mor-
talty will still be greater dcring the next fortnight. What
prospect it must be to those doomed to remain here you
may easily judge. Minkte•s, 1 have strong reasons Vfor
thinking, have had forcible representations made, as to the
ne:7essity of evaciiaiitir, the island —time wll show what at.
tention they are likely to pay to them."