The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

hen
scommunicated to the people at large, gave infinite sails-
raction.

About three o'klock os the same day (the 22d) the people
became again very tumultuous, from the idea that the, town was
betrayed, and that measures were secretly arranged by those at
the head of affairs for putting it into the hands of the enemy.
They declared that nothing should satisfy theM on this head
short of a positive and explicit declaration from the English
themselves, ou whose honour and good faith they had the most
perfect reliance, that they would assist in the defence against the
common enemy. It was requested pailicutarly, that two British
Officers, one of them of the artillery, should inspect the forti-
fications, in conjunction with two Spanish Officers, and to super-
Intend and direct the preparationi for defence. Two Officers of
the description desired .waited accordingly on the governor, by
the British Commander's orders ; and all the Officers of the Bri-
tish Staffaccompanied the friars who Were most active and had
most influence in keeping ti*. people within bounds to a balcony,
whence the friars harangued the populace, giving them every
assto ance of the co-:operation of the British forces, and the sup-
port of the British nation, and frequently appealed to the Bri •
tish Officers to confirm by their own voices the. pledges given in
their name and their presence. This proceeding had 'the effect
of perfectly quieting the people for this tithe. They disperged,
and retired to their homes, amidst loud visas in `favour of
George 111. and Ferdinand Vii. and the British and Spanish
tuitions.

On the 23d, a protlamation wa issued by the Governor, and
the father guardian of the Capuchins, (whose sanction was ne-
cessary to contirni the assttrances given in the name of the civil
power), containing pledges fogy the adoption of every me sure
desired by the populace for the defence and security of the town,
and promising the disolissal of several' ohnoxiotts persons, and
rt partkular inquiry into the conduct of the Marquis de Ville'.
who was it, custody of the Capuchin friars; and secured eqoally
from the populace and from escape in their priory. resides the
general, suspicion of a design to betray the town by means of the
introductiea of foreign troops, the Marquis de Villel had ren-
dered himself personally ildspected, by releasiog several of the
persons confined on the ground of being attached to the French
Interest. He was reported to have declared, that all others who
were confined for that cause had only to go through the form of
sending hitn a petition, to obtain the stunts induigence. lie had
also interposed very injudiciously in the amusenients of the peo
ple, wl.ich Leing always marked with allusions to the cireum-
!•hiuces of the present laniat ions to Ferdinand, to 'Mer-
le; and independence, it r, as suppozsed that his hostility Was di-
rected against these acclamations of liberty and loyalty in parti-
:ular.

The Marquis had carried his interference in this point so far
I.s to confine some ladles ia the 'louse of !IMfry, and to threaten
others 'with the sante disgraceful ptinholunent ; and this outrage
on respectable females rendered the people so furious ,a.gtiitist
him, that nothing but the veneration in which the Capuchins are
held could:l'ord him security.
About twelve this day the populate proceeded to the Castle
of Santa Catalina, and demanded the person of General Canal),
late second in comaiand of the Spanish troops employed in Por-
tugal, and another prisoner coutiaed there, both of whom they
meant to put to death. But by the interposition of Colonel
Roche, who !lad just arrived from Se%ille, and another British
Officer, who both addfessed them in Spanish, and impressed
them with a tense* of the impropriety of such violent conduct,
they desisted. Shortly after; however, they seitied Don Joseph
lieredia; who bad a few hours before been distdissed, at their
instance, from his Office of Collector of the Ilublic Rents, and
killed him on the spot. lie was just stepping. into a boat, to
make his escape to Port St. Mary. The rest of that day passed
Without any further tumult.
Tnutt9DAV, 2C—The town appears very quiet this morning,
and it is hoped no further disturbance will take place, The
Priests and Friars have exerted themse:ves very much to tran-
quillize the people throughout, preaching and haranguing in
every quarter where any di.pusttion of violence was shewu,
hazarding their persons to save the victims marked for destruc-
tion, and using all their inftttencU td restore peace and good
to der.

4.

Martinique, the whole of which, with the exeeation of Fort
Bourbon, which was expected to surrender in a few d: v,,, t% as
in our possession.
The details of the attack are given at considerable length in
the Barbudoe Mercury, from which *e extract the substance
of the tolerative. .
The Expedition 'Arrive& toff- fat into *Ntatoinv the 9.9111
of January. tht the morning of the :10oh they separated in tee
divisions, the Acosta hoisting a broad pendant, and leading
that with the division of the arms under the Cominaniier in
Chief and Sir G. Prevost, intetided to effect a landing in Bay
Itabert; while the Admiral flir A. Cochrane, proceeded with
toot under Major General Maitland round Maran, and entered
tae Bay of St Lore. •
The Commander in Chief immediately issued a Proclamation;
inviting the inhabitantt to submit immediately to his Majesty's
forces, holding out on :he one hood the advantages they would
derive from quiet submission, aad on the other the calamity that
would arise front a fruitless resistance;.
In the afternotin of the:3olli, the division under the immediate
command of Lieuteaant-Geueral Beckwith, effected a landing
at Robert ; Sir G. Prevost, aced Brigadier General Iloughtoa,
with the first Brigade, landed first, and advanced the same
evening some distance into the country. This britrade consisted
of the 7th regiment, under Lieuteurant-Colonel Pilenham, .23d
under Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, and five tompanies of the
West India regiment, under Lieutenant“7olonel Tolley, a The
second brigade led by Lieutenant-General Beck w ith, having
under him Brigadier-General Colville, consisted of the Sth regi-
ment under Major Matt Well, the lath under Lieuteuaot-Colonel
Keane, and four companies °Nile Ist West India regiment, under
the Major Clifton. The reserve commanded by Lieutenant-
Colonel Blackwell, consisted of the 3d battalian (.10111 regiment,
tinder Major Mackey, the flank companies of the' sth regiment,
the Ith battalion of the 601 h, and the 4th West India regiment.
Triuity suiTentlered on the 3lst:
The second division, under the robitnand of Ma'ir-General
Maitland, also landed Oft the 30th at St. Lute. The fcrst bri=
Bade, led by Majiar-:leueral Maitland, haying under him Lieu.
tenant-Colonel Barnes, consisted of the 63,1 regiment, under
Lieutetiatit-ColOnel Fairtlough;and York Rangers; under Major
Henderson. The second brigade, cominanded hy Lientrnant.
Colonel 'Real% consisted of the flank companies oho 16.11 and
46111 rent•iments, under Major Payne, the 14th regime .1, 11 ll:ter
:MOW Davidson, York L. I. Volunteers, oad'er Lie a.o•,at-
Colonel Streicher, told Sth W.'. I. regithent,
Colonel Prevost. The reserve, commanded liy LiemetWlif•
Culdael MiNair,.enniisted of the 90th regiment, Under Maj:ir
Wright, and fld ‘Vest India, on ler Major Alleti.
The fort at Cape Solomon was taken posSession of, and posi-
tions were taken for the purpose of at ITlrk lug tt ith erekt Pigeon
Island; which held out till the 4th of February, and then sur-
rendered at discretion,nearly sixty then on the part or the enemy
hating been killed or wounded during the bombardment. Five•
officers and ISO privates of the garrison surrendered prisoners of
war, and Were-sent on hoard the Pompee.
lb the m'ean time Majtii.4ieneral Maitland With the main body
of' his division, advanced to Latrnehtin. Lieutenant-General
Beckwith and Sir G. Pfevo4t, proceeded towards Bruno and
Sourrier, having frequent skirmiahes w itb the enemy ou their
march. On the 2d of February they had a more gfaieral
with the (nimbi' in the neighbnurhood of tiourrier, a aheig ht whin h
affords a commanding situation forattacking fort Bow non. The
possession of this height was olostinatelv contested by the enemy
for several hours. They reratedly charged 'lair troops, who,
•as often received them on the point of the bayonet. 'no: enemy
were at length driven from their position, and our troops ona•
tained possession of the height. The ss hole of the detail. of this
affair had not -Patted Ilarbadoes at the last date of these papers
(the 11th ult.) our los; ic,nhowevi r, stated at 12 men killed and
240 wounded. A flatboat: the officers are, Captain Taylor of the
7th, Major Maxwell if the Bth, and Captain Sinclair, of toe
25th, kilted; and I,k-infonaut-Colonel Packen!mm of the ,to,
Majors Campbell anti Turner of the Royal West India Itai.,,ers,
and Captain Gladnanes of the Sd West India I) twded.
Lieatenant-Greperal Beckwith who led the attack, had a anti=
row escape. a soldier beiag killed by his side; The of the
enemy is stated at about 300 men.
After this action
.the enemy concentrated the whole of his
force in Fort Wootton. .Major •General Maitland with his
ui-
vision moved from Lamentin, round the Cul de •ill! de Cutter. to
point Negro ; and Major
/Henderson, with. his party, proceeded
by water across Fort Royal Bay dorin to• Cass Naviere, and took
a roaition on the heights above it,