The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL RFAISTER.

PETITION TO THE KING OF ROME.---A. French
Paper contains the following anecdote of this infant
Monarch, who, it seems, has already entered the
career of celebrity A person wanting to obtain
some favour from the Court, instead of applying to
the Emperor, presented a petition to the King of
ROME, and had it given to the Monarch in his cra-
dle, whilst his father was standing by. NAPOLEON,
pleased with the thought, took up the petition him-
self, read it aloud, and having waited some time
for an answer, and of course receiving nose, ex-
claimed---dg Silence gives consent ; the object of
this petition is granted in the name of the King of
ROME."

According to French Papers lately received, the
price of gold- is decreasing on the Continent. On
the 30th of March the doubloon was only at- 81
francs, whilst six weeks before it was at 84, and
two months ago at 86 francs.
According to advices from the river Plate, re-
ceived via Rio Janeiro, the insurgents at Buenos
Ayres have entirely thrown off the mask. Notwith-
standing their solemn and reiterated protestations
of fidelity and allegiance to FERDINAND VII. they
have at last openly hoisted the standard of revolt.
A Congress was about to be held at Buenos Ayres,
one of the first acts of which was expected to be a
declaration of independence. The proceedings and
decrees of the Cortes had been received at Buenos
,Ayres, but the persons who have seized upon the
Government resolved that ;.lo obedience should be
paid to them.
A Packet from the Brazils is arrived at Fal-
mouth. She sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the 21st
of February. The Letters brought by this oppor-
tunity inform us, that the city of Rio de Janeiro was
visited, in the early part of the month, with a
severe gale of wind, which had torn down a great
many houses, killed several persons, and severely
bruised others. In consequence of this visitation,
the Government had found it prudent to give
directions for the removal of upwards of three
hundred families from that part of -the town where
the hurricane had been most severely felt, to places
of greater security, it being feared that a ridge of
wountains near that part of the city where their
abodes were situated would fall into the town.

PREDICTION RESPECTING AMERICA.-" The times
may alter—will alter,"—predicted Mr. JEFFERSON,
almost thirty years since. " 4 Our rulers will become
corrupt—our people careless. A single zealot may
become persecutor ; and betteg men be his victims.
From the conclusion of this (American) war, we
than be going down hill ! It will not afterwards
be necessary to resort, every moment, to the people
—for support. They will be forgotten, therefore,
and their rights disregarded."
A letter from Liverpool, received in town yes-
terday, states, that Mr. EPPES had been killed in a
duel with Mr. RANIWI.P/I.

MISCELLANIES.
The following particulars cif tire advantage obtained over the
:French, in the neighbourhood of .Campo Mayor are stated in a
letter from I.isbon :—" The enemy were closely pursued by our
troops until they came to Campo Mayor, where they formed on
a hill tO the right of that town. The 13th Light Dragoons, the
sd Dragoon Guards, and the 4th Dragoons immediately charged,
a'4 with the wistance of some pieces of artillery which came

. .

up at the moment, they drove the Trench two miles toward,
Badajos. Here four wegiments of French cavalry, viz. timtlio6s,
and the 26th-Dragotms, and the 4tb and Wtb Hussars vetee kt
about andiarepared to receive die charge of our brave cavairy....
The 13th Dragoons,olvho were in advance, hesitated not * mo-
ment, but charged the four French regiments in the usual style
of British troops. They quickly suceemied in facing a passage
through the enem's line, but which was itatneaately elroes‘on
the rear ; instantly the brave 13th, wheeled, charged, and cot
their way through a SeCOll4 time the French innuiwy *ft
commenced a heavy fire on these gallant fellows, who continbetl
to pursue the enemy until they took shelter under the walls of
Badajoz. From the account of a French Quarter-master taken
prisoner, we learn that the French cavalry amounted to sap
men ; the 13th did not exceed 200. A great number of prison-
ers were taken, and the road was covered. with. the slain of the
enemy." We bad 40 men killed, and 89 wounded. 1 ientenans
Smith, of the 13th, is wounded rather daerously. Dent ermut
Gale, and the Adjutant, were also wounded. The 13th were
at one time in possession of 16 pieces of a-tillery, and a quatititi
of baggage, but were reluctantly obliged to abandon them to
a large body of the enemy which unexpectedly made its upptar-
ance.

A letter from Lisbon, dated the Mat last, sacs—" The Jas-
per, Captain Hunloake, waits the official dispatches from Lord
Wellington.—Burke, the officer who de .cried to the enemy, is
taken and lodged in Belem Castle.—The squadron under It e:s-
Admiral Sir Thotnas Williams leaves the Tagus, in a few days,
for England, consisting of the Hanniled, Dreadnought, Czsar„
Mara,4nd Tonnant. The latter ship will take diTatches. fur
Portsmouth, the four former go to Plymouth. We shall then
have five sail of the line on this statien." •
• The Elizabeth packet is arrived ip 22 days from Malta. We
have the satisfaction of learning by her, that anatterupi cf the
French, upon a great scale, to throw supplies and reinfoi.ce-
ments into Corfu, has been frustrated thr,ogh the vigi!ance
our navy in that quarter. 'P.N. enty-seven sail of vessels, of
from 100 to 120 tons, laden with wariike Slortil, and bound
front Ancopa to Corfu, were intercepted by the Magnificent,
and other ships of war, who captured and destroyed the greatest
part of the convoy. Three of the prizes had arrived at Malta.
on the 11th of February.
The unsuccessful attack of the Dines on the isle of Anholt,
Is funy de tailed in a public document from Copenhagen. .1
Le
narrative of the affair is given in a spirit of truth and candour,
which, while it reflects the highest credit un the 119,11c8, forms ak
striking contrast with the inflated gasconades of. France.
it subscription for ale purchase of a pieix of plate, to he pre.
rented to their rave Weissman, the gallant Capt. Maurice, tho
heroic deknderef Antseit, has commenced *wing the inhabi-
tants of Plyrnottlls.
The Eagle, of tine flrfarendi reglitteet, taken at tile battle of
Rarrosa, Is to laid at the feet of Ids Royal Highness the
I'rinee Regent, otl Thesday next, ice 40? ed, in a Disiltalar:
to have been captured by Serjoant Masterson, of thrill
meet. 'ibis brave fellow, who was born in the town at Ros-
common, has been proffloted to the rank of Serikant-Major„ '
but we presume his aeVatteement will not stop there.
A frigate of 36 guns, to be caked the Barrosa, is to be built at
at Deptford.
On Monday there were 300,0d0 Drill:us sent from the Bark
to Mr. Bolton s, at Soho' to be stamped, and the smile quantity
are to he forwarded in a few days. 'l'll= IA: are expected to be in
circulation in the course of three weeks.
l'he Westminster Election Catlin ittee hare published a state-
ment of their accounts, by which it appears, that all the ex-
pellees of Sit' Francis Etirdett's election, and of the different
public meetings in Palace-Said, and at the Crown and Anchor.
have been nearly defrayed by voluntary snbscripdons. The
total of the ezpenr.S :,:scants to 2,681-1. kiti.; the sub-
scriptions to eofejl. Os. ic.d. and 1861. 13s. led. remains due to
the l'reaserer.

Betwuen one and two o'clock yesterday morning a fire broke
out at the corner of lialfrononmalley, in l'Ashopsgate-strtet, in
the house occupied by Mr. Coullee, a pork.butcher ; the house
being ot►e of the oldest houses in London, and built entirely of
wood, was burnt tote ground in the spa,-c of half an hour, and
we are son v to say, that, out of ten inmates it contained, seven
'were burned to death ! The. mangled retrains of sk human
bodies were dug out of the rolls, but in such a shocking state
that neither their sex or age could he dirt tilshed. Mr. Gout-
lee, hi4wlle, and four chi idrett, and a maid servant, are the un-
fortunate sufferers. Three lodgers escaped by leaping naked
from the first-floor window.

A boat, in which were four men. awl five women, was annk
at eleven o'clock, un Mood y night, oclow Chelsea College, on
returning from Battersea h.►ir, and two of the women, one
named s:mirb, who residZd in i :0,7-I:ine, Lambeth, thy other a
servant of Mr. Shore, of hl.xcktrhr's-read, were drowned, and
the bathes have not yet been fund.

'Pr.

IE

- I

elle 'pulpit,

No. XL.

Every pne sees the impression made by preaching In the cow:-
.try. One sort of preaching ,tias effectually charvd the charac-
ters of myriads, and will go on to change the character of 'the
world. Another Fort does not remit its energies; a certain der
gree of popularity follows it; but its votaries remain undistin-
guished froth the world.—See the production eutiticd Onesimus
Arlaillned; page 64

REV. THOMAS RAFFLES,

OF TOE
CONGREQATIONAL CHURCH AT

(RESUMED CRITICISM FROM THE LAST NATAQNAL REGISTER.)

The late Reverend William Humphreyes, whose character
we Lave already seen, departed this life on September the 2Sth,
3806; and 011 June 22, 1809, the present preacher was publicly
ordained his successor over the Congregational Church meeting
in White Horse-yard, Broadway, Hammersmith.
The Rev. THOMAS RAFFLES is reputetilb be the son of
very respectable parents, from whose tenderness he experienced
the advantage; of liberal instruction; being, after preparatory
schooling, placed, with higher views, in the Old College Homer-

ton, of which the Rev. Dr. John Pye Smith is the Divinity
• Tutors and the Rev. Mr. J-1 ill the ReildeLt Tutor. This college,
commonly known as the liornerton (Independent) Academy,

is emphatically distingu.o.hed, by the It v. Dr. Robert Winter,
as the " ancient seat of learning and religion," referring espe-
cially to Protestant Dissenters ; and it has, during various pc-
. riods, produced some pf the abject divines of the protestant dis-
senting church. Concerning his ministering prospects, Mr.
B.afßes has given us ample information.
From the Confession of Faith, expected by dissenters at ordi.

rnore or less, it appears that Mr. Raffles, like some of
the test -characters who have preceded him in the same course,
tins "the first isopressionshe remembers to have received were
of a selious kind." None but the infidel or blasphemer will
doubt this. Religion still makes the most affecting and indeli-
bisimpressions on the hearts and minds of the t oung; and happy
ik-it for early piety, when, as in the instance now in view,
such impressions are fostered ard promoted, inste..d of b' ing,
. which not unfri.,quently they are, discouraged and suppres:;ed !
Render but its dues to the pulpit. Force no soul into it, nor any
soul from it. ..Paul was not apo.;tolised till as it ♦tiwcre the ele-
venth hour; yet Samuel drew the first breath of inspiration.
while a -

About the tenth year of his age, Mr. Raffles states that his
first religious impresiions•were eminently strengthened by hear.
ing " a sermon preached by a but pious man ; the mention
of whose name (declares Mr. Raffles) always awakens within
me emotions of the highest veneration and estet.m. Subsequently
to this, Mr. Raffles joined the :vlethodist (WeLleyan) Society ;
but, within three years after, upon a removal to Peckham, be-
coming acquainted with the Rev. Dr. (then Mr.) Collyer, and
beimg introduced to his ministry and friendship, his mind, it
should now seem,4" became more and more enlightened," ow-
bag to the " private couverEe and public in.;tructions" of I. r.
Collyer,—likewise his " acquakataye with the doctrines of Re-
velation more extensive, accurate, and correct,"—and also his
" views, habits, and charreter mare (Lcided and confirmed."—
Perbsps Mr. Raffles is•quitc unconscious of the fact, that he has
not only imbibed the religious sentiments of Dr. Wiper, but

that be palpably imitates that reverend gentleman's style and
n.anner of preaching. But t.l& r...tnark dot:3 not affect his lath.
He ha,. made, int he words of the Minister who asked him those

questions which clicitvd his Colif,ssion of Faith,'" an excellent
professlon, let ns hope, which no yf t unapprehentied con idura.
tion:i will shake, kir that the creed of Li; wlll, shtiuld ez

•
NATIONAL REGIs'T EP..
••. • • - .ilii4iie ii., Trlsiongtvi to 17':
j and the Ralf of his declinini