The National Register.
London, England, 1811-11-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

by legal evidence, whether each person, thus cir-
cumstanced, was such a man as the law required ;
rarnely, probus et legalis homo.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, that Mr. KIRWAN
Was not entitled to make a challenge to the polls,
because, until an indictment should be found, he
could not be said to be in Court.
Mr. M'NALLY said, that the SOLICITOR-GENERAL
had acknowledged that a Bill of Indictment had
been prepared against Mr. KIRWAN.
Mr. Justice DAY said, that the Court had judicial
cognizance of Mr. KIRWAN, inasmuch as he had
been brought into Court by his bail.
Mr. BURROWES argued, that Mr. KittwaN had a
right to make a challenge to individuals, on account
of the influence of the Crown, otherwise a dozen of
scullions might be sent from the Castle to sit in judg-
ment on him !
Mr. Justice DAY said, that Mr. KIRWAN was in-
terested to have a pure Jury.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, he was taken by
surprise, and requested that the case should be ad-
journed until the following day.
The Counsel for the Delegates having consented,
the Court postponed their decision, but permitted.
the High Sheriffs, at their request, to enlarge the
panne], lest there should be a defect of Jurors if the
challenges to the polls should be allowed !

FRENCH PRIVATEERS.
.NotWithstandi6g all the precautions that have
been taken by the Admiralty to protect the vessels
sailing up Channel, and to defeat the attempts of the
enemy's privateers to capture them, we regret to learn
by letters from Dover received on Wednesday, that
two privateers were so close in shore off Port on
Tuesday as to be fir within the range of the guns
from the batteries. Their object in running thus in
under the land, was to make prize of a light brigat
the time proceeding along the coast under cover of
the batteries. The privateers did not deist from
their attempt till after one of them had nearly
grounded from having approached too closely to
the shore, and until some well-directed dis-
charges of artillery from the batteries obliged them
to seek immediate safety in a larger offing.—
Though disappointed in this instance, they were not
long in want of another object of attack, which be.
came an easier prey to their activity and enterprise.
The first vessel they attempted within the view of
hundreds upon the cliffs ; and, before the mortified
spectators lost sight of the French privateers, they
beheld them firing vollies into a large ship just
come up, which, in spite of a tremendous and well
directed fire from the batteries, rendered unavailing
by the great swell, they ultimately captured. It is
with great pain and indignation we are obliged to
record these instances of successful enterprise upon
the part of the enemy's insignificant privateers, and
of' ineffectual protection on the part of our irresisti-
ble. cruisers.

-
The Gazette of last night contains a Proclama.
tion for the further prorogation of Parliament to
the 7th of January next, when they will meet for
the dispatch of business.
A degree of expectation seems to be entertained
that the Scheldt fleet will put to sea. A vigilant
look-out is therefore kept, to observe its motions.—
The fleet in the Downs, which was obliged to quit
the blockade of Flushing on account of the season,
continues in the Downs, and is ready to sail at a
moment's notice. Such is the precaution used, that
no Officer, on any pretence whatever, is suffered to
go on shore.
We have received Jamaica papers to the 3d of
September, by a merchant vessel, which contain
nothing of a political or an interesting nature. With
relation to shipping intelligence; the Duke of Dant.
zic privateer, whose activity has been before alluded
to, continues to commit the greatest depredations on
commerse. She took the Planter, from London,
in lat. 17. N. long. 51. 20. by a sort of stratagem.
She imposed upon the Planter, as a ship from Li.
vei pool ; and availed herself of a favourable oppor.
trinity of coming up close, and pouring into her a
heavy broadside. After plundering the Planter of
every thing valuable, the privateer gave up the
ship to her Captain. The Duke of Dantzic had
taken several British ships. The Tottenham„
she captured, was sent to France. The Lady
Penrhyn, and the Thames, of London, together
with a Spanish schooner, and a schooner from Bar.
badoes, she burnt.
Notwithstanding, the tumours which have been
in circulation, no Officer has arrived from Portugal,
nor have any accounts been received from the Army
since the last dispatches. Intelligence, however, is
every moment expected, but it is not likely to be
of any very great interest or importance.
A vessel is arrived in the Downs, which sailed
from Gijon on the 31st ult. Some letters of the
same date have been received in town, but they con-
tain no intelligence from Spain.
It was supposed, at the depafture of the last
Mail from Lisbon, that MA n MONT intended to
move to the Southward. This intention, it is slid,
he has carried into execution, having passed the
Tagus, and taken up a position near Caceres, where
, General GIRARD was posted. Probably the diffi-
culty of procuring supplies about Placentia may
have rendered the change of position necessary. It
is not likely that at this season of the year he will
make any serious attempt against the Alentejo. If
the above account be correct, Lord WELLINGTON
will make a corresponding movement.
There has been lately some discussion in the
Cortes as to the disposal of French property in the
Island of Cuba. By a ship from the Havannah we
learn that the question is practically decided by the
Governor of the Island. It is stated through this
channel that the property belonging to the subjects
of France, which was sequestrated by the Spanish
Government at Cuba, had been restored to its ori.
ginal proprietors.
The Pylades, which sailed from the Nore the 18th
ult. with a fleet for the Baltic, has on board the
crews of two ships, whom she picked up in the
I North Seas.

2 'he Gazette of Tuesday night contains a dispatch
from the Hon. Admiral LEGGE, dated Cadiz Bay,
October the 21st, brought by the Cambrian, en-
closing a letter from Captain Dfxox, of the Stately ;
and also a dispatch from Commodore PuNitosE,
dated Gibraltar October the 20th, stating some un-
interesting particulars of the state of affairs at
St. Roque and its vicinity. The dispatch from the
former communicates, that, in consequence of an
application from the Spanish Government to Major
General COOKE, commanding the British troops in
Cadiz, requesting him to co-operate with them in a
diversion in favour of BALLASTEROS by a landing at
Tariffa, a British force, consisting of eight com-
panies of the 47th and 87th regiments, seventy-
five men of the 95th, anu four pieces of light
artillery, with the officers, gunners, and horses
attached, were embarked on the 11th of October,
under the command of Lieut,.Col. SKERRITT. The
Spanish part of the Expedition, was prevented from
moving at the same time by an easterly wind. The
British division, however, sailed, and, as appears by
Capt. DIXON'S letter, landed the 18th with the whole
of the artillery, which was on that day effectively
in the field, and every thing going on as well as pos-
sible. On that day about 1500 of the enemy made
their appearance, indicating a disposition to advance
against Tariffa, by the pass of Lapina. The Tim-
er-in, a gnn-boat, No. 14, and the boats of the
Stately, took up -an anchorage so as by their
fire to command the pass, in consequence of
which the enemy withdrew the next day, and
on the 20th, Colonel StcEitiorr, with the whole
of his troops, was in full march after them.
It is to be hoped, however, that he will not expose
himself or his corps to an unequal conflict, nor ad-
vance far till joined by the Spanish part of the ex-
pedition, The dispatch of Commodore PENROSE
states, the greatest amount of the French force near
St. Roque, to have been 10,000 under General
GODINOT. The inhabitants of St. Roque were still
under the protection of the guns of Gibraltar, and
the inhabitants of Algesiras had retired to the island,
which is garrisoned by a detachment of British
troops. Four gun-boats stationed to guard the
shore of the bay, proved of great use in keeping the
enemy from the coast.
, Cones OF -LaNcEits.—lt is said there will be a
formation of a body of Lancers among the British
Cavalry. Government have, no doubt, been induced
to this measure, by the testimony they have re-
ceived of the dreadful efficacy of the Polish Lancers
at the battle of Albuera. . The following is an in•
teresting passage in Sir ROBERT WILSON'S last pub-
lication upon this subject :
" Those who may not have seen the achievements of the
Cossaques, may, perhaps, from the impression of former opi-
nion, hesitate to credit their superiority in cavalry attacks ; hut
what body, armed with sabres, can resist a lance projecting
above six feet beyond the horses' heads, sustained by the firmest
wrist, and impelled by the activity of the race-horse ? '1
he Cos-
saque is not first armed with the lance when he proceeds to war,
or when he attains manhood; it is the toy of his infancy, and
the constant exercise of his youth ; so that he wields it,
although from fourteen to eighteen feet in length, with the ad-
dress and freedom that the best swordsman in Europe would
use his weapon. In hands less familiarised to this arm it would
be the telum imbelle sine ictu ; but in his direction, under the
guidance of an horseman so powerful and dextrous, it becomes
invincible but by fire ; and the presuming enemy, who rashly
adventures an unequal contest, will perish or obtain an inglo-
rious experience."—Remarks on the Character OW Composition
qf the Russian Army, P. 32.

7T3

Friday being the day appointed by his Royal
Highness the PRINCE for holding a Privy Council
for the further prorogation of Parliament, receiving
the RECORDER of LONDON'S Report, and other bust-
ness, the Cabinet Ministers assembled at the Trea-
sury Chambers about half pas; one a'clock. Soon
after two o'clock, his ROYAL HIGIINESS, attended
by Generals TURNER and KEPPEL, arrived at the
Treasury, where the RECORDER of LONDON was in
attendance, who was informed the PRINCE REGENT
could not make it convenient to receive his Report,
having been some time since previously engaged to
dine with the QUEEN, at five o'clock, at Windsor,
it being the Princess AUGUSTA'S birth-day, he al-
ways making it a point of attention to his Ro-..al
Sisters to be present on the occasion. The fte,
CORDER received his ROYAL HIMINESSIS commands
to attend him to-morrow. His ROYAL HIGI/,
NESS gave audience to Earl CAMDEN and Marquis
WELLESLEY, and then held a Privy Council, which
was attended by—

The Lord President of the Council, the Lord Chancellor, the
First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer,
the First Lord of the Admiralty, the "Flace Secretaries of State,
the President of the Board of Controul, the Duke of Montrose,
and Earl Winchelsea.

Viscount CnETwYND attended as Clerk of the
Council.

A Proclamation was agreed upon for the further
prorogation of Parliament to the 7th of January.
The Council broke up at three o'clock, when the
PRINCE REGENT, accompanied by the Duke of
CUMBERLAND, set off for Windsor.
The rich, numerous, and valuable fleet from the
Baltic is arrived on our coast, as appears by a
letter received on Friday, dated—
Harwich, Nov. 7.
" A large fleet is now passing this harbour, under convoy of
a large ship of war ; supposed to be the Baltic Fleet.
" N. B. The Courageaux man of war, Commodore of the
Fleet from the Baltic, arrived in the Downs on Thuraday."

It is seriously apprehended, that the late gales
of wind have done more mischief among our ship.
ping than we are yet made acquainted with. Inde.
pendent of the various vessels wrecked on the
coast of Scotland, it is feared that many, if not
actually lost, have been materially damaged on
their passage down the Baltic.
It is no less singular than true, that the article of
Colonial produce, Sugar, the want of which is now
felt as the severest privation throughout the Conti.
nent of Europe, scarcely known among us 300
years ago : Sugar was first brought into Europe
from Asia, in 1150, and at that time an attempt
was made to cultivate it in Italy, but it totally fail-
ed : the Portuguese and Spaniards, however, in the
adventurous spirit of colonization which first distin-
guished them, carried the cane-root into America
in 1510, which succeeded to the full extent of their
hopes, and thence it was soon transplanted to the
West India Isles, where its luxurious produce ex-
tended itself with such rapidity as soon to become
that of national strife and warfare, which now as.
sume the terrifying features of the most sanguinary
perpetuity !
The 12th Light Dragoons, under the command
of Major WYNDHAM, are at Miswella, near Guarda,
in excellent health and spirits, and are anxious for
an opportunity to signalize themselves.