The National Register.
London, England, 1814-10-02 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

. mss•

1815;

OR,
ANTICIPATIONS

OF

*, • ' ' •

WHAT IS TO COME!

ref-esli'd from Heaven,
If. earns the thu) tempest of Ili. heart :
Dip a mitunsince ettle•; a /0A &ideal!) bliss
• 14;,1.1,• iN lii• rye, hip smilluilling eye ;
While IOW) w Ir arin ntr Oilers on his limbs
And, Owl ;4'4l.)h:tied, with a dread' ss awe,
A •'.41,111111 11L1.11 .1 o.e•-k lie beloilds
• All illines of 1• rrible seemiliff : yea, unniov'd,
Views s veil iiii,eitivab'r Micistels,
That .I.ltuviit'dowti Vei.geance on these latter days.

4. J. .

•
IDnulpy of Wa..aw to the Gallic Usurper, he forgot, in his
gratitude, the- ambition of his benefactor. When the Kings
whom Napoleon had made deserted his standards, he dis-
dained to change wi.h fortune. His fault, therefore, is to
have carried the exercise of a virtue to an extent impolitic
in monarchs and mostly unkni,wn to them. Though poli-
tical vengeance may demand his downfall, yet mercy and
prudence will plead in his behalf. He had the great merit
of making his subjects happy. Possessed of their love, he is
always sine of OR it aleicanct, under whatever master they
may be compelled to serve, whenever he will please to pre-
sent himself and claim his own.

)3ava.ia and Wirteinherg having only to preserve what
they I):,ve gained, and what has been secured t• them as a
eward fir their defection, will only use the voice they shall
possess in the Congress to determine the fate of other States.

we smut to, have peace, made in the spirit of peace?
Europe is now looking, with no common feeling, to the de-
libe.ations of tl. it CongreSs, the re)ult of whose-labours is
expeettd to re.tore the equilibrium of the civilised world,
end insure the bappitt•ss mil.ions yet unborn. :While
suspence is thus generally felt, and the balance may still be
a4id t trernlde wiihsrce, notwithstanding the promise of
IA( ificatinn, it niav not be uninteresting to expatiate on the
prospect that is presented to us, as connected with those
antieipi wions and ?apprehensions which must by turns agi-
tate the patriot bieiist.
•
k America would Appear to have become the seat of war;
And the march of devavation to have been transferred front
the Ga!'otine, to the Patuxent. Let not this shifting of the
scenes however; lead us to mistake our true course. Al-
though Oem. hai ;obtained a better understanding among
the leAling PQWOII. Of Europe, yet the desire a aggrandize-
ment- now, no less than the ambition of conquest in years
past, toy sadly tend- to impede the happy work of peace,
and'be productive of intemperate resolutions and measures,
France still looks high. Humbled as her power might
now appear to be, for some time hence, she is scarcely less
fortneq.. She. is likely to be called upon to
der of things; to which, however, she will

OCT. Q.

not submit at heart. Thousand• still exist,
.who -ire
.ex.
tremely reluctant to forsake the occupation of war,—to ex.
change their spears for pfuning-hooks, and their swords for
plowbbares. Men of war by trade, and long inured to blood,
they hate the toils of peace ! Buonaparte has great adher-
ents left, attached to him by interest, and resolute for his
restoration. Time may chew this.

Germany, as well as Italy,. will,, in all probability, feel
the effects of changes in its government. Strange things
will he acted in both these States. Pacification may he in
progress, and national reforms in contemplation ; but pub-
lic affairs will remain some time longer in an unsettled
state, when commotions may, of course, be expected.
What afflicts Rome?—Turkey, too, seems obnoxious to
civil feuds; and Spain may again become the prey of her-
self! Sotne of the Northern Powers, also, are in danger of
being more or less affected by the interruption of that har-
mony which might contribute so essentially to the settlement
of the world.

Holland is all in activity. Her Prince promises to be her
shield, and will animate her to sustain her growing rank
among States. Holland has to guard against those hollow
bosoms,' however, still inhabited by the evil genius of dis-
affection!

But it is on th• Transatlantic shore, especially, that " the
finger of Heaven yet points to war !" America has now only
begun to rue the measures by which her rulers have pro-
voked this dreadful scourge ; if she persists, as she perhaps
may do, in her hostility to Britain. Norse will deplore her
fate. " America," said the writer of this article, last year.
" why has AtnerG, in an evil hour, departed from the
paternal admonitions of her Washington ?" The fine city
that bore his name, Washington, now moan): for what war
has done !

Englind expects to be greatly eminent. No nation has
more reasonable ground for such an expectation, since no
nation has anus so much for the general good. England,
let it be repeated, for another year, remains " lord of the
ascendant" May she devoutly appreciate her lot ! Provi-
dence has not idly raised her to this towering height ;. great
ends arc designed to be effected through her means; for, to-
gether with some of the first Powers, who are now impressed
with their obligations to this land, she will mainly contri-
bute, at last, to the amelimatio.n of the universe. Such
seems her high call. Signalised as have been the triumphs
of her arms, still more noble are the objects which her character
and policy will one day cooperate to accomplish.
The task of pacification, considering " existing circum-
stances," demands all our zeal. Consultations may take
place, and grave resolves be had, on
.the subject of peace.;
but where there intervene so many jarring interests to re-
conee, and such fermented passions are to be appeased,
time must be conceded fur conciliation, and peace can only
be regarded as prospective. Let us struggle for peace, never-
theless, with the desiie of peace.
September 30, 1814.

PROMETHEUS,

A British force is reported to have taken possession of the
island of Bornholm, in the Baltic, by virtue of a rivets
arrangement with Denma. k.

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OCT. 2.

LONDON GAZE.] EXTRAORDINARY.

TUESDAY SEPT. ?7, 1814.

COLONIAL DEPARTMENT, DOWNING-STREET, SEPT. e 7, 1814.

Captain Smith, Assistant-Adjutant-General to the troops under the
command of Majot-Grin ral Ross, arrived this morning with a
dispatch from that officer, addressed to Earl 11..thorst, one of his
Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, of which the following is
a copy :

Tonnant, in the Pafrxent, August 30, 11114

My Loan-4 have the honour to communicate to your Lordship,
that on the night of the '2 4t h instant, after defeating the army of the
United States on that day, the troops under my command entered
and took possession of the City of Washington.

It was determined between Sir A. Cochrane and myself, to dis•
embark the army at the village of Benedict, on the rizlit bank of
the Patuxent, with the intention of co-operating with Rear-Admi-
ral Cockburn, in an attack upon a flotilla of the enemy's €►un-boats,
under the command of Commodore Barney. On the 20th instant,
the army commenced its march, having landed the previous day
without opposition : on the !Ist it reached Nottingham, and on
the 22d moved on to Upper Marlborough, a few miles distant from
Pig Point, on the Patuxent, where Admiral Cockburn fell in with
and defeated the flotilla, taking and destroying the whole. Having
advanced to within sixteen miles of Washington, and ascertaining
the force of the enemy to be such as might authorise an attempt at
carrying his capital, I determined to make it, and accordingly put
the troops in movement on the evening of the 23d. A corps of about
TOO men appeared to oppose us, but retired atter firing a few shots.
On the 24th the troops resumed their march, and reached Diadem-
berg, a village situated on the left bank of the eastern branch of the
Potowmae, about five miles from Washington.

On the opposite side of that river the enemy was discovered
strongly posted on very commanding heights, formed in two lines,
his advance occupying a fortified house, which, with artillery,
covered the bridge over the eastern branch, across which the Bri-
tish troops had to pass. A broad and straight road, leading frum
the bridge to Washington, ran through the enemy's position, which
was carefully defended by artillery and riflemen.
'The disposition for the attack being made, it Nag commenced
with so much impetuosity by the light brigade, consisting of the
35th. light infantry, and the light infantry companies of the army,
under the command of Colonel Thornton, that the fortified house
was shortly carried, the enemy retiring to the higher grounds.
In support of the light brigade, I ordered up a brigade under the
command of Colonel Brooke, who, witl► the 44th regiment, attacked
the enemy's left, the 4th regiment pressing his right with such (fleet
as to cause him to abandon kis guns. Ilis first line giving way, was
driven on the second, which, yielding to the irresistible attack of
the bayonet, and the well directed discharge of rockets, got into
confusion and fled, leaving the British masters of the field. The
rapid flight of the enemy, and his knowledge of the country, pro.
eluded the possibility of many prisoners being taken, more parti-
cularly as the troops had, during the day, undergone considerable
fatigue.

The enemy's army, amounting to 8 or 9000 men, with 3 or 400
eavalry, was nutlet the command of General Winder, being formed

G 25

cat troops drawn from Baltiincite and Pensvlvania. His ariiile►,y,
ten pieces of which fell into our hands, was commanded by Commo-
dore Barney, who was wounded and taken pri-oner. The artillery
I directed to be destroyed.

Having halted • the army for a shirt time, I determined to march
upon Washington, and reached that city at tight o'clock that night.
Judging it of consequence to complete the destruction of the publC
buildings with the least possible delay, so that the army oti;4la re-
tire without loss of time, the following buildings were set fire to
and consumed—the Capitol, ii.chidiwy, the Senate-House, and Itave
of Representation, the arsenal, the dock-yard, treasury, war-office,
President's palace. rope-walk, an' the great Midge across the Po-
towmack : in the dock-yard, a fliate nearly reaiv to be launched,
and a sloop of war, were consumed. The two ',ridges leading to
IVashington over the eastern branch hail been destroyed by the
pettily. who apprehended an attack from that quarter. The olject
of the expedition being accomplished, I determined, befbre any
greater three of the enemy could be assembied, to ‘lithdrawr the
troops, and accordingly commenced retiring on the night of the
/5111. On the evening of the '29th we reached Benedict, and re-em-
barked the following day. In the performance of the operation I
have detailed, it is with the utmost satisfaction I observe to cur
Lordship, that cheerfulness in undergoing fatigue, and anxiety for
the accomplishment of the object, were conspicuous in all ranks.
To Sir Alexander Cochrane my thanks are due, for his ready
compliance with every wish connected with the welfare of the
troops, and the success of the expedition.
To Rear-Admiral Cockbuin, who suggested the attack upon
Washington, and who accompanied the army, I confess the greatest
obligation for his cordial co-operation and advice.
Colonel Thornton, who led the attack, is entitled to every prai'c
iur the noble example he set, which was so well followed by Lieut.-
Colonel Wood and the 85th light infantry, and by Major Jones, of
the 4th foot, and the light companies attached to the light brigade.
I have to express my approbation of the spirited conduct of Colorel
Brooke, and of his brigade, the 44th regiment, which he led, •di .
tinguished itself, under the command of Lient..Colonel Mullens;
the gallantry of the foot, under the command of Major Fanuce,
being equally conspicuous. -•

:
The exertions of Cwt. Mitchell, of the royal artillery, in bring-
ing the guns into action, were unremitting; to him, and to the d,
tachment under his command, including Capt. Deacon's rocket bri-
gade, and the marine rocket corps, I feel every obligation. Capt.
Lempriere, of the royal artillery, mounted a small detachment of
the' royal artillery drivers, which proved of great utility.
The assistance afforded by Capt. Blanchard, of the royal engi-
neers, in the duties of his department was of great advantage. To
Cie zealous exertions of Captains Wainwright, Palmer, and Mimey,
of the Royal Navy, and to those bf the ufficcts and seamen %l
ho
landed with tiwm, the service is highly indebted ; the hitter, Capt.
Motley, had charge of the seamen attach( d to the marine artillery.
To Capt. M'Dougall, of the 85th foot, who acted as my aid de-
camp, in consequence of the indisposition of my aid-de-camp, Capt.
Falls. and to the Akers of Inv stall; I : much inch bled.
I must beg leave to call your Lordship's attention to the zeal and
indefatigable exertions of Lieut. E%ans, acting•deptity-qttarter-
master-general. The intelligence dispiaed by that officer in Cir-
cumstances of considerable difficulty, induces me to hope he will
hied with some distinguished mark of
approbation. I have teisilea