The Sun.
London, England, 1806-09-26 00:00:00

PRINCE OF HESSE.

The following Anecdotes of that gallavit Officer, the PrinCe
ot FiEss PHILL,IP-STHAL, ate etra.:.ted from a Letter ffom
an tfiLvr Rank in His Niaje.sty'S Service, now in the'
MCiiiierralican. Our Readers will perceive thatthey were
-written before-the Surrender of Gaeta.

ANECDOTES OF THE-PRINCE OF HESSE.

IN the late War he commanded a large body Of
Cavalry in the Austrian service, in Italy, with great
credit.- On his return to Naples he was appointed
to .command Gaeta, with a Garrison of less than
,::5000 Men; 'and one Regiment of pardoned Assassins;
"the rest, a few Artillery excepted, a.-most motley
crew: On'the evacuation of,Naples,• he was ordered.
to give up the place ; but, he wrote to the King to
'say, that virliaever had told his Majesty that it was
not tenable; so long as the communication by sea
was open, two a Villain arid a- traitor;, he should
, 'therefore hold his position, which he _still ;does, ,in.
'spite of all the impediments the weak pusilanirrious
Sicilian Government ,throw in hiS .way, by with-
holding supplies' of arms and ammunition, &c. &c.
.but I fancy they now see their error, as they are
giving" him all. thesupport in their power.
The Princ6 'was first summoned in February,
'when six hours were given' for 'his reply. He an-
swered, " That fie did not require six minutes; that
they might have the place when they could take it."
He, lidwever, called together, the principal Officers
and inhabitants, saying, he did, not wish, to as
'quite tiom.l-iiinself,
.but wished for their senti-
ments."
They, nnanimously advised the giving up
the place. He instantly said, he only wished for
their opinion ; but as he was determined to hold out
to•the last, he with their services ; and
embarked them forthwithin a vessel for Palermo.—.
About six weeks 'after this, the French. General find-
ing he made but:very little impression upon the
towri, .asked for an interview ; which was granted.
He walked him up to the batteries, introduced him
'to the guns as his acquaintance, saying, •" If you
come near enough .you may be acquainted with
them too."—After a little common-place conversa- •
:•tion, the Frenchman offered him somewhat about
60001. to give up the. place. His reply Was, " I nth,
not Macx, nor, is this Ulm," and then disthissed
him. • About a fortnight ago _a fresh attempt was
made to induce the Prince to betray: the place. He
'made 'the Messenger put down his proposals iii
Writing before witnesses, and then corifinediliinr in a
dungeon, where ho now is. The proposals began
by observing, that his HighneSs had acquired much
glogy by t4-defencelre had already made, but that
further resistance be useless ; that the French
had-100 pieces of ordnance before the place;. ready
'to open a fire which could not -fail to reduce it ;
the French were at. peace with all the world
'except England, who,, besides their inability to af.
ford effectual relief, . supported the cause 'of FER
NAND only from interested motives; but that. they
must soon' make peace,. since- ilie-Is.tsront Pa US.'
SIA had declared against' them.' General GAR-
.
baNNE-, hoWever, with all these circumstances in
his favour, but desirous' to prevent the effusion
of blood, otfered' his Highness one million ..of
livres, with the rank of General of. Division in
the French service,, as the price of a surrender;
and, to save appearances, be. proposed to batter the
place -for for three days, to afford a pretext honourablit
tothoth parties; that if. his Highness doubted tilts
number o'f the French guns, he wa, at linen), to
ciend:,i Confidential Officer to see and report.
The Prince was married to air Itarian Lady, :vho
died about two years ago, since which he has lived
with a Lady he met with in Piedmont, 'and wiio is
now in the Garrison ; but since aii women ate for.s
bidden to go to the Batteries, close to which the
-Pritice constantly resides, she visits 'mu every after-
noon in men's apparel.