The Sun.
London, England, 1807-03-11 00:00:00

WEDNESDA Y, MARCH 11, 1807.

America, between Rio de Yamira and Rio de la
Plata, ak soon as you shall have accoffiplished the
objeet of the Expedition on which you are about to
proceed, for the purpose of procuring intelligence
of the enenty's motions,•in order that you may be,
prepared against atty attack they may. be diSposed
to make on-the Settlement. Your's,
To Captain' Sir Home Popham.

JOHN BARROW.

No. 3. Is dated Admiralty Office, Sept. 14,
soe,:and'directs Sir Hprnt to retain all the trans-
ports at the Cape of Good Hope, after the reduEtion
of the Settlement, until he received further orders.
No. 4, dated Admiralty Office, Sept.. 24, di-
re&ed Sir Home 'to send transports to India, for the
conveyance of the troops, which, according to an in-
closure addressed to Sir D. Baird, that Officer was
instructed td send. to India, in case of a new war ap-
prehended with Scindee and the Rajah of Berar, in
coniunation with Holkar. Iu this order Sir Home
was direeted to proceed' to 'lndia with the whole of
Sir D. Baird's force; if :necessary, with the eecep-
tion of the Royal artillery, engineers, and light dra-
goons, which. he .was ordered to send to Europe,
with a frigate and the. Raison:lWe, provided she had
not left the station. He was also ordered to send to
Europe such of the prisoners of war as he might not
find it expedient to enlist.
The inclosure stated that Lord Cornwallis, or such
person as should be Commander in Chief In India.
at the time, was dire' ed,to send for reinforcements
to the Cape of Good Hope, if required. •, After hav-
ing safely conveyed the troops to India, Sir Home
was direCted to return to the Cape-of Good4:lope or
to St. Helena, according. to circumstances, " at one
of which places he might expeel to find orders for
his further proceedings." •
No. 5, dated Admiralty Office, Nev. 21, 1805;
ordered Sir Home, on the event of the surrender of
the Cape, to send home without delay, under a pro-
per convoy, all the transports which were not want-
ed for the conveyance of the troops ordered to pro-
^eed to the East:lndies.
(3 and 7, dated the 13th and 2,Bth of Janua-
ry, 1806, IrchitTable--taP Cape of Good Hope,
contained Sir Hot-ie Pophatn's account.of the cap-
ture of the Cape, rete. Capitulation,
A t
&C. which appeared in the r.;t37don GaZtte'
No. 8, from Sir Home to Mt yarsdea, states
the capture of a French brig, which 1,7,7 brottgbt..
means heat posS of
into the Cape, by which
tleo letters from Admiral Linois to General Janneu-::
Commander of the Cape at the tiu;e of its capture,
and to the Minister of Marine at Paris, whith fell into
Siellome's hands. From these letters it appeared that
Linois' never intended to go to the
Isle
of ,ranceias
'prov;sions were not likely .to 'be ltad there, if he
should have occasion for them'. This letter also
states the arrival of .a Danish ship at Table Bay,
front which Sir Home learned -that she had the
evening before. been boarded by the Piedmontese
.rt;'vnch frigate, which was a large•ship bound for the
France. Of this the wriretementioned, that
lie wouQ. transmit intelligence to Sir Edward
The folloWliz is a paragraph of this letter :—" The
letters from Lids are rather too equivocal to say
c:zaaly when he 1,-;,-;41 arrive, but he may be expected
from the beginning t.' be end of March, and as the
Northumberland and Euphrates Indiamen are ex-
peeled thebeginning of-the ensuing month, I shall
proceed immediately off the Cat,;.„`=. with-nay whole
squadron, to prevent, if possible:,‘ iu with
such valuable ships as' they would lR', to him, as
well in point of the intelligence they coeldg:ve him, -
as the great supply of pro-isioos and stores which
,hey-contain, and of which they so essentially stazld
in need."

No. g, dated Table Bay, March 4, was a letter
from Sir Home to the Admiralty, communicating
intelligence of the capture of a French ship, called
La Votontaire, which he describes as " the fore
runner of Admiral Willeaumez's•squadron."
No. 10; dated March 4, 'informs the Admiralty
of the propriety which Sir Home felt of desisting,
from his endeavours to raise the Atalanta Flench
frigate, because, as he states, -4i the possibility of
the enemy coming suddenly upon us, when a num-
ter of our men were-absent, madt me abandon the
idea of again attempting to raise,lier."
No. 11, dated Table Bay, March 12, states Sir
pliance with the ugliest of Sir
Home Popham's. com
David Baird, to send two transperts, with the whole
of the French priswrs, to France. • The writer
urges as a reason for tlimplying with this request, in
addition to the motives which operated- upon his
own condu6l on a similar occasion (the sending to
FranCe the officers and illen taken on board the La
Volootaire), " the disadvantage., if not the extreme
danger that would-attend the detention, of so many
French prisoners, at a time when an attackk-on Me co-
lany'is a posiible case, and likely to be so for some
days longer."—He added, that be would adopt the -
satne expedient with 'respea to any prisoners whom
he might capture, in case, said he, i" any part of
the squadrons of which we have had intelligence
....hould come in here by small proportions to water
an vi&ual."
•

the Leda, " get off, or you'll be, taken, by the
French," From the Cite at. this Grig had
Met Willeaurnez, the writer conetuded, that if bound.
for the 1 Cape, he must have.reaChed it some days
before_ this letter was written‘; and from the provi-
sions and water which the fleet originally took ont,
as stated to him by the Captain of the Volontairedie
was of opinion that it would touch at Rio de Janeiro.,
He immediately dispatched intelligence by the Rolla
brig to Admiral CoChrane, in the West indieSl to
St. Helena, and to Sir E. Pellew.

This letter referring to one of.the goth,
Sir Home Popham said, that lie should, in his de-
fence; take the liberty of producing the letter of the
20th.

Admiral Rowley thought it 'night as well be pro-
duced now, as it was coin with the other.

- Sir Home observed, that he had not the copy of it
on board.

NO, 14.—His Majesty's Skip Diadem, Table Bay,

April 9, 1806

. -
SIR-As the season is very far advanced for lying_
in this Bay, and the weather particularly unsettled.
for the time of the year, I propos(, quitting it with
.the squadron immediately ;,more especially as, from.
the length of time that has elapsed since we heard:
of Admiral Willeatirtez's fleet, it was very improba-
ble, consistent with the situation he was then in,
that he should corne.bere at present.
-To determine his poSition at the moment would,
be impossible, and it is almost equally diiiicult to
decide on. the best Mode of,applying the exertions.
of the squadron- the ensuing two months -to the
greatest advantage. , •
The intelligence we received-by the Volontairer
and Camel has already been transmitted to you:for
their Lordships' information. It appears materially-
to incline to the supposition, that the West Indies is
the destination of Admiral Willeaumez's fleet, but
General Auker, the late Governor of •Tranquebar,
who is just arrived here on his passage:to Europe,
informed me in the course of conversation,:that a.
French squadron .was expeeted at Mauritius,. :but
that it was impossible for that island;to supply any.
flour to it, without looking to Rio dela Plata, on.
the Coast of Brazil, fOr a supply ; On which consi=
aeration, I think employing:the :squadron in cruiz-
ing a short time off that coast; instead of remaining.
idle, will be a disposition fraught with some ads an-
tages, and which I hope will appear so evident to
their Lordships as to induce-them to approve of the
t-ae.asUre.

. .
,
As this letter is; to be conveyed by a foreign ,ship,
- - •11 no :titer into any minute 'detail, but say. it
I Sh' ‘ritirir:. -to proceed of Rio de la Plata in the
is myints...
i • to send the Raisonable to herdesti-•
first instance ).,
nation by the -..t1y,..-- ' 3iee,d,rtitilleccpctirn._,y:oessff:::iicoPiuit::::
i Janeiro, to procure rice-i..., return - • --„ti,,,t 1. ,
imme,.,....!' v i is in the greatest want, anct-t..... .
to False Bay.• with the other ships; •,.._ ..., •
hear that Admiral Linois ' is at St,.Cathent'...' s,'Pr4-'
paring to cruize for the outward-l/c?nnd Easts.-,Zl•ja
trade, in which case I shall endeavour to intercept •
him, if it does not infringe Qp the time of my re*.
turn to the Cape, to receive -their'Lordslilps' coin—.
mantis, in Consequence of Ow dispatches conveyed
by the Espoir. • • .
1 When I have the opportunity of safe Conveyance
! to write more fully to their: Lordships, I hope the
additional reasons I shall give will b(). sufficient to
satisfy their Lordships of the- e4pedjency of theme;- -
sufe which-I'am now about to adopt,
i - I haVe the honour to be, &c. &c.
Win. Marsden,. Esq. &c. &c. HomE Porn. m.
NO. 15.=--,Piuniale, Tale Buy, April 13, 180 G.

the
,honour to addreSs you on the Oth
instimt, for the inforination of the Lords;COramis-
siGners of the Admiralty, and as stated in that let-
ter, .&1 Weighed on the I oth with a ligst breeze; but
it soon •2;;ter tell calm, and I was obliged to anchor
in the outer,part of the Bay.
In the evening I received some intelligence re-
speding the weak state ofAelence' which Monte
Video an(l Buenos Ayres were in, and I returned-to
the shore the following morning, to communicate
into General Sir David Baird. • •

• No. 12, is dated Table Bay, March this,
Sir HOrne Mentions the arrival' of a Whaler at Sal--
danha Bay, the officer of which stated, that he had,
on the 25th of Feb. in lat. 33. -50. S. and long. 50.
E. of Greenwich,. fallen .in with eight sail of ships,
steering about E.S.E. and thought them English East
Indiatnen, but. he was not long in sight. The writer
adds, " Admiral Willeaumez's 'squadron consiSted
onlyof seven sail ; but they gay have taken a prize,
or this may be a small convoy of Indiamen."
No. 13, dated Table Bay, 21st March, is a Letter
frOn't Sir Home, in which he States, that a brig fror.-:
Totiningen had fallen in with the Leia, which %Wig
at the time cruizing off St. Helens, and intOrmed
her, that she had been _bOarded by Willeaunmy's
squadron, in lat. 33. 23. and long. 'to. E.
master of the brig therefore said to the Captain of

This intelligence so fully Corrobbrated what I had
already received from various quarters,, that. I sug-
gested the expediency ofsparing a few troops tor, a
short time to enable us tb -bring a question of such
importance to immediate issue. I hesitate not to
confess that I urged it with every argument in my
power, from a convidion of the great and splendid
benefit which the country would derive by a con-
quest of such a nature- at this moment, embracing
considerations of various advantages, not only to toe
mother country, but to thiS colony, which has been
threatened for many years Widi famine;owinglo the
failure of its crops.
The result-of my inquiries for many years respe.6t-
ing South America in general, and Buenos Ayres in.
-particular,-have been presented to his Majesty's Go-
vernment, and as it was once settled that I shot.ild -be
sent there, I took every pains to form a detailed project
for a combined operation, and which I had the ho-
nour of giving to the late, and sending to the present
First Lord of-the -Admiralty. After Sir D. Baird had
seriously considered this subjeti, and consulted with
Gen. -Beresford on the occasion, he determined to
accede to my,
.proposition, and the 71st regiment was
ordered for embarkation under Brigadier Gen. Beres
ford ; and the whole of that regiment, with its ar-
tillery, horses, and other departments arc all em-
barked, and only wait a breeze to sail, and the con-
current testimony of various people whom we have
examined gives us the greatest prosped of success.
Hour expedations are realized, I shall lose no
time hi bearing myself the dispatches for England :
Sir David Baird will notice this to Lord Castlereagh,
and assign the reasons on I.vhich such a decision was
founded ; one of the princirml ones, however, is,
that of conveying to their Lordships the true situa-
tion of the cbuniry, its commerca, 1•Qi0131-0:tS, diSpo-
Zition of the.inhabitants, and- the extent to w.:!ich its

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EPRIC.k 'BIXPiNC

exportations tray be carried, With .a,Scale also of the.
cOnsumptiOn for the nianalaanres Of Great
Although there are points on. I;vlileh f cannot:
doubt but their LOrdships have Colle4ed' a glieat deal
of information, yet I coosicier what tnay be person.:
ally conveyed by an °dicer whose sole ambition is
to 'Obtain their' T...,ordAltips: -confidence and good opi-
nion, will -be more general, more corred, and more
specificthan any Which can 'be obtained by other
channels ; and as. Capt. Rowley.is the next.Otlicer
on the list to myself, I considered that the .service
would be deprived of little dignity.with reset to
rank, and certainly none in-point of zeal, judgment,
and ability.
- I have only presumed to say a few words on the
advantage which we may derive by the exports frOm
this country, by .the channel of importation which
it opens up -a navigable river for many hundred
leagnei, to supply several millions of inhabitants with-
the martufadures of the United Kingdom. There is,
however, another; not of less consequence on any
consideration, which is that of depriving the enmity.'
of this most valuable trade, 'which- is carried on en-
tirely tinder neutral flags. These pro3l3eds not only
apply to Great Britain, but the Communication with
this colony will remove all idea of famine in future,
and • be attended with reciprocal advantages far be-
yond any calculation of risk in the present under.
taking. This letter will go by a neutral-ship, but
hope under, such a precaution as vi,: ill ensure its safe
delivery.. Twill not enter
.into any farther particu-:
lars, but state, for the information of their Lordships/
that the moment the place is titken I
;Rio de Itueiro,. because it may enable his IVrajesty.
•ta give dis;:retionary poWeis to any 'troops hound to
India, toziciiingat,Janeiro, to.proceedto La Plata ifs
the Commanding 011iCer hears that it is in, cur pos-,
session.

,T Will also send notice to St. Helena, as .the Go-
vernor may be induced
.to spare us s few troopsfrom.:
that Island, and I have already advised hitt)
.of the.
enterptize,, hoping, that he may he able to detach-
-160 artillerymen iq the Georgiana packet, and 4 the:
same time acquaint roc if Lehas information of a naaft.
of war from England, from his Jane convoy, which
wail prevent the necessity of .my, ,sending thejtatson-
able or another -ship there from La Plata.
I ihelose to their 'Lordships one of the, letters
Which I haVerdceived front the
,mister and owner :
,of an AII*II.II, ship, who is now on bo;ird theaka-..-
dent,, and the resuit of many examinations is, that
there. are: not. aboVe 500 regUlar troops, at the two
14ade, some provisional cavalkry and militia ; that-,
the Walls of Monte Video are in a very ruinous. states.
and
,the inhabitants diSaffeat-d • -
owl any caicula-
- - .

• •
- J.,,rustr.77. or
• I 116pe the view- I have c-iver.)
.expediencyduce.i,so strongly to I)rss on Sir David'.Baird the
-of unde.rtA.inga project of zeal,- enter-
prize. any ,i4ort!J prowising so_ much hpnoured;
pros Pea of to the Empire, will. beconsi-
dered -by. Illeir.Lords!:.T:' Os fa:: pref,t;a:)le to the al-
ive ig h -1):.:e t.he honour
to coolniand to inOulder a'..vay its natlo-:..i ePorgx.;by
‘Vitite:ffing iti FUT,O4Iy, el.entually beoine• pa...
so lung, as 1.4:1'4 done, in..,
.
a state.of cold deli::11,:!ve wact:ity.
I 11.;:ve the houpar to &e.
(Signed) it
.PorAm.,
•- •
ILI this LPtier the TOI:ovellIZ inci,osures.„
The first is 1;;,m the :Captain alluded to
ifr the ftirnier Letteril

) •
ciiPe of Good Zlope, MarelL,2B,
beg leave' to represent to you, .t-liat.l have:,
been three nines at .Buenos A,yres and Monte Video, r,
that both places hare the greatest abUndance of
wheat, flour, and indeed, every sort of provisions.=
From my knowledge of the minds and disposition
of the itiliabitantS,. I.canassure you that His' Ma-.,
jesty's squadron under.Yonr command, witha small,
military force; would with ease take possession of
either of those places, and if 'permanent possession.;
could be effeded, there is not the .srnalleSt doubt 'of "
Procuring any quantity of flour ; and to prove to lon
that it is not ziri idle suggestion to mislead the Bri-
tish, I could have no •objcilion to be one of five
liundred.men, to attack • the, place. tin mire the
inhabitants are so ridded by their Oovernment, that
to prevent a shot being fired at Monte,Video, if
they h'ad any ihreacfrom the Men of War, they
would :send out any quantity of flour or biscuit to
prevent mischief; but the places may be taken as I
describe; and if the trade is thrown open, all the
habitants would willingly acquire and keep the place
for the British nation without troops, I%hich would
be a mine of wealth. I hope you will not make use
of.my name improperly,.as it may injure ine greatly.
I -myself, with my ship are at your-service,
to do what you please to get possession of Buenos
Ayres. I am, &c.

(Signed)
The Judge Advocate repeated thewriter's express
wish that his name should not be published.
Another Inclosurein Sir Home's Letter to Go-
vernor Patten, St. Helena, in which the Honour-
able Captain inclosed hiS Letter to the Adininity,
and requested some military assistance,. particularly
a-.comphny of artillery, or such force as he could
spare. This Letter is dated Table. Bay, 13th of
April:

No. 16, 'dated St. Helena, 3otli April, is as fol-
lows

Siii---Conformably to the Eetter I had the ho-
nour of addressing to you the 13th instant, I sailed
from the Cape
.wits the ships named in- the mar-
gin*, Eating on board the 71st regiment, 'with a
small detachment of artillery, and a fe IV dismounted
dragoons.
On'the ntht Of the 20th, in very squally unsettled
weather, ikttended with a nigh sea, the Ocyan parted
company, and as I thought -it possible stir might
have rolied-kvay the main-mast, and bore ap,for St.
* I%iaLip, Ralso6able, Dilmede, Narcissus, Enccuhier.
mr,,F9--s—Waliccr, Trawl, Nelantho, Ocean,