The Sun.
London, England, 1832-12-21 00:00:00

WATERFORD.

ANTWERP.

Barrow

Hayes 079
Christmas
Wyse

CORK.

(From the Times.)
DEC. 18, TUESDAY NIGHT.

The contrast between the attack of the citadel by the
F rench Marshal, and the defence thereof by the Dutch
General Baron Chasse, demands an explanation of some
points in which the character of those generals is at stake.
In one of his communications, at an early period of the
siege, Baron Chasse threatened to bombard the city of
Antwerp, because the French made use, in order to attack
the citadel, of the Fort Montebello, which, he contended,
f .rms a portion of the out works of the defence of the
town. To this observation Marshal Gerard replied, by
stating, that during the siege of 1746 and 1794, Mon-
tebello formed a portion of the ground from which
the attack was then made ; and he further declared that
if the city was assailed, the commandant of the garrison
would repent it.
Some persons, whose prejudices bind them to the Dutch,
and who therefore wish the French may suffer a defeat,
leave again revived the charge against the French Marshal,
as others contend in an unworthy manner, in consequence
of the battery erected in the counterguard of the_city.
The former say that this battery has been so used at this
time, because the French know that Chase has been
weakened, and cannot resent the employment of such
means : the latter maintain that a charge of meanness
frequently compromises other persons more than the ac-
cused, as it does so in this instance.
The citadel, as I have already described, consists of 5
bastions, of which the French can, from the neutrality of
the city and from the protection of the river, assail solely
two—viz., Toledo and Pacietto. That of Fernando lies
towards the esplanade, and is, at least on the side of the
besiegers, neutral, as it cannot be attacked. Yet the be-
sieged make the greatest use of its left face and of the
connected flank batteries, in order to injure their oppo-
nents. The besiegers consequently used their right of
erecting the battery near the counterguard of the city, to
sweep at least that flank, and, as it is also said, to destroy
the baterdeau and the sluices beneath it, which still retain
water in the ditch of the citadel.

Countergu trds are small ramparts, with parapets and
ditches to cover some part of the hotly of the place ; and
if the formation of a battery on a part of them be a breach
of neutrality, so, a fortiori, must, in the opinion of the
latter, be called the use of the bastion Fernando, which
lies on neutral ground. To discover meanness in this aQt
of the French engineers, shows, in the opinion of the
second class, a party-feeling, which one is sorry to find at
this moment in this city. Besides, this battery has
been erected for more than 12 days ; this charge is, there-
fore, nugatory. I have alluded to it, because, as it may
hereafter be repeated, its validity ought to be shown.
The siege is approaching its last and most sanguinary
period. The defence will now be exhibited in its true
light. Thus far it appears to be allowed, that while the
Dutch artillery has done much from behind their
parapets and under their casements, their corps of engi-
neers has done nothing. Their defence has been in firing
cannons, mortars, howitzers, and musketry ; but neither
sorties nor works of art have signalized it. There was
not even one sortie, properly so called, though there have
been several parties of reconnoissance. The first of them
was composed of 800 men, and effected but little, save
the burning of two houses. The greatest praise is given
to the French engineers, and some is bestowed on the
Dutch artillery, while dissatisfaction is expressed towards
the Dutch engineers. Blame is fixed on a part of the
French artillery for their incorrect pointing of the shells,
by inexperienced persons, who do not take into considera-
tion the nature of those projectiles and the difficulty of
ensuring them an accurate flight. The delay in trans-
porting their guns and materiel is excused sufficiently
by the state of the trenches, and the inclemency of the
season.

Judging from the fire of both, the French engineers
have been engaged this evening in destroying the sluices,
for the firing has been principally else musketry in that
direction, and in attacking the raveline between bastions
Toledo and Paccietto.

WEDNESDAY MORNING.

Some unprejudiced British officers, on whose opinion
reliance can be placed, have expressed to me their satis-
faction not only with the attack, but with the defence.
This is the period when the latter will be most developed,
and of course the casualties must increase. Their opinion
of the acts of the French engineers is, that they have per-
formed their labours in the most scientific manner, and
they declare the artillery on both sides has done its duty.
The number of those strange beings, whose existence
is idle curiosity, and who are characterised here as " the
creatures wandering about with guide-books in their
hands," is increasing. Their childish remarks—their
odd opinions—their crude decisions—are ridiculed, as
they deserve, and they are those who think that to he
military is "to wear mustachios and to smoke." It is
a true burlesque to see some of them perched like
sparrows or night-owls on the house-tops, and looking
at the citadel, " cigarring and yawning," and wishing
themselves at bonne, for they understand nothing of what
is going on; and the siege has lost the charm of novelty,
and the firing is tedious to those who expect a cannon-shot
every second, or 86,400 shots in the 24 hours. Of this
class, there are individuals from many places, but one
country in Europe is specially celebrated for amateurs,
even civilians, and above all, cits, who come to Antwerp,
" to get into the trenches," where the most experienced
and best instructed officers are occasionally puzzled, and
who, when they return to their native land, will have the
absurd pleasure of stating " how often they ducked when
the shells flew over ; and perhaps they will also have the
consolation of explaining how comfortable it was to lie at
full length in the mud, while they feared the bursting of
those formidable neighbours."

10 O'CLOCK.

Rumour speaks of some cannon-shots having been
heard from below Liilo, at the oA fort of Frederic Hend-
rick, where the French are establishing a battery. The
Dutch scum to dread the howitzer-shells of the French,
which are calculated to do much mischief on board the
ships.

11 O'CLOCK.

1 have made inquiries at the port, and from well-in-
formed persons, respecting the aforesaid tiring, but can
learn nothing. All appears tranquil at this hour on the
Scheldt.

There is a sort of report circulated that General Haxo,
the chief of the French engin2ers, who is highly favour-
able to the use of mines, has contrived some means of
sending some of his chosen agents to work in the walls of
the citadel itself ; but this requires to be confirmed before
implicit reliance can be placed in it.

12 O'CLOCK.

The French during last night made an aitetnpt to throw
a bridge of faseines across the ditch of the demilune, be-
tween the bastions Toledo and Pacietto, in which they did
not succeed, from having taken a wrong direction in the
dat k. They lost so many men in placing the bridge, that
General Haxo ordered them to desist. The number lost
is istitnated at 46 killed and wounded. There are three-
fourths of the bridge formed, and it is thought that to-
night there will be a successful attempt made. The
bridge between the demilune and the citadel is stated to
be so injured by shot as to stop the passage by it into the
latter. The defence of the Dutch soldier.> in the demilune
is expected to be very great to-night, for if they do not
show spirit then they will lose the good opinion of some
unprejudiced persons. They can escape into the citadel,
in case of necessity, by the covered way, into the bastion
Pacietto.

General St. Cyr Nugues was shot by a wall.piece,
which cut his epaulets and bruised his shoulder.

I O'CLOCK.

There is not one of the breaching batteries yet armed,
but it is expected that they will be so to night. The
French are preparing a small battery to the left of the
counter-battery, destined for the play of the cohorns.
The weather is frosty and dry. Nothing is said of any
movement of the Dutch army.

The firing, wnich during the night was heavy, is now
rather slack.

Some persons have conjectured that Marshal Gerard
may, on having his breaching batteries ready, send his final
summons to the citadel ; but some foreign officers assure
me that it is not usual.

lIALF.PAST 1 O'CLOCK.

Two persons living at Doel were arrested yesterday,
for holding correspondence with the Dutch. The division
Sehastiani has been in possession for some time past of this
village, the last Belgian one on the left hank. One of
those persons threw a bottle having a letter into the
Scheldt : the other made signals.
There was a brisk cannonade at 3 o'clock yesterday be-
tween the Dutch frigates and some French batteries on the
banks of the river. . _

The Dutch are stated to have sent a patrol last night
into the middle of the esplanade ; perhaps to find some
correspondence. K.

(From the Morning Herald.)
BRUSSELS, Wednesday Evening, Dec. 19.
There is little or nothing stirring here, and the town is
vt ry dull and uninteresting. The Ministers have again
taken their seats on the Ministerial benches, and, I am
told they will make their promised explanation in a day
or two.

The greatest sympathy is excited in Belgium for the
Dutch prisoners taken in the Lunette St. Laurent. In

i

•
Brussels a subscription has opened for them, and upwards
~f 6,000f1. has been already received ! 'i%ll
Fourteen waggons of wounded Frenchmen reached
Brussels this morning.
In consequence of a despatch received from Berlin in. °`
structions have been sent to Colonel Brialmont, COM..
'Dander of Venloo, to put that fortress in a state of defence. lg.
The following is an extract from a letter, dated Valen- S
eiennes, Dec. 18 :
"Our .•
arsenal continues to send supplies to the army of it
the north. On Saturday a quantity of raw projectiles 4111
were sent by the road waggons. 413,
_

" The Dutch officer taken at the Lunette St. Laurent
has arrived here; he travelled in the diligence, escorted
by a brigadier of the French gendarmerie. He was seen
on Sunday at Valenciennes—this city has been given him
for his prison.
"On the 17th, the 3d battalion of the 4th of the
line, consisting of thirty officers and eight hundred
petty officers and soldiers, arrived at Valenciennes.
A distribution was immedi ttely made to them of
poignards, sabres, and cartouches. It leaves to
-
diy for Belgium by the route of 3141ines. The 3d bat.,
t Ilion of the 50th of the line, coming from Cherburgt
will be here on the 24th, for the same destination. These
battalions form part of the division of the army of reserve
of General Schram.
" The sth company of equipages, consisting of 9
officers, 200 men, and 300 horses, passed on the 17th ~
and 18th ; they have proceeded to join the army of tilt
north."

(From the Moniteur Beige.)
" OFFICIAL. •
" ANTWERP, DEC. 1 8, TWELVE O'CLOCI.
" Notwithstanding the continual rain which has *alien
during the nights of the 16th and 1 7th, the batteries for
making the breach have been completed, and the batteries
Nos. 1 and 3, which are to serve against the flanks of the
bastion,' are nearly ready.
The armament of these batteries will be simultaneous,
in order to effect the object they have in view. - I
" A new battery has been constructed and equipped,
between the Lunette St. Laurent and the Half.moon of
bastions 2 and 3. It was with immense difficulty that
the artillery completed this work on the night of the 16th
to the 17th, so as to have it in condition to commence its
tire on the morning of the 17th.
" The lodgment made in the Lunette St. Laurent is
also completed, and a communication is secured between it
and the third parallel.
" The ba tery established on the counter arp is armed,
and ready to commence its fires.
" The works of the parallel have been pushed with
vigour, and a lodgment has been made in the covert-tee,',
of the half moon.
" The trial made of the mortar which carries a sheit'.
of 1,000 lbs., that took place on the plains of Braesche!S
on the 17th, has been attended with great success. •E"
shell burst ; each was thrown with exact precision; 11°'
thing can resist their force. The bursting of the shells
which took place at the first trial made at Liege was °W-
ing to the chamber of the shell not having been proper],
filled. .

mortar can be placed in immediate service again'
she citadel."

FALMOUTH, DEC. 19.

_
His Majesty's schooner Pike, Lieut. Brooking, arrived
here this morning. She sailed from Lisbon on the 12th,
and Oporto on the 15th. From the latter place she
brings no mail ; hut the Lietrenant reports that on the
morning of the 13th a heavy cannonading was kept up
from the Miguelite batteries on Oporto, which had the
effect of destroying several houses, aril a few lives be-
cause the sacrifice from the shot. It continued till the
afternoon. Independent of that nothing had occurred
worthy of note—affairs generally remained in the sane
state.
Lisbon letters of the 11th and 12th, by this arrival,
dwell on the wretched state of the finances of the Por-
tuguese Treasury. The officers of the army have de-
manded the payment of their arrears, and in such a tone,
as did not admit of a moment's delay in promising now.
pliance. The Minister Bastes compelled the Manager et
the Bank to make a prompt payment of 8,0001. to the.
Paymaster of the Forces for the Army. For a week
prior to the above a very hot impressment for the armY
has been going on, the levy is stated to have been made to
the extent of 8,000 men, some say 20,000.
Dan Miguel is again expected to arrive in Lisbon front,.
Braga. The Conde de Povoa is in such an ill state of
health as to be considered past recovery. The discount
upon Government paper still continues at 26 per cent.,
with little or no variation.

PRICES OF STOCKS TIIIS DAY AT ON;, O'CLOCK.
Stock
ix
--
New 5 per Cent. —
rent. R'. 33% i% 'lndia Stock
Teent.Cons
kr Cent --- South Sea Stock
') R0d..... .. ............. ..91%% Old Annuities
"3% per Cent. ..,...... shut ;New Ditto ..
h Cent Ann. 17:16 .... —l5 per Cent. Ann. 1751 ....
,4 Cent, 18251
A Long Ann. to expire Ditto 500 10 31 pm.
111. 5, 1860 16 7-l6 % Ditto Small .. 3O 31 pm.
10, 1859 16% 5-16 Ditto Commercial. ...... .. pm.
4,5, 1;60 — Ditto Advertised
4,5, 1880 --.. Bank for Account
11'115, Isar) - India for Account. —
4,. 5 1870..
~..........2_.
_,_,_ .1, ••• • i .Cons. for Jan. •.:.$3 '4ss ';'';

'ICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS
,Itith Bonds B9
,an Bonds
Itto Account
,4lian Bonds -1? i
467‘
qtto Account 4N,/,,.
acts Ayres Bonds ..
;1110 Account °O; 1!5
ittn Bonds 161,4
itto Account
!Itibian Bonds 95.
ritto Account -u,
itto Bonds. IS2A " 101.4
Otto lic.rniht —
4h B.i" Ui •
~ o Account 68%
Itt.c
ek Bonds 22
itto Bonds, 1895
itto Account 26!.i
non Bonds, 5 per cent —
itto Account,,, OV, Ili
1,,tt0, 1 per cent n4ll J
',to Account -..
Oolitan ..-

THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
i Peruvian Bonds
Ditto Account
Portuguese Bonds 491,i
Ditto Account 49 %

Regency Scrip
4,.,', dis.
Ditto Account 4.:E: dis.
IPrussian Bonds 991,4

Ditto Account

Ditto Bonds, 151'N3 -
Russian Bonds, 1822 98Y!
Ditto Account 99
New Loan 91 •'i(
,Spanish Bonds, 1821 III%V,
Ditto Account
Ditto Bonds, 18;23 I4.Y,

I Ditto Account
'French Renter, sp. c. 9Ey' '2sc.
Exchange '23f SOc.
per cent. —f —c.
-- Exchange
!Dutch Scrip 41'4
Ditto Account 11V22%
F:Nich Scrip '2pm.