Star.
London, England, 1814-09-29 00:00:00

rßom TUE NEW-YORK EVENING MST, AUG. 27.

This day we have the disagreeable task of record-
ing the capture and destruction of the city of Wash-
ington, the capital of the United States ! Six mouths
ago, no one could have thought such an event could
have possibly taken place. But this is the age of
wonders I The city of Washington, containing va-
luable public buildings, which have cost the nation
millicns of money, a large naval arsenal, cannon
laundry, Sm.—this city, situate at such a distance
from the ocean, and only approachable with shipping
by long, crooked, and narrow rivers, on a spot select-
ed above all others as the most secure from foreign
invasion ; who could'have supposed that it could so
easily have been destroyed by an enemy ? Is is Fos-
that after being two years at war, our capital,
tic seat of cur general Government, should have
been left so defenceless? Can it be believed that a
small armament of a few ships, and from six to ten
thousand troops, which came into our waters on the
17th instant, could demolish our capital on the 24th?
lint !tic!' is the fact. In less than , one month from
the 6,1i1in2-, of .the expedition from Bermuda, the Bri-
tish General has fixed his head-quarters in the heart
'of oar nation—in the seat of our Government.—
What shall we think of such things ? Where have
otirmen‘ at the head of affairs been all this time ?!--
'Why have they taken no measures to'clefend the
..capiielL;Were their no places on the Patuxent and,
Polcante *!Tch might h ive been fortified ? Was
theri go means .of defending the property of the
lnption ? Can men who manage in this way be 6t to
govern a great and free people ? Let their Consti-
ituents answer.
We cannot close this article without turning the
attention of the public to our own situation. We are
:now erecting fortifications for the defence of our city
weer re are the guns to mount in them ? Where
are men to man them ? And who takes the charge
of what few men we have under arms ? How often
.does oat Commander in Chief review them ? These
are serious questions to the citizens. Oar forti6ca-
tions will be worse titan useless, unless they have
guns in them, are well manned, and the men are
trained to the use of the guns.
l'llOXl TII TELFCRAPU.
Untortmate as the capture of this city is, we are
prone ift the first paroxysm of our astniathment, to
, aggravate Inc importance of the conquest, and at
such ietsons to im tgine the toss greater titan it really
is.• We Rio thetith ideas of despr.nJeucy now,
which we shill; ifs astonished at, in no distant thy.—
It is the pet b ne humanity to look upon our mis•
fortunes calmly and leriiprrateiy—to bee where they
may be repaired, or if irreparable, where they may
e mitigated and their aeperitiee softened.
BuCh ideas of despondency are of themselves far
6

melt dreadful to be encountered than the flash of
hostile bayonets. They palsy our remaining resources
they render incompetent our means of defence, and
array every report that stalks abroad in supernatural
horrors.
to the present instance, troops hastily collected,
and scarcely f.trziliar to the shackles of military dis:
cipline—raw recruits, and sudden levies of men were
opposed by veterans, then who had borne the fs; of
European campaigns, accustomed to subordiaatton,
and familiar with danger in all its forms.

NA NTUCKET NEUTRAL.

[TROD[ THE BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER, SEPT. I.]
The following is an extract of a letter from Nan-
tucket, dated Aug. 22, to a gentleman in this town :•
gg Since I wrote to you on the 20th, the whole
island has been in an upro*. The British brig Nim-
rod, Captain Newton, came up and anchored just
outside the Bar yesterday afternoon. A Lieutenant
came on shore with sixteen men in a berge, with some
kind of mission to the select men; they tarried till near
dark, and returned. We knew nothing of the nature
of this proceeding till this forenoon. The select men,
and two or three of the principal inhabitants, went
down in two beats with flags, at about ten o'clock.
In about an hour they returned with Captain Newton
and several of his officers ; the Captain went up into
the hall of the Upper Office, where about 150 inhabi-
tants were assembled, and delivered to the Modera-
tor of the meeting a paper, containing sundry pro-
posals. Pi..vious to his arrival,' however, a letter
was read in the hall, which was brought by the Nim-
rod frohe Commodore Hotham, dated yesterday, off
Gardner's Island, on board his Majesty's ship Su.
pert). This letter stated, that the Vice-Admiral
(Cochrane) had received tele communications of the
magistrates of Nantucket, requesting relief, and re-
presenting the inhabitants to he in a state of stereo-
tion,oand that he had sent the Nimrod to inquire into
the truth of the statement.
66 The paper handed by the Captain contained
proposals to this effect : viz. the inhabitants of • the
-island shall declare themselves neutral, and continue
so during the war : they will be allowed to import
from the Continent fuel and provisions in a small and
limited number of vessels, which are to be licensed by
dee British Commodore. All Government property, if
any, shall be given up or destroyed, such as artillery,
arms, ammunition, &c. [there is none here.l .The
inhabitants will not be allowed to carry on 64 their
fishery," EI presume, he meant the whale fishery] ;
they may export as well as import such articles, how•
ever, as will not pay a duty to Government ; oil and
candles, I presume, pay no duty. Should any of his
Majesty's yentas arrive here, they are to be allowed
to take whatever provisions and supplies they may
wart, not distressing the inhabitants therefore, pay.
ling for the same. A deputation of the Magistrates
For select men are to proceed hence to the Commo-
dore, in 'Gardner's Bay, to-morrow, if possible, to
conclude the treaty.
se-Teere is so be atowe meet ing this evenin AIL
the inhabitants art rejoicing at the prospeetlebidki
this arrangement affords them, particularly the de-
tooerats, who are the first to beg favotta trans that
very enemy whom they insulted and abused.
44 Captain Newton is enito a gentleman : be h. s
been treated as such by all those who bear the same
character themselves. He staid on shore near!: all
this day, riding out of town, &c. ; he dined on shure
with several of his officers.
44 This evening, at six o'clock, the inhabitants met
in the open street, near the Town-house, that letild-
ing being too small for their accommodation. The
proposals of the British Commodore being read, they I
passed the following Resolutions, new. con.:
" 1. We will not bear aims agslnst his Britannic Majesty
tinting the present war.
" 2. We will deliver up all public property on the island.
" 3 We will no-. oppose any British vessels which may arrive
here for provisions, &c. such as may he spared without distress-
ing the inhabl.ants, paying for the same.—[This vote was origi-
nally txpressed thus, by recusimeodst.on of a democrat—" we
will supply the British vcssvis of war with such provisions as
glary may demand;" which being opposed by a fsderalist, was
modified as it now stands.] •
" 4. A Commitiee a :Our of the select men and Magierates
shall proceed forthwith s • use British Commodore to ratify the
agreement.
" 5. This Committee shall consist of Joseph Chace, ZensW
Cofhit, Josiah Barker, and Aron I.lltchelltwo democrats and
two fderatst..].
•' The inhabitants of this island, by this measure,
are inconceivably relieved. They will soon be sup.
plied with abundance of provisions, fuel, &c. by
means of those vessels which will be licensed for the
purpose. Those who have not paid the direct tax'
will get clear of the same; for the United States'
jurisdiction over this island ceases, I presume, during
its neutrality. Vessels will be going direct to Bos-
ton. There will not be eny obstructions to the nevi-
gation of this island while the deputation is away—
the Nimrod being ordered to convoy the vessel con-
veying them (the packet sloop Experiment) to Gard-
ner's Bay. It is expected they will be absent about
a week.
46 Aueurr 23, Evenine;—l have just returned from
on board the Nimrod, where I have been treated with
great politeness and hospitality. We were saluted
and cheered as we left her. About seventy vessels
have applied 'for licenses ! it is not likely they will
all be granted."

BALTIMORE, AUGUST 2G.
Notwithstanding the clear unclouded moon Anne
on the last evening with unusual lustre, the light of
the conflagration of our Navy yard at Washington
was clearly discernable. As the moon went down,
the lustre became more clear and defined,' rising and
falling on the horizqn, like the fitful corruscations
the Aurora Borealis. The enemy are now in pos.
session of our capital, and this will sound as a deed
of mighty exploit in the Journals of Euroce.
DEMME OF BALTIMORIG—The citizens of Balti-
more and its precincts have organized themselves into
lour sections, and are to relieve each other in the la-
bour of throwing up fortifications for the defence 4.f
the city. The service of slaves as well as free people
of colour is called for. Large reinforcements are
marching towards this city; and it is expected they
will make a gfeaf chew of resistance.
Daelixce PIIILADILFMA.—The citizens cf Phi:.
,ladelphia have had a public meeting, fot the porpon
of Hieing on some general plan for the elotnce rsf
that (.lace. They bave chosen Commissi,ness to or•'
ganize thelsitinens, and take all necessary measuref
to that end. The meeting -was via y crowded, an..
the Commissioners embrace the active and leading
inen et all partien.