Star.
London, England, 1809-02-20 00:00:00

WEST 11111010.Th..,---

• The space crctipied in odr eolpmns by the detail's
relating to the enquiry into the conduct Of the Cote-
mander in Chief, has, as irir. Readers must have
seen, obliged us to be very brief in several articles
of intelligence. The late news front the West inches
requires, however, snore partientar notice than we.
have yet given it.
It appears that such have been the tardy Ilatefe et
the preparations for the intended attack upon Marti-
niqtte that the French have, in the interini, received
considerable reinforcements. Exclusive of the Eli.
litia of the island; the garrison now amounts to tip- .
wards of 3000 effective men. Admiral Vit.t.aatereit
openly professes his obligation to our Commanders for
the time which they have allowed him tot pre.
paratiou and reinforcement. He is att excellent offi-
cer, and we calculate on att obstinate resistance, if
bur troops attack him ; yet we are so fully convinced
of the superiority of British troops, that we vey
rily believe the French will not face us in the field s
but thty have such .strong positions, and such a
formidable train of artillery, that the danger cannot
be concealed:,
Our advice' from Barbadoes state, that the present
plan is to beat down the fortifications of Fort Bour-
bon by an incessant torrent of shells : but the fort
stands on an eminence, with a bomb-proof Cover foe
2000 men.

_
The troopi that had embarked in Carlisle Bay
were disembarking. The men of war, which were
stationed there to convoy the army, are ordered to
sea again to continue the fruitless blockade of Marti-
nique. Difficulties have arisen even for the chief
command. General BECKWITH an Sir Geonox
IletxvosT, both have claims, the one by seniority,
the other by special commission. It is said at Bar-
badoes that orders, countermanding Sir GEORGE
' Poevosr's sailing, reached Halifax the day after he
left it. The probability is, that our troops will re-
main inactive till the rainy season sets in : in the
mean time the fever will prove an effectual ally to the
French.

- -
In the island die Commanders are blamed. In this
country we ascribe the delay to other men. The fol-
lowing is one of the letters that has reached us

Barbadoes, Jan. 4, 1805.
I missed the opportunity by five minutes of a late
running vessel, to send you an account of our inten-
ied expedition against Martinique.
Villarette's garrison is 3000 men—we shall attack
him, if we attack him at all, with 9000 men ; 30(X) of
whom Sir G. Prevost brought with him from Halifax.
• It was supposed that the arrival of this reinforce-
ment would be the signal fer sailing, and that the
French Commander would have no farther reason to
send us word that he was as ready as he could be for
our reception. But, whatever be the cause, the busy
hum of preparation has ceased since Sir G. Prevost
joined us—the men of war, which we naturally sup-
posed had left their stations off Martinique to take
down the ttoops, are getting again to sea—troops that
had embarked are debarking—it is said the Emma
(armed ship);s going with dispatches to England, and
that things are to remain in :taro quo until the ne-
cessary consultations have been made at home, the
necessary measures resolved on, the necessary orders
given, signed, sealed, delivered, dispatched and re-
ceived here.
Supposing that we do get to Martinique befere the
approach of the rainy season renders the attempt
abortive, it will cost us time and not a few men to
take Fort Bourbon, as it was called under the old
government. Villarette has taken the precaution to
blow up the only eminence in its neighbourhood,
which could have enabled us to batter him in breach.
We must keep a respectful distance. Certainly no
expedition in these colonies ever was so well flanked
by instruments of destruction as the present one :
and it is to be hoped the torrents of shells they will rain
on the fortifications will have the desired effect. If
they have not, 'tis vain to think of starving them out.
You have heard, I dare say, of the success' ul attempt
of l'Amphitrite frigate to run through our blockading
squadron into Fort Royal, with thirteen hundred
barrels of flour, nine hundred barrels of beef and pork,
170 soldiers, and 300 sailors. She sailed on the 10th
November from France, and in her way to Marti-
nique captured two of our merchantmen, the Lord
Cranstoun, afterwards recaptured, and the Lydia,
which she burnt. She had the address to join our
squadron in the night, and to elude suspicion by fol-
lowing their movements until the favourable moment
offered for leaving them. She was greeted by a sa-
lute from the French batteries.
An express came yesterday to the Admiral from
Halifax—and to-day it is reported that orders,
countermanding Sir G. Prevost's sailing had arrived
there the day after his departure. The defeat of the
French army in Spain is said to have occasioned the
change in his destination.
The Neptune (flag ship) is at anchor in the Bay.
The York and Belleisle sailed this morning.

The misunderstanding between the Civil and Mill.
tary Authorities of the Island of Jamaica, has given
rise to the following General Orders on the p. r. of
the Governor, in order to guird againt any popular
commotion : _ _