Star.
London, England, 1831-02-17 00:00:00

No. 13,711. THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1831.

SKETCH o, SEBASTIANI.
Horatio Francis Sebastiani, lieutenant-general of the ar-
mies of the king, and now foreign minister, was born at La
Porta, in Corsica, of one of the most distinguished families,
the 11th of November, 1775. He obtained service in 1792,
and rapidly ran through the first posts ; the general in chief
Bonaparte. witness of his brilliant conduct at Arcola, named
Met elief creseadron the morning after the battle, and Gen.
Moreau conferred on him the rank of colonel in 1799. on the
field of battle of Verona. Made prisoner of war at Ver-1
derio, after having performed prodigies of valour at the head
of the sth dragoons, whom he commanded, to cut his way
through the army of Suwarow, which surrounded Serrurier's
division left behind upon the Adds, he was released on pa-
role not to serve unless ex"hanged, aild be returned to
France. Bernadotte was then minister of war ; knowing
personally the colonel, and having the highest opinion of
his capacity, he snmmoned him to Perim, with the wrecks of
his regiment and afforded him the means of repairing its losses.
Buonaparte, on his arrival from Egypt, would have met
with more obstacles in bringing about the revolution of the
18th Brumaire, if he had not found at Paris this regiment
devoted to a chief whom he could entirely dispose of, sag
who was willing and able to brave every thing to second him
in his great designs. Sebastiani and his dragoons escorted
Buonaparte to the Tuileries, and after the decree of the
council of Elders, which nominated Buonaparte commander
of Paris, and transferred the legislative body to St. Cloud,
the colonel repaired with his regiment to the assembly at the
five hundred, who adopted without amendment this double
measure. During this stirring epoch he took an active part
in the events which changed the form of government, and
was constantly near the person of Buonaparte. The year
after he was engaged in the memorable action of Marengo,
and remained afterwards under the orders of Brune, whose
cavalry of the vanguard he commanded. After the pewee(
Amiens he was sent to Constantinople, with a letter from
the first consul, which was to be delivered into the hands of
the Sultan Selim. In this mission he triumphed over nu-
merous obstacles, and so satisfied Buonaparte, that he was
soon intrusted with other missions of importance and
great difficulty : a frigate and sloop of war were
granted him to examine the real state of Egypt,
Syria, and the islands of the Archipelago, and a
part of his report published in the Moniteur hastened
the rupture between France and England, and was the sub-
ject of important discussions in the British Parliament.
Sebastiani became brigadier-general, was ordered to organize
the armaments of the coasts of Normandy and Brittany. and
to protect the passage of that flotilla, which was to unite at
Boulogne to transport a French army into England. Na-
poleon, informed of the formation of a new coalition, which
was to upset this grand project, sent Sebastiani in all haste
to examine the state of Swisserland, Bavaria, Tyrol, and
Franconia, and to observe the movements of the Austrian
army. This delicate mission was fulfilled with as much
'celerity and discretion as sagacity ; Sebastiani informed
Napoleon of the designs of Austria, of the operations of its
army, and, a few weeks after, began that celebrated cam-
paign of Ulm and Austerlitz, during which he commanded
die avant-guard of Murat's cavalry, contributed powerfully
to the capitulation of Memingen, pursued, dispersed, and
took a body of the enemy which was protecting the retreat
of the equipages of the Austrian imperial army, and finally
was present at the famous capitulation of Mack. Always
in the van, Sebastiani was the first who passed the lon ; be
distinguished himself at the passage of the Ems, at the
combat of Hamstedten, and entered among the first the
Austrian capital. At the action of Holsabrun he commanded
with success several charges, cut through the Russian rear,
and took two thousand prisoners. At Austerlitz he served
under Marshal Lannes ; nearly the entire day was for him a
'series of splendid actions, but about three o'clock he re-
ceived a severe wound whilst charging a square, which
protected Prince Bagration's retreat. Three days after be
was named general of division, and the next year the Em-
peror appointed him ambassador to the Ottoman court.
During his stay at Constantinople he was called out to give
proofs of talent of every description, it would be too long to
detail them, we must be satisfied with mentioning the prin-
cipal. The English squadrons in the Mediterranean re-
ceived orders to pass the Dardanelles, and by seconding
the operations of the English ambassador at Constantinople,
to dictate in the capital of the Sultan a treaty which would
place the Porte under British influence. The English
ambassador, with some of the chief merchants of his coun-
try, embarked secretly in an English frigate that was in the
harbour, and repaired to Admiral Duckworth, but, before his
departure. he wrote to General Sebastiani, begging him to
protect the remaining English and their property, this trust
was not abused. This flight of the ambassador, which has
no precedent in diplomatic annals, threw the Turkish minis-
ters into confusion, on thus seeing themselves engaged in a
naval war they had not foreseen. Sebastiani animated their
fallen courage, and made them declare war against a power,
which neglected so far the regard that nations owe to one
another. From this moment it was necessary to put Con-
stantinople, the Bosphorus, and the Straits, in a state of de-
fence ; in doing so, the fatalism and effeminate manners of
the Moslems opposed to Sebastiani many obstacles, who ob-
tained, with difficulty, that some means should be afforded
his aid-de-camp Lascour, to whom he had entrusted the
arming and defence of the forts of Sextets and Abydos, as
well as all the length of the Dardanelles. The English ad-
miral profiting by a favourable wind, in spite of the efforts of
Lascour, forced the Straits, burned three Turkish men of
war, and appeared in the most imposing attitude before
Constantinople. Nothing could equal the consternation of
the people and government at this unexpected appearance !
To conceive au idea of it, we must imagine all those eunuchs
and slaves, that immense multitude of women huddled

together in the royal and private harems, communi-
cating to every one the contagion of their terror. Ad-
miral Duckworth was that day master of Constantinople:
if upon his arrival he had commenced his attack, the Porte
would have blindly subscribed to whatever he should be
pleased to dictate ; but he entered into negociations, and
from that moment the invaluable advantage was lost. Se-
bastiani, while he temporised, encouraged the Turks, forti-
fied with astonishing ardour the city, and in a single week
600 pieces of heavy metal, and 40 mortars, were so dis-
posed as to be able to thunder on the English fleet, whose
commander did not perceive that he had been outwitted till
it was no longer in his power to attempt the submission ofl
the town. He was obliged then to abandon an enterprise
which would have completely succeeded after the passage

PRICE 7n.

of the Datdenelles, and to repass them with still greater
damrer, since Sebastiani had constructed and armed many
formidable batteries; and, in reality, the admiral did suffer
much from dome immense guns which are charged with
marble balls of enormous dimensions. Napoleon received
the news of the events of Constantinople at his head quar-
ters, alter the almost uncert lin victory of Eylata, that is
where he had most need of the fidelity and co operation
of his allies. He wrote a letter of congratulation
to the Sultan Selim, and another expressive of his
satisfaction to Sebastiani, whom be named grand-cordon
of the legion of honour. After the treaty of Tilsit, he re-
turned to Paris to discuss the partition of European Turkey,
which had been laid down in that document : he was op-
posed to the measure, which he considered entirely favour-
able to the Russians, and which would be to France the
source of eternal war. At Erfurt Napoleon renounced this
ram pro Ell : the ill success at Raylen called him into
Spain, and Sehastiani begged to accompany him, and to
rejoin the army. A list of the actions in which Sebastiani
was engaged, during a long and active campaign in the Pe-
ninsula, would half fill this column, but they must be passed
over. In 1811, the General, overcome with the incessant
fatigues of war, his health impaired by his constant atten-
Sou, to. the duties of the administration, and by the effects of
use climate, demanded leave to return to France. Next
year, however, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the
Emperor, who did not think his health sufficiently estab-
, rmbed, he requested to have a share in the Russian expedi-
tism. Placed at his old post in the van, every day found
him in the hottest of the fight : he had an active
share in the battles of Smolensko and of the Moskwa, and
was the first who entered MOBCOIV, with the 2d corps of ca-
valry which he commanded. The bravery and sufferings of
the troops are well known ; wasted with hunger and toil,
with horses reduced to skeletons they had often to resist the
charges of the enemy's cavalry, composed of fresh troops,
and ten times superior in number. However, their loss was
comparatively small, yet, for want of horses, they were
obliged to abandon half their artillery. During the whole
of that disastrous retreat, the strongly tempered soul of Se-
bastiani (to use an expression of a bulletin, the perusal of
which chills us with terror) resisted the severest marches,
the most rigorous climate, and every sort of privation sad
danger. He is to be seen again taking an active part in the
campaign of Saxony, rendering eminent services at the bade
of Lsipsic, where he was wounded with a lance in the beset,
and re-appearing at the action of Hanau, to contribute
mainly to the defeat of General Wrede. Appointed
to the command of the sth corps of infantry,
and having besides under his orders the cavalry corps of the
Duke of Padua, he was entrusted with the defence of the
lower Rhine, which he was obliged to quit in order to join
the Emperor upon the Marne. He obtained then (1814)
the command of three divisions of cavalry of the Imperial
Guard, at the head of which he signalized himself at Rheims,
at Ards, and at the last action which took place at St.
Dither. After the abdication of the Emperor, he retired
into private life. During the cent joins, he was named
member of the Chamber of Reprbentans, and sent by its
order, after the calamity of Waterloo, to the Allied Sove-
reigns, together with Lafayette, Benjamin Constant, &c.
Elected Deputy for the Department of Corsica in 1819, he
entered courageously the lists to defend the liberties of his
country. He was the first to point to the attempts of the
Holy Alliance, and to discuss at the tribune the affairs of
diplomacy. In hie speeches he has shown profound know-
ledge of the interior and exterior policy of France and Eu-
rope, and has proved that versed in public affairs, be was fit
to discuss them calmly and energetically. His eloquence,
manly and clear, has thrown a strong light on all the grand
questions of war, finance, administration, and policy, and has
revealed to the world the talent of the orator, and the learn-
ing of the statesman.

Fran am Correspondent* of the Right Honourable Sir John Sin-
clair, Baronet; with Reminisainoes of the mostdiatiagniehed Cho-
rea", who hate appeared is Great Britain, and in Foreign
Conaltiss„ during the last Fifty ream

AT PZIIIINT

Mr. Kean performed the character of Macbeth, on the
Edinburgh stage, October, 1819, and it was one of the
most perfect specimens of acting I bad ever witnessed.—
Several of my friends being of the same opinion, we re-
solved to present him with a sword, as a proof of the high
idea we entertained of his theatrical abilities. The
intention was communicated to Mr. Kean, in the following
letter :

Sir —Some of your friends in this city became extremely
desirons of presenting you with a mark of the high esti-
mation which they entertain of your talents as an actor,
more especially having witnessed the superior manner inwhich
you performed the character of Macbeth. After consider-
ing the subject, it was at last resolved to present you with a
sword of state,' to be worn when you appear upon the
stage in that tragedy, as the crowned King of Scotland.'
I have much pleasure in sending you the sword, which is
prepared by some of our ablest artists, for the purpose of
being transmitted to you. It is 'of the true Highland
make,' and ornamented with some of the most valuable pre-
cious stones that Scotland produces. Macbeth is, on the
whole, the greatest effort of dramatic genius the world has
yet produced ; and none has hitherto attempted to represent
the • h tyrant, who has done, or could possibly do,
more justice to that character, than the gentleman to whom
I have now the honour of addressing myself.
The presentation of this sword reminds me of two parti-
culars.

1. The swords, in ancient times, were large and weighty
and the scabbards broad at the point. Hence, in Shake-
peare, Hotspur describes himself, (Part 1, Henry IV. act 1,
scene 3,) " leaning upon his sword," that is to say, resting
upon it in the scabbard. The sword also was not carried in
belts attached to the person, (which, with a large and heavy
sword, would have been too cumbersome,) but was either
held in the right hand, or carried in the left arm, the elbow
being bent for that purpose. In battle, when the sword was
drawn,, the scabbard was thrown away, to imply, as the
phrase denotes, that the combat was to terminate with the
death of one of the parties.
2. There is reason to believe, that Shaluspsare collected
materials for " the tragedy of Macbeth, on the spot where
many of the transactions took place. It is recorded in
Guthrie's History of Scotland, that Queen Elizabeth sent
some English actors to the court of her successor, James,
which was then held at Perth : and it is supposed that
Shskspeare was one of the number. This idea receives