Star.
London, England, 1823-04-08 00:00:00

country :

" A very arbitrary proceeding on the past of the new Govern-
ment of Peru, viz. the assum;tion of a right to levy forced con..
tributions on foreigners, has given a new and unexpected turn to
their affairs in this 'Place. The English have unanimously resolved
to leave the country ; fur, to say nothing of the ruinous nature
to their present fortunes, of the sums levied upon them indi-
vidually, they can see nothing short of the complete subversion
of all justice and principle. in the general and arbitrary proceed-
ings of the Congress. The sum ordered by Government to be
exacted from the trade of the place was 400,000 dollars; of
which one half was to fall upon the few English residents, and
the houses of those were assessed at frcnt 10 to 30,000 dollars
each,while the richest natives were only rated at from one to 5000,
Nothing could have been more partial in execution, or unjust in
principle, than the whole proceeding; and it is felt the more, as
a liberal offer of a loan was made, which the Government re-
fused, and characterised as an insult. The only course now left
was that of leaving the country, and every Englishman in the
place immediately proceeded to demand his pauport—these I
were at first refused, but upon the urgent application of Captain
Prescott, the Minister promised they should be granted, and
we had fixed the 15th instant for our departure ; when, to our
stirprize, the passports were again refused. Upon another ap-
plication by Captain Frescott, the Minister of State wrote to
him, that till the contribution war paid, passports could not be
given; and Captain P. was then requested by the British mer-
chants to prevent British shipping from entering the bay. Upon
adopting this decisive measure, Congress decided that the pass-
ports should be granted, without the previous necessity of pay-
ing contribution ; though, to the great inconvenience of every
one, it has been thought advisable to fix the 21st instant for
quitting the country, and the English establishments here will
be broke up accordingly on. that day.
Ocz. 22.—Government having hinted that the obnoxious
measure of a forced contribution in the cue of the English would
be abandoned, provided they came forward with a loan, a sum
of 7:4400 dollars was cffered them, to be repaid by bills on the?
Custom-house. negociable in six months hence; and the nutter
is befare Congress. They seem willing to take the loan, but not
to rescind the decree upon which they have considered foreigners
liable to contributions ; but as this is made by the latter an in-
dispensable condition of the loan, nothing can be done till this
point be settled On its decision, for or against us, we must yet
consider our remaining in the country or leaving it to hinge."

IMPORTANT NAVAL INTELLIGENCE FROM

THE WEST INDIES.

Coar, Aran. 4.—lntelligence front the West Indies has just
reached us, the intrinsic importance of which must ►trike our
Readers at once: The brig Hawke, Joan Roa,,Master, has ar-
rived in our harbour in .10 days from Barbadoes. A little before
she sailed a French spy-bast, from Martinique, arrived, obvioudy
dispatched to reconnoitre the strength of our naval force on that
station. This purpose did not escape the vigilance of Commo-
dore Owen, who immediately sent the Foare frigate to Mar-
tinique, to ascertain the number of French ships of war then
lying in that harbour. The report of the French force made by
the PORTE, is as follows :
Romulus, 74 guns. Hermione, 44 guns. Mozelle, Mims.
Vestal, 64 'rheas, 44 L'Gtl2/11. 44
Jeande A cre,66 Deride, 44 L'Bgerie, 44

Besides the above formidable squadron, in a bass of peace,
the following French frigates, of the largest class, were hourly
expected, viz.—Guerriere, Circe, Chtopatra.

It is difficult to suppose that the French Government would
maintain so powerful a naval force in the West Indies, without
having some decided political object in view--and as we do not
dun to suspect it of being so prosparres in an its speculations
and projects as to meditate a quarrel., the ocean with England,
we are led to conjecture that some design is meditated against
Cuba--and we confess, for our parts, that we do believe the
acquisition of this noble Island to be at bottom a main incite-
ment to the quarrel with Spain. Bat in this we apprehend the
French Government will be disappointed-•-for England cannot

__wise& a territory as Cuba to be appropriated at the will of
the Cabinet of the Thuilleries..notwitintanding that our naval
force at Barbadoes is inferior to that of the Preach at Pdarthdque.
the following vessels compose the British squadron at Barba-
Lee, and on the &atlas s
AT BABIIADOM

Gioursitut 74 pow, Sir EDWARD OWOII6
Foxes 4B Sir .1. Commons
PIIATOS 53 Captain &ruse.
Ense... ........ —26 Captain LAMLINCIL
11111 t ICON lO Captain Ilowitues.
ON TES STATION.
- Praamvs, s 3s gm, Captain Nirwcowe.
VALO/1091... lli • Captain bloaawy.: ,
Ban (sloop) l5 Captain Les WAIL/111G
biza.rrs (brig) 20 Captain Lena.
Su swat lB Captain Cantos.
BUMAILD 10 Captain Rico.
kraus . ... :10 Captain blorrimors.
The brig Hawke spoke in lat. U. Wog. 45. the brig Cyclo; s
of Whitehaven' from Madeira, Gnaws' Muter, bound to
calm, 17 days Om her port.