Star.
London, England, 1809-03-29 00:00:00

MILITIA COMPLETION U.L.S

After a short converation, is which Lord A. 1-faMit.relk,
Lord CASTLEREAGH, Mr. GILES Mr. M. BIDISULPH, and Mr.
LOCKHART, participated, the Mi itia Coe ipletion Bill went
through a Committee, the•report of which was rectivod, and or-
dered to be taken into further consideration oh the 13th of April,
and the Bill, as amended, was ordered to be printed.
The Local Militia Bill was read a second time, and otaered to
be committed to-morrow.

The SECRETARY at WAR presented an Account of Ile
number of Officers in the Army reduced to half-pay during the
last twelve rnonths.—Ordered to lie on the table.
The Naval Officers Widcw's Pension Bill was read a WA
dam, and passed.--Aijouraed.

LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE.

WHITEH:,LL, MARCH ta.

The King has ',t 10.Ine .1 great the diznity of a Baronet of
c United K ng him of e,rest unto Sir David
Baird, Knight, lieutenant-Cenci-A of bi. Majesty's Forces, and
the heirs male of his ho,ty Lavtudy Int:tie:l, with remainder to
Robcrt Baird, of Newhyth, in the County of Last Lothian, Es 1.
breli I.er it, tie said Sir l'avid Baird, and the roa:e of his body
xful;y begntten.

DOWNING-5 rtEE'r, NIARCH I.

Dispatches, of which the foli.m jag are cop:et, 11;,ve Crt:s dr
bee.' received front Lioutuitain (e era! E.:cku :ea. Comman-
d. r hi% I\ iajesty's I orces in 'he Leeward Ists:.c,s, ade.rtsstd
to Viscount Ca-tlereagh, oat of his Niajcity s l r.r.c:ial Secre-
taries of State.

Ilirtuf-rf Feb 1.
My Lord—ln my last. No. 42, I '.laJ honcur
to report to your Lordship the sailing of the army

from Carlisle. Bay upon the 2Sth ult. I have now
the s itisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that we
landed in two divisions upon the 30th.
"Islie first division, under the orders of Lieutenant
General Sir George Prevost, censisting of between
silt and seven thousand men, at Bay Robert on the
Windward Coast, in the course of the afternoon with-
out opposition ; and notwithstanding the difficulties
of the Country, we occupied a position on the banks
of the 'Grande Lezard river before day-break of the
31st, with a corps of nearly four thousand men, after a
night march of seven miles through a difficult cool tr
These services were greatly facilitated by the ju-
dicious and manly conduct of Captain Beaver of his
Majesty's ship Acasta, who led into the bay in a bold
and officer like manner, [receded by his Majesty's
brig Forester, Captain Richards. The exertions and
success of this measure were completely effective,
two transports only striking in the narrow passage at
the entrance of the bay.
Hitherto we have experienced no resistance from
the militia of the country, and they manifest a dispo-
sition every where to return to their homes, in con-
formity to a joint proclamation by the Admiral and
myself, which is obtaining a very extensive circulation.
The second division of the army, consisting of up-
wards of three thousand men, under the command of
Major General Maitland, landed near St. Luce and
Point Solomon on the morning of the 30th, but as
our communication with that corps is not yet esta-
blished, I cannot enter into any details.
Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, with the
advance in my front, will take possession of the
heights of Bruno in the course of this day, and I am
led to expect will there for the first time feel the pulse
of the regular troops of the enemy.
The port of Trinite, which lies beyond the line of
our operations, will, by order of Captain Beaver of
the navy, be taken possession of this day by a detach-
ment of seamen and marines from the squadron to
windward, under the command of Captain Dick of
his Miljesty's ship Penelope.
The Admiral, with the body of the fleet and store-
ships, is in the vicinity of Pigeon Island, at the entrance
of Fort Royal Bay.
Our operations to windward have been vigorous
and effectual in point of time, and the privations of
the troops have been considerable, and borne in a
manner worthy of the character of British soldiers.
From what has passed, I am of opinion the inhabi-
tants of the country manifest a friendly disposition
and after the heights of Surirey shall be carried,
which I expect will be strongly contested, the cam-
paign will be reduced to the operations of a siege, and
the defence of the fortress.
The services rendered by the Captains and Officers'
of the navy to windward have been great and essen-
tial, and the exertions of Captain Withers of the navy,
principal Agent for Transports, peculiarly merito-
rious. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)
GEO. BECKWITH, Com. Forces.
The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Castlereagh, &c. &e. &c.
Martinique, Heights J Surirey, Feb. 5.
My Lord—ln my letter of the Ist instant, I had
the h.oncor to report. for his Majesty's informatbn,
the progress thee made in our operations again A. the
enemy ; my expectation that Lieutenant Gene:a!
George Prevost %. culd meet them upon ‘..lnale ti-
no, and that the heights of Surirey would be warmly
contested, was realized in the course of the same day,
and both were carried under the direction of the Lieu-
tenant General with that decision and judgment which
belong to this respectable officer, and much to the
honour of Brigadier General Houghton, the officers
and men of the Fusilier Brigade and Light Battalion,
engaged on that service.
On the 2d it appeared to rne to be desirable to ex-

tend to the right of our position, which was eilected
in a spirited manner by the King's infantry. An ex-
ertion was then made to carry the advanced redoubt,
but having soon reason to believe that it would have
been acquired with a loss beyond the value of the ac-
quisition, the troops were withdrawn, and the enemy
abandoned it during the night, with another redoubt
contiguous to it, s i ill evident marks of disorder ;
both will be occupied and included in our position
this night. Pigeon Island surrendered at discretion
yesterday, which enables the shippirg to enter Fort
Royal Bay ; all their batteries on the Case Navicre
side have been destroyed and abandoned, a frigate
and some other merchant vessels burned, the lower
fort abandoned, and all their troops withdrawn from
Fen Royal to the principal fortress.
I consider the in.:Ts:attire to be nearly completed,
and we must now look for the operations of a siege.
Time does not admit El details, but your Lordship
will perceive that these operations have been effected
in eight days ft orn oar quitting Barbedoes, notwith•
standing heavy rains and most unfavourable weight r,
in who: the troops have borne every species of pri-
vathee ia a niamier worthy their character as British
eclei•ers. have the honour to be, Se. (Signed)
C co. BECK V. MI, Corn. Forces.
be Eeri Lord :,wont (.;:e•Irreal„11, &c. &c. &c.
Ca:r 1-Itigl.rs c< Sur:rcy, r;miqqc, Fe). 10.
I.c.rd— Having, in my conommications of the
Ist aeel r)ih instare. enbmitted to your Lordship's
at;on re_eened r i orts the operations of the
army I h ve tee honour to commaed. I aow beg leave
ti, ir.chea: t;,e :leeeial reports of the Ceneral Officers
cerneriandnig di vis:cm., and of 12,ri:„;adier-Cenerel
Irio,leon, v. Lose Li ii;,de was in 7,ction upon the I st;
,rate rctune, f ,tir loss upon the astand 2J,
which, I am inclined to believe, will terminate our
operatioe., i!,e
fiirt, la mealy Fort Edererd, was taken
pe,eet,:eer, c.f lefore daybreak in the morning of the
ceth, by Ma;ce commanding the Royal

York Rangers, with that regiment, without resis-
,' tance, and we now occupy that work.
St. Pierre surrendered to Lieutenant-Colonel
! Barnes, of the 46th Regiment, the day before yester-
day, and I have not yet received the aetails.—ln the
course of all these services, where the co-operation of
the navy was practicable, the greatest exertions have
been made by the Rear-Admiral • and the important
advantages rendered on shore by that excellent officer
Commodore Cockburn, in the reduction of Pigeon
island, and the landing cannon, mortars, and am-
munition at Point Negru, and conveying them to the
several batteries on that side, have been of the highest
importance to the King's service. I have, &c.
(Signed) GEo. BECKWITH, COM. Forces.
To Lord Viscount Castlereagh, &c. &c. &c.
Maniple°, Heights of Surirer, February 2.
I _

Sir—ln conformity with your orders I disembarked
on the 30th ult. with the Fusilcer brigade of the first
division of the army, at Malgre Tout, in the bay
Robert, at four o'clock P. M. and proceeded from
thence to De Manceaufs estate, where I arrived late,
in consequence of the difficulties of the country, and
the unfavourable state of the roads for the movement
of cannon.

Before the dawn of the next day I reached Papin's,
and proceeded from thence with the advance, com-
posed of the Royal Fusileer Regiment, and the
Grenadier company of the Ist West India Regiment.
The enemy retiring &fore me, I reached the heights
of De Bork's 'estate towards evening, where I was
joined at day-light, on the Ist instant, by Brigadier-
General Hoghton with the. 23d Regiment and the
Light Infantry battalion, under the command of
Major Campbell, of the Royal West India Rangers.
I lost no time after this junction, and pushed forwards
the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, with
the Royal Fusileers, to possess himself of Morne
Bruno ; this movement I supported by the Light In-
fantry battalion, under Brigadier-General Hoghton,
who was ordered, after uniting the two corps, to pro-
ceed to force the heights of Desfourneaux, whilst I
held the Royal Welch Fusileers in reserve to strength-
en such points of attack as might require it.
As the greater part of this operation was conducted
by the Brigadier-General with spirit, I shall now beg
leave to refer to his report, which accompanies mine.
To it I have only to add, that on my coming on the
heights of Surirey, I had innumerable proofs of the
valour and judgment of the Honourable Lieutenant-
Colonel Pakenham, of the excellence of the Fusileer
brigade, and of the spirited and judicious exertions of
Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis and Majors Pearson and
Offley of the 23d or Royal Welch Fusileers, also of
the bravery of Major Campbell and the Light Infan-
try battalion, all of which have enabled me to retain
this valuable position without artillery, within three
hundred yards of the enemy's intrenched camp co-
vered with guns. The officers belonging to my staff
distinguished themselves by their zeal and activity
during the heat of the action. I have to lament the
loss of Captain Taylor, Acting Deputy Quarter-
Master-General, who was severely wounded whilst
rendering effectual services to his country.
I cannot omit acknowledging, that to Lieutenant
Hobbs, of the Royal Engineers, I am indebted
for the rapidity of our movements, and ultimate suc-
cess, from his acquaintance with this country, which
enabled him to guide and direct our movements.—
Enclosed is a return of killed, wounded, and missing
on this occasion. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) GEORGE PaEvosv, Lieut. Gen. •
To Lieutenant-General Beckwith, &c. &c. &c.

Heights of Surirey, February F.

Sir—l have the honour to repeat, tiiat, in obedi-
ence to your orders, I moved from the habitation
Bork at seven o'Clock this morning, with the light
battalion commanded by Major Campbell, and being
joined on the heights of Bruno by the Hon. Lieute-
nant-Culonel Pakenham with the 7th Regiment,
the Ride Company of the Regiment, and the
Grenadiers of the Ist West India Regiment, I pro-
ceeded towards the heights of Defourneaux, agreea-
bly to my instructions. The column was scarcely in
motion before a considerable body of the enemy's re-
gular forecs, commanded (as has been since aseer-
tair.L.d) by General of Brigade D'Houdelot, was
discovered very advantageously posted on the decli-
vity of a hill, with the river Mrtnsieur in their front,
and one or two field-pieces on their left. Having re-
connoitered their posi(ion, I determined to attack
them, althoutTli the Light Artillery attached to the
brigade could not be brought up. The Honourable
Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, with the Ride Com-
pany and Grenadiers of the 7th, and the Rifle Com-
pany cf the 2tld, was directed to turn the right, and
Major Campbell with the Light Battalion the. left of
the enemy's position, whilst I proceeded to attack
them in nom with the Battalion Companies of the
70i, and the Grenadiers of the Ist West India: The
result proved in every respect such as was to be ex-
pected from the bravery and discipline of the troops
which I had the honour to have placed under my
command. The enemy were driven back from every
part of their position with considerable loss, and
retired in the greatest disorder. _

The Hon. rieutenant•Colonel Pakenham having
Turned the right dank of the enemy, pushed forward
towards the heights of Surirey, supported, in the first
instance, by the right wing of the 23d, under the
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, and subse-
quently by the remainder of that Regiment (under
Major Pearson), which had joined me, by your or-
ders, immediately after the action on the river
Monsieur.—The enemy had collected a considerable
force (chiefly drawn from Fort Bourbon) to defend
the approaches to the heights of Surirey, supported
by a small field train, and favoured by a very strong
yosition. Notwithstanding such formidable obsta-
cles, Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, seconded by the
exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, Majors Pear-
son and Oiilev of the 23d, and the determined bra-
vety or the whole detachment, after repeated attacks,
at length, by a very spirited charge, compelled the
enemy to take shelter under the cover or their re•
doubts, and established his position on the heights.
At this moment you resumed the command of the
adv:lnce, and in conformity with your orders, T
brought up the remainder of the Royal Fuzileers, and
the Light Battalions, to the heights of Surirey. I
have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)
DANIEL' Hounrox, Brig. Gen.
To Licutenant-General Sir George Prevost, But. &c. &c. &c.

Camp, la Cosy, February 8.
Sir—The div:sion 'under my command landed at
St. Luce early on Monday morning the 90th January,

FROM