Star.
London, England, 1807-06-06 00:00:00

CAPT. FLIXDARt, OF THE Rorw. NAter.

This Offioer, it will. be remembered, befoie he had
completed the objea of his voyage of Difcovery, in
his Majefly's !hip INVESTIGATOR, was obliged, by a
train of unfortunate difa(ters,•to determine his return
to England, in order to obtain another fhip fur the
further profecution of his Voyage. He fent his Firft
Lieutenant (now Captain) FOWLER. to China, in
order to take his pafrage to Europe, in one of the
Eaft India CoMpany's fhipr. Thofe who recoiled
the memorable defeat of the French fquadron under
Admiral Lilo's, by the Hun. Company's fleet, com•
manded by Sir Nantes's'. Dares, will recollat the
name of Lieut. F.4visa, and the affiflance he ren•
tiered un that occafion.

Captain FLINDERS, in the Mean time, in order that
the fervice on which he was tmployed might be
finally accomplifhed, with as great expedition as pof-
fible determined to return to England, or at leaft
to St. Helena, by the rhoft dirat route. With this
intention, he purchafed at Port Jackfon, a fmall vefl'el
of about zo tons, in which he embarked with Tome
of his officers and (hip's campany.—On coming to
fea, he found his little bark very leaky, and very
unfit for the navigation which he had undertaken in
her. When he reached the longitude of the Ifle of
France, judging it unfafe to attempt the paffitge of 'he
Cape in fuch a boat, he bore away for the French
fettlensent.

When Captain FLINDERS left Port Jackfon, do
accounts had reached that fettlement of the war be-
tween England and France. But had he known of,
the war which now caged, he could not but judge
the paffports he had from the French Government,
fufficient to procure him proteElion and every poffi-
ble affifiance. How miferably was he difappointed
when on landing and producing his paffpnrts, he was
told that there were for the Invefligator, and nut
for the little veffel in which he then was. In vain
did he thew his journals of the voyage from its corn.
mencement, in vain did he expoflulate with the French
Governor (Genera! DLCAIN) on the fubjeet ;
that the paffpor is were for &title!, in whatever veffel
he might happen to be embarked in the ferviee with
which he was entrufied, an 4 not for any particular
Chip ; in vain did he produce Iris commiffion to (hew
that he was a Britifh Officer, and that he was the
;fame Captain Flinders, for whom thole paffports had
' been granted by the French G:vernment.—lt was
all +if no avail—pretending to cohlider him as a fpy,
he was thrown into piton, until his fate fhould be
decided by the Government of France.
Upwards of four years have now elapfed fince this
valuable officer has thus pined in captivity--log to
his country, to his ft iende, and to hirnfelf. He knows
not to whom to attribute the negle& which he has
foffered. He cannot doubt that our Government has
applied to that of France in his favour ; yet he is p:-.
fitively Alined by the Governor of •the Mauritius,
that no formal or official demand has ever been made
for him by the Englith Government. For eighteen
months he was a Clore prifoner,'but, on his health de
dining, he was removei into the country, where
the remains on his parole, to keep within a certain
dillance of his habitation. It mull not, however,
be concealed, that from the good and hofpitable in-
habitants of the Ifle of France, he meets with that
kindnefs and attention, which a granger, and parti-
cularly a captive Englillman, never fails to receive
from them.

NEW PARLIAMENT.