Star.
London, England, 1815-05-01 00:00:00

AMERICA.

By the Erebus sloop of war, which arrived at Ports•
mouth on Friday from Halifax, accounts have been
received of the failure of the small Expedition up the
River St. Mary, respecting which some uncertain ru-
mours were derived from American Papers. The
farce which went up the river consisted of eight
barges, manned and armed, with detachments of ma-
rines, &c. under the direction of Captain Phillott, of
the Primrose, and Captain Bartholomew, of the Ere.
bus. It had proceeded a distance of 100 miles, and
within three quarters of a mile. of its destination,
when it was attacked, out of the woods, on the Flo-
rida side (the Spanish side therefore neutral) by the
patriots, and with them a great number of regulars
and dismounted riflemen. A sharp skirmishing took
place, and in about twenty minutes the enemy were
dislodged. The enemy's works, which were the ob-
ject of attack, were every where prepared, and the
bugle sounding the approach of our force, it was
deemed prudent to retire. In less than a quarter of
an hour the boats were again attacked, and in, such a
situation that the assailants could not be seen for trees,
while they were not more than 15 yards from the centre
of the river, it being extremely narrow in that part.
This attack lasted about twenty minutes, and in
less than an hour another atack took place on the
retreating boats, from both sides of the river. Our
forces conducted themselves with the greatest coolness
and intrepidity, and fought their way through this
powerful opposition, for a space of nearly 40 miles,
from two o'clock in the afternoon till one the next
morning. Early in the action Captain Phillutt re-
ceived a slight buck-shot wound above the Icft knee,
and a slight flesh woond in the hip. The loss we
sustained has been severe, and consists of twenty-nine
killed and wounded, and among the latter eighteen
dangerously. Capt. Bartholomew was also wounded
by a rifleman in the back part of his head, and as
was putting up his lett hand to feel the wound, a
part of the middle finger and thumb were shot away
by another of these expert marksmen ; he was aho
wounded by a buck-shot under the left breast, and wa.
struck with another in the neck, alorost in the great
artery. Lieutenant Clark, of the Devastation mortar
vessel, shot a rifleman in the act of pointing at him.

PRIVATE LETTER.
• " Halifax, April 1, lats.
' " Sir George Prevost returns to England immedi.
attly, an Express having arrived from Quebec with,
dispatches, and an application to the Admiral at this
station for a frigate to be in readiness at St. John's,
New Brunswick, on the 10th of April, and at which
place Sir George intends to embark, travelling over-
land from Quebec to the latter place. Sir Gordon
Drummeud will succeed to the Government of
Lower Canada, and Sir George Murray to that of
Upper Canada, while Sir John Sherbrooke will assume
the command of the forces in North America. The
above Express.left Quebec the list of March. The
news of the Peace with America had been received
with great indifference throughout Canada.
66 Rcar-Admiral Griffith has been appointed to
command the squadron in North America. and pro-
ceeds immediately in the Pomone frigate, Captain
Lumley, to Bermuda, to relieve Sir Alex. Cochrane,
who returns immediately to Europe. The establish-
ment of ships under Rear-Admiral Griffith is to
consist of one line of battle ship, four frigates, and
six sloops of war.
66 There are now at Halifax the following ships of
war, viz. Centurion, (Rig ship); Tencdos, Captain
Parker ; Bacchante, Captain Stanfell ; Cossack, Cap-
tain Rodney ; Charybdis, Captain Clephane ; and
Erebus, Captain Bartholomew ; the latter proceeds
immediately -for England.
~ There is as yet no appearance of the Falmouth
January Packet at Halifax, although isaelligence has
been received of the same sailing on the 12th of that
math : the Packet is the Lady Wellington, and se-
rious apprehensions are entertained for her safety.—
Tne Pack:as of February and March are now daily
ex,• 4ected, and anxiously wished for, as there has been
mails received here from England since the sign-
ing of the treaty of peace with America.
4, The Osborne Packet sailed With a mail for Eng-
land the `..!Eith of March. _ _

6, The Tenedos has this morning sailed for Eng-
land ; and the! Porn:lne, bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral Griffith, is *tow under weigh for Bermuda.
The British garrison at Castine, consisting of the
29th, 62d, and 99th regiments, ate all prepared to
quit that place at the shortest notice. A Lieutenant-
Colonel Stark of the 33J United States Infantry had
arrived there for the purpose of arranging all matters
relative to the evacuation.
" His Majesty's ships Spencer, Captain Raggett,
and Balwark, Captain Epworth, with several sail of
transports, are now at Castine, waiting to receive the
ga: rison of that place.
44 Rear-Admiral Cockburn, with the British forces
from Cumberland Island, was to leave that place on
the 19th March tor Bermuda.
" The Cossack frigate, Captain Rodney, sails to-
morrow for St. J des, New Brunswick; in order to
take Sir George Prevost to England.
M,jor-Gcneral Glasgow, of the Royal Artillery,
is off the Staff in Canada, and returns to England in
the No arrangemen hive as yet been made
for the disposal of the troops in that country."