Star.
London, England, 1809-02-15 00:00:00

FRENCH BULLETIN.

The following is a correct translation of the 31st
Bulletin, the substance of which we gave on Monday:
" The English regiments bearing the numbers 42,
50, and 52, have been entirely destroyed in. the battle
of the 16th, near Corunna. Not 60 men of each of
these corps embarked. The General in Chief, Moore,
has been killed in attempting to charge at the head
of this brigade, with the view of restoring the fortune
of the day. Fruitless efforts 1 This troop was dis-
persed, and its General slain in the midst of it. Ge-
neral Baird had been already wounded. He passed
through Corunna to get on board his ship, and did
not get his wound dressed till he .got on board ; it is
reported that he died on the 19th. After the battle
of the 16th, a dreadful night passed at Corunna. The
English entered in confusion and consternation. The
English army had landed more than 80 pieces of can-
non ; only twelve pieces were re-embarked ; the re-
mainder has been taken or lost ; and by a return
made, we find ourselves in possession of sixty pieces
of English cannon.
" Independent of two millions of treasure the army
has taken from the English, it appears that a treasure
more considerable has been cast away among the rocks
and precipices which border the road from Astorga
to Corunna. The peasants and the soldiers have col-
lected a great quantity of silver among the rocks.--
In the engagements which took place during the re-
treat, and prior., to the battle of Corunna, two Eng-
lish Generals were killed, and three wounded.—
Gen. Crawtord.is named among the last. The English
have lost every thing that constitutes an army—Ge-
nerals; artillery, horses baggage, ammunition, ma-
gazines. On the 17th, at day-break, we were masters
of the heights that command the road to Corunna,
and the batteries were playing upon the English con-
voy. The result was, that many of the ships were
unable to get out, and were taken •at the capitula-
tion of Corunna. Five hundred horses were also
taken still alive, sixteen thousand muskets, and a
great deal of battering cannon, abandoned by the
enemy. A great number of magazines are full of
preserved provisions (munition colfecti.nnce), which
the English wished to carry off, but were obliged to
leave behind. A powder magazine, containing
200,0001b5. of powder has also fallen into our hands.
The English, surprised by the issue of the battle
of the 16th, have not even had time to destroy their
magazines. There were even 300 sick in the hospi-
tal. We found in the port seveh English ships—three
were loaded with horses, and four with troops. They
could not get out.
" The fortress of Corunna is of an extent which
secures it from a coup de main. It was, therefore, im-
possible to enter it before the 20th, in virtue of the
capitulation. In Corunna we found above 200
pieces of Spanish cannon. The French Consul Four-
croy, the General Quesnel, and his Staff; M. Bougars,
Officer of Ordnance; M. Taboureau, Auditor; and
350 French soldiers or seamen, who had been made
prisoners either in Portugal, or on board the ship
Atlas, have been delivered up. They express great
satisfaction at the conduct of the Officers of the Spa-
nish navy. The English will have gained by ilfeir
expedition the hatred of the Spaniards, shame, and
dishonour. The flower of their army, composed of
Scotchmcn, had been either wounded, killed, or taken.
" Gene'4l., Franceschi has entered St Jago de
Compostella, where he found some magazines, and
.an English guard, which he took. He marched im-
mediately upon Vigo. • komana appealed to have
taken this. route with 2500 men, all that he could
rally. The division of Mermit marched en Ferrol.
The air about Corunni is infected by the carcasses of
1200 horses, whom the EnElish killed in the streets.
The first care of the Duke of Dalmatia has been to
'provide for the restoration of salubrity, equally impor-
tant to the soldiers and the inhabitants. General
Aceveda, Governor of Corunna, appears to have taken
part with the insurgents only from the constraint of
force. He took the oath of fidelity to King Joseph
Napoleon with enthusiasm. The people manifest the
joy they feel at being delivered from the

it SfrIIIMOS Craig ,W* In CatastA. Ltiteeirdhei Q. (By Mr. Jon!. SMITH.) Was not -Major Cogan
you is
krieizz:iiiityl
was in Sicily.—Q. Would he have refused the op= one of the' oldest Captains in the Army ?A. It
Ointment, if it interfemitwithbis iituation in the 81st
ivnesrytaipicoessolbflea hperimvaitgehsot he so: .o—f
Tegtment I A. lam quite positive.
Q. (By a MEMBER) Is the Deputy Adjutant Ge- who by his good conduct arrived at the rank of Cap.
.. Qa.dljragoon
neral in Sicily on full pay, or does he only receive , tain, and obtained a Quarter-master's warrant, ar,d
that of his situation ?A. I believe on full pa y. •in that situation commanded OR who had beer.
Q. (Sy-Lord FOLICSTONE.) Are the Staff Officers _lieutenants when he was a private ?
on half pay ever since they obtained their situations? Colonel WOOD objected to the question, as cols.
A. They were on full pay when appointed, and put inig within that line of examination which the Com.
on half pay as soon afterward& as possible; a vacancy mittee had already decided against. He understood
must occur on the half pay establishment, before they the opinion to be, that no ease should be gone into
can be put on half pay.— Q. What regiment was Co- except where the rules and regulations of the army
lonel Shawe in before he was appointed to the Staff had been brokeei in upon. If questions such as tests
situation ? A. He had often exchanged ; but I be- were to be admitted, they *ould not know where to
lieve he was appointed from the 40th.—Q. Had Sir stop. To enquire into cases of promotion, wlit:re the
H. Burrard a command in the Guards at that time ? rules of the army had not been broken in upon, would
A. Yes, I think in London.—Q. Are the documents be to trench upon the prerogative of the Crown, ,n
•
you read to the Committee all the documents which which yeas exclusively vested the power of grauting
you have relative to Colonel Shavee's appointment ? comm MissionsMissions
BOURNE in thNE observed, that the Honourala,,
A. Yes.—Q. All you had in the office 3? A. Yes, r. S.
I think so.—Q. Is it the custom to place officers on i Member opposite (Mr. Wardle) had been stopp,i
the Staff without first enquiring of the Commanding i from going into other matter, in order that J. ):7 e
Officer of the regiments to which they belong relative questions might be put to the witness relative ti, i 2„
to their conduct ? A. It is the general mode to en- lonel Meyricke Shaw. lie put it then to the W.I.
quire, but Colonel Shawe had not been six months in Member, whether he would travel into other W.I.
tht 40th. Sir H. Burrard knew him.—Q. Do' ou until that immediately under consideration had bee:
not apply in general to the Colonels who command . disposed of.
the regiments ? A. No, they 'are not very often good Mr. J. SMITH stated the object of his question tr
judges, being frequently absent from their regiments. be to impeach the evidence of the witness at the Bar,
Q. Was there no application concerning Colonel for whom, however, ho felt a high respect. That
Shawe but to Sir H. Burrard ? A. Sir H. Burrard witness had stated, that the !e:tled regulations of the
mentioned, that Sir James Craig was his friend.— Q. army had never been broken into. tie wilt iiisi acrola
Did Colonel Shawe serve under Sir James Craig ? ,ao state that the contrary was the case ; and it era:
A. I do not know, but it is likely he might in India. to shew this that he had put the question CO flit
Q. (By General Lorrus.) Do you know Colonel witness.
Meyrick Shawe ?A. Yes.—Q. Was he not confi- Mr. S. BOURNE should not object to the. question
dential Secretary to Lord Wellesley in India ? A. if it were put with any view of impeaChing any test
Yes, he was 'strongly recommended by him.—Q. In mony given at the Bar.
consequence of his purchasing the Lieutenant Colo- • Sir GEORGE WARRENDER, though he di(
nelcy of a Regiment not in India, was he put on half not approve of the course of examination 'which ha,
pay? A. Yes, he was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 31st. been pursued, yet considered this question as prOpet
Q. (By Mr. WARDLE.) Was Colonel Shawe se- as those which had immediately before been put, re.
nior to the Major of the 76th when he entered it.?— lative to Col. Meyricke Shawe.
A. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel.—Q. Did not he 1 Mr. W. POLE informed the Committee, that th
serve as Captain in the 76th, under the present Ma- object of his questions was to put the Committee ii
jor ? A. Ido not know ; he had served in the 76th, possession of a fact of
at Colon which it seemed.
been not to
o havt
and was anxious on that account to serve in it again. been aware, thl had Lieu.
Q. From what regiment was lie advanced ?A. He tenant-Colonel same years before Major Cogan wai
belonged to a garrison battalioa in Ireland. —Q. In a Major.
case of death during service, is it not usual to ap- . Mr. YORKE observed, that the inquiry concern,
point the next in succession to the vacant place ? A. ing Samuel Carter had beer, stopped, in order to pry
Yes, where merit dues not interfere.— Q. Had not ceed with the case of Col. Shawe ; but, if it w.
Major Cogan the command of the 16th, in the Ex- contended that the regulations of the army had be(
pedition to Spain ? A. The regiment sailed under broken in upon, he was of opinion that the questii
the command of Colonel Simes, bat, on account of should be put.
his illness, it naturally devolved on Major Cogan.— (hadenrl LOFTUS recollected the evidence wh
Major Cogan is a Major, of August, 1807. —Q. Is ' been given by the witness on a fprmer nig]
he not longer in the army than Colonel M. Shawe ? and he was convinced it could not be impeached.
A. It is likely. I know he is a respectable old 01E- He had not said that the rules of the army were Ile'
cer, but it is the province of the .Comm.tr,der in departed from, but not generally, and except in si
Chief to judge of his comparative merits.—Q. What cial instances.
service did Lieutenant-Colonel-M. Shawe perform to 1 (Witness again called in, and examined by Mr.
entitle him to promotion? SMITH.) Q. Arc you acquainted with Capt. Brimcl
{ '
The witness ordered to withdraw. i who is now, or lately was Paymaster in the sth DI
:he EXCHEQUER , von Guards? A. I cannot say I have that pl

rlt.Txt oF-YOR_Ic.
The Reuse having resolved itself into a Commilteeil
for .4he further prosecution of till enquiry coAcernixtg
his Royal Highness,
BuIDGEm4s: was called in, and examined by
Mr. WARDLE.
Q. Do you recollect Pearson, Mrs. Clarice's butler,.
calling on you to get change of a note, in July, 1805 ?
A. Yes, I d0...-Q. Where do you live ?A. In Vere-
street, No. 6.—Q. What is your business ? A. I am
a confectioner.—Q. State what passed relative to the
note ?A. I could not change ft.—Q. Did Parson
call to get it changed ? A. Yes.
Q. (By the CUANCELLOR of the Excitactuaa.) Did
you take no memorandum ?A. No.—Q. What was
the value of the note ? A. I think Pearson said it was
4100.—Q. What was the time ? A. 1 cannot say.
Q. (By General Lorms.) • Did Pearson Often come
to your house ?A. Yes, he' did.—Q. To get notes
changed ?A. Yes ; small ones.—Q. Did you not see
hint at this time ? A. No, I did not.
Q. (by Mr. WILBERFORCE.) What was the largest
note you ever changed for him ? A. I do not recol-
lect ; he did not bring high notes.
Q. (By Lord FOLKESTONE.) Was this in Summer ?
A. Yes ; I believe it was.—Q. Have you any part-
ner in your business? A. We have another concerned
in the business, but he is not a partner.—Q. Did you
or he manage the money concerns in 1803 ? A. He
had nothing to say to them, for he was in the country.
Mr. A. SIIAWE called in, and examined by
Mr. WARDI E. •
Q. Do you know Colonel Shawe's writing ? A. I
oaght.—Q. Is that his? (spewing a letter). A. Yes,
I think it is.—Q. Have you any doubt ?A. No.
Q. (By Lord HE.NNIKER.) Did you ever see him
write ? A. Sir, he is my Son.
Mr. CHARLES SHAM.: called in, and examined by
• MT. WARDI.E.
Q. Did you know that 4420 q was given to Mrs.
Clarke on the account of Colonel Shawe ? A. No, it
was 4300.-9. At what time ? A. I 'received a let-
ter from Colonel Shawe, stating, that he wished to
give £3OO to a friend who had obliged him, and trans-
mittied me an order to that amount on Coutts and
Co. which was duly honoured, and which £3OO I paid
tJ Mrs. Clarke on the very day on which I received it.
Q. (By the CHANCELLOR of the Exciteguatt,)
When was this A. I kept no memorandum; but by
referring to the books of Coutts and Co. I find that it
was May the 9th, 1806.—Q. Was the letter written
from the Cape ? A No, from Bath.—Q. Have you
sot the letter ? A. No ; unfortunately I have lost it :
.fut I recollect it stated that he believed Mrs. Clarke
wished to serve him, and though he got his appoint
ment through his friend Sir H. Burrard, still as she
was his friend also, he wished to be kind to her. Mrs.
Clarke had on the last night thrown out some asper-
sions on Colonel Shawe ; now, if necessary, I can
bring to the Bar of this House, many respectable
officers to prove that he has uniformly, fully, and
faithfully discharged all his pecuniary engagements.
hits services are well known. The £3OO was merely
loan to Mrs. Clarke. I hope the warmth with

.oan to ini a. ....___ - .
WiliCh I have spoken will be excused,- (Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the ree.—_ ;go
_
Colonel WARDLE said, he did not desire to ask objected to the question, as he could not see its bear- sure.—Q. Do you not know that he is a very mk
any more questions as to this point. . ing on the case in point ; the enquiry was
bet whether • I
! A toriousha officer, an y d that he t
I was formerly
the pleasu
a rivet
Colonel Goevos called in, and examined by the regulations of the army shouldaltered, .have alread have not
Mr. WARDLE. and he could see no necessity for putting questions on iof knowing him at Q. Do you know M:
Q. Wien Colonel Shawe was appointed Deputy that point, which must prove unpleasant to the feel- I Clarke ? A. I never had the pleasure of seeing h
Barrack-Master-General, was he put on half-pay ?A. ings of the witness. ;until I saw her at the Bar of the House, a few c
Am Ito answer the question directly, or to read his Mr. WHITBREAD objected to the reasoning of ', lags ago.
progress to the House. the Right Honourable Gentleman. Colonel Gurdon 1 - Q. (By Mr. GEO. JOHNSTONE.) In one of the
Mr. \YHA RTON.—You are to answer the question, had, on a fermei night, stated the geneehl rules of • cuments of the correspondence between Sir N:
as it has been put, explaining any point you think the army, and he thought any question which went il Burrard and yourself, mpecting Col. Shawe's'
obscure as you proceed. to see whether these rules were adhered to was in or- ness, it is stated that you would wish to see Gel
A. I have not the documents about me. It was der and strictly proper. If individual cases of pro- Burrard that evening, (on the 28th of Ivieree
in the end of March. 1806. motion occurred, it was proper to see that there was ! or the following morning, I wish to know will
Q. You refer to his appointment ? A. Yes, he was no doubt of the services which caused such promo- I yqu did see trimaccordipgly ? A. I think it al,
immediately put on halt-pay.—Q. How soon ?A. tion : this was, he contended, a case in point, and I certain that I did see him, because the nextlete
Indeed I cannot say, but it is a point easily ascer- the question went to shew, that Colonel Shawe had j received from him coatained an answer to some'
rained by a reference to the Army List.—Q. Is the been appointed in opposition to the rules which Colo- I had said to him at the interview.—Q. Did you
document in your office ? A. Yes. nel Gerdon had laid down. He was well aware, and' suggest the appointment of Deputy Barrack Me
Q, (By the Clieereteeut of the EXCHEQUER.) State felt deeply the painfulness of the task, but still the ,at the Cape, to Gen. •Burrard, and that it mil
to the Committee what you know concerning Colonel duty was paramount to any feeling wha
Utever.
ER obwasvtaired
nt? for M
A.ajor I
am,
awryh positi or did
ve that you sltate
did,
ti!
Shawe's appointment ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQaca
The tern cone read a number of recommenda- I said he perceived there was a perfect agreement as tO think it most likely.—Q, Had you any conver
tory letters concerning Colonel Shawe, addressed to the line to be pursued, but the difference aeose from with the Commander in Chief on the subject, an,
him by Sir Harry Burrard, together with-his answers; a misconceptien of fact. The Honourable Gentle... he expressed an earnest desire to provide for Co
he also read a letter from Colonel Shawe to Sir H. man bad assumed, that Colonel e:hawe had been ap- j Shawe ? • A. I do not recollect the Comme.e
Burrard, stating his services in the array for `2•') years, pointed contrary to rule, which was not the case ; I Chief expressing any such desire, but he mint
and his chagrin at seeing an inferior officer placed Colonel Gordon had not declared any such thing, and i done so, as otherwise I should not have, of rn
above him hy purchase. The end of the applications so there was no necessity for the present question. It ! suggeaed such an appointment.—Q. Did
was the appointment of Colonel Shawe to the Deputy would be best to begin by asking if the appointment i mander in Chief ever speak to you on the stibjk
Barrack-mastership. was not of the usual mode, and then the services of I Col. Shawe's exchange, and was it not necessao
The -witness was ordered to withdraw. Colonel Shawe might be inquired into. I if he had, you would; in the discharee of your oi
b •
Mr. ADAM wished the witness should be asked Mr. WARDLE professed himself satisfied with I duty, have made some representation to the I
to prove the handwriting of Sir H. Burrard. i this suggestion, bur if
Colonel M.
he Shawe hadpresen beent
not men
re der in Chie
that hf, concern
did. in
Bgutthere I must beg
Col. Shwe? A.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did under many ocers over whom at collect e
of
not consider this the proper mode of proceeding. He placed, ,he ten thought the question fair. Ito remark, that it is pressing my memory very
thought the letters should hare been read, and then, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER considering that there are above 12,000 officers
if any material circumstance had arisen out of them, said, the only difference between them wet. the con- • Beiteah leeway, with eheieet 01l of whom 1 bevel
that Sir 1-1. Burrard himself might be called to the founding of services and inferiority of rank. `respond, or to be addressed by them.
Bar and examined—as it was, the letters were not' Witness again called in, and examined by Mr. I Q. (By Mr..Laets.) Did you ever hear th
evidence. WARDLE. Clarke sold or pretended to sell commission!
NV fitness aoain called in, and examined by Q. Was thee any deviation from rule in the ap- army before you heard it in this House ?A.
Mr. WARDLE. Lou
pointment of Colonel Shawe to the 76th ? A, None but through the medium of the numerous heel,
Q. In his levers Colonel Shawe stated a promise whatever, It is a rule not to place officers over others have- lately been published againo the
of preferment from the Duke of York. What was of the same rank : but Colonel Shawe was a Lieute- 'I
in Chief.—Q. Did you take any measures to act-
it ? A. I suppose he alluded to the answer given to nanteColonel, and in this case he was properly placed , whether the fact was so ? A. I have already
his applications, o that he was noted for promotion, over a Majon—Q. Had Samuel Carter any reionn- • that in the Autumn of 1804 I heard that gnat
and would be advanced the first opportunity."—lt is mendation to the Ensigncy of the 16th Regiment , existed, I made all the enquiry that lyas
the usual answer.—Q. Had-he no other promise than A. Yes. power into the nature and extent of the abuse
that ? A. No. —Q.Is it usual for Officers, who ac- Q. (By Mr. Weeerseee POLE.) When was Cogan i I understood to exist. The letter now tof
cept a Staff appointment abroad, to be put on halt appointed Major, A. He was appointed gajor in 1 and
was then written, to caution all.
pay ?A. Yes, with some exceptions.—Q. Was the August 1807.—What was the date of Shaw's Leu- ' against such abuses. I have since
hadhd pesite
I
Officer, who had this appointment before Col. Shawe, tenant-Colonelship ? A. do not exactly know. I of the existence ot the abuses, n ave o
On half pay ? A. I think Colonel Shavre was the first think he has been a Lieutenant-Colonel about three
lemiarnenentd
fro Coasteth to d as to he
eans of puishne
who held the situation e• be got it on the capture of years or upwards. em em at thme offence did nnoto
the place. Colonel Gordon here teed a long list of Q. (By General Lorres.) Was Colonel M. Shaw even a misdemeanor. I was then induced
the Officers who held Staff appointments in our foreign employed in any of the India Regiments before his to the Secretary at war; and the clause
possessions ; they were almost all on half payentrance into the regular service ?A.I do not Mutiny Act, imposing penalty •for the
as to those who were not, he gave a special reason for know.—Q. When Officers are placed on a Staff ap- was resorted tn.--Q. From what source
their exemption from the general rule. pointment, and consequently on half pay, is not Go- derive your infornfaiun respecting these al
Q. (By Sir GEORC R E WARENDER. ) , How many vernment pledged to plug_ them oz full pay again, in A. I rather think it
the was anonymous ; but,,'
Staff Officers now on half pay were on half pay case of their losing their appointment ? A. The Coin• quirt',
I found at account was true an'
previous to receiving their, -A
foreign appointments ? A. mander in Chief has been invariably governed by the abuse, in a
nee inetanc
ebdent, an are, o a Mr. From
thie,t
They were all on full tiay.—Q. Was Sir William ,that. hat rule. broker, and M. Hmy cif
Keir on full pay ?A. He was onhalf day. • Q. (By tho Se.carreny •at Watt.) Do you know liement-street. I sent for Mr. Frome,
Q. (By General Fiezeivreico.) Is Sir W. Keir that I had any interest in the promotion of Lieute.! much conversation, he admitted dna th'
now receiving half pay ? A. That is a . financial nant-Colonel Sutor ? A. With All possible deference I £lOOO had been paid for a
Paymaste LEI
rshh)
questiqn to which I have no objection to speak ge- to the House, I must say you importuned me very 1 the battalions of the German Legion.
nerally-1 Velieve not. Much upon the subject. (4 lau,gh.)—Q. • Did I net lection, I think he said, that Only a per cent
Q.. (By Mr. Aiteeektoostie) Was Colonel Kemp imporeunejou to keep him on toll nay. as long as it i the money had been paid to him, and the i
appointed i A
A, Yes, thtouglrthe reconemendetion was 1 . A. Yes, • • •
ee ftLit -- ide. I paid over to other handt; riftee tepeated Cl

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