Star.
London, England, 1831-08-08 00:00:00

IMPORTANT

FOREIGN NEWS

THIS DAY.
BELGIUM.
ANTWERP, FRIDAY NIGHT.—The appearance
& the road from Malines is calculated to excite
• the most painful feelings. Thousands of women
:•tal children, of all ages, mingled with old and
f:l.r?vpid men, were hurrying away from their
homes and destruction. Vehicles of every descrip-
ken, even the heavy low brewers' drays, were
lowied with the people. Mothers were there sooth-
ing and carrying children of five and six years old,
wet cried out from weariness and pain, and many
small carts were drawn by boys and girls, in which
the feeble and infants were huddled together. At our
Malinesgate the same crowd was to be seen issuing-
Cannon bare been heard at hand, for them has
been a conflict between the citadel and the outward
forts erected by.the Belgians to awe it. Two hun-
dred Dutch troops, about eleven o'clock, made a
sortie on the Belgian line of forts, and having
driven them out of Nos. 4 and 5, spiked six or
eight guns, and then retired into the citadel, leav-
ing several killed and wounded, and having taken
prisoner one of the best artillery officers in the
Belgian service. The Dutch massacred in cold
blood an officer who became their prisoner,
and fired no less than twelve balls into the head of
a Dutch officer, Who fell into their power. Crowds
of soldiers and of the civic guard are scattered
through the streets. General Belliard arrived yes-
terday, and had an interview with General Chasse,
and has since stated to several persons that Antwerp
cannot now be injured. The lower classes of the
inhabitants believe that be told the Commandant
of the citadel that he was not to bombard Antwerp,
or the English fleet would fire as many bombs into
Rotterdam. They are anxiously looking out for the
English fleet, which, as they expect, is to remove
from them the horrors of their Dutch enemy.
King Leopold, although ill, arrived yesterday
from Brussels, at half-past four o'clock. The
desponding people followed his carriage, and
cheered him loudly as he entered the palace.
Shortly after his arrival, His Majesty com-
missioned Mr. Ellerman, the Hanoverian Consul,
to proceed to the Citadel. M. Ellerman, who on
former occasions was well acquainted with Baron
Chassi, undertook the commission, and obtained
an interview about seven o'clock, when be explained
to the General the decision of the conference to take
Antwerp wholly under its protection. General
Chasse said that from old acquiutance with the
merchants of Antwerp, he deplored the fatal ne-
cessity which should impose on him ns a duty, the
destruction of so fine a city, but obedience to his
Sovereign's orders would require him to do his
duty. Of the fact of the city being under the
protection of the Conference he was not aware, but
ould instantly despatch a ate..m-boat to Rotter-
dam to learn the decision of his master.
Mr. Ellerman begged the General to pledge his
'mour not to bombard the town until the decision
as to the fact was known.
General Chasse, after considerable hesitation,
said that he would nut pledge himself to any course
other than that of obedience to his orders, but
he would, nevertheless, assure his friend, Mr.
Ellerman, that he would not fire on the town with-
in 24 hours, or perhaps 48 hours, unless provoked
thereto by an attack from the city, and that du-
ring that interval he would not throw bombs into
it, unless they were thrown first into the citadel.
It is feared that Dutch policy and King William's
thirst of vengeance will lead the Hollanders to
burn Antwerp, even against all the laws of war.
The neutrality of the city has enabled General
Baron Chasse to direct his attack this day against
the forts which the Belgians erected on the other
side of the citadel for the purpose of incommoding
it in case a bombardment of the city took place.
During a part of the day, and daring the whole of
the evening up to this hour (12 at night) the can-
non of the citadel, and of the cannoniers in the
river, have been directed against those forts.
About four miles from the great basin, down the
river, and beyond the range of the Belgian forts,
called Du Nord, there are to be seen the masts of
a great number of vessels which are called the
Dutch fleet, and which are to come up to assist in
destroying this town. Their number is very consi-
derable—even so many as 30, of various rates.
The line of Belgian batteries lying down the
river is, at the nearest point, about a quarter of a
league from the citadel, being near the great basin
or dock of the city. The first fort, called the Im-
perial, has six pieces of forty-eight, and two
howitzers. 13eneath this fort, and on a level with
the water, is another, having eight pieces of
twelve. The remainder of the line of fortresses,
the principal of which are the Catten Dike and
the Fort du Nord, contain about 120 guns of ca-
-1 tuns calibre-12,24,36, and 48. In the Fort du
Nord alone there are two furnaces for heating the
balls ; and, as I understand, some experienced
pinions are engaged, in order to do effectual injury
to the ships. The Civic Guard of Brussels, to the
number of 600, have the care of those forts. They
ale regarded as most decided enemies of King
William. This evening 300 practised artillery-
:eel: are stated to have entered those forts as an
additional force.
The Dutch, beside the forts at the Tete de Flan-
dre, iminedietely opposite to this city, have a line
of for tresses extending in the direction of Lilio, and
about 200 guns of various dimensions, pr incipally of
heavy metal.
*I he garrison of this city consists of several regi-
ents of infantry, and some chasseurs. Reinforce-
one uts are hourlfarriving, principal ly volunteers. Na-
m or has already sent 300, and Luxemburg has many
more. The civil Governor of the town, Charles
Rogier, who is himself an active member of the
civic guard, supplies all applicants with guns and
ammunition. The streets and passages opening
nn the quays along the river are all barricaded, as
v ell as those leading to the esplanade before the
citadel ; and sentinels are stationed at each barri-
cade to prevent all attack from and on the Dutch.
The spirit of the far greater part of the inhabitants
1, adverse to Holland, whom they execrate now as
it e cause of all their misfortunes; and should an
endeavour he made to enter the town by a part of
; .03 Dutch army, there is no doubt of their being
cut to pieces. Numbers of volunteers are sleeping
in the streets, with their muskets beside them.
The Belgians place but little confidence in most
of their general officers. They eulogise the con-
duct of the King as beyond all praise ; but they
say be eiumot do every thing. However, as they
leave to fight against the Dutch, who carry on the

war hem as they formerly did in the colonies, by
devastation, by fire, and sword, they de not doubt
of being ultimately successful. It is though' dad
guerilla warfare, will, like the barriewles, drive the
invaders from the country.
There is, however, a party here which almost
openly advocates the necessity of surrendering the
town, and which has already begun to speak of
scarcity of provisions, and of famine, 81c. Many
of them are persons who would conset to any poli-
tical sacrifice in order to save their property.—
Individuals, also, of the Civic Guard of Antwerp
do not exhibit a strong wish to occupy the posts
of danger.
Among the preventive arrangements of the house-
holders, I remarked that the doors and windows of
the cellars opening into the streets, were all covered
with litter ; and upon inquiry, I learned that great
apprehensions were entertained lest some of the
bombs, on their rebounding on the pavement, might
fall into the cellars, and afterwards destroy the houses
around. The alarm of the inhabitants was on Wed-
nesday and Thursday raised to the highest pitch, on
seeing the flames and smoke arising from the farms
to which the Dutch set fire in Calloo and its neigh-
bourhood.

The plans of the Dutch Government, as gathered
from their organ the Messager of Ghent, and from
a proclamation of the Prince of Orange, appear to
tend to take possession of Antwerp, Ghent, and
Vcnloo, and then to dictate peace to Belgium.
Their exhortations have been fruitless hitherto in
Flanders, and near Ghent they have no chance of
success except by their usual mode of burning the
houses and deluging the country. The peasantry li
are of course infuriated beyond description ; the
harvest already partly collected in the barns they
burn, and the remainder the Dutch seek to destroy
by inundation.
Iha communication of newspapers and letters,
which used to be kept up with Holland by way of
Germany, has been stopped for two days ; and the
road to Ghent being partly in the bands of the
Dutch, the post to that city, and of course to Ostend
and England, by order of the director of that esta-
blishment, is to go through Brussels, which occa-
sions a delay of 24 hours. The proclamation of the
Prince of Orange, as Commander-in. Chief of the
Dutch army, has been described as stating that he
does not invade Belgium, for any other purpose than
to obtain a just and equitable peace for Holland.
The Belgians expect not only to drive the Dutch
from Flanders, but even from Maestricht and
North Brabant.

The Dutch army invading the province of An-
twerp is said to be 30,000 strong, one-third being
Prussian troops. They aro described as concen-
trating at Westmael, in the direction of Heren-
thals, two-and-a-half leagues from Malines, in
order to attack that city. The Belgians hope to
cut them off; but at eight o clock in the evening
there was a report here that Herenthals was in
their possession.
The head-quarters of the Prince of Orange are
reported to continue at Capelle, within a few
leagues of this city. Those of General Tieken de
Terhow, the Commander of the Belgian army in
this province, are about two leagues and a half
from this city, on the road to Turnhout.
King Leopold spent all Thursday night in this
city, deliberating with his ministers ; and Generals
MM. Lebeau, C. de Brouokere, and Gen. d'Hane,
accompanied his Majesty from Brussels hither.—
At half-past three in the morning, his Majesty,
accompanied by an aid-de-camp, went on foot from
the palace to the cathedral, where he ascended the
spire, and surveyed the citadel, the fleet, and the
country around this city,which is beautifully culti-
vated, and where many farming-houses were still
smoking in ruins. His Majesty looked pale and
thoughtful.
At eight o'clock his Majesty went to Malines,
where he remained for some hours. At half-past
seven o'clock this evening he came on horseback,
attended by three of his staff, to the Malines-gate.
The number of regular troops now in this city,
exclusive of the civic guard. is stated to be 4,000
infantry, a squadron of chasseurs, 160 men, and
two companies of artillery, 220 men. The num
ber of regular troops within three leagues Is esti-
mated at 10,000.
SATURDAY MORNING, 9 o'CLoci.—The
firing last night, and some this morning, originated
in a sortie made by the Dutch to obtain possession
of the batteries near St. Laurent. Some of the
Belgian officers rallied their troops, and on their
making an advance the Dutch•retired in confusion.
The following is a copy Of TUE PROCLAMATION
addressed by the Prince of OIL NO E to the inhabi-
tants of the provinces where the troops of his Ma-
jesty the King of the Low Countries have pene-
trated.

" Having at the heed of the national army, entered upon
your soil, I wish to explain satisfactorily to the peaceablein.
habitants of these districts the intentions which preside over
this act of hostility. The armyand itschief are not animated
either by the spirit of conquest or by that of vengeance ; on
the contrary, the sole object of the determination of my King
and lather, on sending me into those provinces, is to obtain
just and equitable conditions between the provinces that
have remained faithful to him, and those which have
withdrawn themselves from his government.
" We do not make war but to obtain within the shortest
period possible a true peace between us.
•` I therefore assure to the peaceful inhabitants of the
soil which I have just entered upon protection anti se-
curity, as well as support to all those who are well-
intenam.ed.

" It some partial disorders, often inevitable in the
midst of a numerous army, shall take place, the com-
plaints brought against them in this respect by the in-
habitants will be attended to by the otili.asy chiefs, and
the facts being proved, they shall be punished with all
the rigour of the laws.
" WILHELM, Prince of Orange.
" Head-quarters, Aug. 2.

The news of this morning is not favourable to
the Belgians, for the Dutch are stated to be still
at Turnhout, and General Nielion, who endeavour-
cd to resist their aggression, has been obliged to
retreat to Sandhoven. Some troops belonging to
the Prince of Orange continue still near Capelle.
The Prince of Orange and the Duke of Saxe-
Weimar are stated to be at the head of the army at
Herenthals, which is now moving towards Diest.

Some Dutch cannoniers and a steam-boat have
moved up the Scheldt from Antwerp, and having
taken four or five Belgian plying boats, sailed
down the river again. It is feared that they will
attempt landing near Dindermonde.
AIALINES, SATURDAY NOUN.-The bustle of
this town is very great, on account of the pre-
sence of thousands of strangers from Antwerp
and its neighbourhood ; and also from this city
being now head quarters. The news is circu-
lated that 50,000 Frenchmen are coming to assist
Leopold against the Dutch. This fact does not
afford much satisfaction to many of his subjects;

for the soldiers and civic guards are not afraid to'
meet the Dutch single handed. If the Prussians
come openly to aid the King 41.1folland, the pre-
sence of the French may be net:salary, bat the Bel-
gians now fear them as friends as well as ODORIiE4I.
" The French," as they say, " will come easily,
but it will not be easy ea get rid of them."
SATURDAY, THREE D'CLOcDr-11111- road
from Melina; to this city was this day literally
crowded with civic guards, all hastening in the
highest spirits to the armies. The number which
left Brussels this morning is 4,000, under the
command of General Van Conkelberg. Within
the last two days, 20,000 guns have been fur-
nished to volunteers alone.
From Ghent news has been received, that on
the 4th there was considerable fighting in the
neighbourhood of that city. On the sth they at-
tempted to carry the posts of Haregras and Houcke,
but were repulsed. A spy informed the Burgo-
master of Maldeghem that the Dutch expect 800
sailors ; and he fears that that post will be attacked
again to-day. From Assenede the Dutch were
twice forced to retire. Several cannon have been
sent to Bassevelde.

The enthusiasm of the province of Liege, excited
by the proclamations of the King and of the Gover-
nor, &c. bas already produced 2,000 civic guards.
More are expected from Herve and Veniers.-
15,000 Dutch have planted 10 pieces of artillery
on the frontiers near Weerdt, to within two leagues
of Vonloo. The garrison of Maertricht made a
sortie on the 4th, but were driven back by a de-
tachment under Majors Zantis and Baron.
The plan of the Dutch army was to penetrate
into the centre of Beigium, either to Matinee or
Louvain. They .intended first to take Turnhout
and Venloo, and then Arschot and Diest. It is
expected that a general engagement between Leo-
pold and the Prince of Orange will take place about
Monday or Tuesday next.
A Dutch corps is stationed at Diest, where it is
fortifying its position; but General Daine is march-
ing on its• flank and rear. The civic guards of
Louvain°, Tirlemont, Leo, and Arschot are in front
of the enemy. General Daine and his army is
stated to be at Haelen, one league from Meat, and
that a junction has been effected between the Bel-
gian armies of the Scheldt and Meuse.
CEVEV O'CLOCK.—The Prince of Orange is
said to be caught in Diest and its neighbourhood,
at the head of 7,000 men. It is rumoured that he
has compelled the inhabitants to barricade the
streets of the town. General Belliard arrived this
afternoon at head-quarters, when it is officially
stated that an armistice, until further orders, has
been concluded between the Citadel and the City
of Antwerp, and which armistice is confined solely
to those places.
TWELVE AT NIOHT.—Near the quays the in-
fantry and bourgeois mixed together are doing
duty, and in every direction are the citizens
flocking to dangerous posts. All the streets lead-
ing to the river are barricaded, and defended by
the military, and no one is allowed.to approach.
Every famiiy of the least respectability have left
the city, taking with them all their moveable pro-
perty, and all their servants. The Exchange is
closed, and no money can be obtained from any
banking establishment. Before the doors are butts
of water, and in the garrets of the different houses
as much water has been conveyed as they will hold.
In the course of the day the governor of the
province published the following proclamation :
" Dear Fellow Citizens !
" Brave Civic Guards!
" The armistice between the citadel and the city will
'ease this evening at half,past nine o'clock ; the projects
of the enemy are not known ; whatever they may be,
we must be.on/oar guard.
" The prudence and the interest of our cause exact
from us that no movement should take plate on oar part
without the express orders of our chiefs. You will wait
for them with confidence. They will be given to you at
the proper time.
" The army, surprised by the unexpected violation of the
armistice, will do their duty. Rely on them.
Tne nation likewise calculates on you—brave and gene-
rous Civic Guards, The King appeals to you, and he will
muster at your head.
" The patriotic effusions whieh I saw spring from your
ranks at Antwerp is a sure guarantee of that which the nation
may expect from you, and your companions in arms, who
hasten to meet you from all parts.
" The volunteers of September and October have reap-
peared—they augment your ranks—the national blouse will
cover itself with fresh glory.
•6 The invasion of the interior of the city appears not to be'
feared, however, it is a wise maxim not to despise your
enemy—let us be on our guard—let the windows and the I
roofs of houses be provided with formidable projectiles al.
ready known to the enemy.
" Dear fellow.citisens and brave Civic Guards—if I make
au appeal to your devotedness, it is because I know you cal.
culate on mine.

" Vie Governor of the Province,
"Antwerp, Aug. 4. "CHARLES ROGIREL"

The Ostend steam-boat has brought intelligence
of an action having been fought between the Bel-
gians and Dutch near Ghent, in which the Dutch
troops were defeated with a loss of some hundreds
of prisoners.
There is a report in the city that the Dutch shoot
all the prisoners they take, and that the Belgians,
in retaliation, having taken a Dutch Major prisoner
immediately shot him.