Star.
London, England, 1814-09-28 00:00:00

extracted :

RETRACT OF A LETTER rßom A GENTLEMAN IN SALT!.
none lIIS FRIEND IN Tills CITY, DATED AUG. 27.
" Philzdelphia, August 49.

41 As you no doubt must have but few accounts
that can be depended on respecting our forlorn situa-
tion, 1 nave to inform you that the enemy teem.
barked on Ihursd y night, after destroying the Navy:
Ydrd, Capitol, President's house, Gallatin's house,
all Vie Public Offices, and Forta.U's Founder), at
Georgetown. Our .sth regiment, commanded by
C.Loral &end, bore the brunt of the engagement,
and fought like heroes: Barney's 18apoundsrs made
dreadful slaughter, cites sweeping their ranks with
grape, .lid tlwy as often closing in and marching to
the muzzles of the guns, took them. Barney is
wounded is several places and made prisoner with
200 of his crew, the remainder wete killed.
" The rapidity of the enemy's march prevented
the proper junction of our army, which caused their
defeat.
" They have left their wounded to the mercy of the
inliabitan.s of Bladensburg, and their dead, of whom
one of otsr videttes counted 151 in one field, without
burial. We have Rodgers, Petry, and Porter here,
and ell in bustle to meet the foe. The force is very
respectable, and if we are conquered it will beat the
expense t,f muzl. blood. All Market-street is Out up.
The Lanks li,eve removed, and nothing to be seen in
the streets but soldiers, carts and waggons constantly
moving with furniture. They ha've in no instance
molest‘d private property.
66 Passengers in Saturday's southern stage report
that AlaxanJria capitulated to two British vessels
without resistance ; and it is said that the enemy im-

. ,
posect a Cotitribtition on that town of twenty thousand
birrrls bf flour."

FROM THE BALTIMORE PATRIOT, AUGUST 26.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONIANTS.)
Gewil.Estxx,---We have conversed with Mr. Bay-
ley, United States Mail-contractor, who has been at
Washington till this day. He states, that all public
buildings are destroyed by the enemy, except the
General Post Office, which was preserved by mistake,
the sign having been taken down, and the office mis-
taken for a ptivate building. The Navy Yard wail
destroyed by our own troops. AdMiral Cockburn
said he was glad of it, as it saved him the trouble.
Ten sail of large ships, and about twelve stnaller
one 6, were mcored above Alexandria, said to be full
of trcors. We are informed, however, by a gelitle-
us. kn, whose nwa.:ls of information are undoubted, that
they are not now supposed to be full of troops; but

that the whole force was about 6000 men ; and that
Lord Hill has not arrived below, as has been stated.

The troops amounted to .6000 men, commanded
by Major-Genvral ,toss, whose horse was shot under
him, by persons in Mr. Gallatin's house. The Ge-
neral then ordered the house to be immediately burnt. i
All private property was respected, and two soldiers
caught plundering, received 100 lashes each. The
soldiers were posted outside the city; and when they
set fire to the buildings, small parties of them were
marched in to perform the service. The soldiers are
of all nations, and (to use the words of our informant)
" the most hellish looking fellows that ever trod God's
earth." After the public buildings were destroyed,
Cockburn Mounted a small grey horse and rode about
the city.

He met Mr. Bayley, and asked him for the Print-
ing Office of Mr. Gales ? and said he must destroy it,
as his friend Gales had told some tough stork: about him.
Mr. B. said he was a stranger in Vie city, and did
not know the office. Two citizens coming up, Cock-
burn enquired of them for the office. They equivo-
cated. He said, " shew me the Office or I will seise
you." It was then pointed out. He ordered it to
be burnt. Two ladies in adjacent houses came out,
to prevent burning the Office, stating their buildings
would fall. Cockburn courteously replied, " they
need not be alarmed—they should rest as quiet under
his administration as Mr. Madison's." He counter-
manded the order, and sent a large file of soldiers to
strip the office, which they did, and carr;ed off the
presses and types.
Mr. B tyley further states, that when he leftWash-
', ington, the enemy were retiring, and it was supposed
they would re-embark for some other place. He was
confident they would not march to the assault of
Baltimore by land.

All the Baltimore troops were ordcred back here.
The whole force of the British is supposed to be
destintd for this city, by embarkation. This infor.
minion we have on good authority, isdependent of
the circumstances stated by Mr. Bayley.
Your's, &c. (Signed) MUNROE AND FRENCH.
Messrs. Elliot and Stiles.

P. S. The city is very calm. Some Ladies, with
some property, are removing. The men, without
distinction of party, act like men.
PHILADELPHiA, AUGUST 28.-(PRIVATt LETTER.)
arrived at Washington on Tuesday previous to
the action of Ore long to be remembered 24th inst.—
On Wednesday night I witnessed the most melan-
choly event that I have ever seen, the destruction, by
fire, of the edifices at Washington City ; namely the
Capitol, the President's House, Treasury and State.
Offices, the Navy Yard, Barracks, frigate Essex, and
Argus sloop of war, the Arsenal, three large Rope-
walks, and three large dwellings, two of the latter by
accident, and one (Mr. Gallatin's) house for being
fired at from the windows, by A. few men secreted
there. Thus, in a few hours, hava our public build-
ings, all, erupt the Post Office, been destroyed ; but
private property was respected, so far as I could see
or hear. I left Washington on Friday morning when
the British were retiring ; the principal part by the
route they came, for the Patuxem, and the remainder
on board the I:Let wi.ich lay in the Potowmac above
Alexandria. I saw all this in person, was there better
than two days, and was engaged the whole time in
collecting all the knowledge I could. As I was
among the enemy and citizens who stayed at home,
I can give no information where the heads of depart.
meets are, except General Armstrong—he is at Fre-
dericktown. CHESTER BAILEY.