Star.
London, England, 1810-04-21 00:00:00

EAR77IQUAKE.

Accounts have been received, in private letters from
Malta, which describe that Island to have undergone
a severer shock of an eartbquaLt than it had ever before
experienced. It took place on the night of the IGth
of februarr, hiving been preceded by extraordinary
and terrific symptoms. The shock continued for two
minutes, with the re•ipite of a few-seconds, an unu-
sual length. The consternation of the town cf Vil-
lette was b,:yond conception ; all the bells ringing,
monks praying, women screaming, the rabble run-
ning desperately through the streets; and the horses
and cattle, as usGal, joining in the tenor and noise.
The solid rock was shook like a cradle, and the ships
in the harbour tossed up and down as if in a sWing.
Two more shocks ensued the next day, though not
so severe. The only actual damage done to the
buildings is the fall of one hospital, and one of the
gates of the town. The packet put back in the hur-
ricane, and did not sail again till the 19th, when it
was currently reported and believed, that three Islands
on the coast of Sicily, with Syracuse itself, had been
cestroyed. •

LONDON.

SATURDAY, APRIL 21.

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
3 per C. Cons money, 6311--acc. 70H.
Reined 69-4 per Cent. 84 84-5 per Cent. Navy 331 i.

The private accounts brought from Lisbon by the
Walsingham packet, which come down to the 6th
instant, are, upon the whole, rather satisfactory. In-
telligence was hourly expected of a battle on the fron-
tiers for which the allied army was so well prepared,
that no fears were entertained respecting the issue.
The combined British and Portuguese force is stated
at nearly 100,000 men, and the positions occupied by
the allied army were considered as affording, so long I,
as they are maintained, perfect security to the north
and south of Portugal. A large fleet of merchant-
men arrived off Oporto Bar, on the 29th of March,
from England.
It is very confidently reported this day, but we
have not been able to trace the rumour to any certain
source, that a general engagement los actually taken
place on the Banks of the Douro, in which a great
number were killed and wounded on each side.

The Portuguese papers re-affirm the accounts of
the success of the Spaniards in Estremadura, and the
advance of ROMANA% army on Seville. If this move-
ment is continued, and conducted with the necessary
enterprize and vigilance, it may probably, produce a
decisive effect on the military operations in Andalusia.
If the French, as it is stated, have been obliged to
withdraw from the provinces of Granada and Murcia
on one side, and EstremaJura on the other, their sitna-
titan to the southward of the Sierra, to say the least
of it, is one of considerable peril. Instead of conti.
nuing their preparations for an attack upon ti;e Isle of
Leon, it is not unlikely they may abandon such inten-
tion, for the purpose of re-establishing their comniuni_
catious with La Mancha and the Eastern provinces.

Letters dated the 6th instant, from St. Andero, com-
municate unpleasant intelligence of the failure of a
plan to expel the French from that town and neigh-
bourhood. The inhabitants had taken measures for
rising on the troops by which it was occupied. Accor-
dingly on the 3d, a partial execution of the plot took
place. About 100 of the French were surprised and
killed in their quarters. An alarm, however, was
spread, the garrison flew to arms, and in a short time
overpowered the Spaniards, and put a great number
of them to death. Near 200 of the principal inhabi-
tants, it is said, have been sent o$ under escort to
'France.

Letters of the 30th ultimo, from Gibraltar, brought
by the Jasos frigate, arrived at Portsmouth on Thurs-
day, contain not the slightest allusion to the rumours
&lived from the same place, of the defeat of the Spa-
niards in Catalonia. They mention many encouraging
instances of the activity arid enterprise of the inhabi-
tants in the vicinity, of Gibraltar. At their request,
we understand, several British Officers, from the gar-
rison, have been sent to command them ; under whose
direction and example they had been very successful
in harassing and annoying that part of the French
army that was sent to protect the operations against

Isle of Leon on that side.
Letters from Bourdeaux of the 10th were received
yesterday. They mention that troops were daily
pass;l,g to reinforce the army in Spain, but cons tin
no nows whatever relative to the military operations
in that country.

The following letter was brought by the Mail from
the Brazils which arrived yesterday

4, RIO JANEIRO, FEB. 5.
“We have received advices from Buenos Ayres,

dated Jan►iary 9, by which we are informed that

a decree had been passed by the Governor, or.l
dering all British, American, and Portuguese 1.e.!
sidents, to depart the country ; but at the time
this letter was sent off by the Vigilant, the above
decree had not been put in force ; in consequence!
all was consternation, and, indeed, it is difficult
to judge what the intentions of those in authority
are from one day to another. Nevertheless, it is whis-
pered that they intend to form a Government inde-
pendent of the mother country ; and it is moreover
stated, that the French vessel which arrived here in
October last with a flag of truce was provided with
some dispatches, IA hich were afterwards forwarded to
La Plata. The trade at that place has now assumed
the same dismal appearance which prevailed at Rio
Janeiro on our first arrival. Goods sell at 25 or 30
per cent. under prime cost. A number of Spanish
ships of war have. sailed for Old Spain, with specie,
to repay, it is said, the expences of the British Go-
vernment. We have had no arrival from England
since the 20th of December."

Yesterday morning, his MAJESTY, Princesses Au-
GLLSTA and SopillA, accompanied by Lord CHESTER-
! ZELD, Generals (WYNNE, FrI7HOIC, Colonel DES-
'mow, and Major Puler., rode to St. Oreorge's Chapel,
and heard a sermon preached 14 the Rev. Mr. LONG,
from Sr. John, cli. xix. v. 30. The Royal Party of
tcrui,:rds returned to the Palace._

Thursday, being Maunday Thursday, the Bishop
of LonAon lurid a confirmation at •the Chapel Royal,
St. James's Palace, and confirmed abut forty of the
junici• branches of the Nobility. The Princess CHAR-
-1.01•:E of WALES, attended by the Bishop of SAus-
BUItY, was present to see the ceremcuy.
Yesterday, being Good Friday, the Dukes of Yon
and CAMBRIDGE attended divine service at the Chapel
Royal, and heard a sermon preached by the Sub.
Dean ; afrer which Mr. KNVvE'r sung as an anthem,
from the Messiah —6, He was despised and rejected of
men."

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