Star.
London, England, 1810-01-01 00:00:00

10.
TOFAVI
A 13iirttaiii et ,
• MP at Lora
Loch)tairi.recomeli
I)l.Lttilietuns• --
Cassr, 'hem-

•
-a_ 2

'. '

•
-.Noreseil to ius
vain,thett ids Wiejte siOp
....werloo Pantie, Dec. 0,
Maisoy's skip d Hisiem., of the
• Duustas D.•e va.
Mr Lauer-Although I have retulerlr coinnutni..
cated to your Lordship the principal circtinutances
which have occurred, relative to the army under my
command, yet I have judged it adviseable to post-
pone my detailed report on the evacuation of the
island of Walcheren until the troops were withdrawn
and the fleet had sailed.
On the receipt of your Lordship's dispetch of the
iStii of last month, conveying to the his Majesty's
commands to evacuate the island of Walcheren with
the forces under my orders, and further signifying
the'determination of his Majesty, that previously to
' the evacuation I should take such measures as I might
deem most effectual for thp demolition of the Basin of
Flushing, and the naval defences of the island, I
made the necessary preparations for the removal of
the sick and convalescents of the army, and the a"
rival of a division of transports afforded me the means
of completing their embarkation on the 26th
On the same day the new frigate that was built in
the dock-yard, was got out of the Basin, and which
enabled me on the following morning. to commence
the demolition of the sea defences, basin,. dock-yard,
arsenal, magazines, naval store-houses, &c. of the
town of Flushing, the total destruction of which was
completed 9kthe 1 Ith instant.
These services were conducted under the immediate

direction and superintendance of Lieutenant......—__
Pilkington, Commanding sEngineer, assisted by a
strong party from the navy, under the command of
Captain Moore, and for the particulars, I beg leave
to refer your Lordship to the Lieutenant-Colonel's
report, a copy of which I enclose.
The very judicious and skilful manner in which
these measures have been completed, reflects great
Credit upon Lieutenant-Colonel Pilkington, and the
several off cers who acted with him, and I am per-
suade& it will afford your Lordship peculiar satisfac-
tion to know, that the whole of this extensive work
has been accomplished, without any injury being
done to the inhabitants ; the destruction not having
extended beyond what *as necessary to derive the
enemy of the advantage of Flushing as a naval sta-
tion.—The embarkation of the ordnance and the
stores of the several departments having been com-
pleted, the army was withdrawn and embarked on
the 9th instant, but the weather being extremely un-
settled, and conceiving it probable from the active
and continued preparations of the enemy, that he
'might hazard an attack, I judged it expedient still to
hold the towns of Flushing, -Middleburg, and Ter
Veer, and Fort Rammekins ; at the same time I
made an arrangement for the disembarkation of the
army, the four divisions of which were stationed as
follows, viz. the Ist division immediately off the town
of Flushing ;, 2d division to the westward of that
town ; 3d division between Flushing and Fort Ram-
mekins, to act and co-operate with the naval force in
the Sloo Passage, under Captain Mason ; and the 4th
off Ter Veer, to act and co-operate with the naval'
force between the Veer Gat and Wolversdyke, under
Commodore Owen.
By this disposition, had the enemy attempted to
invade the island, the four posts above-mentioned
could easily have been reinforced, and the enemy in
the event of his effecting a landing,. attacked in his
flanks and rear • as from the precautions I had taken
in stopping the frest water sluices, his advance into
the country must have been confined to the dykes and
causeway, from Ter Veer through Middleburgh to
Flushing. •
The fleet continued wind.bound until this morning,
when the rear-guards were withdrawn, the ships of
war and transports from the West Scheldt got under
weigh, and I conclude those in the Veer Gat moved
about the same time.
I feel great satisfaction in mentioning the very
able and cordial support I have uniformly received
from Rear-Admiral Otwayt and that our arrange-
ments for the final evacuation of the island were ap-
proved of by Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, on
his arrival on the 11th instant.
I cannot conclude this report without acquainting
your Lordship that I found the army in an excellent
state of discipline, and that the conduct of the troops
has in every respect merited my warmest approbation.
On the day of embarkation, the different corps of
the army marched from the several points, and em-
barked in the most perfect order and regularity, and
the Magistrates of the towns and villages, expressed
to the officers left in the command of the rear-guards,
that the troops on their departure, had in no instance
'molested or injured the inhabitants. I have the he_
nour to be, &c. (Signed) G. Dow, Lieut. Gen.
Flushing, Dee. 11.
Six—ln obedience to your orders of the 25th ult.
and with the concurrence of Captain Moore, of the
Royal Navy, the necessary directions were given to
commence the demolition of the Basin, Arsenal,
Dock-yard, naval defences, and magazines of this
place ; and on the 26th a party of seamen, under the
superintendance of Captain Tomlinson, began at low
water to destroy such parts of the break-waters as ap-
peared to protect the entrance of the harbour. On
'the following day, Captain Moore, with parties of
seamen, proceeded on the destruction of the wharfing
of the basin and of the dock-yard, and both were ac-
•complished in a few days in themest effectual manner.
The demolition a the sea-defences was also begun
upon on the 26th ultimo, under the immediate super- •
inteadance of Captain Rudyard of the Royal Engi-
neers, assisted by Captain Read, with a detachment
of officers and men of the Royal Staff Corps, and
Captain Donovan and a detachment of officers and
men of the Royals.
Arrangements were, on the same day, made to pro-
coed on the demolition, by mining of the piers and
masonry of the flood-gates at the entrance of the great
naval basin, under the directions of Captains Squire
and Fanshaw of the Royal Engineers.
I have now the honour to inform you, that the ser-
vices allotted to the Royal Navy have been most ef-
fectually accomplished, the dock-yard, arsenal, maga-
zines, -and every building belonging to the Naval
Establishment being wholly destroyed. The entrance
of the harbour is also blocked up, by sinking of ves-
sels filled with heavy materials, so as to mid's. "the .
passage of ships of war impracticable. Vitra rum

!"'s.

;•%ti