Star.
London, England, 1821-10-03 00:00:00

GENERAL MACGREGOR.

This Officer has published a letter dated Edinburgh.
the 25th tilt. in which he gives an account of his ex-
pulsion from Porto Bello, in April, 1819, and attri-
butes it to the treachery of one of his own Officers.
The following is an extract from his letter :

" I had stationed strong guards on all the roads by
which they could approach, and had taken all the pre•
cautions necessary for the security of the town. What
then was my surprise, about ten minutes before day-
light in the morning, when part of the regiment of
Catalonia entered, and the rest surrounded the Go-
vernment House, in which I was ! Treachery was sip-
parent, though I knew not the traitors. The house
had a balcony 20 feet high ; beneath it a party of
Spaniards were placed, and were firing at one of the
forts, which occupied their attention, and having no
alternative, I leaped from the balcony clear of them
—fell, but recovered myself in an instant, and made
for the mole, when I plunged into the sea, pursued
and fired upon by the enemy. In the water I stripped,
tied up my clothes and cap, and sent the bundle away
from me to deceive the enemy, and attract his fire.
I was a full hour in this predicament, when a boat
picked me up, through the sides of which three shots
passed before I reached the brig of war El Macgre-
gor, at anchor in the outer part of the harbour. The
moment I got on board my flag announced my safety.
"I was but a few minutes in the cabin when the
firing on shore ceased, and a boat came alongside
with a Spanish Officer and one of my Aides-de-Camp,
Cornet Sempill, just made prisoner. This Officer
was•dispatched by the Spanish General, with con-
sent of Colonel Rafter, who commanded in Fort
San Geronimo, for the purpose of proposing to me
a capitulation. In order to gain time, I told the
Spanish Officer that we must return and treat with
Colonel Rafter, declaring, however, that with respect
to the surrender of the squadron, it was ridiculous and
absurd to propose it. I also sent two Officers to Co-
lonel Rafter, one a surgeon, to explain my situation.
I exhorted him earnestly to defend the forts, and en-
deavour, with the assistance of the squadron, to drive
out the enemy ; for, even if our efforts should fail,
there was no necessity for capitulating, as we could
still evacuate the forts, and bring the troops in the
boats of the different vessels on board the squadron.
In about a quarter of an hour, to our astonishment,
the Independent colours were bnuled down, the
Spanish hoisted, and a heavy fire from the batteries
commenced upon the squadron.
" This occurrence was to me altogether mysteri-
ous; no noise, no alarm, and the house in which I
was, entered and environed by the enemy. Soon af-
terwards, however, I obtained the most satisfactory
explanation:—An Officer under my command had
engaged to the Duke of San Carlos, in I.,ondon, to
seize the earliest opportunity of delivering me into
the hands of the Spaniards. He had obtained my
confidence, and was advanced. This person had the
command of all the advanced posts on the morning
of the assault. He ordered them to retire ; and, ac-
cording to a preconcerted plan, two divisions of the
enemy, of 600 men each, were con..ucted into the
town, just as the day began to dawn. This very nun
entered Fort Gloria arm-in-arm with a Spanish 01-
ficer, and assisted to haul down the Patriot standard."
The General promises an explanation of the affair
at Rio do la Hache.