The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-07-11 00:00:00

91,77--• W EST Arbfb..
LETTER FROM MR. TAUT, sEcivivinx TO ADILI•
,ItA L COCIIR A SE, TO TR& ZOll.Oll
_0!'T11 Bill.

n.tDOLS MERCURY.
if aay proof were wanting of the unanimity,
zeal, and perseverance, which'prevaikd in the Army
and Navy, on the late Expedition against Marti-
nique, the success which has crowned their mai-
torious exertions in that brilliant euterprize, would
be sufficient to dissipate the doubts of the mast
sceptical or prejudiced. It is not, therefore,
that we think the following Letter in the least ne-
cessary for convincing the public that every endea-
•our has been used by the Admiral and his squa-
dron, to prevent succours from reaching Marti.
nique previous to the attack, since the achieve-
ment of itself, sets that point for ever at rest :
but justice being due to every one, and as it may
not be altogether interesting to our Readers, who
sere so often told of the supplies that had
been thrown into Martinique, we quote from the
Barbadoes Mercurli of the 17th Jan. the follow-
ing letter from the Admiral's Secretary to the
Editor of that Paper.

Neptune, of Fort Itnyal.Bay, Martinique,
Mr. ORDrILSON, January 9, 1:109.
Printer and Editor of the liarbadurs Mercury,
9111,—Having, in your Paper of the 7th inst. real a
stitement evidently, and I would say maliciou-ly, intended to
mislead the Public as to the causes which would appear to
tve m leaded, for a time, the long of Lxpedition
arair.St ih,. -hid ; mid an endeavour to throw
ihe whole blame on the Rear- Admiral, and the sqeadran su-
lk" hi. commend, by tracing the causes to a succersion of sue-
r• and rciaforccinents which the enemy, a, you are pleased
to assert, has almost uninterruptedly received since he heard
i.f, or suspected the meditated attack ; it is proper that the
public should know, by the same menus, that your statenieut
ha: beep incorrect.
1n eiuleayotirinl to establish this pretended fact. you have
rionnerated a long list of arrivals lions France and America,
and hasidionsh tried to impress ea the public miod that the
%choir of these arrival. were at Martinique solely ; and-that,
too, siure the commencement of the blockade—or, at least,
since the British Conimanders in Chief had knowledge that
such as attack was to be made on that Island.
From whomsoever you received your information, it does
hut little credit to their candour or impartiality.
I presume it is scarcely neemsary to remind yon, that the
Rear-Admiral's Proclamation for the blockade of the trench
Islands wa.s not published until the 14th of Oct. last, a period
scarcely of three months; and, from the official situation I
hold, I am enabled tansy with certainty. that the Rear-Ad-
as,ml issued the Pro. Imitation the moment he was authorised
todu so ;—consequently he had no right, before that time,
t direct his ('aptairts to prevent American and other neutral
vessels from came) lag as much provision- to Martinique as they
pleased, nor did he give such direction..
Now, Sir, the truth is, that all the ships and vessels
which have got into Martinique since the actual coin-
aseneerhent of the blockade of that Island, are the
_LospAltrite frigate. at Fort Royal; the Papillon car-
vctte, at l'rtuite ; the Cygae and two merchant schomsers,
at Precheur Bay, where they were afterwards de-
stroyed by his Majesty's ships Cirer and .dmaranike; an
American schemer at Yauciain, and' another at hlarin.—
These arc sill the vessels which have succeeded in evading
oar cruiser, (escept, indeed. two or three of insignificant
import, which may have, to the disgrace of the parties at-
bawl's; it, been sent for the purpose of throwing in supplies
front some of die British Islands). 1 will therefore leave
for the public to judge if these vessel.; could have brought
oat reinMrcements and supplies sudicient to have tamed the
scale of MI 1; spedition of such magnitude as the one at pre-
sent alluded to; more particularly when I can assert, from
the beet information which has been obtained, that the fri-
gate bi ought out spay 150 troops, and the two corvettes from
45 In .10 each—a aumber which will scarcely keep pace with
tie 01%11414es of a garri,on comistine of *Ol men, iu this cli-
mate: how yon have increased them to 35;10 men, your in-
formants can best tell.

The French °Seer belonging to the Amphitrile frigate,
who was recaptured in the Lard Cranslown British letter of
niarqne by the blockading squadron' told Capt. Cockburn,
of his Majesty's ship Pamper, that the frigate had on board
Sid persons, of which 1.30 were troops; that she had oa
floats' only three mouth- provisions for her crew, and (to the
best of his recollection) that she had 130 barrels of flour
extra. Me stated this also to be the ens: with respect to the
Jetsam frigate which arrived at tiaadaloupc, and that they
Were both under orders to return immediately to France.
It Is ant true as you have published, that the Venus fri-
gid. is also arrived; at least I am so far authorised in saying
saw* sick a circumstance is uukuown in the squadron, which
bat,. I believe, as Late information on that head as you cap
Rabe received.
Captain Cockburn was also laformia a few days ago, by a
Eaglets Ciessilemau Coin St. Pierre's, that the current price
of tour throe was from fprty-fiye to fifty dollars per barrel.
Titiidises not look like the plenty which you would insinuate
theranny ii.ts obtained, through the neglect or supineness of
toe squadron employed en the blockade.
_

. _
The .I:riphitrite frigate and Papillon corvette, after having
eae'l of them been en;aged by the British erui•ers, got in by
maaixityres which happened to be saecewful—it is a &cum-
smote 'Adler to be lamented than blamed; hut ust the other
hand (ant 1 speak only of Martinique), a corvette has been
captured, a corvette and in vs schooners destroyed, two letters
of marque takes, several recaptures made, and upward:, of
t warty veseeis have been detained, and are now libelled in the
Admiralty Courts at B.trhadoes and .Intigua, for a breach
of the blockade.

If mute proofs are wanting', T seed Ike followthgtrawdated
ettracts ot two intercepted ktters from the Captain-General
of Guadaloope, dated :10th November, one addressed to the
Captain-('.moral of Martinique, aid the other to one of bis
Aides-de-Camp; they were round -towed away in a barrel no
hoard a 'gruel calms* but a very few days ago, from the Saints,
by (he boats of the Letona, and as they are each marked
•• Triplicate," you may rem.4onably suppose that I‘.e enemy
continues iu the +arse .tate at the present time, althougis the
letters are dated between ire and 1.. s weeks ago