The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-11-17

1 Spain, and to repair the losses which she hail
Just suffered, suddenly determined to throw this
Expeditions. not upon the French territory. which
| she did not ven to attack, but upon the Dutch
territory. where the cowarlice, or perhaps IL,
treason OF Chief, foreigner to that nation and
| to ours, reserved for him momentary success,
! which, without that circumstance, would hav,
been. ~ it were, impossible.
| 1t cannot be doubted that the principal ob;cc,
oil England was TO oppose by diversion the con.
tinental peace of which she stands in dread, aud
which she has so long prevented, and to cndeavor
to destroy our macitime establishments at Ant
werp, our fleets IN the Scheldt, and the navy of
our allies.
On the 2oth Of July, the English expedition ar
rived oft the Islands Of Walcheren and Cadsand
the troops, after having sustained a very consde.
rable loss from the attack of one of our brigades
upon their landing at the north point Of Waiche-
rem. took possession of Middeburg, and of Ter
we're, which made defence ofthirty hours, aud
very soon afterwards, otthe island ',f South Beve.
land, in which the important fort of BATE had
been abandoned three hours before the enemy APP
peared
AS soon as this news reached me, dispatched,
agreeably to what had been prescribed to ME by
the emperor before his departure, all the neces-
sary orders for the arrival of reinforcements at
the points which were menaced by the enemy
in less than three days upwards of twenty tl,ou.
sand men, under the orders of the senator gene
raj Rampon, were drawn up on that part of the
ScIeldt which separates Hollan! from the
French empire, whilst the seEator-general St. Su
same was al Boulogne menaced in vain, and pre-
pared to repel the enemy. i.
Since which, these forces have increased and
are daily increasing 80,
The garrisoa Of Flushing advanced out of the
fortress; the, defended and they continue to de
fend the approaches TO it they received rein
torcement Of several thousand men, who boldly
crossed the Scheldt within sight of the enemy, &
even passed thro' his fleet, without his being a.
| BILE to obstruot their passage.
The imperial battery of the island of Cadsand,
| that of Napoleon, carried destruction among the
English ships which had pre- sumed to attempt the
passage of the Scheldt between Flushing and
| Breskens, forced the enemy to respect that pas
sage and to seek another OH the side of Zealand
| The forts of Lilo and of Liefksnshoeck, which
| cross their fire on the Scheldt, before Antwerp
defend the approaches to the port and to tn.
| lock- yards OF that important city, which has long
| excited the jealousy fthe English The means
OF defence of these forts has been augmented
! The van guard of the army Of the north has ar
| rived at the Scheldt; its forces are already con
| siderable, and even exceed in number those which
| Il is supposed the enemy has. On the side Of
| sergen-op Zoom, our troops are joining the
| my, which is commanded by his m iesty the
Sng of Holland, in person, whilst on the lett they
| sc assembling along the Scheldt, from Antwerp
| tn the island Of CadsaI,d, and thus are covering
our northern frontier. The English have not yet
set their foot upon the Freuch territory. ..a
| But new conveys of vessels coming from the
ports of England, announce that the enemy is as.
| sembling in the eastern Scheldt all the forces
which he has been able to collect, in order to
qush, by his obst,nacy, and by fresh efforts, the
obstacles winch have kept him i'll check in the
islands of Zealand J.
| 1t night be asked what the English hope to OBJ.
| ain frem their efforts. will they take Flushing I.
Il 81, <xf .taCa
they seize upon the squadron the dispositions
skilfuiiy executed by the admiral who commands
the feet, have allowed HIM to take position be-
tore Antwerp, which untes the means of the land
and sea for the defence OF that town but If tiie
English had any successes, they might retard
peace, violate our territory, and essentially hurt
| our allies, whose Cause is our own.
| His majesty the emperor and king is persua
! dcd that after having made his arms be respc CT
ed in ali parts of the world, the French will not
| lei themselves be insuted in their own country,
during his absence, by Is or 80 thousand Eng
| lisntnen
Under these circumstances, the emperor has
conhded to the marshal prince OF Ponte Cprvo,
| (Bcnadotte1 the command or 'ne new army OF
| the north and ne has coniided that of the two
| corps OF observation which at this momen;
form at Vessel and at Lisie to the marshal
duke 81 Valn,y Keller any and to the marshal
duke of Cones !,ano (Be>seres)
| Tins situation OF things too nearly interests the
| national honor not to lay upon the obligation
of repairing and momentarily calling into the
! RANKS OF The army of the North, Numerous corps
OF grenadiers and rangers of the national guards
| OF some departments, to cooperate in repeiling
far from the French territory anc in driving from
| Holland the cnemy's bands
several departments are naturally called upon
70 Take pan IN this expedition, although the near
est - the frontiers, such as the depart ments of
the North, of the Pas de Calais, and OF the Lys,
have seemed to claim this honor for themselves
| alone, if we may judge from he extreme eager
| ness which they have displayed in organizing he
'orts Of their national guards, and IN conveying
| tn M to t.ie meuaccd frontier.
| The department of the North has already sent
| T. the banks ofthe Scheidt several thousand gre
| adiers and rangers of the national guards, and
ompanIes Of volunteer cannoniers, who hereto
| fore so goriously defended the fortress of Isle
| against the impotent efforts of the enemy The
| department o. the Pas de- Calais and that of the
| Lys have done the same.
The enemy will no doubt shudder when lie sees
SO many troops come from different points Of the
empire, ready to fight him with determined ESQ.
| luton and to surround him if he should dare to
set foot upon the French territory; the eagerness
of the whole nation against their eternal enemy
| will, doubtless, for ever wrest from the English
| the hope of succeeding in suci enterprises, and
will perhaps, put curb upon their hatred against
| The French people, by the impossibility of ever
| satisfying it.
The Minister of War, Count Of Hunebourg.
The reading of this report being terminated,
the senate immediately appointed committee Of
| five members, charged to make as soon as posi-
bic report concerning the object of the comTnu-