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to the general conduct and character of Mr. McMahon, it was unnecessary for his friend to say a word; for I did not throw out the most distant bint against either, as, indeed, with truth, I could not, having never heard any thing to justify such a hint. With regard to the error relating to Mr. McMahon's having received pay as an officer in the army, the fault is not mine. "Men should be what they scem;" and, as he bore the name of Colonel, I reasonably concluded that he was a Colonel. This was not, however, made by me a circumstance of much weight; for, as I observed before, his services were of a sort to be utterly unknown to the public, and, therefore, to the public he ought not to have come for a reward.As to his services as a Subaltern and Captain, during the unfortunate and disgraceful war against the American States, no man will, I am sure, pretend, that he had a fair claim, at his age, to any rewards other than those which the military service itself provided for him; and, when he chose to quit the army, he, of course, forfeited that claim. But, surely, no man will pretend that the present grant has had eye to the services here spoken of! No: it is too monstrous, even for these times, to suppose, that a man, who, as Captain, chose to quit the army, sixteen years ago, in the middle of a war, is to be rewarded for past services with a grant for life equal to the pay of twenty captains in that same army.Much, however, as I lament the granting of this place, I lament it most of all because I cannot help looking upon it as a symptom of what we have to expect in future.

INVASION. This, in all probability, will soon become a copious subject. In another part of this Number the reader will find some documents relating to a threatened, or talked of, or surmised intended invasion of Jersey and Guernsey. I have no time to make any remark upon these at present, and shall content myself with a decided expression of my opinion, that, if we have a timely reform of the Commons' House of Parliament, we may laugh at all Napoleon's threats of invasion; but, if we have not that reform......what then? Why, then we may LAUGH AT THEM TOO! WM. COBBETT.

State Prison, Newgate, Friday,
4th October, 1811.

P.S. I have not room to notice the Essex Meeting in the present Number.

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

SICILY.Representation of the Deputation of the Kingdom of Sicily, to his Ma jesty the King of the Two Sicilies.-Palermo, 9th July, 1811.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY;—By a Royal Dispatch of the 30th of June last, your Majesty did command this Deputa tion to state, why they have submitted to your Majesty, in their Representation of the 13th of May last, a Paper signed by forty Barons, by a Guardian to a Minor, and by two younger Sons of Barons, respecting the tax on payments of one per cent. assessed by your Majesty by your Royal Edict of the 14th February, togegether with the observations the Deputation may find it incumbent to make thereon.-In obedience to your Royal commands, the Deputation humbly state to your Majesty that only the desire not to withhold any thing from your Royal. knowledge, has induced them to submit the said Paper, and to expose ingenuously. how, and by whom, it was presented.Meanwhile, the Deputation is of opinion, that the said Paper is not entitled to any further course; because your Majesty's Edict, levying the tax of one per cent. on payments, contains no encroachments on the laws of the kingdom, and on the privileges granted to it by your august predecessors.-May God preserve your Majesty and the Royal Family for many happy years.-Your Majesty's most humble subjects, the Deputies of the Kingdom, (Signed,)

The Prince BUTERA.
R. Archbishop of PALERMO.

The Prince CUTO, Deputy Senior..
The Prince CAMPO-FRANCO.
B. SERIO, Bishop of Ermopoli.
The Marquis CALLENTINI.
The Prince SCORDIA.

The Canon LORENZO DI ANTONI.
The Chevalier GASPARE PALERMO.
The Prince TORREMUZZA.
The Canon PAOLO FILIPPONI.
The Prince VALDINA, Prothonotary
to the Kingdom.

ANTONIO DELLA REVERE, Secretary.

SICILY.- -Article in the Gazette, respecting the Arrest of the Nobles.-19th July,

1811.

We learn from Palermo, that on the night of the 19th inst. the following Nobility were arrested by order of the Sici

lian Government, and were immediately afterwards sent on board the Sicilian ship of war the Tartar, to be conveyed to the Island of Favigana, &c. Their names are, the Princes of Belmonte, Villa Franca, Aci, Castel Nuovo, and the Duke of Angio. The arrest and exile of these Noblemen has given rise to a report, which is wholly destitute of foundation, which is injurious to the English character, and calculated to diminish the authority of the British residing in this island. The report is, that these proceedings were instituted at the desire of the British Government, and that the Admiral and English Chargé d'Affaires, residing in Palerno, had taken a principal part in the execution of it. It was also asserted, that an English ship of war was employed on this occasion. Such a representation is known to be utterly false and absurd, by the inhabitants of Palermo, who were eye-witnesses of the transaction; it will also be acknowledged that such an interference would be both opposed to the established conduct of the British Government, and to the duties of its principal agents in this Island.-Be the rumours on this subject what they may, we are empowered from the highest authority to contradict them, and to declare that the English had not only no participation in the business, but not even the smallest knowledge of it. The inventors and propagators of such vile calumnies could have no other object than to promote discord between the two nations, and to disunite the hearts of the Sicilian people from their best friends.

SICILY.Royal Edict.-19th July, 1811.

It having been represented to his Majesty, that on several occasions the undermentioned subjects have shewn manifest proofs of turbulence, and of a disposition to interrupt the public tranquillity, having taken the advice proper on such occa. sions, and after mature deliberation on the consequences of such disobedient conduct, he has resolved in his sovereign pleasure to order the arrest and exile to different Islands of the following persons:-The Prince of Belmonte Vintimiglio, the Prince of Villa Franca, who is also suspended from his functions of Colonel of the 1st Regiment of Royal Dragoons, &c. the Prince of Verulsterra, the Prince of Villarmosa, the Prince of Aci, who is also dismissed from his post of Adjutant General of the King, &c. &c. FERDINAND.

JERSEY.. -By the States of the Island of Jersey, in the year 1811, the 21st day of September.

The States have been this day convoked, at the instance of his Excellency Lieutenant General Don, Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of this island, his Excellency has communicated to the States a letter from the Secretary of State, acquainting him, that the enemy meditates an attack upon this and the adjoining islands. The Commander-in-Chief also communicates to the States the orders he had given in consequence of this information, both respecting the troops of the line and the militia, and the different preparations he had made in the event of an attack. The States could not avoid observing, that in the wisdom of the measures his Excellency had taken, with so much promptitude, for the event of an attack, nothing necessary for such a crisis has escaped his vigilance and foresight; and they offer him their most sincere acknowledgments for this new proof of his attention, and of his indefatigable zeal for the safety of the country, in addition to so many others which had already acquired for him by the justest title, the love and gratitude of the inhabitants. The States feel themselves infinitely flattered by the confidence which the Right Honourable Secretary of State has in the loyalty and approved zeal of the inhabitants of this island, and they pray his Excellency to assure him that this confidence shall never be disappointed. cestors, who, in the most stormy times have given proofs of their attachment to their Sovereigns, and of their inviolable fidelity, have given to their descendants an example which they will ever follow from duty and from inclination. The greatest sacrifices will cost them nothing in the imitation of so fine a model; to preserve them to themselves, and to transmit to their posterity the precious happiness they enjoy under the mildest and most happy of Governments. His Excellency is, without doubt, persuaded that the States will eagerly enter into his salutary views, and second his efforts to put the place in the best possible state of defence. Animated by these sentiments, and regarding the fortress on the mount of St. Hilier as a most important point of defence; and considering that the advancement and completion of the works of that fortress, are most essential to the preser

Their an

vation of the island in general, they offer their services to his Excellency, to be employed in whatever manner he may think they can be useful towards this object, and they invite their fellow citizens to assist, by their bodily labour, their horses, carts, and waggons, when they shall be called upon by his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. The States repose with the most perfect confidence, on the paternal care of the Government for the protection and the necessary aid for the defence of the island in this critical period; and they have no doubt that his Excellency the Commander in Chief will make such representations on that head as circumstances shall appear to require. This act shall be printed and published.

JEAN DE VEULLE, Secretary.

REGULATIONS.

The States of the Isle of Jersey have thought proper, in the present conjuncture to establish the following Regulations, which shall be printed, published, and stuck up-Art. 1. In case of alarm or attack, which alarm or attack shall be considered as lasting till the troops are released from duty, it is expressly ordered to the tavern keepers to keep their houses shut, and not to distribute liquor to the regular soldiers or the militia, or to any one, without a written permission from an Officer commanding a detachment either of regulars or militia, under the penalty of a fine not exceeding 300 livres and the forfeiture of the licence.-2. It is equally enjoined to all other persons not to sell or distribute liquors to the Regulars or Mihtia, or to any one else, without the permission required by the foregoing article, on pain of a fine not exceeding 300 livres for each offence.-3. In case of alarm or attack, the soldiers or other persons employed in the service of the Militia are forbidden to enter taverns, public houses, or private houses, to procure liquor, without the permission of their commanding Officer, under pain of being considered disobedient, and punished according to the nature of the case.-4. Constables are required always to keep a sufficient quantity of candles, in order to illu minate the churches without delay in case of alarm in the night.-5. In case of alarm in the night, it is enjoined to the inhabitants of St. Helier and St. Aubin to place candles in the windows of their houses to give light to the streets.6. The States, with a view of encouraging

the vigilance of the guards about the island, and of rousing the attention of all persons to the safety of the country in these critical times, have agreed to grant the sum of 1,000 livres to the first man, whether chief of a guard, sentinel, or other, who shall descry an enemy's fleet destined for attacking this island, and who shall take the necessary steps to inform his Excellency the Commander in Chief, as soon as possible; that is, if he is a Chief of a Guard, by sending without delay an intelligent man of his guard to carry the news to the Commander in Chief; if he is a centinel by informing his Chief of the news, in order that the latter may send off a dispatch and if he is any other person, by taking prompt and effectual measures to let the intelligence be known as soon as possible at head-quarters.-7. The States considering also that it is of essential importance to the defence of the country in case of attack, to remove from the coast, and to put out of the reach of the enemy the horses and cattle of the inhabitants, have thought it their duty to enjoin women, old and young persons, who shall not be otherwise employed in opposing the enemy, to drive away as quick as possible the cattle from the coast, to convey them into the interior, and to carry off as much forage and provisions of all kinds as they

can.

The States promise and engage to be answerable to the proprietors for the value of the cattle thus sent into the interior, in case of accident or loss, or the cattle being taken and employed for the public service: and the States declare at the same time to those who neglect or fail to use these means of preserving their property, by putting it out of the reach of the enemy, that they shall not be attended to in requiring indemnification in case of accident or capture.-8. A reasonable reward will be given by the States to those who have the misfortune to be wounded in the defence of the country and a pension to the widows during their widowhood, and to the children of those who may be killed: the whole according to circumstances, the exigency of the cases, and the situation of the families.

JEAN DE VEULLE, Registrar.

GUERNSEY.-Proclamation.-By his Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Doyle, bart. and K. C. Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, and commanding his Majesty's Forces in Guernsey and Alderney. Sept. 20, 1811.

Whereas certain intelligence has been to increase the means of defence, and yet received of an intended attack of the enemy we are told that our assistance has created upon this Island, Lieutenant General sir no feeling of gratitude, and that proposals John Doyle, feeling the most perfect re- and plans obviously calculated for the im-" liance upon the zeal and courage of the provement of the defence of the Island, Loyal Inhabitants in the defence of every are either received in the outset with susthing that is dear to them, and upon the picion, or thwarted in their execution, or gallantry and discipline of the Troops, altogether rejected. This will scarcely can have no doubts as to the issue of the be believed, except upon the supposition contest. But in order to prevent the con- of treachery on the part of the Sicilian Gofusion incident to an invasion, by indivi-vernment; and yet what could be gained by duals unattached to Corps, not knowing their exact point of Rendezvous, it is hereby directed that all Strangers, as well Subjects of his Majesty as Foreigners, who are not enrolled in any Regiment or Corps of Militia, do forthwith send in their names and places of residence to the Office of Colonel Sir Thomas Saumarez, the Inspector of Militia, in order that in the event of an alarm, their services may be made available to the general cause. The Alarm Post of persons of this description, will be the Exercising Ground at Fort George.-The Constables are earnestly requested to enforce the Ordinances of the Royal Court respecting the notice required to be given by all owners of Hotels, Lodgings, and Public Houses, of the lodgers who may be resident with them.-Persons having on hand any quantity of Flour and Provisions for sale, will be pleased to give in a return of the quality and quantity, in order that the same may be purchased by the Deputy Commissary-General, should circumstances render it necessary. And whereas it appears that Fuel has been frequently stolen from the furnaces for heating shot around the Coast, notice is hereby given, that any person detected in the commission of such an offence, will be prosecuted, not as an ordinary thief, but as a traitor to his country.

SICILY.—Publication in the COURIER Newspaper of the 1st of October, 1811, containing an Extract from a Work of Capt. Pasley.

Our connection with the Sicilian Government is reported to be so precarious, as to render a state of open hostility with it preferable to that in which, without any of the benefits of alliance, without any of the cordiality or co-operation of friendship, we have all the expences of a subsidy; we employ a force (capable of making ourselves masters of the Island), in defending it for the lawful sovereign, we pay him a large sum for the purpose of enabling him

treachery towards this Country? Subju gation by the enemy, dependence upon Buonaparté-the lowest degradation, and the vilest slavery. But folly and supineness, and misplaced confidence on the part of a Government, may enable men, (who have traitorous views) to subvert that government without any participation on the part of the person at the head of it. Look. at the example of Prussia!— However, without meaning to compare that unfortunate and abused Monarch with the Sicilian Government, we shall quote some extracts from a Work published by Capt. Pasley, in which our past, present, and future relations with Sicily are treated with considerable ability."Nothing (see page 347, second edition) can be more precarious than our present footing in that Island. By the late operations of the combined armies in the Spanish peninsula, the absolute necessity of having the chief command, when we act in concert with an allied force inferior to ourselves in the art of war, has been fully proved. Now, the native Sicilian army, although composed of old soldiers, is, on account of the vices of its military constitution, and of a discontented spirit arising from bad usage, still less to be depended upon than the rawest levies that ever took the field in the Spanish peninsula; the officers at its head are more jealous of us, and will prove, tractable than any of the Spanish chiefs, when put to the test, infinitely more unfor they are without the patriotic and manly spirit which checks these selfish feelings in the latter, and a total inde

* "The men highest in office and com. mand, or, at least, in influence with the Court of Sicily, are equally foreign by birth, both to that Island and to Great Britain, it is their interest to keep us as much in the back ground as possible, lest we should look into the management of our own money, the countries from whence these men sprung, and whither they will naturally wish to retire, in order to enjoy

pendence of command, with a most com- | enemy in some other point, with any deplete want of concert, at present exists be-gree of prudence. In short, all things tween the Sicilian and the British troops. considered, our present alliance with the Hence, that we should derive any effec- Government of Sicily, is upon the very tual resistance from our allies, in case the worst terms which the imagination of man island were attacked, is a perfect chimera; could have contrived for ourselves, for nor can we, as things now stand, diminish the people of that island, and for its King, our force, for the purpose of attacking the as far as he takes any interest in the preservation of the remaining part of his dominions.--Having sufficiently lamented these evils, let us now enquire into the proper mode of remedying them -The first step is to point out to the Court of Palermo, the total insecurity of the Island under the present circumstances, and to request they will for the common good of the allied Powers, appoint the British General in Sicily, Commander in Chief of their army; at the same time placing their own Commissariat and Paymaster General's departments, under the direction of the gentlemen who are at the head of the same departments in the British army; if the Sicilian Government accede to these requests, we shall subsidize them on the only terms we ought ever to subsidize a foreign Power; by having the chief command of their army entirely in our hands, and by providing for all its wants ourselves, without allowing a single guinea of our subsidy to enter the Treasury of our Ally. By these means although the improvement of many of the Officers, who have grown grey under the present vicious system, may be despaired of; the great body of the Officers, and all the soldiers, when they find themselves well-treated, may recover, or acquire a proper spirit, and become zealous in the cause; and the conditions of all ranks being bettered, the envy and perhaps hatred, with which the Sicilian now look upon the British troops may give place to attachment, and a necessary emulation may be excited in the minds of the former.-Should our alliance with Sicily be modified in this manner, the terms, although better than they are at present, would still remain very disadvantageous to Great Britain; for nothing can be more unfair, and unjust, than that the whole resources of so rich and great an island as Sicily, should be solely applied to the pomp and pleasures of its Court, and to the charges of its civil administration; without leaving, at least, some surplus of revenue for us, who have been, and are still, providing the whole of the troops necessary for its defence. By such an arrangement, however, we should find ourselves much more secure in Sicily, as a military station.

the rich harvest of their diplomatic and official labours, which they have reaped out of the taxes levied both in England and Sicily, being subject to Buonaparté; it is natural that they should seek opportunities to do him some service in order to make their peace with him.-At a time when we were paying a large subsidy to the government of Naples, as our secret friends, they kept their friendship so very secret, that it looked like the bitterest enmity. They refused us even the most paltry accommodations, which could have put them to no possible expense or trouble. They would not permit a British Captain of a Man of War, anchored in Naples Bay, the trifling convenience of repairing a boat with his own carpenters and with his own materials, in their dock yard, nor would they even allow him to make use of a raft in the Mole for that purpose; and the only reason alleged hy the Minister of Marine for his refusal was, that this insignificant act of civility would give offence to the French party, so completely were they the friends or vassals of France. Soon after the time alluded to, they took the preliminary step for excluding us from the ports of Sicily, by putting Malta in quarantine; a thing which can be ac counted for by no public reason, except their fear or love of the French, and hatred of us. It was certainly a hostile act; and the odium of it was not diminished, when we knew, that all the ports of Sicily were at that time swarming with French privateers, and heard that a British squadron had been actually refused the common refreshments of water and vegetables at Palermo. This squadron had not come from Malta, consequently the quarantine, had it been a just one, could not have applied to it. This state of affairs cannot be called neutrality. In my humble opinion, it was open war against us, for the refusal of water may cause the destruction of a fleet. But as the British Commander was told, the Government of Naples and Sicily were our secret friends; and this it seems gave them a right to do us as much mischief as they pleased."

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