a fruits of a just policy were enjoyed in an un. which is the cement of the Union, as well in rivalled growth of our faculties and resources. its limitacions, as in its authorities; to reProofs of this were seen in the improvements spect the rights and authorities reserved to the of agriculture; in the successful enterprise of States and to the people, as equally incorpocommerce; in the progress of manufactures rated with, and essential to, the success of the and useful arts : in the increase of the public general system ; to avoid the slightest interrevenues, and the use made of it in reducing ference with the right of conscience, or the the public debt; and in the valuable works functions of religion so wisely exempted from and establishments every where multiplying civil jurisdiction; to preserve to their full over the face of our land. energy the other salutary provisions in behalf “ It is a precious reflection that the transi- of private and personal rights, and of the free. tion from this prosperous condition of our dom of the press; to observe economy in peb. country, to the scene which has for some time lic expenditures ; to liberate the public rebeen distressing us, is not chargeable on any sources by an honourable discharge of the pubwarrantable views, nor as I trust, on any lic debts; to keep within the requisite limits involuntary errors in the public councils. In- a standing military force, always remembering dulging no passions which trespass on the that an armed and treated militia is the finest rights or the repose of other nations, it has bulwark of republics, that without standing, been the true glory of the United States to armies their liberty can never be in danger ; cultivate peace by observing justice, and to nor.with large ones safe; to promote, by au. entitle themselves to the respect of the nations thorised means, improvements friendly to at war, by fulfilling their neutral obligations agriculture, and to external as well as interwith the most scrupulous impartiality. nal commerce; to favour, in like manner, the “ If there be candour in the world, the advancement of science and the diffusion of truth of these assertions will not be ques. inf rmation, as the best aliment to true litioned. Posterity at least will do justice to berty; to carry on the benevolent plans which them. have been so meritoriously applied to the con“ This unexceptionable course could not version of our aboriginal neighbour, from che avait against the injustice and violence of the degradation and wretchedness of savage life, Belligerent powers. In their rage against to a participation of the improvements of which each other, or impelled by more direct mo. the human mind and manners are susceptible tives, principles of retaliation have been intru- in a civilized state. As far as sentiments and duced equally contrary to universal reason and intentions such as these can aid the fulfilment acknowledged law. How long their arbitrary of my duty, they will be a resource which canedicts will be continued in spite of the de- not fail me. munstrations, that not even a pretext for " It is my good fortune, moreover, to have them has been given by the United States, the path in which I am to tread, lighted by and of the fair and liberal attempts to induce examples of illustrious services, successfully a revocation of them, cannot be anticipated. rendered in the most trying difficulties by “ Assuring myself that, under every vicis. those who have marched before me. Of situde, the determined spirit and united coun- those of my immediate predecessor, it might cils of the nation will be safeguards to its ho- least become me here to speak. I may, hownour and its essential interests, I repair to the ever, be pardoned for not suppressing the sym. post assigned me, with no other discourage- pathy, with which my heart is full, in the ment than what springs from my own inade- reward he enjoys in the benedictions of a bequacy to its high duties. If I do not sink un.. loved country, gratefully bestowed for exalted der the weight of this deep conviction, it is talents, zealously devoted, through a long cabecause I find some support in a consciousness reer, to the advancement of its highest interof the purposes, and a confidence in the prin- est and happiness. ciples which I bring with me into chis arduous “But the source to which I look for the service. aid, which alone can supply my deficiencies, “ To cherish peace and friendly intercourse is in the well-tried intelligence and virtue of with all nations, having correspondent dispo. my fellow-citizens and in the counsels of those sions; to maintain sincere neutrality towards representing them in the other departments belligerent nations; to prefer in all cases ami- associated in the care of the national interest. cable discussions and reasonable accommoda. In these my confidence will, under every diftion of differences, to a decision of them by ficulty, be best placed; next to that which we an appeal to arms; to exclude foreign in. have all been encouraged to feel in the guar. trigues and foreign partialities so degrading to dianship and guidance of that Almighty Beall countries, and so baneful to free ones; to ing, whose power regulates the destiny of nafoster a spirit of independence, too just to in- tions--whose blessings have been su conspi. vade the rights of others; too proud to surren. cuously displayed to this rising republic; and der their own; too liberal to indulge unwor. to whom we are bound to address our devout thy prejudices ourselves, and too elevated not gratitude for the past, as well as our fervent to look upon them in others; to hold the na- supplications and best hopes for the future.” tion of the States as the basis of their peace Washington, March 4, 1809. and happiness ; to support the constitution, GREAT GREAT BRITAIN. The following letter from LieutenantGeneral Sir John Moore, to Viscount Castlereagh, dated Corunna, Jan. 13, 1809, three days before the death of the general will tend to explain better than has yet been done, the causes of the unfortunate termination of that campaign. "Situated as this army is at present, it is impossible for me to detail to your Lordship the events which have taken place, since I had the honour to address you from Astorga, on the 31st of December: I have therefore determined to send to England, Brigadier-General Charles Stewart, as the Officer best qualified to give you every information you can want, both with respect to our actual situa tion, and the events which have led to it. "Your Lordship knows, that had I followed my own opinon, as a military man, I should have retired with the army from Salamanca. The Spanish armies were then beaten, there was no Spanish force to which we could unite, and I was satisfied that no efforts would be made to aid us, or to favour the cause in which they were engaged. "I was sensible, however, that the apathy and indifference of the Spaniards would never have been believed; that had the British been withdrawn, the loss of the cause would have been imputed to their retreat, and it was necessary to risk this army to convince the people of England, as well as the rest of Europe, that the Spaniards had neither the power nor the inclination to make any efforts for themselves. It was for this reason that I made the march to Sahagun. As a diversion, it succeeded; I brought the whole disposable force of the French against this army, and it had been allowed to follow me, without a single movement being made to favour my retreat.— The people of the Gallicias, though armed, made no attempt to stop the passage of the French through their mountains. They abandoned their dwellings at our approach, drove away their carts, oxen, and every thing that could be of the smallest aid to the army. The consequence has been, that our sick have been left behind; and when our horses or mules failed, which, on such marches, and through such a country, was the case to a great extent, baggage, ammunition, stores, &c. and even money, were necessarily destroyed or abandoned. "I am sorry to say, that the army, whose conduct I had such reason to extol on its march through Portugal, and on its arrival in Spain, has totally changed its character since it be gan to retreat. I can say nothing in its fa vour, but that when there was a prospect of fighting the enemy, the men were then orderly, and seemed pleased and determined to do their duty. In front of Viila Franca, the French came up with the reserve, with MONTHLY MAG. No. 184. which I was covering the retreat of the army; they attacked it at Calcabelos. I retired, covered by the 95th regiment, and marched that night to Herresis, and from thence to Nogales and Lugo, where I had ordered the different divisions which preceded, to halt and collect. At Lug, the French again came up with us. They attacked our advanced posts on the 6th and 7th, and were repulsed in both attempts, with little loss on our side. I heard from the prisoners taken, that three divisions of the French army were come up, commanded by Marshal Soult; I therefore expected to be attacked on the morning of the 8th. It was my wish to come to that issue; I had perfect confidence in the valour of the troops, and it was only by crippling the enemy that we could hope either to retreat or to embark unmolest ed. I made every preparation to receive the attack, and drew out the army in the morning to offer battle. This was not Marshal Soult's object. He either did not think himself suffi ciently strong, or he wished to play a sureg game, by attacking us on our march, or du ring our embarkation. The country was intersected, and his position too strong for me to attack with an inferior force. The want of provisions would not enable me to wait longer. I marched that night; and in two forced marches, oivouacing for six or eight hours in the rain, I reached Betanzos on the 10th in stant. "At Lugo, I was sensible of the impossibil ity of teaching Vigo, which was at too great a distance, and offered no advantages to embark in the face of an enemy. My intention was then to have retreated to the peninsula of Betanzos, where I hoped to find a position to cover the embarkation of the army in Ares or Redes Bayes; but having sent an officer to reconnoitre it, by his report I was determined to prefer this place. I gave notice to the Admi ral of my intention, and begged that the transports might be brought to Corunna: had I found them here on my arrivai on the 11th, the embarkation would easily have been effected, for I had gained several marches on the French. They have now come up with us, the transports have not arrived; my position in front of this place is a very bad one; and this place, if I am forced to retire into it, is commanded within musket shot, and the harbour will be so commanded by cannon on the coast, that no ship will be able to lay in itIn short, my Lord, General Stewart will inform you how critical our situation is. It has been recommended to me to make a proposal to the enemy, to induce him to allow us to embark quietly, in which case he gets us out of the country soon, and this place, with its stores, &c. complete; that otherwise we have the power to make a long defence, which must cause the destruction of the town, I am averse to make any such proposal, and am exceedingly doubtful if it would be attended, 3 F with with any good effect; but whatever I resolve on this head, I hope your Lordship will rest, assured, thar I shall accept no terms that are in the least dishonourable to the army or to the country." Captain Preedy, Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant-General Beckwith, Commander of his Majesty's troops in the Leeward Islands, in Downing-street, on the 12th of April, with dispatches from the Lieutenant-General, to Lord VisCount Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of which the following are copies : Head-quarters, Martinique, Feb. 28. MY LORD-In my letter of the 15th instant, I had the honour to transmit to your lordship the details of our operations to the 11th preceding; from that period until the 19th we were incessantly employed in the construction of gun and mortar batteries, and in landing cannon, mortars, and howitzers, with their ammunition and stores, in dragging them to the several points selected by the engineers, and in the completion of the works, and in mounting the ordnance. The exertions of Commodore Cockburn, and other naval officers under his orders upon the right, and of Captains Barton and Nesham, of the navy, upon the left, in forwarding these services, were most conspicuous. The enemy during the interval fired upon our encamp ments with shot and shells, but fortunately with little effect, and his piquets, when pressed, constantly fell back under the protection of his works. On the 19th at half past four in the afternoon, we opened from six points upon the enemy's fortress, with fourteen pieces of heavy cannon, and twenty-eight mortars and howitzers, and the cannonade and bombardment continued with little remission until noon of the 23d, when the French general sent a trumpeter with a letter to our advanced posts, near the Bouillé Redoubt, in the front of attack. In this communication General Villaret proposed, as the basis of negociation, that the French troops should be sent to France free from all restriction as to future service; but this being admissible, the bombardment recommenced at ten at night, and continued without intermission until nine o'clock of the 24th, when three white flags were discovered flying in the fortress, in consequence of which, our fire from the batteries immediately ceased. It is with the most heartfelt satisfaction I have now the honour to report to your Lordship, for his Majesty's information, that, supported by the talents of the general officers, and in particular of Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, and of Major-General Maitland, the experience and zeal of all the other officers, and the valour and unremitting labour of this army, strengthened by the in defatigable exertions of Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and the squadron, the campaign, notwithstanding incessant rains, has been brought to a glorious conclusion in the short space of twenty seven days from our departure from Barbadoes. stitute the pride of my future life. To these The command of such an army will constibrave troops, conducted by generals of expeowe the sovereignty of this important colony; rience, and not to me, their king and country and I trust that, by a comparison of the force which defended it, and the time in which it has fallen, the present reduction of Martinique will not be deemed eclipsed by any former expedition. I have the honour to inclose the articles of capitulation, as originally produced by the French commissioners, in consequence of General Villaret's application to me for this purpose, during the forenoon of the 24th, and acceded to by Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Major-General Maitland, and Commodore Cockburn, appointed by the rear-admiral and myself to meet them. This capitulation, which was mutually ratified the same night, will, I trust, be honoured with his Majesty's approbation. By the next conveyance, I shall have the honour to submit to your Lordship's consideration the various details which are now referred to in general terms, and to report the merits of the several corps; but the science of the officers of the royal artillery has been too conspicuous not to be particularly noticed, the interior of the enemy's fortress being torn to pieces by shells: his works have also been much injured by shot from the gun-batteries, manned by the seamen under the direction of Commodore Cockburn, and other naval officers. After the embarkation of the French troops, I shall have the honour to command the eagles taken from the enemy to be laid at the king's feet. Captain Preedy, of the 90th regiment, one of my aides-de-camp, has the honour to be the bearer of this dispatch: he is an officer of service, and I beg leave to recommend him to his Majesty's favour, and to your Lordship's protection. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) G. BECKWITH, Com. Forces. Sir Harry Neale, bart. first captain to Admiral Lord Gambier, commander in chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels employed in the Channel Soundings, &c. arrived at the Admiralty-office, on the 21st of April, with a dispatch from his lordship to the Honourable William Wellesley Pole, of which the following is a copy: Caledonia, in Basque Roads, April 14. SIR-The Almighty's favour to his Majesty and the nation has been strongly marked in the success he has been pleased to give to the the operations of his Majesty's fleet under my command; and I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that the four ships of the enemy named in the margin* have been destroyed at their anchorage, and several others, from getting on shore, if not rendered unserviceable, are at least disabled for a considerable time. The arrangement of the fire vessels placed under the direction of Captain the Right Hon. Lord Cochrane was made as fully as the state of the weather would admit according to his fordship's plan, on the evening of the 11th inst; and at eight o'clock on the same night they proceeded to the attack under a favourable strong wind from the northward, and flood tide, (preceded by some vessels filled with powder and shells, as proposed by his lordship, with a view of explosion,) and led on in the most undaunted and determined manner by Captain Wooldridge, in the Mediator fire-ship, the others following in succession, but owing to the darkness of the night several mistook their course and failed. On their approach to the enemy's ships, it was discovered that a boom was placed in front of their line for a defence. This however the weight of the Mediator soon broke, and the usual intrepidity and bravery of British seamen overcame all difficulties. Advancing under a heavy fire from the forts in the Isle of Aix, as well as from the enemy's ships, most of which cut or slipt their cables, and from the confined anchorage got on shore, and thus avoided taking fire. At daylight the following morning, Lord Cochrane communicated to me by telegraph, that seven of the enemy's ships were on shore, and might be destroyed. Iimmediately made the signal for the fleet to unmoor and weigh, intending to proceed with it to effect their destruction. The wind however being fresh from the northward, and the flood tide run ning, rendered it too hazardous to run into Aix roads, (from its shallow water), I therefore anchored again at the distance of about three miles from the forts on the Island. As the tide suited, the enemy evinced great activity in endeavouring to warp their ships (which had grounded) into deep water, and succeeded in getting all but five of the line towards the entrance of the Charente before it became practicable to attack them. I gave orders to Captain Bligh, of the Va. liant, to proceed with that ship, the Revenge, frigates, bombs, and small vessels, named in the margint, to anchor near the Boyart Shoal, in readiness for the attack. At twenty * Ville de Varsovie, of 80 Guns; Tonnérre, of 74 Guns; Aquilon, of 74 Guns; and Calcutta, of 56 Guns. + Indefatigable, Aigle, Emerald, Pallas, Beagle, Ætna Bomb, Insolent gun-brig, Confict, Encounter, Fervent and Growler. minutes past two P.M. Lord Cochrane advanced in the Imperieuse with his accustomed gallantry and spirit, and opened a well-directed fire upon the Calcutta, which struck her colours to the Imperieuse; the ships and vessels above mentioned soon after joined in the attack upon Ville de Varsovie and Aquilon, and obliged them, before five o'clock, after sustaining a heavy cannonade, to strike their colours, when they were taken possession of by the boats of the advanced squadron. As soon as the prisoners were removed, they were set on fire, as was also the Tonnérre, a short time after by the enemy. I afterwards detached Rear-Admiral the honourable Robert Stopford in the Cæsar with the Theseus, three additional fire ships (which were hastily prepared in the course of the day), and all the boats of the fleet, with Mr. Congreve's rockets, to conduct the further operations of the night against any of the ships which lay exposed to an attack. On the morning of the 13th, the Rear-Admiral reported to me, that as the Cæsar and other line of battle ships had grounded and were in a dangerous situation, he thought it advisable to order them all out, particularly as the remaining part of the service could be performed by frigates and small vessels only; and I was happy to find that they were extricated from their perilous situation. Captain Bligh has since informed me, that it was found impracticable to destroy the three decked ship, and the others which were lying near the entrance of the Charente, as the former, being the outer one, was protected by three lines of boats placed in advance from her. This ship and all the others, except four of the line and a frigate, have now moved up the river Charente. If any further attempt to destroy them is practicable, I shall not fail to use every means in my power to accomplish it. I have great satisfaction in stating to their lordships how much I feel obliged to the zealous co-operation of Rear-Admiral Stopford, under whose arrangement the boats of the fleet were placed; and I must also express to their lordships the high sense I have of the assistance I received from the abilities and unremitted attention of Sir Harry Neale, bart. the captain of the fleet, as well as of the animated exertions of the captains, officers, seamen, and marines under my command, and their forwardness to volunteer upon any service that might be allotted to them; particularly the zeal and activity shewn by the captains of line-of battle ships in preparing the fire vessels. I cannot speak in sufficient terms of admiration and applause, of the vigorous and gallant attack made by Lord Cochrane, upon the French line of battle ships which were on shore, as well as of his judicious manner of approaching them, and placing his ship in the position position most advantageous to annoy the enemy, and preserve his own ship; which could not be exceeded by any feat of valour hitherto achieved by the British navy. It is due to Rear-Admiral Stopford, and Sir Harry Neale, that I should here take the opportunfty of acquanting their lordships of the handsome and earnest manner in which both these meritorious officers had volunteered their services before the arrival of Lord Cochrane to undertake an attack upon the enemy with fire ships; and that, had not their lord. ships fixed upon him to conduct the enterprise, I have full confidence that the result of their efforts would have been highly creditable to them. I should feel that I did not do justice to the services of Captain Godfrey of the Etna, in bombarding the enemy's ships on the 12th, and nearly all the day of the 13th, if I did not recommend him to their lordships notice; and I cannot admit bearing due testimony to the anxious desire expressed by Mr. Congreve to be employed wherever I might conceive his services in the management of his rockets would be useful; some of them were placed in the fire shins with effect; and I have every reason to be satisfied with the artillerymen and others who had the management of them, under Mr. Congreve's direction. I send herewith a return of the killed, wounded, and missing of the fleet, which I am happy to observe, is comparatively small. I have not yet received the returns of the number of prisoners taken, but I conceive they amount to between 4 and 500. I have charged Sir Harry Neale with this dispatch (by the Imperieuse) and I beg leave to refer their lordships to him, as also to Lord Cochrane, for any further particulars of which they may wish to be informed. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) GAMBIER 15th April. P.S. This morning three of the enemy's line of battle ships are observed to be still on shore under Fouras, and one of them is in a dangerous situation. One of their frigates (L'Indienne), also on shore, has fallen over, and they are now dismantling her. As the tides will take off in a day or two, there is every probability that she will be destroyed. Since writing the foregoing, I have learnt that the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Cochrane (Lord Cochrane's brother) and Lieut. Bissett of the navy, were volunteers in the Imperieuse, and rendered themselves extremely useful, the former by commanding some of her guns on the main deck, and the latter conducting one of the explosion-vessels. Foudroyant. 80 guns, Rear-Admiral Gourdon, Capt. Henri.-Five years old; on shore under Fouras. Cassard, 74 guns, Capt. Faure, Commodore. -Three years old; on shore under Fouras. Tourville, 74 guns, Capt. La Caille.-Old; on shore in the river. Regulus, 74 guns, Capt. Lucus.-Five years old; on shore under Madame. Patriote, 74 guns, Capt. Mahèe.-Repaired in 1803. Jemappe, 74 guns, Capt. Fauva.-On shore under Madame. Tonnérre, 74 guns, Capt. Clement de la Ronciere. Nine months old, never at sea. Aquilon, 74 guns, Capt. Maington.-Old. Ville de Varsovie, 80 guns, Capt. Cuvillier. -New, never at sea. Calcutta, 56 guns, Capt. La Tonie.-Loaded Indienne, Capt. Proteau.-On shore near Isle N.B. One of the three last frigates on Return of Officers, Seamen, and Marines, killed, wounded and missing, between the 11th and 14th of April, 1809, inclusive. Names of Officers killed.-W. Flintoff, acting Lieutenant of the Cæsar; J. Seggese, gunner of the Mediator. Names of Officers wounded.-Wm. Edward GAMBIER. Return received since the above was written.-1 officer, 1 man, wounded. This gazette of the 15th of April, contains a letter from Captain Yeo, of the Confiance, dated Cayenne Harbour, Jan. 15th. It announces the capture of that important colony by a descent of British and Portuguese troops on the 4th of that month. Little resist ance was made by the enemy; and there is nothing in the Names of the Ships in Aix Roads, previous to the above letter, which would authorise us attack on the 11th April, 1809. L'Ocean, 120 guns, Vice-Admiral Allemande, Capt. Roland.-Repaired in 1806, on shore under Fouras. to give it in detail. Captain Yeo pays the highest compliments to all the officers and men under his command. The place was taken possession of in the name of the |