gether excludes the idea, that the rule was merely found for the occafion, and made to juftify feizures, not otherwife juftifiable. I pray your Excellency to accept, &c. &e. JOHN ARMSTRONG.

His Excellency the Duke of Cadore,
Minifter of Exterior Relations.

Paris, March 20. SIR-The United States, withing to ful fil their engagements to the holders of their public debt in Holland, but unable, from the prefent ftate of commerce, to do fo by the ordinary mode of remitting bills of exchange, found it neceffary to enter into contracts with certain merchants of the faid States, to make remittance in tobacco. A cargo of this article was accordingly put on board the American fhip Hero, and difpatched for the port of Tonningen in Den mark, with orders that the net proceeds fhould be placed in the hands of the American bankers in Amfterdam, for the purpose above-mentioned. The paffage having been uncommonly ftormy, the fhip much damaged, and the crew quite exhaufted, the Captain believed it to be his duty, on the principle of felf-prefervation, to enter the first port he could make. He accordingly entered that of the Texel, and, after having taken on board two pilots, and being within the fourth buoy, was captured by a boat belonging to a French privateer. Befides the customary papers, all of which are in rule, the Hero failed under a certificate, granted by the Government, that the voyage was undertaken for the purpose of effecting a national remittance.

I have thought, Sir, that the peculiarity of the circumftances made it proper for me to afk a fpecial decifion of his Majefty on this cafe, and with this view I have the honour of offering to your Excellency, the prefent representation. Accept Sir, &c.

(Signed) JOHN ARMSTRONG. His Excellency the Duke of Cadore. Paris, March 21. SIR-I had yesterday the honour of ftating to your Excellency the cafe of the American fhip Hero, and requesting thereon his Majefty's decifion. I have now that of informing you, that a number of American fhips, coming directly from the United States to the port of Naples, under a promise of protection from his Majefty the King, have, notwithstanding, been feized, and their cargoes fold" for the benefit of the fife." Nor does the injury ftop here. Though thus deprived of all means of fubfifting themselves, the Captains have been obliged to fubfift the crews (amounting nearly to 300 men) and are now menaced with a

farther exa&tion for port charges. This, in the strong language of one of the sufferers, is literally to ftrip them naked, and then demand from them the expence of doing so. As the Confular Agent of the United States at Naples has made feveral unavailing reprefentations on this fubject to the King, and he has reafon to believe that the system, of which this treatment is a branch, emanates from his Majesty the Emperor, it bes comes my duty to fubmit the facts to your Excellency, and to feek, through your intervention, fuch correction of the evil as humanity and justice may confpire to dictate. A remark which exquifitely applies to the crews of the fhips captured in Spain and Naples, is, that should the vessels to which they belong be confiscated, means ought to be afforded to them of returning to their country. In this event, therefore, I have to propofe to your Excellency, that two or more fhips be put at the difpofition of the neareft American Conful, and permitted to fail for the United States, under bond for amount of their valuation refpectively.

1 am, Sir, &c. J. ARMSTRONG. H. E. the Duke of Cadore.

(CONSULAR OFFICE OF SPAIN.)

NEW YORK, June 16.-Whereas official information is received that the extenfive diftricts of Maracayho and Coro, which compofe a large portion of the province of Venezuela, have unanimously difagreed to the anti-national measures lately adopted by their brethren of the district of Caraccas, and are determined to preferve their integrity and fidelity to the government of the mother country, adminiftered in the name of their beloved King, Ferdinand VIIth, and have accordingly decreed, that no veffel will be admitted from the United States of America into their ports, without the neceffary Confular documents from the Conful of his Catholic Majesty, refident therein, fetting forth the names of the veffel, cap tain, officers and crew, as well as paffengers-It is hereby made known, to all those whom it may concern, that fuch documents will be granted at this office on application, without which, no veel will be admitted into the ports of these districts; and as it is the particular with of his Catholic Majefty's Government, to cultivate the relations of friendship and trade between the United States, and his dominions of Spain and America;-it is to be hoped no veffel will proceed to the ports of these districts without carrying the documents required by the Government.

France.

depots where there are military, medical, or other English Gentlemen refident, Committees have been formed for the purpose of diftributing these benevolent fubfcriptions, and the patience and perfeverance with which thofe gentlemen furmount the difficulties they experience, liften to the wants of the diftreffed, and endure the murmurs of the difcontented, entitle them to the gratitude of their country. The prefent rate of relief is four fols per day to women and children living with their husbands and parents, who not being confidered as prifoners by the French Government do not receive the ordinary rations. The fame fum is given to the better fort of non-combatants, to certain paffengers, and to masters of veffels under 80 tous regifter, who are paid only as feamen by the French Government. Occafional affiftance is afforded to mafters and mates of vessels above 80 tons, and relief to

every defeription of prisoners on their march from the coast, or from one depot to another. To old men of 55 and upwards, and to wounded prifoners who have loft a limb, or who are disabled from future service, are given three fols per day, and two fols per day to all other perfons in diftrefs. Schools have been established to occupy the young men in the depots, and medicines are fur nifhed to the fick whofe complaints are not of a nature to oblige them to go to the hofpital, to which our countrymen are not only averfe in France but in this country.

With refpect to the allowances made to the different claffes by the French Government, it rarely happens, and only from particular circumstances, that any gentlemen are paid out of the depots. To thofe refident in them the allowances are as follow:— Per Month. Liv. 166

To a General
Colonels in the army, and Poft Cap-

100 0

75 0

50 0

37 0

25 0

Wood is allowed twice a month, falt once ditto, dry vegetables occafionally, and vinegar in the fummer. It is faid that the order of the Government is, that they should be clothed once in eighteen months.

The gentlemen who were detained at the commencement of the war, who may have ferved previously in the army or navy, are paid on producing their commiffions, according to their former rank, or to that which they may have held at the period of their detention; but the other detained gentlemen, merchants; trades-people, &c. whofe cafe is peculiarly diftreffing, are confidered only as non-combatants, and when obliged to claim the French allowance, can only be paid as seamen.

SWEDEN.

A Gottenburgh mail, received on the 9th inftant, brings intelligence of a violent com

motion at Stockholm. This disturbance arofe on the 21ft June, the day fixed for the interment of the Prince of Augftenberg, the Crown Prince of Sweden, who, about the beginning of June, while reviewing fome troops at Helfinbourg, fell from his horse, and instantly expired. The circumstances of his fudden death had given rife to a fu fpicion of his being poifoned; and the enraged populace feized upon the High Marfhal, Count Ferfen, who led the proceflion, and whom they fufpe&ted of being the murderer of the Prince, and literally tore him to pieces. Other persons of distinction were attacked; and the riot was finally quelled by the interference of the military. Various accounts were circulated refpecting the number of the populace killed and wounded by the fire of the troops, and the number is generally estimated at from 10 to 40 killed, and 130 wounded. On the part of the military, five were killed, besides fevefal dangerously wounded.

The following proclamation was iffued in confequence of the disturbance:

"We, Charles, by the grace of God, King

of Sweden.

We

We confider it as a confolation necessary to our wounded feelings, hereby publicly to exprefs how much we feel concerned, on account of the unfortunate confequences occafioned by the disturbances which again took place last night. After all poffible admonitions had been used in vain by the Commander of our troops, to prevail upon the multitude to difperfe, and after public notice had been given that force would be refifted by force, and strong measures adopted to reftore public tranquillity, and fecure perfonal fafety, the mob attacked the peaceful troops with ftones and infulting language, till the latter found themselves neceffitated, by our gracious command, for the protection of the law and public order, and in their lawful felf-defence, to meet force by force, which at length produced the beneficial refult, that the multitude dispersed, and public order was reftored. We entertain the confident hope, that public tranquillity will in future be preferved, and that even those who for a moment could forget their duty, and suffer themselves to become the tools of lawless and perfidious intriguers, will entertain a proper fenfe of the dangers to which they are expofed if they continue their criminal conduct. All our faithful and beloved fubjects we graciously defire and paternally exhort, mindful of the duty which religion, as well as the laws of our country imperiously impofe on them, to rely

with confidence on the measures which we

have determined to purfue, for the purpose of preventing all acts of violence, and preferving public tranquillity, and peace, and to liften with obedience to the orders which will be given them on our part by their fuperiors, Magistrates, and Commanders. We commend them all to the peculiar protection of Almighty God.

CHARLES-T. A. BUTZEL." "Stockholm Caftle, June 21. 1810."

TURKEY.

The war between Ruffia and Turkey, which for fome time paft has been carried on in rather an inactive manner, begins to lead to more decifive refults. A fanguinary battle has been fought on the right bank of the Danube, which has ended in the total defeat of the Turks, who have fled in confequence to Adrianople. The Ruffians have in confequence made themselves mafters of Siliftria, and feveral other fortreffes which they have carried by ftorm. It is faid that the Turks have offered to purchase peace by the ceffion of the two provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia, and that even these humiliating terms have been rejected by the victors.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. GALLANT ACTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

the Spartan frigate, contains the particulars The following letter, from the purser of of a moft brilliant aЯion, which was fought in the Mediterranean, between the abovenamed vellel and the enemy's naval force in that quarter:

His Majefty's fhip Spartan, Malta,

16th May, 1810.

MY DEAR FRIEND-Aware that an old

meffmate (particularly a once Spartan) will derive fome gratification from the particulars of our recent glorious conteft, I willingenable you to participate in the feelings of ly avail myself of the firft conveyance, to your old fhipmates. On the 1ft inft. we, in company with the Succefs, chafed into Naples a frigate, corvette, brig, and cutter. On the 2d, from a fuppofition on the part of our truly gallant Captain (Jahleel Brenton), that thefe fair-weather-birds would never put to Tea, whilft menaced by two British frigates, he ordered the Success (being a junior fhip) to part company. The manœuvre fucceeded; and on the following morning, at day-light, the enemy's fquadron was, with pleasure, defcried standing towards us, in a regular line of battle. It was not in our nature to run! but, agreeable to our ufual fyftem, as well as their aftonishment, we made fail for them; and, being aided by a light breeze, were enabled, about 40 minutes after feven, to commence against "fearful odds," what our gallant brother tars on this station, as well as the conquered foe, acknowledge to have been one of the most brilliant actions ever fought by an English frigate. The battle took place off Naples, and was commenced within piftol-fhot, by the French frigate Ceres, of

42 guns, the being the leading fhip of the enemy's line; and after a truly trying, yet, thank God, glorious conteft of two hours and ten minutes (during which time the awful scene was witneffed by his mock Majefty, Murat, and the whole population of the proud city of Naples) we fucceeded in capturing the national brig L'Espervoir, by our brave fellows gallantly boarding her, in the face of the enemy's whole force, who were, like unto ourselves, almoft torn to pieces.

When we had approached this "hoft of foes," fufficiently near to be diftinctly heard, we welcomed them with "three cheers," which was proposed by our gallant Captain, and given by our brave tars, with heartfelt fincerity for the honour of our beloved country and glorious profeffion. From the of ficers whom we have taken prifoners, we have been affured, that our cheering tended forcibly to unnerve their feamen, as it taught them to believe we had, in the first infance, decided on death or victory! Our lofs has been severe-10brave fellows killed, and 22 wounded; yet when I refer you to the annexed unprecedented fuperiority to which we were oppofed, you must think with me, that thofe heroic Britons could never have fallen on a more glorious occafion.

Among the killed I have to deplore the death of that gallant youth, Mr Robinson, mafter's mate, whom you, as an old Spartan, must recollect; and in the lift of wounded the name of our truly heroic and diftinguished Captain unfortunately ftands conpicuous. He was dangeroufly wounded by a grape-shot, about the middle of the action, whilft fearlessly ftanding on the capftan, and, by his judicious manevring, and gallant example, infpiring a confidence of fuccefs in every officer and man around him. He was wounded in the left fide, and has fince fuffered almost inceffant pain, with becoming fortitude; but I am happy to add, he is now pronounced out of danger, and the ardent prayers of his officers and brave crew continue to be offered up with feamanlike fincerity, for his ipeedy restora tion to the fervice of his country; with whom his zeal, ability, and heroilm, must ever ftand unrivalled and by whom, if genuine merit wants not admirers, he will, no doubt, be amply rewarded. He has already received the Order of Knighthood and of Merit, from his Majefty the King of the Two Sicilies, which, no doubt, will be followed on the part of our good Sovereign (God bless him) by the Order of the Bath, and an adequate penfion to fupport it. We

97 1073

Total, The firft efcaped, the fecond was dismasted, and the third taken.

In addition to the interefting letter from the purfer of the Spartan, relative to the brilliant action in the Mediterranean, we understand that "Murat ordered the cap. tain to go out and bring in that English fri. gate, or he would hang him on his return." The refult is unknown. The French cap tain loft his arm, which may fave his life. Captain B. was wounded in the hip. The ball is extracted, and he is likely to recover. No other officer wounded. Captain B. had previously fent away the Succefs frigate, Capt. Askew, to induce them to come out. Upon Captain B.'s arrival at Palermo, the King of Sicily fent him the order of St Fer dinand and Merit, with a moft flattering

letter.

The Efpervoir is the brig captured, and taken into Palermo as a trophy of this briliant action with fo unequal force. It was fought, within four miles of Naples, and three of the batteries of Baia and Procida. When the enemy were within range of grape from the Spartan, fhe faluted them with three cheers, which were distinctly heard by the whole line. On the 25th of May Captain Brenton was confidered out of danger.

OXFORD INSTALLATION.

The ceremony of inftalling Lord Grenville as Chancellor of the University of Ox ford, commenced on the 3d inft. and lafted four days. Great preparations were made, and much expence incurred, to render the ceremony as fplendid as poffible. The mu fical department was under the regulatio of Dr Crotch, who devoted 2000 guine