THE public attention was excited early in the year by the trial of General Whitelocke, for his misconduct at Buenos Ayres. The charges against him were; "1st, That he had pursued measures ill calculated to facilitate the conquest of the province; for, when the Spanish commander expressed a desire to communicate concerning terms, he required the surrender of all persons holding civil offices in the government as prisoners of war; an unusual and offensivé demand, tending to exasperate the inhabitants, to produce and encourage a spirit of resistance, to exclude the hope of amicable accommodation, and to increase the difficulties of the service with which he was entrusted. 2dly, That he did not make the military arrangements best calculated to ensure the success of his operations against the town; that, having known that the enemy meant to occupy the flat roofs of the houses, he nevertheless divided his troops into several brigades and parts, and ordered the whole to be unloaded, and no firing to be permitted on any account; and, under this order, to march into the principal streets of the town, un

provided with proper means for forcing the barricadoes, whereby the troops were unnecessarily exposed to destruction, without the possibility of making effectual opposition. 3dly, That he did not make, although it was in his power, any effectual attempt, by his own personal exertion or otherwise, to co-operate with, or support the different divisions of the army when engaged in the streets of Buenos Ayres; whereby those troops, after having encountered and surmounted a constant and well-directed fire, and having effected the purport of their orders, were left without aid, support, or further orders; in consequence of which considerable detachments were compelled to surrender. Lastly, That, subsequently to the attack, and when the troops were in possession of posts on each flank of the town, and of the principal arsenal, with a communication open to the fleet, and having an effective force of 5000 men, he concluded a treaty, whereby, according to the acknowledgment in his own dispatch, he resolved to forego the advantages which the bravery of his troops had obtained, and which advantages had cost him 2500 men in killed, wound

ed, and prisoners; and by such treaty he unnecessarily and shamefully surrendered all such advantages, totally evacuated the town of Buenos Ayres, and consented to deliver, and did shamefully abandon and deliver up to the enemy the strong fortress of Monte Video, which had been committed to his charge, and which was not in a state of blockade or siege." As these circumstances occurred during the preceding year, we are spared the pain of entering into the melancholy and disgraceful detail. After a trial of thirty-one days, General Whitelocke was pronounced guilty of the whole charges, that part alone excepted which related to the order, that the columns should be unloaded. The Court, being anxious to have it distinctly understood, that they attached no censure whatever to the precautions taken to prevent unnecessary firing during the advance of the troops to the proposed points of attack, acquitted him of that part of the charge; and sentenced him, upon the rest, to be cashiered, and declared totally unfit and unworthy to serve his Majesty in any military capacity whatever. This sentence was ordered to be read at the head of every regiment, and inserted in all regimental orderly books, "that it might become a lasting memorial of the fatal consequences to which officers expose themselves, who, in the discharge of the important duties confided to them, are deficient in that zeal, judgment, and personal exertion, which their Sovereign and their Country have a right to expect from officers entrusted with high commands."

It was expected that the charges would have affected his life, and the sentence, though it was the severest

which could be pronounced upon the case, dissatisfied the people. They felt, that, to a man who had made himself infamous, it was no punishment to be declared so:-yet, had he been condemned to death, though the example would have been more efficacious, where example is needed, there is a humanity in the Eng lish character which would have made him, for a time, an object of pity, and rendered his memory less odious. Something less than death, and more than a superfluous ratification of infamy, would be the appropriate punishment in such cases,

imprisonment or transportation. Our martial law is, in this instance, almost as much too lenient, as it is in all others too cruel. With Whitelocke's trial all investigation ended. It was never ascertained who committed the fault of entrusting such a command to a man, better known in the army for his arrogance, and his rigid attention to the fopperies of the service, than for any other qualifications. This question was repeatedly asked; for, though no legal responsibility is attached to the appointment of unworthy men, it was felt by the people, that want of judgment is not less ruinous to the nation, in those who delegate command, than in those who exercise it; and it was remembered, that able heads in the cabinet never wanted able servants in the field. But shame and indignation were not the only feelings which they who understood the real interests of their country endured, at seeing her honour stained, and the blood of her brave soldiers wasted with wanton folly: the wretched policy upon which this expedition had been undertaken, and the utter ignorance of the state of the country to which it was sent,

that appeared upon this trial, excited new mortification and regret. It now appeared, that the Spaniards of the Plata would joyfully have welcomed us, if we would have acknow. ledged their independence, and promised them our protection; but by going as invaders, instead of deliverers, we provoked that very spirit to our destruction which would have been our sure ally, and which would have secured to us, without loss, hazard, or expence, all the commercial advantages which could be desired. This was what the wiser part of the English people would have wished; but their rulers were for conquest; they wanted dispatches, which might set the guns firing and the bells ringing over the kingdom and new possessions, which would strengthen them by increasing their patronage while the war continued, and which might be reckoned up in the bargain for peace, whenever, according to the usual manner in which this country negociates, like children who have been playing for counters, they came to give back their winnings at the end of the game.

Our military transactions in the beginning of the year were confined to the capture of a few islands. In January advices were received that Madeira had been taken possession of, on the 26th of the preceding

month, by Major-General Beresford and Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, on condition that it should be evacuated and re-delivered to the Prince Regent of Portugal, his heirs or successors, whenever the free ingress and egress of the ports of Portugal and its colonies should be re-established as before, and when the sovereignty of Portugal should be emancipated from the yoke and influence of France. The Danish islands of St Thomas and St Croix* were captured about the same time by Gene. ral Bowyer and Sir Alexander Coch. rane, without resistance, the Danish governors requesting only that three of their officers might be permitted to see the British force before they capitulated, in order that their honour might not suffer any imputation.

The small islands of Marie Galante and Deseada were taken, in March, by the squadron under Captain Selby, who was at that time blockading Point a Petre, Guada❤ loupe. Marie Galante was a station so convenient for the enemy's priva teers, that it was apprehended they would attempt to recover it; and accordingly, on the 23d of August, an attempt was made. Seventeen boats, with about 200 men, commanded by Colonel Cambriel, pushed over from Guadaloupe, landed near Grand Bourg, and proceeded to attack the "Certain per

battery. They were perceived by the Circe; twenty or thirty seamen immediately landed from her, got to the battery before the French, and received them there so warmly, that they compelled them to retreat. All their boats were seized, and they retired into the interior of the island. The news reached Barbadoes on the 27th, and General Beckwith immediately dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Blackwell with three companies against the enemy. When he landed, the French were strongly posted within three miles of Grand Bourg; they retreated before the British troops, who pursued them five days and nights, drove the enemy four times from the positions where they attempted to make a stand, and compelled them at last to surrender themselves prisoners of war. Their commander, however, was not to be found. It was said that he had escaped to Guadaloupe in a canoe; but Colonel Blackwell suspected that he was concealed in the island.Their capitulation was marked by a singular and fatal circumstance. Mr John Brown, a merchant of Dublin, had been taken prisoner by them, and was set at liberty, that he might make their proposals to the English officer. In his joy, he forgot to take a flag of truce; and when he approached one of our outposts, running eagerly on, a black centinel shot him through the heart. He was a young man in the prime of life, of rare talents and generous feelings; one whom all who knew him will ever remember with affection and regret.

The folly of having surrendered Guadaloupe and Martinique at the peace of Amiens, has been so manifestly proved, and so dearly paid for during the present war, that no

similar fault will be ever repeated by our negociators. St Martins was unsuccessfully attacked; the enemy had received information of our designs, and were prepared accordingly. A hundred and thirty men under Lieut. Spearing landed, carried the lower fort, and spiked the guns; but they suffered severely in ascending the heights, which are covered with the prickly pear. Their leader was shot through the chest when within ten yards of the upper fort, and his com panions, unable to effect their retreat, were compelled to surrender. They were, however, set at liberty in consequence of a flag of truce.

While these transactions were going on in the West Indies, intelli gence of a less favourable nature arrived from the East. Doondea Khan, a farmer of land in the district of Allyghur, in the conquered provinces, had committed many of those lawless acts of violence upon his neighbours, which the Hindoos always suffer from their native tyrants, and may almost be said to deserve from them, for their bestial patience under oppression. He had resisted the authority of the judge and magistrate of the district, and withheld, with that sort of insolence which amounted to defiance, the large sums due from him to the Company. It was, in consequence, thought neces sary to reduce his forts, seize his per. son, and bring him and his adherents to trial before the courts of criminal jurisdiction, for their offences. Major-General Dickens and Lieut. Col. Horsford of the artillery were sent against him with a strong force, and proceeded to attack Camoona, his principal fort, situated between Agra and Delhi. Lord Lake had pardoned the former offences of Doondea Khan, on condition that he