"directing this department were, of

make any assertion. Captain Wright was made prisoner, along with his crew, upon course, not ignorant of the kind of serthe French coast, in a sloop of war, by "vice to which he was destined. The some French gun-boats. He was carried "shame attached to the premeditation to Paris, as we complained, and which was "of a project as atrocious and vile, as the fact, there subjected to close impri- "it was cowardly, remains entirely with sonment in the Temple "and obliged to "the men who devised the plot, and "undergo repeated interrogatories, before" with him who undertook to accomplish 66 a court of justice, when more of the" their views. I am ordered, Sir, to de"facts alledged against him, would, if "clare to your Excellency, that his "true, authorize the French government Majesty, the Emperor, will never suf"to consider Captain Wright in any other" fer Mr. WRIGHT to be EXCHANGED. light than as a prisoner of war." This" NO FRENCHMAN BELONGING, was our statement with regard to Captain "WITH WHATEVER RANK HE Wright. "MAY, TO THE IMPERIAL NAVY, "CAN EVER COSENT TO BE

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even

This complaint the French government did not listen to. At last, our ministry" PLACED IN A BALANCE WITH applied to the Spanish Ambassador in "THAT PERSON, IN A CARTEL OF London, to apply to the Spanish Ambas- EXCHANGE. But, Sir, the Emperor, sador at Paris, to procure, if possible, from having at heart to do every thing which the French government, the release of" depends upon his Imperial Majesty, to Captain Wright. The Spanish Ambassa- mitigate the scourges of war, and willdors did, at last, prevail; and the consent "ing to prove, that in his breast such a of the French government was obtained;" di-position preponderates over but, let us hear the language in which this motives of useful and just severity, has consent is expressed, in a letter from the "authorised me to declare, that his ImFrench Minister to M. Gravina, the "perial Majesty will give orders, that Spanish Ambassador at Paris, dated Paris," Mr. Wright be placed at the disposal 27th August, 1804, in the following "of the English Government. May I words "I have laid before his Majes- beg yon, therefore, to make known to ty, the Emperor, the letter which you "Loid Harrowby, this generous determi"have done me the honour of communi- "nation of his Majesty. You will see in ❝cating to me. By his order, I must re- it, Sir, the marked intention of doing "capitulate to your excellency some facts," what may be personally agreeable to "which relate to the object of that letter. yourself, and his Britannic Majesty's "Mr. WRIGHT was taken by our cruis66 new ministry will be constrained to reers, at the very moment he was land- cognise in it, a proof of the disposition, "ing Jean Marie and two other of his so often manifested, on the part of his "accomplices, on the coast of Britan- "Imperial Majesty, to shew himself above 66 ny. Prior to this, he had already land- "not only those sentiments which offences "ed at three times banditti of a simi- "in general excite, but even above those "lar description, who have since been “which might spring from the attempts, "brought to judgment, convicted, and" of which his own person has been the "punished, for having conspired against "the state, and attempted the life of the "First Consul. These species of acts, "under whatever point of view they may "otherwise be contemplated, certainly do "not appertain to WAR. There is no 66 age, nor any nation, in which they "would not be regarded as crimes, and onc may, with truth, aver, that it was in "flagranti delicto, that Mr. Wright was “captured by French mariners, then offi"ciating as an armed force. According "to accounts, to which full credit must "be given, this officer had been demanded "from the English Admiralty. The Lords

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object."

Now, my Lord, it was never denied by the English ministry, that Captain Wright had done those acts which the French imputed to him. Indeed, they seemed pretty clearly to confess, that he had done them; and, in answer to the letter of the Spanish Ambassador, conveying this letter of the French Government, Lord Harrowby expressly declines making any remark on the French statement.

This, then, was the charge against Captain Wright; that he suffered himself to be employed in landing in France, “bang ditti," who were afterwards convicted of

ward any proof of this murder. Nobody, amongst all the hireling writers, was found to publish any of the proofs of an act, which must have been known to some one, at least, besides Napoleon.. In short, it is a base and iufamous calumny, wich, if we were to make peace with Napoleon, the Times newspaper would be liable to be prosecuted for repeating.

a design to assassinate the Chief Magistrate of France. This was the charge against him, and this charge was never denied, as to the act, though the description of the persons, so landed, was stoutly denied by the Anti-jacobins, who insisted, that Georges and Pichegru and Jean Marie and the rest of that memorable set, including Moreau, were very honest and worthy gentlemen, and that their names If I am asked to account for the death ought to be held in reverance; and, in- of Mr. Wright, in the Temple, I say I deed, we have seen, that the pious Louis am not bound to do it. We know, howLE DESIRE, while he was on the throne, ever, that persons, in such situations, ENNOBLED the family of Georges! frequently do put an end to their existThose who thought thus of the plot of ence; and it must be confessed, that Capt. GEORGES and his associates, would, of Wright's was a situation, not only of course, think, that Captain Wright acted great peril, but, which is more, perhaps, a very meritorious part in being so zealous in such a case, of almost insupportable in landing in France persons having such mortification. He is represented as a laudable designs. But those who recol-most enthusiastic Royalist. He had seen lected, that poisoners, assassins, and all his efforts defeated; many of his friends forgers are not looked upon, by the writers on public law, as entitled to be considered as prisoners of war, might be apt to think with the writer of the French letter to the Spanish Minister; and, this writer, be it observed, was no other than Mr. TALLEYRAND himself, whom your Lordship knows to be not only a very sensible, but a very worthy man.

But, the death of Capt. Wright? The Emperor had given permission for his being placed at the disposal of the English Government. But, between that and the time for his release, he was said to have killed himself in prison. He certainly found his death there. That was enough. There needed no more to authorise our

writers to impute his death to Napoleon. And, by degrees, he has been, and is now, familiary called, "the murderer of Capt. Wright." There never has been any proof of this attempted to be produced. It is a sheer falsehood on the part of the assertors, because they possess no proof at all of the fact. One might leave it so; and insist on their being impudent calumniators; but, let us ask, what motive could induce Napoleon to ordersuch a murder to be committed? He had pardoned the man, and had taken credit for the act. He had, at the time of Wright's death, put down all the conspirators and all the conspiracies; and, he had been chosen Emperor by the people of France. Besides (and this I beg you to attend to), DURING HIS YEAR OF EXILE, nobody was found to bring for.

brought to an ignominious death. He was himself uncertain as to his fate. He had been captured by a parcel of gun-boats. And, if he was informed of the conditions, or, rather, the manner of his release, as described in Mr. TALLEYRAND'S Note, he would feel little pleasure in being known to all Europe, to have been put at the disposal of his government, without exchange, upon the ground, that the Emperor would not suffer any Frenchman to be exchanged against such a person.

But, are there no ways but those of assassination and suicide, by which men come to the end of their lives? Are there no fits or fevers in French jails, as well as in English jails? And, why was this Captain not to die as well as his neighbours? Are the English Ministers, or the Royal family, to be charged with all the deaths, or, even all the sudden deaths, in our prisons of war? Are they to be called murderers because prisoners of war have died in such great numbers? What absurdity! What impudent, or what foolish, men are those, who prefer this charge against Napoleon! But, as I before observed, the object of these men is to mislead, to delude, to inflame the people; to commit them in the bloody war, which has just begun, and thus to further their own base views. To defeat, or, at least, to endeavour to defeat, this wicked' object is the duty of every man, who has the opportunity; and this duty, as I hope your Lordship will agree, Mr. HUNT, at

the Westminster Meeting, discharged in a ever, be charged with partiality, I shall most manly and able manner; in a man- here insert the official details, which have ner worthy of the public-spirited and en-been published respecting the first battle, lightened citizens, to whom his speech or rather series of battles, that have been was addressed. I am, &c. &c. fought for the purpose of determining, WM. COBBETT. whether France is, or is not, to be permitted to exercise the right of choosing her own government? When the phrenzy, which has seized the public mind, has somewhat subsided, and we are in possession of the French official accounts of

Botley, June 21st, 1815.

No. I.

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF THE WAR OF
ENGLAND, AUSTRIA, RUSSIA, PRUSSIA,
DENMARK, SWEDEN, HOLLAND, SAR-
DINIA, THE POPE, NAPLES, SICILY,
SPAIN, PORTUGAL, BAVARIA, WUR-
TEMBERG, &c. &c.; WITH AN ARMY
OF ONE MILLION AND ELEVEN THOU-
SAND REGULAR SOLDIERS, AGAINST
NAPOLEON AND FRANCE.

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the opening of the campaign, without which correct ideas cannot be formed, it may then be useful to make some remarks on these interesting events. I shall begin with the London Gazette Extraordinary, Courier calls, the "Complete Defeat of containing the particulars of what the "Bonaparte."

DOWNING-STREET, JUNE 22 - Major the Hon. H. Percy arrived last night with a dispatch from Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, K. G. to Earl Bathurst, his Majesty' Principal Secretary of State for the War Department, of which the following is a copy:

The mighty contest has begun. The new crusade against France and against liberty has commenced. The Times newspaper says, that the campaign has opened with a great and glorious vic66 tory; that Bonaparte's reputation has Waterloo, June 19. "been wrecked, and his last grand stake "has been lost in this tremendous conMY LORD--Bonaparte having collected the "flict; the fabric of rebellion is shaken 1st, 2d, 31, 4th, and 6th corps of the French “ to its base.” The Morning Chronicle, army, and the Imperial Guards, and nearly all that pink of hypocrisy, tells us, that it has the cavalry on the Sambre, and between that been a "brilliant and complete victory, river and the Meuse, between the 10th and 14th “ which will for ever exalt the glory of of the month, advanced on the 15th, and attacked "the British name; that it is the grandest the Prussian posts of Thuin and Lobez, on the and most important victory ever ob- Sambre, at day-light in the morning. I did not “ tained.” The Courier, in the height of hear of these events till the evening of the 15th, its frenzy, declares, that there could not and I immediately ordered the troops to prepare have been a greater victory in point of to march; and afterwards to march to their left, 66 glory, more vital to the real interests as soon as I had intelligence from other quarters ، and safety of Europe, big with more im- | to prove that the enemy's movement upon Charle. portant political consequences."-Ofroy was the real attack. The enemy drove the course, as this same Courier says, "the Prussian posts from the Sambre on that day; city is a scene of complete confusion; and General Zeiten, who commanded the corps business is entirely neglected; the im- which had been at Charleroy, retired upon mortal Wellington is the universal Flentes; and Marshal Blucher concentrated the "theme; the streets and Exchange are Prussian army upon Sombref, holding the vil"crowded to excess-all anxious to hear lages in front of his position of St. Amand and the details of the glorious victory ob- Ligny. The enemy continued his march along "tained by our noble countrymen." the road from Charleroy towards Bruxelles, and While this delirium continues at its height, on the same evening, the 15th, attacked a brigade it would be useless in me to attempt to of the army of the Netherlands, under the Prince bring the public back to reason. I might de Weimar, posted at Frasne, and forced it back as well think of reaching conviction to the to the farm house on the same road, called Les minds of the inhabitants of St. Luke's; I Quatre Bras, The Prince of Orange immedi. might as well expect that a drunken man ately reinforced this brigade with another of the could discuss, with calmness and perspi- same division, under General Perponcher, and cuity, an argument in mathematics or in the morning early regained part of the ground moral philosophy. That I may not, how - | which had been lost, so as to have the command

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Guards, upon their debouché from the village of Genappe, upon which occasion his Lordship has declared himself to be well satisfied with that | regiment. The position which I took up in front of Waterloo, crossed the high roads from Charleroy, and Nivelle, and had its right thrown back to a ravine near Merke Braine, which was occupied; and its left extended to a height above the hamlet Ter la Haye, which was likewise occupied. In front of the right centre and near the Nivelle road, we occupied the house and garden of Hougoumont, which covered the return of that flank; and in front of the left centre we occupied the farm of La Haye Sainte. By our left wa communicated with Marshal Prince Blucher, at Wavre through Ohaim; and the Marshal had promised me that in case we should be attacked he would support me with one or more corps, as might be necessary. The enemy, collected his army, with the exception of the third corps which had been sent to observe Marshal Blucher, on a range of heights in our front, in the course of the night of the 17th and yesterday morning, and at about ten o'clock he commenced a furious attack upon our post at Hougoumont. I had occupied that post with a detachment from General Byng's brigate of Guards, which was in position in its rear; and it was for some time under the command, of Lieut. Col. Macdonald, and afterwards of Colonel Home; and I am happy to add that it was maintained throughout the day with the ut most gallantry by these brave troops, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of large bodies of, the enemy to obtain possession of it. This attack upon the right of our centre was accompanied by a very heavy cannonade upon our whole line, which was destined to support the repeated at tacks of cavalry and infantry occasionally mixed, but sometimes separate, which were made upon it. In one of these the enemy carried the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte, as the detachment of the light battalion of the legion which occupied it had expended all its ammunition, and the enemy occupied the only communication there was with them. The enemy, repeatedly charged our infantrywith his cavalry, but these attacks were uniformly unsuccessful, and they afforded opportunities to our cavalry to charge, in one of which Lord E. Somerset's brigade, consisting of the life guards, royal horse guards, and 1st dragoon gnards, highly distinguished themselves as did that of Major-General Sir W. Ponsonby, having taken many prisoners and an eagle. These attacks were repeated till about seven in the evening, when the enemy made a desperate effort with the cavalry and infantry, supported by the fire of artillry, to

of the communication leading from Nivelles and
Bruxelles, with Marshal Blucher's position. In
the mean time I had directed the whole army to
march upon Les Quatre Bras, and the 5th divi-
sion under Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Pic
ton, arrived at about half past two in the day,
followed by the corps of troops under the Duke
of Brunswick, and afterwards by the contingent |
of Nassau, At this time the enemy commenced
an attack upon Prince Blucher, with his whole
force, excepting the 1st and 2d corps; and a
corps of cavalry under General Kellerman, with
which he attacked our post at Les Quatre Bras. |
The Prussian army maintained their position
with their usual gallantry and perseverance,
against a great disparity of numbers, as the 4th
corps of their army, under General Bulow, had
not joined, and I was not able to assist them as I
wished, as I was attacked myself, and the troops,
the cavalry in particular, which had a long dis-
tance to march, had not arrived. We maintained
our position also, and completely defeated and
repulsed all the enemy's attempts to get possession
of it. The enemy repeatedly attacked us with a
Jarge body of infantry and cavalry, supported by
a numerous and powerful artillery; he made se-
veral charges with the cavalry upon our infantry,
hat all were repulsed in the steadiest manner.—
[Here his Lordship praises his troops and of
cers.]-Our loss was great, as your Lordship
will perceive by the enclosed return; and I have
particularly to regret his Serene Highness the
Duke of Brunswick, who fell fighting gallantly
at the head of his troops. Although Marshal
Blucher had maintained his position at Sambref,
he still found himself much weakened by the
severity of the contest in which he had been en-
gaged, and as the fourth corps had not arrived,
he determined to fall back, and concentrate his
army upon Wavre; and he marched in the
night after the action was over. This move-
ment of the Marshal's rendered necessary a
corresponding one on my part; and I retired
from the farm of Quatre Bras upon Genappe,
and thence upon Waterloo the next morning,
the 17th, at ten o'clock. The enemy made
no effort to pursue Marshal Blucher. On the
contrary, a patrole which I sent to Sambref in
the morning, found all, quiet, and the enemy's
videttes fell back as the patrole advanced. Nei-
ther did he attempt to molest our march to the
rear, although made in the middle of the day, ex-
cepting the following, with a large body of cavalry,
brought from his right, the cavalry under the
Earl of Uxbridge. This gave Lord Uxbridge an
opportunity of charging them with the 1st Life

Major-General Sir W. Ponsonby.

Colonels. Du Plat, K. G. L.; Omteta, ditto; Morrin, 69th Regt. ; Sir W. Ellis, 23d.

force our left centre, near the farm of La Haye Sainte, which atter a severe contest was defeated; and having observed that the troops retired from this attack in great confusion, and Lieutenant-Colonels.-Macara, 42d Regt.; Cathat the march of General Bulow's corps by Eu- meron, 92d Regt. ; Sir Alex. Gordon, K. C. B. Aid. schermont upon Planchenorte and La Belle Alli-de-Camp to the Duke of Wellington; Canning;

Currie, Lord Hill's Staff.

Majors. The Hon. Fred. Howard, 10th Hussars
George Bain, Royal Artillery; Norman Ramsey,
ditto; Cairnes, ditto; Chambers, 30th Regt.
Brevet-Majors. Crefion, 5th Division; Rase-

Captains. Bolton, Royal Artillery; Crawford, Guards; the Hon. Curzon, A. D. C. to big” Royal Highness the Prince of Orange; Chambers, A. D. C. to Lieut.-Gen. Picton; Charles Ellis, 95th Regt.; Robertson, 73d Regt.; Kennedy, ditto; Schauman, 2d. Lt. Bat. K. G. L; Holycawan, 1st ditto; Henry Marshal, 1st ditto.; Goeben ditto Gunning. 10th Hussurs; Grove, 1st. Guards. Lieutenants. C. Manners, Royal Artillery; Lister, 95th Regt.

Ensigns. Lord Hay, Aid-de-Camp to General Maitland; Brown, 1st Guards.

WOUNDED.

General his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, G. C. B. severely.

Lieut-Generals.-the Earl of Uxbridge, G. C. B. right leg amputated ; Sir C. Alten, K. C. B. severely. Major-Generals-Cock, right are amputated; Sir E. Barnes, K. C. B. Adjut. Gen. severely; Sir J. Kempt, K. C. B. slightly; Sir Colin Halkitt, Adams, severely; Sir W.

ance had begun to take effect, and as I could
perceive the fire of his cannon, and as Marshaj
Prince Blucher had joined in person, with a
corps of his army to the left of our line by Obain,
I acermined to attack the enemy, and imme.
diately advanced the whole line of infantry, sup-wiel, 2d Light Regiment.
ported by the cavalry and artillery. The attack
sncceeded in every point; the enemy was forced
from his position on the heights, and fled in the
utmost confusion, leaving behind him, as far as I
could judge, 150 pieces of cannon, with their
anininition, which fell into our hands. I con-
tinned the pursuit till long after dark, and then
discontinued it only on account of the fatigue of ||
our troops, who had been engaged during twelve
hours, and because I found myself on the same
road with Marshal Blucher, who assured me of
his intention to follow the enemy throughout the
night; he has sent me word this morning that he
had token 60 pieces of cannon belonging to the
Imperial Guard, and several carriages, baggage,
&e, belonging to Bonaparte, in Genappe, I pro.
pose to move, this morning, upon Nivelles, and
not to esscontinue my operations. Your Lord-
ship wid observe, that such a desperate action
couldnot have been fought, and such advantages
cou not be gained, without great loss; and IK. C. B. severely;
am sorry to add, that ons has been immense.-
[Here his Lordship praises his officers and men.]
-I Sold not do justice to my feelings or to
Maishal Bincher and the Prussian army, if I did
not attribute the successful result of this arduous
day, to the cordial and timely assistance I re-
ceived from them. The operation of General
Bulow upon the enemy's flank, was a most deci-
sive one; and even if I had not found myself in a
situation to make the attack, which produced the
final result, it would have forced the enemy to
retire, if his attacks should have failed, and would
have prevented him from taking advantage of
them. if they should unfortunately have suc-
ceeded. I send, with this dispatch, two eagles,
taken by the troops in this action, which Major
Percy will have the honour of laying at the feet
of his Royal Highness. I beg leave to recom
mend him to your Lordship's protection. I have
the honour, &c. (Signed) WELLINGTON.
LIST OF THE BRITISH OFFICERS KILLED
AND WOUNDED.

KILLED.

Duke of Brunswick Oels.

Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton.

Dornberg, K. C. B. severely.

Colonels. Sir J. Elley, K. C. B. slightly; Harris, 73d Regt. ; Quentin, 10th Hussars, slightly; the Hon. Fred. Ponsonby, severely; Sir W. De Lancey; severely.

Lieutenant-Colonels.-Lord Fitzroy Somerset, right arm amputated'; Hay, 16th Light Dragoons, severely; Vigoureau, 30th Light Dragoons; Abercrombie, A. Q. M. G. slightly; Hamilton, 50th regiment; Cameron, 95th, severely; Wyndham, 1st Foot Guards, severely; Bowater, 3d Foot Guards, slightly'; Macdonell, Coldstream, slightly; Dashwood, 3d Guards, severely; Sir R. Hill, Royal Horse Guards Blue, severely; Norcott, 95th, severely; Hill, severely; Schreider, 8th Line battalion; Adair, 1st Guards, severely ;- Miller, 1st Guards, dangerously; Sir George Henry Berkeley,' A. A. G.

Majors.-Maclean, 73d; Beckwith, 95th, severely; Jessop, Assistant Quarter Master General ;' Bush, 1st Light Batt, K. G. L. right arm ampu tated, Parkinson, 73d, severely; Parker, R. H.Arlillery, leg amputated; Robert Ball, Royal Artillery, severely; Hamilton, Aid-de-Camp to MajorGeneral Sir E. Barnes; Watson, 69th regiment,