such was really their intention; I con- me to carry it into effect on the morning of tinued to stand on and off during the day, the 19th. but they showed no disposition to move. I therefore, as every hour was of importance, bore up at dusk, with the squadron; we arrived off Point Pesquies, towards the evening of the 2d instant; but the daylight would not admit of our attempting to pass the castles, and the squadron came to anchor for the night: weighed in the morning, and, when I add, that every ship was in safety outside of the passage, about noon, it is not without the most lively sense of the good fortune that has attended us. Information had been given me by his Majesty's minister, Mr Arbuthnot, and Sir Thomas Louis, that the Turkish squa dron, consisting of a 64-gun shio, four fr gates, and several corvettes, had been for some time at anchor within the inner cas tie; nd conceiving it possible they might have remained there, I had given orders to Rear Admiral Sir Sydney Smith to bring up with the Thunderer, Standard, and Active, and destroy them, should our pas sage be opposed. At a quarter before nine o'clock, the whole of the squadron had passed the outer castles, without having returned a shot to their fire (which occa sioned but little injury). This forbear. ance was produced by the desire of his Majesty's minister, expressed to preserve every appearance of amity, that he might negociate with the strongest proof of the pacific disposition of our sovereign towards the Porte; a second battery, on the European side, fired also with as little effect. The Turks had been occupied unceasingly, in adding to the number of their fort; some had been already completed, and others were in a forward state. The fire of the two inner castles had, on our going up, been severe; but, I am sorry to say, the effect they have had on our ships returning, has proved them to be doubly formidable: in short, had they been allowed another week to complete their de fences throughout the channel, it would. At half past nine o'clock, the Canopus, have been a very doubtful point whether a return lay open to us at all. The manner in which they employed the interval of our absence has proved their assiduity. I transmit your lordship an account of the damage sustained by the respective ships; also their loss in killed and wounded, which your lordship will perceive is far from trifling. The mainmast of the Windsor Castle being more than three parts cut through by a granite shot of eight hundred weight, we have found great difficulty in saving it. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) J. T. DUCKWORTH. Right Hon. Lord Collingwood, &c. P.S. I am sorry to observe, that, in the course of this letter to your lordship, I have omitted to mention that, having placed the Hon. Captain Capel in the Endymion, which had been advanced in the stream of the Bosphorus, for the purpose of ascertaining when the squadron could stem the current, and for a watchful observation of the movements of the Turks, as well as to facilitate cominunication with the Porte, I feel myself indebted to that officer for his zealous attention and assiduity during the time he was placed in that arduous situation. J. T. D. Royal George, off Constantinople, MY LORD, February 21. I had the honour of transmitting to your lordship, by the late first lieutenant of the Ajax, the various details relating to the transactions of the squadron till the 17th ultimo. Your lordship will from thence have been informed of my resolution of passing the Dardanelles the first fair wind. A fine wind from the southward permitted which, on account of Sir Thomas Louis's knowledge of the channel, joined to the steady gallantry which I had before expe. rienced, had been appointed to lead, entered the narrow passage of Sestos and Abydos, and sustained a very heavy cannonade from both castles, within point blank shot of each. They opened their fire on our ships as they continued to pass in succession, although I was happy in observing that the very spirited return it met with had so considerably diminished its force, that the effect on the sternmost ships could not have been so severe. Immediately to the N. E. of the castles, and between them and Point Pesquies, on which a formidable battery had been newly erected, the small squadron which I have already alluded to were at anchor. The van division of our squadron gave thei broadsides as they passed, and Sir Sydney Smith, with his division, closed into the midst, and the effect of the fire was such that in half an hour the Turks had all cut their cables to run on shore. The object of the rear-admiral was then to destroy them, which was most rapidly effected; as in less than four hours the whole of thei had exploded, except a small corvette, and a gun-boat, which it was thought proper to preserve. I inclose to your lordship a statement of their number; and when I add also an account of the loss his Majesty's ships have sustained, I cannot help expressing my satisfaction that we have suffered so slightly; as, had any of their stone shot, some of which exceed eight hundred weight, made such a breach between wind and water, as they have 1807.1 Gazette Letters. stanstinople, when I dispatched Captain I have now the highest satisfaction to add, that the conduct of the officers and ⚫ ship's companies of the squadron under my command has fully supported the character of the British Navy, and is deserving of my warmest eulogium. done in our sides, the ship must have an anchor at ten o'clock, near the Prince's sunk; or had they struck a lower mast in Islands, about eight miles from Conthe centre, it must evidently have been cut in two; in the rigging too, no accident occurred that was not perfectly arranged in the course of next day. The spritsail yard of the Royal George, the graft of the Canopus, and the maintop-sail-yard of the Standard, are the only spars that were injured. It is with peculiar pleasure that I embrace the opportunity, which has been at this time afforded, of bearing testimony to the zeal and distinguished ability of Sir Sydney Smith; the manner in which he executed the service entrusted to him was worthy of the reputation which he has long since so justly and generally established Having endeavoured to pay a just tribute The terms of approbation in which the rear-admiral relates the conduct of Cap- to those whose duty necessarily called them tains Dacres, Talbot, Harvey, and Mou- into this service, I should feel myself very bray, which, from my being under the ne- deficient if I omitted to mention that his cessity of passing the Point of Pesquies Majesty's minister, Mr. Arbuthnot, and before the van could anchor, he had a Lord Burghersh (who had requested to greater opportunity of observing than I take a cruize with me) were amongst the could, cannot but be highly flattering; but most animated in the combat. To Capwas a more immediate witness to the able tain Blackwood, who, after the unfortunate and officer-like conduct which Captain loss of the Ajax, volunteered to serve in the Moubray displayed in obedience to my Royal George, great praise is due, for his signal, by destroying a frigate with which able assistance in regulating the fire of the he had been more particularly engaged, middle and lower decks; and when the having driven her on shore on the Euro- Royal George anchored, he most readily pean side, after she had been forced to cut offered his services to convey a message to her cables, from under the fire of the Pom- the Endymion, of great moment, her pilot pee and Thunderer. The sixty-four hav- having refused to take charge of the ship. ing run on shore on Pesquies Point, I or- From thence he gave his assistance to ardered the Repulse to work up and destroy range the landing of the troops from the her which Captain Legge, in conjunction sixty-four, and setting her on fire; indeed His with the boats of the Pompée, executed where active service was to perform, there with great promptitude and judgment. was his anxious desire to be placed. The battery on the Point, of more than 30 officers too requested to serve in the squaguns, which, had it been completely finish- dron, and their services, in passing through ed, was in a position to have annoyed the the Dardanelles, met with approbation. I have the honour to be, &c. squadron most severely in passing, was (Signed) J. T. DUCKWORTH. taken possession of by the Royal Marines and destroyed by the squadron under the command of Vice-admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K. B. at anchor off Point Pesquies, Feb. 19, 1807, within the Forts of the Dardanelles. Burnt-1 line of battle ship, 64 guns, frigates, 3 corvettes, 1 brig, 2 gun-boats. Taken possession of-1 corvette, 1 gunboat. and boats' crews of the rear division; the A list of Turkish ships and vessels taken Turks having retired at their approach, and the guns were immediately spiked. This service was performed under the direction of Captain Nicholas, of the Standard's marines, whose spirit and enterprize can never be doubted; but as circumstances rendered it impracticable to effect the entire destruc- 4 tron of the redoubt, orders were given by Sir Sydney Smith to Captain Moubray, which I fully approved, to remain at anchor near the Pesquies, and to employ Lieutenants Carrol and Arabin, of the Pompée, and Lieutenant Lawrie, of the marines, to complete the demolition of the redoubt and guns, which when performed, the Active was to continue in the passage of the Dardanelles till further orders. (Signed) J. T. DUCKWORTH. Royal George, at anchor aff Prince's Islands, February MY LORD, 28, 1807. I have to inform your lordship, that it was perceived, at nine o'clock yesterday morning, that the Turks had landed on the island of Proto, near which the squadron At a quarter past five, P. M. the squa- was anchored, and were erecting a battery dron was enabled to make sail; and on the in a position to annoy us; I immediately evening of the next day, the 20th, came to ordered the marines of the squadron to be prepared for landing, and the boats to be manned and armed, and the Repulse, with the Lucifer, having been directed to cover them, they proceeded towards the island, The Turks, on the ships firing a few grape to scour the beach, quitted the island in their boats, when, all but one boat, with eleven men, escaped, the which, with two guns they had intended to mount, fell into our possession. Abstract of the killed and wounded on board his Majesty's ships under the or ders of Vice-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K B. in forcing the passage of the Dardanelles, on the 19th of Feb.; at the attack of Prota the 27th; and on returning through the Dardanelles on the Sd of March, 1807. Total-42 killed, 235 wounded, and 4 missing. The Gazette of May 9, contains a dispatch from Major-General A. M. Fraser, dated Alexandria, March 25, 1807, and announcing the surrender on the 20th of that month, of the for tresses of Alexandria, with two Turk ish frigates, and a corvette, which were taken possession of on the memorable 21st of March. At half past two o'clock in the afternoon, Sir Thomas Louis sent to inform me, that he had received intelligence of a small number of Turks being still on the island, and requesting permission to send marines to take them. My reply was, that no risk whatever must be run; but if it could be effected without hazarding the people, it might; and a party of the Canopus' marines was immediately sent on shore in consequence, with the most positive orders to Captain Kent, from Sir Thomas Louis, not to pursue the object if he found át attended with any hazard. At four The Thirty-third is dated Berlin, o'clock the party on shore made the signal Nov. 17, and says "The annexed susfor assistance, and the marines and boats, pension of arms was signed yesterday, manned and armed, were directly ordered at Charlottenburgh, and the season away from the Royal George, Windsor being advanced, this suspension estaCastle, and Standard, with particular direc-blishes the quarters of the army. Part tions to bring off the Canopus's people, but of Prussian Poland is thus occupied to avoid being drawn into danger. A little by the French army, and part of it is before sun-set an officer was dispatched with orders for the whole to return on board. On the return of the boats, which was BULLETINS OF THE FRENCH ARMY. [Continued from page 381.] neuter. "The Emperor of the French and not till after dark, I heard with the deepost King of Italy, and the King of Prussia, regret of the loss we had sustained, a list of in consequence of negociations openwhich I herewith transmit, and do most ed since the 23d of October last, for particularly lament Lieutenant Belli, a the re-establishment of the peace so young officer of the fairest promise, who unhappily interrupted between them, had never served but with myself. To ac- have judged it necessary to agree upcount in some degree for this unlucky af- on a suspension of arms; and for this fair, it appears, that the information of purpose have appointed for their plea few Turks only having remained on the nipotentiaries, viz. the Emperor of island, was entirely false, as nearly an hun- the French, the General of Division, dred of them had retired to an old convent, Michael Duroc, Grand Marshal of the from the loop-holes in the walls of which Imperial Palace, &c. and the King of Prussia, the Marquis de Lucchesini, his Minister of State, and General de Zastrow, who have agreed upon the following articles, viz. they defended themselves with musketry. The people of the Canopus had in the first instance advanced close under the walls; and, in endeavouring to relieve them from their unpleasant situation, the others suf fered. In order, if possible, to prevent the retreat of the Turks from this island, the daunches of the squadron, armed with their carronades, were ordered to row guard during the night, under the direction of Captain Elliot, of the Lucifer; but notwith standing every possible vigilance, they are I have the honour to be, &c. "1. The troops of the King of Prus sia, who are now on the right bank of the Vistula, shall assemble at Koningsburgh, and in Royal Prussia from the right bank of the Vistula. "2. The French troops shall occuPy the part of South Prussia, which far as the mouth of the river Bug, is on the right bank of the Vistula, as Thorn, Graudentz, Dantzick, the towns of Colberg and Lenczye, which are to be delivered as security; and in Silesia, the fortresses of Glogau and Breslaw, with the portion of that pro- kinds of military stores; a company of vince which is on the right bank of the flying artillery, and 300 cavalry, fell Oder, and that part situated on the into the hands of the French. Geneleft bank of the saine river; which will ral Savary afterwards set off to Nieunhave for its boundary a line bordering berg, to force that place to capitulate. on that river, five leagues above Breslau, passing through Oblau, Tobsen, three leagues behind Schweidnitz, but without comprising that fortress; and from thence to Frey burg, Landshut, and joining Bohemia to Liebau. "3. The other parts of Eastern Prussia, or New Eastern Prussia, shall not be occupied by any of the armies, either French, Prussian, or Russian; and if the Russian troops are there, the King of Prussia engages to make them fall back to their own territory; as also not to receive any troops of that power into his states, during the existence of the present suspension of arms. The Thirty-fifth is dated Posen, Nov. 28, and states, that Bonaparte left Berlin on the 25th, and arrived at Custrin the same evening. On the 26th he was at Mezeritz, and arrived at Posen on the 27th, at ten at night. The next day he gave audience to the various States of the Poles. continued his journey to Osterode, Duroc where he found the King of Prussia, who declared to him of his states were in the possession of that a part the Russians, that he was dependent upon them; consequently he could not ratify the armistice which had been concluded by his Envoy, because it was not in his power to fulfil the stipulated conditions." "4. The fortresses of Hameln and Nieuberg, as well as those mentioned The Grand Duke of Berg, with a in the second article, shall be deliver- part of the cavalry of the reserve, and ed up to the French troops, with their the corps under Marshals Davoust and arms and stores, an inventory of which Lasues, and Augereau, bave entered shail be made out within a week after Warsaw. The Russian General Benthe exchange of the ratification of ningsen, who occupied the place be the present suspension of arms. The garrisons of those fortresses shall not be made prisoners of war, but shall be allowed to march to Koningsberg, and shall be allowed the necessary facilities for that purpose. "5. The negociations shall be continued at Charlottenburgh, and if price should not be the result of them, the two high contracting parties engage not to resume hostilities without reciprocally giving ten days notice to each other. "6. The exchange of the ratifications of this suspension of arms shall take place at Graudeutz, by the 21st of November at farthest. Given at Charlottenburg, No- fore the French arrived, evacuated it on hearing of the approach of the French, and that they intended to give him battle. Prince Jerome, with a corps of Bavarians, is at Kalitsch. All the rest of the army has arrived at Posen. Marshal Mortier, after taking pos session of the Hanse-towns, proceeded towards Anclam, Rostock, and Swedish Pomerania. The surrender of Hameln was markDisorders reigned in the numerous ed by some particular circumstances. garrison. The officers and soldiers were exasperated against each other. The mutineers broke open the maga zines where the brandy was deposited, and having got intoxicated began to fire on each other in the streets. The LUCCHESINI, commandant sent courier after couZASTROW. rier, to General Savary, to request The Thirty-fourth is dated Berlin, him to.come and take possession of the Nov. 23, and states, that no account place, to which le consented, and enhad been received of the ratification tered it through a shower of bullets. of the armistice. It then announces The Thirty-s.ath is dated Posen, the surrender of Hameln by capitula- Dec. 1, and repens the account of the tion, to icneral Savary. Nine thou- Duke of Berg having entered Warsaud prisoners, among whom are six saw. The Rüstian Central Benniggenerals, magazines for 10,000 men, sen had anticipated the French in the with six months provisions, and all possession of that place, and his adUNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VII. 3 P vanced posts had taken a position arresting, for a moment, our progress. along the river Drzura. On the 26th You have braved ali dangers, have sur of November, the ou posts of the dif- mounted them all, and every enemy has ferent arinies fell in with each other, fed on your approach. In vain did the Russians wish to defend the Capital of anand after some skinnishing the French cient and illustrious Poland. The French entered Warsaw on the 28th. The fortunate, but brave Poles, on contemplat Eagles hover over the Vistula. The uning you, fancy they behold the celebrated Legions of their great Sobieski returning from a military expedition. Russians retreated over the Vistula. This bulletin says that it would be difficult to describe the enthusiasm of the Poles, their most fervent desire being to become again a great nation. The powerful abandon their castles, and come to implore, with earnest ness, the restoration of their nation, and offer their children, their fortunes, and all their influence, towards accomplishing that end. Shall the Polish throne be re-established, and shall the Great Nation secure for it respect and independence? Shall she recal it to life from the grave? GOD, only, who directs all human affairs, can resolve this great political question." The day after this bulletin was published, namely, on the memorable 2d of December, there was addressed, in the name of the Emperor, to the Grand Army, the following PROCLAMATION: Imperial Head quarters, at Posen, Soldiers, we shall not lay down our arms, until a General Peace has confirmed and secured the power of our Allies, unt it has restored to our commerce its fres dom, and given back to us our Colonies. On the Elbe, and on the Oder, we have re-conquered Pondicherry, all our posses and the Spanish Colonies. What right sions in India, the Cape of Good Hope, has Russia to hope that she shall hold the balance of destiny in her hand? What right has she to expect she should be placed in so favourable a situation? Shall there be a comparison made between the Russians and us! Are we not then the soldiers of Austerlitz? (Signed) NAPOLEON. The Thirty-seventh is dated at Posen, December 2, and gives the fol lowing as the particulars of the capitulation of Fort Czenstokaw, 600 men December 2, 1806. of the garrison, 30 pieces of cannon, SOLDIERSA year ago, at the same hour, and some magazines, have fallen into you were on the memorable field of Aus- our hands. A treasure has been found, terlitz. The sacred cohorts of Russia fled consisting of a number of valuables, defeated before you, or surrounded, laid which had been dedicated by the down their arms at the feet of their conque- Poles to the Holy Virgin, as the tuteTOTS. To the moderation, and the, per- lary guardian of the country. This haps, blameable generosity, which over- treasure Bonaparte ordered to be looked the criminality of the Third Coali- given up to the original proprietors. tion, is the formation of a Fourth to be The French army at Warsaw is perascribed. But the Ally, on whose military fectly satisfied with the patriotism of skill their principal hope rested, is already the Poies; and this day the city of no more. His principal towns, his fortresses, his forage and ammunitión magaPosen gave a ball in honour of his ma zines, 280 standards, 700 pieces of cannon, jesty, who was present an hour. Te are in our power. Neither the Oder nor Deum was also performed to-day, in Warta, the Desarts of Poland, nor the rude consequence of its being the anniverseason of Winter, have been capable of sary of Bonaparte's coronation. TO CORRESPONDENTS. After maturely considering the last communication of our correspondent Carruth,' it appears to us, as the contest which it embraces has been suspended, if not for the present entirely set at rest, by one of the parties most interested in the discussion, and is most seriously deprecated by another party,-it therefore appears to us altogether adviseable to drop the further investigation of a subject in which so many discordant interests are involved, and the extreme delicacy of which at this time might entail many difficulties upon those who engaged in it. We beg, nevertheless, to thank our friendly correspondent for his uniform attention to our publication. The 'Exordium,' does not properly coincide with our ideas of poetic excelence, not is it of a character universally interesting 'A Customer' will find that we have attended to his remonstrance. We regret |