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put to each Member of the Court, it appears, that Sir D. Dundas, Lord Heathfield, Gen. Craig, Earl Pembroke, Sir G. Nugent, and Lieut.-General Nichols, were for the Armistice; Earl Moira, against the Armistice.

And upon the second question, it appears that Sir D. Dundas, Lord Heathfield, Gen. Craig, and Sir G. Nugent, were for the Convention-Earl Moira, Earl Pembroke, and Lieut.-General Nichols, against the Conven

tion.

The following are the reasons assigned by the latter officers for their dissent:

Lieut. Gen. NICHOLS.-My reason for considering the Armistice as advisable on the 22d of August was, because the enemy had been able to retire after the battle of the 21st, and take up a strong defensive position. I think, considering the great increase of our force from the first suspension of hostility to the definitive signing of the Convention, added to the defeat the enemy had suffered, Sir H. Dalrymple was fully entitled to have insisted upon more favourable terms.

mistice involved, and in fact established, the whole principle of the Convention, I cannot separate it from the latter. After comment. ing on "the critical and embarrassed situation of Junot," as admitted by Sir Hew Dalrymple, both before and after the battle of Vimiera, which left Junot without any real resource, and which induced him to propose the evacuation of Portugal the very inorning after the battle-Earl Moira pro ceeds as follows:-"To the British Generals it was known, when the Armistice was granted, that 10,000 men under Sir John Moore, as well as the 3d and 42d regiments of foot, with the 18th dragoons, might be immediately reckoned upon; and although much advantage had not been drawn from the Portuguese troops, their support and the general violence of the country against the French, cannot be laid out of this calculation! The disparity of force and of circumstances was, then, such as could leave no doubt that the issue must be favourable to us. I do not omit advertence to the difficulties urged as Lieut. Gen. the Earl of PEMBROKE.-I possible to occur in furnishing the British approve of the Armistice, after a due consi- army with bread. But, putting aside the deration of the relative situations of the two obvious solution, that such a temporary priarmies on the evening of the 22d of August; vation is not ruinous to an army where cattle but I cannot fully approve of the whole of the can be procured in the country; this diffi Convention, after a due consideration of the culty cannot be well pleaded, if admission is relative situation of the two armies at that to be given to the speculation, that the time because it does not appear to me that, heavy cannon necessary for battering forts St. in the progress of the negociation, sufficient Julien and Cascaes were to be got ashore in stress was laid upon the great advantages the bays of the Rock of Lisbon. The ques which had resulted, or were likely to result, tion then comes to this whether the Cons from the former successful operations of the vention did (as has been asserted) secure all British army in the field from the consider- the objects which were proposed in the expeable reinforcements which had joined it, sub-dition? If it did not, it was not what his sequent to the commencement of the negociation-from the cause in which the British army was engaged being the cause of Portugal, which gave good reason to reckon upon the goodwill, if not upon the active assistance, of the majority of the inhabitants; and also, from the unusual readiness, which, as it appears to me, was manifested by General Junot to enter into negociation, and by the French negociator to accede to terms as they were proposed, and to such construction as Lieut. Gen. Sir Hew Dalrymple put upon them in some instances, where they might have borne a difference of interpretation. I therefore think it probable, for the above reasons, that if less favourable terms to the French army had been insisted upon, they would have been acceded to.

General Earl MOIRA-An Armistice simply might not have been objectionable, because Sir Hew Dalrymple, expecting hourly the arrival of Sir John Moore's division, might see more advantage for himself in a short suspension of hostilities, than what the French could draw from it; but as the ArVOL V. [Lit. Pan, Feb. 1809.]

Majesty was entitled to expect from the relative situation of the two armies. I humbly conceive it to have been erroneous to regard the emancipation of Portugal from the French, as the sole or the principal object of the expedition. Upon whatever territory we contend with the French, it must be a prominent object in the struggle to destroy their resources, and to narrow their means of injuring us, or those whose cause we are supporting This seems to have been so little considered in the Convention, that the terms appear to have extricated Junot's army from a situation of infinite distress, in which it was wholly out of play, and to have brought it, in a state of entire equipment, into immediate cur rency, in a quarter too where it must interfere with our most urgent and interesting concerns. Had it been impracticable 10 reduce the French army to lay down its arms unconditionally, still an obligation not to serve for a specified time, might have been insisted upon, or Belleisle might have been prescribed as the place at which they should be landed, in order to prevent the probability 2 M

nevertheless, felt himself compelled at once to express his disapprobation of those articles, in which stipulations were made, directly af fecting the interests or feelings of the Spanish and Portuguese nations.

At the close of the Inquiry, the King, abstaining from any observations upon other parts of the Convention, repeats his disapprobation of those articles; His Majesty deeming it necessary that his sentiments should be clearly understood, as to the impropriety and danger of the unauthorised admission, into Military Conventions, of articles of such a description, which, especially when incautiously framed, may lead to the most injurious consequences.

of their reinforcing (at least for a long time) Convention in which His Majesty's immedithe armies employed for the subjugation of ate interests were concerned, caused it to be Spain. Perhaps a stronger consideration than signified to Sir Hew Dalrymple, by His Mathe merit of those terms presents itself. Opi-jesty's Secretary of State, that His Majesty, nion relative to the British arms was of the highest importance, as it might influence the confidence of the Spaniards, or invite the nations groaning under the yoke of France, to appeal to this country, and co-operate with it for their deliverance. The advantages ought, therefore, to have been more than usually great, which should be deemed sufficient to balance the objection of granting to a very inferior army, hopeless in circumstances, and broken in spirit, such terms as might argue, that notwithstanding its disparity in numbers, it was still formidable to its victors. No advantages seemed to have been gained that would not have equally followed from forcing the enemy to a more marked submission. The gain of time as to sending succours into Spain cannot be admitted as a plea, because it appears that no arrangements for the reception of our troops in Spain had been undertaken previous to the Convention; and this is without reasoning on subsequent facts. The Convention in Egypt, which has been advanced as a parallel case, appears to me inapplicable. No object beyond the dislodgement of the French from Egypt was there in question. In the present instance the operation of the Convention upon the affairs of Spain was a consideration of pri

His Majesty cannot forbear further to observe, that Lieut.-General Sir Hew Dalrymple's delaying to transmit for his informa tion the Armistice concluded on 22d August, until the 4th September, when he, at the same time, transmitted the ratified Convention, was calculated to produce great public inconvenience, and that such inconvenience did in fact result therefrom."

POETRY.

ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR 1809.

BY H. J. PYE, ESQ. P. L.

mary interest; and in that view the inevitable Which was performed at St. James's Palace,

effect of some of the articles offers itself to my mind as liable to material objection. I trust that these reasons will vindicate me from the charge of presumption, in maintaining an opinion contradictory to that professed by so many most respectable officers; for, even if the reasons be essentially erroneous, if they are conclusive to my mind (as I must conscientiously affirm them to be), it is a necessary consequence that I must disapprove the Convention."-December 27, 1808.

The following are the terms in which His Majesty has expressed his disapprobation relative to the Convention of Cintra:

"The King has taken into consideration the Report of the Board of Inquiry, together with the documents and opinion thereunto annexed.

"While his Majesty adopts the unanimous ́ opinion of the Board, that no further military proceeding is necessary to be had upon the transactions referred to in their investigation, His Majesty does not intend thereby to convey an expression of his Majesty's satisfaction at the terms and conditions of the Armistice and Convention.

"When those instruments were first laid before His Majesty, the King, reserving for investigation those parts of the Definitive

On the Queen's Birth-Day. See page 1007.
Full-orb'd in equinoctial skies
When the pale moon malignant rides,
And swells the ocean's briny tides,
Dreadful against the sounding shore
The winds and waves tumultuous roar,
The torrent-braving mound in vain
The stormy inroad would restrain,
The surges with resistless sway

Force o'er the labour'd mole their way,
Scorn every weak resource of human toil,
O'erwhelm the peopled town, and waste the
cultur'd soil.

But when, by native fences barr'd
From billowy rage, the happier land,
And rocky cliffs for ever stand
To the wide-water'd coast a guard,
Such as on Vecta's southern steep
Look down defiance on the raging deep,
Such as on Dover's breezy down
On Gallia's hostile borders frown,
Tho' billows urging billows roar,
And idly beat against the shore,

While from the heights sublime the swain

Mocks the vain efforts of the foaming main,
Till Nature bids the deluge surge subside,

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Hush'd is the tempest's voice, and refluent rolls the tide.

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Separate in tastes, pursuits, and in expence-
Alike in nothing-save indifference--
Till separate interests, separate claims advance,
And end, too oft, in separate maintenance !

Quarrels in lower life, 'twixt John and Joan
By very different charactors are known!
His is the weaker side in wordy strife,
For talking's still the charter of the wife
But John has argument to strike her dumb-
'Tis in a stick-the thickness of his thumb!
Such as his right, did once a grave judge name,
And when did John forget his rights to claim!
But soft-our bard to-night has drawn from life,
An intermediate kind of Man and Wife!
And in that title 'twill perhaps appear,
That something more is meant,-than meets the
ear!

PROLOGUE TO THE COMEDY OF MAN AND WIFE; OR, MORE SECRETS THAN ONE. BY SAMUEL JAMES ARNOLD, ESQ.

Spoken by Mr. Matthews.

As Plays increase, to strike out something new, What, in the name of wit, can Authors do? For ages past they've cull'd from nature's store, And drawn the self-same features, o'er and o'er. Many, 'tis true, have nature's paths forsaken, Drawn apes for beaux, and wags for wits mistaken;

EPILOGUE TO THE SAME.

Spoken by Mrs, Jordan.

What is an Author like-on that dread night When his first five-act Play is brought to light?Why, like a culprit !-trembling in his shoesThere at the bar he stands, and frets and stews→→→ Anxious he lists to hear how vastly well Tho' loudest plaudits he can scarcely hear, His Counsel's (Mrs. JORDAN'S) speeches tell! The slightest sibilation stuns his ear! An Author's ear!-Tis wondrous at a hiss How very delicate that organ is!

Strange fools and coxcombs they have plac'd in A hiss!-what does he then look like?—Gad

view,

Yet copied life, and made the picture true!

But Man and Wife !-I fear you'll all exclaim, Can any novelty be found in them?

For if the Bard should sketch them gay and free,
Obliging, kind, as Man and Wife should be-
You all, methinks, would cavil at each feature,
And say the thing was new-but out of nature;
And should he make them live like Dog and Cat,
Alack-the-day! there's nothing new in that!

Still, all these pictures of domestic strife
Vary, according to the rank in life-
Wondrous the diff'rence 'twixt the wedded pair
Of Broad St. Giles's, and St. James's Square!
The high-bred pair once wed, are one, and there-
fore

Are two directly without why or wherefore !
He at the clubs the fatal elbow shakes,
Returns at sunrise, and at sunset wakes-
While she, at routs the war of elbows dares,
Half squeez'd to death-delightful-on the stairs;
But what cares she for squeezing, who displays
The iron fence of Mrs. Bailey's stays?
He desperate garnes-she braves the desperate
throngs:

Here rattle dice-there-louder-rattle tongués

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OBSERVANDA EXTERNA.

AFRICA.

Importation of Cotton into England.African Institution. We understand that the premium proposed by the Institution, of a piece of plate, value 50 guineas, for the greatest quantity of cotton imported into this country, the growth of the western coast of Africa, has been adjudged to Messrs. John and Alexander Anderson, of Philpot lane. The quantity imported was upwards of ten thousand weight, and it sold for 2s. 8d. per- lb. These gentlemen have determined greatly to enlarge their cotton plantations on the river Sierra Leone, and their example is likely to be extensively followed. By means of the African Institution, a large supply of the Georgia Sea-Island cotton seed (by far the most valuable kind) having been sent to the coast, we may hope that in no long time the importations from this quarter will fill up that chasm in the cotton market, which the American embargo has occasioned. Nor is this the only benefit we are likely to derive from an increased attention to Africa. A considerable quantity of African rice has been already imported into the West Indies, and a much larger importation may speedily be expected. In the present state of our West Indian colonies, this new and unexpected resource must prove of the very first importance, and ought to be anxiously cherished.

ALGIERS.

plunder the city, in consequence of their not having received the pecuniary gratuity usual on the accession of a new Dey. The divan, however, succeeded in averting this

storm.

AMERICA, SOUTH.

arrived from Lima, brings an account that Spanish Patriots.-The Monticello, which the inhabitants illuminated their houses for three successive nights, in honour of the gallant resistance which they understood the mother country made to the French. They, as well as the rest of the inhabitants of that

colony, were unanimous in their determina

tion not to submit to, or connect themselves in any way with, France, whatever might be the issue of the contest in Old Spain.

Sir

Sir Sidney Smith.-The Prince Regent of Portugal has conferred on sir Sidney Smith a noble domain, one of the royal estates, estimated to be worth £7,000 a year. Sidney dates his letters from his new palace of Braganza; which he describes as resembling in prospect and scite the beautiful seat of Mount Edgecumbe.

Error in laying down Cape Frio.-From a London newspaper. "The geographers in every part of Europe, in their charts, have laid down Cape Frio as being in the latitude 22. 34; but it is, in fact, in lat. 23. This error ought to be rectified, several vessels bound to Rio de Janeiro having been, in consequence of it, embayed; and every one knows that it is necessary to make Cape Frio before he can get to Rio de Janeiro."

FRANCE.

Buonapartean Dignities.-It appears by a catalogue, which has been made, that Buona parte has, in a single year, established more feudal tenures than France and Spain have done from the commencement of their monarchies; and if no title is supplied from the territory of France, it is because he has reserved for himself and his august successors to be duke, sovereign, king, emperor, sublime sultan, &c. throughout that ill-fated empire.

Revolution-Algiers, Nov. 21. The troops which had marched to Constantina, on their return assembled in the morning on the 7th inst. in their barracks, and after a short consultation, sent a deputation to the palace of government, with orders to put to death the Dey Achmed Pacha. The Dey fled to the roof of his palace, from which, getting upon the end of a neighbouring building, he was followed by his assassins from the top of one house to that of another, until he was caught on a Jew's house, and shot, his head cut off, and his body, after being dreadfully List of persons elevated by Buonaparte, mangled, was thrown into the street. In with the titles by which they are now desig about a couple of hours this unexpected re-nated, being a key to the reading of the bulvolution was completed and at one o'clock in the afternoon, the Consuls of foreign powers repaired to the palace, to pay their respects to the new Dey. On the 11th inst., the soldiers demanded, with loud cries, the dismission of the new ministers, and evinced a disposition to begin plundering the city. The divan having assembled in the palace, entered into an arrangement with the insur gents; in consequence of which, the new ministers were dismissed and exiled, and their places conferred on persons of greater respectability. On the 16th of November, there was another tumult. It was generally reported, that the soldiers were resolved to

letins.

Jerome..

Relatives.

Joseph Buonaparte.. King of Spain-(intended).
Louis
King of Holland.
.King of Westphalia.
Eugene Beauharnois. Viceroy of Italy.
Infant daughter of do. Princess of Bologna.
Cardinal Fesche.... Archbp. of Lyons, and Pri

mate of the Confederation of
the Rhine.
Joachim Murat.... King of Naples.

.Grand Duke of Cleves and
Berg-in petto.
Adherents.

The Prince Arch-Chancellor of the Empire (Cambaceres, late Consul)-Duke of Parma.

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The Prince Arch-Treasurer (Le Brun, late Con-, sul)-Duke of Placenza. Caulaincourt, Great Chamberlain, Duke of

Vicenza.

Duroc, Great Marshal of the Palace, Duke of

Frione.

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Duke of Auerstadt.
Duke of Cornegliano.
Duke of Rivoli.
Duke of Castiglione.
Duke of Montebello.
Duke of Elchingen.
Duke of Istria.
Duke of Belluno.
Duke of Valmy.
Duke of Padua.
Count Sessac.

Count Hunenberg.
INDIES, EAST.

Political State of British India.-The governor general of Bengal writes in June fast, that he makes no doubt of being able to send home, from £700,000 to £1,000,000 of surplus revenue in 1809.-Colonel Mac Alister writes from Prince Edward's Island that there is in the dock-yard there, a frigate of 36 guns far advanced. Timber is cut down in the neighbourhood, and collected in the marine yard, sufficient to construct two 74 gun ships. Timber might be procured, wherewith to build three or four ships of 74 guns each, at only eight Spanish dollars per timber.

A letter from Bombay, speaking of the mission of general Malcolm to Persia, says: "Instead of 300 Frenchmen, as had been reported, it has been ascertained that there were only 30 at the court of Persia."

Letters from Oude mention some very vigorous measures having been taken by the Nabob Vizier, in conjunction with the British, to protect and strengthen his frontier from Allahabad to Windward. A further augmentation has been made to his highness's army, of three regiments of cavalry and several battalions of infantry.-Accounts from Bombay state, that that government has happily succeeded in establishing a friendly intercourse with the Seik tribes inhabiting the Punjab and the banks of the Attock. This measure is considered as being of the utmost importance at the present crisis, as it furnishes means of frustrating any designs of an enemy on the western side of India. The chieftains of the above tribes have expressed their determination not to retain in their service any troops that may be hostile to the English; also that the Mahratta, or other

officers of any of the native powers, shall, in case of war breaking out between the English and such powers, be immediately dismissed from their service.-The alliance with all the petty states to the southward and westward of the Jumna, from Jynaghur to Bundlecund, is considered as sufficient security for the safety of those frontiers. The accession of the Rajahpoot chiefs, with the Ranah of Gohud, to the interests of the British government, will present an insurmountable barrier to the influence of Seindeah in Hindoostan. -A very large body of Fakeers has lately arrived from the southern provinces, to visit the temple of Jaggernaut; and among them is said to be a chieftain of distinction, who, for some enormities he has committed, submits to all the privations and discipline of that herd of frantic devotees. He has also made an offering, at the sacred shrine, of jewels and treasure to a very considerable amount.A party of Mahratia freebooters in March last crossed the Jumna, and possessed themselves of a very narrow and dangerous pass on the side of a hill. Their centinels being vigorously attacked by the British, fled at the first fire, without rolling down some enormous masses of stone placed at the extremity for that purpose, and which would inevitably have buried the assailants beneath the ruins.

Royal Tiger and Horse.-Bombay, July 1, 1808.-The following interesting account of the destruction of a royal tiger, is related by one of the officers of the 2d battalion of the 7th regiment, No. 1, stationed at Kaira." On the 15th June, some of the officers of the corps formed a party to visit the celebrated ruins of Mahmoodabad. On approaching them, they were alarmed by a sound like the roar of a royal tiger. They did not, however, immediately see the animal, and proceeded towards the ruins; but, on advancing a little further, he suddenly burst upon their view, in all his terrors, and sprang at them with indescribable ferocity. A precipitate retreat was the natural consequence; and one of the gentlemen, who was but indifferently mounted, perceiving that he could not depend upon his horse, with the promptitude of a vigorous and decisive mind, directed his course to a tree, which he immediately ascended with his fowling-piece in his hand. His victim thus singled, the tiger gave over the pursuit of the others, and bounded on the horse, who stood paralysed with fear at the foot of the tree. At this cri sis, the gentleman in the tree took a cool and steady aim at the savage, and wounded him, though not mortally. The tiger feeling his wound, retreated to some distance; but almost immediately returned with increased fury. In the meantime the officer had reloaded, and taking aim at him again, while venting his rage on the miserable horse, wounded him mortally. On the first attack

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