759] [760 Szerb TA HAGUE, 29th APRIL, 1805. This morning, about half past seven, his Excellency M. SCHIMMELPENNINCK, with his consort and children, arrived here, and immediately took up his residence in the pa lace called the Old Court. At half past nine his Excellency gave audience to various per sons, and received their congratulations on his accession to the high dignity of pensionary. At half past one his Excellency was conducted into the presence of the directory of state, before whom he took the oath prescribed by the constitution; after which the directory of state laid down their posts. This was notified to the public as follows: "The pensionary of the Batavian repub "lic, RUTGER JAN SCHIMMELPENNINCE, "hereby notifies, in that quality, that he "has this day provisionally taken the oath prescribed by the constitution to the pre"sident of the directory of state; and that, "in pursuance thereof, after the dissolution " of the directory of state, the government "of the Batavian republic is constituted. "Moreover, that M. C. G. HULTMAN has POLITICAL REGISTER.-Foreign Official Papers. ts sdt ni, batut solely upon the basis of rights, of equity, and of sound politics, by which liberty and divine worship should be maintained, every individual protected in the possession of his lawful property, justice exercised without impediment; so that even the meanest inhabitant may obtain his due right, and by which the Supreme Power shall not be placed above the law, and a sovereign, and unlimited authority not entrusted to any single individual, whosoever he be, and by whatever appellation he may be distinguished. And how greatly is it to be lamented, citizens, that in the present instance, an inconsiderate enthusiasm should have deviated so far from the union, and placed every thing upon a vague foundation; from the union, by which our republic, under the blessing of God, had risen to the highest summit of felicity; from the union, by which every man's real liberty was provided for, and divine worship duly maintained, without tyranny or compulsion of conscience, and all predominance of one province over the others was duly prevented, and by which, as you yourselves have not obscurely hinted in your note to the legislative body, the country has experienced such happiness during two centuries. And if this be true, as it is undoubtedly, can the nation desire any other plan of a constitution, than such a one as being purged from all former defects, as much as is consistent with the present circumstances, shall be principally founded upon the union? If, however, the critical circumstances in which we are involved by a ruinous war, require for that period a concentrated administration, to give nore energy to the decrees which are to be passed for the welfare of our country; well then, in that case, let us follow the steps of the ancient Romans, and appoint until the peace, or for a limited time, five years at the Longest, a Dictator, after the Roman manner; let us name even the intended person (Schimmelpenninck) to this pre-eminence, and let all necessary power and authority be entrusted provisionally to him, without impairing the people's liberty and justice; but let us by no means deprive the nation thereof for ever, under a constitution, the consequence of which may be the most arbitrary oppression, under which we must suffer and endure violence, or be reduced to the disagreeable necessity (like so many other respectable families, which have already removed their residence to other countries) of quitting this our native soil, once so free; but to the introducing of this constitution, and of necessity, we can never give our assent, after so many sacrifices as we have made to liberty; we must, therefore, in by said pensionary, been nominated and appointed general secretary of state. "Done in the Hague, April 29, 1805. (Signed) SCHIMMELPENNINCK.” HAGUE, 30th APRIL, 1805. To-day, in the legislative assembly, a letter was read from the directory of state, his Excellency the pensionary had, at the dated the 29th instant, communicating that appointed time, appeared before them and afterwards resigned their posts; inviting the taken the prescribed oath, and that they had legislative body to follow their example, by dissolving their assembly, and to intimate it to the pensionary by letter. The president of the legislative body having made a speech suitable to the solemn occasion, declared, in the name of the people, the dissolution of the legislative body of the Batarian.com monwealth; and that intimation thereof should be given to the pensionary, Nearly all the constituted high colleges here have paid their compliments to the pensionaryTM HAGUE, 10th-MAY, 1805. : of By a decree of the pensionary of this Republic, of this day, the following appointments have been made secretary of foreign affairs, M. Van Der Goes, Secretary war, M. G. J. Pymah. Secretary of home affairs, M. H. Van Straalen, M. H. Van Royen is provisionally charged with the navy department. M. P. Dessevael, re corder of the bureau of state. All these persons will this day take the oaths, and enter on their respective offices: A HEI 7021. TO HIS EXCELLENCY M. R. J. SCHIMMELPENNINCK, AMBASSADOR FROM THIS COUNTRY TO HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH As the people of Batavia had sanguinely flattered themselves that they should receive, under your concurrence, a wise plan of a constitution, they were as sensibly affected on seeing the State-Directory offer a plan to the nation, for its assent or rejection, by which the liberty of the inhabitants of this country is, in our opinion, undermined in all its parts.Now, since no faculty is given or permitted at the time of voting, to state the reasons of our rejection, we have thought proper to inform the State-Directory of those reasons by a note, at the same time taking the liberty to transmit to your Excellency a copy of that note, to which we refer you, for the sake of brevity. And although we have declared by that note our willingness to agree with the State Directory, in assisting to establish an improved plan of a constitution, founded upon justice, equity, sound politics, and as nearly as possible upon the Union; and in order to bestow, during the present critical circumstances, more energy on the decrees for the welfare of our country, by a more concentrated administration, to entrust the necessary power and authority for a limited time to a person, in whose abilities, probity, and love of his country, the people of Batavia might safely confide, and have made no difficulty to propose to the Directory for that purpose in the said note, the nomination of your Excellency, who at the present moment certainly appears to us the properest person to save our country from decay and rain; we yet think, on being called upon in a solemn manner, that we ought not to give our assent to the establishment of a constitution, which may have for its consequence sooner or later, for us, or for our posterity, the most arbitrary despotism. Although we are well convinced, considering the manner of voting, by which all those who do not appear are understood to have assented, that our hopes and expectations will not be fulfilled, yet we, for ourselves, could not resolve to adopt a plan, by which the people of Batavia may some time be reduced to low dependence; desiring, sincerely, that your Excellency will be pleased to take in good part this our act, done for the good of our country, and that you will also take into mature consideration the reasons more amply stated in the aforesaid note to the StateDirectory, as being of the greatest interest to every inhabitantWe remain YOUR FELLOW-CITIZEN e burone quiero 2111 10 70/929820q edi mi bometong lambivib JuctDOMESTIC OFFICIAL PAPERS WI VOLUNTEER Cors Circular Letter from Lord Honkestry, Sec. of State, to the Lords Lientenant of Counties, Dated, brawal sdt svods April 1, 1905. d My Lono,-The obvious and important improvement which the state and discipline of the volunteers have already experienced from the measure of placing them, for a limited time, on permanent pay and duty, has determined His Majesty to give effect to the disposition which has already been manifested by many corps of volunteers, to renew their offers of going out on permanent duty, ander regulations similar to those which were established and acted upon the last year.- -With regard to these regulations, I ara desirous of directing your attention particularly to the previous steps to be taken before the proposal of any corps to assemble on permanent pay and duty is transmitted to me, in order that the concurrence of the general of the district to the proposal may be signified to me, at the same time, with an exact return of the effective numbers and rank of the volunteers who are to be assembled, and accompanied by a statement of the time and place of their assembling, and of the period for which it is intended they should remain on duty. For the purpose of giving every due encou ragement to this description of service, it is the intention of His Majesty's government 'to propose to parliament to authorise them to advance to the non-commissioned officers, trumpeters, drummers, and privates, a sum not exceeding one guinea for twenty-one days, and in that proportion for any shorter period; to be drawn for by the captains of companies, upon the receiver general of the county to which the corps ntay belong. and the small portion of troops employed against so numerous an enemy, that I have great satisfaction in recommending their gallant exertions may be laid before His Majesty; the zeal and talent manifested by the brigadier-general upon this occasion, it is my duty to present for his royal consideration; and at the same time I beg to be permitted to express the high sense I entertain of the distinguished bravery of His Majesty's troops and the militia of the colony employed upon that service. The vigorous resistance which the enemy have experienced, and the loss which they have sustained in this attack, must evince to them, that however inferior our numbers were on this occasion, British troops are not to be hostilely approached with impunity, and had not the town of Roseau been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret and much to exult in. Your lordship will perceive by the returns, that our loss in men, compared to that of the enemy, is But trifling; but I have sincerely to lament that of Major Nunn, of the 1st West-India, Regiment, whose wound is reported to be of a dangerous kind; he is an excellent man, and a meritorious officer.(Signed) W. MYERS. mainder of the 46th, and gave over to Major Nunn these brave troops, with orders not to yield to the enemy one inch of ground: h field-pieces (an amuzette and a six-pounde:) were brought into action for their suppor under the command of Serjeant Creed the 46th regiment, manned by additional gupners and sailors,- These guns, and a twenty-four pounder from Melville battery, shook the French advancing column by the execution they did.I sent two companies of the St. George's militia, under the com mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Constable, and a company of the 46th to prevent the enemy from getting into the rear of the position o cupied by Major Nunn.On my return I found the Majestueux, of one hindred and twenty guns, laying opposite to Fort Young, pouring into the town and batteries her broadsides, followed by the other seventy-fours, and frigates doing the same.Some artilery, several captains of merchantmen, with their sailors, and the artillery militia, manned five twenty-four-pounders, and three eighteens, at the fort, and five twenty-fours at Melville's battery; and returned an uninterrupted fire. From the first post red hot shot were thrown. At about ten o'clock A. M. Major Nunn, most unfortunately for His Majesty's service, whilst faithfully ex ecuting the order I had given, was wounded, I fear, mortally.This did not discourage the brave fellows-Captain O'Connell, of the 1st West-India regiment, received the command, and a wound, almost at the same time; however, the last circumstance could not induce him to give up the honour of the first, and he continued in the field animant his men, and resisting the repeated charges of the enemy until about one o'clock, he obliged the French to retire from their advanced position with great slaughter. It is impossible for me to do justice to the m rit of that officer. You will, I doubt sot, favourably report his conduct to His Ma when SBR,- About an hour before the dawn of day on the 22d ult. an alarm was fired at Scotshead, and soon after a cluster of ships was discovered off Roseau. As our light increased, I made out five large ships, three frigates, two brigs, and small craft, under British colours, a ship of three decks carrying a flag at the mizen. The frigates ranging too close to Fort Young, I ordered thei to be fired on, and soon after nineteen large barges full of troops, appeared coming from under the lee of the other ships, attended and protected by an armed schooner full of men, and seven other boats carrying carronades. The English flag was lowered, and that of France hoisted.- -A landing was imme-jesty, and, at the same time, that of Captain diately attempted on my left hand, between the town of Roseau and the post of CacheCrow. The light infantry of the 1st West India regiment were the first on the march to support Captain Senant's company of militia, which, throughout the day, behaved with great gallantry. It was inmediately supported by the grenadiers of the 46th regiment. The first boats were beat off, but the schooner and one of the brigs coming close in shore to cover the landing, compelled our troops to occupy a better position; a defile leading to the town. At this moment I brought up the grenadiers of the St. George's regiment of militia, and soon after the re James, who commanded the 46th, and Cap. tain Archibald Campbell, who commanded the grenadiers of the 46th. Foiled and be off on the left, the right flank was attempted, and a considerable force was landed near Morne Daniel. The regulars, not exceeding two hundred, employed on the left in op posing the advance of their columns, con sisting of upwards of two thousand men, could afford me no reinforcement, I had only the right wing of the St. George's regiment of militia to oppose to them, of about one hundred men. They attacked with spint, but unfortunately the frigates had stood in so close to the shore to protect the disembarka -As vision La Grange, and, without delay, sent the reply you will find accompanying it On the 27th the enemy's craizers hovered about the head; however, the Centaur's tender (Vigilante), came in, and was saved by our guns. I landed Mr. Henderson, her commander, and his crew, to assist in the defence we were prepared to makefar as can be collected, the enemy had about four thousand men on board, and the whole of their force was compelled to disembark before they gained an inch of ground.--_--_Į intrust this dispatch to Captain O'Connell, to whom I beg to refer you: his services entitle him to consideration. I am much indebted to the zeal and discernment of Fort Adjutant Guary, who was very accessary to the due execution of my orders.I cannot pass unnoticed the very soldier-like conduct of Lieutenant Wallis, of the 46th regiment, to whom I had entrusted the post of Cachecrow, or Scotshead; perceiving our, retreat, he spiked his guns, destroyed his ammunition, and immediately commenced his march to join me at Prince Rupert's, with his detachment; nor that of Lieutenant Shaw, of the same regiment, who acted as an officer of artillery, and behaved with uncommon coolness and judgment, whilst on the battery, and great presence of mind in securing the retreat of the additional gunners belonging to the 46th regiment. On the 27th, after levying a contribution on Roseau, the enemy reiinbaked, and hovered that day and the next about this post. This morning, the French fleet is seen off the south end of Guadaloupe, under easy sail,Our loss, you will perceive by the returns I have the forces, I crossed the island, and, in twenty-honour to transmit, was inconsiderable, when tion, that after receiving & destructive firé, they fell back, and occupied the heights of Woodbridge Estate. Then it was, that a column of the enemy marched up to Morne Daniel, and stormed the redoubt, defended by a small detachment, which, after an obstinate resistance, they carried. On my left, Captain O'Connell was gaining ground, riotwithstanding a fresh supply of troops and several field pieces which had been brought on shore by the enemy. I now observed a large column climbing the mountains to get in his rear.The town, which had been for some time in flames, was only protected by a light howitzer and a six-pounder to the night, supported by part of the light company of the St. George's regiment. The enemy's large ships in Woodbridge Bay, out of the reach of my guns; my right flank gained, my retreat to Prince Rupert's almost cut off, I determined on one attempt to keep the sovereignty of the island, with the excellent troops I had warranted. I ordered the militia to remain at their post, except such as were inclined to encounter more hardships and severe service; and Captain O'Connell, with the 46th, under the command of Captain James, and the light company of the 1st West-India regiment, were directed to make a forced march to Frince Rupert's. I then allowed the President to enter into terms for the town of Roseau'; and then demanded from the French general that private property should be respected, and that lo wanton or disgraceful pillage should be allowed. This done, only attended by Brigade-Major Prevost, and Deputy QuarterMaster-General Hopley, of the militia four hots, with the aid of the inhabitants, and the exertions of the Caribs, got to this garrison on the 23d.After four days continued march, through the most difficult country, I might almost say existing, Capt. O'Connell joined me at Prince Rupert's, wounded himself, and bringing in his wounded, with a few of the Royal Artillery, and the precious remainder of the 46th regiment, and the 1st West-India light company had no sooner got to the fort than I ordered cattle to be drove in, and took measures for getting a store of water from the river in the Bay I found my signals to Lieutenant-Colonel Broughton, from Roseau, made soon after the enemy had landed, had been received, and that, in consequence, he had made the most judicious arrangements his garrison would allow of for the defence of this important post. On the 25th ́- I' On the 25th I received the letter of summons Thave now e-honour to transthit, from General of Di The General of Division La Grange, Grand Officer of the 'Legion of Honour, Inspector General of the Gendarmerie, Commander in Chief of the Troops of the Expedition to the Leeward Islands.-General, Before I commence any nnlitary operations against the fort, into which it appears that you have retired, I shall fulfil a preliminary dutý, authorised and practised by civilized nations. You are aware, no less than myself, nature of your position, and of the entire inutility of occasioning any further effusion of blood. You witnessed with grief the : melancholy fate of the town of Roseau, my siderable,(Signed) JAMES PREVÓST, Major first endeavours on entering it were to issue of Brigade. orders for stopping the progress of the conflagration; but, unfortunately, considerable" le destruction had already taken place. The I want of necessaries is ever attended with the most cruel consequences, the evils of which can easily be calculated. This consideration alone is more than sufficient, without reference to the particular circumstances in which you are placed, to induce you to accept the honourable conditions that I am ready to grant you, and thus to preserve the interesting inhabitants of this colony from fresh calamities, which are inseparable from the oecurrences of war.-I beg you, General, to make me an early communication of your answer; and, in the mean time, to receive the assurance of the high consideration which I entertain for you. (Signed) LA GRANGE. Prince Rupert's, Feb. 25. Sir, I have had the honour to receive your letter. My duty to my King and country is so superior to every other consideration, that I have only to thank you for the observations you have been pleased to make on the often inevitable consequences of war. Give me leave, individually, to express the greatest gratitude for your humanity and kind treatment of my wife and children; and, at the same time, to request a continuance thereof, not only to her and them, but towards every other object you may meet with. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) GEO. PREVOST. Return of the Killed and Wounded in the Actions of the 22d of Feb. 1805, at Point Michael, Morne Daniel, and Roseau, in the Island of Dominica. Royal artillery.-3 rank and file wounded; 1 captain, 1 serjeant, and 6 rank and file, taken by the enemy.-46th regiment.-] serjeant, i drummer, and 10 rank and file, killed; I captain and 7 rank and file, wounded-1st West-India regiment.-9 rank and file, killed; 1 field-officer, 1 captain, and 8 rank and file, wounded,-Total.-1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 19 rank and file, killed; 1 field-officer, 2 captains, and 18 rank and file, wounded; 1 captain, 1 serjeant, and 6 rank and file, taken by the enemy.- Offcers wounded-Captain Colin Campbell, of the 46th regiment-Major Nunn and Captain O'Connell, of the 1st West-India regiment.-N. B. Three sailors wounded, exclusive of the militia, from which no return has been received, but whose loss was con Saint Kitt's, March 8, 1805. Sir, I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 27th inst. by the mail-boat, to say that intelligence had been received here, on that morning, of the arrival of a French force at Dominica, and the steps I had taken to make such circumstances known to vernment.-I lost no time in placing this garrison in the best state to repel any attack that might be made by the enemy, and encreasing the provisions to a quantity sufficient to maintain a garrison of five hundred men for three months, which was, by the exer tion of the Resident Commissary, effected on the 1st inst.-I have now to inform you, that on the morning of the 5th inst. a Freuch squadron, consisting of five line of battle ships (one a three-decker), three frigates, two brigs of war, and a schooner, with (xcording to accounts since received) three thousand five hundred men on board, ap peared off Nevis Point, and stood in for Basse Terre, where the frigates only anchored.-I did not think it consistent with the safety of this garrison, to divide the small force of regular troops under my command, and the militia being found inadequate to give effectual opposition, it was previously agreed with President Woodley, that three hundred of them should be thrown into this garrison in the event of the enemy's effecting a landing; in consequence of which, the ene my having landed about five hundred me at Basse Terre, he marched in here (with great prompntess) on the same day with the above five hundred men, including seamen and militia. The enemy took possession of the town, demanding the immediate payment of forty thousand pounds sterling, failure of which it should be burned. The inhabitants with great difficulty raised eigh teen, with which sum they embarked, inmating an intention of attacking this hi and, from the state of preparation we were in, as well as the zeal shewn by the troops in this garrison, I have every reason to be lieve that the result would have been such as you would wish. It does not appear, however, that this squadron wish to attack where opposition may be expected, but to plunder the inhabitants and burn and destroy the shipping. Six merchant ships, some of the very valuable, have been towed from the anchorage in Basse Terre, set on fire, and allowed to drift to sea.-I have the honder to be, &c. (Signed) JAMES FOSTER, Maj, It1h regiment. Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bagshaw, Bow-Street, Cout Garden, where former Numbers may be had; sold also by J. 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