cient talents and reputation to undertake the trust. We are not at liberty to consider this affair in any other light than as the annexation, at least for the present, of Italy to the gigantic Republic of France. What may be the future views of the Chief Consul, it would be vain to conjecture. On Bonaparte's return to Paris, on the 31st of January, he received a number of congratulatory addresses from the different constituted authorities, on the increase of his influence and dignity; though there is little doubt that his recent accession to little less than regal power, which he holds, as well as his large salary, altogether independently of France, must excite considerable jealousies in that country. Previously to his departure for Lyons, symptoms of opposition to his government had appeared, particularly in the Tribunate, when his project of a Civil Code had been rejected by a majority of 61 to 31; a circumstance which, it was evident, from the petulance of his message on withdrawing the code, had considerably mortified him. It was also supposed that there existed some degree of dissatisfaction among many of the general officers, who regarded with disgust the elevation of a foreigner to the first office in the state. As to the army itself, it remains yet to be seen whether it will be disposed to continue to Bonaparte, the support which it has hitherto afforded him. It would appear, however, from the following article in the Journal des Defenseurs, of the 9th instant, that some discontents had begun to manifest themselves among the military. "Government learning that a great number of soldiers intend coming up to Paris, for the purpose of obtaining their arrears, has given them notice, through the channel of the Prefects, that, uninterruptedly occupied in improving the condition of the brave men who concurred in the defence of the country, it wishes them to desist from such intention, which, if realized, would subject them to considerable expense. Government adds, that their arrears, shall be issued as sooon as possible, and paid to them at their own residence" The enormous price to which the necessaries of life have risen in France, has also given birth to much discontent and murmuring, as well as to much real distress. The scarcity is so severely felt, that orders have been issued to prohibit the exportation of provisions to this country. Nothing certain has transpired with respect to the progress, duration, or issue of the negotiations at Amiens, for the conclusion of the Definitive Treaty of Peace between this country and France. Though they have been protracted to a very unexpected length, little doubt seems to be entertained of their terminating favourably. The delay has, in part, proceeded from the circumstance of the Spanish Plenipotentiary not having joined the Congress. He has at length reached Amiens; and, as the conferences are said to be carried on with activity, we may indulge a hope that the completion of the desirable work of peace will now be accelerated. GERMANY. The following interesting account of the losses which the continental powers have sustained in consequence of the war, has lately been published in the German newspapers: Austria loses, includ etc. The Princes of the The Chapter of Co- The Imperial Cities, The Imperial Cham- Total loss... The following statement of the peace establishments of the under mentioned powers is copied from official returns: AUSTRIA. Artillery, dragoons, hulans, hussars, A new regiment of Hungarian hus- 327,400 1,200 Total effective men 328,600 PRUSSIA. Troops of all denominations Total effectives HOLLAND. 248,000 800 1,400 250,200 which was fixed for the 22d of November, did not take place in consequence of the badness of the weather, until the 24th. This ceremony, at which were present the Archduchess Mariana, and all the Diplomatic Body, was of the most splendid description. His Holiness distributed upon the occasion about 10,000 crowns worth of bread to the poor. TURKEY Seems to be on the eve of some great convulsion. The accounts from that quarter are indeed but little to be relied on; but it would appear as if the Porte had been greatly alarmed, not only by the insurrection of the Janissaries at Belgrade, who had murdered their Pacha and acknowledged Passwan Oglou for their master, but by what had passed in Egypt, where a serious difference, nearly approaching to a rupture, took place between the Captain Pacha and Gen. Hutchinson, in consequence of the former having caused some of the Beys to be treacherously murdered, while going to pay a visit to the Commandant at Alexandria. Gen. Hutchinson had arrested the Captain Pacha, and reproached him bitterly with his conduct; but he excused himself by pleading that he had received orders from his court, on pain of losing his head, to put all the Beys and Mamelukes to death. Gen. Hutchinson, and the troops under his command, had quitted Egypt; leaving there General Baird, and that part of the army which had come from India. By a letter from Constantinople, dated in December, it would appear that Lord Elgin has concluded, in the name of his Court, a separate convention with the Turkish government, in which the latter, on account of the services rendered by the English in Egypt, has allowed them certain privileges, with regard to the Levant and East-India trade, for three years. The French messenger Sebastiani has set out on his return from Constantinople, and carries to Paris the project of a new Treaty of Peace; as the Porte has refused to ratify the Preliminaries of October last, which were highly favourable to France. An unprecedented degree of toleration is said to have been granted by the Grand Seignior to the Catholic mission at Constantinople; and the Principal, a Jesuit, has been permitted to erect a chapel in the suburb of Galatæ, and to take as many assistants as he may choose. RUSSIA. The Emperor Alexander has commenced his reign with such displays of humanity and beneficence, as afford his subjects a fair prospect of a mild and equitable administration. By an Ukase, addressed by him to the Directing Senate, in November last, the use of the rack in extorting confession is abolished; and orders are given for investigating, and if necessary, punishing some acts of cruelty and oppression, which had been committed by the officers of justice. ५ ed that great evils result from the abuse of Opium, the particulars of which have been detailed in instructions from the Fooyuen to the Hoppo at Canton, he has in consequence issued an edict, which, after recapitulating the Fooyuen's instructions, wholly prohibits the importation of opium into the Chinese dominions. This edict, besides the commercial objects which it embraces, is highly interesting as a State Paper published in so distant a country; as illustrative of the mildness of the government, which condescends to reason with the people on their own interests, and point out the causes for depriving them of a pernicious indulgence. Accounts from Canton state, that a strong body of Tartars had made an incursion into China; they were well appointed and disciplined, and excited general terror, more especially as this invasion seems to have been connected with internal commotions. Several districts were at the same moment in arms; but the Emperor's troops, by a prompt movement, brought the insurgents to action before they could be joined by the Tartars, and routed them with immense slaughter. In the eastern districts of China, owing to the prevalence of an uncommon drought, the natives have been reduced to the necessity of abandoning whole tracts of country. in quest of food. The Emperor has exerted his authority for their relief; but the general situation of the country opposes much difficulty to his benevolent purposes. EAST INDIES. Accounts from Ramgheer, of the 4th of August, state, that the Decoits, who some years since maintained a very sanguinary warfare with our Indian government, are again in arms; and that a very powerful body of them had made an incursion into that neighbourhood, in order to set free and arm the convicts employed in public works. These people succeeded in their object, notwithstanding a gallant resistance on the part of the Sepoys; and from their fastnesses they had contrived to desolate the adjoining country. The flourishing and extensive town of Aurungbaad, which was full of granaries, had been plundered and reduced to ashes. The leader of this banditti is said to be a man of distinguished talents, and to act in concert with the Polygars, whose insurrection he had fomented.. In the Tinnivelly district, an extensive and alarming rebellion had broke out in the first months of last year, among the Polygars. The first attempt to subdue them proved unsuccessful, from the inadequacy of the force employed; and was also attended with a heavy loss in officers and men. But reinforcements arriving, the insurgents met with some severe defeats. The rebellion, however, had not been suppressed in August last; at which time Colonel Stephenson is stated to have gained a signal victory over a vast body of the insurgents. The Princess of Delli was conThe Chinese government having discover- fined, on suspicion of having encouraged the CHINA. insurrection, by the Coys government, to whom it is said she had offered a lac of pagodas, and a considerable yearly tribute, for her ransom, promising, at the same time, to give up those who had seduced her, and to surrender her country in case of future misconduct. The affair had been referred to the supreme government of Bengal. The island of Ternate surrendered to Colonel Burr on the 21st of June last, by capitulation. This is one of the largest of the Molucca islands, abounds in spice, and is governed by a king, who once held dominion over Amboyna and Banda. This intelligence is received by the Star Bombay cruiser. AMERICA. The Congress began its sittings on the 8th of December. The President seems to have it in intention, to introduce considerable changes in all the departments of government. He has also altered the customary forms of proceeding at the opening of a session; making no Speech as has been usual, but communicating with the two houses by Message. The substance of this Message, which is very important, will be given in our next. The American carrying trade is said to have severely felt the effects of peace. ST. DOMINGO. This Island, after having, during the last twelve years, experienced a variety of revolutionary miseries, which issued in the complete emancipation of the negroes, has fallen under the dominion of a black, of the name of Toussaint Louverture, who was formerly a slave, but who seems to possess very considerable talents. The government he has established there, though enjoying some of the forms of a republican administration, appears to be a complete military despotism. Even industry, which used, under the old regime, to be excited by the cart-whip, seems now to be enforced by a sort of martial law. Of the internal state of this immense island little can be said with precision; it is probable, however, from the small amount of its exports, that cultivation has been little followed; and, consequently, that there has been no regular and rigorous exaction of labour, from that part of its population which was formerly in a state of slavery. It is not unlikely, that the immense armament which has sailed from France, may be partly intended to restore, at least in a degree, the ancient order of things. But when we consider what a revolution ten years of war and rapine and unbounded license must have produced on the minds, even of those who had been inured to field labour, as formerly regulated in that colony, and how many have in that time grown up to be men, whose immature age prevented their ever having been exposed to its rigours; when we consider also the extensive tracts of almost impenetrable forests which cover the face of the country, and the fastnesses of their mountains, which must be nearly inaccessible to Europeans; and add to this the example of protracted resistance to a very superior force, which a mere handful of Maroons, with somewhat similar advantages, has given, as well as the destructive effects (but too well known to this country) of that climate to European soldiers, engaged in active hostilities; we may well be allowed to doubt, whether even this formidable force will be adequate to effect its purpose. But to return from this di gression: a revolt against the authority of Toussaint took place in the month of October last, when some of the negroes in the northern part of the island, taking advantage of a tour he was making to the south, broke out into open insurrection. It appears, however, to have been soon quelled; and according to an account published by him, dated the 4th of November, tranquillity had been re-established, and cultivation had again begun to proceed with vigour This rebellion is said to have arisen in consequence of an apprehension, induced by that article of the new constitution, which allows the importation of slaves, that it was intended to revive the old system. The vengeance exacted by Toussaint on the insurgents seems to have been very terrible. No quarter was given in the field; and great numbers, some accounts say two thousand, have fallen under the hand of the executioner. GUADALOUPE. The real situation of this Island is involved in almost as much uncertainty as that of St. Domingo. Lacrosse, who succeeded Victor Hugues in the government of it, (it may be inferred from some of his former letters) had been attempting to reduce to a nearer approximation to the old system, the negroes of this island, who for eight years past have been comparatively free, though by no means in the same state of license and insubordination with those of St. Domingo. This attempt, however, has cost him his government, which they forced him to abandon. The Danish vessel in which he was sent away, meeting an English frigate, Lacrosse claimed her protection, and was brought to Dominica; where, in December last, he appears, from a Manifesto published against the insurgents, to have taken up his abode, and to have been joined by some members of the administration. The island was entirely in possession of the blacks, who, notwithstanding the signing of preliminaries had been announced to them, had captured several British ships. Ietters, however, from Martinique, dated December 10, 1801, state, that a flag of truce from the black General Pelage, at Guadaloupe, had arrived there with prisoners to be exchanged. She brought letters to Governor Keppell, from Pelage, which state that he was ready to deliver the island of Guadaloupe to any person sent by Bonaparte, excepting Lacrosse, who was a scoundrel, and that he, Pelage, was under the necessity of sending him away for his own safety. He hopes that the accustomed rela. tions of peace and amity would still continue between the two nations. GREAT BRITAIN. In the beginning of December, a Mutiny broke out in that part of the channel fleet which lay in Bantry Bay, and had received orders to sail to the West Indies, to watch the motions of the French armament, destined for that quarter. The mutiny was at first believed to be of a far more extensive and alarming nature than it afterwards proved to be; and the apprehensions of the public on the subject were increased, by their attributing to it the frequent adjournments of Parliament, which took place during the time generally allowed for a Recess. It seems to have originated in no concerted plan of insubordination on the part of the seamen, but in their dread of a service which probably appeared pregnant with danger, and in their reluctance to leave their native shores just as they had hoped to return to their friends. Admiral Campbell, and the officers under him, exerted themselves in so spirited a manner, and were so effectually supported by the marines, that the mutiny was suppressed and the ringleaders apprehended. In our last number we gave some account of their trial, conviction, and execution; and we trust that the awful and salutary example which has been made, will serve to prevent the future infraction of naval discipline; the due maintenance of which, under Providence, may be considered as one of the main pillars of our national security and independence. This unhappy transaction had necessarily occasioned some delay in the sailing of the fleet, which government had destined to watch the motions of the French squadron; but we understand that effectual measures of precaution have been taken, to obviate the possibility of danger to our possessions in the West Indies The ships in which the mutiny broke out have, since the execution of the mutineers, been despatched on this service In our next we purpose to begin an abridged view of Parliamentary Proceedings, from the commencement of the present Session. III. CHRONICLE OF FOREIGN OCCURRENCES. GREAT numbers of Emigrants, who have been able to prove that they did not leave France until after the 31st of May 1793, and that their conduct had been uniformly irreproachable before that period, have obtained their erasure without much difficulty, and the restitution of their immoveable property. Private letters from Paris announce, that sixty-two bishops of the old episcopacy have resigned in obedience to the wish of the Pope, which makes the majority on the side of the conformists. All the accounts, public and private, which have reached this country, agree in stating, that the combined squadron which sailed from France in December last, for the West Indies, experienced such a succession of tempestuous weather, that it was with great difficulty they could clear the Bay of Biscay. The Spanish division put into Ferrol in a very shattered condition. It is supposed that several of the transports have gone to the bottom. The King of Spain has issued a Proclamation prohibiting the importation of all foreign merchandise, French excepted, into his dominions. A letter, dated Madrid, 15th December, states, that a great mortality prevails at Cadiz, and that, one day with another, upwards of an hundred persons die in that city. The Members of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem having assembled at Heidersheim, and taken into consideration the pretensions of Baron Hompesch, confirmed their declaration of the month of October, 1798. By that declaration they adhered to the protest of the grand priory of Russia, which expels from the order all those who had any share in the capitulation of Malta. The foreign journals are filled with deplo. rable details, of the devastations which have been occasioned by the very unusual inunda sions, which have taken place during the win ter, not only in France, but in Germany, Holland, and Italy More than 6000 acres of land are under water round Rotterdam. By a specific edict published at Vienna, it has been forbidden, under severe penalties, to print any thing without previously submitting the manuscript to the censors. The police of Vienna, directing its attention to the execution of this law, has discovered in the genealogical tables of two pocket almanacks, an article contrary to the present state of things in France, and which appears not to have been laid before the censors. The two almanacks were accordingly seized in conformity to the edict. The police compelled the offending booksellers to withdraw all the copies from their agents, and the booksellers are moreover to be delivered to the punishment of the laws. The article in question, it is said, styles Louis the XVIII. King of France An article from Vienna states, that a dispute on a point of precedence had taken place between the Russian and French ambassadors, both of whom had, on the occasion, sent off couriers to their respective courts. It appears that the Frenchman had come into the same chamber where the other foreign ministers were assembled, and, instead of waiting to take his turn in entering into the presence, had rushed in before any of the rest. was resented by the Russian; but the affair was accommodated by the court of Vienna, who threw the whole blame on the chamberlain, to whose neglect, it was pretended the mistake was to be ascribed This The Territorial Government of Lower Austria has transmitted to Dr. Gall the following decree : "By virtue of a decree of the 27th ult. Whereas it has come to our knowledge that M. Gall, Doctor of Medicine, reads private lectures at his house, on a new theory relative to the human skull, which lectures are attend ed, not only by men, but even women and young girls; and as this new doctrine concerning the skull, which is enthusiastically extolled, can only tend to derange the heads of the hearers, since it appears that it is contrary to the first principies of religion and morality, the Doctor is hereby required to desist from giving any such lectures upon skulls, and to notify, in writing, to this government, what privilege or license he may have received for commencing the same. "Vienna, Jan. 3, 1802. "Lower Austrian Territorial "Government" Dr. Gall, however, in consequence of the application of several Foreign Ministers, has been permitted to proceed in his Lectures on Skulls, but only to foreigners, and excluding women. Considerable fermentation prevails in the country of the Grisons The object, so far as we are able to judge, is to shake off the yoke of France; but the miserable people are all divided amongst themselves, and all those who dare to struggle will perish one by one. The number of ships which passed the Sound in the year 1801 were, British 2565, Danes 1527, Swedes 1632, Prussians 2049, Americans 172, Russians 36, Rostock, &c. 916 Total 8988-There was so much ice in the Sound on the 12th of January as totally to stop the passage. At that time there were no vessels at Elsineur. The Swedes have put the port of Tripoli in a state of blockade, in consequence of the Pacha's hostilities against their vessels. Accounts from Jamaica, of the first of No. vember, mention that the yellow fever had made great ravages, particularly among the troops. The season was highly favourable to the planters, but more than commonly unhealthy. The Governor of Barbadoes, some time since, humanely proposed to the House of Assembly a revision of the Slave Laws, particularly so far as related to the punishment to be inflicted upon a white man for killing a slave: -but the motion was lost by a majority of 11 to 8, and Barbadoes remains a disgraceful, and we believe a solitary instance, where the life of a fellow creature is commuted for money. Despatches have been received from the Governor and Council of Sierra-Leone, dated 16th December last, which state a sudden and unprovoked attack on the Settlement to have been made by some neighbouring natives, on the 18th of November. The following is the substance of the Governor and Council's communication: "On the morning of the 18th of November, a body of Timmaneys (the subjects of King Firama and King Tom) made a furious and unexpected assault on the Fort. A small but select party of them, said to be headed by two rebel settlers, forced their way into the fort, At the period immediately antecedent to the arrival of a charter of government lately supported by a number of marksmen, who kept up a very destructive fire on those who advanced to repel them. In about 15 minutes Lieut. Laidlow and Serjeant Blackwood, and one private of the African corps, Mr. Cox, Mr. Crankapone, and several others, were killed; and Governor Dawes, Messrs. Gray, Carr, and some others were wounded. At length a small body of soldiers and settlers collected from different quarters, and headed by the Governor in person, gallantly pushed forward, and with the bayonet drove the enemy from the fort -The retreat of the assailants soon became general, "Their loss appears to have been considerable, and at least equal to that sustained by the defenders of the fort. "The enemy, though baffled in their enterprise, still maintained a threatening position to the westward of the colony, apparently with the hope of recruiting their numbers. "It became therefore an object of the first importance to dislodge then; and several successive expeditions, undertaken with this view, in which the Maroons assisted, were attended with such success, that by the 4th of December they had been completely driven from the district which lies between the Settlement and Cape Sierra Leone, with scarcely any loss on the part of the colony. This treacherous and unprovoked aggression is exclusively attributed to the Timmaneys, and it appears to have strongly excited the indignation of many of the neighbouring African Chiefs, several of whom had repaired, with a considerable number of men, to the assistance of the Settlement, and had joined in the excursions which were undertaken against the enemy." The Governor and Council observe "We cannot pass unnoticed the exertions of those brave men, both Europeans and Settlers, who defended the Fort on the morning of the attack: some of them are now insensible to human praise, and others lie languishing under the effect of those wounds to which their intrepidity exposed them. Mr. Cox, the store-keeper, was shot dead in attempting to save the magazine from the ravages of the enemy. Lieut. Laidlow, at the early part of the action, met with the same fate. Mr. Crankapone, a Nova Scotia black, came up to the Fort at an early hour; but his solicitude for the safety of those who remained in the town, caused him to return thither. He received his first wound in his way back to the Fort. Still pressing forward with unabated spirit, he received a second and a third; which terminated a life distinguished, for years, by granted by his Majesty, and of a small detachment of troops from Goree, an attempt to seize the government was made by some Nova Scotia settlers, some of whom were punished. The two settlers in question fled into the interior, and escaped the hands of justice. |