front, and obliged me to halt whilst the to dispute our passage of the river, I have been since informed, were about 2000 inf. I had no reason from their fire to suppose their numbers so great, the opposition was so very feeble; the only difficulty was the crossing the river to get at them.-1 cannot omit reporting to you that I had the most just cause to be satisfied with the conduct of every officer, and all the troops under my command; to lieut. col. Pack, of the 71st, every praise is due, as well as to that excellent regt. The batt. of marines, commanded by capt. King of the Royal Navy, not only behaved with the utmost good conduct, but with a discipline in the field much beyond what could have been expected, though every exertion to effect it had been used by commodore Sir H. Popham, and every officer of the Royal Navy during the passage. A corps of seamen, who had been drilled to Maj. Gen. Sir D. Baird, commanding State of the troops under the command of Maj. Gen. Beresford, at the Point de Quilmes, 26th June, 1806. 1 Major-Gen.; 1 Major of Brig.; 1 Aide-deCamp; 1 Assist. Quart. Mast. Gen.; 1 Assist. Commissary; 1 Surgeon and 1 Assist. (of the staff); 1 Capt.; 3 Lieuts.; 4 Midshipmen; (Royal Navy); 2 Lieut. Cols:; 2 Majors; 15 Capts.; 20 Lieuts. ; 7 Ensigns; 1 Paymaster; 1 Adjutant; 1 Quart. Mast. ; 2 Surgeons; 4 Assist. Surg.; 72 Sergeants, 27 Drums.; 1466 effective Rank and File; 16 effect. Horses; 1 Wheeler, 1 Collar Maker, 4 Artificers, 2 Five inch howit zers, 4 lt. 6-pårs. and 2 lit. 3 pdrs. Terms granted to the Inhabitants of Buenos Ayres and its Dependencies by the Commanders in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's Forces, by Land and Sea. ART. I. The troops belonging to his Catholic Majesty, who were in the town at the time of the entry of the British troops, shall be allowed to meet in the fortress of Buenos Ayres, march out of the Fort with all the honours of war, and shall then lay down their arms, and become prisoners of war, but such officers as are natives of South America, or married with natives of the country, or regularly domiciliated, shall be at liberty to continue here, so long as they b have themselves as becometh good subjects and citizens, taking the oath of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty, or proceed to Great Britain with regular passports, having previously passed their parole of honor, not toserve until they are regularly exchanged. II. All bona fide private property, whether be longing to the civil or military servants of the late government, to the magistrates, burghers, and inhabitants of the town of Buenos Ayres and its de pendencies, to the illustrious the bishop, the clergy, to the churches, monasteries, colleges, foundations, and other public institutions of that kind, shall remain tree and unmolested. - III. All persons of every descript on belonging to this city and its dependencies, shall receive every protection from the Brit. govt. and they shall not be obliged to bear arms against his Catholic Maj.; nor shall any person whatever in the city or its dependencies take up arms, or otherwise act inimically to his Majesty's troops or govt.-IV. The cabildo, magistrates, burghers, and inhabitants, shail preserve ail their rights and privileges which they have enjoyed hitherto, and shall continue in fuil and free exercise of their egal functions, both civil and criminal, under all the respect and protection that can be afforded them by his Majesty's govt. until his Majesty's pleasure is known.-V. The public archives of the town shall receive every protection from his Brit. Majesty's govtVI. The different taxes and duties levied by the magistrates to remain for the present, and to be collected by them in the same manner, and appied to the same purpose as heretofore, for the genera' good of the city, until his Majesty's p easure is known.-VII. Every protection shail be given to the full and free exercise of the Holy Catho ic re igion, and all respect shown to the most illustrious the bishop and all the holy clergy.VIII. The ecc.esiastical court shall continue in the full and free exercise of all its junctions, to be precisely on the same footing as it was heretofore. IX The coasting vessels in the river will be given up to their owners, according to a proclamation issued the 30th ult. X. All public pro— perty of every description belonging to the enemies of his Brit. Maj. shall be faithfully delivered up to the captors; and as the commanders in chief bind themselves to see the fulfilment of all the preceding articles for the benefit of South America, so do the cabildo and magistrates bind themselves to see that this last article is faithfully and honourably complied with Given under our hands and seals, in the Fortress of Buenos Ayres July 2, 1806. (Signed) W C. BERESF RD, Maj. Gen. HOME POPHAM, Commodore, commanding in Chief. Jos. IGN. DE LA QUINTANA, Gov. and Brigadier of Drag ons. Return of Ordnance, Ammunit on, and Arms captured at Buenos Ayres, and its Dependencies. Iron Ordnance -7 18-pdrs., 1 12-pdr., 89-pdrs 15 6 párs. 6 4 pers., 8 3-pdrs. Brass Ordnance1 32-pdr., 2 12-pdrs, 2 9-pdis., 2 6-pdrs., 6 4-pdrs., 3 3-pdrs., 16 2-inch 4 1-pdr., 1 9 and inch mortar, 354 inch mortars, 16 inch howitzer. 550 whole barrels of powder; 2064 muskets with bayonets: 616 carbines, 4079 pistols, 31 musketoons, 1208 swords Since the above return was sent to Major Gen. Sir D. Baird, the following guns, leit by the Viceroy in his flight, have been taken, and arms, &c. received: Brass Ordnance.-3 4-pdrs, 3 2-pdrs., and 1 6-inch howitzer; 139 muskets with bayonets, 71 muskets without bayonets, 85 pouches, swords. 39 Killed, Wounded, and Missing, on 26th and 27th June.-1 killed, 12 wounded, and 1 missing. Names of Officers.-Capt. Le Blanc, 71st reg. shot in the leg; since amputated above the knee.— Assist. Surgeon Halliday, St. Helena regiment, missing. Extract of a Letter from Major-Gen. Beresford to the Rt. Hon. Lord Castlereagh, dated Fort of Buenos Ayres, 11th July, 1805. I trust the conduct adopted towards the people here has had its full effect, in impressing upon their minds, the honour, generosity, and humanity of the British character. flis Majesty's ministers will see by the detail of our proceedings that, after the army had passed the Rio Chuelo, the City of Buencs Ayres remained at our mercy, and that, in fact, the only conditions on which 1 entered were such as I pleased to offer, and which humanity and a regard to our national character would naturally induce me to give under any cir. cumstances. However, to quiet the minds of the inhabitants, we not only consented to put in writing my promises, but acceded to many conditions not expected by them; and, contrary to direct stipulation, gave up to the proprietors all the coasting vessels captured, with their cargoes, the value of which amounted to 1,500,000 dollars, aud, which being done with the views already exposed, will, I trust, meet with his Majesty's approbation.--I have the honour to inform his Majesty's ministers, that I had detached Capt. Arbuthnot, of the 20th It. dragoons, on the 3d instant, with a party consisting of 7 dragoons, and 20 infantry, (the whole mounted, to a place call- ed Luxan, 50 miles distant. My principal object was to have the country reconnoitred, and to see what were the dispositions of the inhabitants; but with the avowed object of escorting back some of the treasure which had been taken from here, and to prevent its following the Viceroy, which I had reason to suspect was intended, though it was said to be all private property; and, (in which case, we had declared, if brought back, it should be given to its owners, if of this city.-Capt. Arbuthnot returned last night; and I am glad to say with information of a pleasing nature; for your lordship will see, by this detachment passing so easily through the country, that whatever their present inclinations may be, there is no very great danger from any hostile intentions against us: and Capt. Arbuthnot reports rather favourably of the general dispositions of the people. The country to Luxan, as I have already represented, in general the whole of it, is a perfect flat and the view of the horizon obstructed by nothing but the immense herds of horses and cattle; but principally horned cattle. Luxan is situated on a river of the same name, and where there is a bridge over it, and the route leading to all the interior provinces, and I rather think it will be adviseable on many accounts that I possess myself of it, which I can do by a small detachment. Much of the treasure was caught actually going to Cordova, and the rest, but for the opportune arrival of the party, would have been pillaged. The waggons conveying this treasure may be expected here to morrow. Those with the Royal Treasure, and that of the Phillippine Company, arrived some time since, and is alteady embarked.The Hon. Major Deane, who is the bearer of these dispatches, will give any further information to his Majesty's ministers that they may desire; and I beg to recommend him as an officer deserving of any mark of favour that his Majesty may be graciously pleased to bestow on him. PROCLAMATION by Major Gen. Beresford. The town of Buenos Ayres and its dependencies being now subject to his Brit. Majesty by the energy of his Majesty's arms, the Major-Gen. with a view of establishing a perfect confidence in the liberality and justice of his Majesty's govt., and quieting the minds of all the inhabitants who are now in the city, or who from the apprehension of the general casualties of war may have quitted it, thinks it necessary to proclaim without a moment's loss of time, that it is his Majesty's most gracious intention, that the people of Buenos Ayres, and such other provinces in the Rio de la Plata, as may eventually come under his protection, shall enjoy the full and free exercise of their religion, and that every respect shall be shewn to its holy ministers.-That the courts of justice shall continue the exercise of their functions in all cases of civil or criminal procedure, with such references to the Major Gen. as were had to the Viceroy on former occasions, and the Maj. Gen. pledges himself, that as far as depends on him every thing shall be done to bring those processes to an immediate and just issue.All private property of every description shall receive the most ample protection, and whatever may be required by the troops, either of provisions or other articles, shall be immediately paid for at VOL. I. [Lit. Pan. Oct. 1806.] such prices as may be fixed on by the Cabildo.The Maj. Gen. therefore calls upon the most illustrious bishop, his coadjutors, and all ecclesiastical orders, foundations, colleges, heads of corporate bodies, mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, to explain to the inhabitants in general that they are ever to be protected in their religion and property; and until the pleasure of his Brit. Majesty is known, they are to be governed by their own municipal laws.The Maj. Gen, thinks it necessary to acquaint the general and commercial interest of the country, that it is his Majesty's most gracious intention that a free trade shall be opened and permitted to South America, similar to that enjoyed by all others of his Majesty's colcnies, particularly the Island of Trinidada, whose inhabitants have felt peculiar benefits from being under the govt. of a sovereign powerful enough to protect them from any insult, and generous enough to give them such commercial advantages as they could not enjoy under the administration of any other country.- With the promise of such rigid protection to the established religion of the country and the exercise of its civil laws, the Maj. Gen. trusts that all good citizens will unite with him in their exertions to keep the town quiet and peaceable, as they may now enjoy a free trade, and all the advantages of a commercial intercourse with Great Britain, where no oppression exists, and which he understands has been the only thing wanting by the rich provinces of Buenos Ayres, and the inhabitants of South America in general, to make it the most prosperous country in the world.-The Maj. Gen. has now only to call upon the magistrates to send to the different farmers in the country, and induce them to bring into the markets provisions and vegetables of every description, for which they shall be immediately paid, and any complaints which may be made shall be redressed without delay.It having been represented to the Maj. Gen. that some of the existing duties bear too hard on the enterprize of commerce, he has determined to take the earliest opportunity of informing himself on that subject, from the best commercial authorities, and he will then make such reductions in the overbearing duties as may seem most conducive to the interest of the country, until the pleasure of his Brit. Maj. is known. - -W.C. BERESFORD, Maj. Gen. and Lieut. Gov. PROCLAMATION. By the Commanders in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's Forces by Land and Sea. Although the laws of war give all ships, barges, vessels, boats, and craft of every description in harbours, rivers, and creeks, to the captors, yet the Commanders in Chief of his Brit. Majesty's forces by land and sea feeling that such captures will distress the owners of small vessels, as they may be the only means by which they gain their livelihood, and anxiously wishing to give every encouragement to real industry, and every accommodation to the inhabitants of South America, do by this proclamation give up all such small vessels as shall appear to be really vessels carrying on the coasting trade of the river. And they at the same time call upon all the owners of those vessels, and the inhabitants in general, to see that no imposition is practised on the captors by the vessels claiming this act of grace, that are not intitled to it. The captors trust they merit this attention H from their liberal conduct to the inhabitants of South America, and their desire to do every thing in their power to promote the happiness of the country. The description of vessels included in this proclamation, are to be named by Capt. Lajuno, and Capt. Thompson, Capt. of the port.— W. C. BERESFORD. HOME POPHAM. Extract of a Dispatch from Maj. Gen. Beresford, 16th July, 1806. I am now able to transmit nearly an account of the money which has been received as prize under the terms of my agreement with the acting governor of the place, previous to my entering the town. The statement shews the various departments and public bodies whence the sums forming the total have been derived, the sum of 1,080,208 dollars is going home in his Majesty's ship Narcissus, and Sir Home Popham and myself have thought it right to reserve here for the exigencies of the army and navy a considerable sum; and for the purpose of keeping down the exchange on bills drawn by the respective services and which would otherwise bring the dollar to an enormous price. It is estimated that the merchandize in the King's stores, principally Jesuit's Baik and Quicksilver, and which is in the Phillippine Company's stores, with the little that is retained of floating property, will amount, if it can be disposed of, to between 2 & 3,000,000 dollars. Of the bullion delivered in, some is claimed as private property, and which shall be delivered in the same spirit of liberality with which, we trust, it will be considered we have acted here. The 61,790 dollars were yesterday delivered to the Consulada, on their assurance only that it belonged to the people of this town, and they have a claim upon 40 or 50,000 more, which will be sett'ed this day. Embarked on board his Majesty's Ship Narcissus. Dollars. 208,519 108,000 56,872 94,323 57,000 100,000 Royal Treasure; by Mr. Casamajor Phillippine Company; ditto Post Office; ditto Tobacco Administration; ditto Custom House; ditto Agent of Phillippine Company Admiraly Office, September 13, 1806. Captain Donnelly, of his Majesty's ship Narcissus, arrived last night at this office with a dispatch from Commodore Sir Home Popham, Knt. addressed to William Marsden, Esq. of which the following is a copy: SIR, Narcissus, off Buenos Ayres, In the letter which I had the honour to addres you from St. Helena, April 30, I fully explained, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the motives that induced me to press so strongly the urgency and expediency of undertaking an expedition against the enemy's settlements in the Rio de la Plata. I have therefore only to give you a short detail of the proceedings of the squadron; previously congratulating their lordships on his Majesty's forces being in full possession of Buenos Ayres and its dependencies; the capital of one of the richest and most extensive provinces of South America. To the commerce of Great Britain it exhibits peculiar advantages, as well as to the active industry of her manufacturing towns. And when I venture in addition to assure their lordships of the extreme healthiness of the climate, I trust I only hold out a consolation that the friends of every person employed on this expedition are justly entitled to, and which I am satisfied will be equally gratifying to the feelings of every British subject. As I considered it an object of material consequence to obtain the earliest local information in the river, I placed the squadron under the direction of Capt. Rowley May 27, and preceded it in the Narcissus for that purpose. On the 8th ult. we anchored near the Island of Flores; and, after passing Monte Video the following day, we detained a Portuguese schooner, by whom the intelligence we had formerly received was generally confirmed. On the 11th we fell in with the Encounter and Ocean Transport near the South Coast of the River; and on the 13th we joined the squadron. It was immediately determined to attack the capital; and no time was lost in removing the marine battalion to the Narcissus, the Encounter, and the transports, for the purpose of proceeding to Buenos Ayres, while the Diadem blockaded the Port of Monte-Video, and the Raisonable, and Diomede, by way of demonstration, cruized near Maldonado and other assailable points. Our progress up the river was very much retarded by the shoalness of the water, adverse winds, and currents, continual fogs, and the great inaccuracy of the charts; but by the unremitting, and laborious exertions of the officers and men I had the honour to command, these difficulties were surmounted, and the squadron anchored on the afternoon of the 25th off Point Quelmes à Pouichin, about twelve miles from Buenos Ayres. As it was impossible for the Narcissus to approach the shore on account of the shoalness of the water, the Encounter was run in so close as to take the ground, the more effectually to cover the debarkation of the army in case of necessity: the whole however was landed in the course of the evening without the least opposition; consisting of the detachment of his Majesty's troops, from the Cape, and that from St. Helena, with the marine battalion under the orders of Capt. The enemy was posted at the village of Reduc- This in some measure checked our advance, nor did the enemy open his field train til the troops were nearly in the middle of the swamp, from whence he thought it was impossible for them to be extricated. The able and excellent disposition of Gen. Beresford, and the intrepidity of his army, very soon however satisfied the enemy, that his only safety was in a precipitate retreat, for we had the satisfaction of seeing from the ships near four thousand Spanish cavalry flying in every direc tion, leaving their artillery behind them, while our troops were ascending the hill with that coolness and cou age, which has on every occasion marked the character of a British soldier, and has been exemplified in proportion to the difficulties and dangers by which he was opposed. I have probab y trespassed on a line that does not immediately belong to me, but I could not resist the gratification of relating to their lordships what I saw; assuring myself, at the same time, they will be convinced, if the enemy had given the squadron an equal opportunity, I should have had the pleasing duty of reporting an honourable issue to the effect of their eminent zeal and exertions. On the 27th,' in the morning, we saw some firing near the banks of the river Chuelo, but it blew so hard that it was totally impracticable to have any communication with the shore during that day. Early on the 28th, a royal salute was fired from the castle of Buenos Ayres in honour of his Majesty's colours being hoisted in South America, and instantly returned by the ships lying off the town I now consider it to be a proper moment for acknowledging in terms of the sincerest gratitude, my high sense of the zealous and animated conduct of every officer and man in the squadron which I have the extraordinary good fortune to command. Capt. Rowley, with Capt. Edmonds under his orders, continued as long as the weather would permit an advantageous demonstration off Maldonado. Capt. Donnelly, who did me the favour of requesting I would go up the river in the Narcissus, and to whom, from his rank, no specific service could be assigned in our small scale of operations, applied himse f in every occasion where he could promote the objects of the expeditiod:-and, as he is charged with this dispatch, I take the liberty of recommending him to their lordships' protection, under a full conviction they will obtain, through him, every in formation which they have a right to expect from an officer of great intelligence and long meritorious service. I consider Capt. Ki g, with the officers of the marine batt. so completely under the report of Gen. Beresford that I shall only state to their lordships my extreme satisfaction on hearing personally from the General how highly he appreciated every part of their conduct, particularly the celerity with which they transported the artillery and troops across the Rio Chuelo after the bridge was burnt by the enemy. Lieut. Talbot of the encounter manifested great zeal in every instance where it was necessary to call on him; Lieut. Groves of the Diadem was also very active in landing the ordnance and ordnance stores, and I think it highly proper to state to their lordships that the masters and crews of the different transports behaved with great attention during the whole of this service. I inclose a copy of the terms granted to the inhabitants after the capture of the city, by which their lordships will see that the coasting vessels in the river, supposed with their cargoes to amount to 1,500,000 dollars, were restored to the proprietors; for an early record to the country of the great liberality of his Majesty's government. I have the honour to be, &c. Home Popham. We understand that a vessel ready freighted, and cleared, chiefly laden with articles of wearing apparel, had been lying 3 weeks in one of the outports, in expectation of the success of the expedition sent against Buenos Ayres; and in order to take instant advantage of this important capture. In less than 3 days after the Gazette was published, at least 9 vessels were posted up in the Royal Exchange, for immediate dispatch to this new region of mercantile speculation. Sir Home Popham has addressed an interesting letter to the mayors, &c. of several manufacturing towns. It des ribes Buenos Avres, as containing 70,000 inhabitants who are exceedingly in want of goods of British manufacture. It enumerates the productions of that country; indigo, tobacco, Vigogna wool, cotton, tyger skins, scal-kins, copperas, figs, dried tongues, beef and hams, saffron, cochineal, cocoa, hemp, hair, wheat, gums, drugs, gold, silver, and precious stones: besides hides and tallow, its grand staple commodities. It encourages the manufacturers in general to avail themselves eagerly of the opening of this new channel for the sale of their commodities. An order of his Majesty in council, has been published in the London Gazette Sept. 20 h dated from the Qucen's Palace, Sept. 17, 1806, authorsing a trade or commerce with Buenos Ayres and its dependencies, on the same terms as with our other Trans-Atlantic possessions. The same order confirms the regulation established by Sir H. Popham, and Gen. Beresford for the reduction of the former duties on imports from 34, to 124 per cent. ad valo em. The operation of this judicious regulation will give the natives all the European productions, at one-fourth less price than they heretofore paid for them. are totally prollibited. Slaves |