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the Mexican insurgents amounted in number to 74,000; and that the reinforcements which had arrived from Cadiz would be barely sufficient to keep them in check, but by no means to suppress them.

A letter from Vera Cruz, dated July 17, says; "The rebels approach even to our walls. It is now two months since we heard whetherXalapaexists; and we know as little of Oaxaca and Guatimala, because the whole leeward coast is in a state of revolt. We have received with difficulty a single letter from Mexico, which confirms the account of the defeat of Morellos in Cuantla-amilpas. It appears, however, that he succeeded in escaping with sixty of his partizans, and is now at the head of 14,000 men, with whom he is obstructing the roads." Further advices received at New Orleans from Mexico up to August 19, stated that the insurgents had two large armies on foot; one commanded by Ryan (Ravon), the other by Morellos: that the former was laying siege to the city of Mexico; and the latter, after having reduced Acapulco, had marched across the table land, defeated the royal army under Callejas, and pursued its advantages to the very walls of Vera Cruz, which it had invested. But this account is suspected of exaggeration.

Our information of the state of affairs in Peru is very scanty, and little more is known in general than that considerable commotions still subsist in that kingdom. It is asserted from Buenos Ayres that symptoms of an independent spirit were manifested at Lima; and that on March 4, the governor offered to instal a

Junta, provided the presiden were secured to himself, and the government at Cadiz was recognized. The province of Cochabamba continued its connection with the Junta of Buenos Ayres, and had a military force on foot. The province of Potosi, with the greater part of Peru, remained faithful to the mother country. Goyoneche, the royal commander, was at the head of 4000 men; and in July was said to be advancing to Cochabamba, having routed some detachments which opposed his march.

Such, upon the whole, was the mass of intelligence received dur ing this year, from the southern parts of America; from the general result of which it may be inferred, that the cause of colonial independence rather lost than gained ground; and if Spain should be able finally to free herself from her invaders, and recover her place among nations, it is probable, by adopting a liberal system of policy towards her transatlantic subjects, that she might still retain them under her dominion, though certainly not bound by those fetters in which she has so long held them.

The West India islands have af forded little matter for the history of the present year. At Jamaica a disposition was shewn in the House of Assembly, towards the close of the past year, to withhold the usual supplies for the maintenance of the troops, on the pretext of the taxes with which the island was burdened, and other grievances; but the opposition party was out-voted. In answer, however, to a message from the lieu tenant-governor, recommending to

the

the house to furnish supplies for various fortifications, it was represented, that such was the distress of their constituents, that they could not provide money for many objects which they thought highly expedient; and they asserted that the expense of the ordnance department ought to be defrayed at the general cost of the empire. They passed a resolution for the support of the white troops necessary for the protection of the island, but upon a new and more economical plan.

At Dominica, some differences rose between the governor, Barnes, and the council. The governor had dissolved two successive Houses of Assembly; one for having refused to vote the necessary supplies; the other for having declined to meet in October last, when a general alarm prevailed on account of the conspiracy at Mar..tinique. The board of council, declaring their disapprobation of the refusal of the house to meet for the dispatch of public business, added their belief that the motives which actuated the individuals were good, and that the utmost harmony prevailed in the legislative intercourse between the board and the house, Governor Barnes commented with severity upon the inconsistency of this declaration, and from several circumstances intimated his opinion that there was a design to alienate the affections of the French inhabitants from his Majesty's government.

In consequence of the scarcity of provisions in Barbadoes, the legislature, at the recommendation of the governor, granted a bounty on the importation of

yams, potatoes, and plantains, from Dutch Guiana; and the governor by proclamation opened the ports for some other articles of supply. These measures were productive of beneficial effects.

Soon after the commencement of the American war, the West Indian seas swarmed with privateers; which made numerous captures, and from the shelter they obtained in small islands of difficult access, were not easily discovered or avoided. A meeting of the merchants and others concerned in the coasting trade of Jamaica was held at Kingston on September 25, in which a resolution was passed relative to its unprotected state, and a committee was appointed to wait upon Vice-admiral Sterling, requesting him to grant all the protection to the coast in his power to afford. He informed them that two cruizers were already stationed on the coasts, and that upon the arrival of other vessels of war, they should be employed on the same service. It appears, however, that during the remainder of the year, the defence of the commerce of the West India islands was very inadequate to the means of annoyance possessed by the enemy.

The usual periodical scourge of these islands, a hurricane, occurred on the night of October 12, and occasioned much damage in various parts of Jamaica, sweeping away outhouses and negro habitations,unroofing buildings, tearing up trees by the roots, and destroying cane and other plantations. The mischief at sea was not very considera. ble, the duration of the tempestuous weather being short. At St. Lucia most of the vessels in the port [P2]

were

were driven on shore, but it was expected that some of them would be got off again.

The negro government of St. Domingo (Hayti) has this year been a scene of that disorder and mutation, which may always be expected where the strongest sword is the only source of authority. The mimic monarch, Christophe, has been encountered with superior force by his rival Petion, and for the time, at least, has sunk under the contest. Petion is stated to have made the whole of Christophe's cavalry prisoners about the 15th of April. During his absence, however, from Port au Prince, Christophe had suddenly appeared before that place, and gained possession of a strong fort; on which account all the British shipping had been ordered away by Captain Vashon. But this success was only temporary. Petion took from him St. Marks, Cape Nicholas Mole, and Gonaives. Christophe was deserted by his staff officers, and fled to the mountains; and, in fine, the seat of his power, Cape Francois, submitted without resistance to his rival, who advanced to it at the head of 12,000 men.

The occurrences reported during this year from the British possessions in the East Indies have been of no great importance. The strong fortress of Kallinjur in Bundlecund has submitted to the British arms, after a resistance which in the first instance was succes-ful. Colonel Martindel, who commanded the force led against it, ordered an assault on February 2. The troops advanced in three columus to storm a breach which had been made by the artillery, but on arriving under the walls, they

found a perpendicular precipice to be surmounted before it could be reached. Ladders were applied, which were thrown down by the garrison, and in the mean time the assailants were exposed to a very destructive fire of cannon and musketry. They at length found it necessary to retreat, with a severe loss of officers and men, which chiefly fell upon the European part of the force. The action, however, was not thrown away, for the display of courage and enterprise made such an impression on the commander of the fort, that he soon after surrendered by capitulation.

Accounts from Java state, that an expedition fitted out at Batavia, under Colonel Gillespie and Captain Sayer of the Leda, against Palambang, had been completely successful; and that on its return, the army had been employed against the rajah of Jacgocaira, who had shewn symptoms of disaffection. His fortress and town were stormed, and himself taken prisoner, with the whole of his property. Though he had a force of 10,000 men, the loss of the victors was inconsiderable. The Dutch islands of Macassar and Timour are also said to have been captured by the same expedition; and the resources of Java were found sufficient not only for its own security, but for aiding in the general defence of the British empire. The fort of Nowanuggar belonging to the Jam raiah, submitted to the British arins on February 24, just as the troops brought against it under Lieutenant colonel Lionel Smith were on the point of storming.

A dangerous conspiracy was detected among the native troops at Travancore, the object of which was

to

to massacre their European officers whilst assembled at an entertainment to be given by the British resident at that court. It was disclosed by a confidential sepoy, and the ringleaders were seized upon, two of whom, native officers, were blown from a cannon in front of the line drawn up to witness their punishment. Several Nairs and Faquirs, instigators of the mutiny, were afterwards hung.

Governor Farquhar of the Mauritius made public, in May, a correspondence with Rear-Admiral Stopford at the Cape of Good Hope, in which the latter announces his receipt from England of the act imposing fresh penalties against any further traffic in slaves, and

declares the impossibility of suffering the admission of slaves into the islands under his excellency's government. At the same time the governor informed the merchants, planters, and other inhabitants of the islands, that regulations had been made for trade between England and them, by which they were placed on the same footing with: the private merchants in other parts. of India.

Accounts were received from Persia that a definitive treaty of alliance between that government and Great Britain had been con cluded by Sir Gore Ouseley, on terms highly advantageous to this country.

CHAP

CHAPTER XXI.

Meeting of the New Parliament-Regent's Speech, and Debates thereonThanks and Grant to Lord Wellington-Renewal of the Gold Coin Bill-Motion on the German Legion-Prince Regent's Message respecting a Grant to Russia, and Debates.

ON

N November 24th the House of Lords having assembled, a commission was appointed for the new parliament. The attendance of the Commons was then requested, and the commission was read. The Commons were then directed by the Lord Chancellor to proceed to the choice of a Speaker; and on the same day, a number of members having been sworn, Sir John Nicholl rose, and proposed the late Speaker, Mr. Abbott, for that office. His motion was seconded by Mr. Cartwright, and was received with great applause from all parts of the House. Mr. Abbott was accordingly placed in the chair, and the House adjourned to the next day. The other usual forms being gone through, the Prince Regent, on the 30th, came to the House of Lords in state, and delivered a speech from the throne. After touching upon his Majesty's lamented indisposition, and the diminished hopes of his recovery, his Royal Highness adverted to the successes in the Peninsula under the conduct of Lord Wellington, and their final good effects, notwithstanding his retreat from Burgos, and evacuation of Madrid. He then men tioned the restoration of peace and friends,ip with the courts of

Petersburgh and Stockholm, and spoke in terms of eulogy of the resistance made by Russia to the arms of their invaders, auguring a happy termination of the contest. He informed parliament of a supplementary treaty entered into with his Sicilian Majesty, and hinted at the new measures concerted with the government of that island, for an active co operation in the common cause. With respect to the declaration of war by the United States of America he observed, that it was made under circumstances which might have afforded a reasonable expectation that the amicable relations between the two countries would not be long interrupted; but that the conduct and pretensions of that government had hitherto prevented any arrangement for that purpose. took notice of the defeat of the attempts against Canada; and said that his efforts were still directed to the restoration of peace, but that until this object conld be attained without sacrificing the maritime rights of Great Britain, he should rely on their support for a vigorous prosecution of the war. The conclusion of the speech recommended an early consideration of a provision for the effectual government of the Indian provinces,

He

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