Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

II. And be it further enacted; That it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, from Time to

'Juncture of Affairs, to permit certain Foreigners, now in Great Britain, to inlist as Soldiers into His Majesty's service, and for the better disciplining of such Sol-Time, to augment such Regiments, Batta"diets, TO FORM THEM INTO REGI- lions, or Corps, so already formed as afore"MENTS, BATTALIONS, OR CORPS, said, and to form any other Regiments, and to grant Commissions or Letters of Battalions, or Corps, and to that End to "Service: THEREIN, to certain Foreign inlist as Soldiers to serve in any such Re'Officers acquainted with their MAN giments, Battalions, or Corps, any Fo'NERS AND LANGUAGE; and it may reigners who shall voluntarily enter thembe expedient, during the Continuance of selves as Soldiers to serve THEREIN : ⚫ the present War, to augment such Regi- Provided always, that there shall not be, ments, Battalions, or Corps, and to within any Part of the United Kingdom, 'form other Regiments, Battalions, or more in the whole than ten thousand men "Corps, and to inlist as Soldiers to serve serving in such Regiments, Battalions, or "THEREIN respectively such other Fo- Corps, at any one Time. reigners as shall be willing to inlist III. And be it further enacted, That it ⚫ themselves into His Majesty's Service; and shall be lawful for any such Persons, Subalso to enable His Majesty to grant Com-jects of any Foreign States as shall be missions or Letters of Service to Foreign "Officers THEREIN; and it is proper that all persons who shall or may have advised His Majesty to inlist such Soldiers, . and to grant such Commissions or Letters ' of Service aforesaid, should be indemnified; and it is necessary that Quarters ⚫ should be provided for such Regiments, Battalions, or Corps, during their continuance in any part of the United Kingdom: Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That all such Foreign Soldiers as have been already inlisted into His Majesty's service, and formed into Regiments, Battalions, or Corps, as aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to have been and to be legally and effectually inlisted and formed; and all such Commissions, or Letters of Service as have been already granted by His Majesty to any Foreign Officers in such Regiments, Battalions, or Corps, shall be deemed and taken to have been and to be legally and effectually granted, and shall remain and continue in force in like manner in all respects as if such Soldiers had been inlisted and formed, and such Commissions or Letters of Service had been granted, after the passing and under the Provisions of this Act; and all and every Person or Persons who shall or may have advised His Majesty to inlist such Soldiers, and to grant such Commissions or Letters of Service as aforesaid, shall be, and they and he are or is hereby fully and effectually indemnified; any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding.

willing to serve His Majesty, to inlist as Soldiers, and to accept Commissions or Letters of Service, to serve as Officers or Engineers, from His Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, or from any Persons duly authorized by His Majesty to grant such Commissions or Letters of Service (which Commissions and Letters of Service it shall be lawful for His Majesty, or for any Persons duly authorized in that behalf as aforesaid, to grant :) Provided always, that no such Officer, when he shall be reduced, shall be entitled to receive Half-Pay : Provided nevertheless, that when any such Officer shall be rendered incapable of Military Service by Wounds or Infirmities, contracted while he shall be discharging his Military Duty during the Period of his. continuing to serve as such Officer under the Provisions of this Act, then and in such case it shall be lawful for His Majesty to make such Provision for such Officer as he shall think proper and necessary, so that such Provision shall in no Case exceed the Half Pay of the Rank in the BRITISH Service, similar to that which such Officer shall have held at the Time of his becoming so incapable as aforesaid: Provided also, that no such Person as aforesaid shall be liable to any Pain, Penalty, or Forfeiture whatever, for having accepted any such Commission, or inlisted as a Soldier IN ANY SUCH REGIMENTS, BATTALIONS, OR CORPS, AS AFORESAID, by reason of his having professed the Popish Religion, and not having declared the same at the time of his accepting such Commission or inlisting.

IV. And be it further enacted, That all Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, Drummers, and Private Soldiers respectively

[ocr errors]

serving under the Provisions of this Act, shall, whilst in His Majesty's Service as aforesaid, be subject and liable to such Articles of War as His Majesty hath established or may think fit to establish for the better Government of the said Forces, and for bringing Offenders against the same to Justice, and for constituting Courts Martial with Power to try, hear, and determine any Crimes or Offences by such Articles of War, and inflict Penalties, by Sentence or Judgment of the same, and may be billeted and quartered, and be received and provided for in Quarters: Provided always, that no Officer, Non-commissioned Officer, Drummer, or Soldier, shall, by such Articles of War, be subject to any punishment extending to Life or Limb, for any Crime which is not expressed to be so punishable by an Act of this Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for punishing Muliny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters; and for such Crimes as are expressed to be so punishable in the said Act, in any manner or under any regulations which shall not accord with the Provisions of the said Act: Provided also, that every Person who shall be inlisted as a Soldier under the Authority of this Act, shall be attested in such manner as His Majesty shall direct, by such Articles of War and not otherwise; and that such Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, Drummers, and Private Soldiers respectively shall take such oath for their Fidelity, and their Continuance in His Majesty's service, as His Majesty shall in like manner direct, and no other.

Jacobin wars and these Lawyers brought us? If the King, or his ministers, have it in their power to displace all our native Officers, from the Ensign to the General, and to put Hanoverians in their stead; if this Act of Parliament gave them the power to do this, then are we in a state to be envied by no nation upon the face of the earth; then are we in a state to excite the pity, or, rather, the contempt, of all those whom we have affected to despise. For, you will observe, reader, that it is not here a question of degree. If they can appoint one foreigner to command Englishmen, they can appoint a thousand. There is no limit; and, then, again, I say, we are, at last, come to a pretty pass!· Observe, too, that Roman Catholics may, if FOREIGNERS, be commissioned according to this act; so that, you see, if Mr.* Perceval's interpretation hold good, Roman Catholics may possess all the offices in our army; they may command in all our districts; they may enjoy all the places of military trust in the kingdom, not excepting the governorships of the forts and castles. Yes, if Mr. Perceval's interpretation of the Act be good, Baron Bock or Baron Linsingen might be appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London, and I do not know that they might not be appointed Lords Lieutenants of Counties, for that is also a place of military trust. In short, if that interpretation be admitted, the Act of Settlement, as to its most important provision, is no more, and we are exposed to all the dangers that it was intended to prevent.- At the time when this Act was passed, it was strongly protested against by Mr. FRANCIS, Mr. H. HUTCHIN son and Mr. PETER MOORE; but, none of these gentlemen anticipated the use that has since been made of it. Little did they imagine, that it would be made the ground whereon to introduce German Officers Such, reader, is the Act of Parliament, into our own regiments and to put German which has been interpreted to mean, that Generals to command English districts. foreign Officers may be put into English re- In one stage of the Bill, the Secretary of giments, and that they may also be placed War said: "that as this was only a meain the command of the several districts of "sure for providing for a certain number this kingdom; in short, it has been inter- "of brave men, who had been forced to preted to mean, that the whole of our re- "leave their own country, he hoped the Bill gular army may be legally put under the" might proceed in its course. He did command of Hanoverians or other foreign- not point out the particular instances in ers; and that, every part of this kingdom which this bravery had been displayed, may be legally put under the command of nor did he explain how the people had the same persons. I say, with Lord been forced away from their own country; Folkestone, that the Act means no such but, at any rate, it was in this humble tone. thing; but, if it did, to what a pass are we that the Hanoverians were introduced. come? To what a state have these Anti- We were then told of their distresses; of

V. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That this Act shall continue in Force during the present War, and until one Year after the Termination thereof, by the ratification of a Definitive Treaty of Peace, and no longer.

"

In

their forlorn situation; of the cruelties exercised against them by the French. short, they were held out to us as objects of compassion. But, now, faith, we are to listen to accounts. of their merits; of their skill; of their valour. We have now to behold them put in high commands; in short, to behold them commanding English regiments, English generals, and English territory. The provision, relative to Roman Catholics, has been several times noticed in and out of parliament; but, it has always been said, in answer, that there can be no great danger from this, because confined to a few foreign Corps, whereas our own Roman Catholics, if they were admitted, would find their way into all the regiments in the service, and might possess many of the great commands on the Staff. What, however, will be said now?. Mr. Perceval's interpretation of the act of 1804 allows the King to put Roman Catholics into all the Military Commands, provided only that those Roman Catholics be FOREIGNERS! This makes the indignity upon our own Catholics ten thousand times greater than it was before. It is well known, that the voluntary services of many of our own Roman Catholic noblemen and gentlemen have been absolutely refused; and yet, do we see these foreign Catholics admitted, as we are now told they legally are, not only into any of our native corps, but to the command of large portions of our army in our own country? If what has been done in this way be lawful, if Mr. Perceval's interpretation of the Act of 1804 be allowed to be good, German Catholics may command all the regiments and garrisons and districts in Ireland, while an Irish Catholic can have no such command!That is quite enough. Not another word need be said upon this part of the subject. The reader will now judge for himself what law there is for the employing of these foreigners in English regiments and the

staff.

OFFICIAL PAPERS.

NORTHERN WAR. Bulletins of the Grand French Army. -First Bulletin, dated at Gumbinnen, June 20, 1812. Towards the end of 1810, Russia altered her political system-the English spirit regained its influence-the Ukase respecting Commerce was its first act.- -In Fcbruary, 1811, five divisions of the Russian army quitted the Danube by forced marches,

and proceeded to Poland. By this movement Russia sacrificed Wallachia and Moldavia.-When the Russian armies were united and formed, a Protest against France. appeared, which was transmitted to every Cabinet. Russia by that announced, that she felt no wish even to save appearances. All means of conciliation were employed on the part of France-all were ineffectual.

-Towards the close of 1811, six months after, it was manifest in France that all this could end only in war. Preparations were made for it. The garrison of Dantzic was increased to 20,000 men. Stores of every description, cannons, muskets, powder, ammunition, pontoons were conveyed to that place; considerable sums of money were placed at the disposal of the department of engineers for the augmentation of its fortifications.—The army was placed on the war establishment. The cavalry, the train of artillery, and the military baggage train, were completed. — In March, 1812, a treaty of alliance was concluded with Austria; the preceding month a treaty had been concluded with Prussia. -In April the first corps of the Grand Army marched for the Oder, the second corps to the Elbe, the third corps to the Lower Oder, the fourth corps set out from Verona, crossed the Tyrol, and proceeded to Silesia. The Guards left Paris.On the 22d of April, the Emperor of Russia took the command of his army, quitted St. Petersburg, and moved his head-quarters to Wilna.In the commencement of May the first corps arrived on the Vistula, at Elbing, and Marienburg; the second corps at Marienwerder, the third corps at Thorn, the fourth and sixth corps at Plock, the fifth corps assembled at Warsaw, the eighth corps on the right of Warsaw, and the seventh corps at Pulawy.The Emperor set out from St. Cloud on the 9th of May; crossed the Rhine on the 13th, the Elbe on the 29th, and the Vistula on the 6th of June.

[ocr errors]

Second Bulletin of the Grand Army, Wilkowiski.-June 22, 1812.

All means of effecting an understanding between the two empires became impossible.

The spirit which reigned in the Russian Cabinet hurried it on to war.— General Narbonne, Aid-de-Camp to the Emperor, was dispatched to Wilna, and could remain there only a few days. By that was gained the proof, that the demand,

Third Bulletin of the Grand Army.

Kowno, June 26, 1812.

Let

equally arrogant and extraordinary, which she, then, consider us degenerate? Are we had been made by Prince Kurakin, and in no longer to be looked upon as the soldiers which he declared, that he would not enterof Austerlitz? She offers us the alternative into any explanation before France had of dishonour or war. The choice cannot evacuated the territory of her own Allies, admit of hesitation. Let us, then, march in order to leave them at the mercy of forward. Let us pass the Niemen. Russia, was the sine quá non of that Ca- us carry the war into her territory. The binet, and it made that a matter of boast second war of Poland will be as glorious to to Foreign Powers.The first corps ad- the French arms as the first: but the peace vanced to the Pregel. The Prince of Eck-which we shall conclude will be its own muhl had his head-quarters, on the 11th of guarantee, and will put an end to that June, at Konigsberg.The Marshal proud and haughty influence which Russia Duke of Reggio, commanding the second has for fifty years exercised in the affairs of corps, had his head-quarters at Wehlau; Europe. the Marshal Duke of Elchingen, commanding the third corps, at Soldass; the Prince Viceroy, at Rastenburg; the King of Westphalia, at Warsaw; the Prince Poniatowski, at Pultusk. The Emperor moved On the 23d of June, the King of Naples his head-quarters, on the 12th, to Ko- (Murat) who commands the cavalry, transnigsberg, on the Pregel; on the 17th to ferred his head-quarters to within two Insterburg; on the 19th to Gumbinnen. leagues of the Niemen, upon its left bank. -A slight hope of accommodation still This Prince has under his immediate orders remained. The Emperor had given orders the corps of cavalry commanded by Geneto Count Lauriston to wait on the Emperor rals Counts Nansouty and Montbrun; the Alexander, or on his Minister for Foreign one composed of the divisions under the Affairs, and to ascertain whether there command of Generals Counts Bruyeres, St. might not yet be some means of obtaining a Germain, and Valance; the other consistreconsideration of the demand of Prince ing of the divisions under the orders of Kurakin, and of reconciling the honour of General Baron Vattier and Generals Counts France, and the interest of her allies, with Sebastiani and Defrance.- -Marshal Prince. the opening a negociation. The same d'Eckmuhl, commanding the first corps, spirit which had previously swayed the moved his head-quarters to the skirts of the Russian Cabinet upon various pretexts, great forest of Pilwisky.The second prevented Count Lauriston from accom- corps and the Imperial Guards followed the plishing his mission; and it appeared for line of march of the first corps.-The the first time, that an Ambassador, under third corps took the direction by Mariencircumstances of so much importance, was pol; the Viceroy, with the 4th and 6th unable to obtain an interview, either with corps, which remained in the rear, marchthe Sovereign or his Minister. The Secre-ed upon Kalwarry.-The King of Westtary of Legation, Prevost, brought this in-phalia proceeded to Novogrod with the telligence to Gumbinnen; and the Emperor 5th, 7th, and 8th corps. -The first Ausissued orders to march, for the purpose of trian corps, commanded by the Prince of passing the Niemen. The conquered,' Schwartzenberg, quitted Lemberg on the observed he, 'assume the tone of conmade a movement on its left, and querors: fate drags them on; let their des- drew nearer to Lublin. The pontoon tinies be fulfilled.' His Majesty caused train, under the orders of Gen. Eble, arthe following proclamation to be inserted in rived at the advanced posts near Kowno; he the Orders of the Army: -SOLDIERS! took a Polish cloak and cap from one of the The second war of Poland has commenced. light cavalry, and inspected the banks of The first was brought to a close at Fried- the Niemen, accompanied by Gen. Haxo, land and Tilsit. At Tilsit, Russia swore of the engineers alone.- At eight in the eternal alliance with France, and war with evening the army was again in motion. At England. She now violates her oaths. ten, Count Morand, General of Division, She refuses to give any explanation of her passed over three companies of voltigeurs, strange conduct, until the Eagles of France and at the same time three bridges were shall have repassed the Rhine, leaving, by thrown across the Niemen. At eleven, such a movement, our allies at her mercy. three columns debouched over the three Russia is dragged along by a fatality! Her bridges. At a quarter past one, day began destinies must be accomplished. Should to appear. At noon, General Baron Pajol

1

I

on the heights of Traka.At day-break of the 28th the King of Naples put himself in motion with the advanced guard, aud the light cavalry of General Count Bruyeres. The Marshal Prince of Eckmuhl supported him with his corps. The Russians every where retired. After exchanging some cannon-shot, they crossed the Vilia in all haste, burned the wooden bridge of Wilna, and set fire to immense magazines, valued at many millions of rubles: more than 150,000 quintals of flour, an immense sup

drove before him a cloud of Cossacks, and took possession of Kowno with a single battalion. -On the 24th the Emperor proceeded to Kowno. -Marshal the Prince of Eckmuhl pushed forward his head-quarters to Roumchicki, and the King of Naples to Eketanoni.- -During the whole of the 24th and of the 26th, the army was defiling by the three bridges. In the evening of the 24th, the Emperor caused a new bridge to be thrown over the Vilia opposite Kowno, and directed Marshal the Duke of Reggio to pass it with the second corps. The Po-ply of forage and of oats, and a great mass lish light horse of the guards crossed the river by swimming. Two men were drowning, when they were picked up by two swimmers of the 26th light infantry. Colonel Guéhèneac having imprudently exposed himself to afford them assistance, had nearly fallen a sacrifice himself; a swimmer of his regiment saved him.On the 25th, the Duke of Elchingen pushed on to Kormelon: the King of Naples advanced to Jigmuroui. The enemy's light troops were driven in and pursued on every side.

-On the 26th, Marshal the Duke of Elchingen arrived at Skoroule. The light divisions of cavalry covered the whole plain to within ten leagues of Wilna.-Marshal the Duke of Tarentum, who commands the 10th corps, composed in part of the Prussians, passed the Niemen on the 24th, at Tilsit, and moved upon Rossiena, in order to clear the right bank of that river, and to protect the navigation.-Marshal the Duke of Belluno, commanding the 9th corps, and having under his orders the divisions Ileudelet, Lagrange, Durette, and Partonneaux, occupies the country between the Elbe and the Oder.The General of Division, Count Rapp, Governor of Dantzic, has under his orders the division Daendels.The General of Division, Count Hogendorp, is Governor of Konigsberg.

-The Emperor of Russia is at Wilna with his guards, and one part of his army occupying Ronikontoni and Newtrooki.

of articles of clothing, were burned. A great quantity of arms, in which Russia is in general deficient, and of warlike stores, was destroyed and thrown into the Vilia.

-At mid-day the Emperor entered Wilna. At three o'clock the bridge over the Vilia was re-established. All the carpen ters of the city repaired to it with zeal, and constructed a bridge, while the pontoneers at the same time constructed another.The division of Bruyeres followed the enemy by the left bank. In a slight affair with their rear, about 80 carriages were taken from the Russians. There were some men killed and wounded; among the latter is the Captain of Hussars, Segur. The Polish light horse of the guard made a charge on the right bank of the Vilia, put to rout, pursued, and made prisoners a good nume. ber of Cossacks.On the 25th, the Duke of Reggio had crossed the Vilia, by a bridge thrown over near Kowno. On the 26th he marched upon Javou, and on the 27th on Chatoui. This movement obliged the Prince of Vittgenstein, Commandant of the first corps of the Russian army, to evacuate all Samogitia, and the country lying between Kowno and the sea, and to retire upon Wilkomir, after obtaining a reinforcement of two regiments of the Guards.

-On the 28th a rencounter took place, The Marshal Duke of Reggio found the enemy drawn up opposite Develtovo. A cannonading commenced; the enemy was driven from one position to another; and

Fourth Bulletin of the Grand Army passed the bridge with so much precipita

Wilna, June 30.

On the 27th the Emperor arrived at the advanced posts at two in the afternoon, and put the army in motion for the purpose of approaching Wilna, and attacking the Russian army at day-break of the 28th, should it wish to defend Wilna, or retard its capture in order to save the immense magazines which it had there. One Russian division occupied Troki, and another division was

tion, that he could not set fire to it. He lost 300 prisoners, among whom are seve➤ ral officers, and about 100 killed or wounded. Our loss amounts to about 50 men.

-The Duke of Reggio praises the brigade of light cavalry, commanded by General Baron Castex, and the 11th regiment of light infantry, composed entirely of Frenchmen from the departments beyond the Alps. The young Roman conscripts have shewn a great deal of intrepidity. The enemy

« ForrigeFortsett »