listen to the debates of this exalted as- ceeds on the sole discretion of ministers! POPULAR OPINIONS. SIR,-The opinions of the people of England appear to be as various as the impulses of individual interests differ one from another. The affairs of the nation, and of the world, are so intimately blended with personal interest, and na tional prejudice, that the whole compact has grown by private contention, and the national security combined by national prejudice, into a bulwark bordering on impressions arising from ignorance.When one looks around at the present period, every separate interest is seen jingling its unreserved discussions with the national wisdom.--The great class of proprietors of land, and farmers in rueful mood exhibit dangers impending on reductions conducive to public plenty. The richer cry aloud on the dismal cf-ple questions elicit from some better infects of the property tax; the mercantile formed on constitutional policy, why so joining in its heart-rending expositions. many vacant seats are permitted when The middling, against the price of all the the affairs of the nation ought to dictate necessaries of life.-The manufacturer, the presence of every representative of against the difficulties and expences at the people at every meeting of parlia tending the profits of his labour.-The ment? why one hears of ministers being labourer and poorer class, violently obliged to solicit from every part of the against mechanical inventions destructive kingdom, nay, from many parts of the to manual labour, and consequent inabi- continent, the attendance of members to lity to meet the exhorbitant demand for the houses of parliament, when it should food. The beggar, against the inade- be a paramount duty in their election to quacy of charitable donations, in a coun- the public service.? Can it be, that the try exceeding every other in the known sons of noblemen and wealthy gentlemen world for expenditure of this nature; are bought into honours, to which their and every class in unison of bitter excla- mental unworthiness renders their abmation on the general oppression of tax- sence more honourable to the nation, than ation. Let it be admitted, much room the favour of their presence useful, unless may exist for excitations to complaint: when an insignificant yea or nay is deand that it is well in the privilege of limanded by the usage of parliament? If berty to express public grievances in one turn the view to another point, still public meetings; yet, be it remembered is seen the long impressed reign of preju by a people who have struggled to the dice and hostility, flaming with unabated very acme of national pre-eminence and fatality. Nothing satisfies this feeling bat glory, in a tide of patriotism immortalis-the contemplation of the complete subing the annals of their age, that the sacrifice of national ease and personal luxury may yet be required devotedly to be laid on the altar of that pre-eminence and glory, that, untarnished, it may reflect its lustre on surrounding nations, and the blessings of universal peace! But, is not that lustre tarnishing? There rests the doubt; and in that doubt let it rest, while a momentary glance is cast on the represented people in its assembled council. Ask, what are the impressions it should excite? what are the impressions it does excite? Let any impartial man version of American republican indepenence; even with the signature of peace before one's eyes, victory in a deluge of blood and carnage is anxiously anticipated both on sea and land, as a regeerative principle for the imbecility of national exertion. On the other hand, although there no longer exists a Napoleon, to direct, the terrifying energies of once allpowerful France, yet the sufferings of this feeling is alleviated with nothing less than the total annihilation of its power; safety emanates, only in the prospect of its com pression on every side by the absorption of independent states, no matter how subversive of natural rights, or unwarranted in justice, Yet many years may not pass over, when oppressed Europe may look back with regret, that the preponderant military power is not France-that the dictator of the ocean is not England. The charm which gave decided vistory to the arms of France, where ever they appeared, is shattered in the entrance of hostile armies into Paris; the spirit which once animated their fragments can never more be combined, to render them fearful to the repose of Europe. No, nor perhaps will the naval ascendaney of England ever render necessary such another rise of military genius, or such varied systems of continental combination. One more view, and I have done-one which claims attention, and is disposed to excite anxieties of no triting interest. Russia, elated by its military prowess, glowing with an ardour natural to humanity, may easily burst its frozen bonds, and pour its barbarous hordes on the lights of the civilized world; and, in its rugged efforts, rend the hard won laurel ere it firmly entwine the proud expectant brow of Britain, and with The broken emblem decorate its own, yet but a little since trans-atlantic colonies.-But it is the inevitable fate of man, of nations, perhaps of worlds, to arrive at some given point in perfection, then to retrogade until lost in the obscurity of eternity, and are heard of no more! AMICUS BRITANNIE. BUONAPARTE IN FRANCE!!! This uulooked for and extraordinary occurrence was anounced last night to the astonished inhabitants of the metropolis, by the publication of the following official documents in all the evening papers: attempts to excite civil war and destroy the Government, "Art. 1. NAPOLEON BUONA PARTE is declared a Traitor and Rebel, for having appeared with arms in his hands in the Department of the Var. It is enjoined to all Governors, Commandants of the armed force, NationalGuards, Civil Authorities, and even simple Citizens, to arm, against him, to arrest and carry him before a Council of War, which, after having recognised his identity, shall apply to him the penalties pronounced by the Law. 2. Shall be punished with the same penalties, and as guilty of the same crimes. "The soldiers and persons of every grade, who shall have accompanied followed the said Buonaparte in his invasion of the French territory, unless in the delay of eight days from the publication of the present ordonnance, they come and make their submission to our Governors, Commanders of Military Divisions, Generals, or Civil Administrators. "3. Shall be equally prosecuted and punished as abettors and accomplices of rebellion, and of attempts to change the form of Government and provoke civil war, all civil and military administrators, chiefs, and persons cmployed in the said administration, payers and receivers of public money, even simple citizens, who shall, directly or indireetly, lend aid to Buonaparte. "4. Shall be punished with the same penalties, conformably to the 102d article of the Penal Code, those who by speeches made in public places or societies, by placards stuck up, or by printed writings, shall have taken part, or engaged citizens to take part in the revolt, or to abstain from repelling it. "5. Our Chancellor, Ministers, Secretaries of State, and our Director-Ge ORDONNANCE OF THE KING, CONTAINING MEASURES OF GENERALneral of Police, each in what concerns SAFETY. LOUIS by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, to all those who shall see these presents, health. "The 12th article of the Constitutional Charter charges us especially with making regulations and ordonnances necessary for the safety of the State. It would be essentially compromised if we did not take prompt measures to repress the enterprise which has just been formed upon one of the points of our kingdom, and to revent the effect of plots and him, are charged with the execution of the present Ordonnance, which shall be inserted in the Bulletin of Laws, addressed to all Governors of Military divisions, Generals, Commanders, Prefects, SubPrefeets, and Mayors of our kingdom, with orders to cause it to be printed and stuck up at Paris, and wherever else it may be needful. "Given at the Castle of the Thuille- "LOUIS. By the KING, "The Chancellor of France, DAMEKAY." PROCLAMATION. CONVOCATION OF THE LEGISI ATURF. "We had on the 31st December last adjourned the two Houses, to resume their sittings on the 1st May. During that time we had been preparing the cb jects upon which they were to occupy themselves. The march of the Congress of Vienna permitted us to believe in the general establishment of a solid and durable peace; and we were engaged, without ceasing, in all those labours which might ensure the tranquillity and happiness of the people. This tranqui lity is disturbed-this happiness may be compromised by malevolence and trea son. The promptitude and wisdom of the measures which we are taking will check their progress. Full of confidence in the zeal of which our Chambers have given us proofs, we are eager to call them around us. "If the enemies of the country have founded their hope upon the divisions which they have always endeavoured to foment, its supporters, its legal defenders will destroy that criminal hope by the unattackable force of an undestructible union. "For these causes, we have ordered and do order what folis : bing." But I find I must postpone my remarks on this interesting subject. The landing of Napoleon in France will occupy public attention for some days at least. They appear already as mad about this event as they were when they heard of his deposition; but, although a great many are rejoicing at this occurrence, who formerly exulted in his downfal, such is the fickle disposition of honest John, that it will be some time before his sentiments upon this subject, or his opinion as to the defeat of his American army be properly ascertained. BULLETIN. War Department, March 8. 1815. Captain Wylly arrived this morning with dispatches from Major-General Lambert, detailing the operations against the enemy in the neighbourhood of New Orleans. It appears that the army under the command of Major General Keane, was landed at the head of the Ba yone, in the vicinity of New Orleans, on the morning of the 23d December,. without opposition; it was,, however, attacked by the enemy in the course of the night succeeding the landing, when, after an obstinate contest, the enemy were repulsed on all points with consi derabile foss. On the morning of the 25th, Sir E. Pakenham arrived, and assumed the command of the auny. On the 27th at day-light, the troops moved forward, driving the enemy's picquets to within six miles of the town, when the main body of the enemy was disco2. The Peers and Deputies of De-vered posted behind a breast-work, extenpartments absent from Paris, shall repair ding about 1000 yards, with the right thither as soon as they are informed of resting on the Mississipi, and the left on the present Proclamation. a thick wood. The intery | between the 27th December, and tl 8th January, was employed in preparations for an attack upon the enemy's position. The attack which was intended to have been made on the night of the 7th, did not, owing to the difficulties experienced in the passage of “4. Our Chancellor and our Ministers, the Mississippi, by a corps under Lieut. each in what concerns them, are charg-Colonel Thornton, which was destined to ed with the execution of the present. act on the right bank of the river, take Given at the Castle of the Thuille-place till early on the morning of the 8th. ries, 6th March, and of our reign the 20th. (Signed) Louis." "Ait. 1. The Chamber of Peers and the Chamber of Deputies of Departments are convoked extraordinarily in the nsual place of their Sittings. 3. The present Proclamation shall be inserted in the Bulletin of Laws, addressed to all the Prefects, Sub-prefects, Mayors, and Municipalities of the king dom, published and stuck up at Paris, and every where else. 66 86 The division, to whom the storming of the enemy's work was, entrusted, moved to the attack at that time, but being too soon discovered by the enemy were receiv ed with a galling and severe fire from all parts of their line. Major-General Sir Edward Fakenham, who had placed himself at the head of the troops, was unfortunately killed at the head of the glacis, 45d---Licuts. J. Meyrick (left leg amputated), D. Ellis, severely; Lieutenants M'Lean, Spark, and and Major-Generals Gibbs and Keane, were nearly at the same moment wounded. The effect of this upon the troops caused a hesitation in their advance, and though order was restored by the advance of the reserve under Major-General Lambert, to whom the command of the army93---Captains R. Ryan, Boulger, Mackenzie, and had devolved, and Colonel Thornton had succeeded in the operation assigned to him on the right bank of the river; yet the Major-General, upon the consideration of the diiculties which yet remained to be surmounted, did not think himself justified in ordering a renewal of the attack. The ticops, therefore, retired to the position which they had occupied previous to the attack. In that position they remained till the evening of the 18th when the whole of the wounded, with the exception of 80 (whom it was considered dangerous to remove) the field artillery, and all the stores of every description, having been embarked, the army retired to the head of the Bayone, where the landing had been originally effccted, and re-embarked without moles tation. Names of Officers killed and wounded KILLED. General Staff-Major-General Hon. Sir 7th Ditto-Major George King, Captain George 21st Dito-Major J. A. Whittaker, Capt. R. Renny 93d Dito---Lieut.-Col. R. Dale, Capts. T. Iitchins, and A. Muirhead. WOUNDED.-General Staff-Major-General Gibbs, severely, since dead; Major-General Keane, se. verely; Captains H. E. Shaw, 4th Foot, (British Infantry), slightly, and L. Delacy Evans, 3d Dragoons, D. A. Q. M. G. severely. 4th Foot-Lieut.-Col. F. Brooke, slightly; Major 7th Foot-Captains W. E. Page, severely, J. J. A. Royal Marines---Captain Gilbert Elliott, slightly; MISSING. 4th Foot-Lieut. E. Field, wounded. 430. ditto-Capt. Robt. Simpson, severely wounded. 934 ditto-Licats. G. Munro, J. M'Donald, wounded; and B. Graves wounded; Volunteer B. Johnston. 44th ditto-Lieut. W. Knight. Names of the Officers killed, wounded, and missing, in the operations preceding and subsequent to the action of the 8th Jan. 1815. KILLED Royal Artillery.-Lieut. Alex. Ramsay 4th Foot--Capt. Francis Johustone, and Lieut. Royal Engineers-Lieut. Peter Wright. John Sutherland. 21st. ditto-Capt. Wm. Contan. Harris. 1st. West India Regt.-Capt. Francis Collings. 85th Foot-Capt. James Knox, Lieuts. George 93d ditto---Lieut. A. Phaup, severely (since dead). Printed and Published by G. HOUSTON: No. 192, Strand; where all Communications addressed to the Editor are requested to be forwarded, VOL. XXVII. No. 11.] LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1815. [Price 1s. 321] CORN BILL. TO THE PEOPLE OF HAMPSHIRE, On the 9th inst. I delivered to MR. BOSANQUET, the High Sheriff of this County, a Requisition for a County Meeting, signed by myself and by 581 other freeholders, and others, the place [322 upon the subject, my hatred, my abhorrence of this Bill have only been more strongly confirmed. I shall, therefore, continue to do every lawful act in my power to prevent it becoming a law. If only one Gentleman from every town, and from every considerable village, were to attend, at Botley, the work of signing Petitions might be very easily and speedily accomplished. WM. COBBETT. NAPOLEON'S RETURN. news. If ever there was news that struck like a thunder-bolt, this was that Many persons seem to be out of their wits at it. After having seen the deliverance of Europe accomplished, they really appear to be delivered of their senses. of abode of each of whom was written against his name. MR. BOSANQUET, on the 11th inst. informed me, by letter, that he should not comply with the request of the persons who had signed the said Request. This his letter, together with a proposition for further proceedings, shall be published next week, after I have had an opportunity of consulting personally with some of the Gentlemen who signed the Requisition. And, for For my part, I am wholly unable to this purpose, I beg leave to invite such judge of the probabilities that exist in of these Gentlemen as may have leisure, favour, or against Napoleon's enterprise; to meet me at THE DOLPHIN INN, but, after viewing what the people of AT BOTLEY, on Saturday next, the Italy, Genoa, Switzerland, Spain, and 25th inst. at 12 o'clock in the day. It even France have experienced, in consewill be as convenient to every body else quence of his fall, I cannot say, that his to go to Botley as to go to Winchester, restoration would, to me, be matter of and much more convenient to me to re- surprise, especially when I consider how main at home, especially as I have al- large a part of the soldiers and of the ready been much from home on the bu- people of France were, and always ap siness. When met, we shall be able to pear to have continued firmly attached to. adopt some plan for the signing of peti- him.-As to wishes, they avail nothing; tions in all parts of the county. No one but we are now all free to express those will deny, that we have a RIGHT to Pe- which we entertain. Our country is at tition, that is to say, to PRAY. The peace with the Emperor of Elba as well poorest of us may PRAY even to God; as with the King of France. My wishes and, surely, we may PRAY to the Par-are, that the Jesuits, the Dominicans, liament! In our Church service, in our and the Inquisition may be put down Common Prayer Book, there are prayers again. I do not care much by whom against DEARTH, and thanksgivings but these "ancient and venerable instifor plenty, or cheapness; and, surely," tutions," as the Cossacks of New when corn is cheap, we may PRAY to England call them, I wish to see comthe Parliament not to pass a law, tend- pletely destroyed. LOUIS the desired ing to make it dear! The moment that has not done what was promised. He the Corn Bill appeared, in the House of has not abolished the heaviest taxes; he Commons, that moment I declared, that has not left religion as he found it; he if there was but one man in all England has not adhered to the Code Napoleon; to petition against it, I would be that he has not left the press free. I do not man. After very attentively listening to know, that, surrounded as he has been, every thing that I have seen or heard that he could have done more than L + تو ; |