Lordship the powers under which I act, that you might perceive their validity and extent. I have, however, sought to state them substantially in the official letter which I have herewith the honour to transmit to your Lordship, but should you find any thing that stands in need of explanation, previous to being submitted to His Royal Highness, I shall remain at 18, Bentinck-street, to receive the commands of your Lordship. If your Lordship could, in courtesy, find any motive in my personal convenience to hasten to a decision upon the propositions which I have submitted; the season of the year, my anxiety to depart (all my arrangements being made and all my baggage having left town), and the detention of the Lark at much expense, will plead powerfully in my favour. have the honour to be, with great consideration, your Lordship's very obedient and very humble servant, (Signed) Lord Viscount Castlereagh, &c. &c. &c. JONA. RUSSELL. Mr. Russell to Lord Castlereagh. 18, Bentinck-street, Sept. 12, 1812. My Lord, I hasten, authorized by instructions recently received from the Government of the United States, and urged by an unfeigned anxiety to arrest the calamities of war, to propose to your Lordship a convention for the suspension of hostilities, to take effect at such time as may be mutually agreed upon, and stipulating that each party shall forthwith appoint Commissioners, with full powers to form a treaty, which shall provide, by reciprocal arrange'ments for the security of their seamen, from being taken or employed in the service of the other power; for the regulation of their commerce; and all other interesting questions now depending between them; and that the armistice shall not 'cease without such previous notice by one to the other party, as may be agreed upon, and shall not be understood as having any other effect than merely to suspend military operations by land and sea. -In proposing to your Lordship these terms for a suspension of hostilities, I am instructed to come to a clear and distinct understanding with His Britannic Majesty's Government, without requiring it to be formal concerning impressment, comprising in it the discharge of the citizens of the United States afready impressed; and concerning future block•ades, the revocation of the Orders in Council being confirmed. Your Lordship is aware that the power of the Government of the United States to prohibit the employment of British seamen must be exercised in the sense and spirit of the constitution; but there is no reason to doubt that it will be so exercised effectually and with good faith. Such a measure, as it might by suitable regulations and penalties be made completely effectual and satisfactory, would operate almost exclusively in favour of Great Britain, for as few American seamen. ever enter voluntarily into the British service, the reciprocity would be nominal, and it is sincerely believed that it would be more than an equivalent for any advantage she may derive from impressment.By the proposition which I have now the honour to make in behalf of my Government, your Lordship will perceive the earnest desire of the President to remove every obstacle to an accommodation, which consists merely of form; and to secure the rights and interests of the United States in a manner the most satisfactory and honourable to Great Britain as well as to America.The importance of the overture now made, will, I trust, obtain for it the early consi deration of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent; and I shall detain the vessel in which I have taken my passage to the United States, until I have the honour to learn his decision. I have the honour to be, my Lord, with high consideration, your Lordship's most obedient servant, (Signed) JONA. RUSSELL, Lord Viscount Castlereagh, &c. · Lord Gastlereagh to Mr. Russell. Lord Castlereagh presents his compliments to Mr. Russell, and requests to have the honour of seeing him at his house in St. James's-square, at 9 o'clock this evening. Foreign Office, Sept. 16, 1812. N. B. Received a little before 5 o'clock. Mr. Hamilton to Mr. Russell. Dear Sir, I have not seen Lord Castlereagh since his receipt of your two letters of the but have received his directions to say to you, that he is concerned that he cannot have it in his power to reply to them for a few days, or would have had much pleasure in attending immediately to your request in that respect. You may be assured that no delay will take place which can be avoided.I am, dear Sir, faithfully your's, W. HAMILTON, Foreign Office, Sept. 16, 1812. Jonathan Russell, Esq. &c.' Mr. Russell to Mr. Hamilton. Dear Sir, I have learnt with much regret and disappointment, that Lord Castlereagh has directed you to inform me, that it is not in his power to give an immediate answer to the last letters which I have had the honour to address to him. The object of those letters was of a nature to require an early decision. Reluctant, however, by any precipitancy on my part, to protract the present unhappy relations between the two countries, I beg you to acquaint his Lordship, that I shall remain in town until Sunday (the 20th instant), when, unless some special and satisfactory reason be assigned for a longer delay, I shall consider it to be my duty to proceed to Plymouth to embark for the United States.- -I am, dear Sir, with great truth and respect, your obedient servant, (Signed) JONATHAN RUSSELL. 18, Bentinck-street, 16th Sept. 1812. N. B. Sent at 3 o'clock. Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Russell. propose any specific plan, with reference to which the suspension of that practice could: be made a subject of deliberation, or that you have received any instructions for the guidance of your conduct on some of the leading principles, which such a discussion must in the first instance involve.-Under these circumstances the Prince Regent sincerely laments, that he does not feel himself enabled to depart from the decision which I was directed to convey to you in: my letter of the 2d inst.- -I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, CASTLEREAGH, Jonathan Russell, Esq. &c. Mr. Russell to Mr. Monroe. London, 19th Sept. 1812. Sir,Since writing to you this morning, fearing that this Government should infer from my silence an acquiescence in the strange and unwarrantable view which Lord Castlereagh has in his last note thought fit to take of the overtures which I have submitted, and of the powers under which. I acted, I have considered it my duty to return an answer, of which the enclosed is a copy.- -With great consideration and respect, I am, Sir, your assured and obedient servant, (Signed) JONA. RUSSELL. To the Hon. James Monroe, &c. Mr. Russell to Lord Castlereagh. London, 19th Sept. 1812. Foreign Office, Sept. 18, 1812. Sir, Under the, explanations you have afforded me of the nature of the instructions which you have received from your Government, I have, as on the preceding occasion, been induced to lay your letter of the 12th inst. before His Royal Highness the Prince Regent.His Royal Highness commands nie to express to you his regret that he cannot perceive any substantial difference between the proposition for a suspension of hostilities which you are now My Lord, I had the honour to receive, directed to make, and that which was con- last evening, your Lordship's note of yestained in your letter of the 24th of August terday, and have learnt, with great regret last. The form of the proposed arrange- and disappointment, that His Royal Highment, it is true, is different; but it only ness the Prince Regent has again rejected appears to aim at executing the same pur- the just and moderate propositions for a pose in a more covert, and, therefore, in a suspension of hostilities, which I have been more objectionable manner. -You are instructed to present on the part of my Gonow directed to require, as preliminary to vernment.- After the verbal explanaa suspension of hostilities, a clear and dis- tions which I had the honour to afford your tinct understanding, without, however, re- Lordship on the 16th instant, both as to quiring it to be formal on all the points re- the object and sufficiency of my instruc-~ ferred to in your former proposition. It is tious, I did not expect to hear repeated any obvious that, were this propasal acceded objections on these points. For itself, the to, the discussion on the several points must American Government has nothing to dissubstantially precede the understanding re-guise; and by varying the proposition as to quired. This course of proceeding, as the manner of coming to a preliminary unbearing on the face of it a character of dis-derstanding, it merely intended to leave to guise, is not only felt to be in principle inadmissible, but as unlikely to lead in practice to any advantageous result; as it does not appear on the important subject of impressment that you are either authorized to the British Government that which might be most congenial to its feelings. The propositions presented by me, however, on the 24th of August and 12th inst. are distinguishable by a diversity in the substance as well as in the mode of the object which they embraced; as by the former, the discontinuance of the practice of impressment was to be immediate, and to precede the prohibitory law of the United States relative to the employment of British seamen; when, by the latter, both these measures are deferred, to take effect simultaneously hereafter. Having made a precise tender of such law, and exhibited the instructions which warranted it to your Lordship, I have learnt with surprise that it does not appear to your Lordship that I am authorized to propose any specific plan on the subject of impressment. I still hope that the overtures made by me may again be taken into consideration by His Majesty's Government; and as I leave town this afternoon for the United States, that it will authorize some Agent to proceed thither, and adopt them as a basis for reconciliation between the two countries, an event so devoutly to be wished.- -I have the honour to be, my Lord, your most obedient humble servant, that His Majesty's late ship Macedonian was captured on the 25th inst. by the United States' ship United States, Commodore Decatur, Commander; the detail is as follows:A short time after daylight, steering N. W. by W. with the wind from the southward, in latitude 29 deg. N. and longitude 29 deg. 30 min. W. in the execution of their Lordships' orders, a sail was seen on the lee beam, which I imme-' diately stood for, and made her out to be a large frigate under American colours: at nine o'clock I closed with her, and she commenced the action, which we returned;" but from the enemy keeping two points off the wind, I was not enabled to get as close to her as I could have wished. After an hour's action the enemy backed and came to the wind, and I was then enabled to bring her to close battle in this situation I soon found the enemy's force too superior to expect success, unless some very fortunate chance occurred in our favour; and with this hope I continued the battle to two hours and ten minutes, when, having the mizen-mast shot away by the board, top-masts shot away by the caps, mainyard shot in pieces, lower-masts badly wounded, lower rigging all cut to pieces, a small proportion only of the fore-sail left to the fore-yard, all the guns on the On board the Lark, 7th Nov. 1812. quarter-deck and forecastle disabled but Sir, I have the honour to inform you, two, and filled with wreck, two also on the that I am now passing the Narrows, and main deck disabled, and several shot beexpect to land in New York this day. Itween wind and water, a very great proconceive it to be my duty to repair to the portion of the crew killed and wounded, seat of government, and shall set off as soon and the enemy comparatively in good as I can obtain my baggage. In the mean order, who had now shot a-head, and was time, I am sorry to inform you, that the about to place himself in a raking position, second proposition for an armistice was re- without our being enabled to return the jected like the first, and a vigorous prose-fire, being a perfect wreck, and unmacution of the war appears to be the only nageable log; I deemed it prudent, though honourable alternative left to us. I have a painful extremity, to surrender His Mathe honour to be, with great consideration jesty's ship; nor was this dreadful alternaand respect, Sir, your very obedient sertive resorted to till every hope of success JONA. RUSSELL. (Signed) JONA. RUSSELL. The Right Hon. Lord Castlereagh, &c. Mr. Russell to Mr. Monroe. (Private). vant, The Hon. James Monroe, &c. LONDON GAZETTE, Tuesday, Dec. 29. Copy of a Letter from Captain John Surman Garden, late Commander of His Majesty's ship the Macedonian, to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated on board the American ship United States, at Sea, the 28th Oct. 1812. Sir-It is with the deepest regret I have to acquaint you for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, was removed. even beyond the reach of chance, nor till, I trust, their Lordships will be aware, every effort had been made against the enemy by myself, my brave officers, and men; nor should she have been surrendered whilst a man lived on board, had she been manageable. I am sorry to say, our loss is very severe: I find by this day's muster, thirty-six killed,' three of whom lingered a short time after the battle; thirty-six severely wounded, many of whom cannot recover; and thirtytwo slightly wounded, who may all do well :-total, one hundred and four. The truly noble and animating conduct nant, John Bulford, was also wounded, but not obliged to quit his quarters: second Lieutenant, Samuel Mottley, and he, dhe serves my highest acknowledgments. The cool and steady conduct of Mr. Walker, the master, was very great during the battle, as also that of Lieutenants Wilson and Magill, of the Marines. On being taken on board the enemy's ship, I ceased to wonder at the result of the battle. The United States is built with the scantling of a seventy-four gun ship, mounting thirty long 24-pounders (English ship guns) on her main deck, and twenty-two forty-gerously; Daniel Eagle, ditto, severely; James two pounder carronades, with two long twenty-four pounders on her quarter deck and forecastle, howitzer guns in her tops, and a travelling carronade on her upper deck, with a complement of four hundred and seventy-eight picked men. The enemy has suffered much in masts, rigging and hull above and below water; her loss in killed and wounded, I am not aware of, but I know a Lieutenant and six men have been thrown overboard.Enclosed you will be pleased to receive the names of the killed and wounded on board the Macedonian; and have the honour to be, &c. and 2,000 men were made prisoners. As I then perceived that the enemy was quietly retreating, I undertook making a flank movement from Koloperitche, and marched towards the town of Barau, in order from this point to cut him off from the Lepelska road, and be enabled to act on Wesselowo and Studentzy, where he was forming bridges. When I arrived at the town of Kostrezy, I received information that Napoleon would cross the Berisena river, and that Victor's corps formed his rear-guard him whilst crossing, and desired General Platow to hasten to Berisow, which he accordingly did. He proceeded on the To defended the passage in order to save their near the town of Batura, and within two baggage and heavy waggons.Notwith- days, one Lieutenant-Colonel, 36 officers,. standing this I drove them from their first position, and pursued them three wersts; the action continued the whole day. To-day I forced them to cross the river at Studentzy, having done which they burned the bridge. Admiral Tschitchagow having sent me pontoons I am now re-establishing the bridge. I shall act in concert with him and Count Platow, on the opposite side. Yesterday we took from the enemy one gun and 1,500 prisoners; and this day at the passage we took 12 guns, many more having been thrown into the river.--Se-I therefore put myself in march to attack veral Staff and General Officers were taken prisoners, besides others of inferior rank, and more continue to be brought in, which I have not yet been able to take an accountletschin road, and after my arrival with the of.The number of waggons belonging to Government and private persons is so great, that a space of half a werst square is so covered with them, that it is impossible either to ride or walk through them; and 3 companies of the new-raised militia have been employed merely to clear a passage for the army. In these vehicles, which chiefly consisted of carriages of different descriptions, sent from Moscow, we found, besides a very great booty for the army, silver and other articles belonging to the churches, which were plundered by the enemy at Moscow. We are now collecting them, and I shall dispatch them to the Governor of Moscow. Congratulating your Majesty on the above, I lay at the feet of your Imperial Majesty a stand of colours. The loss in killed and wounded in the course of these two days exceeds 3,000 men. Report from General Count Wittgenstein to Nov. 28. I had the honour, on the 24th November, most submissively to report that Marshals Victor and Oudinot were retreating before me towards Berisow. I marched after them from the town of Tschetuga. General Platow followed the enemy's grand army. Admiral Tschitchagow was to receive the enemy at Berisow, and by this means it was intended to enclose him on three sides. In consequence of this arrangement, I caused my vanguard, under Major General Weastow, to pursue the enemy. This General defeated General Dentiln's division, whole corps at Old Berisow, I cut off the -On such a victory, a similar to which has scarcely hitherto been gained over the French, I take the liberty of congratulating your Majesty, and of laying all these trophies at your Majesty's (To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden. |