most to windward was to be effected. I had received information that the troops of the line and militia under arms altoge ther amounted to 6000. I determined therefore to throw my principal force between that of the Enemy in Grande-terre and Basse-terre, where it was his intention to have assembled nearly the whole of his force, immediately after our demonstration to windward had of necessity terminated. My plan was to attack in three columns; the scarcity of boats and the surf required that the whole should assist in each disembarkation, which was therefore effected successively. The first was made at the Ance de Sauveur, where a detachment of the Enemy, about 500 strong, moving from Grande-terre to join Admiral Count Linois and Gen. Boyer, shewed a disposition to oppose the landing. The brigs of war and gun-boats, however, soon scowered that point, and 850 of the Royal York Rangers, under Lieut. Col. Starck, disembarked (notwithstanding a heavy surf) without the loss of a man. Lieut.-Col. Starck had instructions to make a rapid movement to drive and disperse the Enemy occupying the 'strong country and ravines of Trou-auchun, Petit Carbet, and looking towards Trois Rivieres; to threaten the left flank and rear of the Enemy, posted to oppose the landing at Grande Ance, and to drive him from the important communication of Pautrizel, which leads to turn the strong post of Dole and Morne Palmiste, the latter being one of the principal keys to Basse-terre. Meanwhile the fleet dropped down to Grande Ance, to effect the principal landing, where the Enemy was in force, and possessed a strong position, with batteries commanding the land ing-place, which was susceptible of obstinate defence. The brigs of war and a gun-boat, placed to enfilade, soon obliged the Enemy to abandon his guns, one of which only, a long twelve-pounder, was found mounted. The surf was very great, and one of the gun-boats was lost; but the exertions of the Navy, and the steadiness of the troops, surmounted every difficulty. The 15th and 25th regts. with the remainder of the 1st and 2d brigades, under Major-Generals Sir Charles Shipley and Stehelin, were safely disembarked. I immediately moved forward the troops to drive the Enemy; but if he had before any hopes of maintaining his position for the night, a sharp fire of musquetry, by which we speedily drove him from Pautrizel, placed his left flank en l'air, and obliged him to retire. The approach of darkness left no further means of attack that night, and I placed the troops in their bivouac. At break of day, on the 9th, the troops were put in motion in two columns; the 1st brigade, under Major,

Gen. Sir Charles Shipley,

moved upon,

and occupied Dole; the 2d, under MajorGen. Stehelin, marched upon the left of the Morne Palmiste, by Pautrizel. It appeared that Comte de Linois and Gen. Boyer had evacuated Dole in the night. The Enemy, however, shewed himself in considerable force on the left of the Morne Palmiste, and on the face of that mountain, commanding the main road to Basse-terre: his advance occul pied Petits plantation. Capt. Leith Hay, my Aide-de-camp, was ordered to gain the top of Morne Boucanier, by a difficult detour, with a rifle company of the Royal West India Rangers, and light company of the 6 h West India regiment, to alarm the Enemy's right flank and rear, which being accomplished, obliged him to withdraw; his posts were everywhere driven, and he retired to the Morne Palmiste. determined to push the Enemy as rapidly as was possible, considering the nature of the country, of which every part is not only susceptible of defence, but is even difficult of access without resistance, especially under the heat of a tropical sun. A heavy cannonade now announced the disembarkation of the 3d brigade, under Major-Gen. Douglas, in the vicinity of Baillif, and to leeward of Basse-terre. I had instructed him to seize the Batterie des Trois, to occupy the capital, to mask, or if practicable, to take Fort St. Charles by a coup-de-main, to open his communication with the columns moving to the attack of Morne Palmiste, and to menace his retreat from thence to Morne Houel. The Enemy, who had been driven by the vessels covering the landing, collected on the heights, and attacked the light company of the 63d regiment, who were advanced; they gallantly maintained their ground against upwards of 300 of the Enemy, who came down to attack them. Capt. Lynch and Lieut. Wigley were wounded on that occasion. Major-Gen. Douglass, in person, supported them by part of the York Chasseurs, under Lieut.-Col. Ewart, and he was immediately driven with loss. While this operation was going on, the columns of the 1st and 2d brigade gained the heights of Morne Palmiste, from whence the Enemy was driven at all points, and was now retiring to Morne Houel, which he had fortified with eight pieces of artillery. This was the position where Comte Linois and Gen. Boyer had professed their determination of ultimately disputing the supe riority in the field. I received information that the Commandant of GrandeTerre, with the whole armed force, was, as I expected, moving in my rear to form a juuction with the main body at Morne Houel. I accordingly reinforced my rearguard to protect our communications, and

occupied

occupied in force all the passes of the Gallion, a river running through a formidable ravine at the foot of Morne Palmiste. Thus the troops from Grande-Terre were completely cut off from forming their junction, which they attempted without success by paths through the wood, late in the afternoon, but with light sufficient to point out to Comte Linois and Gen. Boyer that all their plans of concentration were defeated.. After these laborious movements, which the troops executed in the most creditable manner, there was only time before night to place the columns in readiness to attack the formidable position of Morne Houel at daybreak in the morning. The troops accordingly took up their bivouacs. It rained heavily. At 11 o'clock, P. M. in the night of the 9th, the Commanding French Engineer came to me on the top of Morne Palmiste, verbally to propose a capitulation in the name of Le Comte de Linois, to which I replied, that the only terms I ever would accede to were already published in the Proclamation issued on landing; and that I would not delay the attack on Morne Houel to wait for any further communications. It was, so dark and the rain fell in such torrents, that the Officer from the Enemy and Capt. Moody, my Aid-de-camp, took up the greatest part of the night in finding their way to the Enemy's position. The troops were put in motion at day-break. An Officer soon after met me with written proposals, which I positively refused, and proposed some additional conditions. A white flag was displayed on Morne Houel, but I sent Major-Gen. Murray (who had joined the Army from Demarary the preceding night), and my Aid-de-camp, Capt. Leith Hay, with the British flag, to say, that the only signal which should stop the troops would be to see it displayed on the parapet. I had the satisfaction immediately afterwards to see the British standard flying on Morne Houel, and thereby to ascertain that all the troops were prisoners of war, and all the forts and the colony in our possession.-When it is considered that this beautiful and extensive colony, with a population of 110,000. souls, with forts, and an armed force numerically greater than

DECLARATION AGAINST Fort William, Jan. 6.

The Vice-President in Council is pleased to publish the following Declaration of the causes of the war in which the British Government is engaged with the State of Nipaul, for general information.

་

ours-when it is known that every sanguinary measure had been devised, and that the worst scenes of the Revolution were to be recommenced; that the 15th of Aug. the birth-day of Buonaparte, was to have been solemnized by the execu tion of the Royalists, already condemned to death, it is a subject of congratulation to see Guadaloupe completely shielded from Jacobin fury in two days, and without the loss of many lives. Thus, my Lord, the flag of the most unprovoked rebellion, under which the slaves had been called to arms, and many were wrought up to a pitch of sanguinary frenzy, threatening the immediate destruction of the colony, has disappeared from the American Archipelago, while the colonies faithful to his most Christian Majesty are secured to his dominions by British garrisons. I cannot avoid on this occasion expressing my sense of the honourable, firm, and wise conduct of Admiral le Comte de Vaugiraud, Gov.-gen. of Martinique, who had afforded me every information and assistance in his power against the Enemy."

[Here follows a Proclamation to the inhabitants of Guadaloupe, issued by Sir James Leith on his landing, stating the defeat and second abdication of Buonaparte; the march of the Allies to Paris: and notifying that the regulars, militia, or inhabitants, found under arms, should be made prisoners of war and sent out of the colony. By the capitulation concluded, Count Linois, Baron Boyer, (first and second in command) with the regular troops, are to be sent to France to the Duke of Wellington, as prisoners of war. The inhabitants and militia were permitted to return to their homes. Public property to be given up: private property to be restored. The colony to be placed under the protection of his Majesty. The total killed was 15; wounded, Capt. Lynch, 63d foot, severely, and Lieut. Wigley, slightly; Lieut. Reickards, of the 96th foot, slightly; Surgeon Beresford, of the York Rangers, slightly; besides 50 privates.-A dispatch from Admiral Durham, describes the landing of the troops, but is of no particular interest. The expedition consisted of about 6000 troops, including a corps of artillery.]

THE RAJAH OF NIPAUL.

quests

quests having approximated their frontier to that of the Hon. Company, and of its Ally the Nawaub Vizier, and the protected Sikh Chieftains, throughout an extent of country stretching from the Eastern border of Morung to the banks of the Sutlege, it was scarcely to be expected that differences should not occasionally arise between the inhabitants of the contiguous districts belonging to the two States, and even among the local public officers of each government; but a just and firm line of conduct, on the part of the two governments, combined with a sincere disposition to maintain uninterrupted the relations of amity, and to respect the rights of each other, could not have failed to arrest the progress of those unhappy disputes which have terminated in war.

While the conduct of the British Government has been uniformly regulated, in its relations with the Nipaulese, by the most scrupulous adherence to the principles of justice and moderation, there is scarcely a single district within the British frontier, throughout the whole of the extensive line above described, in which the Gorkahs have not usurped and appropriated lands forming the ascertained dominions of the Hon. Company. Questions originating in the usurpations of the Nipaulese have arisen in Purnea, Tirhoot, Sarun, Gorucknore, and Bareilly, as well as in the protected territory between the Sutlege and the Jumna; and each case might be appealed to in proof of the moderation and forbearance of the British Government, and the aggressive and insolent spirit of the Nipaulese, It will be enough, however, to advert in detail te two instances only, namely, those which have occurred in Sarun and in Goruckpore, which more particularly demonstrate the systematic design of the Nipaulese to encroach on the acknowledged possessions of the Hon. Company, and in fact have been the proximate causes of the war.

In the former District (Sarun) they have at different times established their authority over portions of the territory of Betteah; but the British Government,' abiding by those principles of moderation and forbearance so conspicuous in all its transactions with the Nipaulese, contented itself for a considerable period with remonstrances and representations, trusting that the justice of its cause would become apparent to the Nipaulese Government, and produce its proper effect on the mind of the Rajah and his Ministers. The repeated complaints of its subjects, and the occurrence of a new instance of encroachment in the Tuppah of Nunnoar, forming a portion of Betteah, which led to an affray, in which Subah Luchingir, an officer of the Nipaulese Government, was slain, at last induced the British Govern

to

ment to depute one of its Civil Officers the spot, where he was met by Deputies from the State of Nipaul, in concert with whom proceedings were held and evidence taken for the purpose of ascertaining the claims of the parties. The result left no doubt of the right of the British Government, and of the unjust and violent procedure of the Nipaulese.

A more striking proof of the spirit of rapacity and unjust aggression by which the Nipaulese were actuated, cannot be adduced, than the fact, that after having agreed in the investigation referred to above, and after the actual deputation of officers by each government, the Nipaulese suddenly seized an additional tract of country belonging to the Company at a very short distance from the scene of their former aggressions. This violent and unjust procedure would have warranted an immediate demand for restitution, or even the actual re-occupation of the lands by force; and it may now be subject of regret to the British Government that this course was not pursued. Far, however, from resenting or punishing this daring outrage as it deserved, the British Government resolved to persevere in the amicable course which it had pursued in other cases; and permitted Mr. Young, the gentleman deputed to meet the Nipaulese Commissioners, to extend his inquiries to the lands newly seized as above stated, as well as those which formed the original object of his deputation.

The pretext by which the Nipaulese attempted to justify their occupation of the lands in Nunnoar, which consisted of no less than 22 villages, was that they were included in the Tuppah of Rotehut, forming a division of Pergunnah Sunnown; which Tuppah was restored to the Nipaulese in the year 1780, with the rest of the Terraiee of Muckwanpore, which had been conquered by the British Arms under Major Kinloch. The utter groundlessness of this pretext was proved by the evidence taken by Mr. Young, which clearly established that the disputed lands were situated in the Tuppah of Nunnoar, a portion of Pergunnah Simrawun which had been reserved by the Company at the time of the restitution of Rotehut and Muckwanpore.

[The Declaration goes on to charge the Nipaulese with having acted on a premeditated system of gradual encroachment, which, owing to the unexampled forbearance and moderation of the British Government, they had already found to be successful; and that the assertion of the 22 villages having been included in the Tuppah of Rotehut, was merely brought forward to give a colour to their conduct. The attempt to fix on the subjects of the Hon. Company the guilt of the murder of

Subah

Subah Luchingir, and to urge, because, the Rajah of Betteah and his followers. were not punished for that act, that they were justified in their subsequent proceedings, is rebutted by the uncontested fact, that Luchingir had, previously to the occurrence of the affray in which he died, possessed himself of some villages in Betteah, and was preparing to extend his encroachments. The declaration proceeds:]

As the final resolution of the British Government, with respect to the usurped lands in Betteah, was in part influenced by the conduct of the Nipaulese, relative to the disputed territory of Bootwul Sheoraj in Goruckpore, it will be proper to advert to the circumstances of that transaction in this place.

It is notorious, and it has also been proved by reference to authentic records, and by the unimpeached testimony of living witnesses, that the whole of Bootwul to the very foot of the hills, with the exception of the town of Bootwul alone, was held by the Rajahs of Palpah, from the Nawaub Vizier, for a considerable period antecedent to the Treaty of Cession in 1801; and that it was transferred to the Company by the terms of that treaty, being specifically included in the Schedule thereunto annexed. It is no less matter of notoriety, that the district of Bootwul actually came into the possession of the British Government by virtue of the cession, and that a settlement was made by the collector of Goruckpore with the agent of the late Rajah of Palpah, at that time a prisoner at Catmandhoo for an annual rent of 32,000 rupees, without the semblance of an objection on the part of the Rajah of Nipaul. So it remained until the year 1804, when the Nipaulese commenced that system of gradual encroachment below the hills, which terminated in their occupation of nearly the whole district of Bootwul. The Tuppah of Sheoraj was occupied by the Nipaulese antecedently to the cession; but it is no less certain, that it was a part of the territory of the Vizier, and together with the rest of the low lands skirting the hills in the district of Goruckpore, included in the cession.

The Nipaulese pretended to found their claim to Bootwul and Sheoraj, and to the other portions on the lands below the hills, on the circumstance of their having formed the Terraiee, or Low Lands of the hill countries of Balpah, Goolmee, Pentaneh, Kamchee, &c. which the Nipaulese have conquered. Admitting that the Low Lands were possessed by the chiefs of the neighbouring Hill Principalities, the admission does not affect the question, since it was perfectly ascertained that a considerable period, before the Goorkaho quest, they formed a part of the domi

con

nions of Oude; and the conquest therefore of the independent Hill Principalities cannot give to the conquering power any just claim to other lands, which, though in the occupation of the same Chiefs, were held independent tenures from another State.

The system of gradual, and, at times, almost imperceptible encroachment pur-, sued by the Nipaulese, prevented the British Government from having recourse to such measures as would have re-establish ed its authority in the usurped lands. The remonstrances and discussions which followed the first usurpation in that quarter continued with frequent interruption, for a period of some years, during which the Nipaulese extended their encroachments. At length a proposition was made by the Rajah of Nipaul, that Commissioners should be appointed to meet on the spot, and decide the respective claims, of the parties, under the express condition that both Governments would abide by the issue of it. The proposition was acceded to:-Major Bradshaw proceeded to Bootwull, and met two Commissioners from Catmandhoo: after much delay and procrastination, the proceedings were brought to a close: the most irrefragable proofs, both oral and documentary, established the right of the British Government to the whole of the Low Lands. The Nipaulese Commissioners, unable to reject the force of this evidence, and restrained by the orders of their Court from admitting the right of the British Government, pretended that they were not authorized to come to a decision, and referred the case to the Rajah's Govern ment for orders. The British Government then applied to the Rajah to give up the lands, in consequence of the result of the investigation, which he refused. In this state the affair necessarily remained until the ensuing season, 1813-14. In the mean while, Major Bradshaw proceeded, as soon as the state of the country admitted of his marching, to the frontier of Beteeah, where he was to be met by Commissioners from Nipaul, empowered to adjust, in concert with him, the depending claims in that quarter, no prac tical measures having yet resulted from the inquiry conducted by Mr. Young,

Major Bradshaw, soon after his arrival, renewed a demand, which had been made to the British Government, but not enforced at the time, for the restoration of the 22 villages of Nunnore, previously to any examination of the question of right. This demand was acceded to by the Nipaulese; and the villages were re-occupied by the officers of the Hon. Company, subject to the ultimate disposal of them, according to the issue of the intended inquiry. The Gov.-General in Council, after due deliberation, now conceived, that, in

point of fairness, nothing more could be required than that the Commissioners of both Governments should meet for the purpose of discussing the question on the basis of the investigation actually closed, and of supplying any defects which might be discovered in that investigation by further inquiry on the spot. This proposal being made by Major Bradshaw, with an offer to produce further documents, they declared they would not meet him, nor hold any communication with him; and, revoking the conditional transfer of the reversed lands, demanded that Major Bradshaw should instantly leave the frontier. The British Government, finding all conciliatory proposals rejected with insult, ordered the troops to march; and the Nipaulese forces, and the public officers of that government, retiring on the advance of the British troops, the civil officers of the Hon. Company were enabled to establish their authority in the dis puted lands.

The commencement of the rainy season shortly rendered it necessary to withdraw the regular troops, in order that they might not be exposed to the periodical fevers which reign throughout the tract in that part of the year. The defence of the recovered lands was, of course, uaavoidably entrusted to the police-establishments. The apparent acquiescence, how ever, of the Nipaulese in what had taken place, left no room for apprehension: especially as no real violence had been used in obliging the Nipaulese to retire from the district. On the morning of the 29th of May last, the principal police station in Bootwul was attacked by a large body of the Nipaulese troops, headed by an officer of that Government, named Munraj Foujdar, and driven out of Bootwul, with the loss of 18 men killed and wounded. Among the former was the Darojah, or principal police-officer, who was murdered in cold blood, with circum stances of peculiar barbarity, in the presence of Munraj Foujdar, after surrender ing himself a prisoner. Another police Tannah was subsequently attacked by the Nipaulese troops, and driven out with loss of several persons killed and wounded. In consequence of the impracticability of supporting the police Tannahs by sending troops into the country, at that unhealthy season, it became necessary to withdraw them; and the Nipaulese were thus ena bled to re-occupy the whole of the disputed territory, which they have since retained. The British Government had not ceased to hope that an amicable adjustment of its differences with the State of Nipaul might still be accomplished, when the perpetration of this sanguinary and atrocious outrage, by which the State of Nipaul at once placed itself in the conGENT. MAG. October, 1815.

dition of a public enemy of the British Government, put an end to the possibility of any accommodation, except on the basis of unqualified submission and atonement. Still, the Governor General would not proceed to actual hostilities without giving to the Rajah of Nipaul one other opening for avoiding so serious an issue. Therefore his Excellency wrote to the Rajab of Nipaul, to apprize him of what must be the consequence of the insolent outrage which had taken place, unless the Government of Nipaul should exonerate itself from the act by disavowal and punishment of the perpetrators. This letter received an answer wholly evasive, and even implying menace.

The requisite submission and atonement having thus been withheld, the British Government had no choice left, but an appeal to arms, in order to avenge its innocent subjects, and vindicate its insulted dignity and honour. The unfavourable season of the year alone prevented it from having instant recourse to the measures necessary for chastising the insolence, violence, and barbarity of the Nipaulese, whose whole conduct, not only in the particular cases above detailed, but in every part of their proceedings towards the British Government, for a series of years, has been marked by an entire disregard of the principles of honour, justice, and good faith, aggravated by the most flagrant insolence, presumption, and au dacity, and has manifested the existence of a long-determined resolution on the part of the Court of Catmundhoo, to reject all the just demands of the British Government, and to refer the decision of the questions depending between the two States to the issue of a war.

Ever since the murder of the policeofficers in Bootwul, and during the unavoidable interval of inaction which followed, the Nipaulése, with a baseness and barbarity peculiar to themselves, have endeavoured to destroy the British troops and the subjects of the Company on the frontier of Sarun, by poisoning the water of the wells and tanks in a tract of con-. siderable extent. The fortunate discovery of this attempt baffled the infamous design, and placed incontrovertible proof of it in the hands of the British Govern-, ment.

The impediment to military operations, arising from the season of the year, is now removed, and the British Government is prepared, by the active and vigorous employment of its resources, to compel the State of Nipaul to make that atonement which it is so justly entitled to de mand; the British Government has long borne the conduct of the Nipaulese with unexampled patience, opposing to their violence, insolence, and rapacity, a course

of