738 



BRITAIN. 



Britain. In adjusting the affair of the Chesapeake and Leo- 

 pard, which had so long been a subject of difference 

 between the two countries, the British ambassador 

 was more successful. He was authorised by the 

 Prince Regent to offer the immediate restoration of 

 the men who, in consequence of Admiral Berkeley's 

 orders, were forcibly taken out of the Chesapeake, 

 to the vessel from which they were taken ; or, if 

 that ship should be no longer in commission, to such 

 sea-port of the United States as the American go- 

 vernment might name for that purpose. Mr Forster 

 was also instructed to offer to the American govern- 

 ment a suitable pecuniary provision for the sufferers, 

 in consequence of the attack upon the Chesapeake, 

 including the families of those seamen who unfortu- 

 nately fell in the action, and of the wounded man- 

 ners. These offers of reparation were accepted as 

 satisfactory by the American government ; and the 

 symptoms of a conciliatory disposition, which were 

 on this occasion evinced by both governments, en- 

 couraged a hope that every other ground of differ- 

 ence would speedily be removed. These hopes, how- 

 ever, subsequent events have shewn to be fallacious. 

 The report of the committee of foreign relations, on 

 the President's message, plainly intimates, that war 

 alone can decide the differences which subsist between 

 the two countries ; and naval and military prepara- 

 tions are recommended as the prelude to a declara- 

 tion of war. The threatening attitude which Ame- 

 rica has now assumed, appears somewhat inconsist- 

 ent with that hesitating policy which she has main- 

 tained since the 2d of February, respecting the en- 

 forcement of the non-intercourse act j and a short 

 time will shew, whether her warlike preparations are 

 the spontaneous efforts of an independent people, de- 

 termined to redress their wrongs, or the ostentatious 

 menaces of a faction, blinded by foreign influence, 

 and expecting to obtain a compliance with their 

 views, from the hazardous chances of war. 

 Meeting of On tne 7th of January, parliament was opened by 



Parliament, a speech from the Prince Regent, which was deliver- 

 anuary ed by commission. The Regent expressed his deep 

 7, 1812. sorrow at the continuance of his majesty's indisposi- 

 tion, and at the unhappy disappointment of those 

 hopes of his majesty's early recovery, which had 

 been cherished by his family and his people. Par- 

 liament was congratulated on the complete success of 

 the measures which had been pursued for the defence 

 and security of the kingdom of Portugal. The sur- 

 prise of General Girard's division by General Hill, 

 was noticed as a brilliant and important enterprize ; 

 and the consummate judgment and skill displayed by 

 .Lord Wellington in the direction of the campaign, 

 received its full praise. The perseverance and gal- 

 lantry of the Spaniards, and the fitness of the new 

 system of warfare to the actual condition of the 

 Spanish nation, are adduced as reasons for continu- 

 ing to afford the most effectual aid to the Spa- 

 nish people. The capture of the islands of Bour- 

 bon and the Mauritius, and of the settlement of 

 Batavia, are noticed as giving great additional 



PRINCE 



REGKNT. 



1812. 



security to the British commerce and possessions in Britain, 

 the East Indies. The speech recommends to the at- 

 tention of parliament the propriety of providing 

 such measures for the future government of the Bri- 

 tish possessions in India, as shall secure their inter- 

 nal prosperity, and enable us to derive from these 

 flourishing dominions the utmost degree of advan- 

 tage to the commerce and revenue of the united king- 

 dom. The speech regrets, that though the affair of 

 the Chesapeake had been finally settled, various im- 

 portant subjects of difference with the government 

 of the United States still remained unadjusted, and 

 states, that the Prince Regent will continue to em- 

 ploy such means of conciliation as may be consistent 

 with the honour and dignity of his majesty's crown, 

 and with the due maintenance of the maritime and 

 commercial rights of the British empire. 



The only subject of national importance which 

 has been brought under the consideration of parlia- 

 ment, was the state of Ireland. On the 31st of Ja- 

 nuary 1812, Lord Fitzwilliam, in the House of 

 Peers, moved for a committee of the whole house to 

 take into consideration the state of Ireland. After 

 a long debate, in which the usual arguments for Ca- 

 tholic emancipation were eloquently urged, the mo- 

 tion was rejected by a majority of 82, the numben 

 being 162 and 79- The same motion was made in 

 the House of Commons by Lord Morpeth. The 

 debate continued two days, and the motion was lost 

 by a majority of 94, the numbers being 229 and 

 125. 



The Spanish campaign of 1812 was ppened by an Valenci 

 event highly disastrous to the cause of the allies, and the 

 The army under General Blake, which was posted army of 

 in the entrenched camps of Manessa and Quarte, in Ge ' Bla 

 the neighbourhood of Valencia, was attacked on the " ie C p lei 

 morning of the 26th December, by the French army 

 under Marshal Suchet. After a severe battle, in 

 which the Spaniards displayed the greatest gallantry, 

 the French succeeded in forcing the entrenched 

 camps of Quarte and Manessa, and the cannon, bag- 

 gage, and caissons of the Spaniards fell into their 

 hands. General Count Reille arriving at this mo- 

 ment on the Aldenga, turned the enemy, and made a 

 great number of prisoners. General Blake being 

 thus cut off from the road of Murcia, threw himself 

 with his troops into Valencia, which was immediately 

 invested by the French. On the night of the 22d 

 of January, the French opened trenches within 70 

 or 80 toises of the Spanish works, and in the space 

 of four days, their mines were carried within 50 toises 

 of the fosse. In consequence of these preparations, 

 the Spaniards abandoned their fortified lines, defend- 

 ed by 80 pieces of cannon. On the 5th of January, 

 the bombardment of the town commenced ; and, on 

 the 6th, Suchet offered a capitulation, which was 

 refused. In the space of three days, 2700 bombs 

 were thrown into the city, which was on fire in se- 

 veral places. Two batteries of 10 24-pounders each, 

 were erected for the purpose of making a trench in 

 the interior defences, and the engineers had effected 



tiafied with the rigorous and unexpected restrictions to which their trade with the French dominions has been subjected, ai 

 which, if not discontinued, will require at least corresponding restrictions in imitations from France into the Unite 



id 

 United 



3 



