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PORTLAND GAZETTE, AND MAINE ADVERTISER
Portland, Published by Arthur Shirley… Exchange Street.
Monday, September 3, 1810
IMPORTANT FACTS
From official documents now before the public, the following facts are ascertained.
That the French have captured and condemned a ship, driven on the shores of France by the stress of weather, and the perils of the sea.
That the French have burnt out ships on the high seas, without any offence except that of belonging to the United States.
That there are not less than one hundred American ships, belonging to citizens of the United States, in the possession of his Imperial Majesty or those of his allies.
That the King of Naples, the brother-in-law and tool of Bonaparte, has confiscated 29 American vessels in conformity to orders from Paris, and their proceeds are to be disposed of, according to the pleasure of his Majesty.
That Spain, Holland, and Italy, under the like orders, are proceeding in the like manner.
That in Holland, an American ship conveying remittances from the American government, has been captured and detained by the French — and all this while our maritime rights are guarded by the solemnity of treaty, and without any notice that this course would be pursued — nay when invited into their ports.
And when our minister remonstrates against these proceedings and wishes for a decisive reply, he is told with the utmost sang froid, that, "for some days past, nothing in the nature of business and unconnected with the marriage of the Empress could be transacted; and that for some days to come the same causes of delay would continue to operate." — and yet our government retain at their Court, the Ambassador of this imperial robber, and suffer our Envoy to remain a witness to the plunder and imprisonment of is fellow citizens. While on the other hand, an ambassador of another power has been dismissed for an expression, which has been construed into a mark of disrespect to our government — and Congress have been called upon, to pledge themselves to support the Administration, in thus vindicating the dignity of the nation.
The facts are now before the public. They do not depend upon the authority of private letters, nor the communications of private individuals — but they are stamped with the seal of state, and no man could doubt their truth, but he who doubts his own existence.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
Gibraltar, July 21.
A person just arrived from the environs of Seville, states, that Ballesteros’ and Copons’ divisions had attacked the French, from the 1st to the 6th, in the neighborhood of Seville, between Algaba and Santiponce; that he had seen upwards of a hundred wounded come into Seville, every day during that time; and that, on the 6th, when he left that neighborhood, the firing of cannon and musketry still continued.
INTELLIGENCE FROM BISCAY TO THE 9TH OF JUNE.
On the 8th of May marched into Irun a regiment of Voltigeurs, 1000 strong, between 800 and 900 of them being Spaniards who had sworn allegiance. The moment they set their foot on the Spanish territory, they killed a French gen d’arms, in the very town of Irun, and many effected their escape.
EXTRACTS FROM INTERCEPTED LETTERS.
Madrid, June 11.
Joseph has dismissed the 60 Spaniards whom he had admitted into his horse-guards, directing them to proceed to their houses, whence they will be allowed to pursue other occupations; and has done the same with the whole of the guard of honor from Granada, who accompanied him on his return. It has been reported that he thought of going to Valencia, and had given it up for fear of the light parties; but with what army be intended to set out upon that expedition, is not known, as we have scarcely 5000 men here.
On the 15th many officers of the Dutch brigade arrived from La Mancha, in consequence of almost the whole of their men having deserted; and they are accordingly very earnest in their applications for leave to go home. It is known, that the number of deserters from the French armies increase every day.
Tarragona, June 19.
It is already some time since the public voice has announced an unexampled crime committed by French perfidy upon the person of the immortal Governor of Gerona, Don Mariano Alvarez. Every day the report obtains more and more credit, which spread several months ago, that that respectable Officer, the pride of his country and a pattern of military virtue, has been poisoned at Figneray, and that the effects of the poison were so violent and so conspicuous that there was no concealing them, whatever means were used for that purpose, and whatever haste was made to bury the corpse in the dark of the night. It was also said, that Bonaparte had first ordered him to be executed, like a malefactor, on the public square of Gerona, that the theatre of his glory might be that of his punishment; but, from an apprehension of the effects such a spectacle might produce, poison was preferred.
(Regency Gazette)
London, June 21.
Off St. Domingo — Gen. Rigaud has been sent by Bonaparte to St. Domingo, with a view of establishing a footing or interest in that island, either by rendering one or the other of the rival chiefs dependent on him by proffer of assistance, or by creating a third party in opposition to both. Rigaud had arrived at Port au Prince in April, and had opened a negotiation with Petion.
The Pope — Letters from Paris, dated the 1st of June, state that the Pope’s confinement in the fortress of Savona had been rendered so severe that even the servants who attended him from Italy are denied access to him. His holiness subsists on the common jail allowance, having refused to receive a monthly sum of money offered him by Bonaparte.
FEW FRENCHMEN LEFT
Such is the scantiness of the male population in France, in consequence of the conscriptions requisite to supply the armies of Spain, that at the fete lately given at a gentlemen’s seat near Paris, and at which there were between 3 and 4000 persons, there were only three unmarried men present. It was reported, on the same occasion, that out of 50,000 men sent to Spain a few months before; 5000 were then alive.
IN PARIS
In the late entertainment given by the city of Paris to their Majesties, the orchestra in the dancing had contained 300 musicians.
On the 10th of June, the Sunday after the arrival of the Emperor at Paris, there were distributed to the people of that city, at the Elysium Fields, 144 butts of wine, 6000 pieces of eatables, and 6000 loaves of bread.
Such is the mutability of human affairs, that the Empress Josephine, who a few months ago was the idol of the Parisians, is now as little noticed or spoken of as though she had been only a menial servant in Bonaparte’s household.
FROM ENGLAND — NEWS OF SPAIN
Monday, September 3, 1810.
The latest accounts from Spain represent the cause of the Spanish Patriots as not hopeless. It is stated that numbers desert from the French armies in Spain daily. In Alicant the Spaniards compel 1000 French prisoners to labour upon the fortifications, in imitation of their invaders. In the provinces which have been conquered the frequent assassination of the French shows that the spirit of the people is far from being subdued. The report that Gen. Crawford had been defeated on the frontiers of Portugal with the loss of 4000 men is not is not corroborated by later accounts.
The Spanish papers accuse Bonaparte of causing the brave defender of Gerona, Governor DON ALVAREZ, to be poisoned.
At the last accounts from Portugal the situation of affairs remained the same. It appears the combined army of English and Portuguese had determined to act only on the defensive.
The French Commander, Massena, found it very difficult to obtain supplies and was endeavoring to force Lord Wellington to an engagement.
LATE FROM HOLLAND
Amsterdam accounts have been received to July the 3rd, by an arrival at New York. They represent the national funds as continuing to depreciate, and their commerce of so little consequence as not to merit a statement, and every kind of business in a languishing state. The Hollanders owe this state of things to French friendship and French policy, so much approved of by Jefferson and others of his party in this country.
On the 3rd of July, King Louis Bonaparte resigned his rank and royal dignity as King of Holland, in favor of his eldest son, Napoleon Louis, and of his brother, Prince Charles Louis Napoleon, (two boys). By the constitution the Queen becomes Regent of the Kingdom. Louis gives as reason for resigning "that he may not be an obstacle which may prevent the good will and intentions of his brother (the Emperor of France) towards the country." !!!
He tells the Hollanders that he shall never forget so good and virtuous a people, and adds the following advice: that "on leaving you I cannot sufficiently recommend to you to receive well the military and civil officers of France. This is the only means to gratify his Majesty the Emperor, on whom your fate (great consolation this), that of your children, and that of your whole country depends." On the 4th of July the French troops were to enter the Capital, and a proclamation was issued requiring the citizens to receive them with respect and friendship, to avoid the fatal consequences which would follow from a contrary conduct.
MISC.
The French have a fleet of 17 sail of the line in Toulon, ready for sea, four of which are three deckers and carry admiral’s flags. Admiral Sir C. Cotton commands the English squadron stationed off that port — it was so much expected the French would put to sea, that the English kept their ships clean for action.
It is stated the object of Bonaparte now is, having compelled the government of Sweden to adopt his policy, to obtain the possession of the Swedish fleet, and the English intend to prevent it — probably Copenhagen it.
BY THE VENUS FRIGATE.
London, June 29.
The French Consul has sequestered all the American and foreign property in Stralsund; but the bona fide American property will be given up as at Tonningen.
The French Minister in Berlin has directed the Consuls to prevent trade, and when the vessels bring colonial produce to ask their arrest.
The sequestered cargoes at Antwerp, have been sold, coffee at 75 cents per lb. teas very high.
We tremble for the many American ships gone to the Prussian ports. All the compromises, though confirmed by the Council of Prizes, have been annulled.
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