Pokroskoe, and Slonckino.On the 27th | the Militia; the whole under the command Captain Gore, Aid-de-Camp to Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Governor in Chief of His Majesty's Provinces in North America, arrived this morning with dispatches from the Lieutenant-General, addressed to Earl Bathurst, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of which the following is an extract and a copy: Montreal, Aug. 16. My Lord, I feel the greatest satisfaction in transmitting to your Lordship a letter which I have this day received by express from Major-General Brock, announcing to me the surrender of Fort Detroit, on the 16th inst. by Brigadier-General Hull, with the army under his command, exceeding two thousand five hundred men, together with twenty-five pieces of ordnance.- -In my dispatches of the 17th and 24th inst. I had the honour of detailing to your Lordship the operations which had taken place in Upper Canada, in consequence of the invasion of that province by the army of the United States. Brigadier-General Hull having crossed the Detroit river on the 12th of last month, with 2,500 men, consisting of regular cavalry and infantry, and militia, bringing with him several field-pieces; and having driven in the militia towards Amherstburg, first advanced to Sandwich, and afterwards approached Amherstburg, with a part of his army to the river Canard, about five miles from the fort, where he was foiled in three attempts to cross that river, and suffered a considerable loss. The garrison of Amherstburg consisted at that time of a subaltern's detachment of the Royal Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Troughton; of a detachment of 300 men of the 41st regiment, under the command of Captain Muir; and of about as many of of Lieut.-Colonel Saint George, Inspecting Field Officer of Militia in the district.— General Brock, relying upon the strong assurances I had given him, of a reinforcement as prompt and as effectual as the circumstances under which I was placed by this new war would permit me to send, adopted the most vigorous measures for the safety of that part of the frontier which had been attacked. In these measures he was most opportunely aided by the fortunate surrender of Fort Michilimachinack, which giving spirit and confidence to the Indian tribes in its neighbourhood, part of whom assisted in its capture, determined them to advance upon the rear and flanks of the American army, as soon as they heard that it had entered the province. The cer tainty of the expected reinforcements, and the weakness of the enemy on the Niagara frontier, had in the mean time induced General Brock to detach from the garrison of Fort George 50 men of the 41st regiment, under Captain Chambers, into the interior of the country, for the purpose of collecting such of the Indians and Militia as might be ready to join him, and afterwards advancing upon the left flank of the enemy. Sixty men of the same regiment were also detached from that garrison to Amherstburg, and 40 to Long Point, to collect the Militia in that quarter. Having made these dispositions, and having previously sent forward Colonel Proctor, of the 41st regiment, to Amherstburg, where he arrived and assumed the command on the 26th of last month, General Brock proceeded himself from York on the 5th instant, for Fort St. George and Long Point on Lake Erie, which last place he left on the 8th following for Amherstburg, with forty rank and file of the 41st regiment, and 260 of the Militia forces. Whilst General Brock was thus hastening his preparations for the relief of Amherstburg, the prospects of the American army under General Hull were becoming every day more unfavourable, and their situation more critical. The intelligence of the fall of Michilimachinack had reached them, which they knew must expose them to an attack of the Indians on one quarter, at the same time that they were threatened on another by the force approaching under Captain Chambers. An Indian tribe of the Wyandots, whom they had in vain attempted to bribe, aided by a detachment of the 41st regiment from Amherstburg, had succeeded in cutting off their supplies on the opposite side of the river, and in intercepting their dispatches, which described in very strong terms their apprehensions and despondency. The losses they had sustained in their different actions upon the Canard river, as well as those for protecting their supplies, together with the mode of warfare pursued by the Indians, had greatly discouraged and dispirited them, and had convinced General Hull how hopeless any attempt would be to storm Fort Amherstburg, without great reinforcements and a battering train. -It was under these circumstances, at this critical period, and when the enemy were beginning to consult their security by intrenching themselves, that General Brock entered Amherstburg with a reinforcement, which he was fortunately enabled to do on the 12th instant, without the smallest molestation, in consequence of our decided naval superiority on the lakes. To his active and intelligent mind, the advantages which the enemy's situation afforded him over them, even with his very inferior force, became immediately apparent; and that he has not failed most effectually to avail himself of those favourable circumstances, your Lordship will, I trust, be satisfied, from the letter which I have the honour of transmitting. -Having thus brought to your Lordship's view the different circumstances which have led to the successful termination of the campaign on the western frontier of Upper Canada, I cannot withhold from Major-General Brock the tribute of applause so justly due to him for his distinguished conduct on this occasion, or omit to recommend him, through your Lordship, to the favourable consideration of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, for the great ability and judgment with which he has planned, and the promptitude, energy, and fortitude with which he has effected the preservation of Upper Canada, with the sacrifice of so little British blood in accomplishing so important a service. My Aid-de-camp, Captain Gore, will have the honour of delivering to your Lordship this dispatch; and, as he is well qualified to give your Lordship information respecting the military resources of this command, I shall beg leave to refer your Lordship to him for farther particulars. I have the honour, &c. GEORGE PREVOST. Head-quarters, Detroit, Aug. 16, 1812. Sir, I hasten to apprize your Excellency of the capture of this very important post. Two thousand five hundred troops have this day surrendered prisoners of war, and about twenty-five pieces of ordnance have been taken without the sacrifice of a drop of British blood. I had not more than seven hundred troops, including militia, and about six hundred Indians, to accomplish this. service. When I detail my good fortune, your Excellency will be astonished. I have been admirably supported by Colonel Proctor, the whole of my Staff, and I may justly say every individual under my command. Believe me, &c. ISAAC BROCK, Major-General. Head-quarters, Montreal, Sept. 1. 1812. My Lord,-Since I had the honour of transmitting to your Lordship my letter of the 26th ult. in charge of my Aid-deCamp, Captain Gore, I have received from Major-General Brock a dispatch, of which the enclosed is a copy, containing the particulars of Brigadier-General Hull's invasion of Upper Canada, which has terminated most gloriously to His Majesty's arms, in that officer's defeat and surrender, as a prisoner of war, with the whole of the northwestern army, together with the fort Detroit, and 33 pieces of ordnance.- -I for ward this dispatch express, in the expecta tion of its reaching Captain Gore previously to his leaving Canada, which, with the colours of the 4th United States' regiment accompanying it, I trust that officer will have the honour of delivering to your Lordship.I have the honour to be, &c. GEORGE PREVOST. To the Right Hon. Earl Bathurst. Head-quarters, Detroit, August 17. Sir, I have had the honour of informing your Excellency, that the enemy effected his passage across the Detroit river on the 12th ult. without opposition, and that after establishing himself at Sandwich, he had ravaged the country as far as Moravia town. Some skirmishes occurred between the troops under Lieut.-Col. St. George and the enemy upon the river Canard, which uniformly terminated in his being repulsed with loss. I judged it proper to detach a force down the river Thames, capable of acting in conjunction with the garrison of Amherstburg offensively; but Captain Chambers, whom I had appointed to direct this detachment, experienced difficulties that frustrated my intentions. The (To be continued.) 479] As illustrated in the Prosecution and Punishment of WILLIAM COBBETT. [480 In order that my countrymen and that the two sureties in the sum of 1,000 pounds each; world may not be deceived, duped, and cheated that the whole of this sentence has been executed upon this subject, I, WILLIAM COBBETT, upon me, that I have been imprisoned the two of Botley, in Hampshire, put upon record years, have paid the thousand pounds TO THE the following facts; to wit: That, on the 24th KING, and have given the bail, Timothy Brown' June, 1809, the following article was pub- and Peter Walker, Esqrs. being my sureties; lished in a London news-paper, called the that the Attorney General was Sir Vicary Gibbs, COURIER:- "The Mutiny amongst the LO- the Judge who sat at the trial Lord Ellenborough, "CAL MILITIA, which broke out at Ely, was the four Judges who sat at passing sentence Ellen"fortunately suppressed on Wednesday by the borough, Grose, Le Blanc, and Bailey; and that "arrival of four squadrons of the GERMAN the jurors were, Thomas Rhodes of Hampstead "LEGION CAVALRY from Bury, under the Road, John Davis of Southampton Place, James "command of General Auckland. Five of the Ellis of Tottenham Court Road, John Richards "ringleaders were tried by a Court-Martial, and of Bayswater, Thomas Marsham of Baker Street, "sentenced to receive 500 lashes each, part of which Robert Heathcote of High Street Marylebone, "punishment they received on Wednesday, and John Maud of York Place Marylebone, George "a part was remitted. A stoppage for their knup- Bagster of Church Terrace Pancras, Thomas "sacks was the ground of the complaint that ex- Taylor of Red Lion Square, David Deane of St. "cited this mutinous spirit, which occasioned John Street, William Palmer of Upper Street "the men to surround their officers, and demand Islington, Henry Favre of Pall Mall; that the "what they deemed their arrears. The first Prime Ministers during the time were Spencer "division of the German Legion halted yesterday Perceval, until he was shot by John Bellingham, "at Newmarket on their return to Bury."- and after that Robert B. Jenkinson, Earl of LiThat, on the 1st July, 1809, I published, in the verpool; that the prosecution and sentence took Political Register, an article censuring, in the place in the reign of King George the Third, and strongest terms, these proceedings; that, for so that, he having become insane during my impridoing, the Attorney General prosecuted, as sedi- sonment, the 1,000 pounds was paid to his son, tious libellers, and by Ex-Officio Information, the Prince Regent, in his behalf; that, during my me, and also my printer, my publisher, and one imprisonment, I wrote and published 364 Essays of the principal retailers of the Political Register; and Letters upon political subjects; that, during that I was brought to trial on the 15th June, the same time, I was visited by persons from 197 1810, and was, by a Special Jury, that is to say, cities and towns, many of them as a sort of depuby 12 men out of 48 appointed by the Master of ties from Societies or Clubs; that, at the expirathe Crown Office, found guilty; that, on the tion of my imprisonment, on the 9th of July, 1812, 20th of the same month, I was compelled to give a great dinner was given in London for the pur bail for my appearance to receive judgment; pose of receiving me, at which dinner upwards of and that, as I came up from Botley (to which 600 persons were present, and at which Sir place I had returned to my family and my farm Francis Burdett presided; that dinners and other on the evening of the 15th), a Tipstaff went parties were held on the same occasion in many down from London in order to seize me, per- other places in England; that, on my way home, sonally; that, on the 9th of July, 1810, I, toge- I was received at Alton, the first town in Hampther with my printer, publisher, and the news-shire, with the ringing of the Church bells; that man, were brought into the Court of King's Bench to receive judgment; that the three former were sentenced to be imprisoned for some months in the King's Bench prison; that I was sentenced to be imprisoned for two years in Newgate, the great receptacle for malefactors, and the front of which is the scene of numerous hangings in the course of every year; that the part of the prison in which I was sentenced to be confined is sometimes inhabited by felons, that felons were actually in it at the time I entered it; that one man was taken out of it to be transported in about 48 hours after I was put into the same yard with him; and that it is the place of confinement for men guilty of unnatural crimes, of whom there are four in it at this time; that, besides this imprisonment, I was sentenced to pay a thousand pounds TO THE KING, and to give security for my good behaviour for seven years, myself in the sum of 3,000 pounds, and a respectable company met me and gave me a WM. COBBETT. Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent-Garden. VOL. XXII. No. 16.] LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1812. [Price Is. 481] To the Freeholders of the County of Gentlemen, Southampton. Our triumph yesterday was as complete as even I could have wished; for, though the Sheriff did, at last, decide the disputed point as to the show of hands against me, there was, I believe, not a single individual present, who was not convinced that a majority of the numerous assemblage were in my favour; or, rather, in favour of the honour and freedom of the country. In the course of my address to you, and which you received in a manner which convinced me that success must finally attend our exertions, I made many assertions, which assertions, I will, in my next Number, prove to be strictly true. I am now absent from my books and papers; but, in my next, I will not only go fully into all the matters here alluded to; but will also lay before you a plan for effecting an emancipation from the trammels which now disgrace the Freeholders of this county. In the mean while, Gentlemen, I am Your faithful friend, WILLIAM COBBETT. Winchester, October 14, 1812. OFFICIAL PAPERS. NORTHERN WAR.--Sixteenth Bulletin of [482 sources in flour, soap, drugs, &c. and The barous a manner. All the population of the towns retires upon Moscow. It is said there are now one million and a half of souls in that great city. They fear the result of these crowds. The inhabitants say that General Kutusow has been appointed Commander in Chief of the Russian army, and that he took the command on the 28th.The Grand Duke Constan tine, who had returned to the army, having fallen ill, has quitted it.-A little rain has fallen, which has laid the dust that incommoded the army. The weather to-day is very fine-it will last, as they believe, to the 19th Oct., which gives us still 40 days' campaign. Seventeenth Bulletin of the Grand Army. The head-quarters were, on the 31st of Q The brick. There are many parish churches, weather here as we have in France at the before Moscow.- -At the battle of Kras- -We have thrown six bridges over the The following are the Russian articles alluded to in the Seventeenth Bulletin. Military Intelligence.- -On the 4th (16th) of August, the Emperor Napoleon, at the head of his whole army, 100,000 strong, made his appearance before Smolensk. He was received about six wersts from the city, by the corps of Lieut.-Gen. Rayewsky. The battle commenced at six o'clock in the morning, and at noon became most bloody. The courage of the Russians overcame numbers, and the enemy was overthrown. The corps of Gen. Doctorow, which had arrived to replace that of Rayewsky, attacked the enemy on the 5th (17th) at day-light, and the engagement lasted till night-fall. The enemy was repulsed at every point, and the Russian soldiers, full of that courage and intrepi dity which animates them in the defence of their country, fought with desperacy, invoking the assistance of the Almighty. lensk was a prey to the flames, and our -But during this time the city of Smotroops took a position between the Dnieper, the village of Peneva, and Doroghoboni. reduced to ashes by the enemy, cost them -The capture of Smolensk, which was more than 20,000 men. The inhabitants loss in killed and wounded on our side had all left it previous to the battle. The nerals Skalen and Bulla are amongst the amounts to 4,000 men. The brave Geformer.- -We have made a great number of prisoners, and whole battalions of the enemy's army were obliged to lay down their arms in order to escape death. Three regiments of Cossacks and three of cavalry overthrew sixty squadrons of the enemy's horse, commanded by the King of Naples. Report of Lieutenant-General Count Witt genstein to his Majesty the Emperor, dated Oswec, July 31 (Aug. 12), 1812. I have received information from my advanced posts, that the enemy was making every effort from Polotsk to carry them, and by prisoners and deserters, that the French Grand Army was constantly receiving reinforcements of Bavarian and Wirtem |