The news from this quarter is interesting. Letters of a late date from Vienna announce the important fact of Mr Adair, the British Ambassador, ha ving reached the Dardanelles on the 10th of November, and having immedi. ately entered upon negotiations to restore peace between England and the Porte. In order to evince the pacific disposition of this country towards the Porte, Turkish ships are no longer molested by our cruizers. Letters from Trieste speak of it as no longer doubtful that peace between England and Austria and Turkey would instantly be concluded, and that the two latter would certainly declare war against France. Another letter states that the Turkish and Austrian Courts had united in a remonstrance to that of Russia on its recent conduct, and had declared that, should no satisfactory assurances be given by the Russian Cabinet respecting its future intentions, those powers would join Great Britain in the war against Russia. The last account is from Malta, and asserts that a definitive treaty of peace had actually been concluded between the Vizier Bairac ter, and the British Ambassador; that immediately after the Porte had declated war against France. RUSSIA. The Emperor Alexander arrived at Petersburgh from Erfurth on the 4th November. He experienced a very cool reception, and the public discontent against the connexion with, or rather subservience to, the Court of France, was daily increasing. It is reported that the Grand Duke Constantine is to be King of Poland, and that the Turkish provinces of Bessarabia, Wallachia, and Moldavia, are to be guaranteed to Rus sia by Bonaparte. The Emperor Alexander, in imitation of Bonaparte, has ordered that no foreign merchandise shall be admitted into Russia, without certificates of origin, signed by the Russian consuls at the place where they are shipped, or the magistrates of the place. The Petersburgh Court Gazette has published an account of the action off Baltic Port. It says that the Russians fought with great courage, but that, from the superiority of the British squadron under Sir Samuel Hood, they were at last compelled to yield the palm of victory to the British. We scarcely need remind our readers that Sir Samuel Hood had but two British sail of the line under him; that the Swedes did not fire a shot, and that the Russians were superior in number to the combined British and Swedish squadrons. SWEDEN. The contents of former Gottenburgh mails gave us reason to believe that the armistice in Finland (as stated in our last, p. 793.) would not terminate in a pacific negotiation, and it is actually already at an end. Of the causes of this rupture of the armistice, we are quite in the dark. It may have been an advantage wantonly taken of the Swedish inferiority by the Russian General, whose troops have conducted themselves disgracefully in many instances in this campaign; or it may be owing to the refusal of Alexander to ratify the armistice, either view. ing the conquest of Finland as tolerably certain, or acting on the request of Bonaparte, to allow no repose to a Monarch who, while Emperors crouched before the upstart usurper, disdained to join the servile groupe, and dared to describe him as he is, and to bid defiance to his power. Hostilities have in consequence recommenced, but they have not been unfavourable to the Swedish arms, as will appear from the following official accounts: port from Colonel Sandels, Chief of Brigade, touching a severe battle which has been fought in the vicinity of Iden. satmi. "Since the armistice concluded between the Swedish and Russian armies was declared to be at an end, yesterday arrived a Russian Officer from Lieut. Gen. Tutchskoff, with the intelligence that hostilities would be immediately recommenced. Soon after I received a report that my advanced posts had been attacked by the Russians, and compelled, by the enemy's great superiority in numbers, to fall back to Werda-bridge, which was soon after broken down after the troops had crossed it. A violent cannonade immediately commenced by the enemy from the neighbouring heights, which was vigorously returned from our side; and Prince Dolgorucki, who commanded the Russian van, was mortally wounded at the beginning of the action, and expired soon after. In the mean time the enemy's chasseurs and infantry crossed the bridge, which they had repaired, formed in iine, and advanced against our troops, notwith standing the vigorous cannonade which was kept up from our batteries, which they attempted to carry, but were repulsed by our troops with the utmost intrepidity and valour, and pursued as far as Werda Bridge. In this action the enemy's loss consisted in 360 men kil led and wounded, and 70 taken pri. sobers, among them two field officers. "According to the account of the prisoners, the enemy's force, in the above affair, which lasted six hours, exceeded 6000 men, commanded by Lieutenant-General. Tutchiskoff, and under him Generals Rachmanoff, Prince Dolgorucki, and Alexeijeff. At the close of the action the Russian Commanding General proposed a suspension at hostilities for 24 hours to bury his dead, which I was the more ready to grant, as our loss was also considerable, con. sisting of 130 killed and 250 wounded. "J. A. SANDELS, Chief of Brigade. "Brigade-quarters, Idensalmi, Oct. 28." The Swedish Gazettes contain further accounts of various sanguinary skirmishes in Finland, without any decisive advantage to either party. The following is an account of an action between the Swedish and Russian flotilla : "A division of the Swedish flotilla, consisting of 35 gun-boats, under the command of Lieut. Col. Brant, has had an action with a Russian flotilla, of 40 gun-boats and several armed country barges, in the channel between Westerby and Frisalo (between Abo and Nystad). The firing began at half-past twelve on the 30th August, and continued with great tury till half past six in the evening, when the enemy was forced to retreat, and was pursued till about nine o'clock, most of his gun-boats having then struck their colours, notwithstanding which they continued to retreat in the greatest haste, till the approaching night, and the difficulty of. the navigation, made it dangerous for the Swedes to persevere in the pursuit, especially as the enemy might every moment have been reinforced. "However, the loss of the enemy during the action has been considerable. One of his gun-boats was blown up, and eight sunk, with several of the smaller vessels. His loss in men cannot be exactly ascertained, but to judge from the number found in the boats wrecked on the coast, it must have been very severe. Our loss has also been considerabie.-It consists of two gun-boats, one blown up, and the other sunk, with four officers killed, three wounded, and 200 men killed and wounded. There is every hope that we may be able to save the guns of our own as well as of the enemy's sunk boats." The Swedish Admiral Vane has reported to the King that he had inspected Port Baltic, and found all the Russian fleet gone, except two frigates, which had lowered their top-gallant masts. A large frigate lay stranded in the bay, dismasted, and with no person on board. The following extract of a letter from an English traveller of distinction, dated Stockholm, Aug. 12. contains some interesting particulars: "The day after my arrival at headquarters, I was presented to his Majesty, who received me most handsomely, and asked me if I would attend him at the review, which being gratefully ac cepted, he ordered a horse for me from his own stable. The sight was truly gra gratifying, not only on account of the exercise, which was gone through very well indeed; but to see the countenances of the men, as their beloved Gustavus approached them, was beyond description-their eyes sparkled as fire, and filial love and settled courage darted in every look. The King seemed himself pleased, and asking me how I was entertained, I think I said no more than was just, when I observed, that such men deserve to be under the command of the best of Kings. "I had twice the honour to dine with him in a select party of friends, as he called it, and our little island was frequently the topic of conversation. When he spoke of the British nation, he expressed himself in terms that would have pleased both high and low to hear. He seemed well acquainted with our best institutions, and praised many of our internal regulations, but expressed a dislike to our penal laws. The table was neat and frugal, as beseemed a tent, and the King never drinks more than two glasses of wine at dinner, unless he gives a toast, which he did both times I had the honour to dine with him. He gave "His august ally King George, and may he long live to enjoy the bles sings of his people." After dinner, as also before we sat down, we all stood (as is the custom of this country) in silent devotion, returning thanks to the Almighty Giver of all good. "The King is very strict in his attention to religious matters; every morning and evening he is present at the chorusses with his superior officers, when the soldiers are drawn up in a square, and after prayers being read by one of the field-chaplains from a pulpit made in an instant of drums, all join in a hymn. "The King is nearly 30 years of age, and has a manly character. It seems he is convinced that he shall gain in the end. I never saw him change counte-nance, or be alarmed at any thing, unless when fresh reports were brought of the horrid conduct of the Russians in Finland, as they retreated; then he sighed, and looked as if his heart had ached grievously. But more of him when I see you again. Suffice it to say, I left this young monarch with a sense of esteem and veneration that shall follow me to the grave.". The following very extraordinary swindling transaction is stated in a French newspaper to have recently t ken place at Gottenburgh :— "One of the first houses in Gottenburgh received a letter from London, requesting them to make diligent înquiries after a young Englishman, whose person was particularly described, and who had absconded from the house of a rich banker, with bank notes to the a mount of L. 12,000 Sterling, and had embarked for Sweden; as he was of a respectable family, it was requested that, if found, and if he restored the plunder, 300 guineas in gold might be given him, for his conveyance to the Indies, where no more would be heard of him. The Swedish merchant, to whom the letter was addressed, was very diligent in his inquiries; and one day upon the Exchange discovered a young man who answered to the description. He addressed him, ard, seeing that be was an Englishman, invited him to follow him. The young man hesitated, reddened, turned pale, and even shed tears; in a word, before he had arrived at the merchant's house, he had contes sed all. Arrived in his closet, he threw himself at his feet, begged of him not to be delivered up to justice, and gave him the L. 12,000 Sterling, which was still enclosed in a port-folio, with the seal of the banker. The Swedish merchant made many remonstrances to him, but according to his instructions, gave him the 300 guineas, and promised to procure him a favourable opportunity of going to Bergal. He made haste to inform the banker in London that his property was recovered. It was all a mystery to the banker, who wrote back to the Swedish merchant that he did not understand what he meant. Our Rea ders will by this time understand it ;the penitent youth was a sharper, his 300 golden guineas were very good, but the bank notes which he left in the hands of the Swede were all forged!!" DENMARK, The Spanish Marquis de la Romana wrote a letter to the King of Denmark, and sent him back 14 Danish prisoners, because they were carried away on board the transport which brought him to Sweden, and had been liberated by his interference ;-but this royal ape of the imperial tyrant of France refused both the letter and prisoners, declaring that he would no longer receive any thing or any person who had been contaminated by the society of the English! The Spanish regiments of Princessa and Asturias are to be confined in the citadel of Copenhagen; and Danish pri vate advices say, that 150 officers and soldiers are to be shot, for having dared to resist the French Gen. Frerion, who wanted to force them to abjure their allegiance to their lawful Sovereign. All the Spaniards that remained in Ham burgh and Altona have been sent, dis armed and prisoners, towards Mentz and Wesel; officers and men were redu. ced to rations of bread and water, and most of the privates were bound down in waggons, when they reached Harbue, HOLLAND. On the 3d November the following notice was issued by the Minister of Justice and Police at Amsterdam: "The Minister hereby informs all whom it may concern, that in pursuance of a decree of his Majesty, dated Sept. 2. 1808, he is charged, in the first place, either by means of gens d'armes, or such other as he, the Minister, shall think proper, to cause to be conveyed beyond the frontiers of this kingdom all passengers, without distinction, who shall have been landed here out of vessels proceeding from England, or from any colonies or territories occupied by the British power, and who cannot be sent off again in the vessels by which they may have arrived; which measure will be carried into execution at their own expense, if they are in any respect in a condition to defray it; and they are seriously admonished carefully to avoid again entering upon this territory, on the pain of being more rigorously dealt with. Se. condly, to burn or destroy all letters arriving from England, or any of the territories occupied by the British power, or going to the said countries. in all cases where they are intercepted by the ministers of justice and police, without any distinction as to their being addressed to persons resident within or with out the kingdom." Dec. 1808. PERSIA. The India Directors have received recent accounts from Mr Rich (who has succeeded Mr Hine) at Bagdat, which are represented to be of a very favourable nature. The intrigues of France in Persia are stated to have alarmed the jealousy of the principal natives, who, supported by popular opinion, had called the Persian cabinet to a sense of its interests, and the cultivation of a friendly intercourse with British India. Some arrangements entered into between the Bombay Government and the Imaun of Muscat, are mentioned as having contributed to this event, by exciting an alarm, that in the event of any measure being adopted in Persia hostile to the interests of the English, they would assist the Imaun to shake off his nominal dependence. Gombroon and Ormus, which it is reported Persia has ceded to France, are but loosely attached to the Persian mo narchy, and are at present under the government of Syed Saad, Imaun of Muscat. On being informed of the intended cession, the Imaun declared to the British Resident, that if such an event should be attempted, he will surrender those districts to the English, together with the island of Kishur, as he would rather have the English than the French for neighbours. The people of Gombroon were lately relieved from a state of famine by succours from the Malabar coast, and they feel in consequence attachment and gratitude towards our Government. The isle of Khanick is a position of much lo cal advantage, and is commanded by a Sheik friendly to the English, and it is believed, in case of emergency, that he would follow the example of the Imaun. on the 4th November from the Baltic, from whence he proceeded to Brahan Castle, the seat of Lord Seaforth, to join his lady. The Amethyst frigate, Captain Sey mour, has taken a large French frigate called the Thetis, after one of the bravest and most desperate actions which has been fought this war. The following is Capt. Seymour's account of the action, which he sent to the Admiralty, dated November 22. "I have the most sincere pleasure in acquainting you, that his Majesty's ship the Amethyst, under my command, cap tured, the icth inst. at night, the French frigate La Thetis, of 44 guns and a crew of 330 men, who had served years together, and 106 soldiers, from L'Orient for Martinique, Being close to the N. W. point of Groa, she was seen a quarter before seven P. M. and immediately chased; and a close action be gan before ten o'clock, which continued with little intermission till twenty minutes after midnight. Having fallen on board for a short time after ten, and from a quarter past eleven, when she intentionally laid us on board, till she surrendered (about an hour,) she lay fast alongside, the fluke of our best bower anchor having entered her fore. most maindeck port, and she was, after great slaughter, boarded and taken possession of, and some prisoners received from her, before we disengaged the ships. Shortly after, a ship of war was seen closing fast under a press of sail, which proved to be the Triumph, Sir Thomas Hardy. At half past one o'clock the Shannon joined, received prisoners from, and took La Thetis in tow. She is wholly dismasted, dreadfully shattered, and had her commander (Pisun, Capitaine de Vaisseau), and 135 men killed; 102 wounded, amongst whom are all her officers except three. The Ame. thyst has lost 19 killed and 51 wound. ed; amongst the former is Lieut. Ber. nard Kindall, a most promising young officer, of the royal marines, who suf fered greatly; and that invaluable officer, Lieut. S. J. Payne, dangerously wounded; the mizzen-mast shot away, and the ship much damaged and leaky. No language can convey an adequate idea of the cool and determined bravery shewn by every officer and man of this Chip, and their truly noble behaviour bas laid me under the greatest obliga tions. The assistance I received from my gallant friend the First Lieut. Mr Goddard Blennerhassett, an officer of great merit and ability, is beyond all encomium. Licuts. Hill and Crouch, and Mr Fair the master (whose admirable exertions, particularly at the close of the action, when the enemy was on fire, the boarders employed, and the ship had suddenly made two feet water, surmounted all difficulties), are happily preserved to add lustre to his Majesty's ser vice. In justice to Monsieur Dede, the surviving Commander of La Thetis, I must observe, he acted with much firmness, and was the only Frenchman on the quarter-deck when we boarded her." Mr Gibbings, master's mate of the Amethyst, a most promising youth of 18, is dead of his wounds at Capt. Sey. mour's house at Plymouth. He was mortally wounded when gallantly rushing forward among the leading boarders to take possession of the Thetis. He distinguished himself at the passage of the Dardanelles. Twenty-one of the wounded prisoners in the Thetis have died since their arrival, which makes the enormous tutal loss of 157 killed and 100 wounded. The Gazette also contains a letter from Captain Cathcart, late of the sloop Seagull, dated Christiansand, June 10, 1808, giving an account of the capture of that vessel by the Danish brig of war Lougen, of 20 guns, and six gun-boats, most of them carrying two 24-pounders, and 50 to 70 men each, The Seagull chased the Lougen to the mouth of Christiansand harbour, and would have certainly taken ber, when unfortunate. ly it became quite calm, which enabled the gun boats to place themselves on each quarter, and take the Seagull every shot, while the brig had the same advantage on the larboard bow. Five of the carronades on the Seagull's la:board side (the only one they could bring to bear on the enemy) being dismounted, every method to bring the vessel round failing, the rigging and sails all shot to pieces, five feet water in the hold, and eight men killed and 20 wounded, the colours were hauled down; but there was scarcely time to remove the wounded before she sunk. Several of the Danes perished in the Seagull, so precipitately did she go down, Among the Killed |