59] that His Majesty's late ship Macedonian was captured on the 25th inst. by the United States' ship United States, Commodore Decatur, Commander; the detail is as follows:A short time after daylight, steering N. W. by W. with the wind from the southward, in latitude 29 deg. N. and longitude 29 deg. 30 min. W. in the exe well as in the mode of the object which they embraced; as by the former, the discontinuance of the practice of impressment was to be immediate, and to precede the prohibitory law of the United States relative to the employment of British seamen; when, by the latter, both these measures are deferred, to take effect simultaneously hereafter.- -Having made a precise ten-cution of their Lordships' orders, a sail der of such law, and exhibited the instructions which warranted it to your Lordship, I have learnt with surprise that it does not appear to your Lordship that I am authorized to propose any specific plan on the subject of impressment. I still hope that the overtures made by me may again be taken into consideration by His Majesty's Government; and as I leave town this afternoon for the United States, that it will authorize some Agent to proceed thither, and adopt them as a basis for reconciliation between the two countries, an event so devoutly to be wished.I have the honour to be, my Lord, your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) JONA. RUSSELL. The Right Hon. Lord Castlereagh, &c. was seen on the lee beam, which I immediately stood for, and made her out to be a large frigate under American colours: at nine o'clock I closed with her, and she commenced the action, which we returned; but from the enemy keeping two points off the wind, I was not enabled to get as close to her as I could have wished. After an hour's action the enemy backed and came to the wind, and I was then enabled to bring her to close battle: in this situation I soon found the enemy's force too superior to expect success, unless some very fortunate chance occurred in our favour; and with this hope I continued the battle to two hours and ten minutes, when, having the mizen-mast shot away by the board, top-masts shot away by the caps, mainyard shot in pieces, lower-masts badly wounded, lower rigging all cut to pieces, a small proportion only of the fore-sail left to the fore-yard, all the guns on the quarter-deck and forecastle disabled but On board the Lark, 7th Nov. 1812. Sir, I have the honour to inform you, two, and filled with wreck, two also on the that I am now passing the Narrows, and main deck disabled, and several shot beexpect to land in New York this day. Itween wind and water, a very great proconceive it to be iny duty to repair to the portion of the crew killed and wounded, seat of government, and shall set off as soon and the enemy comparatively in good obtain I my baggage. In the mean order, who had now shot a-head, and was time, I am sorry to inform you, that the about to place himself in a raking position, second proposition for an armistice was re- without our being enabled to return the jected like the first, and a vigorous prose-fire, being a perfect wreck, and unmacution of the war appears to be the only honourable alternative left to us. I have the honour to be, with great consideration and respect, Sir, your very obedient serJONA. RUSSELL. 1 Mr. Russell to Mr. Monroe. (Private). as can vant, The Hon. James Monroe, &c. Sir, It is with the deepest regret I have to acquaint you for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, nageable log; I deemed it prudent, though a painful extremity, to surrender His Majesty's ship; nor was this dreadful alternative resorted to till every hope of success was removed even beyond the reach of chance, nor till, I trust, their Lordships will be aware, every effort had been made against the enemy by myself, my brave officers, and men; nor should she have been surrendered whilst a man lived on board, had she been manageable. I am sorry to say, our loss is very severe: I fund by this day's muster, thirty-six killed, three of whom lingered a short time after the battle; thirty-six severely wounded, many of whom cannot recover; and thirtytwo slightly wounded, who may all do well:-total, one hundred and four. The truly noble and animating conduct William Miller, ditto; Hugh Hughes, ditto; WOUNDED.-Lieutenant David Hope, severe. ly; Lieutenant John Bulford, slightly; Mr. Henry Roebuck, master's mate, slightly; Mr. George Greenway, midshipman, severely; Mr. Francis Baker, volunteer, 1st class, slightly; Samuel Latchford, sail-maker, ditto; James Bulgin, armourer, ditto; James Nichols, quar. ter-master, dangerous; John Lane, captain foretop, severely; Thomas Homes, captain mast, ditto; Peter Johnson (1), captain after-guard, severely; Elias Anderson, seaman, severely; slightly; Thomas Richards, sail-maker's mate, Richard Stone, ditto, ditto; Thomas Dowler, ditto, ditto; Jacob Logholm, ditto, amputated leg; George Griffin, ditto, severely; Andrew ditto; Thomas Ryan, ditto, severely; John Thorn, ditto, slightly; James Fenwick, ditto, Bates, ditto, slightly; Philip Reed, ditto, amputated leg; William Biggs, ditto, severely; ditto, severely; Giles Edmonds, ditto, slightly John Gordon, ditto, slightly: Charles Hand, Richard Hiffern, ditto, ditto; Thomas Whitaker, ditto, dangerously; James Duffy, ditto, slightly; James Smith, ditto, dangerously George Glass, ditto, slightly; Thomas Storkhill, ditto, severely; William Burnett, ditto, danditto, dangerously, since dead; Emanuel Isaacs, of my officers, and the steady bravery of my crew, to the last moment of the battle, must ever render them dear to their country.- -My first Lieutenant, David Hope, was severely wounded in the head towards the close of the battle, and taken below; but was soon again on deck, displaying that greatness of mind and exertion, which, though it may be equalled, ean never be excelled; the third Lieutenant, John Bulford, was also wounded, but not obliged to quit his quarters: second Lieutenant, Samuel Mottley, and he, deserves my highest acknowledgments. The cool and steady conduct of Mr. Walker, the master, was very great during the battle, as also that of Lieutenants Wilson and Magill, of the Marines.—On being taken on board the enemy's ship, I ceased to wonder at the result of the battle. The United States is built with the scantling of a seventy-four gun ship, mounting thirty long 24-pounders (English ship guns) on her main deck, and twenty-two forty-gerously; Daniel Eagle, ditto, severely; James two pounder carronades, with two long twenty-four pounders on her quarter deck and forecastle, howitzer guns in her tops, and a travelling carronade on her upper deck, with a complement of four hundred and seventy-eight picked men. The enemy has suffered much in masts, rigging and hull above and below water; her loss in killed and wounded, I am not aware of, but I know a Lieutenant and six men have been thrown overboard.--Enclosed you will be pleased to receive the names of the killed and wounded on board the Macedonian; and have the honour to be, &c. JNO. S. GARDEN. To J. W. Croker, Esq. Admirally. List of Officers and Men Killed and Wounded on board His Majesty's Ship Macedonian, in Action with the United States. KILLED. Mr. James Holmes, boatswain; Mr. Thomas James Nankivell, master's mate; Mr. Dennis Colwell, schoolmaster; William Brown, boatswain's mate; John Storvey, captain forecastle; John Wells, captain foretop; Joseph Newell, captain mast; Alexander Johnson, seaman; John Pierson, ditto; John Smith (1), ditto; William Hodge, ditto; William Aldridge, ditto; John M Wiggan, ditto; John King, ditto; Thomas Curtis, ditto; George Watson, ditto; Thomas Hutchinson, ditto; John Card, ditto; Thomas Kayton, ditto; George Insliff, ditto; William Shingles, ditto; James Beat, ditte; John Hill, ditto; John Wallis, ditto; James Kelly, ditto; James Warren, ditto; Joaquin Joze, Joze de Compass, boys; John Johnson, sergeant of marines; Philip Molloy, private; Edward Skinner, ditto; Matthew Jackson, ditto; William Firth, ditto; M'Carthy, ditto, slightly; John Wilson (1), ditto, severely; John Active, ditto, slightly; ditto, ditto; Robert Nichols, ditto, dangerThomas Steward, ditto, ditto; Michael Beeby, ously, since dead; Andrew Smith, ditto, slightly; T. Turner, ditto, ditto; Mathew Davison, ditto, severely; David Conner, ditto, danger. Jenkins, ditto, sigutly, Richard Sundonwood, ously; John Lala, ditto, severely; Thomas ditto, severely; David Nolton, ditto, slightly; Lawrence Mulligan, ditto, ditto; Thomas Gray, ditto, severely; Daniel Nailand, ditto, slightly; bons, ditto, ditto; Thomas Budd, ditto, seThomas Willicott, ditto, ditto; Charles M'Gib. verely; James Scratchley, boy, ditto; Robert Hatherly, ditto, ditto; John Jordan, ditto, amputated leg; Robert Sneddon, ditto, ditto; John Dackworth, private marine, severely; John Rutland, ditto, slightly; William Reynolds, ditto, ditto; Benjamin Harrison, ditto, ditto; Lancelot Mills, ditto, severely; Thomas Cox, ditto, ditto; Igdaliah Holding, ditto, slightly; Samuel Browning, ditto, severely; Johan Kells, ditto, ditto. Killed, 36; severely wounded, 36; slightly wounded, all likely to recover, 32.-Total 104. (Signed) JOHN S. CARDEN, Captain. RUSSIAN BULLETINS. The General of Cavalry Count Willgenslein makes the following Report to His Imperial Majesty; dated Starroy Berisow, 17 (29) Nov. Yesterday I reported to your Imperial Majesty, that I should proceed to the river Berisena, near Studentzy, which I the same day accomplished.On coming up with the enemy at the above-mentioned passage they halted, and with a very strong force near the town of Batura, and within two days, one Lieutenant-Colonel, 36 officers, and 2,000 men were made prisoners. As I then perceived that the enemy was quietly retreating, I undertook making a flank movement from Koloperitche, and marched towards the town of Barau, in order from this point to cut him off from the Lepelska road, and be enabled to act on Wesselowo and Studentzy, where he was forming bridges. When I arrived at the town of Kostrezy, I received information that Napoleon would cross the Berisena river, and that Victor's corps formed his rear-guard defended the passage in order to save their baggage and heavy waggons. Notwithstanding this I drove them from their first position, and pursued them three wersts; the action continued the whole day. To-day I forced them to cross the river at Studentzy, having done which they burned the bridge. Admiral Tschitchagow having sent me pontoons I am now re-establishing the bridge. I shall act in concert with him and Count Platow, on the opposite side.Yesterday we took from the enemy one gun and 1,500 prisoners; and this day at the passage we took 12 guns, many more having been thrown into the river.- -Se-I therefore put myself in march to attack veral Staff and General Officers were taken prisoners, besides others of inferior rank, and more continue to be brought in, which I have not yet been able to take an account of.The number of waggons belonging to Government and private persons is so great, that a space of half a werst square is so covered with them, that it is impossible either to ride or walk through them; and 3 companies of the new-raised militia have been employed merely to clear a passage for the army. In these vehicles, which chiefly consisted of carriages of different descriptions, sent from Moscow, we found, besides a very great booty for the army, silver and other articles belonging to the churches, which were plundered by the enemy at Moscow. We are now collecting them, and I shall dispatch them to the Governor of Moscow. Congratulating your Majesty on the above, I lay at the feet of your Imperial Majesty a stand of colours. The loss in killed and wounded in the course of these two days exceeds 3,000 men. Report from General Count Wittgenstein to I had the honour, on the 24th November, most submissively to report that Marshals Victor and Oudinot were retreating before me towards Berisow. I marched after them from the town of Tschetuga. General Platow followed the enemy's grand army. Admiral Tschitchagow was to receive the enemy at Berisow, and by this means it was intended to enclose him on three sides. In consequence of this arrangement, I caused my vanguard, under Major General Weastow, to pursue the enemy. This General defeated General Dentila's division, him whilst crossing, and desired General Platow to hasten to Berisow, which he accordingly did. He proceeded on the Toletschin road, and after my arrival with the whole corps at Old Berisow, I cut off the enemy's rear-guard, consisting of half of Victor's corps, and attacked it on yesterday afternoon. After a heavy fire of musketry, which continued for four hours, and by the effect of our artillery, the enemy were thrown into disorder and put to flight; we took one piece of artillery, and 30 officers, with 1000 men, were made prisoners. He suffered a great loss besides in killed and wounded. Meanwhile I sent a flag of trut to inform the enemy of our superiority of force, and tell him that he was surrounded and must surrender. The courage and valour of the troops under my command, together with General Platow's arrival at Berisow, forced the enemy to send me two flags of truce, with information that they surrendered. At midnight, the General of Division Partinoux, the Brigade General Lettre, two Colonels, 40 officers, and 800 men who had already submitted, were brought to me.--At seven o'clock this morning the remainder laid down their arms, viz. Generals Camusi and Blaimont, 3 Colonels, 15 Lieutenant-Colonels, 184 Officers, and 7000 meu, and delivered up three pieces of artillery, three standards, and a member of baggage-waggons. Among these troops are two regiments of cavalry, one of Saxony and one of Berg, with very good horses.On such a victory, a si milar to which has scarcely hitherto beeu gained over the French, I take the liberty of congratulating your Majesty, and of laying all these trophies at your Majesty's (To be continued.). Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent-Garden. VOL. XXIII. No. 3.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1813. [Price Is. 65] SUMMARY OF POLITICS. AMERICAN STATES.-My two last Numbers were devoted principally to the task of endeavouring to convince the Prince Regent and the public, that it was neither dangerous nor dishonourable to yield to the terms upon which we might have had, and may yet have, peace with America; and, to my great mortification, though, I must confess, not much to my surprise, I now see, from the contents of the last Gazette, wherein is His Royal Highness's "Declaration," that all my endeavours have been of no avail, and that war, long, expensive and sanguinary war, will now take place with an enemy, who, above all others, is capable of inflicting deep wounds upon this alreadycrippled, or, at least, exhausted nation. [66 cumber my present remarks with any thing relating thereunto; but, will confine myself to what relates to the impressinent of persons out of American ships on the high seas. before our eyes; we know well what we are at war for: we know, and must bear in mind, that we are at war for the purpose of enforcing our practice of slapping American vessels upon the high seas, and taking out of them all such persons as our naval officers may deem to be British seamen.——— This is now become the clearly defined subject of the war with America.--- -The DECLARATION," which will be found below, inserted at full length, does not contain any new matter: it is a summary of what our ministers have before alleged and asserted in their correspondence with the American Government and its divers agents. But, there are some few passages of it which require to be particularly noticed.--The question relating to the Orders in Council has been before so amply From the first publication of the Let- discussed, in my several Letters and artiters which passed between Lord Wellesleycles upon the subject, that I will not enand Mr. Pinckney, soon after the French had announced their intention to repeal the Berlin and Milan Decrees; from the very day of that publication, which took place soon after I was imprisoned in Newgate for - Upon this point the "DECLARATION", two years with a fine to THE KING, says: "His Royal Highness can never adwhich I have since paid, of a thousand "mit, that in the exercise of the undoubted pounds) for having written and published" and hitherto undisputed right of searchupon the subject of flogging certain Englishing neutral merchant vessels in time of militia-men, at the town of Ely, in Eng- war, the impressment of British seamen, land, who had been first reduced to sub-when found therein, can be deemed any mission by German Troops; from the very " violation of a neutral flag. Neither can day of that publication I began to fear the " he admit, that the taking such seamen present sad result of the dispute which had from on board such vessels, can be con→ then assumed a new and more serious cha-"sidered by any neutral State as a hostile racter than it had ever before worn. With" measure, or a justifiable cause of war.→ that fear in my mind, I bent all my feeble" There is no right more clearly establish powers towards preventing such result. I" ed, than the right which a Sovereign has have failed: opinions and counsels the di-"to the allegiance of his subjects, more rect opposite of mine have prevailed; and "especially in time of war. Their allegi time will show who was right and who "ance is no optional duty, which they can wrong.- -Upon former occasions the real "decline, and resume at pleasure. It is a grounds of war have, but too often, been" call which they are bound to obey: it lost sight of in the multitude and confusion" began with their birth, and can only terof subsequent events; the Government has "minate with their existence.If a simihad the address to inlist the passions of" larity of language and manners may men on its side, and the voice of reason has "make the exercise of this right more liabeen stifled. But, here, as I was from "ble to partial mistakes, and occasional the first resolved it should be, there is a "abuse, when practised towards the vessels clear, a distinct, an undisguisable ground" of the United States, the same circum C. "stances make it also a right, with the ex- | may judge to be British seamen.This 66 "ercise of which, in regard to such vessels, "it is more difficult to dispense."- -The doctrine of allegiance, as here laid down, I admit, with some exceptions; but, as to the right of impressing British seamen, on the high seas, out of neutral ships, I deny it to be founded on any principle or maxim, laid down by any writer on publie law. Indeed, the "DECLARATION" does not say that it is it says, that the right of SEARCHING neutral vessels in time of war is undoubted and has hitherto been "undisputed." This is not correct; for, not only has even this right been doubted, not only are there two opinions about it in the books on public law, but the writers on public law are, for the most part, against the said right as we practise it, and they contend, that we have no right to seize enemy's goods on board of merchant ships which are neutral. Nay, the contest has given rise to military resistance on the part of our now-ally, Russia, Denmark, and Sweden; and, what is still more, Great Britain ceased, upon their threats, to exercise this, even this, right of seizing enemy's goods on board of neutral ships of war. -In all other respects a is not even plausible, in my opinion; for, what right can we have to impress, if we have no right to stop for the purpose of impressing? I may enter another's house to search for a stolen coat, and, if I find there my hat, I may seize it as well as my coat, having due authority for the first; but, be it observed, that to steal the hat was as criminal as to steal the coat; and, if I had known, or suspected, that the hat was there, I might have had my search-warrant for the former as well as for the latter.The law of nations calls the high seas the common right of nations. A ship there is a parcel of the State to which she belongs, and the sovereign rights of that State travel with her. The sole exception is, as has been before stated, that belligerents have a right to search neutrals for goods of the enemy, and for warlike stores and troops, carrying for the enemy's use; because, as far as neutrals are engaged in such a service, they are deemed to be in the service of the enemy.. neutral ship carries with her, on the high seas, the rights of sovereignty appertaining to the State to which she belongs.Now, But, this right; this right of SEARCH it is well known, that no nation has a right ING neutral ships; what has it to do with to enter the territory of another to exercise the impressment of persons on board of such any authority whatever, much less that of ships? That is what the Americans object seizing persons and carrying them away by to, and are at war against. They are not force; and, indeed, is it not fresh in every at war against our right of search, even in one's memory, what complaints were made our own interpretation of that right. What against the French for entering the territory they object to is, the stopping of their ves- of the Elector of Baden, and seizing the sels on the high seas, and taking people Duke of Enghein?—If we have a right out of them by force; a practice which, I to enter American ships on the high seas, repeat it, is sanctioned by no principle or and take out of them, by force of arms, maxim of any writer on public law, nor British seamen, what should hinder us by any usage heretofore known in the world. from having the same right as to any of the The "DECLARATION" does not assert, sea-ports of America? Nay, why should as Lord Castlereagh did, in his letter to we not go and seize our numerous manuMr. Russell, that this practice is sanctioned facturers, who have been (contrary to our by any former usage; but, it declares the laws) carried to America, and who are right from the right of search. It says, filling America with cloths and cutlery? that, in exercising the right of search," Their alleging, that they went thither to that is to say, the right to search for arti- avoid the effect of prosecutions for libel, or cles contraband of war, and for enemy's for some other of our state crimes, would goods, we have a right to impress British be no bar to our claim upon them; and, seamen, if we find them. So that, this is in short, they could never be safe to the last the new shape of the defence of the prac-moment of their lives.It is said, that tice: we do not now assert that we have a the seamen on board of American ships are right to stop American vessels upon the deserters. Be it so. We may be sorry high seas for the purpose of impressing our that they do desert; but it is no crime in the seamen; but, having stopped them for the Americans that our sailors go into Ameripurpose of exercising our old "right of ca. Is it not well known, that numerous "search," we have a right to avail our-deserters from the Austrian and Prussian selves of the opportunity to take out persons armies have, at all times, deserted into the whom our own officers, at their discretion, neighbouring States; and is it not equally |