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that the country is destroyed between Ragatz and the Lake of Constance. In one night, between the 27th and 28th, the Rhine rose above all embankments, tore them down, and, spreading itself over the plains, ruined the finest harvest that had been promised for years. Haag and Salez in Werdenberg, Drepoltzen, Schuiter, and Wianau in the Rhinthal, are under water. The valleys, all the way to Bernang, present to the view an immense lake, and boats are plying over places where water was never seen before.

These beautiful countries, inhabited by a highly interesting people, have suffered, within these twenty years, every dreadful national calamity in succession. Involved in the vortex of the French Revolution, torn by intestine broils, their usual watchfulness, their wonted energy was destroyed, -and when the French themselves entered the passes of the mountains, they found no resistance. They rapidly desolated the country, and glutted themselves with blood and brutal licentiousness; a long reign of tyranny has since been the hard fate of Switzerland, who felt it no doubt as the lion did the kick of the ass.

As freedom returned to them, the laws of nature seemed unhinged, and one season their harvest was blasted by unwonted cold, the next, a supernatural heat has melted their everlasting snows; and when they looked with hope to returning plenty, the resistless deluge has swept it from before their eyes. Thousands of them have fled to foreign countries, and the following two pitiful instances tend to show the additional misery they are every where meeting with.

Boston, July 4, 1817.-The rage of emigration from Europe to this country prevails to such a degree, that every ship which arrives is crowded with emigrants, who, on their arrival, are half starved. Among those last arrived, the most are Swiss, Wirtembergers, and Palatines. Last week there arrived here four ships from Holland, with 3250 Swiss on board from the Cantons of Basle and Zurich, who were in the most wretched condition.

Lausanne, Sept. 16.-One hundred and six of our fellow countrymen are now in the Tagus, off Lisbon, dreadfully destitute. These unfortunate individuals embarked in Holland for the United States of America, having paid a part of their passage. They did not discover, till it was too late, that the small brig in which they were crowded was short of provisions and water. The Captain put into Plymouth harbour, under the pretext of obtaining an additional supply, and demanded a farther advance of money from the passengers; he spent this sum, again put to sea, and they arrived at Lisbon without any means of continuing their voyage. In this situation, these unfortunate emigrants, punished too late for their want of foresight, solicited the charity of some Swiss residents at Lisbon. A collec

tion was made, which produced 100 louis, but this was not found sufficient to provide for conveying them to their destination, and their prospects are most lamentable.

FRANCE.

The most important intelligence from Paris, during the last month, relates to a great change in what we may call the Ministry of France; and, without doubt, the King has now found himself under the necessity of committing his government to the care of those, whatever may be their real principles, who have hitherto shewn more anxiety for a free constitution than for the legitimate claims of his family.

The general Election of Deputies followed; and we have seen France present herself before us (for we can hardly include the rest of Europe among the spectators, they not being connoisseurs) under the interest and excitement of a popular election. She rather, perhaps, bears her new faculties awkwardly, like a child during the first walking month; but, nevertheless, the spectacle is extremely gratifying, when we recollect the striking contract it makes with the carelessness and apathy of the country when led by the iron hand of Napoleon.

Paris, August 30.-The Count de Ruppin set off this morning at three o'clock.

Numerous English continue to arrive in France. They write from Boulogne, that the number of English families established in that city and its environs, to pass the summer season, amounts to about 1500.

Marshal Davoust, Prince of Eckmuhl, Minister of War under Bonaparte, has returned to active service within these few days, and to the favour of the King. He is one of the subscribers of the famous address to the Chamber of Representatives, published after the battle of Waterloo, in which we find the following passages :-" The Bourbons are rejected by the majority of the French nation; they offer no guarantee to the nation." He afterwards, however, disavowed the signature to this address. The wife of the Prince of Eckmuhl is the sister of the famous General Leclerc, and daughter of a good haberdasher of Pontoise.

Between the 19th and 27th ult. there entered Calais from Dover 23 packet boats, with 692 assengers; and there quitted Calais for Jover 28 packet boats, with 444 passengers.

Thursday, the 11th, the aeronaut Margat is to effect a nocturnal descent in an illuminated parachute, garnished with fire-works, the explosion of which is to take place during the descent.

The Journal de la Côte d'Or of the 17th instant, relates several dreadful accidents caused by the wolves who infest the woods of that department. Three young girls have been devoured by these animals; one in the forest of Chardenois, and the other two in the woods adjoining Mircaeau and Pontailler-sur-Saone. At Bouze, near Be

aune, a wolf furiously attacked six persons successively in the middle of the village, and wounded them all. A young man had the courage to seize it, calling at the same time for assistance, and the wolf was killed in his arms. Near Auxonne, two children, from 13 to 14 years of age, were also attacked by a wolf; one of them would have been killed, but for the courage of his little comrade, who never ceased beating the animal until he let go his hold.

Paris, Sept. 22. The table of deaths and births, drawn up by the twelve municipalities of Paris for the year 1816, presents the following results :

The number of deaths in 1816 amounted to 19,801; in 1815, to 21,549; the difference, 1748 less in 1816. Of this number, 12,489 died at their own homes, viz.—of the male sex, 6176; of the female, 6313. In this class is comprehended 278 bodies deposited at the Morgue, and 7312 who died in the military and civil hospitals, viz. of the male sex, 3683; of the female, 3629. The number of persons who died of the small-pox during the year 1816, was 150, viz. of the male sex, 79; of the female, 71. The number in 1815 was 190, being 40 more than last year. The suicides during the year 1816 amounted to 188, viz.-122 men, 66 women. In 1815 they were only 175. The births in 1816 amounted in the whole to 22,366, viz.-of the male sex, 11,584; of the female, 10,782. The number of deaths being 19,801, the births exceeded them by 2565. In 1816 there were 278 persons drowned, viz.-222 men, 56

women.

SPAIN.

Madrid, August 31.-In the course of the months of October and November, there will sail from the port of Cadiz, two squadrons, with a certain number of transports, laden with troops and ammunition of all sorts, destined for our South American possessions. The first expedition that will sail is for Peru, whither it will convey four or five thousand men of all arms. The second will have on board 2000, and will be applied according to circumstances, and as military events may require. With respect to foreign auxiliary troops, which, it is said, were to join ours in order to secure the pacification of the colonies, it now appears that there was no foundation for that rum

our.

The insurgent privateers, belonging to adventurers of every nation, swarm in all the seas, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canaries, and from there even to the Straits of Gibraltar. No flag is secure from their depredations. Is not the whole of Europe interested in putting an end to the excesses of these pirates, who, more numerous than the Buccaneers and Corsairs of old, are also more dangerous? There is a talk of vigorous measures being pursued towards them; but the whole is uncertain at present.

VOL. II.

The expedition which is preparing at Cadiz for Buenos Ayres will soon be completed, by taking a certain number of men from every corps in the army.

The following is an extract of a letter received from Captain Johnes, of the sloop William, by his owners in London, dated Cadiz, September 6, 1817 :—

I am happy to inform you of my safe arrival here in three days, from Lisbon, but should have had a shorter passage, had it not been for the Spanish brig of war the Volunteer, of Cadiz, which did me a great deal of damage. As soon as she hailed me, she immediately opened a fire on me (being not more than from twenty to thirty yards distant) with great guns and small arms, which tore the mainsail very much, giving me no time to do any thing. At last I got out the boat, and went in her; and while going on board the brig, she kept up a continual fire of musketry for more than ten minutes. This hurt my feelings very much, expecting, when I came on board, to find my son, mate, and the two English passengers who were on board, shot, as I had no less than one twelve-pounder and eleven musket-shot through my mainsail, two through the foresail, one in the mainmast, and others through the bulwarks and bows. The jib-sheets, topmast-shrouds, gaff-topsail-tie, and main-halyards, besides the boat's gripes, were shot away, but happily no one hurt.

The African Corsairs are again beginning to spread alarm throughout the Mediterranean by their depredations.

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IT is only now in Spanish America where scenes of action are fitted to arouse our hopes or our fears, and, from their distance, and the uncertainty thrown over the events there, the interest we feel is indeed much like that from a dramatic representation. The North Americans appear to be absorbed in contemplating the exertions of their new allies. Their own immediate concerns are forgotten -even the great journey of their President is hardly noticed-they even seem to look on the varying contest with such a steady gaze, that they see things double-nay, almost all of our information comes through their hands, and they multiply the original accounts like a philosopher propagating polypi, by cutting them in pieces they so mangle them before they let them go again, that we are never sure whether it is the head or the tail, or a wing, or a claw, that they think proper to send us.

Philadelphia, August 9.-It is scarcely conceivable what purpose it can answer to represent St Augustine, in Florida, as a position resembling Gibraltar. It is nothing more than a quadrangle, with regular bastions at the angles. Its principal strength

consists in the excellence of the stone of

which it is composed, quarried in the adjacent island of Anastasia. The town, which does not contain more than 3000 persons, is also surrounded by a wall, which, with the houses, are of similar materials with the fort; but it is no way superior to Mobile, which General Wilkinson took with not more men than General M'Gregor commands. But an attack on St Augustine is not in the views of General M'Gregor. The importance of his present position, where vessels of any burden may find a harbour and a safe landing, and very soon a good market, cannot be desired to be exchanged for St Augustine, into the harbour of which no vessel can enter that draws more than eight feet.

Immense damage has been done in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, in New Jersey, &c. by what is termed a freschet, or sudden rising of the waters. In the lower part of Baltimore, the water rose eighteen or twenty feet, several lives were lost, and most of the bridges were broken down. We extract the following particulars on the subject:

Washington, August 11.-The bridge on Ninth Street, and part of the upper bridge leading to George Town, were swept away, and the arch of the Tiber Bridge, on Pennsylvania Avenue, was burst, and nearly demolished by the force of the flood.

Dreadful Inundation.-York (Penn.) August 11.-The 9th of August 1817 will be a memorable day in the history of this place. The borough of York has had to bear heavy calamities on former occasions, but on Saturday last the angry flood arose, and swept along with it not only the houses and furniture of many of our citizens, but the lives of some were involved in the destruction.

Boston, August 10.-Captain Holmes, of the British sloop Rainbow, arrived at Norfolk, in a short passage from New Providence, says, it was reported at New Providence, that a ship bound to Jamaica had fallen in with a schooner which appeared to be in distress; the ship's boat was sent on board, when it was discovered that there was not a living creature on board the schooner; but the dead bodies of several men lay stretched on the deck; some of them inhumanly nailed to the deck by large spikes. The impression was, that the schooner had been plundered, and her crew murdered by pirates. The brig Morgiana, in which Mr Sheriff Hubbard shipped himself for Amelia Island, was, by the last accounts from New York, lying in Sandy Hook; and the Revenue cutter, and another United States' vessel of war, have gone to watch her movements, lest her intention should be to infringe the laws.

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in the new world where Humboldt found the sciences and the arts estimated somewhat according to their real value, and pursued with the enthusiasm they merit,where indeed knowledge was increasing with great rapidity,-and where the principal aim of the highly intelligent nobility was the amelioration and happiness of the people, should be experiencing the horrors of a protracted intestine war. But of their final success we can have but little doubt. The imbecile and foolish government of the mother country will be found at last to wage unequal war with the activity and talent always elicited in a struggle for freedom,and had those brave men been awanting, whom we ourselves trained to discipline and valour, when the good cause was their own, the contest would have been of comparatively short duration. And much we marvel, that the energies of those whom we taught at last to conquer under the banners of liberty, should be so employed. We collect for our readers a few of the latest and more interesting rumours.

Three vessels have already sailed within these few days from the river Thames for South America, with about 200 persons on board, principally military. They are the Morgan Rattler schooner, the Chance schooner, and another of the same tonnage.

Auxiliary Army of Peru.-Bulletin No. 22, gives a narrative of proceedings from May 1st to the 11th. A party of the republicans had penetrated into Potosi, and the Royalists in that quarter, under General Jacon, had retreated to Arequipa. The main body of the Royalists, under General Jose Laterna, evacuated Salta, May 5, having occupied it twenty days. Colonel Martin Gremes entered the town the same day.

Chili.A letter from Don Juan Gregorio de Hexas to the Supreme Director of Chili, Don Bernardo O'Higgins, dated Conception, May 5, mentions, that he was attacked by an enemy's force of from 1300 to 1400 men, whom he repulsed with a loss of three pieces of artillery, and a great quantity of arms and ammunition, 500 prisoners, and 100 killed.

Port of Spain (Trinidad), August 9.The Patriots have at length taken Guayana. Augustura fell on the 17th of last month; and, on the 6th instant, four Spanish gunboats and two flecheras, which escaped, brought us the news of the fortresses of Old Guayana being all taken. They are still lying in the harbour. The taking of Guayana will open to us a great trade with that province, and all the interior in possession of the Patriots; and an army of 10,000 tried veterans will now carry the banners of freedom throughout all Venezuela, and plant them on the ruins of tyranny and the Inquisition. The Patriots have obtained possession of all the country laved by the gigantic stream of the Oronoko, and containing immense resources.

The

crops of Varinas tobacco, and of cocoa, have fallen into their hands, besides countless herds of cattle, horses, &c. All the property, which the Capuchin friars have been squeezing out of the poor Indians of Guayana for 150 years, has been forfeited for their treachery, and the Patriots now say, after the experience they have had of the friars, that they will never allow any wearers of the cowl to live among them.

Both places were starved out by a continued rigorous blockade, after Piar had destroyed Cerrute's army on the 17th April. Brion's fleet cut off latterly every chance of supply, and the Spaniards resolved to endeavour to force a passage with their armed vessels and get off. The greater part, if not all the large vessels, are said to have fallen into the hands of Brion's squadron; none have arrived here but the gun-boats and flecheras, as stated above, and this circumstance gives strong grounds to believe So. A ship, with the generals and their staff (and probably their plunder), was closely pursued, it is said, by some of Brion's vessels, when these gun-boats lost sight of them, and escaped through the creeks. In a few days we shall no doubt see the bulletin of the Patriots. The conquest of Guayana not only gives the Patriots possession of a fine country and great resources, but places that army into complete and quiet communication with the army of Paez in Varinas, and on the Lower Apure, where he has made himself master of the important town of San Fernando.

St Thomas, August 16.-Hitherto the affairs of the Independents and Royalists have presented a picture of afflicting horrors, without any material result. This is not the case now; what is now passing on the contiguous Maine is likely to decide the future fate of that country. With the Royalist troops which arrived from Spain, Morillo landed on the island of Margarita. The inhabitants defend themselves in a furious manner they know they have nothing to expect. The Royalists, it is said, have taken Pampatar and Fort St Anne; but the rest of the island is in the hands of the inhabitants, and they are determined to defend it inch by inch. They have concentrated their forces in Assumption, the most fortified place. The Royalists have

lost 800 men since they landed, up to the capture of Pampatar, and 400 in their attack on the north. If the one attacks with courage, the other defends himself with fury. Unfortunate will be the weakest, for certainly they will all be butchered.

Patriot Head-quarters, Tucuman, May 23. Since the great events in Chili, the inhabitants of Jujui and Salta have done prodigies against the enemy, who advanced towards the latter place with 2000 strong. Nothing can exceed the energies of the brave inhabitants of this country; they are always at their posts, and harass the Royalists in every direction. The Spaniards who arrived from Europe, by their barbarous and cruel conduct, cause patriots to rise up out of their own partizans, who become the most zealous defenders of their native country, because they then act from principle and conviction. Our army here is now enjoying the advantages of good organization and discipline. The van-guard is commanded by Don Gregorio Araos de la Madrid, a youth of experienced courage, and on whom we place the greatest reliance. Haenke, the celebrated German mineralogist, lately died in the dungeons of the Spaniards, in consequence of what he had suffered. The Spanish General Serna has been compelled to retreat, and many of his people have fallen into our hands. They say that they belong to the constitution, and for no other will they fight; and if Ferdinand wishes honours, they add, he may come and gain them himself. One of our detachments lately marched to Tarija, where the enemy was entrenched. We defeated him, took the town, and obtained possession of his magazines and 450 muskets. The detachment has, besides, doubled its numbers, and forms a junction with several Guerillas belonging to the interior. Since this junction, they have advanced as far as Siporo, only 12 leagues from Potosi, which, it was expected, would soon fall into the hands of the Patriots. In the rear of the enemy another army is forming, that will cut off his communications with Lima. Even from Cusco it is confidently thought a force will issue; for the brutality of the Spaniards has greatly favoured our cause every where. All the Americans who have served with them are disgusted, tired, and undeceived.

BRITISH CHRONICLE.

AUGUST.

As a fact, marking the extraordinary revival of the trade of Leith, no less than 480 vessels have already arrived this year with cargoes from foreign ports, being 261 more than last year at the same period.

A most extraordinary and unnaccountable attempt was made, about nine o'clock on

Monday evening, the 25th, to blow up a gentleman's gate in the neighbourhood of Rutherglen; a charged bomb-shell had been buried under the gate, which burst with a tremendous noise. Luckily, however, although it took place at so early an hour, and near a public road, no person was hurt. The splinters were scattered to the distance

of several hundred yards; one of them damaged the frame of a window near the place, and another, flying over the roofs of many houses, lodged in the earth at a great distance; a third struck the trunk of a young tree and cut it almost half through. The report was dreadful; and, according to the statement of a servant who was alone in the kitchen of a house at some distance, the floor trembled before the report was heard.

SEPTEMBER.

1. The materials of the old goal of Edin burgh are to be sold on Friday, and it will be immediately taken down. This building was erected in 1561, but part of it is supposed to be older, as the east and west ends were erected at different times. It was originally destined for the accommodation of Parliament and the Courts of Justice, besides the confinement of debtors and criminals; but since 1640, when the Parliament-house was built, it has been used solely as a goal.

Last week, the Scots Craig salmon fishings on the Tay were let by public romp at £1105 per annum. This rent is only about one half of what the same fishings formerly brought, when the stake-nets were permitted to be used.

British Linen Company.-On Monday the 1st, at the Quarterly Meeting of the British Linen Company, a bonus of 25 per cent. and the annual dividend of 10 per cent. were declared; and very lately a bonus of £100,000 was given by the same Com

pany.

Ice Islands. The Harting of Liverpool, for Boston, which was spoken with at sea, saw, on the 13th ult. three large masses of ice, so far south as latitude 42-the longitude was 49.

The Esquimaux.-This singular person, whose dexterous achievements so much aroused the public curiosity about twelve months ago, has returned to Leith with Captain Newton. Upon revisiting his native country, he learned, with much sorrow, that his sister, thinking him dead, had died of a broken heart. During his residence at the island, the natives were continually flocking around him, and would sit for hours together listening with the greatest astonishment, while he would relate the wonders he had witnessed in this country. He proved of great utility during the ship's stay in the Straits; and among other desperate exploits he performed in his canoe, was the killing of a unicorn, the horn of which is now in the possession of the surgeon of the vessel.

Edinburgh, 8th.-High Court of Justiciary. Yesterday came on before this Court, the trial of Bernard M'Ilvogue, Hugh M'Ilvogue, and Patrick M'Cristal, accused of the crimes of stouthrief, robbery, rape, and assault with intent to commit rape. The libel charges the pannels with breaking into he house of Robert Moris, farmer in Ever

ton, in the vicinity of Greenock, on the 23d of March last, by forcing open one of the windows, of attacking the said Robert Moris, blindfolding him, and holding him by force on the ground, and stealing from the house some money, and a great quantity of wearing apparel, &c.-and of assaulting and attacking Janet Crawford, sister of Mrs Moris, and Mary Black, servant to Robert Moris, and committing violence on their persons. The pannels pleaded-Not Guilty.

The examination of witnesses continued till five o'clock. One of them, Bernard Hutton, or Hattan, an accomplice, who was admitted an evidence, was committed to prison for gross prevarication.

Before pronouncing sentence, the Lord Justice Clerk addressed the unfortunate pannels. He said, their conduct was most atrocious and brutal, and he was well convinced that their accomplice was as guilty as any of them: That it was in vain for them to look for mercy-they could expect none; and although Hugh M'Ilvogue's case differed in some respects from his companions, yet he was to expect no mitigation of punishment. He conjured them to apply for mercy to God by repentance, and concluded by pronouncing sentence, ordaining them to be detained in the tolbooth of Edinburgh till the 6th of October, and then to be transmitted from Sheriff to Sheriff, until lodged in the tolbooth of Greenock, and on Friday, the 10th of October, to be executed in such place, in or near the town of Greenock, as the Sheriff-depute of Renfrewshire shall appoint.

They are all young men, natives of Ireland, and received their sentence with much

unconcern.

Counsel for the Crown, the SolicitorGeneral and James A. Maconochie, Esq.Agent, Mr Hugh Warrender. For the pannels, Robert Hunter and E. D. Sandford, Esq.-Agent, Mr Daniel Christie, S.S. C.

We have very singular pleasure in communicating to the public the successful issue of the labours of our citizens and their committee for a renovated constitution of Burgh Government. The Lord Advocate has acceded to the desires of the community, and has prepared his report accordingly for the Privy Council, who, it is confidently expected, will confirm his Lordship's recommendation, and will appoint the first day of October for a poll election, in terms of his Lordship's report. The honour to our burgh is very great, in having led the way to a free guild, and in now having succeeded in procuring a free council, of which at least the majority will be in the annual choice of the guildry, burgesses, and trades, which must naturally produce a rotation of office. We hope it will be a prelude to reform in other burghs, and stimulate them to that patriotism and perseverance which has here been crowned with complete success. The thanks of the community, and

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