1818.]

restrictions which have been imposed upon them, if they had not given their consent by a written engagement, the effect of which ceases at the moment of their option, as is clearly shown by the recent departure of General Gourgaud; therefore still stronger reasons exist that an English subject cannot be submitted to such restrictions without a special and written consent on his part, to which I have always protested, and protest I will never agree to, as it would be signing the dishonour of the naval uniform, and would inevitably draw down upon me the contempt of the brother officers with whom I have the honour to serve. Therefore, in the natural state of things, neither your Excellency nor any other authority can subject me to restrictions contrary to the rights of an officer, and the laws of England.

I have also had the honour to observe to you, that, independent of the general guarantee of the laws, I had provided a private one in the stipulations which I had made in 1815, when Admiral Lord Keith, then commanding the channel fleet, in consequence of the request made to him by Count Bertrand that I should be at tached to Napoleon, as surgeon, in place of the French surgeon whom the English government had permitted to accompany him, authorized me to do so, I begged of his lordship to give me an order in writing, which he declined doing.

I recollect perfectly well his answer, which was "It is not in my power to order you to accept of it, as it is out of the naval service, and is a business altogether extraordinary, and must be voluntary on your part; but I, as commander in chief, will authorise you to accept of it, and I advise you most strongly to do so, as I am convinced the government will be obliged to you, and it is a situation which may, with propriety and honour, be held by an Englishman." Although it was impossible for me not to follow the advice of such a distinguished officer, nevertheless I made some stipulations, viz.-that I should be at liberty to resign, should I find the situation not to be consonant to my wishes; that I should be borne upon the navy list in my rank as surgeon, with my time going on; that I should not be paid or considered as dependant upon Napoleon Bonaparte, but as a British officer (and consequently not subject to any restrictions inflicted upon French prisoners); and I have repeatedly had the honour, verbally, to express to you, that, sooner than consent to allow my rights as an English officer to be violated, I would prefer giving in my resignation; and, as you appeared to be struck with my observations and the stipulations which I had made with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, I therefore concluded that you had given up

1775

all idea of putting them in execution. When, on the 12th of this month, I received instructions contrary to my natural rights, the stipulations I had made, and the protestations which I frequently made to yourself, which you caused to be sent to me, I immediately comprehended that it was merely a way of obliging me to quit Longwood. Delicacy, my duties as a medical man, and humanity, alike ordained that, prior to quitting, I should acquaint Napoleon Bonaparte with my intention, and I did so.

In neither the army or navy is it the custom, when any officer is desirous to resign, for him to first consult his Royal Highness the Duke of York, or the first Lord of the Admiralty, touching the prepriety or otherwise of his doing so, the resignation tendered direct through the proper channels is always the first intimation; therefore in sending my resignation to your Excellency without first consulting you, I was only acting according to the established customs of both services.

In writing the letter to Count Bertrand I have not violated the respect which I owe to your Excellency as head of the government, as the question contained in it has been frequently agitated before. I have not violated the Act of Parliament, or any written restriction emanating from you. An inhabitant of Longwood, I have not been subjected to the restrictions imposed upon the inhabi tants of the island either with respect to passes, as I live in the house, or as to communications, because for near three years communicatious daily and nightly, verbally and in writing, have taken place between There is not a day passes that I do not see the French several times, very frequently by night, and not a week that I do not make written communications to both the masters and the servants upon medical and other subjects pertaining to physic.

us.

I have not violated any written instruc tions, because I have never received any positive prohibition restraining the nature of my communications. In all the restrictions there was always a latitude, a kind of discretional power, allowed me, by stating, "that I was not ordered not to reply to Napoleon Bonaparte or to any of his family on any other subject not medical; that, if I did so, the responsibility must rest upon myself; that I had not his authority for doing so." Indeed, had a positive prohibition been given, to comply with it is evidently impracticable for any person in my situation; and, as to the responsibility, I am content to bear the whole of it.

When frequently required to act in a manner which I conceived to be incompatible with my feelings and profession, and dishonourable to me, I have had the

L 2

honour

1818.]

EAST INDIES. The insurrection in Ceylon is no longer confined to the right bank of the Mahavillagunga; it has broken out in the Dombina, which is on the left bank, and the rebels (as they are called,) have made their appearance in considerable force at Goodegamma, in Hewatratty, a place near Hanjeraw Seeth, on the Badullo side, within ten or twelve miles of Candy.

On the subject of the Continental wars in India, we give place to the following dispatch from the governor in council at Bombay, to the Secret Committee, dated March 4, 1818:

We have the satisfaction of transmitting to your honourable committee the copy of a letter to our chief secretary from the honourable Mr. Elphinstone, inclosing a copy of a dispatch he has received from Brigadier-general Smith, dated the 21st of the last month, reporting the operations of the troops under his command, and particularly his having surprised and defeated the enemy at Ashta, near Punderpoor; Bapoo Gokla, the chief of the Maratta army, and two other Sirdars, have fallen in the action, with between two and three hundred men; and the Rajah of Sattara, his brothers and mother, have, to their great satisfaction, heen rescued, and brought into General Smith's

camp.

We most cordially congratulate your honourable committee on the brilliant success which has thus attended the zealous and gallant exertions of the troops employed on this occasion, from which the most important consequences may be expected to result.

Badjee Row, it appears, quitted his palanquin, and, mounting his horse, fled, at an early part of the action, and is re ported to have bent his course to the Dorthward.

The folowing dispatches and papers, connected with the operations of your armies, are now transmitted for your information;

viz.

Copy of a letter from Lieutenant-general Sir Thomas Hislop, to the governorgeneral, dated January 22, in consequence of the action at Coregaum.

From the resident at Poona, dated the 16th ultimo, transmitting a report made to him by Brigadier-general Smith, of his proceedings between the 7th of January and 12th of last month.

From Sir T. Hislop to his excellency the governor-general, dated the 28th of January, on the operations of the force under the command of Brigadier-general Doveton, in the vicinity of Nagpore.

From Major-general Sir William Keir, to the adjutant-general of the Bombay

77

army, reporting his proceedings up to the 11th ultimo, particularly the dispersion of the force of Bheema Bhye, sister of Mulhar Row Holkar, who, after acqui escing in the terms which had been proposed to her, and coming into the British camp, had proceeded to Rampoorah.

UNITED PROVINCES OF SOUTH AMERICA.

affection of every friend of liberty. With This great republic now demands the an extent of rich territory, equal to all in the globe, and with fine ports on the Europe, situated in the finest climate Atlantic and Pacific, its prospects, as an independent state, are as splendid as those of the United States of North worn-out, corrupt, and debased state America; and both countries, in the of the old continent, will serve as an asylum of Truth and Liberty, and raise the human race to an elevation of character and happiness beyond any expectations which can be formed.

The Spanish government, it seems, had sent an expedition into Chili, under a General Osorio. He contrived to surprise the republican army on the 19th of March, and compelled them to fall back to the plains of Maipo, near St. Jago. There, on the 5th of April, the attack was renewed, but after an obstimate battle, from morning till evening, the legitimates were routed, and all their artillery and baggage fell into the hands of the victors, who also took above 2,500 prisoners and several general officers. The republican general ST. MARTIN states, that Chili is, by this glorious event, placed out of further danger; and it appears that the war will now be carried by the republicans into Peru, by sea and land.

In Venezuela, the independents have been victorious on every point. Gen. Morillo is dead of his wounds; and Brion has gained an important naval victory near Trinidad.

UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA.

5238 4808 84

Maxwell Hunt Sir Samuel Romilly was immediately chaired, but the triumph of Sir Francis Burdett did not take place till the 13th. The public entry of conquerors into Rome could not be more popular and imposing it is impossible to convey an adequate description of a procession of which two or three hundred thousand persons lined the streets and covered the houses of the main streets of Westminster. In the Court of King's Bench, a cause was lately heard of great importance to the public, as it respects the power assumed by the Bank of England of impounding bank-notes, supposed to be forgeries. It was an action by a pawnbroker against an inspector of bank-notes, for falsely, maliciously, and without any reasonable or probable cause, charging the plaintiff with feloniously having in his possession a forged Bank of England note for one pound, whereby the plaintiff was imprisoned twenty-four hours. Lord Ellenborough intimated, "that the sole question seems to be, whether we are to assert the rights and liberties of the people, rather than that a clerk of the Bank should be found to be in the wrong." His lordship said, "I think the commitment in this case is unfounded in law, and the man who urges a coinmitment under the circumstances of this case, is in crassa ignorantia, and that is malice." These observations produced bursts of applause.. A meeting was lately held at the Crown and Anchor, of the Anti-monopoly Committee, for the purpose of considering the effects of the licensing system, in encou raging monopoly amongst the brewers to the injury of the publicans, the keeping up the price of beer, and the deterioration of its quality. Various resolutions were passed expressive of the opinion of the meeting, as to the injurious consequences of the present system; since beer might be sold at 5d. per pot instead of 6d. and as the extra charge was equal to a Property-Tax of 10 per cent. on labourers' wages.

A fire lately broke out in Newton-street, High Holborn; it commenced in the stable of Messrs. Spencer, feather-bed makers; five houses were totally destroyed, and others much damaged.

MARRIAGES.

J. R. Jenkins, esq. of Tottenham, to Miss C. Briant, of Gould's-hill, Essex.

Mr. J. Cochran, of Holborn, to Miss E. Imray, Whitechapel.

Mr. Wm. Richardson, of Mark-lane, to Miss A. Dalton, of Orsett, Essex.

Mr. W. H. Briant, of Gould's-hill, Essex, to Miss S. Sybella Somes, of Mile End. J. Marr Brydone, esq. of the Navy, to Miss Elizabeth Hislop, of Knightsbridge. Mr. Charles Young, of the Borough, to Miss Costeker, of the Paragon. Mr. Charles Aldis, of Camberwell, to Miss Mary Judith Spence, of Hertford. Mr. Edward Innes, of Flect-street, to Miss Lightfoot, of Islington.

Joseph Henderson, esq. of Ludgate. hill, to Miss L. Selsby, of Walworth.

William Roffey, esq. of Mead-place, Lambeth, to Miss Larkin, of Eastgatehouse, Rochester.

Frederick Devey, esq. to Miss Frances Buttivant, of Kennington.

Robert Vaughan Richards, esq. of the Inner Temple, to Miss Chalte, of Wands worth Common.

Mr. Deacon, of Piccadilly, to Miss Laura Oakley, of Old Bond-street.

The Kev. James Hoby, of London, to Miss Ann Ward, of Derby,

Robert James, esq. of Gutter-lane, to Miss Morris, of Chepstow.

The Rev. R. Fletcher, B.A. of Clapham Common, to Miss Louisa Thomas, of Salisbury.

The Rev. D. Lewis, to Miss Henrietta Warwick, both of Twickenham.

W. T. Brande, esq. of Albemarlestreet, Secretary to the Royal Society, and Professor of Chemistry, to Miss Anna Frederica Hatchett, of Mount Clare, Surrey.

C. R. Nugent, esq. to Miss Catharina Eleanor Nash, of Guildford-street.

R. Coffin, esq. to Miss Elizabeth Nash, of Guildford-street.

R. Hope, M.D. F.L.S. to Mrs. Davies, of Upper Cadogan-place.

John Matthey, esq. of London, to Miss. Elizabeth Green, of Birmingham.

William Lloyd Wharton, esq. of Lincoln's Inn, to Miss Fanny Jacob.

H. Weston, esq. of the Southwark bank, to Miss Elizabeth Kirby, of Kenningtongreen.

The Rev. W. Mather, of Dover, to Mrs. Mary Slingsby, of Old-street.

Ralph Sheldon, esq. of Weston-house, Warwickshire, to Miss Sarah Broom, of Great Titchfield-street.

Thomas Mann, esq. of Audover, to Miss Elizabeth Stubbings, of Islington.

Lord Cochrane, to Miss Catherine Corbett Barnes, late of Bryanstone-street. At Clapham, the Rev. M. Morris Preston, of Aspeden-hall, Herts, to Miss Elizabeth Garrett.

Mr.

DIED.

In Hart-street, Bloomsbury, J. Campbell, esq.

In Lower Belgrave-place, Westminster, 86, Mrs. Eliza Fisher.

At Chelsea, Mr. J. Holles, late of Windmill-street, Golden-square.

At Pentonville, Mrs. Watkinson. At Hadley, Middlesex, 36, Miss Ann Frederica Cottrell.

At Edmonton, 53, Mr. Isaac Lemesurier. John Wear, esq. barrister and bencher of Gray's Inn.

At Clapham Common, 43, J. Sprot, esq. Mrs. Ann Peake, wife of R. P. esq. treasurer of Drury-lane Theatre.

In Orchard-street, Portman-sq. Dorothy Lady Filmer.

In Walbrook, 69, Francis Alven, esq. In Charlotte-street, Portland-place, Mrs. Hardy, widow of C. M. H. esq.

At Richmond, Mr. John Edwards. At Islington, 70, Mr. T. Cato, of Holborn-hill.

At Hampton-court Green, the Earl of Kerry.

In Upper Berkeley-street, Lady Elizabeth Richardson, wife of Francis R. esq. of the Madras Civil Service, and daughter of the late Earl of Winterton.

In Upper Gower-street, Mrs. Drum mond, widow of G. D. esq.

At the Rockery, near Dorking, 62, Richard Fuller, esq. banker, of Cornhill.

2

At Kennington, Capt. J. Edmunds, R.N. In Norton-street, Col. John Elford, late of Newfoundland.

In Finsbury-square, Mrs. M. Humphries. At Homerton, James How, esq. of the Navy Office.

In the Kent-road, 49, C. Scarborough, esq. In Finsbury-square, 82, D. Mellan, esq. At Peckham Rye, 80, R. Moseley, esq. In Red Lion-square, Sarah Maria, wife of the Rev, Richard Worthington, of Swindon,

Charles Brydes Woodcock, esq. formerly of Brentford.

At Camberwell, 83, Mr. C. Gastineau. Charles James, esq. of Upper Wimpolestreet and New Inn.

At Leamington Spa, after a short illness, 69, Sir Thomas Bernard, bart. of Wimpolestreet, LL.D. long and deservedly celebrated for his philanth.opic labours and writings, in the promotion of the various public charities and other useful institu. tions, of some of which he was the founder. In consequence of the death of his two elder brothers, he succeeded to the baronetage in 1809. He was twice married, but has left no issue. The title

19

devolves to his only surviving brother, Bernard Morland, esq. of Winchendon, Bucks, member in the late and present Parliament for St. Mawes.

At Cobham Park, 66, Harvey Christian Combe, esq. late alderman of the Ward of Aldgate-many years a very popular re presentative of the city of London-sheriff in 1797-and Lord Mayor in 1800. For his distinction in life, this gentleman was indebted to his integrity as a private man, to his virtuous consistency as a politician, and for solid, though not showy, talents. For above twenty years he sat among the illustrious minority of which Fox was at the head, and was often the mover af questions of great public interest,-in which he displayed considerable knowledge. As a magistrate, his independence was equally conspicuous; and, in various other relations of life, he was at onee beloved and respected. No man of his time presided at a convivial board with more urbanity and good cheer; and for many years none was more frequently called to that duty,-from the chair of the Whig Club down to that of the various charitable institutions which abound in this great city. Mr. Combe bad figured as a man of fashion, and often associated with royalty in the circles of Carlton House; but, for some years past, he has been indefatigable in his attentions to the brewery carried on under the firm of Coombe, Delafield, and Co. and latterly he had been the victim of a complication of diseases, which led to his honourable retirement from public life, and finally to his death.

At Richmond, Surrey, 73, Sir Charles Price, bart. alderman of the Ward of Farringdon Without--many years one of the representatives of the City of London

sheriff in 1801-and Lord Mayor in 1803. He was, in trade, an oil merchant, and also a banker. As a private man, ho was a good husband and father; but, as a public character, he was a Tory in prin ciple and practice; a tool of the court; and, in Parliament, a never-failing unit of those ministerial majorities whose decisions, on most great questions of public policy, we have always felt it a point of conscience to condemn.

At Windsor, James Cobb, esq.-See Bia graphiana.

In Welbeck-street, William Burdon, esq.
-See Biographiana.

In South Audley-street, Isaac Hawkins Brown, esq. He was the son of the cele brated I. H. Brown, distinguished by the little canto, entitled the "Pipe of Tobacco," and other poems; amongst which, aLatin one, De Animi Immortalitate, is well known. Mr. Brown usually resided at Badger hall, Salop, and was, for nearly thirty years, one of the representatives of the borough of Bridgenorth in Parliament.

He