in negociating a peace between the two countries, on such terms as are likely to insure its continuance for a length of time.

DREADFUL EFFECTS OF THE KAMSIN.

Extract of a Letter from Smyrna.

"We have received intelligence of a dreadful calamity having overtaken the largest caravan of the season, on its route from Mecca to Aleppo. The caravan consisted of 2000 souls-merchants and travellers from the Red Sea and Persian gulph, pilgrims returning from performing their devotions at Mecca, and a numerous train of attendants; the whole escorted by 400 military. The march was in three columns. On the 15th August last, they entered the great Arabian desert, in which they journied seven days, and were already approach ing its edge: a few hours more would have placed them beyond danger; but, alas! they were not permitted to return in safety. On the morning of the 23d, just as they had struck their tents, and commenced their march, a wind rose from the N. E. and blew with tremendous violence. They increased the rapidity of their march, to escape the threatening danger; but the fatal kamsin had set in. On a sudden, dense clouds were observed, whose extremity obscured the horizon, and swept the face of the desert. They approached the columns, and obscured the line of march. Both men and beasts, struck by a sense of common danger, uttered loud cries-the next moment they fell beneath its pestiferous influence lifeless corpses. Of 2000 souls composing the caravan, not more than 20' escaped this calamity. They owed their safety to the swiftness of their dromedaries."

DREADFUL INUNDATION.

to the greatest distress by the dreadful hurricanes that have been prevalent in that quarter, and which have nearly laid waste the whole of the habitations on those islands: the particulars of this awful visitation will be found in the following circular, which had been sent to the neighbouring settlements, for the purpose of soliciting assistance with lumber, to repair and erect buildings, as also for a supply of provisions for the inhabitants, to prevent their becoming the victims of famine :

"Grand Key, Turk's Island,

Sept. 27 1813.

"We, the Magistrates, feel it our duty to represent to you the particulars of the deplorable calamity experienced in these is!ands on the night of Tuesday the 24th inst. by a most dreadful and violent hurri

eane, which overturned and totally destroyed about 120 dwelling houses on this key, many of which were large and valuable buildings; also the greater part of the furniture, provisions, and clothing there, with all the negro barracks and out-houses, and about 50 plantation-houses, together with 30 dwelling-houses, at Salt Key, and every other building; in addition to which, the loss sustained in salt, on both keys, on a moderate calculation, will amount to a million of bushels. That there are not more than 30 houses standing on both keys, more than half of which are much shattered and hardly habitable, and are at present filled by a population of 1600 in number. We likewise beg leave to represent to you, that we are in imminent danger of experiencing the horrors of famine—the quantity of provisions on hand not being more than suffieient for a fortnight;-that several lives have been lost, many limbs broken, and many persons much bruised and maimed, and left perfectly destitute of both food and

66

1813.

By advices from Surat, we learn, that on the 27th December, the Neerbudda, swelled by continual rains during the three precedings days, overflowed its banks, and swept away 42 villages. Many thousand men, women, and children, lost their lives by this calamitous event, which has deprived the survivers of shelter, food, and yaiment. A collection is making here for their relief."

WEST INDIES.

HURRICANE AT TURK'S ISLAND.

The inhabitants of Turk's Island, as well as those of the Bahamas, have been reduced

we are entirely deprived of the means of providing ourselves with provisions from the neighbouring islands, as every craft fit for such employment, which was in port, was destroyed:We therefore beg that you will forward a copy of the unfortunate state of this country to the Governor-General of the Bahamas; his Grace the Duke of Man. chester, the Governor of Jamaica, and the Admiral on that station; also the Governor of Bermuda, and Sir J. B. Warren, and eleswhere; whereby we may be furnished with food and clothing, and materials to rebuild our houses; for all which articles the inhabitants will cheerfully pay a fair price in salt, the only produce of these islands, having no other means left them. Not doubting that you will give this matter im

mediate

mediate consideration, we beg leave to subscribe, with due respect, your most obedient humble servants. (Signed) &c. &c."

AMERICAN WAR.

DEFEATS OF THE AMERICANS IN
CANADA

By dispatches from General Sir George Prevost, we learn that the armies sent by the American government, to conquer the Canadas from Britain, have recently met with two serious disasters; and from such comparatively small numbers, as must serve in a very great degree to dissipate the fears that have been entertained for the British possessions in that quarter. Indeed if the American armies are composed of no better materials than those commanded by Generals Hampton and Wilkinson, (formidable only in numbers,) there can be little room to doubt of the result of the contest in that quarter.

Subsequently to the disasters of Dearborn and Lewis, in June, at the head of Lake Ontario, great part of the force which had been under those officers was withdrawn from Fort George, and a new and comprehensive plan was adopted by the American Government, in pursuance of which Major Gen. Harrison invaded Upper Canada, near Sandwich, at the head of Lake Erie; Major-Gen. Wilkinson sailed from Sackett's Harbour, under Commodore Chauncey's convoy, to attack Kingston; and Major-General Hampton crossed the frontier line which separates the United States from Lower Canada, between 30 and 40 miles south-west of Montreal. Each of these offcers had under him an army of from 7 to 10,000 men. On the advance of Hampton, the prudent dispositions made by Gen. De Watteville, were so gallantly carried into execution by Lieut.-Col. De Salaberry, at the head of only 300 Canadian Militia, which were in advance, that the principal olumn, commanded by Hampton in peran, was kept in check; whilst the American light brigade was repulsed on the south side of the Chateauguay. The enemy rallied, and repeatedly returned to the attack; but was finally obliged to retire at the close of the day, with the mortifying reflection, that his force of 7500 men had been foiled "by barely 300! He had since wholly the Lower Province, which was secured from all danger by the arrival, from Halifax, of the 10th, reg. two batts. of marines under Sir S. Beckwith, two companies of marine artillery, and a rocket company.

Gen. De Rottenburg, who commands in Upper Canada, has of late fixed his head

quarters at Kingston, situated on Lake Ontario, and about 200 miles west of Montreal. Either in or near the harbour Sir James Yeo's squadron is stationed. It had for some time been obvious that this was the point threatened by the combined operations of Wilkinson's army, and Chauncey's flotilla, and accordingly on the 18th October, the latter sailed from Sackett's Harbour with the troops on board. They had hoped to distract the attention of the British by a simultaneous attack with Hampton, who was moving on Montreal; but fortunately the state of the weather disappointed them, and on the 29th they had only succeeded in stationing themselves about 18 miles from Kingston.

The army under General Wilkinson, amounting to about 7000 men, has sustained a more signal defeat than even that of General Hampton. After remaining about three weeks at Grenadier island, it embarked on board 300 batteaux, and proceeded down the St Lawrence on the 3d Novem ber, and having succeeded on the 7th in passing both Kingston and Prescott without any material loss, a part of his force, consisting of 5000 men, together with several field-picces, under Brig.-Gen. Boyd, landed on the 8th at Fort Iroquois on the Canada shore. Here being joined by 300 dragoons from Hamilton, they advanced with great caution towards Cornwall. On these move-ments being known at Kingston, a corps of observation, consisting of the remains of the 49th and 89th regts under Lieut.-Col. Morrison, were dispatched in pursuit ; and being joined by Lieut.-Col. Pearson, with part of the garrison of Prescott, overtook them on the 9th. Lieut.-Col. Morrison, attacked the enemy next day; and after a sharp conflict, drove him from his ground, which the British division occupied during the night. Harly the next morning (the 11th) the principal division of the American army, under Major-General Boyd, concentrated itself near Crystler's Farm, twenty. miles above Cornwall, and advanced in formidable order, above six times as numerous as the British, well supported by artillery, and covered by cavalry and riflemen. Col. Morrison made a judicious arrangement to receive them. The action began about two in the afternoon, and soon became general. The Americans made many attempts to turn the wings of our little ar my; but were not only repulsed, but driven from the ground with the loss of a fieldpiece, and pursued till night. So complete ly were they disheartened by this defeat, that though still so superior in numbers to their opponents, whose loss in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to 179, they haster

THE CONTINENTAL WAR. INVASION OF FRANCE FROM THE RHINE.

Fortune, which forsook the French standards on their presumptuous invasion of Russia in 1812, and which, during the campaign of last year, drove the scattered remains of their armies across the Rhine, has now carried the operations of the war into their own country; and Napoleon, who has for such a long period, by power or policy, held so many of the states of Europe in subjection, is now reduced to a last struggle for his existence of a monarch.

On the 19th and 20th December, an army of 160,000 men, under Prince Schwartzenberg, forced the neutrality of Switzerland, at the same time issuing a proclamation to the cantons, in the name of the allied sovereigns, as soon as they had conquered that peace for which they fought, to replace Switzerland on the same state of integrity and independence as before the French revolution. The people of the country received the allies as friends, and immediately, in all the Cantons which they occupied, proceeded to reinstate their ancient forms of government. Switzerland may, therefore, be reckoned among the powers in league against France.

Betwixt the 1st and 3d instant, another of the allied armies commanded by General Blucher, crossed the Rhine, in three columns, between Cologne and Coblentz; and a third, under General Bulow, has crossed at Dusseldorff, for the purpose of proceeding to Brabant.

Dispatches from Sir Charles Stewart, and Lords Burghersh and Cathcart, to the date of the 6th, bring accounts of the progress of these armies into France. The combined forces occupy a line of about 250 miles, from Coblentz to Basle. Marshal Blucher's corps forms the right of this line, General Witgenstein, who was directed to eross at Strasburgh, was to communicate with Blucher by his right, and by his left with General Wrede, who, for that purpose, having been previously employed in the investment of Befort, had pushed forward to Colmar; while the Austrian army under

Prince Schwartzenberg, which was on its march from Aldkirch to Monbelliard, forins the left. Advanced parties have been sent forward as far as Reremont, Epinal, Nancy, and Langress, about 60 miles beyond the Rhine. In their progress, no armies had appeared to offer opposition to the allies. In justification of these proceedings against France, the allied sovereigns published the following declaration at Frankfort.

DECLARATION OF THE ALLIED POWERS.

"The French Government has ordered a new levy of 300,000 conscripts. The motives of the Senatus Consultum to that effect contain an appeal to the Allied Powers. They, therefore, find themselves called up. on to promulgate anew, in the face of the world, the views which guide them in the present war; the principles which form the basis of their conduct, their wishes, and their determinations.-The Allied Powers do not make war upon France, but against that preponderance, haughtily announced, -against that preponderance, which, to the misfortune of Europe, and of France, the Emperor Napoleon has too long exercised beyond the limits to his empire.

"Victory has conducted the Allied Armies to the banks of the Rhine. The first use which their Imperial and Royal Majesties have made of victory, has been to offer peace to his Majesty the Emperor of the French. An attitude strengthened by the accession of all the Sovereigns and Princes of Germany, has had no influence on the conditions of that peace. These conditions are founded on the independence of the French empire, as well as on the independence of the other States of Europe. The views of the Powers are just in their object, generous and liberal in their application, giving security to all, honourable to each.

"The Allied Sovereigns desire that France may be great, powerful, and happy; because the French power, in a state of greatness and strength, is one of the foundations of the social edifice of Europe. They wish that France may be happy,-that French commerce may revive, that the arts, those blessings of peace, may again flourish; because a great people can only be tranquil in proportion as it is happy. The Powers confirm to the French empire an extent of territory which France under her Kings never knew; because a valiant nation does not fall from its rank, by hav ing in its turn experienced reverses in an obstinate and sanguinary contest, in which it has fought with its accustomed bravery.

"But the Allied Powers also wish to be

free, tranquil, and happy, themselves. They

desire a state of peace which, by a wise partition of strength, by a just equilibrium, may henceforth preserve their people from the numerous calamities which have overwhelmed Europe for the last twenty years.

"The Allied Powers will not lay down their arms, until they have attained this great and beneficial result, this noble object of their efforts. They will not lay down their arms, until the political state of Europe be re-established anew,-until immoveable principles have resumed their rights over vain pretensions,-until the sanctity of treaties shall have at last secured a real peace to Europe.

Frankfort, Dec. 1. 1813"

Regarding the conditions offered to Napoleon, alluded to in the above declarations, no official statement has appeared; but it has been asserted in the London Courier, that the basis of the proposed peace was"the independence by sea and land of all "the countries and states politically known at the beginning of the French Revolu"tion." This basis, which was communicated through the French minister M. de St Agnaw, in a conference with Prince Aletternich and Count Nesselrode, was accepted by Bonaparte in a long letter; but this letter, being in several respects equivocal, produced a dispatch from Prince Metternich, after which the correspondence ceased, and the Allies passed the Rhine.

Upon the invasion of Switzerland by Prince Schwartzenberg, he published the following

PROCLAMATION OF THE ALLIED POWERS

TO THE FRENCH NATION. "People of France-Victory has conducted the allied armies to your frontier. They are about to pass it.

"We do not make war upon France; but we repel far from us the yoke which your Government wished to impose upon our respective countries, which have the same rights to independence as your's.

Magistrates, landholders, cultivators, remain at your homes. The maintenance of public order, respect for private property, the most severe discipline, shall characterise the progress and the stay of the allied armies. They are not animated by the spirit of vengeance; they wish not to retalite upon France the numberless calamities with which France, for the last 20 years, verwhelmed her neighbours, and the most Ent countries.

"Other principles and other views than those which led your armies among us, preside over the counsels of the Allied Monarch. Their glory will consist in having put the speediest period, to the misfortunes

of Europe. The only conquest which is the object of their ambition is that of peace; but, at the same time, a peace which shall secure to their own people, to France, and to Europe, a state of real repose. We had hoped to find it before touching the soil of France. We come hither in quest of it. "The Marshal Prince Schwartzenberg, "Commander in Chief of the Grand

"Allied Army. Head-quarters, at "Lorrach, Dec. 21. 1813."

OPERATIONS OF LORD WELLINGTON'S
ARMY.

A series of desperate actions were fought on the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th of December, between the armies under Marsbal Wellington, and that of the French under Marshal Soult, in the vicinity of Bayonne. The events of these battles are detailed in dispatches from the Marquis; but which are so long that we confine ourselves to the following satisfactory abstract, pub lished by the British Government.

"Downing-street, Dec. 29. 1813. Major Hill is arrived with dispatches Jean de Luz, 14th December. from the Marquis of Wellington, dated St

"After the enemy had been driven from the Nivelle, he occupied a very strong intrenched camp, connected with the fortress of Bayonne. General Paris's division was

posted at St Jean Pied de Port, and there were strong bodies at Ville Franche and Monguere, between the Nive and the Adour.

"Upon the 9th instant, Lord Wellington caused the right wing under Sir R. Hill, to cross the Nive at Cambo, and the 6th division passed the same river at Ustaritz, in order to favour the former operation. Both these movements were attended with complete success. Part of the 6th division distinguished itself in driving the enemy from the heights near Ville Franche.

"On the same day, the left wing under Sir John Hope reconnoitred the right of the enemy's entrenched camp, and the light division at the same time reconnoitred the front opposite to Bassussary; they drove in the enemy's posts, and in the evening returned to their respective positions.

"On the morning of the 10th, the whole of the enemy's army moved out of their camp, and attacked with great fury the left wing under Sir John Hope, and the light division under General Charles Alten, but both attacks were repulsed in the most gallant style, and Sir John Hope took about 500 prisoners. The brunt of the action fell upon General A. Campbell's Portuguese brigade, two brigades of the 5th division, under General Robinson and Col. Greville,

and

and on the 52d light infantry. All the troops distinguished themselves, and this attempt of Marshal Soult to oblige Lord Wellington to withdraw his right wing, by throwing the whole French force upon his left, was completely frustrated.

"After this day's action, the Nassau and Frankfort regiments came over from the enemy.

"The French never repeated their attempts against the light division, but they twice attacked the posts of the left wing (though more feebly) in the course of the two following days. The enemy was completely repulsed on each occasion; and the foot guards distinguished themselves in the last attempt. The enemy withdrew nearly his whole force from his right, and on the morning of the 13th commenced a desperate attack upon Sir Rowland Hill, who had taken a position between the Adour and the Nive.

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Major-Generals Barnes, Robinson, and Ashworth, are amongst the wounded.

"The total number of the British and Portuguese rank and file, who have been killed in the several actions is 572, and the wounded about 3,400."

Total British killed-1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 3 captains, 10- lieutenants 3 ensigns, 1 staff, 8 serjeants, 2 drummers, 250 rank and file, 12 horses killed.

Total British wounded-2 general staff, 3 lieutenant-colonels, 6 majors, 30 captains, 67 lieutenants, 22 ensigns, 1 staff, 131 serjeants, 20 drummers, 1,904 rank and file, 40 horses.

Total British Missing-1 major, 1 captain, 5 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 1 staff, 10 serjeants, 3 drummers 188 rank and file, 1 borse.

Total Portuguese killed-1 lieutenantcolonel, 2 majors, 6 captains, 3 lieutenants,

1 ensign, 7 serjeants, 2 drummers, 339 rank and file, 1 horse,

Total Portuguese wounded-2 general staff, 5 lieutenent coloneis, 3 najors, 34 captains, 22 lieutenants, 33 ensigns, 8 staff, 84 serjeants, 5 drummers, 1,488 rank and file.

Total Portuguese missing-1 colonel, 1 major, 4 captains, 2 craigus, 4 serjeants, 3 drunimers, 279 rank and file.

Total Spanish-5 rank and file killed; 21 rank and file wounded.

British Officers killed.-Dec. 9.-42d Reg. 1 b. Capt. George Stewart and Lt. James Stewart.-Dec. 10.-9th Reg. 1 b Lieut. P. L. Lemesurier, En. George Bolton.-84th, 2 b. Lt. Col. Rich. Lloyd.— 95th, 1 b. Lt. John Hopwood.-84th, 2 b. Capt. Yates Johnston.-Dec. 12.-1st Foot Guards, Ist. batt. Capt. S. Coote Martin, (Lt.-Col.) Lt. Chas. Thomson (Captain.) -3d Foot Gds, 1 b. Capt. Henry Rob Watson, Adj.- -Dec. 13.-57th, 1st b Lt. Andrew Stukey, Ens. W. Johnston, John F. P. de,-71st, 1 b. Maj. M. M'Kenzie, (Lt. Col.) Lts. W. Campbell and C. Henderson-92d, 1 b. Lts. Duncan, Macpherson, Thos. Mitchell, and Allan Mac

donald.

The only British officer in the Portuguese service killed, was Capt. J. M. Harrison, of the 9th Cazadores, who fell on the 9th December.

Further dispatches have been received from Lord Wellington, of so late a date as the 26th December, which state that no active operations had taken place since the battle of the 13th, and mention that Soult had taken up a position behind the river Gave. The private accounts state that Soult's force does not exceed 40,000 men, and that the few German auxiliaries yet under his standard have been disarmed and sent into the rear.

The Spanish account of the late battles mentions that the Nassau and Frankfort battalions which deserted him, amounted to 1500. The commanding officer took his resolution to quit the French, on learning that the Confederation of the Rhine had been dissolved; but imparted his determi nation to no one. On the evening of the 10th, being posted to observe the movements of the fourth division of the Allies, and not having at his side any French battalion, he addressed his men when ordered to retire, informed them of the events of Europe, of their positive obligations to be faithful to their Princes, and proposed to them to go over to the English Army, upon condition of being conveyed to Germanyall with one mind followed him. They reached the British lines at nine, and same