Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Saturday 30 January 1813, page 3


POETRY.

Effusions of Gratitude.

FROM Albion’s blest Isle have we cross’d the wide Main, And brav’d all the Dangers of Neptune’s Domain—

The Hurricane’s Whirlwind, the Tempest’s loud Roar, An Asylum to find on Australia’s rude Shore

For the Genius of Britain sent forth a Decree,

That her Sons should be exil’d—once more to be free !

By PHILLIP commanded, our landing we made,

And worshipp’d HIS MAJESTY’S Standard, display’d As a Pledge of Assurance—a Pledge ever dear,

That Britons in Exile were still Britain’s Care :—

Then gratefully bending, we hail’d the Decree, Which bade us look forward, and hope to be free !

By Woodlands o’ershadow’d, how hard was the toil The Pride to subdue of an obstinate Soil,— Till Ceres appear’d, with her radiant train,

And shed her rich lustre across the Campaign :—

Then, join'd by Pomona, she hail'd the Decree,

That the Sons of Exertion should live and be free !

Now Commerce her Bosom expands to the Gale, And Science o’er Darkness begins to prevail ; Religion’s pure Dictates illumine the Mind ;

And a Friend in our PATRON and RULER we find !—

A PATRON, whose Sympathy hails the Decree,

That bids the lorn Exile “ Amend and be free !”

Oh ! blest be the MONARCH, and prosper His RACE, Who thus the poor Wanderer’s faults can efface ;

Whose Mercy uplifts the full Heart from Despair ;

Whose Dictates are fram’d the sad Bosom to chear :—

Whose Gracious Beneficence stamp’d the Decree, That Britons, once exil’d, again should be free ! In brotherly Love may we learn to unite ;

To share in our Comforts the Stranger invite ; No jarring Contention our Interests divide,

But Harmony’s Fount swell Properity’s Tide.

Then Pæans, loud sounding, shall hail the Decree

Which doom’d us to Exile, once more to be free ! ___________________________________________

William Howell, a labourer in Mr. Lord’s employ, has been detected in robbing his warehouse of pro-perty to a very serious amount, mostly in piece goods. The offender has been apprehended, as have been also several other persons who are implicated as the re-ceivers knowing the property to be stolen: among whom are Mordecai Pass, Mary Redmond, and Mary Egan.

Last night between the hours of ten and eleven, as Mr. James Sherrard, settler, was passing through Bent-street, he was knocked down and robbed of a pocket-book containing about £7 in current bills, and 17s. 6d. sterling. On the robber then leaving him he arose and was proceeding onward, but was a se-cond time knocked down by the same man, who snatched his hat from his head and made off.

The indignation of the mob was a few days since ex-cited by an assault made in Essex-lane upon a de-fenceless cripple, by a stout athletic ruffian, who ap-peared not to act from intoxication, but from a propensity to deliberate mischief. Without any obvious cause of provocation, if any such could have even excused the violence, he knocked him down in view of a number of persons, by whom he was immediately encompassed, and rather rudely handled. From so unpleasant a situation he at length extricated himself by flight, amid shouts and execrations, which followed him until he was beyond the reach of sound. ______________________________________________

From some additional London Papers of June last, with which we have recently been favoured, we select the following articles of information:—

A volcanic eruption on the 1st of May last burst forth from the Souffrier Mountain, which is the most northerly, and highest of the chain running through the centre of the Island of St. Vincent. During the twelve months preceding, upwards of two hundred earthquakes had been felt in the Island, which excited the apprehension of some terrific movement or erup-tion. The Souffrier Mountain had a century before exhibited a like spectacle, from the long discontinu-ance of which the accounts handed down respecting it began even to be discountenanced, to which the beauties of its surrounding verdure greatly contribu-ted. From the 27th of April to the 1st of May, upon

which the eruption burst forth, the earth was in a state of frequent undulation, which was accompanied by a frightful noise similar to the rolling of thunder; and the explosion was accompanied with a shower of favilla, which continued many days, and covered the whole face of the island to the depth of several inches. During this distressing interval, the birds, unable to keep themselves on the wing, fell to the ground; and the cattle were in a famished state, as not a blade of grass was any where to be seen. Every heart was filled with terror and consternation, and nothing short

of entire destruction threatened the whole island. The immense showers of ashes, which were of a dark brown colour, extended to the neighbouring islands, and entirely darkened the atmosphere. — When the accounts came away the eruption continued with un-abated fury.

The Ex-King of Spain, Charles IV; and his Consort,

are in Rome.

The Rivoli French ship, of 74 guns,has been captured by His Majesty’s ship Victorious, of 74 guns.

Mr. HARRISON, the celebrated Oratorio and Concert singer, died the 25th of June last, in London.

Several intercepted letters from Joseph Bonaparte, whom the French entitle the King of Spain,which were addressed to his brothers Napoleon and Louis, to his wife, and sister Caroline, Queen of Naples, and dated at Madrid in March last, complain of his em-barrassed situation for want of money, and necessa-ries to support the war, and in general terms lament the hopeless condition of his affairs in Spain. These letters were intercepted by Mina in a daring enterprise against Madrid.

Three hundred of the Germany regiment of Hesse Darmstadt, who formed part of the garrison of Bada-joz, and who have volunteered into the German Legion, were lately landed at Plymouth. They are fine looking men, and express the highest detestation of the hardships they suffered in the French service. They say the French owe them a year’s arrears of

pay.

FRENCH WEST INDIA SQUADRON.

We have great satisfaction in stating that that the news of the complete destruction of this squadron is confirmed by our letters from Plymouth. The result is highly cre-ditable to Captain HOTHAM, and the brave fellows who served under him, on this trying occasion. We have to regret that none of the plunder with which the enemy's ships were encumbered has been saved to reward our brave tars for their valour: it is satisfactory, however, to know, that our loss, considering the nature of the ser-vice, performed under a heavy fire from the land bat-teries, has been comparatively small—only five killed and 8 wounded. The following are the particulars of this splendid achievement:

“ PLYMOUTH, MAY 27. “ Arrived the Northumberland man of war, Captain HOTHAM, from off L’Orient. On Friday last he com-pletely destroyed, near that port, a French squadron, consisting of the Adriane, of 44 guns ; Audromache, 44 guns, and the Mameluke, of 16 guns.—This is the West India squadron that sailed from Nantz 9th January last. The Northumberland fell in with them close to L’Orient, in the passage between the Isle de Groa and the Main, and completely destroyed them, notwithstanding a heavy fire from the batteries. The Northumberland had five men killed and 20 wounded.”

The subjoined account from Caraccas, and La Guayra, its port, afford some interesting particulars with regard to the terrible convulsion of Nature, which seems almost to have rivalled the earthquake that laid lisbon in ruins more than half a century ago.

Extract of a Letter from Captain Cuthburt, of the

Ship Highlander, dated La Guayra, April 1.

“ Since my arrival here, one of the greatest calamities has occurred at this place that ever happened in any country. On the 26th ult. whilst on board, I heard a most dreadful report of an earthquake: it lasted, as nearly as my recollection will serve, about two minutes. I soon learnt that the town of La Guayra was laid in ruins, and that numbers of the inhabitants were killed and buried in them. The city of Caraccas I understand, has experienced a still worse fate, and has been totally abandoned by the unfortunate inhabitants. The rocks

and mountains were rent asunder; and it is impossible for pen to describe the devastation occasioned by this horrible explosion. The cargo which I was to have ta-ken on board has shared the fate of nearly all the goods in the city, and has been swallowed up in the general

ruin.

“ When the shock was first felt on board, every per-son was impressed with the feeling that the ship was beating to pieces on the rocks. On my going on shore, the most awful and afflicting scene presented itself, hun-dreds of the suffering inhabitants were seen mixed with heaps of ruins, and many of them still yet alive with their heads cut, imploring assistance from their fellow-citizens, who, instead of affording them aid, were throw-ing themselves prostrate before images, beating their breasts, and imploring for themselves the protection of their saints. When the alarm had in some degree sub-sided, the bodies of the dead were sought for.

“ In less than three minutes one quarter of the town was laid in ruins, and the remaining three-fourths of the houses rendered totally uninhabitable. The number of lives lost is not yet ascertained, but the most moderate

accounts estimate it at 5000 souls. Similar accounts have reached us from La Guayra, and various other quarters. What is the extent of the evil in the interior we do not yet know. I fear the calamity has been general throughout the Continent.”

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From the Java Government Gazette of October 24, 1812, we copy the following interesting information relative to the piratical bandittes that have infested the Indian

Seas.

On Saturday the 17th instant, arrived the ship Helen,

from Duke of York’s Island, which she left on the 23d ult. The Helen had sailed from Fort Nugent on the 6th of August, bound to this port, and on the 23d, within seven or eight leagues of High Island or Panabangan, they fell in with a small prow in which were two officers of the Co-romandel, Captain Dickie, who gave the following account of the loss of that ship. On the evening of the 7th, about eight o’clock, she struck on the anterior reef of the island of Caramata, and when got off was found to make so much water, that next morning they were obliged to run her

ashore on the island of Surota. Captain Dickie and the passengers proceeded in a boat to Pontiano, where they ar-rived safe. From thence they dispatched this prow to car-ry the officers and crew to that place; but before she reached the wreck, a piratical ship, commanded by the man who last year attacked Captain Greig in the Minto, had arrived, and was employed in taking out the opium, with which the Coromandel was chiefly laden. He had prevailed on about sixty of the Coromandel’s crew to join

his ship. He had even proposed the same thing to the officers, who of course declined it ; notwithstanding which he continued civil to them during their stay on the island. They had been twice on board of his ship, which is of about 400 tons burthen, and full of men. She mounts a number of guns, and appears in very bad order. She is however well furnished with small arms, pikes, and other weapons. On the 20th, the officers had been again invited on board, but declined going, having been informed that

the Captain intended to keep them there by force. Fortu-nately about ten o’clock that night the prow from Pontiano arrived, and in her they made their escape. She had got in unperceived from the ship, but in going out she was ob-served and hailed by the pirate’s boats, inquiring whether two Europeans were on board. The boats fired on her twice, but she was fortunate enough to escape from their pursuit.

On the evening of the 25th, the Helen was obliged to anchor in the passage between High Island and Melapis, from adverse winds and current, and the next morning, having put back to try another passage, they discovered eight piratical prows lying on the shore at the island of Me-lapis. The Malays on board the Helen said they knew them to belong to the Sultan of Sambas.

In the afternoon about three o’clock the Helen saw the pirate ship, lying between the islands of Caramata and Su-rota, and got in behind the latter island, where she met with another prow belonging to the Sultan of Pontiano. The commander of this prow stated, that in company of se-veral more of the Sultan’s prows they had that morning engaged the ship, but had lost one of their prows in the ac-tion. They said a number of the Coromandel’s crew were still on the island, and had, with the crews of several Pon-tiano prows, erected a battery on shore and defended them-selves from the pirates. They besought Capt. Cameron to attempt the relief of these unfortunate men, and stated their conviction that the pirate on seeing the Helen would endea-vour to make his escape. With that view Captain Cameron anchored during the night, and made for the pirate next morning, but found that he had in that interval been rein-forced by another vessel, apparently of about 250 tons burthen, and full of men. At this time the pirate was about a mile and a half to windward of the Helen. Captain Cameron and his officers being still in hopes that they might intimidate him, attempted to beat up towards him ; during which time he was employed in getting up his top-gallant masts and setting his sails. About noon he fired a gun and hoisted his colours, which are red. The Helen continued to beat up towards him, till he weighed anchor and dropt to leeward of her, which gave an opportunity of attacking him, had such a measure been deemed advisable; but on a consultation it was agreed that there was no chance of suc-cess against the two ships, and that from the number of pirates it would be imprudent to attempt that passage. It was therefore determined to return to Fort Nugent, and proceed through the straits of Banca. On the 31st arrived at Fort Nugent.

On the 13th of July, in consequence of accounts being received that the exiled Sultan of Palembang had taken up a position at some distance above the capital, and interrupted the supply of provisions. Major Meares detached against him a party of 150 men — and some time afterwards followed in person at the head of a reinforcement. He arrived at Salembang on the 26th of August. Having made the ne-cessary arrangements, and procured such intelligence as the Sultan was able to give, he proceeded in boats on the morning of the 20th, with a detachment amounting in all to 170 men, and accompanied by a strong party of the Sultan’s troops. On the evening of the 31st, the detach-ment arrived near a part occupied by the enemy, and where a cable was stretched across the river, to prevent the ad-vance of boats. Next morning our party advanced, and when they came within half a mile of the enemy, a few muskets were fired by the latter, but without any effect. Captain M‘Pherson, at the head of a small party of Sepoys, landed, and scoured the woods which sheltered the enemy,

who retired in confusion, without making any opposition. The remainder of the detachment, commanded by Major Meares, then landed, and the whole advanced without mo-lestation, for about two miles through the wood, when they suddenly discovered a stockade, crowded with troops, who immediately opened a brisk fire of musketry. Our troops, led by Major Meares, immediately rushed on with ardour, climbed over the stockade, and carried it at the point of the bayonet, the enemy, whose loss was great, flying with the greatest precipitation. In crossing the stockade Major Meares received a wound, but did not leave the field till

the enemy was entirely dispersed. The moment our troops got possession of these works a heavy fire was opened on them from floating batteries in the river : but they were quickly silenced by the superior fire of our detachment on the bank. Nine brass guns fell into the hands of the vic-tors, and we are happy to hear that among the prisoners is the Pangerang Weeroo de Natoo, who is said to have been one of the chief instigators and most active agents in the massacre of the Dutch Factory at Palerrbang.

In this affair Major Meares was the only officer wounded. Two Sepoys were also wounded, both slightly. Finding that no accurate information could be obtained respecting the Sultan, so as to enable them to overtake him, and hav-ing so far accomplished the object of their expedition as to restore the communication between the capital and the interior, the detachment returned to Fort Nugent, and ar-rived there on the 4th of September.

The wound received by Major Meares was by a musket ball, which entered a little to the right of the navel and was cut out on the 8th from the upper part of the thigh. It was followed by no inflammation, nor any bad symptom, and on the 15th the cure had so far advanced as to promise a perfect recovery in a few days. But the following night a violent internal heemorrhage took place from a large vessel which was probably grazed by the ball in its pas-sage, and after complaining of difficulty of breathing, and being helped to sit up, the Major expired in three minutes. He was interred next evening with every military honor, under a discharge of 40 miuute guns, corresponding with the number of his years.

The Helen in coming down the straits of Banca was twice attacked in the night by a large piratical prow, which appeared to have about 80 or 90 men. They attempted to board, and were only kept off by a rapid fire of grape, which being so close must have done great execution, as farther appeared from the dreadful howling which issued from the crew of the prow at every discharge.

The Aurora cruiser sailed from Fort Nugent on the 12th of September, in search of the pirate who plundered the Coromandel, and as His Majesty’s ships Phœnix, Baracouta, and Procris have lately left this port on a similar expedi-tion, we hope soon to have the pleasure of stating that the seas have been effectually cleared of those rovers, and that the Sultan of Sambas, by whom they appear to be protected, has learned from a seasonable chastisement how much bet-ter and safer it is to cultivate the arts of peace, than pro-voke, by lawless acts of rapacity, the vengeance of a power-

ful nation.