List of Officers Killed in the Action of the 1st of Nov. 1803. Major-general Charles Ware. General staff. Major William Campbell, deputy quartermaster general; lieut. Duval, aid-de-camp to the commander in chief. His majesty's 8th regiment light dragoons.-Colonel T. P. Vandeleur, captain Story. His majesty's 29th regiment light dragoons.-Major Grillith, cornet Fitzgerald, quartermaster Philley, quartermaster R. M'Goughy. 1st regiment native cavalry.cornet Coxwell. His majesty's 76th regiment foot, -Lieut. and adjutant Meulh, lieut. Hurd. 1st battalion 15th regiment native infantry.-Lieut. Lambert. List of Officers Wounded in the Ac tion of the 1st Nov. 1803. General staff.-Lieutenant-colonel Gerard, adjutant-general; major G. A. F. Lake, secretary to the commander in chief; captain J. Campbell, gram agent attached to head-quarters; lieutenant Ashhurst, commanding the escort with his excellency the commander in chief. His majesty's 8th regiment light dragoons. Lieut. Lyndon, since dead; lieut. Wellard. His majesty's 27th regiment light dragoons. Capt. White, capt. Mylne, capt. Sandys, and lieut. Gore, major of brigade. His majesty's 29th regiment light dragoons. Lieut. Holstead, since dead; capt. Sloane, lieut. Thorne, and quartermaster Tallen. 1st regiment native cavalry.Lieut. Cornish. 4th regiment native cavalry. Lieut. Read. 6th regiment native cavalry.Cornet Dickson. His majesty's 76th regiment foot. -Capt. Robertson, lieut. Marston, lieut. Wibmer, and lieut. Sinclair. 1st battalion 12th regiment of native infantry.-Ensign Dalton. 2d battalion 12th regiment native infantry.-Major Gregory, captain Fletcher, and lieut. Ryan. 1st battalion 15th regiment native infantry.-Colonel McDonald. 2d battalion 16th regiment native infantry.-Lieut. col. White, ensign G, Deane Heathcote. (Signed) J. Gerard, Adj. general. Report of the Ordnance, &c. captured at Lasicaree, on the 1st November, 1803. 71 pieces of cannon of different calibres. The whole mounted on field carriages, with limbers and traces complete. 64 Tumbrils complete, laden with ammunition, and 44 stand of colours. Ditto ditto blown up on the field of battle, the number not ascertained. The whole of the above-mention ed ordnance, except eight, appear serviceable. The iron guns are of Europe manufacture. The brass guns, mortars, and howitzers have been cast in India, one Dutch six-pounder excepted. The dimensions are, in ge neral, those of the French. The mortars and howitzers are furnished with elevating screws, made by a simple and ingenious adjustment, to give either of them the double capacity of mortar and howitzer. The ammunition is made up in the same manner as that taken at Delhi. 57 carts or hackrees laden with 002 matchlocks The subject on which I address you presses so heavily on my mind, and daily acquires such additional importance, that, notwithstanding my wish to avoid any interference with his majesty's ministers, I find it impossible to withhold or delay an explicit statement of my feelings, to which I would direct your most serious consideration. When it was officially communicated to parliament, that the avowed object of the enemy was a descent on our kingdoms, the question became obvious that the circumstances of the times required the voluntary tender of personal service; when parliament, in consequence of this representation, agreed to extraordinary measures for the defence of these realms alone, it was evident the danger was not believed dubious or remote.-Animated by the same spirit which pervaded the nation at large, conscious of the duties which I owed to his majesty and the country, I seized the earliest opportunity to express my desire of undertaking the responsibility of a military command; I neither did, nor do presume on supposed talents as entitling me to such an appointment. I am aware I do not possess the experience of actual warfare; at the same time I cannot regard myself as totally unqualified or deficient in military science, since I have long made the service my particular study. My chief pretensions were founded on a sense of those advantages which my example might produce to the state, by exciting the loyal energies of the nation, and a knowledge of those expectations which the public had a right to form as to the personal exertions of their princes at a moment like the present. The more elevated my situation, in so much the efforts of zeal became necessarily greater ; and, I confess, that if duty had not been so paramount, a reflection on the splendid achievements of my predecessors would have excited in me the spirit of emulation; when, however, in addition to such recollections, the nature of the contest in which we are about to engage was impressed on my consideration, I should, indeed, have been devoid of every virtuous sentiment, if I felt no reluctance in remaining a passive spectator of armaments, which have for their object the very existence of the British empire. Thus was I influenced to make my offer of service, and I did imagine that his majesty's ministers would have attached to it more value. But when I find that, from some unknown cause, my appointment seems to remain so long undetermined; when I feel myself exposed to the obloquy of being regarded by the country as passing my time indifferent to the events which menace, and insensible to the calls of patriotism, much more of glory, it then behoves me to examine my rights, and to remind his majesty's ministers that the claim which I have advanced is strictly constitutional, and justified by precedent; and that, in the present situation of Europe, to deny my exercising it is fatal to my own immediate honour, and the future interests of the crown. I can never forget that I have solemn obligations imposed on me by my birth, and that I should ever shew myself foremost in contributing to the preservation of the country. The time is arrived when I may prove myself sensible of the duties of my situation, and of evincing my devotion to that sovereign, who, by nature, as well as public worth, commands my most affectionate attachment. I repeat, that I should be sorry to embarrass the government at any time, most particularly at such a crisis. But, since no event in my future life could compensate for the misfortune of not participating in the honours and dangers which await the brave men destined to oppose an invading enemy, I cannot forego the earnest renewal of my application. All I solicit is, a more ostensible situation than that in which I am at present placed; for situated as I am, as a mere colonel of a regiment, the major general commanding the brigade, of which such a regiment must form a part, would justly expect and receive the full credit of pre-arrangement, and successful enterprize. I remain, sir, (Signed) G. P. Right Hon. Henry Addington, &c. This topic was further urged by the same personage, July 26, in a letter to Mr. Addington, who, in reply, briefly alluded to similar representations, which, in obedience to the commands of his royal highness, had been laid before his majesty upon former occasions. The prince then desired his note of the 26th of July, to be laid before his majesty, which was according done. His majesty referred, in Mr. A.'s answer, to the order he had before given Mr. Addington; with the addition, "that the king's opinion being fixed, he desired that no farther mention should be made to him on the subject:" The following letter was then written by the prince. Sir, To the King. A correspondence has taken place between Mr. Addington and myself, on a subject which deeply involves my honour and character. The answer which I have received from that gentleman, and the communication which he has made to the house of commons, leave me no hope but in an appeal to the justice of your majesty. I make that appeal with confidence, because I feel that you are my natural advocate, and with the sanguine hope that the ears of an affectionate father may still be opened to the supplications of a dutiful son. I ask to be allowed to display the best energies of my character; to shed the last drop of my blood in support of your majesty's person, crown and dignity; for this is not a war for empire, glory, or dominion, but for existence. In this contest, the lowest and humblest of your ma003 jesty's jesty's subjects have been called on; it would, therefore, little become me, who am the first, and who stand at the very footstool of the throne, to remain a tame, an idle, and lifeless spectator, of the mischiefs which threaten us, unconscious of the dangers which surround us, and indifferent to the consequences which may follow.-Hanover is lost-England is menaced with invasion-Ireland is in rebellion Europe is at the foot of France. At such a moment, the prince of Wales, yielding to none of your servants in zeal and devotion-to none of your subjects in duty-to none of your children in tenderness and affection, presumes to approach you, and again to repeat those offers which he has already made through your majesty's ministers. A feeling of honest ambition; a sense of what I owe to myself and to my family; and, above all, the fear of sinking in the estimation of that gallant army which may be the support of your majesty's crown, and my best hope hereafter, command me to perscvere, and to assure your majesty, with all humility and respect, that, conscious of the justice of my claim, no human power can ever induce me to relinquish it. Allow me to say, sir, that I am bound to adopt this line of conduct by every motive dear to me as a man, and sacred to me as a prince. Ought I not to come forward in a moment of unexampled difficulty and danger? Ought I not to share in the glory of victory, when I have every thing to lose by defeat? The highest places in your majesty's service are filled by the younger branches of the royal family; to me alone no place is assigned. I am not thought worthy to be even the junior major-general of your army. If I could submit in silence to such indignities, I should, indeed, deserve such treatment, and prove, to the satisfaction of your enemies, and my own, that I am entirely incapable of those exertions, which my birth and the circumstances of the times peculiarly call for. Standing so near the throne, when I am debased, the cause of royalty is wounded; I cannot sink in public opinion, without the participation of your majesty in my degradation. Therefore every motive of private feeling, and of public duty, induce me to implore your majesty to review your decision, and to place me in that situation which my birth, the duties of my station, the example of my predecessors, and the expectations of the people of England, entitle me to claim. Should I be disappointed in the hope which I have formed, should this last appeal to the justice of my sovereign, and the affection of my father, fail of success, I shall lament in silent submission his determination; but Europe, the world, and posterity must judge between us. I have done my duty; my conscience acquits me; my reason tells me that I was perfectly justified in the request which I have made, because no reasonable arguments have ever been adduced in answer to my pretensions. The precedents in our history are in my favour; but if they were not, the times in which we live, and especially the exigencies of the present moment, require us to become an example to our posterity. No other cause of refusal has or can be assigned, except that it was the will of your majesty. To that will and pleasure I bow with every degree of humility and resignation; but I can never cease to complain of Answer, from the King. Windsor, 7th August. My dear son, Though I applaud your zeal and spirit, of which, I trust, no one can suppose any of my family wanting, yet, considering the repeated declarations I have made of my determination on your former applications to the same purpose, I had flattered myself to have heard no farther on the subject. Should the implacable enemy so far succeed as to land, you will have an opportunity of shewing your zeal at the head of your regiment. It will be the duty of every man to stand forward on such an occasion; and I shall certainly think it mine to set an example in defence of every thing that is dear to me and to my people. I ever remain, my dear son, Your most affectionate father, (Signed) G. R. letters were mislaid, and some days clapsed before I could discover them: they have since been found. Allow me, then, sir, to recal to your recollection the expressions you were graciously pleased to use, and which I once before took the liberty of reminding you of, when I solicited foreign service, upon my first coming into the army. They were, sir, that your majesty did not then see the opportunity for it; but if any thing was to arise at home, I There cannot be a stronger expresought to be "first and foremost." sion in the English language, or one more consonant to the feelings which animate my heart. In this I agree most perfectly with your majesty-"I ought to be the first and foremost." It is the place which my birth assigns me-which Europe which the English nation expect me to fill-and which the former assurances of your majesty might naturally have led me to hope I should occupy. After such a declaration, I could hardly expect to be told, that my place was at the head of a regiment of dragoons. I understand from your majesty, that it is your intention, sir, in pursuance of that noble example which you have ever shewn during the course of your reign, to place yourself at the head of the people of England. My next brother, the duke of York, commands the army; the younger branches of my family are either generals or lieutenant-generals; and I, who am the prince of Wales, am to remain a colonel of dragoons. There is something so humiliating in the contrast, that those who are at a distance would either doubt the reality, or suppose that to be my fault, which is only my misfortune. 004 Who |