From colonel Malcolm to rear-admiral Malcolm.

Cumberland Island, 11th February, 1815.

I HOPE We may hear from you in a short time, and of your success against the place you are now before-(New Orleans.) It will repay the troops for all their trouble and fatigues! I do not expect, either war or peace, that we will move from this island this winter; if the war goes on, a garrison must be left here in charge of the island.

From sir Thomas Cochrane, of the Surprise frigate, to captain Pigot, off New Orleans.

Cumberland Island, February 12th, 1815.

I CAME here just two days too late to share in the good things going on. Old Somerville was senior, and ordered the attack on St. Mary's, which Barrie executed. The prize-money will be about thirty thousand pounds, not more. Had our force been sufficient, the next movement would have been against Savannah, but not mustering above a thousand bayonets, we were content to keep possession of this island, which we are placing in a state of defence. Our operations will, I suppose, be shortly put a stop to by our friend, Jemmy Madison, as peace or war now depends on him: the commissioners at Ghent having signed, and the prince regent ratified, the terms of a peace, and hostilities will cease as soon as he does the same. We hope, in the mean time, better luck will attend you at New Orleans than has hitherto done, and that you will have time to give general Jackson a trimming.

From sir Thomas Cochrane to sir Thomas Troubridge, off New Orleans.

North End Cumberland Island, February 12th, 1815.

I HOPE this will reach head-quarters in time for the St. Law rence, who sails immediately for your part of the world with the news of peace being concluded with this country, but of which I should think you will receive earlier intelligence direct from Eng land. We are in daily expectation of a flag of truce to inform us of Mr. Madison's having ratified the treaty, on his doing which hostilities will immediately cease. I confess myself by no means

sorry for this event. I think we have had quite enough of war for some years to come, although I should have wished we had made the Yankees more sensible of our power and ability to punish them, should they again provoke us. As it is, except the injury done to their trade, we have little to boast of. We are all very much grieved to learn the disasters in your quarter. Our loss seems to have been immense; and from the reports we pick up, one is led to believe there was not much prospect of success at the commencement of the attack. We are most particularly unfortunate in our general officers on all occasions. I am afraid general Power and the regiment with him, will not be with you in time to render any service. He was at Bermuda on the 24th ult. at which period the Statira had not arrived.

I came here six weeks ago, and found St. Mary's had been taken two days before my arrival, which, of course, cuts me out of what has been captured. Barrie commanded the party landed; old Somerville was senior officer, the admiral having only arrived the day before me, in consequence of being blown off the coast by strong northwest gales on his way from the Chesapeake. It was at first supposed, as is usual on all these occasions, that a great deal of money would be made; but if they clear thirty thousand pounds, it will be as much as they will do.

From admiral Cockburn to captain Evans.

Head-Quarters, Cumberland Island, 11th February, 1815. No general, however, as you now know, has come here; you have had them all your way, and though I have learnt by a few hasty lines the unfortunate result of your first endeavours against New Orleans, yet excepting as far as relates to the poor generals and to the gross numbers you lost, I know no particulars, not even which of my many friends amongst you are dead or alive, or which have broken bones or whole skins. I trust, however, it will prove that you are amongst the latter, and I hope you will when at leisure favour me with a detailed account of all that has passed in your neighbourhood.

We have been more fortunate here in our small way. We have taken St. Mary's, a tolerably rich place, and with little loss have managed to do much damage to the enemy, and we are now ·

in tolerable security, upon a large fertile island in Georgia, though an ugly account of peace being signed (the particulars of which I have sent to sir admiral Cochrane) seems to promise a speedy dismissal to us from this coast.

From Mr. Swainson to lieutenant Douglas, of H. M. brig Sophie, off New Orleans.

9th February, 1815. WE had some fine fun at St. Mary's; the bombs were at the town, and had plenty of plunder. How are you off for tables, and chests of drawers, &c?

From J. Gallon to J. O'Reily, esq. on board H. M. ship Tonnant, off New Orleans.

Cumberland Island, 9th February, 1815. WE have had fine fun since I saw you. What with the Rappahannock and various other places, we have contrived to pick up a few trifling things, such as mahogany tables, chests of drawers, &c.

From John Miller to Mr. Thomas Miller, 75 Old Gravel Lane, St. George's, East London.

H. M. ship Lacedemonian, off land, February 12th, 1815. We have lately been employed with the squadron under admiral Cockburn, and have taken Cumberland Island, and the town of St. Mary's, from the Yankees. Our troops and sailors behaved very well; part of the black regiment employed on this service acted with great gallantry. Blacky had no idea of giving quarters; and it was with difficulty the officers prevented their putting the prisoners to death. The Yankee riflemen fired at our men in ambush; blacky, on the impulse of the moment, left the ranks, and pursued them into the woods, fighting like heroes. A poor Yankee, disarmed, begged for mercy. Blacky replied, "he no come in bush for mercy," and immediately shot him dead!

From J. R. Glover to captain Westful, of the Anaconda.

Head-Quarters, Cumberland Island, 1st February, 1815. WE have established our head-quarters here, after ransacking St. Mary's, from which we brought property to the amount of fifty thousand pounds, and had we two thousand troops, we might yet collect a good harvest before peace takes place. My fore

bodings will not allow me to anticipate either honour or profit to the expedition, of which you form a part, and I much fear the contrary, yet most fervently do I hope my forebodings may prove groundless. The admiral (Cockburn) is as active as ever, and success in general attends his undertakings.

From captain Napier, of the Euryalus frigate, to captain Gordon, of the Seahorse.

Off Cape Henry, January 24th, 1815.

HERE I am in Lynhaven bay, the clippers sailing every day, and losing them for want of fast sailers. All our prizes are well disposed of. I have had a good deal to do with them, and not many thanks as you may suppose from the agents. I have petitioned the prince regent in behalf of the whole of us, for a good slice of prize-money, and I hope to succeed. You, I suppose, will not be displeased at it. Excuse this hasty scrawl, I am in a d-d bad humour, having just returned from an unsuccessful chase.

NO. LXVIII.

NEGRO STEALING, &C.

AFTER the news of peace had reached the infamous Cockburn, at Cumberland Island, the following depredations were committed on St. Simons, by the British. The respectable editor of the Savannah Republican introduces the facts to the public by assuring us that" implicit reliance may be placed" on the following statement:

"St. Simons, February 13, 1815. "As the only person, at present, capable of making a just representation of the losses sustained by the inhabitants of St. Simons, I beg leave to state them to you, with a view that it may be presented to the proper department.

Major Butler, (Hampton,) one hundred and fifty negroes: his dwelling-house rifled; groceries and every other article removed to head-quarters (Cumberland.)

James Hamilton will be ruined as to his negro property; his store pillaged; machinery employed in ginning the seed cotton destroyed; the whole of his packed cotton removed.

A. C. Wylly, forty negroes taken, with his cotton.

E. Matthews, twenty-six negroes and six bales of cotton.

J. H. Giekie, fifteen negroes, several bales of cotton.
John Couper, the number of negroes unknown.

In truth, it is impossible to state circumstantially the loss which the unfortunate inhabitants have sustained. Cattle slaughtered in every direction; property of every description held in requisition or destroyed. My feelings prevent my adding to this hateful catalogue of wo."

To the above I will subjoin a list of the negroes taken from the shores of the Mississippi by the British, whom they refused to surrender, under the pretext of considering them as deserters, as

Besides the loss of their negroes, some of the planters above named have experienced other heavy losses, such as the whole of their cattle, horses, buildings, furniture, &c. to the amount of more than two hundred thousand dollars.