Our intelligence from Antwerp comes down to Thursday afternoon. For
this we are indebted to the laudable activity of the Morning Newspapers. The Times has two correspondents in Belgium; one at Brussels, and one at Antwerp. The Herald has one; whose communications would be more useful if he would give fewer dissertations, and more facts. While the siege is in progress, and Unmarked by any decisive event, we cannot adopt a better form than that of simple narrative, in the order' of time.
The summons of Marshal GERARD was sent into the fort on Friday morning. The French officer who carried, it was very desirous to commit it to the hands, Of the commander himself, but he could not be gratified; the message 'was accordingly committed to the charge of the Officer of the ghard; and in a short time a verbal message was brought back, informing the bearer of' the summons that an answer would be sent. As summonses and replies between Generals have for not a few years been rarities to our readers, we shall give the correspondence that passed on this occasion.
Summons made in the name of France and England, by Marshal Gerard, Commander-in. Chief of the French Army, to General Chasse, Commander of the Citadel of Antwerp. " Head Quarters of Borgenhout, under Antwerp, November 30, 1832. "Arrived before the citadel of Antwerp, at the head of the French Army, with instructions from my Government to reclaim the execution of the Treaty of the 15th of November 1931; which guaranteed to his Majesty the King of the Belgians the possession of this fortress, as well as the forts dependent on it, on both sides of the Scheldt,—I hoPe tolled you disposed to acknowledge the justice of this demand. If, contrary to Sly expectations, it should be otherwise, I am commanded to inform you that I must 'employ those ineans which are at my disposal to occupy the said citadel. "The operations of the siege will be directed to the exterior fronts of the citadel; and, notwithstanding the weakness of the fortifications on the side of the city, and theshelter 'afforded me. by the houses, offer every advantage for the attack, I shall not profit by it. I have therefore every right to hope, conformable to the laws of war, and to customs constantly observed, that you will abstain from all kinds of hostilities against the city. I shall cause to be occupied a portion of it, from the sole motive of being prepared for any thing that may expose it to the fire of your artillery. A bombardment would be oct of useless barbarity, and a calamity for the commerce of all nations. "II', notwithstanding these considerations, you should fire on the city, France and England will exact an equivalent indemnity for the damages caused by the fire from the citadel and its forts, as well as from the ships of war. It is impossible for you not to foresee that in this case You will be personally responsiblefor the violation of a custom respected by all civilized nations, and the disasters which may result front it. I await Your answer, and am persuaded that you wilt see the propriety of immediately; entering into negotiations with me, for the purpose of putting the citadel of Antwerp, and its clePendent forts, into my possession. "Receive, Monsieur to General, I pray you, the assurances of my consideration.
(Signed) COVNT GERARD, Commander of the Army of the North."
