NEWS OF THE WEEK.
As soon as the Dutch King's determination became known re- specting the capitulation, the French seemed to consider th d 'e busi- ness Antwerp as settled: they determined to disregard the forts of Lillo and Lief kensboek, take the prisoners instead, pack up their ammunition, and return to their homes, like men whose work was done. The 'King of Holland would not condescend to acknow- ledge the existence of a capitulation as such, and the Belgian forts are consequently in statu quo. That the French troops have not remained to put the finis1iing-strt.1.,e to their work by driving the Dutch out of any, even the most insignificant portion of the Belgian territory, may be partly attributed to the apprehen- sion of delay breeding suspicion, and partly out cf deference to the ,English Ministry, who might naturally wish the French army at home and the danger of rupture subsided before the meeting of Parliament. This latter motive of deferring to the wish of the British Government, is, indeed, openly declared in one of the despatches of the French Minister.
. Though the King of Holland would not recognize the capitu- lation, he has acknowledged CHASSE.S bravery, and endowed him with one of the most distinguished Dutch orders. We have hitherto had only reports of the siege from the outside of the Citadel : CHASSE 'S despatches have now been published, and we are admitted to a near view of the very disagreeable situation in ivhiCh the garrison was placed by the tremendous activity of the besieger. On the 5th December, CHASSE reports, that the enemy commenced that morning playing fourteen batteries, "with so much fury that none of us ever witnessed any thing like it." On the 6th, the poor General discovers the French are using pieces of a new invention, called Paixhans, "the force of which nothing Can resist." These Iterrible things "it la Paixhans," on the 7th, penetrated the laboratory, set fire to the projectiles, and there was the devil to pay. On the 8th, • "All the buildings, except the great magazine, are completely riddled by the projectiles, or already converted into rubbish. The bombs d la Pairhans cre- ate great destniction. Experience shows that nothing can resist them ; they pierce the strongest defences at the first blow."
, Op the 19th, poor CHASSE complains of the brutal abuse of the enemy's -gigantic strength, which compels him to remove his - wounded— "I find it impossible to afford a safe asylum to these unfortunate men ; ilabes tottering under the furious fire of the enemy, who, by a brutal abuse of is.gig,antid means -to destroy the Citadel, wishes to attain an object which other- wise would have cost him too much time, labour, and blood."
What would the poor man have had ? did he expect to be asked 'where he wonld be hit, and how often? On the 15th, more than a 'Week- Previous to the surrender, he thus describes the state of the Citadel— • '" The whole surface of the Citadel has been converted into a complete chaos of ruins. The flag, although it has been renewed twice, is repeatedly set on fire. This morning the rope of -the flag having been cut, a sailor, in the midst of a shower of balls, immediately Attached another to it, and thus again hoisted the standard."
- This interior view of the siege will prove that CHASSE held out as long • as it was possible : and it may be more than doubted, whether, against such superiority, he was justified in holding cnit -at all.
The Citadel was delivered into the hands of the Belgians on the last day of the year : Inimediately afterivards; the French commenced ita return home. . The Dutch prisoners are moving, In two divisions, through Flanders. Dunkirk and St. .Omer are said to be their ultimate destination; though there is .5041e rumour 'afloat that they will not suffer any detention what- ever in France, but be immediately sent to Holland. The publicists -of Paris cannot -decide whether-they should be termed prisoners of war, or prisoners of peace..
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