tenant Codd, Lieutenant Hand, severely; Lieutenant Crompton, Ensign Walker, Ensign Hay, severely; Ensign Mack, slightly. 1st Light Battalion King's German Legion-Major Hartwig, Captain Rudorf, Lieutenant Hartwig, slightly; Ensign Smalhausen; Adjutant Fable, slightly. 2d Light Battalion King's German Legion-Captain A, Heise. Portuguese. Colonel Collins. Camp near Albuera, 21st May, 1811; My Lord;-I have the honour to trans mit to your Lordship the accompanying intercepted letters of some importance; after the severe battle we had, it is satisfactory to know that our calculations of the enemy's loss were not exaggerated, and you will see by Gen. Gazan's letter to Marshal Soult, that in killed and wounded it cannot be less than 8,000 men: left dead on the field and taken, we have the knowledge of near three thousand; Gen. Gazan states that he has more than four thousand wounded with him; three hundred and twenty were at Almen 2d Regiment Adjutant Jose de Mello. 5th Regiment-Captain Jose de Mattos, Captain Jas. Johnston, Lieutenant Jose Miranda, Ensign J. Sarmento Vascon-dralejo by the same letters; Gazan says cellas. 4th Regiment. Pimontel Broquet, slightly. 11th Regiment-Lieutenant J. Paos de Carvalhos, Lieutenant Bede Napoles. 23d Regiment-Captain A. Pinheiro Daragao. 1st Battalion L. L. Legion-Lieute nant-Colonel Hawkshaw, Major Joao Paes, Captain Felipe Jacob, Captain J. Paulo Rosado, Lieutenants Antonio Carlos and Andrew Camacho. Missing. Royal German Artillery-Lieutenant Blumenbach. 4th Dragoons-Captains Spedding and Phillips. 3d Foot, or Buffs-Lieutenant Hannesley and Hill. many have died on the road, and which (Translation.) Ribera, 19th May, 1811. Monsieur le Marechal; I have the honour to report to your Excellency that I am just arrived with the whole of the column which is infinitely more numerous than I could have believed. I am en 2d Batt. 48th Foot-Major Brooke, Captains Campbell and Allman, Lieutenants Ellwood, Marshal, Sach, Brother-deavouring to organize it, in order to idge, and Wood, Ensign Gilbert. (Signed) CHARLES STEWART, Elvas, May 22nd, 1811. My Lord;- enclose a letter of the 21st instant, which I have received from Marshal Sir William Beresford, contain ing a letter from General Gazan to Marshal Soult, which had been intercepted by some of our parties.-General Gazan, wounded himself, was marching with the wounded; and from his account of those with him, from the account of those at Almendrelejo, and those left on the ground at Albuera, from the numbers found dead on the field, and the prisoners, the Marshal computes the enemy's loss not to fall short of 9,000 men. I have the honour to be, &c... Wellington, avoid disasters, and particularly plunder- to intimate to him that he should cor- accounts, and considered in every view, I found it my duty to decline, proposing that in the above-mentioned case, that General should take the command who brought the greatest number of forces, the others being to be considered as auxiliaries; a proposition which, I flatter myself, was as proper in itself as it was well received, as your Excellency will perceive from the copies of my letter to Lord Wellington, and his satisfactory answer, which are both subjoined.-I immediately addressed a copy of the memorial of Lord Wellington to General Blake, who declared his assent to the plan, and to the proposal which I had made, the propriety of which has been still more confirmed by the happy results of the glorious battle of Albuera, in which, in consequence of the above arrangement, the distinguished Marshal Beresford com. manded. On the first accounts that arrived of the approach of Marshal Soult towards Estremadura, Senor Blake made arrangements for uniting his troops with those of the allied army, with so much D'Aubersac having rejoined the army; I have ordered him to collect a large convoy of provisions, and to accompany it to you, that it may the more securely reach you. The great heat will do a great deal of harm to our wounded, the number of whom amounts to more than four thousand; especially as we have only five surgeons to dress them. Some have died upon the road; amongst them M. la Pierre, Chief de Battalion of the 103d regiment. I am still without any news of the Chief d'Escadron La Barthe; I shall have the honour of informing you the very moment I shall have been able to communicate with him. Spanish parties are at Los Santos and at Fuente del Maestro; and have appeared this morning at Almendralejo and Villa Franca. They made inquiries at the latter place as to the march of our column; and they give out that four hundred horse and a strong column of infantry are to arrive to-day at Los Santos; I do not give any credit to this movement, but at all events we shall see them, and I shall try to escape them.I beg your Excellence to receive the as-precision, according to the plan agreed surance of the sincere and respectful devotion with which I have the honour to be, (Signed) The Gen. of Divison, GAZAN. SPAIN.-Cadiz, May 24, 1811.-Extract of On the 26th of Apri last, I informed your Excellency, that the extraordinary rise of the river Guadiana, carrying off the flying bridge erected opposite to Jurumena, had cut off the communication of this part of Estremadura with Portugal, and prevented my interview with Lord Wellington at Yelves.-On this account he transmitted to me a written memorial, in which he explained his ideas as to the operations which appeared proper to him in Estramadura, and which were very conformable to mine, except in one article, which, as it directly affected myself, I did not think it right to admit. The point was this: that it laid down the principle, that wherever different corps of the allied armies should be united to give battle to the enemy, that General possessed of the highest military rank and of the longest standing should take the command of the whole. This would have necessarily imposed upon me the chief command—a circumstance which, on many upon, that he might be said to have calculated to a moment the time for carrying the measure into effect in all its parts, since his forces joined at eleven on Soult, whose object was to attack the allied the night before the battle, unknown to formed a junction with the Spanish troops, army, which he supposed not to have and to be alone on the heights of Albuera; that point having this particular circumstance attached to it, that it was the posi tion which Lord Wellington had fixed on for giving battle.-There on the 16th of this month the troops of the three allied nations assembled, and there the most cordial harmony reigned among the generals, and the most fraternal union among the soldiers; the strongest disposition to give mutual aid at every risk, and the most ardent desire to assist each other by mutual efforts. The glory of the triumph has been so profusely and at the same time so equally shared, that all have gained trophies, and none are obliged to borrow from the laurels of another.-Marshal Soult, with an army somewhat inferior to ours in infantry, but superior in cavalry and artillery, did not delay for a moment his meditated attack. He advanced against our position, which was close to the village of Albuhera, and the centre of the line: but this was soon discovered to be a false attack, and that his intention was to gain the right flank, which consisted of Spanish troops, whom he attacked vigorously with the greatest part of his force, and whom by successively deploying he must have turned, and got into their rear. Our second line aud corps of reserve, however, which were skilfully posted, advanced rapidly to our relief, supporting our first line, and maintaining a most obstinate and bloody combat. The enraged enemy repeated his attacks, bringing up continual reinforcements; but he always met with other reinforcements on our side, which remained impenetrable for seven hours, though he employed, to no purpose, all the intrepidity of the Polish cavalry, and the formidable fire of a numerous artillery which thundered without intermission. At half past two in the afternoon he gave way, and began to retreat without ceasing to combat. He was then charged and pursued in his retreat towards the woods and heights which he meant to occupy, leaving the field of battle covered with his dead, and with a considerable number of wounded, whom he could not carry off; who having been inundated by the heavy showers that fell during the action, formed a most horrid spectacle, the rivulets that poured down from the heights overflowing with blood.-The loss of the enemy upon the most moderate calculation, confirmed by the reports of several deserters, amounts to 7,000 men. Among the killed is Gen. Werle, who remained on the field of battle, and General Pepin, who died during the night in consequence of his wounds. Generals Gazan and Brix retired wounded. Our loss has been very great, though inferior to that of the cnemy. -General Blake, who was always at the head of the troops wherever danger called, had his left arm grazed by a musket. ball, which fortunately only tore his coat and shirt without doing him farther injury. In this way he offered the most effectual example of coolness and bravery to his officers, being constantly in the foremost ranks during the whole of the battle.Having been a close observer of this obstinate battle, I will not attempt to particularize individuals; for all the Generals, officers, and troops surpassed themselves in valour and steadiness. They displayed a coolness, and at the same time an ardour which excited universal enthusiasm. The order, precision, and velocity of the movements, amidst a profound silence, uncommon on such occasions, were the object of general admiration. The only wish was to fight and conquer, be the danger what it might. The Generals of Brigade, without waiting for the bulk of their divisions to come into action, were already engaged by the side of the advanced troops. There was not a man who was not at his post, and every one was determined to maintain it with that valour which is the triumph of individual and military honour.-Soult, without being able to come in sight of Badajos, commenced his retreat early in the morning of yesterday by Vilalba and Almendralejo, leaving in the woods where he was encamped several dead, and more than 200 wounded, whom he could not remove or send with the others to the neighbouring towns. He is pursued and observed by the Conde de Penne Villemur with the cavalry, the vanguard of General Lardizabal, and some English light troops. These are the particulars which I have felt it my duty to lay before your Excellency of the battle of Albuera, the able manoeuvres in which, directed by Marshal Beresford, in concurrence with General Blake, obtained a great victory, which promises the most important consequences. God guard your Excellency, &c. PORTUGAL. THE WAR.-Proclamations of Lord Viscount Wellington, K. B. Marshal General of the Armies of H. R. H. the Prince Regent of Portugal, &c. &c. &c. The Portuguese Nation is informed, that the cruel enemy, who had invaded Portugal, and laid waste the country, has been compelled to evacuate and retire behind the Agueda, after having suffered great losses.-The inhabitants of the invaded districts may now return with secu. rity to their homes, and begin anew their occupations, and domestic arrangements. The Marshal General, however, reminds them of the contents of the Proclamation he addressed to them in the month of August last, a copy of which is by the side of [following] the present. (To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden:Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mail, LONDON :—Printed by T: C. Hansard, Peterborough-Court, Fleet-Street, VOL. XIX. No. 49.] LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1811. 1505] SUMMARY OF POLITICS. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. The Meeting, lately held at the Freemason's Tavern, was, let us hope, the beginning of a series of efforts, which will end in the accomplishment of this grand object. The nation has witnessed several struggles made before; especially those of the FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE and of the Corresponding Society. The former of these gave up, being unable to withstand the torrent of abuse that was poured out against it; and the latter was stifled by means, for the use of some of which the actors obtained a bill of indemnity, but neither which means or the actors will, I trust, ever, be forgotten. Things are now a good deal changed. When the Corresponding Society was stifled, the Revolution was at the full boil in France; the streets of Paris were (owing principally to the war carried on against the French people in the name of their king) stained with human blood; all law and order, all security to either property or person, seemed to be at an end; and, every one looked France as destined to fall a prey to the kings who had coalesced against her, and by whom it was expected she would be torn limb from limb, and divided, or, at least, plucked of her fairest plumes and most essential means of self-defence. This was the state of things at the time when the Corresponding Society was stifled. In answer to that Society, who asked, be it observed, for nothing but reform of parlia ment, and who were never proved to have had any other object in view; in answer to that Society, it was said by the Antijacobins, "What, do you want to put England in the horrid state in which "France now is? The revolutionists in "France began by asking for reform; "having got one step, they proceeded to “ another, 'till, at last, they have mur"dered the king and his wife and son and "sister; and, after having done that "they are now murdering one another, "having declared war against all law, "property and order." This was the upon [Price 15. [1506 substance of what was said in answer to the Corresponding Society. Their opponents reasoned syllogistically thus: The revolutionists in France began by "calling for reform: you now call for "reform: the revolutionists in France "have ended with the destruction of all law and property; therefore, you "would end with the destruction of all "law and property; and for that reason you "must be stifled in time."How many acts, as Mr. Fox said, and such acts as I need not name, were committed upon this ground! Once persuade a people to prefer their present ease and enjoyments to the permanent freedom of their country, and you have only further to persuade them that what you do is absolutely necessary to the preservation of that ease and those enjoyments: when you have done this, you may do what you like; for they will stand by, and, as Casca says of the rabble of Rome, shout forth your praises though you were to cut the throats of their mothers.This reasoning in the way of analogy was wholly fallacious; for, there was no comparison between the two countries in regard to a reform in the government. But, the fallacy was a convenient one for the enemies of reform, who failed not to make a most dextrous use of it, and who assumed as a proof of the revolutionary designs of the English reformers, that they openly professed their wishes for the success of the revolutionists of France, and even, as long as they dared, contributed in a pecuniary way towards the success of that cause. This was, by the Anti-jacobins, cited as proof that the English reformers wanted to see that done in England which had been done in France. This was another fallacy; but it was a convenient one for the enemies of reform; and as those enemies found it no very difficult matter to make a vast majority of the people of property fear for that property, the Corresponding Society was stifled without exciting any great opposition, and with that Society was stifled, for that time, the great cause of Parliamentary Reform. The state of things, I repeat, is now changed. We have seen the 3 D ters; that they serve merely as an instrument for taxing the people and passing laws to compel them to be conscripte; that, in short, they are no more the representatives of the people of France than they are of the Indians in America: if this be true, which I do not, by the bye, at all dispute, there can be no fear that the English reformers would now be disposed to imitate the example of the French, however they may have been disposed this way at the time when France called herself a Republic, and had proclaimed principles, of which every friend of freedom must have heartily approved. -The Reformers, therefore, cannot now be accused of having the same views with the enemy, as they were in 1794; the enemy has a government which the Eng. lish reformers hate; and, Oh! strange to tell! the Anti-jacobins of England; the Anti-reformers; the Associators against Republicans and Levellers are wishing for what? What are they now wishing for? Why, for a revolution in France; aye, they actually live, they exist, upon the hope of an insurrection and revolution in France. This is their daily bread. They have nothing else to depend upon. Here is a change! They, who, for years, cried result of the French Revolution; and, although we have seen, that, in its progress, it has caused no small part of the property of the country to change owners, we have also seen, that it has not made France a prey to the enemies (no less than all the nations of Europe) coalesced against her; that they have not tore her limb from limb; that they have plucked out none of her plumes, nor robbed her of any of her means of defence; but, on the contrary, that they have all; yea all of them, this nation excepted, fallen before her, humbled themselves in the dust at her feet, and have had to bless her generosity for their existence. Here, then, is one part of the old Anti-jacobin argument completely refuted. Time has proved to us, that reform, even if it lead to total revolution, to mad democracy, and end at last in military despotism, does, under every change, at every stage of its progress, tend not only to preserve the independence of a country, but to make it victorious and to bring its enemies to its feet.. Besides, the dread of contagion must now be removed. French principles, it was feared, were at work in the breasts of the reformers; and that, if reform was once begun, it would soon get into an imi-aloud and ceased not, against insurrection tation of what was going on in France. The contagion of French principles was an object of horror. But, in this respect also, the state of things is wholly different from what it was. The French Republicans or Jacobins or Levellers or Reformers, call them what you will, are no more. They have no longer a political existence. The men are alive, in body, or some of theim, at least; but, as political beings they have long been defunct. The piece of clay, called ABBE SIEYES, is still, I believe, in a state to move about and to serve as a sort of mill whereby a portion of the fruits of the earth are again returned to the element whence they sprang; but, ABBE SIEYES the politician is as dead as Pitt or Kenyon or Melville.France is become a military despotism; at least, so it is said. I do not know it, nor have I any faith in what is said about it by our venal prints; but, if what they say be true; if it be true, that there is a simple military despotism established in France; that the laws do, in fact, emanate from the will of the sovereign alone; that the legislative assemblies are a mere sham; that they are absolutely nothing but tools in the hands of the sovereign, or his minis and disorder and revolution and anarchy, and who preached up obedience to the higher powers, who called upon the people to associate and subscribe and fight and inform, to make all sorts of exertions and all sorts of sacrifices, in defence of order and law, of regular government and social order: these very men are now filling their imaginations, feeding their fancies, staying the longing of their ar dent minds with the hope of seeing another revolution in France! They, who dreaded nothing so much as revolution; they who, in answer to all that was said against the despotisms of Prussia, Austria, and even Turkey, said "it is better than "revolution;" they, who were ready to justify any thing upon the plea that it was necessary to prevent revolution; they, who cursed the name of liberty, because it had been used for the purpose of effecting recolution; they, who when they saw England deserted by her allies in the war against France, and saw her impoverished and in difficulties to her lips, still cried out against treating with her, because her government was revolutionary; these men, aye, these very men, are now praying, day and night, for another revolution in France; and, |