This column, consisting of 14,000 men, intended to attack the Duke of Belluno in the rear, and to raise the siege of Cadiz. The plan was completely frustrated. The Duke of Belluno defeated the enemy, and drove them into the Isle of Leon, taking three stands of colours, four pieces of cannon, and 760 men. He killed and wounded more than one-third of the English. my was only 9,600 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. The garrison wanted neither provisions nor ammunition.-In my letter of the oth instant, I requested the Governor of Elvas to desire the Governor of Badajos to observe secrecy with respect to the retreat of Massena, to prevent its reaching the knowledge of the enemy by means of deserters, as I thought to meet with him again at Badajos, but he pub-General Sebastiani, who commands the 4th lished the intelligence as soon as he received it, asserting, at the same time, that he did not believe it. He, in like manner, communicated it to the French General. -When Badajos had surrendered, the enemy directed his operations against Campo Major, in which direction he has moved. I have the honour to be, with consideration and particular esteem, your Excellency's attentive and faithful serWELLINGTON. vant, Head-quarters, Lousa, March 16, 1811. SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.-French Official Intelligence from the Armies, published at Paris, 31st March, 1811. corps, consisting of 20,000 men, supposed SIEGE OF BADAJOS. [Extracts from the General Orders, published on the 20th of February, by Marshal the Duke of Dalmatia, Generalin Chief of the army of the south, and of a dispatch transmitted on the 22d, by his Excellency to his Serene Highness MajorGeneral the Prince of Neufchatel and Wagram.] General Foy arrived at Paris the day before yesterday, with letters from the Prince of Essling. He left the head quarters in Portugal on the 15th instant.-The army was in the best condition. There were hardly any sick. The soldiers were full of ardour. - Marshal the Prince of Essling deemed it expedient to make a movement. He had pushed his right to the Zezere, and established his headquarters at Pombal.-Several corps of troops in the pay of England had been defeated. Columns- had penetrated PorThe General-in-Chief announces to the tugal in every direction, disarming the inhabitants, and reducing them to submis- army, the brilliant advantages that the sion. Adjutant Commandant Avy has also 5th corps of the army, commanded by arrived from Badajos, which he left on Marshal the Duke of Treviso, and the the 14th of March, dispatched by the cavalry of reserve under the orders of Duke of Dalmatia, with the colours taken General Latoor Maubourg, have succesby the Marshal during the six weeks that sively obtained over the enemy, under the he has been in Estremadura. He is also walls of Badajos.-Since the commencethe bearer of the capitulation of Badajos. ment of the siege of this fortress the -The capture of Badajos and Olivenza, enemy made two sorties, for the purpose the action at Castillegos, and the battle of of retarding the approaches and destroyGebora, are important military events ing our works. They were vigorously rewhich have turned to the confusion of our pulsed, and lost a great number of men. enemies. Twenty thousand prisoners, The infantry in the trenches, and the colours, and several hundred pieces of companies of sappers under the orders of cannon, are in our power.-On the 5th of Captain Costé, as well as the 4th dragoons, March, some important events took place commanded by Colonel Farine, distinbefore Cadiz. A division of 6,000 Eng-guished themselves by their bravery. lish, and from 7 to 8,000 Spaniards, landed about the end of February, at Algesiras. The General of Division Girard ably directed the movements of the troops, under cavalry, besides some field pieces, they were completely routed and driven to the glacis of Fort Picurina and the garrison. The enemy left 150 killed behind them; and, according to the accounts of deserters, they had upwards of 1,000 wounded; they also lost several officers of rank. We had to lament the loss of some brave men. Captain Cazaux, of the light artillery, Lieutenant Bruchon, of the sappers, were killed: Captain Mutta, of the 40th regiment, and Colonel Vigent, of the 64th, wounded. The Commander-inChief had ordered the General of Division' Gazan, Head of the Staff, to direct for that day the attack on the right: his dispositions were excellent, and he was ably supported by the General of Division Gerard. The Chief of Battalion Arnaud, Aide-de-Camp to General Gazan, and Sub-Lieutenant Ingaldo, in the service of his Catholic Majesty, were wounded.—The enemy remained quiet on the 8th. He appeared astonished at his loss on the preceding evening, and the resistance he met. the orders of Marshal the Duke of Treviso. | and notwithstanding their force, which The Chief of battalion, Cazin, command-amounted to 10,000 infantry, and 600 ing the engineers, was killed in one of these sorties. He was an officer of great merit, and is much regretted. The bat tery of the first parallel, which was opened on the height of Viento, is called after him. Captain Vainsot of the engineers, a distinguished officer, as well as Captains Lapoterié and Prestat of the staff, were also wounded. In the mean time the cavalry of reserve under the orders of General Latour Maubourg made an incursion into Portugal, and alternately appeared before the fortresses of Elvas and Campowere Mayor. In the various skirmishes he had with the enemy, he killed several and took some prisoners. The Spaniards notwithstanding, who from the tardiness of their succours were not able to prevent the capture of Olivenza, dispatched by forced marches the two divisions that had joined the English army at Lisbon. On the night of the 5th they appeared on the heights of St. Christoval, and established a communication with the troops in Badajos. The cavalry which had completed the investment of the garrison on the bank of the Guadiana, was obliged to retire, and pass the Gebora. The two divisions of relief entered Badajos.-On the 6th Gene ral Latour Maubourg was ordered to advance, and endeavour to re-establish the blockade upon the right bank. The brave cavalry under his command presented themselves at three in the afternoon before the Spanish and Portuguese cavalry, part of which was drawn up on the left bank of the Gebora, charged and overthrew them, with the loss at least of three hundred men and as many horses, of which several were drowned. The 14th regiment of dragoons acquired great honors in forcing, under the fire of the enemy's grape, the passage of the bridge of Gebora. On the 7th at noon, the enemy made a general sortie on the left bank, upon the right of our attack, and manoeuvred, in a manner, for the purpose of forcing us to quit that position, with the view of afterwards attacking the rear of the continuation of the parallel. They had already reached the redoubts Bruchon and Cazaux, which crowned the heights of St. Michael, and took possession of them; but the dispositions were so well made, and the reinforcements sent by Marshal the Duke of Treviso arrived so opportunely, that the enemy were only masters of these redoubts some seconds, On the 9th, he made a sortie on the right bank with his cavalry and the two divisions of infantry which came from Lisbon. They took a position on the heights of St. Christoval, for the purpose of re-establishing the communication with Elvas and Campo Mayor, and facilitating the introduction of supplies into Badajos; thereby appearing to renounce any intention of a new sortie against the front of attack. STORMING OF FORT PARDALERAS. The enemy would have been instantly attacked in his position on the right bank, if the passage of the Guadiana, having been impeded by various circumstances, had not retarded this operation; and if the works executed by the Imperial corps of engineers, under the orders of General Lery, and those of the artillery commanded by General Bourgeat, had been sufficiently advanced to favour this other enterprise. The parallel of the attack in the centre had already reached to within 160 yards of the salient angle of Fort Pardaleras: two batteries were established, and hopes were entertained that after silencing the fire of the Fort, it would' be possible, by one of those bold strokes which commonly succeed in war, to carry it by assault. It was resolved to attack it. On the 11th, in the afternoon, the bom master." Reply of his Majesty. bardment, which was begun six days be- | admiration, and happy in obeying a single fore, was resumed with fresh vigour; and at the same time the two batteries, which were erected against the face of the mid- "Gentlemen, Deputies of the Hanse dle bastion of Fort Pardaleras, opened Towns of Hamburgh, Bremen, and Lubeck their fire. By night-fall, that of the enemy -You formed part of the Germanic Emwas silenced, but the fire from the gar- pire; your Constitution terminated with rison encreased. Notwithstanding this its existence. Since that time your situa circumstance, 400 brave fellows, under tion was uncertain. I intended to reconthe orders of Captain Coste, who had stitute your cities under an independent been placed in the trenches by the Duke administration, when the changes produced of Treviso, were commanded to advance, in the world by the new laws of the Brito rush to the entrance of the fort, to tish Council rendered the project impracbreak the palissades and to enter the ticable. It was impossible for me to give works. It was executed with all possible. you an indapendant administration, since bravery, with shouts of Long live the Em-you could no longer have an independant peror In less than a quarter of an hour, flag.-The Decrees of Berlin and Milan they were masters of the fort, and the are the fundamental laws of my empire. garrison were taken prisoners. They also They cease only to have effect as to those took six pieces of cannon. We had only nations which defend their sovereignty, seven or eight men wounded.-From the and maintain the religion of their flag, beginning of the siege to the taking of England is in a state of blockade as to those Pardaleras, the enemy did not relax their nations which submit to the Orders of fire. They increased it after this event. 1806, because the flags thus submitting to But the direction given by General Lery the English laws are denationalized; they to the parallels was so scientific, and the are English. Those nations, on the conbatteries of General Bourgeat so well trary, which feel their own dignity, and adapted to localities and the objects at find in their courage and power sufficient which they were aimed, that this prodi- resources to disregard the blockade by gious fire was not as destructive as it might notification, commonly called a paper. have been. The third parallel was push-blockade, and to approach all the ports of ed on with all possible vigour, and batteries, a ricochets, were already established against the extent of the faces of several bastions of the fortress. my empire, except those under real blockade, according to the known usage and the stipulations of the treaty of Utrecht, may hold communication with England. As to them, England is not blockaded. The decrees of Berlin and Milan, flowing from the nature of things, shall continue to form the public code of my empire as long as England maintains her Orders in Council of 1806 and 1807, and violates the stipulations of the treaty, of Utrecht upon this subject.-England acts upon the principle of seizing the enemy's merchandize, under whatever flag it might be. The empire has been compelled to admit the principle of seizing English merchandize, or proceeding from the commerce of England, in whatever territory it may be. England seizes in every sea the passengers, merchants, and carriers belonging to the nation she is at war with. France is compelled to seize the English travellers, merchants, and carriers,. in whatever part of the Continent they may be, and wherever she can reach them; and if in this system there be any thing little consonant to the spirit of the age, it is the injustice of the new English laws that must be charged with it.—I have been pleased to enter into these explanations with you, to convince you that your union with the empire is the necessary result of the British laws of 1806 and 1807, and not the effect of any ambitious calculation. In my civil laws you will find a protection, which in your maritime position, you can no longer find in the political code. That maritime commerce, which constituted your prosperity, cannot henceforth be revived, but in conjunction with the réstoration of my maritime power. The rights of nations, the liberty of the seas, and a general peace, must be re-conquered at one and the same time. When I shall have upward sof 100 sail of the line, I shall subjugate England in a few campaigns. The seamen of your coasts, and the materials conveyed to the mouths of your rivers, are necessary to my purpose. France, within her old limits, could not construct a marine in time of war. When her coasts were blockaded, she was compelled to receive the law. Now from the increase my empire has received within the last six years, I can build, equip, and arm 25 sail of the line yearly, without the slightest delay or obstructions from the existence of a maritime war. The accounts that have been given me of the good disposition which animates your fellow-citizens have afforded me pleasure; and I hope, in a short time, to have to praise the zeal and bravery of your sea men. PORTUGAL. -Extracts of Dispatches from Lord Viscount Talavera to Lord Liverpool.-Published in London, 11th March 1811-(Concluded from page 672.) with some loss by Colonel Grant, who had occupied the town with a party of Ordenanzas of Lower Beira.-I inclose a letter from Marshal Sir William Beresford, and a report from Lieutenant-Colonel Grant, of this affair. From later reports I am apprehensive, however, that he has since been obliged to withdraw from thence.— I likewise enclose reports from Major-General Sir William Erskine, who commands the out-posts on the left of the army, of the capture of General Clausel's aide-de-camp, and a detachment of the enemy's cavalry and infantry, on the 19th instant, by Cornet Strenuwitz of the Hussars, to whose conduct, in an enterprize of a similar nature, I drew your lordship's attention in my last dispatch.-In this instance he has acquitted himself with great judgment and boldness.-The operations of the Guerillas continue throughout the interior.-Don Julian Sanchez, whom I have frequently mentioned to your lordship, has recently captured a large convoy of biscuit on its march from Ledesma to Ciudad Rodrigo, which had come from Palencia; and another party has recently done the enemy a considerable injury near the bridge of Arzobispo. It is said that General La Houssaye has been killed in an affair at that place. The enemy have made no movement of importance in front of this army since I addressed your lordship on the 16th instant. A considerable quantity of baggage has been sent out of Santarem, but I am inclined to believe that it belongs to removed from thence to the rear of the sick officers and soldiers who have been army. Cartaxo, March 2, 1811. No event of importance has occurred I am informed that there are nine thousand since I addressed you on the 23d of Fegood troops in Badajoz, some having re-bruary. The enemy have continued their tired into that fortress from the field of battle; and that the garrison is well supplied with provisions, which have been left there by the inhabitants, who quitted the place when the communication with it was recently opened. The works are still untouched, and the enemy's fire has hither to done but little damage to the town.-General Claparede's division of the 9th corps still continued upon Guarda, with their advanced guard at Belmonte, when I last heard from that part of the country. They had made an attempt to obtain possession of Covilhao, on the 12th, but were repulsed operations against Badajos, but without much effect; and the fire of the place is well kept up, and the garrison in good spirits.-General Mendizabel is endea vouring to collect and re-organize his corps at Villa Viciosa, in Portugal.-The enemy moved a large force, with cannon, upon Lieutenant-Colonel Grant, at Covil hao, on the 18th of February, and be was obliged to withdraw the Ordenanza from thence, and to retire to Alpedrinha, where he was, according to the last accounts.➡ The enemy have made no movement of any importance in the front of this army. Published by R. BACSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mali LONDON :-Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterborough-Court, Fleet-Street. VOL. XIX. No. 30.] LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1811. [Price 18. "Though men are commonly more governed by what they have seen, than by what they foreseee, "with whatever certainty; yet promises, protestations, fair appearances, with the allurements of pre"sent interest, have such powerful influence as few are able to resist.") -HUME.-Public Credit. $97] SUMMARY OF POLITICS. THE REGENT'S DECLARATION AGAINST CORRUPTION.- -It seems to be pretty generally believed, 'that, this declaration (which was particularly stated in my last Number) was actually made by the Regent; and, if it was, and he be resolved to stand firmly to his purpose, all apprehensions for the safety of the country are removed from my mind.- -A correspondent, in another part of this Number, observes, that a Reform of Parliament is necessary against the day when the Pitt paper-money shall reach its inevitable catastrophe. In his fond, his poetical, hopes of seeing a reform effected by an union with the Whig-Reformers, I am not able to accompany him; for, I must say, that I see no such hopes, and that I should expect nothing from them but double dealing. My opinion is, that they wish to do something that nothing may be done; that they wish to meddle and to mar; and, in the end, to confuse the public mind, and to make the object of doubtful value. They wish not to lose the people altogether. They wish still to keep a hold upon them. But, I am fully convinced, that they do not wish to see any real reform adopted. -I, therefore, see very little to rejoice at in the co-operation of SIR FRANCIS BURDETT and MR. BRAND. They cannot go on together, unless one or the other completely changes his object; and, I am quite sure, that SIR FRANCIS will not do this. There are some persons, who, while they talk of a reform, seem very anxious to protest against having any thing to do with the people in effecting it. This is perfectly stupid. Nothing but parblind aristocratic pride could have given birth to such an idea. The people! Why, who is the reform to be for? Who has the interest in it? Men and not acres. Living souls, and not dirt. Who are to defend the acres against the enemy? Why, the people. And, will any one, then, have the insolence to tell these same people, that they have no right to meddle or to claim a voice [898 as to any reform that is to take place?- |