Star. — London, England, 1809-01-02 00:00:00

The Corunna Diary of December 25, contains the following proclamation : DON rzrno CURDY Y nntxus., MARQUIS DE LA 1RO• MAMA, GENUAL IN clasp, s:e. By an express just arrived I have received the fol lowing official communication front his Excellency D. Martin de Garay, Secretary General and Mem brr ofthe Supreme Central Junta of Government,&c. gg MOST EXCELLENT SIR, " The King and Lord, Ferdinand VII. and in his royal name the Supreme Junta of Government of the kingdom, omitting no means which can any ways promote the safety and prosperity of the nation, has thought proper to resolve, that your Excellency is not only to command the army, of which you are General in Chief, but also the armies of Old Castile, Leon, Asturias, and Galicia, superintending, with regard to all the said armies, the troops of the mass, and putting iti requisition the horses, mules, and other measures, which are required to augment our army, and put it on that respectable footing which the pre sent extraordinary citcuanstances require. His Ma jesty has 'been informed, and sees with the deepest concern, that to the want of subordination, cowardice is added by many, whence arises that scandalous de sertion which excites astonishment in our allies and daMpe . their general . ardour. This conduct, so eon-:1 trary to the sentiments of true Spaniards, and which cannot be counteracted by mild measures, deMands that your Excellency should check it with all the ri gour of military law, extending the punishment to all those who assist or protect deserters. For this purpose bis Majesty invests your Excellency with the most ample power which may be required, to cause yourself to be promptly and implicitly obeyed, and cause the enthusiasm which begins to slacken in the provinces, and especially in Old Castile, to be reviv ed. To attain that end, extraordinary and vigorous measures are required, calculated to secure the safety of the :nation, which cannot be done without the prompt and exemplary punishment of the vile and degenerate wretches who deceive their country and their King, by usurping the title of their defenders, while they are selling them to the enemy. From that severe punishment, such justices and places are not to be excepted as show any slowness in checking dis order and confusion, or do not execute your Excel, leney's orderswith the necessary ronctuality and zeal. His Majesty invests you with such great authority, in order that you may be convinced of the implicit confidence which he places in your energy and zeal. The necessary orders have been dispatched for that purpose to the respective Juntas of Government, that they may possess full knowledge thereof and obey your Excellency, to whom I con mmunicate the above Royal Order for your information, and compliance with the same. Gon prestrve your Excellency many years. (Signed) 64 MARLIN DE GARAY." " Todela, December 4th. " To the Marquis De la Romans." In pursuance thereof, I ordain that all the inha bitants of the kingdom of Castile, Leon, and As caries and Galicia; of from sixteen to forty-five years of age, are immediately to arm themselves wit h such muskets, carbines, pistols, sabres, and every other description of arms as they have in their possession. That all young men unmarried without children, are to repair, without the least delay, to the places which shall be pointed out by the Juntas of Government in the respective provinces and districts, to be immedl.l ately incorporated with the armies. All other per son shall also arm to defend their respective provin ces ; all horses and Mules belonging to any persons whomsoever, are put in a state of requisition, and lin. anediately ta be delivered up for the use of tl e armies. 44 All armourers and smiths are, in preference to any other business, to devote their exertions to the fabrication of arms and pikes ; the latter being de stined for those inhabitants who cannot be supplied with any sort of arms. "All persons refusing to enlist or deliver up horses, mules, and other necessaries, shall be committed as traitors to their country, and be punished in an ex emplary manner. All vile deserters shall be shot as soon as apprehended, without any exception or mer cy. Cowards who in an engagement with the enemy are the first to run away and cause disorder and con- I union, may be killed on the spot for their own pu nishment, and as an example to others. • 44 All those gallant defenders of their country, worthy of the heroic Spanish names, who distinguish themselves by deeds of superior valour, shall be re warded in such a manner that their names shall be handed down to posterity with those marks of public approbation which shall be best calculated to immor talize their glory. (Signed) gg Marquis de la RONtANA. Ilead-qtareers, Leon, Dee.lBoB. SARAGOSSA, NOVEMBER 24. ',non/INA/lox OF 1115 EXCELLENCY SEIONIOR PALAFOX. , r 4 Inhabitants of Saragossa—you are aware of the embalwassment we experienced during the late glori ous siege of this place, from the French who reside , among us, and how much they prevented us from deriving from the Castle all the advantage it could have afforded us. It is proper that they should quit this city this very day, and that they should be con. ducted to places of confinement at a distance, leaving us at liberty to occupy ourselves more profitably in u hat so much interests us, namely, our own defence —Yes ! brave and invincible inhabitants of this illus trious city, in vain shall the artifices of the enemy, and the vile wretches in his pay, excite in your bo. corns the rage of assassination. I feel convinced that vnu are inctiable of staining your reputation by any 1:)a se procee ding. Follow the advice of your General, rather rur - father and friend, and always have to . !me Saragossans can destroy their enemies who meet them in arms in the field of battle, but not those who ire disarmed, and whose death could nei- L.ier conduce to the interest of the country, nor add to our well-earned titles of noble and valiant.' 4 ' New days of glory await you. I know that they will not be lost to your patriotism and your gallantry, that now more than ever, you will feel in your ' , .arts what it is you owe to the religion of your fa. t'acrs, the persecuted Ferdinand, the security of your pe• ems, "and your own honour. Your resolutions Ns ill be magnanimous, as they always have been. You may repose implicit confidence in the indefatiga. I , le zeal with which I shall watch over your external defence. 44 Heatlittarters at Suntan, N0T.24, VOL" 'I rf ' iitrVATE LITTER. 64 Murillo, Dtiftabet 14. _ eentsiderifig 'the occupation -of Castile by the - 1 their invAsion:of Gatticia, which I think I am led to apprehend that my letters May . you by-sway • of - Cortinna ; but being convinced of the great in,teseet you will take in 'tiara ing the military and _political, state of this kingdom, I feel it a duty Incumbent oh me to transmit to you an authentic narratire'bf the events that have taken place, and of our actual 'situation, that'you may re gulate your proceedings with that care and prudence which circumstances may respite, 64 General Blake's army, as felt are already ap prised, via! attacked by the enemy at Biscay and La Montana with a very considerable force, and com pelled, after repeated actions, iri Which he acquired great glory, to retreat to Leon, where the Marquis de la Romans took the command ; and having united all the dispersed fragments of this army, -to the amount of about 20,000 men, who were subsequently joined by the reserves of the Asturias and Gallicia, the whole, according to a dispatch from the Marquis to the Supreme Junta, dated on the Ist inst. formed a body of 35,000 men under his command, of which 1200 were cavalry, the Marquis having mounted dtose - wisoiis he brought from Den Mark with the re quisition horses of Leon and the Asturias. Id The army of Estremadura, after its partial de feat at Burgos, fell back upon Somosierra, and covered that point. The troops that were in Madrid were or dered to proceed to Guadarans, to defend that pass; and the reserve of Andalusia, who were marching to wards Madrid, were ordered to advance by forced marches. The English were in Salamanca and As torga, except the division that had come by way of Badajos, which arrived at Madrid. N In this state of things, and considering that Na poleon was not disposed to advance upon the capital until he had beaten the army of Castanos, for which we entertained much anxiety, on account of the very great - force of the French, and the facility of attack ing him in flank, by marching from Burgos in the direction of Osma, General Moore was solicited to march with his troops from Salamanca towards Ma drid, in order that by uniting with the division of Hope, and the Spanish army which was speedily ex pected to be assembled in the capital, a respectable army might be formed to cover it. At the same time it was requested that the division of Baird, in conjunc tion with that of the Marquis de la Romana, should make a movement upon Burgos, and threaten to in tercept the communication of the French line, if their army should, after beating Castanos, or compelling him to retreat, direct its march in a body towards Madrid. Unfortunately, General Moore did not ap. prove of this plan, and refused to divide his forces. " In the mean time, we received intelligence of the battle of TudelA, and that Napoleon was marching to Madrid with his whole army, without concerning himself about Castanos or Saragossa. On the 26th, it was resolved to fortify the Capital, and to organize its inhabitants, as well as circumstances would admit v trusting that the posts of Samosierra and Guadarama Would be able to maintain themselves until time was given for the ..rrival of Castanos, who was coming by way of Siguenza. " On the 28th, 29th, and 30th, of November, the enemy attacked Semosierra with the utmost vigour and with a succession of fresh troops. The garrison, ;tfter maintaining its ground, and repe:lug the enemy with great loss, on the 28th and 29th, was, on the 30th, unable to support the fatigue of farther resistance I. [ and after gallantly defending itself to the last mo ment, retreated in good order to Segovia. In con ! sequence of this, the road to Madrid was open to the enemy ; and accordingly advanced parties of their '•horse made-their appearance on the first instant, in ,the environs of the city, which not having seriously thought of constructing forti fi cations until the 26th of tike preceding month, was in a condition which you may-easily imagine ; and every one being employed in erecting bulwarks, palisades, and other works, there was no time to organize the inhabitants : in ad dition to which, it is to be considered that the troops of Somosierra, who were advancing from Segovia. by Guadarama, and those also of the latter pnsa, could _not arrive until the 3d. Castanos likewise found his march towards the capital cut off, and there were in Madrid only 7 or 8,000 veteran soldiers., Nevertheless the people, undismayed, expressed their determination to prefer total ruin to capitulation.— The enemy, in considerable force, attacked the gates of Fuencarral, limos, and S. Bernardino, in the morning of the 2d, but they were gallantly repulsed, with considerable loss. " In the evening, and during the whole night ofl the 2d, the enemy attacked with a considerable quan tity of artillery, the gate of Alcala, and the Retiro. They were unable to make themselves masters of the former ' • but the Retiro, in consequence of continued attaelcs from the preceding evening, fell into their hands at 11 o'clock in the morning of the 3d, with a most dreadful loss on the part of the enemy. The Junta of Armament, taking thesecircurnstances into consideration, and having received the unexpected in telligence that the English troops were retreating upon Portugal, considered all attempts at defence useless-:—as on account of the reinforcements which were daily joining the French army, resistance could have no other result than that of the total destruction of the capital, and the loss of twenty thousand troops composing the army alreatly in the city, and those who were that day expected to arrive from Segovia and Guadarama. From these motives, the white flag was hoisted, and the troops evacuated the City, in the course of the evening and night, ' by the gates of Segovia and Toledo. The people, notwithstanding the determination of the Junta, caused the white flag to be lowered, and persisted in the intention of de fending themselves. " On the 4th, there were various attacks by the enemy at different gates, but in all of them they were repulsed. Meanwhile the enemy fortified themselves at Retiro ; and the people, being without leaders or regular troops, retreated gradually to their own houses. _ _ 44 The state of affairs since 44 the most surprising and unaccountable ever hear 4 of in the world. Up, to the 9th, the Freach had notAisarmed the inhgbi. tants, but during the dvy sent strong detachments to occupy the gates, and 4n the evening all of them withdrew to the Ratiro. 'The authority of the new King is nosiecognised by the city, which is entirely governed by its was Magistrates, without any inter- ArirA , vu +rF " N . OVraOs UM 4. of Resolve writn fronj o lsons, the 9th, to dos Provisional Omni 4 that he had jest wised tl , ne,- his " evilsiderit pectin the posts which should cover 'Otietny, and tb e army waderhis command y p that be verrobable, niftiora to eetuav that 4 uny sot reach Our General der the'date of 1 this province, to.._ 'return from inspecting the right of the 'has given the most urgent orders to occupy dust Arenas de Cabrales, the central pint of 32 the. ap proaches of Potes, and to maintain a eloie and defen. sive communication with Colombres and that he bad ordered Colonel Galdiano, who was to Cover Areno, to guard, as far as possible, the points of Ven. taniella and Seta, for, accotding to the advice re ceived, that of Tarna was in a state of defence. Under the fame date, he transmits to the same Ge. sacral a dispatch which he had just received from Co. lonel de Covadonga, at Colombres, informing him of its. occurrence on the preceding day. He resolved to get into his hands four boats that the enemy had en the opposite bank of the river, in order to deprive him of the means they afforded for his landing by surprizc, and plundering in that quarter. With this intention he ordered a twelve pounder to play with grape shot, and a four pounder with ball, so as to cover thy party who were to proceed on this expedi tion. lie immediately set off to can,* his plan into execution, with his Serjrant Major and fifteen men of the same regiment : and soon after the enemy, about fifty in number, were seen filing along the c3ast:towards the post which they had at the skirts ,of the Sietra. The fire of the cannon soon put them to flight, with the loss of tire killed. Two of the soldiers forded the river, and carried off one of the four boats, in which the Serjeant Major and the resi gallantly entered, and passed to the other side, not, withstanding the brisk fire kept up by a party of the enemy who had rallied. This brave officer speedily dispersed them, and not only got possession of the three other boats, but also carried off in them the pro visions and other articles found in an inn, which the enemy occupied in that quarter. • • . . LE( 14, DECEMBER 10. The cavalry yesteruay received orders to keep their stbressand swords in a proper state for. service, and with a keen edge. All the rest of the troops are in the best spirits, and anxious for combat and revenge. Orders were at the same time given, and are miw executing. for sending off all the sick to Atorga, Pon , f.:Trada, and Villatianca. The military chest is also under orders to leave this place ; and some troops and artillery are directed to be detached to:Mansilla, to chastise those mountebanks who figure away to make us believe they hive a force, which they have not in ,these quarters. PALENCIA, DECEMBER 15. Fifteen hundred of the enemy's troops are in Bilboa, and a number of wounded, the number of whom in creases every day. During the whole of the month - of November 60,000 of the enemy's troops entered Spain. General Junot likewise arrived at Bayonne on the Stb, with 8000 men ; on the 10th he was at St. Sebastian. We have learned from a source on which we can rely, the result of the battle of Tudela on the 23d ult. It appears that the victory was on our side, the French having lost in killed, wounded,'and prisoners, 23,000 men. We had six hundred killed and wounded' and seven hundred made - prisoners, who on the 27th reached Bayonne, to which town they were carried by the French. They are very ill treated. SALAMANCA. We are acsured that Barcelona is taken by our troops, and that the enemy are routed in Arragon. Thp pr ople of Madrid defend thniselves with bravery r ;solved to conquer or die. • The English will to ddy rm a junction in Valladolid - , a knowledge of which will probably occasion the Fienct to retire from Madrid, to prevent being cut off. Yesterday was broiight here a vast load of cotton, which had been detained at Rueda, and which a party of cavalry had gone to tx!:e ; but while they were Isecking for carriages to convey it, advite of it reached la detachment of English cavalry, thetornmander of which sent a party 'and an officer, who; entering the tos% n At Rueda in the night, surprsed - the French; killed some, and took the rest prisoners,. whom, to. getlier With 'thc cotton, they convered.to a place of security. • • • MANSILIA DE LAS MIILAS,Mr.C.:I7. By a post which has just arrived we have. not only received agreeable intelligence,. confirfnipg the report of the rout Of the French in Madrid, but an account . of a most glorious action of the army of Senor Pala: lix with the cnertay, the resultof which was, that our advanced guards eat the Messes Whichshe•French had pteptred fOr themselves. lhe Corunna Diary of the 24th December contains an order from the Marquis de la kompa, signifying that, at the same time that he determines to preserve the most exact subordination and discipline in the. army under his command, that he expects that all persons in authority, magistrates, and others, will exert themselves by every means in their power to provide for the preservation and well-being of the sol dier, as also to punish in the most rigorous manner those 'u ho shall rcfuse to take up arms in defence of their coni.try, or be detected in endeavouring to assist the enemy.—This order is dated He:4l.:quarters, Leon, D..ce nber, IROR. CORUNNA, DECEMBER 26. The Marquis de la Romana, in a recent Proclama tion, adverts in severe terms to the disorderlr retreat made by the army of the left from Espinosa to Leon, to the conduct of many officers who abandoned their troops, the robberies permitted by others, and the ge neral laxity of discipline. He then ordains, 4 , .That all Officers continuing absent, without just cause, from their respective corps, for 17 days from the date of the Proclamation, shall be suspended from pay and rank. Officers leaving their corps during eaten, or on the eve of an engagement, for any other cause than that of being wounded, are to be publicly de graded, imprisoned for one year, and incapable of ever holding any office, civil or military, under his Majesty. Those who do not constantlymppear in the uniforms of their respective ranks, are, for the first offence, to be put under arrest for one month, arid to have no rations, and for the second, to be dismissed the service." There are various other provisions, in flicting siniihr punishments upon officers encouraging of cdncealing breaches of discipline, and abeetiting themselves by night or day from their posts. 'There are also a-variety of punishments enjoined with re spect to serjeants, corporals, and privates,failing in the performance of their respective duties, • the pait4f the Went& fact st ay 4torover yea incredible ; undeubted, and no qne is capable of giving any explanation of it. “ Of the 22,0.00 troops who were in the capita. 12,000 have prOceeded, under the command of Marla, to j o in paeans ; aselo,ooo, under that of G a l. luso. to..tise bridge of Admen, whieb is fortifyin g it' Order to cover this province. .. agi 'The Jfinti leave this place tO4norrow, or the day after, for ,Catalottii; we have obtained . considerable. es. Our trbirpticeep Barcelcina in a state us blockade ; and at, itosas th French have I nac k , without gaining the slightest advan. a The army of Castanos maintains a position in the Attaria, covering Valencia, Murcia, and Catalo. nia.. • Various fortugnese corps are 'matching upon Badajos. and it.is supposed that the Etigtsh will also 'take thesame direction. A great number of h orses have been collected here and in Andalusia ; but hi. therto we larsolir under the inconvenience of not having a sufficipnt ratinber of saddles. Words cannot describe the enthusiasm which the late disorders have excited in these grovinees ; and so great has been the number of volunteers who.have offered their services, that, there not being muskets enough for them, it is intended to arm them with; pikes. 46 On the 10th, in express arrived here from th,. Marquisde la Romani, iit consequetted of which it was reported, that the Marquis intended to advance with his army, andthat he was only waiting . for the junction of the English armies to co-operate with him. Shculd this plan be realized k it will be a death blow to Napo. leon; for he was firmly impressed with theopinion that the English were retreating into Portugal,and under that belief all his efforts appeared to tie directed towards this quarter, that he might arrive before them at Lisbon. It will be not a little singular, if at the very instant that he thinks his rear secure k he should find his line of communication broken in upon -by an army of 70,000 men, all picked troops, at the sane time that Castanos may flank him on the East, or attack his rear, should he march upon Burgos. 66 Such is the real state of our affairs. We have, undoubtedly, sustained disasters ; but they have in a great measure served to allay certain internal dissen. tions that for a time occasiuned a vratit 'of energy, and they have filled the minds of all with double en. thusiasm, and directed their united attention towards one and the same object. . . 4. General Don Benito San Juan has been put to death by-his troops at Talavera de la Itetka, and his dead body dragged along the mad. This °Stet commanded at homosierra ; and it must Wadmitted, that in the defence of that post his conduct was is every respect satisfactory, notwithstanding his being compelled to abandon it; But, according to report, the cause of his unfortunate fate was his having re. fused to enter Madrid with his troops on the Sd, al. ledging that such a step would end in the certain de. struction of all of them. Upon this subject he had some altercation with General Heredia, in const• quence of which. the misinformed soldiers committfl the above-mentioned enoymity..and injustice.. A me. lancholy example which has deprived us of an Ofiker of tip hliseist maTitt" • • - '• • j . : GOTTE N.B 17.1tG ..fttl 11. S. GATTENBLI Ran, D7C. o ot antelhgere • N r Y‘' i;r • haying as yet been rectivectfrom our armies, no ope. rations have probably been recommenqd by the enemy. On the D6th instant Captain . tares Erennber, Holland, who has been for some time a prisoner in France, returned from thence, and reports, that all the Swedish prisoners of war whom he met with is , Longvy, in the Department of Moselle, were well, but that it was not in his power to bring any letters' since, had he taken any from Longvy, they would all have been taken from him in Germany„ on bit journey through that country. As to the maintain• ante of the troops, he states, that a Lieutenant Co lonel is allowed 57 francs a month ; a Majar or Cap tain 50 francs ; a Lieutenant, 57 : an Under Lime. nart and Ensign, 29 francs, out of which money they must find every thing which they stand in need if: (24 francs are nearly equal to one guinea.) JAAMICif. KINGSTON, OCTOBER 26. ' Yesterday the Honourable House of Assembly having met agreeable to the Proclamation of his Grace the Governor, a message was sent to acquaint him therewith, on which he commanded their imme diate attendance in the Council . Chamber, when be was pleased to open the Session with the following speech CitNTLEASEN or TAR COUNCIL, " MR, straxta AND CINTLINICN OT TN! AWNS'S, " It Is with great satisfaction that I now meet the legiellti/e body of Jamaica. " Nominated to the Government of this Colony, I went bt insensible to that feeling which must result from so Important an appointment : hitt, whilst I acknowledge the honour, tam full! aware of the difficulties of the station, and it is from this latter conviction that I view with pleasure the arrival of a period , when my efforts for its service will receive effectual assistance Mal* wisdom of your counsels. " The continuance of a state of. war must necessarily Wee this colony,in common with the whole of his Majesty's &nit:keiti to much occasional inconvenience and distress ; but the recent steps which have been taken by the British Parliament, will, I trust, afford considerable alleviation to the embarrassments of the planters ; and Ma Majesty has a full 'reliance that the teal and loyalty of the Inhabitants of Jamaica will induce them patiently to submit to privations equally endured by the rest of his subjects: and that they will steadily co-operate in every measure S 3l C lll2tcu to procure an honourable termination to the arduous contest in which the British empire is engaged. " It is peculiarly pleasing to me to contemplate that our Pre qftt meeting takes place under the most favourable auspices for fuels a termination—That gallant spirit which a Whole nation has evineasi in its resistance to. perfidy and oppression, and the suet°, which has hitherto attended the exertion of that spirit, jinni/ the hope that the reign of triumphant usurpation approaches its nnd! and that we may witness, from Its ettioctioa, the restoration °I peace and tranquillity. " SPEAKRU 'AND Citt+LEASEN OT TIM ASSEMBLY , " The usual supplies for the exigency or the Government win engage your attention ; and I confidently rely upon that liberalitl which has hitherto distingulshedyou in providing for them. " GENTLRIARN Or TRW COUNCIL, " MR. STRAKER AND CRNTI.RDIEN OT TIM ASSEMBLY , " I cannot conclude without expressing my' gratification finding that the !Alborg, laid on by the United States, (a mea" calculated to excite considerable alarm through the WestAdt Colonies) has been productive et such email inconienietice ; an i I hope that measure has enabledyou to fauna just estimate of th e value of your WIT freemen without relying upon an assisino which may be withheld as caprice or mistaken policy triy di •s• lost ! a_