Star. — London, England, 1813-08-12 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS. ARMY IN SPAIN. His Majesty has appGinted Marshal the Duke of DAlmatia his Lieutenant• General Commander of his Armies in Spain. This Marshal wok the command on the 12th of July, and immediately made his dispositions to march against the English, who were besieging Pam pluna and St. Sebastian's. LETTER FROM GENERAL REY, COMMANDING AT ST. SEBASTIAN, TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE DUKE OF FELTRE, MINISTER AT WAR, DATED 25TH JULY, 1815. " MONSEIGNEUR—On the 22d the General sent me a flag of truce, I refused to receive it ; the breach was practicable. On the 2Sd and 24th the enemy continued to fire With from SO to 35 pieces of cannon ; he de stroyed all the fronts of the houses from the Ziorcola to St. Elme, and opened two new breaches. I was assured that the second was practicable, and the third much less so. From the 22d he set fire to the town at several points, and he kept it up by the con • tinual throwing of bombs ; the town had already suffered much. This morning the 25th, at four o'clock, the enemy took advantage of the pipe for the convey ance of the water from the fountain of the town, to establish a mine, with which he blew up the place of arms which entered the covered way. Upon this signal some columns of attack were put in motion. The direction of the fire from his batteries on the 24th made me presume I should be attacked during that night or in the morning, and I made my dispo sitions accordingly. Every where the enemy was received with the greatest vigour ; all who reached the breaches were killed or wounded ; the columns which had distributed themselves in the covered way were as quickly driven from and prevented from establishing themselves in it. This deed of arms does the greatest honour to the garrison of St. Sebas tian, and I shall have the honour of acquainting your Excellency, in my first Report, of the names of the brave men who particularly distinguished themselves. " I estimate that the English have lost from 14 to 1500 men, in the breaches or in the covered way, from the fire of artillery, howitzers, and shells which were throivn on them near the Fausse Braye of St. Jean's Bastion, or on approaching the breaches.— The English General asked me to bury his dead, I granted an hour ; I have brought in 581 wounded, of whom 13 are officers of those found upon the breach or at the foot of it, besides 237 prisoners. The enemy carried off his more distant wounded. The wounded assure us the enemy bad 50 officers killed, of whom the Major-General commanding the first column was one. 44 I write in great haste to your Excellency.— Marsh-+l the Duke of Dalmatia has done me the ho nour of informing me, that Ire would put himself in motio% in order to deblockade es as well as Pimps luna. " Colonel Songeon, to whom I confided the com mand of the left of my operations, whilst I directed those of the centre and the right, seconded me ad-, mirably ; the Chief - of Battalion, Blanchard, of the 62d of the line, who commanded the exterior posts ;, Gillet, Chief of Battalion of the Engineers ; Capt. Doat, my Aide•de-Camp ; the Chief of Battalion, Brion, commanding the Artillery, have rendered thel greatest service. I shall have the honour of send ing the Duke of Dalmatia a particular Report, and the names of the Officers, Sub-officers, and soldiers who particularly distinguished themselves on this fJ day, in order that he may solicit fur them the Em peror's thanks. I recommend those brave men to your favour. The Chief of Battalion, Dessally, of the 22d of the line, was killed upon the breach ; Captain Bedon, commanding the sappers, was killed at the post of honour. Our loss does not exceed forty men, put hors de combat. I beg your Excellency to accept, tic. (Signed) " an. " ( Moniteur, Aug. 5.) COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE DUKE OF DALMATIA TO THE MINISTER AT WAR. " Bivouacking upon the Heights of Altabisca, July 25, eleven o'clock at night. MOESIELTE LE Duc—l today attacked the ene my's right, formed of two English divisions and Mu rillo's Spanish division. We drove them from a very strong position which is before the defile of Alta bisca. - - •4 An extraordinary thick fog surprised us at half past duee o'clock, at the moment we were pursuing the enemy, and prevented us from attacking the pl term (Plateau) of Altabisca ; to-morrow, at the break of day, this shad take place. We have only been able to make 200 prisoners; but the English have suffered much. General Reille was not able to arrive at Lindusi where he was to take a position ; he had observed a movement of the enemy's line upon his right. I have not received during the day any Report from count d'Etlon. He was to attack the Col de Maya. I have likewise heard nothing from General Vilatte. _ _ _ The troops chewed great ardour, and the Ge nerals much devotion; the 6th and 24th light, and • particularly the sUth of • dre line, conducted them selves exc,llcutly. `` When the operations shall afford me 4 little more 'one, I Arall have the honour of giiing yOur Excellency a mote circumstantial report. 46 I have the honour, &c. (Signed) I•4i Duke of DALIH4TIA. I ! /ROM TIM SAM; TO THZ SAML •• • Linccoin, July 2G, eleven (kiwi' at night, 41 The enemy, during the night, evacuated h's po sition of Col de Ronceveat , x I he also retired from that of Lindus, before . which Count Itville 'was with the dinsions of the right wing. 44 At break of day I ordered the troops to march; the divisions of the 'kit, commanded by Lietnimant- General Clausel, followed the road which leads to Pamplona ; the advanced guard came in contact with 7 7 the enemy's first posts before Veszeasetei and drove them to the heights heft re Zubery, where they tallied upon their line. The difficulty of the road, and a 'thick fog which began in the morning, retarded oar march,. therefore it was already Ist* when the brad of, the colamn- was able to' seize upon the heights that are befcre Linscoin and D'Erro, where there vas a trifling engagethent, but I did not judge it proper to attack the enemy's position this evening, where they have nearly 15,000 men, of whom 9or 10,000 are too English divisions, and the remainder Spanish— they also sheaved same pieces of artillery. " Lieut.-General Count Reille was, after having forced the position of Lindus, to mancenvre on his right, keeping the crest of the mountains, to sue. cessively seize upon the debauches which open from the valley of Bastan, and thus oblige the enemy to retire, which would have favoured Count d'Erlon's debouching. This morning, at ten o'clock, the guides were not willing to conduct him in that di. rection ; the fog did not admit of their distinguish. ing objects at ten paces distance; they feared to lead the column in some precipice, which determined Count Reille to join that of the left at Espinal. I I have estahlished him in the rear of Linscoin • to morrow he will form the attack on the left, should the enemy maintain his position. " Count d'Erlon yesterday wrote me, that at three in the afternoon, agreeably to my directions, the divisions of the centre had attacked and carried the strtng position of Col de Maya, notwithstanding the vigorous resistance made by the enemy. The 2d division, commanded by General Darmagnac, evinced on this occasion an extraordinary ardour.— After this attack the enemy divided his troops in two columns ; one descended the valley of Bastan, the other took the road Eschasn. Count d'Erlon ordered them to be pursued, but he afterwards thought fit to countermand that movement, and join the division of the centre at Cot de Maya ; the enemy • • still maintained himself upon Atchialo mountain ; I regret this unforeseen accident the more, as I had ordered Count d'Erlon to manoeuvre, in order to approach me; I have just reiterated the same order to him. Tn this battle the English have lost many men ; we have also taken from them eight pieces of can non. They also lost many in the attack made by Count Reille 10th regiment has been almost destroyed ; a battalion of the 6th light infantry of Foy's division charged that regiment with the bay onet, and overthrew it. In short, they have also lost many in the attack on the mountain of Altabisca by General Baron Clausel, in which several Officers of rank were killed ; we have made many prisoners. " I am ignorant of what passed yesterday and to-day on the lower Bidassoa. I have received no accounts from General Villatte, who has besides his L instructions. 41 I never saw troops better disposed, nor spew more ardour, the national guards of Lindus. the Lower Prentice:, and the mountain chasseurs, which I employed to the frontier, rivalled them in ardour. I shall mention them in the General Report which I shall have the honour of addressing to your Excel ltncy.—l have the honour, &c. (Signed) " The Marshal Duke of DALMATIA." (Moniteur, August 5.) MAYENCE, AUGUST 2. Yesterday, at six in the evening, his Majesty the Emperor, our August Sovereign, left this town to return to Dresden, and today, at ten in the morning, sail oes of artillery and the ringing of bells announced to the inhabitants of Mayence the departure of her Majesty the Empress Queen and Regent. Her Ma. jesty embarked on board a yacht, in which she will descend the Rhine to Cologne, and return by Brus sels to her capital. Before his departure, the Emperor spewed himself, with his August Spouse, upon the balcony of the Palace, where they familiarly discoursed for half an hour ; the Empress appeared moved, and shed tears, l when the Emperor's carriage passed under the bal cony. During his stay at Mayence, the Emperor ap. peared like a lather in the middle of his children. The abode cf their Majesties have left in the hearts of all those who bad the happiness of seeing them, inefface able remembrances. Trd -- of e d ir e c t i on the fire from hi 24th made me presume I should that night or in the morning, and t sitions accordingly. Every whet received with the greatest vigor , - the breaches were killed or wou 4 which had distributed themselves were as quickly driven from a establishing themselves in it. does the greatest honour to the g a tian, and I shall have the hone your Excellency, in my first Re of the brave men who partici themselves. " I estimate that the Englisl to 1500 men, in the breaches or from the fire of artillery, howital were throivn on them near the ,* Jean's Bastion, or on approach The English Generol asked me granted an hour ; I have brougl of whom 13 are officers of th breach or at the foot . of it, bes i The enemy carried off his mor The wounded assure us the em killed, of whom the Major-Gene first column was one. " I write in great haste to i Marsh.il the Duke of. Dalmatia nour of informing me, that Ire 1 motions in order to deblockade o i luna. " Colonel Songeon, to whoa wand of the left of my operati those of the centre and the rigl mirably ; the Chief - of Battalion 62d of the line, who command' Gillet, Chief of Battalion of t Doan, my Aide.cle-Camp ; the Brion, commanding the Annie' greatest service. I shall have ing the Duke of Dalmatia a pa • the names of the Officers, Sub r who particularly distinguished day, in order that he may sal peror's thanks. I recommend your favour. The Chief of Bri 4 • the 22d of the line, was killer i Captain Bedon, commanding th at the post of honour. Our forty men, put hors de combat. " I beg your Excellency (Signed,' (Moniteur, Aug. 5.) COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE DI THE MINISTER Al " Bivouacking upon July 25, cle f l i " Moyne= LE Dvc—l to-d my's right, formed of two Eng . rillo's Spanish division. We ch strong position which is before bisca. 1 66 An extraordinary thick fof past three o'clock, at the mom the enemy, and prevented u: c f pl term (Plateau) of Altabist break of day, this shall take p been able to make 200 prison have suffered much. General arrive at Lindusi where he wi he had observed a movement upon his right. 1 44 I have not received durin i 1 from Count d'Etlon. He wa 11r1aya. I have likewise heard Vilatte. . , sr Th e troops chewed great i 1 nerAli much tlevotlon ; the 61 • 1 • particularly the 50th of • thi ' selves rac, Bendy. 66 When the operatioax s) snore . tirne, I shall have ; he h Excellency a more ciicumstai 4 ‘ I have the host (Signed) " The L , 1 PROM TM; SAME TC 4 , Linscoin, July 1 41 The enemy, during the ' l sition of Col dr Ronceveal , xi I ,f that of LilidUS, before . which the divssions of the right winl - 64 At break of day I orders the divisions of the kit, corm li L i General Clausel, followed tt 1 Pamplona ; the advanced gua PRAGUE. JULY 24. We learn that the Congress at Prague held its first Sittings on the 19th instant. Several persons attached to his Excellency the Duke of Vicenza have already arrived here, and every thing is prepared for his reception at the grand Priory. This Ambassador is expected every moment. Count Narbonne is lodged at Ledebur Palace, which Government had orderkd to be prepared. It appears that conferences have been already held at Count Metternich's, but nothing respecting them has publicly transpired. ' His Majesty the Emperor ist pass two days here next week. The Emperor of Russia is still at Pelerswaldau. The King of Prussia is immediately to return from Berlin. DRESDEN, JULY 29'.. Several considerably strong columns of troops, newly arrived, passed the Elbe some days ago. Juts 80.—It is believed that the Emperor will be absent a fortnight. The Duke of Bassano and the Minister Secretary of Sute r Count Daru, are still in our town. Thos-paule of troops proceeding in Lusatia and L Silesia are still very frequent. -- - The Saxon army is encamped near Golitz ; the fist brigade under the orders of General Lecoq, and the secund, under those of General Sahr. It is at its full complement. FRANKFORT, AUGUST,. A column of French and Polish troops, comman ded by General AxaMetowslty, ti.-day marched for the army. A suffictent number of polish Officers are proceeding to the corps d'armee, which at! ai 'Hambursh. PARIS, AUGUST 4. The intelligence from Frankfort which announced the arrival pl an. Ziiglish Minister Plenipotentiary WAS premature. ` It ki now certain that Lord Aber deen has beets 4ppointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Congress at Prague by the cabinet of St. Jame 44. He ha left England to procced to his destitution. SP4NISN PAPERS. CApIZ, JULY 7. h the Sittings of the Cortes yesterday, Senir Foa m," in the name of the Ettraordinary Committee of Finance, read the plan of a law on the subject of tax.l ation. The old Government, he observed, on its dis• solution in March, 1808, left us a public debt* of 7500 millions of reals, an annual dfisti4-Of 600 . mil lions, 100,000 enemies within the Peninsula, a desti tute army, a swarm of pensioners, a state of diplo matic relations more calculated to procure enemies than allies, and the seeds of disturbance in the trans- marine provinces. He then gave a sketch of what Spain had suffered since that period, and of the sacri fices which she had made, in order to shake off a fo reign yoke, having. at the same time, framed a wise Constitution. even amidst such difficult circumstances. The Report next took a rapid view of the four kinds of revenue which went to constitute the old system ; namely, the Ectlesiartkal, General, and Pro vincial rents, and the profits of Monotafia, such as those of tobacco, &c. It then proceeded to lay down the three following bases s-Ist, that there ought to be no interior custom-houses, from which it was de- dueed, that the provincial rents should be abolished _ 2dlys that the proportion of the contribution of every province ought to correspand to its opulence s that the contributions ought to be apportioned' among all the citizens, according to their respective means. From these principles it was deduced, that the Corms ought to adopt a direct system of contribution, proportioned to the territorial and manufacturing opulence of each district. The Cortes should, in the first instance, vote annually the amount of the contri-1 bution, and assign to each province its proportion ; the provincial deputations will assign their proportions to the townships; and the constitutional arnttasehtties the proportion of each citizen. The revenues derived from monopolies ought to be totally abolished, in order to prevent a thousand crimes and vexations, and direct duties on the different articles ought to be substituted. In the transmarine provinces the existing contributions may be continued; but the Regency should be required to procure every necessary information with regar d to them, for the purpose of assimilating them tooze of the Peninsula. The substance of the Report of the Committee was comprised in eighteen propositions, and the whole was ordered to be printed. Yestercloy a report was current, - that today a pro position would be made in the Cortes,,for their speedy removal to Seville. We did not give credit to it, be cause it appeared improbable; but as to-day the same report is strongly asserted, with this addition, that the proposition has not only been made in a secret sitting, but has also been admitted to discussion by it majo rity of votes, we think it our duty to state the incon veniencies which would result from its adoption. It is obvious that at the period when Europe shall no longer be agitated by the Tyrant, who aspires at universal domination, any town of the Spanish ma narchy might, without impropriety, become the seat of the deliberations of its Representatives. But, at the present time, notwithstanding the triumphs of the Allied arms in the Peninsula, should unfortunately a peace be the result of the Armistice in the North, there is every reason to suppose that the Tyrant would greatly reinforce his arrntek Sgainst Spain r— and, in that case, should we expbse our existing Go vernment, much mere numerous than the Central Junta, to the fate which betel the latter, in January, 1810 ? It is our fixed opinion, that the seat of Go vernment should not be changed, while Pamplona is not in our possession, and while the affairs of the North do not afford us complete security in that quarter. Besides, the period of the dissolution of the present Cones is approaching ; the business pending before it is most weighty and urgent ; and, by a translation of this sort, much valuable time would be consumed, which should be devoted to other offsets. The Congress is prudent, and supposing the proposi• tion has been made, we trust that such observations as we have now suggested, and others which might be made, will be sufficient to prevent it from adopt ing so indiscreet a resolution. CADIZ, JULY IS. CONSIDIRATIONS ON SOME RIJMOOES Of IMAM There have been reports for these three or four days past, that peace has been concluded between the Rus sians, Prussians, and French. For our parts, such an event would by no means surprise us. We have observed, that amidst the swarm of proclamations, manifestos,„kc. which have issued from the northern allies, there is no mention made ot the English or Spaniards, and this silence excites suspicions that those Powers reckon upon the successes of their ulte rior plans, without paying much regard to the three nations—English, Spanish, and Portuguese, who have been their main stay, their pattern, the chief cause of their triumphs, and of their deliverance from the ' yoke of the Gallo-Corsican tyrant. We have already observed, that on the conclusion of the armistice, the contracting parties forgot to send official information of that unexpected event to Eng land; hence we presume, that Alexander, Frederick, and the Corsican Munster, to whom they have lent an ear, will pay little regard in their treaties to whatever may be said or alleged by the British Government. Bonaparte, in his Bulletins, kc. has not said a syllable of the Continental Systern, which used to be the constant burden of his declamations : hence, also, we may suspect that to attain a shdrt-lived peace with Alexander, he will readily yield on that point. These considerations might lead us to presume a' separation of interest; to a certain extent between the powers of the North, and England and the Peninsula, notwithstanding the so much vaunted treaties and engagements, which are generally observed by Cabi nets only while it suits their convenience. At the same time we cannot give credit to the rumours 01 peace, becalm we believe that Alexander and Frede rick are anAlous far the happiness of their penple ; and that is incompatible with the present predomi 11411ce of flonoparte. It surely cannot be, that these ' monarchs and their subjects should prefer ignominy and servitude to honour and independence. We conjecture that Oise rumours of peace hare m coe . by'thissuir of the Pyrennees ; and 48 it is as easy to invent 43e terms as the rumour iisel4 so we have heard also of the conditions. Hence some place the Archduke eonstantine on the tnroae ot poLind, as a boon for the consent of Alexander. —maks Fer dinand Vit, icing of the 44!ertfass tots satisfying compacts and treaties,—appoint the Archduke Charles King of Spain, and give him the ioturgrats, either to conciliate or subdue. Thus, with the map and cons. passes in their hands, they settle the affairs of both hemispheres with the greatest facility, and without asking permission of any one. In a word, they make a sort of mercantile contract in the article of human Sok and dispose of men as they would do a flock of oho?. Should such arrangements be in contempla• tioa; we must suppose that the Cabinets and Monarchs of the present day are as stupid, ignorant, and wicked, as in the most barbarous and despotic ages. Others, again, restore the Empire of Germany to Austria—indemnify Pepe (Joseph Bonaparte) in Italy—plant Eugene in Poland—give Prussian Po nserania to Sweden—Austrian Poland to Russia— Silesia to Austria—the Mark of Brandenburgh to Saxony, &c. &c.; thus, by a sort of legerdemain. changing the destination of States; just as if the people were nothing. and what is called is every thing. They also talk of a meeting at Dresden of the three kmperors s and the Kings of Saxony and Prus sia. We need not fear now, however, that Bona. even were it in his power, would seize those pane, even and send them to France. The example of Ferdinand has opened the eyes of the wily Corsican; and he will not again expose himself to the danger of national wars, when he succeeds sQ well in those of the Cabinet. The people—the innisieett—these are the greatest enemies of the tyrant : he knows full well how much easier it is to flatter the self-love of Mo. maths, than to bargain with the people, or to subju gate them when they are resolved to be free. Let us Suspend, however, our opinion with regard tc; the result of the war in the North ; but let ns not suspend for a moment the duty of preparing against every event, whether arising from the weakness of Princes or the apathy of dokroipb. THE EVENING STAR LONPON. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1813. PILINCR RZOLINT% BiILTIMIMP"'HOVAST *t all the Nina Oa O We are still without any dispatches from the North of Spain, but since the arrival of the SPARROW, a few additional particulars have transpired on the subject of the late events in that quarter. The loss of the Allies in the cook of St. Sebes* den's, on the 28th uk. is reported to have been 1200. The Royals appear to have been the greatest sufferers; nineteen out of tweet three of their Officers have fallen. The failure of the attack upon St. Saheb tian's brought Sfartreis Was.tanOron to the spec, to enquire into the cense, and to diner some further operations; and the repokts received at Plymouth ad 4 that it was daring his Lordship's Alum that flout'', made his main attack on the 28th on the allied troops. The French *rosy is said to have amounted to thirty or 35,000 men, and the Allied force opposed, to them (in consequence of the sites of St. Sebastian and Pamplona continuing), did not much tamed 15,000. The Allies were, nevertheless, eery where suceessfel ; and not only repelled all the amoeba of the'enemy upon their line with the bayonet, but even pursued them a consisletable slisthnee. Some aecounts state, that General Sir ROWLAND Hsu. having come up on the 29th with his division of die army, the pursuit of the enemy f as continued on that day.. The Allies are said so ; have list about 4UUO men s the prisoners taken fpm the enemy admitted a loss of 3000 on their prt. In the absence of Lord Wsu.tuovoo's dispatches, we have, however, received French Papers to the 9th inst. which bring accounts from St. Sebastian to the 27th of last month—ethe day before the battle be tween the two armies. We augur favourably from the hour at which the French accounts have stopped the detail of their operations t for we cannot doubt that the result of the battle of tae 28th was known in Paris when these documents were published, and would have appeared in the Moniteur, had it been at all of a compkiion suited to the picture wished to be exhibited to the French people. It appears, however, that we were certainly unsue. cessful in a most sanguinary attempt to carry St. Sebastian, on the 2.5 th. AU that talent could sur gest or industry aceomplidt, for the.capture and dw fence of the place, appears to have been exhausted on both sides. Three breaches had bees made—two of them practicable, the third less so, On the morning of the assault, the Besiegers, bad availed themselves el a watercourse, where they formed a mine, by which they blew up the plaa ?ems ; but by the accounts brought by the Fauxa sow, it would appea that the Preach troops opened a reservuor into the wench, whereby se. venal of our men were drowned ; and it would sp. pear also that behind the breaches trenches hid been dug, which stopped the assailants alter the breaches were carried. In one word, equal skill and valour has been eahibited en both sides ; but our loss, if we may credit the French Ititernent, has been onions Re e says that he removed into the town Mil of out wounded, while we carried of ourselves the more die. cant ; and that be took 237 prisoners. We regret to mark one coincidence between the French accounts and those brought by the Spannow, in stating our Lou t Officers at fifty; but in the nuns bt r of meta Om iri a difference of two4birds— Gene. ral !UT 'mum our lola at 1$01), and the SPARSOW e S account nulling it ealy Sup and we doubt not but it!c Fre* %tamale* is an ozaggelatioo. Trio dispatthea from floo+T •relato sanely to the operations tliat preceded the beta. of the 28th, and the *casual re54t0111,14144? beinc 111 4 4 n4 becalf