Star. — London, England, 1810-12-26 00:00:00

PORTUGUESE PAPERS. • LISBON, DECEMBER le. oar Ordenanzas are formed in parties, which pur the enemy. In the quarter beyond the Zezere ,- have killed, since the 25th of November (their e ' ef ,s up to this data was given in a former Ga te) a bout 50 French, many of whom were cavalry. a villige in that part of the country (the name of h id ) it would nob be proper to mention), a barber res ij es , who has killed IL French, 11 of whom were • o .llry. At S err a, which is about two lea ues distant from omar, the same Ordenanzas have destroyed several , ar ties of the enemy, and only gave up that post hen t hey were attacked by a very superior force, ut, in changing their position; they did not change , c i r determination. In Serra de Pateilo, towards .nia, our peasants, constituting whet is in this coun . called Ordenanzas, who are rearsoldiers, attack a destroy all the enemy's parties ; and such is their ildness that they have attacked several corps of su rior force. If the hatred which the inhabitants of the Penis. a have to the French yoke has been subdued in less orous places, so that the enemy, by long and re , ted sacrifices, may have succeeded in establishing ; mi le, with towns like those mentioned above, all .orifices for such an object are vain, for in truth, all ~is power is insufficient to accomplish it. What can ist the colossal mass of fifteen millions of people, ilarrned, and all combating a barbarous and dis ,nt invader ? Death htiveis ronnt his columns, and ..ner or later he must fall. The more the peasants lose, the more irritated they r e. Many of them have been heard to exclaim— “ Since lam ruined, I have nothing to do but to avenge myself, and to pillage the enemy also." It ay be said that the grand attack on the French, th in Spain and Portugal, is nos', only about to ommence. The Tribunal of the Council of Admiralty has used to be And in the Royal Marine Arsenal, the allowing Edict— The Council of the Admiralty orders that Thomas Mortimer isrcly, Captain in the British Navy, shall be recognized as Major ;raeral of the Fleet., (Signed) ANTONIO PIRES ALVARtS DP. MIRANDA Secretary to the Council of the Adinlraity. ICCOVSTS FROM ABRAXTES, RELATIVE TO THE MILI TARY OPERATIONS SINCE THE ENEMY APPROACHED THAT TOWN. On the sth of November, an account arrived ere, stating that the enemy had crossed the Zezere,' d retired, and on the same night the Spanish m all, which was there proceeded to the North of the ,igns. On tke morning of the 7th, Don Carlos Hes anha advanced with his infantry. A great part of e garrison also made a sortie, and attacked the nemy between Montalvo and Amoreira, but in de :wiled parties. On the evening of the 7th, three ranch prisoners were brought in, and joined our roops. The attack did not produce more effect, be case the enemy made no advance. On our side we had not one wounded. The three prisoners were taken b7three peasants of Souto, a village about two leagues from this town. There were six altogether, but they killed one in consequence of two having escaped.—. IVe are assured that the peasants of Souto have put othght 400 French, who were advancing from San ells, killed an officer and several soldiers, and took om them two herds of cattle. On the 11th it was )rted that the French troops which had passed . . . mounted to 3 or 4000 men, including 1500 cavalry.' it is also said that the bridge has been carried away by the rising of the river, but that the enemy have saved some of the boats which composed it. The Tagus has risen more than six feet. The enemy re main at Montalvo. " On the 12th, at four in the evening, the French reconnoitred Abrantes, but were received, as usual, !‘y salutes ofartillery, which were continued until night, when the. enemy retired. They could not, however, lie much injured, as they kept at a resPectful distance, :.:td were much spread. Four of them entered Rio Moiuhos to plunder, and killed a man, who, ima ,jning they were absent, had gone thither toende avour ti save some o f hi s prop erty. It also appears certain iliat two peasants of the above village killed an indi •:idual whJ had been always in front of the enemy, on .svlnte horse, and two Frenchmen besides. On the e.me day twelve peasants of the neighbourhood of Ate - antes, brought in a French serjeant, a deserter frorn the regiment No. 4.7. This man stated that the French force which had crossed the Zezere, consisted If `‘ , ttO infantry and 600 cavalry, with four pieces of ani:lcry of small calibre. On the 13th, the Spanish treors having passed to the North of the Tagus, oc— euri4rd the neighbourhood of Rio de Moinhos, it being :opposed that the enemy meditated an attack on this place. The garri3on were all day under arms. The k, paniirus, however, re-crossed the river, without • had any rencounter. The enemy removed the greater part of their forces towards Punhete. " On the night of the 14th two pieces of artillery i I were conveyed to the south of the Tagus, and placed I front of Punhete, to oppose the passage of the Ze aere, where the enemy are endeavouring to repair the rid bridge, and make it broader. On the 15th, soon niter eight in the morning; a signal for the advance tiwr enemy was made, hut they did not approach. as the meraing of the IGth a great part of the Spa- 1 ri'sh tr . or.ps marched away. " On the 17th, the French piered off some artil eTy, whic:i was mounted. in the fort of Conceizam, tile other side of the Zezere, upon the Spaniards, returned Lorne shots from the South side of the 'l2;e!us. The French occupied the hills in the neighbour hood of Pouliete on both sides of the Zezere with E.lterds, ankl ;he main body was withia the town.' wi-Te repairing the boats they bad in that river, ;.nd constrzietiri g new ones. They were also erecting a kind of fort near the gate of the • Church of our 111 ( 1 Y of the Martyrs. General Loison had at the 'arrie time his head-quarters at Montalvo. " On the 18th, in the evening, the 4th and 10th regimentr, of Portuguese cavalry arrived at Abrantes ; t wo troops cf English cavalry, and the battalion of Cazedores, No. 5, were also expected there. The eaemy at that date still occupied the same positions." cAsTR oPOI, NOV. 9 : Per addressul by Brigalter D. Joao Dias Perlier, to the Com mandants of the French troops in Spain. 3 " laving learnt, th a t on the 7th inst. three sol i erS of the hussars of Cantabria, who had been Lieu at Curvera,were put to death in- the city of Pa lencia ;in execution of-the orders which the National 1 Government has issued in opposition to those of the robber Soult, alias Duke of Dalmatia, I have ordered six French soldiers to be shot, and suspended on trees, or the walls of s place, the nearest possible to the city of Palencia. All the nations who compose the French armies in Spain must therefore understand, that by orders of the Spanish Nation, for its oven honour and that of all the soldiers who defend it, all acts committed in future by the French Generals, contrary to the rights of war, shall be considered as crimes committed against the rights of men, and on all occasions the strictest reta liation shall take place. BADAIO2, DEC. 1. The Spanish troops, as well as the French, conti nue in the same positions. We learn from Place*, under. date .91 the 22(1 of November, that the flying• party, commanded by the gallant Don Jalico, had lately three engagements with the French, the result of which was, that he killed 120 mea, and took 72, with 74 horses, 100 bullocks, several equipages of French officers, some sheep, and a large quantity of wheat. A traveller who lately arrived in Sernella from Ma drid, states that a large convoy which lately left the capital on its way to Bayonne, with a great quantity of gold and plate, was intercepted by the patriots, and 140 French kilted on the occasion. "About 0,000 ?tench are intrenched in and about . /. Santarem. Lord Wellington's head-quarters are still at Caren() ; and pert of our army is advanced beyond; and have separated the French from the champaign country. About 15,000, under General Hill, are still on the south, and oppose the pasv,:ge of the Tagil. Silveira and Wilson are near Castel Branco. Our cavalry continually harass and contract their circle. We have taken a convoy of nearly 2000 bullocks, collected for the French army. " Reinforcements, to the amount, perhaps, of 15,000, collected from all quarters, are on their march to join the French army; and several Spanish: corps are closing down towards the same point. Ge.- neral Carrera, with about 7000 Spaniards has arrived. We have thrown some Congreve rockets into Santa rem. Silveira and the Portuguese beat the enemy nobly at Pinhel. 44 The weather has been uncommonly severe— rain, rain continually—but our army is healthy, and spirited as lions. We still expect a battle, in Lord Wellington's good time, and both soldiers and sailors pray for it heartily." Libbon, December 8. " Lord Wellington has ordered some works to be made on the opposite side of the river, from Almada 1 to the Trefaria, to protect the shipping in the Tagus, in lease the French should cross at tantarem, or Abrantes, and come down the left bank and seize the heights. I understand the works to which I have al luded will be very strong, and will render such an attempt impracticable. Lord Wellington is extremely active, and thinks of every thing. The day before yesterday he came down incog. to inspect the works himself. His Lordship remained there three parts of the dAy :he crossed at night-fall in time to dine with Mr. Stuart, and at half-past eight set off again to Cartaxo, partly by water ; and was back before the French General had missed him, at least he made no attempt to alarm the camp in his absence. 4 , General Hill, I am sorry to say, has fallen sick. He is come from Chamusea grievously afflicted with fever and ague. I saw him land at the square, when it was necessary for him to be supported by two offi cers. His services are much regretted, for he is as excellent a character as he is a General. General Fane is also sick. Lord Wellington stands the cam. paign well, and in point of health cannot be better. " DEC. 10.—The French having fortified Santa rem, proves that they have no intention of attacking Lisbon for the present. A number of fortifications have been erected on the other side of the Tagus, be tween Coina and Almada, and it is imagined that the war will be of long duration; but we consider ourselves perfectly secure here, and are under no apprehension for the safety of Lisbon. The English have assured us of their being able to defend us. 'I he vessels which sailed latterly from hence, have taken no passengers with them, and the departure of inhabitants has en tirely ceased." PRIVATE LETTERS. " Oporto, December 9. " A Frencls Ferree of 3000 cavalry has arrived at Condexa,oppositeCoimbra,evidently with an intention of attacking the latter. The force under Colonel Trant at Coimbra is too feeble to be able to make any effectual resistance, and it is supposed will cross the river Vonga, collecting as he goes all the scattered Militia and Ordenanza of the country." " Cartaxo, November 30. " We left Zobricra on the 15th instant, the whole of the French army having retired, during the night. We advanced that day to a height on this side Sou bal, and occupied huts which the French had left in the morning. On the 16th we passed Alenquer, which was the head quarters of Massena, to a village called Musca Nova, where we halted on the 17th ; and on the 18th moved forward to Cartaxo, where we found Lord Wellington, whose head-quarters are still there on this day. General Hill, with his division, crossed the Tagus near Villa Nova, and has, we are told, proceeded up the right bank towards Abrantes. We found that the French rear-guard occupied the strong position of -Santarem, and that they were to be attacked the following morning by the left division under Brigadier General Crauford, a brigade of Por tuguese under Brigadier General Pack, and Sir W. Erskine's brigade, supported by the remainder of Sir B. Spencer's division. Accordingly, on the morning of the 19th, we moved forward towards the points of attack, in full expectation of honour and glory, when we found the enemy drawn up ready to receive us, and apparently determined to stand a dusting.— The position is one of the strongest that can be con ceived—Santarem, on the top of a range of hills, very high, and almost perpendicular, with a lower range in front, where the first line was drawn up, at the foot of which runt the Rio Mayor, a branch of the Tagus, and a large portion of swampy ground, which is only to be crossed by two causeways ; and, with the bridge across the river, are completely commanded by the guns of the enemy : this was the centre point. " The attack was to have commenced by General -- Craufurd on our right, and General Pack, with the MUNGO PARKE is the most enterprising traveller of Portuguese, on the left, to turn their flanks; the ten- the present day # and it is extraordinary, thet in the tre was for the brigade of Guards, and SirW.Erskine's. interior of Africa there should be the same eagerness Fortunately, I thinkifor us all, it was delayed by Ge- to adventure in Lotteries as there appears at present neral Pack not being able to get forward a gun, which in the new plan now submitted, in which a fortune was to have given the signal to commence; for on may be obtained by a single risk of a small sum ; and General Spencer going up, he was almost petrified at the Lottery contains 44 Capitals, 4of them a 820,000 the idea, and declared it impracticable ! Lord Wel- each, and no Prize less than 4'20. The whole, amoun lington remained on a hill in front till dark, when tang to 0200,000, must be drawn on a new plan, in finding the task too diAicult, and that the enemy was one day, the 15th February next ; but as the Scheme in greater force than he expected, which we since meets general approbation, Tickets and Shares are know to be the case, the troops were moved off in I likely to be much dearer. different directions. About a fortnight ago, as the Mail on its way " We are to support Colonel Elder's battalion of M Portuguese Cacadores (light troops), which is to de- from Preston to anchester, was changing horses at fend the bride I mentioned above Ponte de Clerisa, in 1 Chorley, at twelve at night, the fresh horses h a ving case of attack ; but that is for the present rendered been put to, Coachee went to fe tch some straw to sit impossible by the heavy rains we have had, which upon, when the horses set off , in sight of the coach have swelled the rivers to such a degree, that neither I man, guard, and three passengers—the coachman fol army can get at the other, let their inclinations be lowed on foot, and the guard and passengers in a post chaise. The horses steadily pursued their course un ever so good. The French take all the vegetables and eatables til they arrived at Red-bank Brow, one mile from Chorley, where they stopped, as is usual, while one they can carry an ay.' We are but poorly off here, and a good deal harassed ; scarce a house is left in ,of the wheels is locked. Here a countryman on the road called o ut to be taken up, and thinking the coach arethe country with a door or window-shutter—whitlows seated himselfin the guard's rostrum, out of question. A. board or two serves for a i ns ide, man was and cryin go on !' off went the horses again down table, and he is a lucky fellow who can find a chair hill at ful l speed, never stopping before they arrived or stool to sit on : beds we do not presume to think of. Since we have left Lisbon, I have never taken at the Elephant and Castle, four miles further, where off more than coat, stock, and shoes, and put on my the coach has constantly occasion to stay a short time ; t boat cloak aed hairy cap, and am glad it I can get the countryman then alighted and proceedel to invite et 4 , the coachman to a glass, when all he found inside wasplace to lie dilwn dry, which has not always been the case. We can get nothing but our rations, except' the fourth passenger, who had been asleep all the what comes from Lisbon—we live cheap." _ time. The animals had passed several tarts and wag. . grins on the way. " Lisboa, December J On Monday afternoon an inquest was held at St. ce It is distressing to observe the deplorable state ' Giles's Workhouse, on the body of Mr. Fielding, who to which Portuguese Estramadura is reduced. The was found in George -street, Bloomsbury, about one orders issued by the Government to Like care of the o'clock on Sunday morning, apparently lifeless, by a cattle, &c. which the French left in the country on • watchman, and was taken to the watchhouse. A their retreat from Torres del Vedras might as well surgeon was immediately sent for, but Mr. Fielding have been spared, as the French took care to drive all died before the surgeon came. Verdict—Died by the before . them. Every part of Portugal is ruined ; and visitation of Goo. what will be the consequence I know net, if the i Another inquest was held at the same place on the. , French continue in rortugal next year, or only in body of I sa b e ll a Jenkinson, who di e d su dd en ly on the Spring, as the peasantry will not attend to agri- Monday afternoon at her lodgings. She had invited culture; and which, indeed, would be of little use a party of friends to dine with her, and having eaten, unless the robbers were extirpated. They have corn- a hearty dinner, and in apparent good health, lay milted' horribly ravages at Santarem ; every house down on the bed to sleep, and ire a short time after there is a barrack; property of all kinds has been ut- wards was found dead. Verdict—Died by the visi terly destroyed—theivomen violated who remained— tation of GOD. in short, these wretches seem encouraged by their Wednesday night, the Liverpool coach, en its way Officers, - who allow them to plunder wherever they to London, was overturned near Burtotoon-Trent.— can find it, and to indulge in the most licentious ex- There were three outside passsengers, one of whom, ceases to make up in a great measure for the privations a serjeant in the 45th regiment, was kille4on the spot; they otherwise endure. In shun let it be known in another had both his legs broken; and the third escae England that if we were to write the millionth 'part ped unhurt, as ilid three inside. ofethe crimes which have been committed by the Sunday evening, as Mr. L AWLIMS , of 'Gni tech apel, French and by *allied Imperial troops (who have was returning from Enfield, in a one-horse chaise, profited under thde Widens), it would not be believed through the darkness of the evening the veilicle come that it could he posslble hyrhnman beings so to act. in contact with a coach, between Tottenham and " DEC. 2.-I'he last week all was conjecture s and Newington, by which it was overturned, and Mr. L. much of it continues. I very senotttly hurt. • "An officer arrived here from the army. He re ports that Massena has removed his main force to the Plains of Pomball, and only left 800 men at Santa rem. Provisiohs are dear, but salt fish is in abun dance. All is quiet here, and there has been no change of position in our army. " A few days ago we heard, by accounts from head quarters, that it was likely the French would remain betntesm Santarem and Abrantes during the winter ; and to confirm this we are told, that Massena had satisfied himself with the command of the greater part of the river. If this be true, we are likely to have a long campaign." TO TIM . BDITOR OF TIM STAR. Ilymemb, December 41. Ste--It is universally acknowledged that the Bii tish Government is willing to do all that can be done. towards alleviating the hardships attached to the 11,1- fortunate. prisoners of war, now in this country. A - 'flitting this to be the case, I do not think t he r e can be any impropriety in an individual, whoever he may be, in suggesting to the Head of the Department, under whose immediate care the prisoners of war are placed, any improvement that might be made, either in the places of confinement, or in the general ma nagetnent of the prisons, through the medium of your Paper. What I shall at present call, the attention of the Transport Board to, is the stave of the prison yards, at. Mill Bay, Plymouth ; these yards are not paved, and as nearly three then.and men have no other ground to take their exercise in, it necassaeilg - follow., that during the rainy season, both yards are • completely covered with mud, deep, as to make it impossible for any individual to walk for one minute. without being up to his ankles in the mire. What the erpence attending making this very great im provement may be to the nation, I' am net 'prepared to state,but I will venture to say, that any country Gentleman, would feel great pleasure in expending as great a sum, on two of his farm-yards, for the ac commodation of his tenants. Hoping that the object of my troubling you may be gained, by the evil I have alluded to being removed, I am, Sir, your obe dient servant, . THE DUKE OF QUBENSBERRY'.. , This Nobleman has been mo re generallyTtnoft cn o and for a much longer period, than any of his 1. i temporaries ,• and though he has not displayed ch talents which naturally attract the attention dims kind, he has never ceased, from his first appearance in the world to the moment when he left it for ever, . to be an object of comparative notoriety. There has been no interregnum in the public course of his ex-, istence. He was born in the year 1725, and few persons have ever passed through life wither fuller enjo of the pleasures and luxuries which it affordsM possessed ample means of gratification in an *buff• dant fortune, and he was wise enough to blend prua dente and pleasure in all his enjoyments. ' His first distinction was that of the Turf : his knowledge of which, both in theory and practice, was considered as equal, if not superior, to the most acknowledged adepts of Newmarket. He rode him self in all his principal matches, and was therivalvits that branch of equitation, of the most eminent pro fessional Jockies. His famous match with the Duke of HAMILTON, the tattier of the last Nobleman of that title, and that of the macL%ne, which hate his own name, were long distinguished articles in I annals of Newmarket, and are not yet forgotten. •••• . He blended, however, his pursuits of the turf with the more elegant attainments of high life, and was lon considered as the first figure in the brilliant circles of fashion. He was the model in dress, equipage, and manners, for all those who aspired to superiority in exterior appearances. He was also very fond of music, in which his taste and judgment were acknowledged by the first pre fessors. He was a munificent patron of musicians. particularly those of the vocal order, and the first place to which the chief singers from Italy resorted was to the Mansion of his Grace, where they were sure of a polite and liberal reception. After he had quitted the turf, and had succeeded to the Queensberry titles and estates, his life has been distinguished by little but his enjoyments, in which he continued to indulge himself while the faculties of re. ceiving gratification from them remained. Hitt can. stant residence, and the scene of his pleasure, was London or its vicinity. Scotland he seldom, if ever visited. His house' at Amesbury, in Wiltshire, the wot k of Irmo JoNas, and the classical mansion of a former period, he has left, if it be not sold ; and hie country pleasures were found in his Villa at Rich. mond, which he had fitted up in a style of sup erior elegance. There he occasionally lived in splenour, till the folly of the inhabitants, by making a vexatious claim at law of a few yards of ground which, uncon scious of any invasion of parochial rights, he had taken into his inclosure, determined him to quit a place where he considered hinarielf as having been grossly insulted, and to which, in various ways, he had been an ample benefactor. Latterly, he lived altogether in •Pioeadilly, where his figure was daily visible in his balcony, and had become familiar to every one who was in the habit of passing through that great metropolitan thoroughfare. He was a very good-natured man in private life,and 'his purse was always ready at the call of misfortune and unfriended talents. He *as often a liberal sub. scriber to a measure calculated to support the national honour and reward the national defenders. His Grace was never married, but a long courtship took place between him and Lady Harriet Stanhope, daughter cf the late and sister of the present Earl of Harrington, but it broke 'off without, as far as we lia've heard, any assigned cause, and any interruption of harmony between the respective families. He had been a handsome avell.proportioned man, of the middle size. It was generally reported,. but . without truth, that he wars a glass eye. He had only a slight blemish in one of - his eyes, which was hardly perceptible. He was appointed Lori of the Bedchamber to his Majesty on his coming to the throne ; but in conse qucnce of the part he took in the question of the Regency in 1789, his name is not to be seen in the Royal Household after that period. He was in- Ivested with the Green Ribbon us the year 1764, a n d at the time of his death WAS the senior Knight of the Outer of the Thisfle. The gallantries of the Duke have been long a sub jecr,of taillery, and it is probable that much more has been said on that subject than was founded in truth. • Lord YARMOUTIT, as was expected, succeeds to the greatest part of the late Duke of QUEENSBERRY'S dis poseable property. A legacy of £50,000 is left to the Duke of SOMERSET, and the same sum to the Duchess. A Green Ribbon is become vacant izy the death of the Duke of QUEBSSIIRRHY. As the. Earl of Parzaeostevuri was passing through New Bond-street on Monday evening, in his carriage, it broke down, but his Lordship did nut receive nay • injury. I