Star. — London, England, 1808-11-26 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF TN STAR. Sin—None of the accounts yet received from Spain res t on authority sufficient to warrant the gloomy ap. ae hensions which many of the inhabitants of this me. 6polis seem to entertain. Thoy seem persuaded t h at BoNnenare has already arrived at Madrid, sub ted Pordingg ortual, and made himself worthy of credit, we know that General BLAKE, after making a brave de fence at Zornosa, was retreating upon Reynosa, where, w ith the united force of the troops of Asturias, and t h o se that had arrived from Denmark, he was to occupy 3 v ery strong position. We also know, that the ar mies of Andalusia, Castile, Arragon, and Murcia, under the command of Castmcos, and forming a total of not less th a n between 9000 and 100,000 Men, wer e posted between Sweguesa and Villafranca, oa the confines of Navarre and Arragon ; that the army of Estremadura had begun to enter ( Burgos on the 7th instant; and that the whole of its force Was expected in that city within a few days after ; and that the English troops, from Portugal, were on the 13th at Salamanca, and those under General Baret at As. torga. Casting our eves then upon the map, observ ingthe oespective positions of these armies, and com paring ng them with that of the enemy, with the cer tainty which, from any thing which has yet transpir ed, we possess that neither CasTaxos nor &mice have been routed, how is it possible to imagine that any formidable body of the enemy can advance to M a d r id, or be in possession of Valladolid ? In this case, the armies of Casrarcos and BLAKE would be able to form a junction in the rear of the French, and cutting off their communication with France, corn. pel them to surrender, or to perish from famine, as there would still be another army of not less than silty thousand men. including English and Spaniards, to oppose them. It is not impossible that a strong French corps may have entered Burgos, and that the t r oops of Estremadura, which had not all conic up, were not able to maintain themselves there ; but it is impossible that any considerableforce should penetrate farther, without first defeating the armies on the right and left; and this is not so easy a task as many think, and experience will prove it. BONAPARTE has placed himself at the head of his army. He feels it necessary toJolind and deceive the Powers of the North, and above all, to keep Austria quiet. In all these countries, nothing but French or Trenchified journals are in circulation ; and it com pletely suits his game that they should trumpet forth, that, on his arrival in Spain, he defeated and totally routed thelnsurgents—that his troops had already en tered Burgos; and that, in few days, they would belt Madrid. All this is necessary to maintain his great and only strength, which is the opinion of the pusillanimous and indifferent. But we shall see, or rather, in the case of Burgos, we may already see, how far the determina tion of the Spaniards will carry them. He has already had a practical proof that every foot of ground ehich his army occupies in Spain must become a dtart, where no succour is to he procured but what he brings along with him. At the mere rumour of the approach of the French, the General of the army of Estramadura tells us, that the whole of the inhabitants quitted Burgos, and the example will be followed in every other quarter. How then, with such patriotic conduee and dis positions, and with soldiers so brave as the Spa niards have hitherto proved themselves to be, can we entertain the slightest apprehension as to the final result ? the Corsican, by means of his veteran troops, may obtain some temporary advantages ; bet never will the fate of Spain depend en the issue oia battle, nor upon the occupation of its capital. Meanwhile, the further he advances, the more certain is his destruction • for there he will not have to cope with a King of Atussra, who quietly suffered him to go to Vienna, nor with an Emperor of AUSTRIA, who did not risk the life of his last man, to pi event his return from the Vistula. There every province is a formidable Power, where his forces be destroyed, and his resources annihilated. The Spanish :mules are still entire and all the in. habitants of Spain are ready to replace such as fall in the held of honour. Hitherto, the absence of a regular Government, the great want of the most necessary aticles, and the confusion into which all the depart. tnents of Srate were thrown, have impeded any sys tem of vigorous operations. But every thing is now settled, public authority is concentrated, and the most active measures have been adopted—measures which cannot but ulti mate ly p ro d uce t h e b est an d most glo rious result. You will forgive me for the length to which I have gone upon this subject. lam convinced that what I have slid , cannot but g i ve pl easure to ever y goo d Englishman, to whom I repeat, that he should enter tam no fear with respect to our fate ; but, on the contrary, that he may confidently expect that our struggle, however long and bloody, will have a happy and honourable termination . London, Nov. 21. A SPANTAR 1). TEIE EV EN I NG 4'('A Et. LONDON. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26. PRICF. OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. IConsols for money 66—for Jan. opg. 6644-omnium 1, 1 , , die. Exchequer Bills, 6s. is. prem. No new arrival from Spain having taken place, we have it not yet in our power to remove the apprehen sions that have taken place in the minds of many, re lative to the affairs of the Patriots. We must, how ever, repeat a remark which we made yesterday— Hai disasters to the extent inferred from the Corunna accounts, taken place at so early a date as to allow the news to be known at that place on the 19th, the .sune news might have been received from Santander before this time. The wind has been favourahle, and a vesscl would probably have been dispatched from the latter place, as soon as suet/ an event should be known. The dispatches received by Government were from Admiral de COURCEY, but they only mention that Tl`nrs of the defeat of Br Ant's army, 8-. z. had just reached Comma ; but this is very different from that slie;ild hp considered as ofErial intell:gence. The Admiral, we understand, gives no particulars of either time or place. The advices from General i3Atno are of the 18th, at which time part of his army had advanced only to the distance of three days march from Corunna. General MOORE is said to have experienced innume rable difficulties On his march, having been derad fully impeded and weakened by the bad roads, the torrents of rain, and the loss of men and horses. It is possible that the principal part of the disas terous reports may have taken their origin from the abandonment of their residences by the inhabitants of Burgos, many of whom quitted that city on the night of the '7th, in consequence of the near approach of the French.--Nay more they may have received other accounts on Which to found the rumours that have been transmitted to this country, but were they true to the utmost extent that has yet been stated, Spain is not thereby conquered. On this subject we refer our Readers to a letter to the Editor, signed, 44 A SPA NIARD" given in a preceding column. MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. BY THE KING-A PROCLAMATION. G?°ROE R. Whereas Sur Parliament stands prorogued to Thursday the Bth day of December next : We, with the advice of Our Privy Council, do hereby publish and declare, that the said Parliament shall be further prorogued on the said Bth day of December next, to Mon day, the 16th day of January next : and We have given order to Our Chancellor of that part of Our United Kingdom called Great Britain, to prepare a commission for proroguing the same accord ingly. And We do further hereby, with the advice aforesaid; de clare Our Royal will and pleasure, that the said Parliament shall, on the said sixteenth day of January next, be held and sit for the dispatch of divers urgent and important affairs: and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights, Ci tizens, and Burgesses, and the Commissioners for Shires and Burghs of the House of Commons, are hereby required and com manded to give their attendance accordingly at Westminster, on the said 16th day of January next. Given at our Court at the Queen's Palace, the twenty-third day of November, one thousand eight hundred and eight, in the forty-ninth year of our reign. GOD SAVO TIM XING. COURT OF INQUIRY AT CHELSEA. SEVENTH DAY. • first Officer who gave his testimony to the Court this mcrning was General ACKLAN D, who com manded a brigade at the battle of Virniera. The questions put to him were similar to these put to Ge neral FERGusov, and General 4-1. - .lc.arit's details were also to the same purport. General ACKLAND declared it to be his opinion, that the French would not have surrendered as Pri soners of War, after the battle of the 21st. The ad vantages secured by the Convention, he did not think could have been obtained at a cheaper rate. He conceived it impossible to have prevented the enemy from crossin4 the Tagus and shutting themselves up it Lisbon. General SPENCER was then called. His narrative was similar to those already detailed. He was of the' same opinion with respect to the impossibility of pre venting the French from crossing the Tagus. He did not think that if an English army had been in a simi lar situation to that of the French, after the battle of the 21st, a British Officer would have been justifiable in surrendering that army as prisoners of war. Further operations would certainly have been requisite before the French were brought into this predicament.— Lisbon must have suffered materially, if further mea sures had been taken by the English against the enemy. From the nature of the country, no heavy ordnance could be brought against the forts of Lis bon, and he did not consider the nine-pounders with the army as sufficient to carry these objects. He considered the Convention to contain precisely the same terms as those granted to the French in Egypt in IAOI. In answer to a question by Sir ARTIMR WEr.r.r.s.l LEY, General SPENCER stated it to censist with his knowledge, that Sir A. Wyr.t.r.stry had ordered the ALFRED, of 74 guas, to be close in shore, ready to supply the army with heavy ordnance, namely, 24- pounders and suitable ammunition. He added, that the ALFRED arrived on her destined station, long be fore the heavy ordnance could possibly be required. In answer to questions from Lord MoIRA and Air ARTHUILWEI.T.T.SLEY, General SPENCER said there was no heavy artillery on carriages ;—there were mortar: on carriages, but no guns. General NIGHTINGALE next gave his evidence. It was impossible for him to say how the French army would probably have acted with respect to surrender ing prisoners of war. But this much he would say, that Me whole French army, both men and officers, were com pletely broken-hearted and dispirited after the Battle of Vimiera ! Captain PREVAL, who commanded the Artillery on the expedition, was next called, and was proceed ing with his details when •ur express left Chelsea. The Dukes of CUMBERLAND and CAMBRIDGE were again present, and an immense crowd of spectators. The female part of the auditory was more numerous than usual. Yequrday a Cabinet Council assembled at the Fo reign Office, at two, and continued deliberating until nearly six o'clock. The following Members were present :—The Duke of PORTLAND, the Earl of WEST- XfORELANO, MI. CANNING, Lord HAWICESBURY, Lord CASTLERTAGII, the CHANCELLOR of the Emaroivrot and Lord MULGRAVE. THE ARMY. Lieutenant-Geoeral Sir Salm CielasaOct sailed yes terday for Lisbon, to assume the command of the British troops in Portugal, vi:e Sir H. BURRARD. re called. Lieutenant-General Sir JOHN CRADDOCK is the same officer Who was Commander in Chief at Madras, when 700 European troops were massacred, by the native troops, in consequence of some appre hension that the latter were to be compelled to shave their mustachios, and wear leather caps ! Lieutenant Jonx FREEMANTLE, of the Coldstream Guards, is appointed Aid-de-Camp to Sir JOHN CRA- Docic, and left town on Sunday for Portsmouth, to embark for Portugal. The arrival of Sir HARRY nURRARD is now anxi ously looked for—if he does not make his appearance in a few days the Court at Chelsea will be at a stand. Orders were on Wednesday last received fur the 3d and 4th Dragoons stationed in Canterbury, to hold themselves in readiness for immediate embarkation for Spain. Eight troops from each of these regiments are made subject to this order, and they are to form the first heavy cavalry brigade under the command of Major-General PAYNE. The 3d regiment, it is ex pected, will commence its march for embarkation at Portsmouth in the course of the ensuing week ; and the 4th will probably follow in the succeeding week or sooner, should the transports be ready for their re ception. The 14th and 16th Dragoons will embark for Spain iihmediately. Transports having returned from Spain and Portugab a fresh embarkation of infantry, not less than 1'2,000 men, will take place without loss of time. The whole of the remainder of the Guards will at this time be scut off ; and by a subsequent embarkation several battalions cf the line from Ire land and this country ; but some heavy Cavalry and more artillery will in the mean time be sent off. Though they no doubt arc necessary here to the ends ofjustice, we cannot help regretting that at the present moment such excellent and popular officers as Sir Arratua Wettxstev, Generals SI'ENcER, and FER.7.1.750N, should he detained from the scene of action. We have more than once heard the question among military men, why are officers, so high in their pro fession as Lord CATHCART and Sir SANHirt stun - , not employed at this present critical moment ? and better and abler officers our service does not boast of. While there was a dispute about a fit Commander in Chief for Portugal, why was Lord CATHCART unthought of ? It is acknowledged by all parties, that the selection of officers for the army going to Spain has been un exceptionable ; they are all of the first rate, and enjoy the confidence of the whole army. Und.,r such men as Moon e, Hove, and BAIRD, British soldiers will effect any thing. As soon as the present Enquiry is over, it is said that his Majesty will confer honours on Generals SPENCER, NIGHTINGALE, and FERGUSON. Colonel DOWND: left town last night to join the Staff of the British Army in Spain. 'All the officers, and upwards of 100 non-commis sioned officers and privates of the Loyal Mahon Vo lunteers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel LEA TIIAM, have been enrolled as Local Militia. About '2OO of the privates belonging to the Whitby volunteer artillery, 50 privates of the Whitby volun teer infantry, and about 80 belonging to the Mul grave volunteer light infantry, have agreed to transfer their services to the Local Militia. A detachment of the East York Militia has marched into Carlisle from Newcastle. Two Companies of the West York have marched from Chester, for Stilton Barracks. The West Kent Militia has marched from New castle to Sunderland. Monday last, a very numerous meeting of that valuable body, the Lieutenants of his Majesty's Navy, took place at the Prince William Henry, Ply mouth Llisvck, to consult about framing a humble pe tition, praying an increase of their pay equal to their rank and responsibility in the service. Lientenant.Gcnctal Sir JOHN Doi E, Bart. arrived yesterday in town from Ireland. A Gentleman in the army of Sir D. BAIRD, dated Villalba, a place between Corunna and Lugo, writes as follows: a Notwithstanding we are at a pause, sty situa tion leaves me scarce a moment's respite ; but I will not let an opportunity of writing pass, at this most critical moment. My original opinion of the impos sibility of the Spanish levies withstanding the shock of equal numbers of disciplined troops, is fully con firmed. Reports of the most disastrous nature respect ing Blake's army, are hourly received. Couriers, Pnests, and country people arrive in numbers. It is impossible to collect the truth from such a confusion of accounts, but where nothing but calamitous re ports are heard, there can be no doubt that the French have succeeded ; to what extent cannot be ascertained, perhaps even by the Commander-in- Chief, who is, however, I am certain, from many circumstances, in possession of alarming intelligence. I will not hazard the communication of uncertain in formation, and especially when it is of so gloomy a nature, as that to which we can indeed hardly refuse our belief. This is however certain, the French have advanced considerably. How far we know not. We know that a corps of Spanish troops, on their march from Madrid for Burgos, %sere completely surprised and routed by the French, who had passed through that place some leagues, and were marching South, on the very route which the Spaniards were pursuing. You may judge by this of the rapidity of the French. Nothing can exceed the inveteracy of the lower classes in Spain against them. It is other wise with the higher ranks, for it has been a complete revolution of the People. If the French have suc ceeded to the extent which is reported, our junction with the army of Sir John Moore will be very diffi cult. It is the most extraordinary thing imaginable, that whilst Sir John's army is almost perishing with hunger, and obliged to proceed in small detachments a day's march asunder, the French push on, without seeming to experience any difficulty of supply. The patience of the British is incredible ; but they are not seasoned. Great anxiety pre►ails for Moore's army, of the situation of which we have no certain informa tion." C4IIIBRIDGE, NOIEMB.eIe 21. A very interesting addition to the collection of Greek marbles in the vestibule of the public library of this university, has boen made by Mr. Walpole, of Trinity College, Editor of the Ore m. rani Gndetriene Frartentn ; who has deposited there an ancient Moab, perfectly entire, and beautifully sculptured in marble, as found by him in the theatre of Str.nonice, in Asia Minor. Also, a marble Terre, from the ruins of Cnidus, in Celia. Yesterday the Lord Bishop of Bristel, Master of Trinity col lege, held his first ordination in the dispel of that college, when the following Gentlemen were ordained Deacons :—Messrs. Anlizark, of Christ's college; Puller, of Clare-hall ; and Pit ched, of 'Trinity college. 'l'he subject of the Norrisian Prise for next year is The Chris. Sian Sabbath. The Haerlem Prize Medal, value forty-two guineas, award. by Teylet's 'lheological Society to the Rev. Cesar Morgan, MA. (now D. D.) for his dissertation, entitled, " A Demonstration, that true Philosophy has no tendency to undermine Divine Re velation, and that a well-grounded Philosopher may be a true Christian," was presented by him to this University on Wednes day last, and is &posited in the public library. The Rev. Caleb Twin, of Pembroke-hall, is admitted to the degree of M. A. The Archbishop of York has licenced the Rev. H. Dizon to the valuable perpetual rectory of East Arksley, near Wakefield, on the nomination of the Earl of Cardigan. Tuesday the Rev. John Eatchellor, clerk, A. M. was collated by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop . of Exeter to the vicarage of Kenton, in the county of Devon, void by the death of John Locker, clerk, the last incumbent thereof. BRIGHTON, NOV. 24. The Pavilion has again resumed its accustomed gaiety of appearance. His Royal Highness the PRINCE of WAiss had yesterday a select dinner party, and in the evening a ball was given in the Egyptian Gallery to the junior Nobility, in celebration of the birth-day of Miss SEvmoun. Lady PAGE, Mrs. Ftrz- HERBERT, and Miss TursF.n, and a splendid party of eighteen, occupied a box at the Royal Circus, who, with a numerous audience, expressed themselves much pleased with the performance. The exterior of the house was illuminated, and some fire-works were ex hibited on the occasion. On the conclusion of the performance, the parties adjourned to the Pavillion, where the ball immediately commenced. Among our present visitors are the Duke and Duchess of Sr. A LEAN°S, Duke and Duchess Of NEWCASTLE, Mr. and Lady CHARLOTTE BELLAsYSE, Lord and Lady MoNsos, Lord and Lady FOLLY, Sir STEPHEY and Lady Gusts 7, Sir THOMAS CLARGES, Lord BxxioN, &c. NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE. PLYMOUTH, NOVEMBER 24. Came in the ALCMEXE, of 32 guns, from a cruize ; DRUID, of 32 guns, from Cork ; Lovely Peggy, Capt. UNIANI, from Lisbon, with fruit, fcr this port. PORTSMOUTH, NOV. 24. - Arrived his Majesty's brig DARING, from a cruize; Stag, CAuPexrEa ; and Waterman, —, from Ma deira and Lisbon.—Sailed his Majesty's ship BLAcic JOKE, for Plymouth ; GOSIIAWKE, HAD", and Sva. TLE, on a cruire.—Wind W. DEAL, NOVEMBER 25. Last night the wind suddenly changing to the wea ward, the outward-bound, which were preparing to sail, came to an anchor again, and remain in the Downs with his Majesty's ships as per last, and seve ral outward-bound vessels.—Wind W. YARMOUTH, NOVEMBER es. Arrived this morning the &MAU sloop of war, and BLOODHOUND gun-brig. Sailed the STHENEIODS gun brig, and SEALARK schooner. Remain in the Roads the ROEBUCK, ABOUKIR, STATELY, MAJESTIC, PRIN.. cESS CAHOLINr, and CAl.vpso.—Wind N. W. GAAVFSEND, NOVEMIIIR 2-S.—Passed by the Active, Smith, from Stockholm; Hannah, Hogan, from Dublin; and the St. George, White, from Malta.—Sailed the John Anderson, Scott, for Africa ; William, Swiney, fur St. Lucie ; Venerable, Edwards, for Dublin ; Adventure, Davidson, for Guernsey ; Fanny, Nickol son ; and the Simon Cook, Langley, for Demerara ; Albion, Young, for St. Kites ; Hopewell, Hayman ; and the Friendship. Neale, for Surinam; Dispatch, M'Millan, for St. Croix; Gover nor Halkett, Watman, for Tobago; Fortitude, Martin ; Jonah, Cummings; Earl St. Vihrect, Hutton; and the Nereus, Brock bank, for Jamaica. ARRIVED—In Stanegate Creek, the Hind, Clarke; C.trac tatus, Weldon; and Concord, Hanford, from Malta. At Fal mouth, Edmond, Page, from Malta ; Elizabeth, Shirley, from Cadiz ; Juflrow Anna, Smith, from Senegal, and Alert, Bligh, from Newfoundland. At Liverpool, Alexander, Stewart, from ditto; Betsey, Slade, from Lisbon, and the Esther, Jowls, front Quebec. In the Clyde, Lavinia, Buttermere, from Quebec. At Esmouth, the Uwe Brothers, —, from Prince Edward's (stand. In the Downs, the Aguilar, Thomas, from Halifax ; Little Wil liam, Emerald, —, Mary, Sibson ; Apollo, Gruby, , and Gratitude, Rowe, from Malta. Off Oporto, the Unanimity, Cummings, from Newfoundland. At Alicant, the Minerva, Williams, from Newfoundland; Random, Newport, from Dublin ; Dundas, Barrett, from Jersey ; Juno, Bates; and Intrepid, Hew-- son, from London. At Strangford, the Esther, Murdock, from London. At the Brazils, the Ptggy, Stevens, from London. At Malta, the Alert, Burgess, from London. At Newfoundland, Duddon, I ohnson ; Mermaid, Dermer, and Mary, Cocking:, from Liverpool. At Quebec, the Esther, Rose, from Liverpool. The Pomosn, with a fleet from Portsrnouth, is arrived at Malta. The Eliza Hamilton, DAVIDSON, from New York, for St. Croix, is captured by a French privateer, car ried into St. Martin's, and condemned. The Henry, -, from Bristol, for Seville, foun dered in lat. 47. long. 8. Crew saved. The Porte Packet, Etionits, from Teneriffe, for London, has put into Lisbon, in consequence of the master having broke his arm. The mate is appointed to command the vessel, which was to sail from thence about the 14th instant. The Francis, PAS:;MORE, from Cardiff, for London, has been found without any person on board, and carried into Cowes. The Integrity transport, Captain CORNPORTH, was totally lost near Padstowe, on Monday last, crew saved. The Hibernia, JAmrs, from Londonderry, for Phi ladelphia, is wrecked near Lockindahle._ Tile Hope, HEBON, from Lisbon, for Gottenburgh, was totally lost on the 31st of October, near Lisbon. Captain LLEWYX, of the George, arrived at Poi; c mouth from Malta, states, that two or three cf fleet, under con v oy of his Majesty's ship STANDARD, from the Mediterranean, have foundered, and he fears their crews are lost, as the weather was so bad no boat could render them assistance. The ship Sisters, ABRAMS, from Greenock to St. John's, was wrecked on the 2fith of September, on sunken rocks, three leagues from Grand Manan.— Immediately after she struck they endeavourei to launch the boat, but were not able ; but they low:Ted the stern boat, in which the Captain and six of tl e crew saved themselves; but the Mate and remaining part of the crew, fifteen in number, were ur.avo {. 4 4• ably left to their fate, it being utterly impoisibie :0 • render them any assistance. • v, 4 •