Star. — London, England, 1808-10-07 00:00:00

T~ PORTUGAL. PROCLAMATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY LIEUTENANT-GENE RAL SIR HEW DALRYMPI.E, COMMANDING THE BRITISH FORCES IN PORTUGAL, TO TUE PORTUGUESE NATION. The success with which it has pleased ALMIGHTY G,90 P!2 l bless the .BOtish. Arms; has brought - about themoment when it becomes my duty to address the faithful and loyal inhabitants of this country. I seize the ofipoittinity widiengerness, in order to tranqui lize the minds of the timid, to repress the designs of the disaffected (if any such remain), and to assure ; the nation at large, that • the efforts of the British force under my command have no other object in view ; than to insure the prosperity of the inhabitants of Portugal, by the restoration of that Government Ulrich has so long and so gloriously presided over them, and the return of which will be welcomed, no doubt, by the united voice of a loyal people. • The presence of an hostile army, in possession of • the capital, and master of the principal resources of the kingdom, had in a manner deprived the estimable • and loyal subjects of Portugal of the means of libe rating their country. Patriotic efforts, however, were made in spite of these disadvantages, and the national spirit was manifested in a manner at once most de- ; cided and most honourable. The efforts which were made by several provinces I of the kingdom opened the road for the restoration of the Monarchy. Notwithstanding, however, the energy displayed by these Provinces in arraying and bringing forward an armed force for the liberation of the capital; the aid of the ancient and faithful Ally of Portugal was ne cessary, to bring the contest to a successful and speedy issue. The warm interest which his Britannic Majesty felt for his Ally, and the energy which has ever marked the British character, soon brought a powerful force to the shores of Portugal. That part of the Portuguese army which local Circumstances permitted, united it s elf with the Bri tish, whilst the remainder effected a powerful di version. Measures were taken in concert for the defeat of the cosnmon enemy. The steps of that forCe have been marked by victory, and the expulsion of the enemy has opened the way to the restoration of the Portuguese Monarchy, the most gratifying chap; which could be imposed by his Sovereign on a British Commander. No views national interest or aggrandizement can be traced in the liberal peiicy of Britain ; but, true to the principles of honour and good faith, that have ever directed her conduct, she sees, in the events how passing in Portugal,, only the happy means of ;•e-establisiiiive order, and restoring to the Sovereign and the people their just right. In the execution of these views as Commander of the'llritish Forces, I shall best fulfil the intentions of the King my Master, and most effectually secure the interests of Portugal, by placing in the exercise of authority, that body to which his Royal Highness the Prince Regent thought fit to delegate the Sove reign Power, when he withdrew the Royal dignity from the insults of an implacable enemy, and preser- : vcd the Sovereignty of his dominions beyond the At- One respectable - Nobleman, a member of the body' .thus left in power by his Royal Highaess, has unfor tunately been removed from his country, by the au thority or arts of its enemy, by which at this critical period it is deprived of his services, whilst some of the members having appeared to unite themselves with the French interest, have rendered their re-esta ;hbqhment in theCovernment at this moment impos sible. • Therefore the distinguished persons undermention ed, the remaining Members of the Regency appointed by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and who have incurred no such disability, are called upon to repair to Lisl-in to take upon themselves the functions of the Government, until such time as the will of his . Royal Highness the -Prince Regent shall be more fully known, viz.— The Count de Castro Tarim ' Monteirn ?Vier of the Kingdom, and Member of the Council.. of his Royal Highness. Don Francisco Xavier de Not...mins, Member of the Council: of Isis Royal Highness, and Grand Cross of the Order of Sant-lago, ' President of the Board of CoEscience, and Lieutenant-General of the Royal Armies. • . Francisco de Cunha e M.eneth, Member of the Council< of his Royal Highness, and Lieutenant-General in the Royal Armies. • Joan Antonio Salter de Mendonca, Desembargador dr. Pogo, and Procurador of the Crown. • Dons Mipel Pereira Forjaz Bontinho, Member cf the Councils of his Royal Highness, and Brigadiero in the Royal Armies. • • To this Government the inferior Jurisdictions and Tribunals, the Constituted and Legal Authorities of thii Kingdom, and all persons of every description are required to pay all deference and submission. As Commander of the British forces, I shall hold it to be my first and most urgent duty to maintain the authority of the Government thus established, to insure the tranquillity and subsistence of the capital, and to encourage the re-establishment of the former prosperity of the kingdom. When these objects arc attained, and the attain ment of diem can only he delayed by intrigue or dis affection, the interference of a military force will cease to be ntcessary. but until these ends arc ac complished, the most vigorous and decided measures will be taken for maintaining the peace and good or d,er of the country, and all offences against the tran quillity of any part of the Kingdom, will be pro .ceeded against with the utmost severity. Given at the Head-quarters of the British :tansy at Prayas, I J this 18th day of Sept. 1808. (Signed) HEW resenestet.e, Lieutenant-Ceneral and Commander of the lir fish forces in Portugal. • OPORTO, SEPTEMBiIit 16. Copy of a letter written from Lisbon, dated the 12th inst.--0 , French tyranny is now at an end, and the business of restoring to every one his dues, and that of which he has been despoiled, goes on. This day, for a commencement, six millions will be rests. red, which were in the different treasuries of the army of plunderers. Nine millions have been collected in bars of silver, which a vessel loaded with salt was to carry off. The English are encamped in two divi sions, in the fields of Santa Anna and Ourique. Our troops are now in different parts of the city, and on the 14th will take possession of the castle of Belem. This day the Russian squadron sailed, as prisonerslo At.. English ' • and• there will sail as soon as possible GOOD French prisonersr,well registered, in such a way, that they cannot carry off mere titan belengstO chem. .iunot and his Generals have been forced account of all they leave plundered and this city the greatest joy reigns among . zens, and tAe greatest conffision and 'disci served among the enemy." SPAIN. MADRID, SEPTEMBER 12. TUE COUNT DEL 11,YONTIJO TO IN FELLOW COrVTRYMV2.I. " SPANIARDS!—in the character of a true Patriot—as the General in Chief of the combined forces in Arragon, influented by the rank in which the virtues of my ancestors, and their s^r vices to their country, have placed me—and finally, with the ap pmbation of my cousin and brother-in-law, his Excellency the Captain-General of the kingdom of Arragon, I have pressnted myself in this capital, in order to consult respecting the most se cure and expeditious means of rescuing the nation from the atro cities which it still suffers in those parts which (to what purpose I cannot conceive), are still occupied by the ravaging troops of Na poleon ; but at a time when I thought the result of my journey, that of the toil: of my cousin, and of the cries of our fellosv-cotin ttrytnen, at this moment oppossed by the tyrannical yoke of the French, would have beet: such as we had a right to expect, and such as now more than over concerns the nation, I see with the, greatest sorrow the tardiness with which our armies are put in motion ; the want of an authority with which I might commuiti cate, for the purpose of combining and giving a proper direction' to their movements ; and what is still more lamentable and per nicious, that the precise opportunity which presents itself for de stroying the plans and combinations of the enemy, who has not yet abandoned his project, should be occupied in disemsions of no importance to the country, and in digressions from the main subject which alone ought to occupy the attention of all true Spa niards. The Captain-General of aerragon and myself have spared no means or toils which could conduce to the attainment of our most important objects. The army under my command has Mls tinually occupied the points most contiguous to the enemy, in order to divert his attention to the quarter entrusted to my care s The army of Galliaia, in consequence of my invitation, wa' al- 1 , randy approaching; but being, as well as mine, without a ' tient force of cavalry to cross the plains, it has been compelled not to quit the mountains, but to maintain itself there, with the view, either to pursue the enemy should they retreat, or to attack them in flank should they renew their attempt on Saragossa. I provisionally only took possession 01 Tikle, that place not being a military position.. I was waiting for the forces that were in Madrid; and the enemy availing themselves of the tardy execu tion of our plans, united their various corps, there being no, thing to prevent them, in order to attack me with double my force, and with a respectable body of cavalry. " I did not consider it prudent, or in atiy other respect benefi cial, to maintain a position which was flanked at all points, nor to risk in a single action the fate of my army, and perhaps that of the whole kingdom of Arragou. I retreated upon Saragossa, conformably to the instructions Iliad received from the Captain- General, and occupied .dl the most important points and those best adapted for a de:, ce, which, if possilik,would havebeen still more obstinate and vigorous than the former. _ " The enemy have abandoned Tudela, and the other points which they occupied on the left bank of the Ebro, indicating a disposition to retreat upon Panipeluna, and guarding the person of the fugitive Joseph. In the mean time, they are plundering the villages, and depriving us of those resources which arc essen T tially necessary to our subsistence. They impose contributions, and trample on the most sacred rights of our fellow-countrymen, who obseflee cur forces, as it should seem, solely occupied in a defensive war, and disabled from affording them any relief. " Spaniards he post which I occupy obliges me to speak plainly. lam not under the necessity of giying you fresh proofs of my sentiments, for the mere purpose of convincing you of my patriotism. My language will always be dictated by sound rm son, and the genuine ardour which animates me in a cause which I was the first to sustain. I desire nothing—expect nothing, but the glory of totally devoting myself to the defence of my king and country; and I leave to others all that has no relation to those object., and:which I consider as unreasonable, at a One when the enemy, from the insufficiency of their force, employ intrigue to throw us off our guard, to start questions of etiquette, and to in troduce the most fatal divisions in the train of our triumphs. " Generals of the different Divisions of the Spanish Army ! Rush to the point whither you are called by your own honour— the interest of the whole nation, and the good wishes of all the Governments of Europe. It is in the presence of the enemy that we might to discuss and concert our plans. Abandon those im becile Spaniards who, by their ridiculous and extemporaneous pretensions, serve as instruments to arrest the progress of our arms, and destroy the advantages which we have already ob tained. " Deputies of the difTerent Provinces !—The Nation already blames your tardiness in establishing the Central Junta which is to represent the august person of our beloved Sovereign Ferdinand VII. and to dictate the most t fficiert means of saving the Coun try, amidst a diversity of opinions, and of Authorities whose functions must and ought to cease. Sage Fellow Countrymen ! occupy your talents in the establishment of such a Government as will meet the approbation of all ; but the most interesting ob ject, and that which demands pour most speedy attention, is the complete expulsion from our soil of the remains of the enemy, who, from the mere knowledge that we are concentrating our forces, are preparing for flight. " Genero',s Merchants !—The soldiers of the nation march to defend your property and y;:tir cause. 'Abe circamstancts of the moment require extraordinary services ; and it is necessary you should demonstrate your patriotism and attachment to the com mon cause, by donations for the purpose of clothing all the troops who vi i,l have to pasvrhe ensuing wine-min tire " Ministers of Religion!—Proceed in the performance of your duty. Impress upon all your flocks the maxims of sound mora lity ; and offer up your prayers to the Goo of Armies, for the success of the arms of our Sovereign Ferdinand VII. You should p:nlicularly apply yczurselves to disconcert any artifices by which tl e enemy may endeavour to mislead the people and to divert thair att, nth n from the main (+jell. " Valiant Inb:•hitaots of the :Tartish Territory !—Four energy and patriot:sns are the theme of the admiration and eulogy of all the rations. The delay of a sirgle Lour may snatch from you the just reward and crown of your immortal glory. I.ct us ru to avenge the insults offered us by thos. , sacrilious wretches, who have violated the most precious privile4es of our liberty— Yes! your Country, Ragion, the innocence of the best of Sove reigns, imperiously summon you to the prompt discharge of the most noble and sacred of all your obligations." stational ntar M. _for _ the enemy were ob lige d to ttains. • The consequence Of all that the whole coast is protec avid that many of the enemy they took die precaution to carry G. The letter then concludes with ascribing due merit to the two English frigates, to the miquelettes posted at g hl a gat, and to the several small Spanish vessels en in, this business ; and is signed by the two Captains, Geronimo Basant and Joseplt Bernich. SEPT. 21.—The Deputies 'who are to form the Central Junta.of Government, for the appointment of a Regent of the kingdom, are already assembled , we 'are intormed, at Aranjuez, where they are to open their sittings on the 24th. It is reasonably conjectured that it will be composed of the following personages, viz. his Eminence Cardinal de Bourbon, Archbishop of Toledo, Regeat. (1) His Excellency the Count de Florida Blanca. (2) His Excellency Don Francisco de Saavedra. (3) His Excellency 'Don Pedro Cevallos. (-1.) His Excellency Don Gaspar de Sovellanos. (5) Tke appointment of his Eminence to be the head of the kingdom is intended to prevent every kind of embarrassing etiquette or misunderstanding, and to .evince that a Bourbon still remains in Spain. No. I. His Eminence is the son of the late lnfanto Don Louis, uncle to Charles IV. who, in the reign of the late Charles ill. his brothel, married a private Lady, of a distinguished family, Dina Mari t de Vsllabriga y Drummond (related on the maternal side to the nnfortunate family of S.aart), by whom his Royal Highness had the Cardinal and two daughters : one of these the infamous (;odoy Jantrived by his intrigues to espouse. No. '2. The oldest and best St:fel:Flan of Spain, but now un fortunately very old. The Count was favourite Minimer to Charles 111. but on :account of his.integrity, shamefully disgraced aad cruelly persecuted by Gotloy ' notwithstanding the solemn pr.onise extorted on his death-had by that Monarch from his son, of never dipensing with the services of Florida Blanca. No. ft. Some years back Minister of State, afterwards disgraced by Godoy. No. 4. Late Minister of Rate, and who has acquired immortal honour by his loyalty and patriotism in resisting every temptation, despising every threat, and evincing stoical firmness before Napo leon, notwithstanding being married to a niece of Godoy.—To him the maxim of the English Poet may be justly applied— " An honest man's the noblest work of Gou." No. 5. Some years back Minister of Justice and Favour, a very enlightened Statesman, disgraced and cruelly persecuted by Gado,. Of these personages it may be truly observed, they are an honourable and grea . .. set of men, and for once is certainly justified the universal popular saying— " Vox Po/tub Vox Dci." TARAGONA, AUGUST 11. We learn by letters from Rosas, that 3000 of the 5000 French, who had arrived at Perpignan, having entered by La Junquera, were attacked and put to the rout by our Catalonians, with the loss of 1200 men. From many deserters, who arrive daily, and other individuals who are able to make their escape frOm Barcelona, it is known that the French in that place are in great want, and that they begin to feel a deficiency of gunpowder. The day before yesterday there came over to us 29 soldiers of the French ca valry, mounted and armed, and 51 of their infantry. r ed palye AK et English frigate l rob! In of to retire, and all geed eiti:. ' be' for the mountain! mord are 'b. engagements is, tho : '.. ted . as far as Barcelona, i 4 ! aye been killed, though ' carry off their dead." . 4 FROM THE MADRM GAZErri. SLPT. 16. Gi:noNn, 2.s.—The Junta of the town of St. Felice de Guixols has sent to the Junta of this city a copy of the following letter : " S:. lice de Guixnl-, Avg. 22. " The Captains De Geronimo Basant, with his sloop manned by 62 men, and 1). Joseph Bet Melt, with his felucca Fernando . VII. and 38 men, armed in this town, sailed according to orders on the" even ing of the 17th, in the direction of the coast, in order to impede the retreat of the French arniv,which had precipitately marched from Gerona to Barcelona.— At three in the morning of the following day, having anchored near the town of Callela, they blockaded it on both sides, and at the distance of a pistol-shot from the high road, they battered the enemy, keeping up a fire I( r three hours wilich obliged him to abundon all the artillery and carriages which he had brought from the plain of Gerona, to leave the road by which it was most convenient to pass, and to protect him self by the mountains, in order to escape. This move ment being observed, persons were sent ashore to col lect the booty, and the Captains sailed without delay, and arrived about mid-day at Arcnz de Mar, where, with the assistance of two English frigates, they at tacked the enemy, preventing them from entering the town, and passing by the high road with any of their divisions, though they attempted it with much fury. Another similar attack took place near Mataro, and on the 19th the two sloops kept up a fire till night, assisted by the English frigates and. 500 miquelettes on the side of Mongit, against which the reinforce. ment of .104/0 men which had come from Barcelona under General Lechi, descended from the heights ; FUENMAYOR, SEPT. 2. This morning we had orders to furnish an immense number of rations for the army cf Bessieres, which was stated to be marching in Ciis direction ; but we suddenly found ourselves visited once more by the army which had passed on towards Navarre ; and between seven o'clock and ten, the time of my writing this, there have marched in from 4000 to . 5000 Frenchmen. They carried with them, on their de pasture for Navarre, 37 pieces of artillery, and have returned with 16. A numerous detachment of them entered Nazera a few days ago. The officers were hospitably entertained at. the Menastery of the Bene dictines ; but those grateful, guests immediately after their repast, seized upon the plate, and even de manded the Abbot's purse, which not containing a sufficient sum to satisfy them, the keys of the Monas tery were delivered to them, and they carried off 350 fanegas of wheat, and the only mule that belonged to the place. _ _ LAREDO, SEPT. 6. On the 4th inst. information was received, that one division of the army of Senor Palatent had surprised in a village called Milagro, a division of the French army, consisting of 5000 men, at the moment when the soldiers were pitching their tents, and being at tacked without having time to prepare for their de fence, they were all put to the sword, except a drum major and two of his sons. Upon this information, the troops which were in Miranda, Berbuano, Ber guenda, and Fontecha, inimediatel marched, to the number of 12,000 men, without leaving more than 200 in Miranda. CADIZ, SEPTEMBER 9. At 10 o'clock this morning arrived here an English sloop of war and three brigs, with 30,000 muskets, and a supply of provisions for the army. At three o'clock in the rooming- an express arrived from Gib raltar, with intelligence that the Archduke Ferdinand had arrived there in an English vessel. SARAGOSSA, SEPT. 17. •On Saturday morning arrived in this city Sir Ch .rtes Win. Doyle, Commissioner from his Britan .nic Majesty, to treat with our political and military Chiefs on the means of supporting the just cause in which we are (*gaged. His Excellency the Captain General received this gentleman with the highest de monstrations of attachment and gratitude towards the generosity of the English nation, which contri buted with so much promptitude and zeal to the relief of our necessities. After sending him a guard of ho nour corresponding to his high character, he took him with hint to examine the various points of defence of this city, and to survey the ravages committed by the ' enemy in the petty district which they occupied. The numerous crowd of people that followed him, mini fi..sted, by the loudest acclamations, their satisfaction at seeing in these kingdoms, after an interval of so many years, a representative of his Britannic Ma jesty. Struck with astonishment and admiration, the English Colonel broke out into the most energetic encomiums on the irresistible valour and heroic con stancy with which our citizens defended this capital, adding, that he would communicate an account of all the details to his Court. On finishing their circuit, the Colonel repaired to his Excellency's Palace, where a magnificent entertainment was prepared, during which repeated discharges took place from all the batteries, in proof. of the very great joy with which his Excellency and all the inhabitants celebrated the . ?4 re-establishment of peace and harmony with tt e English nation, and to demonstrate th e gratitude which we owe to his Britannic Majesty and his sake Ministers, for the powerful assistance they have forded, and will continue to afford us, uptil the rests). ration of the Monarchy in the person of our beloved Ferdinand. On Sunday - the Colonel was - present at a review of the '22,000 men that compose our army, and expresscal himself highly satisfied with the evc.lutiuus p er f ormw by several corps. VALLADOLID, SET. 14. • On the l ‘2th instant, at six in the ewning, Si: Charles Stewart, his Britannic Majesty's Envoy to our Court, made his appearance in the Consisu.ri a l Precinct. The simplicity of his dress, the total ab. sence of parade, and his being accompanied only by a Colonel, and a Lieutenant-Colonel who officiates as his Secretary, prevented the curiosity of the publi c from being excited in the first instance ; but the grate. ful name of Englishman being immediately ctrcula. ted, a considerable crowd collected, and accompanied the travellers as far as the chambers of the Proctr a . tor of the Commune, 1). Josef Tineo Stignor de \a ceda, who succeeded, after many solicitatio ns , l a prevailing upon so worthy a personage to accep t t h e rights of hospitality from him. The people continued during the night in the court and street, occasionally huzzalng and u tiring a thousand grateful expressioas, accompanied with the harmonious strains of a nume rous band of musiti ens, who instantly took their places in the balconies ; and a numb , :f Of rockets were let off. Yesterday he was complimented by the Commis. sioners of the Real Acuerdo, the Inquisition, & c . who, with many of the inhabitants of distinction, partook of an elegant entertainment given the same day by the Procurator. In the evening there was a. 'grand collation given at the Royal Palace on the s &me occasion, and various fireworks were let off. He was accompanied to and from. the palace by the va rious public bodies, and the inhabitants at large.— He set off this me rung at three o'clock for Segovia. Such is an account of the manner in which the celebrated but dis ressed city of Valladolid displayed its heartfelt gratitude to the good friend of Spain. VILLACASTIN, SEPT. I S. Yesterday, and the day before, the army under the command of Seignor Cuesta entered S;govia. Th.! Carabincers, body Guards, and the Queen's Regi. ment are at Coca and Carboneros. A part of tl e troops marched yesterday in the direction of Soria; and in the evening arrived here Seignor Cuesta and the English Colonel, Doyle. Both of them will this day be present at the ceremony of proclaiming Fer dinand VII. and will set off immediately after. Ott the 19th a part of the cavalry and pikemen of Casta, nos's army arrived at . La Grangee. LtJARCA, SEPT. It At seven o'clock this morning a French galliot was seen standing right in for this harbour. A fishing-boat boarded her ; and the c -ew, finding she was ignorant of the war, brought her to anchor, with the assistance of another fishing boat, under the guns of our bat. teries. The Commission of Health immediately went on board, and the necessary means were taken to se cure her .; the crew, with the exception of the Mate, being sent on shore. This galliot is called the Con. stantia, of 70 tons burden, carrying four six-pounders, and having on board seventeen seamen and four pas sengers. Among these is a Lieutenant Colonel and a naval Lieutenant. She left Guadaloupe the latter end of July, and is laden with coffee, sug ir, &c. She had also some dispatches for the French Government. CORUNNA, SEPT. se. The Marquis de Patago has sent to General Blake for scaling ladders, as he iateads to commence the siege of St. Sebastian, and if t•ie French do not sur render, is determined to storm the place. This town was illuminated last night, in conse quence of the glorious victory obtained by our troops at Bilboa, which was also celebrated by salutes of artillery from the batteries and the ships of war in the harbour. Among these are two British line of battle ships, the Tonnant, Admiral De Courcy; and the Defiance, Captain Hotham ; the officers and crews of which participated with enthusiasm in the general joy. GO77'ENBURGH MAIL. KONINGSBERG, SEPTEMBER 16. On Sunday or Monday next the Emperor Alex ander, with his brother Constantine, and their mutual friend Caulincourt, are expected here on their way to Erfurth, where they are to have a meeting with Na.. polcon. Constantine, it is said, goes thither with a very ill will ; but the Emperor insisted on it. AU our politicians are at a loss to conjecture the result of the interview, which may indeed be very important; but at the same time it appears extremely singular, that at a moment when the French party in Russia is said to be tottering, the chief support of it should quit the country, and this at the desire of Bonaparte, who is most concerned. The diplomatic affairs of the French at St I'etersburgh will, in the mean time, be managed by the Chevalier de Bray; an emigrant, who is Bavarian Minister at the Russian Court, and a great intriguer, of which he gave proofs when Mi nister at Berlin. The Emperor of Austria has also received, througl• Duroc, who was sent to Vienna for that purpose, invitation to be of the party, but it is thought he will decline it, and as it is said through the influence of the Empress, who is represented as very high spirited. STOCKHOLM, SEPT. 22. His Highness Prince Frederic of Hessenstein, Go ncrnor•Gencral of Pomerania, Field Marshal and Knight, Commander of his Royal Majesty's Orders, &c. died at Pankttr, in Holstein, on the 27th July last, in his 74th year. On the 19th inst. his Royal Majesty illkeived a report from Vice-Admiral Baron Rayalin, whereby it appears, that on the 18th a sharp action took place between the Russian and Swedish flotillas of galleys inPalma Sound. Notwithstanding the enemy's vast superiority in number, he met with a vigorout resistance, and sustained a severe loss; two Russian gun-boats, and one armed cutter, having been sunk during the battle. On the Swedish side two gun boats were lost, one of which foundered, and the other was blown up ; but the rest of the vessel; 'F' i '