Star. — London, England, 1810-11-24 00:00:00

FROM THE FREIvCH PAPERS. IN CONTINUATION PROM THE PRECEDING PAGE. 'The Monitsur of the 16th contains the following Note on the annexed article, in a London Paper of the 6th November : " A Messenger was sent en the 4th instant is Menial', with dispatzhes f..r Mr. Mackenzie. Nothing that humanity can sug gest will be omitted by our Government to procure the release of our countrymen who have been so long and so ciuelly detain ed in prison. (1) MONITEUft. " (1) If you are desi'ous that your countrymen should be released, there is but one way, that is—to be just, and exchange the French against the English, Portuguese, and Spaniards, man for man, and rank for rank. Thi: is the sine qua non of every cartel of exchange, now or hereafter. " When a negotiation for peace is proposed to you, you say, that you cannot enter into it except the Spa nish insurgents are admitted as a party. When a cartel of exchange is in qnestion, you will not allow those men to be i.lcluded in it who were taken in the ra.ks of your armies. What! the soldiers of the Spanish army of Galicia, who were taken in covering the retreat of General Moore, are not to be exchang ed for the French who were taken in the same or other actions ? What ! the soldiers of the army of Cuesta, who at the battle of Talavera formed' the right of the English army, and were taken at the pas sage of the Tagus, when they formed the rear-guard of the English army ; those men taken for your safe. ty, who sacrificed themselves for General Welling ton, and enabled him to secure his• retreat, are to be expludvd from the exchange, and not considered as 'the English themselves ? What! the Spaniards taken before Cadiz, engaged in sorties with your troops—you will not exchange them ? What ! the garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo, that of Almeida which you shut up in these fortresses, on a promise of com ing to their relief—who covered your army, who sa criticed themselves for it—you disown them ? It is Impossible. 46 . An army is an army. Since these men fought by your side, were armed with your arms, paid with your money, and clothed by you, they should be in cluded in the exchange of prisoners, whatever their country might be. Throughout the whole course of the negociation The English Cabinet had perpetual recourse to subter fuges; the result of which was, that they would not admit the exchange, man for man, and rank for rank, and consider the French,. English, Germans, Portu guese, Spaniards, upon a footing of equality, and com posing two belligerent masses. Mr. Mackenzie, after having twice applied for his passports, with an inter val of a month between each application, hasat length left Morlaix. Besides, he was sent over by the English Go vernment rather in the character of a spy than a ne gociator. It was impossible for a person to conduct himself worse than he did. He abused the liberty which he had of making excursions in the country to Elie distance of eight or ten leagues :—he had his Correspon - dents ; he pretended to be above the Police of the prirvince ; and gave way to all the imperti nencies of a young man—without experience or mo deration. " Mr. Mackenzie was employed in the Cattaro business, at the close of the war 1805. He was after wards one of the agents in the horrible affair of Co pcnhagen. He is, in short, a man of the same kid ney with the Drakes, the Wickharns, and the Jack sons. When the English really wish to zegociate, they know what kind of men they should employ.— When they wished to make peace at Amiens, they sent over Lord Cornwallis, whose character alone sheered the sincerity o" their disposition. " England abounds as much as any country in the world in men respectable on account of their infor mation, and the excellence of their characters. It also abounds in hideous characters, in political Figa ro:, in brokers of intrigue, spies, and incendiaries.— When it wishes to negociate sincerely with France, it will kg manifested in the choice.of the negociator. Whatever kind of treaty England may 'be desirous of entering into with France, should be founded on jus- Ace, good sense, and candour. It is possible to de ceive some ignorant Nabobs in the E a st Indies—but, i Ita enlightened Government is not to be imposed upon, ff COPENHAGEN, OCTOBER se. The Chancellery of Schleswig Holstein published on the 26th, the following Pkociamation : 44 His Majesty on the 24th in3tant decreed that the necessary contingents for recruiting the battalion= of t;he litre, _shall be filled up from the young men of 22 yearsof age in.the first instance, and oft wards from aiose of the age of twenty. II these classes ace. not, rittfrkient, then those front. the age.of 0.,t0 *aim to SP4llft LNG' POStrOraltA •-I DECREE OF TitE FORT, DIM FERDINAND VII. BY THE GRACE 1)F ROD XING OP • SPAN:, !cc. 7 0.TtieSielieial and Extraordinary Cortes. confirns and sanction the unalterable opinion that the Spanish dominions of both hemispheres form one and the same Tionarchie r s, the same nation, and one family; and for e sarne reason the inhabitants of. these dominions, -whether Etuffeans, or native born, have the same r i ghts as . . the Inhabitants of the l'eninsuLt, it being the lsounden-citgy of the Coates to give particular atten tton to every thing which can contribute to their hap- Aness; ingather . with the forth and number wlikb Annie both cklustries are tO have in the national, re-' presentation. The Cortes also decree, that from the liniment that those countries wherein. comniotions here e*iNted, shall have duly acknowledged the Su preme legitimate apirereignty;as established in the mother country, there shall be a general pardoii•of every thing that has occurred, reserving to themselves The right •of addressing any grievance which may grist. 'rliescooncil of Regency will give this demo, , Atli due effect. ;6 And In order Ow the above decree should be F iOy•fi l ielmied arid . .oheyed, the Couneil Regeney kvsis9aiiauditiests all Tribunals, Justices of Peace, 'nfrfs;.',Goverttors, and all the other authorities, .-fry eiv . W44;.44ilitary, Ecclesia stics of ever y clayeand diAnivi to duly 'comply and axecute it inAlita Oarts, • t~ . e;-4:04 440% 0 09104 IA I 18}Or" OFFICIAL DISPATCH. COPY OP A DISPATCH IPRO,I BRIGADIER-CENEEAL 'MAD DEN TO HIS EXCELLENCY MARSHAL. DER WORD, DATED MERIDA, SEPT. 17, 1810. • My last letters will have informed your Excellency that the brigade of cavaliy which I command, hav ing been jr.ined by two squadrons of the regiment of cavalry, No: 3, was united to the army of the Mar quis Romana. On the 11 th instant, in consequence of an order which we received; we all marched to Fuente de Maistro, against the enemy, who, it was said, had quitted the neighbourhood of Seville, and had marched by the high road from Seville to Bada-i joz. On the evening of the same day we arrived at i los Santos, and the following day at Calrzadilla (a small village, a league distant from Fuentes de Ca nos, where eneral Carrera was posted, with the Spanish cavalry). On the morning of the 16th, 1 re ceived a letter from General Carrera (as I had in formed him of my arrival), acquainting me that the l French, to the number of 10,000 infantry, 1800 ca valry, and some pieces of artillery, had continued their march against him as far as Monasterio, and that they were already in sight. I received his letter at half-past seven in the morning, and at eight we were ready, and set off to join him. Our march 1 should have been by the high road to Fuente de Cantos, but an Aid-de•Camp of General Carrera having arrived just as we commenced our march, and informed me that a body of the enemy had marched by Bienveaida upon our left, and threatening our rear-guard, I thought it prudent, for our mutual se curity, to march at a little distance from the road, and luckily an elevated point, upon which I ascended, enabled me to discover, not only the whole. country, but even the French army and the Spanish cavalry. Although I was at the distance of half a league, by I the help of a glass I could clearly discover that the French were marching different columns of infantry, flying artillery, and a large body of cavalry ; a large -number of sharp-shooters covered their columns and kept up a heavy fire upon the Spanish cavalry, which had then formed in two lines at the foot of the Fuente de Cantos. The Spaniards had advanced at the same time a considerable number of light infantry, who de fended themselves with great -courage, supported by a piece of flying artillery; but as the fire and superior force of the enemy had obliged the first line of the Spanish cavalry to make a retrograde movement, and as this movement was not made as rapidly as the at tack of the enemy, some confusion f9llowed, and the six pieces of artillery were lost. This loss, and the rapid movement of the French not allowing the Spaniards to form regularly between the two lines, both lines were thrown into the greatest disorder, and the French pushed forwards some squa drims of cavalry , in pursuit, which was also done in great disorder. Having observed this, and not dis covering that the enemy were oa the road ti Bierre nida, I decided immediately on succouring General Carrera, and marched towards his position. Having, however, arrived at another height in my front, and observing the same irregularity in the pursuit of the Spaniards, without any hope that the Spanish cavalry could form, I determined to attack the ten squadrons of French cavalry (five of them formed in line, th e other five in pursuit), although we had only six squa drons, having left the other two in our rear ; I there fore posted these six squadrons at the back of tho summit of the mountain, sending Captain Dodweu forward with the advanced guard, with orders to re ! tire upon the summit of the mountain, which service was regularly executed by that officer. I had also met, by chance, with a small body of Spanish ca valry, whict I likewise posted at the back of the mountain. This stratagem had the desired effect ; all the French cavalry which were composed of 550 of the 2d regiment of hussars, 400 of the 10th ditto, and 180 of the 21st regiment of horse chasseurs, mak ing about 1100 men, commanded by General Brict, advanced furiously upon us, when 'I immediately changed my plan, attacked them suddenly, and I had the happiness to see that their chosen troops, in the moment of victory, could fly before 763 raw soldiers (as appears by the inclosed list), whose in. vincible courage did not permit them to consider the danger to which they were exposed by attacking for the first time, the veteran troops of France. We fol lowed the French up to their lines, and even under the fire of their *ninety, which they played upon us with grape. In this attack waosaylost three prisoners, Ensign Dener, and two soldiers of the 10th regiment of hussars ; but although our attack and retreat was so rapidly effected, we could only take twelve horses, as the French had 10,000 infantry, a superior body of cavalry to ours, and a large park of artillery to pro tect them and destroy us, had we ventured farther. It was , not possiLle to verify what number of the enemy were killed ; but if your Excellency will ima gine six squadrons of cavalry, regularly formed, mak ing a sudden attack upon troops in disorder, the num. riser of the killed must be considerable. We saw many 'dead on the field, and every information from the pri. !loners, agree in this point. Th e conseg n ences o f t hi s r ation have been most important, as your Excellency will perceive from the inclosed Proclamation of the Martinis Romana ; and the different General Officers assure me, that we preserved the principal part of their army, and that we delivered 400 Colonels, in ferior Officers, and soldier's of their cavalry, who had been take-a prisoners in the attack of the moraing, 'and who, by our attacking the French, were enabled to escape. lam sorry to acquaint your Excellency, that our loss in this action, although small, consisted of the very distinguished young officer, Lieutenant Jose de Costa, who is supposed to have been killed, and 27 inferior officers and soldiers, many of whom we only suppose to be missing for the present. We did not lose a single man in our retreat, excepting those.who had lost their horses, and who are included in the above number. . I . • X have now only to speak of the zeal and courage of the troops I had the honour to command in this action. It would be, impossible at this moment to r :distinguish any on e i n particular, eve 1 one displayed' Iltratmatesti courage (even too. mite both before, and ittliss Moment of the attack; an with a little more Orpnitime;4y will become equal to an y troops Wan world. • - It is not yet a year sincit ,took the command of I the Pcirtugpc..se trcops, and, -in my opinion, they pos l sects every quality iri an emin e n t de gree , to ma k e t h eM s' t the best soldiers possibre, and I am greatly ob:iged to _them for .Ikrir' zeal and activity, which . they have !Wrc%ittly itiewn• in .0; nitiom . (Signed) • „ ! , gitioncitu.gs spiptigN. Atm= of the ifiled, 'Wounded, ao4 Mme, of iliellftlette of Portuguese Cavalry under the C‘rumand of General Mad den. 'lO. Merida, Sept. 17,13:0. AMOUNT OF Tell FORAM ‘ • St Squadrons of the Roe. Mc aki—t soldier, 1 serjest.•t, tilled. S Ditto, ditto, _ fl lfio.4o-15 prisoners. e Ditto, ditto, Niitier-4 ditto. 3 ditto. —27 N.B. Many horses were taken from the enemy by the peasantry . CANALS., DE MEDINACELI, SEPT. 48. Colonel D. Juan Martin, on the 14th instant, had an encounter with the enemy in the vicinity of Ci fuentes, of which an account is given in the follow ing letter to the Superior Junta of Guadalarara : . • " Cogolludo, Sept. IS, ISIS. " MOST EXCELLENT Sallon--I received information on the 14th, that the enemy, considerably reinforced, had put themselves in motion from Brihuega, in a direction towards the town of Cifuentes, where I was with a great part of the troops under my command. I immediately sent forward some advanced parties, and ordered three companies of cavalry, under the command of D. Vicente Sardina, D. Saturnino Al buir, and D. Jose Monddeu, to take post on the flat grounds of the Soledad • a battalion of musketeers, under the command of 6. Nicolas de Isidro, on the heights of the castle ; and another of volunteers, on the ridge of S. C'ristobal. All the troops waited for the enemy with calmness, and were anxious to come to bloWs. 6' About two in the afternoon our advanced parties came in sight of those of the enemy, and attacking them with intrepidity, drove them back, and forced them to retire. The French Commander, on seeing his piquets driven in, reinforced them with cavalry and infantry, supporting them also with one piece of cannon ; in consequence of which, I also reinforced my parties,•who fought the enemy with great ardour, and retarded his march for more than an hour. At last, however, our troops were compelled to retire ; for the enemy bringing up all his force, advanced with rapidity against Cifuentes, varying his operations ac cording to the positions of our troops. As the posi tion of our cavalry was not advantageous, I ordered it to pass on by the town. and take post in the rear ; so as, by covering our flanks, to supportany point where it might be necessary. It was about four in the after noon when the battalion of musketeers opened a very brisk fire on the French infantry, and though they suc ceeded in driving them back more than once, yet they at last retired in order to prevent their being sur rounded, and joined the battalion of volunteers ; for the enemy's cavalry having advanced, while the fire of their cannon was not suspended for an instant, he succeeded in entering the town on the side of the gar dens. Ile French cavalry continued advancing on the side of Canredondo, while the infantry, supported by the cannon, advanced on the opposite side, doubt -1 less with a view to cut as off. But our cavalry, who observed this motion, advanced to meet that of the enemy, and attacked it with so much ardour, that, l notwithstanding the roughness of the ground, they were not only forced to abandon' heir design, but pre cipitately fly till they got under the protection of their infantry. " The intrepidity of our troops on this beeasion was such, that in spite of the brisk fire which was opened upon them, they advanced even up to the bayonets of the enemy. On the approach of night the enemy retreated to Cifuentes ; whilst I did the same with my troops to Canredondo, in order to give them some rest and refreshment, leaving 200 infantry and 100 horse upon the heights, in sight of the former town. " My intention was to have attacked them next morning; but though I put my troops in motion for that purpose I could not accomplish it, the enemy having fled at day-break, after having plundered and set fire to the town in different quarters, wreaking upon the houses that resentment which the troops of the, tyrant must feel upon seeing themselves humbled by a few bands of brigands, as they call them ; but bands, which, though they treat contemptuously in their bulletins, they regard with respect, and fear in the moment of attack. eg On the morning of the 15th, I entered Cifuentes i and was struck with horror at the sight of a confla gration so extended and devouring, which in a short time would have reduced the whole town to ashes; some of my soldiers found every where the remains of the combustible materials employed to set it on fire. , g The troops with which we fought on this occa sion amounted to between 900 and 1000 infantry, and about 400 horse, commanded by a General and two Colonels. 66 Our loss is trifling, while that of the enemy mast be very considerable ; as we learn from trust-worthy persons, that they have lost more than 150 killed and severely wounded, besides 12 horses, without reek oning the prisoners and deserters. On our side I can not notice individuals, since all have distinguished themselves. May GOD preserve, &c. (Signed) "JUAN MARTIN EL 15311MCINADO." • OFFICIAL Head Quarters, Enchara do Bispo, Oct. ep, 1810. " His Excellency the Commander in C!.ief of the Portuguese army, cannot avoid taking publie notice of the excellent conduct of a picquet, composed of two companies of the infantry regiments, No. 11 and' 23, commanded by Major Miller, of the latter ; in a con flict with the enemy on the evening of the 13th, Ma jor General'Cole has spoken in the highest terms of the deportment of this small force, in an attack upon the enemy considerably superior in numbers, whom they assailed with the bayonet, repulsed and drove back upon the reserve. . 4 , Among the officers most distinguished is Colo nel. Harvey, who was severely wounded, and whose march from Busaco to the position he now occupies does him the highest -:reelit, at the same time, that the Marshal Commander in Chief makes his acknowledg ments to Colonel Harvey, he assures him of his sin cere regret that his Royal Highness is deprived of the services of so able an officer, at this most impor tant crisis. (Signed) " Adjutant General Mortano.* • " It having been represented, that among the mul. titude of peoons who have sought refuge in this City of Lisbon, Rom the fury of the enemy, there are many individuals who are proper to be recruited for the troops of the line; - ..and the situation of the 'king dori requiting that agent vassals should take arms fee t&illefetAt oftliatiniittry, his Royal Highness the prince Refit }Ai been pkiied to order, that all persons adapted for tbsa - service do p rocee d eight days to the Val de Perciro, the place of vole reckoning from the da'e of the present e7ent, and on their appe.tring within the limi te d ley will receive a bounty of 3000 Reis. Afi date such as shall not have appeared will be , for the armies by the proper authorities, which rides, both civil and military, are charged execution of this order. " Sanctioned by the Rubric of the I.ords Go re • of the Kingdom." Palau of Government, Oct. 17, 1810. NOTICE. i g I, the Procurator of the City, F. de Menclono Arrues e Mello, have exposed to the Senate glect of the Royal Order of the Bth instant, in orbitant price of articles of the first necessit' Senate, in consequence, warns the disobediem the penalty in the Royal Order will be inflicted. same Senate directs that all persons having • possession wheat, and other grain oonverti flour, and also flour of which no entry shall ha, made at the proper ofVce. do immediately make try of the same within three days of the date - presents; and such as disregard this command lose the articles so concealed, three-fourths to to the city, and one-fourth to the public treasury , be applied as a reward to the informer. (Signed' " 1. DE Mi.SPONCA AERUES E " Lisbon, October 19,1810." LISBON, NOVLMBER 6. Numerous bodies of excellent troops arrived England last Sunday. They are perfecdy eq every point of view, to the gallant corps whi Britannic Majesty had before detached for the, of this country. We are assured that the French evacuated the Asturias, on account of the combined operations of Renovales, and the Commanding cers of the different corps stationed in the said cipality. As no memorable events have hitherto taken between the armies, we have it not in our post communicate to our readers any interesting inform. tion relative to military. operations. It is reported, however, that General Silveira intends to compel , meida to surrender ; an undertaking which could prove to him a difficult task, considering the' which he has collected under his orders, with a good train of artillery ; while the garrison Almeida is by no means numerous. It also certain that Abrantes is occupied by a force fully ficient to defend that important post. LordWk" ton, with his accustomed indefatigable energy , caused every point of his line to be furnished , necessary troops to obstruct and check every of attack which may be made by the enemy. Nov. 11.—We are still in a state of suspense, the weather is shortly expected to break up, when streams will flow in such torrents as will prevent hope of succours or convoys reaching Massena winter; of course he must resolve upon some . very soon. His dispatches have been intercepted Toledo by the City Magistrate, on the person of tuguese, named Masquerelli, aid-de-camp to and son to the Judge of that name. who was . those banished in September. Massena's account the battle of Busaco is said to be fair enough writes to Bonaparte that he came into Portugal , faith of promised succours, which he has not. without which the success of bis army mast relied on, and that the fate of the Peninsula, - upon his army. He directs Masquerelli to put . face on all things to every one in France, except us his very private interview with Bonaparte. papers said to be taken. are a letter to Bonaparte, one to Mauena's wife, and three others, with young man's own instructions. Lord Wellington gave a fete on Wednesday, in honour of Marshal Beresford's receiving the Order of the at the Royal Palace at Marra; about two' and fifty were invited, but full 400 came to which caused some . crowd and confusion. evening about 50 Lisbon ladies and nearly 800 tlemen were present. It is said that Loison crossed the Zezere to attack Abrantes, which risoned by Portuguese and Spaniards. We strong party of cavalry and flying artillery other side of the Tagus. A ship of war came night, said to be the Swiftsure, with the 23d regi from Halifax. The 4th landed this day week a very fine regiment, together with a company Brunswick corps and some other detaihments. dayi -ago an ox escaped from the French lines, and was killed by our men. The French pickets down their arms, and came over to ask for it. generous fellows cut it in two; gave them half, then with A loaf and some brandy, and sent them happy. Great praise is due to the engincer , s, fortified our lines. Their merit deserves the •praise for the judgment as well as for the es , of those works, which are such as never has bheal before in any country. The prisoners from landed to-day in great pomp of procession. extract of a letter from an Officer of the 3d . meat of Guards to his father : " Sombral, November " A French piquet in front of the piquet 92d Regiment, had a bullock they were going slaughter for their dinners, when the animal, by - accident, broke loose and ran into the neutral r Manoeuvres were immediately began to entice into our own lines, and at last the Scotsmen 4. lucky opportunity, shot him, and dragged him , their lines, and were cutting him up when twoef the enemy came forward without arms, waving white handkerchiefs. They brought a message from the Officer commanding the piquet to the Captain of the 92d, saying he v.as sure the English were too liberal to deprive his men of the only provisions they had for day, and begging to have a part of the butte"' The men were detained till the carcase vgis cut up• and then were sent back, carrying with th em not wily .half the beef, but a Result, of several loaves of white bread, and a bottle of rum, from the Scots to 114 _French Captain ; who was so pleased, that he r ope forward in front of his men, and begged to wl his personal thanks to his generous enemy.-40 3;l°. 'they part of our lines, an Officer. of the Celine sion received a request froin a French . 0 15 ee r me to him, begging a little tobacco. - . One ov a vJ are pushed along the plain, from 'forms Vedr4..l: Obidos, upon the enemy's right flank. Attlo6l' ,1 heroes Who have joined the army arc twe rcg 3 gi'c ° Lisbon Volunteers." ed wid,• l of 4 1 4 4 - tat ; ask , sited tint, Afte r t h at u ,tre ttttti ich ark,. wi t h t h e s Go rms , Mendon ta ate the r. in the et. ity. Th e dient tha t icted. The g in their rtible into have bees make en, to of th eta nand shall 0 be giv en "usury, to igne.d E )4E4IG • ived from ' equal, is which his ddence tench have- , combined 'ding Offi. said prin. aken place ' power to. inform. • reported, ompel Al- could not the fate soppy , a• rris= of ' alsoVernt - e fully std. d Welling. salty, has d with tbe • 7 attempt 7. dense; but when the prevent all ena for the ;ome step roepted at ro of a For. to Junot, is amongst account of tough ; he ogal on the it received, east not be l a u ‘re t a sPen good ds scept only rte. The lonaparte, with the Vellington of Field- ' the Bath, hundred to dinner , In the • 800 gene oison has ch is gat* re bave ry on the me in last reginoent , cek ; it is any of the, its. A lew es to ours, ickets laid • it. Ogle toge,. them back cers, whO he highest execution been seen Alger' ! 3d Rte. rembee 5 . Jet of the go i n g to ,1, by some al ground. entice him ma go t a I i him into ! • the