The National Register. — London, England, 1808-07-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. '44 There is an exalted principle in the Spanish conduct which forms a striking contrast to the cold-blooded per- Ady so frequently displayed in that of the French. The resolution they have adopted, of compelling the surrender of the enemy, without calling in the aid of the British, as it proceeds not from mistrust, must be attributed to a feel ing of honour, bordering, indeed, upon the romantic, but perfectly congenial with what we have always understood to he the Spanish character. TO have conquered with the assistance of a British Squadron, would neither have given confidence to their countrymen, nor splendour to their arms. We like to see this noble reliance upon themselves, it will give dignity to their efforts, and convince the enemy of the determined spirit of the resentment he has dared to provoke. Independently of their galling sense of French treachery and oppression, and the nobler feelings which they have so effectually excited, the cooler calculation of interest must convince the Spanish people of their immense stake in this contest, With JOSEPH BONAPARTE for their King, could they preserve their possessions in America ? Would not their colonies become convinced of the necessity of declar ing themselves independent, to become secured from the tyranny of France, and the exactions of Frenchmen ? Were they to yield to his sway, the hostility of Great Britain, however reluctantly, must be again directed against them ; and thus deprived of their immense resources in America, shut out from commerce, and shut up with France, their consequence as a nation would be lost for ever. It was last night confidently and ;c:nerany reported in the city, that a Treaty of Peace has been signed between Russia, Sweden, and Denmark ; and that Sir J. Moottes Expedition was in sight of Portsmouth yesterday morning, steering down the Channel for Lisbon. The above rumour is of a most extraordinary kind. That the Armament has left the Baltic appears certain ; con sequently it must be presumed that our forces could not be beneficially employed in co-operation with Sweden. The public having no grounds upon which to found an opinion must wait the explanation with patience, it cannot be de layed longer than a few days. All previous conjecture and reasoning would be perfectly nugatory. Recent events of some kind or other (indeed the public can ascertain some of them) have caused a considerable change in projected military movements. It is now un derstood that a grand expedition, of which the Earl of Chatham is to have the command, is resolved on, which will embrace troops that were destined for other services. The Earl is to have with him two Lieutenant-Generals, Sir J. Moore and Sir Arthur Wellesley. His army will be in all 40,000 men. His Royal Highness the Duke of York was, and is exrernely desirous to have the command; and there are not wanting great authorities for the rumour that he is yet determined to carry his desire into execu tion. The place and object of the expedition are probably changed. It may no longer be necessary fur any part of it to go to Portugal. An effectual diversion may be made elsewhere, and the very uncertainty of the point of attack is itself a diversion. It has been reported during the week that General Du mourier was about to join the standard of the Spanish Pa triots—we are happy to say there is no truth in the report. It would be highly improper to entrust that general with a command ; we are confident that some unfortunate cir cumstance would result from the measure. JULY A • DISPATCHES FROM ADMIRAL PURVIS AND GE NERAL SPENCER. His Majesty's cutter Alphea, Lieutenant Gibbons, is arriv. with dispatches from Lord Collingwood, off Cadiz, dated 12th June. In consequence of which the following Lett: sent to the Lord Mayor : " Mr LORD, Admiralty-Office, " Dispatches have been received at the Admirult inn from Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood, dated ti.l t, June 12th. The Spaniards had summoned the French Adi,,ki.l Rosoliz, and, on his refusal, the Spanish batteries had opened z , fire on the French ships in the Carracas, on the 10tIt of J one . in the afternoon, and had continued, at intervals, daring the fol lowing day. On the 12th of June the French Admiral hail of fered terms of capitulation, which had been rejected on the part of the Spanish Commander, who refused to admit of any condi tion short of absolute surrender. " The British Fleet had not entered the harbour ; the Spa niards deeming their own force sufficient for the reduction of tile French.--1 have the honour to he, &c. " CLG Rd E. " " To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor." TTI , ft Government are in hourly expectation of the dispatches an atuncing the unconditional surrender of the is',..net fleet. o ol' the French ships is said to have. been driven oa shore, awl the poop of another knocked in by the fire of the Spani•4 batteries, before the French Admiral sent a flag of truce wo:t an offer to dismantle his ships, which was of course teiceted. Two more Deputies from Seville and Cadiz arrived in the Alphea.—Their object is supposed to he to negotiAe a Peace, to which the Junta at Seville allude, in the spirited declaration of war against France. Majorca and Minorca are decisively in favour of the Patriot cause, as well as the Carthagena squadrons which is in Putt Mahon. It is true that the Patriots displaced the Governors of Car thagena, Valentia, and Saragossa, because they were nut at tached to the cause; and elected others. In Valcoia the Mar quis d' Alvarez was killed by the people in the market-plavt' called St. Domitwo. The Patriot eorce of Murcia and Valencia is estimated ;41 80,000-10,000 have already marched to the camp at on the Valencian frontier. A regiment of Swiss is enrolled \V ith the Patriots in l'ilurcia. In that Province, and in Valencia, the Subscriptions have been extremely liberal ; in two days one million sterling was subscribed. The Archbishop of Valencia takes a lending part with th,, Patriots of Valencia. We have before us a Rondo signed t him, directing the people to retire to their houses, in order to avoid the pernicious consequences which might be produced by disorder and disturbance. The defeat of Dupont is discredited—he is known to have the passes of the Sierra Morena—there he waits—he ha: under him 15,000 men—a force not strong enough to italuce but to descend into the plain that leads to Seville. He has sent 14) Murat for reinforcements ; should he receive them, he will, it he sees a favourable opportunity, pour down upon the The French Papers, if we recollect right, said he was between Carolina and Baylen, both on the road that runs through the Sierra.—The position we understand is a strong one, for he ha , in his front the little river Almudiel, which taking its rise it. the Sierra, descends into the river Guadalen. The head-quarters of the Spanish force of Andalusia were at Cartnona. It consisted of above 60,000 men, 15,000 of whom were reg ulars. It is reported that a Fren ch cor p s had been surroundd at Barcelona, a division from Tavera having attempt ed to penetrate from Portugal. The French ships in Cadiz are, the Nep tune, 84 guns, Admi ral Ro6ilie, Algeziras, Platon, Hero, and another of 7.1 gutn, with three or r..tr smaller vessels. A letter has been intercepted from a French Officer at Madrid, stating, that " if the Spaniards at Bayonne do not keep their promise of reduciug the insurgents in the Provinces, we are all e lost." A few days ago the Melville sloop o f war sailed for the. coast of Spain, with those two distinguis hed O ffi cers, Colonct Sir T. Dyer. and Major Roche, of the 17th Dragoons. It understood, that should those two gallant O ffi cers report favour; ably, several more of our ablest young Officers will be t-ti n over to assist in organizing the Spanish army. - In the ne h : i t . .time, these two Officers are likewise to ac t in a di p lomatic c racter. Major Roche, as we before observed, not only dist' plated himself as an Officer at Buenos Ayres, but liken lse acted hate e 1;;I: , nt to ill, it t in.— 1 ttseen h the to . 6e iii vve , e whom a been . etnpt- - 11 !ldmi- fi gun!, jt a er lo not since', n . ei rot the a olonel tt It ii avour- fi be rent mean Ir c cha - tl e acted if J