The National Register. — London, England, 1811-05-26 00:00:00

+0 e%414 sion, under General gaged with a superior sequence, was directed . which were posted on flanked by Captain LAWSON'S brigade of nine- Tounders and some light cavalry. This movement was executed in a most deliberate manner, every - inch of giou'nd being disputed by the enemy. The two foreign corps in this divisiOu, the Duke of 13runswick Oel's infantry, and the Chasseurs Bri ianniques, behaved with the utmost gallantry, and en- con- ards, siUt~~ completely checked the advance of French cavalry by several well-directed vollies. Previous to this, the enemy had opened a tre mendous fire upon the first line of infantry ; every • shot went over, doing execution in the second line. About eleven A. M. the piquet of the guard under I.ieut.-Col. HILL, which was skirmishing in front of the brigade with the enemy's light troops was charged by a body of cavalry, whom he twice repulsed ; but being reinforced, they returned to the charge in such numbers that further resistance was unavailing, and Col. HILL was compelled to surrender himself a prisoner, after seeing most of his Officers and men cut down. The engagement continued until the close of day, and the enemy, who force in the field consisted of 10,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry, was not enabled to gain a single advantage, or:make an impression upon any part of the British line. Their loss in front of Fuentes DOuora, which was the principal object of attack, and the possession of which was of the utmost con sequence to either army, was immense, 600 being killed in the village alone. The loss of the British was also severe, but not so great as might have been expected from the length of time the troops re mained under fire. After the cavalry retired in the early part of the morning, the British line stood as follows :—.-The 7th division (HOUSTON'S) was on the right, next to the Ist division (Sir B. SPENCER'S) ) having the light division on the left, and beyond were those of Gens. Pfc•roN, A. CANIPBELL, and_ Sir Ww EItSKINE. Brigadier-General PACK remained with the Queen's regiment, and a brigade of Portuguese infantry, watching the fortress of Almeida, from whence a few guns were fired, probably as signals in the course of the morning. The hostile armies remained in front of each other on the two following days. Not a shot was fired ; but working parties were employed in throwing up field works to strengthen the right of the British line. In the afternoon of yesterday the French and British were mutually employed in burying tkeir dead, which was effected without • THE NAT HOUSTON, Was warmly body of infantry, and in I to fall back upon thcgua thd right of the Ist divis RITA, _____ either party offer ing the smallest moletation - to - the other. Aliotit 10, P. M. a heavy firing was liard in the di:ection of Almeida, followed by several explosions. The French army having been rein forced by the arrival of Marshal BESSIERES with 300(3 of tile' Imperial Gt►ard, it was confidently 6x. pected in the British Camp that the enemy would renew his attack, but at day-break this morning they had the satisfaction to see the French videttes gallop off, and soon after several columns of infantry in motion to the rear. In tl►e course of the 6th, Col. TRANT arrived .on the left with a body' of Portuguese militia, and the corps of Don ,ItruAN SAuctrEz took a share in the action and checked the movements of the enempon our right. The result of MA‘SZN.I 9 S attempts to raise the siege of Almeida has ended in establishing, upon the firmest foundation, the character of the British arms, and'has added fresh laurels to those which already 'gracefully adorn the brow of our illustrious Chief. THE DUKE DUKE OF YORK. It is now generally understood that Sir DAvrn DUNDAS has resigned the situation of Commander iii Chief, and that the Duke of YORK has been named by the PRINce REGENT to fill that office. The re.. volutions which take. place in the human mind, must ever astonish by . their extravagance. This illustrious personage, whose secession from that si tuation two years ago was a subject of general gra tulation, is now greeted on his re-appointment, with every tribute of applaure that enthusiastic admira tion can suggest. In France some years ago, when the cry of , s liberty" was at its height, the en. signs of royalty were - not to be endured, though mouldering on the walls of an antiquated Churchl Now we seethe same people abjectly cringing before the throne of the most cruel despotism that ever was established,. eager to shew their reverence for regal dignity, though preposterously bestowed 4 on an obscure adventurer. The fate of our second CHARLES will furnish matter for similar reflec tions, on the instability of public opinion, and the history of the Duke of YOltli of that day (af terwards JAMES the Second) will be found not less applicable to such a purpose. We trust the pre sent Duke has been taught a lesson in adversity which he will not forget in prosperity ; and hav ing regained what he lost through his imprudence, it is our hope he will never again risk the mortifi cation he has experienced, by negligence or folly. Accounts from several quarters of Spain state as a fact that Joseph Dounaparte had set out for France, leaving.the management of his affairs to General Negretti. - 1 It \ i,