The National Register. — London, England, 1811-03-31 00:00:00

194 il in battle array, and the most lofty capitals .opened their gates to receiiettem, whilst Sovereigns fled before them lest tLey should be . btiried tinder the ruins of their thrones. They marched from one end of the Continent to the other, and met with no effec tual oppo s ition to their progiess, so great was the teror of their name ! Was it useless therefore, to quell their pride and incontestibility to shew to the whole world the futility of the dread to which they in spired ? Can that victory be called barren, which not only deprives them of three tho9sand of their picked veterans but disarms them of their two strongest weapons, confidence in their own power, and the vulgar belief . in their invincih•lity ? Can it be in vain that the all-convincing • argument used by Sir Joni STUART, at Maida, should have been repeated with encreased energy by General CRAIIAM at Barrosa ? And when the nations of Europe see their conquerors unable; although with super or numbers and all the advantages of posi tion, to contend with less than half their force in li!.itWr soldiers ; when they view eight thousand French eroes flying before the bayon , is of three thousand Britons, and forsakine- their artillery, am] vainly dreaded eagles, they w' - d1 cease to despond. They will cast a glance of hope towards the dim vista of futurity, and silently prepare to wrench their enslaved countries from the grasp of the op. pressor. For as long as they found that war only Served to rivet their chains more closely they wit. the hostilities with fear and entered the field With reluctance. But when will they be convinced, and such victories as that of Barrc.sa, must quickly operate that conviction, that the legions of France may be conquered, they will gladly welcome war as their de . iverer from the most debasing servitude ; will share its perils IN ith alacrity, and carry on its operations with revived confidence. and increased ur and activity. In another point of view the victory of Barrosa, will, we have no doubt, soon be discovered to have powerfully assisted the operations of Lord WEL LINGTON against I\l,-tssiNA's army. Although it 'was not attended•with the immediate abandonment of the siege of Cadiz by the defeated VICTOR, it has so far impaired,his force, *s to debilitate him, 'Mail he shall receive reinforcements. It is even possible. that he may find .himself too weak to en counter a second time our victorious troops; and should . our hostile demonstrations be continued both by sea and land, he may soon be compelled to retreat towards Seville, in order to meet half way advancing reinforcenlents, or by forming a junction with the garrison of that city, cover *it against any attack we might make upon it. Whatever events may follow the glorious action of Barrosa in An dalusia, the very intelligence of our intention to drive the besieging at my from its posts before Cadiz, decid ed the fate of the campaign in Portugal. MAsSINA instantly perceived that should VICTOR be defeated . with the assistance of our arms, his loss would be too Fonsiderable, and his pursuit too actively carried on, to enable him to reach Seville with any thing like an • army. He knew that he could derive but,little sup port from that small corps scattered in the neigh bouring- provinces, and that in order to avoid.utter arfnihilation he must recross the Sierra Morena.--+ This movement would bring back the war round . the walls of Toledo and to the very gates of Madrid, for joinedby. the rising population of Andalusia, Es. tremadura, La Mancha, and Grenada, Gen. GRA" HAM'S army would swell as it advanced so as to be checked in its progress only by large numbers.. He therefore apprehended -Madrid might assecond time fall into the hands- of the patriots and began his retreat from Santarem in order to take a position within the Spanish frontiers, whence he might act as circumstances would require ; render ing the idea of an attempt on Madrid less promising by the vicinity of his army to that capital, and at the same time detaining Lord WELLINGTON 011 Por tuguese ground. That these are the motives which induced hitn to retreat, is highly probable ; but that he will be successful in the execution of his plan, highly doubtful. For by his change of position all the advantages of the campaign are left on our side, and we not only become the assailants, but have our choice of the ground on which we choose to fight an enemy, already thrown into confusion, by the very nature of his retreat through lately inun dated countries, and in face of an active, powerful, and enterprising army. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. DUTCH PAPERS. AMSTERDAM, MARCH 22.—His Serene Ilighnesq, Prince Arch-Chancenor of the Empire, the Duke of Plaissance, Etc has received the following TELEGRAPHIC DISPATCHES. Paris ' March 20, Sir in the Morning. Her Majesty the Empress began yesterday evening, towards eight o'clock, to suffer the -pains of child-birth, which abated during the night, and in the morning had nearly ceased. Her Majesty in other respects is well. Paris, March 20. Her Majesty the Empress of the French was safely delivered of a Wince at nine o'clock this morning. Paris,_ Mare's 23, Half-past Eleven. Her Majesty and the young Prince are well ; the Prince yes terday began to take, with avidity, nourishment from his uurse. Paris, March 22, Two o'Clock, P. M. The Prince has suffered during the night, some of the pains incident to his age; this morning he is well. AMSTSRDfIK, MARCH 22.-The Director-General of the Po lice in Holland was last night at the Theatre, when his Serene Highness the Prince Governor-General was good enough to send and inform him of the happy news which completed the wishes of the empire. He immediately caused the representation to be suspended, and proclaimed the birth of the King of Rome. It would be impossible to describe with what cheering and en thusiasm this intelligence was received. The cries of " Long live the Emperor ! Long live the Empress ! Long live :heir au gust Son !" were'reiteratedfrom all parts for an amazing length of time. The joy of the su*jects c:f his Majesty, lately united to the empire, seemed to vie with that of the military of ail ranks, who were spread in the different parts of the hail. To-day there was a grand parade ; after the parade, a most brilliant one, at which the three corps of the Guards of Honour manoeuvred with the National Guard. His Serene Highness the Prince Governor gave a grand dinner. In the evening there was a rout and hall at the Palace. 'The greatest joy prevailed at the dinner and ball. II 11111 NAI, SPAIN. FATE or TIIE SPANISH GOVERNOR OF TORTOSA. (OFFICIAL.) Address or Manifesto to the People of Catalonia, from the Mar. • Ruis of Campo Verde,, Captain-General of the Royal Army of that Principality. 44 CATALANS !--It is with the greatest - eonevrn you willtear 0 f the infamous surrender orvTortosa. Wzti the hlce senti- 7 • • . ';..,, I 1 1. I 1 ; , 1 1 ; 1 . , I i k f, 1 :4: i ... 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