The National Register. — London, England, 1808-09-04 00:00:00

z.. • l'irqr PtEMBER-4.1 TfIE NATIONAL REGISTER.` Suet' are tile grateful effuSiOns of every Briton on read ing this importadt. iutelligence. Not and of our victories, by sea or land, 'distinguished as they have been, since the le4;iiiiiing aline ttevulutiouary War, has excited more uni versal transports. Our naval superiority was universally acknowled, , ,ed Hui. this his removed every doubt from t n mind 01' one roost sceptical,' every particle of anxiety from tile breast of the most timorous, that the bravery ana aiscyline V our laid armies arc not only equal, but 4111- ,14c:1y sa l ierior to those of every other people existing.— Wien paela at:mu:lA..4 must th;s conviction excite in our bosoms: Nli.mt a Sell does it open to an aspiring and opu lent community 1 We are the only people mentioned in Is;siiiry, hum the commerce and the riches of the world base not been able to corrupt. If any thing surpasses our vCoaai riches, it is our national energy. Let no false no false glare of political morality on the pact of methorLstical Statesmen, prevent us from pursuing t. career of aggrandisement, which our resources, moral and physical, point out to us. Nothing is stationary in this world. If a State does not go forwards, it inevitably goes backwards. This is a moral and political axiom. Let us inaltiply our armies in this portentous crisis. The news of our victory will soon spread front one extremity of the Continent toanotliee. It will have more effect on rousing their dormant energies, than any other circumstance which could have occurred. Let us guide their efforts, let us en courage their exertions against the common enemy ; and when they see a. hundred thousand British soldiers, not dis gracefully cooped up in their island—the descendants of the Edwards and the Henrys confined to their shores ! t— tut encamped WI the Plains of Picardy, they will recollect what their united efforts had formerly done under the gui dance of a Marlborough. Is this language too bold ? Is this opinion unsupported by precedent, or invalidated by piesent feeling and occurrences the universal c infusion which will soot take place on the Continent ; in the general friction, moral and national, which will en sile, if we do not seize on the suprerriacy, another more daring nation will do it. Let us resume our ancient motto : that not a single cannon shall be fired in Europe without our permisgian ! Woe to the people who do not seize the advantages of the situation and the moment ! Woe to the 'Statesman, who is scared from the pursuit of a great ob. feet, by the scruples of the c‘mscientious, or the resistance of a faction ! In politics, the morality of a people is secu rity and greatness ;—their immorality :Irises from weak ness and lethargy. The same moral rule is applicable to states as inilivideals,—oely the active and enterprising de veJope those great virtues which raise states and indivi- . clink to the summit of greatness and vigours whilst ileac ticon engenders aft those loathsome vices and nasty passions which are productive of moral turpitude aud physical de b3ity. A letter has been received at Lloyd's, from Oporto, da tcd August 28, which states, that the French army under General JVATOT had evacuated Lisbon, after plundering the place of twenty-three waggon loads of valuables, and ou the 24th had an action with the British army, in which General Loison and 5000 French were kited, Gen. JtivoT aad the rest of his army taken prisoners. Upon the Freud: evacuating Lisbon, the Russian fleet hoisted Portuguese colours. The glorid us.intelligeuce of the Victory obtained under Sir Arthur Wellesley, was brought about eight o'clock oa Thursday uiglit to Lord Castlereagh's •Ofiice 1 by Captain Campbell. it Ina soon after communicated by his Lord !hip to the Lord Mayor. COPY. " Downing-street, September 1,1808. "MY LORD—I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that Captain Campbell arrived this evening with dispatches from Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, dated Vitniera, the 22d ult. giving an account of two Victories obtained over the French arms in Portugal—the first on the 17th at Zambneiea, over the advanced corps of the French, con,isting of 6000 men, eammandsed by Generals Laborde and Brenier, in which the Freoch were defeated n ith the loss of 1500 men, killed, wound ed, and prisoners; the second, over the whole of the French army in Portugal, consisting of 14,000 men, commanded by General Junot, wherein the French were completely defeated, . with the loss of 13 pieces of cannon, 23 tumbrills of ammuni tion, and about 3,300 men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. " In consequence of this action, General Kellerman arrived w ith a flag of truce at !lead-quarters on the 22d, to treat for terms. " Lieut.-General Burrard leaded, and arrived in the field of ' action after the battle had commenced on the 21st ult. ; but he generously declined taking the command from Sir Arthur Wel. lesley. On the '2l, Lieutenant-General Sir Hen Dalrymple landed, and took the command.-1 have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) " CasrLaasaau. To the Right Hod. the Lord Mayor, ffc." .As soon as Sir Arthur Wellesley was joined by General , Spencer, he lost nu time in advancing into the country. By the 15th, the opposing armies had approached so near each other, that an affair of outposts took place on that day near Opedas. On the following day the British artily halted. On the 17th, our troops came up with the ad vanced corps of the French, amouutiug to 6000 infantry and 800 cavalry. They were most advantageously posted . in the passes: but as Sir- Arthur had fallen in upon their line of match, lie was under the necessity of attacking , them, though the advantages were on their side. Only part :)f our force was engaged, chiefly the sth, 9th, 29th. 60th, and 95th regiments ; of these the 29th and 95th bore the brunt of the battle. Nothing could exceed the steady discipline, and the cool and determined courage with which our troops advanced to the attack. It was a very severe • conflict, but here it was remarked that our artillery was . infinitely better served than that of the French, vuanted to be the best iu Europe. The enemy at length yielded to the valour of our countrymen, and - fell back in confusion. with the loss of 1500 men, killed, wounded, and prisoners. On the-18th and 19th Sir Arthur continued his pursuit of the enemy.. On the 20th, he halted, and drew off' nearer the sea, to cover the landing of General Anstruther's divi sion. As soon as this junction was effected, the whole ar my was refreshed 'after the fatigues they had endured. Oa the 21st, Sir Arthur found that the enemy were determined to give battle. They commenced the attack at Vemeira, rather before it was expected, and with the utmost gallan- . try and good order. Their impetuosity was, as usual, ex treme.; and they hoped by . means of it to throw our ranks "it° confusion, and gain the victory. But they were British troops with whom they had to contend ; and our brave army, nothing daunted by the violence of the onset, or the furious fire opened upon them, advanced without firing a gun, with tixed b iyonets. The enemy became soon dismayed by this steadiness and coolness, and were • forced to fall back. The tontlict then began to be most severe and sanguinary—hut though the eaelny fought with great gallantry and determination, t`ley were never able to • make any disadvantageous impression upon our troops. . At length victory decided in WI r favour, and the enemy were completely beaten and .lisperse4l into the woods, con tiguous to the scene of or ion. Janet commanded in person, and his main attack vv;.II on our centre and left—our right, containing about 7000 men, was not so much eng aged as the other twv divis;ons. T‘.4 regiments of grenadiers, the flower of the irczNicli army, who composed Juuot's ITIIW‘MI : i i~