The National Register. — London, England, 1812-04-19 00:00:00

APRIL 10. . RIOTS IN THE COUNTRY. The hopes of the designing have once more, we re joice to learn, been disappointed. The disturbances, which commenced in so promising it manner at Sheffield, and in neighbouring towns, have, by the last accounts, completely- subsided. We are even assured, by persons who, witnessed the riots, that they were greatly exagge rated. What are we to think of the patriotism of those, who in order to spree.d alarm, arm with imaginary ter rors, the frowning features of the times ! The town of Stockport is quiet—but some outrages, not however to any extent, have been committed in the neighbourhood. SHEFFIELD, APRIL 18.—" Last night all was tranquil. The 15th Light Dragoons paraded the streets, and we are happy to state that . the town remained quiet at three o'clock this afternoon. STOCKPORT.—The rioters have continued their depre dations on the factories. The town in consequence had been placarded, begging the people to desist from out rage ; and that no means should be left untried to re duce the price of provisions by the next market-day.— On Wednesday morning, upwards of two thousand of them assembled on Cheadale Heath, to plan their mea sures for the day. They proceeded to Major PA RICEieS, and broke every window in the house. Information had been conveyed to them that Mr. GOODA in's gardener had been the means of saving the lives of his mistress and children, by informing them of the danger with which they were threatened ; the consequence was, that they sought his life. He took refuge at a farm-house, where he remained secreted until the arrival of a party of horse to escort him out of their reach. It appears, that about thirty of the Scotch Greys arrived in time to save several articles of furniture in Mr. Goonatit's cottage, after it had been set on fire, and also succeeded in securing two of the incendiaries. TILE NATIONAL REGISTER• DISPATCHES FROM LORD WELLINGTON. Important intelligence has at last been received from Spain. Conscious that the time of acting with vigour on the offensive is arrived, Lord WELLINGTON displays as much activity in his operations against Badajoz, as he for merly did caution, when he did not think himself suffi ciently strong in efficient numbers to meet the collected frrce of the French. Dispatches, dated March 27th, biought by the Queen Charlotte packet, from Lisbon, reached town on Tuesday. They contain another bril liant instance of Britkh valour and impetuosity, which rill hive probably bet.m renewed a few days after, and u ill shortly enable us, we confidently trust, to announce the car me of B.idajoz. Ilis Lordship has adopted a method of besieging a place, very different from that in general practice among the French. The latter carry on their approaches slowly, and as we have seen in most swges conducted by Sccitr:r in the east of Spain, with the exception of Tarragona, rely more on the effect of their shells on the helpless population within, than on the cou rage of their troop. Loi d WELLINc - ros, on the con trary, immediately p!ants his batteries, and Las no sooner effected a breach, than he el-tiers it to be stormed, and as it happened at Ciudad Rodrigo, after a short conflict, ob tains possession of a town which the enemy fancied might hold oat several months. His Lordship seems to act on the same pl an towar d s B a d a j oz . H e h as a l rea dy carried one of the outworks of that place by storm. On the 25th ult. he opened his fire on the town with 28 pieces of can non, and on the same night attacked the small fort Picu- 247 rina, defended by 250 men and 7 lieces of cannon. The storming party consisted of 500 men, formed into three detachments, led by Major Stt.tw, of the 74th regiment ; Major RUDD, 77th ; and Captain POWYSS, of the 83d ; the whole under the immediate orders of Major-General KEMPT. The action was obstinate and sanguinary. The enemy made a sortie in defence of the fort, but were im mediately repelled. The cfficial account does not men tion the loss of the French, only saying, that few of the garrison escaped ; but private letters state them to have 180 killed and wounded, and the remaining 70 to have surrendered priscwers. Our loss is mentioned in the dis patches as amounting to 195 killed and wounded • among the former 5 o ffi cers, and among the latter 10. This suc cess enabled Lord WELLINGTON to open his second paral lel within 300 yards of the body of the town. His Lord ship stated, that no movement had taken place on the part of MAttmoNT, who still remained in Castile. Sir T/lONIAS GRAHAM and General HILL continued to penetrate into Estramadura, without being able to overtake the retiring enemy. The letters brought by the Queen Clearloft; supply ns with some intelligence respecting the movements and de signs of MA RMON T. It seems pretty clear, that the pro posed junction of three French armies to relieve Badej:)z has failed, whether through the want of provi:ious, or the impossibility of drawing the force under SOULT and S1:-. CHET from Andalusia and Valencia, without occasioning a fresh insurrection against their weakenel MARMONT finds himself unequal to the task, and as he is compelled to leave Badajoz to its fate, intends, in order to save appearances, to undertake the siege of Ciudad Ro drigo, during Lord WELLINCTON'S absence, and some letters add, of Almeida also. Artillery is coining for that purpose from Pamplona, and ammunition from Va lencia. MAttmoNT perhaps imagines, that his demonstra tions against these fortresses will induce his Lordship to raise the siege of Badajoz. As this place in our hands would enable us to advance towards Seville, and either to take that city, or at least to compel the French force before Cadiz to fall back for its defence, we have no doubt but that his Lordship would not detach a single corps to the North to protect places, which he could at any time, without much difficulty or loss, regain. Tbe inability of the enemy to attempt the relief of Badojoz is a plain and encouraog prnol of the precari2usncss of the footing which they still maintain in the Peninsula. Information has been received from Li;bon, stating, that a division of French troops had cror,sed the Tagus at Almaicz for the purpose of restoring the communication with So tu.T, v. inch had been cut off by the advance of General GitAIIAM and General lIILL. The princioal corps which the enemy had on the Tagus was that of 60- neral MoNTERusr, ho had rctnrned from Valencia, a7,d who is suppos.d to have been reinforced by St:ottEr. It is this fbrce which is believed to have made the movement at Almarez. The division of the Allied A: my nearest the Tagus is commanded by C.:e: - .eral STopro!:”, and ft is said that he had sent to Lord NV;.r,LlNerros for reinforce.. 'newts, expectin2; to h ;ye an action with the cnemv. The letters how Li -..bon c , mti! - me to exi ress confident expecta tions of the surrendur of B A vessel has arrived at Bristol from Lisbon, but with. out bringing any additional Lformation respecting the proceedings of the army before aid ujoz. Letters have, however, been receiv,A in conseqw‘ace of ann:her ;!rrivtil at Plymouth, which stat., that e.e , French hal removed every article of v,11;h: into the cif...LIA of B.11,j••z, and teat