The National Register. — London, England, 1812-04-26 00:00:00

A PRII, 26. We have been long accustomed to record British triumphs. In all ages, since the establishment of this em pire, valour has formed the grand characteristic of its children, and victory their prize. Yet, notwithstanding t he splendour of our military annals, for a time at least, those of our navy shed a still brighter lustre on the British name. Brilliant atchievements, like the ocean foam, sprung on every wave. Whatever enemy opposed us at sea, and whatever force he brought into action, his dis comfiture served to encrease our power and the terrors of our fame, until we had reached a height of earthly gran deur, which, it was thought, humanity could never sur pass. What, however, is now the situation of the coun try ? Is she not almost daily crowned with additional glo ries, reaped by our land armies in the Peninsula ? Does not her sword smite the foes of human kind with as much force as her trident ? The late decisive and surpassing triumphs that have marked the career of the brave army commanded by Lord WELLINGTON, will yield a satisfac tory reply. It is impossible, however, to consider the last display of British heroism, which has reduced the strong fortress of Badajoz into our possession, without feeling the tide of exultation mixed with regret and grief. The pride and power of the enemy in Estrsmadura, are now laid prostrate, but the numbers that have fallen on our side sadden e% en the face of victory itself. Had it been slightly incurred, with the view of acquiring fame at the expellee of human lives, we should not bestow on a bril liant atchievement the praise to which a useful one is alone entitled. But the capture of Badajoz was an object of vital importance to the interest both of Portugal and Spain, and the only method of insuring success, was that of act ing with energy and promptitude. There is no doubt but the enemy had no intention of suffering that place to fall without an attempt at raising the siege. They relied on its making a protracted resistance, and were collecting all their force to rush upon our army, and wrench from its grasp the reward of its toils, had not the indefatigable activity and profound skill of our Commander interposed, anticipated, and defeated their plans. A bombardment might have been attended with less danger and a smaller loss on our side ; but it would have consumed more time, and the whole end of the campaign might have failed.—A general action would then have probably taken place, in which our army, compelled to leave a powerful division before the fortress, would have fought with diminished numbers, and although we are convinced v: ith equal cou rage, perhaps with results less advantageous., and certainly as sanguinary. The advantages likely to accrue from this capture are sn great, as completely to overbalance the consideration of the loss which we have sustained. The communication between MARMONT and Sour.T may now be considered as nearly interrupted and cut off ; and there is reason to think that operations are already commenced with a view to drive F;OL'LT from Seville, and raise the siege of Cadiz, rind Licar the province of Andalusia altogether of the r:rench. Sucilve will probably, in that event, form a junction with SOULT ; but, in doing this, he must aban don his views upon Alicant ; leave Valencia unprotected ; and Arragon, as well as Catalonia, entirely open to the Guerrillas, and to-the regular Spanish armies under Baron IYERous, General LACEY, and General O'DONNELL. , We subjoin some fer accounts from Lisbon though .hey are not of a later date than those brought by Captain ver! is pi gone act thir- state y best ceded ler hit Nic- , Sara- *litre which )ty oh' to to Vain. ng left isontri, Of tli C y CO.,' CAPTURE OF BADAJOZ. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 263 " LISBON, APRIL 11. " According to letters of the Bth, from Elvas, the as. sault made upon Badajoz was dreadful. The breaches were assaulted, the walls scaled ; the castle appears to have been the first point taken, in consequence of which the French, who defended the breach, found themselves attacked from different points and were obliged to give way, and then dreadful slaughter took place in the streets, and the frightful confusion was heightened by the darkness of the night. " It is said the French sprung two mines. dg It is said that the state of the French forces at Anda lusia is as follows :—There are from 17 to 18,000 dispusa. ble forces, 10,000 to oppose BA LLASTEROS, 4000 at De Portos, and four hundred in garrison in each capital.-- SOULT has dispatched officers to Cordova, Granada, and Jaen . ; be has sent three battalions by forced marches. The troops at Jaen and Granada will retire upon Cordova. It must be gratifying to every person who has the wet fare of his country at heart, to witness the proceedings of the respectable part of the Livery of London, who, fully sensible of the necessity at the present moment of support ing the Government of this Country, against the designs of a mischievous Faction, have formed an Address, a Copy of which is in our Paper of this day, expressive of their loyalty and attachment to a PRINCE, who has dared to follow the steps of his venerable and beloved FATHER ; under whcm, this Country has beer► so lung blessed with every comfort. Two Anholt Mails arrived on Wednesday, the contents of which are important. It is announced that a Treaty offensive and defensive, has been concluded between Au:- tria and France ; and hence tle statement of. an Austrian army being on its way to the Vistula, is no longer to be doubted. The connection between France and Prussia has been officially announced'', ia the Rerun Gasettowbut notwithstanding these fearful odds against Russia, the Emperor ALEXANDER is stated to have set out from his capital, accompanied by Generals BENINGSEN, v., sow, and ARMFELDT, and a retinue of forty other Gene ral Officers, to place himself at the head of his army.— The enemy's troops continue their march in immense numbers, in the direction of Poland, and Marshal NIA, accompanied by several other Officers of distinction, is now repairing to the expected theatre of war. The whole of the Prussian fortresses are garrisoned by French troop, and commanded by French Generals; and the Court of Berlin has stipulated to supply the invading army with provisions. The Swedish Consul at Paris arrived unex pectedly at Stockholm, with a demand on the part of BLM NAPARTE, for Sweden to furnish 35,000 men, to act in the North of Germany against Russia ; in return for which Sweden is to have Finland and a great Oa of Rossi: , , which is doomed t 9 be partitioned out among the allies of France. The answer of BERNADOTTE is not known, but it was dispatched to Paris after three days deliberation.-- It is also stated, that divisions of Danish se mien fro. quently pass through Lauenburg for the purpose of man ning the French navy. A frigate is arrived from Vera Cruz, which has brought two millions and a half of dollars to Government, the amount of the bills given by the Spanish Government on the Treasury of Vera Cruz, for nu advanced to them by this country. The accounts brour,lit by the frigate are of a very favourable nature, inasmuch as they StAtt-,