The National Register. — London, England, 1811-05-12 00:00:00

500 GENERAL GRAHAM's VINDIQATION. In vain has the Spanish Geneial, who left •our troops to con quer unsupported.at Batrosa, attempted to justify himself. If national prejudices do not blind the common sense of the Junta and people of Spain, the letter addressed by General Graham to Henry Wellesley, our Minister at Cadiz, from which we have made the following extracts, must convince them of the total inability, if not secret treachery, of some of the Officers to whom they still prefer confiding the conduct of the ear and the fate' Of their couetry , to trusting British Commanders, who Uwe done ea> nsuch in their support. 4- Wien the British division began its march from the pnsition of Barrosa to . that of Bermeja, lcit the General on the Barron: fright, nor did 7 know t:f his intention qf patting it ; and when I ordered the division to countermarch, in the wood, I did so to . support tit tops lift for its defence, and belicoing the General to fe there in person. In this belief I sent no report of the attack which was Made so near the spot where the General was sup • potted rcebe;and though confident in the bravery of the gritish troops, I was not less so in the support I should te••eive from the Spaui, array. :rise. distance, however, to Berme ja •is trifling, and no were given from head-quarters for the movement of any corps: of the Spanish army to support the British division, to prevent its defeat in this unequal contest, or to profit of the . totecess,eorned at so heavy an expence. The voluntary seal of the two Small battalions (Walloon Guards and Ciudad Real) Which had been detached from my division, brought them alone back Fiona theissood but notwithstanding their utmost efforts, 'they could only come at the close of the action. " read the whole body of the Spanish cavalry, with the horse artillery, been rapidly sent by the sea beach, to form in the *litre, and to envelope the enemy's lett—had the greatest eart a the infantry been marched through the pinewood in our rear, • to tern- his rime--what success might not have been expected from such decisive movements The enemy meet either have zetired instantlyond without oecasiooing any serious loss to the British diyisionsete he Wouldhave exposed himself to abenlute dentuctlen ; hiocavalry greatly outnumbered, his artillery lost, •ISis columns mbeeti and in confusion, a general dispersion would have been the inevitable consequence of a close pursuit. Our 7 wearied men wOuld have found spirits to go on, and would have trusted to fending refreshment and repose at Chiclarta. This moment Wai.lt)St. Withi4 a quarter °fan hour's ride of the sr,'lte of action, the General remained ignorant of what was passing, isnd ni4hing WC* dune. Let, not then, this action of Barrosa form any part of the general result of the transactions of the day ; it was an accidental and insulated feature ; It was the re sult of no combinations it was equally tuaseen and uuh!eded by the Spanish Staff. The British division left alone, suffered the Toss of more than one fourth of its number, and became unfit 1 for farther etertioe. Need I say more to justify my detertnina . lima of declining arty further co-operation in the field towards thelprotecution of the object of the expedition ? 1 am, howeiter, free to confess, that having thus elseed myself and the British division under the dit ection of the Spanish Commander in Chief, in the geld (contrary to my instructions), -I should not have thottght myself justified to my King and country to risk the ab solute destruction of this division in a second trial.. But I have .aright to claiM credit for what would haire been my conduct, What it was; and I will ask if it can he doubted, after rey zealous co-operation throughout, and the ready assistance at; forded.to the troops left on 13arrosa height,that the same anxiety • for the sucCe4s of tlre trorse wotticlhothaste secured teethe Spa nish army the utmost eilbsts of the British divis:o i during the whole of the enterPtlie, had we be 'n supported ss ire had a right toexpect ? • ' ' "'There is not a man in the • division who would not gladly have relinquished his claim to glory, acquired by the action of liarresa, to boveohared with the Spaniards the ultimate success that was within our grasp :mit were. " The kople of Spain, the brave and persevering people, are universally esteemed; respected, and admired/by all who value ' "liberty andinde pencience the besrts and hands of British sol diers will ever be with them ;. the cause of Spain Is felt by all to be a common one. " I conclude with mentioning, that the only regret expressed to me at head-quarters on the morning of the 6th, on not know • log of my intention to send the ,British troops across the river Santri Petri, was, that the opportunity of withdrawing the Spanish Stools during the night was lost ; and on my ob t serreinss, that after / &di a deteat, there was no risk of attack from the molly, a very court , ry opinion stns . maintained: . In point of fact, no enemy • j everappeared during sevtutl days employed in bringieg off the • Wennued and burning the dead. It may be proper to remark ou the reports yublialitd, .relative to. the enemy's number Santri Petri (4,500 men of Villat's division) that by the con.. current testimony of all the French of here, Gen. Villat's division had charge of the whole line. What, then must be the of that division, to have afforded 4,500 men to Sarah Per xi alone ? MILITARY. COURT - MARTIAL. •M1N1...... GOVERNOR ELICIT V. LIEUT.-COL. JOHNSON. A Court-Martial was on Tuesdai held at Chelsea College, for the trial of Lieutenant - Colonel Johns on, of the South Wales Corps, or 102 d Regiment. The charge exhibited against him was for having on the 28th of January 1808, at Sydney, in New South Wales, begun to excite and cause a mutiny amongst the South Wales Corps, and for having, at their head, and by their assistance, seized, or cause to be seized and imprisoned, William Bligh, Captain- General and Governor over all his Majesty's territories. in New South \Vales. The Judge Advocate, CHARLES MANNERS SUTION, Esq. having read the warrant, authorizing the appointment of the Court he proceeded to administer the usual oa ths to the follow ing Members : Lieut.-Gen. William Keppel, President. Lieut.-Gen. Sir D. Baird. Colonel Burnet. Lieut.-Gen. Milner. Colonel Tyers. Lieut.-Gen. Hon. E. Finch. Colonel Anson. Lieut.-Gen. D. M‘Donald. Colonel 01.aughtan. sLieut.-Gen. W. Dowdeswell. Colonel F. W. Butler. Major-Gen. Hon. E. Paget. Lieut.-Col. John Lord Protr. Major-Gen. Kerr. Lieut.-Col. Paterson. The JUDGE A two c r. then at some length expresssed the request of tile Court, that all would refrain front publishing any account of the proceedings of the Court Martial before its conclusion, as thereby the Public might, from ex-park state mots, draw unjust conclusions. After this intimation it would be highly indecorous in us to give any account of the examination which might prejudice the public mind. At its conclusion we shall lay before our Readers a ftill Report of this highly interesting and important Trial. General Bligh opened his case; he gave an account of his appointment and of his arrest. Lieut.-Col. Johnson asked Gen. Bligh several que;tions touching the power he bad of obtaining a Court Martial sooner ; afttr which the Court put many questions to him, touching the grounds of his charges, which occupied the remainder of the day.—At three o'clock the Court adjourned. Wednesday, the Court resumed its proceedings.—A number of official papers, consisting of commissions, &c. were read, which occupied the whole of the evening. Thursday, the cross-examination of Capt. Bligh commenced, in the course of which many interesting questions, touching the general policy observed in the Government of New South Wales, were put by Lieut.-Colonel Johnson. Friday, the cross-examination of Capt.!Bligh, by Lieut.-Col. Johnson was terminated ; after which the court proceeded to examine witnesses in support of the prosecution. . , Saturday the Court proceeded in the examination of wit nesses on the part of the prosecution ; after which, the Court ad journed to Saturday next, in order to give ColOnel Johnstone time to prepare his defence. . . - On Thursday, 34th ult. his Grace the Duke of Richmond gave a sumptuous dinner in cotntuemoration of the - birth-day of Lord Wellington, On Thursday evening also, her Grace the Duchess of Richmond gave a splendid supper and entertain - ment in honour of Lord- Wellington. The above di? n, , r and supper given in compliment to- the birth-day of the Hcro of P,ortugal were most splendid, and the decorations magnificent ; the ornaments of the table were decorated with emblatratic de vices in honour of Lord Wellington's different victories in Asia and Europe—On little flags were inscribed the names of the dif ferent places where his victories have been gained, and his fame immortalized. 'The Jockey Club have resolved to offer a reward . of 1000 gui neas, and an annuity of 1001. to any person Who will furnish a clue, by which the perpetrators of the late/ abominable pcdson ing act at Newmarket may he discovered. Imperial Lottery, the King's Birth Dry, Sixty Capital Prizes. Hodges and Co. 149, Otford-street, respectfully recommend to the Nubility and Public, the very superior Scheme of - the, pre sent Lotter', being the first of the Regency, and will , all be drawn the 4th of June; containing 4 Prizes of 20,3001.;14 of 10001.; 32 of 5001.; and upwards of 4000 other Prizes. ?rickets and Shares in great variety, are on bik as above ; whelk in the late Lotteries were Solcl and Shared-5 Pries of 20,0001.1 4of 10,0001. ; 7 of 500 01 4 &c. &c. THE NATIONAL REGISTER.