The National Register. — London, England, 1812-03-29 00:00:00

_ MARCIFI• 1 1 11 E NATIONAL. REGISTER. 3Lonbon. SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 1812. THE KING. Windsor Castle, 28th March, 1819. fly a private dispatch we have it in ou'r power to st.te, that the RING is better, his appetite continues very good snd regular, and he frequently converses with Colonel TAYLOR on various topics. Having gained considerable strength, his range of apartments have been increased to enable him to take more exercise. REPORTED SURRENDER OF CADIZ. Considerable alarm was excited yesterday, by a rumour that the traitorous correspondence, which is known to have long subsisted between the French besieging army, and their adherents within the walls of Cadiz, had terminated in the surrender of that city to the enemy. The Cortes, and the Members of the new Regency, with the whole of the Government, were stated to have fallen into the hands of the Duke of DALMATIA, who had assumed the com mand instead of the Duke of BELLUNO. The anxious fears thus awakened, led to strict and active inquiries, And it was found that this disaster had no other founda tion than the firllowing improbable story. A Gentleman had picked up in the streets, a paper, purporting to be a translation from The Aloniteur, of the 21th inst. in which were these words : 4 6 Cadiz surrendered on the 4th inst. to the troops under the corn mnd of the Duke of DA LM ATI A . The interesting particulars of this event, will form a part of our next number." Apprehension was at once disarmed of all its terrors, and the whole was considered as the produce of some political wag, well acquainted with our national credulity. DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH BEFORE TARRAGONA. The Gazette of last night contains a letter from Captain ConitisGTos, of his Majesty's ship the Blake, dated Villa Neuva, Jan. 26th, from which we extract the following interesting account of the defeat of a corps of 800 French, which were endeavouring to enter Tarragona, by Generals LACY and D'Etioi,E.s. Upon my return Hound the troops advancing on the road to Tarra gona, in order to cut the enemy's line of march, the Baron d'Eao I.Es putting himself at the head of about seventy cuirassiers, to reconnoitre their strength and position, while General I.Acv directed the move ments of the respective corps, in readiness for the intended attack. We had scarcely reached the road from Cambrills to Tarragona, when the Baron brought in prisoners two French cuirassiers, who stated that their General (I.afond) had reached the latter place in safety, accompanied by some dragoons, leaving the Infantry, amounting to about eight hun dred, just by in Villa Suca. Gen. LACv ordered the regiment of linen to attack them immediately, and directed other corps to surround the town, and prevent their escape. The enemy being advantageously posted behind the walls of the village, and that single regiment being much inferior to them in numbers, after a considerable loss in killed and Wo unded, including amongst the latter, and very severely, their gallant Colonel, Reding, they were obliged to retire; but the regiment Intended for their support coming up, forced the French, who had ad vanced in a compact body, to retire in their turn, and being attacked in rear by the Baron, they could never effectually rally, notwithstand ing the effort they made, accompanied by a general cheer ; despair was lOW visible 10 their con duet ; and one or two discharges from a field 9i " e t which Nat that reached :ht ground, occasioned the surrender of STER. • 1 all who remained alive, amounting to above six hundred;--I judge the number of the enemy, dead and dying, which I saw in the field, to amount to two hundred, that of the Spaniards bearing no proportion whatever. Notwithstanding this advantage, it appears that the in. tended attack on Tarragona was not carried into execu. tion, although Captain CODRINGTON is unable to account for this unexpected delay. SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. Dispatches from Lord WELLINGTON were received by ' Government last right, the substance of which was COW municated in the following official Bulletin WAR DEPARTMENT. 41 MARCH, Se, 181 r. " A dispatch has been received from the Earl of Wax.LiNovoss, dated Frenada, March 4. " His Lordship had received advice of the defeat of a French corps. near Malaga, by General ;$/iLt.aSTEROS ; the General Officer who com manded the enemy's troops being killed in the action. " Before the sth of January, EsPOZ v MINA took Huesca, making the garrison prisoners ; and having afterwards joined General MENDIZASAIII and Don FRANCI so LoNGIi, near Sanguessa, their united forces engaged a large body of French troops which had been sent from Pampeluna to attack ME pinizeßA L., and completely, defeated them, killing 000 of tbe enemy, and taking two pieces of cannon. ,4 In the latter end of February, a detachment of Don JULAN SAN! CHEZ's guerillas intercepted an Officer and eighty French, between Alba de 'formes and Salamanca; the enemy's party was entirely destroyed. and important dispatches, with which the Officer was charged, fei into the hands of the Spaniards, and were brought to Lord _Wilice LINGYON." It appears, that Lord Wswfmrost, unwilling to slum. ber on the laurels he has gained, has determined to add another gem to his triumphal crown. Dispatches aria papers from Portugal announcfs, that the siege of 13adajoz • is now on the eve of being undertaken, and of being pushes; on with vigour. A letter from - Coruntia, dated the 25th ult. states, that Lord WBELINGTON will give General HILL 20,000 men, in addition to the force under his command, to cover the siege of Badajoz, and secure the besieseri from any interruptions on the part of SOULT. Should this bis thecase, it argues that M A RMONT has been unable to accom plish the threatened junction of many corps at SalaManca. so as to enable him to resume the offensive against our army. Indeed, it. is asserted in several articles from • Spain, that all the. Imperial Guards have marched back (a France. As a part of them composed MA RMONT'S force, he must find himself considerably weaker, at. th'e very time he stands in need of assistance. It is said, that he has only been able to collect about 15,000 men at Salamanca, and 6or 7,000 at Placentia. The former he must leave to observe, and keep in check the division of our army station: • ed on the Agueda, and the latter is the only force he could send to the relief of Badajoz, unless he should be able . to procure reinforcements from SUCH ET, who is now - pre. paring to besiege Alicant, or SOULT should advance from Seville with nearly all his troops, which does not seem to be in his power, as a large portion of his division is colic i• ing against Tariffa, and another has had a severe action with the Spaniards at Malaga. But even should suit . at • junction be made, it is not likely that it would produ ce more than 20 or '25,000 men. Letters and Papers from Cadiz to the 29th ult. and • from Corunna to the 18th inst. were feeeived . On Friday. They are of a satisfactory nature, as thershb*that in va. tious parts of the Peninsula, the Spaniards are able to act on the offensive against the coninicn enemy ; and that the THE NATIONAL