The National Register. — London, England, 1812-08-23 00:00:00

AUG.- _9.s - T -- THE NATIONAL itEGISTER. (Translation). Riga, 24th July (6th Aug.) 1812. sr R-I hasten to communicate to your Excellency the intelligence I have just received from General Count Wirgenstein. He informs me, that on the 18th and 19th inst. (30th and 31st July), he gained a com plete v,e-tOty over Marshal Oudinot. The battle took place between Schebesch and Point zk. Three thousand prisoners, two cannons,. and a quantity of baggage and ammunition arc unequivocal proofs of his victory. Tne Count writes, that he is in pursuit of the enemy, and that his advanced posts are hourly sending in fresh prisoners. Being desirous of transmitting as soon as possible this agreeable in telligence to General Suchtelen, I venture to request your Excel Jerry will forward the enclosed to him by the earliest conveyance. In cast 'cu should not at this moment have any vessel disposable, Co lonel Ballabin will move Admiral Scliesihenkaff to supply one. I have the honour to be, with high consideration, Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, ESSE N, Governor of Riga. To Rear-Admiral NlArtin. This account is corroborated by the following letter from Cottenburgh, dated the 15th inst. On the 25th ult. the French attacked the advanced guard of General BA CiR A TION, bultAle driven back with the loss of 8,000 men. On the same day the main Russian army was attacked, and equally successful, the French being repulsed with the loss of 6,000 men. On the Soth and 31st ult. a French corps, under the command of OtmiNoT, attacked the Russians, tinder the command of General OSTERMAN, and were re pulsed with great slaughter, leaving 3,000 prisoners, two pieces of cannon, and a great quantity of baggage; their loss in killed is estimated at 5,000 Eif-m." It appears, however, that the statement of the French having fallen back across the river, is erroneous, as we find them on du. 3 tst at Witespl-, a considerable way in advance of . 1 .)olotz, the place where the battle is represented to have bce:i fought. 'FF.NTII FRENCH BULLETIN—BATTLES IN RUSSIA. This Bulletin, dated Witespk, July 31st, reached us ye , terday. It states, on the 17th of July, the Russians broke up from the entrenched camp of Drissa. One of their corps marched to the North to cover St. Pe tersburgh ; the other four took the course of the Dwina, south-east, and arrived at Witespk on the 24th. On the 25th, , 26th, and 27th, three several actions took place, in which the enemy boasts that he has killed five or six thou sand Russians, taken one thousand five hundred, and ten pieces of cannon ; whilst his loss is only 1150 killed, wounded, and prisoners. On the 28th, after having made preparations for a general action, he found the Russians had evacuated Witespk, and immediately entered that place. Meanwhile BAGRATION appears to have attacked, and even surprised DAVOUST at Mohilow, near the source of the Dnieper; and here, after nine hours hard fighting, the French say they only lost 700 men in killed, and the Rus sians 3000. It is evident, however, from the Bulletin it self, that when BRAGATION chose to suspend the battle, lie retired unmolested towards Smolensko, towards which the grand Russian army was also marching from Witespk. From all accounts, it appears, that up to the 31st ult. no event of a decisive nature had happened, and that the Russians continued to draw the enemy after them, into the wilds of their country, without risking a general battle. The junction of their armies had not then taken place, but would most likely be affected at-Sniolensko. AMERICA. Mr. FOSTZit has arrived in town from America. This in itself has nothing decidedly hostile in it, as the departure of that Gentleman from the territories of the United States might naturally be expected after the American Declaration ~ ......"i! . 1 . 5 q 1 of War. The Gleaner is stated to have arrived on the day previous to his leaving America, with a draft of the repeal of the Orders in Council, or at least an intimation that it was the intention of Government to rescind them. On this. however, it could hardly he expected that the American Exectoive would found any decisive measure, and conse quently the tumours which have gone abroad on the subject must he groundless, as speculation on it would at presett be vain. Some apprehensions have heen entertained for the safety of the homeward-bound Jamaica fleet. These, however, are stated to have in a great degree subsided.—The following ar ticle, dated New Vol k, June 24th, probably gave the alarm :-•-•-• COMMODORE RODOI Rb'S ADRON IN PURSUIT OF IDE JAMAICA YET ET OF 100 SAIL. _ _ Capt. sTER, of the brig Indian Chief, from 11facleira, informs, that on the 18th instaht, in lat. 36. long. 57. he 1t II in with and spoke the Jamaica fleet of lou bound home, under convoy of a frigate and a brig ; and, on Tuesd 'v morning last the 22d, he spoke Commo dore Ron Gills and his squadron. and iiif:nlned him of speaking time Jamaica fleet. The crew of the I': - esident gave three cheer,, and went in pursuit of the fleet. it ill he observed, that the tloet is only four (lays a-head ; and llotti smite ut them being distuasted, there is st.ong probability of our slua drou coming up with them. The P RES IDEN T has issued a Proclamation, by which it should appear that the American Government is not without fears, that its late violent and unpopular pro ceedings will cause serious divisions among the people. We cannot but admit, that alarming disturbances, if not a rising of the subjects of the United States, may very reasonably be anticipated, when they feel the calamitous effects of a war into which they have been wantonly plunged by those whose first duty it was to ward off such an evil. NEW YORK, it , Ly 3.—Th:.! frigate t. s.:ex, Capt. Po RTE R, having been completely repaired, sailed yesterday morning with a line westerly breeze. On her fare-top gallant-mast %%as hoisted a white flag, with these words, " A f:ee trade, and sailors' rights." It may not be improper to add the following piece of in telligence by way of supplement to the American paragraph : " Pomone igalc, July 30, 181'4. " Off the Great Bank of Newfoundland in chace of the Esse: Auie ican frigate: " We have spoken a ship boarded by the Essex American frigate, and expect to give you a good account of her its illy next." CONSEQUENCES OF THE GREAT VICTORY. The victory of Salamanca, unlike most of the battles "won by our arms in Spain, was not of a defensive nature. It was not the sanguinary repulse of an enemy, who after vain efforts at breaking our line, is sutrered to retire unpur sued, and is thus able, by the good order of his march, to disguise the extent of his discomfiture, and to make his ieireat appear a matter of choice rather than of necessity. It was a victory so complete, attended with such ruin to the conquered, and such glory and advantages to the con querors, as to leave the former no means of concealing his disgrace, and the latter no brighter laurels to acquire.— Seven thousand prisoners, with eagles, colours, a►►d artil lery taken on the field, are pledges of no common triumph. And the incessant flight and pursuit of the routed enemy, satisfactorily show the relative state of the two armies after the action. The one so broken in spirit, and dispersed in numbers, as to fall piecemeal and unresisting into our hands. The other marching with increased confidence, with numbers little impaired by the sword, and restless ac tivity, against the scattered remains of the flying foe, and carrying freedom and exnitation into the very heart of Spain. The first immediate consequence of this memorable vic tory will be the liberation of the provinces lying between the enemy and the Pyrenees. For, if M ARMOIST wishes . '1 .0....... •1r