The National Register. — London, England, 1811-05-26 00:00:00

~r---^ .. NATIONAL REGISTF R. An article, entiled, " Who is the Inventor of the New Lanras - terian System of Education ?" from a " Layman, zealously attached to the Church of England," b unavoidably past poned till our next. rl l 11' ATI()NAI. REGISTER. LOribott. SUNDAY, MAY 26, 1811. GLORIOUS VICTORIES IN PORTUGAL. Two most severe, and to the British Army and its skilful Comma'nder, most glorious actions, have been fought on the frontiers of Portugal. Com pelled by the system of operations adopted by Lord WELLINGTON to evacuate that country, MASSENA has now a second time tried his fortune with the sword, and been most completely disappointed.— In the vain hope of relieving Almeida, he crossed in force the Agueda and the Azava, and having driven in our advanced posts, penetrated to Duns Casas, in the vicinity of which the battle took place. On the '3d Instant he attempted to cut his way t' rough our lines ; but every attack was repulsed with a most heavy loss on his pqrt, whilst the allied army had only 36 killed and 204 wounded.— He then remained in front of our position, and having called in all his reinforcements, renewed-the action on the sth instant, by a tremendous fire of grape and shells, followed by desperate charges on the center and right of the British army. These were met . with corresponding firmness, and our troops in their turn became the assailants, and repeatedly drove the defeated French legions to their former positions. From Lord WELLINGTON'S dispatches it appears, that if he pleased he might have brought on a more general action, and with every fait prospect of snc- eess ; but in -the course he chose to adopt he acted with great ability and prudence ; and knowing the object of the enemy to be the relief of Almeida, he resnlved not to risk that object on any account.— He therefore contented himself with repelling every attack without, any material change of position, or any precipitate advance in pursuit of the dispersed assailant,, exposing the advantages which he had so glorious: it obtained, to the grasp of chance. He fpread a wail of steel before the enemy, who tired with dtleat, and weala-ned 14y the loss of innu merous lives sActiiiced their vain attempts, still hovered two days in the vicinity of the - acid deluged with their blood, and then bc!gan their retreat across The Azava ard Ague& towards Ciudad Rodrigo. By his cautictlS conduct Lord WELLINGTON insures the fall of that fortress, and will, when that event takes place, find himself in a condition.to undertake holder measures with less risk, \ lle has on this occasion, as ( during the whole campaign, shewn that his judgment is equal to his zeal and courage, and by the due combination of these qualifications, he has already achieved so much advantage and glory to himself and the country. It is reported that MASSENA hazarded the battle in consequence of positive orders from BUONAPARTE himself. These orders were reiterated by three Officers sent express from Paris. One of them, BEnnitEß's Aide-de-Camp, a Baron LE JEUNE, is said to have been taken by a party of Guerillas. He had been sent by BER {HIER to ascertain the true state and situation of all the corps d'artnees in Spain, and he was the bearer of a positive order to MASSENA to hazard an action, coute qui coute, as the only means of retrieving their affairs, and as the Emperor could send no more reinforcements at present to the Peninsula. The Park and Tower guns were fired at noon yesterday ; and the following letter sent by the Earl of LIVERPOOL to the LOUD MAYOR DOWNING-STREET, MAY 25. 44 MY Lonn—Dispatches have been received from Lord Wc.LLINoToN, dated the Bth and 10th instant, by which it appears that the enemy's whole army, consisting of the 2d, 6th, and Bth corp., dad all the cavalry which could be collected inOnatile and Leon, including 900 of the Imperil. anod e together with some battalions of the Ws !sibs, crossed the Agueda at Ciudad Rodrigo on libi instant, and on the 3d and sth made two dew attacks on the British army, for the purpose of re. lieving Almeida. .The contest, though very severe, especially on the sth, terminated in the complete repulse of the enemy, and the Allied Army con tinuing to hold its position. 44 On the rth, at night, the French Army retired from the position which they occupied on the pre ceding day on the Duas Casas. Qn the Bth, the enemy continued their retreat to the woods between Galligoes Espejas, and Fuentas de Honor. On the 9th they crossed the Azava ; and the 10th the Agueda, leaving Almeida to its fate. 44 In the action of the 3d of May, the British los; consisted of 22 killed and 171 wounded—that of the Portuguese 1+ killed and ;4 3 wounded. On the :sth the 13ritIsh loss consisted of 148 killed and 872 wounded. The Portuguese loss 50 killed and 153 wounded. The numbers of the Allies missing on the two days amounted to 316. " The enemy's loss appears to have been very great in killed, wounded, and prisoners, but 11Q re. turn has bpen transmitted of the exact amount. (Signed) 66 LIVERPOO.L." Tc? the Lord Mayor." ...00 _. •r - i