The National Register. — London, England, 1808-08-07 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. t . . 416mr.'= Hi much to our security and well-being as to. their own ; and :his candid avowal of reciprocal services and advan tage, northy of two nations who prefer liberty to every other considerat.on. We have ey cry thing to gain from their success—periiiiment security ; a vast preponderance in tliv interests of Europe ; and an immense extension of our commercial relations, are only a part of the ad vantages. But iet us prove to the Spaniards, to the present genera tion, and to posterity, that we arc not unwomthy of this accidental revolution in our affairs and if we cannot pre tend to the merit of having prepared it, let us at least lay claim to the inferior degree of worth, that we know how to i ere it to common advantage. The present Ministers, we feel no reluctance in declaring- it, on thecontrary, we are emulated with the finest heartiett.satisfaction ie doing them justice—have acted, since they received the first commu nication of this happy event, as honest men, as patriots, and as consummate statesmen. Let them but continue in time same distinguished manner, and as long as a single re cord of the present time shall suleist, their names will rank high among the worthiest and most en lightened :ititesmen of e-:cry age aad every country.— Their reputation is strongly establiOtemi ; their claims to the gratitude ael comaience of their country and of Eu rope unquestionable. Is it to he supposed then that men, with such advantages before them, with such a vast fund of honoer and fame at their disposal, will sacrifice them all fram the paltry consideration of not wishing to offend an iialividual, let his rank and influence be ever so extensive ? What is this in competition with the permanent advan tages of their country, with the freedom of Spain and Por tie,al, the independence of Europe, the securing of those blessim.,s to oar children, and the liberty and prosperity of mankind They know it, and they will feel grateful to us for animadverting on a choice they have a reluctance in making; they know that our immense military preparations are of no use, unless the operations of this gallant army are directed by a distinguished commander. Instead of et fCcting their great object ; instead of returning to their relatives, to their grateful country crowned with victory, foNrwed by the benedictions of the people they went to as sist, and animated with the consciousness of having sup poried time reputation of British bravery, they will be slaughtered on the plains of Spain, because our soldiers c not Bs, and we will have to lament the loss of an army of fifty thousand men, who will be sacrificed without their country possessing even the consolation that they effected the purpoise they were sent out for. Wir,n these considerations are weighed, the country, the army loudly declare their opinion, that this is too im portant an object to be endangered from any consideration for i•it individual. Whatever his merit, his zeal, probity, or mak may be, unless he he the most distinguished among the distinguished, the destinies of Europe, the fortnnes of England, and the tate of a gallant army, cannot be con fided to him. time more we reflect upon the importance of the object, the less we can conceive how it is possible, that a man of Mr. Canning's distinguished abilities and rec titude, would ever consent that the nomination of an in competent person should even he proposed in the cabinet. We call on him here publicly and particularly, because we have the highest enerai ion kr his character and talents, to employ the influence which his merit and eloquence give him, to have a General chosen, to whose suggestions the allies will listen v ith deference; who possesses the confi dence of our own soldiers; and for whom the enemy will entertain some apprehension. Are there any of our princes who possess these qualities, we call upon him to propose them? If they have not that reputation among foreigners, if they cannot pretend to the confidence of the army by - -.tarot inspire respect and awe to , they should not have the coin lot, \siva the real merit of the merit he established in the opi is not a time for experiment ; a AUGUST 7. single - defeat may frustruis all our sanguine, expectations. Was there ever a braver army than that commanded h. Whitelocke, and through the incompetency of t he Cenero it was beat and taken prisoners by a few thousand~ of half-armed South American ragamuffins. We hop e ih r , u is no man in this country so void of every particle of 1 , 4 . tural feeling, as to risk the possibility of having the Ufa moue affair of Buenos Ayres, and of the li e td er , acid over again ! Away with the disgraceful idea ! There are :renerals in this country, who are every way comp e k lit tor this distinguished command, and whose form er suce ,.„ , will be a security of their future victories. W. ro l t,l mention one man, if we dared give our opinion on so im portant a subject : a man who p ossesses equa ll y th e coffii. deuce of the soldier :old the citizen, who has honour:air distinguished himself in the cabi"et, the s: , te, am! ti:e Feld, who unites the accomplished manners nt the Tenth • man, the frankness of the soldier, the alAities of tt:f. scholar, the virtues of the patriot, w th the generosity and good nature of the best' man in private ; who po, sesses so much of that spirit of chivalry, which vi ill e!!- dear him to the Spaniards, who knows and sp"nks their language ; who enicls the esteem and gratitude of fortivi ers, on account of his ifistingutshed generosity tovs ant,. ti:c unfortunate refugees that fled from French persccutiorl— It is, in a word, the Earl of Moira. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FROM THE SP.ININH AND SWEDISH PAPERS. _ - fo..iner success, if they cur Ow Gererals of he enemy, mainkabilihed i gution is tu 05....., . tJ.."., that. .."..,.,,... . , . _ gm . i 4 • e •r •N', , .1.• • 4 ( s ; f ... , -.. wit!.•.. • - , V A-T" - tigi • .., • a rT Fur JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS AT SARAGOSFA. Jry E 26.—After the attack of the g3d, in which the irench suffered a heavy loss, Gen. Lefebvre retreated. with SAO mon, towards Epila ; hut the Marquis de Lazan, Palafox's hro:hrr, attacked him on the march with a numerous hods of A rragoner, who most gallantly combated the enemy ; and the latter would have most certainly been totaliy routed and deAroyed, had not two divisions of the peasantry given way. The enemy, him ever, lost about 1,000 men. JuN rs 27.—Gen. Verdier .joined the enemy with about 2,400 men, cavalry and infantry, and some Portuguese. They attack ed Saragossa and Monte Torrero. They were repulsed with the loss of SOLO men killed, a great number wounded, six pieces of artillery, five cars of ammunition, drums, musical instrument, &e. which were carried into Saragossa. The loss on our side was much less. An express arrived w ith intelligence of the ap proach of 7,000 Valencians, with 2ti pieces of cannon. Thew troops were ordered to remain in concealment for the pre,cnt, to fall in on the enemy the next day when engaged. J uNE, 28.—The enemy renewed the attack in the mornine, on Torrero and the city, but were bravely repulsed, losing bcar;y the whole of their cavalry, and much of their infantry. Torrero the action proved ueortunate, owing to the treachery of the Commandant of the allPtillery, who made his 'nen retreat, and abandon two batteries at the most critical moment. The Valencians arrived, though rather I tie, but they could not dis lodge the enemy from Timm), whence they showered down shells and grenades upon the city ; and in the night time, ;in act of infamous treachery the powder-magazine in the place, appropriated to bull-tight, was blow n up, by w hich explosion fourteen houses were destroyed, and about two hundred person; killed. At this moment the euemy presented themselves in three places, hoping - to be able to enter ; but they were repulsed, and the columu which attempted the entrance of Overtamaqueda io front of the temporary powder-magazine was totally destroyed. Orders were instantly issued for the arrest of all the French re• sident at Saragossa, w ith their families, and other solicited persons. .1 ev E 29.—The Artillery Officer. Iyho sold the batteries of Torrero, ran the gauntlet six times, the soldiers beating him will. their ramrods; he was then shot. A fellow was haw(' who w.O detected in going out of the city with dispatches for :11tirn, from which it appeared, that the three gates attacked the pre ceding uight had been sold. This morning at day-break, the ar rests ordered yesterday were carried into eLecutiou. Both ar mies militated warmly engaged. Jr r 30.----The tiring was kept up in the same manne r as the day bcfnrc, and a number of the French were killed. J{i r.i I.—The tiring continued without WWI atoptioa till tea 'V . . - . , * r • e