The Statesman. — London, England, 1818-10-12 00:00:00

NAVAL INTI4:LIAGENCE. FOrTnIOUTIII OCT. 11.—Yesterday arrived the Providence, hum London for the Cape and Madras ; the Hope, Rees, from do. for Bilboa, with l oss o f m ain•topmast.—Sailed the John transport, for Chathem.—To.day arrived the Neptune, --, from Norway, out three weeks ; Lord Suffield, Brown, from London for Calcutta ; and some out. wor d.bound vessels, coasters end colliers. Pr.valourn, Oct. 10—Yesterday came in the Prin. case Royal,. Arkley, from London for Sierra Leone, leaky.— Sailed the Sappho, Hall, from India for London ; and Minerva transport, Jennings, for Chatham.—The vessel that upset off the Eddystone on the 23d ult. is supposed to have been the Triumph, Dunn, of Menagissy, from Falmouth, with corn, bound to the Eastward, part of her stores having been picked up at sea. Farmourit, Oct. B.—Arrived the American ship Perna's°, 3011118, from Richmond, and is pet ender quarantine, having the typhus fever on board. OCT. 9. Arrived the Calstock, Lewis, from Swan. sea. with loss of mainmast, having been run foul of off the Manacles last night by a ship, supposed to be the Coromandel store.ship, from Portsmouth for Rio Janeiro. DEAL, OCT. 11.—Yesterday arrived, and sailed for the River, the Prince Regent, Clifford, from Bengst ; Orwell, Modal, from St. Vincent's; Nep.. tone, Cow ham, from Jamaica, in ten weeks; Princess Mari, fiom liqvre ; Amity, - Dean, from Petits burgh for Bristol ; and Christians, from Christiana for Portsmouth. --Today came down from the River, end remain, the Protector, Pyles, for Norfolk ; and Vittoria, for Leghorn. LivenpooL, Orr. 9.—The Charlotte, Forams, from hence for Newry, with coals and timber, is lost off the Ortoshead crew saved.—The Sally, Watson, from hence for Charleston, was spoke with on the 16th September, in lat. 31. long. 6. 3. She had experienced a severe gale on the 29th of Angola, which lasted 16 hours, but had received no damage. —Arrived the Fame, Ormond, from Berbice ; sailed the 27th August ; on the 28th September, in lat. 44. 51. long. 29. 19. fell in with the American brig Nowlan, off and from Philadelphia for Dublin, full of water, tookk, out the crew, Oil in number, and three passengers. NEW ORDER OF KNIGIITIIOOO.--A new Order of Knighthood is on the tapir, and waits only the com pletion of their Majesties at Arms, to be offi. daily proclaimed. Its title, we understand, is the Order of Civil Merit, of which the PRINCE REGENT Will no doubt be the Sovereign. DRUttar-LANE TIII:AIRE.—The popularity of this house seetes reviving. On Saturday the audience were the most nemeroos we have seen since the com mencement of the season. The play was well suited in its leading character to attract a large assemblage, for it was Sir Giles Overreach, and Mr. Keats in that character. We need not dilate upon his per. formance. It is sufficient to say that he gave on this as en other occasions an effective display of his won. derful powors. The farce of The Weathercock • brought forward a new performer in Tristana Fickle. ! This Gentleman, whose name is WCARTY, and who, we understand,, comes from the Coburg Theatre, where he had acquired considerable celebrity, proved himself possessed of sufficient vivacity to give effect to all tie eat ravagaucies it was his duty to represent. Though we may have witnessed a greater display of versatility in the part, we never saw the transition . from the Quaker to the Beau more adroitly managed; and this occulting, as it did, at the close of the piece, was decisive of ,uccess, and united the whole house In a tumult of approbatiou. On Saturday last, as Mr. Bowles, of Spalding, accompanied by his nephew, on a whit, was taking the diversion of shooting near Crowlattd, the dogs sprung a covey of partridges, which took shelter in an adjoining close. The nephew, in his eagerness to mark, jumped over a hedge, Mr. B. fillowing, with his piece cocked ; a bramble caught hold of the ' trigger, the consequence was, the piece went off, end lodged the contents in the body of the youth, who was only 16 years of age. He was convoyed to Crossland, and surgical assist:thee obtained. The young man languished in excruciat:ng Pale fur four hours and died. Several vessels from the Mediterranron, with CRT. goes of beans, have been seized at tli. Custom-house, for a violation of the Navigation La As, the artwle being the produce of Turkey, end thetrfore not al lowed to be imported. A Deputation of Gentlemen interested in them have waited on the Lords of the Treasury, and presented a long Petition, in witich they represented, that the violation of the Navigation Laws arose from ignorance of the subject, Red • prayed the release of the vessels in question. The Lords of the Treasury have net, however, yet come to any decision ; but it was intimated that a favoer. able determination may be expected shortly. We are requested by Mr. Berm AM, the Secretary • of` the Eagle Insurance Company, to stake, that Policies, expiring at Michaelmas, may be , renewed • within 15 days from that period, eitliar in Cortihill, or the Haymarket, where Annuities are granted and porthased, and 'every description of Life and Fire Insurance effected, on the most equitable terms. — N. B. An allowance for Rent of Premises destroyed by Fire as heretofore. The Emeline, Percey, from New Orleans to 'Trinidad, was upset by a whirlwind ou the t9th of June, and lost. CORN EXCHANIE, OCT• 124—Whea t rader e xceeds y dull at a reduction of 4 *. on the prices of th at dw .irley 4 n decline of 44.-13eans 21. dearer.—White Peas 54. cheaper.- Oats at last Mpoduy's priers.—ln other articles no alteratioit. WWII ( isogilth) .... 10 6 4 Grey Peas .64 i74 70 New ditto Ditto (Foreign) .... 72 88 Old do. .... ........ 1 ye 56 62 lickdo A 68 74 Barley .... 44 66 ruts ..... New. ... Dian .76 86 Poland d 0..... ....a- 34 16 White Peas 6B 'lt I Feed do ............. .30 St New ditto.... — 1 Fine F10ur.......... 65 711 60 65 Ditto Bts oik ... 74 78 i Seconds.. . kllatillEl.l.4 klAltKliTs OCT. 11. To cut the offal, per same at Mos. Beer .... C. 041. to fis. 64. I Head of CAmtla thladlST Mallon ..41. an to bs. 6d. Beasts Veal ... 43- OA. tc 6a. fut. Sheep and Webs 16. 540 Pork .. .C. Od. to 6s. fitt. Calve. .... ...••... 1p Lamb-- Os. 04. to Is. 04. Pies •• • • ... • .41. • • Mx. . a.• WU HAY-SIMI , KET Ray ...... 31. op. 04. to 81. fis. Od. Closer .... 61. Os. Od. to 91. 10s. Od. Wow • ••• 21. ss. .041• to • al. Os. lid. i , 1 ' --- -_. ~ THE STATE-A 104 SIR ROBERT WILSON. • - • Sir Robert Wilson has addressed a Letter to Iris Constiteests, in refutation of a direct charge of false hood brought forward against him in the last number of the Quarterly ReView. The passage of the Re. view in which this charge is contained, is as f o llows: " Sir Robert Wilson is, we believe, himself well acquainted with en Officer of high rank, and of con siderable reputation as 6 en able partizan,' who, ne vertheless thought 61 to enliven a period of inaction during the Spanish war, by dispatching to heed-quer. ters, a false report of a victory gained by the corps under his command ; a circumstance which, to say no more of it, has had a considerable effect in making es incredulous as to military details derived from ears °Oriel sources." Sir Robert Wilson, in the outset of bis letter, ob serves— " It is the duty of a public servant to consider that his character is connected with national honour ; bet yon, Gentlemen, who baseappointed me as one of your Representatives, who, by the gift of your free suffrages, have conferred on me the highest distinc. tion which the member of a free state can receive, have a right to demand that I should preserve an UP' blemished reputation. My disgrace would be your special reproach. 66 An insidious ehsrge has been brought forward, which, if it were substantiated, would justly deprive me of the good opinion and confidence of my coon trinsen ; a charge which accuses me of a professionil offence, of which, if I am guilty, instead of having Collided pretentlons to reward, I should have expe rienced an almost reprehensible degree of indulgence and lenity.* 66 I addressed a letter, dated September 25th, to the Editor of the Quarterly Review, iu which I ac quainted him 6 that my attention had been directed to a paragraph in the Review, of my work on Russia, which from the introduction of the words active partzbits,' seemed to indicate me as the person guilty of transmitting that false report to which the writer alluded;—that I was bound to repel such a serious charge; but as it might be mode in error, and not In the spirit of defamation, I was anxious to correct such error in his mind, by affording him the means of information, and just grounds for redress. ing the wrong which he had done me. I therefore .enclosed a printe narrative of the operations of the corps under my command, extracted from the Moni tear, and the British Gazettes.: 64 I concluded by observing, that reputation was the only fruit I derived from 25 years' service.' That 1 therefore felt persuaded the Editor would not condemn the jealousy I ezpreased for its preservation, but assist the demand of justice." Sir R. Wilson was appointed, In 1808, to raise a Portuguese Legion at Oporto; that in six weeks after its formation heentered the Spanish territory to make a diversion in favour of Sir John Moore ; that after the retreat of Sir John Moore, when no forward movement could be of any utility, and a French di vision advanced rapidly on Salamanca, he endeavour. ed to protect the country between th;Tormes and the Agueda, though urged from all quarters to relinquish an ondertakiug which appeared to persons in Who. rity at a greater distance to be impracticable and de. streak.. " Ry successful manoeuvre and gore. mating activity (he observes) the feeble corps nodal., my command maintained an extensive and imp - ort.' ant territory between the 'Formes and the Agueda ; re-animated the drooping spirits of the inhabitants in the Portuguese cud Spanish Provinces, which were menaced by invasion ; kept open the gates of tetreat fur the Marquis of Romani escaping from Gallicia ; influenced (as acknowledged by Gene tat Cuesta, by the Spanish Government, and by the British Anibassader, the preservation of Seville) ' at the most critical juncture.' prevented the union of General Lepesse from Castille with Marshal Soult at Oporto, paralysed that Marshal's operations, and suspended the prepared evacuation of Lisbon until Sir A. Wellesley arrived with flesh troops from Eng land. It was then that the di.tcipline and organiza tion which had been commenced in my legion, were successfully introduced into 1110 whole Portuguese army by Nlsrshal lleresford." When Sir A. Welles ley ro-lo.vanced into Spain, in the summer of 1809, he was appointed to cover that operation, and being reinforced by I n o Spanish battalions, gni! a Portuguese battalion of Chasseors, he was directed on the 18th of July to move by the Nera de Placentia on Kicalona, and alarm the enemy its his positions. When on the point of entering Madrid, the corps was r.called to the Allied Army as a general action was expected.— At a Council held in 'Cabrera, from the Lon wletlie he had acquired of the enemy's position, and the in tervening country between him and Madrid, he un. dertook to make such a movement with his corps opon the right flank of the enemy's army, which still continued under NlarshalVictor on the Alberche. and within musket shot of the Al lies, as should oblige or influence him to fall back, and thus relieve Sir A. Wellesley from the apprehen sion of being attacked in rear, when retrograding to oppose Marshal Soult, who was advancing from 1311a toutica by the Puerto di Banos, with three Corps d'Armee(Soult, Monier , Ney), through Placentia, or of exposing General Cur..ta, who was charged with the defence of the position of Talavera, to an attack in his absence, which the Spanish army could not hare resisted. The effects of this operation are defogs(' in the - Report of Marshal Jourdan to King Joseph, contained in the Moniteur of Sept. 27,1809, from which it appears that the movements of Sir R. Wilson's corps threw back Victor's army above thirty miles, prevented all knowledge of Soolt's advance on Placentia until the sth August, and re-union of the French armies during the 7th,during which interval Sir Arthur Wellesley had been able to evade the perils which menaced him from superior force, act ing in (root and rear of his columns of march, and to retire across the Tagus at the bridge of Arzobispo. After this daring operation, he found himself on his retorts to Talavera, in consequence of information, that the Anglo-Spanish Army was about to ahaodon the right bank of the Tagus, without any apparent SWIM of retreat, the enemy havin occupied all the Wads and passes leading to Place g ntia or Allmarez. • " If this attack bad not been anon)mous, I should have felt myelf under the necessity of demanding a preemie's:Ll in veotigasion and from my ea perience of the Justice of his Rosa ' Ilighisess t he Coasning.der in Chief. 1 should hove relied with confidence on the readioess with which be *mild have afaded me the auras of vindication." Thus. cirsaarststseed L ,lte determiaed to attempt . the passage - of the Sierra di Orejos, a Moonlit perpe. featly covered with snow, and which was thoteght by many to be impracticable for troops ; but as he learnt that it was occasionally traversed by shepherds, the attempt became justifiable. The account of the passage of the Banos is so ho nourable to the character of the Spanish peasantry, who indeed in every respect seem to form the most complete contrast to the Noblesse of the country, generally a most heartless sad degraded set of be ings, that we shall give it io Sir R. Wilson's own words : " The enemy occupied s village, from which it was necessary to dislodge them, that the proposed movement might be effected. At night-fall the attack was made, and plowed successful. The generous Spaniards, fully aware of our distress, volunteered their services as guides; and such was their fidelity, that although my servant and others, with several led horses of vales and money for the payment of the troops were cut off by an intervening detachment of the enemy; they sought thim out in the glen where they had retired, and conducted them to me several days afterwards in safety over the mountains. The passage of the Serra was difficult, and several of my men perished from fatigue ; bet we at leogtfi reached Bnhorjo, a village which had never been visited by troops, and which seemed insulated like the romantic Lie Batuecas. Here the inhabitants supplied all our wants, and I should have been inclined to have rest ed the corps, but its pecarious situation allowed/ no indulgence, and by unremitting forced marcgol ne reached Banos on the 11th." On the l'lth Sir R. Wilson put the corps! again in motion, and the subsequent occurrences are narrated in the following dispatch to Sir A. Wellesley, to which we request the particular attention of our readers, a 4 this is the dispatch in which the Reviewer states the false report of a victory to be contained : " Miranda de Cdstanar, Aug. 13, 15e9. " Star have the honour to acquaint you, that was on march yesterday morning on the road of Gre nadelis from Aides Nueva, to restore my communi. cation with the Allied Army, when a peasant assured us that a considerable quantity of dust, which we per ceived in the road of Placentia, proceeded from the march of a body of the enemy. " I immediately returned and took post in front of Limnos, with my picqeets in advance of Alden, Nam, selecting such points for defence as the ezigeucy of the time permitted. " The enemy's cavalry advanced on the high road, and drove back my small cavalry posts ; but a pie quet of Spanish infantry, which I had concealed, poured in on the cavalry a steady and well-directed tire, that killed and wounded many of them. " The two hundred Spanish infantry in advance of Aldea Nueva continued, under the direction of Col. Grant and their Officers, to maintain their ground most gallantly, until the enemy's cavalry and cinn amon, a cheval, in considerable bodies, appeared on both flank', w ;len they were obliged to retreat. " The enemy's chasseurs a cheval and cavalry ad vanced in great numbers in every direction, and pushed to cut off the legion posted between Aides Nueva and Banos ; but, by the steady conduct of. the o:ficers and men, the enemy could only advance gradually, and with a very severe loss from the com manding tire thrown On them. " The - Merida battalion ((cclusive of two com panies), however, having given way on the right, a road was laid open, which cut behind our position, and I was obliged to order a retreat on the heights above Banns, when I was again necessitated to detsthi a corps in order to secure the road of Monte Major, by which I saw the enemy directing a column, and which road turned altogether the Puerto de Banos, a 'Ague in our rear. " At this time Don Carlos Marquis d'Espagne came up with his battalion of light infantry, and, in the most gallant manner, took post along the heights commanding the road of Banos, which enabled ma to send some of the Merida battalion on the mountain on oar left commanding the main road, and which the enemy had tried to ascend. " The battalion of light infantry with the detach. merit of the Legion on its right continued, notwith standing the enemy's fire of artillery and musketry, to maintain their ground; but, at wiz o'clock in the evening, three columns of the enemy mounted the height on our left, gained it, and poured such a fire on the troops below, that longer defence was im practicable, and the whole were obliged to retire on the mountains on our right, leaving open the main road, nlong which a considerable column of cavalry immediately pressed. " The battalion of Seville had been left at Briar with orders to follow me nest day; at wa s obliged to return, and the action commenced, I or dem(' it to Puerto Banos, to watch the Monte Ma jor Fong!, and the heights in the rear of our left. 4 6 Wirers the enemy's cavarly came near, an Of ficer and some dragoons called out to the Command ing Officer to surrender, bat a volley killed him and his party, and then the battalion proceeded to mount the heights, in which movement it was attacked and surrounded by a column of cavalry and's column - of infantry, but cat its way and cleared itself, killing a great many of the enemy, especially of his cavalry.' 6 6 The enemy is now passing to Salsmeaca with great espedition. I foment that I could no longer arrest his pi .gross; hat, when the enormous supe• riority of the enemy's force is considered I', that we had no artillery, and that the Puerto de Banos, on the Extremadura side, is not a pass of each Strength as on the side of Castille, especially without guns, hope that a resistance for S.4o.hours, which must have cost the enemy a great many men, will not be deemed inadequate to our means. " I have to acknowledge the services rendered me on this occasion by Colonel Grant, •Major Reiman, Don Fermeu Marquis, Adjutant-iiiWjor of (he Dra goons of Pavia, Captain Charles' and hir. Bolman ; and to espress the greatest approbation of two can. patties of the Merida battalions advanced in front, and of the commanding officer and soldiery of the battalions of Seville, and the Portuguese brigades. — I have already noticed the distinguished condoct of Don Carlos, and his battalion merits the highest en. comiums. 66 I have not yet been able to collect the returns of our loss. From the nature of mountain warfare . _ • Ney's complete corps contitoed Dot less limo 14,0,0 taro, with 60 pieces of artillery, ac. -` - many see are missies who cannot join fnr a day or rata ; bit I• billeie the enemy will only hive to boast that he has achieved his passage, rod his killed and womoded will be a great diminolow of his victors. • " I have the hoeoer to he. Btc. Sir A. Wellesley. Am &e. Eke. " R. sCJI.SON." Sir Robert subjoins to the dispatch sbe 101 l .wing letter from Sir A. Wollasley (now the Dukewt: Wets lington) to L5lll Castler4sgh . r 'se • • 01134ATCM 11.011. A• WELLEiLif Ilklllll6lll 1 rz, lo , ‘ • TLaRIe IOU. •1 , t rfulillo, Milrelll. 3109. • 46 . _ My LoviD,—.When 1 marched grew Tsiasesa on the 3d list. with s view to oppose the Kimmel corps, which we had heard had passed througis the Peerto di Banos, sod had arrived at Plecestie. Sir Robert Wilson arts detached upon the left of the army towards Recalono ; sad before I marched Mt that morning, 1 put him in communication with the tipanish General Coesta, who, it had been settled. was to remain at Talavera. I understood that Geo. Coesta pet Sir Robert in communication ,with his ad sanced-gaard, which retired from Maser* on the night of the 4th : I was obliged to retire wishoot sock communication being establishod. • " Sir Robert Wilson, however. did sot arrive Valaila till the night of the 4th, having snade• long march through the moomtaitie ; and as he *se thei sit leagues fr.in the bridge of Afanbispth and bed tar cross the high reed from Gropes' to 'fakeers, et whirb the enemy was its coNceived that he was too left to retire to d.ranbillin t sad be deter. mined• to move by Vent* St. Julien and Cestinells towards the Tietai*, and across that river towards theisOuntaina which separate Castillo fres Estrear. ,1 " Some of Sir Robert Wilson's digpsishosaishe missed me, I am not aware by which of die jlllllllO he went through the mountains, but basialtt by 'romances. " He arrived, however, at Banos on the 11th, end on the 12th was attacked and defeated by the French corps of Marshal Ney, which, with that of Sault, re turned to Placentia on the 9th, lath, and 11th, that of Ney having sinc.e gone on towards Salamanca. " I enclose Sir R. Wilson's account of the action. Ile ha , been se.y active, intelligent, and use(pl in tke command of the Portuguese and Spanish corps, with which he was detached from this army. " Before the battle of the 28. h of July, he had pushed his parties almost to Ole gates of Nia , lrid, with which city he was in communication: end he would have been in Madrid, if I 111.1 not thought it proper to call him in, in expectation of that general action which took pare on the 2S .h of July. Ile after wards alarmed the enemy On the right of h. , . arms; and throughout the service showed himself to be am &tire and intelligent pattizan, well acquainted with the country in which he was acting, and possessing the confidence of the troops whicir he commanded. " Being persuaded that his retreat was not open thy Atiobitipo, he acted right in taking the rood he did, with which he was well acquainted; and al though unsuccessful in the action which he fought (which may well he accounted for, by the superior number qud description of the enemy's troop , ,), the acti..n, in my opinion, does him great credit.-1 have the honour to be , l &c. (-4y.cd) ARTITUIt WELLESLEY." The Report of the Duke of Eichingen of this sc. ti'i► was published in the Moniteur, and it is curia ous that he ascribed mach more importance to it than had been dune by Sir R. Wilson in his dispatch. The following is the FresicA Report : REPORT OF THE MEC OF ELCHINGEN TO MARSHAL • SOULT. " On the B+h, while the army was taking the bridge of A rzohispn, I had detachments on the right bank of the Thietar, near Villa Nueva, to watch the corps of the English General Wilson. " On the 12th, the corps of the ormy set out en masse from Placentia. On reaching Oli►a, I learnt the enemy occupied in force Aldea Nueva, and prin• cipolly the heights and defiles of Hanoi. My ad vanced guard, under General Lercer, composed of voltigeurs of the 25th light infantry, 2750; 59th re gitneut of the line, 234 dragoons, and 15th hussars. ' a battalion of light artillery.--Colonel Armano's brigade of dragoons, &c. actually fell in with the enemy at Abbot Nueva. The attack and success were equally rapid. The position was taken, and the 3d hussars made an admit:Ole charge. The routed enemy r?joined, in small companies, his prin. cipal corps on the heights of Banos. These were occupied by Gen. Wilson with 4 or 5,000 men.— That General, who cousidt red.his position imprsgits. ble, had addeql to the difficulties of ground by oh. strutting the accessible paths with sheltie, ditcher, cud masses of rock. As soot, as the artillery of thw 'rimy had closed at Bann', they watched against ti e enemy, and forgot their. fatigues. The 59th and 60111 regiments advanced against the heights with crest boldness, paid made themselves masters of the heights, which were ob. inatety defended. " General 'Wilson, noweser, rallied his troops for Me third.time, and endeavoured again to act on the offensive, hopiog to overthrow us in his turn ; hut this attempt Who eatremely disastrous to himself. *The advanced guard had united, and an engagement sith the bayonet commenced, in which the enemy was overwhelmed. " The hussars and chaoseers assisted in putting him ctonpletely to the rout ; in short, this liitio corp , , which left 1,200 men the Grid. is entirely de‘troyed. Oar dragoons fought on foot on several occasion•, and distinguished themselves. 77ze artillery also be haved well. The loss that we have sustained in the late battles aMOOlit9 to five Officers and thirty subal. terns and privates killed; ten Officers and 140 subal terns and privates wounded ; several dropped dead in the ranks from heat and fatigue. 6 6 Monsieur di Terrier L'Enque, Colonel of the 3d hussars, distinguished himself in severat charges, and that r'egiment lost 40 horses. Colonel Cosel, of the 59th itifentry, killed an Officer, who *bile chargiug attempted to take his horse. - " ?I 1•:Y.,, (Sigurd') Here, after giving this d;sputeh of M e .shat Ney, it may not be an is! to onserve, that Sir R. Witois does not seem disposed to shrink from the task of defending the part weich be took pith respect to that individual. In a note he states.- " The Reviewer states, shut commenting on the • The correct route basbeestalreadv a rated; t cu , / I,t tie stead 3u low :La Vta a Ss. Ja:hte, Ceutiuellu, mad Turuara.as. ::~ - _a 7 ." 1 1 ' •.,. . . • • • i A .411 • . • - • . ~~ • -!4c «. r