The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-11-30 00:00:00, page 2

——SSBgfe^!UL«J-Li»l .'.‘AMLl.-X-M ■ !.LlJlfJ».
'•iwf1 courage wav tequislte to wield
them. Sf<*^old we mly um public virtue to
krc|»/hf<xNMbe we awl extension of this
sjv.rm rj rests? Lineage, wc clime nor
tia it-U. li.Miricr virtue wh.ilijr waved hu_
man ih«-ms and notions—man wasuniver.
wliy liable to Ve Cgui/spoTU-d wait passion.
bl:ule«l MT|i telly, coi itt]Mnl virf> vire 'ami
yrt nut with p-iwrr. maddened with Tac
tivat and fin t! with tie Inst of doumiauoo—
let us itvt &.uter not stivrs—ur were uut
exempt frov* thecommon lot. sod ulihu* the
wive exposition . Vibe bill <»f rights, by the
t.ct t * establish «freedom, might for
u liitoe Vcu:r In tyum a rtUgivus test, a fio
iji.cd ‘Mv uas certainly u possible, perhaps
a (r.oaabie ami mu very remote event— Pro
Imblr ! remote! Sir, said Mr. L. 1 am j>os_
wsttd wilh a strange delation, ilf/ie^cry
lev; i*s yucsti'jH dix-snot appoint a political
tfM. I tear other instances might be re_
C'on’itil. Surhiiic tln-BMiiKMKos. The
E»D of all these things i> death. A free
Cansh'utidti crotnot co exist with ibis danger
sius anii parricidal power in Ute hands of the
ordinary Legislature. I recur, therefore, to
the fundamental principle of the revolution,
which 1 take to Ik*—obeta ftrixrShi**—s.ad
directly submit the constitutionality of this
law to the judgment i f the couit.
It had been plausibly suggested, that it
cannot be unconstitutional to require one
to abjure-lie commission of a crime Air.
L- pursued this doctrine to its con^queucc4*;
if true on a small scale, it was so i*n a large
one—if it were h constitutional qualification
to n quire of officer*, that they shall abjure
duelling so cheap a system ri' preventive
justice, might be extended beyond those
pei sens, ai d that crime, to all persons, and
to every crime ami vice of the decalogue_
not to tick n new ones, which legislative in
genuity. might create, or (alluding to the
sixd\ section of die act under discussion,)
‘afi/tmftriafr from our sister states. What
then ? V\ ould the s';u original of man’s
fall, which the rede oner’s blond-expia..
tlnn appnhreil and accepted of divine jus.
tice and mercy--hath not yet blotted out,
fade and vanish befoie t»is poor earth born
-*”v "“’‘hiwiii v/i I'lio ill Hi
■vicf-s, spi'.e of this oath, still continue to in
•ftst the world? Then, said lie the only ef .
fret of th's blessed system of abjuration,
t**ould bt *o heap -in ttie head of < very sio„
ner, ’he adventitious guilt of pctjury--to
Irrge ra k« for the conscience ami orturc*
for the sot.I Can such horrid refinement of
tyranny be constitutional? If not against
the Won it is it not against the spirit,
"which deci.ties, ** that cruel and unusual
Vanishments ought not to be inflicted i"_
Purely . .c p tins directly denounced against
the due;!;"--dislranchisenietit, exenm
trunication ana deab. far exile is denied_
are severe enough ; ami in regard to i pro,
leased pious motive of this law, religious
xnen, I think, might have bet n content with
punishing the body, without impiously pre
paungthe damnation of the soul
It may l>e wondered, vviiy I so earnestly
resist that, to which others ate daily and
quietly submitting ? t'artlessef the charge
of imprudence, or even of obstinacy, and
despising that of presumption I beg leave
to state tlie lending motives of rr.y conduct.
In the first place, >‘1 understand correcih,
wbat is a rvrlJfiti unu fTmlicioux nt.glv cjo/u
bar as foroidden i»y this law. one is icqui
red to abjure not duelling only in the com _
m n sense, but the great right of arming
vriili wcapoi s of death, for defence against
anticipated violence It is hot easy tore,
ducc Jo* cei Uinty, what is ut« erlain both in
conception and exptession : 1 am told, and
I hope tiul)*, that this construction of mine
is an erroneous one. But let it brjust, which
is n»y present impression—and then, it is
not the power of this court < «ly, to impose
this rath <n me. that 1 would resist: the
leg; bailie itself, the verv majesty of the
people, would command in vain.* Sooner
than renounce the right of self. preservati_
on I would abandon a country abjured of
honor and bet eft ol the first privilege of
freedom. All that know ni» , know well,
that neither from temper, nor habit nor prin.
..in a MUkuiM; \ t:x i 5«i;tu nor pve
tend, »- Itpuiovethe policy ot this taw.
Of twc_ evils, J would still choose the least;
a d i would submit it to men of the wr. ltd,
■w’.odraw their maxims of hgi slat ion from
experience, nnd would ad apt laws, rather
to iemper of a people, than to general
toeoi >es etli.es—whether an over.nice
sense of honor, or vulgar, mean abuse, un
feeling and uufelt.be preferable in manners
—whether this practice of duelling, or the
sudden rencounter with the spring .baron,
eted pistol and the dirk, carried ( .s t h - y
are,) in the side coat packet, always ku
dy for deadly use-— w lichee resentment
or revenge—be most abhorrent tmrn g • d
morals, nnd most dangerous to the peace ot
families am! the safety ot society-:n fi ,et
•whetherany thing but a strong and gp; eiai
sense .of nut religion, can suppr«s« the
practice of duelling in the modern world,
w.t out;rijkif g to substitute that, of ttss.is'>
iiavru Instances already*-hut on th r
head I forbear. I have convinced myself,
by t!:e argument the court has heard,
that it has no legal power »o impose
this new abjuration on me ; and humble ns
1 am. yet r.y a republican, where my lights
arc concerned, “ I’ll cavil oq he ninth part
of an hair.” Then, if the court had Midi
power, 1 think it tin abomination, not to be
endured inn state, the firs' article of whose
bill of vigil's ranks among the inherent, in
alienable light* of tff'U, "the mean* of
acquiring nnd possessing pr perty. a d pur
suing and obtaining happii.cns and sa.'c y,M j
tha‘ d.e law should clog w.ih any *urh c. n !
ditior.S 'he mm right of earning a subsis 1
tenre. Some casuist*, indeed, think it not
ve»*y conscft miou* to swear, that one will'
never do a particular future net; but these '
are rr.ti 't tene >"ftscience*-men who1
only <rns< they liave a good conscience— j
who m!;, 'be ti nifties nf ntir nature into e„
Very poli ic.,1 ai d moral account-whose |
scruples, p' rliaf's, deserve no notice or in
dulgence: M..y I lupe lo t»cnpe the Con*
tempt cf the philosophy of peifertibMiiy, if
T own, that 1 it spec such scri.pirs f Can
it be constitution,il, < . w s_- ■ . r j.»#i, that such
uC’ uples alone s'.i hi work r. le.gil disubi
lity for office it ich more for profession or
trade? Helig *n i* replete win h-ss his of
ino^a!. y, by which t.ur lucis (those who
have not, a* we 1 .i* to <su who have, iaiili,)
inighf profit-—pur grand-parents writ
f "bidden to rat of ihr tice of knowledge,
a d death was ddiniTftced against trumgita.
but no ft row me of obedience v van cx
tirfCtl ff'hern : *1 liev did eat *f the for
M leniruit ; and die fir*/ and chief know
) hey gained w->s, that they were i.h
k<- -—/Ary fov and brnni/en their itn
J,e f> f iot.n. We Im\> inherited nip' p'lrti
' <» h>» ; letiisnoi neglect our share
fif ;len y n. idealise 1 v*mid not lightly
luu the .'n, tt.vtusk of abjutiug the fight
of self preservation, uniter tVie vagute woris
of this law ; because I disapprove its policy ;
because 1 think the court has no rightful
power to force ipe within its pale; because
1 hold it to be at war, me teas! rviih the sfU.
rit «/' the cmittliiution ; withal, because f
abhor rash oaths of all sorts-1 do utterly
loath the taking of this oath, ami feel my
self bound by iny honor as* gentleman, and
my duty as a citizen, to resist the impositi
on of it to the uttermost of my power. With
the light of histury before my eves, I have
unt the vanity to think, 'hat n»y mind and
actions, any more than other men’s, are l
proof against force or temptation; and for
that reason only, I forbear to say, positively, |
that l never will take this oath as a foren
sic qualification. I am speaking of it more
; particularly in that view. The application
of this test, in principle and in cnusequence, |
to offices, which are of public gift and trust, i
is widely different from such application to
professions, which are matter of right and
modes of livelihood. Of offices. I have ne
i ver coveted am, but those within the gift of
I t*le pcupla: They have condemned me as a
, woi n.-eaten hulk, not safe or sea worthy in
j the political tempest, of which we of this ge
r.c;<tii.ui, iicar otiiy the bodtngs ; aod to j
their high behest I submit, if not without ;
regret, at least without murmur. Hut toy
profession and my capacity, (such as it is) \
1 have always thought my own ; and altho* :
1 cannot doubt that this court will decide
according to its sense of justice. I shall think
it the last extreme of cruelty, if the laws of ,
| my country shall have ordained, that my j
bread, always moistened by the sweat of uiy
; brow, shall be henceforth embittered by
, dishonor, or the only reniaising road to me
ot laudable ambition, barred against nie lor
ever. i
November ‘26. 1810. J
The Court ((listen'rente Tucker J. ) re_ j
tracn-d its former opinion, and admitted i
Mr. Leigh to qualify on taking the oaths j
j heretofore usual cn/y. Copies of the opi I
nionsof the judges have been procured, and j
will be given ;ii the uex. l£nquiret>
BRITISH FINESSE.
\Vherever we turn our eyes, we see the
eHurts c*i the Kritish to supplant our com
merce. New interpolations are introduced
into the laws of nations-those branches
of commerce, which are recognized by reri
s,.‘n ai,d usage, are forbidden by arbitrary e
dicts or admiralty decisions——first, the
whole continent is put under the ban of
blockade under the pretext of coercing the
enemy, through the medium of his com.
mere;*, and then the British merchants en.
grixs the traffic which was denied to ue —
But where these gigantic stratagems will
not answer, recourse is had to the lowest
niul must pitiful tricks, to supplant us.—
Lies are propagated against us-their
1 ministei s turn informers—aud all princi..
, pie-is sacrificed to pelt. But their efforts
will be vain. Truth will dissipate detusi
; on“-and nature has destined us to a pitch
. *>f prosperity, which will list* superior to
I British interest and ambition.
Look at South America !
{ Tin- Federalists wished us to take a side
: in the rvtolution of Spain ■ ■ recognize the
; cause of Ferdinand, and receive Don Onis.
It we did nut, they threatened us with the
j 'csentment of South America-and the
1 loss of out-commerce in that quarter. They
pied'Cted, that all its ports would be shut
. us; and that the British would mo
nopcltze all its commerce. But “ mark
I how a plain tale will put them down! ”_
; Behold the pitiful .shifts which the British
themselves line used, as if conscious that
their tRui-ts i'j Spain could not entitle them
I to the exclusive* confidence of her provinces!
.See he very generous aid, which thefede
j dercl prints have Cumiiuuied towards rear.,
ing the comaieice of Britain upon the ruins
o! our own !
i urr are various reasons to believe, that
tnc flame of independence is rapidly spread
j ing throughout Spanish America, and that
j the people of tna invaluable region, so emi
! ueir ly gifted by the hand of nature, will soon
j mannest a most cordial disposition to culti**
l vbie '.he nrn st salutary intercourse, commer.
,ctal and political, with the U S. as their best
and natural Iriends. Our-own government
| vs ill no doubt chciish this disposition, by all
.'he means in its power. Instead of linking
| ourselves with either of the pat ties which
Claimed the mother country, our wisdom will
| be shown in fosleiing, as far as prudence
, pcmiit.the resources of its former col
' units—Let us establish the most arnica
I ole ielation* with Carraccas, and all those
j< uni l ies, in which the germ of indepen
jch u e has taken i oot—such is the policy of
the * ipublicuns.
But ke batan in the garden of Eden,
the British could not view these natural
approaches without, malignant jealousy,
and attempting to blight the first bud of
I oroise 'Huy have recently employ
ing every stratagem, to exclude our Mcr
ch.iiits liom a participation in the com
mi rce of our neighb ns. We have reasons to
Leiieve, that their Ex-minister. Ef J. Jack
son, among t the other schemes which he i
plotted against the U. S. and the other con
trivm.a s which lie forged for this partial. '
lar purpose, did actually resort, to this low
minded and pitiful trick- • The expsdient
w is worthy « f lit* charic'cr ns well as the j
object which he deigned, II<- is said to
haveaddrvs.'CJ letters to the British functi
O'larifs in the several ports in Spanish and '
l\uf'igue,e America, stating to them, that J
tin U S. teemed wi h French Emissaries, ’
h were to be transported to those ports in •
American vessels. Did lie stop here i Oh • i
Nn-^eflew to those able Auxiliaries of the
Britisn interest, ibose jealous guardians of <
tbr Ami i ican presperity—the federal pres, t
—a,,d he bad influence enough over cer
tainol their Editors to induce them to give <
(nrreiiCy in their pnpeis to these injurious I
taitk—“Do you take,” Gentlemen ? These
Gazettes were also cafe folly transmitted; I
Rs \ uchtrsof (lie -veracity of Mr Jackson. ’
1 tie physic worked admirably. •• The I
plot was a good plot, I can tell ’ye”-and t
lor a season it really an w<red wonderfully (
All the Auiet ican vessels Were, n| course, t
for a time, subjected in those ports,to the’ i
moat vexatious searches and injurious de- t
lays. But delusion will not endure forever, t
I lie tale I uns, that tin such Emissaries were t
found in any of our vessels and (hat the
b eat Tot tuguese and Spa i*d» authorities be
gun to petecive that it w*, all a tnisr pre I
srriitatioti of “our good friends” the British,
ti’C's til by «licit st Ifish and monopolizing
spirit. \ et tlu <0 honest folks con Id not ex
actly understand, as well they might not, in
what way it hud come to pass, thai Arne
"can presses, supported as they seemed to
tie by the to d people of these u.States, had
tin n induced to promote the Tommeice of a
foreign nation to the prejudice of that oi
tin>t own cojnirJ-,
So at 1t»W nans the Story—and like eye1*/
other fable, it has a Moral :
When the Federalists aid in doing mis
chief themselves, let them at least take the
credit tv ihemseives—und not ch.trge it to
others.
I'iswrs of Federal Logic £rc.
” now has the tone of those men wiio wen*
ao inveterate against British Licenses been chan
fed since their friend Bonaparte has common
ced granting them. Yn me to .Bonaparte i*.
*|| right-r Even Post
What miserable stuff! .ire British and
trench Licences the same f France issues
them to such vessels as ate bound to her
own ports, as vouchers for the prevention of
a commerce forbidden by her laws—G. B.
assumes the right of regula.ing our trade to
other ports, and compells us to pay tribute
to her for the enj yinent of our own rights.
1 he one is a municipal rule, he other a vi_
olatiou ot all public law. One says “ vou
may come imo my own house, on certain
cmditions”—The other— * you shall not go
to my neighbor's without paying me tribute
for it.”
*' Jefferson when he retired from the Pres,
deucy, obtained an act of Congress, franking for
life, all letters and packages to and from him —
This was to facilitate his operations in regola
tiiitf the rondu* t of his party -B Fed Jtifisb
Indeed * And was it for this that those of
Gaorge VVashmg*on and John Adams, were
also franked ? The rule W as followed, not
set.
It is said, that Air. Soururier has been
appointed Minister Plenipotentiary from
the French Government to the U. S_
end that a Consul General has also been
appointed.-These two circumstances arc
favorable svsmploms of the amicable dispo
sitious of France—There is a doubt, wlie**
ther the name of the minister is spelt Souru
t ier or Serurier—..mil it the latter, whe.
ther he he the General Serurier,- whom the
Imperial Almanac for 1810 designates in the
following style :
“ ke ^omte Serurier, Marshal of the
“ Empire,^ Grand Eagle of the Legion of
“ Honor, Senator anti Governor ol the Itnpe
“ rial Hotel of Iuvalides.”
for tiie enquirer.
The rumours from Portugal are as yet
vague and unsatisfactory-We are told from
London, that Col Trant l.ad retaken Coimbra
and the French troops stationed there, with their
British prisoners-And from L’Onent, that
the French has cut ofF a wing «f the British ar
™>’-1 beE ^ave to suggest a Clue to both
these reports.
In all their campaigns this feature has mnrk
ed the tactics of the French—they have pushed
on with their main army, to make a grand stroke
t that of their enemy, calculating, that if that
strong corps be dispersed, all the petty dei-ch
merits, about the country, would naturally v»
'nsh or fair In this way, Massena tnay have
pushed oil after Wellington, le ;rinjf Put a week,
detachment at Coimbn—-and Trant may have
pounced upon them-Afterwards however,
i riench detachment may have attacked the
corps of Wilson. Salveira St Trail, 6; givenlthem
the Coup de grace.
_Europe.
London. October 2-Mr. Margarot.
who was transported from Scotland some
>c.irs since, for republican principles, ha
ving suffered the penalty of the taw, had
arrived at Rio Janeiro, at the d.ke of the
late accounts, on itis re; urn to England
Mr; Horne Tooke, we understand, re
mains in a very exhausted condition_A
ware of his declining state, he has been par
ticularly anxious, during some months past,
to complete a vault for his remains, under a
plot of grass in the garden, near the north
wall on Wimbledon Common; it is now
ready for his reception. A handsome tomb.,
stone of finely poiished black marble, about
B feet long aud 2 wide, with the following
eograven epitaph, was a few days ago, by
his own direction, laid down. ’ 1
JOHN HORNE TOOKE,
Late Proprietor, and nrrw Occupier,
Of this spot,
Was born in June, 1736,
And died in .. -
Aged-Years,
Contented and Ghateful.
London, Oct. 14-The French gov.
eminent, it would appear, though det^rmm
L*d not to comply with the demands ot the
Americans, was yet desirous of inr|Q
eing General Armstrong to forego his in
Lentiun of leaving that country, by holding
aut expectations of the existing differences
aeing adjusted. A private letter from Pa
ris of the 9ih inst. states that the following
explanations on points which had previous
y been under discussion, were contained in
i note sent to Gen. Armstrong by the Duke
Je Cadore:
1. That all American ships, which should
tvrive in French ports betwixt this and
lie l6t of November next, should be coni
>rehended under the Rerlin and Milan de
:tccs, and not under any other existing de.
:ree
2 That the deciee of the 23d of March
1810, was revoked the mbment the French
jovei rwnent heard or the suspension of the
^ on ..Intercourse Act.
3 That the American ship3 which have
id suffered their flag to be dishonored by
ubmissiontothe H. Orders in Council, shall
vithout difficulty be admitted into the ports
>f Trance, with the liberty of clearing out
Lgain.
4 That the Emperor will give licences to
he American ships, this being the only fo
e'gn flag favored with them.
5 l‘hat American ships, loaded on Fi ench
»r American account, will be admitted into
French ports.
It is further stated, though from a know
edge of the rapacity of the French Kuler,
vc cannot believe the conditions would be
u!filled, that the French government had in
imated its intention to it store the Ameri.
an properly sequestered in consequence of
he decree of the 25th Match, ifelo, as so u
is it had been officially informed that the
’esseh and other property detained in A.
ncrica, had been restored tons lawful own.
irs.
ANOTHER SHEEP SHEARING,
na lute London Agricultural Magazine, wc
find a detailed account of the lloikham
Sheep Shearing, in which we observe die
following notice of Dr. Logan. The Mr
Coke litre mentioned, •» one of the nu>s
wealthy commoners, as well as one ol
the most zealous and successful practi
cal agrlculiuiists in (i. Britain Three
hundred gentlemen were present at the
dinner, among whom were many noble,
men and gentictqpgi »f UisVincu .n
ATter dinner. Mr. Coke, as usual, gave—
•• The Constitution aiul King ”
44 Prosperity to Agriculture.”
44 Irrigation. ”
Mr. Coke rose am) said, he felt himself
much honored and delighted with the pre
s*-nce of a distinguished visitor, an Ameri .
CHnjgentleman. whose virtues and whose ta
lents were highly appreciated in his own
country. Although he (Mr. Coke.) never
would enter into political topics at a meet
iiig which "'as formed s «lelv fur the ptomo
tion of agriculture ; yet in giving the health
of the gentleman who sat near him, hecouUl
not refrain from observing, that every one
must lament that a war had ever been car_
ned on between this nation and America
and most sincerely did lie wish, that peace
mig i be forever establixhed between the
two countries, that all which was past might
be buried in oblivion, and that we might con
tinue to he united in the strictest bonds of
friendship. Mr -Joke gave. 44 The health
: of Dr. Logan, and prosperity to America,”
winch was drank with three times three.
D ctor Logan, in returning thanks, said
ke,l^r no^ ^now h°w t® express his grati_
iudt for the sentiments winch had been ex .
■pressed by his hr n. lriend, and for the
high mark of respect he had then received
from an assemblage of such distinguished
persons. Since he had been in England,
lie had travelled much, paying particular
attention to the agricultuie of the kingdom,
and delighted and astonished lie was, to be
hold the j>e’faction to which it had been
carried, and more especially n. Norfolk, by
the gient exertions of Mr. Coke, to whom
the country, he considered, was greatly in
debted for its present prosperity. Dr Lo.
gan said, that t elative to the subject of peace
with America, the United Stales did most
anxiously wish for a peace with Grea liri
tain; they were desirous that no further
jealousies should continue to interrupt that
harmony which ought to exist between the
two nations; they did indeed wish all that
was past to be buried in oblivion, and he
hoped that the hatchet of discord would be
lorever sunk in the bosom of the Atlantic
Ocean. Dr. Logan concluded an animated
speesh, with a deseived tribu-.e io the a
gricuiturists in Great Uritain. mid with a
desire tor her prosperity and happiness.
Baltimore, Nov. 24.
LATEST FROM ENGLAND.
By tlu fast sailing sliip Portsmouth. I)*w_
son, in 25 days from London, and 22 from
the Downs,'London papeis have been re
ceived to the 22d Oct. By the politeness
of the Editors of the Whig we hnvebeen
favored with their contents. We have
only time to give the following extracts.
The parliament was further prorogued
until af.er Christmas.
The disgraced minister Jackson arrived
at I ortsm iuth October 19, and reached
London on t fie 21st. An expedition under
Sir Home Pophaii had sailed fiom Corunna,
October 14 igaiusi Santona, with it were
carried 10.000 spire muskets.
A f reach privateer schooner was taken
by a British vessel called the Briseis, Lieut.
Benthan after a desperate conflict. The
French captain, after the vessel had sur
rendered, and himself wounded in the knee
run n man through who instantly died, for
which he w'as thrown overboard by the car
penter ot th* British vessel but was alter,
wards saved.
Forty thousand souls had been driven
: into Lisbon before the retreating English
{army who left the country behind them a
; mere d sert.
“Lisbon, October 12 ——Romana has.
come d>,wn through the Alenrejo to the op
posite side of the Tagus with about 10.000
Spaniards; his troops arp ?.► this moment
embarking to come over.
“ It is said Mouier has joined Massena
with about the same number of troops. Our
troops are in the Mafra lines, the enemy all
along our front; continual rencontres of
I parties, but nothing great; It will be the
battle of giants 1
Generals 1 rant and Silveira, with 12 or
15.000 Spaniards and Portuguese are near
Coimbra in Massena’* rear.
" J he monks of Alcobava opened their
stores to all who clio^e to utk-; my tvng &
sent 85 pipes ot wine to our army ; the es
o'eL?^U,ned fire) among *hict> were
9.000 bushels of wheat, to prevent the en.
my from seizing it.”
LATEST FROM THE ARMY IN
PORTUGAL.
London, October 22.— ..-We announced
on Saturday the arrival of the Apollo, of 36
guns, with dispatches from Lord Wellington,
containing an account of his retreat to Tor
res Vcdras, followed by \lussma, and that
the two armies were within three leagues
of each other on the 14h; and also stated,
on the authority of accounts from Oporto,
that colonel 1 rant had taken possession of
Coimbra, and made 5000 prisoners, consis
ting chiefly of the sick and wounded at the
battle of Iluzaco.
\\ iih respact to the dispatches received
on .Satutdriy, their substance has been
circulated through the government offices,
in a bulletin, ot which the following is a
copy:— °
‘‘Dispatches have been received from lord
Wellington and Mr. Stuart, of the date of
ir i ’nsC bv which it appears that the
allied armies had retreated within thftr
lines, their right being at Castanbero, and
Villa Franca, and their left at Torres Ve
dras. on the 7th and 8th inst. They had
not been molested in their rrtreat, but some
affairs had taken place between the cavul
ry of the two armies, in which the British
and Portuguese cavalry had distinguished
themselves,
“ The rains had begun on the 8'h. The
Bt itisli army are represented as being pro.,
tecied frorn them in the villages and under
huts; the frrnch army is severely exposed
to them. ' '
" Lolonel Wilson had occupied the posi
tion ol B'lz-tco, with a Portuguese brigade,
on the 6th; and it was reported that colonel
I rant had entered Coimbra on the rth,and
had taken a French garrison, with their
wounded prisoners.”
Such was the state and positions of th*
allies on the 14th. Lord Wellington had
reached the point of his destination, Torres
Yedras, before the rains set in, and with
his army unimpaiicd in every respect. At
the departure of the messenger, his head
quarters weie at Arruda, a town a trout three
miles south of Alenquer. Our left was at
I orres Vcdras, and out r.gin at Cas'anbero
upon the Tagus. The British lines ex.end
20 miles. 1 he French were in a linenearlt
opposite I Iteir advanced guard was at
Ville Vcicle, i.early opposite to Forres Ve
!ras ; their head quarters at Hio Major,
a ;o#n about fifteen luilps west of bama
fPjUt
The ground occupied by the allied am v
is a bold mountainous country, and was the
position selected by Junnt in August ltfos_
* orres Vedras is 7 leagues north ward of Lis.
bon, and 2 front Vimeira, which is neater
<<> the const. This place was marked out ns
'he line of neutrality between the British 8c
French, whilst the negotiations were pend
ing at Cintra The town is situated in a
valley, and Is commanded by a hill in the
tot ni of a sugar loaf, on whi.ch are the mins
of an old Moorish castle. Lord Wellington
has been often heard to say, that if he had a
choice of an advantageous position in Portu
gal, in winch to tight the Fienrh.it would be
lorres Vedras-,» thk positio.. his lord
Ship INTENDS TO MARK A STAND It hits
been strongly fortifying, with this intention,
from the beginning of the Campaign ; and
! a33 be,efuone P;irt °* «»»* lordship's policy
to draw Massena through the country to this
post. 7
The latter, on the other hand, is renre
sen ted, in the ministerial circles, in a state*
. «esPa'k without provisions, without med.
Heal stores, and without a considerable por
tion of his heavy artillery,the rainshaving
set m on the 8ili. durii g his advance loKio
Major, and rendering the mads, which are
natura.lv difficult, almost impracticable.
It was. under these circumstances, cui.fi*
dcntly txpected that lie must attempt to
bring on a general action immediately or
commence Ins retreat-In the latter case
he has only two lines oy which he can retro
g.itle. One by Same rein towards Cast t-Mo
Bi anco, which at all times is a mostdiffi.
cu.i route ; but in the rainy season almost
impassable fur artillery. The other bv Co- *
mibi a, and the iwe by which lie advanced
wlucii is occupied by the Portuguese mdi
j Hi* ana pessant.y. The shortest distance is
at least -00 miles. He cannotcroas the Ta
gua below Ab antes—he will hardly venture
| to pass above that, place. r
I mm 1 lie character of Massena, we think
it, however almost certain tnat he will nr e
lei a batik under every disadvantage, to a
n treat ; and. according to the report of the
riench officers arrived in England as pri
soners, he had resolved to make an attack
on iutsday or Wednesday last. In this
case we confidently anticipate a glorious vic
to. y — though, trom the sttength anil despe-'
‘“"7 u- enemy, we cannot expect to
purchase it cheaply.
Lord Wellington has an extended line of
prn s to defend, while the enemy has the
option of attacking any one point he may
|c“ ,,,sr ^ is also now stated in the ministe
rial Circ es, that his whole aimy does not
exce d 60.000 including 33 000 British
troops ; while Masseua’s are rated on the
| same authoriry, at seventy thousand. O
| ther accounts, however, are move favoral
hit? His Lordship’s force, augmented bv
f esh supplies, is esumattd at 36 000 British
anti Crerman troops besides the Portuguese -
and R mana. with 12.000 met), had arrived
on the borders of the Tagus, which he was
crossing to join them. The French infantry.
'lnha* lale,y been discove.cd, do not exceed
50,000 men, and the cavalry 15 000
The sick and wounded of the British,
army amount to four thousand eight hun
ored men The medical staff is on a
Urge establishment at Lisbon, and held
,n high estimation by the army. fcNe.
2 !>r0per Prrtcautio" and preparation are
making at L.soon to embaik the troops
should it be lound uece^ary. This i3 lar
from being apprehended; but if such should
c u.e unfortunate result, we believe the
embai katum would take place, not at Lis
w,nr ? oF^r0^®8’ Wl,ich is le" west.
fr dM V 1 ie, e isu “Jerable good road
from Mafra to Lin.ra and from thence <\[.
pUcet0aUathaed ; 7d bi' eMarking* at* hi,
place all the disadvantages would be SVn!
i.cu ; uotn to the British army & to the n l'
cUv8;iWL h """“I aUend a ,ttreal buo the *
city of Lisbon, and an embarkation directly
loin that city At the departure of the A.
Me ' WaS ,na of inconceivable
ous le , every man capable of carrying a.
musket wax sent off to the army. The gun
bo.us and ship** launches, under the tfon
heut. Berkeley, moved up the Tagus, and.
•ve'e enabled, from their posi.ion. both to
annoy the enemy at Villa Nuova. and sup
port the right Wing of the British army. P
(-il'jbe.
Toe important event alluded to in the la* m.
•;Ki-4|).iot tht Bulletin, rudely as h rumor i*
. mmately put h yond .11 doubt by concurring
•...vi cs horn C iiiiiiu Hiid Oporto
I’or i o, O*. 9 “ Sin:e writing you this
l have ju rocd th* urn- governs
. i r«nt) had taken 30JO prisoners at Coimbra*
naving entered this ■ i> will, only t„e militia of
h,s district about 6000 I'Uey will ali nive
here on Friday. We nave taken ill tlie medic ne
chests, surgeons, fcc and abou: 5) offic r-> ;<r«
amongst litem ; but col p mpi «»*, the Portu
gnes-.t .itor, who was appoint <1 governor by
n ?„l- T. ,,e8CapCtl We*re "il, ■> youmry
naturally suppose, very much elated ; lhe bells
are ringing, and every demouslrutisn of joy is
shewing. I he ni litia entered Coimbra on Sun
day evening at five, and the few -r.valrv immr
d ilely took possession of' the bridge ; tlie in.
R^!^,dKper“:d “11 OV the c''y- “"<* took the
F-ckI, by surprise. We lost about 20 men, and
col. berpe, of the Penn .fi,I P„r,„guese rcuri
■nent, was wounded in the arm ; col. Trant hud
several shots fired at him, hut escaped Toe
rrench by their own accounts, plundered Co
imbra most cruelly, and the destruction of pro
j.-.y there was very great.-The office, who
brought this account declares he never witness,
ed such horrid scenes.”
Corunna Extraordinary Diary, of Oct 14.
his?*Sr,Sh.,C°,,SUl Opwto, charged by
m . ?Ry t K* Ke»«*',a) of this king
“ m willi the communication of all notices rela
tive to the actions and movements of the Combi
:;-ry:r; ,he F,rnch ,n ^,°,fugii,con,mu
to,loWl< '» » letter dated the 7■ _
On the 1st there was another * tion n -r C >im
hra, and 1 was credibly inform d that it wasglo- ,
nous for our arms. On tlie morning of the 31
u"k • r wa* bca,d. which lasted five hours,
l he inhabitant* of the country north of the Mon
logo and Figucyra have croa* d to the other
ude, by the orders ol lord Wellington, who on
|"f^h wrote to captain Beniel, .f his majes
1) * Oaspe, telling him to order the t.ans
ports to sad from that port (Figueyra,) because
he •uppo-ed tlie trench would go there for
some days 1 have been info, ined bj « porUl
fTiirs- vessel, on board of winch capt Brahartl
K to I’eniche, that lo,d Wellington had is
sued a proclamation destring them lo |Cjpv#
the,r homes, for that every thing went on well,
»nd that he |,sd taken 3 French genet : In p.ko
I*?,- „ 1 'If.1 re",c.1' wu,; «» Cu.m three dry*
Urftil the 3 1, and in tin e ening ofthat day one
d:v.8,on ol them arrived within three leagues of
*■ igueyra. All the inhabitants fh d not known -
whether they were ih.gbsh or Portutu b.-, but
•itpijosing them to be French. Our u my ha. rc
bleu to a good position.
' The Loglisu general in this p' ce hns con
'umioaied by Ins «ido de-Camp, to Ins eve);*,;,
y Mie Captain gcoeikl of thi, k.iigil.ini, that i.
,nu received in.*l.ibynce Uur Vic Brr.i-h *,«»•