The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-12-02 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
-FRIDAY. Dammam 2.

LA'T'EST INTELUGENCE FROM SPAIN.

The following observations were written, and
the I',ll,cr was just going to press, at two o'ido6vls
this morning, when we received un ExvitLie from
Portsmouth, with important int( Inge:ice from
Spain, the subeiance of which is given in our pre-
ceding eoluintic The intelligence was brought to
Portsmouth by Ln Bonne eittlenue, from Co-
mpile, whieliplace she left on Siitunley last.

Th • Phpistris packet is arrived at Falmouth,
with Mails fruits Comma, which place she left on
the 24th ultimo. We have Teemed by her Co-
retina pere; to the 23d inctusive, but they do
not bring intelligenre from the theatre of war, of
later date time Cie 33.1 i, the precise date to
which we ree,eived accounts by the allediatur.—ln
those aceonuts it was stated, that on tile morning.
of the 13tfi, General BLAKE wrote a letter to the
Magistrates of Sautona, .laced from his entrenched
ramp, at iteyilosa. with the information, that after
twelve days incessant lighting, he had retired to
that place from Valmaseda, in order to concentrate
and refresh his trcrous. The Coriuma papers are
important, a. they confirm this account, and give
some particulars of the series of actions which took
plate. Na the 3rh, BLAKK attacked, defeated, slid
pelesued the enemy beyond Balinaiesla and I oche.
flu the 7111, Br. tae attacked the cueiny again in
Cocoas, but his centre not coming up time, he
was obliged to resume his position at Balimiseda.
On the Nth his rear was engaged, but the result is
not stated. We may presume, koweier, that he
was pursued hi his retreat on the 7th, aiiil that as ,
only his rear teas etch=t ed on the tith. he still eoe-
ti oo ed to retiie theeneiny. On the lota,
we find the eacmy &gem the assailants. They
attacked Bt..tlie. art Espinosa with double his
force. The battle was long, severe, mid obstinate.
It lasted from one o'clock until night. The dark-
mess only separated the combatants. The victory
was left undecided. On tits nth the enemy re-
itesed the attack. titre it appears the French got
;iutu BLAKE} reas,awl his army was roissider-
JAY dispersed. •Oa the 12th he retreated to
Reynosa, to rally ; but the enemy, still fol-
lowing him up, attacked him there again, with
a fresh and superior force, and obliged him to
fall back to a vaiiey iu the vicinity of St. Andrea,
where lILAKL peptised to rally, and to attack the
enemy, as soon SS Ite had concentrated his forces
and receised succours. For this purpose a corps
of e.OOO had pushed ou by Burgos, to join him,
and orders had hem given to all the troops
that lay convenient, to march to his assistance.—
No official acconnt s from the theatre of war had
Been received at Comma subsequent to the 31st
of October. This detail of the operatione of Ge-
neral BLAKE, fr the 4th to the cith of November,
was communicated by an espies.* to the Eighth
General BROVN.RICK. The Spaniards appear, upon
the whole, to have had the worst of it, as we thud
them almost coestantly retreating.

We have act mints from the vicinity of Purges to
the I Ith, up to a Lich date it does not appear that
the Friar. hail passed that city in any considerable
force. An official report from the Corint Lk 141.-
V EDlt:it, dated the 10th, at Lersuei, a town in Old
Cabbie, situate upon the Asian*, about miles
south of Burgos, states, that at that date the enemy
had not advanced so far. The Count lit; it I' IN EDER
had been stationed at Burgos, from %Inch place,
after an obstinate resistance, lie a 1.% ii en, by a
superior force, to Lerma; and as he apprehemled
that the enemy were following him up, he propos-
ed to retire still farther to the strong per.ition of
Araoda. Great preparations had been made to
oppose the approach of the enemy ,and ardetit hopes
were entertained that he would have reason to re-

pent his advance to Burgos.
Among the new arrangements proposed by
the Supreme Jnnta, au army of reserve is to
he formed, of which the English troops are to
compose a- part. On the sae of Barcelona, it is
said, 4,000 Spaniar,:s, and some English troops,
have entered Hostel. A force of 4,000 men, from
Majorca, MIMI also expectril to disembark at Vick.
Such is the substance of the Spanish papers to
9.3 d last inclusive, brought by the Dispatch.
The Favourite sloop sailed at the tame time from
"that port with dispatches for Government. They
are dated from Commit!, the g.3J last, from Stu

Vineente de la Barquera, and also from the Su-
preme Junta at Madrid, but the date of the last
we have not learned. They confirm the account of
General BLAKE'S defeat in the series of actions from
the 4th to the 13th, and also the defeat of a part of
the army of Estremadura near Burgos. They also
carry down themilitary operations much farther than
the Corunna papers. It appears, from them, that in
the series of actions between BLAKE and New, the
Asturtaus having been worsted on the 11th, upon
the left, the French got possession.of a height
which covered the road on which they retreated,
and they were thrown into great confusion, and
General BLAKE retired on Reynosa; but a French
column appearing on this road from Burgos, he
retreated by Soto, to San Vim:Pate dtha L' nryuera.
Here, upon the 17th, he had collected ucar 20,000
of his troops, the Marquis De LA Rot 4NA hurl
taken the command, and they would soon be in a
stute to advance again.

Tile French bud occupied St. Andoro and F•an-
ton:* ; the former on the 16th, and the latter on
the :20t ; lint, by the exertions of General Lets n,
all the provisions, ammunition, and stores, sent by
this country, had been removed.
General 11nuat: had arrived on the toth at Sa-
lamanca, and General BAIRD ass ut Astorga.

Tirere are no accounts of the French having
advanced beyond Burgos, and it is therefore pro-
bable, that the Count De BEINGDEII stilt re-
mained in his position at Lerma, which be oc-
cupied Droti the lOth. This intelligence, upon a
general view, is certainly bad ; because it is ad-
mitted that the French have beatetiattscs, and
are masters of St. Antler° as well us Bargor; but
the eguse of Spain is lint therefore hopeless. On the
contrary, no people were ever more firmly united
against an invader than the Spaniards ; and while
that union and spiiit prevail, the nation never can
be subdued. Th.! Vessengcr who arrived with
the dispatches for Government passed through the
arnie of Sir Davin BAIitD, between Astorga
sod Lugo, who were, as lie describes them,
in pretty good condition. But, as to 'a junction
between 'Won't and BAIRD, no hopes of it can be
entertained, for a considerable time—certainly, as
it is believed, not before the esth or 30th of No-
vember—perhaps not till the middle of December.

A Gottenburgh Mail arrived yestenlay. It has
brought au official account of the action after the
rupture of the armistice in Finland, in which the
"Swedes obtaiued a victory over the Russians.

At a moment when the Court of Inquiry has
suspended its discussions, though we believe that
the public have pretty well formed their opinion on
the conduct of the Ciutra Generals ; au.l at an in-
staht whets ooly hope and conjecture, mixed with
much anxiety, can be indulged relative to the grest
events mt,iing beyond the Pyrenees, we conceive
that we cannot direct the general attention to any
document or paper, contenting matter of such hi-
terest maul curiosity as the statement made by the
Minister of the Interior to the Legislative Body, on
the .2d of November. Those who wish to see the
actor,' condition of the French empire, at the close
of the it. year of the usurpation of en Italian
Soldier, who has risen out of the volcano of the
revolution, may survey in that stutemeut its prin.
cilial features, as delineated by one of the Mem-
bers of the Administration. It caunet, therefore,
be suspected of lint representing matters as favour-
ably as they call bear, consistently- with any portion
of truth or of probability. Yet, through this
partial medium, we pLinly perceive the fallen,
and almost extinguished condition, of the greater
number of those sources of national wealth and
grandeur, which existed under the Boviusos race,
but which the savage and interested despotism
of the present tyrant has altogether crushed.—
Intent only on projects of personal ambition,
aggrauilisement, or revenge ; meditating only the
elevation of the Bon APARTES, the BEAUHARMOIS,
and the MIURATII ; considering, like Casaa, no-
thing done till the family of Ajaccio should oc-
cupy, by its different branches, or by its delegates,
all the thrones still tilled by the
_ancient royal
houses; this subtile and atrocious Chieftain ap-
pears to regard France and tire French people as
only made to be his vile instruments. Poverty,
cessation of industry and manufactures, extinction
of commerce, conscription, unending wars, priva-
tions at.d sufferings of every kind ; these are the
agents that he employs to bend down anti to hum-
ble the revolutionary spirit of the nation. Neces-
sity compels to other means of subsistence thou
trade. in a country where nature has given in vain
the vine, the olive, and the silk-worm. The tin-
roune and the Rhone, which diffused plenty, not
only along their tenths, bat whose productions
were transported to every surrounding state, are
now little more le netirial than the Neva or the
Oby. The quays of Bouideaux, of Marseilles, and
of Nantes, air no longer covered with objects
of merchundize. The fleets which us, d to ars.
rive. from St. Domingo, front Pondicherry, from
Nlartinique, and front City rune, hare disate.
reared ; mid are only replaced by a few priva-
teers, whose owners, incapable of otherwise em-
ploying their capital, pick up • precarious sib-
sittcnce, its perpetual apprehension of the English
cruisers. Emboldened and impelled by the inter-
diction to import a number of articles into Frame,

which nre either of the very first
become, by long habit, a part of cununnip.
tioa among all classes of the peop4., band, of
smugglers, leontrabandiers) set the edicts of the
Government at open defiance. We could rot
ousily conceive, or even believe, the extent mid
magnitude of this evil, if we did no", know it from
the very admission and avowal of Cie Minister of
the Tyrant himself. It is emt, easy to amplify or
exag6eruLte the terms in which he mentions and pg.
probates it. Still less is it easy to increase the
strength of those denunciations of " indignatiea
and vengeance against the individuals alio still
devote themselves to such criminal pecalations
and tiansgressions," which are contained in
the speech befcre us. Ile Avarua them to dread
the terrible and rapid apt14.1460n of those
laws, which authorise the invasion cf their for-
' tune and personal castigation." But experieeee
has hilly proved, in every country, a,kliu tA,ry
period of time, how little can be done by sa:‘giii-
nary edicts, to repress industry and energy, a here
the Government is oppressive, merciless, und yin,
dictive. If, however, Naroteon, from enmity
to Great Britain, extinguish commerce, sod
interdict navigation, his pa:ernal cares encourage
ugriculture. How ? it may be perhaps asked ; "Ey
the re-organization," says the 'Minister, 4. doer
positories for the breed of horses. Eight new reposi-
tories of stallions have been formed this year, and
premiums held out to the owners of the best lior‘es
brought to fairs." He adds, " two new sheep.
farms have been introduced, and 600 Merino sheep,
of the best breed, have been ordered from Spain,
and are already arrived in France." These are :111
the exertions enumerated, or pretended to have
been made, for the encouragement or advaiwenalit
of agriculture, by an Imperial Ruffian, who hos
waste and desolated Europe, from the Kirruta
to the Tagus, and who is now occupied ir. making
of Spain a vast Church-yard, for no crime except
that of reclaiming her native Sovereign, and reject-
ing an obscure adventurer, whom he riuleaeours
to obtrude upon the Spqniards as their fling! If
we did not know that the thing is impossible, we
should be tempted to suppose that such a
dis-
closure savoured more of satire than of panegyric
on RC N APART& •

An officer arrived at six. o'clock, last night, at
the Admiralty, with dispatches, we understand,
from Lord COLLINGWOOD, the substance of 'Ai, h
arts immediately forwarded to His MAJESTY, 4
Windsor. The dispatches are said to contaiu
vouruble intelligence from the Mediterranean.

General BVILIZARD arrived, on Wednesday,

Portstuouth, and arrived yesterday iu Loudon.

Yesterday a Coutt of Director; was held at thel
East India House, when Captain BENJAMIN
RICHARDSON was sworn into the command of thei
ship Albion, consigned to China dirt ct. The
Court adjourned at six o'clock, till 'Wednesday
next. _ _

eht c May morning, about 9 o'clock, Ikl r. Mo s eat,
the Metvienger, arrived at the Foreign (Abr.', with
dispatches from Mr. FRERE, our Amino, :die at
l'iludrid, for Mr. CANNING and Lord C.esrit-
aL:AGY.

On Tuesday, the Duke of Yon had an into
view with Earl CHATIIAM, at his home, in Ha
street, Berkeley-square, from two o'clui:k till be
four. _

Wednesday, the Duke of CLARtSCE had n•I
interview with the Noble Earl, from tiro
till about three.

On Weeltiesily mos • g, at tea o'clock, a meet
lag of the Committee of the Privy Couucil, eun•
tasting of Sirs 14 ILLIAM SCOTT. '‘‘ 31. WYNNE,
and Evms N Exxon, took place at the Cooed
Chamber, %i hitelsall, to hear and determine Fria
Appenie.
Late advices front Mexico have been received
which state, that intelligence of the glorious
',ace of the Spanish nation had been reeeirtd, sud
that h lag Fs ANNAN is hail liven proclaimed there
with universal exult:molt. The Coverninrot of th,t
Co:m.4 is said to have come to a formal resoluta)r
to indemnify Great Britain for any expanses ihe
might incur in assisting the Mother Couutrv.
The Prelates of Ireland err soliciting ?Govern.
ment for a general privilege of franking. in tax
inun with the English 13ensh; at present, oaly tl
two Irish Bishops who have Mats in the House
Lords daring the Sessions enjoy tills privilege.
Cho Ihetur, from Plymouth for Got
burgh, put into a port in Norway, and is seise
to American, who has attired within this I
from liamburgh, gives a most melancholy ace
of the distress and oppression to which thy
burglars are subject, under the regime of the l'it
The prejudice of BONAPARTE against th::t
which was provoked principally upon the uce
of NAepra TA VDT's am-Pt, sterns to operate

increasing rirukncea Police regulations hart
edupttd and enforced with iinexarue.,!
against eatery species of commerce, portico
where there exists a shadow of stoipteian that
articles of Euglish produce sr manufacture
attempted tro be introduced. Our informant
seen women,on their returning from e mere wa
the country, searched in a manner that betra
conopirte contempt For common decency. 41
merchants and members of the ancient rnnnic

ty are treated with peculiar harshnen. So ruu

deed is this felt, that sm h as can contrive

move their property oeser GO to emigrate: 1,1
vigilance of the French to prevent the rriee
Property, 1..-nards against cur considerable
two. All or property that is to Le funnel, the,,
renders appear resolved to ,eize, *Heiler tine
of contributions. Those rout rilmtion., for *1
twelve months, have amounted to ei..tht..en
of marks Lamm. In fart, riva, ell .t' at
heard, BONAPARTF. seem.: I.' i.:•VI• deterilliett:
the total destruction of t!,1,. city.