The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-12-20 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
TUESDAY, Mt:LimEa 20.

SPANISH ACCOPNT OF THE BATTLE OF TUELLA.

We have received Spanish papers to the 10th,
and Lisbon to the Ist instant. The former of
which, contain the Spanish account of the battle of
Tudela on the .23d last. It differs most materially
from the French. It was obstinately contested, and
the loss on both sides was considerable. We know
only of the defeat of the Spaniards, by their heing
obliged to retreat; hut they do not appear to
have been dispersed, nor was the defeat decisive.—
It also appears. that Casrattos did not retreat
along the Ebru towards Saragossa. Having collect-
ed his forces at Boria, on the south the Ebro, he
proceeded to Calatayud, in Arragon, about 37 miles
southwest of Saragossa. Calatayud is situate iit the
contliii of the Xalon and Xaloca. CASTAIIIOS re-
mained there on the 17th, but as protisions were
scarce. and lie had heard of theadvanceof the French
to Soinosierra, he proposed to proceed to Siguenza,
in Old Castile. As Siguenza is only 60 miles
north-east of Madrid, he would of course be able
to reach the vicinity of that capital before the Id
instant, the day on which, according to the 13th
Bulletin, the French appeared before it. If then
the French and Spanish accounts of their respect-
ive movements be tolerably correct, it is pro-
liable that CASTANOS, finding himself unable
to di fend Madrid, proceeded to Aranjum and,
• !II the Supreme Punta, went on southward to
Tol,rlo. 'flue French, it appear, were defeated
at S,mio.ierra on the 2.3t1i. 'Elie attack by the
Dulte of Bt.i.txtro, which the thirteenth
represents as successful, and enabled the
Frenei to march to Nlailriel, was ;made cm the 30th.
The strong poets of Guadarraula and the Escur4l,

in the direct rise, would, however, still remaiu to
be forced ; and as the French do not notice any
farther opposition to their approach to Madrid.
after forcing the Pass of Socnosierra, we continue
of •pinion that the enemy a.lr•anced by the tir-
cuitious route of Biutriago.

It is impossible to present any subject to the
human mind, at the actual itionient, which can
produce an interest comparable to that excited by
the state of the Spanish Monarchy and nation. All
other objects, or people, or countries, awaken com-
paratively littleanxiety. To Austria, and to To rkey,
we look with composure. Enthusiasm is awaken-
ed by the contemplation of Spain. We conceived
it a part of Coat impartial duty a hich we owe to the
people, to state, in THE PRESS of yesterday., the
opinions and ideas of those persons who are accus-
tomed to cousider the advance of BON APA RTC to-
wards the subjugation of Spain, and of the Eu-
ropean Continent, us systematie, progressive, and
almost infallible. We feel it, liowever, at least
equally our province to Mier, and to place in a
conspicuous point of view. those topics of hope,
probability, and expectation, which present them-
selves to our minds, on contemplating the last
events transmitted to us from France. They may
serve, its some measure, to counterbaleilee the
painful reflections excited by a consideration of
the errors of administration, the waut of energy in
our commanders, aml the depressed condition of the
Central Junta, flying before a successful invader.
the possession and occupation of the defile
of Somosierni, followed by the entrance of Nero.
LEON into Madrid, are in themselves most calami-
tous occurrences, it would be futile to deny. But

the loss of Madrid is not the reduction of Spain.
JOSEPH 130111PARTE entered and remained in the
capita!, duriog eight or nine days, last July ; hut
he precipitately abandoned it soon aftereards.—
During the " War of the Sticcesaion," under
Queen Amax. precisely about one hundred years
ego, the Archduke CRARLEs was twice carried by
the English to Madrid, and as often proclaimed, in
that metropolis, king of Spain ; yet the loyalty
and affection of the Castilians towards his competi-
tor, PHILIP V. finally expelled the Archduke from
the Spanish territories. Madrid, like Berlin, is,
in fact, an indefensible town, and its magnitude
did not admit those defences or batteries to be
thrown up for its protection, in the short space
of a few days, which so eminently contributed to
the glorious and successful resistance made by Sa-
ragossa. But master, as Box APAIITE is, of the
Metropolis, his position there must still be most
delicate, perilous, and critical. Arturo and Va-
lencia, with their respective Capitals, to the north
and east, are, as far as we have reason to believe,
unsubjected to the arms of France. BLAKE and
RONANA, with the remains of their armies, occupy
Leon. CASTANOS, at the head of a large body of
men, was at Figueras. The English forces, though
divided, and retreating into Portugal, are never-
theless formidable, and may he speedily trans-
ported, either to Andalusia, to Biscay, or to
any other portion of the Peuinsula left open to
attack by the Corsican Invader. The army of
Estremadura, though defeated, is not annihi-
lated. We may even conjecture, if not infer, from
the circumstances related in the Thirteenth Bul-
letin, that gold, rather than steel, corruption, more
than valour or tactics, opened to him the Pass of
Semosierra. Ilow else can we explain the assertion,
that " all the Colonels, or Lieutenant-Colonels, of
the corps of the Spanish division, are among
the prisoners ;" while he admits, " that all the
soldiers would have bee. taken, if they had not
thrown away their arms, and dispersed in the
mountains ?" Either treason or cowardice must
have betrayed to him this important defile ; and we
are much more warranted to suspect the former
among the Officers, than the latter among the
troops. Those who so confidently calculate on
isiarot,ros's ultimate success, always regard mo-
ney as his most powerful agent.
Ile ut. vertheless, other impediments to van-
quish in Spain, thin' were opposed to his progress in
Austria until in ['moils. The most inaccessible
part of the kingdom, namely, the Sierra Morena,
and La Mat•cha, lies between Madrid and Seville.
He must either traverse that district, or he will
necessitated to approach Andalusia by a circuitous
route. Cadis and Carthagenu, as well as Malaga
awl other pmts. offer to us the means of landing
ipa. The Junta have long since fixed on Alma-
gro or Cisidad Real, two small towns situate in the
fastnesses of La Mancha, nearly half way between
Toledo and Cordova. as places proper for their re-
treat, whenever the enemy should gain possession or
Madrid. Immense resources of every kind preseut
theusselvesin the provinces 'don the Mediterranean,
from the Guadiana round to the frontiers ofCatalonia.
We venture to assert, that if the Spaniards them.
selves nourish and preserve in their Isamu the
desire of independence, not all the armies of this
victorious, subtle. and able 'lglu/. can ',dace to
his obedience the Coasts of Spain. • They are ic-
cessible to our fleets at every .seasom which may
pour in troops anceetisively,on- the -most dirtant
quarters. and may appear in the coarse of two or
three mouths at Bilboa, at Ferrol, it Cadiz, and in
every port of Grenada..Mnreia, and Valencia. That
BON •PaHrE will accomplish his threat of "arrowniag
his brother in Madrid." caa admit of little doubt

But it rests with the nation to submit to this
usurper. of Italian growth. trausplauted from so cb.
seure town of Corsica, and placed on the throne „I
CHAILICI V. If the Spaniards resit*, tl:e conar.t it
only Lie inning. We wait 10
what course the Junta and IbioaL ,a 1
a have ocinotto,
in this great and awful crisis ♦of the !..k..i..1511

Tlii• Mars cutter letter of tultrque, arrived rahtiouth, on Thur..fity, from I.l,hoii. 4
cum.. iris,ditger Caw. A. NI•GE/itme, of he
Itegimeot of eh:it 4eti with deeo,,tche, tr. al
Madrid, dated the ...'7th nit. 81a which ",•1••• rt.
eeived nt Lisboa on the sth iu,tunt, It •,.
portal on 111, ut I...thuouth, that the
Mardi hunt rallied utter the defray of iSi
and tot off 23,000 of the eJenr). Th.. hitter on
of the report we do not credit.

Thirty-five sail of utimports, haring, on hert,d
the lath regiment of Light ; as
sly
about 30 !ail of light transports,
from Falmouth. wider coo) oy ot the Sen. rn ix, of
gnus. Captain Gnasuto. The formerwith the Itym
proceed to Lisbon, thelutter go to No, it is Ms', for
the purpose of taking off Sir John MOORF:4(l.lVitillog,
Au order was received by empress for Counnissiniqv
Bowan, of the Tran sport Board, to proceed inititel..
ately for, Vigo ; in consequence he embarked 1,1
hoard t he Agent's ship ZepArir. The whole procetik
down the Channel with st tine breeze from the minis,
ward. The disembarkation of the Dragoon) at
Lisbon is emulated to the charge of Litutromi
WILIMARAM, on beard the Henry traosport,
Officer who took the 3d division of French traps
to Quiberoa from Lisbon.

Yesterday letters were received at the East hula
House, which state, `that the Chip Walpole asst
on shore on the Mouse Sand, about a mile belay
Margate, on Sunday morning, her main and airs
masts gone, aad apparently full of water. Fin
of the crew *reached the shore on Sunday on a
spar-200 men were left on board. lire head lies
to the sea, and great hopes were entertained of
saving all the men at low water. The ca•go,
supposed, will be recovered—it is not estimated
at any groat sum. Accounts of other damage sus-
tained liy our *hipping in the Downs, duniig the
late storm, will be found in our ship news, in the
last page. Soave apprehensions are entertaiouii
for the safety of the Duke of Montrose, another of
the East ludiataen recentir arrived in the Downs.

.-,...
The Duke of Your; will hold a public day, thii
day, at his Office in the Hone Guards.
The Report of the Hoard of Inquiry upon the
Convention of Clans, is expected to be mottle to
His MAJESTY to-morrow.

It is said, that in the French Reply to our An-
swer to the Propositions from Ei fart!), and which
is noticed in His Slsstsry's Declaration breaking
off the correspondence. BO%IPAILTS observed.
" that it would not be more unreasonable on his
part to pmpo'e admitting the Catholics of Irrhuid
as a party to any negation ))))) than that wr should
propose admitting the Spanish Insurents."
His NisrEsTv's ship Hydra, with her convoy
from Portsmouth. is arrived at Gibraltar. ._

The American rebsels Mary, Ltt, and the Bet-
sey, Rowe, laden with oil, are captured and carried
into Calais.

The Trafalgar, Faaansos, from Lisboa, is ar-
ris•ed off Portland. She patted through the oat-
aril-bound West India fleet on tiith cart. off the
Lizard.

It is in contemplation to establish soap shops in
Sheffield, to alleviate the distresses of the poor,
arising from the present high price of proswans
and scantiness of labour. This laudable v.:topple
will probably be followed in other large manufac-
turing tow NIL
A Treasure Journal of yesterday, in its bio;va.
',hies! sketch of the late Earl of Lismaeon say.,
" he was uniformly losont, and finely attached to
the British Constitution." This is the old cant of
the party uniformly loyal"—and pray what
tieh subject is not uniformly loyal ?-..Must a man
he conceived in the midst of places and pensions.
be born in the midst of places and pensions, nursed
in the midst of places and pensions, grow up in the
midst of places and pensions, grow old in the midst
of places and pensions, and die in the midst of
places and pensions, lavished upon hirns.4f and li.s
family, to be eutitleal to the praise of uniform loy-
alty ?
A letter was received last week by a lady of Li-
verpool, from her brother, an Officer in the army of
Sir John Moore, in Spain. It is dated from Sala.
manes, and states, that the army is advancing
iii full expectation of soon meeting the Freue!--
Contrary to what has been generally reported, this
Gentleman say. that the English are received I/
the Spaniards with great kindness and bospitalito
bat complains much of the total want of a omlint
or cleanliness in the Spanish houses, and deserdrs
their aeconimodatioas in respect to lodging* :Ind
other conveniences in travelling, as intolerably bail.
The roods are almost impassable, but they are sup
plied with sufficient provisions. These aomplaint
are naturally to he expected front Englishmen, 54
customed to such accommodations 111 tnrreiling
are not to be equalled in any part of the globe.
The British file:chants, and others interested
the sale of British manufactured goods. at Cadi
have presented a Memorial to the Spanish Gorir
merit at Modri.l. on their distressing situation,
not being permitted to laud or trans-ship their No
chandize. The Memorialists humbly pea!, duo
the Government will be pleased to reduce the e•
orbitaiit duties on British merchandise already •
rived, and permit such goods us are inteuci.,l
transit to be deposited in the Royal Warelicus.
At the date of the letter containing this comnitil
cation. that is, on the kid milt. no answer to it
Memorial tied been received from the Spai.ishli
vernment, but an answer was expected in tie caul
of a few days.

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5P0M77.41C INI7I..LICINCE Fltois hoLDERNEss,

We have bad most cacellelit sport these two di)/
past with Sir Nt.iM. Sykes's and Mr. Watts's lox-
',mild., vie. Monday cud Tuesday. the 14h and
13th. On 11411144 y two, if lint three. horses died
fiom excess of fatigue, after three runs. two of them
severe; sadveetentiit, Tawdry, we had one of the
brunt extraordinary runs three hounds have ever
known. We had a good run from Burtcm Con-
stable; and killed, after a sharpish business of six
or ..!Yeii miles. We afterwards tried two covers,
itiinot ; but at last had a beautiful nod
at Itinhorotiglr, near Aldborough, and went away
twmt gallontly, on the highest-seeutingday we have
bud this avvison.

At first the foe took to the itorthward, anti after-
wards tonne a c.,rcle, null then took.off to near Bur-
ton l'idses, and across Keyait!..,lntan Drain to thils-
-I;am, ottringliam Church Lands, and to Wine-
to...ol. without at cheek, where we were obliged to
give at tap, at near five o'clock, in Colonel Meister's
plmataitioaas. We had three or fort fellows to
crow befwe we got to the road, the dogs colder not
get fast e.'ws. them, and the scent was then be=
conic cnlalisla, and it was tting dark, so that
Mr called the hounds off. There iret :lore fiAcS
in floldernewi tha.a ever were resuetabered.—
You anaa camjecture there were not many of the
fla•ld with the hounds When they got to lialslarm,
nor natal tia• Y love up ; several atere tired, and the
bounds a gmat distance from their kennel. The
Nun: his been aeconsamilied by a very large anew-
blage of gentlemen sportsmen from every part of
the neiglahow hood ; and we learn that some data
ant lens than inn horsemen have taken the held.
Cotantee..—All the Meetings in the South dif-
fer from the Talton Meeting in running for their
prize cup. In the South, each Member subscribes
to it, and if present, starts a dog, which are drawl,
by lot to run against each other, two sad twon the
steal day, the winners of the preceding day run
against each other, till all the Joke are run oft; and
kettly, the two Wieners of the whole start for the
cup. An interest, is thus kept alive through the
whole Meeting; the best dog is fairly aecertuineal,
and not more than a brace of dogs are started at
/ewe, which renders the course a proper trial, whieh
cannot be the rase when the or site greyhounds are
Tanning together after one unfortunate hare.

MISS SMITH.

The performances at the Dublin Theatre, on Sa-
turday were Adrian
FortUse.s Frobck. In the former of which Miss
SWIM per.onated Madame Clermont. It would
Le an act o: ituanitter to this Lady's talents to pas;
by in silence the superior merit which she
on the, eice.oion. N e have rarely seen such powers,
and so t.t..rted. Miss SPIITR appears to us to
make each particorar character a distinct subject
of sturdy, by wi.teh the li.• • completely escaped the
thraldom of manigerims—she Rives to every civi-
l/afar which she perffinsis Its just bro!hottleo of
the mama by vrh;Ai it is d'istinglishccl ; and whe-
ther the predominance of Pride, Amer, Love, or
Deipair, mark its lolling feature, she keeps
riew the seater resion, mot throws* isit•trarierrr
iluder identifies tt. ettatenre in her personification
of its-this is perha.«e the ne pies ultra of the art of
ay.ing. it eau never be ut,tituied hat by a mind
deeply mbar, with the finest priaciples of taste,
the soundest corrertioos 01.W:relent, *lid the in it
esquitite pathos of feeling. Such ami tr.ily
believe bliss Sterne to posses, and the audience
who witnessed her performance of Madame City-
sweat, will find no diffieulty in beiierinq that the
perfect representation she then pcnr!nced could
are originated in sources no lees perfect or refitted.
—/Dublin Piper.)

POETRY.

ON GENERAL FERGUISGN BEING CALLED A
" VETERAN."

• bum anmarat patinas, cretlndit ewe seem "—Martial.
Lead blows the glad clarinet at Vseerja command,
Aad" Menai Ft an utsoS " sounds e'er Ow land:
Thor/Lb fro are (ha years which lb, hero has told,
FA vs crowed Air tatireli, oat tkusfht A. rat old.

Nis MAJESTY is expected ns tewn, tomorrow, to
bold a Court at the Quirt:Ws Palace.
The Prince of ll.si.as is 'especif.ll to spend Ili.
Christmas in Loudon.

The Dale of Yoix bas been slightly inili,posed
dunti,-; the last three weeks, in consequence of his
Lasing sprained of eof hi. Iry He neglected it
fur some time, and la.,t arch was obbged to hare
leeches applied to it reseal tames, and was Pre-
vented from wearing boors.
The Right lion. GEoant Po xso Nov arrived yes-
terday, at hum house. in Arlington-street, from
Ireland.

Mr. I..Ewtres Drama of Verwni, and the grand
Noinanve of MIN. Beard, were nertormed, lust
night. at Drnry-lane Theatre, with their netnil
success.

Mrs. Mutoaftust.' who sang at Vauxhall, loot
munmar, is annotinced as principal siliger at Mr.
Ettgat s's approaching concerts at York.
Mr. and Mrs. TAILLETOII left Klitall•M's hotel,
yesterday, for their .eat is Lancashire.
Mr. Coors Richard, lest night, attracted an
overflowing house to the Haymarket Theatre.—H,
*ever appeared to greater advantage, nor received
were applause from an audience.
Hyde Park, yesteitlay morning, was visited by
the skaiting smatvoirs, who w..re provided with
bew skaits, and seemed to anticipate a fine day's
ammeeient (tom the frozen appearance of the Ser-
pent.: e River. which they very cantionsly sousida6
but they could only venture so the boaters, t7tk
ice not being . ifficiestly cIIM for • display of
ere figure Or eight.

P.:IIUPE connrSPONDEXCE.

E‘tract of • Len', f.,.n •n Officer in the sd
Rolitjt.,n of the hot Re;itneat, of Royals, to his
Nether in Paisley:.—.

" Villa Franca, titth Nov. 101:111.
" I sin of ~r led an opportwiity 44 forwarding yea this by
the General's diatructies from hence. We left Coruna* us
the ael, and arrived at Asterza on the 20th, • much of 43
Spanish leazaes, apirseis uf na.les.tesiting ewe day as
Beasmeas, mac at Li‘o, and another tent. It was anginal!,
isteeded wig Assad proceed Sum Astorga to B
meet Sir Join Muore's army on its march these, frees lhr
tags' ; bat the Perth daring got posseassou o: Burgos,
treed that plan, and we rcusaintd three days at Asturga, till
we could leara something both of Sir Jolts Moore and of the
enemy: but such is the total want of informatior that
milkier of the see Nor the other could we pin any knowledge.
Upon the 54th, it was reported that the enemy were pressing
forward in great force ti prevent our junction WAt Sir John,
and to cat off oar intermit. In Ibis sitilatton of affairs, Sir
David Baird deemed it prudent to retreat ; and, is a few
hours, the wtole of our troops who bad advaored so fur,
evacuated Astorga, and the **court day reached • place
cal:ea Ben fic:tere, ii litre thee sir« encamped. The cavalry
lave since joined us ifr the fin.' lane since their arrival from
England. ; and se are wader orders to he in readiness at an
hotels notice ;as we hope) to advance. Nut a Nam is per-
tained, on any account to undress himself. Von will won-
der what am doing hare. 1 left the regiment yerterday, at
Colonel Day's request, to purchase as mach thuniel as I
mated procure hrr«, Col 44iats for ilbe men, which, fur area
assepit; on the cold gi nu,KI under canvas, at Ibis *coma of
the ,ear, is absolutely necessary. I here bought all I can
procure, and bare hei it hack • distance of Ju mites, in hopes
to reach them before they more from Ben &there. The
farther we hare come**, have the more reasons to be die-
titonsil itlt ~Or reeepioni floes the moires. They call as
eretics, and int Ctristiaos ; and, to fact, look town as ea
enemies. They shut 'heir hon.. s upon us, a,id refnae to
sell th« men the vllllll,ll iseeessarwa of life. 'l' bete boasted
armies of Patr...ts are dwio.iled away, and scattered up and
lone the sonatiluns is eltallasy, altbuszb tie French ant
be very near us. We hon. ant wen se., Spaniel' soldiers is a
body since wi rase here I. teurest, Our nice art billetted fa
conve..to, but 'in the Intermediate belts, in barns sad cow.
houses Oilier,. no, glad to put up e.ith • corer, of a hay
loft, sit a.i upper ..p trtinvit I shall always wine you
when I have so optiorionote "
Extract of a ratter from a Lieutenant in the 8.2 d
Regiment to his hither in Eunt Lothian, dated
Oporto, Not-ember it 4

_ .
" The awl and gyth Regiments embarked aboard trans.
poet* at L11'1,1: on the Aeon. sad chopped down Ike river,
nest day, to Riles castle, whame they sailed fur Oporto on
the morning of the sth. We sensed at Oporto on Moe gth,
but could lot get met the liar, notwithstanding that we had
pdots on board, The trwmpineis, therefore, cruised if and
on till the 13th, when Sir Robert Wilson, commaatling AR-
eer at ()poet°, vent from the shore, My whirl% we were
all safely hander', toc, tiler with one bageao. We are W-
hined aro, :Mc merchants anJ matt epees a the town, sop
the of tb,o tau reg,rocut, w. entertaiiied at dinner
by S.( stobert on the day of leading I was at the opera
.t hat thooaht siry I, tile of the perforsainee. I
nave hkewiae besu at the ..troersl Hospital, where many
French 64:sisiier• both (Mein and privates, are detained ;
sad wh..m did with there Lot your Ad *errant,
who/eta as amistiml-aerjeaat to the Hospital. He bo.
Mess to the 3611 i ne7iu.eail, ohm Is distinguished itself so
saisently it the battle-of Vinseira

Op;rt. ik a mark cleaner town than Lisboa. We west
'inert* e• 1.141101 l houi the 29th of October till the day we
ends/akin:liar too slam, herbs( for.a.ely been eantnited in
Et• hamlets, account alai u4er of sick men in the
regiment. Th.• sal, ten notes too t i.lllOOll, seems to he a
strong clay • bat /own to the where we ft.st landed, it
is alight awl • .I.pmely harrow. The clops worth
elide -re thoienf gr.stes,and apples As for roads, there
ia arms. el, ally limns on re w yes would tali by that
sore: and wish "seep le peones, them generally used in
Portugal are tints bet.. crooked sticks, though drawn
ify snoozes. Brills. floods and British ploughmen an
larch waisted."