The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-10-18 00:00:00

LONDON,
TUESDAY, Orrossa 18.

REOCCUPATION OF RILBOA BY THE FRENCH,
RUMOURED DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH, AND
CAPTURE OF KING JOSEPH.

The Intelligent gun-brig arrived on Friday. at
Plymouth, iu thirteen days from Li►bon, with dis-
patcher from Sir CHARLES COTTON. Oa the 48tli
and it9th of September, the town of Lisbon was
illuminated, in consequence of a report of JOSEPH
BoNAPARTE, with 8000 men. being taken prisoners
by the Spaniard 4. The action was said to have
taken place at Vittoria. and the main body of the
French army were stated to have ',ten engaged in
it. Jostrit BONAPARTE, it was added, had lost
an arm in the engagement. This news, however,
wan much doubted at Litlboll on the following day.
The Intelligent arrived at Lisboa on the Lath of
September, and landed Captain Da Layne's, from
England, with dispatches to his father.

The Mare frigate had arrived there on the esth
uk. from England, with specie, and landed Sir
Wm. Scorr. The English officeis who were put in
charge of the Portuguese ships have been superseded
by Portuguese officers. Tie English squadron are
gone up the river, and are moored off the town of
Lisbon. No preparatioas are making for the em-
barking of our army in Portugal at present.—
The 4000 Spanish troops, who were disarmed by the
French, are embarking,. and will be sent to Cadiz
immediately ; they appear to be uncommonly floe
mei', and are in higb spirits at the proswct of being
sent to Spain. Sir H. DA LILY hl PILE was expected tr.
leave Lisbon in two or three days nfter the sailing of
the intelligent. Prior to her leaving the Tagus, the•
but division of the French troops had been enema-
• uvre preparing to sail. The Alriedine, with
General kai.i.raso a sad suite on login', tivio;.;
sprung her bowsprit at lieu, iu a heavy Kale, Lot
town obliged to put hack to Li.laiu to refit. One
of the transports which sailed with the second divi-
sion of the French 'witty. foundered at sea, and
the whole of her crew, together with -.MIO French
troops, pcsished. The Master, and a Colour!
who was on board, saved themselves by taking
to the boat. Major WAY, of the 'Mk, and Lieu-
tenant Paacttat.t, of the Navy, Caine passengers
in the Intelligent. The Convention is by no
means relished on the other side of the water. In-
deed we are credibly informed, that had our
army followed up their success of the :flat, they
'night have been in possession of Lisbon by the:Mb;
the enemy were so completely panic-struek, that
they would have surrendered, iincunditionally, on
the arrival of the British army.

An article, (laded Madrid Ist inst. states, that
Kiug Josiah was shut up with his division iu Vit-
toria, anti it was thought would Hot Lie able to
escape.

Two French regiments, it is said, have been
taken as hostages for the Spanish troops that could
not escape with the Margins ROMANIA. Sonic of
the Spanish prisoners had arrived. The feelings
of these poor fellows, on revisiting their native
country, to which they had despaired of ever re-
turning, were most enviable. They kissed the earth
the ►womneut they set foot on shore, and poured out
blessings upoit t heir deliverers.

The Spright/y cutter turned on Saturday at
Plymouth from Commie, and tLie Peacock, from
St. Atidtro, the latter after a passage of tun
days. By these conveyances we have (evened
letters and papers from Corutnw► to the 7th
instant. We are concerned to state. that Billion is
once more in the occupation of the French. Au
article dated Commis the pith, states that they
entered it, 34,000 strong, under the command of
Marshal Ntar. The Spanish troops, under the
Marquis DE PORTAZZO, had timely notice of the
approach of the enemy, and withdrew in good
order, taking a position that enables them to wait
in safety for reinforcements. A report, to the
above effect, had been in eirculaiiou for several
days, and it was contradicted in a Commie
Paper, of the 4th inst. hut as the recapture of
the place, by the French, is averred positively
in the Corutina PapLr of the subsequeht date of
tl►e 6th, the previous contradiction is of little value.
A private letter states, that the French force which
recaptured Bilboa, consisted only of a detachment
of 12,000, and that the Spanish force under the
Marquis Da Poarazzo, did no► exceed 70110.—
Had the Spaniards from the Bailie landed at St.
Andero, they might have joiacil him soon after the