The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-10-20 00:00:00

It is difficult, and on it lies the strong position of
Torres Vedras, the first fortified position between
it and Lisbon, from which it is about thirty Miles
distant. Sheol,' MAMMA force that position,
there are two. more fortified ones, which he trii,t
take before he can occupy the Poetutuese capital.
The first of these, we understood, w nett: Bella",
awl can he held by 0,000 men; the secued is
nearer to Lisbon, and can be defended by half
that number. A tittle to the south-west of
Leyria, it may he observed, the road to Liston] di-
video itself into two, one of which (the pea-rood, to
the west) was taken by the Allied Army—and the
other (to the east) passes through Batalha, Val-
verde, •nd S intorem. AS we see no ground to sup-
pose that MAISLNA C011:d expect to reach Lisbon
by his latter rood before the Allies, we presuu.e
that he will f dine up the steps of she retreating sty-
my directly on the•sea-road. The result is become
• subject of p.unful anxiety, qualified, no doubt,
with a c infident hope of success on the part of the
Allied Army.—The hearer of Lord WattneuTurr's
dispatches left Lisbon • tt the 7th.

:11.1itary Ciairs (.1 the Tot etfurt3 of
the Piitriots were every where successful and at
.Cadiz all was tranquil and secure. •
General Cu arra has resigneal the government of
the Balearic islands. General WuirrtNcitaw is
raising a corps of 10,000 ecru for the defence of
those Islands, to be jointly commanded by British
and Spanish Officers. Coloni•I Down's is also Fins-
a corps of 3000 inert for the same purpose, to
be officered by British ; and our Government bare
sent out arms and stores fee both these corps.

We hare reoeired• P4tii Papers to 11* 91h, and
Dutch to the 13th, but their contruts are not army
importance.

Sir EDWARD P21.1.1.W.ii sqoadron has returned
to the Dcwits from t:ff

A letter from Corunna, dated September 29,
gays—. The cOinittithiestiun between this province
rod Castle nod Is Mancha is open. The enemy
sutlers dr.oidfully from the small parties distributed
is reery direction to siowill them. The French (ieee.
IY 11.11 Alt Au and his guard have been killed by
them. it was reported here and believed, that N
died of a fever near Valladolid, about • fortnight
since. The Asturisns have annoyed Bow :MT much.
He has divided his force into two bodies, on which
an attack is tole-matt& rely in the marith, and
favourable results are confidently repected. The
spirits of the Spaniards are indeed so high at this
moment as to astonish observers. We bare a
Bri-
gadirr-General W•ucza and his Staff here, sent
out to Monstine the plans of this province; and Sc.
cording to his opinion (which I am told is favour-
able), supplies are to be distributed. Next neck
will sad, under Commodore Weiss, from this
place, a small Expedition for Santom.„ copiloting
i of Ore frigates, five Spanish gun-boats, some brigs,
&e. with shout 1,500 men. This place is to be fur-
titled and kept ns a depdt for arm' and
iamb to amiist the Montaneses, Biscayans, &c.—at
all even,*4 it must draw reinforcements to the coast,
and thus favour the interne. The French gurnsrm
at Astorge is too weak to itttetlipt. Mt advance this
way, so that it is thought we are perfectly safe here
for winter."
We lament to state the death of Gent.-General
CRaUTURg. who Herd at Alienates towards the end
of Sepieirrier. ('hr letters announcing his death
have not coine to the hai.ds of his family, bat sub-
sequent lettrrs from his Aides-de-Camp, wrung the
ienrisony of Ins t.ineral at Aloasstes, with moltingy
honours, and referring to their former letter- for an
nee te•it iif his last illness, the fatigues he
had mienenced, were received witii; the dispatches
from Lord WeLLINGTON. He was a most g ;lent
Office.. and M. 10.1 will be severely lamented.
i'llitrnlay Ste TBOYAS IstiaTuir delivered a Pe-
qtiosi to Mr. Secretary RirD..ll, for the purpose of
being presented to His MAJCITY. from the Electors
(Sell • Ei.-iitich of Smihwark, praying for the dis-
missal of His MaJeirre.'s Ministers, on the ground
of cue , p4eity.
Mirj .r Nitrite, of the 50th Regiment, is severely
• winuded iu the face, but sot rfaiiirrroudy: he wrote

There is, we understand. en intercepted letter
from MA!ISENA. complaining of the difficulties
which he has encountered in his advance, from the
state of the. road* the scarcity of provisions, and
the numerous desett:ons from his army.
Hestia tr.Lts, according to letters from Cadiz
of the 131 h silt. was then ou the point of sailing on
an Expedition. with 2000 land troopa.embarked un
Board of seven English frigates, and one Spanish
brig, too sloops, and six gun-boats. This Exp..-
dition is said to be intruded against Santana. Ile
has also detached four thousand by land, who tire to
iii the above 2000. after the latter shall have etT ct-
erl a lauding. The E..;:lish has. supplied him with
10.000 muskets, mil 40 barrels of cartridges. He
knows That the voting wouatainirrli ate anxiously
desirous of et.l.st inv. under lii► banner.

A C. Ix Mail arrived yriterday. with Letters and
Papers front that city to th! toll inst. They an-
nounce a bet Rant victory (+framed by the Spa-
anode, under Getteri! O'Duts wsi.t.. in Cataionis
The battle was fou;rht fire► Pahnisos, and was se-
verely contested. A French General, 40 Officers
of integer rink. tiBoo privates. and 16 pieces of
cannon, with all their provisions, stores anti plun-
der. were taken by tbe!inaniards, and had arrived
at Tarragona. Getters! O'Datinsts was • minded
in the foot. which it is feared roust undergo amnia
Dation. The French were commando. by General
MACDOMALD.—It is r■elanch,.ly thus to see 'he
battles of foreigners fought by Irish Catholics, or
the descendants of Irish Catholics, and their Dative
country deprived of the benefit of their talent►. by
mistaken policy ! _ . .

The Corte• hare at length in- —they held their to his rowdy •n she fourth day after the action.
first Meek on the geth u1t.—.44 they, a•id • gip. Oa Thuratleylftersitomi. the Hon. Capt. LTGOII..
I w.io was in the seek in Portugal, orw
segment Mretiejpn. we hay" "ell In
Wert'. I
rived n• Ntirklrestield. the seat .of his father,
coital. Among the firm objects th wolf occupy
....r i The ball has been extracted.
the attention of this august Body will tw— a :-4 we are ha to say he is an a fair way of re-
tat. The eilliMpiglag, Illerangthesiai. sod provistsishig she cuv-ry.
SOMA armies We understand, • Pe'ition from the Magi-
at Tim ostsbassamem of • seemsoos• Gwerresseol der. writes and ' Council of this City to the KING'S
ter the ahem* of tie King, tee tie seetesetee le the Most Excellent- Ili ijesty in Council, praying
Crows. flee MAJLITY, in ensue of the power vested in
sd. The ImimiTy el,• Posse. • him by Act of Parliament. to continue the
Ob. itemtrig4Graz •vecs. prohiiiition of dist•llabou of Spirits from Grain
sib. Cowes's...so to the Colonies. till firtv days after the meeting of Parlistnent„
WWI yesterday. training' ted to the Secretary of State
Much is rxpected from the revival of this Legis-
for the Home Departmeut.—(Clusgow Coerier.
lathe Assembly. The present perturbed •state of
Oct. 16.)
the country meat. however, greatly diminish the
Much curiosity and interest have bees excited at
effect which at a favourable season it is calculated Margate, be the arrival of a foreigner in an open
to produe•'. I boat from Ostend a few nights since. The Of-
ficers of the Customs at 6,44 refused to Clow him,
to land. Mr. Simmonds. the Superintendatit, on
rec,ivirig the necessary .instructions from Sand-
wich, allowed Isms to come on shore, where he
renewed in safe custody until Sunday list, when
an order from the Alien Office permitted his bring
tsemtrd to Lundou. .He is said to be a person of
distinction.

At a late hoer last night we reeeived mine more
Cadiz Papers to the 9th, and Lisbon to the *di inst.
The latter contain some particulars of the approach
of the contending armies to that city.--They seem
to think that no general action sill take
place; and that Lord WELLIMGToN wiLl
moun-
tain himself during the winter in the strong
works of that capital.—Of his Lordship's plan to
lay waste the country in his line of march, our
readers are apprised. Its effects, aggravated by the
rage and disappointment of the enemy, may be
easily conceived. The Lisbon Papers give the fol.
losing affecting picture of it The ravages of
the French are liorrilde ! The road is covered
with dead horses, nonles; and builocks. The whole
country is a scene of complete devastation. Such
rapine, violations. and murders, were never before
heard of !—Many villages, towns, and country vit.
las, have been burnt to the ground.--Every plate
is deverted--large tracts of Indian corn have been
trodden down—every• thing is destroyed."
The loss of Cie Portuguese in the battle of
Blasco is stated higher than in the Loadua Ex-
traordinary Gazette. File wounded ere made to
amount to upwards of 1000. The enemy's wound-
. d on that day is also carried higher than in the
London Papers ; they are estimated at 12,000.
The Cadiz Papers give a very havounkle view of
the state of military affairs iii every part of Spain.
Central Snow" was unable to make any impr►s-
sion upon Tortosa ; and in the south, the whole suc-
Cele of SEnscrt•as, in his irruption into the king-
dom of Murcia, was confined to the pillaging of
Lore,' and two o► throe other towns, and the
commission of various crimes snit cruelties.

To assert maliciously and advisedly, by speaking
or writing., that both or either lions. of I'mliament
have a legislative nithority without the king, is de- '
dared a prontweirt, by a statute of the 13th Car. IL
Yet the late doctrines respecting privil.ge go the
length of inaintaioing, that out brooch ratite
!Aare has riot only a legodattve poor, Log also •
judicial and executive authority, independent of the
King and the oilier Hon.,- or l'adniment!
A Wilier by< gong at the rock in Castle-street,
Duuder, on Totality morning. had just renewed a
charge of gulipm. der, after au unsocces•fol explo-
sion, and owl in the act of laying the tram, when
the farmer match, unextniguishest sod
ly thrown aside, caught seine crams r
leading to tire orai•.. An explosion instantly took
efrect. One of the splinters of stout tartaric Lim
in 'ha forehead, and felled him to the ground. A
considerable portion of the bone wits fractured and
beat its neon the bran,. After lac operation of ire.
psiiion,g and raising the depressed portion bow.,
the.man was much rel'eved.
On rhunisysennight, astwo young women wet,
ascending a coal-pit, at Aucluillmus., a few wits
from eVil+l,pol, so which thee h ore ,
catch of the bucket, when near atio month of lit
pit, unfortunately lost its hn:d, whets they were
precipitated to tile the inn tom, a distanc. of
fathoms. One of theta was killed ou the sit rt„ mai
the oilier survived only a few hours.
A young man, a private belonging to the dose...
meat of the Forfar militia now quartered its C
havinz • few days ago completed the period
of Its seri ice, returned to the place of hal me,-
sity ; when he again consented to toter the vv• •
1143 silh•latalt fora gentleman in that. nt.g b •iir•
hood, for the consideration of 101. pre stone. Ihr
loargaiu was strictly complied vith, and the two,
who declared he would scat tits 111,,b a, delis as he
coMd, receired 2101.

Government have receivcd Dispatches from
Mr. Hamar W %Lilt/V.IY, d.t d Ciel.s. the 6th
ins...int. The tenor of these whites are ininortant
sstaactory, both Si it relates to the Ova and