The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-01-05 00:00:00

INDIA. ,
CALCUTTA, MAT 25# UM'',
The continuance 61' tae wet cloudy west her, '
during the past and presort week, authorises the
state of the commencement of the periodical rains
of the present season, to be tukeu from Monday
se' iiii ight, the 15th current.
This early occurrence oldie rainy season, &vivo' '
to be recorded. it has entirely overturned the t'em-
ries of many of our most sage and i.enei able meteor-
ologists, who resolutely colitelitl, dust die earlier or
later commencement of the rains, is regulated by
the preceding southerly wuulr. From the lateness
of the setting-in of the winds, and from their scao-
tiness in the present season, it was confidently pro-
dieted that we could have no rain till late iii the
month. The facts have proved exactly the re%CfSt..
The winds, in the early part of the :Alnis.non, have
been reistarkubly moderate, and the r sins hive com-
iticaced considerably earlier than has been known
for liftreil or twenty years past.
• Tile sinuntity of runt that 1141 Ldlen, during Ilse
last ten days, has had the beneficial rjert of rabic"-
in 4 1/u price #' rice and other grain, and has hap-
pily pot to flight the hopes of monopolisers and
focr,tallue., who were secretly enjoying the expect-
ations of famine.

PORTLIGUESE PAPERS.

OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Lissom. tier. 16.
Don Josef Palafox, General-in-(.'bier of the
ariny of Arragon, made, under date of the 2cl iti.t.
following report to the Supreme Ceram!
waif :—" The enemy, from 12 to 14,0ti0 strong,
supp rued by 51000 horse, attacked, on the Ist
instant; the extensive line of the Canal of Sa-
ragossa. The bridge, defended by the intrepid
Arragoitese; was three tunes taken and re-
taken. The divisioti of Asturian troops, which
serves in this army. babitvid with the utmost
gallantry, and attacked the enemy with such nu-
commou intrepidity and spirit, that they com-
pletely routed and compelled litm to retreat with
the inmost precipitation, notwithstanding his great
sup&icrity in nainlwr. He left two thousand
k;lled on the field of bottle, and was convinced, by
his complete defeat, that if he lately obtained some
advantages, he airs merely indebted for them to
casualties arising from circumstances, and to the
want of sullordinatiou and diseinhue, winch pre-
. railed among sonic of our troops. Let thew imitate
th- perseverance of toe-A,rogonese, and their obe-
dience to their Ueilerwls sod (Alias; sod the enemy
• will soon experience, that neither the rapidity of his
innveineids, with his boasted superiority in tactics,
ens sold tie a nation wWelt has sworn to live and die
free. Spatiiards ! let us filial our sacred oath.
God, the King, the country, our wives and chil-
dren expect it front us. Let us not frustrate their
hopes, the hopes of all F.otope, which has liar eyes
fixed on us, with admiration wid alley.
lentil's, bulb Dee. DOW
(Lisboa Gazette, De 7. 16.)
BSDAJUZ, DEC. 9.
BaJoi.z. Diary of this day ,ontaiiis the fol.
lowiag article —Hy the last letters from Madrid
we were alicooly made acquainted with the state of
dllfence of that capital, soul the ardour with which!
persons of Loth sexes occupied the batteries. The
tnitLulaasta of the inhabitants was such, that ladies
and gewiemen of the first &idiot-tom, without
being called upon lay the Goieriment, hastened
to the gates of Atoclia and Toledo, to woe k at the
foitileations, which were cotistsuctid at those
Rates, is a Inch situatiou, fur fi ono bring dispirited
by the near approach of an enemy, also, at the
expense of much blood, bas penetrated into
the heart of the conotry, in order to render its
ruin wore unavoidable, that enraged people made.
oath to revenge thg hero s of Num:loth' sod
Saragos.A. All the inhabitants of Madrid 'm-
eanie soldiers. and those of the neighbouring
places hastened to their waist:ince on the first
notice; they rescued the capital. An English-
man who yesterday passed tli:ough this place on
his way to Lisbon, communicated to us the pleas-
ing intelligence that 6000 Frenchmen, who had
the audacity to penetrate into that town, by one of
the bridges, were repulsed with great slaughter.—
Lisboa Gazette, liter 17.)

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MADRID, NOY. 22.
Oar Gazette of this day contains two letters
from the Viceroy of Mexico, Don Jose &horn-
tarsi, to the Governor of Cadiz, Don Thomas
!Marla; the substance of which is as follows :

ateltiCO, Asg. 24, IRO*.
"I wish you the most perfect Health, and that
you may proceed 10 the important affairs which
you have undertaken, with the utmost dili-
gence and success. All this kingdom is ani-
mated with the best sentiments. and will con-
tinue so till our inoii;irdis are restored to Spain,
and we have the satiafaction we so minis desire of
being under their orders. I have determined to
scud this ship to eive informa,ion of every skiing
to the Juntas, and assure than of our paternity
and good disposition to assist them with pee **** iary
supplies, if we cairox do it with troops; not Oast
we are in want of them, for we have both cavalry
and infantry in very good condition. I have many
things to comminsicate to you, but little time tie
write, having much to do' that we may be prepar-
ed for every event. "Joss D'lTuitatomuit.
tt Mexico, ferteitther 4."
" I return you tiny thanks for the good opinion
you have formed of us, in making no doubt that
this kingshoin still retains, and will retain its fidelity
to its legitimate Sovereign, and that it will
bate with looney. and every thing an its power to
the es,sistance of the. peninsula, as the people of
this kingdom will never forget their oath., nor the
acclamation of " Lone live Ferdinand VIT." in
which all most willingly and ardently join.
" During the six years that I have resided in
this kingdom. I have had frequent proofs of the
love of the people to their Sovereigne—proofs which
have frequently drawn from ray eyes toenail' sa-
tisfaction. I can likewise declare and assure you.
that in case Spain should he last, (a leech may
Gud in his mercy never permit) Ills Maiesty will
always have his kingdom of Mexito faithful to him,
rent iiiii g in which lie will be greater than all the
sovereigos of Europe. I wish I could accompany
you in the defence of so good a cause; but

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