The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-10-06 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONAON,
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6.

RE-OCCUPATION OF BILBOA BY THE SPA-
NIARDS-DUPONT'S CONVENTION NOT AC-
KNOWLEDGED BY THE ENGLUIH.

We receiveil, last night, Spanish Papers, bring-
ing intelligence from Madrid to the lath, and from
Corunna to the 29th last. They announce the re-
occupation of Bilbao by the Spaniards, on the 20th,
after an action which lasted three hours. This vic-
tory was achieved by the fourth division of the Gal-
lician army, commanded by the Marquis de Pot-
.zacso. The details are not given. It is merely
'stated, that the citizens of Bilbao received their
countrymen and deliverers with great joy, and im-
mediately proceeded to proclaim FERDINAND the
Vlldi, King of Spain.
The position of the respective armies on the
11th, is laid down with tolerable precision in these
papers. At that date the main body of the French,
amounting to upwards of 30,000 men, was in and
near the city of Najera, in Old Castile, about 3G
miles east of Burgos. A corps of about ono oc-
cupied Burgos, and another of nearly the same
force was stationed in Bribieoca, a short distance
north of Burgin, on the great road to Vittoria ; the
whole estimated at upwards of 40,000 men.—
The Spanish army, under the brave and gallant
PALAFOX, was distributed in four divisions, one of
which, under the second in command, was station-
ed near Burgos, the Other three forming a circle
round the main body of the Freuch at Nsjera, with
the corps de reserve in rear of the fourth division.
Its force is not mentioned, but it was hourly in-
creasing. On the ltith,• corps of 10,000 men passed
through Madrid, on its march to join it ; and an-
other, of equal force, entered that city on the 17th,
for the seine destination. Former accounts repro-
seated the French army in Navarre, along the Ebro,
with its head-quarters at Logrono. It appears,
however, from the above statement, that it left that
position, and advanced farther into Spain. If the
French General did not think himself strong enough
to meet theSpaniatds, it is not likely that lie would
quit the strong hue of the Ebro. If he has done sn,
in esicetation of bringing on a general action, we
have every reason to anticipate the success of the
Spaniards, from that caution and forbearance
%%Inch declined an action until possessed of • force
that must insure victory. It is also stated, that
the French had evacuated Pamplona ; but if the
Freuch army be on the south of the Ebro, their
abandonment of Pamplona, so far behind them in
the centre of Navarre, must have been a matter of
holey. alul not of necessity.

Tl,.!;:a,rison of the Castle of Figuera had offs r-
ed to st:rrender, upon condition of leave to return
to France ; or, in other words, of a short furlough,
to citable them to go home, and return with a fresh
ei,pctitzt for blood and plunder. Fortunately, Sir
HMV DAVITS/ME was not at the fiend of the Spa-
niards, and the offer Wa' rejected. The Governor
of Fignera was killed by • cannon-ball from the
besieging army.
Admiral Itosstr.v. who commanded the French

riaadron nt Cadiz, is stated to have been captured
at area by a British force, and carried to Malta. Gene-
ral Duro), r and his Staff, who, it is said, had ens-
bar Leal for France, are also stated to have been cap.
tared by the Engl6h, and carried to Gibraltar. If
Ave have done these things, it is clear that our Mi-
nisters hold tlitinm Ives iedepentlent of the Conven-
tion concluded by Iltieo!iT and Cstrrsnias. The
Spaniards, however, having undertaken to use all
their influence to obtain the sanction of England to
the Convention of 115)15 n, ac do not think the re-

port of an ulster.e proremiing very probable. Why
ere we totem' Admiral Itosstt.T to Malta ?.--Why
not send hit* to Botany-Fay at once I Aa to
UfuroNe, after the vengi!ance wowed against him
by BONArmits. he might be inclined for a trip to
Gibraltar, iii preference to a visa to France, with-
out considering it au infraction of the Convention.
But the most important article of intelligence
in the Spanish papers, if it he founded in fact, re-
ioaitis to be noticed. It is said tlett the Aistrian
Consul at Carthagena has received orders froin his
Court to collect all the Spanish accounts of the
proceedings of the Patriots and their successes, for
the purpose of comparing them with the accounts
connutinicated by LIONAPARTL to the Court of
Vienna, of the euccesses of the French. and the
coronation and aelcimitledgment of his brother u
King of SPAIN. It would appear from this, that
BONAPAILTE has attempted to avail himself of the
darkness and ignorance in which he has involved
the Continent, to abuse the ear of Austria with
respect to Spain, and that Austria is alive to his
base intrigues, Ins odious artifices and untold-
nations.

Letters have been received from Lisbon, of the
17th ult.—They state, that the first division of the
French army, consisting of 8000 men, had sailed
for Rochefort.

We have more than Duce noticed the syitematic
attempts of Ministers to divert the thunder of pub-
lic indignation from their own heads, to the Gene-
rals concerned in the lute disgraceful Convention
in Portugal. Alluding in one of their Journals of
yesterday to the Cily Address, they say :

n We perfectly coincide in opinion with the Common
Council upon the propriety of such an inquiry—the public
will not be satisfied aitbout it ; but we know not upon
what data Mr. Waiihman, wins moved the Address, sup-
poses His Majesty's Ministers to be hostile to inquiry —But
Mr. Waldman, we believe, is a member of that facetious
speedo; society, called The ‘Vhis Club ; and to have said
noel* against Ministers would have bees a forbeimauce
which is sot to be impeded from those who will not admit
any tiring S. be *me well when they are out, or any thing
to be dune ill when they arc in."
There is certainly some novelty in this description
of the Whig Club, for the public have been toughie
to consider it a grave political society. If such be
not its character, the Journal from which we hare
made this extract has greatly misrepresented that
society and abused its readers ; Far in all the reports
that it ever made of its proceedings, we have found
it occupied with solid, national, and constitutional
concerns, without any mixture of the lightness and
frivolity that distinguish Mr. CANNING and his pa-
rasites. We wish, however, that these amanuenses

of Ministers would explain what they mean by say-
ing that Ministers are not unfriendly to inquiry.—
If it is meant that they are ready, as adverse par-
ties, to institute an inquiry into the conduct of
Sir liEw L./m.ln NIPLx, and to throw the whole
blame upon him, we are not disposed to differ
with themupon the point ; but if it be meant that
Ministers coatt inquiry iuto their own conduct, we
cannot accede to that position, because we see en
anxiety to keep them out of the question. But all
this anxiety, and all this shuffling, will not avail.
Sir Hew HALIITIMPLE, in his letter, published in
The Extraordinary Gazette, on Friday, the 16th of
September, rays

" As I lauded is Portugal, entirely unacquainted with the
actual state of the French army, and umny circumstances of
a local and incidental nature, which, donbtless, had great
weight in deciding the question, my own opinion in favour of
the expediency of expelling the French army from Portugal
by means 'Attic Contention the late defeat had induced the
French Genital in Chief to solicit, initial of doing so by a
continuation of hostilities, was principally founded on the
great importance of time, which the season of t►e year ren-
dered peculiarly valuable, and which the enemy could easily
►are consumed in the protracted defence of the strong places
they occupied, had terms of Convention ►ees refused them."

Here then is *bill of indictment preferred against
Ministers by Sir flew DALRYMPLE, and until their
country acquits them, on this churze, of having sent
him ignorant, and uninformed, and without the ne-
cessary instructions, into the field of battle, to an-
percede a victorious General, Ministers, we say,
can claim no favour or protection from the public,
not peeiseieed by Sir Hew DALRI. XPLE and Gene-
rid IV etts.st.r.v.

At a moment when all eyes are directed towards
the North Fast pekAinces of Spain, and when in-
telligence may be hourly expected from that
quarter, decisive not only or the existence of the
Spanish 3lonarehy, but of thr future destiny of
the European Continent, it may be equally curious
and interesting to examine the great outlines of
Donal. Am's attempt, b► the ordinary maxims of
prudence, and of political a isdoin. If, from his
first commencfment of this nefarious proceeding,

down to the present time, it shonlci he obviously
demonstrable, that, independent of its turpitude
and atrocity, he has violated every precaution of
common foresight, and trusted to expectations that
were erroneous and miscalculated ; then may we
rationally hope for a termination of this enterprise,
different from the result of his expeditious against
Austria and Prussia. That Bo SACAltri: is entitled
to the epithet of Great, we cannet deny, as far us
the union of pmdigious talents, with victory, and the
attainment of an unexampled elevation, can lay claim
to that distinction. If ALIEN Aft DER, CYARL EMAGNE,
and Paenttatc, King of Prussia, justly deserved
to be so named, the C,on.ican may prefer a similar
claim. But they were logiticiate Princes, while

NApor.rolc, like Com m:Lt. is oily an
whatever forms or glosses his subtle inF
have tleiisckl. to give a colour of electt u to as
or revolutionary and military violence.

Of alt the gigantic enterprizes planned and ,•
cuted by umbition in modern ages, ow, can •
any comparison or competition with the attempt
BONAPAITE, lifter perfidiously deposing the lin
of Skill!, to make over, by a lawless
power, the Spanish Monarchy, aid' her in,
colonies, to hie brother. To talk of the anitl;;
of Louts the FOURTEENTO, at any period (if
reign, a' bearing the most remote analogy or
larity to this act, would be wilfully to
truth and falsehood. in the war of the
Luc is hail on his side the right of blood, sir.,.
that right had been renounced antecedently;
he had the testamentary election or nominal:as
Cm snits the SECOND of Spain. 'the Engli,!
on their Side,likewise. titles derived flow
descent, solemn treaties, and the necessity of
serving the balance of Europe, which would
it rayed, if France and Spain pa wed
family. In fact, that war, like those in one
alma's, between the branches of YORK and
CASTER, was a civil war, in which a god
scientism's Spaniard might have taken a pan
either competitor. in the case before us, •
the Castilian nor hie Cataluniao could mistake
it was a foreign usurpation, destitute of 'al!
whatever, begun in perfidy, cemented by'
and only to be upheld by military force.
PARTE, therefore, either must have
oatiou as morally and politically
once on imprudent and a missal
he ought to lime guarded,
against all passible resistance
there was cud is a Spanish people,
his cost. But, that he might
people, and either extinguished
birth, or have restrained its operations
within very narrow limits, no man can
If, instead of losing time at Bayonne,
vain empires," he had done in June
is labouring to effect in October
sending JOSEPH to Madrid in -'
• repaired thither in April, seised
then devolved it on JOsEPH, as
it is difficult to conceive how 1'
It' he had assembled in June,
that he is now suniniouiug from
Germany and Poland, and hod
the Pyrenees; he might have
sparks of insurgency. How .
account for such errors or oinissions
Why did he not oecupySaragossa
totally overlook or neglect Murcia
together with the ports of Abeam, '
Malaga ? how could lie cutruat
Spaniards, in the harbour of
viously placing a French garrison
For what reason did lie omit to
ride and Badajoz, by means
have cut off all communicotio,
and the Northern prcrinees ?
he justify leering Gailicia and
England, when, Ly placing
in Corunue, in Gijon, and in
would have been herructicallj
Britain ? These measures were
so necessary, and so easy of
impossible to acquit him of
tempt of all precaution, in
them. His whole to.tirAxitt* nt
Bayonne, is equally irreemiciler
sagacious, and admirable foiesigh)
perspicuity of judgment, which
preceding line of action. Prceipis—
might almost add, violence, unconductecl
dence or system, seem to be .tamp.
his measures. He either remained
Bayonne, or not long enough_
DLPONT'S success, and ou Jr
himself at Madrid, he was egregiously imstak,
'let he left Bayonne on the :oth of Jit,y. vat,
waiting to know the result of the one tr at tai •
of those enterprizes. A circumstance still la-, •
accountable is, that he lost I:el; ft er nee R• •
return to Paris, when every day and si,••••••
were precious. Th burst upon him at o;:ce ti•
capitulation of Da) len, the flight of JosErn,
defeats before Saragossa and Valeatia; a+.l
perhaps not least, the escape of Rowesfe. and
large a portion of his tro(7l, from runeu. ife!
may he harangue his so!dierr, end hairy esl'
Erfurt. there to forge new chains for ins pine..4'
day ! lie t now ead.avotir to h C:0:41C the col
which be tn,glit have prevented, and a hich betas
Gud it impossible to cure.

The ttl battalioi: lßegiment were I
embark, on 'lured's, at l'lvmwnth, to jolt; tt
Expedition at Fuliaouth. Bit:'cics the three tro;,„
of the Royal ‘tia4gon Tr.,in, which hare
beta embarked under the co.uw...wel of Lieate""':
Colonel ILitast.s.v, another detw,hment of
to
corps, consisting. of three troops, order the 4"
mend of Capta:.,, AIRD, I'4 0r.t..i..d for foreign
vice, and it is expected will be cmt.seked at 2.471!
fleet in the course of this Iseviz.
The fleet which sailed froin the Wore4gcl 01.
fur Gottentoirgh, nodes convoy of MW
My Leveret, has beea d,spersed by haul se,thk
The Leveret articcd at l arniontit ow Id irwt
-20 sail out of J•e, awl intended to wail sttsom'.l
next day : the ('laude cutter has sailed !ruin
mouth to collect the scattered ships.

is only an ristirpt.r
tibtle ingenuity too,
of cleeti u to sa ie •
ioletiee.
eel plittmed aid
8g", none can ixar
with the attempt 0,
y depooing the Kin
a lawless exertion
her Muni
talk of the andatio,
at any period of E;
note analogy or ciao.
wilfully to canine
cur of the Aucep,..,,,i
ight of blood, thou
ql antecedently;
tion or nominations
o. The Englidi ha,
Tired bow imodtc
the necessity of p
which would be,
Lich a god and c,
tee taken a part wi
ass before us, yritl ,
an could mistake !.•
destitute of all rio
cemented by Llo
alitary force. EWA
IL have eon:Mete
Ily null, which w 3: a
taken assumption, U.
by early precautiou
ce to his will. 1,
ople, lie has found t
lit I.are coerced t
'eel insurrection in
operations and eg
man can question
Bayonne, "
it June, that which
ctober ; if, instead
July, he had Ilium;
!et.l on the throne,
as his represcutatak
lie could hate fni °
one-lialf of the trop
rout the extremtiti
ad 'marched thee at
re suppienikAl the
shall se witisfactor.:
iotions in such a ins
n
at
WL
c
utrols s ari
Cuosu,:t:h..iwrdn(i
hizli,hn.ia' asi
tcti
which
idb
force
without
ca
he
feet
eCf:tew on a
r
on
orte
t
to M
f
e
ion between Ands
Above ail, hole.
and Asturia open I
a few French so 1,14:
is Si. Anders
ly scaled against Ur
ere at once so obt;,3
f execution, the:
r imprudence, ors.
nut hay: 11.1010
t couduct„ abi:e
Arable to the d
esight, as well cc t
Inch chameteriird .•
'recipication, and, o
uncoiselucted by pig
.tamped on mast
emaittoel too Ion;
,gh. If lie relied
JOSL roes maintain,,:
:regions-1y M.otaken.
:oth of Juiy, %Taboo
'the one or of the ca..
inotatice still more e•
1:4?-1;* fuar U.`Ckt un
y day and every 10
upon him at o;:c.T ti
flight of JosErn,
a

.ngaged

rtd -I

svrna-
.lebrnted

been
beloug-

credit
ition.
iestri-
tho*c

bens
'coop,

,e late
lasting
Sove-

elo-
cc-
irre
the

r r-
I at
the
'?!4-

levee,

Castle-
watt-
it

COUtiCii,
VILA ND
little
fur

town,

, his
irlingtoo-

will

ING-

. lIM
btkeit

vett,
oreesterskire,

Port
,ly in-
phS•i-

JITII•
Nur-
AUG,
Alt,

Gen-
in a
with

leave

Mrs.
JIM ,
t new.'
Hums,
have returned to Wormleytinrv, from a visit to the
Right Hon. CUARLES LONG. krotnley, Kent.
The new Melo-Drama fortheonaluir at the Opera
I louse, to-morrow, is the production of Mr. T. Dth
bill. The music by .lourE.
The Tragedy of flank was performed last
bight at the Opera flows., by the Covent-Garden
Company. Mr. KIMIBLIV. placed the part of Ham-
let, with his 114051 excellence. 'file musical Farce
of The Quaker followed, in which Mr. BLLI.S3IIr
was loudly encored.
It W. generally understood, on Tuesday
that Mr. Tooke bad died in the course of the day.
• at four o'clock Nester..
(ertaine.l or ins recovery.
ler, would have attend-
present the City Ad-
i,Kracefoil Convention
lid not take place.
the Rev. James Vita-
! Jewrv, were interred
•haucei of that church.
Rev. Dr. AttortErrts,
traiinster ; 114µl tie pa,"
Reverend CleDUe•
lesSrs„ EL/WA/WEI, PCO2II.

tr ..
f ,r . r
.•, . : 0
A y -
_,...i , Is.
e • 111/7- c 4*.: \i i., I IC)
a
WEYMOUTH, OCT. 4.
•ar ---ions---
i. A change has taken place in the weather for the
1,-, LA week, and has oceasioued sonic departnres, but
they are counterbalanced by many fresh arrivals for
the latter season, and several houses are engaged
fat the winter.
iy Last Friday evening Mrs. BYAM gave a grand
b ironer' and entertainment to all the principal No-
hi lelity and Gentry here.
Miss Boateiw played Dusseit's celebrated
Concerto, in which is iiitroduceil SHIELD'S favourite
Air of " Ul The Plough Buy," hi a very superior an-
.
1,
ner. Mrs. Basta performed a Grand Concerto of
otitis, with full accompaniments, in a DIRIIIIeI
it which mast have drawn forth the unqualified *dun.
4" nation of our first-rate professors. The band el
t the First Regiment of Hanoverian Light Home at.
tended, and played several German airs, with lonia.
:11 11015. Ili the course of the evening, the celebrate(
dee from 'hue Carferc, with several others, were
a perfumed by Mrs. BYAM and Miss BONTEIN, as.
A pistol by Mr. Com mas, ia a style of melody highly
A gratif, iag to the Cognoscenti.
TiM whole went off with much spirit, and the
company parted highly gratified with a choice mu.
II sisal treat.
An equestrian figure of His IMAaratv, mounter
t on his favourite grey charger. Adonis, has beet
formed iu chalk un the Ililla of Oriningtun, belong
:,„
ing to Mr. Woof), of that place ; although it
feugth is atio and 14 height a2n feet, yet the like
,s view of the king is well preserved, and the symme
t . try of the horn. is so complete, us to do great credi
L 3 to Cr. lltiot ETON, of this town, for its execution
it is a nonoelle wad pleasing object to the pedestri
. NOS on the Esplanade, lint more especially to than
who are fatal of water excursions in our Bay, wiser
the view is raidured more complete. It has het
El ; carried into effect under the direction of Mr. Wool
Doukas-11er, lit the particular request and sole es
1 0 penre of Jona RAINIER, Esq. brother to the lab
Admiral of that name, and is intended as a lastin
ice! token of loyalty and affection to the best of Soya
fi ITIZIIS.
hi The Theatre here, on Monday evening, was eli
im candy tilled, for the benefit of that deserving as
d tress, Mrs. 11. !IVORIES. Tile performances wei
the Comedy of The Wanderer, followed by tl
aid much admired Melo-drama of Tile Blind Buy.
to, Yesterday, about 12 o'cluck, His MAJirry a
rived in town, from Windsor, and was received
the Quattes Palace. by their Royal Highnesses tl
Dukes of Yoga, Kest, CAMltatiluE, and Cc!
5:
tEItLAND.
oi A i ta o o'clock. His MAJESTY held a private leve
fir, which aas attended by—
The Doke of Port:nod, Earl Camden, Viseonnt Castl
tot rex* Lord liaerkeeMuy, Lord Ifestbdd, Lord Mulzrav
Ile Lull Bustoo, (Lard is wartiat), Mr. Verney, (Groom In om
M. Mg), Capmin Tboospeoa, sod Mr. lookener.
me Capt. TUCHIPSoN had the honour of being pr
tented to lite MAJESTY, on his promotion.
`r
His MAJEsTY afterwards held. a Privy Comic
s t. ii!iich was amuck(' by the Dale of PORTER!
pr• and the rest of the Cabtaa Ministers; and a lit
a! before five o'clock, his MAJESTY left (Own I
Windsor.
mi Lord HOLLAND, we understand, will leave tow
this day or to-morrow, fur Spain.
it Yesterday the Cabinet Ministers dined with I
Ire Grace the Duke of PORTLAND, at &winker
in i house.
iihi: Dover Races commenced on Tuesday, and y
Spend this day.
.
Last Saturday, being the first day of pliessa
rjr,
shootiug, dealt great slaughter to that beauti
no elms of the feathered tube.
i a ' An elegant house is fitting up for MrS. BILLIES
c. soy, near Bratideuburgh-house, moiler royal
spection. Lady AUGUSTA D' AaISLAN I) has tisk
'la/
a louse, Ois-s-vis.
:e • Viscount sod Viscountess HARIIRRToN Mir
def..' on Tu..i.olay last, at Malvern Wefts, Woreestershi
tl. from Cheltenham.
I i• Huila Janes Pat, Esq. the venerable P
Laureat, has, for a fortnight past, been seriously
I, o disposed; hut a e ale ham to learn, that the ph;
pre cians have now pram:mimed him out of danger.
ay P A grand miseellaiwous selection will be perfoi
n 4 8 eel, this night, at Chapeltield-house, liver
d r wich ; Ow prim:wall performers are Miss PAR
Mi,s 11ia-rit, Doetor BECKWITH, Mr. PAR
Ills. and the 11,aori. LT:ANDER.
QD. ROBERT Foot, Esq. and a select party of G
tio:: tlemen, wrest Broftilstairs, where they intend, i
u,,:r few days, unitising the company at that place I
the tragedy i,f Tamerlane.
re ..' The Earl and Countess SPENCER will It
an town this day for B-illiton.
•ha The Critic eh° mimes Mrs. SpAllita's ./
Y ti Malaprop with
.flassiess, has proved harwelf a)
I, l • fur • hkker piece of actin,{ has not been altar.'
Sir MIRAN Vii. Link AMELIA, and Mini Hu
. a

”wae caw (mu in t;
. lie was, however, still alive a
day( but no hopes were euterl
to It sties expected the ;tumor
I 0 hi et Court, yesterday, to
n .Iress. re.pertini the late di,
Portugal, but tlei. event di
day the remains of tl
tars Vicar of St. Lawrence
7..1t• iu Use Vicar's vault, in the el
oe 1.-nice was read by the
lte4 tor of St. James's. W,-st
lie Ito* supported by the followit
I. nv.l: Dr. GAsgalt. l'Aessts-
SaLniatTs Lu LAS, LW LE N D