The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-10-20 00:00:00

rx rit..CT Or A LETTER, DATED CAsTRO, OCT. 3.

The rerun+ entered Bilbao ea the 2;th alt. Forty-als
Vrinasints lin toady etat4 to attack der., moil it
wall be itrip....c.ihie fur their's reierog there a week Never
ft ta a:prated am sertgreaeat rill tid:r place te-tlay. or le-
gman'', Nearly tie illote et the t cspertalgie Imarcialata
Bithila are bin." 1

The littllllPrr of *a Spanish troops intended to
act Most ifilloork, ww should stippostt to be greatly
cooperated. widow General BLARE moult to pro-
ceed thither with his whale army. Ilower.tr, they
would cot fall much short of tifteen or twt•nty

thousand men, after they had been jnised by the
third division, and the corps under the coutetaud of
General REQUELP RE.
At no period since the commencetnent of hosti-
lities in Spain, if we except the time immethidely
preceding the capitulation of Dueoxv at Bayless,
have circumstances been so critical, or opened oo
wide a field of hope, and of solicitude; its at the
present moment. In Biscay, to which province,
or to the adjoining one of .Nava, the theatre of
war rwein3 to be principally removed, mutters
threaten apparently some decisive event. NEY,
who appears to have now assumed the supreme
command, has signalized his arrival by a military
operation very unlike those of Sir HARRY Butt-
naafi, or of Sir DEW DALRYMPLE, Generals, who
have hitherto done no more in Portugal. than any
of His MantaTT's Chaplains could have performed:
We mean in the field ; for, unquestionably, in the
Cabinet, they have given' very unequivocal proof. ,
of the moot active and pernicioas exertion. la re-
occupying, rather than retaking, Bilbao, the new
French Commander-in-Chief has, however, beta
actuated rather by an imperious necessity, than he
can be said to havii commenced offensive hostili-
ties. If that city had remained in the. possession
of the Spaniards, or if it should again fall into their
hands. the army of •NEtr it placed iu the most dan-
gerous predicament, menaced With being cut off
hairs the roily certain or Secure con) 1111 l nication
with France ; namely, that through Guipuscoa, to
latais and Bayonne. fn fact, as fur as we are able
auyeonclusion from our imperfect light.,
it is no longer its Ohl Castile., at Burgos, or on the
Ebro. that the army of France intend* to make
a stand ; but at Vittolia, in the pros incea of Alava
and Biscay, as well as in that of Navarre. On the
side of Arragen, we have even reason te 'believe
that the insurgents are already,-pushing forward
very considerably to the north of Primpeltot; Not
content with occupying almost allAie town, or
posts. from Exea to the gates of Sangoemsa;along
the eastern frontier of Navarre, they 'meditate to
render themselves masters of the Famous defiles of
Roncevalles, of Val Carlwi, and of Val Altman,
all situate between Painpelima and Bcr.rn, close
to The confines of the French territory. Should
they succeed, while the Gallician army retook
Itilboa, and advanced towards Bargara of Toluca,
we might safely assume that NET would be in a
situation scarcely less perilous than DUPONT, when
he Was surromoled by CAsTANOS.
In Catalonia, to which prounee BONAPARTE
will, probably, scud a considerable portion of the
force now marching through nonce, it is Obvious
that his affairs are by no enema in a prosperous, or
in a progressive condition. If we might credit the
Spanish assertions, even Figueras itself itatarcely
secure, as large desertions take place from among
the garrison in that fortress : a circumstance which
seems to derive probability, if Hot confirmation,
from the escape and arrival at Gibraltar of the
Princess of ORLS•Ns ; who, with her mother, the
Duchess, widow of the too-celebrated EGALITE,
the Duchess of Bouttatia, nod the old Prince of
CuNTI, last of the blood royal of France, have
been, as is well known, long resident at, or near
Fiveras. When we reflect that NAPoLEoff
gained possession of the two keys of Catalonia, in
conaecrieetee of the iinlieeilityof Coaatas IV. and
of which he is still master, on must admit that no
part of Spain has exhibited proofs of greater loyalty
or valour than the Catalaus. At (Loom% they
defeated Drusseg ; while, on the 11.1obregat, and
even in the verb vicinity of Barcelona, the French
are held in perpetual alarm, and reduced to act
on the defensive. Such scents to have Ism the
position of things on the first days of the present
month, in the North-East provinces of Spain.
If the Constcax Elin-ROR should, as he me-
naces, have actually marched considerable reio-
foreements to the support of Mershol Nsv, before
the middle of October, so as to enable him to at-
tack the Spaniards. and to limb his operations to
the South, Joseph may again appear upon the
scene. But Box APAR-re has not a moment to lose,
both on account of the atoms, as well as the addi-
tional force expected from this country. We are
at a loss to conceive, or to imagine, why the regi-
meuts liberated from Funen were not seut to
Gijon, or to St. Antler°. What could impel or
induce our 31iiiistere to order them to Corunna, at
the other extremity of Strain ; from whence they
must either march over some of the most rugged
and mountainous tracts of the peninsula, near vOO
milts, to join the army of BLAKI ; or they must
be a second time transported by sea, along the
coast of Astoria, to the theatre of war ? We hope
that some satisfactory explanation of this enigma
will Le given by one itf the Ministerial Prieto. Of
the arrival of Sir D. BAIRD'S force at it, destination,
which, till ae nre better informed, we must lissome
to ho St. Andero, we may 601111 11011 t• to be made ac-
quainted. They may give a new aspect to affairs
in that trotter : hut we lament to be a; 0:1. to assert,
that not a single troop of -sivalry 'et-automatics our
army, though we hart. so severely experienced the
want of horse at Vitstiera.

It is obvious, from a consideration of these facts,
that ititelligence oT the moss exhiliratiug, ur of the
most painful description, may he very soo:i ex-
pected from Spain. Alter the beginning of No-
vethilser, the difficulties no the Ogle of the a•lail-
tats, for such we must esteem the Fiend), wile) are

attempting to force a foreign Adventurer Oh
necks§ of the Spaniards, will augment ; "ale Cs..
Patriots, placed to the South of the Pyreilees,,,i,
quuiuted with the country, and atiintateil by
sentiment that can propel the human miud, mils;
derive advantages from the approach of
To-morrow, unless prevented by other more
ing matter, we may, perhaps, turn our view ,
Portugal. It affords but to•) much scope lurk,
fleetion, regret, and animadversion.

It seems to be the wish of some of the 4finistr%,l
Prie.ts to de;, nule the public press by the satlrr 11:;R
and intrigues %Welt BONAPARTE bas So snivel.
fully practised 114;timi it upon the Continent....
The wine paper that lately assured its testis,
Ilia MAJESTY'S Answer to thc City Adrift*,
was "the theme of universal eulogium througli.
out the metropolis," yesterday asserts, •ith eqoal
cc:intorno of truth, that the late Ministers hs,„
iug made use of the Catliolies so long as tb"
suited their purposee, have now tarried iersi,r
them." The mile-creel conduit of one of th,oi,
position Papers, in reviving most wise:Nona* th..
Catholic• Quest• „ -appears to have afforded a en.
tence for, iutrodueitig this most shameful inizttiev-
seiltatio

The Meeting of the Inhabitants of the City
Westiniiiiter, this Aay, to ...or:older of an Addr...,,
to liiiiMAJESTT, for an inquiry intothe eauoes it, it
led to the late Convention in Portugal, ha► e'ic
a great degree of public epectation. It il.thet.;'lt,
however°, that Sir P11,1%01.1 BURD4:Ty will mg
*attend it. A Meeting of the Freelen:ders of Bel.
shire, we find, %%as held on Tue:dat•, at Reschn;,
when an 4rlilre,l to the ribuve effect was agreed to
by a large majority. • It was supported by Lord
'VOCKESTONF, G. 111wrtrouis, Esq. and several
other Gentlemen, and oppowd by Mr. Serjecit
SULPHERD, and ovine other Gentlemen.

. .
Yenterday a Court of Directors wen held at the
East-India House, when Captain Mars was sworn
into die command el the Cornpa.lo ship Briteutv,
consigned to ;Shahan- and China. The Court
journed at six, o'clock till 11.t.datnda neat.

Intelligence is said to hate been ieceived of the
'annul of Sir D. BAIRD'S expedition off the Casa
of Spain. Both the British and the Spanish troops
from the Baltic would, it was supposed, land at
Corinna, if it shall be found dangerous to attempt
die binding at St. Andero.
The Diraffe frigate at Cork is appointed rm.
coy for the West Indies ; her time of :ailing n not
Axed, there being but few vessels assembled.
' • The Rat#,, CHAPMAN. from Quebec for Lives-
pool, is lost on the owlet of Ireland.
Advice* reached Malta on the sth ult. that the
At.triasi ports are shut against American vessels,
and even against their own, if laden with oslooial
produce. In consequence of this inforusadkon, aim

. .
.Inies.. all 3:sips, winch had arrived Nil freight,-1
at Ti:alta, on th.,ir way to Trieste. were about ta
diobarge their eargoe, at the first of these ports.
Lord-M Et.vi LLE arrived in town from Sentinvl
on Monday last. ibis Lordship's arrival at ifs
motueut will no doubt give rise to a variety of etio-
ject ores.
General Casv.tEns, who has acquired sorb la'
noontide distitietion amongst the Spauisit Patriots,
is the uterine brother of Dou SIMON DT LAS Cl.
lAA, who was Aiabatatallor from the Court of Slim
to this country in 17gli and 171,7. Ile is now 41.
years of age, and has scrvcd on many important
occasions iii the Spanish army. He received a severe
wuuud in an utigagement with the French is 1741.
whilst lie colutuautletl the African regiment. shawl(
he was colonel. In 179 is he was bald-lied from
Madrid, along, with i other ollicert, through tbs
tutrigucs of the Patinae of the PLACE.
Ou Mouday night or Tuesday morning, the
houses of Ml'. OWCN, No. LI, Cnrzon.strett, and
Mr SPAILILIALL, dentist, the corner of (built and
Curzon-streets. *text door to each other, wen hroke.i
open, and funsiture to the amount of 81. *Wm
the property of. Mr. OWIT. They did not tni.-
any. thing from Mr..Seatass Lt.'s house. Part of
a prantiole was found, on Tuesday in the street.
None of the family were disturbed, the iiiisi •
effected their escape, and no discovery Inoy et bon
made. Mr. SrAills.bAt.t. and his MPH hail been GU::
as they were returning Koine, about three o'clokk
en TlletidAy oat:irides, they perceived the door ii
Mr. Owlets's house broken open, one side of tits
door-case baritee been forced front the wall; on
their alarming the family, they ..Nei:lined the !wire.
and found a door in the area, which set:a:WA I.
houses, broken open ; and also Mr. SrAlllipALL.•
kitchen door. Three suspicious persons were 4r,-
served. on illouday, at the Sun pnblic-bonne,intlie
neighbourhood.
A letter from l.ewes, dated October 17, lia!,
" The appearance of the Comet, yesterday eat,'
Mg. at p. PI. was nearly as mentioned in our Lot.
Its situation, in the heavens, may be foiled in a rev
simple way, by cutting a common play ing caul.
from corner to corner, lengthways, or diagousli:•
through the centre, and applving the longest re e
of either piece (the shortest i.isle being placed '"a
the left) so as to bring it to coincide, li. A oiir,‘:
lime, with the Pie/tufts and the .planet o'si.;.'vo--
The other two sides couvergitig to a point, 513
chew the Comet, visibly to the linked eye."
At the Suffolk Sessions, which did net terminate
at Bury till IVednesday sennight, Peter L'urtes vs•
conrieted of stealing three comities endow bushel of
wheat, and one coolish aud three 'Bushels of barley.
the property of Mr. N. I-. SCOTT, of Harm*, 81"1
senteactrtl to seven years transportation —I). n?,"
rend. for stealing a quantity of oats, the property
of the Rev. J. It. DCAltr, of Rums; Arthur II4•-
;ens, for stealing two hempen tucks, the p'olw`TY
of Jos. Husr, of Great WaldinglieM t and d,..1
1
ration ilsejfeld. for running away and leaving -•
family chargeable to the parish of :Market Weston
were severally sentenced to six months' iairrisc::
went. J. Ha:teemed. fee stealing a qoardity n
Imam, the property of Mr. C. Lsaraseto of Li".
prrileY ; and Hannah Bullock, for stealing so spree
were each sentenced to one mouth's illi;;:liegmerl