The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-04-16 00:00:00

PRIVAT!. CORRESPONDENCE.

•4 TRASCOSO, )ARCH 2s.

" Having nn news of any importance to commu-
nicate. I omitted writing for some time past. I
yesterday received a letter from a friend in the 95th
tegintesit, informing me of a most gallant action,
which occurred on the night of the 19th inst..be-
• tween part of that corps and a very strong force of.
the enmity, the particulars of which are as follow
For some time oar videttas and *deemed picquetr,
• and those of the enemy. have been in sight of each
other on either side ofthe river Apada, which sepa-
rates Spain from Portugal. in the direction of Ciadsd
Rodrigo. On the evening of the 19th, the French
withdrew their piequete, which were stationed in
frost of the bridge of St. Felices, evidently with the
design of potting our troops off their guard, which
ruse de pare had not the intended effect. At
twelve o'clock at night, they advanced from the
tows of St. Felice. towards the bridge, in number
about 1500, under the command of a Colonel, 600
of whom mowed the bridge, and forced • small
number of German cavalry to retreat, the remainder
of the force stopped on the opposite side as a re-
serve. The alarm was giveu by a chitin of centric•,
which extended from the bridge to the village of
Barbaro de Porco. where some companies of the
95th were quartered.
The pliant Colonel Beckwith, foreseeing, from
what had taken place in the evening, that the ene-
my were meditating some secret plan of attack,
was perfectly prepared to oppose it. Having first
rent OM couspnag to take powession of a pos.,
about a mile to hie loft, which would prevent his
brimg surreeeded, he advanced with Captain
O'Harais sod Captain Babraird's companies, and
halt of soother cowpony only, to meet so unequal
a force. which, after a revere conflict, lie compelled
to retreat. They left behind them two officers and
sweets men killed, and two wounded. They car-
r ed Gismos waggons. loaded with wounded, whom
they seat next day to Salamanca. The loss on our
side is one ofAcer sad three rank and file killed, one
@attain and seven rank and file wounded, and the
two crotrica, who were stationed arithebeidge,
mu-
sing. The carves name, whose Meads have to la-
ment, his untimely dr.ith, was Mercer, a First
Lieutenant in the Rifle Corps, a young Imo of

Most amiable and cone listing manners, and who
was highly esteemed and respected both by his
Colonel and brother officers. This victory, al-
though an a small scale, gawii additional lustre to
our military character, and adds fresh laurel, to
the brow or the brave officer that Uchieverl it, who
w neavforfeiting his life to the iroldiras of the en-
t Lpri he receivedse; fur, while
a m
wliile leaj„l.kigeto-al i
throughe nbtiltt his
atit °fcahpe-
which passed over his foiellead, without doing the
leat injury. S. MaIC II 25.
. -

" A few days ago the French Were in great lorce
at Salamanca, and in the direction of Ciudad Ito-
derigo. It was he general belief, that so soon as
the river AgnaJa, which is impassable. at present
from the constant rains we have had since the be.
ginning of the month, was fordable, the enemy
would enter Portagal with a force that we could
not withstand; but we learn from •sold ier of th, 60t
rugiiiient, who made his escape from Salamanca
about seven days ago, thiit Marshal Ney marched
from thence with one division of the army towards
Valladolid, that Juuot was conducting another to-
wards Tralos Mottles, and that there were only trOU
media Sa!ataancit when hr left it. The cause of
this moven...lit of the French army, it is said, is the
want of supplies in that part of Spain. For this ill-
formation we have but the Slender tetitituony of •
German soldier.

6. Our army in tLis country is divided into five
divisions, to each of which is attached two regs.
tneuts of Portuguese, which form the centre of the
division. The light division, commanded by Go.
neral Cranford. extends from Pince to Almeida.
and along the I..mitiers. The first division, under
the command of Sir John Sherbroult, is stationed
at Wizen, and in the environs of head-quarters.
Gen. Hill commands the ill division, which lies at
POrtategni, and ill the direction of Elves, whither it
moved 'from Ahrtintes, when the Frinch attacked
Badsjas. The third division is stationed at Tern-
coso and the neighbouring villages, the command
of which General Picton assumed about three weeks
ego. Guard* end Cclenco are' occupied by the
4th division, under General Cole. This distribu-
tion of the army is the best that coo possibly be
made. The principal passes are thereby occupied ;
but I am upprchensive, that, when the enemy
makes an attack, he will come with such numbers
as will force us to retreat towards the banks of the
Tagus. There is a rumour here, that more troops
are coming ont to this country. Stich a ovum e
may insure the possession of Portugal to England
for a few months longer; but what object is to be
gaim d by such sacrifices?
.1.1 nisderetend that all the pick are removed
from Elves to Lisbon. There is a general hospital
established at Coimbra, to which place the sick of
the different divisions are sent once I week.

" The accounts received from Spain, through
Portugal, bold nut some glimmitrinp of hope that
the cause of Spain is jet yet lasi. A letter of the
31st alt., from Lisbon, states, that the French
army, under Marshal Mintier, which had advanced
tp the Guadiana, a the direction of Xeres de Ha-
dojos, bad been repulsed by strong dotachincute
from the army antler the Marquis de la Houma.
entrusted to the command of Generals liollasteros
and Carreral. The enemy was driven heck, post
by pn.t, until he was chased beyond the frontiers
Estrernadiirs, retreating through the defiles of
the Cumbres Majorca, towards Seville. The ad-
vanced 4uard of the Patriots wos within six leagues
of that city. The same letter odds, that the passes
of the Sierra Morena, through the whole range of
that chain of mountains, with the exception of a
distsoc. of 24 milca„ were occupied by the Spa-
niards. whose object was to cut off the communica-
tion between the oentral and.soutitern forces of the
invaders."