The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-10-05 00:00:00

NET. The position of that city, near the frontiers
of Spimio and Portugal, and uliiiod equilistant
from Plavencia and Salamanca, renders it import-
ant; as the garrison may greatly disturb and inter-
rupt, if not absolutely cut off all communication
between the two last-mentioned French Generals.
Though the fortifications of Oviduct Rodrigo are
old anti weak, yet is it capable of making very con-
siderable resistance; and we may see, by Sir JOHN
Motion's account of his reception. us well as treat-
ment there, Olt his march from Lisbon to Sala-
manca, la►t November, that the inhabitants, un-
hke those of inaimy other cities and provinces of
Spain, displayed some character, loyalty, sod dis-
position, to resist the invaders. IVe• may coiase-
quently hope, that, if attacked, they will not now
Open their gates, us Leon, Valladolid, Astorgo,
and almost t• vcry pluce ii,4l4lfill, or
Old Castile did, out the appearance of the French,
without oppositior. The army which was so long
under the command of the Mancini* DE ICUM•N•,
is likewise, if we can trust the Portuguese ac-
counts. in a condition, and in a ritnation, to take
a part in any efforts that may lie tamde to succour
Cividad Rodrigo. Tins burly of troops, amount-
ing to 21,000 men, is stationed at the little town of
A Icatiteraz, in the province of Leon, near time her-'
dery of Tras-ris-Montes. about half-way between
Zamora su4 Ilraganra, in Portugal. Nor is it by
any means improbable, that. in such a case, Lord
WILLINGTOS himself may again re-uppriir cm the
scene of action, and may march to the assistance of
Ciridad Rodrigo, or of the Spaniards. We trust,
that. if he does,he will make very different arrange-
ments, and take somewhat better precautions for
his suliaistroce. and the security of his rear, than
he did on his late march from Coimbra to Talaveru.

The inure maturely we weigh and consider the
nature, as well as the probable results, of that at-
tempt to penetrate to Madrid, the more iujaditiorts
dues it appear to have been ; whether the plan ori-
ginated with Lord CABILLakAwa, mot was enjoined
lion, hence; or whether it sprang from the 'adroit
and intemperate spirit of enterprize, 'which charac-
terises all the military operations of Sir AitTIIVIL,
in Asia, and in Europe. To da..11 at once, with. a
force of scarcely 9.8.0 h men, into the heurt of New
Castile, without previously kaowing that the pass
behind him were guarded ; without ascertaining
that magazines were, or contd. Lie, provided ; anti
without any concerted plan with CLla.t, really
exceeds any of ALExerinErt's sidilime acts of
temesny, recorded by ARRIAN, or by QtitbITIJS
Cutcrtus. CLIAIILLS Xii. could have done no
more, when contending against Muscovites or
Poles, a hundred years ago. lied Sir ARTUUII,
then, profited so little by Sir Junm Moon's ex-
perience and information, us to expect from
COMA, efforts of firmness. op W41'001.11001 of skill
and discipline, !ritual to repelling the attacks of
Vteroa, Misicrien, and SLOASTIANL' (Jr did he
hope, with a little band of foreign auxiliaries., un-
supported by the Spaniards, to drive before him
the veteran armies of France, far soperior to him
in. numbers, and drawing their supplies from Ma-
drid ? Iti as. be, or could he lee ignorant, that the
country, from At/fit:l7 avid Oropesa, to Toledo,
through winch he must ot ucct ssity march, was out
only in general sterile and depopulated, hat hid
been already devastutr d and devoured? Surely
these consJeratroloi might to have arrested his im-
petuosity; or would have fully justified his depar-
ture (rum the sliders of the Cabinet he..; if, alter
all, we can suppose any Mini-tors so besotted, or
so destitute •C reflection, as, while the accusations
end charges of Sir June Moose were singing in
their ears, to enjoin Sir Aar nen WELLESLEY to
attemptastill more impracticable enterprise, than
Mr. Fates, or Moat A, proposed to the British
General, last autumn..

But, even if Lord. WELLINGTON had really
vanquished the French et Talavera ; we mean, as
Bun ramrishes ; mot !cueing his wounded,
three days afterwards, to the cure of his vanquidad
enemies ;—if he had been able, without mules, or
carriages, or provisions, to pursue the flying foe,
and to entt r lladrid ; a hat than x Could he pare
maintained himself in that capital I Would not
the four armies of Vu von, MONTIAR. NEV. and
Sim" antountiug to 65,000 men at least, inde-
pendent of the garrison of the various towns of A r.
r:igon and the two Cestiles, hart surrounded him ?
Ilbght he not,.precluded.from any possibility of re.
tre:it to Bads*, or to Alcaotani, and plunged
into the very centre of the Peninsula. here been
redueed.tw surrender? Ditl he rely nn CVETTA
end Vtaktus to repulse the troops of Nassui.koi P
Or woo it on the torero end enthusiasm of the
Castilians. that he reposed his confidence? Or
did be loolsto the exertions of the t'teiprerne Junta,
to the abilities of their Secretary'. MAaTI V DN. GA.
RAY. and to the impulse which his arm brother, the
Marquis, was to give to the Spanish coos...ruined
All these were broken reeds, as he moat. or saght
to have keown. The measure of marching on
Madrid, was. al, iniris, and d. priori. wrung. flu
subject is fall of natter as run be seen *hemmer
Parliament meets.

Letter. end Paper% from Holland to the 2tith
ultimo.. have arrilod It appears by the fortn.r
that the emhargn ha, heen taken olf wll in-smut
treacle in the porta of France att.l Holland, 'limn
the rapreas coleht,cm, however, that none of them
shall enter an FAlL:bah port ; and that if wart heti
by our cruiser*, they ..hall. if afterwards captured
by French crimes cutindored en Waal prises
to the capterl. -