The National Register.
London, England, 1811-09-29 00:00:00

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this spirit of caution manifested by both General 4
as a favourable sign of the Spanish cause. It is not
by general actions and military evolutions that the
French armies are to be overthrown but by desultory
warfare and constant and harassing operations.
SANTOCILDES very prudently fell back as the enemy
advanced, until, at length, he took a position on
the frontiers of Galicia, from which the enemy did
not think proper to attempt to dislodge him. The
intelligence which we had previously received led us
to suppose, that though General SANTOCILDES fell
back in the first instance, he afterwards advanced,
and hung upon the rear of the. French as they re-
treated, causing them much loss, until he took pest
in his former quarters at Astorga. The French, ac.
counts, on the contrary, state that they had
entered Villa Franca on the 28th ultimo.—
If this statement be correct, either they must have
pushed forward a second time, or the intelligence of
their retreat and of the movement of the Galician
army in pursuit of them, must be unfounded. At
all events, it is a satisfaction to know, that in the
North :ind in the South the Spanish Generals know
how to husband their means for a more favourable.
orportunity of action.
FIRING OFF THE FRENCH COAST.

The firing off the French coast heard during the
latter part of last week, which caused so much inte.
rest and curiosity, has, at length, been most fully
and satisfactorily accounted for. It - from

proceeded
seine British cruisers, the Naiad frigate, three
sloops of war, and a cutter, having been engaged
with a division of the French flotilla, in all 27 sail,
on Friday se'nnight, in sight of Boulogne, and under
the immediate observation of the FRENCH EMPEROR
himself. The actinn commenced at noon (the par-
ticulars of which will be found detailed in Tues-
day's Gazette), when the British vessels, having
dashed in amongst the enemy, were soon surround-
ed, but their fire quickly made a serious impression
upon their adversaries, when the Admiral struck,
though another French vessel having run be.
tween him and the Naiad, he most disho.,
nourably re-hoisted his colours, renewed his fire,
and ultimately escaped into port. The vessel that
interposed was captured, and proved a praam of lt
long brass 24-pounders and 112 men.
The view of this partial action, the knot?.
ledge of its result, but above all the style in which
the whole was conducted, and the irresistible intre-
pidity and coolness displayed by the British tar's,
cannot fail to make a.due impression upon the mind
of BL'ONAPARTE, both as to the inutility of all his naval
efforts and the unchangeablesupeTiority of British skill
and discipline. So sure were the French of suc-
cess, that they brought out a pilot to take the Naiad
into Havre de Grace.- We are happy to find that
this brilliant achievement-was attended with, so little
loss on our side, the Naiad having only tw9.killed
and fifteen slightly wounded, and•the Castilian one
Lieutenant and two or three men killed or wounded.
-The Naiad and her prize have arrived at Dover.

AMERICA.
Some more American Papers have been received,
but not of so late a date as those which had
'previously arrived. They do not bring any Intel.

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