The National Register.
London, England, 1809-01-08 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Channel fleets, would compel the enemy to keep an armed
force of more than 50,000 men fur the defence of their ex-
tensive line of coast. The ravages the enemy have com-
mitted in Spain, justify the principle of retaliation ; anti
it is of the most urgent necessity to make the Frent
feel the calamities of war. While their property and per-
sons are secure, they arc perfectly insensible to its conti-
nuance; hut as soon as' their rattle are iu • danger, and
their houses exposed to plunder and conflagration, their
loud murmers may impose some restraint or the wily
ambition of their ferocious tyrant. We abhor the Oen of
augmenting the calamities of war; but humanity may bt
beuefitted by the severe and vigorous measures we have re-
commended.

A number of reports prevailed, nod were received with
avidity, during the course of the %era, of s.gual
sustained by the enemy. One of these stated, on the au-
thority of a letter from Vigo, that general massacre of th,
French had taken place in Madrid, on which occasiui.
26,000 had been killed, and the rest forced to surrender.
Another rumour stated a great victory obtained by the
united British and Spanish armies, in the neighbourhood
of the capital, in which the enemy were said to have lobs
9000 men killed and 14,000 prisoners: the English army
lc ad 700 killed. We are sorry to state that neither of these
reports were corroborated by subsequent intelligence; and
the latest advices from our army make no raentiqn of any
loch occurrences. We feel tbc greatest satisfaction, how-
ever, in stating that our soldiers enjoy the highest degree of
health and spirits, and breathe the most ardent desire of
coming speedily into contact with *enemy. The force of
the Marquis na LA itomaise was receiving every day new ac-
cumulatiou of strength, and at the date of the last disf
patches, was computed At 30,000 serviceable men. Pursuant
to the extraordinary powers he has received from the Su.
preine Junta, he has adopted the most vigorous measures to
encrease his effective strength, and to form immediately an
army of Reserve.. His operations were combined in concert
with those of our army ; and whilst the British troops
attacked SQULT in one direction, he was expected to move
forward, in 'Order to cut off the possibility of a retreat.
The dictatorial '►tilers entrusted to him in this emergency,
and which place at his absolute and uncontrouled disposal
the population and resources of Old Castile, Leon, Astu-
rias and Gallicia, promise the most auspicious consequences
to the patriotic cause; because his patriotism and energy,
together with his detestation of the invaders, justify us to
presume, that his zeal and prudeucewill rise with the exi-
gency of the times. The spirited proclamation he has
published on the occasion, and the letter, in which this un-
precedented authority is deputed to him
.by the Supreme
Junta, are proofs of the resolution with which the Pa-
triots intend to defend their country.

Lisbon Papers to the 21st ult. arrived onWednesdarlast:
they were brought over by the Niobe frigate, which sailed
on the 22d. They contain some very interesting news. from
Slain, which, as they are communicated in an official forin,.
lay strong claims to our belief. PALAVOX and Saragossa
have become once more objects of our admiratiim, and of
terror to the invaders. A very tarp' corps of the enemy,
consisting of 15,000 infantry and :2000 cavalry, made a
vigorons attack on Saragossa on the tat ult. in which they
were repulsed .with -considerable loss. They renewed the.

-

assault three successive times, and with equal success. i airy
at last retreated precipitately, leaving 2000 dead behind
them. The assailants directed their principal etlorts against
the bridge of the canal of Arragun, through which they
attempted to penetrate into the town. They had obtained
.iissession of it three times, and were successfully dislodged
by the intrepid Arragunese. The Corps of IN ET are sup-
posed to have been engaged on the occasion. PALAs
ecor, is one of those extraordinary apparitions, why,
ss long as they remain on the scene, maintain un-1
impaired the hopes of their country e and h6r situa-
ii.:n never becomes desperate. The present crisis in,
which Spain is placed, is peculiarly adapted for producing -
a number of such characters ; and the proud conscious
spirit of the hero, and the man of genius, unshackled by
:!le formality of application, and the nauseousness of pa-
!ronage, seizes, as his right, the post which his talents and •
courage most qualify him for. The Spanish character,
exclusive of the present Occurrences, so favourable to._
the appearance and growth of uncommon abilities, is of
that dignified, reserved, and most romantic kind, which en-,t
genders enthusiasm and the ardent spirit of enterprize.
weighing their chances of success, we have taken thesdJ,
qualities particularly into consideration ; and no people
love more ardently, or entertain a higher opinion of their.)
country than the Spanish.

141 ..jj Al 4 "WV I*S
The enemy has favoured us with three additional Butte- •
tins, which were sent in the same manner as the three/for.
tiler. They were found in an open boat off Boulogne, 'and
transmitted to government. We acknowledge a e feel no'
small degree of pleasure at the anxious desire the tyrant `
nanifests to impose on, or dishearten, the government '
and public of this country by means of these Bulletins,
With his characteristic impudence and falsehood, he has
not been able, however, to invent a single plausible fact,
which could justify, in a military point of view, the
trouble of writing them. In this sense they contain no-
thing of importance but the surrender of Rosas; the truth
of which we are inclined to reject absolutely. He knew
it required a considerable time before we could ascertain •
whether that fortress had capitulated ; and this einbel-
lishment was unquestionably necessary to give this journal
the appearance of a military one, and to keep up an ap-,
pearance of his being able to execute his vaunted menace
—" That not a single village would be in a state of insur-'
rection, nor a British soldier in Spain, at the expiration of
last month." These Bulletins, at least, do not contain a
single occurrence, which can induce us to believe in the,
possibility of the execution, even at the expiration of the.
present year. They still represent him in the neighbour-
hood of Madrid, and do not contain a word, which mignt
induce us to believe that he favoured the inhabitants of the
capital with the honour of a visit.
The first of these Bulletins, the 17th in regular succes-
sion, dated Madrid, Dec. 10th, refers only to reviews, and
to a very obscure and undetailed account of some success
which the Duke of IsstatA obtained over which
covered the retreat of CASTANOS. army. The hitter, in the
:usual style of French depreciation, is stated to have amount.:
'ed to nci more than 6000 men ; though it is mentioned,
that BESSIERES) in attacking the corps, which coVezed
their flight, took 1000 prisoners. This is rather a
con-
siderablei number; considering that the principal corps


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JAN. S. - THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 0.;
~......-..
Channel heels, would compel the enemy to keep an armed assault three successive times, and with equal success. alley
force of more than 50,000 men fur the defence Of their ex- at last retreated precipitately, leaving 2000 dead behind
tensive hue of coast. The ravages the enemy have COM- them. The assailants directed their principal edurts against
miffed in Spain, justify the principle pf reteliation ; env the bridge of the canal of Arragun, through which they • ,
it is of the most urgent necessity to make the Frenc! ,
attempted to penetrate into the town. They had obtained
feel the calamities of war. While their property and per-, '
..session of it three times, and were succtssfully dislodged
sons are secure, they arc perfectly insensible to its coati-
by the intrepid Arragunese. The temps of IN ET are sup-
nuance ; hut as soon as' their cattle are iu •danger, and
posed to have been
is ene,aecl en the occasion. PALAs '
their houses exposed to plunder ;nd conflagration, their
emr, one of those extraordinary apparitions, why,/
loud murmers may impose some restraint or the win • 1 • •
d'i long as they remain on the scene, maintain un-
ambition of their ferocious tyrant. We abhor the Om pi -
augmenting the calamities of war; but humanity may impaired the hopes of their country; and her situa-
be •
benefitted by the severe and vigorque measures we have re- ' 4.1.'n never becomes desperate. The present crisis in,
commended. . which Spate is placed, is peculiarly adapted for producing
—....... a number pf such characters ; and the proud conscious
A number of reports prevailed, and were received with spirit of the hero, and the man of genius, unshackled by ,
avidity, during the course of the meek, of cgual revers.. : :le formality of application, and the nauseousness of pa-
sustained by the enemy. One of these stated, on the au- *renege, seizes, as his right, the post which his talents and •
thority of a letter from Vigo, that general massacre of tin, courage most qualify him for. The Spanish character,
French had taken place in Madrid, on which occasiui. exclusive of the present Occurrences, so favourable to _ I
26,000 had been killed, and the rest forced to surrender. the appearance and growth of uncommon abilities, is oft .
Another rumour stated a great victory obtained by the , that dignified, reserved, and most romantic kind, which en-:t'
united British and Spanish armies, in the neighbourhood genders enthusiasm and the ardent spirit of enterprize. In 4 ..
of the capital, in which the enemy were said to have lobs weighing their chances of success, we have taken thesej. • ~
9000 men killed and 14,000 prisoners: the English army qualities particularly into consideration ; and no people
bad 700 killed. We are sorry to state that neither of these love more ardently, or entertain a higher opinion of their.) .
reports were corroborated by. subsequent intelligence; and country than the Spanish. , ,41 —ow. 1. ~ .: a
the latest advices from our army make no mentiqa of any _—.....-- . - !id • 1,4 -4' 4 Avg 7 : NI: - •
such occurrences. We feel the greatest satisfaction, how-
.. The enemy has favoured us with three additional Butte- 4 ..
ever, in stating that our soldiers enjoy the highest degree ot tins, which were sent in the same manner as the three/for. r . •
health and spirits, and hreathe the most ardent desire at mer. They were found in an open boat offßoulogne, 'encl.,' -7,
,
coming speedily into contact with tile enemy. The force of transmitted to government. We acknowledge vie feel no.' t
the Marquis na LA RoMANA was receiving every day new ac- small degree of pleasure at the anxious desire the tyrant' rf ...
cumulation of strength, and at the date of the last disf ' nanifests to impose on, or dishearten, the government'
patches, was computed at 30,000 serviceable men. Pursuant and public of this country by means of these Bulletins,
to the extraordinary powers he has received from the Su. With his characteristic impudence and falsehood, he has..
preine Junta, he has adopted the most vigorous measures to not been able, however, to invent a single plausible fact,4
encrease his effective strength, and to form immediately an which could justify, in a military point of view, the i•
army of Reserve.. His operations were combined in concert trouble of writing them. In this sense they contain no- r •
with those of our army ; and whilst the British troops thing of importance but the surrender of Roses; the truth
attacked SQVLT in one direction, he was expected to move of which we are inclined to reject absolutely. He knew ..
forward, in 'Order to cut off the possibility of a retreat. it required a considerable time before we could ascertain •
The dictatorial ',tilers entrusted to him in this emergency, whether that fortress had capitulated ; and this einbel-
and which place at his absolute and uncontrouled disposal lishment was unquestionably necessary to give this journal
the population and resources of Old Castile, Leon, Astu- the appearance of a military one, and to keep up an ap7; - .
ries and Gallicia, promise the most auspicious consequences pearance of his being able to execute his vaunted menace
to the patriotic cause; because his patriotism and energy, ._....44 That not a single village would be in a state of insu• r-1
together with his detestation of the invaders, justify us to rection, nor a British soldier in Spain, at the expiration of
presume, that his zeal and prudence will rise with the exi- last month." These Bulletins, at least, do not contain a .
gency of the times. The spirited proclamation he has single occurrence, which can induce us to believe in the, .
..
published on the occasion, and the letter, in which this un- possibility of the execution, even at the expiration of the.
preceilented authority is deputed to him
.by the Supreme present year. They still represent him in the neighbour-
Junta,
are proofs of the resolution with which the Pa- hood of Madrid, and do not contain a word, which might t,' ,
triots intend to defend their country. induce us to believe that he favoured the inhabitants of the I '
—ow. capital with the honour of a visit.
Lisbon Papers to the 21st ult. arrived onWednesdarlast:
The first of these Bulletins, the 17th in regular siicces-
they were brought over by the Niobe frigate, which sailed
sion, dated Madrid, Dec. 10th, refers only to review s, and
on the 22d. They contain some very interesting news' from , . 1-'1
to a very obscure and undetailed account of sinne seeress
Spain, which, as they are communicated in an official form,. awhich the Duke of IfIsTRIA obtained over e cni Fs, wtoch
lay strong claims to our belief. PAt.&l'ox and Saragossa covered the retreat of CASTA NOS' army. The latter, in the
have become once more objects of our admiration, and of i usual style ot French depreciation, is stated to have amount-'
' ed to mi more than 6000 men ; though it -is mentioned,
terror to the invaders. Avery large c9rps of the enemy,
consisting of 15,000 infantry and :000 cavalry, made a that BESS. ER ES) in attacking the cerps, which coVezed
vigorous attack ou Saragossa on the lit ult. in which they their flight, took 1000 prisoners. This is rather a coil-
Weft, repulsed :with considerable lose. They renewed the. .iiderable number; considering that the principal corps