The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-21 00:00:00

mar-c.46.4.00,0* - •
TIIE NATIONAL RTI.GISTETr.•*. • . • .
:.) o. eta fling, Consltiitittio, ens 11itt4. :44
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N° 173. SUNDA Y, A PRI L=2l, 1811
Pieter •
. .
POLITICAL DISQUISITION. .
has witnessed the quickness of hi conceptions and
Naar?. the rapidity of all his motions, should ever have .
---eeseet- formed the hope of blinding his prudence by •
• CAMPAIGN IN PORTUGAL so shallow an artifice. Another argument, and
The Portuguese earripait!n may noirheeneeider. of a still more convincing nature, is, that had the
ed ,cm concluded. In the North it is doubtful who. I wily Italian really entertained such a hope, and on. • •
tiler the invaders still rearin Almeida, and in the 1 that week foundation built such a plan, the absence •
South they have totally evecteated the Alentejo and of means would have prevented him from at-
repasrea the Spanish frontier, -an which they only tempting to carry it , into effect. He might,
retain their late battered acquisition, Badajoz. Yet indeed,_ have retreated, as he has done ; but
at the end of a Litigeing march of nearly SOO
there are some aniongst us who still apprehend
Main.NA's retreat to hard' been a deep laid scheme, miles ; harrassed by continual attacks .on his flanks
the effect of which has. not hitherto had time to un- and on his rear; his strength impaired by incessant
fold itself. Like superstitious bigots on whom losses in killed, wounded, sick, and prisoners ; his
truth exerts no power, they disregard the evidence artillery either destroyed, buried, or left behind him,
of facts, and even in the midst of defeat_and ruin, - in order to accelerate hi; flight,how couldhe possibly,
worthip the infallibility of the•rrench Generals and even should he succeed in turning our right and
the seipericeity of their genius. They pretend that gaining the start of us, re-enter Portugal in that
tteeseNA had no other intention in retiring so swiftly state, and proceed to the capital. 66 But he will
towards his former quArters in Spain, than that of , derive abundant supplies from Ciudad Rodrigo, and
drawing Lord WreorfeEroN. from his impregnable numerous divisions. will join him." Had Ciudad
he.s, and by a serie sof skilful movements and calcu- i Rodrigo really contained the magazines described
lilted skirmishes, in which tee adlantage, was put. in the Moniteur, or had those magazines been full,
posely -left on our side, to attract him as fat:north MASSENA would not have been allowed to come so
as possible, and induce him to profit by sortie apps- , far to fetch his supplies : they would have been sent
rent error, and throw his army on the left of- the to him to prevent the necessity of that retreat, which
French, in the vain hope of cutting off their retreat displays to the whole world the weakness of the
into Spain. They then as gravely assert, that, French power, when resolutely and skilfully re.
availing himself of this act of blind temerity on our sisted, and must inspire the Portuguese Nation with
part, MASSENA instantly wheel to the right, encreased abhorrence of its invaders, and augmented
and leaving once more the allied troops in his rear, confidence in its own energies and resources.
will march straight to Lisbon without any oppo- But had those supplies been sent to Santarem, they
sition, as his road will be direct, and that of our might have been intercepted by the flying corps of
army circuitous. They forget, that if NIASSEA'S Colonels THANT and Wresost, and the native order
intention be so plain to them, who only trace his nanza." If any divisions of troops have been col.
movements on the map, it must be still plainer to lected at Ciudad hodrigo to reinforce MAssEN4
Lord Vireemeoron, -who follows them through their , on his arrival in the vicinity of that place, there
most mate sinuosities, with a powerful and en. is no reason why those men shculd not have been
thusiistic army, through valleys, across defiles, anti - assembled before, and formed into escorts sa/?scllo
over mountains, strewed with. the wrecks of tile if they are now so considerable es to enable M
Gallic host, and the victims of their cruelty. They to resume offensive operations instantly, woul4
need therefore entertain no appreliensien lest he doubt have been strong, enough to conduct the*
should be surprised into an error so easy to be convoys safe to Santarem. That they could not bi
avoided, who for three years has not only repeat- procured when they I.lcre so urgeeitly wanted, is a
edly defeated the veteran warriors, but baffled conclusive proof that they did not then exist ; ate* .
the veteran Generals of France. On the other 1, the rapidity of MASSENA'S retreat has since allowed
hand; it is impossible that MASS MA, V; o has so no time for their formation. It is therefore iropeis
long, and so respectfully; observed and studied Bible that he should meet' either with supplies or es. _
the military science of our Comm- ander; who inforcements in hit prevent position, sufficient to
Piri /Y. C.TALVIL
t,
_