The National Register.
London, England, 1812-02-23 00:00:00

THE NATTOIkIAL RECTSTf.R.

FRENCH PAPERS.

F Fsß

which is represented in a very feeble state. his stated
in private letters, that he had actually set out and ar-
rived at Abrantes on the 4th.
It will be learnt with satisfaction, that Colonel SKER-
RETT, who so successfully defended Tarifa, is to embark
with two regiments at Cadiz, to proceed to Alicant, to
assist in the defence of that important place.
On the 27th ult. the Couut of FEItNAN NUNEZ, Duke
of MovruLLANo, was appointed to succeed the Duke
del IN FAN lAD°, as Ambassador Extrardinary and Pleni-
potentiary to the Court of London.

On Wednesday night French Papers were received to
the 10th instant. They contain, among other articles, se-
veral reports from MA nmoNT,,,including an account of the
taking of Ciudad Rodrigo. His first, which is dated Val.
ladolid, January 16, mentions the advance of the English
army, and the investment of the fortress, and states, that,
having called to his aid two divisions of the army of the
North, and BONNET'S division from the Asturias, he would
have a force of 60,000 men, with which he would march
against the enemy. His army would be united on the
21st, and then he observes to BEWIIIIER, 66 you may ex-
pect happy and glorious events for the'. French arms."—
How soon and how greatly he was disappointed, his sub-
sequent communications manifest. His second report,
dated from Salamanca on the 18th, gives an account of
. the suburbs of Ciudad Rodrigo and the out-works he had
constructed being carried by surprise on the 10th. These
works he had expected would have required a siege of
eight or ten days. The third report announces the fall of
the fortress. « There is (says MAJtmovr) in this event
something so incomprehensible, that it will nut pet mit my-
self to make- any observations on it."
In the itioniteur of t.bv 11th instant. are friven. reports
from the other armies in Spain. It is stated, that mote
than forty thousand English rpuskets were found in Va-
lencia ; the disarming of the militia .of which, however,
is said to be rapidly carrying irito.efltct,.#o the whole is
made subject to the Emperor of the Trench. Under the
head of Army of the South," we have an ae-eount of the
proceedings against Tariffa, and their failure attributed to
neglect in ni-t having sounded the fusses, and the conti.
nu:il rains, which rendered the arrival of provisions int.
ossibl.^. A long report from General DECAEN) in Cata.
lonia,,states,!that having been informed the enemy had
assembled the greater part of his forces in the vicinity of
Tarragona, and, with the assistance of the English in-
..
tifflding to insult that fortress, he marched against and
! defeated them, with the loss of 2000 men in killed,
wounded, and prisoners, and all their artillery.
General IiLAKI arrived at Paris on the f3d instant, and
the first colnmn of prisoners from Valencia, said to consist
of 1600 officers, have also reached that capital. In a let.
ter from Madrid, it is asserted, that General MAUI is shut
up in Alicant, and that the gartison consists of only 2000
men.

The Flench troops under BoNxrcr have again evacuated
Gijon, Oviedo, ard the whole of the Asturias. The.
evacuation of Oviedo. took place on- the .2.`3d ult. and is
supposed to have been occasioned by di•spatches which
BONNET had received, requiring him to join-11$1ARAIONT
with all expedition.
The new Reruhlie of Venezuela has isued licenses for,
a direct trade with Tortola, and seine other of our West
India Colonies.