The National Register.
London, England, 1809-12-10 00:00:00

DEC.. 10.-

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Biers in Europe. There is no nation upon earth which
combines more of the qualities requisite to constitute a
regular army, than they do—ardent, and at the same time
grave ; combining enthusiasm with perseverance; possess-
ing undoubted courage, an ardent love of their country ;
the' germ of the most daring enterprise ;—should they
weather the present storm, and expel the enemy from their
territory, they become, in less than ten years from that
event,' the first soldiers in the universe ! The Spanish soil
is the nursery of heroes. In every age her sons were not
only brave, but the first among the bravest. The Cartha-
ginians and Romans, in the zenith of • their power,
found more difficulty in taming the fierce spirit, and -break-
ing the generous sense of freedom of her inhabitants,
than they did in any other country. The Romans, after
hundred and fifty years unremitting war, were scarcely
Masters of the country, and, for five hundred years, they
resisted the Moors, and finally expelled them.

, The last accounts from the Spanish armies lead us to ex-
pect speedy intelligeeee of the most decisive nature. The
Spaniards have abandoned their defensive system, and re-
sumed offensive operations. We know not whether to
congratulate, or not, the friends of their sacred cause on
this change. A system of dilatory warfare had been pressed
upon the patriots by the provincial junta of Andalusia,
in the commencement of their insurrection ; and well
would it have been for them, had they listened then to the
voice of wisdom, issuing from the mouth of an assembly,
which, du.ing its short existence had left a never to be
forgotten monument of its capacity. But men are doomed
never to acquire experience but by misfortune; and this
is, probably, a salutary ordonance. But the expedient
alters with tune and circumstances ; and so high minded a
people. as those of the Peninsula, are not condemned to
move within too narrow a circle of action. The offen-
sive must have been resumed ataome period of the war;
and this is, perhaps, as good a moment as any other for
the Junta to try the proficiency of their countrymen in
discipline, and the pulse of the enemy. Unparalleled in-
juries on one side—on the other, intense hatred, will con-
tribute to make the operations of the next campaign, tre-
mendous and sanguinary in their consequences. The of-
fender is generally more acrimonious and unforgiving than
the offended ; but the latter, in the present instance, have
fortunately a series of complicated injuries and insults to
resent. We wish them a degree of success proportionate
to the justice of their cause, and their honourable charac-
ter, as a people. May they obtain the independence
they so justly merit ; and anxiously do we look forward
to the time when we can congratulate them upon the re-
covery of, their ancient freedom, institutions, and internal
prosperity.
• -

Their armies of the South and West have made a rapid
movement forwards; and their respective Commanders
possess, and seem to deserve their highest confidence.—
The greatest enthusiasm prevails in the army of La Mancha;
and when the order was issued to advance; the general
exclamation was—" To Madrid"—" Never back again to
the Sierra Morena." These are good symptoms, and the
first occurrences give us reason to hope that they are no
momentary ebullitions, but the strong expression of reso-
lute feeling. They overwhelmed every opposition which
the enemy made to them in the beginning of their march ;
and their General completely defeated. the- French at their
own weapon, and was near destroying a large division,
which boldly threw itself into his rear, in the hope of cut-
ting off his retreat, or embarrassing his movements. His
whole army, we are informed have passed the Tagus,
amounting to 50,000, of which 8000 are cavalry, with a
train of 50 field pieces, and were in full march upon Ma-
drid. The French were, in the mean time, entrenching
themselves in the neighbourhood of Toledo ; but a gene-
Tal engagement was copsidered as inevitable. May victory
follow the train of justice! and 'thus take from the
sceptic his strongest armour.

A Mail troni Malta and Gibraliai•, it► fourtevo days frGra
the latter, arrived at Falmouth on Monddy. A letter from
Palermo, under the date October 28, states, that Mr. Ba.
siLico had arrived there on his way from Constantinople
to England, and that he was understood to be the bearer
of very unpleasant intelligence respecting the state of the
war in Turkey. The Russians had passed the Danube, and
were expected to advance upon Adrianople, after the sur.
render of Silistria, to which they had hid siege. A report
prevailed at Palermo, at the date of this letter, that Con•
stantiuople was taken by the Russians; but it is discre-
dited by more recent intelligence received by way of Vicuna.
Sir ALEXANDER BALL, the Governor of Malta, is dead.

The following is an extract unit letter received from
Walcheren:

" FLUSHING, DEC. I.—The English are nll preparing to
leave us, and all correspondence will be at end with this island.
Many of the' inhabitants of this town are packing up, and going
to Holland, dreading the inundations during the wil:vr, as the
different basons have been destroyed. Toe dock is ruined,
and the arsenal is undermined to be blown up. The sluices
are also to share the same fate. The damage which will
be done to this town will at least require the labour
of ten years to repair again. All the baggage of the
soldiers, as also General Don's, have been shipped, and but few
troops are left in this city. Provision begins to he very scanty,
owing to the quantity shipped and taken from the storehouses
All the carriages belonging to the artillery.are on hoard; the
Admiral has condescended to allow four transports for the use
of the merchants. The day of the departure of the English, will,
perhaps, be on Thursday or Friday next. In the mean time a
Proclamation was issued ou Saturday last, desiring all who had
claims on the Government to bring in their accounts.
The following account of the causes which led to the
late arrests at Seville, has appeared in an Evening Paper.
Front the circumstantial nature of it, we presume it is
derived from the noble person by whose interposition the
J:lnta was preserved :
" When the Marquis Wellesley was at Seville, information,
we understand, was communicated to him, that a plot had been
formed to seize the whole of the Junta, in the middle of this
night, while they were engaged in Council, to put to death
some, and to send off others fa South America, to declare $
Regency, and to place at its head the old Cardinal Bourbons
the Duke Del Infantado, the Marquis De Roraima, and two
others; that the Duke's Regiment of Guards, then at Seville,
were to be the principal actors in the plot. The Marquis could
'not, of course, suffer such a design to be carried into execution
without giving notice to the Junta, which he did immediately.
The Junta were in a dreadful state of alarm, and threw them-
selves upon the protection of his Lordship, who promised to go
instantly to the Duke Del lufantado, but urged the imperious
necessity of their attending to the popular wisizes, convok log
the Cortes, and making several reforms in the Administration
of Affuirs. This was promised, and the Marquis had a (-infer-
, ease with the Duke Del Infantado, who exerted his influence
so effectually with his Regiment of Guards, that the design was
not carried into. execution. The Junta, relieved from the dati-
ger that had alarmed them, contrived !0 remove the Duke's
regiment, and to introduce other troops upon whom they co ild
depend.—They then spewed a reluctance to fulfil :.he promise
they had made.—The greatest indignation wa, :44:iin excited.
[against them, and the Marquis of Romans is tiiilerstood to
have made a lung speech to them, in w Inch he upbraided them
in the most cutting terms.—Fearful of the p.ipula: veageauce,
the Cortes were at length agreed to be convoked."
An Act of Parliament, authorising the importation of
foreign wines in neutral bottoms, and also awhorising the
exportation of the same to other countries, upon paying a
certain duty, having expired since- last Session of Perna-
ment, the loss to the Crown front the neglect to renew it,
previous to the breaking up of Parliament, has, we under-
stand, been very considerable ; and though, from the non-
renewal of this Act no duty can beJevied, still the same
proceedings are adopted, at same of the out-posts at least,
as if a duty could be enforced. The wine is landed, the
Custom-house officers guage it, excisemen are kept is pay;
as well 'as labourers, tor this purpose, at much
.expence„
and the wine is again exported, wlthout a 444* of by.
lAA to Government.
• • • •

The Lord Mayor has appointed a Common Hall to be
h.-Id on Thursday next, agreeably to a requisition
" consider the late disgsaceful and calamitous Expedi-
tmns, by %% hid, th..t Mood and treasure of the Country have been
) shatnefolly sacrificed, and to adopt such measures as they may
think necessary."
A Requisition, to re-consider the last proceedings, has,
understand, been set on foot by Mr. sheriff Atkins; the
Lord Mayor has, in consequence, appointed a Common
Coancil fur Wednesday next.
'Die King of Bavaria has followed the example of his
Brother of Saxony, and is now at Paris, where are assein•
bled the following personages :
Bnonaparte, the Kirg of Saxony, the King of Bavaria, the
King and Queen of Holland, the King and Queen of Westphalia*,
the King and Queen of Naples, the Viceroy and Vice Queen of
Italy, the Prince and Princess of Lucca and Pioinbio, the
Prince Pritnate, perhaps the King and Queen of Spain, the
Prince of Bavaria, the sacred Conclave. _ _ _

While Paris presents this motley groupe of legitimate
Sovereigns and Usurpers, Buonaparte has in custody, in
other parts.of Frauct, the following Personates :
The Pope, the late King and Queen of Spain, '.l7erdirutnd the
Seventh, King of Spain, the uncle and brother of Ferdinand, the
Prince of the Pence.

So unwholesome has the Island of Watcheren been al-
ways considered by the Dutch, that when troops are or-
dered froth Itaerlem, or Amsterdam, to garrison it, they
take leave of their friends with the same melancholy fore-
boding, as if they were going to the most unwholesome
island in the West Indies, in the most sickly times. Of one
Dutch regiment which arrived in Walcheren, 800 strong,
about three years ago, there remained only 85 at the time
the British landed; and yet it had received 300 recruits
from the Continent in the interval.

In an action tried last week before Lord .Ellenborough,
his Lordship said it was generally thought, that it a
fox was started upon the land of one person, the hunter
might lawfully pursue it over the land of another, not-
withstanding notice that he should not. That was not
contended to he the law in the pursuit of a hare. It was
no more the law in pursuit ce".. a fox than that of a hare ;
and' the law was now settled, that nobody shalt he at li-
berty to go over the ground of another, without his leave,
in any hunting pursuit whatever.
By an act lately passed, all ecclesiastical benefices and
charitable inatitntions, and estates belonging to them, the
clear annual value of which does not exceed 1501. are ex-
onerated from the land tax charged upon them, without
aay premium being,- required from persons holding them.
DrArrsess.7—One ofthe most eminent physicians in Lon-
(l,,n, as a remedy for extreme deafness, recommends the
pit. of a cabbage stalk to be cut sufficiently small to be
put in the ear, (like a piece of cotton) and there to remain
for some considerable time. It has been appiied with great
efficacy.
Three French pri:oners are now confined in Plymouth-
Dock prison, ehar:::ed with forging, local and Bank of Bng-
tend notes, on board the Genereux prison ship in Ilanwaye ;
one of them has turned evidence against the others. The
notes are so well executed, as not to be distinguished from
good ones, except on a very close eaanization. They had
rubbed a penny-piece down to a smooth surface, and- on
that cut the Government stamp for the local notes.
The Pi.osecutrix in the'case of the King v. the Duke of
Gordon, is a woman of 20 years of are healthy-looking,
but not Irrindiome, being grip too!hed and blear-eyed.
Two persons were executed last mouth at Bamberg, for
having attempted, a short time since, to assassiaate the
Duke olAbrautes, white pas.eig through that city. The
Duke had, it is said, seduced the wife of the one, and the
sister of the other.
A curious decree of the 131,11np of London's Court was
read in the Parish Church of Isfeworth, on Sunday last,
'hereby oue Keane, a market gardner, was expelled the
Church -for four menthe:, for brawlaig and chiding in the
church and church-dart'. '

CITY AITA

:

DEC. 10:

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, DEC. 5.
THANKS. TO TUE LATE LORD MAYOR.

Mr. Deputy ANGEL rose to propose the Thanks of the Court
to Sir Charles Flower, Bart. lute Lord Mayor. for his conduct
during his Mayoralty. The Resolution passed in the affirma-
tive.

♦ODAESS TO MIS MAJESTY ON ?RE LATE EXPE.DITION.

The Requisition upon this subject being read, Mr. Waithmaa-
rose, and in an elaborate speech, called the attention of the
Court to a matter, which, he said, exceeded in magnitude and
importance, any subject that had ever been agitated in that or
any other Court. Mr. Waithman strongly asserted and insisted
upon the right of the city of London to present Addresses, calf-•
ing for inquiry in cases of the apparently culpable failure in the
application of the public means and forces. He adduced several
instances of the exercise of the right in foriner times, and of the
attention paid, to the representations of the city of London.
lie animadverted in pointed terms on the rebuff given to the
Citizens on presenting the Address calling for Inquiry into
the Convention of Cintra. lie enumerated, with severe com-
ment, in passing all the Expeditions recently sent out, and after
a detail, he returned to tile Expedition to the Scheldt. On the
31st of July, the greatest armament that ever left the British
shore, arrived at the Scheldt—this armament had been delayed
until every rational object, if possible, it could have had in view
had totally gape by. If that armament had any object, it must
have been that of a diversion in favour of our Allies; how well it
was calculated to effect that, will appear from this consideration,
tbat it arrived at its destination on the 31st of July, and
the armistice between Austriaand France took place on the 12th,
so that it was about a fortnight ton late when we began our di-
version in favour of the former. (')nr force Consisted of 34 ships
of the line, 42 men of war, and in all 156 armed vessels, toget her
nith 100.000 men. lie would not give a description of every
branch of the expence, but he would say, generally, without
fear of contradiction, that the armament cost eight millions of
tainey. The military force amounted at least to 38,:.-Z73 men.
tie asked if an armament of such vast extent ought to have
been undertaken, without the fullest possible information ?'
Either Misters hail or had not that information ;if they *had
it not, they were culpable; and if they had, he had it in his
power to shew, that that information was of a nature that should
have led to very different measures upon this point. On the
16th of July there were not more than 300 invalids in the island
of Walcheren, together with the 48th regiment, that had suffered
an Spain, and had been garrisoned at Antwerp, 600 slaves at
work, and nine ships upon the stocks: 500 French. 150 Dutch,
and 400 of the Irish brigade, the majority of whom were Poles,
and a colonial French regiment, made up of deserters, who
were sent to this place, banished, as it were, to another Botany
Bay (4 Laugh ), amounting to about 1000. Fourteen dais
after the arrival of this armament Flushing surrendered. lie
knew that scarcely 5000 soldiers had been employed against
Flushing. Whether it were advisable to prosecute the ulterior
objects of the Expedition after the fall of Flushing, he should
give nonpinion one way •r the other—but shy did they stand
still for another fortnight ? What were they doing in the interim ?
It was aril knowu there had been a considerable difference of
opinion between on. Naval and Military Commanders. This
indeed was fully evident 'in the extract given by the Ministers
Flom the letter of Sir Richard' Strachan. lie would read that
extract to the Court, and leave them to judge of it. He says—
" Not hearing from the Earl of Chatham respecting his inten-
tions, I communicated with his Lordship on the..24th, and on
est following day 1 found his' Lordship had not come to a deter-
raination, oa account of the increased force of the eite;ny."—So
that the result of air Richard's application. after waiting for
twenty-foar hours, amounted to this most satilfactory and lin-
portaut inhumation, that his Lordship had not yet come to a
determination."—But this W 3.3 not all' the information; it
seemed Sir Richard also learned, that 46 His Lordship had
•eat for the Generals to consult." Sent. for the Generals
to consult! ,Why FiLv Richard Strachan could not have
he-ri serious whet' lit! wrote this—he inu:4 have been laugh-
ing at hi. Lordship--hut to proceed. Lie says further 4a,
" I bad already, In the most unqualified manner, offered every
ouval assi-trance to reduce these fortresses, and also in aid of
every ether operation of to army." Small as this extract