The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-10 00:00:00

DISPATCHES FROM LORD WELLINGTON.

The prospects of the Peninsula continue to brighten.—
The activity and bravery of our warriors, have not only
deprived the enemy of two important fortresses, but have
completely defeated their plans of union and relief. Ciu-
dad Rodrigo fell before MARMONT thought it necessary
to move to its assistance ; and notwithstanding the exer-
tions and forced marches of SOULT, in collecting and
leading into Estremadura a considerable force, Bada-
joz had been stormed and captured before the sound of
his cannon was heard by our men. It appears that on
hearing the fate of this place, and probably the advance of
the Spaniatds towards Seville, he hastened to fall back, not
without being closely pursued by our cavalry, who en-
gaged his rear and dislodged it from Llerena, killing
many, and making about 150 prisoners. In order either
to join or to relieve SOULT, by drawing our attention to ano-
ther quarter, MARMONT left a blockading corps before
Ciudad Rodrigo, and entering Portugal with 15,000 men,
occupied Castello Branco, which, however, he evacuated
on the 16th ult. on the approach of General GnAttAm,
followed by Lord WELLINGTON, and a large portion of
our army. Meanwhile, General HILL, at •Almendralejo,
and Generals SLADE and LONG, at Villa Franca, observ.
ec SOULT in his retreat, who we learn by the latest ad-
Vices had totally retired from Estremadura. It is re-

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ported, that our Commander intends to follow MARMON?
into Castile, and by active warfare in the vicinity of the
capital, to compel SouLT or SUCIIET to march to its de-
fence, and to evacuate either the south or the east of
Spain.

The official account of these operations is contained
in Lord WELLINGTON'S dispatches, given in a Supple-
ment to last night's Gazette, which will be found in ano-
ther part of our Paper.
SCULT and MAR MONT, no doubt, shewed considerable
skill in the plan they adopted, but the more skill they
shewed, the greater must have been the skill of the Gene-
ral by whom their hopes and designs were thus counter-
acted.

It is said that SOULT heard of the fall of Badajoz
through a few dragoons who escaped from the place, and
in his first burst of surprise and grief exclaimed that he
was sure BUONAPARTE would never forgive him. Vie
are told in letters from Lisbon that MARMONT) in his ad-
vance, plundered Cavilhae, a wealthy town, with an ex-
tensive cloth manufactory. Being situated in the moun-
tains, and of difficult access, this place had escaped dur.
ing the former invasion of the enemy.
By the following letters it will appear, that the reported
capture of Seville by the Spaniards was unfounded.

Guilt AL rnR, AyaiLle.—The attack upon Seville, which is stated is
Count Dc Penxe Villamur's dispatch to have been concerted between
him and General Ballasteros, does not appear to have been carried into
eflect. By a letter of the 14th from the General, we find he was on that
day at Ardales, seven leagues from Malaga. and from a Gentleman who
arrived last night from Algesiras, we learn that be has subsequently bea-
ten, on the same pia!, the French General 's division, and taken
300 men, and the whol:• of his artillery. General Bailasteros had only
his first division with Lim ; the second and third are iu the environs of
Ronda.—(Gibra:tre Chrmiele, Ap, it 18.)
CADI s, 1 rKI7. 9.—Extract from Conde De Penne's dispatch of the
gth :—" Conde 1)e Penn.! wa.. on the 6th, at San Lucar la Meyer, On
the preceding day, he :::ade a reconnoitring upon Seville, when 1500
French or Spaniards, in Jo,:e;:h's serAce, came out to -!ect hirn, s.vi:h
four pieces of cannon, and two howitzers. He enticed them to the
spot, where Morilla was, and they were beat back and pursued to near
Seville, where they encamped. The result was, the enemy's loosing a
great number of men killed, and a few prisoners. Conde De Penne had
one half of his forces at Casteilega de la Cuesta (one league from Seville),
and in the afternoon of the 6th, was marching with the remains:l:r to
the same point, to carry into xecution the plan connected With Gene-
ral lialiasteros for an attack upon Seville. '1 he out-posts and skirmi,h-
ers were within cannon shot of the Tejar battery, on the spot called La
Vetilla.—(Same Puper.)