The National Register.
London, England, 1811-12-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SPANISH GUERILLAS.

The Spnisli Guerillas perambulate in small parties, accord-
ing in number to the object they have in view. Their unceas-
ing thirst for spoil makes them extremely active in learning
where the enemy are contemplating to convey baiiage or pro-
visions; and the perfect knowledge these Guerillas have of
every track of the country gives them a decided advantage, in
being able to watch and waylay the enemy's transports. They
are unremitting in their labours, night and day, when they have
any object in view ; and their information is generally correctly
obtained. The dress and look of these marauders (as the enemy
term them) arc enough to inspire dread t they wear an immense
cap, covered with fur, which is tied by a black belt under the
chin, a lo.se dark jacket is thrown carelessly over their shouldrre.
and at the side of their horses hangs the destructive weapon of
terror, a lance, which measures about ten feet; the sharp point
fixes into a leather tube, which is suspended from the saddle
to the off shoulder of the horse, on the right side; no
the centre of the .handle of the weapon is a strap affixed, to
secure it from impeding the animal's progress, or inconveni-
encing the rider; and when necessity requires the use of the
weapon, it is unslung with the greatest facility; their immense
whiskers, and goatskin boots, give those natives a most striking
and terrific appearance; and the hardy way in which they sub-
sist (as an onion, a piece of bread, or a bunch of grapes, is tei
them a meal of luxury and content) enables them to undergo
any privation, and renders them fit for the harassing nature of
warfare, so destructive and annoying to the enemy.

MISCELLANIES.
POWDER MILLS AT WALTHAM AB3EY.—A dreadful explo-
sion took place on Wednesday morning at eleven o'clock, at
the Government Powdvr Mills, at Waltham Abbey. The con-
cussion was di,tinctly felt in and around the metropolis, more
particularly iu Stepney, Hackney, and 41ackwall. Two mills,
together with a corning house, and other buildings, were blown
to atoms, and we lament to s:ty, eight valuable lives were in-
volved in their destruction.—The following are the names of
the sufferers :—Parker, Stevings, Grapes, Goates, Belcher,
Wak Chappel, and Wilsher.—The only survivin; persoic
on Thursday night was Wilsher, but he was not expected to live.
They were all married men with families, except GOMt3S. The
adjoining river had been drawn for the dead bodies, .nit only
three of theni, anda part of one, had been found on Thursday
night. We are informed, that the remains of one of them were
found in the river, fast adhering to a post, which the unfortu-
nate man, it is supposed, clasped for protection in the moment
of danger. The terrified inhabitants of Waltham Abbey fled
from their homes, dreading the explosion of the magazine, on
which a piece of fire actually lodged, but was instantaneously
extinguished : bad the magazine exploded as well as the mills,
the greatest part of the town must have been destroyed.

The seizure of the coronation-robes and regalia of tie '
peror of Hay ti has been released by the Lords of the Trea-
sury, so far as the rights and interests of the Crown are con-
cerned, on condition of making a compensation to the seizing
officer.

An experiment was lately made on board the Victory, Sir J.
Sauniarcz's flag-ship, of discharging guns without the use of
fire; it was produced by a slight pressure of the linger on a pre-
pared tube put into the vent of the gun ; the effect was instan-
taneous and cerWii, and completely prevented the accidents that
so frequently happen in action from the loose powder that is spilt
on the deck, It the invention of the ingenious Captain
Manby, of Yarmouth.
Twenty-two Fi ench Officers, who were on their parole at
Wincanton, in Sornetshire, have lately made their escape.
On Monday last, three French Officers at Bishop's Waltham,
having exceeded their distance from the town, and their hour of
being abroad, were observed, by a countryman returning from
labour, to get over agate into a turnip field. As he stood watch-
ing them, one of them came up, and endeavoured to snatch ills
bill-hook out of his hand, but in snatching it back, two of the
Frenchman's fingers were cut off. The other two then ran up,
and made the same attempt; but the countryman defending him-
self with his bill, cut off the thumb of the second, and wounded
the thir'l in the head. It appearing that the Frenchmen had no
intention of escaping, but merely went into the field to purloin
a few turnips, ;seating has been done against them; and for
their wounds they mist thank their imprudence.
Wednesday se'unight, a man named Smith, servant to Cap-
tain Wouler, of the Durham Local Militia, far a wager of 5.1.
walked GI wiles in 12 hours and 43 minutes; 17 minutes within
tile time allowed. The 1.:1,t miles he walked in 31 minutes,.
tieJa‘li the road was bad.

- 'war'

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