The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-12 00:00:00

IqAttell 12.

French Papers to the 2d and Dutch Papers to the 6th
have been received in town. Their contents are of the ut-
Most importance. One of them, The Journal de L'Empire,
the least respectable even of the Paris papers for the authen-
ticity of its reports, contains an undicial account of the
fall of Saragossa. This event it states to have taken place
on the 21st January. But this statement, it is plain, is
given for the purpose of palliating the severe reverses
which the French have sustained in another part of the
Peninsula. It is couched in all the extravagance and
hyperbole of fiction, and evidently intended to astonish and
divert the higher and lower rabble of the capital. A part of
the account, however, we are willing to credit, as it coincides
with the previous intelligence we had relative to the bril-
liant success of PALA FOX. It mentions that the troops, Un-
der the command of that truly " Illustrious Personage,"
bad made a sortie, and advanced a considerable distance
from the walls, but were driven back ; and on the French
following up the success, they received a Deputation from
the City, proposing to surrender it, on condition that
the lives of the Citizens should be spared. This was peremp-
torily ref used E used by LANS, who commanded the blockade.
On this refusal the inhabitants are represented to have pro-
ceeded to the altars, and solemnly pledged themselves to
bury themselves under the ruins of their city, rather than
surrender, They then repaired to their respective posts of
defence. The French rushed through the gates of the city,
without much resistance, when a mine was suddenly sprung,
prepared for the purpose, which made a tremendous havoc
among the assailants. So far. the facts have some resem-
blance with the previous accounts received by the way of
Spain, and which our Readers will have seen in a former
paper. This article concludes with asserting that Saragossa
afterwards fell into the hands of the enemy ; aid that
LANWES proposed a general. pardon to such of the inhabi-
tants as would submit to the new Government.
To invalidate the authenticity of this statement, it is
only necessary to advert that not one of the other Paris
Fivers refers to this event. We are positively informed
that the Moniteur of the same date does not allude to it.
A circumstance of such vast importance, which the French
papers unanimously consider as decisive of 06 submission
of the Peninsula, would not fail to be mentioned with a mi-
nuteness of detail, a copiousness of fact, which disinguish
similar reports on the part of the enemy. . Not a word is
mentioned relative to PALAFOX, the very man whose cap-
ture would be as gratifying to the.tyrant, as the fall of Sa-
ragossa itself. That Hero has too much signalized himself
by his resistance and enmity to the invaders of his country,
as not to excite among the French some degree of interest
relative to his fate. This silence is, in our opinion, conclu-
sive, and serves to prove that this is one of those fabri-
cations, which the plotting, wily despot resorts to, in
order to appease the public mind in France, intimi-
date Austria, fix the wavering allegiance of his Ger-
man vassals, and impose upon the courts of Berlin
and Petersburgh. This trick is imperiously urgent in
the present crisis of Europe ; and what is public opinion
to the wretch, whose misdeeds have long placed beyond him
the reach of that tribunal. He is conscious that he now
governs.by terror; and as long as he is able to keep that
sensation, in its present extent and vigour, alive, he attaches
very little importance to the attachment of his Slaves. The
whole population of France, his armies, his vassal states,
must now be sensible to the precariousness of the tenure,
by which.they hold their lives and repose. Those, among
them most remarkable for moral and intellectual stupidity,
must begin to murmur at the accumulating misery of the
Kaman race. Not a momentary respite is granted ; but
ivar succeeds war, devastation follows on devastation ; and
to what and to whom are these horrors to be traced ? To
a foreign adventurer, whose origin, whose primitive ob-
scurity, whose early dependence and obscurity in their own
country, they are now filly acquainted with.
This report of the fall of Saragossa, we are inclined to
believe strongly, was intended Tor some of the purposes ,

173

above stated, as well as to palliate a signal reverse sus-
tamed by the enemy in Cataloma. We were prepared, in
some measure, for this important occurrence, by the late*
arrivals from Spain. They stated that General REDING,.
who was at the head of 25,000 excellent troops, was pre-
paring to act on the olleasive. This account is fully
corroborated by a splendid victory, which that distin—
guished officer gained over Si'. CYR, who commands the
6
enemy in that province. He afterwards obtained possession►
of the citadel and town of Barcelona, in the neighbourhood
of which this splendid action took place. It must be re-
marked, that the French Papers contain some allusious
to
this circumstance, the particulars of which we have collected
from private accounts. The force of Sr. Ca it salts staled
two months ago, when he raised the siege of Barcelona,
to have amounted to 40,000 men ; and this soperiority of
force induced Rcauva to retire from the neighhdurhood
that city. The !alter maintained, however, after haying
effected a masterly ret neat, his fuot!ng in the province, an d
kept tip the spirits of its brave and numeroas population.
Sr. Cva must either have detached a considerable part of
• his troops to reinforce the besieging corps before Barce-
lona; or a part of them have been ordered to march to-
wards Germany, in consequence of approaching hostilities
with Austria. '['he event, however, is of the greatest con-
sequence, and should PALAFOX succeed in maintaining
Saragossa, we may consider it, in the present situation of
the Continent, as decisive of Spanish independence.
REDING, who is a most enterprising officer, and to whoni
the defeat of Der ONT was solely to be attributed, mill be
able to take the blockading army before Saragossa in
flank, place them between fires, cut off their communica-
tions with France, and render their retreat precarious
int
the extreme. Our hopes and our speculations rest, as it
must be observed, on the truth or falsehood of the articles
contained in the Journal de l'Empire. Would to IleaVell ! our
previous conjectures on that subject were righ t. \V e
bly supposed, aad our Readers may have sonic time smiled
at the sanguine cast of our expectations, that justire
;yc ull
ultimately triumph over villainy ; patriotism, over oppres,
WEIL We have not learned as yet, with all the disLoas
raging experience of the present time, to renounce a fa:
vourable opinion of men,—the phantom as it is called by
the selfish and the plodding, of too ardent an imagivatioui
The dispatches, which our Ministers, as well as the Spankh
Ambassadors received on Wednesday from Spain, ail! cons
vince even scepticism, that the sacred cause of Spanish frees
dom, is neither desperate nor even uncertain. The French
force is placed again in a predicament similar to that, which,
in last summer, left them no other alternative than sur'
render and gradual destruction, or a precipitate retreat to
the frontiers. The same appearances warrant similar ex-
pectations. Saragossa Iva% last sear the first scene of the:a'
disgrace and discomfiture; and that illustrious city we still
hope has once more turned the tide of their fortunes.
JOSEPH and his followers fled precipitately from Madrie,
at the approach of the army of Andalusia ; and au
armv of 60,000 men, under the command of Curs'rA and
the Duke of INVANTADO, was hastening, at the date of the
last dispatches, to that very capital. The French, accord,
ing to the most positive accounts, harrassed, spiritless,
worn out by unremitting toil and incessant hes, begat •
to make demonstrations, which indicate another retreat
behind the Ebro. Offensive operations, on their side, have
totally discontinued, with the exception of the force acting
against Saragossa ; and these have had no other result than
the destruction of almost half the force employh im ed for
tit that
purpose. PALAFOX (it is superfluous to give a le,
his deeds proclaim his worth) has 54.-,iii‘lized himsetf and
his country by another signal &feat of the assailants. In
adverting to that extraordinary man, we know not what
to admire most—the sublimity of his ceurige ant! zeal, or
the versatility of his resources. By a singular stratagem,
he is said to have accomplished a most derisive victory
over the enemy. A number of women rushed towards
the gates of the city, as if driven to despair: by the

. ,
MARCH 12. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 173 ;
i
i ar ~.........w.'.iv •
stated, as well as to palliate a signal reverse sus- ..
French Papers to the 2d and Dutch Papers to the 6th above
have been received in town. Their contents are of the ut- tamed by the enemy in Catalonia. We were prepared, in ti;
tnost importance. One of them, The Journal de L'Empire, some 1 measure, for this important occurrence, by the late. i '
..
Isil
the least respectable even of the Paris papers for the authen- arrivals from Spain. They stated that General REDING,'
ticity of its reports, contains an uncial account of the who was at the head of 25,000 excellent troops, was pre- .
fall of Saragossa. This event it states to have taken place paring to act on the ofleasive. This account is fully
; 'il
on the 21st January. But this statement, it is plain, is corroborated by a splendid victory, which that distin— }: .1., .
given for the purpose of palliatiug the severe reverses guished officer gained over Si'. Ora, who commands the .. r,
1 ,i,
which the French have sustained in another part of the enemy in that province. He afterwards obtained possession. si
.
Peninsula. It is couched in all the extravag,ance and of the citadel and town of Barcelona, in the neighbourhood s. 4
hyperbole of fiction, and evidently intended to astonish and of which this splendid action took place. It must be re-
divert I.
the higher and lower rabble of the capital. A part of marked, that the French Papers contain some allusions to
the account,-however, we are willing to credit, as it coincides this circumstance, the particulars of which we have collected ,'i
,t, \I
with the previous intelligence we had relative to the brit- from private accounts. The force of ST. Cs a %%Nis stated
butt success of PALAFOX. It mentions that the troops, un- two months ago, when lie raised the siege of Barcelona;
der the command of that truly "Illustrious Personage," to have amounted to 40,000 men; and this soperiority of ! i
bad made a sortie, and advanced a considerable distance force induced I I ....F.DING to retire from the neighhdurhood tsf I,
from the walls, but were driven back; and on the French that city. The latter maintained, however, after haying. ‘„
following up the success, they received a Deputation from of a masterly re! rent, his looter). in the province, ;end , ,
the City, proposing to surrender it, on condition that kept up the spirits of its brave and 11111C1'011S pOpUlatioll. 4 j
1.,
the lives of the Citizens should be spared. This was peremp- Sr. CYR. must either have detached a considerable part of
torily refused by Lssis Es, who commanded the blockade. his troops to reinforce the besieging corps before Barce-
On this refusal the inhabitants are represented to have pro- lona ;or a part of them have been ordered to march to- i
ceeded to the altars, and solemnly pledged themselves to wards Germany, in consequence of approaching hostilities
bury themselves under the ruins of their city, rather than with Austria. The event, however, is of the greatest con-
surrender, They then repaired to their respective posts of sequence, and should PALAFOX succeed in maintaining
•
defence. The French rushed through the gates of the city, Saragossa, we may consider it, in the present situation of
without much resistance, when a mine was suddenly sprung, the Continents as decisive of Spanish independence.
prepared for the purpose, which made a tremendous havoc REDING, who is a most enterprising officer, and to whom
among the assailants. So far. the facts have sonic reseal- the defeat of Dv ros-r was solely to be attributed, mill be i
alb snce- with the previous accounts received by
.the way of able to take the blockading ;it-my before Sarie,o sa id
II s,
.1'
Spain, and which our Readers will have seen in a former flank, place them between fires, cut off their communica-
paper. This article concludes with asserting that Saragossa lions with France, and render their retreat precarious int
afterwards fell into the hands of the enemy ; aid that the extreme. Our hopes and our speculations rest, as it
LANWES proposed a general.pardon to such of the inhabi- must be observed, on the truth or falsehood of the article
tants as would submit to the new Government. contained in the journal derEmpire. Would to Ilei.LIT.ll! our
To invalidate the authenticity of this statement, it is previous conjectures on tir.it subject were righ t.invarias
only necessary to advert that not one of the other Paris bly supposed, alai our Readers may have some tune is
vipers refers to this event. 'We are positively informed at the sanguine cast of our expectations, that justire wcailil
that the Moniteur of the same date does not allude to it. ultimately triumph over villainy ; patriotism, over oppre.,-;
,:4
1.
11,
A circumstance of such vast importance, which the French ion. We have not learned as yet, with all the dis( (as
papers unanimously consider as decisive of 06 submission raging experience of the present time, to renounce e f.is
of the Peninsula, would not fail to be mentioned with a mi- vourable opinion of men,—the phantom as it is called by
. 1
'lateness of detail, a copiousness of fact, which disinguish the selfish and the plodding, of too ardent an imagivatioui
. ~•
1'...:
similar reports on the part of the enemy. - Not a word is The dispatches, which our Ministers, as well as the Spanish
1
mentioned relative to PAt.AFOX, the very man whose cap- Ambassadors received on Wednesday from Spain, will cons
ture would be as gratifying to the.tyrant, as the fall of Sa- vince even scepticism, that the sacred cause of Spanish free]
.. .
.Ls ragossa itself. That Hero has too much signalized himself dom, is neither desperate nor even uncertain. The French
by his resistance and enmity to the invaders of his country, force is placed again in a predicament similar to that, which,
;.:,
as not to excite among the French some degree of interest in last summer, left them no other alternative tkan sur'
relative to his fate. This silence is, in our opinion, conclu- render and gradual destruction, or a precipitate retreat to
1 sive, and serves to prove that this is one of those fabri- the frontiers. The same anpearances warrant similar esc-
cations, which the plotting, wily despot resorts to, in pectations. Saragossa waailast year the first scene of the'r • .
order to appease the public mind in France, intimi- disgrace and discomfiture; and that illostrious city we still .s,
:;..t..
date Austria, fix the wavering allegiance of hishope has once more turned the tide of their fortunes.
man vassals, and impose upon the courts of Berlin JosEett and his followers fled precipitately fro►m Madrie,
, ...
and Petersburgh. This trick is imperiously urgent in at the approach of the army of Andalusia ; and au , (
the present crisis of Europe ; and what is public opinion army of 60,000 men, under the command of CursTa and al,
to the wretch, whose misdeeds have long placed beyond him the 'Duke of INVANTADO, was hastening, at the date of the 0,
i the reach of that tribunal. He is conscious that he now last dispatches to that very capital. The French, accords 4
J
governs by terror; and as long as lie is able to keep that ing to the most positive accounts, harrassed, spless, :ld
sensation, in its present extent acid vigour, alive, he attaches worn out by unremitting toil and incessant inset !ies, he4iit ••
very little importance to the attachment of his Slaves. The to make demonstrations, which indicate another retreat Ali'0
whole population of France, his armies, his vassal states, behind the Ebro. Offensive operations, on their side, have . ••
must now be sensible to the precariousness of the tenure, totally discontinued, with the exception of the force acting
by which the hold their lives and repose. Those, among against Saragossa ; and these have had no other result than
them most remarkable for moral and intellectual stupidity, the destruction of almost half the force employed for that
ri•
must begin to murmur at the accumulating misery of the purpose. PALAFOX (it is superfluous to give him a title,.
human race. Not a momentary respite is granted ; but his deeds proclaim his worth) has svalized himsetf aed
L Iva'. succeeds war, devastation follows on devastation; and his country by another signal ‘efeat of the assailant's. In
to what and to whom are these horrors to be traced I To adverting to that extraordinary man, we know not what
a foreign adventurer, whose origin, whose primitive ob- to admire most—the sublimity of his coursge am! zeal, or
scurity, whose early dependence and obscurity in their own , the versatility of his •resources. By a singular
.strata.gem,
country, they are now fally acquainted with. he is said to have accomplished a most derisive victory
This report of the fall of Saragossa, we are inclined to over the enemy. A number of women rushed towards
believe strongly, was intended -for some of the purposes ~the gates of the city, as if driven to despair *by the . . ,t,:
ii
1.,
~.'
t.
d. • - -i;
1,)

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