The National Register.
London, England, 1809-01-29 00:00:00

riltt NATIONAL REGISTER.

JAN. 29.

FOREICIN INTEMAGENCE.

fitOM TilE SPANISH PAPERS;

11.--:-Bra report received from Don Alex-
ander de Tapia, who was sent by the Junta of Murcia to as,7er-
tain the position of the enemy, it
.appearS, that our advanced
parties fell in With the French near Villanueva del Cardet,
routed them and took sixty prisoners i that a similar occurrence
took place near Villamantioue, where another French detach-
ment was completely routed, put to the sword, or taken prison-
ers, the Sotamander of this detachment,. a General Officer, hay-
ing been kiiled by The peasants; that OW French troops, who
entered Taramou, are sirrounded b/ ours; and, lastly, that the
divisions of Cuenca and Infantado are in full march to follow up.
the advantages obtained over the enemy.
The French I.7abitict, ever insolent and artful, has lately seen
its insidious plots cotnpletely disconcerted by his Britannic,pt-
jesty's refusal to listen to the iniqUitOns and insulting proposition
• of Pence, which Napoleon roused to he presented to him.
The English Cabinet, which has tolemnly engaged •not lo
separate its interests from those of Spain, has on that critira
occasion given fresh proofs of that generous firmness and friend-
- ship, 'With which it joins in the defence orthe Spanish Monarchy
and Nation, and nf the lawful supreme authority of the Central
Junta, svhieJi represeno and governs in the name of qur King
and Lind, Ferdinand. .Iteltild any Spaniard ever have enter-
tained a doubt with regard to the noble and glorious keni with
which the Biiiish Govermilent has joined ns to assert our iihettv
and independence a„gainst the enetny of GOA and man, they will
read with inexpressible Vleastite and gratitude the correspondence
carried on between the British and French Cabinets do the con-
ditions hf peace proposed by the universal Tyrant.•
The King our Lord; Ferdinand VII. and in his Royal name,
the Central Junta of Government has thonkla it right to itend to
the Court of LondOn An Ambassador Extraordinary, to coMPli-
tnent the King of the United Kingdotti of Great •Britain and
Ireland. and to thank his Iltitaddic .liajesty for the generosity
with which he assists the Spanish Nation in the gluriou,: task to
defend the '.'',oyereituty Mid rights of beloved Stivereign;anti
its ow„.n independence against the usurpailoh of the Emperor nf
the French. And considering the distinguished character and
• situation of his Excellency Don Pedro Cerello, Knight or the
Grand Crbsi of the koyal and Distinguished Order of Charles
Jord nt the Bedchamber, Privy Counsellor, and Principal
Secretary of State, has Chosen him for that import:int miss;on,
hnd appointed him Ambassador Lytraordinary to tl:e tThurt of
Londnu.—Olovertintent Gazo-tte of Januarg 11.)

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

ItOliSF, OF LORDS.

MONDAY, JAN. Q.t.
ARMY IN PORTUGAL.

Lord LtYtttroot stibmittect to the consideratibn of their

Lordships a Motion of Thanks to the Right Hon, Sir Arthur
- Wellesley, latcly Cimitnariding in Portugal, and to the Officers
and Soldiers under him, for their gallant and ever•ltnemorable
Atchievements in that couutry on the 17th and tlAt of August last ;
especially upon the latter day, when by the valour they display-
. edi and the. dilliellties whiett they surmounted, they not only
added canal lustre tti:the British arms, but proved to the World,
that, in the ••Itort period of 14 days, a f,)rce which never, during
that time, had actually exceeded frpm 13,000 to 17,000 had de-
feated not ooly gn army Of 2500, but rescued from them a
kingdom.
• TPere irai one circumstance to which he most riecessarily call
• their Lordship; particular attention, the more especiall:k so, as
it related to a meritorious oliicer, Sir H. Burrard. The Housei
mould perceive thftt be was not Included in the Motion at
Thank.,z; but the House would perceive that he took no coin-
nand in rithe'r of the engagements to which he invited tile mit ice

of their Lordships, conFecinently he could hot, being on the latter
day a mere spectator, Wttliout any actual command when the
battle commenced. and it wtsuld be contrary to usage; that he
should be s 9 included, when ro respnie,ibility could be attached
to him. Ole Noble Lord then moved, " That the Thanks of the
Muse be given to Lieut. Gen. Sir A.Wellesle:., K,. B. for the dit-
tiuguiihed valour and skill he displayed, together with the olii;

61

cers and soldiers under hint, ou the 17th and VIA of August last,
in l'ortizal.-
Earl M ttA could not Consider the omissin'a Of *ll...ttur.ard'!.
name a: any (king short of et;tivet nig an implied ren-u re ul.on
him. The motion, of tk Nol.vle Earl v: as an iojtistiee to Sir I
lintrard, hich, he tiusted, the equity of their Lordships
would indict upon a deserving and honourable gentleman;
and as to the :.act of his advising Sir A. Wellesley Mit to advance
after the battle, from the oceuriences that were developed t.t.
that Board, he, for one, thought tarn right in hi: judgement in
that respect. His Lordihip then moved an Amendment, That
the tWrif'.. et' Sir llarry Ilurrard ,hotild be inserted.
Lord HA anowny obleeted, in very derisive tens; in tl:e
amendment. Ilh wai well tonvi%ccd that the distingui ihed otl -
cet Was the last Man iothe world wit° would desire it.
Lord linsiut.' saw no difference In the c!tie of Sit. H. Be-
rard from that of a Naval Commander In Chief, who might
be fifty leagues frerm the action, and 3noritig in his cabin so
loud, that nobody in the ship could tileep but himself; yet he
wodld share all the hotOtrs, and all the prqfies of the victory,
as Well as the sailor who was in tile hottest part of the 'engage:-
tnent.
qu6tlon ..v:6 then put on the amendnient off' [ACM Moira,
was negatived withotit a division, and with mil' one ur
'two dissentient voice:
"The original motion tilts then pO, upon *filch Lord Moira oh.•
served, that thongh his amendment had been negatived, yet lie
heartily concurred ifi the test iniony w had beet' paid to thit
merits and gallantry of Sir Ai Wellesley.
The Motion was then etainimously agreed to.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25.
• '
, T 1! E D tTTLE li F COD V N NA.
tiOra t,IYERPOOt. rose, to move the Thanks of the House to
the Generals and Officers tinder whose conduct, and by whose
exertions, the signal battle before Cormina ts
.had been won, andi
by whose sk ill, activity, and courage, the re-f.inbarkation of
the British Pi.oops had been effected. The spit. :dor, of that
glorious
.victory, which must for ever so signal( v redound to the
praise of British valour, discipline, and skill. he, mi doubt, with
that !louse and the country, to regret that it siteelJ ba‘%:. been
Clouded by the.disasters attending it, particularly by the fall of
the gallant and accomplished officer wno had led the %Fin
through:such hardshipsto such Ahir... IIL. luta the hhnhur el'
being personally acquainted with thaidistinguished leader; and
his fall he, thereftireutsad the snore sincerely to deplore, la.-
cause he could have the more fully avpreriated die loss which in
every respect the country sustained-40r Sri John Moore was
among the most valiant of her sons. lie had exclusively, de-
voted his life toter service, and her interests and her henotir
were always the first objects itt Isis sight, and the constant aim of
his unwearied exertions. 'Ada were the high motives that sup;-
Plied thespring of all his actions, and which formed a life that
proved.as useful to his fellow countrymen as it was loelous to
himself. Impressed with the fuikst conv.ction that every No-
' hie Lord must concur in these feelings notnin,led as he wished
them to be, he should content himself with following the
precedents that had been obszrved on. occasions similar to
the present, and concluded with moviog, that the Thanks
of that Itouse be gi‘eci to Sir Davi,l flacrd, Lieutenant-
General Hope, &c..6x. who took the coonuand of the army in
consequence of the wound received by Lieutenaut-general
Moore. ..
Lord Month in. giving. his warm coneui,ence to the too;
tion, as far as it im.luded the merits of the artny, and its
Geocial,
.I:legged leave to observe, that he should not thereby
be pleased, by any mewls, to approve of the comillyt of
those who had employed :hat army, in a try tier, the britot le-
-1
preheilsible and absurd. In Spain, was the ttic or to6land
to he fought. The proudest-po'lion of the this!: arm., was
sent to light it. •lihe army ffiugliv as tiighilaye been expcteci
from its known intrepidity and discipline; not all its euoufs
were frustrated by the.Lnorance or incaparit of tliose who had
the direction of vur public affairs. 1. taeir t►atul nothing,pros•
pored ; the strength as well as the gle!.y or the ',Minn laws &i use
decline; its shdrt, we were a sinking country. 'I liis nlisrou,:..a.t
of Minister:, was tip can'e of all the t•titr:i ings Pt:id :al the de,-
appointutents of our armies; and if he left them it scensured, nit
should feel that he deserted the case of his brave companious in
arms. .
Lord ERSKINn took pride to himself in rellettinO jon p: long
catalogue of Pelves who adorned the eouott! to ‘i U 0 he had

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