The National Register.
London, England, 1809-04-16 00:00:00

lIE NATIONAL itEttStElt.

nut 1

Urgent in order to give more effect to negociations which
11,g0NAPARTi continues to carry on with Austria ; tc, conLrai
at the same time; accounts, so artfully circulated through
the medium of the French papers,--4hat our government,
disheartened by the reveries sustained during the Spanish
Campaign; has abandoned every future eTort, in fa-
vour of the Peninhuln;—and above all to try to im-
Preso efts the Spaniards the inefficacy of our assistance.
which is insufficient to prbtect Portugal against it small
par' of the enemy's force'. That this is the object of the
expedition ig apparent ; for as soon as we take Into consi-
deration the fermentation which exists in Gallicia, the cap-
ture-of Viggo, the movements and success of RoisANS., the
unsubdued spirit of the Astnrians, the force organised by
Dlarstial BERESFORD; and the position maintained by Sir
lioniaT Witgoiv—it is impossible, then; to deny, that the
plan of operation:: pursued by SOULT is hazardous in the
extreme. Should CUESTA be able to keep Vic Tort in
bheck, and prevent him from advancing on the side of
stremadura, the Situation Of SOULT becomci oncom-
monly dangerous; and a retreat doubtful. Whatever be
the event of CUESTA'S efforts, assisted by the detachment
kvhich General BERESieRD, has already sent him, the
force under Viciva must suffer coniiide6bly from any
engagement which may take place litween him and
the Spanish General. General BERESFORO will, we arc
Convinced, omit nothing, "Lich distingniOied professional
talents, great zeal And enterprize can effect, order
to annoy Vietdii; and to impede his march. The Portu-
guese, when welt conducted, as we have Seen in the in-
stance of Sir 110iiEitT WiLSON'S legion, are good soldiers ;
and we lee no reason; why they should. deny that charac-
ter, when they are organized, and directed by so intelligent
an officer as General lkitasponoi We are, therefore, far
from Suhicrihing to the deipondent anticipations of our
Cotemporariest and are very far from abandoning the ex-
pectation, that the _British force near Lisbon, though
amounting to only rl,OOO men, will be able to maintain
their grimnd, until the expected reinforcements arrive from
this country. The expedition vs hich sailed from Cove,
must have reached Lisbon long before SOULT COU:d have
approached that city ; and, joined to the force already
there, was more than _adennatc to give Vltava a warm re-
ception, in case he advanced.
We regret; and so does every man whose sentiments we

Q 44

interesting fact—that in Portugal, as well as in Spaid
and several other cocutries, they have evinced a steady
loyalty, and unalter►►blc attachment to their country ;
whilst the conduct of the higher classes has been infa►nous
for its indifference, or revolting for its perfidy. The for-
mer, who have co►nparatively little to lose, whose situa-
tion, apparently, is not much altered by a change of mas-
ters, have Willingly shed their blood for this little, and ob-
stivately dung to instructions, which betrayed a step.
motherly severity to them. The rich, and the noble, on
the contrary, who possess so many exclusive advantages,
besides the preponderating influence arising from the move-
able and immoveable property of the country, have run
to meet the yoke which was prepared for them; and dis-
gusted even the invaders, by their servility; cowardice,
and baseness.

The Dispatches from Spain,which have likeivise beep pub=
Lshed in an ExtraordinarN Gazelle, contain an account of a
;;ullant
attack
made by the Spanish Patriots, supported by
two British frigates, upon the French garrison in Vigo.
The enemy, amounting to 1,500 men and 50 Officers,
were compelled to surrender prisoners of war, to be con-
veyed to England, where- they are to remain until duly
exchanged. The military chest and 450 horses fell into the
hands of the assailants; which, together with the arms and
ammunition found in the place, were delivered by Capt.
MACKISLAY to the Officer Commanding the Spanish Pa=
[riots. Whilst the French were embarking, in pursuance
of the Capitulation, information was received that a rein=
fin-cement was approaching from Tuy, detached for the
purpose of relieving the garrison; they were attacked with
the greatest gallantry by the Patriots; and totally routed.
This intelligence is of the highestjmportance in the prey
sent state of Portugal, and is a new proof that the spirit of
the Spaniards is not broken down, as has been foolishly and
maliciously imagined; and we expect to hear in a very short
time, that the Gallicians.alone will have organised a force
sufficiently numero4 to contend successfully with the ease-
my, and expel them from that important province... The
success which the Marquis ROMANA has obtained in Leon,
will encrease the energy of the Patriots; and, though his
late movement appears extremely hazardous, we antici-
pate the most beneficial result from his co-operatioa and
junction with the Asturians. Surrounded as he is on every
side by the enemy, the mountains and fastnesses of Astu-
-fiord h; shy id he be forced act

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rias afford him a sure retreat, should he be forced to act • -,
have heard on the occasion, that the departure of Sir AR-
on the defensive. But his presence at the head of a very.
ifteß WiLLESLET has been so lona deferred. The presence
ry considerable force Must ronse every particle of patriotism
laf that General-, and the force accompanying him, would
which exists in the Northern part of the Peninsula. The ,
tugal, with far greater precipitation than they entered it.
riot only secure Lisbon, but expel the enemy from Por-
French are placed ,once more in a predicament which
proved so fatal. to them last Summer. They are divided
hlowever, the affairs of that kingdom are far from being
into small corps, surrounded by an infuriated population, desperate, and if Ministers display prudence and proMpti- i.
acquiring more and more the habits of discipline; and wb I-:
fade, the greater part of the enemy's army', which has pc-
predict it the linemy adhere to their present divided plan .!
netrated into Po4ugali may have the honour of Visiting
of operations, they will sustain a repetition of the disasters
the British shores.
and disgraces which followed their firia aggression. No:-
We are reduced to the painful necessity of recording another est,
desultory and
detestable example of treachery to the many which have of thing can be so deStructive to them as the des
irregular attacks they are now exposed to. Their strap=• I .1
late dishonoured the conduct of those to whom the defence
Of their country was enti:usted. Gen. B. FnEftE D'ANDPAD, 1 filers will be cut to pieces; their pests will be overpowered.' - '
:Id put to the sword, and their nninhers, formidable ai
'4,vlio commanded the Portuguese troops stationed on the
, i hey may he at present, will be soon thinned by uninters ,-,,! . t
frontiers of Callicia, had been detected of an infamous
milted and harrassing ' ,
'comp racy to facilitate the entrance of the enemy into Por-
service.
..., tugal, The enraged people tore him literally to pieces,--,...--- 1
We have received further intelligence from Americai
iis soon as his treasonable project had been discovered.
through the medium of the American papers which have •t.' -' 4
:everal Generals were complicated in this diabolical con- • 1..
arrived. They contain Mr. MADISON'S first Speech, as-•
iap:racy, aud such as escaped the just fury of the people,
cessor to Mr. JEFFERSON in the Presidency. This Speech •,
have been sent prisoners to Lisbon. That brave and meri-
has no other particular trait, than a whining, methodistical . .., . .4r.
torious officer,
.General Bra ESFORD, has been appointed,
cant, which has, in fact, distinguished for some years the ....'
by the PituicE R EGENT, Field-Marshal and Commander in
- 1 Chief of the Portuguese for-es. official documents publ)shed in that country. It is, there- • '
The private letters descrihr, we are sorry to slate,' fore, not very particular, as referring to America; but, . .
contrasted with the patical morality of Europe, cannot
'not in the Most flattering colours, the state of the
fail to occasion a stare at its afflicted and extras a,ane 1
popular feelings, or the organization of the public P , . 3 .
garb. , . . . . .
force. We must do, however, the juslite to the great .
the lowei.
.. The American Embargo was repealed on the Ist of
body, or as they are commonly denominated,
Mara: This intelligence is communicated iti letters frOin
..,
cN.;;; of the iieuple, Ity inentioritng the ittSttlittive aiid •
4:
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