The National Register.
London, England, 1811-05-26 00:00:00

NATIONAL REGISTF R.

An article, entiled, " Who is the Inventor of the New Lanras -
terian System of Education ?" from a " Layman, zealously
attached to the Church of England," b unavoidably past-
poned till our next.

rll 11' ATI()NAI. REGISTER.

LOribott.
SUNDAY, MAY 26, 1811.

GLORIOUS VICTORIES IN PORTUGAL.

Two most severe, and to the British Army and
its skilful Comma'nder, most glorious actions, have
been fought on the frontiers of Portugal. Com-
pelled by the system of operations adopted by Lord
WELLINGTON to evacuate that country, MASSENA
has now a second time tried his fortune with the
sword, and been most completely disappointed.—
In the vain hope of relieving Almeida, he crossed
in force the Agueda and the Azava, and having

driven in our advanced posts, penetrated to Duns
Casas, in the vicinity of which the battle took place.

On the '3d Instant he attempted to cut his way
t' rough our lines ; but every attack was repulsed
with a most heavy loss on his pqrt, whilst the
allied army had only 36 killed and 204 wounded.—
He then remained in front of our position, and
having called in all his reinforcements, renewed-the
action on the sth instant, by a tremendous fire of
grape and shells, followed by desperate charges on
the center and right of the British army. These
were met . with corresponding firmness, and our
troops in their turn became the assailants, and
repeatedly drove the defeated French legions to
their former positions.
From Lord WELLINGTON'S dispatches it appears,
that if he pleased he might have brought on a more

general action, and with every fait prospect of snc-

eess ; but in -the course he chose to adopt he acted
with great ability and prudence ; and knowing the
object of the enemy to be the relief of Almeida, he
resnlved not to risk that object on any account.—
He therefore contented himself with repelling every
attack without, any material change of position,
or any precipitate advance in pursuit of the dispersed
assailant,, exposing the advantages which he had so
glorious: it obtained, to the grasp of chance. He
fpread a wail of steel before the enemy, who tired
with dtleat, and weala-ned 14y the loss of innu-
merous lives sActiiiced their vain attempts, still
hovered two days in the vicinity of the -acid deluged
with their blood, and then bc!gan their retreat across
The Azava ard Ague& towards Ciudad Rodrigo.
By his cautictlS conduct Lord WELLINGTON insures
the fall of that fortress, and will, when that event
takes place, find himself in a condition.to undertake
holder measures with less risk,

\

lle has on this occasion, as( during the whole
campaign, shewn that his judgment is equal to his
zeal and courage, and by the due combination of
these qualifications, he has already achieved so
much advantage and glory to himself and the

country.
It is reported that MASSENA hazarded the battle
in consequence of positive orders from BUONAPARTE
himself. These orders were reiterated by three
Officers sent express from Paris. One of them,
BEnnitEß's Aide-de-Camp, a Baron LE JEUNE,
is said to have been taken by a party of Guerillas.
He had been sent by BER {HIER to ascertain the
true state and situation of all the corps d'artnees in
Spain, and he was the bearer of a positive order to
MASSENA to hazard an action, coute qui coute, as
the only means of retrieving their affairs, and as
the Emperor could send no more reinforcements at
present to the Peninsula.
The Park and Tower guns were fired at noon
yesterday ; and the following letter sent by the
Earl of LIVERPOOL to the LOUD MAYOR
DOWNING-STREET, MAY 25.

44 MY Lonn—Dispatches have been received
from Lord Wc.LLINoToN, dated the Bth and 10th
instant, by which it appears that the enemy's whole
army, consisting of the 2d, 6th, and Bth corp., dad
all the cavalry which could be collected inOnatile
and Leon, including 900 of the Imperil. anode
together with some battalions of the Ws !sibs,
crossed the Agueda at Ciudad Rodrigo on libi
instant, and on the 3d and sth made two dew
attacks on the British army, for the purpose of re.
lieving Almeida. .The contest, though very severe,
especially on the sth, terminated in the complete
repulse of the enemy, and the Allied Army con-
tinuing to hold its position.
44 On the rth, at night, the French Army retired
from the position which they occupied on the pre-
ceding day on the Duas Casas. Qn the Bth, the
enemy continued their retreat to the woods between
Galligoes Espejas, and Fuentas de Honor. On the
9th they crossed the Azava ; and the 10th the
Agueda, leaving Almeida to its fate.

44 In the action of the 3d of May, the British los;
consisted of 22 killed and 171 wounded—that of the
Portuguese 1+ killed and ;4 3 wounded. On the
:sth the 13ritIsh loss consisted of 148 killed and 872
wounded. The Portuguese loss 50 killed and 153
wounded. The numbers of the Allies missing on
the two days amounted to 316.

" The enemy's loss appears to have been very
great in killed, wounded, and prisoners, but 11Q re.
turn has bpen transmitted of the exact amount.
(Signed) 66 LIVERPOO.L."
Tc? the Lord Mayor."

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