The National Register.
London, England, 1812-06-07 00:00:00

348

The following is an extract of a letter from New York,
dated 6th of May, received yesterday at I.Lovuo's :--
4, it appears to be the determination of the majority in Congress to go
to war with Great Britain ; and preparations of every kind are making,
with activity, for this purpose. Still many well informed characters in
America doubt such an event taking place this year; end their opinions
are founded on the unprepared state of this nation for war, and on the
public mind being opposed to it. Uncertainty attaches to all
popular
Governments, and this remark has been pre-eminently confirmed by the
proceeding of Congress ; stiii we cannot help thinking that emigre-4
will, in the present case, carry their determination into effect without
adverting to the serious consequences which probably will attend it.—
Should war be declared, the American frigates and sloops will proba-
bly lose no time in eruizing to intercept the ships going to, or returning
from, the West Indies; and American privateers will swarm in the tro-
pical climates."
—...........--.
---- -

• DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH BY GENERAL HILL.
A Lisbon Mail was received on Thursday which brought
intelligence of the highest interest, and of the most satis-
factory nature. The incursion which by the recent ac-
counts we had reason to anticipate on the part of General
BILL into Spain, has taken place and succeeded to the
ct full
exteLt of the most sanguine expectation. The objeof
the expedition was to destroy the woi ks and bridge at Al-
marez, which afforded the enemy the means of keeping
open the communication between their forces in the North
and South of Spain. The result has added another laurel
to the brow of General 14 Lr., and deprived the enemy of
an important and ;nvaluable link in the chain of his com-
munications.
It was on the 19th ult that General HILL arrived at Al-
marez, and made himself master of the bridge and works,
without any very serious opposition. The place appears
to have been, surprised, inasmuch as the General who
commanded was captuted amongst the 300 prisoners who
weie made on the occasion. One hundred of the enemy
are said to have been killed, and two hundred and fifty
crowned in attempting to escape across the Tagus. A
vast quantity of stores and ammunition was found in the
place. After destroying the bridge and works, and carry-
ing off all the artillery, ammunition, and provisions taken
on the occasion, General HILL returned to his former
quarters.
This exploit, though not so brilliant as the surprise of
rilaMtli, at Arroya de Molino, is still not less useful and
important. It has not cost the enemy so great a numerical
loss, but it has much mire effectually impaired their means,
by cutting off all direct means of co-operation between
the extremes of their line. This success is so much the
more valuable, because it has been achieved with so small
a comparative loss on the side of the Allies, a loss which
does not exceed one hundred in the All
wounded.
The Portuguese Gazettes, of the 26th ult. contain two
dispatches from the Earl of WELLTN.GTON to the Poratu-
guese Secretary, dated Fuente de Guinaldo, May 13 nd
May 20 respectively. Neither communicates any intelli-
gence of interest The first mentions a rumour, of which
no official confirmation hadbeenreceived, that King Jost:pit
had been appointed Generalissimo of the French armies in
Spain, with the exception of the armies of Arragon and
Catalonia. The latter communicates only the advance of
a body of 2500 men from Seville towards Ayamonte,
go near which they arrived on the 10th."
We should not omit, however, to notice, that his Lord.
• ship's dispatch of the 13th, states, gi that the guerillas are
extremely active in all parts in attempts against the enemy,
in many of which they have recently been very success-
ful." This intelligence, so gratifying to learn, and so
favourable to the cause of the patriots, is fully confirmed
by the contents differs isbon Journals, in the shape of
in
froms parts of Spain. If the French