The National Register.
London, England, 1808-08-07 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

for these twelve years on the Continent, and after the repeated
miscarriage of every preceeding war between Austria and
France, I have not a •doubt on my mind at present, but that
II new war will overturn the vast colossus of Bonaparte'
power."

Advices have been reevi‘ed from Admial Lord Coiling-
wood, dated the 11th of July, which we have the heartfelt
satisfaction to announce, fishy confirm the accounts of the
successes obtained by the Patriots in Catalonia, Arragon,
and Valencia. It was calculated, that the French had al
ready lost near 40,000 men.

Sir Thomas Dyer, the bearer of the above grateful
intelligence was himse:f present at the battle of Valla-
dolid, the result of which was so variously represent-
ed : he is understood to speak with the utmost admira-
tion of the fearless intrepidity with which the Spaniards
attacked the French army. Their undisciplined and irre-
gular valour was dreadful. He saw four regiments actu-
ally cut to pieces by them. The rapidity too, with which
the French moved and fired was most formidable.

The Plover sloop of war has arrived at Plymouth with
dispathes from Sir Arthur Wellesley, which were received
by Government on Monday last. Several British ships of
war were lying at anchor below the Par, one of which,
the Narcissus frigate, was to take charge of the convoy,
appointed to sail on the 28th. Colonel Browne, after
having a conference with Sir C. Cotton, off the Tagus,
returned to Oporto on the 21st. Provisions were abun-
dant and cheap there whilst at Lisbon, according to re-
port, hardly any meat was to be had.
On the V2tli of July, 850 marines were landed from the
Alfred at Figueras, the place where it is supposed Sir Ar-
ihur Wellesley's expedition will disembark. Figueras is
about 30 leagues from Lisbon, and within a few miles
from Coimbra, where the principal force of the Portuguese
was collected. The whole of the Patriotic force North of the
Tagus amounted, we understand, to 7,000 regular infan-
try, 10,000 militia, between 15,000 and 16,000 armed
peasants and 1,500 cavalry, of whom, however, only
about 500 were mounted.

It was understood at Oporto, that General Junot had
detached 6000 men against the patriotic army, and that
they had proceeded several leagues on their way. We
much doubt, however, whether Junot had dispatched so
considerable a force, and to such a distance. It is sup-
posed he had not more than 15,000 men with him.

THIS BRITISH ARMY IN SPAIN.—The reports respecting.
the Ministerial arrangements for the command of our forces
in Spain, are various. The following is said to he a cor-
rect list of appointments, which we insert, but without
pledging ourselves for its accuracy.

The Duke of York will command an army of 70,000 men in

Lord Hutchinson is to accompany his Royal Highness the
Commander in Chief to Spain, in a confidential situation.
Sir Samuel kuchmuty goes as Military Secretary to his Royal
Highness.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cordon retains his situation, and is to re-
sold') at home to transact the public business during the Duke's
Obsence.

Sir Wm. Mendows is to act as Commander in Chief nt home.
A " General Field stair" is to be appointed from Officers of
distintuislied talents and notorious public merit.
The General Staff of the Army is to rennin as at present.
Sir A. Wellesley is named as the Field Adjutant-General on
the junction of the Briti.•h forces in Spain.
Toe Duke of Cambridge and Lord Moira will both be em-
pl.►.rd with the Duke of York.
Lord Proby is appointed Assistant Adjutant-General to the
Forces.

Sir D. Baird is at Cork, to emhark in command of seven re-
giments, no embarking at the Core.
Sir Robert Wilson has obtained leave to raise a Portuguese
Lecion of 5000 men.

The Guard& halve received orders to embark at Deli•

The following General Order)(4r er
of the Dude of York ;

" Morse efuards, Jury. 90, IROB.
" The Commander in Chief directs it tq toitiftPil, that hi
consequence of the state of preparation fur immediate sert,ice io
which the whole army is at this present moment Ital. his s;,t_
jesty has been gracious' %, pleased to dispense with the use of the
Queries, until further orders.
" His Royal Highness desires the Commanding Officers of the
Regiments will take care that the men's hair is rut close to their
necks, in the neatest and most uniform matoipr, am' that tapir
heads are kept perfectly clean, eumbiliz, brushing, and fre-
quently washing them ; for the latter essential purpose, it i. his
Majesty's pleasure that a small sponge shall hereafter be added
to each man's regimental necessaries.
" By order of his Royal Highnoss the Commander in Chief,
" HARRY G.4LYERT, Aojittaut General."
It is stated, in advice% from Lisbon, that the sitilalion of
the inhabitants is dreadful beyond description. The disco-
very of any communication with the Patriots, anionz
whom are included all who reside beyond the range of' the
posts of JrNoT's army, is sufficient to bring upon the par-
ties concerned in it the punishment of death. Such kw
days ago, was the fate of M. I)a Horta Machada, a wan
of the most respectable character, who formerly s' as Mi..
nister from the Portuguese Government to the Court of :A.
Petersburg!). He was shot in the great square, by order
of Junot, for having in his possession a letter from Oporto,
detailing the proceedings which took place in that city, on
the 18th of June, and the subsequent days.
The Persian Ambassador, who is arrived in Paris, is a
man of elegant and courteous manners, and ofgreat learn.
ing. His suite, at his departure, consisted of ,00 porsons
but owing to the difficulties of the journey, he resolved to
leave a great number of them behind. De maintains, in
his haram in Persia, no less than eighty wives : his method
of management is already the subject of inquiry among se-
veral English husbands, who find enough to do iu the ma-
nagement of one.
A WEVIIINVENTED FIELD-PIECE.—A field-piece of very
curious construction has been made at Woolwich, for the
use of the Spanish Patriots. It is a tong three-pounder,
mounted on a light carriafre, and fixed to a sort of saddle,
by which it may be fastened to a mule's back, and worked
with all possible celerity. Sixty of these have already been
shipped for the Spanish Provinces, and their utility will be
incalculable in defending the country against the approachcs
of a foreign enemy. By the assistance of mules, who are
not only sure-footed, but calculated for a mountainous
country, they may be conveyed into positions and situa-
tions commanding the passes, and maybe made the means
of considerable annoyance to troops on their march. The
mules too will be left to the direction of muleteers, or
guides, well acquainted with the country ; so that they can
be removed from place to place without the tear of .-
into the hands of the enemy. They are also calculated to
be used as flying artillery, and for all the purposes of an-
noying troops on their march, The foundery at Woolwich
is almost exclusively engaged in manufacturing these pieces,
and the greatest alacrity is used in multiplying their num-
bers.

CRIM Coy. Anvrivviritz.—A few evenings since, a gen-
teel dressed woman introduced herself to a box occupied
by three gentlemen at Vauxhall. She veil, politely apolo-
gised for the liberty she had taken, observing that she had
the misfortune to be low-spirited, and she thought the best
way to divert her melancholy was to mix with agreeable and
cheerful company. After partaking of burnt wine and Ar-
rack punch, the lad very familiarly invited one of her
companions to her lodginggs in Piccadilly. At an early
hour in the morning the gentleman found liimself alarmed
by the appearance of the lady's husband with
a pistol,
threatening to dispatch him. The gallant begged for a few
moments, to acquaint the husband with his last night's ad-
venture, and he related all that had happened. After hear-
lig the circumstances of his disgrace, Benedict was alitaff