The Sun.
London, England, 1808-12-14 00:00:00

SPd4WSH PAPERS.

.., . .
Sums, Nov. 1-10.0 The Supreme Junta has re-
cOved letters Which have afforded its Members the
highest satisfaotiori, and in which they wish this
city, all Antfitittsia, and the Spanish nation in ge-
ia'era I; to participate.
In the last Gazette we insetted
some of the ac.
.counts transmitted from the island of Cuba, New
-tp4iti, and Campeach W , to add,
1,144 i XI ihe Chiefs , Co yrporatiOns,
,a e have now
. to
of
vast
e , territories, have manifested an equal
pa-
trioti4-n and ardour in defence of the mother country.
Arnotig the numerous demonstrations of loyalty `rlribici? ha've taken place, we have More particulArly
r,eiyaticed a Proclamation by the Marquis Da So-
-1.1411E,L05, General-Commandant of the. Island of
C'4ba; and Governor of the Havannah. In this Pro-
lanttiorr, his Excellency exhorts all the people to
scontribute tti -the success of the common cause:of
Pain,. by making as large donationtas possible, and
I.nvittng
OUr armies,
the Young men to enroll themselves in
ligiod. and fight for their King and their re,
The French would now make us believe that their
Idero 'JOSEPH is a perfect Adonis, endowed with
li'etY grace shedWorthy of all our affeetion. It may
•
be sb„,but following picture, which they have
brawn of him in the Barcelona Journal, is not very
seducing :--.
cumbecambeif The Dia* rio de Manresa has stated, in one of its
rs, that his Majesty,' JosaPit J. is crooked,
rs,
acid humpbacked. Doubtless, neither 'the
L4raees of the body, nor any external accOMplish-
'Atenti, ought to 'be regarded as
qualities which ren-
der Princes objeas of, respea. tie can assert, how-
I'er, that out Monarch is well proportioned, though
iit; middle stature; and that to the fine qualities of
1:e heart :41d the head, which eminently distinguish
‘:.
a--(1, he joins regularity of features, and a lively
primarilieeable physiognomy. For the rest; this
part
is known throughout all France, and a great
of Europe, and will soon be equally well known
in Sliain.
14 reply to In the 'mead time, enough has been said
the effrontery and falsehooa of the Diario
de Natareta.''—rile
This sin ?.he Observer.
fhoUght he'llatalr Panegyric shews that the Observer
side.and the _. reason to apologize for both the
,in-
, olnette of ?oi.tioic I - the brother of the great IN, A.,
't Is said that this Journalist is a wretched.
their Poet; larliont the
.French have employed as
heir translator.; "but be that as it may , we are cer-
tain that neither the mind nor the body of JOSEPIr
ate so amiable as they have been represented: We
to not pledge ourselves for the truth of all that has
.een stated in the public' papers respecting his in-
_(e. n:perance, &e. but the qualities of his heart, we
thin, Were pretty clearly its
by his answer
f'lto the affliaed inhabitatita of the town of Sr. Au-
:,stin, which is recorded in. the Madrid Gazette.
,' ben these unfortunate people represented to him
stated, that they had set fire to their houses and
their barns, 'alter making them 'maintain a number
es for five days, he coldly replied, that they
d acted according to /is orders.
CO

,___.
to --Rtf-ExdkAliGit,‘DEd. 14.--Thii day the
heap
!llof Wheat is rather considerable, which is heavy
sales, , and at rather lower prices";• Barley in good
-4131 Y, at little variation ;• Alalt is cheaper .;. Pease
tailiti kleanS, Of the two kinds, floCluate but little ;
2.ere are tolerable supplies of Oats, mostly from
11.111Coluthire, of second quality, and laSt prices are
icearly
s,.°l3lPorted ; previous to the close df the IClar-
e- On mlonday Flour Nvas atlast week's prices, and.
toUtiuues'so;

'OO6 oi.7.lNqu4Rk.

i • tContinued /ram air Paper (1 Yesterday -1
Sir If. ''Biirr'ard 'having thus finished his ait?...outi t
... of the military transaalions foi which he was imtne.:
diately.rdsponsible, the Depnty.Judge% Advocate read,
,
i one by ofte, a string of questions which had beefi
previously sent to Sir H. Burrard, and to which the
latter read his answers in writing, the most import.
ant of which were as follow :--Tlte 'first-question
, related to the account of the state of the army which
Sir H. Burrard had: received on his'.arrival. Sir H.Burrard's answer. described it in the ' manner in,
Iwhich he had already done in the paper which he
had read, describing our army.as partiCularly de.,
ficient in cavalry, while the artillery carriages were rather deficient, and there was a want of horses for
dragging them.
Q. Did Sir A. Wellesley expreSs a wish to pursue
the enemy immediately upon
,the battle of the 21st ?
—A. He certainly did.
Q.' What were Sir H. Burrard's reasons for not
adopting this advice ?—A. Principally a want of ca-
valry on our part, while the French had about i 400:
, cavalry. Besides, from a conversation ;with Colonel
Carey, r was led to suppose that not the least de-. pendance could be placed op the Pot tugueso troops.
We also understood Sir H. Burrard to say, that the.
French appeared to haue a corps of reserve, which.
-might have rendered the advance of our troops a
measure of considerable danger. '
Q. What did you understand to be the amount
of the French force in the anion ?—A. All -their dis-
posable force, which might amount to considerably
more than 14,000 men. We had about 16,000.
Q. What did you understand to be the amount of
the provisions of the army, and of the ammunition ?
—A. We had a supply of about eight days bread ;
but we had not ammunition for any, long -consump-
tion. •

Q. What was the nature of the ground over which
the enemy were retreating after Weir defeat on the
21st The ground was-of a diffiCUlt nature for
the advance of an army„. and the positions which
they occupied on the 22d were very strong.
• Q. When did Sir Hew Dalrymple arrive' to take
the command ?—A. He arrived on the 22d, between
eleven and twelve in the forenoon; I then infortned
him of my reasons for halting the troops; but I do
not recoiled that he made any particular reply.
A Question was then put by Lord Moira :—Sir H.
Burrard has airstaciy informed the Court, that one rea-
son for his not advancing after the battle of the 2ist
was, in, order to give the troops some refreshment.
Does he not suppose that the French troops had un-
dergone as much tatipe in advancing to the attack,
and during the action I—A. Certainly there was rea-
son to suppose so; I, however, mentioned the want
of rilresinnent as one among a number,of other cir-
cumstances concurring, to render our advance utiad-;
Visablr.

. .
Sir H.:Dalrymple .was then asked, if he had any
question's to put to Sir H. Burrard ; he replied; he
bad none.
Sir A. Wellesley then rose, and put a variety of
questions to. Sir H. Burrard.
Q. Has Sir H. Burrard heard of the standing
`order, that the army Should cook one day's provi-
sions previous to a march; and would not the troops
have had such provibions in their havresacks ?
. A. Certainly, if they rect-ived orders te,march.
Q. .13,d I net inform Sir 1-1. Burrard, on the 20th,
that I had given orders for the army to march on the
following morning r:—A. I understood that it was
Sir A. Wellesley's intention to have marched on the
morning of the 2.lst,
Q. Does Sir H. Burrard recoiled, that I twice pro-
posed to him, on the field of: battle, that the army
-
should advance in pursuit of the enemy ?—A. Yes ;
if I recoiled right, you did.
• Q. Do you reColled, that I proposed to pursue the
enemy with Jive of the brigades;. leaving General
Fane's and General Anstruther's,brigades in the po-
sitions which they occupied ?—A... I Jo rememher
-the proposal; but I understand that the advance was
to be made on the left, where the ground was
very advantageous to the enemy, who were much
superior in cavally. I also thought that General
Fergusson's brigade was advanced so far as to •be in
considerable danger.
Several other questions were then put to Sir H.
Burrard, by Sir A. Wellesley, but from the low
tone in which the answers were given, we could not
distinctly coiled them.
The Deputy Advocate General then put, a variety
of questions to Sir A. Wellesley.
Q. Was there any probability, in yOur opinion,
that, had our army immediately followed up the suc-
cess obtained on the 21st, the defeat would have
been rendered complete ?---zA The enemy's left,
which
was engaged with our right, retired by a road
which leads along the heights towards the vineyards.
Their troops were thrown into confusion by the at-
tack. of our cavalry, and had we adva6ced at that
moment, there was a great probability of their being
completely rotated.
Q. Was there any opportunity, in yotir opinion,
of intercepting and cuttiug oil'spart of the French
army ?—A. Certainly, I think there was : if the
left tying had followed up- the plan which I suggest-
eeto Sir H. Burrard, I believe that many prisoners
would have been takati both on the enemy's right
and left. The whole, French army seemed to me in
such confusion, that, giving them full credit for every
facility and discipline in forming after being broken,
I believe it would have been very difficult tor them
to have formed again, if closely pursuecL
Q. When did you first propose to Sir H. Burrard,
that the army should advance ?—A: When the ene-
my were beaten on the left, I went to Sir H. Bur-
rard, ancl proposed to (tin] that our troops, should
advance. 'I did not do this in the Way of renewing
the discussion which I had with.him the evening be-
fore; but from a consideration of the advantdges
which our troops had gained ; also stated, that our
troops had plenty of ammunition and provisions to
enable them- to advance in pursuit, without any ire=
convenience; and:upon the whole, I. urged it as my
opinion, that our advantages ought to be followed
up. Sir H.. Burrard, however, declined acceding to
this, and wished that the arniy should halt on the
ground which thertherfoccupied.-, At the time the
7 tst and Wed regiMents were-censiderekly' in ad-
Vance, but in my opinion they were placed beyond
danger by the support which'they received' from the.
40th and 32d segintent.
,Sorin after' my , hist pro
polial to Sir H.: Burrard, -
General Ferguson sent his
-Ald,de-eatnp)i elptany 11,1'ellish,, 10'41/brill' la of

. .
the great advintages_which he.ronceived would afisi
from the advance of his brigade; in orrer to follow
up the Success *hid' they had obtained. I'inirne-,
Cliately .tctok COptain Melltsh with me to General
Burrard, tO.endeavour to.r..Vailifpoti him to per-
mit us to continue our advantages; but he would
not comply. -.
Sir H. Butt'Titan ,then asked fir A. Wellesley,
what -reason he had for supposing that , the French
reserve.had been engaged in tlie battle of the itst.?
A. I knew It from several6rcurnstances ; first, 1-
myself saw them engaged; secondly, I collepted,
from the information of several wounded prisonerS,
that they had been engaged; and lastly, deileral
Kellerman, who commanded the French repiv,e,
told it toe, and that Junot attributed, the loss of the
battle to the Impetuosity of the reserve.
General Spencer was then called and examined ;
and affela stiving the 'position of the different bri•
gades of the British Army, Sir }tarty Burrard asked
:him, whether lie had any reason for believing that
the French reserve had been engaged: in the battle
of the 21st of August ?—A. Not particularly the reserve.

:•!•
HQ. ad General Spencer any reason to believe
that the whole of the enemy's disposable infAtrY
had been engaged?—A. -I cannot possibly say...
Q. Does General,,Spencer think that the horses.
had sufficient strength to draw the artillery as far as
Torres Vesiras, and there to take possessiOn of some
adVantageous height The roads were ex-
tremely bad from Mondego Bay to Torres Vedras ;
,but upon a fresh or pressing emergency. every-exer-
tion would have been made to overcome the-diffi-
culties Which Might present themselves.
Q. Supposing we had determined to pursue the
enemy, bow many troops would it have been neces-
sary to leave behind to take, care of the wounded;
&c. ?—A. *I conceive, that that would entirely de-
pend upon the
_judgment of the Commander of the
inrces, and the dispositions he should make. He
alone was competent to decide it.
Q. Did General Spencer not see the enemy's
troops when broken, immediately rally, and get into
good order again ?—A. I saw one line rally in front
of Vimeira.
Q. When did General Spencer first see that
line ?—A. Atter the attacks on the. left and centre
bad ce.s_d.
Sir Arthur Wellesley asked whether he saw that
line, after the atta k, which had been repulsed by
the brigades of Generals Fane and Anstruther ?
A. The line of intaniry to. which I allude;• I saw
alter sottae part of the French troops had been
repulsed. They wete in the direttion of Tortes
Vedras.

In' answer to a question whether he had heard of
a reinforcement of British tri)ops which was to have'
joined the ai my ont he et ening of the 21st, he said
that he heard it only from general iepon, which had
been circulated throughout the countr); but not ,be-
ing ,contryunicated to him through any authority
whereon he could depend, he .dirt nut think himself
justified in believing it.
Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY,—Wa•GcneraI, Spen-,
cer present at my conference with Slr Harry Bur-
rard on the evening ot,the, 2 ist., an,l- did he propose
to Sir Harry, to continue the and avail him
self of the 'advantag,-yObiainrd
_by the army on tha,
'day ?-I.V. I was not pr sent
Q. Did Gener'al ,Spencer, as my second in com-
mand in that actuin, consider the defeat 'of the ene-
my so, decided as to warr :nt our. pursuing them
A. I considered the enemy to he completely
beaten in the centre, and I could, with my divi-,
sien, have supported Sir Arthur Wellesley in the
pursuit.

General FERGUSON Was next examined by Sir
Arthur Wellesley. He stated' that be,was not present
when Sir Arthur recommended the pursuit. He was
with his brigade.
Sir ARTHUR' W.—Does General ' Ferguson re-
coiled that alter he received an order to halt, he sent
captain Mellish with a message to,infortn me that
I I would permit him to advance, he could gain'
an important -advantage ?=A. I did send such a
message.

Sir ARTHUR W.---IDescribe to the Court Your rea-
sons for sending it ?
General FERGUSON.—A' column of the enemy's
infantry, consisting in my opinion of from 1500 to
2000 men,' was completely broken, and in confusion
had got into a hollow, and thereby placed in a situa
tion of being completely cut of f from the'main body
by an advance movement of the corps under my
command. •
GL Did General Ferguson consider the enemy so
beaten on the 2 1 St, as to render a pursuit of them
advantag?ous ?—A. As they had lost all their artil-
lery, and were in the utmost confusion, it certainly
was my opinion that our army should continue to ad-

vance,

Q. Did General Ferguson perceive any part 'of
Ithe enemy's troops at the end of the engagement to
consist of cavalry ?—A. I did not. Several bat-
talions Of their infantry occasionally halted, for
the purpose, as I supposed, of carrying oil' their
wounded.
Q. W hen and where did you see the enemy's ca-
valry ?—.A. Their calvairy were the first troops that
shewed themselves to our line. they in general
appeared in small numbers, and the greater part of
them seemed to oppose themselves to our centre.—
In answer to a question put by Lord Moira, he stated,
that the enemy made their last stand at the village of
Braganza, whence they were dislodged by the 71st
regiment, who were the battalion most advanced of
the British troops.' They then went of in the ut-
most Confusion.
Lord BURGEIRREII was next examined by Sir At- •
thur
Q. Was his Lordship present on the evening of
the 21st, when I recointnended to Sir Harry Burrard
to pursue the enemy,•and-follow up the advantages
we -had aaiiied that day %—A. I was.
Q.,\V-as you present on the (btlt, when I had a
consultation with Sir Harry Burrard, and when I re-
commended that he sliotild. renew the plan of opera-
tiOns which I' had followed-up Co that motnent, and
whenl-poitited- out to him tbeadvantages and dis-
advantages of bringing the' tibops under the cum-.
mand .01 Sir Alm Moore from llondego Bay to
join'our i remember, that on that occa,
siren Sir cirtbur 'Wellesley riecomniened to .Sir Harry,BUrrird that
.the army should move forward neit.
day:- when they would be Soineir-t.he enemy,, that it.
wovidlbe no- Joogef -donbtftil. bne of the two'
4rtilie•s'ltAlM attatt";:1110( bislio4l'6lWellitrit

I

7 • ..., .:..'; :‘ .. - t . '., • ' `:. '-- ' . 0
liriiiiti.V..aul.ct ft6i ,Qn tbe_Offens.re, and (.it forte
the French
.to.a general: -engagtv,eiti;- nt. iiirfil 'inq.-.1
posltions, and .dri% e theM low Lisbon:-',• As he, Cam,
Arthur) was well •ai,-.C.itiain-ted:tvith• the gronl,.
.i.v,e
wished..to engage the enemy on_ it anti ile objecied.
to Sir Harry Bt.n.rard'S waiting for the.arrit'l
.et. :Sir,
John 4ioore .with his :corps, as at -least ten days tnutt.
have elapsed • before they.. ,could have
,4)e.?:otile iser-...
•vicesible. ~. . . . , , ,-. ' . ,-•- :
Q. Dom your. Lordship recoiled my having on MO glst urged, Sir Barry llurrard on. the' field to con,
tinue. the pursuit; and my tiqerring.to -our discussion
of the preceding eveiting?--LA: I don't ..etnetniagc.
the manuer in which Sir Arthur'Wellesley ' i3.l=es'ed,
it on Sir Harry Buii.ai-d, but I recoiled that lie,urged '
him to adiance our right heuet to Torres Vedraa,
that ekening—and that if his opiniari.was taken,..4
.part of the enerny who had been engriketi would not
be able to reach Lisbon... ,
Sir A RTI-1,1) aWimiiis Li 7.. y then said,, he vrould
call other Witnesses to prove further,
that he reco:n7
Mended to Sir Harry Burrard to pursite the-enernyi•
after, the battle; but after a short convet::;ion,
amongst the Members of theßOard;it•Was adjoutnecil
till this day.

This moping the Court 'was' not opened till half,
past eleven o'clock. The Deimty Judge-Advocate
read torne letters, referred to yesterdarby Sir FL,
BURRARD, in his nariatite, which were of no ins.

porta rice.

Sir HAilaY ButteAßD thee put:some queitions
to
Sir ART/JUR WeLLESIAIi. The only two 'which,
were material_ were, whether the FrenCh, cavalry
patroled near tho British camp on the 19th of Au,
gust ?. Sir ARTHUR answered, not on the 19th, but
early in the morning'ofthe.eoth, when a dctach-
menthad been sent, to facilitate the junaion with.
General ANST4UTITPR.

The other question wan, whether an army of
.16 or 17,00 men could have marched; without its
being known to the French,. in an hoUr Sir AR-
.
Txtrit answered, that it 'was possible,
.under certain
circurngtanceS,, without its being known to the.
French for two or three hoUrs.

I