The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-16 00:00:00

FOR T.HE SUN.

F,tition g_Sigriiv•
ture A ckApit 41/y further colicessioils.
Roman
_Catholics; it is ,now sifziled- 'by •.abOye
600 .honseholders-of this town. To-day a hand-
bill has appealed, annontiCing a Public Meetint.,;
at the Town Hall; Reading, to-take into consi-
deration ,the propriety of•petitinning iu
of the Roman Catholics. Tliefe can doubt
of the issue being decidedly a4' ainst the Catholics.
lie-ading-, April Ir 4". 1624.

SOUTH AMERICA.

LETTER FROM GENERAL MILLER TO A PIIEND

IN IA 11l A.

" Quenos, 4 leagues North of Guarriangs, Dec. 11,16-.1-1:

" I have written you long letters from Challunca, Maniere,
Cusenchegues, Andegueylae, and Uripa.' If those letters reach
you; you will be in possession of most of the particulars of ti!e
movements of our army, up to the end of last month ; and df
'the error we committed•after the affair ofJunin,,,by not rapidly
following up the enemy, and destroying Canterac's force, before'
Valdez could have joined him front Potosi. Yoti will ales keen
of our retrograde movement from Idombtatna to Wipe and of
•
the confusion, and sudden change of the.prospect of our itopes,
whiele the offensive: operations of theßoyalists-created amongst
us by the advance of Guamanga. .As soon as the Viceroy as-
certained that we had not commenced a Santa Cruz retreat, and
knew our position, fearing that we might direct our course to
Cusco, he countermarched
_from the vicinity of Guarnatiga,
towards•Andegueylas, and both armies Anet at the bridge of
Begucoss as j stated in my last. .14w Serna thought to entrap
us in the valley of Pornocochas, for which-purpose he moved a
few leagues to his right, that we might. descend the guebrada,
where he intended to attack us, but luckily he could not effect
his purpose,.
" We arrived at Melva .(6 leagues-from Uripa) before the
enemy, and offered him battle on equal teems ; but La Serria
determined to play the sure game, aind, convinced lie could
destroy us without risking a general action, declined attacking
us, and continued his advance, outflanking our right, or rather
left, when retreating. We pursued our .retrograde movement
on the 3d, and on that very evening were attacked, under very
disadvantageous circumstances, whilst defiling down a ge-,
tratia two leagues to the northward (X.:Valera. e lost; hi
this affair,fW
the general depot, our field-pieces, nearly all the
baggage of the army, and about 500 killed, wounded, and
missing, whilst the casualties of the Royalists did not,exCeed
thirty.
This blow naturally created a damp upon the spirits of our
troops, and what still increased our uneasiness, was certain in-
formation received, that La Serna did not bring with bins less
than 10,000 effective troops. We continued to fell back-on this
plain, the -enemy always on our left. flank, and taking daily
many. prisoners, and much baggage. /Little was again offered
him in Caugilloe but he a second time declined it. " Onr situa-
tion, became mere desperate every day ; the Peruvians had
bean to desert and our cavalry tired, and disgusted at being
obliged to walk on foot, having lost their .horses.' The
mules, de Inarcita, had all been lost, or taken by the enemy,
and not a horse-shoe or nail were to be had fur love or money.
Our army being arrived at this place, the enemy placed him
self in Cluamanguilla, two leagues to the northward. and
thus completely cut off' our further retreat, even were we in
a 'state to continue it. The aspect of our affairs biCame
gloomy in the extreme. We could not have existed six. days
in this position, for want of provisions ; and either to have
idnsogvueadyousn the
or eon eutanny, lanogr
at
jo
,h,
oaivi old huarvi toe r rbeneaor c
certain
towards
perdition
n -
The enemy were confident of. our destruction. He had sent
strong detachments towards Marco, ll ayoe, and other directions ,
to cut and destroy the bridges and roads, to prevent the escape
ore singleindividual. The Indians of Iluasea, fluaneabilino,
Churcheros, and neighbouring towns, had all risen against us,
and, daily accounts being received of their having assassinated
our stragglers and small detachments, sometimes it was impale
Bible to procure a guide. The morale of our troops, also, began
most perceptibly to relax, arid many deserted to the enemy ; dis-
agreeable news was. received from the coast, as well that 1,500
Itoyaliiti; were on their march from Cusco, to reinforce
Serna. In fact every thing indicated our ruin; neither wasic
likely that generalship would save us.
Under these critical circumstances, the Royalists, flushed
with their superiority, attacked us, certain of success. Our po-
sition was a plain of about two miles circumference, and in one
rear, a gradual descent to a vast quebrada. lea Serna and Can-
terse, with two divisions, advanced in our front, descending the
hill, whilst Valdez, with two squadrons and four battalions, at-
tacked our left. The Royalists were attacked mall sides,
nearly at the same moment, in. the most gallant manner, and
ggreatest possible order, and after one hour and twenty minutes
hard, very hard fighting, were completely routed—the Vienna',
wounded and taken prisoner. Canterac, Valdez, Carratala,
Monet, Ferraz, and tour or five more Generals, with other
officers and about 500. or 600 men, who. were united after the
action, with some difficulty capitulated,-giving us possession of
Peru, from Tumbay to,Desaguadero. Ten pieces .of artilleev
were taken from the enemy during the action. We had bat 0.M.,
miserable four-ponnder to return their fire. Our cavalry, ix-.
hayed nobly—that of Colombiaadvanced in the intervals formed
by our 'columns of infantry on the right, and that. of Peru
charged, and routed two battalions of Valdez' van, which had
reached the plain on which we had formed, and actually began
to flank our right. All, and every body, behaved well. Gen.
Cordoba, a youth of 25, with his diviiion, stood the brunt, anti
indeed it may be said decided the action. He was most Justly
made -a General of Division on the field of battle. .1 charged at
the head of the huzzars of Junin, and repulsed Valdez, who at
first had driven back our infantry. The huzzars advanced in
the most' gallant manner, and their good conduct hen drawn
tbeth unlimited praise from the General-in-Chief, and the whole
army.
" The enemy brought into the field 7,200 infantry and 1,360
cavalry, whilst our disposable force only amounted to 5,627, in-
cluding 1,000 cavalry. Since leaving. Aadegueylas our effec-
tive force has decreased 1,200 men. The royalist army. was
composed of excellent men, well clothed aed well eqnipned ;
their morale, far froin being bad, was the reverse, and Gene-
ral Valdez has assured me there were only 800 recruits.. The
battle, fought near Quenon, is called eAzachucho Areuevis
los inuertos), because that is the name of the Fe:Nem where
it took place, and is not more than a quarter of 'a mile
front the village. Without doubt, it is the meet gloreous,
the. -most. important, and the most military action, ever
fought in South America. Had the Spaniards gained it, the
struggle in Peru for independence must have been protracted
for years and years to come • anti even Chile 'and Wont-
bia would have trembled for their safety. La Seree; Cante-
.rac, and Valdez, deserve great credit for having brought
their troops to such a degree of perfection, • Their cavalry, in
equipment and discipline, is, perhaps, little inferior to the
Bri-
tish, and that is saying all that is possible, that can be said in
their favour. The Viceroy, Valdez, Cantee one:,
,Garcia,
Combs, and several -others, have 'enquired very kindly after
you. 1 pay them, of course, every attention in my power; and
they highly grateful. They are anxious- to- return to
Europe. -Olaneta styles himself General en- .7 tfe de4,Rxercito
Real en Peru. Heernay have from 3to 4,000 men. -Unless we
take active measures against him at once; he may yet cause
much trouble : probably upwards of 1,000 of Canterac's
dis-
npersos may unite with him, if they'be not pursued."',

Leave of absence was granted by the House of
Commons on Thursday night, to Mr: JENkiNSON
and Mr. LANGSTON, fora fortnight each;,and to
Mr. GnIrFITII and 11111%.•11AI.DiMAND for a month
each. 'The. Motions that " Sir 'JOHN I'VIAN.IORI-
BANiti hate leave of absence for six weeks on
urgent private busiaeSs," and that " Sir JOHN
Sin:Lt.-11-have leave of absence for a week on ur,
via private 'business, were withdrawn.