The Sun.
London, England, 1809-07-21 00:00:00

cross the river, and give battle to the Austrians.

On the morning of the fith of July the whole
French Army crossed the River, and, being pro-
tetied by their totes-du-pout, formed in order of
battle. We are not in possession of the details of
this unfortunate Battle, but we understand that it

was contested during the whole of that day with the
utmost obstinacy, and with dreadful carnage on both
sides : the French had, however, decidedly the ad-

vantage.
On the morning of the 7th, the battle was again

renewed with great fury, but the superiority of num-
bers, on the part of the French, and ihe advantage of

some positions which they had obtained the day
before, ultimately decided the battle in favour of the
French.

The Austrians were completely defeated; they
lost near 12,000 in killed and wounded, 20,000 pri.
soners, and a vast number general Otlicers.—Tne

lobs•of the French was also very great ; in killed
and wounded it probably exceeded that of the

Austrians, because the latter were entrenched, and

covered by a numerous artillery, admirably served.

The Austrian army retreated upon Bohemia.
We feel too much depressed with this disastrous

intelligence to offer any comments upon h at pre-
sent : we can only hope that these details, which

come from France, may be exaggerated:
There was a general firing from all the batteries

on the French coast yesterday, and on WednesJay

night illuminations were distinctly seen. This
event will not, we should presume, have any erect
upon the sailing of our Expedition ; indeed the de-
feat of the Austrians renders it more important
that the object which it was first destined to ae-

complish, should be performed ; but, with regard
to the ulterior objects of the Expedition, it is proba-

ble they may be either altered or abandond, in con•
sequence of this intelligence.

Since writing the above, we have learnt that the

25th and 26th Bulletins have arrived. They state,
that on the 4th of July, in the middle of a dark'
tempestuous night, the French crossed the Danube,

turned the Austrian redoubts, came upon their
flank, and in two battles totally defeated them.

The remnant of the Austrian Army, retreated in-

to Bohemia, abandoning Moravia and Hungary.

This account differs from that which we first re-

ceived only in point of date—unfortunately the re-
sult is the'same.

We this day continue our extracts from the last
French Papers, and among other articles we find

one which states that JOSEPH BOONAPARTE has is-
sued Decrees for the sale of what he calls national
property, in Spain. This property consists of
the estates belonging to Ecclesiastical Establish-
menti, and the Nobility, &c. who resisted his
usurpation, and are friends to their legitimate mo-
narch. This is an artful scheme to conciliate the
people, to whom he has repeated his declaration that.
the National Debt of the Country, comprehended
in the form of Vales Reales, something analogous to
our Exchequer Bills, shall be deemed sacred, and
shall be taken at their full nominal value in
the purchase of the aforesaid national pro-
perty. These Vales Reales were in a state of
extreme depreciation during the former Go-
vernment in Spain, but one of the first aas of
the Central Junta was, to issue a decree that the
funds appropriated for their discharge were inviola-
ble, and should so be regarded, even during the
struggles of the country for the support of its inde-
pendence. As the Junta have, therefore, got the
start of JOSEPH, in declaring that the Vales Reales
should be held sacred, his affected regard to the Na-
tional Debt, can have but little effe& upon the peo-
ple, particularly as his respe& for one species of pro-
p:rty is shewn by the sacrifice of many others, and
one most venerated in such a country as Spain.

Just before the Paper was put to press we received
a Moniteur of the loth inst. from which we have
made the following Extratis
NAPLES, JUNE 28.—0 n the 24th of this month,
the English made a descent in the Island of Ischia.
This enterprize gave place to two maritime battles,
of which the following are the details:—
" On the 25th, inithe morning, some of our gun-
boats, sustained by a frigate and a corvette, advanced
againkt those of the enemy, superior to ours in the
number and the force of their ships. The anion
commenced at nine o'clock in the morning.
" The fire was continual and very lively duting
many hours. We had against us four English fri.
gates, two brigs, and 14 gun-boats. An English
frigate has been considerably damaged, but a rein-
forcement arrived, it returned without having suf-
fered any great loss.
" At the same time 30 of our gun-boats which had
been some time stationed at Gaeta, had received orders
to go to Naples, by the canal which separates the.two
Islands of Procida and Ischia. The dangers of this
voyage appeared extreme : . they triumphed over
them with infinite skill.

" Our flotilla passed through, on the 26th, the
whole of that of the enemy, and arrived at the place
of rendezvous at the break of day. The dangers
commenced at t.ie moment.
" The island of Procida was in the hands of the
enemy ; which was seized upon by him, wiihout
striking a blow. This accident deprived our flotilla
of the protedion of the batteries of Procida, the fire
of which crosses that of the batteries of Meliscola at
Cape Masena.

" Then the enemy's forces sure of not being at-
tacked by land, all united against our fleet, which
was no longer protedecl;' expel by the small bat-
tery of Meliscola. The action commenced at day-
break, and continued until nine o'clock.
" Under no circumstances has the Neapolitan Ma-
rine so fully justified the reputation which it has
ever held in the estimation of naval men. The re-
sults, which concern the honour of the nation, are
those of the courage with .which it has fought. Ac-
cording to this report, our glory could not be greater.
" An English brig was burnt by the battery of
Meliscola, which was directed by the brave Capt.
ORSINI. One of their gun-boats was sunk. We
have had only one man killed, and a few wounded,
but among our gun-boats some have been sunk
alongside the enemy's ships, others have been driven
on shore, but we hope to be able to get them off.
Several have returned to port.

In spite of this imposing spet9acle of war, of
which all the town was a witness; in spite of the
fright of some timid people, and in spite of the secret
hopes of some guilty men, who are known, the
capital was never more tranquil than it is at this mo-
ment, in which the enemy displays to our view
his menacing forces, in order to diSturb the peace
which reigns amongst us. This internal peace which
we enjoy, is owing principally to the confidence
which the people have in the person of their King.
" The corps of volunteers, which augmented but
slowly when the enemy was distant from us, in-
creased beyond measure upon his approach.
" Intelligence from the provinces is equally plea-
sant ;:every where tranquility reigns, and the incen-
diary Proclamations which the English-Sicilian Army

has thrown almost every where on our coasts, seems
for the present to have had no other effect f than that
of rallying round the Throne all the people of the
kinBda(l)."

The Duke of Kent packet is arrived at Falmouth,
from Malta. She sailed from thence the 16th May,
from Gibraltar the 2:h June, and from Cadiz the
gth June,