The Sun.
London, England, 1812-03-26 00:00:00

OFFICIAL ARTICLE.

Lieut. General Don Francisco Ballasteros, General
in Chief of the Fourth Army, has transmitted the
following from his E-lead•q+iarters in the vicinity of
Prado del Bey, under the date 'of the ttd instant,
to his Excellency the Major-General, Chief of the
Staff:—

" Most Excellent is now five in the Kern-
ing, and I have ihe honour to comooanicate to your
Excellency, that you may be pleased to make it
known to the Council of Regency, that I have re-
pulsed and beaten at this point the first d►uision of
the first corps of the enemy, commanded by the
Generals. Carroux, De Pepin,, Roils, and Man-
ner, which last night, being particularly dark,
had the temerity to attack those brave men who
are accustomed to conquer with inferiornumbers.-----
I shall , not lose time in giving any details, be-
cause my light troops are now charging the
enemy.. When I am more at leisure I will trans-
mit them. My soldiers have just brought me in,
among other prisoners, an Aid-du-catnp of-General
Carroux."

The Council of Regency, under date lOth,_i 4'h,
1911), 21st, and 22d of Linuary last, have publislA
and ordered to be circulated the follo‘Ving Decree of
the Cortes •

The General and Extraor`dinalli CQrtes,- who, in
decreeing the perfed eqiialoy of. the Spanish people
bevothi the seas, with those of the Peninsula, had no
other objet: than to draw closer the bands of fra-
ternity, which ought to connect for ever, by_re-
ciprocal benefits, the two parts of the grand whole
of the Spanish Monarchy, • considering. that the
positive ads of interiority peculiar to the people
beyond the seas, ought to disappear before the
majestic idea of perto'l equality, reciprocal love,
and union of interests with those ut the Peninsula,
which the Cortes have so solemnly proclaio;,:,i, and
that the voluntary and generous sacrifices of
classes which the inhabitants of those vast regions
have made, and continue to make, in favour of the
just cause of the nation and the King, Ferdinand
VII. are the most conspicuous and decisive proofs
of the loyalty and fidelny,which distinguishes them,
decree

1. `rile processio❑ of the Royal Standard, which
used to be made annually in the Cities of America,
in memory of the conquest of those countries, 2C-
Cork.lng to Law 56, Title 15, Book 111. of The Re-
copelation de Indias, anal the Royal orders which
prescribe ir, shall be abolished.

2. This abolition is not to extend to the funuions
of the Church, which are observed on the same day
with the procession of the Royal Standard, which
shall be celebrated as usual.

3.. Tiva -sVanti solemnly of the Royal Standard,
in the provinces bey..l-i41‘..c...,
as in those of the Peninsula, for those days wt.en a
new Monarch shall be proclaimed. The Council
of Regency will take cognizance of this Decree,
and order it to be printed, circulated, and canned
into erred.

MANUEL DE VELLAFANE, President.
Given at Cadiz, Jan. 7, 1812,

His Excellency Captain-General DOO JOACHIM
BLAKE writes as follows from Valencia, under date
the gth of January : •
" As much foreseen and as much expeaed as was
the fall of Valencia, it is impossible to take the pen
to communicate it to your Excellency without the
most profound grief. In reality, however, this un-
fortunate event was to be feared from the time of
the capture of Tarragona, though the bravery 'with
which Sagunto defended itself, the union of force
which the siege of that castle occasioned, and the
general and determined ardour which both officers
and troops manifested, inspired apparently well
founded and flattering hopes, which lasted till the
25th of Oct. After the loss of that day, nothing pre-
sented itself but melancholy prospects; and only a
political 'revolution or some other extraordinary
event, which may deprive,SucnEr of his expeCted •
succours, could preserve Valencia ; and my . plan
was to maintain the line of the entrenchments as long
as possible, Without absolutely endangering the
small army by which it was gartisoned. The se-
curity of these troops was connected with the energy
employed in defending the position of Quarte and
St. ()noire. For the support of these and the main
body of our cavalry, situated in their neighbourhoA,
we might 'chose according to circumstances th.tween
giving a general action, drawing liom Valeilcia all,
or the greater part, of the troops, and evacuating
the place, leaving only a small garrison to capilu-
late, and save the army. It the great force of the
enemy, and the extended circuit by which he
marched upon the left flank of our position, ren-
dered it impossible to approach the high road to
Madrid, we might reach the back of Cullera by the
two sides of the Albufera.

' On the 26th of December, the enemy passed
the Turia between Manezas and Revanega, and
threatened t 6 cut off the troops at -anarte; by
Marching at,the same time below Quarte, but Ge-
neral ZAYA!S division, situated in Mislata, reiideied
this movement abortke: I was not
.able to ascer-
tain whether it was through fear, or some other
ccitnbisnation, that the entrenchments' at Quarte
and Oaofre were evacuated without being attacked
those at Maneses only suffered a slight fire. The ca-
valry macem red, independent iyof the other corps, and
the artillery.was abandoned,w ithout more than five
pieces being broughrto Valencia. In the mean time,
two battalions of t he Castile-Volunteers had .been sent
to reinforce Quarte ;_blit as Quarte was found
abandoned, they took a positio.n - in the vici ;ity.of
Cheribella, and Mislata was reinforced with sonic
forces and a battalion from the yan-guard
two others remaining ready for the same purpose, but
on finding that the corps placed at Claarte net only did
not occupy that position, but had defiled for Cheri-
buila, part of it disunited, and part in cortivson,

purEitze(l by the enemy, there was nothing left for
them to do, but slowly retire upon Valencia, keep-
ing in check the advance_of the enemy's cavalry and
inrantry.

" It was easy toforesee that those who remained
in Valencia would be compromising, which it would-
not have been difficult for those without to have
avoided, had individual salvation only been cons der,-
'ed; but wi,thing to free the greatest possible number of
tro,N, without exposing the city as a sacrifice,
which neither expected, nor was provided for it,
it was necessary to act with circumspetlion, and .
I therefore consulted with the other Generals.
—All were •Of opinion, to. march out, and it
was agreed that it should be carried into exe-
cution on the night between the 28th and 29thi -
by the gate San Joie. The di,posn,ions for Coml.:len-,
cing the movement wet e carried into eXccution with
all the necessary silence, but the troops winch. led
met some obstacles in the vat ure.of the grjund at a
trifling distance from the place. .Tile advanced posts
were alarmed, and commenced a brisk fire, anti
enu-
sequen.lj• our design, which, by its nature, required
not to be discovered till the :whole of our iroupit-,
were out, and Marching with celerity, in order. to_
surmount all opposition, I.v:t. frustrated.

" Our troops then returned, Without being
ordered, or any -thing.panicular occurring, ,o
he line, and t intended to attempt itsim kir
operation in the cnny,eof two or three clays, cut
an inconsiderate moven-low cif -the people mad, me
renounce thi4 idea, and limit myself to !,;tr< ng
defence of which Valencia was suseptiulp-, paw-.
cularly when the scarify means which ,te
rind t lie_utv:ertain hope of any ex tenor succour, Wei e
considers:;,

" The et-,..my began the works of., at tick it
de!) ti:l:y, the gates St. Vie! me
and on 111,1 they were a ite.w toitcs of (nu fos'se. The Gerietak.-
I con,ulted, -were then of op ion, 11 Was requisiti:
to concentrate our forces v.:ittun ih,- city, a),(.1
don the Li:ie.—ft:l(re follows an accoent of :lid
boinbarchnent and sunana,s.l ened.iv's
%vould not accede to my ,pripoSltions to ar,l,oit
others I convened a Junta of Generals, a, d
the sanction of the majority concluded the ca
lion, of which the ,inclosed is a copy,. in vii in, of
which the French will this night have possess;on j-
aw city and sea-port, and to-morrow the Spaolv.it
troops wilt march out.

" I hope your Excellency will be pleased
ratify the exchange 'of prisoners agreed upon,
and give the requisite orders at 114ajorca.
FuC-
what relates to myself, as the exchange of Otli.!
cer,.; of my rank is very remote, I consider as doer-
mined nly future (ate, and thus in. the moment of
my expattiation, which is equivalent to death
I intreat your Excellency, it my services have been.
beneficial to my country, and have not hitherto dis-
graced it, you will deign to take under your protec-
tion my numerous family,

[FURTHER EXTRACTS. 3

" BLAKE."

SALAMANCA, Fsn. 17.—The whole of the Lnpe-
rial Guard has received, orders to proceed to France.
the 28d of January, MAILMONT had his head-
quarters and army in Salamanca ; but on receiving 4
intelligence of the fall of Ciudad findrizo, immedi•
ately retired to Valladolid, leaving
,only 6000
men in that city. MAtmatstr, after colleaink con,
siderable forces in Valladolid, advanced to Sala-
manca, but the allies seemed not only determine) to
wait for him, but also to give him battle should
he seek it. We know lately, that the Fiench have
retired towards Toro; it is therefore presumeA
that our allies will very shortly undertake the
siege of Badajoz. We know that, the utmosc
adivity prevails in that place in colleEting provsisioni
and military stores. It is reported that Genetal
WELLINGTON will give Geaeral HILL 20,000 men
in addition to those he already hl s, for the purpose
of executing this obje&.

PONIER RADA, FEB. 22.—T0-day sixty dragoong
entered litllabon, taken by tbeparty of AlAttourNEz:
of t of 166 men which composed 11:e enemy's force,
six only escaped.

SALAMANCA, 17.--The English maintain
their positions between the Tonnes arid Agleda
We are assured that at Chiocelia, General FRavas
has completely defeated MoNTnituN7s divisido,
longing to MARMONfi
The sixth division of MAIIMONT'S army bas
marched for Castile.; in consequence. of which, in
'Palaver., &c. there remains very short garrisons.
CORUNNA, Foe. 27.--The English. Colonel Sir,
tow. DOUGLAS, a friend to the Spaniards, and one of
the most a't.ive and , 4ealotri proteEtors Of our holy
cause, after having delivered to the army, witic it
covers the'frontiers of Gaincia, the aids sent by his

generous Government, after having assisted, iri a sif
tnilar manner, the .valiant parties
.of Guerillas
with. arms, &c. &c. has. diredei his att.enticti
without losing sight of the army, which merits his
first consideration, to.tfie alarnl of this isithltil
(loin of Galacia ; among the , inhabitants of whicts.
he is going to distribtite an additional number of
muskets. The public will be able to jriage
of the number and description of these ails
(hitherto it woirld not -have bsen proper. tO. -main-
Lain them) when it is informed, that'during the
last five months 50,000 iniuskets have been distribut-
ed by this worthy chief; so that this, pow(rini
succour; and others which are abo.ot to be given,
Galicia, will he placed in such a general state of de-.
fence, as will make its being subdiTied by_the ene-.
my impossible.. Thanks, to the 'generous British
Nation. -

LISBON, MARCH.--Our Govertiment las iSsned
an order-, in consequence of the, great scarcity of
provkions in Spanish E9trernarturl by the calanti-
ties of war,, that ric.e and biscuit may be exported
to all puts of that province,not occiliied by tilt
ettooty,