The Sun.
London, England, 1810-10-05 00:00:00

PORTUGUESE PAPERS.

• Lissos, SEPT. 6.—The Government has publish-
ed a notice relat,ve to the disaster of Alrneid.a,
which, though much to. be. lamented, is not to be
considered as of essential importance to the great
cause of the 'safety of the country. The same no-
tice promises to the families -of those who fell in the
siege of Almeida, the same pay-which their husbands,
fathers, and brothers received, when alive -and en-.
ghged in the service of their country.
lii consequenCe Of the part .aided by the Marquis
ALORNA at the surrender of Afmeida, in endeaVour-
ing' to Oduce the Portuguese soldiers into the service'
of France, and distributing among them disloyal
Proelatrations, .the Governor has declared the said
M irquis a traitor, deprived of all his titles, honours,
!Ind dignities. 'He is to be considr.red as banished
any person may kill him with, impunity, and 'a re-
ward of a 1000 mdidores is offered to whoever may
take him dead or aliVe.

BADAJoz, AUG: 31.—They write from Zatia, of
the date of the'29th inst. that the vanguard of our
alaiyhas just set out for Llereua. It appears that
the head-quarters; and. the Portuguese cavalry are
c.xpected there. '

CADIZ, AUG. 30.—The Marquis ROMANA,GCDC=
ral in Chief of the .Army of the left, under date from
the head-quaiters at Salvatierra, of the 15th of this
month, acquaints the Minister of War that on the
sth he marched from Badajoz in the dire&ion of
Olivenza, and successively to Bacancta,. Salvation,
and Salvatierra, where he fund the divisions of Ge-
neral BALLESTEROS and LA CARRERA, under the or-
ders of General MENDIZABAI....

On the 9th, knowing in Salviitierra, that on the
preceding day the enemy evacuated Zafra, he imme-
diately marched to Zafra, ordering Generals LACAN-
ARA, and BALLESTRAOS, with the whole of the ca-
valry; and some infantry to reconnoitre Llerees. As
our troops were executing these movements on
• the t Ith, they met the enemy on the heights of
Villagarcia, who also occupied these of Con!..
tallyho, separated from the first by a valley in
hich their .artillery was placed. The Guerrillas
kept up their fire till the enemy had formed his
attack on our left, when having• executed the re-
contioiqing ordered by the General,
.they effect-
ed their retreat covered by the cavalry. The
Marquis ROMANA is not able to give the de-
tails' of this anion, not having.received the par-
ticulars' from the Gerrerali; but , many atiS of
individual valour were performed. The artillem be-
haved in' that distinguished- manner which tigially
charaaerizei that corps ; the cavalry covered them-
selves with glory, and in general the. troops, Offi-
cers, and Generals, fulfilled their duty. •
The loss of the enemy in killed and woentita has
been "beyond comparison greater than ours. We
took 40 prisoners, and on our side lost some in con-
sequence of extreme weariness ind the heat of the
day. Our flying battery, composed of two cannons
and a howitzer, was opposed by.double their num-
bers, and dismounted one of our guns; which it was
requisite to abandon, after spiking it. The same day
Gen. ,BUTRON, with the cavalry under his command,
joined, and the Portuguese brigade of the same de-
scription, under General MADDEN, who Lord 'WEL-,
Ltkitoi.4 has sent,iat the Marquis of ROMAN A'S re-
quest, are expected.

LissoN, Seer. 12.—Eight months have elapsed
since the French passed the Sierra Morena, and pe-
netrated to the extremity of Andalusia, and during all
this time they have achieved nothing, notwith-
standing their numerous force:. Tins proposition
DO one can deny. The army of Spain, called, the
central force, was reduced to 6000 men, the Duke
of Albequerque entered Cadiz with abort 8 or
10,000 men.• The army of the left was 'disorganiz-
ed, and including the reserve of Gallicia, might
amount to 16 or 18,000 nten. In Catalonia, and in
Valencia, there were certainly some combatants,
but befote the appointment of O'Donnell there
were few regular troops. - Such %vele then the re-
sources of defence ; what are they. now .? •
The following is a statement,- without exaggera-
tion, troops regular and disciplined: The. etkc-
tive army of the centre is composed of 15,000 at
least, that of the Marquis of Romana, not including
the garrisons Of 'Estremadura, 20,000. In the Isle
de Leon 20,000 men, besides the volunteers of
Cadiz. In Gallicia, according to accounts printed
the 22d of August, 23,312 men. We have not
exact returns of the regular force in Catalonia
and Valencia, but each of. these 81111 e, CeLDOI
consist of less than 15,000 men, not•comprising in
the calculation a rnultituda of mountaineers, sk►r-
mishiug parties, or regiments of militia, all which
are more numerous in these provinces than in any
others. The three divisions of Vilhicampa, Basse-
court, and Capons, asc..-.nd to 9000 men: We have
nor included here the garrisons nor the detachments
of Empicinado, Mina, and many other situations,
nor the flying corps of Asturias, La Mancha, &c.
From the whole it appears that the regular Spa-
nish force, at the end of January, was only about
40,000 men, and that at this time it amounts to
117,000., much superior in discipline, clothing, wea-
pons, and all the desiderata of war.
Tire French.have many disadvantages in this con-
fha for the Empire of the Peninsula. Their armies
are composed of numerous nations who have very

..-~

. . . , .
different interests rrom their Commander. . The t,
nual recruiting hitherto by
,France fbr the vear)ie-d
been'ahout 100,000. men. He, perhaps, haS3rl_.''t.
at the maximum of , his conscriptions., and a l'el.:.oi
vexing re'cruit. of 80,000" j-early will be wauteu I

his pnrpOses in this ,rinarter. ader
At the cummencement-of the contest, the inv he
had 400,000 men in Spain, whereas now after
expiration of
,two years, his force does not 071)
200,000. Comparing 'the different details, b°
French and Spanish, at the end of the year 18°,90'
the enemy was diminished by death 170,0°,74-
subs luent •to that period the redualion has ":10-
at least equal in proportion to the time. During'
vie
interval' the Spanish and Portuguese armies •"-
trebled, and xhile the latter are progressively-
-5
Tenting, the formerare lessening from a carietyce.
calks, and-especially from the want of subsiale,iped
From all ' these facts, we think, we are enanhe
.safely to, draw_ this interesting conclusion ;'`.
French ''willbe conquered; and driven from the Pen'.
sula.

EXTRACT coF 4 LETTER FROM LISBON, SEPTA lb'
de,
" A most' atrocious conspiracy• has just been •
,issy
tccted on shore, the object of 'Which was to re
rate the Regency, the Magistracy, and all who oe,a
suspected to be attached to the British interest 15,
.the house of RATTON were, found 3000 uniformis
corresponding with those of British regiments "1)101
are now, or recently wire in Lisbon, and an et. 3,
;lumber of arms, chiefly side arms. 11:2 Connie
tors were to,perpetrate their horrid purpose In
Ic
clothes theyhad provided; in order tb hx the go'
upon the English, and to excite the popular II:
gear,ce.against them. ,On accomplishing their otbe
ject, in the capital, expresses were to. be svnt t°l,6
army, and to the principal towns, announcing 1.11,
assassination, in the hope of instigating the Pnit.ol
guese throughout the country to:the perpetration
similar atrocities. The Anglo-Portuguese so)diert)i;
it was expected by the conspirators; would insta`'o.
murder their Otlicer.i, and attack Lord,AVE"II44.
TON S. army, and that MASSENA,
ger to the plot, would assist in completing the cal,
nage. The whole plan of. operations has, how°, 4
ben providentially discovered, .and the princir•
conspirators arrested." who was no'str-q,
•

• boo,
The following extra& of a letter faun Ds f
contains a more precise account of the positiOtis
is
the two armies. The letter from .which it
made is one.of the latest that has been received Ir°'
Lisbon :
" Ltsnotg,- SEPT. has oCcUrredoloUgh every thing proves we tray hourly exre6ria
friar of a battle. The ar.-ny is m high spirits, ,1.116
really desirous to bring ihe,poiitt to an issue.- 1"„3
English are at,Coimbra, the French at. Vista; al'a
_both ,arrnies colleMed.. The Tonnant came ill °r,
the 23d with the 50th regiment, and the 7ht je;
rived yesterday, and more troops are on tne paogo
The armies are very nigh. I have letters trui,
Oporto to Vie 23d. Sever.d vessels had\artked the':
frotn England under convoy of the Undaunted. 0
" Our, head-quarters are at Lilion.3 de S3l/,,
EuphetniA. The French very close ; yet still 110
are of opinion that they may be obliged to retire),
They are, however; so strongly pasted, that t'.o,
cannot be attacked ; it they retreat for want ,of 1)1
visions, the havock will be dreadful.'; ac'
We Shall probably be some days without aa). ;,e
counts of the previous movements of the resPc'..elt
armies, The Duke of Marltorough packet, wirot,
sailed from the Tagus on the 23d ult. was 1.1"111
tunately at tacked by a French privateer oif Fain:°ol
harbour, on Monday; and the emend), having
an intention to board, the Mail was sunk. The „Per
%neer was beaten off, but the Mail was irreco"
able. 'Exclusive of the ordinary contents, v",,60,,
derstand it contained dispatches from Lord is
LANGTON to the 18th ult. The British arinY, •oe
stated', has lately received reinforcetnews to are
amount of 7,000 men. These, we presutoe, sr,
indliendent '6f two regiments, the 50th and
which landed at Lisbon on the 24th and 26111'11'
The folloWing is an extra& of a private letter •
,„ re'
" LISBON', SEPT. '26.-Accounts have bee 41.0
ceived from the army of the 23d, and it Wits 'd 0
in high spirats. An engagethent was considore
inevitable,' as both at mien were within si,„ht of cacti
other. The British head-yiarters were at CoillPim
and that of the French at Viseu, but the urito bv7l.l{,
of both of them much nearer., The French
colleaing all their fiirces and calling in lbotr ,3(1
tacked parties. The Tonnunt arrived on tije
with reinforcements. The 50th and 71st 'lila
meats landed, and were sent bti- immediately' be
position of the french is strong, and ,should fbeYbd
compelled to retreat for want of provisions, Ices
pursuit is very difficult. Should a battle take Plato)}
tie sarnage will be dreadful. Our accounts it
cif
0;:orto come to the 23d. The Militia have Ps,
head-quarters near, Lamego, ao. St. Joas de
quira."

NAVAL COURTS-MARTIAL..—On Wednesday dor
two Courts-Martial Were held on board the Sak'of
del Mundo, in Hamonze, for the trials of t",i'°„o,
the warrant officers of the Talbot, Capt. the Hr
—A. Josas.Members of the Court, Rear-Ad,-
Sir • T 'WILLIAMS; Captains' LINZEE, Sir 1.11311,°;f0,
PoPnAm, Sir J. Woon, M`KeszrE,
BROKE, DICK, WARREN, NASH, BATEMAN,
KING.—Mr.. EASTLAKE, jun. Judge Advocate:d,
Mr. William Skinner, the.carpenter, was first triefor
on charges of absenting , himself without love :I
48 .bouts, drunkenness, and of -having defraudeto,
seaman of his money.—Capt..JUNES (the Fr°leilie
tor) having closed the evidence in suppolt el
vit,
two first charges, acquainted the Court that the id,
ness he had intended to call on the 3d had ab
11.°
ed, in consequence of which he could offer roe
deuce upon it. The charge of drunkenness 31°1er
was adjudged to be in part proved, and the prisol
sentenced to be severely reprimanded. • ,4
Mr. James Weir, the Gunner, was then tri(
for having behaved with (krespect to his suPerrritle
Officer, and for disobedience of orders• be
charges were proved, and Mr. Weir sentence4loo,
reprimanded, and mulcted of three mail" pis,
charade
prisoners called on Capt. JONES for chara
but offered. nothing in defence.