Star.
London, England, 1808-07-26 00:00:00

SPAIN.

EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE OP SAls._
OF THE SD JULY, 1808.
The day before yesterday, the Ist inst. about mid-
night, the French army encamped in the environs of
this capital began to bombard the town, and conti-
nued the bombardment until the evening of the fol-
lowing day ; during which time, upwards of one
thousand four hundred bombs and shells were thrown
into the place. The French cavalry and infantry at-
tacked some of the gates; but the heroic valour of
the inhabitants and troops of the line succeeded in
destroying, by a well directed fire, which was kept
up with uncommon briskness, all who came within
the range of their guns. The neighbouring fields
were strewed with the dead bodies of the French.—
The Patriots bravely maintaired their post, amidst
the numberless bombs and shells which struck their
batteries.
In the afternoon of the Ist instant, the attack was
continued by the French artillery and foot, but they
were also routed with a very considerable loss.
On the '2d inst. at break of day, the attack was re-
newed at all points, and after having sustained a se-
vere loss, and convinced themselves bf the persevering
valour of the defenders of this capital, the French
troops retreated, after a fire which lasted twelve hours
without intermission, and proved extremely destruc-
tive to their ranks. The enemy's bombs, shells, and
balls, without doing any considerable mischief,
merely served to increase the hatred entertained
against the enemy, and to remind us of the sacred
duties which we owe to our religion, our country, our
honour, and our King.
The gallantry displayed by the officers and _sol-
diers, and in particular by the artillerymen, and the
officers and troops, who were statione4 in the batte-
ries and points attacked, is beyond all praise. His
Excellency the Governor and Captain General, in
order to spew how much he feels concerned in reward-
ing distinguished intrepidity and courage, has direct-
ed the different Commanders to send in a list of the
officers and soldiers of the regular troops, and the
mass, who have particularly distinguished themselves
in order to bestow on them, in his Majesty's name,
those marks of distinction which their eminent ser-
vices deserve, and transmit to posterity the names of
those worthy defenders of their country. In expec-
tation of these particular and correct returns, he has
been pleased for the present to promote Colonel Don
Antonio Torres to the rank of Brigadier General,
and appointed Lieutenant Colonel Don Marco de
Pont, of the volunteers of Saragossa, and Don 'Do-
mingo Larippa, of the volunteers f Estremadura,
who defended the gates of Portillo and Carmen, Co. ,
lonels in the army ; Captain Don Salvador Cesta,
Major of the corps of artillery ; and Don Geronimo
Pineiro, and Don F. Bosete, Ensigns of the same ,
corps, Lientenants. The two latter arrived in the
morning from Barcelona, and without taking the
least repose, immediately assumed the command of
the batteries of Portillo and Carmen, where they co-
vered themselves with glory. A great number of
arms have fallen into our hands, and in the possession
of the French, slain in the action, many precious ar-
ticles were found, of which they had robbed the
churches and private houses—we have taken a great
number of prisoners of war.
In the town of Exea twenty-five of the enemy's ca-
valry and foot were made prisoners, and brought to
this capital.
By an express, -which left Valencia on the 50th of
June, the pleasing intelligence has been officially re-
ceived, that the French army, commanded by Gene-
ral Moncey, having approached the said capital on
the 28th ultimo, the batteries opened upon them, and
kept up for seven hours with such unremitting brisk.'
ness, that the French were defeated with immense I
slaughter, and the neighbouring fields were covered
with their dead. The remains of their army retreat-
ed in the utmost disorder, exhausted with fatigue,
and destitute of provisions, with a vast number of
wounded, on the road to Matirid, where the main
body of the army of Valencia awaits them to cut Of
the retreat of the few who remain, and put them to
the sword, in return for the acts of violence against
this capital.

OVIEDO, JULY] 3.
The little information we possess relative to the
state of Catalonia, must render the following news
received here very interesting :
Restrained by the Governors, Akaldes Mayor and
Plana Mayor, the Catalonians succeeded in disem-
barrassing themselves c.f their impediments, or in their
own words, made a finish of them. In the middle
of June there were already at the Mplines del Rey,
1500 men from Lerida ; 500 from Tortosa were soon
expected, and as many more Valeneians, to lay siege
to Barcelona.
The French in Barcelona are greatly in want of
powder and provisions. A vessel loaded with pow-
der, and another with pork, had been taken from
them. In consequence of this scarcity, the people
were in the most critical circumstances, and the
French were quite at a loss what to do. If they tried
to escape by sea, there was an English squadrop—if
by land, there was a cordon of troops drawn from
Monoado to Mataro." Their late attempts against
the first of these places, and also that en Montealegre
terminated rather unpleasantly for those heroes, 3s

they fancied they could take them without any trou- '
ble ; but nothing can deprive them of the glory of
having laid waste the whole plain of Barcelona, all '
the cultivated fields, all the villages, and the churches.
They have also burnt down a great number of houses
in the towns of Matorell, Palleja, Molinos del Rey,
and other places, all within the district of the city of
Barcelona. Lastly, we are assured that a great firing
had been heard between Figueras, Ampurdan, and
San Fernando. The Junta at Catalonia have estab-
lished themselves at Lerida, in order to render the com-
munication with Arragon and Valencia more certain.
Yesterday, by order of the supreme Junta of the
Principality, the people in all the churches invoked
the Divine protection of the GOD of armies, in whose
omnipotent hands are placed the destinies of all men,
the prosperity of empires, and on whose will depend
the victories which we desire to obtain-over our ene-
' mies. We are of his holy religion, and if our valiant
soldiers eagerly fly to meet the enemy, it is because
the spirit of that religion kindles in their breasts the
pious ardour and just determination to avenge the
temples which have been profaned, the rights and pro-
perty which have been invaded, and the precious gift
of freedom which has been trampled upon. We who
have not the happiness to participate in their daily
fatigues, ought at least to prostrate ourselves at the
foot of the altar, cover ourselves with sackcloth, and
with fasting and prayer supplicate our merciful Rit-
DEEMER, to give a complete and easy victory, and to
defend with his shield the precious lives of our dear
brethren.
Filled with these sentiments of religion and piety,
the devout people attended in the Temples. In the
Holy Cathedral, and all the other churches, were
yesterday solemnized the Sacrifice of the Expiation
and a pious Rogation.