Star.
London, England, 1808-11-26 00:00:00

SPANISH PAPERS.

OVIEDO, NOVEMBER 9.
Sir Thomas Dyer, Diplomatic Commissioner from
his Britannic Majesty, not satisfying himself with the
extraordinary services which he has performed, in the
name of his Government, for this Province, has been
anxious to give a new proof of the lively interest he
takes in our cause, by generously sacrificing, in order
to contribute to the defraying of our increasing ex-
penditure, and the relief of our present necessities,
the lair sum of 50,000 reals, which he has deposited
in our Treasury. This trait of disinterested liberality
excites more and more our gratitude towards this

distinguished benefactor.
The regiments of Siero and Covadongo are on I
their march for Biscay, where they will join their com-
rades in arms, and where they will have an opportu-
nity of gratifying their ardent wishes, to take a part
in the grand military events that are daily expected
to occur. They will be speedily followed by several
other regiments still remaining here, which this loyal
and faithful province has embodied and equipped, by
sacrifices of every description, since the 9th of May,
the epoch when we raised the sacred standard of li-
berty, in favour of the great and just cause which
we have resolved to defend and sustain until the last
extremity.
We will also make further levies, should it be ne-
cessary, and all will march to assist in the common
defence of'the peninsula, and by their valour and
patriotism prove to the present and future generations
that Spain, from its wealth and fertility, the object of
the ambition of ancient and modern conquerors, is
not to be invaded with impunity.
NevEssara 12.—Sir Thomas Dyer, in addition to
the generous benefaction stated in our preceding
paper, has communicated to the Supreme Junta his
anxious desire of being personally employed, even at
the risk of his existence, in the service of the just
cause which we defend.
ARANJUEZ, NOV. 9.

The Supreme Central Junta of Government yes-
terday received the following dispatches :

FROM GEKERAL CASTANOS.
" MOST EXCELLINT SZIONOIL,
" Since the dispatch which I transmitted to your Excellency
on the 27th ult. 1 have received the accounts of General Grams-
rest, and the other Officers concerned in the affair of I.erin, the
originals of which I transmit to your Excellency, for the informa-
tion of the Supreme Central Governing Junta of the Kingdom.
" May GOD preserve, &c.
(Signed) " I. CASTANOS.
" Head-quarsers, Tudela, Nov. 5."
FROM DO!.; PEDRO GRIMAREST TO GENERAL CASTANOS.
" Most Excellent Seignor !
4, Before I proceed to inform you of my reasons
for occupying the positions of Lerin, it is with regret
that I have to acquaint you with having lost it, after
an obstinate defence, which Marshal Moncey will
long hear in remembrance.
" The enemy continued to threaten Cintruenigo
and Calahorra, when a part of my troops that had
'proceeded from Soria joined me at Atol. The ene-
my continued their arrogant demands of contribu-
tions, particularly from Calahorra ; but I, aware that
all this was a piece of French bravado, proceeded to
that city with a small body of men, to protect its in-
habitants. Having halted there for the night,
marched on the following morning to Loilosii,- which
the enemy evacuated before I arrived there, Al-
though I had no greater force with me than a squa-
dron of the regiment of Bourbon, and something
more than half of the battalion of volunteer sharp-
shooters of Spain, the Navarrese no sooner saw us,
than they felt, ak it were, a renewal of their existence.
I immediately took a position, and on the following
day gave a lesson to the enemy, who came to recon-
noitre. Two days after, they had the temerity to re-
peat this reconnoitring expedition, when they were
not only repulsed, but shamefully put to flight, not-
withstanding their superior force. Still they renewed
the attempt a third time. It was a matter of course
with the enemy, that these repeated demonstrations
should be followed by an authentic proof of hii real
debility and assumed valour. Accordingly he with-
drew all his artillery from Estella, sending it to PAlD-
peluna, and began to diminish his force in my front.
Of this I soon received certain information, which I
lost no time in communicating to you. As soon as I
perceived the enemy's confidence, which is the index
of his prosperity, lessened, I thought it my 'duty to
push on my light troops as far as Sesma and Carcar,
that I might have a better opportunity of watching
the enemy, receiving more speedy information. ani-
mating the peasantry, and the inhabitants of the
towns and villages, in order that, by their cheerfully
contributing. to the subsistence of my troops, I should'
be relieved from the necessity of resorting for supplies"
to the Castiles, and thus increasing the diffiCulty of
supplying the other divisions of the army. * T.':
" My plan was so completely successful, thatrdid '
not apply to them for a single loaf of bread dufint
all the time I remained on the left bank of the Ebro;
and as I found the enemy dismayed, and anxious' to
learn who commanded
.an army that sheaved itself
disposed to assume the offensive, I did not lose the
opportunity of making him sensible that your Excel-
lency, whose name struck him with consternation,
was its Commander. Being firmly of opinion that it
was now proffer to advance, and to depress ,core and
more the already humbled arrogance of the French,
I did not hesitate to push on to I.erin the battalion
of volunteer sharp-shooters of Cadiz, adding to them
one company of the volunteers of Catalonia, and 30
dragoons of Bourbon, under the command of Lieu-
tenant Loscertales. They were supported by the
battalion of sharp-shooters of Spain, and 30 horse of
the regiment of Spain, under the command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Gavilanes, who occupied the position
of Sesma, and five companies of the battalion of Ca-
talonian volunteers, and sixteen dragoons of Spain,
commanded by Cornet Moran, who were posted in
Cascar, under the orders of lonel D. Juan de Vil-
alba. Both posts were Instructed to support that of
Lerin, in attacking or retreating, but were cautioned
not to engage with any force greatly superior. Lerin
was a position advantageous, both from its locality
and from the reliance to be placed on the two posts
before meirioned, and the reinforcements which, if I
should not be able to afford them, might be received
• from Calahomr,•Without- any serious difficulty. With
truth resources, If;erin was nosonly advantageous
position, but was considered as impregnable, and so
well founded did this opinion appear, that nothing
could have effected the surrender of Lerin, notwith-
standing its being attacked by 6000 infantry and ca-

'leaky, and at least three
receiving at the same
pieces of artillere, but my
being menaced on my left flank,
time orders from your xxcellency to relieve Logrono
'in case of necessity, the circumstance of that point
being also threatened, and its being supposed abso-
lutely necessary to retain all the force at Calahorra,
'in order to oppose• an expected attack of the enemy.
—All this was necessary, in order to carry the posi-
tion of Lerin. The chain of posts that I had formed
upon my right, to sustain and be supported by Cala-
horra—the . supplies which, without any assistance
from the Castiles, the towns of Navarre furnished me
from the 25th to the 30th—the renewed spirit of its
inhabitants, which I electrified to such a degree, that
there were at Estella several hundreds of persons ready
to repeat the Sicilian vespers, the instant my division
should come insight of that place—the keeping open ..
of the communications along the banks of the Ebro, •
PRIVATE LETTERS.
to the right and left, with Calahorra and Logrono,
in consequence of which the whole army might have " Corunna, Nov. ta,
passed the Ebro, under my protection, whenever it "In my brief letter of this morning, I informed,
was thought proper to do so—in short, we thus lost of the arrival of two posts through the country \
the point which held in check the enemy's reconnoi-
was lately near, and I apprehend is n
w
OW actually
tring parties at Oteiza, Falces, Miranda, and Peralta, theatre
who were so effectually kept at bay, that they made
g,Th ofe
ar.
no attempt to resist us until the morning of the 26th
first post reached us on Tuesday,
ult. when the enemy, aware of all the circumstances expected confidently to receive the details of
that diminished the advantages of this position, tom- !ral engagements in Biscay, as well as of the
menced a decisive attack upon it. They threatened of the French into Logrona. It brought, .
various points at the same time, but directed their letter from Burgos ; and, of course, none from
principal attack against I.erin, the possession of that fonder, or the places nearer the seat of attic,'
being their chief object, as appears from the force they
employed, and its being personally commanded by , want of intelligence spread a general alarm.
Marshal Moncey. They threatened my left with from but means were afterwards found to quiet the
3to 4000 men in the direction of Mendavia. In these pensions of the people.
circumstances, not being able to advance in force to , „
It was said, on the authority of letters
trot far from Bur os, that an alarm had been
any of the points threatened, in consequence of your '
Excellency's orders to hold myself in readiness to g
relieve Logrono in case of necessity, I therefore did , in that
inducedthatplacethe ;an:loks
tnhat,
women,theaptthe ub
aChpofilllite I
all in my power, by endeavouring to reinforce Lorin
with a battalion of volunteers of Carmona and some
having made its appearance, the Font • •
to take flight noes, &c. ; hut that tke army s.
madura
cavalry, exclusive of the succours which were always ,
to be found in the troops of Sesma
not advance be oral Biotiesca. This exp. lusts
d
neither these succours, nor some waggons of arnniu- ;
nition, could reach the place, in consequence of the however, was not satisfactory, and reports
circumstances which your Excellency will see in the ferent kind were spread. It was said, that
original dispatches enclosed, and which were trans-
had been detected itt. the army of Castile, and
mined to me by Colonel Villalba, who commanded Central Junta had ordered all the letters
at Carcar ; and Don F. Navia, who commanded at I
Sesma. These meritorious officers, acting with deli. : the armies to be stappea and examined
beration, judgment, and due attention to my instruc- , before they were forwarded.' Much more
tions, could do no more than direct their attention to . than I choose to repeat ; for I do not think
Lerin, in order to protect the retreat of the-brave Don
copy and convey malignant calumnies.
Juan de la Cruz, who continued to maintain that post
against a decidedly superior force, with only his own 66 This I believe was the full amount of our
infantry and cavalry, and some dragoons of Bourbon, intelligence. We were confidently referred to thernik
left him by Loscei tales, when he came off to commu-
post for a full release from. our doebts and fears
nicate information.'
2
That post arrived this moniing, and our fears ad
[The dispatch then proceeds to state, that he was
doubts are but aggravated.
under the necessity of repassing the Ebro on the 27th,
leaving Lerin to its fate, the less of which place Don "This Morning's post has brought no letters( ••
Grimarest attributes to Colonel de la Cruz's neglect Burgos, nor even from Valladolid. At Lugs, ye
terday, the greatest alarmseems to have reigned. A
of his orders. He nevertheless bestows the highest
encomiums upon his gallantry, and concludes the letter from that place says, that 6 the French ter
dispatch with the following passage :]
Burgos and Valladolid, &c.' If this be correct, th
" Don Juan de la Cruz, with tke troops under his
command, began the defence of Lenin at five o'clock communication with Madrid may probably scam h
in the morning of the 26th ult. and surrendered at interrupted, as Valladolid does not lie verylitot
four o'clock in the afternoon of the 27th. They the road to the capital. The same letter adds, tell
maintained their position with the most heroic firm- the advanced posts of the English, under Getni
ness, though surrounded by 6000 infantry and ca.
BAIRD, have stopped at
valry, and attacked by three pieces of artillery, carry. Leon, and that the et
ing their resistance to the extremity of being obliged about to take possession of the passes of Cilia-
te provide themselves with ammunition from the car- i This will be a measure of infinite importance to thi
touches which they took from the dead bodies of the province, 'and not insignificant in its connection vit
enemy. This military ardour, which, more Judi- I
ciously directed, might have served as an useful ex. the general operations of the campaign.
ample—this constancy and extreme sense of honour— " I might, however, to add, that I believe thelx
this determination to shed the last drop of blood to dispatches recently received from the English hen
support the glory of the Spanish arms, ought, I am quarters at Astorga, do not confirm the more soix
sensible, to banish all recollection of his inattention to parts of the intelligence received—but I know et
orders, to immortalise him, and to cause him to be
that those dispatches are very recent. Other repel
considered as worthy of every respect and reward : for
from his misfortune we have derived.the farther ad- state that the army of Estremadura, of
vantage, that Moncey considers his triumph as a loss, tion was made a very few days ago as
having acquired it at the expence of the lives of more the relief of Burgos, has been totally defeated.
than 1000 men; andhaving been compellecl to per- s •
pantsh troops were in flight, and some'
mit them to march out with the honours of war, the
troops retaining their knapsacks, and the officers their is said, had reached Benevente. This is, .
horses, baggage and swords, and under the express the sum of the more recent current rumours.
stipulation that they shall not be sent to the North." may have magoified the evil, but there is no
MADRID, NOVENIEER 9. that a great reverse has been sustained—not
' The Secretary to the Supreme Central Junta. has
communicated to the Junta of Armament, orders for I certainly, than many who still believe in
a requisition of Horses throughout the whole king-1 success of the Spanish arms anticipated.
tom, that the army may possess a body of cavalry I " From Madrid, of course, but little into..
'corresponding to its force, and indispensable to ena- . can be derived ; yet there has been time for tie'
ble it to act with effect against the common enemy. 1
ceipt of intelligence, connected with these erect
The Resolutions for giving effect to this order run as
even from Madrid, letters of the 12th state, tloth
follnw :
" It being of the greatest importance to the success tidings had reached the metropolis, and ths
of the Spanish arms, that the corps of cavalry be. French had cut off one division of the S 1
longing to the army should be in all possible force, I at Burgos, which they entered at day-break
and the good effects being visible, which have been'
~ The other intelligence from Madrid
produced in the kingdoms of Grenada and Cordova, I
i •
by a requisition from house to house, of such horses us pleasure, if we could credit good news from
as belonged to individuals, the GoVernment has or- tenet, when things nearer us are going oft ill.
dered that this requisition be extended to the rest of are assured that in Arragon the Spaniards are
I
the nation under the following rules : ing bravely and successfully. Some act
" The Ist appoints certain Officers in all parts of
1 that the Patriot forces were pushing forward
the kingdom to place in a state of requisition all horses ,
tit for service, which are to be valued, and placed at great vigour on the side of Pampeluna.
the disposal of Government. In case of refusal to 1 " The great interest you will feel in the
comply with the requisition, certain penalties are to i of the campaign will render every other f
be inflicted." s portant. I shall therefore content myself -
Different places are then specified, where the horses I
observin
are to be collected ; and as soon as twenty or more I ,that the Central Junta has confirmed
are assembled, they are to be sent off to those corps neral BLAKE in the command of the army of •
of cavalry that are most deficient. The 9th article and appointed ROMANA to the
.command of
appoints the prices of the horses to be paid for out of centre.
the readiest funds of the different districts. ' " I have but one other circumstance to merit
This Decree is dated Aranjuez the 6th of October,
and is followed by an Order of floe Junta of Anna- and that I regret not less unpleasant than the em 4"
merit, for putting it in execution in Madrid, dated
the 3d of November. ing : the state of Sir JO/IN Moons 's army. It is inS
very sickly condition. The number of those 01'
.
NOVEMBER 11.—Orders have been issued for enrol- fined
ling all unmarried men, to complete the 2d regiment Salamanca,
and it is said he has expressed a
fined I have heard estimated at 3000.. Sir Jons is::
of Volunteers of Madrid with all expedition. The Ist
article orders a rigorous enrolment of all widowers that the later divisions of the army,
him as Mon 0
without children, and unmarried men, from the age marched from Comma, should join . _
of 17 to 36, expressing, at the same time, the number, convenient between Astorga, the present bead-qu''
of the whole, their ages, professions, and places of ters of those troops, and Salamanca, where Sitio°
abode. By the 3d and doh articles, those who are lately was.
tonsured, and the nfiviees of religious orders who have all the amide
not taken the habit above six months, are to be com-
prehended within the ballot, with certain exceptions. ' mesas of the English Generals." which het

The number to be balloted for out of the reitilitke
list is 2000 men.

SANTIAGO, (GALLICIA) NOVEMBER i,
The English troops disembarked at Coruna
be cantoned foi a few days in several lard to;,
this kingdom. Five thousand of them will copy
this city • Sand in order to entertain them in the,
that such generous friends and benefactors 4
the Magistrates of this city have published a
matien, that all the inhabitants receive them
ful friends and brothers ; and that not only their
sons be respected, but that every accommodation
afforded them in respect of lodgings and pro;
every kind. His' Excellency General Bata!)
yesterday, and was received•with music and fnewctil
by the Chapter of the Holy Church.

kEaretialMmtitlirt:eiltreilirlulnlt°ll4":l:4l4ll.7 Slt
tefactors (hien; •
'Wished a Pety, A
.
ive them as f oit6,
int only their N, ':tc'h
ccorn modatitt 't
and prof,sionsi 'l*
ral BAIkD amyl! ve
usic andflretroil ..
- i•
el,
:...
.fn
r„.s.
1 onl
Nov. 16, (Nip . su
ng, I
informedrk '.. St:
the country whic '4l
s now acttully; .
. al:
. Tuesday, and) Ong
tc . an
details of the it ip
las of the adnt , ; Itaill
ought, howettrol ed,
saet,
onfoan frontctie
tThisaz. hsanai
oral alarm It'fat ; • casi
to quiet therm. Ali
ut
. 1
yof lettersI lilt he
irm had beenn:id , • t
roach of the Ftti. • • I
the Public Alit. I, "
. the army of Et . '..
nce, the French ti ... iati
This ex p• „ far
ad reports of a, ii an'
; said, that tra.c an
Castile, and tira i . sr'
anti;
he letters' t Pc
camined at Mk: qu
uch more was st: ; 1.;
> not think it jet.: . LI
mnies.
To
mount of onr fare i te

Juier rep ri
which ma
marchingi ■
Felted.
eof them,' lit
is, I
noun. a
is no 316
—not gtegt
in the fai a
e
e informal ri
ne for thy
these eve I
:tate, that is
and dig
Spanie
!ak on& si
h
id would rs
ws from adt
g on ill.
ads are 60
accottnts
forward Wit
•
the opera
ler topic
if with situp
confirmed
my of thel
anand ni 1