Star.
London, England, 1808-08-05 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

41•1•=1MINIE•••
We did hope that no Minister tinder the Crown
would have advised that the person of the Commander
in Chief, the Son of our Sovereign, should be placed
in circumstances of danger without the smallest ne-
cessity. If our army could boast no other brave and
experienced General but his ROYAL HIGHNESS, this
would be a sufficient motive for appointing him to the
Command of the British Army, destined to assist the
Spanish Patriots. But the case is otherwise. Happily
for this country, we have many excellent and tried
Generals—men no way inferior in bravery and zeal
to his ROYAL Mouses& Greater bravery, greater
ardour for the welfare of Britain, we do not believe
to be possessed by any man than by the Duke of
YORK. But as our army can boast of others also
qualified for such an important service, THE NATION
—we say THE NATION, demands that the Son
of our Sovereign be not exposed to personal danger.
We hope, whatever progress may have been made
in such an arrangement, that Ministers apd his MA-
itsrit will not turn a deaf ear to the affectionate voice
of the People in behalf of the Royal House. We hope
his Royal Highness, who cannot feel indifferent to
the wishes of the nation, will, in deference to the
public wishes, wave his pretensions to the command
,of the troops destined for Spain and Portugal.
Though we express this hope, it is proper we
should state, that in the highest circles it is reported
that his Royal Highness is actually to take the com-
mand, and that all the arrangements are now com-
pleted, among which arc the following :

The Duke of Year will command an array of 70,000 men in
Spain. .

Lord HoTcntusou is to accompany his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief to Spain in a confidential situation.
Sir SAmtzt. AUCUMUTY goes as Military Secretary to his
Royal Highness.
_ _

. _
Lieutenant Colonel GORDON retains his situation, and is to re-
main at home to transact the public business, during the Duke's

absence.
Sir Wst. M/DOWS IS to act as Commander-in-Chief at home.
A" General Field Staff" is to be appointed from Officers of
distinguished talents and notorious public merit.
The General Staff of the Army is to remain as at present.
Sir A. WttLEsLr r is itatr.ed as the Field-Adjutant-General on
the junction of the British Forces in Spain.
The Duke of CAMIIRIDGC and Lord Mats* will both be ern-
ployed with the Duke of YoR /L.
Lord PROSY is appointetf Assistant-Adjutant-General to the

Forces.
Sir D. BAIRD is at Cork, to embark in command of seven regi-
ments, now embarking at the Cove.

Sir ROBERT WILSON has obtained leave to raise a Portuguese
Legion of 5000 men.
The Guards have received orders to embark at Deal.

Yesterday morning a considerable draft was made
from the 3d Regiment of Guards, in order to supply
the place of those who have volunteered on Foreign
Service, from Chatham, Deal, Dover, &c. They will
march from town to-morrow morning.
_ .

Friday last the 4th battalion of the Ist or Royal
Regiment of Foot, embarked on board transports at
Port Seaton, for Harwich.

Part of the Staffordshire Militia is quartered at
Reading.
The Nottingham Militia have volunteered for Spain.
The West Worcester Volunteers have volunteered
into the Local Militia.
Sunday se'nnight the Hereford Division of the First
Regiment of Herefordshire Volunteer Infantry was
assembled on Widemarsh, when Colonel MATTHEWS
explained the provisions of the Act of Parliament, for
transferring the service.of volunteer corps into that of
a Local Militia. A majority of that division have
since enrolled themselves for such service, which no
doubt will be adopted by the other divisions. We are
sorry to say that on this occasion Lieutenant-Colonel
SYMONDS communicated his resignation, to the great
regret of the Corps.
Sunday the Madley Division of the First Hereford.
shire Regiment, comprising the Light and Fourth
companies, met at Madley, to determine on the pro-
priety of offering their services for Local Militia. Co-
lonel MArrnEws explained the several parts of the
Act to them, when the whole, except three Men, all
of whom assigned reasons that fully justified them in
declining, with three cheers testified their readiness to
enter" under the provisions of the Act.
A detachment of the Royal Artillery, from Can-
terbury barracks, is encamped at Herne Bay, where
they daily practise firing shot and shells on the beach.
On the 2d Battalion of the 43d Regiment of Foot
receiving orders to join the first Expedition for Spain,
all the privates and officers of the Royal Pembroke
Fusilcers, stationed at the forts off 1-11 the, volunteered
their services on the Bth ult. with that regiment, and
have received his Majesty's thanks 44 for their ho-
atourable teal and alacrity sbewn in the cause."
Extract of a letter from an Officer of r Is in the
British forces landed atFiguera, in Portugal, dated
the 19th of July :
" Here I am, landed with a battalion of Royal Marines, as
fine fellows as ever stepped the eat th. The French are, I under-
stand, advancing to attack the City of Coimbra, about 24 miles
from this place. They have only 4000 men, and the Portuguese
who defend it are nearly 18,000, of JII sorts, regulars and irre-
gulars. Coimbra is an amazirg strong and well fortified city, so
bitaated, that cannon can scarcely be brought to act against it with
6, any prospect of success. We are all ready to assist the Porto,
pew, if aant 0) but they appear In high spirits."