Star.
London, England, 1813-03-20 00:00:00

-.

•
de.; mil a Pump" Mom dm." I,b6pkos toe nte; tio. That on the 28th he arrived at the Barlkques
dons ad not consider pawners of war, aid permitted them to Isles, to watch Lisbon, when receiving considerable
land without any reitrairt." damage, and being chased by two enemy's vessels,
he sailed for the Azores, and placed himself between
=TRACT OF A liTTAR PROM SALIM, DAT= ORIVIRIDAY.
them and Madeira. That on the 17th of January be
" the; midst of a severe snow storm, a valuable
prize-ship, loaded with sugar and rum,
resolved to proceed towards Barbadoes ; and on the'
Marblehead, prise to Mr. Crowhinshiel arrived at
d's private Bth of February sailed for France ; and on his pas-
armed ship America. She has captured another vex.sage to which he took the corvette, the Linnet, of 18
sel, which has arrived at Kennebeck with timber, guns and 85 men'
comprising the-whole frames of a 74, of Quebec oak, ARMY OF THE CENTRE OF SPAIN.
from Quebec for London. Two more prizes to the Extract of a Letter to his Excellency the Minister at War, from
America are hourly looked for at Salem. Major-General Count d'Eas.on, Commander of the Army Of
" The Hornet, we understand, arrived of San Sal-
the Centre of Spain.
vador before the Constitution sailed for Boston. It
is said that there was lying at the former port a Bri-
tish sloop of•war, of S 2 guns. The latter has, it is
said, one million of dollars on board.
" We learn that the Essex frigate, Captain Por-
ter, was off the coast of Brazil, and had captured an
English sloop of war and four merchantmen."

46 Madrid, February N.
" MY Loan—General Vechery, commander, in the
province of Guadalaxara, of the 16th regiment of
light infantry, the Bth of the line, the royal foreign
legion, and the 19th of dragoons, having, on the 29th
of January, put himself in march from Guadalaxara
with about 2300 infantry and 200 horse, to go to
Siguenza, where the Empecinado had formed esta-
blishments ' • his artillery, and the battalion of the vo-
lunteers of Madrid, arrived at Siguenza in the morn-
ing of the 30th. The enemy's troops having obtain ed
information of his movement, had evacuated that
town; but not having had sufficient time to carry off
the effects which were found there, General Vechery
took about three thousand muskets, and destroyed all
their works ; and having, on the Ist of February,
put himself in pursuit of the enemy's corps, he fell in
with it near to Medina-Celi. In a very brisk action,
which took place near that town, he took the batta-
lion of volunteers of Madrid, of about one thousand
strong, of which a great number wr.re killed, and
about six hundred, among whom were twenty-nine
officers, were to be sent off to Madrid. After this
advantageous affair, General Vechery, intending to
return to Guadalaxara, to carry his prisoners thither,
was, on the 30th of February, when near to Siguenza,
attacked by the whole corps of the Empecinado, which
had been joined by those of Avril and Saornill, in the
whole making the enemy's force amount to upwards
of three thousand infantry and one thousand cavalry.
General Vechery, embarrassed by the number of his
prisoners, did not wish to enter into a general engage-
ment ; but as the enemy occupied, in great force, a
position which commanded the road he was to take,
he caused it to be carried and occupied by the 16th
light infantry, which attacked it in front, and by the
regiment of royal foreigners, which (greeted its at-
tack on the enemy's left, and caused them to suffer a
'very great loss. In this affair we took from the ene-
my a pair of colours belonging to the battalion of
Guadalaxara, about fifty soldiers, and killed a good
number of their men. General Vechery having ob-
tained possession of the position which might protect
his movement, effected it by causing his march to be
covered by the Bth of the line, which supported it
with great valour, forcing the enemy to retire every
time that he. approached too near, and on the sth of
February returned to Guadalaxara, after an expedi-
don of some days, during which he caused the enemy
a loss of upwards of I'zoo men, took 3000 muskets,
and destroyed all the works of Siguneza. In these
affairs General Vechery, whose courage, energy, and
talents, cannot be sufficiently praised, has bad his
arm shot through by a musket-ball. He praises the
troops employed under his orders, and particularly
the brave 19th dragoons, commanded by Major Bes-
sode, who rendered most important services in the
affair of the Ist. The colours of the battalion of
Madrid volunteers were taken by the Marshal Des
Logis Louis Fortier.
(Signed) K TIIE GEN. COUNT D'eat.ox.”
ARMY OF PORTUGAL.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER ON BOARD
HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP RAN DOMINGO, DATED-BERMUDA,

FEBRUARY 15.

46 We have .at last commenced our warlike prepa-
rations against the Americans. The .whole of their
ports were on the 4th instant declared in a state of
blockade by our Commander in Chief. We are re-
turned from a six-weeks cruize off New York, the
Delaware, and Chesapeake, with the Dragon, Sta-
tira, and Colibri sloop. We have taken and destroyed
during this cruize 34 sail, 16 of which we have sent
-into Bermuda. We have been joined by three line-
of-battle ships,—the Marlborough, Rear-Admiral
Cockburn; Ramilies, and Victorious, which make six
sail of the line. We expect other reinforcements."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER ON BOARD
THE MARLBOROUGH, ADMIRAL COCKBURN'S FLAG-

SHIP, DATED BERMUDA, JAN. 29:

4, During our stay at Cadiz the Gleaner arrived,
with instructions from Government, which caused
us to hoist our sails for the American coast, where
we arrived after having captured one of their ves-
sels in our passage. We found the Maidstone fri-
gate, with the Wanderer and Lauriestone sloops of
war, departing on a cruize from Bermuda ; and the
Cleopatra, /Eolus, and Belvidera frigates, with the
Fantome sloop of war, anchored in the harbour.—
We immediately proceeded to get the Marlborough
fitted for a cruize of three months, and in a few days
completed all our preparations. We are now waiting
the arrival of Admiral Warren, who will dispatch us
to the Chesapeak. Before our departure from Cadiz,
we heard of the loss of the Guerriere, but our asto-
nishment was immeasurable when we learned, at
Bermuda, that both the Macedonian and Frolic had
been added to the number of American captures.—
These disasters have created an extraordinary dili-
gence among all the seamen to accomplish themselves
in naval discipline, for heretofore the bare unfurling
of the British flag was all the warlike manceuvre re-
quired to conquer the French ships of war, or any
enemy that dared to meet us on the ocean. In many
of the British ships the polishing icons and varnish
brushes have given place to the continual exercise of
great guns, of muskets, and boarding-pikes; and many
additional modes of annoyance have beeii adopted to
retaliate upon the Americans, who, in their mode of
naval warfare. are more subtile than any maritime
people in the world. The tops of the American vessels
are filled with riflemen, and some of them carry cul-,
vcrins aloft loaded with buck shot, which sweep their
enemy's decks in close action. Box and chain shot
have been brought by them into use, and even their
wads are stuffed with small bullets. Their muskets
which are all of large calibre, carry fifteen large
buck shot beside a ball, and make tremendous havoc,
the truth of which the brave seamen of the Frolic
unfortunately can verify, All the ships here are
imitating this example, the Poictiers has constructed
eight hundred cartridges on the American plan,
and the Marlborough six. Marines are stationed
on the top, and in addition to that our Captain in-
tends to plant a couple of brass pieces on each. These
murderous arrangements will in a few weeks be car-
tied into execution against our enemies, who have the
consloation of thipking that they alone plucked down
this visitation upon their own heads.
In the mean time, the Americans have become
abundantly haughty, and, elated with their success,
they have lately launched a 74. gun ship, called the
Venus, and more are constructing with infinite expe-
dition and diligence. Unfortunately no British fri-i
gates on this station are equal in strength and ap-
pointment to the frigates of the United States, any of
whi.ch pour a heavier broadside than an English ship
of 50 guns, and their complement of men equals
that of a 74. All our frigates on this station have
had their complement increased to upwards of 300,
and warm work will have commenced before you
receive this.

...
Extracts from diffi.reat Dispatches, addressed to his Excellency
the Minister at War, by M. the General Count Reille, Com-
mander of the Army of Portugal.
" Valladolid, Feb. 2.
" MY LORD—I have the honour to inform your
Excellency of a new advantage gained over the bane
ditti. The General of Division, Foy, commanding
in Andalusia, gives me information, that on the 20th
of January, the Spanish Captain Florian, at the head
of '25 chasseurs, of Zamora, surprised, in the village
of Gracos, the Guerilla of Gando, otherwise called
the squadron of Free Hussars of Caramanchello.—
This band consisted of 60 horsemen, and 30 foot.
Captain Florian entered the Village at full gallop.—
The brigands had scarce time to mount their horses,
and fire a few pistol shots ; 21 were killed, among
whom were several officers, and ten taken, together
with 23 horses, fully equipped. Gando, who suc-
ceeded in escaping to the mountains with the rem-
nant of his band, was again fallen in with on the
26th by the same Captain Florian, at the village of
St. Juan de la Nava, and taken prisoner. Of the ,15
soldiers who were with him, 13 were killed, and the
other two taken, as were all their horses. Those
belonging to the band, who were not present in these
two affairs, come in every day to make their sub-
mission. The destruction of this Guerilla will con-
tribute very much to the tranquillity of the province
of Avila ; and is owing to the bravery and activity
of Captain Florian, whom I recommend to his Ca-
tholic Majesty. " I pray, &c.
(Signed) " Count Rear.LE.”
" Valladolid, February 17.
el MY LORD—The army of Gallicia having pushed
forward some troops to Orbego and the Lower Esla,
I charged General Sarrut to march towards Astorga
and the Baneza, and to drive the enemy's detach.
ments from thence, and protect the arrival of the
contributions, whilst General Boyer was to be simi.
larly employed in the Province of Benevento. The
last-mentioned General Officer having been informed
that the town of Benevento was occupied by 120
Galician Hussars, detached 150 Dragoons of the
11th Regiment, commanded by Captain Bureau de
Posy, with orders to make themselves masters of the'
bridge of Castro Gonzalo. This movement was well
executed. The enemy's advanced guard was in part
taken, and the remainder so closely pdrsued, that
Captain Pusy entered Benevento at the head of his
detachment along with the enemy ;—all who offered
resistance were sabred ;—of eight officers three were
killed, and five taken prisoners: thirty-eight Hussars
and seventy-three horses were also taken..— Night
favoured the enemy's flight.
" Lieut.-Coionel de la Fuerto, who commanded
this troop, thought to escape with the men ae had
still remaining, by the bridge of Santa Christina ; but
by directions of General Boyer, 50 dragoons have
been purposely sent thither, and the Lieutenant-Co-
lonel was there mortally wounded by Cal/ Ake, a dra-
goon d's/iis ai tinny-atm; gumart yfFre lOW, and

The Poictiers. and Acasta, during • their last
cruize, took and destroyed 36 vessels, among which
was the Higkflyer privateer, loaded with dollars, and
another vessel from Bourdeaux, valued at 8100,000.
The Tartarus has aiscs two prizes, extremely valuable
—but she has lost all her guns except four, and num-
bers of her men, by running aground, in an attempt
to retak: a rich prize which the American gunboats
had wrested from her. Prizes are coming into Ber-
muda in threes and fours every day, and our sailors
are anxious to be employed in the same vocation."