Star.
London, England, 1809-01-26 00:00:00

wives and children. The Militia, therefore, owed a
debt to the country of making their services as effica-
cious as possible. He wished that, instead of allow-
ing the Militia to enter into the regular Army, they
should be allowed to extend their services generally to
every part of the United Kingdom.
Mr. CALC RAFT thought the Noble Lord seemed
to consider the raising 20,000 additional men as a light
matter, and almost a thing of course. He felt the
same difficulty, however, that had been expressed by
other gentlemen, in consenting to entrust a greater
disposable force to those hands who had managed so
badly what was under their direction. He thought
the military estimates should he laid before the House
prior to the discussion of this bill.
TheCHANCELLOR of theEXCHEQUER was
sorry that the question had gone to so great alength of
discussion. He must, however, say that there would
be no backwardness on the part of the Noble Lord or
his Majesty's Ministers, in giving the House the fullest
account which was in their power upon the subjects
which had been mentioned. If it should then be
found that the resources of the country had been
shamefully wasted, whatever judgment might be pas-
sed upon Ministers for causing this waste, still that
would be no reason why the waste should not be re-
paired. He should, however, declare that there had
been no waste ; and he was confident the House
would be of the same opinion when these matters
should come regularly before them. The Gentlemen
on the other side would have a very difficult task, if
they should endeavour to persuade the House that no.
effort should have been made by this country to aid
Spain. It they meant, however, to allow that some-
thing ought to have been done, they would have then
to point out to the House in what manner this suc-
cour would have been administered under their able
hands, if they had been in power. From the speci-
mens, however, which had been given in this way in
the debates in the present Session, his Majesty's Mi-
nisters felt undismayed at the result of such a discus-
sion. The House had already heard most curious
plans of campaigns suggested by some of those Gen-
tlemen, and perhaps they would hear some more cu-
rious in the next discussion, but he believed they had
heard nothing, nor would hear any thing from them
which would incline the House or the country to be-
lieve that more effectual aid would have been given
to Spain, if the administration of the resources of the
country were in their hands.
Mr. TIERNEY spoke at some length in explana-
tion.
Mr. ELLIOTT was sorry to see that Ministers
had no other resource, but going to the old hackneyed
scheme of robbing the Militia to recruit the regular
army. He thought those bills went to introduce an
indirect and fraudulent system of taxation into the
country : and that although Government might give
ten guineas to the balloted man, that would go but
a small way in getting a substitute.
The question being put, the House divided—For
the motioe 77—Against it 26—Majority 51.
Leave was accordingly given to bring in the Bill,
which was presented, and read a first time, and or-
dered to be read a second time on Monday next.
Adjourned.

of vengeance.—Another vessel was yesterchT
.ted to have also arrived, which left Coruna se
,ce as the. 21st inst..at which time the Spaniards, it
was stated, still continued to defend the place. We
have not been able to ascertain the truth of the latter
statement,

The following letters, received this morning, con-
tain some interesting particulars :

" PLYMOUTH DOCK, JANUARY 24.

" I now sit down to give you a few more details of
the late events in Spain. Upwards of 130 transports
have already arrived, and more are continually com-
ing in. Both officers and men look most wretched
and forlorn, and are nearly destitute of clothing and
necessaries of every description, owing to the preci-
pitate nature of their retreat. .
" Our brave fellows had beedcontinually engaged
with the enemy, from Christmas-day to Tuesday
last, fighting by day and retreating by night.
" The cavalry were all embarked prior to the ge-
neral action which took place on the 16th. On that
day the 4th, sth, 23d, 36th, 38th, 42d, 43d, 50th,
52d, 51st, and 95th Regiments of Infantry, with the
detachment of Artillery, were all that were in action.
The whole number did not exceed 7000: that of the
enemy opposed to them was at least 24,000 ; add to
which, they were seen advancing in columns, as far
as the eye could reach.
" The French force was commanded by Marshal
SOrLT. General JUNOT was also stated to have been
engaged with them, as second in command.
" Against this formidable army, our brave band
of heroes not only maintained their ground, but ab-
solutely repulsed the enemy three several times, and
drove in their lines ; but as they had such powerful
reinforcements at hand, their ranks were instantly
filled with fresh forces.—One regiment (I believe the
50th) mustered only two Ensigns and 16 privates,
after the action.

When General MOORE. fell, two Officers im-
mediately went to.his assistance, to one of whom he
Well—where are the French ?—are they still
advancing ?"••••••••••" No, General," (was the replij
" they are retreating."--6, Then I die happy," w3s
the hero's last words.

" Lady BLAKE and family landed here yesterday
from the TONNANT, and experienced the most gene-
rous treatment and humane attention from Mr. MAR-
RIOT, of the Mutton Cove Inn, at whose house they
took refreshment, and staid a considerable time.

" General BERESFORD is here, and, I am happy to
state, not wounded.
" General BAIRD is on board the BARFLEUR. The
VILLE DE PARIS is gone round to Spithead, with the
body of General MOORE.

" General ANSTRUTIII2I was buried at Corunna on
Tuesday morning last"

" PLYMOUTH, JAN. 24.

44 Came in the CANOPUS, of 84 guns, from the Me-
diterranean ; GOJIAWK, of 18 guns, from Corunna.
" The Transports that arrived here yesterday
amount to about 100 sail, the others, we understand,
are gone ep Channel with the VICTORY) of 110 guns,
destined for Portsmouth. Not many of the Trocps
are yet landed ; indeed the weather has been so bad
to-day, that if the accommodations were ready, they
could not have disembarked without much difficulty.
One of the Transports, and a sloop of war, cut their
cables this morning, and run from the Sound into
Catwater, for safety.

" The Chief Magistrate of this Borough, has this
day issued a hand-bill to convene a Meeting of the
inhabitants to-morrow, for the purpose of taking into
consideration the necessity of opening a Subscription
for the relief of the widows, and orphans of the sol-
diers that have lost their lives in the defence of Spain :
many of those unfortunate women and children are
now on board the transports here, in circumstances of
very great distress, and if we are rightly informed,
an appropriation of a subscription in the way pro-
posed, will be infinitely better bestowed, than if sent
out of the country for the use of those, who lately
refined them and their brave husbands the least
shelter or accommodation. The cases of individual
distress that occurred, during the retreat of the army
and their followers, mould fill a volume."

11411111111111111111111111.11111PrIr
the defence of the country. The country treated lical act
them as well as the regular troops, and in some in- reported
stances better, as it made a better allowance for their
- - late as 1

i.
ii
111 11
I
PI
1.
10