Star.
London, England, 1809-01-09 00:00:00

THE NEW COMEDY.
This day was published, Price Half-a-Crown,
MAN AND WIFE ; or, MORE SECRETS
iv-i• THAN ONE. A Comedy, In Five Acts. As it is per-
tanning at the Theatre-Royal, Drury-Lane.
By S. J. ARNOLD, E.
Printed for RICHARo Pnit.LIPS, No, 6t Bridge-street ; and sold
by Goddard and Chapple, Pall-mall ; Booker, Bond. street ; and
by all Booksellers in Town and Country.
Of whom may be had,
The SOLDIER'S DAUGHTER. 12th Edition. By A. Cherry,
Esq. Price 21. 6d.
The CURFEW. 7th Edition. Price 2s. 6d.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

MONDAY, JANUARY 9.

PRICE Of STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
3 per Cent. Reduced 65f 66—S per Cent. Consols 651 66
Omnium 1 dis.—Excheq. Bills Bs. pre.
PRICE OF STOCKS ON SATURDAY.

• per Cent. Red. 6656
3 per Cent. Con:. 6 ex. div.
4 per Cent. 8111
S per Cent. Navy 97ft ox. div.
Long Ann. 18 1-16th

Ornnium 1 dis.
India Bonds, 78. prem.
Ex. Bills, 59. a 69 pre.
Cons. for open. 67f

Yesterday CNA"AirI HENRY WYNDHAM, late Aid-
de-Camp to Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY, arrived at Lord
CASTLEREAGH'S Office with dispatches from Sir JOHN
MOORE, dated the 31st ult.
From the contents of these dispatches the country
has reason to be satisfied with the intrepidity and
spirit displayed by the British troops on every occa-
sion in which they have come in contact with the
enemy ; but it grieves us to state, that they fatally
confirm the fears which we have more than once ex-
pressed, that there had been a want of zeal and
energy among the Spaniards, especially in the northern
parts of the peninsula.—At a period when they ought
to have had such a force ready to join the British as
might have rendered the combined army equal, at
least in numbers, to any army which the enemy could
bring against them,- Sir JOHN Mooan found himself
left without support (excepting a small force under
General ROMANA) and the troops of the enemy mov-
ing in every direction to cut off the retreat of the
British. We consider it a fortunate circumstance
that General Mame obtained information of the
movements of the enemy in time to prevent them
from effecting their object. He instantly commenced
his retreat.
The dipatches received by Government from Sir
JOHN MooRE are dated, as we have already mention-
ed, on the 31st ult. and state-66 That he had
marched his army from Benevente to Sahagun, with
a view to attack Marshal SOULT, who was posted at
Saldanha with about 18,000 men, while he had de.l
tachments stationed along the river to the bridge
of Carrion. Sir JOHN MooRE had made his dispo-
sitions for attack on the 23d, and settled his line
of march, when he received an account that the
enemy had obtained a reinforcement from Palencia.
At the same time another account from the Mar-
quis de la ROMANA was received, stating that BONA-
PARTE was proceeding by forced marches against
his rear, from Madrid. Upon the receipt of this
intelligence, being apprehensive, that, if he even suc-
ceeded in his attack, his retreat would be exposed,
Sir J. MOORE resolved to march back to Benevente,
in the neighbourhood of which the cavalry of the
Imperial Guard had on his return already arrived.
66 It appears by the account of General LEFEBVRE,
and other French Officers, who have been made pri-
soners by the British, in some particular actions, that
on BONAPARTE being informed of Sir J. MOORE'S
advance, he immediately left Madrid, with almost
the whole of his force.
gg Sir JOHN MOORE having gained Benevente, soon
after marched to Astorga, which he reached on the
31st, and he had ordered his army to proceed to Vil-
lafranca, with a view of being able to reach the coast
if necessary.
66 Six thousand men belonging to the Marquis of
ROMANAIS army marched with Sir J. MooRE to Sa-
hagun, on their return. As they neglected to break
down the bridge at Manille, a part of the rear-guard
was taken by the. enemy's dragoons. The Marquis's
corps is by no means in good condition, and he much
complained of the indifference and want of zeal which
is unfortunately manifested by the Spaniards in the
cause of their country.
gg It appears. that in the whole course of the march

the infantry has been never engaged, but our cavalry

have had frequent actions, with invariable success.
Brigadier-General STEWART had taken about 100
prisoners, in several rencontres. On the 26th, upon
retiring from Sahagun, Lord PAGET gained informa-
tion that there were about 700 dragoons at Magorga,

on which his Lordship formed a plan to take the
whole, which to a degree failed, from the escape of
a dragoon out of a patrole, which he took prisoners ;
be was therefore reduced to attack, instead of sur_

rounding the French, but in this his Lordship com-
pletely succeeded, as he defeated the enemy with the
15th regiment, and took 160 prisoners ; and in ano-
ther action he took and killed above 100 of the enemy.
ft Besides these, several other successful attacks
were made by Brigadier-General STEWART, with the
18th Dragoons. On the 28th December, he fell in
with, and drove back the enemy's advanced guard of
cavalry. On the 29th, onr infantry having left Be-
nevente, seven squadrons of the Imperial Guard passed
the river, when they were attacked by Brigadier-Ge-
neral STEWART, with the pickets of the 18th, and
the Germans, supported by the IQth Dragoons.—

After a sharp conflict, Brigadier-General STEWART
drove them across the river, having killed above
thirty, wounded twenty-four, and taken seventy pri-
soners, among whom is the Commander of the Ca-
valry of the Imperial Guard, General LEFEBVRE,'
and a Colonel. When the French crossed the river,
three of the guns belonging to the Flying Artillery
were brought against them, and did great execution.;
On this day our loss in killed and wounded was about
50 men. Major BAGWELL was slightly wounded.
The highest praise is bestowed on the conduct
of our cavalry, who, by their discipline and valour,
have gained a complete ascendency over the enemy.
In every conflict the British have been inferior in
numbers, but in each they have proudly supported
the reputation of their country."

The French General LEFEBVRE, mentioned in the
above account, is actuallyarrived in England ; but we
must correct an erroneous opinion that has been circu-
latedin consequence, and which is easily accounted for.
His name being the same as that of the Duke of
DANTZIC, it has been reported that the latter has
been taken prisoner, but the prisoner is a different
person, viz. the French General who was defeated
by PALAFOX, at Saragossa. It was a party of the 18th
Light Dragoons, under General STEWART, one of fem
best in the service, that had this spirited rencontre.
with the enemy.

The 7th, 10th, and 15th Regiments, have also been
engaged with the enemy, and have all distingskshed
themselves by their courage, activity, and enterprizee
The affair of the 7th was extremely brilliant. Colonel
KERRISON fell in with a patrole party of the enemy,
and charged them. He killed the commanding officer
of the party with his own hand ; but after the French-
man had received his wound, he broke Colonel KPH-
BISON'S arm with the hilt of his sword. The whole of
the French party were either killed or made prisoners.
The affair of the 10th, or Prince of WALES' Regi-
ment, was also most gallant ; and Colonel LEIGH
distinguished himself in a very conspicuous stile. They
attacked a party of horse, about 200 in number, and
totally routed them.
But it would certainly have been the extreme of
madness, whatever may be the native bravery and
acquired skill of our brave warriors, to have exposed
them to a contest rendered hopeless by the vast supe-
riority of the enemy in numbers.—NAPOLLONI in per-
son, was leading about 150,000 men against Sir JOHN
MOORE'S little band, while the whole force of the Pa-
triots, by which he had been joined, did not exceed
6000 men.
It cannot, nor ought it to be concealed, that the Spa-
niards have not exerted themselves in the manner that
might have been expected from men embarked
in such a cause. In the south, to which heir army is
retreating, it is possible they may possess more energy.
If they do not, their cause is hopeless, and they must
submit to that fate which awaits every state and coun-
try that can be satisfied with half measures in their
attempts to resist the insatiable ambition of NAPOLEON.

The above dispatches were brought to Plymouth
by the CHEARFUL gun brig, after a remarkable quick
passage of 48 hours. The following letter contains
some other particulars respecting the intelligence
brought by the CHEARFUL

" PLYMOUTH DOCK, JANUARY 8.

" The CHEARFUL has made this port from Co-
runna, in the short space of forty-eight hours, and
brought over Captain Wyndham, Aid-de-Camp to
General MOORE, with dispatches for Government,
with which he immediately set off for town.
" The CHEARFUL also brought over Lieutenant-
General LEFEVRE, Commander of the Imperial Guard,
and Member of the Legion of Honour, who was
taken prisoner by Lord Naves detachment, or corps,
in an engagement which took place at Benevente,
the 28th ult. in which 500 of the enemy's cavalry
were killed and wounded, and a number taken priso-
ners. The loss on our side, lam happy to state, was
inconsiderable.

" Captain WYNDHAM lek the Commander-in-Chief
at Astorga, the 30th December, from which place, I
am sorry to say, our army were on the point of re-
tiring, to take possession of the heights of Villa
Franca, in order to secure a retreat, BONAPARTE, with
an immense army, being only three leagues in their
rear, having withdrawn his attention from every other
object, in order to cut off our troops, or else bring
them to a general engagement, under very great dis-
'advantages.
g, Captain WYNDHAM arrived at Corunna the 2d
inst. and sailed the following day.
" General LEFEBVRE did not quit the cabin during
the whole of the passage, being very sea-sick, never
having been on the salt-water before. He quitted
the French army at Madrid, the 21st ult. but was so
cautiously reserved, that it was impossible to gain any
information from him relative to the existing state of
affairs. He is most superbly dressed, with a profusion
of gold and fur trimming. He is at present at the
Globe Inn, Plymouth ; but it is said will be sent to
Reading, on his parole.

" The Cumaftur. also states, that NAPOLEON has
dispatched 40,000 troops towards Portugal."

By the CHEARFUL we have received Corunna Pa.
pers to the 4th instant. They contain no intelligence
whatever, excepting the arrival there of the French
General LEFEBVRE. They mention that no confir-
mation had been received of the reported dieter:ion of

which they had heard the night, before, and caution
the public not to credit iile rumours. From this we
may infer that accounts, perhaps etaggerated, had
been received of the retreat of the British, but these
papers give none of the particulars.