Star.
London, England, 1809-09-22 00:00:00

PRIVATE LETTERS.

" Lisbon, September S.
44 The affairs in Spain proceed better, and exhibit
stronger marks of internal vigour than many persons
suppose ; so that the French will not accomplish their
purposes with all that facility which has been con-
jectured.
44 Venegas has
,just had another action with the
enemy, not extensive in its character, or important in
its effects,, but honourable to Spanish discipline and
courage.
44 You will hear many things misrepresented both
by Englishmen and Spaniards respecting the retreat
of Generals Cuesta and Wellesley. Tbis retrograde
movement was effected without either alarm or pre-
cipitation, and was the result of a consultation, in
which a deliberate view was taken of the compara-
tive strength of the armies of the allies and of the
enemy."

" Lisbon, September 7.

" What may be the present intentions of Sir Ar-
thur Wellesley, we know not. We are told his head-
quarters are now at Merida, and that he will continue
in Spain. Here all is mystery and secrecy. It is
said large reinforcements are coming out. I should
rejoice at it, if I could persuade myself that they
would do any good; but I am sorry to see English
blood, like English treasure, wasted with a profu-
sion that seems to have no bounds, and all to no
purpose.
" A curious negotiation, it is whispered, is now
going on between Mr. Villiers and Cypriano Ri-
beiro Freire, respecting the bars of silver which came
out in the Fylla frigate, on account of the British
Government. The Regency offer to receive them
on account of the subsidy we pay-them, at the usual
mint price of 6000 reit per mark—that is to say, they
want to gain a profit• of £25 per cent. although they
know the price they cost in England. Mr. Villiers
offers to pay the expence of carriage. This will not
do. If he yields to the propositions, your Govern-
ment will lose near £15,000 by the bargain. They'
see you ready and willing to give away your money
to any power, or shadow of a power, that will accept
it, and we must not wonder if they endeavour to take
advantage of your folly.
" Nothing is now said about the contribution de.
creed in June last. And why should money be col-
lected from Portuguese subjects, when your Minis-
ters chew an anxiety to have all the merit of supply-I
ing the funds for the prosecution of the war ?"

• " Corunna, September 14.
" There is nothing new hen►—all goes on well.—
We are in no dread of the French, as this province is
perfectly covered by the army, which would be aug-
mented to more than one-third of its actual force, bad
we arms for the army of reserve, which has been
trainineg for some time past.
4, A. confidential person has arrived from Madrid,
who reports that the hospitals of that city are filled
to an excess with wounded French soldiers."

I IIE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22.
TazNe. dmoNATioN.--Hosday at all the Pub& Once&

STAIN AND PORTUGAL.

We have this day inserted farther extracts from the
printed journals and private letters received by the
Lisbon Mail.—The letters were yesterday delivered
from the Post-Office. Letters from Coruna to the
date of Friday last have also arrived.
Former accounts from Corunna asserted that great
apprehensions had bpen excitei in Gallicia by the ap
proach of theFrench,who Wert said to be daily expected
at Corunna. ' This news we then considered as im-
probable, unless the army lately under ROMANA should
have suffered a defeat, of which we had not received
any account. We now learn that this army has not
been engaged. Indeed the army under Niv is at Sa-
lamanca, 300 miles from Corunna.

General VENEGAS attributes the defeat of his army
northward of La Mancha to the circumstance of the
forces under Generals Cutsri and WELLESLEY hav-
ing withdrawn westward of Talavera, without his
having been apprised of such a movement, and he
states, as the consequence of their disappearance, that
the whole force of the French was unexpectedly com-
bined against him, when his retreat became unavoid-
able. Some of his regiments were reduccd almost to

nothifig, And several of them had not a single marl.
vinis officer.
Dispatches have . been received from Lord
14.-torox, dated the sth instant. From what has been
sviffered to transpire of their contents, and from the
vittture of the rernat ks embodied in the following corn-
thunication, which V:e consider as demi.official, we
mink ourselves warranted to infer that Ministers seem
flew to consider the contest on the Peninsula as hope-
less, and that we niay hope we shall soon have it in
our power to announce the recall of our army.—

" Accounts have been received from Lord WEL'
LINGTON to the sth instant. His Lordship had then
" moved from Elvas to Badajoz ; and his army was
" so stationed as to be enabled to collect and act on
66 the shortest notice. Provisions also began to be
66 supplied in proportion to the wants of the troops.
41 The British army in the Peninsula, including the
" late reinforcement under Generals C. CRAWFUHD,
" and LIGHTBURNE, does not exceed 25,000* fighting
" men ; it may however be hereafter increased to
46 about 25,000,* including convalesceats and detach•
ments that may eventually join it.
" By these accounts we also learn, that General
66 CUESTA'S army had been reduced to nearly 20,000
" men. It originally amounted to between 37 and
66 38,000 men. He lost about 1000 in battle ; the
" rest fled from their ranks, and numbers have been
" decimated or shot for cowardice—officers as well
" as men.

" Among the instances of the want of cordial co-
" operation on the part of some of the Spanish with
66 the British army, it has been observed, that al.
66 though Andalusia might furnish 13,000 mules,
4s which they never use for their own cavalry, not
66 one was furnished to Lord WELLINGTON, to re-
" mount his cavalry.
On the latest calculation of the number of Spa-1
" nish troops now in a state of activity, it is calcu-
lated that they do not amount to more than 80,000
66 men. The French have, including Arragon, Ca-
" talonia, &c. upwards of 100,000, exclusive of
`c garrisons of the French force to the Southward,
" 30,000 are under SOULT and MORTIER from Tala-
" vera to Placentia, 25,000 under VICTOR are em-
" ployed against VENEOAS. There are 10,000 at
Salamanca under NEY, to which are to be added
" the garrisons of Madrid and Tokdo."
• One of these numhers uLust be a mistake; the first should
rlob..bl he read, 20,000.

Yesterday morning his MAJESTY, the Princesses
AUGUSTA and SormA,accompanied by LadyTHYNNE,
the Hon. Mr. G. VILLIERS, and General FITZROY,
took their usual ride in Windsor Park, and at noon
retired to the Palace.

Sir JOSEPH BANKS yesterday morning arrived at
Windsor.

Yesterday afternoon, at half past two o'clock, a
Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign Office, at
which were present the LoRD CHANCELLOR, Earls
LIVERPOOL, HARROWBY, BATHURST, CAMDEN, CHAT..
PAM, and WESTMORLAND ; Lords LEVESON GOWER,
and Mx:weave ; and the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER.

His Royal Highness the Duke of SUSSEX arrived
at the King's Head, Gloucester, on Thursday last ;
but was prevented by indisposition from proceed-
ing on his journey to Berkeley till Sunday. His
Royal. Highness was attended at Gloucester by Dr.
JIM sa.

Alderman CURTIS has purchased an uncommonly
fine Turtle for the 25th of October.

Mr. Secretary CANNING has purchased Gloucester-
Lodge, near Brornpton, late the property of the Duke
of GLOUCESTER.

Friday, the College of Glasgow gave an elegant
entertainment in the Fore Hall, to Doctor MATTHEW
BAILLIE of London. Among the company present
were, the Hon. Lord CRAIG, Sir ILAY CAMPBELL, Of
Garscube, Bart. Sir Wste MAXWELL, of Calderwood,
Batt. Wm. MacacrirALL, of Garthlaud, M. P. JAMES
WATT, Esq. of Birmingham, &c.
The annual shew of cattle and sheep at Wynnstay
was held on Friday last, and was attended by the
Duke of BEDFORD, Lords BRADFORD and ANSON,
Messrs. COKE, CREWE, CHILDE, NORTHEY, besides a
great number of the gentry and connoisseurs of Shrop.
shire, Cheshire, &c. who devote a portion of their
t. me to die rational and honourable pursuit of tracing
the various improvements which are making in the
breeds of live stock.

•
Monday se'nnight, information havingbeenreceived
at Playden, that some French Officers, on parole at
Wantage, had broken their parole, and were suspected
to be in the vicinity of Rye, a hue-and-cry was made
alter them, and two French gentlemen, bearing the
rank of Captains were taken, about ten at night, at a
bridge near Cliffs-End, by a party of the East Kent
Militia, and lodged in the guard-room of Playden
Barracks.

Baron HARDENBERG, the loyal and celebrated Mi-
nister of the unfortunate King of PRUSSIA, whom
we announced as having been restored to the confi-
dence of his sovereign, has retired, broken hearted,
from the arduous function which he had accepted.
A letter received in town from Konigsberg, which
we have seen, gives an account of the death of this
virtuous Statesman.

Mr. Storey, of Blyth, who had been fishing at sea,
returned at dusk, a few evenings since, and proceeded
home, when his two daughters, one aged 11, the other
2'2 years of age, proposed to accompany him to the
shore, in order to assist in securing the boat. The
eldest daughter and father proceedecf 'towards the
boats while the younger one stood at a distance with
a light. which suddenly disappearing, the other sister
went to ascertain the cause, when (melancholy to re-
late !) the wretched father never beheld them again in
existence. It is supposed they had got on a quicksand
at the edge of the sea, and had been thus precipitated
in. The eldest was found floating at sea on the fol,
lowing day, and the other along the shore..

•
THE DUEL.
1
We can add but little to the particulars we corn.
municated to the public yesterday, respecting the duel
between Mr. CANNING and Lord CASTLEREAGH. In
fact, it will be difficult for the public'ever to get at
the precise circumstances of the quarrel ;,.for even
the friends of one or other of the parties, or of both',
certainly misconceive the facts, if we may suppose
the opposite versions, as originating with either.
Certain it is that the quarrel arose out of the pre-
sent divisions of the Cabinet, but whether days ago,
as stated by some, or yesterday after the Levee, we
know not. We rather believe; however, that the
quarrel has been of some days standing, and has been
brooding for a much longer time,
Mr. CANNING, after the duel, was conveyed to his
villa at Brompton. Mr. HOME, the surgeon, who
was accidentally in the neighbourhood, accompanied
him home. He was visited in the afternoon by his
Crace the Duke of PORTLAND, and Lord Lord YAR-
MOUTH.

Mr. CANNING is doing very well—He is even able
to walk in the garden.

A duel, it appears, would have taken place on Wed-
nesday morning near Brighton, between Lieutenant
S—, of the Royal Artillery, and a gentleman, the
Mate of an Indiaman, but for the interposition of the
police officers, who arrested the parties the preceding
day, kept them in custody all night, and in the morn-
ing took them before the Earl of CHICHESTER, at Stan-
mer, where they were bound down in suitable penal-
ties to keep the peace.
Yesterday Colonel WARDLE preferred his bill for a
conspiracy against Mrs. CLAIMS, and the two Messrs.
WRIGHT.

Yesterday seven true bills of indictment were pre-
sented by the Grand Jury at the Old Bailey, against,
C. Rkhardron, for robbing the Post-office.
New Prison, Clerkenwell, now contains 619 priso-,
ners sent there between the Ist of July and the 20th
instant. During the aboNe period also 154 night
charges have been within. the walls ; making a total'
of 773 ! !
Yesterday morning a labouring man, in a state of
intoxication, fell into the river Fleet, near

_ Bagnigge.
Wells, and was nearly suffocated in the mud before
he could be extricated.

11 On Thurday Goldsmith, who was in the stone
quarry of Mr. Bensted, at Fant, near Maidstone, in
passing along with an iron crow on his shoulder, the
bank of the quarry gave way, which threw him down,
and the crow rolling upon his neck, killed him on the
spot. This is the fourth man who has met with a
similar fate in the same quarry, within four years.
BANK or ENGLAND.—Yesterday there was a Ge-
neral Court of Proprietors, for the purpose of decla-
ring the dividend for the last half year.
The dividend proposed by the Court of Directors
was 5 per cent and a motion was made accordingly.
- An amendment was moved and seconded, that the
dividend should be increased to 6 per cent. being at
the rate of 12 per cent. per annum.
Sir A. PIGOTT (Counsel to the Bank) resisted this
motion as an improper interference with the discretion
of the Directors. Although the strict words of the
law were, that there should be every half year a di,
vision of the profits, yet the law had so far fallen into
disuse, that it had always hitherto been left to the
judgment and discretion of the Directors, to consider
what amount of div:dend it was safe and prudent to
recommend ; and there was no instance of the Court
of Proprietors altering it.

ag it.
Mr. ItANDLEJacKsox, the seconder of the amend.
ment, relied upon the well known prosperity of the
affairs of the Bank, and saw no reason 'why the same
dividend of 12 per cent. which was made in the years
1804, 1805, and 1806, should not be made in the
present year. He was convinced that the circum-
stances of the Bank would afford it ; and, therefore,
he considered that according, to the words of the Act,
there should be a fair division of the profits among
the Proprietors every half year.

Mr. *INTHORPE said, that when the 12 per cent.
was given, it was by no means intended or considered
as a permanent dividend, but as a temporary bonus
of 5 per cent: Added to the regular dividend of 7 per
cent. He considered that a regular dividend of 10
per cent. would be more for the-advantage of the Pro-
prietors, than 12 per cent. given occasionally by way
of bonus.

Sir A. Ploorr moved the previous question on the
Amendment, which, after a long discussion, was fi-
nally carried.

The Dividend was then declared at 5 per cent. for
the half year.
Mr. JACKSON then moved, that there should be an.

addition of one per cent. to this dividend, in the way
of bonus.

This motion was resisted by Sir ARTHUR PrGOTT
and other Gentlemen, on the ground that the same
Court could not alter the dividend which had been
declared.
Mr. JACKSON cemplained of the sort of management
by which his motion was got rid of with the previous
question, by which the Court of Proprietors had been
prevented from declaring their opinion in the usual
way by ballot, whether the dividend ought not to be
increased.
After a very long conversation, the question of ad-,
journment was put and cairiedt
CORN EXCHANGE, MARK-LANE, SEPT. 22.—The
supply of Wheat this day is again extremely short,,
very few fine samples, waiting Monday's market, few
sales are effected, and those fully at last currency—
Barley likewise, and in short supply—ln Malt and
Beans little variation, very fe w of the latter—New Grey
Peas are deartr—There are some few arrivals of
Oats, and this trade is named nearly at our last quo-
tation, and Flour as our last ; fine American also,

GiNLISAL CI.I4RENCY AS UNDER{
Wbeatit'titt, 6 281.111312. 12 5.101.. 414
• Beans, 60f. 66a.
Fine d
Tick ditto, 525. 571.
Rye, 565. 60s. Oats, 30s. 34g. 375.
Barley, 445.505.04. Poland ditto, 395. 411.04,
Malt, 78s. 86. Potatoe ditto, 435. ,

White Peas (boilers) 048,903. Rape Seed, stiL to 541.
Grey ditto, 52s 575.
Pine Flour, 9Ss. 10450.-SecOnde POI. Phi


COPENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

This Theatre was again crowded at a very e
hour, and the clamour was, if possible, greater than
ever. When the band commenced the Overture to
Love in a Village, they were silenced, and
King was commanded and played : the voc.ll per.
formers were then called upon to come forth, but, a;
they did not appear, the song was suns by the au.
dience, both parties we believe joining in the chorus.
The Opera proceeded, as did the performances of
the preceding evenings, in the midst of an incessant
roar of discordant sounds. Among other instruments
of annoyance were several common horns, Barthel°.
mew Fair trumpets, rattles, and tin whistles; and, in
the lower gallery, a frying an and poker. Placards,
as before, were displayed at the sides of the boxes,
and exhibited upon sticks, to the following effect :
" BE FIRM AND UNANIMOUS, AND THEY MUST TALE
OFF THE IMPOSITION."
" GOD SAVE THE KING, AND GOD SAVE OUR POCXI7s.I9
" OLD PRICES WITHOUT MORE EVASION."
JOHN BULL. VERSUS JOHN xr.biet.x."
" Join KEMBLE hear,
JOUN BULL advises,
" If you'd keep up your fame,
" Keep down your prices."
ig OLD PRICE—NO CATALANI—DICKO\S FOR rm."
" KEMBLZ, TAKE CARE OE TIIE DUBLIN TlN:4*i."
" MAKE NO NOISE, KING JOHN'S HEAD AITCAIES"
" NO'4: QUEEN ANNE'S PRICES, BUT REASONABLE PR
WEg

IN THE REIGN OF GEORGE THE THIRD."
" RESIST IMPOSITION TO PAY ITALIAN AIRS AND
BROKEN ENGLISH."
"OLD PAY, OR NO PLAY."—" NO STACE TRICK,"
gi HARRIS WILL, KEMBLE WON'T."
" NO PRIVATE, ALIAS ANNUAL BOXES."
" NO ADVANCED PRICES—NO INSULTS—NO sow-
STREET OFFICERS."
Meanwhile the Police Officers were active in seek.
ing out those whom they considered most turbulent,
and, in some instances, they succeeded in dragging
them into the street. As, on the former nights, labels
were exhibited at all the doors at an early hour—
" House full."--Of course money was refused, while
orders continued to pour in : but, as we stated yes.
terday, the bearers of them were not faithful to the
trust in which they were engaged, as the great majo-
rity of them triumphantly joined the opposition, tm-
mediatel); on their obtaining a footing on the scene
of action.

! During this scene, a sailor placed in the freat
boxes, and displaying a paper inscribed « The 0.1
Prices," drew considerable attention. After the p1:1,
a gentle Man in the lower tier of boxes addressed the
audience with much animation, and snatching up the
placard, Jahn Bull v. Jaw Krnible, directed the ztten-
., tion of the audience to the box where KEIII3I.r. hild his
brother CHARLES were placed, charging them bdtlt
with callous indifference to the public feelin,c,:,
as he expressed it, they reclining on a ve]vez. couch,
seemed to

" Smile at the tumult an.l enjoy the storm"'
Another Gentleman to the right hand from the centre
box spoke to the same purpose, but
heard ; when Mr. LEIGil', the Gentleman 1 1 v:ao
gued the audience the preceding night, again ;.p.
peared. There- were no particular points in
speech ; he reprobated the conduct of die M.1.-agcrs
in engaging Madame CATALAN', whom 1 e repre.
tented as being at an English school, under the rod oi
Mr. KEMBLE, in order to insult a British audience,xd
fill the pockets of a Member of the French Lci';ion of
Honour. The speaker also condemned the attendance
of the Police Officers, who bad taken the liberty of
conveying persons out of the Theatre, for merely
skewing their disapprobation, which was, according to
Lard MANSFIELD'S idea of the law, a just prrogarive,
and an Englishman's birth-right. Mr. LEIGH con-
eluded by exhorting the audience to a steady opposition
to the Managers, as they had hithez to done, and a fr.;
nights more would inevitably gain them their cause.
After loud calls for the Manager, Mr. KemsLE again
appeared on the stage, and, after gaining a lie,lrixr,
he expressed his gratitude for being so indulged, and
he trusted that the audience would take into their con-
sideration his proposition on the preceding night.—
Here loud cries and hootings again prevailed,
Manager withdrew, and the House broke up in an
uproar.
A sailor was taken out of the boxes for breaking a
chandelier, and he was committed by Mr. Read.,
The determination of both parties seemed to Le not
to yield the point in dispute. We fear it will have a
serious termination. As heretofore not a syllable or
a note of the performance was heard.
There were more ladies in the Theatre last night
than on any preceding evening. About eleven o'clock
the house was completely cleared,

The new drop scene at Covent-garden is not to re•
main ; a view of Richmond is to be the grand drop. 4
The arrangement for the Lyceum Theatre for the
season is, that Colonel GREVILLE is to have one tl:'rd
of the'profits, in consideration of his licence
AItNoLD one third for the trouble of managcmen ;
and the remaining third is to go to the Truster, ci
Drury lane Theatrefor the purposes of the deed tit trust.
EXTRAORDINARY EATING.—Three palter.: jwcte
drinking together on Wednesday se'nnight, at Truro,
when one of them, for a trifling wager of five shillings,
undertook to eat the worsted stockings which the other
two had on, fried in train oil, and half a pound of
yellow soap, by way of bread to this delectable ra-
gout. Strange to tell, he won his wager ! The same
fellow once before undertook to eat as much tripe as
would make himself a jacket. He was accordingl7
measured by a tailor, and the material cut out; %Q;cit,
to the great surprise of every one, he ate up the whole
in less than 20 minutes.

Yesterday forenoon, an elderly well-dressed woman
went into one of the houses that have been injured by
the late fire in Bear-yard, Lincoln's-inn fields, and
told the woman of the house that she was wife to the
proprietor of the house, and came at his desire to see
what damage it had sustained. In consequence, the
woman took her up stairs ; when, after viewing the
house, she told the woman to get it repaired, and
requested pen and ink, that she might give her a di.
rection where to call for the amount, and while she
went below to get pen and ink, her visitor, opened
her drawers, and took out several articles, among
which were half a dozen silver table-spoons ; but the
mistress of the house immediately missing her pro-
perty, had her detained and searched, when the all-
des were found upon her, and she was immediately
carried off to Bow-street.