Star.
London, England, 1809-09-21 00:00:00

few days ago in some conversation at the Duke of
Poemaxo's, where Mr. CANNING made use of ex-
pressions which were deemed personal. ' A reference
was, however, made to the Duke for his testimony
of the offensive words ; and it was not t;il yesterday
that his Grace could conveniently be seen on that bu-
siness. His Grace's opinion being in unison with
Lord CASTLEREAGH'S, his Lordship sent a challenge
to Mr. CANNING, and the duel tookplace this morning.
Mr. CANNING remains at Putney. The ball passed
completely through his thigh. Lord CASTLEREAGH
set off at two o'clock this afternoon for Stanmore,
to inform Lady CASTLEREAGH.

We have been informed, and we are not without
hope that our information will prove correct, that
Minist.rs have come to the laudable determination
that the Island of Walcheren shall be immediately
evacuated.

Measures are, however, to be taken, to render Ant-
werp useless to the enemy as- a naval arsenal. To
effect this object orders have been sent to the Dock-
yard, at Portsmouth, to prepare eight line-of-battle
ships to be sent there, and then to be sunk in the dif-
ferent passages of the Scheldt. The Maida, l'Her-
cule, two more English ships, and four Danes, are
pitched upon for this service.

A letter (of which a copy has been received in
town) written at Bejar on the 10th ult. by an Officer
in the Portuguese Legion to a friend at Lisbon, re-
lates some particulars of the laborious and critical
march of Sir ROBERT WILSON and his gallant little
corps, from his station in the neighbourhood of Es-
calona towards Banos, by the circuitous route ren-
dered necessary through the unfortunate abandon.
ment of Talavera. The more important particulars
of this route have already been transmitted by Lord
WELLINGTON ; and this corps was too insulated to
know much of the general state of the campaign : yet
it is said, in this letter, that the Marquis of ROMANA
was prevented from occupying Salamanca, on ac-
count of the bridges of Toro and Zamora being cut.
One fact we learn from this letter, which is a no-
velty. The French' had forced a number of Spa-
niards to enlist in their service ; 95 of them, however.
made their escape from the Escurial, and joined the
Legion ; and could Sir ROBERT WILSON have re-
mained a day longer at Naval Corneiro, there is no
doubt that the whole body would have joined.
On one occasion, all the baggage, including the
papers and military chest, had a very narrow escape
from being seized by the enemy, and were saved only
by being conducted over the almost impracticable
pass of Valverde.
It appears that, in the beginning of last month,
while the issue of the campaign was still doubtful,
dispatches were intercepted at El Fieublo, containing,
besides instructions relative to the war, an account of
a peace having been concluded between France and
Austria, according to which the Emperor FRANCIS
had resigned all his dominions except Hungary ;-1
and it was added, that in six weeks BONAPARTE was
to be at Madrid. This intelligence appears to have
occasioned considerable uneasiness : but it is believed
that the dispatch was an artifice to precipitate the
retreat of the combined army, and to induce the Eng-
lish Commander in Chief to retire upon the naval
frontier, under the impression that all further resis-
tance to the arms of France would be in vain.

Among the Officers of the Legion, the neglect to
defend the pass of Banos, in the first instance, ap-
pears to have been considered as a most calamitous
event ; and it was understood that two days after the
battle of Talavera, Lard WELLINGTON, as well as
General CUESTA, was inclined to detach the Legion
to guard that important post; but a different decision
was afterwards adopted.
The soldiers of the Legion did the greatest credit
to their officers, &ring this exhausting and trying
march, and they appear to have been well received by
the inhabitants in the course of it.

On the 10th, the Legion arrived at Cueta de ad-
ios, where they found the enemy had murdered 54
men, besides plundering every house in the town, and
committing the most horrible excesses towards the
women.

Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, his MAJESTY arrived
from Windsor, at the Queen's Palace, and wai re.
ceived by the Dukes of , YORK, KENT, and CUMBER-
LAND. _ _ _

---
A little after two, his MAJESTY held a Private
Levee, at which the following had the honour of being
presented :
The Earl of CHATILAM, on his retain from Holland.
Colonel Lotto, Adjutant-General to the Forces under his Lord-
ship's command.
Major BRADFORD and the Hon. Captain W. N. GARDNIR,
his Lordship's Aides-de-Camp.
Colonel FRELR, on his return from commanding the Royal En-
gineers in Holland.
Lieutenant-Colonel CARET, Military Secretary to the Earl of
Chatham_!on his return.
Lord CHARLIS MANNERS, on his return from foreign service.
Major General CAMPBELL, on his appointment to the com-
mand at Gibraltar, and to take leave.
Lieutenant Colonel BIRCH, Deputy Quarter Master, and Lieu-
tenant Colonel C • rat, on their :morn front foreign service.
Lieutenant Goleta the Earl of ROSSLYN, on his return from
foreign service.
Sir WILLIAM DRUMMOED, on his return from Sicily.
etneral BaoveNatoc, Quarter Master General, op his return
front Walcheren.
Captain A. Ha awA an, R. N. on big promotion.
His MAJESTY afterwards held a Privy Council, and
gave audience to the Duke of YORTLAND and th.?. rest
' of the Cabinet Ministers.
Viscount CASTLEREAGH dW not attend the Levee
yesterday. The Duke of PORTLAND appeared t.,r) ex.
tremely infirm, that it was with die culty he made his
r.gress and egress to and from the A uclic.ace- cha r.