Star.
London, England, 1812-08-20 00:00:00

Van themselves of theitown means, end to dispose
of those which such a Government would derive
from the alliance of Great Britain. At present, the
means supplied bf England are given in such way,
that little or no advantage is derived from them.—
They are given sparingly, and destined to particular
objects, in which the Spanish Government, either
from a jealous tenacity, or from a difference of opi.
nion, take no interest. This division of Maillorca
has cost an enormous sum ; bui from the want of
energy in the Government has been kept incomplete,
until within a few weeks. The division at Alicante
has been generally 7000 men, while WOO French
established themselves within four leagues,and ranged
the country to the very walls of the town, without a
single effort being made to disturb them;'

,• SOUTH OF SPAIN.

PRIVATE LETTERS.
" ZAMA, JULY 25.
T imagine my last to you was from the bivouac
of Albuera. Either the very day I wrote to you or
the following one, we advanced and drove the Count
d'Erlon back upon the mountains near to Constan-
tin:, and in the direction of Cordova.

,g In the accomplishment of this we had not much
fighting, mere skirmishing with his rear-guard and
cavalry, and some distant cannonading, particularly
on the sth instant, when we dislodged them at Usa-
gre. Head-quarters were established at Llerena,
where there were also.two British brigades ; and the
remainder of the corps was distributed either in or
near the villages of Villa-Garcia, Usagre, Bien Ve-
• *c.

On the 9th, the corps made a night movement
upon a body of the enemy, at the village of Ayilo.
nes, four leagues in our front. Our success was,
however, but very trifling, as they had got intima-
tion of our approach. •
66 On the 20th the corps was once more put in
motion, and by a 'retrograde movement, we found
ourselves in the same lines we occupied previous to
our retiring to Albuera.
64 Llerena, and the towns in its vicinity, are con-
sequently again occupied by the enemy. In mai.
tary arrangements, it is difficult, in general, to find
out a true cause for certain movements of the troops.
none ought to knovrthe entire secret, except the lea-
der ; few ought to know half of it, if any. Thus
stumbling in the dark, some of us attribute our re-'
treat to the want of provisions among our friends the
Portuguese troops ; whilst others say, that it has,
been through pobilive orders from Lord Wellington„,l
HE not wishing to have us too forward in the South,l
whilst his game in the North remains undecided.--
True it is, however, that the enemy did not attempt]
to molest us—and that,from whatever cause we have.
retreated, it certainly has not been from their move.
ments. The number of deserters who arrive daily
'from them is astonishing.
66 On the efid we took about SO of their cavalry,
and killed as many more, in a reconnoissAnce they
thought proper to make near Ribeira. We are at
present, all expectation and anxiety ; not a word of
news, nor a single mail has arrived from Lord
Wellington for five days."

• -• • 4SIA, JULY so, 1812: 'r
." I am not long returned from. visiting Cartha.
gena, Alicant, ice. Italie a very interesting tour,
as 1 was enabled to setwith.my own eyes every thing
that was passing. It is truly lamentable how you
at home are deceived asiw the real state of things.
Ministers will not credit the plain statement of honest
well informed people ; and no wonder, when every
thing like truth is driven from the door. Our agents.
are full of deception and of gross misrepresentation.
It is their livelihood to be so, and they are credited.
You can, have no conception of the miserable state
of the country, and of the anarchy of the Govern-
nient. Even here, on their own locality, neither the
Regency nor the Cortes have much influence : else-
where they have none. Every authority acts for it-
self, and plunder is the order of the day with every
public officer. No where is there any revenue ; our
Gibraltar smugglers have destroyed what little there
was remaining. England must furnish, must de
every thing. Of our supplies not one third is pro-
perly applied. The state of Spanish affairs is not to
be told, much less to come in the compass of a letter.
—The Spanish corps that are in exis.ence, devastate.
worse than the enemy : they raise contributions on
the country where they are, without affording it the'
least protection ; as the French, with very infejlor
force, carry away the harvest in their very presence.
.From what I saw and learnt I am persuaded that
every account that the Spaniards give of having ob..
tained an advantage, is false—they have rather sus.
tained a defe'at. Fifty French dragoons awe a whole
district. While I was there, General Harishe came
with only 1200 'men into Huerta of Merci., and
quietly loaded and sent off 2000 mules, while Mr.
O'Donnel had, within 18 miles of him, 11,000 men,
and Mr. Roche at Alicant, only 12 miles, with 6000
men ; yet neither dared molest him. When he had
done his work, and was retiring, then came on Mr.
,O'Donnel, who wrote to General Ross that " he had
driven away the enemy," with this particular expres-
sion. I have letters down to the 10th, from Alicant,
which tell me that the French have again been in the
Huerta, and kladed another thousand mules, and
that they had sent the sacks back, with their compli-
ments, as having no farther use for them. When at
Alicant, r accompanied Mr. Roche in a deawastratien,
or reconnoissance. I never beheld any thing morel
laughable ; I there saw French agents publicly buying
and sending away wheat from the Mole, and with
use secret permission of the Governor. Out our Go-
vernment is as bad with their licences, who permit
Soult to be supplied with meslicine,chests and surgical
ipsuoments from England. We are au jobber,.—
From Gibraltar I visited 'Mr. Ballasteros at his then
bead-quarters at Algesiras, and saw his army, It is
truly laughable how we have been humbugged as to
tbis Gentleman: be is 4 good bold fellow, and nothing
' more, equal to command 1000 or 1200 men ; he is
destroyed with his present large force, which he was
not able to subsist, as we were daily sending him 20
itarrels of flour from our stores of the rock.
s, The bombardment of Cadiz is now become very
serious, not from the mischiet done by the shells, but
from the alarm they create, hardly Itr leaner of the
_town b. ing secure howl them. Ilsvy Apw range
Where people had fled tor refuge....Thspi i4arly
a stagnation of trade, the ,Mote arid Custom-house
lacing Coatiete4 up ed to 0fP7.4 lie is 44 the fie-