Star.
London, England, 1809-05-15 00:00:00

PROCLAMATION.

" Whereas Marshal Soult (who styles himself Governor of
Portugal) although is perfectly aware of the critical situation
in which I:e has y laced himself, but which he endeavours to con-
ceal from the unfor.urate troops whom he sacrifices to the bound-
less an:hiiion•of a tyrant, circulates false reports and intelligence
of the near arrival of Bonaparte, at the head of a French army of
eighty thousand men, in order to deceive the public with regard
to the dangers by which he is threatened. Marshal Beresford, in
order to undeceive the people of the north of Portugal, and the
French army, and convince them of the falsehood of the above
reports, thinks it right to publish the following intercepted letter,
written to Marshal Souk by General Kellerman, who says that
he commands the French force in Upper Spain. When it is as-
certained that a General publishes Vehoods in one case, his'army
and the public at large will know how to appreciate his accounts
on other occasions, Marshal Soult is perfectly aware of the dan
ger of his situation, but endeavours to conceal them from his
troops ; and the couriers of whose arrival he boasts, did probably
arrive from some part of the position of his corps, two or three
leagues distant. They could not at least come either from France
or Spain, his communication with these countries being entirely
intercepted.

" LETTER. FROM GENERAL RELLERMAN.

4' Sit,

Valladolid, March 31.

" His Imperial Majesty having ordered the Duke of Istria to
join him, leas entrusted me with the command of the French
fu. :es in UNer Spain. I received the letters which you wrote
hint from Berlin. I sent copies thereof to his imperial Majesty,
and the Prince of Neufchatel, and transmitted the letter whist
was addressed to the Duke, to his Highness. Marshal Bessieres set
out for Germany on the 16th instant, and the Imperial Guard,
with every person belonging to the Imperial household. On the
"Oth war against Austria watt declared ; but it is not yet known
whether the Emperor as ill proceed to the Inner Tagliamenta. My
position in Spain is rather critical; but I occupy the plain coun-
try with a considerable body of horse, although I am destitute of
intaetry. lam watching the movements of the army of Asturias,
and of the troops of Romana, who obs•ruct our communication
with the provinces they occupy. lam not able to do what I could
wish, but send strong reconnoitering parties to Braganza and Mi-
randa, and do ail I can to keep the people between this place and
Madrid in order, whom I know to be disaffected. Your brother
has arrived here, but I do not see how he will be able to rejoin as
be wishes. 'I he war in Germany, produced by the intrigues and
gold of England, cannot In.t he attended with the most dreadful
consequences for us, and must fur the present render our situa-
tion extremely critical. You cannot expect any reinforcements,
unles the Duke of Fichineen should be able to send you some, of
which I cannot judge, as'i have not the least communication with
him ; and all G:Alicia is in a state of insurrection. I send you this
letter by a person in whom I place much confidence, and who is'
w srthy of yours, &c, (Signed) KELLERMAN.
" P. S. Turkey has made peace with England ; there are in-
surrections in every part of Germany."
" Soldiers, who compose the French army, such are the re-
ports which your Cotnroander spreads among you, and such is the
true intelligence which the French Generals endeavour to con-
ceal from the people, who are so unfortunate as to be subjected
to their power.
" kkad Quarters, Tomas, April 00.
(Signed) ." W. C. BERE!VORD,
" Marshal and Commander in Chief."
AFFIL 623.---LXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM BRIGADIER
FRANCISCO DA SILVEIRA, DATED AMARANTE, APRIL 2.
" For several days past there have been skirmishes between
the advanced guards. I had receive-! notice that a considerable
Wdy of the enemy's cavalry .were on their march by Gl' zernaraco,
to take the bridge of Amarante, and cut off my retreat. I had,
however, time to ga:n the said bridge, and intrench myself on
the otbet side of the Tamega, by this means frustrating their de-
:Lens. I have been attacked on the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and
likewise on the 21st, with great force, but I have always been
able to repulse the enemy with considerable loss, and preserve
my POSitiODS. UCD preserve, &c. (Signed)
FRANCISCO DA S ILVLIRA."
Orders have been sent to Coimbra to prepare
20,000 rations of forage for 1400 horses and 500 ar-
tillery hones. Six hundred English set out from
Leiria, for Coimbra, and the next day the whole
English army took the same road. It is hoped that
by the 26th or 27th they will have entered that city.
Colonel Trant,the Governor of Coimbra, is posted
with the troops under his command on the Vougo :
his adianced-guard occupies the other bank of that
river on the road to Oporto, and has already entered,
Albergaria.
APaIL 29.—1 t is reported that a French Officer ar-
rived here yesterday, with proposals for the capitula-
tion of Oporto ; he was accompanied by an English
Colonel, and returned under a similar escort. It is
said, that the French have retired from Oporto, leav-
ing 2000 men to deliver up the town on the best terms
they can, and that they wish to put themselves under
the protection of the I)ritish, to prevent their being
assassinated by the Portuguese.
General Cradock resigned the command yesterday
to General Wellesley, and is going immediately to
Gibraltar. The troops have all marched up the
country to join the others ; the whole of them are
proceeding towards Oporto by forced marches, and
an engai,,ernent is daily expected. I believe their
head-quarters are at present at Leiria. It is generally
thought that the French in that quarter must sur-
render ; they have no communication with the main
body, and are not above 10,000 strong. We have
al:out 17,M° English, and as many Portuguese. The
French ate gre:itly distressed for provisions, and se:
veral of their fur.lging parties have been cut off. In
the South, they seem to be doing nothing ; and,
upon the whole, we think every thing is going on
well. The transports which were employed sailed
yesterday for England for more troops, and as many
merchant 4hlis as were ready took advantage of the
convoy,

TORTOSA, APRIL t.
The French, according to all appearances, intend
to abandon B;ircel-
-la, and the troops of their van-
guard are taking the dii.ectiirl of Menada, on the
• road to Gerona and Vicl:. Persons who have arrived
from that wretched city say, that they are carrying
away all the cannon from Monzaich, and destroying
every thing they can, because they intend to fly.—
Our troops will leave Tarragona to occupy Villa
Franca; 'fh.2 division (1 the Muquis de Lazan,
commanded by General Blake, is in this city. The
French ttre marching through this part of Arra&on
for Saragossa.