Star.
London, England, 1809-01-24 00:00:00

est prospects, had no sooner completed its junction
than owing to the multiplied disasters that dispersed
the native armies around us, it was left to its own re-
sources. The advance of the British corps from the
Duero, afforded the best hope that the South ofSpain
might be relieved, but this generous-effort to save the
unfortunate people, also afforded the enemy the op-
portunity of directing every effort of his numerous
troops, and concentrating all his principal resources
for the destruction of the only regular force in the
North of Spain.
You are well aware with what diligence this system
has been pursued.
These circumstances produced the necessity of
rapid and harassing marches, which had diminished
the numbers, exhausted the strength, and impaired
the equipment of the army. Notwithstanding all
those disadvantages, and those more immediately at-
tached to a defensive position, which the imperious
neetssity of covering the harbour of Corunna for a
time rendered indispensible to assume, the native
and undanined valour of British troops was never
more conspicuot's, and must have exceeded what even
your own experience Of that invaluable quality so in-
herent ,in them, may have taught you to expect.—
When every one that had an opportunity seemed to
vie in improving it, it is difficult for me, in making
this repert, to select particular instances for your ap-
probation. The corps chiefly engaged were the bri-
gades under Major Generals Lord William Bentinck,
and Manningham and Leith ; and the brigade of
Guards under. Major- General Warde.
To these officers, and the troops under their imme.
diate orders, the greatest praise is due. Major•Gene.l
ral Hill and Colonel Catlin Crauford, with their bri-
gades on the left of the position, ably supported their
advanced posts. The brunt of the action fell upon,
the 4th, 42d, 50th, and 81st regiments, with parts of
the brigade of Guards, and the 26th regiment. From
Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, Quarter-Master General,
and the Officers of the General Staff, I received the
most marked assistance. I had reason to regret, that,
the illness of Brigadier-General Clinton, Adjutant-
General, deprived me of his aid. I was indebted to
Brigadier-General Slade during the action, for a zea-
lous offer of his personal services, although the ca. i
valry were embarked.

The greater part of the fleet having gone to sea
yesterday evening, the whole being under weigh, and
the corps in the embarkation necessarily much mixed
on board, it is impossible at present to lay before you
a return of our casualties. I hope the loss in num-
bers is not so considerable as might have been ex-
pected. If I was 'bilged to form an estimate I should
say, that I believe it did not exceed in killed and
wounded from seven to eight hundred ; that of the
enemy must remain unknown, but -many circum-
stances induce me to rate it at nearly double the
above number. We have some prisoners, but I have
not been able to obtain an account of the number;
it is not, however, considerable. Several Officers of
rank have fallen or been wounded, among whom I
am only at present enabled to state the names of
Lieutenant-Colonel Napier, 92d regiment, Majors
Napier and Stanhope, 50th regiment, killed ; Lieute-
nant-Colonel Winch, 4th regiment, Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Maxwell, 26th regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel
Fane, 59th regiment, Lieutenant• Colonel Griffith,
Guards, Majors Miller and Williams, 81st regiment,
wounded.

To you, who are well acquainted with the excellent
qualities of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, I
need not expatiate on the loss the arMy and his coun-
try have sustained by his death. His fall has deprived
me of a valuable friend, to whom long experience of
his worth had sincerely attached me. But it is chiefly
on public grounds that I must lament the blow. It
will be the conversation of every one who loved or
respected his manly character, that, after conducting
the army through an arduous retreat with consum-
mate firmness, he has terminated a career of distin-
guished honour by a death that has given the enemy
additional reason to respect the name of a British
soldier. Like the immortal Wolfe, he is snatched
from his country at an early period of a life spent in
her service ; like Wolfe, his last moments were gilded
by the prospect of success, and cheared by the accla-
mations of victory ; like Wolfe also, his memory will
for ever remain sacred in that country which he sin-
cerely loved, and which he had so faithfully served.
It remains for me only to express my hope, that
you will speedily be restored to the service of your
country, and to lament the unfortunate circumstance
that removed you from your station ►n the field, and
threw the momentary command into far less able
hands. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)

JOHN HOPE, Lieut. Gen.
To Lieutenant-General Sir DAVID BAIRD,
- •
kc. &c. &c.

PRIVATE ACCOUNTS.

The following Extract of a lett* from Captain E.
P. TREGARTIIA*, of the OCEAN transport (No. 400),
gives so;ne interesing details *X the late event at and
in the vicinity of Corunna.

ii PLYMOUTH DOCK, JANUARY 22.

" Sir—The events which have been the cause of
my sudden departure from Corunna, will, I trust, be
a sufficient excuse for my returning to England with.
out convoy. The intelligence of which it falls to my

• Captain TRIGAITI3A. was with the army on Monday, and
the other particulars he derived from the officers he brought over•
bo wen engagui tidal g e whole of the salon.
. •