Star.
London, England, 1809-12-07 00:00:00

PRIVATE LETTER-CADIZ, NOVEMBER 19.

You would scarcely conceive that the Government
here would stand on trifles about arms, when they
have many regiments fit to take the field, without
having a single musket to carry to the camp. I haws
this day seen the regiment of Mazaredo paraded ; it
consisted of 1400 of the finest men I ever saw, and,
except the OfFicers, Serjeants, and Corporals, not a
man has arrns. They have here a mannfactcry of
xruskers ; it w.is begun ten months agn, lint a single
musket his yet been furnished, nrr will be fur the next
three mor.th:-., though they have expended 150,000
dollars upon it.
The present moment is, perhaps, the most criticla
for the Spanish cause of any that has occurred, both
as regards the state of parties at Seville and the situa-
tion of their armies, which are now in contact with
the French, and must have some overthrows or vic-
tories in a few days.
The Junta are both cruel and timid ; they exert
their power to stifle their fears ; they have no dread
of any conspiracy in favour of France, but they dread
those most who have been most ardent in their oppo,
sition to France.

The Marquis de Montejo, one of the first to rouse
the nation against Bonaparte, was arrested and com-
mitted to prison. Palafor, a Member of the Junta,
brother of the defender of Saragossa, has also been
. arrested, and is confined in the Convent of the Car-
thusians ; twelve officers of the guards also have been
arrested, and are confined in the prison of the Inqui-
sition with Montejo ; report mentions also the Duke
de Infantado, and Con:net, Pscsident of War, as being
prisoners, hitt from being of opposite parties to Pala-
fr.x, Ido not believe it, There are a variety of re.
ports on this siiinect, but all agree that the Junta
latow the public indignation is at its height against
I !Kan, because they are suspected of having opposed
!'le French wit! too little zeal, and of having offend-
f ,i the F..ngitil Arnhasutdor by not entering into his
1.1,er gctic. views.
1, whilst the state of pat ties at the seat of Govern.
lent is thus critical, the situation of the armies is no
4s =Q=Qi ArtC7:{l 4rICI COMP.I4:WS the army of La
tl.

Nlailcha, has undet his command 55,000 men. He
has concentrated this force at Aranjuez, and then by
forced marches to Villamaurixa, higher up, the Ta-,
gus, has got two days march nearer to Madrid than
the French, who are at Toledo. There is, however,
a small French covering army, of about 15,000 men,
between Villamaurixa and Madrid ; jibe defeat them
he will gain possession of the capital with ease.
Another army of Spaniards, under the command
of the Duke del Parque, who has formed a junction
with Ballesteros and Mandizabel, and whose whole
force amounts to about 35,000 men, has advanced to
the Escurial, four leagues north of Madrid. Thus two
Spanish armies are at equal distance from the capital,
where they hope to form a junction and cut off the
French from their supplies ; for if they succeed, the
intercourse between the French armies and France is
effectually barred. In this operation they have run
a dreadful risk ; and how it may terminate must in a
few days be decided.
The French army at Toledo, about 40,000 men,
will cut off the communication between the Spanish
armies and Andalusia, whilst another French corps
at Salamanca, about 15,000, prevents the communi-
cation betwixt the British at Badajos and the Spa-
niards under Del Parque, this curious situation in
which both hostile armies are separated from their
proper channel of supply, must lead to some great
battle, and in those contests I own I tremble for the
Spaniards, for since the battle of Baylea all their
great actions have been most miserably conducted.
If you turn to a map, you will see how critical the
situation of Spanish affairs is at this moment, and it
is probable you may hear that the Spaniards have en-
tered Madrid, or th It they have been most dreadfully
defeated.

Amidst all these operations, Lord Wellington re-
mains most wisely at Badajos, and whilst he remains
there with his unbroken force, the South of Spain will
be in a state of perfect security ; if the Spanish armies
should be defeated and dispersed, the French (who
must be thinned by the contests) will never attempt
the Sierra Morena, and the plains of Andalusia, while
the British army under the command of an officer like
Lord Wellington, whom they dread, is in a position
to attack them in front or in rear as he may think
best.

I have written from the present view of affairs; all
may be changed, Bonaparte in a few months may send
100,000 men to Spain ; he will dissipate their armies;
they will retire to the mountains, he will occupy,
perhaps, Seville, and possibly in time (but a long
time) Cadiz ; but the inhabitants will not be con-
quered, they will harass him at every step ; he will
command no more ground than his guns can reach ;
and at the end of the year another 100,000 men will
be necessary to keep the miserable conquest which he
will have gained. lam daily more convinced, that
in spite of the worst government in the world, that
of the Junta, even if these armies were all defeated,
and every strong town taken, Spain would remain
unconquered. To every political and commercial
purpose it would be dead. But there are positions
from which they could not de driven, and they would
maintain them in spite of France till better times oc-
curred. I shall write you again in a day or two,

Yesterday, soon after twelve o'clock, hit MAJESTY
arrived at the Queen's Palace, from Windsor, in his
travelling carriage, escorted by a party of light horse,
where he was received by the Dukes of YORK, KENT,
and SUSSEX. A little after two o'clock his MAJESTY
held a Private Levee.

The following had the honour of being presented
to his MAJESTY :

The Marquis of WELLLSLzT, upon his being appointed Secre.
tary of State for Foreign Affairs, and upon his return from Spain,
Lieutenant• Colonel M'Cost a a, upon his promotion.
Major Ali M 5 TRO NG, of the 50th Regiment, on his return with
the Marquis of Wellesley, from the embassy to Spain.
The I lon. Captain WA cn eoitsve, brother to Earl Waldegrave,
upon his promotion, and bringing home the dispatches from Lord
Collirgwood, by Admiral Lord Radstock.

Mr. JOHN Foams, on his return with the Marquis Wellesley,
•
from the embassy to Spain.
Captain T. SvAttvEs, Royal Navy; on which occasion he re.
ceived the honour of Knighthood.
Vice-Admiral Sir JAMES SAUMAREZ, on his return from the
Baltic.

Lord EDWARD O'BRzzi, on receiving the rank of the son of
a Marquis.

Captain Becfern, of t►e 40th Regiment, Aid-de-Camp to Bri
gadier-Gencral Browne.

Brigadier-General BROWNL, on his return from Walcheren.
Lieutenant-Colonel PEACOCK, of the 71st Regiment, on his
return from Spain Ind Walcheren.

Mr. SNOWOEN 8A:v.04 r, on his being appointed a Lord of the
Treasury.

Captain TOURIST, Noyal Navy, upon his promotion.
Captain Dynasts CAMAC, on his return with Marquis Wel-
lesley, from the embassy to Spain.
Loni Lana O'Banitt, on receiving the rank of the son of a
Marquis.

His MAIrSTY held a Privy Council, at which the
Marquis of WELLESLEY was introduced, and sworn in
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
His MAJESTY gave audience to Mr. PERCEVAL, and
the rest of the Cabinet Ministers present ; Earl BA-
THURST, who resigned the seals of office, as Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs ; Sir DAVID DUNDAS,
and Mr. M. SUTTON, the Judge Advocate, who laid
before his MAJESTY the proceedings of some Courts
Martial.

About half-past six o'clock his MansTx set off on
his return to Windsor.

Monday, the Ist division of the 52d regiment (2d
battalion) marched into Canterbury, on its route for
Fort Pitt, Chatham; the 2d division will followed
yesterday.
The 2d battalion of the Sth Foot marched yester-
day from Chichester on their route to Southampton.
Yesterday, a Court of Directors was held at the
East India House, when the under-mentioned Cap-
tains were sworn into the command of their respec-
tive ships, viz.

Captain P. Rott.Awn, Ain wick Castle--China direct.
Captain M. CRAIG, Elphinstone—Botnhay and Chinr.
—The court adjourned at six o'clock till Wednesday
next.

A foot-race of considerable interest was lately run
at Market Draton, between the Mayor and an
Alderman of that town, which was won by the
latter. At starting, betting was 6to 4 and 2to lon
the. Mayor, who was beat by about six lengths ;
It. is supposed the parties weighed at least 50 signet