Star.
London, England, 1809-10-12 00:00:00

BATTLE OF ALCABON.

On the morning of the 26th, the advanced guard
of the Ist corps met a few cavalry at Torrijos, whom
it pursued. They retreated upon Alcabon, by the
defile of Oliveras. The enemy had formed in the
plain of Alcabon ; his right was appuie'd upon the
Chapel of Domingo, and his left on the road of Do-
mingo Perrez. He presented 2000 cavalry, supported
by six pieces of cannon. All the cavalry commanded
by General Latour Maubourg formed parallel to the
enemy's line, and marched up to it ; the latter main-
tained itself for some time in its position, but as soon
as it saw the columns of infantry advahce, it began
to retreat. Gen. Latour Maubourg caused it to be
closely pursued.' At the defile of Alcabon, an en-
gagement of cavalry took place, under the direction
of Gen. Merlin, commanding the light cavalry of the
army, in which the dragoons of Villaviciosa were
completely destroyed by the 2d hussars, and a squa-
dron of the .sth chasseurs. Gen. Beaumont, who com-
manded this charge, executed it with skill and bravery.
This General was ably seconded by Col. Bonnemain,
commanding the sth horse chasseurs, and the chef
ireicadron, Huhini de Soubise, commanding, the 2d
hussars. The destruction of the dragoons at Villavi- ,
ciosa struck great terror into the rest of the enemy's,
and, from thaemoment, they thought only of retreat-
ing. The ground was rugged and intersected by ra-
vines, which prevented this corps front being entitely
destroyed. It was commanded by Zagas, and formed
the advanced guard of Cuesta's army.
The next day (the 27th) the imperial army ad-
vanced upon Talavera ; Cuesta's army had retreated
along the right bank of the Alberche, and joined the
English army near Talavera.
M.anwhile, the advanced guard of the English
army, composed of a corps of about 10,000 men,
who had passed the 26th at Casalegas, had marched
forward to cover the retreat of Cuesta's army ; this
advanced guard was met by the cavalry of the first
corps, and, after a few cannon shot, it retired
.preci-
pitately along the right bank of the Alberche.
The first corps had concentrated itself on the plain
above the Alberche, at one P.M. The 4th corps and
the reserve successively arrived. From the plain of
the Alberche were perceived movements of troops on
the plains in the rear, and to the North of Talavera ;
but the force and disposition of the enemy's army
could not be ascertained, the intervening space be-
tween the Alberche and Talavera, and the plain
above that town being covered with olive trees, and
oak woods. It was by favour of these woods that
the enemy masked his dispositions.
The Duke of Belluno, who hal passed over the
ground on which the enemy was manctuvring, obser-
ved to your Majesty, that this army, instead of re-
treating, as some imagined, was taking a position, its
right supported upon Talavera, and its left on the
mountain which answers to the hollow of Tietar.—
This position is fortified by a hill, which, toward the
East, presents a very steep declivity, and which, sink-
, ing towards the Vest, by a much more gentle slope,
Tans a range of hillocks, extending in the direction of
Talavera. Between the principal hillock and the
mountain is a valley about three hundred fathoms in
breadth. Here commences a ravine, which runs from
north to south, and which, covering the enemy's left
and centre, terminates in the valley of Talavera, at
the beginning of the olive trees, on which the enemy's
right was supported. This right had in its tront vari-
ous incidents of ground, of which the enemy availed
In-Itself, either .by constructing works, or forming
abuttis, to render it the more difficult to come at him.
—Two easy roads, passable for artillery, lead from
the Alberche to the enemy's position. One is the
high road front Talavera ; the other commences at
Casa del Campo de Salinas : you follow it for half a
league in a forest of oaks, and to get to it you must
ford fhe Alberche, below Casalegas.
A few musket-shot fired on the right of the army,
and the dust which was observed rising from the forest
of oaks, in the direction of Casa de Salhpts, caused it
to be presumed that the enemy had there a corps of
his advanced guard. Your Majesty, in consequence,
ordered Marshal the Duke of Belluno to ford the Al-
berche, and attack the advanced guard of the hostile
army. The Marshal immediately complied with
your Majesty's commands.
The division of General Lapisse advanced upon
Casa de Salinas. General Ruffin's division was di-
rected to support, on the right, the movement of that
of General Lapisse. The 16th light infantry, which
headed the division of the latter, soon opened a fire
of musketry, which was briskly kept up for an hour.
The enemy had at this point six thousand men, sup-
p-,rted by four pieces of cannon; he was nevertheless ,
obliged to retreat. General Chaudron Rousseau, who
directed the 16th regiment, judiciously took advan-
tne of a spot, not so much covered with trees, *ld or-

LONDON.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
S per Cent. Cons. for money 6822--account
Omnium 1 prem.—Excheq. Bills, 6s. 12s. rem.
PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY.

Bank Stock 2.601: India Bonds 235. 245. pr.
3 per Cent. Red. 6711 Excheq. Bills, 7s. 14s. pre.
3 per Cent. Cons. 6ttit Omniurn 1 prem.
4 per Cent. 821} State Lottery Tickets £2l 17s.
A per Cent. Navy 99f I City ditto Xtl. 16s.
Bank Ling 4nn. 13i 7-16 Cotta. fur acc. 68i
India Stock 18si •

Dispatches were last night received from the Mar-
quis WELLESLEY, brought to Plymouth by the GOLD-
FINCH, of 18 guns, in 21 days, from Cadiz.

Yesterday' w. laid before our -Readers some curious
Notes by the Editor of the Mo,,iteur, on different para-
graphs copied from London Newspapers. By many
these Notes are believed to be the production of NA-
POLEON himself—certain we are, they have his appro-
bation, which makes them doubly interesting. One
of our contemporaries says they are " such as might be
expected from a writer who take: for his model the pro-
ductions of the riscrloos Journals of London."—The
writer certainly thought this allusion exceedingly
neat ! In return for the compliment we shall only
remark, that the English Journals commented on in
the Monitcur, were The Globe, The Star, and though
last not least, THE LONDON GAZETTE ! !

Among other paragraphs of the STAR, commented
on hi the Moniteur, was one which we_shall transcribe
as a specimen of the faetiour paragraphs, that some-
times appear in our columns.

After mentioning, in our paper of the 21 ult, that
our army was embarking at Flushing to return to
England, leaving only a sufficient force for the re-
tention of Walcheren, we added :
" All the ulterior objects of the Expedition have of oourse been
abandoned; and we have no hesitation in saying, that all prudent
men will praise Ministers for their conduct in not attempting ob-
jects which, from the change of circumstances which has taken
place since the the expedition was planned, could nit have Wee

obtained without an maws or lives far beyond their value.
Sw, 2dSetteidosr.
' On the above paragraph, the /Iron/kw of the 3(
ult. gives the following Note :

to Certainly Ministers ought to be praised for
nouncing the Expedition ; but they must be blam,
for undertaking it': without doubt, they Inns/
praised for their intention of evacuating Flusiiii
but they ought to be blamed for not sooner ahandl
ing it. —While the unhealthy season continues,
French will not attack the English—and while tl
are 12 or 1.5,000 English troops in Walcheren, tl
:
cannot be sent into Spain. If they remain in ,
island during the month of November, they
lose at least 3000 men, and more than Iwo
fall sick : even supposing that they return. to Ei
land, they will return enfeebled by diselQ,
ind
linger out the winter in a tedious corr,ki ~c .nee.
The foolish plans of the Br:tish Ministry fur..:-.hiral
with a very convenient method of fiening
enemies !"

At a late hour last night we received Datclt r
to the 7th instant, containing Paris news to the

instant.

So late as the 24th ult. nothin7 wits knoTr,
Vienna respecting thz. state of the
ing on at Altenburgh.

Frcm the respective positions of the two arr:l,
would appear that the Austrians are more an-i(
maintain their communication with Hungary
licia, than the Hereditary States. Their rtia;n f
is on the right bank of the Danube, where t! er
are not less numerous. The French arm:- Au;
Bavaria, and Saxony, is computed at 300" C 7:,
of which not more than one-fifth, we should
occupy the two latter kingdoms.
Notwithstanding the uncertainty of the issae r
negotiation, expectations were entertained at Li
the speedy arrival of EONAPARTE in that ety.
Mayor had even invited the young men to lei
guard of honour fcr him.
A vessel has arrived in the River from Nordel
East Friesland, after a •hort passage. The Cal
says, that before he sailed it was reported tint
ral BLUCHER, at the head a strong Prussian a?
bad taken possession of Westphalia ; that IN,
of PRUSSIA had marched from Memel at the brat
60,000 men ; and that Russia had joined the Em
ror FRANCIS in the war against France ; but letter
the 7th instant, received yesterday from Holland
totally silent upon the subject, and no credit i!
tacked to the Captain's statement.

Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, his M tsErry
rived at the Queen's house, from 'Windsor, and
received.by the Dukes of YORK and CUM3.JtI..IN
Soon after two o'clock, his MAJESTY held a pr
Levee, which was attended by—
The ArchbFshop of Canterbury, the First Lord of ae
sury, the S,2cretart+s of State for the Home'and Foreign 1
inent.c the Master General of the Ordnance, the Lc
the Admiralty, the Secretary at War, the Presilem o. ch ;
of Controul, the Lord Mayor of London, the lieritr, of i.(
and Middlesex, the Ccraniander in Chief, the Judge
the Duke of Montrose, the Earl :. Visco.t.,t
rash; Lords St. Helens :1..) _ud Heathfield
Sirs S. Cotterel, S. flaJd, S. Smith, and J. 'Fre ;
-Campbell and M‘Letsd; Colonel (I)r,len ; Captain Pi '•;,
Messrs. the Honourable FtAfrick West (Groom, in wa.
Fawkener, and Cannir7.

•
The fnllowirr . lad the honour of being Fes;
to his MAJEs:i' :
The Ear! of tarneitsit, upon-his bein' &matted bi
jenny's ••:-;....,ry of State for Foreign Affair:, whiet
he 111 ' the honour to kiss his Majest,'s hand, and his
sva pleased to deliver to him the seal: of office.
Brigadier General Casten:Le, upon hi.: return from
The gallant General received a wound in the low r
right thigh, hi the last battle in that coantry, and he txper
some difficulty in :letting in and otic cot tf e Palace. i.t cans
Sir SAMUEL HOOD, up:in his bring mat:A a B.trnii,t.
Hon. Baronet at the same time took leave of his Mai vs; y, pet
to his departure for the Me.!it -mann.
d.ioutimatit Colonel CJ at rt, upon his being appalated
mis,ary General.
Brigadier-General M‘l..con, upon his return from Wald
Sir Jon N TV BELL, upon his beteg crealecta Baronet,
Earl of Sandwich.

Captain Pao BY, R.N. upon his being appointed to the
mend ft. the his, by Sir Samuel
Sir St aNEY SMITH, upon u.arnage to Ludy Rumba
The Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, Messrs. 1,1"0,.
ATKIN3, upon their thicti:n to their office, ht. L
VISCOUIIt CASTLEREAGH had an audience t:
MA.ILSTY, and delivered up his se.ils of office a
ovary of State for the War a:id Colonial
meats..

Mr. CANNING had also an audience of his M
and delivered up his seals of office as Secret.,
State for Foreign Affairs.
His MAJESTY held a Privy Council, at chic
Earl of BATHURST was sworn iu Secietary of
fur Foreign Affairs.
His MAJESTY Save audience to Mr. PrncEvAi
rest of the Cabinet. Ministers present, Sir DAVID.
DAS and Mr. R rnEa, who laid before his MA.
the proceedings of some Courts Martial.
Yesterday the QUEEN and Princess AUGUSTA
with the Princess ELIZABETH; at her cottage i
Windsor.

The remains of Sir ELIJAII IMPEY were on it
removed from Newick, to be interred at Hair
smith.
We have received a communication from a
mercial House of great respectability, of whic]
following is the substance :
" An American friend who is arrived in London this after
(Wednesday) assures me that he embarked on board the Ma
in the river Charente; that he was afterwards shipwrecked
coast of France, where he fortunately escaped, and got ol
Pappenburg vessel, from whence he landed at Broad-stairs,
his departure from the French coast, there were partial rejo
which he was assured were on account of a Friall'y and Cr
vial Treaty, having been just signed between the ,louTi,
theFrensd Ministers."

Fitt::.—Friday morning a fire broke nut vt M
Strong and Strachan's varnish manufactory, at I
gerstone,in consequence clone of their
pots explod
which destroyed the factory part of the premises •
from the presence of mind of Mr. Strong, and tiu
from Sparlc4's Cir.mical Laboratory adjoining, v.
to the amount of some thouiand pounds.wAssar

THE ARMY.

Yesterday another division of the 15th tragoo' ns
pasied through the metropolis on their way to Ports-
miuth for embarkation.
The First Somerset Militia marched into Franckfort
barracks on Tuesday last from the Berryhead, in the
room of the West Essex Militia, who have removed
pto Mill Bay Barracks.

INTELLIGENCE.

FALMOUTH, OCTOBER 9.
,vs3.crday arrived his Majesty's brig GOLDFINCH,
,uns, from Cadiz, twenty-one days passage ; she
ilru`ied a Messenger with dispatches for Government.
Espress packet, with mails from England, was
,;:e arrived at Cadiz.—Put in here last evening, by
cwittary wind, the ENDEAVOUR armed brig, with 11
S. of colliers, bound to the Eastward ; and this day
the 5E4) Phomix, Capt. Clasp, from Rio de la Plata,
54 jays passage, bound to London, with specie and
tallow on board.—Also arrived the,brig Betsey, Cap-
tain Muss, from Bristol, to wait convoy for Malta ;
:Tcl a French brig, laden with timber, prize to his
I.iicsty's brig CADMUS, of 18 guns, for Plymouth.—
The packets, with the different months mails, are still
iellined.—Wind strong at East.

PLYMOUTH-DOCK, OCTOBER 10.
Came in two transports, with horses and baggage,
porn Walcheren. The men who have arrived here
from thence look wretchedly emaciated and sickly.—
Arrived the Gleaner hired ketch, from an unsuccess-
cruize, off the Start, after French privateers ; the
saadwich hired lugger, from Guernsey ; and the
Block Joke lugger, of ten guns, from the Eastward.
...-The Pickle brig of war sailed in the night, with
&notches for Gibraltar, Sir Aim; STUART, and Lord
CouffGwoon.—lt has blown a violent gale at East
C.::;ng the whole day, and continues to increase in
«i: fierce.—Sailed the Atlas, Ai RE, for Cadiz.

PORTSMOUTH, OCTOBER 11.
n'thing arrived or sailed to.day.—Wind E.

DEAL, OCTOBER i t.
time dowß from the river the Dunmore, IVlrrcitELL,
Ncx Providence.—Arrived the ROLLA sloop of
•r;,;, and Countess of Elgin and Speculator luggers,
Eushing.—Wind E. blows hard.

YARMOUTH, OCTOBER
"..:tired from Heligoland the Paz schooner, and
Viow Calipso, SVIM MIER Master, off and from
c; den, with oats, bound to London, detained and
sc.t in by the BLAZER gun-brig ; also arrived, fivm
Thrth'ug, the Favourite transport, Wm. CLARK ; but
hc brought nothing new.—Wind E.
to t!le Roads—The Roebuck, Calypso, Havoc, Ephira, Paz
11.:nner, Spightly, and Eritish Fair, cutters.
CHATHAM, OCTOBER R.

The r7glt!.will be put out of dock to-morrow, and the Crown
will he taken in !me stead. Tim Cynthia has been taken
itto :hi: bacon, to he broken up, which is nearly effected. The
ardered to be fitted for the Scheldt arc stopped, and two of
that. the Canada and Diadem, are to be fitted for prison ships.
*!:e ommander of the Bristol, Lient.RICHARD SINMONS, is
114-• :.ted to the Glory, and has accordingly hoisted his pendant
her, and a great number of prisoners have been sent to
Iff te9tu the other ships, which art uncommonly erowded.—J.
t • .1:1. is appointed to the Bris•nl.—Mr. RYA!" formerly
r!. Ow Royal Hospital, Plymouth, and late of the Sandwich, is
etipititol Surgeon of the ( lo y.
The sickness does not p: evail among the military in these bar-
tacks to the ectent it did of late.

FROM LLOYD'S LIST.

GPAVE'END, OCTOBER 11. - No vessels arrived to-day.—
Saki the Fortuna, Olkert, for Gottenburi,l ; and the New Union,
Goi!L:1, far liushir.;,.

Pat' Marianne, from Charante, is wrecked on the coast of
Fr....,.

Resolution, Walker, from Quebec, arrived at Scilly, botind
to 1.0u.:0n, fell in with a privateer, six leagues from Scilly, at
sin. fired tour guns, the privateer then hauled off. A sloop
; r t'aen hove In sight, and went in chace, and having a fine
krt' (rem t!ie S. F. there was every hope she would be captured.
1 he :renal of the Ann, James, from Jamaica to Cork, bound
:.5 stated a few days ago is premature.

-71 w following vessels were sent into Yarmouth by
11:-: North Sea crui•rers :

G‘.brockr,, of and frotn I larnburgh, to Heligoland,
11‘:01, l'Aimalsle frigate ; Vrow Antje, of and from Varel,
" 3 F.Roclof master, with goods, by the Camilla bloop
:Id the Endraght, of and from Noorden, Jansen master,
and linen, by the Censor, Lieut. Rowe. The latter
I,arted, and the wind blowing on the shore, she came
:!,„tch, where .he will be a wreck : the crew are saved,
:he great,..i, pa: t of her c.ovi, which is putting into the

• I

ARRIVAI S.
•I. Peggy, shwood, from Boston. Off Liver-
•
•' Holder, fet,ro Nevi.. At Londonderry, the
• ..........r: e, COrbili, from New York. At New 8111111-
• elt Curee, from Jamaica; and Mary Ann,
Net: At Newry, the Lovely Kate, Lewis, from
-;:1)'-‘1(" At the Louisa, llerberg, from Gottenhurgh
Cl..rk, from New York. At Liverpool, the
A!;rer, from New York ; and Ocean, Leech, from Gib-
. Cork, the William, --, from Quebec ; and the
Cr:ohy, frJaS. St. Domingo. At Milford, the Eliza,
Quebec. At Leith, the Pomona, Deck, from Got-
, and the Oak, Mason, from Cadiz. At Oporto, the
'Alward, li-rpet, from Plymouth ; and ElLort, Tweedy, front

•cr.