Star.
London, England, 1811-07-13 00:00:00

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POLITItta CeItJLESPONDZNCE.
A letter has appeire4 •
Dublin paper, froin Mr.
Cusaix to Mr. Casa?ssi, in whiCh some curious de.
tails are gives' with regard to the appointment of Mr.
CURRAN to the of ice of Master of the Rolls in Ireland, '
and the circumstances Akidi which it was attended.
Mr. Consult, m the commencement of his letter,
ifter stating to his friend, that the detail he was about I
to give was imperiously called for by the aspersions
which had Iwo thrown on his character, proceeds—
" You will remember the state sit Ireland in 1789: and the i
necessity under which we found ourselves, of forming some bond
ot hooourable connexion, by which the co-operation of even a
small number might be secured, iu maklog same effort to stein i
that current with was carrying eVery thing before It. For that
purpose our little party was fornied—it consietta of yourself, the
Duke sit Lobster (that excellent Irishman), the late Lord Pon-
soulty, Me. B. Doty, Mr. G. Ponsonby, Mr Forbes, myself, and
some very few ethers. It may not he for us to pronounce enco-
:mums upon it, but we are entitled to say; that had it been as sac-
ceatful as it was honest,we might now look back to it with some
degree ot satisfacuon. The reason (tinny adverting to it is, that,
under tke sanction of dist party, and in Its presence, it was agreed
between Mr. G. Ponsonby at d me, that tf any circumstances
should arise, under which it might be honourably open to us to
accept office, it should be on the-terms of his tusking the first,
and my taking the second place us ;he course of professional ad-
Vancement. chat this Was no paltry compact, with any view to
the attainment of preferment, was obvious, for either of us could
at any time command it ; it se as solely a pledge toetcure our co-
operation and perseverance in what we deemed our public duty,
With what fidelity I adhered to every part of the engagements we
then formed, you well know; and you alsoknow at what sacrifices,
aud under what protessiona. penecution,and what impett.able and
successtul attacks upon my person ,my character, and my furtnne.
1 so acted as to be fully entitled to perfect reciprocity of good faith,
and to consider the perlorinance of the personal part of the com-
pact, as a nutter, not of favuur,but of right, which! might receive
like the payment of any common debt, without being crushen.by
the humwattng sensation that I must have felt, if my debeori by
such payment, could become my patron or benefactor. Upon shut
basis of this compact, which was always publicly known, and
adopted by Lord kitzwilliam in 1795, Mr. G. Ponsonby was then
!annulated to the cake of Attorney-General, I to the place of So-
licitur.tienetal. The completion of that arrangement was pre-
vented by the change of Irish Administration ; the compact itself
continued, and with increased force, (if by the continued (deity
of observance, a compact can be susceptible of accessional obliga-
tion) till the late chauge in 1806. On that occasion I was the
(Iny interested member of that party that remained in Iteland.
I did not write to any of my friends then in London ; not to Lord
Ponsonby ; not even to you. I knew your zeal for my- interest ;
I knew the fnendshsp sad purity of Lord Ponsonby-1 was sen-
sible of the warm protection ot Mr. lox, to which I had no claim,
stye what might be suggested to a noble and generous spirit,
like his, by my conduct as a public man ; I knew, also' the pro-
tiction my interests would have found in Lord Moire, Lord Er-
stine, or Lord Howick, had such protection been necessary. I
Mt Ho solicitude for myself; I remained at home; the event jus-
tified my confidence. Mr. G. Ponsonby accepted the Seals; a
proof, of its. lf, that I most have been appointed to the next at-
tainable situation. that next situation could be no other than the
ufice of Attorney-General; it was the only place in the power
of the new Adnuitistratien to vacate; front its official rank in the
Government, it was the natural passage to that place on the
King's Bench, to which, as next in professional advancement, I
bad a right to succeed. But on this fact I was nut left to conjec-
tare. I was apprised by letter from you, and also Mr. G. leon-
sunby, dial my interests had been taken care of; Mr. Ponsonby
commuuicated the same to a relation of mine' then in London ;
directing Rita to inform me that my place as Attorney-General
was fixed, and that my coming over would be but unnecessary
trouble.
" The Duke of Bedford soon after arrived in Ireland; and Mr.
G. Ponsouby, as Chancellor, became an Irish Minister. At our
first meeting, he assured me, somewhat in the stile of his previous
letter, that my friends had- not been unmindful of me, and that
I would find every thing perfeitly to my satisfaction. In a few
days, however, 1 learned the Duke of Bedford had sent for Mr.
Plunkett, the then Attorney-General, and assured him that he
was not to be removed. It soon appeared that the report was
trbe. To mg titc fact was incomprehensible. Mr. G. Ponsonby
• left it in all its darkness ; for when we met, which was only by ac-
: cident, be was silent upon the subject. I soon received a letter
from Lord Pensonliy, then confined in London, by that sickness
Which was aeon to terminate his valuable life ; it was conceived
in such terms as might be expected from the friendship and honour
of the writer. He expressed indignation at the delay which had
taken place in effecting that arrangement, which he had consider-
ed conclusively settled', desiring most anxiously to have It ex-
plained. I his letter I chewed to Mr. Ponsonby ; but without
receiving any explanation whatsoever, I wrote to Lord Pcnsonby
such an answer, as he had a right to expect from the affection of
a man, to whom he had endeared himself.hy so persevering a
fidelity, and by the uninterrupted friendship of so many years;
such facts as I knew. I stated; but I had nu explanation to give.
It would be affectation in me to say, that ueder these circum
stances, I *as perfectly at ease. I might despise the triumph of my
enemies : I could not be insensible to such coldness from a friend.
" After a lapse of some weeks I waited on the Duke ofßed-
ford, by his Gi ace's desire: he apprised me that I was to be
Master of the Roth, as soon as the necessary arrangements were
• effected. You may easily judge of my feelings on this commu-
nication : but it was the firsi. time I had ever seen the Duke of
Bedford; I had no shadow of claim upon his Grace ; he was not
the person to whom I could complain, that I was humbled or ill-
treated; I barely said that " I was grateful to his Grace for the
courtesy of the communication ;" and retired with an almost de-
aided purpose to decline the appointment. 'lbis substitution I
considerod a direct departure from the compact with Mr. G.
Vonsonby, and accompanied by the aggravation of withholding
that consultation and explanation, without which, and with-
out my own express convent, I ought not to have been so dispos-
ed of. As to tpe place itself, it was the last 1 sbauid have chosen ;
it imposed upon me a change of all my habits of life; It forced
racy mind into a new course of thinking, and into new modes of ;
labour, and that increased labour ; it removed me from that in- 1
tellectual exercise which custom and temper had rendered easy
sad pleasant; it excluded me from the enjoyment of the honest 1
gratification of an official share in an administration which i then
thought would have consisted principally, if not altogether, oldie
tried friends of Ireland. When the party with which I bad acted
• so fairly, had, after so long a proscription, come at List to their
natural place, I did not expect to,have beenstack into a window,
a spectator of the procession. From the station which I then held •
at the Ear, to accept the neutralized situation of else Rolls, ap.
peered to me a descent; and not an elevation :—it had no allure-
ment of wealth ; for diminished as my income had been by the
most remorseless persecution for years, by which I was made to
• expiate the crime of not being en alien to my country, by trea-
. ehery, or by birth, it was still abundant when compared with
my occasions, and was likely to continue so as long as those oc-
easions should last."—(To be continued.)

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I and part of the new force consisted of that species
I which is !mach wanted-2000 cavalry.
The letters also mention, that about 1000 French,
escorting 800 Spaniards and som& English prisoners
had been attacked (the place is not mentioned) by a
superior body of Spanish troops, who succeeded in
liberating the whole of the prisoners, and taking about
half of the enemy.
It is also stated, that the French have evacuated
the provinces of Asturia and Gallicia, with-a view to
increase the forces opposed to Lord WELLINGTON.
A passenger on board the Gannet has written to
his friend resident in London, from Portsmouth, stat-
ing that out. advanced posts had had some slight ren-
contres with those of the enemy, and that many of
the troops had advanced so far, that, by availing them-
selves of recesses and various bushes to conceal them-
selves, they had killed several of the enemy : these
slight advantages did not fail to animate the allies,
and a general engagement was ardently looked for.

SECOND EDITION.

Government have received dispatches by the GAN-
NET, of which the following abstract has been circu-
late4l in the Goverhment Offices :
RETRACT OF AN AUTHENTIC LETTER FROM CORUNNA,
DATED JUNE 29, 1811 :
" I have the honour to inform you, that on the
13th instant, the enemy evacuated entirely the pro-
vince of Asturias, marching 3000 men under Gene.
ral BONNET, by Pachares, towards Paz, and the re-
minder (about 2000 men) by El Infiesto towards
St. Ander. The Asturian force, under General
Pont., have since possessed themselves of Oviedo and
Gijon.
" General SANTOCILDES, with the Gallician army,
consisting of 10,000 men, arrived on the 18th instant
before Astozga. On the morning of the 20th, the
French gave up the fortifications, and retired to Ba-
neya, towards Benevente. General SANTOCILDES,
who was*Governor of that Town when besieged by
JUNOT, was received with great rejoicing, and his po-
pularity in that place has enabled him considera-
bly to augment his force with men and arms :
on the 23d his advanced guard at Cogerderos, near
Leon encountered a party of 2,600 of the enemy, with
whom they sustained a fight of some hours, until re-
inforced by General SANTOCILDES, with his cavalry,
who pursued them to the bridge of Otbijo, causing
him considerable loss.


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60 of who" he took. aad pet death, t remainde
leaving In the roast their arms, escaped to Orduna.
" Accounts from Pcitien, of the 11th May, stare,
• that General PORlalla has for some time had his head-
quarters at that place, being charged with the for-
mation of the 7th Army. Great numbers of recruits
are voluntarily joining him ; he has now 5000 men,
but some are still recruits.
" General R.oticer, having collected all the French
forces in the Montagua, advanced to attack this ph.
sition. General PORLIER, advised of his intention,
disposed of his troops advantageously to.receive him
which being seen by the enemy, be retreated again to
Santander, with the lossof a few killed and prisoners."
FRENCH OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS OF THE
OPERATIONS in SPAIN and PORTUGAL.
We have received Paris Papers to the 10th instant.
The intelligence which they present from the armies,
down to the date of the second assault upon Badajos by
the British, has already appeared is the London Ga-
zette, and our present limits oblige us to confine our-
selves to the subsequent operations.
The French papers state, that in the two assaults
' the English lost 1200 men, and then proceed is
follows :
" Lord WELIANOToN was about to make a des-
perate effort, when on the 16th the Duke of RaoLset
arrived at Merida, and effected his junction with the
Duke of DaLstams. The two armies marched on

Badajos, of which place WELLINGTON precipitately
raised the siege, reentering Portugal, with all his
troops. Part of his battering artillertfand many of his
sick have been taken.
" On the 21st the Duke of RAGUSA had his head.
quarters at Badajoz.
" The details of use siege are every instant expected'
to be brought by General PHILIPPON, who, as well as
the garrison, has covered himself with glory ; for the
breach was every where practicable."
SUCHET, in a letter of June 29, gives an account of
the surrender of Tarragona. He says, that the fury of
his soldiers had been increased by the resistance of the
garrison. A fifth assault, given on the preceding day,
had led to a terrible massacre, the example of which
I would long be remembered in Spain. Four thousand
' men were killed in the town, and a thousand killed
or drowned in endeavouring to escape-10,000 pri •
soners would be sent to France.
SouLT, in a letter of June 21, states that he had, on
the 19th, been informed of the English having rai-
Ised the siege of Badajoz—that they had abandoned
i their position at Albuhera—evacuated Olivenza —and
j withdrawn their troops to the right bank of the Gua-
diana, on the side. of Elvas. In the afternoon of the '
same day he received a letter from the Governor of
Badajoz, PHILIPPON, confirming the enemy's retreat.
He professes to regret that a general engagement has
been avoided, and hopes that one may soon take-
place. The dispatches are very long. . _

" Three battalions have, within these few days,
marched from hence to reinforce General SANTOCIL•
DES, and this morning three companies of artillery,
with 6-pounders and a quantity of military stores,
marched from this place for Astorga.
" The Commander of guerillas LOSADA joined Ge-
neral SANTOCILDES on the 20th with his party of 150
men, bringing 22 cavalry prisoners, with their horses,
having also killed 20 of the garrison; which had that
day abandoned Astorga. Two Anholt Mails arrived this morning, but the
" The troops that escorted JOSEPH BONAPARTE to intelligence they bring furnishes us with little or no
France, with the Spaniards in the French interest, intelligence from which we can form any opinion re.
the',
who went with him, entered Britieca on the 17th of specting the line of conduct to be adopted by the
Northern Powers. From Turkey we learn that the
June, on their return from Bayonne, in consequence Russians and,Turks are engaged in active hostilities,
of an order from the Emperor, .that no Spaniard several smart affairs having taken place between 1
r 1 whatever be permitted to leave Spain to reside in `them. An article in the French papers seems, how-
France.ever, to state, that negociations are again on foot.
• The French garrison at Catalayne, consist-
I themselves to the/ A dreadful Ire broke out at Konigsberg on the
e ing of 250 men, have delivered
e 14th ult. which consumed between three and four
party of MINA, as also 86 infantry; and 40 lancers hundred houses and warehouses ; the latter contain-
', have delivered themselves to the guerilla patties com- ing an immense quantity of Tallow, corn, oil, wines,
I.it
_ manded by Aston. and Russian prodece.
te " A letter from A Portuguese brig of war has arrived at Falmouth
e-IMiranda del Ebro, of the 29th from Rio Janeiro in 70 days, brings intelligence that
I ; May, states, that 800 men had come iri that day, in four French frigates were on that station, and that
L
I the greatest confusion, they (having been 1300 in the British Admiral had sent a squadron in quest of
ai
h- number) were attacked in the Pierre de Joto by the them. They were supposed to be bound for the
". Guerilla party commanded by DURAN, which dis-
:n; Mauritius.
1.41 persed them, killing and taking prisoners a great many. French papers to the 9th inst. have arrived. From
.of , these it appears, that King Jowls left Bayonne on
i„. i Colonel MINA, commandant of Navarre, having notice 27th ult. on his return to Spain, but with what escort
asl lof the approach of an escort, with 1600 prisoners, is not stated. The ostensible object of his journey to
,r,`, English, Spanish, and Pprtuguese, attacked them at Paris was to congratulate his brothpon the birth of
the Fuente de Artaban, with 2300 men. They arrived a sob
, but if we may judge from his intercepted let-
hon the 24th May. In the commencement of the ac•
xed ter, his real design seems to have been to request per.
eir
mission to return to private life—lt so, he has been
ow, i tion the prisoners were much exposed, and about 200 disappointed in his object.
held
op- were killed. - After a short resistance the French sur- Three or four months ago the Austrian Govern-
ure- rendered ; and there have in consequence fallen into ment issued an order that its paper currency should
le te to the hands of MINA 600 prisoners, two coaches, 70 circulate at only. one-fifth of its nominal value. By
the Paris papers it appears, by the exchange on Angs-
carts laden with equipage, and other effects,
tree- carts that the same paper is now at only 1-15th of
with. valued at six millions of teals. Two Generals
e ae- its nominal value. The estimate of its value abroad
i accompanied the escort, one of whom was taken will enable us to judge pretty accurately of the rate
prisoner : the other was shot in his back at the first at which it circulates at home.
discharge. Six Spanish Ladies from Madrid, were It will be seen from Commodore Roozes's account
taken with them, and instantly put to death. The of the late affair with the Little Belt, that he posi-
tively charges our Commander with having fired the
only part of this convoy which escaped? was the van- first shot. Till Capt. Bixedieses statement be made
ICIC• guard, consisting of 100 men, who had charge of the . public, it is not possible that any correct opinion can be
Officers, among whom were 40 English, with whom formed; but the American statement savours so much
ill'- they get safe into Salines de Lering. The prisoners of special pleading that we are inclined to doubts its
a. accuracy. The Commodore's reasoning, that perhaps
who were escorted by the main body were all liber-
Ca pt.BINGRAM "thought this a favourable opportunity
ated. MASSENA was about half a league behind this of acquiring promotion," may be sound Yankey logic,
convoy, and returned to Vittoria, to wait the arrival bat to every person of every other country, must sp.
south, of JUNOT with his escort to pass together. pear downright nonsense. A British Captain obtain-
ire in- " Accounts from Frias state, that on the 14th ofe ing promotion by violating the rightiof neutrality—
f
ters to May the Commander of Guerillas, LOOO, attacked by
acting contrary to the orders o his Government !
who can listen to such nonsense in a grave official do-
s later with his cavalry, in Villa de Losa, a party of the current
There enemy which had come up froth Orduna to watch A letter from Baltimore, dated the Ist of 'June,
lociott him it he took from them 70 prisoners and their Com- ' says, “We learn from an official source, that the Con-
re cis it minder, whom he sent to General P6ititen, at Poter. utitution, Captain Hull, now lying in the Chesapeake,
it ordered to hold herself in readiness to take out Joel
3r near ~ On the 99th May LONOA had an-aetion with 600
Barlow, William Lee, Consul ft Bourdeaux, and
era was of the enemy in Medina de Prima:, he defeated them two other Gentlemen, to Paris. She is not to sail
until the United States frigate, Essex, arrives with
?dome.; with some loss on his own pis?. 'On the sth of June -
&forced, he again attacked
}SO Won-tin Pen de Orduna, Mr; Plnkney, our Minister at London.". ..
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