Star.
London, England, 1811-09-02 00:00:00

LETTER PROM THE DOER OP TARENTO TO HIS EXCEL-

LKNCY THE MINLSTER AT WAR.

" Camp before Figveiras, August 17, 1811.
'4 Monsieur Duke—l have the honour to inform
your Excellency, that the effective part of the garri-
son of Figueiras, to the number of 3500 men, last
night unsuccessfully attempted to make their escape.
" This general sally took place on the side towards
the plain, but the fire of our advanced posts having
given notice of it, the enemy was received with so
warm a fire of musketry, accpmpanied with shouts
of Long live the Emperor And by so many shells
and chain-shot, that he precipitately retired in disor-
der to his ramparts ; day-break discovered to our
view the field covered with dead, wounded, and shat-
tered remains.

" From the account of several superior officers
taken this morning, their loss in wounded was flume-
r.tis ; aot a man was able to clear the first line of
abattis ; and they had besides other obstacles to sur-
mount before they could reach oar bayonets.
For two days the Spaniards had been employed
in breaking and destroying that which they could not
carry off or burn ; the ovcns were destroyed. They
had distributed a double ration of brandy and three
days' bread. Such is the account which his Excel-
lency the Colonel-General has sent me this morning,
at the same time begging to be authorised to take
advantage of the contusion and terror which the above
reception must have produced in the Spaniards, by
summoning them to surrender at discretion, on pain
of being put to the sword. Though I place little de-
pendence on the success of this summons, which
would hasten, by some days, the surrender of the
fortress, yet I have given him authority.
" My advanced posts at Liers were attacked yes-
terday by the Miquelets ; I ordered a general beating
up, which dispersed them all. It would appear that
7 or 800 of these people were eneeavouring to favour
the evacuation of the fort.

" Every thing leads me to a belief that the fall of
Figueiras is near at hand.—l have thr hind ir, &c.
(Signed) " he Marshal Duke in 'ramie, hI•DONAL D.'.
LET'T'ER IL

" Camp before Figueiras, August 19, 1811.
lg Monsieur Duke—l have the s.itistaction to in.
form your Excellency, that the valour, the zeal, end
perseverance of his Majesty's army in Catalonia,have
triumphed over the perfidy of the traitors who deliver.
ed the fortress of Fogueiras to th•: enemy ; they are
in irons. That fortress is this d.ty reconquered, and
in the power of the Empet n.
" The Spanish garrison having in vain attempted
to escape in the night of the 16th, and with a loss of
400 men, has been forced to surrender at discretion,
and the only favour granted is saving their lives.
" It came out of the fortress this morning without
arms, 3500 in number, and about 350 officers, of
whom are Field-Marshal Martinez, several Generals
of Brigade, 80 superior Officers, Ste. it was marched
in threelcolumns towards Perpignan, where it will ar-
rive on the 21st and 22d.

" This garrison lost during the blockade more than
2(X)0 men by our fire, or by a natural death ; 1500
sick remain in the hospital, and there are 200 non-
combatants, who shall be dismissed. _

" The army of his Majesty braved more than
60,000 cannon-shot, and two million rounds of mus-
ketry, without much loss.
" It has borne, with a constancy truly exemplary,
labour, fatigue, and the inclemencies of the weather
i during a blockade of four months and nine days ;
and since the 24th of July has spent 25 successive
nights under arms.
. ~ The works of the lines of countervallation and
circumvallation are immense ; his Majesty will be
abl- to judge of them, should he condescend to look
at the plan which I transmit to your Excellency.
" The engineer department directed them with con-
stant zeal and activity.
.4 The artillery department has been • excellent, as
it always is ; the General of Division Tamil com-
mands it : and General Notary erected and pointed
all the batteries, some of which were boldly placed
at less than 500 toises from the fortiess.
" The redoubts of the 37th of the'line, of the Bth
light, 16th and 67th of the line, 52d light, I lth,
81st, 60th, 93d, those of the Imperial Gendarmerie'
and of the Westphalian', received the names of the
corps which constantly worked there ; the first men-
tioned were within musket-shot of the covered way ;
the 3d, and 23d light, also laboured a great deal.
" These corps, under the orders of Generals Qnes-
nel, Clement, Palmarole, Plansonne, Lefebvre, Co.
lonels La Marque and Petit, formed the line of
blockade, or reinforced it every night. The squa-

- ..

drop of the 20th, and 29th Chassettrs, the squadron
of the 24th dragoons, and the lanciers gendarmes,
were also on horseback in part.
44 In fine, a select reserve, consisting of the foot-
gendarmerie, and of detachments from different corpsb
commanded in turn by Generals Favier, Nourry, and
Prost, and Adjutant Commandant Nivet, was Vest.
tined to support all the points that were threatened.
41 His Excellency the Colonel General was every
where. He displayed very great activity; in general
every one has perfectly done his duty. I feel plea.
stile in doing this justice to the army, in the hope
that the Emperor will deign to cast a look of favour
on these brave men,—also begging your Excellency
to cause his Majesty to remark, that his army of Cata-
lonia had nothirg to do with the event which brought
them under the walls of this place.
" I have just displayed the Imperial flag upon tho
walls ; it was saluted by an hundred rounds of car .
non ; this salute will be heard by the English ship.
on the coast, and the assemblages insurgents at
Olot ; it will make known to the recapture of
Figueiras, and the termination of the war in this part
of Catalonia. " I have the honour, &c.
" The Marshal Duke of Tarento Macoessat.a.
" P. S. Your Excellency's Aide:de•Catop. the
Chief of Battalion Schneider, bearer of this dispatch.
has shared in the fatigues of he troops, passing whole
nights in the trenches ; he has seen the fort, dte pri-
soners, and can give your Excellency all the informa.
tion which you may think necessary."

TRANSLATION* OP A Loma witirTaN aT acCimAL
JUAN ANTONIO MAIRTINizt COMMANDANT Of TDB
FORT OF SAN yomNANDO DI VIOUNIRAo, TO TIP
PRINCIPAL JUNTA 01 1111 PaINCIPALITT GT C.
TALONIA.

" Pont de Moulin, Aviest 11, Mi.
" Most excellent Senor,--After enduring more than
four months obstinate blockade, without any relief on
the part of the army, I have found myself under the
necessity of surrendering the fort of St. Fernando de
Figneiras, from the total want of provisions. I have
employed even the last resources; from our horses to
the lowest insect, all has been eaten up. On the
night of the 16th I attempted a :idly at the point of
the bayonet, with all the garrison; and in spite of
the obstacles which the line of circumvallation op.
posed, I myself reached the abattis, oritrunks of trees
obstructing our passage, which could not be effected,
in consequence of the great strength of this impene-
trable line. In fine, I have this day surrendered
prisoner of war, with the garrison, which has been
treated by the French with the generosity which cha-
racterizes that nation.