Star.
London, England, 1811-10-16 00:00:00

SPANISH PAPERS.

The following is an interesting account of two ex-
ploits of the celebrated partisan, the Phyr:aan, con-
tained in a letter from General Castanos to the Conn-
cil cf Regency, dated head-quarters, at Valencia de
Alcantara, Aug. 2,6.
4. Don Juan Palarea, the Physician, commander of
the squadrons of Nurnantine hussars, informs me by
a letter, dated the 10th, of an action which he had in
Villtiviciosa, for the purpose of capturing a notary
Wand some alguazils, who were sent by ttie Madrid
Police in order to make various inquiries and seizures.
The escort of 27 gendarmes which accompanied these
agents, was attacked by a guerrilla of Palarea's, com-
posed of only 16 men, with a view to drive the ene-
my out of the village ; while the squadrons, in three
columns, took post in different directions, that none
of them might escape : but the ardour and im- •
patience of these sixteen soldiers did not permit them
to use their muskets, and they tell upon the gen-
darmes sword in hand, who did not give ground till
they saw the columns. They then tied, and were
pursued as far as the mud-walls of Leganes and Ca-
rkvanchel, and the turnpike-gate of the bridge of Se-
govia, though the garrisons of these villages had beat
the generale, and turned out under arms. The result
was, that only five gendarmes escaped, all wounded ;
six remaining prisoners, with the notary and his f01..1
lowers, and the rest were killed.

" The same Palarea, united with D. Gregnrio Go.l
mez, commandant of the hussars of Avila, were ea.!
deavouring to intercept with their parties the enemy's
convoys, on the road from Madrid to Estremailura ;
and on the 22d, they learned that a convoy, escorted
by 500 men, had set out from Talavera ; but while
on their march to place themselves in ambush, they
received notice that 70 French dragoons, with twn
officers, convoying an Aide-de-Camp of Marmont's,
with a Courier, had just entered Santa Olalla. On the
23d they discovered them from some olive-grounds, '
in which they drew up a. squadron of the Numan.l
tines, under cover, to attack them in front; while art.
other squadron of the hussars of Avila was to attack
them in the rear. As soon as they were drawn up,l
at the words " Upon them ! they are the fellows of
Tembleque," the charge was given in such good
time, and with such velocity, that the French had!
scarcely time to clap their hands to their swords, and
immediately fled out of the road ; but none of them
escaped death, wounds, or capture. Very few sur-
rendered without defending themselves obstinately:
arms, horses, and baggage, all fell into the hands of
our gallant hussars ; with 57 prisoners, among whom
were a Captain, a Lieutenant, and two Serjeants.—
The rest were all killed : with this remarkable cir.

cumstance, that there were among them the three
oldest soldiers of the regiment ( which is the 18th dra-
goons), decorated with the Cross of the Legion of
Honour; This action did not cost our hussars a sin-,

gle drop of blood.
" The Numantine dragoons deserve the greatest
praise for their valour and generosity ; for, though
justly exasperated at the 13th dragoons for the cruel
vengeance which they inflicted at Tembleque, on the
sth of January, on the soldiers of the first squadron
of Nuttantines, they spared the lives of the very dra.
goons who, on the sth of January, had massacred
their companions after their surrender at Tembleque.
" These commandants have sent me, from their

ambulatory headquarters, at Sans Pablo, under all
escort of fifty hussars, 67 French prisoners, and 4$
captured Spaniards, deserters and male:actors of all
classes, among whom are the Notary and Algnazils,
commissioned by the Madrid police, who have been
placed in security at my head-quarters, that they may
suffer the punishment which each of them deserves*
according to his crimes."
DECREE OF THE CORTESi.

The General and Extraorditary Cortes, taking into
consideration the urgent wants of the country, and
the necessity of providing by al possible means for
the clothing and subsistence of the armies which de-
tend it ; and considering that exemptions from the
military service for fines, the produce of which enters
the military chests of the respective armies, may con
tribute in part towards such indispensible s rvices--
decree, that exemptions from military service be gran-
ted, under the following regulations :
1. Exemptions shall only be granted after the lot
has fallen upon the individuals, and before they sct
out to join their regiments ; witl.out the townships
being obliged to replace those who are exempted tor
money.
2. These exemrions shall last for three years ;
after which, the individuals shall be again subject lo
enlistnsen;.
3. Exemptions shall be granted for the sum of
15,000 reals in speCie.
4. They shall not exceed the number of thirty for
every 1000 liable to-service ; and those shall be pre-
. tem(' whO first make payment of the money."