Star.
London, England, 1810-03-02 00:00:00

LONDON.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
S per Cent. Cons. for money, 671+—aec. 66.
3 per Cent. Red. 671 68.
Exeheq. Billi U. to 10s. pre.—Bonds 10s.

Accounts from Cadiz to the 15th ultimo state, that
the English and Portuguese troops sent from Lisbon
entered the Bay of Cadiz on the 12th, and were land-
ing on the 14th, to assist in garrisoning and defending
the place. We have inserted in our columns this day
various letters, from which it appears that strong
hopes are entertained of being able to retain the place
in spite of any force that may be brought against it.
We heartily with that a e could see good grounds for
entertaining such hopes ! but from all that has
reached us wo are fearful of the issue of the approach_
ing conflict.
The extracts which we have also given from French
papers, to the23d ult. relative to the.operations of the
war in the Peninsula, contain some particulars worthy
of a deliberate perusal; but our limits do 'hot perm7t
us to give, in this place, any analysis of their contents

REPORTED EVACUATION az PORTUGAL.

Thefollowing letter was received by us this morning.

We shall present k in the form in which it has reached
us, before we offer any remarks on its contents.
" PLYMOUTH-DOCK. FEBRUARY 28.

" This morning the Conjuror schooner appeared
off this port, and landed Captain JOHN LEAVENS, of
the Henry merchant sloop, of London, lost in a vio-
lent gale, off Lisbon, on the 21st instant. The Con_
juror proceeded up Channel ; she had-a very quick
passage, being only six clear days from Lisbon to this
port. The news she brings is of the most afflicting
and disastrous nature. She states, that at the time
of her departure from Lisbon (the 21st instant), the
whole of our troops, together with the Portuguese
forces and baggage, had embarked on board trans-
ports and the ships of war there, and sailed for Gi-
braltar, the enemy being at that time within a few
hours march of Lisbon ; and our Commander in
Chief not deeming it prudent, from the strength and
force of the enemy, to contest the occupation of the
place. How far this intelligence may prove correct,
I cannot undertake to vouch, further than that I have
this instant received it from Captain LEAvEns, with a
copy of Captain PRINGLE'S Certificate, relative to the
Iloss of the Henry, which is as follows :
g 6 These are to certify, that on the 21st of February, 1810.
being in lat. 45. IL N. and long. 10. 32 W. his Majesty's sloop
SPARROWRAWN urder my command, was ordered to the awlsl
tance of the merchantl sloop Henry, LcAvews master, she hay-
ing carried her mast and bowsprit away. I found her in great '
distress, and so very leafy, that I recommended the master to
abandon her, as it was blowing a gale at 5. E. with a very heavy
eea, and she was in danger of foundering every moment. With
great difficulty the crew were brought on board the SPARROW.
nAwx, and taken care of. (Signed) JAMES PRINGLE,
" Commander of his Majesty's Sloop Sparrowhawk.
" February 21, 1810."
" Two days afterwards the SPARROWHAWR fell in
with the Conjuror, Captain BECKET, and put Captain
LEAVENS and bis crew on board her. The Conjuror
sailed from this port about six months since, for Ali-
cant, where she took in a cargo of fruit, but, on her
homeward-bound passage she met with aviolent storm,
which obliged her to throw half her cargo over-
board, after which she weathered the storm and put
into Lisbon, where she completed her lading with
oranges, &c. and sailed the 21st.
" Captain LEAVENS states, that when the CONJUROR
left Lisbon, the whole of the British and Portuguese
forces, together with all their baggage, embarked on
board upwards of two hundred sail of transports in
the Tagus, on the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st instant;
and that all was confusion and dismay at Lisbon,
from the rapid advance of so numerous a body of the
enemy.

66 Captain LEAVENS saw two transports dismasted
in the same gale in which he lost his ship ; they were
crowded with troops, many of whom, being on the
deck, were washed off and drowned.
On the 22d instant, the SPARROWHAWK boarded
a merchant brig (which had had a very quick run
from Gibraltar) the master of her informed Captain
PRINGLE, that subsequent to our taking possession of
ICeuta, the Moors had attacked the British forces
ithere, but were repulsed. In consequence of this cit._
cumstance, a fresh division of troops had been detached
from Gibraltar, at which latter fortress they were anxi-
busly exppecting reinforcements from England."
We are very unwilling to give implicit credit to
the above intelligence, but at present we have no means
to invalidate it. If Captain Lzavaus had not named
the 18th, 19th, 20thoand 21st, as the days on which the
troops were embarked, we would have been inclined
to believe that the embarkation alluded to was that of
the troops sent to reinforce Cadiz, and which we know
reached that city on the 12th ult.—One thing is ob-
vious-200 transports could not receive the -British
army. But this circumstance does not serve entirely
to invalidate this repert ; for Viseu, the, British head
lquarters, on the 14th, the date of the last letters from
the army, is much nearer to Oporto than Lisbon, and
if a retreat was found indispensible, a large part of the
army would proceed to the former place.
In a word, we have doubts as to the perfect accu
racy of the particul: r> derived from Captain LEAVENS,
but we cannot divest our minds of a considerable de-
gree of anxiety for the fate of Lord Wellington's army.
The present doubts will probably be removed in a few
hours by accounts from the Conjuor, which landed
Captain LEAVENS, and which by this time must be in
port.

Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, his MAJESTY arri
ved at the Queen's Palace, from Windsor, where he
was received by the Dukes of YoRK, CUMBERLAND,
KENT, and CAMBRIDGE.

Soon after two o'clock his MAJESTY held a private
Levee, at which the following had the honour of being
presented :

Mr. RICKARD WELLisLay, upon his return to Spain.
Captain CHAILIS TKURLOW SMITH, on his promotion and re-
turn from South America.
Mr. Serjeant MANLY, upon his appointment.
Mr. ViLtizas, upon his return from Portugal.
Mr. WoasLar Holmes, M.P. for the BoroUgh of Newport,
Isle of Wight, on his comiug of age, and on going abroad.
His MAJESTY held a Privy Council, and about six
o'clock set off on his return to Windsor.

Colonel DRINKWATER presented the 12th Report of
the Commissioners of Military Inquiry.

The Duke of YORK had a private conference yes-
terday with the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER, at
his house in Downing-street, for two hours.
Yesterday Jamaica Papers reached us to the 15th of
January, and the House of Assembly not havingmet at
that time, no news of consequence w►as either received
or expected, from them. The next packet will, proba-
bly, bring intelligence of great importante to the re-
pose of that colony.