Star.
London, England, 1811-02-07 00:00:00

..

_PORTUGAL.

TARRAGONA, DEC. 18.
The public spirit of the principality continues in
all its vigour; the army has been recruited with
15,000 young soldiers, whom the examples of their
companions in arms will quickly convert into vete-
rans, and the advantages which have been recently
obtained will support their patriotic enthu;iasm. At
Castelfullit our troops have covered themselves with
glory, as appears from the following letter of Briga-
dier the Baron d'Eroles to Don Henry O'Donnell,
the Commander-in-chief :

" Otot, Dee. 10.
" On the morning of the Bth, when I was distri-
buting brandy to the troops, 1 received accounts that
the enemy had jto t marched from Olot, which they
had entered on the evening of the 6th. Scarcely had
the news spread among my troops, when an uniform
cry was heard among them—' We want neither bread
. nor brandy, but only our cartridges to kill the
Fwench.' I took the advantage of their enthusiasm,
and marched them to meet the enemy.
" In an hour and a quarter we had already reach-
ed Casteltullit, my division having marched three
leagues in that short time. My troops came up'with
part of the enemy's rear and rooted it. The enemy,
instead of continuing their retreat, collected their
force, took up a strong position in the plain of Pol.
lige, protected by their artillery and cavalry, and
coolly waited for my attack. I bent all my endea-
vours to turn their position ; and for that purpose
Ordered Don Estevan Llovera with his battalion to
march to the right, detaching at the same time other
parties to reconnoitre a wood and join Lovera, if they
found nothing to prevent it.
".The enemy endeavoured to counteract this plan
by attacking the centre, which I opportunely rein-
forced with some companies.• His cavalry charged,
and were thrown into disorder. This attempt hav-
ing proved abortive, and perceiving that his flanks
were in danger of being turned by our columns of
the right and left, he retired to a new position close
to St. Jayme.
" This retreat of the enemy, and the sight of the
loss which his resistance caused him, excited new en-
thusiasm in our troops, who charged them with in-
trepidity, compelling them to leave this new position
ind retire upon a battalion which they had in the
plain of Argclaguer, and which rested on the houses
of
ethat
yv i llag. I
ones
eI
had,
d causedto 2 a
dvB horsemen a
ncewith o
yf S. Narciso,Adjutant,
thCapt. D. Narciso Masanas ; and the approach of this
small force, which they had not hitherto seen, made
the enemy abandon their position, and retire to a
wood is their reir, on the other side of a small river,
where many circumstances concurred in forming a
fine position.
" There the combat was renewed with unequalled
Intrepidity on our side, and with extraordinary obsti.
;racy on that of the enemy, whom neither their ad-
vautageons position, nor the superior number of their
force, and the constant arrival of reinforcements,
could prevent from relinquishing this point, which
was strewed with dead. We pursued them as far as
Desalt', fi om which position, a few months before
considered by them as a very strong one, they retired
without halting, notwithstanding a reinforcement of
1300 men which came to them from Maya, and re-
turned thither on learning that I had retired.
" Night was now come on ; the troops wanted both
food and rest—circumstances which, joined to the
failure of our ammunition, prevented us from march-
ing on, and obliged me to attend to the refreshment
and relaxation of soldiers so brave and well deser-
lain. Every thing announces that the loss of the
enemy was extraordinary. We found a multitude of
dead bodies, which with all their care they were un-
able to carry off.
" I cannot speak certainly of the number, but it is
beyond a doubt that some of them confessed at Bes.
alu that they bad lost nearly 400 killed and 500
wounded, of whom six officers died on the same night
in that town. Among the latter is said to be Gene-
ral Clerment, who commanded in the action.
" We only took ten prisoners and two horses—
whether it was owing to their being led to believe
that we gave no quarter, or from a persuasion that
they did not deserve it, in consequence of the nume-
rous atrocities they had committed, seven of them
threw themselves in despair from a precipice in Cas-
telfullit, and many rushed on the points of our bavo.
nets.---Our loss has been only one diem. cne ser-
jeant, and 23 soldiers killed ; and one Captain, three
subalterns, one serjeaat, and 45 soldiers wounded."
PRIVATE LEI-TER.—LISBON, JAN. IS).
it We have now upwards of 150 sail of American
vessels in this port, all of which have brought cargoes
of rice and flour, Indian corn, 8:c. There is no pro-
spect of freights ; consequently they will all return in
ballast. So many arrivals have caused the prices CO
decline, but not materially.
" The armies remain in the same positions ; and I
ern sorry to inform you, that the combined foreenara
Trot free from sickness.
" It is the opinion here, that such is the strength
of Lord Wellington's lines, they are not to be forced
by any number of men the enemy can bring against
them, Marshal Beresford is on the south side of the
Tagus with 23,000 men, and the lines are nearly
complete. Sonic and Monier are at Badajoz, and it
Is feared that they will push for the heights opposite
Lisbon." •

ANOTHER LEITER-SAME DA7 E.
" General Silveira has met with a defeat on the

Isoth ult. near Trancosa, in which the militia has not
',conducted itself as was expected. His corps was
dispersed., and four or five British officers either killed
'or wounded.—Mortier, after passing the Guadiana at
Merida, instead of taking the road for that city, pur-
sued his march straight northward, and.his advanced
guard had already made its appearance at Valencia
Akar front which it is imagined he intends
crass the Tagus by the bridge of Alcantara, or
rohably uear Meadas. fie tarries with him a great
Quantity of provfsfoos, stores, &c. but no artillery
but .bis field-i4eces...--pAnother carps of French troops,
tarrying with is aigreat quantity of I navy artillery,
:nude itl appearance btfore DAciajoz and Olivenza.
()rders.Lasta barn issued to the inhabitants of Alen.
in evacuate the country upon the approach of the
rarryhlß with them all their effects, and de-
:to) whi =mot by brought swap',