The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-10-23 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

We hase the most anxious wish to give our
I Readers every possible . information respecting the
contending armies in Portugal, :.•111 as to their re.
Ilative force', and their several positions. It is plain,
however, that the accounts that are receivetmust
WWI) to much error. It is scarcely possible fur
those who are nearest the scene, to come at the real
nouut of the enemy's numbers; and even the
strength of the Allied Army is contradictorily stat.,
ed, in successive accounts, and cannot be accts.
rattily ascertained. The French Papers, when they
Ant announced the design of scolding MAsssua
Kahl* -Portugal, stated that ho had oforce of up.
wank; of 100,000 men ; Masscua himself, in his
Proclamation to the Portuguese, states his force at
110,000. Supposing there was a little intended
exaggeration is both of these statements, we can
hardly consider the numbers which Massesta had
received at various times, including all his rein. '
force meats from France, to amount to less than
85,000 If it be taken for granted, that he had
lost 15,000 in the battle of Busaco, and all the
previous &Mors, still he would have 70,000 men
after he passed the Mondego, and was fol.
lowing up the Allied Army to the vicinity
of Lisbon. This view of his strength will
I be found to be sanctioned by what is known of the
battle of Busaco. It is not at all questioned, that
MASSENA had fell 70,000 men, under arms, that
day. It is said, in all the news from Lisbon, that
Gen. 11oaTi ER has joined the French, since their at.
rival in that quarter, with 10,000 ace ; and this is
highly probable. Taking this, however, to be the
fact, MASSENVE force, ready to be brought late the
field against the Allied Army, cannot be taken at
much less than eighty thousand men. With regard
to the forces under my Lord ‘VELLszseton't com.-
oriand, it appears from the official returns, that to.
ward's the middle of September the number of Bri.
firelocks in Portugal, including the TO regi.
aunt from Halifax, amounted to 27,000 men.
Since that period Lord WELL' soTo n has been rein.
forced by the 30th, 44th, 50th, 71st, 79th, 68th,92d,
94th, together with some Brunswickers; some drafts
and some; artillery, with a squadron of the 13th
dragoons, and throe rile companies from Cadiz, the
whole of which may be taken at about 7000 men.
His Lordship's force, in British, cannot be reckon-
ed at more than 34,000—huleed, it is evident this
must be the very outside of that furce.—The Per.
tuguese regulars are estimated at 35,000 men; of
which 25,000 are with Lord WELLINGTON. The
remainder are in garrison at Abrautes, Santarem,
Peniche, Lisbon, St. Jalian's, and the farts in the
vicinity. Upon a retrospect it will be seen,
that Lord WELLINGTON'S force cannot be set
down for more than 60,000, at thy utmost.—
The Marquis Rostssa, however, has juiced; or,
is in s condition to join his Lordship with
10,00 Spaniards, augmenting the Allied Army
to 70,000 melt. Having given these results, rela.
life to the respective numbers of the contending
Armies, we shall say a word or two of their respec.
tsise posltioro. It is known that Lord WELLINGTON
had taken up the strong goend, aided by all that
art could perform, of Tome Vedras, in the
neighbourhood of Lisbon. From Ovate accounts
it appears, that some change had taken place in the
position of the Allied Army, since the writing of
his Lordship's dispatches received on Saturday.
His head-quarters had been removed to Arede,
one league from Bucellas ; the right at Ahusera,
on the Tagus ; the left was at Torres Vedras ; the
centre about Seb rule, occupying a line of 5 leagues in
extent. The lines of his Lordship's position are said to
be defended by no less than 300 pieces of artillery.
The enemy presses close upon this grosod ; and al.
ready he has made some attacks, for the purpose, it
is presumed, of more nearly reconnoitring. As
every thing is interesting on this subject, we give the
names of the Officers by whom the divisions are re-
spectively commanded.

The Cnvalry, 9000,• Sir S. CorroN, commanding.
The Infantry was them divided into finsr divi.unts, indepen-
dently of the light troop, and the division f..rusing ui Thomnr,
under General LCITti, whirls at ihat time w•as not designated
by ton Genie or number. These divisions were etunineeded as
follows :-
1,4 I)ivision, WO, Sir it. Setnecte. K. B. commending.
4d Divisions MIX). Lieutenant-Generid HELL, ditto.
Sci Division, SOW, Major-General PICT4III. ditto.
4th Diviftion. 4000, Major-General the Hi.. Copit, dittn.
Light Division, :1.)0J, lirigailier-General E. C
ditto.

Division at Thomar, and troops at Lisboa, 9500, Major.
&litlig !Arra, ditto.
•
•
VIIIOUS Private Utters from PORTUGAL ITC ht

taw 1, from which we have selected tbc folLowitegt
as must intcrestiug

OPORTO6 Oeu
Otir centinunication with Lisbon is CIO off: 5000 Fretieh
cavalry are on the banks of the Vnuga ; Lord Wiaitdrierrom
it at Fames; Gen. AI t Lt.i:n in the rear of the banditti. with
300:linen. The dasta►dly villains have ttea►'y humtull Vine.
because they found it entirely deserted; and MN the towns on
the Serra d'Eshella have ;shared the satire fate. The action of
the 47th was a dreadful day for M As.tn A (more so than is
generally known). Vial may he assured they hat at least 2500
kiHezl, sad illtoo wounded mid prisoners; two Brigadiers among
the latter. Lossiost woundt•d in the side. Too Portuguese
behaved most bravely."

LITRACT OF A LPT,TFX FROK OPORTO' RA';ILD
OtTOSER 9.
U Colonel TRANI', with 3.100 Portuguese troops, entered
Cohnbrii, at five P.. M. lint Sunday. the Ith, and completely
surprised the French (5,002),- Who; rifler windnw.twiug fur 60
minutes, Surrendered primmer! of ware IMO will be kere to-
elorrovi (Wedne.disy), the remainder, which are wounded
meta from the action of the 'rth Mt,. will he brought on after-
war;, The Portuguese or.ly lost 30 killed and woundsd in
'ibis brilliant affair." ' • •

' ✓ •

•
...MI

" LISBON. Oct. 14.
" As o'er army is now so very near, we base almost hourly
eommunitation therefrom. Yoe cannot form to your elf any
thing more like war than the general appearance of this tity.
Soldiers and Officers at every step; proces,iions of carts of 40,
stl, and 60, at ft time, with provisions. Commissariat wag-
gorniss dozens; mules loodcd with biscuits, be. in immense
numbers; artillery moving along the streets towards the army;
prisoners and deserters arviving, 3or .100 at a time. Fugitives
(fans the wasted countries in mobitudes, amid police bore-
guards patron's; the streets ia every direction.
" Last night we levant about 300 of the enemy were made
prisoners, part of whom arrived this morning.
" The Marquis Row tv a, with 10 or 11,0J0 Spanish troops,
is at Aldea Gallega, and but for the stormy weather would
give heen ere now with our army. Our position Is formed of
'three lines of defence, the rear commanding the float ; so that
even allowing the enemy were to carry our first lines, they
could not turn their cannon against us with effect, whilst we
could completely command them from the second. Besides
this, we have nonsense reserves of troopi in the rear, and our
right Muds is protected by the gun-boats sent from our men of
war and transports. _ . .

" After such precantiont, and the universally allowed
streugth of our position, we inuq acknon ledge ourselves under
no particular fears for the result of a contest, which is to de-
cide the fate of Portugal."

"FRIDAY,Ocr. It

"MASIIENA has reached our lines, and GU or 10,000 French-
men are now within 20 or 'l5 milrA of us ; but coalitience is at
its height, and au load faces are sects.
" The city artillery, militia, and sharp-shooters are rune to
join the army, which is said to he 100,000 vtrnog. The de-
tepee will be most desperate ; the attack such as may be ex-
pected from 70,t109 Frenchmen. No ship can at this moment
gel overshe bar; and should Massitsa, be aware of this, it
will accelerate his attack."

ANOTHER, SAME DATE.
" The forte of the enemy is estimated at 100,DOJ men, hat
we believe we have not less than un equal cumber of muskets
within our own encampment. The whole British army, from
the General to the drmniner, i, in the highest spirits, and in
the fall conlidensv of victory.
" The embargo port has, after

NI consideroi
other ►ide the

ov4NAiiOS the
Gallegos.

'• We are
North county
be eadeavl
period*, N,

an parts of the
appl)ing their
thnte siece3sitout
up to them, bat

that that w; retired into small
spark:seem, that these staked and homeless mendicants might
not be unprovided."

4/1....,••

ADOTDEEI SANE DATE.
64 We have bad our share of the equinoctial tales, vetting in
from the Sooth-West with heavy rains. lam apprelicosive we
shall not have a favourable change for some time, nod in that
case we roust aU remain Iverrom the military operations require
every mule that can be procured.

"There never were greater exertions employed than oo lei
occasloo to deserve 0 Weal, and the criterion of the wisdom and
' ability with which these measures are directed, is the order, re•
gaiurity, awl coolness which pervades every department. Tee
whole moves like clock-work.
" Our military men of rank, who daily come in from the
army un duty, are ununimous In their opinion that themes,
must be repulsed with great lam"
The KENT COUNTY ME}.TIN4, held yesterday
at Maidstone, for the purpose of piepariug a Peti.
lion to the House of Commons, praying fur a
PatiLiAIgENTART KEIVEK, was very ounsereuily
and respectUbly attended. The sentiments detifteett
at this Meeting by the different gentlemen who
spoke in favour of Havonst, are deserting of the
most serious ,attention, and with the exception of
Sir EIWARD KNATCHWILL and Mr. LVSSINfaTON,I
the Petition was carried unanimously. A few
more such Meetings as this could not fail to make
deep impression upon the public mind and if it
were possible to convey such sentiments to the foot
of the Throne, there is no doubt but that our aged
Monarch would redress the wrongs 3f his suffe:ing
people.
No Dispatches from my Lord Wtr.ctxceroN had
arrived this day, at the time of our going to press.

Patnetu A NEL! A..—We feel sincere regret in In.
feirtuing our Readers, that by the Messenger which
arrived this day 'at half-pact One o'clock, that her
Royal Ilightieu was worse than sits has been, bar-
' ing experienced a very bad niteit.
The following paragraph hod a New York pa.
per, of the Ist ofScptember, is not unworthy of no.
tice, particularly as both theparties are now under
the protection of this country:
'e LUCIEN BONAPAILTIL and General SARRAZIN
are both said to be un the point of etabirkieg fur
the United States."
A British Officer, as is stated, bad an interview
with General JUNOT in *newer-to s French flag of
truce; when the French General observed, " I
give you credit for your ruse de guerre,. in cloth.
lug the British troops in Portuguese uniforms, to
induce es to believe that the Portuguese are eXcel.
lent soldiers."
The Decree of the Regency fer retaliating on the
French their horrid practiced gisiog we quarter to
the Spanish detached corps, has been acted upon by
FRANCE'QUATI, and some other Commanders, and
has had the effect it was intended to produce. Soy it
has revoked his atrocious orders, and given notice
that the Guerrillas aro its future' to be treated as 1
troops of the line, fighting under Spanish colours.
Our Medical Stain Portugal is on a very large
establishment, and is-held in high estimation. The
sick and wounded of the British are mentioned at
between 4 and 5000 men.
If the statement be correct, that the whole of
MASSEPIA4 Medical Sta has fallen into the hands
of Colonel TIIANTI then must his situation be truly
dreadful—in the evellt of a battle, he must depend
solely on British benevolence fur the care of his
wounded. From the character of MASSES A) and
atillimpre from the character of tis Mager, it is
almost certain that he will prefer a battle, under
every disedrantege, to retreat.
MAssVta, after the battle of Bourn, refused an
exchange of prisoners, which Lord WLL4INGTON
humanely Wished to take place.
Amungotbers who have seen JeevEnv_l at Ports..
mouth, ire Lord HOLLAND, Lord VA LENTIA"
Wansasiv bit. itIitXDAL lACKsOtt, &c.

sharp) which was pnsposed in this
ration, been Geueral Rep
he river, lied Akira Col
e here fugitives from
try ; bitbt Inhabitants are
roues for the modution of th
lot only the hours are given u
rere occupied, the funiities ha►iug rei