The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-09-19 00:00:00

LONDON :

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WEDNESDAY, tErrEapEa 19, 1810.
The articles we have inserted from the French
Papers received last night, are not a little interest.
ing. The Letter of Massesia, respecting the fall
of Atlineidn, deserves attention among the OM of
these things. Will any Englishman read the fol.
lowing passage with perfect tranquillity ?-7
It is the division of Lois° st, of the corps of the Duke of
ELCHINGEN, which has carried on the siege of Ciudad Ro-
drigo and Almeida. The two other divisions of that corps,
the three divisions of the 2d 'corp, and the three divisions of
the corps of the Duke of Abe NTEs, Wave riot yet fired a
musket. The Duke of Azaarivzs is at Lesdesma; General
REGAIEa, conituancling the 2cl cmrps, is at Zarza Mayor. The
soldiers are in good health, the army well pnivisioned. and
burning with desire to teach the English that which we have al-
ready taught the division of CIIALFUS,D. The EstrEaoa
may rely on the bravery and dispositions of ;bp army, as well
as on my zeal and respectful devotion."
Wo are aware of the gasconadiv style in which
the French Generals indulge and carefully make
allowance for that in reasoning upon any of their dis.
patches. But can any one read thii letter of Mas.
SENA without perceiving the sincerity of his evil.
tation, the greatness and eagerness of his hopes ?
Was the fall of Altneida sufficient to inspire him
• with all this triumphing passion ? If my Lord W -
LINGTON was secure in his pea/ion, notwithstasid.
ing the fall of Almeida, has Masser:4 retroguded
into the inanity of some of our GeneralF, that he
should chuckle over the fall of Almeida ? Do not ima.
gins that ! Lay no such flattering unction tq your
heart! Of whatever valet: the possession of that
fortress was to Nlass&N4, it is the prospect of cont.
ing at the English Army with advantage, that he
is exulting over—he coutemplates that event with
-eyes glutted with pleasure. He sees my Lord Wlif.-
y tvG•rum remain in his security, shifting from one
impregnable position to auother, without taking
a single chance to win from offensive and well.
concerted movements. These are the things
that Cast an air of inexpressible • triumph over
this let!vr of ALISSENA. We are, justified in
reasoning thus, from every view of the suh.
jcct. If Alnieida was necessary to the strength of
Lord WELLlNoroves position, then the boast of the
impregnability of 'his Lordship's position is over ;
and, if Almeida was not necessary to the position,
MAsse.NA knows better then to exult so much over
its fall. The truth is, he is thinking about some.
thing more important, while he is talking of Al.
meida. And the truth alscs is, that Ministers,
and their abettors, never thought of Almeida
making part of Lord WELLI NGTON'S strength,
since they have dwelt with a rapturous confidence
on his Lordship's impregnable position, long after
he, in fact, lost it by the retreat of General CHAU-
Fenn's division—mid in this (the fact is remark.
able enough) they have been echoed by some of
our wisest patriotic Prints. It is true, that MitS
sEN a has captured the Blitisli troops shut tip in
Almeida by Lord WELLINGTON'S incomparable
tactics. Teat is true, and that is ground fur sonic
triumph in the French General---but not to the
extent of his real exultation. It is true also,
that Alassesta found a large clinically of provisions'
in Almeida; and, no doubt, it was acceptable to
him. But if he was starving, as we are industri.
ously told, there could not be enough to enable
him to keep the fithl, and therefore the provisions
of Almeida could not have created this 'air of
hilurit; which breathes ii', and animatee, his exult.
ing letter. Ohl no ! neither Almeida, nor its corn,
nit its wine and oil, none of these could have so ex-
travagantly raised 111AsseNa's lofty hopes l.--It is
some latent treason for expecting he c an come at the
English strong position, etunhitied wish the reason.
able conclusion that my Lord IV eu.sNsx9N will
remain in his hold and his security, till there is no
retreat from these but amidst a thousand dangers
If we turn to my Lord lireLLlsteroN's dispatches
(contained in last night's Gazette), we shall find
nothing btit matter corroborative of this reasoning.
He has fallen bark—he has conceritrated his
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forees—he has gotten into the centre of his
cobweb, %here he thinks he is safe, because he
'knows of no power that can break doWn its suc.
cessitte lines. Ile is as mu.ch.at rest as the spider in
the hall of its dwilling, not knowing that the house.
maid is coming with her fatal broom ! Look at his
story, look at the facts of it, and then at the
air"). sectirii.y with which he writes, and You can.
nit conic to any otlier conelusion• than What We
Jove arrimi at. no enemy is upon kis flanks'
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