The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-01-14 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

elinary contribution imposedupon them. Ilk conduct in the other
parts of the province has been similar.—The letters by the last
Courier say, that the defenders of Valencia every do hope to
strikesome great end successful blow against the enemy, who
they have already dislodged from the Analala de Albayara, and
oiligO to concentrate themselves in Murviedro ; that the Ea-
PSOINADO and Doa.sw have blockade the garrison of Dame*.
Miva has entered Huisca, and taken some huadreds of French
prisoners.—(Gazette de Estremarlura, Lisbon Diary, Dec, 18.)
ASTURIAS.
CASTROHEI, Dec. 6.

• .
On the4th Nov. the principality of the Asturias was threat-
ened in the point of Nana by General Bestirs- es troops, at
the time that a party of his force marched by Port Vectano, in-
tending to place the first division of the Sixth Army between
two fires, whilst some of their battalions endeavoured to draw
the attention of General itlewnizAem. towards the side of the
mountain. The Commanding General thought it advisable to
retire to the lipe of Narcea to preserve his communication with
General ABADIA, and wait more exact information relative to
the enemy's force, respecting which there were various accounts.
In consequence of this, the Sdperior Junta, leaving the capital
retired to the right bank of the Coa, where they continued
their functions. It is the third time this country has been
invaded. This province, which' had for four month, en-
joyed the inexpressible advantages of liberty, and which [leaven
had favoured with an abundant harvest, as if to indemnify us
for our past losses, and for all the evils vt e had suffered, now
experiences all the horrors of war, and is again overwhelmed
is the abyss of misery. According to the last intelligence re-
ceived, the enemy occupied Villa de Grad°, and had extended
their advanced posts as far ax the Prison and Den as. General
Losaoa had his head quarters in italliza, extending his ad-
vanced posts along the banks of the Narcea, from V igaenhas till
below Nalon, where he made some French prisoners. From the
eastern side it is said that General PORLIER was lately in Zece.
da, for which reason the enemy bad occupied none of the towns
situated upon the coast from Gijon ; neither have they advanced
from Polo de Siert°. Their forces are concentrated in the capi-
tal and immediate villages, except a great part which cover the
road from Castile, to favour the exportation of grain, and keep
up the communication with Count DJRSENNE.—(Lisbon Diary,
Dee. 18.) 1

LISBON, DEC. C.

Cadiz Gazettes to the 4th have arrived. They do not cortirm
the accounts before received, that 6tren rt. had raised the sege
of Valencia. They speak of an action of the EMPECINADO,
but not at Cubillejo, with the French, wno hal evacuated be
castle of Unlit=; he killed 40‘) and wounded 5u a. BALLAs7R.
Ros was under the artillery of tithraltar.—(Lisbox Graft,
Dec.. 17.)

VALENCA DE ALCAWFAR A, Dac.6.
Ilead-quarters of the 6th Army, Nor. 11.-

The head-quarters of this army left Villa-franca on the 7th,
for Vinhales; and, on thehaMO day, the troops of the vanguard,
and the second division,tshieh oceapit El Wieero,put tirriselyes
in motion, iti different directions, debt:wiling by the passes of
Fuencesadon and Manzonal ; and Mlle corps approaching to
within a quarter of a league of Astor;tl, the troops of tee third
division had orders to operate in the, direminnts of Banhcza
and Benavente.--The object of this nioveur.nt 1535 to
call the attention of the troops whin were in Leen. in
ordor to reinforce those which were entering the Asturias as was
done, for on the 9th 1003 infantry and 30 )horse passed by Others
for Astorga. The object proposed ccing obtained, the poops
retired into their cantonments, leaving a COI ps of cavalry is ad-
vance, coact in the vicinity of Carreco. 1:fom want of ihnes
and other articles, indespensibly neeessary for maltis war in
such a climate and situation, the operations of this part of the
army have been delayed, await ir.g thenational grat Rude and su
port which those merit who have sacrificed every necessary of life,
to maintain the independence of their country, and preserve the
rights and property of their fellow -cis Excellency also
received yesterday a letter from Gen. SlLAtati A, da'ed from his
bead-quarters at Vila Real, in which he says, that lie had received
orders from General Lord WETZINGT,IN, to act in rotweet a ith
our army, ou which account he bad marched for Chaves, in
which place, and in Braganca, the division tinder his command,
would assemble, to act as circumstances might require, Lis
principal object being to defend Portugal on that side, and,
when it can he done without risk, to co-operate in the defence
of Gallicia.- -11 e also says, that Don CARLOS DIINP4NNA is at
Lombrales, arming and clothing his division, for the use of
which he bad received from Lord WELLINGTON 1000 stand of
arms.—(Lisbou Gazette, Dec. 18.)

We feel unwilling to repeat what we have fre-
quently asserted before, though it is our duty to do
it—namely, that a system of delusion and deception
is practised by Ministers and Ministerial Papers, with
respect to the real points in dispute between this
country and the United Slates. The snbject, as ex-
plained by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
evinces most clearly the truth of this remark, and
also shows the address with which he evaded the dis-
closure, that the French Decrees had ceased to qv:
rut;. Instead of stating to Parliament, 1111 it was
his duty, as an upright and impartial Minister, to
have done, that the Berlin and Milan Deesees were
virtually repealed, by ceasing to operate, he diverted
their attention by saying, they were not repealed with
thnsaine formalities with %%filch they were enacted.
he was sufficiently guarded in his remarks, to say
nothing about the acted liberation of every Ameri-
can vessel detained ender those Decrees, as he well
knew it would not only weaken his argument,
but hare a teedetterto open the eyes of the
people to the merits of the •dispute: It is note-
lions that the Orders is Council were promul-
gated, about nine months after the Berlin De-
ere,e,, upon the principle of retaliation, on the,
first intelligence of that Decree being enforced. Mi.
PERCEVAL would, therefore, be in a sad dilemma, to
acknowledge that the Decrees were virtually repealed,
and, at the same time, advocate the continuance of.
the Orders in Council upon the principle of
.retalia-
tion, when truly there was nothing to retaliate.
The. CIIIRCELLOR nest sounds the alarm, that not
only the Orders in Council, bet the jest maritime-,
rights of this country, must be. abandoned for a set-
ticment with America. So far from this, the Ameri-
can Government have not only formerly, hut
now distinctly, acknowledge the right of Mockede
of any place by sea, by an adequate naval.
force. At no period of our commercial prosperity,
have we required more from neutrals..
.The Marquis
WELLESLY also, in his correspondence with Mr.
PINIENEY, connected these subjects ; hut the latter
indignantly disclaimed the idea, and reprobated, in
strong terms, the impropriety of assuming a demand
as made by him, which he had not conceived. If there
ever was a time when it was most important to cherish
and Fupp9rt neutral trade, 'it is at the present mo,
~meat. With is!e.rfx4l.q4 WNW, a deficit or three

millions in the revenue, and engaged in a war with
combined Europe, unlimited in its duration, we need
all the resources we can command. Those resources
are mostly derived from commerce. Let the Orders
in Council be simply revoked, and America will be-
come what she formerly was—powerfully co-operative
in our prosperity, and, at the same time, enriching
herself. The two nations are so connected in com.
merce, that wherever an American ship lloats, some
advantages, direct or indirect, are derived by this
country. As an instance in point, for the last year,
American commerce to Russia has been free and
unrestrained, e►en by the Orders in Council. In
consequence of this, many hundred ships have pro-
ceeded from this country to Russia, under American
colours, with our Indian produce, and have returned
with Russian cargoes. Sugar, coffee, and other kinds
of colonial produce, has risen from thirty to fifty
per cent. from an exclusive demand for these ship.
ments. Here is experimental evidence, if it was ne-
cessary, of the destructive and ruinous tendency of
the Orders in Council to our own trade. Had Rus-
sia been included in the Continental Blockade, we
should have been entirely excluded from a most va-
luable branch of trade, which has added to the
wealth of the shipowner, the West India planter,
and the merchant.

His Royal" Highness the Paint RECENT had a
select party at dinner yesterday : amongst the com-
pany were Lord YARMOUTH and Col. M‘MAtioN.

Lord (ioLr..►so had an audience yesterday with
the Patsce REGEsT, at Carlton house.

Miss LONG AND MR. PoLt.-- Yesterday took
place the long-expected union between Miss TYLNEY
LUNG and Mr. W. Por.r, jun. a union which, be-
fore its solemnization, created more fashionable
conversation and conjecture, than any marriage-
project that has been on the tapir for many years past.
Mrs. STEPUEN KEMBLE has wholly withdrawn
from the stage, though she has had many tempting
offers from Provincial Managers, to induce her to
return to it.

LIEUT. HAMILTON CROFTON.—BRAMBURY, who
was bound over to prosecute this young man for the
alleged robberies, upon detection of which he attempt-
ed to destroy himself, forfeits; of course, f,)r not
appearing on the trial, his recognizance of 1001.
Mr. MAnoocKs, who, by almost unprecedented
perseverance and immense expenditure, succeeded
in recovering a very large tract of land from the
sea, has now to boast of the most promising ap-
pearance of wheat crops on his newly-acquired do-
minion.

The roof of Drury-lane Theatre, it is understood,
willies on by the 30th of March, and no doubt is en-
tertained by the Architect of the Theatre being fully
-completed-in September.
The largest emerald which has ever been seen, has
lately been imported from the East Indies ; it was one
of the most valuable stones of TIPPOO Slants crown.
It is of an extraordinary size and beauty. Its weight
is supposed to exceed considerably 500 grains.
Mr. PERCFN.LL yesterday gave notice of a motion
this day, in the House of Commons, with an intent
to put a stop to the distillation from grain.
At the last meeting of the Chamber of Com-
merce of Glasgow, we understand a Committee
was appointed to consider and report, what steps
ought to be taken upon the approaching expira-
tion of the East India Company's Charter, that
that immense field of commerce might be opened to
the individual enterprize and capital of the Mer-
chants of tl.;s country, in the same way that it has,
for so long a time, beau to traders from America. •
It was the Leeds Commercial Bank (Messrs. Frx-
Tos, Scorr, NICHOLSON, and &Kern) that stopped
payment in consequence of the failure of Messrs.
Itot.nrao, LUSHINGTON, and Co. It is stated in the
Leeds Mercury of Saturday last, that the former were
creditors of the latter, at the time of their failure,
to the amount of 175,0001. The same paper how-
ever adds, that it is supposed the Commercial Bank
will be enabled ultimately to fulfil their engagements.
—A LiuColushire Bank also stopped payment last
Tuesday.
Sittings appointed in Middlesex and London, be-
fore the Right Honourable Edward Lord ELLEN
sown/sit, Lord Chief Justice, &c. iu and after
Hilary Term, 1812: