The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-01-06 00:00:00

FORTIFICATIONS AT LISBON.

Extract of a letter, dated Dec. 13:—" Last week
I made a visit to the lines, fortified by Lord Wel-
lington, which will be celebrated for ages, as having
withstood the concentrated force of the French ar-
mies, and saved Portugal. Unless you have had
some idea of the nature of this barrier, from the fre-
quent mention of it, you may not fully comprehend
my brief description. The lines may be said to de-
fend a triangular portion of the kingdom of Portu-
gall possessing peculiar importance, by containing
the capital, the port, and the grand depdts. The
preservation of Lisbon is of the first importance ;
and to effect this, nature has so wonderfully pro-
vided, that a comparatively Wall share remains
to be performed by art. This, however, ceasing
to speak in relative terms, is a work of wonderful
amount. From Alhandra, a little town on the north
bank of the Tagus, about '23 miles from Lisbon, to
Mafra, on the coast fronting the Western Ocean,
runs a chain of mountains of perhaps 40 miles ; so
entire, that a passable valley rarely intervenes. The
part which I have seen has the outward ridge so
' abrupt, that after marching up a rugged and harass.
Ing ascent, an army would find, that even then to
gain the height, they would need scaling ladders as
Much as if a regularly built wall was to be sur.
mounted. The few directions in which a body of
men could approach, are so commanded by artillery,
'that an effectual slaughter would be carried on during
the time occupied in the most expeditious march.—
Ditches, pallisades, and other works, tend greatly I
to the inaccessibility of the place. Among the means 1
employed is a perfect line forested of the trenks and
branches Of trees, laid on the ground, with their
sprouts outwards : a species of obstacle which would
be found of immense trouble to pass; impossible, in
fact, to either infantry or cavalry. Supposing, how-
ever, all these difficulties overcome, the end is not
yet attained. There being a succession of heights in
the rear, the passes are all guarded, and there are.
large forts upon the summits, which being sufficiently
provided for resistance, would require a regular
siege to reduce. An extensive valley in front, form- I
ed the separation between our's and Massenerarmy
this time last year. The French were encamped
upon a corresponding, thouch more gentle elevation 4
on the other side ; where every movement and ope-
ration
were seen by glasses from our pests. I have
been told by Officers who were on the spot, that the
sight was of the most pleasing description ; and par-
ticularly at night, when the fires for cooking, &c.
formed a track of flame winding along the inequality
of the ground for many miles. In the towns I saw,
the marks of French possession still remain. Shut-
ters, doors, picture-frames, even, 11
were destroyed to serve as fuel.
The Nuturalist# Pocketer -
has I year

exhibits .
description of
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druped, th!
(mm BRuci,
&c. &c. Price

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