The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-05-12 00:00:00

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, f V.. kIIOIII THE TRINCH PAPERS.)
MADIID. APRIL :10 —The Government bits received
the report of General Rallasteros, dated from his head
qnarters at Tarragona, 19th instant. This brave de-
fender of liberty commences his despatch with felicita-
tions that his troops have bed the glory to be the first to
measure swords with the French. He announces after-
wards, that on the ISth two htigades of the division of
Colonel Don Francisco de Rola Figueras were attacked
in the environs of Arnedilln, by a force four times their
number, composed of four French battalions, with 500
cavalry. and two battalions of Afranccsados. The bri-
gade of Colonel Arana was charged by all the enemy's
force; and notwithstanding its enormous superiority,
our troops fought with the greatest enthusiasm, and re-
treated in order upon Aruedillo, where they united with
the remainder of the division. The combat was obsti-
nate, and the French sustained considerable loss. The
Colonel of Hussars of the bower Rhine was killed in
the first charge of the cavalry. At the same time the
column of the Brigadier Don Juan Sanchez was charged
and received the enemy with the greatest coolness ; but
it Ivid the misfortune to lose its brave chief. who was
made prisoner of war. The battalion of active militia
of Logrono experienced a loss sufficiently great ; but it
has nobly sustained t' e honour of our arms. General
Ballasteros concludes his report by doing homage to the
courage of his !mops, and expressing Lis intention to
defend unt death the public liberties, and the legiti-
mate government of his country. ur troops main-
tained, on the 19th, their position at Arncdillo.

Oo the 17th of April, Count Abilhpi addressed four
propouls to the militia of Madrid gib

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" I. To march towords Seville, to keep open the commu-
nication with the capital.
" 2. To join the army enjoying the same prerogatives.
" 3. To admit every militiaman into the Guerillas.
" 4. That those who shall choose to remain at Madrid
shall deliver this'll/Ins to the active army."
The greater mpg of the Anny dim the first proposal.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE. CORTES.

In the first sitting of the Cortes, held at Seville, the
Assembly heard the Report of the special Committee on
the triumphal march of the National Representation from
Madrid to Seville.
In the same sitting, a messsge from the Minister of
the Interior announced the entrance of the French into
Spain.
To a question from M. Monlesinos, the Ministe
tney had no knowledge of a proclamation
Dike d'A ngonletne ; perhaps because
.the Courie
Bayonne had been intercepted.
The Minister of the Interior, in answer to a question
by M. tionzales Alonzo, said, that the news from the Po-
litical Chief of Zamora, of the 13th, had not mentioned
the entrance of Count Autoroute into Spain, though it
was reported to have taken place on the 14th.
On the 24th the Minister of Foreign Affairs read the
declaration of war against France. It is dated th
of April, signed by the King, and addressed to M.
Miguel. It states, that as the French have invad
Spanish territory without a declaration of war, and ith-
out any of the usual formalities, which must be considered
as a violation of the law of nations and an actual com-
mencement of bostilites, his Majesty, conformably to his
flute of repelling force by force, of defending the integrity
of the monarchy, and punishing the audacity of the etre-
I mies wbo invade it, has resolved by the advice of the
Council of State, and according to article 233 of the Con-
stitntion, to declare war against France; which be does
by the present declaration, enjoining the competent au-
thorities to combat by sea and land; and this declaration
of war is to be solemnly published.
In the sitting of the 250, this opinion of the Conncil
of State was read—" That war ought to be declared
against the nation that has invaded Spain."—Referred to
the Diplomatic Committee.

WEEKLY REGISTER OF WEATHER.—The last week
afforded another of the many instances of the vicissitudes
to which our climate is subject. Sicce the commence•
ment of the month, though the mornings and evenings',
bad been cold, the warmth of the days bad been consi-
derable,
and on Wednesday the thermometer at 10 o'clock
p. m. was as high as on any day of May last year. After
that hour, however, an unfavourable change began to
take place, an,d on Thursday. at the same period of
the day, the thermotnetor was 11 degrees below the
point it had reached the day before. On that evening
and Saturday afternoon, as well as yesterday, there
were showers of rain. and since Saturday night the wind
from the S. W. has been boisterous. The weather, on
the whole, is favourable to vegetation, and yesterday
lilac was beginning to flower. The quantity of rain fallen
here since Saturday se'nnight is 3 tenths of an inch.
Strand, May 12.