The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-10-08 00:00:00

•

•P• rim TILE LONDON 6:IZETTE,
• •"/ Donning-street, Oct. 6.
A. dispatch, of which the following is a copy,
wia itteited, on the 4th instant, at the Earl of Li.
vettiool'a Office, addressed to his Lordship I))
Liesiienant.Geueral Viscount iVellington, K. B.
dated Genteel sth September, 1810.

. Goavea, September 5, 1810.
Loan,—l inclose a letter from Cotwiel Cox,
late Gbeernor of Almeida, to Marshal Beresford,
centildlng a copy of the capitulation of Almeida,
and Ati account of the circutestances which occa.
sioned the early surrender of that place.
It was impossible to expect that Colonel Cox
should confirms the defence of the place' after the
unfortunate occurrence which he mentions ; and I
am WWl° add, that all the accounts which I
have retesied 'from Officers and suldiere •,;1' the mi.
**who lave come into the interior under thi ca.
Otalation, concur in applauding the condutt or the
'Governor throughout the siege, and in the unfor.
euntti altintipat in which he mei placed towards its
dole. Ifis certain that MI the explosion of chi
magazine .of the place, the garrison had sustained
but little loss, and were is the highest sptrits, and:l
encouraged by the example of the Governer,' end'
the confidence they had in Mot, were determiseirtt
hold out till the last mottled: 1. • ""`"
I have' the honour to4aefoielliii-eap—y of .a./etter
"Adel I recalled from Marshal Beresford, in whit*
ate inclosed the letter from Colonel Cox ; to whit*
I have to add, that the two officers mentioned in
that letter, the Tenente del Rey, and the Mejur of
'the Artillery, have enters:l:l"the service of France,
And that the latter has been- promoted to the rank
of Colonel. 1 am also informed that when sent
?oat by the Governor into the enemy's lines to
.negociate the capitulation, and after he had 'in.
'formed the enemy of the unfortunate situation of
the garrison, he did not return to the place when
hostilities recommenced; but continued in the cue.
my's lines. I have the honour to be, kc.
(Signed) WELLINGTON.
Brunet of a Letter from Marsbal Beresford to Viscottat Wel-
lington, dated Metairie° da Sernk, 4th Sept. 1810.
I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship
a copy of a letter 1 have received from Colonel Co,x,
bite Goiernor of Almeida, and a copy of the capil
tnlatiou of that place.
.r
With whatever regret it was we witaesed the
unexpected fall of that place, uninformed as we
then were of the cause, I think the circumstance
related in the Governor's letter of the unfortunate
loss of his entire ammunition, and the injury sus-
tained by the town and works, and loss to the gar.
risen by the effects of the explosion,, will prove
sufficiently the impracticability of a protracted de-
fence; and 1 regret to say the conduct of the.Liett..
tenant.Govarnor (Tenente Rey) Franclito f3el.•
nardo di Costale Almeida, and of Meier, aim:
minding the artillery, Fortunato Joye Harreros„
increased the difficulties occasioned by the etplosion.
The former had until the commencement of the
enemy's fire acted with much zeal and propriety,
but on that commencing shut himself up in bomb.
peoofs ; and after the explosion, from personal fear
.and to avoid any fuhlier firing, took advantage of
the consternation and confusion which must be ever
attendant in such a. cases to Counteract the Go.
vernor's attempt, to hold out at least some .short
time longer. The. MajUr.of Artillery,* it appears,
had acted well during the siege, but after! 'the U.
plusitin, appears. to have added treachery to cow. •
ardice, and, to gain favour with the enemy, com.
muntcated to him the real state of the garrison, and
that it had no ammunition whateser left, Which
caused Marshal Massena to refuse the terms de.
mended by the Governor.
Until the unfortunate accident of the explosion
of the magazine, the garrison appears to have been
in the highest apirits, and in the best possible dis.
position and resolution to defend the -towni and
which they unanimously' state their Governor's
conduct inspired them with, as every officer and
man gives the highest applause to his unremitting
aiel. and activity, encouraging all by his own ex.
Your Lordship will 'see that it was of very little
'consequence what capitulation the garrison had got,
as it is obvious the enemy would not have observ.
ed its where it .was his interest to break It, and
which will be witnessed by his having detained by
`force, and contrary to the terms of the capitulation,
L *seven °filters and *9O. men from each of the three
'..regimeots of.niiiiria.tbat were in the garrison ; and
this with thirUbject.uf. forming them into a pioneer
corps.. • , • ; 4, • • •
• I*-Thvollteetr arid soldiers of the regiments,
to a .map‘s • colitineed4o refuse tu'enter voluntarily
Irifo ,thp.servide •Ilsa enemy, and the seven officers
`and*PQ men °reach regiment were detained ford.
1)IYs. Stich at 'the eirconsitances which have come,
t 6 my,Apowledge 9r the. conduct of the garrison of
Almeid 10. 'Web I think it necessary to communi-
cate to, yoarlowdshift., .
--;
Aides del Wore, Aug. 30,1810
Stit,tlfilielifel task has fallen to my lot of ac.,
guainting your Excellency, that I was reduced to
the necessity of surrendering the f oats" of Almei.
da, whith I had the honour to command on the
27th inst. at ten o'clock at night, in consequence
of powder 'in .the castle, and the small magazines
the unfortunate '
,explosion of the great magazine
contiguois !s•to by which' dreadful accident
was deprived' of the whole of my artillery and
musket ammunition, , with Alto exception of a few
made-up cartridges which rehialeed in some of the
.expence magaxines on the ramparts, and 99 burets'
of powder which were deposited in the laboratory.
Upwards of half of ;the detachment of artillery,
and a great number of infantry soldiers, besides
several iof the inhabitants, were destroyed by the
effect of this terriblaexplosion. Many of the guns
were dismounted upon the ramparts, the works
were materially injured, and a general diimay
spread ainuilet the troops and inhabitants of the
place.
In this distressing situation • I received a letter
from the Commander in Chief of the French army
to me that I should surren-
doefrPtohletu igilaisic'eprtouptog
hsii.nFrench army under
mow, upon honourable terms, which, he hesias aicd,nihe
was ready to grain ; I answered, that I wished to
know the terms Which be proposed ; upon ehich,
the Articles, of which I have the honour to scud