The Statesman.
London, England, 1811-10-30 00:00:00

to raise the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo ; to supply it
with provisions for a considerable period; to take
the enemy's intrenched camp, his magazines, and
his park of artillery, and, in fine, to give him
battle." Although Meanoser did not succeed in
accomplishing all that he expected, it must be
confessed that he did every thing in his power
to effect this, and would most probably have ef-
fected it, had not Lord WELLINGTON retreated
from the positions which he held. The relief of
Ciudad Rodrigo, the leading object in view, was,
however, accomplished, and 1500 carriages, loaded
with pros Notts, were conveyed in safety into tbat
place. After this, the enemy attacked the rear-guard
of the Allitel Army on the 25th, and compelled it to ,
retreat to Fuente Guinaldo. On this occasion, con-
tinues 31 sew 'NT, " our advanced guard only was
engaged; our divisions of infantry were one march
behind. If that had not been the case, the English
army would have been ruined. We had the affliction
to see all his divisions falling hack preciplately, in
every direction upon their intrenched camp. If I had
bad at the moment only 15,000 men at my disposal,
the English army would have been completely taken
by surprise, and beaten in detail, without the possi-
bility of uniting." Whether M A Rawer would have
been as successful as he thought he would, we will
not pretend to say; but as our army were, not allow-
ed to remain at Fuente Guinaldo, having abandoned
their camp during the night, and retreated upon
Alfayates and:Sabogal, it appears very probal"e, if
they bad not made this movement, but waited the
coming uppf the enemy,who were rapidly approech-
*leg, that they would have been dispeised. On the
27tb, the enemy again came up with the rear-guard
of the Allies, which they instantly charged with
their maims 44 The combat," sept MARMuNT,
CI was glorious for the arms of ids MAJE,STy, and
the enemy were driven back with great loss and in
confusion. His rear-guard continued its retreat u, On
Sabugal. We have taken the baegage of the Prince
of ORANGE and of General Caatveu me Th. con-
fusion of the English army was so great, that ene of
Lord WELLINGTON'S Aids-de-Camp, in seekieg that
General, came directly upon out line; we have
taken 200 of the enemy prisoners." In detailing
the particulars preceding the atilt of the 27th.—
General DoasEerse., who had an active part in iti
states, that when he arrived at Fuente Guinaldo, he
4: perceived.with astonishment that the English army
was not yet assembled. If we could have foreseen
that the English General was capable of sech a fault,
we might have cut off' a part of the English army by
partial actions, but our infantry was not to be up till
the night or the following day, the 26th." This
General estimates the force of the Allies on the 27th,
at 15,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and 14 pieces of
artillery, who, he says, " resisted with obstinacy
for half an hour, but in the end the village was carried
at the pas de charge, tied the enemy driven in disor.
der into a ravine. Soon after, this portion of the
English army was driven beyond the Coa." Hay-
ing given this abstract of the French official de.
Ails, we shall not stop to draw a comparison
between them and the accounts which we
bad previously received from Lord WELLINGTON,
because the leading fact, which is of the greatest
importance to this country, namely, the retreat of his
Lordship, with the army under his command, is un-
deniable. But there is one circumstance connected
with the operations of our Armies in Portugal, which
we cannot too often press upon the minds of ow
Readers. Notwithstanding the immense military force
which has been sent out of this country, and the
incalculable sums of money expended in endeavour-
IN to effect the deliverance of the Peninsula, we find
that the Allied Army cannot, for more than " half an
hour," stand before the enemy, when he chosen to
attack it. The advance of Lord WELLINGTON to
Almeida, to Ciudad Rodrigo, to Badajoz, and to
Ciudad Rodrigo again, were, no doubt, enterprising
achievements; and, to the engag..ments to which
tilt se movements led, our brave countrymen unques-
tionably lost nothing of their military fame; but,
alas! these marches and coantermarshes have pro-
duced no benefit to the cause in which we are. en.
gaged. We were compelled to abandon Badajoz en
the approach of the enemy, who could have driven
us to Lisbon, if this had been any part of his plan.
In like manner we were forced to retreat from Ciudad
Rodrigo, and had not the French Generals had other
more important objects in view, they could as
easily hare compelled Lord WELLINGTON to take
up Ms former positions at Torres Vedras, as they
obliged him to recross the Coa. But RONAPASTE is
playing a much deeper game. He knows that sick-
ness is prevalent in our ranks ; he knows that Great
Britain is unable to provide for the deficiencies which
this occasions ; and thus he effects our destruction,
through partial means, by merely keeping us in awe
with a formidable army which we dare not attack,
and which, coraparatirely speaking, suffers little by
tl•is mode of warfare. That Ministers are fully
ae are cf this being the real state of the case, cannot
he disputed; but so long as the continuance of the
war affords them the means of gratifying their ave-
r e and ambition, and of enriching the numerous
herds of contractors, placemen, and pensioners which
they find so necessary to cry up their iniquitous
measures, just so long will the system they are pur-
!Aug, and which will undoubtedly ruin this country,
he persisted in. Unless therefore the PRINCE RE.
sews, who possesses the power of bettering our si-
tuatiou by a change of Ministers, stretch forth his