The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-10-19 00:00:00

'l'll E STATESMAN

of a Messenger, who is now waiting tweierry holm
dispatches from head-quarters.
" I am sorry to inform you, that we hare not yet
made ourselves masters of this place—the enemy
still cottoning to defend the Castle with the utmost
" Welty, sprung two mines, and effected two
considerable breaches in the outer wall of the ene-
my's works, which has enabled our troops to esta-
blish themselves within what is termed the exterior
lines of the fortifications of the Castle. The second
mine exploded about an hour ago; and, while I am
writing this, our brave fellows are still engaged in
driving the enemy within theilinner lines.
" These affairs, so obstinately contested, have
I •
been attended with severe loss. The Portuguese and
the 24th British infantry, have been the principal
sufferers.

" The resistance elperienced here has certainly
been greater than what had been calculated upon ; and
I fear there will be a further considerable sacrifice of
valuable lives ere we obtain the final possession of
the place, which it is the determination of the
Commander-in-Chief to effect, previous to any ul-
terior object. Indeed, it is generally believed, that
the business of the campaign will close with the re-
daction of this important fortress ; and that the army
will then go into permanent winter quarters; the
w hate being Times i n want of repose, the harassing duty
they have undergone since the battle of Salamanca
having placed a considerable number on the sick list;
and it would form a frightful aggregate, both of offi-
cers and men, were it possible for me to enumerate
those who have fallen victims to fatigue alone. You
cannot, my dear friend, form any conception of the
hardships an army has to encounter on a long march
in this country ; the roads, which are at all times much
neglected, are now, in many places, truly execrable,
and the heavy rains that have set in, have rendered
them nearly impassable. These causes combined,
will all tend to put an end to any further important
operations for the winter, and will alike tend to
check any proceedings on the part of the enemy.
" When this .... contest will end, Heaven only
knows ;but, judging from the obstinacy with which the
enemy defend this place, it does not appear that they
have any thoughts of abandoning the country ; and I
much fear that a new campaign will only bring us a
recurrence of the same unprofitable system of war-
fare, unattended with any other advantage than
that of shedding additional lustre on our arms.

The General Election is now drawing towards a
close; and the FARCC of appealing to the people to
return Representatives worthy of their confidence
has been performed,we hope, for the last time, daring
the influence of the present Managers ; and, as the
people are, of coarse, anxious to knew whet good-
things are likely to be produced on the meeting of
Parliament, we can inform them, that while the pre-
' sent system of Government continees to be acted
upon—while Peers, rich Commoners, and Corpora-
, dons can send a corrupt majority to Parliament,
giving the War Ministers and their agents a licence
to riot in luxury, and indulge, with impunity, their
ill-starred ambition, out of the treasures and re-
sources of an impoverished nation—we say, that
while a majority of such a description is returned by
the Electors, it is in vain for such melt as Sir
FRANCIS BURDETT, Mr. WHITNREAD, Sir SAMUEL
IIowILLT, and Mr. BROUGHAM, and others, to
oppose the torrent of oppression, which, like a
river in its flood, every attempt to stem its pro-
gress, only serves to increase its accumulating powers,
till it bursts upon its course with more destructive
ra-
pidity. While Ministers are enabled to keep their
situation, and can find money to support their ca-
lamitous measures, which have lately poured upon
us like so many mischiefs from PANDORA'S box,
we cannot hold out—no—not even a solitary
I hope to cheer our starving countrymen with a pro-
f sped of haling their condition ameliorated by any
change likely to take place in the new Parliament.