Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-04

M fFe eCllol VA siiS m
has Pus :, possession of the London Ira
vs nls q August 9Th, one day later than
sellel ,;;o,s adyiccs. Like the paper
as orseeded it, it isoccupied with the
sD!a e Spain; and our present selecu-
afap sse tbe former, are therefore neces-
ons - confined 10 that subject almost ex-
dssrsly.
LONDON, Algsst S.
~ ,,-;ne;paf intelligence we have this
ias , r respecting the STATE of
eg suain. consists ofextraets from the
laan .a n;mv. a journal received to the
.aus s;oo viii some additional particulars
.s -, in private letters which reach 70
he sane date.
'Iw p,' our inability to account tor
ssaet of general Cuesta III his quick
VI sren precipitate retreat after the battle
~ I.ss tath ult. Itwould seem that ne must
-, \ been very warmly pressed and over
'.r.red bv verv superior force to Justify
(. ,c,v;ng the mass of his infantry TO dls-
90 and TO trust to themselves tor safety,
s.ssr Than continue with them and support
,ssm With his cavalry and artillery. here
a ). accounts which represent Cuestass con-
Iur. IS regulated BY the best motives OF
,r.tnce, and as bvno means calculated 70
d,mD the prospect of final success. 1t NAV
n deemed consistent with the precauuens
Yaaich the supreme junta so wisely framed'
that general engagement should be avoid
Cd as much as possible. The Spaniards nee
yrr considered the aft ,ir at the Rio del Seco
defeat, though it was immediately follows
.dby arereat to Benevento. The follow
inc letter shews the light in which they
viewed that event:
AsroReA, Jmy i9.
q The battle ofthe 18th was as glorious
iaour army as that of E.ras was for the Ar
npn, {, and as the conflict in the neigh
hhood of Cordova was for the Andalusi-
m. With an inferior force, and noswith-
sanding the advantage the enemy possessed
a his numerous and excellent cavalry, DC
7s so worsted and his troops so dispersed,
lat twas With difficulty ae.could, reassem-
Ne them. He lost from 6to 1000 men,
nd the horses Of which tie French had
oObed the stables of the palace, those OF
Sodoy, and of other inhabitants or SFaln,
1ew killed In great numbers. The newly
Isisd conscriPts, it is true, were distrusted
y some rersoss, but that did not influence
heretreat of our army SO much as to spare
be hood of our valiantveterfms. Our able
vsnsr lwe1 knew that the total des,.uctior
p the French army would have cost much
loOd, from the destruction which the
reneh cavalry would make ; and therefore
Vas determined to defer giving them de-
ave battle, and because we have the pow
on dePriying them of their superiority in
IS respect. Our loss has been small, and
little consideration, compared to that of
c enemy, and numbers of Our men, whom
supposed to have been killed or taken,
lsoners, are continually coming in. Our
hole troops desire anxiously to hghs a
INST 1.-THE French, sand we trust that our &C.
erals viii not long delay giving them that
aasfactIon."
a letter from Corunna saws, that if Cues
had, IN the battle ofshe 14.h, brousas for
ard his cavalry, when repeatedly called on
do so, IN the same manner that the brave
'hsra Blake did, the victory Of the patri-
would have been certain. The msinua-
IN against Cuesta IS inserted IN a Cofunna
per OF the 28th; md that they all speak of
lake IN terms OF the highest applause. In
e same paper it appears, that an attempt
IS oeep made by Bessieres to tamper with
snsrsi Blake, afrer the manner which has
sen so frequently successful with the
rench generaL. In this instance 1t has
apply failed. General Blake's answer IS.
lsashed. He SAYS, that nothing shall de-
&c him from Tire service of his lawful So
'ses8n, Ferdinand the VII. or, failing him,
Inc next in blood Of the Bourbon race !;
q falling them all. that he shall hold him