Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-26

Objected to the 9TH article, which had Tor
its $ object the disposal Of the Russian meet lee.
il the Tagus, in was finally concluded that
lieut.. col. Murray, quarter master genera
to the British army, and gen, keliermann,
should proceed to the discussion OF the re-
manning articles, and finally to conclude a
convention for the evacuation OF Portrayal
subject to the ratification of the French &C.
neral in chief, and the British commanders
by sea and land. .
After considerable discussion and repeat
se,l reference to me, which renderedslt neces-
sary for me to avail myself Of the limited
period lately prescribed for the suspension
Of hostilitics, in order to move the army
forwards, and to place the several columns
Upon the routes by which they were to adj
vance. the convention was signed, and ra-
,i6cation exchanged ON the thirtieth OF last
month.
That no tiIne might be lost in obtaining
anchorage for the transports and other ship
ping. which had for some days been expos
cd TO great peril on this dangerous coast
and to insure the communication between
the army and viotuallers, which was cut OFT
by the badness of the weather, and the surf
upon the shore, | sent orders to the Butts
and the AID regiments which were on board
transports with sir Charles Cotton's feet to
land, and take possession OF the forts on the
Tapus. whenever the admiral thought It
proper to do so. This was accordingly car
ried into execution yesterday morning, when
the forts of Cascais, St. Julien's and Buglo,
were evacuated by the French trooFs, and
occupied by ours.
AS landed in Portugal, entirely unac-
quainted with the actual state OF the French
army, and many circumstances OF local
and incidental nature, which doubtless had
great weight in deciding the question NY
own opinion in favor of the expedlency o.
exprlling the French from Portugal by
means of the convention the late defeat had
induced the French general in chief to soli-
cit, instead of doing SO by a continuation OF
hostiiities, was principally founded on the
great Importance Of time, which the season
Of the year rendered peculiarly valuable,
and which the enemy could easily have con-
sunsd in the prctracted defence OF the
strong places they occupied, had terms OF
convention been refused them.
When the suspension of arms was agreed
upon, the army under sir John Moore had
not arrived, and doubts were even enter
tanned whether so large body Ct men could
be landed eli an open aud a dang beach;
and that being effected, whether the supply
of SO large an aruy with provisions for the
ships could be provided for, under al the
disadvantages to which the shipping were
exposed. Duringthe negotiation the form
er !iGncultv was overcome by the activity,
zeal and intelligence OF captain Malcolm,
of the DONEGAL, ard the officers and men
under his orders, but the possibility Of the
latter seems to have been at an end, nearly
at the moment it was no longer necessary.
Capt. Dalrymple, Of the 18th Dragons,
my military sccrstar-, will have the honor
of delivering to your lordsbip this dispatch.
He i. fully informed Of whatever hes been
done under my orders, relative to the sery-
ice ON which have been employed, and can
give any explanation thcreupon that may be
required.
| have the honor to be, &c.
(Signcd)
Hrw DALRyMpLE, !;eui. .eeH.