Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-10-07
R &c H M o N d:

submitted 10 our perusal, by friend ct MIR
Nourse. This gentleman arrived on Mon
day last III the Chesapeake Bay, in the St
Michael, and reached this place on Tues
day.
The st. Michael left England on the 21st
of August, End France on the 18th. We
were so unfortunate as not to meet with Mr..
Nourse, but we understand that he said,
there was no probability of Great Britain or
France resembling their ubiquitous DEGREES,
and that nothing had made the British ca
binet so obstinate and inflexible, in regard
60 their orders of council, as the opposition
to the embargo in this country, and the
symptoms Of civil commotion, which have
appeared in the eastern states. Federal
lists, minority men, and British adherents,
reflect and alter your course.
LONDON. August S.
The dinner given to the Spanish deputies
yesterday, was most splendid one. We
wish II had had that external "pomp and
circumstance" which we recommended.
i he deputies, however, were in the highest
degree gratitied and it was with great pro-
priety they requested the min ster of foreign
affairs, MIR. Canning, To be heir organ for
returning thanks when their healths were
drank. Some little interruption tn the ce-
neral enthusiasm and h ,rmony took place
when the President of the Uni ed States
was given as toast--the company seemed
to think, that he had little to do with such
meeting. (Courier.)
The Duke of York does not go out as
Commander in chief of the army destined
10 assist the Spanish and Portuguese patr-
OTIS. We thought the accusation of the op-
position papers against ministers upon this
subject would prove unfounded. lib.
No Official account has been received of
the landing of the troops under sir A. Wei.
lesley.
We have little to add 70 the intelligence
we communicated yesterday, relative to
Spain and Portugal. 1t is certain that
Cue sta has retreated from Benevento, and
that Restores entered it on the 10Th and
left it On the goth ult. The retreat of Gu.
esta is attributed in one account to some
dispatches which were found on the person
OF French Aid de-camp, who had been
disguised as a Spanish pos ilion. Imme-
diately on the receipt of them, Cuesta dis
missed the peasantry belonging TO his army,
ordered the cavalry to mount, and with
them and the flying artillery, marched off
suddenly at IL O'Clock, saying, " Let those
who are able and willing follow me. ;"
We do not believe a syllable of this &C.
count. Cuesta's retreat may be much more
nationally attributed to the approach of
Bessieres with large force in cavalry
Cuesta had not, and therefore might not
think il prudent to risk an engagement in
the open country round Benevento. A late
article from Astorga, to which Cuesta's ad-
vanced guard, was said to have retreated,
talks of "the army of Galicia, being divi-
ded, as it is fit it should be, into number
OF districts, closely connected and occupyine
tile same points as BEFORE" with view Of
harrassng the enemy, cutting off his sun.
plies, and reducing him to great straits,
without risking general battle. General
battles in the outset Oft their glorious struggle,
the Spaniards act wisely in avoiding as
much as possible. 1t is not by boldly meet
ing her terrible adversary under every dis.
advantage, that Spain can hope to triumph
over France, in the long, and difficult, and
sangUinary contest before her, in which
she will be inyincible, and she must be
victorious, if she suits her mode of warfare
90 her own means of offence instead of rashly
accommodating it to the convenience of an
enemy, who never feels so confident in his
valor, his skill, or his strength. as to fore
go any advantage, however trifllng. which
may Contribute to success, and whose policy
1T will be 10 brave and to decoy the patri-
OTIS into the open country. Cuesta, there
fore may have acted most prudently in re-
treating, though a Corunna paper affects
10 throw out insinuations agains him, and
says that If he had in the battle of the 18th
brought forward his cavalry, when repeat
eddy called on TO do So in the same manner
that the brave gen. Blake did, the victory
of the patriots would have been certain.
Of 3 IS efe's route after he Quilted Be-.
nevento, we have no certain accounts.
Some assert that he is going to Zamora with
the view as II should seem of pene rating
into Portugal Zamora is some d stance
from the Portuguese frontiers, and Brssieres
could not reach that town before the 22d or
23d Of last mon.h. Sir A. Wellesley who
left Oporto on the 25th would be AT Figuei-
ia in al probability by the 29th. He would
of course lose no time in joining the Por-
tuguese force a. Coimbra, and in MARCHING
20 Lisbon. Perhaps Besseres calculates
upon junot's being able TO mold out ill he
can come TO his assistance.
OF Dupont we have no further accounts
There was report that having been rein.
TO c d by 600 men he had marched ont
of Andujar. attacked Castanor, and cot
gam to Cordovo; but having been Joined
by Gen. Spencer's division, Cas,anos adj
vanced against him and drove him out of