Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-14


the troops can land. An express has gone
to Madrid for the purpose. Gen. Baird
hes landed. We expect also 5000 cavalry
from England. AS soon as the transports
are cleared they will proceed to Lisbon, to
bring part Of the English troops from,
thence the whole of which are to act with
gen. Blake.
Gen. Castanos has been appointed COM
mander in chief Of the Spanish forces.
Gen. Cuesta has resigned.
The Spanish troops IN P0rtNgal-The
following is the speech of gen. Beresford,
on returning the sword to the Spanish gen.
Lagune, of which he had been perhdiously
deprived BY the French at Lisbon, at the
time the Spanish troops were disarmed in
that CITY:
g SSsis7sor General,
3 The scene which this day affords, ex-
cites in me most lively pleasure-and in re-
storing to these brave soldiers their arms, |
have the honor Of presenting to your Excel
leacy this sword, to BE delivered to It's own
er; placing it in the hand of a Spaniard is
giving it to man of valor, with the assur-
ancc that he will use it in the cause of glory
and honor. Taleit, Seignor General, and
with these brave troops, to whom | am now
going 70 restore their arms, OF which they
were deceittully deprived by a treacherous
enemy, who dare not seize them openly.
Go, avenge them, and also your country,
which the same enemy has treated with a
re.i;dy never before experienced by any
people. In the mean time, Seigaor Gene
ri, go, conduct these troops, that they may
pursue t,se gallant actions which your nero.
ic nation has already performed, IS they
have finally 10 accomplish the desires Of the
English psople-of seeing Spain free, it
beiag now our sole wish that the Spanish and
English nations may always live united and
allied"
TotEacse observations general Lagune re-
Piled
s Gcneral-It gives me the Creates
satisfaction to receive at the hands OF your
excellenev, the arms of which the Spanish
nation was stripped by the deepest per6dy
and cunnine-and in the name of my sove-
reign Lord Don Ferdinand VII. (whom
God preserve y return you nay most
graceful thanks.
The cause which unites and impeis us, is
a secure pledge of the noble sentiments
which animate the two nations, and ought
to assure Your excellency, that the general
wish ofmy countryrenis solely directed to
the total destruction OF the common enemy.
May thealmighty grant thara durable peace
may be the fruit of our lahours, and con-
cede to US the happiness, that the defenders
oftheir country and their families may en-
joy"
Turning to the brigadier don Romoy
Gamboa, deiiverd him his sword with some
observations suitable to the occasion. This
commander Selling it, swore to conquer Or
die for Ferdinand VII. his religion and his
country" The drums then beat, and all
the officers and chiefs assembled, when he
thus addressed them:
C Friends and unfortunate companions
in arns-our infamous imprisonment has
ceased we can now hasten to the defence
Of our country. Our beloved king Ferdi
nand vi. is proclaimed king Of Spain and
the Indies by common consent; although
he. remains IN France, his joyful subjects
have swornto die or conquer in defence of
50 inst cause. Let us then arm our SOL
diers, and let it always be our object to de-
fend or king, our religion, and our coun-
try, necessarily repeating, Viua Ierdiaaad0
VIL Vencir q lorir.
The chiefs and officers putting their right
hands on the hilt of their swords, swore
never to see repose till they had seen their
beloved Ferdinand VII. re-established on
his DEMONSTRATING to their posts, they
delivered the arms to their respective COM