Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-10


.zy, of which they will soon feel the most
woeful conviction.
Foreign News.
From London hahers receiucd. at tie of
.fcc Of the Aurord.1
LONDON, Nov. IS.
We are grieved to state, that govern.
ment yesterday received intelligence of a
most alarming nature from Spain. The
Lady Pellew packet left Corunna on the
18th, and arrived at Falmouth on the 22d
instant.-She brings the melancholy ac-
count from Lugo, ON the line OF March of
sir David Baird's army, that on the 18th
they had halted in consequence of advices.
that tue northern Spanish army, under the
command of general Blake. had been total
ly routed--that the French were in pos
session of Burgos-and even advanced by
rapid marches to Valladold. The cohse-
quences of which was, that the feet of
transports which were preparing to sail
from CoruaDa, and were actuallay weighing
anchor, were recalled by signal to remain
as they might be wanted to bring OF the
British army. 1t is added, but this is too
probably conjecture, that the French were
pushing forward column to Madrid, of
which .hey wculd forthwith be masters.
1t is more likely, and indeed their march,
TO Valladolid is proof OF it. that their ipier.
ton is to intercepS and cut off the army adj
vaacing from Lisbon under sir john Moore.
the first column of which had arrived at Sa-
lamanca aboat the time that the French
were at Valladold. The distance by the
direct road is not more than 20 leagues,
and on the 18th instant, it is understood,
that sir John Moore was at Salam anca, sir,
David Baird at Lugos, and the French at
ValladDli,I.
In tha,e circumstances considerable ap :
preheDsipns are entertained respecting the
result OF the contest in Spain, but particu-
larry respecting our army, which IS now
considered as being in imminent Jeopardy
and those even who are the most inclined
To despoud of the cause of the Spaniards,
are not little alarmed about the actual
situation of the British. We have at this
moment an army os from IS Co 10000 men
in Spain, but the two corps of tins army,
1 it IS TO be feared, will not be able TO effect
a junction Bnrgos was the point at which
l'it,was fixed that they were to meet, but
B'rSos is now in possession OF the French,
and even surprising that Sir John Moore
SHOULD turn to tbs left ut Salamanca, and
endeavor to establish a communicates with
sir David Baird by Zamora and Bcnevento,
we are afraid that such an attempt may
be defeated by the enemy Some persons
suppose that the French will advance
Straight to Madrid, and It is not impossible,
provided they are sufficiently strong (which
here seems but little reason TO Doubt
that they may send forward detachment
to take possession of the capital but it is
not at all likely that they will advance lea-
wing the English army upon their rIgh,
flank, without sufficient force to make
head against il. Besides il Is az much more
important object for Bonaparte, in the pre-
sent stage of the contest, to defeat the Byi-
tish army, than it is To gain possession Of
Madrid, particularly as this will follow OF
course upon the other. We have no doub,
whatever, therefore. that If sir John Moore
has not reiterated by the same route by
which he came, that we shall ere long near
of his division having been attacked and
however nigh may be our opinion OF British
valour, it can hardly be expected, that in
the present instance, it will be sufficient to
overcome, not only the enemy's force, but
all the disadvantages Of It's situation. It is
very well known that our troops have no
magAzines-tbat they find great difficulty
in procuring food--and that this circun-
stance has rendered it necessary to march
the army in small columns, az considerable
intervals, so that it has been said, that be-
tween the van ana the rear, there viii be
distance of not less than 90 days march.
Were our armies, therefore, in these cir
cumstances to be attacked, the enemy
would have to contend, not with concen..
trated force of 20 or % 900 men, bat with
detached bodies of 2 or 1000, which he
could cut off in detail, The Cavalry, too,
are separated from the infantry; general
Hope having proceeded with the former
by the great road leading from Badajos to
Madrid. In short, the British force which,
had it been united, wosld have formed
respectable army, is so divided, as to rem
der each division feeble opponent to the
enemy.
The fatal consequences Of our DISTRACT.
ons and cabals now begin to shew them
selves; and all those men who, from the
beginning augured i'll of the Spanish cause,
plume themselves on their sagacity, forget.
ting that their predictions have been favor