The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-17


being probably not short of 10000 men, "A re.
treat across the Tagus was indeed the Only
means OF safety left open to misunderstanding
To the extracts from the foreign papers which
We gave yesterday, the English head. quar-
tsrs were On the 9TH at Deleitosa, consdera
bly, to the south of the 'ragus, and about 20
miles from Ialavera. Private accounts add,
that he was continuing his retreat in the di-
fection of Merida and Seville, and that part
ct his army had already reached Truxiilo.
We hope that these accounts NAV prove Cor
rect, as he will be i'm the best sources of sup.
ply, and sure of effecting his retreat TO the
coast. Stores of every kind, il is added, had
been sent off tohim from Seville, Cadiz, and
various other towns, together with horses,
mules and other means of conveyance, #
which he was so much i'm want.
Our readers will do us the Justice to ad =
init, that We never amused them with all
the benefits that Ministers expected to de.
rive from march to Madrid We can
therefore with the more satisfaction congra-
tulate Sir Arthur Wellesley upon his for
sunate escape. Had he been unfortunately
provided with means of transport to follow
up the battle of Talavera, and pursue Vic
Tor, Soult would not have been at Placentia
but at Talavcra, and the combined army
would have been caught in that trap. from
which it has escaped by rapid retreat and
movement across the Tagus The force
that occupied Romano. Beresford, and Sir
X. Wilson, being Withdrawn to the Jacus,
they will probably advance to threaten it's
fear. AS to the corps of Vcnegas, on its
march to Madrid, if it really has reached
Aranjuez, it must be sacrificed if it advan-
ees, and it is scarcely possible that it should
De able to effect its escape, and regain the
mountains of the Sierra Morena
Extract ofa letter from, an officer on board
his Majesty's shit Son Domingo, dated
Flushing, 1911 Aug. 1909, to his brother
in Glasgow.
The French troops marched out this
morning We so up tomorrow to Antwerp,
20 attack the French fleet there. They are
seven sail of the line, frigates and 20 sail
Of gun boats and brigs. They have got a
boom and chain across the river protected
by heavy batteries, but that will have no
effect; no chain, boom or batter can stop 4
British line of battle ships. have been up
the Scheldt within four miles of the French
Admirals ship, surveying the river, and am
TO take up the fleet to. morrow, if the wind
will serve. i am appointed Master Atten-
dant at Flushing, and shall resume my place
as soon as we come down the Scheltit if it
please God Almighty to preserve me in the
hext battle. The San Domingo was laid a.
long side of the walls, near the harbour's
mouth ; shertly after we were In action, we
got aground OH the Dog Sand, but all the
time we were on shore, the whole of our
farboard broadside bore Oh the enemy's bat
ferries: 1t was totally impossible for the en-
emy's troops to stand in the batteries against
US. We completely knocked up so 55 poun-
ders that bore upon us, and the last half
hour we were on shore, they did not fire a
single gun at us. We had 10 shot in our
hull and about 200 in our sails and rigging,
and had not single man killed and only 2
wounded"