Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-10-03
LONDON. August S.

A private letter from Lisbon, dated the
18th of July, states, that according TO the
latest accounts sir Arthur Wellesley was
still at Placencia on the 10Th last waiting
the arrival of the light troops under gen.
eral Crawford. The news of the arms
tice would probably reach Madrid ABOUT
the 25th and as it would infrse fresh spir
it into the French. and give new impulse
to their operations, we trust that sir Ar
thur has not since advanced to that city.
The armistice of Znaim will enable Bond
parte to send large reinforcements into
Spain, and sir Arthur would have scarce
ly arrived at M tdrld before he would find
himself obliged TO abandon il and endeavor
to retreat to the coast. Nothing can be
more horrible than the state of a city alter
nately possessed by friends and enemies
This constant ebb and flow of the tide of
war wears country into dust and sand.
On "Wednesday night an order was re
ceived at Deal from the admiralty, by the
Telegraph, that all vessels with heavy ar
tillery on board, lying IN the Downs, should
sail Immediately to join the expedition /;
and, in consequence, they all sailed on
Thursday morning, under convoy Of the Ri.
naldo.
Such has been the demand FOR small arms
for the grand expedition that an order has
been made by the board of ordnance, for
% 600 muskets to be sent from the depot
at Weldon this requisition was received
on Saturday se'nnight and the whole was
packed in cases and sent off for London on
Monday morning by canal Boats On tbs
occasion nearly two companies of the Bed :
ford militia, stationed at Weldon, were EN-
ployed on the duty. The arms will be re-
placed from Birmingham.
The statement which we laid before the
public, some few days ago, of the relative
numbers composing the British, French and
Spanish armies. acting beyond the Pyrenees,
in the last days of June, is fully confirm by
| the intelligence recently received both from
Portugal and from Span from sir Arthur
Wellesley, no less tn IN from Mr Duff. II
now appears, that the forces conceutred, or
| about TO be assembled, under the nominal
command of Jos pm Bonaparse, IN the vicini.
ty Of Toledo 4 Madrid, would not fall shori
Of IS 900 men. On the other hand, the
combined army of Cuesta and Venegas
cannot, we fear, be estimated at more thar
I 40 900 effective infantry, who rave musk Is
and about 5000 cavalry. The British
when they marched from Abrantes, nigh
be calculated at 24,5o0 troops of the line
but the cavalry fit for service. on account
OF numbers OF horses incapable of being
mounted, was under 200 With the ex
ception Of the private letter from G 4stello
Banco, which we inserted on Monday, we
have no reason to suppose that the Frenct
commanders have any intention of abandon.
ing the capital, or of retiring behind tht
Ebro. They would receive, by the 55t
of July, the exh,lerating and grateful infor
nation, that the advantage gained by Ma
po.eon over the Austrians at Wagram
however de trly purchased OIL his part, hat
operated to intImidste or unnerVe the Aus
1 triAn government, SO much as 20 Undue,
them TO sue for, and finally to accept,
suspension Of arms the operation o; whicl
must be no less beneficial to Blnapa
thanit is ruinous to Francis. OF what M
terials the Spanish levies are composed
and how inadequate their patriotism is {
supply the detects Of discipline and obedi
ence apoBgst them, we may see too strong
y delineated in general Blake's letter {
the 22d June, addressed to the Iunta, DIES
criptive OF the behaviour of his troops
the battle Of Belchte.