Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-31

Saturday last, the 10th uS. Capt. /.
brings dispatches from gen. Blake's ar.
my, which continued retreating, but
bravely defending every inch Of ground
till the 9th, when gen. Blake made a
firm stand aud repealed his enemies nu-
merous as they were. After this ac-
ton gen. Blake's force remained 25OOO
This we must think very good
news; but we regret that Romana's
force, having made some mistake in
the route, fell in with the enemy, and,
after brave resistance, and having
slaughtered an immense number of the
enemy, he was at length overpowered
and cut In pieces. We regret, still
more to learn, that Bonaparte's ennis
saries had but too well succeeded in
stirring up faction, and that the Prince
of Peace's party was formidable in
Spain. We trust however that the
patriots will ultimately succeed over
Bonaparte and the Prince of Peace.
"The news from Oporto are unfa-
vorable. The party there in opposite
on to the Regency is very strong, and
Gen. Beresford had mediated in vain.
The French are at Valladolid."
Another letter, same date.
" This afternoon at O'Clock, the
Bonne Cheyenne sloop of war, arrived
from Corunna, from whence she sailed
on Saturday last, bringing accounts
from Gen. Blase's army up TO oath -ul,.
"The dispatches she has bro't will
be found to relate to several most
dreadful battles between the armies OF
Gen. Blake and Marshal Ney. The
Marquis Romana's troops (from the
Baltic } b. advancing too far ahead of
Gen. Blake's army, were severely de-
.feaied one of the regiments of Catalo-
MIA has been cut to pieces.
"The fighting on both sides was
most obstinate and desperate. The
Marquis of Romana's cavalry wa
preserved. In the last attack, Blake
repulsed the French with consid srable
loss. Heis now at Cintra, about 40
miles north of St. Andero, with $4,000
men. The communication between
him and the centre army, under Cas-
.ano,, is cut off, the Freneh army be-
ing between them, whose head quar-
tiers are at Valladolid. There are ma
ny fears for the safety Of the centre ar
my. The Prince of Peace's army in
Spain is very strong, and tn c patriotic
cause LOOKS responding. Sir David
Baird was at Astorga, with his army,
and Sir John Moore at Salamanca..---
They have not been engaged.
in the Bonnie Cheyenne came passen-
ger ctpsain Gage, of the Royal artillery,
! with dispatches from Sir Robert Wilson, al
/ Oporio. His dispatches are not so favour.
sole as could DE wished. The party a.
/ gainsI the Provisional Government is vel
strong and turbulent.--Sir Rberr had clio.
tned, armed and trained 1000 Portuguese
and formed them into battalion. There
were three British regiments there"
III addition to the above, we have t.
state, that this day an officer from Oporta
arrived IN Downing street, WIN disp 4tchcs
he came over IN the Bonnie Cheyenne
He touched at Corunna on MS passage nome
and sailed again from tnaJ pace OF tns
morning of the 26th Ut. AT that time N,
news OF importance had been recei
we'd there OF subsequent date To tina,
winch we yesterday communicated. Aitei
quitting Corurna, the Bonnie Citoyenne fei
In with the Minerva friga c, whca mad besr
cruising to the Eastwa = the captain u
| which stated, that he hau received iaielii.
genCe that the French had attacked IN.
Marquis de la Romano and Gen. Bike 40
the strong positions winch they had taken
at St Vincente de la Barquera, that the
battle was most o5stinately contested, Blu,
that at length the French were defeated
with very great loss, and the Spanish ar
my were, IN consequence of this success a.
bout to advance.
The above is the substance Of the intel.
ligence communicated by capt. Hawkins
of the Minerva. 1t certainly is NOT TO be
considered as offic al, but it appears to be
highly probable. The position at St Vim.
eente de la Bsrquera, is an extremely strong
one, and the French army must have beer
very much weakened by the numerous and
sanguinary conflicts in which it has been
engaged.
Supplement to the Madrid Gazette of
the 25th November
Coruuna, Nov. 90" General Moore:
army had a very severe march. The En-.
glish seem very much alarmed, that is the
few that remain behind the army in con.
sequence Of lHdIsposltion, but such of the
sensible Spaniards as l have hitherto con
vsrsed with, are not in the least dismayed
Tho raising and dicinlinipe. ,.Ff ,,s,,,s = -.