Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-20
CHARLESTON, Jan. T..


BY the arrival of the British ship Anne,
capt, K rmoil, we have received Liver
pool papers of the 18th Nov. and London
If the 10TH
These papers enable us to lay before our
readers Correct copy of Bonaparte's
speech to the Legislative body, after his
return from Erfurt as also Their address
IN that occasion and his reply. They will
oe found interesting.
From the theatre of war; our accounts
are not very important On the Goth Of
October, short but a smart action took
place between the Spaniards under Gene
raj Blake, and the French under General
Ney; the Spaniards acknowledge the loss
of 1000 men, but state that of the French
20 have been much more considerable. A
French corps of 1000 infantry was cut off,
and compelled to surrender.
Bnnaparte had left Paris for Bayonnc, to
mt himself asthe head of the troops des-
tined Tor Spain. The achievements which
y 'qi,, prob IDLY arrive in that country by the
30th of 0ctare stated, in the French papers,
to amount to 100 oOo A warfare is about to
commence, more bloody, destructive and
ferocions, than perhaps has ever been
known in any age. The result of the con-
hict is dubious but when we consider the
immense resources of Bonaparte, although
opposed by the ardent and undaunted bra
very of the Spaniards, we fear the war will
eventually terminate in their subjugation.
The ship Union, of Philadelphia, sent
out by our government with dispatches
for England and France, arrived at PEN
Eance, on the 31st of October, and
having landed Mr.. Gibbon, the messen..
ger, charged with the dispatches for Mr..
Pinkney, sailed Immediately for France,
with an intention to make the first harbor.
Her return to the United states, may now
oe daily looked for.
LONDON, Nov 9
We yesterday announced the receipt
of dispatches from Spain, comlnuni-
eating an account Of an action between
the Spsniards under Gen. Blake, and
the French army under Gen. Ney.
1t appears, that Gen. Blake having ad-
vanced from Bilboa, attacked the en-
envy on the 26th at Zernosa, on the
road to Durango, to which the French,
under Gen. Merlin, had Withdrawn,
after they had evacu ted 3ilboa. A.
ter short but very sharp action the
French began to retreat, but continu-
ed to dispute every inch OF ground
during the whole oil their retrogad
movement. Gen. Blake advanced as
far as Zernosa, from whenc ne meant
shortly to make fresh att,ck nron|
the enemy, who, ii was thought, would
risk ageneral battle in defence of Du-
range, as the possession of 1T by the
Spaniards, would place them co pl-te-
ly in the rear Of the French at Vittoria.
In this action the Spaniards are said
to have lost 1000 men. The loss oil
the French is represented as muchl
more comfortable. A private letter
states that French corps, consisting
OF upwards of 1000 infantry, was en-
tlrely cut off and compelled to surren-
der. On the 9th, Gen. Blake recon-
noitred the position Of the enemy, and
determined to attack them with all
Possi lie speed; so that the next arri-
val viii in all probability, bring us ac-
counts OF the utmost importance from
int quarter. The army under the
of marshal Lefebvre hsd,1
we understand, been reinforced by a
bout 5000 men from France but be-
yond this, we have not heard of any
rein(orcements having reach
ed the enemy in Spain.
The army under the command of
Blake, is estimated at $4,000 men.
mostly infantry that under Castanos
s nearly $4,000, including a great
number of cavalry. An army from
Catalonia, amounting to between so
md 40 900, under the command of vi
,as, had also proceeded to join the
main body. The army of Arragon,
which continued to advance, had been
strengthened BY great numbers OF re-
fruits, who fiocked voluntarily from
al parts of that province, to share in
me glory which was expected soon to
result from the joint exertions of the
forces.
These accounts we're brought by
he Windsor Castle packg., arrived at
Falmouth in ) days frr ., st. Andero.
Private letters from St. Audero. oil