Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-30

considered as official. but It appears to be
highly probable. The position at d. YAM
cente de la Barqucra, is an sStrelalel5' strong
one, and the French army must have l oter
very innch weakenedby the numerous SAL
culinary conflicts in which it has been en-
gagged.
The following interesting private COM
munication has been transmitted TO us
CoRuNNA, Noo. 2S.
ALI the intelligence which has lately reach
ed us is contradictory and Inconsistent;
hopes and fears alternately have their do
.ninion.
This letter is sent of with great dispatch,
and is consequently brief in observation
Yesterday arrived here two Spanish fTigatess
from ST. Andero, and previously some En-
olish vessels from the same porE. lie &C
counts they bring are not distinct. these
vessels left ST. Andero on the 14th,' from
the news of gen. BIake's defeat. lhe ar
rival of the French was then hourly expect
ed and the Spanish irigates were there
fore filed with wounded, who had been
brought from Reynosa, and preparations
were made to blow up the powder maya
zines, spike the cannon, &c. Some &C
counts even state, that the*repert OF an ex-
plosion at St. Andero was heard while the
vessels were under weigh.
,, Letters from CASTLE mention, chat Casta-
nos had defeated body OF the French but
this report still rests on light authority, and
! is too long unconfrmed to claim much Gre
dit. Yet another circumstance adds 70 oar
/. confidence here: letters from Madrid con-
| viewed by the LAST mail, mention the arrival
| of good news as the post was dePartlR g.
! The intelligence from these different sollrc-
| cs require TO be connected, IN order TO form
a good opinion of what is probably occurr-
| ing. One thing is certain, that the public
apprehension has decreased. The enemy,
il is ascertained, is IN Old Castle, and the
transmission Of Intelligence IS unsafe, from
the possibility Of being intercepted by de
tached parties Of tie enemy bat the regl-
4 lar post continues to proceed. Blake's ar
/ my has sustained some defeats, but they are
not of very alarming, though of dis
tressng nature. There has been no sur
render ofanv large bcdy-a great superior
itv of force has won bat.lcs--but the van
pushed haze invariably fallen bravery, and
their resistance has been such, THAI it IS not
too much to saw, that the erlany's victories,
! if they are all bought as dearly, sTill secure
the independence of Spain. Sill there is
much reason for sorrow and regret. The
fate of none is more deplored than of a
! strong division of the brave army Of the
/ Nortil-.hese suffered heavily. The req
ment of Catalonia was offered quarter by
the enemy, bat refused ii, and lvery man OF
| 1900 died voluntarily and glorionsly, and
in his death, heapinG elrstrlSction upon his
! enemies. The dismountest cavalry Of the
same troops were prevented from engar;ng
| BY want OF horses but the marquis 81 2o-
mana has placed all the horses OF the pro-
vince III state Of reqmsition. The fresh
troops Of Gallicia fought tar.o;,sly aBd like
veterans. Their general having Deco Sc
vereiy wounded in the foot, rode along the
fines, exhorting and animating the troops to
vengeance, and refusedto permit the dress
! ing OF his wound unit! they had sworn, IS
| he bad done, TO die for their liberties and
( their country. lis elaboration had an IT.
rcsistible effect upon his soldiers. This
! brave officer died afterwards on board one
of the Spanish fi-igates.
1t WAS understood at St. AnGero, that
general Blake was in superior force 70 he
| enemy, and would defend The town; Cor the
marquis Of Romano, though the command
had devolved upon him by seniority, had
refused to supereede gen. Blake.
OF the strength OF that army now, we
are without precise information. Some re- |
present it to be $4,000 strong; this, it is