Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-10-26
FOREIGN NEWS.
NEw-YoRk, Oct. 10:
LISBON, Aug. 90.

Almelda Tell into the hands OF the
enemy on the 2Sth.-Until the goth
the enemy made no general movement.
In the night between the 25th and 26,h
the grand magazine of powder in AL
media blew up, and there were some
other explosions Of powder in conse-
squence of the bombs thrown by the
enemy. That accident DIES royed half
the town, and killed many ariillsrists,
and it is probable that considerable
part of the garrison was also L estrcy-
ed. All this caused such general
consternaiion, that the governor for
wart of powder was obliged to treat
with the nemy OIL the 27th. He
demanded that the garrison should
join cur army, and that the inhabi-.
tants should also be permitted to leave
the place but Massena refused those
CONDITIONS, and threatened to repeat
the FIRE If they did not surrender pri.
sonets cf war. In fact the firing was
repeated that night. The place sur
rendered 10 the morning Of the 23th,
after the garrison had expended the
rest of their powder. The enemy of
fered them the choice OF entering into
the servicsaof the emperor, or being
sent TO France as prisoners.--There
was not a single man who did not
prefer going to France as prisoner.
Tbs is noble example, and does
much, honor to the nation, especially
when we consider that the greater
part Of them were militia. All this
information we have obtained from
! prisoners, who were afterwards taken,
Thus was Almeida lost by an acct
Genr, and not through the fault of the
garrison, or the valor of the enemy.
That event could not have happened
but for the coincidence, as extraordi-
nary as it was unforeseen, of the mis-
fortune Of the explosion, and the state
OF the atmosphere fer exactly the two
days ofthe firing; for otherwise lord
Wellington would have known that ex-
traordinery circumstance, which made
il neces saty that the place should be
Immediately re- eyed (Which he could
not suppose TO be the cause without
such as occurrsnoe) aud having alrea.
dy advanced with his whole army on
the preceding days, it was probable
THAI ne would have Obliged the enemy
&c raise the siege.
From the Listen Gazette of the Sd
September.
Cory Of dispatch FROM his excellen-
cy lord viscount Wellington 10 his
,,s.xce!lency don Miguel PereiIa For.
il.
Nest Mustrious and excellent sir,
TIE enemy opeoed their FIRE
upon Ameida late on Saturday night
or rather in the morning Of Sunday
LAST the 26tlt inst. and / regret tha, /
have TO add thar they obtained posses
sion Of the place in the course Of the
night OF the 27,h ms.
/ cannot CONCEAL from your excel
leney, that this unfortunate event af-
fects ne sensibly; so contrary is it to
what | had reason TO anticipate, con-
sidering the manner in which the gar.
risen WIS provided with every thing
neces ssry for the defence ofths place,
the respectable condition of its for
LITIGATION, and the spirit and cour-
age which, as L had understood
from ihe gov. the garrison exhibited :;
. for all these reasons l expected that
, the place would have held out is the
|, last extremity, should l rave no OPP
: portunily to relieve it and that, at all
eysnts, the enemy would be DELAYED
until a late period of the season.
/ lave no intelligence, upon which
l car. rely, relative 90 the cause of its
surrender. Some prisoneis taken yes.
terday relate, that the cas- l. (Which
however was bomb -preof blew up or
Saturday night; that op Monday the
governor requested to capitulate with
the conditions thar the place SHOULD
be delivered to +he enenemy, bur that
the garrison and inhabitants should be
Permitted to join this army; which
prefosal having been refused, aid the
tf'n9 recommended, the governor held
oai as long as he had any ammunition
remaining, u5iil upon it's being wholly
expended, be surrendered Yesterday
morning after this the enemv hsviorr