Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-22
THURSDAY, AOcvsr %, 1911.

war ia Spain and Portugal, is in eonycnt with IN,
activity displayed on the frontiers of the two king
doms. ny papers from Lisbon WE arc inior cd that
official dispatches had been received from the British
army, dated on 18th June ut E1vas, few miles
from Badajoz and the Portuguese fro tier fortica-
tons Opposed to Badajoz, that breach had been
made in the fortEcations at Badaoz near fort st.
christopher, aud IN ATTEMPT on the 10th of june
nin been made to make general assault, but that
the Mics had retired from the breach with loss
That the English had received inflammation that the
french from Toledo were approaching with greet
force, and with stlli larger array from Salamanca.
hat the two armies were To uaite at Merida, not
FAR eastward from Badajoz IN consequence the
English had fallen back upon Eivas. Later news
coaiirls the movement OF the English army, which
IL represented Ms approsshue the capital ard TO its
forme? stations, without hopes OF maintaining Itself
upon The frontiers OF Portugal We nncbie IN
exhibit tho spength OF The two armies ~ the anoast
OF the ffeDch reintorcments but the general state
mcnts give thc French the additional force Of so
Thousand IN the whole nuI1ber. The English do
not pretend TO reinforccme8t equal to that num-
bcr AS the English ofHci9l accounts OF thc losses
have been gwen, may add that in turu the French
have esseacd their own losses as given y the Eng
llsf and have gwen the losses Of the Eogish muel,
greater than the English give them. Many opni-
ons have been offered respecting the movements OF
the French. II has been supposed that the English
have retired, from apprehension that the French
would euter Portugal in routes different fron that
oil Dadajoz, and gain the interior of Portugal. 1t
has also heen supposed that the French would form
ajanction, and by heir superior number force III
rect route 70 Lisbon, and cooperate in all their fl-
tnre sonquests in Portugal. UI,on both projects.
the English might retire towa-ts Lisbon as has
been reported from different places 1t has been
suggested that the English at Caa,iz would make
diversion ut that place by some attack upon the
French lines, but the French appear to speak high
ly of their successin that quarter, ard of the advan-
tages they have gained in all the expeditions of the
English from Cadiz The reports from Catalonia
are that the surrender of Figuerss has given new
energies to the French in that province aud that by
some brilliant achievements they have endcavored
to remove the disgrace OF their incsutious measures
respecting that fortress. The accounts from Paris
in May were favorable TO the French operations in
Spain in the north, the centre, and even in the
south. Near Figucras, the French had attacked an
armed force intended to relieve that place, and rep
resent that they had taken two Thousand prisoners
and had killed greater number. That the English
who were TO cooperate had embarked upon this c.
vent and that Gen. Suchet at Tarragona would pre-
vent the scattered army from joining the forces in
that quarter. This event was early in Nav FL
gueras was taken by the SPaniards ia the middle of
March.
From England we learn that the report Of the
true disposition of our States has not been favoura
bic to the existence of mutual concord and that
apprehensious of war had increased rather than
diminished. The event at with the Little Belt,
the nonntercourse, and the state of the negociati-
ons, all were construed into alarming symptoms of
departing friendship, and of serious alienation.
On our part We are lot relieved by any reports
from the negotiations at Washington They have
been gwen With all the explanations which the fears
wishes OF our citizens could suggest but in con-
ncction with the proclamation of the President,
speak no new hopes. What the speech of the EN-
peror, the state of the Northern nations the events
OF Spain and Portugal, may ds IN Inoder.t K The
measures Of The Engrsii, ~ pres;ae nj to cscu-
late, nor what effect the pets,ons in and the
state of commerce and OF the rational finances.
may produce upon the spirit OF tile nation Such
calculations have been often made but they have
been always false. We shall soon see what their
wisdom may be permitted to save, or the thunder Of
the French destroy. An unbounded confidence in
the administration of the Government Of the Uni
ted States has put entirely free from all alarms
respecting tho event. Whatever wisdom, prudence
and patriotism 90, win be done, and the duty
they require, and the suffering they exact wise
people will not refuse. Sc Fate leads the willing,
drass the backward on. Why should we gr;eve,
when grieving must bear, or take with guilt,
what gultess we may share Resignation to God
| is our mag nanimty."
The present year is not more memorable in the
political world than in the natural. The excessive
heats OF the first days of judy extended to our most
southern well as northern settlements, and the
convulsons Of the atmosphere have been rs extra
ordinary. The hail storms OF the south have excee-
ded those known in tile north, and the freshets
have been as violent. Some of the accounts from
New-Orleans and New-Hampshire have been cor
rected as to the damages done by the rains hut the
fall OF water has been extraordinary, and the desIuc-
ton great.