ships-it is a real desolation.—You shall know every thing-be prudent-do not shew any ill temper at the harsh things that may be told you.-Let them pass they signify nothing.-God will judge us and posterity.-No false interpretations Your two sisters are in deep affliction. Leopold and Francis will go to Calabria to defend the posts. In short, God has permitted it-his holy will be doneThink, my dear child, of re-establishing your health-Conduct yourself well-this life is short-the other is eternal and sure tenderness of my dear child to hide no- | thing from you-Do not then believe any one but me-We keep all in good health -but are dreadfully uneasy-Massena has been with 50,000 men on our frontier, since this fatal and accursed debarkation of the English, who with a cowardly perfidy without example, have, after having compromised us, quitted us at the moment of the greatest danger. They have ruined us-Buonaparte causes nothing to be said or written, and we shall be lost indeed. We have but 8,000 men in arms-During the two years and a half the French re--Do not afflict yourself at any thing-I mained with us, they exacted that we should make no recruiting. They have thereby rendered all our force useless, and we are thus at their mercy, without the hope of defending ourselves against a force of 50,000 men, and if they choose of 100,000 men. Austria destroyed, and for 50 years null-in short, it is a misery without example, to which our holy religion alone can make us resigned, that only consolation in all our miseries. We are packing up every thing, for from the frontiers to Naples is the affair of six or seven days, and we cannot suffer ourselves to be made prisoners. Thus we are preparing every thing for a disastrous and eternal departure, and it wrings my heart. The king has sent cardinal gen. Ruffo to Rome, and has sent also to Paris. But neither Fesch, nor Alquier, nor Eugene Beauharnois, nor Massena can, as they say, stop the march of the troops. Hence, St. Theodore, who has been dispatched to join Gallo, and to speak to him upon these points, remains at Rome to watch over our affairs; and the cardinal is gone to find Buonaparte either at Munich or at Paris, to try to save us. Your good father is ready to satisfy the general wish, and abdicate and leave Francis the (hereditary prince) king, reserving to himself a good pension, the fruit of a part of the advances made by him to the royal finances. Many think this will be sufficient to calm the storm; but I do not think it, and am convinced that the enemy wish for the kingdom of Naples. If the danger approach, we shall retire to Messino and into Calabria, to defend ourselves, at least there, and prevent the capture of Sicily-Judge -Leopold, your two sisters, a daughterin-law, seven months pregnant, who will lay in at Messina, Palermo, God knows where, two little children so interesting. In fine every body is in tears. No one will remain. Every one, frightened by the last time, wishes to go off. We have neither squadron, nor any thing but two shall find means to inform you of every bottom of my heart, and am your tender | mother and friend.I write to the queen and to your husband-to the former, to speak to her of her child-to the other to tell him that it is his duty to write to me, and that he should be seen-Adieu, I will endeavour to send you intelligence relative to me--Be tranquil on our account-I embrace you Adieu." Eighteenth Bulletin, dated Madrid, Dec. 12. THE Central Junta of Spain had but little power; the greater part of the provinces paid it little submission, and all of them deprived it of the administration of the finances. It was under the influence of the lowest class of the people: it was governed by the minority. Florida Blanca was without any credit. The Junta was under the controul of two men, the one named Lorenzo Calvo, a grocer of Saragossa, who had in a few months obtained the title of Excellency.' He is one of those violent men who appear in revolutions, his honesty was more than suspected. The other is called Tilly, formerly condemned to the gallies as a thief; the younger brother of a man of the name of Gusman, who formerly played a part under Robespierre during the reign of terror. As soon as any of the members of the Junta opposed the violent measures that were proposed, these two wretches immediately called out 'treacon,' and immediately a mob was collected under the windows of Aranjuez. The extravagance and wickedness of these dangerous men, was manifested upon all occasions. As soon as they learnt that the emperor was at Burgos, and he would soon be at Madrid, they published a declaration of war against France replete with insults and folly. On the 11th, when the general of division Lassalle, who was pursuing the enemy, arrived at Talavara de le Reyna, where the English had passed triumphantly, ten days before, saying they were going to relieve the capital, a frightful spectacle met the eyes of the French. A body cloathed in the uniform of a Spanish general was suspended from a gallows, and pierced with a thousand bullets. It was the general Benito San Jean, whom his soldiers in their terror, and as an excuse for their commander, cruelly sacrificed. The bishops of Leon and Astorga, and a great number of ecclesiastics, distinguished themselves by their good conduct and their apostolic virtues; the general pardon offered by the emperor, has produced a great effect. The destruction of the duties odious to the people and contrary to the prosperity of the state, and the measures which leave the numerous class of monks no longer any uncertainty respecting their lot, produced a good effect. The general animadversion is against the English.The peasants say in their language, that at the approach of the French the English went away to mount the wooden horses (ships.) The Nineteenth Bulletin, dated Madrid, Dec. 13. ROSAS surrendered on the 6th by capi tulation. Two thousand men have been made prisoners. A considerable quantity of artillery was found in the place. Six English ships of the line which were at anchor in the harbour, would not carry away the garrison.-The emperor this day reviewed the whole of the united troops of the duke of Dantzic, beyond the bridge of Segovia. Sebastiani's division has marched for Talavira de la Regna. The breaking up of the Spanish troops is observed on every side. The new levies which were attempted to be raised, disperse on all sides, and return to their homes. details which we learn from the Spaniards respecting the Central Junta, are all of a nature to place them in a most ridiculous point of view. That assembly is already become an object of contempt with all Europe. Its members, to the number of 86, have bestowed upon themselves titles and ribbons of every sort, and an annual allowance of 60,000 livres. Florida Blanca was a real man of Spain: he is now ashamed of the dishonour he has brought upon his old age. As usually happens in such assemblies, two or three persons domineer over all the rest, and these two or three persons were in the pay of England. The opinion held by the city of Madrid respecting the Junta is notorious: they are as much the object of the mockery and derision, as they are of the detestation of the inhabitants of the capital. Never was there so fine a December-It is like the beginning of spring. The emperor avails himself of the fine weather to remain in the country one league from Madrid. Proclamation by Buonaparte.. SPANIARDS,You have been misled by perfidious men. They have engaged you in a senseless struggle, and you have had recourse to arms. Is there one amongst you, who after a moment's reflection upon all that has passed, would not be convinced that you have been the sport of the eternal enemies of the Continent, who take delight in witnessing the effusion of Spanish and French blood? What possible result would attend even the success of some campaigns? An endless war upon the soil, and a tedious uncertainty respecting the fate of your properties and lives. Within the space of a few months, you have been delivered up to all the afflictions of popular factions. The defeat of your armies has been the work of some marches; I have entered Madrid: the rights of the war would justify me in such a signal example, by washing away in blood the outrages offered to me and to my nation: but I have listened to the dictates of clemency only. Some men, the authors of all your calamities, shall alone be punished. I shall speedily drive from the Peninsula that English army which has been sent to Spain, not for the purpose of assistance to you, but to inspire you with a false confidence and to mislead you.—I had declared to you in my Proclamation of the 2nd of June, that I wished to be your regenerator. To the rights which had been ceded to me by the princes of the last Dynasty, you wished that I should add the right of conquest. That shall not make any alteration in my intention. I am even disposed to praise all that may be generous in your efforts; I am willing to admit, that your real interests have been concealed from you, that the real state of things has been disguised from you. Spaniards, your destiny is in your hands. Reject the persons which the English has spread amongst you let your king be assured you:-let of your affections and your confidence, and you will be more powerful and more happy than ever you have been. All that obstructed your prosperity and your grandeur, I have destroyed; the chains which bore down the people, I have broken; a free Constitution gives you a limited and constitutional, instead of an absolute Monarchy. It depends upon yourselves whether this Constitution shall still continue in your land. (To be continued.) BRITISH ARMY IN SPAIN.-From the London Gazette, dated Downing-street, Jan. 10, 1809. DISPATCHES, from which the following are extracts, were, on the 8th instant, received at the office of lord visc. Castlereagh, one of his majesty's principal Secretaries of State, from lieut.-gen. sir John Moore, k. b. commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces employed in Spain: Benevente, Dec. 28, 1808.-Since I had the honour to address you upon the 16th, from Toro, the army has been almost constantly marching through snow, and with cold that has been very intense. The weather, within these few days, has turned to rain, which is much more uncomfortable than the cold, and has rendered the roads almost impassable. On the 21st the army reached Sahagun; it was necessary to halt there in order to refresh the men, and on account of provisions. The information I received was, that marshal Soult was at Saldana with about 16,000 men, with posts along the river from Guarda to Carrion.--The army was ordered to march in two columns, at 8 o'clock on the night of the 23rd, to force the bridge at Carrion, and from thence proceed to Saldana. At 6 that evening, I received information that considerable reinforcements had arrived at Carrion from Palencia, and a letter from the marquis de la Romana informed me that the French were advancing from Madrid either to Valladolid or Salamanca. It was evident that it was too late to prosecute the attempt upon Soult, that I must be satisfied with the diversion I had occasioned, and that I had no time to lose to secure my retreat.-The next morning lieut.-gen. Hope, with his own division and that of lieut.-gen. Fraser, marched to Majorga. I sent sir David Baird, with his division, to pass the river at Valmira, and followed lieut.-gen. Hope on the 25th with the reserve and light brigades, by Majorga, Val deras, to Benevente. The cavalry under lord Paget followed the reserve on the 26th; both the latter corps entered this place yesterday. We continue our march on Astorga. Generals Hope and Fraser are already gone on; sir David Baird proceeds to-morrow from Valencia; and I shall leave this with the reserve at the same time; lord Paget will remain with the cavalry, to give us notice of the approach of the enemy; hitherto their infantry have not come up, but they are near, and the cavalry is round us in great numbers; they are checked by our cavalry, which have obtained, by their spirit and enterprise, an ascendancy over that of the French, which nothing but great. superiority of numbers on their part will get the better of.The diversion made by our march on Sahagun, though at great risk to ourselves, has been complete; it remains to be seen what advantage the Spaniards in the South will be able to take of it; but the march of the French on Badajoz was stopped when its advanced guard had reached Talaveira de la Reine, and every thing disposeable is now turned passed the river at a ford above the bridge. They were attacked by brig. gen. Stewart, at the head of the piquets of the 18th and 3rd German light dragoons, and driven across the ford. Their colonel, a general of division, Lefebre, was taken, together with about 70 officers and men.—The affair was well contested. The numbers with which brig gen. Stewart attacked were inferior to the French; it is the corps of the greatest character in their army; but the superiority of the British was, I am told, very conspicuous. I inclose, for your lordship's satisfaction, lord Paget's report of it. in this direction.-The only part of the army which has been hitherto engaged with the enemy, has been the cavalry, and it is impossible for me to say too much in their praise. I mentioned to your lordship, in my letter of the 16th, the success brig.-gen. Stewart had met with in defeating a detachment of cavalry at Rueda. Since that, few days have passed without his taking or killing different parties of the French, generally superior in force to those which attacked them. On the march to Sahagun, lord Paget had information of 6 or 700 cavalry being in that town. He marched on the night of the 20th from some villages where he was posted in front of the enemy at Majorga, with the 10th and 15th hussars. The 10th marched straight to the town, whilst lord Paget, with the 15th, endeavoured to turn it. Unfortunately, he fell in with a patrole, one of whom escaped, and gave the alarm. By this means the French had time to form on the outside of the town, before lord Paget got round. He immediately charged them, beat them, and took from 140 to 150 prisoners, amongst whom were two lieutenant-colonels and 11 officers, with the loss, on our part, of 6 or eight men, and perhaps 20 wound-gen. Stewart immediately placed himself ed. There have been taken by the cavalry from 4 to 500 French, besides a considerable number killed; this since we begun our march from Salamanca. On his march from Sahagun, on the 20th, lord Paget, with two squadrons of the 10th, attacked a detachment of cavalry at Majorga, killed twenty, and took above 100 prisoners. Our cavalry is very superior in quality to any the French have; and the right spirit has been infused into them by the example and instruction of their two leaders, lord Paget and brig.-general Stewart. Astorga, Dec. 31, 1808.-I arrived here, yesterday; major gen. Fraser, with his division, will be at Villa Franca this day, and will proceed on to Lugo. Lieut. gen. Hope with his division, stopped yesterday two leagues from this, and proceeds this morning, followed by sir David Baird. The two flank brigades go by the road of Penfereda,. I shall follow with the reserve and cavalry, to Villa Franca, either this night or to-morrow morning, according as I hear the approach of the French. The morning I marched from Benevente, seven squadrons of Buonaparte's guards Benevente, Dec. 29, 1808.—Sir; I have the honour to inform you, that about nine o'clock this morning I received a report that the enemy's cavalry was in the act of crossing the river at the ford near the bridge. I immediately sent down the piquets of the night, under lieut. col. Otway of the 18th. Having left orders that the cavalry should repair to their alarm posts, I went forward to reconnoitre, and found four squadrons of imperial guards formed and skirmishing with the piquets and other cavalry in the act of passing. I sent for the 10th hussars, who having arrived, brig. at the head of the piquets, and, with the utmost gallantry, attacked. The 10th hussars supported in the most perfect order. The result of the affair, as far as I have yet been able to collect, is about 30 killed, 25 wounded, 70 prisoners, and about the same number of horses. It is impossible for me to avoid speaking in the highest terms of all those engaged. Lieut. col. Otway and major Bagwell headed the respective night piquets. The latter is slightly wounded. The utmost zeal was conspicuous in the whole of my staff; and I had many volunteers from headquarters, and other officers of your army. Amongst the prisoners is the general of division Lefebre, (who commands the cavalry of the imperial guard,) and two captains. Our loss is, I fear, nearly 50 men killed and wounded. I will send a return the moment I can collect the reports. I have the honour to be, &c. PAGET, lieut. gen. I have forwarded the prisoners to Baniza. On the other side of the river the enemy formed again, and at this instant three guns of Captain Donovan's troop arrived, which did considerable execution. LONDON: Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough Court, Fleet Street; Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent-Garden: Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall Mall. VOL. XV. No. 3.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1809. [Price 10d. "I trust, however, that no such villains as these will obtain influence with our ministers, and prevail upon "them to be suspicious and tardy, in their operations for the assistance of the Spanish patriots. This is "the only fair opportunity, that has offered for checking the progress of Napoleon. It is the only cause, to which all the people of England have heartily wished success. In all probability, it is the last opportunity that will offer, for enabling us to give a turn to the long-flowing tide of success. And, if we "neglect this opportunity; if we waste the precious hours that are now given us for action, in doubts, "hesitations, and delays, we, or, at least, those amongst us, who shall be found to have been the cause "of such conduct, ought to perish; or, which would be better, to linger out a life of misery, loaded with "the curses of all good men."-POLITICAL REGISTER, 2nd July, 1808. Vol. XIV. page, 10. 65] [66 Napoleon, we should, up to the hour when Sir John Moore's dispatches, or, rather, a few parts of those dispatches, were published, have been in the confident hope of a successful issue to the campaign. Now, indeed, the truth is pretty well known, in spite of the garbling of the General's dis patches. There is nobody, who, at best, expects any thing better than the escape of our men, with the loss of stores, ammunition, waggons, cannon, and horses; and, I, for my part, shall think that we are very lucky, if we avoid a capitulation, far, very far less favourable to us, than the Convention of Cintra was to the French; a capitulation, negociated, perhaps, by that very JUNOT, who, together with his army, ought now to have been prisoners in England. It is difficult to say, whether our commander, in Spain, has had it in his power to prevent this danger, and this SUMMARY OF POLITICS. SPANISH REVOLUTION.- -With respect to Spain, the interesting question now appears to be, not what will be the conduct of the people of that country; not what will be the result of the war; not whether Joseph or Ferdinand will be king; not whether despotism,in one shape or theother, will be re-established, or long-lost freedom be restored. Neither of these is now the interesting question, with regard to Spain. The interesting questions are: 1st, what is the fate, that will probably attend our army in that country; and 2nd, whether our ministers, and especially the WarSecretary, be not to blame for the injury and the deep dishonour, arising from a retreat, or rather a flight, before the enemy, without having stricken a single blow, without having so much as drawn a trigger, offensively, against the armies of Napoleon.With respect to the first ques-probable result; but, I must express my tion, much need not be said, it being next opinion, that his marches and counterto impossible, that a knowledge of the marches do appear to me quite unaccountevent should not, in a few days, have ren- able. I do think, nay I am nearly sure, dered all discussion unnecessary. I shall, that, if a man like my Lord Cochrane; therefore, as far as relates to this, confine nay, if Lord Cochrane himself, though not myself to a few remarks upon the delusion a military officer, had had under his comwhich has been practised, and is still prac-mand an army of 28 thousand men, in tising upon this credulous nation. We have been led on, by lie after lie, till we are upon the eve of having the truth forced upon us. All that Napoleon said, in his bulletins, was "false;" all were falsehoods that came through that channel; while, on the other hand, we were desired to believe, that our army, stated at 45 thousand strong, were upon the point of driving the French out of the peninsula. The strength of the Spanish armies was carried to 150 thousand. An affected laugh was set up at the threats of Buonaparté. In short, just the reverse of the truth has, from first to last, been promulgated amongst us; so that, had it not been for the bulletins of Spain, he would have done something with them; or, at any rate, that he would not have remained, doing nothing, till he was half surrounded by a force, before whom he knew he must flee. "A diversion," indeed! What diversion has Sir John Moore made, in favour of the Spaniards? Where are we to look for the evidences of that diversion? Our army, without marching to meet the enemy, sees him come into Spain, and take the capital. It then remains inactive, or, at best, marches about without attacking the enemy; and, having waited in this situation, till the enemy has half surrounded it, runs away. This is not the sort of diversion that Lord CockC |