were also equally anxious to send feluccas with dispatches to South America. Information having been received that a small French corps was assembling at Tavira, with a view of entering Spain by the river Guadiana, we have been requested to proceed against this corps, and either to attack them on the coast, or endeavour to prevent the farther prosecution of their plans against Spain. I accordingly propose to sail imniediately for this object, Lord Collingwood approving of it. Ad.airal Purvis had already detached three ships of war off the mouth of the Guadiana, and has offered every other necessary aisistance, which Lord Collingwood has since confirmed.

3

B. SPENCER, Major-general. Letter from Gen. Morla, Captain General of Andalusia and Governor of Cadiz, addressed to Adm. Purvis and Gen. Spencer.

Admiral Rossilly, as your Excellencies will observe by the annexed copy, has proposed to disarm, but upon conditions which I thought were inadmissible. Whatever may be his terms of surrender, I shall in no manner deviate from my promise; it is therefore necessary that I should have your consent, as I have already said in my first conference with Brigadier-general Smith and Capt. Sir John Gore, to whom I have pledged myself with simplicity and good faith. It will afford me considerable satisfaction to consult with your Excellencies on all occurrences, incidents, and circumstances, conducive to our common advantage, and contrary to the interests of the common enemy. Nothing gives me more real pleasure than the absolute confidence of your Excellencies in my candour and sincerity, witla which I remain your Excellencies most affectionate and devoted servant,

Cadiz, June 11. THOMAS MORLA. Letter from Adm. Rossilly, addressed to General Morla, dated on board the Admiral's ship, Hero Bay, off Cadiz,

June 11.

CAPTAIN-GENERAL, Obliged to defend myself on account of the inquietude inspired into the people of this province by my imposing attitude, I yesterday, in or der to tranquillize them, proposed to your Excellency to quit the Bay. In case the English cannot accede to this proposal, I suggest the idea of disembarking my means of attack, and keeping my ships companies on board; no colours shall be displayed on my squadron. Hostages shall be given for our security, our sick, and all the French people in the province, with their national and individual property. Hostages will be equally given on my part. The refreshments, water, and provisions necessary for my squadron shall be provided on my paying for them, as has hitherto been done. In short, I shall

demand no conditions but those which are necessary for my honour and that of the people serving under my orders, and as are compatible with the public tranquility. Deprived by my proposal of the means of defence against the exterior enemy, I demand security against them. Receive, Captain-general, the renewar of my distinguished consideration, will which I am your Excellency's most hum ble servant, ROSSILLY

Answer to Admiral Rossilly. Excellent Sir, Admiral Rossilly, In answer to certain proposals and official demands transinitted by your Excellency, which, although dictated by your Honour, are unquestionably incompatible with mine, as must be evident to your Excellency, I have to acquaint you, that I cannot accept any terms but an unconditional surrender. My honour and character net allowing me to depart in any way from my promises, I therefore inform you, that my orders from the superior Counci being positive with respect to the surrender of the squadron commanded by your Excellency, I cannot enter into any conditions without previously consulting them. It is likewise my duty to consult with the English Commanders, as, without their consent, I cannot compromise myself.For these reasons, I shall suspend my attack, until I have dispatched those two Expresses, availing myself nowever of the intermediate time to prepare other means for the attack. Nothing opposes the individual esteem entertained for your Excellency, by your faithful servant,

THOMAS MORLA.

Downing-street, July 12. The following dispatches have been received from Major-gem. Spencer, dated on-board his Majesty's ship Windsor Castle, off Ayamonte, June 17.

My Lord, I avail myself of the opportunity afforded by the passing of the Nautilus from Lord Collingwood to Sir C. Catton, to congratulate your Lordship on the surrender of the French squadron of five line of battle ships and one frigate, in the harbour of Cadiz, to the Spanish arms, on the 14th inst. on which day the Spanish colours were flying in ali the French ships. The particulars of this important and interesting event will, no doubt, be fully communicated to your Lordship by Lord Collingwood. It is also very satisfactory for me to inform your Lordship, that the movement I have made to this quarter, at the request of Gen. Moria, has been attended with the happiest effects. The French troops are retiring in every direc tion towards Lisbon, except some very insignificant parties left to occupy the different small forts and posts on this side of Portugal. The Portuguese people are rising in all parts, encouraged greatly by

out

The

My Lord, The French fleet having surrendered on the 14th, and the British Commissioners having since embarked for England, I beg leave shortly to recapitulate the different events which have led to these desirable objects, and to state to your Lordship the present situation of Spain and Portugal, as far as I have obtained correct information. The general feeling of the Spaniards had been for some timé excited to the utmost degree of indignation at the conduct of the French. information of the forced renunciation of the Crown of Spain by Charles IV. Ferdinand, and all the Royal Family, in favour of Buonaparte, appeared to be the signal of universal opposition to the views of France. The Council of Seville, one of the principal provincial jurisdictions in Spain, have laid hold of some statutes in their Constitution, which authorize their rejecting the orders of the Supreme Council of Madrid when that capital shall be in the power of foreign troops. They have therefore assumed an independent authority in the name of Ferdinand VII. whom they have proclaimed King; and after some previous steps, they have formally declared war against France, and have appealed to the Spanish nation to support them; and their supremacy has been acknowledged by the Councils of several other Provinces. In Andalusia they collected from 15 to 20,000 regular troops, and have put arms in the hands of upwards of 60,000 peasants. Gen. Castaneos is appointed commander in chief; and I understand they propose, out of the first levies, to augment the establishment of the old regiments to double their present numbers. Provincial Assemblies are also forming in most of the large towns, and different depôts fixed upon for raising volunteers. They have a proportion of near 4000 cavalry, and a large quantity of artillery, as Seville is a foundery, and one of the largest depôts in Spain. All accounts agree, that in every part of Spain the insurrections have commenced almost at the same period; many small detachments of the enemy, and many officers, have been cut off. Gen. Dupont was on his march to Seville, and had already passed the Morena mountains when the insurrection took place. He has pushed en to Cordova, and, by the intercepted dispatches, we learn he is strengthening himself there, and proposes to wait for reinforcements. In the mean time, the Morena passes in his rear have been oc

cupied by 5000 Spaniards, the road has been broken up; and, I trust, all communication has been cut off. Gen. D'AL rid had received orders to join him at Seville, with 4000 men, who were to assemble at Alcorentin, but our arrival off Ayamonte, and the arming of all Spain, and the alarms in Portugal, having prevented this movement, I trust that Gen. Junot will not now be able to detach any troops from Portugal, though we understand a French corps has been collected at Elvas, but I do not think it can exceed 4000 men, though the reports of its strength are very various. At Faro the Portuguese have already risen, have taken or destroyed a detachment of about 200 men, have seized the arms and ammunition of the province, which the French had collected in a depôt, and also about 40,000 dollars in gold, which the French General had amassed.

From Vice-admiral Lord Collingwood, dated Ocean, off Cadiz, June 14.

Sir, In my letter of the 12th inst. by the Alphea, I informed you that application had been made for a ship to carry to England Commissioners appointed by the Supreme Council of Seville, to treat with his Majesty's Ministers on such matters as are important to the interest of both countries. The Admiral who commands in the port of Cadiz being one of the deputed, they did not choose he should depart until the surrender of the French ships, which took place this morning. The Spaniards having constructed an additional battery of thirty heavy guns, and numerous gun and bomb vessels having taken their stations, the French ships struck their colours at seven o'clock this morning, and soon after the Spanish were hoisted on board them. The French ships, I understand, are not at all injured, as the Spaniards, wanted them for their own use; not has there been much loss of men on either side. Governor some days since (and before I came here) requested of Major-gen. Spencer to proceed to Ayamonte, to oppose a detachment of the French army, which was said to be marching from Portugal by the coast; and yesterday the transports proceeded, under the protection of the Zealous, to that quarter, where the Windsor Castle had conducted a detachment the day before.

The

June 15.-The Governor of Cadiz has notified to me, that the Commissioners will be ready to embark in two days. As the Revenge has been stationed near the town, where Sir J. Gore has had inuch intercourse with the Governor and Chiefs in command during the late operations, and witnessed the temper and disposition of the people, I have ordered that ship to receive them, that he may give to his Majesty's Ministers the information they may desire of what

what has come within his observation as to the present state of this part of Spain. Application has been made to me this evening by the Supreme Council at Seville and the Governor of Cadiz, to give a passport to a Spanish frigate and four dispatch vessels, to carry to the several Government's and Presidencies in the West Indies, information of the events which have happened in Spain, and their instructions to the Governors; and also that a sloop of war may take out Officers to that country, whose presence there is important; this they urge in preference to their going in a Spanish vessel, as it will convey a proof of their connexion with Great Britain.

COLLINGWOOD. Letter received by Sir C. Cotton, Bart. from Capt. Creyke, of the Eclipse sloop, detailing the state of affairs at Oporto.

H. M. S. Eclipse, off the Bar of Oporto, June 20. Sir, Since the account I had the honour of delivering to you on the 10th June, Oporto has undergone two revolutions, and has been successively in the hands of the French, and the subjects of the Prince Regent. After the Spaniards had delivered the forts into the custody of the Portúguese, and the National colours were every where hoisted, the French were again able to establish their authority, in consequence of the weak and undetermined measures of the Goyernor, Louis D'Oliveira, who is now confined as a traitor; and maintained it till the 16th, the day of Corpus Christi, a great national festival, when it had been usual for the Portuguese regiments to attend with colours flying. The Governor D'Oliveira, in consequence of orders from Junot, attempted to establish the French flag instead of the Portuguese at the procession. This violent attack on the national custom drew forth the murmurs of the populace to so great a degree, that an attempt to compromise on the part of the Governor had no effect; and on the 18th, in the evening, the day before my arrival here, they were excited to such a degree of fury, that, countenanced by the Priests, the people-rose en masse, broke open the depôts, and supplied themselves with 25,000 stand of arms, and, together with the regulars, fonned a most determined and enthusiastic army. From this moment all French authority ceased, and every man, either French, or suspected of being inclined to the French interest, was arrested. The Bishop of Oporto was elected as the new Governor, and an army of 20,000 men sent to meet the French, who had advanced, to the amount of 900, within six leagues of Oporto. The enthusiasm has communicated from one to the other; and the Portuguese GENT. MAG. July, 1808.

provinces of Tralos, Montes, Minho, and the Northern part of Beira, in imitation of the Spaniards, have risen in arms, determined to extirpate the French from their kingdom. From the most moderate agcounts, besides what are at Oporto, I may estimate them at upwards of 100,000 men. All the regular regiments disbanded by the French are forming again with the greatest alacrity, and will soon join them. I have this day had an interview with his Excellency the Governor, conducted to him amidst the shouts and huzzas of the populace. To-morrow I send a party of men to mount the guns of a large Brazil ship, the command of which is given to an Englishman, and destined as a floating battery to defend the bridge, in case the French should have the temer.ty, to approach, though such an event is not to be apprehended. If any requisition is made for powder, I shall comply with it, but they have at present abundance of arms, ammunition, and provisions. detestation of the Portuguese to the French is so great, that Capt. Jones and myself, after having begged the life of the French Intendant of Police, had the greatest difficulty in conveying him a prisoner to the boat; and the unbounded love and respect for the English alone prevented the enraged populace from tearing him to pieces.

The

G. A. CREYKE:

From Capt. Digby, of the Cossack, addressed to, and transinitted by Lord Gambier.

Cossack, off St. Andero, June 25.

My Lord, The last opportunity I had of writing to your Lordship, I acquainted you of my intention to go to St. Andero immediately, and afford every assistance in my power to the loyal inhabitants, and bring off any British subjects that might wish to come away, in the present uncer tain state of the country; and I had intel ligence that the French frigate in passage, accompanied by several gun boats, was expected to make a descent on that part of the coast; owing to the strong easterly winds and long cabins, I did not get there till the 21st. The signal-post displayed a flag of truce, which was answered by both ships. The Captain of the port, Don Vincento Camino, came on Lord; he told us, the French armiy were soon expected to make an attack on the pass. in the mountains, that guarded the approach to the town; he invited us to anchor in Sardenero Bay, which we did at five P.'M.5 until he had made his report to the Bishop, who was the present Governor, he wished us not to land. No boat returning by one o'clock the next day, I concluded some sudden attack, or unexpected event, must have taken place. In the afternoon a brig came out of the harbour full of peo

ple

ple of all descriptions, who had left the town on the report that the French were advancing. I immediately got under weigh, and sent Capt. Daly, of the Comet, up the harbour, to gain some confirmed intelligence, and should the report prove true, to reconnoitre the fort, and find out where the principal magazine was, and, if possible, to destroy it. Between eight and nine P. M. Capt. Daly returned with certain information, that the French army had gained the pass, and had halted only a few miles from the town, and were expected to enter that light or next day. Capt. Daly also made every possible observation, and had himself spiked the guns in two forts near the town, and he requested to go and destroy the magazine, and the guns in the forts that guard the entrance of the harbour. I should certainly have sent the boats that night, Eut the great chance of their being taken by surprise, should the enemy advance, and the night being very dark and squally, with every appearance of bad weather, made me defer it till the next morning; at day-light we stood into the bay, and manned and armed two boats from each ship, under the orders of Capt. Daly;

he was accompanied by Lieut. H. M. Herbert, of the Cossack, and Lieut. Read, of the Royal Marines, and several of the younger officers, who all volunteered their services; they left this ship soon after six o'clock, and landed about eight, spiked all the guns in Fort St. Salvador de Ano, and Fort Sedra, and wedged shot

in the chambers of them, which renders them quite useless; the magazine was at some little distance, and had 500 whole barrels of powder in it, besides quantities of other stores; all which was completely destroyed, great part by throwing it over the cliffs into the sea, leaving sufficient to blow up the magazine; the train was laid for a considerable distance, and it was let off about ten o'clock, which instantly levelled the whole building to the ground. Finding some more powder in Fort Sedra, a train was laid to it, which took effect, and blew part of the house and storehouse in it up. The two other forts on the West side of the bay they could not attempt, as the surf was so high it was impossible to land, and to walk round was too far from the boats, as they had not a moment to spare; having heard before they set fire to the first train, that the French had entered the town, and they expected a strong guard at the forts. The boats left the shore by eleven o'clock, and had just got round the Point of De Ano, when a considerable body of French Dragoons appeared on the hill, and took post near the smoking ruins of the maga zine. I am sorry to say, Capt. Daly and Lieut. Read of the marines are much scorched, particularly Lieut. Read, in setting fire to the last train, but am happy to find his eyes are safe, and he is do ing well. Capt. Daly speaks in high commendation of the zeal and exertion of every officer and man employed with him. GEORGE DIGBY.

The primary object of Buonaparte being to secure the Entrance into Spain by the Passes of the Pyrenees, that vast

OCCURRENCES.

natural boundary between it and France acknowledged by the Treaty concluded by the Revolutionary Government and Spain in 1793 of the entrance into Catalonia, by the Pass of Rosas and Bellegardeand into Biscay and Navarre by that of St. Jean de Luz-he had little difficulty in seizing, in the first instance, the two strongest points of those respective Provinces; namely, Barcelona in the former, and Pampeluna in the latter; both stations of much strength, and capable of the greatest resistance to an attacking force. These cities being garrisoned, he next sent forward the Grand Duke of Berg (Joachim Murat) to Madrid, with progressive divisions of French troops, amounting in the whole to more than 40,000 men; who moved thenee, as from a centre, to elicit his orders throughout the Spanish Monarchy, and if necessary, to enforce them. In the mean while, the Tyrant himself was proceeding by easy stages to Bayonne, a city of Gascony, on the Spanish Frontier, there to act as be should deem necessary. At this point a strong force was also collected, which,

as it increased, was pushed on à la debandade into the neighbouring Lordship of Biscay, and the Kingdoms of Old Castile, Navarre, and Arragon. This latter force we cannot conceive to be less in the aggregate than 50,000 iner. And it must be remembered, that Portugal, at this moment, was occupied by at least 20,000 under General Janot. Thus the Northern, the Middle, and the Western parts of the Spanish Peninsula, were in the hands of 110,000 Veteran French Soldiers--exclusively of the Garrisons of Pampeluna and Barcelona, which may be taken, with some other distributions of the same nature in those parts, at 20,000 more; and, in the South, the French squadron of five sail of the line at. Cadiz was supposed quite sufficient for the preservation of the French interests in that Quarter.

Upon the decided manifestation of the dislike of the Spaniards to the Usurpation of King Joseph,-the horrible transaction at Madrid, of the Fusillade-and the necessity of coercing the insurgents, now on foot in almost every quarter of the kingdom-Murat was not only compelled to quit Madrid himself, being incapable of a serious defence, and strengthen himself in the Retiero, with such forces as he kept near him-but to detach, in various quarters, such portions of his troops as he deemed competent to the quieting the different disturbed Provinces.

In his calculations upon this head, he seems to have been greatly deceived, and, by all the Spanish accounts at least, to have been completely frustrated, if Bot in progress to be utterly destroyed.

His first object seems to have been a position at Cordova in the Province of Andalusia, whence he could at once move upon Seville, Carthagena, or Cadiz, as he should deem necessary. For this purpose he detached General Dupont, the School-fellow and favourite Officer of Buonaparte, to that quarter-who had scarcely arrived there when he received intelligence of the three places he was sent

to

cover and protect having actually thrown off the French yoke, proclaimed Ferdinand VII. and entered into the closest correspondence with England. What has happened at Cadiz we all know. The French Heet surrendered--The proceedings at Seville and Carthagena have been equally favourable to us. And Dupont, so far from advancmg upon any of these points, has been obliged to quit Cordova, and to strengthen himself on the heights of Andjuar, about six miles Eastward, where they and the river Guadalquiver give him a st.ong position.-In the mean time, the patriotic General Castanos, and the force of the Southern Spapish Insurrection, have advanced upon

and succeeded in hemming him in on every quarter.

To the Kingdoms of Valencia and Murcia, to the Westward, Murat detached General Moncey, with at least 12,009 men, to secure their tranquillity.-Spanish Journals of the 8th inst. if to be credited, decide upon the fate of this Expedition also. They assert,, that, after having cannonaded the city of Valencia for two days ineffectually, they were forced to retreat precipitately; and, being pur sued in their turn, and overtaken near Almanza by the Patriots, were almost totally destroyed, and effectual means taken to prevent the residue from escaping total annihilation.

A third division of the Madrid Army, 18,000 strong, under General Le Febvre, proceeded to the North-Eastward, to occupy the important City of Saragossa; which point, if carried, would not only se cure an interesting position, but keep the communication open with Barcelona, and thus preserve a retreat into France, and the quiet possession of Barcelona. This detachment has been even still more unfortunate than the other two-it being positively stated, officially, that they have been,destroyed to a man, after two ineffectual attempts on Saragossa, by the heroic General Palafox.-In the same quarter, it is also pos.tively asserted on nearly the same authority, that the Patriots are in force before Barcelona, and that there were daily hopes of its reduce tion. Were all these accounts authenticated, there would remain to the Duke of Berg but four or five thousand men at Madrid.

We are now to turn toward the NorthWest of Spain, over which the malignant, but powerful genius of Buonaparte is hovering, and into which he has actually sent his Brother Joseph to assume his Royal Functions.-The French army in this quarter is commanded by Marshal Bessieres, a General of distinguished ability, and who has, exclusively of the Garrison of Pampeluna, nearly 50,000 men under his immediate command.-His. principal station is Burgos, the Capital of Old Castile, about 112 miles to the North of Madrid, with which City we suppose his communication is still open-and he has a strong force advanced upon Valladolid, to the South-West about fifty miles.

To oppose the force of essieres, who is himself posted at Biluoa with 18,000 men, the Spanish General Ponti, at the head of the Asturian army of 40,000, is on the full march to attack; and a battle was hourly expected at the date of the last intelligence :-While General Cuesta, with the armies of Galicia and Leon, is moving upon Burgos and Victoria-first, howe