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ticable-weak and insufficient, certainly, as its own resources are without the prompt and efficacious aid which it promises itself from your excellency.-With respect to the measures of another kind whioh without doubt will be necessary for the salvation of the country, and its elevation to that rank to which it rose in the times of its prosperity, it belongs to the council merely to rouse and excite the authorities of the nation, with which it will co-operate by contributing for the general welfare, its influence, its counsel, and its knowledge. As it is not possible to adopt, under the present extraordinary circumstances, the expedients pointed out by the laws and customs of the nation, the council will not occasion delay by elaborately suggesting what might perhaps be the fit means of fixing the representation, and ascertaining the opinion of the nation; and confines itself for the present to the indication of a measure in which it would concur with the greatest satisfaction, viz.--that your excellency would be pleased to send, with the greatest dispatch, deputies who enjoy your entire confidence, and who, acting in concert with the persons named by the Juntas of the other provinces and the council, might confer on this most important object, making such arrangements that all projects and expedients proceeding from this common centre may be as expeditious as the end to be attained may require. Your excellency has displayed such striking proofs of your constant attachment to the king, whom Providence has, given us, and of your ardent zeal for the honour and fidelity of the nation, that the council cannot but expect with entire confidence, that your sentiments will concur with those of the other provincial Juntas, to whom it has this day transmitted the present manifesto and that you will continue to evince the same. solicitude and zeal you have hitherto shewn, as well in dispatching to the council and capital the prompt aid of troops, which will shelter them from fresh oppression, as in uniting the aid of your authority and ability to that of his supreme council, in concerting measures for the defence of the whole nation. May God preserve your excellency many years.!

Proclamation of the Council of Castile, to the People of Maarid, on the Departure of the French-Aug. 5.

Generous and worthy people of the ca... pital of Spain! The council addresses you; and before it states its sentiments to you, it asks are you capable of availing yourselves of the misfortunes of your country in the critical state in which it now is, to perturb

its tranquillity, and add to the calamities of its situation? Your noble conduct corresponds, as might be expected, with the va lour and virtue which form your character. The council rejoices that you follow the advice it formerly gave you, and that you trust in its paternal solicitude. Continue, faithful Spaniards, to be calm, that the worthy chief, and the magistrates who preside over you, may meet all the dangers which can occur, and fulfil with exactness all their obligations. When fame admires and publishes the victories of our valiant countrymen over the invincibles of Marengo, Austerlitz, and Jeua, it is not possible that you could commit the shameful act of warming your selves by the conflagration of their houses and effects. Such actions would fill with horror the virtuous armies which are surrounding us for our protection. They have left their properties to defend ours; they have abandoned their hearths, and been lavish of their lives, because they would not endure the slavery of our good king, and the death of the monarchy; and it is through their efforts only that we are free from a perfidious enemy who persecuted us. We are not so perfidious (you will answer), that while they are approaching, covered with glory and the blood of the enemy, we should forget our obligations, and occupy ourselves solely in judging arbitrarily of the fidelity and conduct of our fellow countrymen. This is the language of honour, which characterizes you: do not forget it. Yes! it is the malevolent, who cover their depredations, their confiagrations, and their homicides, on such mournful occasions, with the pretext of justice, without reflecting, that it is not lawful for any one to be, of his own authority, the administrator of justice. The supreme tribunal assures you, that if there have been among us any traitors to their sovereign and their country, it will avenge their crimes, and if they merit it, cast them away, as unworthy of the name of Spaniards. Judge no one, for that renders you liable to sacrifice many innocent. Adore Divine Providence, which has known how to humiliate in an instant the proud, and which will as little suffer to remain unpunished incendiaries and assassins.

Worthy citizens good men and tri patriots! Arm yourselves against the in quity of those who purpose to grow rich with your property, the price of the sweat of your brows. The council watches for your safety. Lend them aid, and impeach those who assume the false title of neigh bours, but are mere vagabonds, who, flying from before their own magistrates, conceal

their vices amid the confusion of the capital. Already your victorious countrymen are near, crowned with laurels, which will not fade in the course of future ages. All Europe has been surprised at the progress of their rapid victories. Arragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, La Mancha, Estramadura, Murcia, Carthagena, Castile, Leon, Asturias, Santandur, and Gallicia, have shed around them never fading glory. Already they have raised numerous armies; already they have defended the principal points of Spain; alreathey have secured the chief maritime ports, and captured ships and squadrons at Carthagena. We owe all to God, and our Lady, the Virgin, who have protected our cause. Let us, therefore, cast off our lethargy, and purify our manners, which were arrived almost at the pitch of complete corruption. Let us acknowledge the calamities which the kingdom and this great capital have endured, as a punishment necessary for our correction. The innocent victims, whose blood has streamed from their native soil, have implored forgiveness for us. The one immortal and omnipotent God of armies Has heard their supplications, and is appeased. Will it be just that we should now commit new abominations, robberies, insurrections, and excesses? There cannot be a being of so great ingratitude as to think this. Unite, virtuous Spaniards, to receive, as soon as possible, the reward of your heroic fidelity.

The government, and the faithful provinces, will be filled with joy, when the council exhibits before you and all Europe the constant firmness with which the men of honour, the most elevated nobility, the superior tribunals, and the chiefs of the nation, have sustained your cause, and the rights of the throne. Not a few individuals among them have been led by fraud and force far beyond the limits of Spain; and, though without liberty, and exposed to the severest insults, they have proved the inflexibility of their loyalty, and the religious purity of their opinions. Distrust even their signatures, which have been circulated among you, and wait with patience for the testimonies of their conduct. The principal author of these calamities is free, and beyond your jurisdiction; but heaven will not permit him to remain unpunishedAnd you, ye victorious armies of Spain ! fly and protect this capital which longs for you. Till then it has no other defence, than in the heart of the kingdom, and the recent departure of the enemy. Let us together prostrate ourselves before the sacred altars of our God, and return him thanks for his wonderful mercy. Here your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, and your friends,

await you, to embrace you, and proclaim you our deliverers. O how happy that day! how true that joy! Wipe away your tears, you disconsolate widows, and you wretched orphans, who have lost those whom you lov ved! Your fathers, and your faithful hus bands, died in the field of honour, in the defence of their country; they perished, but their memory shall not perish. Here you will meet with generous and grateful souls, who will provide for your mainte nance, as your husbands and fathers provi ded for theirs. The Spanish nobility are distinguished for their generosity and greatness of soul, and will not deny a debt as flattering as it is just. God grant that no evil-minded persons may frustrate, by theit excesses and rapine, such laudable intentions, and fill this city with lamentation and mourning. Worthy neighbours! it is for you we act live in confidence that the council and all the magistrates of this capital will protect you, and will deliver over the guilty to the severest punishment. God grant that there be no occasion to draw the sword of justice; let it be employed against the enemies of the nation against the op. pressors of our liberty, and against those who, violating their promise, avail them selves of our defenceless state to sacrifice us. May it please Heaven to grant, speedily, the fulfilment of those desires which are engraved on the hearts of all Spaniards, and those of its council!-D. BARTOLOME MUNOZ.

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Proclamation to the Biscayans.-Dated Bilbon, Aug. 6.

Noble Biscayans!-The bitter grief which oppressed your hearts, at seeing your native land threatened with the odious yoke of the most cruel slavery, has at length broken through the barriers which the irresistible force of circumstances had imposed upon you; yes, your sufferings are now at an end; and a generous youth, full of holy ardour, are flocking with eagerness to their standards. You called for chiefs to command you; and you now see placed at your head men celebrated for their talents and military knowledge, who will conduct you as it were by the hand to victory. The creation of a presiding junta, to direct your operations, has been one of the principal objects of your careful attention. Here you possess it, addressing you in the language of truth.

Inhabitants of Biscay! cast your eyes back on the ages which have passed, and you will see your ancestors at one time repulsing the Carthaginians; at another desaying the hosts of Rome; at one period granted to them the honourable distinc tion of serving in the van of the army; at

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nother, the privilege of citizens. Imitate be glorious examples of your so worthy progenitors. Yet know that absolute subrdination to your chief, and severity of iscipline, are the first of martial virtues, without which none can present themselves with the bope of success in the plains of onour. The junta promises itself that you will possess them in an eminent degree.-Let he unholy voice of party passions for ever appear from among you: and let the ggestions of envy hold no sway in your sms. No; let a perfect and indissoluble nion reign among you. Your interests are the same the sentiments which animate ou alike—and the cause which you defend, ommon. Will you, therefore, seek to m your force against your brethren and contrymen, and to give the victory to your nemies? Perish so disgraceful an idea! let the liberty and property of individuals

most religiously, respected, and let the rovince of Biscay preserve the purity of its ustoms, even in the midst of the din of rins-Biscayans! The religion of your athers, according to whose holy maxims ou have been educated-the country to tach you owe your existence-the Lord Sovereign) which the constitution and Laws have prescribed to you-these are eimportant objects which claim your atation, and oblige you to march out to the rious conflict. Can you bear to be the ictims of one man's ambition who has eneavoured to enslave all Europe? No; were not born for slavery,-Hasten then give the most undoubted proofs of your lour and patriotism, and rely upon all the stance which the junta can afford you. lay your temples be surrounded with lauof victory, and your name be immorI in the annals of Biscay! (Signed) MATHIAS HERRERO PRIETO D. JUAN SEPH DE YERMO. D. FRACISCO BORJA TADO DE CORCUERA, &c. D. JOSE AVIER DE GOITIA, Secretary of the Jun a roclamation of our Holy Father Pope Pius

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VIL, to the Catholic Spaniards. Beloved Children ;-You who deplore at foot of the altar the wounds given to on-You who are still mindful that form one people of brethren, join we, Vicar of Christ; approach ye families, remnant of vast destruction, to the one of my predecessors, to see ine, like el, surrounded by lions; preserved hiero by the inscrutable designs of Provice- see the vessel of St. Peter entrusttomy care combated by the fierce aposwhom myself have placed on the one, and who, like a degenerate son, ats for the destruction of his mother, the

church, to whom he had sworn fidelity at her altar. But let us draw off the veil that covers so great iniquity. The first victim that was sacrificed to his ambition has been your shepherd. Rome, the centre of faith and the shield of religion, has been prostituted. The idol Dagon has been united to the cruel Antioch of our days to accomplish the destruction of religion, which is the great bar to his perfidious designs. However, do not despond. The successor of St. Peter is still extant, though overwhelmed with affliction; groaning under his chains, he lifts his eyes and tremulous hands to heaven, imploring incessantly the protection of the God of hosts over his flock!-Oh! the happy effects of religion! In this fatal situation, my soul, penetrated with Christian feelings, learns with transport and surprise, that Spain, happy Spain, has remained true to her religion and king. I hasten, my beloved children, to surmount the shackles by which I am depressed, to transmit to your kingdoms the circular that will testify to you of my gratitude. Arouse, and combat, like David, the imperious Goliath of our times.-Valorous Spaniards, sons of the church, come and break the chains of your shepherd. Already my heart assures me of your sensibility; do not tarry; raise the standard of faith; victory invites you; come then to your brothers in bondage. Raise your tents, and pursue the usurper of nations. Enter into the heart of his dominions, and follow him to the remotest li mits of the earth. Shew to the nations of the North that oppression is in its agony, and let the Spanish sword strike the decisive blow on the guilty head. Compassionate the ill-fated kingdom of France, condole with its people, and they will assist you to overwhelm her traitorous tyrant. Oh, with what transport will the Catholic Ferdinand learn the intrepidity and heroic loyalty of his subjects! The streight situation to which he is, like myself, doomed, pres cludes the means to him of manifesting the sentiments of his magnanimous heret. I feel not the strength of saying more. If I survive the calamity, and you spill your blood for religion, your country and mo-, narch, to whom I supplicate from beaven all happiness, the world shall be witness to my gratitude.

The Supreme Council of Castile to the Capt.) General of Arrogan.-Aug. 4, 1808.

SIR-After having laboured for four suc.. cessive months under the most grievous opi pression, this capital has at last buen so-for

nate as to be liberated from the numerous French troops, which bad invaded its precincts and vicinity. The council which

or even taken part against their own country of this I have had sufficient evidence, and to my inexpressible sorrow have I known them direct the operations of the enemy and witnessed them approach with effronter the walls of Saragossa, write inflammator papers, and propagate doctrines dishonour able to the Spanish name.I am aware tha the council has not been at liberty to ac freely, and that they have been constrained to serve only as organs of the dispositions o that execrable government; but the genera will of the nation having once been expres sed, it would have been highly important they had transferred themselves to the pro vinces, and made common cause with them were it only to withdraw their sanction from the circulation of the scandalous and deception writings which have made their appearance and to this no insuperable obstacle appen to nie to have stood in their way; or ha there been any, the common interest an welfare of the nation ought at any rate have risen paramount to every private spect

has groaned under their galling yoke, would deem itself wanting to its duty, if, accrediting you and your gallant companions in arms as the deliverers of the country, it did not hasten to manifest to you its satisfaction, and the sentiments with which it hath been constantly animated, and has the happiness to express at present. From the first moment of its liberation it has taken all the measures, that circumstances have allowed, to direct to the common cause, the loyalty and ardent vows of this faithful capital and its whole district; these however, for the present, will not be such as the zeal of the council and of this city would wish; they will be insufficient to the putting them free from fresh opression.-The council doubts not but your excellency will coincide with there in this request, and contribute to the safety of the capital and its public departments, with all the efficacy in your power; and the illustrious proofs of zeal and conduct already most amply by you manifested, are a sufficient assurance to them that you will adopt the means to the exigency of the cir-lation.-It is now nearly two months th cumstances. To his excellency the Captain General of Arrogan, Don Joseph de Palafox y Melzi. By command of the council. ARIAS MON.

this city has been encompassed by the en my; by the baseness of whose conduct discern that they make crime their stud To rapine, violence, turpitude, and iniquit they have added ferocity, by sacrificing ev infants--the sick and wounded; nay, the very benefactors. They have bombard this heroic city in a cruel manner; a though their irruption into this kingdo has been well avenged, we have, neverth less, not repulsed them without spilling blood of many a brave and virtuous defend of the country, and without involving m ny others in distress. Regarding myself, have been more critically situated than an other commander, being without one sing soldier, and placed within immediate read of the enemy, from my proximity to h frontiers, and liable to be attacked at on from Catalonia, Castile, and Navarre; b in despite of all, our love for king, countr and religion, has made me contemn all da

Answer of his Excellency the Captain General of Arragon, Don Joseph De Palafox y Melzi, to the Council of Castile. The notification which you, under date of the 4th instant, have communicated to me in the name of the council, and of which I had already the knowledge, has afforded me the most heartfelt gratification. Considering that the inhabitants of the capital, who have endured the most intolerable vexation, owing to their loyal attachment to their sovereign, which will eternally redound to their honour, are now freed of their invaders, it gives alike to me, and to the good inhabitants of this kingdom universally, cause of happiness and exultation. The unalterable integrity of the council, the dignity of its ministers, and the wise policy of which there has been ere now ample de-gers, considering timidity and irresolutio monstration, has rendered that court respectable even abroad. In the melancholy circumstances in which Spain has been placed by the most unparalleled treachery recorded in history, this court has not fulfilled its duties; many of the individuals of which it was composed have most satisfactorily justified themselves, whilst others, perhaps allured by the seducive promises of the enemy, or enstrained by the perversity of their disposition, have either remained irresolute,

as tantamount to the greatest crime. I ha spared some assistance to Catalonia, to N varre, and other provinces, who have chee fully acted with me, and claimed my pr tection, and I have happily been enabled repel the enemy, which I trust shortly put to flight, if any part of the wred shall remain. Then I shall fly to the s cour of the capital, if needful, which Ir quest you to represent to the council f promulgation.

Printed by Cox and Baylis, Great Queen Street; published by R. Bagshaw, Brydges Street, Covent Garden, where former Numbers may be had: sold also by J. Budd, Crown and Mitre, Pall-Mall,

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VOL. XIV. No. 13.] LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1808. [PRICE IOP.

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SUMMARY OF POLITICS CONVENTIONS IN PORTUGAL.There is an irksomeness in beginuing to write upon a subject, which has already been fully discussed, more especially when the whole of those, to whom one's remarks are addressed, have made up their minds upon it, and when there appears nothing to be offered in opposition to their opinion. Nevertheless, from the consideration, that the Register may be preserved, owing to its bookish form, somewhat longer than most of the other periodical publications of the political kind," I shall state my opinion of those transactions, which are recorded in the Government Gazette, inserte in another part of this sheet, and which have excited so general a feeling of dissausfaction -When we took that view of the situation of affairs in Portugal, which was exhibited to us in the official papers of Sir Arthur Wellesley (inserted at page 407 of this volume); when we beheld the prowess of our soldiers, in the battles, of which. those papers speak; when we were told, that the French had, besides the advantage of a perfect knowledge of the country and of long preparation, the still greater adsan tage of an excellent position whence to make, or where to sustain, an attack; when we were told, just in so many words, that, in this action, in which the whole "of the French force in Portugal was em

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ployed under the command of the Duke "of Abrantes in person, in which the enemy was certainly superior in cavalry and artillery, and in which not more than "half of the British army was actually en

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gaged, the French sustained a signal defeat, and lost thirteen pieces of cannon, twenty-three ammunition waggons, with powder, shells, stores of all descriptions, "and twenty thousand rounds of musket "ammunition." When we were told all this, and were informed, that, immediately after this brilliant success, our army was augmented to nearly double what it had before been, we naturally expected, that, by the next arrival, seeing that the enemy could receive no supplies, either by land or by sea, we should be informed of bis surrender at discretion.Sir Arthur Wellesley's account has been praised for its clearness. I must confess, that I saw nothing like clearBess in it. I saw no where any explicit

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statement respecting the positive amount of the French force in Portugal. The way, in which I, were I a commander upon such an occasion, should proceed, would be this: The enemy had, in this country, such and such forces; they were distributed thus and this; my force was sech and such and thes and thus was it distributed. Then I should come to an account of my prelimi nary operations; next to a detail of the engagement; and should conclude with a view of the strength and situation of each party after the engagement. This is the course uniformly pursed by the French in their accounts of their military operations, which, in every quality, except that of falsehood, are well worthy of our imitation, but which, upon this occasion, we have, I am afraid, imitated in the exception and not in the rule. From such an account, which is too confused to be readable were it not for the sake of the exhilirating substance, one cannot pretend to say what was the exact force of the French in Portugal. Those who have taken the pains to collect the fact from scraps, here and there dispersed, state the French. force at 'fourteen thousand men previous to our attack of them, and at ten thousand men after that attack, which ended in a signal defeat" on their part. Sir Arthur Wellesley's force was seventeen thousand men. He did not lose a thousand; and, since the battle, he has, been joined by other generals and their troops, raising our army to the strength of thirty thousand men, or thereabouts.- -Well, then, if it be true, that Sir Arthur Wellesley, with only nine thousand men (the half" of his army), beat the whole" of the French force, in spite of all the advantages enjoy.d by the former, of previous local familiar v, long preparation, open retreat, choice of position, and choice of the moment of attack; if this be true, had we not a right to expect, nay, had we not a right to claim and to demand at the hands of the commander in Portugal, when he had thirty thousand men, the capture, or the total destruction, of the remains of the French arm in Portugal? Had we not a right to demand at his hands, the sending of Junot and his army prisoners of war to that England which they had so often threatened to invade, or the making of them food for

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