brought his army to 40, 000 men.-The | and obstinately contested, to the inclosed dukes of Treviso and Abrantes have car- Report of lieut.-gen. Hope, who succeedried all the outworks at Saragossa. The ed to the command of the army, and to gen. of engineers, Lacoste, is preparing whose ability and exertions in direction the means of getting possession of that city of the ardent zeal and unconquerable vawithout loss. The king of Spain has gone lour of his majesty's troops, is to be attrito Aranjuez, in order to review the first buted, under Providence, the success of corps, commanded by the duke of Belluno. the day, which terminated in the complete and entire repulse and defeat of the enemy at every point of attack. The hon. capt. Gordon, my aid-de-camp, will have the honour of delivering this dispatch, and will be able to give your lordship any further information which may be required. I have the honour to be, &c. D. BAIRD, lieut.-gen. Twenty-fourth Bulletin. His majesty's ship Audacious, off Corunna, Jan. 18, 1809.-SIR; In compliance with the desire contained in your communication of yesterday, I avail myself of the first moment I have been able to command, to detail to you the occurrences of the action which took place in front of Corunna, on the 16th instant.—It will be in your recollection, that about one in the afternoon of that day, the ene Astorga, Jan. 2.-The Emperor arrived at Astorga on the 1st of Jan. The road from Benevente to Astorga is covered with dead horses belonging to the English, with travelling carriages, artillery, caissons and warlike stores. There were found at Astorga magazines of sheets, blankets, and the tools and implements of pioneers.As to Romana's army, it is reduced almost to nothing. The small number that remain are without coats, shoes, pay, food, and it is no longer to be considered any thing. The Emperor has charged the duke of Dalmatia with the glorious mission of pursuing the English to the place of their deba kation, and of driving them into the sea, at the point of the sword.my, who had in the morning received reThe English will learn what it is to make an inconsiderate movement in presence of the French army. The manner in which they have been driven from the kingdoms of Leon and Gallicia, and the destruction of a part of their army, will, no doubt, teach them to be more circumspect of their operations on the continent.-All that remains of the Spanish insurgent troops has been without pay for several months back. BATTLE OF CORUNNA.-London Gazette Extraordinary, dated Downing-street, Jan. 24, 1809. The hon. captain Hope arrived late last night with a dispatch from lieut.-gen. sir David Baird to lord viscount Castlereagh, one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, of which the following is a copy: His majesty's ship Ville de Paris, at sea, Jan. 18, 1809.-MY LORD; By the muchlamented death of lieut.-general sir John Moore, who fell in action with the enemy on the 16th instant, it has become my duty to acquaint your lordship, that the French army attacked the British troops in the position they occupied in front of Corunna, at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of that day. A severe wound, which compelled me to quit the field a short time previous to the fall of sir John Moore, obliges me to refer your lordship for the particulars of the action, which was long inforcements, and who had placed some The late commander of the forces, to withdraw the army on the evening of the 16th, for the purpose of embarkation, the previous arrangements for which had already been made by his order, and were, in fact, far advanced at the commencement of the action. The troops quitted their position about ten at night, with a degree of order that did them credit. The whole of the artillery that remained unembarked having been withdrawn, the troops followed in the order prescribed, and marched to their respective points of embarkation in the town and neighbourhood of Corunna. The picquets remained at their posts until five in the morning of the 17th, when they were also withdrawn with similar orders, and without the enemy having discovered the movement.-By the unremitted exertions of captains the hon. H. Curzon, Gosselin, Boys, Rainier, Serrett, Hawkins, Digby, Carden, and Mackenzie, of the royal navy, who, in pursuance of the orders of rear adm. de Courcy, were entrusted with the service of embarking the army; and in consequence of the arrangements made by commissioner Bowen, captains Bowen and Shepherd, and the other agents for transports, the whole of the army were embarked with an expedition which has seldom been equalled. With the exception of the brigades under major-generals Hill and Beresford, which were destined to remain on shore, until the movements of the enemy should become manifest, the whole was afloat before day light.-The brigade of major-gen. Beresford, which was alternately to form our rear-guard, occupied the land front of the town of Corunna; that under major-Gen. Hill was stationed in reserve on the promontory in rear of the town. The eneiny pushed his light troops towards the town soon after the right of the position, endeavoured by numbers to turn it. A judicious and welltimed movement, which was made by major-gen. Paget, with the reserve, which corps had moved out of its cantonments to support the right of the army, by a vigorous attack, defeated this intention. The major-general having pushed forward the 95th (rifle corps) and 1st battalion 52nd regiments, drove the enemy before him, and in his rapid and judicious advance, threatened the left of the enemy's position. This circumstance, with the position of · lieut.-gen. Fraser's division, (calculated to give still further security to the right of the line) induced the enemy to relax his efforts in that quarter. They were however more forcibly directed towards the centre, where they were again successfully resisted by the brigade under major-gen. Manningham, forming the left of your division, and a part of that under major-gen. Leith, forming the right of the division under my orders. Upon the left, the enemy at first contented himself with an attack upon our picquets, which however in general maintained their ground. Finding however his efforts unavailing on the right and centre, he seemed determined to render the attack upon the left more serious, and had succeeded in obtaining possession of the village through which the great road to Madrid passes, and which was situated in front of that part of the line. From this post, however, he was soon expelled, with considerable loss, by a gallant attack of some companies of the 2nd battalion 14th regiment, under licut.-colonel Nicholls; before five in the evening, we had not only successfully repelled every attack made upon the position, but had gained ground in almost all points,and occupied a more forward line than at the commencement of the action, whilst the ene-eight o'clock in the morning of the 17th, my confined his operations to a cannonade, and shortly after occupied the heights of St. and a fire of his light troops, with a view Lucia, which command the harbour. But to draw off his other corps. At six the notwithstanding this circumstance, and the firing entirely ceased. The different bri- manifold defects of the place, there being gades were re-assembled on the ground no apprehension that the rear-guard could they occupied in the morning, and the be forced, and the disposition of the Spapicquets and advanced posts resumed their niards appearing to be good, the embarka original stations. Notwithstanding the de- tion of maj.-gen. Hill's brigade was com cided and marked superiority which at this menced and completed by 3 in the aftermoment the gallantry of the troops had noon; maj.-gen. Beresford, with that zeal given them over an enemy, who, from his and ability which is so well known to your number and the commanding advantages self and the whole army, having fully ex of his position, no doubt expected an easy plained, to the satisfaction of the Spanish victory, I did not, on reviewing all circum-governor, the nature of our movement, stances, conceive that I should be warranted in departing from what I knew was the fixed and previous determination of the and having made every previous arrange ment, withdrew his corps from the land front of the town soon after dark, and was, with all the wounded that had not been pre- | viously moved, embarked before one this morning.-Circumstances forbid us to indulge the hope, that the victory with which it has pleased Providence to crown the efforts of the army, can be attended with any very brilliant consequences to Great Britain. It is clouded by the loss of one of her best soldiers. It has been achieved at the termination of a long and harassing service. The superior numbers, and advantageous position of the enemy, not less than the actual situation of this army, did not admit of any advantage being reaped from success. It must be however to you, to the army, and to our country, the sweetest reflection, that the lustre of the British arms has been maintained, amidst many disadvantageous circumstances. The army which had entered Spain, amidst the fairest prospects, had no sooner completed its junction, than owing to the multiplied disasters that dispersed the native armies around us, it was left to its own resources. The advance of the British corps from the Duero, afforded the best hope that the south of Spain might be relieved, but this generous effort to save the unfortunate people, also afforded the enemy the opportunity of directing every effort of his numerous troops, and concentrating all his principal resources for the destruction of the only regular force in the north of Spain.-You are well aware with what diligence this system has been pursued.-These circumstances produced the necessity of rapid and harassing marches, which had dininished the numbers, exhausted the strength, and impaired the equipment of the army. Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, and those more immediately attached to a defensive position, which the imperious necessity of covering the harbour of Corunna for a time had rendered indispensable to assume, the native and undaunted valour of British troops was never more conspicuous, and must have exceeded what even your own experience of that invaluable quality, so inherent in them, may have taught you to expect. When every one that had an opportunity seemed to vie in improving it, it is difficult for me, in making this report, to select particular instances for your approbation. The corps chiefly engaged were the brigades under major-generals lord Wm. Bentinck, and Manningham, and Leith; and the brigade of guards under major-gen. Warde.-To these officers, and the troops under their immediate orders, the greatest praise is due. Major-gen. Hill and col. Catlin Crawford, with their brigades on the left of the position, ably supported their advanced posts. The brunt of the action fell upon the 4th, 42d, 50th, and 81st regiments, with parts of the brigade of guards, and the 26th regiment. From lieut. col. Murray, quartermaster-general, and the officers of the general staff, I received the most marked assistance. I had reason to regret, that the illness of brigadier-general Clinton, adjutant-general, deprived me of his aid. I was indebted to brigadier-general Slade during the action, for a zealous offer of his personal services, although the cavalry were embarked.-The greater part of the fleet having gone to sea, yesterday evening, the whole being under weigh, and the corps in the embarkation necessarily much mixed on board, it is impossible, at present, to lay before you a return of our casualties. I hope the loss in numbers is not so considerable as might have been expected. If I was obliged to form an estimate, I should say, that I believe it did not exceed in killed and wounded from seven to eight hundred; that of the enemy must remain unknown, but many circumstances induce me to rate it at nearly double the above number. We have some prisoners, but I have not been able to obtain an account of the number; it is not, however, considerable. Several officers of rank have fallen, or been wounded, among whom I am only at present enabled to state the names of lieut.-col. Napier, 924 reg., majors Napier and Stanhope, 50th reg., killed; lieut.-col. Winch, 4th reg., lieut.-col. Maxwell, 26th reg., lieut-col. Fane, 59th reg., lieut.-col. Griffith, guards, majors Miller and Williams, 81st reg., wounded.-To you, who are well acquainted with the excellent qualities of lieut.-gen. sir John Moore, I need not expatiate on the loss the army and his country have sustained by his death. His fall has deprived me of a valuable friend, to whom long experience of his worth had sincerely attached me. But it is chiefly on public grounds that I must lament the blow. It will be the conversation of every one who loved or respected his manly character, that, after conducting the army through an arduous retreat with consummate firmness, he has terminated a career of distinguished honour by a death that has given the enemy additional reason to respect the name of a British soldier. Like the immortal Wolfe, he is snatched from his country at an early period of a life spent in her service; like * Wolfe, his last moments were gilded by | the prospect of success, and cheered by the acclamation of victory; like Wolfe, also, his memory will for ever remain sacred in that country which he sincerely loved, and which he had so faithfully served. It remains for me only to express my hope, that you will speedily be restored to the service of your country, and to lament the unfortunate circumstance that removed you from your station in the field, and threw the momentary command into far less able hands. I have the honour to be, &c.-JOHN HOPE, lieut.-gen. To lieut.-gen. sir D. Baird, &c. &c. Supplement to the London Gazette Extraordinary, dated Admiralty-Office, January 24, 1809. Copy of a Letter from the hon. Michael De Courcy, rear-adm. of the White, to the hon. William Wellesley Pole, dated on board his majesty's ship the Tonnant, at Corunna, the 17th and 18th instant. January 17, 1809.-Sir: Having it in design to detach the Cossack to England as soon as her boats shall cease to be essential to the embarkation of troops, I seize a moment to acquaint you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, that the ships of war, as per margin, [Ville de Paris, Victory, Barfleur, Zealous, Implacable, Elizabeth, Norge, Plantagenet, Resolution, Audacious, Endymion, Mediator,] and transports under the orders of rear-adm. sir Samuel Hood, and commissioner Bowen, arrived at this anchorage from Vigo on the 14th and 15th instant; the Alfred and Hindostan, with some transports, were left at Vigo to receive a brigade of three thousand five hundred men, that had taken that route under generals Alten and Crawford.—In the vicinity of Corunna, the enemy have pressed upon the British in great force. The embarkation of the sick, the cavalry, and the stores, went on. The night of the 16th was appointed for the general embarkation of the infantry; and mean time, the enemy prepared for attack. At three p.m. an action commenced; the enemy, which had been posted on a lofty hill, endeavouring to force the British on another hill of inferior height, and nearer the town.-The enemy were driven back with great slaughter: but very sorry am I to add, that the British, though triumphant, have suffered se vere losses. I am unable to communicate further particulars, than that sir John Moore received a mortal wound, of which he died at night; that sir David Baird lost an arm; that several officers and many men have been killed and wounded: and that the ships of war have received all such of the latter as they could accommodate, the remainder being sent to transports.-The weather is now tempestuous, and the difficulties of embarkation are great. All except the rear-guard are embarked; consisting, perhaps, at the present moment, of two thousand six hundred men. The enemy having brought cannon to a hill overhanging the beach, have forced a majority of the transports to cut or slip. Embarkation being no longer practicable at the town, the boats have been ordered to a sandy beach near the light-house; and it is hoped that the greater part, if not all, will still be embarked, the ships of war having dropped out to facilitate embarkation. Jan. 18. The embarkation of the troops having occupied the greater part of last night, it has not been in my power to detach the Cossack before this day; and it is with satisfaction I am able to add, that, in consequence of the good order maintained by the troops, and the unwearied exertions of commissioner Bowen, the captains and other officers of the navy, the agents, as well as the boat's crews, many of whom were for two days without food and without repose, the army have been embarked to the last man, and the ships are now in the offing, preparatory to steering for England. The great body of the transports having lost their anchors, ran to sea without the troops they were ordered to receive, in consequence of which there are some thousands on board the ships of war. Several transports, through mismanagement, ran on shore. The seamen appeared to have abandoned them, two being brought out by the boats' crews of the men of war, two were burnt, and five were bilged. I cannot conclude this hasty statement without expressing my great obligation to rear-adm. sir Samuel Hood, whose eye was every where, and whose exertions were unremitted. the honour to be, &c. M. DE COURCY. Hazy weather rendering the Cossack obscure, I detach the Gleaner with this dispatch. I have 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. 5.] LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1809. [Price 10d. ""Tis all a libel, Paxton, Sir, will say." POPE. 161] [162 SUMMARY OF POLITICS. tain, perfectly coincide in wishes with the DUKE OF YORK.Much as I wish to royal chief; and, therefore, though, in communicate to the public some informa- general, it is not desirable that reports of tion, some really authentic information, debates should be inserted in this work, I which I possess, respecting the disposition shall insert here the whole of this most inof the people of Spain, their behaviour to- teresting debate, or, rather conversation, wards our army, the manner in which the of the honourable House. Upon comretreat was conducted, the superior bodily paring the reports in the different newsstrength and the superior bravery of our papers, I find the best, that is to say, the troops; anxious as I am to communicate fullest, to be in the Morning Chronicle, as this information to the public, I must de- is, indeed, usually the case. I find very fer it till my next, the partiamentary dis- little dierence as to the substance, the cussion relative to our illustrious Com- accuracy with which the debates are, in mander in Chief imperiously demanding a general, taken and published, being really preference to every thing else.On wonderful, and a circumstance eminently last Friday, the 27th ult. Mr. WARDLE, creditable to the talents of the gentlemen, a member of the House of Commons, who by whom those debates are given to the came into the honourable house for the public. But, upon this important occafirst time, I believe, in consequence of the sion, I will, as I proceed with the insertion dissolution in 1807, when his majesty of the debate from the Morning Chroniwas last most graciously pleased to ap-cle, sulin, in notes, parts of the report "peal to the sense of his people," and as given in the Courier, wherever it ap for which gracious act the public will do pears that there has been any material me the justice to say, that I, at the time, omission in the report of the Morning expressed my profound gratitude, though Chronicle; and thus we shall have the I could not then possibly foresee a thou- best possible chance of letting nothing of sandth part of the good which has resulted consequence escape us. Mr. WARDLE'S from the dissolution. Mr. WARDLE, having speech, I find divided into distinct parabefore given due notice of his intention, graphs. These I shall distinguish by did, on the day above-mentioned, after a numerical figures, which will facilitate the speech of considerable length, make a work of reference, a work which, in all motion" for the appointment of a Committee human probability, we shall frequently to inquire into the conduct of the Commander have to perform, it being quite evident to "in Chief, with regard to Promotions and that this is a matter, which is not Exchanges in the Army, &c. &c." This is only, at present, extremely interesting in truly high matter; and, as it is also matter itself, to the country in general, to all the of great delicacy," as will be seen in payers of taxes, as well as to every man in the sequel, it will demand, from reader as the army: but, also a matter, the inquiries well as writer, more than an ordinary de- into which must, at a day more or less regree of attention, to say nothing about the mote, pro ce important national consereverence, which, upon such an occasion, quences.- -It may be thought, perhaps, will naturally take and keep possession by some, that it would be better for me to of our minds. The honourable persons, wait; to reserve my observations upon who spoke on the side of the Duke, and this debate, until it be seen whether Mr. who, from what appears in the report, WARDLE be able to substantiate his charges; seem to have known his wish upon the especially as that may, perhaps, be known subject, declared, that that wish was de- before this sheet can possibly reach the cidedly for publicity; that every part of press. I am of a different opinion; be the inquiry, from the beginning to the cause, whatever the result may be, there is end, should be made as public as possible. much in the report, which appears to me In this respect, the public do, I am cer- loudly to call for that obscrvation, with " " me, F |