and conceiving, from the marks of quantity of baggage and ammunition. honour conferred on the commander, that the ministers had sufficient grounds for their conduct, the fatal truth broke out by degrees, and, at last, the letters of the new-made Lord Talavera completely undeceived the nation. Not a step did he advance beyond the field of battle; and, what was worse, he made a most precipitate and hasty flight, leaving behind him the sick and wounded to the mercy of the enemy. It was natural that he should complain of one cause or the other, of any thing, in short, but his own imprudence and indiscretion. He had before him the example of the unfortunate General Moore; and it was his own fault that he had not taken due care for the provisioning of He knew also the strength of the French in Spain, and what troops he had to oppose them. What then shall be said for him, if he marches into an enemy's country, and, at the moment that he is attacked in front, is ignorant of an army in his rear? We must presume on this ignorance, or he would not in his dispatches of victory have been totally silent on that head: he would not have left us to conclude that he was a conqueror, at the moment that he knew that he was running out of the kingdom that he came to deliver.

the army.

The French had now possession of all the north of the Tagus, and almost all the country to Madrid. Yet we had, on that ground, an English hero, whose name for the first time has been mentioned in the Gazette in the history of this campaign, and yet who has signalised himself more than any other commander. Lord Talavera tells us, in plain terms, that he was defeated: yet they, who justly appreciate mili tary exploits, will give to Sir Robert Wilson the praise due to a skilful, enterprising, and brave commander, who did every thing that a man could do in the circumstances in which he was placed. Sir Robert Wilson was at the head of an army of about eight thousand men, consisting of Spanish, Portuguese, and English troops. The confidence of these different nations he had obtained, and had penetrated almost up to the walls of Madrid.Ordered to retreat by the commander in chief, he was to make his way back in the best manner he could; and whilst he was supposing that the combined army of British and Spaniards would advance, he found that the French were interposed between him and them, and that nothing remained for him to do but to consider in what manner he could best annoy the ene my in his retreat.

The opportunity soon occurred, but fatal necessity placed him in a situ ation out of which nothing but superior skill and bravery could extri cate him. In his retreat he was attacked by Soult's army, and the disparity in numbers was too great to leave him any course to pursue but that of cutting his way through the enemy. With his usual bravery, Sir Robert Wilson made the proper arrangements, and the Marshal had no reason to rejoice at what Lord Tala vera is pleased to call the defeat of this brave little army. Sir Robert did all that could be done; and his letter on the occasion shews the brave and ge nerous commander. He makes no complaints; brings forward no insinuations; he tells us plainly what his situation was, and in what manner he extricated himself, namely, by hard fighting, and with considerable loss;

This, however, was the case. The combined army had scarcely recovered from the fatigue of the battle of Talavera, when news came that Marshal Soult was at Placentia, and that the Gallo-Spanish King was returning in great force to take them in front, whilst the Marshal attacked them in the rear. There was no time for much deliberation: but difficulties it seems occurred between the Spanish and British general on the troops which were to make the first retrograde movement; that is, not to run away, but to go to the attack of the Marshal. The British troops quitted the ground first, and got safely to the other side of the Tagus: the Spaniards did not approve of being left behind, and they marched in haste to join their beloved companions. They were not, however, so fortunate: the French came up with their rear, slaughtered a great many, made a great number but with such loss to the enemy, as of prisoners, and took a considerable must considerably impede his march

against our retreating army. We in the same way as our Harry the
should like a fair comparison to be, Eighth got rid of the same sort of
made between Sir Robert Wilson and gentry; and a variety of abuses have
the new-made Peer. Sir Robert gain-
ed his title by the part he took in the
valiant charge of the fifteenth, in the
last war, in the Netherlands, which
saved the Emperor of Germany, who,
without it, would have been taken
prisoner by the French. He bas
shewn himself, in every respect, to be
worthy of military honours. We
may congratulate our country that we
bave a soldier, who, if he had been in
Bonaparte's army, would have been in
the list of his favoured generals.

been put an end to, which had pre-
vailed in the mal-administration of
the preceeding reigns. Thus, to the
terror of his arms he adds the encou-
ragement of better times; whilst the
junta holds out only the hopes of a
Cortez, but has not given the least
intimation of a reform, which every.
good Spaniard knows to be absolutely
necessary. In such a state of things,
we almost despair of any further effec-
tual resistance being made to the
French. Our army, by the last ac-
counts, had reached Elvas in Portu-
gal. It is not likely that they will be
able again to render any assistance to
the Spanish cause.
The Spanish
armies have retreated to the south of
Spain. They are still numerous
enough to make a considerable resist-
ance; but when we consider the num-
bers, discipline, and skill of the
French, the apathy of a very great
body of the Spaniards, and the wish
for a change iù another large propor
tion, we cannot expect that the Bour-
bon race will ever be again permitted
to ruin the energies, and to keep in
superstition, ignorance, and sloth, so
fine a country.

Whilst these things were going for ward in the middle of Spain, great rejoicings were made at Seville on the arrival of the Marquis Wellesley, who was to infuse new vigour into the Junta. A grand dinner was given on the occasion; at which were present, all that are, or are reckoned to be, of any importance in the city and neighbourhood. The healths of the sovereign of England, and the exSovereign of Spain, were drank with great enthusiasm; and to shew the zeal of all parties in the same cause, the health of the Pope was drank with equal ardour by both protestants and papists. Changeableness of religions opinions has been often imputed to Its fate will not, however, be com Bonaparte, but what must the No pletely decided till the peace is estaPopery administration think of this blished between the two late contenddereliction of principle in their am- ing emperors. The armistice still bassador. To wish well to the Pope, to subsists, though the term for which it hope to raise him again to his triple was first established, has long since throne and crown, are objects surely expired. In a negociation of so much not grateful to those who hold in ab importance, delay was inevitable, but horrence the thoughts of catholic it does not appear that the French emancipation. But whatever may can be losers by it. The only part have been the design of Marquis that remains unquiet is the Tyrolese, Wellesley in drinking this toast, we which, from the nature of its mounhold it as a bad presage of his future tains, must always be a longer time With whatever zeal the before it submits to any arrangement, Pope's health might be received at than a plain country. However, the the convivial feast, it is far from armistice has left the French every clear, that the Spanish nation is opportunity of bringing it into subequally interested in his cause. The jection; and though it is not known toast may be considered as a kind of to whom it will belong in future, it is pledge, that no improvement was to severed from the house of Austria be expected in the religious establish- for ever. Many are the conjectures, ment of the country, on the state of the negociation, but nothing has transpired on which any dependence can be placed. It is sufficient to observe, that Bonaparte still remains in Austria, that he there celebrated his birth-day. We may be

success.

But the Gallo-Spanish King is of a different opinion. He is in no dread of the Pope, and is carrying on his religious reforms with great alacrity, The monasteries are suppressed much

certain therefore, that something remains to be done which requires his presence; for he thinks nothing done whilst any thing remains undone.

The state of the Austrian cabinet is worse, probably, than that of our own country; but we do not hear that any of its ministers have fought duels. The emperor must now, to a certain degree, act for himself, and his abilities are less equal to the conflict in the cabinet, than his troops to cope with the adversary in the field. The report is strong, that he is to quit his dominions on the south of the Danube; it is doubted whether he will retain the whole of what is the north. Some have assigned to him only the kingdoms of Bohemia and Moravia; and it is not at all improbable that he will be rendered inferior to Bavaria. Thus the two houses of Austria and Brandenburgh, which, last century, filled all Europe with their exploits, are reduced to a very inferior situation; and the Austrian nobility, the proudest on the earth, will no longer have a splendid court in which to display the folly of their family pedigrees.

In the midst of these changes Bonaparte, the great arbiter, has been issuing some decrees, gratifying equally to his own pride, and to the satisfaction of his army. Annuities are granted to all his wounded, according to the rank which they hold; and provision is made for the widows and children of the deceased. It is no wonder that his army is steadily attached to him, whom fortune has thus befriended, who rewards merit in all ranks, and who provides for the wounded and the relations of the slain. In imitation of the Roman Emperors, he has, by another edict, ordered the erection of a lofty obelisk, in Paris, on which is to be described the principal battles he has lately fought; and the passage over the Danube, and the names of his principal heroes are to be engraved on the pillar. If a similar pillar was to be erected for the feats of our armies during the war, the contrast would be very remarkable.

The part that the Russian Emperor takes in the negociation is not known. He is, without doubt, consulted in it, and his interest will be attended to:

Peace is said to be ratified between him and Sweden, with the loss of Finland to the latter power, and with some modifications as to the communication between that country and Great Britain, which relates chiefly to ships' of war. The trade between the two countries is not to be interrupted.

The American dispute cannot be expected to have terminated so easily, yet the exasperation on that side of the water seems rather to increase than decrease. It is reported that France will take advantage of the dispute, and enter into terms interesting to both nations. The Brazilians do not seem to get forward so well as could be wished. Already there has been a trial of strength between the court and the country; and the former finds that it cannot govern with the same facility as at Lisbon. The dispute arose respecting some military arrangements. Our intercourse with that country does not communicate much solid information on the nature of its government, the parties sent from this country being too much employed in their commercial speculations to attend to such matters.

But all foreign politics give place to two great domestic, occurrences; the most important is, the grand agitation at a playhouse, the second the grand agitation in the cabinet, attended by a duel between two of its members. The playhouse agitation puts us in mind of the attachment of the Athenians to the theatre in their fallen and degraded state. Neither the flight from Taleverà, nor the retreat from Holland occupy so much the public mind as the grand question, whether the proprietors of a playhouse should set six or seven shillings as the price of a certain commodity, and make arrangements for the accommodation of private persons. Covent Garden Theatre has been rebuilt, and adorned at a great expence. In consequence, the proprietors think themselves entitled to increase the price of admission; the public object to this increase, and their opposition has been manifested in a most decisive manner-no beargarden exhibiting greater scenes of riot and confusion. The proprietors persisted for six nights with the great

est firmness, and the actors recited ness, however, brings too strongly to their parts to an audience occupied in our mind the recollection of the fall noise and tumult. Here is evidently of the Athenians; and the triumph the want of some arbiter between over managers is a small compensation them; and if the case was not pro- in a contest with Bonaparte. vided for in the patent, it is high time that a regulation should be made. The propi etors cannot be considered as other dealers and chapmen; for if they prevent other people from exhibiting, it is but right that there should be some check to their demands on the public.

1

During the agitation of this grand question, the town was surprised with the account of a duel between Mr. Canning and Lord Castlereagh, in which the former was wounded, but not dangerously, in the thigh. The divisions in the cabinet had been long circulated, but it was not expected But not only the increase of price, that they had been carried to so great but the disposition of their boxes re- lengths. Lord Castlereagh was the quires animadversion. Our theatres challenger; he is an Irishman. They certainly want much regulation; and fired a brace of pistols each; the first the disorders frequent there from sensation of the public was, that of loose women and ill-bred young men, pity and contempt at their being so are a disgrace to a civilized country. bad marksmen. It is Mr. Canning's But we cannot see the propriety of first duel. Various reasons have been permitting a considerable part of the assigned for it, in which the expedihouse to be devoted to the use of pri- tion to Walcheren, and the dispatches vate persons. The theatre is and ought from Lord Talavera, were the most to be public, and the example of the prominent features; but the more imOpera House is no precedent for an mediate cause is said to have been the English audience. Private boxes attempt of Mr. Canning to get rid of afford great encouragement to immo- his colleague, in consequence of the rality, and we do not wish to see our discoveries that had been made in the theatre in the disgraceful state of an House of Commous, relative to his Italian house, where the boxes are conduct. This was combined with filled with people turning their backs the desire of introducing Marquis on the performers, and annoying their Wellesley into the cabinet; and it was Beighbours with their noise. Should said that the plan had been in agitathe innovation succeed at Covent- tion for some time. Lord Castlereagh Garden, we shall gradually become considered this as a disgraceful underItalianised; and a worse fate cannot

befal a country.

hand dealing; for underhand dealing among these gentry, when their own After six nights conflict an armistice interest is concerned, is called by took place. The managers have given them very disgraceful; whilst all the notice, that the subject in dispute underhand dealing in the traffic for should be referred to a committee, seats of parliament, or any underhand and, till their answer is received, and dealing, when the interest of the pub has been made public, the theatre is lic are concerned, conveys no disto be shut up. Of course the com- grace at all. Of course Lord Castlemittee must be appointed by them- reagh challenged, and Mr. Canning selves, and the documents will be sub- accepted the challenge; the result is mitted by themselves. The public a wound, and probably the parties cannot have any one to plead their will shake hands, and, like the knaves cause. This arrangement is, however, in the play, cry out, Brother, brother, far better than the late disturbances in we are both in the wrong. Every the playhouse; and should the public Englishman, however, if any spark of not be satisfied by the award, they are ancient honour remains in his breast, at liberty to commence their usual must feel indignant that the councils offensive operations. But the whole of his sovereign must have been for matter shews that the management of so long a time committed to the our theatres is not on the best footing, councils of two men who, by this acand probably the riotous behaviour tion, seem to have so little sense of that takes place in them may call for the high trust with which they were farther regulations. The whole busi- invested. Neither of them has any

longer a seat in the cabinet; and the digest the mode in which the celebraDuke of Portland has resigned. The tion of the event should be conducted. filling up of their places occasions This brought up Mr. Waithman, great movements in the higher circles. The prospect to the country is melancholy. At a time when the greatest vigour, and the soundest wisdom, are called for, there seems to be either a dearth of talents, or a system which prevents their being called into action.

who, in a very energetic speech, passed in review the public acts of the last half century. Little are they, assuredly, calculated to dignify the page of history; and the orator was not sparing of his censure. If, indeed, those acts could be called the king's acts, little occasion should we have In this state of confusion at home to rejoice; but it was properly con and abroad, the fiftieth year of his ma- tended, that the constitution had sejesty's reign is approaching. A simi- parated the personal character of the lar event in domestic life calls forth king from that of his ministers. We peculiar marks of joy and festivity, lay it down as a maxim, that the king and the occasion seemed to demand a can do no wrong, and when miscon demonstration of the public opinion. duct arises, the ministers are to be Some merchants and bankers first impeached. The personal compliment took up the question, and obtained to the sovereign was therefore justly the use of Merchant-Taylors Hall, in thought due, and a committee was in which a grand dinner is to be given, consequence appointed, It has met, the tickets of admission being three we understand, but its scale of rejoicguineas each, on the day of the acces- ing is on a very confined plan, and sion. A requisition was signed to the scarcely suited to the occasion; but Lord Mayor, to summon a Common this will be in the press before the Council, to take the subject into consi- Common Council has received the deration; and there Alderman Curtis report. The other cities of England opened the business with a speech in will probably take their clue from the his way, that is, as undignified as can city of London. We shall of course possibly be imagined, and completely have a variety of loyal addresses, and unworthy of the occasion, concluding the day will make an addition to our with a resolution for a committee to list of knights and baronets.

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