"I just received from the Secretary of the Junta of Montforte, a letter of the 21st instant, of which the annexed is a copy :- "Irmao, governor of Quiroga, informs me, that the French have been engaged with our army during three successive days. The principal action was at Ponte-vicevo, between Meira and Lugo, in which the enemy lost 3,000 men in killed and prisoners, and 2,000 Germans who abandoned his standard. The firing ceased on the 20th, at ten in the morning, when a capitulation was proposed. I could not prevail upon myself to delay communicating to your excellency intelligence so agreeable. You will have the goodness to inform their excellencies the English and Portuguese generals of these events." To which I have to add the following: "The army of the marquis de la Romana attacked the French on the side of Meira, and pursued them to Paraday. From thence the enemy retreated to Clemente, where he was surrounded, and a terrible fire of artillery and musquetry was opened upon him. Not until many were killed, he fled towards Lugo, leav ing in our hands three pieces of cannon among the other spoils of our victory. Our troops followed up to the gates of the city, in the full expectation that the place would be taken either by capitulation or force. By good fortune the Apostle Mazarredo who so often has sworn on the Evangelists, fealty to his king in Astorga, happened to be in Lugo, in company with Lot. Ney has escaped, and we are assured that he entered Asturias with 2,000 men, and for our consolation he will probably there remain. The English are in sight of Corunna and Ferrol with a great number of vessels, and have determined to disembark at those places.-Farreira, 21st of May, 1809. The same general writes me also as follows:-At seven o'clock this evening, I received an official dispatch of the capture of Lugo, by marshal Don Nicholas Mahi, general second in command of the Army of the Left, in the absence of his excellency marquis de la Romana, commander in chief. This action was glorious, not only from its important effects, but on account of the obstinate resistance of the enemy, who, in the sequel, was conquered with the loss of 4,000 men in prisoners, wounded and killed. I cannot express too strongly my praises of the determined valour of the Spaniards, from whose exertions I expect the best results, and which have already acquired for us in this affair six pieces of artillery, and a quantity of ammunition. I hope you will communicate these acceptable articles of information, with the applause due to the brave, to generals Beresford, Silveira, and whomsoever else they may concern, accompanied also by my best acknow ledgments. ledgments. Seeing Lugo has been taken, and that general Carrera, with a division of more than 6,000 men, is in Ponte de Talevada, between the roads of St. Jago and Orense, hopes may be entertained that the armies of Ney and Soult will be destroyed.-God preserve your excellency, &c.-Five A. M. May 25th, 1809. (Signed) wounded on our side by a cannon ball. After an hour's firing, we became impatient of suffering it, and I ordered Don Pablo Murillo to charge them on their right flank, whilst I advanced in front with the three other columns. The enemy twice took up positions, and were as often dislodged. The unevenness of the ground favoured their escape; in effecting which they shamefully blew up two ammunition chests; two others, with two of clothing, upwards of 600 muskets, and some horses and other articles, which I have not yet examined, fell into our hands.--Murillo entered the city, and pursued the enemy through the streets to the distance of more than a league from hence. I am not yet informed of the number of slain, nor of that of the prisoners, of whom there are many. The general, Maquain, has been severely wounded by two musket shot; the second in command was killed in the field, whose insignia have been brought to me by the soldiers. Our loss has been trifling; the troops are in high spirits, and I may expect much GEO. M'KINLEY. from them. I am, &c. MANUEL DE URIA YLLANO. Letter from Captain M'Kinley to Head-quarters Santiago, May 23. Santiago is in our possession: the enemy, consisting of 3,000 infantry, with 14 pieces of artillery, and 300 horse, came out to meet us, and attacked us on our march in the plain called De la Estrella. Our scouts having fallen in with their voltigeurs, and exchanged some firing, brought me the information, and I ordered the division to form in the best position that could be taken. The enemy attacked with vigour, but were unable to gain the smallest advantage. Our artillery was as good as their's was bad, not a man being by divisions to an encampment 3 On the 26th, captain Hotham sent captain Parker, of his majesty's ship Amazon, to Ferrol, where he was received by the people with the loudest acclamations of joy, and received from the higher orders of the inhabitants the strongest possible marks of attachment to the English, and happiness, at seeing once more amongst them an officer On the 28th, captain Hotham entered the port of Corunna, where he was informed by the governor that he had received instructions from the marquis de la Romana, dated at Orense on the 27th, to proclaim his catholic majesty Ferdinand VII, with advice that he had dispatched a regiment from his army to attend the ceremony and gar rison the place; the governor at the same time gave captain Hotham assurances that the port was from that hour to be considered under the controul and authority of the lawful king of Spain; and the captain placed himself, and every assistance that the ships under his orders might be able to afford, at the governor's disposal. On the 29th, major-general the conde de Norona, captain-general of Gallicia, arrived at Corunna from St. Jago, and was followed on the next day by general Carrera with about 11,000 men, forming the Conde's division of the marquis Romana's army. The French army under marshal Ney, moved from its camp near Betanzos on the 22d, taking the road to Lugo and Astorga. It was reported, previously to its breaking up the camp, it destroyed its baggage and heavy artillery. On the 27th the marquis de la Romana was stated to be at Orense with general Mahi and 30,000 men. Marshal Soult's position on the 16th was said to have been at Montforte and Quiraga. On Thursday, the 1st of August, a Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall, at which the following resolutions were passed: "That this Court did, on the 6th of April last, express its thanks and gratitude to Gwyllym Lloyd Wardle, Esq. for his conduct in bringing forward and substantiating serious charges against the late commander in chief, which, not withstanding the majority in his favour in the House of Commons, compelled his resignation. That no circumstance has since transpired, which can, in any manner, lessen the importance of that investigation, impeach bis motives, or' affect the merits of the case. On the contrary, his unwearied exertions, perseverance, and fortitude, under unexampled threats and difficulties, have developed a scene of scandalous abuse and corruption, not only in the army, but in various departments of the state. "That it has been discovered by the said investigation, that these abuses have extended, not only to the disposal of church and East India patronage, but also to the disposal of seats in the legislature, and charges have been brought forward, and proofs offered, implicating in such corrupt and illegal traffic, Lord Viscount Castlereagh, the Honourable Spencer Perceval, and the Honourable Henry Wellesley, ali members of the House, and then and now holding ostensible situations in his Majesty's government, a traffic, which, in the language of the Speaker of the House of Commons, "Would bring a greater scandal upon the parliament and the nation than this country has ever known since parliament has had an existence.” "That the said investigation has also led to the discovery, that the said Lord Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State, and late President of the Board of Coutroul, did, in flagrant breach of his duty-as a minister, abuse of his patronage, and gross violation of the constitution, place a writership in the hands of Lord Clancarty, a member of the same Board, for the purpose of obtaining for him a seat in parliament; which fact, the said Lord Castlereagh has him self self admitted, and, notwithstanding there appeared a smaller majority in his favour, than appeared in favour of the Duke of York, in manifest injustice to his Royal Highness, and gross insult to the nation, the said Lord Castlereagh still retains his official situation. "That these attacks upon the vital principles of the constitution have been made without punishment or censure; aud motions for inquiry into such practices have been rejected, upon the alledged frequency and notoriety of them; and parliament has thereby, as well as by passing a Bill to prevent the sale of seats in that house, recognized and acknowledged the corrupt influence under which it has been called together, and exercised its functions. "That it was stated by Mr. Wardle, that there was an office publicly kept open for the sale of places under government, and although such statement, when made, only excited the derision of ministers, and the house, it has since appeared that the above statement was correct; and his Majesty's ministers have indicted and convicted several persons concerned therein, and such practices were declared in the said indictment, to have a tendency to degrade, vilify, and traduce and bring into contempt, the administration of the country. "That by various statements which Mr. Wardle has lately submitted to parliament, it appears, that, by a correction of the frauds, abuses, corruption and peculation, which have been found to exist in every branch of the public expenditure, to which inquiry has extended, and a wise and honest application of our resources, the people might be relieved from heavy and oppressive burthens, if not wholly from that inquisitorial, and most grievous of all imposts, the tax upon income. That his conduct on this occasion seems to have drawn upon him, in a high degree, the malice and rancour of those who are interested in the continuance of these abuses. "That in the opinion of this court, individuals who devote their exertions towards exposing and cor recting public abuses, are at all times entitled to the support and protection of the country, particularly at the present moment, when there appears an unabating effort an the part of those notoriously under the influence of government, or who participate in the existing frauds, corruptions, and peculations, to cry down, vilify and traduce every man who has courage and integrity to ex pose such practices, in order to mislead the public, and divert their attention from these great evils." Official account, by General Cuesta, of the Battle of Talavera, to the Secretary at War, dated Seville, Sept. 7. Most excellent Sir-I removed my head-quarters on the 21st current, to Velada, according to what I mentioned in my former dispatch of the same night. This communication was made after I had seen at Oropesa, in the evening of that day, the gallant and illustrious army of the English. These forces having all reunited in that town, I ordered my vanguard to be placed before Velada, concluding that the firing I then discovered, was a skirmishing of our parties with an advanced body of the |