manded a different result. But after all, will you say that nothing has been gained? Is getting the French army out of Portugal, even at any rate, nothing? Is neutralizing the Russian fleet nothing? Is enabling our army to act in Spain, without an enemy in its rear, nothing? Is not the Corsican usurper, preparing an immense force, with which he hopes to overwhelm the Spaniards? And, was it not of the utmost consequence, that our army should be free of the enemy in Portugal as soon as possible, that it might be enabled to give effectual and timely assistance to Spain? These appear to me to be great and important advantages; and, notwithstanding they cannot be put in competition with those which we have lost, yet, they are not to be overlooked and considered as nothing. A most objectionable part of the convention seems to be, suffering the French army to carry off its ill gotten plunder; this is unpardonable, and demands the severest reprehension; for, independent of the sanction which is thereby given to robberies the most atrocious, it must have an effect on the Portuguese highly inimical to this nation. They will consider themselves as sacrificed by us, and, we shall also, I fear, be identified with robbers and thieves. Surely a severe and rigid scrutiny will be made into this matter; the honour and character of the army, as well as the wounded feelings of the people require it. You have treated this subject, Mr. Cobbett, with your usual ingenuity; yet I cannot but think, that you have suffered your zeal to outrun your discretion. You undoubtedly feel highly indignant on this occasion, every true Englishman must, who feels for the honour of his country; but yet, let justice be done. In order to render the transaction as odious as possible, you decry Lisbon, as a place of strength, and, think, that if Junot had chosen to defend himself in that place, it would not have been any inaterial obstruction to the march of the army to assist the Spaniards. You, Mr. Cobbett, ought to understand these matters better than I do, having, to your praise be it spoken, had military experience; but, have you ever seen Lisbon? have you examined its forts? its fortifications and means of defence? and, if you have not, how can you speak so positively of its weakness? of the facility with which it might have been taken? and assert that there are "no grounds for

believing, that the siege could have lasted "for a week?" If our general had been of the same opinion, it cannot be believed that he would have signed such a convention. You say, that you never heard of any strong

places in Portugal. Will it be denied that Lisbon possesses some strong places? Are there not forts, which have effectually pre vented our fleet from entering the Tagus? And, can it be possible, that a place of such vast importance as Lisbon should be without the means of resisting an enemy for a considerable time? Your position that Junot entered the place without any trouble will avail you nothing, for the Portuguese never even attempted to defend it, and it fell an unresisting prey to the lawless invader. Very different, I apprehend, would have been the case, if the French had determined on defending it, and the utmost efforts and skill of our brave army would probably have been baffled for some weeks; and, what at the present moment is of the utmost consequence, been also prevented from giving that prompt and timely assistance to the Spaniards, which the noble cause they are embarked in so imperiously demands. This circumstance carries conviction to my mind, that the measure of obliging the French to evacuate Portugal speedily, even at any rate, was a measure of the most urgent necessity, and may ultimately be of the utmost imp ance to the general cause. I therefore a convinced, that three objects of the greatest consequence have been obtained; viz. citaTM• ing Portugal of the French; neutralizing the Russian fleet; and enabling our arm march into Spain, without an enemy

rear.

in

These are facts and cannot be con verted; and, although I am particularly anxious to impress you with an idea of the importance; yet, I do not bring them for ward, as any defence of the conventions; but, merely, as some alleviation of the great disappointment which the public has experienced, and to prove that amidst much evil, some good has been obtained.—I am very sorry to see that your hatred to the Wellesleys, as having been the firm friends of the late Mr. Pitt, has carried you the length of stigmatizing Sir Arthur Wellesley, as the author of the conventions, and of giving a false colouring to the transaction. You have employed many words and much sophistry to accomplish this. But let us, Sir, clear away the rubbish and attend only to facts. I apprehend, the grand main spring, which regulates and directs the operations of an army, to be obedience. Every thing re solves itself into this. Every officer is bound strictly to obey the commands of his superior in every thing connected with the army. Obedience is the very life and soul of au army, and without which it would be a mere shadow, a thing of no value. We have only to look at the armies of the Grand Turk,

authority, that the ministers are satisfied with Sir Hew Dalrymple's conduct; and. say that he could not have acted otherwise than he did. What they say, and think of Sir Harry Burrard, is another matter. In order to complete your plan, of throwing all the odium on Sir Arthur Wellesley, you affect to discredit the numerous letters which are said to have been received from some of the most distinguished officers in the British army, and assert them to be lies. You must produce very strong and sufficient evidence of this assertion, before you can expect it to be given credit to. I cannot think, Mr. Cobbett, that you think so yourself; for you must know, that, when numerous letters from men of character and high honour, all agree on the same subject, that it must be a fact; and these letters will and ought to obtain credit, amongst that part of mankind, who will not suffer their understanding to be overpowered by any sophistry however ingenious, or with a cloud of words. The very circumstances of the case furnish strong presumptive evidence of their truth. It must occur to every one, that the defeat of the French should have been instantly followed up, by detaching that part of the army which had suffered least, in order to cut off the retreat of the flying enemy; and I firmly believe, from the knowledge we have of the vigour and capacity of Sir Arthur Wellesley, that had he not been prevented by a superior power, it would have been done, and the disgraceful conventions prvented.—I am always concerned Mr. Cobbett, to have occasion to differ in opinion with you, for I greatly admire your talents; but even Homer sometimes nods: and if I ever take the liberty of stating my gentiments in opposition to yours, I trust that you will receive them with kindness.OBSERVER.-Sept. 27th, 1808.

to be convinced of the truth of this position. | This, Sir, is so positive a truth that you cannot deny it; you must allow it me; and on that ground i mean to shew the futility of your argar nrs. Sir Arthur Wellesley, on the 21st of August, gains a victory over the French ry, in which even you have not a tempt to deprive him of the merit of having, with a part of his force, defeated double the numbers. Dering the engagemeat, Sir Harry Burrard (his superior officer, observe) arrives; the instant he joined the army, Sir Arthur's command was virtually at an end. Now, mark; Sir Harry Burrard says, that he found Sir Arthur's dispositions so excellent, that he had no occasion to alter them, (or words to that effect) which is explicitly declaring, that he did possess the power, if he had had the inclination, thereby declaring himself, what he actually was, the superior officer; nay, even the dispatches were written to lord Castlereagh by Sir Harry Burrard in that capacity. If, therefore, my position of obedience is correct, Sir Arthur's responsibility was actually at an end, on the 21st; he had no longer the command of the forces; he had no longer a will of his own; but was positively bound to obey the orders of Sir Harry Burrard. We are also informed that numerous letters from some of the most distinguished officers in the British army, agree in stating, that Sir Arthur Wellesley most distinctly declared his opinion, that, the expediency of permitting the French to capitulate at all, was occasioned solely by "the dilemma into which the army had "been brought by its being prevented contrary to his plans and wishes repeatedly "urged, from following up the victory of "the 21st, in which case the whole of the "French army must inevitably have been

"

66

destroyed, instead of being enabled by that fatal delay to retreat to the passes, "and to concentrate themselves in forts in "their rear, which it might consume the "whole- of the winter months to beat them "out of." You then triumphantly ask, "who stopped Wellesley?" I answer, Sir, Harry Burrard. The moment the battle was over, Sir Arthur could not possibly act for himself; he had nothing to do, but to obey Sir Harry Burrard, his snperior officer; and, on him, in my opinion, the whole responsibility rests. It must be he who prevented Sir Arthur from pursuing the enemy. Who else had the power? let me ask. I positively say, no one. Sir Hew Dalrymple had nothing to do with it. He did not land till the 24th, and the armistice was signed the 22d. I have heard from very good

OFFICIAL PAPERS. CONVENTIONS IN PORTUGAL.-From the London Gazette Extraordinary, continued from page 544.

VIII.The garrison of Elvas, and its forts, and of Peniche and Palmela, will be embarked at Lisbon: that of Almaida at Oporto, or the nearest harbour. They will be accompanied on their march by British commissaries charged with providing for their subsistence and accommodation.-IX. All the sick and wounded who cannot be embarked with the troops are entrusted to the British army. They are to be taken care of whilst they remain in this country, at the expense of the British government under the condition of the same being reimbursed by France when

the final evacuation is effected. The English government will provide for their return to France, which shall take place by detachments of about one hundred and fifty or two hundred men at a time. A sufficient number of French medical officers shall be left behind to attend them.-X. As soon as the vessels employed to carry the army to France shall have disembarked it in the harbours specified, or in any other of the ports of France to which stress of weather may force them, every facility shall be given them to return to England without delay, and security against capture until their arrival in a friendly port.-XI. The French army shall be concentrated in Lisbon, and within a distance of about two leagues from it. The English army will approach within three leagues of the capital, and will be so placed as to leave about one league between the two armies.-XII. The forts of St. Julien, the Bugio, and Cascais shall be occupied by the British troops on the ratification of the convention. Lisbon and its citadel, together with the forts and batteries, as far as the Lazaretto or Trofuria on one side, and fort St. Joseph on the other, inclusively, shall be given up on the embarkation of the second division, as shall also the harbour and all armed vessels in it of every description, with their rigging, sails, stores, and ammunition.

The fortresses of Elvas, Almaida, Peniche, and Paimela, shall be given up, as scon as the British troops can arrive to occupy them. In the meantime the general in chief of the British army will give notice of the present convention to the garrisons of those places, as also to the troops before them, in order to put a stop to all further hostilities. XIII. Commissaries shall be named on both sides, to regulate and accele rate the execution of the arrangements agreed upon.-XIV. Should there arise doubts as to the meaning of any article, it will be explained favourably to the French army.-XV. From the date of the ratification of the present convention, all arrears of contributions. requisitions, or claims whatever, of the French government, against subjects of Portugal, or any other individuals residing in this country, founded on the occupation of Portegal by the French troops in the month of Dec. 1807, which may not have been paid up, are cancelled, and all sequestrations laid upon their property moveable or immoveable, are removed, and the free disposal of the same is restored to the proper owners.-XVI. All subjects of France, or of powers in friendship or alliance with France, domiciliated in Portugal, or accidentally in this country, shall be pro

tected. Their property of every kind, moveable and immoveable, shall be respect. ed, and they shall be at liberty either to accompany the French army, or to remain in Portugal. In either case their property is guaranteed to them, with the liberty of retaining or disposing of it, and passing the produce of the sale thereof into France, or any other country where they may fix their residence, the space of one year being allowed them for that purpose.-It is fully understood that shipping is excepted from this arrangement, only, however, in so far as regards leaving the port; and that none of the stipulations above-mentioned can be made the pretext of any commercial specu lation.--XVII. No native of Portugal shall be rendered accountable for his political conduct during the period of the occupation of the country by the French army; and all those who have continued in the exercise of their employments, or who have accepted situations under the French government, are placed under the protection of the British commanders: they shall sustain no injury in their persons or property, it not having been at their option to be obedient or not to the French government; they are also at liberty to avail themselves of the stipulations of the 16th article.-XVIII. The Spanish troops, detained on board sp in the port of Lisbon, shall be given the commander-in-chief of the British a who engages to obtain of the Spaniards to tore such French subjects, either military of civil, as may have been detained in Spain with out being taken in battle, or in consequence of military operations, but on occasion of the occurrences of the 29th of last May, and the days immediately following.-XIX. There shall be an immediate exchange esta blished for all ranks of prisoners made in Portugal since the commencement of the present hostilities.-XX. Hostages of the rank of field-officers shall be mutually fur nished on the part of the British army and navy, and on that of the French army, the reciprocal guarantee of the present con vention. The officers of the British army shall be restored on the completion of the articles which concern the army; and the officers of the navy on the disembarkation of the French troops in their own country. The like is to take place on the part of the French army.-XXI. It shall be allowed to the general in chief of the French army to send an officer to France with intelligence of the present convention. A vessel will be furnished by the British admiral to con vey him to Bourdeaux and Rochefort.XXII. The British admiral will be invited

for

to accommodate his excellency the com mander-in-chief, and the other principal officers of the French army, on board of ships of war.-Done and concluded at Lisbon this 30th day of August, 1808. (Signed) GEORGE MURRAY, quarter-master-general. KELLERMANN, le général de division.

Nous Duc D'Abrantes, général en chef de l'armée Française, avons ratifié et ratifions la présente convention définitive dans tous ses articles, pour être exécuté selon sa forme et teneur. (Signé) LE Duc D'ABRANTES. Au quartier général de

Lisbonne, le 30 Aôut.
Additional Articles to the Convention of
August 30.

Art I. The individuals in the civil employment of the army, made prisoners, either by the British troops, or by the Portuguese, in any part of Portugal, will be restored as is customary, without exchange.-11. The French army shall be subsisted from its own magazines, up to the day of embarkation ; the garrisons up to the day of evacuation of the fortresses. The remainder of the maga zines shall be delivered over in the usual form to the British government, which charges itself with the subsistence of the men and horses of the army from the abovementioned periods, till their arrival in France, under the condition of their being breimbursed by the French government for give the excess of the expense beyond the esti Smation to be made by both parties, of the

value of the magazines delivered up to the British army. The provisions on board the ships of war in possession of the French army, will be taken on account by the British government, in like manner with the magazines in the fortresses.-IIL, The general commanding the British troops will take the necessary measures for re-establishing the free circulation of the means of sub sistence between the country and the capital. -Done and concluded at Lisbon, this 30th day of August, 1808. (Signed) GEORGE MURRAY, quarter-master-general, KELLERMANN, le général de division.

Nous Duc D'Abrantes, général en chef de l'armée Française, avons ratifié et ratifions les articles additionnels à la convention et contre pour être exécutés suivant leur forme et teneur. Le Duc D'ABRANTES.-(A true copy.) A. J. DALRYMPLE, captain, military secretary.

Admiralty Office, Sept. 16, 1809. Captain Halsted, first captain to the quadron under the command of Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, Bart. commander-inchief of his majesty's ships and vessels on the coast of Portugal, arrived yesterday at

this office, with dispatches from the admiral to the hon. Wellesley Pole, of which the following are copies :

Hibernia, off the Tagus, Sept. 3, 1808. Sir,-Inclosed herewith, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, is a copy of a convention,* entered into by lieut. col. Murray, and gen. Kellermann, for the evacuation of Portugal by the French army; such convention having been ratified by lieut. gen. sir Hew Dalrymple, myself, and the French commander-in-chief. British troops, consisting of the 3d and 42d regiments, were on the 2d instant landed, to occupy the forts of Cascais, St. Antonio, St. Julien, and the Bugio, and no time shall be lost to embark the French troops, agreeably to the said convention.-Captain Halsted, first captain of this ship, and captain of the fleet, who is now the bearer of dispatches to their lordships, respecting the Russian squadron in the Tagus, is in full possession of my confidence, and will be able to explain to their lordships the motives inducing me to ratify the convention in question, as well as give any further information that may be thought necessary.-I have, &c. (Signed) CHARLES COTTON.

* A copy of the convention inclosed in the letter from sir Hew Dalrymple.

Hibernia of the Tagus, 4th Sept. 1809. Sir,-Herewith I have the honour to inclose to you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, a copy of a convention entered into by me with vice admiral Seniavin, commanding the Russian fleet in the Tagus; by which it will appear to their lordships, that such fleet has been surrendered to me, to be held by his majesty as a deposit, until six months after the conclusion of a peace between Russia and England.-I have charged captain Halsted, first captain of the Hibernia, and captain of the fleet, with the delivery of this dispatch to their lordships: he was sent by me to negociate the convention with vice admiral Seniavin, and will be able to explain every particular. To capt. Halsted I feel greatly indebted for his able advice and assistance upon all points of service; his zcal and diligence have been exemplary, and entitle him to my highest commendation.

Rear-admiral Tyler has been directed to superintend the first division of the Russian, fleet, which I purpose ordering under his protection immediately to Spithead to him (since with me) I have been indebted for every assistance, and to the captains, officers, and crews of those ships, that have been employed throughout a tediously protracted

blockade (by whom every exertion has been made with a degree of cheerfulness doing them infinite honour,) I feel extremely grateful, and deem it my duty to offer every possible testimony of my approbation in their favour.-I have, &c. (Signed) C. COTTON.

Articles of a Convention entered into be tween Vice Admiral Seniavin, Knight of the Order of St. Alexander, and other Russian Orders, and Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, Bart. for the Surrender of the Russian Fleet, now anchored in the River Tagus.

Art I. The ships of war of the emperor of Russia now in the Tagus as specified in the annexed list, shall be delivered up to admiral sir C. Cotton, immediately, with all their stores as they now are, to be sent to England, and there held as a deposit by his Britannic majesty, to be restored to his imperial majesty, within six months after the conclusion of a peace between his Britannic majesty, and his imperial majesty the emperor of all the Russias.-II. Vice-admiral Seniavin, with the officers, sailors, and marines, under his command, to return to Russia without any condition or stipulation respecting their future services; to be conveyed there in men of war, or proper vessels at the expence of his Britannic majesty. Done and concluded on board the ship Twerday, in the Tagus, and on board his Britannic majesty's ship Hibernia, off the mouth of that river, the 3d day of Sept. 1808. (Signed) DB SENIAVIN. CHARLES COTTON. (Counter-signed by command of the admiral), L. SASS, assesseur de college. (Counter-signed by command of the admiral), JAMES KENNEDY, secretary.

SPANISH REVOLUTION. (Continued from page 480),Victories in Saragossa. From the Oviedo Gazette Extraordinary, Aug. 23, 1808.

Saragossa, a town which we cannot mention without the most lively emotion, has completely humbled to the dust the lofty eagles of the French. The arms of the French did not find there an Ulm, but a St. Jean d'Acre. Let us, therefore, contribute to preserve the memory thereof, by publishing the following official papers and manifestoes:

Most Serene Sir, -The enemy, after so many obstinate and fruitless attacks on this city, renewed the bombardment on the 34 and 4th instant, throwing a great number of bombs into the place, and doing consider able damage. On the 4th, without discor tinuing the bombardment, they attacked with twelve pieces of cannon, one of our batteries, and after the most glorious de fence, which lasted untill eight o'clock, the enemy carried the battery, and entered the town; yet without getting possession of our artillery, which we saved. In the neigh bouring streets the enemy met with the most vigorous resistance, and the slaughter was so great among them, that the remem brance of this action must at all times pro extremely painful to them. They are cos fined to a small space which they occupia the city, and, with the troops which pect from Valentia, within two days, Ib I shall be able to give a good account of te enemy's corps, whose defeat will administe comfort to the inhabitants, whose intrepid firmness I admire. They will forget their past and present sufferings, and I shall feel perfectly consoled. God preserve your high

Convention.

-

10, 1808.

Asturias.

Most Serene Sir,-I have the satisfaction to inform your bighness, that the French army, which for these two months has inflicted the severest sufferings on this city, and whose conduct has been most abomi nable, fled this morning at break of day, leaving in our possession an immense quantity of artillery, ammunition, provisions, and other effects. During the night, the enemy made a fresh attack within the city, from the small space which he accupied; but he was routed by the valiant defenders of this town, and his defeat was so com plete, that he fled with the utmost precipi tation. This very night a division of 4000 excellent troops moved from this place

10