lordship to the hon. W. W. Pole, of which the following is a copy: / Caledonia, at anchor, in Basque Roads, April 14. SIR-The Almighty's favour to his Majesty and the nation has been strongly marked in the success he has been pleased to give to the operations of his Majesty's fleet under my command; and I have the satisfaction to acquaint you for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, that the four ships of the enemy named in the margin have been destroyed at their anchorage; and several others, from getting on shore, if not rendered altogether unserviceable, are at least disabled for a considerable time. The arrangement of the fire vessels, placed under the direction of Captain the right hon. Lord Cochrane, were made as fully as the state of the weather would admit, according to his lordship's plan on the evening of the 11th. inst. and at eight o'clock on the same night, they proceeded to the attack, under a favourable strong wind from the northward, and floodtide, (preceded by some vessels filled with powder and shells, as proposed by his lordship, with a view to explosion,) and led on in the most undaunted and determined manner by Capt. Wooldridge, in the Mediator fire-ship, the others following in succession; but owing to the darkness of the night, several mistook their course, and failed. On their approach to the enemy's ships, it was discovered that a boom was placed in front of their line for a defence. This, however, the weight of the Mediator soon broke, and the usual intrepidity and bravery of British seamen overcame all difficulties. Advancing under a heavy fire from the forts in the Isle of Aix, as well -as from the enemy's ships, must of which cut or slipt their cables, and Vitfe de Varsovie, of 80 guns; Tomuerre, of 74 guns; Aquilon, of 74 guns; and Calcutta, of 56 guns. FOL. V. from the confined anchorage, got on shore, and thus avoided taking fire. At daylight the following morning, Lord Cochrane communicated to me by telegraph, that seven of the ene my's ships were on shore, and might be destroyed. I immediately made the signal for the fleet to unmoor and weigh, intending to proceed with it to effect their destruction. The wind, however, being fresh from the Northward, and the flood-tide running, rendered it too hazardous to run into Aix Roads, (from its shallow water), I therefore anchored again at a distance of about three miles from the forts on the Island. As the tide suited the enemy evinced great activity in endeavouring to warp their ships (which had grounded) into deep water, and succeeded in getting all but five of the line towards the entrance of the Charente before it became practicable to attack them. I gave orders to Capt. Bligh of the Valiant, to proceed with that ship. the Revenge, frigates, bombs, and small vessels, named in the margin", to anchor near the Boyrat Shoal, in readiness for the attack. At twenty minutes past two P. M. Lord Cochrane advanced in the Imperieuse with his accustomed gallantry and spirit, and opened a well-directed fire upon the Calcutta, which struck her colours to the Imperieuse; the ships and vessels above mentioned soon after joined in the attack upon the Ville de Varsovie and Aquilon, and obliged them, before 5 o'clock, after sustaining a heavy cannonade, to strike their colours, when they were taken possession of by the boats of the advanced squadron. As soon as the prisoners were removed, they were set on fire, as was also the Tonnerre, a short time after by the enemy. * Indefatigable, Aigle, Emerald, Pallas, Beagle, Etna bomb, Insolent gunbrig, Conflict, Encounter, Fervent, and Growler. FROM THE FOREIGN PRINTS. THE FRENCH ARMY IN SPAIN. The Duke of Dalmatia being arrived at Ferrol, caused the place to be invested. Negociations were begun. The civil authorities, and the military and naval officers, manifested a disposition to surrender; but the people, fomented by the spies whom the English had left, resisted. I afterwards detached Rear-Admiral the hon. Robert Stopford, in the Cæsar, with the Theseus, three THIRTY-SECOND BULLETIN OF additional fire-ships (which were hastily prepared in the course of the day) and all the boats of the fleet, with Mr. Congreve's rockets, to conduct the further operations of the might against any of the ships which Jay exposed to an attack. On the morning of the 13th. the rear-admiral reported to me, that as the Ca sar and other line of battle ships had grounded and were in a dangerous situation, he thought it adviseable to order them all out, particularly as the remaining part of the service could be performed by frigates and small vessels only and I was happy to find that they were extricated from their perilous situation. Captain Bligh has since informed me, that it was found impracticable to destroy the three-decked ship, and the others which were lying near the entrance of the Charente, as the former, being the outer one, was protected by three lines of boats placed in advance from her. This ship and all the others except four of the line and a frigate, have now moved up the river Charente. If any further attempt to destroy them is practicable, I shall not fail to use every every means in my power to accomplish it. [Lord Gambier then acknowledges the services of Admiral Stopford, Sir Harry Neale, Lord Cochrane, Cap. tain Godfrey, and of the officers and seamen of the fleet. Mr. Congreve is likewise commended for the management of his rockets.-Then follows a list of the French fleet, previous to the attack, consisting of 11 ships of the line, and 4 frigates. Also a return of the killed and wounded on board the British fleet: -2 officers, 8 men, killed; 9 officers, 26 men, wounded; 1 missing. Total 46.] On the 24th. (Jan.) the Duke of Dalmatia received two messengers, one sent by Admiral Melgarejo, com mander of the Spanish squadron, and the other, who came across the mountains, sent by the military commanders. These couriers were both sent without the knowledge of the people. They stated that the autho rities were under the yoke of a furious populace, excited and paid by the agents of England, and that 8000 men belonging to the city and its environs, were in arms. The Duke of Dalmatia had to resolve upon opening the trenches; but from the 24th, to the 25th. various movements were manifest in the town. The 17th. regiment of light infantry had repaired to Mugardos; the 31st. regiment of light infantry were at the forts of La Palma and Saint Martin, and at Lagrana; and as they blockaded the fort Saint Philip, the people began to fear the consequences of an assault, and to listen to men of sense. On the 26th. three flags of truce, furnished with authority, arrived at the head quar ters, and signed the surrender of the place. On the 27th. at seven o'clock in the morning, the town was occupied by the division of Marmot, and by a brigade of dragoons. On the same day the garrison was disarined: the disarming also produced 5000 musquets. The people who do not belong to Ferrol, have been remanded to their villages. The men who had stained themselves with blood There has been found in the port three vessels of 112 guns, two of 88, one of 74, two of 64, three frigates, and a considerable number of cor vettes, brigs, and unarmed vessels, more than 1500 pieces of cannon of every size, and ammunition of all kinds. It is probable that but for the precipitate retreat of the English, and the affair of the 16th, they would have occupied Ferrol, and seized this beautiful squadron. The military and naval officers have taken the oath to King Joseph with the greatest enthusiasm. What they relate of their sufferings from the lower classes of the people and the English, is inconceivable. Order reigns in Gallicia, and the authority of the new king is re-established in this province, one of the most considerable in the Spanish monarchy. General Laborde has found at Corunna, on the sea-shore, seven pieces of cannon, which the English had buried on the 16th, not being able to take them away. La Romana, abandoned by the English and his own troops, has fled with 500 men, in order to throw himself into Andalusia. There remained at Lisbon only about 4 or 5000 Englishmen. All the hospitals and all the magazines were embarked, and the garrison were preparing to abandon this nation, as indignant at the perfidy of the English, as they are disgusted by the difference of manners and religion, by the continual and brutal intemperance of the English troops, and that arrogance and ill-founded pride which render this nation odious To the continent' He collected all his forces in order to cross the Minho on the following day. He was to reach Oporto between the 15th and 20th, and Lisbon between the 20th and 28th. The English have embarked at Lisbon, in order to abandon Portugal utmost height, and every day considerThe rage of the Portuguese was at its able and bloody conflicts between the Portuguese and English took place.In Gallicia the Duke of Elchingen had completed the organization of the province. Admiral Massaredo is arrived labours of that important arsenal. Peace at Ferrol, and has begun to revive the is restored in all the provinces under the command of the Duke of Istria, which lie between the Pyrennees,. the sea, Portugal, and the chain of moun tains which cover Madrid. Security follows days of disorder and desolation. Daily deputations repair on all sides to the King, at Madrid. Re-organization and public spirit are quickly springing up under the new administration. The Duke of Belluno has marched to Badajoz; he has restored to peace and disarmed the whole of Lower Estrama dura. mities which have befallen this unhappy Saragossa has surrendered; the cala town, are a terrifying example to the people. The peace which has been restored in Saragossa extends to the whole of Arragon; and the two armies which were around the town have been set at liberty. Saragossa was the centre of town that the party was formed, which the insurrection of Spain; it was in this wished to call in a prince of the house of Austria to reign on the Tagus. The individuals of this party bad partly inherited these notions, which were irre vocably destroyed from their ancestors during the war of the succession. The battle of Tudela was won on the 23d of November, and after the 27th the French army was encamped at a small distance from Saragossa. The people of this town were armed. The peasants of Arragon had repaired thi ther; and Saragossa contained 50,000 men, formed into regiments of 1000 men, and companies of 100. The gencral officers and subalterns consisted of monks. A body uf 10,000 men, whe had escaped from Tudeia, had thrown themselves into the town, which was furnished with provisions, heaped up in innumerable magazines, and defended by 200 pieces of cannon. The image of Our Lady of Pillar wrought miracles at the will of the monks, who by such means animated the zeal, and preserved the confidence of the multitude. In the field, these 50,000 men would not have withstood three regiments; but shut up in their town, and wrought upon by the leaders of parties, how could they es cape the miseries which ignorance and fanaticism heap upon the heads of so many wretches? Every thing possible was done to enlighten them, and bring them to reason. Immediately after the battle of Tudela, the belief entertained at Saragossa that Madrid held out, and that they might be relieved; and that the armies at Somo Sierra, Guadarama, Estramadura, Leon, and Catalonia, might furnish a pretext for the chiefs of the insurgents to keep alive the fanaticism of the inhabitants: it was resolved not to surround the town, but to permit it to maintain a communication with all Spain, in order that they might be informed of the annihilation of the Spanish armies, and of the circumstances which attended the entrance of the French army into Madrid; but all this intelligence came to the ears of the ringleaders alone, and was unknown by the body of the people. The truth was not only concealed from them, but their courage was kept up by lies; at one time, the French bad lost 40,000 men before Madrid; at another time, Romana had entered France, and the French eagles were compelled to fly before the terrible leopard. This period, sacrificed to political objects, in order to allow a multitude to come to reason who were in fatuated by fanaticism, and a terror in spired by their enraged leaders, was not lost to the French army. The general of engineers, Lacoste, aide-de-camp of the Emperor, and an officer of the greatest merit, collected at Alagon the materials and instruments of mining, in order to carry on the subterraneous war, which the Emperor had gommanded. The general of division, Dedon, who commanded the artillery, collected a great quantity of mortars, bombs, and howitzers of every calibre. All these were brought from Pampeluna, seven days march from Saragossa, In the mean while it was observed, that the enemy had availed himself of this delay in order to fortify Monte Torrero, and other strong positions. On the 20th of December the division of Suchet drove him from the heights of St. Lambert, and from two outworks which were within reach of the town. The division of General Gazan drove the enemy from the heights of St. Gregorio, and with the 21st regiment of light infantry, and the 100 h regiment of the line, took the redoubts which were thrown up in the suburbs, and defended the roads of Sueva and Barcelona. He also made himself master of a great laboratory near Galliego, in which 500 Swiss had entrenched themselves. On the same day, the Duke of Cornegliano made himself master of the works and position of Monte Torrero; he took all the can non, made a great number of prisoners, and did great injury to the enemy. The Duke of Coruegliano being sick, the Duke of Abrantes came at the be ginning of January, and took command of the third division. He signalized his arrival by taking the monastery of St. Joseph, and pursued his advantages on the 16th of January by taking the bridge of La Hueba, where his troops fixed themselves. The chief of battalion Stall, of the 14th regiment of the line, distinguished himself in the attack on the monastery of St. Joseph, and the Lieutenant Victor D. Buffon was the first in the assuralt. The circumvention of Saragossa was not yet resolved upon; that was considered as inexpedient; and a free communication was still left open, in order that the insurgents might be informed of the defent of the English, and their infamous flight out of Spain. It was on the 16th of January that the English were driven into the sea at Corunna, and it was on the 26th that the operations before Saragossa were seriously begun. The Duke of Montebello arriyed there on the 20th, in order to assuine the command of the seige. As soon as he was assured that the intelli gence which was brought into the town had no effect, and that a few monks governed the minds of the people, he resolved to put an end to these indulgences: 50,000 peasants were collected on the left bank's of the Ebro: at Par diguera the Duke of Treviso attacked them with three regiments; and, notwithstanding the fine position they poss sessed, the 64th regiment routed them, and threw them into disorder. The 10th regiment of hussars was on the plain to receive them, and a great number remained upon the field of battle. Nine pieces of cannon and several standards were the trophies of this victory. At the same time, the Duke of Montebello had sent the adjutant commandant Gusquet to Zuera, in order to disperse an assemblage of insurgents; this officer attacked 4000 of them with three battalions, overthrew them, and took four pieces of cannon, with their carriages and horses. Gen. Vattier was at the same time sent with 300 infantry, and 200 cavalry, towards Valencia. He met 5000 insurgents at Alcanitz, compelled them even in the town, to throw down their arms in flight; he killed 600 men, and seized magazines, provisions, and arms; among the last were 100 English muskets. The adjutant commandant, Carrion Nizos, conducted himself gloriously at the head of a column of infantry. Colonel Burthe, of the 4th regiment of hussars, and the chief of battalion, Camus, of the 28th regiment of light infantry, distinguished themselves.These operations took place between the 20th and 26th of January. On the 26th the town was seriously attacked, and the batteries were unmasked, and at noon on the 27th the breach was practicable in several places; the troops were lodged in the monastery of San-in-Gracia. The division of Granjean entered some thirty houses. Colonel Caloiscki, and the soldiers of the Weixel, distinguished themselves. At the same moment, the General of Division Morlat, in an attack upon the left wing, made himself master of the whole fore-ground of the enemy's defence. Capt. Guettemar, at the head of the pioneers, and 36 grenadiers of the 44th regiment, had, with a rare intrepidity, ascended the breach. M. Babieski, an officer of the Voltigeurs of the Weixel, a young man, 17 years of age, and covered with seven wounds, was the first who appeared upon the breach. The chief of battalion, Lejune, Aid-de-Camp to the Prince of Neufchatel, distinguished himself, and received two slight wounds. The Chief of Battalion, Haxo, is also slightly wounded, and likewise distinguished himself. were On the 30th, the monasterics of the Monique and the Greek Augustines were occupied. Sixty houses possessed by undermining. The miners of the 14th regiment distinguished themselves. Qu the 1st of February, General Lacoste received a ball, and died in the field of honour. He was a brave and distinguished officer. He has been lamented by the whole army, but more especially by the Emperor. Colonel Regniat succeeded him in the command of the engineers, and in the manage ment of the siege. The enemy defended every house. Three attacks were made by miners, and every day several houses were blown up, and afforded the troops an opportunity of stationing themselves in other houses. Thus we proceeded to the Cosso (a great street in Saragossa), when we made ourselves masters of the public school and university. The enemy endeavoured to oppose miners to miners; but, less used to this sort of operation, their miners were every day discovered and suffocated. This mode of besieging renders its progress slow, but sure, and less destructive to the army. While three companies of miners, and eight companies of sappers carried on this subterraneous war, the consequences of which were dreadful, the fire of the town was kept up by mortars. Ten days after the attack had begun, the surrender of the town was anticipated. The army had possessed itself of one third of the houses, and fortified itself in them. The church which contained the image of Our Lady of Pilar, which by so many miracles had promised to defend the town, was battered down by bombs, and no longer inhabitable. The Duke of Montebello deemed it necessary to take possession of the left bank of the river, in order that his fire might reach the middle of the town. The General of Division Gaxan, made himself master of the bridge by a sudden and impetuous attack, on the morning of the 17th (February). A battery of 50 pieces was played off at three o'clock in the afternoon. A battalion of the 28th regiment attacked and took possession of a monastery, the walls of which were of brick, and from three to four feet thick. General Gazan then repaired with rapidity to the bridge over which the insurgents made their retreat to the town; he killed a vast |