was consequently very much crowded. A special verdict was found, which left the question for the determination of the court of exchequer. It came on to be argued. Sir Roger de Coverley's dictum, that "a great deal may be said on both sides," was demonstrated to the fullest extent, by the long-robed band of wordy combatants engag ed by the crown and the lord of the manor. The court took time to deliberate; and on the last day of last Term, pronounced judgment that it was a case which the Act requiring permits for the removal of wine did not embrace, the Act only alluding to wine which had paid duty; that from the case in Vaughan, it was clear, that wine to be liable to duty must be imported; that wine, as Vaughan said, could not be imported by itself, and must be by the agency of some one else; and that it was in that case determined, that wine wrecked could not be subject to duty. The lord keeps the wine, and will have to pay an enormous bill of costs for the defence of his rights, as in informations by the Attorney-General, though the verdict is with the defendant, he does not get his costs. John Bull will (but hold, we have just mentioned the name of Mr. Attorney)-and the counsel who were in the cause say, in their opinion, it was one of the best casks of wine which ever reached the English coast. APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. Dispatch from the General in Chief of the Army of Catalonia, to the Minister at War, 27th November, 1808. OST excellent Seignor-Ac which I apprised your excellency in my dispatch of the 29th ult. the general attack took place yesterday On all the posts occupied by the enemy without the limits of Barcelona, from all of which he was immediately dislodged, and compelled to take refuge under the guns of the fortress, with the exception of the advantageous position of St. Pedro Martin which is the most commanding. The communication with this post being completely cut off, in consequence of our line being advanced to Hospitalet, Esplugas, Sarria, Gracia, and Horta, as your excellency will perceive from the plan which I have the honour to send you, I, upon this ground, summoned the commandant to surrender. He refused compliance, and I immediately gave orders for an attack; but at half past 12 o'clock this day he surrendered himself and his garrison prisoners of war, consisting of 104 privates and two officers. We found in the place four 4-pounders and one 2-pounder, with magazines of ammunition and stores. At the same time a firing was commenced from the right and centre of our line, and the enemy were repulsed as far as the walls of Barcelona, from which it will not vance again. I now, (four in the afternoon) forward this to your excellency in the mean time by a special messenger, for the satisfaction of his Majesty, until, by receiving the statements of the generals and commanders of columns, I shall be enabled to transmit to your excellence the details of the operations of these two days. Our line occupies the above-mentioned posts, and I have fixed the head-quarters of the army in this town, which is about a league's distance from it, &c. &c. JUAN MIGUEL DE VIVES. Proclamation of Sir David Baird, dated Astorga, 1st December, 1808. THE events that have occurred in Biscay, and in the neighbourhood of the Ebro, have made it indispensibly necessary that the British troops should be concentrated, in order more effectually to assist and support the Spanish nation in the heroic exertions she is apply. 1 ing for the defence of her independance. Under these circumstances, lieutenant-general sir D. Baird, commander of the British division in Castile and Leon, informs the royal subjects of these kingdoms, that he has just received orders from his, excellency sit J. Moore, contnander in chief of his Britannic majesty's army in Spain, to unite his forces with those of the said general, with out loss of time, by the road of Portugal. The object of this movement is in no, respect to evacuate Spain, or to abandon a cause so dear to Great Britain. The only design is to combine the whole of the British forces, in order to enaa ble them to act in a situation where they can render their services more beneficial. Gallicia, strong by nature, does not require for its protection a more numerous army, nor can it possess a more gallant one than the army of the left; composed principally of the courageous youth of the kingdom (province) which is now united in Leon under the orders of the highly distinguished commander his excellency the marquis de la Romana. The resort of more troops, in the present circumstances, in the defiles of the mountains, would be prejudicial, since they would consume the provisious and other resources of the country, without increasing its security. To the worthy inhabitants of these kingdoms the most grateful acknowledgments are due from the British forces, for the hospitality and friendship with which they have been treated in every situation: and the lieutenant-general hopes that the feelings of reciprocal attachment and respect will prevail, not only now, but that they will continue to animate both nations to the latest posterity.-In taking leave of the subjects of this part of the Peninsula, the lieutenant-general feels it to be his duty to exhort them, by the loyalty they owe to their sovereign, by the affection they bear to their families, and by all that is sacred in religion, to unite for the protection of their country. Unless the government and the people combine their utmost efforts in this just and honourable cause, Spain will be exposed to the most serious danger; but if these endeavours be not wanting, under the direction of Divine Providence, all will terminate in victory and happiness. Palafox's Dispatch to the Central Junta December 3, 1808. SEIGNOR-This capital has re cently given an additional proof of that heroic patriotism and attachment to its sovereign which distinguish and characterise it. On the 30th of November, in the dusk of the evening, the enemy, being about 12,000 men in number, made their appearance in the quarter of Torre ro and Casa Blanca, having come by Muel and Muria, on the roads from Madrid and Valencia. Part of them took post on the road, on a height situated between the kerinitages of Soledad and Santa Barba ra, and commanding La Casa Blanca; the rest ascended, under cover of the Ravine de la Muerre which covers Torrero, and took possession of the Carthusian monastery of Conception. They had a considerable body at Alagon, and we were informed that 3000 men were advancing by way of Tauste and Castejon de Baldejussa a Zuera, in order to attack us at four points. The whole of the garrison were immediately ordered ordered under arms, and the heroes of Saragossa also took up their muskets. All the posts were occupied, and the whole of the inhabitants went out with alacrity and enthusiasm to be spectators of the glorious action which was impending. On the first of December, at day-break, the enemy were dislodged from the Carthusian monastery, and compel led to fall back through the Ravine, when they took post in five columns on the heights that command Torrero, with the decided intention of making their attack in that quarter. They manoeuvred until 10 o'clock, A. M. at which hour they commenced their most decisive and vigorous attack in the direction of Casa Blanca. It was received on our side with a very brisk fire of musquetry and cannon, which lasted until two o'clock, when the whole of the enemy's army in Soledad fell back, shamefully abandoning Torrero. The country demands great sacrifices. She calls us to her assistance; she sees no other defenders but her children; we are her only support. We should violate our duty to her, and to ourselves, did we not employ our arms, and risk our lives and property, in order to save her. Noble Arragonese! brave Soldiers! ever ready to shed your blood to defend her and your King, it is unnecessary for me to remind you of sacred duties which you have never forgotten, but the important charge which you have confided to me, and my anxious desires to fulfil my duty, and to make a just return to your attachment, do not permit me to leave unemployed any means that may contribute to deliver you from those perfidious wretches who, already setting themselves in opposition to our determinations, already indiffer ent to the grand cause which we are defending,give utterance tosentiments little conformable to our tried loyalty. I therefore ordain and command: 1. That all the inhabitants of this city, of every rank and condition, shall consider themelves bound to devote to its defence their persons, property and lives: the rich and great lending a helping hand to the poor, fostering and assisting them, contributing to cover their nakedness, and to enable them to maintain their respective posts; thus performing a sacred duty, enjoined by natural affection, recommended by the holy religion which we profess; and, at the same time, remunerating them for the zeal with which they defend their lives, their estates, and their common country. Should any man be so unnatural as to disown their obligation, he shall be fined in proportion to the magnitude of his offence, and the amount of the fine shall be appropri ated to the subsistence of the army. 2. That such towns as do not contribute all in their power to the relief of our present necessities, shall be treated as enemies to our king whose sovereign rights we defend, and their inhabitants of every rank shall be punished as traitors. 3.That every individual of the army of reserve, and the recruits of Arragon, already enrolled and regimented, who shall not join his corps, within the space of six days thereof, shall be treated as a deserter in time of war, and as such shall suffer the pains of law. 4.That the alcaides shall scrupulously examine the soldiers in their respective wards, who may not have so joined, and make a return of their names and the corps they belong to; and that the justices of the kingdom of |