wounded, but, I am happy to say, but slightly. The defeat of this attempt was followed about noon by a general attack with the enemy's whole force upon the whole of that part of the position occupied by the British army. In consequence of the repeated attempts upon the height on our left by the valley, I had placed two brigades of British cavalry in that valley, supported in the rear by the duc d' Albuquerque's division of Spanish cavalry. The enemy then placed light infantry in the range of mountains on the left of the valley, which were opposed by a division of Spanish infantry under lieut.-gen. De Bassecourt. The general attack began by the march of several columps of infantry into the valley, with a view to attack the height occupied by maj.-gen. Hill. These columns were immediately charged by the 1st German light dragoons, and 23d dragoons, under the command of gen. Anson, directed by lieut.-gen. Payne, and supported by gen. Fane's brigade of heavy cavalry; and although the 23d dragoons suffered considerable loss, the charge had the effect of preventing the execution of that part of the enemy's plan. At the same time he directed an attack upon brig.-gen. Alex. Campbell's position in the centre of the combined armies, and on the right of the British. This attack was most successfully repulsed by brig.-gen. Campbell, supported by the king's regiment of Spanish cavalry and two battalions of Spanish infantry; and brig.-gen. Campbell took the enemy's cannon. The brigadier-general mentions particularly the conduct of the 97th, the 2d battalion 7th, and of the 2d battalion 53d regiments; and I VOL. LI.

was highly satisfied with the manner in which this part of the position was defended. An attack was also made at the same time upon lieut.-general Sherbrooke's division, which was on the left and centre of the 1st line of the British army. This attack was most gallantly repulsed by a charge with bayonets, by the whole division; but the brigade of guards, which were on the right, having advanced too far, they were exposed on their left flank to the fire of the enemy's battery, and of their retiring columns; and the division was obliged to retire towards the original position, under cover of the 2d line of gen. Cotten's brigade of cavalry, which I had moved from the centre, and of the 1st battalion 48th regiment. I had moved this regiment from its original position on the heights, as soon as I observed the advance of the guards; and it was formed in the plain, and advanced upon the enemy, and covered the formation of lieut. gen. Sherbrooke's division. Shortly after the repulse of this general attack, in which apparently all the enemy's troops were employed, he commenced his retreat across the Alberche, which was conducted in the most regular order, and was effected during the night, leaving in our hands 20 pieces of cannon, ammunition, tumbrils, and some prisoners. Your lordship will observe by the inclosed return, the great loss which we have sustained of valuable officers and soldiers in this long and hardfought action, with more than double our number: that of the ene my has been much greater. I am informed that entire brigades of infantry have been destroyed; and, indeed, the battalions that retreatM m

ed

his brigade on the 29th in the morning, having marched 12 Spanish leagues in little more than 24 hours. From Sir A. Wellesley, Talavera, Aug. 1.

When I addressed you this morning, I had not received the report from our out-posts. It appears that the enemy withdrew the rear guard, which was posted on the heights on the left side of the Alberche, last night at 11 o'clock, and the whole army marched towards Santa Olalla; I conclude, with an intention of taking up a position in the neighbourhood of Guadarama.

Copy of a Letter from Capt: Lord George Stuart, of his Majesty's ship the Amiable, addressed to Rear-Admiral Sir R. Strachan, and a duplicate of which has been transmitted to the Hon. W. W. Pole.

His Majesty's ship L'Amiable, off Cuxhaven, July 29, 1809. Sir-The French troops in Hanover, not content with frequent predatory and piratical incursions in the neighbourhood of Cuxhaven, had the audacity to enter the village of Rützbuttle with a body of horse at mid-day, on Wednesday the 26th inst. and very narrowly missed making several officers of the squadron prisoners. In consequence I was induced to land a detachment of seamen and marines from the vessels composing the squadron under my orders, for the purposes, if possible, of intercepting them. In the ardour of pursuit we advanced until we got sight of the town of Bremerleke, into which we learned they had retreated. The information was incorrect. On entering the

town we were assured that the enemy, to the number of about 250, occupied the town of Gessendorf, two miles distant, and further, that it contained a depot of confiscated merchandize. It was resolved instantly to attack it.

For this purpose captain Goate of the Mosquito, advanced with a detachment, while I directed capt. Pettet, of the Briseis, to take a circuitous route, and take a well constructed battery of four twelve pounders, commanding the river Weser in flank, while the remainder, under my own immediate directions, headed by captain Watts, of the Ephira, advanced to attack it in front. The road we had to pass, subjected us all to a galling fire of round and grape from the battery, the guns of which were all pointed inwards, and which in return we could only answer by discharges of musketry. Gessendorf, though certainly tenable with the numbers the enemy had opposed to ours, was on the approach of captain Goate, precipitately evacuated. The enemy being previously informed of our approach, had put into requisition a number of light waggons for the transportation of the foot, in rear of which sixty well mounted cavalry drew up.

The enemy in the battery, seeing us determined, notwithstanding their fire, to carry our point, and that we were making preparations for fording a deep and wide creek in their front, abandoned it, and embarked in boats on the Weser ready for their reception, under a severe fire of musquetry from our detachment, with the loss on their part of several killed and wounded. From a fore knowledge of our intentions on the part of the enemy,

we made but four prisoners, the commandant of the battery, Monsieur Le Murche, a lieutenant, and two inferior officers. The battery guns were burst in pieces, the embrazures demolished, the gun-carriages burnt, together with the magazine, guard-houses, &c. &c. The powder we brought off, together with six waggon loads of confiscated merchandise.

I beg leave to state to you, sir, for their lordships information, how much I feel indebted to captain Goate, for the zeal and ability evinced by him on this, as on all other occasions, during the time he has been commanding officer on the

station.

I also feel indebted to captain Pettet, for his punctuality and promptness in executing my orders; and can only regret that an opportunity was not afforded him of distinguishing himself on this occasion congenial to his wishes.

But I beg leave particularly to mention captain Watts, of the Ephira, who, in the most gallant and active manner, advanced intrepidly in front of the attacking party amidst the enemy's galling fire, and rendered himself equally conspicuous afterwards, for his unremitting exertion in the complete demolition of the battery; in the execution of which service, I am concerned to say, he received a wound in the leg, but which, from its nature, will in no shape incapacitate him for future service.

A want of zeal and activity was discernible no where; to every officer and man I must award the meed of praise so justly their due; but of lieutenant Burges, of the Pincher, and W. Hawkins, second-lieutenant, of L'Amiable, I am more compe

tent to speak in favour, for their indefatigable exertions in forwarding my orders to the different detachments.

The distance from Gessendorf to Cuxhaven is 28 miles; I leave it then to their lordships to estimate the spirit, alacrity, and expedition with which this service must have been performed, when I state, that in 24 hours from our departure, the whole detachment returned, and were safely embarked on board their respective ships, without the loss of an individual.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed)

G. STUART.
Sir R.J. Strachan, Bart.
K. B. Rear-Admiral of
the White, &c. &c.

From the London Gazette Extraordinary.-Downing-street, Au

gust 7.

The following dispatches were received last night from the Earl of Chatham.

Head-quarters, Middleburgh,
August 2.

"My Lord-I have the honour of acquainting your lordship that having sailed from the Downs early in the morning of the 28th ult. with rear-admiral sir Richard Strachan, in his majesty's ship Venerable, we arrived the same evening and anchored in the East Capelle roads, and were joined on the fol lowing morning by the division of the army under lieut. gen, sir John Hope. It blew in the course of that day a fresh gale from the westward, which created a heavy swell; and the small craft being much exposed, it was determined to seek shelter for them in the anchorage of

the