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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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By this means , the French would have been compelled to divide their force , and an opportunity might have been given to Xord Wellington to advance . But it seems now most probable , that it was thought inexpedient for the Spaniards to shut themselves up with Lord
Wellington m Portugal , and thus deprive their own country of the benefit of their assistance . Cadiz seerns to be the poinr to -which they would direct their march ; and , if the French camp has been weakened by drafts to their army at Bada joz , this measure may be of great jm . portance . Of the- Cortez we hear little *
there does not seem to he that energy in it , which might have been expected from the critical state of the country . But Spain feels the wounds inflicted so deeply into it by its late government and church .
War desolates the finest regions in Europe . The passions of man may extend the evil , and we look with / car and trembling on a transaction , that has taken place on the Atlantic . The U : nite 3 > States of America spea ^ the same language with
ourselvestheir parent stock is England- Thej have hitherto preserved themsehes with gieat prudence from the horrors , to which Europe has been exposed , though , with many piivations , and subject to much inconvenience . Need ii there now for great wisdom and selfforbearance in the cabinets of Great
Britain and America . A "blow has been struck , and blood has been shed by the subjects ot the two powers , armed with authority . Who gave the first blow- Who is to decide this point , when the contending parties lay the blame each on the other ? Two' armed vessels iraet
upon the ocean , hail each Ihe other , and , on the accustomed reply not "being returned , a shot is fired , which biin& on an engagement , in which our vessel u the greatest sufferer . The American and
vessel sailed to its own port , our vessel to a northern colony . Both captains have sent home a detailed account of the transaction , and enough is manifest to excite the shedding of more blood : but also , if the spirit ot ino ~ who are called happy by our ~ ° | j should preside in the councils ot ^' nations , the wound may be healea ,, friendship preserved between two co tries , who have the power * ° . : each the other so many essential vices . . cla ot ) Y The demon of war would ins "
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dignities offered to those whose lives were spared * The friends of war held there their savage triumph , and gave a decisive superiority to the French , by which Catalonia becomes a prey to their arms ; and many similar scenes of slaughter will be exhibited in that unhappy
province . Who that contemplates Europe , -pretending to acknowledge Christ as their Lord , could believe that he had taught them , that God is love , and that his grand precept was to love our enemies ! When will that love possess our hearts , and the spirit of the prayer offered daily to our heavenly Father , be impressed upon our minds !
But if the French have succeeded so far in Catalonia , it is not clear that their affairs are upon the whole improved . They have evacuated Biscay and Asturias , and left Leon and Castille in a great degree open to the incursions of the Spaniards , from the neighbouring provinces . They have brought down their forces to the south , to drive back the
combined armies into Portugal , and JLord Wellington , unable to cope with so superior an army , has thought it expedient to retreat to a considerable distance from Badajoz . This town was besieged and expected to » surrender > but It held out , notwithstanding two practicable breaches , and repelled two
assaults , with considerable loss on the part of the besiegers . The relief of this place was of considerable importance to the French , and they seem to have sacrificed every thing to this measure . In consequence , a very large army was collected , and on its advance , the combined army retreated behind the
Guadiana , leaving the town of Badajoz to be reinforced , and its fortifications to be repaired , and the French in full possession of that frontier . They have » ince had reconnoitring parties on the Portuguese side of the Guadiana , but
there seems to be now no probability of a general action , as Lord Wellington will find it more advantageous to retire to his fortified heights , and let the JKrench if they pursue him , wear themselves out in a country incapable of supporting them .
It was supposed , that on crossing the Guadiana , Lord Wellington had made a great manoeuvre , by dispatching General lilakc , with the Spaniards under his command , to recross the river , get into the rear of the enemy , and obtain possession of all their stores at Seville .
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416 Stale of Public , Affairs .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1811, page 446, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2418/page/62/
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