the real force or movements of the enemy; and serious apprehensions begin tobe entertained lest the French should intercept the division under Lieutenant-General Hope, the head of which, I have just heard, was at the Escurial on the 21st instant. As the whole of our artillery, excepting one brigade, accompanies that division, should any acci'dent happen to it, we shall be in a dreadful dilemma.

Many officers indeed think, that General Moore has not displayed the greatest circumspection, in thus separating his guns from the main body of his army. It is certainly true that they could not have been brought on by the same road which we came; but it is alleged, that General Hope's division ought to have been much stronger. In fact, this sudden change of affairs in Spain, seems never to have been at all calculated upon, either by the Spaniards or the British General, and our whole march was arranged, it appears, under the impression that the Spanish armies would have held together, and covered the union of General Baird's and General Hope's divisions with the centre, under General Moore.

Orders have certainly been forwarded to Sir David Baird to fall back on Corunna, while we are to wait here for General Hope's division, and then to retreat towards Portugal.

I still entertain hopes that such a step will not be necessary, and that Sir John may be enabled to maintain himself here, as our retreat would assuredly tend to increase the despair which the Spaniards seem inclined to entertain of the issue of their cause. One circumstance which still augurs well on their part, they do not appear to be at all afraid of publishing their misfortunes; and as long as that candor continues, I think there is little fear of the general spirit of the country.

We learn, from the Madrid Gazettes, that the venerable Count Florida Blanca is appointed president of the Central Junta, which is now assembled at Aranjuez; and that Don Thomas Morla, who distinguished himself so much in the patriotic cause at Cadiz, has been appointed Minister of War, and entrusted with the defence of the capital. On our march hither, general orders were issued, strictly enjoining the greatest respect for the religious and local prejudices of the inhabitants, which have been well attended to by our troops. In consequence, the greatest harmony at present prevails between our countrymen and the Spaniards. We have all mounted the patriotic cockade, which is composed of red cloth, stamped with the initials of Viva Fernando Settimo. I will enclose one for you in this letter.

Every Spaniard, down to the poorest muleteer, bears

ROMAN BRIDGE

at Salamanca).

Published June 15.1809, by Richard Phillips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London.

this badge; and indeed this seems to be nearly the extent of their patriotism at Salamanca, at least as far as we have hitherto been able to discover. In other respects, you would imagine the country was in a state of profound peace; no energy, no bustle, no alacrity, every thing "dead, flat, stale, and unprofitable!"