that the party is a great lawyer. Now it has sometimes happened that even our greatest lawyers have been mistaken. Noy was accounted the greatest lawyer in his age, as we learn from the preface to his treatise on the Rights of the Crown: he framed the project, and drew up the writ of ship money in 1631, out of a "vain glory of shewing his knowledge", as the said preface conjectures; but this ship-money adventure proved the wreck of his reputation, as well as that of the government which adopted it. Just so did it happen with Empson and Dudley; they were reputed the greatest lawyers in their age, till they got an act of parliament which enabled them to dispense with Magna Charta and the Trial by Jury. They thought the power of King, Lords and Commons omnipotent; they were backed by that authority in their infringe ment on the birthright of the subjcct; but alas! the fatal consequences! They atoned for the offence at the gallows. Lord Kenyon would have been something more than a great lawyer, could he have convinced the good people of England, that their liberties were protected in parliament, by such decisions as that of the house of Lords in the case of the printer of the Cambridge Intelligencer. I apprehend it will readily be granted me, that Lord Erskine is also a great lawyer, and what has he said (let me ask) about great lawmen, when they talk against written statutes and fundamental laws? Why, he said that "they signify no more than so "many great flies buzzing against a The idea is happily expressed to be sure there can be nothing more vain than these foolish. "flies buzzing against a wall;" but then they are not rational animals, they are only foolish flies: the buzzers against Magna Charta, however, resemble other flies of a certain description: they cannot pierce the parchment or injure the statute, but

"wall."

they will sting those who venture to interrupt them.-But, what was it, permit me to ask, that the plaintiff Mr. Flower sued for in the court of King's Bench-what was his, prayer to Lord Kenyon? it was that his lordship would restore to him his estate of inheritance; that he would re-invest him with that heir-loom which had been entailed upon him and his children for evermore, and of which he was unlawfully deprived, though he had as good, and as indisputable a right to it, as his lordship himself had to the gown upon his back, or the master whom he represented in that sacred seat of British justice, to the crown he so happily wears.-Behold this parchment, might he have said, under the hand and seal of King Henry III.There's my title! Question it who dare!—a title that has been bathed in

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British blood, and bought by my progenitors with "the valuable consideration" of a fifteenth part of their moveables: read it my lord, he might have added; behold here how the gracious Sovereign you represent, is bound in it to me and my heirs for ever; see how STRICTLY he is BOUND never to procure or do any thing" whereby my birthright under this sacred deed "shall be infringed or broken:"-is it not thus expressed in the BOND? in that very deed whereby this inheritance" is confirmed and "made strong to me and mine PERPE "TUALLY." I here solemnly claim that inheritance of you, my lord, the minister of my king, and chief dispenser of British justice.—Answer!-Shall I have it ?—I stand for judgment—If you deny me, fie upon your law! There is no force in the decrees of Venice."*

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"

I shall now take my leave of you, Mr. Editor, for the present, fearful of having trespassed upon your readers by the great length of this let

* Shakespear's Merchant of Venice, Act. 4. Sc. 2.

ter;-but if I have, as I trust, been able to establish to their satisfaction the two following fundamental points the time has not been spent in vain. First. To repose an implicit confidence in our parliamentary representatives is not wise and honest counsel to give the people at any time, being repugnant to the spirit of our constitution; but to recommend such confidence in men who have refused to hearken to the complaints of their constituents, and to redress their grievances, is to suppose that the people bear a greater resemblance to beasts of burden than to rational and thinking beings. Se condly, The people of England hold their rights and franchises, not by the favour, forbearance, protection, or goodwill of any of the constituted authorities, but by an express contract, which is the basis of the government itself; and which must stand good, as long as any bond, indenture, covenant, bargain, or other written obligation whatever stands good. I shall in my next consider the MEANS that have been taken by our forefathers to ensure the perpetuity of this contract; and remain Sir, Yours, &c.

TIMOTHY TRUEMAN. Devonshire, Sept 12, 1810.

OBADIAH OLDSPEECH

TO HIS

FRIEND TIMOTHY TRUEMAN.

Verily, Friend Timothy, my soul is right glad, yea exceedingly rejoiced to find that thou hast armed thyself with the breastplate of truth, and hast gone forth to meet the Philistines, who dwell in the North. Thou art learned and understandest the laws of our fathers, and the customs of the strangers who dwelled in our land. God hath given to

The Edinburgh Reviewers whose defence of the system of influence, gave rise to the letters of T. Trueman.

thee knowledge above thy fellows concerning the times of old, and the things before ordained, and the decrees of princes and the elders of the people, and he hath put into thine hand a club wherewith thou shalt break asunder the jaws of the illfavoured ones of the North, who would set at nought the tables of the law, which our fathers have received, and would lead the people. into bondage to serve the Pittites, and the Grenvillites, and the sons of Anak.

Now it came to pass whilst I was musing over these things, and mine heart was grieved to think that the zeal of the people was waxed cold, I heard a voice saying, take thy pén and write unto Tirothy the Scribe, who dwelleth near the western sea, and thou shalt command him to indite a book, and to collect the scattered fragments of the law, which the priests and the rulers of the land have forgotten-and he shall record the wisdom of former times, and the statutes of your fathers.

And it shall come to pass that the eyes of the people shall be opened, and they will lament and moan that they had forgotten the statutes as in the days of Josias King of Judah.

Moreover the people shall cry aloud unto their rulers, and say, give us our portion in the land, and let wise men be chosen from amongst us to controul the will of princes, and lighten the burdens which they have laid upon the people; for verily our fathers were free men, but ye have despised their laws, and have laden. us with burdens to grievous to be borne.

Now this I command thee Timothy, who art called Trueman, write a book wherein thou shalt preserve the ancient statutes of our fathers, that they perish not, and their me mory be not forgotten amongst men,

Having thus faithfully delivered my message. I bid thee farewell.

OBADIAH OLDSPEECH.

Admiralty Office, Sept. 8, 1810. Extract of a Letter from Captain Byron, of his Majesty's ship Belvidera, to J. Wilson Croker, Esq. dated North Yarmouth, the 6th instant.

You will be pleased to inform my lords commissioners of the admiralty, that being near in shore off Studtland, coast of Norway, on the 22d of July, his Majesty's ship Nemesis in company, I observed a deep bay in the evening, and sent Mr. M'Pherson, the master of the Belvidera, to sound round it, who perceiving three vessels at anchor, moved near to reconnoitre them; in the night they fired at him, the strangers being Danish gun-vessels. On the following morning the launch, with a twelve-pounder carronade in bow, barge, and two cutters of the Belvidera, were well manned and armed as soon as possible, under the command of of Lieutenants Nisbett and Bruce, and Lieut. Campbell, of the royal marines; and the launch, pinnace, and yawl of the Nemesis, under Lieuts. Hodgskens, and Sinith; the seven boats rapidly advanced to attack the enemy, which soon began to cannonade them; the boats firing their bow guns with great effect, the Danish colours were soon struck, and the two gun schooners, Balder and Thor, each carrying two long 24-pounders, and six six-pounders, howitzers, and each manned with 45 men, in our possession; the gun boat No. 5, carrying one 24-pounder, and 25 men, had repeatedly fired, was chased up a fiora, and abandoned by the crew, was blown up by our boats, whose excellent fire and resolution to close, threw the enemy in confusion, and, notwithstanding the firmness of Lieuts Dobleup and Rasmusen their commanders, caused their fire to be ineffective; we fortunately had no loss; the enemy had four men killed. I cannot sufficiently praise the Conduct of all the officers, masters' mates, midshipmen, and every seaman and marine of the Belvidera. Captain Ferris has expressed to me his perfect approbation of all belonging to the Ne

wesis.

Downing-Street, Sept. 18, 1810. A Dispatch, of which the following is an extract, was on Sunday received at Lord Liverpool's Office, from Lieut.Gen. Lord Wellington; K. B. &c. dated Celorico, Aug. 29.

The enemy opened their fire upon Almeida late on Saturday night or early on Sunday morning, the 26th instant, and I am concerned to add that they obtained possession of the place in the course of the night of the 27th. I have no intelligence, upon which I can rely, of the cause of its surrender. An explosion had been heard at our advanced posts, and I observed on Monday that the steeple of the church was destroyed, and many houses of the town unroofed. I had a telegraphic communication with the governor, but unfortunately the weather did not allow of our using it on Sunday, or during a great part of Monday, and when the weather cleared on that day it was obvious that the governor was in communication with the enemy.

After I was certain of the fall of the place, I moved the infantry of the army again into the valley of the Mondego, keeping a division upon Guarda, and the out-posts of the cavalry at Alverca. The enemy attacked our picquets twice yesterday in the morning but feebly, and they were repulsed; in the afternoon, however, they obliged Sir Stapleton Cotton to draw in his posts to this side of Fraxedas. Captain Lygon, of the 16th light dragoons was wounded in the morning, and two men of the royal dragoons were wounded in the af

ternoon.

A picquet of the regiment made a gallant and successiu! charge upon a party of the enemy's infantry and cavalry, and took some prisoners.

The second corps under General Regnier has made no movement of any im portance since I had the honour of addressing your lordship last. A patrole, however, belonging to this corps fell in with a squadron of dragoons, consisting of one troop of the 13th British, and one troop of the 4th Portuguese, be

longing to Lieut.-General Hill's corps, under the command of Captain White, of the 13th, and the whole of them were taken, with the exception of the Captain and one man, who, I since understand, have been killed. I inclose the copy of Brigadier-General Fane's report to Lieut.-Gen. Hill of this affair, which it appears was highly creditable to Captain White, and the allied troops engaged.

No movement has been made, and nothing of any importance has occurred in Estremadura since I addressed your lordship last.

In the north, the enemy moved a small body of infantry and cavalry on the 20th to Alcanezas; but General Silveira moved towards them from Braganza, and they immediately retired.

Escalhos de Cima, Aug. 22. SIR-I have the honour to report to you, that the troop of the 13th light dragoons, and one of the 4th Portuguese dragoons, forming the squadron under the command of Captain White, of the 13th, at Ladoera, this morning fell in with a patrole of the enemy's dragoons, consisting of one captain, two subalterns, and about sixty men. Captain White, fortunately succeeded in coming up with them, when he immediately charged and overturned them; and the result has been, the capture of two lieutenants, three serjeants, six corporals, one trumpeter, and fifty privates, and about fifty horses. The captain was also a prisoner, but escaped during the bustle on foot.

I am happy to say, this has been performed without the loss of a man on our side. Six of the enemy are wounded. Captain White expresses his obligation to Major Vigoreux, of the 38th regiment, who was a volunteer with him, and to the Alferes Pedro Raymundo di Oliviera, commanding the Portugueze troop (which he states to have done its duty extremely well, and to have shewn much gallantry), and also to Lieut. Turner, of the 13th light dragoons, to whose activity and courage he reports himself to be indebted for several of his prisoners. I trust the whole will be considered to have merited the approbation of the commander in chief. I have the honour to be, &c.

Lieut.-General Hill,

H. FANE.

FROM THE FOREIGN PRINTS.

Address from General Massena, to
the Portuguese.

Inhabitants of Portugal,

His Majesty the Emperor of the French has put under my orders an ar my of 110,000 men to take possession of this kingdom, and to expel the English, your pretended friends. I say pretended friends, because in no one instance have they proved your benefactors. Against you his Majesty the Emperor has no animosity. On the contrary, it is his highest wish to promote your happiness, and the first step to secure it is to dismiss from the country those locusts who consume your property, blast your harvests, and palsy your efforts. Believe me, in opposing the Emperor you oppose your true friend; a friend who has it in his power to render you the happiest people in the world. Were it not for the insidious councils of Eugland you might now have enjoyed peace and tranquillity, and have been put in possession of that happiness. You have blindly rejected offers calculated only to promote your benefit, and have accepted proposals which will long be the curse of Portugal.

His Majesty has commissioned me to conjure you to awake to your true interests; to awake to those prospects which, with your consent, may be quickly realized; to awake so as to distinguish between friends and enemies. The King of England is actuated by selfish and narrow purposes; the Emperor of the French is governed by the principles of universal philanthropy!

Tis true, the English have put arms into your hands; arms which you know not how to use. I will instruct you. They are to be the instruments of annibilation to your foes. Who those foes are I have already shewn you. Use them as you ought, and they will become your salvation. Use them as you ought not, and they will prove your de

struction.

Resistance is vain. Can the feeble army of the British general expect to oppose any barrier to the victorious legions of the Emperor? Already a force is collected sufficient to overwhelm your country. Snatch the moment that mercy and generosity offer. As friends you may respect us, and be respected in return; as foes you must dread us, and

in the conflict must be subdued. The choice is your own, either to meet the horrors of a bloody war, and to see your country desolated, your villages in flames, and your cities plundered, or to accept an honourable and happy peace, which will obtain for you every blessing that by resistance you would resign for ever. MASSENA. Prince of Essling, and Commander in Chief.

Ciudad Rodrigo, Aug. 14.

Paris, August 17. Letter from his Excellency the Prince of Essling, to his Serene Highness the Prince of Neufchatel, MajorGeneral.

SIR-All the accounts which I have received announcing that the English army were making a retrograde movement; reconnostring was ordered and executed on the 21st. Marshal the Duke of Elchingen directed General Loison to assemble at Gallegos 3000 men of his division, the light cavalry under the orders of General Treilhard, and a few pieces of light artillery; and ordered him to march at two o'clock in the morning in the direction of Fort Conception by way of Villa del Puerto, Castillego, and the Casas. The general, at the latter point, fell in with the enemy, who fled at his approach. The English cavalry, however, seemed disposed to defend the high plain on which Fort Conception stands. General Treilhard charged and drove them before him in so spirited a manner that the enemy were compelled precipitately to abandon the fort, without having time to fire all the mines which they had formed in order to blow up the works. Three of the chambers remain entire, but those which were set fire to have destroyed the horn-work and several half-moons.

Master of the high plain of La Conception, General Loison had, in the next place, to ascertain the position of the enemy's army. He directed Gen. Treilhard to turn the village of Val de la Mula, at the same time that he made Gen. Simon attack it in front. Gen. Trielbard, by his movement, dislodged the enemy's infantry and cavalry posted on the left bank of the Turemez, and compelled 600 horse placed on the road to Almeida to retreat. The enemy, in his retreat, abandoned some sharpshooters to us, who were cut down with

our sabres, and he fell back upon the glacis of that fortress. He then returned with two battalions of infantry, three pieces of cannon, and about 1800 horse, and drew up on the left of the Ravine, which separates Val de la Mula from Almeida; but the three regiments of light cavalry, under the orders of General Trielhard, marched against him with an assurance which speedily decided his retreat. The left bank of the Ravine was immediately occupied, without pushing on too far, in order not unnecessarily to attract the fire of the place, within gun-shot of which we were and under which the enemy seemed desirous of drawing us. In consequence of this retrograde movement of the English, the right was at la Guarda, and their left extended towards Pinhel.

I caused Almeida to be invested. The greatest part of the troops of the 6th corps, were assembled with this view at Fort de la Conception, and debouched from Vel de la Mula on the 24th, at six in the morning. The brigade of light cavalry, composed of the 3d regiment of bussars, and the 15th chasseurs, under the orders of General Lamotte, and preceded by a battalion of besieging chasseurs, opened the march. It was followed by the 15th and 25th dragoons, commanded by Gen. Gardanne. Gen. Montbrun directed the movement of this body of cavalry.

The division of infantry, under Gen. Loison, formed in two columns. It was supported by the division of Mermet, at the head of which arched the 10th dragoons, and by three regiments infantry of Marchand's division. Marshal the Duke of Elchingen, in person, directed all the movements.

The advanced guard of the English army, commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Craufurd, consisted of 2000 cavalry and 8000 infantry, occupying the position to the right of Almeida. His light infantry and several squadrons of hussars, formed the posts in advance, and on the flanks of that fortress. The attack on the part of our troops was vigorous, and made in the best order. The enemy defended the ground, and kept up a brisk fire of musquetry and field pieces; but they were successively driven from their posts at the charge, and without the least hesitation. Gen. Craufurd, after placing all his divisions under the guns of the place, thought that we would take up a position without daring to at