THE NATIONAL REGISTER. TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS AND THE PUBLIC. The distribution of the remainder of the Portraits of THE ROYAL FAMILY, must be deferred until some mode.can be adopted to secure the punctual delivery of them to our Sub scribers. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. imam, SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 12. 1809. POLITICAL EVENTs OF THE WEEK• DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH FLEET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. A Rotterdam Courant Of 'the 9th inst. has just arrived. It contains an article which may be considered as a deci sive confirmative, of a report of the defeat of the French squadron in the Mediterranean, by Lord COLLINGWOOD. The article is dated Nismes, in the south of France,: the 28th ult. and states, " that between ten and eleven o'clock, on the night of the 28th, two loud explosions were heard, with the interval of half an hour between each, proceeding in a direction from the coast; that it was the next and folloving day ascertained, that a number of French and English vessels were seen during the 26th, between Cette and . Aiguesmortes on the coast, and that two large vessels )tad been driven ashore, and blown up. The article con- cludes with stating the alarm entertained by the people of Nisraes, of having their fears realized by further accounts.'? The explosion must , have been tremendous, and the French ships of the line must have been laden with great quantities of gnnpowder and military stores, as Nismes is ten leagues from the coast. A Spanish Paper from Seville, dated the 14th ult. states, that an obstinate action has taken place on the Marseilles coastr i •betweeu the British and French fleets, in which the latter were defeated with the loss of Six ships of war, and all be convoy ; the British, it is added, lost four ihips.— Another article from Seville, dated the 17th ult, states, that: a Captain, who had arrived from Majorca, brought an ac, count that the English 'fleet had arrived there with the • French convoy. it 11! : Ig* •I f 1 We feel the sincerest pleasure in communicating the in telligence of an important victory, obtained over the French, in the neighbourhood of Salamanca, by the Duke del PARQUE. The particulars of which will be found in the Gazette of yesterday. The defeated corps, is that which was lately commanded by Marshal Nay. It consisted of 10,000 infantry, and MOO cavalry, supported by fourteen pieces of artillery. The Spanish force, opposed to it amounted to about 18,000 men, and—was stationed on the heights near Tamames, between Salettnanca and cuidaJ *Rodrigo, with the intention of covering the latter fortress, which the enemy made some demonstrations of besieging. The , &web were the assailants, and principally directed their 'snacks against the right and left wings of the Spaniards. They were repulsed, though they renewed the attack three NOV. 1!. times successively, with the greatest impetuosity; when the Spaniards became, in their turn, the assailants, chart= ed the enemy with the bayonet, drove them from the field of battle, and made several prisoners. The loos of the French in killed and wounded, is stated at 2,000. After the engage— ment they fell back precipitately to Matilla, about 4 leagues from Tamames, and were extremely harrassed in their re treat by the Spanish cavalry. 'The Duke del PARQUE was pre paring to attack them in their new position, and waited only for a reinforcement of 9000 men, which were expected to join him the day after the engagement, under the orders of General BA LLASTEROS, who succeeded Ho MA NA in the command of the Gallician army. The most complete success was anticipated from this combined attack ; and, we hope, the next intelligence from the Peninsula will communicate the re-occupation of Salamanca by the Pa triots. The following is the Spanish official account of this interesting news DEFEAT OF GENERAL MARCHAND BY THE DUKE DEL PARQUE. COPY OF A LET4ER FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE DUKE DEL PARQUE TO HIS EXCELLENCY WM. COX, GOVERNOR OF ♦LMEIDA. tic MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND MOST EXCELLENT SENOR, " Though I have already received several letters from your Excellency, the important business with which I am occupied has hitherto prevented me from replying to their contents. Knowing, however, how muck your Excellency is interested in the good cause which we defend, and in the success of the army under my command, I hasten to inform you, that having being attacked yesterday morning in the heights above Tamames, by the army formerly under Marshal Ney, but now commanded by Gen. Marchand, consisting of 10,900 infantry, 1,200 caval. rv, and 14 pieces of artillery, that brilliant corps was thrice re pulsed. after obstinate attacks on the right and on the left of my position. The enemy has In consequence lost more than 1000 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners; one 12-pounder, with three caissons of ammunition ; one standard, a number of horses, a great number of muskets, and also a considerable part of the the military chests. The enemy were thus compelled to make a most precipitate and shameful retreat, the ground being co vered with the dead bodies, the carriages and arms which they left behind them. They passed part of the night at Muffle, four leagues henee, and during the remainder of the night con tinued their ',arch to Salamanca, order to recover from their confusion. 11,.believe they will not be eager to attack me again. I shall pow take such measures, that the division of General Pallasteros,lihich ought to join me today, may be relieved, and lam persuaded that' this operation will he successfully ac. complished. Our loss was remarkably small, as happens always to troops which rout their enemy; but small as it is, it touches my heart very sensibly. I make this communication to your Excellency, for your satisfaction, as well as for that of your Government, and all those who take an interest lu the good for tune of this army, and in the honourable cause which it defends. " I have the honour to be, &e. " THE DIMS DZL PAILQUE CASTRILLO." " Head quarters at Tamames, Oct. 19." This ♦ictory, if the numbers who fought on both sides, and the lon sustained by the enemy, be only considered, is of very trifling importance. But, irwe reflect on its moral consequence, upon the influence it must have in increasing the confulcuce an patriotism of the Spaniatds,