powers.  My author, I will dare to assert, shows the most universal knowledge of any writer who has appeared this century.  He is a poet, and merchant, which is seen in two master-words, Credit Blossoms.  He is a grammarian, and a politician; for he says, the uniting the two kingdoms is the emphasis of the security to the Protestant Succession.  Some would be apt to say he is a conjurer; for he has found that a republic is not made up of every body of animals, but is composed of men only, and not of horses.  Liberty and property have chosen their retreat within the emulating circle of a human commonwealth.  He is a physician; for he says, “I observe a constant equality in its pulse, and a just quickness of its vigorous circulation.”  And again:  “I view the strength of our Constitution plainly appear in the sanguine and ruddy complexion of a well-contented city.”  He is a divine; for he says, “I cannot but bless myself.”  And indeed, this excellent treatise has had that good effect upon me, who am far from being superstitious, that I, also, can’t but bless myself.

St. James’s Coffee-house, May 18.

This day arrived a mail from Lisbon, with letters of the 13th instant, N.S., containing a particular account of the late action in Portugal.  On the 7th instant, the army of Portugal, under the command of the Marquis de Frontera, lay on the side of the Caya, and the army of the Duke of Anjou, commanded by the Marquis de Bay, on the other.  The latter commander having an ambition to ravage the country, in a manner in sight of the Portuguese, made a motion with the whole body of his horse toward Fort St. Christopher, near the town of Badajos.  The generals of the Portuguese, disdaining that such an insult should be offered to their arms, took a resolution to pass the river, and oppose the designs of the enemy.  The Earl of Galway represented to them, that the present posture of affairs was such on the side of the Allies, that there needed no more to be done at present in that country, but to carry on a defensive part.  But his arguments could not avail in the council of war.  Upon which, a great detachment of foot, and the whole of the horse of the King of Portugal’s army, passed the river, and with some pieces of cannon did good execution on the enemy.  Upon observing this, the Marquis de Bay advanced with his horse, and attacked the right wing of the Portuguese cavalry, who faced about, and fled, without standing the first encounter.  But their foot repulsed the same body of horse in three successive charges, with great order and resolution.  While this was transacting, the British general commanded the brigade of Pearce to keep the enemy in diversion by a new attack.  This was so well executed, that the Portuguese infantry had time to retire in good order, and repass the river.  But that brigade, which rescued them, was itself surrounded by the enemy, and Major-General Sarkey, Brigadier Pearce, together with both their regiments, and that of the Lord Galway, lately raised, were taken prisoners.