Virginia Argus

BY THE LAST MAILS.

Yesterday arrived here the brig Charity, captain Samuel, in 40 days from Lisbon, with accounts to the 4th, and newspapers to the 2nd July. Capt. S. makes it certain, that the account in the N. York Public Advertiser, of a tremendous battle, which closed on the 19th of June, leaving 12,000 French and 9,000 British on the field, is a total fabrication, with all the circumstances attending it. There had been no fighting of any consequence, after the attacks made on Badajoz, mentioned in Lord Wellington's letter, published some days since. His Lordship's head-quarters were at Elvas, but a small distance within the limits of Portugal. The British reinforcements which had recently arrived were gone on to join the army, and his Lordship had demanded of the regency further levies of Portuguese troops expecting, as it was supposed, that he might find it necessary to hazard a serious battle. Provisions were plenty at Lisbon—and remained low, but it was expected they would advance, in case the army should come again within the vicinity of that city.

The papers contain no important news of any kind. The following letter from Lord Wellington to Don Miguel Pereira Forjaz, shews that nothing had transpired. It is dated, June 22d.

"The enemy have made an extensive reconnoitre with a large body of cavalry near the forts of Elvas and Campo-Mayor, on the morning of 22d. The cavalry of the army of the South pretended to direct their course against Elvas, passing for this purpose the neighbourhood of Olivenza and the woods situated between that and Badajoz, at the same time that the cavalry of the army of Portugal made a circuit near Campo-Mayor, defiling from that into the vicinity of Badajoz. The cavalry of the army of the South managed to cut off one of our piquets, of the 11th Reg't. of Light Dragoons, which occupied a post at Caia in front of Elvas.—I presume this was owing to a mistake on the part of the capt. supposing the Regiment of French Hussars to be a body of our cavalry sent to relieve him."

He then observes that excepting one or two trifling affairs such as the above, every thing was quiet. The enemy had extended along the Guadiana between Badajoz and Merida, with a view to obtain subsistence. He concludes by observing that the recent movements of the French armies, concentrating themselves in the South, must give great relief to the Spaniards, as they might destroy the convoys of the enemy, and strengthen their principal cities, and adds he, they will be exposed to our operations.