The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

Philadelphia, May 22

By the brig Cerberus, from Cadiz, we learn the following American vessels were seized at Cadiz, by Mr. R. S. Hackley, acting Consul, and to be sent home for trial, on supposition of having evaded the Embargo.

Accushant of New Bedford, Vigilant of New York, Franklin of New York.

Very little information that could be relied on, was received from the army; the government taking the greatest care to prevent the circulation of intelligence unfavorable to the cause of Spain. Sufficient, however, transpired from time to time, to cause a general belief that their affairs were in the most desperate situation. It was certain that the army of La Mancha had been defeated and completely ruined, in a series of engagements near Val de Penas, about the end of March. It was also certain, about the same time, that of Estremadura, under Cuesta, had had some very severe encounters, in one of which it suffered greatly, and was understood to have behaved gallantly. The result was not precisely known; some accounts saying it was completely defeated and dispersed, while others asserted it to have suffered so little that the general intended giving another battle in the hope of saving Seville It could not however be doubted that the victors had entered the province of Andalusia after the battle, and it seemed certain that they had arrived within from 18 to 20 leagues of Seville. No apprehensions were entertained for Cadiz that place being remarkably strong; but it was the almost universal opinion no other place in the kingdom, or in Portugal, could long resist. From the latter the last accounts left a French army of 16,000 at Bruga—and the Portuguese on the banks of the Tagus. A conspiracy was said to have been discovered, in which many of the Portuguese nobility were concerned, to deliver the country to the French: in consequence of which Gen. Friere and two of his aids had been murdered by the soldiers.
The Marquis de Yrusso had been appointed by the Junta Minister to Brazil, and was to sail for that country in a few weeks.

In addition to the above we are informed, that many of the French confined in Cadiz, had died by the rigor of their imprisonment; those alive, including the soldiers taken in the field. the French merchants, and French inhabitants of the town of Cadiz and others who had been taken up on suspicion, of being inimical to the Spanish cause, were shipped off for Minorca.

There was little or nothing said. as our informants could learn, of any movements of the French army along the Spanish coast of the Mediterranean. It was said at Cadiz, that the whole French army in Spain, did not consist of more than one hundred and twenty or thirty thousand men, for their whole operation in Spain. Romana, it was understood, was in the mountains between Leon and Gallicia, but had done nothing of any great note, not being in so great force as could be wished. In confirmation of the reports that England and Russia had adjusted their differences, it was said at Cadiz, that orders were received by the fleet at Lisbon, to treat the Russian flag with all the respect due to a friendly power.