The National Register. — London, England, 1808-05-23 00:00:00

~ ~ ~,~~ r • 1.- E NATIONAL RESISTER. Lon Don, #10114440. •A .; MONDAY, MAY 30, 1808. POLITICAL EVENTS OF THE WREN. It will be remembered that when, in our Political Dis quisition on the affairs of Spain, we took a view of the causes of the Re%olutions that have occurred there,. we ♦entured to select, as the most probable of those causes, a prii.ciple of action which few of our cotemporaries were wtlhiig to consider. We conceived, that though it was by no improbable that BONAPARTE had by his intrigues set the first Revolution in motion, yet the most likely supposition was, that the people were themselves inclined to rek on, and did so, without foreign investigation. But we all know BONAPARTE so well, that it is no matter of.sur prise to us, to see him already writing a letter to the Fairies of Arroaiss in the style of a Master. We cannot wonder to see him taking instant advantage of commotion, though he may not have originally raised it. Some of the last measures we can scarcely doubt, have been effected by his immediate interposition : and we are amply inclined to believe, that he has intentionally sacrificed some of his troops, for the sake of gaining an excuse for the oppres sion of Spain, and the ultimate sequestration of all its au thority into his own hands. Dispatches have been received from Admiral PURVIS, which are thought to relate to a proposal from Cadiz, for surrendering the French and Spanish Fleets in that port, the former as prize, and the latter in trust or for allowing England to occupy Cadiz, Vale!) is considered by some to be a post defensible against the Continent. To these dis patches an answer was sent by Ministers on Friday. For the lake of the Spaniards themselves, we hope that no sur render of the ships is likely to be made. It will not enable us to assist them : and it will excite the most signal ven geance of BONAPARTE. As to the occupation of Cadiz, we consider that report as a little too romantic to be believed. The accounts from Gibraltar by the Townshend packet, just arrived, relate chiefly to the late events in Spain. It is stated, that BONAPARTE bad given directions to his troops to strip all the Spanish arsenals, disarm all the inhabitants, and send all the arms and stores to France, and it was in the execution of these orders that the French troops met with that formidable popular resistance, which has been already described ; the people, however, appeared to con tinue unanimous in their determination to resist their op pressors. In Cadiz, the French were compelled to take refuge on board the ships of war lying in the harbour.— The Duke DE MEDINA CIELI, with a number of the princi pal Nubility, and several Archbishops and Bishops, had gone to Bayonne, at the desire of BONAPARTE, and it was supposed they would he retained by him as hostages. The following letter, by the Townsliend packet, gives an account of the late Insurrection at Madrid, somewhat different from those already given : " On the 2d inst. General Murat (Grand Duke of Berg), en tered Madrid, tini intimated to the 1 nfant I)on Antonio, that his presence wasiequisite at the conferences about to be held at Bayonne, between Bonaparte and the King, and that it was ex pected he would issue a I'roclamatiou declaring him (Murat) Regent during his absence. To this the Infant answered, " That he had received tile Regency from the King his Nephew, into whose hands only he would resign it ; und, that as the duties of the Regent of Spain were ineontpatable with a journey to Bay onne, he should remain at Madrid." Murat finding the Infant immoveable in his determination, ordereda large body of troops, which he had a few days before withdrawn from Madrid, to re enter that city, intending, as is supposed, to seize the person of Don Antonio, and to declare himself Regent. However, the Inhabitants got intimation of it, and being alarmed at the return MAY 30. of the French, they collected in the streets, attacked the French army with vigour and resolution, took their cannon, which they turned against them, and drove them out of the town with gre.tt slaughter. It is supposed that at least 10,000 persons lost their lives in the conflict. The French force was originally 80.000, and rivulets of blood were running through the streets. A h e , ' this account came away, the greatest confusion prevailed, but nothing farther had transpired." The Swedes appear to have been much discouraged by the surrender of Sweabourg, and have amused themselves with many false hopes concerning its safety. However, there appear to be no good grounds for supposing that any accident has prevented it from passing over to the enemy, according to the terms of Admiral CRONSTEDT'S capitula tion. The KING of SWEDEN has issued a Proclamation to console the people. The intelligence that we collect from the Swedish papers is of a nature generally favourable. An advantage has been gained by the Swedes, near Revolaz, in Finland, on the '27th of April, when the Russian General Rout.t.rorr, seven officers, and four hundred men were made prisoners, and a considerable quantity of artillery and arms captured. From another place, however, called Bjorneby, news wp.; brought, that on the 24th of April. Colonel GASH had compelled to surrender, with the remains that were left out of a corps of two hundred men, after a gallant coal; ivt against a superior force. General KLI.*GBPOR, on the 25th of April, drove the enemy from Revolaz with considerable loss. General ARMFELDT had met with some trifling suc. cesses : and a slight victory had been gained at Polkita, by Colonel SANDELS. The KING of SWEDEN has advanced General KLINGRPOR to the dignity of a Field Marshal, and published a Proclamation, exulting in the successes of the Swedish arms. All this, however, establishes but little. We must wait to hear something concerning the operations of our Vxpe dition, which has safely arrived in the North, before Me can form any rational conjecture as to.the probable result of the hostilities between Russia and Sweden. As has long been expected, a rupture has broken out between Russia and the Porte. The arrangements for the partition of that Empire will soon begin to be developed. We have no doubt that the force Which France reques'ed to have permission to march through Turkey, for the in vasion of India, whatever its ultimate object might he. 1. :is destined, in the first instance, for the overthrow of th - ,! Divan. We understand, from authority, that the owner of a transport has received intelligence from the master, dated from the Straits of Gibraltar, stating, that be had ar rived at Gibraltar, with the Transit, empty, and Has im mediately directed to take on board troops, which he did, and joined a fleet of 21 sail of transports bound for Cadiz.. The King and Queen of Spain, the Queen of Etruria, the Infanta, I)on Francisco, and the Prince of Peace, are expected at the Palace of Fontainbleau by the 20th of .May. The Prince of Asturias will, in a short time, arrive at thc estate of Valancy, in the department of Judze, which be longs to his Highness the Grand Elector. Admiral Gantheaume has succeeded in victualling Corfu with provisions for two years. The magazines have also been stocked with a large quantity of powder, ball, and ammunition of all kinds, and the garrisons of the Seven Is lands have been reinforced with several thousand troops. The Swedish Commander at Sweaborg gave lip to the enemy a spirited and numerous garrison, and a flottilla of 180 sail ! Among these were many for carrying be tween 24 and 30 guns, and fitt e d u p for the navigation of the shallow parts of the Baltic. These vessels, when well manned, are extremely formidable ; in calm weather they are dangerous even to ships of the line, laying compara tively low in the water, almost every shot from them tells on their lofty oponeiit, while the fire of the larger ship flies, as it were, over their heads. It is in this way that the !!,ha- ,RIF , • N -