The National Register. — London, England, 1820-04-10 00:00:00

i..,A).)._. .40..., e c1, / tir 4ri , , .r.w•••• iltiOnat itittr+ Our sing, eousititution aub atio6. No. 1,233.—V0L. XIII.] HORRIBLE MASSACRE AT CADIZ. The following extracts of letterb furnish the details of this melancholy event : " CADIZ, NIARCII 14. "On Friday last I was witness to a scene that far surpasses my power of description, and one scarcely to be paralleled for horror, treachery, and atrocity, in the annals of the French revolution. On the 9th inst. the CaptabaGeneral of Andalusia, who, I believe, is also Governor of Cadiz, arrived here from Port St. Mary's, and soon afiii:S tweeting of ail the naval, military, and civic authorities of the place was enlivened, at which it was agreed to proceed the same evenitia to the establish ment Of the constitution of 18151. It was Men perfectly understood that the Captain-General, in the course he was pursuing, acted on the King's authority ; and it has been since proved that the King's signature to the con stitution was actually in his possession. On Thursday night the whole city was illuminated by order of the civil authorities; and on Friday, at twelve o'clock, the people were likened to meet in the square of St. Antonio, to witness the ceremony of laying down the slime of the constitution, at which time not less than 60,000 persons of all milks were collected in the streets. To the horror of all, without the least notice or provocation, between two and three thousand intoxicated soldiers were let loose upon them, who began indiscriminately to murder men, women, and children. To murder, succeeded pillage, with every species of excess, and the scene of horror continued, almost without intermission, to a late hour at night. It will be some time, without doubt, before all the consequences can be known, but we have already obtained returns of 419 persons killed, and up wards of 1000 wounded. Just before the commencement of this tragical proceeding, the American Consul was taking his morning walk no the same place as myself, but he quoted at elevett o'clock to go home and dress, all the foreign consuls having received a special invita tion to attend the celebration in the square of St. An tonio. Soon afterwards 1 heard a number of shots fired, which I disregarded at first, taking them for the usual signs of rejoicing, until a ball passed within a few feet of the spot where I stood, and I perceived a poor fellow full, wounded, to the ground. In nay alarm at this 1 took to my heels, with the intention of gaining my own house as last as possible, and many others ffilletwed my example; but we suddenly encountered a small party of 'Jo soldiers, or thereabouts. They fired upon us, when all our party, except myself and two others, took flight in a contrary direction. For my OWir part I stood still, and taking oil my hat, called aloud in Spanish, May the King live for ever, and down with the constitution l' Even this did not prevent a cowardly fellow from run . wing at toe with his bayonet, which, however, I fortu nately warded off with my left arm. From that moment till 1 got home I continued singing out as above, and appealing to every soldier I met. One of the Iwo per sons who followed my example, in going up to the troops instead of running away, was stabbed through the thigh, and his coat and money taken from hint. This infamous busuters eau only be au ributed to Valdes and Gen. Campana, the former Governor of Cadiz, ad inlefine, the latter commander of the troops at Cadiz. During the whole struggle they leive been abusing their power without reason, having at different times, :old on mere suspicion, arrested upwards of 40 of the principal merchants. It is generally believed that, finding their power gone, and their lives at stake, they urged on the troops, by bribery and liquor, to ettintilit tile excesses of which I have giveu but a laiat dc.enpmun. Tac Kiates signature to the constitution has been iitade public this morn lig in an official IllAllotr, hut the civil authorities refuse to attend any meeting till the troops are removed front Cadiz. The public nand is hecoinitig more tran quil than lor several days past, but stul Hie troops lutist lit removed from the coy before ally titan can consider his tie as see,,N. 'lnc fatal consequences oh' the to h have not l ft n confined to the natives oh Cadiz, but I ant told that several foreign Cliptiotis lost their lives in the co:lit:sum. The Captain of the Navageres received a waved iu me Si, le, and was robbed Of every thiug. It is to be hoped the different Coositis o ill seta satisfietino fur tiie IMMIX:re of their cotton:Olen killed ;mil woinaled, and for the risks to trhiell they base been i cn isitiaPy exposer:. Poor John 801 l is trove; prone:ly represented. Our Consul, vv ho is bound to tic iu Caiiiz, it-ides it: the couatrv,an,l colosequently nr have tin our to stud by air our rights. A piuclaniation was ittlb.l , ileA by the Ca a iain-(;eneral Oil the morning of the day %ellen the work of butchery took place; in fact, malty were read= it at the time they received their deaths. — It concluded as fniioses:— " inhabitants ul Ca,oz! From this inont:in you enjoy a (OlistOlitional represctilditmt. Fto.it tit, ouhueitt let all arts cease Which are d:satTros ea of by itic code which on have proclaimed. Rental,' peat:. able I Lay aside every recollection of past naireoe, let ti. tither cry he heard among you but that " Lena lit e the Nation I" (Signed) " N UEL FIUARF.." " Cadiz, Nlaren " CADIZ, MAkCII 14, " I commenced this letter to ,oit on toe Witt—a (141 which will lona • blot in the antials4 Europe-4 MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1820 day which will never he forgotten—a (lay horrible and cruel. On the 9th Cadiz was quiet and tranquil. At twelve o'clock at noun on that day Gen. Freyre arrived lions Port St. Mary's, and entered Cadiz by the sea-gate. A crowd of people were collected to witness his entry. On his ste.ipiog on shore, he called out in a loud voice, which was distinctly heard by numbers " City of Cadiz, I ant come to establish your constitution." A great en thusiasm was manifested a maim the 111a4S of the People ; but the step appeared so extraordinary to many, that dis trust could not he wholly banished. 'rite General, how. ever, at four o'clock, again made his appearance in the square of St. Antonio, and in person gave notice to the public, that on the followin4 morning, at 10 o'clock, lie would install the stone of the constitution, and that it should he sworn to immediately afterwards. 'file people, not satisfit d at this, eagerly called aloud, " Now ! now !" General Freyre, apparently acted on by this de claration of the public will, drew from his pocket the hook of the constitution, and kissed it, exclaiming, • " Now, then, the oath is taken ;" to-morrow the re. maining requisite solemnities shall be performed lonnediately after a flag was displayed. with the em blem, " Live the Constitution, and live Freyre our rege nerator. The Guieral then required from the people an assurance that tin animosity or vengeance should be shown against any body ; upon which the people called out, that " its free hearts no malice existed, and that all would be forgiven." At this time I was in a house that coininanded the whole scene. Immediately after the gaol and the castle were opened, and all the persons who had been arrested were brought forth. This bustle con tinued the whole night, during which the city was * IL himinated, hut no disorder of any kind took place. The following morning, in die thaw, an order signed by the General was issued, teat all the houses should be deco rated ; and that the municipal authorities should berm themselves into a procession, in order to assist at the re gular proclamation of the constitution, and that the city should be illuminated for three nights to succession.— The stone of the constitution was carried into the middle of the square of St. Antonio, in preparation for the ceremony. A message was sent to the Isle of Lew), to invite General Qistroga and his staff to be present on the occasion, The whole city, on the morning of the 10th exhibited a scene of pleasure and hilarity which nothing could equal. A lerge party proceeded towards the laud gate, equipped with cockades of green and red, to welcome the troops from tic Isle of Lyon. The hour of ten approached ; but—my God ! how can I ex press it ?—as the clock struck, the troops began firing upon the unhappy people, crying aloud, " Live Ferdi nand, and down with the Constitution!" The greatest terror and consternation ensued among the poor sufkrers, who, in their confusion, ran anti fell over each oilier, not knowing in what way escape could with safely be effected. 1 31T1 credibly informed that brandy had been previously administered . to the soldiers in large quanti• ties, in order to stimulate them to this deed of blood, and in order to increase their ferocity and brutality. Geis Freyre himself, I am also assured, was seen at the head of the troops, giving orders, and orgiog them on. As soon as the assembled people had nearly all dispersed, the officers disappeared from among the soldiery, who, deprived of all control exercised over them, soon lost all subordination, and the whole city resembled a One eiven over to the horrors of a military as , aolt. Fhis scene of drunken violence and savage intnaley lasted from ten in the morning till eight in toe evening, when the officers again interfered, and by degrces succeeded its conveying the intoxicated troops to their (purism The dead bodies in the streets exceeded 400, and the svoun (led are without number. At the scallid;ling which was erecting lor the ceremony of proclaiming the Cons; i tion cicht carpenters were at work, of is limn five were Fdr maths :I'ter the termination of this horrid bieiiness we were looking at each other, none of tic :able lit coojecillre the causes which produred tt, O Flo Maul venturity, to question his beighbottrs. 'foe %slink bitsiness, it is bow believed, was a stratagem, for the purpose of tit:eels - itii . ! . the troops in Ode 1•: t, :cod of decoy og them to their destruction. Quiro,;a, it appears, was i'eeewed by the proceedings ping o - 1 within the city, Inv, by some accident, was compelled to defer his entry t ill 12 o'clock, by winch means he had time to bear of the commencemcnt of this horrible maisacre, and guard abiinst toe consciownets to hinvelf and his troops." " SEVILLE, AKCII 15. " Cadiz is in a dreadful state, and we are not wit Maud aoprenensious that scenes ss I be rile hided Fre) ere moclaimod the Cons; it lit ion at Cadiz on the 9:h, and on the following day coikued nearly oil the I ettp;e .0 witness the conclusion of the ceremony, to which all the foreign Consuls were invited. lei the midst or it, offl w oion, p eo pl e were firlq; upon, au4 Charged with the to suet, toe sol thery not even sparitte the women and eltildrun killed ha. i , t the streets, and !)00 trete ;alien to the hos. Veyere, the 'ait nay, fled io Port St. Marv's, issued ()raid to the GO% Cr• lIM'S of ali rite nova, its Andalusia, cations ou tio in to ,iltitire the coosimilion. although t i le idol', by Its own tuner. had been tal(en MI the 9111. ti,neral (Ep0 0 .6,,, our Govettior, recessed the urtkr of aljoratam ou we [PRISE Sid. 11111; but instead of communicating it to any one, sent back for answer, that " an oath once taken must be adhered to, and that it was nut to be assumed or last ott like a part of dress." I think, therefore, that Seville will remain true to the Constitution. V aldes,Campana. and Col. liarrotelo, are said to be instigators of the affair at Cad ii. " I'. S. \Ve just hear that tranquillity is restored at Cadiz, and that the Cotistitatioit is to be sworn to this day." " CADIZ, March 14, twelve o'clock at night. " just learn that the troops engaged in the late massacre are at this moment hard pressed m tboir bar racks, (where they had barricaded themselves,) by the people and the other troops on their side It is possible that they may remain a long while in this situation, as they are by no means want of provisions. We have reason to believe that the barracks in possession of the besieged troops are those of Santa licicua and Stn Ro gues, which are situated within the two bulwarks so named in front of the fortification of La Puerta de 14 Tieare." MADRID, MARCH 20. "I have related to you the scene which occurred at Cadiz on the Itkh. At the conclusion of that dreadful affair, me troops repaired to the barracks called La Boutha, and front that time till the 14th the inhabitants remained closely confined to their houses. Meantime, notwithstanding this want of communication with each other, the opinion was current throughout Cadiz that some dreadful retaliation was meditated on their part. A despatch from General Freyre to General O'Donnell has been received, dated on the 111th, from Cadiz, con cludinr, with these words :---• The inhabitants of this town crunpelled me yesterday to promise them the con stitution on this day, but I ant happy to inform you that I have g htromaly disappointed their wishes, with the assistance of my brave troops, who continue faithful to the august person of the King.'" " CaDti, MARCH 14. " The carnage and plunder on the 10th ennuis( need in the morning, to the cry of • Live tit.) King!' and con tined till I 1 o'Clock on the following day. History fur nishes no instance of an outrage of so violent a nature, as the people certainly had not ventured to manifest any external symptoms of joy until they were authorized to do so by their governors. Brlnre to-day none of the doors of the houses have been opened, and scarcely a person has been seen in the streeta. All are claumuroits for vengeance. Such is the hatred to the soldiery. that every one te ho ventures out alone dies, and more than 30 hate already shared that fate. The Sandwich Bay has arrived at Bristol, bearing despatches, which were instantly forwarded to London. The Captain reports that he was in Cadiz on the Uth ult. when the Spanish General and Admiral proclaimed the constitution, amid the most enthusiastic applause of the inhabitants, the people exclaiming, " Vice la Consfilm. lion:" The garrison and the fleet the same evening fired a feri-dejnic. On the ensuing day, the Constituted An thorities, and the British and other Consuls, were invited by the General to hear the proclamation of the consti tution read, at t, o'clock, oil a platform erected for the purpose in the centre of the Grand Sip are, and an im mense mass of people congtegattal, in Joyful expectation of this consumicatton of their I:betties. About an hour beuore the time arrived, a large patty alloy:111st tr..nps without any possible assiemade cause except that of plunder, marched down., ; mud instantly commemlCial a most derirttetise fire on the unarmed multitothr, billing nerirle 500 nice and women. Front this period it was instant death to smear in the streets. Soerdi instances of robbery of firsts>it inttn d mils by the softlii.ra occiirred. One Captain of a ship was demised of a valuable watch and chain, besides a considerable stun of money; and another was glad to escape with his lite by time instant SIIIV"Ilt:er of his property. "I'Ae otilh.iry seemed to have determine.' on an indis criminate slaughter, for no sooner did an ihdividual near in the streets, however respectable, than he was in4tamly stint. The inhabitants were fired at in the balconies of iii it wittdots s ; and on the 11th. upwah.s of ‘250 more fell %khan to the ferticity of the s&diers. The Coma' had retired with his family to Saha ' Mary's, on the other side of the Bay. The were in poss.)ssion of the town When Captain Squire salted on the lath; but the gun boats were prepario.; to attack tile city gates; and on the ibth lie heard a C0:111. nued firing for five hours in that Timmer. By advices from Mogadore of the Bth of March, it appears that the plague was still raging in ti.e kingdom of Morocco. In the capital, which ;co.l. tains a population of 100,000 perens, the dai!y number of deaths had recently been 800 ; but C.v. mortality had so ttr subsided, that they In,d been reduced to little more than '2OO '134. No reliance, however, could be placed on this circto. stance us an indication of the approaching tern . . nation of the disorder, as it had more than di minished in malignity, and again risen to the same fatal height. In Mogailore t deaths were sixzetu or eighteen daily, in a population of 1::,000. s '.io ' • 11 J, • ti v rpjo ,1,1 1 " 1. . /Y%,•, , P r