The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1822-12-16 00:00:00

ny'r ■ Ii M~~ '1 e t .:.• I L FRENCH PA prns. BAYONNE PAPERS. PARIS, DEC. i 2. Yesterday the Xing transacted businevs with the Ibuke of Dondeauville. The Duke of Wellington will dine to-morrow with `. l aron Rothschild ; his Grace will set out the follow '' g day for London. A letter from Toulouse of December 6, says— General Laguna, whose arrival in this city we have already announced, departs this day to assume a com -land in Navarre." The report of a treaty having been entered into by *;_zpain and Portugal is again in circulation. The ef i?etive strength of the Portuguese army is 11,000 men. In case of necessity, it appears, Portugal would send 4,000 men into Spain. We have received from Por ..gal some intelligence which may well cause a `,ange in those dispositions, ii they have been made ; is, that the province of Braga has just revolted - Ig,tinst the constitutional system, and that a great umber of persons have raised the standard of insur i-ection.—Gazerre sie France. For three days past the arrival and departure of couriers from and to Verona, London, and Madrid, have been very frequent. Doubtless communications are taking place between the several Cabinets, relative to some important resolutions.--/bid. The Eloile contains the following remarkable ar ticle : " It is surprising that the English Courier should be so positive in regarding a war between France and Spain as an inevitable event ; that it holds it out ac resolved upon, and seems to expect, nay to call for hostilities. We have been frequently given to under stand that the Courier drew its information from high sources; but, in ibis instance, we must b• allowed to think it not so fortunate. Indeed, those men, who take part in great affairs in England, twist know that 7:othing is less decided than the question of peace or war with Spain ; and that, without compromising the honour and dignity of the country, the friends of mo narchy in France have reason to hope that peace will r t be disturbed." The Bishop of Orlessedied in that city on the 9th ir.stant. FRINCII FUNDS.--Five per Cents. 88 f. 75c.; Bank Stack, 1,627 f. 50 c. • PERPIGNAN, nec. 4. (lICTAACT OF ♦ PIIFIATII LIZTFAIL) Lieutenant-General Curial arrived last evening; general Vasserot remained in Cerdagne, with his bri rade. The Marquis of hlataflorithr, Don Joseph Mora Rosana, his son M. de Gispert, the Baron d'Ortaffa, Don Juan de Barriro, and Don Juan Barsia, t! le wreck of the Government and Regency of Seo DlJrgel, arrived at two o'clock this afternoon in the mail, from Prades. They alighted at the hotel Lion d'Or. The Marquis of Mataflorida and M. d'Ortaffa immediately after visited the Prefect. Intelligence from the southern frontier of the de partment stater, that the troops of Midas, Mosen-An ion, Ballester, and Cairal, occupy Olot and Csmpre don, and that they have a detachmlpt of 700 men at St. Laurent de la Monga. NUREMBERG, DECEMBER 5. Letters from the frontiem of Italy, of November 28, state what follows : " It is said that the Soiereigns have definitively ndopted certain articles with respect to the differences between Russia and the Court of Constantinople, the unqualified acceptance of which they require from the Turkish Government. It is added, that Lord Strang ford has returned to his post. charged with this express mission. The Austrian lnternuncio, the French Am . bassador, and the Prussian Charge d'Affaires, are to act in concert with Lord STRA NG ?ORD, and to sup port his application to the Divan with al! their influ ence. It is not said what resolution the Sovereigns have taken, in case the Porte should refuse to adhere to the articles proposed." A UGSBURG, DECEMBER 6. A letter from the Tyrol announces that his Excel lency Count Pozzo di Borgo, who has set out for Paris, has been charged by his Sovereign with a mis sion relative to Spain. BAYONNE, DECEMEER 8. The reports of war have, for this week past, as sumed such a degree of consistence, that the French vessels lading for Spanish ports have suspended their preparations, while the Spanish vessels hasten to complete their cargoes, in order to return home. The greatest activity still prevails in all the arsenals in this place, and the Officers of the Army of Observa tion speak of nothing but their approaching en trance into the Peninsula, which is already consi dered to be certain. However, we do not see the di vision of Count d'Autichamp reinforced, and we re mark only several regulations of the administration •ot the military bureaux, which seem to give more weight to the preparations for war. Notwithstand ing, there is a report of the discharge of 1,800 sol• •diers of the division, whose time of service expires on the Ist of January, who are to be replaced by 3,000 •conscripts, who are expected from the interior. If these men should be really discharged, it does not seem likely that Spain will be invaded so soon as is believed, unless fresh troops should arrive from the interior, for it is known that those we have in the Lower Pyrenees do not amount to 15,000, a force -quite inadequate to occapy the three Biscayan Pro vinces, as is said to be intended. What is true, if we may depend on the account of the travellers who arrive from Spain is, that the reports of war have ex- 1 c►ted such alarm there, that in case of an invasion a dreadful crisis may be expected with certainty ; that all those who are implicated directly or indirectly in the cause of the conspiracy, or known as enemies to the system, will inevitably be sacrificed ; and that all LON DON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1822. The French Papers continue to express surprise at the war-delusion which they 14tely propagated with so much zeal. The Duke of WEzzisorost seems to have terminated his high labours. We have seen some absurd speculations about his further services in Paris as assistant to Sir Cu RLES STUART. This is upon the old idea, that the French Government is valorously determined to put an end to the Spanish Revolution, and that it is only the parental influence of his Grace which can temper the courage of the BOURBONS with discretion. Eut instead of offering remarks of our own, we lay M. VI LLELE'S sentiments before our readers for their amusement. France now stipulates only for the reputation of every thing valiant and magnificent. _ _ PARIS, DECEMBER 13. [Frees the Journal des Debats.) The preservation of peace between France and Spain now appears certain. We congratulate our selves on having no longer to examine either the right of interference, or the chances which would have accompanied its exercise. The strict truth, which we have stated relative to these que need not be re peated, for all enlightened Royalists have adopted them, and the insignificant fractions of opinions which reject them, will doubtless think proper to de sist front their idle clamours. We have a different duty now to fulfil ; we have to make the Spaniards comprehend their position with respect to France pacific, but not unarmed, and with regard to Europe, which is no longer immediately alarmed by the Spanish Revolution, but which is still afflicted at it, and which, though it renounce the un certain means of armed interference, will, neverthe less, make an unanimous effort to put an end to a state of things so contrary to the principles of order, of peace, and of civilization—the constant aim of the pre sent policy, and the truly sacred object of the grand alliance of Christian Powers. Let Spain, in the first place, be convinced that it is not the feebleness of the military resources at the disposition of her revolutionists which caused the idea of armed interference to be rejected. This resolution on the part of Powers incomparably su perior to Spain, could not have originated in any other motive than a conscientious conviction that, by such a measure, the good of Europe in general, and of Spain in particular, could not have been se• cured. The loyal and firm policy of the arbiters of peace and war, does not recoil from bucb obstacles,. but from the fear of causing evils 3$ great as these to which it n•ould willingly put a stop. It is not weakness which gives way, but wisdom and strength which stand still. But after this motive for militaty inaction, what can be the ulterior views of the Powers with re , zard to the future state of Spain We are not aware there can possibly be more than two. The one would be a cruel indifference, which would think it useful for the repression of the exalted ideas of the democrats of Europe, to leave the Spanish Re volution to devour itself and perish by its own ex cesses, amidst the ruins of an overturned monarchy and a desolated country. The other would be a magnanimous hope to make Spain hearken to the counsels of friendship and the advice of experience ; to save, by a pacific interces sion, those numerous proscribed and incarcerated classes of victims, whose only crime is the not parti cipating in an opinion which is triumphant for a mo ment ; finally, to restore to the rank of a civilized and flourishing state, this generous nation, which, within the walls of Cadiz, resisted with so much glory the Usurper of the throne of the Bourbons, and was the first to hurl a mortal dart into the sides of the colossus which was overwhelming Europe. The views of France could not be doubtful : the hereditary magnanimity of our Kings, the national generosity, all our feelings are in union with our in terests, in making us wish that Spain should again be come a powerful and rich monarchy, mistress of a respectable navy, flourishing and tranquil. We also know equally well with the Spaniards, that, in order to insure those advantages to their country, it should henceforward have a settled and moderate liberty, and a constitution by which the rights of every individual way be guaranteed, and the superintendence of public affairs secured to the enlightened part of the nation. We are far from advising Spain to purchase tranquil lity by the sacrifice of its liberties, and we fear not even to say that the restoration of an absolute mo narchy at Madrid would only prove a fresh source of alarm to Europe and of misfortune to Spain. But can the Spaniards deny that anarchy is now exercising more dreadful ravages in their country than ever Peter the Cruel, or the Torquenada, could have committed ? Can they deny that absolute power, now legally attributed to the authorities, is annihilated even to the shadow of liberty, of security, and of tran quillity ? What individual is secure from imprison ment, and what prisoner is beyond the reach of the fatal hammer? Do not the tribunals resound with the tumultuous cries of a furious multitude, who presume to dictate to the Magistrate sentences of death? Are not the clubs the daily theatres of those shameless de- I claimers who make a jest of exciting the reckless passions of a blind and ignorant populace? Do not the soldiery every day revolt against leaders who, themselves having but lately led the way to insurrec tion, can no longer invoke the principles of obedience? Do not towns, nay whole districts, refuse to pay their contributions? Such is the disorganization, I will not say of the Government, but of all society. ' Will it be said that it is a Foreign Power, which, by giving support to insurgent forces, causes this state of dissolution? But insurrections exist throughout the interior of the monarchy, in provinces least acces sible to foreign influence; Merino, in Old Castile; Joannis, in Gallicia ; two or three Chiefs in the moun tains of St. Andero ; Jaimer, near Murcia; a whole corps of insurgents in the mountains of Ternel. Do all these come from abroad ? No, it is the spirit of persecution and political ink,- lerance which multiplies in all quarters and classes this resistance, those revolts and conspiracies, one of which does not resemble another, either in its object or opi nions. A downright rage for inquisition, condemna tion, and proscription, seems to have taken possession of the Cortes, since their re-establishment in 1820. Whoever does not agree in opinion with them upon every subject, is an enemy, a traitor. They scrutinize the past, and to every quarter they see only guilty persons to be brought to light and be punished. Out of ten or twelve little ministerial coteries who attempted to obtain power, in the course of the six years from 1814 to 1820, none appears in their eyes less culpable than another. They proscribe those who had sent them to the galleys, and those who have enabled them to come out. The most wise, nay, even the most liberal opnions, if they diverge ever so little from the infallible system, immediately became poli tioal offences. The positions dictated by necessity are imputed as crimes. The Josephinos are condemned, although friends to constitutional monarchy. The Perses are condemned as the partisans of despotism although they only call for the old Cortes. No pub lic man can maintain a reputation for patriotism; the Jovellanos, the Torrenos, the Martinez de la Rosa, are decried in succession, and their prudent advice' rejected with horror; the heroic Quiroga, and the ' I divine Arguelles fall into disgrace. What do I say ? the very Ministers of the 7th of Jnne, those pure Descamisadoes are now attacked by the party of the Fond (the Zurriago) in the famous journal which bears that name. This eternal war of parties, and even of fractions of parties, would in itself explain the agitations to which Spain is a prey. But causes of even a more serious nature have raised civil discord to an extreme height. An imprudent law, whilst it respected the dogmas of religion, despoiled tie church of a part of her property; the Monks, who had so bravely assisted in defending the national independence, saw them selves driven with ignominy from their modest asy lums. Thus was a numerous class injured both in its interest and its honour. soon after the decree rela tive to seignorial rights, twice rejected by the King, and which it was apprehended might be brought for ward in a third Session, which would give it the force of law, spread an alarm not only amongst the No hint y, tout all the owners of funded pro:-.erty, menaced with a diminution of their revenues, and moreover with a fiscal inquisition of an extremely vexatious descrip tion. This decree made a number of men of all classes, corporations, and whole cities feel that in every well-organised society there ought to be a pro tecting power—a power to maintain acquired rights I against the ruinous innovations of a legislative power ' misled by a systematic spirit. Whether this guaran tee should be looked for in a definitive Royal Veto, or in a Chamber of Peers, or in a new institution ap propriated to Spain, is not the question here; we only point out a powerful cause of civil discord. Finally, the insults so unsparingly directed against the persons of the King and the Princes, both in the clubs, and under the windows of the palace, have necessarily alarmed all Spaniards attached to a dy nasty become national, and to this hereditary royalty, upon which is grounded the only hope of preserving at least some remnant of the foreign possessions. So many and such serious causes of disturbance sufficiently prove that it is to her own excesses, her own faults, and not to the influence of foreigners, that Spain must attribute the evils to which she is a prey. Is it not a natural right, and even a duty of good neighbourhood, to induce Spain to put a stop to those troubles, which, indisputably, are to us a source of in convenience, and even a cause of expense ? Spain alone can do it; she can effect it under the auspices of her King, so worthy of her respect, and so jealous of the happiness of his people; she can accomplish it by adopting a system of moderation and conciliation towards all parties, by guaranteeing all rights, and tranquillizing all existences, and by placing its re organized administration upon the basis of a consti tution better poised. What advantages would France and Spain derive in common from such a happy change ! The Spanish colonies, wishing to remain independent, would vo luntarily charge themselves with a portion of that im mense public debt which the Revolution accumulated upon Spain, which i 3 so alarming to the public mind, that even the certainty of peace does not improve the state of the Spanish funds. The most advantageous terms possible for Spain might be obtained from such circumstances ; an Hispano-American confederacy might perhaps be established under an Emperor- Protector, as M. Golfin proposed—at least trea ties of intimate alliance would be obtained from all these states ; and since, very fortunately, Mexico and the greater part of Peru are as much attached to the foetus of Monarchical Government as to their own independence, it would at least be possible to erect there two new thrones for the Princes of the blood of the Bourbons. To effect this de:easement of the revolu tions in America, Castilian pride agree that the support of a naval force is requisite. If Spain refused to adopt measures an hundred times more advantageous to herself than to France, if she persisted in alarming us with the uproar of her civil wars, then would Europe see herself reduced to the necessity of excluding her from the community of civilized nations, of breaking off every diplomatic and social relation, of shutting her ports against the Spanish flag, of recognizing on the contrary the organized States in America, and finally of considering Spain as a barbarous country, like the empire of Morocco and the regency of Algiers. Yesterday the King gave a private audiedce to the Duke of Wellington. A letter from Toulouse says, the Trappist has set out for the army in Navarre, commanded by General O'Donnell. A letter from Verona, of December 4, contains the following intelligence, upon the accuracy of which we can rely : " You may cons:der it as decided that the Austrian troops will evacuate Piedmont in three divisions : the first will commence its march to the Austrian dominions on the Ist of January next; the second on the Ist of the ensuing April ; and the third on the Ist of July—thus in six months the evacua tion of Piedmont will be complete."—(Joarrned des Dtbais.) French Funds.—Five per Cents. 89 f. 90 c. The meeting of Parliament being now fixed, people naturally begin to consider the various questions which will occupy the attention and call forth the eloquence of that august body. Of late years ques tions of an incidental and temporary nature unhappily gave too much interest to the assembling of the great Council of the nation : this year it is matter of satis faction to every well-wisher of his country to miss such sources of political agitation and angry contro versy. The stream of politics flows in its old and natural course, undisturbed by the wasteful storms of war, or the muddy agitations of pauper patriotism. The agricultural classes still feel distress and call for relief, but time and consideration have greatly dimi nished the alarm, and strengthened the resolution with which that subject was at first viewed. Reduc tion of taxation is a subject of permanent importance in this country, overloaded as it is with public debt and military establishments. In the discussions of this great question we look for some novelty as we:l as new interest during the next Session of Parliament from Mr. CANNING'S peculiar views upon the subject. The Foreign Secretary is magnificent, liberal, gene rous, and even fantastically high-minded in his no tions of public expenditure and official salaries. We confess our partialities for his feelings on this subject in a different state of our finances ; but in the actual state of this country we must regard his principles in this respect, however honourable in their motive, most mischievous in their tendency. The most proudly magnanimous and liberal man of business, verging on bankruptcy, and struggling to avoid that cala mity, will not be guilty of fraud or injustice, but he will most sedulously reduce his establishments, and curtail his bounty to a degree th other ciiettm• stances would be mean, discreditable, and almost dishonourable. We cannot suffer ourselves to sup. pose that the penetrating discernment and masculine understanding of Mr. CANNING can really be abused by what appears to us to be the senseless cant of such politicians as our Poet Laureate, who preach, or rather sing, that our present revenue, or even a still greater, is like the waters exhaled by the sun which are re stored to the earth in fertilizing showers. It admits of no doubt that a large portion of the people are worse fed, worse clothed, worse housed, and in every way less comfortable, less respectable, and less moral than they would choose to be, and would actually be, if their industry and the fruits of their industry were free from the severe pressure of taxation. No view of the question of population can justify this pressure; on the contrary, it is demonstrable and fully proved by experience, that one of the worst evils of excessive taxation is the reckless habits both in personal con duct, and in the relations of life, which it generates and promotes among the lower classes. If, then, it be undisputed that the actual revenue raised in this country has this effect, how can it be reconciled with generous feelings or with common humanity to main tain it unreduced ? If Mr. CANNING can persuade the high and wealthy part of society to take it all ripen themselves, or at least as much as will leave full power and vigour of motion and action to the inferior limbs of the body politic, he may then scout reduction and niggardly economy as unworthy of a great nation ; but till then, he is bound to give serious attention—and, as far as possible, to lend his countenance and aid to the irksome and even painful labours of Mr.l-4 ars. But we had not intended to enter into a dissertation at present upon retrenchment and economy. The subject of greatest importance, and, alas! of least hope, is the means of redressing the fatal wrongs of Ireland. If pathetic reason, intellectual energy, and electric eloquence, could remove the baneful pre judices, and dissipate the groundless alarms which have hitherto rendered Ireland more like it forest of wild beasts than a land of human culture and civiliza tion, surely the most sanguine hopes would be justified at the present moment, when the Marquis WELLESLEY, Mr. CANNING, and Mr. PLUNKETT, are all in Admi nis:ration. But the very titles of the volumes which contain Ireland's unparalleled grievances, we cannot now enumerate. The Criminal Code presents a subject of great mag nitude and difficulty, but of pressing importance. Its remission and reformation are worthy of all the learn ing, and wisdom, and moral sensibility, of one of the most enlightened and most eloquent statesmen of mo dern times. The House of Commons is pledged to the consideration of the subject, and the hest interests of humanity call fora speedy and effectual redemption of the pledge. A reform in the representation of the people is also a subject that will come with more than ordinary au • thority before Parliament in the ensuing Session. The desirableness and the utility of effecting such a re form as would give free, unchecked course to public reason in the representative House of Parliament, are not, in our apprehension, to be questioned by an honest man. No judicial or ministerial office can be pur chased in this country by money ; but it is notorious that seats for legislators can be bought, and are bought with gold. We surely may assert, that any reasoning, however plausible, which defends this state of things, must, in fact, be absolute sophistry. It unquestionably is so. The fears of those who dread a change, lest turbulence and anarchy should ensue, are entitled to every consideration ; but surely it is unwarranted to suppose that English society is such a headstrong wild beast, that it is dangerous to repair the decayed bridle by which it is regulated. It is nut, at the same time, to be disguised, that a reform of Parliament, to be beneficial, or even safe, must be supported by the property as well as by the intelligence of the country. That it is so supported has been very strongly proved by the division on Lord Jolts RUSSELL'S motion. To this internal evidence we hope the external evidence of all the counties in England will soon be added. A representation that would really correspond with the state of property, the spread of intelligence, and the true interests of the British nation, would soon redress the artificial and partial grievances which now occa sion so much affliction and crime, and would raise the British Isles to a state of prosperity and happiness that would indeed become the admiration and envy of the world. It is currently reported in the fashionable circles that a distinguished widower, whose matrimonial feli city has long been the " admiration of the world and. the envy of surrounding nations," it about to testify his respect and attachment to the conjugal mate, by conferring his hand and heart on the btautiful daugh ter of a celebrated favourite. We understood, that the Laureat is actively engaged in writing the : we are unable to state what mom will be employed in this production. The author himself has a strong itching for the hexameters, which he used so successfully in his apothesis of George the Third ; but his friends, who admire " Wirt Tyler," and the Lines on Martin the Regicide," recommend the mea sure of the " Curse of Kehanta," as better adapted w the present occasion. Cost PARATIVE NUTRITIVE PROPERTIES or rooD. —A very interesting arid curious Report of this sub ject was lately presented to the French Minister of the Interior, by Messrs. PERCY and VA ciaurt.tx. two Members of the Institute. The result of their inquiries is as follows :—ln bread, every 1001bs. weight are found to contain 801bs, of nutritious mat ter ; butcher's mer, avera g ing the various sorts. 351bs in the 100110. ; French twans, 92Ibs. (n 100Ibs : broad beans, .891bs. in 100Ihs. ; peas, 931bs. in 100Ibs.; lentiles, 941bs. in 1001bs.; greens and tur nips, which are the most :igneous of our vegetables used for domestic purposes, furnish only Slbs. of solid nutritious substance in 1001bs.; carrots, 14Ibs. in 1001bs. ; and what is very remarkable, as being in opposition to the hitherto acknowledged theory, 100Ibs. of potatoes only yield 25Ibs. of substance; llb. of good bread is equal to 2)lbs. or 31bx. of best potatoes; and 75Ihs. of dread, and 30Ibs. meal, is equal to 300Ibs. of potatoes ; or, to go more into detail, Vb. bread and .soz. meat are equal to 31bs. of potatoes; 11b. of potatoes is equal to 4lbs. of cab bage, and 3lbs. of turnips; but Ilb. of rice, broad beans, or French beans, in grain, is equal to 3lbs, of potatoes. those will be expelled who do ant openly declare for the Constitution. No modification will be admitted even to speak of it is a crime; the people nre prepred to brave every thing, and to bury themsdres ander the ruins of the country rather than permit any foreign interference. The indisputable successes of Mina in Catalonia, those which Vetasco is expected to obtain iu Arragon, and Torrijos in Navarre, have excited the greatest en thusiasm. In truth, one would say that every thing has been done to exasperate so magnanimous and he roic a nation as Spain, but it may be doubted whether the advantages that were expected will be derived from the arms that have hitherto been employed to deprive it of its liberty. The troubles which hav_e been excited in Catalonia, Arragon, Navarre, and Biscay, have only given the Spaniards an army of 60 or 80,000 men, well disciplined, who will be able to defend their country, without reckoning the great num ber of citizens who have already taken arms, and those who will do so for the same purpose. Men of a certain party, especially military, whom we have at Bayonne, deny this truth, and seem to despise a nation which they boast of conquering : in 1808 we heard some of Napoleon's soldiers talk in the same manner, who afterwards found their graves there. Nothing can be more ridiculous than the accounts in certain Journals of the pretended successes of the Royalists: the taking of Salinas, which is but a defile, with a village containing 50 inhabitants, the blockade of Pampeluna, the defeat of Torrijos, and many other absurdities such as we see daily in the Echo du Midi of Toulouse, the Debals, Quotidienne, and Drapeau.— The situation of General O'Donnell is so critical, that, were it not for the severity of the season, we should already have had to announce his defeat and his return to France : but these Journals know well that they are all falsehoods. We have news from Saragossa of the 30th, stating, the arrival of an express from Mina, sent from the camp of Belvir, three leagues from Puycerda, of the 26th November. His dispatches to General Velasco state that he had summoned the garrison of the fort of Urgel, but in vain ; that he found some difficulty in laying siege to it, on account of the great quantity of snow, which prevented the heavy artillery from coming up ; but as the besieged had a short supply of provisions, and could not expect succour, they must surrender at discretion, in spite of the boasting of Romagosa, who declared that he would bury himself under the ruins rather than surrender. Mina has written to Velasco, that by the Ist December the con stitutional flag would be hoisted in all the towns of Catalonia ; and he desired him to reinforce his posts on the Cinca, to stop the Catalonian fugitives, who may seek to enter Arragon. These accounts have caused great joy at Saragossa, and the Patriotic Society immediately voted 1,000 pair of shoes and 500 great coats for Mina's soldiers. The motions of Generals Rotten and Milani, the first with 3,000, the second with 6,000 men, are as rapid as those of the Commander-in-Chief; Velasco is going first to push vigorously the siege of Mequinenza, the only remaining support of the factious in Catalonia and Arragon. He will then scour with his whole force the province of Calatayud, where the bands commit the most extensive ravages; but it will be Idifficult for him to act without reinforcements, which have been announced. THE BRITISH PRESS. 0 .