The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-04-10 00:00:00, page 2

^w»y%v.
distance as should ultimately enable them to
withstand the utmost efforts of France.
There could be no such hope rationally en
tertained ; and all that was circulated on
the subject was a complete delusion ; prac
tised, 1 hope not by, but tipon, those who
entertained it. France, In her old situation
before the revolution, as every man acquaint
ed with the history of that country knows,
was sufficiently strong to make head against
any confederacy that could be entered into
in apposition to her. If she was thus strong
before the revolution, she was by the peace
of Amiens, in a situation which nothing but
some great change in the continental af
fairs, or the state of France herself, could
afford to any man a well .grounded hope that
tesistance could be effectually opposed to
her.
Under these circumstances, what was the
?robable mischief of renewing the contest ?
ou was anticipating your own harvests—
you was urging powers to recommence a
war which they were by no means capable
of carrying on-you was hindering pow
ers who were friendly to you, and who, if
you had suffered them to enjoy a little re
pose, might, probably, have effectuated a
Change in the situation of Europe, and of
inaking an opening, of which this country
might have availed herself, for vigorous and
successful co-operation. If it was your poli
cy that the powers of the continent should
recruit themselves, what was it with res
pect to your own situation ? You had been
relieved by a short truce from a war, the
pressare of which had borne harder on your
finances than any former war. 1 speak not
with reference to numercial accounts, but I
speak of ostensible effects ; and I say, that,
as to ostensible effects, the last war pressed
harder upon the country than any war in
which it had ever bean engaged before.- —
Then what was the obvious policy you ought
to have pursued t You ought to have a
vailed yourselves of the advantages which
God and nature had given you ; and to
which,under the circumstances you were pla
ced in, the dictates of wisdom Sc common pru
dence suggested you ought to have con lined
yourselves with the most scrupulous care.—
By so doing, and by adopting that system in
the first year of the present war. your ex
pences were brought within limits which
the country might have endured. Since
you have departed from it, your expences
Imve encreased to an amount which it is la
mentable to contemplate. In the first year
of the war, an attempt was made to adopt
ai system of husbandry and ceconomy——it
succeeded completely ; and if it had been
persevered in, you might have gone on with
out additional pressure on your finances, &
you were still alive to the moment which
■would give the enemy the most formidable
resistance. You were alive to the moment
to say, the state of my naval force enables
the country to withstand all the attempts of
the enemy, and its financial state is adequate
to a defensive war, as long as it may be
protracted, noc only without any addition to,
l>it a gradual alleviation of, its burdens.—
With respect to that system, your lordships
read the gloomy libeis which arc issued
from the press. Those who established that
system were succeeded by his majesty’s pre
sent ministers, who took care to tell you that
the course of their predecessors was to be
looked at, not to induce them to labor to
the same salutary end, & to keep within the
bound* of peace, but as a beacon and land
mark by which to steer directly opposite.—
That by their efforts on the continent of Eu
rope, they were to rescue the nations from
slavery, and the oppression and power of
the enemy. We have now been brought to
the test of experience—we have had three
years of vigor and enterprize ; and for three
years these men have had the unlimited
com nand of the councils and treasures of
the country, and, I grieve to say, the un!i„
miccd disposal of the lives of the army and
navy. What a terrible account have they
to render—what a dreadful accnuut have
you to demand of them ? and what a dread
ful account have you, in your turn, to ren
tier to the country ?
Then, I Say, not by our system, but their
ewn, against ihe experience of three years,
against all reason, against all knowledge of
the state of Europe, against every argument
drawn from the past, they embark a large
expedition on the continent, with the hope
of affording support to our allies—with a
hope, which, in the last debate, we were told
by a noble lord, using a phrase no less mag
nificent than the expedition was, to effect
" the deliverance of Europe”—Now, see
what this deli veranr.e of Europe has come to
—See what his majesty’s minis'. •-* have ef
fected. He not satisfied with superficial in
formation alone: but be satisfied what has
been the waste of treasure and the sacrifice
of lives by which his majesty’s ministers
have contrived to render the British nation
the derision and scorn of all the surround
ing countries. I mast remind you, that this
address contains a distinct pledge to pursue
a continental warfare. Do not take my as
sertion-look at the words of the address,
*k you will perct ive, tha', after all the disgra
ce« you have suffered, these men have the
conscience tosiy, not only that you shall not
enquire into tha past, but that you shall sup
port the khig’s ministers in the prosecution
of ihis war, of the miseries of which this
country never before had on example. You
are to believe, that whr»t tlrny f.iil ul to do
under better auspices, that which they fail
cJ to do when Austria was at war, ami when
the other countries of the continent wete
unsubdued, is to be tffected now, when Aus
tria and those countries have ceased to be in
dependent powers——you are to hazard
your armies- o hazard the lives of .50,000
men——and for what purpose f—~in the
vain, delusive expectation of being able to
contend against the military power of France.
Unless your minds are intoxicated by fail
ure, aso'hrrs are by success—unless you
see laurels where others behold otily cypress
—unless you see triumphs where others see
disgraces——unless you see victories where
others see defeats—.unless you are so de
luded as to think, that, with armies of thirty
or furty thousand men you are competent to
meet the whole military power of th# conti
nent of Europe—unless you suffer your
Understandings to hr so imposed upon, it is
impossible y<m can consent t<* an address
which sanctions a perseverance in Mic mea
sure* of his majesty’s ministers. I entreat
you to consider, that, neither will yourfinan
ces enable you to bear a longer continuance !
of the system pumyed by the present minis-1
ter*, nor, a* a military power, will the popu
l.ition of the country supply your armies with
recruit* It is a vain expectation, which
h »s been too of’tn disappointed, that ail oui
failures may be atoned i n- by some signal
cerss, by a Change of the ■niure of things,
and bj an alteration in the natural eoutse
rf human events ——II .v: ig again riischai g- J
e I my duty in protestingngam.t th.* system ,
of continental warfare, cbttvinced as I am,
that it can be productive of nothing but e>
| vil, I will now cull upon you to try the me
fits of the last campaign, as far as respects
the conduct of his majesty’s ministers, not
by our system, but by their own.
In the first place, you had. by your mari
time superiority, and the great naval force
you possessed in the Mediterranean, the
means oflanding at Trieste, at.d its neigh
borhood, such a force as might have contri
buted to alter the fatal issue of the cam
paign. The fate of Austria was decided by
a battle, 6c that battle was decided by Bon
aparte’s drawing that force from Marmont,
which you could have prevented. You
might have prevented General Marmont and
General Macdonald from sending him rein
forcements. You might have kept them
both in check. It might not have altered
the fate of the war, but, with a view to con
tinental co operation, or natural honor, or
the deliverance of Europe, or any other ob
ject, it would have been meritorious, com -
pared with the wretched expedition which
was sent to Portugal. 1 may be told, that,
to have acted on the side of the Mediterra
nean, would have required large fleets and
numerous armies, which would have been
attended with enormous expences. True,
but they might have produced some adequate
effect. Let me ask, have you not incurred
great expences by your miserable expediti
ons. not in assisting, bat in bringing loss and
[Here his Lordship entered into a minute
detail of the different expeditions, of
which he drew a melancholy portrait—sis
the disasters which befel these misguided
and unfortunate Expeditions are already
well known by most oj our readers, wc
pass over (hispart of his speech and come
to a conclusion.—Herald.3
lie not offended, my lords, at what I state.,
but put it home to your hearts, and ask your
selves, whether, after the expedition of Sir
John Moore, and after the expedition of lord
Wellington, you can determine to encourage
these ministers in the prosecution of mea
sures 90 ruinous to the country ? in the pre
sent awful situation of the country, let me en
treat you to reflect that you have an impor
tant duty to discharge, if y.m execute it
with apathy aad indifference——if you meet
only for the purpose of hearing the detail of
the errors of ministers—consider that some
portion of that blame which ought only to
be imputed to them, will attach to you.
My lords, the situation cf the country being
wind 1 have stated, it has no quarter by
whiclf to direct its thoughts, and encourage
its expectations, but tne energies, the pow
er, and virtue of Parliament-This is not
a time t« rest contented by coveting with
blind votes of confidence those errors of min
isters which are so notorious, and produc
tive of inch irreparable evils. You cannot
be blind to the event), which are passing in
. Europe-every ntan is struck with horror
•at the recital of them —they cannot be ag
gravaied by deicription, or enhanced by el
'oquence. I11 this dreadful hour, if uot by
j Parliament, how can the country be saved ?
I How can it hope for deliverance ?—Can it
j look tofhe government? The government is
broken, distracted, incompetent, without cn
jergy, 8c incapable of maintaining its authori.
ty. The salvation of the country is only to
be hoped for from your energy and patrio
tism.- It is you who must step between your
[country and destruction. It is on these
grounds I move an amendment, expressed in
teims, that, I think, will be, in ,ome degree,
satisfactory to the public. The first para
graph of this address contains the expressi
ons of regret, on the part of the House upon
the melancholy fate of Austria. In those ex
pressions I prefectly agree. After men- '
tinning the failure of Austria, and before
we •ntor on any subject whaterr r, ix appears
to me to he our indispensable duty to speak
to hi» majesty in such term* a* are plain,
clear, intelligible, and cannot he misunder
stood. I therefore move, that iii9tvad of
the words which follow, these should be sub 1
stituted :
“That we have seen, with the utmost <
sorrow and indignation, the accumulated I
degradation on our allies, and scorn and
shame on ourselves t Look to the North of
Germany. Consider all that strikes the
mind in that part of the Continent. If His
Majesty’s Ministers are capable of reflec
tion, let them reflect on the powerful diver
sion they might have effected by encourag
ing that spirit which actuated the North of
Germany. Having failed to take advantage
of that spirit; having destroved the hopes of
those brave people, who would have exerted
themselves against the common foe ; having
done nothing in aid of the cause in which
they were engaged ; what must be the feel
ings of such men when they come down to
Parliament to speak of services they have
performed, by the demolition of some docks
belonging to the enemy i As near to you as
YValcheren, there wasa spirit even among
your own subjects, which you might have
called into action. There was the populati
on of whole provinces ready to rise in arms,
warlike provinces, consisting of mea used to
war-disbanded, indeed, but as good sol
i diers as any wlia ever fought, and all of them
ready to join the British standard. Here
was where you ought to have held out en
couragement. You neglected to do so, and
you have sacrificed these men to the melan
choly tate they have since endured. Had
you done all this, still I am not of opinion it
would have been available, so as to have de
cided the fata of the war favorably to this
country ; but if you had done it—is there a
man who can doubt that the plans of Bona
parte would have been materially discon
certed ; that his plans in Saxony would have
been disconcerted, that upon the insurrecti_
on in the North of Germany he would not,
Instead of sending the national guards, have
been obliged to have opposed it by disciplin
ed troops. This is what you might have done
—now, like a blighted ear comes what you
have done——You had an hundred thousand
men at your disposal ; of these something
more than twenty thousand were disposed
ot in Sicily. You had two armies of forty
thousand men in addition to your naval force.
One of these armies was destined to act in
Portugal, and to march into the heart of
Spain, and this expedition was sent out by
the very men who had originally planned Sir
John Moore’s expedition It has been ascer
tained that such a force was inadequate to
produce any other effect than the loss of the
brave lives who composed it. His majesty’s
ministers not only did not profit from the ex
perience they had, but they so contrived, that
every- one of the e-rors to which they attri
buted the failure of Gen. Moore’s army,
should operate in a still greater degree in
the army of lord Wellington. What were
the defeats with regard to General Moore’s
expedition ? In the first place, its operations
were not concerted with the Spanish govern
ment. Shall ive be told that the operations
of this second campaign v/ere better concert
ed.
failures and disaster* of the last campaign,
the unavailing waste of our national rcsour.
ces, and the loss of so many thousands of our
brave troops, whose distinguished and hero
ic valor, has been unprofltabiy sacrificed in
enterprises, productive not of advantage,
but of lasting injury to the country. Enter
prizes, marked only by a repetition of for
mer errors ; tardy and uncombined; inca
pable is their success of aiding our ally, in
the critical moment of his fate, but expo
sing, in their failure, his majesty’s councils
to the scorn and derision of the enemy.
“ 'Fhat we, therefore, feel ourselves bound,
with a view to the only atonement that now
can be made to an injured people, to insti
tute, without delay, such rigorous and effec
tual enquiries and proceedings, as duty im
pels us t» adopt, in a case where our country
has beensubjected to unexampled calamity
and disgMce.”
The Eirl of Harrowby contended, that
the house coaid not agree to the amendment,
unless their minds were made up on the
subject, ts it amounted to an absolute and
decisive tote, whereas, there were not at
present, {rounds laid before them even for
an enquiry. The speech, however, had
promised to furnUh the necessary documents,
andwheuthatwasdone.it would be time
enough to Institute a process upon them.—
With respect to the charge, that we had not
effectually assisted the exertions of Austria,
that power, he asserted, had gone to war
without any encouragement irom us ; but,
even so, no spot could be so well chosen to
aid her effirts, as that to which the expedi
tion was sent. Had, however, all this been
practicable, it would have been most impru.
dent to hare sent so large a force, to so
great a distance from home, ignorant, as we
must be of the attempts which the enemy
might make upon this country, in its absence,
and of the material change that might take
place in the affairs of the continent. Minis
ters were obliged to apply their force to a
point, where the troops might be considered
as only the advanced guard of the country,
and no danger was to be dreaded beyond the
mere evil of failure itself-That spot was
Zealand—a spot from which Bonaparte me
ditated an invasion of this country—a spot,
which might be considered of his own crea
tion, with respect to the means by which he
expects to rival us, as a naval power. In
the first place, then, we had not so large a
disposable force, as one hundred thousand.
Secondly, if we had, we did not possess the
means to maintain it at so great a distance.
And, thirdly, it would have been imprudent
to have seat it to a distance, that must un
voidably induce it* long absence from the
country. The noble lord then proceeded to
compare the state of Portugal, bef ire Sir
A. Wellesley sailed, with its present situa
tion, in which Portugal is clear of »t>e enemy
*md may be considered safe, at least for a
time ; whereas, had not the troops been
sent there, the country would have been o
verrun by the French, under Victor. With
respect to the expedition to the Scheldt, it
was objected, that it was too late to assist
Austria. It was true, the armistice was
signed ; but, suppose the armistice had end
ed in the renewal of the war, what would
have been the case then ?—And, even as it
was, it coaid not be contended,* that it did
not influence the terms, of the peace. His
lordship concluded with saying, that there
were no grounds laid, at present, for enqui
ry, and that it would be, at all events, un
precedented, to vote censure, before enqui
ry.
The Earl of MOIRA said, if he thought
any power oF speech or language necessary
to excite the indignation of the country at
the scenes which this country lately exhi
bited to the world, he would not have ad
dressed the house. The noble Earl had ask
ed, whether without proofs they should go
into enquiry, much less pronounce judgment ?
But would he therefore contend, that with
out proofs the House would go into approv
al For his part he wanted no proofs but
those already before the House—the proofs
demanding not only enquiry but condemna
tion stand before tliem, (Hear! Hear !)_
They were plain and manifest. The whole
conviction of his mind, and the conviction
ot every one who considered the subject,
called for judgment. It was impossible to
argue against the direful effects already
experienced, and those which still threaten
us. Upon the face of the case he would
therefore go the full length of the amend
ment, although it only goes into enquiry at
present. The uoble Karl had not fairly sta
ted the case of Austria, as put by bis noble
friend. He would admit, with the speech,
that we had not encouraged Austria to go
to war, but what was the real fact ? Austria
having, of her own accord, drawn the sword
against France, ministers neglected their
duty if they did not immediately exert eve
ry means to assist her exertions—we were
interested in her success, and it was their
duty to encourage not only her but every o
thcr power that was disposed to fight our
battles. No specific promise of aid having
been given, none was broken ; but if that
aid, which our interests required, was not
granted, ministers had equally neglected
their duty. His friend (Lord Grenville)
had not said that the succours should amount
to so large a force as 100/J00 men—he on
ly contended that ministers having deter
mined to send out a certain force, it ought
to be directed to a different point from that
to which it was sent. It would have threat -1
ened most formidable consequences toFrance
had the force sent out been landed on the !
south of Germany. Again, had it been sent
to the north, what might not have been ex
pected fiorn it acting in the rear of the
French army, and combining th*e scattered
troop* on that part of the Continent?
With respect to Spain, be differed entirely
with the noble Earl. The case of Spain af
forded the TOost glorious opportunity ever
affordvd of terminating t) e war with glory
and overturning the power of Bonaparte—
that an enthusiasm existed in that country,
could not he questioned, for nothing but en
thusiasm could have kept armies still toge
ther after go many defeats and disasters —
that enthusiasm made Spain a levee, by
which the power of France might have been
removed from its foundation, an engine that
mij ht be witlded wivh the greatest effect
against her. It was, therefore, the interest
ot tliis country to have identified herself
with Austria, and shared every danger——
But although we were not pledged to Aus
tria, it will not be contended that we were
not pledged to Spain. The pledge to
Spain was not only given by Parliament,
but it mm confirmed by the enthusiastic voice
of the country. A:.d how was it fulfilled ?
Ministers sent an army to Portugal, with
instructions, if we tray judge ft urn those
that transpired upon the enquiry into the
Convention of Cintra, *o deliver that coun
Ty, ar.d consider Spain merely as a secon
dary object. S.r Arthur Wellesley’s army
hewever, (i.d advance into Spain and gain
«d a victory ; but attho* the stronger and
victorious army, it immediately retreated.
—The intercourse of that gallant General
were either defective, or he bad not the
me.vns to tarty forward his victorious ar
my—and what is still worse, two great Spa
nish armies, left to themselves, have since
been cut to pieces, while a British army
remained inactive in their vicinity. Alter
such scenes of calamity, their lordships
would disgrace themselves, if they did not
take such a step as that in the amendment.
The country at large, was looking to the
result of that night, and the house ought not
to disappoint its just expectations. After
the experience of last year, they had no
thing to expect in the present one, but in
creased disasters, if in the same hands. To
reject the amendment, would be only to
make their lordships parties to the shifts
and evasions by which ministers sought to
get rid of it.
Earl Grey, in one of the most eloquent
and argumentative speeches, we ever heard,
addressed the house at considerable length,
Never, in the whole course «f his parlia
mentary life, did he feel so much concern
cd for the critical and disasterous situation of
the country. The honors and titles which
his majesty’s government conferred on Lord
V isenunt Wellington, were such as ought to
have been bestowed on Generals like the
illustrious Marlborough. Those who had
supported the conduct of administration,
this day, spoke in a tone different
from what they had formerly maintained.—
He congratulated them on such a change,
and gave them credit for having resorted to
a chastised and humble tone. If, indeed,
after all the disaster and disgrace they had
brought upon the country, alter all the rivers
of blood, and the valuable treasure they had
uselessly lavished, they had still unfeelingly
persisted ia their former principles, he
should hare conceived, that the hand of
Providence was about to take vengeance on
these kingdoms, and that their hearts had
become hardened in the same proportion,
that their understandings were darkened.
He reminded the House ef the opinion he
had last session delivered, that it would be
our best policy to husband all our resources
for our own country. If any operation lmd
been proper on the continent, ministers
I lie Earl of Liverpool defended the con
duct of ministers ; for although some objects
, had not been attained, the expedition to the
Scheldt had not entirely failed of success.
With respect to retaining Walcheren, it was
at the desire of Austria herself they had
kept possession of it a limited time.—Spain
| was in a better situation than before, while
'the French had last 120,000 men in attempt,
ing to subdue the country, and yet the king
dom was not conquered ; and the enemy, af.
I ter all his efforts, had not gained possession
of more than a third of that territory. The
! Noble Etrl concluded a very energetic
speech against the proposed amendment.
Tiie Earl of Caryafort considered the ad.
dress as containing delusive language ns
to the state of the nation, and supported
the amendment uu proposed by the noble Ba
ron.
Lord FAlenborough, from the Woolsack,
then read the amendment, and upon the ques
tion being put, the House divided,
Contents 55
Proxies 37
— 92
Non Contents 89
Proxies 55
Majority in favor of Ministers,
[Some of the mo*t prominent Specchea in
the J/ouae of Cummona, will be given in
our next.]
Phi i.a pEi.mtA, April 2.
LATEST FROM SRA1R.
,v )' Just as our paper went to press, we were
polili ty favored wiili Cadiz pspt-rs to Feb 10,
by capt. Taylor of the ship Caledonia, from that
port—translations to morrow.
We. learn verbally, that the French army, s*f
ter passing the Sierra Morena, had trken Seville
—drove the whole country en mute, before them
into Cadiz—ruptured Port Maria, ibc watering
plate, opposite the city of Cadiz, where they
were fortifying themselves. They bad been fi
red upon constantly from a British two dsrker,
4'id 40 g in boats, but without su«ej*. A ling
ougnt to nave directed it in such a way,
as to form a diversion in favor yf the Aus
trians. That diversion should have been
made with regard to time, to place and to
action.-It ought to have been simultane
ous with the efforts .of our ally ; it ought to
have been made in that situatiou, most likely
to produce its avowed object, and to be con
ducted with every requisite ability, necessa
ry for its execution. The noble carl here
showed, bow the force of Bonaparte might
have been distracted on the Danube, bv a
powerful diversion of one hundred thousand
men in Germany.-The detachments of
our army amounted to that number, and
they had been employed by ministers, with
out producing any salutary effects. Whate
ver might he the boast of lord Wellington’s
Victory, atTalavera, it was attended with
all the disasters and consequences of a de
feat. His lordship, at great length, ani
madverted upon the rash measure of send
ing, while the fate of Sir John Moores ar
I my was before their eyes, another body of
troops into the heart of Spain He next con,
, sidered the expedition to Walcheren, which
! was one of the most absurd, ever underta
ken by any government. He showed, from
a book of Sir John Pringle, that the Island,
at that precise period, was more unhealthy
than any other. Besides, the professed ob
ject of taking Antwerp, was next to an impos
sibility ; for ministers aught to know the
great care and attention, the ruler of Fi ance
has bestowed on the fortifications and works
of that place ; that it is situated amidst for
tresses ; and that there was, at the time,
upwards of 1,000 artificers employed about
the aiscnal, trained to thr use of arms, mi I
also, there were about 2,000 more regular
troops, which could, for a certainty, be
thrown into the town and citadel, in spite
of every opposition. This could not, in any
point of view, be considered as a diversion in
: favor of the Austrians.
In reviewing the whole conduct of adminis
tration, he was called upon bv the most
■ imperious duty to support the amendment
which charged them with gross and wilful
misconduct. He called upon the noble vis
count (Sidinouth) to reflect that there was a
cor/nm delicti in the whole of their conduct ;
to think of the thousands of poor men who
had died in consequence, whose wounds be
spoke the commission of crime. The noble
earl contended that the expeditions were
' founded in bad policy, and had disappointed
the expectations of the country ; and insist
ed that a diversion might have been made
in Germany, which might have changed the
face of affairs on the continent; but we re
gret that want of room docs not enable us to
do justice to his speech.
bad been inV> CaJV, to demand 4t* Mirreivlei*,
to its lawful Sovereign and Friend, King Jov ph j
tbe answer returned, was, that the loyal peopl;
ot Cadi?, knew no king but Ferdinand.
The Junta were at the bead ol' Cad t Bav, at
a smalt place called lllea. 'Die French aid
Spanish mmol war had their sails bent, and were
ready lor sen, to the number ot 17 The British
Admiral, Perris, w-itli about 12 fthipa of war,
"!“* ** ^aJix, ami »|>i»«nred to hare t ie incip.nl
direction. Cadiz I cing so ninth crowded with
people fiom the count t y, water was very scarce,
• nd all business at a stand.
'1 lie ship Philadelphia, uod brig Sinilax, and
nnd sr.liooner Five brothers, had just arrived
from Philadelphia.
C *pt llamilon, of the ship Buir.bridge.frora
Madeira and Isle of May’, informs, that about
the 17 th of February two fleets, (the East and
W sst-India outward bound) fin. England, arriv
ed at Maidera, in pasaages ot 8 or lu days, who
iiiliirmcd, iliat intsiligencc had been received in
England, of the revocation of the Berlin Decree—
that Mr. Jackson was immediately to be recalled,
and a Mr. Elliot, brother to Cord Minlo, Gover
nor of inJu, was to come out to succeed him.
Tiie ship Howard, from Ncw-York, had arri
ved at Malleus, previous to the bailing of the
Uuinbridge.
Extract of a letter-dated
“ Cadiz. Feb. 9. 1810.
“ We have the French in sight, at Port
St. Mary’s on the opposite side of the Bay,
six miles from here, they have already sent
in a summons and were answered that they
were ready to receive tbem at the mouth of
the cannon; the city is quiet, aud no mobs
or any disturbances.**
Our Spanish papers by the Caledonia, says
the Philadelphia Gazette, do not contain a
ny particular details of the progress or oc
currences of the French army. It cannot
however, be concealed that early in Febru.
ary, they were directly in the neighborhood
of Cadiz, to which place the Junta accom
panied by a large body of the most respect
able inhabitants of Seville, had fled for re
fuge from the enemy. This increase of po
pulation, under circumstances of danger Sc
alarm had induced the government to issue
the following Edict:—
“ Cadiz, Feb. 7.
“ This island is surrounded by enemies,
who are actively endeavoring to reduce ic
by cutting off the necessary supplies of wood,
water, and provisions. The people are
hereby called upon to use their influence to
invite and procure these supplies. The ba
kers are required to keep their men, who
are exempt from public service, constantly
engaged in their occupation. The inhabi
tants are likewise requested to deliver to the
government all the superfluous iron bars,
&c to be converted into means of strength
and defence against the enemy ’*
To the above we have only to subjoin the
following articles, which include the whole
of what is interesting in our Spanish pa
pers.
Cadiz, Feb. 9.
The supreme Junta of this place does not
lose sight of, or omit any means which can
contribute to the public convenience, and ac
the same time not diminish the means of
defence. In addition to the numerous mea.
suits hitherto adopted, it has been publish!
ed, that navigation is free, and that all ve«.
sels may depart for their respective desti
nations, provided they do not take with them
provisions, which must be left for the sus
tenance of the inhabitants. Vessels depart
ing must in ether respects conform to the
regulations of the port.
The government has observed, with no
little regret, the little assistance afforded by
the inhabitants in constructing and fortify
ing the parapat and battery ot San Fornau
da ; and it again calls upon the citizens, in
hopes chat coercive measures may be unne.
cess cry.
The regiment of Patriots which was in
£*.nison in this city, has received its full
c mipliment of arms, munitions, ike. 8c mea.
suits are taking to organize tiie militia, fur
t ie better defence of the city.
According to advice from Lisbon, we may
every moment expect 5000 British troops
wall 8 ships of trie line.—We also look for
reinforcements from Gibraltar.
The enemy on tiie 7th, in the morning,
were seen falling back to the Puerto Real,
in consequence of the fire from our boats ;
no* withstanding which they afterwards ad
I vanced, aiul were fortifying the nselves at
i the battery Del Commercio, kesp up a con
stant fire of musquetry on our boats, who
continued to annoy iliem.
Another division of 500, with five pieces
of flying artillery, proceeded.cue sa ne even
ing to me Trocedaro, where they had to
shelter themselves in the magazines, so
smart was the fire of our ships and gun.,
boats.
According to accounts from Puerto and
Xcrez, it appears, that the enemy, no lon
ger able to conceal their true character, have
commenced their accustomed outrages on
the peaceable inhabitants. This is the hap
piness they offer to those who treacherously
adhere to their cause !
The whole of yesterday, with but shore
'intervals, we witnessed the fire of our gun
boats. of the English Sc of the ship S in Jusie,
upon the Trocadero. The enemy has not
shown himself at a single point.
According to letters from isla, the enemy
has sent a column of liOO men to Checla
na.-They also say, that the advanced
guard has been beaten with great loss to the
enemy, a» well upon the road del Arrecile,
as also by the fire it sustained from Galli
neras.
The regiments ofPatriots has set out for
La Isin.
We have just received ncw9 from Mad
rid as late as the 17th January. 1 he ene
1 my 1ms concentrated all his force to invade
Andalusia. 1500 men only remained in gar
rison at Madrid, and 1000 at Toledo. In
I Desperraperros they have left 2,000, and a
strong detachment in Carolina. By the
same conveyance, we are informed that they
have received no fresh reinforcements from
France; and that Gen. Blake is at Gaudix
where he iias collected the dispersed, and*
was iucor]K)rating into his army, all the
peasants who flecked to his standard in great
numbers.
By order of the government, packet boats
have been established, for the purpose of
maintaining a correspondence with plucvz
not in possession of the.enemy.
Don Clemente Darilla Barosco, deacon of
the city of Carteva, writes as follows, l<ei>.
6-The only news I hive to communi
cate, i9, Ihat yesterday an officer arrived heio
with ao official despatch from Lo Sig. Ko
inana, informing that lys advanced guatd
has reached Los Sontas, and that his army
amounted to 70.000 men, and short!'/ typer -
ted a reinforcement ol 15,000.
[ The following appears to be an aldre>»
to his cunntryiiiCH, from piy mdividtiwb*