The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-15 00:00:00

SPAIN.

MILITARY MUTINY AND EXECUTIONS.
MADRID, J. 9
On the evening of the ith, Madrid was not a little
alarmed at finding the palace and all the military
posts doubly guarded, and the body of the gurri,on
confined to their barracks. It appears, as I men-
tioned to you in a former letter, that imprudent pro-
mises of royal largesse had been made to the Qs
diers—faryesse that, on account of the state of the
public treasury, cannot for the present be granted.
Added to this, it appears that some of the Akers of
ono of the crack regiments have been punished for
having struck several refractory, or more than usually
dull, recruits at exercise. In en array like the Spa-
nish, in which discipline can only obtain through a
mixture of tact and severity, is very little matter
suffices to make the seeds of disorder germinate.
When, theretiire, on the morning of the 7th, die
Gazette informed the army that all the senior oflimrs,
from senior lientenent to senior brigadier, were to be
promoted, and the soldiers to have a year's service
taken off, their disappointment broke out so much
the more violent, that they had been expecting a
dollar a man to indulge themselves with. In every
regiment there was more or less excitement, fanned,
it is said, by emissaries. In the San Franeisoi
bar-
racks some soldiers stizel their arms, and, to the
terror of the neighbourhood, some shots were ex-
changed, and a tremendous uproar took plamativaigst
the military, some of whom shouted Vied 1(4167,01km,
and others broke their arms. Vigorous measures
were taken, the mutineers seized, and were yester-
day tried by court-martial. Of the number condemned
three were sentenced to be shut, and the order has
been carried out to-day. It is said that much ex-
eitrment still prevails, and the troops are not yet
permitted to stir out. A letter from Catalazud, in
Aragon, mentions that there has been a serious riot
there, in consequence of the harsh manner of levy-
ing the contribution, and that troops were hurrying
to the place in order to restore order. The Go:Ptte
of to-day is lull of decrees, as usual. One is for a
credit of a million of rears for the arming of the
carabiniers.

Another letter from our correspondent, of the Same
date as the foregoing, says:—Last night a portion of
the garrison broke out in full revolt. The authori-
ties were in a state of the greatest alarm. The coun-
cil of ministers assembled, and protracted their sit-
tings until daylight this morning. The inhabitants,
agitated by rumours, and eager to obtain news, ga-
thered in dense groups in the Puerta del Sul and
other central places of the city. Some reported
wildly that the Minister of War had been killed
in barracks, which ho had visited fur the
purpose of suppressing a mutinous outbreak
of the troops. Others said that the regiments of
litiza,Chielana,and the Rehm Goliernadora, had risen
in mutiny in their quarters. The truth is that the
most dangerous insubordination prevailed in these
regiments. The ministry had been greatly alarmed
because the troops cried Viva la Republica!" and a
great number of soldiers of different corps had held
a disorderly meeting in the I'laza Mayor, and
grossly insulted several °Hirers. The government, in
default of other resources, agreed to close tho
Cortes; and to-day the Gazette publishes a
decree to this effect, without making any
allusion to the period when the legislature is
to re-assemble. The force of carabineers and armed
police were assembled in the hotel of the ministry of
finance, where they were regaled with abundance of
wine to rouse their mettle and secure their loyalty.
Notwithstanding these precautions, the night passed
off without any conflict. This morning a considerable
assemblage of soldiers, without any other nnns but
bayonets, repaired to the Plaza Mazer, which you
may remember was the scene of the celebrated pro-
nunrianiiento of the regiment Espagna, on the 7th
of May, IS Is. Isere they began to raise revolutionary
cries. The regiment of Itaza marched immediately
to the spot ; surrounded the mutineers, and took them
prisoners. The people, fearing further riots, shut up
their shops, and considerable aterunpententis took place
in the principal streets. The thasseurs of the regi-
ment of Chiclana sallied out of their quarters this
morning and marched to the barracks of San Fran-
cisco, where three soldiers of the same regiment
were placed en to prepare for execu-
tion. The soldiers on guard at the entrance
of the barracks, and the sentinels allowed
the ehasseurs of Cidelana to pass. But the officers
of the regiment of Grenadiers which is quartered
there, mustering about sixty, were prepared to give
the visitors a rude reception, and charged them sabre
in hand. While the latter attempted to defend
themselves with their bayonets, the privates of the
Grenadiers came to the assistance of their officers,
and threatened to pour a discharge of musketry on the
invaders unless they retired. Upon this the mutinous
companies of Chiclana made their retreat. In several
parts of the town the soldiers who remained true to
their colours, were attacked by the mob and beaten
with sticks ; and only saved themselves from severer
treatment by precipitate flight. At three this after-
noon the thine soldiers of the regiment of Chiclana
were shot. Their execution was conducted with the
greatest secrecy, and they were coveyed in a coach
to the spot where they met their fate, which is con-
trary to the regulations of the army.
The acts of insubordination recounted in the fore-
going letters bad rendered it necessary for the Mi-
nister of the Interior to address the following to the
governor of the province of Madrid:
Baying remarked that certain journals have asserted
that the ministry intended to propose to the Queen to re-
duce the duration of the military service, and that this
intimation, divulged in that manner by other channels, has
induced a hope that it would be realised, the govern-
ment of her Majesty declares that it never contemplated
such a measure. Never has a reduction in the duration of
tho service taken place in circumstances similar to the
present one, and it would, moreover, be contrary to the
existing legislation and to the respect due to the rights
of the generality of the men liable to be called upon, since
fresh recruits would be more frequently levied. The queen
who has ordered the Minister of War to adopt whatever
measure ho thinks proper on the occasion, has instructed
me to recommend you not to permit the circulation of
journals, or printed papers, in which the question should
be treated in a contrary manner to the views of the govern-
ment. You will accordingly seize all publications violating
that prescription. ply order of the Queen I give you this
notice that you may lose no time in communicating it to
the directors of the journals, it being her Majesty's desire
that the prohibition be carried this day into execution.
God preserve you many years.
(Signed) The Minister of the Interior,
iiEletit.lN us Lis.
Madrid, January 8, 1851.
1 To the Governor of the Province of Madrid.
The present royal order is to be forwarded to all the pro-
vincial governors.

ITALY.
PIEDMONT.

The Sardinian Chamber of beputies concluded
the debate on the treaty of commerce with Aug-
' trio on the loth. M. do Revel, formerly of
the cabinet, was the principal orator, and spoke
with great weight of argument in favour of the
treaty, which was adopted by 90 votes against ;;S.