The National Register.
London, England, 1822-12-30 00:00:00

412

MADRID PAPERS.

MADRID, DEC. 14.—(Extract from a private let-
ter.)—A treaty of commerce between Spain and
England it more than ever talked of. I possess very
certain information on this subject. It is impossible
to overlook the injurious eff,!et it may It..ve npon,
and particularly on the southern provinces, which
derive great advantages from their commercial rela-
tions with Spain ; but if the policy of France is
hostile towards us, can we hesitate in such a nego-
ciation, and will she have any right to reproach us,
fiir giving advantages to a Power which refuses to
unite itself to our enemies?

The Spanish Ministers have entered into a new
Zl. rcntract with a foreign house, thr the supply of
0,000 muskns. In the mean time, the manufac-
ture of arms in the Peninsula is carried on with the
gt eutest activity.
'The following decree has been officially published:
" The Extraordinary Cortes, after observing all
the fhrrnalities prescribed by the Constitution, decree
as follows :
" I. All Convents and Monasteries which are
abondoned, or which arc situated in places the po-
pulation of which does not exceed 450 inhabitants,
are henceforth suppressed. The Government will
distribute the monks and nuns of the suppressed
convents among those which are preserved, and will
apply the revenues to the maintenance of public
credit, in conformity with the provisions of ante-
cedent decrees ;—it being well understood that the
said revenues shall still remain subject to the judi-
cial, civil, and ecclesiastical charges previously im-
posed upon them. From this regulation, an excep-
tion is made with respect to the Moilastery of San
Lorenzo of the Escurial, until the Cortes can have
time to take into consideration the means necessary
for preserving that magnificent edifice, and the pur-
pose to which it shall be destined for the advantage
of the nation.
"2. The fourteen frontier places which are pro-
posed to be declared is a state of war, cannot receive
the present occupants of the suppressed convents,
though their population should be more than 450
inhabit an ts."

Several of the richest London hankers Lave sent
agents to Madrid, with full powers to negotiate the
new loan of 40 millions of reels vellon opened by the
Spanish Government. Sir R. Cox is among. the
*lumber. These gentlemen express the greatest
confutence in the affairs of the Peninsula, and in
private society readily state, that bane they left
London with the view of engaging in this negotia-
tion, they took care to obtain positive assurances
from the English Cabinet that they might undertake
it with perfect safety, in as far as regarded the hos-
tile intervention of England c as to war with the
oilier Continental Powers, we in no way fear it.
There is a report that General Morino is about to
be appointed to the command of an army of reserve,
which is to consist of 36,000 strong. From the
moment this rumour began to circulate, every one,
at least all those who thoroughly know the part
Murillo played in the affair of the 7th of July, natu-
rally asked—Can the Government have changed in
any degree the plan wl:ich it seemed and still seems
to follow? Has it yielded to Mreign influence? Or
has it been found necessary to make concessions to
the party which previously held the reins of the
State? These are the ques:ions gene. ally put, but
to which no one knows how to reply. This, how-
ever, is not one of those rumours which circulate
merely in some political coteries. The persons from
whom I have it are by their personal rank, their
political situation, and their influence possessed of'
the means of obtaining accurate intiormation with re-
gard to the intentions of the Government. They
have communicated to are with so much confidence,
that 1 am so far from regarding it as an idle report.

The disunion between the Ministerialists and the
Zurriagoists becomes more and more manifest. The
seal authors of the Zurriago, Pizarro and Jonamu,
Lave just been exiled—the tiirmer to Ivica, and the
latter to the Canaries, in virtue of u dictatorial au-
thority which the Cortes has given to the Govern-
suent in certain cases. Every one is astonished that
such a statesman as Pizarro should become a sup-
porier of anarchy. Some people believe that the
Lspeelodur does not regret to see the Zurriugo the
instrument of the party contrary to the present cod-
stitution, and which has designedly exaggerated the
new principle, in order to excite 'egret fur the an-
cient order of things. This was the plan suggested
by liardaxi, when he was Minister ; but it will be
difficult to make these manoeuvres succeed. The
pubiication of an order for the exile of Romero Al-
puentc, whom it is determined to remove from Ma.
drid, is every moment expected.
The factious have intercepted a courier despatched
from Madrid to MM. Ardinis and Hubbard, at Paris,
and took from him his despatches heiaiuse they con-
sa.noil some journals.
BAYONNL:, LUC i7.—The insurrection is dying
Away in all the province.' of Spain; the band ofLa-
b..la is extinguished; nearly all the officers and sub-
s..