The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-09 00:00:00

No. 1,236.—V0L. XIII.]

HORRIBLE MASSACRE AT CADIZ.

The following extracts of letters furnish the details of
this melancholy event:—
"CADIZ, MARCH 14.
"011 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 gilt inst. the
Captain-General of Andalusia, who, I believe, is also
Governor of Cadiz, arrived here from Port St. Mary's,
and soon after a meeting of all the naval, military, and
civil authorities of the place was convened, at which it
was agreed to proceed the same evening to the establish-
ment of the constitution of 1812. It was then 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 invited to meet in the square of St. Antonio,
to witness the ceremony of laying down the stone of the
constitution, at which time not less than 50,000 persons
of all ranks 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
stun, women, and children. To murder, succeeded
pillage, with every species of CXCeI3, and the scene of
horror continued, almost without intermission, to a late
hour at night. It will be some tune, 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 in the same place as myself,
but he quitted at eleven o'clock to go home and dress,
aH the foreign consuls having received a special invita-
tion to attend the celebration in the square of St. An-
tonio. Soon afterwards I hard a number of shots fired,
which I disregareled at first, taking them for the usual
signs of osjoiciag, until a ball passed within a Few feet
of the spot where 1 stood, and I perceived a poor fellow
fall, wounded, to the ground. In my alarm at this
took to my heels, with the intention of gaining my own
house as fast as possible, and many others followed my
example; but we suddenly encountered a small party of
L'o soldiers, or thereabouts. They fired upon us, when
all our party, except myself and two others, took flight
in a contrary direction. For any own part I stood still,
and taking off my hat, called aloud in Spanish, • May
the King live for ever, and down with the constitution!'
Even this did not prevent a cowardly fellow from run-
ruing at me with his bayonet, which, however, I fortu-
nately warded off with my left arm. From that liniment
till I got home 1 continued singing out as above, and
appealing to every soldier I met. One of the two 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 him.
This infamous business can only be attributed to Valdes
and Gen. Cartipana, the former Governor of Cadiz, ad
interim, the latter commander of the troops at Cadiz.
During the whole struggle they have been abusing their
power without reason, having at different times, and on
mere suspicion, arrested upwards of 40 of the principal
merchaot,. It is generally believed that, finding their
power gone, and their lives at stake, they urged on the
troops, by bribery and liquor, to coolant the excesses of
which I have given but a faint description. Tie King's
s.gnattire the constilution has been made public this
morn tag in an otiicial manner, but the civil authorities
refuse to attend ally meeting till the troops are removed
Clam Cam z. Tne.public mind is becoming more
tran-
nnil titan for sem eral days past, but still the troops must
be removed front the city before any 1111111 can consider
his life as secure. Time fatal cousequetwes of the 10th
have inn !ken confined to the natives of Cadiz, but I
am told that sacral foreign Captains lost thc..ir lives in
tive confusion. Tin. Captain of the Navagores received
wontiti in rue title, and was rubbed of every thing. It
is to he hoped tiie d!llerent Consuls will seek satisfaction
for the numbers m, iii it countr men killed and
and for the ri,l;, ii) %%hiela they have been individually
exposed. Bull is never proper!) represented.
air Giusti', wbo is bound e be in Cadiz, resides in
tile country, and consequently we have nu one to stand
op for our A proclamation was published by
the Captain-General wt the morning of the day when
the work of butchery took place; io fact, many
were reasliii.z it at lie tune they received their deaths.—
It concluded is f0110%%.$

" ith4ititants ul From this mnlnnit you
mistitunonal reptesent,ttion. Krum this moment
let ali itr.s cease which are disaoimtved of by the code
tvll;elt yoo hate proclaimed. IL Jain peaceable: Lay
:Aide every recollection of past Ittureds, and let no other
cry he heard among you hut that of •• Long live the
Nation!" (Signed) •' MAN LALL FILLIRE."
" Cadiz, March tu.
"CADIZ, AIARCH 14.
" I commenced this letter to you on the 10th—a
day %ditch kill form a blot in the annals of Europe—a