The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-10 00:00:00

HORRIBLE MASSACRE AT CADIZ.

The following extracts of letterb furnish the details of
this melancholy event :

" CADIZ, NIARCII 14.
"On 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 9th inst. the
CaptabaGeneral of Andalusia, who, I believe, is also
Governor of Cadiz, arrived here from Port St. Mary's,
and soon afiii:S tweeting of ail the naval, military, and
civic authorities of the place was enlivened, at which it
was agreed to proceed the same evenitia to the establish-
ment Of the constitution of 18151. It was Men 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 likened to meet in the square of St. Antonio,
to witness the ceremony of laying down the slime of the
constitution, at which time not less than 60,000 persons
of all milks 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
men, women, and children. To murder, succeeded
pillage, with every species of excess, and the scene of
horror continued, almost without intermission, to a late
hour at night. It will be some time, 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 no the same place as myself,
but he quoted at elevett o'clock to go home and dress,
all the foreign consuls having received a special invita-
tion to attend the celebration in the square of St. An-
tonio. Soon afterwards 1 heard a number of shots fired,
which I disregarded at first, taking them for the usual
signs of rejoicing, until a ball passed within a few feet
of the spot where I stood, and I perceived a poor fellow
full, wounded, to the ground. In nay alarm at this 1
took to my heels, with the intention of gaining my own
house as last as possible, and many others ffilletwed my
example; but we suddenly encountered a small party of
'Jo soldiers, or thereabouts. They fired upon us, when
all our party, except myself and two others, took flight
in a contrary direction. For my OWir part I stood still,
and taking oil my hat, called aloud in Spanish, May
the King live for ever, and down with the constitution l'
Even this did not prevent a cowardly fellow from run-
. wing at toe with his bayonet, which, however, I fortu-
nately warded off with my left arm. From that moment
till 1 got home I continued singing out as above, and
appealing to every soldier I met. One of the Iwo 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 hint.
This infamous busuters eau only be au ributed to Valdes
and Gen. Campana, the former Governor of Cadiz, ad
inlefine, the latter commander of the troops at Cadiz.
During the whole struggle they leive been abusing their
power without reason, having at different times, :old on
mere suspicion, arrested upwards of 40 of the principal
merchants. It is generally believed that, finding their
power gone, and their lives at stake, they urged on the
troops, by bribery and liquor, to ettintilit tile excesses of
which I have giveu but a laiat dc.enpmun. Tac Kiates
signature to the constitution has been iitade public this
morn lig in an official IllAllotr, hut the civil authorities
refuse to attend any meeting till the troops are removed
front Cadiz. The public nand is hecoinitig more tran-
quil than lor several days past, but stul Hie troops lutist
lit removed from the coy before ally titan can consider
his tie as see,,N. 'lnc fatal consequences oh' the to h
have not lft n confined to the natives oh Cadiz, but I
ant told that several foreign Cliptiotis lost their lives in
the co:lit:sum. The Captain of the Navageres received
a waved iu me Si, le, and was robbed Of every thiug. It
is to be hoped the different Coositis o ill seta satisfietino
fur tiie IMMIX:re of their cotton:Olen killed ;mil woinaled,
and for the risks to trhiell they base been i cn isitiaPy
exposer:. Poor John 801 l is trove; prone:ly represented.
Our Consul, vv ho is bound to tic iu Caiiiz, it-ides it:
the couatrv,an,l colosequently nr have tin our to stud
by air our rights. A piuclaniation was ittlb.l,ileA by
the Caaiain-(;eneral Oil the morning of the day %ellen
the work of butchery took place; in fact, malty
were read= it at the time they received their deaths.—
It concluded as fniioses:—
" inhabitants ul Ca,oz! From this inont:in you
enjoy a (OlistOlitional represctilditmt. Fto.it tit, ouhueitt
let all arts cease Which are d:satTros ea of by itic code
which on have proclaimed. Rental,' peat:. able I Lay
aside every recollection of past naireoe, let ti. tither
cry he heard among you but that " Lena lit e the
Nation I" (Signed) " N UEL FIUARF.."
" Cadiz, Nlaren

" CADIZ, MAkCII 14,

" I commenced this letter to
,oit on toe Witt—a
(141 which will lona • blot in the antials4 Europe-4