The National Register.
London, England, 1812-11-29 00:00:00

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TIIE NATIONAL lIEGI,Tr,II.

aviin of the nation to be iolormed fur what pu:pose the surrender of
t e fortresses was intended, notwithstanding the political manner in
which they were given up.
" Fr ,m that epoch I have not quitted my arms, but resisted, to
the tionoor of my country, the attempts which have been nude to in-
• :re her by a foreigner.
Always intlexlble in remaining only a Spaniard, my country
has femur me ready to support her under every encumstance, without
regard to ire fortune, whith I have ever viewed, as your Highness
niust admit, with the greatest inditkrence.
" I was sorprised at learning that the English Generl Lord Wel-
noeton, was appointed Chief of the Spanish armies but a resolution
heir of
t'le Gene al Cortes. Tluy who, to preserve the reption
c Fry, lie buried in their grave .—thousands upon thousands of our
t.,nip.wi(.iis in arms—arc olacrving our proceedings - and I should
net eonsiner myself as having been born in the kingdom of Arragbn,
if f did rot submit te your Excellency, for the information of Govern-
ineimt, that I cannot coodescend to a determination that tarnishes the
honour •of the Spanish name, degrading the Chiefs who are at their
head; suppoting that they do not perceive, the certain superiority to
which This measure must lead, particularly keeping in view the events
of Parc- lone, Figuerns, Ike. which I have already mentioned, and
whob took pl ,ce with a itien with whom we were connecter by the
ties rf friend hip and good understanding, and of whose bad taizh,
and tai- !sroinise,, no I,ers. n can give a more satisfactory account than
the Duke. del Infintado, F esiAla -I the Regency.
" I have received an account of this event, and, in consequence,
an order to mote thy :Iran) , an order which compiomiscs the honour
of all the indivic,uals hel, n -in?, to it, either in the capacity of citizens,
or miliury 'lnn,. I canhot hide this front them, without usurping
the r.ghis h;ch belong to them, in the event of acknowledging Lord
Wellington General in Chief of the Spain,h armies—and as the point
question is of the utmost importance to the general good ot the
count y, I wait the resolution of your Hit,-hness for my ulterior deter-
mination.
" In the same order, your Excellency informs me, that Lord Wel-
lington returns thanks to the Gei.erals ot the widen, for the benefits,
political and military, which they performed, to obtsin the present
results of the allied army. Then, to whom is to be confided the coin.
mind of the arnv:d force of the nation I Spain to be considered as a
little kingdem of I'mengal ? Is not the origin of our revolutiop, to
our licnour be it r.prdeen, diff:vnt from that of the Portuguese ? Have
we not the honour to bbl, tg to the greatest nation in the world ?
II eve not our arme resowided in the four quarters or the world ? Can
we rive the-c,...innund of our a:mt to a toreigner, whatever may be
uur pot; mai ~ituau,:o, without disgraci. g the nation ?—No, Spain
st 11 her rc:ources ; her Generals, Chiefs, Officers, and Soldiers,
forti.mite:v preserve the honour they inherited froth their fore-
fathers ; anti in the present war have convinced the English and
French, ilia in hattte they display equal valour and discipline to
themselves, and. that their Chiefs Ittoiw how to conduct theta to
victory
" The fields of Bay len, Album, Saragossa, and Gerona, with many
ethers, wlOcit I omit. to state, because I would not be thought to
boast of myself, are indelible testimonicz, this truth ; -and the
Ith
army which I command, may tell the nation that in these qualifies
they are not infaior to any soldiers in the world ; and that without
~ttv•adution thsy ca not descend to submit to obscure the glories they.
hive acquired, and the extraordinary service: they have podocuird,
out of compliment to Lad Wellington, although they are always
ready to act in con-lbination with him.
" Lastly, I (ntreat your Excellency to demand the opinion of thl
national arinic.; and citizetts ; and if they agree to this nomination,
•r ill resign mV employments, and retire to my house ; to convince, in
this manner, all the world, that only honour, and the goad of my
country, lead tee to this exposition, and no ambitious views, as to
fortune, which mad ce maysometimes attribute to me,
without re-
specting the notoriety cf my patriotism, acquired by weight of con-
et alley, and signal services.
" Head-quarters, Grenada. Oct. 9.4. F. BALLASTE ROS."
To his Excellency the Minister at War.
w.? OF DON FRANCISCO lALLASTEROS TO THE nisr.t•rcu By
WATCH liE RIXEIVED 11'S DISMU:SAI. FROM 11:3 COMMAND.
Most Excellent Sir,—This morning, while engaged in the ordi-
nary dispatch ot business, I received. your Excellency's dispatch, dis-
charging me from the command of the Captainship General of the four
kingdoms of Andalusia, and of the 4th army, informing me at the
;•3:11C time, that my troops had formed, and were marching in the
direction-cif Alcala ; I immediately mounted my horse to learn from
what source proceeded a measure so contrary to the spirit of the royal
ordinances; and the discipline with which I have always endeavoured
to improve the army, and of which I have given so many proofs. On
going out of the village I met a picquet of the first battalion of Royal
Guards, with advanced sentinels, and arms ready to give tire, and a
number of peasants in front. I was surprised at this novelty, and
asked the officer what it meant ? He answered, as ofd the sentinels
when they came up, that he had orders not to !et tic pass. A Colonel
_Oen came, to whom I stated my displeasure at being treated in this
Manner, which I considered as disgraceful. The peasants now broke
ut into strong exprocsionso calculated to mat aft impression on the

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soldiers, for whom they knew I hat; made so many sacrifices. 1,
however, silenced them, ordering them w retire. I then I:rece;ded
my house, sensibly feeling a treatment which I believe was never ek.
perienced in the Spanish armies by the most iriminal subdtaan
cer. In a short time, the same battalion apptared in front of r.
house, and a guard was placed at the door cf it. The peopie,
mint at an act of this kind, made loud lamentations, fearing somathiL„
mightbe intended against my person. The sentimans el allecri,/°
expressed by these good Spaniards made a greater impressifsn on we
than this military apparatus, which I did not cinccive to corrt.ionzi
to the dignity of my station, nor is it possible to believe that it was by
your Excellency's orders.
..From this moment I had sentinels placed urn me, and rece;vei
orders from Brigadier Virues, to set out early in the meriting for Inv
destination, Ceuta, which 1 shall comply with, leaving the CVet
the Staff to deliver up the army, titan which, I think, there is not a
better in Europe, that has been organized, tegulated, equinpcd,
structed, and disciplined, in only one fortnight. But I cannot hut
represent to your Highness, that if my services have marized an) at.
tention, I could wish that the destination of Ceuta might he clainaat
to the Province of Estremadura, and, if possible, to Freeenal or its
vicinity, as I find my health much broken ; and in that (omit!), not-
withstanding nay misfortunes, I could maintain myself- ith ,espect,
and my existence would not be burthensome to my country. Thais
the manner in which I have been treateA with respect to my Nelson,
hut I have felt still in re sensibly the attack made on my aeputatioa
in the am xed paper*, which Virsits has published. He supimes
it, that I hive distressed the people of Grenada, I.y levying cr
flow:, which I never thought of, but which, on the contrary, I aiw.,%l
opposed ; though I asked nrovey of the Intendant, which, lio..vrr,
he refused, except as a loan, which 1 was to repay fretsthe first tends
I obtained.
I shall proceed towards my destination ; hut it my indisposiriat;
creases, I shall halt at Coin, where your Excellency may aduie t.
me your answer.
" God prcservr vour Excellency many years,
Grenada, Oct. 10. FRANCISCO BALLAS I'EROS."

* The following. is the print& paper referred to :
" NoT icy. To mcg: PUBLIC --The Ittgeiicy of the K'ngdom
hit
been pleased to discharge Senor Don leranciso Ballastetos tram ;1:1
command of t:eneral in Chietof the 4th army, a"d the Ca.uaincy
nerd of the tour Kingdoms of Andalusia, and to nominate in hi:,
ad interim, Don Joaquin 'Slimes, Brigadier of the royal armi....s. le
cAisequenee, the contribution ordered by Win is stivended tl; car.
responding orders are received frtmi Government. The public. !ere
fore, are not required to make the se:vela' pay megts assigt.c,l II
them.
Grenada, Nov. SO.

" VIRUES."

IMP ERLA L PA RLL4 Ai EST

HOUSE OF. LORDS.

TUESDAY, NOVIEMBIAt
OPENING OF PARLIA:',IENT.
Ab6l:t a quarter past two o'clock the LOA r, Cneecr Were
the House, and stated, that it not being ceeeenient ter His Rree
Highness the Prince of Wales, Rcgent, to attend in paean letter
patent 11a,l been pee-sed end& the Great Scal; fur openteg ai.d drehir
tug the causes for holding the Parli anent.
Their Lordship.; then adjourned to robe.
About a quarter before three. the Duke of \Perk, the Duke
Cumbetland, the Lord Chancellor, the Elul of Westmoreland, sae
the Earl of Liverpool, took their seats as his Majesty's Coineie
sinners for opening the Parliament.
Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, the Gentleman 'Ater of the Black Roe
was sent to the Commons to reqeire their attendance
Shortly afterwards, Mr. Ley, the Clerk of the House of Core
mons, accompanied y a great nmber of Members, came t the ar.
The Commissionb for opening the Parliament was then o read at tie
table.
The Loeb Crape creetoe. stated, that as soon as a sufficient numbr
of Members of both Houses were sworn,
his Royal nightie), to
Prince Regent would declare the causes for holding the Parliainee
In the mean time, it being necessary that the Commons snott
chuse a Speaker, it was the pleasure of his Royal Highness
thato tle
t
should return to the chamber in ei,hich they sat, and proceed
choice of a fit and proper person to be their Speaker,
for his Majesty's approbation to-Morrow at 12 o'clock.m
The Commons retired from the bar, and the Lords Comissieer
quitted their bench, and the Lords adjourned to unrobe.
The House having resumed, prayers were read. and present hi ,
The Lord Chancellor took the oaths at the table.
The Dukes of YOrk and Cumberland were then sworn at the table
The oaths were administered at the table to the Lords piet:le'
amongst whom were—the Archbishop of Canterbury, Marquis We!
m
lesley, Earls of Westneland, Liverpcol, Bathurst, }Sisley
Chester, Lords Holland, Eilenbotough, Walsinghatn, &C. fir

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