The National Register.
London, England, 1815-10-29 00:00:00

TrIF, NATIONAT. THMISTER.

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in the conduct of those who accompanied the brave
I Porlier in his unfortunate enterprise. Not one deserted
their General or their banners. The same fate has be.
fallen all those. who were not fortunate enough to escape.
Not a single individual changed his determination ; not
elle hesitated in the hour of adversity ; 150 fell, by
stratagem, into the hands of the enemy; they fought like
valiant men, and yielded as unfortunate victims.
Through this unexpeeted fatality, which we do not
in any way consider as irretrievable, these brave men
now lay under the claws of those who lately were their
prisoners. They acted in a noble and generous manner
towards those they hail conquered, but the reverse of
this treatment has been experienced by them in return.
Yet what else could have been expected from those
wretches into whose hands they fell.? It may not be
amiss, by way of illustrating this truth, to cast a mo-
mentary glance on the past life of one of those who have
played so ostensible a part in the above treacherous in-
trigues. Two of the principal personages are only do-
micilated in Spain The first who appears on the scene,
and who undoubtedly is at the bottom of this plot, 'la
signor Pesce, an Italian by birth. In tracing the bio-
graphy of this unprincipled intriguer, beginning with
the Spanish transactions in 1808, We find the following
particulars worthy of notice.
On the cry of liberty being raised in that country
against a foreign Usurper, Signor I'esct, then Captain
of the regiment of Hibernia, presented himself at the head
of his troops in Asturias, together with the Count del.
Pinar, and other political missionaries of the same stamp, •
charged by Buonaparte's representative, Murat, with the
reduction of the above principality to the obedience of
his master. They nearly met with the death.of martyrs,
for the country people, arming themselves, overcame the
regiment of Hibernia ; and its Colonel, together with. the
Count del Pinar, and their companions, were hound to.
a .take, and under the first impulse of Irritation, it was.
the intention of the people to have sacrificed them for
their treachery. This certainly would have spared Spain
many blots and atrocities, hut clemency pre' ailed.. Ott
the above regiment being conquered, its officers and.
troops took the oath of fidelity to the Junta of Asturias,
in return for which each obtained two grades, and Signor
IPesc6 was made a Colonel. He was then attached to the
-division of General Qeiros) with whom he was at the:
defeat of Espinosa. In consequence of this he rot timed
Ito Asturias, where he remained till the coining of Fer-
dinand. In this principality he is well known, particu-
larly for his transaction, during the whole time he was
Governor of Gijon, charged with the fortifications of
Castropol. Under this commission) his conduct with the
workmen was so harsh, and the management of the funds
which passed through his hands so ambiguous, that lie
acquired the universal hatred of the people, who, by a
play of words, instead of Pescd, called him Pc,tc. , We
are ignorant of the high services which have obtaiaed
for him the favour of Ferdinand VII. Certain it is) that
his Majesty, on his return to Spain, gave hira the ran!
of Brigadier-General, and made him Colonel of the City.
of Santiago. Such is the character of the chief instra..
ment of the downfal of Porlier.
A letter from Cadiz, dated Oct. 6, says, "'The moment
the heroic resolution of the brave Porlier weg known in this
city, all the inhabitants were preparing to second his patriotic
designs, and were filled with die same enthusiasm vhich