The National Register.
London, England, 1822-02-04 00:00:00

(0 or 4

A,

No. 1,354.—V0L. XV.]

CORRESPONDENCE FROM SPAIN.

Baacr.rotvA, JAN. G.—The change of Ministry
was very seasonably made, and communicated to this
province ; for those who had addressed the Kil, on
that stilject had fixed a certain day, on which, if
they did not hear that the :Ministry were dismissed,
they should proceed to ulterior determinations : and
they only had the intelligence one day prior to the
period fixed upon. This, among other things, evinces
the truth of the observation which I formerly made
—that the determinations of the executive upon
this subject wouldie greatly influenced by the de-
cision of this province, which carries the chief weight
in the scale of peninsular politics. The ardour of
patriotism which actually prevails here may be esti-
mated by the singular phenomenon, of an unofficial
individul, like Riego, reviewing the troops, accom-
panied by the Constituted Authorities as his attend-
ants. This scene was presented on Sunday last.—
The five battalions of national militia, in the best
order, and full of enthusiasm, were drawn up on
sea wall, and reviewed by General Riego, accom-
panied by the Civil and military Authorities ; after
which they defiled in companies to the square of the
Constitution, where they drew up in mass fronting
the Captain General's palace, and were addressed
by General Riego, frum the centre balcony, in the
following terms:—
" National militia. chosen children of the cele-
brated Barcelona, you here see me fulfilling my in-
tention of addressing you, before I proceed to the
capital of free Spain. his with ineilable delight
that t einitetnprate-yorif warriteXiposing, and pa-
triotic attitude; but my feelings arc more deeply
Affected, when I consider the exquisite patriotism
which you have discharged the duties of humanity
in calatuitot.a times. This generous conduct, un-
exampled in the history of the world, has eutitled
You to the gratitnde of the nation, and crowned
you with never fading laurels. Envied mortals,
you have raised yourselves to a pitch of glory which
it would be difficult to surpass!
" But there yet remains another act of self-devo-
tion to perform, which must be dear to the hearts
of the children of liberty, and cannot be difficult
fitr those who have already distinguished themselves
by the practice of such sublime virtues.
" Union! union ! union! I say union.—Ah ! how
has it abandoned our fine soil I—Every where the
spirit of mortal discord cruelly agitates all bosoms,
and, under every species of disguise, inexorably
prepares the total ruin of the Spanish nation.—
Every where we see the terrible efibets of its indc-
'litigable and perverse manoeuvres. There is not a
people among; whookits vile germ has nut produced
Itherticith., results! • ,
" How Latch must those have deceived them-
selves
who have, with. snch confidence, presumed
that the heroic Baretionese would be susceptible of
so low and ttiestable a passion I Oh! ye deluded
of the earth, Lear the most solemn protest of the
Catalans, especially of this celebrated city, We are
vain-glorious of bt:ing membets of the first nation
in the world—free Spain; but we also highly ap-
preciate being Catalans. The pure blood which
runs in our veins, and nourishes our constitutional
sentimenis, never belie that of our renowned
ancestors, who have so often cheerfully taught for
their idolized liberty and independence. Always
ftitliful and perket imitators of those illustrious
Barons, our representatives, who Cu union with
those of Arri,:ou and Val:nit:la, which taunted
among them a St. Vicente Ferrer) decided in the
beginning Cf the fitli century, in the town of
Carpe, which of live candidates was the must wor-
thy of wearing the crown of Arragon ; we know
how to ni,lintain our rights, or to perish for their
peservation. All the furies Avernus can
vomit limb will not be capable of disunilli.• us.
" We have swain the constitution or tleiori ; let us
repeat, death or the cobs:notion ; and firmly resolv-
ed ir. our holy purpt,se, li'.e Calpe arid Davila. we
will mock the despicable and pitilid intrigues of the
uipotent eiwni:es of our happiness, us immovable
promontories tiespise the huthy billows of the bois-
terous seas.

" Our inirnor:al mato is, and will •• Union,"

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