The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-09 00:00:00

GRAND DINNER GIVEN BY THE SPANISH CORTES TO MR. VIL-
LIERS, THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR, AND CAPT. MAITLAND.
The great public dinner which it was the intention of the
Cortes to give to Mr. Villiers and Captain Maitland took place
on the 20th of February. It was presided over by Senor Zu-
malacarregui, President of the Cortes, and all the dis-
tinguished members of that body were present. The tables
were laid in the great room of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum,
which was magnificently fitted up for the occasion. Among
the decorations the flags of England and Spain united, and
surmounted by a crown of laurel, were conspicuous. In the
commestible department nothing was omitted that the culinary
wit of man could devise to do honour to the distinguished
guests of the day. The imagination seemed to have been tor-
tured to exhibit the paramount skill of the cook in the contri-
vance of new fashions and varieties, and the produc-
tions of every season were brought together at one time
as though the course of nature had been stopped for the pur-
pose. All this in compliment to a British blue jacket, in
token of the pride and gratitude with which the people of
this country regard their alliance with England. In this point
of view the proceedings at this dinner deserve to inspire
an interest beyond that which ordinarily attaches to com-
plimentary banquets. A manifest change has taken
place in the feelings of the Spanish people towards England
within the last three or four months. That singular suspicion
of all persons, but especially of those making offers of friend-
ship, which seems to have been a born instinct of Spaniards,
doubtless one of the noxious weeds of despotism, in 'which no
man can trust his fellow, has in a considerable degree disap-
peared. The coldness and selfish policy of France, so strongly
contrasting with the cordiality which has marked all services
rendered by England, have led all persons in this country more
or less to reflect upon the cause of so marked a distinction.
But France and England were parties to the Quadruple Treaty,
and the mere obligations of treaty, it was clear, would not ac.
count for the greater interest shown by England, for these
obligations were as binding upon the one country as upon the
other. The cause of this difference, then, has been looked for
elsewhere. Every possible motive that England could have
for aiding the national efforts has been canvassed. The suspi-
cion for a desire for territorial aggrandisement was of course re-
jected as soon as thought of. There is not at present, as in
the war of independence, a powerful enemy of Great Britain to
be encountered and humbled by British arms on the soil of
Spain. Commerce ! Perhaps the " nation of shopkeepers"
would, fain drive a hard bargain with her Peninsular allies.
Here again conjecture was at fault. If such were the sinister
object of the interest shown by England in the affairs of the
Peninsula, why has not the treaty been already signed?
The position of England has for some time been such as to
dictate her own terms, but owing to a delicacy with which
Spain cannot quarrel, although England possibly may, the
terms of this treaty are left to the unfettered choice of those
who are to be parties to it. The conclusion to which this
train of reasoning has led is, that England is actuated in her
intimate alliance with Spain by a generous sympathy for the
cause of national regeneration in which she is engaged—that
she seeks the advancement of a principle, interesting not only
to herself but generally to all mankind, and not the promotion
of any selfish or exclusive object. The existence of a power-
ful party in England, watching at every turn to snatch the
reins of Government from the present possessors, a party
known as the avowed adherents of Don Carlos, is felt as an
additional earnest of the good-will of England in her present
alliance with this country.
Mr. Villiers took the opportunity afforded to him by the
dinner in question to place upon broad, intelligible grounds
the nature of the alliance between the two countries. He
stated plainly that England had an interest in Spain ; first,
that she should achieve her independence and form a counter-
poise with other free countries against the influence of despo-
tic states ; and next, that she should become flourishing and
*rich, in order that the commercial intercourse with her might
be more valuable. This plain speaking from the British Am-
bassador, reducing to its simple and. natural elements the
whole art and mystery of the alliance between the two coun-
tries, will not be without its effect in Spain.
At the dinner, after the toasts of " Queen Isabella IL"
" The King of Great Britain, and an eternal alliance between
the two countries, destined to be the defenders of liberty,"
" The British Navy," &c.
Senor Olozaga said that having disposed of those objects of
high and grateful interest to all Spaniards, to do honour to
which had brought them together, there remained a duty to
perform towards one who held an exalted place in the estima-
tion of them all. He proposed to them " The health of Mr.
Villiers, as the representative of the English Nation, and as
an individual." For the valuable services rendered to Spain
by the British Government they were in a great measure
indebted to the discrimination and undeviating constancy of
Mr. Villiers, who, amid the political storms by which they
had been visited, had been able to distinguisl the truth and do
justice to the country, without allowing-himself to be misled
by appearances which had deceived less discerning foreigners,
causing them to form a mistaken judgment upon their political
march and its probable results. Independently of this motive
for their gratitude, he proposed that they should drink to the
British Ambassador as an English gentleman, who, without
departing from the noble gravity which distinguishes the na-
tives of his country, had acquired the frank and social qualities
of the Spanish character.
The sentiments of the speaker were loudly applauded, and
the toast drunk with enthusiasm.
Mr. Villiers, after excusing himself for what he stag pleased
to term his " malisnno Castillano," proceeded with a fluency
and accuracy, and with a true Castilian accent, which excited
general admiratiOn, to return thanks for the honour conferred
upon him. Proud and grateful as he was for the feelings ma.
nifested towards him, he had not the presumption to regard
them asilue to any personal merits of his own but to the post
he had the honour to occupy as representative of a country
whose friendly feelings towards Spain and the national cause
were, he flattered himself, placed beyond the possibility of
doubt. " The alliance between Spain and Great Britain,
which I hope," said his Excellency, " will go on every day
increasing in strength, is a new and important feature in the
politics of Europe. The time has arrived in which is felt the
necessity of a new element in the balance of power ; and
where can this element be sought more naturally than in Spain,
a country formed by the possession of every requisite that the
imagination can conceive for the attainment of national great-
ness? Where shall we be so sure of finding it as in Spain,
when she shall have cast from her all that has so long ob-
scured her splendour, when she shall have reconquered her
liberties, secured her independence, and returned to occupy
the place which belongs to her among nations ? Where may
this element be sought more honourably than in a nation
whose representatives have done more in a few monthefor the
consolidation of order, and consequently for the interests of
true liberty, than any other national congress of which men-
tion is to be found in history, and whose moderation, whose
discretion, 9n circumstances the most difficult, whose good
sense may serve as a model for other nations possessing a
longer experience and more Parliamentary knowledge ?
Where may this element be sought of materials more durable
than in Spain firmly allied with England, in an alliance be-
tween two countries better calculated perhaps than any other
two for an intimate union, abounding in sources of reciprocal
advantage and utility ? England has vast political interests to
guard ; she has vast commercial interests to promote. She,
therefore, desires to see Spain powerful, that she may be inde-
pendent, and act as a counterpoise to the influence and the
power of other nations. Her desire is that Spain also may be
opulent, because there are obviously greater advantages iu
carrying on commerce with a rich than a poor nation. Spain
on her side must, for the same reasons, entertain the same
dews. Our interests, then, it is clear, are identical; and
who, let me ask, Senores, can doubt that our united efforts
will ultimately triumph over the darkness of despotism ?
" These, Senores, are the reasons which induce me to look
upon the cause of Spain as that of England, and convince me
that the more firmly united arc our respective countries, the
more prosperous and powerful will they be, and the more will
other nations have cause to rejoice, seeing that our object is
the attainment of good government, and the principles we pro-
fess those which conduce to the well-being and felicity of the
human race."
The most profound and eager attention on the part of the
hearers marked the delivery.of this brief but energetic speech
from its opening to its close. The occasion—the crisis, the
very agony, as it were, of a civil war involving the existence of
a dynasty with the vital interests of the whole people—the
person speaking the representative of the most enlightened
and most powerful nation of the earth, she essential import-
ance of whose friendship had become conspicuous 13.3 the re-
cent defection of other allies—the audience addressed the
chosen representatives of the popular will—all conspired to
awaken the enthusiasm of the meeting, and impart a rare inte-
rest to its proceedings. It was impossible for topics to be
more happily selected or treated in a manner more in unison
with the sympathies of the hearers. His Excellency resumed
his seat amid the enthusiastic and prolonged plaudits of his
audience.
Senor Zumalacarregui,' President of the Cortes, as soon as
the applause had concluded, rose and said:--" I consider
myself authorised to declare that the congress of the Spa-
nish nation will never fail in its obligations to the English
people."
Senor Olozaga said he had been requested by his -fellow-
members of the Cortes to attempt some reply to the admira-
ble improvisation of Mr. Villiers. Although he did not merit
the honour, lie would accept the task with much pleasure. The
worthy representative of the British people had spoken from
his heart, and his words had sunk deep into the hearts of his
hearers. In that sanctuary would they be for ever preserved,
and not he alone ( Senor Olozaga), but all of them, responded
with their hearts to the cheering and affectionate sentiments
he had addressed to thern.—( Applause.) But Mr. Villiers
bad spoken not only to their hearts ; he had addressed himself
to their reason, and traced in a manner the most interesting a
concise and accurate exposition of the solid foundation upon
which rested the alliance between England and Spain. Such
as he had presented it would it ever remain in their memories.
He would not weaken its impression by' useless repetition or
amplification ; but simply call to mind, by reference to a re-
cent and glorious epoch, how steadfast and how fruitful in
great and valuable results was this alliance. And why should