The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-14 00:00:00

SPA

lON

PUBLIC MEETING at the CROWN AND ANCHOR,
(THIS DAY.)

A public meeting was called at the Crown and Anchor to-day, for
the purpose of petitioning the House of Commons, for an Interference
on behalf ofthose who have unsettled claims upon the Government of
Spain, for their services in the British Auxiliary Legion in Spain.
Colonel CHURCHILL was called to the Chair, and said he had been
placed in that situation merely because he happened to have the honour
of being Chairman of the Committee of Officers ; he wished the chair had
been filled by one more capable of doing justice to the great cause w hich
they had assembled to promote. In advocating the cause it was not noces.
nary for him to enter into any consideration of the motives which induced
the King's Government in 1835, to suspend to Order in Council, which
allowed the people of this country to enter into the service of a Foreign
power. The object they had in view in calling the meeting was to excite the
sympathy of their fellow subjects with their wrongs. In 1835 the then
Government, by suspending the Order in Council, not only allowed
and sanctioned, but they did all in their power to induce them to enter
into the Spanish service, which they considered to be of some
political service ; they did all in their power to induce the
gallant veterans of former wars to enter into that service, and
they were so sincere in their anxiety for forming the Legion that
they gave the officers of our army permission to enter the service,
and at the same time retain their half-pay. Therefore he con-
sidered that they had peculiar claims upon the sympathy of their fellow
countrymen. As for the discussion that took place in Parliament he
must confess that that did not in any degree elucidate the matter, be..
cause there had been a desire to shield the Ministry from any
enquiry rather than vindicate the claims of the British Legion.
The misfortunes which the Legion underwent in Spain was now a mat-
ter of notoriety. In place of meeting from the Spanish Government
the support they expected at their hand, they had met with all the
neglect and deliberate insult which it was in their power to give. What
their motives were for adopting such a course, or why it happened that
a brave people had so acted, it was not for him to say. He would now
proceed at once to the period when the British Legion suffered the
greatest hardships at Vittoria and St.. Sebastian.----(Hear, hear.)
There they were treated with the most peculiar hardship.
The Legion enlisted under the option of serving for one or two years.
At the expiration of the first year it was their privilege to have availed
themselves of their eontract, and retired from the service. That such
was the understanding was distinctly stated by Sir George Villiers. It
was entirely optional with the soldiers whether they would serve longer
or not. That, however, was not the opinion of the authorities at San
Sebastian. The men who chose to avail themselves of the privilege, in.
stead of being sent home to England, were sent round to Santander.
They were in a state of absolute imprisonment for three months, for
two they were kept on bread and water, and latterly they were deprived
of every covering, and had nothing but their clothes to sleep in. If
they attempted to escape they were shot at by the Spanish soldiers.—
(Cheers, and cries of "Shame.") The only reason why they were kept
on bread and water was, in the hope that their state of misery would in-
duce them to re-enlist for another year. Several of them did enlist rather
than incur a state of starvation. A short time afterwards disturbances
took place at St. Sebastian—a mutiny broke out—the men were tried by
a Court-martial, and sentenced to be sent to a fortress on the sea coast.
The treatment which they received at St. Antona would harrow up the
feelings of every Englishman present. He would read a statement which
had been put into his hands by an officer, who, having left the service,
happened accidentally to see the state to which they were reduced. The
officer said--
, "On the 14th January, 1837, in company with Captain Jamieson,
Commander of the James Watt steamer, I went ashore at Santona, and
visited the prison, where the men of the different regiments of the
Legion were confined. They were locked up in a room of about 35 feet
by 20, to the number of 84 or 85 persons ; on entering which, a sight,
such as I never before witnessed, presented itself to my view. It was
perfectly dark, the window shutters being fastened to exclude as much
as possible the piercing cold (the snow being still on the ground); which,
when opened, I saw those wretched men huddled together on guard-beds
as close as they could pack themselves, with the only covering of one
rug between every two men.
" Many of them knowing me, immediately started on their legs
perfectly naked, and implored me for assistance. I thought it a good
opportunity of advising them to return to their duty, and harangued
them at some length. lat the same time told those under sentence of
Courts-martial that I could hold out no hopes to them of release, as I
was then out of the service, but that I would endeavour to get them
clothed.

They then, to a man, declared they would return to their duty, pro.
vided they got a suit of clothes, to appear like man, instead of beasts.
Captain Jamieson and myself subscribed some money to purchase them
tobacco—an article they cried out for more than food. My particular
motive for visiting the prison arose in consequence of the melancholy
picture which the Governor of Santona drew of these unfortunate, mis.
guided individuals—' that they had been living on half rations of a bad
quality for some time, but that latterly they would have been tatally
destitute, was it not that he advanced money out of his private purse to
purchase provisions for them, which, as he could no longer do, not
having been reimbursed that which he had already given, they must in
a few days be without food.'
" These poor wretches (as I have before raid, without clothes) have
been compelled to work at the vilest labour, such as carrying coals for
the supply of steamers, cleaning the streets, carrying water, &c., with
Spanish drivers over them, who unmercifully beat them with sticks, and
they would be obliged to eat their food raw, did they not cross a rocky
mountain, barefoot and naked, in the depth of winter, to cut firewood
(a distance of a league and a half).
" I then left them, promising that, as a fellow-man and a British sub-
ject, I would bring their situation to the knowledge of the Commandant
of Santander, to which place I was going. On my seeing Colonel
Arbuthnott walking with Commodore Henry, I immediately communi-
cated to him the melancholy situation of the prisoners at Santona, par-
ticularizing their nudity, and their being eaten up with itch and vermin.
"I had the pleasure, in consequence of hearing an order given to a
medical man (Mr. Bennett, Jun.), to proceed by the James Watt to
Santona, to inspect and afford medical aid, and also that a suit of
clothes per man should be put od board fer the use of the prisoners.
"On my return to Santona, on the 17th January, 1837, I again
visited the prison, and found the men clothed, with a few exceptions.
I again asked them if they were still willing t• return to their duty.
and they declared they had already subscribed their names to a paper to
that effect, which they told me they gave the doctor to submit to the
Commandant of Santander. They also mentioned, previous to my
leaving the prison, that five of their comrades had died from the effects
of the severity of the weather.
" On this last visit to the prison I was also accorimanied by a friend.
"A true copy of the statement sent in by me to Lieutenant. General
Evans. "CHAS. STEWART,
"late Major let Beg., 8.A.L."
He (Colonel Churchill) should like to be shown that portion of the
Articles of War under which the Legion had been organised, British
soldiers could in any case, even for mutiny, be worked as galley.slaves.
—(Hear, hear.) The conduct of all parties concerned in this transaction
was most disgraceful, arbitrary and tyrannical.—(Hear, hear.) How
was the officer treated who had thus voluntarily interested himself on
behalf of his unfortunate fellow.countrymen ? Why he was told he was
not in the service, that he had nothing to do with the subject and that
the sooner he quitted the country the better.—(Hear, hear.) It was
clear that there was a wish to hush tip their wrongs ; but they should
be dragged to light—they should be placed before the people of England
and confidently submitted to the impartial tribunal of public opinion.--
(Cheers.) There was one more statement of an officer who had come
from St. Sebastian, with a portion of the Legion :

London, December, 1837.
I certify that on the 10th of July last, I left San Sebastian, in charge
of 100 men of the late 4th Regiment British Legion, in the French
lugger Camille, of Bayonne, Captain Larre; on the lath of July, we were
forced by contrary winds, and not having more than two days rations
left, to make for the port of L'orient; on nearing that pert we were
overtaken by a French brig, one hundred and fifty men on board, that
had left San Sebastian the same day as the Camille; she putting into
L'Orient for the same cause as ourselves—for want of provisions and
strees of weather. On entering the river off Port Louis, we were put
under twenty-four hours quarantine ; after being released from qua.
rantine, Captain Larre applied to Mr. Viscount, the British Consul at
L'orient, for provisions for the men. He supplied them with two days
rations, saying, he could not give them more until he had applied to and
received an answer from the British Consul General, at Brest. On
the third day after I saw Mr. Viscount, he then told me that he had
received an c.nswer from Brest, and that the Consul General had ordered
him not to supply the men with provisions ; he, the Consul Genera!
stating, at the same time, that he had received orders from the British
Government to that effect. Captain Larre then applied to the French
authorities, and they seeing the necessity of the case, after one or two
days consideration, supplied us with sufficient provisions to continue
the voyage, On the 30th of July we arrived at Portsmouth, when we
had about two days rations left, which were delivered over to the French
Consul, he giving a receipt for the same.
F. BaocKwELL, late Ist. Lieut. 4th Regt. or Westminster Grenadiers.
—Was this statement, true► It ought to be sifted to the bottom: and
if found correct, no punishment could be too condign, as far as pub-
lic opinion was concerned, for the Ministry, who after having induced
their countrymen to go out to Spain, had so barbarously treated them.
Lord Melbourne approved in his place in Parliament of all that Col.
Wylde had done; therefore he must havdapproved of the speeches of'
the gallant Colonel to the, men of the Bth regiment and the Pith
Scotch, which was as follows :

" Men, I know you have suffered great hardships—very severe hard.
ships indeed ; but you have also gained for yourselves great honour.

I can assure you, in England your efficient military discipline is justly
appreciated. Now, althongh you have had great hardships, during part
of the first year of your service, the Spanish Government have at last
settled all your claims ; or, if you have not been paid, you will be by
tomorrow. All other engagements, lam authorised to say, will be
fulfilled. I can assure you, the British Government will not suffer your
claims to be neglected. lam fully authorised to say so. Therefore,
men, I think you are in no danger—none whatever, in engaging to serve
for one year more. Your pay will be paid regularly to you; and you
know the character of Colonel O'Connell, who is to have the chief com-
mand—you could not serve under a better officer, that I know you will
all admit. Well, Colonel O'Connell is to command you, and he will
withdraw from the service, if your arrear of pay is allowed to extend
over three months. Also, Colonel Hogg, is very anxious that a large
number of you should stay, and I really think, men, you could not do
better. I have seen you in arduous situations, and I can tell you—and
I am not telling you so to flatter you—on the honour of a British officer,
I tell you, that no soldiers could have done better than you have done.
I am proud of you, your country is proud of you, and it would be a
blind mistake of you, men, to go home just now. Nearly one-half of the
working population are out of employment, and cannot obtain it in
England. Now, Ido think, men, you could not, under these circum-
stances, do better than stay. Besides, I may mention, too, General
Evans being now at home, and in Parliament, will be of great service to
you. All the representations from me in your behalf will be favourably
attended to. Now, just make up your minds, and go to your Colonel, or
to any other Colonel : you can choose what regiment you like best—but
just go and agree to stay another year, and I have no doubt we shall see
matters in a more prosperous condition than they have been."
How General Evans had served them in Parliament, those who had read
hie prolix, but not very intelligible speeches, would know. It grieved
bins that they should all have been so duped by all parties—
that they should have been made the victims of one continued
system of duplicity on the part of the Government of this
country.—(Hear, hear, hear.) They had been entirely misguided on the
subject, and such being the case, he had no reliance on Ministers, and
were determined to let the people know the treatment they had received.
If Lord Melbourne had done his duty,he would have remonstrated with the
Government of Spain, and hare said, if the honest demands of thew
men were not satisfied, the naval squadron of England should leave their
shores.—(Cheers.) H e appealed to the public at large to tale their
claims into consideration, and afford them redress. He appealed to tie
press to expose injustice and wrong, and beat down oppression, for he
maintained that the press was never more dignified, than wl.en it was
tendering its voluntary services in the cause of oppression.—(Cheers.)
In upholding the present cause they were forwarding the cause of the
orphan and widow.--(Cheers:) He appealed to the Imperial Parlia-
ment to lay aside all party feelings, and look at the present question in
its only true bearing. And, lastly, he would appeal to the le3ple at
large to give their aid and support to the cause which he was now ad.
vocating. He hoped the different constituencies of this empire would
not think this was a question wholly undeserving consideration, and
that they would excite their representatives to come forward to their re.
lief and succour. If he might be allowed to indulge in feelings of a per.
sonal nature, there were some of his countrymen whose energies he would
enlist in the cause for the sake of which they had been contributing—
a cause which, whatever might be its temporary reverses and defeats,
againsthistory taughtettt error
_ them: cause
of
was ever
light progressing
against
darkness—a cause beaming
with the glory of accumulating triumphs, ever gathering fresh fi nits
into its garner, and was essentially the cause of European ci.
vilization,—(Hear, hear, and cheering.) Thc question now under