The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-19 00:00:00

camps of military operations have been my home, and hun-
dreds of battles, without at any time being sparing of my
blood, have elevated me to so eminent a position. In the
cruel struggle which devours us I have never sought for
encomiasts of my merits, nor have I made an abuse of
my position for the purpose of magnifying events ;
beithe have I fallen into the vicious practice of treache-
rously speculating upon the credulity of my fellow-country-
men. Free from ambitious views, contented solely with
being useful to my Queen and my country, I have left my
deeds to speak for themselves. I have merely defended
myself when my reputation has been attacked ; I have
only made representations when the good of the
cause required it ; and more than once I have sacri-
ficed the triumph of my opinion to the general good.
Others :may be flattered by command ; but for my-
self (I speak from my heart), it is nothing but a con-
tinual torment which has destroyed my health. I swore
not to sheath my sword until I should see the destruction
of the enemies of liberty and of your august daughter's
throne ; but, having been placed on some occasions in a
position wherein I could not be useful, I have renounced
the command, in order to seek in the bosom of my family
that physical and moral tranquillity which that command
denied me. Offers, which were unfulfilled—the determi-
nation to conquer or die—the affections of my companions
in glory—privations and dangers—pure and disinterested
patriotism, have forced me to continue at the head of the
army, worthy of a better lot, if the injustice of men, party
spirit, or bad administration had not brought it into such
misery, and interrupted the career of its triumphs. The
country where the operations of that army have been
carried on is a faithful testimcnial of these bitter and
afflicting truths. Although that territory has been sacri-
ficed, in order to supply the army with a precarious sub-
sistence, its inhabitants cannot fail to acknowledge the
principal support, whereby, nevertheless, its spirit,
decision, its admirable discipline, are sustained, and its
ardent desire to present its generous breast to the patri-
cidal sword. Let the country answer. Who is it that
keeps the army ? Who cements its virtues ? Who ren-
ders it of weight and respectability in the midst of its
misery ? It must. be replied, my good faith, as a private
individual—the compromise of my fortune—the active co-
operation of the local authorities—justice in the distribution
of the trifling supplies received—and, above all, the confi-
dence solidly acquired by the man who has given a thousand
proofs that he does not entertain any ignoble pretensions.
" I have been obliged, Madam, to overcome my natural
modesty, in order to prove that the object of this represen-
tation is very far from being to cover ambitious designs ;
for there is no stronger argument than a review of the
titles, the position, and the favourable junctures pro-
fited by sJlely for the good of the cause, in order to
produce the conviction that this good alone, this desire
for its triumph is the agent whereby I am moved to op-
pose the sad project of the formation of the new army of
reserve, of that ideal giant which has no other exactitude
than the parallel of the person who has conceived the
idea, persuaded that he is already furnished with wings
in order to take his flight into space. And let it not be
supposed that a personal enmity has the slightest influence
in the step lam taking. General Narvaez, when he was
brigadier, (lid not choose to continue in these provinces with
the division under his command ; he left it, and that incon-
siderate step produced his separation. A period arrived
when the safety of the country claimed the assistance of all
those who had given proofs of gallantry in the field, and their
love of glory ; it appeared to me that under that considera-
tion Brigadier Narvaez's services ought to be utilized, and
I solicited of your Majesty's Government, that he might be
evnplayed. This was granted by the Bardaxi ministry , but
I never supposed that under the Ofalia ministry, he would
be promoted to the rank of Major-General, without any pre-
vious action of war, or any special merit in support of
such promotion ; and I frankly stated this to the Secretary
of War, ad interim, in my character of War Minister in
proprietary, kith which your Majesty was pleased to in-
vest me ; although at the time I did not foresee that this
promotion was only a guerilla in advance of the vast project
of which I have now arrived at the knowledge.
" If General Narvaez had not. been pushed on by the party
which,perhaps,isdesirousof good results, or were he deceived
by theories which are not authorised to be propounded
when established principles exist, it is very certain his march
would not have been arrested, and that the troops of the
army of reserve destined for Castile would at this moment
have been performing important services for the cause;
where danger threatens, where there are enemies to combat,
where public opinion may positively be gained, where re-
wards are justly acquired, and where the faithful and de-
fenceless populations with reason exclaim against the
abandonment, whereby they are placed at the mercy of
the rebels ; enduring their rapine, their peafanations, in-
sults, and assassinations. The army of the north, after the
many reductions it has suffered, would not find itself forced
to detach forces into the interior to pursue Carlist expedi-
tions, which cannot be prevented from sallying forth, on ac-
count of the extended line t °be covered, notwithstanding the
continual movements; whilst the soldiers arc without shoes,
half naked, badly fed, and without pay. And whatjust, reason-
able, and useful motive has existed to reduce to no effect your
Majesty's royal orders by which the coming hither of those
troops was determined ? Why was it brought about that,
after having filed off before your Majesty, they remained
near the capital and were again reviewed ? . Because it had
been already agreed upon, already arranged, to blind, to fa-
scinate with exterior appearances, in order to precipitate
the adoption of the absurd project which was destined to
annul those well-considered royal orders ;destined to aban-
don the towns and villages of Castile, and render this army
useless. If not, why was a measure of such high importance
proposed, agreed upon, sanctioned, and circulated with such
rapidity that there was scarcely any interval between its an-
nouncement by the panegyrical journal and its official notifi-
cation ? How could a temporary War Minister presume,
in a matter specially belonging to his department, to take
upon himself the tremendous responsibility of a resolution
as arduous end complicated as it was inconsiderately re-
solved upon ? Why was not the memorial or proposal sent
for the examination and advice of the inspectors and directors
of the different military arms ? Why was not the opinion
taken of the Generals-in-Chief of the armies of operation,
and particularly of myself, invested as I am by your Ma-
jesty with the character of Commandant-General of the
United Armies, and possessing a category in the army
which demands consideration and appreciation ? And why,
in lieu of this, were Generals summoned who had none of
the needful antecedents, and who had no knowledge of this
war ? Because the authors of the project were convinced
that had they taken the opinions of those who had superior
right to advise upon measures of such importance, they
could neither obtain sanction to the scandalousness of main-
taining troops in inaction close to the capital, nor could it
be possible that the project should sea the light in public.
Thus it is, Madam, that an abuse is made of your Ma-
jesty's name.

" As emanating from your royal observation, encomiums
are heaped upon the excellent footing of organization and
the discipline of the troops, which so rapidly and cleverly,
it is said, have been got together and utilized by their
well-deserving Commandant-General, Don Ramon Maria
Narvaez. Every Spaniard, more especially every mili-
tary man, is delighted to know or to observe that the na-
tional troops are in such a state ; but none believe that
any person can admit either the exclusiveness that is in-
ferred, or the deduction that this interesting experiment
can serve as a type for the monstrous creation of an
army (also of reserve) to consist of forty thousand men.
Men, madam, who are ignorant of the truth—who are
not in a situation to judge with exactitude either of things
or. of persons—are easily led away by sophisms. Fatigued
with the duration of the war, they' idolize whomsoever of-
fers the most, who manages o get the greatest number
h. of
a yeari toadulators, and who gets the highest value set upon
pro-
ceedings. General Narvaez has required nearly
organize the carps of reserve, which WAS the hope of those
populations who, with patriotic enthusiasm, placed all that
was needful at his disposal. A portion of this corps ought
now to be combating actively, at the destination that was
pointed out for it. But it is wished that it should serve as
a basis for the formation of the grand array. Nevertheless,
it is said that those troops e
have been collected together
and utilized with equal rapidity and ability. As to° their
utilization, would it have been right if a province which
before had been infested by Palillos, Origita, and such
like, should not have been freed from them when occupied
by 14,000 men ? Resources, Madam, were what it was
urgent to create. If provided with them this army would
not' have had the signal triumphs which caused flattering
hopes to be entertained interrupted. Had ahad activitydthoseresources
been provided the troops would have
energy to repair the calamities which have occurred, andand
this unfortunate nation would not have been the toy of
extravagant (or foreign) influences, nor of plotting
aspirations.
" If—which is not credible---it should be .obstinately
endeavoured to carry the plan into effect, theartnies of
operations would become unhinged ; demoralisation would
be the immediate consequence ; the scanty resources
which are now sent to them would be all absorbed by the
army of reserve. The army of operations would be un-
hinged, because the chiefs, officers, and sergeants would
have to leave the existing corps, notwithstanding the
remonstrances which would be made. These classes, so
necessary in their regiments, would cease to perform the
preferential scrvcie in the field before the enemy. From
all the extremes of the Peninsula would be seen officers
marching singly ; and it would likewise be attempted to
separate some veteran force to serve as a basis for the
new battalions.
Demoralisation would be an immediate
consequence, because.. a sublime virtue, an ardent desire for
glory, and an exqupate delicacy are necessary to prefer the
sufferings, privations, and dangers of the armies of opera-
tions to the attraction of promotion and pay, which might
be attained in the army of reserve, without so much risk