The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-09 00:00:00

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

PAais, JLN. the Duke de San LOrenzo,
'Minister of, Spain, last night dispatched a courier
Madrid.
It is announced that the department of Con-
sulships and Commercial Agenti in the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs has been offered to M.Delalot,
and that this deputy would not accept it.—(Ge-
zette de France.)
An extraordinary courier arrived on Saturday
at the Spanish Embassy': he was the bearer of
important instructions for his Catholic Majesty's
Ambassador ,at the British Court. Yesterday
morning M. the Duke de San Lorenzo sent off
dispatches for London.
The choice for the embassy to England is now
between M. the Prince de Polignac and M. the
Duke de Fitz-James. Whichsoever of these two
personages may be selected by. the Government
for this important mission, the political views of
.the Ministry cannot lose a support.7—(Courier
Francais.) , •
His Excellency M. de Chateaubriand, Mini-
ster of Foreign Affairs, gave a soirée yesterday.
The assembly was very brilliant. A great num-
ber of personages of distinction of the various
admi►►istrations of the State were present. Ge.
neral Quesada was remarked there. This brave
dk.fender of King Ferdinand was presented to his
Excellency by M. the General Donnadieu.—
Nuotidienne.)
Madame the Duchess de Berri was present
yesterday at a soiae which his Serene Highness
'Abe Duke d'Orleans gave to Prince Leopold of
Saxe Coburg.
Thanks to lithography, we shall soon have a
complete collection of all the personages, whe-
ther at Madrid, at Perpignan, or Toulouse,
whose names fame trumpets forth. -The Trap-
•pist may be placed by the side of M. Llorente ;
:`the Baron d'Eroles 'by General Mina ; and the
'Bishop of Tarragona by the famous fiscal Parades.
The portrait of the Nestor of the Cortes, M.
'Ratner° Alpuente, is now exhibited for sale at
most of the print shops. He is in military attire,
in the act of mounting guard. This old man is
aged 70, and still appears full of energy. It is
• affirmed that the likeness is perfect.--(Constilu.
flannel.)

(Front
.11w Quotidienne.)

There .aye no examples in history that war has ever been
avoidettby pastponing,it, and there area thousand, on the con.
trary, in which it has been prosecuted with success, by not de.'
ferring it..
All wars, which justice and honour command, are . always
,squally indispensable on the grounds of prudence and reason.
France has so long shewn us the abuse of force, can she not
thew the employment of it?
There areinconveniencies to sustain in making war, but there
are dangers in not making it. ,It is the eharacterlitic of want of
foresight and of .weakness. to be more impressed with present
inconveniencies than impending dangers.
If France now hesitate to make. war ageinst an oppressive
Government, -with the almost unanimous support of the op-
. pressett nation, which every where k rising to break her
chains, I ask with sincerity against what can she ever make
it ?

Will 'War be declared to the Cortes ? Useless question.
Will War be made against the Cortex ? This is what must be
inquired.
ff the revolution of Spain triumph, it will remind us of what
we seem to have forkotten. ft is, diet we have declared War
against it, as it is declared against a powerful enemy, every
time dsst it is shown; and it the revolution- be conquered, it
,will be disastrous to France not to have contributed to its over.
throw.

In this time of seduction, the French soldier ought only to be
encamped in the enemy's country.
Nothing is more dangerous than to keep in garrisons an army
.telich expected to march against the enemy. '
Oh I what wise policy is that which would impound a revo.
`lotion, and plunge a great nation into barbarity, to preserve ci-
vilization in Europe.
Taeitus relates that a revolution having broken out amongst
the Suevi, Vannius, their King, an ally of the Romans, was
pieelpitited from the Throne, and his State subjected to all
the honors of civil war ; the Emperor Claudius' was earnestly
intreated to come to the relief of this people and their King;
but he contented himself with generously promising the King
of the Suevi an asylum in his dominions, if they drove him
.nut of his Awn, and he wrote at the same time to the Go-
vernor of Pannonia, recommending him to establish a cordon of
troops on the right bank of the Danube, in order to aid the
vanquished, and to repel the victors, if, intiaMed with their
success, they should dare' to follow up the war within the
limits of the Empire. This policy eventually succeeded very
111, and appeared contemptible to the Romans, and hence it can-
not be that of France.
In the presence of Revolution there are no happy Sabines.
The French boldier is born for attack, and it is more than lin-
prudence to let him continue inactive under the artillery of
Liberalism.

fro dissolve the Army of Observation would be a. defeat;---
to maintain it, an imprudence ; to indulge the idea that
may he avoided, a chimera ;'--to await it, a dishonour ;—to ex-
, pact that Revolution will reform itself, an illusion. What re.
source remains
If France he ignorant how a dynasty is sustained on the,
throne, with the support of Europe, let her ask the shade of
that great King who placed bins there.,-in spite of Europe.
Must she wait to decide until the opprobium and danger
.or Ferdinand have been treasured with mathematical. pre-
,cision, similar to that which took place in the State which
Montesquieu mentions, where they tneasw red the outrages corn-
mittod against a woman like a figure in geometry. And has
France forgotten that a captive King has already one foot upon
~the scaffold ?
What Was the cause that Louis XVI. lost his head—was it
an invasion ?No; it was atetreat * 11.
(Signal) HENRI DE BONALD.

MAnnm, Ditt. '2o.—(Extract .at a Private
Letter.)---" A. visit paid by M. A'Court, the I
English Minister Plenipotentiary, to M. San Mi-
,guel, has given rise to numerous conjectures ;
but the true motive Juts not transpired. It is,
*Rid that on this occasion he gave some explana-
tion respecting the English expedition off Cuba."
BATONNE, DEc. 31.—0 n the 20th • Colonel
Assura attacked, at }Uwe', from three to four
,hundred rebels, who had been left to defend that
position. With the exception of thirty men, who
arrived in the most deplorable condition at St.
Jean Pied de Port, the whole were destroyed
by the Coustitutionalists.—Colonel Assure after-
wards got possession of Barbastro, where he
found a great quantity of munitions of war and
Trovisions.
Lermout4, Dcc. 20.—Letters from Corfu in.
.form us that the late successes of the Greeks by.
-sea haste inflamed the courage of the inhabitants
of the Islands so much, that they are disposed to
try their fortune again. Numerous armaments
,are preparing in their ports, and it is believed
that the castles of the Dardanelles, and all the
Mussulmen artillery, will not prevent these hardy
and bold sailors from passing the Strait this
winter, and making the }lag of the. Cross float in
-the sea of Wetmore, and even at the entrance of
:.0 onstanano') le,

THE REGENCY OF URGEL AND THE ARMY OF
THE FAITH.

The following curious detail is from a 'eery
well-informed quarter :
order to appreciate justly the Regency of Urgel, is ne-
cessary to be acquainted with the places where it has been
formed, and the persons to Nylioni it has addresietkitself. There
already existed in Spain bands of guerillas, who seized every
opportunity of rising and of infesting the roads, fur want of a
'more peaceable \ occupation. Spain is, of all the countries of
Europe, one of the least civilized, and that in which industry
has made the least progress. There are few great roads, and
in several provinces the traveller passes over immense distances
without meeting with any cultivated land, or a single habita-
tion. Among a people,,thus destitute front their want of in-
dustry, and possessed of a lively imagination, it is easy to find
men disposed to range the mountains with a musket on the
shoulder. These men, united into a band, may succeed in
molesting, but.could not resist, an 4rmy. Thus it happened
with the guerillas opposed to the Imperial troops of Napoleon,
and with the bands of the Faith opposed to the Constitutional
Army of Mina. The Regency of Urgel was established on the
lunes of the, Pyrennees, the most favourable place for an in-
surrection. on account of the height of the mountains, the mi-
sery of the inhabitants, and the proximity Of protection from
France, whose Ministry afford it as much assistance as they
can without compromising themselves. To excite the peasants
of ,Cerdagne, the poorest province of the Pyrennees, was not diffi-
cult; to obtain some degree of success in countries which were
not defended-, was not more difficult ; and it has been imagined
in Europe that the Regency, composed of men of genius, of '
intrepid chiefs, and fanatic soldiers, was about to overturn the
Spanish Constitutional Government, Yet nothing was ever
more untrue. The soldiers of the Faith are not fanatic ; they
are poor and wretched, and are without clothes, though living
under a rather severe climate. ,Guided by feelings of mere inte-
rest, they lent themselves to the first power which promised them
food and clothing. The proof of this is, that they frequently utter
complaints against the Regency—that the latter can pacify them
only by levying continual contributions—that after the capture of
Puycerda they would have greatly ill.treated the King Mataflori-
da,ifthe French army had not prevented them ; and that,finally,
since the law of the amnesty, a great number of them have re-
turned to Spain, and entered into the army of Mina. This law
of amnesty, to which the French authorities at first refused to
give publicity, sufficiently proves that Mina is well acquainted
with the enemy he has to deal with, and that he knows that food
will always buy them. Another consideration will put it be-
yond a doubt that the Spanish insurgents are not fanatics, and
that is the manner. In which they fight. At l'uycerda they
were 3,000 in number, and yet, after a dozen shots from the
,Constitutional troops, they made an ignominious retreat, though
their potution'was advantageous, and their assailants were only
400 in number : they fled into the plains of Cerdagne before a
hundred cavalry. This is not the way in which real fanatics
proceed ; this was not the mode of fighting adopted by the
Leaguers in France, the Jacobites in Scotland, and. on a more
recent occasion, by the-Vendeans. Besides, fanatics, when de-
feated, become melancholy, and continue to be pursued by the
fixed idea which has taken possession of their rifinds. The
Spanish refuges, actuated only by self-interest, appear, much
better satisfied to remain in France, where the authorities fin-
nish them with food, than in Cerdagne, where, pursued by the
troops of Mina, they were not. always ,provided with
Those who, like the writer of this, have met with them on the
roads of Perpignan, must,he convinced that the defeat of their
cause occasioned little uneasiness, to them, and that when

they succeeded in obtaining alms, and converting it into a
bottle of wine, . they were full of gaiety, and cared little
to what place they were conducted. To the peasants whoM
famine has led' to insurrection, must he added the smugglers,
who abound throughout all the Pyrennees, and who are
more constantly procurable than any, of the insurgents ;
as to them, all parties may reckon on them as soon as they
have occasion for them. With, regard to their leaders,
they are not better chosen than the soldiers for the triumph
of the Faith. There IS not among 'them one man of
sufficient conseqnence to make an impression on the Spanish
nation. Mataflorida is a mere advocate, who was only the
other day living in great obscurity at Madrid, and.who became
first a Marquis, and then a Minister, for having drawn up the
address of the 72 Verses, in whiCh the abolition of the consti-
tution was required of Ferdinand. He was a Minister at the
tinic when the events of the Isle of Leon enure before the pub,.
lie. Compelled to retire, he found himself in the midst of the
insurgents, and declared himself Regent ; two citizens, divert
and Ortaffa, both Wives of Perpignan, and for a long time
eXiled from France, joined hith under the title of Secretaries ;
and when some fanatic journals, wishing to give importance to
that which really had none, styled them Ministers of the Re-
gency, they accepted the pompous title. Mataflorida himself,
whom the ignorant peasants of the country call El Rey,illata-
flarlda, allowed himself to be decorated with the title of King.
Their importance has thus increased in the opinion of Europe,
but not in their own army, where they had neither sufficient
genius nor spirit to attach to their party any of the chiefs of
bands, as unmanageable as their soldiers, and possessing each
their individual ambition. Thus it will be observed, that the
army never was less successful than since the formation of the
Regency ; because, in fact,' partial insurrection was easily ac-
complished, but the organization of the bands would have
been almost impossible, even to men. greatly superior to those
who had attempted it. The Regency at first possessed some
funds ; this is certain, because it paid some French purveyors,
of the town of Ax, in the department of Arriege. It is im-
possible that they can have drawn them from Spain, for the
mountains in which the insurrection took place are not capable
of furnishing a few final-tot. Almost all the contributions have

been raised there in kind. It cannot be doubted that these
funds were drawn from France. They were too inconsiderable
to suffice for a long continuance of expenditure, and the pur-
veyors themselves for a 'long time believed that they would
never receive any return for their remittances.

The want of pecuniary resources, with such soldiers as those
of the Regency, was of itself a certain cause of defeat; the
disputes and incapacity of their leaders soon completed the ruin
of the cause. The Baron d'Eroles was the person upon whom
the greatest dependence was placed. Be is unquestionably a
Man of cultivated understanding, and has studied the law; but
he possesses neither the physical nor the mental qualifications
for a Guerilla Chief. Be is a contriving, intelligent, and am.
bitious man, and more fit to act as a. diplomatist than a leader
of insurgent bands. Besides, although he possesses rational
opinions, he has thrown himself into the hands of an insane
party, from motives of ambition alone, and in the hope of ob.
taming great assistance from Foreign Powers. By the side of
Baron d'Eroles were placed a crowd of leaders not very capable
of understanding him, and not more disposed to obey him, and
with whom it did not -suit the Baron to be seen. Because he
seldom shewed himself, and because he was surrounded with a
sort of mystery, the army placed the most confidence in the
Baron d'Eroles, although it had no well-founded motive for

relying upon his talents, never haying conquered under his or-'
der.. The Baron had under him Romanillo, Misas, Mirales,
Pleyrcs, Romainisa, the Trappist, and an innumerable string
of chiefs, who were multiplied without end in an army where
each person, can command a few men whom he may have col-
lected together. Most of these chiefs are Odor new Gueril.
laiSts, who devastate the country, but aro, incapable of aid-
ing in a coneerted plan. Ronianfflo was accused:by the Army
of the Faith, of nothaVing done what he ought to second a
plan of d'Eroles, by which he occasioned his defeat ; it is
even said that lie wits imprisoned in the fort of the Seo d'Ur.
gel in .consequence of this conduct. Romanillo, on his part,
complained that Baron d'Eroles, instead of placing himself,
sword in hand, at the head of his troops, shut himself up to
trace plans of campaign for an army which could only be led by
an example of courage. Thus, therefore, disunion, and the
consequent impossibility of acting in concert, prevailed among
the chiefs, some of whom committed such acts of rapine that
they were disowned even by their own partisans. Almost all
the monks or fugitive Spaniards, when questioned on the sub-
ject, agree in describing Mists as one of the most atrocious
brigands that has appeared for a long time in the Spanish
mountains. Bosieres is an old soldier, who has been sentenced
to death both in France and Spain, and who at last has betray-
ed his own partisan. Mollorillo is a Piedmontese. The Trap-
pist is a mountebank, who, after having been guilty of the
most shameful irregularities of conduct, took refuge in a con,
vent, whence he issued during the late insurrection. The Army
of, the Faith does not speak in high terms of his valour. This
fellow is of the middle size, and has very black hair ; he always
wears the dress of a Capuchin friar, with a very large hood. On
his breast is a cross, composed of white wool, resembling the
ancient crosses, and a large rosary hangs by his side. In this
costume he shows himself every where. His gown is perfor-
ated in many places, as he says, by musket balls, which have
northe power to injure him. One day, in order to convince
the troops of this miracle, he cried to some soldiers, the accom-
plices of his fraud, " Fire at me, and you will see that the
balls cannot touch me !" They fired, and the pretended Saint
remained uninjured. One may conclude that their • muskets
did not contain a murderous charge. Other soldiers who,
doubtless, were not In the secret, wished to • fire at him also
but he grew indignant,' and said, " You have doubted the
power of God, and wished for proofs to induce you to believe in
the miracle; you are not worthy to be his instruments,—go
about your business." This Saint is not exempted frinn
human feelings; for he quitted the Army of the Faith a long
time previous to its defeat and the capture of Puycercht; and it
is said that a jealousy with respect to the .coenmand was the
motive of this anticipatory retreat.
It is unnecessary to say more for the purpose of describing
the Regency of Urgel, and these who direct and obey it. Its
soldiers when they entered France were 'in a state of absolute
destitution. 'With the exception of some Officers and some pee-
sons who were called pages of the Regency, nobody wore uni.
ibrms. A great part of the army was without shoes, and wore
only a very ditty kind of dress which is common to the Spa- ,
niards of those provinces. The fate of the women was most
deplorable: with great difficulty they proceeded, along the
route, carrying their children on their backs, or in their arms,
and were frequently obliged to sit down in the snow, exhausted
by fatigue and hunger. By their sides travelled the fat monks,
closely wrapped up in warm gowns of all colours, black, gray,
white, blue, and brown, and for the •most part mounted on ex-
cellent Spanish mules. The, Gentlemen, called pages of the
Regency, travelled on horseback, with old saddles, and some.
times without either saddles; bridles, a stirrups. The' horses
were those of cemagne, which,arebadly shaped, but excel-
lently adapted for travelling in a mountainous country. The
number of Spanish refugees who' have entered France since the
capture of Pnycerda may be •ealcolated at four thousand.—
Nearly three thousand rations were delivered out at Bourg.
Madame, on the road which leads to Perpignan. If, preceed•
ing from Catalonia to Arregnn :Navarre, one estimates the
number of insurgents in these two provincea at eight thousand,
including in this number those who have been dispersed, it will
appear that only between ten and twelve thousand'men took a
part in the general insurrection. :Besidetohis number is no-
thing in.a country Wher,t,soldiera are worth so little, . and are so
easily obtained. A subscrptuu.l company may at any time pm.
cure soldiers on the frontiers of Spain, who will fight for any
body. If rich enough to clothe and arm a few banditti, and to
hire a good officer,, it might expect more success thin,the Re-
gency of tire, poor, incapable, and divided, has been able
to obtain.