The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-25 00:00:00

SPAIN.

PRIVATE LETTER FllOlll UTAERA, OCT. 71
"I had promised to write to you on ruching
Seville, but many interesting circumstances that
have occurred, and the dullness of this town, in-
duce me to anticipate from hence. We reached
Lebrija yesterday : it is a poor village, standing
on an eminence, at about a mile from the turn-
pike, towards the Guadalquiver ; our journey,
was very amusing; the procession may be com-
pared to an Avalanche, increasing as it advances,
and destroying every thing in its course; the
distance from Xeres is about 20 miles of almost
level country, principally producing corn, with
some vines and olives, near that city and Lebrija.
Notwithstanding the heat was oppressive,
ascended with my Patron to the Moorish Castlel
which crowns the hill ; he was a plain, honest,l
communicative farmer; I availed myself of the
opportunity to inquire (as usual) the state and
opinion of the neighbourhood ; there seemed,
according to him to be a general wish for
peace and tranquillity under any Govern-
ment for since 1808, the farmers have
been ruined by Invasions and civil wars: the
French had fortified the castle, maintained a
strong post there, and levied heavy contribu-
tions. From 1814 to 1820, the village suffered
much from the continued throughfare of troops
going to Cadiz to embark for South America : it
was under a military Commander, and the se-
verest martial law could not authorize the cruel
and despotic acts, he described, as executed by
Abisbal's orders. We were tired, and hoped
the Constitution would bring us relief, said the
farmer ; but although the tithes have been di-
minished one half, we have taxes, and the clergy
are always saying our holy religion was in
danger; they would not allow our young men
to join the National Militia, children to attend
tho public schools, or the A 'cedes to en force the
orders of the Constitutional Government, which
they declared contrary to the will of Jesus
Christ ; but now they have gained the upper
hand, they ill-use all who before did their duty,
ant' we are obliged to pay them all the monies
whi:.'t have been withheld by law these last three
years, and all their partizans live upon us—" Sill
pap!' Ull maravedis."

66 The plain from Lehrija to the Guadatquivar
of about four miles iu breadth, is totally uncut-
tivated by the &cries of the Cortes, it was to
have been drained and distributed to the poor, is
equal portions, and would have become exceed-

_ .
ingly valuable, as it extends for many leagues up
and down that fine river. The view from this
castle is delightful—some large farm-houses are
scattered over the plain ; notwithstanding, in no
part of Spain is the defect of rural population
more strongly demonstrated than here—the soil
is rich and productive, and the climate particu-
larly favourable ; yet for eleven long leagues be-
tween Xeres and Utrera there is no town or vii-

lege on the road, or place where a traveller can
rest with safety or comfort ; a few miserable yen-
tas or inns afford most wretched accommoda-
tion, and at the post !tenses provisions of the worst
kind are extremely scarce and dear ; thus, thro'
the finest country perhaps in Europe, you travel
with greater inconvience and danger than in some
parts of Africa. The farm houses are immensely
large, surrounded by high walls, and closed with
massive folding doors, resembling gaols or forti-
fied positions ; from 30 to 40 and even 50 labour-
ing men, and at least as many yoke of oxen are
employed in each during the convenient season ;
in summer, the common food of the men is bread,
onions, tomato., vinegar,oil, salt, and water, mixed
up, and forming a dish called gaspacho, and sailed;
and at other seasons bread, cheese, and 'spas
of bread, oil, garlick ; the cattle eat barley
straw ; at sun sot the doors are closed ; fire-arms
are kept in readiness to prevent surprize, large
dogs are turned loose in the yard, and no per-
suasion can induce the inmates to receive a
stranger until day-light ; the labouring into,
arthritis, and lower class of people of every de-
scription hues their families and hovels in the
town, where they live in idleness, gaiety and
dirt. i was much surprized to see no cottages
on the large space we overlooked; my inform.
ant gave mo a satisfactory reason—" the poor
have no property to any description save their
wages, therefore no inducement to live in the
country, but they return to their families every
Saturday, and scarce go to work again until
Tuesday morning." My patron told me that
General Micheletti' was quartered here, with the -
regiment of Guadalaxara, when Itiego proclaim-
ed the Constitution in the village of Las Cnbezas,
he was considered a strong Royalist, but either '
from fear or intrigue, made no attempt to check
the proceeding. at Arcot, excepting sending
Mario, his Aaid-de-Camp, to reconoitro, whZ
joined Meg°, and then withdrew his troops to
Carmona.

" Desirous of visiting the cradle of the glori-
ous attempt at freedom, I permitted the prom-
-16)119 his Majesty's escort, and an inumner-
' *Me herd of hungry adventurers who swarmed
around to pretends' (beg employments), to regain
the high road, determined to proceed direct to
Las Cabezas de Sae Juan, which is situated
aboit six miles from Lebrija, on the direct and
cross road to Utrera ; but after the Royal Fa-
miry left the town, an unexpected scene (at least
by me) presented itself; the soldiers of the Faith
and ragamuffins who belonged (or rather had at-
tached themselves) to the Court, not only refused
to pay for their fare, but went from house to
house and levied forced charity of provisions and
money from the poor afflicted inhabitants ; in a
few minutes the taverns and shops were com-
pletely gutted, and the people of the village,
unable to resist, were compelled silently to wit.
ness their own destruction ; 6 the business of the
day being concluded,' the fellows defiled, chaunt-
ing their customary songs and hymns.
" From Lebrija to Las Cabexas de San Juan
is a perfect level, until within a very short dis-
tance from the latter, when you ascend a hill on
which it stands on very irregular ground ; I had
expected to find something superior to the medium
diets of. Spanish towns, bat found the houses,
church, end Casa de Ayuntamiento inferior, being
very small, and poor, excepting a few houses in
the principal street, in one of which Riego had

lived ; San Miguel occupied the neat. I visited
them both ; the families were well-dressed, pi).-
lished people, and the females quite genteel. I
' did not expect to find myself in such good soe
ciety : we became friends, and an interesting
girl, whose sister is married to Balcarcel, who
was Riego's Aid.de-Camp, and afterwards Com-
mandant of the battalion of San Marcos! at
Cadiz, showed me the room in which their
meetings were held ; something had been at
that time suspected by the Paton, but he
kept the secret until Riego himself confided it
to him ; there were only a small number of the
Officers of the battalion of Asturias (Riego'd
regiment) initiated into the plot, among whom
were the two San Miguels, Perez, &c. 814:.
Michelena had sent an agent to investigate a
few days previous, but the soldiers were true
to their promises ; many had suspicions, but
refused to disclose them. On the Ist January,
the day Axeti for the execution of the plan, after
the battalion had been to church, the officers
were assembled in Riego's apartment ; he
harangued them in the most expressive languaget
enjoining them to speak frankly whether they
thought the Constitution necessary to save their
country from ruin ; they all answered it was, and
swore to support him till the last if he would en-
deavour to re-establish it ; the difficulties of the
ease: prize were then explained to them, and they
were requested to decide for themselves ; there
%ITS instantly u simultaneous cry 46 COEIItitUCIDIL
o Muerte :" Riego explained his plan of pro,
claiming the Constitution immediately, and
marching on Arcos that night ? he enjoined them
to preserve order and discipline, to prevent any
person quitting the town, any injury being done
to property or individuals. When I reflected
upon the fate which has befallen Riego, I could
not avoid lamenting that an enterprise so auspi-
ciously commenced, should have met so deplora-
ble and unexpected a termination !---' If an has,
ed the example of the officers who surprised
A rens, Spain would not be so unfortunate,'observed
the owner of this house. The four field-officers,
14 of the Captains, and almost all the subaltern*
and serjeants, have been killed, wouuded, or
taken prisoners, fighting to the last ; Rine, San
Miguel, Arismendi, Castro, Perez, &c. have fal-
len true to the cause to which they swore in this'
little room three years and a half since; but their
loss will be avenged,and from each drop of their
blood will Spring up a Spaniard to save their
country, and avenge their untimely fate. Spain
will never again be a prey to despotism, 4 delta a
a sus paisanos los lngletes que tungan valor y
animo y que veneeremos 4 despotism° y lu ariste-
cracia; que la guerra parese haverse concluida
pero la revolution ahora is princeipec ! y seremos
litre,.' lahe old man's countenance was enli-
vened as he spoke, there was a prophetic smile
on his features, a firmness and confidence imps.
ing beyond description ; he took my hand, and
I felt I participated in all his feelings and de-
sires, as I returned the cordial shake, bowed, and,
retired.

" This is a town of about four thousand inha-
bitants, principally farmers mul labourers ; there
are several convents in it, and the friars have ast
abs3lute dominion ever the minds of the people,
yet there was a respectable corps of national
militia embodied ; the latter, muter some of tins
leading young men who were active and useful
lin saving the surrounding cortijos (farm.housesY,
from Pauline, Zaldivar, and others, who, as
faithful' overran the country, drove off the
cattle, and imposed heavy fines on the land.
holders. It Is a remarkable circumstance that
these public robbers were guerilleros iu the time
of the French ; they then plundered and mol-
dered foi 4 independence,' and in the civil war
for religion !"

SILIION..--.lt is not generally known that this
fish eaten out of season is often productive of very s:..rious cam.
plaints, among the most frequen‘ of which is cholera morbus.

COAL-11ARKET, OCT. 24.
Ships at Nlarket. Ships sold
2L Newcastle . . 18
0 Sunderland . . It -

Pete.
30. Od to 13. Cd
37. Cd to 491 Cd

COURSE OF EX(JIIANGE, Otcober t 4.
ististerJant
C
Ditto, at Sight lt 9 .F.
Rotterdam lt
Antwerp
ursh lt
Altana 32 0' 21 Us
SO I 2 Us.
Pitris,ll Day's sisht
Ditto
M
26 10 2 t.., onde:lox, ditto
Berlin
7 10
Ft link fort

thu Main
Petri 'burgh • ai
Vienna
. • 10 10
Trieste.. • •
10 20
Madrid
ililhua
3164 Effective
Ilereelwat ...
S5l
. .
.. sui
tlibraltat
30,
Gel,ott 444--Venicet Ital. tit 10
16
Malta 45 -Naples 3ll/
Valentin
116 rut Oa.
63
()putt°
!tin Janeiro
Bahia
4tt
... • 91 Curk qi pet Cutit.

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