The Sun.
London, England, 1812-04-04 00:00:00

LISBON P4II3.ERS.

i.ISRON, MARCH 18.—Some French Gazettes
published in Biscay having reached us, we have
thought it right to copy the following circular from
a French General, to.shew the world the loyal and
unconquered spirit by which the Spanish people
are animated, even in the provinces! nearest to
France, and which have been Most actively occu-
pied by the enemy.

" Vitoria, ;an. 16, zBtz.
" TO TiON AUGUSTIN DIAS DR ARCATA, DRAM Of
THE CATHEDRAL OP VITORIA, 4ND PRESIDENT

OF THE CLERGY OF ALAVA. ,
I beg you. M. President, to communicate to
all the Clergy of Alava, that I am very miiol.„ dis-
satisfied with their apathy and negligence. 'Very
thing shews that the public mind is every.iffeinent
deteriorating in this Province. Your Clergy, it
would appear, instead of instructing the people in
their true interests, are wholly occupied about them-
selves, and in procuring the means of satisfying
their wants and appetites. A moral pestilence,
more deattuctive than any plagtie, consumes. your
unhappy countrymen. What, then, are the Clergy
doing for the purpose of relieving them, of point-
ing out the means, of their preservation from ruin,
and of curing them of their furious passions ? Do
they think that assemblages of brigands, of rob-
bers, can roll hack the current of the human mind,
and prevent the Emperor from doing what he
pleases ?—he who enumerates 45 millions of sub-
jects, -besides an equal number of people who are
closely united to him?
" Light up, then, M. President, in the breasts of
your Clergy, the sacred fire of humanity ; listen to
its voice, and, in future, fulfil better the duties
which it imposes; instruet the people, and the people
will better obey the law.; and orders which they re•
ceive, and on which their felicity entirely depends.
Let your Clergy no longer remain insensible to all
that passes in their respective parishes ; impress up-
on them that they are public funtlionartes, and that
I make them responsible, like the Tribunals, for all
the ►mischief that is done throughout their jurisdic-
tion,—th:it I make. them responsible in their proper-
ties and persons. for giving intelligence to the police,
with regard to the marches and movements of the
brigands, every thing that passes in their vicinity,
and all the firings which they may hear.
" consider the execution of the present orders a
matter of the last importance ; and I am determinr
ed to punish with she greatest rigour the villages
which do not communicate the above-mentioned no-
tices. All the ii,habitants, poor and rich, the Ma-
gistrates and Clergy, and particularly the latter, are
personally responsible for the execution of the pre-
sent decree.

I am, &e.
" BARON BUQUET,
" General Commandant of ens- (Partnes
and charged with the High Police in the 4th Govern-
nicrit ."

MURCIA, JAN. 27.—After the fall of Valencia,
and the retreat of ililontbrun'A division from Alicant,
which he in
.vain summoned to surrender, the ene-
my, following that imp9lse of rapacity which now
appears one of the essential charadetisiics of the
French soldier, spread themselves through the diffe-
rent villages of this province, committing their usual
robberies and excesses.. We had been just relieved
from the horrors of a cruel epidemic disorder ; we
were suffering under the calamity of the want and
high price of grain ; and, to complete our miseries,
we were visited by those who, while employed in
our destrudion, insultingly talk to us of the happi-
ness which they wish us. On Jumilla they imposed
a contribution of 40,000 cruzadoes ; 80,000 on
Hellin, besides a large sum for the General's table;
and on other towns in a similar proportion, carrying
o places where the payments could
n
completed with that expedition which 'was
(lit-lilted by their anxiety to repeat similar robberies
of hostages from
in other towns.

The diVision of General Villacampa, which was
in this city, marched out on the morning of the
25th, by the road of Alcantarilla; and a few hours
atterward,, a report was circulated, that the enemy
were at Alhama, on the Andalusian road, six leagues
from the bridge of this city. They turned out to
he a detachment of French troops from the king-
dom of Granada, under the orders of General Soult,
brother of the Marshal; who, learning. it would ap-
pear, our misfortunes in Valencia, and the 'inroads
of his companions in the kingdom of Murcia,wished
also to participate in the spoils. About mid-day we
learned, that the French had arrived at Alcantarilla ;
and at three in the afternoon, twenty-seven dragoons
made their appearance, about one hundred of them
reniaining on the opposite aide of the bridge. The
Senate and other Authorities had gone out of the
way; but the enemy's Commandant ordered a Ma-
gistrate to come to him, and diretied that within
two hours, the city should furnish 12%000 cruza-
does, and four hundred varas of cloth, under the pe-
nalty of military execution. The greatest exertions
m ere made to levy the contribution, hut it was
impossible to raise more than 20,000 cruzadoes,
with which and ..ome cloth the detachment departed,
having ordered 3000 rations to be prepared, and every
thing necessary for the reception of their General. He
accordingly entered next day with more than 600
horse; and repairing to the Town-hall, made arrange-
ments for completing the contribution, which with
the greatest exertions could only be raised to a small
amount.' fie then repaired to the Episcopal Pa-
lace, whew dinner was prepared for himself and his
Adjutants. •
The inhabitants were as much afflicted as the
Prench were off their guard, when suddenly some
vollies of shot, the trampling of horses in the
streets, ens' cries, a thousand times repeated, " Oar
troops have entered,—the enemy are caught !" pro-
doced general and inexpressible pleasure. In tact,
Don Martin de la Carrera, General of our cavalry,
informed of the entrance of the French into Murcia,
had collected his force at Espinardo, about half a
league to the north. of this city, and formed the de-
sign of surprising them. He entered by the gate
of Castile, at the head of too horse, and driving
the enemy's advanced posts before him, penetrated
to the interior of the city, while about 60 more of
his men entered at other points. The surprise was
complete the French General was at dinner; and
such was his hurry when he received notice of the
attack, that, descending the palace staircase, he
slipped, and tumbled down a long flight of stairs to
the bottom, where he remained so mach hurt, that

for scoo.o!nutes he cgu,l6 not mount his horse. It
wciple b* difficult to express the valour which onr
sotidisfirryed in the streets and square.; bilt
at .t being chard by a superior force which
the enemy bYought up from the bridge, they vue.e
obliged to eve way, retiring to Espinardo, e
was the main body of out cavalry, who bad nut e
tereil the city.

Thelon' of the enemy WAS considerable 1 they
threw urine dead bodies into (he river, and buried
otheiii: the amount of their loss was not less than
thirty4fit'd killed. About Bor to of our soldiers
wereV killed, and some wounded ; but our most
painftil ibis Was that of the brake Carrera. Surround-
ed by about 16 of the enemy, at the bottom of the
New-sqtatire, he long detended himself with lode.
seribablb valour, killing two of them with his own
hand) end died fighting liken man.
The inhabitants, who every moment expeeled
the remainder of otit troops to finish the work whicli
theirOeneral had so happily begun, passed from the
extreme of joy to that of grief. The enemy, who
even before the fight had begun to plunder the city,
continued their robberies till night, giving them-
selves up to all the excesses which accompany these
horrible scenes, and assassinating some of the in-
habitants, and of the religious orders. In the streets
they robbed people of their watches, purses, hats,
and c!othes, indecently examining the persons of
the, women, and taking from them even the smallest
copper coin.

The enemy having retired, the most faithful in-
habitants, amidst the evils by whicii they were
afilicied,.still found some consolation in the fonei.ar
honours which they bestowed on the corpse of the
illustrious Carrera. This day he was -buried wilt)
all the pomp which our state of desolation would
admit of.

When in future times this city shall have regained
tranquility, and its wonted opulence shall be restored,
doubtless it will not fail to raise a monument of gra-
titude to the memory of Carrera, who, wishing to
irni;ate, in defence of Murcia, in similar circum,.
stances, what was anciently done by Camillus in
defence of Rome, against the Gauls of his time,
ought not to lose the credit of his gallantry because
he was not favoured by fortune.

GERMAN PAPERS.