The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-22 00:00:00

SPAIN.

REPORTEP:p:FEpTioN OF A gPANISII CORPS.
itepoitT or bt:STERAL VILL,ACASPA TO TUE MINI.,

STFII. OF WAR, AT CADIZ.
" MosT Excut.LENT Slit—l have uniformly stated to
you, in all the reports made by me since the departure of the
Government from Seville, that that event had-produced a very
mischievous effect on the country ; and the scantiolous ,
tion which has taken place from the small body of troops that
proceeded to these head-quarters evidently proved that it shared
the same spirit.
" Nevertheless, I find, by your Excellency's answers, that
Government pay no regard to so great an evil, and that no
measure is adopted likely to soothe this anxiety, and arrest the
terrible calamities with which we are threatened. The evil in-
creases, and hope dirninishr.: ; and as every honourable man
invested with authority ought to express his sentiments with
frankness, so I deem it to be my duty never to cease impress-
ing on the Government the necessity of convincing the Cortes
that events chew every day more and, more that the conduct
they pursue is in direct opposition to the manifest opinions of
the country.
" I begin with this declaration, being solicitous to induce
your Excellency to take into your most serious consideration
the circumstances which I am going to state to you, and which
prove, in the most positive and evident manner possible, the
truth of the assertions contained in my preceding dispatches.
To-day, when we were about to begin our march for Bornos,
it being broad daylight, two and twenty privates and a trum-
peter of the regiment of horse of Almanza overthrew the sen-
tinel posted at the door of the inn where they had been quar-
tered, and proceeded, sword in hand, towards •the road of Co-
ronil. When clear of the town they halted, and got ready
their combines, and thus assuming a hostile attitude, they
waited till they could be joined by those who had not in the first
instance been able to accompany them. This sufficiently shewed
that they entertained no apprehension of being attacked by the
picquets of Aleantara, Bourbon, and the remains of the com-
pany of Santiago, which form my escort, even though I, with
my Staff, had placed myself at their ‘head. Being aware of
this circumstance, I was unwilling to put to the test the suspi.,
cious fidelity of those who-as yet follow me. It was to no pur-
pose that the officers endeavoured to dissuade them from so
great a crime; for, so far from heeding the officers, they even
threatened to tire on them. This defection, Most Excellent
Sir, cannot be charged upon their being ill provisioned, for they
are supplied in advance with an abundant day's ration; nor on
excessive fatigue, for they have not had any ; nor on too rigorous
a discipline. Neither could it proceed from a persuasion of
their going to be shut.up in the Isla, for they had seen that the
column which was proceeding thither had previously marched
for Xeres.

'"rheir motives, then, Most Excellent Sir, could be no other
than this, that they saw at, one and the same time war waged
against the foreigners and against their own countrymen ; for
several towns treated them in a hostile manner on their march,
and, doubtless, they will hear from the peasantry no 'other lan,
guage than that of seduction, as since the appointment of a
Regency, and the removal of the Government to Cadiz, the
public opinion can no longer be pronounced. A laryie portion
of the people are convinced that it is the cause of a facti:tn
which we defend, rather than the cause of the liberal principhe
on which the Constitution is founded ; the more so, as it' is
now openly observed, that those who were most tenacious. In
their refusal of coming to terms, and who, having been Inv-
vented from forming a conspiracy, hastened the tempest which
is sinking the vessel of the State, have been the first to place
themselves individually in security against it,
" Considering all this, Most Excellent Sir, having only such
means, and being rsduceed to such critical circumstances, I am
so far from being able to answer for the success of the opera-
tions confided to me, that, in my estimation, the moment is not
very far distant when I and my whole Staff may become vie.
tiros to the resentment of troops who think they are about to
be engaged in an anti-national war.
" I hope your Excellency will submit the above to his Ma-
jesty, and favour me, by the bearer of this statement, with
his Rbyal resolution. Clod preserve your Excellency many
years.
(Signed) " PEDRO. VILLACAMPA.
" Arcos, June 19."
REPLY
TO DON PEDRO VILLACAMPA.
" MOST EXCgt.I.ENT SlR—The King, in pursuance of
what your Excellency states in the letter dated the 19th inst.
respecting the state of the army under your orders, and' of the
country in which it ix operating, has thought proper to relieve
your Excellency from that command, directing it to be given
to Lieutcnant.General Don Joseph de Zayas, named Com.
wander of the Second Army of Operations' I communicate
this to your Excellency, by order, for your government and
coniplianee.
Clod preserve your E x cell ency many years. •
(Signed) FR4NCISCO MORIO.
fe Cadiz, June 21, 1823. ' . .