The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-19 00:00:00

MORNING SUN

INSURRECTIO.N IN
SPAIN.

MADRID, OCT. 7.—My letter of the 2d instant put
you in possession of the state of affairs and of public
feeling in the capital at that date. The design of a ge-
neral rising in the north, and of a revolt in the army,
had then become obvious. For several days previous,
indeed I might say weeks, the Government had informa-
tion of the plan and leaders connected with it. Deter-
mined to act solely within the orbit of the constitution
they, unfortunately, paid too little attention to the in-
formation received by them, anti consequently neglected
taking those precautions in time required by the circum-
stances. They met the blow aimed at them more like
martyrs than worldly politicians. The evil which they
did not mean to any one, they did not expect in return ;
and the time for averting it was let pass in imprudent
forbearance.
They were soon roused from their confidence. On
the 31 they had the news of the defection of the troops
at Estella and Pampeluna; and on the 4th it became
generally known in Madrid. One of the conspirators
also came over now, and gave more exact information of
the names connected with the conspiracy in Madrid.
The principal of these were those of the Generals Leon,
Espeleta, Borsa, Concha; Brigadier Pezuela, and Colonel
Cor lova, brother of the late Geaeral of that name.
The names of several civilians of a respectable charac-
ter were also given. It was time to do something, and
it at last occurred to the Government as prudent to
order the military men I have just named to their
regiments, or into depot. For this purpose agents
were sent to execute the orders of Government; but
the parties had all absconded, or did so in the
act of the Government officers calling at their houses.
Several confidential officers were sent to the provinces to
join their regiments, which were also ordered to move
on the Basque provinces. Generals Ayerbe and Zur-
bano received important commands ; the former, of the
whole army destined to operate in the north ; the latter,
of a division. Some troops in the neighbourhood were ,
ordered to concentrate upon Madrid, and double guards
placed upon all places of importance in the city. While
the Government took these measures, the corporation,
provincial deputation, and the officers of the National
Guard of the city, waited'upon the Regent, and gave him
the strongest assurances of support. Meantime the city
remained in a state of complete tranquillity.
OCT: B.—The blow intended by the Moderado conspi-
rators has been at last struck, and has failed. The good
fortune e hich crowned the Duke de la Victoria in the
field has followed him into the walks of peace ; and
Isabel the Second, and, I trust, the free institutions of
Spain, are safe.
When I closed my hurried letter of last night, the
diabolical attempt of carrying off the Queen from the
Palace had commenced. The execution of the plan
conducted by Generals Concha, Leon, the Duke of San
Carlos, Casa Solo, and others, properly began at seven
o'clock in the barracks of the Hussars of the Prin-
cess below the Palace. This regiment, which was
most faithful, was made prisoners at the moment
they were proceeding to take orders at the Duke's
residence by stratagem ! Concha, with three companies
of the revolted Royal Guards, came upon all the officers
in the guard-roem, and threatened to fire on them
if they stirred. His attention being called to another
quarter, the officers succeeded in getting to their men
and horses, and rendered noble service during the night.
Meantime Concha immediately went to the Palace with
twelve companies more of the revolted Guards, and at
once obtained possession of the whole lower part of the
palace and grand staircase. The three companies of
Guards on actual duty at the palace, said to have been
bribed, and no doubt truly, otlered no resistance to his
entry, but withdrew to the armoury, a long building in
front of the Palace. The relieve guard of halberdiers, of
about 100 men, had also unfortunately not arrived at the
time ; and the whole defence of the Palace and the
Queen's person, with the Infanta, her sister, devolved
upon nineteen old halberdiers, commanded by Co-
lonel Dulce, a young man of thirty, and nobly did
these veterans and their young commander per-
from their duty. Stationing two men at each door in
the series of rooms leading to those) occupied by the
Queen, and placing himself at the first which he ac-
tually left open, he and his brave companions defended
themselves and their Royal charge from half-past seven
o'clock to one, when their 1,500 assailants had to escape
by the Puerta de Hierro, leading towards the Basque
provinces.. Such was the intensity of the filing kept up
by both parties, that the doors, walls, and furniture
presented the appearance of so many targets this morn-
ing. It would be in vain, even had I time, to at-
tempt to describe the almost superhuman defence
made by the brave men, to whom Spain is to-day
indebted for a Queen. In the dark and confusion of
the night, and the occupation of the Palace by a large
invading force, below in the court-yards, assistance
from without appears to have been difficult. Fortu-
nately the fate of the Queen did not altogether de-
pend upon it, her safety being in the hands of a few
but gallant defenders. On the retreat of Concha at
one, hostilities for the most part terminated, and the
palace was kept possession of till daybreak this morning
by the halberdiers. The conduct of Madame Mina was
worthy of her name. Most fortunately she too, was in
the palace with her Royal pupils. By conveying them
from room to rem, as, the bloody battle thickened, she
may be said to have, in a great degree, contributed to
their personal safety ; but, notwithstanding all
her care and firmness, the mark of a bullet was visible
this morning on the wall, a few inches above the bed of
the Infanta ! Not even to the Gallant Duke would she
open a door, when a moment permitted him to inquire
after the safety of his Sovereign and her sister. At day-
break this morning the Duke de la Victoria proceeded,
i
at the head of his escort, to the Palace. I never wit-
nessed any thing like the enthusiasm with which his pre-
sence animated his troops. His Passage to the Palace
was amongst one continued series of the loudest and most
heartfelt vivas.

He visited the Plaza Mayor in his way, and spoke a few
words to the people and the troops. He then proceeded
to the Palace, and here a scene of the most interesting
and moving kind took place in the presentation of the
Royal orphans at the balcony of the Palace, to assure
the people of the safety of their beloved Sovereign.
Hundreds were admitted to the Royal apartments
to greet and console the Queen and her sister, the
latter speaking, with infantile simplicity, of her
hiding herself to save herself from the balls ! The Duke
cordially embraced Colonel Dulce, and instantly pro-
moted him to the rank of Brigadier. He next addressed
each of the halberdiers separately, and in like manner
promoted them, giving them at the same time the Laurel
Cross of San Fernando. These fine old fellows were at
their post when the Duke entered, just as if nothing had
happened. But the most touching scene was, perhaps,
that of Madame Mina publicly apologising to Colonel
Dulce for her rude denial of admission to him during the
night when he applied to see the Queen. The defection
of troops has not, after all, been very considerable. Some
companies of the Guards and their officers are made
prisoners. The National Guards and the people con-
ducted themselves with their usual srmness and mode-
ration. I feel disgust in adding, even as a report, that
Concha and Leon had sallied forth from the French em-
bassy on this disgraceful enterprize.