Star.
London, England, 1808-09-03 00:00:00

PROCLAMATION.

" Inhabitants of the Island of Cuba, worthy sons
of the generous Spanish nation !
I-hasten to make known to you that I have this
daiy recoiled several Manifestoes and Proclamations,
pablfshedand printed by order of the Supreme Board
of Government which has assembled and established
itself xt-Seville, in consequence of an act of perfidy,
the most infamous ever witnessed by any preceding
'century—papers which, as you will soon be convinced,
-do not appear to have been dictated by men but by
7:Mgels—p4pers, finally, which must necessarily pro-
:chke.tbe vindication of Spain, hitherto played with
.and :sacrificed, and the liberty of all Europe, which
;was enslaved by the same hand that has afflicted our
_b-ethien: It appears Irons those papers, and lam
-certified by persons the most worthy of credit, who
:have been eyi-witnesses of the atrocious and horrible
Arscesses committed in our mother country in the
• months of April and May, that the French Govern-
ment, assuming die raise Character, of friend and
.seduced "Fer4litend VII. the best and most vir-:
icons of Ki?tgis, Itr.abusing his generosity and Rood,
ttith, 16 draw him into its' territories under captious
ii insidious pretences, and by sirnilatfelonious arti
iceb induced his August Parent, and the whole of the
oyal Fatri4T, to fcllair him, fir the purpose of
treating them; as it has done, mitt the utmost con-
tempt and kandminy—and -consummating lastly its
-horrible projects, .by compelling them to renounce
-the crown of Spain •hr favour-of an odious stranger,
without any other pretensions• than an insatiable am-
tiffon- ; at the same time; when his executioners and
assassins spilt the glorious 'blood of the inhabitants of
Madrid, in return fer the brotherly hospitality with
*ilia they were received and cherished, as their own
Chiefs have publicly acknowledged. Our language
iota ant co stain an expression adequate to Characte-
rize A Cotichtet sohonible which has stamped France
_ _

opprobrium and infamy, and all Europe-With
asottrehtle, and carried fear and terror to then:lonia-
_ nensibleanabbrbarous nations. Dona imagine, how-
ever, that the honour, the greatness of Character, and
,majnstic dignity of Spain should have been &inlayed
at the sight of so'much confusion and afflictive gala.
-lorry: 'Firfrosti it, the virtuous and magnanimous
ions of the country of heroism are determined to fight
until thelast -of her twelve millions of inhabitants
:shall gloriously fall, to avenge so humiliating an out-
fate. their prostituted religion, their violated wives,
thiiii=red.sons, and to rescue their adored
Terdittasid. captivity. So it is, do net doubt it:
They will make the authors of so much iniquity:
tremble; and exterminate them. They are animated
by.a holy rw, capable of krealcias asunder the Enka
"of the chain which all the nations of Eutope are
kept under oppreisilan--zihey Rave taken such lista-
•Sures was Mould have done honour to a Fabius, a Nu-
.l is Eniilius, Ora Scipio: • They have concluded an•
armistice with Great Britain. Great Britain, dear
and consoling name to mankind, to which hencefor-
vaard should be added, that of " shield of suffering
humanity," from the same just reason from which
Spain should assume the tale of Deliverer of the
`world," They act in concert with the virtuous and
magnanimous Britons for although they were but
lawly our foes, to whom is it unknown that it pro-
ceeded only from the violence and machiavelism of
the French Government ? 'Do not accuse me, on
perceiving this assertion not to be conformable to
that very contrary one made by me, in the Proclama-
tion of the 27th of January List ; for, besides that,
almost every Government labours under certain sys-
, telatical Vices, and from thence commits some acts
OCtnjustice whereby • it renders itself liable to be
Inveighed against,- and particularly when in a state
of war, it-became a duty of my station to frame
my language according to that of my superiors,
in whose nit* I offlciated, aid in which manner I
act on the present occasion • yet with this difference,
that my heart with just indignation beats in unison,
and my blood boils with anxiety to be shed for ow.
Religion, our King, and our Country. Be you fully
persuaded, and confidently trust, that the other na.
tions whose hearths and whose fields remain covered
With the yet reeking innocent blood of trier flower of
their youth, which was shed in consequence of the
most incomprehensible success had by the genius of
Aiesolation, haring united with Spain and Great Bri-
tain, willreturn from the
.pcnic dismay. into which
they were thrown, and- gaming new courage to cast
Off the yokes they will assist at the first and most
/Ale work of humanity, with the same fury as shewn
;by a lioness when in pursuit to recover her whelps.
The Frenchmen themselves, that illustrious and gene.
sous nation, worthy of a better fact* will. be eager 101
wash off the black spots with which':by their mai-
bands they have stained their renown. Ninmlserite-
- them' and do not look -upon them with odium and
hatred, for they are our brethren, and will- soon be-
an. friends. The Divine Creator of Men,the arbiter
of the Ate of nations, is interested in this WI), and ex-
alted work, and we must not dtttibt of protection.
I see you'full of aidenilaintiett tolljetb Participate in
ryes performance I lint -a distance of two thousand'
leagues unfortunately deprives you of that glorious
and supreme felicity : yet this is oflittle importance.:
The funds and sums of money for public eiperidi-
tune are not less necessary than personal service and
you have it in your power thus to participate, by
Means daft offering more salutary to mankind, and
snore grateful to the eyes of the Derry, than any that
was ever made in the Holy Temple. .I;nitate the
heroism of Spain; lessen your expencei ; renounce
your superfluities • establish a Spartan ceconemy
not an ounce-410d and silver remain Upon your
rut that whichisdedicated to the most religious
esenfices. Have you less virtue and leskrnerosity:
litait.the Roinans, when the victor:ono 1-fatinib4l,
writhed towards .Rome./ . Are you moreittached
- to your property, =nave you less disinterestedness.
Ain those heathens who kneW not the tiro eon
""di Have you less tweet for your holy religion, leis lot-
, and less love for your country, Mir enstcrius..
Yaws, mad pur goveranieut 'Do ytntUis the.

risk yottr wives and tender infants? Dec you en-
tertain leas horror of tyranny and slavery_with which
you are threatened by the common enemy as.soon as
ke shall haii subjugated your brethren, which Heaven
forbid I Would you prefer keeping your riches en-.
tire, in order that the booty may be so much more
agreeable and acceptable, to his avarice, rather than
sacrifice a part of them to such noble objects, and
save the remainder at so little cost, preserve, from
danger your mother country, and rescue from capti?:
vity your liege King, who mounted the throne after
the most eminent proofs of his virtue and heroism
which he has given by his readiness to mount the seal:
.fold under the enormous infamy of passing for a re-f
gicide and parricide, with a view and .for the purpeeel
only of rendering. yod happy, by producing the dis-i
missal of a perfidious traitor and deSPOsie Rfourite.
Pardon me if I offend your delicacy, your generositi,'
/our well proved' loyalty, and your holy ambition of
true glory. My imagination, disconcerted by such
fatal suppositions, scatcely permits me to articulate
the words, aod much less enables me to presume
their. truth. 'I am convinced that you will do much
Morellian that which I demand. I well know your
viteuesoind ydu are not ignorant how high I estimate
_them, and which are the sentiments of my heart as
.AigardF you and every one among you. Yes, this is
thOe.pocha at which America and her illustrious sons,
fired. by the noble blood of Spain, which runs through
their veins, will derelope the greatness• of their souls,
*.and acquire as much glory as was lately acquired by
the heroic inhabitants of Buenes-Ayrts, and still so
muelmore brilliant, as moral vire.lweed the san-
guinary triumphs of Mars. The ben which you '
ptiodoee en this occasion, will be common to all
Spaniards, to all the nations of Europe, and to your-
' vslves ; but the sweet pleasure of having their bles-
sings, which will resound in succeeding generations,
will be the peculiar reward of your own beneficence,
the highest reward that can be bestowed by man ;
a reward infinitely preferable to all equivocal distinc-
tions and titles granted by Princes, not always to
virtue,._ hue oftentimes to vice and corruption.
44 1- hasten to issue this Proclamation, that you
may at once be acquainted with the great object
which must occupy the attention and attract the heart
`of every Spaniard ; indeed, of every friend to man.
—BM at the same time, I do most earnestly recom.
mend to 'ton, a firm reliance in Div txx PROVIDENCE;
which provides a remedy for every evil in virtue, for-
tittute, and magnanimity, at no period more requi-
Site thin on this occasion • displaying prudence, mo-
deration' and docility, that you may restrain the
anxiety of your temper ; avoid all riot and dis-
order, and refrain from offering any insult or vexa-
tion to the peaceful, laborious, and useful French-
men, the cultivators of our soil and our friends,
-Who, abhorring the scenes daily presented to their
view by the most sanguinary aid most disgrace-
ful• Revolution that ever stained the leaves of history,
sought for and met in your circle the sacred asylum
ever afforded by brotherly hospitality ; observing ne-
vertheless, that in case there should be any amongst
them whose presence shall be found dangerous or
obnoxious, he or they shall be suffered in peace to
depart from this island, taking the remainder under
the protection of .Spanish humanity-, and of the
strong arm of justice which is ready to be exerted
with every severity against those who may offend
them either by word or deed. If you listen to the
paternal advice I give you, and carefully observe ir,
I do most confidently trust in the infinite goodness of
the Most thou, in your loyalty and heroism, that
you will soon perceive the Aurora of tranquillity, of
commerce, of prosperity, and glory, emanating more
splendid and brillaint for you and your succeeding
generations. (Signed) 44 MARDIS DE SOMEREHLOS?
u Havanna, July 17, 1808."