The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-23 00:00:00

BARCELONA.

DEc. 13.—Yesterday, at half-past three o'clock,
p.m., 13 men were shot of the 239 who were arrested
on the 4th, for having taken up arms against the Go-
vernment. The execution took place on the glacis of
the citadel. They were selected from amongst 93,
who had been tried and convicted by the military
commission which is now sitting permanently in the
place for the trial of those who had been concerned in
the late troubles. A few of those who were thus
executed went to the ground in their uniform of the
National Guard. A portion of them had belonged to
a sort of free corps attached to the Carlist army
during the civil war, and which in the Catalan idiom
is called patitlea ; they had subsequently passed over
to the Christino ranks, and continued up to the latest
moment in the service. They were thus consequently
guilty of a double desertion.
The only immediate result which has as yet fol-
lowed the attempt at insurrection made by the Barce-
lonese, is the complete reconstruction of that portion
of the citadel which was pulled down last year by the
more turbulent portion of the National Militia, and in
the demolition of which Linas, who lately commanded
the insurgents here, so much distinguished himself.
More than 2,000 men are at this moment at
work at it ; they commenced operations yesterday ;
and it is the firm determination of the Regent, as well
as of the Captain-General, that not the slightest relaxa-
tion shall be allowed to take place, until it is placed in
precisely the same state as before the events of Octo-
ber of the last year. The expenses of its reconstruc-
tion are to be defrayed by the city of Barcelona.
The late events have so completely disgusted the
Captain-General Van Halen with his present com-
mand, that he has more than once expressed his firm
determination to resign, and that within a very short
time. It appears that Cortina is very popular in
Catalonia, but particularly in Barcelona; and the
late events must have left behind much and
heart-burning, which the continued presence of Van
llalen would probaby serve to perpetuate.
Ten companies of engineers, 1,000 masons, and the

The Brigadier Castro, who commanded the fort of
Atarazanas, under General Pastors, will be tried by
the Military Commission at present sitting here. Pre-
vious to the unfortunate occurrence which, mongst
military men, has so tarnished his character, hd° had
the reputation of being one of the best officers in the
Spanish army. The fort of Ataranazas is a strong
position, and by means of the Puerta Madrona a cot n-
munication is obtained with the fort of Montjuicth,
which completely commands the town of Barcelona .
He had three battalions, of more than 600 men each,
the best and bravest men in the service, and ration&
for one day in his possession the night before the sur-
render. fled he remained but a few hours longer in
his position, he would have been supplied with every-
thing he wanted, as Van Halen's first care after
leaving the citadel was to make a circuitous move-
ment for the double purpose of keeping open the
Madrid road, and supplying and aiding Ataraztutas
and Montjuich, and which he succeeded in doing. C'on-
sidering the previous character of this person, and his
well known skill and courage, it is a wonder amongst
military men what could have induced him to evacuate
such an important position. It is probable that some
curious revelations will be made whenever his trial
takes place.

A graver accusation than the above hangs over the
head of the French functionary. This accusation is
not one made at random, or on suspicion, by a Pro-
gresista, Moderado, or a Republican pacer; nor does
it owe its origin to coffee-house reports, or promenade
conversations. It is an accusation made in an official
and formal manner by the Captain-General himself
against the representative of France in Barcelona.
A bribe of 30,000 dollars was offered by the Junta
to the Governor of the fort of Montjuich, and an as-
surance of a safe passage to France on board a French
vessel, on condition of his surrendering the important
position he commanded. The offer was rejected con-
temptuously; it was again and again repeated, and
again and again refused.

SPAIN.
MADRID, DEC. 13.—The news conveyed by the
Barcelona express of the 9th instant, and published
this morning in the Gazette, is scarcely worth allud-
ing to.
It is curious to observe the change of opinion which
has taken place in Spain within a short period. The
Navarrese, you will recollect, were the last to aban-
don the cause of Don Carlos. In their province it
was that he expected to make a last struggle for the
crown of Spain. In Pamplona, the capital of that
province, a Te Deum and public rejoicings have taken
place to celebrate the Regent's successful mission to
Barcelona. Maria Christina and her favourite Ge-
neral (Leopold O'Donnell) will doubtless wonder not
a little on hearing that the city selected by them only
twelve short months ago for rekindling the civil war,
should so soon have become so enamoured of peace,
Espartero, and the Constitution. The event furnishes
another reminiscence. The hireling and factious
scribblers who are now endeavouring to move heaven
and earth against the Regent, for having at length
used a necessary and justifiable force in putting
down the insurgents of Barcelona, never complainedof
the said Leopold O'Donnell, for having fired last year
upon the unoffending city of Pamplona. Neither do
they take the least notice of the two or three hundred
soldiers and officers shot almost defenceless in the
streets of Barcelona, from behind strong walls and
barricades in the most cowardly and sanguinary
manner. In the one-sided criticisms of these writers,
the military are something to be shot at ad libitum,
even when endeavouring to preserve the peace and
institutions of the country. The insurrection of Bar-
celona was unprovoked in its origin, treasonable in its
objects, and brutal in its execution ; and all that is
said consequently about its castigation mere nonsense.
In no country in the world would such lenity and
forbearance have been shown towards so criminal an
attempt. By the parties who clamour against the
severity of the measures taken on the oecasion, the
praises of the French naval force there, for having as-
sisted in extinguishing the fires caused by the shells
of Alontjuich, are pointedly contrasted with the con-
duct of the British and Spanish Marines, who took
no part in this humane office.
Fives Active 25 15-16 cash to-day.

TO. CORRESPONDENTS.
The communications sent by " W. M." have been
received. We shall probably be able to find room
for some of them in the course of next week.
" A Constant Reader's" request shall be attended to.

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, DEC. 22.
THERMOMETER,' Lowest, 50 ; Highest, 58 : Noon,
54.
BAROMETER, 30.30.—W1ND, S.W.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON I.3RIDGR THIS DAI.
%baling...« 29 minutes after 51 Evening 57) 'minutes after 5.

5V ,
F . -
v.t
0
•
;• • . •- • • V", Se"
" DROC

Attn 4
/Litt
..,