Star.
London, England, 1823-11-03 00:00:00

ROYAL• CORRESPONDENCE
WHICH PRECEDED THE SURRENDER OF CADIZ.

No. I.
MY DEAR BROTELER—*ND-- declares
tions which I- made to your Royal Highness in my let-
ter of 'the 21st of last August. have not‘haOlaygletl.
had reason to expect, and in despite of them itunicent
blood has been spilt on both sides, which might have
been spared. The obligations- I am under as a King,
and the sentiments by which I am actuated as the father
of my subjects, impel me to take another step in order
to put an end to the disasters of the present war ; and,
filly convinced that your R syal Highness must be anis,
mated by a similar desire, I propose to you a suspen-
sion of hostilities, even though it should be without pre.
jt:clice to the blockade, in order that,in the mean while,it
may he possible to treat of a peace decoroos to both nations.
Lieutenant-General Don Miguel Ricardo de Alava,
the bearer of this letter, goes authorised by me for the
purpose of conferring- with such person as your Royal
Highness may be phrased to name, if you should so
think proper. In this manner it will be possible to ob-
tain those reciprocal explanations which are so neces-
sary to create an understanding and facilitate tilterier
measures ; and if j our Royal Highness, as I have every
reason to expect, should think proper to agree to my
proposal, the abovementioned Commissioner is also fur-
nished with my authority at once to agree to and sign
an armistice; or, should it be deemed necessary, I will
confer upon him my full powers in due form.
. God preserve your Royal Highness, my dear Brother
and Cousin, the many years I wish you. I am your
Royal Highness's affectionate Brother and Cousin,
Cadiz, Sept. 4, 1823. (Signed) FERDINAND.
No. IL—TRANSLATION.
• MY DEAR BROTHER AND COUSIN.--I received this
evening your Majesty's letter of the 4th, which you had
entrusted to the care of Lieutenant-General Don Miguel
de Maya. I have the honour tcereply thereto through
the medium of Major-General the Duke de Guiche, my
rst A ide-de-Cam p.
I can treat of nothing but with your Majesty, alone
and free. When this object shall be obtained, I will
urgently press your Majesty to grant a general amnesty,
and to give of your own free will, or at least to pro-
mise, such institutions as in your wisdom you may
deem most suitable to the manners an'd to the character
of your people, in order to insure their happiness and
their tranquillity,and which may serve as gurantees for
the future. I shall esteem myself extremely happy, if,
in a few days, I am able to lay at the feet of your Ma•
jesty the homage of that profound respect with which I
am, my dear brother and cousin, your Majesty's most
affectionate brother, cousin, and servant,
(Signed) , LOUIS ANTOINE.
From my Head-quarters of Port St. Marys, this sth Sept. 1823.
No. M.
MY DEAR BROTHER AND COUSIN,...—I have received
the letter of your Royal Highness of this day, which
has just been delivered to me by Major-General the
Duke de &riche; .and as your Royal Highness declares
to me that you can treat of nothing but with me, alone
and free, I hope that, in order to be able to determine
so important a point, with-all the necessary information
before me, your Royal Highness will be pleased to tell
me what is requisite for me to be considered as free,
and, in this case, in what manner you propose to treat
with me. As soon as I receive this explanation, without
which I cannot make up my mind, I will reply to your
Royal Highness, pledging myself, in the meanwhile,
that hostilities shall not continue.
God preserve your Royal Highness, my dear brother
and cousin, the many years I wish you. I am your
Royal Highness's affectionate brother and cousin,
(Signed) FERDINAND.
No. IV.—TRANSLATION.
MY DEAR BROTHER and Cousiw—l had the honour.,
to receive the letter of your Majesty of yesterday.
France does not wage war either against your Majesty
or against Spain, but against that party who keep your
Majesty and your august family prisoners in Cadiz. I
shall not consider them at liberty until they are in the
midst of my troops, either at Cadiz or at Port St.
Mary's, as your Majesty may prefer. If, before even-
ing, I do not receive a satisfactory answer to this letter,
and to the Note which I have caused to be communi-
cated to General Alava, concerning the liberty of your
Majesty and your Royal Family and the occupation of
Cadiz by my troops, I shall consider all negotiations as
being broken off. I am, with the most profound respect,
my dear Brother and Cousin, your Majesty's most affec-
tionate Brother, Cousin, and Servant,
(Signed) . LOUIS ANTOINE.
Port St. Mary's, this 6th Sept. 1823.
No. V.
MY DEAR BROTHER AND- COUSIN--.--I have received
your Royal, Highness's letter of yesterday, and from the
explanation you give me in it, I see, with deep regret,
that your Royal Highness shuts all the doors against
peace. A King cannot be free by going from among
his subjects and placing' himself at the discretion of
foreign troops which have invaded his kingdom ; nor
does a Spanish fortress, then within it there are no trai-
tors, ever surrender unless when honour and the laws
of war justify the act. I nevertheless wish to give to
your, Royal Highness and to the world every proof that
.1 fail in nothing, in order to spar-6 the effusion of blood;
and since your Royal Highness refuses to treat with
any one except myself, alone and free, and I am ready
to treat, our two selves alene, and at free liberty, either
on any spot, at an equalled and proportioned distance
from the two armies, and with all suitable and recipro-
cal security, or on board of any neutral vessel, under
the faith of its flag. Lieutenant-General Don Miguel
Ricardo de Alava returns, commissioned by me, in or-
der to deliver into the hands of your Royal Highness
• this letter, and I hope from your Royal Highness a more
satisfactory answer.
Gov preserve your Royal Highness, my dear Brother
and Cousin, the many years I wish you.
Your Royal Highness's most affectionate Brother and Cousin,
(Signed) FERDINAND.

Cadiz, September 7, 1823:
The answer to the above Note was brought back by
General Alava, and in rendering in an account of his
mission to the King and his Ministers, he informed them
" that lie had, on the preceding day, delivered the.
King's letter to the Duc d'Angouleme, who positively
refused to agree to an interview with his Majesty and
his Royal Family in a neutral vessel, because France
did not wish that any other Power should interfere in
the affairs of Spain except herself, and that he named
Generals Bourdesoulle and Guilleminot to trett with
hint respecting the most suitable means which could be
devised, in the Actual situation of things, for an early
termination of the war, The inclosed memorandum,"
he added, " was a copy of the proposals made to him
by the aforesaid Generals, and he regretted that he had
only- been able to obtain a more ample explanation re-