Star.
London, England, 1823-10-13 00:00:00

RECENT EVENTS AT CADIZ.

We have been made acquainted with some interesting
facts, which throw tq.on the late proceedings at Ca-
diz and the Trocadero. The date of these facts is by
s :vet al days cat lier than the capture of Cadiz ; but they
serve to abate our astonishment at that unfortunate
event. It seems that even the treachery of those Ge-
nerals who had been entro,fed ‘,itit important corn.
!minds, has not been so ruinous to the cause of liberty,
as the want of energy and talent in those who were un-
questionably faithful. The inhabitants of Cadiz. the
militia. and the troops of the-line, were all well disposed
to the Constitution—all brave, and pet fectly ready to
defend it even to death : but the want of sagacity, the
negligence, and even apathy of their leaders, precluded
all chance of success. As an illustration at once of
the courage and negligence of the Spanish, we will re-
late what passed before and at the taking of the Tro-
cadero. Our account comet from an eye-witness. Two
days before the surprise of the fort, it was observed that
the French irere rapidly crossing the canal in two co-
lumns, each nearly two thousand strong. The Spaniards
betrayed no kind of alarm, but put themselves in rea-
diness to meet the attack. Some English Officers who
were there advised them to reserve their fire till the
French should begin to mount the glacis. The troops
of the garrison, consisting of the Madrid militia and the
regiment San Martial, implicitly followed this advice—
they waited till the French ascended the crest of the
glacis : they theta poured upon them a fire of grape and
st.wketry, which made them give way ; and then, as-
sisted by their English friends, they dashed into the ca-
nal after them, and repulsed the two columns with the
bayonet, wading up to their necks in water. It might
be supposed that with such defenders the Trocadero was
safe; yet two nights after it was taken almost without
resistance, under circumstances the most humiliating.
On the night, or rather morning, of its capture, about
balf-past two, a loud shrieking was heard in the streets
of Cadiz, and women with children in their arms were
running about, exclaiming, " that they were sold, be-
trayed:" that " the French were at the gates." This ex-
traordinary alarm arose from the circumstance of seve-
ral boats having been seen to approach the Isla, clme to
Puntales, while by the light of the fire from the batteries
and some gun-brigs, soldiers were seen disembarking in
great numbers. A cry was at the same time heard, that
the Trocadero was taken. An immense mob immedi-
ately collected, and beset the Government-house, where
the Prime Minister Calatrava, and his colleague, Man-
zioares, were in deliberation. The Ministers soon ap-
peared at the windows, and a spokesman was appointed
by the mob, who all remained perfectly silent while he
stated the object of their assembling. He said they did
Lat come to disturb or frighten the Ministers: they
ume solely for justice; they had heard that the 'f
cadero was taken : they wanted to know whether its
crpture was owing to treachery, cowardice, or neglect?
—lf it was owing to any of these causes, they de-
n.anded the punishment of the offenders. The Minister
Camara answered, that all he knew at present was the
fact which they all knew from report, that the Troca-
dero was taken; but the cause of that deplorable catas-
trophe he did net know. He would, however, immedi-
ately institute an inquiry among the soldiers who were
arriving front that garrison, and would in the morning
acquaint them witK the result. For the present be bade
them, in the name of the law, depart to their homes.
The mob cheered him, and immediately disper,sed.--
Calatrava and Manzanares then began their incitiiry
among the soldiers who had escaped; and after an in.
vestigation which lasted all night, they collected the
following facts.:
It appeared that a guard, consisting of a Lieutenant
and about forty tnen,itad been appointed to keep watch
an that part of the fortress which was most accessible
from the Canal. The men, who had beea harassed with
r