Star.
London, England, 1819-07-28 00:00:00

PRIVATE LETTER.

" CADIZ, JUNE 9i.

" The aspect and situation of Cadiz forms a strik-
ing contrast with the commercial languor and stag.
nation I observed in the other parts of Europe I have
lately visited. Here the Bay is full,of shipping, and
boats constantly seen going to and fro. Every thing
looks as if Cadiz enjoyed a large portion of trade
and if one were to judge from such appearances as
are seen here, Spain would be pronounced in a most
flourishing state, and Ferdinand the most powerful
Potentate of Europe. In short, all is activity. The
dock yards, arsenals—all are at work. Soldiery
moving in every direction, and extensive prepara-
tions making for this last and tremendous crusade
against the Independents of Buenos Ayrec, with
whose obstinacy and rebellion his Catholic Majesty is
in high dudgeon, and to reconquer them he threaten,
to sacrifice all the remaining vigour of his Kingdom.
O'Donnel, the Commander-in-Chief, exerts himself
most strenuously ; indeed, he is the life and soul of
every thing. lie has a very efficient Staff, selected
from the flower of the Spanish Army, but, like the
soldiers, they are not cordial in the cause in which
they are to be embarked. Thev would gladly have
seen their own country free, before they were sent to
make fresh conquests. The late Revolution has cer-
tainly given a new race of people to Spain, and the
distinction between their feelings and the principles
of their Government is very great. The late wars,
and the experience therein acquired, have given also
to Spain some efficient bodies of men, but it is a feel-
ing prevalent among them, that they were formed
and seared under the banners of freedom, and during
the brighter days of Spain, wl.en contending against
the yoke of a tyrannic aggressor, and they do not
now relish the idea of being sent to rivet the chains
of their transatlantic brethren, whose present state of
hostility, they arc aware, has grown out of just de-
madds of redress which have not been attended to.—
They arc not satisfied with the rewards they receive.
The service to South America, more particularly
since the fate of Morillo's expedition has been known,
is considered as a forlorn hope, and they deem this'
a poor requital for all their exertions and sacrifices'
against the French.
" It is, however, difficult to form a just conception
of the extent of the preparations the Sfauish Govern.
went is tnakirg for the Grand Expedition, so much
du the reports vary. Some say 20,000 infantry,
`2,000 dismounted cavalry, and a corresponding
quantity of horse and foot artillery are in readiness.
I consider this exaggerated in the proportion of one-
third ; but still the preparations are formidable in
appearance, though much less so in reality, so he-
terogeneous, and even discordant are the elements
of which they are composed. To escort and convey
this body of men to the River Plate, a large naval
armament is assembles', supposed in all to amount
to 180 sail. Of these eight ara ships of the line and
heavy frigates, a proportion of corvettes, brigs, and
schooners, and the remainder are transports, hospital
ships, and victuallers. Thirty heavy gun-boats have
-besides been constructed, to act in parts where the
, water is shallow.

The expenses of To large an armament no one
would have thought Spain could have borne at the
present moment, and indeed it is a matter of great
wonder where the money comes from. The plucl.
of King Ferdinand•;s in fact up, and it would almost
seem as if the past zlories of Spain rested pn the pre-
sent stake. To this purpose all the 'revenues have
been qppropriated, numerous small sums have been
gathered from various quarters, even come, I am
told, from the church- doors. Certain external sup-
plies of money also have been had, and the defi-
ciency is made up by the Cadiz merchants, who have
been led to unloosen their purse strings, under the
idea, that if South America becomes Independent,
they will have to shut up their counting-houses.—
They are acting on the principle of, do not lose a
sheep for a penny-worth of tar. O'Donnel knows
them well, and what with the dread of their being
considered as bad Spaniards, if they do not contri-
bute, and on the other hand, the hope of a future
reviving trade, he make them sweat pretty profusely.
O'Donnel is a strict disciplinarian, and he keeps his
men tight at work : but his is not the only kind of
discipline they have to undergo. The Spanish King,
in the excess of his piety, has thought it conducive
to the interest of Church and State, to supply each

regiment with a nnmber of extra chapl.i:ns
Preachers, who are continually impre,sii:;:-
minds of the soldiers the horrors of pen .e 7;
in rebellion against so ji. , so upright a S.
as their present one; the danger of Heretit
allowed to frequent his dominions, abroad, z,;:
holding out to them, at the same time, tl,e •;
and temporal rewards that await them, it
vent the Monarchy from being dismembeled.
been prevent at some of these platicas, or di c.
anci•frorn the descriptions giren, certainly t!.
diery must be led to believe they are going ;
against so many Canibals.
" It is, however, pretty evident, that all t!
does not produce the effect desired ; for 0.1)..
continually finding out Officers and men ,%;-
cannot trust, and replacing them by Wirt-
formal conspiracies among them have b.-,
vered ; and, in my own mind, one of the n.
sons why the expedition has not sailed her
is the disaffected state of the men. Two d.
I thought it would have been broken up .0z
or at least delayed till next year, by i•
ported that an order had come down fo