Star.
London, England, 1810-08-30 00:00:00

peftces • that graiifications justly due should have
been deferred until more tranquil and happy times ;
that the Staffs which are maintained are too numerous
and too expensive ; that there have been formed, and,
are forming, Spanish corps, which are not only use-
less but dangerous, because, together with absorbing
sums, which can be more advantageously employed,
they desert and pass over to the enemy's force ; and,
finally, that the kindness with which the King treats
those of the opposite party is excessive, granting them
favours and advantages which only serve to disgust
and dispirit those who from the commencement ad-
hered to his cause.

These are the principal subjects which the Minister
communicated to me—and now I shall proceed to
explain to your Excellency the substance of my an-
swers. The principal point, and that which, in my
mind, most occupies the attention of the Emperor,
is a wish to evade sending to Spain more money
than the 2,000,000 monthly, as agreed in the former
arrangements. Recollecting the observations which
had been made on this subject, when I was in the
office of foreign affairs, and being well aware of the
situation of our provinces and of our treasury, I re-
plied to the Minister; that the King, my master, was
well convinced of the great drawback the war of
Spain occasioned to the treasury of France ; but that
he saw, with the deepest regret and concern, the im-
' possibility of freeing it from this charge by any means
or resources in our power ; that the customary rents
had been until this period as null, and could only be
collected in a few conquered districts, and even in
these the frequent incursions of the insurgents and
banditti parties frustrated the diligence of the Admi-
nistrators and Collectors ; that in many parts the very
Generals and Chiefs of the French troops served more
to impede than assist the collection of the royal du-
ties ; that the provinces were ruined by the supplies
of all kinds which they had to provide for the French
troops, and by the total cessation of traffic between
the different towns ; that such funds as had been col-
lected, as well from the established imposts as from
the other means and resources which had been de-
vised, had all been applied preferably to the wants
of the French army, subtracting only some inconsi-
derable sums for the Royal Guard, which had bees
almost always out on strong parties of observation,
for his Majesty's Civil List, which had been paid but
in small part, and for other purposes of the first
necessity, so that there had been no pay issued to wi-
dows, pensioners, or those retired from active service,
nor very often to those in the most necessary employ-
ments. The very Ministers have been at times five
months s ithout receiving theirs, in order to meet
the expences of the troops. With respect to attribu-
ting to ignorance, want of energy, or excessive lenity
on the part of the Government towards the inhabi-
tants, the not having drawn forth the resources
which were supposed to have existed, I told the
Minister that they had been employed as far as cir-
cumstances permitted. That tm judge us, it was
necessary to keep in view the then existing circum-
stances, namely, that the subdued provinces were
few, and in none did the free and uninterrupted
exercise of Administration take place. That, ex-
traordinary contributions and forced loans were ex-
acted in all places where the collection was deemed
practicable, overcoming no small difficulties ; that in
order to preserve the subject provinces faithful, it
was advisable not to goad or harass them to an ex-
treme, that by doing so we should inspire those in a
state of insurrection with an unfavourable idea as to
the fate that awaited them, in the event of their surren-
dering themselves ; that certainly more contributions
might have been raised, in the same manner the French
Generals do in provinces they govern ; but that even
such contributions would not have produced a sufficient
sum to meet theexpencesof the arm y, particularly when
it remained two years and half, or more, in the same
station ; that these contributions cannot be repeated,
as experience may show in Castile and Leon, as in
the former all the current coin is exhausted, and the
means of restoring its circulation do not appear, par-
ticularly when the troops are in motion, and the mi-
litary chest distributes its funds in districts distant
from the place of their collection ; that his Imperial
Majesty would be convinced of the impossibility of
collecting funds sufficient to defray the expences of
the war, from what takes place in the provinces go-
verned by French Generals, who cannot be accused
of indolence or excessive lenity towards the inhabi-
tants ; on the contrary, it is to be feared, they avail
themselves of cruelty And violence, which no Go-
vernment on earth can exercise over its own natural
subjects, between whom there are reciprocal ties and
obligations ; the latter naturally looking up to the
former for protection and support ; and that what
might have been done in Lerida may not, perhaps,
serve as an example for similar conduct in other
places : for, as I have been informed here, the inha-
bitants of the neighbouring villages deposited their
money, furniture, and church plate, in that town,
believing it capable of making a most vigorous resis-
tance ; besides, it is not yet known if it has been able
to furnish the sum demanded.

I represented to the Minister, that contributions
had been raised in Andalusia, of which I had been
informed ; and that in Grenada, though it surrende-
red without making the smallest resistance, there had
been a demand of 5,000,000 of reals, under the title
of a forced loan : and in Malaga a greater sum,
part of which I recollect had been deposited in the
military chest of the 4th corps ; that being absent
from Seville at the period of its surrender, I know
not exactly what had been demanded there ; but I
am convinced, that by the interference of the French
authorities, all the English property found in that.
city had been sequestered, and that the same had
taken 1 lace in Malaga ; that in general, the value of
such property, when first discovered, is much over-
rated, as I have heard had been the case on the en-
trance of General Sebastiani into Malaga ; and it is
not to be wondered that the idea formed by his Im-
perial Majesty of the value of that at Seville should
be conformable to the exaggerated accounts which
might have reached him.
As 1 am well informed of the active exertions
which have been used for the collection of church.
plate, and of the results of this collection, I had been
able to tell the Minister that this resource had not
been neglected—that not only all the jewels, silver,
and gold, found in the suppressed convents, had
been collected and carried directly to the mint, but
also what belonged to the nunneries, parochial, and
cathedral churches of the whole kingdom, leaving
only the sawed vessels indispensably necessary for

worship ; that thiti resource had not been as abun-
dant and productive as might be supposed, and we
ourselves expected ; first, because all the churches of
the towns through which the French troops passed
were plundered and despoiled of their ornaments ;
secondly, because the insurgents and banditti parties
had done the same in the towns which they had oc-
cupied or passed through ; and thirdly, because the
plate of the churches, even before the altars, in niches
and images, appear of great value and richness, and
when you go to collect them and melt them, they
are generally found to be nothing more than thin
plates, placed only to cover the wood which composes
their centre ; and that this resource, such as it is,
and all others which have been adopted, are those
which compose the funds with which the indispensa-
ble necessities of the Treasury have been supplied ;
amongst which, the subsistence, hospital and other
expences of the troops, have been first attended to.—
With respect to the specie supposed to be in circula-
tion in Spain, taking into the calculation what the
French and English brought into it, and also what
has arrived from America, I have assured the Minis-
ter, that as yet no great abundance of specie is per-
ceivable—whether it is occasioned by a great propor-
tion of it remaining with the numerous French sut-
tiers that follow the army—whether it be that ano-
ther proportion is distributed amongst our venders of
eatables and liquors—or whether it be principally be-
cause the money of the Spanish coinage has disap- '
peared in the time of the insurrectional Govern-
ment,
expended in the payment for arms, clothing,
and other effects, received from foreign powers, es-
pecially from the English, and for goods introduced
by commerce.
I confess upon this subject I aul devoid of suffici-
ently exact accounts, and that I am only governed
in my opinion by the clamours and the evident signs
of poverty which present themselves on every side.
In order to afford full satisfaction, and plainly answer
the charge of the complaint which has been preferred
that the funds of our Treasury had not been applied
with preference to the expenditure of the army, but
bave been prodigally wasted in objects of luxury, I
should have wished to have had a statement which
should shew the expenditure or distribution of all the
sums received into the Treasury since the King has
been in Spain; and I believe it •v..uild not be very
difficult to send me this statemcr.r liy this means
the Court would see what have hen the Earns that
had been appropriated to the expences c.' the war,
what were those which had been de'::neL'. to super-
fluities and luxury.
In the mean time, not exactly understanding what
they wish to qualify with the name of prodigality or
luxury (for the King our Sovereign has not been in
a situation to expend exorbitant sums with his Civil
List, of which, in my opinion, he has not received
the half, and rather has been in want of the means
which the decorum and splendour of Majesty require)
yet I could perceive, from the explanations of the
Minister, that he principally alluded to the gratifica-
tions which his Majesty had distributed amongst some
of his servants, both civil and military. Under this
impression, I asserted, that those gratifications, made
with the same spirit with which all first services are
rewarded, in order to stimulate further exertion, in
no way had diminished the funds of the Treasury
destined for the war department ; and as they consist
of hypothetical or imaginary sums, useful only for
the acquirement of national advantages, they could
not serve for the payment of the soldiers, nor for
other expences which absolutely required to be paid
in specie.
To this the Minister answered me that, since the
hypothetical cedulas, or government paper se,:ntity,
property or funds, had a value, this value could be
converted into money ' • and my answer was, that for
the present, and until full confidence in this Govern-
ment should be established, the sale of the n.ltional
property should be multiplied.
With respect to the cedulas, it may be said that
they do not possess a current value, trona the great
loss sustained in their discount. But the resource of
alienating property has not been neglected in order to
meet the expences of the day, amongst uhich those of
the war department have everbeen the first attended to.
On the contrary, in order to establish by this means a
disposable fund, great advantages have been granted
to the purchasers on paying a part in specie ; and
thus the imaginary sums,* given by way of gratifica-
tion, indemnification, or other title, have not dimi-
nished the resource which the national property could
for the present afford to the Treasury.
With respect to the Staff of the Army, which is
supposed numerous and expensive, I have told the
Minister that, in my opinion, they had misinformed
his Imperial Majesty ; that I did not believe that the
King had appointed more Generals and Officers of
the Staff than were necessary ; nor did he receive
more of the ancient officers than in justice should have
been admitted, from their having espoused the cause
of his Majesty and remained faithful to it ; and that
the latter had not hitherto consumed any of the funds
of the Treasury ; and I doubt if any of them have as
yet received their pay. In this point I should also
have wished to be more exactly informed, for I am of
opinion that much exaggeration had been made use
of to the Emperor.
An exact detail of all the Staff, which it appears
to me would not be very difficult for the Minister of
War to perform, would remove the unfavourable im-
peessions which may have been made in this particular.
The idea that the regiments and corps of Spaniards
are prejudicial, inasmuch as they go to increase the
number of the enemy's, after having occasioned ex-
pellee to the Treasury, is here but too prevalent, and
consequently the formation cf these corps is consi-
dered premature. I represented to the Minister that
I considered no method could be more necessary and
politic than this, for no Government can exist with-
out a force ; and that although it is true that in the
beginning much desertion would take place, it could
never be so great as was apprehended ; that every
day it would become less in proportion as the public
underwent a change, and the reduction of the pro-
vinces was increasing ; that at present, it is to be
hoped, it will be little or nothing—since the large
bodies of insurgents, who took the name of armies,
have disappeared, and there only remain the parties
of banditti, who offer but little attraction to those who
are enlisted under the royal standard ; that the corps
of Spaniards employed in arrison would enable
the French troops to undertake the operations in the
field, as the French Generals wished ; lamenting that ,
.' cola*, Geyenuneat paper security.

they should be obliged to have their divisions e.
cached and separated in order to preserve tran • 2
in the provinces already conquered.
The minister appears to doubt that there are trencl.
Generals who agree in the utility of forming
Spaniards, at the same time he supposes they app;o,e
of the civic guards. As I know positively that there
are Generals, and of much note, who not only are in f,
your of the system of creating regular corps, hut al:;
persuade and promote their formation with their utmo:t
efforts, I can assert and sustain my propo;iiion. But
from the importance of the subject, I should wish that
these Generals should make known here their mode of
thinking, alledging their solid reasons, and foundations
upon which they build their opinions; for we do not re.
ceive much attentionon subjects of this nature, a o d pet.
haps we may create suspicions of an unpleasant nature.
It only remains to speak of the extreme kindness
with which it is said the King treated those of the ea.
posite party, granting them favours and advantagc's
I wished to explain to the Minister the favoil:
results produced by the general amnesty, wiier,
King penetrated by the Sierra Morena ; how 11.;
nignity gained the hearts of the inhabitants of these
provinces, and facilitated the occupation of th•im,
without the effusion of blood ; and with how mush
facility and promptitude he terminated a c.impaizA
which would have been the most glorious possible,
were it not for the unfortunate resistance of Cadiz,
fomented by the cunning and gold of the Enszli,h.—
But the Minister dwelt upon the excess of his M:jest)'s
goodness towards some individuals, who, having fol.
lowed the opposite party, obtained rewards and em-
ployments in his royal service. I then said that there
were few in this situation, and that those were per.
sons remarkable for their circumstances, and for the
' part they had acted amongst the insurgents, that his
'Majesty deemed it expedient to make those examples
in order to inspire confidence in those who were still
wavering and indecisive, while they should present
themselves with submission to his Majesty ; and he
has not as yet had occasion to repent his having plac-
ed them in the situations they occupy ; that it was
endeavoured by all means to weaken the force of the
insurgents ; and that it was not the least efficacious
mode of doing so to admit into his Majesty's service
the Generals and Officers who voluntarily wished to
enter into it, upon their taking the necessary oath of
fidelity ; and if this has displeased any of the ancient
adherents of the King, it is our indiscreet egotism
which should not impede the grand work of uniting
the nation.

I have stated to your Excellency every thing that
passed in my conference with the Duke of Cadore.
did not speak on the subject of French troops em,
ployed in the war of Spain, nor as to the quantity of
money sent by the Treasury of France to that king.
dom, nor upon some other topics on which the Mini.
ster touched, as I had not been in possession of minute
particulars on these subjects ; nor did I think they
should be subjects of discussion. Your Excellency
will be pleased to have the goodness to transmit every
thing to ins Majesty for his Royal information ; and
to communicate to me what his Royal pleasure may
consider that I should add on the same topics on fu-
ture occasions.

It is not to be 'wondered, that many reflections
should have fallen from me calculated to prove the
regularity, the prudence, and wise views with which
his Majesty proceeded in the particulars which gave
rise to the remarks and observations, which, by order
of the Emperor, were laid before me.

The instructions and information which shall be
afforded me, shall best enable me to prove, for the
future, my zeal.
During the conversation I had with the Minister, I
took occasion to read to him the letter which the Mi•
ulster of War transmitted me, written by the Inten-
dant of Salamanca, on the 24th of last March; draw-
lug a ci i,mal picture of the state of that Province, and
the difficulties that presented themselves,. to prevent
the levying of the contributions imposed by Marshal
the Duke of Elciingen.
And before breaking up our interview, I also read
to him the letter which the Regent of the Council of
Navarro directed to the Minister's Secretary of State,
dated 30th of April, complaining of the conduct of
the Governor, M. Dufour, instigating the Council of
Government (Consejo de Gobierno), created by him-
self, to make a representation, or Act, incompatible
with the Sovereignty of the King. Upon this sub-
ject, without approving or disapproving of the act of
Mons. Dufour, he simply told me, that the Govern-
ment established in Navarre, and the other Provinces,
were military measures. I shall return to treat more
particularly on this subject when I have an opportu-
nity. (Signed) The Duke of SANTA Fr.
No. IV.—TO THE MINISTER FQR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
MOST Excxxxxtur Set—The Count de Cessac, Minister of
War, yesterday, acquainted me in a Note, that, in obedience to
an order of the Emperor, he wished to have an interview with
me. I went to his house in the evening, and he employed al.
most the same expressions Which had been addressed to me Ly
! the Duke of Cadore, on the impossibility of sending to Epa.3
front the French Exchequer, for the espences of the army, ow re
than two millions of livres monthly ; be complained of tile Lugs
sum of money which bad already been exhausted since the bevy'
fling of the war; he stated the resources that Spain po.seiwili
and the contributions that might be raised hi Jaen, Cordar:,
and other rides of Andalusia; as had been already procured,
under the orders of his Imperial Majesty, in Toro, Zamora, and
other places ; and he adverted to the confiscations of British e 4
fects which might be made in Seville and Malaga. He sheued
me the letters which the Intendant-General M. Death had Weil
written to the Prince of Neufchatel and to himself, shewitig tss
deficiency of the military chest of Spain during the years acv'.
1509, and in the present year. with the great difficulty that u.. 4
arise in future, If only two millions of rials were afforded by the
King of Spain, when the necessary expences, restricted with tbi
greaten economy, would amount to 1,025,000 livres.
M. Dennie says, that the deficiencies of the years 1608 sod
1009, amount to seven millions of livres, and those of the present
year to 2,500,000 livres, according to a statement that was sik
dressed to his M4jesty. At the same time was declared the
impossibility of supplying more to the military chest than two
millions, and the conclusion stated is, that it will be fleapit!
that the Treasury of France should contribute five or six maxi
of livres by the way of loan to Spain, to answer her purposes.
With respect to the resources of Spain by levies in the pie
winces, and the confiscation of English effectssd to the
Count de Cessac what I had before said to tler=f Cadet*.
and confining myself to what was coosidered by the Intending
Dennie, I told him that the King had done his utmost, when he
assigned the amount of two millions monthly, considering the At°
ficulty of advancing that sum, besides others for tie minnow°
of the troops, for the hospitals, for the conveyance of the wall
and I added, that notwithstanding the good wiU of the King 401
his Miniscen, it was not within their power to supply more. 11l
Count made answer to these observations, that the Bops w*
resolved not to send more money to the nsiligary chest dog
two minims* monthly, and that a eorresponding order was gird
to the Department of War, since more coedit not be done
e perms. seed tow.
He assured me that these particolan words were those
103. Imperial Majesty. Whit ;odd Imy la tee I 0140%

isions e..
Ire trend,
afT:ove
that there
are in Lt.
,s, hut eh;
ncir utmost
'firm. But
d wish that
it mode of
Oundatiort
e do not re.
re, aod peT.
ant nature.
ie kindness
e of the oa.
dvantago.
favon:al)!,
lOW
ts thaw
how much
ciimpaizA
is possible,
of Cadiz,
s Mjest)'s
having fol.
ds and em.
that there
were per.
and for the
ts, that his
e examples
) were still
ald present
ty ; and he
aving plae.
that it war
'orce of the
efficacious
:y's service
r wished to
ary oath of
the ancient
et egotism
of uniting
thing that
Cidore.
troops em,