The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-07-31 00:00:00

SPANISH EXPEDITION.,

,
TO THE El:Atoll 01, THIC MoRNING POST..
SlR,—Vdriuus reports appearing in the public papers re-
'Teener, this expedition, I shall feel obliged by your insertihje
tile fullowilig facts, in such shape as you may think jaroper.
Being induced to enter the service of her Most Catholic Ma-
jesty, I did so about three weeks sitter:: and, in coasequence of
my pursuits itr life having been respectable, I was appointed by
Cu. lonelKinloch sergeant in the Ist Royal Regiment of Lancers,
end from having served in a hussar regiment in his Britannic
Majesty's service upon the Waterloo campaign. Myself, and
every other non-counuissioned officer and soldier who had served
therein, felt assured that the stipulatious which we accepted
were guaranteed by the British Government, A detachmeut,of
the cavalry was marched to Kingston, Surrey, last Wednesday
week, on their road to Portsmouth ; and, after there remaining
some time, were ordered to march to Richmond, and proceed
by water to the vessel, lying down the river, destiued to take Out
the troops. Nut only the cavalry, but such of the infant ry a.
were at the depot, Isle of Dogs, as also the whole of the s tores
Those of the cavalry were all respectable men, and many of the
infantry also, but chiefly the non-commissioned officers, the
greater part of the privates being the dregs of Westminster,
Chelsea, and places adjacent, who were in a most filthy and
disgusting state, without shoes, shirts, or stockings ; but poverty
is no sin, and, however poor, were men and fellow-creatures.
'The vessel was so crammed that there was no berths for the
troops, and scarcely room to breathe below. The men, accord-
ing to the stipulations, were to receive £2 bounty when tin
board. This has not been paid ; nor was there cleanly utensils
for cooking the troops' messes. On Friday evening last four
respectable young men, all of whom had seen service) from the
treatment they experiencerl left the ship and the service, leaving
only two non-commissioned officers, sergeants, who will, if they
have any regard for their characters, follow their example.
Myself being in attendance at the reudezvous, wets not attached
.o either of the troops on board, though appointed, as before-
stated; and, out of six days' pay, I received but two as sergeant;
and, when I applied for such on Saturday last, was told no pay
would be given me unless I went down on board this slave ship,
for none such was ever worse crammed. From knowing what
service is, and the four sergeants leaving that had gone on
board, that bad I done so 1 should have been regularly crimped,
and not peruiitted again to return on shore, having previously
received no Orders to embark. As to any soldier taking his wife
on board (many having obtained leave to that effect), no man
who could feel for the situation of a female Would do so. I have
no hesitation in saying that if an opportunity otTers numbers
will quit, disgusted with such conduct.
,The Pedroite expedi-
tion was nothing
.compared to this, and the promoters of this
could not do more to forward the cause of Don Carlos. And
were he to afford facility and adequate eneourageuient he
might soon raise a force in this country of able men, that would
cope with his antagonists. These facts may serve as a guide to
my fellow-countrymen, and place them on their guard. Further,
the pay of It private of cavalry is Is. 4d. per day, Is. 3d. of which
has been paid; and that of sergeant 2s. dd., of which 2s. 2d.
uuly'has been paid and if any inquiry is made for what put'
prise this is deducted the answer is, I cannot tell."
I rciLein, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN GREGSON,
Late Sergeant of the Ist Queen's Royal Lancers
British Legion.. . •