The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-01-06 00:00:00

/

SPAIN.

%street of an interesting private letter from Madrid;
dated Dee. 16, Int
" Sir William A'Court, the British Envoy and Minis-
ter Plenipotentiary, yesterday transmitted a note to the
Minister of State, informing him that two squadrons had
sailed from England, one for Puerto Rico, and the other
for Puerto Cabello, with the object of taking these
ports into their temporary occupation. It was stated
that the measure of sending out these two squadrons to
the ahove-named places, was rendered imperative on the
British Government, by the gams motive which dictated
the previous one of despatching a squadron to Cuba—
namely, to suppress the numberless piracies which were
committed in these less upon the British trade. The
Spanish Government had been repeatedly solicited to
indemnify British merchants for the injuries inflicted on
their property by vessels sailing under the Spanish
flag, and to afford guarantees for the future.—lt
bad been solicited in vain, and no alternative re•
mined to the British Government but that which
it had adopted—This note had created the
strongest emotion io Madrid.—lt is to day the
universal topic of conversation, and it has in fact
excited not only surprise, but alarm. It is generally said,
that when San Miguel, the Minister of State, read the
note, he fainted. This of course is an exaggeration;
but it is certain that it has thrown the Ministers into dis-
may. for an let of this kind, 'apparently at least hostile
on Guilin at England, in the present critical situation
elf Span, is loebed upon as decisive of her 'fete. There
ate bees these who believe that a eecret 'treaty was
agreed to 14 the lsje Minisrers.ceding Caps to England
in consideration of the claims which had been made on
the Spaniel. Government for piratical depredations com-
Milted on British property by vemels bearing the Spanish
Sag. It is 'added that the proses' Ministry ha :e refused
sanetionehis nerdy, but bow for this is true I cannot
take ti Me to say. It is net, however', for the loss of
tb.4.16 Catitiles the people here are alarmed, but for the
indiiatipta which WI measure presents their eyes, of a
roe-el.ution 'taken' by the British Ministry, not only to
take every advantage of the present weakness of Spain
in the Smith American seas, but to abandon her to her
own resources in the great question of her resolution.—
Gilberto the people have been debuted into. a belief that
Enghtag• would support the Spanish Coostitation, 'with
Her Went-trod -treasure, in rase an attempt was• made by
PhililYtt Powers to subvert It. 'this idea has hitherto
elten aftedonvinant party here prodigious confidence in
rho' 'ability of their preponderance, and has led them
into measures which otherwise they would never have
thous:V.ok This moral support, founded on a delusion
to whifl'Orbeny persons blindly submitted.. has at length
dropped from under them' and now they see the real ex-
tent of the dangers which surround them. • • • •
It was pointedly stated in Sir William A'Court's note,
• the the measure alluded to bay no cootie:ion hatever
with the irmetion agitated in the Congress of Verona
concerning Spain —a question in which Englsnil had
ptesereed, and would continue to maintain, the strictest
nentiality. The despatch of the squadrons was,• he in-
sisred, solely and purely a defensive measure, imposed
no. the government of England by the circumstance of
the use..' But hot justifiable it may he, however
iiikeitahlo, :still by occurring in the present crisis, it- is
impossible to persuade the Constitutionalists here that
it isenot 'meant pnncipilly as a death-blow to the Coo
s'itutinn. Pool England dr ferre.l this measure, they say,
'mail vase% over our present ditUeulties, we should not
have much grieved about it; but situated as we are, our
credit-sualaly depending go the opinion *lnch English
tapitalists entertain of the favour with which their
leoverausion isks upon our system ; our frontier threat-
ened, -oar. interior harassed by factions, impoverished
'not diseegasoised, we cannot but look upon thlameasure
IA insidiously destined to accomplish our ruin. In the
pretent state of their feelings, they would be glad to
Lear that Government was about to issue a declaration of
against England; but it needs little consideration
to t.i.ow that such a proceeding would he as impotent ai
it w ,uI•1 be impolitic.