The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-09-16 00:00:00

PRE3EXT STATE OF SPAIN

Extract of a private letter from Madrid, Aug. 31.
You have doubtless heard of the state of agitation
into which Spain has been thrown by recent ex-
traordinary attempt of Ministers to disperse the Pa-
triotic Army of La Isle, and place Kiev), its chief, Si
l'aptain Oeneral of The two letters addressed
by the heron of La ls!a to the king and Cortes, will
have fully explained the manner in which this mea-
sure was viewed by the troops, and public opinion has
since declared unequivocally in favour of their deter-
mination to represent the extreme danger that would
have attended the projected arrangements. tiiroa's
resiguatiou had long been called for ; he had incurred

the hatred of the army by his were than equivocal•
conduct in favour of the Sc-rile; during the time he
was in office : rug from all that has transpired since,
the cause of Spanish Reform has gained coneiderably
by his dismissal: every day adds emir new fact to
those already known relative to the state of parties
here, and to the part they have taken in this interest-
ing business. It is with extreme regret that I am
obliged to inf.aeu you, not only have :he Ministers,
but their fiends in the Cortes, tal:en it into their
h.eads to be jealous of those to whom they are
indebted for their places, and Spain fur her liber-
ti-s ! In politics as in love, the step from jealousy
to hatre.l is but very short indeed, consequently
several of the Ministers and those Of their friends
in the Cortee, nith the Count Jr Toren° at their
bead, have declared 'an almost open oar against
de heroic Quiroea and his army, stating, very unjust-
ly, that the troops at Cadiz, by the refusal at Mega)
to dissolve them, are in a state of insurrection against
the Government! To remove the impressions created
by this most calumnious accusation, Riego himself ar-
rived here last night, and has this morning had a long
conference with the King, in which he has told his
Majesty such truths as will most probably lead to an
immediate change in the Coacils, if not among the
saruilaellors of Ferdinand. On his return from the Pa-
lau: hr appeared in the balcony of the Inn at which he
is lodged, and told an immense concourse of the peo•
p:r, that hr had come to Madrid for the purpose of
rive III) the character of himself and the arms.
wlaieb had been fale-ly iscenAe.l of a desire to injure the
cause they had made such sacrifices to sustain; also,
that he should lose no time in returning to his post.—
The General's short harangue was received with lung
and reiterated shouts of applause, and the crowd has
I.d:tinned before his butt till a eery late hour this
evening. A curioseadialugue is reported to have taken
between 'form, anal M. tialiatese, one of the
principal movers of the late change : the former having
reproached M. lialiatio with the disobedience of the
army of La leis, anal designated those who com-
pose it as Republicans; the latter replied in such
a way as to convince the Count of his error,
and how unfouneled his suspicions were—addding
that considering the abundant wails the soldiery pos-
sessed of uudertaking ally enterpeiee against the royal
authority, they had acted with the ar..ktest moderation;
and, finally, that the Liberals of 1512 l.ad acted with
the basest in ratituele in their late eeorts, not only to
de ;perse those who had risked every thing to bring
them into powder from exile and chain*, but also to
riot them in the estimation of their country. M.
vonelmis .1 by observing, it is in Tidal fur your-
or friends to persrvere in your present plan, which
wilt inevitably produce a must violent re-action ; but
hatever may be the result, I can positively assume
that the Liberals of DM will do their duty, and see
the nation vindicated. The two friend, parted on very
bad terms, since which nothing has been done towards
a reconciliatioo. 'f he Ministers persevere in wishing
for the dissolution, while the chiefs, temps and inha-
b::atita of Cadis and its vicinity, well nut listen to the
proposal, convinced that it would be ruinous to the
cause of the people. As to the Coupe, their proceed-
ings are slow in the extreme, and they also have begun
to xcitr the impatience of the public. Whole days,
nay weeks are passed in listening to propositions
which there are no means of deciding on ; so
that while the greatest questions might be argued,
and the must necessary laws passed, nothing is done.
The Commissions appointed to inquire and reeort on the
various matters submitted to their consideration, prove,
by their diligence and opinions, that talent is not
wauting. The Report of that named to consider as
to thc best mode of restarding the army, is like
the our of .4lnjoroagate Erstrarts, a perfect master-piece,
and ought to be studied by all the legislators of
Europe. I hope to be able to send you a copy of this
precious document in the course: of a few days. lienga
Arguellie is in the utmost disgrace with the people,
anal will ttttt st probably be the first to quit a polo in
u!lich lie has brought the finances into the greatest
confusion. '1 Press has attacked him with asperity
and violent.; not a dollar is left in the Treasury, owing
tic his improvident measures—and Ferdinand has not
abet withal to par his servants, three of wh.on arc
said to have perished of hunger in one of the conutry
places ! &IMP one happening to ask I • for charity
a few days ago, while descending the staircase of his
palace, his Majesty borrowed two piastres of leis at-
tendant to meet the demand. It is universally ac-

knowledged, that no man could have borne the pH-
s Ationg to which he is exposed with more resigna-
tion than the King. As to the loan offered to be filled
up by some French bankers, it !s entirely disapproved
of by the public. The Comsorrador, a very popular
Paper, has attacked the plan and principle of
reining money in this way. The other Journals,
particularly the Constitireigmel anal Miscelene, have
already publi•lsed several spirited remonstrances on
the subject. From the foregoing statement of facts,
upon which ou may rely, I fear that an unfavourable
impression may be treated, but here it is said that
the truth should be fully exposed—that it is the para-
mount interest of Europe that the new order of things
should be preserved intact, and that the people of
Spain do eft dobut of their being favoured both with
the sympathy and support of their fellow men through-
out the civilised world. They wish firmly to establish
a Constitutional Monarchy without shedding a drop
of blood ; but if opposed by enemies, foreign or do-
mestic, they are determined to resist with all the
mesas which God and a sacred cause has placed with-
.
hi their reach.

TAW QUOIN.

f..

Last night a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish!
of St. Luke was held in the parish-church, in Old-
street, to consider of an address to the (been, in par-'
snanee of a requisition which was presented to the
churl-his:miens a few days ago, signed by upwards of
1:01 of the insist respectable inhabitants of that parish.
The chair W;l4 taken at six o'clock by Mr. Liss, the
senior churchwarden. lie was accompanied by a
number of the principal inhabitants, and by Mr. S.
C. Whitbread, M.P. who was, upon his entrance,
loudly cheered. The church was very much crowded,
and we oloserred s I ladies in the galleries.
The Cu till 51► N commenced the business of the oven-
. ing by reading the requisition, in pursuance of which
the meeting was contrived, and requesting that the
gentlemen who intended to address so respectable an
assemblage would carefully confine themselves to the
terms of the requisition.
Mr. it'ts EM to then came forward, and read a series
of resolutions, which, together with an address found-,
ed upon them, he proposed fur the adoption of the
meeting. The resolutions were couched in expressive
terms, and animadverted very forcibly upon t►e cruel
and unjust treatment experienced by her Majesty, and
the infamous conduct of the spies who were employed
to watch and malign her conduct. The resolutions
were received with great applause.
Mr. S. C. Wittruaeso then came forward, and was
received with loud cheers. He commenced by ex-
pressing the pleasure he felt attending su numerous
and respectable a meeting of his fellow-parishioners,
in whose proceedings he felt so deep an interest. It
was his intention to have remained a silent spectator
of their enthusiasm ; but he n-as urged thus early to
forego Isis intention and to trespass upon their indul.
genre. Hr should have preferred to hear their senti-
ments, lather than to intrude upon them with his own,
on a subject respecting which his sentiments were,
already before the public. (Applasss.) The Hon.
Member then eulogized the spirit which the resolutions
breathed, and the appropriate language in which they
promulgated the sentiments of the parishioners. The
subject had nearly become exhausted, but be was al-
most inclined to slim up the evidence riven against the
Queen. Ile assured them, if he entered upon that
task, he would discharge the divy of the office in a
different manner from the way in which it was summed
up by the Solicitor-General. (Laughter and applause.)
At all times, and upon all occasions, they would do him
the justice to recollect, that he had taken particular care
to express no opinion upon the guilt or innocence of the
Queen : such had keen his conduct hitherto, but lie had
now become bolder ; lie knew nothing of the charge or
theevidence,except what he derived in common nith his
fellow-rountrymen front the correct information of the
public press. It was often said, and with some troth,
that slander•never rained ground without some reason;
but he must say that, in this case, the evidence, dis-
gusting and gm,' as it was, rather convinced him ofl
her Majesty's innocence—a conviction of which hel
daily became more strongly inipaessed.--(Applause.)
—The allegations against the Queen went to show
decent acts, which, if earn true, were now, for the
first time, considered a state c►ime. They were, in-
deed, supported by Italian witnesses (a hugh), hat at
once refuted by the testimony of two English Captains,
one of whom spoke in the Quern's favour, while the
other knew nothing that could justify the charge.—
(Applause.)—lsideeil, the manner in which it was at-
tempted to bolster np this care by such Italian oil's,
as had been produced—and he dill not mean to under-
value them because they were enough
to damn any cause—he begged pardon for suing such
a tern, within the walls of a church.---(Applause.)--1
The real fact was, that lie believed Ministers wuuW
now be glad to get riJ of the Bill if they could; sooner
or later they must get rid of it, for he was quite sure
they could never carry it through.--(Applanse.)--The
Hon. Member then took a brief review of the former
proceedings instituted against the Queen, upon evi-
dence which was subsequently found to be false, and
to be the offspring of a conspiracy.—{Applause.)-.--It
seemed, however, unhappily, that there was to he no
end to her Majesty's calamities ; her enemies partook
lathe nature of the fabulous bird railed the phoenix,
which, when burnt, became revivified at the end of
one year. It was trite that the Queen's enemies
became exposed to the flames once in seven y••ars.
The last time. ineed, they were prettily burnt,
every burly must acknowledge ; hut nothing,
he feared, equal to the scorching which must attend
the next purification through whieli they had to pass.
—(Loud laughter and applause.)—The meeting had
lately heard that the divorce pert of the Bill was to
be abandoned. The Ministers seemed to look n•ith
terror at the threat of reerimisiation so properly held
out by the Counsel for the Queen. Why not recri-
minate? Who ever before heard of a man seeking a
remedy against his wife in line of the Courts, and :he
Judge denouncing recriininatios at the same time ?
—(Applause.)—Tu give up the divorce was, he I
thought, suet cowardly, for on what grounds was the !
bill called for? '1 he slate, it was said, called for is :
but the people replied in the negative. If the limo
called for it, and the case •,gairot the Queen was en-
titled to any credit, who• %Imola the King be deprived
of his riosedy ? If her Majesty was until to be their
Queen, she ought not to remain the undivorceJ wife
of their Sovereign.—(Applause.)—For Isis own part,l
he must say this, as a Member of Parliament. that
unless he saw grounds for a divorce, he would never
consent by his vote to take trout the Queen any one of
the privileges to which, as Queen, she was legally en-
titled.—(Cheers.)—He then proceeded to arraign very
forcibly the enormous expence which this impolitic
prosecution entailed upon the country it had been
estimated at 300,0001. ; but lie feared it weeld be'
found ultimately to amount to double, if sot Archie,
that sum. Much u lie despised the Italian witnesses
who had pnt their share of this money is their pockets,
he could not help being thankful to the 25 of them
who went off front Cotton-yard, ■nd were afraid to ap-
pear : for, whatever they got, there was no doubt but
they might have got snore if they pleased, for the Ml-
nistersof this country refused nothing to these worthies.
—(Cries of shame.)—He had now, he feared, tress
passed too long upon the indulgence of the meeting.
--(Cries Of tio.)—The evening was getting late. sad
he should stop, lest, like the Ministers, they shosld

he doomed to conduct their business in the dark.—.
(Laughter.)-lle must say, with reference to the
question of ilk-one, that, in what were called the
lower classes (if society, it would not for a moment be
tolerated for a man to go into Court, and claim a
dissolution of the marriage ties, while at the same
moment he desired that nut one word should he uttered
respecting his own conduct in the marriace state. If
any man attempted to do so, would it nut be said that
he only wished to get rid of his wife, that he should
be enabled with less reserve to pursue his own career ?
The Hon. Member, in conclusion, expressed his ap-
probation of the resolutions which he seconded, and
said they would be now put seriatim, when any gentle-
man might address the meeting upon any of them.—
(Applause.)
Mr. Enwsnns addressed the meeting in snpport of
the resolutions generally, in a very bumourous speech.
He regretted that there was a part of one resolution
which he must deny, namely—that part which declared
that the present preceeding against her blajesty was
unprecedented. He trould not accede to this declaration,
because he knew there were in history something like
precedents, worthy of such a cause, and the precious
agents employed in it. These precedents would be found
contained in a book, he feared, not often looked into
by his Majesty's present cabinet ministers—he meant
the Bible.—(Coull laughter.)—These worthies, if they
searched the records in that book, would find three or
four precedents just suited to therm; they would find,
that when Babylon was once taken by a monarch named
thrifts, there were cabinet ministers then in that city,
who found one of their body who was guilty of the
crime of being too pious. Integrity and piety not being
then the fashion among cabinet ministers—lie hoped it
was not so now—(Loud laughter)—the utmost pains
were taken to get rid of the pious colleague. The mi-
nisters of that day advised by a bill of pains and penal-
ties, that nobody should Ise allowed to pray bat the party
himself; the consequence was, however, just what it
ought to be, viz. shame and disgrace upon those who
wished to be the prepetrators of mischief.—(Applause.)
--There was also the precedent of Ahab, 54.10 years
earlier. Ile coveted his neighbour's vineyard, and sent
to one of the King's privy-council or keepers of his con-
science, (for such a people lived in all times.)—(A
laugh.)—Letters were then sent, not to Milan,—he beg-
ged pardon,—but to Jeered ; sealed orders and green
bags went forward to the nobles, from King Ahab; he
was sorry he had not their names, for perhaps some
of the present ministers might be found their descen-
dants.—(A laugh.)—The elders and the nobles did as
they were desired, and, in the language of the Scrip-
ture, "the men of Belial witnessed against him (Na-
both) in the presence of the people, saying, that
Naboth did blaspheme Boil and the King. Then
they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned
hint with stones that he died." All this was done
to a man who was guilty of no crime. There was a re-1
niarkable coincidence between that case and the present;
he hoped the parallel would not be carried to the end.
In Jezreel the sons of Belie! were proved to be perjured,
and king Ahab fur Isis conduct met with shame, dis-
grace, and death. The sons of Belie! were truly de-
scribed by Mr. Scott, the able commentor upon the
Bible, as being abandoned villains. There was another
case in point, namely, that of Ahasuerus, King of Persia,
who when he got drunk wanted to get rid of his wife,
and had advisers about him ready to make a new law to
gratify his wishes. Perhaps the Ministers had these
cases In their eye when they instituted their proceedings
against her present Majesty.—(A langh.)—Therr was
also the case of Haman, who was a wholesale dealer in
green bags: at one time he had no less than 127 of
them in progress togetber.—(A laugh.)--They most all
remember Human's proceedings against Mordecai, and
his having perished on the gibber, 30 feet high, which
he had prepared for his intended victim, an innocent
man. Who could soy that ministers had no precedents
to guide them in their present course, when such hope-
fill ones as these stetted them in the face?—(Loud laugh-
ter.)—He concluded by declaring his belief that all the
present ministers wanted was, to keep their places at
any rate, and lee MIS convinced, so little principle re-
mained among theta, that if the Queen would give into
their bands the fill plants she was said to have at her
disposal, they would be found as gracious to her as they
were now to their Royal Master.—(Repeated laughter
and applause.)
The Resolutions and the Address founded thereon
were then carried unanimously.
A Parishioner suggested, that the Meeting
ought to adopt a revolution, declaring their readi-
ness to rally round their Q Well, and protect her from
violence, should any br eventually offered to her on
the part of his Majesty's Ministers.
Mr. WHITNIMAD again cause forward, and hoped
that snch a motion would not be put. It was quite
impossible, he said, to suppose that Ministers could, 1
under any circumstances, offer violence to the Queen,
and it was impolitic to anticipate any act of that de-
scription. If ever the necessity should arise, it
would he time enough to provide for it. At present
he thought such a motion was quite extraneous.
Ihe meeting concurred with Mr. Whitbread, and
the motion was withdrawn.

The necessary arrangements were then made for
the presentation of the Address to her Majesty ;
thurst:s were returned to the Churchwardens ; to Mr.
Asdenn:us WOWd fur his attention to the queen ; to
Sir. Whitbread fur his presence at this meeting ; and
several respectable parishioners a•ho concurred in the
object of the meeting, and spoke in favour of the
resolutions, were Etrased into a committee to snake the
nerer•:ary arrangements fur obtaining an audience of
the Queen. The meeting broke up about $ o'clock.

Maje.ty will receive no wore addresses until
Mo se'sinight. Alderman ll'ood joins his family
vat Itanisgate. The four addresses which her
lilajcsty will. on that day. receive at Ileandenburgh
Heine, an as follow : Farringdon, as one o'clock ;
Cripplegate-Within and Spits!fields, at half past one;
and Paddington at two.
_ _

The Imperial Pelteney Hotel, in Piccadilly. opposite
the (hewn Park, is the last house proposed by tioiern-
meat to the Queen. We understand her Majesty bas
notified her approb itiou, in a letter forwarded some
days since to Col. Stevenson, to which as yet her Ma-
jesty has received no answer.
The Italians who attired in this conatry to give
evidence against the Queen, were, we learn, embarked
on beard the Brisk, 18 gnus, Captain Montague, at the
Nore, on Thursday, and sailed fur the Continent. Did
not these compose the carp) of the Admiralty barge,
which our correspondent met going down the river one
night last week with mulled tiers f
The House of Commons meets pursuant to the last
adjoarsoeut. ems Slonday next, the 18th, when some
dis.usssioa will, of mune, take place upon the present
procealugs against the Queen, and before att,y further
esliostoaseat of the House.