The Statesman.
London, England, 1813-08-24 00:00:00

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LONDON:

TVZSDAT, MYOUST tit iftTS.

Mat all these victories in Spain, and the approaching
fttva%ion of France, would have brought the contest
n speedy clmse: hut, alas! if we are to see all
th,:e Cadets called nut into this contest. a third part
4.f those who are now alive, will be dead before the
contest is over.
11,)•10%, Ati!. 14.

Wm. CO 811 ETT.

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THE ST. AtESMAN.

As we !save no fresh intelligence horn the army in
the nest of Spain, we have leisure to make a few re.
{len inns on that which we lalely received from this
interesting spot of the Peninsula. The interval is
crompanica by an awe and apprehension, which we
kad reason, from Lori! swroN's rlispatches, to

In o‘empted tram in this respect for the future. Ar-
coiding to the tenour of them, and especially front
the comments niavle by the ministerial papers, and
even by Earl liavuunwr himself, the only considera—
tion thrown nut after the victory of Vittoria was-
herin r it were advisable to commence the in-
vasion of France, or rest satisfied with the ex-
pul•ion of the French from Spain ? were
told over and over again, that the French had
44 lost every thing that was essential to the equip-
ment of an army," and, above all, that 44 their
spirits were hruki n ;" so Unit the reader of such
Accounts was justifiA in . concluding, that the ene-
my w ould afraid of looking an English soldier in
the face. Ministers have long practiced certain little
arts for either amusing or deceiving the Public ; but
this is the first instance offered to our notice where
the Commander in Chief's dispatches gave them any
vivre:ice or excuse for drawing inferences which
wog and circumstances proved uwtolid. The St-
comae of STATX, in his last communication, has
advanced what we are at a loss to* discover his au-
therity for. Lord WELLINGTON did not speak of
the loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, or
priseners, in. those last sanguinary affairs ; but

is CI l3.triturtsr has stated the amouttt to be

!ifteen thousand. Swelling these numbers on the
one side, asd contracting them on the other, may
'keep expectation alive, but they cannot gratify
it in the end. A frank detail of the effects of every
battle is due from those in authority to give it ; the
people have a right to demand it. Ministers, by
garbling or mutilating the army accounts, create to
themselves new difficulties ; either the truth will
come out by which they incur the disesteem and con-
tempt of the community, or they are hated and
blamed for not making more in the way of force or in-
-suence from those positions and eitcumstances,which
they have depicted in unwarrantably bright colours.
'What must the world think of them, after their vaunts

and glowing description of the presumed termination
of the Spanish campaign, should SOULT be enabled
ag►in to advance, and by over numbers, oblige our
beloved and intrepid army to retreat ? Who will be.
'sie►e that such men are worthy of being entrusted
*with the affairs of a great nation: under the as-
surance that they either do not know the condition
and capacities of their own military forces, much
Ass those comparatively of the enemy, or that they

have not candour and honesty to inform the people
of the matter—the people who are to pay and suffer
'for all that befnls the country from the want of wis-
dom and fidelity in those who have arrogated to
themselves the administration of its affairs.
In the east of Spain, we are told, that Lord
I.xt.vm BENTINCK is promisingly advancing, and
is likely to make amends for the disappointment
experienced from his over cautious predecessor. We
hope it will be so ; hut we cannot, like some of our
contemporaries, compliment his Lordship for great
promptuosc, because he uas nearly approaching Tar.
rugona at the date of the last account. If his army
does, as was expected, cross the Ebro at Tortocs,
there can be no doubt of that town beineutiested by
She Spanish Genetal, the Duke. del PattQua.—
We trust nothing will interrupt his Lordship's pro-
gress in that quarter ; for, until SUCIIET be driven
completely out of those provinces, the resources
which they should offer to the British armies and
their principals and auxiliaries cannot be said to be
-ours. It will then be a very interesting enquiry,
what becomes of that French General, so as that he
may not at last join the enterprising SOULT. We are
almost ready to say with CATo, on this, as he did on
.another very affecting subject,

" I am weary of conjecture."
In animadverting thus on the conduct of such an
Administration as has now the rule over us, we can-

not but declare, that oue of the greatest blots or

blemishes on their es:utcheons, whether as men or
ministers, warever be that of their having employed

as advocates for their continuance in office, or as de-
fenders of their bad measures, writers of the most

profligate order ; men devoid of honour and honesty,
and universally known to pad• not the least regard to
trot► ; but to found their claims for.public attention
in what they advance, by the impudence, noise, and
eiftnntery which accompany their assertions and
publications. Some of these hired scribes have in-
been in the pay of our most inveterate enemy)

a Wally