The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-10-31 00:00:00

GENERAL VALDEZ.

Lord Nugent has generously stepped forward 'ts yin&
cate the character of this officer, from the calumny pat
&lied in the Timer, ern ler the mention of some " di,
tinguisited Englishman." The Time: in-errs the followirt
letter from his Lordship ; but by a pertinacity, as shameht
as the original falsehood, the • leading journal' appends a
note; of which the pla'n Engli.h is, that if Calaway& did
not call Valdez a ' dolt,' he ought to Laved ne so. This
one way of creeping out of a slander—
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

g/R,-1111 a narrative published in your paper of yesterday,
of an occorreure which took place during the late siege of
dig, it is stated, as a matter of doubt, whether the condueteo
Admiral Valdez, in declining to adopt certain means that Weee
proposed to him for annoying the French fleet, proceeded foss
treachery or imbecility. lu the possibility of its bei sup.
posed that such an insinuation could haves arisen out of say
testimony of mine, I feel that I owe It to the reputatim of a
brave-man. who has for half a century served his country wits
honour, to correct, as far as I may he able, an inference info.
rious to him, and, as I am convinced, unjust. From all the
means which I had, during my residence at that place, of form.
ing an opinion, either from personal information, or frost,*
Information of otliers,l believe that there was not inSpain a man
more devoted to her cause, or more faithful to the engage..
manta he had undertaken in her defence, than Admiral Valdez.
Whatever rosy be the generil "mini .0, or whatever mar he
my own. of his other qu,illticsions for the active duties whim
were imposed upon him, I believe 'hat one who knows Ad-
miral Valdez could ever suspect him of treason to his country.
or doubt his honest zeal against the common enemy. I oh.
serve, also, that you state, that the Nliuister Calatrava, in
subsequent conversation, described him as a " dolt." as
enabled, of my owe knowledge, to assure you that, in the con.
versation you allude to, Senor Calatrava used no phrase of that
import or to that effect, but spoke of him personally, as he M.
ways did, in terms of warm regard*.
I am sure, Sir, that you will feel as I do, that it is hut ni
act of common justice to endeavour to remove an imputatiot
undeservedly cast upon a man, whose character for integrin
and honour has never been impeached, and is perhaps all tha
now remains to him out of the wreck of private happiness,
connected as his fortunes have been with those of an atilietel
country, and of a cause hitherto uosuccessful. I am, Sir, your
obedient humble servant,
Twickenham, Oct. 30. NUGEN'T.

• It will he observed that his Lordship does not assert the
our account of Calatrava's remark on Valdez was Incorrect is
its general scope. but merely that he did not use the of enslue
word " dolt," though It seems almost the only ward wine'
could fairly describe the behaviour of Valdes on this °cession.
ED.

The following particulars are given by a cotemporary
as tending to illustrate a devotion to the cause of his couo
try, en the part of Valdez, which has never been Ties.
tioned. 'there is reason to believe them authentic; and
although we had much rather he had accompanied Vera..
• .nd to the bottom of the sea, than have steered him to
Port St. Diary's ; yet there is WI ground for any suspicion
that be was either false to his cause, ignorant of his duty,
or unprepared to execute it.
When the king left Cadiz, Admiral Valdez steered the
vessel in which he and the Royal Family were conveyed.—
On arriviog at Port St. 31ary's, he was invited to land, and
if then he had wished to rrit.ge to the King or the Frenck
Cersimander in Chief, he had a favourable opportucity.—
flaring handed the Royal Family, lie, however, returned to
his post—a melancholy one, considering the situation d
Cadiz at that moment. Farther—on the following day he
received the subjoined summons to surrender, Isom the
King's new Alinistor, Vietar Satz:—

"TO THE COMMANDAN i'-43R.NKRAL OF THE FOB-
TRESS AND LANES OF CADIZ.
" Restored to the plenitude if my royal right4' my royal
mind can enjoy no rest until my beloved vassais alao pertains
of the benefits of the late auspicous events ; and for this pur-
pose, 1 have resolvoillbut in toe course of to-morrow, all tier
military posts of the Island of I.etm and the fortilied towed
Cadiz shell be delivered up to the army of my august and be-
loved cousin, the Duke 1.1. A ngottletne, iu order that toe may oo-
copy them in my Royal name, for which purpose you will make
arrangements for the military conmst. der) of the aforesaid
points to deliver ep the same to the a.,,ed •rsay.
" I etumunnicate the same to you by command of his Ma-
jesty, tor your information and compliance therewith.
• (Jot preserve you, &c.
C•igued) " VICTOR SAEL.
" Port St Mary, Oct. 1. h 2.1."
Even this ritantu..us Admiral Vail z refused to obey, ad
he sent back a notice to the new Prime Alinistpr, giving
him ur.derstand that lie could not acknou ledge him as
such, and that he would not surrender the Ouse under his
command, until he teceived an order signed by the King
himself. This save rise to the following reply :