The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-19 00:00:00

SPANISH PAPERS.

The Courier, which has been very watchful of the in-
consistent speculations respecting the dispute between
France and Spain, that have appeared in any other print,
except its own, now fairly acknowledges the preparations
making by our Government, which a short time ago it
firmly denied. "We have stated,on several occasions,"
says this paper last night, " that in the approaching war
between France and Spain, this country will, if possible,
preserve a firm and sincere neutrality. At the same time,
no Minister uould venture, at such a moment, to repose
with unsuspecting confidence upon the certainty of
being able to maintain a neutral attitude. It is always
mch niser to be prepared for a possible contingency, than
tou be found unprepared when the contingency arriyes.
We are not, therefore, surprised to learn that a
certain degree of activity prevails in our naval sta-
tions, which, though it does not warrant the supposi-
tion that an armament is fitting out, indicates a highly
prudent vigilance on the part of Government. We un-
derstand that ten guardships at the different ports have
bad their crews ordered to be increased to half the sea-
going complement of men, merely to bear so many. ex-
tra men, to have ready at hand fur service if wanted in a
hurry. Several large frigates are also preparing for sea,
as wen as some sloops."
The King. of Spain, by his decreeof the 27th of Febru-
ary, has decided that the navy shall be increased to twelve'
ships of the line, front 60 to SO guns ; 20 frigates, from
30 to 50 guns; 10 corvettes, from 20 to 30 guns ; and 30
brigs, sloop', &c. from 10 to 20 guns. This decree con-
tains many regulations relative to the number of seamen
and marines. For the present orders have been given to
put to sea all the vessels fit for service, and to build sere-
ral frigates and brigs. The Asia, of 64 guns, the Cazildo,
of 36, the Achilles, and-Valiant, of 20, are to cruise in
the Mediterranean, under the command of Rear-Admiral
VACAR A, who will hoist his flag on board the Asia—'
This squadron will be reinforced by other vessels.
The movement of the French troops on the Frontiers,
mentoned in the Bayonne apers, seems to have indi-
catedi the approach of Count Abisbal in pursuit of the
•
factious.
It is reported, that a vessel has actually left the River,
and by this time is clear away on her passage, having
on board thirty French Officers, who are proceeding to
Spain. This vessel, it is added, was purposely chartered
fur their conveyance, awl the whole of their expenses
defrayed by a Spanish Agent. Several French Officers
bad appeared, as we learn by a private letter, so long as
a month ago, in full uniform, on the Prado at Madrid.
These, it was understood, had come strongly recom-
mended by Mina. It was asserted by some that they
belonged to the Army of Observation, and by others
that they had been implicated in the affair of Berton ;
while an opinion also prevailed that they were about me
erect themselves into a Regency iu the name of Napo-
leon 11. .
A private letter received yesterday from Paris states,
that 17 millions of francs have, within a short time,
been sent from the Treasury to the Army of Spain. It I
also mentions that 15,000 uniforms have been made In II
Paris for the Army of the Faith. Several barges,had
left the Seine with these supplies, as well as 80 heavy
waggons, which, when unloaded, it is said, are intended:
to form a bridge over the Sidassoa. They, however;
do not travel very rapidly, for the first day they only
went as far as Montrouge, and on the second they were
met inoceeded the neig d a hbourhood of Arcueil, so that they has
proceeded one league an half in 3G hours. Yon 'I
only
may yudge, the letter adds, how lung they will be in
reaching Bayonne.
It is asserted that the Duc de Guichie, who has quitted
Paris with his Royal Highness of Allgollierne, on the
Holy Crusade against the Spaniards, as Commander-in-
Chief of the Light cavalry of the Royal Guard, is at this
very moment in the British Army, and in the receipt of
half pay as Captain of the Tenth Hussars.
Some astonishment has been expressed that the 'item
of Foreign Half Pay was, in the debate on the Army Es-
timates, passed over without remark. It is affirmed, a
large portion of the officers composing the French Guard
receive English Half Pay, and every three months, on
the 25th and snccessive days, the British Consul's Office
is crowded with men who come to have their certificates
signed, and whom you see the following day mounting
guard at the Thuilleries. These are the men to whom
the Government look chiefly up for support, and who are
now on their march to destroy liberty in Spain.
ELECTION OF TEN NIMCARDINALS.—The following
interesting piece of intelligence is extracted from a letter
received in Cock on Thursday, dated Rome, February
20, 1823.
" Ten Cardinals have been added to the Sacred Co
lege in the course of this month; amongst this number
isMonseigneur Pedicini,late Secretary of the Propagai
da; the greatest caution has been employed in making
ibis selection, as the great age of his Holiness, Pope
Pius VII., makes it certain that the election of ;moth.:
Supreme ?Witt cannot be far distant,"

Madrid papers received yesterday to the 6th )aslant,
contain the following interesting particulars in the
La-
pectador of the 31:—
" In the sitting of the Cortes of the 4th, the following
motion, made by Sr. Canna , was approved, viz. I re-
quest that the Cortes will be pleased to recommend to
the Government the formal conclusion of the treaty of
alliance with the noble and brave Portuguesenstion.'
" A proposition of Sr. Moore was read, in which Le .
stated, that as the removal of the Cortvs and Government
to the city of Seville had been resolved upon, as well as
several other measures intended to fasilitate the same, it
was expedient to consider what was to be done with the
number of prisoners confined in the capital and other
places, on charges of conspiracy, and who, should the
enemy advance and liberate them, wonld serve to swell
his ranks ; he therefore wished the Cortes to take the
subject into consideration, and allow it to be submitted
to a special Committee, or entrust the same to the Govern-
. went, in order that they may take the necessary measures
for the security of the prisoners.
" TOTAL DEPBAT OP BESSIRRES.
" AOREDA. MARCH 2.—This day, at six in the morn
ing, advices have been received front the advanced co-
lumn, under the command of General O'Daix, giving in-
formation that the remnant of the rebels who were in
Huete have been destroyed, 1,000 prisoners taken, toge-
ther with the wife of ROTO (a Catalan Chief under Res-
sieres), and a considerable sum of money. novo tled
with only 30 of his people. The action took place on
the 28th, at Aloionaud. The monev t iken 25,01811
dollars. Ruvo and TENA escaped only by their not be-
ing at the tune wi b the main holly. Thus have we cone-
pletely exterminated the whole party that intended to
lave surprised the capital."

PUBLIC ABUSES.

Among the Petitions presented last rilet to the Howe
of Commons, was one by Sir IV. 1)e Cresiuy, (omitted
in our Parliamentary Report,) from an in p
dgividual whose
name he mentioned, but which was inaudible in the nal-
lery. The lion. Orntleuian said he did net mean to cea
sore the conduct of gentlemen in that Muse, hot he
could not but observe that the peeltions of individual,
were never attended to—they were ordered to livens the
table—they then made, by hocus pocus contrivance, a hop
into a drawer, a step into a bag, and a jump into an im-
mense reservoir, and there they might lie to the 'lay of
juilginent witliont any further notice being taken of
them ; but he hoped the present petition would not be
disregarded, as the petitioner had rendered service to the
public and the government. The petition was read,
and stated, that the petitioner in the latter end of the
year 1817, and beginning of ISIS, discovered that tax-
tollector, named John Oakins, was in the practice of
over charging the persons from whom he collected taxes.•
and keeping the money. That petitioner, in conse-
quence. laid nineteen informations of fraud practised by
said Oakins, before the Commissioners of the Board of
Taxes. That Oakins pleaded guilty to the infarmations;
and compounded the penshies foe 10001.; and the pe-
titioner, as we understood the petition, bad not -received
any reward. The petition concluded by praying, that the
petitioner might he examined at the bar of the House.
Sir W. 4e Crespigny said, lie understood it had been Al-
leged against the petitioner, that lie hail attended Reform
Meetings; but, although he (Sir W. De Crespigny)ltad
never attended a Reform Meeting, yet he thought be
might go to Reform Meetings and come front them as
loyal a man as he went to them; and he certainly could
not admit that any man should lie denied justice because
he bad attended Reform Meetings. The Honourable
Baronet concluded by moving., " That the Petitiun
''ould lie on the table and be printed."—Ordered.