The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-08-11 00:00:00

la a teller

Saturday, respecting recent events in Galicia, allusion was
made to an attempt on the part of Sir Robert Wilson to
renew negotiations with Morillo. This morning, the same
paper published the correspondence between Sir Robert and
Morillo, which we have.inuerted in a preceding part of our
paper. The perusal of the correspondence has excited
surprise on the part of those who make the communication ;
but they abitain, for the present, from all remarks. We
shall, also, in the meantime, observe the like forbearance;
and content ourselves with adding, what has some connec-
tion wilt the subject, an extract from a journal kept on
board the Royal George steam packet, which on its ar-
rival at Vign, Sir R. Wilson visited, and in which he bad
his wound dressed by the Surgeon of the Packet :
" J Lir 25.—A Packet arrived from England, and sailed for
Lisbon; at one o'clock a Spanish schooner, with fir Robert
Wilson oft board arrived; at four p. en. Sir Robert came on
board to dinner ' • the Goveruor of Vigo had a lung private con-
fer..nre with Sir Robert.
Jima, 3d.-An &Seer sent with despatches to Morillo,
who returned without being able to see the traitor; leaded ft
Vigo.
" JULY sl.r-Sig R. Wilson arrives from Ponta Vedra, hav-
ing endeavoured in vain to see Moripilo.—At eight p. in. the
drums beat to.arms ; the people assemble as volunteers ; the
gates are shut and every preparation made for defending the
:own ; at midnight the Junta declare the place incapable of
defence! that Vigo Should be blown up ! and linyona defended.
Sir R. Wilson proceeds to Bayous; I proceeded there, and ar-
r ved it half-past five.
" Aro. 1.--Sir Robert Wilson arrived, and the troops or-
dered to countermarch on Vigo.
" Ave. 2.—The Royal George yacht arrived at Vigo from
Coronae ' • Corunna is closely besieged by the French. and is
gallantlydefended ; the garrison consists of about 6,00 U vo-
lunteers included, and the enemy have 6,090 before the town;
but apprehensions ire entertained that it cannot bold out;
preparations aril makiug to abandon and blow up Vigo.—
Slr Robert Wilson embarked for Cadiz ; a new Governor
-appointed at Vigo; the Royal George will sail to-morrow
fur
,Plymouth : the works of Corunna are ordered to be de-
stroyed."

The" thunder clap" news of the Zuurbon morning scribe
has luckily..passed over our heads without doing us any
serious harm. Our fears for the safety of Coranna are
quieted for a few days; as we find that matters remain
touch in the same state as before ; and if Quiroga has been
in England, ise liss.left it again to resume his duty, accord-
ing to the directions of his Gehernment. But say the dis.
appointed Ultras, " if it has not fallen it moat fall, when
the French seriously attack it." We are afraid this is true;
—but there are two questions to be asked and answered
here :—first, have the Freuch a sufficient force to attack it
seriously? And how long must they wait for the material
to enable them to make a serious attack. 'The intention of
the French, by their rapid march upon Coronae was to
take it by sorprize ; sad considering bow mach sooner
they presented themselves before the gates, owing to the
treason of Murillo, who was entrusted with the defence of
passes which would have ,been impregnabl.^ in holiest
hands, we are surprised that it was not surprised, and car-
ried by a coup de-main. The French General is accused
of absolutely intoxicating his men, to make them insensi-
ble of their danger, on the detperate attack of the lath, in
which be was so signally repulsed. His loss must have
been great;—and besides this weakening of his force, it is
to be remembered that he advanced too rapidly to have
taken with him any artillery fur reducing the town by a
regular investment. But this is Dot the worst view of the
condition of the French. There is no account of any French
corps being stationed any . where between Madrid and
Coranna ; and for so small a division as that of General
Boiled: to sit down to form a regular siege, and to wait
for all the supplies that will be reqpi•ite to make the siege
effectual, will be to incur the hazard of movements in its
rear, which may end in its being sent into Coronna as pri-
soners, instead of conquerors. General Morillo, if we may
credit a letter said to be written by an aide-do-camp, of the
French General, Reelsejaquelin, accompanied the French
army a league from Lugo, on their march towards Corne-
ae. A question naturally arises here, why did not Morino
march with them to the attack? Was he unable to induce
the Spanish division under his command, to .hear arms
against their countrymen ;- or has he, in reality, not been
able to carry a division over to the French, but gone, as
d'Abiabal and Saarficld went, an almost solitary traitor to
the standard of the enemy. This " aidedu-camp" is a
very pleasant fellow, and is extremely clever at di scription.
We should think him rather an aide-rimssomp to some mane.
lecturer of uselo-drawee, than to ; and as an
Vltra-paper of yesterday calls him 02/milkman and—ail
officer.. we rather suspect he is no great authority ; but he
describes the expression of the public opinion towards the
French 'in this way men, ICollieft, and children fell on
" their traces before us..and embraced us in thcir. arms;
" called its their liberators ; and Five la France!
" !'ire le Roi Louis Vire Carom Francaise
" were in every mouth." Now this is really very beautiful;,
and we hope some of onr managers will give us a stage
grouping of the scene. it will be quite new, and electrify.
ing. But how came these loyal Spaniards to omit to cry
" Five Ferdinand r This was a sad omission,
as it would imply that they only wanted to be " liberated"
themselves, and did not care if the beloved Ferdi,
nem were imprisoned till, the diy of doom. The French'
soldiers should have lectured them upon this point, They
should have told them, not to cry rive Lorin, but live
Ferdinand! aetlie French only came to help him out of his
cage. Not a syllable of this nonsense can be true. The
French give the best proof of their owe imbecility, by the
silly staff which they cram into what should be military
reports: Wesel* Pesili• would :try his pencil on some of
the Freitel dile/1460ne ; such, foi instance, at Mina attack
us Vick by estrafry upon sealing ladders—or the French'