The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-09-17 00:00:00

Cite ibtatcontan.

WEDNESDAY EVENING. SEPTEMBER 17, 1823.

We are informed that an important attack upon the Isle

of Leon, is now contemplated by the French, and that it
• will take place in a short period. Indeed, it is of import.
ante to them, that whatever measures they contemplate,

should be executed, before the season deprives them of the
assistance of their maritime force—an event which would

happen in the course of the 'ensuing month. In the Isst

attack, their naval force appears to have been either useless
or inferior to that of the Spaniards; for we were informed

that some Spanish gunboats had abated a French dotilla

under the protection of some friendly batteries ; and,
u large vessels cannot venture near enough to
the shores to do much mist.biel, it is probable that

. the Spaniards may have a stronger force of the small vessels
that can be most usefully employed. The French already
boast that their batteries have set lire to " some vast 'Naga-
i.' zinc: of wood and brandy, which were near Fort l'un-
" tales:" two curious articles, certainly, for a town be-
rieLeed for so many months to have in vast magazines, and
it is equally curious that they should put them together
in• magazines. We must not, however, dispute the accarary
of French statements; though we cannot always under-
stand them. For instance, an account from the "grand
head quarters," says—"since the taking of the Trocadero,
we have been contionally occupied in establishing batteries,
to obstruct the navigation, and to injure the shipping of
the enemy, as well as their works NEAR the Trocadero!"
What works, what shipping, have the Spaniards near the
Trocadero? If there are any works, why does " French
valour" attack them as it did the Trocadero ? What is the
redoubtable French navy abou►, that it leaves Spanish
shipping to annoy thin " French valour ?" Really this
'oaks as if the splendid capture of the Trocadero had
resolved itself into the occupation of a few lines and
trenches, in which the French are obliged to defend them-
selves, instead of making any fin ther advance. The Times,
by some sudden puff, has been blown round to the point of
absolute despair. It repeats a story, in contradiction to
the French authoritative account, that the Cortes made an
offer to treat, after the capture of the Trecadero, on ►he
• aathority of lett-xs from Port St. Mary's ; while the
French ultra papers admit that the Duke d'Angou-
leme made use of his victory to attempt a negotia-
floe, which was peremptorily rejected by the Cortes.
The Times disproves its own statement ; for it says the
Cortes endeavoured to open a negotiation, and then re-
jected it because the liberation of the King was demanded
as a preliminary. Now, they would have been precisely in
the same condition, whether they had liberated the King or
not. Whatever treaty they might make with the French,
the ultimate object, and certain result of such a treaty,
would be the liberation of Ferdinand; and when be was
liberated, he would laugh at all the stipulations, and pro-
ceed without any regard to them. They had even better
liberate him at once, and treat with him in the French
camp ; because he would not then have the royal excuse for
perjury, that is, being coerced, to plead in justification of
his treachery. We do not like this wavering of the Times.
It looks as if it had been infected with the royal mania. How
often hu it told us that Cadis was out of the reach of ordinary
artillery, from the point of Matagorda :—and yet this
morning it says the bombardment from that point has com-
menced. Has it ebbed from the principles of justice, with
the declining prospects of Spanish independence ; and will
it goat lobo deep water with the ri►ing hopes of the French,
merely that it may be on the side of the conqueror. Our
hope that it has not been entirely reduced, rest upon the
circumstance that in the same column, it takes a view of
the question which we have often done, and asks, whether
the members of the Holy Alliance, if successful in Spain,
will not apply its a ifonarehieed principle" to English In-
stitutions. If they did, they would be sure of one advocate
amongst as. The New Times would be as laudatory to a
Russian General, who should lead in that ease
as to the Duke d'Augoalente, the chief of the Royalist bas-
Mid In Frame.