The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-01 00:00:00

SPANISH BIOGRAPHY.

.
'Oaks:tat Toastrios.—sThil officer, who has now been
railed front the command of the Constitutional army in
Biscay and Navarre, to 61/ the sdrration of Minister of
iVat, is not more than 36 years of age; active, inter
gent; and gallant. lie is a good son, en exceknt has-
-I.)and. and an amiable friend. He had a command in the
army under the orders of the English General Doyle, by
whom he was taken by the hand early in the war, and
never dropped until he was made colonel of the Tita-
dose* de Doyle, which regiment he broaglit to a high
state of discipline,
_and led most gallantly to victory on
Many occasions. Thee are two remarkable events in
this officer'a life. He is the person who was selected by
(ieaeral Doyle to lead a sortie from Tortola, in 1810, un-
der the eye of the Captain-General Henry O'Dounel, and
in presence of the whole Spanish army of that division :
his orders were " to drive, wit . 300 grenadiers, the
French pirquets from a certain height, and to take pciat
there." He gallantly obeyed the first part of the. order,
hut disobeyed the latter part by following the enemy
into their very encampment; when, after an heroic resist-
ance and great loss, he was obliged to surrender.
General O'Dannel, now Count of Abiabal, the best
officer in Spain, said to his army—" I will crown Torri-
jos with a wreath of laurel for his gallantry, and then
shoot him for disobedience of orders."
When the Tiradores (light infantry) of Doyle joined
General Murillo's division, Torrijos established it in a
lodge of Freemasons, called Doyle's Lodge. Upon the
return of the King, Torrijos was arrested, and thrown
into the Inquisition: for many months it was reported,
and partially believed, he bail been put to torture, and
ultimately strangled ; but there was no truth in the :arse
statement, and it is unnecessary to say the second is un-
true, as he now lives to serve his country, which h.•
will no doubt do with zeal and gallantry. ile is pai•-
ticularly partial to the English, and cordially hate*
the French. ,
THE EMPECINADO.—GeneraI Don Juan Martins•called
the Empecinado, is now in command of one of the Gon-
stitational armies in Spain, anti perhaps no mats has
' sersedhis country with more enthusiastic zeal or gallantry,
and yet.he is one of those olticers who has betn warlce.l
' by the displeasure of the King, whenever an opportuhity
has offered.
It is true, the re presentation made by the Empecinada
to his Majesty, in the year lx 15, spoke such unpalatable
truths to the Royal ear, that Marin (I ke Mina) was
obliged to fly from Madrid and conceal himself.
Amongst the various achievements of this extraordl-
' nary person, one has been made known in this country
by a celebrated artist, whose picture of the Empeeinadosa
• attack upon a French convoy, and making prisoner Mar-
shal Moncey's mistress, was seen in the exhibition at So-
merset-house.
- He is in the Prime of life, about 45 years old, partien-
larlybardy and active; his habits are regular, and those
of ' a plain,country,olan ; sober, early in and out of bed,
and in constantexercise.
He is a stanneit'friend to the Constitution, and the
Fftneh wilt Enid Mai a; bitter enemy..

Irauesss.—Aninquisition was held on Sstartlay hr.
fore 'fbonsas..Stirling, Esq. in Abe Housekeeper's apa et.
went, at the Charter-house, on the holy of une • of the
pensioners, alined Jbho Wightwan, aged 60, who With
found: in his efkuiler on Frilly •tnorning, with his
throat dreadfully:cut; andquite dead: Vettlitt,—lnsanity.
o.B.3lenday. Ildr.; Therms Bateeriby, of Lancaster.
horepluApier,aecomp,anied by, another individual,
totlilt White Cwt) Ifin, in' that town, and took a glasa -
of gin. Soon.kfiet havlii drank it; be was asked" by
11Ir. Robert Hindle, hook-keeper to Messrs. Wilson and
Higgin, attorneys, tit talue•alfese-of brandy, which he
draak, anddie took siwnietooldbeassers.spirit ih a pure
state, making eigtet:noxiins a Ulf, in. about the
space of a quartei.of an neur, drinking a portion of
wa-
ter .aftetiaefr grist. 'the effht caused immediate
ilosigsitirkenheiielsir the hostler of the buns,
in.a.state of etopefectienrc mania assistance was called;
but the vitaispasl‘basUithlt,befere navies could be use.t
for his.restoratiwyr-A4ul sat,oe-the belly the folove-
ing-day, and bficeilit 'a.berslict of-" Died
by an
apoplectic fit caused by the clanking of brandy.".

%

;
lei -
it