The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-30

pro'ligious number of the inhabitants, es-
Peciaiiy IN the northern provinces, are ac-
custored to performing ,Jng and painful
Jcu,nies on foot--a circumstance which has
always rendered the light troops of Spain pc
culiarly active and formidable. Persever-
lance in their designs has in all ages been
the characteristic virtue of Spanish soldiery,
and their steady and sober valor is not to be
appalled, by those partial discom6tures and
losses. to which contest with regular and
disciplined armies must necessarily expose
them. We may add, that their long and In
veterate antipathy to the French stimulates
their reveAge, which, of all bad passions, is
perhaps, that which Spaniards are least able
or disposed to subdue.
The geographical position, as well as size
OF Spain, renders tthe most difficult conquest
which the French have hitherto undertaken.
The distance at which her most important
cities are placed from one another, and the
little connection that Subsists between them,
prevents the possibility of its being subdued
by any single army, however large; or by
any single victory, however brilliant and de-
cisive. The number of her harbors renders
the possession of them by foreign troops i'm
practicable, and the situation of them, com
bncd with our naval superiority, secures her
intercourse with Great Britain with her own
colonial possessions, and with any other pow
ers from whom she can derive resources o,.
assistance. The distractions which the corn-
try presents to the operations OF an army.
are III favor OF the inhabitants; and even
those disadvantages, natural and artificial,
which have retarded the progress of their
prosperity, may in this season o. distress and
Il fticulty, contribute not a little to the effica-
cy OF their defence; when we state that the
provinces are mountainous, that many of
their dehes and even towns are inacccssi-
bic to artillery, that between France and the
fertile plains of Andclusia there are no less
than three ridges of mountains to be passed.
July s.
Catalonia has declared in favor of
the patriots. and thus the bright and stea-
dy lame encircles the whole kingdom OF
Spain-but the French, it win be rccolect-
ed, were in possession of Barcelona and the
strong fort of Montjui, which covers the har-
Dor. Accounts, however by he Alnbea
state, that French corps had actually been
surrounded in Barcelona.--We have not
heard that the dispatches confirm the intel
lSence OF Dupont having been attacked and
defeated i'll the Sierra Morena; on tie con-
trary, 1T was reported, in cur feet, shat he
mad passed the Sierra Moreno, and pushed
his advanced posts almost to Cordova. If
Dupont has pushed on to Cordova. it should
seem as II his intentions were to attempt ad
vancing to Seville. The patriots aware of
that intention are sending their force to ar
rest his progressively have in Andalnsia
o0,000 already enrolled, of whom IS geo are
regulars; their head quarters are at Car
mona, about 20 miles from Seville, and their
advanced posts at Ecija-But some persons
doubt the truth Of the report of Dupont hav
ing relnquished the strong position of the
Sierra Moreno and advanced to Cordova-
ior ms force never was rated higher in the
+ rehch papers than 10000, and probably
docs not amount to above two thirds of that
number.-He could not expect with that
force to make head against the whole patri
OF strength OF Andalusa