Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-08-09
aIfrallurfa Datlp 6a3etfe.
COMMERCIAL md POLITICAL.
LATE FROM EUROPE.
VIA NEW-YORK.l
Prom BELl's Weekiy Messenger.
a. THE SITUATION OF SPAIN.

nnelanchoIy drama which has so long agitat-
ted the curiosity of Europe, traught with
more incidents of real calamity and substantl-
al regret, than that which has lately been re-
hearsed in the kingdom OF Spain
When a naticn is subdlled by conquest, or
passed .sub.nissivcly under foreign yoke, the
spectators may feel, as the Circumstances OF
the case give . quality to the act, mixture
either Of sorrow or contempt; but when we
behold a crown wrested from an ancient line
81. princes by course of stralagem and fraud
the most foul and unnatural--and nation
8 swindled out of her independence. by contri-
vances winch have not even the ordinary
8 splendor OF the crimes of a conqueror, and
winch but for their unbounding cruelty, we
should assign TO the lowest class OF mankind,
there is a complications OF feeling in every &C.
Ferrous bosom which we know not how to ex-
press by name.
The Grimes of the French emperor and his
councillors, whatever are real on imputed,
fade away before the enormity of his present
guilt towards Spain.
If not worthy of the name of An ally, Spain
had been to France faithful yassal--She nell
Their grudged nor disputed her seryitude
Ndithcr in the prosperous nor adverse tortuae
Of France was there any vasciation IN her con-
duct size had chained herself to the oar, ana
Aowed down with the stream. One would
have thought that the steaeliness OF this adhe
renee would have procured for her safety if
not respect. But no las she has been more
\ submissive, so has her fate been more cruel,
her fall more degrading, than thai OF any other
OF the powers conquered by France Austria
was suffered TO collect and recompose the
scattered atoms of her broken force. Ihere
was no deposing an hereditary prince; no
treason hatched in his palace noinsurrectlon
fos.ered among his subjects. He was left, In
deed in a mournful and shattered dignity,
but he was left respectable and safe. Prussla
N no was most hated by France as she we'll
deserved, was disjeinted bat not destroyed
Her king cher greatest misfortune perhapsl
WAS still continued TO her; andthe queen, her
heroine, was left in security. Russia was
dismissed back 10 harbaEssa, ridiculous and
contemxtible, bnt entire--she had battered
her honor. but was suffered to keep her terri
tory. But towards Spain no mercy has been
shcwn. The means employed to destroy her
we're most signslly ungratetul and cruel.
Treason and parricide were the auxiliary
crimes put IN motion against her sovereign
rebellion and instruction we're encouraged n
mengst her people, and the road to her inal
stsblugation has been cut out through the car
mage and massacre of the most loyal oil his
sub|ects.
Having Withdrawn her best troops and I'M
INJURED them In some distant tortresses OF Ger
many, having encouraged a oowardly syco-
phant against inc heir apparent and made him
equally master Of the porsen of the queen,and
the power of tbs king, Napoleon, persuaded
of his affection to his own interest, which
must necessarily cease with the existence OF
Spain as an independent nation, changes his
instruments, and pulls down his ence favored
Upst1rf By means of his former rival.
Having destroyed the Prince of Peace, he
excites the heir apparent to rebel against his
father; and when this rebellion becomes ssl.-
ccssful and popular, he changes sides, and
supports the cause OF the rightful monarch.
Thus alternately fayoring and disgracing
every party, and cutting up by the roots all
public confidence in any. ne throws the king
dom into such an unnatural ferment, that has
army seizes the pretext for marching into the
capital; and when he fears resistance from
the old Castillian loyalty and valor, he plans
an Insure etion to put It down by massacre.
Never, we believe, in the annals of history
has more attrocious hypocrisy been exposed,
nor feuler play practised for any object than
this--his purport and anal aim are obvious TO
the most short sighted Having destroyed all
respect and reverence for every public charac-
ter in Spain that could aim at government, he
paves the way for the entrance of a foreign
sceptrc.
Span will soon become politically extinct,
and no longer exist but as an appendage of
France. If not governed by the same mon