The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-19

PARIs, M9y20
7RANSLATIoN If a letter zYritten in Span sA
Ivking Charles ", to his son, the <yince II AS-
turiaJ.
My Son,
THE faithless councils of the men who sur
round you, have brought Spain into most distress
sing situation. The country cannot now be saw
cd but by the emperor.
Sin, e the peace of Basic, have been always
convinced, that it was the first interest of my peo-
pie 10 preserve good understanding with France,
and have considered no sacrifice too great to
attain that object. Even when France was the
prey of temporary governments, determined to
repress my own inclination, and be guided only by
regard to sound policy and the welfare of my
subjects But when the French emperor he'd
restored order in France, then apprehension was
in great degree removed, so that l had then
new reasOHs for remaining faithful to my system
of alliance.
When England declared war against France,
/ lad the good fortune to remain neutral, and
thereby to afford to my people tie advantages of
peace. England, however, after captured
four of my frigates, and made war upon me be-
fore war was declared. Thus was | compelled
to repel force by force, and the evils of war were
EXTENDED to my subjects
Spain being surrounded by coasts, and being
indeJe for her greatest prosperity to her trans
marine possessions, sui red more Ihyn any other
country Ivy the war. The interruption of trade,
and ~ the evils connected with that state o. af-
fairs, were experienced by MY subjects, some OF
whom were uncandid enough 10 throw all the
blame on me and my ministers. had however,
at least the consolation that the country was sa-
and had no reason to be alarmed for the preser-
vatign of my provinces. At the same time, / was
the only king Of Europe who lived in this src,r,-
ty, amidst the commissions Of these latter zines
and should still have enjoyed tranquility, had il
not been for the advice which mas turned you ..
SIDE from tl,c path Of duty. You have oeen too
easily led away by the hatred winch NoUr frs
wife cherished against France, and you have par
tcIpated in her obstinate dislike 10 my ministers,
your mCihcl ARD myself
resorted to tine tights of father and king,
and arrested you, when found among your ra-
pers proofs of your puilt-But at the end Of ~
career, aboutto become the prey OF grief, tea,
for the tears of your mother and furgaye you.
Meanwhile, my subj eets were agitate Il 10y th,
false representations of Il iIcl0n, at the head ii
which you placed yourself From that moment
the peace of my life was gene, and TO the evils
which bad befallcn my people, ind still 10 .Gd
that distress which the q sumOn Of r. fniiy had
occasioned Even my MINISTER'S ere slmd"rcd
to the emperor Of the French, who, thinking that
he perceived that Spain wished to depart { ~.
her alliance, and seeing Tie dSpos ton t. di.Or.
dereyeu in my family, occupied, under various
pretexts, my states with his troops but so long
as they remained on the right SIDE IF the Faro,
and appeared destin, d 10 maintain communication
with Portugal, hoped that he would return to
those feelings Of respect and friendship which lac
had always testified towards me. While learn
ed that his troops advanced towards my capital,
1 felt it necessary to assemble my Amy around
me, in order TO exhibit myself to my illustrious
ally IN that state which became the King Of Spain
Thus / expected his dJ.bts would be removed
and my own interest adjusted. l recalled us
troops from Portugal, end ordered those IN Ma
drid to evacustc that capital, and directed them
to assemble on several points Of the uonarc hy.
thus was not done Tor the purpose OF ABANDONING
my subjects, but on The contrary, IN ord rtpmaiu.
tain more WOuliiy TIC glory q. The crown RiyI
II experience Convinced me chat tie emperor
~ Tic French, consistently ~.U, his own utc
Jnsis, nd Tie extended political stem OF The
continent, could entey.in 10 wish PREF d;cial to