The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-09-13
SPAIN ON THE DEFENSIVE.

ced our speculations on the bou!verSenient in
Spain, by exhibiting plan of operations for the
French we Just think it convenient, to step out
of the path we had chalked for our mdrch-to
observe, that it is thousand to one the French
have q better plan-and will not snuch regard
ours-thereforc those who were so uneasy may
be quiet, custom is to begin at the proper
place, and not like the story of the fiddle, to
break off in the middle: in the present instance
we could not without initiating Ccrvantes, raise
Imaginary armies, and set the Spaniards in mo-
ton to fight windmills, before they had any sus
picion that there was any enemy more formida-
BILE on their borders.
II appeared to us, to be the natural order of
things, when country is attacked, to show how
1t has been done, and how the plan appears to
be conducted and the probable course they may
pursue, who conceive a design, which those
who are assailed have not yet thought OF and
that consequences now, as we'll as formerly, fol-
low and do not Precede causes.
Were the Spanards previously apprized OF the
design, instead of arising in Asturias, and gas
conading in Andalusa, at the two extremities
of Spain they should have Instantly occupied,
and in the f0e passes which form the only avenues
through which access to Spain is practicable,
have raised mounds of stone iron, or the dead
bodies of their enemies TO resist the invaders.
The tops Of the Pyrennees should have bristled
Will spUa,o, ~,~,, ..~'>.-> 10 .h"'''h nc aar-
nished with masked batteries; and every tree,
bush and ravine, should be furnished with a sue
cession OF firGlcnvS-or marksmen-or it 1T is not
offensive to those who very sensitive at the
very name of rfeman--they should scatter ri
fe7aen over the whole surface of the Pyrennees,
and battle all the machinery of manGuvre, by OPP
posing individual skill, resolution and ntrepidity,
where combined forces could not act they
should have given them such war, as the Bril-
fish experienced at Bunker's hill, at Saratoga
and ut Monmouth they should have resisted tho
French in the manner, and by the same means
that the armies of France, initiating the armies
OF America. have conquered all EurODe.
1t is by light troops the French armies have eff
iected their greatest enterprises during tho whole
war-and it is only by light troops, by rJaemen,
that country like Spain, or any country in which
there is NECESSITY for defence, and much more
where there is little or discipline, must resist
an invading foe.
This is what the Spanards ought to haSe done
but have not done and if we did not begin by
forming plan of operations for them before
hand, it is because the French had the start of
them, and placed the Spaniards on the defensive,
as has been seen in the preceding views we have
given-by their occupation of Barcelona and
Pampeluna {; by pushing column under Money
400 miles from the Pyrennees, along the east
side of Spain, and to within 100 miles of CatZ
we cannot account Tor stci, march only in
the extreme apathy or Indifference of the Spani-
ards, or TO some other cause which is not now
perceptible, ner important to enquire into
since the fact of the march of such force is it
self very extraordinary and if the force were
counts already received, that is from COCO 20
10000 men, the fact would be still more extra
ordinary. However, we cannot suppose though
the adviccs silent, that Money penetrated
Spain with less than of the French legions,
corps ddrDlie, which amount to 20 or $4,000
men. This fact especially dwell upon, be-
cause it gives culiar features to the whole cam
naigr and renders Il in so.le measure s;if;c.:!:
TO conjecture what is the real state Of the Spanish
mind, or whether national enthusiasm or reli.
gious fanalicism has been stirred up at-alI
There are some other circumstances, which
require to be taken into levin forming an obi
Mon on the mode OF defence, which those who
resist the French should pursue; among those are
the very apparent diversity Of sentiment that pre-
walls in different sections Of Spain.
1t is obvious that considerable part of those
who called the mobility, have taken sides oI-.
poste to each other and although those who
have called upon the Britis!, for aid, appear in
great force onpaper, and display III their procla-
nations an ardor that would seem to consume all
that should oppose them; yet we find that even
in the great junta at SeDikc, the most conspicu-
Gus members were two leutenants in the army
and that it was another lieutenant in the army
who achieved the rising said to have been effect
ed in Oviedo.
The assemblage ofnobIes at Bayonne, may
not, perhaps, be decisive evidence of q very pe-
neral devotion to the French views in SPAN
but from the general character Of those who are
called mobiles i'll all countries, class of persons
possess less less talents, or less Datrlp-
tsm nobility in fact is only another name for
dependence and servitude and its duties and
privileges are the most obsequious obedience to
one and the most universal tyranny o9er a.asp
II is among this class that traitors are found in
all countries, and where there are ne mobiles
those who fit for traitors always aspire to IT,
tuar supremacy--there is accordance between
piiainy and nobility truly congcnial, and men are
never so much astonished, when they find
man of that class virtuous-Those who wish to
understand what nobics and kings are, should
read the new work of Charles Fox on English
history.
We infer from the general character, as well
as from the anuititHde Of nob!es in Spain that
there Will be diysion--for nebes only look
for the fdUoy Of a nIastey those who have not
been favored by the Bourbons will seek favor
from Bonapartc. Like the federal leaders among
us. the nobility of all countries look only to their
own enolument or agrandizemcnt; bosgey and
pratt and iaSineSs, are their three cardinal viz
tues.
But to return TO Span--in a subsequent paper
may take view of the internal politics OF
Spain, which contributed to the catastrophe
which is now in execution. The present cons-
dcratlon is how the Spaniards disposed 10 resist
the BSnapartes, could or ought to act.
This naturally leads 10 az enquiry into the phv-