Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-07-31

the part OF Tie French, supposed to be
not less than 10000. Of the vast
numbers who had entered Spain,
scarcely any ever returned, except in
miserable, disabled condition. The
Patriots under Cuesta, Romano, Red
ing, SC maintained the war in various
parts, with success. at Madrid there
hal been a popular tumult for several
days, SD that they we're Obliged to cali
King Joseph from Aranjuez TO quiet it /;
bal ii Was thought he would not be able
10 remain long in Madrid with safety.
ihe Saragossans were also greatly ex-
cited, and il torce did not arrive to
ovvrawe them would probably be soon
IN arms again. 1t WAS reported that a
large reinforcement Was on its way to
Spain, but had not yet appeared +; and
il was the prevailing opinion that il it
did not arrive soon, the French would
be Obliged TO abandon the country.
Mr.. Thorndi.-e was in Bayonne
when many of the prisoners from Sara
gossa passed through there. They
were carried on by forced marches, and
were in wretched, worndown conLi-
ton they had been most cruelty trea-
ted on the road, and or 600 we're said
b to have been actually shot because they
could no, support the march. Of this
barbarous deed Mr.. !. has not the least
doubt, for it was declared to him not
only 10y Spanish but by French officers
who were present and it was the sub
iect of common conversation, and of
horror in all circles.
He saw also the brave palafox on his
way to the Interior as prisoner. lie
was then considerably unwcll. As IN
officer of rank he was allowed some III
diligence, and lodged at the same hot Sc
with MIR. L. He ccnversed freely,
and lanented the crueltles to which
his suffering companions had been sab
jected but remarked, that they were
not behind hand of the French in their
inveterate hatred. When Saragossa
surrendered, Marshal Lasnes refused,
with compliment upon his bravery, to
take his sword but he had since been
deprived oft.
Mr.. Il. saw there the Emperor Ma.
po.eon, who did not then keep himself
SO impcnetrabiy guarded, as he was
said to do in the early periods Of his
usarpation. Curiosity frequently eau
sed the people to croud round him ; he
was frequently in the harbor in barge,
in an exposed situation ; and had any
one been desperate enough to attempt
his life, frequent opportunities were not
venting.
With respect to the war with Aus.
tria, well informed people, who know
how to make computations from what
is suffered to be published, did not doubt
the French had lost at least $4,000
men.
Mr.. 7. having spent about two years
in France, and been in di fIerent pro-
,inccs, has had opportunity to observe
the misery produced by Bonaparte's
ambitious measures. A constant state
OF warfare has drained off the men, SO
as 10 leave agriculture as well as COM
merce in a languishing stale; and III
travelling the country, he frequently
observed six or eight women to one
man engaged in the iabors at the field,
and was assured this was the cause OF
il. The system of oonscription is hor-
Iible : the best families are broken in
upon and many ruined by it. He has
seen many thousands of these con-
scripts atDayonne.where they drilled a
few weeks in marchings, sc. (without
arms) and then sent, many OF them
broken hearted, into Spain, TO be incor-
pora,ed among the Oil troops. Not
enured TO military hardship, aud most
orthem perhaps never having handled
a musket--raw and inexperienced--de
siined to 4 warfare among the noun
taias of Spain, and against their hardy
inhabitants-they entered that kingdom
as certain victims to Bonaparte's ambi-
tion-never to revisit their country and
friends-never again to enjoy the do
nestle comforts from which they have
baen torn away.
-shIN/E--