Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-21
tivity Of his Excelleacy Don Pedro ceral-


los, minister OF state. the energy and pat
riosism OF its inhabitants are highly com-
mendabie. $4,000 men listed under Gen.
Cuesta, who is also native of this pro-
vince, and repu!sed with the greatest va.
lour, larger number of French, who were
attempting To possess themselves of the
principe Vi posts in their territory.
CATALONIA, has 91S 1913 inhabitants. This
province has resisted the most obstinate
and repeated attacks of their peridious
enemies IN their attempts TO possess them.
selves of their formid able positions and
forts. From the gallant resistance which
they have made in defending themselves,
their country may judge what the Cataa
lans will be capable of doing, if assisted
with arms, ammunition AMI the people from
the other provinces. The French were
not able to conquer this province, but are
surrounded in Barcelona and the Castle of
Montjoy.
draSon, has 95SS76 inhabitants. The
defeat OF the enemy by the Arrasonese is
notorious, and the names of Paiafox and
Zaragoza, will be as lasting as that of the
province.
The islands of Minorca, Majorca and T.
Uicq, have likewise assisted in the great
cause. The number of inhabitants in these
islands is estimated at S6,97o.
Spain is SAID to contain 25, 900 square
leagues.
Ustariz secretary to the council of the
Indies, who wrote in 1924, makes the pop
ulation amount to millions and one half.
OF this number the military establish
ment conprehends l02 regiments, viz. 81,
600 infantry, 80 regiments of cavalry.
qua rds, marines, sc. amounting TO $4,000
elective men. But when to these he adds
invalids, SC. those retired on haifpa and
pensions, swells the amount to 100, 900 men
$4,000 Shepherds tending millions of
Sheep,
100000 Clergy of both sexes,
$4,000 Persons in civil employment,
and $4,000 gentlemen Il mobiles not in any
military or civil employment. These with
the remaining population of Spain he
computes at millions ana half.
The revenue of the year 1929, after de-
Quoting che charges of administration and
the amount of pensions, amounted to %,
53s,SSS crowns. This with the revenue de.
rived from the Spanish possessions he CON.
putes at 40 millions of crowns.
According to returns made to count A I.
randa IN 1853, the population of the whole,
including the Canaries and the Islands IN
the Mediterranean, amounted tn millions.
In 177S, it was calcui ited at between 10
and IL millions, but whether an actual emu
meration had taken place we know NOT. +
The pestilence followed by famine.
which ragged With such dreadful violence
in '84 and rs in the Eastera parts of the
peninsula, are said to have swept away
nearly half a million of souls. When we re.
fiect that sufficient tire has not vet elan
sed to repair its ravages, and that no mea-
sures have been taken to that effect, we
must conclude that at the beginning of the
present revolution the population could not
much exceed those of 1853.
The numbers even without these causes
under their former government could not
be progressive the oppression under which
the people iaboured and the appearance of
general poverty and desolation over the face
OF the country are evidences that if their
num6ers did not diminish, they must at Least
b. stationary.
From these acknowledged facts we haz.
ard nothing in asserting that the statement
which We annex, of the population OF Spain.
oy way OF Havana, is unfounded. This
does not comprehend the population of Gui.
poscoa, Biscay, Alava or Navarro & vet
any person who will take the pains to add
together the different items of this state
ment, will find that he makes the numbers
OF the remaining provinces to exceed 9 mil /,
lions and half of souls.
mere Is one observation that a reader
should not omit to make in s,atistica calcu
lations OF this sort that in countries ike
spain and Germany, where taxes are paid
oy composition, and troops are quartered in
proportion TO the number OF families thar
those whose business it is to make returns
OF the state of actual populatios will not
want tor motives TO diminish their nsmbers.
In calculations of the military establish.
ment OF most countries, the standing armies
and number of effective men are generally
exaggerated. The court does this tn i'm
pose on its neighbours the idea of its great
military strength and the quarter masters
ana commissary generals to pocket the mo
ney. Whilst each strives to over-reach the
other, both agree in deceiving the people-
IN countries where the revenue is collec-
ted by excise, and most of it is sa collected
IN all the kingdoms of Europe to the an
nuai amount Of its produce, the reader
should aid one fifth for the wages Of COLI
leetors, K the prosecutions the inhabitants
suffer by It's collection. Such are the bnr
thens of the people.
19 Spanish leagues are equal to a de
gree league contains 1850 vAras.--
Ihree castillan feet make one vara, which
equals SO inches English.
7 Vid J. Talbot Dllon's first letter.