The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-11

midst of all the rnrlAnchsly rel .t;ons ahat are
daily reaching us from Spain while we see
Bonnpsrte, like the destroying angel, sw eepirg
away armies, and spreading desoiation over the
lsW, al while we are trembling for fear that
the next mail may bring US the sad assurance,
tiat the bodies OF some If our own coun,rymen,
friends and relations, have heen trainpled be-
meath the, hoofs of his horses in the midst ef
these tidings. is 1t not enough to sting one to
madness to be graveiy informed, that onthe l4th
OF November, his excellency. Don Juan Hook
ham Frere," upon being introduced to the Gen.
trail Junta, delivered speech in which " he sta
ted the extraordinary complacency and ;fatter
ing satisfaction which he felt in the honor grant
ed him. =, by the king his master, in appoint
ing him his representative near the august per.
son OF his most Catholic Majesty, Ferdinand Z ~
1t really makes ones feet and fingers itch it
sets one all IN twitter to read this at time like
the present. Near the august pc on indeed !
why, what more could we do, were we TO study
for years how we should furnish foe for ridicule
IN the French newspapers OF piece with
these proceedings, was a proclamation to check
the Z" HeenIoasness of the PRESS of which proc
lamation Is by no means difficult to guess the
origin. 1t was SO exactly according to the taste
OF certain people; it was SO like them it was
| the very thing one would have expected fro m
them. Keep the people down. Keep their
tongues and pens in order. Don't let them talk
too much Well, according to all appearances,
the Junta may now issue AS many procamatons
as they please against the " Hcentiousness of the
press" foritis to be feared that they will soon
have little else to do. My decided opinion is,
that the present disasters in Spain have chiefly if
not wholly proceeded from lie change of feeling
IN the paople, produced by the change of Ian
guage IN their leaders. 1t was ALWAYS obvious,
| to those who reflected upon the matter, that
SPAN, to avoid the embraces of the Bonapartes,
must he thrown inta state OF revolution
lafien or King Joseph appeared to be the only
choce tor the nation, and unfortunately, those
who obtained the lead, resolved, mt at any rate
to haze rteolaticn. They resolved not to suffer
= the iicentiousness of the press" l, for my
part, shall always think of that know what
sort of folks those are who talk about "te licen-
| tousness of the press" III this country aud in A.
merica; and upon this knowledge do and must
form my Judgment. As TO the conduct of our mi
| nisters IN their military arrangements, ] am not
disposed 20 find E.ult with it. The Morning
Chronicle, does indeed, use some very powerful
arguments to shew that they might have acted
more fer the benefit of the Spanish cause but
the worst OF tits, these arguments GENE after
the event. It was all along quite clear that ire
could do nothing, unless the SPanards them.
selves were in great force, to numbers at least
but 1t would now seem that the French have
the superiority even in that respect. Therefore,
the accounts which we before received about
their numbers were false, or those numbers have
y WHICH III lnat DC
the case, must, think, be attributed to the
change, which, by the altered language of the
Junta, has been produced in the minds fthc peo-
pie The blame due to the ministers, appears to
me to be that of having roya!ised, if may usc,the
word, the Spanish cause. This is subject we'll
| worth the serious attention of parliament; but
as to the military part of their measures, it will
be very difficult imagine to make, any blame
! stick to them. could not help observing in the
Courier newspaper of Saturday last, letter. said
to come from one of our officers in Sir David
Baird's army, who, after complaining of the IKE
SVarniness of the Spanish people, and their back,
wardlless to make exertions against the enemy,
says" this is miserable people, the French n.ast
do them good" really did wonder to meet with
sentiment like this last, in ministerial news
paper. You see how things strike even our Off
GERS. This gentleman seems to have high OPT
MON OF the 6enefts of French determination. Is
1t any wonder then, fgreat numbers of the Span
iards are of the same opinion No, no say what
we will, it does not necessarily follow, that the
French mustbe hated by the SPaniards because
we wish tito be so. l do not yet give up Che Span
ISL cause as lost, because the great dangers of
the country may rouse the people truly reya-
ntionary spirit may arise, and in that case, the
French may be defeated; but if king at all,
there is, think but little doubt that Joseph Ma
poleon will be that king