Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-05-12

niards say that this story only existed IN
some obscure memoirs, and that the French
have never been able to produce one single
proof 7vhieh could carry nth It the hast
sperk Of brobabikty. 1t is not ours to de-
. eide. such disputes, but we think that the
Spaniards have the best of the argument.
However. a rebellion existed in that coun-
try in the year SIS, which was quelled by
Leovigild, who then inherited the tscePtre
of the Visigoths. Wars between the French
and-the Goths, successive irruptions OF the
.Gascons and revolts of the Asturlans, reli :
cious prosecutions, dethronements and MUIR
ders of monarchs, and dreadful mlserles OF
the people, fill up the measure OF Spanish
history, until the great battle Of Aefes de
la Frontera, A. ID. III, when the Moors
became masters of Spain, and the remnant
of the Visigoths retired to those very noun
tains where the defeated patriots under
Blake and Romano have lately been wan
dering, and whence the great PelaSlus ar
terWart,s descended, to revive the glory OF
the Iberian name.
This great revolution in human affairs
demands distinct and particular conside-
ration. It precipitates Africa upon Europe
with overwhelming power. The history Of
it exhibits q complete Illustration OF tie
maxim that some Of the greatest human
events originate in causes the most inconsi-
derahle.
The modern Moors were the, descend
ants of the ancient Maztrf, or IldVrusaz.---
Their name is said to be derived from their
black complexion. The ancient geographer
STRABo. describes their country as one OF
the most fertile and productive undep Hea-
ven. They also figure in the pages OF SAL
LUST, JUSTIN, and MARITAL. VIRGIL
speaks Of the Aaurusiaa race, Testing on
painted beds, and pouring out hbatioas of
the choicest 7Uiae-
Maurusia pietis
Gems epulata toris Leneieum libat honorein.
Vit:uvius is cited by the. commentators
to prove that the Maurusians and tbs Mau
ritanians were the same people. The feast
alluded to was a sacrifice to 1stbiter Am
non. Horace, in the celebrated ode to Flu
seus, says tnat the nan 2t bure and perfect
life, needs MOI he DIo9rish jaOeHns, aor bozV
mar qili0er tiH q poisoned darts--
Integer yite seelcrisque puras
Non eset Mauris jacuIis, neqoe agcn,
Nee Eeaenaus grayida sagittis,
rusec, phareta-
and illustrates the assertion by story Of
his own experience in escaping from wolf,
which was greater monster than Apuiia
or Africa could produce. 1t was not till
the reign of Claudian that Maumsia or
Mauritania, the modern Fec and Moroc-
CO, became a province Of the Roman en-
pife.
While most other writers have described
this momentous revolution IN very sum-
mary manner, Vertot has devoted to it
whole book, entitled C The invasion and
conquest of Spain by the Moors: From
CA. D. 71o to Us" Love, or rather
senstality, in many historical instances the
most inordinate of the human passions, O.
verthsew the Gothic empire in Spain. Ro-
dgric, having dcthroned Witiza, reduced
the sons of the latter to the hard necessity
of enigrating to Africa, to seek protection
under Recila, the governor of Mauritania
Tingita71ia, who had been the friend OF
their father. Roderlc now reigned in peace,
and his talents are eextolled by the most ia
nous historians Of Spain. The BRIGHTNESS
Of KS rising is compared, however, to the
momentary splendor Of a meteor, which IN
wolves in its train dire influences, fraught
with evil and ruin to the human race. He
became another Sardanapalus. His passion
for women was excessive and brutal. 1t
was one of the ancient customs Of Spain that
the young nobility received their education
st court The sons formed the kinn's body