The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-12

Icurred, but that had been Informed, that
all the British property in that city, had. at
the desire ofthe French administrators, been
sequestered--that the same measure was
pursued at Malaga.
| That the amount of this sequestered pro
lperty had been supposed much larger than
| it appeared TO be, as general Sebastiani in
particular found at Malaga That it was
not TO be wondered that his imperial majes-
T! ~ had been deceived, fer the exaggerated
accounts of the amount of British property,
said to be in, Seville.
Tin the three next paragraphs, which a:e
OF great length, drGnzd assures the minister
thar the utmost activity had been used in the
seizure of the plate belonging to the church
| es, leaving none that was not actually re-
quisite forts service. He proceeds to com
bat the opinion Of themiDister as to the amount
of circulating specie in Spain, assuring him
that altho' large sums may be in the country,
that from the character of the war, ali indus
| try is suspended. commerce annihilated,
| and the confidence necessary To the circu-
| latioB of money destroyed. .franza finally
assures the minister that the money which
had been brought into the Spanish treasury,
had been employed in the support of the
, French armies, except what was actually
essential to the support OF the king and his
civil administration, in which, instead of
productivity, the utmost frugality had been
observed. That not only'the rewards and
qualifications for meritOrious services had
not been paid in money, but that even a
I great part of the kings expenses had bsen
betrayed by warrants on the seCuestcred
national property, allowing the holders the
privilege OF purchasing the same at a future
day. hraNza theR proceeds. ls :
The opinion that the raising OF regular
Spanish regiments; and enbodying the mi :.
litia, are prejndcial, 'inasnauch as they &C :
casion heavy eXpeTces. and then desert, and
thereby increase the force of the euemy. is
entertained by some, but is much question:
ed, and IT not unfountled, is greatly 'exagge-
rated. l Represented to the minister, that
upon the principles of national policy there
would be no question, that every state must
have a national force of it's own. / admit.
ted that in the commencement of the war,
| there had been many desertions. but never
| to the extent reported; that the number
had been. and was daily diminishing, and
would diminish as public opinion changed
aud must finally cease, because the insur
| gents no longer existed in the character OF
armies, but now ony deserved the name oi
banditt, which certainly could not attract
| those who had enlisted under the rcyal ban
| ners. urged the policy OF employing the
! Spanish troops in garrsons, and stated that
"'""y vi ehC tSuSh sShcidiS hdu i''iiSutSti
the necessity of scattering their troops in
various parts of the Kingdom, to preserve
order and tranquility in places, which had
| already submitted 10 the king.
The minister appeared to me. to think that
1T would be impossible to persuade the
French generals to agree in the policy Of
raising regular army OF Spaniards, but
that they might be brought to agree in the
policy of employing Spaniards as national
guards, and in aiding the civil authorities
when necessary. l replied that knew
that there were some French generals ia
the first rank and talents, who were not
only favorable to the plan of raising Spa
nish regiments, but had supported their o.
pinions with great zeal and soiidijy of ar
gument, which was ready TO lay before his
-xcelency. That those generals who held
the contrary opinion, would deserve more
consideration, if they would make known
their names, but until they did so. they just
| ~ merited suspicion of improper views. -
(The remainder OF the letter treats of sub
ljects OF minor interest, and is omitted.)
(Signed)
DUKE OF SANTA FEE