The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-08
HISPANO.. AMERICANS.

O.AMERICANS.
No sooner had the Regency received
from the government which has Just ceased.
the authority with which it was vested, than
it directed its thoughts to your immense and
valuable part of the Monarchy. To commu-
nicate to YOU this change; to explain the
motives which have accelerated it; to an.
nounce the hope which it promises; and to
manifest the principle by which the Re
gency is actuated for the happiness and glo-
ry of your Regions, have been the objects of
its first Care at. this memorable crisis, and
now it is about to accomplish them with
the frankness and sincerity, which never
more than at present, should characterize
the Spanish spirit in both worlds.
An uninterrupted confederation of misfor-
tunes had disconnected all our operations
ever since the battle of Talavera.,. The
sanguine hopes which might have been en-
tertained from that celebrated day, dissi-
pated like smoke. Shortly afterwards the
flourishing army of La Mancha was beaten
at Almonacid. Corona still made gallant
defence but each day proclaimed the i'm
possibility of affording her the succours, to
which SO necessarily and justly entitled is
that heroic energy which, in future ages,
will grant to her defenders the first place
in the sanguinary annals of military prowess
Notwithstanding the prcdigies of valor, The
army of CASTLE had been defeated in the
battle of Alva de Tonnes and Tamames, and
with this reverse was completed the precc-
ding catastrophe of the action at Ocano, the
most disastrous and fatal of all that we have
experienced.
Without fortune there is neither credit
nor favor The nation already began to
doubt whether the body intrusted with its
destiny were capable of saving it. All the
springs of government had lost their elasti..
city aud force. Its measures were either
uncertain, protracted, or badly carried into
execution. The ambition of certain indivi.
duals, and that of public bodies, had risen
to an extraordinary degree, and with their
authority, displayed itself more OF less in
their discordance.
The most moderate of the people declar-
ed that government composed of so many
members, all different in dispositions. in
principles, in interest; all attending at the
same time, to all the affairs both important
and unimportant. could not think with sys-
tenn, deliberate with secrecy, concur with
uuanimity, nor execute with prompttude.
Few in number for great legislative discus
sioDs, too numerous for Executive power.
they afford all the Inconvenience of colec
tive authority, less on account OF their poll
teal knowledge and comprehension, thah by
reason of the extraordinary and fortuitous
concurrence Of the events attending our sim
gular revolution.
The public voice then declared that the
government should be reduced to more sim =
pie elements. The Supreme Junta itself,
pursuaded Of this truth, proclaimed this
change together with the convOcation of the
approaching Extraordinary CorteS, whose
immediate session it was to appoint and cele-
brate with the solemnity due TO that august
Convention.
The government which the Cortes might
establish and the resources and measures
that necessarily should devolve from their
deliberations, were to renovatc confidence,
and with it to insure our hopes of success.
The occurrences have counteracted this
order of affairs. The French conceiying the
salutary effects of such change, conccn.
at the de6es Of Sierra MoreDa. These
were defended by the residue of our forces,
defeated at Ocaua, and not yet recovered
from that unfortunate affair. The enemy
broke through our weakest post, and the
others were shortly afterwards carried, not
withstanding the resistance made by our
divisions, who we're deserving Of better sue
cess The barrier which the year before
impeded tue French from invading Andalu.
STA, being now carried. they disembogued
and fastened towards Seville.
Oiscastent then manifested itself in ella =
mOrs and Complaints. The perverse, pro.
h:.ng By the awful State Of those pusillaui