Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-04
EXTRACT OF ALETTER

the FORMER is since dead OF MS wounds. :"
EXTRACT OF ALETTER
Fror1 AN american gentleman of re.pec ability
s,cfdiz. dated Bib GA. to his friend in this
city:
/ did not intend to write you By this
opportunity, which is vessel 1 am dis
patching, butreally could not let her
go, without letting you know how
things go en-s-E am aware thar you
must from the knowledge you have of
Spain, be extremely anxious to learn
whether the Cortes, now established,
are likely TO make themselves worthy
the name of Cortes, and it is with plea
sure / inform you that their sessions
are conducted with the greatest deco
rum and propriety.--By the public
prints which ] send you, you will ba
made acquainted with their acts.
Their first was to acknowledge Fer
cinand the 7th-their next was to di-
vide the legislative, executive and Tue
dicial powers-tho latter is to be made
independent. The executive, let it be
who it may, is to be dependent on the
Legislative in certain points. The Ii
berry Of the press was ptoposed4 and
referred to a committe, who, / can.
assure you, have PREPARED to bring a
! favorable bill, aud frjm personal ac-
quaintance with sey8ral members of
she committee, lSaow'it will be uuani-
Ipously decreed ii its greatest extensi-
%, except as tQfeligion, which is to be
lie i,nder fb . 3-.,s ~ = - r II . L
this is p|per--for now less than
ever, ought religion to become a topic
OF discussion in this country, of course
this restraint is both prudent and uni
versaIly approved of.
The present regency are directed to
CONTINUE in Office pro tenn. exercising
the executive powers; meantime
commission has been appointed to
bring in list of such persons as it
would be proper to no inmate.
IS The regency had sent for the duke
OF Orleans, lately married to the king
of Sicily's daughter, and he was here
some weeks past, intriguing, and had
party but the moment the Cortes
were appraised of the circumstance,
they ordered him to leave the country
IN "a hsurs.--He presented himself,
but was noe even admitted to their pre-.
sence, and finally embarked.
You will perceive thew have de.
stroyed theS C onsultas and Was Re-
servadas of the Executive and they
seem TO have great desire to abolish
the word Empeno, by preventing any
OF theirsbody, or any of his relations.
holding an Office, during the time of
their election, or for one year after.
But three grandees have been chosen
to the Cortes and none of them by the
PeoPle-two were appointed by iuntas,
and Que pro ten for the HAVANA.
Mr.. Adair, the British minister to
Censtantinople, on his way to England,
stoPed here have the pleasure of
hlsscquaintance, and he assures me,
ne is astonished beyond expression, at
what nc has Witnessed, the session be-
ing IN public, it has given new life to
Spain, and you conceive what enthu-
siasm peryades all classes.
Ehe oaly reason that new regen-
cy has not already been appointed, is,
that there are 81 representatives vet
detained at Carthagena waiting the
hrst easterly wiul aud they are the
members from Catalonii, Valencia,
Murcia. &c. those that have assem-
bied, wish rather to wait full repre-
sentation for 50 great an object.
TIE Qualifications ON this island are
daily improving and are now in so
high a state OF dsiencc, that you nav
rely on 1t, that Bonsparte, until he
has no other wars, and can turn his
whole attention to this place, and is
then determined 70 sacrifice one hun.
fired Thousand men, cannot take il.
4 The Preach have nov advanced
Weir batteries as far as they can on
etAe opposite coast. Fro n that of the
iCaberzela, situated TO the northward
'of the fort Matagorda, they have been
attempting to fire into the bay, and
it is true they have thrown their shot
further than was expected. By ,leva-
ting their long % AID 80 Founders, 20
an angle of As, they can throw red
hot shot about miles or near 31-4
miles. They have thrown 500 shot or.
more within these three days but With