Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-04-29


M dear sir-The concerns of this country
have essentially changed since was here last
.---at that time the Spaniarels were confident OF
their own resources-repelling the efforts OF
the ENGLISH to coalesce with them In any shape
civil or misunderstanding for Offices; making
laws for districts not In their possession; and
- short, cyery labour, excepting the neces-
,sary one of checking the enemy-Ihis sys-
ten has since that time, Penshed IN ITS own
weakness; on It's ruins has been estaoisned'
an administration, that promises all that can
be promised; aud should 1t tail, It must be
from change in the characters OF Its mem
bers, or some most unforeseen Illustration OF
their plans The head of 1t (whose name has
been often repeated in Amerlca) IN the stead
of torpedo Blake, is O'Donnel, the defender
of Catalonia, and the mover of the most vlgor-
Gus operations during the war.---Hls charac-
ter is that of man of unblemished honor, OF
activity and peculiar holiness His first mi
litary decree stamps the man, 1t was dam
per to family pride, by attempting to sweep a
wav the nunaberof titled, epauleted vagabonds,
who infest all places of safety, and hold the
commissions of officers with requisites for pri-
kvates His decree orderedall those who could
nor be received in regiments to be formed In
\. 70 corps of honor to be always In tbs hottest
service, as candidates for promotion and pat
terms to others. Those who delayed to enrol
themselves forfeited their commissions and are
rendered liable to be pressedin the ranks of
privates. Adjoined to him as seconds, arethe
Duke of Infantado late Ambassador to Lon
aon and two others whose names are not
known the other side the water.
The positive advantage OF this change IS
the substitution of practical men IN the place
of theorists, men who discard national vanity
IN the outset and choose rather to insure their
liberty by leaning to the British, than forego
if by precarious dependence on their own
means. It's Immediate consequence has been
the looping off of the many useless appendix
pes, that hung to the old system and oppres-
sed it,
1t has repressed the wrangling OF the Cor
tes il their discussion on the adoption OF a
constitution, by reminding them that It IS al
yisable to get the country before they enact
laws for it.
Hitherto their efforts have been principally
military, leaving For moro tranquil moments
whatever may relate totbe civil department
instead of thrusting their troops -prsmatureiy
into the field, they ratherwhe possible, with
draw them, in order by previous preparation
IN insure their usefulness when their services
NAV be required. For this last purpose OF pre-
marathon, they have sanctioned the establish
snent of Depots Gas In Portugal under Bril-
t;shgoitance. They have constituted Ballas-
tcros Captain General of Andalusla, with a
force gradually increasing from draft, of the
neasantry, who are placed In the Depots be-
fore mentioned, nor allowed to join their corps
uatil.thev are disciplined and pronounced ef-
fectiye. The former prevailing propensity
E IA, large armies, has eenrepulsetl by renew
y, ssonstenance given to the Guerillas, such
Nina. Ea1pecinado and others who at
S sT;rht s.pcnse. to their own country, hang a
10, 49, >uemv, and as if invincible, are
S.,a,.,, nalv gsy the fatal consequences of their
..,,,r,scl IN sniHtary, in fact, in every d.
.sls 80. ;rnb;ss Ned new life from the yigour
esh,, = that q oYerns them. The spirit
os he nation is kept .aIise, by gallant occasi-
sioual Efforts of Nina, t'rnpeclnado, and O.
Tiers, and more than all ,:and IN larger scale,
by BalIasteros, who lately BY vigorous de-
scent on Grenada obliged an 9emy OF supe..
rior force to take refuge within the walls CT
Malaga, and who is daily adding to the hopes e,
of his couptrynen, that he may be the teiasi'
of their age
The British are withdrawing from that nc,
gative warfare they have hithevto conducte1
and appear TO be forming a mast spienoii 4,
project which if 1t arrives at maturity viii
compel the French to evacuate the larger Por-
tions of Andalusia s Estramadura, &leavc- IFee
the whole northwestern part ofthe Feminist. ID
Blythe capture of Ciudad Rodrigo and the In
yestnent Of 3adajos, (Which military men say
must soon falE II IS presumed and not denied,
that Lord Wellington's policy is to push his
force parallel Tor nearby with Ciudad Rodri
go and BadaJcs: as yea will see by the Map
including Heres and Seville, until Its extre-