Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-02-16
From the National .ddvocate.
BRITISH OUTRAGES AT SAINT Sc
BASTIANS.

rTcHi intlindttOHS COntaincQ IN extracts
from British newspapers, an impression has
pcrvaded the public mind that the capture
of the Spanish town of Saint Sebastians from
the French, was followed by occurrences
highly disgraceful to Great Britain. Of the
nature and extent of these circumstances, we
have not, until now, been afforded the mean.
OF judging-the details il any were contain
ed in the British gazcttes. having been sup
pressed by the Boston merchants aud edi
tors, into whose hands they came.
To the attention of a gentleman in this ci-
ty we are indebted for Spanish newspa.
per, printed at Cadiz. dated Monday, Sept.
9th, 1915, and entitled DUENpE DE Los
CAFFEEs. The letter, of which the fol
lowing is translation, is published in its Coz
lumns: andi any reader can peruse it with~
out sympathy for the sufforings it describes,
and without an abhorrence of the barbarous
authors Of them, he must be possessed of
qualities of heart which we confess we do
not envy.
The narrative in this letter, presents a
correspondent scene to that exhibited by the
British at the village of Hampton; agra.
waited, ii aught Could aggravate the horrors
s.ctcd there, by the consideration, that in the
~ .s.s,ai,ce tie ci-u.sties wi,icis FL the
pic,u.e were pcfpetratsd Qua people, 10
whom they came in the garb of friends and
!0elIverers; who looked to them for succor.
for protection. and friendship. but who, in,
stead of receiving these Offices at then
hands. were made the victims of the black
est euorlnities that darken the page of hu-
man crime and profiigacy Mercifnl God
If such are the fruits of British protection
and friendship. how favorable are thy dis
pensations, which have snatched us from
their desolating influence!
Over the transactions detailed in the let
ter published below, let the clerical politici-
ans of Massachusetts,. who weekly prostitute
religion by holding up Great Britain as its
. bulwark and its pillar, gather and glorify the
idol of their affections. To the scenes there
developed, let Pickering bring his oblaton
of admiration and praise, and record on the
monument they erect of British per6dy and
barbarism. the inscription ne covets for his
own remains.
II must be remembered, that the statement
in this letter, is not the invention of an EN-
Uttered and exasperated enemy. That it
is not OF the same stamp with the tales.
which load the British press, of French in
humanity and guilt. No 1t is the produc
tion of Spanish SUBJECTIVE publication of
a Spanish gazette-the representation, in
word, of an ALLY of Great Britain, which
has jast been delivered from the load of Cd.
preston and tyranny by the very auxiliary
whose baseness that representation denoun>
Ces an auxiliary whose services Spain was
anxious to cherish with the fondest remem-
brance, but whose unnatural crimes have
obliterated all traces of gratitude, and sub.
stituted for them the keenest indignation K
the deepest horror.
Translated for he National Advoeate, from a
Cadis paper Of the 9Th Sept. 1918.
ST SEBASTIANS DESTROYED.
My DEAR UNCLE,
IN my last letters informed YOU of the cru
el conduct Of our dear allies in this ever unfor-
tunate city. had hoped that should not a.
gam have occasion 10 bear testimony Of such
conduct for the honor of the natien which has
vomited forth those ferocious destroyers of a
city vhicb meriied better fate, and whose
cSuntrywas the birthplace OF the illustrious
and resp ctable lord Wellington, duke OF Gu.
dad Rodrigo--These, my dear uncle, are my
reflections ; but the innunerable crueities com
mitted by those men, which have daily wit.
messed, with the continued spectacle of misery
which those unfortunate inhabitants have sui.
fered, have induced me to relieve myself, by
imparting TO one so worthy of my confidence
short account oil what has taken place. You
must not expect TO receive full representation
OF all the saDguinary acts committed during
those days Of misery md affiiction. NV pen
wants force 10 describe them--I shall, there
fore, conbne myself to giving you a simple
but faithful HarratiOn Of such circumstances as,
by their nctcriety, deserve to be recorded in
brass, to the perpetual ignominy Of the exc
cradle perpetrators Of such enormities.
The English and Portuguese armies took pos
Session Of this place on tie 31st ut. at o.
clock VI. They might Immediately have
made themselves masters Of the citadel By
pursuing tn enemy, who fed thither for safe
~ in the gres est disorder but The conquer
ors contcnted themselves with what they had
acquired; dazzied with the idea which pre-
sented o them the prospect Of speedy plum
der The inhabitants, VINO, from the con-