Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-03

\
raphy is therefore much sought after; and
a sketch of it will be found in the follow :
ing article. which originally appeared in
tine Rhode Island American, under
Sketches of Scenery, Manners, &c. in
SPAIN"
The writer is describing visit to CHS
clans, on the festival of st. John, and the
| characters who were present:
THAT pale and delicately formed young
lady at the upper end of the table, is the
| wife of the celebrated General MoRRILLo,
She is a native Of Cadiz, and highly re-
spected for her amiabIe disposition and
correct department She is an only child,
and heiress OF an immense property left
by her father, who died some years ago. -
inorilio, who was then on the point OF en-
! barking for Caracas, accidentally saw
this young lady at the house of a friend,
learnt that she was very rich, land immedi-
ately, without waiting for second inter-
view, offered himself to her. His rank &
the fame be had acquired. backed by the
earnest recommendation OF tie mother, iD-
duced the young lady 10 accept the,prot-
fered hand although rendered in manner
so novel, and so well calculated to excite
suspicion as to the purity of The motive
They accordingly became mutually en-
gagged. Moriilo Immediately embarked Tor
America. whence, after the expiration OF
some lime he RENTED a power ofattorney
to friend, authorising him 10 espouse the
lady in his behalf, and he was according
ly married to her by prory; practice
very common ID Spain, when the lover
being absent from bis betrotheG, and not
being satisfied with plighted engage
ment. wishes TO make assurance doutly
sure"--tbe marriage under such CirCum'
stances only requires to be ratified by him
to render it valid in sacRamental point
completely binding. AS her husband is
not here and you may have some curiosity
to earn who u what this celebrated warri.
or 10 | will relate to you some particulars,
touching his person, character, and life.
'MoriIlo, is stout built, awkward,
hard featured. vulgar looking man, some
what above the middle size, and about
fifty years OF age. His face, true index
ofbis character, is expressive ofihe savage
nature OF bis disposition-ot his obstina-
cy and averbearing, unconciliating tenn.
per His manners are rude, and uDgrace-
full, BETTING bis birth and education, which
were the lowest and most ordinary-he
hardly possessing the common rudiments
of reading and writing When youHg
man he served as common soldier of ma
rines on board of ship of war and |
have been assured, by those who were OF
hcers on board OF the same ship, that ne
was in the habit of performing for them
the most mental Offices But see, here is
the celebrated dragon tree SO famous tor
its longevity. There is one OF these trees
IN the garden OF the franciscan convent at
CadIz, which popular tradition says was
planted by the Phenicians when they pos.
sessed that city more than two thousand
FIVE hundred years ago, and which IS
known, from the historical records OF the
place, to be many hundred years old
Il is continually sending out new shoots
from the root. and is every year tapped in
order to obtain the sap, which from its red
color is called dragons blood. and is used
IN medicine. An English traveller, Town
send think. mentions this tree in his
work on Spain. But to proceed in my ma
rahve.
"The commencement of the late inva
sioA of Spain by the French, found Moril-
10 sergeant of marines, and by some &C
cident he afterw ards became porter or
door keeper to he central junta wien they
were stationed at Seville. In consequence
OF this be was sent tor some purpose or
other, probably with dispatches, into the
province of Gallacia al the time OF the
rruptian of The French into that quarter,
where meeting with considerable body
of the peasantry who bad assembled tor
tie purpose Of opposing their progress,
and who were entirely destitute OF lead
! er OF of any person acquainted with mill
tary matters, he was Instantly appointed,
by exclamation. their Colonel, and hsv-
| ing signalized himself in some subsequent
skirmisbes and predatory attacks, his rank
was confirmed by the supreme government
| and behold the course, the lliterate,
| but the bold and intrepid Morilo at once
transformed into Colonel of the line!-
He rose in reputation rapidly, became one
| of the most celebrated Guerrilla chiefs in
Spain, and was OF infinite service to Lord
4, Wellington, with whom he was a great ia
yorite, in cutting of the supplies and com
municstions of Massena, during he me-
/ morabie campaigns in Portugal. Ills prD-
! motion followed with equal rapldity, and
the close o. the struggle found him camp
marshal. On the return OF the KING ne
was appointed TO the command Of the ex-
petition destined against Caracas, over
which province he was named Captain
General. He has there sgnalized himself
by his cruelty and harsh policy, and is UNI
versaly derested by the natives and very
generally by the Europeans. In conSe,,
quence of the capture of arthaeena, and
of the victory of la Puerto, in which ne
was desperately wounded, baving had
-. u -. l.. IL .o.,crh the body he