Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-10-22
Doretp1s Aems.
FRANCE AND SPAIN.

and from Madrid the 28th August.
There can be no doubt that the French
army was defeated in the attack on Ma
tagorda. The silence kept up by the
government papers, had led to some
doubts as TO the truth of the first report
of this disaster, but subsequent arrivals
tending to confirm it, the funds at Paris
fell considerably, and, according to the
London Courier, the situation Of affairs
at Cadiz had caused considerable unea-
siness to the French Government. Ev-
cry attempt at negotiation had failed,
and there was no ground for believing
that better success would attend any fu-
ture proposals. The bombardment
which we had been repeatedly told was
positively to commence on the Goth Au-
gust, had been postponed to the 28th of
that month, on account, it is said, of the
non arrival Of Mr.. Ward with despatch
es from England.
- A great parade is made in the Paris
papers about the immense force which
was collecting by sea and land to attack
Cadiz. A thousand pieces of cannon we
are told would be directed against the
city, which could not fail to compel
those within its walls to surrender. We
are almost disposed to smile when we
! read these gasconading accounts, and
call to our remembrance the mighty eff
forts of Napoleon to reduce the place,
and how completely his designs were
frustrated. Talk of thousand cannon.
forsooth Why he could have brought
four thousand before it, if he had thought
that the bombs or balls which they dis
charged would have reached the place.
Aware that The shells of the mortars in
common use did not produce any effect.
this skilful engineer caused other NOR
tars TO be cast at the cannon foundery of
Seville, which were carried down the
GuadaiquiveF, and from its mouth trans
ported with immense labour, to the Ma
poieon Battery, the nearest point to Ca
dig, but which was distant from it no
less than eighteen thousand feet. The
shells despatched from these enormous
mortars, on which the greatest French
Ingenuity was displayed, at first excited
considerable alarm ; but the danger in
itself was trifing, as the result of four
months bombardment proved; for dur
ing the whole of that period, and al
though an incessant fire was kept up,
the number of killed and wounded in
and about Cadiz amounted to no more
than ffty.tour persons.
If we are to believe the conductors of
the Paris papers, the mad project of re-
ducing Cadiz is to be again attempted,
and that, by means which the greatest
general iu Europe found to be so ineffi-
cient, that he was compelled TO resort
to others of a more powerful nature,
but which in the end he was convinced
were also unavailing. We can only &C
count for the strange conduct of the
Duke d'Angouleme, by surprising, as
has been already stated, that he had re-
ceived peremptory instructions from Pa
ris to carry the place, cost qUhat 1t could
We apprehend, therefore, that the
French army before Cadiz is doomed to
experience the fate which befel that Of
Napoleon, and thus teach another lesson
to despots, that all attempts to subjugate
a people who are determined to be free
are vain and fruitless.
In the mean time, says the London
Courier of the 9th of September, the
war fingers; the summer is Fastening tc
a close, and there is reason to expect
that matters will remain thus undecided
till the rains set in. Aware of these in.
creasing difficulties, the French govern.
ment, as might be supposed, was anx.
ious, if possible, to effect speedy ter,
mination of the campaign. Such Ian.
guage on the part of journal which
| (ike some of our sage politicians here,
has been continually prognosticating dis,
aster to Spain and success to the invad
ers. clearly indicates that even their a
hettors were at last convinced they
would fail, and that the CONSTITUTE ona
system must triumph
The position of Marshal Money ir
Catalonia is stated to have become ex
ltremely dificuIt.-Mina and his brave
associates continue to find him sufficient
employment.
4 GREECE.
There are accounts from Zante of the
18th July, giving such minute details O.
the defeat Of the Turks at Thermopy
lac, in the early part of that month, al
to remove all doubts on the subject
The first shock is represented to have
been very violent, and the carnage
great on both sides; but after two hours
hard fighting the Turks were repulsed
and sought safety in fight, leaving be-