The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-04-01

uer far from being honorable to his cour-
age. 1t must, however, be observed that
most of the operations OF this minister
have been commented upon in violrnt,
which il MT always just, language lie is
decided enemy to South American hide
pedence, and to his representations is
chiefly 10 be- imputed, the unfortunate po-
Icy which infects this as wril as the for
mer governments, Of sending out expedi-
tons 10 the Amrean continent. Report
perhaps, calumny, says that THEN expedi-
tions are not uoprodue i've Of gain TO him
self aud his friends. Such is The prepon-
dcrance which he has acquired in the
state. that there are not few of his party
vino desire his fall, that they may at least
have chance Of succeeding him. Aecor-
ding 10 all appearance, their pious wishes
are likely 10 be sratIied II no very remote
period.
Such are the outlines Of the characters
NJ The seven ministers. ST f,r rs have been
allie 10 make them out from my inquiries
here. The Treasurer General, Yandiola,
has no seat IN the cabinet, but he is init
mately connected with the present Minis
ters, aud generally consulted by them on
all financial questions. lie is rather a
young man, forward, weI-cducated, but
though his manners are elegant and enga.
gng, he has not been able To concilate
public opinion, which has been adverse 10
him. The leading part which he has Ia
KEN IN the late loans has rendered him
suspected. He was also for some time a
refugee 10 England, where he excited the
suspicious Of several Spauiards refugees
AT the same period on account of the close
connection which subsisted between him
and the Duke San Carlos.
-.~sAe...
The French army is at present almost
entirely composed of conseripts These
young men, doubtless, po sess the instinc-
i've bravery of Frenchm n, but they have
never seen fire. II may be said without
eXaggeratio that the line does not contain
one of the old imperial soldiers, and not a
sub-olllcer has servedin the old campaigns,
and obtained experience in war. The ar
my, therefore, is destitute of good sub oil
GERS aud good soldiers, which are indlspen-
sable IN war of partlsans, where every
thing depends upon individual contests
Many of the officers have seen service,
ana among them only can be found some
ot those intrepid warriors who have fought
Their way over all the continent The SUI
peror officers are anxious to give the gov
eminent every proof of devotion that is
required from them, aud to merit by humi-
llty tavors which in times of intrigue, they
cannot hope 10 obtain or preserve by their
conduct in the field. The inferior officers
such as majors, captains and lleutenants,
do not expect or desire any thing but the
preservation of their commissions They
say nothing and it they are hurt some
times when theirold opinions are attacked,
they do not allew it 10 be pe~cciycd The
young officers, who have received their
commissions by favor, carry themselves
very high, and flattcr themselves thai in
the expected war they will eclipse twenty.
five years of military operations this
makes the veterans smile As to the sol
dIers who have not conquered at Auster-
litz, or Wagram, nor even been beaten at
Waterloo, and during the last four years
have only learned to make soup; they are
indifferent To all lnsinuations, and await inn
patiently the expiration of their period of
service.
The apathy is not, however, sufficient TO
remove the fears of the government, to
Judge by the circulars of the projects rcIa-
tive to the soldiers returning TO their
homes, and the dismissal of many officers.
II is not apathy that government wants,
but Jealous activity. II is not always pos
slble to inslll liberal sentiments INTO the
not very enlightened minds of soldiers, So
,lther is II possible to inspire them with
feelings or love for men who have never
combatted at their head and without
that, soldiers are good for nothing. The
sclentilc'corps of the army, the engineers
and artillery, are those upon which the IA
natlos place the least reliance. II is well
known that IN these corps the most deci-
ded liberal opinions have found an asylum,
Tor liberty always flies for sanctuary 10 the
most enlightened classes There is much
hustle on the road from Perpignsn 10 Bay
onne; but there is much more show thanreal
activity. The officers ON mission, aids-de-
camp, aud contractors, are continually in
motion. Military stores, cannons, pow
der and balls, are carried along with great
rapldlty ; and the material is very consi-
derahlc, but is not complete. One knows
what French activity is capable of, hut the
party which directs this activity has not
learned how to do SO. France still pos
sesses engineers, and men eminent for mi
ltary administration, but they are no long
er employed; besides, every thing connec-
ted with the army is resolved upon with
out reelection, or according to any fixed
principles. At one point there are many
cannon, and very few stores at another,
great number of carriages and no horses;
there is no organized company Of trans
ports, which would be indispensable in "a
Spanish war and, finally, it is fact, al
though difficult to believe, that the Corps
OF Observation, from Perpisnan to Bay
onne, consists at the utmost of twenty