The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-01-20
Letter Of RIEGO.S UJe TO the French
Minister Of Foreign .4Gairs.

.NoSt ErceiIont .Sir-Th. Irresistible
voice of nature strikes the oppressed I'M
som of a young wife, sick, abandond lar
from the land of her birth and SEPARATED
from h.r behaved husband, united 10 INN
ny all The ties of hinUd, whom the cIancps
at war, and the >lcissitude Of the political
revolution which still agltatcs lis country,
have thrown into the obscuiit, of a dun.
Sron, where her Imagination, fab of grcl
and honor, presents hun Ia her at every
instant, surrounded With dangers and al.
iIcilons. Mi ii single word from her IN.
fortunate husbhnd.-trum Il man raurr ad.
mIfcd Tor his Virtues and humanity than
even tpr the bravery al his actious-ns
come 10 tranq"iiizr her i'll fated existence.
two months having elapsed since he be-
cane a prisoner 10 the French arms. Her
Uncle and brother In-liw, the nniy hrolhu
ct Don Rapharl del iIiego, hase hahil4
whose liz rary life, whose ecclesiastical
character appeared ta insure Ia him an
obscure tr'nquiI existence within the pre-
cIncin OF the temple, finding himself har
ed AMIDST th" agitations nf the political
world, banlshrd from his country and ie-
rnlsrd from the altar as an unworthy minis.
ter of Religion.
In tins situation, truly iragical and Ia
men'ahlr, aggravated by their total ano-
rance oi the late ri three munger brothers,
line eldest scarcely twenty one wears Of
age, aud three infant sisters, all disor.rd
over The face of th. Peninsula, withont 4 IA.
Ihrr without a mother, aud without tho
shelter and support oi their guardian and
tnelr-"h". giving vent 10 the tender srn-
hmrnts OF father, brother, legal protector,
and natural frirnd "xclaima, on seeing tie
dreadful storm which threatens conlul,fely
I" destroy his Whole family, directing him
sen |" Your Exc, llrncS,-- for uhat crime
committed against heaven ar earth Is fhis
unhappy brother 81 cruelty prosecuted =
u II an unphrluuahlr crime ~ the eyes u
fiiiH'd Frame, for the young Sulofp
who tuliug the period of five years thl
in her boson., inrhlLrd the irntls of morn
lily, of philosophy and Of the rights which
all nations possess Ia cndcavor 10 establish
II system of political happinrss--to lave
wished /" assert the same principles y nch
ne had s'"n displayed among H.. moral
nla&Ino and enchanting, images al The an
lh"r ~ The .NnFtyrS, and Of the Genus q
ChF'H'dh1tyt Is II a crime, that IL Naiia,t
youth, N WHO'S" hands Shune the arms ct
ms c"nniry-that country Which Ir had
irafersrd iIom Cape Finisicrr. Ia the CO.
Iumns OF Hercules, from the Bidassoa To
the ihgns, hearing the cries al discomfort
aud seeing the misery, Gi-cordel, and dc,
Srdda''nn, ut" which the immortality and
he I"Satlah'" a'aiict of the evil COUNSEL
"fs OF Ferdinand had unhappiy sunk her
is u AN 'neNpiahie crime, say, that h'
should have raised his voice on the bark
81 thr Gaudalrte, aud exclaimed TO h'
''nmpatrioiS, Ferdinand is Your King =
Ferdinand is not a tyrant Fear not to
-cirrat the echo of Las Cabezns let ;lo'
sound reach his ears and Spain viii be hap
'y, and Ferdinand behold himself ,nIror
l'd by his children !" Oh shall dcrd' -
'aior' OF humanity, Of suffering, ofton''t''
ty' and the sacrifice, of health aud lj"i
erred upon the affairs of his ,oHu.g! "
'm"li"rate the condition Of he fellow =.
-ens-Gctlon~ which yonsttuie tas /, ~