The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-16
Correspondence Of the Madisonian.

HAVANA, Sept. Is, 1913.
Sir: As a vessel leaves this morning for Phil
adeipha, take the opportunity Of giving you a
few items Of intelligence in relation to the
change Of the officers Of the Government here,
consequent on the overthrow Of Espartero in
Spain. The Captain General vacated his Office
yesterday, and is succeeded by Uiloa, the Gene
raj of Marine native of Lima, man totally
unfit for The station, remarkable for nothing but
his vanity and selI-conceit, which will have an
ample field for their display during the short
time he will be permitted to retain it. General
Valdez, the Ex-Governor, is at present staying
mile or two from the city with friend he is
man Of agreeable manners-modest unassum-
ing, and liberal in his disposition-and is much
esteemed and respected There are some ru-
mors, however, that his habits are not very
good, and that The pleasures Of the table are too
freely INDUCED in but ! believe these reports
are entirely without the shadow of truth
have heard it stated by good authority that,
although poor, he annually appropriated some
fifteen or twenty thousand dollars Of his income
10 charities and that many of the destitute
widows aud orphans in Spain, of his brothers in
arms, have been greatly indebted t, him,
Count Mrasol, the commander of the forces Of
the Island, should, as second in command, have
succeeded him; but, by accepting condiionaly
the Office Of Lieutenant Governor, he forfeited
his claims TO the succession. When General
Valdez became Governor, it was expressly st-
| ia in hp ehpul1 no cOp,npllp1 in
resign in consequence of bad health, or any other
cause which was deemed probable, the General
of Marine should assume the duties Of The office,
and not Count Mirasol, who would otherwise
have been entitled to ii as a matter of course.
The Intendente, Larma, has also given up his
flee, and is succeeded by the Count Of Villa
Nueva, a Creole of the Island The Intcn.
dente is unpo ular, bis manner beng not at all
engaging and he has some enemies who de-
light in abusing him, but he is undoubtedly an
able. honest, aud efficient officer, and has in
creased the revenue of the Island some eight or
nine hundred thousand dollars per annum
When he went into office he found six rails in
the Treasury, and at his retirement leaves in il
upwards of eight hundred thousand. He was
the mortal foe Of all smuggers, and carried on
war Of extermina ZION against them and had he
remained short time longer in office, it is pro-
bable that not vestgc of them would have re.
NAMED as it was, one or two Germans howe
yer had to go 10 the wall, his vigilance being too
keen for them. The smuggers no doubt vii
hail his retirement with great JOY, as they are
many of them most notorious for this particular
kind of business. His successor, the Count
Villa Nucva, Creole of The Island, was Of
humble fortunes aud origin, and was some time
engaged in the Custom-H House as clerk, with a
salary of forty dollars per month. Gifted with
some smaruess, talent and energy he made a
little money, went to Spain, and bad the ad-
dress to have himself appointed Intendentc. He
went into office poor, and at the expiration of
his term, sixteen years, with salary of ten
thousand per annum,) he retired with a fortune