Glasgow weekly times., 1851-11-13
New York Corresp ,ndonce of the Times.
NEw Yong. Oct. 30, 1851.

EDIroR OF THE TIMEs;--Wc are very
anxious in New York for the arrival of the
next steamer. We want to know, for GER
tain, whether or not the President of the
Spanish Council at Madrid did actually pro-
pose to the Legislature of that Kingdom to
sell the Island of Cuba TO England, for $780,
100000. Such was the rumor in England
and France, when the last steamer that ar
rived here from Liverpool, left that port
The English papers do not affect to disbe-
lieve the report, but merely say. that it
wants confirmation; and some of them speak
of it as thing that Spain will be obliged to
do, at some future time, whether she likes
the arrangement or not, for the purpose Of
paying off her indebtedness to English hol-
ders of Spanish bonds.
need not say that the confirmation of
this rumor would create something of an
excitement throughout the United States
and would have the effect of making our
most jealous champions of neutrality pause,
and endcavor to discover the dividing line
between defensive and aggressive interfer-
ence.
By the by, the American prisoners have
arrived at Vigo. l know the place well;
having been there twenty years ago. Twas
at that time young rambler, somewhat like
most of the poor fellows who have lately
landed there from Havan. was midship-
man in the Portuguese service, or rather,
should say, in the service of Dona Maria
daughter of Don Pedro, and now Queen of
Portugal. Don Miguel had, at that time,
possession of the throne, and Don Pedro,
under the auspices of the British Govern
ment, left Brazil for one of the Western
Islands, where fleet was organized to pro-
ceed to Portugal and attempt 10 subvert the
'established' government. Arms and am
muntion were furnished by the British Gov
ernment, Englishmen were allowed to Join
the Army and Navy of Dona Maria, and
English officers receiving half pay from
their government, were permitted also to
enter this foreign service.
Vigo is buta short days run from Oporta
in Portugal, and as the Miguclite fleet, al
though much larger than ours, did not choose
to meet us, it took refuge there, it being a
Spanish, and therefore neutral port We
therefore blockaded it for some months
But find that the mention of the name of
Vigo has awakened in me old "reminiscences.
the relation Of which are quite out of place
in New York correspondence" l will
therefore endeavor my feelings to smother
and relate few facts of interest to the gen.
eral reader, now that England and other
European powers are having so much to say
about our attempts to 'enlarge the area of
freedom"
lst. 1t was well known in every seaport
in England, that men were continually leav
ing to join the Army and Navy of Dcna
Maria; and although there may have been
laws prohibiting the departure ofexpeditions,
yet there was not a man Of ordinary intell-
gencc in London, Portsmouth, or Plymouth,
that did not know that ships were being fit
ted out, and any man about the docks could
point to them. If there were any prohibition
laws, they were dead letter--so much so
that no attempt at secrecy was made by the
EXpeditioniss.
End. l myself embarked from London,
with full understanding that | was going 10
fight for what was then termed the liberal
party in Portugal, and although l remained
on shore some time after my appointment,
secrecy was not enjoined upon me.
Sd. Several officers of the British NAVY
joined the fleet of Dona Maria; among 9TH
ers Captain Satorius and Admiral Napier,
who commanded the fleet, and finally COM
p!etc!y annihiated the enemy, thus securing
the throne of Portugal to Dona Maria.
4th. The arms and ammunition used bu
us, came from The Royal .Arseral, al Wool
wtch, England, whence 1t could mol hare
been obtained ucltho1d the knouledge and posi-
the order cfhe British Government.
9th. No officer or man connected with the
Expedition was punished in any way by the
British Government, for a violation of the
laws of nations and the laws of England.
9th. A few years afterwards, during the
civil war in Spain, England, emboldened by
the impunity with which she had nterfered
in the affairs of Portugal, went step farther
and in defiance of the laws of nations.
passed special act of Parliament allowing
all officers and soldiers, not in actual SER
vice, TO enter the service of the Queen of
Spain, without forleiting their claim for half
pay or pension on the British Government.-
read the Act of Parliament in a British
paper, proceeded to London, joined the Lib