Spain.
The Times, 1824-12-14T00:00:00

TO TfEf I EDTOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,-Having been requested, as will appear by the contents, to insert in one ofthe most extensive journals of this metropolis the annexed copy of a letter, written from Barcelona to a triend of m.ine, I take the liberty of eommunicating it to you, in order to fulfil a duty of frlendslilp and patriotism. (T. B. V. e" Barcelona, Nov. 29, 1824. " Dear Friend,-I avail myself of a fortuna te opportunity to send you the present, and inform you of what ray be interesting to you as well as to our friends. The French armly continue to occupy this Important fortress: and notwithstanding their aoparent moderation. they are hated by cvery class ofpeople. The authorities of this city arc more moderate than those of any other province of Spain, but it must be attributed to the good spirit of the inhabitants, and to the danger they would run in following thc example of the otherRoyaliatautho- rities. The population of Catalonia amounts to '900,000 souls, the ultra.-party do net exceed 100,000; and these might easily be re- duced to a less number, for among them there are but very few who arc not evidently persuaded that their present situation is worse than it was unde; the (,enstitutional Governtent. Amongst the suppos- ed Royalists, besides, there are many patriots who must dissimtulate their inward feelings, until a favourable opportunity effers to rise against the insolence and oppression of the French. The spirit of Liberalism improves, not only in Barcelona, lataro, Tarragona, and Lerida, but also in Vich, Seo d'Urgel, VillaFranca, and several other places, which in 1822 wre declared enemies of the Constitu. tion. The Royalists thought, that with the re-establishment of despotism, their purscs would have beeni filled, but the number of those who aimed at rewards was too great, and therefore their fancy having been disappointed, they are obliged now to work for the common good, stince it is Smpossible for them to enjoy an exclusivc happiness. Those who could not aufllr to be equal with the low people, saw that they have becin but the footstep upor which their rivals, and perhaps their enemies, were raised. The mutrders become less frequent, and we flatter ourselves with the hope that in a short time order will he rte8tred. " If my good friend (I " lives yet in London, entreat him to make known to the world, through the most diffused newspapers of that capital, the followiag imppudent violation of every pnnciple of humanity, justice, and religion, committed by the French Ministry. After the fall of the Constitutional Government, several Italian zentlemen; proscribed from their country, who were sheltered in the Peninsula,surrendered themselves voluntarily prisoners of war to the French army, to avoid the fetters and the torrments prepared by the enissaries of the Inquisition. At the end of last March the French Mlinistrv havinzordered the dissolution of the deanetsf the nrtaan.r- of war, delivered passperts to the Italians belonging to the military class; but as to thoso belonging to the civil, after having rubjected them to every kind of suff&rng in the dungeons, during the whole time of their captivity, they were barbarously dclivcred to the ven- geance of the Spanish Royalists; and are now ordered to Ceuta. where they will be kept during their lives as Presihliarios, videlicet gslley.slaves. tiousgv us impolitical proccalin so contrary to the law of na. tO8iSh eFenchGornrent thought that the virtues and talents of those unfortunate citizens might be contagious; which they did not tear on the part of thesoldiers That aristocra- tieal Government supposed that the latter had taken up arms in be. halftof liberty for a mere speculation, and not for liberalism, and haveforgiven them that error, in remembrance that thev had once fought in defence of the tyranny either of Buonaparte, or Vittorio Emanuel, or FerdinAndo 1. But they could not forgive the citizens who had never been the agent of any despot and who are ineapable to carry arms but for the cause of liberiy. Thc Frcnch ultras never- theless are much mistaken in their opinion for there aJ amongst the Italian soldiers, those who will revenge the wrong done te their fellow.patriots. Among those unlucky Italian gentlemen are Advocate Ippo- liti, our frien l Locatelli, and many other young students, respecta. IT- 0-- hIs:; 1M _*A -IS;-J _ " rerna-n, sir, your affectionate friend, " N. N." SPAI4N.