Star. — 1824-08-17 (London, England)

SPALV. PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. CORRESPONDENCE.  " ALtDaan, Auausr_2, lU*.  • " Public attention is at present occupied here with the project said to be entertained by England of sending troops into Por.ugal. The rumour has proved an abundant source of hopes and fears to the politicians of Madrid ; but it would be useless to trouble you with the conjectures of those who wish for, or those who dread such an intervention ; I shall, therefore, only state, that the sole point in which both parties agree is, that if England does not interfere, France will do so on the first plausible opportunity. " By letters from Portugal, we learn that a considerable number of our countrymen, notwithstanding the vigilant measures taken upon the Spanish frontiers, have escaped into that kingdom. Some of these fugitives have even contrived to communica;e with their friends here, and in their letters state that, from the complexion Affairs are assuming in that country, some little gleam of hope may be derived for unfortunate Spain. Since, at the request, or more properly speaking; demand of General Digeon, the Spanish battalions, who took part  in the disturbance of the 25th ult. have been sent away, there has been no further interruption of the public tranquillity, though it is very evident there are many persons very anxious, and would be very active, were it not for the prudent measures adopted, to renew similar scenes. " General Quesada, Governor of Madrid, who for several days has observed a silence either forced or voluntary, has at length given signs of existence by the pub' licatinn in our Gazette of an Order of the Day for the service of the place. The framing of such an order, at present, cannot cost him much time or trouble, as there are so fesv Spanish troops here, that they are imly required at ;he Theatres and their own barracks. Owing to this the duty of the Royalist Volunteers is extremely severe, and has produced not a little discontent amongst them, as the great majority of them have nothing else to support themselves and families but the produce of their daily labour, which can be but very scanty indeed, as nearly all their time is devoted to this military service. —The Municipality are straining every nerve to organise t third battalion of volunteers, for the equipping of which hi; Majesty has furnished, great part of the funds; but even this third battalion will be but a feeble relief, nor will the others cease to complain till the arrival of the provincial battalions, which should have already been here. The cause of their non-arrival is most unaccountable, and has, of course, given rise to many strange conjectures. Knowing, from personal obset vatiOn, the indiscipline of Quesada's troops, I said, in my last letter, that it was probable, after being sent away from the capital, they would never reach their destination. The event has justified my presentiment. —4We now learn that, long before reaching Toledo, they fell out amongst themselva,, ;Ares we►e drawn, several soldiers wounded, and, in the end, the greater number deserted of course, we may reckon upon an augmentaticn of the already too numerous banditti that infest the country. The last chain of galley slaves that left this consisted of nearly sixty persons, the greater number of whom were ex-national militia-men—these are to be led to Corunna, from whence it is thought they will be transported. Dreading this fact, which to a Spaniard is worse than death, there is little doubt but they will make a desperate effort to break their chains on the heads of their conductors. A close carriage, with the blinds up, drove in here to-day, and, stopping at the prison gate, a person, muffled up, was taken from'' it, and lodged in the prison. The rumour goes that it is General Coupons. " The news from various points of the Peninsula is still of the same afflicting nature. We hear of nothing but imprisonings and persecutions of the Negros, excursions of predatory bands, particularly in the mountains -of Ronda, and robberies and murders upon the high toads. A letter from Barcelona states, that there are in that port several Sardinian and one English vessel that have been brought in there by the Custom-house cutters, -having been found laden with grain, and, near the coast. They said they were going from Genoa to Gibraltar (but this is the usual excuse with the smugglers of grain). The English and Sardinian Consuls have made representations to the authorities here► It is 'yet doubtful if they will be declared lawful prizes, as they were not discovered in the act of discharging their cargoes."