The Sun. — 1833-12-06 (London, England)

THE GUERILLA CHIEF MERINO.  (From the Spectator.) The Memorial Bordelais contains a long account of this extraordinary man. It is evidently written by a person thoroughly acquainted with Merino, and with all the circumstances connected with his exploits. A few extracts from this account, showing the personal character and the influence of Merino, may interest our readers. It is necessary to premise, that, so far from being the champion of the priesthood in Spain, Merino entertains a decided hatred for that class, and admits no priest to his confidence. He never enters a place of worship, or returns thanks to Providence fur any of his successes. He has no fixed political principles ; and has, according to th, writer of the article in question, no hostility to the Ultra Liberals, whom he would join if he could bs assured o. their gaining the upper hand, and granting him impunity for all his crimes. But he has a dread of what are Moderate Governments, lest, when his services are over, a guarantee of oblivion should be broken, and he be sacrificed. The personal bravery of Merino is said to exceed e 0,,, that of Mina. In 1808, he carried by assault the town of Roa, at the head of his soldiers. At Pampelona, he made the whole of the French arrison prisoners, by the at audacity of his movements. At the Vents del Abgel, Almazan, and in many other places in the same year, be astonished everybody by his boldness. About this time, wishing to become acquainted with the designs of his enemies, be entered Burgos seven or eight times, disguised as a peasant, and leading an ass loaded with red pepper, which he sold in the streets ; becoming thus his own spy, counsellor, and general. " In 1823, in the month of August, Merino, accompanied by four men, arrived at eight o'clock in the evening at Ontoria ; whilst at table, the house in which he had taken up his quarters was surrounded by sixty soldiers of the regular army and 30 of the National Guard. Merino quitted the table, deliberately saddled his own horse, saw the horses of his soldiers also saddled, and rode through a shower of halls to the bridge, where his horse fell under him; in this position the two sentinels fired at hint ; but he raised his horse, and escaped. At another time, he appeared at the chateau of Colina, with twenty men. The authorities of Villahoz being apprised of his visit, sent one hundred and forty soldiers to the chateau. They blocked up all the avenues. At night, Merino ordered the owner of the chateau to open all the gates, and drove before him about thirty bullocks which were in the stables, at the same time shouting defiance to his enemies. The besiegers, bearing his voice and the noise of the sortie, discharged a volley, killing nearly all the bullocks. Before they could reload, Merino and his troop had escaped without a wound. At Roa, in 1823, he was defeated by Obregon, and had seven hundred of his men taken prisoners ; but his defeat did not discourage him. He withdraw, disputing every inch of ground. Among many anecdotes respecting him are the following. In 1823, when the army of the Duke of Angou'eine was in Spain, the husband of 'Merino's sister, Antonio Santuyo, and another assassinated the Alcalde of Villahoz, Don Mateo Alvarez, a distinguished Liberal; for whom, personally, Merino was said to entertain a great hatred. The assassins were apprehended, and imprisoned. Merino's sister immediately went to 'Madrid, where her brother was all influential, to obtain his inter • cession in favour of her husband. At first, Merino drove her from his door ; but recalling her, and appearing to relent, he gave her a sealed letter to Don Ignacio Romero, the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court at Valladolid ; which, on being opened by the Judge, was found to contain the following words:— " Seuhor—My sister will give you this letter. I charge you to look out for a second husband for her, and to hang the first, as a just punishment for the murder of the Alcalde of Villahoz. It is not for him to judge of the political opinions of men. (Signed) "