tastes; and that, by no course of fair and sound reasoning, can it be made out, that because foreign troops are introduced into England, foreign troops ought also to be introduced into Spain. The people of England may like to have foreign troops brought into their country; but, if the people of Spain do not like to have foreign troops brought into their country, they have surely a right to say so; they surely ought not to be stigmatized as traitors and doomed to the gallows, because they express their apprehensions upon so important a point.As if to leave nothing wanting to make an exposure of his folly or something worse, this writer, in only two days after his denunciations against the poor Spaniards, falls upon Napoleon as an enemy of the freedom of the press! The occasion was as follows: the Editor of a news-paper, called the Abeille du Nord, published at Altona (in the territories of Denmark) has been obliged to apologize for having inserted in his paper some passages of history, or, at least, of works published a considerable time back. The apology is thus worded, under the date of Aug. 27, 1811.---" The Editor of this must not execrate the spirit by which these remarks of the Courier were dictated. The source whence those remarks have flowed is all despotism, sheer despotism, unmixed with a single particle of any thing else. It would suffer no human being to write, speak, breathe, or think freely; and, it seems to be ready to expire in the overflowings of its own venom, because it cannot extend its poisonous influence to every corner of the earth.The reader will bear in mind, that we are continually speaking of the miseries, the degradation, the baseness, of those nations who permit the French to garrison their towns and to take the command in their provinces. I beg the reader to call to his recollection how our public prints have treated all such nations, with what scorn they have spoken of them, how execrably base they have represented them to be. Yet, I really have never heard of any case, in which the army of the natives has been put under the command of French officers. What impudence, what insolence is it, then, for this writer to talk thus about the nations who submit to the obtrusion of the French, while, at the same time, he would have the Spaniards hung up like dogs Paper, having imprudently inserted in merely because they make what he deems "the Papers No. 51, 66, and 67, an aneca too free use of their tongue or pen in "dote taken from works published a considerspeaking or writing against the introduction "able time back, and which do not belong of foreign troops into their territory? "Aye," to the history of the present time, which "to " but the troops, in this case, are English!" "is the object of this paper, makes known, And, you insolent hireling, do you, then, "that in-consequence of this indiscretion, really believe, that, in the eyes of other "it has been imposed as a punishment by nations, an act changes its nature, and "the Police, and enjoined by the supreme from bad becomes good, merely because we are the agent?- -But, perhaps, our own example will be cited. The Spa authority, that he must abstain from in"serting anecdotes drawn even from the history of times past, calculated to offend "Governments on friendly terms with that of "Denmark." Upon this the COURIER makes the following remarks, and they are well worthy of the attention of the reader. They are all that was wanted to the exposure of the hireling who has put them forth to the world." The "Editor of the Abeille du Nord, a Paper niards may be said to be unreasonably jealous in their opposition to the introduction of foreign troops by us, seeing that the English very quietly see great numbers of foreign troops introduced into England; see them quartered and stationed in England; and, in some cases, have seen several counties of the kingdom, formed into a military district, placed under the com- printed at Altona, has been forced to mand of a German Baron. The Spaniards "apologise again for having inserted an may be told this, and, as a further proof of " anecdote drawn from history, and has the disposition of the people of England," been cautioned by his Government to the Spaniards may be told, that Roman Catholic officers are permitted to serve in these foreign corps without taking an oath, which Irish Roman Catholics are obliged to take, in order to be capable of rising to rank equally high. I am aware, that all this may be said to the Spaniards; but the answer is short: that men differ in their "abstain from inserting any anecdotes of "times past which might give offence to 'friendly Governments: that is, to Buona"parte!! What a fear and a despotism does "the conduct of this ruffian evince! It will "soon be deemed HIGH TREASON, we suppose, to have an historical work in "the library of an individual."-The COLONEL M MAHON's appointment and some other topics must wait till my next. WM. COBBETT. State Prison, Newgate, Friday, OFFICIAL PAPERS. SPAIN. Note of the Honble. Henry Wellesley, the English Minister in Spain, transmitted to Don Eusebio de Bardaxi y Azara, first Secretary of State. Dated Cadiz, August 5, 1811. Most Excellent Sir,-I have hitherto abstained from calling the attention of the Spanish government to the rumours and writings which have for some time been circulated in Cadiz, in the belief that my forbearance and moderation might disarm those who have endeavoured to weaken the bonds of friendship and confidence which so happily, and with so many advantages to the cause, have hitherto subsisted between Great Britain and Spain. But the papers that have been published, as well as the reports that have been cir reader must be struck with the singular aptness of this quotation. Here it is predicted, that Napoleon will make it high treason; but, this writer himself had made it high treason two days before for Spaniards to express their apprehensions at putting their towns, their provinces and their troops into the hands of foreign troops and foreign commanders. When this pa ragraph was written, that of the 17th was not recollected; though, to say the truth, the impudence of these hirelings sets all decency as well as truth at defiance.The Abeille du Nord was, it seems, to suppress that which might give offence to friendly governments; and it was because their publications gave offence to our government, that the Spaniards at Cadiz were found fault of by our Minister; and, for having given this offence, the Courier does not content him with demanding an apology; no, he would have "severe punishments" inflicted by way of terrific example; he calls the crime high treason of the blackest die, and, of course, would send the offenders to be hanged and quartered. And this man has the impudence, and that, too, al-culated, have at length become so injurimost in the same breath, to attribute the gentle reproof of the Abeille du Nord to "the fears and the despotism of the ruffian" Buonaparte.And, does this man and his associates imagine that they can deceive the world by such invectives as these? Do they imagine, that, because they can cajole the people of England; because they can deceive and cheat them, they can also deceive and cheat the people of the Continent and of America? Do they imagine, that the Editor of the Abeille du Nord, for instance, is not able to make a comparison between the liberty of the press in Denmark and that in England? Do they suppose, that the world are to be made noodles of like the poor cowed-down frightened wretches who read their purchased pages? Oh, no! The people of the Continent understand this matter very well. They understand the worth of our liberty of the press as well as we do, and, if it were to reach them, the paragraph of the Courier must make them laugh heartily.When the system of deception, of base fraud and hypocrisy, in the carrying on of which this Courier is one of the agents; when this vile system of cheatery, this imposture of impostures, will come to an end I know not; but, as long as it exists, and I exist, it shall have in me, if not a powerful, at least an implacable foe. ous to the Britisli good name and character, and so adapted to promote the interests of the enemy, and sow dissentions between the allied nations, that I should be wanting to the duties of my charge, and to all the sentiments of an Englishman, anxious for the happy issue of this glorious and interesting cause, if I could look with indifference on the unjust and unfounded calumnies which are daily accumulated against my country.-To give a specimen of the terms in which these assertions are conveyed, and which originate, as it appears to me, from a certain class of persons, I think it will be sufficient to request your Excellency to read the subjoined paper, in which are imputed to my Sovereign, to his Government, and to the British nation, intentions destitute of honour and justice, and of good faith, and entirely subversive of all the principles upon which Great Britain has come forward to aid the cause of the Spanish nation. But the complaints, and imputations contained in this paper, relative to the conduct of Great Britain, rumours noticed in the month of March last, are again revived,-that the Spanish provinces bordering on Portugal were placed under the military command of Lord Wellington; that the Spanish army was to be placed under English officers; and in a word, were sent to this city, it was solely and withdrawn from subordination to the Spa- | ANSWER. Dated Cadiz, 7th August, 1811. have allowed themselves to be seduced by (so important a position, will remain tranpeople who intend to destroy the friend- quil in the confidence with which the ship and amity which happily, and with- Government must inspire them, and in the out the least interruption, subsists between good faith of the British Cabinet.-The the two allied nations; and without same Council of Regency has more than which, neither union nor concord can once been the mark of calumnies, more or subsist between their respective Govern- less injurious, both in words and writings; ments. In regard to the imputations to but certain of its rectitude of conduct, and which your Excellency refers in your that nothing could be attached with the note, considering them as injurious to the least foundation, contrary to the decorum august Sovereign as to the Government of and dignity of its representation; thothe British nation, they cannot certainly roughly satisfied that it has its support in be attributed to the generality of the in- the opinion of the "good, his Excellency habitants of Cadiz,-of this bulwark of has in consequence charged me to inform Spanish independence, much less to the your Excellency, that the Spanish nation, nation in general, which has given so as well as its Government, far from paymany proofs of its gratitude for the gene- ing attention to the insidious remarks with rous assistance of Great Britain. They which the enemy has continually endeacan, therefore, have their origin only in voured to dissolve the firm bonds which the imagination of some individuals, who, unite the two powers, are completely coninfluenced by the enemy, or carried away vinced that nothing but the combined ef by the desire of being singular in their forts of both can bring to a glorious conopinions and writings, aspire at an ephe clusion the arduous enterprise for which meral celebrity, to which they sacrifice they have fought; and they are therefore the most sacred interests of their country, penetrated with the just gratitude they which they do not know or prefer to their owe Great Britain, for the lively intercst own. Fortunately, the number of persons with which, from the commencement of engaged in introducing mistrust between the war, it has protected and assisted the two allied nations is very limited, and Spain in defence of its King, and political so very inferior to those who properly independence. The expressions containappreciate the generous efforts of Great ed in this reply, and the sincere protesBritain in the present contest, that they tation, that the Council of Regency arcan never obtain the end which they have dently desires, as your Excellency must proposed: but rather, on the contrary, know, to every day draw closer the relathe artifice employed, by the enemy to tions of friendship and reciprocal confisow discord being once known, as well as dence between both nations, wili, without the instruments made use of, both will be doubt, suffice to calm the inquietude included in the execration of all good which momentarily was excited in the Spaniards, who, without dispute, consti- mind of your Excellency by the rumours tute the greater part of those who compose and writings which gave occasion to your this vast monarchy.-Nothing proves so Excellency's note; and at the same time, much what I have stated, as the injurious I flatter myself, will ensure the continuasuspicions which accompany the reports tion of the aids which the painful situation and rumours spread respecting the pre- of Spain renders so indispensable, in order tended occupation of Cadiz by the troops to happily conclude the heroic contest in of his Britannic Majesty, to which the which it is engaged, and whose success French have contributed from the first must necessarily be promoted through the day they presented themselves before this united efforts of the two united nations. I place for the purpose of introducing dis- reiterate to your Excellency my great cord, and producing mistrust in the minds esteem and consideration. God preserve of its inhabitants. The object of this im- your Excellency many years. posture being known, it will not be difficult to comprehend the views of those who are so eager in circulating and giving credit to them; but the public in reading the concluding expressions of your Excellency on this point, and well persuaded before, that the two Governments cannot do less than agree in respect to the number of troops necessary for the defence of SPAIN. EUSEBIO DE BARDAXI Y Azara. -Decree of the Cortes, 19th of June 1811. 1. The Mediation offered by Great Britain, for the purpose of conciliating the Provinces of America, is accepted. 2. The indispensible basis must be, the submission of the Provinces to acknowledge and swear allegiance to the Cortes and the Government, and to name Deputies who shall represent them in the said Cortes, and shall incorporate themselves with the other Representatives of the Nation. 3. That all hostilities shall be reciprocally suspended, and all persons, of either party, who are prisoners, shall be set free. 4. That the pretensions of the Provinces at variance with the Mother Country (disidentes) shall be heard, and attention paid to them as far as justice will permit. 5. At the expiration of eight months from the commencement of the negociation, or sooner if possible, a Report of the progress of it shall be made to the Spanish Government. scorn, and not less impolitic than irrational abuse, with which the speakers and journalists attached to the Grenville party or the Burdett faction, have at all times slandered the successive governments of Spain, and not seldom the Spaniards in general. The giant size of the dangers which assailed the insurgent nation on all sides we saw no less plainly than they, and measured far more distinctly, because we did not look at them through the confusion and exaggerating mist of panic and partypassions, and because we reflected on them, which these writers neither did or could do, from the habitual prostration of their spirits before that shapeless blaze with which unexampled success had invested unexampled iniquity. We were among the first too in preparing the public mind for the obstacles likely to arise from the prejudices and defects of the Spa 6. Great Britain shall be permitted, during the negociation, to trade with the said provinces, it being left to the Cortes toniards, obstacles which ever appeared to us consider whether they shall be admitted to a share of the trade with all the provinces of America. 7. The negociation must be concluded within fifteen months. 8. If, at the expiration of that time, it is not accomplished, Great Britain shall suspend all intercourse with the Provinces at variance with Spain, and shall assist the Mother Country in bringing them back to their duty. 9. The Government, in its answer to the English Minister, shall previously explain to him the motives which have induced it to accept the mediation, and to preserve its honour. REMARKS, on the above Decree, published in the English hired print, the COURIER, of the 4th Sept. 1811. We are too well aware of the perplexing difficulties, with which the leading Patriots of the Peninsula are environed, to inculpate harshly or without reluctance even the present Regency of Spain. With far greater pain do we feel ourselves called on to arraign the measures, or to question the motives of the Spanish Cortes, from the newness of the members to the science of legislation and the arts of government, and the strangeness of the circumstances which require all the helps of the maturest and most manifold experience, united to an intuition and foresight which no experience can of itself supply. We have systematically, and from the very commencement of their arduous struggle, both reprobated and exposed the ungenerous more truly formidable than the numbers, skill, and veteran courage of their invaders, and which at all times damped the confidence with which we should otherwise have predicted the ultimate success of the. invaded nation. We never presumed to affirm unconditionally the final triumph of the righteous cause; but we did, and still do venture to anticipate, that if it fail, it will not be solely or principally by the armies of Napoleón, but through folly, languor, and treachery on the part of Spain itself, through the unnatural aid afforded to her oppressors, by the indolence, mismanagement, bigotry, and cowardly selfishness of her great landed proprietors, whose own estates (an awelul truth, overlooked in the common presumptions not confined to the Peninsula, yet strangely of patriotism), whose own vast estates, we say, are bribes to them against their own country. The war with France presented to our minds evils far less fatal than the civil war between the good and the bad among the Spaniards themselves, than the civil war between the heroic and defective qualities of the Spanish character itself— between patience and fortitude, and contempt of death, strong nationality and use. ful antipathies on the one hand, and languor, want of foresight, and indiscreet application to their allies; of feelings which should have been either suspended or reserved for their enemies, of jealous pride, religious zeal, and that ill-timed overweening sense of their own self-sufficingness, in which their national haughtiness acts the unconscious pandar for their national sloth. |