SPAIN.
Letters from Spain state, that in the Rioxa, a province of Old Castile, the town of Armedillo has been overwhelmed by the falling of a mountain: every inhabitant perished. Nothing now appears but the top of the steeple.
The earthquake which was felt at Barcelona on the 18th March was likewise felt on the same day at Lerida, Saragossa, and Madrid. At Saragossa, the concussion was so violent as to throw down a painting in the chapel of the Virgin of the Pillar during mass, and the people fled from the church. At Madrid, the effects were still more alarming; it overthrew a wall at the royal manufactory of porcelain, which killed two men. A violent shock was felt at the palace of justice. The judges, who were sitting, deserted the hall, which trembled around them. The weather was again clear and serene, and the air had recovered its usual temperature.
The Spaniards are carrying on the slave trade with unabated perseverance. Several of their ships have recently arrived at the Havannah, with slaves from Africa to the number of two thousand.
A letter from Gibraltar states, that an affray had unfortunately occurred at the outposts, between some English and Spanish troops, in which several of the latter were killed. Two English soldiers had been tried and executed.
Letters have been received from Cadiz, dated March 28. They inform us, that on the 25th the expeditionary troops destined to act against South America were reviewed by their commander, Count Abisbal, in the public square; and having received part of their pay, and with it made merry, they refused to re-embark. A regiment of lancers, and the regiment of Navarre, are said to have broken out into open mutiny, and bid defiance to the control of their officers. They cried out, they would not go out to act as butchers to the Cadiz monopolists; swore they would liberate all confined in the prisons, and themselves obtain their arrears of pay out of the Treasury. The other regiments were marched against them; and, after a severe contest, they were compelled to embark on the following day. During the whole time the greatest alarm, prevailed in Cadiz; the windows and doors of every house were shut up. A postscript of the same letter adds, that the contest was renewed on board, when a great number of men were shot, whose numbers, as well as 300 who had previously deserted, were replaced by part of the Cadiz garrison.
Conspiracy to re-establish the Cortes.—Madrid, April 9.—A revolution was prepared and ready to break out in Barcelona, on Good Friday, the 4th instant; at the head of which were to have been the illustrious and patriotic Generals Lacy and Millano, well known in the peninsular war. This revolution, we are assured, was organized for the express purpose of re-establishing the Cortes and Constitution, and the proclamations to this effect were couched in the same terms as those of Porlier in Gallicia. The first acts were to have been the seizure of all the constituted authorities, as well as of the strong fortresses of Figueras and Monjui, in order to make the city of Barcelona the point of union for all the troops which were to assemble and co-operate in the enterprize. The plan was, however, discovered by the government before it could be carried into effect; and, in consequence, eighteen officers of rank, among whom is General Lacy, were arrested, besides a great number of other persons of distinction. Millano had effected his escape. A considerable number of arrests have likewise taken place in other parts of the kingdom. The prisons and castles are no longer sufficient to contain all the prisoners. In Malaga, twelve persons of distinction were lately arrested; and at Santiago, in Gallicia, several officers of the garrison, one chaplain, seven sergeants, and many private individuals, have been thrown into prison, all implicated in the Barcelona conspiracy.
ITALY.
April 3.—The Ex-empress Maria Louisa lives in a style of great splendour at Parma, but without ostentation. Her Minister of State and Grand Chancellor is a Mr McAulay, an Irishman by birth, possessed of considerable property in the king's county in Ireland.
The Pope Pius VII. has issued a bull of a most extraordinary nature against Bible Societies. This instrument is addressed to the Primate of Poland, and highly commends the archbishop for his zeal in having denounced to the Apostolic See "this defilement of the faith so eminently dangerous to souls;" and he goes on to say, that "it is evident, from experience, that the Holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have, through the temerity of men, produced more harm than benefit." The authenticity of this bull has been disputed.
GERMANY.
Mar. 25.—In Prussia the new plan of finance is completed. It is founded on the introduction of a uniform land-tax throughout the kingdom, from Memel to the Moselle.
A very liberal and important edict has been issued at Berlin, respecting the formation of a national representation; and a commission, selected from members of the council of state, has been formed for carrying this intention of his Majesty into immediate execution.
The Germanic diet have unanimously acceded to the request of the Grand Duke of Weimar, to take under their guarantee the constitution which he has granted to his subjects.
