Edwardsville Spectator

NEW-YORK, MAY 19.

WAR IN EUROPE.

By the arrival at this port of the regular packet ship Leeds, in 23 days from Liverpool, intelligence has been received of the commencement of the long-expected hostilities between France and Spain. The French army crossed the Bidaossa, the frontier river, on the 7th ultimo, and subsequently entered the cities of Vittoria and Bilboa, as well as Guetaria, an insignificant fishing town, protected only by a small battery. No resistance was offered to the progress of the invaders, except on the day the Bidaossa was crossed, when a small corps of French and Italians, not exceeding 200 in number, and bearing the tri-colored flag, presented themselves before the invading army, but were dispersed by a few cannon shot. The Spaniards appear to have again resorted to the Fabian mode of warfare which formerly proved so fatal to Napoleon. They have divided their troops into numerous corps, and Guerrilla parties, which harass the French, and cut off their supplies. The smugglers, amounting to 50,000 men, well mounted and armed, are said to have taken the field against the common enemy ; and 15,000 regular troops headed by the intrepid Mina, have, it is reported, entered France, and obliged Marshal Moncey to fall back to Toulouse. Be this as it may, it appears that an excellent spirit animates the Spanish nation; and that they are resolved on making any sacrifice rather than submit to their invaders.

Previously to crossing the Bidaossa, the Duke d'Angouleme addressed a proclamation to the Spaniards, couched in the usual style of "legitimacy," which will be found below. It appears that the French commander had expected to make himself master of the two important fortresses of St. Sebastian and Pampeluna without much difficulty. In this he was, however, deceived; and upon making an attempt on the former place, he was repulsed with the loss, it is said, of 800 men. Both of these towns were subsequently invested; but they still held out at the last dates. The different French corps, amounting in the whole, to 100,000 men, were to concentrate on the Ebro about the middle of April, when, it was expected, the "decisive blow" would be struck.

In the British House of Commons, on the 14th of April, Mr. Canning, after explaining the course which his government had thought it proper to pursue, in order to prevent the war, stated that "the ministers had resolved on neutrality. Indifference, he said, they did not feel for the Spanish cause. On the contrary, they most earnestly wished that Spain might get triumphantly over the struggle." He added, if the people of England "desired war, let it be pronounced :" and gave it as his opinion that "the war was full of danger in Europe, and particularly to France."

The rumor of Russia having determined on marching 80 or 100,000 men to the aid of France, is again repeated. Accounts from St. Petersburgh, however, state that the British minister had finally succeeded in persuading Alexander to remain neutral. The Austrian troops which had left the kingdom of Naples, and were on their way to Germany, had been ordered to halt. It seems that a new revolution in Italy was anticipated.

Notwithstanding the appearance of neutrality which Great Britain still deems it expedient to assume, it appears probable that she will eventually make a common cause with Spain. A private letter, received in London, speaks of the probability of Sir Charles Stewart, the British minister at Paris, having demanded his passports, in consequence of the high words with M. de Chateaubriand. The passengers in the Leeds are said to be of the opinion that war will eventually take place between the two countries.

The Greeks continue to be successful both by sea and land.

PROCLAMATION.

The Duke D'Angouleme, General in Chief of the Army of the Pyrenees, to the Spaniards.

The king of France in recalling his ambassadors from Madrid, had hoped that the Spanish government, warned of its dangers, would have returned to more moderate sentiments, and would cease to be deaf to the counsels of reason and benevolence. Two months and a half have elapsed, and his majesty has waited in vain for the establishment in Spain of an order of things compatible with the safety of the neighboring states.

The French government have supported two whole years, with unexampled patience, the most unmerited provocations. The revolutionary faction which has destroyed in your country the royal authority, which holds your king captive, which demands his forfeiture, which menaces his life and that of his family, has carried beyond your frontiers its guilty efforts. It has tried every means to corrupt the army of his most christian majesty, and to excite troubles in France, in the same manner that it succeeded, by the contagion of its doctrines and its examples, to produce the insurrections of Naples and Piedmont.

Deceived in its hopes it had invited traitors, condemned by our tribunals, to consummate under the protection of triumphant rebellion, the plot formed by them against their country
It is time to put an end to the anarchy which tears Spain in pieces, which deprives her of the power of giving peace to her colonies, which separates her from Europe, which has interrupted all her relations with the august sovereigns whom the same intentions and the same wishes unite with his most christian majesty, and which compromise the repose and the interests of France.

Spaniards! France is not at war with your country. Sprung from the same blood with your kings, I can only desire your independence, your happiness and your glory. I am about to cross the Pyrenees at the head of one hundred thousand Frenchmen, but it is to support the Spaniards who are the friends of order and the laws; to aid them to liberate their captive king; to raise again the altar and the throne; to rescue the priesthood from proscription, men of property from spoliation, and the whole nation from the domination of a few ambitious persons, who, in proclaiming liberty, prepare only the slavery and ruin of Spain.

Spaniards! Every thing will be done for you and with you—the French are, and only will be your auxiliaries. Your standard alone shall wave on your cities. The provinces traversed by our soldiers shall be administered by Spanish authorities. The most severe discipline shall be observed. Whatever is required for the service of the army shall be paid for with the most religious exactness. We pretend not to impose laws on you, or to occupy your country. We wish nothing but your deliverance;—when we shall have obtained it, we shall return to our country—happy in having preserved a generous people from the calamities generated by a revolution, and which experience has taught us but too well to appreciate.

LOUIS ANTOINE

Head-quarters, Bayonne, April 2, 1823.