Virginia Free Press & Farmers' Repository

THE SPANISH CONSPIRACY.

Towards the end of last week, secret information was received that a vessel lying in the river, and laden partly with artillery, called the Mary, with a red streak, was on the eve of sailing with an expeditionary force against the Spanish Government; on which orders were issued to Lieutenant Simpson, of the Swallow, preventive cutter (accompanied with a full description of her) to board her should he fall in with her; in obedience to which, he went in pursuit of, and on Thursday evening descried her, near Blackwall Beach, and after a smart chase he succeeded, about sunset, in boarding her, when, on overhauling her, he discovered a large stock of fire-arms, consisting of one hundred and fifty muskets, with bayonets for all; fifty cutlasses; fifty common swords; four officers ditto, four saddles, and about 2,000 rounds of ball cartridge.

Lieutenant Simpson lost no time in giving information at the Custom House, and Sir Richard Birnie and the Spanish Consul proceeded to the vessel which the former with much difficulty ascended, owing to the Spaniards having taken the precaution of greasing her sides, ropes, &c. On arriving on board, Sir Richard Birnie was addressed by a tall stout man, wearing a cloak, and in broken English said, "he knew the Consul was an Englishman, and as they liked the English, he would be happy to see him on board." The Consul was, however, advised by Sir Richard Birnie not to go on board. It is supposed that this individual is General and that he was perfectly acquainted with the person and official character of the Consul.

Each person on board (68 in number) was required to sign his name at length; and the same demand was made of a waterman named Webber, who, in going down the river after the vessel was captured by the Swallow, discovered a brown paper parcel floating on the water, supposed to have been thrown over board by the Spaniards, when pursued, with a nine pounder shot attached to it for the purpose of sinking it, and containing two thousand circulars in the Spanish language, to be distributed among the Constitutional troops, and printed by Mr. Mathew Taylor, of Coleman street.

The whole of the arms were deposited on board the Swallow cutter, and the ammunition on board a powder boat, lying off Bugby's hole. During the night, the entire of which the Spaniards spent in singing and shouting for the Constitutional cause, a party of the preventive service men from Woolwich, under the command of Lieutenant Helsbey, were on guard on board the Spanish vessel, which duty is to be continued until some arrangement can be made for disposing of the prisoners. The affair occupies much attention, and excites considerable interest. (London paper.)