PROjEC TED EXPEDITION AGAINST SPAIN.—In the latter end of last
week, the Swallow, preventive vessel, commanded by Lieutenant Simson, boarded, according to instructions, a small schooner in Black- wall Reach ; which, on examination, proved to have on board a few muskets, destined, it was presumed, for the use of the Liberals in Spain. The arms were seized, and a parcel of circulars in Spanish, addressed to the people, were picked up, and carried to Ferdinand's Ambassador. Sir Richard Birnie, accompanied by the Spanish Consul, a couple of interpreters, and a person attached to the embassy, went to Blackwell on Monday, to examine the vessel, and to take down the names of the crew. They permitted Sir Richard to go on board, but refused a similar liberty to the Consul: The arms seized were 159 muskets and bayonets, 100 swords, 4 officers' swords, 4 saddles, and 2000 ball-cartridges! Such are the exploits of the great and free Government of England. As the Herald's Parisian correspondent says of the French—" what a nation !"
EXPLOITS or 11IIGuEL.—While we are capturing a hundred rusty firelocks directed against the peace of the despots of the Peninsula, they are making small reprisals, just to show their grateful sense of the protective influence to which they severally owe their heads as well as . their kingdoms. Miguel has a squadron hovering off Terceira ; and as that island lies most conveniently in the tract of homeward-bound English vessels from a variety of quarters. he is enabled, by virtue of the . blockade laws which we have so solemnly recognized, to pick up now and then a stray brig or ship to pay his, legitimate expenses. A week or two ago, he took five, one of them worth a couple of hundred thousand . pounds. This was considered en pest fort; and orders have been sent to Lisbon to demand restitution. Will he give it sip? Why should he ? He has the vessels, and he knows well that our Government will go no farther than representations to obtain redress. No, no—Miguel will keep the two hundred thousand pounds like a sensible fellow. It will be useful when he sets out, as in all probability he soon will, to join his worthy cousin, "Charley over the water."
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