General Evans, finding that more tlory is to be acquired
as Member for Westminster in the House of Commons, than as a Spanish officer cooped up among ragged, half-starved soldiers in San Sebastian, harassed by the Carlists, and betrayed by the Christinos, has resolved to give the Spanish Government "leg-bail," and return to England. The follow. ing is the letter addressed by General Evans to his constituents the electors of Westtninster.
Saint Sebastian, 1st November 1836.
" Gentlemen—I hasten to address a few lines to you by a steam.vessel, which tam just informed leaves this within an hour for England. In my letter to you of the early part of the present year, I stated that if the military operations could possibly permit of a temporary absence, it was my full intention and wish to be present in the execution of my duty in Parliament during some part of the past session ; adding, however, as I was bound to do, to the effect, that if in this contingent promise I counted too sanguinely on your favour, I should of course be ready on the instant to obey any order you might deem it necessary to convey to me. This expression of my intention was, I venture to think, favour- ably received ; and I was encouraged to hope you would grant me a further in • dulgence, even to the end of the session, if indispensable. I have now, then, the pleasure to inform you, that I have determined not to trespass again in the same degree on your kind indulgence, and that nothing whatever shall prevent my attendance amongst you, at furthest, at the opening of the ensuing session, in February next ; nor shall I be absent from you so long, if any public event should require it. I stated, on the occasion adverted to, that premature rivalry of parties, the itlfisii or unfortunate ambition of individuals, might possibly re- tard, but could not prevent the early establishment of legal and liberal institu- tions in this country. It affords me infinite pleasure to inform you that my convictions to that effect are even yet stronger than they were. Violent con- tentions have arisen amongst time friends of liberal institutions ; twice within a year the Government has been almost dissolved ; but notwithstanding these vast momentary advantages to its assailants, not one town to this day throughout the kingdom acknowledges the sway of the bigoted and cruel Pretender ; while, whatever the differences of opinion on other points maybe, the devoted love and attachment of all true Spaniards remain as firmly bound as ever to the bene- volent autl 'ty of the Regent, and to the throne of her illustrious daughter ; and although the scourge of rebellion still afflicts the country, and a great part of these immediate provinces are in the possession of the banditti, who would, in defiance of civilized Europe, reestablish an implacable despotism, still, if there be any point more completely established than another by recent events, it is that the cause of Don Carlos is absolutely and completely hopeless. I am obliged to conclude abruptly. by expressing to you my thanks, and subscribing
. myself your faithful and devoted servant, D. L EVANS." The success of Gomez and the fall of Almaden were not known at San Sebastian when General Evans wrote the above letter.
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