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THE MESSENGER. LATEST FROM SPAIN. An arrival from Spain brings Ma drid dates to the 2Gth April —the following extracts will show that nothing very decisive had at that time transpired. Seville, April 20. We have learned for certain, that a Decree ot Jlis Majesty has been sent to day to the Council of State which contains a solemn de claration of war of the Spanish na tion against the French. Kven in this particular, we have the advan tage of that government, which has so treacherously ordered an inva sion of our territory without a for mal declaration of war, against the custom of all civilized nations. As soon as the government re cieved notice of the French inva sion, they sent expresses to all the authorities, commanding them to proceed to hostilities against them by all the means in their power, without omitting any. We are asurecl that his majesty has recieved the resignation of Don Sebastian Fernandez Vallesa, of his officers of Secretary of State und Despatch, of Grace and Jus tice. According to intelligence re ceived by the government, the war has assumed a character entirely national. Napoleon the First fell from his throne under our blows— let us be united and constant, and a similar fate awaits our new and un grateful enemy. Madrid, April 16, They write from Saragossa, un der date of the 13th, that the vol unteer militia of that city have offered their services as a perman ent troop during the war, in case of invasion. They add, that ‘Col. ‘Gurrea has arrived at Lerida with 2000 men, and Don Partricio Dom ingo ez with 4 pieces of artillery, and that they were going against Mequinenza. April 17. —News from Santiago of the 9th states, that the factious troops, collected and headed by the ex-governors Marin and Vas quez, were completely routed on the 4th. The mountains and plains tvere strewed with their dead ; 200 prisoners were taken, with Vas quez, and many arms. This victory -was gained by troops lately raised, and called quintes , or fifths-men. April 19.—The national troops fought vigorously against the French in the Province of Bilboa, when they retreated on seeing the great superiority in number of the invaders. As soon as the column of the Frenchified Spaniards enter ed Vittoria, they laid a contribution of £>Booo on the inhabitants ; the commander made a proclamation calling all the young men to arms; they shot several militiamen and J patriots, and plundered several houses; the French troops still repeat the same atrocities. \Ve have recicved a letter from Madrid, dated the 17th, which says: “Considering our circum stances, all is tranquil, and the pure royalists of Saint Louis will be recieved with valor and lesignation, while our armies are completely organizing, and preparing to do more than merely to recicve them. If the French rascals are bold enough to march to this capital, rest assured that they will pay dearly for their temerity. All the soldiers are burning with a degree of glory and revenge.” We have no news from the Pen insula, and reports of the Freneh army has certainly passed Vittoria, but that signifies nothing, for the nearer they come they know they must divide, and the easier will be our warfare. ■JV. York Advocate. Paris, April 24. The circumstances under which the loss at St. Sebastian took place, and its extent, are differently stated —but the probable truth seems to be that the Duke of Angouleme having sent a bribe to the Governor, which the latter accepted, a detach ment from the French army was sent to take possession of the town as agreed on. On their arrival at the gates, the gallant ana trustwor thy Governor at the head of the garison, made a vigorous sortie, and repulsed the enemy with consi do able loss, 800 or 1,000 men. The money (a tnilion ot francs) was sent to the Cortes. On Ihe night of the 9th June, a dis tressing tire occurred in Fredericks burg, V'a. It originated in the stable of die Farmers’ Hotel, in w hich twen ty valuable horses were consumed. An adjoining stable, and I4 dwellings were destroyed before the tire could be got under. The tire was undoubt edly the work of an incendiary. ACTION IOR SLANDER. Captains Rodgers, Cliauncy, and Morris, United .States Navy Commis sioners, now in this city, were arres ted yesterday morning, at the suit of David Leinan, blacksmith, of Charles town, Mass, and held to bail for their appearance at the next term of com mon pleas to be holden at Concord, in the county of Middlesex, in Sep tember next. The report of the com missioners. which was published at the result of a court of inquiry in the case of Capt. Hull, some months since, we undersand, is the cause of action. The damages are laid at live thousand dollars. Boston Gcz. A Cow raised by Mr. Bishop of West Hartford, Con. gave 8993 pounds, or about 1000 gallons of milk, from May 22, 1822, to April 1, 1823, averaging near 13 qnarts a day, for 313 days. Hartford Paper. PHILADELPHIA WATER WORKS. This fine city is now abundantly supplied with good water, from the Schuylkill, and a magnificent estab lishment for that purpose is com pleted at Fair Mount, five miles above the city at the falls of the Schuylkill. The entire -expense, including the purchase of the site is 8426,330, but the money appears to have been well bestowed, as the success of the experiment is com plete. The river at the falls is about nine hundred feet wide ; the depth at high water is thirty feet; its average rise and fall is six feet, and it is liable to sudden and violent freshets. “The whole length ofi the overfall is one thousand two hundred and four feet, and the whole extent of the dam including the western pier, about one thou sand six hundred feet,” backing the water up the river about six miles. The water power created, is cal culated to be equal to raise into the reservoir by eight wheels and pumps, upwards of ten millions of gallons per diem. The river, in the dry season, will afford four hun dred and forty millions every twen ty-four hours; and as it is calcula ted, that forty gallons upon the wheel will raise one into the reser voir—eleven million of gallons may be raised each day. The machinery in actual opera tion, is able to raise upwards of four millions of gallons in twenty four hours into the reservoir, which is of such an elevation as to afford the hydrostatic pressure of ninety two feet, throwing upon the pumps a pressure of seven thousand nine hundred pounds. There are two reservoirs, one of which is one hun dred and thirty-nine feet by three hundred and sixteen, and twelve feet deep, having the capacity of three millions of gallons: it is con nected with another reservoir which contains four millions of gallons.— The water being raised into these, one hundred and two feet above low tide, and fifty-six above the high est ground in the city ; is thence conveyed in the iron pipes the whole extent of which is now thirty-five thousand two hundred and five feet “ and in no instance has a leak been discovered.” The greater part of the pipes now laid are of American manufacture, none ever having been imported except as samples. The system obviously admits of indefinite extensions. The com mittee justly remark, that “ the uses and importance of this water, it is impossible sufficiently to value. The additional cleanliness of the ci ty, (which with the suburbs con tains between 120,000 and 130,000 people) the supply of the neigh bouring districts culinary purposes, as well as for purposes of refresh ment —the great advantage in ease of fire—the ornament of fountains in the public squares so wisely pro vided by our great founder —the benefit to manufactures, and the es tablishment of water power in the city for various purposes, may he named among the advantages of I this new work ; but above ail we | arc to place its effect upon the health of a great and growing com munity, which of itself would justi fy a much greater expenditure.” Si Hi marl’s Journal. The last number of Silliman’s Journal notices a Chain Bridge which is in a state of forwardness over the Mcnai,an arm of the Irish Sea which separates Anglesea from Noith Wales. It will have the un precedented length of 560 feet, be tween the two supports, one on each shore ; and its height above the wa ter will be 126 feet, so that vessels may pass beneath it under full sail. The abutments are of masonry sur mounted by wood pyramids 50 feet high over which the chains pass.— The bridge is 28 feet wide con taining a foot path of four feet wide, in the middle. It will cost 7 G0,0U0 pounds sterling. A botanical fete in honor of Lin naeus was given at F’lushing, L. I.) in the Garden of Mr. Prince, on the 24th inst. The party, consisting of about 200 ladies and gentleman, were conveyed to the place from New-York in a steam boat. Among a great number of dis tinguished citizens and strangers who attended was the countryman of Lin naeus, Mr. Gahn, Swedish Consul, — the Count D’Espenville, French con sul General, Prince Murat nephew to Napoleon Bonaparte, Mr. Ilanswolflf, a distinguished naturalist of New-Or leans, Mr. Clinton, late governor, &c. During the passage, Dr. Mitchell amu sed the company by exhibiting the “ identical money bag” of the celebra ted Rob Roy, which was brought to this country in 1821. At the place a temporary hall was erected,ornament ed with a pi ofusiou of evergreens and flowers where the exercises were per formed. Among several appropriate addresses was one by Dr. Mitchell on the character of Linmeus. “ Fortu nately the Doctor treated his subject in a wav, which heightened the roman tic nature of the festival. Instead of adopting the cold didactic form, he in troduced a novel method, and spoke as it were in parables. He threw him self into a state of somnambulism,when a series of splendid visions rose to view, by means of which he enjoyed, or seemed to enjoy, the satisfaction of conversing with the mighty dead of all countries, who were honoured with ther friendship, or acquainted with the di versified pursuits and attainments of Linmeus. The sketch, which is to be published, abounded with science and erudition.” An ode, by Janies Gordon Brooks, alais “ Florio,” was recited— it was a charming wreath, bright and redolent as the flowers that inspired it. A dinner was served up, and several toasts drank—it was closed with the coronation of Dr. Mitchell by a young lady with a wreath of pine ; when Mr. Clinton gave the following senti ment : “ The wreath of honor placed on the brow of merit by the hand of beauty.” If these scientific celebrations are of no other use, they (as was remarked by a foreign guest) have a salutary tendency to break down the barriers of national prejudice, and to promote a friendly intercourse between distant countries. MARQUIS LA FAYETTE. The noble conduct of General La Fayette in the late disgraceful affair of Manuel in the Chamber of Deputies gives him additional claims to the leve and veneration of all the friends of liberty. As Americans, we require nothing to call this consistent friend of the hu man race to our recollection, but as we find many are under the im pression that he is much farther ad vanced in years than he really is, we subjoin the extract from M. Campan’s late work : The father of the Marquis De La Fayette, fell at the famous bat tle of Hosback, leaving his wife pregnant of a son, who was born on the Ist Sept. 1757; of course, Gen eral La Fayette will be 66 years of age next September. He embra ced the cause of American Inde pendence in 1777, when Congress bad so in France or in Europe, that their commissioners at Paris could not procure a vessel to facilitate the passage to the U. States of M. De La Fayette and some officers, who wished to follow his example. He purchased, at his own expense, a vessel which he called the Victorie; but Lord Stor mount, the English minister at Pa ris, being informed of his design, forced the French ministry to op pose it—After various attempts, he at length succeeded in reaching America, and was kindly received by Washington. “ 1 come (says he) to ask of you two lavdu , one is, that you will permit me to serve under you as a simple volunteer the other, that I am to receive no pay or emolument.” , General La Fayette is not rich, though by strict economy he may | be said to he at his ease in his la tnily chateau of La Grange, under whose venerable roof Americans of respectability are always wel come : indeed a visit to this antique mansion is a sort of pilgrimage lor our countrymen who visit trance ; and the enlightened travellers ol all countries readily join in rendering homage to a man, who, from a strict adherence to the virtuous principles of Washington, has become the most distinguished and admired patriot now living in the two hem ispheres. Wash. Repub. A match to ride on a horse 125 miles in twenty-four hours was lately performed in England. The first halt distance was done in 10 hours and a quarter. The horse was then baited and the rider refreshed. Forty miles more were then performed, when the rider went to bed for an hour and a half, l lie match was won, the rider much fatigued but the horse fresh. The British and Foreign Bible Society have promoted, either di rectly or indirectly, the printing or distribution of the Bible in 140 lan guages. The last of which is a new translation in the modern Greek. Mr. Canning, Minister from G. Britain, has given orders for dispo sing, by public sale, of the large as sortmentof elegant Furniture, prin cipally British, at his house in Washington. It is inferred from this circumstance, that Mr. Can ning will not return to this coun try, from his intended visit to En gland. The Prince Regent, a ship of 120 guns, was launched at Chatham, Eng. a short time since. The length of her gun deck is 205 feet and her whole length 244. Her greatest depth is 64 feet, and her width 53,} feet. She is 2620 tons. Her head is decorated with a colossal figure of the king in an admiral’s uniform and a sword in his right hand. She is calculated to cost 8900,000 A Philadelphia paper remarks that the Prince Regent is not so long as a ship of war now building in that city. Missouri. —The following conclu ding paragraph of a letter from Mr. Benton,a senator from the state of Mis souri, to one of his constituents,dated 4th March last, gives us an imposing view of the resources and prospective importance of that state : “ I am hap py to state that emigration is re-com mencing toMissouri, and that just no tions of its pre-eminent advantages are again employing the public mind. In the senate on the bill to sell the lead mines and salt springs, Mr. Lloyd of Massachusetts declared it to be his opinion that Missouri, taking into view her rich lands, fine climate min eral wealth, navigable rivers, agricul tural advantages, her fur trade, salines, and immeasurable extended lines of internal commerce, was the richest country upon the face of the globe. I say too, and believe that eight or ten years will prove it.” Pensacola, May 3. According to the custom of the Floridians, (probably one of the lingering traces of the age of chiv alry) it is usual at each ball to se lect, by vote of the ladies, a king for the next occasion—who ennobles some fair lady as his queen. ‘The royal honors were awarded on a previous gala day to Charles Pindar , Esq. Russian Consul for this port, who selected for his queen, a lady with beauty enough to have been a princess ; and this last night of their reign was as brilliant as vivid roses in profusion, and sparkling eyes by numbers, and glittering uniforms of officers, and bright faces of hap py guests, could well make it.— Fine wines and a well arranged col lation added to the enjoyment, and the graceful recreation of dancing was only interrupted by occasional attention to the fine performances of the band of the 4th IJ. S. Infant ry. The American, Spanish, and Russian standards, decorated the hall, and the numerous beautiful flowers of our region seemed to be literally showering from the roof upon the gay groups below. It was really a fairy scene, and his majesty with his fair consort cer tainly veignell with great eclat. A vomlci fill and terrific r.iir„cU been wrought in the neighborhood 0 f New York, portending dire mishap t> that ill-fated city, which has created as much stir among the grown children as if the renowned Jack-thc-Giaut. Killer, or the no less chivalrous Tom my Thumb himself, had: paid that good city a visit: indeed, the house in which the great event occurred, we are in. formed, has been “ for several days as completely thronged as was ever the tomb of Thomas-a-Becket.” This great event is narrated in the word* following, to wit: Sav. Georgian. “ The story is, that a new-born babe, at Broolyn, when it first found itself in this wonder-loving world of ours, raised its little hands and eves, and solemnly proclaimed that the whole of Hew York was to he desolated with the yellow fever the present season, beyond any former af fliction of the kind that has ever be fallen it, and that those who should escape the ravages of the pestilence WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY - NU MEROUS TO BURY THE DEAD !!—- The prophetic words were uttered in deep and solemn tones, and, as we learn, in verse, rivalling, proba bly, the loftiest efforts of the muse of David, Solomon, or Milton.- Having uttered this protentous war ning, and accomplished the great object of its mission, the messenger immediately closed its eyes, and its spirits departed to the regions whence it came. “ Let us talk of the Ghost without head, That kiss’d Mather Mump in the cellar: That frightened the barber’s boy dead, Ami let us all be unhappy together.” A novel sight was presented yes terday in Maiden-Lane, by the re moval of a three story brick house a considerable distance back from the street, entire, and without the slightest injury. It is the building lately occupied by Messrs. Clark 8c Sons, Druggists, and as it stood on the eastern side of Maiden-Lane, was destined to the fate of the neighbouring houses, which have been all levelled to the ground.— The ingenuity of Mr. Brow n, how ever, has saved much expense which was at first considered inevi table, for by gradually removing the foundation and replacing it with large timbers formed like the ways used in launching a ship lie prepared it for a removal of twenty one feet back, which he has already effected. The new ’revel of the street is to be from 12 to 15 inches higher than the old, which made it necessary to give the ways a corres ponding elevation ; this ponderous mass of brick was slowly moved up an inclined plane by the force of five iron screws, three of which are applied horizontally’ to the front of the building, and the oilier two in tha cellar. So smooth and gradual was the motion, that not the slight est injury v/as visible, though we observed glass vessels standing on one of the mantle pieces, and the lull adequacy of the force to the ob ject, is proved by the fact, that a considerable number of people were in the house, and were walking about the chambers in the third sto ry during the removal. Mr. Brown is a man of great me chanical genius, and a native of Massachusetts. It is hoped he will receive the encouragement due to so ingenious and useful an inven tion ; which may save a large ex pense to the city a year. He has made other successful attempts of this sort, among which that of the house at Richmond Hill is the most remarkable, where he removed a large frame house filled with brick, and lowered it about 30 feet, with two stacks of chimnics standing.— But this is the first experiment he has made on a building entirely of brick, and it bids fair to be equallv successful. N. 2". Ado. Georgetow'n, and. c. June 2.. The other evening a gentleman re turning lrom Georgetown to Wash* ington was stopped in the commom by two loot pads, who demanded his money—alter it vvas handed them, one of them felt his fob for his watch, hut not finding it, de camped. Let us talk no more ot Black Heath Commons—Mrs. Rat cliff’s celebrated novel is said to have so frighted the English girls, that they do not like to sleep alone, for the truth of that assertion, how ever, we cannot vouch, but we be lieve we may safely affirm, that this robbery has so frightened the people ot Georgetown, that they have ceas ed carrying any money in their pocl efs. Metropolitan.