A fungous growth of political pamphlets and periodical publications issue daily from the press. We have the _Conciso_, the _Tertulia_, the _Buen Español_, the political _Telescope_, and I believe the political _Microscope_ and the political _Spectacles_; none of these have any merit except the _Conciso_, which gives the best diary we have yet had of the proceedings of the Cortes; but we have likewise the _Semanario_, revived by Quintana, which maintains its ancient reputation, and the _Patriot in the Cortes_, as yet chiefly distinguished for its boldness. Some numbers of these last I shall do myself the pleasure to send to your Lordship by the first good opportunity. I should have requested of Mr. Wellesley or Mr. Vaughan to take charge of any parcel or packet for you, but they reside at present in the _Isla_, whither I seldom go; and which is so crowded that I could not procure in it a house or accommodation of any kind. We are and have been in daily expectation that the Cortes will transfer their sittings to this city. The Cortes have committed and are _daily_ committing a great many errors; but they are the errors of inexperience, and as they have upright intentions and are not indocile they will, I hope, soon correct such mistakes as they may inadvertently fall into, more especially when the forms are once established which are to regulate their future proceedings; and I am happy to say that this necessary regulation, the want of which has been already on many occasions severely felt, will soon take place. I have seen exaggerated accounts in the English papers of the yellow fever which prevailed here; it was not virulent nor general, and has now, I believe, entirely vanished. The French have at last succeeded in throwing a few nine-inch shells within our walls from their battery on the _cabezuela of the Trocadero_. One fell near the signal tower, almost in the centre of the city, and distant from the _cabezuela_ about 2500 French _toises_, greater by 200 _toises_ than any range of a shell formerly known. Not more than a dozen altogether fell within the walls; they fortunately did no damage and occasioned very little alarm. I am assured by Artillery officers that the charge of powder necessary to throw a shell to such a distance is so great, that after a few discharges the mortar will be rendered entirely useless. A few shells were first fired two or three days ago, a few more the next day, and they have since been silent. We are informed that one of their mortars burst.