the mob, by doubling the guard of Vinuesa's prison, and by transmitting a letter to the king, which contained the following passages: "That which we predicted to your majesty on the 22nd of November has been too soon confirmed. It is in your own palace, in your own house, that disorder originates in a great measure, as the people believe. How long are peaceable citizens to live in this agitation? We have doubled the guards of the prisons, but this is rather a palliative than a remedy. The people believe that all these plots originate from one focus, which remains secure ; that this focus is composed of a handful of men, without virtue, religion, or patriotism, who continue to raise the cry of tyranny and arbitrary power. What opinion will the nation entertain of the power of the government, if such crimes remain unpunished? The magistracy supplicates your majesty to enforce the law with promptitude and dispatch."

The ministers testified their reverence for the populace by giving orders to hasten the proceedings against Vinuesa.

This event gave new gave new life to all the rumours and alarms with respect to conspiracies: the popular agitation rose in violence, and showed itself in acts of outrage against those who were entitled to peculiar respect. Menaces and threats were freely uttered against the French ambassador, because he was suspected of intriguing against the constitutional system. The king himself, when he appeared in public, did not escape without insult.

On the 6th of February, the municipality of Madrid received a despatch from him, complaining

that on the 5th, during his promenade, he had heard cries disrespectful to him, and commanding the municipal authority to prevent the renewal of such disorders. In consequence, the municipality ordered nine corregidors, with their respective escorts, to proceed to the palace, to maintain good order, and execute the wishes of his majesty. On the same day, when the king came out to make his promenade, the people overwhelmed him with cries of" Long live the Constitutional King!" But the carriage had hardly passed the arcades of the palace, when some of the body-guards, seeing what they conceived to be symptoms of disrespectful behaviour towards the monarch, issued forth, and with their sabres struck two citizens. The people dispersed, but soon returned in great force, and obliged the body-guards to take refuge in their barracks, be fore which, for greater security, three pieces of cannon were placed. The efforts and promises of the magistrates, aided by the presence of the national guard, calmed the effervescence of the people, who nevertheless, kept the barracks of the body-guards in a state of blockade for three days and two nights. The municipality presented an address to his majesty relative to these events.

The council of ministers, having met under the presidency of the king, determined on provisionally disbanding the four companies of body-guards, and referred how they were finally to be disposed of to the Cortes. The individuals composing the corps were to retire, till that decision, to their homes, after having left in their

barracks their arms and uniforms. Many of them quitted the country, and took refuge in France.

The state of Spain at this time became afterwards the subject of investigation in the Cortes, and a special committee made a report upon it. The report stated, that a systematic series of plots had existed for the overthrow of the constitution; that these plots were directed by a supreme junta, under which were secondary juntas; that central points for similar plots had been established by Spanish refugees, particularly at Bayonne and at Paris in the rue de Richelieu; and that many rich members of the clergy took part in this conspiracy, which showed itself openly on three occasions1. In the month of June 1820, when it was attempted to disturb the session of the Cortes; 2. In the month of November, during the residence of the king at the Escurial; 3. At the commencement of the session of 1821. The object of these plots, it was said, was, the re-establishment of absolute power; and for that purpose to take possession of his majesty's person, or even to set up another king in his place.

Among the documents in support of this report was a plan of a counter revolution, said to be in the hand-writing of Vinuesa, and one of his cousins. This plan was to be communicated only to the king, the infant don Carlos, the duke del Infantado, and the marquis of Castellar. The king was to be prevailed upon to convoke suddenly the ministers, the captain-general, and the counsellors of state; and when they were assembled, don Carlos was to enter with a part of the body guards and arrest them all. The

duke del Infantado was to place himself at the head of a battalion of the guards cantoned at Leganes, which, with the prince's regiment, the colonel of which was favourably disposed, was to Occupy the city gates and the public places. These troops were then to instigate the people to call "Religion and the King!" and" Death to the Constitution!" A new municipal guard was to be immediately formed to march in procession to the square of the Constitution, and pull down the lapida (a stone erected in commemoration of the establishment of the Constitution). No person was to be allowed to leave Madrid, except couriers and detachments, who were to be sent to the provinces with the necessary orders.

With regard to the Liberals, they were, according to Vinuesa's plan, to be all arrested and divided into three classes. Those of the first class were to be capitally punished as guilty of high treason; those of the second to be banished or imprisoned; those of the third were to be pardoned. With regard to the afrancesados, corresponding measures were to be adopted. The bishop of Ceuta was mentioned as a fit person to draw up a kind of justificatory manifesto. Every thing was to be established on the footing of 1820, except that the king was to convoke a Cortes formed of states general (Estamentos). Vinuesa in his plan observed, "There are inconveniences as well as advantages in this scheme. The lives of his majesty and don Carlos may be put to hazard; but they must trust in Divine Providence, and show that they are capable of braving danger and

worthy of wielding the sceptre." The Cortes was to assemble on the 1st of March; and as doubts were entertained, whether Ferdinand would be inclined to attend in person, a deputation, at the head of which was the bishop of Majorca, was sent to him on the 25th of February to intimate to him the wish of the legislature, that he might be present at the opening of the session. The king's answer was as follows:

"I am informed that the Cortes are constituted. I shall attend with great pleasure at the opening of the session on the 1st of March, at 10 in the morning. I hope from the wisdom and prudence of the deputies that they will adopt energetic measures, capable of arresting the evils with which the nation is threatened, and the precursors of which I perceive in the insults and disrespect shown to my dignity and to my person, in despite of the constitution."

The president replied, that the Cortes would duly appreciate the king's gracious promise to be present at the opening of the session; that, as to the object particularly referred to by his majesty, the Cortes were not charged with the maintenance of public order; but that, in fulfilling the duties which properly belonged to them, they would contribute, by all the means in their power, and with the greatest zeal, towards the complete satisfaction of his majesty's just desires.

Ferdinand was afterwards wait ed upon by the minister of the interior, to arrange with his majesty the speech to be delivered from the throne.

On the 1st of March the king repaired to the hall of the Cortes,

attended by a strong escort, and delivered his speech. In alluding to foreign affairs, the king stated that "his good understanding with foreign powers had undergone no alteration;" that, "he had ratified the cession of the Floridas;" that "he had felt it due to the dignity of his throne and people to declare to the allied sovereigns that he would recognize nothing (in their conduct towards Naples) which should be at variance with the principles of the positive law of nations, on which repose their liberty, their independence, and prosperity." At the conclusion he inveighed in terms

of much bitterness against the public insults and outrages to which he had been exposed, and against the evil projects of those who would persuade his people, that he entertained designs unfriendly to the constitution. "I have now stated," said he towards the end of his speech," all that it is necessary to inform the Cortes relatively to the political situation of the nation, in all its relations, internal and external, with all the precision which so solemn an act imposes on me, and according to the information I possess on the different points which my discourse embraces.

"I have purposely deferred to the conclusion of my discourse to speak to you of my person, in order that it might not be thought I preferred it to the well-being and to the happiness of the people, that Divine Providence has confided to my care.

"However, it is necessary that I inform, though with much chagrin, this wise congress, that the ideas of some ill-disposed persons, who strive to seduce

credulous people by persuading them, that my heart conceals views opposed to the system that governs us, are not unknown to my mind. Their object is only to inspire diffidence as to my pure intentions, and the rectitude of my conduct. I have sworn to the constitution, and I have always endeavoured to observe it, as much as depends on me. Would to God that every one did the same! The outrages and the acts of irreverence of all sorts committed towards my dignity, in contempt of what order and respect for my person ought to exact as a constitutional king, have been published.

"I have no fears as to my life or safety. God who reads my heart watches over the one and the other, and will take care of them as also of the greater and better part of the nation. But I cannot this day conceal from the Cortes as principally intrusted with the care of that inviolability which belongs to a constitutional king, that these insults could not have been repeated, if the executive power had displayed all that energy which the constitution prescribes and the Cortes desire. Want of firmness and the indifference of many of the authorities, have occasioned the renewal of such excesses. Should they continue, it will not be surprising if the Spanish nation finds itself engulphed in innumerable evils and misfortunes."

M. Manuel, the president, immediately replied in vague and general terms; but as soon as the king had retired, the count de Torreno rose to express his grief and astonishment at the latter part of what had fallen from the king, and to move that a comVOL. LXIII.

mittee should be appointed for the purpose of drawing up an answer. The motion was agreed to, and, on the same evening, the ministers gave in their resignation. On the 4th of March, the Cortes declared themselves permanent, on the ground that there were no responsible ministers.

on

A discussion then arose, the answer to be made to his majesty's speech, and it was proposed, that the late ministers should be called upon to give explanations respecting that part of it, which complained of insults to his royal person, and of the want of energy in the constituted authorities. In the mean time a motion being made for the draft of the speech, it was produced from the ministerial office, when it appeared that it did not contain that part respecting which information was desired. The preceding part of the speech was signed by the ministers; but the conclusion was wanting.

The Cortes decided, that as this part of the speech was not in the original draft, and, as it was not signed by any responsible authority, it should not be noticed in the address; and that the signed part of the speech should alone be replied to.

Señor Jaudiolo moved, that the Cortes should make known to his majesty the reasons why they did not reply to the latter part of his speech; and, after some discussion, it was agreed, that this proposition should be considered in

a secret committee.

The address in answer to the king, after touching on the previous topics of the speech in succession, thus adverted to the passage respecting the proceedings of the congress at Laybach, [N]

and to that relative to the insults offered to his royal person:

"It was just and natural, that the political changes which have taken place in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and the intervention which the sovereigns of Austria, Russia, and Prussia, pretend to exercise in that respect, should have excited the solicitude of your majesty. The ties of blood, which unite that royal family with that of your majesty, and the incontestable right which all nations possess of ameliorating their institutions, are motives sufficiently powerful to make Spain regard, with the most lively interest, an event so serious, and of such high importance. The resolution taken by your majesty to recognise nothing contrary to those principles of the law of nations on which reposes the independence of states, and which the Spanish nation will inviolably respect with regard to others, the Cortes conceive to be worthy your majesty, and of the grand nation which you govern. They had, moreover, congratulated themselves, in concurrence with your majesty, that the allied sovereigns, in all their communications, had hitherto manifested, that they recognised these principles with respect to Spain. This recognition has been made in a manner clear and express, such as the Cortes desired, as the national dignity required, and our security in regard to the neighbouring states imperiously demanded. The Cortes conceive, that it becomes the Spanish nation, which has so many claims to the gratitude and admiration of Europe for the glorious part which it took in the emancipation of the continent, and for the ge

nerous efforts with which it sustained its own independence and gave an example to other nations, to take such measures as may protect it from all political vicissitudes, and place it in the requisite state of security. The Cortes have heard with grief and surprise the conclusion of your majesty's speech. Full of affection, loyalty, and an ardent zeal for the observance of the constitution, which so positively prescribes the respect due to the sacred and inviolable person, of your majesty, they can never behold with indifference any act which should not be conformable to this constitutional principle, -an act which could not be con

ceived but by a Spaniard unworthy of the name, and who would for ever merit the general execration of the nation, and particularly that of a capital which has given your majesty, from the commencement of your reign, so many proofs of affection and fidelity. The Cortes, called by the constitution to the discharge of legislative functions, rely for the rest on the zeal and wisdom of your majesty. They expect with firm confidence that your majesty, as supreme and sole head of the executive power, and as concentrating in your august person the power of causing the laws to be executed, and as extending your authority to every thing that concerns the preservation of public order, which is inseparable from attachment and veneration towards the royal majesty, will give orders for repressing with energy every excess contrary to our institutions, by the means which those institutions themselves prescribe. They finally hope, that by this