duced in the appropriation of certain duties for particular payments, to the great prejudice, of a just equality in the distribution of the funds." It concluded with stating, that, "The Treasurer-General was exposed to continual insults from the impossibility of satisfying all demands amidst the great wants which surrounded him, and that, in the existing state of the treasury, it was impossible for him to support a charge so superior to his strength."

A disturbance, which took place at Seville in the month of April, may be mentioned as an instance of the general confusion produced by Ferdinand's misrule. For some time past the treasurer-general had drawn into his coffers the greater part of the slender revenues of the province of Seville; and the intendant-general of the province, having no funds at his disposal for the support of the garrison of the city, entered into a contract with some merchants, who took upon themselves for several weeks the support and pay of the troops. The intendant, however, was unable to fulfil his engagement, and the merchants refused to furnish any further supplies. Upon this, the soldiers, irritated by distress, proceeded in a body to the residences of the canons and dignitaries of the church, forced open their doors and pillaged their houses, crying, 'Down with the clergy!' 'Down with absolute Government."

In the present year prince Maximilian of Saxony, the father of the queen of Spain, and his daughter the princess Amelia, remained for some time on a visit to the royal family. On the 20th of April, they left Madrid, in order to return to Dresden by the way of Valencia and Barcelona,

The appointment of Zea had encouraged a notion, that an attempt might be made to mitigate the caprice of despotism, and to introduce into the country something which might approach to a regular government. Ferdinand, however, was anxious to convince the world, that all projects of reform were far from his thoughts.

"I have learned with the most lively grief," said he, in a decree dated the 19th of April," that for some time alarming reports have been insidiously spread, that it is intended to oblige or to counsel me to make reforms and innovations in the regime and government of my kingdoms, by altering its ancient and respectable fundamental laws, and limiting my royal authority. It is a duty, and at the same time a satisfaction to me, to contradict a fiction as malicious as it is criminal. I declare, in consequence, not only that I am resolved to preserve entire, and in all their plenitude, the legitimate rights of my sovereignty, without giving up now, or at any other time, the slightest particle of them, and without permitting the establishment of chambers or of other institutions of whatever denomination, which may be contrary to our laws and usages; but that, on the contrary, I have the most solemn and the most positive assurance that all my august allies, who have given me so many proofs of their sincere affection, and their efficacious co-operation in the welfare of my kingdom, will continue to support on all occasions the legitimate and sovereign authority of my crown, without advising or proposing to me directly or indirectly any innovation in the form of my government.

"I also declare, that I have taken

the firm and immoveable resolution to cause the laws to be kept and respected, without tolerating abuses of any kind, without permitting violence and intrigue to take the place of justice, and without consenting that, under the pretext or appearance of attachment to my royal person, and to my authority, those who shall seek by those means to cover their disobedience and insubordination shall escape just punishment. Strict observance of the laws, the prompt execution of my decrees and ordinances, and respect for the authorities, are the solid foundations of order and prosperity; those which every Spaniard who is truly a royalist, and devoted to the sovereign, ought to make the rule of his conduct; and those which, notwithstanding the acts and attempts of malevolence, will secure the peace of my kingdoms, and the happiness of my beloved subjects, which are the objects dearest to my heart."

In accordance with the principles of this decree was an ordinance, issued by the intendantgeneral of police on the 26th of May, which, after a long preamble on the necessity of repressing the plots still carried on by the revolutionists and by the enemies to the king and to order, contained seven enacting clauses."1. No person whatever shall attack in an insulting manner the measures of his majesty's government: and every person taken in the act, or convicted of so doing shall be immediately arrested and delivered to the competent tribunal.-2. He who, by words or by writing, shall insult the agent of the civil, military, or ecclesiastical authority, shall be treated in the manner prescribed by the first article.-3. Keepers of hotels, coffee-houses,

taverns, and other public establishments of all kinds, shall hinder political discussions in their houses, and the quarrels to which these discussions might lead, and shall denounce to the inspector of the quarter the censures passed on the government, and the plans formed against the safety of the inhabitants, against our holy religion, against the authorities, and against good morals. All who offend against this article shall be punished the first time by a fine of 100 ducats, and of 200 for the second; for the third, their establishments shall be closed.-4. Every person who shall spread reports against the sovereign authority of his majesty, and against his government, shall be arrested and punished according to the laws.5. Every person who shall receive by the post, or otherwise, pamphlets on political subjects, shall immediately deliver them to the police, to do with them as it shall think proper; and no copy shall be taken, on pain of a fine of 100 ducats. The same penalty shall be inflicted on those who shall have read or known of such pamphlets, without giving information of them.-6. The same penalty shall be inflicted on those who shall receive, copy, and read pamphlets or letters signed, which treat on such subjects in a revolutionary manner, without immediately giving notice to the police. -7. Those who shall hold public or private meetings, in which the measures of the government shall be criticized, or in which attempts shall be made directly or indirectly to decry it, shall be prosecuted; and, besides the penalties which shall be inflicted on them by the laws, each member shall pay a fine of 100 ducats."

The ultra party, however, were

far from being satisfied; and complained loudly of the government as too liberal. The monks were especially active in exciting the spirit of fanaticism; and at last, M. de Zea Bermudez, suspected by all and aided by none, yielded to the intrigues of the adverse courtiers, and in the beginning of August tendered his resignation. Ferdinand refused to accept it, and Zea continued in his post. The discontent became more general, and a project was now entertained of setting up the Infant Carlos as king. There was scarcely a town in Spain, in which great numbers of persons were not thrown into prison. At Seville, nearly two hundred persons were placed in confinement on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of August and as all the prisons were filled, orders were given to the superiors of convents, to place at the disposal of the civil authorities, all such parts of their respective houses, as they had no immediate necessity to use. Among the persons arrested were the marchioness de Tabares, and her whole family; the prior of the consulate of commerce, Andueza; the merchants Bayo and Gongora, and many monks and canons.

Similar

proceedings occurred at Cordova; and there, as in other towns, monks, canons, and individuals of considerable wealth, formed the great majority of those who were suspected.

The arrests were exceedingly numerous in all the towns of upper Andalusia, and particularly at Cordova, Carmona, and Ecija. In the capital, many monks were sent to prison. A Junta of public safety was created, and the duke de l'Infantado was appointed its president.

In spite of all these precautions,

the zeal of the fanatical party did not abate, and they openly avowed their purposes. So daring were they, that, on the 13th of August, a monk of the order of Mercy, haranguing in the public square a very numerous collection of people, said that all was lost in Spain, as it appeared beyond doubt that the king was a freemason; and that in such a state of things the object of all Spaniards, who were the friends of their country and of religion, should be, to place on the throne the Infant don Carlos, whose good principles and whose Catholicism were well known. "Ah!" said he, "if we could, with the assistance of God, effect so important a change, the state of unhappy Spain would not yet be quite desperate." It was asserted that upwards of 200,000 reals had been expended by conspirators in corrupting the several corps of the guards, and in distributing proclamations in favour of "El hombre de la Plazuela."*

At length, on the 16th of August, a decisive step was taken by the factious. Upon the morning of that day, at sun-rise, the cry of "to horse" was heard at Getafa, a village about a league distant from Madrid; and a few minutes afterwards, three companies of the regiment of Santiago, who were quartered there, were discovered arrayed upon the public square, their officers at their head, and with accoutrements and baggage ready for their march. They were soon in motion, and took the road towards Alcala, saying, that "they

By this namo the Exaltados designate the infant don Carlos, in allusion to a bronze statue of the emperor Charles V, in the Plazuela, or petite place of St. Anne, in Madrid.

were going to deliver the king, whom his ministers detained a prisoner." The moment that the colonel of the regiment, the different companies of which were quartered in the three several villages of Getafa, Leganez, and Carabachel, became apprised of this movement, he immediately reported the circumstance to the minister at war, by whom it was in turn communicated to the Junta of public safety.

On the preceding evening, Bessieres had left the capital; and had pursued the high road to Alcala, until he arrived at Torrejon Dardoz, which is about three leagues from Madrid. There, having had a conversation with the Alcalde, and having received from him a large sum of money, he returned on the 18th by a cross-road to Torrija, where the rebels had stationed themselves, and on the same day assumed the command of them. He was joined by considerable numbers, and published a list of persons who were to be proscribed and put to death. The first name on the list was that of Zea Bermudez.

In the mean time, the count d'Espagne had been despatched with a considerable force in pursuit of the rebels. On the 25th of August he overtook and arrested Bessieres and his accomplices, one league from Molina d'Arragon. On the following day, Bessieres, notwithstanding his former services, was shot with seven of his associates: Bagnos, a colonel; Gomez, a captain of cavalry; Peranton, an officer commanding a party; Ortega, an adjutant of cavalry; Belosco, Guisbona, and Torres lieutenants of cavalry. They all met death with the greatest fortitude. They made no disclosures.

Two other officers, who were taken with Bessieres, were pardoned upon the declaration of Gomez, that he induced them to accompany him without acquainting them with his designs. The soldiers were

sent to Madrid.

The revolt of Bessieres was not a solitary unconnected event. It was followed, or rather accompanied, by an insurrection in Valencia, headed by general Chambo, and one in La Mancha excited by general Locho. Ortiguela in the province of Burgos, and another chief in the province of Grenada, followed the example of Locho, and proclaimed the Infant don Carlos. But the parties which joined the standard of these leaders, were very insignificant; and they were soon dispersed. At Tortosa, the chief of the conspiracy was a Catalonian, named Wach, the commander of a battalion in garrison in that city. His plan was, by an insurrection of the inhabitants of the country, and part of the population of Tortosa, to depose the governor, to seize the citadel, to fall upon the constitutionalists, and to pillage their houses. But the captain, who commanded the fort, having caused the bridge to be drawn up, instead of favouring the projects of the conspirators, their accomplices in the city did not venture to make any hostile attempt, and the country people, who were already arriving at the gates, thought it prudent to retire. Wach, with two officers, immediately fled; and in the evening two battalions sent by the marquis de Campo Sagrado, in consequence of previous information, entered Tortosa, and secured the tranquillity of the place. In Biscay, in Alava, in Gallicia, throughout Arragon, and indeed in every quarter of Spain,

symptoms of revolt displayed themselves; and it was said, that it had been ascertained from the papers of a monk, who had acted as treasurer to the faction, that the chapters of all the metropolitan churches of Spain, and many rich convents of the orders of Carthusians, and of St. Bernard, St. Jerome, St. Augustin and St. Basil, had taxed themselves to raise 14,000,000 of reals for the support of the conspiracy. Though the open progress of revolt was checked, it can scarcely be said, that order was restored. In every province disturbances either occurred or were apprehended; and no man's person or property was safe, either from the fanatical zeal of the people, or from the suspicions of the king. The royalist volunteers of Salamanca voted an address to Ferdinand, soliciting from him the reestablishment of the holy office, as the surest method of securing the public tranquillity. In September various plots for placing the crown on the head of don Carlos, were formed and detected in Valencia, Grenada, and divers other places. In these plots, as well as in the previous commotions, the name of don Carlos was used, it was believed, without any approbation or concurrence on the part of that prince.

To cure the miseries of Spain, Ferdinand and his adviser's could devise no better expedient, than to create a Consultative Junta of government, who were to aid the council of ministers. This new body was formally installed on the 26th of September. Among other arduous duties imposed on them, they were to discover "What were the means calculated for conciliating the colonies, and bringing them back to their former obedience to

the mother country? and what means should be adopted to facilitate the negotiation of a loan, and to render its conditions less onerous?" The Junta promised to do their utmost for their suffering country. "Our integrity," said they, in the address presented by them to his majesty on the day of their installation, "shall not be dismayed by the dread of the enmity or persecution which usually attends truth; we will endure its shafts with undaunted constancy. The glory of your majesty; the splendor and perpetuity of your throne; the integrity of your hereditary dominions; the decorum of your august family; the indissoluble union of the empire and priesthood; the re-establishment of the fame the Spanish state once enjoyed among other powers; the encouragement of individual riches, endeavouring to bind them to those of the state and government; thereplacing the many deficiencies, and losses we have experienced; the adaptation of the contributions to possibility, and no more; the consolidation of a credit, to supply the place when contributions fail; the saving of every thing that may not be indispensably necessary; the suspension of all allowances not arising out of just demands; retrenchments, which do not bring with them indigence; reforms and modifications, which may re-animate the nation without depressing the subjects-such will be the objects for the guidance of the Junta; and the will of your majesty, and the directions of your council of ministers, shall be their only rule of action."

In spite of their good intentions, however, they were unable to do their country any service; and even the advice, which they presumed to