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diz at twelve o'clock, and announced his determination to proclaim the constitution. As the people, who assembled in crowds, appeared impatient of any delay, he solemnly made oath to it, and promised that the remaining solemnities should be duly performed on the following day. The people immediately raised a flag, inscribed " Long live the constitution, and Freyre our regenerator." At the same time, they promised to bury all past enmities in oblivion. An invitation was soon sent to the chiefs of the army on the Isle of Leon, to be present at the solemnity of the approaching day. Quiroga, however, declined attending himself, but sent San Miguel, Arco Aguerro, Galiano, and another of his principal officers. The night was now spent in joyful preparations for to-morrow's festival; the fronts of the houses were lavishly adorned, and the whole body of the people, in their festal dresses, filled at ten o'clock the square of St Antonio. As they were waiting there for the arrival of General Freyre to begin the ceremony, a report of mus quetry was suddenly heard, and the troops instantly began to fire on the multitude. The affrighted crowd fled in all directions, pressed and overturned upon each other; while the troops pursued, massacring all whom they encountered. Even the houses did not shelter the wretched inhabitants; and Cadiz was for several hours like a city given up to pillage. The carnage of this dreadful day was afterwards found to amount to 460 killed, and upwards, of 1000 wounded. The deputies from the national army called upon General Freyre for his pledged protection, which he was able to make good only by conveying them out of his house by the roof, and thence to the fort of St Sebastian. Notwithstanding a long investigation afterwards carried on, the origin of this dreadful affair was never fully ascertained. General Freyre's

conduct towards the deputies seems to acquit him from the suspicions which were at the time strongly urged against him; but Valdes, who, as governor of Cadiz, had always shewn an embittered enmity against liberal opinions, and Campana, in consequence of a mili tary order published by him next day, sanctioning the conduct of the sol diers, were strongly suspected of at least approving this outrage. Two days after, intelligence was received at Madrid; the soldiers were then seized with alarm; and the inhabitants, rising tumultuously, massacred several of them. At length the government having superseded Valdes and Campana, and appointed O'Donoju governor of Cadiz, with orders to make a strict inquiry into this unhappy affair, the minds of men were gradually tranquillized. That part of General Freyre's army, which shewed itself still averse to the new system, was dissolved; the rest united itself to the army of the Isle of Leon, which was thus swelled to 12,000 men.

The nation now occupied itself busily in the election of members for the approaching Cortes. The operation was carried on tranquilly, and with a decided preference of the liberal party. Many who had been members of the Cortes of Cadiz were now re-elected; to which were added Quiroga, and other military men, who had taken an active part on the pre sent occasion. Meantime there were not even now wanting some anti-revolutionary symptoms. At Saragossa, on the 14th May, a band of four or five hundred men, invited by the monks, rushed to the public square, overturned the stone of the constitution, and soon raised a mob, who joined them in crying," Religion! the King! down with the constitution !" General Haro, however, fell upon them with two regiments, and after killing and wounding a considerable number,

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In Galicia, matters threatened to assume a more serious character. Don Manuel Chantre, whose zeal has been already commemorated, united himself with some other chiefs, who assumed the title of the "Apostolical Junta of Galicia." They collected within the frontiers of Portugal a body of scattered troops and peasantry, with which they crossed the Minho, and endea voured to rouse Galicia into insurrection. In fact, before Espinosa could collect his troops, they had swelled to between 2000 and 3000 men, and were threatening Tuy. Here, however, several encounters took place, in which they were completely worsted, and obliged to re-enter Portugal, with the loss of their standards and baggage. Two of their chiefs were afterwards delivered up by the Portuguese govern ment, at the urgent request of Spain, They were found to maintain secret correspondence with malcontents in Andalusia, and even with secret committees in the capital.

The 6th of June formed the important and long expected day of the meeting of the Cortes. A fortnight was consumed in the examination of their powers, and other preliminary matters; and it was not till the 9th July, that the solemn opening took place. The King was attended by the Queen, the royal family, and the corps diplomatique. After renewing the oath of fidelity to the constitution, he made his opening speech, in which he strongly expressed his attachment to, and determination to support, the new or der of things. "At length," said he, "has come the day, the object of my ardent wishes, when I see myself sur

rounded by the representatives of the heroic and generous Spanish nation; and when a solemn oath identifies my interests and those of my family with the interests of my people. Since the excess of the evil has called forth the unequivocal expression of the general wish of the nation, an expression long dimmed by deplorable circumstances, that are now banished from our memory, I have determined to embrace the system which the nation desired, and to swear to the political constitution of the monarchy, sanctioned by the general and extraordinary Cortes of the year 1812; since the crown and the nation have both recovered their legitimate rights, my resolution being the more free and spontaneous, as it is more conformable to the interests of the Spanish people, whose happiness never ceased to be the object of my sincerest intentions." After taking a view of the state of the different branches of administration, he concluded: "It is to the establishment and the entire and inviolable maintenance of the constitution, that I will consecrate the powers which this same constitution assigns to the royal authority; in it I will concentrate my power, my happiness, and my glory.'

The address to be made in reply was the subject of some discussion; and that finally agreed upon, while it very strongly expressed the feelings of duty and attachment, failed not to insinuate pretty decided lessons as to what was their opinion of past events, and what conduct they now expected to meet with from the King and his Ministers. "While," it is said, "they act with the prudence and dignity worthy the representatives of a great and generous nation, the Cortes expect to find in your Majesty's govern ment that vigour and co-operation which are absolutely necessary for the establishment of a new system, and for

the removal of those obstacles which impede the march of national prosperity.

«The national Congress will employ itself with the utmost assiduity for the discharge of the duties imposed upon it by the people; and, cooperating with your Majesty, will apply the remedies which the deplorable state of the country demands, and to which it has been reduced by the maladministration of former times, and by the ruinous system adopted during the last six years."

In conclusion they observe :-" In taking the first steps in their career for consolidating public prosperity, executing the constitution, and protecting religion, the rights of the throne and of the people, the Cortes found their most flattering hopes on the solemn promise of your Majesty to enforce the strict observance of that fundamental law which is the best guarantee of the rights of your crown. Faithful observers themselves of that constitution, the Cortes, in imitation of your Majesty's example, will place all their glory and happiness in their constitutional powers. In offering to your Majesty proofs of a sincere attachment to your royal person and august family, the Cortes hope to find a firm support in the zeal, patriotism, and knowledge of your Majesty's govern ment. Thus will your Majesty return the love of the people, and we prove ourselves worthy of their confidence." The first business on which the Cortes entered, consisted in receiving from the different ministers, a view of the state of their respective departments; on which occasion, facts were disclosed which excited the deepest interest, but inspired the most gloomy impression.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs announced that the relations of the nation with foreign powers were perfectly pacific and amicable, except with

regard to the Court of Portugal and the United States. With the former, he observed, "some differences exist respecting the capture of Monte-Video, and with the latter on the subject of the treaty of the Floridas; but the principles of moderation and justice which direct the diplomatic operations give us reason to hope that these differences will be adjusted honourably for Spain, and that they will not alter in the slightest degree the system of peace established in Europe."

The Minister of the Interior gave a detail of all the branches of the public administration connected with his department, and specified the means adopted for its improvement. This department of government would require the longer time in organizing, as every thing must be regenerated conformably to the report on the political economy and civil administration of the kingdom, in order to give a new stimulus to agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and the arts, and to promote the general prosperity of the na tion.

The Minister of the Colonies, in his exposé on the situation of America, detailed, among a variety of other topics, the measures adopted by the King for the reconcilement of sub sisting differences, and the re-union of the colonies to the mother country. He dissipated the mischievous rumours which had been circulated of a contem plated expedition to America, and ex plained what had given rise to those false rumours.

The report of the Minister of Jus tice embraced only the period subsequent to the 9th of March of this year. He gave an account of the decrees signed by the King for consolidating the constitutional system, and causing the laws to be observed of the state of the royal courts, and other tribunals of the country-of what has been already done for the establishment of

the Judges in First Instance, conformably to the district divisions adopted by the Cortes. He stated, that some ecclesiastic prebendaries had been disposed of to recompense different individuals named, and who had been persecuted on account of their adherence to the constitutional system. He dwelt much on the measures adopted with respect to the regular clergy, which he represented as equally advantageous to that body and the nation; and stated the arrangements made for preventing the increase of Jesuit convents, by allowing only one in towns which before had several, and taking public instruction out of their hands. The Minister finally defended the measures which had been adopted for securing the deputies who signed the representation of the year 1814, and on whom it is reserved for the Cortes to pronounce judgment.

The report of the Minister of War produced the most afflicting impression. It appeared that this department was in the most deplorable condition; that it was indispensably necessary immediately to effect a reform in the army, and to change its organization; that the existing military force, comprising all arms, was about 53,705 men, exclusive of the royal guard, and 7083 cavalry; that, notwithstanding the reduction of 10,000 officers, the number retained was beyond all proportion to the men; that the corps of the royal guard was greatly diminished; that the want of money, and partial distributions of pay, had reduced the officers to the greatest privations; that the major part of them had remained for years on half-pay, though in active service; that the army was in a state of shameful nudity; that in the cavalry only 15 regiments had their clothing and equipments in tolerable condition; that the clothing and arms of the infantry were not uniform, and

generally bad; that they had only 87,000 muskets, of which 6000 were unserviceable; that the cavalry had 10,000 carbines, and that in the pistols and swords there was no uniformity; and that the saddlery articles were regular only in seven regiments.

The Minister next described the deplorable state of the artillery, which was wholly destitute of materiel, and had a supply of ammunition scarcely sufficient for a single day's service in battle. The militia corps raised in 1818 presented a force of 33,809 men, commanded by 140 chiefs; the garrisons, castles, &c., were in the most wretched condition, as well as the fortresses on the coast. The military education had not undergone any change; and the department of theoretical and practical instruction for the military required no reformation. The retirements granted to officers had produ ced a saving: and the number of in valids was 7838 men.

He then recapitulated the total force of the Peninsula; that of the infantry, including the militia, he stated to consist of 87,779 men; the cavalry of 6338; and the expence of the whole army he estimated at 352,607,000 reals (88,151,750 francs).

He then entered upon the details of the colonial establishments. "The islands of Porto-Rico, St Domingo, and Cuba, enjoy profound tranquillity. In Mexico there exist only a few bands of insurgents, which cannot occasion any apprehensions ; but it is necessary, he observed, to keep that country on a war footing. The ravages of the revolutions are severely felt in South America, which experiences the effects of a war excited by the ambition of foreigners." Though it is impossible to give a correct statement of the military forces in these countries, the Minister announced that, since 1815, not less than 42,177 men

of all arms had been transported thither, of whom 5000 were of Porto Rico.

"The forces in the island of Cuba, including the militia, amount to 10,995 men, and 977 horses; those in North America to 41,036 infantry and cavalry, who occupy an extent of 82,142 square leagues. Lastly, by adding the troops which are on other stations of South America, consisting of about 10,178 men, who form the garrisons of the Philippines, it will be found that the army in the colonies amounts to 96,578 men, and 8419 horses. The garrisons in America are in the worst possible state."

The Minister of Marine gave an account in his report of the dilapidated condition to which his department had been reduced: he urged the necessity of regenerating this most important branch, and of increasing it to the highest possible pitch, by building as many ships as the state of the finances will admit. He referred to a proposition submitted to the former Cortes, to in crease the navy to 20 ships of the line, 20 frigates, 18 corvettes, 26 brigan tines, and 18 sloops of war.

The Minister of the Finances enter. ed into a long and complicated statement. He rendered an account of the state of the Treasury on the 9th of March, explained the available resour ces, and pointed out a practicable mode of supplying the deficiencies. He proposed some modification of the dota tions to the Royal family, and solicited the approbation of the Cortes to a

Bearing interest,
Not bearing interest,

The civil list was allowed to remain without any reduction at 45,000,000 reals (506,000l.) but the estimate for foreign affairs was cut down from 18

loan of 40,000,000r. opened by the King,and towards which only 5,000,000 had been subscribed. He described the wretched state of the finances, indicated the mode of improving the system, and the difficulties opposed to a reformation. He specified the abuses

and one of the principal, the taxes imposed as merely provisional, and which were never suppressed in Spain. Hence the necessity of consulting the opinions and the abilities of the people before they should be subjected to a new plan of taxation. He explained the causes which were opposed to the establishment of direct contributions, and mentioned the indisposition of the clergy, the nobility, and persons in office, to contribute their proportions, as one of the principal impediments. He demonstrated the necessity of a reform, and to give publicity to every thing connected with the finances. The Minister concluded his report by pointing out the inaccuracy and the inutility of custom-house codes; the injurious and mischievous tendency of the prohibitory laws: he proposed the union of the department of the Posts to that of the Finances, and reprobated the absurdity of the penal laws with regard to the system of finance.

In detailing the procedure of the Cortes, we shall begin by endeavouring to give a view of the manner in which they sought to remedy the distressed state of the finances. According to the report of the Committee, the debt of Spain was (in round num bers,)

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