of the state would threaten shipwreck. "This manifestation, in our opinion, can be none other than your majesty's return to the midst of your children, and the immediate extraordinary convocation of the Cortes. This is what the people demand, and what in such circumstances they ought to demand, as the only means of saving us from the imminent dangers that surround us. The deputation and the municipality consequently hope and pray that your majesty will accede to their just desires, showing yourself, as hitherto, the worthy father of your people, and causing, by this wise and provident measure, all our present anxiety to cease. "Nov. 17, 1820." On the same evening an answer was received from the king, in which he stated, that, in appointing Don Jose Maria Carvajal to be captain-general of Madrid, his majesty never imagined that this nomination would give rise to the events that have taken place in the capital; and that, having entire confidence in his ministers, he charged them to propose persons who might fill, to the satisfaction of his people, the vacant posts of captain-general and political chief of Madrid, and of inspector-general of militia. He added, that he would have flown to his children in the capital, if the state of his health had permitted him; that he would do so, as soon as the permanent deputation of the Cortes assured him that the uneasiness and effervescence had subsided, since the acclamations of joy, which his return to the capital would occasion might perhaps be confound ed with the cries of sedition; that he did not resolve, without grief, to remove from him his confessor and chief major-domo, the latter of whom had never interfered in political affairs, and the other had never given him any counsels not conformable to the principles of piety and virtue, on which the felicity of states depends; but that, if the removal of those two individuals was thought necessary to ensure the tranquillity of his people, his majesty consented to this sacrifice, to which the two persons interested would readily submit. As for the extraordinary convocation of the Cortes, the king stated, that the permanent deputation might point out to him the object for which their convocation was necessary, and that doing it in this manner, conformably to the provisions of the constitutional law, his majesty would take it into consideration, his sole desire being, the prosperity and the tranquillity of his people. On the 21st his majesty returned to the capital, and, shortly afterwards, the commands in the different provinces were entrusted to the most violent partisans of the new order of things. Riego was appointed captain-general of Arragon. The archbishop of Valencia, who had opposed himself openly to the confiscation of ecclesiastical property, was banished from the kingdom. Morales, the leader of the disturbances in Estremadura, was forced to fly into Portugal, followed by twelve or fourteen adherents; and, being taken by the Portuguese, was delivered over to the Spanish authorities. Immediately before the return of the king from the Escurial, the organization of the army was definitively settled by receiving the CHAP. XV. PORTUGAL: State of the public Mind-Revolution at Oporto-Progress of Sepulveda-Measures of the Regency-Revolution at Lisbon-Tranquillity of the Capital-Union of the JuntasArrival of Lord Beresford in the Port of Lisbon-He is not allowed to land- His Departure-Dissensions in the JuntaMilitary Interference-The Adoption of the Spanish ConstitutionThe moderate Party recover the Ascendancy-NAPLES: A representative Constitution desired-Concerted Movements in the Provinces-Conduct of Pepe-The Revolution breaks out at NolaIts Progress-The Measures of the Court-The Duke of Calabria appointed Vicar-General; and the Spanish Constitution accepted, and sworn to by him and the King-Foreign Relations of Naples-Conferences at Troppau-The King goes to Laybach -Sicilian Insurrection-Palermoreduced-Disturbances at PonteCorvo, Benevento, and Civita Vecchia-Conspiracy at Rome. NOTHI OTHING was more likely than that Portugal should follow the example which Spain had set. Portugal, besides suffering the numerous evils which always flow from an ill-organised government, had, for many years, been reduced to the situation of a mere dependency on the Brazils. The nobility, unattracted by the pleasures of a court, and deprived of the consideration derived from participating in the civilities or friendship of their monarch, naturally sought a compensation for the loss, in the acquisition of political influence. The senti ment of loyalty, weak enough in modern times, even under the circumstances most favourable to its growth, could not be strong in the minds of a people, who saw themselves abandoned by their royal family. Neither could any dependence be placed on the army, who could not feel themselves bound by any peculiar tie to a monarch, separated from them by the whole breadth of the Atlantic. They had, besides, one peculiar grievance, which could not fail to be very galling to their commanders. Marshal Beresford had been continued in the supreme command, with which he had been invested during the exigencies of the war; and about a hundred British officers still retained their commissions. These were considered as interlopers, and their removal would open the path of promotion to the natives. The greatest obstacle to the accomplishment of a revolution would have been the presence of Beresford. Unconnected with the factions of the country, and hav ing nothing either to hope or fear from them, he would have acted with promptitude and firmness; the royalists would have rallied round him with confidence; and the recollection of his past services, his military reputation, his high station, and the credit accruing from his supposed connexion with the English government, would have rendered him a formidable opponent. He, however, had embarked for Rio Janeiro, in the month of April; and there was no person in the council of regency, whose influence or talents the popular leaders had any reason to dread. Under these circumstances, the revolution broke out at Oporto. In consequence of plans which had been concerted there by both the civil and military authorities, at the quarters of a young noble of the name of Don Bernardo Correa de Castro e Sepulveda, who commanded the 18th regiment, an address was, on the morning of the 24th of August, read to the regiments there sta tioned, inviting them to serve their king and country, by establishing a constitutional government. The troops answered the address by approving acclamations; and, in the presence of the bishop, the governor, and the magistrates of the city, a provisional junta of sixteen members was appointed, and charged with the government of the country till the meeting of the Cortes. The first act of the Junta was, to publish a manifesto, in which they set forth their grievances, and the necessity for restoring a representative government; professing, at the same time, the greatest reverence for the rights of the church, and of all the authorities, both civil and ecclesiastical, as well as the most devoted attachment to the monarchy and to the House of Braganza. An intimation was also given to the English officers, that the privileges and emoluments of their present rank should be continued to them, till the meeting of the Cortes; but they were warned not to interfere in the passing events. Though it was thought prudent to put some of them under arrest, they were all treated with the utmost respect. On the 28th of August, Sepulveda left Oporto, to oppose count Amarante, the commander of the province of Tras os Montes, and whose brother was president of the Provisional Junta. The count, deserted by his troops, fled into Gallicia. Every where the cause of the constitution prevailed; and even the clergy, where they did not take an active share in promoting it, at least abstained from offering any opposition. Sepulveda, having reached Coimbra without opposition, prosecuted his march towards Lisbon, and was followed by the Provisional Junta. The regency had, on the 29th of August, published a proclamation at Lisbon, condemning the transactions at Oporto as a nefarious conspiracy, and declaring that the king alone could convoke the Cortes. The defection of the troops in every province taught them the necessity of yielding; and, on the first of September, they issued the following proclamation for assembling the Cortes, which forms a strange contrast to the proclamation of the 29th: "Portuguese!-The governors of the kingdom, persuaded of the imminent danger which the nation and the monarchy incur if the crisis produced by the insurrection of Oporto be prolonged, and employing the extraordinary powers which have been conferred upon them by their instructions in urgent cases, after hearing the opinion of a great number of persons included in the council of his majesty, and conspicuous among the different classes of the nation, have resolved, in the name of the king, our lord, to convoke the Cortes, nominating immediately a commission, for the purpose of proceeding with the arrangements necessary for the prompt assem bling of the same. The governors of the kingdom hope that a measure which so decidedly proves their determination to attend to the complaints and listen to the wishes of the nation will immediately unite in a legitimate and common centre the whole people, and that all classes of which it is composed will acknowledge the necessity of such an union, to avoid the threatening evils of anarchy, of civil war, and perhaps a dissolution of the monarchy. "Lisbon, Palace of the Government, Sept. 1. (Signed) "CARDINAL PATRIARCH, "MARQUEZ DE BORBA, "CONDE DE PENICHE, "CONDE DA FEIRA, "ANTONIO GOMEZ RIBERIO.' Other conciliatory measures were adopted; but the insurgents continued their march, and the regency found their authority becoming every moment more in secure. The 15th of September was usually celebrated with much military pomp, as the anniversary of the deliverance of Portugal from a foreign yoke. Apprehension of the effects of the popular agitation induced the regency to omit the customary reviews and ceremonies; and orders were given, that the troops should remain all day in their quarters. About three in the afternoon, however, the 16th regiment began to form themselves, and to prepare for effecting an instant charge. Count Resende was actually at the moment with them on the part of the regency, endeavouring to soothe them and keep them quiet; but their resolution was formed, and much against his will, they obliged the count to head them, and to lead them down to the Rocio (the principal square of Lisbon) to proclaim the constitution. They reached the square about four, and in a quarter of an hour they were joined by the tenth regiment from the castle; then came the 4th, from Campo d'Ourique, then the artillery from the Caes dos Salvados, the cavalry from Alcantara; and, in short, before sunset both the Rocio and the Praca were filled with troops, headed by their officers, and in full marching order. No resistance of any sort was made, and nothing was to be heard but the repeated vivas of the soldiers and the people. The regency halls were opened, and a new set of governors were named. The troops waited on the ground till between ten and eleven at night, when they received their orders, which they instantly obeyed, retiring to their several quarters in the most perfect regularity and peace; so that this great change was brought about without riot or disturbance. Not an angry or |