SPANISH KKVOLirno.N 
 
 Tins Day was Published, 
 
 BY G. AND W. B. WHITTAKKII, 
 
 AVE-MARIA LANE, LUDGATE STREET, 
 
 lu One thick Volume, 8vo. illustrated with a Map, |)rice 18*. hoards, 
 
 AN 
 
 HISTORICAL REVIEW 
 
 OK THE 
 
 SPANISH REVOLUTION; 
 
 INCLUDING SOME ACCOUNT OF 
 
 RELIGION, MANNERS, AND LITERATURE IN SPAIN. 
 
 By EDWARD BLAQUIERE, Esg. 
 
 Author of ^^ Letters from the Mediterranean," ijc. 
 
 " It is impossible to peruse this volume without teelinys ot the most affpct- 
 inj,*- and irresistible nature. The proudest deed to which a human hein"- can 
 aspire is to put his hand to sucii a work as this; and, in the belief that Mr. Bla- 
 quiere's labours are calculated materially to promote its success, we congratulate 
 him in the devotion of his time and thoughts to so noble an object." 
 
 Monthly Blagnzine, Sept. 1822. 
 
 " The affairs of the country to whieh Europe is indebted for its liberation from 
 the dominion of Napoleon, and the recent example of political freedom, acquire 
 every day an increaspd interest with all liberal Englishmen. No complete ac- 
 count, however, of the Spanish Revolution, was in possession of the public, till 
 the above work of Mr. Blaquiere made its appearance. It is written with much 
 spirit and animation, and a zeal for truth is one of its most characteristic features." 
 
 Morning Chronicle, Sept. 13, 1822. 
 
 " A Work has just been published, entitled An Historical Review of the 
 Spanish Revolution. None can find fault with the author's selection of his 
 subject; and he has executed his task in a manner not unworthy of it. This book 
 contains much and various information, entirely new to the public." 
 
 British Press, Sept. 11, 1822. 
 
 " The Work before us affords ample proof that its author is possessed of ])owers 
 of research, and of acute observation. The limits and nature of our work prevent 
 our doing more than passing a favorable judgment, and giving this general 
 outline of the design and execution of Mr. Blaquiere's volume ; but there is no 
 class of readers who can peruse the work without an acquisition of valuable 
 knowledge, or without awakening in him a train of the most useful and pleasurable 
 reflectious." — European Magazine, Nov. 1822. 
 
 " We certainly want such books as that now before us: we do not know enough 
 of the most interesting events of which it treats; at least, we have seldom been 
 called upon to look at them through so impartial and national a medium as 
 Mr. Blaquiere's Review." — Literary Register, Sept. 7, 1822. 
 
 " Mr. Blaquiere's former productions have established for him an honorable 
 place in English Literature ; and the ardent spirit of integrity, and love of right, 
 which breathe through the present pages, entitle him to considerable distinction 
 as a philanthropist, while the composition does him great credit as au author." 
 
 Paris Monthly Rciieic, Nov. 1822.
 
 JUST PdllLlSUED, 
 
 Iliiiiclsonicly priiiUd upon a shtct of drawing paper, and embellished with the 
 Coronets of the several Orders of Nobility, tastifully eoloure<l, \nic*i bs. on 
 canvass ; in a neat case for the pocket, 8«. ; on canvass and rollers, I0.v. 
 
 THE PEERAGE CHART for 1823. 
 
 This Chart contains the complete Peerages of the United Kingdom, alpha- 
 betically arranged (including the Scotch and Irish Peers who were omitted last 
 year), with the following particulars of each Member: — The Title, Title of the 
 Eldest Son, Surname, Dates of the first and last Creation, Precedence, Age, 
 whether Married, Bachelor, or Widower, number of Children, Male and Female; 
 Knights of the Garter, Thistle, &c.; Lord Lieutenants, Privy Counsellors, Ro- 
 man Catholics, and Peers' Eldest Sons who are Members of the present Parlia- 
 ment. It also shews by what means the Peerage was obtained, that is to say, 
 whetlier by Naval, INIilitary, Legal, or other Services ; and states the Century to 
 which each Peer can trace his Paternal Ancestry ; thus exhibiting, at one view, 
 much interesting information, and forming, upon the whole, a complete Peerage 
 in Miniature. 
 
 THE BARONETAGE CHART for 1823, 
 
 Printed uniformly with the above, and containing the Baronets of the United 
 Kingdom ; with suitable Ornaments, coloured. 
 
 A CHART OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF 
 
 CHRISTIANITY, 
 
 Exhibiting, at one view, the particular Tenets held by every denomination of 
 
 Christians, Handsniiitly printed on a sheet of drawing paper. 
 
 Price 2*. Gd. ; on canvass in a case, 4«. ; on canvass and roUer, 5*, Qd. 
 
 BUCKLAND'S CHART OF THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ENGLAND, 
 
 FROM THE CONQUEST TO THE PRESENT TIME; 
 
 ShewiHg, at one view, every interesting Particular of each Reign, and forming 
 
 a most complete Epitome of the History of England. 
 Beautifully engraved, and printed on a sheet of thick paper. Price 3«.- on 
 
 THE SECRETARY'S ASSISTANT; 
 
 Exhibiting the various and most correct Modes of Superscription, Commence- 
 ment, and Conclusion of Letters to Persons of every degree of rank; including 
 the Diplomatic, Clerical, and Judicial Dignitaries; with Lists of I'he Foreign 
 Ambassadors and Consuls. Also, the Forms necessary to be used in Applied 
 tionr, or Petitions to the King in Council, Houses of Lords and Commons, Go- 
 vernment Offices, Public Companies, &c. &c. 
 
 By the Author of the « PEERAGE and BARONETAGE CHARTS." 
 Second Edition. Price 5*. extra boards. 
 
 In the Press, and speedily unll be published, 
 
 LETTERS FROM SPAIN AND PORTUGAL; 
 
 Containing various Details on the Civil and Political State of the Peninsula- 
 
 Its means of resisting Foreign Invasion ; Anecdotes of Public Characters- with 
 
 an Appendix of Official Documents; and a striking Likeness of General Riego. 
 
 By Ihe MARCHESE PECCHIO, an Italian Exile. 
 
 In One Volume, octavo.
 
 ANECDOTES 
 
 OF 
 
 THE SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE 
 REVOLUTIONS.
 
 TTk'^'O^'"^ 
 
 i:;^Aii-'ii^iEIL IDEIL RHEG 
 
 r.imti,yn , J' 
 
 ^"''IS2.H, hy a.t'Pf'TB. mu/f,ik.-r. A..- M.v
 
 ANECDOTES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE 
 
 REVOLUTIONS, 
 
 By count PECCHIO : 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWARD BLAQUIERE, Esa. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 •■ LETTERS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN," &c. &c. 
 
 Let Freedom rejoice, 
 With her Leart in her voice; 
 But her liand on her sword, 
 Doubly shall she be adored. 
 
 Lord Byron. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER, 
 
 AVE-MARIA-LANE. 
 
 1823.
 
 LONDON. 
 
 8HACKELL A .\ U ARROWSMITH, JOH NSOX'S-OOtlRT.
 
 rifv: l^iwn ''.nx 
 
 DKrVT-R3ITY OF CAlirOT^NU 
 
 fiANTA BAiiBASjV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 As it is now clearer than ever, that the 
 preservation of European freedom, and the 
 stability of British power, depend on the 
 stand which the Peninsula and Greece shall 
 make against the Holy Alliance ; it affords 
 me particular satisfaction to follow up with 
 these remarks of an intelligent foreigner, the 
 observations and statements comprehended in 
 my own work upon Spain ; a work written 
 under many circumstances disadvantageous 
 to such a composition, and of whose imper- 
 fections none can be more sensible than 
 myself/ 
 
 
 * " An Historical Review of the Spanish Revolu- 
 tion; including, an Account of the ReUgion, Manners, 
 and Literature in Spain."
 
 VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The author's previous experience — not only 
 as an eye-witness of Austrian oppression in 
 Italy, but its victim in his own person — 
 peculiarly fitted him to appreciate in Spain 
 and Portugal, the blessings of an emancipa- 
 tion, for which his countrymen had vainly 
 risen. It is true, some cases have occurred 
 in which he, like others, has pronounced 
 hastily, or erroneously, upon the characters 
 and views of public men : yet, on the whole, 
 every impartial reader will give Count Pec- 
 CHio ample credit for his warmth and since- 
 rity in the cause of rational liberty. 
 
 Already distinguished as an eloquent and 
 ardent defender of Italian freedom, more 
 especially during the unfortunate strug- 
 gle for regeneration in Piedmont, the author 
 was included in the list of proscritti w^hich 
 heralded in the accession of Charles Felix. 
 Wlien the disastrous effects of that short-lived 
 contest are considered, and the sufferings of 
 those amiable and excellent men who have 
 been driven from their country taken into
 
 INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 the account, the frequent allusions to Italy, 
 which occur in these pages, will not excite 
 surprise : I am sure they will find sympathy 
 in every patriotic bosom. 
 
 From the circumstance of his addressing 
 his letters to an Englishwoman, greatly dis- 
 tinguished for her beauty and accomplish- 
 ments, it would appear that the Count is 
 among the number of those, who conceive that 
 the influence of the sex should not always be 
 confined to the domestic circle. I have in 
 another place had occasion to observe, that 
 the women of Spain are powerful auxiliaries of 
 freedom : it is not surely too much to say, 
 that neither would those of England diminish 
 their just claims to esteem and admiration, 
 by following the example of the Peninsula. 
 
 The position of Spain and Portugal at this 
 moment, is calculated to excite the attention 
 of every man who feels the smallest interest 
 for the independence of nations. Faithfi.d to
 
 Vin INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the doctrines promulgated at Vienna, Aix-la- 
 Chapelle, Carlsbad, Troppau and Laybach, the 
 Congress of Verona has not belied its assem- 
 blers. Worthy of a darker age, it has not merely 
 denied the imprescriptible right of a whole 
 people to legislate for itself; but followed up 
 its unholy ban, by a declaration to confede- 
 rate in a common war in support of the mon- 
 strous assertion ! The feeling with which 
 the official notes, and French king's speech 
 have been received in England, — while it jus- 
 tifies the hopes of those who have not formed 
 their estimate of our national character from 
 the acts of a late minister — sufficiently stamps 
 the hateful principles of the Holy Alliance ; 
 and although there be a party in the cabinet, 
 still too disposed to sacrifice the glory and 
 mar the prosperity of England, by a slavish 
 acquiescence in the liberticide views of des- 
 pots, it is consoling to reflect that its most 
 elevated and influential members perceive 
 the terrible consequences of a co-operation 
 with such allies, and the wickedness even of
 
 INTROIJUCTION. jx 
 
 7 
 
 ^'emaining neutral, while they break down all 
 the barriers between modern civilization and 
 the barbarism of gothic times. 
 
 Satisfied, therefore, from the heroic mani- 
 festation of public opinion w^hich marked the 
 first arrival of these documents from France, 
 that the people of England will do their duty 
 in the present eventful crisis, I feel but little 
 uneasiness as to the effect which a f^sv fanatic? 
 can produce against the general voice : and as 
 there never arose a question in which party 
 spirit had so small a share, I have no hesita- 
 tion in calUng upon Lord Liverpool and 
 Mr. Canning to justify what they have led 
 the nation to anticipate by their speeches on 
 the opening of Parliament. Never was there 
 so bright an occasion for a British minister to 
 immortalize his name I Let Greece and the 
 Peninsula be rescued from the barbarians, 
 and I care not to what set of statesmen the 
 palm belong. It will be enough for our 
 posterity to know, that their forefathers 
 
 b
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 averted the greatest catastrophe which could 
 ever befall civilized society. 
 
 While opinion continues to stimulate the 
 sane portion of our ministers, and there is a 
 probability that England will rank pre-emi- 
 nent among the vindicators of constitutional 
 freedom ; it is gratifying to remark, that the 
 people of Spain and Portugal feel their dan- 
 ger, and are preparing to repel the invaders. 
 The errors, which can never fail to attend a 
 transition from centuries of slavery to a state 
 of liberty, have been most abundantly felt 
 throughout the Peninsula.^J? But though the 
 
 * The appointment of ambassadors, secretaries of lega- 
 tion, and consuls, was not more propitious to the Constitu- 
 tionalists on the restoration of liberty, than that of the mi- 
 nisters. It was a capital error, if not a crime, in the men 
 of 1812, to employ persons who were either unfit for diplo- 
 matic situations on the score of talent, or sure to betray 
 their trust through venality and want of principle. With- 
 out making any personal application of the above general 
 remark, or at all wishing to derogate from the character of 
 those who are now delegated to represent Spain and Portu-
 
 JNTUODUCTION. Xi 
 
 men into whose hands the destinies of Spain 
 were committed in 1820, betrayed their 
 
 gal, at such Courts of Europe as yet receive their ministers, 
 it cannot be too often repeated, that the consohdation of 
 their hberties must obviously depend on the kind of men 
 they depute to watch over their interests in foreign coun- 
 tries. Better, infinitely better would it be, for the Penin- 
 sula to remain unrepresented abroad, than that she should 
 be represented by individuals, either incapable or unwor- 
 thy of their trust. 
 
 Here I must take an opportunity of expressing my dis- 
 appointment and regret, at the want of energy displayed 
 by the Portuguese ministry in the case of my friend Bow- 
 ring"'s arrest; and the subsequent insult offered to Portugal 
 in the person of its envoy, M. d'Oliveira, on leaving 
 France. Both these cases called loudly for reprisals ; and 
 the fact of their being suffered to pass without a single vi- 
 gorous measure, has been of infinite injury to the national 
 dignity. Such omissions, in powers that are menaced with 
 invasion, never fail to encourage aggression, while they 
 really diminish the moral and physical strength of a people. 
 
 Should my friend continue unindemnified by the ruling 
 
 faction in France, Portugal is bound by every principle of 
 
 honour and equity to remunerate him for injuries sustained 
 
 in her cause, and a long and cruel imprisonment in a 
 
 foreign coimtry. 
 
 ^2
 
 XU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 charge by a series of acts, little inferior in 
 
 political enormity to treason and even 
 
 their successors have not escaped censure — 
 this cannot palliate the wanton aggressions of 
 the neighbouring faction, who, having lighted 
 up the torch of civil discord in a friendly ter- 
 ritory, is now preparing to consummate its 
 perfidious work by an invasion as unprovoked, 
 as it is indefensible upon every principle of 
 humanity and justice. 
 
 In alluding to the errors of those from 
 whom tlieir countiy had a right to expect 
 more firmness and integrity, it is impossible 
 to avoid calling upon the men who now com- 
 pose the Spanish and Portuguese ministries, 
 to show themselves above those petty feelings 
 and confined views, which proved so fatal 
 to the power and reputation of their prede- 
 cessors. 
 
 Impossible as it may seem, for the minis- 
 ters of Spain and Portugal to divest them- 
 selves of all those peculiarities, which result
 
 INTUODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 rather from education and habit, than from 
 any premeditated design or natural inclina- 
 tion ; the time is at hand, when only the 
 most unimpeachable honour, and imperturba- 
 ble resolution, can preserve the social edifice 
 which the valour of the people has erected. 
 Many motives might be adduced, to prove 
 that it is especially the interest of the present 
 constitutional ministers of the Peninsula, to 
 avoid all possibility of offending public opi- 
 nion. If they are desirous of retaining their 
 places, this is only to be effected, by keeping 
 steadily in view that cupidity in worldly mat- 
 ters, and predilection for checking the progress 
 of freedom, which distinguished the men of 
 1812. It ill becomes those, whose w^hole 
 lives have been passed in railing against the 
 feudal aristocracies of Europe, to give the 
 slightest encouragement, either by precept 
 or example, to the vices which have under- 
 mined them, and which must ultimately 
 achieve their destruction. 
 
 Having, elsewhere, treated the subject at
 
 XIV INTRODLTTIOX. 
 
 some length, I shall not now stop to recapi- 
 tulate the innumerable blessings derived from 
 the Constitutional System in the Peninsula : 
 blessings, which, though hitherto alloyed by 
 the presence of intestine rebellion, are too 
 obvious to escape the commonest observation. 
 But it would require a large space to do jus- 
 tice to this part of Spanish and Portuguese 
 history. I shall, therefore, content myself 
 w4th remarking, that the advantages of reform 
 were never more strikingly exemplified, than 
 in their instances : and although so much still 
 remains to be achieved in almost every de- 
 partment of the state, yet enough has been 
 done to convince the most sceptical, that 
 POLITICAL REGENERATION, when properly 
 conducted, is amono- the first necessities, as 
 it is the greatest blessing reserved for civi- 
 lized man. 
 
 In hinting, formerly, at the faults of pub- 
 lic men in Spain, I could not help condemn- 
 ing and deploring the fatality which could 
 induce the ministers of Ferdinand, and not
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 a few men in the Spanish Cortes, to conti- 
 nue a war against principles in the New 
 World, which they were fighting to sustain 
 in Europe ! How melancholy it is to reflect 
 that Portugal, whose representatives have ex- 
 cited the astonishment and admiration of 
 nations, should have fallen into the errors of 
 her neighbour. I am fully aware, that the 
 reasons alleged by the Portuguese statesmen, 
 in favour of the war against the Brazils, are 
 much more cogent than those put forth to 
 justify the hostilities of Spain, against the In- 
 dependent States, which have thrown off her 
 dominion. But there is something so mon- 
 strous — so opposed to common sense and rea- 
 son, in taking up arms for the purpose of 
 
 putting down a principle in one hemisphere, 
 for the establishment of which, the best blood 
 of the Peninsula is flowing in another, that 
 no effort should be left untried to expose its 
 fallacy and absurdity. I have nothing to add 
 to the opinions I gave in my account of 
 Spanish affairs, on the war carrying on 
 against her colonies of South America, ex-
 
 XVI rXTKODl (TlOjr. 
 
 cept a coQvictioii which I feel in common 
 with thousands, that the Constitutional Sys- 
 tem will never be secure, nor consolidated, 
 nutil Spain recognize an independence, 
 which she cannot possibly hope to prevent. 
 It is no excuse for the mother country, that 
 those who will no longer walk in leading- 
 strings are quarrelling among themselves ; 
 and not unfrequently manifesting a want of 
 principle, which makes their most ardent 
 friends doubt their fitness to «njoy the bless- 
 ings of liberty. Whatever may be the in- 
 ternal dissensions of the Colonies, they are 
 agreed on the grand point : and having con- 
 quered their independence, it is very impro- 
 bable that the conduct of the new rulers, 
 however bad, will ever induce the people to 
 covet the yoke, which they have made such 
 iieroic efforts to throw off. 
 
 To the publicists and politicians of Portu- 
 gal, who pretend that the Brazilian revolu- 
 tion has been effected by a handful of discon- 
 tented and ambitious Portuguese ; that there
 
 INTRODUCTIOIf. Xvii 
 
 is no national party in the country ; and above 
 all, who adduce the fact of a rebel prince 
 aping the criminal follies of Iturbide, the 
 Mexican leader, as a proof that the people of 
 Brazil have no share in the passing events, 
 I would merely observe, that if the mother 
 country cannot recal her children by such 
 offers as shall make it their interest to remain 
 united, force ought, upon no consideration, 
 to be employed. Nor is it necessary to offer 
 a single word more in support of this advice, 
 than the short but unanswerable arguments 
 of Count Pecchio. Yet, preposterous as it 
 is for Portugal to presevere in a war, that 
 even if successful would exhaust all her re- 
 sources, and ten times more, if she had them, 
 there is little doubt but that highly advan- 
 tageous terms might be still obtained by ne- 
 gociation. But, if contrary to the hopes and 
 entreaties of their real friends, the Cortes and 
 Cabinet of Lisbon persist in the unnatural 
 contest, they must be prepared to assume the 
 most terrible responsibility ever yet incurred
 
 XVm JXTRODUCTION. 
 
 by any party entrusted with the reins of a 
 government. 
 
 I cannot conckide these desultory remarks, 
 without reiterating- my anxious hopes, that 
 the measures of defence are adequate to the 
 tremendous external perils that threaten the 
 asylum of European freedom. If they have 
 profited by past experience, neither the 
 Ministries nor the Cortes can be ignorant of 
 the extent of these dangers. They will not, 
 then, be led away by the bombastic effusions 
 of empirics, who are never wanting before 
 the storm arrives, in every country : neither 
 will they be lulled into a security, which has 
 proved so destructive to others. Knowing, 
 as the Constitutionalists do, that their ene- 
 mies, both foreign and domestic, are nu- 
 merous ; that they are united by the most 
 powerful motives of interest and pride, the 
 smallest error might lead to dreadful conse- 
 quences at the present moment. If they 
 would save the ark, it can only be done by 
 unanimity, in sentiment and in action. The
 
 INTRODUCTIOX. xix 
 
 reported coalition of the Spanish Liberals, 
 has been always the grand desideratnm : if, 
 however, it be not followed by the long- 
 wished for treaty of alliance between the two 
 menaced governments, by which they mu- 
 tually guarantee each other's political exist- 
 ence and territorial integrity, there will be 
 great additional cause for regret and repre- 
 hension among their friends. If a sense of 
 common danger, and the necessity of self- 
 preservation, did not render the proposed 
 alliance reciprocally imperative, there are 
 many other inducements why it should be 
 ratified without loss of time. Spain and Por- 
 tugal have been too long divided by jea- 
 lousies, falsely called national; but which, in 
 reality, are only the natural effects of that 
 FEUDAL SYSTEM, which, from the earliest 
 ages, down to the times we live in, has adopted 
 for its motto and rule of policy, the Machia- 
 velian maxim oi divide, et impera. But when 
 rivalries of this kind are once obliterated by 
 treaties of reciprocal benefit, every people who 
 are struggling for freedom becomes the natu-
 
 XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ral ally of Spain. Among these, however, 
 there is one, that claims to be more particu- 
 larly noticed ; and here I will ask the Li- 
 berals of Spain and Portugal, why they 
 have not acknowledged the independence of 
 Greece — classic Greece! — that country 
 which has shown itself worthy of its renowned 
 ancestry, and whose sons continue to perform 
 prodigies, unexcelled even in the Peninsula? 
 This unmerited neglect, and, I would almost 
 add, criminal omission, is among those errors 
 most deeply to be regretted by the friends of 
 freedom and humanity, nor do I discover one 
 solitary argument by which it can be justified. 
 
 Should the Constitutional governments 
 conceive it inexpedient to adopt a measure, 
 which justice and policy alike seem imperi- 
 ously to demand, they can surely avail them- 
 selves of the heroism and constancy of the 
 Greek people. At all events, the experience 
 of the last two years must have convinced the 
 Ministers of Spain and Portugal that there is 
 but one nation in Europe, from whose co-
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXI 
 
 operation and support they might derive 
 more efficient aid, than from the Helienic 
 Confederation, 
 
 But it is time to close these observations, 
 vs^hich have already led me into greater length 
 than I intended. In conclusion, I shall merely 
 add, that the Peninsula has a most arduous 
 and difficult task to perform. Exhausted by 
 the despotism of ages — torn by intestine di- 
 visions, and unable, from dilapidated finances, 
 to conduct an offensive war on an extended 
 scale, its safety must depend rather on the 
 bravery of isolated corps, than on the opera- 
 tions of large armies. How important, there- 
 fore, is it, that these, whether native or Cos- 
 mopolite, should be so organized, as to in- 
 spire the best hopes of success !* 
 
 * When, at the revolution of 1820, the Peninsida be- 
 came the natural asylum for the persecuted under every 
 government, one of the first propositions made by a distin- 
 guisljed and gallant military officer in this country, was the
 
 XXll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The measures taken to identify the army 
 with the political code, are admirably calcu- 
 lated to produce the desired effect. They 
 cannot be carried into execution too pi-ompt- 
 ly, and are well seconded by tlie regulations 
 with regard to that only constitutional defence 
 — a national militia. To make the soldier 
 feel that his best advantages and proudest 
 
 organization of a Cosmopolite Cori's ; which, in accor- 
 dance with its title, should exact no other qualification for 
 enrolment, than a detestation of tyranny, and a sufferance 
 in the cause of freedom. A number of proscribed Italian 
 patriots, who sought refuge in Spain and Portugal after the 
 termination of their efforts in Naples and Piedmont, consti- 
 tuted an excellent ground-work for the formation of this 
 corps. But instead of catching at this proposal as it be- 
 hoved the Peninsular governments, a few hundred Pied- 
 montese were merely allowed to form themselves under the 
 banners of Mina, in Catalonia. The gallant conduct of 
 this handful of men, only served to prove what important 
 results might have been achieved, had the suggestion of our 
 countryman been adopted. Regretting, as Ave all must, 
 that the above plan should still remain a dead letter, it were 
 needless to dwell here on the advantages which its immediate 
 realization would ensure to the general cause.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXlU 
 
 rights are derived from his civil character, 
 ought to be the first aim of every liberal go- 
 vernment. It is at once the principle and 
 test of political wisdom and foi-esight ; and 
 the country, that is so administered, is im- 
 pregnable without a fortress. 
 
 While the Cortes and Executive are occu- 
 pied in the affairs of internal security, I 
 trust they are not unmindful of those foreign 
 relations, which, at this crisis, it is so desir- 
 able and indispensable to cultivate. Having 
 hinted at a few of those means and measures 
 which are likely to contribute to the salvation 
 of Spain and Portugal, I am sure it is needless 
 to remind their statesmen and diplomatists, 
 who^e the grand and surest anchor of their 
 hope is cast. For though I should change 
 my admiration into contempt, were I to per- 
 ceive a disposition to make the smallest con- 
 cession derogatory to the national honour, or 
 injurious to the constitution they have sworn 
 to maintain ; yet, so alive am I to the impor-
 
 XXiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tance of a good understanding between the 
 Peninsula and England, that I venture to 
 say its most vital interests — the very issue 
 and fortune of the coming struggle — depend 
 on its cementing that union with US, to 
 which it is well known we are enthusiasti- 
 cally disposed. 
 
 E. B. 
 
 London, February *25th, 1823.
 
 LETTERS FROM SPAIN. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Irun, May 5th, 1821. 
 
 You have, no doubt, by this time, heard how 
 Italian Hberty has been shipwrecked; and who 
 knows how many victims are about to fall under 
 the poignard of despotism ! I think I see the mon- 
 ster, like another Polyphemus, when deprived of 
 sight, roaring and writhing in his cave, to immo- 
 late some new holocaust to his fury. Fortu- 
 nately, nearly all the leaders of the revolution 
 are out of danger : they owe their safety to the 
 generous patriotism of the Genoese : six hun- 
 dred of our youth took refuge on board merchant 
 vessels, invoking the winds to waft them into 
 an exile, that may, perhaps, be eternal ! It was 
 at this moment that the enemy's columns precipi- 
 tated themselves on Piedmont ; but the national 
 guard, by its firmness and resolution, stopped 
 the Austrians at the foot of the Bochetta, and not 
 content with protecting the flight of so many ill- 
 
 u
 
 2 DEFENCE OF GENOA. 
 
 fated patriots, it offered to defend the city to the 
 last extremity. This was certainly a most gene- 
 rous act : it might hav'e afforded an opportunity 
 of washing out tlie sliameful stain of VercelH ; 
 but how was it to be carried into execution ? 
 Guns, artillery, and even ammunition were 
 w^anted : some of the old fortifications had been 
 destroyed by the Royal Government, to be re- 
 placed by others which were not yet completed. 
 The defence of Genoa could only be momentary, 
 and it might have drawn down the vengeance of 
 the massacre of 1746 on the citizens ; an event, 
 whicli the Austrians have not yet forgotten : the 
 fugitives were, therefore, bound to reject this 
 magnanimous proposition, and they accordingly 
 departed full of gratitude and admiration for a 
 people, who, above all others in the Italian Penin- 
 sula, had shown themselves worthy of freedom. 
 
 A bright sun and beautiful sky illumined this 
 melancholy flight ; the western coast covered with 
 flowers, exhaled the perfumes of the orange 
 groves, which, wafted by the breeze to a consi- 
 derable distance from the shore, seemed like 
 syrens, desirous of drawing us once more to land, 
 only to be sacrificed in the end. It was thus, 
 that some of our companions who entered the port 
 
 * Alluding to the massacre of the Austrian force which occu- 
 piod (ioiioa at the above-uanied period. — Ed.
 
 M. BARDAXI. , S 
 
 of Savona, were torn from their hospitable ships, 
 and dragged before military commissions, not to 
 be tried, bnt condemned. 
 
 I only speak to you of the last sighs of Italian 
 liberty ; since, being yourself present at the un- 
 foreseen revolution in favour of the Constitution, 
 which took place at Genoa, on the 2Srd ultimo, 
 you must have perceived how the people pre- 
 served their courage to the last. If they could 
 not save the goddess herself, they succeeded at 
 least in rescuing the principal movers of the 
 revolution. 
 
 I had chosen the mountains of Switzerland for 
 my retreat, until the tempest should cease ; but 
 the minister Bardaxi, with whom I have long 
 been on terms of the warmest friendship, having 
 induced me to accompany him to Spain, I did not 
 hesitate to change a doubtful hospitality for a 
 certain asylum. Behold me, therefore, conveyed 
 to the Peninsula, as it were by enchantment, in a 
 splendid landau, borne along by six post horses. 
 However colossal the giant of despotism may be, 
 he no longer inspires me with any fears ; nor can 
 his arm reach me at Irun. 
 
 We had scarcely entered this small town, when 
 I hastened to go and contemplate the Lapida^ or 
 Constitutional Stone,* which has been raised in all 
 
 * The Lapida, or Constitutional Stone, consists of a slab of 
 marble or stone ; even wood is sometimes substituted : this is 
 
 13 2
 
 4 EMBLEMS OF FREEDOM. 
 
 the squares and market-places, even to the nnost 
 insignificant villages of Spain. The Constitution, 
 like religion, ought to be an immoveable monu- 
 ment, on which the heart and eyes should con- 
 stantly be fixed : wherever a cross is placed, there 
 also should arise an emblem of the social compact. 
 
 Your sister, Lady A , who loves liberty 
 
 with the same zeal as she does religion. Mould 
 smile, with her usual enchanting grace, on seeing 
 these two signs of redemption always united in 
 Spain. 
 
 On alighting from the carriage, five or six indi- 
 \iduals successively rushed up to M. Bardaxi, and 
 pressed him in their arms : I at first thought those 
 who treated the Prime Minister of Spain with such 
 familiarity, were relations; but tl icy soon unde- 
 ceived me, informing me that they were the public 
 functionaries, or merely inhabitants of the town. 
 From this reception, I augured that a Minister of 
 
 affixed in the wall, and inscribed, Plaga cle la Constitution, 
 (Place ottlie Constitution.) 
 
 It was in 181*2, and on the proposition of M. Capmany, a 
 distinguished literary cliai actor, and Deputy of the Cortes as- 
 sembled at Cadiz, that the Congress issued a decree, requiring 
 that tlie principal square or market-place in every town and vil- 
 lage of the Peninsula, should bear the above appellation. The 
 stone and inscription wore therefore set up as decreed, with the 
 greatest solemnity. As this monument reminds the people of the 
 social compact which secures their libeity, they attach the ut- 
 most importance to its preservatiun.
 
 RECKPTIOX AT I RUN. »5 
 
 State in Spain was a man like other j)co])le, and 
 congratulated myself on the discovery.* 
 
 The breakfast given to ns by the Collector of 
 the Customs was also served up without the least 
 ceremony ; while the conversation seemed to be 
 as frank and cordial as if all the party had been 
 old school-fellows. We tasted several kinds of 
 exquisite wines ; but what I chiefly delighted to 
 imbibe, was that really free air which I now re- 
 spired for the first time. 
 
 We set out ag-ain almost im.mediatelv. — I will 
 address you often, even though you should become 
 a miser with regard to your own letters ; because 
 I am assured you will thank me for making you 
 acquainted with the people amongst whom I am 
 about to mingle. I promise to be guided by truth 
 
 * This example of familiarity towards the great, ought to un- 
 deceive those who have thought there was a proud and intract- 
 able aristocracy in Spain. There is not, on the contrary, a 
 single state of Europe, wherein the classes are more confounded 
 than Spain, Or where those who occupy places of dignity and 
 trust are so accessible. The nobility is so numerous, that its 
 very extension places it almost on a level with all the other 
 classes. There are whole provinces in which all the inhabitants 
 are nobles, and where the mere circumstance of being born in 
 them, entitles the party to consider himself of noble blood ! 
 The nobility cannot be regarded as an obstacle to the new insti- 
 tutions, since most of those who have declared themselves fa- 
 vourable to them, are mostly of that class. There were not more 
 than three plebeian deputies in the Congress which assembled at 
 Cadiz in 1813.
 
 DErARTURK. 
 
 and sincerity, in the o))inions I may give on their 
 character, manners, and institutions. Uo not, 
 however, expect a description of those ancient 
 monuments or picturesque sites, which may pre- 
 sent themselves ; it being impossible for me to 
 think of any thing now but politics. People may 
 tax me with fanaticism as much as they please ; 
 I shall easily console myself in reflecting, that the 
 fanaticism of liberty can never be ridiculous. 
 
 The bells of the mules warn me that the moment 
 of re-entering our vehicle has arrived ; I therefore 
 close my letter by requesting you will present my 
 
 cordial salutations to the whole of the O 
 
 family, and that you will always believe me, 
 
 Your affectionate servant.
 
 A SPANISH INN. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 Rribesca, May 9th, 1821. 
 
 Last evening was so extremely disagreeable to 
 me, that I would have most willingly renounced 
 four of the senses at least. Figure to yourself a 
 soup that a hound returned from the chase would 
 not have had sufficient courage to lap ; burnt cut- 
 lets, about as tender as the Bull of Excommunica- 
 tion on parchment, which Barnabas Visconti made 
 the Pope's legate swallow ; wine infected by the 
 odour of the goat's skin from which it had been 
 drawn ; a few dry nuts ; and the whole served in 
 succession on the same plates, without napkins ! 
 Such was the supper offered to us by the Post- 
 master of * ** *. The bed was nearly a third shorter 
 than my person, (and I am far from being a giant) 
 rickety, and as hard as the pavement ; while the 
 chamber was perfumed with the effluvia of the oil 
 in which the cutlets had been fried. It occurred 
 to me at first, that the host had made a trifling 
 mistake in gratifying me with this particular apart- 
 ment ; and I went to examine another portion of the
 
 8 CON'SOLATIONS. 
 
 building, where I perceived a number of muleteers 
 huddled together with the most Sybarite simpli- 
 city. Convinced, at length, that the landlord was 
 an impartial man, who only washed to see equality 
 established amongst all his fellow-creatures, I 
 quietly retired to my room, notwithstanding its 
 ineleo'ance.* 
 
 Although the night thus passed was certainly 
 not the most delicious of my life, yet, on rising at 
 an early hour, I felt myself much more free and 
 light than during the preceding days. I was cured 
 of my fears that the Coalesced would come to 
 Spain : this night had, in fact, the same effect on 
 me as the apple which fell on Newton's nose. 
 Proceeding from one induction to another, and 
 tracing effects to their causes, I established a 
 political axiom in my own mind, which afforded me 
 the utmost consolation : it is, that should the Holy 
 Alliance invade Spain, its invasion will have pre- 
 cisely the same results as that of Napoleon. Spain 
 is not invincible, but she is fearless. I now begin 
 to perceive why this nation does not betray any 
 signs of fear, and is neither alarmed nor even dis- 
 composed by the rumours that circulate in Europe 
 
 * The roads and inns have been so much improved since the 
 establishment of stage coaches in Spain, that the traveller is as 
 well accommodated in many of the latter, as he could be in 
 France, particularly in those of Vergara, Tolosa, Vitoria, and 
 Purgos.
 
 NATIONAL COSTUME. Q 
 
 relative to the project of invasion : I also per- 
 fectly comprehend how Spain carried on, and will 
 again carry on, a national war. How, for instance, 
 can conflagration or pillage frighten the imagina- 
 tion of a Spaniard ? He has neither costly furni- 
 ture, plate, nor effects of value to lose ; for the 
 house of a middUng farmer in England, is worth 
 more than the whole of a Spanish village. 
 
 M. Bardaxi, my travelling companion, is an 
 Aragonese ; he assures me that the peasants of his 
 province do not begin to make use of a bed until 
 the day of their marriage. Most of the lower 
 classes wear a woollen covering of various colours, 
 through all seasons ; this serves as a cloak during 
 the day, and is a bed at night. A piece of goat's 
 skin fastened round the foot, and forming a species 
 of sandal, supplies the place of shoes. The neck- 
 handkerchief is an ornament almost entirely un- 
 known, and insupportable ; stockings are only worn 
 in a very few provinces, and even then, seldom 
 reach much above the ancle, so that the leg is left 
 nearly bare. * The peasants of Valencia economize 
 even to small-clothes ; these are replaced by shirts 
 which descend to the knees, t In no part of the 
 
 * The author doubtless alludes to the very lowest classes of 
 society, and those who inhabit the villages ; for it is generally 
 known, that the inhabitants of the principal cities and towns of 
 Spain dress like the rest of Europe. 
 
 t What the author calls a shirt, is a species of loose drawers, 
 open at the knee, and the form of which (extremely ancient)
 
 10 MEANS or DLFENCE. 
 
 Peninsula are the gradation of coats, or difterence 
 of cloths known, as they regard the seasons. The 
 Galicians wear a jacket, small-clothes, and gaiters, 
 all of a coarse brown woollen cloth, even in sum- 
 mer. As to the mode of liv ing, it is no less simple 
 than their dress : bread and vegetables, seasoned 
 with oil or bacon, is the usual repast of the com- 
 mon people. I have seen many of the peasantry 
 eat roots with their bread, which they had just 
 before torn from the earth. Thus it is that war 
 occasions no privations to the Spaniard. In An- 
 dalusia, where the houses of persons in easy cir- 
 cumstances are better furnished than those of other 
 provinces, the Spanish soldiery slept on the ground, 
 in preference to the most sumptuous beds ; ob- 
 serving, that they could not sleep in these cribs, 
 to which they had never been accustomed ! You 
 doubtless recollect the story of a soldier under 
 Philip of Macedon, who was recommended not to 
 expose himself so much in battle as he had pre- 
 viously done, and who smiled at the advice, reply- 
 ing in w^ords, of which it would be so easy to make 
 a thousand applications in the present day: " When 
 I exposed my life, I was neither blessed with health 
 nor money ; being now strong and rich, I feel that 
 it would be madness to sacrifice so happy a lot.'* 
 Such are the causes which prevent the people 
 
 greatly rt'senibles the Highland kilt. The national name of this 
 article of drc&s is Zaraguellei.
 
 COMFAIIISONS. 11 
 
 of Spain from fearing any of the liardships or in- 
 conveniences of a wandering and warlike life. 
 Thus is it also easy to conceive, why several na- 
 tions amongst those composing the Italian Penin- 
 sula, support the yoke of foreign domination, ra- 
 ther than momentarily forego the comforts of life. 
 I never forget the two dogs of the fable : the one 
 lean, scraggy, and dirty, but free, and exempted 
 from the whip ; the other plump, well fed, and 
 pampered, though tied up and beaten at the ca- 
 price of his master. A rude and laborious exist- 
 ence in liberty, or one of effeminacy and idleness 
 in slavery, seems to be the alternative of every 
 people. Simplicity and coarseness of manners 
 form the strength and defence of Spain. Sparta 
 had no other walls than the breasts of its citizens. 
 In 1808, Spain had neither parks of artillery, en- 
 trenched camps, nor fortresses ; the Spaniard took 
 up arms, and ended by vanquishing, without any 
 of these auxiliaries of art. Even now, I am in the 
 habit of hearing that the strong holds on the 
 frontiers are neither supplied with provisions nor 
 ammunition ; that the arsenals are empty ; that 
 there is no cannon, nor even powder enough for a 
 single battle.''^ Truly this apathy surpasses that 
 
 * Though this assertion is somewhat exaggerated, it must be 
 acknowledged that the materiel of war is very deficient in Spain ; 
 but the circumstance ought only to be attributed to the peculiar 
 state of affairs, and not to the apathy or indifference of the na- 
 tion. In the unfortunate reign of Charles IV., r^ix years of an
 
 1^ nUVATIOXS. 
 
 of the Turks : but do not be alarmed ; a Spa- 
 niard is not in the habit of foreseeing obstacles ; 
 he knows how to surmount them. If we cannot 
 discover much care and precaution in such a sys- 
 tem, it certainly displays an abundant share of 
 courage. This indifference to the future is a spe- 
 cies of fatalism, which Spain inherits from her 
 Mahometan ancestors. If, during the late war, 
 the Spanish armies wanted bread, its place was 
 supplied by roots or chestnuts. Were they without 
 moving hospitals, — they resigned themselves to 
 fate. While the English camp w^as even gorged 
 with provisions, and it had even flocks of sheep 
 and goats to supply milk for the army's Tea, * 
 that of their friends, the Spaniards, was often ex- 
 posed to the greatest scarcity, though its inmates 
 displayed the greatest patience and intrepidity, f 
 
 exlerixiinating warfare, during whicli \vc experienced many defeats, 
 and immense losses of stores and ammunition; finallv, the reicn 
 of despotism and terror, occu})ied rather in destroying than creat- 
 ing, hiust necessarily have produced the present state of things. 
 
 * Although the picture here drawn may be true to a certain 
 extent, the ludicrous story relative to providing milk for the tea, 
 was doubtless communicated to the author by some one desirous 
 of imposing on his credulity. — Ed. 
 
 t Notiiing could certainly equal the hardships and privations 
 suffered by our armies during the war of independence. Un- 
 provided with clotlies and shoes ; often even in want of bread, 
 they bore their sufferings with admirable patience. If made 
 prisoners, they escaped at the risk of their lives, not to return to 
 thoir homes, and repose from fatigue, but to rejoin the corps in 
 which they had previou'jly served, and to incur new perils.
 
 HEROISM. ly 
 
 The word Jiome^ so seductive to English ears, is 
 not known in the Peninsula. The ignorance in 
 which people are, as to the comforts and con- 
 veniences of life, is, perhaps, the cause why a love 
 of national independence is much more powerful 
 than the love of country. During the revolution. 
 Frenchmen are said to have fought for their 
 country, as for a mistress whom they adored : in 
 the war of independence, it is well known the 
 people of Spain contended as if they were engaged 
 in a struggle for personal honour. I have heard 
 that it was from the same motives, or rather than 
 see the soil become a prey to fire and sword, that 
 the French submitted to the iron sway of foreign- 
 ers, in 1814 and the following year. Like Vir- 
 ginius, who pierced the bosom of his daughter 
 sooner than abandon her to the embraces of a 
 lascivious deceiver, the Spaniard would again 
 destroy his country with his own hands, before he 
 suffered it to be tyrannised over by an enemy.* 
 
 * Saguntum and Numantia, present sublime examples of what 
 a love of independence is capable of producing in Spaniards ; — a 
 thousand traits of a similar nature are furnished by the late war. 
 In many provinces, and particularly Galicia, individuals were 
 often known to set fire to their own houses, when occupied by 
 the enemy. If the people of other countries followed this exam- 
 ple, when foreign enemies invaded their soil, the independence of 
 nations would be more respected ; and in that case, conquerors 
 would not so easily find satellites to aid their ambition against an 
 inoffensive people.
 
 14 NATIVE COURAGE. 
 
 A Spaniard is scarcely ever overtaken by what 
 is called the malady of home or country : the most 
 distant enterprises and perilous conquests have 
 never exhausted his fortitude on this point. The 
 soldiers of Ferdinand Cortes, Pizarro, and Charles 
 V. had no other country than their camps. 
 
 If my stock of paper were not exhausted, I 
 should have added another sample, almost as 
 voluminous as a state paper from the Austrian 
 chancery : but you are happily like those impro- 
 visatori of Italy, whom it is sufficient to furnish 
 with a text, and they w411 supply the rest.
 
 EL CID CAMPEADOR. 15 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Burgos, May lOth, 1821. 
 
 What will you say, amiable lad}', on so soon 
 seeing me violate the' promise I made not to 
 describe any of the public monuments ? But I 
 must make an exception in favour of the tomb of 
 El Cid Campeador. The name of this celebrated 
 hero, the Bayard of Spain, is in every mouth ; 
 all the poets and historians of the Peninsula have 
 vied with each other in eulogizing his character. 
 I have just seen his tomb, and also his enormous 
 iron cuirass, suspended in the sacristan of the 
 cathedral. 
 
 The Cid was born at a village near Burgos ; his 
 ashes lay there in a monument of black marble, 
 tolerably regular for the age in which it was con- 
 structed. The French, after having provoked the 
 late contest, endeavoured to calm the fury of 
 Spanish pride, by transferring the tomb to the 
 public walk of Burgos, and surrounded it with trees 
 and flowers ; but the Spaniards were not lulled by 
 this homage paid to their favourite hero, nor by 
 the processions at which King Joseph attended in
 
 l6 BURGOS. 
 
 person : mucli less by the mantle which the Frencli 
 gave our lady of the pillar. So that when the 
 former entered Burgos, they destroyed the trees 
 and shrubs planted by the hands of their enemies. 
 
 I should be tempted Ip say much in dispraise of 
 the city, if the cathedral, which is of the German 
 gothic style, fantastic but magnificent, did not 
 inspire some respect. This is market day ; the 
 peasants are assembled in the great square, seated 
 on the ground and cross-legged, like orientals. It 
 is thus they often place themselves in the 
 churches, where neither chairs nor forms are 
 scarcely ever to be found. It is singular enough, 
 that the most ortliodox people on earth, should 
 say their prayers in the same attitude as the 
 Mahometans. 
 
 Although all my senses continue to be in some 
 degree offended ; yet do I persist in wishing that 
 the habits of the people may not become too 
 civilized. It is true you have neither Grecian 
 sofas, voluptuous baths, nor splendid coffee-houses 
 here ; but, on the other hand, there are no foreign 
 visitors, who command with cudgels in their hands ; 
 no humiliating imposts are paid ; nor arbitrary 
 laws imposed. When Rousseau was consulted on 
 the best mode of organizing Poland against the 
 aggressions of Russia, his reply was, that he did 
 not know a more efficacious one, than to preserve 
 the Poles as they were. It is also my anxious 
 hope that the people of Spain may never feel
 
 GIIIBELLINE PACTIONT. 17 
 
 uneasy at not reposing on beds like the peasants 
 of Italy, nor indeed possess any of those super- 
 fluities which are likely to diminish their love of 
 independence. 
 
 In renewing my salutations to the members of 
 your amiable family, permit me to add, by way of 
 friendly injunction, that, if you are still engaged in 
 reading Sismondi*s Republics of the Middle Ages, 
 never to give any quarter to the Ghibelline party ; 
 it was the leper of Italy, and still exists under 
 different denominations. I dislike even Dante 
 himself, notwithstanding his immortal rhymes, 
 because he belonged to that parricidal faction. 
 Three thousand Italians wander at this moment, 
 far from their country, and in a situation the most 
 deplorable, owing to the recent treasons of this 
 very faction, which has retained nothing that dis- 
 tinguished the Ghibellines of former days, but 
 their innumerable vices. In Spain, the, Afrancesados 
 are unpopular even to this day, while the hatred 
 towards the French is already extinguished.* 
 
 * The six years of despotism which weighed down Spain, have 
 efTaced all the horrors and evils of the previous war from the me- 
 mory of the nation : so th.atthe French are now very well received 
 in the Peninsula. Notwithstanding the criminal eiforts of the 
 ultra royalist journalists of France, to irritate the Spanish people 
 and government with daily calumnies, the number of French- 
 men who have, in spite of this system, transferred their talents 
 and industry south of the Pyrenees, is very considerable. The 
 
 C
 
 18 SECURITY FOR STRANGERS. 
 
 last law relative to foreigners, decreed by Cortes and sanctioned 
 by the King, accords the greatest protection to strangers : this 
 law, proposed by the deputy Oliver, and of which Don Jose de 
 Altamira was reporter, declares the Spanish territory an invio- 
 lable asylum for the persons and property of all those foreigners 
 residing in or out of Spain. Botli them and their effects 
 enjoy equal protection with the natives. Property can never be 
 sequestrated nor confiscated, on any pretence, not even by way of 
 reprisal in time of war. The same law also provides that no 
 person who takes refuge in Spain for political offences or opinions, 
 shall ever bo given up; What a contrast does not this present, to 
 the conduct of certain governments bordering on France !
 
 A PUBLIC CHARACTER. 1{^ 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Madrid, May 19th, 1821. 
 
 In spite of awkward postilions and refractory 
 mules, we contrived to reach Madrid on the l'2th. 
 I have not as yet taken a lodging ; in the first 
 place, I am somewhat difficult as to choice, and in 
 the next, the hospitality I continue to experience 
 under the roof of M. Bardaxi, is of the most arrati- 
 fying description. It could not be more gratui- 
 tous, and neither costs a single reverence or the 
 smallest restraint, even to the cares of the toilet. 
 During the mornings I remain in slippers, observ- 
 ing, as in a magic lantern, all the friends, prote- 
 gees, or expectants who come to visit the minister. 
 Those who enter this house, enjoy the utmost 
 freedom both as to coming, going and conversa- 
 tion. This species of democratic etiquette, not 
 less rational than agreeable, is also encouraged by 
 the other ministers. Bardaxi is surnamed the 
 good patriot ; this is a flattering title, justly 
 merited by the whole of his political life. While 
 at Bayonne in 1808, he was one of the first to 
 
 c 2
 
 20 PERSONAL QUALITIES. 
 
 declare in writing that Ferdinand neither could 
 nor ought to abdicate. During the siege of 
 Cadiz in IS 10, and succeeding year, he tilled the 
 double offices of minister at war and foreign affairs, 
 combating at the same time, and with his Ara- 
 gonese firmness, the opposition of the Cortes 
 and a distinguished English military leader, as 
 well as the attacks of Marshal Victor. If I am 
 not mistaken, you must have seen him at Genoa. 
 You perhaps may recollect the dignity of his mien ; 
 if you had any conversation with this statesman, it 
 would have been easy for you to perceive that he 
 is no less gallant towards the fair sex, than are the 
 rest of his countrymen : he is a very handsome 
 man, and possesses a mind endowed with the same 
 regularity and solidity as his person. Neither ex- 
 travagance nor wild chimeras, ever enter into 
 the plans of M. Bardaxi : on the contrary, his 
 opinions possess a degree of mathematical preci- 
 sion. Enterprising as Alberoni, firm as Ximenes ; 
 he has neither the ambition of the first nor the 
 despotic genius of the second. M. Bardaxi enters 
 the ministry with excellent views ; I hope, for the 
 good of iialf our hemisphere, that his colleagues, 
 the Cortes, and Ferdinand may support him. 
 
 The fldl of the late ministry, was caused by its 
 vacillations, uncertainty, and pusillanimous defe- 
 rence for certain cabals. Of that administration, 
 nothing but monuments of its weakness remain. 
 The dh'ine Arguellcs (this is the title conferred on
 
 LAYBACn. f2l 
 
 him by the English owing to his eloquence*) gave 
 many proofs of human frailty. As an Italian, I 
 can never forgive this minister for suffering 
 Naples to perish, without a firm and resolute 
 intervention at the Congress of Laybach. The 
 whole of Europe will perhaps one day pay for the 
 terrible consequences of this homicidal prudence.f 
 The march of the new ministry will be ener- 
 getic : it will neither be violent, servile, nor mon- 
 
 * Here our author lias been again luisinformecl ; the surname 
 of divine was given to Arguelles by his own countrymen, during 
 his powerful and meritorious exertions as a member of the extra- 
 ordinarv Cortes of Cadiz. — Ed. 
 
 f It is impossible to be angry with an Italian so full of patriot- 
 ism and attached to liberty, for these reproaches addressed to the 
 Spanish ministry. Nevertheless, an impartial examination of ihe 
 conduct of the ministry at the time here alluded to, must force 
 every body to admit that they did their utmost in favour of 
 Naples. — Of what use would the protestations of Spain be, if not 
 supported by force ? If ministers could have had an army of two 
 or three thousand men at their disposal, then might they be re- 
 proached for not having defended the cause of Italy ; but without 
 such a force, the protests and declarations of Spain, would have 
 been treated as the ridiculous bravados of a Don Quixote, by the 
 despots assembled at Laybach. Spain did all she could, and 
 would have done more, if it had been possible to calculate on a 
 more obstinate resistance by the Neapolitans, and the co-opera- 
 tion of France. But all Europe is acquainted with the conduct 
 of the French ministers, who, so far from co-operating with Spain 
 to sustain the independence of Naples, seem anxious that Spain 
 should experience the same fate.
 
 22 TRO^IISES. 
 
 archical ; it will be constitutional. There may be 
 some individuals amongst the liberals, who will 
 condemn a system of impartiality, that is exempted 
 from passion ; they call themselves the eldest sons 
 of liberty, and wish to be treated accordingly : the 
 present ministers will maintain constitutional 
 equality, and 1 have no doubt, that, when the 
 former perceive that the system becomes consoli- 
 dated more by the observance of the laws, by the 
 vigour of the executive, and maintenance of order, 
 than any other means, they will hasten to sacrifice 
 personal resentments on the altar of their country.
 
 HALL OF CORTES. 2S 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 Madrid, June bt, 1821. 
 
 It is now nearly three weeks, since I first began 
 to contemplate the most beautiful monument of 
 Spain, or perhaps of the universe ; although the 
 edifice appears magnificent in my estimation, and 
 one of the most perfect specimens of modern 
 architecture, I shall not give you any description 
 of it, lest I should break my word a second time. 
 The structure which excites my admiration more 
 and more every day, is that of human reason : I 
 allude to the Hall of Cortes. You are aware that 
 the Cortes were instituted by the Goths, and that 
 for eleven centuries, down to the reign of Charles 
 v., they were more or less powerful in the king- 
 doms of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarre. The 
 despotism of Charles and his successors, had in- 
 sensibly corrupted and finally destroyed tlicm. 
 These ancient Cortes, were nevertheless a Gothic 
 representation ; that is to say, much more feudal 
 than national. Bu,t they have been greatly 
 amended and improved since their restoration.
 
 24 MARTYKED PATRIOTS. 
 
 The liull in which the members assemble, is 
 capacious, well lighted and richly ornamented. 
 You neither see those eternal allegories, inexpli- 
 cable enigmas or statues of Cicero, Brutus and 
 Cato, which so often usurp the attention and 
 admiration due to modern orators. Spaniards, are 
 Spaniards, and will be nothing else : and since they 
 ilo not wish to interfere in any way with what 
 is passing north of the Pyrenees, how can they 
 })ossibly feel an interest in what passed there two 
 thousand years ago ? It is thus, that instead of 
 those foreign witnesses; Mortuary tablets, bear- 
 ing the names of the first martyrs to Spanish liberty, 
 such as Daoiz, Velarde, Porlier, Lacy, and 
 AcEVEDO, are placed round the hall. These sim- 
 ple and unaffected memorials appeal more power- 
 fully to the heart and the imagination, than all the 
 formality and labour of the chisel.^ On a large 
 
 * Daoiz and Velarde were martyrs to Spanish independence, 
 as Porlier and Lacy wore of its liberty. Porlier attempted to 
 establish the constitution in Galicia in 1815, and Lacy made a 
 similar attempt in Catalonia, two years after: both were the 
 victims of their patriotism, as Quiroga and Riego would have 
 become, had not the nation obeyed their generous call. 
 
 Daoiz and Velarde, captains of artillery, were killed at 
 Madrid, on the 2nd May, 1S08, in heading the people who had 
 risen against the French army. The particulars of this fatal 
 event are not yet sufficiently known in France, though it was th 
 origin of uur insurrection, and hastened its developement. 
 Murat thought he would intimidate .Spain hy this act, and thus
 
 FIRST rUINCU'LES. ^5 
 
 slab, directly in iiont of the throne, is inscribed, in 
 letters of gold, (in order I suppose that the per- 
 sonage who occupies that august scat may not 
 forget it) The Sovereignty essentially resides 
 IN THE Nation, to which alone belongs the 
 right of establishing the Fundamental Laws. 
 The throne itself is su])ported by cariatides, a 
 circumstance that by no means pleases me. This 
 species of ornament can only be gratifying to 
 tyranny, wl)ich always delights in curbing and 
 oppressing mankind. The human species ought 
 
 paralyse the resentment secretly expressed against Napoleon. 
 But when he fanci(!tl the objeet in view had been attained, and 
 the whole Peninsula subjugated, many provinces rose, and though 
 deprived of communication with each other, local governments, 
 composed of the most popular patriots, were established. It was 
 thus that the provincial juntas were formed. One of their first 
 operations was to organize the army for the purpose of resisting 
 invasion. The Junta of Seville, seconded by that of Grenada, 
 collected the corps which defeated the French General Dupont, 
 at Baylen, obliging Joseph Bonaparte to abandon Madrid to the 
 victorious army of Castanos. 
 
 No sooner had our army re-entered the capital, than a central 
 government was immediately organized. The provincial juntas 
 concurred in this measure by sending two members to form part 
 of the new government, and giving up their authority to be con- 
 centrated at a single point. It was by the re-union of these 
 delegates, that the Supreme Junta, with the title of Central 
 Government, was formed : this body possessed the sovereign 
 power, and was not only recognized throughout the Peninsula, 
 but in all the ultra-marine possessions.
 
 2C} CONSTITUKNT ASSEMBLY. 
 
 never to be debased even in fictions. The idea 
 of the French Constituent Assembly, in removing 
 the allegorical figures, representing the nations 
 enchained, from the pedestal of Louis XIV.'s 
 statue, was both grand and generous. 
 
 The deputies have no costume ; every member 
 dresses as may be most agreeable to himself. It 
 appears to me that this practice represents the 
 people with more precision, since their dress 
 varies to infinity. Each orator speaks from his 
 
 Scarcely bad the patriotic government been installed at 
 Aranjuez, than the arrival of Napoleon with another army, ren- 
 dered its removal to Seville a matter of necessity. Here it 
 remained till the beginning of 1810, the period at w^hich 
 Andalusia was occupied by the French. Thus pursued, the cen- 
 tral government took refuge in the Island of Leon. Feeling the 
 importance of concentrating the executive power still more effec- 
 tually, a regency of five members was named : when this became 
 invested with authority, that of the Supreme Junta fell of itself. 
 When removed to Cadiz, the Regency assembled the Cortes, 
 which had been already convoked by the Junta. The Cortes 
 soon after established the constitution, and appointed another 
 Regency, to which the executive power was coniided in form. 
 Nothing is more calculated to excite admiration, than the esta- 
 blislnnent of a government in the only point of the monarchy 
 which resisted the invasion, at a moment, too, when the nation, 
 abandoned to itself, was entirely under the sway of a foreign force. 
 The Regency at Cadiz, besieged within its walls, had neither 
 soldiers, arms nor money ; nothing, in fact, which could cause its 
 authority to be respected ; yet, was it recognized and respected 
 liy the nation and the four quarters of the globe!
 
 PERSAS. 27 
 
 place and always extemporily ; none but those 
 who have long written speeches to make ascend 
 the tribune, and this seldom occurs ; so that the 
 debates are much more rapid and animated than 
 in other countries. The speakers never attempt 
 to make any display of their erudition ; they 
 never play upon words, nor indulge in witty 
 sallies ; above all, you hear no personalities or 
 illiberal allusions in the Spanish Cortes. Woe to 
 the nation if this mutual respect was not shown ! 
 The extreme irritability of men, in a climate like 
 
 The name of Persas (Persians), is given, in Spain, to those 
 perjured deputies of the Cortes of Cadiz, who addressed a repre- 
 sentation to Ferdinand VII. on his return in 1814, advising hini 
 to reject the constitution. This epithet was applied through 
 derision, because the representation addressed to the King, which 
 is a model of baseness and servihty, was preceded by a Persian 
 anecdote not less ridiculous than absurd. 
 
 The 172nd article of the constitution, enacts, that those who 
 shall advise the King to prevent the meeting of Cortes, or to sus- 
 pend and dissolve them, are to be considered as traitors to their 
 country, and condemned as such; the perjured deputies had 
 therefore incurred the pain of death ; yet the Cortes, to whom 
 is reserved the trial and punishment of this crime, merely deprived 
 them of their honours and employments, as unworthy the name of 
 Spaniards : allowing those who wished to take advantage of the 
 privilege, to stand their trial. This determination, as humane 
 as it was prudent, has yet found numerous detractors amongst 
 French journalists, who, after disfiguring it, to suit their own 
 purposes, had the infamy to assert tijat the National Convention 
 never dictated a more sanguinary and atrocious law.
 
 28 A MONOSYLLABLE. 
 
 tliat of Spain, would otherwise produce scenes 
 much more frightful than those which took place 
 in the Diet of Poland. 
 
 The votes of Cortes are given nominatively ; 
 each deputy pronouncing the word yes^ or no. 
 No wonder that Napoleon should have considered 
 the " //o" of the Portuguese minister at Bavonne 
 sublime. That of the S})aniards is quite as 
 tragic and impressive as the " ?zo" of Bayonne.* 
 The sonorous tone with which this monosyllable 
 is pronounced, indicates that it proceeds from 
 the heart, and is irrevocable. It should also 
 be remarked that the verb of negation is more 
 analogous to the Spanish character than that of 
 affirmation. In this country the former more 
 irequently implies the non fare of the Italians, 
 and this non fare is infinitely more energetic in 
 Spain than the lefare with us. 
 
 Most of the actual deputies have come out of 
 imprisonment or exile. The nation has recom- 
 pensed its patriotic citizens, by endowing them 
 
 * This allusion is made to an interview that took place at 
 Bayonne in 1 808, between Napoleon and the Count dc Lima ; 
 in the course of which, the French Emperor exclaimed, ** What 
 do you Portuguese want: do you wish to become Spaniards?" 
 Upon which the Count, assuming a more firm posture, and scorn- 
 ing to raise his head at least two feet above its natural height, 
 clasped his sword, replying in a tone wi;ich shook ihc wliole 
 apartment; " No !" — Ed.
 
 DELUSIVE AMNESTY. 2^ 
 
 with a title at once the most solemn, sacred anil 
 honorable ; they have shown themselves worthy 
 of this precious mark of confidence. The first 
 measure of the Cortes, performed in the name of 
 the people, was an act of clemency, and this is 
 the most sublime prerogative of sovereignty. The 
 Afiancesados and Persas have experienced a proof 
 of generosity, of which they ought never to ren- 
 der themselves unworthy.* 
 
 Deputies from the Philipines, South Americn, 
 and the Canaries, form part of the present Cortes ; 
 so that individuals from the four quarters of the 
 globe are thus seen assembled, for the first time, 
 in the same hall, to act, as it were, for the interests 
 and w^elfare of one great family. 
 
 There is at least a third of the Cortes composed 
 of bishops and priests, which led me to imagine I 
 was present at a religious council, the first time I 
 visited the congress. The tone of declamation 
 and gesture observed by the members, does not 
 vary in the smallest degree. At the close of every 
 
 * It is most deeply to be regretted, that this act of clemency 
 should have been so environed with trammels, as to render it per- 
 fectly nugatory, if not a mockery to many of those it was 
 intended to solace. The Cortes of 1 822, grown wiser by the 
 errors of their predecessors, will, it is expected, make the amnesty 
 what it should have been at first; free and unconditional in all 
 its parts. — Ed.
 
 30 XATIONAL TRAITS. 
 
 period, there is a motion witli the fingers of tlie 
 right hand, wliich the orator liolds up, so as to 
 resemble the sign of a cross. I could scarcely re- 
 frain from laughing when I saw General Quiroga 
 gesticulate like the Pope. 
 
 The Cortes of 1820 and 1821, have consoli- 
 dated the liberal institutions of the new code, by 
 their uniform steadiness and calmness of delibera- 
 tion ; they have thus prepared the way for the 
 triumph of humanity. Whatever may be the re- 
 sult of the new elections, (and there is no reason 
 to think they will not be good) it is consoling to 
 reflect, that the corner stones of Spanish regene- 
 ration are laid. The extraordinary Cortes will 
 complete the remainder of this important work. 
 
 Up to the present moment, the ministry have 
 no party ; nor can they have ariy without great 
 difficulty, even in the end ; for here the stomach 
 does not allow itself to be conquered by the 
 stomach. In Spain the appetite is very moderate, 
 and satisfied with a little ; whereas the ministers 
 have not as yet, nor wdll they perhaps, ever play 
 the part of restaurateurs. All the taste and 
 flavours of a Spaniard is concentrated in his oil, 
 as those of the Jews were found in their manna of 
 the desert. Decorations, ribbons, garters, and 
 other baubles of a similar nature, have not the 
 same imaginary value in Spain, as they have 
 north of the Pyrenees.
 
 ROMERO ALrUENTE. 31 
 
 Moreno Guerra^ and Romero Alpuente,* 
 botli members of Cortes, are greatly beloved by 
 the people, arising no less from the purity of their 
 
 * Tlio author could not have namocl any two men in Ihn 
 Peninsula, more dear to liberty or their country. Romero 
 Alpuente, though nearly seventy, is M'ithout exception one of 
 the most active and zealous patriots in Spain. He belongs to the 
 legal profession, and has been for more than tv^enty years presi- 
 dent of the Royal Court at Grenada, where his knowledge, 
 firmness and integrity, made him an object of universal respect ; 
 so that ho has long been looked upon as a model for the judicial 
 authorities of Spain. The frankness and generosity of his private 
 character is no less a subject of general panegyric. A reformer 
 of fifty years standing, Romero Alpuente has been constantly 
 opposed to tl)e system of oppression which desolated the nation 
 previous to the recent happy change. It is chiefly to his eloquence 
 that the Afrancesados are indebted for the most favorable clauses 
 in the amnesty passed during the Cortes of 1820, of which he 
 was a distinguished ornament. His conduct during the persecu- 
 tion of Riego was truly admirable, particularly on the 7th of 
 September, when he so ably exposed the shameful intrigues of 
 the first constitutional ministry, vainly endeavouring to induce 
 Agustin Arguelles, to bring forward his pretended charges against 
 the hero of Las Cabezas. M. Alpuente has since been ahnost a 
 constant resident at Madrid, and together with a f^vv other members 
 of the late congress, amongst whom I ought not to omit the names 
 of Count Palma, Diez Morales, and Moreno Guerra, exercised a 
 most salutary influence on the measures of government and pub- 
 lic opinion, by their wisdom and moderation as leaders of the 
 Coniuneios. 
 
 At the moment of paying this hurnblo tribute to patriotism and 
 virtue, a foul caliunny has been repeated iV.ini the organs of the
 
 32 MORENO CUERRA. 
 
 characters, than their unexceptionable antl spirited 
 conduct in the national congress ; but it strikes 
 me that the nation shews still more respect and 
 esteem for Martinez de la Rosa and Calatrava, 
 for their more moderate o})inions, and the dignity 
 of their eloquence.* 
 
 ruling faction in France, and wliicli represents the venerable 
 Romero Alpuento, as recommending the massacre of the priest- 
 hood, after the example of the monsters of 1793. It will be for 
 those, who are not associated in mind and fortune with the vilest 
 crew that ever usurped the reins of a government, to a])preciate 
 such an assertion as it deserves. But happily the whole conduct 
 fifthe Spanish reformers, and above all. the unspotted character of 
 him who is thus calumniated, furnish so effectual a refutation of 
 the charge, that it would be an insult to the good sense of the 
 Hritish public, were I to take any farther notice of a falsehood, 
 that is not, I am willing to believe, credited even by those who have 
 given it a place in their columns. In alluding to such an attack, 
 I merely wish to call the attention of every impartial man to the 
 weapons which an \iltra royalist can use, when driven to the last 
 extremity of disappointed treason. 
 
 Moreno Guerra, like his friend, was also amongst the most po- 
 |)iil;ir members of the late Cortes, and like him, was invariably 
 oj)po8cd to the liberticide measures of the men of 1812. His 
 opinions of their errors and weaknesses, have been ably and elo- 
 quently given in a pamphlet published at Madrid in the early 
 part of the present year, and which is, I believe, now before the 
 jjublic in an English dress. This little tract, places the author in 
 a high rank amongst the j)olitical writei-s of the Peninsula, and 
 entitles him to the ap])lause of his country. — Ed. 
 
 * Martinez de la Rosa, has not gained in popularity since the 
 above was written. With talents and genius vvhicli fall U, the lot
 
 MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA. 38 
 
 The rules of Cortes do not admit of any digres- 
 sions from the object in discussion : a regulation 
 which is scrupulously observed by the deputies ; 
 indeed, I do not recollect any instance of an at- 
 tempt to violate it, either by episodes, allusions to 
 the situation of Europe, or directing attacks against 
 other governments. It would in fact appear, that 
 Europe is a kind of superfluity to Spain : no 
 person passes the Pyrenees, either in word or 
 
 of few, he miglit have become one of tlie brightest gems in the 
 patriotic constellalion of Spain. It was, however, the fate of this 
 splendid orator and elegant wi'iter to attach himself to a party, 
 instead of adopting the more honorable and glorious determina- 
 tion of adhering to the people. His reward, like that of many 
 others, is a suspicion of having, by his neglect, to say no worse, 
 while entrusted with the foreign department, contributed to the 
 periloas state into which the capital was thrown on the memo- 
 rable 7th of July. This has led to an order of arrest, which 
 has, however, been since annulled. Those who are acquainted 
 with the character and powers of Martinez de la Rosa, maintain 
 that he will, ere it be too late, unequivocally espouse the really 
 popular cause in Spain. The author of La Viuda de Padilla 
 and Lo que puede mi Empleo, would be an immense acquisition 
 
 to the COMUNEROS. 
 
 Calatrava, whom the author has joined to Rosa, in his compari- 
 son, is deservedly regarded as one of the most able statesmen, 
 and upright patriots in Spain. His refusal to accept a seat in the 
 present ministry, has not been very satisfactorily accounted for. 
 It is however very generally attributed to his wish of not separating 
 himself too much from the men of 1812, with whom he had 
 hitherto acted, and of whose party he is perhaps the greatest 
 ornament, — Ei). 
 
 D
 
 .'^4 ALTSTllIAN TYRANNY. 
 
 thought ; those mountains seem to be the pillars 
 of Hercules lor the Spaniards of the present age. 
 Though so many days in Madrid, and the first 
 Italian who has reached it since the disasters of 
 which my country has been lately the theatre, 
 will you believe me, when I say, that not a soul 
 has yet condescended to interrogate me on the 
 revolution of Piedmont ? If the subject happens 
 to be mentioned in the course of conversa- 
 tion, and any thing is said about Italy, the 
 speakers are sure to confound Piedmont with 
 Naples ; although these two countries are seven 
 hundred miles apart ! 
 
 I have no news from Italy, which fills me with 
 the most melancholy presentiments. I think I 
 still see her dragged through tlie mire by her 
 implacable enemies ; while her sons are decimated 
 by special commissions, tribunals of blood invented 
 by the advocates of terrorism, and so often imi- 
 tated by those who usurp the title of Fathers of 
 their People. Can it be possible, that like Tiberius, 
 the Austrian cabinet has suddenly passed from 
 dissimulation to ferocity ? When we reflect on the 
 interest Austria has, rather to calm than irritate 
 the passions of fifteen millions of men, she ought 
 surely to ])refer moderation to vengeance !
 
 BALLESTEROS. Si 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 Madrid, June 10th, 1821. 
 
 Amongst the seven hundred generals of Spain, 
 can you divine he whom I was most desirous of 
 knowing ? — Ballesteros, the declared opponent of 
 Lord Wellington. To me, it seems extremely 
 natural that the enemies of Englishmen should be 
 the friends of Italy. Of all the Spaniards I have 
 met since my arrival, Ballesteros has received me 
 with most cordiality, and that sympathy which 
 can neither be simulated nor dissimulated : I am 
 also induced to esteem him for the friendship and 
 kindness he has shown towards General Pepe. I 
 never saw a member of the military profession 
 tender his hand to a brother soldier with more 
 warmth and cheerfulness than Ballesteros. His 
 gait is always martial ; and even when walking 
 about his room, he appears to be at the head of a 
 column marching against the enemy. He is an 
 enthusiast on the score of valoiu-, but never 
 wishes to command any but Spaniards. His pre- 
 judices with regard to the British Chief, are still 
 
 D 2
 
 36 GREATNESS OF MIND. 
 
 unabated: lie continues to repeat, and with reason, 
 that it is better to be beaten bv enemies than com- 
 manded by foreigners ; because, says he, a defeat 
 may be retrieved, but there is no remedy against 
 luuuihation. It was not, however, the preference 
 shewn to Lord Wellington that irritates him even 
 to this day, but the affront thereby cast on the 
 warriors of Spain. You will allow that a rivalry thus 
 frank and noble is altogether Homeric* Balles- 
 teros has often been heard to express contempt of 
 danger, but never to men. With so chivalric a 
 mind, he could not bend to despotism, and was 
 therefore exiled from the court to Valladolid, 
 during the reign of terror. Recalled last year, it 
 was he who presented the Constitution to the King 
 for his signature. The soldiery who served under 
 him in the war of independence, and with whom he 
 partook of the same ration, are as warmly attached 
 to their favourite chief as ever. With what pleasure 
 
 * Of all the measures of the first Cortes, none was fraught with 
 so many advantages as that relative to the Duke of Wellington. 
 The motives and circumstances which induced the Cortes to confer 
 the command of our troops on that general, are developed with 
 the greatest truth in a pamphlet on our revolution, attributed to 
 Count Toreno. The history of Spain presents more than one in- 
 stance, of a similar nature, rendered necessary on the principle of 
 public utility, and wlien the national honour could not be 
 wounded. The Duke de Vendome commanded our army at 
 the battle of Villaviciosa, and Crillon during the siege of 
 Gibraltar.
 
 AN APOPHTHEGAf. 
 
 have I heard him declare, in a tone of the firmest 
 conviction, that we are no longer capable of effect- 
 ing any thing really great, and have lost our ener- 
 gies from the moment our conscience reproaches 
 us with having committed a base action ! It is on 
 this account, adds the general, that tyrants study 
 the means of inducing those officers who have 
 most served them, to disgrace themselves, so that 
 their ambition may be rendered abortive, as they 
 are henceforth unable to undertake any thing 
 magnanimous. 
 
 Are you not better pleased that I should have 
 thus sketched a general, on whom the liberales 
 would cast their eyes in a moment of danger, than 
 if I had given you a description of the Roman 
 aqueduct which still remains entire at Segovia, 
 (where I made an excursion some days ago,) and 
 which has conveyed a salubrious stream to that 
 city for above two thousand years ?
 
 .18 SPANISH REVOLUTION-, 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 Madrid, June 20th, 1821. 
 
 What a pity ! amiable lady, that avarice 
 should be so mixed up with all the fine qualities 
 which excite the admiration of those who have the 
 happiness of your acquaintance ! Is it not a proof 
 of avarice to call upon me for an account of the 
 Spanish revolution in exchange for that with which 
 you have favoured me relative to the occurrences 
 at Genoa on the 23rd of March ? Since, however, 
 you have given me a loan instead of a gift, T will 
 not wait to be summoned for payment, and shall 
 therefore endeavour to pay my debts in the best 
 manner I can. Fortunately for me, there have 
 appeared two pamphlets containing an account of 
 the insurrection of La Isla, and to these I must 
 recur, in order to get out of my difficulties. But 
 joking apart, these publications are so important 
 that they deserve to be more generally known. 
 
 The following facts suggest themselves to me 
 in contemplating the recent Spanish revolution. 
 1st. The analogy of the circumstances which gave
 
 PRErAKATIONTS. •'51^ 
 
 rise to it, with those of Piedmont. ^nd. 
 The ease with which despotism may be destroyed 
 and great reforms effected with very slender 
 means, in a country governed by the abuses of 
 arbitrary power, ratlier than the laws. 3rd. 
 The utility of secret societies, to prepare, unite 
 and animate those who are destined to undertake 
 the work of regeneration. 
 
 You doubtless recollect that Voltaire defined 
 masonry to be a society that never did, nor never 
 would achieve any thing. Yet has masonry in Spain 
 completely falsified the philosopher of Ferney's 
 prediction ; since it was that which enabled the 
 officers of the Andalusian army to deliver their 
 country from bondage. 
 
 The ministry of 1819, having determined to 
 remove all those young officers with whom liberal 
 ideas had taken root, from Spain ; projected the 
 expedition to Buenos Ayres, of which they were 
 to form a part ; but the remedy was worse than the 
 disease ; for, those who were lukewarm and inac- 
 tive while separate, became re-animated when 
 united, and hailed with delight an opportunity 
 for which they had long been sighing. 
 
 The 8th of July w^as fixed on as the day of 
 Spanish regeneration. Twenty-two thousand 
 men, the flower of the army, were collected in 
 Andalusia, for the expedition of Buenos Ayres. 
 Count Abisbal, w^ho commanded in chief, encou-
 
 40 ABISBAL. 
 
 raged the suggestions of those who showed him 
 that it was now in his power to deUver the 
 people from tlie slavery in which he had conr 
 tributed to plunge them. Naturally enterpris- 
 ing, and probably repenting an error that had 
 tarnished his name, he appeared, for the moment, 
 to approve a project so flattering to his self- 
 love : it is even said that Abisbal was the 
 principal mover of the whole plan. 
 
 The flame of insurrection spread with rapidity 
 through the army ; nearly all the oflficers were of 
 that age when bold and hazardous enterprises are 
 sought with avidity : so that they cheerfully en- 
 countered every obstacle which seemed to oppose 
 the great object of their wishes ; thinking it much 
 more worthy of their bravery and calling, to save 
 their fellow citizens, than bear the chains of 
 slavery to the new world. Although the soldiery 
 were not in the secret, it was readily imagined, 
 they would gladly promote a design, which sus- 
 pended an expedition that augured so fatally for 
 their future destiny. 
 
 The important day having at length arrived ; 
 all eyes were turned on Abisbal for the fulfilment 
 of his promise. A part of the army were already 
 under arms, and waited the event with anxiety, 
 when all of a sudden, they saw themselves sur- 
 rounded by the cavalry and garrison of Cadiz 
 headed by the Count himself j crying, " long live the
 
 AIICO AGUEIIO. i<] 
 
 king /" and issuing orders for the arrest of several 
 officers, amongst whom, were Quiroga and Arco 
 Aguero. 
 
 This inexplicable perfidy excited infinitely more 
 indignation than terror amongst the patriots, who 
 freely expressed their sorrow and disappointment 
 at being thus shamefully betrayed. The proba- 
 ble fate which awaited those who were now 
 arrested, occupied every heart, rousing all their 
 sympathies, till at last, those who had been suf- 
 fered to retain their personal liberty, determined 
 to accomplish a design, on which, not only their 
 own happiness, but that of the nation depended. 
 For this purpose, a meeting was held on the 
 13th, only five days after the arrests, in order 
 to propose a new plan of operations, and concert 
 the best means of bringing the enterprise to a 
 glorious and triumphant issue. A few other 
 patriots met at Gibraltar, with the same objects 
 in view : here it was agreed that a central junta 
 should be formed at Cadiz, to correspond with 
 those minor committees established in each regi- 
 ment, and to direct their proceedings. Unhappily 
 the yellow fever broke out at this moment, thus 
 interrupting, for a time, the execution of the plan. 
 But as patriotism is invincible during the first 
 moments of its enthusiasm, it was decided that 
 emissaries should keep up the communication, by 
 changing their names, and assuming such other 
 disguises as were most likely to elude the vigilance
 
 42 QUIKOGA. 
 
 of the enemy. The doubtful were thus sounded, 
 those who appeared resolute still more inflamed, 
 and the soldiers initiated into the secret. These 
 preliminary steps were continued notwithstanding 
 the fresh arrests tliat followed up those of tlie 8th 
 Inmost daily, as well as the preparations for ven- 
 geance made by despotism, without perceiving 
 that its danger increased every hour. 
 
 It is the nature of every sect to increase and 
 acquire boldness in proportion to the persecution 
 which it meets. This re-action was the more re- 
 markable amongst the people of Spain, from their 
 being no less religiously observant of a secret, 
 when once enjoined, than firm and persevering in 
 their undertaking, which it might have in view. 
 As the period of embarkation arrived, it became 
 necessary to hasten the execution of the patriot 
 project : a leader was wanted, but none of the 
 generals inspired sufficient confidence for this 
 envied office. 
 
 After much debate and deliberation, the choice 
 at last fell on Colonel Quiroga, detained at Alcala 
 de los Gazules, while the direction of the stafl'was 
 confided to Arco Aguero, shut up in the castle 
 of St. Sebastian near Cadiz. 
 
 Providence seems however to have pointed out 
 a man who was destined to give a powerful im- 
 pulse to the grand work ; one of tliose rare cha- 
 racters, justly called extraordinary, whom no 
 obstacles can ini])cde, and who think nothing
 
 RIEGO. 43 
 
 impossible which they have determined to per- 
 form. Rafael del Riego, second commandant of 
 the Asturian battalion, burned to deliver his in- 
 carcerated companions, and fidl of confidence in 
 those around him, for they were also impatient to 
 hear the cry of liberty, ho swore to vanquish 
 every difficulty and execute the enterprise they so 
 ardently invoked. 
 
 The first of January, 18'20, was chosen for a 
 general insurrection of all the troo})s. While two 
 battalions, under Riego, were to surprise the Ge- 
 neral-in-chief, Calderon and his staff, two more 
 headed by Quiroga, were to make a ra})id march 
 on the bridge of Suazo, carry it by assault, enter 
 San Fernando, and then present themselves before 
 the Cortadura of Cadiz, of which the gates were 
 to be thrown open, as previously agreed betw^qen 
 the patriots. 
 
 The aurora of this bright day having at length 
 arrived, the first cry of Spanish liberty re- 
 sounded through the village of Las Cabezas 
 soon after dawn. This was the day which occa- 
 sioned Riego to be styled the hero of Las Cabezas. 
 The young Commandant and his officers, having 
 first proclaimed the Constitution of 1812, it was 
 received with enthusiastic shouts by the troops, 
 and seconded by the multitude. 
 
 Riego lost no time in making towards the head 
 quarters ; this movement was aflfectcd w^ith such 
 rapidity, that he arrived at Arcos undiscovered by
 
 44 MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
 
 any of the garrison, and dashing into the town, 
 fonnd but little difficulty in arresting Calderon 
 and the whole of his staff. Very few regiments 
 having as yet declared themselves, Riego, though 
 in possession of the head-quarters, had only three 
 battalions under his. orders, whereas he was sur- 
 rounded by a force of ten thousand men, who 
 might be persuaded to impede the enterprise. 
 
 While these events were passing at Las Cabezas 
 and Arcos, Quiroga, though deprived of all com- 
 munication with Riego, surprised the garrison of 
 San Fernando, incorporated the troops with his 
 own party, and fortified it against every external 
 assault. 
 
 After having increased his division by some 
 other corps that joined him, Riego formed a 
 junction witli Quiroga in the Isle of Leon, upon 
 which, they immediately attempted to carry the 
 Cortadura, so as to open the way to Cadiz, the 
 errand focus of constitutional enthusiasm. But 
 General Campana, who commanded there, anti- 
 cipated the attack, by sending reinforcements to 
 defend that point ; taking various other steps to 
 counteract the efforts which the patriots of Cadiz 
 had projected in favour of tlieir friends. This 
 did not prevent the constitutionalists from making 
 several attacks on the Cortadura, but these were 
 ineiiectual. The failure, was, however, in some 
 degree compensated by the capture of La Caraca, 
 the naval arsenal, an event, which did not a
 
 A POLITICAL AXIOM. 45 
 
 little contribute to re-animate that portion of the 
 patriot army, whose zeal may have been some- 
 what damped by these early reverses. 
 
 Meantime, the rest of the troops, of whose 
 rising the chiefs of San Fernando expected to 
 hear every honr, remained immoveable. AVh ether 
 it arose from their remoteness, or those other mo- 
 tives, which have such an influence on the human 
 mind, the corps that had not actually promised to 
 act, showed no signs of coming over. The royalist 
 chief, Freyre, on the other hand, had collected an 
 army of 15,000 men to oppose the patriots, while 
 insidious proclamations were issued from Cadiz ; 
 in these addresses, pardons were offered to those 
 who w^ould abandon the standard of independence, 
 and the patriots themselves styled rebels. 
 
 The month of January had passed, w^ithout the 
 insurrections ha\dng made any progress ; as yet, 
 they had only been employed in comparatively 
 trifling efforts. If during a struggle for freedom 
 the imagination is not always occupied, or time is 
 given to reflect, enthusiasm dies, and the love of 
 life re-assumes its empire. A conviction of this 
 important truth, determined the leaders, who 
 found themselves shut up in La Isla with only 
 five thousand men, to send forth an expedition, 
 which should foment the spirit of liberty amongst 
 the people, and decide the adhesion of three bat- 
 talions, which seemed for some time anxious to 
 embrace the common cause. A flying colunm
 
 M't FLYJNCJ COLUMN. 
 
 of fifteen hinulred men, was tlierelbre detached 
 from the Uttle army of La Ishu and the command 
 given to Riego. The rest of the troops remained 
 to repel any attacks which might be made during 
 his absence. 
 
 It was on the 27th of January, that the column, 
 since rendered immortal by its heroism and suf- 
 ferings, marches and counter-marches, but still 
 more, by the manner in which it opposed a force, 
 often triple its number, departed from San Fer- 
 nando. What with frequently attacking his 
 opponents, fighting as he marched, and occasion- 
 ally outstripping the enemy by the rapidity of 
 his movements, Riego traversed an immense tract 
 of country, keeping the field until the 11th of 
 March. Despairing of the expected succours, and 
 reduced to a very small number, as well as in the 
 means of prosecuting his march ; abandoned, too, 
 by many of the officers who gave way to their 
 fears, the hero at length determined to dissolve 
 the column, and regain San Fernando or Corunna, 
 where the Constitution had just been proclaimed. 
 The moment of dispersion was deeply affecting ; 
 those brave men who had faced and surmounted 
 so many difficidties embraced their general with 
 tears, lamenting the fate which rendered their 
 temporary separation necessary. 
 
 Although the flying column was dismembered 
 without being actually vanquished, the object for 
 which it liad l)oen foniiod was achieved, since in
 
 TaiUMPH OF FRKKDOM. 47 
 
 prolonging the insurrection for above six weeks, 
 the people had time to awake from their stupor, 
 while the troops stationed at other points of tlie 
 Peninsula, were thus inspired with that courage 
 which eventually induced them to follow the ex- 
 ample shown at San Fernando. Galicia, calling to 
 mind its former glories, declared itself on the 21st 
 of February, the Constitution was proclaimed at 
 Corunna on the 2nd of March, and not many days 
 after, both in Asturias and Aragon. Thus it was 
 that Riego, who had been branded as a traitor in 
 the proclamations published two months before, 
 was now hailed by all Spain as the founder of its 
 liberties !
 
 48 PATRIOTIC HYMNS. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 Madrid, July 5ih, 1821. 
 
 I HAVE been tor tlie last two days in search of the 
 patriotic hymns set for the Piano Forte, and which 
 are continually heard in the private parties, theatres 
 and even streets of Madrid. I am anxious to pre- 
 sent them to your sister, lady Charlotte, whose soul 
 of fire could alone give to those beautiful effusions, 
 all that expression which render them so truely 
 admirable. One of these hymns, composed at 
 Malaga, is absolutely sublime. The following is 
 one of its stanzas. — 
 
 ^Que cs la Francia en colejo dc Espana? 
 ^.Las nacionos del norte ^ que son ^ 
 ^Que la Italia so el yugo del Austria <; 
 I Lusitania so el yugo Breton i 
 El que quiera ser libre que aprenda : 
 En Espana hay un pueblo y un rey, 
 El priniero dictando las leyes. 
 El segundo sujcto a la ley !
 
 ROSsiNr. U) 
 
 Thus imitated : — 
 
 No more the Northern lands im-oki*' 
 For wliat is France compared to Spain ; 
 Italia 'noath the Austrian's voice. 
 Or Portugal 'neath British rein ? 
 But lot the friends of freedom's cause, 
 I'o Spain their vows admiring l>ring; 
 Where a projid j)Coplo frame their laws. 
 And where the laws control their king! 
 
 The Peninsula ha^ resounded with patriotic 
 songs during the whole of last year ; this is but 
 a just compensation for the uninterrupted silence 
 of three centuries, except by the most sombre 
 psalmody. It would appear that the soldiery for- 
 get the fatigues of their marches, at the sound 
 of these songs. The airs are executed with 
 uncommon effect by the ^^ery fifers ; but the 
 Spaniards are said to have made use of sucli 
 instruments in the days of Sertorius. 
 
 Apropos of music, you must know that Rossini 
 is the adopted Orpheus of Spain. The inhabitants 
 of Barcelona are quite enthusiastic in his praise ; 
 and those of Madrid still more so if possible. At 
 London and Paris, the music of this exquisite 
 composer has shared the fate of Beer, which only 
 pleases after long use; but here, where people 
 judge from sentiment, and not according to the 
 fashion of former days, it has pleased from the 
 first moment.
 
 .50 CERVANTr.S. 
 
 Liberty has the effect of bringing forth all tlie 
 innate qnahties of nations. The Spaniard ah^eady 
 begins to assume an air of serenity and to indulge 
 in the gaiety of his natural character. The national 
 dances, comedies, and Sainetcs or after })ieces, 
 respire nothing but animation and cheerfidness. 
 Cervantes could not lose his gaiety even during 
 the five vears he was a slave at Al>>:iers : what 
 wonderful humour has he not displayed in his 
 immortal romance ! 
 
 When returning home at night, I have always 
 to pass before a guard house, and generally see 
 one or more of the soldiers seated at the door, 
 touching their guitars, as if to make their time 
 seem lighter to the sentinels. Having on a late 
 occasion, asked one of these Troubadours, whether 
 he was singing the praises of his dulcinea, he 
 replied — " my country is my mistress, I am play- 
 ing for my amusement ; you seem to forget our 
 proverb ; Quien canta sus males, espanla; a cheer- 
 ful lay drives grief away !'* 
 
 I have been for some days affected with feelings 
 and sentiments, for which I cannot in any way 
 account. It has even become impossible to hear 
 the music of Rossini, without becoming sorrowful, 
 and yet I attended to witness his masterpieces, 
 while in Italy, with comparative indifference. I 
 was, however, last night, forced to leave the 
 theatre before the performance of La Gazza 
 Ladra had been half finished ; for I could no
 
 ^nSERIKS OF EXILE. 51 
 
 longer resist tlie oppression that came over my 
 spiiits. I suppose it was the malady of absence 
 and exile. What a sorcery does not the sweet 
 recollection of country exercise on us ! It is 
 a phantom which appears as often as something 
 national calls it forth, pursuing and forsaking us, 
 after having made our tears flow. — By way of 
 increasing the miseries of exile to an Italian, tliere 
 is scarcely an agreeable sensation that does not 
 remind him of Italy. A bouquet of flowers, a 
 limpid stream, statue, picture, or a beautiful 
 woman, are all so many mementos of ill-fated 
 Italy, But I must stop, lest this should become 
 an elegy instead of a letter. 
 
 P. 8. I have at last received a letter from mv 
 sister, via Huningen, without date or signature ; 
 written with an apparent coldness, and in a strain 
 of tantalizing enigma. What, therefore, must be 
 the terror spread through all the families of Lom- 
 bardy by the Austrian Inquisition, since a sister 
 cannot afford the consolations of relationship to 
 her brother ? I tremble ! The newly enacted 
 laws in Piedmont, menace fathers, wives and 
 sisters who send any relief to relatives accused of 
 state crimes, or who are exiled from the kingdom, 
 with the severest penalties : yet there are thou- 
 sands who labour night and day to convince us 
 ti)at oiu- fellow citizens, the people, have neither 
 
 E "2
 
 52 REFUGEES. 
 
 any riglit nor motive for demanding a reform of 
 their government and laws ! 
 
 I understand there are more than five hun- 
 dred Piedmontese refugees at Barcelona, Tarra- 
 gona, and Valencia. The Cortes have just decreed 
 that a monthly stipend shall be allowed to each, 
 to be proportioned to their rank in life, or the 
 place they filled under the Constitutional govern- 
 ment. The Spaniards have acted towards Italy 
 like him who allows his friend to be knocked 
 down without coming to his assistance, and then 
 runs to raise him up, overpowering him with the 
 most generous care and sympathy.
 
 ORIGINALITY. 53 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 iMatlml, lOth July, 1821. 
 
 Your own country possesses a number of ori- 
 ginals, but the people of Spain are all original ; 
 they resemble no other nation, nor is it possible to 
 define them. The European public, fancy they 
 can become acquainted with the Spanish character 
 through the perusal of histories and romances : 
 although both have given but very imperfect no- 
 tions on the subject. Don Quixote and Gil Bias 
 may be said to describe the manners and customs 
 of the people, rather than their real character ; 
 while the history of Spahi, like all other histories, 
 pourtrays the bad passions of princes, rather than 
 the qualities of their subjects. 
 
 Who does not expect to find hypocrisy, espion- 
 age and superstition, deep rooted amongst all 
 classes of a people, which has been governed by 
 priests and the Inquisition for the last three hun- 
 dred years ? Yet this is very far from being the 
 case : it would be difficult if not impossible to 
 name a country, wherein so few hypocrites are to
 
 S4f MISTAKEN NOTIONS. 
 
 be found, if we except siicli places as the Royal 
 Chapel, where sinners meet to beat their breasts 
 in token of false contrition, under the very eyes 
 of the sovereign. Even the monks have more 
 ferocity than deception : as to spies and informers 
 they are held in the greatest abhorrence here. 
 The late infamous government was extremely 
 anxious to organize a police system on the model 
 of various others scattered about Europe, more 
 especially that of France and Austria, but the plan 
 could not be carried into effect, for want of instru- 
 ments sufficiently base and abandoned to put it 
 into execution. 
 
 A French novel, entitled " Le Compare Ma- 
 thieiiy'^ represents the Spaniards as being ridicii- 
 loHsly superstitious. This opinion is about as well 
 founded, as would that of a reader of " Don 
 Quixote,'* who supposed every body in Spain was 
 a knight errant. Great care should always be 
 taken to distinguish between superstition and into- 
 lerance. If the latter error, or rather crime, be laid 
 to the charge of Spain, I am sorry I cannot defend 
 her. There are unhappily too many M^itnesses to 
 prove the fact ! Moors, Jews, Americans : nay 
 the Constitution itself j which declares Catholicism 
 to be the only trite religion /* The legislators of 
 
 * ha unica verdadera. However absurd anil irrational this 
 article of the political code may appear, it was considered as in- 
 dispensable by the framcrs of tho social compact, as the only
 
 FANATICISM. 5.5 
 
 1812, were obliged to pay this humiliating tribute 
 to universal prejudice ; but with respect to super- 
 stition and bigotry, I laugh with the " Compere 
 MathieUf*^ because he makes me do so, though 1 
 differ from him most decidedly. 
 
 There were no less than eighty churches here 
 some years ago,* ninety at Seville, and an equal 
 proportion in all the other large cities. There 
 were also above three thousand convents in 
 Spain ; and yet the people are not so full of 
 religious habits as in Italy. You do not for in- 
 stance, see half so many Madonas, saints, angels 
 and devils at every corner in the towns of Spain, 
 as are so conspicuous at Florence, Genoa, Milan, 
 Naples and Venice ; nor so many sanctuaries, 
 crosses, and crucifixes on all the paths and high- 
 ways in Lombardy ;t on Sunday the people do 
 not go and shut themselves up in church-yards, 
 and methodist chapels, as in England, nor do they 
 count half so many rosaries as in Italy. Having 
 seen the ceremony of Corpus Domini since my 
 arrival at Madrid, I can assure you that the most 
 
 means of securing the co-operation of the more ignorant portion of 
 the comruiinity.— Ed, 
 
 * The author is considerably under the mark. There being- 
 even now, above a iiundrod and forty churches at Madrid. — Ed. 
 
 t He might also have added France, where tliis symbol 
 has been amazingly nndtiplied since the return of the Bourbons 
 and their ultra-royalist followers. — Ed.
 
 o6 PAPAL INFLUENCK. 
 
 brilliant public walk of Italy is neither so gay nor 
 amusing. The devotion might have been inwardly 
 felt, but it certainly did not appear on the coun- 
 tenances of the multitude. I should even have 
 been almost justified in accusing the patron saint 
 of vanity, as he was placed in the midst of an ele- 
 gant parterre of flowers, ornamented with festoons 
 of silver lace, as if the pageant had been intended 
 for the celebration of a wedding. 
 
 When the Monks excited the people to rise 
 against the French in 1812, by declaring them 
 heretics, the former were abolished by the Cortes, 
 and both them and the people were tranquil. 
 Lately, when the Pope refused to grant Bulls to the 
 two Bishops named by government, a statesman, 
 who was well acquainted with his country, said : 
 *• The Court of Rome had better take care, it does 
 not perhaps know that the people of Spain may 
 before ten years elapse, end by shaking off the 
 Papal yoke altogether." I again repeat that this 
 Ration is undefinable. 
 
 Who would not also imagine that after having 
 lived under a despotic sceptre ever since the reign 
 of Charles V. the people of Spain did not become 
 mean, corrupt and grovelling ? Such a supposi- 
 tion would be as incorrect as the former : the 
 Spaniard has lived as proudly under slavery as 
 Ciiarles XII, at Bender, and has emerged from it 
 more pure, than any nation of Europe. A Spa- 
 niard will bow to one who is richer than himself
 
 EQUALITY. 57 
 
 from politeness, but never through a feeling oi' 
 inferiority. When he goes before a person of rarik 
 you do not see him bend to the earth, nor is he 
 either embarrassed or confused ; he proceeds as 
 every one ought who feels the dignity of his na- 
 ture. While on our journey to Madrid, I observed 
 that after saluting M. Bardaxi with the greatest 
 ease, postmasters and alcaldes entered into fami- 
 liar conversation with the minister, and even 
 lighted their segars with that which he himself 
 was smoking : do not however conclude from this, 
 that it partakes of an undue relaxation of man- 
 ners. The Duke de Medinaceli, though a pre- 
 tender to the throne, is at this moment. Constitu- 
 tional Alcalde to one of the districts of the capital, 
 that is to say a high constable. In this office, 
 which was conferred on his Grace by the people 
 last year, he is as subordinate to the Municipality, 
 as the shoemaker who happens to be placed in a 
 similar situation. 
 
 There are many parts of the Peninsula in which 
 the ears of a Spaniard were never struck by the 
 sound of 1/ our excelleiici/. The same difficulty of com- 
 munication, that impeded the circulation of know- 
 ledge, also prevented the progress of corruption. 
 Excepting a few grandees, scarcely any of the 
 rich live in the villages ; so that the eyes of the 
 poor are not offended by the presence of luxury 
 and parade : thus it is too, that the people are not 
 accustomed to the language of arrogance and pride.
 
 58 DIGNITY AND PRIDE. 
 
 SO prevalent in otlier countries. I once ventured to 
 raise my voice a little above the ordinary pitch, to 
 a j)ostilion, who seemed to be as indifferent about 
 the safety of my neck as his own, when his com- 
 panions immediately reminded me that, *' I was 
 no longer in Italy, where the people are treated 
 like negroes." It is needless to add, that I took 
 the hint. A peasant who had furnished some 
 supplies to the British army, during the late war, 
 one day attended at the head-quarters of the 
 English general Beresford to be paid. After hav- 
 ing dismissed several other Portuguese claimants, 
 this officer told the Spaniard, who came last, to 
 witlidraw, for he had not time to attend to him ; 
 scarcely had the mandate escaped liis lips, when 
 the enraged Iberian drew a poignard from imder 
 his cloak, and flew at the general, who would 
 infallibly have perished, had it not been for the 
 prompt interference of those present. 
 
 That prodigious difference between the higher 
 and lower classes observable in Italy, is altogether 
 unknown in the Spanish provinces. Here, there 
 are no exclusive privileges for the rich and great 
 in society. Spain has its follies like other coun- 
 tries. There is still a good deal of Mahometan 
 blood to be met with, and as to genealogical, they 
 are much more numerous than fruit trees : but 
 you look in vain for what are called the fashiona- 
 ble circle. Thus it is that the less custom with- 
 draws us from our natural wants, the less inequal-
 
 INDEPENDENCE. ,'5f) 
 
 ity do we find amongst mankind. The eloak, oil, 
 segar, siesta, and bull feasts, place all the inhabi- 
 tants of Spain nearly on a level. 
 
 Those travellers, who represent a Spaniard 
 enveloped in his cloak up to the eyes, with a 
 frowning aspect and silent as one who meditates 
 some act of vengeance against a rival, have 
 formed an erroneous opinion. It is true, re- 
 venge is not only a pleasure, but also a duty, 
 since he who suffers an affront to pass unpunished 
 becomes himself an object of public scorn ; but 
 revenge is not that which engrosses his thoughts. 
 When I see a Castilian wrapped up in his mantle, 
 and standing still for several hours, without speak- 
 ing or appearing to suffer the least tedium, I am 
 rather inclined to regard him as a being who 
 depends neither on men nor events, who though 
 he may despise nothing, is yet indifferent to fate 
 and a stranger to fear. Neither honorary decora- 
 tions, fine uniforms, laced coats, nor powdered 
 wigs, excite his notice or respect ; woman alone is 
 an objectof curiosity and homage with a Spaniard. 
 
 We passe'd through four provinces with two 
 carriages of an elegant form and almost unknown 
 to Spain, yet I never saw a single individual 
 deign to turn his head aside to look at us during 
 the whole of our route. On expressing my 
 astonishment to those around me, they merely 
 replied, that Wellington, crowned with victory, 
 had experienced the same fate !
 
 Go PECULIARITIES. 
 
 Spanish pride, is neither the vanity of France, 
 the bombast of Germany, nor the feudal ferocity of 
 Russia. It is not exercised by one chiss towards 
 another : it does not exist amongst any particular 
 cast, but is general throughout the whole popula- 
 tion. The Royal Family, Grandees, and Ministers 
 are alike affable, it is the people who are proud. 
 So that what is a vice in an individual becomes 
 a virtue with the nation. Spaniards will not yet 
 admit having discomfited Napoleon by the assist- 
 ance of the English : they are more ready to praise 
 the valour of their enemies than that of their 
 allies. In 1808, Spain was nearly over-run by the 
 French armies, Cadiz and Corunna were the only 
 points that resisted. There were neither troops, 
 arms nor money, when General Moore present- 
 ed himself before these places, with twenty 
 thousand men, and ten millions in specie ; yet his 
 proffered aid was rejected at both places. Where, 
 except amongst the heroes of Ariosto, are such 
 romantic acts to be found ? The Romans boasted 
 of selling the camp of Hannibal w hile he besieged 
 the city : in 1811, when Cadiz was closely invested 
 by a French army, the Cortes discussed and com- 
 pleted the constitutional code, although the ene- 
 mies shells were falling at the doors of Compress ! 
 One of the most extraordinary circumstances 
 connected with the national character of Spain, 
 is the state of abandonment in which the past 
 fame and glories of the nation are left There
 
 INDIFFERENCE. 61 
 
 is not a single history, nor even any memoirs of 
 the late war,*- so proHfic in great actions : poople 
 speak of it, as of a matter that is out of date ; it 
 would seem, in fact, that in the eyes of the nation 
 at least,the traits of valour, unexampled sacrifices, 
 and sufferings of every kind, so widely extended 
 and patiently borne during the war of independ- 
 ence, were concerns of the most natural and ordi- 
 nary description. Spain has required no other 
 recompence, nor given itself any title but that of 
 heroic. This appellation is perhaps somew^hat 
 gigantic, but it offends no one ; on the contrary, 
 when France styled itself la grande nation^ it 
 wounded the self-love of all others, which, by a 
 parity of reasoning, then became petty states. 
 
 After the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon con- 
 sidered the English nation as the most generous ; 
 he deceived himself, and found chains where he 
 expected hospitality. If the people of Spain had 
 been free in 1815, they would not have outraged 
 and sacrificed the modern Themistocles who so- 
 locited an asylum on their shores : do not remind 
 me of the detention experienced by Francis I., in 
 
 * It can hardly be wondered at, that tlie author did not see 
 the memoirs of the late war, by Salmon, of which four small 
 volumes were published at Madrid, in 1812, containing a mere dry 
 detail of facts, without having any claims to the dignity ol 
 history. — Ed.
 
 62 NAPOLEON. 
 
 a tower of Madrid for nearly two years ; it was 
 the effect of a base vengeance on the part of an 
 Anstrian, Charles V., wlio, like the princes of Bar- 
 bary, ill-treated his prisoner, in order to obtain a 
 larii^er ransom. Scarcely had Napoleon been over- 
 thrown, when the hatred of the Spaniards ceased. 
 The late Emperor is only spoken of here, as the 
 greatest man who has appeared since the time of 
 Julius Caesar. Not the smallest insult was pro- 
 nounced on his tomb ; so far from it, his eulo- 
 gium was heard wdthout a single dissentient voice ; 
 while the journals of Madrid spoke of this immor- 
 tal man, with the same impartiality that history 
 will judge him.* 
 
 The character of the Spanish people was ob- 
 scured and disfigured by the rust of despotism ; 
 and like an old picture covered with dust, it 
 requires much rubbing to bring out the brilliancy 
 of its colours ; this work will be accomplished by 
 liberty. Even now, Europe has no longer the 
 
 * No people of Europe, not even those who had been so often 
 vanquished and humiliated by Napoleon, had a greater dislike to 
 the Conqueror while he reigned, than the people of Spain. Yet is 
 it a positive fact, that his death has not produced a more painful sen- 
 sation any where, than throughout the Peninsula. It was impossible 
 for the people of this country to witness the rights of hospitality 
 and laws of nations violated in his person, with indifference ; 
 much less see a great man, abandoned by the whole universe, 
 suffered to perish on a rock, after having filled the world with his 
 fame.
 
 ECCENTRICITY. 63 
 
 same opinion she formerly entertained of tlic 
 Peninsula, and from satire has passed to admira- 
 tion. 
 
 Why, I would ask, cannot the people of Spain, 
 who are so attached to fre dom, preserve that 
 Avhich they have recently conquered : since they 
 could, during three centuries, bear up against an 
 unexampled despotism, with a degree of patience 
 and constancy that has no precedent ? Why can- 
 not such a people support the blessings of liberty ? 
 I trust and hope this country may remain free, 
 if not through its virtues, at least by its character. 
 This singular people may be compared to a bonze, 
 which having once assumed an attitude, preserves 
 it during the rest of his life. Perhaps you ima- 
 gine that it was through corruption or debasement, 
 the Spaniard bore his slavery so long? By no 
 means, it has been tolerated, not through vice, 
 but from a principle of virtue. I will explain 
 m} self : the same firmness which enabled him to 
 sustain hunger, thirst, and every other privation, 
 whether in the wars of Europe, or wilds of Ame- 
 rica, has also induced him to tolerate the caprice 
 of Kings and the atrocities of Inquisitors ; and 
 finally, since nothing has been done for the last 
 twenty years to eradicate the plague, why should 
 they think of destroying the Constitution ? 
 
 P. S. You tell me that Roscoe, the historian 
 of the Medici family, is occupied in writing a
 
 f)'l< ROSCOE AND SISMONDI. 
 
 book against Sismondi, and in defence of the for- 
 mer. Brav^o ! It is not enough that the British 
 Cabinet should protect the Uving oppressors of 
 ItaUan Uberty, but the literati of that nation must 
 write panegyrics on her former tyrants ! Will 
 the libraries, statues, pictures and public edifices 
 of the Medici, ever compensate the Tuscans, for 
 the liberty which was torn from them by this 
 hypocritical family ? Are not the tactics of des- 
 potism sufficiently notorious ? From Pericles down 
 to the present day, have not despots made use 
 of the fine arts and splendid monuments to 
 amuse the people, as play-things are given to 
 children ?
 
 A STATEMENT. f)5 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 Madrid, July 25th, 1821. 
 
 I PERCEIVE by your last letter, that you are not 
 satisfied as to the solidity of the constitutional 
 edifice in Spain. The national character which I 
 lately sketched, does not afford sufficient data, 
 and is too philosophic ; hence your wish to know 
 whether there are no other pillars to support the 
 structure, because, we ought not to calculate too 
 much on the disposition of a people, nor that of 
 an individual. Gil Bias, as you very justly observe, 
 was born to be an honest member of society, and 
 ended by becoming a highwayman. 
 
 Since, however, you prefer demonstrations to 
 conjecture, I will proceed to speak arithmetically, 
 in the following debtor and creditor statement of 
 the Spanish constitution. 
 
 Aujciliari/ Aids of the Constitution. 
 
 1st. The standing, now the national army, 
 and that which effected the revolution. The fear
 
 Gf) NATIONAL MILITIA. 
 
 of ignominy and public opinion ; its interest in a 
 system of equality and impartiality in the promo- 
 tions : above all, the love of glory and wish to 
 identify the regular army and political code. 
 
 2nd. The national militia ; distinguished by 
 the title of active and local : the former, are well 
 dressed, disciplined and armed ; they super- 
 intend the internal tranquillity of the com- 
 munes. There are at Barcelona alone, six 
 thousand men of this description, which would 
 bear an advantageous comparison with the best 
 regiments of the line. The active militia is a very 
 old institution in several of the provinces, which 
 has been improved and extended to all the rest 
 since the establishment of the constitutional 
 system ; when completely organized, it will 
 amount to eighty- seven thousand men. 
 
 3rd. Secret societies, thus called, though they 
 are only so by name : these are powerful by their 
 number, activity and vigilance ; patriotic Juntas, 
 which are established in all the large towns. 
 Lastly, all the enlightened portion of the com- 
 munity, who were, and would again become, 
 objects of persecution to despotism and the 
 Inquisition, if a re-action took place. 
 
 4th. The creditors of the state, who calculate 
 on being reimbursed by the sale of the national 
 domains, church property and inscriptions on the 
 great book, as it is called. The public debt of 
 Spain does not exceed one hundred and fifty mil-
 
 FEUDAL RieHTS. C)"/ 
 
 lions sterling ; while it is calculated that there is 
 capital to treble that amount, to cov^r it, between 
 the church property already ap})ropriatcd and 
 that which is still to be made available to the 
 wants of the nation. To the above may be added, 
 the purchasers of national property ; and com- 
 mercial men of every class, who feel they can only 
 prosper under laws which shall afford protection 
 to their persons and property. 
 
 5th. All those to whom the country is dear, 
 and who so bitterly deplored the degradation of 
 the monarchy under the late destructive system. 
 Every one who foresees centuries of riches and 
 prosperi y, if Spain will but patiently wait the 
 effects of the new institutions. 
 
 6th. The great mass of the peasantry, which is 
 already relieved from half the weight of tythes 
 as it will doubtless be so ere long, from the 
 feudal imposts paid to the grandees.* 
 
 * The aulbor has been misinfonned, there are no feudal rights 
 left in Spain : those to which he doubtless alludes, are certain 
 charges which the public still pay to the grandees, and of which 
 the origin is buried in obscurity. The latter pretend that these 
 tributes originated in purchases and loans at interest, while the 
 forroer maintain thoy spring from concessions and feudal privileges 
 arbitrarily exacted : these imposts only exist in some^ of the 
 provinces. 
 
 The last Cortes prepared and discussed a law on this subject, 
 but it did not receive the royal sanction. By the terms of this 
 decree, all those who insisted on the payment of such imposts, 
 
 F 'Z
 
 (58 ARISTOCRACY. 
 
 ytli. The younger sons of noblemen and 
 otliers, \vho, by the extinction of the laws on 
 primogeniture, regain their natural rights. 
 
 8th. Though last not least ; the spirit of the 
 age, which has an inevitable tendency towards 
 freedom. 
 
 Forces operating against the Constitution. 
 
 1st. The drones of the Court ; all those who are 
 accustomed to live by favours and gifts. The 
 majority of the nobles who enjoy privileges and 
 distinctions. It is, however, but justice to add, 
 that up to the present moment, the nobility have 
 tranquilly borne the sacrifices required by their 
 country. 
 
 2nd. The elder sons of those families in which 
 there were large entails, (their number is very 
 small). Those proi)rietors to whose prejudice the 
 feudal rights and privileges wdll be abolished, are 
 powerful though not numerous. 
 
 were required to produce their original titles of acquisition ; but 
 as during the various wars to which Spain has been exposed, a 
 great number of Archives have become a prey to the flames and 
 other accidents, it would have been impossible for the grandees 
 to produce such documents and proofs as were callecl for, the law 
 would have been very prejudicial to many proprietors. 
 
 In order to conciliate the interests of the people with that jus- 
 tice and respect which is due to property, M. Garelli, the new 
 miaister of justice, has presented the draft of another law to the 
 Cortes.
 
 CLEllGY. 69 
 
 3rd. Archbisliops, bishops, chapters, canons, 
 &c. who lose their enormous revenues and fat 
 livings. There were two thousand of the hitter, 
 many of whom enjoyed prebendaries to the amount 
 of £10,000 per annum. The numerous troops of 
 monks who have lost the fruits of their benefices, 
 and their influence on society. The clergy of 
 Spain, secular and regular, docs not, however, ex- 
 ceed, 80,000 individuals.* 
 
 4th. Nearly all the old generals, and to whom the 
 nation in a great measure owes its independence. 
 How is it possible for the victors of Baylen and 
 San Marcial patiently to suffer their names to be 
 forgotten for those of the heroes of Las Cabezas 
 and San Fernando.f 
 
 6th. Old habits of slavery, and the idolatiy of 
 the throne.J 
 
 * This number is considerably under-rated, with the exception 
 of the bishops and a few monks, it may be said tliat the Spanish 
 clergy is satisfied with the new order of things, since it facilitates 
 their secularization, and permits them to leave their cloisters, 
 which they very generally detest. 
 
 t The general officers here alluded to, form but a very small 
 number, and are not all enemies to the constitutional system, 
 which has in no respect, clashed either witli their self-love or 
 personal interest. Nearly all those who have contributed to the 
 establishment of the Constitution fought at the battles of Haylen 
 and San Marcial. 
 
 t The habits of slavery are neither so great or inveterate in 
 Spain, as most people suppose. Besides those provinces that have
 
 70 LA SIKSTA. 
 
 6tli. Tlie new duties of registry and patents, 
 which oppose sellers, buyers and artisans. 
 
 7th. I leave you to divine wliat is the seventh 
 counteracting power, for I will have no dispute 
 with any thing that emanates from the divi- 
 nity. 
 
 From the above picture, you will perceive that 
 the numerical force, that which is armed, and the 
 moral power of the nation, defend the new code. 
 It can therefore onlv die throuofh suicide. 
 
 I shall quit pohtics for a moment, to inform 
 you that the heat is insupportable. The thermo- 
 meter has been at above ninety degrees of Faren- 
 heit for more than a week. During the day time, 
 all the houses of Madrid continue in the greatest 
 obscurity ; and the shops are shut from two till 
 four, as these are the hours in which every body 
 indulges in the siesta, an operation so simulta- 
 neous, that it resembles a military evolution. 
 
 always enjoyed a certain degree of liberty, more especially Na- 
 varre, Biscay, and the Asturias, the natural pride of Spaniards 
 and their love of independence, have preserved a firmness of 
 character which would never suffer them to humiliate or debase 
 themselves. The respect for the throne has never degenerated 
 into idolatry : it must also be allowed that anarchy has more 
 frequently dominated in Spain than despotism : nothing is more 
 common than to hear a Spaniard of the lowest class exclaim, " Yo 
 so^ tan bueno corno el Rey;" " I am as good as the King!" 
 ^' Yo no vulgn menon que el Rey,''
 
 ANDALUSIA. Jl 
 
 The inhabitants of Andalusia contrive to kill 
 time somewhat better than their neighbours ; the 
 Moors, the former masters of that province, having 
 been for many centuries obliged to carry on a de- 
 fensive war against the sun, constructed porticoes 
 all round the internal square or court yard of their 
 houses, in the midst of which are seen fountains : 
 an awning shields the whole of the court from 
 its rays, while the water is thrown up to a consi- 
 derable height, thus refreshing and purifying the 
 air. It is under these porticoes, and in the midst 
 of vases filled with orange trees and flowers, that 
 the Andalusians pass their hours during the intense 
 heat of summer. It is also in these bowers that 
 the tall and slender gaditanas exercise the magic 
 of their killing eyes and graceful forms, embellish- 
 ed by a much softer and more agreeable pronunci- 
 ation than that of the Castilian fair. Lord Byron 
 did not exaggerate when he compared Andalusia 
 to a harem.
 
 '1^ SPANISH \VOMEN. 
 
 LETTER XL 
 
 Madrid, July 30, 1821. 
 
 I TOTALLY forgot ill my last letter to point out 
 another very powerful support of the new code. 
 You must know that in Spain, all the pretty women 
 are constitutionalists. If, for example, yourself and 
 your three sisters, were walking on the Prado, 
 the crowd would immediately exclaim, " there 
 goes a family of liberals !'^ Because here, youth 
 and beauty are the surest signs of liberalism. 
 Last year when Riego made his triumphant en- 
 try into Madrid, the most beautiful women of 
 Spain smiled upon him, while the fairest hands 
 threw flowers into the vehicle which bore him 
 through the streets. All the remarkable days of 
 Spanish liberty are celebrated by dances ; women 
 are the first to applaud those passages in plays, 
 which are favourable to freedom, some of them 
 even address the editors of newspapers in praise 
 of the goddess. Many celebrated Amazons of 
 Spanish freedom are to be found at Cadiz and
 
 A rORTKAIT. 7'3 
 
 Valencia : but the most interestiiiix of all, is a 
 young female, to whom T had the satisfaction of 
 being introduced some days after my arrival at 
 Madrid. You will now be able to judge whether 
 I know liow to select a fine picture in the living 
 gallery of Spain. Her head })artakes of that 
 charming contour which foreigners are never tired 
 of admiring in most of the Spanish women ; though 
 somewhat fiery, there is yet an ineffable expression 
 of suavity in her large blue eyes : her cheeks bear 
 those tints which excited the fears of Caesar on 
 the part of Brutus and Cassius, rather than the 
 carnation that bespeaks a heart at ease ; it can- 
 not be said she is as beautiful as one of Morillo's 
 virgins, but she possesses that which painters find 
 most difficult to pourtray — expression. One day 
 she is gay and animated as a bacchante, and on the 
 next, sorrowful as a Madonna. Her feet, person 
 and gait are those of a Terpsichore ; with her, no- 
 thing is studied, all is natural. Her dress is com- 
 posed of black silk, trimmed with a long fringe of 
 the same material, and reaching down to an instep 
 of the most perfect symmetry. A rose placed in 
 the midst of her ebon tresses, forms a delightful 
 contrast to their glossy hues ; these and a white 
 embroidered veil thrown over her shoulders, and 
 reaching nearly to the ground, is her invariable 
 costume, for it is national. She never appears in 
 public, except accompanied by some officer who
 
 /i RIEGO. 
 
 has deserved well of his country : when at liome, 
 she resembles Armida in the camp of Godfrey, 
 surrounded by adoring warriors. She surpasses 
 every other Spanish beauty in the eloquence of the 
 flm, expressing in its varied movements, resent- 
 ment, forgiveness, indifference, affection, and all 
 the sentiments of the mind. In days of calmness 
 and tranquillity, she touches her piano ; when the 
 nation is agitated, recourse is had to the harp, 
 which by her manner of striking its cords, would 
 appease tlie most irritated combatants : if liberty 
 be menaced, she seizes her lute and makes the 
 house resound with lliego's hymn. 
 
 This wonderful girl, is no less attached to 
 liberty than she is to the object of her affections. 
 Her heart was given to a young officer who was last 
 year one of the first to raise the cry of Spanish 
 regeneration. Figure to yourself, what must have 
 been her suffering's durino; the tlirce months he 
 was figliting for iieedom in the midst of so many 
 perils ! 
 
 The day in wliich Riego entered Madrid, and 
 just as he alighted from his carriage, a young and 
 beautiful female was seen making her way through 
 the crowd which surrounded the patriot chief: on 
 reaching the spot, she took his arm, and would 
 not give it up till he retired from public view. 
 This was the modern Armida; she could not be 
 prevailed on to leave the hero who had encoun-
 
 I'EIISECUTION. 7<5 
 
 tered the same dangers as her lover ! Mow easy 
 would it have been for Madame de Stael to convert 
 this real heroine into the Corinna of Spain ! 
 
 Radice,* has this moment entered my room, and 
 produced a list of condemned Piedmontese patriots 
 as long as a piece of cambric, in which himself and 
 about thirty more, are said to have been hung a 
 fortnight ago at Turin. Thanks to the metem- 
 psychosis, these pretended sufferers have all 
 resuscitated, either in Switzerland or Spain. Be 
 this as it may, the odds are most unequal. In 
 order to punish the errors of Princes, the people 
 content themselves with offering a constitution, as a 
 kind of Jubilee to their sins. Princes on the other 
 hand, are revenged by trampling on their subjects. 
 
 Will a constitution be always the sign of a 
 
 general absolution ? Time, a better oracle 
 
 than I am, will answer this question. Meanwhile, I 
 can assure you Radice is safe and sound at Madrid ; 
 he intends moreover to preserve the sentence as 
 a precious title deed, that will one day insure him 
 the thanks of his country. 
 
 * This bravo and amiable young officer, is araongst those 
 Piedmontese patriots condemned to deatli since tlie accession of 
 Charles Felix. He is like the rest of his countrymen suffering 
 all the evils which follow in the train of proscription and 
 exile. — Ed.
 
 7^ A GEXKKAL. 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 Madrid, August 5th, 1821. 
 
 You wish to kno\^^the general who is likely to 
 command the Spanish army, if this country is 
 menaced by its enemies ? I can safely reply they 
 do not any longer stand in need of the great Wel- 
 lington, they possess one still more phlegmatic and 
 redoubtable. The general to wliom I allude, 
 fought through all the campaigns during the war 
 of independence, is still in the vigour of manhood, 
 and known to every Spaniard, for he is in the 
 mouths of all. 15ut it is time to mention -his 
 name : he is called General No Importa ! It is 
 an incontestible fact that these two words, emble- 
 matical of the most obstinate courage, performed 
 prodigies in the course of the late struggle, if they 
 were not these which vanquished the legions of 
 Napoleon. On hearing of defeat after defeat, the 
 invariable answer of government was. No Importa^ 
 No Reinara en Espaha^ Jose Napoleon. No mas- 
 ter, Joseph Napoleon shall not rule in Spain.
 
 REFLECTIONS. 77 
 
 When routed, soldiers and generals fled, and unit- 
 ed at some other point to be again beaten and again 
 encouraged with the official reply of No Importa. 
 Of what importance in fact, could the lossof a battle 
 or fortress be, where the people had sworn to bury 
 themselves under the ruins of their country rather 
 than submit to a foreign yoke ? The object of the 
 Spaniards was not glory, but independence : and 
 this was to be more easily attained by constancy 
 than valour. Had they only fought for honour, 
 the war would have terminated with the battle of 
 Tudela. Honour is of such a mysterious and 
 inexplicable nature, that on receiving the least 
 check, it often loses the power of action ; this is so 
 true, that the man who looks to the end instead of 
 glory has always an advantage over his rival or 
 opponent. It was thus, that both Charles V. 
 without the bravery of Francis I. and Peter the 
 Great, without being so great a general as Charles 
 XII. of Sweden, ended by being victorious. The 
 Spanish army, also imbued with the prejudices so 
 generally entertained with regard to honour, at 
 first conceived that all was lost because it hap- 
 pened to be beaten. Government had great dif- 
 ficulty in destroying this fatal prepossession, and 
 only succeeded in doing so, by creating the Guer- 
 illas, who had no other ambition than of discom- 
 fiting the enemy, not by a few partial advantages, 
 but at the termination of the war. With tliese 
 views, if beaten and dispersed, they lost no time
 
 78 ITALY. 
 
 in re-uniting to renew the contest ; when 
 inferior in number they fled : if advantageously 
 posted they held out, and when strongest, lost no 
 time in attacking. The troops of the line, ani- 
 mated by this example, were at length convinced 
 that the best player is him who gains in the end. 
 The above tact, or rather philosophy, is perhaps 
 applicable to the fate of Italy. What if she has 
 yielded to an auxiliary and preponderating force ; 
 and through unheard of treasons ! She has now 
 passed under the miserable and iron sway of 
 Austria, but with the firm determination to raise 
 the standard of independence on a future day. 
 My unhappy country ought to act like a wounded 
 combatant, who only w\aits the cure of his wounds 
 to return to the charge.
 
 LA BELLA SFORTUNATA. 79 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 MadriJ, August 10th, 1821. 
 
 La Bella Sfortunatay and under which you so 
 aptly designate Italy, is more wretched than ever. 
 Every day adds to the number of exiles, transpor- 
 tations, plunder of property under the title of 
 confiscations, and sentences of death. The Italian 
 courier who brings the mail to Spain is styled the 
 messenger of Avernus, because he brings little 
 more than lists of persons who have been juri- 
 dically assassinated. I would have defied Shake- 
 speare himself, to conceive a more atrocious 
 tragedy than that which is now representing in 
 Italy. To complete the barbarous absurdity, and 
 at the same time amuse the spectators, by some- 
 thing burlesque, all that they require is, a bull of 
 excommunication from the Pope. 
 
 In order to dissipate the impression which the 
 above intelligence produced on my spirits this 
 morning, I determined to visit the booksellers of 
 Madrid, in whose sliops Spanish sobriety is also 
 observable. After much research, I at last found
 
 80 LORD BYRON. 
 
 Walter Scott, tlic object of your predilection, in 
 tiie shop of a iMenchnian established here. I do 
 not know whetiier this M'riter has yet found his 
 way to Spanish readers ; but I should think not. 
 The Spaniards are completely cured of the mania 
 of romance reading ; with them, the day for idyls 
 and sonnets has gone by ; so that their trouba- 
 dours are now converted into journalists. 
 
 Though I also looked for Byron with as much 
 zeal and avidity, as an Inquisitor would some 
 years ago have sought to discover the Social 
 Contract of Rousseau, 1 have never been able to 
 iind any of his works ; I am however told, a com- 
 plete edition may be shortly expected. I am im- 
 patient to read the prophecy of Dante and Marino 
 Faliero ; I hope his Lordship's magnanimous bile 
 has not forgotten the Austrian government. It 
 has indeed, however, a powerful enemy in this great 
 poet, and yet it has not ventured to disturb the 
 tranquillity he continues to enjoy at Ravenna. A 
 simple citizen of England insults the Atlas of des- 
 potism with impunity ! Is not the courage which 
 Byron now displays in Italy more to be applauded 
 than that of Lord Ex mouth before Algiers ? 
 
 Schiller and Byron are the two bards of liberty, 
 whose verses are not yet known here. Alfieri was 
 more fortunate ; his tragedies are read and under- 
 stood throughout Spain : a few, such as Virginia, 
 Brutus, and Philip, have been translated. The last 
 named has been performed here two or three times
 
 NATIONAL LIBIIAUY. 81 
 
 (luring tlie present week ; the actors were not ap- 
 plauded because they did not deserve it, but ani])le 
 justice was done to the author, by the flattering tes- 
 timonies of the audience, many of wliich I myself 
 heard. Rossini, with his brilHant musical compo- 
 sitions, and Alfieri, by his splendid tragedies, serve 
 to draw still closer those ties which should bind 
 Italy and Spain together. 
 
 I have visited the public, or national library, 
 close to the Hall of Cortes ; the warders and ser- 
 vants are more numerous than readers.* Like the 
 AJrancesadoSy the philosophers of the eighteenth 
 century have only been amnestied by halves, and 
 are therefore as yetfarfrom enjoying all their riglits. 
 Voltaire still inhabits a cave underground, enclosed 
 by two iron doors, like the dens of wild animals. On 
 askine: for Robertson's Charles V., I was told that 
 this heretical writer had never been admitted into 
 tlie library, though a great heretical general had 
 been allowed to re-establish the Grand Inquisitor. 
 
 * I have reason to tliink the above is a soniew^bat hasty con- 
 clvision ; it is true, the present state of Spain affords but very Uttlo 
 time to those who might wish to profit by the national hbrary; but 
 it is impossible to visit Madrid and the other large towns of Spain, 
 without being forcibly struck by the spirit of inquiry that has 
 sprung up ; and above all, the activity of booksellers. It is even 
 probable that if the author was called upon to revise his tour, the 
 population of the capital would be introduced as showing a very 
 great disposition to profit by this establishment, which bids fair to 
 be one of the finest in Europe. — Ed. 
 
 G
 
 8^ SPANISH PIITLOSOPHERS. 
 
 If you could see the booksellers' shops of Madrid, 
 and more especially the private houses, you would 
 never be induced to attribute the enthusiasm of li- 
 berty to an over fondness for reading. It is, how- 
 ever, much better that a love of freedom should be 
 a natural sentiment, as it is in Spain, for it is then 
 sure to be more resolute and solid. A man of 
 letters one day observed to me, that he thought 
 the priests would never dare impute the propaga- 
 tion of liberal ideas to the philosophers of Spain, 
 which she did not possess.* In my opinion, either 
 too much injury or too much honour has been 
 done to writers of this class in attributing revolu- 
 tions to them. In Spain, where nothing could or 
 has been read for above three centuries, can it be 
 said that books brought about the revolution of 
 1812? Was it books or the good sense of the 
 people, that established liberty at Rome and 
 Athens ? Was it philosophy or tyranny that ex- 
 cited the people to raise the statue of liberty in 
 the early republics of Italy, Switzerland and Hol- 
 land? Was it not the injustice and impolicy of 
 the English minister rather than dangerous doc- 
 
 * Notwithstanding the opinion of the priest above cited, few 
 countries can boast so bright a galaxy of native philosophers. 
 Tlie best answer that could be given to such an assertion, is 
 to repeat the names of Feijoo, Maycns, Isla, Campomanes, 
 Jovellanos, and many others. — Ed.
 
 SPIRIT OF INQUIRY. 83 
 
 trines and books that led to the resistance of the 
 North American colonies, where, as Franklin 
 tells us, there were not two printing offices nor 
 a single newspaper ? I even think, and perhaps 
 with reason, that the French revolution was not 
 brought about by the books of the eighteenth 
 century. Without the depravity of the Court, 
 and oppression of the people, the philosophical 
 theories of France would have run the risk of 
 continuing as siich to this hour. 
 
 You ask if people read in Spain ? Yes, daily and 
 with great attention : but never to the prejudice of 
 the siesta and segar, which is eternally burning in the 
 mouths of Spaniards. You will also ask what do they 
 read ? The newspapers, because these discuss the 
 interests of the nation with the greatest freedom. 
 You are awakened at day-break, not by the notes 
 of the nightingale, but by the hoarse and shrilly 
 cries of all the blind of both sexes, who possess 
 the exclusive right, founded on universal custom, 
 of selling all the newspapers of Madrid. Towards 
 six o'clock, the hour at which I generally take my 
 morning walk, all the waiters of the Cruz de Malta, 
 where I now reside, are collected round Julian, 
 whose lungs are somewhat more indefatigable 
 than those of his fellow servants, to hear him go 
 through every journal that is published here. On 
 my return to the hotel, Julian, whose mind is as 
 sound as his lungs, points out the articles most 
 worthy of being read : as I have never found tliat 
 
 G 2
 
 84 NEWSrArERS. 
 
 he formed an erroneous opinion, lie has become 
 quite an oracle with nie, and thus saves me a great 
 deal of unnecessary reading. 
 
 The coffee-houses, door-ways, staircases, sliops, 
 and Puerto del Sol are filled with readers every day 
 till noon. Here, you see an officer of La Isla, with 
 his cocked hat i)laced cross-ways, curled musta- 
 chios, and sabre hanging from his side, grinding 
 liis teeth at the ImparciaL* There, is seen a man 
 turned of fifty, powdered and pomatumed, who 
 throws aside the Echo de Padillayf as a phrenzied 
 ])roduction : farther on, an orator of the Fontana 
 de Oro, is refuting El Universal,t the daily 
 trumpeter of the minister. From twelve till two, 
 most of the readers of newspapers digest what they 
 have been perusing in the Puerto del Sol. This 
 spot is so called, from having formerly been the 
 site of one of the city gates ; it has become very 
 celebrated since the memorable 2nd of May, 1808, 
 the era of national Independence. Idlers arc to 
 be found in this Madrid forum at all hours of the 
 day. 
 
 * Tliis journal espoused the cause of the iirst constitutional 
 ministry and joined in the ovitcry against Riogo. — Ed. 
 
 t The Picho de Padilla was admirably conducted by M. do 
 Mora at this period, but has since ceased. — Ed. 
 
 X This ncvA'sjiapor is said to have been cs])ecially patronised by 
 the men of 1812. If so, its conductors only laboured in tiioir 
 vocation whon they paid a l)Iin(l deference to tlic caprice and 
 riilly of Ihoii- jtalrons. — Ed.
 
 LOS COMUNEIIOS. 85 
 
 It is eight o'clock, and I must liaslen to the 
 theatre, to witness the pei-formance of a new 
 tragedy, entitled Los Comimeros. Tlie subject 
 of this drama is taken from the destruction of the 
 Comuneros, which took place in 1520. Juan de 
 Padilla is introduced as being elected to the chief 
 command by several cities and towns, after which, 
 he continues to fight bravely, but without success, 
 to establish the rights of the people, against the 
 usurpations of Charles V. Although the piece is 
 not considered as possessing much merit, it excites 
 applause from the analogy between the former and 
 present epoch ; at all events, there is no doubt but 
 that the party which has now established itself in 
 the Peninsula, with the same title and similar 
 views, will often flock to see this tragedy. I am 
 invited to take a seat in Armida's box. The agi- 
 tation she experienced, at the thought of seeing 
 the Comuneros performed, gave a colour to her 
 cheeks much more beautiful than the rose which 
 ornaments her tresses.
 
 86 AN OPrORTUNITY LOST. 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 T Madrid, August lOth, 1821. 
 
 Spain, does not yet perceive, that, in abandon- 
 ing the NeapoUtans to their fate last year, she 
 renounced the most glorious supremacy. By a 
 different policy, she would have become the pro- 
 tecting Minerva of liberal constitutions throughout 
 Europe : her moral influence would have been so 
 great, that no one would have any longer dreamed 
 of estimating her })ower by statistical rules, any 
 more than the genius of man is measured by his 
 physical powers. Now, on the contrary, this in- 
 fluence can only be calculated in the European ba- 
 lance, by length and breadth of territory ; and she 
 certainly loses greatly by this species of estimate, 
 for notwithstanding her immense extent, there is 
 no proportion between that and her intrinsic 
 importance. 
 
 According to the division of population adopt- 
 ed to regulate the recruiting of the national army 
 and militia, the whole number does not exceed 
 eleven millions ; but the connnission ap})ointed by
 
 SUGGESTIONS. 87 
 
 the Cortes to establish a new territorial division, 
 states the population of Spain at twelve millions of 
 souls. 
 
 The permanent army has been fixed at sixty- 
 six thousand men, and the active militia, which 
 forms part of the army in time of war, at eighty- 
 seven thousand. 
 
 The idea of keeping the regular army below the 
 militia, is a most wise precaution, imitated from 
 the English and Americans.* It is highly proper 
 that the nation should possess a larger force for 
 defence than attack, in case of treachery or weak- 
 ness on the part of the executive. But from the 
 situation of Europe, and the state of war or 
 enmity in which Spain is placed with regard to the 
 triumvirate of the north, by its new social com- 
 pact, ought not the Cortes to suspend the above law 
 for at least four years ? Is there not imprudence 
 in laying down their arms, while despotism is 
 armed from head to foot ? Would it not be to 
 accord a confidence worthy of the heroism which 
 the army has shown in the regeneration of their 
 country, were the congress to augment the army 
 to a hundred and fifty thousand men ? Lafitte 
 
 * It is deeply to be lamented that this comparison only applies 
 to one of the countries mentioned. But the friends of England's 
 freedom and prosperity at length begin to hope that the time is 
 not far distant, when the policy of our anccbtors will be restored 
 in this respect as well as many others. — Ed.
 
 88 A PATRIOT BANKER. 
 
 and Rothschild would have smoothened every dif- 
 ficulty, since the bankers of the present day 
 lend their money to all governments, as the 
 Swiss used to sell their soldiers to the highest bid- 
 ders.* Scarcely had Bardaxi entered the ministry, 
 than he made the proposition, but want of confi- 
 dence in the executive, national vanity, and a 
 persuasion that they are invincible, would not 
 allow the Cortes to adopt his proposal, which if 
 carried, must have proved to be the firmest sup- 
 port of European emancipation. 
 
 The local militia increases daily ; these citizen 
 soldiers inspire confidence, and maintain good 
 
 * The French editor of Count Pccchio's letters, says that lio 
 fonus an erroneous judgment of M. Latitte : addhig that tliis 
 Millionnaire, will only lend his money to those who can give 
 guarantees, that is to say, constitutional governments. I feel 
 hajipy in tliis opportunity of expressing my conviction s& to the 
 con^ectness of the above opinion, nor can I omit availing myself 
 of the occasion to compliment the Parisian banker on his patriot- 
 ism generally; not satisfied with his persevering and eloquent exer- 
 tions in the chamber of deputies, where he invariably co-operates 
 with the Lafayettes, Constants, Manuels, Foys, D'Argensons and 
 Roycr-Collards, of the French Senate, he is known to bo a 
 liberal patron of merit wherever it is fotmd ; and to his honour 
 be it spoken, the purse of M. Lafitte has ever been opened to the 
 persecuted friends of liberty. When this patriot banker reflects 
 that statues may one day be raised to his fame, the stale charge 
 of being a promoter of revohition, ought to sit very lightly on his 
 head. — Ki>
 
 MIRABEAU. ^9 
 
 order wlicrevcr they appear, so tliat this force is 
 universally ])opular. Wluit an admirable gift did 
 not Mirabeau make to the French people in sui^- 
 gesting the national guards ! Liberty was ex- 
 tremely ephemeral, without the intervention of 
 this ^cris.* 
 
 The annual revenue of Spain does not amount 
 to nine millions sterling. A country that had 
 so louse been regarded as the kinf]edom of Croesus, 
 and which the imagination presented to itself as 
 paved with gold and silver, has become, almost 
 without being aware of it, one general scene of 
 penury ! Whilst alchymists were stud}ang the 
 means of turning paper into gold, Spain has foiuul 
 out the secret of converting gold into paper ! The 
 large doubloons v/hich continue to be struck off, 
 seem like the arms which remind one of the for- 
 mer opulence of Spain. This is perhaps the only 
 real proof of ostentation with which the nation 
 
 * This observation only applies to the national guards formed 
 at the period when the eloquence of its immortal founder tended 
 so materially to keep the flame of liberty alive during the first stages 
 of the revolution. As if the return of the old dynasty vva^ destined 
 to strike at the root of freedom in all its branches, the great 
 majority of the national guard of France is now composed of men 
 who are much more ready to oppress their fellow citizens than'aid 
 in their emancipation. It is, however, gratifying to reflect that 
 whenever the standard of freedom is raised, the shopkeepers and 
 petit-maitrcs who compose this mongrel force will be put to flight 
 by a mere sight of the patriot banners Eu.
 
 90 EFFECTS OF DESPOTISM. 
 
 can be reproached. Tlie amount of the Spanish 
 budget nuist excite a smile to those who are 
 accustomed to see that of Enghmd. Here it re- 
 quires all the efforts of government to make it 
 enter the treasury. 
 
 Such are the remains of Charles V.'s monarchy; 
 of a giant, the miracles of an Inquisition, and the 
 blessed effects of despotism ! The Spanish system 
 of government, has for the last three hundred 
 years been infinitely worse than that of Turkey. 
 In order that it might not be inferior in any re- 
 spect to the latter, Spain has been inoculated 
 with the plague, nor has a single effort been made 
 to eradicate that scourge. Indolence, apathy, and 
 weakness, have reduced the nation to such a pitch 
 of dilapidation and decay, that it could not possi- 
 bly be in a more wretched plight. 
 
 A crisis was therefore inevitable : a revolution 
 could not fail to be salutary. The national regene- 
 ration takes its date from 18!20 : this term could 
 not be a])plied with more justice to any nation of 
 Europe, than to Spain ; for the Constitution has in 
 fact, drawn her almost lifeless from a heap of ruins 
 that had been accumulating ever since the reign 
 of Charles V. To form an idea of the indolent 
 character of the late government, it is merely ne- 
 cessary to glance at the space in front of the royal 
 palace ; which resembles a spot that liad been torn 
 up by an earthquake or some other violent explosion. 
 In looking out of his windows, the King of Spain
 
 FUTURE PROSPECTS. 91 
 
 sees nothing hut ruins on one side, and sterile de- 
 serts on the other. If endowed with an active 
 and vivid imagination, he would often ticmhle 
 and think himself transferred to the inhospitable 
 wilds of Siberia.* 
 
 Spain having reached the perigeum of deca- 
 dence, she has necessarily begun to run the 
 period of her prosperity. I have stated the mmi- 
 num of its power, but it would not be so easy to 
 calculate the maximum of that force to which she 
 could attain under the impulsion of an energetic 
 and liberal government. Her population might 
 be easily doubled ; her natural productions might 
 be tripled, and her revenue augmented in propor- 
 tion. Russia, Turkey and Austria, are the three 
 powers of Europe, which can most easily increase 
 their population and territorial riches, without 
 having recourse to conquest. Yet Spain enjoys 
 infinite advantages over all of these countries, 
 both by the superiority of her climate, and the 
 operation of a constitutional government. I am 
 even of opinion, that under the new system, the 
 progress of Spain towards prosperity of every kind 
 will be more rapid than that of the United States. 
 
 * Although there is much truth in this remark, yet is there a 
 considerable degree of splendour and magnificence in the view, 
 as seen from the royal palace at Madrid. The building itself is, 
 even in the present unfinished state, almost unequalled by any 
 other edifice of a similar description in Europe.— Ed.
 
 92 JOVELLANOS AND CA13AK11US. 
 
 To obtain this })rodigy, S])aiii docs not require a 
 geiihis:* she ouglit not therefore to be discouraged, 
 it' tliis genius is wanted. Pubhc felicity woukl 
 march alone in Europe, if left unshackled and to 
 its own movements ; but in the present state of 
 things, it is like a machine encumbered with a 
 thousand checks. Let those only be removed and 
 the machine will work of its own accord. 
 
 There is no necessity for either guide or impul- 
 sion to promote the prosperity of Spain ; the 
 Cortes have only to enact a few laws that sliall 
 remove the obstacles opposed to commercial in- 
 tercourse throughout the monarchy. Jovellanos 
 and Cabarrus, in the various works which they 
 wrote for the improvement of the kingdom, 
 merely recommended the removal of these impe- 
 diments, physical and moral, that opposed the 
 developement of the national wealth in their day. 
 What in fact are the law^s promulgated by Cortes, 
 relative to church property, and reducing the 
 monkish orders — if not the eradication of these 
 obstacles. If the happiness of nations depended 
 
 * This alludes to a remark which has been made in the Penin- 
 sula, that the revolution had not produced any of those groat cha- 
 racters who have sprung uj> in other countries to give an extra- 
 ordinary impulse to national cnorgies. It is perhaps fortunate 
 for Spain, tliut her greatest heroes, both civil and military, are 
 those who I'oel most warmly attached U> the Constitutional 
 system.- En.
 
 USEFUL HINTS. 93 
 
 on the number of its laws, could not Spain boast 
 of possessing above thirty-six thousand })revious 
 to the establishment of the new code ? 
 
 There is more need of roads and canals in this 
 country, than of laws. The transport of merchan- 
 dize is always expensive and olten impossible. 
 There used to be more facility of communication 
 between Spain and South America, than there is 
 between many of the provinces here at this mo- 
 ment. There w^as also a time, when notwithstanding 
 the excessive heat of Madrid, its supply of eggs 
 came from France ; and it was much easier to 
 get a bill of exchange on London or Paris, than 
 Corunna or Valladolid ! Even now the inhabi- 
 tants of Andalusia consume the wheat of Odessa, 
 whilst the harvest of several seasons is rotting in 
 the Castiles. The more capital government em- 
 ploys to open new channels of communication, 
 and flicilitate the transport of goods, the more 
 rapidly will agriculture and connnerce advance. 
 Whatever interest Spain pays for a loan destined 
 to promote these objects, will be repaid a hundred 
 fold. Napoleon w^ould have rendered Spain more 
 productive than France itself in less tlian twenty 
 years.
 
 94' FONTANA UE ORO. 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 Madrid, August 22d, 1821. 
 
 I PASSED the whole of yesterday evening at the 
 Fontana de Oro ; do not be alarmed at the sound, 
 amiable lady, nor believe that the above place of 
 resort is a Pandemonium such as that described 
 by your Milton ; neither the blood of Kings nor 
 ministers are drank at this assemblage. I will 
 endeavour to make you somewhat better ac- 
 quainted with the said Fontana de Oro, and which 
 so many represent as a monster more horrible than 
 that of the Apocalypse. 
 
 The place known by the name of Fontana de 
 Oro, is nothing more than a large room on the 
 ground floor, capable of containing nearly a thou- 
 sand persons. In the midst of this saloon are placed 
 two pulpits, whence the tribunes address the sove- 
 reign people. The sovereign wears neither diadem 
 nor mantle, he generally appears in a plain coat ; 
 instead of a sceptre, he carries a stick, no less 
 respectable, upon which he leans for support. 
 
 The orators give their names in to the political
 
 NUNEZ. 95 
 
 chief, in tlie morning of the day in which they are 
 to speak, thus securing- their responsibiHty. The 
 debates begin at nine o'clock, and in two hours 
 after, a bell which is heard through tlie hall, puts 
 an end to the speaking and dismisses the auditory. 
 
 Last night's meeting was likely to be very 
 stormy, as Morillo, who was falsely informed that 
 the people intended to assail a military guard, 
 mounted his horse, and followed by an orderly, 
 rushed into the crowd, which he treated with 
 great violence, trampling those who came in his 
 way under foot, and threatening others with his 
 sabre. The sovereign people, who have also the 
 same rights to inviolability as other sovereigns, de- 
 manded the punishment of this act of less ma- 
 jesty. 
 
 The first orator who mounted the tribune, after 
 having pathetically recapitulated what every one 
 present already knew, decided that Morillo should 
 be punished at once, by the hands of the people 
 whom he had offended. This imprudent Demos- 
 thenes, was a very young man, who did not evi- 
 dently foresee what would be the probable effects 
 of the instrument which he wished to see used, 
 yet several voices wxre instantly heard calling for 
 the head of Morillo. But another speaker, Nunez, 
 took possession of the rostrum, and exclaimed that 
 crimes ought not to be expiated by crimes ; that 
 in such an affair as this, they could not be at the 
 same time, prosecutor, judge and jury. The sove-
 
 96 A TRANSITIOX. 
 
 reign ))eoplc, which also occasionally I'alls into 
 tlie error of not liking the truth, bellowed, ajul 
 roared with considerable violence, initil at lengtli 
 it forced the moderator to quit the tribune before 
 his speecli liad been half completed. 
 
 A third orator next came forward, and after in- 
 geniously humouring the anger of the people, in 
 exaggerating Morillo's crime, and representing it 
 in the blackest colours, he suddenly recalled the 
 general's bravery to the mind of his hearers. *' Let 
 an over impetuous general be by all means strip- 
 ped of the delicate situation of Captain-General,'* 
 said he, " but why not retain him as a warrior 
 worthy of again leading our battalions to victory ? 
 Morillois a soldier of fortune ; he has ennobled the 
 rank from which he sprung, by his military ex- 
 })loits. Let us be generous towards a man whose 
 elevation is due to his sword, and not to coiu't 
 favour." At these words, the cries of rage were , 
 converted into murmurs of approbation ; but 
 while the auditors were balancing between the 
 sentiment of vengeance and that of justice, a sono- 
 rous voice was suddenly heard to exclaim Dios ! 
 at the sound of which the orator and audience im- 
 mediately fell on their knees. It was the Viatica, 
 which passed the door in the midst of torches ; 
 it w^as borne by a priest dressed in superb cano- 
 nicals and seated in an elegant Landau. Here it 
 may be proper to inform you, that whenever Dios 
 leaves a church, he has a right to enter the first
 
 A LUDICROUS SCENE. 97 
 
 carriage he meets ; if it even happened to be that 
 of the king : all occupation, even to an air of 
 Catalani, must cease, in the vicinity of his passage. 
 
 After this interruption, which does not prove 
 that the liberals are atheists, murmurs recom- 
 menced ; nevertheless, tlie orator continued his 
 speech ; but a beggar, who had contrived to slip 
 into the crowd, occasioned considerable annoyance 
 by his efforts to express some words which no 
 person could understand : being repeatedly called 
 to order, without effect, an officer, w^ho, from the 
 broadness of his shoulders, and his attention to the 
 proceedings, might be regarded as the lictor of 
 the tribunes, seized the obstreperous mendicant 
 by the collar, and raising him above the heads of 
 the assembly, thrust him out of tlie nearest window 
 with a degree of agility and ease which gave 
 ample scope to the risible faculties of all present. 
 
 When order was restored, the auditory betrayed 
 signs of regret at having interru})ted an orator 
 who had always shown himself so faithful to the 
 interests of the people ; A^unez was therefore 
 unanimously called back to the tribune, which he 
 ascended amidst the plaudits of the whole audi- 
 ence. He began by reproaching the assem- 
 bly, as gently as if he had been speaking to 
 his mistress, with the suspicion of infidelity 
 which it had entertained of him, and then continu- 
 ing his task, he proved that Morillo could only 
 be punished by the laws. He ended by triumphing 
 
 H
 
 yS MODERATION. 
 
 over every prejudice, and thus prevented the laws 
 from being \iolated. The meeting was then 
 adjourned at its usual hour, amidst cries of " Long 
 live the Constitution !"* 
 
 I have thus sketched one of those tempests that 
 sometimes break out at the celebrated Fontana de 
 Oro ; but be assured they never occur, except 
 when provoked by an irresistible cause : at all other 
 times, nothing can exceed the decorum and silence 
 that pervades the whole auditory : eight or nine 
 hiuidred persons of both sexes and all ages attend 
 every night, to hear the constitutional cate- 
 chism read. This ceremony generally continues 
 two hours, during which the hearers remain 
 standing, and pay the most marked attention to 
 what is passing. The orators are never betrayed 
 into frivolity nor the audience into levity. If, as 
 w^ill sometimes occur, the speaker is embarrassed 
 for a word, it is suggested by several voices in 
 the most good-natured manner, after which the 
 silence is uninterrupted. An orator having lately 
 exclaimed, that he was ready to accuse any func- 
 tionary whatever, even though " as high as" 
 
 ** as high as" but would most probably never 
 
 have reached the point of comparison, if one of 
 the spectators, who appeared to be placed near 
 him, had not drily observed, as " Chimborazo." 
 *' Aye !" repeated the orator, " as high as 
 Chimborazo 1" and tranquilly continued his 
 harangue.
 
 AN AXIOM. 99 
 
 I know tliat this assemblage is a sentinel in 
 advance which incommodes the ministry : I also 
 know these ministers, accustomed to a long 
 lethargy, are made uneasy by a spirit of inquiry 
 and alertness, which obliges them to be more 
 attentive to their duties ; but those who are sin- 
 cerely attached to liberty, ought they not to repeat 
 with the President of a Polish Diet. — Malo /?m- 
 culosam libertatem quam qidetum servitmm ? 
 
 H 2
 
 100 SPANISH LOVE. 
 
 LETTER XVI. 
 
 Madrid, Septombor olh, 1821. 
 
 When a Spaniard loves, his heart is a volcano. 
 Yesterday, the attachment of [the people for Riego 
 burst forth in the most violent way. A silent 
 murmur accused the hero of infidelity to the con- 
 stitution ; it was at the same time announced that 
 he had just been deprived of the military com- 
 mand in Aragon. Is it likely that Riego would 
 attempt to destroy the constitution which he had 
 himself restored ? — would he tear it up in tliat very 
 Zaragoza, which, in 1809, was buried in' its own 
 ruins to establish the sacred compact ? 
 
 To these first interrogatories, wliich ev^ery one 
 made to himself in public and private, in the streets 
 and in society, succeeded that species of fury which 
 takes possession of a lover when he hears the idol 
 of his soul calumniated. Riego is innocent ! cried 
 tlie whole population ; the king is deceived by his 
 perfidious counsellors : — this is an iniquitous plot 
 — a horrible mystery. — All Madrid was instantly 
 in motion, the Puerto del Sol, became crowded to
 
 A UErLECTIO.V. 101 
 
 excess, thence the multitude rushed to the muni- 
 cipality, and demanded the king's return to his 
 capital ; meanwhile, all the frequenters of the 
 Fontana, assembled and commenced debating in 
 the midst of a violent tumult, which only served 
 to increase the irritation. At night the people 
 went again to the municipality and reiterated their 
 demand for tlie monarch's return. When Riego 
 hears of these demonstrations, in his exile at 
 Lerida, they w^ill serve to console him for the 
 injustice of the ministers. 
 
 The municipality would not yield to the wishes 
 of the people ; but continued to display the utmost 
 firmness and dignity ; declaring that it would never 
 give in to a handful of mutineers who made an 
 illegal demand : the clouds were thus dissipated, 
 without any farther inconvenience. 
 
 These momentary agitations, ought not to 
 create any fears for Spanish liberty ; they are like 
 those trifling apertures which we see in all new 
 buildings before the cement has been properly 
 consolidated. Such effervescences among a real- 
 ly free people, are sure proofs of vigilance an4 
 vigour.
 
 10'2 BIEGO. 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 Madrid, .September ISth, ]821. 
 
 You are anxious to become acquainted with 
 Riego, at least through his portrait : if I sent that 
 engraved here a year ago, I should be deceiving 
 you, for it resembles most of those unfaithful 
 miniatures which are sent, previous to the celebra- 
 tion of certain marriages, and which are generally 
 very bad prognostics for conjugal faith. I will 
 not therefore forward what cannot be consider- 
 ed at all like the original, I do not besides wish to 
 expose your heart to a disappointment. 
 
 As, however, I am determined your curiosity 
 shall not go altogether unsatisfied, I will subjoin 
 an extempore sketch drawn by the beautiful 
 young Spanish heroine to whom I have occasion- 
 ally alluded in the preceding letters. Having had 
 the good fortune to find her alone yesterday 
 evening, I profited by the circumstance, and beg- 
 ged she would describe the hero of Las Cabezas. 
 Without betraying the least hesitation, I imme- 
 .diately received the following answer : ** I have
 
 RIEGO. 1 03 
 
 SO perfect a recollection, that if I was an adept in 
 portrait painting, I should be able to draw as cor- 
 rect a likeness of Riego from memory, as if he sat 
 to me for his picture, but to give his physiognomy 
 all its expression, it is necessary to be something 
 more than an artist, he who attempts to paint 
 Riego, should feel the same sacred fire of liberty 
 that burns in tlie soul of his orioinal. Rieffo is 
 not handsome, but of what consequence is per- 
 sonal beauty : he possesses those of the under- 
 standing, which are infinitely more important : I 
 think I now see his dark eyes full of vivacity 
 and enterprise ; his manly complexion, and that 
 mouth which seems to express all the refined deli- 
 cacy of his sentiments : his hair is also dark : 
 he is of middling stature, and has a very mar- 
 tial air. His gait and general appearance is that of 
 a hero. Riego is incessantly consumed by his love 
 of liberty, and such is the natural intensity of his 
 feelings, that it was easy to perceive him falling 
 away, during the five days of agitation occasioned 
 by his visit to this place last year. I should be 
 justified in saying that Riego is diaplianous, for 
 every body can penetrate his thoughts. His 
 countenance is not impregnated with that myste- 
 rious melancholy, which is so often the charac- 
 teristic of ambition : the Spanisli liero is too 
 ardent and enterprising, long to remain wrapped 
 up in his own thoughts. He is a brother to the 
 soldiery. A private and serjeant of the guards,
 
 lOi JEALOUSY. 
 
 dine at his table every day. He was above two 
 years a prisoner in France during the war of inde- 
 pendence, and while there,, employed the time in 
 cultivating his mind and reading the best authors : 
 he speaks French and Italian with fluency. But 
 how am I to express the amiability of his manners 
 to my own sex ! I could not possibly leave him 
 on the day of his entry into Madrid : I knew he 
 was aware of my attachment to an officer of his 
 battalion, who had participated in all his recent 
 perils and fatigues ; he spoke frequently of my 
 friend and seemed to dwell with pleasure on his 
 courage and constancy. It is reported that Riego 
 is about to marry ; if so I shall be truly morti- 
 fied, for then we can no longer say, that he only 
 lives for his country, and is exclusively attached 
 to liberty ! No ! He ought not to marry ; the 
 marriage of such a man seems an act of infidelity 
 to the nation : is he not her lover ? And then 
 
 other women would no longer enjoy the 
 
 privilege of admiring him !'** 
 
 A blush followed the last short sentence, which 
 had been scarcely pronounced, when a young 
 officer rushed in almost breathless, to inform us 
 that Ricgo's portrait had just been captured by a 
 party of the militia. Here it becomes necessary 
 
 * The heroine's fears were realized soon after the date of the 
 above letter. — Ed.
 
 HIECtO's I'OKTUAIT. 105 
 
 to inform you, that Riego has become the consti- 
 tutional saint ; and that his friends, by way of 
 compensating him for the treatment he has expe- 
 rienced from government, had fixed on yester- 
 day for carrying his portrait in procession through 
 the streets of the capital. Ministers forbade 
 this ceremony, and at the same time orders 
 were issued to shut up the Fontana de Oro. But 
 the hero's friends were not to be so easily deterred 
 from putting their design into execution. They 
 accordingly provided themselves with branches of 
 palm, and having placed the portrait on a trium- 
 phal car, paraded the streets singing patriotic 
 hymns. Although orders were issued to the gar- 
 rison to disperse the people by main force, the 
 troops of the line ranged along the streets, re- 
 mained tranquil spectators of the scene, awed into 
 respect by the mere^inanimate representation of 
 the popular hero, or as he is more generally called, 
 the father of his country, they suffered the joyous 
 procession to pass without interruption. No sooner 
 however, had the crowd, which was immense, 
 reached the Municipality, than the militia station- 
 ed there, immediately attacked the multitude, dis- 
 persed it, and thus obtained possession of the 
 portrait. 
 
 On hearing this piece of news, the heroine burst 
 forth in the most eloquent and severe philippic 
 against the authors of the profanation, as she 
 termed it. " Wretches !'* exclaimed the modern
 
 10() A THIUJVIPII. 
 
 Armida, *' dare you thus insult tlie idol of his coun- 
 try ? What bravery is there for armed men to attack 
 those who have no weapons to defend themselves ? 
 To point bayonets against the breasts of those who 
 offered palm branches : how truly heroic ! What 
 proofs of fraternity !" 
 
 This day has also passed without there being 
 any person killed or wounded : and there was 
 only one prisoner made — the portrait; which the 
 victors treated with all possible respect, carefully 
 placing it in a room of the municipality.
 
 VALENCIA. 107 
 
 LETTER XVllI. 
 
 Madrid, Oct. 15th, 1821. 
 
 Here I am, returned from the fertile province 
 of Valencia ; a highly cultivated region, whose 
 productions are nearly all similar to those of Italy. 
 Its rivers, meadows, and mulberry-trees, reminded 
 me of the plains of Lombardy, whilst the olive and 
 orange groves, present a scene in every way simi- 
 lar to the coast of Genoa. Valencia is generally 
 styled the garden of Spain. 
 
 I found Madrid dull and melancholy after the 
 battle of the procession. The Fontana is mute : 
 Nunez and Macron, two of its orators, accu- 
 sed of having stimulated the offensive act, are 
 imprisoned. Patriotic songs ar§ no longer heard, 
 or, according to the enemies of the system, do not 
 disturb the nights. The newspapers are at dag- 
 gers drawn : as to the partisans of Riego, they 
 are furious : what their opponents call tranquillity.
 
 108 CONJECTURKS. 
 
 they regard as the silence of the grave. The 
 ministry is made tlie snbject of violent attacks, 
 but it is inexorable and ^^erseveres without change 
 in its plan of consolidating the executive, and to 
 punish those who infringe the laws. 
 
 Many persons out of Spain are rejoiced at this 
 struggle, buttheir joy is most irrational. They donot 
 perceive that in being frank and firm, tlie govern- 
 ment can only strengthen the constitutional sys- 
 tem. So long as the ministers respect the Code 
 themselves, and cause it to be respected by others, 
 their victories will always be so many trophies in 
 favour of liberty. The great majority of the 
 people wish for order and tranquillity, as well as 
 obedience to the laws. The enemies of Spain 
 deceive themselves, in thinking tliat the resistance 
 of the ministers, to the errors of the liberales, is 
 likely to add to the fall of the social edifice. Who 
 was it that induced the king to consent to the 
 convocation of the extraordinary Cortes ? Cer- 
 tainly the ministers, by their candid and press- 
 ing representations. Was it not also the present 
 ministry, which, by oflPering to resign, made Fer- 
 dinand desist from the two offensive nominations to 
 the war department ; appointments not less ridicu- 
 lous in themselves than unworthv of the nation. 
 Was it not the same administration, that rewarded 
 by an honourable distinction, tlie soldiers who 
 destroyed the bands under Merino ? The really
 
 OPINIONS. 101-) 
 
 Constitutional sentiments expressed by the king, 
 in his two speeches, at opening and closing the 
 session of Cortes, were they not also dictated by 
 the ministry ? The ministry might easily con- 
 found its enemies bv disclosing various acts of 
 which Spain is ignorant; but they do not think it 
 necessary to divulge that which ought to remain 
 concealed for the honour and interest of the 
 administration. A government whose intentions 
 are pure, and whose conduct was always guided by 
 equity, ought only to justify its measures before 
 a competent tribunal, and this tribunal, is the 
 Cortes. Let the assembled Cortes put them in 
 accusation, and the ministers will present docu- 
 ments to justify their conduct. But the ultra 
 liberals ought to offer up prayers to prevent things 
 from comins: to that extremity ; as it would be no 
 less fatal to themselves then the new constitutional 
 system.* 
 
 * However creditable it is for the author to adliere to his 
 friend M. Bardaxi, who was at the head of tiie ministry he 
 thus defends, and who I am willing to believe did not join in 
 the^scandalous outcry against Riego, it is much to be regretted 
 that he did not see with less partial eyes. — If public opinion 
 had not so loudly and unequivocally condemned the men of 
 1812, Moreno Guerra's pamphlet contains facts and observations 
 which place the matter beyond all controversy. — Ed.
 
 110 ARANJUEZ. 
 
 The weather is so fine that I shall profit by it, in 
 order once more to visit the gardens of Aranjuez, 
 its majestic elms, groves of palm trees, and enor- 
 mous oaks ; the Tagus, which surrounds this 
 Oasis, where the kings of Spain have enjoyed the 
 Siesta of their monarchy, is certainly deserving a 
 second visit.
 
 MODERN CRUSADERS. Ill 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 Madrid, November 6th, 1821. 
 
 This will, perhaps, be the last letter I shall have 
 the pleasure of addressing you from Madrid : a 
 favourable opportunity offering, to visit Lisbon, I 
 mean to take advantage of it. My travelling 
 companion is a Piedmontese officer of the consti- 
 tutional army, who is going to embark thence for 
 Greece, in order to fight for the liberty of that 
 country, since he cannot do so for his own. This 
 resolution is extremely praiseworthy and honora- 
 ble to the character of the persons who have 
 formed it, and cannot fail to be useful to the good 
 cause. Several others will follow his example and 
 embark at Marseilles, where a crusade of French 
 and Gernian youth are collecting, with the gene- 
 rous intention of tendering their services to the 
 Greeks. The Spanish government will amply 
 defray all the expences of the voyage for the 
 Piedmontese refugees. 
 
 I shall most probably pass the winter at Lisbon ; 
 it will indeed afford me infinite pleasure to see
 
 112 MEMORANDA. 
 
 the country of Cainoens and the Alberquciques, 
 also arisen from its inanimate ashes. I have 
 not been a niggard of Spanish news ; I also 
 promise not to be so, with regard to the 
 affairs of Portugal. 
 
 But previous to quitting the delicious atmo- 
 sphere of Iberia, I wish to leave you a few memo- 
 randums, to prevent your being deceived by the 
 absurd reports which wall not fail to be circulated 
 on the momentary agitations, that may, for a 
 short time, disturb the tranquillity of the Penin- 
 sula. 
 
 It is useless to disguise the fact, that this 
 heroic nation is not yet happy : it may be com- 
 pared to a hero who has experienced the destiny 
 of all heroes. He is loaded w ith debt, afflicted 
 with the plague, tormented by banditti and 
 rebels, and deprived at the same time, of his vast 
 domains of South America. No Importa ! He 
 possesses a sufficient stock of courage and patience 
 to surmount and vanquish all these sources of 
 adversity. With respect to the debts, he will pay 
 them, for he is an honest fellow, and has where- 
 withal to do so. His finances, it is true, resemble 
 those of a Spanish grandee ; they are in a state of 
 dilapidation and neglect ; but with skill and 
 economy order may be re-established and the rich 
 patrimony saved. 
 
 As to the rebels, they are by no means numer- 
 ous, and are only protected by the forests and
 
 COMMON SENSE. 113 
 
 mountains. If they do not perish by the sword, 
 they must sliortly do so througli hunger. America 
 has freed itself from Spain ; but the latter has 
 good sense enough to feel, that it is impossible to 
 preserve that vast continent, either as a colony, 
 or an integral part of the constitutional monarchy. 
 The mother country has for many years been 
 accustomed to live without the aid of her colonies. 
 She ought therefore to be glad to make any terms, 
 even to signing a treaty which shall acknowledge 
 their independence and emancipation. This 
 magnanimous act, would be like a comet in the 
 political world ; it would make every government 
 tremble, that has usurped dominion over nations 
 entitled to their independence. 
 
 The Spanish people are ignorant, — that is to 
 say, they do not know that the sound of their 
 bells attracts lightning ; they are not versed in 
 the attributes of the thermometer and barome- 
 ter, nor do they know much about vaccination. 
 But they have good sense enough to know% that 
 the most iniquitous native government is prefer- 
 able to a foreign yoke ; also, that civil war is one 
 of the greatest calamities, and most heinous crimes. 
 It therefore appears to me, quite impossible for 
 the people to interfere with political dissensions 
 to any great extent ; they will even show a com- 
 parative indifference, except in the event of 
 foreign invasion. So that as parties will never be 
 able to move large masses in their favour, they 
 
 I
 
 J 14 ELECTIONS. 
 
 cannot carry on a very destructive war against each 
 other, they will consequently confine themselves 
 to cabals and a war of the pen. 
 
 The Cortes are the anchor and idol of the 
 nation. The people admire themselves in their 
 deputies, as every one admires himself in his 
 portrait. All attempts against the country and 
 constitution will vanish at their presence. We 
 may therefore fairly calculate that the code will 
 not be violated between this and June 1822. 
 
 The new elections are conducted with a degree 
 of order, dignity and general decorum, which 
 confute the censure of French publicists on the 
 different degrees. The nomination of Electors, 
 which took place on the 4th instant, holds out an 
 assurance that this new Cortes will be composed 
 of honest men and liberal politicians. 
 
 By showing a proper degree of vigour, the minis- 
 ters acquire an increased degree of independence 
 every day. It is true, they are often renewed, 
 but they are not overtiu-ned by unworthy cabals ; 
 it is they themselves who voluntarily abandon their 
 places, because they have not as yet had intre- 
 pidity enough to sustain individual attacks. 
 
 On the renewal of the Cortes, there will no 
 longer be a scarcity of men well attached to the 
 new system, and who can fill public situations. 
 Five months will add amazingly to the moral 
 force of the government. 
 
 The two points of the constitution, which are
 
 TRIBUNALS. lli> 
 
 perfectly known to the king, are, the inviolabiUty 
 of his person, and the faculty of naming to all 
 the offices of trust. He knows that in a constitu- 
 tional system, all the good ought to be attributed 
 to the king, and all the bad to his ministers ; as in 
 the christian doctrine, good springs from God, 
 and ill from the evil spirit. 
 
 It appears to me that the tribunals are not 
 exempt from passion ; but this scourge cannot be 
 imputed to the ministers, since it is the council 
 of state that proposes the judge on a triple list. 
 It is unpleasant to be obliged to add, that the 
 king is exceedingly unfortunate in his choice of 
 such officers. 
 
 Do not be afflicted, therefore, if the constitution 
 does not make so rapid a progress as you wish. 
 It is a new machine, of which several of the parts 
 require to be kept in constant activity. Its move- 
 ment is as slow as that of the hand in a clock ; it 
 advances without being perceived by the eye, but 
 it cannot retrograde. 
 
 Recollect also, that the Spanish are an original 
 people, as I have already taken occasion to 
 observe, and that they will belie the calculations 
 of the profoundest politicians. Napoleon is ex- 
 cusable for not having known them better. 
 
 Adieu ! 
 
 I 'i
 
 116 COLUMBIA. 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 Cadiz, January 3nth, 1822. 
 
 Do not call me a truant if I already quit Spain 
 to take a turn in Portugal. Although I am an 
 enemy to etiquette, yet civility requires that I 
 should visit in person all the constitutional govern- 
 ments, except those of America, to which I must 
 content myself with sending cards. I should be 
 most happy to see Columbia, that quadratiu'e of 
 the circle, which the Americans discovered, and 
 which is still an inexplicable problem to us wise- 
 headed Europeans. But who dares face the 
 yellow fever, which is the cerberus that guards the 
 new republic* 
 
 * It is a remarkable fact, that those who have lost their lives 
 in Columbia since the commencement of its struggle for indepen- 
 dence, were more often the victims of dysentery, and those fevers 
 incidental to privations and fatigue, than to the yellow fever, 
 which appears much more frequently in the West India Islands 
 than in Columbia. — Ed.
 
 ANDALUSIA. 11? 
 
 Andalusia was not my direct road to enter 
 Portugal, but I wished to make this deviation for 
 the purpose of seeing the cradle of Spanish liberty. 
 You already know that the political code was first 
 framed here in 1812, and that it was re-produced 
 at San Juan de las Cabezas, a few miles from 
 this, in 1820. Liberty could not have had a more 
 magnificent cradle. The sky of Andalusia is all 
 azure and gold j its surface a garden filled with 
 flowers, and fruits, orange trees, olives, palms, &c. 
 The Arabs were not less cunning than their suc- 
 cessors the Monks, who never failed to select the 
 most delio'htful situations for their monasteries. 
 Thus it was, that the former chose the finest por- 
 tion of Spain for their settlements. 
 
 The Andalusians fancy themselves Spaniards, 
 but I look upon them as Arabs : stout, plump in 
 their persons, with clear dark eyes, black hair, 
 thick beard, and aquiline nose, they still preserve 
 the physiognomy of their ancestors. Volatile, 
 passionately fond of show, gallant with the fair 
 sex, gay and lively, they bear no resemblance to 
 the Spaniards of the other provinces. They are 
 almost continually on horseback ; and invariably 
 travel armed, at one time as inoffensive members 
 of society, at others as smugglers or highwaymen, 
 like the Bedouin Arabs. Their imagination is 
 poetical ; their language hyperbolical as orien- 
 talists. Anselmo, the muleteer who accompanied 
 me to this place, one day asked me which was the
 
 118 PECULIARITIES. 
 
 most powerful nation, England or Spain ? On my 
 replying " England," he rejoined with the em- 
 phasis of Pindar, " No Sir ! when Spain is men- 
 tioned all other nations tremble." On another 
 occasion, when I inquired whether the mule I 
 rode was quiet, Anselmo, who from Pindar had 
 become Anacreon, answered — " El es monso como 
 el sueno ;" — he is gentle as sleep ! 
 
 The customs are also Arabic ; those massive iron 
 bars, which slmt in all the windows, recall to 
 mind the jealousy of the east. The bushy whis- 
 kers of tlie Andalusians ; the handkerchief which 
 they so generally wrap round their heads ; the 
 Mantilla^^ of the women, are substituted for the 
 long beards, turbans and veils that Philip II. pro* 
 hibited the Arabs, who still remained in Andalusia 
 after the capture of Grenada, from wearing in 
 15G8. The Mahometans are in the habit of in- 
 scribincc verses from the Koran on their houses; 
 the inhabitants of port St. Mary's, Chiclana, Cadiz, 
 and other places, have adopted the practice of 
 writing an article of the constitution over every 
 door. Each head of a family, selecting from that 
 
 * This is a species of scarf of cloth, silk, or stuff, generally 
 trimmed with black velvet, and which is worn on the head, so as 
 to hang down on each side : the mantilla is only worn in public, 
 and generally conceals a considerable portion of the features. 
 —Ed.
 
 filBIlAI/rAR. 110 
 
 blazon of freedom, a motto as caprice or clioico 
 may dictate. 
 
 I made, in the conrse of last week, an excnrsion 
 to Gibraltar. There is no other communication 
 by land between Cadiz and that fortress than a 
 rocky pathway, which the Spanish government 
 has suffered to remain intact from tlie conquest of 
 the Moors till the present hour. Whoever wit- 
 nesses the cleanliness and activity, the freedom of 
 religious worship, which prevails at Gibraltar, is 
 almost tempted to pardon England for the trick 
 she played Spain during the last century. U'his 
 gigantic rock, perforated and garnished witli can- 
 non throughout, may be regarded as the largest 
 ship of the line possessed by Great Britain. An 
 officer of the- garrison some time ago gave a ball 
 to the Rode Scorpions, (the name by whicli the 
 inhabitants of this impregnable hold are designated 
 by the English) in one of the spacious galleries cut 
 into the north side of the fortress. 
 
 Your government is like Archimedes : it is 
 contented with a mere point whereon to apply 
 its lever. Da iihi consistam ccelum Terramqtie 
 moveho. Gibraltar, Malta and Corfu, are the 
 three lever points with which your cabinet moves 
 at their good pleasure the south of Europe. 
 Gibraltar is prepared as if it were on the eve of an 
 assault. There is not even the wheel of a srun- 
 carriage w^anting. How, when, and who could 
 take this place ? To me it seems like the castle of
 
 120 ITALIAN E:MIGRANTS. 
 
 the Magician Atalantus, wliich, to be taken, re- 
 quires nothing less than tlie horn of Astolfo. The 
 philosophy of the Spaniards is really philosophical ; 
 they have learned so totally to forget the loss of 
 this point, that they are scarcely aware of having 
 such dangerous neighbours, and they leave Cadiz 
 without a single s:un or batterv. 
 
 The town of Gibraltar, is an aviary of fifteen 
 thousand inhabitants : I call it an aviary, from the 
 perpetual motion produced there by the smug- 
 gling trade with Spain. When in the streets you 
 come in contact with Arabs, Moors, Italians, 
 Spaniards and English ; it is in fact a museum of 
 human beings. 
 
 I have seen a number of Italians from the bor- 
 ders of Lake Orta* scattered about in different 
 parts of Andalusia, where they are settled as inn 
 and coffee-house keepers. He who first called 
 man a plant was right, and it may be said that 
 we are like trees, which if transplanted when 
 young, are almost sure to prosper. The above 
 settlers have afforded me no consolation ; not 
 even the pleasure of addressing them in our own 
 language ; for after a residence of four or five 
 years in Spain, they entirely lose their native dia- 
 lect. What a difference between them and the 
 old German, whom I met at Carlotta \'^ This pea- 
 
 * A small lake nortii of Lac Maggiore. 
 
 ^■ Thii. IS Olio oi' liie siettleiuents established on the Sierra
 
 NATIONALITY. \^2\ 
 
 Sxiiit of the principality of Nassau has been fifty 
 years in Andalusia, yet no sooner did he see me, 
 than he asked whether I could speak German, 
 as he had been for many years deprived of 
 the satisfaction of indulging in his mother tongue. 
 He had preserved such favourable reminiscences 
 of his country, that he thoucjht Nassau much more 
 fertile and beautiful than S})ain. His son, who 
 was born in the colony of Carlotta, observed to 
 me in a jocular tone, that whenever his father 
 drank a class of sherrv he was no lonoer of the 
 above opinion. His wife, mode of living, and the 
 cookerv, were all German. Though living: in the 
 midst of Andalusia, he had continued the patri- 
 archial life of Germany. When the clock struck 
 twelve, his little Spanish niece presented herself 
 before him, upon which he, with the action and 
 gesture of an Abraham, held out his hand to be 
 kissed. A piece of bread and an apple were the 
 premiums of this ceremony. The old German 
 does not therefore come under the denomination 
 of a plant. 
 
 Morena during the reign of Charles III., who, finding it impossi- 
 ble to prevail on his own subjects to fix on this desolate tract, 
 incited adventurers from Germany to come to 8pain. The call 
 being obeyed, a number of flourishing towns have since sprung 
 up on a spot which had been a mere desert in former reigns. 
 The perseverance witli which Charles III. and his patriotic 
 ministers pursued this great design until it was carried into effect, 
 reflects tlie highest honour on their memory. — Kd.
 
 }'2'2 PARTIES. 
 
 I set out for Lisbon after to-morrow, and shall 
 leave Spain witliout any uneasiness. It would 
 seem that the whirlwind of civil war is, for the 
 present at least, removed to a great distance. 
 Cadiz, which threatened to separate itself from the 
 capital, and declare itself an Hanseatic town, has 
 submitted to tlie government as soon as a part of 
 the ministry fell, and the rest will fall. The new 
 ministry are likely to display great vigour and 
 eloquence, for it is said that the approacliing 
 Cortes are to possess some furious Gracchi. The 
 serviles are asking, " What more remains to be 
 done by the next Cortes than attacking the King's 
 palace?'* The liberals of 1812 are also struck 
 with alarm, lest the new Cortes should modify 
 the Constitution and touch the sacred arch con- 
 structed in that year : but the disunion that exists 
 between the liberals of 1812 and those of 1820 is 
 not enmity, it is rivalry of merit. The men of 
 1812 created the Constitution, but they suffered 
 it to perish in 1814. The men of 1820 brought 
 it to life. Ricgo will sit amongst the deputies. 
 From the Tarpeian Rock, with which the disgraced 
 ministry threatened him, the people have borne 
 liim in triumph to the capitol. I will therefore 
 profit by this truce to absent myself for a few 
 months from Spain. 
 
 Adieu, amiable lady : in the intervals of your 
 reading, perhaps you will deign to cast a thought 
 on me j for my own part, I can assure you that
 
 ITALY. 123 
 
 the hearts of those in exile beat with most fer- 
 vour for friends. Tell the expatriated Italians 
 who frequent your hospitable roof, that it is 
 glorious for me to participate in the destiny of 
 the most interesting j)ortion of the Italian youth. 
 I understand the number of proscribed augment 
 daily, and that not even a rood of ground 
 remains for the friends of freedom in Italy, 
 There are thirteen governments in our Peninsula, 
 and each of the thirteen deny us a resting place. 
 Pray forgive me, if I renew this melancholy strain 
 so often : — rather pity me, for Italy is the object 
 of my adoration.
 
 124 rORTUGLESE INNS. 
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 
 LUbon, Feb. 9tb, 1822. 
 
 I HAVE performed a journey like the Pope, that 
 is to say, been safely conveyed here by a mule : I 
 say with safety, but I am exceedingly fatigued. A 
 journey, whether in Spain or Portugal, is equiva- 
 lent to a military campaign ; want of provisions, 
 ambuscades, perils, hardships, bivouacs, every 
 thing in fact but glory. I had imagined that 
 were it only from the enmity they profess to- 
 wards Spaniards, the Portuguese would, out of 
 mere contradiction, be more careful and commo- 
 dious in their habitations. But I was deceived, 
 they are rivals of their enemies in all things. To 
 give you an idea of what the Inns of Portugal are, 
 I will merely tell you that while at Moita last night, 
 the rats devoured a large Guinea hen, bones and all, 
 which had roosted in my bed room. In Italy, 
 our wolves are much more moderate than the rats 
 of Portugal. 
 
 If I had not read the history of Portugal, it
 
 CHARACTERISTIC TRAITS. 126 
 
 >vould be sufficient to witness the salutations of 
 the peasantry, to be convinced that tliis people 
 have experienced a long train of oppression. 
 Whenever they perceive a traveller, no matter 
 how far he is off, their hats are instantly held 
 down to the ground. This reverence alone, would 
 have been enough to satisfy Lavater, that the 
 Portuguese are more docile and submissive to- 
 wards the nobility and rich, than their neighbours 
 of Spain, The salute is not a sign of indifference ; 
 it generally denotes the degree of liberty or sla- 
 very prevailing in a nation. The orientals fall on 
 their knees and cross their arms, while an English- 
 man or Swiss merely holds out his hand without 
 touching his hat. Before the revolution a French 
 peasant would almost bend double before the 
 lord of his village, now-a-days the salutation is 
 reciprocal. 
 
 In the villages through which I have passed, 
 the men seemed handsome, well made, and ro- 
 bust ; the heads of the Spaniards and Portuguese 
 are besides of a beautiful form and very majestic. 
 I have seen no heads so fine except in Raphael's 
 school of Athens. It strikes me that if Gall ex- 
 amined these skulls, he would find the organ of 
 conquest strongly developed in them. They may 
 be called Cassarean and Napoleonic heads. The 
 physiognomies of the Portuguese are expressive, 
 but this has not surprised me so much as the 
 variety of expression depicted in them. There
 
 126 A COMPARISON. 
 
 are nations which seem to be all cast in the same 
 mould, such as the Chinese for example, the 
 Austrians, and even the English. Out of five thou- 
 sand men composing the garrison of Gibraltar, I 
 should scarcely have been able to distinguish two 
 difFsrent faces. In Portugal, on the contrary, a 
 painter could select all the dramatis persona? of a 
 picture from a group of peasants. 
 
 You will be astonished that I have not as yet 
 said one word about politics. But what could I 
 vsay, since I have traversed the kingdom without 
 remarking a single proof of political regenera- 
 tion ? The old edifice is still entire. It is an- 
 nounced, and solemnly sworn that a Constitutional 
 structure will be erected, but as yet, nothing more 
 than the facade of the building exists, that is to 
 say, the political code. It is not here as it was in 
 Spain, where the constitution restored by Riego 
 was fresh in the recollection of the nation. The 
 Portuguese had also in former days their States or 
 Cortes, but the populace, who are not endowed 
 with much knowledge, have no longer any recol- 
 lection of them. Here the people enter the re- 
 gion of liberty like one who suddenly comes from 
 darkness into light, and is so confounded, that 
 he is unable to distinguish any object. 
 
 If it be true that Ulysses was the founder of 
 Lisbon, we ought to admire his good taste as well 
 as his genius. The situation of this city is quite 
 enchanting: it is really worthy of Europe.
 
 WANT OF TASTE. h^"/ 
 
 From the table on which I write, tlie eye com- 
 mands the Tagiis and its left bank : what a pity 
 that there should be a hatred to trees here as in 
 Spain ! I had hoped that the English would have, 
 during the domination of a century, ornamented 
 the banks of this majestic river, with groves, 
 gardens and country houses. They have not 
 planted a single tree for the living ; there are how- 
 ever four cypresses for the dead in their cemetery. 
 They have enjoyed Portugal as an usufruct ; more 
 selfish than the monks, they have not made a sin- 
 gle improvement during the many years they 
 possessed this colony.* I hear a military band, 
 which has just struck up the constitutional 
 hymn ; adieu, therefore, as I run to share in the 
 electric charm. Long live liberty ! 
 
 P. S. I have returned somewhat mortified. 
 The music of the hymn is beautiful, though much 
 more sentimental than warlike, but the poetry is 
 unworthy of tlie land of Camoens. 
 
 la pouco tarda o momonto 
 Da nossa Consolazao 
 Em que la de bahar dos ceos 
 A nossa Constiluicao. 
 
 * The opinion that Portugal was really a colony of England, is 
 one of the most generally popular errors that prevails on the conti- 
 nent. Had our author studied the nature of the connection be- 
 tween the two countries somewhat more closely, he would have 
 been satisfied that our influence never extended to planting the 
 banks of the Tagus. — Ed.
 
 128 A QUESTION. 
 
 Why make the Constitution descend fr'om 
 Heaven? The times of Moses and Egeria are 
 gone by ; on the other liand, a law passed by the 
 representatives of a whole people, possesses of 
 itself sufficient dignity and veneration. There 
 is no necessity for making a miracle come from 
 above, when it can be equally well performed 
 by men.
 
 REVOLUTION OF 1820. 129 
 
 LETTER XXII. 
 
 Lisbon, February 24th, 1822. 
 
 I AM more liberal than usual this morning. I 
 would most wilHngly present a complete history of 
 Portugal to all the cabinets of Europe, because 
 they are quite astonished she should have followed 
 the example of Spain, in proclaiming a constitution. 
 Portugal has always shared the same fate as her 
 neighbour. Like Spain, she received and threw off 
 the yoke of the Romans ; like Spain too, she obey- 
 ed the Goths, was subjected by the Goths and 
 Arabs, and like her, drove them away : like Spain, 
 she established the inquisition, and burnt infidels, 
 heretics and Jews. Finally, Portugal has of late 
 years been invaded by the French, and since she 
 made similar sacrifices, she surely merited the 
 same recompence. 
 
 And is not the revolution effected at Oporto, 
 on the 24th of August, 1820, similar in the 
 motives and execution to that of 1640 ? At the 
 former epoch, this country groaned imder the 
 yoke of Spaniards : some fidalgos united at Lisbon 
 
 K
 
 130 ANCIENT CORTES. 
 
 to save the nation : displacing the Spanish authori- 
 ties, they raised the Duke of Braganza (whose right 
 it was) to the throne, and immediately convoked 
 the Cortes of the kingdom, which exacted obedi- 
 ence from the new government. 
 
 In 1820 Portugal was in like manner under the 
 influence of England ; a few proprietors and fidal- 
 gos assembled at Oporto, for the purpose of liber- 
 ating their country ; they deposed the regency of 
 Lisbon, recalled their king, exiled in the Brazils by 
 England, and assembled the Cortes to establish 
 the basis of a new government. 
 
 If therefore so many eulogies have been made 
 on the first revolution, why should not the present 
 be equally applauded ? Because perhaps, the 
 revolutionists of Oporto have proclaimed the con- 
 stitutional system ? But this system is not an 
 infernal machine, nor even a recent invention. 
 Even up to the year 1100 the States General, or 
 Cortes of Portugal, composed of the upper clergy, 
 nobility and deputies from certain cities, were 
 in existence. The Portuguese had a repre- 
 sentative government before England. It is not 
 more than a century since the States General were 
 discontinued. But they were never abolished by 
 any Sovereign. So that the right of levying taxes 
 being vested exclusively in the Cortes, John V. 
 dare not demand the imposts even in the last 
 century, but merely raised them hypothetically, as 
 if tlie continuation of the old taxes, until the States
 
 POPULAR RIGHTS. ISl 
 
 General were asseml)led. The mother of tlie pre- 
 sent king, was the only and the first person who 
 attempted to impose taxes of Iier own accord. 
 The estabhshment of the Cortes in Portuo-al is 
 therefore tlie restoration of the Portuguese 
 people to their ancient rights. 
 
 And are you acquainted with the profession of 
 faith which the Cortes of 1640 printed in Latin, 
 so that it might circulate throughout Europe, 
 with the portrait of their king, to whom it was 
 dedicated ? 
 
 1st. That the sovereign power resides in the 
 people, from whom it is transferred to the prince. 
 
 2ndly. That the transfer of this power to kings 
 is temporary, and can be recalled by the people 
 whenever it becomes necessary for their defence 
 or preservation, and when princes, by their con- 
 duct, render themselves unworthy of the diadem. 
 
 Srdly. That a people have a natural and inhe- 
 rent right to break through their oath of allegiance 
 and deny obedience to those kings who cease to 
 govern with equity and justice. 
 
 Such were the articles of political belief which 
 the Portuguese cherished a century before the 
 existence of the Encyclopedists, Jacobins, Libe- 
 rals and Carbonari ! 
 
 The European cabinets are either extremely 
 ignorant themselves, or they think others are so. 
 They accuse the liberals as being the inventors 
 of perverse principles in politics, while the people 
 
 K 2
 
 182 EARLY INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 of former ages professed doctrines infinitely more 
 dangerous than the modern friends of freedom. 
 During the time of the Romans, the name of 
 repubHc did not make the hair of any person 
 stand on end. King-kilHng was even amongst the 
 commands of their declogue. The Goths, in 
 whose military parliaments, kings were named, 
 condemned and deposed, were real jacobins. Was 
 not Charlemagne, who collected the legislative 
 body of the empire in the Field of May, a jaco- 
 bin ? What were the Popes who dethroned and 
 buffeted the Emperors of Germany ? Were not 
 the Councils that displaced the Popes and the 
 Polish Diets, that denied the legitimacy of all 
 dynasties, jacobins and levellers ? Surely Alexan- 
 der III. who gave his benediction to the leagued 
 republics of Lombardy, and excommunicated 
 Frederick Barbarossa, was a Carbonaro : also Julia, 
 who died exclaiming " drive the barbaria?is out of 
 Italy /" Finally, were not all the Guelphs of the 
 middle ages revolutionists because they would not 
 wear the yoke of German marauders ? 
 
 If travellers were to say that Lisbon is inha- 
 bited by men during the day and dogs at night, 
 they would be perfectly right. I have been 
 tempted to ask what signal services has the ca- 
 nine race rendered to this city, that it should be 
 treated better than were the geese who saved the 
 capitol ? The barking of that cohort, which 
 nightly assembles in the square of Caciodore
 
 DOMESTIC EQUALITY. 133 
 
 where I lodge, would awaken Enoch and EUsha. 
 I have not closed an eye all night ; well may I hate 
 dogs of every kind, including the god Anubis. Do 
 not therefore accuse me of a want of politeness, if 
 I omit sending my best regards to the three 
 favourites who roll so much at their ease on the 
 carpets of your drawing-room, enjoying the infal- 
 libility as well as the inviolability of the domestic 
 circle.
 
 134. NATIONAL CONGRESS. 
 
 LETTER XXIII. 
 
 i^isbon, Feb. 26tb, 1822. 
 
 I WAS at length determined to visit the Cortes, 
 and I accordingly went to the hall two days ago. 
 Perhaps I have deferred this rather too long ; 
 but I am an epicurean, and always reserve the 
 greatest pleasure to the last. 
 
 The national congress assembles in an old con- 
 vent that overlooks the Tagus, A convent is not 
 certainly the most decorous residence for the po- 
 pular sovereignty, but the situation could not be 
 better adapted to inspire the deputies with senti- 
 ments of glory and patriotism. They sit di- 
 rectly opposite the spot whence the fleet of Vasco 
 de Gama sailed. 
 
 I should like to see some carpets which line the 
 passage leading to the galleries removed ; the in- 
 gress has now too much the appearance of a 
 tumbler's show. The hall is simple and spacious. 
 There is no ornament to distract the attention of 
 a hundred and forty members, to whose physiog- 
 7.)omies Michael Angelo could not have imparted
 
 PORTUGUESE ORATORS. 135 
 
 a more animated expression. The debate had 
 ah'eady commenced when I arrived. Most of the 
 orators speak with great faciUty. The Portuguese 
 language is not, however, either so majestic or so- 
 norous as the Spanish : but it is singular that 
 there should be so much apparent ease of delivery 
 among a people who have never cultivated the 
 eloquence of the tribune. This may perhaps be 
 attributed to the nature of the dialect and ready 
 imagination of the southern nations of Europe. 
 Every people is poetic, but it is only amongst 
 those of the south that improvisatori are found. 
 
 I was proceeding in my examination one by 
 one of these brown visages, with thick eyebrows 
 and large dark eyes, when the head of a deputy, 
 who rose to address the president, excited all my 
 attention. The expression of his features was 
 strongly marked and full of austerity; he had 
 eyes of fire, short curled hair, with here and there 
 a patch of grey. His voice was impressive. The 
 colour of his cheeks was somewhat darker than 
 brown ; his ideas seemed perfectly clear, and 
 phraseology intrepid, — there were neither circum- 
 locution nor parenthesis in his speech ; he neither 
 flattered nor offended any one. The orator did not 
 appear anxious about the impression made on his 
 auditory ; with eyes steadily fixed on the chair, he 
 seemed only influenced by his own conscience. On 
 seeing him rise a murmur of respectful applause
 
 136 FERN ANDES THOMAZ. 
 
 was heard to run tlirough tlie galleries. No longer 
 able to check my curiosity, I asked the person 
 that sat next to me, who it was that called forth 
 such a general expression of respect. He answered 
 Fernandes Thomaz, the flither of our revolution. 
 It was he, continued my informant, that con- 
 ceived the design, disclosed it to his friends, and 
 who, united with them, carried it into execution. 
 He is one of our most learned jurisconsults. In- 
 flexible under despotism, modest during the tri- 
 umph of the revolution, with simple manners and 
 a rugged address, he is our Cato. His whole life 
 has been devoted to the service of his country. 
 Despising the favours of the Court, he is only am- 
 bitious of popular applause. In appearance you 
 would imagine him to be robust, but study has 
 weakened his temperament. He is subject to fre- 
 quent fits of illness, and the days of his indisposi- 
 tion are days of melancholy for the populace, by 
 whom he is idolized.* 
 
 * It is tmly painful to reflect that the same page that records 
 an eulogium which was never morcjustly merited, must also an- 
 nounce the death of him whose virtue and patriotism the author 
 so justly appreciates. The loss of such a man must be always re- 
 garded as a serious calamity to the country which is so fortunate 
 as to possess him, but under the existing circumstances of Portu- 
 gal, when she is passing from a despotism of many centuries to a 
 state of freedom, the death of Fernaxdes Thomaz, is indeed irre- 
 parable. The following letter, addressed by the president of the
 
 BORGES CARNEIIIO. 137 
 
 The next speaker who rose, was of a taller sta- 
 ture than Fernandes Thomaz, slow in his delivery, 
 but impetuous and almost unbridled in the rapi- 
 dity of his thought. I soon after heard the name 
 of Borges Carneiro whispered on each side of me. 
 This deputy generally excites the enthusiasm of the 
 auditors in the gallery, for his propositions are 
 daring, and favour the passions of the multitude. 
 
 The third speaker who addressed the chair was 
 a priest in canonicals, of small stature, bald, and 
 with a feeble voice. The discussion turned on 
 some military regulation. *' This ecclesiastic," 
 said I to my neighbour, " is perhaps a templar, 
 from his meddling in affairs relative to the army ?" 
 
 Portuguese Cortes to my friend Mr. Bowring, details the sad 
 event in terms which do no less honour to the writer himself 
 than the patriot whose loss he deplores. 
 
 Lisbon, Nov. 21st, 1822. 
 Most Esteemed Friend, 
 
 When your letter of the 20th ultimo reached me, our 
 mutual and lamented friend, Fernandes Thomaz, was on the very 
 verge of death. He had been for more than six days struggling 
 with it, in all the strength of philosophic virtue, and died at eleven 
 o'clock at night on the 19th instant, leaving all his friends in the 
 greatest consternation, and filling the capital with lamentations 
 and tears. All feel his removal, and that in a thousand ways. A 
 generous patriot, a sincere friend, a valiant champion of public 
 liberty ; he died in fact exhausted by his noble ardour and un- 
 w^earied attention to his public duties. I, more than any, have 
 lost one, whose conversation was ray daily support and solace. It
 
 138 CASTELLO URANCO. 
 
 " No Sir," replied he, smiling at my remark, 
 *' that is Castello Branco, the learned pro- 
 fessor of Coimbra. Previous to the revolution, he 
 was a member of the Inquisition : his encyclope- 
 dian eloquence is now employed in favour of 
 liberty. 
 
 The galleries were full of spectators, although 
 the distance from the new city to where the Cortes 
 meet, is above a league. Great order and regularity 
 prevailed amongst the auditors, imtil a Brazilian 
 deputy, named Andrada, rose to oppose Borges 
 Carniero, when, to testify their attachment to the 
 latter, they began to show symptoms of agitation. 
 
 was on his bed of death that he knew of your imprisonment, and 
 all his tenderness and his strong intelligence were directed towards 
 you. Whatever fate injustice may prepare for you, console your- 
 self with the thought that liberty spreads here its benignant influ- 
 ences, and that every new act of tyranny serves to support and to 
 consolidate it for futurity. 
 
 Your alTcctionate Friend, 
 
 Jose J. F. do Moira. 
 
 The services literaiy and political, whether as an upright judge on 
 the bench, a bold and incorruptible member in Cortes, rendered to 
 his country by Fernandes Thomaz, will be found eloquently de- 
 tailed in the Monthly Magazine for September, 1821, from the 
 pen of Mr. Bowring. The only surviving brother of the deceased 
 patriot, .Jose Fernandes Thomaz, is now in the British Metro- 
 polis, as secretary of legation to the Portuguese embassy. Those 
 who know this diplomatist, do not require to be informed, that he 
 inhcrits'thc viilucs and patriolisra of his lamoated relative. — Ed-
 
 OLD CUSTOMS. }3[) 
 
 Order was, however, immediately restored by the 
 following sentence pronounced by Andrada. — 
 ** You should observe a dignified reserve. In the 
 elections ye are kings ; but in this hall, recollect 
 you are subjects." 
 
 1 will here relate an anecdote, by which you 
 may perceive, how extremely jealous of their dig- 
 nity the representatives of Portugal are. 
 
 Previous to the late revolution, it was customary 
 for all those who presented themselves before 
 royalty to kiss hands. The practice, though 
 ridiculous, was much less so than that of the 
 Vatican, where his holiness merely holds out a 
 slipper to be kissed. When the king first appeared 
 in the Hall of Cortes, he forgot that every deputy 
 there was also a monarch, and happening to hold 
 out his hand to the first who came up, the deputy 
 conceiving his majesty wanted a supporter, took 
 the king's hand, and placing it under his arm, 
 tranquilly ascended the stair-case with his majesty! 
 The extraordinary Cortes havebeen installed since 
 the 26th of January, 1821, and are occupied in pre- 
 paring the Constitution on the fundamental basis 
 already approved and sworn to by the people and 
 king. It will be completed towards the end of 
 August. The experience of Spain has been a 
 guide to the Portuguese legislators. This new 
 code, contains all the errata of that framed at 
 Cadiz in 1812. The king will preserve his title.
 
 140 PROGRESS OF REFORM. 
 
 but his power will not exceed that of a Doge. 
 So much the better even for him, as he will be 
 really infallible, when no longer m a state to act 
 wrong. 
 
 The Congress proceeds slowly in the work of 
 reform. It seems to have adopted the maxim of 
 constructing before it destroys. The only law 
 which has wounded private interests, is that which 
 reduces the senorial rights to one half their former 
 amount. The monks are still intact ; so are the 
 entails and enormous wealth of the upper clergy, 
 nor are the Commanderies to be appropriated to 
 the wants of the state until after the death of the 
 occupant. Even the police and its thousand 
 agents are untouched. Not that the Congress 
 hope that patience will disarm the enemies of 
 freedom : but, as I have before observed, it wants 
 to gain time, and acquire greater strength before 
 it engages in the grand struggle with vice and 
 corruption.* 
 
 * I am extremely happy to be enabled to state, that although 
 the evils inseparable from the above appendages to the old 
 despotic regime, are not even yet entirely removed, various amelio- 
 rations have been eflectcd since the author's remarks were made. 
 However impossible it may be to approve the toleration of what 
 renders all the old governments of Europe so many centuries behind 
 the spirit of the ago, it becomes necessary to make considerable 
 allowance for legislators who are called upon to heal tiie diseases 
 of centuries, as in the case of the Spanish and Portuguese 
 Cortes. — Ed.
 
 / 
 ITALY. Ill 
 
 Here my heart and imagination impel me to al- 
 lude once more to the state of Italy ! When I reflect 
 on the difficulties, moral and physical, which other 
 nations encounter, in their efforts to establish the 
 constitutional system, I cannot help being out of 
 humour with the destiny which seems to persecute 
 my own beautiful country. Is there any soil in 
 the world better calculated to make the tree of 
 liberty flourish than that of Italy ? with the excep- 
 tion of Piedmont, where some of the gothic insti- 
 tutions which had been destroyed, resuscitated in 
 1814. Where are the interests and prejudices against 
 which the constitutional system could clash there ? 
 You have traversed the whole of that unhappy 
 Peninsula, amiable lady, and can therefore testify, 
 that four-fifths of it are exempted from feudal 
 tenures, entails, onerous privileges, corporate 
 bodies, exclusive colleges, and these swarms of 
 priests who feed on the vitals of other countries. 
 All these reforms were commenced towards the mid- 
 dle of the last century, and completed by Napoleon. 
 If the attitude of a government conformable to 
 its state of civilization constitutes a right, no 
 nation after France can boast its claim to a con- 
 stitutional system with more justice than Italy. 
 Figure to yourself that a second Sicilian Vespers^ 
 caused the eighty thousand Austrians who 
 infest Italy to disappear, and I promise that on 
 the following day, a representative government 
 would be proclaimed without a murmur of oppo- 
 sition.
 
 142 PUBLIC AAFUSEMENTS. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. 
 
 Lisbon, March 5th, 1822. 
 
 Do not envy me, Madam, my idleness is 
 punished by lassitude, not however through my 
 own fault, but that of the three hundred thousand 
 inhabitants of this city, who have no idea of ren- 
 dering life happy. The Italian Opera is closed. 
 In the national theatre, mysteries of saints and 
 martyrs still continue to be represented : so that 
 one might as well go and hear a mass read. The 
 promenades too are deserted ; nor do the belles of 
 Lisbon ever appear on them. I am inclined to 
 think that the women have never left their houses 
 since the earthquake of 1755. The sole pastime 
 here during the last week is a procession, which 
 takes place at four o'clock in the afternoon. Its 
 object is to commemorate the passion of Christ ; 
 here the people have a gi-eat predilection for 
 such ceremonies. The windows are filled by 
 beautiful heads, with large black eyes and thick 
 lips, while the streets are crowded with the popu- 
 lace. The principal actor in this pious spectacle 
 is as large as Goliath, and bends under the weight
 
 SINGULAR PROCESSION'. 1 4.'> 
 
 of an immense cross. It is but too true that men 
 have made the Gods after their own image. From 
 the length and blackness of his hair, and brown 
 visage, one would be tempted to take this personi- 
 fication of Christ for a Portuguese rather than a 
 native of Jerusalem. A long train of women 
 follow the cross weeping and groaning, with 
 handkerchiefs up to their eyes and their heads 
 concealed in brown cloaks. The lower classes of 
 Portuguese females dress like nuns. 
 
 An English general of the last age used to say, 
 that he never saw a monk in Portugal who had 
 not a soldier's face, nor a soldier who had not that 
 of a monk. The first part of this remark is still 
 true. Those of the brotherhood whom I saw in the 
 above-mentioned procession, held up their heads 
 and moved with a triumphant gait, like grenadiers 
 marching on a parade. But why should they 
 not be proud, if the people, ministers and kings, 
 were so humbled to them before ? Why should 
 not these, for whom alone, three millions of Portu- 
 guese laboured and navigated to enrich, be proud ? 
 The only remarkable edifices in Portugal are con- 
 vents. Whoever has seen the Escurial of Spain 
 and convent of Mafra in this country, cannot but 
 feel satisfied that the conquest of America has 
 been effected for the Monks. At Lisbon, the 
 Franciscan friars built a magnificent convent, 
 which was the only one in its neighbourhood
 
 144 rO.MBAL. 
 
 that resisted the eartluiuake of 1755. This was 
 not as you will conceive, a miracle of St. Francis, 
 but one solely attributable to the architecture, 
 which gave the solidity of a fortress to the walls 
 and roof. 
 
 But although the Monks of Portugal may have 
 constructed their convents for eternity, they will 
 not be eternal. Pombal, who would not divide his 
 despotism with any person, was the first to give a 
 mortal blow to their power : — whilst occupied in 
 persecuting, cahuuniating and hanging some of 
 the most powerful nobles, this minister caused 
 father Malacrida to be executed, banishing the 
 Jesuits, and prohibited the dress of other orders. 
 The Marquis Pombal, with his ministerial omni- 
 potence, in having despised the influence-of these 
 two classes, paved the way for the reforms of the 
 present revolution. It is perhaps because the Cortes 
 found the number and power of the monks greatly 
 diminished that they have thought it prudent not 
 to suppress them. So that the king may still con- 
 tinue to call himself without the least hypocrisy, 
 his most faithful Majesty. 
 
 Monks and superstition are always cause and 
 effect, but if the Portuguese be a little supersti- 
 tious, they are exempted from religious fanaticism. 
 When certain winds blow for example, people are 
 known to run up particular hills to see if Sebas- 
 tian, who was killed in a battle fought against the
 
 TOLKRATION'. 145 
 
 Moors in 1568,* is coming back : although Saint 
 Sebastian has not come yet, his followers do not 
 insult him as the Lazzaroni oi^ Naples do with re- 
 gard to St. Jenarius wlieu he does not like to per- 
 form the miracle of shedding the blood. 
 
 That which occasions most inconvenience to 
 travellers in Lisbon is the Spiri/o Santo : this 
 walks about night and day to the sound of drum 
 and fife, making every body kiss a dirty. carpet. 
 A Frenchman would say of this spirit that it is 
 not destitute of wisdom, for it moves to the sound 
 of a patriotic hymn. 
 
 Did you not once tell me that your family in- 
 tended to visit Portugal ? If this curiosity still 
 continues, it may be as well for your peace of 
 mind, to' inform you, that heretics are no longer 
 burned in this country. So that the English, 
 whether at Lisbon or Oporto, are distinct from 
 all the heterodox, and have churches as well as 
 burial grounds of their own. It is hoped that 
 a motion will soon be made in the Cortes, to admit 
 the return of the Jews. How many of these are 
 there, who would gladly rejoin the descendants 
 of their parents that embraced Christianity to 
 avoid being burnt! If there was liberty of 
 worship in Portugal, there would not be so many 
 deserts, nor would grain be wanting for a fourth 
 
 * Alcazar. 
 JL
 
 146* CLIMATE. 
 
 of the population, and the state would not be 
 destitute of manufactures. How much more 
 would the four or five thousand Germans, who 
 yearly cross to North America, prefer this deli- 
 cious and omnifarious climate !
 
 JEREMY BENTIIAM. 147 
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 Lisbon, March 12th, 1822. 
 
 I WRITE these few lines in great haste, to inform 
 you that I this night embark for England with 
 one of your amiable compatriots whom I knew 
 at Madrid. The friendship of Mr. Bowring has 
 quite fascinated me : this estimable citizen is a 
 stem of French suavity grafted on the English cha- 
 racter. He speaks various languages ; has travelled 
 over all Europe ; is an eloquent poet, enamoured 
 of liberty, and the adopted friend of Jeremy 
 Bentham. This enthusiastic advocate of Spanish 
 freedom converses with gracefulness and argues 
 with urbanity, while he patiently suffers my excla- 
 mations against human nature, heaven and earth, 
 because they do not come to the aid of Italy. 
 It will be long ere I meet another travelling com- 
 panion equally agreeable ! He always carries an 
 album, in which the names and remembrances of 
 the most distinguished liberals of Europe are 
 recorded. We sometimes quarrel because I give 
 the title of martyrology to this collection. But 
 
 L 2
 
 148 CAMOENS. 
 
 to say the truth, the European Uberals are not yet 
 in a state of martyrdom. 
 
 We shall have a complete edition of Camoens 
 with us during the present voyage. How strongly 
 do I sympathize in the fate of this military bard, 
 the most imhappy of all poets ! I can never hesi- 
 tate to offer my mite to the mendicants who wander 
 about the streets of Lisbon, for it always strikes 
 me that I see the Indian Jao, who for nearly 
 three years begged througli the streets to support 
 the unfortunate Camoens, his master. The bard 
 of the Lusiiid died in an hospital without a shroud, 
 nor is the day or month of his death known ! 
 Liberty has revived the enthusiasm in favour of 
 Camoens. On the second day of Portuguese 
 emancipation, General Sepulveda inserted some of 
 this poet's verses in a proclamation to the people. 
 
 But do you think 13owring*s friendship is the 
 only motive I have for undertaking this voyage, 
 with so much pleasure ? Will not the curiosity 
 to see a nation where the women are so well- 
 informed, amiable, and romantic, as your acquaint- 
 ance induces me to suspect, have had a part ? 
 
 P. S. I shall not remain long in London. 
 Indeed I fully calculate on being back here to- 
 wards the end of April.
 
 JOHN BULI,. 1 1-9 
 
 LETIER XXVI. 
 
 Lisbon, xMay 10th, 1822. 
 
 Behold me once more at Lisbon. My existence 
 dilates and resumes its former dimensions, for the 
 month I passed in London seemed to reduce me 
 to an atom. In that vortex of great eventSj^great 
 men, and great sights, one ought to be at least 
 
 a Tamerlane or a pyramid of Egypt, not to 
 
 forget himself! 
 
 I did not find John Bull either so rustic or 
 intolerant, as he is generally painted. It is true, 
 he stared with rather an ironical curiosity at a 
 French roquelaure which I wore, but he neither 
 threw mud nor stones at me. John Bull has red 
 and white on his cheeks ; is robust, well formed, 
 well dressed and w^ell lodged. Notwithstanding- 
 all this, it is difficult to believe that he is happy. 
 He works too hard ; he condemns himself to per- 
 petual labour in order that he may drink tea twice 
 a day, cover his bread well w^ith butter, and 
 dress with elegance. From all which, I can- 
 not say that John Bull calculates wisely.
 
 150 UGO FOSCOLO. 
 
 While in London I saw our common friend Ugo 
 FoscoLO, with infinite pleasure, after a separation 
 of six years. Of all the living writers of Italy, 
 Foscolo is he whom I most admire. His romance 
 of Jacopo Ortis, has opened a new career of glory 
 to Italians, teaching how their latent sensibilities 
 and enthusiasm, two qualities essential to those 
 who would acquire liberty, are to be awakened. 
 I also admire Foscolo for not bowing the knee to 
 the idol at whose feet all the despots of Europe 
 burnt incense. Our friend resides near the Re- 
 gent's Park. His cottage is isolated, but well fur- 
 nished : there is however a canal passing near it, 
 which looks like the turbid Lethe. This little re- 
 treat might be called a hermitage, if you did not 
 see two pretty chamber-maids moving about within 
 its precincts, and that Ugo Foscolo makes the 
 same calculation as John Bull, to lead a life of agi- 
 tation and uneasiness : he is constrained to labour 
 night and day for the London Periodicals. Im- 
 mense fatigue, and little glory ! He ought to 
 prefer living like a thrush at the top of a belfrey, 
 waging an eternal war on the Austrians, by whom 
 he has been so atrociously calumniated, and in or- 
 der to save his honour, forced to exile himself from 
 Italy. 
 
 The Portuguese speak ill of Wellington, still 
 worse of Beresford, and in the very highest terms 
 of Wilson. The Portuguese are proud, and they 
 cannot forgive the two first named for having more
 
 SIR ROBERT WILSON. 161 
 
 pride than themselves. Whereas the popularity 
 of Wilson, his romantic valour, and the justice he 
 publicly rendered to the intrepidity of the Portu- 
 guese soldiery, has left a most grateful recollec- 
 tion on their minds. I was therefore anxious 
 personally to know this general, the champion of 
 human liberty. His courage must be of the most 
 daring description. Have you not remarked how 
 he leans forward in the attitude of an hussar who is 
 on the point of charging ? Your sovereign has 
 been advised to deprive the General of his com- 
 mission because he would not suffer his subjects 
 to be destroyed ; but he has nevertheless an am- 
 ple recompence : he possesses the Brevet of every 
 free people. 
 
 I attended at one of [the sittings of your House 
 of Commons, but it excited no interest whatever. 
 It is easy to foresee the result of every discussion. 
 The disproportion of strength between the opposi- 
 tion and ministry is too great. Hence there is 
 no suspense of the soul in the debates, no doubt 
 of the certainty as to which side victory will lean, 
 there is not in fact any dramatic interest. The 
 administration is invulnerable : it resembles those 
 combatants of Ariosto whose arms were fated. The 
 heart of the reader never palpitates for them, and 
 their contests only produce lassitude and indiffe- 
 rence. 
 
 I was highly delighted with the Pantheon of 
 Westminster ! It is a republic of the dead. There
 
 I5'i AUhS Bir.L. : 
 
 you see the real democracy of the tomh ! There 
 repose under the same gothic arches, the ashes of 
 comedians, kings, buffoons, &c. &c. &c. Apropos 
 
 of tliis magnificent abbey J stood motionless 
 
 before the bust of Paoli for above half an hour, 
 and read with surprise on the inscri})tion, that 
 after having vainly endeavoured to give inde})en- 
 dence to Corsica, his native country, against 
 France and Genoa, he took refuge in England, 
 where he was w^elcomed and pensioned by the 
 government. Yet the Italian refugees of the pre- 
 sent day, who have attempted and failed in a more 
 magnanimous enterprise, instead of patronage, 
 have only found the Alien Bill, which hangs over 
 them like the sword of Damocles. 
 
 With respect to my stay in London, I confess 
 that the silence of your streets, and tranquillity of 
 your houses, quite oppressed my mind Gossip! 
 noise and song, are necessary for an inhabitant of 
 the south. Our Italian peasants sing in chorus 
 under the burning rays of the dog days. In Spain 
 still more than Portugal, tlie people sing through- 
 out the niffht with all their hearts. But can a 
 month's residence in London give me the right of 
 criticising England ? No, amiable lady, I neither 
 ought nor will I speak ill of your country. 
 
 I have been so accustomed to revolution, sedi- 
 tions, and rebellions, during the last year, that I 
 almost forgot to inform you, we are scarcely out 
 of a conspiracy hatched by the agents and admi-
 
 SILVO DE CAKVALHO. 153 
 
 rers oF despotism. These excrescences of the social 
 body are never at ease except when plotting 
 against Uberty. They lately suborned about five 
 hundred recently discharged soldiers, and ])er- 
 suaded them to invade the privileges of the GaU- 
 cians, to perform the office of porters and water- 
 carriers in the city. The object of these fanatics 
 was to excite a tumult, and then direct the popular 
 venficeance at their own will. But the 2:cnius of free- 
 dom, Avhich is now ever watchful, foreseeing every 
 danger and providing a remedy, was soon on the 
 alert. The garrison w^as under arms in an instant, 
 and took possession of all the important points of 
 tlie capital. Sepulveda rushed forth and visited 
 every post, so that the resolute attitude of the 
 troops soon terrified the conspirators. The minis- 
 ter of justice made several important discoveries. 
 From these it would appear, that the danger was 
 much more imminent than it seemed to be, and 
 the conspiracy more extensive. The leaders, who 
 were powerful and numerous, remained behind 
 the curtain. This induced the minister to demand 
 from the Cortes, permission to remove the sus- 
 pected persons from the city. Such was the dan- 
 ger to liberty, that not a single deputy impugned 
 this law of fatal example. In other respects, the 
 high character of the minister Silvo de Carvalho 
 is quite a sufficient guarantee against the abuses of 
 liberty. At this moment, new^s has arrived that 
 on the same day and hour, and under the same
 
 164 DESPOTISM. 
 
 pretext, a similar conspiracy broke out and was 
 suppressed at Oporto. 
 
 What vigilance — how much prudence and 
 energy are required to consolidate this tree of li- 
 berty ! To what bufFetings is it exposed before its 
 roots are extended ! But I will ask despotism 
 how many years it will take, how many conspi- 
 racies must it put down, how many revolutions 
 fail, before it raises itself on the foundation of li- 
 berty ? Did not the Medici undergo a century of 
 continued perils previous to enjoying a moment's 
 security in absolute power ? Had not Charles V. 
 of Spain to sustain the war against the Comuneros, 
 Philip II. that of the Low Countries, Philij) IV. 
 that in Catalonia, before he became Lord of life 
 and property ? Richelieu, Mazarine, Louis XIV. 
 — what opposition did they not encounter while 
 establishing an absolute monarchy 1
 
 A PATRIOT KING. 155 
 
 LETTER XXVIL 
 
 Madrid, May 17th, 1822. 
 
 Last night was celebrated the anniversary of tlie 
 first hberal of Portugal ; for such is the title given 
 by all the liberals to John VL their king, and well 
 does he merit the envied appellation. It is now 
 a twelvemonth since he swore to be constitutional, 
 and up to this moment his conduct has been irre- 
 prehensible. A year's fidelity, no matter of what 
 kind, is a great proof of virtue. The king has 
 attended at the general review of the troops, sur- 
 rounded by the friends of liberty, and having 
 General Sepulveda constantly by his side. His 
 Majesty could not have chosen a better guardian 
 angel. If the king had been amongst the dullest 
 of the dull, he must yesterday have learned to 
 chaunt the patriotic hymn from memory, for it 
 was continually repeated under his windows for 
 the space of two hours. 
 
 The appearance of the troops could not have 
 been more martial. The soldiers as upright as per- 
 pendicular lines, with clean uniforms very neatly
 
 1.56 FEMALE PATRIOTISM. 
 
 made, proved them to be of the English school. 
 In order to j)rodiice good spirits, the cannon were 
 as usual fired off to stun and deafen all present. 
 
 John VI. passed yesterday as an aimable etourdi. 
 He went to the theatre in the evening, and to- 
 wards eleven o'clock proceeded to the ball given 
 by his subjects, accompanied by his daughters 
 and Prince Michael. 
 
 This second assemblage was much more agree- 
 able than that of the morning. All the most dis- 
 tinguished individuals of Lisbon were collected 
 in a large saloon. Even the apostolical Nuncio 
 himself seemed to espouse the manners of the age 
 on this occasion : adorned with his powdered 
 wig and full red face, he figured amongst the 
 ladies like a tulip in the midst of violets. How 
 beautiful are the eyes of the Portuguese women ! 
 They are so many black diamonds ! Every head, 
 neck and hand sparkled with brilliants. I saw 
 such a vast quantity, that I now believe that 
 the ])eople of America really play at marbles with 
 diamonds ! But I ought here to remark that 
 there were two of the most elegant Lisbon belles, 
 who appeared without the tiara worn by all the 
 others. On inquiry, I found that this arose from 
 their having made a present of it to their country 
 on the day of proclaiming the constitution here. 
 
 The costume of the officers of the court, is scar- 
 let embroidered with gold lace. But the Portu- 
 guese fidalgos do not possess that court mimickry
 
 I'OllTUGUESE FIDALGOS. 1.57 
 
 which is so familiar to the courtiers of other coun- 
 tries ; they have neither that supercihoiis insolence, 
 nor affected superiority over the greatest heroes 
 of the day, which courtiers are usually required to 
 possess. 
 
 If fine clothes were a criterion of merit, I should 
 be justified in saying that all the illustrious men of 
 Plutarch were present at the above fete. But the 
 Portuguese fidalgos of the present day have 
 greatly degenerated from their ancestors who 
 fought in Africa for the faith, but still more for 
 glory. I do not know with what sort of eyes 
 they regard the constitution : whatever they may 
 think, I suspect there is a much greater disposition 
 to spend their money than shed their blood. 
 
 The news from Spain embittered my amusement 
 last night. My rational Spaniards have lost their 
 senses! They are fighting amongst themselves. 
 A civil war has commenced in Catalonia. Priests 
 and monks head the bands of the factious. A 
 war between officers and monks is however marks 
 of an originality which can only be seen in Spain. 
 In France the officers become missionaries, and in 
 Spain the missionaries become officers. Yet I hope 
 this is not a war of opinion : if such were the case 
 manv other provinces would be in arms. What ! 
 the Catalonians, the defenders of liberty in all 
 ages, take arms against it ? No ! nothing but hun- 
 ger and seduction could have led them to raise 
 the standard of rebellion. That which most an-
 
 158 PERSECUTION. 
 
 noys me, is the fact of ministers regarding the 
 first flames of this conflagration with a species of 
 stupid indiflerence. There is no vigour except 
 for persecuting the Hherais of 1820.* This is not 
 an epigram: the ministers like the constitution, 
 but hate the constitutionaUsts. If the perils of 
 liberty increase in Spain, I will instantly quit this 
 to share the fate of my friends there : for it is no 
 longer an asylum for me, but a second country. 
 Adieu ! amiable lady : tell your sister lady A**** 
 that she must not forget to include Spanish free- 
 dom in her orisons. 
 
 * The interval which elapsed between writing the letters from 
 Spain and those from Portugal, during whicli the author had 
 sufficient time to study the character of the men of 1812, ac- 
 counts for the above important admission. Count Pecchio was 
 not singular in his change of opinion, and whatever prepossessions 
 he might have acquured on his first arrival, it is highly creditable 
 to him, that he should thus end by doing justice to the CoMU- 
 NEROS. — Ed.
 
 THE PRINCE REGENT. \5[) 
 
 LETTER XXVIII. 
 
 Lisbon, May, 20th 1822. 
 
 Numbers of people are at this moment embark- 
 ing on the Tagus to be present at the sitting of 
 Cortes. The discnssion is one of the highest im- 
 portance. It relates to the independence of the 
 Brazils. Rio Janeiro threatens to separate from 
 the mother country : the Prince Regent has raised 
 the standard of revolt : he has constrained the gar- 
 rison which had lately gone there to re-embark for 
 Europe. It arrived here two days ago. 
 
 The cause of the Prince is very different from 
 that of the Brazils. He is in fact a rebel ; who, 
 from an impatience to reign, violates the most 
 sacred oaths, and breaks through all the ties of 
 nature and obedience. This young man is really 
 to be pitied, he has made himself the blind instru- 
 ment of a faction, which being in want of a rally- 
 ing point and leader, availed itself of his incon- 
 siderate ambition, determined to desert him the 
 moment their independence is secured. Could
 
 160 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 the Brazilians ever tiiink of forming a kingdom 
 amidst the republics of South America, and retain 
 an European Prince, who will one day either from 
 fear or remorse betray them ? 
 
 On the other hand, the Brazils in aspiring to 
 independence, aspires to a right which reason, 
 nature and her interests confer. If one of the mo- 
 tives which determined Portugal to effect the late 
 revolution, was to relieve itself from the absurd 
 dependence on the court and government residing 
 in the Brazils since 1806, will not the same motive 
 hold good now in favour of the Brazils against 
 Portugal ? 
 
 The union of the Brazils was advantageous to 
 Portugal when the former was treated as a colonv : 
 but now that it is on a level with the mother 
 country, the union is no longer just or necessary. 
 From a connection founded on an equality of 
 rights, the only advantages that could redound to 
 Portufical are those of trade. But would not these 
 be secured equally well by means of a treaty of 
 alliance and commerce ? 
 
 The Cortes cannot but feel the force of these 
 reasons : but they will not have the courage to 
 defend them before tlie Portuguese people. They 
 will sacrifice their own conviction for the sake 
 of preserving popularity. The people of this 
 country are in error, for regarding the separation 
 of the Brazils as a calamity. Hence the national 
 congress, in order to escape censure, will never
 
 W'UOLKSOME ADVICE. 161 
 
 consent to this inevitable divorce till they arc 
 forced to do so. Such is tlic way in which you 
 are to account for the contradiction observable 
 between the conduct of the Cortos and its prin- 
 ciples. 
 
 For my own part, I wish this separation to take 
 place, and the sooner the better. Portugal will 
 then no longer waste its attention and power on 
 America. It now maintains twelve thousand men 
 in the Brazils. This force is too much for its fi- 
 nances, and too little to keep down a population of 
 more than twelve millions, who have alreadv twenty 
 thousand national guards under arms. Until now 
 Portugal has been American, it is high time she 
 should become European : it is tim& for her to re- 
 enter the great family with more heart and spirit. 
 Discord reigns in this family ; it is therefore 
 necessary that she should select her natural friends 
 and make common cause with them. She should 
 console herself for the loss of the Brazils with the 
 friendship of Spain. She will then repair the 
 fault of having within these few days so coldly 
 met the proposal of a defensive alliance made by 
 her neighbour : when she finds herself isolated, she 
 will feel the necessity of drawing the ties of fra- 
 ternity still closer with a nation which has the 
 same dangers and the same machinations to en- 
 counter. 
 
 A report prevails here that peace is concluded 
 between Russia and the Porte. I could never 
 
 M
 
 162 RUSSIA. 
 
 have believed that an Alea:ander would suffer hini- 
 self to be frightened ! That great man of Cathe- 
 rine, to have suffered the opportunity of con(|uer- 
 ing Constantinople, amidst the applauses of the 
 whole world, to escape, proclaiming at the same 
 time the independence of two nations who deserve 
 it most, — Greece and Italy. The only power that 
 could or would have opposed this conquest, is 
 Austria, liekindling the revolution in Italy, 
 where so many combustible materials exist, 
 Russia might have paralysed all the forces of 
 Austria, and thus for ever weakened her natural 
 enemy. Perhaps liberal ideas have terrified Rus- 
 sia. She has too good an opinion of herself, if she 
 thinks she is vulnerable to them. Liberal ideas 
 have not the rapidity of Napoleon's legions, and 
 yet what will you say when I add, as one of my 
 opinions, that I entertain more sanguine hopes of 
 Itahan hberty from the Cossacks than the English 
 Radicals. Thus it is, that I have not lost every 
 ho})e. Reflect well on this and )'ou will not say I 
 am wrong. If the Russian Cabinet has protected 
 the revolution of Greece to weaken her enemy the 
 Sultan, why should not she one day or other en- 
 courage that of Italy if it becomes her interest to 
 weaken Austria ?
 
 SEPULVEDA. l(j^ 
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 hkhm, May 2Jth, 1822. 
 
 I AM and shall always be a courtier to the truly 
 great. With them there is at least no necessity 
 for a long attendance in anti-chambers : their 
 audiences are not favours from Heaven. It has 
 not cost me the least fatigue to approach General 
 Sepulveda, who, as you know, was the first colo- 
 nel of the Portuguese army who raised the cry of 
 liberty at Oporto in 1820. He is accessible at all 
 hours, simple in his manners, and popular through 
 instinct. The hero of Portugal is of tall stature 
 and rather slightly made ; he is so modest and re- 
 served, that you would at first sight almost be 
 tempted to take him for an Englishman ; but 
 after a few minutes conversation, the sun bursts 
 forth, his countenance brightens, his cheeks become 
 crimsoned, and his eyes more brilliant. Sepulveda 
 may therefore be compared to a volcano covered 
 with snow. The friends of liberty selected him 
 at Oporto as the first actor in the revolution, and 
 nature had endowed him with the necessary quali- 
 
 M 2
 
 164 HEROISM. 
 
 ties for so magnanimous an enterprise ; prudence 
 before action, boldness and cntliusiasm when once 
 engaged ; such are tlie traits wliicli distinguish 
 the hero of Portuguese freedom. When the 
 regency sent the troops who still obeyed them 
 against the garrison of Oporto, which advanced 
 towards the capital, Sepulveda, followed by two 
 orderlies, presented himself before the hostile 
 battalions and invited them to join the liberators 
 of their country. Struck by this boldness and 
 confidence, the soldiery did not hesitate a mo- 
 ment, and instantly ranged themselves under the 
 banners of liberty. 
 
 Sepulveda is now commandant of the city and 
 province of Lisbon. This important charge was 
 conferred on him owing to a proposition of the 
 Cortes, nor can it be taken away without their 
 consent. The national representatives have by 
 this wise measure provided for their inviolability, 
 and thus removed the danger of any sudden vio- 
 lence on the part of the executive. 
 
 The days of General Sepulveda are a continued 
 occupation for the good of his coimtry. He 
 might live in a glass-house, for he is constantly 
 surrounded by his friends. His conversation is 
 rendered extremely interesting from the frankness 
 and sincerity of his sentiments : he abhorred the 
 dominion which the English government arro- 
 gated to itself over this country, but in his hatred 
 he did not confound the government with indivi-
 
 DISINTERESTEDNESS. l6.5 
 
 duals. While conversing with him yesterday on 
 the conduct of the hundred and fifty British officers 
 who were serving in tlie Portuguese army when 
 the revolution broke out, he pronounced a warm 
 eulogium on them without the smallest affectation 
 of generosity. At the first movement in Oporto 
 these officers withdrew, declaring that they neither 
 would nor ought to interfere in the concerns of the 
 kingdom. The Portuguese would not suffer them- 
 selves to be vanquished in courtesy, and left it to 
 the choice of the English either to remain in tlie 
 service or retire with pensions. Not one amongst 
 them, however, accepted either rank or pension : 
 though several gratuitously offered to draw their 
 swords in defence of liberty, continuing to keep 
 up the same friendly intercourse with the patriots, 
 and visiting General Sepulveda, to whom they 
 manifested the utmost esteem and friendship. 
 
 You cannot imagine with what pleasure I 
 listened to this recital, well knowing how gratify- 
 ing it would be to you to hear such a chivalric 
 anecdote of your countrymen ! The sentiment of 
 honour and justice in your compatriots, is widely 
 different from those entertained in other countries 
 which miffht be named. 
 
 The opinion of Sepulveda on Marshal Beres- 
 ford, appears to me no less frank than impartial. 
 He attributes the merit of having disciplined the 
 Portuguese army to this officer, as well as making 
 it so efficient before an enemy. " Previous to his
 
 \66 f.OKD liEKESIORD. 
 
 time, said the General, the profession most de- 
 generated in Portugal was that of arms. The gran- 
 dees of the Court were frequently in the habit of 
 conferring the rank of lieutenants and even cap- 
 tains on their footmen. Beresford wrested the 
 officers from this ignominy, leaving an army behind 
 him full of honour, and which rivalled that of 
 England itself in valour and discipline : so that 
 we have made no change whatever in the military 
 regulations introduced by him. Beresford was a 
 despot in the administration, but ftdl of integrity. 
 He had not sufficient greatness of mind to save the 
 brave General Gomez Freire and his twelve com- 
 panions, who conspired against the English in 
 18 17 ; but Beresford will always have a claim to 
 our gratitude for giving us a military existence.'' 
 Do you not think from the foregoing sketch of 
 Sepulveda, that he was worthy of giving liberty to 
 his country? Without great talents and great 
 virtues there can be no revolutions. The despots 
 are not therefore so much to blame in promoting 
 vice and ignorance.
 
 CANDOUR. 
 
 107 
 
 LETTER XXXI. 
 
 Lisbon, iMny 28th, 1822. 
 
 Why do yoii conceal your thoughts under so 
 nlany metaphors ? If this system be encouraged 
 in Europe, the fables of JEsoip will become fashion- 
 able again. Pray give up hieroglyphics and write 
 with freedom and courage. The Portuguese con- 
 stitution declares the secret of letters inviolable, 
 do not therefore any longer curb your reflections. 
 If there is any thing going on here that you do not 
 like, say so without reserve. The Patriots "of this 
 country do not expect to be associated with the 
 optimists ; on the contrary, they are the first to 
 deplore their want of civilization. They will them- 
 selves tell you, laughing, in order to paint the 
 ignorance and rusticity, that Portugal was created 
 four thousand years after the creation. 
 
 It rains most unmercifully: so much the^better, 
 for without tliis the streets would remain as they 
 are until the end of the world. In order to 
 shelter themselves from the rain, about fifty idlers
 
 lf)8 HUMAN MISERY'. 
 
 have collected under the portico of the hotel in 
 whicli I reside : what would you say if you saw 
 how many rags there are in a kins^dom so full 
 of diamonds ! There are nearly three hundred 
 thousand inhabitants in Lisbon, but there are not 
 a hundred thousand wlio can boast of a complete 
 covering from the inclemency of the season. 
 Lisbon is in fact the largest study for the naked 
 figure in Europe.* 
 
 Notwithstanding these cynical reflections, it 
 must be confessed, that Portugal deserves uncom- 
 monly well of Europe. In the first place, was 
 she not the first to pass the Cape of Good Hope, 
 and find a new road to India? secondly, was she 
 not the first, in I7G0, to destroy the universal 
 monarchy of the Jesuits ? thirdly, after the ill- 
 fated experience of the French Republic, is not 
 
 * However jocularly the Count alludes to the state of the 
 population of Lisbon, bis remarks furnish matter of deep and me- 
 lancholy reflection to the philosopher and statesman. What 
 greater proof could the author adduce of the enormous abuses of 
 the old system of government, and the necessity of that revolu- 
 tion which the enemies of freedom and humanity, both in Eng- 
 land and France, have been depreciating with so much acrimony, 
 while the actors are held up to constant scorn and obloquy? 
 Yet, thanks to the system which still prevails over four fifths of 
 Europe, both its capitals and interior do not present a more 
 grateful sight to the view of the philanthropist than Lisbon ! — Ed.
 
 FINANCES. 1^9 
 
 Portugal the first to adopt a constitution which 
 most resembles that of 1793, and whicli must 
 ultimately become a model to the nations of 
 Europe ? This kingdom, pigmy as it is, has con- 
 ferred more blessings on humanity than the de- 
 formed Colossus of the north, Russia and Poland, 
 and of the wliole Austrian empire put together ! 
 
 Portugal ceased to be rich in 1806. After 
 the emigration of the king to Rio Janeiro, the 
 Brazils was no longer a colony, nor did it any 
 longer remit thirty millions annually to the mother 
 country. But though Portugal was no longer 
 rich, it did not suddenly fall into indigence, like 
 Spain after the loss of America. The finances are 
 not in that disorder which prevails in Spain : the 
 imposts are not very heavy, and they are col- 
 lected without difficulty. The annual expenditure 
 amounts to fifty millions of francs. It is true 
 that the revenue does not equal the expence, there 
 is a deficit of some millions. But the economical 
 reforms which are carrying into effect, will restore 
 the equilibrium between the receipts and disburse- 
 ments : there is, besides, no prejudice against 
 loans here. Should it be necessary to recur to 
 this extraordinary remedy, the Cortes will ado})t 
 it without repugnance, and the national bank, 
 which is about to be established in Lisbon, will 
 facilitate the execution of their wishes. 
 
 The public debt is not as yet liquidated ;
 
 170 COMMERCE. 
 
 but independently of its not exceeding ^220 mil- 
 lions of francs, it is sufficiently guaranteed by the 
 existing mass of national domains and other pub- 
 lic property. 
 
 In addition to the innumerable abuses and di- 
 lapidations of despotism inherited by the revolu- 
 tion, it also has to suffer from the disgraceful trea- 
 ties of the old regime. Thus it is that up to the 
 year 1825, Portugal will be subjected to the 
 treaty of commerce coricluded in 1819 with Eng- 
 land, by which all the manufactures of other 
 countries are excluded, and a monopoly allow^ed 
 to those of Great Britain. The wish of the mer- 
 chants is, that Lisbon should be declared a free 
 port. They are perfectly right : has not nature 
 destined it to be the grand emporium of Eu- 
 rope ? 
 
 The army of Portugal is small but formidable. 
 The land forces in Europe do not exceed twenty 
 thousand men : there are as many more in the Bra- 
 zils, comprising the division of four thousand men 
 who occupy Montevideo. With the forty proxin- 
 cial regiments, however, which can be placed under 
 arms at the shortest notice, the military force o£ 
 this country might be increased to sixty thousand 
 men. During the late war Portugal kept up art 
 army of fifty thousand men : but the gi'eat ^gis 
 of liberty, a national militia, is still wanting. The 
 Cortes ought not to spare either fatigues or sacrifices,
 
 POI'ULATION-. 171 
 
 nor yield to any prejudice, in order to give this 
 powerful guarantee to the constitution. 
 
 The population of the whole kingdom dues not 
 exceed three millions of souls, whereas it is capa- 
 pie of containing six millions, from its extent of 
 territory and resources. Political economists at- 
 tribute this confined population to emigrations 
 to the Colonies : this appears to me an erro- 
 neous opinion. Does not the population of 
 France, Holland, and above all, England, go on in- 
 creasing in spite of the increase of their colonies ? 
 Yet what country has suffered more in this respect, 
 and from so many different causes ? Nevertheless 
 its population increases. What has served to 
 depopulate Portugal, according to my notions, is 
 the horrible system of internal administration, and 
 that despotism which has destroyed more human 
 beings than the plague of Alexandria. 
 
 A more equal division of property, facility of 
 communication, freedom of commerce, liberty of 
 every kind : such are the secrets of multiplication 
 in the human species. 
 
 The present ministry is energetic, active, patrio- 
 tic and sincere ; I could even say still more in 
 their favour, for the harmony which they maintain 
 in the Cortes. 
 
 The king is invisible : he is like a God : it is 
 known that he exists but no one sees him. So 
 much the better ; this worship is more pure and 
 will not easily degenerate into idolatry. The
 
 172 SERVILES. 
 
 king shuts his ears to the councils of perfidy. 
 He is known to have said that he never was hap- 
 pier in his life than he is under the constitutional 
 system ; besides he now disposes without scruple 
 of what the nation allows him. 
 
 The serviles are not few in number, and the 
 ]nalcontents are numerous, but their force is im- 
 potent : their designs are always abortive, for 
 they neither have a system nor legitimate pretext 
 for a counter revolution. They may be justly 
 compared to a horde of savages who attack a well 
 disciplined legion, and which perishes without 
 any hope of success. 
 
 I should continue this miscellanea, were it not 
 that the rain has ceased. I will profit by this 
 truce of heaven, and take a walk under the por- 
 ticos of the exchange. These porticos surround 
 the beautiful square of commerce constructed 
 under the auspices of Pombal. I must repeat to 
 you, that I cannot think badly of the said Mar- 
 quis, though I know he was a despotic minister, 
 but acting under a despotic king. If he had not 
 been a despot, the king's confessor, favourite, or 
 mistress, would have been so. Pombal at least 
 taught princes that every king may if he likes be a 
 sovereign Pontiff in his own house : he had the 
 courage to displace a Saint, Ignatius of Loyala, 
 causing his name to be expunged from the Calen- 
 dar ; he introduced some discipline into the army, 
 encouraged the navy, and endeavoured to throw ofi'
 
 POMBAL. 173 
 
 the yoke of English commerce: Pombal also re- 
 formed public instruction, rendering it more con- 
 formable to the progress of the age. Even the 
 liberals of the present day do not hate his me- 
 mory ; he was in fact a beneficent tyrant.
 
 J 74 STLVESTRE PINEIRO. 
 
 LETTER XXXI. 
 
 Lisbon, June 1st, 1822. 
 
 You do not say any thing about the impression 
 which the dismissal of the Picdmontese envoy in 
 twenty-four hours, by the Portuguese government, 
 produced in Paris. France, being accustomed to 
 the fuhninations of Napoleon, has not applauded 
 this mark of just indignation on the part of the 
 minister Silvestre Pineiro. Ought the ministers 
 of this country, who last year restored the creden- 
 tials of the Austrian envoy, to suffer themselves to 
 be insulted by a Nabob of Austria ? Be this as 
 it mav, the recent measure does honour to tlie 
 government of Portugal : it has shown itself no 
 less sensible of national dignity than determined 
 in its just resentment. 
 
 The Portuguese revolution is in the hands of 
 men who are botli firm, resolute, and sagacious. 
 I do not want to deceive you, the liberals in Por- 
 tugal are not so numerous as in Spain, but 
 they make up for this in union and energy. 
 They are close and imj)cnetrable: like the Macedo-
 
 RESOLUTION. 175 
 
 nian phalanx, they advance slowly in the midst 
 of their enemies, overtnrning every obstacle, like 
 the infernal column at Fontenoy. Foreseeing the 
 war they had to wage, their plan of campaign was 
 drawn np, and they follow it scrupulously. Judge 
 for yourself, if I do not say the truth, from the 
 following facts. 
 
 Scarcely had the insurrection broke out in 
 Oporto, when the regency here offered a free 
 pai'don to all those who should return to their 
 allegiance, promising at the same time to con- 
 voke the Cortes. Nothing could be more calcu- 
 lated to seduce malcontents, uncertain of the 
 victory, than such an offer. But the liberals, of 
 Portugal did not suffer themselves to be led away 
 by these flattering promises. They not only re- 
 jected the proffered amnesty, but threatened to 
 punish all those who did not unite under their 
 banners, and so far from being dazzled by the 
 proposed convocation of the Cortes, they declared 
 that it was themselves alone, and not the regencv, 
 *whQ had a right to assemble the congi'ess in the 
 name of the nation. 
 
 The British ministry also contrived to damp 
 the courage of the liberals, during the first days 
 of the Revolution. For this purpose, it offered 
 them the support and co-operation of England, 
 on condition that they should adopt a constitu- 
 tXQn with two chambers and an absolute veio for 
 the king. But the liberals rejected this powerful
 
 17(i POLITICAL TACT. 
 
 protection rather tlian deceive their country with 
 an illusory liberty. 
 
 The King's return last year was another peril- 
 ous crisis for the friends of freedom. The 
 counter-revolution was prepared j the signal of 
 its bursting forth was to be the landing of the 
 sovereign. The Cortes seeing the danger, suddenly 
 replaced all the colonels of regiments ; they 
 separated the king from the conspirators ; and 
 were immovable with regard to the ceremony fixed 
 on for his disembarkation, so that the conspiracy 
 failed. 
 
 The Portuguese liberals were fully aware of the 
 error committed by their brethren of Spain, in 
 withdrawing themselves from the king. They 
 saw that by suffering him to be surrounded by 
 the old courtiers, he would always continue isola- 
 ted from the nation ; and that in the end, diffi- 
 dence could not fail to arise between those who 
 kept aloof from each other. Hence the offero f 
 the liberals to attend the king tliemselves, in which 
 pursuit they show as much assiduity as the most 
 veteran followers of the old court. 
 
 This will perhaps be the last letter 1 shall 
 address you from Lisbon. I have determined to 
 depart immediately for Spain. The situation of 
 that country becomes more critical daily. Every 
 thing induces a belief that the serviles and the ad- 
 vocates of two chambers have made a treaty with 
 each other. Should this be the case, a strug-
 
 AN APPROACH IN'G STORM. 177 
 
 gle between the two parties is unavoidable, I under- 
 derstand by letters from the capital that it pre- 
 sents that falacious and melancholy calm, which is 
 always the precursor of a storm. The explosion 
 will be dreadful since the Spaniards say it is near, 
 for they never see danger until it becomes inevit- 
 able : with a little foresight, and some energy, the 
 liberals might avoid this storm. But these, widely 
 different from their friends in this coulitry, with 
 an excessive moderation, a romantic generosity, 
 and blind confidence in their own strength, have 
 suffered their enemies to collect all the elements 
 of a counter-revolution. But no matter, the 
 Spanish liberals are brave, their courage will 
 remedy every error. Although they do not seem 
 to have formed a plan of defence, it is neverthe- 
 less an instinct of the Spaniard not to be daunted 
 in the hour of danger, to prepare himself for the 
 fisht with order, and follow the steps of the most 
 daring. The liberals will triumph : such is my 
 presentiment. I feel the pain of impatience there- 
 fore rather than that of uncertainty. AVould that 
 I were in Madrid ; indeed my heart is already 
 there ! 
 
 X
 
 178 GALIAMO. 
 
 LETTER XXXII. 
 
 Madrid, June 20th, 1821 
 
 The retreat of Zenophon was not more perilous 
 nor more fortunate than my journey. I traversed 
 the whole of Estramadura in the midst of robbers 
 and factious bands (who are synonymous) and 
 have reached Madrid in safety. 
 
 My conjectures are verified : here the horizon 
 is dark and tempestuous. The Cortes are about 
 to close, without having applied a radical remedy 
 to the evils of their suffering country. The abyss 
 is open ; one courageous act might close it for 
 ever. But time has been lost, the fire of enthu- 
 siasm has been extinguished by half measures, 
 and the liberals of 1820 have lost the majority in 
 the Cortes, within the last two months. They 
 have however frequently been on a par with their 
 adversaries, and they always contest the victory 
 with spirit : Galiano is their orator. Nature has
 
 AGUSTIN ARGUELLES. 17^ 
 
 endowed him with the gift of eloquence, and lie 
 has perfected it by study : he speaks and gesti- 
 culates nobly. If he has any defects, they con- 
 sist of too much daring and presumption in favour 
 of his party. 
 
 The antagonist of Galiano is Agustin Arguel- 
 les ; but this orator is no longer the divine, he is 
 scarcely considered as eloquent : his eloquence 
 has lost its greatest charm, that of truth. He is 
 at the head of a faction which rises and votes with 
 hhn mechanically : but being dexterous, and sea- 
 soned in the tactics of the assembly, he prepares 
 the victory in darkness, which he could not 
 achieve with equal arms in the tribune. 
 
 Riego does not speak, Riego does not fight : 
 what does Riego do then ? Riego is the corps de 
 reserve of the liberals. It is prudence not to ex- 
 pose him without an urgent necessity. He is the 
 standard of Mahomet, which ought not to be un- 
 furled except in a case of desperation. 
 
 The liberals have more than once invited the 
 ministry to enter their ranks, and march at their 
 head, but the ministers have refused ; persisting 
 in their fatal system of tergiversation and mystery, 
 and covering themselves with an impenetrable veil. 
 The representative government, which ought to be 
 transparent, has now become an opaque body, that 
 neither gives nor receives light. Public opinion 
 therefore begins to abandon them. 
 
 N 2
 
 180 MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA. 
 
 Suspicion, accusations and calumnies shower 
 upon these men. Yet is there one man in the minis- 
 try whom I cannot consider capable of betraying 
 the interests of liberty, or the ignity o. his coun- 
 try : this is Martinez de la Rosa. Young, with 
 an interesting physiognomy : honoured in his pri- 
 vate character, eloquent, and already celebrated 
 in the republic of letters : proved for many years 
 as a victim of despotism, to what can he aspire, if 
 not to glory ? Surely he is too honourable to par- 
 ticipate in treason, and has too much talent to 
 sacrifice his glory to the ambition of others. I 
 must confess for my ow^n part, that it distresses 
 me exceedingly, when I contemplate the possibil- 
 ity of being one day forced to think less favoura- 
 bly of such a man. 
 
 Meanwhile the day of San Fernando at Aranjuez 
 developed very strong symptoms of a counter- 
 revolution. The royal guards, seconded by num- 
 bers of the peasantry, cried " Long live the abso- 
 lute king." It is said that one of the Infantes ap- 
 peared to be flattered by this exclamation. But 
 the national guard imposed silence on the seditious 
 and no doubt prevented the execution of a more 
 formidable plan. This shameful conduct still 
 remains unpunished. 
 
 The king will return to the capital to close the 
 Cortes on the 30th instant. It is reported 
 among the populace, that some violent events are
 
 PROGNOSTICS. 181 
 
 likely to attend Ferdinand's arrival. In times of 
 revolution, these presages ought not to be de- 
 spised. I am as superstitious as the Romans, 
 who believed that these popular prognostics 
 were the warning voices of certain genii who peo- 
 pled the air.
 
 182 MOlilLLO. 
 
 LETTER XXXIII. 
 
 Madrid, July 2nd, 1821 
 
 
 The crisis has at length arrived. The coimter- 
 revokition burst forth with a terrific explosion yes- 
 terday. It was the day fixed for closing the Cortes, 
 and miglit have been that of their sepulture. 
 Whilst the king appeared seated amongst the 
 deputies of the nation, with the tender title of 
 Father of his Country, which the Cortes of 1820 
 placed over the throne, the royal guard proclaimed 
 him an absolute king in the palace. At this rebel- 
 lious cry, the populace could not restrain its in- 
 dignation J but the rebels drove the people be- 
 fore them with a few discharges of musquetry. 
 Morillo, the Captain-general, having rushed for- 
 ward, drew his sword and told the soldiery at their 
 peril to repeat the seditious exclamations. He 
 thus brought them back to obedience and sent 
 four battalions to their quarters. The flame thus 
 extinguished was however destined to burst forth 
 with greater violence in the evening. Whilst the 
 public were wondering to see the ostentation
 
 BALLEbTEKOS. 183 
 
 of indifference shown by the ministers on the 
 Prado for the events of the morning, a report cir- 
 culated that the two other battahons had assassi- 
 nated the gallant Landabura within the very pre- 
 cincts of the palace itself This resolute patriot 
 died with the cry of " long live the Constitution /" 
 on his lips, though in sight of one of the princes 
 who stood at a window of the palace to witness 
 the assassination/* At this piece of news, the agi- 
 tation was instantly renewed and became general. 
 Meanwhile shouts and imprecations were heard 
 to proceed from the spot where the guards are 
 quartered. Matters continued in this state until 
 midnight, when it w\as ascertained that the fouf 
 refractory battalions had abandoned the capital 
 and proceeded to encamp at the Prado. 
 
 It was in vain that Morillo harangued the sol- / 
 diers, for the purpose of inducing them to return 
 to their duty. They not only refused but invited 
 the General to place himself at their head. Upon 
 this Morillo left them to their fate, as did also 
 above a hundred of the officers and Serjeants who 
 joined the patriots in defence of freedom. Balles- 
 teros, who never presents himself to the nation 
 except in the hour of her peril, solicited the com- 
 mand of two pieces of artillery from the Captain- 
 
 * Don Carlos, who has made common cause with the fanatics 
 ever since the re-establish nient of liberty, is the person to whom 
 the author here alludes.
 
 184 MINISTERIAL APATHY. 
 
 general, also a regiment of cavalry, to charge the 
 mutineers. Military discipline, and above all, 
 insulted liberty called aloud for immediate punish- 
 ment and example. But scarcely had Ballesteros 
 commenced his march, than the king recalled him 
 and gave orders that the fugitives should not be 
 followed. Such are the principal events of Sun- 
 day last. 
 
 Yesterday presented a scene of incessant acti- 
 vity. The liberals shook off their stoical indif- 
 ference, and suddenly rushed to arms. The 
 municipality declared its sittings permanent ; all 
 the national guards are under arms. Ferdinand 
 does not quit the palace but when he is protected 
 by two battalions, which, as in time of war have 
 piquets and advanced posts in every direction. 
 The garrison observes the strictest discipline and 
 seems determined to obey the ministers. But the 
 latter have not yet adopted a single measure or 
 said a word on what is passing. The corps diplo- 
 matique is in motion, couriers extraordinary are 
 despatched every five or six hours for Paris. I 
 avail myself of one of these opportunities to com- 
 municate with you ; but if another does not occur 
 you are not to be the less sanguine in your hopes 
 of Spanish liberty.
 
 DEGRADING CONCESSilONS. 185 
 
 LETTER XXXIV. 
 
 Madrid, July 6th, 1822. 
 
 The rebels have been encamped at the Prado 
 during the last six days ; while the ministers per- 
 severe in their system of inactivity and myste- 
 rious silence : tiiey continue to sit in the palace 
 under the bayonets of the other two insubordi- 
 nate battahons, although the municipality have 
 frequently invited them to transfer their sittings 
 to its hall. The ministry has degraded itself to 
 such a deo-ree as to have three times offered terms 
 of capitulation to the rebels of the Prado. For- 
 tunately the latter have a nicer sense of honour 
 than the ministers, and will not accept any condi- 
 tions that are injurious or humiliating. 
 
 After five days of mortal agony, an extraordi- 
 nary Council of State was assembled yesterday. 
 The propositions contained in the king's commu- 
 nication to this body, induced a belief that victory 
 had been declared in favour of the rebels, such 
 were their criminal and preposterous tenour. The 
 answers were those of a dignified assemblage.
 
 186 MAGNANIMOL'S REPLY. 
 
 which never despairs of tlie public safety, and 
 whose whole attention is directed to the good of 
 their country. The council was asked what were its 
 sentiments with regard to the constitution ^ On 
 this question being put, a general, who is no less 
 attached to honour than his country, rose and de- 
 clared the interroeration to be subversive and in- 
 cendiary ; that the Council of State had sworn fealty 
 to the political code, and would defend it to the 
 last drop of their blood. The w^iole council ad- 
 hered to this magnanimous reply. 
 
 The plan of the counter-revolution and circle 
 of the treason extends daily. A hundred and 
 fifty carabineers have revolted at Cordova and are 
 marching towards the capital. The fanatical por- 
 tion of the clergy have insurrectionized Siguenza. 
 In the mean time, the agents of the counter-revo- 
 lution exaggerate the dangers which surround 
 liberty, in order to create fear and confusion ; 
 pretending to lament the consequences. But not- 
 withstanding all this, it would appear that the 
 higher the danger rises, the more does patriotism 
 and the ardour of the liberals increase. 
 
 The national guard is unwearied. It is bivou- 
 aqued and constantly on the alert. Though so 
 inferior in numbers, it has already determined to 
 face the four thousand rebels, composed as they 
 are of veterans selected from " the army. The 
 patriotic volunteers afford a sublime example of
 
 PATRIOTISM. 187 
 
 enthusiasm. If here you would see some corps 
 composed of field officers, editors, play-actors and 
 deputies, many of whom are serving in the ranks, 
 and encamped in the squares. The municij)a- 
 ■ lity has assumed the defence of the city with 
 heroic intrepidity. If all the authorities were 
 nominated as they are, by the people, the capital 
 would not luive been reduced to this predicament. 
 Grant Heaven ! that when the representatives of 
 the nation undertake the revision of the Consti- 
 tution, a useful lesson may be drawn from these 
 terrible events ! 
 
 Who can foresee the result of this tragedy ? A 
 circumstance has occurred to render the gordian 
 knot more complicated, while it furnishes another 
 proof of this nation's originality. Ferdinand has 
 named Morillo colonel of the Royal Guards, 
 though he is at the same time commanding those 
 who are opposed to it !, If the capital succumbs 
 will liberty fall with it ? Certainly not ! Be of 
 good cheer lady : admit even that Madrid has 
 yielded, the triumph of despotism will only be 
 ephemeral. The fall of the capital will be a 
 signal of independence to the provinces. These 
 sigh for the moment of being able to emancipate 
 themselves from a ministry that has always be- 
 trayed their hopes and despised their w^arnings. 
 The Absolute King will only be a ruler at Madrid. 
 The other provinces will govern themselves, and
 
 18S NATIONAL ENERGY. 
 
 know how to derend liberty with more enthusiasm 
 than ever. In the last war against France, the 
 people never displayed more heroism and energy 
 than when they threw off the yoke of a central 
 government which had been accused of bartering 
 the national honour and independence.
 
 THE TRIUMPH OF FREEDOM. 189 
 
 LETTER XXXV. 
 
 Madrid, July Sth, 1822. 
 
 Long live liberty ! Victory is ours ! The Janis- 
 saries of the Prado no longer exist. They were 
 discomfitted and destroyed at day-light yesterday 
 morning. Having suddenly marched on the city, 
 they attempted to surprise the three points of de- 
 fence occupied by the national militia and garrison : 
 but the artillery of the militia received them with 
 a shower of grape, forcing them to make a preci- 
 pitate retreat to the palace, leaving the streets 
 covered with killed and wounded. Generous as 
 brave, the victors suspended the firing, and offered 
 life to the vanquished on condition of laying down 
 their arms. They accordingly accepted the terms 
 and capitulated, but repenting this step soon after, 
 they fled towards the country. This ended, how- 
 ever, in death or ignominy, for being pursued by 
 the cavalry, they were either cut to pieces or 
 taken prisoners. 
 
 Morillo redeemed the error of having suffered 
 the city to be surprised, by the valour of a grena-
 
 190 PATRIOT LEADERS. 
 
 dier, which belongs peculiarly to himself. General 
 Alava, who never left the battalion of officers for 
 an instant durino* the whole dav, manifested that 
 indifference for death which he learnt while fight- 
 ing by the side of the British legions. Riego 
 divided the perils and glory with the militia. 
 Palarea added another wreath to the many he had 
 gained in the late war as a Guerilla chief. But in 
 addition to his arrangements for the attack, the 
 nation is indebted to Ballesteros for the alacrity 
 and enthusiasm which he displayed during the 
 struggle. This officer is like the warriors of 
 Ossian, whose hearts spring with joy when they 
 hear the shield of battle resound, appearing at 
 every point that was menaced, and exclaiming 
 long live lihcrty as he rushed by the combatants : 
 he not onlv communicated his own enthusiasm to 
 those around, but inspired confidence in the 
 victorv. 
 
 Whilst the liberals attacked the cavalry close 
 to the walls of the palace, the royal family ap- 
 peared at the balcony, but retired soon after, on 
 perceiving that the bullets did not recognize their 
 inviolability. One of the Madrid journalists did 
 not suffer this occurrence to pass without compar- 
 ing it to that of Charles IX. of France firing on 
 his subjects from a balcony of the Louvre. The 
 coincidence is not very inexact. If the rebels had 
 carried the day yesterday, there would have been
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 191 
 
 another Saint Bartholomew oi"all the hbcrals, not 
 less cruel and sanguinary than that of the Hugue- 
 nots. 
 
 The triumph of despotism had ah*eady been pre- 
 pared in the })alacc : the horses were richly 
 caparisoned. When the attack commenced, the 
 servile dependents of the court had thessed them- 
 selves out in grand gala. But on hearing of the 
 defeat of the rebels, they liastened to unrobe, 
 when the display of drapery strewed about the 
 apartments assimilated them to the w^ardrobe of 
 an opera house. 
 
 The result of all this to the ministers is precisely 
 what they ought to have foreseen and avoided. 
 They were not allowed to quit the palace th(» 
 night before last, but retained as prisoners until 
 victory declared in favour of the liberals. 
 
 The imprecations of the prisoners, who were 
 accused of being rebels and seized in the midst of 
 their treasons, were really quite terrific. Some of the 
 wounded soldiers who had fought under Ballesteros 
 during the war of independence, observing him 
 enter the hospital in which they were received, 
 loudly cursed those who had seduced them from 
 the path of honour, and only invoked their cure, 
 in order that the remainder of their blood miffht 
 be shed in defence of liberty. 
 
 I become quite furious against despotism 
 whenever I reflect on the manner in which it per- 
 verts the good sense of this people, promoting
 
 192 A CONJECTURE. 
 
 treason and venality in a nation which is less prone 
 to those crimes than any other on earth. 
 
 I send you some newspapers, from which you 
 will be able to collect more ample details of what 
 occurred yesterday than I have given. The con- 
 test of this memorable day will be more impor- 
 tant in its results than the battle of Waterloo. 
 
 I understand you have began to study the 
 Castilian idiom : you could not employ your time 
 better than in acquiring the language of liberty. 
 May it become universal !
 
 KATIONAL GUAnO. 193 
 
 LETTER XXXVl. 
 
 Madrid, July 19th, 1822. 
 
 Nothing remains of the counter-revolution but 
 its melancholy recollections. Siguenza has im- 
 plored the clemency of government ; the Carabi- 
 neers have laid down their arms. Every hour 
 adds to the number of arrests among; the emis- 
 saries of despotism in tlie provinces. Many of 
 the court retainers are also leaving Madrid to 
 enjoy the more salubrious air of the country. 
 
 Without waiting the issue of the contest here, 
 the provinces had already prepared for defence, 
 just as I had foretold in my last. They are now 
 pouring in addresses of congratulation to the 
 municipality and national guard of Madrid for 
 their late heroic conduct. 
 
 These congratulatory addresses and thanks 
 reflect an odious light on ministers ; who are 
 objects of execration with many, and of censure 
 with all. Their apathy during the agony of liberty 
 in the capital is really inexplicable. But the 
 crime of which there is a disposition to accuse the 
 
 o
 
 194 LOPEZ BANGS. 
 
 ministry, is so enormous, that it cannot he ad- 
 mitted without the strongest proofs : some have 
 ah'eady resigned ; amongst these is IVIartinez de 
 la Rosa. The liberals lament the day in which 
 they rescued him from the dungeon in which the 
 Inquisition liad shut him up during the reign of 
 terror. It is therefore high time for me to retract 
 all the good I said of this minister in my former 
 letters. The sympathy I feel for men of talent 
 had made me blind to his real character. 
 
 Lopez Baiios, the illustrious companion of 
 Riego, is named minister at war. Mina has also 
 been appointed to head tlie constitutional army in 
 Catalonia. These two men are the only fruit 
 whicli liave as yet been reaped from the victory 
 of the 7th. The government is still in the hands 
 of those who neither knew how, nor wished to pre- 
 vent the counter-revolution. The liberals are too 
 much devoted to the political code ; their devotion 
 approaches to superstition ; they dare not even 
 touch the charter to prevent it from failing. 
 
 Wait a little is the answer to my remarks from 
 every side, but this wait a little makes me mad with 
 impatience and rage ! If the advantages which 
 presented themselves in the first moments of vic- 
 tojy were not gathered, how are they to be col- 
 lected after its effects have ceased through the 
 medium of this wait a little ?
 
 QUIROOA, &C. Ids 
 
 LETTKR XXXVII. 
 
 Madrid, August 8th, 1822. 
 
 It is but too true, amiable lady, that the wait a 
 Tittle was right. It has brought fortli a ministry 
 which meets and crowns the hopes of all. Yet 
 who would have thouglit it, after a month's inac- 
 tion and indolence ? — Spain has at length a minis- 
 ter for foreign affairs, from whom every thing is 
 anticipated. — The brave and enlightened Evaristo 
 San Miguel, another of the intrepid companions 
 of Riego. The portfolio of the interior has been 
 placed in the hands of Gasco, an ex-deputy of 
 Cortes, eloquent, active, and patriotic. Spain 
 has, in fact, now an administration which 
 possesses all the qualities, moral and physical, 
 necessary for its good government in the present 
 crisis. 
 
 The champions of freedom are called on to 
 serve their country. Quiroga, O'Daly, Palarea, 
 El Empecinado, and many others are recompensed 
 with situations of high trust for the oblivion in 
 which they were left by the late ministry. — Con- 
 
 o 2
 
 196 MINA. 
 
 iidence is restored ; the reign of darkness is over, 
 and a brilliant light illumines the political horizon. 
 I this morning paid a visit to Mina, who sets out 
 in a few days for Catalonia. His physiognomy is 
 truly Spanish : the general has a head which 
 Scanderbeg could not have cleaved with his sword. 
 But it is useless for me to describe this Viriatus of 
 modern Spain, since you must have seen his por- 
 trait in Paris and London. He is in the very 
 prime of life. Be assured his name will resound 
 in the Pyrenees. Mina is one of those generals 
 whose name alone is equal to ten thousand men. 
 All the unemployed officers are most anxious to 
 accompany him to Catalonia : perhaps those who 
 have kindled a war in that province with their 
 gold will repent it ere long. This contest has 
 already begun to awaken the military genius of 
 Spain. Who knows but Catalonia may yet send 
 forth an army of conquerors ? 
 
 If it be true that the yellow fever has re-appear- 
 ed at Barcelona, one might be induced almost to 
 say that even this disease has become liberal ! 
 Since its existence would be of itself sufficient 
 to retard a projected invasion of the Peninsula. 
 Forty thousand veterans have been called to 
 arms within the last few days. The national guard 
 of Spain, which already amounts to one hundred 
 thousand men, might be increased to half as many 
 more in less than a month. Portugal too, has 
 come forward with her intrepid legions to the aid
 
 INVOCATION. 197 
 
 of Spain : surely it is high time that Hbertv 
 descend from the tribune, and leap on the car of 
 victory. 
 
 O soave dcir almo sospiro, 
 Liberia che del cielo sci figlia, 
 CoiDpi alfine Tantico desiro 
 Delia terra chc tutta e per te ! 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 •KACKBLL AND ARROWSMITH, JOHXSOX's-COtTR T, FLRET-STRRBT.
 
 New )Yor\i publUhcd by G. and IV. B. WHITTAKER, 
 A ve-Ma r'la^la iw, LudgaU->it reet. 
 
 AN HISTORICAL REVIEW of the SPANISH RE- 
 
 VOLUTION; including some account of Religion, Manners, and Li- 
 terature in Spain. By Edward Bt.aquierf;, Esq. Author of " Letters 
 from tlie Mediterranean," &,c. — In One thick. Volume, 8?o. illustrated with 
 a Map, price ISs. boards. 
 
 •' It is impossiible to peruse this volume without feelings of the most af- 
 fecting and irresistible nature. The proudest deed to wliich a humau 
 being cau aspire is to put his hand to such a work as this ; and , in the be- 
 lief that Mr. Blaquiere's lal)ours are calculated materially to promote it* 
 success, we congratulate him in the devotion of his time and thoughts to 
 80 noble an object.'' — Monthly Magazine, Sept. 1822. 
 
 " The affairs of the country to which Europe is indebted for its libera- 
 tion from the dominion of Napoleon, and the recent example of political 
 freedom, acquire every day an increased interest with all liberal English- 
 men. No complete account, however, of the Spanish Revolution, was 
 la pdssession of the public, till the above work of .Mr. Blaquiere made its ap- 
 pearance. It is written with much spiiit and animation, and a zeal for 
 truth is one of its most characteristic features."- Morning Chronicle, 
 Sept. 13, 1822. 
 
 " A Work has just been published, entitled An Historical Review 
 OF THE Spanish Revolution. None can find fault with the author'a 
 selection of his subject ; and he has executed his task in a manner not ua- 
 wortay of it. This book contains much and various information, entirely 
 new to the public.''— British Press, Sept. 11, 1822. 
 
 <' The Work before us atfords ample proof that its author is possessed 
 of powers of research, and of acute observation. The limits and nnture 
 of our work prevent our doing more than passing a favorable judgment, and 
 giving this general outline of the design and execution of Mr. Blaquiere's 
 volume ; but there is no class ol readers who can peruse the work without 
 an acquisition of valuable knowledue, or without awakening in him a 
 train of the most useful and pleasurable reflections.'' — European Magazine, 
 Nov. 1822. 
 
 " We certainly want such books as that now before ns : we do not know 
 enough of the most interesting events of which it treats ; at least, we have 
 seldom been called upon to look at them through so impartial and national 
 a medium as Mr. Blaquiere's Review." — Literary Register, Sept. 7, 1822. 
 
 " Mr. Blaquiere's former productions have established for him an honor- 
 able place in English Literature ; and the ardent spirit of integrity, and 
 love of right, which breathes through the present pages, entitle him to con- 
 siderable distinction as a philanthropist, while their composition do him 
 great credit as an author." — Paris Monthly Review, Nov. lUii. 
 
 SPECIMENS of the RUSSIAN POETS. TransJaJed by 
 JoHX BowRiNG, F.L.S., and Honorary IMember of several Foreign So- 
 cieties : with Biographical and Critical Notices. Second Edition, with 
 Additions, 12mo. price 7s, boards. 
 
 In the press, 
 
 The Second Volume of SPECIMENS of RUSSIAN POETS, 
 
 B\' the same Author.
 
 New Works published by G. and W. B. WHITTAKER, 
 A ve-Afu r ki-lanc, L udgate-s trcet. 
 
 \. JOURNAL of a TOUR in FRANCE, SWITZER- 
 LAND, and ITALY, during the Years 1819, 20, and 2\. By Marianne 
 Colston. In Two Volumes, 8vo. price 1/. 1*. boards. 
 
 Also, 
 
 2. FIFTY LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTS, Illustrative of 
 the above Tour; from Original Drawings, taken in Italy, the Alps, and 
 the Pyrenees. By MahianNe Colston. Large folio. 2/. boards. 
 
 3. JOURNAL of a VOYAGE to GREENLAND, in ths 
 
 Year 1821. With Graphic Illustrations. By G. W. Manby, Esq. Se- 
 cond Edition. Octavo, 10*. Qd. boards. 
 
 " Some of Captain Manby's descriptions of the dreadful beauties of the 
 frozen ocean are very happy; and Jiis numerous plates of the fantastic 
 shapes assuntjed by tlie frozen atmosphere and waters are worthy of at- 
 tention. ^Ve recommend a perusal of the work, as combining much infor- 
 mation with very considerable entertainment." — European Magazine^ 
 Oct. 1822. 
 
 4. RECOLLECTIONS of a CLASSICAL TOUR (hroti£rh 
 Various Parts of GREECE, TURKEY, and ITALY, Made in the Years 
 1818 and 1819. By Peter Edmund Laurent. Illustrated with co- 
 loured Plates, Two Volimies, Octavo, 18s. boards. 
 
 " From the limited size of Mr. Laurent's Work, he has necessarily writ- 
 ten with great brevity, vet he has a good taste in the choice of his subjects : 
 he intersperses classical and antiquariau research with acute reflections 
 and interestiunr portraits of existiiig manners ; and we consider his Work 
 a valuable addition to the information already known respeciing- those in- 
 teresting portions of iheGlobe, — Greece, Turkey, and Italy." — Literary 
 Chronicle, June 2, 1821. 
 
 5. The LIFE and OPINIONS of SIR RICHARD MAL- 
 TRAVERS, An English Gentleman of the Seventeenth Century. In Two 
 Volumes, jjost 8vo. Price 16s. boards. 
 
 " This is a philosophical romance, in which the author (LORD DILLON) 
 launches into speculations on all subjects, moral, political, civil, and reli- 
 gious. It is acompound of ancient prejudice and modern philosophy : com- 
 bining a great veneration for the a-ra of chivalry, and the domination of 
 the old feudal barons ; with a ijualitied predilection tor popular rights and 
 public freedom. — The original tone of thinking of these volumes cannot 
 but cause them to be much read." — Monthhj Magazine, 1S22. 
 
 6. A COLLECTION of POEMS on Various Subjects; 
 from the Pen of Helen Maria Willl\ms : with some Remarks on the 
 present State of Literature in France. In Octavo, price 12s. boards. 
 
 7. The LUCUBRATIONS of HUM PRREY RAVELIN, 
 
 Esq. late Major in the * * * * Regiment of Infantry. In Octavo, price 
 I2s. boards. 
 
 8. DECEMBER TALES. In One neat Volume, foolscap, 
 price 5*. 6s. boards. 
 
 P. SEQUEL TO AX UNFINISHED MANUSCRIPT 
 of HENRY KIRKE WHITE ; Designed to illustrate the Contrast af- 
 forded by Christians, and Infidels, at the Close of Life. By the Author of 
 THE W^ONDERS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM DISPLAYED, 
 kc. Foolscap, price 4s. boards. 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Santa Barbara 
 
 STACK COLLECTION 
 
 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW. 
 
 30ni-8,'65 (P6447S4 ) 9482
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 lllllll nil II III III I III II III! II III mill mil 
 
 AA 000 387 002 9