tions; and the third point was carried when all urgency for it had ceased. The grant of free trade was deferred, for two reasons: the first, because it became necessary to form new tarifs and establish another Custom House system, in order that the trade of the Peninsula might be less injured by the sudden change in the existing relations with the provinces of America; and the second, because in adopting the just principles of free trade, it was necessary to give to it all the latitude the object involved, by granting to foreign nations a general and free entry into all the ports of America. The complication of so many interests required time for the adoption of the resolution, and the Cortes occupied themselves in carrying into effect this system, which was to have been uniform for all

nations.

With regard to the mediation proposed for the revolted provinces in America, the Cortes roundly refused their compliance; not only because they did not conceive it proper for foreign nations to interfere in our domestic dissensions, but also because two of the bases offered by the British Ministry seemed to be conceived in terms which involved the acknowledgment of the independence of the provinces in question. We shall not here decide whether the Cortes did well or ill; it suffices to prove, by this fact, that the British had not, in the Cortes, that influence they are supposed to have possessed.

It remains only to notice what occurred regarding the command of the Duke of Wellington, which did not take place till after the battle of Salamanca, in 1812. This had previously been solicited by the British Ambassadors, but the Cortes did not at that time conceive it advisable to give their consent. When they did, it was done spontaneously, and without any further solicitation. This determination, on the part of the Cortes, which by some has been so greatly censured, was no doubt one of their most fortunate measures. In all their determinations, two grand objects were to be kept in view; one, the independence of the nation, joined with the earliest possible liberation from the enemy by whom it was oppressed; and the other, the defence and security of the national liberties. In order to realise the first without loss of time, unity and concert were necessary in the military operations, which could not take place as long as the command was divided among many chiefs. After the victory of Salamanca, no other general enjoyed so large a share of popularity, and conciliated all interests, so well as the Duke of Wellington. The Spanish generals had rendered very important services to their country; but the particular position in which each one of them had been left by existing circumstances, had not allowed any one of them to signalise himself above the rest. The Duke of Wellington, at

the head of a large and every where victorious army, stood without a rival, and enjoyed the advantage of being able to combine the operations of the allies with those of the Spanish army. The command of the troops was also less dangerous to national liberty in the hands of a foreigner, who might seek to abuse it, than in those of a Spaniard, disposed to be guilty of a dereliction of duty. Hence did it happen, that the command given to Lord Wellington in no way influenced the ruin of the liberal system, or of the Constitution: the armed force immediately under his orders were a part of the most Constitutional troops belonging to the Spanish army; and some of those very same divisions, without consulting the sentiments of their Commander-in-chief, subsequently offered to sustain the Regency against the intentions of the King. The division. commanded by Elio, in Valencia, was the only one that offered itself to destroy the Constitutional government; and this was not under the immediate orders of the British general. This is the truth, whatever may have been the reports the evil-minded have endeavoured to circulate. The British therefore, we again repeat, had no influence whatever in the Cortes, nor did the latter keep up with them any other than friendly relations, such as circumstances and the reciprocal interests of both nations required. This will always be the case with every other nation that may seek to have any undue preponderance in Spain, as long as the constitutional regimen is in force; and the same may be said of all free nations, more particularly Spain, where all foreign dominion is viewed with so much horror. But, to return to the Cortes.

As soon as the Constitution was promulgated, the House issued, as early as possible, and in conformity thereto, a Proclamation for convening the Ordinary Cortes for the 1st October, 1813, in this manner confounding the calumnies of their enemies, who accused them of wishing to perpetuate themselves. They gave a still further proof of sincerity, when, on solicitations from various parts of the kingdom being repeated, urging them to continue sitting some time longer and till the proposed reforms were completed, they ordered that no more addresses of that kind should be admitted in the House. They judged that their chief duties had been performed. They had framed a Constitution which the whole nation had applauded, freely and spontaneously accepted; and it had been acknowledged by all the allies of Spain. They had introduced and carried it into operation; it was then in full force, the whole of the tribunals and courts of justice being organised, as well as the chief establishments to which it had reference. They had drawn their alliance with England still closer together, carried three important treaties into effect with Russia, Prussia, and Sweden; and they beheld the Spanish name respected throughout the whole of Europe.

They left the Peninsula free from the presence of the same enemy who, the year before, had bombarded Cadiz; they had on foot a brilliant army of 180,000 men, in a state of discipline never before seen; they left the provinces of Venezuela nearly pacified, and the insurrection considerably diminished in the other parts of America; they had relieved the people from a great number of perplexing and burdensome taxes, opened the road for their advancement, reformed and improved the revenue, and restored the public. credit. In short, at the expense of three years of cares and watchings, they had been able to save the state, which scarcely could be said to have had an existence when they assembled at the close of 1810; and, if they did not leave the grand work of the public felicity com plete, they had the satisfaction to see all the foundations laid, and every preparation made, in order that the succeeding Cortes might be able to put the finishing hand, by availing themselves of all the information and experience of their predecessors. It was consequently time for them to close their sittings, which they did on the 14th September, 1813, amidst the benedictions and tears of the inhabitants of Cadiz, who, by their demonstrations of love and gratitude, on that day recompensed the members for all the cares and uneasiness they had undergone. Memorable Congress! Unparalleled Congress, under every circumstance, and one which posterity cannot fail to view with admiration and respect, as well for its loyalty, patriotism and constancy, amidst the greatest adversities, as its indefatigable zeal, noble disinterestedness, and unceasing ardor, with which the members labored for the public good and the interests of their constituents!

On the 1st October, 1813, the Ordinary Cortes opened their sittings in Cadiz; but in consequence of the distemper which broke out in that city, they afterwards removed to La Isla de Leon, and thence to Madrid, in January, 1814. The article of the Constitution providing against the re-election of members, and which a too inconsiderate principle of delicacy and disregard of private interest alone had dictated, now began to produce its bad effects. The men who had acquired for themselves in the nation a well deseryed reputation, by their probity, information, and talents, and who had been, as it were, the soul and. foundation of all the good that had been done in the preceding Congress, were prevented from being again named; and the confidence the people had in them, and which is, and ought to be, the principle and ground work of all similar nominations, was by this means rendered of no avail; and it became necessary when known and tried men could have been had, for the people to deliver themselves up to chance by placing their trust in the hands of new ones. Fortunately, many of these corresponded with the hopes the nation had formed of them, and showed

themselves worthy of having enjoyed a seat in the preceding Cortes. But the clergy,' alarmed at the changes and reforms which waged a war against their interests, more terrible than that of Napoleon, intrigued in every quarter they were able, and obtained great influ ence over the elections; aided by a host of those foul reptiles, who had prospered by the ancient abuses, and basked in the sunshine of court favor.

These persons were numerous, and of a variety of classes; all enemies of the Cortes, and of liberal systems. Among them, besides those devoted to the prevalence of despotism, was to be found a new sect, which the evils of France and the interest of Napoleon had created; also, all those who in their hearts bewailed the destruction of that debased administration, on which, up to the year 1808, they had been able to build their own private fortunes, amidst public calamities and distress; who even beheld the rising of the nation in its own defence with a malignant eye, and considered the most active and zealous patriots as no other than deluding and noisy characters. To these were added several of the ancient possessors of lordships suppressed by the Cortes; many perpetual aldermen belonging to ancient municipalities, whose offices, by the Constitution, had ceased to be hereditary, and made subject to the free election of the people; some prelates, chapters, and other ecclesiastical persons, dissatisfied through the suspension of useless prebendships and benefices; others again because it had been declared that all Spaniards were bound to contribute to the burdens of the state; or owing to the abolition of the Inquisition, which, under the pretext of protecting religion, lent itself to the intrigues and speculations of many; there were also magistrates and judges, who had been prevented from carrying on arbitrary arrests, and proceeding according to their own will; they having been confined

'When we name the clergy we speak of them as a body, but without including all the individuals belonging to it. The contrary would be a manifest injustice, when Muños-Torrero, Oliveros, Villanueva, Ruiz-Padron, Serra, Larrazabal, Bernabeu, Cepero, and other ecclesiastics, deputies in the first and second Cortes, have been the firmest pillars of the liberal party; the two first members of the committee for the project of the Constitution, and among those who most exerted themselves in it. It ought not, however, to be supposed, that the worthy ecclesiastics Spain contains are reduced to the above number. Many parish-priests, some bishops, certain canons, and some other well-informed, virtuous, and distinguished individuals of the profession, are the friends of liberty, detest intolerance, deplore the ambition and ava rice of some members of their own cloth, and for nothing sigh so much as to see the ministers of the sanctuary removed from all temporal affairs, con formably to the spirit of the gospel, religion protected by its own means, and the church restored to the brilliancy and splendor it enjoyed in the four first ages.

to their judicial functions, at the same time they were so fond of also mixing in the affairs of government; besides the motley band of officers and others depending on the courts of judicature, who, by the promotion of arbitrations and conciliatory measures, had seen the civil suits greatly diminish, and who in criminal prosecutions had no longer an unlimited faculty to arrest, seize property, and extort money, by all kind of unjust and vexatious conduct. In short, the party inimical to the Cortes was composed of all those persons who felt themselves piqued from motives of vanity, envy, or because they had experienced merited displeasure, as well as all egotists and bad citizens, who are well with no government, and who have no other country but themselves.

The whole of the above, and many more it would be too tedious to enumerate, joined with the dissatisfied clergy, worked on the good faith of the people during the time of the elections, and succeeded in assembling a large number of men, in general of much less talent and resources than the Serviles in the preceding Cortes, as well as more daring and indifferent to the approbation and censure of the public. Thus did the two parties, of Liberales and Serviles, show themselves afresh in the Ordinary Cortes: and indeed it may be said they stood alone; for the third, or American party, almost entirely disappeared, having joined the liberal party. Nevertheless, the Servile faction was much more numerous in these than in the first Cortes; but their discredit was so great, through the natural effect of their scandalous dealings, that the majority was always in favor of the Liberales.

I

Hence the new Cortes followed the same course as the preceding ones, notwithstanding the existing factions, which did every thing in their power to embarrass their proceedings. They sustained the Constitution, and the decrees and measures of the Extraordinary Cortes; they made arrangements to complete the labors left unfinished; and laid the foundation of others, intended to give more perfection to the constitutional system. The Congress and Regency were in a state of the best harmony; the people of Madrid evinced the greatest regard for both authorities; the provinces began to recover from the ravages of the war; the deputations and municipalities every where set to work with the most animated zeal and activity; and political chiefs of talent and filled with emulation, directed the general movement and presided over the civil administration, in their respective districts. An extraordinary interest, and as it were a new life, animated the whole nation, and

Among these the following more particularly distinguished themselves; viz Martinez de la Rosa, Cepero, Isturiz, Canga, Arguelles, Quartero, &c.; In the other party, no one rendered himself particularly remarkable.