The death of Napoleon appeared to give a firmer seat to the French government, and to relieve it from that inquietude which was always kept up by the existence of a standard, round which a large part of the French nation would have been inclined to rally. The King acted with moderation and magnanimity towards the memory of a foe no longer dreaded. The marks of grief which involuntarily burst from some officers of the old army, then in

his service, were not only indulged, but applauded by him. Bertrand, Montholon, and others, who had personally attached themselves to their fallen master, were, on returning to France, restored to their place in the army, and to all the emoluments attached to it. A different spirit broke out from some of the zealots in the Chambers; but it was overborne and kept down by the sense of a great majority.

THE present year opened, for Spain, in a general state of interior agitation. That superficial unanimity, which had been for some time exhibited, in regard to the new system, had now entirely disappeared; and two parties were very distinctly formed, one devoted to the cause of monarchy, and desiring the restoration of the ancient regime; the other disposed to push the nation still farther in the career of revolution. Each party, agitated by continual wrongs and alarms, worked itself up always to an higher pitch of exultation. The ejected monks everywhere called the peasantry to arms, in the name of the throne, and, above all, of the altar, which they represented as trampled under foot by the revolutionary system. The superstitious reverence in which the church is held, particularly by this class of Spaniards, joined to the habits of insurrection and irregular fighting, formed during the long course

of the French Revolution, enabled them to collect, in various quarters, a number of bands, which were with difficulty reached and dispersed by the regular troops. The Spaniards had now a complete church militant, the royalist guerillas being usually headed by, and their ranks partly filled with, monks. The Curate Merino, in Biscay and Navarre, distinguished himself above all the others; but the Sierra Morena, Old Castille, and even the environs of the capital, contained a number of similar partizans. The great cities again, the focus of liberalism, were agitated by the clubs, who, enraged and alarmed at these movements, branded government as favouring them by its want of energy in their suppression, and denounced the highest persons in the state, and the royal house itself, as lending secret aid to the anti-revolutionary movements. Among these clubs, that of Malta held now the

first place, destined soon to give place to the more violent one of the Fontana d'Oro.

One circumstance, which greatly augmented the ferment in the popular mind, was the charge brought against Vinuesa, the King's chaplain, of having been at the head of a plot destined to overthrow the constitu tional system. He was brought to trial, but the multitude and the clubs believed, that influence emanated from the highest quarters to avert, or at least to mitigate, the merited sentence. Even the municipality (ayuntamento) of Madrid, in an address presented to the King, told him, that the enemies of the constitution were in his palace, in his house, and in his chapel. These circumstances worked upon the minds of the multitude, who, whenever the monarch appeared in public, crowded round him, and with acclamations of "Live the constitutional King," mingled threatening cries, in which they demanded the death of Vinuesa, the disbanding of the Guards, and the dismissal of some ministers whom they suspected. The King, having addressed a complaint upon this subject to the municipality, that body gave instructions, indeed, to their corregidors to watch over the maintenance of order, and published a proclamation, exhorting the people to be tranquil, but, at the same time, in this proclamation, recognized the justice of their complaints, and expressed confidence that they would be listened to. Such proclamations had a very imperfect tendency to allay the public ferment. Accordingly, when the King next came out, the same cries still saluted his passage. The Guards, a body always zealously attached to the person of the monarch, and who could not divest themselves of the old impression, which viewed every insult to his person as the greatest of crimes,

determined no longer to be tame spectators of this treatment. Thirty of them rushed from their quarters, charged the people sword in hand, and wounded several, among whom was a corregidor. The people, however, mustered in great force, and drove back the troops to their quarters, where they with difficulty found safety. A dreadful ferment now prevailed in the city; the garrison and National Guard were put under arms, and the greater number even of the Guards publicly disavowed the rash deed of their comrades. An address of the municipality, however, and the popular voice called for the dissolution of this body, which was supposed to have shewn an irreconcilable enmity to the cause of liberty. The affair was referred to the Council of State, which decided, that no corps could be disbanded, unless by the authority of the Cortes; but that the Guards should be provisionally called upon to deliver up their arms, retaining only their swords, and should be superseded by another corps in attending upon the King's person. After this crisis, the popular tumults abated, and tranquillity was in some degree restored.

Amid these agitations, the meeting of the Cortes was anxiously expected by all parties. A report prevailing, that the King would not open it in person, a deputation of the members waited upon his Majesty, on the 25th of February, and expressed their anxious wish on the subject. The King gave a satisfactory answer, declaring, that he would attend with great pleasure at the opening of the session. He added, "I hope, from the wisdom and prudence of the deputies, that they will adopt energetic measures, capable of arresting the evils with which the nation is threatened, and the precursors of which I perceive in the insults and disrespect shewn to

my dignity and to my person, in despite of the constitution."

On the 1st of March, the session of the Cortes was accordingly opened, with a speech from the King, which caused a considerable emotion in the House and the public. It began with the strongest professions of attachment to the constitutional system. The King said, "In seeing myself surrounded a second time by the worthy representatives of this heroic nation, which has given so many proofs of its love and its attachment to my royal person, my grateful heart cannot resist rendering thanks to the Almighty, who, having re-established me on the throne of my ancestors by the valour and constancy of my faithful subjects, has deigned to consolidate it, in giving it, as a basis, the constitution, sanctioned by the extraordinary Cortes, and to which, conformably to the wish of the nation, I have freely sworn.

"The happiness of the people that Divine Providence has confided to my care, which is, and always shall be, the object of my most ardent wishes, alone decided me to adopt a system which the nation desired, and which, besides, the lights and advancement of the age imperiously demanded.

"The effect has corresponded with my hopes, and I have seen, with the greatest satisfaction, Spanish loyalty rallying firmly round the throne of its King, manifesting everywhere, and by unequivocal testimonies, its adherence to the new institutions, which are to found the future grandeur and prosperity of the nation, and which are at the same time the best support of my throne, and give the highest lustre to the splendour of my crown.'

A view was then taken of the different branches of administration, and it was stated, that the finances, though still labouring under considerable dis

tress, were assuming a more favourable aspect; that national industry was reviving; and that in America war had at least suspended its ravages. He then touched on the important subject of the affairs of Italy.

"The resolution,” said he, "taken in the Congress of Troppau, and continued in that of Laybach, by the sovereigns of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, to interpose in the changes of the political system established in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, has excited all my solicitude from consideration of that royal family, united to mine by ties of blood, and by the interest that I take in the happiness of that nation, and because it is of the utmost consequence to the independence of states, that the sacred rights of nations and their princes may be rightly respected. I have, therefore, thought it indispensable to the honour of my throne, and to the dignity of the great nation which it is my glory to govern, to make it understood by suitable communications, that I will not recognize anything whatever that may be contrary to the positive rights of mankind, on which are founded the liberty, the independence, and prosperity of nations-principles which Spain, on its part, will inviolably respect with regard to others.

"I have the satisfaction of announcing to the Cortes that the allied sovereigns, according to all the communications that I have received to the present time, have been and are agreed in recognizing these principles with respect to Spain."

But the most remarkable passage was that in which the King alluded to circumstances relating personally to himself, in the following terms :"It is necessary that I inform, though with much chagrin, this wise Congress, that the ideas of some ill-disposed persons, who strive to seduce

credulous people, by persuading them that my heart conceals views opposed to the system that governs us, are not unknown to my mind. Their object is only to inspire diffidence as to my pure intentions, and on the rectitude of my conduct. I have sworn to the constitution, and I have always endeavoured to observe it, as much as depends on me. Would to God that every one did the same! The outrages and the acts of irreverence of all sorts committed towards my dignity, in contempt of what order and respect for my person ought to exact as a constitutional King, have been published.

"I have no fears for my life or my safety; God, who reads my heart, watches both, and will preserve them, as will also the majority and the sound part of the nation. But I ought not to withhold to-day from the Congress, as principally charged with preserving the inviolability that it wishes to be observed towards its constitutional King, that these insults would not have been repeated if the executive power had displayed all the energy which the constitution prescribes, and the Cortes desires. The want of firmness, and the little activity, of many of the authorities, have given room to the renewal of such excesses; and, should they continue, it will not be astonishing if the Spanish nation finds itself enveloped in numberless evils and misfortunes.

"I am confident that it will not be so, if the Cortes, as I must hope, unites intimately with their constitutional King, occupying themselves without relaxation to destroy abuses, to combine opinion, and to repress the machinations of ill-disposed persons, who wish only for disunion and anarchy."

These complaints, expressed in terms not altogether compatible with the royal dignity, excited a strong

sensation in the Assembly; and as the president, unprepared to make such an answer as the delicacy of the circumstances demanded, replied only in vague and general terms, it was resolved, on the motion of the Conde de Torreno, that, according to the example followed in France and England, a committee should be appointed to prepare an answer.

The agitation occasioned by this singular address, had scarcely subsided, when it was absorbed by a greater and more unexpected event. The same evening, it was announced, that all the ministers except one had resigned, or, more properly speaking, had received their dismissal. No hint was given of those who were destined to fill their places. Among all the liberal circles, this event excited an extraordinary emotion. They considered the dismissal, at such a crisis, of men known for their attachment to the constitutional system, as a direct blow aimed against its continuance. So strong was the expression of public opinion, that the King shrunk from this bold measure, and had recourse to a step equally unprecedented and degrading. On the 3d of March, Jabat, the only remaining minister, presented a message to the Cortes, requesting their advice as to the formation of a new ministry. The King here said, "Wishing to give to the nation an irrefragable proof of the sincerity and rectitude of my intentions, and desirous that persons of talent, experience, and probity, should co-operate with me in causing the constitution to be observed throughout the whole monarchy, and who also may dexterously and carefully remove the obstacles which may occur, and avoid all motives of disturbance and discontent, I have resolved to address myself to the Cortes on this occasion, and avail myself of their information and zeal,