been made, eventual upon the final putting down of the insurrection, and the delivering up of Michael Luzzo and his adherents. The Russian ambassador, however, conceived, that this note, having been delayed beyond the time prescribed, could not now be received, or even afford a ground for delaying his departure. On the 31st July, he set sail for Odessa.

An extraordinary emotion was felt throughout Europe at this event, which seemed to prognosticate an immediate rupture, and the approach of the fatal era of Ottoman downfal. England and Austria, above all, the one in a maritime, the other in a territorial view, trembled at such a gigantic accession to the already colossal power of Russia. Their ambassadors at the Porte spared no pains to induce this haughty and barbarous potentate to adopta conciliatory course, more suited to his weakness and the perils by which he was surrounded. Lord Strangford, who, by his address, had succeeded in gaining an influence beyond that of any other diplomatist, obtained several important concessions. An embargo, which had been laid upon the Russian vessels at Constantinople, was taken off, and a general amnesty proclaimed for the Greeks who should submit. The Pacha of Ibrail, who had been guilty of the most horrible outrages in Wallachia,was changed. Lord Strangford then undertook to transmit to St Petersburgh the note intended for, but refused by, M. Strogonoff, with such observations from himself as might favour its acceptance.

Whatever might be the skill and diligence employed to avert the dreaded rupture, they would probably have been unavailing, had not other circumstances produced an entire change in the views of the Russian cabinet. The ambition of conquest had yielded to the dread of losing actual power, in consequence

of the popular spirit, now fermenting throughout Europe. Alexander, established as head of the monarchical alliance, placed now his glory in the fulfilment of the obligations imposed by this character. Instead, therefore, of catching at the tempting prospects offered by a Turkish war, he addressed a note to the cabinets, stating his readiness to abstain from hostilities, provided they could point out any other method, by which he could obtain those conditions which the honour of the crown, the maintenance of treaties, humanity, and the protection of the Christian religion, rendered it his duty to exact from the Porte.

This note drew the anxious consideration of the European cabinets; and, in a meeting, which took place at Hanover, between Prince Metternich and the Marquis of Londonderry, measures were concerted for fulfilling its object. Instructions were sent to their ambassadors to use every means, at once of obtaining concessions from the Porte, and of persuading Russia to be satisfied with them. In the month of October, a note was transmitted from Russia, repeating the demands formerly made. More than a month, however, elapsed, before Lord Strangford could prevail on the Turkish cabinet to send an answer. He obtained, however, the dismissal of the Reiss Essendi, and the substitution of a more moderate character. At length, on the 10th December, the new Reiss Essendi delivered to Lord Strangford a note, couched in more moderate terms than any hitherto communicated. The Porte now agreed to waive, for the present, what it called its just pretensions, relative to the delivery of its rebellious subjects who had found refuge in Russia. Although it could not evacuate Moldavia and Wallachia, without delivering up those provinces to anarchy, it promised to maintain in them only

such a number of troops as would be necessary for the preservation of order. It then renewed its promises of protection and restitution to the Greeks, as soon as they should have laid down their arms. This note was transmitted to the cabinet of St Petersburgh, accompanied by a representation, that,

though it did not contain all that could be wished, yet the Turks were making concessions, and shewed no disposition to engage in war; and that, at all events, no serious evil could arise from delay. These various events brought the year to a close, without any decisive issue to these important negotiations.

THIS year decided the destinies of the New World. The long and terrible contest which Spain had maintained, to preserve her dominion over her vast Transatlantic empire, was, at every point, brought to a close. No events could affect more deeply the interests of the European states, and the destinies of the species; yet, amid the crowding concerns and vicissitudes of the Old World, these great distant revolutions attracted comparatively little attention. The character of the actors, the particulars of the events, and all the hinges on which the political system moved, have been transmitted to us in so little detail, that we can do little more at present than state the general results.

The Mexican insurgents had for some years disappeared from the scene; they no longer threatened the capital or the central seats of trade; they were supposed in Europe to be confined to a few guerilla bands, traversing the remoter districts. The fact, however,

was, that civil war had been raging, without intermission, in all the provinces; that the independents, though they could not carry any of the capitals, had been in uninterrupted possession of extensive districts; while, by perpetual conflicts, maintained with various fortune against the royalists, they had been acquiring those qualities which would at length enable them to cope with regular troops. Their strength was now so far extended and matured, that it required only to be collected and regularly pointed, to be an overmatch for the reduced strength of the party in power. That strength, worn down by successive conflicts, was recruited by only a very small portion even of those slender reinforcements which Spain was still able to send, but which were directed towards quarters in which the resistance wore a more active and alarming aspect.

That rallying point, which the independent cause wanted, was supplied

by a very unexpected circumstance. The revolutions of the peninsula and of Italy, had suggested to all armies the idea of becoming the champions of liberty. This impression, blended, perhaps, with hopes of personal aggrandizement, worked on the mind of Don Augustin Iturbide, a native of Mexico, and commanding a regiment almost entirely composed of Creoles. About the beginning of January, he and this regiment suddenly disappeared, and were soon after announced as having joined the insurrectionary bands in the province of Mexico. Another colonel, of the name of Cavaleri, followed his example, and, on the 24th February, they published the basis of a new political arrangement for the Mexican empire. The terms were, that New Spain should be independent of the old, under a limited and constitutional monarchy; that the King, Don Ferdinand VII., should be Emperor of Mexico, provided he should choose to come and reside there; if not, the crown should be conferred upon any one of the princes of his family, who might comply with this condition. An army was to be formed, called the Army of the Three Guarantees, which were of the Catholic religion, of the independence of Mexico, and of the union between Americans and Europeans.

After this declaration, all the independent forces ranged themselves, with out hesitation, under Iturbide, who found himself soon at the head of 20,000 or 25,000 men. The governor Apodaca lost no time in sending against him all the disposable troops, composing still a force with which Iturbide did not venture to cope in the field; but, operating on a vast extent of territory, he carried on with such advantage a desultory and skirmishing warfare, that the royalists were soon obliged to give up the open country, and shut themselves up in the fortified towns.

An unfortunate ruler must usually

bear the blame of all the disasters which befal under his sway. The high partizans of Spain ascribed to the weakness of Apodaca the distressed state of their affairs. They were thus impelled into measures very inconsistent with those high principles of authority and subordination which it was their pride to support. An association of the principal officers was formed, in which it was determined to divest Apodaca of all his functions, and send him back to Spain, nominating in his room Don Francis Novella, whom they highly esteemed for his popular talents, and attachment to the mother country. So unanimous was this resolution, and so well concerted the plan, that Apodaca found himself in no condition to resist, and was obliged to publish a declaration, in which he professed himself content with the safety of his person and family, and with having the means provided for him of returning to Spain; and that he left all power in the hands of Signor Novella. Novella then gave out a proclamation, in which he expressed the satisfaction he felt on account of the confidence reposed in him; exhorted all classes to combine for the maintenance of the good cause, and concluded," Brave veterans, faithful citizens, whose loyalty has been proved by eleven years of constancy and hardship, defenders of the integrity of the Spains, display that glorious union which is the precursor of victory! Ah, how much does your companion in arms long to see you crowned with laurels !"

This revolution was the less to be justified, that a new viceroy, Don Juan O'Donoju, was daily expected; and, in fact, before the installation of Novella, he had landed at Vera Cruz. He found that place closely blockaded by the independent force, under St Ana, which had even more than once penetrated into the city; and, though it had been hitherto repulsed by the

brave exertions of General Davilla, yet the whole country, between the sea-port and Mexico, was in the hands of the enemy, and the communications cut off. Even if he could penetrate to Mexico, he had no means or certainty of enforcing his authority against Novella, whom his fellow officers had chosen in a manner which they were not likely easily to retract. Under these considerations, O'Donoju formed the resolution, certainly very contrary to the purpose of his mission, to treat with Iturbide; and this step he endeavoured, though, as might have been foreseen, without success, to justify to the government at home. He alleged the hopelessness of a successful issue, and the calamities in which it involved thousands of opulent families in both continents. In pursuance of this resolution, he repaired to Cordova, where an agreement was formed, which was less a treaty than an unqualified acquiescence in all the views of Iturbide. The basis was similar to that of the project already formed on the 24th February, establishing Mexico as independent, and to be governed by a member of the royal family of Spain, only on condition of residence. A junto, composed of the chief persons in the empire, was to be formed, and to take immediate steps for assembling the Cortes. At the same time, it was to name a regency of three persons, in whose hands the executive government was to be placed, till it should be seen how the Spanish princes would receive the offer made to them. O'Donoju agreed to use his authority with the troops then in Mexico, to induce them to quit it on an honourable capitulation. For himself, though he retained the title of Viceroy, no stipulation appears to have been made in his favour, except that he should be a member of the junto, while Iturbide retained the office of commander-in

chief, and the real direction of all affairs.

This agreement being concluded, it was announced to Novella, who was called upon in consequence to lay down his usurped authority, and to open the gates of the capital. Novella held this demand greatly at nought, and denounced O'Donoju as the real traitor to his country. Iturbide, who expected nothing else, was already in march to carry the treaty into effect by force of arms. A check, however, which he experienced in the neighbourhood of Mexico, taught him the necessity of adhering to his former system of harassing and desultory warfare. The details are not known; but the result was, that Novella, finding himself nearly blocked up in Mexico, with all the inhabitants of the country, and the majority even of those in the capital, hostile to him, judged it necessary to give up the cause. On the 27th September, he entered into a capitulation, by which he merely stipulated the safe embarkation of himself and his troops.

On the 27th September, the "Army of the Three Guarantees" made its triumphal entry into the capital of Mexico. A complete apparent unanimity marked this great crisis in the history of the western hemisphere. As the successive divisions, upwards of 15,000 strong, passed through the streets of the celebrated capital, they were hailed by the universal acclamations of the multitude. The event was celebrated by a grand festival, and by all those religious ceremonies which the Catholic religion appropriates to rejoicing. Iturbide issued a proclamation, in which he congratulated the Mexicans on the peaceful manner in which so great a revolution had been effected, exhorted them to strict union, and promised the speedy convocation of the Cortes, and the formation of a