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the means of putting to silence all the doubts of incredulity, they had given orders, that a commis. sary of police, and a commission from the medical faculty, should be present at all his cures. The prince very naturally held it unworthy the high powers with which heaven had clothed him, that he should expose his holy influences to the profane gaze of official eyes. The police, like all heretics, was stubborn. They expressly prohibited him from working any more miracles, and inserted a notice in the news papers, warning all against wasting their time and money on a journey to Bamberg, as in the present unfortunate schism between church and state, the performances of his highness were, in the mean while, suspended. His highness shook off the dust of his feet against the town of Bamberg, and repaired to seek new dupes, and less prying inquisitors, in the capital of Austria. It was only in the foreign relations of Austria, that any thing occurred particularly deserving of notice. Some riotous proceedings, which took place in Moravia, were speedily crushed, though not without the interfer -ence of the military; and neither their origin nor their extent was communicated to the public. The threatening aspect of affairs in Italy seemed to the Austrian government to call for increased vigilance in defending its German dominions against the political infection, and for exemplary rigour against those who might be already tainted. While a special commission, which sat at Venice, traced out the plots of alleged Carbonari, and condemned numbers of them to the last punish

ment of the law, which in the sequel, was uniformly mitigated; the police of Vienna watched over the tranquillity of the eapital, by measures of a still less ordinary nature. A printed circular was sent to every householder in the capital, containing the received legal definition of á Carbonaro, and stating, on the authority of the government, that the designs of such men were in every case treasonable, so that no one could in future justify any share he might take in their machinations, by pretending that he had believed their designs to be more innocent than he had ulti mately found them. Each householder had to subscribe the circular thus addressed to him, and return it to the police, in whose archives it remained, to be used in case of his falling into political errors, as a proof that he had erred from wilfulness, not from ignorance. The same diligence was not evinced against the progress of superstition. A newly founded monastic order waxed strong in proselytes and influence. Although originally intended as a refuge for a portion of the Jesuits expelled from Russia in the preceding year, and denominated the order of Redemptionists, because it was held prudent to abandon the name which had rendered them suspected in every corner of Europe, these refugees formed by no means the majority of its members. The emperor presented them with one of the churches of Vienna for divine service; but as they had no regular funds of any amount, and were not in possession of any real property, they saw the necessity of founding their prosperity on the devotion of the people, and the

liberality of proselytes. At their head, though not nominally, yet in real influence, was an apostate from the Protestant faith; owing to the pretended sanctity of his life, the less experienced looked to him with veneration; and he brought with him to the pulpit a style of preaching, whose vulgarity was adapted to catch the crowd, while its eccentricity furnished amusement even to the more sensible. The spirit of proselytism did not labour in vain; and Vienna again beheld men forsake active life, where they were advancing rapidly, with no less reputation to themselves than advantage to society, to wrap themselves up in the sanctity and seclusion of this new order.

The foreign relations of Austria during the year, her share in the negotiations that went on at Constantinople, her military ope

rations against the revolutionists of Naples and Piedmont, were of the first importance to herself, and affected deeply the whole state of Europe; but they seem to belong more properly to those parts of our history which are devoted to the affairs of Italy, and the differences between Russia and the Porte. Her finances were by no means in so flourishing a state, that the prospect of a war should not affect materially the credit of her government and the value of its obligations; but the unexpected termination of the Italian campaign, the rigorous measures adopted to ensure repayment of the expenses it had occasioned, and the quartering of a large portion of the Austrian army on the revenues of Naples, removed every apprehension of new financial embarrassments for the year.

CHAP. X.

SPAIN.-State of Parties in Spain-Address of the permanent Deputation of the Cortes to the King; His Reply-Disturbances in Saragossa, Cadiz, and Madrid-Abuela's Attempt to excite Insurrection-Arrest of Vinuesa-Consequent Agitation of MadridInsults to the King-Quarrel between his Body Guards and the Mob-Supposed Plots-Alleged Nature of Vinuesa's Plot-Meeting of the Cortes-King's Speech-Debates and Proceedings in consequence of it-New Ministry-Merino's Insurrection-Proceedings of the Cortes with respect to the Affairs of Naples-Law for the Punishment of political Offences-Popular Disturbances-Murder of Vinuesa-Tumults in Madrid-Promotion of Morillo-Proceedings of the Cortes-Sentence of Elio-The Relations between Spain and the Court of Rome-Plans with respect to America-Insurrections and Conspiracies-Conclusion of the Session of the Cortes-Disturbed State of Madrid-Steps preparatory to the Meeting of the extraor dinary Cortes-Violent Disturbances in Madrid-Morillo's Resignation-Plot for the Establishment of a Republic-Riego's Disgrace -Agitation produced by these Events-Libels on foreign Governments-Preparatory Sittings of the extraordinary Cortes-Opening of the extraordinary Cortes-New Division of Spain-Distracted State of the Country, and unpopularity of the Ministry-Cadiz, Seville, and other Towns, refuse to obey the Ministers or the Functionaries appointed by them-Representation from Cadiz in Justification of these Proceedings-Measures of the Cortes-Effect of the weak Conduct of the Cortes-Barcelona follows the Example of Cadiz-State of Spain at the End of the Year-Her FinancesThe Plague.

HE old government of Spain old was so thoroughly bad, that it is difficult to conceive how any essential improvements could have been introduced into it. It was in all its parts pure unadulterated despotism: to have endeavoured to bring it gradually to the spirit and forms of liberty, would have been entailing upon the nation all the evils of a long protracted war; for, in a course of slow alterations, the existing authorities would have been rous

ed into vigorous resistance, and would have possessed sufficient strength to render that resistance formidable. To demolish completely the whole structure of government was, perhaps, the wisest thing that Spain could do; and this she did in 1820.

After she had thrown off her old fetters, it was the duty of her patriots to have established a moderate and wise system of government, in which the executive power should have possessed force

enough to give firmness and durability to the new system, and to prevent the late changes from becoming merely the first in a long series of revolutions. Unfortunately for the cause of rational freedom, this was not done. The new constitution was full of the maddest extremes of a hypocritical democracy; and the executive power was left by it in a state of helpless imbecility, which rendered it altogether unequal to the task of administering the affairs of the country, or of keeping in due check the unruly spirits, who sought through public disorders the advancement of their own interest and power. Though the revolution had been accomplished by the army, yet, as the leaders of it had been men not even of high military rank, they had not presumed to place themselves at the head of public affairs; and the reins of government had fallen into the hands of the Liberals of 1814. We have seen with what ardour this party proceeded in subverting ancient establishments; but they took no successful steps for bring ing the country into a settled state. The old order of things had many zealous partizans; and their number was increased, and their zeal exasperated by the extremes to which the revolutionists went. The unmitigated confiscation of the property of the church drove the ecclesiastics to despair; for, though they received in pensions a pretended compensation, the poor alms of a scanty and precarious payment by a revolutionary administration out of a bankrupt treasury, did not constitute a fund which could be looked to either with complacence or with confidence. The

nobility, too, with a few exceptions, of whom perhaps the duke del Parque was the most eminent, were adverse to the late changes; and the peasants in many places shared in the same sentiments. No pains were taken to conciliate these opposing interests and passions; from which, as we have seen in recording the events of 1820, disturbances soon arose in different parts of the kingdom.

The confusion and embarrassment was increased by the schism which took place among the revolutionists themselves; many of whom thought the conduct of the administration much too moderate, and called for more decisive counsels. Change was to be pushed still farther; revolution was to be succeeded by revolution; the voice of the mob was to dictate more authoritatively to the rulers of the state; and, above all, the present possessors of power were to be driven from office, and to be succeeded by others more worthy of presiding over the destinies of the most magnanimous of nations. Most of the military men, dissatisfied with the share of power which had fallen to their lot, participated in these sentiments; and they were supported by the populace in many of the great towns, and particularly by the political clubs which had been established. The Cortes had passed laws to check the excesses of these clubs, and in December, 1820, a royal decree was issued to enforce the execution of the laws against them. But the spirit of the times and of the people, prevailed over laws and decrees; and the clubs still continued to proclaim and disseminate the most extravagant opinions.

The great instrument, which was employed to keep the popular fermentation in activity, was the diffusion of rumours announcing danger to the constitution. Aйl men in power were supposed to be either secret foes, or at best only lukewarm friends to the new system, and the whole of the political atmosphere was loaded with suspicions and jealousies. These feelings pervaded the populace, and extended their influence in no small degree to the Cortes. In the month of November, 1820, shortly after the termination of the session of the Cortes, the permanent deputation of that body presented an address to the king, in which they stated, that an accredited individual at the court of St. Petersburg had made such an improper use of the royal name, as compromised the dignity of the Spanish nation. They further painted in strong language the alarm in which the nation was kept by certain individuals, and prayed his majesty to terminate these anxieties. The following was the king's answer :

"His majesty, who always hears with pleasure the representations of the permanent deputation, and who knew how to appreciate the frankness and loyalty with which it expressed itself in its last, considering to what point foreign relations may be relied on, and convinced, that he can find only in the love of his subjects his true support and real happiness, has ordered his secretary of state to develope to the deputation all the means which an impostor has employed to deceive the emperor of Russia.

"His majesty, who even in the affairs that relate to his private

person, has willingly yielded to the suggestions of the permanent deputation (alluding to the dismissal of his confessor), will cause to be prosecuted by due course of justice, all individuals, who, by their declared enmity to the actual system, shall have subjected themselves thereto.

"His majesty will also deprive of their employments all who shall have lost the public confidence.

"His majesty demands of the deputation its aid for the restoration of confidence, which malice or men's passions have endeavoured to destroy-his majesty's proofs of adhesion to the new system, and his sincere desire for the good of the nation, not appearing sufficient to re-establish it.”

The king found it necessary to accommodate his actions as well as his words, to the general feeling. Don Toledo, a Spaniard, who had gone to Troppau, and representing himself as a secret agent of Ferdinand, had stated that the latter was a prisoner in his own dominions, and disapproved of every act done since the revolution, was deprived of his pension, and forbidden to return to Spain.

The cities were in a very unquiet state. A conspiracy, real or pretended, was discovered at Saragossa. Several persons were in consequence arrested; and among them was the marchioness of Luzan. At the end of December, the people of Cadiz, parading the streets in bodies, called out for vengeance on the authors of the massacre of the preceding March. Few of the better classes of inhabitants joined the rioters, who consisted chiefly of smugglers, and of the dregs of the rabble. The magistrates were

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