independent nations. When therefore it was proposed to his majesty to enter into negociation for a general peace, in concert with his majesty's allies, and to treat either on the basis of the uti possidetis (heretofore the subject of so much controversy), or on any other basis, consistent with justice, honour, and equality, his majesty deter mined to meet this seeming fairness and moderation, with fairness and moderation, on his majesty's part, real and sincere.-The king professed his readiness to enter into such negociation in concurrence with his allies; and undertook forthwith to communicate to them the proposals which his majesty had received. But as his majesty was not connected with Spain ya formal treaty of alliance, his ma jesty thought it necessary to declare, that the engagements which he had contracted, in the face of the world, with that nation, were considered by his majesty as no less sacred, and no less binding upon his majesty, than the most solemn treaties; and to express his majes. ty's just confidence that the government of Spain, acting in the name of his catholic majesty Ferdinand VII. was understood to be a party of the negotiation. The reply returned by France to this proposition of his majesty casts off at once the thin disguise, which had been assumed for a momentary purpose; and displays, with less than ordinary reserve, the arrogance and injustice of that government. The universal Spanish nation is described by the degrading appellation of

the Spanish insurgents:" and the demand for the admission of the government of Spain as a party to any negotiation, is rejected as

inadmissible and insulting.-With astonishment as well as with grief his majesty has received from the emperor of Russia a reply, similar in effect, although less indecorous in 'tone and manner. The emperor of Russia also stigmatizes as "in"surrection," the glorious efforts of the Spanish people in behalf of their legitimate sovereign, and in defence of the independence of their country; thus giving the sanction of his imperial majesty's authority to an usurpation which has no parallel in the history of the world. The king would readily have embraced an opportunity of negociation, which might have afforded any hope or prospect of a peace, compatible with justice and with honour. Ilis majesty deeply laments an issue, by which the sufferings of Europe are aggravated and prolonged.

But neither the

honour of his majesty, nor the generosity of the British nation, would admit his majesty's consenting to commence a negotiation, by the abandonment of a brave and loyal people, who are contending for the preservation of all that is dear to man; and whose exertions in a cause so unquestionably just. his majesty has solemnly pledged himself to sustain.

Spanish Revolution.- Decree for the Formation of a Militia of Henour, dated Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Nov. 23, 1808.

IT would be useless to proclaim

to the Spanish people the great obligation they are under, to deli. ver themselves from the slavery which threatens them, and which is already suffered by their most

amiable

amiable monarch, and the whole royal family, from the most pow. erful, cunning, and perfidious of tyrants. Although the continental powers of Europe, all subdued and held in great subjection, more by the subtle, sordid, and immoral policy of the tyrant, than by the force of his arms, cannot aid us directly by rebelling, or declaring war against the common oppressor, yet they assist us indirectly and passively, by engaging a great part of his armies in the keeping in obedience some of them, and watching the others. All of them, even France herself, have their attention fixed upon Spain, hoping from its intrepid inhabitants, liberty and independence. As soon as the Spaniards shall have shaken the superiority of their opposers, not one of them will fail to take up arms for his annihilation; because not one of them will fail to behold his black intrigues laid bare and frustrated, or to convince himself that the terrifying opinion hitherto entertained of his power, has been more the effect of the artifices, of which he has been able to seduce them, than by the number, skill, and valour of his troops. But npon us is imposed the duty, and to us is reserved the glory of striking the first blow. To us, Spaniards, Providence has left the alternative of being the first people of Europe, and the deliverers of all of them, or of being the most wretched of slaves. The general will of all has been long pronounced, in the most solemn and expressive manner. Almost altogether disarmed, our best resources dispersed and disorganized; our marine destroyed; our enemies masters of the capital, and of the

2

most important fortresses; the na tion tion impoverished, social virtue despised, our manners corrupted, and vice enthroned, we have in an instant recovered our ancient diguity and character, vanquished obsta cles which could yield only to pa triotic heroism. While we believed that our public disorders might be emphemeral, being accidental, and produced by the blind confidence of our sovereign in a perverse favourite, our innate loyalty obliged us to endure them with resignation and constancy; but no sooner did we clearly perceive, that the ty rant of France sought to avail him self of those disorders, in order to enslave us, as he had enslaved our sovereign-in order to entangle us in the same toils in which he had already caught Italy, Holland, Switzerland, and the greater part of Germany, and in order to convert our robust and honourable arms into vile instruments of his ambition and rapacity-then it was that all our provinces, cities, towns, and villages, as if on a sudden they had awakened from a profound lethargy, recollected their imprescriptible rights, and reco vered all the energy necessary to defend and preserve them. In the short space of eight days, every Spaniard, animated by an enthusi asm as ardent as patriotic, resolved to perish or take vengeance of the tyrant; and Providence instantly favoured their just and valorous determination. The satellites of oppression, who had till then arrogated to themselves the epithet of invincible, were finally conquered, for the first time pursued, hunted like wild bears, and obliged to take refuge either in the recesses of the Pyrennees, or in the strong places

which

which had been surprized by the base arts of fraud, perfidy, and treason. But, Spaniards, it is still to be seen whether these first and brave efforts of your valour are to resemble the sudden flashes of an expiring torch, or the first flame of a pile, whose fire, growing every instant more luminous and active, does not cease till it has no substance to devour. The first would take place were you to prefer your apparent and individual interests to the public welfare which is truly substantial-if you suffer yourselves to be misled by selfishness, or distracted by private passions--if you divide yourselves into factions or parties—and, in a word, if you are not convinced, that it is, above all things, indispensably necessary that you should make great sacrifices, in order to complete your great en terprise, and one day enjoy the glory you are to reap with it. In this enterprise your device should be, die or conquer. But you will overcome all obstacles, if you assert and boldly maintain this your irrevocable resolution; for neither does fortune generally forsake those who meet danger with anshaken firmness, nor can God deny his aid to those who purpose to defend his cause with sound and deliberate resolution. Spaniards, do not doubt it. War ought to be henceforth your chief element. Your endea. vours should be directed to the maintaining of it with intrepidity and constancy; and whatever is capable of weakening those efforts, you should consider as the first link in the chain of your future slavery, and as impediments to the delivery of your adored Ferdinand.—In his name, and after the maturest examination, the supreme central jun.

ta have resolved, that besides the increasing numbers of troops already constituted and even orga nized, and which are now marching towards the Pyrennees, to repel, attack, and drive away the foe, 250,000 warriors shall be enlisted, organized, and instructed in arms, agreeably to the rules prescribed in the regulations and provisions which are to be published for that purpose.-But at the same time that his majesty flatters himself that those forces, added to those which will be furnished by the English and Portuguese, our allies, will be able to destroy his mortal enemy, he foresees, at the same time, the great convenience, and even necessity there will be that in the metropolis, and in all the provinces which remain without garrison or armed force, there should be raised loyal bodies, interested in preventing disorders, aud capable of arresting banditti, deserters, and evil-dis posed persons, who may purpose to satiate their ambition or rapacity by disturbing the public tranquilli ty. Honour, union, fraternity, forgetfulness of injury, a disregard of what is or what we may fancy due to us, internal and mutual peace and concord among the citizens, and, in a word, all the virtues which constitute true patriotism, these are the planks which alone can save us from the threatening shipwreck. The suggestions and discourses which might stifle and make cool these virtues, would be so many hemlock cups fraught with death, so many hidden snares placed by malice or imprudence in our path, on the brink of the pre cipice. To preserve then those virtues, and maintain tranquillity in all the towns, and especially in the

larger;

larger; to impose awe upon rob. bers, and apprehcnd deserters, and to prevent, by prompt and inevitable punishment, the multiplication of crimes, his majesty has resolved, that in all the towns of the king dom which are out of the theatre of war, there shall be raised bodies of militia of honour (milicias honra. das), according to certain rules and regulations.

Deposition of the Pope.

HIS majesty the king of Sicily

has caused to be published the different notes that passed between the secretaries of his holiness and Mons. Lefebvre, the French charge d'affaires, and general Miollis, who in February last took possession of the city of Rome, under the pretext of expelling those whom he denomina. ted "The Neapolitan Brigands." The notes are preceded by a very impartial dissertation on the circumstances whereby France has lately acquired such power and consequence amongst the European

states.

of

The 1st note is dated from the Palais Quirinal, from cardinal Pamfili to M. Lefebvre, and is dated the 2d of March. It complains in the most glowing language of the French commandant, in forcibly depriving the chevalier Altieri of the government of Rome; placing a guard at the post-office, and opening all the letters, in defiance of the public law; of forcibly incorporating the Papal troops with those of France, and placing guards on all the printing-houses, and thereby depriving his holiness of the liberty of the press.

The 2d note is from the same

cardinal to Lefebvre, remonstrating, in the name of his holiness, against the proceedings of the French commander in imprisoning and threatening the officers of his holiness with banishment, because they were adverse to unite with the French against the inclination of their sovereign.

The 3d note is written by the secretary of his holiness to such cardinals as were ordered by the French to quit the papal dominions.

The 4th note is from cardinal Gabrielli to Lefebvre, complaining

of the behaviour of the French in imprisoning and banishing of other cardinals, natives of Italy, as well as of Naples.

The 5th note requires the treasurer of his holiness to give two cardinals banished to the north of Italy 1000 ecus each.

The 6th note is from cardinal Gabrielle to Lefebvre, complaining of the French officers having seized a number of the papal troops, and confining them, and requiring their liberation.

The 7th note is from the same to the same, signifying that after the forced incorporation of the Italian and French troops, his ho liness had caused those of his troops who still remained faithful to him to wear a cockade different from the rest, that the public might not ascribe to him the excesses of the French.

The 8th note is from M. Champagny, addressed to cardinal Caprara. It calls upon the pope to declare war against Englaud, and in the event of his refusing to do so, threatens to overturn the government, and to establish another, which will make common cause with Italy and Naples against the common enemy.

CHARACTERS.

Character of the late Countess of

HE

Bath.

ENRIETTA Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath, was descended, by her mother, in a direct line from Daniel Pulteney, brother to the great Earl of Bath. By the failure of male issue in the Pulteney family, her mother became heiress-at-law to their large fortune; the whole of which on the death of her father, the late sir William Pulteney, devolved on lady Bath.

Illustrious by birth and fortune, but more illustrious by those virtues which are the bond of union among mankind, her character was early marked by those traits of benevolence which distinguished her from such as are only rich and great. In the first impulse of infantine sensibility she would attempt to give the shoes and stockings from her own feet, to the beggars at the door of her mother's carriage. This amiable principle so favoured by nature, was never checked by education. She enter ed into the bustle of fashionable VOL. L.

life, glowing with all the finer feel ings of humanity; and, after having tasted its enjoyments, perhaps with all the gaiety, certainly with all the innocence of youth, she retired from its allurements with those feelings unimpaired.

It was. during the tedious hours of sickness that she first turned her thoughts to those more serious studies and acquirements which enable the mind to retire into itself with complacency. Awakened to a sense of the most trifling deficiencies, she cultivated habits of application and business, which evinced that she possessed a strength of mind equal to the goodness of her heart. In the exclusive management of her very large estates, she never signed a paper without perusing it, and frequently correcting the mistakes of her lawyers. A degree of exactness and assiduity incompatible with a fashionable life; which indeed she was, in every respect, above.

An almost uninterrupted continuance of ill-health rendered her retirement at last equal to a perfect 4 seclusion