fered in some provinces of the empire, in consequence of partial failures of the harvest. To prevent the recurrence of such evils, an ukase was published on the 26th of April, which exhibits a very singular-indeed a very absurd and tyrannical, though wellmeant scheme of internal policy. This ukase orders a committee to be established in the capital town of each government, consisting of the civil governor and other official characters; and it is to be their duty to take care that their government has a constant supply of bread. For this purpose, corn magazines are to be established, and a special fund assigned to relieve distressed proprietors, by advancing money when the magazines are insufficient. The money so advanced, is to be repaid in two years at the latest, with 6 per cent interest; and the property of the person relieved, is to be security for the sum lent to him. Those land-owners, who do not take advantage of these measures, and yet suffer their peasants to want, are to be placed, with their property, under judicial guardianship. Another ukase had for its object an improved administration of the government of Siberia. The privy counsellor Speranski, governorgeneral of that immense territory, had been previously commissioned to inspect the several governments composing it, to collect such local information as might be turned to their advantage, and to make arrangements accordingly. Several plans of improvement had been accordingly submitted to the emperor: and this ukase announced, that his imperial majesty approved of them, and as a preliminary to their adoption, divided Siberia into East and West. cor The extravagant claims of dominion over the Northern Pacific Ocean, and the North Western coast of America, which Russia had advanced in the preceding year, were not passed unheeded. The British minister communicated to the court of St. Petersburg, that England could not submit to such usurpations; the result of his representations was not imparted to the public. A respondence on the same subject took place between the Russian diplomatic agent at Washington, and the American functionaries, in which the former maintained the pretensions of his master, and the latter denied and protested against them, with so much vehemence, as seemed likely to endanger the amicable relations of Russia with the United State. (See Public Documents, p. 576.] CHAP. XII. SPAIN-State of Spain in the beginning of the Year-Submission of Cadiz and the other refractory Cities-Resignation of the MinistersBarcelona-Valencia-The Cortes-Discussions on the Relations between Spain and South America-Tumults-Dissolution of the Extraordinary Cortes-New Ministry-Opening of the New Cortes-Budget of the Year-Disturbances in Pampeluna, Madrid, Lorca, ValenciaAccusatory Address of the Cortes to the King-Decrees showing a jealousy of France-Prorogation of the Cortes-Disturbances in Madrid-Assassination of Landaburu-Mutiny of the Guards-Their defeat-Negotiations with the King-Final surrender of the Guards -Revolt of the Carabineers at Cordova-Plot at Cadiz-Address of the Municipality of Madrid to the King-Appointment of an Ultraliberal Ministry-Banishments-Trial and Execution of Elio-Remarks on this Proceeding-The armies of the Faith-Their progress in Navarre, Catalonia, and Arragon-Establishment of a Regency at Seo d'Urgel-Situation of the Armies of the Faith, in the beginning of September-Mina is appointed to Command in Catalonia-Operations of Mina and D'Eroles-Castelfollit taken by the Constitutionalists and destroyed-Quezada defeated-O'Donnel's ProclamationMina enters Balaguer, Puycerda, and Llivia-Flight of the Regency of Urgel-Siege of Seo D'Urgel-Progress made in the interior Provinces in the Suppression of Insurrection Convocation and Opening of an Extraordinary Cortes-Revival of popular Clubs-Law to regulate them-Report on the State of Spain-Measures adopted with a View to the Resistance of Foreign Aggression-Arbitrary Punishments and Prosecutions for Political offences. THE history of 1821 exhibited internal dissension, till, at the end of the year, she was reduced to a state approaching to political dissolution. The principal cities, throwing off the bonds of civil union, had declared, that they would no longer obey the existing ministry: and the Cortes, by a report which ascribed all the evils of Spain to the men then in office, gave to the voice of rebellion the indirect sanction of the legislature. The king, without trusting his ministers, who were thus odious to the nation and its representatives, was unwilling to part with them; because a change would only throw him into the hands of others still less acceptable to his prejudices, still less favourable to his views. These dissensions among the constitutionalists had, as might have been expected, inspired the partisans of the ancient system with new hopes, and incited them to new attempts; and in several of the provinces, especially in those bordering on France, con siderable bands of insurgents were in arms against the government. A nominal king distrusting and distrusted by all-an executive, feeble, yet odious and unpopulara constitutional ministry resisted openly by the people, and at the same time assailed by the Cortesinsurgents in arms against the constitution-and the adherents of the constitution on the very brink of hostilities among themselves; such was the piteous condition, into which the ambitious, short-sighted rashness of military reformers, dreaming enthusiasts, and unprincipled demagogues, had reduced the once splendid and firm, though gloomy, fabric of the Spanish monarchy. In the beginning of the present year, the cities, which had thrown off their allegiance, returned to a seeming obedience to the executive. On the 10th of January, Jauregui delivered up the command of the garrison of Cadiz and the general government of the province to Don Jacinto Romarte. It was doubtless some merit in Jauregui to cease to be a rebel; but what are we to think of a state of society, in which a public functionary, who had, like Jauregui, been the fomenter and the instrument of rebellion, could escape unpunished, untried, unaccused? The example of Cadiz was followed by the other refractory cities; the more readily, perhaps, that the principal individuals in the unpopular ministry retired from office. Bardaxi, the minister for foreign affairs; Feliu, the minister for the interior; Salvador, the minister for the war department; and Valleyo, the finance-director; yielding to the clamour of the people and the legislature, tendered their resignation. Ferdinand accepted it with reluctance; and, in notifying this event to the Cortes, said, "I have hitherto declined to accept this resignation, but, considering the present circumstances, I now allow these ministers to retire; declaring, however, that I am satisfied with their good services, their attachment to the constitution, their loyalty to my person, and their zeal for the public welfare." No suc-. cessors to them were appointed immediately, and the other ministers, Pelegrini, Cano Manuel, and Escudero, were, in the mean time, charged with the duties of the vacant offices. On the 26th of January, the secretary for the transmarine department, informed the Cortes, that he had appointed the marquis de Santa-Cruz, to discharge the duties of first secretary of state; to the war-department, general Don Jose Crenfuegos; and to that of the finances, Don Luis Lopez Ballasteros. These were merely temporary nominations. Shortly afterwards Ballasteros and Santa Cruz resigned; they were succeeded by M. Pelerin and M. Louis. The retirement of the ministers was the subject of rejoicing in the refractory towns. At Barcelona, which had threatened, unless they were dismissed by a certain day, to take more decisive measures, it was celebrated in a manner which was there supposed to indicate the most ardent patriotism, but which, in truth, proved that all the principles of social subordination were forgotten. Riego, an individual filling no public office, still labouring under very heavy suspicions, and whose name was every where the watch-word of popular tumult; this man entered Barcelona in triumph, received the homage of the constituted authorities, reviewed the troops, and charmed these patriotic soldiers, by an insane tirade concerning liberty and Catalonia. " Fierce and desperate despotism," said he, "from this moment expires. I already see her tearing her ensanguined hair, and plunging herself into the dark mansions of pain, and of the tricks of her satellites, from whence she will never emerge-never." When soldiers can be collected, reviewed, and harangued by a suspected and furious demagogue, without the sanction or pretence of any official character; it is only by accidental sufferance, that regular government can be supposed to exist. 1 1 It would be endless to enumerate the events, that were daily disturbing the public peace; but it is important to observe, that the tumults proceeded, not from the attempts of votaries of despotism, but from the follies and mutual jealousies of the constitutionalists themselves. What happened at Valencia in the beginning of the year, may be adduced as a specimen. Some dissensions between the artillery and the cuirassiers of the garrison, having been amicably adjusted, deputations from the different regiments met to celebrate the union and friendship, which all the corps of the garrison had sworn to observe; and for that purpose, on the 7th of January, a procession, composed of persons of both sexes, and accompanied by music, was prepared. This procession was insulted by a crowd collected at the corner of a street, who raised cries in honour of Riego -A scuffle. ensued, and the crowd was dispersed. In the evening of the 9th, however, part of the militia, joined to the populace, renewed the riot. The regiment of Zamora was brought out against them; the militia threatened to fire; the other corps of the garrison were then marched out with four pieces of artillery; and finally tranquillity was restored, though not till after some lives had been lost. The extraordinary Cortes continued its sittings. The most important matters which occupied its attention, were the liberty of the press and the relations of Spain to the South American provinces. On the latter subject, the council of state had suggested no fewer than eight different means for adjusting the disputes between the mother country and her colonies. These were 1. To conclude an armistice with the trans-marine provinces: 2. To open a kind of judicature for adjusting grievances, consisting of deputies from the provinces, and commissioners from the Cortes. 3. To empower the commissioners from the Cortes, to suspend, with respect to the transmarine provinces, such articles of the constitution as they may judge injurious to the provinces. 4. To suspend, with regard to America, the decrees relative to the suppression of monarchical establishments, and of the privileges of the clergy. 5. To establish freedom of commerce between the Peninsula and the trans-marine provinces. 6. To concede to the provinces freedom of commerce with foreign powers, for a period of six years. 7. To settle the distribution of the common lands, not only near the towns, but in the interior of the country, according to a law passed by the last Cortes. 8. To resort to the assistance of a foreign power. These propositions were rejected by the committee of the Cortes, to which they were referred; and, in their stead, the committee recommended, "That there should be sent to both Americas, commissioners instructed to hear and receive whatever propositions the government there may make, and to transmit the same to the mother country, in order that the Cortes may decide thereon, without prejudice, however, to measures being taken by the government for receiving propositions from persons authorized by these governments, and referring them to the Cortes." The Cortes proceeded to discuss this report on the 27th of January. The Conde de Toreno, who had been a member of the committee supported it. On the contrary, many deputies strongly condemned it. Some thought the measures useless, as commissioners had already been employed by the king to negociate without producing any result; some were of opinion, that, in sending commissioners, the Cortes conceded too much, as such a step was a virtual acknowledgment of the independence of the South American states: others were for recognizing the independence of the provinces at once, and this course was proposed by Senor Golfin, the first speaker in the debate. No definitive resolution was adopted. The subject was again referred to a committtee, who again made a similar report. The law on the liberty of the press contained also a variety of provisions with respect to the formation of clubs, and the exercise of the right of petition. It called forth the vehement disapprobation of the populace of Madrid, who on the 10th of February, attacked to and insulted the deputies who had expressed sentiments unfavourable to democratic licentiousness. Count Torreno and Martinez de la Rosa were in personal danger; the house of the former was broken into and some of his servants wounded by a mob, who accompanied their outrages with cheers to the freedom of the press, Riego, and to the deputies elect of the ensuing Cortes. On the following day, the Cortes named a special commission to confer with the government on the subject. On the 9th of February, this commission presented a report, in which they declared their satisfaction with the zeal and the activity of government; their conviction, that the riotous assemblage exercised no influence on the freedom of debate necessary to the existence of the deliberative powers of the Cortes; and their knowledge, that the persons, who committed the excesses, were few in number, and contemptible in character " Madrid," said they "is the centre of the people most disposed to disorders and commotions. The inexplicable conduct of some of our diplomatic agents in foreign countries, and the want of vigilance in Madrid, have given occasion to plans of subversion, and opportunities to foment our dissensions through direct or indirect emissaries from abroad." As means for preventing similar disorders, the commissioners recommended to the next Cortes to complete the criminal code, to improve the state of police, and to create one or two subaltern political chiefs for the capital. The session of the extraordinary Cortes terminated on the 14th of February. The speech of the king on this occasion, was, as might be |