himself, and by Canga, Alava, Arguelles, Saavedra, Ruez de la Vega, Adan and Salva. It was to this effect [See Public Documents p. 157*]: that the Cortes manifested to his majesty, that they had heard with the greatest astonishment the assertions contained in the notes of the cabinets of Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Petersburg; because these diplomatic communications, besides being inconsistent with the established practice of civilized nations, were insulting to the Spanish nation, its Cortes, and its government; and that they had, at the same time, heard with the greatest satisfaction the judicious and decorous answer made by the Spanish government, exposing the falsehood of the imputations cast on the nation, and expressing its determination to maintain its rights. After some further observations on these points, the address concluded by declaring, that the Cortes were prepared to maintain, at every risk, the dignity and splendour of the constitutional throne, and of the king of the Spains, as well as the independence, liberties, and honour of the Spanish nation, and to decree whatever sacrifice might be necessary for the preservation of interests so invaluable. It was voted without one dissenting voice. The reply of the king was communicated to the assembly on the same day; it breathed the most ardent sentiments of patriotism. "The sentiments," said his majesty, "of honour and national independence, so profoundly rooted in the hearts of Spaniards, offer me the securest guarantee, that the existing political institutions the object of their predilections-will continue unalterable, notwithstanding the efforts of their most violent ene

mies; how, in this respect, can I entertain the slightest doubt, when I am a witness of the effusion of the patriotic sentiments and generous resolutions, which will render the sittings of the National Congress on the 9th and 11th of this month eternally memorable?

"For myself, convinced more and more of the imperious necessity, that all the children of this great family should assemble round the constitutional throne, I will steadily follow the route which my duty prescribes to me: and if the spectacle of a nation, devoted to the defence of her independence and laws, do not restrain those who me ditate to invade her, I will place myself at her head, certain of victory in the most just of causes, which is, at the same time, that of all the free nations of the earth.”

Amidst all this excitement, the British ambassador continued to exert his endeavours to preserve peace. The course, followed for this purpose, was, by recommending to the ministers to make some mo difications in the constitution: for if that were conceded, we believed that France, on her part, would withdraw her army of observation, after which harmony between the two neighbours might easily be restored. The Spanish ministers, however, would not listen to any proposals of concession: such a suggestion, they declared, could not even be mentioned in the Cortes.

The approaching war was the only subject, which occupied the attention of the Cortes in its successive meetings; and on every occasion the mention of it called forth expressions of the most stub born resolution never to yield. The speech of the king of France to the Chambers was communi.

cated to the Cortes on the 5th of February by a royal message; and to the message was subjoined a series of propositions, which had for their object to accelerate and extend the preparations of the military department. On the 6th, a project of decree was discussed for giving efficacy to the ministerial demands of the day preceding. The eager patriotism of more than one of the deputies out-stripped the demands of the government for supplies, and led them to recommend a scale of enlistment even more liberal than that required by the ministers. The existing establishment of the army being about 87,000 men, the first article of the decree proposed an immediate addition of 29,973 men, to be drawn from all the provinces of Spain, according to their population. Young men, who had completed their 17th year, might be admitted as substitutes, or as volunteers. Soldiers, who had already served, might be re-enlisted by the government. The militia was to be rendered disposable. The importation of arms, ammunition, &c., was authorized; and 200 gunboats were ordered to be fitted out and manned, for the defence of coasts and harbours.

The finances, too, occupied much of the time of the legislature; and vain endeavours were made to remedy by enactments, those deficiences in the produce of the taxes, which arose, in some degree, no doubt, from the want of good official arrangements, but, infinitely more, from the poverty and the disturbed state of the country. One of the measures adopted was, to authorise the government, during the first four months of the year, to accept produce in discharge of the arrears due from the towns

and diocesan juntas, and to compound with individual debtors to the treasury.

On the 19th of February the sittings of the extraordinary Cortes were closed. "Some diplomatic relations," said the king, in his speech on this occasion, "have been interrupted during the sittings of these Cortes; but these misunderstandings between cabinet and cabinet have increased the moral force of the nation in the eyes of the civilized world, where honour, probity, and justice are professed. On seeing that Spain does not capitulate with her degradation, a just idea will be formed of the firmness of her character, and of the happy influence of the institutions by which she is governed.

"The king of France has declared to the two chambers of the legislative body, his intentions with respect to Spain. Mine are already public, and are attested in the most solemn manner. Valour, decision, constancy, love of national independence, and the increased conviction of the necessity of preserving the national code of 1812 these are the vigorous answers, which the nation must give to the anti-social principles expressed in the speech of the most christian monarch.

"The circumstances, in which the public affairs are placed, are of a serious character; but there is no occasion to be apprehensive for my government or for the Cortes. My firm and constant union with the deputies of the nation will be the secure guarantee of a happy issue, and of the new days of glory which are preparing for us. The day for the opening of the sessions of the Cortes is near at hand. A new field of patriotism is about to

present itself to the representatives of the nation, and to me new motives for making my sentiments public."

While the Cortes were doing all that could be done by words to vindicate the dignity of their country, Mina was more usefully employed in prosecuting his operations in Catalonia. As the enemy had disappeared from the field, all that remained to be done was, to reduce the few places of strength which were still in their hands. In this the constitutionalists were successful. The Seo d' Urgel was defended by the partisan Romagosa with great obstinacy; but famine at last compelled him to abandon it; and, towards the end of January, that fortress was occupied by Mina. On the 28th of February, Mequinenza surrendered by capitulation. Many wandering bands, however, still continued to traverse Catalonia and Arragon, though they were almost uniformly defeated, whenever they were overtaken by the constitutionalists.

While the cause of the soldiers of the faith was thus unsuccessful in that quarter of Spain, where it had a few months before flourished in the greatest strength; the intrigues of France and the hopes of her support caused disturbances to break out anew in other provinces. Of these attempts to support the cause of despotism, the most daring was one which was conducted by two foreignersBessieres, a Frenchman, and Ulman, a Swiss. Bessieres had commanded at Mequinenza, on the Ebro; and in January, he had broken up from that place, in order, as it would appear, to march upon Saragossa. Being opposed by Velasco, he was obliged to change his purpose, and then, instead of dispersing his

troops, as most of the other chiefs would have done, he formed the bold design of making a forced march upon the capital by Cataloyud and Siguenza. His band was increased on the way, by the junction of all the discontented, and when he passed Guadalaxara, he commanded not fewer than between 5,000 and 7,000 men. The troops, that could be despatched from the garrison of Madrid, hastened under the command of general O'Daly to oppose the assailants. The capital was thrown into the greatest alarm; the royalists were at the distance of only a few leagues; and if they were once within its gates, re-inforced as they then would be by numerous friends connected with the court, and masters of the person of the king, the consequences might be most fatal to the existing authorities. The result of the first engagement was not such as to diminish the alarm. On the 25th of January, O'Daly, with a column of 1,000 men, including 160 cavalry, arrived near Brihuega, between three and four o'clock. He there discovered a post of the insurgents, consisting of 60 lancers and a company of infantry. A squadron of the regiment of Alcantara charged them, and they instantly dispersed. When O'Daly arrived in sight of Torrija, the royalists proceeded towards the heights of Levante, where they took a position. Some men, whom they had left as Guerillas, were obliged to retreat. The commandant of the constitutional troops sent forward the companies of Guadalaxara, and the squadron of Alcantara on the left of the road. Three pieces of artillery were left in the road with some infantry and a company of cavalry; while a battalion of militia advanced on

the right with a piece of artillery, to attack the village of Torrija. The troops on the left, with the greater part of the cavalry, behaved tolerably, but those on the right immediately gave way before the royalists, after having had some killed and wounded, and fell back, with their artillery, to the distance of a quarter of a league from the heights. The infantry on the left then began to give way; and finally, O'Daly was not only repulsed, but was obliged to abandon three pieces of cannon. That general retired to Guadalaxara, where he threw up entrenchments at the palace of the duke del Infantado, and there he was soon joined by reinforcements, which were sent to him from Madrid.

On

As soon as the news of this affair was known in the capital, the government; being dissatisfied with the conduct of O'Daly, sent general O'Donnel, count del Abisbal, to replace him. That officer, supported by the corps of general Velasco, advanced against the royalists, who had taken up a position in the neighbourhood of Guadalaxara, forced them to retreat from that post, and routed them in different skirmishes. the 29th of January, they attempted to defend the bridge of Aunion on the Tagus, and likewise the defiles leading to Sacedon; but failing at every point they retreated by Huete and Cuença. Pursued during the whole of the month of February by the constitutionalists, Bessieres and Ulman separated. The former took refuge in Arragon and Navarre; and his forces, by the beginning of March, were nearly all dispersed or destroyed. The other directed his course towards Valencia, where he mustered so much strength as

to possess himself of the fortress of Murviedro, oppose the constitutionalists in the field, and even threaten the capital of the province. On the 2nd of April he endeavoured to intercept a considerable constitutional force under colonel Don Antonio Bazan, who was marching southward from Castellon, at the head of 1,000 veteran soldiers, to the relief of Valencia. Between Almenara and Murviedro, the insurgents amounting to 5,000 men, with three pieces of artillery, presented themselves before him, but were immediately attacked and overthrown. The exaggerated accounts of Bazan represented Ulman as having lost on this occasion 1,000 men, together with a number of ammunition-waggons, and 1,000 muskets.

The last labours of the Cortes had been to pass a decree providing for the transference of the seat of government to Cadiz, or some other town, in case the capital were menaced by the invasion of a foreign army. On the 19th of February, after the dissolution of the extraordinary legislature, the ministers waited upon the king, to consult him about the execution of that decree. His majesty showed great repugnance to comply with their wishes, or to authorize any arrangements for leaving the capital; accusing them of having acted contrary to his commands in making the proposition which had received the legislative sanction. He further insisted that such a measure, partaking of pusillanimity, and be traying the want of means of resistance, would have for its result the most fatal disorders. The ministers answered, that their determination was fixed; that they were responsible to the Cortes; and that it was not in the power of the