the complete restoration of the public tranquillity. For this, the new ministers deserve unqualified praise. They saw that the suppression of insurrection was the first of their duties, and in the accomplishment of that important object, they acted with decision and with steadiness, employing strenuously all the means which were at their command.

Under the peculiar circum stances, in which the ministers were entrusted with the reins of government, they had deemed it necessary to advise the Crown to convoke an extraordinary Cortes. Accordingly a royal decree to that effect was issued, fixing the time of meeting, and stating the objects for which the legislature was thus summoned. These were, 1st, To furnish the government with resources in men and money sufficient to meet the wants of the state, and to deliver the nation without delay from the bands which infested the frontier provinces.-2nd. To deliberate on the arrangement of affairs of high importance with some foreign powers. -3rd. To give the Spanish army a new organization.-4th. To complete the code of legal process.

The preparatory sittings of the Cortes were held on the 1st and the 3rd of October. The session was opened with great solemnity on the 7th by Ferdinand in person, accompanied by the queen and the two princesses. His speech on this occasion was in a most constitutional strain. [See Public Documents, p. 538.] He branded as rebels," all who were in arms against the constitutional system. "The country," said he "demands the assistance of numerous and vigorous arms to restrain the audacity of her factious sons; and the brave and loyal soldiers, who are

66

serving her in the field of honour, call for vigorous and effectual measures to ensure the happy success of the enterprises in which they are employed." The speech then touched upon the eminent local advantages of Spain, recommended the establishment of new military ordinances and regulations, the further improvement of the system of jurisprudence, and the formation of new relations with such states as "know how to estimate the riches and resources of Spain." The speech concluded with the following words: "The extension of the bonds of union among all the friends of liberty, will shed an additional lustre on those eminent qualities, which, to Spain and myself, are the surest pledges of your prudence. All good men will rejoice to behold you once more occupied in providing for their happiness, and the evil-disposed will find in the national congress a barrier impenetrable to their criminal projects." Salvato, the newly-chosen president replied, that the Cortes rejoiced to receive the testimony of his majesty's confidence, and that the sentiments expressed by him were indicative of virtue and firmness; he added, that the national representatives were determined to make the public voice of Spain respected both at home and abroad. Ferdinand, after this, departed in great state to his palace, without having any reason to be dissatisfied with his public reception.

The popular clubs had revived under the present ministry. Their meetings were frequent; they were numerously attended, and often by persons of high considerations. Members of the Cortes, and even ministers of state might be seen both among the haranguers and among the audience. The most

*

noted of these clubs had taken the appellation of Landaburian, in honour of the officer of the guards, who had been assassinated at the beginning of the commotions in July. Riego was one of its most distinguished members; and at its meetings the most odious cant and the most ridiculous mummeries of patriotism were employed to pervert the public mind.* The government, if it had the wish, had not the power to suppress such associations; but a law was passed subjecting them to certain regulations. By that law, all persons who proposed to meet publicly for the purpose of discussing political subjects, were to give twelve hours' previous notice of the time and place of meeting to the First Constitutional Alcalde, or the Political Chief of the district. If the meetings were to be periodical, those, who proposed to form the society, were to draw up a set of rules, and present them to the magistrates within the fixed period of 12 hours; not, however, for the approbation of the authorities, but merely to give an opportunity of ascertaining whether any thing proposed to be done called for consideration or interposition. Upon any appearances of sedition, such as acts of violence, or factious acclamations, the Political chief, the alcalde, or the corregidor, was empowered to dissolve the meeting; which was to be done by reading, three times, with a loud voice, the present law, and desiring all the persons then assembled to disperse. In case they refused to obey, force might be used to make them withdraw.

These meetings might remain open until midnight, or one in the

At one of its sittings, a regiment of boys, ten years old, commanded by an officer in his twelfth year, mounted guard at the door.

morning; but, after the last-mentioned hour, the magistrates might dismiss them. If the persons present refused to withdraw, they were held to be in a state of disobedience, and the society incurred the penalty of suspension. It was also declared, that these meetings had no legal character: and that petitions from them could not be received as from corporate bodies, but must be held as expressing merely the opinion of the individuals present.

A new law, not very consistent with the spirit of liberty, was approved of by the Cortes, for the more effectual punishment of conspirators against the constitution. The king, however, refused his assent to it, on the ground, that the executive ought not to be trusted with powers so extensive as those now proposed to be granted.

On the second day of the session, Lopez Banos, the secretary for the war department, read a report on the state of Spain with respect to her external and internal enemies. He first considered the situation of the army; describing the clothing, equipment, military stores and fortresses, as exceedingly defective; but paying high compliments to the patriotism of the troops, which had sustained them under every disadvantage. The important topic of the feelings entertained by the nations bordering upon Spain, was next boldly and explicitly touched upon. Portugal was relied upon by the Spanish government, as likely to lend her aid "in case of extremity." As to France, the report asserted, directly, that, while the government of that country was holding out professions of of all the Spanish conspiracies argoodwill and friendship, the chiefs ranged in France their plans of aggression and hostility; that in

France, the defeated factious found refuge from the pursuit of the national troops, and had also made preparations which could not have been effected without the permission of the administration, and which required sums of money too vast to have been derived solely from their resources in Spain. The Cordon Sanitaire was also noticed; and the secretary added, that the French government had given orders for assembling in Bayonne, Toulouse, Perpignan, and other parts of the frontier, a considerable force of artillery and infantry, and a vast store of provisions, greatly exceeding what could, for a length of time, be required for the supply of the present number of troops and fortresses. 66 Considering, therefore, (said the report), the alarming progress the insurrection at first made, and the suspicions which must be entertained, not only of our neighbour France, but of all that confederation of potentates known by the name of the Holy Alliance, it becomes necessary to demand of the Cortes an augmentation of the military strength." The proposal which the minister made, was, to raise by a new levy, 30,000 infantry, and 8,000 cavalry, and to make up the existing force to the number decreed by the ordinary Cortes namely, 62,000 men, it being actually deficient by 10,000. In addition to this, he proposed also the recruiting and organization of the active militia.

Decrees were passed to carry into effect the schemes recommended for the increase of the military force of the country. The finances too were the subject of much consideration; and to meet the exigences that might occur, the ministers, by a decree dated the 4th of December, were empowered to

raise a loan by the sale of perpetual annuities to the amount of 40 millions of reals vellon. All these arrangements proceeded from a jealousy of the designs of France and the Holy Alliance; with respect to which the strongest suspicions were daily expressed both in the Cortes and in the popular clubs. Constant rumours of impending war agitated Madrid; and the general opinion was, that hostilities were inevitable. But though there was much anxiety, there were no symptoms of fear. The people and the legislature were unanimous and ardent in their determination to resist foreign interference and repel foreign invasion.

During the latter months of the present year, many persons were executed for offences against the constitution, and a much greater number exiled or imprisoned. They were seldom or never tried; and even when the favour of a trial was granted, it was generally a trial before a court martial. It was even attempted to prosecute the late ministers for their mal-administration before a council of war: but the Cortes determined, that they ought to be proceeded against before the established tribunals.

A Madrid journal, bearing the title of Zurriago, acquired towards the end of the year a great celebrity in the capital by the extravagant results to which it pushed the principles of the new system, and the anarchical excesses which it lauded as the only pure patriotism. It assailed the ministers violently, as not being sufficiently constitutional. The ministers answered by exercising their dictatorial power, and sending, without trial, its two principal authors, Pizarro and Jonama, into exile, the former to Ivica, and the latter to the Canaries.

of a great number of European troops; and it was encouraged by the Prince Regent himself, who with good reason thought, that he had no interest in the maintenance of the authority of the Cortes of Lisbon.

As a means of retaining their valuable colony, the Cortes had passed decrees for the election of separate governments for every province of the Brazils, and for the appointment of a military commander in each, who should be independent of the provincial government, and accountable only to the Cortes for his conduct: and they had likewise ordered, that the prince should return to Lisbon as soon as these governments were established.

These decrees were known at Rio de Janeiro before the end of December, 1821, and excited universal discontent. The Provisional Government of the province of Santo Paulo, drew up on the 24th of December an address to the Prince Regent, in which, after reprobating in strong language the conduct of the Cortes, they protested against the order for the recall of his royal highness, and intreated him to remain among them in despite of the commands of the Lisbon rulers. The prince replied, on the 4th of January, 1822, that, "having received the address, as the post was setting out for Lisbon, he had sent it to his majesty to be presented to the national Cortes, from whose wisdom he hoped for the prompt measures which the necessities of Brazil required, and which were indispensable to the progress of its prosperity, and to the union of the two kingdoms."

In the meantime, great anxiety prevailed in the capital; and a meeting of the Camara or municipal body, was held, to deliberate

on the measures most proper to be adopted in the existing emergency. Little time was allowed, and little time, therefore, was spent in the decision. They agreed on preparing a memorial or remonstrance to be presented to the prince royal, stating the dangerous results likely to follow his departure, and conjuring him, in the name of the people, to remain in Brazil. To give greater solemnity to the presentation of this remonstrance, they, on the 9th of January, walked with it to the palace in a regular procession, in which all the individuals most eminent for wealth and influence, but no military, either Brazilian or European, made their appearance. They were received by the prince with the deference due to their functions, and their request, after a short hesitation, was acceded to. "Convinced," said he, sence of my person in Brazil is conducive to the good of the whole Portuguese nation, and that the wish of some provinces even requires it, I shall delay my departure till the Cortes and my august father and master deliberate on the subject with a perfect knowledge of what has occurred." The senate of the Camara immediately made his answer known. His assent was celebrated with great demonstrations of joy by the whole city, which was illuminated for three nights in succession.

"that the pre

In the midst of the rejoicings, however, a movement of the Portuguese regiments, amounting to nearly 2,000 troops, excited very general apprehension. They marched out of their quarters with arms, and took possession of a strong fort, situated on a hill, which commanded the royal palace.