()()() SPAIN AND HF.ll FACTIONS. 



footing took place, excepting the minds of many more or less influential 

 persons, -who however formed but a very fractional part of the nation. 



The unfortunate issue of the attempts ot 'Lacy and of Porlier, having 

 baffled the hopes, had considerably damptcd the ardour, of the friends of 

 the constitution, -when the government flushed by their easy successes 

 over what they thought the utmost strength of the liberals, and in the 

 imaginary security of recent triumph, resolved on sending an expedition 

 for the reduction of the Americas, which had then well nigh achieved 

 their independence, and were on the point of driving all that remained 

 of the armies of the mother country into the sea. The expedition was 

 assembled at Cadiz and at the Isla de San Fernando,* awaiting their 

 embarkation, when the liberals determined to seize so favourable an op- 

 portunity, of re-establishing the liberties of the nation.by rendering the 

 force that was intended to forge the chains of the colonists, the instru- 

 ment of their own emancipation. The antipathy of both the officers and 

 the soldiery, to the service on which they were proceeding, gave much 

 facility to the operations of the liberals. Increase of pay, and escape 

 from the dreaded shores to which they were destined, were ready in- 

 ducements to the latter, while the officers found, in the brilliant hopes of 

 ambition, and in the secret yearnings of opinion, persuasive advocates 

 for leading the forlorn hope of the public freedom. 



Quiroga and Riego planted the flag of the constitution in the Isle of 

 Leon, on the first days of January 1820, at the head of 2 or 3,000 men, 

 nearly half of them officers. Notwithstanding the almost unparalleled 

 efforts of Riego, who, with a flying column of about 1500 men, penetrated 

 into Estremadura, through Algesiras, Mulaga, and Cordova, pursued by 

 General Joseph ODonnell, with an immensely superior force, the in- 

 surrection was on the point of being quitted, when a simultaneous move- 

 ment, in Galicia, caused the government to intrust its defence to the 

 Conde de 1' Abisbali, who, on taking the command of the army in La 

 Mancha, instead of marching against the insurgents, proclaimed the 

 constitution, The court submitted without a struggle, and the King 

 consented a second time, to take the constitutional oath, on the 7th, 

 March. forn on &B foesrrroooo-' 



Thus was achieved a revolution, in the accomplishment of which, the 

 chief, indeed the only actors, were the men in whom the government de- 

 pended for their defence and strength. It was in the strictest sense, a 

 military revolution, for the people were merely spectators of the event ;f 

 they neither aided nor opposed the constitutonalists, but awe-struck 

 by the boldnes of the attempt, awaited in silence the result, during the 

 short time that doubt hung over it, and sided, some with characteristic 

 resignation, and others with silent satisfaction, with the stronger party, 

 when the King's proclamation had resolved the broblem. The sudden- 

 ness of this movement, had outstripped the waryriess of the most danger- 

 ous, and most watchful enemy of the liberals ; the clergy were only 

 aware of the revolution, when opposition was paralyzed by the irremedi- 

 -ehn 9d? 



_ _ 



* Also called the " Isla de Leon " and theatre of the late constitutional failure. 



t Colonel Evarist San Miguel, afterwards Minister for the Foreign affairs, says 

 in his narrative of lliego's march, published in August 1820, and which he accom- 

 panied as chief of the staff. " Thoughout the progress of this column, we were 

 received every where with applause, and were furnished with provisions in all 

 directions ; but nobody joined us." fcSSSlp ' J3l fc . 



