1827.] Notes for ihe Month. 289 



table stood an escritoir, which probably was the same mentioned by Irriberry in 

 which the king had locked my papers. As I approached him, [I bent a knee to 

 kiss his hand, according to the usual etiquette ; but he raised me, and said, * What 

 do you want ? Why do you wish to see me ?' 



" Sire,' I replied, i' because I am quite confident that your majesty, if you 

 would deign' to hear me leisurely, will dismiss those prejudices against me, which 

 you doubtless must have been inspired with, to have ordered the rigorous treatment 

 I have experienced.' 



" Well, but you belong to a conspiracy, and you ought to reveal it to me. I 

 know it all. Are you not horror-stricken ? Who are your accomplices ?' 



" To desire the good of one's country, Sire, is not conspiring. I feel no hesi- 

 tation in revealing to your majesty those good wishes ; on the contrary, I rejoice at 

 having found an opportunity of disclosing them to you. But if your majesty know- 

 all, and know it correctly, there will be nothing more for me to add. Any farther 

 explanation your majesty may require will only contribute to soften your anger 

 towards me, and to convince you that, if we have hitherto concealed our object 

 from your majesty, it was to avoid the vengeance of those who are striving to render 

 hateful your illustrious name.' 



" 4 Who are those who have so wilfully misled you ? Tell me who they are- 

 do not hesitate.' 



" ' Sire, if your majesty know all, you must be aware that I have not been misled 

 by any one; but that I have always acted from self-conviction, and that the events 

 of the times and the general mistrust have arrived at such a pitch, that I do not 

 personally know one any of those who labour in the same cause.' 



" * But you must know the means by which they are to be discovered. Your duty 

 is to obey me. Choose my favour, or your disgrace.' 



" ' Sire, place yourself at our head, and you will then know every one of us.' 



"At these words, Ramirez de Arellano came forward foaming with rage, and, 

 raising his hands, exclaimed, in a most insolent and improper tone for the presence 

 of a monarch, To the seed, Sir! to the seed ! We want no preambles or sophisms 

 here. There is paper; take this pen here, here (pushing a pen and a sheet of 

 paper towards me,), here you must write the names of all the conspirators no 

 roundabouts, no subterfuges. His majesty is the king of these realms, and there 

 ought to be nothing hidden from him under the sun. I have read the Btirroel (he 

 meant the Barruel) ; I have been in France, and I know what all those factions are. 

 Where are the sacred oaths for your king and your religion ?' 



" During the whole of this furious ranting, I kept my eyes fixed on the king, who 

 seemed converted into a statue from the moment Ramirez commenced speaking; 

 but when I saw him insist on my taking the pen, I said, without even looking at that 

 despicable wretch. Sire, I know no one.' 



" * Sire, to the Inquisition with him !' cried Ramirez : ' the tribunal will easily 

 extort them from him.' 



'* The king, shewing some displeasure at Ramirez's behaviour, said to me, 4 But 

 it is impossible you should not know them ?' 



" ' Sire, if I meant to say what I could not prove, or if I wished to conceal a crime, 

 I would rather avoid than seek the presence of my sovereign ; but if, being guilty, 

 I sought it, once before your majesty I would profit of the opportunity to ask a 

 pardon which my innocence does not need.' 



" The king remained a few minutes thoughtful, his eyes fixed on me, and then 

 said, * Tell me by writing whatever you have to say.' Another short pause 

 now ensued, after which he took a cigar from the table, lighted it, and asked me 

 if I smoked. On my answering in the affirmative, he said to Arellano, who heard 

 him with displeasure, * Carry him some cigars ;' and then motioned me to with- 

 draw. When I took his hand to kiss it, he pressed mine with an air of interest; 

 and as I turned round at the door to make my obeisance, I heard him say, while 

 conversing with Arellano, * What a pity, such a youth !' " 



This account shews the personal character of Ferdinand rather in a less 

 unfavourable light than it has been represented. The interview, however, 

 leading to no disclosures which are the things wanted Senhor Van 

 Halen is again urged to make them. And the argument of Villar Frontin, 



MM. New Series. VOL. IV. No. 21. 2P 



