310 ] THE PRESENT CRISIS OF SPAIN. 



costly, and princely establishment, and amassed a colossal fortune of 

 nearly forty millions sterling. 



In 1807, Napoleon having formed the project of adding the Spa- 

 nish peninsula to his usurpations, by diplomatic stratagems, and 

 through political intrigues, and the instrumentality of Godoy, sent 

 into that kingdom, under the plea of invading Portugal for the be- 

 nefit of France and Spain, more than 100,000 troops; and they were 

 of course received and treated as friends and allies. However, the 

 eyes of the nation began to see, alas! too late, that Napoleon wished 

 to possess himself of their country before his promised division of Por- 

 tugal, and this having produced great dissensions between the king* 

 the prince of Asturias, and the people, Charles IV. was almost forced 

 to abdicate in favour of his son Ferdinand. Then the French fo- 

 mented this agitation, and caused a partial civil war between the par- 

 tisans of Charles and those of his son, and, the popular indignation 

 having openly manifested itself against the treacherous Godoy, he 

 would have certainly paid with his life the penalty of his crimes had 

 not the French authorities interposed, and seized and imprisoned the 

 prince of the peace, with the promise of delivering him to his na- 

 tional judges as soon as his trial should be fixed. 



At this period Napoleon cunningly offered his mediation between 

 the contending parties, and engaged the old king to retire to France 

 during the negociations. Soon after Ferdinand was also decoyed 

 and brought to meet his father and family, and then Godoy was at 

 last secretly transported thither to accomplish the projects of Napo- 

 leon. In fact, shortly after this, Charles IV., persuaded by Godoy 

 and the queen, forced Ferdinand to lay down the crown, and to join 

 him with the other infants in the abdication of the kingdom of 

 Spain which he was about to make in favour of Napoleon. After 

 some difficulty, this being obtained of Ferdinand and his brothers, the 

 act of abdication was solemnly ratified and signed; and thus the Spa- 

 nish peninsula became the prey of Napoleon through the imbecility 

 of its court and the treachery of Godoy. Joseph Bonaparte was re- 

 called from the kingdom of Naples, where he had already become an 

 object of national hatred in consequence of his despotism and depre- 

 dations, and he was now created by his brother nominal king of 

 Spain, and sent thither to pursue the same system which he had fol- 

 lowed in Naples, that is to say, to plunder the country for the benefit 

 of France and his own private interest. 



