THE PRESENT CRISIS OF SPAIN. 311 



But the Spanish nation felt too degraded by so infamous a trans- 

 action quietly to consent to submit to the French yoke, and, being well 

 seconded by the priests and monks, they rose simultaneously in arms 

 against their oppressors. The duke of Infantado put himself at the 

 head of the national junta, and, having proclaimed Ferdinand VII. 

 as king of Spain, assumed the reins of government in his stead ; and 

 then began that truly national peninsular warfare of extermination 

 and plunder during which France lost nearly half a million of men, 

 the flower of its armies ; but its generals and governors plundered 

 the Spanish dominions, and were not satisfied with all its gold and 

 silver, for with the exception of its fine buildings and churches, 

 which they could not carry off, they literally took away from Spain all 

 that was worth any thing. Murat, Beauharnais, Grouchy, Bessieres, 

 Massena, Suchet, Soult, Ney, Sebastiani, and many others became 

 immensely wealthy by their services during the peninsular war. As 

 for brother Joseph, he was not a man to be last in the career of ac- 

 'cumulating wealth, and consequently his private fortune was much 

 increased in Spain. 



As it is easily to be imagined the richer the French oppressors 

 grew the greater became the pecuniary difficulties of the oppressed 

 Spaniards ; but a true patriotic enthusiasm and the hatred of a 

 foreign yoke increased their courage, and made them struggle with 

 perseverance and hope for their national independence ; and at last 

 supported by the powerful co-operation and assistance of the English 

 troops, they succeeded in driving from their country the cruel and 

 rapacious French invaders. In the meanwhile the national junta 

 of Spain in 1812 calmly and deliberately framed a constitution which 

 was to be the future palladium of the Spanish nation, and it was pro- 

 claimed and acknowledged as the national charter in Cadiz, and in 

 all the towns, districts, and provinces, which were not in possession of 

 the French. 



When Ferdinand VII. re-entered Spain to resume the crown which 

 had cost his subjects such numberless sacrifices of life and property, 

 he promised to reign according to the constitution of 1812, and pro- 

 claimed a general amnesty ; and hence his return was hailed with 

 joy and acclamation. As soon, however, as the sun of M arengo and 

 Austerlitz ceased to shine over the eagles of the ambitious king-de- 

 throner and king-maker of Europe,when conquered Napoleon, like a 

 new Prometheus, was nailed to the immortal rock of St. Helena 



