312 THE PRESENT CRISIS OF SPAIN. 



Ferdinand's naturally despotic inclinations were put in action by the 

 royal despots of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, and then the Constitution, 

 Cortes, amnesty, and all his royal promises were plunged in everlast- 

 ing oblivion, and the Inquisition, despotism, and oppression became 

 the sole supporters of his government. This sudden unexpected re- 

 action set to work the Spanish executioners, crammed the prisons 

 with victims, caused the expatriation of the most enlightened and po- 

 pular Spaniards, and hastened the rebellion of the Spanish American 

 colonies, a disaster which greatly increased the difficulties of the 

 Spanish treasury. 



Ferdinand, however, was not reclining on a bed of roses during 

 his absolute government. Discontent and agitation were making 

 rapid progress : now and then the appearance of a patriotic Guerilla 

 put in commotion all his satellites, and a crisis was gradually prepar- 

 ing. The exiled patriots succeeded at last in kindling within the 

 hearts of their friends who had remained in Spain the sacred fire of 

 liberty, and thus, in 1820, a military conspiracy was set on foot under 

 the direction of the brave but unfortunate general Riego, and the pet- 

 ticoat-making king, Ferdinand, forced by necessity, and advised by 

 his minister Ballasteros, publicly acknowledged the constitution of 

 1812, and afterwards solemnly swore to its maintenance, and thus the 

 National Cortes again reassembled, and all appeared to promise well 

 for the future happiness and prosperity of Spain. 



In fact, notwithstanding the great obstacles which the Cortes met 

 with at home and abroad, economy and regularity were introduced 

 into every branch of the civil and military administration, the immense 

 revenues of the church were partly'appropriated for the benefit of the 

 nation, the demoralizing wealth of the idle and crafty monks be- 

 came national property, the Inquisition and its brutal appendages were 

 abolished, and in their stead individual and civil liberty was proclaimed, 

 and, to repair the financial ruin brought on the country by the ex- 

 travagance of the absolute monarchy, an advantageous loan was con- 

 tracted by the Cortes, and public credit was in some way re-established. 

 How soon, alas ! was every hope of the constitutionalists blasted ! 

 The mock constitutional king from within, and the kingly 'despots 

 from without, could not bear the existence of a popular government 

 in the peninsula, and soon began secretly to conspire against its wel- 

 fare. The nobility and the ecclesiastical harpies of Spain reluctantly 

 obeyed the existing laws, and Ferdinand secretly implored his cousin 



