584 
- only reached Pamplona late in the even- 
ing, it was eight o'clock before I could 
wait on the General, who had gone out 
to take a waik, and pay some visits. 
Leaving my letters of introduction and 
address, I had not been more than half 
an hour at the Posada, before an aide- 
de-camp came to welcome my arri- 
val, and invite me to dine with Mina 
on the following day; but he added that 
his Excellency would be happy to receive 
me between six and eight in the morning 
to take chocolate. The novelty of the 
first named hour induced me to prefer 
that, and as it was the first time I had 
ever been invited to the house of a great 
man so early, I determined not to keep 
him waiting. 
The palace of government, an old 
Gothic edifice, is situated on the north 
side of Pamplona: it is washed by the 
river Arga, and commands a fine view of 
the Pyrenees, which rise in majestic 
grandeur within about ten miles of the 
city. The first object that attracted my 
attention on ascending the great staircase 
leading to the apartment of the captain- 
general, was the following sentence from 
the political code, inscribed in large gilt 
letters over the door: La Nacion Espa- 
nola es libre e independiente; y no es, 
nt puede ser, patrimonio de ninguna 
Familia ni persona. “ The Spanish na- 
tion is free and independent: it is not, 
nor can it be, the patrimony of any 
family or person.” On mentioning my 
name to an orderly, I was led through a 
long suite of rooms, furnished with the 
greatest simplicity, to a closet, where I 
found the hero seated at a small deal 
table, smoking a segar; he wore a mili- 
tary undress, and had a black silk cap 
over one of fur; the general seemed to 
have been busily occupied in writing, 
but on my entering he rose and received 
me with the utmost cordiality, begging I 
would be seated; there were only two 
chairs in the room, when chocolate, its 
accompaniment, a glass of spring water, 
los azucarillos, and segar were served. 
We had a long conversation on the state 
of affairs in France and England, after 
which I took occasion to congratulate his 
Excellency on the recent accomplish- 
ment of his wishes; as well as the part 
he had himself taken in the regeneration 
of Spain. I then withdrew, being first 
reminded of my engagement. At din- 
ner, besides Mina, his secretary and staff, 
the company ‘consisted of several officers 
of various ranks. Like the unaffected 
manners of the distinguished host, the 
repast; though abundant, was plain, and 
Blaguiere’s Spain and Spanish Revolution. 
did not last more than three-quarters of 
an hour, after which coffee and liqueurs 
were served in another room, When 
about to retire, the General introduced 
me toa literary character, well acquainted 
with the history and antiquities of the - 
city, whom he had invited for the pur- 
pose of shewing me the public by‘Idings, 
and other establishments. I then took 
my leave, in company with the cicerone, 
thus handsomely procured, and did not 
intrude on his Excellency till the day of 
my departure for Zaragoza, when he gave 
gave me some introductory letters, and 
amongst others, one to his friend Don 
Manuel, of whom mention has been al- 
ready made, 
THE POPE'S DECREE. : 
A pontifical edict was affixed to the 
doors of all the churches of the Penin- 
sula,and accompanied by the following 
notice, which I have translated form Fl 
Procurador general, of January 12th, 
1815, one of the papers paid by the 
ministry, and its principal organ. 
We, Dr. Francis Xavier, Mier y Cam- 
pillo, by the Grace of God, and the Holy 
Apostolical See, Bishop of Almeria, 
Grand Cross of the Royal Order of 
Charles III., Member of the Council, and 
Inquisitor-General in the several king- 
doms and Lordships of his Majesty. 
“ To all the inhabitants, of whatsoever 
condition, quality, order or dignity, they 
may be, we may hereby make known, 
that our most holy Father, Pious VII. 
animated by his ardent desire to preserve 
the purity of the faith, and the prospe- 
rity and peace of the christian republic, 
has addressed to our pious Sovereign, 
Ferdinand VII, an edict in the Italian 
language, directed against freemasons ; 
that his Majesty, uniting his religious 
intentions to those of the common father 
of all the faithful, has deigned to com- 
municate this edict to us, in order that it 
may be published throughout the said 
kingdoms.” Here follows the edict ; after 
which his eminénce the Inquisitor-Gene- 
ral proceeds: 
“We know that many Spaniards, 
ceding to the yoke of our oppressors, 
and dragged into foreign countries, have 
had the weakness to attach themselves to 
societies which lead to sedition and inde- 
pendence, as well as to every other 
error and crime; we hope nevertheless, 
that these individuals restored to their 
country and freedom, will recollect they 
are Spaniards; and that following the 
example of their ancestors, they will sub- 
mit with respect and docility to the voice 
of the supreme pastor, and of our legiti- 
mate 
