42 Sketch of the Life 



faels too recent and notorious to need 

 recapitulation here. On the 1st of Jan- 

 uary, 1820, supported by the battalion 

 under his command, Rieg;o proclaimed 

 the Constitution of 1812, in the village 

 of Las Caliezas de San Juan ; imme- 

 diately advanced, amidst the acclama- 

 tions of the inhabitants, upon Arcos, 

 and decisively secured the (own and 

 garrison. A chequered march under 

 progressive circumstances of great in- 

 trepidity conducted the young conque- 

 ror lo Cadiz, already in the possession 

 of Qiiiroga, who, in the atlainment of 

 that important fortress, overcame a 

 succession of critical events in the 

 hi;;hest spirit of bravery and skill. 

 jVlany were the daring skirmishes and 

 sallies which thence followed on in 

 prosperity ; and many acquisitions 

 strengthened the liberating cause, 

 which, thoiifib trivial for detail, were 

 then almost essential to its healthy 

 existence. The year hastened ac- 

 tively to its close ; and the Constitu- 

 tion was gradually carried in triumph 

 tlirougliout the kingdom, with a deci- 

 .siun lluit proved its superiority, and a 

 moderation that developed its virtue. 

 Ferdinand again swore to the code of 

 1812, and convoked the Cortes; while 

 a suppression of arbitrary power, at 

 <mcc so perfect and bloodless, impres- 

 sed a note of admiration in the history 

 of Europe. 



Meanwhile Quiroga, the chosen 

 leader of the army from the isle of 

 Leon, was selected amongst the first 

 deputies to tlie new Cortes, and re- 

 signed his command to Riego, who 

 soon after repaired to Madrid, and 

 waj there hailed with the continued 

 shouts of a rejoicing multitude, distin- 

 guished by the friendly attentions of 

 the highest ranks, and even graced by 

 the specious notice of a false sove- 

 reign. Little could exceed the popu- 

 larity of those days: sonics were every 

 where sung in his praise, and festivities 

 celebrated to commemorate his lio- 

 nours. Satisfaction appeared univer- 

 sal, but "the professions of no inconsi- 

 derable a j>arty were simulative; the 

 clergy were its main strength, and, 

 above all, the ministry were insin- 

 cere. Calumny began to whisper 

 with the name of Riego ; republicanism 

 was falsely insinuated against him in 

 the hall of the Cortes ; and, at length, 

 openly laitl to his charge in the minis- 

 terial prints. The intrigue succeeded, 

 and Ricgo was banished to his native 

 ptoyiucc. 



of Gtneral Riego. [Feb. I, 



But, in this instance, the measure 

 which, by the humiliation of Riego, 

 was meant to decide the overthrow of 

 the cause he served, signally recoiled 

 upon the enemies of freedom. The 

 manifest discontent which followed 

 his departure from Madrid, drove the 

 ministry to another act of duplicity ; 

 to preserve appearances, Riego was 

 appointed Captain-General of Arra- 

 gon. In that capacity, open to the 

 unbiassed judgment of every country- 

 man, tiic frankness of his behaviour 

 soon convinced every heart of the in- 

 tegrity of his devotions ; and, in the 

 very next choice of deputies, the gene- 

 ral « as returned for the province. Otx 

 this new elevation he cojiducted him- 

 self with his former modesty in j)ri- 

 vate, and equal energy in public, 

 alfuirs. lie was no speaker, and sel- 

 dom engaged the ears of the assem- 

 bly but on urgent occasions; and then 

 his voice was simple, but strong. Yet 

 even in the hall of the Cortes he con^ 

 ciliated contidcnee, and acquired the 

 proof of un(|ualiGcd appreciation : for 

 one of the most critical years the 

 Spanisii representatives sat together, 

 he was apjjointed their president. 

 When the revolt of the Rojal Guards 

 threw Madrid into consternation, and, 

 for a day, the Coustitnlion into dan- 

 ger, Riego was earnestly solicited tu 

 assume dictatorial command, and at 

 once confirm the destitution of abso- 

 lute prcten.sions ; but his prudence 

 declined the post, as unnecessary and 

 invidious. He discharged the earnest 

 duty of a private citizen with signal 

 jirospcrity; and most particular are 

 the testimonies of his happy excrtionsj 

 towards the inoderation of that popu- 

 lar triumph, and the protection of the 

 beaten guards from furious punish- 

 ment, which remained to polish the 

 record of his patriotic deserts. 



The second, and more wanton, inva- 

 sion of Spain, by the Cordon Sanitairc, 

 followed in 1823. The king and 

 Cortes retired from Madrid to Seville, 

 and from Seville to Cadiz, v\here tlio 

 cowardly defection of several Consti- 

 tutional chiefs soon left a small but 

 faithful parly in close blockade. 

 Under these circumstances, Riego 

 determined upon a diversion in fa- 

 vour of a fast-failing cause, and, 

 sallied from Cadiz with a few follow- 

 ers. His first destination was to take 

 the command of the garrison at Ma- 

 laga. That object attained, he sumr 

 moucd the municipal council, cx- 

 plaine<H 



