1823.] 
ticism, ignorance, and all the passions and 
.imes. In opposition to such enemies, 
end in so disadvantageous a strugzle, to 
those who are acquainted with honourable 
warfare only, the fate of arms has hitherto 
been adverse. The defection of a gene- 
ral, whom the country had loaded with 
honours, annihilated an army, upset all 
plans, and opened to the enemy the gates 
of the residence of government, enmpelling 
it to remove to this spot; and, the com- 
bined operations being thus frustrated, 
and our means of defence so considerably 
diminished, misfortune has since snccceded 
misfortune, and evils have accumulated 
upon a generous people who least merited 
them, 
But in the midst of these disasters, Spain 
preserves her magnanimous resolution, and 
the Cortes, in the closest union with my 
government, have ever maintained them- 
selves such as they were in the memora- 
ble days of the 9th and 1ith of January 
last. ‘The serenity and wisdom of their 
deliberations hitherto, amidst such bitter- 
ness and danger, the confidence which 
their patriotism inspires, and the hatred 
itself with which they are honoured by the 
enemies of the country, are so many proofs 
that they have deserved well of it. Inde. 
fatigable in promoting all the branches of 
public prosperity, they have issued various 
decrees that contribute to it, as far as cir- 
cumstances permit. The public credit of 
the nation, her finances, lier army, the in- 
terior government of the proviuces, agri- 
culture, commerce, and other branches of 
industry, the administration of justice and 
the establishment of bencficence, have all 
been the object of the zeal of the Cortes, 
and all are indcbied to them for considera- 
ble improvements, which time will evince 
to a greater extent, and which I will exert 
myself to further, as far as depends upon 
the executive power. 
Gentlemen,—TI feel a real satisfaction in 
expressing my gratitude for these impor- 
tant services, for the generosity with 
which you have attended to the houoar of 
my royal family, and for the liberality with 
which you have furnished my government 
all the means in your power to meet the 
excessive expenses of the state, with the 
least pressure upon the nation: the powers 
grauted to this effect, by the Cortes, to 
the provincial deputations, as auxiliary jun- 
tas of the national defence, have increased 
the resources ; and the patriotism of these 
corporations has hitherto made, and, I 
trust, will continue to make, of such au- 
thority, a use extremely beneficial for the 
support and increase of the defenders of 
the country. 
I likewise return thanks to the Cortes 
for the unlimited confidence which they 
have reposed in my government, authori- 
zing it, of its own accord, and by nieans of 
‘ 
Political Affairs in September. 
/ 
275 
its principal agents, to adopt some’ extra- 
ordinary measures which ::< present state 
of the nation induced me to propose as in- 
dispensable. If it really is indispensable 
tat, in such critical times, the execntive 
power should he sufficiently strong to pre- 
vent any machinations, aud secure public 
tranquility, my government never will 
theretore, lose sight of the respect due to 
the liberty of the Spaniards, but endea- 
vour to reqnite a confidence so gratifying, 
by acting, as hitherto, with the greatest 
moderation and economy. 
The position in which the events of the 
war have placed my government, lias pro- 
duced an interruption in the communica- 
tions with several of the agents of foreign 
powers; but there is no reason whatever 
to think that this momentary interruption 
can disturb the relations of friendship and 
alliance that subsist between Spain and 
those cabinets. 
Particular circumstances which might 
expose the honour of my government have 
induced me to order, as a provisional mea- 
sure, that my Chargé d’Afiaires shonld 
withdraw from Lisbon. 
Nevertheless the ties subsist untouched 
by which two nations are united, whose 
evident interest it is to live together in 
peace and harmony ; and the commercial 
intercourse has continued uninterrupted. 
In the interior, every thing suffers from 
the fatal effects of a desolating war, and 
the most beneficent laws and mcasures 
cannot p:oduce favonrable results in the 
midst of such disasters. Divine Provi- 
dence is pleased to try us in all ways; but 
I trust, gentlemen, that at last it will grant 
a triumphant issue to the justice of our 
cause. If the treason of some has done 
for the invaders what they could not ex- 
pect from their own efforts, the country 
has still left many heroes who remind the 
French army of the Spaniards of 1813. If 
some governments, who are inimical to li- 
berty and light, have conspired against us 
—if others have forsaken us from a near- 
sighted policy, all nations behold their 
interests connected with ours, and are ar- 
dent in their wishes that in this struggle 
we may be victorious. 
Gentlemen Deputics,—Then rest, for 
the present, from your laudab!e labours, 
and reap, from the esteem of your fellow- 
citizens, the fruits which you so richly de- 
serve. Endeavour to inculcate on their 
minds the necessity of their all uniting 
around my constitutional throne, and of 
discord and unfomded distrust disappear- 
ing from amongst us, Let the Constitution 
be our only motto, national independance, 
freedom, and honour our only wish, and 
unmoved constancy be ever opposed by us 
to misfortunes which we have not merited. 
My government shall cease to exist before 
it take any step contrary to the rial by 
which 
