1831.] Narrative of the late Conspiracy at Cadiz. 123 



and to remove suspicion, he embraced the profession of a schoolmaster. 

 In this capacity he remained, obscure and unmolested, for some time. 

 At length the moment for action arrived, and it was decided that he 

 should proceed to the Serrania de Ronda, to promote the ends of revo- 

 lution on that side, whilst Torrijos made an attempt by land from 

 Gibraltar. Torrijos must either have been studiously deceived by spe- 

 cious promises, or abandoned from fear in the moment of crisis b);^ those 

 from whom he expected aid and support. In the full confidence that he 

 was about to be joined by a whole regiment, he made a sally, on the 

 night of the 28th of December, with a handful of men, and, succeeding 

 in forcing the picquets of the advanced troops, he proceeded into the 

 inland country, where he met a vigorous repulse from the royalists. He 

 retreated within the English lines, having sustained but trifling loss. 

 An officer, called Donadeu, and about a dozen soldiers, alone incorpo- 

 rated themselves with Torrijos. Donadeu was, in consequence, jjro- 

 vioted, and appeared very anxious for the success of the enterprize. 

 When this failed, however, he represented himself as a prisoner, and a 

 man forced to follow Torrijos ; in consideration of which he was also 

 promoted by the Spanish government ! 



The operations of Manzanares were not more fortunate than the enter- 

 prizes of Torrijos. The troop which he had been able to muster — 

 chiefly composed of smugglers, deserters, and disbanded soldiers — was 

 not only inconsiderable in point of numbers, but, from its miscella- 

 neous description, seemed to offer little security as to adhesion and 

 fidelity. Some determined patriots, however, had joined this band, 

 amongst whom was a guerrilla chief, called Carlos — a man of extra- 

 ordinary resolution, inured to fatigue, and familiarized with dangei'. 

 This officer was sent by Torrijos from Gibraltar v/ith money and other 

 supplies, which enabled ]Manzanares to proceed in his undertaking ; so 

 that, although we see him continually defeated, or obliged to retreat 

 before superior forces, he nevertheless contrives to keep his footing in 

 the country, and evade the vigilance and the snares of the enemy. He 

 went through a severe ordeal of trials and sufferings ; but he was buoyed 

 up with the anticipation of the approaching rising of the inhabitants. 

 ]\Iany chiefs in the army had promised their support as soon as the people 

 should raise the cry of liberty ; and the grand scheme at Cadiz, which 

 had been carefully prepared and matured, was now on the point of ex- 

 ploding. IMina, though apparently quiet in France, would not be long 

 in making his appearance in the north of Spain ; and thus the prospect 

 of a speedy deliverance to Spain cheered the spirits of the liberals, at the 

 very moment that the government considered them totally unable to 

 make any serious attempt in furtherance of their views. 



Let us now turn our attention to the proceedings at Cadiz. This city 

 has always ranked foremost amongst those which have been conspicuous 

 for their adhesion to a liberal system of government; but the decree 

 issued by the king, declaring the city a free port, was considered by 

 many as tending to quench the ardour of the inhabitants in favour of 

 political freedom. This surmise proved, in some measure, just. The 

 merchants, which composed the chief and most influential portion of the 

 inhabitants, seemed reconciled to the existing order of things, and among 

 them many who had formerly been remarkable for their liberal opinions, 

 lint, even making the most ample allowances, there still remained within 

 the precincts of Cadiz sufficient elements of revolution. TJic number 



