1831.] Narrative of the late Conspiracy at Cadiz. 127 



even, indeed, to approach it. The leaders of the conspiracy strained 

 all their energies to carry their attempt to an issue ; but, to their utter 

 confusion, they perceived that the number of their adherents had 

 decreased in an alarming degree. About three hundred men only might 

 be seen about the streets, with the intention of exciting a popular com- 

 motion : the inhabitants themselves preserved a dismal — a fatal neu- 

 trality ! A spell hung over the city. The soldiers, on whose support 

 the conspirators had relied, remained tranquil spectators of what was 

 going forward ; they neither joined the revolt, nor endeavoured to put 

 it down. The leaders of the commotion then waited on the colonel, and 

 earnestly conjured him to place himself at the head ; but he adhered to 

 the answer which he had given on a previous occasion : he promised 

 that, if the people declared themselves in a respectable number, the 

 soldiers would support the attempt. In this frightful suspense several 

 hours passed. The groups in the Plaza St. Antonio raised a shout at 

 intervals ,• but the crowd, instead of augmenting, was losing its num- 

 bers as the day advanced. One by one gradually withdrew — no doubt 

 under the impression that the affair had failed, and that to provide for 

 safety was the only prudent course now to be adopted. At this moment 

 Captain Zayas, who commanded the troop on duty at the Plaza St. An- 

 tonio, raised a cry in opposition to those uttered by the conspirators. 

 This event produced no less surprise than indignation among the assem- 

 bled crowd. It had been expected that both captain and soldiers would 

 join the insurrection ; and at least it was never contemplated that 

 the captain would, under any circumstances, depart from the neutrality 

 he had assumed. But now the die was cast, and a contest appeared 

 inevitable. No sooner had Zayas pronounced the obnoxious cry, than 

 one of the crowd rushed upon him, and levelled a pistol at his breast : 

 it missed fire. For one moment the man stood defenceless — that moment 

 sealed his fate ! 



This incident gave a more determined character to the proceedings of 

 the day. Hitherto the liberals, if they had met with no support, were 

 nevertheless free from opposition. The cry uttered by Zayas, and the 

 death which was the consequence, served to change completely the 

 aspect of things. Those who were secretly inclined to favour the exist- 

 ing government took courage from the decision of Zayas ; whilst those 

 who had leagued against it grew more disheartened as they perceived 

 that time was suffered to pass without any advantage being obtained. 

 Nay, it was easy to foresee that the soldiers— those very men on whose 

 aid and support they had confided — would, with their accustomed 

 pliability of disposition, assume a very different attitude as soon as it 

 might suit their interest. 



It will no doubt appear extraordinary that such a conspiracy— one 

 which bore so determined a character, in which such numbers had joined, 

 and which met, in fact, no real opposition — could have failed in effect. 

 We may explain this seeming anomaly in some measure. The conduct 

 of Sanchez-Rcza was unquestionably highly detrimental to the under- 

 taking. From the moment that he signified his resolution to quit Cadiz, 

 a degree of dismay and incertitude began to prevail among the liberals. 

 The greatest drawback on the success of the attempt was the absence of 

 a competent leader. We perceive no one distinguished name, either in 

 the members of the junta, or the leaders appointed to conduct the insur- 

 rection. It is singular that, although many powerful names are enrolled 



