130 Narrative of the late Conspiracy at Cadiz. [^August, 



expedition. At length he approached Estepona, and stayed at the foot 

 of the Sierra Bermejon, in order to recruit his strength. He was, at the 

 moment, accompanied only by five-and-twenty resolute men, who had 

 sworn to remain faithful to each other to the very last breath. Amongst 

 these were the brave guerilla, Carlos, Bemtez, and a young gentleman of 

 good family, named Egido. In this pitiable condition, IManzanares 

 applied to a goatherd, whom they chanced to meet coming down from 

 the mountain, and promised him a large sum of money if he would 

 hasten to the coast, and procure them a vessel that might carry them 

 away. The goatherd heard him attentively, and greedily closed with 

 the offer ; but the traitor, instead of discharging his commission, ran to 

 inform Mateos, a royalist, of what was in contemplation. The astonish- 

 ment of Manzanares, therefore, was not slight when he perceived the 

 goatherd advancing, with a numerous party of soldiers and royal volun- 

 teers, to betray him and his helpless companions. Indignation soon 

 usurped the place of surprise ; the moment of their fate was arrived, 

 and they determined to make a desperate resistance. Manzanares him- 

 self rushed fiercely on the goatherd, and, in a moment, laid him dead at 

 his feet. Upon this, a brother of the slain, took aim at IManzanares, 

 and he fell instantly ! His companions fought desperately, until — several 

 of them being killed — further resistance was fruitless ; and they were 

 soon surrounded, overpowered, and taken prisoners. Carlos, Bemtez, 

 Egido, and others, were soon after executed : the others were thrown 

 into confinement. 



The instructions which General Quesada received were of the most 

 sanguinary description; but Quesada — to his honour be it spoken — has 

 conducted himself, in the present instance, with laudable moderation. 

 However wide we may differ in opinion from him, and however blame- 

 able his acts may have been in other circumstances, he is yet a native 

 Spaniard, and must be actuated by more honourable sentiments than the 

 atrocious executioner who commands in Catalonia. 



In consequence of the failui-e of the Cadiz conspiracy, the most active 

 investigations were commenced, and the government adopted rigorous 

 measures to terrify those men who would not be pacified by other 

 means. A great number of persons have been obliged to quit the coun- 

 try : the prisons liave been filled with victims ; and military commis- 

 sions have been instituted, in order that the most summary justice 

 may be performed on those who are considered obnoxious to the 

 existing government. A reign of terror has commenced in the penin- 

 sula ; yet it is a glaring mistake to suppose that persecution can stem 

 the force of public opinion. Brutal force, instead of calming the angry 

 feehngs of the disaffected, tends to widen the breach existing between 

 them and the rulers of the land. For the common interests of humanity, 

 the powers of Europe (which can so well meddle with other people's 

 affairs when it suits their purpose) ought to have interfered long ago, to 

 prevent the fearful storm which still hovers on the political horizon of 

 the peninsula, and which will, sooner or later, burst with destructive 

 fury upon that unfortunate country. 



