STATE PAPERS. 



407 



zeal and knowledge, and from 

 representations made to me from 

 various parts of the kingdom, 

 in which are expressed the repug- 

 nance and disgust with which both 

 the Constitution formed by the 

 General and Extraordinary Cortes, 

 as well as the other political esta- 

 blishments recently introduced, are 

 regarded in the provinces; con- 

 sidering also the mischiefs which 

 have sprung therefrom, and would 

 increase, should I assent to and 

 swear to the said Constitution ; 

 acting in conformity to such ge- 

 neral and decided demonstrations 

 of the wishes of my people, and 

 also because they are just and well 

 founded; I declare, that my royal 

 intention is, not only not to swear 

 nor accede to the said constitution, 

 nor to any decree of the General 

 and Extraordinary Cortes, and of 

 the Ordinary at present sitting, 

 those, to wit, which derogate from 

 the rights and prerogatives of my 

 sovereignty, established by the 

 constitution and the laws under 

 which the nation has lived in times 

 past, but to pronounce that con- 

 stitution, and such decrees null 

 and of uo effect, now, or at any 

 other time, as if such acts had 

 never passed, and that they are 

 entirely abrogated, and without 

 any obligation on my people and 

 subjects, of whatever class and 

 condition, to fulfil or observe them. 

 And as he who should attempt to 

 support them, and shall thus con- 

 tradict my royal proclamation, 

 adopted with the above ao;reement 

 and assent, will attack the prero- 

 gatives of my sovereignty, and the 

 happiness of the nation, and will 

 cause discontent and disturbance 

 in my kingdoms, I declare, who- 

 ever shall dare to attempt the same 



will be guilty of High Treason, 

 and as such subject to capital pun- 

 ishment, whether he perform the 

 same by deed, by writing, or by 

 words, moving and exciting, or in 

 any other way exhorting and per- 

 suading that the said Constitution 

 and Decrees be kept and observed. 

 And in order that, until public 

 order be restored, together with the 

 system observed in the kingdom 

 prior to the introduction of these 

 novelties, for the attainment of 

 which suitable measures shall be 

 taken without delay, the adminis- 

 tration of justice may not be in- 

 terrupted, it is my will that in the 

 mean time the ordinary Magistra- 

 cies of towns shall be continued as 

 now established, the Courts of 

 Law where there are such, and the 

 audiencias, intendants, and other 

 judicial tribunals ; and in the po- 

 litical and administrative branches, 

 the common councils of towns, 

 according to their present consti- 

 tution, until the Cortes, who shall 

 be summoned, being heard, the 

 stable order of this part of the 

 Government of the kingdom be 

 assented to. And from the day on 

 which this my decree shall be 

 published and communicated to 

 the President for the time being 

 of the Cortes at present met, the 

 said Cortes shall cease their sittings ; 

 and their acts with those of the 

 preceding Cortes, together with 

 whatever documents or dispatches 

 shall be in their office of archives 

 and secretaryship, or in the pos- 

 session of any other individual 

 whatever, shall be collected by the 

 person charged with the execution 

 of this my Royal Decree : and shall 

 be deposited for the present in the 

 Guildhall of the city of Madrid, 

 the room in which they are 



