362 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



had shown towards that city. The 

 corregidor expressed to his im- 

 perial and royal majesty, the hap- 

 piness which his presence shed over 

 the city, and the desire with which 

 all the inhabitants were animated 

 to deserve and to justify such a 

 peculiar mark of favour. The 

 corregidor observed, that his im- 

 perial and royal majesty had con- 

 descended to converse with him in 

 the most benevolent manner, and 

 added, that the object of this meet- 

 ing was to acquaint the deputies 

 of the city of Madrid with the be- 

 neficent intentions of his majesty. 

 Accordingly he had to repeat to 

 them in the same terms he had 

 heard them, the sentiments of his 

 majesty, and the favourable dispo- 

 sitions he entertained towards the 

 whole of Spain ; adding, that the 

 fate of Madrid would depend upon 

 its own conduct. That that would 

 be a happy and prosperous one, 

 if the inhabitants adhered faithfully 

 to the constitution, and acknow- 

 ledged with sincerity, for their legi- 

 timate king, Don Joseph Napoleon 

 I ; but that, on the other hand, 

 Spain should be reduced to a pro- 

 vince of France. Here, the corre- 

 gidor drew a faithful picture of the 

 good nature of king Joseph, who 

 had employed his best offices and 

 entreaties for the conservation of 

 that capital, as well as of the neigh- 

 bouring cities, and who treated 

 them with the tenderness of a gene- 

 rous father. The corregidor im- 

 pressed upon the minds of all the 

 deputies, that the presence of the 

 king in his capital should be con- 

 sidered as the greatest advantage 

 that could be wished for. 



Accordingly the deputies, deeply 

 penetrated with the same senti- 

 ments, and anxious to contribute 



their best endeavours for the happi- 

 ness of the inhabitants of Madrid, 

 determined humbly to implore his 

 imperial and royal majesty to in- 

 dulge the capital with the presence 

 of the king, that citj', and even all 

 Spain, being convinced of thesignal 

 advantages which must be derived 

 from the wisdom of his government. 

 The deputies insisted, that a fresh 

 tribute of thanks should be pre- 

 sented to his imperial and royal 

 majesty, for the kindness with 

 which he had treated that city, 

 which his triumphant arms had 

 conquered, and for the generous 

 pardon of what had happened 

 during the absence of king Joseph. 

 His imperial and royal majesty is 

 also to be implored to extend par- 

 don to those whom fear had in- 

 duced to desert the city, as well as 

 to all the peasants who had takea 

 up arms. His imperial and royal 

 majesty is also finally to be implor- 

 ed, that he will be pleased to order 

 his troops to respect property, the 

 holy temples, the religious institu- 

 tions ; in a word, the property of 

 every class. This humble suppli- 

 cation is to be laid before his impe- 

 rial and royal majesty, and is to be 

 presented to him by a deputatioa 

 taken from among the representa- 

 tives of the city of Madrid. It was 

 resolved, in the same sitting, that a 

 tribute of the most lively gratitude 

 should be presented to the king 

 Joseph Napoleon, whose happy in- 

 tercession with his august brother, 

 the emperor of the French, saved 

 the city of Madrid. His royai 

 majesty shall be humbly supplicated 

 to grant the favour of his presence 

 to the city of Madrid, that under 

 hisjust andbeneficent government, 

 good order, justice, and tranquillity, 

 may be restored within its walls.— » 



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