STATE PAPERS. 



677 



war, who will cause it to be exe- 

 cuted. 



Proclamation of the Supreme Cen- 

 tral Junta. Published at St 

 Mary's on the 23rd December. 



Spaniards, the hired emissaries 

 of the t)'rant, with the design of mis- 

 leading you, and bringing the su- 

 preme governing Junta of the king- 

 dom into disrepute, spread reports 

 that the latter have approved the 

 capitulation of Madrid. This sove- 

 reign body feel it to be their duty 

 to contradict rumours, the object 

 and tendency of which is to sow dis- 

 trust between the government and 

 the people, to produce general dis- 

 couragement and anarchy, and to 

 expose to contempt the sacred oath 

 of your representatives. 



Spaniards, the Supreme Junta, 

 whose motto is, " Death or Liber- 

 ty," are far from approving of the 

 capitulation of any town. That 

 which recognizes the usurper, and 

 submits to the law of the tyrant, is 

 not Spanish — it is an enemy. These 

 are the sentiments of the Supreme 

 Junta — sentiments which they will 

 never belie, in word or deed ; and 

 whatever you may be told by the 

 partizans of despotism, those vile 

 wretches who sacrifice to a misera- 

 ble self-interest the sacred rights of 

 their country, be assured that their 

 reports are calumnies, snares laid 

 for you by the tyrant, to entangle 

 you in the mazes of his infernal po- 

 licy. The country you have sworn 

 to defend, the religion wherein you 

 have sworn to die, the spouses and 

 offspring you have sworn to protect, 

 a captive king whom you have 

 sworn to rescue — all demand the 

 fulfilment of your promise. 



And ye brave inhabitants of 

 Madrid, who refused your assent 

 to a shameful capitulation, and ris- 

 ing superior to others invested with 

 command, and even to yourselves, 

 preferred death to misery and sla- 

 very, persevere in your generous 

 resolution. The momentary occu- 

 pation of the buildings of the city 

 by the enemy is of no importance 

 whilst they are not masters of your 

 hearts. Continue to resist them in 

 the very bosoms of your families ; 

 place no confidence in their de- 

 ceitful professions ; reflect that to 

 every people they have promised 

 happiness, and all they have plung- 

 ed into misery. The junta, who 

 watch over your destiny, will cause 

 numerous reinforcements to march 

 to tiiat unfortunate capital. 



They have not forgotten you ; 

 no! keep alive your hopes, retain 

 your bravery and firmness, and 

 your deliverance will be the more 

 glorious, as the danger you have 

 encountered has been great. 



Letter of the King of Prussia to 

 the Magistrates of Berlin. De- 

 cember 21-, 1808. 



Worthy, beloved, and faithful 

 subjects, my provinces being eva- 

 cuated by the French, my attention 

 is now directed to the accomplish- 

 ment of my heartfelt wish of re- 

 turning to my capital of Berhn, 

 with the queen, my spouse, and my 

 family — an object which I have 

 by all possible means endeavoured 

 to attain since the conclusion of 

 peace. I have given orders that 

 the constituted authorities shall 

 leave this place for Berlin, as soon 

 as the districts on the other side of 

 the Vistula have begun to breathe 



a little 



