PREFACE. 



JL HE most important circumstance of the present year 

 was, the entire hberation of the territory of France from the 

 chains under which it had been hitherto held by the occu- 

 pationof a large part of its domains by the great Powers who 

 had taken possession of it. In November 1818, these 

 sovereigns, having now completed the three years during 

 which France had been considered as in a foreign pos- 

 session, entered into a resolution of withdravnng their res- 

 pective forces from the common territory, and leaving it 

 entirely and absolutely free. This state of affairs was fully 

 made known to France, by the change which in the ensuing 

 month took place, announcing an entire alteration of the 

 ministry, in consequence of a royal nomination. 



The state of Spain appears to have undergone a process of 

 deterioration, in which the financial system has been gradually 

 more and more involved, so that it has at length sunk into 

 almost total ruin. Among other projects, that of estabhsh- 

 ing ports of deposit, as a means of commercial encouragement, 

 has been thought of; in the mean time the fluctuation of 

 njinisters has kept pace with the other plans of misgovern- 

 ment. 



In the kingdom of Portugal, the territory of Montevideo 



still remains attached to the national dominion. The king, 



who is at present at Rio Janeiro, whence there is no prospect 



of his return to Portugal, has published a royal alvara, or 



• law 



