SPAIN. 535 



which is so visible in most parts of the country is in a great degree 

 the result of its government, in the administration of which no proper 

 attention is paid to the interests and welfare of the people. The 

 monarchy is hereditary, and females are capable of succession. It 

 has even been questioned, whether his catholic majesty may not 

 bequeath his crown, upon his demise, to any branch of the royal 

 family he pleases. It is at least certain, that the house of Bourbon 

 mounted the throne of Spain in virtue of the last will of Charles II. 



The cortes, or parliaments of the kingdom, which formerly, espe- 

 cially in Castile, had greater power and privileges than those of 

 England, are now abolished ; but some faint remains of their con- 

 stitution are still discernible in the government, though all of them 

 are ineffectual, and under the controul of the king. 



The privy council, which is composed of a number of noblemen, or 

 grandees, nominated by the king, sits only to prepare matters, and 

 to digest papers for the cabinet council, or junto, which consists of 

 the first secretary of state, and three or four more named by the king ; 

 and in them resides the direction of all the executive part of govern- 

 ment. The council of war takes cognizance of military affairs only. 

 The council of Castile is the highest law tribunal of the kingdom. 

 The several courts of the royal audiences are those of Gallicia, 

 Sevilla, Majorca, the Canaries, Saragossa, Valencia, and Barcelona. 

 These judtje primarily in all causes within fifteen miles of their re- 

 spective cities or capitals, and receive appeals from inferior jurisdic- 

 tions. Besides these there are many subordinate tribunals, for the 

 police, the finances, and other branches of the administration. 



The government of Spanish America forms a system of itself, and is 

 delegated to viceroys, and other magistrates, who are in their respec- 

 tive districts almost absolute. A council for the Indies is establish- 

 ed in Old Spain, and consists of a governor, four secretaries, and 

 twenty-two counsellors, besides officers. Their decision is final in 

 matters relating to America. The members are generally chosen 

 from the viceroys and magistrates who have served in that country. 

 The two great viceroyalties of Peru and Mexico are so considerable, 

 that they are seldom trusted to one person for more than three years ; 

 and their emoluments are sufficient to make his fortune in that time. 



While the royal family were prisoners in France, the people took 

 the government into their own hands, and elected a cortes, who, 

 through a provisional administration of their own appointment, con- 

 ducted the affairs of the nation. This cortes framed a constitution, 

 by which the power of the king was considerably restricted, and the 

 rights of the people insured. Buc the king, upon his return, refused 

 to sign the constitution, denounced the cortes, and resumed his for- 

 mer absolute prerogatives ; and the Spanish nation, after enduring 

 for the cause of liberty, the most bloody scourges-of civil war, for six 

 years, welcomed with joyful acclamations the return of their tyrant. 



The foreign possessions of the crown of Spain, besides those in 

 America, are the towns of Ceuta, Oran, and Masulquiver, on the coast 

 of Barbary, in Africa ; and the islands of St. Lazaro, the Philippines, 

 and Ladrones, in Asia. 



Revenues.. The revenues arising to the king yearly amount to about 

 20,000,000 dollars ; and they form the surest support of his govern- 

 ment. His American income, is immense ; but it is generally, in a 

 manner, embezzled, or anticipated, before it arrives in Old Spain. The 

 king has a fifth of all the silver mines that are worked, but little of it 



