SPAIN. 545 



ful. The island of Minorca was surrendered to them on the 6th of 

 February, 1782, after having been besieged for 171 days. The gar- 

 rison consisted of no more than 2692 men, while the forces ol the 

 enemy amounted to 16,000, under the command of the duke de 

 Crillon. The Spanish commander at first attempted to corrupt the 

 governor (general Murray) but this being rejected with indignations 

 the siege was commenced in form ; and the garrison would have 

 showed themselves equally invincible with those of Gibraltar, had it 

 been possible to relieve them in the same manner. 



His late catholic majesty attempted to oblige his subjects to desist 

 from their ancient dress and manners, and carried his endeavours so 

 far that it occasioned such a dangerous insurrection at Madrid as 

 obliged him to part with his minister, the marquis of Squillace ; 

 thereby affording an instance of the necessity that even despotic 

 princes are under of paying some attention to the inclinations of their 

 subjects. 



The sudden dismission of count Florida Blanca from the office of 

 prime minister originated in causes not disclosed. It is imagined 

 that the court found this step necessary to appease the public mur- 

 murs at some measures, particularly the edict concerning strangers, 

 which contributed to impose further fetters upon commerce, and 

 which has since been repealed. On the 28th of February, 1792, the 

 minister was removed, and count d'Aranda, an old statesman, a 

 warm friend of the queen and nobility of France, succeeded to his 

 employments, till some other arrangement could be iormed. It is 

 said, he abolished the superintendant tribunal of police, a kind of 

 civil inquisition ; and in other liberal measures appeared to see the 

 real interests of monarchs, and which is certainly to concede with, 

 grace, in order to prevent the despair of the people from recurring 

 to force. His influence, however, was but short ; and he was succeed- 

 ed by the duke d'Alcudia. 



The irregularities committed in France, the indecent reception of 

 the humane interference of ths court of Spain in favour of the king, 

 and the representations of the confederated sovereigns, induced the 

 court of Spain to declare war against France, on the 23d of March, 

 1793. The issue of this war, the treaty of peace concluded by Spain 

 with the French republic on the 23d of July, 1795, and the sub- 

 sequent hostilities with England till the conclusion ol the .peace of 

 Amiens, have already been mentioned in our historical accounts of 

 those countries. 



No sooner was the treaty of Tilsit concluded, than Bonaparte, not 

 content with having the resources of Spain at his command, resolved 

 to place some of his own family upon her throne. Under pretence of 

 preserving tranquillity, he poured large bodies of troops into Spain, 

 who obtained possession of all the important fortresses. He then in- 

 formed the royal family, that he was about paying a visit to Madrid 

 in person, and invited them to meet him at Bayonne. When there, 

 he compelled the king formally to renounce the crown of Spain, in 

 favour of his brother Joseph Bonaparte. 



The Spanish nation was not, however, to be gulled so easily. They 

 saw through the designs of Bonaparte. They established provincial 

 juntas, which were soon resolved into one supreme central junta, 



ich declared Joseph Bonaparte to be an usurper. A like disposi- 

 tion showed itself in Portugal; and a treatv offensive and defensive, 



Vor., ?, 4 A 



