70 humboldt's cuba. 



• 



ted their equality of social position, by saluting the 

 ladies, and paying them compliments in impudent 

 and audible commendations of their beauty. The 

 insolence of the slaves carried alarm into the bosom 

 of every family, and the public consequences were 

 in consonance with the predictions which the Count 

 de Yillanueva, and the ayuntamiento of Havana had 

 so truthfully and boldly laid before General Espar- 

 tero, when regent of Spain, in 1841. 



Men prepared for revolution as the only means of 

 self-preservation. Cubans and Spaniards united 

 cordially in this determination, and preparations 

 w r ere made almost openly for the coming event. 

 Some intimation of the occurrences probably came 

 to the knowledge of General Pezuela, for a remon- 

 strance against the new policy, signed by a large 

 number of the most prominent citizens of Havana, 

 was sent to Spain. At the same time he could not 

 be ignorant of the excitement in the public mind, 

 and he endeavored to allay it, by proclamation, 1 

 continuing at the same time to carry out the pre- 

 viously prepared measures. The decree of 3d May, 

 1854, directing the registry of the slaves, prepara- 

 tory "to measures of a more transcendent nature, 

 the approval of which, by her majesty, the queen," 

 was expected, was introduced by a public address, 



1 Proclamation, 3d May, 1854. 



