294 SPANISH AMERICA. 



Oil entering the city, I observed a great 

 effervescence among the people, like some- 

 thing which either precedes or follows a 

 popular commotion ; and as I entered the 

 large inn of the city, I was surrounded by 

 inhabitants of almost all classes. 



I here learned that the French captain 

 who had arrived yesterday, had brought in- 

 telligence of every thing which had taken 

 place in Spain in favour of France ; that he 

 •^ad announced the accession to the Spanish 

 throne of Joseph Bonaparte, and had brought 

 orders to the government from the French 

 Emperor. 



The city was immediately in arms ; ten 

 thousand of its inhabitants surrounded the 

 residence of the captain-general, and de- 

 manded the proclamation of Ferdinand the 

 Vllth. as their king ; which he promised the 



