430 SPAIN. 
by a side blow. The pecuniary wants of the government; Austria and Prussia, and that the king had returned an 
the desire of gaining partizans to the constitutional system answer expressive of surprise at the unfounded representa- 
by the transfer of property, exclusively under its sanction; tions they contained, remonstrating strongly against the 
together with the opportunity which the existing circum- principle of foreign interference, and indignantly refusing 
stances presented, of indulging the secret, though strong, the least compliance with the wishes of the allied powers, 
feelings of aversion to the national system of religion, which The reading of this document was followed by the loudest 
rankle in the bosom of every liberal Spaniard, betrayed applause from the hall and from the galleries, mingled with 
the Cortes into measures which could not fail to drive the tumultuous cries of “ The sovereignty of the people for ever I 
bigots into an open and desperate resistance. Death to tyrants!” 
Whatever might be the caution and timidity of the middle M. Galliano proposed. That the King should be assured 
classes of Spain, especially those that were possessed of some that the Cortes were resolved to make every possible sacrifice 
wealth, or exercised any lucrative branch of industry, it was for maintaining in its full integrity the Constitution of 1812, 
impossible that the more violent and daring of the sincere as well as the splendour of the Constitutional throne • that 
Catholics should remain perfectly inactive under a state of the Cortes would furnish to the government every assistance 
things so discordant with the truly national sentiments and necessary for repelling every hostile attempt on the part of 
habits. The rabble of the large towns, which is numerous the Powers whose notes had been read; and that all 
and quite worthy of that name, had, since the revolution Spaniards would contribute with pleasure to an enterprize 
of 1820, been gained over to the constitutionalists; but the which had for its object to defend the national liberty and 
peasantry, who, to this day, have shown a general dislike independence. 
of the new system would afford a considerable number of The deputies were unanimous in favour of the motion 
active and determined partizans to any who should be of M. Galliano, and the congress adjourned till the 11th, 
ready and able to marshal them under the standard of the when an address to the king was unanimously voted, de- 
Faith,—a word by which the Spaniards denote the Catholic daring the surprise and indignation which the congress felt 
religion, such as it was established in their country. Few at the strange doctrines, the manifest falsehoods, the calum- 
months, indeed, had elapsed, when conspiracies were nious imputations contained in the notes of the four foreign 
detected in various parts of the country; and Guerilla parties, powers; they expressed the satisfaction with which they had 
in support of Religion and the King, were found ranging heard the frank, honourable and energetic answer, which 
over the provinces. The seeds of a civil war had thus had been given to these notes, and they approved the noble 
been brought into activity, and in the opinion of all disdain with which the government, without descending to 
who are well acquainted with the dilatoriness and obstinacy refute assertions notoriously false, had confined itself to a 
of the Spaniards, the character and circumstances of the statement of the principles by which it is guided, 
contending parties were, alone, enough to threaten the de- “ The Cortes are further bound to assure your Majesty, and 
struclion of every source of power, wealth, and happiness, they do assure your Majesty, that to attain so sacred an object, 
in that devoted kingdom. they are ready to decree every species of sacrifice, certain that. 
It was not long, however, before a determination was the Spanish people will bear them with joy—with enthusiasm; 
observed, on the part of France, to encourage and support and that they will resign themselves to all possible evils, rather 
the Spaniards, who were actually in arms, or ready to take than enter into terms with those who would pretend to taint 
them up, against the new system of government. Emi- their honour, or to attack their liberties.” 
grants were protected on the French side of the frontiers, While the Spanish government was thus breaking off all 
and enabled to organize themselves into military divisions, relations with the rest of the continent, it had not forgotten 
The yellow-fever, which attacked Catalonia, in the summer to take measures for conciliating the good will of England, 
of 1822, afforded a pretext for establishing a Cordon Sani- A decree was passed (Jan. 8th) by the Cortes, authorizing the 
taire, which might act as an army of observation. French executive to arrange all the existing differences between the 
money was employed in raising fresh disturbances in two cabinets. On the 12th of March, a convention, founded 
the kingdom ; and, it is more than probable, French upon this decree, was agreed upon between Sir W. A’Court 
influence fomented the conspiracy of the Guards, which, and the Spanish Minister for foreign affairs, 
on the 7th July of the same year, would have placed the It might readily have been foreseen, that the critical cir- 
king out of the hands of the Cortes, if he had had either the cum9tances under which the Spanish government was at 
will or the courage to join the troops, who awaited his this moment placed, would afford fresh encouragement to 
presence at a short distance from the palace. the royalist insurgents in the different provinces. The se- 
A congress of the powers which compose what is known veral divisions of the Army of the Faith, had, however, 
by the name of the Holy Alliance, was, at this time, about been so completely beaten and dispersed at the conclusion of 
to be assembled at Verona. From the character of the the last year, that they had not yet been able to reassemble 
governments of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, and their their bands in any considerable degree. Of all the fortresses 
habitual fears of the spirit of political reform, which for of Catalonia, they possessed Urgel and Mequinenza only; 
the last thirty years has shaken the foundations of all absolute of these, the former soon after (February 3d.) fell info the 
monarchies, it could hardly be imagined that Spain should hands of Mina, and had it not been for the hopes entertained 
pass unnoticed at this meeting. Nor was it long before the of the approaching assistance of a French army, the cause 
disclosure of their views and principles, joined to the open of royalism would have appeared to be in a state not much 
avowal of hostile intentions against Spain, on the part of short of desperation. A bold attempt had been made by a 
France, evinced a settled and systematic plan for restoring couple of royalist partisans, Bessieres and Ullman, to make 
absolute monarchy in the former kingdom, and opposing, a dash at Madrid, and carry off the royal family; and in 
throughout Europe, every curtailment of monarchical power the prosecution of this daring enterprize, they arrived at 
however exorbitant and oppressive, and every attempt to Guadalaxara, within fifteen leagues of the capital. The 
establish the liberties of the subject, upon permanent and government, however, took instant measures to repel the 
definite grounds. The French icing, on the 28th of Janu- attack; the garrison and militia were immediately put in 
ary, 1823, announced to the .Chambers, that he had one motion against them, under the Count del Abisbal, who 
hundred thousand troops ready to march into Spain, drove-the enemy (Jan. 24) from the position they had taken 
unless Ferdinand VII. were allowed “ to give to his up near Alcala de Henares, and compelled them to fall back 
people institutions which they cannot hold but from him.” upon Sacedon, the heights of which they occupied with a 
On the 9th of January, 1823, the Minister of Foreign force of about four thousand infantry, two hundred cavalry and 
Affairs, San Miguel, appeared in the Cortes, and informed them three pieces of cannon. On the 29th, Abisbal again came up 
that the king’s government had received the abovementioned with them, and attacked their position, which was defended 
official communications from the cabinets of France, Russia, with much firmness. In the result, however, the insurgents 
were 
