IS2L] Political Affairs in July* ' 83 
in a neighbouring nation, where a F<Ue 
is too often received as a substitute for 
the essentials of good government. We 
disliked the appearance of so many 
military; and if the state of the public 
mind rendered them necessary, then 
the ceremony should have been defer¬ 
red. The release of crown debtors and 
the pardon of political offenders, the 
admission of the Queen, some, moderate 
steps towards reform, and some other 
concessions, more, perhaps, in name 
and spirit than in substance, would 
have rendered the people themselves 
the best guards of the ceremony. 
SPAIN. 
The following is the patriotic speech 
of Ferdinand at the close of the Session 
of the Cortes oil the 30th of June. 
“ Gentlemen Deputies,-—I have already 
had once the satisfaction of presenting my¬ 
self to this Congress, which, full of infor¬ 
mation, of patriotism, and virtues, has 
given in the present Legislature new proofs 
of its constant care for the public happi¬ 
ness. Its efforts to conclude and perfect 
our political regeneration have been, if 
possible, beyond my hopes, and the na¬ 
tion will be eternally indebted to it for the 
great and numerous measures which it has 
taken in the short space of its sittings, of 
which I proposed the prolongation for the 
term which our fundamental law admits, 
considering it, as it has been, conducive 
to the public good. 
“ In effect, the new organization of the 
army, so well adapted to the true end of 
its institution, is the work of the Congress. 
The decree respecting public instruction, 
di vided into different classes of instruction, 
from the first letters to the highest degree 
of knowledge, will diffuse illumination and 
useful knowledge throughout all classes of 
the State ; that of the reduction of tythes, 
by w r hich the necessary endowment of the 
Clergy is preserved, the labourer is con¬ 
siderably relieved—thus encouraging agri¬ 
culture, an inexhaustible source of our 
wealth ; and, in fine, the system of Finance, 
which suppress?ng burdensome and useless 
imposts or means of raising money, has 
fixed public Revenues in contributions less 
heavy and already known to the Spanish 
people, and in new contributions conform¬ 
able to the principles of the political Con¬ 
stitution of the Monarchy, and adopted 
with success by the most civilized nations ; 
all these objects are alike the work of the 
Congress. 
“I offer to the Cortes the expression of 
all my gratitude, for the zeal and wisdom 
that they have displayed in these measures 
of the highest importance to the State. The 
Government will not neglect any means for 
their execution, as its own dignity and the 
stability of the Constitutional System, 
which I will cause scrupulously to be 
served, requires. 
ie I also thank the Congress for the gene¬ 
rosity with which it has provided for the 
wants and the dignity of my Royal House¬ 
hold and my family, as well.ds for the au¬ 
thorisation granted to the Government to 
have means for covering the more urgent 
public expences. 
“ Our relations of good understanding 
and friendship with other Powers have ex¬ 
perienced no change since the opening of 
the Session: and I will seek to preserve 
them by all possible means which shall be 
worthy of the heroic nation which I am 
proud of ruling. 
« I have made known to the Cortes my 
sentiments on the subject of the affairs of 
Naples and Piedmont. Some malevolent 
persons have wished to give to these events, 
with respect to Spain, an importance which 
they could in nowise have. 
“ The interior of the kingdom enjoys 
tranquillity; the only band of factious men, 
which has existed in small numbers, has 
been dispersed and defeated by means of 
the energetic dispositions of the Govern¬ 
ment, and the zeal of our troops. It is to 
be hoped that this ill success, and the 
amelioration of the public spirit, will 
cause enterprises so mad to be hencefor¬ 
ward abandoned, impotent as they are to 
impede the majestic progress of our system. 
“ Agriculture, industry, arts, and 
sciences, already feel the ameliorations 
due to our constitutional system. All these 
sources of public prosperity will be fur¬ 
ther improved as soon as they experience 
the effects of the Decrees passed for their 
encouragement. But this is not the affair 
of a moment; the seed which is thrown into 
the earth does not produce its effect in one 
day. Commerce will prosper in propor¬ 
tion; and especially when the Cortes shall 
be able to give it aid, and that the Spanish 
nation shall have for its protection such a 
navy as it ought to have. 
“ I have seen with not less satisfaction, 
that the Cortes have turned their eyes to¬ 
wards the administration of justice, which 
they have strengthened by measures taken 
to this end. 
“ I will make all efforts to obtain the re¬ 
establishment of order in the provinces be¬ 
yond sea ; and my government, urged by 
the Cortes to take the measures which it may 
deem suitable for their happiness, taking 
iuto consideration the state of those coun¬ 
tries, will do it without delay, and with all 
possible liberality. The Spaniards of both 
hemispheres must be convinced that I de 
sire nothing so much as their happiness, 
founded on the integrity of the monarchy 
and an observance of the Constitution. 
<e If, as l doubt not, the next Cortes 
imitate the noble example of the present, 
in their respect, their attachment to the 
Throne, 
