316 
administration of the laws, in his capacity 
of governor. In this situation, he was the 
judge of all complaints, excepting int par- 
ticular cases, when the evidence is taken 
in writing, and submitted to the determi- 
nation of the supreme council for the pro- 
vince, held at Seville. " 
On some occasion, a:poor man was 
complained of to Morla, and he expected 
from the manner in which the evidence 
might be given against him, that he should 
undergo a punishment ; as it seldom hap- 
pened that the defendant escaped dis- 
grace; but he was unexpectedly sur- 
prised when he found himself acquitted ; 
and, from sentiments of 'gratitude to 
Morla, he made him a present of a num- 
ber of turkeys; they were not accepted; 
for the fellow had the mortification of 
being imprisoned until he had eaten the 
whole of them. Morla was always 
watchful over the rights of the lower 
classes, and he exercised his authority with 
judgment and independence. Having 
pnce detected a baker in selling bread 
deficient of weight, he went to the shop, 
seized the bread, and sold it, with the 
utensils, asses, mules, &c. and distri- 
buted the amount to the poor. 
Morla was appointed governor in the 
month of June; he succeeded, the unfor- 
tunate Marquis de Solano, whe was mas- 
sacred by the furious populace, after 
four days’ rioting. Solano was  sus- 
pected to favour the French interest, and 
to wish them again in possession of Ca- 
diz; this was made known to him; and 
after he had kept the people in suspense 
during that time, they would no longer 
submit to his indecision; and, on the first 
of June, they attacked his house with 
fire and sword, determined to be-avenged 
_onhim. Women and children joined the 
moh: they dragged the cannon through 
the streets, amid shouts of ‘¢ Vivas!” and 
discharged them, while the men pelted 
the house with musketry, and set it on 
fire. Ile harangued them from a bal- 
cony, but could not convince them of his 
Joyal intentions. They told him if he 
would not defend the place, they them- 
selves would; they called him traitor, 
and threatened lim with execution; he 
-etired. The populace was now in the 
greatest rage, and determined to seize 
him. . They broke into the house, saw 
his family, but could not find him; they 
assured the Marchioness, that no one 
else should be injured, and as the Mar- 
quis had but lately shewn himself at the 
window, they were sure of discovering 
him, He had however escaped from his 
2 a 
Journal of a recent Voyage to Cadiz. 
[Nov. 1, 
house through the roof, and taken shel~ 
ter in that of an English merchant’s ad- 
joining it. But as the whole range of 
buildings was invested by the mob, they 
said that he could not possibly escape, 
and therefore must be concealed some- 
where; they entered every house, and 
at length found him in a compartment of 
a wall, which was so deceptious to the 
eye, that the discovery might have been 
impossible, had not the man who deco- 
rated the room, given information of 
this secret place. He was accordingly 
seized ; but no other of his family was mo- 
lested ; they wanted him only. He was 
dragged into the streets amid the hoot- 
ings and shouts of thousands, who wished 
to put him to instant death; at last it was 
\ 
“resolved to lead him to the gallows: his 
uniform was first torn from him, and he 
was paraded through the streets toward 
the common place of execution: at inter- 
vals, they cruelly tortured him with stabs 
of the knife and bayonet, strokes of 
the sabre, and every ignominy an en- 
raged people could invent. He was a 
strong, well-grown, handsome man; his 
mind had not yet forsaken him ; he often 
endeavoured to address the crowd, bat 
they wanted no harangues, and he could 
only now and then be heard calling them 
“© Cowards!” Te was at last brought 
opposite to the guard at the ‘* Puerto 
del Mar ;” the officers and soldiers pre 
sented arms, as a sign of respect to him, 
while he cast a ‘* lingering look” toward 
them, but they dared not to attempt the 
rescue of their govenor, At this period, 
a person rushed among the mob, and by 
a well-aimed blow deprived him of life ; 
it is not known, but supposed, that a 
compassion for his sufferings, and a de-— 
sire to save him from the ignominy of an 
execution at the gallows, prompted some 
one thus to end ‘his misery. His body 
was immediately torn asunder, and the 
mangled limbs exhibited in triumph 
through the city. 
The object of popular vengeance being 
now no more, the mob at length dis- 
persed; and the following day tranquil- 
lity was restored. There are divided 
vpinions on the conduct of Solano. 
Dupont had quitted Madrid, and was 
advancing toward Cadiz; the Spanish 
troops had not yet been sufficiently col- 
lected, to make an effectual resistance to 
his progress, and the city had not been 
put in a state of defence, to resist an 
attack that might have been suddenly 
made on it. The batteries were not 
mounted with cannon, (nor are they at this 
ee - moment.) 
