side, and championize, if the term may be Louis XVIII. M. Decases, who at this peallowed, the cause of what was made to riod was deemed the minister possessed of appear, in glowing colors, a highly op- the greatest influence, had prepared a new pressed, helpless, and deserted female, en- projet of laws on this important matter, listed all the generous sentiments of Brit- which he was prevented by indisposition ons in aid of the impassioned oratory of alone from propounding to the chamber of the queen's advocates; and thus the names deputies. Pending this delay the duc de of Brougham, Denman, Williams, and Lush- Berri was assassinated by one Louvel, as ington, were entwined together, as a wreath he was coming forth from the opera-house. of perennial bloom, by the independence Whether the murderer, a ci-devant soldier, of civism,-resounded at public meetings, was to be considered in the light of a fanatand crowned the goblets of convivial boards ical enthusiast, or as a political tool, rein every corner of these realms, long after mains as yet a secret; but certain it is, that their three months' labor in the cause of a the untimely death of this prince, who was royal mistress had terminated. Controver- the younger nephew of the king, and the sies and heart-burnings did not expire with sole member of the immediate family of this famed trial; but, as while pending, this Louis XVIII., who promised to continue his bill of pains and penalties had engrossed line of heirs to the throne, was much deall attention, and obstructed all business, plored. The horror excited by this event so, now it was withdrawn, it unfortunately gave great strength to the ultra-royalists; continued to occupy the private as well as and an extreme fermentation of opinion enpublic mind, to the exclusion of other sub- sued in the chamber of deputies, which jects, more intimately connected with the finally spread itself through every part of domestic interests and foreign relations of the kingdom. The ministers, in consethe nation and the individual. quence, considered it a measure of pruDEATH OF THE DUTCHESS OF YORK. dence to yield somewhat to public prejuOn the sixth of August in this highly dice, and to content themselves with a part momentous year, expired Frederica Char- of the projected measure; well knowing, lotte Ulrica, the consort of his royal high- that if they persisted in carrying everyness the duke of York, the eldest brother thing, they ran the mortifying risk of not of the king. The dutchess was in the fifty-effecting anything. Accordingly, M. de fourth year of her age. Her royal highness Serre, who had been reappointed to his forwas the eldest daughter of the late king of mer post of keeper of the seals, informed Prussia, by his first wife, Elizabeth Ulrica the chamber, that he and his colleagues Christiana, princess of Brunswick Wolfen- were willing to abandon the plan proposed buttel. The dutchess of York was a pat- to such extent as to put an end to the prestern of the milder and retiring virtues, ent system of direct election, provided that strongly devoted to exercises of charity, an additional number of deputies, to be seand diffusive benevolence. She passed her lected by the wealthiest class of voters, time almost wholly, except when public oc- were allowed an introduction to the legisla casions called her forth, in a state of com- tive body. This alteration of direct elecparative seclusion at the country-seat de- tion, or in fact nomination, of senators, nominated Oatland's Park, in Surrey, where though apparently bettered by the new she died; and in the neighboring village mode proposed, tended to introduce rechurch of Walton was, at her express de-straints of no small importance on the freesire, privately interred.

FRANCE. HER POLITICS.

dom of election to the house of deputies; and after a trial for superiority, the two REVERTING to foreign affairs, from the contending parties at length effected a domestic aspect of Great Britain, we are compromise. According to the plan finally led to contemplate the general posture of adopted, while the two hundred and fiftyEurope at this period; and in so doing, we eight members (being the original number discern in the position of the neighboring of the chamber as it then was constituted) nation of France the gradual development were to be returned by the electoral col of measures, in the progressive operation leges of the several districts, comprising of that change, which a lengthened chain all persons of thirty years old and upwards; of imperious circumstances had effected in one hundred and seventy-two additional that so strangely agitated country. The deputies were to be chosen by departmental restoration of the ancient dynasty of the colleges, which were to be composed of oneCapets, consequent on those important wars fourth of the body of electors, that fourth which had so long convulsed the world, re- being made up of those who paid the largquired the adoption of many new schemes est contributions to the public service-so of government; and the alteration of the that, in addition to the three estates already laws respecting elections appeared to be a represented, in some degree in imitation of paramount object with the ministers of the British constitutional assemblies and its VOL. IV. 58

monarch, France now presented to view in been so, the succession must have gone her lower house the political anomaly of away from the Capet line, which would two species of deputies, or, in fact, a fourth then have become extinct.

DE BERRI.

estate. The trial of Louvel, who had mur- STATE OF SPANISH AFFAIRS. dered the duc de Berri, which had been so SPAIN at this epoch, after her long and long delayed, in the delusive hope that he arduous struggle for liberty and her king, would reveal his accomplices, or at least was groaning under the oppressive yoke of make some political discoveries, took place the ungrateful and bigoted despot, Ferdiso late as the fifth and sixth days of June, nand the seventh,-with whom, in contrabefore the chamber of peers. This assassin diction to many political declarations, the continued stedfast to his former declara- fanaticism of monks had more credit than tion, that he had no accomplice whatever; the valor of soldiers. An American expebut added, that he had long brooded in si-dition was still contemplated by the besotlent meditation over the deed of horror, ted councils of the Spanish government; without communicating the slightest hint and, preparations being completed, an army, of his intention to a single human being: comprising upwards of sixteen thousand and had perpetrated it, because he thought men, was assembled in the vicinity of Casuch an act essentially necessary to the diz, the beginning of the month of Decemwelfare of France, in whose cause he died. ber, 1819. Transactions which took place He was consequently pronounced guilty, in the preceding June incontestably proved and sentenced to decapitation, which he the general spirit of the officers as hostile underwent, being executed on the seventh to the men and measures included in the of June. sway of Ferdinand. Though that conspiATTEMPT TO DESTROY THE DUTCHESS racy failed in its ultimate object, the very troops who had effected the suppression of THE dutchess de Berri was pregnant at it were now in a state of extreme insuborthe period of her husband's assassination. dination themselves, insomuch as to have This unborn infant was the only hope of made their own terms, and amongst those the zealous royalists, being now the sole terms had obtained an exemption from servremaining chance of a lineal male decend-ing in the new world. Count Abisbal, even ant of Louis XIV.; as the crown, in failure that individual who had arrested the proof issue by the dutchess, would have de-gress of the former revolt, was at this juncvolved upon the Orleans family, the idea ture considered so little deserving of a conof which was peculiarly obnoxious to the tinuation of the royal confidence, that the zealous partisans of the house of Bourbon. command of the army had been taken from Attempts of a diabolical nature were twice him, and he was gone into retirement. Acmade to frustrate the regular course of cordingly, in the month of December, a natural probabilities on this occasion-the new plan of insurrection was matured first on the twenty-eighth of April, and the among the troops then cantoned in and last on the sixth of May-by placing light- round about Cadiz; at the head of which ed petards close to the apartments occupied conspiracy were prominent colonel Riego by the dutchess, so that their violent and and lieutenant-colonel Quiroga. It was unexpected explosion, as it was most atro- planned, amongst other things, that the latciously imagined, could not fail to throw ter should effect his escape from a convent her into such a sudden state of terror as in the neighborhood, wherein he was demust induce a miscarriage. Both attempts, tained under arrest-immediately join two however, failed; and in the second the un- battalions quartered at Alcala los Gazules, manly culprit was seized. He was named and march with them on the first of JanGravier, and had formerly been an officer uary towards Cadiz. On the same day, under Napoleon. He and an accomplice Riego, who was stationed at Los Cabezas were both condemned to suffer death; but with the second battalion of the regiment in consequence of the intercession of the of the Asturias, was to proceed with that dutchess, their punishment was commuted corps to the head-quarters at Arcos, and into that of hard labor for life. On Sep- there seize the persons of the commandertember the twenty-ninth, the widowed in-chief, count de Calderon, and such of the dutchess de Berri was safely delivered of other superior officers as could not be trusta posthumous son, who immediately re-ed. Riego, on the first of January, having ceived the title of duke of Bourdeaux, and proclaimed, amid the enthusiastic acclamawho is the declared legitimate heir to the tions of his troops, the constitution as adoptcrown of France. The loyalists were de- ed by the cortes in 1812, reached Arcos lighted in an extreme degree at the birth early on the following morning,-when he of a prince, as by the Salique law of that surprised the commander-in-chief, with his kingdom, females are excluded from inher- whole staff. Joined by the garrison of that iting the throne-and consequently, had it town, and the second battalion of the Se

ville regiment from Villa Marten, he lost the close pursuit of the opposing, and suno time, but entered Bornos on the third of perior force. On his arrival at Bienveinda, January, and was there strengthened by a on the eleventh, Riego's troops were by all battalion of the regiment of Arragon; and these casualties broken and reduced in numat Xeres and Port St. Mary, he received a ber to about three hundred men. This befarther accession of force. With this body ing too inconsiderable a force to act any of troops he hastened directly to effect a longer together as an army, the patriot juncture with Quiroga, who had made his band, after many privations and difficulties, escape; but was delayed in his march by were compelled to separate at the foot of the sudden swelling of the rivers and the the Ronda mountains, for the purpose of bad state of the roads; so that he was not each individual saving himself by concealable to arrive at the Isle of Leon before the ment or flight.-In the mean time Quiroga magistracy of Cadiz had manned and found himself in a situation of no less strengthened the lines called Cortadura, jeopardy; being in fact shut up in the Isle and by those means arrested for a time his of Leon, with the skeleton of an army, by progress in that quarter. The united forces various privations and hardships reduced in before these lines consisted of seven bat- numerical strength to less than four thoutalions, and assumed the title of the na- sand men, and these becoming hourly more tional army. Quiroga was commander-in- and more depressed through inactivity, and chief, with Riego as second in command. in imminent danger of suffering total deIn the course of a few days this national struction by the want of provisions, which army was joined by a detachment, com- now became dreadfully apparent. prising the brigade, artillery, cavalry, and Though these disastrous mischances so infantry, which had been detached for the gloomily frowned upon the primary leaders purpose of occupying Port St. Mary. On of the revolution, the sun of success still the twelfth of January, at midnight, the gleamed upon the patriotic cause, and was troops obtained the possession of the arsenal gradually diffusing its radiance in other of the Caraccas; which step was followed parts of the Spanish kingdoms. Gallicia by two successive attacks made on the Cor- witnessed an energetic rising of the peotadura, the first by the troops without the ple, who fully, and indeed from predisposilines, and the second, on January twenty- tion perhaps, without difficulty, ultimately fourth, by their partisans in the city; but triumphed over the executive and its auneither of them were attended by success. thorities. This branch of the revolt had -Such were the first movements of the been concerted, and was chiefly effected, revolution in Spain. by some officers of the garrison at Corun

Ferdinand's adherents were in the mean na; who, at the time that Venegas the time very active. Don Manuel Freyre, captain-general of the province was in the who had been declared captain-general of act of holding a levee, raised the cry of Andalusia, issued several proclamations in "The nation for ever!" and, after disarmreply to those proceeding from the patriotic ing the guards of state, entered the room party; and having assembled such troops where Venegas was surrounded by his visat Seville as he thought reliance might be itors. Those officers who were present at placed upon, after throwing some succors the levee immediately joined their party, into Cadiz, established his head-quarters at and simultaneously with drawn swords proPort St. Mary by the twenty-seventh of claimed that constitution which they deJanuary. The patriots, from being baffled clared themselves ready to die in the dein all their attempts upon Cadiz, now fence of. The patriots invited Venegas to changed their plan of operations. March- assume the command, by placing himself at ing with a detachment of fifteen hundred the head of this new order of affairs; but men, Riego entered Algesiras on the first this he refused; and accordingly, both himof February, where, though meeting with self and his staff were put under arrest, much cordial reception and good wishes, he though at the same time they were treated was unable to recruit his forces; and in the in the most respectful manner. A new capattempt to rejoin Quiroga he found himself tain-general of the province was appointed, suddenly intercepted by Don Joseph O'Don- in the person of colonel Acevedo-a sunel, the brother of count Abisbal, who had preme junta constituted-and the garrison cut off all communication between the Isle received in addition a patriotic corps of two of Leon and Algesiras. Thus situated, the thousand militia. Ferrol, Vigo, and Pentepatriot general resolved to march into Gren- vedra, displayed a similar enthusiastic spirit ada; and on the eighteenth of February of devotional patriotism, and about the gained Malaga, though closely pursued by same period the since justly celebrated and O'Donnel. Accordingly, he passed the esteemed Mina appeared in Navarre, in Guadalquivir at Cordova, on the eighth of support of the constitution, which he so efMarch, having been constantly harassed by fectually aided and there proclaimed. At

this important crisis, count Abisbal, who place in La Mancha and Gallicia, now had, with the skill of a consummate politi- reached Cadiz. where general Freyre had cian, carefully watched the progress of just arrived. The enthusiasm of the peothese events from their development, now ple was wrought to such height, that Freyre openly espoused the patriotic cause, and wisely determined to yield to their wishes. from his powerful co-operation, achieved On the ninth of March, the very day of his the triumph of the revolutionary party. By arrival, he gave public intimation in the his influence, a plan was matured for pro- square of Antonio, that he would put up the claiming the constitution, with the assist- stone of the constitution at ten o'clock on ance of the officers commanding in La Man- the following morning, and that it should cha; in this plan was included Don Joseph be sworn to immediately when done. The O'Donnel, the brother of Abisbal, who was populace, not contented with this declaration, at that moment following up the overthrow vehemently exclaimed "No delay!-now, of Riego, but who, by this new arrange- now!" which was reiterated with such arment, was to lend important assistance to dor and earnestness, that the general drew the cause of the patriots. Count Abisbal, from his pocket the book of the constitution, for these purposes, left Madrid on the third which having kissed, he concluded by sayMarch, was joined by some of the body ing, "Now, then, the oath is taken; toguard at Aranjuez, and on the next day, morrow the remaining and requisite solemwith the support of his brother's regiment, nities shall be performed." A flag was surprised the governor of Ocana, whom he subsequently unfurled with this inscription, placed in arrest, and followed this step with "The constitution for ever, and Freyre our a proclamation of the constitution. From Regenerator." the instant of count Abisbal's defection,

MASSACRE AT CADIZ.

Ferdinand could only screen himself by ap- On the following day a most disgraceful parent submission. The power that had and horrid outrage was committed by the declared in favor of the constitution, and troops in Cadiz, which must tend to entail which was now arrayed against Ferdinand, upon them disgrace, coeval with the pen was composed of his own household troops, of history, which hesitates while it records commanded by the same individuals, whose such perfidy. In this infamous breach of influence with the soldiery had once before faith, however, it is on all sides admitted, saved him, and from whose hands alone that general Freyre had no participation. safety could be rationally anticipated again. The stone of the constitution was carried In this posture of affairs, delay must have into the midst of the square of St. Antonio, been fatal. The king lost no time in pub- as the preparatory step to the ceremony. lishing an official document, in which he The municipal authorities were to form set forth his royal intention of immediately themselves into a procession, as assistants assembling the cortes, for the purpose of re- at the regular proclamation of the constitudressing grievances and remedying every tion, and orders had been issued from the national abuse. The populace of Madrid, head-quarters of the general, that all the upon the first promulgation of this testi- houses should be decorated, and the city mony of the weakness of the royal cause, publicly illuminated for three successive assembled without delay in vast multitudes nights. A message had been dispatched in the immediate precincts of the palace, to the island of St. Leon, inviting general and, with the fervor of those meetings, de- Quiroga and his staff to be present on the manded the constitution, with such outcries occasion. The general himself did not atof violent clamor, that great apprehensions tend the invitation, but deputed four of his were entertained for the king's personal se- personal staff to witness this celebration of curity. Influenced by these terrors, Ferdi- popular triumph. Nothing could exceed nand issued the same evening a circular the joy and felicity of the inhabitants of letter to the different authorities of Madrid, Cadiz, on this memorable morning, the tenth declaring that "the will of the people having of March, when the whole city exhibited been pronounced," he had resolved to swear one scene of pleasure and hilarity. Smiles to the constitution, as sanctioned by the enlightened every face, and gladness shone cortes in 1812. This circular was followed around, while each eye was waiting the by the immediate establishment of a su- arrival of the general, each ear strained to preme junta, composed of men of principles catch the appointed hour of ten. This gratiknown to be favorable to the new order of fying spectacle was soon, however, to be things. All persons implicated in the late converted into one of far different complexproceedings, and imprisoned for state offen- ion, for as the clock struck, the troops rushed ces, were liberated; the liberty of the press forth, and firing volleys upon the gazing was henceforward declared, and the total throng, dealt death promiscuously around, abolition of the inquisition resolved upon. whilst shouting forth "Ferdinand for ever, Tidings of the transactions which had taken and down with the constitution." The ut

RIEGO'S DISGRACE.

most consternation and appalling terror now Catalonia, Estremadura, Gallicia, and Vatook possession of the crowds assembled, lencia; in Estremadura, an individual named and the defenceless people flying from their Morales, having prevailed upon some of the murderous assailants, trampled down each Bourbon cavalry to join him, acquired by other to avoid death. The officers disap- such accession an importance far beyond peared with the dispersion of the populace; his deserts. These occurrences induced the brutal soldiery, left without control, several of the most zealous revolutionists threw off all subordination and revelled in among the body of the cortes, to urge minevery unjustifiable excess; and the whole isters to the adoption of stronger and more city, from a scene of universal joy and prom- decisive measures against the adversaries ised security, was in one instant converted of the new constitution. The grasping into the resemblance of a place delivered over ambition of some of their own partisans was to all the horrors of military execution and another fertile source of embarrassment to pillage, after a protracted siege. This out- the constitutionalists, which tended to pararageous violation of public faith, this hor- lyze their efforts for the public good. rible exhibition of savage policy and brutal violence, continued from ten in the morn- AMONG these discontented chiefs, Riego ing until eight in the evening, when the particularly distinguished himself. It had officers once more interfered, and finally been resolved that the army of the Isle of succeeded in withdrawing the infuriated Leon should be disbanded; and as a comtroops to their several quarters, after a car-pensation for the loss of that military comnage of ten hours, which bestrewed the mand, Riego was nominated captain-general streets with four hundred dead bodies of of Gallicia. This change not suiting with men, women, and children, whose number the powerful ambition of his mind, he reof wounded was fully proportionate. Tran- paired to the capital to protest against the quillity was not restored in the town, ere measure; but finding all his arguments and the lapse of two days, at which time in- endeavors useless, and wholly failing in his formation was received, that Ferdinand had remonstrances with the administration, he accepted the constitution. The troops essayed to overawe the cortes by dint of his having no further pretext for resistance, popularity with the lower orders of the peosubmitted in sullen silence. No more acts ple, and his influence in the several political of open violence occurred, but yet it can- clubs with which Madrid at that time aboundnot be wondered at, that neither soldiers ed. Government, however, acted with beor citizens deemed themselves safe, until coming firmness, refusing to submit to a dicthey were removed to a distance from each tator: laws were enacted to prevent the other. The governor Valdeo, and the recurrence of abuses originating from facmilitary commander Campania, were dis- tious clubs and assemblies-several of the placed, and within a week after the exe- most active rioters were subjected to puncrable massacre of their fellow-countrymen, ishment-and Riego himself, being stript of the troops were marched away, to the great his office of captain-general, was banished relief of the suffering inhabitants. The to his native town of Oviedo. army of the Isle of Leon, which was now of considerable force, on the united suggestion THE first session of the cortes closed on of Riego and Quiroga, was ordered not to the ninth of November, when a speech was separate until the assembly of the cortes; read to them in the name of the king, who, and at the same time, in some recompense under the pretext of sickness, remained at of their services, the rank of field-marshal the Escurial. Previous to their final sepawas bestowed on both these chiefs of the ration, however, the cortes resolved, among revolution. Very soon afterwards, field- many other measures strongly indicating marshal Quiroga was elected a member of distrust of the monarch, that three-fourths the cortes, and the sole command of this of their whole number should invariably rearmy devolved upon Riego. On the ninth main at their posts, to be in readiness to of July, the functions of the supreme junta counteract any scheme which might arise expired, at which period the cortes assem- prejudicial to public welfare. The long and bled, and the revolution was thought to be finally and solidly established through every part of the kingdom.

KING OPENS THE CORTES.

CORTES CLOSES.

continued absence of this infatuated sovereign from the capital gave great umbrage to the populace and constitutionalists, as his motions could not be so well ascertained at A SPEECH from the king opened the the Escurial as they might be at Madrid. cortes, which immediately proceeded to the Nor did it appear that this jealousy was withfulfilment of their various and important out foundation; for on the sixteenth of Noduties. During their sittings, divers politi-vember, only one week after the closing of cal schemes appeared in overt act, and the cortes, Ferdinand being still resident at many disturbances broke out in Andalusia, the Escurial, nominated general Carvajal