people. The vote should be given by the member from his place, at the top of his voice, as if he wished it to be heard and judged of in the farthest corner of Spain, not whispered at a lattice where it might reach the ears of only the functionaries of the chamber. The dispute was at last settled by arranging that it should be left to each member to vote in either of the two ways he might prefer. Alpuente did not long retain his seat; for on verifying the powers of the deputies, the chamber decided that he had not produced sufficient evidence of possessing the pecuniary qualification of 120l. ayear required by the royal statute. He was speedily involved in a more serious affair. On the very eve of the meeting of the Cortes, a radical conspiracy was detected, which had for its object to seize the queen regent, who had returned to Madrid to open the session in person, and proclaim the constitution of Cadiz. The discovery of this mad plot led to the apprehension of Alpuente, and of general Van Halen, an amateur conspirator, who had rendered himself conspicuous in the troubles of Belgium. Old Palafox, too, who, a few days before, had been named a grandee of Spain by the title of duke of Zaragoza, was arrested. Some privates of the Urban militia of Madrid were capitally punished for this conspiracy. CHAP. XIII. SPAIN continued.-Opening of the Cortes-Speech of the Queen Regent -Debates on the Address-Motion to insist on the liberty of the Press lost-Bill of Rights presented to the deputies-Debates upon itDeclaration for the liberty of the Press without a censorship carried -Declaration of rights finally voted by the deputies-Financial state of Spain-Bill presented by Government to recognize and provide for the Foreign loans-Reports of the Finance CommitteeDebates on the recognition of the loans contracted by Ferdinand— The deputies refuse to recognize the Guebhard loan-Discontent of the Cortes bond-holders-The Peers amend the Bill by recognizing the Guebhard loan and providing for payment of interest on arrears -The Committee of the deputies reports against these amendments but the chamber adopts them- Bill of Exclusion against Don Carlos and his descendants-Military operations in Navarre and Biscay. Ο N the 24th of July, the Queen Regent, with great pomp, opened the Session of the Cortes. She addressed them in the following speech : "Illustrious Proceres and Procuradores of the kingdom: On finding myself this day in the midst of you, about to take, as Queen Regent, the oath provided by the fundamental laws of the monarchy, the first want of my heart is to make known to you the sentiments which animate it, and the thanks which I have to give to Divine Providence for having granted my wishes. "Closely to unite the throne of my august daughter with the rights of the nation, giving to both, as a common foundation, the ancient institutions of these kingdoms, which have elevated to so high a point their prosperity and glory, is the noble object which I have proposed to myself, and of which I cannot offer a more solemn testimony than this general and public convocation. "Notwithstanding the satisfaction which I experience therefrom, it is painful to me to reflect that this act should be accomplished in the midst of the calamity which now afflicts several provinces, and which has extended its ravages even to this capital. This sentiment is rendered, if possible, more painful by the fact that wicked and evil-disposed persons, availing themselves of the terror occasioned by the appearance of this scourge, which has caused such lamentable devastation in other countries, have committed crimes and disorders unworthy of the noble and gallant character of Spaniards, crimes which cannot be mention ed without the deepest indignation. The laws will chastise those offences; but if you consider that your co-operation should be necessary to prevent the repetition of these disgraceful scenes under any pretext whatever, I will claim it with confidence, inasmuch as the object is to defend the very basis of society by the maintenance of public order, and the protection of life and property. "It also occasions me much grief that the first important subject which will present itself for your consideration is the conduct of an ill-advised Prince, who, even during the life of his King, of his brother, endeavoured to promote his own ambitious designs, and who, since the death of my august husband, has attempted, by means of a civil war, to wrest the sceptre from its lawful heir. "The immemorial custom, and the ancient and fundamental laws of the monarchy-the practice observed in similar cases-impartiality-justice, all impose upon me the duty of submitting to your deliberation a subject of such high importance. But even were I not under such a sacred obligation as guardian of the rights of my august daughter, I could not and ought not to forget that the present tranquillity and the future fate of these kingdoms depend upon your decision; it will be worthy of you, and the nation awaits it with calmness. "That Prince, not content with exciting rebellion in this kingdom, lighted the flame of civil war from a neighbouring state, and threatened to cross our frontier in arms. Under these circumstances, the duty of self-defence dictated those energetic measures which justice, -policy, and national honour equal ly demanded. The Spanish troops penetrated into Portugal, not for the purpose of attacking foreign independence, but to defend our own rights, and in a few days put an end to the contest-and the two Princes who, by their presence, troubled the Peninsula, were driven from its territory—a very recent lesson and chastisement by which the issue of every similar foolish undertaking is announced. "At the same time that the question of Portugal was settled, the solemn treaty, which had for its object a most important end, not only for the tranquillity of the two kingdoms, but also the peace and repose of Europe, was ratified in London. It is gratifying to me to manifest by this proof the amicable dispositions of which my august allies the King of the French and the King of Great Britain and Ireland have given me so many repeated testimonies, as well as the harmony which happily exists between the Government of her most faithful Majesty Donna Maria II. and that of my august daughter. So numerous and so united are the links which connect the two kingdoms, that it may be said that each takes care of its own cause while assisting in the common defence. "Other powers than those above-named have explicitly renewed their political relations with the Spanish Government since the accession of my august daughter to the throne; and for my part I have recognized some new states, either in conformity to a wise policy, or for the purpose of occasioning no interruption or prejudice to the navigation and commerce of the natives of these kingdoms. "It were to be wished that every other Government had answered in like manner to the amicable disposition of the Spanish Cabinet; but, although none of them have manifested any intention or desire of interfering in our domestic concerns, some have delayed, to this moment, the recognition of my daughter as Queen of Spain. The laws of the monarchy have raised her to the throne-the will of the nation sustains her-reason and time will render due homage to the conservative principle of legitimacy. nation, and the other demands on the treasury. "To this end will be laid before you the different obligations which the Government has to fulfil, as well as the resources on which it calculates, and the extraordinary means of credit to which it must necessarily resort upon this occasion, whether on account of anterior loss or defalcation-whether on account of actual circumstances or, in fine, to avoid any present augmentation of the burdens of the people. But it is dangerous in itself, and eventually would become impossible, frequently to adopt extraordinary means. Better order in the administration, a prudent and severe economy, publicity, the intervention of the Cortes in the estimates of expenditure, and in the imposition of contributions, will conduct us in a short time to the desired term of equalizing the ordinary resources of the nation with its necessities. This hope is the better founded, as it will be sustained by an arrangement of the whole foreign debt compatible with our actual "The picture presented by the interior of the kingdom is far from being as flattering as your patriotism would desire; but, notwithstanding the obstacles which have been raised by the revolt of some provinces and the inquietude of others, the wants of the treasury, and the pestilence which ravages a great part of the country, it has been possible to mitigate the unavoidable evils of so critical a position to make also salutary reforms to realize in a short time the meeting of the Cortes-to subdue on all sides the rebel bands--means, supported by frankness and to augment the force of the army good faith, which are the prin-to increase the character of our ciples of my government, as well arms in a neighbouring kingdom, as by an amelioration of the inteand to obtain all these happy re- rior debt, and its progressive exsults, so important and so urgent, tinction, facilitated by the resources the decision and enthusiasm of the which will be applied to it with a nation have rendered the exaction prudent reserve, and after a proof heavy sacrifices unnecessary. found examination. "The fidelity of the army-its constancy and its courage, which give it so great a claim to my especial gratitude-requires from you every assistance to enable me to perfect this important branch of the public service, conciliating the well-being of these gallant de fenders of the throne and of the country with the exigencies of the VOL. LXXVI. "My secretaries of state will acquaint you with various reforms which have been made in several branches of the administration. The division of the territory— the separation and demarcation between the administrative and judicial departments-the suppression of the ancient councils, and the new Audiencias, created for [2 D] the benefit of certain provinces -the numerous embarrassments which have prevented the developement of the public wealth -the relief granted to the people from many onerous exactions, and other measures which are now in preparation, will testify my solicitude, and already offer to the nation the most flattering anticipations. It cannot be concealed from your circumspection and prudence, that it is not possible to remedy in a few months the accumulated evils of many ages, and that more than once the very eagerness of man to supply what ought to be the work of time has led to a bad issue, and compromised the welfare of nations. "The royal statute has laid the foundation it belongs to you, illustrious peers and señors deputies, to concur in raising the edifice with that regularity and order, which are the only guarantee of stability and firmness. - "For what regards myself, you will always find me disposed to everything that can redound to the interest and honour of Spain. Even during the few days which I exercised temporarily the supreme power by the desire of my august husband, I manifested what were my intentions and designs to cancel by oblivion the vestiges of past evils to plan in existing circumstances all possible reforms, and to prepare, with consideration, other improvements for the future. Whatever be the obstacles I may meet in a path so difficult, I hope to overcome them by the favour of Heaven, aided by your efforts, and supported by the nation; to regard whose happiness and whose glory as my own it is sufficient for me to remember that I am the mother of Isabella II., and the grand-daughter of Charles III." Each chamber named a committee to prepare the draught of an address in answer to the speech. The address, reported to the peers, and adopted by them, was an echo of the speech; and M. Burgos, the late minister of the interior, frankly maintained, that to prepare such an echo was the sole duty of the committee. The committee of the chamber of Deputies acted on a very different principle, and introduced into their proposed address matter which could not be palatable to the government. They ascribed the outrages of the 17th of July to a lamentable want of foresight," and the prolongation of civil war in the North to a system of lenity and impunity which had been carried too far, and tried too long. They heaped eulogiums on the Urban militia, of which the speech had said nothing. The regent had only announced the internal state of the kingdom to be less flattering than the patriotism of the deputies would desire; the address added, "It is far more deplorable than your majesty can suppose. Many years of an arbitrary system of absurd legislation, of a blind administration, and of a formidable re-action against principles which are acknowledged as axioms in every social organization, have progressively sunk us to a marked state of degradation and misery. Agriculture is in the lowest state of depression, because the exorbitant nature of the taxes, the violent mode of exacting them, the low price of produce (owing to other errors which it would be out of place to explain here), the difficulty of communication, and various other causes, have rendered |