as far as possible consistent with the good name of the Spanish nation, and at the same time concluding favourable negotiations. For this purpose 3,000,000 of rentes were appropriated to the extinction of rentes at five per cent, which, in a great measure, restored her consideration, joined to the political events which have also exercised an advantageous influence.

The result has proved as successful as could be wished, and the Government may congratulate itself on having concluded a contract sufficiently advantageous, compared with that which preceded it, and with that which would have been obtained, had the resolution of the Government been precipitately taken. Fortunately, measures were taken with suffi. cient caution; and I have the pleasure of announcing to the Cortes, that to that assembly we are indebted for an advantage of between 18,000,000 and 20,000,000. But, in alluding to this subject I must not omit an acknowledgment, which I consider as an act of justice, and without which I should not feel that I had discharged my duty. The Government, renouncing all secrecy in this delicate affair, consulted with various individuals, whose opinions were received before any step was taken. To these individuals we are indebted for the successful issue of the operation, inasmuch as their intelligence and counsel contributed to bring it to a close. In this affair they evinced an interest truly patriotic, and they have in every re

spect fulfilled the wishes of the Government. I could here publish the names of these gentlemen; but the fear of offending them by so doing, induces me to pass them over in silence.

Such was the state of the public finances at the close of the second economical year, and such it is at the present day. On the one hand, there appears a deficit of 322,000,000 in the contributions voted by the Cortes for the said second economical year. On the other hand, there is due to the estimates of the second year the sum of 191,000,000, which must be made up from the imposts decreed from the third economical year. Unfortunately, in the taxes which have been levied during this last year, considerable difficulty had occurred in the collection: as contraband trade greatly diminishes the most productive taxes, and the insurrection, in the provinces in which it exists, opposes the execution of the administrative provisions, impedes the levying of contributions, and renders null the produce of the taxes, owing to the vast expense of maintaining the armed force necessary for puting down the rebellion.

The Ministers, in order to fix the demand of supplies for their departments, which, among other things, is the object of the convocation of the present Extraordinary Cortes, have drawn up and addressed to me estimates in addition to those already submitted to the ordinary Cortes. In these estimates are required,

Reals. Marav.

2,409,416

47,395,000

The sum which the Government considers it necessary should be raised is that of 664,813,324 reals and 19 maravedis, granted by the Cortes on the general estimate of expenses decreed the 28th of June, and augmented by 191,255,313 reals and 1 maravedi, with which the minis try of my department settles the deficit, liquidated at the end of the second economical year; the calculated value of the revenues of the state being compared with the real value produced and there being also an augmentation of 160,933,332 reals and 11 maravedis, to meet the diminution which probably may arise on the revenues decreed by the Cortes in the last session. From the subjoined account, it would appear necessary that the Cortes should make a grant of 784,896,957 reals, and 30 maravedis, in order that all the engagements for the public service, both past and current, may be fulfilled with that regularity which is proper and indispensable.

Punctuality in these payments will perhaps be found one of the political measures which will most contribute to conciliate minds and restore public tranquillity. Meritorious officers, who now belong to the inactive class of the army, because their age or infirmities do not permit them to join the army; magistrates who administer justice; civil officers of all kinds, whom preceding regulations have placed in the retired class; unfortunate widows and orphans, so worthy of protection,-all call for payments

Total,

which have been for months due, and the want of which has been the cause of much inconvenience and distress. They daily present themselves to implore, as a favour, that which is justly their due; and melancholy is the situation of a government which recognises the title by which its protection is demanded, and which knows its duty, and yet possesses no means of exercising the one or fulfilling the other. I repeat, that to meet all demands upon us, will, at the present moment, be a political measure of great influence in the termination of the insurrection which at present unfortunately exists in some provinces, and for enabling the Spanish nation to appear, in the eyes of foreigners, under that imposing attitude, which is indispensable to command the respect of enemies of every description.

The Government well knows the kind and quantity of the sacrifices which it is necessary to demand of the nation; but being placed under the necessity of procuring for it, at any expense, the enjoyment of internal tranquillity, and of preserving it from being menaced externally under any motive or pretext; and feeling that these necessities are so peremptory and urgent as to require abundant and important measures, without giving rise to new imposts or surcharges on those which already exist, on account of the slow progress of such a collection, his Majesty has thought fit to propose to the Cortes, in order to meet the sum

of 784,896,957 reals, 30 maravedis, which are considered indispensable towards the end of June 1823, the inscription in the Great Book of the public debt of 65,000,000 of reals of rentes at 5 per cent, which may be employed by the Government whenever it may be found necessary, and in the manner most convenient to the national treasury.

But this measure, though it is preferable from the promptitude with which it is carried into effect, leaves a debt in perspective, which it will be proper to meet opportunely, particularly as this loan, which is necessarily very extensive, has been preceded by others of considerable amount, which, combined with it, will form a respectable sum as well in interest as in capital.

Debts of this amount must sink the public credit if they are not guaranteed by suitable pledges and it is proper to designate them, in order to ensure the success of the emissions, and to enable them to be made with greater advantages and smaller risks.

Government will consider this point as soon as the concession of the rentes which it requires is realized, if the Cortes should think proper to grant them. For the present it must confine itself to the demonstration of the necessity of granting this supply, and of granting it immediately; for, as I have before said, if the demands are instantaneous, the supplies must be instantaneous also; the extent of its engagements leaves otherwise no hope of being able to meet them; and it is indispensable that the remedy which may be applied should be as prompt as the circumstances require, in order that its tardiness may not render it useless, or delay increase the evil, and carry along with

it a necessity for greater sacrifices. The Cortes will doubtless resolve on what they think most advisable. MARIANO EGOA.

October 8, 1822.

DISPATCHES OF THE ALLIED CABINETS OF PARIS, ST. PETersBurgh, Vienna, and Berlin, TÓ THEIR RESPECTIVE MINISTERS AND CHARGES D'AFFAIRES AT THE COURT OF MADRID *.

The President of the Council of Ministers, charged, ad interim, with the Portfeuille of Foreign Affairs, to M. the Count de la Garde, Minister of the King, at Madrid.—“ M. le Comte. -Your political situation being changed, in consequence of the resolution taken at Verona, it is becoming French sincerity to charge you to acquaint the Government of his Catholic Majesty with the dispositions of the Government of his Most Christian Majesty.

"Since the revolution, which took place in Spain in the month of April 1820, France, notwithstanding the dangers with which the revolution threatened her, has used all her efforts to strengthen the ties which united the two kings, and to maintain the relations which existed between the two nations.

"But the influence under which the changes were operated, which have taken place in the Spanish monarchy, is become more powerful by the very results of these changes, as it was easy to foresee.

"A constitution, which King Ferdinand had neither recognised nor accepted when he resumed the crown, was afterwards imposed upon him by

VOL. XIV. PART II.

2 D

a military insurrection. The natural consequence of this fact has been, that every discontented Spaniard has thought himself authorised to seek, by the same means, the establishment of an order of things more in unison with his opinions and his principles. The employment of force has esta blished the right of force.

"Hence the movements of the Guards at Madrid, and the appearance of armed corps in different parts of Spain. The provinces bordering on France have chiefly been the theatre of civil war. This state of confusion in the Peninsula has placed France under the necessity of putting herself in a state of security. The events which have taken place since the establishment of an army of observation at the foot of the Pyre nees have sufficiently justified the precautions of his Majesty's Govern

ment.

"Meantime, the Congress, announced last year to determine on the affairs of Italy, met at Verona.

"France, as an integral part of this Congress, had of course to explain the reason of the armaments to which she had been forced to have recourse, and the eventual use she might make of them. The precautions of France have appeared just to her allies, and the Continental powers have taken the resolution to unite with her to aid her (if it should ever become necessary) to maintain her dignity and her repose.

France would have been contented with a resolution at once so kind and so honourable to her; but Austria, Russia, and Prussia, have judged it necessary to add to the particular act of the alliance a manifestation of these sentiments. Diplomatic notes are, with this view, addressed by these three powers to their respective Ministers at Madrid, who will communicate them to the Spa

nish Government, and will follow in their farther conduct the orders they shall have received from their court.

"As for you, M. le Comte, in giving these explanations to the Cabinet of Madrid, you will say to it, that the Government of the King is intimately united with its allies in the firm resolution to repel by every means revolutionary movements and principles; that it is equally united with its allies in the wishes which they form, that the noble Spanish nation may find within itself a remedy for its evils, which are calculated to alarm the Governments of Europe, and oblige them to take precautions that are always painful.

"You will, above all, take care to declare that the people of the Peninsula, when restored to tranquillity, will find in their neighbours true and sincere friends. In consequence, you will give to the Cabinet of Madrid the assurance that assistance of all kinds which France can afford to Spain shall be always offered to it to insure its happiness, and to increase its prosperity; but you will declare, at the same time, that France will not relax, in any point, the measures of preservation which she has taken, so long as Spain shall continue to be torn by factions. The Government of his Majesty will not even hesitate to recall you from Madrid, and to seek its guarantees in more efficacious measures, if its essential interests continue to be compromised, and if it loses the hope of an amelioration, which it takes pleasure in expecting from the sentiments which have so long united the Spaniards and the French in the love of their Kings, and a wise liberty.

"Such, M. le Comte, are the instructions which the King has ordered me to transmit to you, at the moment when the Notes of the Cabinets of Vienna, Berlin, and St. Peters

burgh, are going to be delivered to that of Madrid. These instructions will serve you to make known the dispositions and the determination of the French Government on this important occasion.

"You are authorised to communicate this dispatch, and to give a copy of it, if you should be asked for

it.

"Paris, 25th December, 1822."

Dispatch from the Count de Nesselrode to the Chargé d'Affaires of Russia, at Madrid, dated Verona, the 14th (26th) November 1822.- The Sovereigns and the Plenipotentiaries assembled at Verona, in the firm intention of consolidating, more and more, the peace which Europe enjoys, and to prevent whatever might tend to compromise that state of general tranquillity, were led, from the first moment of their assembling, to direct their anxious and serious at tention towards an ancient monarchy, which had been agitated with internal commotions during two years, and which could not but excite, in an equal degree, the solicitude, the interest, and the apprehensions of the other Powers.

When, in the month of March 1820, some perjured soldiers turned their arms against their Sovereign and their country, to impose upon Spain laws which the public reason of Europe, enlightened by the experience of ages, stamped with its highest disapprobation, the allied Cabinets, and particularly that of St Petersburgh, hastened to point out the calamities that would follow in the train of institutions which consecrated military revolt, by the very mode of their establishment.

These fears were but too soon and too thoroughly justified. They are no longer theories nor principles, which are now to be examined and

approved. Facts speak aloud; and what feeling must they not inspire in every Spaniard who yet cherishes a love for his king and country. What regret must be experienced at the ascendancy of the men who have brought about the Spanish Revolution.

At the moment when a deplorable success crowned their enterprise, the integrity of the Spanish monarchy was the object of the Spanish Government. The whole nation participated in the wishes of his Catholic Majesty; all Europe had offered him an amicable intervention to restore for him, on a solid basis, the authority of the mother country over distant regions which formerly constituted her wealth and her strength. Encouraged, by a fatal example, to persevere in rebellion, the provinces where it had already broken out found, in the events of the month of March, the best apology for disobedience, and those which had remained faithful immediately separated from the mother country; justly afraid of the despotism which was about to oppress its unfortunate Sovereign, and a people whom rash innovations con. demned to traverse the whole range of revolutionary disasters.

To the disorders of America were soon added the evils that are inseparable from a state of things, where the conservative principles of social order had been forgotten.

Anarchy appeared in the train of revolution; disorder in the train of anarchy. Long years of tranquil possession soon ceased to be a sufficient title to property; the most sacred rights were soon disputed ; ruinous loans and contributions unceasingly renewed, soon attacked both public wealth and the fortunes of private individuals. As was the case at that epoch, the bare recollection of which makes Europe shudder,