the removal of those obstacles which impede the march of national prosperity.or

"The national Congress will employ itself with the utmost assiduity for the discharge of the duties imposed upon it by the people; and, cooperating with your Majesty, will apply the remedies which the deplorable state of the country demands, and to which it has been reduced by the maladministration of former times, and by the ruinous system adopted during the last six years."

In conclusion they observe: In taking the first steps in their career for consolidating public prosperity, executing the constitution, and protecting religion, the rights of the throne and of the people, the Cortes found their most flattering hopes on the solemn promise of your Majesty to enforce the strict observance of that fundamental law which is the best guarantee of the rights of your crown. Faithful observers themselves of that constitution, the Cortes, in imitation of your Majesty's example, will place all their glory and happiness in their constitu tional powers. In offering to your Majesty proofs of a sincere attach ment to your royal person and august family, the Cortes hope to find a firm support in the zeal, patriotism, and knowledge of your Majesty's govern ment. Thus will your Majesty return the love of the people, and we prove ourselves worthy of their confidence."

The first business on which the Cortes entered, consisted in receiving from the different ministers, a view of the state of their respective departments on which occasion, facts were disclosed which excited the deepest interest, but inspired the most gloomy impression.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs announced that the relations of the nation with foreign powers were perfectly pacific and amicable, except with

regard to the Court of Portugal and the United States. With the former, he observed, "some differences exist respecting the capture of Monte-Video, and with the latter on the subject of the treaty of the Floridas; but the principles of moderation and justice which direct the diplomatic operations give us reason to hope that these differences will be adjusted honourably for Spain, and that they will not alter in the slightest degree the system of peace established in Europe."

The Minister of the Interior gave a detail of all the branches of the public administration connected with his department, and specified the means adopted for its improvement. This department of government would require the longer time in organizing, as every thing must be regenerated conformably to the report on the political economy and civil administration of the kingdom, in order to give a new stimulus to agriculture, commerce, mahufactures, and the arts, and to promote the general prosperity of the nation.

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The Minister of the Colonies, in his exposé on the situation of America, detailed, among a variety of other to pics, the measures adopted by the King for the reconcilement of sub. sisting differences, and the re-union of the colonies to the mother country, He dissipated the mischievous rumours which had been circulated of a contem plated expedition to America, and explained what had given rise to those false rumours.

The report of the Minister of Jus tice embraced only the period subsequent to the 9th of March of this year. He gave an account of the decrees signed by the King for consolidating the constitutional system, and causing the laws to be observed of the state of the royal courts, and other tribunals of the country-of what has been already done for the establishment of

the Judges in First Instance, conformably to the district, divisions adopted by the Cortes. He stated, that some ecclesiastic prebendaries had been disposed of to recompense different individuals named, and who had been persecuted on account of their adherence to the constitutional system. He dwelt much on t the measures adopted with respect to the regular clergy, which he represented as equally advantageous to that body and the nation; and stated the arrangements made for preventing the increase of Jesuit convents, by allowing only one in towns which before had several, and taking public instruction out of their hands. The Minister finally defended the measures which had been adopted for securing the deputies who signed the representation of the year 1814, and on whom it is reserved for the Cortes to pronounce judgment...

The report of the Minister of War produced the most afflicting impression. It appeared that this department was in the most deplorable condition; that it was indispensably necessary immediately to effect a reform in the army, and to change its organization; that the existing military force, comprising all arms, was about 53,705 men, exclusive of the royal guard, and 7083 cavalry; that, notwithstanding the reduction of 10,000 officers, the number retained was beyond all proportion to the men; that the corps of the royal guard was greatly diminished; that the want of money, and partial distributions of pay, had reduced the officers to the greatest privations; that the major part of them had remained for years on half-pay, though in active service; that the army was in a state of shameful nudity; that in the cavalry only 15 regiments had their clothing and equipments in tolerable condition; that the clothing and arms of the infantry were not uniform, and

generally bad; that they had only 87,000 muskets, of which 6000 were of wh unserviceable; that the cavalry had 10,000 carbines, and that in the pistols and swords there was no uniformity; and that the saddlery articles were regular only in seven regiments. pl

The Minister next described the deplorable state of the artillery, which was wholly destitute of materiel, and had a supply of ammunition scarcely sufficient for a single day's service in battle. The militia corps raised in 1818 presented a force of 33,809 men, commanded by 140 chiefs; the garrisons, castles, &c., were in the most wretched condition, as well as the fortresses on the coast. The military education had not undergone any change; and the department of theoretical and practical instruction for the military required no reformation. The retirements granted to officers had produced a saving and the number of invalids was 7838 men.coq p

He then recapitulated the total force of the Peninsula; that of the infantry, including the militia, he stated to consist of 87,779 men; the cavalry of 6338; and the expence of the whole army he estimated at 352,607,000 reals (88,151,750 francs).

The

He then entered upon the details of the colonial establishments," The islands of Porto-Rico, St Domingo, and Cuba, enjoy profound tranquillity. In Mexico there exist only a few bands of insurgents, which cannot occasion any apprehensions; but it is necessary, he observed, to keep that country on a war footing. ravages of the revolutions are severely felt in South America, which experiences the effects of a war excited by the ambition of foreigners.". Though it is impossible to give a correct statement of the military forces in these countries, the Minister announced that, since 1815, not less than 42,177 men

“The forces in the island of Cuba, including the militia, amount to 10,995 men, and 977 horses; those in North America to 41,036 infantry and caval

who occupy an extent of 82,142 square leagues. Lastly, by adding the troops which are on other stations of South America, consisting of about 10,178 men, who form the garrisons of the Philippines, it will be found that the army in the colonies amounts to 96,578 men, and 8419 horses. The garrisons in America are in the worst possible state.

The Minister of Marine gave an account in his report of the dilapidated condition to which his department had been reduced he urged the necessity of regenerating this most important branch, and of increasing it to the highest possible pitch, by building as many ships as the state of the finances will admit. He referred to a proposition submitted to the former Cortes, to increase the navy to 20 ships of the line, 20 frigates, 18 corvettes, 26 brigantines, and 18 sloops of war.

The Minister of the Finances entered into a long and complicated statement. He rendered an account of the state of the Treasury on the 9th of March, explained the available resources, and pointed out a practicable mode of supplying the deficiencies. He proposed some modification of the dotations to the Royal family, and solicit ed the approbation of the Cortes to a

loan of 40,000,000r. opened by the King,and towards which only5,000,000 had been subscribed. He described the wretched state of the finances, indicated the mode of improving the system, and the difficulties opposed to a reformation. He specified the abuses

and one of the principal, the taxes imposed as merely provisional, and which were never suppressed in Spain. Hence the necessity of consulting the opinions and the abilities of the people before they should be subjected to a new plan of taxation. He explained the causes which were e opposed to the establishment of direct contributions, and mentioned the indisposition of the clergy, the nobility, and persons in office, to contribute their proportions, as one of the principal impediments. He demonstrated the necessity of a reform, and to give publicity to every thing connected with the finances. The Minister concluded his report by pointing out the inaccuracy and the inutility of custom-house codes the injurious and mischievous tendency of the prohibitory laws: he proposed the union of the department of the Posts to that of the Finances, and reprobated the absurdity of the penal laws with regard to the system of finance, me

In detailing the procedure of the Cortes, we shall begin by endeavouring to give a view of the manner in which they sought to remedy the distressed state of the finances. According to the report of the Committee, the debt of Spain was (in round num. bers,) cyng to choti haib lat ont of aroomto sila i Reals vellonin e da jed: 180 6,814,780,000 L.76,516,200160 7,405,792,000

14,220,572,000

83,315,160

159,830,360

to 12 millions; that of judicial establishments from 23 to 12 millions; that of the marine from 100 to 80 millions; that of the war department

from 375 to 330 millions. The entire estimate of expenditure amounted to 702,802,000 reals, while that of revenue did not exceed 530,394,000 reals, leaving a deficit of 172,408,000 reals, (1,939,580%)

The measure by which the Committee proposed to meet this unfavour able state of the national finances, was of a very critical and dubious nature. They expressed their belief that the plan proposed with regard to church lands, and the ameliorations introduced by the Cortes, would shortly relieve the nation from its present financial pressure; that in the mean time the urgent object was to meet the existing distress. They conceived that the sys tem of loan, however much to be generally deprecated, above all in time of peace, was justified by this peculiar concurrence of circumstances. It was proposed to raise a loan of 200,000,000 reals, (2,250,000l.) to provide for the exigencies of the following year.

The most important measures of the Cortes were those which related to permanent reforms in the political system of Spain. The greatest check to agricultural improvement, arose from the enormous extent of the system of maiorats or entails, which had been prompted by the ancient over-weening pride of the Spanish grandees. This system, which began only in the thir teenth century, now extended over by far the greatest part of the lands in the kingdom. The accumulation of property was accordingly immense; near ly the whole province of Andalusia was the property of three of the great nobles. This system was at once un favourable to all improvement in cul tivation, and prevented the growth of any independent and respectable body of small proprietors. The Commit. tee to whom this subject was referred, proposed to render all lands in the kingdom so far free, that their pos sessors might dispone the whole to their

own children; but to strangers they could dispone only one half. No new entail could be founded but by the express permission of the Cortes, which was to grant it only for weighty reasons, such as important services rendered to the country. No new entail was to exceed, for the Spanish grandees, 80,000 ducats of annual rent; for titled persons 40,000; for private individuals 20,000. No entail could be made for less than 6000 ducats.

This law, after a long and animated discussion, passed on the 12th Octo ber. Some displeasure was felt by those nobles who had the greatness of their order deeply at heart; but as it caused no personal inconvenience to any, and afforded to many of the great est proprietors the means of freeing themselves from large debts in which they were involved, it never gave rise to any serious dissatisfaction or complaint.

D

The case was different with regard to the measure which came next unt der discussion. The enormous accumulation of property in the hands of the religious orders, was another evil under which Spain had long groaned. In 1769, there were found to be in that country 2051 convents, and 61,927 monks and nuns, nor was there any reason to suppose that the number had diminished since that time. The wealth of these orders presented also a tempting prospect of relieving those financial embarrassments under which the nation so deeply laboured: Under the impulse of these views, a proposition was brought forward for the entire suppression of the religious orders, and for declaring their property national. This measure was supported, not only by the Count de Toreno, and other lay deputies, but even by Castrillo, the auxiliary bishop, who declared, that however painful the proposition was to his feelings, he conceived himself

bound to support it, as eminently conducive to the public good. In proof of the legality of the measure, orders were quoted, made at different eras, either to prevent new foundations, or to reform those that already subsisted. Many states, it was observed, had re cognized the principle of the sale of ecclesiastical property, and even the Kings of Spain, Charles III. and Charles IV. had recourse to it, at a time when the national debt was much less than now. On the other hand, it was urged, that the right of property in corporations was as sound as in individuals; that the regular clergy formed an essential part of the Catholic religion; and to destroy the one was to attack the other. The indi vidual distress which would thus be caused, was also much insisted upon. Remonstrances against this measure were addressed to the Cortes by the generals of the Capuchins, and of the Franciscan orders; the one distinguish ed by its moderation, and the other by its fulminating zeal. Notwithstand ing all opposition, the law was adopt ed on the 1st October. All the orders were suppressed, and only eight convents were preserved to maintain the divine worship in some ancient and ce lebrated sanctuaries. The monks se cularised were to receive from 100 to 400 ducats, according to their age and situation. There was a prohibition to found any convent,to admit any profession and upon monks to take any

This innovation in itself, and in the abstract, was satisfactory and neces sary for Spain; yet as respects the manner and degree in which it was car ried into execution, it can scarcely be denied to be premature and precipi tate. Monastic establishments had been as it were interwoven into the whole frame of Spanish society. A great part of the population, and not the

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orst part, still looked up to this body

as their oracles. Before violently subverting an institution rendered venerable by so many ages duration, time should have been allowed to sap it by the gradual diffusion of knowledge and liberal ideas, through the influence of the new institutions. As it stood, this numerous body, holding such sway over the public mind, were turned loose with hearts rankling with the deepest bitterness against the government from which they had experienced such treatment. All the glories of the order were now annihilated; its members reduced to a state of comparative beggary; and the numerous mendicants who were accustomed to receive supplies at the convent gates, were thrown into a state of absolute destitution.— These suffering classes have ever since maintained a perpetual fomes of insurrection, which has deprived the constitutional government of stability and tranquillity, and has only been suppressed by exertions, to which their means and resources were very inadequate.

If we censure this proceeding of the Cortes as rash and ill-timed, there are others which we must stigmatize as essentially and radically evil. In a system which professed to be entirely founded upon liberal principles, it might have been expected that free trade would have formed an essential element. The country of Ustariz, of Campomanes, and of Jovellanos, seemed ripe for an enlightened system in this branch of economy. Those great men were however no more, and their mantle had not fallen on any of the present generation. On the contrary, every nerve was strained by the Cortes, to carry to a greater height that system of monopoly, by the action of which Spain had been undone. Resolutions were adopted by that assembly, and exhortations addressed to the Royal Family, to wear nothing but of Spanish manufacture. In the com