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172

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1808.

by the interests of Spain, as well as done without overcoming very great
those of France, that a strong hand resistance, and without a deluge
should re-establish order in the of French blood. In short, could
Spanish government that had fallen your majesty abandon the Spanish
into such disgrace, and that was nation to its fate in the midst of ex-
hastening so quickly to its final treme agitation, and while the Eng-
overthrow and ruin: that a prince lish were busy in fomenting trouble
who was the friend of France by and anarchy? Ought your majesty
inclination and by interest, that had to give up this new prey to be de
nothing to apprehend, and could voured by Eugland? God forbid
never be an object of mistrust to I have represented the circumstan-
France, should consecrate the whole ces that oblige your majesty to
resources of Spain to its internal come to a great determination.
prosperity, to the re-establishment is recommended by political wis-
of its marine, and to the success of dom, authorized by justice, and
that cause which connected Spain by the distractions of Spain, impe-

with the continent. The work of
Lewis XIV. was to be recommen-
ced. What policy advised, justice
sanctioned."

riously demanded.

It

Your majesty
the influence of England.
ought to provide for the security of
your empire, and to save Spain from

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The minister for foreign relaThe reporter after setting himself to establish this point by a re- tions, in another report made to view of circumstances adduced to the emperor, Paris, September 1, prove the lurking hostility of Spain to be communicated to the senate, to France, and its predilection for says, "If in the dispositions which England, and that it was actually your majesty has made, the security in a state of war with his imperial of France has been your principal majesty, says, "But, independently object, the interests of Spain have of these considerations, existing cir- not been neglected. In uniting the cumstances do not permit your ma- two states by the most intimate allijesty to abstain from intervention ance the prosperity and the glory, in the affairs of that kingdom. The of both have been equally consultof Spain had been hurled from ed; your majesty interposed as a king throne, your majesty was called mediator for the salvation of Spain, Judge between the father and the torn to pieces by intestine broils. What part could your ma- You pointed out to the Spaniards on take? Could your majesty sa- the one hand the anarchy with the cause of sovereigns, and which they were threatened, and on an outrage to the majesty of the other hand England ready to one? Or suffer a prince.to sit take advantage of their disorder in throne of Spain who was un- order to appropriate to herself disentangle himself from of the English any longer majesty should maintain Ful army in Spain? If, on vinces," and to domineer at the and, your majesty should ports of France? If the French to restore Charles IV. fight for the liberty of the seas, one, this could not be they must begin with tearing Spain

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ence.-Shall England be permitted
to say, "Spain is one of my pro-

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the Spaniards, the sole object of their wishes."

The king and queen of Spain, arrived on the 20th of May, at Fontainebleau, where he was immediately accommodated with a complete equipage for the chase. From thence they removed on the 22d, to Compiegne. The prince of the peace resided now and then, when he did not attend the king and queen, in a villa in the environs of Paris. The queen of Etruria, and her son, were placed under proper care at a house in the village of St. Mendez, near Paris. The unfortunate Ferdinand, with his uncle and brother, arrived May 19th at Vallency, a small town in the province of Berry, where they were lodged in a castle belonging to Talleyrand. The princes sought consolation in a strict observance of the ordinances of the catholic religion. They attended mass twice every day, and enjoyed for hours together, the soothing strains of sacred music. The incomes promised by treaty to the royal family of Spain, have not been more regularly paid than pensions commonly are to princes in confinement or exile: which has already reduced the princes to great inconvenience.

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* May 1, 1810.

ple in the history of mankind, whether in a savage, barbarous, civilized, or refined state. Yet he made no apology to Europe: but afterwards, when he found he was opposed both by the pen and the sword with a keenness he little expected, he published a kind of justification of his conduct towards Spain, which is the most curious piece of what may be called political morality, or the morality of ambition, that had ever before been presented to the world. This justification appeared in the form of a report from the ministers of external relations and of war, presented to the conservative senate on the 5th of September, and publisted in the Moniteur, September 7th. It is dated at Bayonne, April 24th, 1808.-The substance of it is, "that France was under an obligation to put an end to the internal dissentions and anarchy that prevailed in Spain, in order to compel the English government to spare the effusion of human blood. This was for the interest and happiness of Spain, France, the continent of Europe, and all the world.—Of all the states of Europe there was not one between whose condition' and fate, and that of France, there was so close and necessary connection as that of Spain. Spain must be either a useful friend to France or a dangerous enemy.

The greatness of Lewis XIV. did not begin till, having conquered Spain, he formed an alliance with the family then reigning there, by which means the Spanish crown came to be placed on the head of his grandson. This provident act of policy was productive of no less

a benefit to the two countries than a century of peace after three centuries of war. The bond that united the two nations was broken asunder by the French revolution. After the third coalition, Spain, at the same time that she was most profuse in her protestations of friendship to France, gave seeret assurances of aid to the confederates, as appeared from certain papers communicated to the parliament of England.

In the present state of things Spain, under so miserable a government, was of no service to the common cause against England. Her marine was neglected; her magazines unprovided; in every branch of the administration there reigned the most horrible disorders; all the resources of the monarchy were dilapidated; yet while Spain neglected her marine she was augmenting her force at land. These great evils were not to be remedied but by great changes. The maritime resources of Spain were lost to herself and to France. The country that might command the greatest resources of this kind was that which in reality. had the least. They must be restored by good government, and improved by judicious arrangements, that they might be directed by his imperial majesty, for the attainment of that peace which hu manity so loudly called for, and of which Europe had so great weed. Every thing that had a tendency to this end was allowable and right. It was not permitted to his majesty by the interests of either France or Europe, to neglect the only means of waging a 'successful war with England. It was demanded"

1

Though probably not composed till sometime afterwards.

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by the interests of Spain, as well as those of France, that a strong hand should re-establish order in the Spanish government that had fallen into such disgrace, and that was hastening so quickly to its final overthrow and ruin: that a prince who was the friend of France by inclination and by interest, that had nothing to apprehend, and could never be an object of mistrust to France, should consecrate the whole resources of Spain to its internal prosperity, to the re-establishment of its marine, and to the success of that cause which connected Spain with the continent. The work of Lewis XIV. was to be recommenced. What policy advised, justice sanctioned."

The reporter after setting hinself to establish this point by a review of circumstances adduced to prove the lurking hostility of Spain to France, and its predilection for England, and that it was actually in a state of war with his imperial majesty, says, "But, independently of these considerations, existing circumstances do not permit your majesty to abstain from intervention in the affairs of that kingdom. The king of Spain had been hurled from his throne, your majesty was called to judge between the father and the son. What part could your majesty take? Could your majesty sacrifice the cause of sovereigns, and suffer an outrage to the majesty of the throne? Or suffer a prince to sit on the throne of Spain who was unable to disentangle himself from the yoke of the English any longer than your majesty should maintain a powerful army in Spain? If, on the other hand, your majesty should determine to restore Charles IV. to the throne, this could not be

done without overcoming very great resistance, and without a deluge of French blood. In short, could your majesty abandon the Spanish, nation to its fate in the midst of extreme agitation, and while the English were busy in fomenting trouble and anarchy? Ought your majesty to give up this new prey to be devoured by Eugland? God forbid— I have represented the circumstances that oblige your majesty to come to a great determination. It is recommended by political wisdom, authorized by justice, and by the distractions of Spain, imperiously demanded. Your majesty ought to provide for the security of your empire, and to save Spain from the influence of Eugland."

The minister for foreign relations, in another report made to the emperor, Paris, September 1, to be communicated to the senate, says, "If in the dispositions which your majesty has made, the security of France has been your principal object, the interests of Spain have not been neglected. In uniting the two states by the most intimate alliance the prosperity and the glory of both have been equally consulted; your majesty interposed as a mediator for the salvation of Spain, torn to pieces by intestine broils. You pointed out to the Spaniards on the one hand the anarchy with which they were threatened, and on the other hand England ready to take advantage of their disorder in order to appropriate to herself whatever might suit her convenience.-Shall England be permitted to say, "Spain is one of my provinces," and to domineer at the ports of France? If the French fight for the liberty of the seas, they must begin with tearing Spain

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