Star. — London, England, 1820-07-22 00:00:00

. SPAIN. MEETING OF THE COETES. trgitOiangaliT 07 TEE lerll • The ntemoratle epoch is arrived in which the wishes of the Spanish nation were to be fulfilled— the happy day, in which a people determined to pre serve the liberty and the dignity of the Throne have seen their adored King giving another decisive and irrefragable proof of his paternal views, of the love which he bears to'his subjects, and of the earnest de sire which animates him to concur, in concert with the Cones, in founding and consolidating the public happinest by means of a Constitution, essentially di rected to the welfare of all—the •happy hour, in which Ferdinand the Seventh, uniting his sentiments' with those of the Spanish people, presented hints& befbre the august National Congress, in the solemn act of swearing to the Constitution of the Monarchy. All the necessary arrangements for the celebration of this solemn ceremony had been previously made. The King having appointed the hour of ten in the morning of yesterday, Sunday, the 9th of July, for proceeding to the Hall of the Cores, his Majesty left his Palace, accompanied by his auzust spouse and the Infantas, attended by his suite, Ili state coaches. On reaching the Hall of the Cortes, they were re ceived by two Grand Dpputations of the National Representatives. One, consisting of twenty-two mem bers, accompanied the Queen to the tribune which had been prepared for her, that she might, in com pany with the Infantas, enjoy the spectacle of so so lemn a ceremony. The other Deputation, consisting of thirty-two members, including two of the Secretaries, was appointed to attend on the King. When his Majesty entered, all the members stood up, as well as the diplomatic corps in the tribune on the right of the Throne. The Councillors of State. Generals, and Magistrates, occupied the other tri bunes; the immense multitude which filled tire gal leries could not restrain themselves from bursting into loud acclamations and rim! The King took his seat on a magnificent throne, on the sides of which were displayed the Royal in signia. As soon as the King had seated himself, the Infantas, the President of the Cot tes, and all the De puties, also sat down. After a short pause, the Pre sident rose, arid, with the Secretaries, proceeded to receive the King 's oath, which was taken in the man ner prescribed by the Constitution. Don Joseph Espiga, Archbishop Elect of Seville, as President of the Cortes, then addressing himself to the King, delivered the following speech: The Cortes, at a less enlightened period, but.or great and sublime virtue, preserved the fundamental laws of the kingdom, the glory and splendour el the throne, and rheoational Frosperity; but that wi,e rtitmion, which united the King and the nation by the great and noble sentiments of affection and loyalty, gradually dechLed, fell at last into oblivion, and the nation became the theatre of ambition, and the Kin an instrument of bad passions. But the day of your - '.‘lajesty's birth was the Aurora of the resto ration of Spain ; and more than twenty millions of ialiabitaks vie.a. in their young hince the worthy successor of Sr. lier,linand. They were congratu lating themselves with these flattering hopes, when, at the same time that the sacrilegious project of ex tinguishing your sacred.rights was conceived in the bosom of the nation, a vile impostor perfidiously in troduced his hostile legions, and wrested from the arms of the faithful Spaniards their beloved Mo narch, at the very moment when he had just been placed on the throne of „his glorious progenitors.' The Spanish lion was then roused, and a general and uniform cry gave spit it and vigour to the valorous stns of Pelayn; and while the brave warriors ad vanced with their breasts cf bronze, and ext elled the tyrants hosts horn their native land, the fathers of the country, who had been called upon by the gene nil voice of the province;, re-established the Consti tution of the Spani,h Monarchy, which, by solemnly declaring the per:on of the King sacred and invio lable, has more firmly fixed the crown on ycur Ma jesty's royal held, has secured you against the arti fices of any favourite, and thus enables your Majesty to act more freely fur the benefit of your people and the welfare of the State. " The worthy sons of the country conceived that they could not make a better return to the confidence with which the provinces honoured them, nor offer to their King a more acceptable tribute, than to con solidate a vacillating throne, by placing it on the broad basis of a fundamental law, which, being the legacy of our ancestors, and the expression of wis dom, justice, and the public will, closed die door equally against vile flattery and unjust aggression. It secured the administration of justice, established just system of public economy, and sanctioned the respect, obedience, and veneration, due to the laws and the Royal authority. Thus felt the Representa tives of the Nation, in Cadiz. I saw them, Sire, send up deep sighs to HEAVEN for the cruel captivity of their King : I saw them, like orphans, shedding tears of sorrow and anguish, and, humbled before the LAMB of GOD, praying for the return of so amiable a . father to his numerous and disconsolate family. I saw them, overwhelmed with joy and delight, give vent to their oppressed hearts, when they learned that the ALMIGHTY had listened to their fervent suppli cations, and that the tutelar'''. Angel of Spain had (!escended to break the chains imposed by Tyranny. Such were their generous sentiments, when sordid Interest, crafty Ambition, atrocious Calumny, and insatiable Vengeance, after meditating in obscurity their detestable plots, dared to approach the Throne, and sacrilegiously profane the sanctuary of Majesty. But, Sire, let us spread a veil over those melancholy proofs of human weakness. " At length the happy day arrived when a bright star arose on the Spanish horizon, which dissipated the thick clouds formed by intrigue and malevo lence, and,sacred truth shoat forth with a brilliancy which excited the admiration of some, the respect of others, the confusion of many, and the conviction of .all. Happy •Spain again sees assembled those Cortes which rendered the reigns of her Alphonsos and her Ferdinands so glorious; and the most virtuous of na tions—forgetting wrongs, pardoning injuries--is solely employed in the re-establishing a constitu tional Government, in preserving the purity of her holy religion, and in giving testimonies of gratitude and veneration to her King, now seated on his august Throne amidst the National Congress, after having taken a solemn oath s by which he is made greater than the son of Philip was by the conquest of Orien tal kingdoms. 0 magnanimous King ! the noble and loyal Spaniards are sensible of the numerous evils from which you have saved them by this generous act, by which the genius, of evil, prepared to light' up the flame of . discord among us, is-cruslred. All hope that every pernicious germ will be extinguished, and that eternal peace and concord will take root in their stead. Let the fears, jealousies, and distrusts, which criminal persons have excited in the heart of the best of Kings, for ever diiappear and all unite in surrounding the Throne with that I - rater-nil al liance which secures order, produces plenty, main tains justice, and preserves peace. And permit me, Sire, the faithful organ of this Congress, and of the Nation it represents, to present to you the due homage of its fidelity, and of the honourable senti ments by which it is aaimated. " As our illustrious ancestors always were the firmest support of the Throne and the Monarch, so the same Spain, always ready to give brilliant testi monies of loyalty and love to her Kings, solemnly promises you that her sons, who have displayed in war more sanguinary examples of fidelity than were known to pastgenerations, will make sacrifices worthy of Spanish heroes, and the admiration of future ages." His Majesty replied in the follo. - ing terms : " I accept the expressions and sentiments of love and loyalty which the Cortes manifests towards me through the organ of its President ; and 1 hope, through its assistance, to see the dation I have the glory to govern, free and happy." • Immediately after his Majesty read with a clear intelligible voice, and with the dignity becoming his character, the following speech : ". Gentlemen Deputies—At length has arrived the day, the object of my ardent wishes, on which I see myself surrounded by the Representatives of the heroic and generous Spanish Nation, and in which a' solertin oath has completely identified my interests and those of my family widi the. interests of my people. 44 When excess of evils produced the clear mani festation of the voice of the nation, formerly obscured by lamentable circumstances which ought to be erased from our memories, I immediately determined to embrace the desired system, and to take the oath to the political Constitution of the Monarchy sanctioned by the General and Extraordinary Cortes in the year 1812. Then did the Crown as well as the Nation receive its legitimate rights, my resolution being no less spontaneous and tree than conformable to my own interests and those of the, Spanish people, whose happiness never ceased to be the object of my sin cerest wishes. My heart thus indissolubly united with the hearts of my subjects, who are also my chil dren, the future presents to me only agreeable images of confidence, foie, and prosperity. With what satisfaction mu-.t the rand spectacle be contemplated, hitherto unexampled in• history, of a magnanimous nation, which has passed from one political state to another without convulsion or vio lence, subjecting her et.thusiasm to the guidance of reason, under circumstances which have covered with mourning, and inundated with tears, other less for , tunate countries! " The general attention of Europe is now directed to the proceedings of the Congress which represents this highly-favoured nation. From it are expected prudent indulgence for the past, and enlightened firmness for the future ; and that at the moment which confirms the happiness of the present and suc ceeding generations, the errors of the preceding epoch may be buried in oblivion. It is also hoped that multiplied examples will be displayed of justice, beneficence; and generosity—virtues which always distinguished Spaniards—which the Constitution re commends, and snich, having been religiously ob served during the effervescence among the people, ought to be still more strictly practised in the Con gress of their Representatives, invested with the cir cumspect and tranquil character of legislators. " It is not, time to undertake the examination of the state of the nation, and to commence those labours indispensable for the application of remedies suitable to the evils produced by ancient causes, and augmented both by the invasion of the enemy, and by the erroneous system of the succeeding period. " The account 'of the public revenue, which the Secretary of Sta:e, to whom that department belongs, will present, will shew its diminution and embarrass ment, and will excite the zeal of the Cortes to seek and select, among the resources still possessed by the nation, those best suited for meeting the engage ments and indispensable charges of the State. This inquiry will serve -more and more to confirm the opinion, that it is essential and urgent to establish public credit on the immutable basis of justice and good faith, and the scrupulous observance and ful filment of all engagements which give satisfaCtion and tranquillity to creditors and capitalists, native 'and foreign, and relief to the treasury. I fulfil one of the most sacred duties which the Royal dignity and the love of my people impose on me, in earnestly recommending this important object to the serious consideration of the Cortes. " The administration of justice, without which no society can exist, has hitherto depended almost ex clusively on the honour and probity of . the judges, but now made subject to known and established principles, it affords to the citizens new and stronger grounds of security ; and still greater improvements are to be expected when our codes, carefully im proved, shall attain that simplicity and perfection which the knowledge and experience of the age in which we live are capable of giving. " In the interior administration difficulties are ex perienced which proceed from old abuses, aggravated during these latter times. The persevering appli cation of the Government, and the zeal with which its agents, and the provinCial authorities, labour to establish the simple and beneficent municipal system adopted by the COnstitution, are lessening the ob stacles, and will, in time, perfect a department of the State which has an essential influenceover the public welfare and prosperity. " The Army and Navy call more partietiLirly, for my attention and solicitude. It will be one of my first cares to promote their organization, and esta blish them in the manner most convenient for the nation, combining, as far as possible, the advantages of forces so important with that economy which is indispensable, and relying on the patriotism and good will of the people, and the wisdom of their Representatives, to whonA shall always have recourse with - entire confidence. " It is to be expected that the re-establishment. of the Constitutional system, and the flattering prospect which that event presents for the future, may, by re• moving the pretests of which malignity has been able to take advantage in the ultra-marine provinces, smooth - the path •to the pacification of those which, are in a state of agitatiob or disturbance, and render unnecessary the employment of any oth er means.— The examp les of moderation and the love . of order 'given by Peninsular Spain, the just pridik belonging to so worthy and generous a nation, and the wise laws which are promulgpied conformably to the Constitution, will contribute to this object, to the ob livion of past evils, and will draw closer all Spaniards around my Throne—sacrificing to the love of their common country all the recollections which might break or weaken those fraternal ties by which they ought to be united. " In our relations with foreign countries the most perfect harmony in general prevails, with the excep tion of some few differences, which, though they have not disturbed the existing peace, have given rise to discussions which cannot be terminated without the concurrence and intervention of the Cortes of the kingdom. Such are the differences pending with the United States of America respecting the Floridas, and the marking out the boundaries of Louisiana.— Contests likewise exist, occasioned by the occupation of Monte-Video, and other Spanish possessions on the left bank of the river Plata ; but, though a compli cation of various circumstances has hitherto prevent ed the adjustment of these differences, I hope that the justice and moderation of the principles which guide our diplomatic operations, will produce a tesult suit able to the Nation, and conformable to the pacific system, die preservation of which is now the general and decided maxim of European policy. The Re gency of Algiers has given indications of a wish to renew its old system of lestlessness and aggression.— To avoid the consequences which may arise from this wank of respect to existing stipulations, the de! fensive Treaty entered into in the year 1816 with the King of the Netherlands, stipulated the union of the respective maritime forces in the Mediterranean, des tined to maintain and secure the freedom of naviga tion and commerce. " Thus, as it is the duty of the Cortes to consoli date general happiness through the medium of wise and just laws, and thereby to protect Religion, the Wits of the Crown, and of the Citizens ; so also it belongs to my office to watch over the execution and Culfilnient of those laws, and especially of the funda-• mental law of the Monarchy; in which the hopes and wishes of the Spanish people are centred. Tbis-will be my most grateful and Most constant duty. To the establishment, and to the entire and inviolable preservation of the Constitution, the power which :that Constitution grants to the Royal Authority will be devoted, and in that will also consist my duty, my delight, and glory. To fulfil and bring to per fection this great and salutary enterprise, atter hum bly imploring the aid and guidance of the AUTHOR Or ALL Goon, require the active co-operation of the Cortes, whose zeal, intelligence, patriotism, and love to my Royal person, lead me to hope that they will concur in all the necessary measures for the at tainment of such important ends, thus justifying the confidence of the heroic Nation by which they ave been elected." The PRESIDENT replied : " The Cortes has heard with singular satisfaction the wise address in which your Majesty has expressed your noble and generous sentiments, and described the state of the nation. The Cortes presents to your Majesty its most respectful thanks for the ardent zeal with which you promote the general prosperity, and promises to co-operate with your Majesty's intelli gence, andto contributeby all possible means to the attainment of the important objects for which it has been convoked."' The ceremonies of tbis august Assembly being ended, their Majesties and the Infantas 'withdrew from the Cortes with the same retinue with which they had entered, repeated cries of Viva el Rey y las Corks! resounding through the hall, and all re turned to tbe'Palace. The streets through which the procession passed were lined with the different. corps of the garrison of Madrid, and national militi:i, both cavalry and in fantry. The presence of their Majesties and the In fantas—the splendour of the retinue—the brilliancy of the equipages—the taste displayed in the tapestry (which ornamented the balconies of the windows) — the numerous concourse of people, which almost im peded the course of the - procession —the repeated ap plause of all classes of persons, enthusiastically ex claiming " Viva el Rey ! Viva la Constitacion ! Vim el Rey Constitucsonel," &c.—and, above all, the recollection of the object of the magnificent cere mony—all concurred to render this day most glori dus to the Spanish nation, and to present a spectacle which will be the eternal admiration of future ages. _ The tranquillity and order which prevailed in the hall of the Cortes, as well as throughout the streets,' served to confirm more than ever the good opinion that is entertained of the character of the inhabitants of this capital, who, on the great day of Spain, gave the most convincing proofs of their noble sentiments, their loyalty and love of the King, and their adhe rence to those constitutional laws in which the hap.. piness of all is centred. The sitting of the Cortes was continued after his Majesty's departure t and, on the proposition of the Deputy Count de Toreno, a Committee was ap pointed to draw up an Address in answer to his Ma jesty's speech ; and fa this purpose were elected the Deputies Count de Toreno, Torrero, Martinez de la Rosa Tapia, Temes, and General Quiroga. With this the solemn act of the opening of the Cortes concluded. Tuesday last, the weights belonging to the clock which is over the Town Hall, at Evesham, fell sud denly, and forcing their way through the ceiling of , the Hall, fell immediately upon the seats of the Mayor and .Deputy-Recorder. It is a somewhat singular circumstance that but for an adjournment of the Ses sions these Gentlemen would have occupied their seats at the moment the weights fell ; in that case their deaths must have been inevitable, as they were more than two hundred weight. A robber, dressed in the shape of the Devil, with horns, tail, &c. lately made an attempt to rob a far mer at York, in Pennsylvania; but, by the assistance of a pedlar, who happened to lodge there on the night of the attempt, his Satanic Majesty was secusa4 and put in irons to await his trial. • ...' . . THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. *4 SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1820. THE FUNDS. PRICE Of STOCK DAY AT Mit O'CLCeK 3 per Cent. Reduced 69 1 / 2 3 / 4 S per Cent. Cons. 69 68 7 / 8 69 Se per Cent. 7734 4 per Cent. 87% Ye 5 per Cent. 105% 1 12. Long Annuities 18 1 / 8 1-16 India Bonds 21s. 225. pre. Exchequer Bills, ss. 6s. pr.—Commer. 12s. pr. Omnium pre.—Conc. for Acct. 691 - No Farther accounts have been 'received from Naples; but there is no lack of intelligence respect ing -the regeneration of Europe, now so happily, and without bloodshed, bringing into the world a new organization of human societies, Yesterday evening, but too late for our publicatirr, we received the Madrid Gazette of the 10th instant, containing the Speech of the Kis°, and an account of the other ceremonies which took place at the opening of the Cortes. We have given them at furl length in our columns. They will be read with a lively interest. The novelty of the scene and the ex hilarating nature of the proceedings, and the other circumstances by which it was accompanied, tend greatly to enhance their value. Who can be so cold-hearted—so indifferent to the well-being of the human race—as riot to rejoice that those unavoidable changes which are absolutely in-. posed upon mankind by the necessity or circumstances should have taken this bloodless complexion ? None but those blind dolts who would still flatter them selves that, by tricks, chicanery, idle speeches, and will to perpetrate and perpetuate wrongs, they cna stop the regular course of nature. As well mil;lit they imagine, that, by a Hely Alliance, they cod make the sun to shine and the rain to fall only upon their own fields. The talisman, by which they for merly bound men to the sufferance of. wrongs, and could even make them their instruments of climes, !, broken. The passing scene fills them with terrois and dismay: Blind men ! YOU ought to rejoice that the disturbed elements seem disposed to spend their force in the quiet assertion of Right's—in a iefus2l to be blindly led to fields of slaughter. What would have become of you had it burst forth in thunders and tempests? What will become of.you if, by vain efforts to stem the torrent,_ you expose yourselves to its overwhelming pressure ? But your labours, you imagine, will not be vain. Pursue this idea, and you, your families,, and every vestige of your exclusive privileges, will be swept from the earth with the besom of destruction. The cloud hitherto has only been of . “ the size of a man's hand." If, instead of wisely seeking shelter in time, you dally with the.portent, it will soon cover the whole heaven, and pour itself on your mouth heads. None but your worst enemies can wish you to shut your eyes to the danger with which you are threatened. If we are to believe the Vrench Papua, on es. plosion may immediately be expected in Austrian Italy.- That great discontent has prevailed there ever since the people came under the thraldom cf Austria, is well known to all the world. Worse they cannot be than they now are; and when a people are in such a state th..t no change can he for the worse, they are ripe for revolution. But, in addition to the evils which the Italians suffer • from Austrian mis government, they writhe under the mortification of seeing themselves tyrannized over by foreigners.— This must have a powerful influence. Nor are Spain and Italy the only countries in Europe (tor we cannot speak now of the Western Hemisphere) in which the elements of political change are in full activity. True, there is not everywhere bustle and clamour—so much the worse to the hopes of the adherents to ancient abuses. No; the energies of emancipation now work in a different, a much more effixacions manner.. In Prussia, the public will is well known. For seven years, they have bad the promise of a Representative Government being esta blished; and while the calm that followed the late war continued, they had nothing but renewed promises. The Revolution in Spain alarmed the Prussian Go vernment, and it was found that the people must get something that shall, at least 4n appearance, be more solid than words. Accordingly, that Govern ment has been concocting something which shall have the name of a Representative Constitution. — Following the example of Austria, it is now an nounced, that the Km means to Gni his subjects Provincial States only, and not a Representative Go vernment; in the common acceptatinn . of this espies- Ifhis MAJESTY bewilling to give them nonpre, it requires no great degree of political foresight tolsre dict that they will rata what was promised them: According to the subjoined article, Which appear' in German Papers received last night, the 3d of Au gust is fixed on for giving the New Constitution. • It is possible, however, that the Revolution which has occurred at Naples may open the eyes of the Court of Berlin to the necessity of.giving, with a good graCe, a Constitution better suited to the expecta tions of the People. Dr. JAHN.and his fate •still engages the attention of the Public iu Prussia. He is, for the present, kept e 1 I I