The National Register.
London, England, 1808-05-08 00:00:00

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In short then, it appears to us, that the the Spanish peo-
ple have been instigated to this riot, by no scheme of
foreign intrigue originating with the Prince of •Peace, by
no fear of foreign influence operating upon their minds,
but by that angry spirit which so frequently actuates
the mob of a country to rise for the overthrow of great
men personally obnoxious, and of domestic measures poli-
tically disagreeable. If we consider the Spanish Insurrec-
tion merely iu this light, we shall find nothing irreconcile-
able in the various accounts that have reached us. The
degradation of Godoy, and the favourable disposition
manifested by the new king to the French, though they
seem strange and contradictory events according to the
hypotheses of those who refer every thing to foreign
causes, will appear perfectly consistent on the admission of
a domestic inducement. However, we beg to be under-
s►ood, that although we are not inclined fully to coincide
with those who attribute every thing to French intrigue,
or with those who attribute every thing to the fear of
French power ; yet we do not by any means proceed to the
length of denying that such causes may have operated :
and we offer our own view of the case, not as a decision
upon the question, but merely as a probable conjecture.
But whatever may be the real causes of this Insurrec-
tion, and however difficult it may be found exactly to
declare any of the results which it will produce, we thick
it by no means equally difficult to point out some of the
desired effects which it will not produce. It will not
produce any material advantage either to the Conti-
nent in general, or to England in particular. If the dis-
position of Spain were friendly to this country, of which
we see no sort of token, yet her power is totally inade-
quate to our service; much more then must it be inade-
quate to the restoration of that tranquillity, which seems
to be attainable only by the overthrow of Bonaparte's do-
mination. The armies of the French are on the frontiers,
nay, they are in the very territories of Spain : the Spanish
troops are at a distance from home, employed in Germany
for the service of French allies.

Under all these circnmstances, what may we gather from
the late events in Spain ? Not a hope for the countries of
Europe, but a lesson for their Rulers and Philosophers.
`inain which was once a State proudly pre-eminent among
the Nations of the civilized world : Spain, which once was
equal to the French Empire in military greatness, as she
was allied to them by her rot al blood ; Spain, which was
once the mistress of the seas, and tivj rival of England her-
self—Spain, that gallant country, the early abode of all that
was glorious in feeling, in courage, and in wisdom—the seat
of Chivalry, the flower of nurope—is fallen for ever from
her high estate ; the pride of her national character, the
strength of her armies, the power of her fleets, the here-
ditary dignity of her Bourbons, all, all, exist but as sha-
dows, the ghosts of agrandeur departed !
Such must ever be the fate of those countries, whose
r:::::triess rises from accidental causes, and whose power is
irlt. Lite overgrown might of a few ; while the nations that
,:n.ch individual alike an interest in the safety of
Ole whole, and by equal laws and encouragements call
forth and retard at every period of their history, a con-
stant saccess'on of talent and virtue, may reasonably hope
ter—stand firm against the tide of ages, although, as it fares
with .England at the present moment, the world should rise
in arms against them I

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