The Sun.
London, England, 1808-11-07 00:00:00

PROCLAMATION.

MADRID, OCT. lg.—The 'Council has taken into
consideration the melancholy occurrences which the
people of Madrid, as loyal as humane and getittrous,
have seen with the greatest displeasure and pain, that
not. Only were two unknown individuals assassinated
by a sinall number of persons, in- one of the most;public places in this city, and on the very birth-day`
of our most beloved Sovereign FERDINAND VII. ;_
but that also a house was attacked in tit.: street .of
MOntera, ark 4 what is more, the house of the Mi-
nister of the' Eniperor of 'RUSSIA, and the Minister'
hiMsell, thus violating the.most sacred laws of the
rights of nations, in the observance of which the
Spanish. nation has distinguished - itself among all
others, by its honour and good faith. The circuin-
stances of horror and cruelty which followed these
ats of violence, are very opposite to the maxims of
our holy religion, and to the wise laws 'of the king-
dom, which prohibit severely tumults and popular
commotions. They throw discredit on the charmer
so justly acquired by the Spaniards, who are not less
brave in the presence of their enemies, than pacific
and friendly, comproinising, at the same time, the
charaiier of the Government among foreign nations,
whose representatives will look upon themselves as
without that inviolable security which is due to their
elevated charaaer.

The Council, which has made so many sacrifices
for the preservation of this capital of our Sovereigns,
and which will never cease to make them for the
benefit of their country, can find no excuse for the
distrust which these tumultuous and atrocious acts
manifest in the .rectitude and integrity in which all
the inhabitants ought to live, in tranquillity, without
usurping an authority which does not belong to
them, and which they must exercise.without know-
ledge, without justice or reason, hurried on by a false
zeal, or rather an insensate fury, especially since
the Judges are ready to listen to any intimation
which may be made to them t)y a known indivi-
dual,-of such as may be suspicious persons, or per-
nicious to the public cause. This supreme Tribu-
nal well knows that these attempts have proceeded
only from a few, and it has also observed the youth
of many of the rioters, while the rest of the comt-
munity lament these excesses, and. call for a re-
medy, anxious for the restoration of that good order
so necessary for our felicity ; and who knows that
the. common enemy, continuing his perfidies and
machinations, may not avail himself of these dis-
turbances, in order'to blacken our nation, disquiet it,
divide it, and embarrass it with its friends and allies?
But though the Council trust that these excesses,
and others of a similku- kind, will not be repeated,
yet in order to restrain the,rnalevolent, who respea
neither the ties. of religion nor of the laws, they
stridly.forbid that any insult, offence, or injury,
either by word or deed,..be offered to any Foreign
Minister or Representative of any Foreign Power, or
their dependents ; and that not the slightest disre-
speet or violence be offeresleither to their persons or
houses, under thepaitis and penalties which such de-
linquents may respeaively deserve. At the same
time, they renew thoselawS which strictly prohibit
associations, tumults, and popular movements, and
order and command, that whosoever shall excite,
promote, assist, or concur in them, shall be punish-
ed with the severest penalties of the laws, even to
the highest puniShment. They also declare all pa-
rents, master..., and householders, responsible fort heir
sons, apprentices, servants, against whom they are
determined to proceed with that vigilance and se-
verity which are called for by every good citizen.
(Signed) DON BART/4.011A AIt.TNO;.
Madrid,o6l. 17.