Star.
London, England, 1808-10-11 00:00:00

--C-

" On the Stl-vi the same month of MAT,eat. four
in the afternoon, the Emperor went to visit the royal
Parents, and continued in conference until five o'clock,
when King Ferdilaad was called in by his august
father to hear, in the presence of the Queen and the
Emperor, expressions so disgus.ting and humiliating,
that Ido not dare to record them. All the party
were seated except King Ferdinand, whom the father
ordered to make. an -absolute renunciation of the
crown, under pain of being treated, with all his
household, as an usurper of the throne, and a conspi-
rator against the lifeof his parents.
ss His Majesty would have preferred death ;—but
desirous not to involve in his misfortunes the number
of persons comprised in the threat of Charles IV. he
assented to another renunciation, (No 10.) which
bears on its front all the indications of constraint and
violence, and which in no respect answers its pur-
pose, to colour over the intended usurpation of the
Emperor.
" These are the only instances of renunciation in
which I have interfered as. Minister and Secretary of
State. That which is spoken of at-Rourdeaux, 1 have
not the least knowledge of ; but I know the Emperor,
in the last conference with King Ferdinand VII. said
to his Majesty, ' Prince, itfeint offer entre la cession et la
most.' ' Prince, you have only to choose between
cession and death.'
" With respect to the rest, the whole world is ap-
prized that Charles IV. renounced the Crown to the
Emperor at the time that the Prince of Asturias, his
brother the Infant Don• Carlos, and his uncle the In-
fant Don Antonio, were forced to surrender their
tights. The Emperor, now believing himself pro-
prietor of the Crown of Spain, placed it on the head
of his brother Joseph Napoleon, King of Naples.
" It has already been explained, that although the
King left his Court for a few days, he thought fit to
sanction a Junta, of which the Infant Don Antonio
was to be President,'svith full powers to determine for
him and in his Royal name, all subjects that would
not permit of delay. Every night I sent a' courier to
this Junta, communicating what appeared necessary
for its information and direction. - _ _

41 When the King arrived at Bayonne (and on the
day of his arrival," the ambitious and violent inten-
tions of the Emperor were communicated to him. )=
I began to fear that the extraordinary couriers would
be intercepted, as was found to be the fact. Among
the various disputes that I had with the Minister,
Champagny, on the different accidents that occasion-
ed the detention of the Cabinet couriers, the answer
that he gave me to a remonstrance of mine is suffi-
ciently remarkable. It is to be seen among the do-
cuments in justification (No. I 1.) In this situation
of things, I took the precaution of sending duplicates
by different conveyances. By such means, I succeed-
ed so far as to give information to the Junta Of Go-
vernment of the arrest and oppression to which the
King had been exposed.
It was easy to foresee that the freedom of the
Junta would not be respected, since, notwithstanding
all the offers and assurances of the Emperor, the li-
berty of the Sovereign was violated at Bayonne ; and
that the noble designs of some Members of the same
Assembly would be obstructed (although boldly de•
clared) by the irresistible power of the representative
of the Emperor. To this, no doubt, is to be attri-
buted their not having consulted upon the awful con.
dition of the kingdom, and the remedy for such a
calamity, as well as not having appointed a Junta to
assume the Regency, in a place where the bayonets
of the enemy could not penetrate.

46 The King was surprised -hat the Junta had not
written ; and the following post, when -his Majesty
had come to a determination in consequence, without
losing a moment, I sent a Royal order to the Junta,
that they should execute whatever was expedient for the
service of the King and the kingdom, and for that purpose
they should employ all the powers which his Majesty would
pastels ff he were himself resident in the kingdom (6).
66 Nothing could be written that could be more in-
telligible. The security of the means of communi-
cation diminished every moment ; for I could not
expect that the Emperor would regard the sacredness
of a correspondence, since he paid no respect to the
person of the Sovereign to whom it was subservient.
" The Junta, notwithstanding, thought it was ne-
cessary to consult his Majesty, and to obtain his
orders as to various measures which appeared to them
necessary for the salvation of the country ; and for
-this purpose they sent to Bayonne a confidential per-
son of known zeal i the Royal service, to transmit
'verbally to the King the following propositions :
1. Whether his Majesty thought fit to authorize
the Junta to substitute, in case of need, some person
or persons of their own body, or otherwise, to hold a
Council in a secure situation, where, it could freely
act ; and they entreated his Majesty to signify who
should compose the Council for that purpose, should
he think the measure expedient.
2. Whether it was the wish of his Majesty that
hostilities should be commenced against the Frenclh
Arlay ; andin that case. when and how the..purposel
should be executed.
_ _ _ _ _

3. Whether it were likewise the wish of the King
that we should endeavour to prevent the entrance of
more French troops into Spain, by guarding the
passes on the frontiers.

4. Whether his Majesty thought it would be right
to convoke the Cortes, for which purpose a decree of
his Majesty would benecessary, addressed to the Royal
Council. It being possible that at the arrival of the
answer of the King, the Junta would not be at liberty
to act,rthey asked whether any Chancery or Audience
of the kingdom should be empowered, which was
not within the reach of the French troops. Further,
if the Cortes should be assembled, on what subjects
of discussion it should proceed.

The person charged with these propositions, ar-
rived at Bayonne on the 4th of May, at night : he
came to me immediately, and having disclosed to me
his business, I introduced him to his Majesty without
losing a moment.
" The King having taken into consideration the
four propositions submitted to his attention by the
Junta, sent in answer two Royal Decrees in the morn-
ing of the following day, the one written by his Ma-
jesty with his own hand directed to the Junta of Go-
vernment—the other signed by his Majesty (41 Yo el
Rey") addressed in the first instance to the Council,
(6) The Cabinet Courier conveying this Royal Order was in-
tercepted, on which account I sent a duplicate, which was rt•
eeived by the haul, the nisinsnotions-o/ wltich I have act been
able to preserve. - • .

--,
here stated. (Signed)

, slmafin,P.:Z[l.o::::::
and,
to
any Chancery
or Atdienoo of the. Flo- a confinement within the frontier of Prance, to.lti ‘ti.
oroculdee,,cionigissidce(rmillAatnmoty
drica,rrtr;ou,i; . +, 1:t,..
to any
should neit- be under restraint.
~ ~. in.
me wrath all se
-flitese i '.• tee ,eo,
the utmost importunity to be lee-netted
.ie or
care, an. d unordegrnseludreetriesconiditictsP,ateithCdis wellbi
known, ar- fabric of the new Spanish Monarchy. In r. : f.•
rived in the hands of one of the Members of the Junta two months, I applied to the Minister ler remelt
.to returnee Ty beloved country. The determine* .
eanjduitwtahoisse.ananmriecowtahsa;fi4r,s;•mm4e4no.-
no use of it, nor did he ever send to the Council resistance I "asle to the attempt:of us/in-rat-mil m:4,
wmrntiisonneod4l;abbSelantthl
V decree which was addressed to it. (7.) the French Government deaf to i
my ntreat es, be.
_
" The minutes of-these two decreed are not in my lieving, not without
.gond reason, that I shntild endet
possession, because the 'critical situation the -
King 'arnur to inflame heroilrft lenif cistriitry, denominated
at Bayonne, and the necessity of avoiding the expose e insurrection in the Journals of. Bayonne.
tion of his views, obliged me to• destroy them. Not- . "In such unfavourable circumstances, a mode ~..„,_
withstanding this, I preserved them in nly memory, sensed itself to me of avoiding a state of..indee;;;
and they are testified and certified by the three Se. banishment. Such were the repeated entreaties cflo
cretaries of his Majesty, 1). Eusebio Berdazi y Azara,
'situation
Napoleon that I should continue with him in the
D. Luis de Onis, and D. Evaristo' Perez de.Castro, situation of Minister, to which I accci.e.l with repue.
who were with me at Bayonne, and saw and read nance, and from constraint, but without prejtelice7,s
the two original decrees, the substance of which is as my right to abandon it at a coiwenient opportunity •
follows : " This opportunity occurred the mon: t I ' •
L " Set 1.6 t
• " The King said to the Junta of Government that in Madrid.. From that instant . I oo'y thmerlit tg
he Was, not in A state of freedom and consequently in. availing myself of the most early means of resigninv,
capable of taking any measures for the pfesereation my new character, which. I did in the manner :hen;
of the Royal Person andthe Monarchy. On that ac- in document No. 12. •
count the Junta was entrusted with most ample powers " Joseph Napoleon could not be grieved at the die,
to repair to any place that should be deemed most appearance of a Minister who so frequently op
•
convenient ; that in the name of his Majesty, and his wishes (11), and who, in the Opinion a
me
representing his own person, they. might exercise of those who immediately, surrounded him, was . 1
all the functions of sovereignty—that hostilities a Quixote in his maxims, who could not eongiroiale/ di
should commence the moment when his Majesty sublime intention: of the greatest of heroes in favour of*
should proceed to the interior of France, which he regeneration of Spain.
would not do, unless so obliged by violence. Lastly, " I have shewn in this narrative with clearness an&
that in. suck a case, the Junta should prevent, in the fidelity, the series• of the principal events in this ill.
best manner theycould, the introduction Of more troops portant epoch, carefully avoiding to enter into mixes,
into the peninsula (8) !particulars foreign to my object, or which should MAR
" In the Decree directed to the Royal Council, and • this exposition too prolix; and I have eudeavounedte
next to any Chancery or Audience, his Majesty said, place before.my readers,, in its true point of view, al
that, in the situation in which he found himself, de- I the injustice and violence with which the French Cie.
prived of his liberty, it was his Royal will that the•Lverninent has conducted itself towards our beloved
Cortes should be assembled in such place as should.. Sovereign, and the whole nation.
appear most convenient; that at first they sheik' 6.c,..,i,. f. It has already been proved, that the renunciation.
cupy themselves exclusivelyin attending to the leieies.:,,if Charles IV. in favour of his son Ferdinand VIL is
and subsidies necessary for the defence of the kingeesitiated in no respect. In the slight sketch which 1
dom, and that their sittings should be pet ne
,tp,• 'have drawn of the perfidious and deceitful arts with
determine what should be done on future eyeao,4)). which the. Emperor has made the progress we hare
" The disgraceful means of which the EMperer ! seen, the series of atrocious insults offered to Spain,
,availed himself to obtain the renunciation of the and to the unfortunate King Ferdieand VII. remains.
'crown of Spaip in his favour have already been depicted in indelible colours. .
known ; but the violence of Bonaparte to accomplish i " The Emperor alarrps.Charles IV. in order that
j his purposes did not terminate there. Blinded as he it may induce him to. take flight for America, with en •
was by the extravagance of his ambition, he could the Royal Family, .and abandon the. Peninsula to the :
yet discern how easily these acts of renunciation former; he lights up the flame of discord betw et .
would he disposed of ; and therefore he endeavour- t' le Royal Parents and their child, in order to &hill-
ed to confirm them by the means of a Council which tate Spain, dividing it into parties, of cr haying di:-
he called a National Assembly, and which was to be , graced the Royal persons ; he draws Ferdinand VIL
convoked at Bayonne (10). I from his Court by false promises ; he makes hini cap.
" He named about one hundred and fifty Spani- tive in Bayonne, and when be saw that the virtue of
ards, of different classes, conditions, and corporations, I the young King knew how to resist his designs, and
to constitute this Assembly, but only about ninety of . that Ferdinand could not be induced to renounce his
them were convened. A part of these representing.; Gyown, he occasioned him to be brought to Bayonne,
some cities, tribunals, or public bodies, brought with with all the other personages of the Royal Family, as
them instructions in the nature of powers given them : if to present them bound before the Imperial Trans.
by those whom they represented, but wholly insuffi. I nal, which was both judge .and party in the same
cient to answer the purpose intended. The Minis- I cause. He endeavours to deprive the parents of the
ters of the Council were without any powers or in- ! sensibilities of nature, and forces them to become the
stenctions whatever, a precaution adopted by this tri- I instruments of the oppression of their chili!.* From
burial, in conformity to the opinion of its Commis-1 the latter he extorts a rentinciation, the most irrcga-.
sioners, in order to avoid ell involuntary compro-Ilar and illicit transaction amongst the affairs of man e
mises. Most of the Deputies had no other powers . and by a series of abdications exacted by the same
than merely an order to take their departure, and ; illegal and_ violent expedients, he belierec that helms
many of them did not belong to any public body or. become the proprietor of the Crown of Spain; he
acknowledged class of the community. treaters it to his brother, without c.onsidering the in.
44 The Emperor fully expected, from the acquies- famy to which he would beexposed in the Cabinetsoh
cence of these itidividuels, a mask under which to Europe, by the usurpation of the throne of a Mo-
conceal his usurpation. But he was utterly deceived. narch, his friend and ally. . •
-
Instead of finding weak men convenient to the de- I
" Who can doubt, from this clear.evidence, thee
signs of his mercenary ambition, he was met by Mi- I the renunciation executed by. Ferdinand VII. in fa:'
lusters incorruptible, Grandees Worthy of their rank, I your of hie august father, and that which succeeded
and representatives who were faithful defenders of I in favour of the Emperor, are aba)lute.mt)liiesi
the interest and qi the honour of their country. They ' Who will doubt, but that i.f the last should have
all with one accord informed him that they held emanated from the free exercise of the will, the rights..
i
powers much restricted, that they were not the legi. of the dynasty of Bourbon are not
.prejudiced-sr .
timate representatives of Spain, and that they could it ? Who does not know that in case of Melee; .
not compromise her rights. / tinction of such a family, aed by the very, establish,
" These and other similar reflections were treated , lislintent pf the Spanish Monarchy, the nation alone
with insolence in the tribunal of the Usurper,.who, far can invite another dynasty, or can introduce such a
from being discomfited, put into activity all the form of Government as it shall most approve. -
means of oppression, flattering himself, that by vic- "In another part of this narrative, I have shewit
tories on the one hand, and corruption on the other, that Ferdinand VII. was too honourable to suppose
he should so colour over injustice that he would not that the Emperor could entertain, such atrocious de-
be considered by_the world as the subverter of gene- signs. The King desired to free Spain from she op.
ral tranquillity. . pression of the French troops, and at was promised
" I do not enter into the particulars that occurred him that this and all other matters should be regulated
in this Congress, but oneof the Ministers of the Coun- with the Emperor, and that he should return to his
cil of Castile, who does so much honour to his robe, kingdom with the fruit of his exertions for the geed
will satisfy the curiosity of the public as to this par- of his vassals; and no hour of his life was unseasoe-
ticular. able to him to exert himself for their happiness. This
. .
" I ought not to speak of what 1 have suffered for. I saw, and can testify. .
my King and Country ; the truth is, I have not suf- " During his confinement, nothing afflicted his
fered, for all I have done has been required by my generous heart so much as the sufferings of his people
most sacred duties. It was to me the highest satis- ......and when his liberty began to be doubtful, be
faction to see my lodging in Bayonne surrounded by adopted the means the most agreeable milk. paternal
the satellites of Government ; to these spies succeed- solicitude ; such was the order which he gave for the
•ed, who abound always where those are in authority regency, naturally sought, when his freedom was is.
who in history usurp the characters of heroes. My terrupted—and such was the command that theCcv
steps we* reckoned—my visits obserredr—espionage tes should be assembled to deter:title those questioes,
under the mask of compassion, approaChed to eta- which in their proper places have been noticed.
mine the secrets of my soul ' • but nothing disturbed " Valour and patriotism have succesfully armed '
the tranquillity of my mind. What I could not be. I the whole nation in its own defence, and fot the Toe-
hold with patience was to see myself condemned to I teeth= of their legitimate Sovereign, elthough the-
(7.) When these two Royal Decrees came to the hands of tge 1 people had no knowledge of the will of their beloved
Junta, the Grand Duke of Berg bad been for some days President j Ferdinand as to this mov.etnent. That patriotism, nth-
and the affair of the 2d of May had taken place. The Emperor, 1 ted to wisdom, will - • •
,them • irresistibly to
after the departure of the Royal Parents, precipitately and inde- 1 perform with pronipitmlerlae. most impartatte work of
cently forced from the capital all the Members of the Royal Fa-
mily, and sent them to Bayonne. But yet he had to take the I the Central Government or Regency, which may ad- •
important step of taking complete possession of the Government, I minister the affairs. of the .kingdom in the name of lit
in order to which the bloody scene of the td of May. was exhi- : Majesty. . • e
bited—a scene of horror and iniquity, similar to what the modern I u Thu will be
French have executed in other cmunteks with similar designs. I 4,„ --s - completed for theailvantage.of all,
" (8) The perfect agreement between the recommendation of '''; last.expression of the will, of the: Kin, which he .
the King given to the Junta, in his Royal Decree of the sth of i condescended. to use the monienthefeee be WA forcee:
May, and the determination of his faithful vassals, is very re- i torenouncetheCrown;Ahus will thi.niltion be prow. rya
makable. We have sten that all the provinces of the Monarchy from this dreadful tempest Ci,sellfli V hibi sl ice
rose spontaneously to resist the oppressor, without having any •fo 41 • - "!•• ". a - &ex • te. -
knowledge of the will of their Sovehign.
I te .e.neope an example of ley•alty,,tioilept, and geng.s'
ts (9) Wet, the three Secretaries of the King, for Decrees, cer6 roux energy, which will he. theisUbject °Cadmiutt.
dry, that we have seen and read in Bayonne, the two original in every Age,. and in every country. ( Sigr:ed) .
Decrees sent by his Majesty Ferdinand VII.' on the sth of May, ; Madrid, Sept.l, 1808.4 p 4;) ere .
in this year, which are mentioned shove+ anti the substance of 1 ..• - ,
the contents of them, as far as we can recollect, is the same -is I, ,

.t - .neat ,
" ICUs/1110 Di VAITI4III r Azwa.a. . . PPCUMFARIft; .. • , ;.i. -.. • ..
a Luis nit 0115.
[Nos. I
• " rvaanircs Piari Di 'MT.*. I. and 11. were given imam Graz 01 viten:llA
a Madrid, September 1, 1808." No. 111. • •-• •'' , ..
hkt ?may the F-snAttne or Oa Peench9 rat Et.'
igtftlarly, and Protector of theColife.aeraiion of *Rhine. • •
(10) It is well known that this fonts was auresbled at
Bayonne, according to printed notice given on the lath of May,. ..• as My. coliab,_. I have veedved Tour, Roy- al jaw- ow, leier'
to treat, as it was said, of the moms of searing the happhstesof
(11) linayparticulariy in,stanre the affair of the.oagetyrben. 10. Spain, but in fit, t i propose the condratase of ill the evils of
the former system, sad such reforms and alterations iiirere most tom' kntlat'ate "tieing at Utdtid.‘wanted to cir•Pul e'e•-e, I°4
swear allegiance to Wan; and that .of the ianistuneat 41 tlie
likely to dsetrey the whole woozy, and, ritzy pow** lotk.4e- to
11 og to it. • . Loaned of Castile to Bayontw, fur its noble resistalwa„

'4"

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