Star.
London, England, 1824-08-24 00:00:00

MADAME RIEGO'S WILL.

The Will is dated the 12th day ref June, 1821 (abom
eight days before her decease). After a pieamble
which appears conformable to the custom of her native
country and of the religion in which she bad been ed,l.
cated, the testatrix directs that her remains may he dt
the disposal of her brother•in-law, Don Miguel
Riego, Canon of the Cathedral pf.Oviedo, who had ac.
companied her to England, and IA hom she appoints
executor of her last will. For placing her remains at
his disposal she assigns this reason :—" That he may
take them where he may thitik proper, and that they mq
be removed to Spain, and deposited with those of nic
:iusband, should they be found, when the liberty of my
country is re-established."
The testatrix then proceeds thus—" I also declare,
that it is my will, that all the jewels belonging to 114
person of my husband, whatever they be, ani whe,e.
ever they may be found, be delivered up to the sail
brother-in-law, Don Miguel del Riego, as likewise the
sword, the property of the nation, the use of which ss R 5
conferred on my husband during his life-time, I[l4
which he kept pure and spotless, in order that my sail
brother-in-law may take care of it, and, when circus.
stances allow, May deliver it up to the nation, lawfully
assembled, as decreed by the Cortes."

After directing the disposal of her wearing apparel,
jewels, and other property, in favour of her sisters, and
sister-in-law, except a certain gold ring, with a diamond
solitaire, which had been presented to her husband, and
which she desires her brother-in-law to take for himself,
the testatrix adds—" the blacle silk handkerchief, ae
only legacy that my deceased husband could leave me,
as a token of his remembrance, during the last painful
moments of his life, it is my will that my brother-in-
law should keep by him, to wind round the hilt of the
sword, which is to be returned to the nation, as above
said, when circumstances shall permit."
After earnestly recommending her sisters and bro-
thers to the care and direction of her brother-to-law,
the testatrix subjoins—
" Deeply grateful for the proofs of interest, e-teerr,
and respect, which have been shewn me in this countr%,
into which I was driven by the political tempest that
shipwrecked my emit, I wish and entreat my brother-
in-law, Don Miguel, to present the last memorial of my
gratitude to all those persons who have honouteu and
favoured me

" Considering it a duty in me, and an act of justice
due to the excellent memory of my beloved husband, I
declare, in the awful presence of my GOD, before whose
tribunal I am on the point of appearing, that all his
sentiments and private conduct, his anxious cares and
wishes for the liberty and happiness of his country, have
always been in strict conformity with his public ac-
tions; his noble soul wholly filled with the purest and
most ardent desires for her political independence, her
civil liberty, and the peace and prosperity of her citi-
zens, without any other wish or personal ambition than
the glory of devoting to her his services and his life.
" And wishing to have the consolation of manifest-
ing in the last moments of my life the love I have al.
ways entertained for my country, both on account of
natural ties, education, and duty, and of the powerful
influence produced by the heroic example of my husband,
I cannot help expressing, in this my lavt will and testa-
ment, the anxious wish I feel for the domestic peace,
happiness, and lasting prosperity of my beloved coun-
try; entreating most ardently every one of her sons,
every Spaniard alive to her Misfortunes and present
troubles, to contribute by every means in his power to
restore her to her sacred and unalienable rights. And
although I descend to my tomb With the firm conviction
that the sufferings and last sacrifices of my late husband
Don Rafael del Riego will be always present to the
memory of every good Spaniard, and valued as they
deserve, as well as his family, which is also my own, I
ask them, with my dying breath, to cast a look of com-
passion over my orphan sisters and brothers when cir-
cumstances may allow it.
" And inasmuch as the General and Ordinary Carte;
did decree and grant, in the month of June, MI, an
annual pension of 80,000 reals to be paid out of the na-
tional funds or revenues to the General Don Rafael del
Riego, for himself, his wife, and children during their
lives, which decree was ordered to be carried into effect,
notwithstanding the decisive and definitive renunciation
of it by the late General before the Cortes ; and inas-
much as he did not receive a part of this pension dining
his life, nor I after his death, and having no children to
whom it might descend, I declare it to be my last will,
that the sum which should be due to me, up to the last
day of my life, be applied to the relief of the widows
and orphans of those gooJ Spaniards, who, loyal and
faithful to their oaths, fell, like my husband, in defend-
ing the liberty and independence of my country."