The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-07-22 00:00:00

OPEXINO OF THE SPANISH CORTES, AND
!CLAW'S SPEECH.
Every preparation preparation bad befit made for the opening
of the Cortes on Sunday, the 9th of July. and the
King had fixed the hour for ten in the morning. His
3lajesty at that hour left the Palace, accompanied by
the Queen and the other Princes of the Blood, at-
tended by a most magnificent escort. The King and
Queen acre received et the door by two deputations,
corsisting of twenty-two members each. The King
was seated On a sumptnens throne, and near kiwi his
Royal relatives. The Queen and the other ladies oc-
cupied a gallery prepared for them : in another were
the Corps biplomatique, Ministers, Councillors of
State. Generals, &v. The King proceeded to take the
vati.. prescribed by the Constitution, in the hands of
the Pr..sitlent and Secretaries.-1 he Archbishop of
Seville, H. Josef Bspiga. as President of the Cortes,
tho.l addressed the King as follows :
•"19te Cortes, in times less refined, although marked with
grt•st and sublime virtues. preserved the fundamental laws of
tie kingdom. the glory and splendour of the throne, as well
a• the prosperity of the nation: but an institution so wise,
united the king and people by elevated and noble
sentiments of love and loyalty. gradually declined.eventually
e l- buried la oblivion, and the nation became the theatre of
enriitien, and the king the instrument of bad men. Your
siti.ties4 It birth-day was the dawn of the restoration of
Svain. when more than thl millions of inhabitants beheld in
a young Prises the worthy successor of Mt. Ferdinand.
T..ey already congratulated themselves on the flatteting
Lopes before them, when, at the very time, in the bosom of
the nation, a sacrilegiovs project to destroy the sacred rights
of yuir Majesty was formed; a vile impostor, with the
hiackest perfidy, introdeeed his hostile armies among us,
and tore our beloved Sovereign from the arms of his faithfui
Spaniards, at the very moment he, had happily been seated
on the tbtow of his ancestors. The Spanish lion was then
reused, and a slarelmaeoes and g I cry of vengeance,
encouraged the vigorous efforts of the children of Pelagius,
ard whilst our brave warriors present their hardy breasts to
the enemy, and drive the tyrant's legions from our virtuous
land. the fathers of their country, who had been called to-
gether by the general voice of the provinces, re-establish the
4.*,nstitetion of the Spanish Monarchy, which, by solemnly
vit-Aoring the person of the King to be sacred and inv ioloble.
better seburvs the Crown oa the head of your Majesty,
guards you against the a irked attempts of designing up-
start., and enables your Majesty more freely to labour for
C.- rehire of your people, and the promotion of public
yoiTiness.

" These worthy Spaniards then thought they could not
br!trr' correspond wits the confidence reposed in them by
t.te prosiness, nor render to their King a more agreeable
d*:t; thee to give firmness to his tottering throne, by resting
is sn the basis of the fandamental laws, bequeathed to us by
ear enceators. and which. enacted with *shalom. justice, and
the general voice. closet! the doors against flattery and us-
aggression, insured the administration of justice, este-
idisl.ed an equitable system in the public revenue, and sanc-
tioned due respect, obedience. and veneration to the laws,
as veil as to the Roy al authority. Such were the impressions
of the national Representatives in Cadiz. 1 then saw them,
Sire, sigh to Heaven, when they remembered the bard cap-
tivity of their King ; 1 beheld tbese, as bereft children,
shed tears of grief and bitterness, anti, humbled before the
GA alters of the Lamb of God, beseech him to restore a
tender father to the arms of his disconsolate family ; I be-
belil them. frrmic with joy and gladness, unburden their
%pressed hearts when they learnt that Heaven had been
pleased to hear their fervent prayers, end that the tutelar
Argot of Spain had descended to break amender the chains
of tprinny. Such were their generous sentiments, when
sordid interest, ambition, atrocious calumny, and cruel vets-
geence, alter plotting the most detestable machinations in
the dark mansion of crime, dared to adviusee even to the
Tlrore, and sacrilegiously profane the sanctuary of Ma-
jesty. Hat, Sire, let us draw a veil over those sad testimo-
nies of Lumen wealiineas.

•• Tbe hrppy day has at length arrived. when a bright star
beans in the Spanish horizon, and comes to dissipate the
thick elovods which intrigue and wickedness had spread over
It, and truth will show herself pith all that brilliancy which
ezcites admiration in scow. respect in others. confusion in
Miry. and conviction in all. Happily Spain again sees her
fortes assembled. the same as those which rendered the reigns
of the Alphonsos and Ferdinands glorious; and the most air-
flow; of nations forgets the outrages, pardons the injuries,
and only occupies itsed In the re-establishment of a Consti-
boast Cloternment. and in the preservation of its religion.
and in giving proofs of its gratitude and veneration to its

King. already mated on his august Throne in the National
omgress, after tailing a solemn oath:Ty% ilkla he has ren-
dered himself greater than the son of Phillip by Ids con-
quests in the East. Oh, magnanimous King!. The noble
and loyal Spaniards seknotlerige the innumerable evils from
h you have bared them by this generous act. by destroy-
,itsg the resins of evil which was about to cast the torch of
dilsord among us. We all hope that Its venomous germ
will soots be ..3mpletely annihilated, and that peace and con.
cord will r•ion in its stead, Let dread and distrust, which
criminal souls haze sought to inspire into the heart of the
Lest of Kings, diseppeer, and let all unite around the Throne
with that fraternal alliance which insures order, produces
abundance, maintains justice and peace. And may 1, the
organ of this Congress, and of the great nation It repre-
seats, be allowed, Sire, to present to you the due homage
of its loyalty, and the noble sentiments by which it Is ani-
mated.
" That same Spain which at all times has given usequi-
vncal proofs of loyalty and love to her Kings, solemnly
wiedget yo you that, if the distinguished shires of our an-
cestors were always the firmest support of the Throne and
the Monarch, their children, who have jest given, dar-
ing the late bloody war, examples of fidelity almostanknown
to past generations, art spa reedy to make sacrifices
worthT of Spanish heroes, and the admiration of future
mgrs.
His Majesty answered in die following words rT.-
" I think pen Inc the expression and sentiments of love
as& loyalty Odell the cones manifest to we aweigh the
ergot of their Tooshiest, end by their compilation I soon
hope to see the sedge l have Übe glory to govern, free and
661/11.
Ilanshars of this House The day has at kerb come,
the Alma of my anima selsbea, whoa I behold myself tar,
ratsadad by dos Raorsamsatims of the heroic sad irmaroas
Stash& sada ; and a memo nib has jest idesdiSed gt 7
islands, sad these of my family, with thole Key re*
Whoa dm exams of mils gave rim to this clear ma-
el fratatiaa al tie general wishes- of the melon, pee-
tiwasly obsessed by lanseatable circumstances. 'lack
• tap be MOW M. oar siensories. I tamantly rt.