The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-04-01 00:00:00

♦RR.

,TESNIAN.

SPAIN. .
-
...,
ix fact ISOM A PRIVATK 1.11.17 ER,• DATRD• MADRID,
MARCH 20. 1821./.•

Our affairs here et:marine to lie tegnlated in the most
satisfactory manner. Every where the ancient instite-
I tions are replaced by constitutional institutions, which
Ithe people receive with an enthusiasm difficult to de-
scribe. Thr municipal regime, prescribed by the Con-
:.stitution, has been promptlyestablished in the Provinces.
It is pleasing to remark, that the choice ha, fallen upon
persons known by their attachment to the new order of
!things. Tiiese important changes have in general bees
effected without trouble. At Cadiz alone, blood has
been shell, in consequence of an unfortunate mistake.
The troops and the people had assetnbled in the Marc
de San Antonio to take the oath to the Constitution.
The people abandoned thems.dves to the most lively
expressions of joy, but this discovery of their sentiments
basing displeased a tieneral of Brigade, lie ordered his
bricade to tire upon the people. This order was com-
plied with, and a sharp contest took Pace between the
brigade and the rest of the garrison, who espoused the
cause of the people. The skirmish was soon put an end
to, but not before upwards of a hundred persons were
killed. A perfect calm now prevails, and the oath to
the Constitution has been taken.

The Ki/le continually expresses, in the most unequi-
vocal manner, the satisfaction which he feels at having
accepted the I 'onstitution, and how much he regrets not
having dour so sooner. His Majesty is extremely popu-
lar. Ile gives audience to all nho wish to speak to him.
Madrid is perfectly tranquil, as well as every part of
the Peninsula, except a part of Andalusia. It is even
believed that tranquillity has been re-estahlished there.
Strangers are perfectly at liberty in Spin at this
mo►uent. They travel with safety, and experience nu
restriction in their private affairs. An ;active, though
not oppressive a:aril:lamer, is, however, experienced.
A salutary distrust tends to the preservation of oor Con-
stitutional institutions, and shuts the gate to all intrigues
which might shackle the march of rising liberty.
N. B. This letter confirms the reported changes in the
diplomatic corps.
.% Decree, dictated by the Ilolyoffire of the Inquisition,
was ready fur execution, and destined to rivet the chains
of the Spanish people at the very moment they broke
through them altogether. By this Decree, comprised in
13 articles, all bales of goods, boxes, packages of hooks,
were to be detained and examined at the Custom-houses.
The free introduction of all publications indefinitely
were prohibited, even those which had been enumerated
in a list by the Inquisition. To obtain permission to
introduce these latter, it was necessary to lay a copy be-
fore the Council, and, in case of a favourable result,
all the numbers allowed to be circu►ated were to be
stamped, and the permit was only to extend to these.
Should the permit not have been obtained within twelve
months, the books were to be considered as vir-
tually confiscated. The right of examination e:-
'tended even to all papers, wrappers, tee., Itz wide!,
goods of any description *night be enveloped. Libra-
ries, whether public or private, were to be subject
to the visitation of officers, to ascertain whether any
publications hail been improperly introdnceit.
The productions of (froth', Pnlfendorf, Barbeyrac,
Ilarlan►aguui, Waite!, Montesquieu, Mably, Filangien,
&e., were placed upon the list of books for which a
permit might be obtained. The privilege was also ex-
tended to the great political historians, and even ecclesi-
astical writers, who did not profess eltremontasse
doctrines, such as Pascal, Nicole, and other luminaries
of the Port Royal, inveterate Jesuits.

Ritmo, bliacit 19.—The Meeting is appointed of a
nett Council of State, composed as lotions :
Don Joachim Blake, President; D. Pedro Agar, D.
Gabriel Oscar, the Cardinal De Bourbon, D. A. Garcia,
D. Martin Garay, D. F. Xavier Castanos, D.J. Mariano
Almansa, I). Pedro Cerallos, the Marquess De Pedra-
blanca, D. Justo Maria Sbar Navarro, 1)..1. Avcinena,
D. Antonio Ran:, Romanillas, D. Francisco &gums,
D. Esteban 'area, Lyando, Secretory, and D. Juan
Martin Madrid F)yela, Secretary.
The persons who composed the Old Connell of State
are to preserve the title of Honorary Counsellers of State,
and all the honours and emoluments enjoyed by them.
His Majesty has accepted the resignation of the Duke
de San Fernando, Principal Secretary of State, and ha,
named him his Extraordinary Ambassador at the Court
of Vienna; I). Evariste Perez de Castro, Spanish Mi-
nister at Hamburg, is named to succeed him; and D.
Juan Jabat, formerly Minister Plenipotentiary at Con-
stantinople, is charged, ad isarrine. with the portfolio.of
the Principal Secretary of State.
The King has accepted the resignation of D. Joseph
Maria de Moe, War Minister, and has named Lieu-
tenant-General the Marquess de las Awatillas as his
successor. _

_D. Antonio Porcel is named Secretary of State for the
Ocurernment beyond Sea.
The Kinpzhas ordained Ilse provisional establishment
of alt the Conetitntional Tribunals curetting the Judi-
ciary power, conformable to the Constitution and regu-
lations of ISIS. He enjoins all the Members of his
Tribunals to take the oath which the ticueral anti Ex-
traordinary fortes at the same period appointed to be
taken.

A Decree of the 16th March ordained, that the oath
to the Constitution he taken by all the inhabitants of
the kingdom, in the same manner as in ISIS, and con-
forming punctually to the Decree of the Cortes of the
ISth March of the same year, which fixed the mode and
form in which an act so solemn ought to be executed.
By a Decree of the 1/th, the King, to avoid the doubts
which might arise with respect to the elections of the
iodividttals who ought to compose the Constitutional
Assemblies, the meeting of which is on the point of
takiny place, has declared, according to the opinion of
the Provisional Junta. that the same persons wbo in
IMI4 were Alcaldes, Regldors, and Procurator Syndics,
might be re-eleeted forte present year.
ciRCVLAR or Too Or nit tiorranipri.
" His Majesty, agreeably to the opinion of the Provi-
sional Janta, has ordered, that on the 19th instant, the
anniversary of the publication of the Political Conetita-
tion of the Spanish Monarchy shall be celebrated with
all the solemnity which the fieneral and P.straerellnary
Cortes had ordained by the Decree of the J3tls March,
1813. _ _