The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-20
EUROPE.
EXPOSITION

the usuipation of the Crown of Spain, and the
means adopted by the emperor OF the French
TO carry it into exceptionally Don PEDRo CE
vALLos, first secretary of state, and dspat-
ches. TO his Catholic Majesty, Ferdinand VII
&c Al period when the nation has made and
continues to make the most heroic efforts 20 shake
oil the yoke of slavery attempted to te imposed
upon it, il is the duty of all good citizens con-
tribute by every means +, their power, to enlight
en- IT with respect 10 the real causes that have
brought ii ihto its present situation, ard to keep
up the noble spirit by which! it is animated.
7" To make known to Spain and the whole
world, the base means rcsorted to by the empe-
ror ofthe French, to seize the person of king,
Ferdinand z, and to subjugate this great and &c
Nervous nation, is duty well worthy of one, who,
like myself, is in condition to- discharge it in
asmucn as circumstances placed Inc in a situati.
10 be an eye witness of the events which pre-
coded the catastrophe of Bayonne, and in which
bore part. 1t was not in my power to do this
before, in consequence of personal restraint, and
sary to accredit my statement. Some are still
wanting, which it was necessary to burn, in con-
sequence of dangerous circumstances, IN which
every thing was TO be feared others have dis
appeared through the various incidents connect
ed with that unhappy period; but those which
now present, are sufficient to prove the atroci-,
GUS violence committed against our beloved king
Ferdinand z, and the whule nation.
T" Tho the conduct of Spain towards France,
since the peace of Basic, very interesting porti-
on of its political history, in these latter times, is
intimately connected with the important events
which form the subject of this exposition il is not
j., cessary 10 dwell upon its principal periods. II
wiitbe sufficient To state what the whole nation, &
all Europe knows, that the political system of
Spain, has constantly been, during this tire, to
preserve friendship and the best understanding
with france, ana 10 maintain, at all hazards, the
ruiHous alliance concluded in 1895.
" To attain this end, there is no sacrifice which
Spain has not made aud as the preservation of
the Prince ofthe Peace in the high degree of ia
vor he enjoyed with Charles 4, depended, in a
great measure, upon the coi.tinuance of this sys-
TEN, it was maintained with the greatest constan-
cy aud interchangeable attention. Fleets, armies,
treasure, every thing was sacrificed TO France
humiliation, submission, every thing was suffer
ed, every thing was done To satisfy far as pos
sible, the Unsuitable demands of tie French gov
ernment but the idea never once occurred, of
preserving the nation against the Vaccinations of
an ally, VINO WAS overrunning Europe.
I" The treaty of Tilsit, iii which the destiny Of
the world seemed to be decided in his favor, was
hardly concluded, when he turned his eyes to
wards tae West, and resolved on the ruin Of Por.
tugal and Spain or what comes tn the scme pur.
pose, to make himself master of this vast PENN.
sula, with a view Of making It's inhabtants as
happy as those of Italy, Holland, Switzerland, &
the league OF the Kline.
&c At this very time, the emperor was rcvol-
wing, in his mind, some designs fatal 10 Spain,
(iorhe began to disarm herr by demanding a res
pectable body ct our troops to exert their vaior
III remote regions, and or foreign interests This
he effected without difficulty, and there was pla-
ced at his disposal, gallant aEd picked force. of
$4,000 men OF ali descriptions.
.. The enterprze of making himselfm of
SIain, not so e.sy as Napoleon imagined. 1t
was, above ii, necessary to find out some pretext
for carrying into execution the daring and eigan-
tic plan Of subiugating, friendly and allied ma
ton, that had made many sacrifices tor France,
and which this very emperor had praised for its
fidelity and nobleness OF character.
Z" Nevertheless, being accustomed to act with
that disregard TO deiicacy in the choice of his
means, which is characteristic of the man who
itnagincs that the conquest of the whole world
tie destruction the human Species and the ha-
VOC Of wax are conducive to true glory, he resol-
ved 10 excite and fOmcnt dis@ore IN the roval IA
mily of Spain, through his ambassador at this
court.
&c The latter, though perhaps not Unlisted in
the grand secret of his master, succeeded IN Sc
ducing the prince of Asturias, our present king
and master, and suggested to him the idea of in,
termarrymg with the princess related to the en-
peror. The affection which his hghness labored
under from conjunction of circumstances as la
1nentable as notorious, and his anxiety to avoid
smother connection into which it was ATTEMPTED
to force him, with lady selected for him by his
greatest enemy, and on that account alone, the
object of his aversion, induced him to acauiesce
In the suggestions OF the Ambassador, but with
the stipulation that 1t was to meet the appreciation
of his august parents, and under the impression
that it would strengthen the friendship and ALI
ance then subsisting between the two crowns
His higfness, actuated by motives SO cogent ir a
political point OF view, and yielding to the solicit
tations of the ambassador, wrote accordingly to
his imperial majesty.
60 a few days after our beloved Prince wrote
this letter, occurred the scandalous imprisonment
OF his august person i'll the royal monastery of
St Laurence, & the still more scandalous decree
which was issued III the name &C the king, 8, adj
dressed to The council Of CASTLE. There are We
Ty strong reasons so believe, that the unknown
hand that frustrated this feigned conspiracy, was
some French agent employed TO forward the plan
which Napoleon had formed
Fortunately, the Spanish nation was deeply
pinion Of he coed desperation and religious prn-
,iples OF tleir Prince Of the Asturias, and sus-
yected Internationally, that the whole was a ca.
lumny fabricated by the f,vorte, as absurd as il
was sutlacl3us, in order g. remove the only obsta
Gle which tIen opposed his views.
&c It's slready known, that on Che imprisonment
ef the piice Of Asturias his royait father wrote to
the emperor, 40 doubt, 81 the suggestion OF the
flyorite, complaining Of the conduct of the auI-
bassador Bcauharnois, ~ his clandestine COM
Inurications with Che Prince of Asturias, and ex-