The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-09-01

any respect. Inc people looked upon them
selves as forsaken by their princes, without
government, without protection, abandoned to
the mercy of Strangers and exposed to- the same
Fate as Portugal, where, having been received
without resistance, Their first step towards -efor-
nation had been to confiscate all public and pri-
waite property, and impose an immense contrbu
ton, which was to serve as a ransom. They rails
edtherefore theirvoice & would not consent TO the
departure of the royal family: the favorite fell
headlong INTO that obscurity, from which he
ought never TO have been drawn /; and his protec
tors not wishing, not knowing how to reign
without him, abdicated the throne in favor of
their heir. Ferdinand VII was soemnIy and
generally acclaimed and acknowledged king by
the people, who were 10 obey him. The nation
revived suddenly from death unto life conf
dence again reigned IN their hearts, and happi-
ness and Joy were evinced i'm every quarter
None, better than the French, can, II they will
ever tell the truth, depos@ as to this unanmity Of
sentiment, this universal JOY, these truly nation
al acclamations and spPlauses.
The political relations, which still appeared to
bind the two nations together, were not broken
CIT by this change; the pubic and secret mea-
sures which from the moment of his exaltation
to the throne, were adopted by the young mo-
march, were principally directed towards
strengthening and consolidating these bonds
WhenPrinc OF Asturias, Ferdinand, had sought
the friendship of N apoleon, had mpored his pro-
lection against the oppression under which he
suffered, and animated desire OF being connect
ed with his family. Now, king of SPAN and The
Indies, he protested the same sentiments he
Sent solemn and extraordinary embassy, to an
nounce to the emperor his exaltation to the
throne reiterated his demand for the conncxi-
on-being informed that he was approaching to-
wards Span, he sent The Infant, his brother, To
compliment him and he himself went oul to re
ceIve him, when, in consequence of the news gil
ven TO him by the uniaithful emissaries Of Bona
parte, he thought that he would meet him with
the. limits NJ &c kiu,rflnn
These demonstrations of friendship and conf
| dence would have been sufficient to dsarm any
man, however fierce or wicked, if he had preser.
we'd III his breast any traces of humanity Napo-
leon, taking advantage of them, prosecutes the
detestable plan OF ms articles and the innocent
deluded monarch goes from Burgos to Victoria,
| from Victoria to Bayonne, where he, at lengtA
hnds ms ally, who, as soon he has him in his
power, commands him to renounce, in his favor,
the crown, with which his people had encircled
his brows In order to overcome the resistance
which his finds in the Spanish Prince at so degrl
ding proposal, ne causes the parents of the king
who already seduced by his intrigues, had protes-
ted against their abdcaion, to be also CARRIED To
Bayonne. There setting himself up as The defen.
| der OF the rights of the father against the son,
| avaliing himself OF the filnl respect, which al
ways giowed in the virtuous bosom OF Ferdinand,
and abusing the melancholy condition of both
he compels the son to restore the crown to the
father, and the father to renounce it in favor of
| himself
| And what was the situation, what were the
sentiments of, the Spanish people, whilst he was
preparing, whilst he was executing THIS tyranni-
cal, this shameful scene whilst he was thus vi
olating all the fundamental laws of the monarchy
and thus opposing every desire of the national
will? Restrained within the limits OF their i'm.
macuiate loyalty, and love of order, whilst hey
| entertained the hope that their king would be
| acknowledged, they showed no disgust, no i'm
patience against the French, who being station
ed within the capital and its envrons, awaited
themselves of the name of Ferdinand and his
government, to enjoy the noble treatment and
bounty OF the Spanish generosity But when
they saw that their king, notwithstanding the
promises he had made at ms departure, did not
return when the horrible plot, which he was
forging IN Bayonne, was Whispered among them
and seditous papers scattered abroad, crying
down the happy revolution, winch they had lust
/ effected; when, In short they perceived the last
remains of the royal family, carried oil from the
mansion OF their ancestors then discontents
broke out INTO complaints and Glamour, and then
restrained fury began TO announce All inevitable
/ rupture.
The French took advantage of this violent
state of their minds, and by their atrocpus maD-
agement and lntrlgues, fastened the memorable
event OF the I'd May They already wished to
untold measures OF terror, thinking ny hum.
bling the capital, they would humDle the whole
nation, and they seized upon tie first pretext
| ""Nh "ho ohSiSh ny dispute, WHICH,,
with pacific measures, might easily have been adj
! justed.
Thirstipg after blood, impatient for tyranny,
| they fired Unexpectedly upon The people, vino
! had yet done no harm, and extended their muir
derous columns through the peaceable streets of
Madrid. The inhabitants indignant, run to arms
hand to hand, body to body, they closed with
the battallions, and displayed more yalor than
| their enemies, both in annoying item and yield-
ing to death, Notwithstanding the superiority of
those base assassins in strength, discipline and
military array. The blood flowed in torrents, &.
the neighborhood. although greatly unequal in
numbers, although forsaken by their government,
although they were neither assisted nor direct
ed by the military, whom the strictest orders
Kept within their quarters, maintained the strug
| gle with firmness, and in many places, with adj
| vantage, when the voice of peace and concord,
| issuing from the mouths of the magistrates, re-
| strained and disarmed them
| The combat ceased, and horror began The
barbarors Frenchmen took possession Of Madrid
in military manner, and detained every person
! they met under arms, or with utensils that resem-
| bled them and these unfortunate wretches with
out trial, without preparation, were with the
greatest barbarity, during that night and the fol-
| lowing morning, plunged into eternity, within
| sight OF their very homes The dreadful silence
of that cruel night was only interrupted by the
report f the guns and the groans OF the dying
| The brave Spaniards, detained and dsarIned
could neither lend their protec to their bre.
thren, nor fly to avenge their cause.
| The fatal dAy placed in the hands of the French