by flags of truce to induce him to unite with the patriotic party. These communications Solano received at first with coldness, and afterwards decidedly rejected.

As soon as it was known at Seville that Solano had fled to Cadiz, the revolution immediately broke forth, the inhabitants flew to arms, and the sympathetic feeling which pervaded all Spain was displayed, in that city, with irresistible force. A committee, called in Spain a junta, composed of the most zealous, intelligent, and virtuous of the citizens assumed the government, directed the spirit of the inhabitants, and produced what Spain had not witnessed for many ages, a combination of order and energy. The feelings of Seville were communicated to Xeres, to Santa Maria, and even to Cadiz, though in the latter their effects were stifled by the efforts of Solano. Numbers of people, however, arrived from Seville inspired with feelings of patriotism and vengeance; many entered the city disguised like peasants; and a sufficient number soon arrived to kindle the suppressed patriotism of the Gaditanos. Solano received intimations from his private friends that the plan of an insurrection was formed, and that he was to be its first victim; he was apprised of the intention to assassinate him, on his return from the theatre, and was entreated by his friends not to attend; but he had too much courage to be awed by the intimation, and either the firmness of his demeanour, or some alteration in the plans of his enemies, preserved him for that night from the threatened attack. A party of his friends, who adjourned from the theatre to his house, aware of the danger that impended, urged him to seek his safety by flight; he rejected their counsel, affected to treat their fears with contempt, and avowed

his resolution not to part with his authority, but in obedience to the commands of the power from which he had received it. The supplications of his wife, the endearments of his children, and the anxiety of his friends, were all exerted in vain, and he resolutely determined to maintain his authority, or to perish in the attempt.

Early on the ensuing morning the whole city was in a state of tumult; the populace, irritated by the patriots from Seville, indignant at the treachery of France, and clamorous for the death of the governor, surrounded his habitation. Some parties attacked it with musquetry, while others dragged cannon from the ramparts and assailed his residence. In the midst of the firing he escaped by the roof of his house, and took refuge in an adjoining one, adjoining one, the lady of which, an intimate friend of the family, hid him in a small closet which had been secretly built some years before.

When the insurgents gained possession of Solano's house, and discovered his flight, they pursued him to the house where he was concealed, which was searched with diligence, but without success. After committing some atrocities, and even wounding the lady of the house with a musket-ball, they were departing discontented with having missed the object of their vengeance; when the party was joined by an artificer, who had constructed the secret closet, and who conducted them to the hiding-place, where Solano was discovered, and delivered to the fury of the mob. The general cry of the populace was, "To the gallows! to the gallows!" whither this veteran was conducted; but such was the indignation of the people, that before he had quitted the house, where he was discovered, he was lacerated with knives and his cloaths literally torn from his body.

Naked, and streaming with blood from numberless wounds, he preserved the firm step, and the manly dignity, of an officer. To the taunts of the multitude he appeared superior, but not insensible, and at every fresh stab that was inflicted, he fixed his eyes on the perpetrator with an expression of contempt; till a soldier, who had been long under his command, dreading the impending degradation of his old officer, plunged his sword in his heart, and terminated his sufferings.

LETTER VI.

REMARKS ON THE POLITICAL STATE OF SPAIN - GENERAL COMPLAINTS DETERMINED HOSTILITY TO THE FRENCH

OF THE JUNTA

OF THE MANUFACTORY OF MUSKETS BRASS CANNON.

NEGLECT

CADIZ, SEPT. 1809.

I HAVE been prevented from leaving this place by the want of mules, or rather by the fears of the muleteers, who dread going to Seville, lest their cattle should be impressed to carry provisions and stores to the armies; I have, however, at last succeeded in hiring a set at an enormous price, having given a previous assurance that I could procure, from the English Ambassador, an order for them to return; and in a few hours I expect to depart.

The few inhabitants of this place who view public affairs in a gloomy light are forming arrangements for their removal to Mexico; and, among persons of this description, the independence of Spanish America is talked of as an event that will certainly occur, if the French should succeed in conquering Spain; but with the greater number no such apprehension of the enemy's success is considered within the limits of possibility, and the latter are as jealous of the monopoly of the commerce with their American colonies, as during the most assured dominion of the Mother Country.

I have no idea, myself, that the conquest of Spain is an event likely to be accomplished with the force the French now have in the kingdom, which does not exceed one hundred and thirty thousand men ; but unless more activity be employed by the Spaniards the enemy will never be driven out. They cannot advance through the passes of the Sierra Morena; and Lord Wellington's position at Badajoz prevents them from turning the Spanish army and penetrating by Estremadura to Seville. I do not depend much on Spanish accounts, nor on Spanish discipline, but I have seen some British officers, immediately from our army, and it is their opinion that no battle will be fought soon, but that both armies will remain some time in a state of inactivity; a state most desirable for the Spaniards, since it will afford them time to recruit, and discipline their armies; and, if they can only form officers, and procure sufficient arms, may enable them ultimately to expel the French.

The complaints of the inactivity, selfishness, inability, and intriguing spirit of the members of the Junta are universal: they have lately laid fresh restrictions on the press, and have suppressed the best paper in Spain, the Patriotico Seminario of Seville, which has greatly increased their unpopularity. It is moreover commonly asserted that no appointment, either in the army or the state, is given from the merit of the persons appointed, but merely from influence and intrigue. How far these accusations are well founded I have not been long enough in the country to ascertain, but I attribute a great part of them to that disappointment among the people, which arises from their extravagant expectations not having been fulfilled. When that opposition to France, which they here term a revolution, first