have affected the spirits of the good people of Madrid. After declaring their paternal intentions towards the people in the different states of Europe, the kings conclude their circular instructions in these words: "In announcing to the cabinet to which you are accredited, the facts and declarations which are contained in the present document, you will, at the same time, call to mind what the monarchs consider as the indispensable condition of the fulfilment of their benevolent wishes. To ensure to Europe not only the peace which it enjoys under the protection of treaties, but also the sense of internal repose and durable security, without which no real happiness can exist for nations, they must calculate on the faithful and persevering co-operation of all the governments." Very soon after the promulgation of this circular, the French foreign secretary sent off a dispatch to their ambassador at Madrid, recapitulating the sentiments contained in that document, and also affecting to explain the views of France with respect to the relative situation of the two countries. The French minister declares, that at the Congress of Verona France felt herself called upon to explain to her august allies the nature and object of the armaments to which she had been compelled to have recourse, and the manner in which she might eventually employ them; her explanation had given great satisfaction, and obtained from the allied powers a declaration, that upon occasion they would unite with her in maintaining her dignity and tranquillity. The note then goes on to state, that this was abundantly satisfactory to France, but that three of the powers, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, deemed it necessary to add to the particular act of alliance a further manifestation of their sentiments, and that to that intent diplomatic notes were about to be addressed by these three powers, to their respective ministers at Madrid, with directions to communicate them to the Spanish government, and act as circumstances might require. This note was communicated by M. Lagarde, the French ambassador to the Spanish government; on the 5th and on the 6th the ambassadors of the three above-mentioned powers also transmitted their respective communications to the same quarter. These dispatches are exceedingly im portant, and are signed respectively by Count Nesselrode for Russia, Prince Metternich for Austria, and Count Bernstorff for Prussia. They all concur in the same views with respect to Spain, but the Russian manifesto is by far the most violent. They enter at large into the progress of the Spanish revolution, beginning with the return of Ferdinand from France, and, indeed, omitting nothing except the provocations received by the people from their monarch. In the next sitting of the Cortes, after the Spanish ministers had received those documents, M. San Miguel, the minister for foreign affairs, ascended the tribune, and informed the assembly of the fact; he said that though these notes did not fall exactly within the cognizance of the Cortes, yet, that still the government, wishing to give a proof of the harmony which existed between the two superior bodies of the state, thought proper to communicate the contents of these notes, and the answers which had been given. This determination, as well as the tone of the answers, excited the liveliest enthu siasm. M. Galliano proposed that a deputation should wait upon the king, informing him of the communication from the foreign powers, and of the sentiments of the Cortes thereon. This was carried unanimously. However, the message was afterwards deferred for forty-eight hours, on the proposition of a distinguished member, M. Arguelles, "in order (said he, most judiciously) to convince all Europe that our conduct has not been the result of a first impression." At the adjourned sitting, the following message to the king was unanimously agreed to: "The Cortes manifest to His Majesty that they have heard with the greatest astonishment the assertions contained in the notes of the cabinets of Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Petersburgh, because these diplomatic communications, besides being inconsistent with the established practice of civilized nations, are insulting to the Spanish nation, its Cortes, and its government; and that they have at the same time heard with the greatest satisfaction the ju dicious and decorous answer made treaty, by which this country would possess great and exclusive mercantile advantages. The state of the army of the faith is represented as most wretched; and O'Donnell, notwithstanding his promising procla mation, has been obliged to surren der the command, under circumstances almost amounting to a mu tiny. The Cortes and Constitutional government have haughtily refused to give any answer whatever to the notes of the foreign powers, but they have directed an authorized account of the revolution, and the steps which led to it, to be drawn up, in order to refute the assertions contained in these documents. They have also directed that their message to the king shall, at the public expense, be translated into all the living languages, and distributed throughout Europe; and they have addressed a circular to all their ambassadors, containing the following heads, and directing them instantly to demand their passports, if necessary. by the Spanish government, which exposes the falsehood of the imputations cast on the nation, and expresses its determination to maintain its rights." The message emphatically concludes by stating that the Cortes are prepared to maintain at every risk the dignity and splendour of the Constitutional throne, and of the King of Spain, and the independence, the liberties, and honour, of the Spanish nation, and to decree whatever sacrifice may be necessary for the preservation of interests so valuable. This message was to be delivered to the king by a deputation consisting of twenty-four members; amongst whom we notice the names of Galliano, Arguelles, and Riego, three of the most determined of the Constitutionalists. The bench reserved for the diplomatic body presented on this occasion a remarkable appearance, not a single ambassador appearing on it except the English one, and the different members of his legation. If there was one thing, however, more decisively expressive than another during the debate, it It would be unworthy of the Spanish gowas the unanimity which reigned- vernment to reply to the Notes of Russia, all parties seemed to unite against Austria, and Prussia, because they contain the idea of foreign interference, and nothing but a tissue of falsehoods and cathis fact drew from Arguelles, not lumnies. You will confine yourself to 1. The unnaturally, this exclamation: "I making known its intentions. predict," said he, "that from the Spanish nation is governed by a constitution which has been solemnly recognized by day a foreign soldier sets his foot the Emperor of Russia. 2. The Spaniards, upon the Spanish territory, there will friends to their country, proclaimed at the not be a single Spaniard in a state of commencement of 1812, that constitution revolt. All, even to Mosen Auton (a which was abolished by violence alone in violent Royalist chief), will unite to 1814. 3. The constitutional King of Spain repel the invader." The Cortes did freely exercises the powers which the connot confine themselves to mere de stitution has bestowed on him. 4. The bating; an article from Madrid says Spanish nation does not interest itself with that such measures have been adopt-5. The remedy of the evils which afflict the internal government of other nations. ed as to ensure an immediate addition of 90,000 good troops to 90,000 militia already organized, and it was thought that a proposition for a truce with the American states for six years, in order to come to a final arrangement, would also be agreed to. The greatest possible enthusiasm prevailed at Madrid-the city had been illuminated, Arguelles paraded in triumph, and all the foreign ambassadors, except our own, had demanded their passports, and were about to depart. The best understanding, however, was understood to subsist between Spain and England, and resolutions had passed the Congress, equivalent to a commercial ration alone. 6. Those evils are not the rethe Spanish nation is for its own considesult of the constitution, but rather of the efforts of its enemies to destroy it. 7. The Spanish nation will not acknowledge the right of any power to interfere in its affairs. 8. The government will never deviate from the line traced by its duties, by national honour, and by its unalterable attachment to the constitution sworn to in 1812. I authorise you to communicate verbally this letter to the minister of foreign affairs of the power with whom you reside, and to His majesty hopes that the prudence, zeal, supply him with a copy if he requires one. and patriotism, which distinguish you will suggest to you a conduct firm and worthy of the Spanish name, under existing cir cumstances. This document is signed by San Miguel, the Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Such is the state of the Spanish question at present, which certainly opens a very wide field for political speculation. If the allied powers have any idea of seriously pressing on a war between France and Spain, it seems strange that they should give the Constitutionalists such a length of time, to them most valuable, for organizing both their civil and military resources. On the other hand, it seems difficult to reconcile such documents, accompanied by the recal of their legations, with any pacific purpose. It will be recollected that Portugal has promised to assist Spain in case of any actual invasion, with a contingent of 8,000 troops, and it is observable that in all these angry disquisitions there is no mention whatever made of England. We have, however, now to add a new fact, which, under existing circumstances, speaks significantly enough as to the policy of this country. In the sitting of the Cortes of Portugal of the 31st of December, the foreign minister presented to that body a memoir upon the political relations of Portugal with the other powers of Europe, which called forth a reply from the British minister, containing, amongst others, the following remarkable passage: The English government having solemnly declared in the face of the world that it does not assume the existence of a right of intervention in the internal concerns of other states, England will feel herself obliged to lend to this kingdom all the succour of which it may stand in need, as often as its independence may be menaced by any other power in any manner whatever." Now, when we observe that all the other leading powers of Europe are "assuming the existence of a right of intervention in the internal concerns" of Spain, this is certainly a remarkable decla ration. The Queen of Portugal continuing still to refuse her assent on oath to the Constitution, it is said that she is likely to be tried according to the precedent presented in the case of the late Queen of England. Her majesty, it seems, now gives as her reason for not taking the oath, a vow which she made some time ago, never to take an oath either for good or evil while she lives! It seems rather strange that she did not assign this scruple of conscience in the first instance. It would appear from the discussion in the Cortes that the queen was in actual custody. From the Brazils there have arrived some accounts subsequent to those in our last. The Emperor has issued a proclamation to the Portuguese nation, stating the facts which led to a separation between the countries, demonstrating the inutility of endeavouring by force to oppose the will of an united country, and declaring his own wish to live in amicable relations with Portugal. The proclamation ends thus:-" Portuguese, I offer you the space of four months to make your decision. Determine and choose either the continuance of a friendship founded on the dictates of justice and generosity, and in the ties of blood and reciprocal interests; or a most violent war which can alone terminate in the independence of Brazil or the ruin of both countries." By these accounts it would appear that the Emperor himself is restrained much by the wishes of the people under the new system. It seems, that ever since the revolution against Portugal commenced, he was in the habit of consulting chiefly two brothers of the name of Andrade, Secretaries of the Foreign Department and Finance. With these ministers he had some misunderstanding, and they were dismissed. A meeting, however, of the inhabitants, with whom they are very popular, took place, and in consequence of a very strong remonstrance, the Emperor found it prudent to restore them to place, if not to favour! What would his mother, the Queen of Portugal, say to this? From France we have little new; but that little, notwithstanding the notes of the allies, looks pacific. A rupture took place on the 25th of the month in the French cabinet, in consequence of the violence with which the conflicting parties urged their opinions with respect to Spain. M. de Montmorency, who acted for France at Verona, demanded in one of the sittings of Council, that the request of the war minister to augment his budget by 40,000,000l. should be acceded to, in order to secure the plan of attacking Spain. 1823. View of Public Affairs. This was firmly opposed by M. de Villele, whose sentiments are as decidedly against the war as those of M. de Montmorency are in favour of it; this latter is one of the most violent and most belligerent of the Ultras. He instantly departed, and tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and M. Chateaubriand occupies his place. The Chambers are to meet on the 28th of January. In addition to this, it is said that those old soldiers who had served their time and were entitled to their discharge, were all demanding it, and many of the soldiers of the faith who had fled to France were willing to accept a proffered amnesty from Mina, but were refused passports by the French prefect, whose conduct upon the occasion did not quite meet the countenance he expected from the government. On the subject of the Greek struggle we have nothing new to state, and most sincerely do we regret it. We certainly did expect that when we had to relate the results of a Congress of Christian sovereigns, assembled under the name of the Holy Alliance, in order to consult for the safety of Christian Europe, that we should have to record, not so much a glorious as an imperative interference on behalf of this interesting and oppressed people. We have been, how ever, miserably disappointed; the descendants of Solon, Socrates, Homer, and Epaminondas, have been left to a fate too insignificant to be compared with that of the royal martyr of the Escurial. In order that our readers may see that we have good cause for feeling acutely upon this subject, we merely subjoin the following extract of a letter, dated Constantinople, October 8, 1822. The writer is the Reverend H. D. Leeves -we shall not add one word by way of comment. We proceeded from Vouria to Scio, where we had an opportunity of witnessing the melancholy and utter desolation which has befallen this beautiful and once flourishing island. I could not have conceived, without being an eye witness, that destruction could have been rendered so complete. We walked through the town, which was handsome, and built entirely of stone, and found the houses, the churches, the hospitals, and the extensive college, where a few months ago 6 or 700 youths were receiving their education, one mass of ruins! On 231 every side were strewed fragments of half From this subject, we turn with "sublime 22 The Sultan at Constantinople appears not to enjoy the most enviable state of tranquillity. He has been compelled by the Janissaries to admit certain officers of their body permanently into the all the officers of his fleet who have divan. He is taking the heads off escaped the fire ships at Tenedos, successively, in the order of their arrival at home. He has taken the head off Haleb Effendi, his favourite minister, but only exhibited it on a silver salver, mercifully dispensing with its exposure over the gates of the seraglio. He has taken the head off Chourschid Pacha, the famous conqueror of Ali! It is said his "sublimity" does not feel his own head and indeed we little wonder at it ;perfectly at ease upon his shoulders, with a little variation Shakspeare might afford a good motto to be placed over the Turkish palace: The Congress of the United States of America has been opened with a message from its President, as usual, which message is, as usual also, a very interesting document. It is too long for insertion, according to the "From this plan of our abstract; but the following extract forms, in fact, a compendium of the entire. Uneasy feels the head which wears a crown. view, it appears, that our commercial differences with France and Great Britain have been placed in a train of amicable arrangement, on conditions fair and honourable in both instances to each party; that our finances are in a very productive state, our revenue being at present fully competent to all the demands upon it; that our military force is well organized in all its branches, and capable of rendering the most important service, in case of emergency, that its number will admit of; that due progress has been made, under existing appropriations, in the construction of fortifications, and in the operation of the ordnance depart ment; that due progress has, in like manner, been made in the construction of ships of war; that our navy is in the best condition, felt and respected in every sea in which it is employed for the protection of our commerce; that our manufactures have augmented in amount, and improved in quality; that great progress has been made in the settlement of accounts, and in recovery of balances due to individuals; and that the utmost economy is secured and observed in every department of the administration." This is certain ly as flattering a summary as could well be composed, embracing as it does almost every point of interest to a community. We have not space for further extracts, though we could much wish to transcribe the passages which relate to the South American provinces, to Spain and Portugal, and to Greece-passages which do credit to the enlightened statesman of a country in which, accord ing to the words of the message, "there is but one order, that of the people, to whom the sovereignty exclusively belongs." Having gone so much at large into our foreign abstract, we have left ourselves but little room for any detail of domestic occurrences-a little space, however, will suffice, as they are neither so varied nor so numerous as to require much notice. Parlia ment will certainly meet for the dispatch of business on the 4th of February, and the session is expected to comprise the discussion of many interesting questions. Amongst these the state of the distressed agriculturalists will of course be the most prominent. Indeed, general meetings have already been held in the principal counties, and petitions prepared upon the subject; some of these documents are of a very violent cha racter, and point out remedies much more likely to produce disunion than redress, such as the abolition of certain places, the reduction of salaries, the diminution of the interest on the debt, and even the appropriation of church property. Some partial changes in the admi nistration are already spoken of-or, perhaps, we should say, transfer of offices, as Mr. Vansittart is the only person going out; he is to have a peerage, it is said, with the title of Baron of Bexley; his place is to be filled by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Robinson's by the next in rotation, and so on. Report ascribes to the new foreign secretary, Mr. Canning, a much more liberal tact in policy than characterised his predecessor; and on the subject of any interference with Spain, his dissent has been expressed most unequivocally. AGRICULTURE. The severe frosts which have baked the earth from the beginning of the present month, have confined the operations in husbandry to forming heaps of manure, while the snow which has fallen, protects the wheats from the dangers they might, în an uncovered state, have been exposed to. Rural operations present, therefore, nothing for narration; the soil will receive the mellowing influence of the frost; the numerous insects which the two last mild winters had engendered will be checked in their propagation, and thus the effects of severe weather will be found generally beneficial. The low price, and the necessities of the farmer, urge on the work of threshing out with more than ordinary rapidity. The markets exhibit neither improvement nor decline, except in the article of barley, which on the 13th had gone down another shilling per quarter; last Monday's market was perfectly stagnant, in consequence of the navigation being stopped by the frost. Beef, in Smithfield, advanced on the 13th, for the best to 4s. 4d. a stone, and mutton about 2d. per stone. In the country markets, store pigs have become more in demand, and better in price, in consequence of the remission of the duty on salt, for which the demand has been immense. There is no question that this will be an important benefit to Agriculture, and particularly to the labourer. The complaints are dreadful, and are every where increasing. |