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immediate possession of Tuscany. -The Favourite was to have for his portion the Algarves and Alantejo, in full property and sovereignty, but the emperor's answer to the letters of the royal father had not yet ar rived; it was completely uncertain what it would be, and this filled him with fear and anxiety. The intimate relations which the Favourite maintained at that period with the Grand Duke of Berg, through the medium of his confident Isquierdo, flattered him to a certain degree with the hope that every thing would be settled to his wishes, though the interposition of a few millions might be necessary. But neither the Favourite nor his confident knew the real intentions of the person they were treating with at Paris. In fact, the instant the emperor found that the Favourite had committed himself, and the royal parents were brought into discredit, he shewed no disposition to answer his inajesty's letters, for the purpose of keeping them in suspense, and inspiring them with dread, in the hope that they might form the resolution of withdrawing, though at that time he had not completed his plan for taking an advantage of such an occurrence.-The Grand Doke wrote to the Favourite, that he would employ every means to support him, but that the negociation was rendered very delicate, owing to the extraordinary attachment which prevailed in Spain towards the prince of Asturias, and the considera tion due towards a princess who was cousin to the Empress, and in consequence of the part the ambassador Beauharnois, her relative, took in the business. (1).-Now it was that the Favourite began clearly to discover how much his credit had sunk, and he gave himself up for lost, in consequence of being deprived of the support of his imaginary protector, the Emperor of the French. There were no means now neglected by him to endeavour to ingratiate himself with the Grand Duke of Berg; every sort of expression, every kind of deference was employed for this purpose; and the more effectually to avert the impend ing storm, he prevailed on the royal parents to write to the emperor direct, and to request his consent to the marriage of one of his cousins to the prince of Asturias. - Meanwhile the Emperor of the French appeared to be very much dissatisfied with the conduct of Isquierdo, and kept him at a distance, in order to cut off this direct mode of commu

nication, and to make himself more impe netrable. His Imperial majesty set off on a journey to Italy, with that studied parade which all Europe has witnessed, giving t such an air of importance, that it was to be presumed he was going to fix the destines of the world. But there is reason to sur mise, that his real object was no other, then to divert the general attention to that quar ter, for the purpose of misleading the other states, whilst his real designs were directed to the invasion of Portugal and Spain.-Thi artifice and dissimulation did not, however, prevent the discovery of one of the articles in the Secret Treaty of Fontainbleau, by his expelling, with the greatest precipitation, from Tuscany, the Queen Regent and bet children, and plundering the royal palace, and seizing all the public funds of a court that was ignorant of the existence of such r treaty, and had committed no act of forfei ture. Whilst the emperor kept Europe suspence by his journey to Milan and Venice, he thought fit to answer the letters, which he had some time before received from the royal father, assuring his majesty, that never had the slightest information of t circumstances which he communicated specting his son the prince of Asturias, ever received any letter from his royal hig ness. (2). Nevertheless his majesty sented to the proposed intermarriage with princess of his family, undoubtedly with a intention of amusing the royal par whilst he was sending into Spain, under rious pretexts, all the troops which he had then disposable, and was studiously propa gating an idea that he was favourable to the cause of the prince of Asturias, and thus endeavouring to captivate the good opinion of the Spanish nation.-The royal parents, struck with terror which this conduct of the emperor naturally inspired, and the Favourite being still more astonished, opposed no obstacle to the entrance of the French troops into the peninsula; on the contrary, they gave the most effectual orders that they should be received and treated even on a better footing than the Spanish troops.-The emperor, under the pretence of cousulting the security of these troops, ordered his generals, by stratagem or force to get pos session of the fortresses of Pampeluna, St.

(1) All this appears from the correspon

dence of the Favourite with the Grand Duke, which the latter carried off from the office of the secretary of state, during his lieutenancy.

(2) Compare this statement, with the contents of the letter (No. 3), from his Imperial majesty to King Ferdinand, in which he acknowledges having received the letter written to him by the Prince of Astu rias, on the suggestion of ambassador Beau harnois.

Sebastian. Figuieras, and Barcelona, which alone could present any obstacle to an invasion. They were accordingly taken by frand and surprize, to the indignation and sorrow of the whole nation, to which the French still affected to profess friendship and alliance.—The emperor, conceiving himself already master of all Spain, and thinking the time had arrived for accelerating his measures, thought proper to write a letter 9 the royal father, complaining in the biterest terms, that his majesty had not reewed his application for an imperial priness for his son the prince of Asturias. The ing was pleased to return for answer, that e adhered to his former proposal, and was illing that the marriage should immediately ike place. Some important proceeding ras still necessary to carry the project to a egree of maturity, and the emperor not filling to trust it to writing, thought he ould not find a better instrument than Don lugenio Izquierdo, whom he had detained Paris in a state of great dejection and teror, that had been artfully impressed upon im for the purpose of his more effectually Executing his commission, by impressing he royal parents and the Favourite with the me feelings.-In this state of things, the mperor ordered Izquierdo to repair to pain, which he accordingly did, in a very recipitate and mysterious manner. Acording to his verbal statements, he brought proposal in writing with him, nor was he to receive any, and he had orders to remain only three days.-On his arrival, under these circumstances, at Aranjuez, the Favourite conducted him to the presence of the royal parents, and their conferences were conducted with so much secresy, that it was impossible for any one to discover the object of his mission; but soon after his departure from this capital, their majesties began to shew a disposition to abandon the metropolis and the peninsula, and to emigrate to Mexico.-The recent example of the determination taken by the royal family of Portugal, seemed to have fully corresponded with the views of the emperor, and there is reason to think that his imperial majesty promised himself a similar success in Spain. But he must have been very ignorant of the Spanish character to flatter himself with such expectations, Scarcely had the first reports gone abroad of the intention of the royal family to abandon their residence, a resolution clearly indicated by the many preparations which were going on, when discontent and fear were depicted in the most lively colours in the features of all the inhabitants of the capital, and of alj

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ranks and classes of persons. This alone was sufficient to induce their majesties to refute the rumour, and to assure the people that they would not abandon them.-Nevertheless, such was the general distrust, such the magnitude of the evils which must have reselted, and such and so many the symptoms of a determination to emigrate, that every one was on the alert, and all seemed to be impressed with the necessity of preventing a measure pregnant with so many mischiefs. The danger increased, and the fears of the public kept pace with it. The consequence was, that the commotions of Aranjuez, on the 17th and 19th of March, burst forth like a sudden explosion; the people being led by a sort of instinct of self-preservation. The result was, the imprisonment of the Favourite, who, without the title of king, had exercised all the functions of royalty.

Scarcely had this tempestuous scene taken place, when the royal parents, finding themselves deprived of the support of their Favourite, took the unexpected but voluntary resolution which they had for some time entertained to abdicate their throne, as they accordingly did, in favour of their son and heir the Prince of Asturias.-The emperor, ignorant of this sudden event, and perhaps never supposing that the Spaniards were capable of displaying such resolution, had ordered prince Murat to advance with his army towards Madrid, under the idea that the royal family were already on the coast, and on the point of embarking, and that far from meeting the slightest obstacle on the part of the people, all of them would receive him with open arms, as their deliverer and guardian angel. He conceived, that the nation was in the highest degree dissatisfied with their government, and never reflected that they were only dissatisfied with the abuses which had crept into the administration of it.-The instant the grand duke of Berg was apprised of the occurrences at Aranjuez, he advanced with his

whole army to occupy the capital of the kingdom; intending, no doubt, to profit by the occasion, and to take such steps as should be best calculated to realize, by any means, the plan of making himself master of Spain. In the meanwhile, the mysterious obscurity of the emperor's projects, the proximity of his troops, and the ignorance in which Ferdinand VII. was of the

real object of the emperor's approach, induced the king to adopt such measures as appeared to his majesty best calculated to conciliate the good will of the emperor. Not satisfied with having communicated his

accession to the throne in the most friendly | persist in it with greater ardour. The expeand affectionate terms, the king appointed a deputation of three grandees of Spain to proceed to Bayonne, and in his name to compliment his imperial majesty. He also appointed another grandee of Spain to pay a similar compliment to the grand duke of Berg, who had already arrived in the vicinity of Madrid.-One of the contrivances which the French agent immediately had recourse to, was to assure the king, and to spread the rumour in all quarters, that his imperial majesty's arrival might be expected every moment. Under this impression, the necessary orders were given for preparing apartments in the palace suitable to the dignity of so august a guest; and the king wrote again to the emperor, how agreeable it would be to him to be personally acquainted with his majesty, and to assure him with his own lips, of his ardent wishes to strengthen more and more the alliance which subsisted between the two sovereigns.-The grand duke of Berg had in the meantime entered Madrid, at the head of his troops. He was no sooner acquainted with the state of affairs, than he began to sow discord. He spoke in a mysterious manner of the abdication of the crown, executed by the royal father in favour of his son, amidst the tumults of Aranjuez, and gave it to be understood, that until the emperor had acknowledged Ferd. VII. it was impossible for him to take any step that should appear like an acknowledgement, and that he must be under the necessity of treating only with the royal father. This pretext did not fail to produce the effect which the grand duke intended. The royal parents, the moment they were informed of this circumstance, availed themselves of it to save the Favourite, who remained in confinement, and in whose favour prince Murat professed to take an interest, for the sole purpose of flattering their majesties, mortifying Ferd. VII. and sowing fresh matter of discord between the parents and the son.--In this state of things, the new king made his public entry into Madrid, without any other parade than the most numerous concourse of all the in

habitants of the capital and its environs, the strongest expressions of love and loyalty, and the applauses and acclamations which sprung from the joy and enthusiasm of his subjects--a scene truly grand and impressive, in which the young king was seen like a father in the midst of his children, entering his capital as the regenerator and guardian angel of the monarchy.-The duke of Berg was an eye witness of this scene; but far from abandoning his plan, he resolved to

riment upon the royal parents produced the desired effect; but whilst the beloved king, who came to the throne under such good auspices, continued to be present, it was impossible to carry the plan into execution. It was, therefore, necessary to make every effort to remove Ferdinand VII. from Madrid. To accomplish this purpose, the grand duke every moment spread reports of the arrival of a fresh courier, with accounts of the emperor's departure from Paris, and that he might be speedily expected to arrive in this capital. He directed his efforts in the first instance to induce the infant Don Car los to set off to receive his imperial majesty, upon the supposition that his highness must meet him before he had proceeded two days upon his journey. His majesty acceded to the proposal, being influenced by the purest and most beneficent intentions. He had no sooner succeeded in procuring the depar ture of the Infant, than he manifested the most anxious desire that the King should de the same, leaving no means untried to per suade his majesty to take this step, and as suring him that it would be attended by the most happy consequences to the king and the whole kingdom.-At the same time th the grand duke of Berg, the ambassador, and all the other agents of France, were proceeding in this course, they were, on the other side, busily employed with the royal parents to procure from them a formal pre test against the abdication of the crowd, which they had executed spontaneously and with the accustomed solemnities, in favour of their son and legitimate heir.-His ma jesty being incessantly urged to go to meet the emperor, painfully hesitated between the necessity of performing an act of courtesy to his ally, which he was assured would be attended with such advantageous results, and his reluctance to abandon his loyal and beloved people under such critical circumstances.-In this embarrassing situation, I can assert, that my constant opinion, as the king's minister, was, that his majesty should not leave his capital until he received certain information that the emperor was already ar rived in Spain, and was approaching Madrid; and that even then, he should only proceed to a distance so short as not to render it ne cessary to sleep one night out of his capital. -His majesty for some days persisted in the resolution of not quitting Madrid until be received certain advice of the emperor's ap proach; and he would have probably con tinued in that determination, had not the ar rival of general Savary added greater weight to the reiterated solicitations of the grand

duke, and the ambassador Beauharnois.General Savary was announced as envoy from the emperor, and in that capacity demanded an audience from his majesty, which was inmediately granted. At this audience he professed that he was sent by the emperor merely to compliment his majesty, and to know whether his sentiments with respect to France were conformable to those of the king his father, in which case the emperor would forego all consideration of what had passed, would in no degree interfere in the internal concerns of the kingdom, and would immediately recognize his majesty as king of Spain and the Indies.-The most satisfactory answer was given to generat Savary, and the conversation was continued in terms so flattering, that nothing more could have been desired. The audience terminated with an assurance upon his part, that the emperor had already left Paris, that he was near Bayonne, and on his way to Madrid. Scarcely had he left the audience chamber, when he began to make the most urgent applications, to induce his majesty to meet the emperor, assuring him that this attention would be very grateful and flattering to his imperial majesty; and he asserted so repeatedly, and in such positive terms, that the emperor's arrival might be expected every moment, that it was impossible not to give credit to his assertions. It was in fact very

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hard to suspect that a general, the envoy of an emperor, should have come merely for the purpose of deception.-The king at length yielded to so many solicitations, and so many flattering hopes and assurances; and his love of his subjects, and ardent desire to contribute to their happiness, by putting an end to this dreadful crisis, triumphed in his generous heart over every feeling of repugnance and apprehension.-The day appointed for his majesty's departure arrived. General Savary, affecting the most zealous and assiduous attention to his majesty, solicited the honour of accompanying him on his journey, which, at the farthest, could only extend to Burgos, according to the information which he had just received of the emperor's approach. During his absence, supposed to be only for a few days, the king left at Madrid a supreme junta of government, consisting of the secretaries of state, and presided over by his uncle, the most serene infant Don Antonio, in order that the urgent affairs of the government should be attended to.-General Savary followed him Burgos, in a separate carriage; but the

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emperor not having arrived there, he used every exertion to induce his majesty to con-tinue his journey as far as Vittoria. Various discussions arose as to the course which ought to be pursued; but artifice and perfidy contended with honour, innocence, and good faith; and, in so unequal a strife, the same benevolent intentions which drew his majesty from his capital urged him to proceed to Vittoria.--General Savary, convinc ed that his majesty had resolved to proceed no farther, continued his journey to Bayonne with the intention undoubtedly of acquainting the emperor of all that had passed, and of procuring a letter from him which should determine the king to separate himself from his people.-At Vittoria his majesty received information that the emperor arrived at Bourdeaux, and was on his way to Bayonne. In consequence of this advice, the infant Don Carlos, who had been waiting at Tolosa, proceeded on to Bayonne, whither he had been invited by the emperor, who, however, delayed his arrival some days longer.-Nothing particular occurred at Vittoria, except that the supreme junta of government at Madrid, having written that the Grand Duke of Berg had imperiously demanded that the Favourite should be released and placed in his hands, his majesty did not think proper to comply with this demand; and in communicating this determination to the junta of government, enjoined them to enter into no explanation with the grand duke respecting the fate of the prisoner (3).-In the meantime, general Savary concerted with the emperor in what manner they should prepare to give the finishing blow; and while the French troops in the vicinity of Vittoria were making suspicious movements, he made his appearance in that city, with the letter No. 3, to his majesty from the emperor.-To the contents of this letter, which were neither flattering nor decorous, general Savary added so many and such vehement protestations of the interest which the emperor took in the welfare of his majesty, and of

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Supplement to No, 16, Vol. XIV-Price 10d,

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Spain, that he even went so far as to saying what could be the meaning of a recep

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I will suffer my head to be cut off, if, within a quarter of an hour of your majesty's arrival at Bayonne, the emperor shall not have recognized you as king of Spain and the Indies. To support his own consistency, he will probably begin by giving you the title of highness, but in five minutes he will give you that of majesty, and in three days every thing will be settled, and your majesty may return to Spain immediately.'-His majesty, however, hesitated as to the course which he should take; but anxious to redeem the pledge which he had given, and, above all, to relieve his beloved subjects from the cruel anxiety in which they were, he banished from his heart every apprehension of danger, and shut his ears against my counsels, and those of other persons in his train, as well as to the supplications of that loyal city, and determined to proceed to Bayonne ; his royal mind being incapable of suspecting that a sovereign, his ally, should invite him as a guest, for the purpose of making him a prisoner, and of putting an end to a dynasty, which, so far from having offended him, had given him so many striking proofs of its friendship.-Scarcely had his majesty set foot on the French territory, when he remarked that no one came to receive him, until, at his arrival at St Jean de Luz, the mayor made his appearance, attended by the municipality. The carriage stopped, and he addressed his majesty with the most lively expressions of the joy he felt at having the honour of being the first to receive a king, who was the friend and ally of France.-Shortly after, he was met by the deputation of the three Grandees of Spain, who had been sent off to meet the emperor; and their representation, with respect to the intentions of the emperor, was not the most flattering. He was, however, now too near Bayonne to think of changing his course, and he therefore continued his journey.There came out to meet the king the prince of Neufchatel and Duoc, marshal of the palace, with a detachment of the guard of honour which the citizens of Bayonne had formed to attend the emperor, and they invited his majesty to enter Bayoune, where a place had been prepared for his residence. This residence appeared to all, aud was in reality, but little suitable to the rank of the august guest who was to occupy it. This rear: ible and expressive neglect formed a singular contract with the studied magnificence which the king had employed in making the preparations at Madrid for the reception of his ally-His majesty was doubt

tion that he so little expected, when he was informed that the emperor was coming to pay him a visit. His imperial majesty ar rived, accompanied by a number of his generals. The king went down to the streetdoor to receive him, and both monarchs embraced each other with every token of friendship and affection. The emperor staid but a short time with his majesty, and they embraced each other again at parting.-Socn after marshal Duroc came to invite the king to dine with his imperial majesty, whose carriages were coming to convey his majes ty to the palace of Marac: this accordingly took place. The emperor came as far as the coach-steps to receive his majesty, embraced him again, and led him by the hand to the apartment provided for him.—The king had no sooner returned to his residence, when Gen. Savary waited on his majesty to inform him that the emperor had irrevocably determined that the Bourbon dynasty should no longer reign in Spain; that it should be succeeded by his; and therefore his impe rial majesty required that the king should, in his own name and that of all his family renounce the crown of Spain and the Indies in favour of the dynasty of Buonapartewould be difficult to describe the surpa with which the royal mind of his m was affected, and the consternation which all those who were nearest to his person were struck at hearing of such a proposition. his majesty was not yet recovered from the fatigues of a toil-ome journey, when the same man who had made him so many po testations of security at Madrid and on the road, who had drawn him from his capitai and his kingdom to Bayonne, on pretence of adjusting matters of the greatest important to both states, and of his being recognised by his imperial majesty, had the audacity to be the bearer of so scandalous a proposal.— On the following day, I was sent for by the emperor to his royal palace, where I found the minister of foreign affairs, M. Chanpagny, waiting to enter upon a discussion of the proposals verbally stated by genera Savary. I instantly complained of the per fidy with which so important an affair was proceeded in; representing that the king, my master, came to Bayonne, relying on the assurances given by general Savary, in the name of the emperor, and in the presence of the dukes del Infantado, S. Carlos, D. Juan Escoiquiz, and myself, that his imperial majesty would recognize him at the very first interview between the two sore reigns in the imperial palace of Marac; that when his majesty expected to witness the

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