secrated by existing treaties, the same attachment to the maxims which ensure the general peace, and of the bonds that subsist between the powers. On the other hand, the emperor confidently hopes from them the same disposition to

maintain the relations of intimate friendship and mutual confidence, which, having been established and maintained under the emperor Alexander, have given to Europe ten years of repose."

HE history of Spain during THE the present year is nearly a blank. On the last day of 1824, Zea Bermudez was placed at the head of the ministry. This appointment was said to have been almost forced upon Ferdinand by the influence of France, and by the extreme difficulties in which the court found itself placed. Zen was conceived to be a man of ability, of knowledge, and of moderation in polities; and hopes were entertained that he would follow a more enlightened policy than that of his predecessors in office. But he had not sufficient strength to effect any good. As he refused to go all the lengths of the fanatical party, he was from the commencement of his ministry obnoxious to the church and the leading courtiers; and as, from the very nature of his situation, he could not obtain the support of public opinion in a country where there was no public, he was obliged, in order to maintain himself in office, to oppose intrigue to intrigue; to make a compromise with wrong, when he could not carry what he thought right; and to render ineffectual the measure of one day, by the promulgation of a modifying or counteracting decree

on the morrow. His almost total want of personal influence, of family connexions, or of party support, made it necessary for him to consult the caprices of those whose erroneous views and mischievous passions he should have been able to control, and thus rendered it impossible for him to observe any consistent line of conduct in attempting to restore public credit or to suppress dangerous disturbances. The consequence was, that the fanatical party, imagining that they had now something to apprehend, and at the same time freed from the check of the French army, became more violent than before: and most of the principal towns in Spain exhibited scenes of anarchy and tumult. The disorders were increased by the poverty of the government, who, being without either money or credit, were unable to furnish regularly the requisite supplies for the scanty and miserably appointed troops, and were in the habit of having recourse to forced contributions.

Many negotiations were set on foot for the purpose of raising a loan, but without effect. In March, Ugarte, whose private influence had long been great, was dismissed from

his office of secretary of the Council of State, and appointed ambassador to Turin. Having declined the embassy, he was ordered to quit the capital immediately. The cause assigned for his disgrace was, that he had, without the king's authority, allowed the introduction of a clause into the draught of a contract for a loan, fixing a rate at which the bonds of the Cortes should be received.

A report on the state of the finances, made to the minister of that department by the treasurer general, gave a lamentable picture of the wants of the country, but suggested no mode of remedying the evil.

"The general treasury has to provide for the arming, maintenance, and other expenses which the formation of a respectable army on a new footing requires; to attend to the navy, at present in a most deplorable state, by taking care at least of the outfit of the vessels which are indispensably necessary, and of the subsistence of the officers and crews; to supply what is wanting for the expeditions destined for the pacification of the Americas; to give attention to the serious representations of France for indemnification; to pay the anticipated interest on Guebhard's loan; and, finally, to cover the ordinary demands, which are greatly increased by particular cir

cumstances.

"On the other hand, the resources have diminished and are daily diminishing; the great sums which used to be received from America, and which in tranquil times amounted annually to more than 160 millions of reals, have ceased to be paid besides, the customs, the tobacco duties, the salt duties, and other branches of the re

venue, have sustained a defalcation, amounting by estimate to about another hundred millions, which it has been found impossible to stop, as unfortunately the measures adopted for that purpose have not been followed by the expected results; so that it is not too much to assert, that scarcely enough is received to cover the half of the expenditure. Public credit, also, is ruined by the enormous weight of the debt, and by the impolicy of making promises which could not be fulfilled, thus feeding with delusive hopes the creditors, who, on being undeceived, doubt even facts. The measures resorted to with regard to this department have likewise failed to produce that favourable result which was so much to be desired; and the changes which have taken place have been the cause of some confusion, and have considerably lessened the produce of the appropriated duties.

"So great a deficit, and so general a want of confidence, spread great uneasiness through all classes of the state, and the country is exposed to the terrible effects of the general discontent, which is the necessary consequence of such a state of things."

In a subsequent part of the report, a complaint is made of "the arbitrary practices which are exercised by some authorities and corporations of the provinces, who, in the most shameful manner, impose and exact duties on articles of consumption. This being one of the prerogatives of the sovereign, it ought not to be done without his consent, whatever may be the pretext or urgency alleged for it, particularly at the critical moment in which it is necessary to remedy the abuses and preferences intro

duced in the appropriation of certain duties for particular payments, to the great prejudice, of a just equality in the distribution of the funds." It concluded with stating, that, "The Treasurer-General was exposed to continual insults from the impossibility of satisfying all demands amidst the great wants which surrounded him, and that, in the existing state of the treasury, it was impossible for him to support a charge so superior to his strength."

A disturbance, which took place at Seville in the month of April, may be mentioned as an instance of the general confusion produced by Ferdinand's misrule. For some time past the treasurer-general had drawn into his coffers the greater part of the slender revenues of the province of Seville; and the intendant-general of the province, having no funds at his disposal for the support of the garrison of the city, entered into a contract with some merchants, who took upon themselves for several weeks the support and pay of the troops. The intendant, however, was unable to fulfil his engagement, and the merchants refused to furnish any further supplies. Upon this, the soldiers, irritated by distress, proceeded in a body to the residences of the canons and dignitaries of the church, forced open their doors and pillaged their houses, crying, 'Down with the clergy! Down with absolute Government."

In the present year prince Maximilian of Saxony, the father of the queen of Spain, and his daughter the princess Amelia, remained for some time on a visit to the royal family. On the 20th of April, they left Madrid, in order to return to Dresden by the way of Valencia and Barcelona.

The appointment of Zea had encouraged a notion, that an attempt might be made to mitigate the caprice of despotism, and to introduce into the country something which might approach to a regular government. Ferdinand, however, was anxious to convince the world, that all projects of reform were far from his thoughts.

"I have learned with the most lively grief," said he, in a decree dated the 19th of April," that for some time alarming reports have been insidiously spread, that it is intended to oblige or to counsel me to make reforms and innova

tions in the regime and government of my kingdoms, by altering its ancient and respectable fundamental laws, and limiting my royal authority. It is a duty, and at the same time a satisfaction to me, to contradict a fiction as malicious as it is criminal. I declare, in consequence, not only that I am resolved to preserve entire, and in all their plenitude, the legitimate rights of my sovereignty, without giving up now, or at any other time, the slightest particle of them, and without permitting the establishment of chambers or of other institutions of whatever denomination, which may be contrary to our laws and usages; but that, on the contrary, I have the most solemn and the most positive assurance that all my august allies, who have given me so many proofs of their sincere affection, and their efficacious co-operation in the welfare of my kingdom, will continue to support on all occasions the legitimate and sovereign authority of my crown, without advising or proposing to me directly or indirectly any innovation in the form of my government.

"I also declare, that I have taken