present Representation, that the sense of the majority of the nation was decidedly in favour of Independence. To conceive that, when once this idea had taken root, it could ever be eradicated,—to hope that in a country where it had spread in an instant from the highest to the lowest classes, "like atmospheric plague," and where its growth was fostered not only by every principle of reason and justice, but by feelings of personal interest and private animosity, the spirit could be stifled or crushed, was the height of folly; and dearly has Spain expiated it by the loss of those advantages, which, until within the last year, it was still in her power to secure.
C.
Most Excellent Sir,
By a private letter from Jalapa, I have received a manuscript copy of the Decree of our most beloved and desired Sovereign, dated Valencia, May 4th, 1814, by which his Majesty declares to be null the Constitution promulgated by the General and Extraordinary Cortes, and reassumes the exercise of that Sovereign power, of which the Congress had despoiled him.
My loyalty as a vassal,—my attachment to the King as a grateful subject,—and my conviction as a good Spaniard,—filled my heart, upon this occasion, with the purest satisfaction; and I instantly ordered the inclosed proclamation to be published, by which I announced to the kingdom at large the happy tidings, and swore, as first Chief of these dominions, in the name of the Sovereign of Spain, Don Ferdinand VII. my ready and sincere obedience to his Royal will.
(Precautions taken against the introduction of any Agents, or Decrees of the Cortes, &c.)
I regard it as a duty to lay before his Majesty a rapid sketch of the state of these countries, and of my own conduct since I
