encouraged by the reinstallation of the Bourbon dynasty in France, and the warm reception accorded him throughout his journey from the northern border to Valencia, he marched boldly to the capital, dissolved the córtes, arrested the regents, hostile deputies, and other dangerous persons,[1] and issued a decree dated May 4th[2] restoring affairs to the footing held in March 1808. and declaring all intermediate acts annulled. On the 13th he made his formal entry into Madrid, there to affirm his position by a sweeping series of reforms and appointments, with a distribution of offices and honors to his supporters, among whom Americans were prominently remembered, and even courted.[3] The country submitted to the new order, yet not without deep indignation in certain quarters, from which developed a number of plots that served only to bring forth severe measures, involving a number of prominent and patriotic men.
Fernando's liberation and entry into Spain were welcomed in Mexico on June 10th and following days with solemn and imposing celebrations, especially at the feast-loving capital,[4] but even there the news itself
- ↑ The córtes had in Oct. 1813 reconstructed the regency, so that it now consisted of Cardinal Luis de Borbon, Pedro Agar, an American, and Gabriel Ciscar, both of the navy. The cardinal was sent away, but his colleagues fared worse. Among imprisoned Mexican deputies were Arizpe, Manian, Larrazábal, Teran, and Felín. These proceedings took place on May 10th and 11th, with no little commotion. Arizpe's wail is uttered in his Idea Gen. sobre Conducta, 4-10.
- ↑ Issued on the 11th.
- ↑ Perez, deputy for Puebla, and last president of the córtes, received the mitre of that see. Gordoa and Ramirez were appointed canons of Guadalajara, and Rus and Mendiola, oidores of the same place. Rosales was made a count, Lardizábal, minister of the Indies, and so forth, one lowly person, who had merely brought a pen for drafting the decree of May 4th, being raised to councillor.
- ↑ Orders for celebration in Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 541-2. Cos' counter proclamation in Id., vi. 227-8, designating the return as a French intrigue and disastrous. See also Pap. Var., clviii. pts Iv. lix. Arechederreta in his Diario gives details of this minor celebration. Ladies dressed in white and escorted carried round the portrait of the king, and Indians had their semi-grotesque processions. Zamacois, Hist. Méj., ix. 499, attributes greater enthusiasm than really appeared.
signers and refutation in Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 377-532. Record of proceedings in the córtes are given in Córtes, Act. Ord., 1814, i.-ii.
