Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/47

 which was settled at Bayonne, and which was certainly better than the wretched form of government before subsisting in Spain. He offered this constitution with his brother Joseph for their king, and threatened them with subjugation in the event of their refusal. The army which he had in Spain was either not sufficiently numerous, or sufficiently well directed, to crash a general rising of the Spanish nation, but ha was conscious of the great reserves which he could bring up.

Austria was in the mean time making the most formidable preparations. The destruction of the Papal power, the seizing the persons of the royal family of Spain, and the avowed intention of conquering that country, made Austria clearly see the danger which awaited her if she continued any longer inert. Bonaparte perceived how formidable a diversion the Emperor of Austria was capable of making, and what a chance there was of the rest of Europe following the example of Spain: he therefore left the frontiers of Spain, and went to Erfort in Saxony, to meet the Emperor of Russia. In these conferences he established his ascendency over Alexander, and all Europe were informed that the two emperors acted in the most perfect concert. Their imperial majesties, however, chose to act the farce of offering peace to England; but the terms of it were to be, that the Spanish nation (whom they were pleased to designate as insurgents) should be abandoned. His majesty’s ministers, however, very properly rejected such an overture: and a declaration has been issued, stating that the engagements which his majesty had contracted with the Spanish nation were notorious to all Europe, and that he should not depart from them. He spoke with great indignation of the indecorum of calling the whole Spanish nation insurgents, and expressed surprise at finding the Emperor of Russia so blindly led by the French Emperor, as to sanction the most monstrous usurpation which had ever been known in the history of the world. Such a declaration certainly did great credit to the feelings of the government, and might be productive of great benefit to the cause of Spain, if that cause is not already too far gone. Bonaparte advanced rapidly from Erfort to the frontiers of Spain, and took the command of the great army which had been marching to that country while he was holding conferences with the Emperor of Russia. His campaign has hitherto been brilliant: he has defeated the armies of Blake and Castanos, entered Madrid as a conqueror. Whether his armies are sufficiently numerous to occupy all Spain, or whether the Spanish nation has sufficient spirit and resources to expel his armies a second time, remains yet to be decided.

The grand question now with respect to British politics is this: Has the country done its duty? or have ministers done their duty in giving adequate support to the cause of Spain? There is no doubt but that we have been liberal in granting all manner of supplies, of money, arms, and ammunition: Spain has acknowledged this service with the sincerest gratitude. As to our armies, the Spaniards did not in the first instance wish for their co-operation. The junta politely F2