ACCOUNT OF THE CENTRAL. OR SUPREME JUNTA 0! pain, ,...
}
}
OF
THE CENTRAL.
OR
SUPREME JUNTA
0!
pain,
,„I,T,CHIE.F MEMBERS,'
AND
MOST IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS,
•
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J'. RIDGEWAY, 170, PICCADILLY,
By W. Flint, Old Bailey.
1809.
ACCOUNT
OF THE
SUPREME JUNTA,
DURING the Campaign in Spain, the attentien
Of the public was so exclusively directed to the
military events in that country, that they had
scarcely leisure to attend-to the political trans-
actions of its government, much less to investi-
gate the principles upon which it was formed,
or to examine the tendency of the measures it
adopted,
,The Provincial Juntas, struck out at the
.heat of the moment, were sufficient to inflame
11
•
the
6
the enthusiasm of the _people, and to produce
reluctant to -part with their new-acquired autho-
the explosion to WhiCh-the'p6p-ular wishes had
rity, and still more with the patronage they had
previously given the proper direction ; but
veryi generally, assumedr and, used very lavishly,
they soon became assemblies of intrigue, cabal,
•
were nevertheless inclined to acquiesce.. in any
and corruption; 'and - even where the embers of
expedient r ather than submit to the Council of,
public spirit remained in them, they were not
Castile, fromwhOln they could expect no favours,
perceptible i,beyOnd, the FI3Mitsf of 'their respec-
and whose conduct in.the critical moments of tho
tive provinces. Disunion, if not civil war, was
revolution, if susceptible of apology, was nei-
apprehended; and the necessity of some me-
ther entitled to gratitude. nor reward.
tropolitan government was generally felt, and
early acknowledged. Nearly all , Spaniards
After a, variety of intrigues and jealousies,
joined in the propriety of establishing some
and one instance of considerable violence,*
general government; though they differed as to
the Deputies from, the , various Provincial. Juntas
fdrirfit'slionld.-the' persons'ho
met at A4ap.j-uqz on the 19th of September.;
3S1ionid"&iiiiPbse'it,""atc'ebiding'touthe"tenbi.
and, with as much, pomp as the occasion re.:
•
'15rineiPles;jthe ' biasjOf
quired, were invested with the authority of
their professions,:' or the accidents of their'.local
the Supreme Government of the Kingdom, un-
interests arid -jaffeetilani. • ' `'Nfilitary' then 'Were
der the title of Central or Supreme junta. The
ienera' 1 averse;-to 'Juntas- and'Agseniblies;' ;an' d
tranquillity of their inauguration was, in .a
would willingly - baVeVritrUstd Ac ii i,Able go-
great measure, due to the forbearance and mo-
.
vernment to a Regent. The gentlemen"011he
deration of General Castanos i for it is univr7
robe were all for leaving it in the hands of the
COuncirOf
:Juntas,
* Qeneral Cuesta's imprisonment of VAL D ES, Deputy from Leon,
-reluctant
sally
8
sally supposed in Spain, that nothing but his
the composition 'of that Assembly. it is true;
.
,
concurrence was wanting for'he completion of
that, with the' exception of Don FRANCISC.d.
a Plan of provisional government, which
SAAVEDRA, who declined being a Deputy, and
would have been purely and exclusively mili-
has been since nominated Minister of Finance,
tary. In' 'that plan, General Cuesta was the
the persons most remarkable for their political
prime mover. The subsequent conduct of the
reputation and talents are to be found in the
Central Junta, in acknowledging his real me-
list. But there is too • much reason to believe,
rits, at a moment when his defeat would have
that, in most instances, the choice fell on in-
enabled them to ruin him in the estimation of
dividuals of no experience, and little capacity;
the 'public, is a rare instance of magnanimity
and, in some, on such as from their character
and justice, which deserves to be recorded ;
should have been excluded from any share of
while, on the other hand, if report says true,
authority in a well regulated state. Of the
that gallant and popular veteran both feels and
• latter, however, the examples are very few;
shows his gratitude for such distinctions, in a
and the Junta has been so well aware of them,
manner equally honourable to his - head and
that, in the most flagrant instance, it has very
heart.
prudently sought a pretext for removing the
Deputy from the Seat of Government, by ap-
The Central Junta consists only of thirty-six
pointing him to a commission of no great im-
Deputies; a number too small for a popular as,-
portance ; . but which, in all probability, the
sernbly, and yet too large (even if entirely com-
culiar turn of his talents will convert into a pro-
posed of able statesmen) for an Executive Go,
fitable job for himself.
vernment or Council. of State. But there are
not greater defects in the constitution, than in,
The most remarkable persons in the Junta,
at the time of its first formation, were Count
-
19
FLORIDA J3LANC.A. ;,Don Gaspar Melchor de Jo;
`Compared' with what followed<it, -seemed,to be
•
VELLAN.O
-the epoch of Spanish glory.
and< prosperity. But
• ; Don Antonio„.VA.Lns,, Knight of,
Malta; Prince.Pw;, Don •Martini Don,
his Ialents;' mt: all times those of, an, adroit -poll-
LOreDZO, CALVO; and,: in.point
tician -rather' thaa an : able: statesman, ;had not
. of rank,_ wealth,
and probity;, the Count of ALT
-improved <by
AM IRA,. better.
f rethtment ; land if:age , had • <not
known in England,. by the title of Afarquis,of
, impaired•his factilties; :lnerther had it, abated his
Astorga...
love-Of-Tower, 's'we'etened his , temper, nor soft-
-ened'his prejudices:' wwas mit; only 'unfit' for
Prince PI°, who was an, accomplished man„
the ma.nagemenrof)a , machine2 so )•totallyldissi-
with considerable talents,, died soon after the
'thilar from' that which: he' had ionce been ,accus-
battle of Tudela; and was succeeded by the
tomed tot.ivieldObtit; innred:hyl system' and ha-
Marquis of
‘
ROMANA, who has never quitted his
. bitto the stibstanee
•asforms of arbitrary
army to take his seat in the Junta.
monarchy, ; he(was on. `•*ery)oecasion as:ifearful
< :,the o people Whonfrhe tgoVerned, :as of.' the
`enemy•againsiZwhom
Count
-: he hoped! to-direct 'their
FLORIDA BLANCA, though of a great age,
exertions. lExtremely <jealoust-01 his ;personal
lived till the month of January, and died Pre!
-ilignity'andi.atithority; he clungt to the hetero-
sident . of the Central Junta in Seville,, 'where he
geneous
was interred with great pomp. He had been
z form , < of ;Government <from uwhich • he
named President for six months, from a know-
C had i iderived, :lit; • and ihis, prejudices,iihis ..impa-
ledge of his unimpeachable integrity, from a
b tience'of contradiction, ...and his art in checking
Nu6stions
well-grounded confidence in his zeal for the
%-ivilich, he could not-meet, mar:be
cause, from deference to 'his great experience,
-'Considered ••, as 5 the , - chief • causes of • The :,long
;=negle'ct' measures, -which it:Lwasl.'the
from the popularity of his name, and an extra-
•
Ifirst duty of the Central Junta to have adopted.
vagant admiration of his long ministry; which,
r-r. 17 Gs II'
12
• They were, however., early called upon to
Of its publicity, the subject was promised to be
consider those measures by Don Gaspar
resumed . at a future period, and all discussion
Chor de JOVELLANOS. That philosophical minis-
upon it deprecated in the interval.
-ter, so justly celebrated for the variety and ex-
cellence of his literary productions, had been
The same influence in the Junta procured a
:released from his long and unjust confinement,
decree, declaring the laws of Spain, with re-
by one of the first orders of the short-lived
spect to the Press, in full force ; and no opposi-
power of Ferdinand the Seventh. He conse-
tion to this inexcusable measure has ever reached
quently espoused the cause of his country and
us, but a protest of • CALvo, the Deputy from.
-King, from motives of patriotism mixed with
Saragossa. Let it not, however, be inferred,
personal gratitude. The same feelings induced
that such a declaration excited neither disgust
him to leave the retirement which he had sought
nor disappointment in Spain. - The authors at
'to repair his shattered health, and, at the nomi-
Madrid who had most distinguished themselves
nation of his native province of Asturias, to
in the :popular. cause; -and particularly that so-
:take his seat in the Junta. He immediately
ciety of literary men who conducted the . Sema-
called the attention of his colleagues to the
nario Patriotico, (a work not less remarkable for
nature of their authority, and urged the neces-
the liberality and boldness of its principles,
sity of concentrating the executive government
than : for ithe excellence of its style,) received
without delay, and of placing the legislative
the intelligence with mixed emotions of concern
power on its . only true basis, by fixing a period
and -indignation. If, on -the subsequent re-
for the convocation of the General Cortes of .the
-verses -of fortune, every other feeling had not -
kingdom. His motion was delivered in writ-
• been sacrificed to the cause of national 'inde-
ing.; and as great apprehension was entertained
pendence, there is no doubt but the friends • of
of
C
a free
15
a free press would have formed a party, which,
would ultimately have proved fatal to the au...,
.QUI1s1-TANA, well known to the literary world for
his political compositions and other works, and
thority of the Junta. But the irruption of the.-
still more valued in Spain for the general libe-
French made all good Spaniards suspend all
rality of his principles, his inflexible indepen-
secondary considerations ; and those who had
dence of character during the influence of the
been the objects of the ill-directed jealousy of..
Prince of the Peace, and his steady and disin-
the Government, were found in the hour of its,
terested attachment to the cause of his country ;
adversity to be its steadiest and ablest sup-
when he was exposed to the harder trial of resist'--
porters.
ing temptations offered him by General O'Farril,
and rejected with scorn the advances of per-
On the arrival of the Junta at Seville, Don Pe.,
sons, whom till then. -he had been accustomed
dro CEVALLOS, who had ingratiated himself with
to regard with esteem and affection.
Count FLORIDA BLANCA, was sent, according to
the dying request of the latter, on a special,
• 'The first month of the residence of the Go-
embassy to England; and the business of the
vernment at Seville was a period of uncertainty
Foreign Office was transferred to Don Martin,
and consternation; in which botlythe public and
GARAY, Member and Secretary of the Junta;,
the Junta were chiefly occupied with projects of
who, to high principle, and great talents for the
defence, equipment of troops, ,and organiza.;
dispatch of business, adds the advantages of
tion of armies. -Indeed, defective as the Central
very popular manners and the activity of a matt
Junta is, both in constitution and composition;
in the vigour of life. One of his first measures
the disinterested spirit evinced in its appoint-
was the appointment, to what we should call the.
ment of civil and military officers. must be ac-,'
‘inder Secretaryship of State, of Don Manuel,
knowledged to be a phenomenon by those most
QU4TTANA,
conversant -
I(:
.17
conversant with tine character and' historystit
hers, have .no'•doubt 'convinced- them of the
oligarchies; - and the enlistment, clothing, and
-precarious tenure of their . -authority; and the
equipment of full 90,000- infantrY and 9000 ca.
justice' of that prediction,. which told-them that
in
the course of four months, ' in Anda4.
the only. eutkanasia. of so anomalous a body
lusia,- Will hardly be considered as less miracn;
was to be found: in.. the arms of . the. General
loos bryy persons who 'are acquainted with the
Cortes of the Kingdom.
:nature, resources, and' habits of 'the . Southern.
Provinces of Spain.'
The' principles originally laid down, with his
usual perspicuity and eloquence, by JovEL-
• These merit's; undbubtedly,14ititle the present,
ii4N05, have gradually gained Proselytes among
Government . of Spain to more praise than they
his colleagues- ; and the dignity of his character
have met with ; but they 'do not render the ge,,,
has given authority to .opinions which he was too
neral narrowness of their system less unjusti-
scrupulous to'urge by intrigue, and too mild
fiable, or the or;igi nal defects of- their -cOnstitu-
to enforce .with , yebernence or intimidation,
lion less glaring 'Or dangerous. Indeed, the
This worthy and truly philosophical. man, with
doubtful nature of the' ..right :ThOn which their.
large and enlightened ..views, and eloquence
authority has "been founded, 'has :occurred more.
both'.. pathetic and convincing, feels so .much
than 'once to persons, whom, in the discharge.
disdain fo.r the_arts usually resorted to for ob-
of their duties, " they have been compelled-to.
taining political , power and importance, • that
dis.place ; .. and. 'reflections .'on 'the Ronsequences.
he is perhaps justly suspected of neglecting
of a 'victory -or -a-defeat of their "armies, "which.
.even Abe legitimate and practical means • of
the approach of 'the enemy towards Andalusia,
givihg.effect . to the notions. - which he espouses
must have . forced upon the minds . of the-Mem-.
and recommends. _ If, therefore, the Spanish,
bers„,
people
19
18
- mination of publishing his opinion and the
people owe . the first mention 'of their rights to
grounds of it, if the measure of announcing a
his disinterested and inflexible patriotism, they
convocation
will not beless indebted to the activity and zeal.
of the Cortes be not adopted.
of his younger associates, if any part' of his
In consequence of the instances of
designs is carried into execution;
CALVO,
-the original motion of JOVELLANOS has been re
ferred to the various sections into which the
Among these, CALVO and GARAY are the
junta is divided ; and the substance of. it has
most conspicuous in the Junta. The former,
been approved of by all of them. It is gene-
a merchant of Madrid, took an early part in
.
.
• rally supposed, that a day-is actually fixed for
the revolution, had great influence with Gene=
determining at what period the convocation of
ral Palafox, and on more occasions than one
the Cortes is to be fixed, and in what form and
distinguished himself, even among the defendL
language the resolution,' announcing that event'
ers . of Saragossa, for personal intrepidity, in
to- the •publie, is' to be couched. There is too
the course of the first memorable siege of that
much .reason to apprehend, that the period.
city. His decision of character, and energy in
fixed for the Cortes will be remote ; for though
council, are said to be equal to his constitu-
the perverse and prejudiced opposition, which-
tional bravery; and when convinced of the
is said to be fomented by
necessity of a measure, 'he is not likely to' over-
RIQUELME, the
pity rfrom Grenada, may not be able to resist
look the favourable moment, or to omit the
the unquestionable rights of their countrymen;
most effectual means, of accomplishing it. - He
they will probably be successful in withholding
is supposed, within these . few weeks; to have
the enjoyment of them from the people for a
brought the question of the Government of
.very considerable time.
Spain to a crisis, by boldly avowing his deter«
mination
If,
21
If, indeed, there were any means of appti
of difficulties which might 'easily have been
sing the body of the people of the nature of the
overcome, it has not yet.,been furnished. These
measure in agitation, there is little doubt but
circumstances are the more to be regretted,
the general voice of the country would over-
because the preponderance of a liberal party in
whelm every impediment to its progress. But
the administration of the Government of Spain,
the Provincial Juntas, too much disposed to
though unable to accomplish the total repeal of
consider the exclusive interests of their own
the restrictive laws, might so far prevent the.
body, are not likely to recommend a scheme,'
execution of them, that, with a proper degree
which, they would very reasonably infer, must
of circumspection and prudence, the purposes
impair their influence, if not destroy.,their ex-
of a free press at this moment might in a great
istence: and, exclusive of the severity- of the
measure be accomplished.
laws respecting publications, the actual dearth
of printing presses, and persons capable of
Even under these disadvantages, the pub-
working them, presents no small obstacle to
lication of the Semanario Patriotico has been
the diffusion of necessary knowledge upon such
resumed; and as all the authors of it have
topics throughout the country. The printing
found their way to Seville, there is little doubt
presses at Seville, and in every town out of the
but such a publication will be productive of the
possession of the French, with the exception
most beneficial consequences to the 'cause of
perhaps of Valencia, are barely sufficient 'to
Spanish Liberty and'Independence.
publish the edicts of the Government and the
London, May, 1509,
news of the day. Don Pedro. CEVALLOS was
commissioned by the Government to procure a
FINIS.
press in London ; but, on frivolous pretences
of
Printcd by W. Flint, Old Bailey, London.