and he entered Bayonne on the 20th of April, broke out. The news of the commotion at the Emperor being already arrived. King Madrid reached Bayonne on the 5th May; Charles, who had remained at the Escurial, ever since their arrival in that city, negotiawas impatient to invoke in person the pro- tions had been going on with both the father tection of the Emperor, and Murat had no and the son to procure their respective abdifficulty in persuading him to repair to dications. After a strenuous resistance, Bayonne, where he arrived on the 30th April. Ferdinand was terrified into signing * a conThe Emperor had now got both the father ditional resignation, by which it was stipulatand the son in his power, each of them so-ed that he and his father should both return liciting the Crown of Spain at his hands; but to Madrid, and in the event of his father's although his machinations were so far com- not choosing to resume his authority, that the pletely successful, his sagacity perceived the Prince should govern the kingdom as his embarrassment of his position, and in a letter lieutenant. Great was the irritation of the to Murat he expressed the perplexity in which he was involved, described with the utmost correctness the disposition of the Spanish people towards himself, and predicted the nature of the resistance with which he was threatened exactly as it eventually took place. Either, however, he thought he had gone too far to recede, or he had such confidence in his political skill and his military power, that he determined to proceed with his designs. Napoleon had given strict injunctions to Murat to observe the utmost caution in his conduct, and to do nothing calculated to excite or exasperate the people of Madrid.

Emperor when he was informed of the events at Madrid, but they enabled him to bring the perplexing affairs he had in hand to a conclusion. After a long conference with Charles IV., the King (by a treaty signed on the 5th) ceded to the Emperor all his rights to the Crown of Spain and the Indies. Ferdinand renounced the Crown for himself and restored it to his father; but the Emperor not deeming this sufficient, exacted from him a treaty of renunciation in favor of himself, which was signed on the 5th. On the 8th May, King Charles announced by a proclamation that he had ceded the Crown of Spain to the Emperor Napoleon; and on the 12th, Ferdinand, in another proclamation, declared that he had surrendered the Crown back to his father, who had conveyed it to Napoleon,

But the discontent which was continually fermenting in the capital produced symptoms of resistance to his authority which provoked Murat, and led him to interfere with the Government in the most arbitrary to place it on the head of whatever person he and insulting manner; while the licentious might think fit to select. He announced behavior of the French soldiery, and the that his brother Don Carlos, and his uncle agitation and anger of the people, brought Don Antonio, were consenting parties to this about frequent collisions between them. cession; and he exhorted the Spaniards Matters were in this combustible state, when (whom he released from their allegiance to they were brought to a crisis by the demand himself) to accept the Government and the of Murat that the members of the Royal Sovereign that the Emperor would bestow Family still remaining at Madrid should forth- upon them. But while Ferdinand was terriwith proceed to join their relations at Bayonne.fied into yielding a hypocritical obedience to After great hesitation, the Government was Napoleon's will, and signed all the treaties terrified into submission to this demand; and or proclamations to which he was ordered to on the 2nd of May the Infants set out from Madrid. Their departure produced the most violent excitement, and brought about what the French called the revolt, and the Spaniards termed the massacre, of Madrid. A conflict ensued, which was of short duration, and the loss of life (enormously exaggerated at the time) was inconsiderable; but the effect produced throughout Spain by this event was prodigious, and was the immediate cause of the general insurrection which soon after to a place of safety, to summon the Cortes,

put his hand, he secretly took measures to defeat their object, and prevent their being attended by the desired effect. On the 6th May he had written a despatch to Don Antonio (believing him to be still at Madrid), stating that he had restored the Crown unconditionally to King Charles, but he had previously † addressed two secret documents to the Junta and the Royal Council, in which he ordered them to transport the Government

* March 29.

* May 2.

† May 5.

for

and to declare war against France the instant "Sire, permit me in my own name and in the they heard of his being removed into the name of my brother and uncle to express to you interior of that country. Meanwhile the our satisfaction at your accession to the throne abdications and proclamations were pub- of Spain. . . . We hope you will accept our good lished at Madrid, and Murat invited the dif- wishes for your happiness, and that you will ferent councils and public bodies to express reciprocate the feelings of friendship we entertain their opinions to the Emperor as to the most to receive the oath of allegiance which I owe you your Majesty. I beg your Catholic Majesty eligible choice he could make of a new Sovas King of Spain, together with that of all the ereign amongst the Princes of his family. Spaniards who are with me. They expressed their wishes that his choice might fall on the King of Naples; and the Encouraged by these delusive appearances Cardinal of Bourbon (Ferdinand's uncle) of general recognition, Joseph quitted Baywrote a letter to the Emperor in which he onne on the 9th July, and proceeded on his testified his satisfaction, and promised to rec-journey to Madrid; but in the meantime the ognize the Sovereign whom he might ap- insurrection had broken out all over Spain. point.

Cuesta, that he was able to make his way to Madrid. Already, while on his road from Bayonne, the King had begun to perceive the disordered state and threatening aspect of affairs, and in his first letter to the Emperor he tells him that "the worst spirit prevails everywhere, particularly at Madrid, where there is no order, division among the troops, and urgent want of money." The next day he writes from Vittoria in a still more desponding tone:

Provisional juntas formed themselves in These documents having been conveyed to every town, and assumed the government in the Emperor, by a decree of the 6th of June the name of King Ferdinand; the authority he proclaimed his brother Joseph King of of Joseph was only acknowledged and exerSpain and the Indies. The Spanish Princes cised in those places which were occupied by had been already removed into the interior French troops. The war was already raging, of France; the members of the Junta, who and although Joseph received the submission awaited the arrival of Joseph, saluted him of the cities and provinces through which with every appearance of cordiality, and he passed, it was not till after the victory of some of the strongest partisans of Ferdinand Rio Seco, † gained by Marshal Bessières over offered their services to him. The Emperor had ordered what he called a Constitutional Junta to be convoked at Bayonne for the purpose of promulgating a Constitution, the plan of which was to be submitted for their consideration and discussion. This assembly was to be composed of deputies, part of whom Murat was directed to name, and part were to be elected by the provinces, cities, and corporations. The members of this Junta, the Council of Castille, the Grandees of Spain, through the Duc de l'Infantado, and the army, through the Duc del Parque, all acknowledged and congratulated the new King, and gave him formal assurances of their fidelity. Of the 150 members of which the Junta was to have been composed,, only 91 attended; they were allowed to discuss freely the constitutional project submitted to them; and after many sittings, in which some modifications were made, the constitution was voted unanimously on the 1st July. The former ministers and servants of both Charles and Ferdinand accepted office under King Joseph; all the authorities swore allegiance to him. The Marquis of Romaña, who commanded the Spanish troops in Denmark, addressed to him a letter with protestations of fidelity on the part of himself and his corps d'armée, and, more than all, he was recognized by Ferdinand himself and the members of his family. To fraud and violence Ferdinand had opposed a deep dissimulation. Without courage or dignity, he shrank from no degradation to which he thought it prudent to submit; and he had the baseness to write to Joseph in the following terms:

"I was proclaimed here yesterday. The inhabitants are strongly opposed to the whole thing. The men in office are terrified by the menacing aspect of the people and by the insurgents. Your Majesty has never yet been told the truth. The fact is, that there is not a single Spaniard on my side except the few who composed the Junta, and my small suite. All the rest who preceded me here have concealed themselves from fear of the unanimous opinion of their countrymen." §

Napoleon, in his replies, endeavored to animate his brother's drooping spirits oy a display of confidence and assurances of certain success. N'ayez aucune crainte de la guerre, et n'ayez pas d'inquiétude sur le succès de mes armes en Espagne." [Don't be afraid of war: have no uneasiness about the success of my arms in Spain.] But the further Joseph advanced the more alarmed he became at the posture of affairs.

'Everybody about him," he says, "is dismayed, and all see that 50,000 fresh troops and many millions of money are absolutely indis

* Valençay, June 22.
July 11.
July 18.

† July 14.
§ July 12.

pensable; for no public revenue can be levied. | with the idea that what I say is exaggerated. When the opposition is unarmed, it is at least We must have fifty millions and 50,000 men impassive, and no rewards can procure information mediately, for in three months double will be or guides for the French generals. insufficient." *

believe me.

...

MEMOIRS OF KING JOSEPH.

.

from Madrid. The servants of the Duc del | Parque have abandoned him, and written him puissent apprendre, n'ayez point d'inquiétude. Quelques reverse que les circonstances vous word they are gone to join the Spanish army. We are penniless; all the provinces are occupied temps. Vous régnerez, vous aurez conquis vos tout est en mouvement, mais il faut du by the enemy. Henry IV. had a party, and sujets pour en être le père. Les bons rois ont Philip V. had only a rival to combat; I am passés à cette école opposed by a nation of twelve millions of inhab- gaieté, c'est à dire, force d'âme." itants, brave, and at the highest pitch of exas- sauriez croire combien l'idée que vous êtes aux Surtout, santé, peration. "Vous ne I repeat again that we must have prises, mon ami, avec des événements au-dessus enormous supplies of men and money. I have de votre habitude autant qu'au-dessous de votre often told Your Majesty so, but you will not caractère naturel, me peine. . . . . Vous aurez Let what will happen, this letter 100,000 hommes, et l'Espagne sera conquise will remind you hereafter that I was right. The dans l'automne. good people are no more on my side than the goût particulier vous vous souciez peu de régner good for nothing. No, Sire, your glory will be sur les Espagnols. . . . Dites-moi que vous êtes Je crois que pour votre shipwrecked in Spain. My destruction will be gai, bien portant, et vous faisant au métier de the proof of your impotence, for no one will soldat: voilà une belle occasion pour l'étudier.”** doubt your affection for me. pen, for I am determined never to recross the you to apprehend, have no uneasiness. All this will hap- [Whatever reverses circumstances may cause Ebro. You will reign. You will have conquered your everything is in train, but time is necessary. subjects in order to become their father. kings have passed through this school. Above Good all, health, cheerfulnessstrength of mind. You could not believe how that is to say, much the thought, my friend, that you are struggling with events as much above your habconquered in the fall. I believe that for your its as below your natural character, pains me. You shall have 100,000 men, and Spain shall be private satisfaction you would very little care to reign over the Spaniards. Tell me that you are cheerful and well, and taking to the trade of a soldier: this is a fine chance for studying it.]

other in the

....

On the 28th he received the account of the capitulation of Baylen, and on the 30th he retired from Madrid. The news of this event had encouraged people of all classes to manifest their undisguised abhorrence of the new government. Joseph increased his demand to 100,000 men, and said that the Spanish people were unlike world, and that neither a courier nor a spy any were procurable amongst them. On his departure from Madrid, he was abandoned by almost all his Spanish officers, and by all the nobles except the Dukes of Frias and Del Parque; and he wrote to Napoleon that the nation was unanimous against all that had been done at Bayonne, and "I predict to Joseph to be gay; but he replies that he is It was but a mockery to recommend Your Majesty and since I have been in calm and in good health, and that his diffiSpain events have verified all my predictions culties and reverses are not without a certhat in three months it will be too late."+tain charm; and he begs the Emperor will Napoleon replied (before he was aware of the make himself easy about him, and dispose of whole extent of the calamity of Baylen): him in whatever way it may suit his politi"Le style de votre lettre du 24 ne me plaît cal designs. † But he was now evidently point; il ne s'agit point de mourir, mais de bent on getting rid of the thorny crown of vivre et d'êre victorieux ; et vous l'êtes, et le Spain, and resuming that of Naples. In a serez. Je trouverai en Espagne les colonnes very able letter he gives the results of his red'Hercule, mais non les limites de mon pou-flections on the situation of affairs in Spain, voir." [The style of your letter of 24th and demonstrates the impossibility of his don't please me. It is not a question of dying ever wearing that crown in honor and but of living and being victorious you are and shall be. I shall find in Spain quer Spain at a great expense of blood and as peace. He says that if France should conthe columns of Hercules, but not the limits treasure, she will require territorial indemof my power.] This jactitance and confi- nity, and thereby Spain will be reduced to the dence (whether real or affected) were thrown condition of a third rate power- that neither away upon Joseph, whose plain sober sense and personal experience were not to be de- continue on the throne if she was thus striphonor nor conscience would allow him to ceived; and he intimates to Napoleon that ped of her territories—that if he commandhe had better come to Spain and conduct the ed the French armies in this war (and he war in person, and as for himself, that his could not endure that any one else except the brother might dispose of him as he pleased. Emperor in person should command them), The Emperor, seeing the state of mind he he should be forever an object of terror and was in, endeavored to pacify and encourage execration to his people-that he was too him by a tone of unusual sympathy and old to have time to repair so much evil, and in the midst of calamities and prejudices of

kindness.

* July 24

† July 31.

+ July 31.

* August 1 and 3.

† August 6 and 8.

all sorts, he should be unable in person to
mitigate the hatred he had incurred.
"Ce peuple," he says, "est plus concentré
dans ses ressentiments qu'aucun autre peuple
de l'Europe.
. . V. M. ne peut se faire une
idée, parceque certainement personne ne lui
aura dit à quel point le nom de V. M. est ici
haï. La guerre n'est pas propre à diminuer ce
sentiment, et quant à moi, je ne me sens pas le
courage de regner sur des peuples qu'il faudrait
sans cesse tyranniser, ou transiger avec l'affec-
tion que je vous porte, et mes devoirs envers la
France." [This people is more intense in their
resentments than any other people of Europe.
Your Majesty cannot form an idea of it, for
nobody can have told you to what degree you are
hated here. The war is not likely to lessen the
feeling-and for myself, I don't feel the courage
to reign over people over whom I must either
tyrannize without intermission, or trifle with the
affection which I bear to you and with my duty
to France.]

*

don't know these people. Every house would be a fortress, and all are of one mind.] Not a single Spaniard had been persuaded to remain in the service of the French; and 2000 servants quitted the King at once, notwithstanding the high wages he gave them. Neither spies nor guides could be procured, and within four hours of the battle of Rio Seco, Marshal Bessières was ignorant of the position of the enemy. In reply to these letters, the Emperor admits that affairs are in a very deplorable state; but instead of entering into Joseph's position and wishes, he criticises his military operations and those of the other generals, and tells him he will have a fine opportunity for beating the

enemy.

The retreat of Joseph from Madrid, the insurrection en masse, and some partial successes, had exalted the arrogance and confidence of the Spaniards to an extravagant He thus explains his own wishes and ob- pitch; and proclamations full of bombast announced to the credulous people the speedy jects that he desires to retain the command destruction of the French armics. For some of the army long enough to beat the enemy, months no event of importance occurred. return victorious to Madrid, and then to re- Napoleon was at Erfurt, whence he writes t nounce the throne of Spain and go back to that he should be at Bayonne in less than a Naples; and he begs the Emperor not to dis- month, and that "la guerre pouvait êtra pose of the latter kingdom. He concludes terminée d'un seul coup par une manoeuvre by assuring him that there is no longer the habilement combinée; et pour cela il faut slightest hope of any arrangement with the insurgents, and that conciliation is out of at a single blow, by a skilfully contrived que j'y sois." [The war could be terminated the question; suggests that his efforts should manoeuvre; and for that, I must be there.] be diverted from the conquest of the Penin- He arrived at Bayonne on the 3rd of Novemsula to a general pacification; and entreats ber, immediately assumed the command of the Emperor not to force him on a people his army (now amounting to 187,000 men), who reject him because he is his brother, and and marched on Madrid, which capitulated who could only be kept in subjection by a on the 4th of December. Joseph, who was ruler as suspicious and cruel as Philip II. in the Emperor's camp, found himself comDanger and distress had emboldened Joseph pletely set aside in this transaction, no notice to address the Emperor in language and to being taken in the capitulation either of him tell him truths to which His Imperial Majes-as King, or of the constitution of Bayonne. ty had been little accustomed; and he continued with increasing vehemence to represent to him the real and desperate state of affairs. The appointment of Murat to the crown of Naples was a dreadful blow to Joseph, for it extinguished all his hopes of 'Sire, M. d'Urquijo me communique les being restored to that kingdom, and left him mesures législatives prises par V. M. La honte no alternative but to remain in Spain and couvre mon front devant mes prétendus sujets. wage a war repugnant to his feelings and his Je supplie V. M. de recevoir ma rénonciation à conscience, or to retire into private life. tous les droits qu'elle m'avait donnés au trône de l'Espagne. Je préférerai toujours l'honneur Nevertheless he returns to the charge, and et la probité au pouvoir acheté si chèrement. accumulates proofs of the hopelessness of En dépit des événements, je serai toujours votre the contest in which they were engaged. ami le plus tendre. Je redeviens votre sujet, et He says, the conquest of Spain would require attends vos ordres pour me rendre où il plaira 200,000 men, and 100,000 scaffolds after-à V. M. que je me rende." [Sire, M. de Urwards to maintain the sovereign who should quijo has communicated to me the legislative be condemned to reign there. "Non, Sire, measures taken by Your Majesty. My brow is on ne connoît pas ce peuple; chaque maison sera une forteresse, et chaque homme a la volonté de la majorité." [No, Sire! you * August 9th.

He was greviously hurt and offended at this neglect, and retired to the Pardo, a country house two leagues from Madrid, whence he wrote the following letter to Napoleon:

66

* August 14th.

† October 13.

December 8. This letter was written in consequence of

the Emperor's having determined on some legislative measures repugnant to Joseph's ideas, which however were eventually given up.