and that in them resides the National Sovereignty.-The General and Extraordinary Cortes of the Spanish Nation, assembled in the Royal Isla of Leon, conform

ed in the most energetic and public manner, acknowledge, swear, and proclaim anew, as their only and legitimate Sovereign, Senor Don Ferdinand VII. of Bourbon; and declare null, of no value or effect, the cession of the Crown said to be made in favour of Napoleon, not only on account of the violence which attended those unjust and illegal acts, but princi

you and his oppression; and he draws back at the sight of that element, upon which the force of his nation has only met with disgrace, and sees snatched from him a spot guarded by troops who hearing wholly to the general will, pronounchis menaces with scorn, and view his spurious eagles with the most perfect indifference.-Brave and loyal Sicilians! You have anticipated the paternal wishes of your gracious Sovereign, who has told you, that by your fidelity towards his allies, he would judge of the place which he held in your affections. It is for the preservation of his throne and for your own safety that we contend.-Noble in-pally on account of their wanting the habitants of Messina! a connection of years has made us as well known to you as brothers; like brothers you have joined us at the first sound of impending at tack. In the exemplary zeal and loyalty of your respectable governor, we have found the most efficacious support to our measures for counteracting it. Your principal magistrates, your nobles, have assisted us with their authority. Your citizens have laboured for us, and have obtained the reward of their labours. In our anxiety for your defence, you will judge of the sentiments which unite us to you. Persevere with firmness in the noble spirit which you now shew. Reject with scorn the title of subjects, with which the Usurper has the insolence to insult you. Let the enemy know that your sailors, your soldiers, and your citizens feel no other jealousy to their allies, except who shall be first in the glorious contest for the common cause. And rely with security, that wherever the standard of your lawful Sovereign shall be displayed in union with the banners of his august ally our King, we shall have but one destiny as we have but one cause, and that we will never separate except in the last extremity.

SPAIN.-Acts of the Cortez.-Sept. 24, 1810.
Don Ferdinand VII. by the grace of
God, King of Spain and of the Indies, and
in his absence and captivity, the Council
of Regency, authorised ad interim, to all
to whom these presents come: Know ye,
That in the general and extraordinary
Cortes, assembled in the Royal Isla of
Leon, it is resolved and decreed as follows:
The Deputies who compose this Congress,
and who represent the Spanish Nation,
declare themselves legitimately consti-
tuted in General and Extraordinary Cortes,

consent of the Nation.-It not being suitable that the Legislative Power, the Executive and Judicial, should be united; the General and Extraordinary Cortes declare that they reserve to themselves the exercise of the Legislative Power in all its extent. The General and Extraordinary Cortes declare, that the persons to whom they delegate the executive power, in the absence of our legitimate King and Lord Don Ferdinand VII. are responsible to the nation during the time of their administration, conformably to the laws.The General and Extraordinary Cortes authorise the individuals of the Council of Regency, that they, under that same denomination, in the mean time, and until the Cortes choose a Government more suitable, exercise the Executive Power.-The Council of Regency, acting under this authorisation, declared anteriorly, shall acknowledge the national sovereignty of the Cortes, and shall swear obedience to the laws and decrees which emanate from them; for which purpose, it shall pass immediately, when this decree is made known to it, to the Hall of the Sittings of the Cortes, who wait for its performing this act, and are in permanent sitting.--It is declared, that the formula of acknowledgment and oath, to be taken by the Council of Regency, is as follows;-Do you acknowledge the Sovereignty of the nation represented by the deputies of these general and extraordinary Cortes? Do you swear to obey their decrees, laws, and the constitution to be established according to the sacred ends for which they are united, and to order them to be ob served, and to make them be executed? to preserve the independence, the liberty, and integrity of the nation? the Catholic Apostolic Roman Religion? the monarchical government of the kingdom? to reestablish on the throne our beloved King

Don Ferdinand VII. of Bourbon? and to act in every thing for the good of the State? According as you act thus, may God assist you! but if otherwise, you shall be responsible to the nation conformably to the laws.-The General and Extraordinary Cortes appoint for the present, that all the tribunals and courts of justice established in the kingdom, do continue administering justice according to the laws. The General and Extraordinary Cortes.confirm for the present all the civil and military authorities, of whatever class they may be.-The General and Extraordinary Cortes declare, that the persons of the Deputies are inviolable, and that no action can be brought by any authority, or any individual, against the Deputies, except in the terms which shall be laid down in the General Regulation about to be formed, and for which purpose a Committee shall be appointed.The Council of Regency shall be made acquainted with this, and shall forthwith pass to the Hall of the Sittings of the Cortes, to take the oath pointed out; deferring the publication and circulation of this Decree in the kingdom, till the Cortes point out how it is to be done, which shall be declared with all expedition.--(Signed) RAMON LAZARO DE DOU, President. EVAPEREZ DE CASTRO, Secretary. Royal Isla of Leon, Sept. 24, 1810, at 11 o'clock at night.

RISTO,

General and Extraordinary Cortes, and the Royal Decree in Answer. Senor;-The Council of Regency desires nothing with so much ardour as to convince the nation of the profound respect which it feels for the laws, and of its proper performance of the arduous functions which have been committed to its charge. its charge. Guided by this principle, which shall always be the rule of its conduct, it hesitates not a moment to take the oath of obedience to the laws and decrees which emanate from the Cortes, agreeably to the copy of the Decree which your Majesty addressed to the Council by a deputation. In that same Decree, by which your Majesty reserved to yourself the exercise of the Legislative Power in all its extent, it was appointed that the Council of Regency should in the mean time, and until the Cortes elect a Government which may be more suitable, exercise the executive power, under responsibility to the nation, conformably to the laws. The Council of Regency cannot stir a single step in the difficult career of the authority entrusted to it without knowing beforehand the precise limits of the responsibility to which that Decree subjects them; for how can they regulate themselves by it, if they know neither its latitude nor the boundaries by which it is circumscribed? If it be not clearly and distinctly pointed out, what are the obligations of the Executive Power, and what are the that are conceded to it? Without powers

SPAIN.-Acts of the Cortes.-Sept. 25, 1810. this clear and precise distinction, the reBy a Decree, dated the 25th of Sep-sponsibility expressed in the Decree will tember, the Cortes are to be addressed by remain without effect; for the line of sethe title of Majesty; and the Executive paration between both powers, not being Power by that of Highness. The publi- fixed by our ancient laws, nor the powers cation of the laws which emanate from peculiar to each, the Council of Regency the Cortes, is to be made in the following will find itself between two extremes, in manner:-"Don Ferdinand VII. by the danger of stumbling upon either; notwithgrace of God, King of Spain and the In- standing all it may do to avoid it; either dies, and in his absence and captivity the at at one time exercising an authority, Council of Regency authorised ad interim, which may, in the opinion of the Cortes, to all to whom these presents come: Know not to be comprehended in the attributes ye, that in the general and extraordinary of the executive, or omitting at another Cortes assembled in the Royal Isle of time, from the same respect for the laws, Leon, it has been resolved and decreed as to use those powers which are necessarily follows," &c. The same Decree requires included in the idea of the executive Goall Civil, Military, and Ecclesiastical au- vernment, and the free and expeditious thorities, to acknowledge and take the exercise of which is at present rendered oath of obedience to the General Cortes of more necessary than ever by the circumthe nation. stances of the State. In proportion as these circumstances imperiously demand that there be a rapid and continued com

SPAIN. Sept. 26, 1810. ·Memorial ad- munication between the two authorities, dressed by the Council of Regency to the in order that they may contribute by their

by the central Junta, the opening of which meeting was fixed for this day; having caused it to be preceded by a most solemn public supplication for three days, to implore of the Father of Lights that illumi nation which is requisite for fulfilling the sublime objects of a Congress of which there is no example in preceding ages, in respect of the universality of the national

combined efforts to the salvation of the country, so it must be of the greatest importance that the mode of pursuing that object be fixed and established by a Decree. The Council of Regency awaits, therefore, your Majesty's declaration; first, what are the obligations annexed to the responsibility imposed by the said Decree, and what are the distinctive powers which are entrusted to the execu-representation, which has been organized tive; secondly, what rule or order is to be followed in the communications which must necessarily and continually take place between your Majesty and the Council of Regency-(Signed) FRANCISCO DE SAAVEDRA. XAVIER DE CASTANOS. ANTONIO DE ESCANO. MIGUEL DE LARDIZABAL Y URIBE.

Answer.

and assembled; having arranged that, in order to accomplish as much as possible what is requisite for the Provinces unhappily occupied by the enemy, Deputies should be elected to supply these deficiencies from the emigrants from such proVinces; and the Divine inspiration being again implored by the mass of the Holy Ghost, celebrated pontifically by the Car dinal de Scala, Archbishop of Toledo; and the moment having now arrived when the installation was to take place, it was arranged, that all the Senors Deputies from the free provinces, and those supplied for the provinces occupied, being met in the Royal Palace of Regency, should, in conjunction with the Supreme Council, pass forth to the parochial church of this Isle, where the mass of the Holy Ghost might be celebrated, and the hymn of Veni Sancte Spiritus be sung; after which, a short exhortation being delivered, the Senors Deputies were to make profession of fidelity, and take the neces sary oath. All which was prepared and executed with that dignified grandeur which the interest and sublimity of the object required, and the following Senors assembled in the said Palace and Hall destined for their reception; Don Benito Ramon de Hermida, Deputy for the kingdom of Galicia; the Mar quis de Villafranca, for Murcia; Don Felipe Amat, for the principality of Catalonia; D. Antonio Oliveros, for the province of Estremadura; D. Ramon' Pover, for the island of Porto Rico; D. Ramon SPAIN.-Names of the Members of the Cortes. Valle, for Catalonia; D. Placido de MonSans, for the city of Barcelona; D. Juan Don Nicholas Maria de Sierra, Secre- tolm, for the city of Tarragona; D. Jose tary of State, Principal Notary of the Alonzo y Lopez, for the Superior Junta Kingdom, &c. makes known, that the of Galicia; D. Jose Rioboo, for the proCouncil of Regency, constituted in this vince of Sandago; D. Jose Cevero, for royal isle of Leon from the 22d instant, that of Cadiz; Ď. Manuel Ross, for that of in expectation of the wished-for moment Santiago; D. Francisco Papiol, for Cataof the installation of the General and Ex-lonia; D. Pedro Ric, for the superior traordinary Cortes, after having repeated Junta of Aragón; the summons of convocation, circulated

The general and extraordinary Cortes declare, that in the Decree of the 24th of September of this year, limits have not been fixed to the powers which are proper to the executive, and that till a regulation be formed by the Cortes which may mark them out, it do exercise all that power which may be necessary for the defence, security, and administration of the State in the present critical circumstances; and also that the responsibility which the Council of Regency requires, exclude only the absolute inviolability which belongs to the sacred person of the King. With regard to the mode of communication between the Council of Regency and the Cortes, till these shall establish a more convenient one, the mode now adopted shall be followed. This shall be communicated to the Council of Regency in answer to their memorial of the 26th of the current month.-Given at the Royal Isle of Leon, at four in the morning of the 27th of Sept. 1810.-(Signed) RAMON LAZARO De Dou, President. EVARISTO PEREZ DE CASTRO, MANUEL LUxam, Secretaries.

(To be continued.)

Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mall

LONDON:-Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterborough-Court, Fleet-Street.

VOL. XVIII. No. 23.]

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1810.

[Price 1s.

"But it was urged that the Bank had temporary difficulties to encounter, and that it behoved them to adopt some mode of granting relief to that important public body. The House of Commons, how. ever, knew nothing of this. No application was made to them by the Bank, nor did it appear even that "application had been made for the Order in Council; on the contrary, it appeared that this facetious council, instead of examining the Directors of the Bank, acted entirely upon the authority of the Chan"cellor of the Exchequer. Nay, what added to his surprise was, that not one of the Bank Directors who "bad seats in that House, had ever come forward and expressed an opinion upon the subject. Some in"formation was certainly necessary before the House sanctioned so novel and dangerous a measure. "They had heard of the Bank a short time ago lending two millions to Government, and they had also "heard of the dividends on Bank Stock increasing. Was it not material to be informed therefore how they had come to stop payment at a time when their affairs seemed to be going on so prosperously?" -MR. SHERIDAN, Speech 28th Feb. 1807.

7871

PAPER AGAINST GOLD:

BEING AN EXAMINATION

OF THE

Report of the Bullion Committee:

IN A SERIES OF LETTERS

TO THE

TRADESMEN AND FARMERS
IN AND NEAR SALISBURY.

LETTER XIII.

[738

after that event, speak of it and of the measures growing out of it, as the happy means of safety to the country; and what will be their shame to find, that he was still confided in and supported?

As we proceed with the history of the measures of remedy which were now adopted, we must not fail to pay particular at tention to the opinions and doctrines, at this time expressed and laid down by the Minister and his adherents, especially by those of his adherents, who had a more immediate interest in the concerns of the Alledged ability of the Bank-Proceedings out of doors for what was called support of bear in mind what they then said as to the Bank of England. We must take care to Public Credit Mansion House MeetingBrook Watson-Quarter Sessions Resolutions origin, of the Order of Council for the -Privy Council Resolutions-Representations Stoppage of Gold and Silver payments at of the Venal Prints relative to these Resolu- and necessity of the measure; what they the Bank; what they said as to the nature tions-Real Origin of the Mansion House said as to the ability of the Bank to re-. Meeting-Directors prevail upon Mr. Pitt to have a private Meeting of Bankers at his sume its payments; and what they said as to the time of such resumption. What House-Plan of a public Meeting there laid— Peep behind the Curtain- Meeting of the they then said, as to all these points, we must take care to bear in mind; because, Bank Proprietors-Declaration of the Governors, Mr. Bosanquet and Mr. Thornton--the same persons have said since, and we shall have to compare it with what These Declarations compared with the private have to shew how, in this case, as well Minute of the Bank-Private Minule of the Bank, expressing their alarm for the Safety of been led on, by degrees, to acquiesce in as in so many others, the nation has the House, and for calling upon Mr. Pitt to know when he would interfere. what, if proposed to it all at once, would have made it shrink with affright, or fired it with indignation.

Gentlemen,

When we look at the boast, referred to in the words of my Motto, and consider how many boasts of the same sort the Minister had uttered, and which he had continued in the habit of uttering, down almost to the very hour of the Bank Stoppage, we cannot help wondering that he could longer endure his existence. What, then, will be the astonishment of posterity, to hear him, in a few months

Before the House of Commons met, the day after the Message and Order of Councit had been laid before it, that is to say, on the 28th of February, 1797, the AntiJacobin adherents of the Minister had been hard at work out of doors. A meeting had been called in the Mansion House of the city of London consisting of Merchants, Bankers, and others, the Chairman being