France, disgusted with the Junta, and despairing of its conducting the defence of the country with the requisite skill and energy, had formed a plan for its overthrow, had communicated it to such patriotic citizens as could give a right impulse and direction to the popular mind, had gained over several regiments, and even the guards of the Junta, to their party, and had actually prepared a vessel to transport the different members to Manilla, as soon as the conspiracy should have broken forth; every thing was in readiness, and the whole plan was so admirably arranged that success appeared certain; when some of the chiefs intimated, in their secret councils, the necessity of consulting the English Minister; they represented to their coadjutors that, his Lordship, his nation, and his Master were too much attached to the liberty of Spain not to aid their patriotic designs; that to omit consulting the representative of such an ally, was to suspect the good faith, and insult the integrity of their best friends; that, if successful, England, always venerating freedom, would be more firmly united to Spain than before; and that success itself, if obtained without the participation of England, would cause many in Spain to doubt if she approved the proceeding: and that, at any rate, concealment would discover a want of confidence, either in the justice of their cause or in the generosity of their ally.

Influenced by these suggestions, it was resolved that the plan should be communicated to his Lordship. When it was made known to him, his situation must have been truly embarrassing; with his conviction of the incapacity, not to say treachery of the Junta, with the persuasion that all its efforts tended to check the animated feelings of the country, he must have wished success

to the conspirators; yet with this Junta, bad as he might think it, he was commissioned by his Sovereign to communicate, and most assuredly was not sent to effect a revolution that would overthrow its power. To have favoured the conspiracy in private, and have acted towards the Junta as if he were ignorant of the plot, would have been practising an artifice unworthy of his character; he therefore revealed the danger that impended, and after obtaining a promise of oblivion for all those concerned, he named the different regiments which had been gained over by the patriots. Though the Junta affected to pay little attention to his communication, and scarcely thanked him for the information he had furnished, each of the above regiments was immediately commanded to join the army, and precisely in the order which his Lordship had pointed out; yet, when the subject was afterwards discussed, it was intimated to him that they were sent to the frontiers, not in consequence of his information, but from arrangements previously made.

The scarcity of provisions, both in the British and Spanish army, is an evil of incalculable magnitude; to this may be attributed principally the loss of the sick of Lord Wellington's army, after the battle of Talavera. To the redress of this evil the Marquis directed all his attention: he formed a plan similar to that which had been successfully employed in India; he communicated it to the Junta, and earnestly pressed its adoption. To his repeated instances, no answer could be obtained but the common Spanish expressions of delay, veremos" or or "mañana," by which they always stifle every attempt at activity in council or action. The presumption of these men is equal to their indolence and indecision; they have lately, without concert, without means, and without en

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couragement from any experienced officer, ordered the army of La Mancha to march to Madrid, and with so little secrecy, that the enemy became acquainted with their plan almost as early as themselves. I must however cease my censure upon the Junta: I intended merely to have said of Lord Wellesley, that, to which I conceive him entitled; and I have been insensibly led to dwell on the demerits of the ruling power in Spain.

The best informed people here think that a revolution in the government is absolutely necessary to save the country. A change which, by concentrating the feelings of the people, and directing them properly, without the cumbrous load of forms now existing, would do more to baffle the enemy than any effort which the present body are likely to devise. That the feelings of the people are right, no one doubts; and it is a fortunate circumstance in the present crisis, that, that part of the clergy which has the greatest influence on the bulk of the people coincides with it, or rather contributes to lead it right. No priest of any description, under the rank of a bishop, is even suspected of a disposition favourable to France; the hatred towards Buonaparte is indeed kept alive by the clergy, and such is their zeal, that I believe to oppose him effectually, they would sacrifice even their benefices.

MEMBERS-POWERS OF THE MEMBERS FROM VALENCIA-CAUSE OF ERRORS IN SPANISH POLITICS-EVILS OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

SEVILLE, OCT. 1809.

I FEAR my last letter so strongly condemned the conduct of the Junta, that you will suspect I am influenced by motives of personal dislike; on the contrary, so far as civility and attention are to be considered, I have every reason to be satisfied with the behaviour of that body, with the individuals of which, I am pretty generally acquainted. Garay, the secretary of state, seems a man of plain good sense, without finesse, and tolerably assiduous in business; he is very accessible, and as his cabinet is in the apartment adjoining to that in which Señora Garay holds her evening parties, persons, who come to him on public business in the evening, are amused by conversing with the ladies till their turn for admission to the minister arrive. At Señora Garay's evening party, called the Tertulla, there is generally some good company, with a considerable mixture of vulgar looking men, dressed in boots and shabby military uniforms, and smoaking segars. The ladies as well as Garay are fugitives from Madrid, who following their husbands, and fathers, have assembled at

Seville. Though among this party evident marks of departed grandeur are visible, no repining is heard; they bear their situation with resignation, and only vent their feelings in execrating the French. The apartments occupied by Garay, are in the Alcazar, or antient palace, and are literally destitute of all furniture except a great number of common chairs, with rush bottoms, and one small table on which the lights are placed. The walls have some few arabesque ornaments and inscriptions. The floors are of brick; and the only part that looks respectable is a door covered with crimson damask, which was put up when the late King Charles the Fourth occupied these apartments.

The Marquis de Villel, another member of the Junta, whom I have frequently visited, was for a short time governor of Cadiz, but rendered himself so obnoxious that he was forced to abscond; he interfered with too many of the voluptuous pleasures of that city, and having attempted to lengthen the petticoats of the actresses, and cover the necks of some of the ladies of rank, he became so generally odious that he could remain there no longer. His stupidity, his frivolous turn of mind, and his ignorance, unfit him for any office requiring mental exertion, and yet, it is said, that he has considerable weight in the Junta.

Count Tilli, one of the representatives from Seville, was known there only from his ill-gotten wealth, and his generally profligate character; he was, however, an active member of the first Junta of Seville, and is supposed by his influence with the mob, to have caused the murder of the amiable Count Aguilar, one of the victims of popular feeling in this city. When it was determined to create