April. At that time, accordingly, several insurgent chiefs appeared at the head of armed bands, and published proclamations, in which they asserted that the throne was in danger, and that the country was governed by secret associations. Prompt measures were taken to quell the insurgents, and, in a short time, they were completely dispersed.

As soon as the news of the insurrection reached Madrid, considerable alarm was excited among the Liberal party, but the Apostolicals secretly rejoiced, in the thought that they would soon be able to extinguish the last spark of liberality in the country. Ferdinand, anxious to restore tranquillity, applied, but without success, to the French officers in command at Barcelona and its neighbourhood, to take measures for the protection of his subjects. Government troops were sent against the rebels, and defeated them in several places, capturing the principal chiefs, some of whom were shot. On the 30th April his Majesty issued a decree, granting pardon to those who should lay down their arms, and retire to their houses.

The insurrection, thus temporarily suppressed, re-appeared in July, chiefly in the districts of Manresa, Vich and Gerona. In this movement, Jeps del Estangs, who had been lately pardoned, was the principal leader, assuming to himself the title of Commandant-General of the Royalist Divisions. Under pretence of religion and an absolute King, this General drew around his standard great multitudes in every district through which he passed. Every day matters assumed a more critical and threatening aspect. In the course of a few weeks, the whole province, with the excep

tion of Barcelona and several other armed fortresses, was in the hands of the insurgents; and even the troops sent against them, in several instances, declared in their favour.

Ferdinand, determined no longer to permit his name to be abused for the purposes of revolt, published, in the beginning of September, an order to increase the number of the troops in the garrisons of Catalonia. At the same time, he authorized the Governor of that province to grant an amnesty to all the rebels who should lay down their arms without delay, except the chiefs; but those who should refuse to surrender within the time appointed by the General, should be shot without mercy.

It had been industriously circulated by the insurgents, that they were secretly favoured by the King. In contradiction to this report, therefore, the Governor published the instructions which he had received from his Majesty, to pursue the rebels, and put them to instant death. The insurgents boldly proceeded in their operations, unawed by the proclamation of the Governor, and confident of ultimate success. They issued on the 8th a manifesto, repeating their determination to free Ferdinand from the ill-advisers by whom he was surrounded, and who prevented him from knowing the real wishes of his subjects. That they might conduct their plans with greater effect, they appointed a junta of Government, consisting of the principal leaders, with full power to direct the army in every place where the insurrection prevailed.

The Spanish Government was now seriously alarmed for the consequences of the insurrection

in Catalonia. Various measures were proposed for the restoration of peace; but it was at length resolved, that Ferdinand should set out in person for that province, to convince the insurgents that he was under no controul, but in the free and unfettered exercise of his supreme authority. This step was perhaps the best that, in these circumstances, Ferdinand could have adopted. It is astonishing what an influence the presence of a monarch, weak and pusillanimous though he may be, exerts over the popular mind. Divested of regal pomp and pageantry, Ferdinand is the last man in Spain, who, by his presence alone, could awe a mob into submission; but his station might succeed in effecting what neither the influence of his person nor of his character ever could accomplish.

In the mean time, the rebels were advancing without any opposition. After having received 8000 dollars from the inhabitants of Vendral, they entered Reus on the 9th September with a force of 2000 men, and immediately levied contributions. Emboldened by success, they issued a manifesto, declaring that Ferdinand had forfeited the Crown, and proclaiming Don Carlos King. The Spanish Government now determined to make every exertion for the suppression of the rebellion. Count D'Espagne was appointed Commander-inchief of all the troops employed against the rebels. The army of the Tagus was ordered to march towards Catalonia under General Sarsfield. The rebels took possession of Vich, which was in the hands of the King's troops. In several other engagements, also, they had proved victorious.

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The Junta at Manresa published a new proclamation, stating that it was their wish to restore tranquillity, and that the insurgents would lay down their arms the moment a sufficient security was given them by the King for the fulfilment of his good intentions.

Immediately on his arrival in Catalonia, Ferdinand renewed his decree of amnesty to all who would lay down their arms within twenty-four hours, and offered to accede in all reasonable respects to the demands of the rebels. His entry into Tarragona was hailed with enthusiasm by all classes of the inhabitants. It had been the object of the insurgents, in taking up arms, to have the monarchy established on the same footing as be fore the revolution. No sooner, therefore, did Ferdinand appear in the midst of them, than they received him with applause, imagining that he would never punish men who had risen, not against him, but in his favour. The proclamation of pardon, issued by the King, produced a good effect, and the more readily, as the rebels were expelled from Reus. As soon as it was known at Puycerda, the new head-quarters of the rebels, the town was instantly evacuated, and the insurgents proceeded towards Vich, the governor of which, on receiving the same decree, retreated towards Manresa. This latter town determined to hold out to the last.

The influence of Ferdinand's presence, and of the proclamation of the amnesty, were soon perceived in the surrender of the great majority of the rebels. Some, however, of the chiefs fled to the mountains, and refused to yield obedience to the Royal authority. Ferdinand issued orders for the preparation of a correct list of all the insur

gents who surrendered-a step with which many were so displeased, that they repented of their sub

mission.

All the exertions of the monarch, however, to put an end to the insurrection, proved unavailing. The rebel troops were still of sufficient strength to defeat the forces of General Monet, and compel them to retire and march on Manresa. The Count d'Espagne, too, on his return to Vich, was attacked by a body of insurgents in ambuscade, who maintained their ground for some time with great vigour, but were at length dispersed. With the view of terminating the rebellion as soon as possible, by preventing any great accession to their strength, proclamations were issued by the Captain-general of Catalonia to disarm the whole population. The rebel chief, Ballester, having been arrested, was executed at Tarragona.

It was absolutely necessary, that Ferdinand should adopt severe measures for the suppression of the rebellion, as the French government had resolved to withdraw their troops from the country. Towards the middle of November accordingly, all the French troops stationed at Barcelona, quitted that place, on their return to France. But this appears to have been an insulated measure, quite unconnected with the general abandonment of the Peninsula by the French army. To preserve the peace of Catalonia, Ferdinand resolved to remain for some months in Barcelona. Towards the end of the year, however, the insurrection again burst forth, headed by Jeps del Estangs, and bands of insurgents appeared in Valencia. They were attacked by the troops from Tortosa, which had recrossed the Ebro for that purpose;