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XI. 1822.

than their enemies. The Government and permanent CHAP. deputation of the Cortes were in consternation, and fearing alike the success of either of the extreme parties now arrayed against each other, they sought only to temporise, and if possible effect an accommodation between them. Murillo, who, as captain-general of New Castile, had the entire command of the military and militia in the province, was the natural chief upon whom it devolved to make head against the insurrection. He was distracted by opposite feelings and duties, for, in addition to his other appointments, the king had recently named him commander of the guard; and it was hard to say whether he should attend to his public duties, as the head of armed force in the capital, or the whisperings of secret inclinations, which led him to devote himself to the 242. personal service of the king.1

1

Ann. Hist the Martignac,

v. 446, 447;

i. 420, 422;

his Ann. Reg.

1822, 241,

the negotia

the insur

Riego was clear to attack the guards instantly, and in 65. person urged that advice on Murillo. "Who are you?" Progress of asked the general, with an ironical expression. "I am," tions with he replied, "the deputy Riego." "In that case," replied gents. the general, "you may return to the congress; you have July 1-7. nothing to do here." Six days passed in fruitless negotiations, in the course of which, however, the Liberals gained a decided advantage; for the Sacred Battalion, during the night of the 3d, got possession of the park of artillery at St Gol, which proved of the utmost importance in the contest which ensued. The royal treasury, meanwhile, was empty, and so low had the credit of the Government fallen that no one in Madrid would advance it a real. Public anxiety was much increased, during this period of suspense, by the intelligence that a regiment of carabineers had revolted in Andalusia, that several corps of militia had joined it, and that their united force was advancing into La Mancha, to join the insurgent guards in the capital, amidst cries of "Viva el Rey Assoluto." Meanwhile the opposite forces were in presence of each other in the neighbourhood of the Royalist camp, and frequent dis

XI.

1822.

CHAP. charges of musket-shots from the outposts at each other kept the public in an agony of apprehension, from the belief that the impending conflict had commenced. In effect, a combined movement was soon found to be in preparation; for early on the morning of the 7th, while it was yet dark, the guards broke up in silence and the best order, and advanced rapidly to the capital. They effected their entrance, without difficulty, by a barrier which was not Martignac, guarded, and when within the city divided into three i. 427, 428; columns. The first advanced to take possession of the v. 454, 455; park of artillery posted at the gate of St Vincent, the 1822, 242 second to the Puerta del Sol, the third to the Place of the Constitution.1

Ann. Hist.

Ann. Reg.

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From the secresy with which this movement was executed, and the success with which in the first instance it was attended, it was evident that it was the result of a welllaid design; and if it had been carried through with as much resolution as it was planned with ability, it would in all probability have met with success, and might have altered the whole course of the revolution. But one of those panics so frequent in nocturnal enterprises seized two of the columns when they came in contact with the enemy, and caused the whole undertaking to terminate in disaster. The corps directed to attack the park of artillery never reached its destination. Assailed by a few musket-shots from the Sacred Battalion as they approached the gate of St Vincent, they turned about, fled out of the town, and disbanded in the wood of La Monda. The second column was more successful; it gained possession of the Puerta del Sol, after a vigorous resistance from a body of cavalry stationed there to guard the entrance. But instead of moving on to the general point of rendezvous in the Place of the Constitution, it marched to the palace to rally the two battalions of the guard stationed there. The third reached the Place of the Constitution without opposition; but there they found Murillo, Ballasteros, Riego, and Alava, at the head of the militia, and

XI.

1822

two guns. Though met by a brisk fire, both from the CHAP. troops and the artillery, they replied by a vigorous and well-sustained discharge of musketry, and forced their way into the square, where they maintained themselves for some time with great resolution. But at length, hearing of the rout of the corps destined for the attack of the artillery, and discouraged by the non-arrival of the corps which had gained the Puerta del Sol, but gone on instead to the palace to obtain the aid of the battalions in guard there, who were under arms ready to succour them, they broke their ranks and retreated in disorder towards the palace, closely followed by Ballasteros, who with his guns kept up a destructive fire on their ranks. At length the whole guard, with the exception of the corps which had disbanded, found itself united in front of the palace, but in a state of extreme discouragement, and in great confusion. There they were speedily assailed by ten thousand militia, with a large train of artillery, who with loud shouts and vehement cries crowded in on all sides, and had already pointed their guns from all the adjacent streets on the confused mass, when the white flag hoisted, and intelligence was received that the guard surrendered.1

Ann. Hist. Ann. Reg. was 243; Mar

v. 454, 455;

1822, 242,

tignac, i.

had 429, 431.

royal 67.
when Destruction
of the royal
The
The guard.
July 7.

This ill-conducted attempt to reinstate the authority had the usual effect of all such efforts terminating in miscarriage: it utterly destroyed it. 7th July 1822 was as fatal to the crown in Spain as the 10th August 1792 had been to that of Louis in France. The permanent committee of the Cortes, which had been entirely unconnected with these events, immediately took the direction, and tacitly, without opposition, usurped the entire powers of Government. Their first care was that of the guards, who had laid down their arms without any regular capitulation. The committee compelled the king to impose upon the four battalions which had combated the hard condition of a surrender at discretion; the two at the palace, which had not fought, were to retire from

XI.

1822.

CHAP. Madrid with their arms, but without ammunition, to distant quarters assigned them, after delivering up the murderers of Landabura. The two last battalions departed in silence, armed and downcast; but the four others, foreseeing in a surrender at discretion only a snare to involve them in destruction, adopted at the eleventh hour the desperate resolution of resistance. Determined to sell their lives dearly, they opened a general volley on the corps of militia which advanced to disarm them, and, instantly levelling bayonets, charged in close column down the street leading to the nearest gate of the city. All opposition was quickly overthrown, and the entire column succeeded in forcing its way out of the town, closely pursued, however, by two squadrons of the regiment of Almanza, some companies of militia, the Sacred Battalion, and a few guns. They sustained great loss during the pursuit, which was continued until nightfall without intermission. A considerable body of them scaled the walls of the Casa del Campo, a country palace of the king, and for some time resisted the pursuers; but being destitute of provisions, they were obliged to surrender, to the number of 360 men and 9 officers, at two on the following morning. Such of the remainder as were unwounded escaped. The entire loss of the guard in these disastrous days was 371 killed, 700 wounded, and 600 prisoners; and the brilliant corps which a few days before seemed to hold the des1 Ann. Hist. tinies of Spain in their hands, disappeared for ever v. 457, 459; Ann. Reg. from its annals. Conducted with more skill, led with 1822, 243, 244; Mar greater courage, they might, with half the loss, have 431, 433. re-established the monarchy and averted the French invasion.1

tignac, i.

68.

the insur

The same day which witnessed the destruction of the Defeat of royal guard at Madrid, was marked by the suppression of the military revolt in the south of Spain. The Royalist carabineers and their adherents were attacked in the neighbourhood of Montero by General O'Donoghu, at

gents in Andalusia

and Cadiz.

XI.

1822.

July 16.

the head of a greatly superior body of Constitutional CHAP. troops, and completely routed. The fugitives escaped to the vicinity of Ciudad Real, where they were again attacked on the 16th, and obliged to surrender. About the same time a conspiracy of a totally different character was discovered and defeated at Cadiz. This had been set on foot by Don Alphonso Gueriera, Don Ramon Ceruti, and a number of others, the chiefs of the ultra-revolutionary party in that city, the object of which was to depose all the constituted authorities, proclaim a republic, and divide among themselves all its places and emoluments. The civil and military authorities in the 1 Ann. Reg. island of Leon, having received intelligence of the plot, 1822,245; and having put the garrison and militia under arms, v. 459, 460; apprehended the whole conspirators without opposition i. 432, 435. on the night of the 9th July.1

Ann. Hist.

Martignac,

Ministry,

umph of

tionists.

These repeated successes utterly prostrated the royal 69. authority in Madrid, and deprived the king of the shadow Change of of respect which had hitherto belonged to him. The and com violent party, supported by the clubs, the press, and the Plete trisecret societies, became omnipotent. For some days the the revoluking remained shut up in his palace without ministers; his former ones had resigned, and no one in such a crisis was willing to incur the danger of becoming their successors. At length the absolute necessity of having some government prevailed over the terrors of those offered the appointments, and a new ministry was appointed, consisting, as might be expected in such circumstances, entirely of the leaders of the extreme Liberal party. The king, wholly powerless, agreed to everything demanded of him, provided he were allowed to leave Madrid, and take up his residence at St Ildefonso, which was agreed to. San Miguel, formerly chief of the staff to Riego during the "Martignac, revolution in the island of Leon, was made Minister of i. 436, 437; Foreign Affairs, with the lead in the Cabinet; 2 Lopez- v.460; Ann. Reg. 1822, Baños, another chief of the Isle of Leon, was appointed 246. Minister at War; and M. Gasco, one of the most violent

Ann. Hist.

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