In consequence of this determination, which no doubt will animate all the inhabitants of this kingdom with that heroism which their brethren have manifested in the repeated attacks they have hitherto sustained, and being ultimately convinced, that the means to prevent our cruel enemy from polluting our soil with his horrid crimes and sacrileges, is to augment the army under the command of the Marquis de la Romana, and to raise another to defend the posts of Manzanal and Sanabria, has decreed, I. That within the term of eight days, the contingent of each province for the first conscription shall be completed. II. That this being completed, considering the urgent necessity of reinforcing the army with the greatest rapidity, and covering the entrances of the kingdom, a new enlisting shall be begun of all the males who are unmarried, or widowers without children, from the age of 16 to 45, without admitting any other exceptions than those provided by the regulation of the 18th of November, published by the supreme central junta. [The other articles relate only to the particular regulations for enlisting, arming, &c. this new militia or conscription.] JUAN INNOCENCIO MARTINEZ, The events that have occurred in Biscay, and in the neighbourhood of the Ebro, have made it indispensably necessary that the British troops should be concentrated, in order more effectually to assist and support the Spanish nation in the beroic exertions she is applying for the defence of her independence. Under these circumstances, Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, commander of the British division in Castile and Leon, informs the royal subjects of these kingdoms, that he has just received orders from his excellency Sir J. Moore, Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majesty's army in Spain, to unite his forces with those of the said general, without loss of time, by the load of Portugal. The object of this movement is in no respect to evacuate Spain, or to abandon a cause so dear to Great Britain. The only design is to combine the whole of the British forces, in order to enable them to act in a situation where they can render their services more beneficial. Gallicia, strong by nature, does not require for its protection a more numerous army, nor can it possess a more gallant one than the army of the left; composed principally of the courageous youth of the kingdom (province) which is now united in Leon under the orders of the highly distinguished commander his excellency the Marquis de la Romana. The resort of more troops, Kingdom of Gallicia, Dec. 14, 1808. in the present circumstances, in the defiles of the mountains, would be sume the provisions and other reprejudicial, since they would consources of the country, without increasing its security. To the worthy inhabitants of these kingdoms the most grateful acknowledgments are due from the British forces, for the hospitality and friendship with which they have been treated in every situation; and the Lieutenant-General hopes that the feelings of reciprocal attachment and respect will prevail, not only now, but that they will continue to animate both nations to the latest posterity. In taking leave of the subjects of this part of the peninsula, the Lieutenant-General feels it to be his duty to exhort them, by the loyalty they owe to their sovereign, by the affection they bear to their families, and by all that is sacred in religion, to unite for the protection of their country. Unless the government and the people combine their utmost efforts in this just and honourable cause, Spain will be exposed to the most serious danger; but if these endea vours be not wanting, under the direction of Divine Providence, all will terminate in victory and happi ness. PROCLAMATION BY BONAPARTE. SPANIARDS! You have been misled by perfidious men. They have engaged you in a senseless struggle, and you have had recourse to arms. Is there one amongst you, who after a moment's reflection upon all that has passed, would not be convinced that you have been the sport of the eternal enemies of the continent, who take delight in witnessing the effusion of Spanish and French blood? What possible result would attend even the success of some campaigns? An endless war upon your soil, and a tedious uncertainty respecting the fate of your properties and lives. Within the space of a few months, you have been delivered up to all the afflictions of popular factions. The defeat of your armies has been the work of some marches; I have entered Madrid; the rights of war would justify me in making a signal example, by washing away in blood the outrage, offered to me and to my nations: but I have listened to the dictates of clemency only. Some men, the authors of all your cala VOL. V mities, shall alone be punished. I shall speedily drive from the Penins sula that English army which habeen sent to Spain, not for the purpose of assistance to you, but to inspire you with a false confidence and to mislead you. I had declared to you in my proclamation of the 2d of June, that I wished to be your regenerator. To the rights which had been ceded to me by the princes of the last dynasty, you wished that I should add the right of conquest. That shall not make any alteration in my inten tions. I am even disposed to praise all that may be generous in your efforts; I am willing to admit, that your real interests have been concealed from you, that the real state of things had been disguised from you. Spaniards, your destiny is in your own hands. Reject the poisons which the English have spread amongst you:-let your King be assured of your affection and your confidence, and you will be more powerful and more happy than ever you have been. All that obstructed your prosperity and your grandeur, I have destroyed; the chains which have borne down the people, I have broken; a free constitution gives you a limited and constitutional, instead of an absolute monarchy. It depends upon yourselves whether this constitution shall still continue in your land. But should all my efforts prove fruitless, and should you not merit my confidence, nothing will remain for me but to treat you as conquered provinces, and to place my brother upon another throne. I shall then place the crown of Spain upon my own head, and cause it to be respected by the guilty; for God has given me power and inclination to surmount all obstacles! Imperial Camp at Given at our Madrid, Dec. 7, 1808. (Signed) D NAPOLEON.. MUNICIPAL SITTING. Madrid, Dec. 9.-This day, at eleven o'clock in the morning, the hour appointed for the opening of the sitting, the following persons assembled together: The Corregidor, the Regidors, the Alcades, the Deputies of the Third Estate, The heads of assembly of Masta,* the Procurators, the Alguazil-Majors, the Suffragan bishops, the vicars, the body of the curates and beneficed clergy, the heads of the different commonalities, the body of the nobility, the deputies of the five principal corporations, and all the deputations representing the 64 divisions of the city of Madrid. The corregidor rose to address the meeting, and informed them, that he had had the honour of bemg adinitted to present the homage of his respect to his Imperial and Royal Majesty, and to lay at the foot of his throne the tribute of the gratitude of the inhabitants of Madrid for the kindness and clemency which his Majesty had shewn towards that city. The corregidor expressed to his Imperial and Royal Majesty the happiness which his presence shed over the city, and the desire with which all the inhabitants were animated to deserve and to Justify such a peculiar mark of favour. The corregidor observed, that his Imperial and Royal Majesty had condescended to converse with him in the most benevolent manner, and added, that the object of this meeting was to acquaint the deputies of the city of Madrid with the beneficent intentions of his Majesty. Accordingly he had to repeat to them in the same term he bad beard them,the sentiments of his Majesty, and the favourable dispositions he entertained towards the whole of Spain; adding that the fate of Madrid would depend upon its own conduct. That that would be a happy and prosperous one, if the inhabitants adhered faithfully to the constitution, and acknowledged with sincerity, for their legitimate King, Don Joseph Napoleon I; but that, on the other hand, Spain should be reduced to a province of France. Here the corregidor drew a faithful picture of the good nature of King Joseph, who had employed his best offices and entreaties for the conservation of that capital as well as of the The council of the Masta is composed of the great proprietors in eattle. neighbouring cities, and who treated them with the tenderness of a generous father. The corregidor impressed upon the minds of all the deputies, that the presence of the King in his capital, should be considered as the greatest advantage that could be wished for it. Accordingly, the deputies deeply penetrated with the same sentiments, and anxious to contribute their best endeavours for the happiness of the inhabitants of Madrid, determined humbly to implore his Imperial and Royal Majesty to indulge the capital with the presence of the King, that city, and even all Spain, being convinced of the signal advantages which must be derived from the wisdom of his government. The deputies insisted, that a fresh tribute of thanks should be presented to his Imperial and Royal Majesty, for the kindness with which he had treated that city, which his triumphant arms had conquered, and for the generous pardon of what had happened during the absence of King Joseph. His Imperial and Royal Majesty is also to be implored to extend pardon to those whom fear had induced to desert the city, as well as to all the peasants who had taken up arms. Ilis Imperial and Royal Majesty is also finally to be implored, that he will be pleased to order his troops to respect property, the holy temples, the religious institutions; in a word, the property of every class. This humble supplication is to be laid before his Imperial and Royal Majesty, and is to be presented to him by a deputation taken from among the representatives of the city of Madrid. It was resolved, in the same sitting, that a tribute of the most lively gratitude should be presented to the King, Joseph Napoleon, whose happy intercession with his august brother the Emperor of the French, saved the city of Madrid, Ilis Royal Majesty shall be humbly supplicated to grant the favour of his presence to the city of Madrid, that under his just and beneficent government, good order, justice, and tranquillity,may be restored within its walls. His Royal Majesty shall be implored to employ his royal good offices with his Imperial brother, that pardon may be obtained to the absent, and to those inhabitants who had taken up arms. IMPERIAL DECREES. Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, &c. &c. Taking into our consideration, that one of the greatest abuses which have been introduced into the finances of Spain, arises from the alienation of the different branches of the imposts, and that nevertheless imposts are from their nature inalienable, we have decreed, and do decree as follows: From the publication of the present decree, every individual who shall be in possession, either by grant from the King, or by sale, or by any other means, of any portion whatever of the civil or ecclesiastical imposts, shall cease to receive them; and those from whom they may be leviable, shall be answerable for the payment of their respective imposts to the agents of the King, or of the treasury. NAPOLEON. The present decree shall be published and registered in all the councils, courts, and tribunals, in order to its being carried into execution as a law of the state, (Signed) By the Emperor, Minister Secretary of State, H. B. MARET. Dated from the Imperial Camp at Burgos, the 12th of November, 1808. NAPOLEON, Emperor of the French, King of Italy and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. Considering that the troubles in Spain have been principally the effect of plots, carried on by several individuals, and that the greater part of those who joined in them have been either misled or deceived, wishing to pardon these, and to grant an amnesty for the crimes which they have committed against ús, our nation and the King our brother, wishing also to mark those who, after having sworn fidelity to the King, have violated that oath ; who, after having accepted places, have only used the authority which was confided to them, to betray their Sovereign, and who, instead of em ploying their influence to enlighten the citizens, have only used it to mislead them and wishing, lastly, that the punishment of great offenders may serve as an example in future times to all those, who, placed at the head of nations, instead of directing the people with wisdom and prudence, mislead them, and lead them into disorders and popular agitations, and precipitate them into misfortunes and war, We have decreed as follows: 1st. The Dukes of Infantado, of Higar, of Medina Cali, and of Ossuna, the Marquis of Santa Cruz, the Counts of Fernan, Nunez, and of Allamera, the Prince of Castel Franco, the Sieur Pierre Cevallos, Ex-Minister of State, and the Bishop of Santander, are declared traitors to France and Spain, and traitors to the two crowns. As such, their persons shall be seized, and brought before a military commission and shot. Their property moveable and immoveable, shall be confiscated in Spain, in France, in the kingdom of Italy, in the kingdom of Naples, in the Papal States, in the kingdom of Holland, and in all the countries occupied by the French arms, to defray the expences of the war. [The second article renders null and void all sales, or others disposi tions of their property.] The third, grants, in the name of Joseph Bonaparte, a pardon to all Spaniards who within one month after the arrival of Bonaparte at Madrid, shall lay down their arms, and renounce all adhesion to, and connexion with England. Neither the members of the juntas, nor general officers, who have carried arms, are excepted from this pardon, provided they surrender as before mentioned. From our Camp at Madrid, Dec. 4. NAPOLEON, Emperor, &c. Considering that the council of Castile, has shown in the exercise of its functions as much falsehood as weakness, and that after having published throughout the kingdom the renunciation of Charles IV, and of the Princes Don Fernando, Don Carlos, Don Francisco, and Don Antonia of the crown of Spain, and after having acknowledged and proclaimed our legitimate right to the throne, it had the baseness to declare in the eyes of Europe and posterity, that it had signed these documents with secret and perfidious reservations:-We decree as follows: 1. That the members of the council of Castile are displaced as being cowards, and unworthy of being the magistrates of a brave and generous nation. By the second article, however, such members of the council as did not sign the deliberation of the 11th Aug. are excepted from this decree. From our Camp before Madrid, Dec. 4. NAPOLEON, Emperor, &c. We decree as follows 1. The Tribunal of the Inquisition is abolished, as incompatible with the sovereign power, and with the civil authority. 2. The property belonging to the inquisition shall be sequestrated and re-united to the domains of Spain, to serve as a guarantee for the vales and other effects of the public debt. In our Imperial Camp of Mudrid, Dec. 4. NAPOLEON, Emperor &c. Considering that the religious of the different monastic orders in Spain are too multiplied ; That if a certain number be useful to assist the ministers of the altar in the administration of the sacraments, the existence of too considerable a number is injurious to the prosperity of the state ;— We decree as follows: Art. 1. The number of convents: at present existing in Spain shall be reduced to a third. This reduction shall be produced by uniting the religious of several convents in one single house. 2. Dating from the publication of the present decree, no admission to the noviciate, no religious profession shall be permitted until the number of the religious of each sex, shall have been reduced to the third of the number of the said religious now existing. In consequence, and in the space of a fortnight, all the novices shall quit the convents into which they have been admitted. 3. All the regular ecclesiastics who wish to renounce their usual living, and to live as secular ecclesiastics, shall be free to quit their houses. 4. The religious who shall so renounce, conformably to the prece▾ ding article, shall be admitted to the enjoyment of a pension, whose amount shall be regulated by their age, bnt which shall not be less than 3000 reals, nor exceed the maximum of 4000. 5. Upon the amount of the property of the convents which shall be suppressed in execution of the first article of the present decree, shall be raised the sum necessary to increase the proportion of the cures, so that the minimum of the salary of the curates shall be raised to 2400 reals. 6. The property of the suppressed convents, which shall be disposable after the raising of the sum ordered by the foregoing article, shall be united to the domain of Spain, and to be employed as follows: -- 1. The half of the said property to guarantee the vales and other parts of the public debt. 2. The other half to reimburse the provinces and cities the expences occasioned by the supplying the |